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CHEONICLES 
 
 OP 
 
 ENGLAND, FRANCE. SPAIN. 
 
 AND 
 
 THE ADJOINING COUNTRIES, 
 
 FROM THE LATTER PART OF THE REIGN OF EDWARD 11. TO THE CORONATION OF HENRY IV. 
 
 BY SIR JOHN rROISSAET. 
 
 TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH, 
 
 WITH VARIATIONS AND ADDITIONS, FROM MANY CELEBRATED MS S. 
 
 BY THOMAS JOHNES, ESQ. 
 
 TO WHICH ARE PREFIXED ' 
 
 LIFE OF THE AUTHOR, AN ESSAY ON HIS WORKS, AND A CRITICISM ON HIS HISTORY 
 
 it 
 
 WITH AN 
 
 ORIGINAL INTRODUCTORY ESSAY 
 
 ON THE CHARACTER AND SOCIETY OF THE MIDDLE AGES, 
 
 BY REV. JOHN LORD. 
 
 NEW-YORK: 
 LEAVITT, TROW <k CO., 191 BROADWAY. 
 
 1849, 
 
ff 
 
AN ORIGINAL INTRODUCTORY ESSAY 
 
 ON IBS 
 
 H CHAEACTER AND SOCIETY OE THE MIDDLE AGES. 
 
 BY REV. JOHN LORD. 
 
 "Did you ever rend Frnissart?" said Claverhouse. 
 " No !" was Morton's answer. 
 
 *' I have haUa mind," returned Claverhouse. " to contrive you should have six months 
 imprisonment, m order to procure you that pleasure. His chapters inspire me with more 
 enthusiasm than even poetry itself. And the noble Canon, with what true chivalrous 
 »eeiing he conlines his beautiful expressions of soirov/ for the death of the gallant and 
 high-bred kmsht, oi' whom it was a pity to see the fall, such was his loyalty to his king, 
 pure faith to his religion, hardihood toward his enemy, and fidelity to Ins lady love !" 
 
 Old Mortality. 
 
 One of the last things to be expected in an essay like this, is a 
 panegyric of those Chronicles which have stood the test of nearly 
 five centuries, and, from the time they first appeared, have been the 
 admiration of genius in every country of Europe. Who can add to 
 the praises of St. Palaye, of Montaigne, of Gray, and sir Walter 
 Scott ! Froissart— " the flerodotus of a barbarous age, with his sim- 
 pie curiosity and reh'gious credulity," has been the delight, for ages, 
 of all who love to read 
 
 "Of bold men's bloody combatings and gentle ladies' tears." 
 He has presented a living picture of Europe in its boisterous 
 spring-time, with all its tumultuous pleasures, its chivalric glories, 
 and its magnificent superstitions. He has given us a type both of 
 the splendor and the decline of the heroic world. He has transmitted 
 to posterity brilliant examples of dauntless heroism, and perfect 
 models of reproachless chivalry. With the sympathy and spirit of 
 an eye-witness, and with the frankness of an old priest, anxious to 
 entertain his noble patron with as good a story as was consistent 
 with truth, he has detailed the most eventful exploits of our ances- 
 tors, in one of the most interesting periods of English history, and 
 one of the most exciting epochs in the progress of civilization. He 
 has described, with a most charming simplicity, even with dramatic 
 power, all that can excite curiosity in the usages of feudal warfare, 
 in the lives and forUines of nobles, in the squabbles of priests, and in 
 the amusements of that class with whom he associated; It is true, 
 that his Chronicles chiefly pertain to battles and sieges, to marches 
 and warriors, to tournaments and tilts, to loves and wassailings; but 
 his age was warlike, and none for whom he wrote had an ear for 
 anythmg but the martial and the romantic. He describes the spirit 
 of his age, with fidelity and minuteness, without stopping to make 
 philosophical generalizations, and ingenious theories on the piwress 
 oi civihzation. He did not pretend to be an historian in the mo'dern 
 sense, and he did not profess to reason concerning the intere^^ts of 
 society with the spirit of a philosopher. He was a chronicler— a 
 story-teller— a dehneator of men and manners as he saw them— as 
 he knew them. And it is his candor, his talent of observation, and 
 his liveliness in detail, which give value to the book on which he 
 spent his life. " It is history," says Montaigne, " naked and un- 
 adorned ; every one may profit from it according to the depths of Ais 
 (jjj understanding." ^ ^ 
 
 Nor are the subjects which he narrates with so much spirit, with 
 
 Who does not dwell with delight on the gorgeous description of the 
 tournament, where the place inclosed for combat « is surrounded 
 with sovereigns and bishops and barons, and ail that rank and beauty 
 had ennobled among the fair ; when the combatants, covered with 
 shining armor, and only known by a device or emblazoned shield, 
 issued forth, not without danger, to win the prize of valor, bestowed* 
 by the queen of beauty, amid the animating music of minstrels, and 
 the shouts of the assembled multitude ?" 
 
 The Chronicles of Froissart are not only a faithful mirror of his 
 age, which is all we want in chronicles, but the age itself is one of 
 the most interesting in the history of Europe. It was an epoch. 
 Society was passing through a new transformation. It was the 
 spring-time of European society, when the principles, which now 
 agitate it, were then in the process of development, and when the 
 institutions, which now are our pride and glory, were springing up 
 amid chills and storms. A brilliant morning had dawned upon 
 Europe, and the noxious vapors of a long night of one thousand years 
 were vanishing away before the rising sun of modern civilization. 
 In the fourteenth century, commenced the strife of new principles* 
 the clash of new interests, and the rise of new powers. V/e behold' 
 a period of experiments, of combinations, and of reform. We see 
 the conflict of factions, and orders, and interests, and new and grand 
 developments of character and passion. We contemplate the c^on- 
 flict of faith with reason, of aristocracy with democracy, of monarchy 
 with republicanism, and of papacy with dissent. In the v/hirl of 
 contending principles and interests, we see the bursting forth of new 
 and unknown energies. Commerce, manufactures, and agriculture 
 received a new impulse. The fine arts attained the perfection of the 
 antique models. Poetry became again inspired, and science souo-ht 
 for elementary principles, Thej;e was no monument of ancient 
 
 out interest. "The age of chivalry indeed is gone." We have 
 l^ped away Its helmets and its spears : and its blazonry is invested 
 cj^ith a more poetic charm. Still wi " 
 
 ---^ _ t'^^--'- w.wiiii. Still we love the past — we love the 
 
 ^ i^'* w J"" "^^""'^ ^'^^""''y- We hate to divest it even of its fictions, 
 hn tJ- f ■ P''^"'^"^ ^^^P sympathy exists for the chiv- 
 
 Walfic glories. The independent spirit of chivalry, bent on the accom- 
 i-J plishment of lofty ends, without calculation of chances, or fear of 
 ^ lailure so generous in action, so munificent in courtesy, so frank in 
 tnendship and so gallant in danger, ever must have rare attraction 
 to the enthusiastic and the aspiring. There is something peculiarly 
 delightiu and exciting in those stories which represent the hero of 
 the middle ages, loyAl and brave, superbly mounted, cased in glitter- 
 ing steel, surrounded by his men-at-arms, and issuing forth from his 
 Icrdly castle, in quest of adventures, or on an errand" of love Who 
 does not love to read of the fair and haughty dames encouraging 
 their Champions at the tilt, and rewarding their valor with sacred 
 ^*>annera and embroidered scarfs, worked with their own hands? 
 
 genius which was not rivalled. There was no subject which piiTlos" 
 ophy did not investigate. There was no climate which adventurous 
 curiosity did not explore. There was an unprecedented brilliancy 
 of intellectual effort, and an unknown energy of mora! purpose. 
 Everywhere there was a vast expenditure of physical, intellectual 
 and moral energies. To this era we trace the admission of commons 
 into legislatures, the disfranchisement of slaves, and the freedom of 
 cities. This was the period of popular insurrections, and of general 
 fermentation. In this period Roman jurisprudence was revived 
 universities were established, the modern languages created the' 
 Bible was translated, printing, gunpowder and the mariner's com- 
 pass were invented, and religious and civil liberty dawned. 
 
 Sin -e the introduction of Christianity, there have been, strictlv 
 speaking, but two great epochs in European society. The one was 
 that just referred to, the other that which succeeded the dissolution 
 01 the Roman Empire. When the vices of self-interest had eaten 
 out the vitals ot the state ; when there was left no longer a material 
 on which either Christianity or literature could work, and both were 
 equally corrupted ; when luxury, egotism, sensuality and unreasona- 
 ble pride characterized the privileged classes ; while povei tv, mean- 
 ness and excessive degradation were the misfortunes of "the mil. 
 lions; when all the wealth of the empire was concentrated among 
 a few enervated aristocrats, and there was no longer a central 
 power to preserve order or law in the provinces, or even to keep 
 the emperors on their throne ; when, in short, there was a dissolu. 
 tion of all the bonds of society, then God sent violence on the earth. 
 The barbarians advanced from their forests, to conquer, to deso-° 
 late, and to reconstruct. In the fifth and sixth centuries was that 
 mixture of races and languages and institutions, when all the 
 elements of the Roman and Barbaric world were mingled together 
 that forms the first great epoch of European society. And this era 
 was disastrous in the extreme. Society was depressed to a greater 
 degree than at any other time in the history of Europe. There was 
 incessant anarchy. The strong preyed upon the weak, and the law 
 of brute force was terribly triumphant. Christianity was only " a 
 dim taper which had need of snufling." Moral power was weak 
 
ORIGINAL INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. 
 
 Treachery, rapine, lust and murder were the characteristic vices of 
 the times, Europe seemed destined to worse evils than those whicli 
 disgraced the Roman world. But these evils passed away. Crea- 
 tion succeeded destruction. From the disordered elements of human 
 stcilc, and the restless he avings of human passion, there was heard, 
 at last, a "melodious birth-song," and in praise o( Him who overrules 
 iisastrous changes for the ultimate good of man. 
 
 But the great evils and commotions incident to such a revolution 
 liid not pass away until Charlemagne, after a long reign of fifty years, 
 had fidlilled his mission ; until he had stopped Barbarian invasion, 
 had centralized power, and had given to ecclesiastics authority, as a 
 counterpoise to the power of nobles. 
 
 From his death, may be dated what historians have been pleased 
 to call the " dark ages," the period of repose between two exciting 
 epochs. Society settled down under the control of two great princi- 
 ples, the aristocratic and the autocratic, the government of nobles, 
 and of priests. Then feudalism and the papacy were ripened into 
 universal coercive systems. 
 
 Under the operation of these systems, society seemed both slug, 
 gish and torpid. During the 500 years in which they flourished, 
 there is but little to interest the superficial or unreflecting mind. 
 Tiicre were no great political events, no great military enterprises, 
 except the Crusades, no brilliant discoveries, no great attainments, 
 no striking advances in civilization. Society seemed to move round 
 in a continual circle, as incapable of progression as it was of rest. 
 Barons and priests shared between them the government and the 
 wealth of Europe. 
 
 Neither of the systems, which form the chief object of our interest 
 in the history of Christendom for 500 years, are to be praised or 
 admired, except so far as they were adapted to the times. In view 
 of the times, however, they both answered useful ends, and are never 
 to be spoken of with unmitigated contempt or censure. 
 
 The feudal system prevented the people from roving robbers, and 
 from the aggressions of powerful chieftains, except those who were 
 licensed to oppress them. Oppression ever has been the fate of the 
 poor man. It was less, however, under baronial rule than before 
 feudalism was established. The serf was indeed compelled to labor 
 like a slave. He was cr\ished beneath the iron weight of a martial 
 aristocracy. His tears were often unheeded, and his sorrows re- 
 ceived no sympathy. Feudalism begat in the breast of the haughty 
 and isolated baron, the pride of birth, and the feehng of personal con- 
 sequence. It developed all the selfishness of an uncultivated nature, 
 and prevented the appreciation of the miseries of dependents ; and it 
 destroyed elevation of sentiment among the people themselves, led 
 lo mean servility, to poverty and dependence ; and, for these rea- 
 sons, the system was detestable, and the remembrance of it painful 
 to the peasantry of Europe. But it had a bright side, if we consider 
 the times in which it flourished, and that state <jf utter disorganiza- 
 lion and wretchedness, from which it rescued society in the seventh 
 century. It developed the character of woman, and led to the 
 appreciation of her virtues. The Germanic nations had ever held 
 woman in veneration. In their ancient forests they looked upon 
 her as a superior being. But this natural veneration, which neither 
 Greek nor Roman shared, even in the most brilliant periods of an- 
 cient civilization, even when Christianity had developed the heroism 
 of the female martyr, was ripened into idolatry under the influence 
 of feudalism. Woman, shut up in a castle with her lord, made her 
 influence felt. The baron perceived her virtues, and honored them. 
 He made her his equal companion. He made her the object of his 
 devotion. In the feudal castle of the dark ages, woman's worth was 
 first perceived, and first acknowledged; and the appreciation of this 
 worth led to enthusiasm. Chivalry received its attractive form. 
 " The love of God and the ladies, was enjoined as a simple duty, 
 and he who was faithful to his mistress, was sure of salvation in the 
 theology of castles, if not of cloisters." W omen were present in 
 cournaments, and in feasts, and in all amusements. A lady did not 
 disdain to have a falcon on her wrist, and a grayhound following 
 her. For her, the wandering minstrel sang the strains of heroism 
 and love. Under her protection, sentimental poetry was cultivated. 
 Not only v/ere knights proud to utter her praises in the songs of 
 Provence, but grave scholars forgot their studies in the composition 
 of lyrics, whose pensiveness and devotion would have surprised and 
 amused the amatory poets of antiquity. " You composed," said 
 Eloise to Abelard, v/ho had learned on the banks of the Seine the 
 amorous dialect of Thoulouse, " many verses, so sweet both in their 
 language and melody, that your name v»'as incessantly in the mouths 
 of all." 
 
 Feudalism not only led to the appreciation of woman's worth, and 
 ripened respect for her into devotion and gallantry, but it devel- 
 oped, in the minds of the people, the sentiment of loyalty, attach- 
 ment to country, attachment to irieuds, attachment to truth. This 
 loyalty, applied to everything, was an antidote in the midst of pris- 
 ons ; in the minds of serfs ; in the minds of barons. Treachery and 
 hypocrisy became detestable. Courtesy, magnanimity, courage, hos- 
 pitality, became the virtues of the age. Great deeds were done in 
 obedience to this principle, by the fraternity of knights. The baron 
 forsook his castle, and the peasant his hut, to maintain the honor of 
 a family, or to preserve the sacredness of a vow. It was this senti- 
 ment of loyalty, which made the poor serf patient in liia toils, and 
 
 serene in his sorrows. It enabled his master to brave all physical 
 evils, and enjoy a sort of spiritual romance. It bound the peasant to 
 his master, and his master to his king. It was the principle needed 
 to counteract the miseries of an infant state of civilization. 
 
 So of the other institution which exercised so powerfid an influ- 
 ence in the middle ages : it is to be respected amid all its evills. 
 No Protestant can love that system of ecclesiastical encroachment 
 and fraud which the papacy encouraged, and no one wou'd wish to 
 see it restored ; nor should its corruptions be excused, or denied. 
 Still, the papacy fulfilled a noble mission in a turbulent and ignorant 
 age. It was a paternal authority, congenial to the minds and cir- 
 cumstances of the Gothic races. They beheld, in the pope, their 
 spiritual father, the vicegerent of the Invisible King, who held in 
 his hands the keys of heaven and hell. When no earthly influ- 
 ence could restrain the lawless passions of the violent nobility, they 
 were curbed by the power of a ghostly superstition. They could 
 not see their children refused the rights of baptism ; they could not 
 behold their relatives refused admission into heaven : they could not 
 stand before the terrors of that awful anathe-^.'.a which consigned 
 them to the wrath of God. Priestly power is bad enough, especially 
 when abused ; but it is better than none. I question whether any 
 other power than that which the Christian clergy exercised in the 
 middle ages, though based on supersitious fear, could have restrained 
 the outbreak of fiery and destructive passions in the breasts of 
 the impetuous barons. Moreover, the papacy was a great central 
 power, needed to control the princes of Europe, and settle the diffi- 
 culties which arose between them. The popes, whatever may have 
 been their personal character, were conservators of peace. They 
 preserved unity amid anarchy, and restrained the impulses of pas- 
 sionate kings. Again, the papacy, in its best ages, is thought by 
 many profound historians to have been democratic in its sympathies. 
 It guarded the interests of the people : it preserved them from the 
 violence of their oppressors : it furnished a retreat, in monasteries, 
 for the contemplative, the suffering, the afflicted, and the poor. The 
 monks and nuns were taught by their quiet and industrious life, that 
 
 " There exists 
 
 An higher than the warrior's excellence ; 
 Tliat vast and sudden deeds of violence. 
 Adventures wild, and wonders of the moment. 
 These are not they which generate 
 The calm and blissful and enduring mighty." 
 
 From their " beehives of industry," probably disgraced by the vices 
 of concubinage and the follies of asceticism, they only issued to relieve 
 the helpless, to succor the distressed, to teach the ignorant, and to ad- 
 minister celestial consolation. 
 
 It is in this view that the civil and religious structure of society in 
 the dark ages should be viewed — as full of defects, if it were applied 
 to modern life, when the blessings it formerly bestowed now proceed 
 from other sources : but, after all, as admirably adapted to the times, 
 and as indicating that superintending power which only gradually 
 renovates the condition of society. And, so long as this structur* 
 was adapted to the times, it is both uncharitable and unphilosophical 
 to condemn it, certainly with wholesale abuse. 
 
 It is also in view of the evils attending the new structure which . 
 the barbarians, unenlightened by science, and uninstructed by the 
 experience of past generations, erected upon the bleeding surface of 
 the earth, so long disgraced with every crime, and marked by every 
 calamity, that so many have denounced the middle ages as a period 
 of such unmitigated darkness and gloom. The times were dark and 
 gloomy enough, every one knows. No one, in this age, but a vision, 
 ary rhapsodist of the olden time, would deny the despotism of an 
 iron age, and the countless miseries of a second infancy of society. 
 Who would cover up the cruelties of the feudal system, or excuse 
 the impostures of papal Rome? But in a formative state of society 
 we expect disasters. The objects of nature, moral as well as phys- 
 ical, are ever slow in arriving at maturity. Barbarians could not be 
 civilized in a day, especially under the guidance of a corrupted 
 Christianity. It is something if we discern in them the elements of 
 a noble people. Time and the Gospel would develop their wasted 
 energies. They were inexperienced, and could not be expected to 
 erect upon the ruins of the old world a faultless structure. They 
 were not to be absolved from the penalty of violating natural laws. 
 They were ignorant, and hence could not but be exp jsed to the arts 
 of designing priests. They were rude, and hence must endure 
 poverty. They were obliged to develop from themselves the sleeping 
 germs of a new civilization. They were doomed to many suflTerings, 
 and disgraced by many crimes in the days of their pilgrimage ; but 
 they were guided by the light of faith, and the impulses of generous 
 youth. When, at last, they reached the promised land of liberty and 
 light, they found nuuiy treasures which had escaped the wreck of the 
 old classic v/orld. And, then, of these well-preserved, but long-des- 
 pised ruins, they erected a far nobler temple than pagan antiquity 
 had seen, which, dedicated to the God of Love, still remains a proud 
 monument of their native genius, and a glorious emblem of their 
 Christian faith. 
 
 Christianity, in that dark age, while it shed a darkened light, while 
 it introduced into Europe "the gloomy monk," " the military prophet," 
 " the priestly despot," " the superstitious devotee," still preserved the 
 beautiful flowers of htunanity to more fortunate times. In the moral 
 
ORIGINAL INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. 
 
 r 
 
 power of learning and sanctity we are tempted to exclaim, with 
 Digby, these surely " were ages of highest grace to man." 
 
 Again, the Germanic nations, with the profoundest respect for reli- 
 gious institutions, and for the ministers of even a corrupted Chris- 
 tianity, had also other most interesting qualities which should never 
 be overlooked, even in their barbarism and superstition. They had 
 a lofty sense of personal independence. They cherished the virtues 
 of disinterestedness and fidelity. They loved social pleasures, the 
 exercise of generous courtesies, and the exhibition of manly and 
 heroic energies. They never desponded in adversity. They grew 
 stronger after deieat and disaster. They were ever greater than 
 their circumstances. There was an undying energy in their souls. 
 Nor were they entirely deficient in intellectual force, as some histo- 
 rians, who did not sympathize with their physical and intellectual 
 toils, would lead us to suppose. True, they made no valuable addi- 
 tions to physical science. Utility was unto them the perfection 
 of wisdom. But did not the earlier schoolnien speculate on the 
 highest truths of philosophy, and teach the most elevated lessons of 
 mor.d wisdom, while the Norman and Provencal poets excited, by 
 their romantic and allegorical songs, the enthusiasm of a passionate 
 people ? It was in the " dark ages,^^ that twenty-five thousand stu- 
 dents flocked to Oxford, and thirty thousand to Paris, to learn theol- 
 ogy, and jurisprudence, and medicine. It was in these slandered ages 
 that we perceive the " living, precious germ of thought,'^ the most 
 wonderful intellectual activity since the age of Pericles. The eight- 
 een f)lio volumes of Thjmas Aquinas were filled with much else 
 besides mere barbarous wranglings. " The schoolmen," says Schle- 
 gel, *' displayed not only the most subtle reasonings of the human 
 mind, but the most refined tenderness of the enamored heart." Even 
 Guizot admits " that they had merits as brilliant as they were varied, 
 devoid of affectation and free fi-om pedantry." And they were ele- 
 vated in their solitary toil by the contemplation of boundless truth. 
 Life, to them, was not in palaces and gardens, in velvets and wines, 
 in chariots and horses. They made wisdom to consist in the tri- 
 umph of the spiritual over the animal, and prized life for its simple 
 pleasures, and devout contemplation. They may not have attained 
 these exalted ends, but their respect for the spiritual in man was pro- 
 found, lathe chaos of a turbulent age, their minds acquired force 
 and fire : they shone as morning stars in the intellectual and moral 
 firmament of Europe. 
 
 But, after all, the middle ages can never be adduced to show a 
 high state of humanity. It was a period in which great energies 
 were preparing. It was a state favorable to grand developments, 
 and to the birth of new ideas. It was not a period of revolution or 
 excitement, but of repose. Everything was settled. There was no 
 breaking the iron fetters which feudalism had forged. There was 
 no resisting the spiritual despotism which the clergy exercised. The 
 thraldom of opinions was too strong to be assailed. Those who 
 were impatient and inquiring were persecuted. The church was 
 opposed to reformation of any sort, and was particularly hostile to 
 free inquiry. 
 
 But the age is instructing to contemplate, as a preparation for a 
 great and new order of things, and for the gradual development of 
 Christian ideas. It is only these ideas which can give grandeur to 
 any hisitory. Since these ideas are seen in all the struggles of our 
 fathers in their long pilgrimage, let us be impressed with the morals 
 which they teach. It may be sad to see so much human sufieriiig, 
 so many misdirected energies, such incessant blunders and follies. 
 But then we are cheered with the view of the sufifcring poor 
 man, gradually breaking his fetters, becoming civilized by art, en- 
 riched by industry, and powerful by association. We see him at 
 length learning his duties from the Bible, and his politics from 
 advancing civilization. His mind was soon to receive light from 
 Heaven, and his soul to catch fire from the new im.pulses in action 
 around him. 
 
 It is this awakening mercy in the prospects of the poor man, which 
 constitutes the second grand epoch in European history. This is 
 the epoch in which Froissart lived, and which he described, with so 
 much beauty and so much fascination. As the high-born old canonist 
 did not much concern himself with such vulgar affairs as commerce, 
 and the revival of the spirit of liberty, and the progress of manufac- 
 tures, or even the studies of old meditative monks ; and as all these 
 things are worthy of our attention in the history of the times, and 
 indeed according to modern historians, the most worthy, because they 
 are based on great sjnrittml ideas, I proceed to offer a few remarks 
 on the s})i;it (>{ activity, which in various ways, was developed in the 
 tliirteeatii and fourteenth centuries. A glance at the main points of 
 interest, ia this exciting era, especially after allusion to the sluggish 
 and sleepy times which preceded it, may prepare the reader for the 
 greater enjoyment of tiie inimitable Chronicler, whose writings are 
 ortuaately, placed so easily within his reach. 
 
 It nmst bo remembered the Crusades were ended. Five millions 
 of men had been buried ia the plains of Asia, No immediate tro- 
 phies consoled E'jrope for the loss. These religious wars had proved 
 an unmitigated -jalamity. The object of the brave warriore was not 
 attained, although at one time, the bloody victors, amid the loud an- 
 thems of the clergy, had ascended the hill of Calvary, and bedewed 
 with their tears the monument of their redemption. Never before, 
 •"as such a waste of treasure and blood. For two centuries, Europe 
 
 had precipitated itself into Asia, and had gained nothing but a few- 
 cities which were afterwards lost. Nor can these martial expeditions 
 be justified on any principles, either of Christianity or enlightened rea- 
 son. Their principle was a savage fanaticism and a deadly hate oi 
 Mohammedanism, because chiefly it did not encourage, and perhap.- 
 persecuted the pilgrims. Yet the power by v,?hich they v/ere sus. 
 tained, was grand, because it was spiritual. None but the Italian 
 merchants ever dreamed of gain ; those adventurers sought at the 
 holy sepulchre, no religious consolations, but only the treasures con- 
 nected with it. But the gallant, brave, old knights, though collected 
 from every country of Europe, were bound together by a sjnritual 
 idea. It was to rescue the sepulchre from pollution ; it was to get a 
 sight of the holy places connected with the sufferings of the Saviour, 
 not to get treasures and kingdoms, which sustained, for two centu- 
 ries, the most disastrous wars recorded in history. Tiic enthusiastic 
 and chivalrous heroes of the middle ages were animated by loftier 
 desires than avarice or ambition, or even glory can excite. They 
 showed that material interests can never be so strong as spiritual 
 cravings, even though they may be fanatical. 
 
 This is not the place to paint the history of the Crusades. But was 
 there no good to result from them ? Were such enthusiasm and he- 
 roism to be wasted, without accomplishing anything? Was the 
 flower of European chivalry, led on by such princes as Godfrey and 
 Hugh the great, and Raymond, and the valiant Bohemond, and the 
 heroic Tancred ; and, afterwards, by Richard Coeur de Lion, and 
 Philip of France, and Frederic of Germany, the great Barbarossa — 
 were all the vast forces which the great monarchs of Europe com- 
 manded in person, and inspired with all the enthusiasm which reli- 
 gion and chivalry and patriotism could excite — were these to be 
 buried with the broken columns of Asia Minor for nothing ? No. 
 Providence is prodigal of courage, of virtues, of sacrifices, of men, 
 in order to secure important ultimate good. From the graves of the 
 Crusades there arose a spirit which gave the first great impulse to 
 civilization. They gave the first shock to the political importance 
 of the feudal aristocracy. The estates of the nobles were wasted in 
 these wars, but the gainers were, first, the monarchs who gathered 
 around their thrones despotic power ; and, secondly, the people who 
 secured their farms and their shops. The cities increased in popu- 
 lation, in consequence of the impulse which arts and manufactures 
 and commerce received, and then the people in the cities aspired to 
 political independence. By clubbing together, they discovered they 
 could cope successfully with any feudal force which could be arrayed 
 against them. They formed political combinations as a counter- 
 poise to the power of the barons. Europe passed from feudal vassal, 
 age to the dominion of centralized power, whether collected around 
 the thrones of princes, or emanating from republics and free cities. 
 
 The Crusades encouraged commercial enterprise. The warriors 
 needed ships, and the Italian merchants lent them and sold them.. 
 Every returning vessel from Asia brought the luxuries of the East. 
 The silks and spices of India were thus exclianged, at the great Eu- 
 ropean markets, for iron and flax and wool and skins. 
 
 Thus an active intercourse was soon established between the 
 north and south of Europe. Intercourse brought wealth. It brought 
 more than wealth, liberality of mind, intelligence, refinement of man- 
 ners, courteous habits, generosity and faith. It is this liberality and 
 enlargement of mind, which is the greatest moral effect of the Ci*u- 
 sades, although, in many cases, it was indirect. It was the insula- 
 tion of nations in the middle ages, v/hich was a great cause of bar. 
 barism. But, by the Crusades, nations became intermingled, and 
 learned each other's customs and laws. Not only were the minds of 
 the Crusaders divested of many prejudices against each other, but 
 also against the Saracens. Saladin was discovered to be as cour- 
 teous and brave as Richard. The habits of the Musselmen were 
 found to be more courteous and generous and refined, than even those 
 of their invaders; and the Eastern warriors no longer appeared as 
 monsters, but as elegant strangers, with a love of science and song, 
 a taste for architecture, and an appreciation of the beautiful. The 
 luxury of their tents, the richness of their dresses, the polish of their 
 manners, the vivacity of their wit, and the munificence of their coun- 
 try struck the rude barbarians, at least, with surprise. They could 
 not detest them as cordially as before. They saw much to admire. 
 And then they ceased to exterminate them. The Crusades could 
 not be sustained so soon as the European learned liberality of mind. 
 Fanaticism had no element to feed on, and died. When the Crusa- 
 ders returned, the storming of castles seemed a small affair. They 
 longed for great conquests. As they could not subdue the Moham 
 medans, they resolved to subdue each other. Hence those wars be. 
 tween England and France which Froissart chronicled. 
 
 When Froissart appeared, then the Crusades had ended, but mill- 
 tary enthusiasm was not extinct. Chivalry, as an institution, was at 
 its height. A spirit of epterprise and restless excitement pervaded 
 the European mind. The rust of barbarism was vvorn off", but a true 
 civilization was not established. The Hermit's voice had nut beeii 
 heard in vain. He had inspired Europe with the passion he hbd felt 
 Those passions, being fanatical, had led their victims into the fire. 
 But, from the fire, there issued a voice proclaiming liberty lo ihc 
 poor man. Evil was succeeded by good. The " world-Pliosnix" 
 immolated herself in flame, that she might sing the clearer and soar 
 the higher. 
 
VJ 
 
 Having now alluded to tiiose events which prepared the age for 
 the great convulsion and agitation which Froissart witnessed and 
 described, I proceed to offer a few observations on those agitations. 
 
 What were they ? They were the conflict of spiritual agencies — 
 of great principles, ia government, and in religion, and in social life. 
 What were these principles ? 
 
 One of the most important was the principle of association. This 
 taught the people their strength. They always had the power, but 
 not the wisdom to combine it. Until after the Crusades, they had 
 never dreamed how strong they were when united for the attainment 
 of noble ends. Hence, formerly, they were oppressed and crushed and 
 mocked — in Greece, in Rome, in Europe, under the feudal system. 
 But, by combinations, they could resist a feudal array, they could 
 equip a merchant fleet, they could establish a foreign factory. This 
 idea of association became the soul of commerce and of manufac- 
 tures. It even led to political liberty. It extorted from monarchs 
 those charters which secured the farm of the peasant and the shop of 
 the artificer. It restored a substance and a life to the people in all 
 of their relations and transactions with superiors. This idea is at 
 the basis of popular representation. Nothing could resist it. It 
 contained a great source of power and popular improvement. The 
 people, having learned the secret of strength, never for a moment 
 forgot it, even though sometimes repelled by a superior force. Under 
 Wat Tyler, they marched in a body to London, and, had they pos. 
 sessed a litde more experience, would have extorted from the trem- 
 bling monarch as great a charter of privileges as the barons obtained 
 from John. It is singular to see how this idea has become more and 
 more important, with the progress of society. Nothing now is at- 
 tempted, of any magnitude in a free country, without a combination. 
 It is seen in all the ramifications of business, in all the mazes of 
 politics, and in all the movements of philanthropy. The mill, the 
 rail-road, the insurance office, and the missionary station, prove its 
 present and increasing agency. It breaks the chains of despotism, 
 rebukes injustice, gives teachers to the people, and missionaries to 
 the heathen. It gives strength to the people, so long crushed and 
 mocked by their superiors, even as the hair of Samsoa enabled him 
 to pull down, upon the heads of his exulting enemies, the ancient 
 temple of the Philistines. 
 
 While, in the age of Froissart, the principle of association was 
 building free cities, and encouraging commerce, and reviving arts, 
 and breaking fetters, and securing wealth and political importance 
 to the people, the idea that men had a right to think for themselves 
 was agitated. It had nut, indeed, become established, nor was po- 
 litical liberty established; but the idea was born which was after- 
 wards to secure it. The old scholastics had emancipated human 
 reason from the trammels of priestly authority. They did not seek 
 so much to change religious opinions, as to secure the light of free 
 inquiry ; and this was the great point of dispute between the church 
 and men of letters. As early as the first Crusade, the scholars of 
 Abeiard had requested him to give them " some philosophical argu- 
 ments — such as v^^ere fit to satisfy their minds." " They begged," 
 Eays Guizot, " that he would instruct them not only to repeat what 
 he taught them, but to understand the same. Especially, said they, 
 is it necessary that we should strengthen one another with all the 
 povv'ers of reason, so that in questions so difficult and complicated as 
 compose the substance of the Christian faith, we may be able to hin- 
 der the subtihies of its enemies Irom too easily corrupting its purity." 
 Thus, the. scholastic philosophy endeavored to satisfy human reason, 
 and to triumph over an imperious authority. Its whole tendency, 
 therefore, was to lead to intellectual independence, and thus the old 
 Doctors were the true precursors of the reformation in- religion and 
 philosophy. By the temerity of their speculations, they taught the 
 human mind to think boldly, and raised an inquisitive spirit which it 
 v»^as impossible to repress. It is this inquisitive spirit which is the 
 greatest glory of the age of Froissart. Not only did it seek to explore 
 unknown seas, and discover new kingdoms, but incited students to 
 pursue every department of literature and science. It was this which 
 revived law, and medicine, and experimental philosophy. It sent 
 scholars over every country of Europe to ransack libraries, and col- 
 lect manuscripts, and study Greek. The whole lives of Italian scho- 
 lars were spent in collecting and collating manuscripts, and the re- 
 covery of one was regiirded almost as important as the discovery of 
 a kingdom. Emanuel Chryolorus revealed to the enthusiastic crowds 
 who flocked to his lecture. room in Florence, the richness and copious- 
 ness of the Greek language, as gloriously as Abeiard taught his dis- 
 ciples in tht wilderness of Paraclete, the depths of scholastic lore, 
 when he was driven from Paris for his heresy and his crime. And 
 even the early poetry of the moderns breathed the very spirit of free 
 inquiry. The divine comedy of Dante is thought by some of the 
 
 ( most distinguished critics to be merely allegorical of hatred to papal 
 usurpation and love for intellectual freedom. Petrarch was as great 
 an enthusiast in liberty as in love, and his alliance and sympathy 
 with Rienzi are well known. During the time the Popes had retired 
 to Avignon — their Babylonian captivity — tlie main pillars of their 
 throne were assaulted with weapons which no power could ever 
 resist, by the invisible power of ideas and truth. Men dared tospe. 
 culate on their assumed right to impose their dogmas. The church, 
 in this age, was still strong enough to put down open rebellion, but 
 it could not extinguish the spreading fires of intellectual independ- 
 ence. It was the strife for this right, not the possession of it, which 
 was a grand feature of the times. It was the idea that the church ' 
 bad no right to shackle the human soul in his lofty inquiries, which 
 was the spiritual cause of some of the mightiest movements, if not 
 of the fourteenth century, at least of the succeeding ones. It was 
 like the mighty fire which was smouldering in the bosom of volca- 
 noes. The fire was there, although repressed. Hud this not existed, 
 the volcano would not have burst forth, and its flames ascended to 
 Heaven. 
 
 It was, however, not until the time of Luther, that the European 
 mind was awakened to the noble idea that men have a right to think 
 for themselves. The right of private judgment is the bequest of the 
 Reformation, and to all coming time. Tnat right may be disputed 
 by some romantic lovers of the dark ages, and of papal superstition, 
 but It can never be put down. It is an idea, not only congenial to 
 the wants of an improving age, but the very genius of the German 
 race. 
 
 It is astonishing what a stride Europe made in civilization so soon 
 as tlie idea was agitated of the right of free inquiry, or rather as soon 
 as it was established, which was not until the Reformation. Then 
 new ideas, equally important, flashed upon the popular mind. The 
 people, feeling that they had a right to i/aVi/c for themselves, soon felt 
 that they had a right to rule themselves. This idea was at the basis 
 of Puritan movements in England. The idea has never yet been 
 realized as perfectly as the friends of freedom have desired. But it 
 has prompted to the noblest struggles ever made by man. It has 
 inspired the people with loi'tiness of ambition, and with the hope of 
 a glorious destiny. Nor can it ever be relinquished, especially in a 
 country like this, so long as Saxon blood flows in our veins ; so long 
 as such heroes as Cromwell and Washington are remembered, and 
 so long as the spiritual in man shall be more honored than the clay. 
 
 It would be uncalled for in an essay like this, to show how the 
 spirit of inquiry, in the exciting age of Froissart was directed to ev- 
 erything which can interest the human mind, or how this spirit, dis- 
 couraged and opposed in his day, by a church ever hostile to it, was 
 triumphant in succeeding centuries. 
 
 It is the object of the writer of this essay merely to hint to the two 
 grand spiritual agencies which were in existence during the brilliant 
 epoch to which the Chronicles of Froissart refer — the one applied to 
 material life, the other to the intellectual. Other agencies might be 
 mentioned, but those alluded to are sufficient to give the fourteenth 
 century an unusual attraction. It was the forming period of modern 
 civilization; and a new civilization was established, after one thou- 
 sand years of sufTering and disaster, on the ruins of the old, estab. 
 lished by the beautiful union of native genius v^ith the treasures of 
 the old classic world which had escaped the wreck. 
 
 This new formation, after a lapse of so many years of prepara- 
 tion — this second grand epoch in European history — teaches one 
 great truth. The new structure which arose from the old Gothic 
 edifice shows that there is a Providence, and there is a progress. 
 Progress is the central truth which all history reveals ; not that all 
 generations are better than that which immediately preceded them, 
 but that society, on the wbf le, through a superintending power, is 
 advancing, and will continue to advance until the consummation of 
 human happiness. He who cannot see this sublime truth, amid the 
 revolutions and sorrows which have been sent upon mankind, has 
 no eye to the only thing that can cheer us amid the ruin of private 
 hopes, and the wreck of immediate interests. Progress is seen in 
 those systems of fraud and tyranny which succeeded the dissolution 
 of the Roman world. The epoch of misfortunes passed, and wa? 
 succeeded by eight hundred years' repose. Those sluggish times, 
 disgraced by ignorance, superstition and imposture, were succeeded 
 by a glorious awakening and uprising of disenthralled humanity in 
 the fourteenth century. For five centuries, the European nations have 
 been reaping the fruit of those ideas which were then advanced 
 There is now need of new combinations and reforms. Who shall 
 say that Christendom is not now passing through a new transforma- 
 tion ? 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 OHAF. 'AO«. 
 
 Original Introduction 
 
 Life of the Author 1 
 
 Essay on his Works 6 
 
 Criticism on the History of Froissart 9 
 
 1. Of the bravest knights of this present book 14 
 
 2. Of some of the predecessors of king Edward of 
 
 England '. 15 
 
 3. Of the rehitions of king Edward the third 15 
 
 4. The occasion of the wars between the kings of 
 
 England and France 15 
 
 5. How earl Thomas of Lancaster and twenty-two 
 
 of the greatest nobles in England, were beheaded.15 
 
 6. The queen of England goes to complain of sir 
 
 Hugh Spencer to her brother the king ofP'rancclS 
 
 7. Sir Hugh Spencer causes the queen Isabella to be 
 
 sent mit of Fnince 16 
 
 8. The queen Isabella leaves France and goes to 
 
 Germany 16 
 
 9. Ciueen Isubeiln arrives in England with sir John 
 
 de Hainault 17 
 
 10. The queen of England besieges her husband in 
 
 the city of Bristol 17 
 
 11. Sir Hugh Spencer the elder, and the earl of Arun- 
 
 del, are adjudged to death.. 18 
 
 12. The king of England and sir H. Spencer are taken 
 
 at sea, as they were endeavoring to escape from 
 Bristol castle 18 
 
 13. Sir Hush Spencer judged and executed 19 
 
 14. The coronation of king Edward HI 19 
 
 15. Robert Bruce, king of Scotland, defies king Ed- 
 
 ward 19 
 
 16. A dissension between the archers of England and 
 
 the Hainaulters 20 
 
 17. Of the manners of the Scots, and how they carry 
 
 on war 20 
 
 !8. King Edward's first expedition against the Scots.. .21 
 
 19. King Edward marries the lady Philippa of Hain- 
 
 ault 23 
 
 20. Robert, king of Scotland, dies 24 
 
 21. Philip of Valois crowned king of France 25 
 
 22. The battle of Cassel in Flanders 25 
 
 23. The earl of Kent and sir Roger Mortimer put to 
 
 death 25 
 
 24. King Edward pays homage to the king of France 
 
 for the duchy of Guienne 26 
 
 25. Robert, count d'Artois, banished France 27 
 
 26. King Edward takes the city of Berwick 27 
 
 27. King Philip of France and several other knights 
 
 put on the cross 29 
 
 28. King Edward is advised by his council to make 
 
 war against king Philip of France 29 
 
 29. .In cob Von Artaveld governs all Flanders 30 
 
 30. Certain nobles of Flanders defend the island of 
 
 Cadsant against the English 31 
 
 31. The battle of Cadsant, between the English and 
 
 the Flemings attached to the earl of Fltinders 31 
 
 33. Kin-r Edward makes great alliances in the empire. 31 
 
 33. David, king of Scotland, forms an alliance with 
 
 Philip, king of France 32 
 
 34. King Edward of England made vicar of the em- 
 
 pire of Germany 32 
 
 35. King Edward and his allies send challenges to the 
 
 king of France 33 
 
 3G. Sir Waiter Manny, after the challenges had been 
 sent, makes the first incursion into France 33 
 
 37. The French, alter the challenges, invade England. 33 
 
 38. King Edward besieges the city of Cambray 34 
 
 39. King Edwhrd creates sir Henry of Flanders a 
 
 knight, and afterwards marches into Picardy 34 
 
 40. The kings of France and England appoint a day 
 
 for their armies to engage 35 
 
 41. The kings of France and England draw up their 
 
 armies in battle array at Virenfosse 36 
 
 43. The two kings retire from Vironfosse without 
 giving battle 36 
 
 43. King Edward assumes the arms and title of king 
 
 of France 36 
 
 44. The French destroy the territories of sir John of 
 
 Hainault 37 
 
 45. The earl of Hainault takes and destroys Auben- 
 
 ton, in Tierache 38 
 
 46. Those of Tournay make an incursion into Flan- 
 
 ders 39 
 
 47. John, duke (.f Normandy, matches Into Hainault. .39 
 
 48. The garrison of Douay makes an incursion into 
 
 Ostrevant, during the absence of the earl of 
 Hainault in England and in Germany 41 
 
 40. The duke of Normandy lays siege to Thin 
 L'Eveniie 41 
 
 .tO. The naval engagement between the king of Eng- 
 land and the French, before Sluys 42 
 
 51. Robert, king of Sicily, endeavors to make peace 
 between the kings of France and England 43 
 
 Si. The king of England and his allies hold a confer- 
 ence at Vilvorde 43 
 
 b3. The king of England besieges the city of Tour- 
 nay with a powerful army 43 
 
 54. The carl of Hainault destroys the towns of Seclin 
 and Orchies 44 
 
 66 The Scots recover great part of their country 
 daring the tieice of Tournay 44 
 
 CHAP. PAOE. 
 
 66. The king of France assembles a large army in 
 order to raise the siege of Tournay 45 
 
 57. Some of the garrison of Bouchain defeat a body 
 
 of soldiers from Mortaque before the town of 
 Conde 45 
 
 58. Sir William de Bailleul and sir Vauflarts de la 
 
 Croiz, make an excursion to Pont-k-Tressin 45 
 
 59. The earl of Hainault attacks the fortress of Mor- 
 
 taque in various manners 46 
 
 60. The earl of Hainault takes the town of St. Ar- 
 
 mand, during the siege of Tournay 46 
 
 61. Sir Charles de Montmorency, and many others of 
 
 the French, captured at Pont-k-Tressin 47 
 
 62. The Flemings advance at St. Omer during the 
 
 siege of Tournay 47 
 
 63. The siege of Tournay raised by means of a truce. .48 
 
 64. The duke of Brittany dien -without heirs ; upon 
 
 which a war ensues for the succession 48 
 
 65. The earl of Montfort takes the town and castle 
 
 of Brest 49 
 
 66. The earl o** Montfort takes the city of Rennes £0 
 
 67. The earl of Montfort takes the tov/n ai;d castle of , 
 
 Hennebon 50 
 
 68. The earl of Montfort does homage to the king of 
 
 England for the dukedom of Brittany 51 
 
 69. The earl of Montfort summoned before the parlia- 
 
 ment of Paris, at the request of the lord Charles 
 de Blois 51 
 
 70. The duchy of Brittany adjudged by the parlia- 
 
 ment of Paris to the lord Charles de Blois 51 
 
 71. The lords of France enter Brittany with lord 
 
 Charles de Blois 52 
 
 72. The earl of Montfort taken prisoner at Nanten, 
 
 and the manner of his death 52 
 
 73. The king of England for the third time makes war 
 
 upon the Scots 53 
 
 74. King David of Scotland advances with a large 
 
 army to Newcastle-upon-Tyne 53 
 
 75. King David of Scotland takes and destroys the 
 
 city of Durham 54 
 
 76. The king of Scotland besieges Wark Castle, be- 
 
 longing to the earl of Salisbury 54 
 
 77. The king of England is enamored with the count- 
 
 ess of Salisibury 55 
 
 The earls of Salisbury and Moray are set at lib- 
 erty in exchange for each other 56 
 
 Lord Charles de Blois with some other lords of 
 
 France take the city of Rennes 56 
 
 80. The lord Charles de Blois besieges the countess 
 
 of Montfort in Hennebon 56 
 
 Sir Waiter Manny conducts the English into 
 
 Brittany 57 
 
 The castle of Conquet twice taken 57 
 
 The lord Lewis takes the lowns of Dinant and 
 Guerrande 53 
 
 84. Sir Walter Manny defeats the lord Lewis of 
 
 Spain, at Quimperle 58 
 
 85. Sir Walter Manny takes the castle of Guy la 
 
 Foret 59 
 
 86. The lord Charles de Blois takes the town of Car- 
 
 haix 50 
 
 87. Sir John Boteler and sir Matthew Trelawney are 
 
 rescued from death 59 
 
 88. Lord Charles de Blois takes the town and castle 
 
 of Jugon 60 
 
 The king of England makes great feasts and tour- 
 naments at London, through affection for the 
 countess of Salisbury 60 
 
 90. The king of England sends the lord Robert d'Ar- 
 tois into Brittany 61 
 
 91. A sea engagement, off Guernsey, between the 
 
 lord Robert d'Artois and the lord Lewis of Spain. 61 
 
 92. The lord Robert d'Artois takes the city of Vannes.62 
 
 93. The death of the lord Robert d'Artois 62 
 
 94. The king of England continues the war in person 
 
 in Brittany 63 
 
 95. The lord of Clisson and sir Herve de Leon are 
 
 taken prisoners by the English 63 
 
 96. The king of England takes the town of Dinant. 
 
 The lord Lewis of Spain makes some cruises at 
 sea 63 
 
 97. The duke of Normandy brings %vith him some 
 
 lords of France, to oppose the king of England 
 in Brittany 64 
 
 98. The king of England and the duke of Normandy 
 
 encamp their armies opposite to each other, near 
 to Vannes 64 
 
 99. The king of France orders the lord of Clisson. 
 
 and many other lords of Brittany and Nor- 
 mandy, to be beheaded 64 
 
 100. King Edward institutes the order of St. George 
 
 at Windsor 64 
 
 101. The king of England sets at liberty sir Herve de 
 
 Leon , 65 
 
 102. The king of England sends the earl of Derby to 
 
 make war in Gascony 65 
 
 103. The earl of Derby conquers Bergerac 66 
 
 104. The earl of Derby conquers many towns and 
 
 fortresses in Upper Gascony 66 
 
 105. The earl of Oxford is taken prisoner in Gascony, 
 
 but set at liberty by exchange 67 
 
 106. The count de Lisle, lieutenant for the king of 
 
 78. 
 
 79. 
 
 81. 
 
 82. 
 83. 
 
 CHAP. PA0B 
 
 France in Gascony, lays siege to the castle of 
 Auberoche 6iJ 
 
 107. The earl of Derby makes the count of Lisle, and 
 
 nine more counts and viscounts, prisoners, be- 
 fore Auberoche OB 
 
 108. The earl of Derby takes different tojvns in Gas- 
 
 cony, in his road toward La Reole 69 
 
 109. The earl of Derby la ys siege to La Roche, which 
 
 surrenders to him GP 
 
 110. Sir Walter Manny finds, in La Reole. the sepul- 
 
 chre of his father 70 
 
 111. The earl of Derby conquers the castle of La Reole.71 
 
 112. The earl of Derby lakes castle Moron, and after- 
 
 wards Villefranche, in Perigord 71 
 
 113. The earl of Derby conquers the ci^y of Angou- 
 
 leme 71 
 
 114. Sir Godfrey de Harcourt banished from France 72 
 
 115. Jacob Von Arfaveid is murdered at Ghent 72 
 
 116. William earl of Hainault is slain in Friezland, 
 
 and many noblemen with liim 73 
 
 117. Sir John of Hainault quits the alliance of Eng- 
 
 land for that of France 73 
 
 118. The duke of Normandy marches with a great 
 
 army into Gascony, against t!:a earl of Derby 73 
 
 119. Sir John Norwich escapes tVom Angouleme, 
 
 when that town surrenders to the French 74 
 
 120. The duke of Normandy lays siege to Aigudlon, 
 
 with a hundred thousand me!i 74 
 
 121. The king of England marches into Normandy 
 
 with his army, in three battalions 76 
 
 122. The king of France collects a large force to op- 
 
 pose the king of England 76 
 
 128. The battle of Caen. The English take the town.. 77 
 
 124. The English commit great disorders in Norman- 
 
 dy. Sir Godfrey de Harcourt encounters the men 
 of Amiens, on their way to Paris, and king Ed- 
 ward marches into Picardy 78 
 
 125. The king of France pursues the king of England 
 
 iu the country of Benuvais 73 
 
 126. The battle of Blanclietaque, between the king of 
 
 England and sir God^niar du Fay 79 
 
 127. The order of battle of the English at Crecy, who 
 
 were drawn up in three battalions on foot S) 
 
 128. The order of the French army at Crecy SO 
 
 129. The battle of Crecy, between the kings of France 
 
 and of England 81 
 
 130. The English, on the morrow, again defeat the 
 
 French 82 
 
 131. The English number the dead slain at the battle 
 
 of Crecy S3 
 
 132. T!ie king of England lays siege to Calais. Hie 
 
 poorer sort of the iniiabitantis are sent out of it 83 
 
 133. Tlie duke ot'Norri^andy raises the siege of Aguil- 
 
 lon ...83 
 
 134. Sit' William Manny, by mcius of a passport, rides 
 
 through Ftance from Aiguillon to Calais 83 
 
 135. The earl of Derby takes many towns and castles 
 
 in Poicou, and the city of Poitiers .'%4 
 
 136. The king of Scotland, during the siege of Calais, 
 
 invades England 84 
 
 1.77. The battle of Nevil's Cross 8a 
 
 138. John Copeland takes the king of Scotland pris- 
 
 oner, and receives great advantages from it 87 
 
 139. The young earl of Flanders is betrothed, through 
 
 the constraint of the Flemings, to the daughter 
 of the king of England. He escapes to France 
 in a subtle manner 87 
 
 140. The lord Robert do Naniur does homage to the 
 
 king of England before Calais 88 
 
 141. The Englisii conijuer La Koche-d'Enien, to 
 
 which place the lord Charles de Blois lays siege ..88 
 
 142. Tiie combat of La Roche-d'Errien, where the 
 
 lord Charles de Blois is made prisoner 89 
 
 143. The king of France collects a great army, to 
 
 raise the siege of Calais 83 
 
 144. The king of England guards all the passes round 
 
 Calais, so that the king oi' France cannot ap- 
 proach. CO raise the siege 90 
 
 145. The town of Calais surrenders to the king of Eng- 
 
 land 90 
 
 148. The king of Engla'sd re-peopies Calais 91 
 
 1-::. A robber of tiie name of Bacon does much mis- 
 chief in Languedoc 93 
 
 148. A page, of the nair.e of Croquart, turns robber — 92 
 
 149. Sir Amery de Pavie plots with sir GeofTry de 
 
 Chargny, to sell the town of Calais 93 
 
 150. Thebattie of Calais, between the king of Eng- 
 
 land, under the iianner of sir Walter Manny, 
 with sirGeofiry de Chargny and the French 93 
 
 151. The king of England presents a chaplet of pearls 
 
 to sir Eustace de Ribeaumont 94 
 
 Additions from tivu MSS. in the Hafod Library, 
 not in any of the printed copies 94 
 
 152. The death of king Philip, and coronation of his 
 
 son John 96 
 
 153. The king of Navarre causes the lord Charles of 
 
 Spain, constable of France, to be murdered; 
 with other matters 97 
 
 154. The t8.\" of the gabelle imposed throughout 
 
 France, by the three estates, on account of the 
 war 99 
 
 155. The king of France arrests the king of Navarre, 
 
VIII 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. PAGE. 
 
 anil orders the earl of Ilarcourt and others to be 
 l»eliea(leil at Uouen 99 
 
 156. 1'lie kiiij; of rr;uice issues out summons for as- 
 seinlilin^an army to combat the prince of Wales, 
 who was overrunnhit; the province of Berry 100 
 
 i57 'J'lie prince of Wales takes the castle llomorantin.lOl 
 
 im. The kinc of Fratice leads a great army to the bat- 
 tle of Poitiers 101 
 
 r5:t. 'Die disposition of the French beforfe the battle of 
 
 Poitiers.... 102 
 
 I'U. 'I'iie canliiml de Perigord endeavors to make 
 jieace ijetween the king of France and the 
 prince of Wales, previous to the battle of 
 I'oitiers...., 102 
 
 Iril. TliP battle of Poitiers, between the prince of 
 
 Wales aiul tl;e king of France 103 
 
 lb'2. Two Frenchmen, running away from the battle 
 of Poitiers, are pursued by two Englishmen, 
 who are themselves made prisoners 105 
 
 163. The manner in which king John was taken pris- 
 
 oner at the battle of Poitiers 105 
 
 164. The i)riace of Wales makes a handsome present 
 
 t() the lord James Audley, after the battle of 
 Poitiers 106 
 
 165. Tiic English gain very considerably at the battle 
 
 •if Poitiers 106 
 
 U)6. The lord James Audley gives to his squires the 
 
 pension of live hundred marcs he had received 
 
 Ironi the prince 107 
 
 W. The prince of Wales entertains the king of 
 
 France at supper, the evening after the battle.. .107 
 1()8. The prince of Wales returns to Bordeaux, after 
 
 the battle of Poitiers 108 
 
 W. 'i'lie three estates of France assemble at Paris, 
 
 ■ifier the battle of Poitiers 108 
 
 170. The tliree estates send men-at arms against sir 
 
 Godfrey de Harcourt 109 
 
 171. The buttle of Coutantin, between sir Godfrey de 
 
 Harcourt and sir Raoul de Reyneval 109 
 
 172. The prince of Wales conducts the king of France 
 
 from Bordeaux to England HO 
 
 173. Davul Bruce, king of Scotland, obtains his lib- 
 
 erty 110 
 
 174. The duke of Lancaster lays siege to Rennes Ill 
 
 175. A knight of the county of Evreux, called sir 
 
 William de Graville, reconquers the city and 
 castle of Evreux from the king of France, who 
 had taken it from the king of Navarre Ill 
 
 176. The Archpriest assembles ^ company of men-at- 
 
 arms. He is much honored at Avignon Ill 
 
 177. A Welchman, of the name of RufRn, commands 
 
 a troop of free companies 112 
 
 178. The provost of the merchants of Paris kills three 
 
 knights in the apartment of the regent 112 
 
 179. By what means the king of Navarre escapes out 
 
 of prison 112 
 
 !80 The king of Navarre makes a solemn harangue- 
 to the Parisians 112 
 
 181. The commencement of the infamous Jacquerie of 
 
 Beauvoisis 112 
 
 183. The kins of Navarre defeats many of the villains 
 
 in Beauvoisis. The provost of merchants builds 
 a wall round Paris 113 
 
 184. The battle of Meaux in Brie, where the villains 
 
 are discomfited by the earl of Foix and the cap- 
 tal of Buch .113 
 
 185. Paris besieged by the duke of Normandy, regent 
 
 of France 114 
 
 186. Some Parisians are slain at St. Cloud, by the Eng- 
 
 lish, who had been soldiers in Paris 114 
 
 187. Tlie fleath of the provost of the merchants of Paris.115 
 
 188. The king of Navarre declares war against France, 
 
 the French king being at the time a prisoner in 
 
 England 116 
 
 1B9. The Navarrois are besieged in the castle of Mau- 
 
 consei! by the men of Picardy 116 
 
 190. Several of the citizens of Amiens attempt to give 
 
 up that city to the Navarrois. A famine in 
 France 117 
 
 191. The men of Picardy besiege the Navarrois in St. 
 
 Valery. The kingdom of France is filled with 
 Navarrois 117 
 
 192. The canon de Robesart defeats the Navarrois in 
 
 the Laonnois, near to Creil 118 
 
 193. 'J'he Navarrois surrender St. Valery to the 
 
 French, who had besieged it a long time 118 
 
 194. The lord Philip de Navarre assembles three thou- 
 
 sand men to raise the siege of St. Valery 118 
 
 195. Sir Peter Audley leads a party of Navnrrois, in 
 
 the night, to take Chalons Il9 
 
 196. The earl de Roucy taken a second time 120 
 
 197. Three queens with the Navarrois, are besieged 
 
 in Melun 120 
 
 198. Sir Broqnart de Fenestrages. with many French, 
 
 draw up in battle array against sir Eustace d'- 
 Anibreticourt and the Enelish in Champagne... 120 
 
 199. Tiie battle of Nogent-sur-Seine, between sir Bro- 
 
 qunrt de Fenestrages and the French, and sir 
 Eustace d'Ambreticourt and the English 121 
 
 200. The pillagers, who had kept possession of different 
 
 fortresses in France, begin wonderfully to fall off.121 
 
 201. The French refuse to ratify the treaty which king 
 
 John hail entered into with England 122 
 
 ' 202. Sir Eustace d'Ambreticourt obtains his liberty by 
 
 a great ransom 122 
 
 203. Sir Broquart de Fenestrages forces payment from 
 
 the duke of Normandy, regent of France 122 
 
 204 Sir Robert Knolles makes an excursion into Berry 
 
 and Auvergne. He is pursued by the gentlemen 
 
 of those countries 122 
 
 CHAP. PAGE. 
 
 205. Some Germans wait for the king of England at Ca- 
 
 lais, to attend him in his expedition mto France, 
 during the tune kmg John was in England 123 
 
 206. The king of England leads a great army into 
 
 France, during the time the king of France was 
 a prisoner in England. The arrangement of the 
 army of England 123 
 
 207. The king of England leaves Calais. The order 
 
 of his army in their march through Picardy to- 
 ward Rheims 124 
 
 208. The king of England lays siege to the city of 
 
 Rheims, and to the castle of Chargny. The war 
 recommences between the duke of Normandy 
 and the king of Navarre 125 
 
 209. The lord of Roye and his company defeat the re- 
 
 mainder of the troops of the lord of Goniegines. 
 The castle of Commercy surrenders to the Eng- 
 lish 127 
 
 210. The king of England, after he had raised the siege 
 
 of Rheims, wastes and destroys all the countries 
 he passes through. He comes to Guillon, where 
 he remains. Great quantities of provisions fol- 
 low the army 128 
 
 211. The king of England lays the kingdom of Francs 
 
 under great tribulation. A Cordelier friar pro- 
 phecies. The English place an ambuscade for 
 those who should come out of Paris 129 
 
 212. The form and tenor of the paper drawn up as ar- 
 
 ticles of the peace which was concluded before 
 Chartres, between the kings of France and 
 England 130 
 
 213. The transactions of the two kings of France and 
 
 England, when at Calais, respecting the duchy 
 of Brittany and some lands of the late Godfrey 
 de Harcourt. King John sets out from Calais 
 and returns home in freedom 133 
 
 214. Commissioners appointed on both sides to see the 
 
 garrisons in the kingdom of France evacuated. 
 Diflferent bodies of armed men overrun the king- 
 dom, and do much mischief. 134 
 
 215. The lord James de Bourbon and his army are de- 
 
 feated by these freebooting companies. The 
 pope orders a crusade to be proclaimed, after 
 they -have taken the Pont du St. Esprit, and finds 
 means to get rid of them 135 
 
 216. The deaths of the dukes of Lancaster and Bur- 
 
 gundy, which last causes new dissensions be- 
 tween the kings of France and Navarre. The 
 prince of Wales crosses the sea to Aquitaine 137 
 
 217. The kings of France and of Cyprus undertake and 
 
 swear to perform a crusade against the infidels. 
 The king of Cyprus makes earnest solicitations 
 for assistance to many king? and pripces in di- 
 vers places of Christendom 138 
 
 218. The king of England detains the hostages as pri- 
 
 soners. The king of Cyprus uses great entreaties 
 with the kings of Navarre and England, and 
 the prince of Wales, to induce them to under- 
 take this croisade against the Saracens 139 
 
 219. King John returns, of his own free will, to Eng- 
 
 land, and dies there 140 
 
 220. King Charles of France makes wise preparations 
 
 against the king of Navarre, immediately after 
 the death of John his fiither, and before his coro- 
 nation 141 
 
 221 The king of Cyprus returns to Paris. The fimeral 
 of king John at St. Denis. The captal de Buch 
 makes an attack on sir Bertrand du Guesclin 143 
 
 222. The battle between the French under sir Bertrand 
 
 du Guesclin. and the Navarrois under the captal 
 de Buch, at Cocherel in Normandy. Tiie captal 
 is made prisoner, and victory declares for the 
 French 144 
 
 223. Charles V., surnamed the Wise, is crowned king 
 
 of France. His brother Philip is invested with 
 the duchy of Burgundy, and sent against the 
 free companies of pillagers 146 
 
 224. The lord Lewis of Navarre makes incursions into 
 
 France. The duke of Burgundy plans several 
 expeditions against him, but is forced to go into 
 Burgundy, to defend it against the earl de Mount- 
 behart ....147 
 
 225. King Charles orders the duke of Burgundy to be- 
 
 siege La Charit6. He wants it to surrender un- 
 conditionally, that he may send assistance to 
 lord Charles de Blois, wlio is contesting the 
 duchy of Brittany with the earl of Montfoit 148 
 
 226. The lord Charles de Blois advances airainst the 
 
 earl of Montfort in order of battle. Sir John 
 Chandos, after having drawn up the battalions 
 of the earl of Montfort, prevents the treaty from 
 taking place which the lord de Beauinanoir was 
 negotiating between the two pretenders to the 
 duchy of Brittany 149 
 
 227. The battle of Auray, in which sir Bertrand du 
 
 Guesclin is made prisoner, Chns. de Blois is slain, 
 and John de Montfort is victorious 150 
 
 228. The chiefs attached to the earl of Montfort retire 
 
 after the victory at Auray. The earl's conduct 
 on seeing Charles de Blois dead. Truces granted 
 for burying the slain. In what manner the king 
 of England was informed of the event of this 
 battle of Auray 151 
 
 229. The earl of Montfort conquers Auray and several 
 
 other places from the widow of lord Charles de 
 Blois. King Charles interposes between them 
 and makes peace. A peace is also made between 
 the kings of France and Navarre, through the 
 
 medium of the captal de Buch 152 
 
 230 A war iik Spain between tha luo^r Don Pedro, of 
 
 CHAP. PAGB. 
 
 Castille, and his bastard brother Henry, to whose 
 aid the lord John de Bourbon and sir Bertrand du 
 Guesclin lead their pillaging companies. Henry, 
 by their means, is crowned king of Custille 153 
 
 231. King Don Pedro sends to entreat the prince of 
 
 Wales' assistance against his brother Henry the 
 Bastard. He retires into Guienne, where he is 
 well received by the prince 155 
 
 232. The prince of Wales holds a grand conference at 
 
 Bordeaux on the aflirirs of the king of Castille. 
 He receives letters from the king of England to 
 . assent to the proposals of assisting Don Pedro. 
 He makes overtures to the king of Navarre, for 
 a free passage through his kingdom, to enable 
 him to conduct Don Pedro back to Castille 156 
 
 ^i3. The prince of Wales makes preparations for re- 
 placing Don Pedro on his throne of Castille. 
 Henry the Bastard, though late informed of it, 
 endeavors to prevent it 1S7 
 
 234. The viscount of Narbonne, the seneschal of Tou- 
 louse, with other French lords, having attacked 
 some of the free companies, that were come into 
 France according to the orders of the prince, are 
 discomfited near Montauban. The pope forbids 
 the prisoners whom the companies had taken, 
 and set free on their parole after the combat, to 
 keep their faith, or to pay any ransom 158 
 
 285. During the time the prince of Wales is preparing 
 for his expedition into Castille, the king of Ma- 
 jorca seeks refuge with him against the king of 
 Arragon. The prince displeases thelord d'Albret.l58 
 
 236. The birth of Richard, son of the prince of Wales. 
 
 The arrival of the duke of l^ancaster to accom- 
 pany his brother on his intended expedition. 
 New treaties with the king of Navarre, for the 
 security of passing through his kingdom. Sir 
 Bertrand du Guesclin returns to the assistance 
 of king Henry ifiO 
 
 237. The prince of Wales and his army pass the 
 
 mountains of Navarre, and arrive at Pampe- 
 luna. King Henry of Castille writes letters to 
 him. Sir William Felton commands an ad- 
 vanced party of the army 161 
 
 238. The king of Navarre is made prisoner by sir Oli- 
 
 vier de Mauny, a Breton and partisan of king 
 Henry. The prince of Wales advances to Sal- 
 vatierra in Spain. Sir William Felton skirm- 
 ishes with the enemy, near the quarters of the 
 king of Spain. The two armies advance toward 
 
 each other 163 
 
 289. The arrival of sir Bertrand du Guesclin to the aid 
 of king Henry. Don Tello attacks the advanced 
 guard of the prince of Wales, defeats sir Wil- 
 liam Felton and his body of men 164 
 
 240. Sir Arnold d'Andreehen gives good advice to 
 
 king Henry of Castille. The prince of Wales 
 sends a tardy answer to the king's letter 164 
 
 241. The battle of Navaretta, which the prince of 
 
 Wales, supporting the part of king Don Pedro 
 against his brother the bastard, gains. Sir Ber- 
 trand du Guesclin is made prisoner, and king 
 Henry f jrced to fly, after having fought mosl 
 valiantly 1(5 
 
 242. All Castille, after the battle of Navaretta, ac- 
 
 knowledge Don Pedro. He protracts the stay 
 of the prince of Wales at Valladolid, while he 
 seeks for money to pay the army 168 
 
 243. King Henry of Castille, having escaped from the 
 
 battle of Najarra, makes war upon Aquitaine. 
 The prince of Wales leaves Spain discontented 
 
 with the king Don Pedro 168 
 
 1544. After the return of the prince to Aquitaine, Henry 
 king of Castille leaves Bagnieies in Bigorre, and 
 retires to the kingdom of Arragon. Sir Bertrand 
 du Guesclin obtains his ransom. The free com- 
 panies of the prince enter the kingdom ef 
 France. Some of the great barons of Aqui- 
 taine complain to king Charles of France of a 
 certain tax, called Foiiage, which the prince 
 was about to lay on their lands 170 
 
 245. The bastard Henry of Castille, by the assistance 
 
 of the king of Arragon and sir Bertrand du 
 Guesclin, again makes war upon his brother 
 Don Pedro. Having defeated him in a battle, 
 he is made prisoner, and murdered. Henry re- 
 mains king of Spain 172 
 
 246. King Charles V. is advised to declare himself lord 
 
 paramount of Guienne and Aquitaine, on ac- 
 count of the hearth tax which the prince of Wales 
 was about to raise. This causes a renewal of 
 the war between the French and English 174 
 
 247. The king of France sends a summons to the 
 
 P'ince of Wales, to appear in the chamber of 
 peers at Paris, in the matter of an appeal from 
 the barons of Gascony 176 
 
 248. The prince of Wal^ imprisons the commission- 
 
 ers from the king of France, who had brouglit 
 him the summons of appeal from the lords of 
 Gascony to the court of France 176 
 
 249. The duke of Berry and several more lords who 
 
 had been hostages in England, ;«turn to France. 177 
 
 250. The earl of Perigord, the viscount of Carmaing, 
 
 and other barons of Gascony, defeat the high 
 steward of Rouergue 177 
 
 ffil. The king of France gains over several captains of 
 the Iree companies. He sends his defiance to 
 the king of England 178 
 
 252. Challenges from France are delivered to the king 
 of England. The eari de Saint Pol and the lord 
 de Chatillon conquei the county cf Ponthieu. .. iT8 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 IX 
 
 CHAP. PAGE. 
 
 253. Tlie king of England sends a large body of men- 
 at-arms to the herders of Scotland. The dukes 
 of Berry and Anjou issue their orders for their 
 vassals to attack the prince of Wales 179 
 
 854. Several captains of companies side with different 
 parties. The king of Englund sends the earl of 
 Cambridge and the earl of Pembroke to the as- 
 sistance of his son the prince of Wales. They 
 pass through L rittany 179 
 
 255. Th6 earls of Cam bridge and of Pembroke arrive 
 
 at Angouleme. The prince sends them to over- 
 run the country of Perigord. Some English are 
 defeated near Lusignan. 180 
 
 256. Sir John Chandos takes Terrieres. The earl of 
 
 Perigord and many other knights lay siege to 
 llealville in Quercy ....180 
 
 257. The archbishop of Toulouse turns the city of 
 
 Caliors and several other towns to !he party of 
 the king of France. The dukes of Gaeldres and 
 of Juliers send defiances to the king of France... 181 
 
 258. The duke of Burgundy, brother to king Charles 
 
 v.. marries the daughter of the earl of Flanders. 
 The king of England enters into negotiations 
 
 witli the king of Navarre 182 
 
 ffi9. Tlie constables of France and of Hainault under- 
 take a grand expedition to attack Ardres. The 
 fortress of Realville is taken, and all the English 
 who were in it put to the sword 182 
 
 260. The French take La Roche Posay. The sene- 
 
 schal of Poitou burns and destroys the lands of 
 the lord de Chauvigny, and takes by assault his 
 principal town of Brux 183 
 
 261. Sir Robert Knolles is appointed captain of the 
 
 prince's company. He causes sir Perducas d'Al- 
 bret to turn lo the English. He besieges the 
 
 French compi;:iies in the fort of Durmel 183 
 
 263. Sir Robert Knolles and sir John Chandos raise 
 the siege of Durmel. They lay siege to the cas- 
 tle of Donime 184 
 
 263. Sir Robert Knolles and sir John Chandos march 
 
 from Domme without doing anything. They 
 take Gavaches, Rocheinador, and several other 
 towns which had turned to the party of the 
 French 184 
 
 264. The earls of Cambridge and of Pembroke con- 
 
 quer the garrison of Bourdeilles 185 
 
 2(5, Sir Robert Knolles, sir John Chandos, and sir 
 Thomas Felton, marshal their men, and return 
 to the prince of Wales 185 
 
 266. The free companies attached to the English take 
 
 the castle of Belleperche, and the mother of the 
 duke of Bourbon who was in it. They also 
 take the strong castle of St. Sauveur in Berry 186 
 
 267. The king of France, intending to send a large 
 
 naval armament to the English coast, is pre- 
 vented by the arrival of the duke of Lancaster 
 at Calais 186 
 
 268. The castle of La Roche Sur Yon surrenders to 
 
 the English. The governor of it put to death, 
 by orders from the duke of Anjou 186 
 
 208. The duke of Burgundy marches from the city of 
 Rouen, with the intention of combating the 
 duke of Lancaste'" and the English. The two 
 armies are encamped opposite to each other at 
 Tourneheim 187 
 
 270. Sir John Chandos does great mischief to the pro- 
 vince of Anjou. He despoils the estates of the 
 viscount de Roche-Chouart, except the fortresses 
 and strongholds 187 
 
 S71. The lord Louis de Sancerre surprises the earl of 
 Pembroke. Several of his men are slain, and 
 the earl is besieged in a house at Puirenon 188 
 
 272. Sir John Chandos comes to the assistance of the 
 
 earl of Pembroke, besieged in Puirenon 189 
 
 273. The death of queen Philippa of England: she 
 
 makes three requests to the king on her death- 
 bed. Some Frenchmen, having attacked the 
 English camp at Tourneheim, are repulsed by 
 sir Robert de Namur 189 
 
 j574. The duke of Burgundy and his army decamp 
 without a battle. The duke of Lancaster re- 
 turns to Calais 190 
 
 275. The earl of Pembroke, desirous of avenging him- 
 self for the defeat he received at Puirenon, 
 makes an incursion to Anjou. The Abbey of 
 St. Salvin in Poitou is betrayed to the French 
 and forfeited 191 
 
 tie. The county of St. Pol in Picardy is pillaged and 
 ruined by the English. Sir Hugh de Chastillon 
 is taken prisoner 191 
 
 2i78. Sir John Chandos is slain in a skirmish. The 
 French, at first victorious, are in the end de- 
 feated 192 
 
 279. The lord de Coucy and the lord de Pommiers are 
 
 unwilling to take part willi either side in this 
 war. The lords de Maleval and de Marneil turn 
 to the French 194 
 
 280. The form of the letter which the English king sent 
 
 into Aquitaine. Chatelheraiit is taken by the 
 French, and Belleperche is besieged 194 
 
 281. The earls of Cambridse and Pembroke carry off 
 
 the mother of the duke of Bourbon with the 
 garrison of Belleperche. The duke of Bourbon 
 takes possession of that cusle 195 
 
 'B2. The four brothers of France have a meeting. 
 Their preparations for the v\ ar. The mother of 
 the duke of Bourbon obta ns her liberty. A 
 treaty entered into between the kings of France 
 and Navarre 196 
 
 BBS. Sir Bertranddu Guesclin lea vei Spain and arrives 
 
 CHAP. PAGE. 
 
 at Toulouse, where the duke of Anjou receives 
 him with great joy. They take together several 
 castles from the English 197 
 
 284. The duke of Berry invades Limousin 197 
 
 285. A truce is established between England and Scot- 
 
 land. Sir Robert Knolles overruns, burns and 
 ravages the whole countries of Picardy and Ver- 
 mandois 158 
 
 286. The garrison of Noyon make the English prison- 
 
 ers who had set fire to Pont L'Eveque. The 
 king of France sends for sir Bertrand du Guesc- 
 lin 198 
 
 287. The prince of Wales assembles his army at Cog- 
 
 nac, where he meets his brother the duke of 
 Lancaster. The dukes of Anjou and Berry 
 break up their expedition, Limoges having 
 turned to the French 199 
 
 288. The prince of Wales, anxious to recover Limo- 
 
 ges, lays siege to it, and undermines it 199 
 
 289. Sir Robert Knolles, in continuing his incursions 
 
 through difierent provinces of France, advances 
 near to Paris. A knight of his army, in return- 
 ing from a vain-glorious expedition, is slain by a 
 butcher of Paris 200 
 
 290. Sir Bertrand du Guesclin takes the fortress of St. 
 
 y vrier in Limousin. The prince of Wales re- 
 conquers Limoges 200 
 
 291. Sir Bertrand du Guesclin is made constable of 
 
 France 201 
 
 292. Sir Bertrand du Guesclin and the lord de Clisson 
 
 defeat the forces of sir Robert Knolles at Pont- 
 Valin 202 
 
 293. Sir Eustace d'Ambreticourt is made prisoner and 
 
 ransomed. Sir Raymond de Marneil. a partisan 
 of France, is taken, and in imminent danger, 
 but saved by his keeper 202 
 
 294. The prince of Wales, having lost by death his 
 
 eldest son, gives up the duchy of Aquitaine to 
 the careoftheduke of Lancaster. Four knights 
 of Brittany take the castle of Mont-Paon 203 
 
 295. The four knights defend themselves against the 
 
 duke of Lancaster. The duke, on taking the 
 place, admits them to ransom 203 
 
 296. The duke of Lancaster disbands his army, and 
 
 returns to Bordeaux. The lord de Pons turns to 
 the French party 204 
 
 297. The English take the castle of Montcontour 204 
 
 298. Sir Bertrand du Guesclin, constable of France, 
 
 besieges the town of Uses, which surrenders to 
 him upon capitulation 205 
 
 299. The king of England's anger against sir Robert 
 
 Knolles is appeased. Peace is made between the 
 English and Flemings 205 
 
 300. The king of Majorca is ransomed from king Henry 
 
 of Spain. He makes war on the king of Arra- 
 gon 206 
 
 301. The duke of Lancaster espouses the eldest daugh- 
 
 ter of the late Don Pedro, king of Spain. Treat- 
 ies of alliance are entered into between the kings 
 of France and Spain 206 
 
 302. The duke of Lancaster appoints governors in 
 
 Guienne: he returns to England, and carries 
 his lady with him. Sir Walter Manny dies in 
 London 206 
 
 303. The king of England appoints the earl of Pem- 
 
 broke governor of Aquitaine. The Spaniards, 
 being allies of France, attack him at sea, oflfLa 
 Rochelle... 207 
 
 304. Tne inhabitants of La Rochelle refuse to assist 
 
 the earl of Pembroke. The seneschal and the 
 lord de Tannaybouton, with others, come to his 
 aid : 208 
 
 305. The earl of Pembroke is defeated, and made pris- 
 
 oner by the Spaniards. They sail from La 
 Rochelle with their prisoners. The captal de 
 Buch arrives there, but too late 208 
 
 306. Evan of Wales defeats the English off the island 
 
 of Guernsey. The king of France sends him to 
 Spain to seek for men-at-arms, to lay siege to 
 La Rochelle 209 
 
 307. The king of England is much cast down at the 
 
 capture of the earl of Pembroke. Evan of Wales 
 meets the earl a prisoner in Spain 2(© 
 
 308. The constable du Guesclin takes the castle of 
 
 Monmorillon, and other places in Poitou 210 
 
 309. The constable of France takes Moncontour by a 
 
 capitulation. He marches from thence to form a 
 junction with the duke of Berry m the Limousin, 
 when they lay siege to St. Severe 210 
 
 310. The garrison of St. Severe, after a sharp assault, 
 
 surrenders to sir Bertrand du Guesclin. The 
 city of Poitiers turns to the French party 211 
 
 311. The French make the captal de Buch prisoner. 
 
 La Rochelle turns to the French 211 
 
 312. Sir Bertrand du Guesclin takes several castles i* 
 
 the Rochellois. The king of England embarks 
 to come to the assistance of Thouars, but is 
 prevented by contrary winds : upon which those 
 of Thouars, and many others in Poitou, surren- 
 der to the French 213 
 
 313. The duke of Brittany dares not openly declare for 
 
 the king of England. Sii Bertrand du Guesclin 
 lays siege to Civray. The English are defeated, 
 and the whole of the countries of Poitou, Sain- 
 tonge, and La Rochelle, are given up to the 
 French 214 
 
 314. The siege of Becherel. Peace between the kings 
 
 of France and Navarre. The death of the king 
 of Scotland 215 
 
 315. The earl of Salisbury, lir William NevUle, sir 
 
 CHAP. PAei* 
 
 PhilipdJourtenay, with many other men-ut-arms. 
 land m Brittany. The constable of France 
 marches thither ; on which the duke of Brittany 
 goes to England 216 
 
 316. The French besiege lour different places. La 
 Roche-sur-Yon surrenders to the French. The 
 siege of Brest is raised by a capitulation, which 
 is not kei)t 217 
 
 217. The duke of Lancaster lands at Calais, and in- 
 vades Picardy. A part of his army defeated by 
 the lord de Boursiers before Ribemoiit. Another 
 part of his army is efeated near Soissons by an 
 ambuscade of Burgundians and French 218 
 
 318. The hostages sent from Derval are beheaded. Sir 
 
 Robert Knolles retaliates on those priboiies whom 
 he had taken. The duke of Lancaster finishes 
 his expedition 219 
 
 319. The duke of Anjou's campaign into Upper Gas- 
 
 cony 220 
 
 320. The earl of Pembroke and his companions are 
 
 ransomed. A short truce between the French 
 and English. Becherel surrenders on terms. 
 The deatli of the earl of Pembroke 220 
 
 321. Several towns in Gascony surrender to the king of 
 
 France. Sir Hugh de Chastillon returns from 
 prison. The castle of Becherel surrenders to the 
 French 220 
 
 322. A truce agreed on at Bruges between the kings of 
 
 Franct and England. The duke of Brittany re- 
 tires to his own country, and regains some of his 
 towns and castles 221 
 
 323. Some Breton lords of the French party are near 
 
 being taken by the duke of Brittany, but are de- 
 livered by the treaties at Bruges 223 
 
 324. St. Sauveur LeVicomte surrenders to the French. 
 
 The lord de Coucy leads a large army into Aus- 
 tria, which he claims as his inheritance 223 
 
 325. The truce between France and England is pro- 
 
 longed. 1 he death of the Black Piince. The 
 lord de Coucy returns, having had indifferent 
 success 221 
 
 326. Richard, son to the prince of Wales, is ackow- 
 
 ledged as presumptive heir to the crown of Eng- 
 land. The negotiations for peace having failed, 
 and the truces expired, the war is renewed be- 
 tween the French and English 223 
 
 W. Pope Gregory XI. leaves Avignon, and returns to 
 Rome. On the death of Edward 111., Richard, 
 son of the late prince of Wales, is crowned king 
 of England 224 
 
 328. The king of France equips for sea a large fleet, 
 
 which burns several towns in England 225 
 
 329. The town of Ardres surrenders to the French. The 
 
 death of the captal de Buch and of the queen of 
 France 225 
 
 330. The war recommences between the king of Fiance 
 
 and the king of Navane. The siege of Cher- 
 bourg. The duke of Lancaster invades Brittany. 
 The castle of Auray surrenders \o the French 225 
 
 331. The French garrison of Montbourg is defeated by 
 
 the English at Cherbourg 226 
 
 VOLUME II. 
 
 1. The duke of Anjou undertakes an expedition 
 
 against the English in the Bourdelois 237 
 
 2. Sir Thomas Felton is defeated and made prisoner. 
 
 with many nf the principal lords of Gascony, by 
 , a party of French at the siege of Bergerac 228 
 
 3. Bergerac surrenders to the duke of Anjou. The 
 
 lords de Duras and de Rosem, afler having pro- 
 mised to be of the French interest, return again 
 to the English 229 
 
 4. Castillon, Sauveterre, and several other places in 
 
 Gascony, surrender to the duke of Anjou 235 
 
 5. The duke of Anjou takes the town and castle of 
 
 St. Macaire by capitulation. The town of Du- 
 ras by storm, but the castle receives quarter 23C 
 
 6. The duke of Anjou returns to the duchess at Tou- 
 
 louse, and the constable to the king of France. 
 Evan of Wales lays siege to Mortain-sur-Mer....231 
 
 7. King Charles of France instigates the Scots to 
 
 make war on England. Tlie Scots take the cas- 
 tle of Berwick 233 
 
 8. The eurl of Northumberland retakes the castle of 
 
 Berwick 232 
 
 9. The earls of Northumberland and Nottingham 
 
 enter Scotland witli a large army 233 
 
 10. Sir Thomas Musgrave and the English under his 
 
 command are defeated by the Scots 234 
 
 11. The deaths of the queens of France and Navarre. 
 
 and the renewal of the feuds between their two 
 hu bands 239 
 
 12. The death of pope Gregory XI. After the sud- 
 
 den death of his immediate successor the cardi- 
 nals are constrained to elect Urban VI. which 
 causes a schism in the church of Rome .235 
 
 13. The king of Navarre sends embassadors to France 
 
 in hopes of regaining possession of his children. 
 Two of his people are convicted of having at- 
 tempted to poison the king of France 2S6 
 
 14. The king of France orders the possessions of the 
 
 king of Navarre to be seized, as well in Nor- 
 mandy as in Languedoc. The king of Navarre 
 forms an alliance with the English. The terras 
 of that alliance 23t 
 
 15. The lords de Coucy and de la Riviere take several 
 
 places in the county of Evreux. from the king of 
 Navarre 37 
 
 16. The duke of Anjou retains large bodies of men 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CaiP PA.OE. 
 at-arms against the English. The Spaniards 
 lay siege to Bayonne 238 
 
 17. The English, at this period, maite excursions into 
 
 various parts of the kuigdoin of France. TJie 
 melancholy death of Ev;ni of Wales 238 
 
 18. The inhabitants of Evreux surrender to the 
 
 French. The two armies assemble before St. 
 MaJo 239 
 
 19 The English raise the siege of Mortain 240 
 
 20 The English recover several slrong castles from 
 
 the French in the Bourdelois 241 
 
 21 The mine which the English had made at St. 
 
 Malo fails. In consequence, the siege is raised.. 241 
 23. Sir Oliver du Guesclin is made prisoner by the 
 garrison of Ciierbourg 241 
 
 83. The French garrison of Bersat is defeated. The 
 
 town surrenders to the English. The king of 
 Navarre comes to Bordeaux, to solicit aid 
 from the English 242 
 
 84. The infant of Castille besieges Pampeluna. Sir 
 
 Thomas Trivet, ni conducting succors to the 
 king of Navarre, takes several places in Gas- 
 cony from the French 243 
 
 25. Sir Thomas Trivet with tiie English come to the 
 succor of the king of Navarre. The siege of 
 Pampeluna is raised 243 
 
 86. The English and Navarrois overrun the kingdom 
 of Spain. The events that befel them there 244 
 
 27. Sir Thomas Trivet makes an excursion to the 
 
 town of Alfaro in Castille. Peace concluded 
 between the kings of Spain and Navarre. The 
 death of Henry king of Spain. IIis son John is 
 crowned as his successor 244 
 
 28. The lord de Mucident turns to the English. The 
 
 lord de Langurant is mortally wounded. The 
 governor of Bouteville is defeated, and the cas- 
 tle surrenders to the French 245 
 
 29. Sir Thomas Trivet returns to England with his 
 
 companions. His herald relates to the duke of 
 Lancaster the particulars of the death of king 
 Henry of Castille, and the coronation of his el- 
 dest son Don John 246 
 
 30. Tlie earl of Flanders stops the progress of an em- 
 
 bassador from the king of France to Scotland : 
 this causes great dissensions between them 246 
 
 31. The duke of Brittany retu-es from Flanders to 
 
 England. Tlie young count de St. Pol, while 
 a prisoner in England, marries 247 
 
 32. The duke of Anjou makes war on Brittany. Sir 
 
 William des Bordes is taken prisoner by the 
 
 garrison of Cherbourg 248 
 
 3S. Geotfrey Tete-Noir and Aymerigot Marcel, cap- 
 tarns attached to England, take several strong 
 places in Auvergne and Limousin from the 
 French 248 
 
 34. A schism in the church. The cause of it. The 
 
 Bretons make war on tiie Romans. The queen 
 of Naples gives up her territories to pope Clem- 
 ent VH 249 
 
 35. Pope Clement goes to Avignon. He makes the 
 
 duke of Anjou magnificent presents. Sir Silves- 
 ter Budes and his companions are beheaded 249 
 
 36. The state of Flanders before the war. The causes 
 
 of the disputes between the earl of Flanders and 
 the Flemings. John Lyoa introduces the dis- 
 tinction of White Hoods 250 
 
 37. By the exhortations of Joha Lyon, the inhabit- 
 
 ants of Ghent send some of tlieir principal citi- 
 zens to the earl of Flanders, to demand the 
 preservation of their liberties and franchises. 
 The earl requests these citizens to abolish the 
 White Hoods 251 
 
 38. The White Hoods murder the bailiff of Ghent in 
 
 the midst of the market. The houses and goods 
 of the family of the Matthews are destroyed. 
 A grand confusion in Ghent 252 
 
 39. Twelve citizens of Ghent are deputed to the earl 
 
 of Flanders. The White Hoods pillatre and 
 burn the castle of Andreghien, of which the 
 earl was very fond 254 
 
 40. The death of John Lyon. The men of Ghent 
 
 choose captains to command them. Several 
 towns in Flanders ally themselves with Ghent. . .265 
 
 41. The men of Ghent besiege the town of Oude- 
 
 narde on all sides. They make a grand assault 
 on the earl of Flanders in Hendremonde 256 
 
 42. Several assaults are made on Ondenarde. Peace 
 
 concluded between the Fleinings and the earl 
 of Flanders, by means of the duke of Burgundy .237 
 
 43. The duke of Brittany returns from England, at 
 
 the entreaty of his subjects. The Enelish are 
 desirous of marryinsr t.'ieir youns king. The 
 knights of England sent tn the aid of the duke 
 of Brittany meet with great tempests at sea 258 
 
 44. The town of Ghent sends embassadors to t!ie earl 
 
 of Flanders, to entreat him to come thither 259 
 
 46 The earl of Flanders enters the town of Ghent, 
 and secretly departs from it. The walls of 
 Oudenarde are razed by the White Hoods, their 
 
 allies and accomplices 259 
 
 40. The men of Ghent surrender Oudenarde. They 
 destroy the houses of the nobles. A cruel and 
 pitiless war renewed between the men of Ghent 
 andlhe nobdity — 260 
 
 47. The nobles make war on the Flemings 260 
 
 48. The death of sir Bertrand du Guesclin, constable 
 
 of France 262 
 
 #. The duke of Brittany requests succor from the 
 Jung of England. The earl of Buckingham, 
 youngest son to the late king, is appomted com- 
 mndar of the expedition 862 
 
 CHAP. PA.OE. 
 
 50. The earl of Buckingham inarches with his army 
 
 from Calais 263 
 
 51. The lord de Brimeu, his sons and his men, are 
 
 taken prisoners by the English. The garrison 
 of Peronne are driven back into that town 264 
 
 52. The English hum and despoil Champagne. They 
 
 meet with various adventures on their march, 
 and make many prisoners 265 
 
 53. The English come before Troyes. A skirmish at 
 
 one of the gates. They take a fort which the 
 duke of Burgundy had erected on the outside. 
 King Charles practices with the inhabitants of 
 Nantes 266 
 
 54. The English overrun the countries of Gatinois 
 
 and Beauce. A French squire demands to tilt 
 with an English squire ; they both behave very 
 gallantly 267 
 
 55. King Charles of France is taken ill. His last 
 
 words on his death-bed 267 
 
 56. The Lord de Hangest is near taken by the Eng- 
 
 glish. The lord de Mauvoisin remains their pris- 
 oner. The English cross the river Sarte iii 
 disorder 268 
 
 57. The death of Charles the Fifth, king of France.. 268 
 
 58. The English arrive in Brittany. The duke excuses 
 
 himself for having so long delayed coining to 
 meet them. They undertake together the siege 
 of Na ntes 269 
 
 59. The coronation of king Charles V[. of France.... 270 
 Two additional chapters, which are only in one 
 
 of my MSS. and not m any printed copy 270 
 
 60. The earl of Buckingham besieges Nantes. Sal- 
 
 lies are made by the garrison 271 
 
 61. The duke of Brittany explains his reasons for not 
 
 coming to the siege of Nantes. The garrison 
 continue most valiantly to make sallies 272 
 
 62. The English break up the siege of Nantes. The 
 
 duke of Brittany sends handsome excuses to the 
 earl of Buckingham 273 
 
 63. Tilts and tournaments are performed before the 
 
 earl of Buckingham between certain French and 
 English knights 274 
 
 64. The duke of Brittany makes his peace with the 
 
 king of France. The English return home. A 
 combat between an English and a French squire. 275 
 
 65. The war recommences between the earl of Flan- 
 
 ders and the inhabitants of Ghent. The men 
 of Ghent and of Ypres are discomfited by the 
 ambuscades ofthe earl of Flanders 276 
 
 66. The towns of Ypres and Courtray turn to the earl 
 
 of Flanders. Ghent is besieged 278 
 
 67. The earl of Flanders raises the siege of Ghent. 
 
 He defeats a great part of the army of Ghent, 
 through the self-sufficiency of Rasse de Har- 
 zelle, near to Nevele .278 
 
 68. Peter du Bois with the remainder of his army re- 
 
 tire to Ghent. After having been in danger of 
 his life, he besieges Courtray 279 
 
 69. Arnoul le Clerc, captain of some troops of White 
 
 Hoods, defeats several of the earl of Flanders' 
 nobility. He himself is afterwards defeateu and 
 slain.. 280 
 
 70. During this war, the rich citizens of Ghent are 
 
 subjugated by their soldiers. Philip Von Arta- 
 veld is made governor of Ghent ^1 
 
 71. A war between the kings of Castille and Portu.'ial.SES 
 
 72. The earl of Cambridge sails for Portugal. The 
 
 duke of Lancaster goes to the borders of Scot- 
 land, to make a truce with the Scots 282 
 
 73. The populace of England rebel against the no- 
 
 bility 283 
 
 74. The populace of England commit many cruelties 
 
 on those in official situations. They send a 
 knight as embassador to the king 284 
 
 75. The commonalty of England enter London, 
 
 where they commit many cruelties and out- 
 rages. They put to death the archbishop of 
 Canterbury and several others 285 
 
 76. The nobles of England are in great danger of be- 
 
 ing destroyed. Three of the principal leaders of 
 the rebels are punished, and the rest sent back 
 to their homes 286 
 
 77. A truce between the English and Scots. The 
 
 duke of Lancaster remains in Scotland during 
 the rebellion in England 288 
 
 78. King Richard journeys through England from 
 
 town to town, punishing those who had been 
 principals or active in the late rebellion. The 
 duke of Lancaster returns from Scotland to 
 
 •England 289 
 
 Additions, from a MS. in the Hafod Library 289 
 
 79. The duke of Lancaster conceives anger against 
 
 the duke of Northumberland, lor the refusal of 
 admittance into Berwick 290 
 
 80. The earl of Cambridge and his army arrive at 
 
 Lisbon 290 
 
 81. The earl of Flanders again lays siege to Ghent. . . .290 
 
 82. The earl of Flanders raises the siege of Ghent. 
 
 Two rich citizens, desirous of negotiating a 
 peace between the earl and the town, are put to 
 death by Peter du Bois and Philip Von Arta- 
 veld ••••291 
 
 83. An insurrection in Paris, on account of the in- 
 
 tended taxes. The lord de Coucy appeases it. 
 The duke of Anjou makes preparation for his 
 journey to Naples 293 
 
 84. The F'^'lish make an expedition against the Span- 
 
 iards, contrary to the orders of the king of Por 
 tugal. The castle of Fighiere is taken 293 
 
 85. After the conquest of the castlfe of Fighiere, the 
 
 canon de Bobenac, rctuming to his eaniion. is 
 
 CHAP. tXQM, 
 in great danger. Succors come from France to 
 Castille 2Bi 
 
 86. The emperor Winceslaus sends his sister Anne to 
 
 king Richard of England, who makes her his 
 queen 2B5 
 
 87. The king of France cannot obtain money from 
 
 the receiver at Paris. The duke of Anjou 
 marches into Italy with a noble attendance of 
 knights .206 
 
 88. The earj of Savoy, who had accompanied the 
 
 duke of Anjou to Naples, orders a man to be 
 beheaded, who had boasted that he would give 
 them possession of the castle del Ovo by en- 
 chantment 297 
 
 89. The canon de Robersac makes another excursion 
 
 contrary to the will of the king of Portugal, 
 and takes several places adjoining to Seville 207 
 
 90. The canon and his companions gain much booty 
 
 from the king of Castille. They mutiny against 
 the king of P(jrtugal, who orders their pay to 
 be instantly delivered to them 298 
 
 91. The kings of Castille and Portugal as;emble their 
 
 forces. Peace made between them, against the 
 will of the English 899 
 
 92. A joust between a French knight and an English 
 
 squire. The earl of Cambridge leads back his 
 army to England, with his son, whose betrothed 
 wife, the Infanta of Portugal, is afterwards 
 
 married to the king of Castille 300 
 
 1)3. Ghent is in great distress for provisions. They are 
 succored by the inhabitants of Liege 300 
 
 94. The earl of Flanders sends a harsh answer to those 
 
 who wished to mediate a peace between him 
 and Ghent. The populace, under the name of 
 Maillotins, rise again at Paris 301 
 
 95. The citizens of Glienl, after having heard from 
 
 Philip Von Artaveld the terms of peace which 
 he had brought from the conference at Tournay, 
 march out, to the number of five thousand, to 
 attack the earl of Flanders in Bruges 303 
 
 96. The order of battle ofthe Ghent men. They de- 
 
 feat the earl of Flanders and the men of Bruges. 
 The means by which this was brought about.... 303 
 
 97. Bruges is taken by the Ghent army. The earl of 
 
 Flanders saves himself in the house of a poor 
 woman 304 
 
 98. The Ghent men spare the foreign merchants in 
 
 Bruges. The earl of Flanders quits Bruges, and 
 returns to Lille, whither some of his people had 
 already retreated 306 
 
 99. The conduct of the Ghent men at Bruges. All 
 
 the towns in Flanders surrender to them except 
 Oudenarde 306 
 
 100. Philip Von Artaveld, on his return to Ghent, lives 
 
 in great pomp. The earl of Flanders resides in 
 Lille 306 
 
 101. Philip Von Artaveld and the Ghent men lay siege 
 
 to Oudenarde 307 
 
 102. A detachment of the Ghent army from before 
 
 Oudenarde, in overrunning the lauds of tlieir 
 lord, burn some villages on the frontiers of 
 France, which causes a war between the king 
 of Pi-ance and them 307 
 
 103. The duke of Burgundy instigates his nephew king 
 
 Charles to make war on Ghent and its allies, as 
 well in revenge for the burnt villages as to assist 
 in the recovery of Flanders for the earl, who 
 was his vassal 307 
 
 104. Charles the Sixth, king of France, from a dream, 
 
 chooses a flying hart for his device 306 
 
 105. During the siege of Oudenarde, the rebels entreat 
 
 king Charles to make peace between them and 
 the earl ofFlandets. The king ansv.-ers them 
 with contempt. They then endeavor to draw 
 the English into an alliance with them 308 
 
 106. The embassadors from Ghent fail in formuig an 
 
 alliance with England 30S 
 
 1#7. The messenger which the Ghent men had sent to 
 kine Charles of France is delivered from prison. 
 Some prisoners from Tournay and Courtray are 
 exchanged for each other 310 
 
 108. King Charles orders commissioners lo enter into 
 
 certain treaties with the Flemings. Their mes- 
 sengers are imprisoned at the moment they de- 
 manded passports 310 
 
 109. The answer of Philip Von Artaveld to the French 
 
 commissioners, which he sent by a prisoner of 
 war from Oudenarde 311 
 
 110. Philip Von Artaveld writes affectedly civil letters 
 
 to Tournay. The French commissioners return 
 to the king 311 
 
 111. King Charles, after hearing the report of his com- 
 
 missioners, at the instigation of the earl of Flan- 
 ders, who was present, assembles his army in 
 Artois against the Flemings. Philip Von Arta- 
 veld guards the passes into Flanders 312 
 
 112. Several knights of the party ofthe earl of Flan- 
 
 ders, having passed Pont-Amenin, are defeated 
 and killed on their attempt to repass it, the Flem- 
 ings having broken down the bridge. Philip, 
 hearing this news when at Ypres, makes use of 
 it to encourage the inhabitants 312 
 
 113. Order of the French army in its march to Flan- 
 
 ders, after they hf d heard the bridges were bro- 
 ken and guarded 313 
 
 114. Some few of the French, not being able to cross 
 
 the Lis at the I ridge of Conimines, find means 
 of doing so, by boats and other craft, unknown 
 to the Flemings 314 
 
 115. A small body of French, having crossed the Lis, 
 
 draw up in buttk tmr before the Flemiact — 9U 
 
 / 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 XI 
 
 CHAP. PAQE. 
 
 116. The French who had crossed the Lis defeat, with 
 
 ?reat slaughter, Peter Du Bois and the Flemings. 
 The vanguard of the French army repair and 
 pass over tlie bridge of Cornmines 316 
 
 117. Philip Van Artaveld takes measures to resist the 
 
 force of the king of France. He receives an an- 
 swer from liis enibassiuiors in England 317 
 
 118 The king of Fr . nee crosse.j the Lis at the bridge 
 of Cornmines. The town of Ypres surrenders 
 to him 317 
 
 119. The king of France receives information of a riot 
 
 among the Pari^ans. Several places in Flan- 
 ders surrender to him 318 
 
 120. The king of France lodges in Ypres. Peter Du 
 
 Bois prevents Bruges from surrendering to tne 
 king. Phihp Van Aitaveld assem!)les his forces 
 to combat the French 318 
 
 121. Philip Van Artaveld, having enterta; 'ed his cap- 
 
 tains at supper, gives them instructioi.s how they 
 are to act on the morrow at the battle of Rose- 
 becque. Wonderful appearances in the hea- 
 vens are seen during the niL'ht 319 
 
 122. King Charles entertains at supper bis uncles and 
 
 some others of his principal barons on the eve 
 of the battle of Rosebecque. The constable de 
 Clisson is excused from attending the king's per- 
 son during the battle 320 
 
 .23. Philip Van ArtaveM and his Flemings quit the 
 sn-ong position they hnd taken in the morning, 
 to encamp on MontD'Or, near to Ypres, The 
 constable and admiral of France, with the bas- 
 tard of Langres, set out to reconnoitre their 
 situaiion 320 
 
 ai. The battle oi Rosebecque, between the French 
 and Fleming . Philip Van Artaveld is slain, 
 and his whole 'irmy defeated 321 
 
 •25. The number of lain at the battle of Rosebecque 
 and pnrs.uit ai erwards. Fhdip Van Artiiveld 
 is hanged after he is dead. 'I'he sie^e of t,>ude- 
 narde is raised. Peter Du Bois retreats to Gheht. 
 The king of France fixes his quarters in the 
 town of Courtrav 322 
 
 126. Bruges submits to the king's mercy. The Count 
 
 de Blois guards tiie country of Hainault from 
 being pillaged. The inhabitants of Ghent gain 
 courage from Peter L)u Bois 322 
 
 127. The treaty between the English and Flemings is 
 
 broken. The king of France departs from 
 Fl inders — 323 
 
 128. Vain attempts made for peace between the king 
 
 of France and Ghent. The king, on his return 
 to P.iris, orders the chains to be taken away that 
 barricnded the streets. He severely punishes the 
 Parisians 324 
 
 129. Several of the principal citii^pns of Paris are be- 
 
 headed with John Des Marets, and many others 
 in the different towns and cities in France 325 
 
 130. The Ghent men renew the war. The earl of Flan- 
 
 ders becomes an object of hatred to the Eng- 
 lish 325 
 
 TSl. Pope Urban sends bulls into EnH:!an<l for the de- 
 struction of the Clenientists, The bishop of Nor- 
 wich appointed commander-in-chief against 
 them S26 
 
 132. The bishop of Norwi -h. commander of the Eng- 
 
 Ssh ill the croisade of Urbjin against the (-'le- 
 mentists, disembarks at Calais with his army of 
 Urbanists 326 
 
 133. The bishop of Norwich, commander of the Ur- 
 
 banists. enters Flanders contrary to the opinion 
 of sir Hugh Calveiley. Tlie e;irl mf Flanders 
 sends embnssadors to the bishop, who returns a 
 harsh answer 327 
 
 131. The bishop of Norwich marches toward Dun- 
 
 kirk. He defeats twelve thousand Flemings and 
 
 takes the town 328 
 
 13-5. The English, under the command of the bishop 
 of Norwich, having conquered all the coast 
 from Gravelines to Sluys, lay siege to Ypres 329 
 
 136. The men of Ghent assist the English in their siege 
 
 of Ypres. The Ind De St. Leger going to rein- 
 force the garrison of Courtrny, by orders of the 
 king of France, is defeated by a party ot Eng- 
 lish near Cornmines 330 
 
 137. The bishop of Liege, not being able to brtng 
 
 about a peace between the bishop of Norwich 
 and tlie earl of Flanders, returns home 330 
 
 138. The king of France issues a grand summons, 
 
 with the intention of raising the siege of Ypres. 
 Some of the earl of Flanders' men are defeated 
 by the EngUsh before the church of Einenin 330 
 
 139. The Enarlish and Ghent men make a sharp at- 
 
 tack on Ypres; but, learning that the king of 
 France had marched if n army into Aitois, they 
 instantly break up the siei,'e 332 
 
 140. Duke Frederick of Bavaria arrives at the army 
 
 of the king of France. Count Guy de Blois, 
 notwithstandin.-i his ill health, comes to Arras 
 attended by his men-at arms 332 
 
 141. The van of the French army takes Cassel and 
 
 Trughen. The English abandon Rergues. and 
 retire to Bourbourg, wherein the king of France 
 besieges them 332 
 
 143. Francis Atremen surprises Oudenarde in the night- 
 
 time 333 
 
 143b Amerigot; Marcel, an English Captain on the 
 borders of Auvergne, takes by stratagem the 
 castle of Marquel. The countess Dauphine 
 Tansoms it for five thousand francs 334 
 
 144. Tlte king of France orders Bourbourg to be at- 
 
 tacked. It is sunendered to him by capitula- 
 
 CHAP. PAGE. 
 
 tion, when the English quit Flanders. He then 
 disbands his army 334 
 
 145. The bishop of Norwich and those who accom- 
 
 panied him in his expedition, are badly received 
 on their return to England. Certain great per- 
 sonages are deputed to negotiate a peace or 
 truce between the kings of Fiance and Eng- 
 land. The duke of Bavaria dies 335 
 
 146. During these conierences, the Ghent men insul t 
 
 Tournay. A truce is concluded between the 
 kings of France and England and their allies 336 
 
 147. The earl of Flanders dies. The ceremony of his 
 
 funeral 336 
 
 148. The earls of Northumberland and Nottingham 
 
 raise a body of English to make an excursion 
 into Scotland. Embassadors are sent from 
 France to Scotland, to notify the truces which 
 had been made between France and England... 338 
 
 149. The barons and knights of Scotland, in conjunc- 
 
 tion with some French knights, undertake an 
 expedition into England without the knowledge 
 of i:he kiyg of Scotland, who sends a herald to 
 make his excuses to the king of England 338 
 
 150. The truces which had been made between the 
 
 French, the English, and their allies, are pro- 
 claimed in Scotland. The French knights, on 
 their return from Scotland, are in great danger 
 from the Zealanders 339 
 
 151. The lord Destournay assembles forces to retake 
 
 Oudenarde. He conquers it by stratagem 340 
 
 152. The duke of Anjou dies at a castle near Naples. 
 
 His widow is advised to solicit the Pope for the 
 possession of Provence 340 
 
 153. Preparations are made in France f»Y the renewal 
 
 of the war with England. The duchess of Bra- 
 bant succeeds in Rirming a marriage between the 
 children of Burgundy and those of Hainault 341 
 
 154. Tiie king and the nobles of France and Hainault 
 
 lay in gieat provision of stores at Cambray. 
 The duke of Lancaster sends embassadors to 
 the earl of Hainault. The marriages of the 
 children of Burgundy and Hainault are con- 
 cluded 341 
 
 155. The duke of Berry betroths his daughter to the 
 
 son of the count de Blois. The duke of Bour- 
 bon and the count de la Rlarcne issue their sum- 
 mons to invade Limousin 342 
 
 156. Sir John de Vienne, admiral of France, sails to 
 
 Scotland, to carry on the war against the Eng- 
 lish at the expiration of the truce 342 
 
 157. The pillagers of Ghent, surnamed Porkers, com- 
 
 mit much mischief. Francis Atremen deleaSs 
 some French troops near Ardeinbourg 343 
 
 158. The duchess of Anjou urges her claim to the pos- 
 
 session of Provence. G:ileas Visconti, count de 
 Vertus, orders his uncle, Barnabo Visconti, to 
 be imprisoned 343 
 
 159. W^illiam de Ligiiac, seneschal of Saintonge for 
 
 the king of France, conquers from the English 
 the castle of Aigle. The army of the duke of 
 Bourbon takes Montlieu, and the bridge of 
 Taillebourg, while besisiring that place 344 
 
 160. Sir John de Vienne. admiral of France, arrives in 
 
 Scotland with his army. He meets with bad 
 treatment there 345 
 
 161. The town of Ardembourg narrowly escapes be- 
 
 ing taken by surprise by Francis Atremen and 
 his Ghent men 346 
 
 162. Lewis of France, brother to king Charles VI., is 
 
 married by procuration to Margaret of Hungary. 
 Madame de Brabant causes the daughter of 
 duke Stephen of Bavaria to come to France to 
 marry king Charles 346 
 
 163. Francis Atremen ta kes Damme. Those of Bruges 
 
 attempt to retake it 347 
 
 164. King Charles espouses the Lady Isabella of Ba- 
 
 varia. He besieses Damme.. . 348 
 
 165. Some citizens of Sluys are beheaded for treason 
 
 to the French. The duke of Burgundy acquires 
 Sluys from sir William de Natnur, by an ex- 
 change for the lands of Bethune 348 
 
 166. Francis Atremen and his men abandon Damme. 
 
 The town is destroyed by the French ; they also 
 ruin the country of the Q.uatre Mestiers 348 
 
 167. The king of France leaves Flanders, and dis- 
 
 bands his army. During the time he is at Paris, 
 treating with embassadors from Hungary, 
 news arrives that the Marquis de Biancquefort 
 had forcibly married the heiress of Hungnry 349 
 
 168. The duke of Bourbon takes Verteuil in Poitou, 
 
 and returns to the king of France at Pans 350 
 
 169. The Scottish army, with that of the admiral of 
 
 France, enter Northumberland ; but the English 
 being on their tnarch to meet them, they retreat 
 within the borders 350 
 
 170. Sir John Holland kills lord Ralph Stafford. 
 
 The earl of Stafford demands justice from the 
 king 351 
 
 171. The king of England destroys the abbey of Mel- 
 
 rose in Scotland. The barons of France and 
 Scotland invnde Cumberland 352 
 
 172. The king of England destroys Edinburgh, and 
 
 great part of Scotland. The French and Scots 
 do the same wi the borders and in Northumber- 
 land 352 
 
 173. The earCof Suffolk prevents the king of England 
 
 from pursuing the French and Scots who had in- 
 vadtd England. The English army return home 
 the same way they had entered Scotland. The 
 French and Scots return in a simdar manner 353 
 
 174. The ScotE treat the admiral of Franca and bit 
 
 CHAP. PAe«. 
 
 men very harshly. They return to France 352 
 
 175. The state of Flanders. Two honest burgesses of 
 
 Ghent negotiate secretly a peace with the duke 
 of Burgundy, with the aseent of Francis Atre- 
 men 35« 
 
 176. Tiie two citizens t:x cii a day to assemble their 
 
 friends, to accomplish tlieir plan. All Ghent are 
 unanimous fcjr peace, notwithstanding the at- 
 tempts to prevent u. by tiie governor for the king 
 of England and Peter do Bois 351 
 
 177. Sir John d'Elle brings letters patent of peace and 
 
 pardon to the men of Ghent, from the duke of 
 Burgundy. This peace is confirmed at Tour- 
 nay by other letters patent on each side 35< 
 
 178. The treaty of peace between duke Philip of Bur- 
 
 gundy, earl of Flatuiers, in right ol' his wife, 
 with the town of Ghent and its allies 356 
 
 179. Peter nu Bois, after the conclusion of the peace, 
 
 retires to England with the lord Bourchier, 
 governor of Ghent 358 
 
 VOLUME III. 
 
 1, Froissart gives his reasons for visiting the count 
 
 de Foix 358 
 
 2, A short repetition of what is contained in some 
 
 of the preceding chapters, for the belter under- 
 standing the history of the war between king 
 John of Castillo and the bastard of Portugal, 
 brother to the late king don Fernando 338 
 
 3, The count de Foix, at the eraieaty of the prin- 
 
 cess of Wales, remits the count d'Armagnac 
 sixty thousand francs out of his ransom of two 
 hundred and fifty thousand. The English 
 garrison at Lourde governs the adjoining coun- 
 try ..360 
 
 4, Sir John Froissart, in his journey toward Beam, 
 
 is accompanied by a knight attached to the 
 count de Foix, who relates to him how the gar- 
 rison of Lourde took Ortingas and Le Pallier, 
 on tlie renewal of the war in Guyenne, after the 
 ruptut-e of the peace of Breti;rny 361 
 
 5, Sir John Froissart ai d the knight of Foix arrive 
 
 at Casseres, where the knight relates to him the 
 capture of the town by the Armagnacs, and 
 also the recapture of it by the count de Foix; 
 and, as they journey, they converse on different 
 feats of arms between the Armagnacs and Foix- 
 iens 363 
 
 6, Froissart continues his journey with the knight of 
 
 Foix, who relates to himseveral particulars rela- 
 tive to the sieges of Brest and Derval, and how 
 the duke of Anjou recovered Malvoisiii and 
 Trigalet from the English 363 
 
 7, Froissart continues his journey. In travelling 
 
 from Tournay to Tarbes, the knight relates to 
 him how the garrison of Lourde had a sharp 
 rencounter with the French from the adjacent 
 garrisons, with several particulars touching the 
 siege of Lourde, and the death of the governor, 
 who would not surrender it to his relation the 
 count de Foix 361 
 
 8, During the jniirney from 'J'arbes to Morlens the 
 
 knight of Foix relates to Froissart the (jnarrel 
 and reconciliation between the duke of Berry 
 and the count de Foix— and also the cause of the 
 war between him and the count d'Armagnac 367 
 
 9, Sir John Froissart arrives at Orthes. An old 
 
 squire relates to him the cruel death of the only 
 son of the count de Foix, and how strange dreams 
 affected .■'ir Peter de Beam, bastard-brother of 
 the count.... 369 
 
 10, The count de Foix holds solemn festivals on the 
 
 feast of St. Nicholas and at Christmas ; during 
 which Froissart becomes acquainted with le Bas- 
 tot de Mauleon, who relates to him, among other 
 things, how several of the captains of the free 
 companies were defeated helbre the town of 
 Sancerre— how he surprised the town of Thurie 
 in the Albigeois, and how one of the name of 
 Limousin revenged an outrage committed a- 
 painst him by Louis Rnimhaut 373 
 
 11, A short recapitnl'ition of what has been before 
 
 said of the war bet-veen king John of Castile 
 and John of Portugal. 'J'his subject continued,.37B 
 
 12, The inhabitants of Santarem rebel figaiii.<;t sopie 
 
 of the men-at-arms of Castille. The king of 
 Castille, having raised the siege of Lisbon, 
 marches toward that town, when it makes its 
 peace 378 
 
 13, The Spaniards are jealous of the French and 
 
 Bearnois, Five hundred English arrive to serve 
 the king of Portugal 377 
 
 14, The kins of Portugal issues his orders for the army 
 
 to march toward Santarem. The king of Cas- 
 tille quits that place to meet him 375 
 
 15, The Portuguese fortify themselves, near the church 
 
 of Aljubarota. by the advice of the English. 
 King John of Castille, through the counsel of 
 the French and Bearnois, resolves to fight them. 
 The hatreds and jealousies of the Castillians stiil 
 continue against the foreigners 379 
 
 16, The battle of Aljubarota, in which the French 
 
 and Bearnois, in the interest of Castille, are de- 
 feated and slain by the Portuguese, for not being 
 properly supported by the Castillians, who were 
 ^ jealous of them. They afterwards meet the 
 same fate 8BD 
 
 17, The king of Castille, after his defeat at Aljuba> 
 
 rota, retreats to Santarem, The king of Portu 
 gal tetumi to Lisbon. A truce is concluded ti** 
 
XII 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. PAGE. 
 
 tween them 381 
 
 18 The CDUiiL (le Foix i« rapidly, and in a secret 
 manner, informed of what haii happened at Al- 
 jnbarola. Froissart, in rMnsecpienee of this, 
 relates a story which had heeti told him of a fa- 
 irdiiar spirit, railed Orliion, wlio served the lord 
 
 de Corasse m the like miinner 382 
 
 19. Siege is laid to Hrest. St. Fortjet, and several 
 otiior English garrisons in the environs of Tou- 
 louse, are recovered by tiie French 384 
 
 3C The castle of Con vn lie is sturmed hy the French. 
 Some other fortresses turn to the French in- 
 terest 385 
 
 21. A short digression on the maimers of the English 
 
 iind Gascons in the time of Froissart 386 
 
 22. The arrival of Leon, king of Armenia, in France, 
 
 on which occasion Froissart descrihes the state 
 of Genoa in his time, and relates the death of 
 the king of ('yprns 387 
 
 23. The king of Armenia relates many stories of the 
 
 Turks and Tartars 388 
 
 24. Continuation of the intelligence which the king 
 
 of Armenia relates to the harons of France 388 
 
 25. During these wars of the Turks, dissensions con- 
 
 tinue between the two popes. Urban VI. and 
 ("lenient VII. Friar John de la Roche-Taillade 
 delivers a good apologue, respecting the pa- 
 pacy, to the cardinals 390 
 
 26. The reasons why the I'orlviguese prefer the Grand ' 
 
 Master of Avis for their king to don Joim, king 
 of Castille, who liad married Beatrice, daugh- 
 therof don Ferdinand, late king of Portugal 391 
 
 27. Froissart travels to Middleburgh in Zealand, to 
 
 make inquiries from a knight, who is going to 
 Prussia, of the affairs of Portugal 391 
 
 28. The Portuguese, after the batile of Aljiibarota, 
 
 send embassadors to England to inform the king 
 
 and his nobles of that event 392 
 
 39. Lawrence Fongasse, one of the embassadors 
 from Portugal to England, relates to the duke 
 of Lancaster the events which had happened in 
 Portugal since the earl of Cambridge had left it .393 
 
 30. The embassadors from Portugal return with sat- 
 
 isfactory answers. The duke of Lancaster em- 
 barks on an expedition to recover Castille 398 
 
 31. Many French knights and squires offer their ser- 
 
 vices to the king of Castille 399 
 
 32. The duke of Lancaster, in his voyage to Castille, 
 
 attacks tlie French before Brest, and forces them 
 to raise the blockade 400 
 
 33. The duke of Lancaster arrives at Corunna in Ga- 
 
 licia. The French, in the service of Spain, en- 
 ter the castle to oppose him. They shortly after 
 defeat a party of his foragers 400 
 
 84. The duke of Lancaster, after remaining before 
 Corunna up ,s ard of a month, marches his army 
 to Saint Jago, wliich surrenders on capitulation. 401 
 
 35. The Freri.ch knights leave Corunna. and join the 
 king of Castille. Thev ac juire much wealth by 
 plundermg the country, in order to frustrate the 
 English 402 
 
 86. Great preparations are made throughout France 
 for the invasion of England. The death of 
 Francis Atremen 402 
 
 37. Tlie French put themselves to useless expense on 
 
 their marine. The English make judicious pre- 
 parations to oppcse them 403 
 
 38. The king of Portugal, when informed of the duke 
 
 of Lancaster's arrival at Saint Jago, writes him 
 friendly letters. The king of Castille demands 
 succors from France. The town of Rouelles 
 in Galicia taken by the English 404 
 
 39. The marshal of the duke of Lancaster's army at- 
 
 tacks and gains by treaty the town of Villeclope 
 in Galicia. The duke sends embassadors to the 
 king of Portugal to arrange an interview be- 
 tween them 405 
 
 40. The duke of liancaster has an interview with the 
 
 king of Portugal A marriage is agree', upon 
 between tlie king and the lady Philippa, daugh- 
 ter of the duke 407 
 
 41. The duke of Lancaster's marshal gains for him 
 
 several places in Galicia. The conduct of the 
 king of Castille 408 
 
 42. The king of France goes to Lille, with tne intent 
 
 to invade England. Sir Simon Burley advises 
 the removal of the shrine of St. Thomas k 
 Becket from Canterbury to Dover castle, for fear 
 of the French 411 
 
 43. The king of France visits his fleet at Sluys. The 
 
 king (if Armenia crosses to England to attempt 
 a reconciliation between the two kings. The 
 answer he receives 412 
 
 44. The duke ol' Berry leaves Paris for Sluys. The 
 
 constable, after suiVering many delays from 
 contrary winds, at length joins the king of 
 
 France 413 
 
 4L. rh» lord de Gnistelles appeases an iasurrection of 
 ♦lie men of Bru^'es against the French. The 
 invasion of F.ngland is given up on account of 
 contrary winds, the near approach of winter, 
 and in conformity with the advice of the duke 
 of Berry, which causes great rejoicings in Eng- 
 land 413 
 
 46. Two champions tilt at Paris for lite or death 414 
 
 47. The death of Peter, king of Arragon. [lis sue- 
 
 cessor, king .John, detains prisoner the arch- w 
 bishop of Bordeaux, who was negotiating, for 
 the duke of Lancaster, the payment of certain 
 Bunui which he claimed ns due to him from Ar- 
 ragon 415 
 
 CHAP. PAGE. 
 
 48. The duke of Lancaster makes war on Arragon. 
 
 The archbishop of Bordeaux is released. The 
 viscountess of Castle-Bon, suspected of having 
 admitted the English into her castle, appeases 
 the king of Arragon, through the interference of 
 the count de Foix 416 
 
 49. Those companions who had conquered Duren, 
 
 are defeated and slain by a stratagem of Ray- 
 mond de Bachez, cousin to the king of Arra- 
 gon 416 
 
 50. An achievement of arms performed before the 
 
 seneschal of Bordeaux, between a knight at- 
 t.ached to France and one attached to England.. 417 
 
 51. Sir Oliver de Clisson delivers John of Blois. son 
 
 of the late lord Charles of Blois. from his long 
 imprisonment in England, and gives him his 
 (laughter in m.irriage, to the great displeasure 
 
 of the duke of Brittany 417 
 
 62. France makes preparations to assist king John of 
 Castille. The duke of Bourbon is appointed 
 commander in-chief of the French army 418 
 
 53. The English fleet defeats that of si» John de 
 
 Bucq, admiral of Flanders for the duke of Bur- 
 gundy. The English, after doing much mischief 
 to Sluys, and that part of the country, return to 
 London 419 
 
 54. The king of Portugal sends embassadors to the 
 
 duke of Lancaster to conclude his marriage 
 with the lady Philippa. Sir. Barrois des Barres 
 is ordered by the king of Castille to the castle of 
 Noya 420 
 
 55. The duke of Lancaster sends a reinforcement to 
 
 the siege of Rihadavia. On that town being ta- 
 ken by storm, Maures instantly surrenders 420 j 
 
 56. The lady Philippa of Lancaster is married, by 
 
 procuration, to the king of Portugal. The cere- 
 mony is again performed with great magnifi- 
 cence and feast'ngs at Oporto 421 
 
 57. The duke of Lancaster marches his army to En- 
 
 tenca. The inhabitants send, with the consent 
 of the duke, to the king of Castille for succor.... 422 
 
 58. The duchess of Lancaster and her daughter visit 
 
 the king and queen of Portugal. The inhabit- 
 ants of Entenca, receiving neither answer nor 
 succor from the king of Castille, surrender to the 
 duke of Lancaster, according to the terms of 
 their treaty 422 
 
 59. The couiit de Foix permits the French captains 
 
 to pass through his territories, on condition they 
 pay for whatever they take. They arrive at St. 
 Jean Pied de Port, at the entracca of Navarre. . .423 
 
 60. Sir John Holland and sir Reginald De Roye per- 
 
 form a tilt, in the town of Entenca, before the 
 king and queen of Portugal and the duke and 
 
 duchess of Lancaster 424 
 
 The king of Portugal promises to enter Castille 
 while ttie duke of Lancaster finishes the con- 
 quest of Galicia, and then to unite their forces.. 426 
 68. Sir William de Lignac and sir Walter de Hassac 
 traverse the kingdom of Navarre with their 
 army, and arrive at Burgos, where they meet the 
 king of (Jastille 423 
 
 63. Many plans are offered to the king of Castille for 
 
 carrying on the war; he is determined by the 
 commanders of the French force to delay an en- 
 gagement until the arrival of the duke of Bour- 
 bon, and to make excursions from the different 
 garrisons 42S 
 
 64. The constable de Clisson makes great prepara- 
 
 tions to invade England. Much murmuring and 
 discontent in England against king Richard and 
 his council 428 
 
 65. The constable of France with several others 
 
 make preparations to invade England. The 
 duke of Brittany practices to prevent this ex- 
 pedition 429 
 
 66. The duke of Brittany summons his barons and 
 
 knights to a council at Vannes. Sir Oliver de 
 Clisson and the lord de Beaumanoir are made 
 prisoners in the castle of Ermine, and in great 
 danger of their lives 430 
 
 67. The constable de Clisson, through the exertions of 
 
 the lord de Laval, obtains his liberty, by paying 
 a large sum of money, and delivering up to the 
 duke of Brittany some of his castles 431 
 
 68. The lord de Beaumanoir is set at liberty by the 
 
 duke of Brittany, that he may collect the ran- 
 som for the constable, who obtains his freedom 
 on surrendering the places agreed on. The im- 
 prisonment of the constable is known at the 
 court of France 431 
 
 69. The duke of Brittany dictates the terms of the 
 
 treaties, for the surieiKler of diflerent jilaces by 
 the constable. The expeditions from Treguier 
 and Haifleur are broken up. The constable, on 
 his deliverance, makes his complaint to the king 
 of France, and resigns to him his office of con- 
 stable 432 
 
 70. The duke of Gueldres sends a challenge to 
 
 France, in favor of England 433 
 
 71. Two Breton captains, having valiantly defended 
 
 the town of Orense against the duke of Lancas- 
 ter, capitulate on terms offered by the English... 433 
 
 72. The king of Portugal, being repulsed in his at- 
 
 tempts to storm the castles of Santajem, burns 
 the town. He marches to Ferro in Galicia 435 
 
 73. The king of Portugal, not being able to take Fer- 
 
 rol by storm, gains it by an ambuscade, and 
 puts it under the obedience of the duke of Lan- 
 caster 4S5 
 
 74. The army oi' the duke of Lancaster comes before 
 
 CHAP. V4«g. 
 
 Noya in Galicia. The English are received ot 
 the barriers, by Barrois des Barres and his com- 
 panions 43Q 
 
 75. The king of France sends some of his nobles to 
 
 demand from the duke of Brittany the reason o 
 the insult offered to him in the person of his coii- 
 stable, sir Oliver de Clisson 437 
 
 76. Froissart mentions the person f rom whom he learnt 
 
 the arrest of the constable de Clisson : who like- 
 wise informs him that sir Bertraiid du Guesclin 
 ought to be called Du Glay-Aquin 437 
 
 77. Embassadors from the king of France wait on 
 
 the duke of Brittany respecting the arrest of his 
 constable. The duke, having heard them, gives 
 them his answer 438 
 
 78. The dukes of York and Gloucester, uncles to the 
 
 king, confederate, with otlier barons, against 
 him and his council. The people are discon- 
 tented with the duke of Ireland. The Lon- 
 doners, through the means of the duke o 
 Gloucester and his friends, obtain from the king, 
 that a day should be fixed for those who had 
 managed the finances to render an account of 
 them 439 
 
 79. The commissioners of accounts condemn sir Si- 
 
 mon Burley to be imprisoned in the Tower of 
 London. Sir Thomas Trivet is killed by a fall 
 from his horse. Sir William Elmham is acquit- 
 ted of having taken money for the surrender of 
 Bourbourg and Gravelines 440 
 
 80. The king of England having left London, sir Si- 
 
 mon Burley is beheaded, to the great displeasure 
 of the king and queen. A cliange of the min- 
 istry 441 
 
 81. While the council, on the state of the nation, is 
 
 sitting at London, king Richard, by the advice 
 of the duke of Ireland, determines to wage war 
 against his uncles and the principal towns 442 
 
 82. The king of England issues iiis orders ibr all ca- 
 
 pable of bearing arms in the neighborhood of 
 Bristol to march to London. Sir Robert Tresi- 
 lian, sent thither as a spy, is discovered, and be- 
 headed by command of the king's uncles 443 
 
 83. When the news of the death of sir Robert Tre- 
 
 silian is brought to the archbishop of York, and 
 sir Nicholas Bramber, they confirm the king m 
 his intention of making war on his uncles. The 
 duke of Ireland, as Lieuienant-Gene«al, leads 
 the army to Oxford 444 
 
 84. The duke of Ireland sends three knights to Lon- 
 
 don to learn intelligence. The dukes of York 
 and Gloucester take the field against the duke of 
 Ireland and his army 444 
 
 85. The king's uncles gain a victory over the duke of 
 
 Ireland, who saves himself by flight with others 
 of his army 445 
 
 86. The duke of Ireland with some of his compan- 
 
 ions escapes into IIoll?,nd. The archbishop ot 
 Canterbury is sent by the dukes of York and 
 Gloucester to treat with the king. He conducts 
 him with honor to London 445 
 
 87. The king, by the advice of ids uncles and coim- 
 
 cil, summons the nobility and commoners of the 
 realm to a parliament at Westminster, and to 
 renew their hom,age to him 446 
 
 88. The king of Portugal and duke of Lancaster 
 
 unite their forces. When distressed to cross the 
 river Duero, aGalician squire, prisoner of war, 
 directs them to a ford 447 
 
 89. Sir Walter de Passac and sir William de Lignac 
 
 advise the king of Castille not to risk a battle 
 before the arrival of the duke of Bourbon. A 
 party of the English skirmish with the garrison 
 of Vilalpando. The duke of Lancaster is dis 
 pirited by his own ill health and the great sick- 
 ness of his army 448 
 
 90. The duke of Lancaster disbands his army. 
 
 Three EngUsh knights, having obtained pass- 
 ports, wait on the king of Castille, to nego- 
 tiate a retreat for the men-at-arms through his 
 
 kingdom 448 
 
 2i. The English embassadors obtain passports from 
 the king for their sick to pass in safety through 
 Castille, or to remain there to recover their 
 health. Many knights and squires die in Castille. 
 The duke of Lancaster dangerously ill at Saint 
 Jago. A : 449 
 
 92. Sir John Holland takes leave of the duke of 
 
 Lancaster, and returns with his lady through 
 Castille, Navarre, and Bayonne, to Bordeaux 
 Sir John d'Ambreticoiirt goes to Paris, to ac 
 coniplish a deed of arms with the lord Bou- 
 cicaut 450 
 
 93. The duke of Bourbon, on leaving Avignon, con 
 
 tinues his march to Burgos, where he meets the 
 king of Castille. The duke of Lancaster, being 
 informed of this, addresses himself to the king 
 of Portugal. The duke of Bourbon, after a 
 short stay, takes leave of the king of Castille, 
 and returns to France 451 
 
 94. The count de Foix receives the duke of Bourbon 
 
 most magnificently, and makes him handsome 
 presents. The men-at-arms who were under sir 
 Walter de Passac and sir William de Lignac 
 sack the town of St. Phagon, on their departure 
 from Castille. The king is very wroth for this 
 against the two captains, who had remained 
 with him 451 
 
 95. The duke of Lancaster leaves Saint Jago for Co- 
 
 imbra. and thence goes to Bayonne 458 
 
 96. The count d'Armagnae takes great pains to pre- 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 THAP. PAOE. 
 
 vaii oil the tree companies to give up their forts 
 for a sum ot" money. The count de Foix, un- 
 derhand, prevents his success 453 
 
 37. A digression on tlie quuiTel between the houses 
 of Brabunt and Gueldres. Tiie life of count 
 Reginald of Gueldres and his successors, until 
 the reign of Charles VI. of France. The duke 
 of Gueldres, being an ally of England, sends 
 his challenge to France. The cause of this 
 
 challenge 454 
 
 98 Froissart returns to the quarrel between the houses 
 of Brabant and Gueldres, which he had letl un- 
 finished in the preceding chapter, and continues 
 the history of the dukes of Gueldres to duke 
 William, who sends his challenge to Charles 
 
 VI., king of France 455 
 
 9B A continuation of the history of the quarrel be- 
 tween Brabant and Gueldres. On the death of 
 duke Wenceslaus. the young William of Ju- 
 liers, duke of Gueldres, endeavors by every 
 means to regain the three castles. He allies 
 himself to the king of England, because France 
 supports the rights of the widow-duchess of 
 Brabant 457 
 
 IOC The duchess of Brabant sends embassadors to 
 France for assistance against the duke of Guel- 
 dres. They arrive at the same time the duke's 
 challenge is brought, and receive favorable an- 
 swers 458 
 
 101 Concerning the rumors of the signs of sanctity 
 which were manifested by the cardinal de Lux- 
 embourg after his death. The extraordinary 
 end of the king of Navarre 459 
 
 102. The (lake of Berry besieges Ventadour 460 
 
 103. The duke of Burgundy sends four hundred spears 
 
 to the duchess of Brabant. They surprise and 
 binn the town of Seaulle in Gueldres 460 
 
 104. Geronnel de Maudurant. one of the captains of 
 
 Perrot le Bearnois, having been made prisoner 
 by John Bonne-Kance. at Montferrant in Au- 
 vergne, finds means, after his ransom was paid, 
 to put le Bearnois in possession of Montferrant. .461 
 
 105. Perrot le Bearnois and his companions determine 
 
 iif)t to keep possession of Montferrant. They 
 make a sally on some troops from Clermont, 
 who had advanced to the barriers of the cap- 
 tured town, and instantly defeat them 464 
 
 106. Perrot le Bearnois and his companions having 
 
 plundered Montferrant, retreat to their forts. 
 His answer to the Dauphin of Auvergne, who 
 complains of his having surprised this town 
 during the time treaties were in agitation for his 
 leaving the country 464 
 
 107. The Lord Lewis of Blois marries the lady Mary 
 
 of Berry, and lh6 lord John of Berry the prin- • 
 cess Mary of France, who dies shortly after. 
 The death of the lady Jane of Armagnac, 
 duchess of Berry 464 
 
 108. While the council of France is in deliberation 
 
 whether or not to march an army against the 
 duke of Gueldres, the duke of Berry sends the 
 count d'Estampes to the duke of Brittany, to 
 endeavor to win him over to the party of France, 
 after having alienated himself from it by the ar- 
 rest of the constable 465 
 
 109. The Castillians and French, after the departure 
 
 of the duke of Lancaster from Galicia, recon- 
 quer, in a very short time, all the towns and 
 castles he had won. The English abuse Cas- 
 tille, when in their own country. The king 
 of France and his council invite the duke of 
 Ireland, who had fled from England, to Paris.. 466 
 
 110. The council of France disagree, as to the king's 
 
 going into Germany, on account of the state of 
 the realm. The duke of Brittany strengthens 
 his garrisons, and forms alliances with England 
 and the king of Navarre. The English raise a 
 large army 467 
 
 111. The Brabanters lay siege to the town of Grave. 
 
 The constable of France gains the towns of 
 Saint Malo and Saint Matthieu de Fine Pd- 
 terne, and garrisons them with his men 468 
 
 112. The duke of Lancaster has intentions of marry- 
 
 ing his daughter to the duke de La Touraine, 
 brother to the king of France. The duke of 
 Berry proposes himself for her husband. The 
 duke of Lancaster is much satisfied thereat 468 
 
 113. The lord de Coucy and other barons of France 
 
 are sent to the duke of Brittany. Before their 
 arrival, he had restored to the officers of the 
 
 constable the places he had taken from him 469 
 
 U4. While Helion de Lignac, embassador from the 
 duke of Berry to the duke of Lancaster, is ne- 
 gotiating the marriage with his daughter, the 
 king of Castille sends embassadors privately to 
 break it off, and to demand the lady in mar- 
 riage for his son. Helion de Lignac is sent away, 
 the day <)f their arrival, with some truces res- 
 pecting the frontiers of Aquitaine 470 
 
 115. The dukes of Berry and Burgundy leave Paris for 
 
 Blois, to hold a conference with the duke of Brit- 
 tany, who meets them there. They persuade 
 him, against his inclination, to come to Paris.. . .471 
 
 116. Lewis of Anjou, son to the iate duke of Anjou, 
 
 unclb to king Charles VI., makes his public 
 entry into Paris as king of Sicily. The duke of 
 Brittany comes there shortly after. Thomas 
 Harpurgan, an Englishman, and John Des 
 Barres, a Frenchman, perform a deed of arms 
 before the king of France at Montereau sur 
 
 ¥oiui«.... .m 
 
 CHKP. PAGE. 
 
 117. Perrot Le Bearnois takes the field by command 
 
 of the earl of Arundel, who lands his forces at 
 Mnrans, near La Rochelle 473 
 
 118. The llochellers skirmish with the English near 
 
 Marars-s. The English, after pillaging the 
 country round, retire with their booty to their 
 fleet. Perrot le Bearnois does the same to his 
 fort, with a great deal of plunder 474 
 
 119. The Brabanters press Grave hard by their siege. 
 
 The Gueldrians burn a bridge the Brabanters 
 had thrown over the Meuse, to enter Gueldres. . .475 
 
 120. The Brabanters, having passed through Raves- 
 
 tein, enter Gueldreland, and are defeated by the 
 duke of Gueldres. The siege of Grave is raised 
 
 in consequence 475 
 
 la. The duke of Gueldres, after the defeat of the 
 Brabanters, returns to Nimeguen. On the news 
 of this victory, the king and council of France 
 send embassadors to the emperor of Germany, 
 the more securely to carry on the war against 
 Gueldreland 476 
 
 122. The king of France and his council permit the 
 duke of Brittany to return home. The states of 
 Brabant send excuses to the king of France, for 
 not allowing his army to pass through their 
 country. The success of the embassadors with 
 the emperor 477 
 
 123. The count de Blois sends two hundred lances to 
 
 serve the king in his expedition to Gueldres. 
 The embassadors bring favorable answers from 
 the emperor of Germany. The king of France 
 continues his march toward the forest of Ar- 
 dennes. Sir Helion de Lignac makes his report 
 to the duke of Berry, touching his marriage with 
 the daugliter of the duke of Lancaster 478 
 
 124. The principal barons of Scotland assemble in 
 
 arms to make war on England. They learn 
 from a spy whom they take prisoner that the 
 English are acquainted with their intentions 479 
 
 125. The Scots form their army into two divisions ; 
 
 one, under the command of sir Archibald 
 Douglas, marches to Carlisle, and the other to 
 Newcastle on Tyne, commanded by the earl of 
 Douglas, at the barriers of which place he con- 
 quers the pennon of sir Henry Percy 480 
 
 126. The earl of Douglas, when encamped before Ot- 
 
 terbourne, is attacked by sir Henry Percy, to 
 reconquer his pennon, and a general battle en- 
 sues 481 
 
 127. The earl of Douglas, in rallying his men who 
 
 were retreating, is mortally wounded. Sir Ralph 
 Percy, b;idly wounded, surrenders to sir John 
 Maxwell, who puts him in the hands of the earl 
 of Moray 482 
 
 128. The earl of Douglas, though mortally wounded, 
 
 orders his banner to be raised, as the bearer had 
 been slain, and forbids his lamentable state to 
 be made known to his men, urging them onto 
 the combat, by which they defeat their enemies, 
 and make sir Henry Percy, with many more, 
 prisoners 483 
 
 129. The bishop of Durham is anxious to succor the 
 
 English and rescue sir Henry Percy, but is so 
 badly supported by his men, that he is forced to 
 retreat. He makes sir Henry Lindsay prisoner, 
 who had taken sir Matthew Redman 484 
 
 130. The bishop of Durham marches on the morrow 
 
 of the battle to the Scots camp, but retires with- 
 out daring to attack it. The Scots return to their 
 own country 485 
 
 131. The king of France enters the duchy of Luxem- 
 
 bourg, on his march to Gueldres. The duke of 
 Juliers, father of the duke of Gueldres, makes 
 excuses for his son to the king of France. He 
 is graciously received, and has the territory of 
 Vierson restored to him, for which he pays hom- 
 age to the king 486 
 
 1S2. King Charles VI. quarters his army on a friendly 
 footing in the duchy of Juliers. A squire of 
 Auvergne is murdered by a wood-cutter whom 
 he is leading away as his prisoner 487 
 
 133. The duke of Juliers and archbishop of Cologne 
 
 leave the king of France, and go to the duke of 
 Gueldres at Nimeguen. By their remonstrances 
 and negotiations, he obtains peace with the king 
 of France and duchess of Brabant 487 
 
 134. The earl of Arundei and his fleet are driven by 
 
 storms to La Palice, near La Rochelle. The 
 lord Lewis de Sancerre, having had informa- 
 tion of this, chases them at sea, but m vain. 
 The duke of Lancaster marries his daughter to 
 the heir of Castille 488 
 
 135. The king of France, while on the frontiers of 
 
 Juliers, has part of his camp surprised, and 
 several prisoners made, by some German pilla- 
 gers. The king, being twenty-one years of 
 age, takes on himself the government of his 
 kingdom. He sends to the king of Castille, on 
 hearing of the marriage of his son with the 
 daughter of the duke of Lancaster, to remon- 
 strate with him not to enter into any treaties 
 that may be prejudicial to him or to his kingdom. .488 
 
 136. The duke of Berry, being disappointed in his 
 
 marriage with the daughter of the duke of Lan- 
 caster, sends to the count de Foix to demand the 
 daughter of the count de Boulogne, whom he 
 had in wardship 489 
 
 137. Geoffry Tete-noire is wounded in the head, at a 
 
 skirmish, and commits excesses which cause his 
 death. He makes a will, and substitutes two 
 eovsnion of Vsntadoui in hit roonii ,, t • 490 
 
 CHAP. PAOB 
 
 1.38. The duke of Gueldres is made prisoner in Prussia : 
 and, though delivert^d by the knights of the 
 Teutonic order, he returns to keen his faith to 
 the person who had taken him , 490 
 
 139. Sir John de Vienne, having received his answer 
 
 from the king of Castille, returns to France, 
 The duke of Lancaster i)rocee(ls in the marriage 
 of his daugliter to the infant of Castille. The 
 earl of Arundel, having made some cruises on 
 the coasts of Normandy, returns with his fleet 
 to England 491 
 
 140. The lord Lewis de Sancerre visits the count de 
 
 Foix at Orthes. A deed of arms is performed, 
 before the duke of Lancaster at Bordeaux, be- 
 tween five French and live Englishmen 491 
 
 141. The dnclipss of Lancaster carries her dau'rhl^r to 
 
 Castille, to marry her to the intiint. Having 
 found the bones of her father, she has them 
 conveyed to Seville, and buried with regal obse- 
 quies 492 
 
 142. The duke of Berry rtoffotiates so successfully 
 
 with the count de Foix, that he sends to him 
 his cousin of Boulogne, whom lie instantly 
 marries 492 
 
 143. Certain prudent men negotiate a truce, f<»r three 
 
 years, between the French and Enghsii, and ail 
 their allies 493 
 
 9. 
 10. 
 
 11. 
 
 12. 
 13. 
 
 14. 
 
 15. 
 
 16. 
 
 17. 
 
 18. 
 
 VOLUME IV. 
 
 Froissart relates his travels after he had left Or- 
 thes .493 
 
 Q,ueen Isabella of France makes her public entry 
 into the city of Paris 494 
 
 Sir John de Chatel-Morant brings f rom England 
 the truces for three years, sealed by king Rich- 
 ard and his allies. I^evvis of Anjou, king of 
 Sicily, is betrothed and married to a duughtef of 
 the king of Arragon 497 
 
 The king of France is desirous of visiting the dis- 
 tant parts of his kingdom. At the request of tlie 
 lord de Coucy, he orders the duke of Ireland out 
 of France 497 
 
 King Charles of France visits his uncle the duke 
 of Burgundy, and Pope Clement at Avignon . . .498 
 
 The king of France sends the dukes of Berry and 
 Burgundy to their homes, to their great dissatis- 
 faction, and continues his journey fre m Avignon 
 to Languedoc 499 
 
 During the time king Charles of France is at 
 Montpellier, three of his chamberlaias imder- 
 take to hold a tournament near to Calais, 
 against all comers £39 
 
 During the king of France's residence at Beziers, 
 accusations are made against Bethisac, trea- 
 surer to the duke of Berry. Thinking to be sent 
 to the pope and escape punishment, he confesses 
 himself a heretic and sodomite, but is transferred 
 over, by the official at Beziers, to the secular 
 power, and burnt 501 
 
 When the king of France is at Toulouse, he sum- 
 mons the count de Foix, who, on his arrival, 
 pays him homage for his county of Foix 501 
 
 The king of France and his brother, the duke of 
 Touraine, wager which shall arrive the sooiiest 
 at Paris, from Montpellier, each attended by 
 only one knight 505 
 
 The death of pope Urban at Rome, called the 
 anti-pope. Pope Clement writes to the king of 
 France, his uncles, and the university of Paris, 
 on the occasion. The election of pope Boni- 
 face by the Roman cardinals 505 
 
 The surrender of the strong castle of Ventadour 
 in Limousin, that had been the chief residence 
 of Geoftry Tete-noire SOS 
 
 Three French knights hold a tournament at Saint 
 Inglevere, near Calais, and defend the lists, for 
 thirty days, against all comers, from England 
 and elsewhere 509 
 
 The duke of Bourbon is appointed chief of an 
 expedition to Africa, that is undertaken by sev- 
 eral knights of France and England at the soli- 
 citation of the Genoese 514 
 
 Aymerigot Marcel, captain of the pillaging com- 
 panies, having fortified La Roche de Vandais, 
 on the borders of Limousin and Auvergne, is 
 besieged by the viscount de Maux, by command 
 of the king of France 515 
 
 Aymerigot Marcel endeavors, but in vain, to raise 
 the siege of La Roche de Vaiidais, by letters 
 and messages to the king of Englan<l, the duke 
 of Lancaster, the viscount de Meaux, and even 
 to the duke of Berry 517 
 
 Aymerigot Marcel having left La Roche de Van- 
 dais, to seek succor from other pillagers, his 
 lieutenant, Guyot du Sel, is surprised by an 
 ambuscade, and the fort surrenders on capitula- 
 
 tion. 
 
 .520 
 
 19. 
 
 20. 
 
 The messengei-s from England, hearing of the 
 surrender of La Roche de Vandais, take leave 
 of the duke of Berry. Aymerigot retires to the 
 house of a relation, called Tournemine, who 
 betrays him to the king of France. He is car 
 ried to Paris, and there beheaded, and his body 
 quartered „ 52I 
 
 The Christian lords weigh anchor, and leave the 
 island of Commo, in order to lay siege to the 
 town of Africa. The manner in which they 
 conduct themselves S23 
 
 The conduct of the Sararcens during the siege of 
 the towQ of Africa. iThey sead to demaad from 
 
XIV 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CBAP. PAGE. 
 
 the French the cause of their making war 
 
 against them 524 
 
 2L Some miracles are shown to the Saracens, as 
 they attempt to attack tlie camp of the chris- 
 tians. Several skirmishes during the siege. The 
 chmate becomes unwholesome, and other acci- 
 dents befal the besiegers 524 
 
 22. A challenge is sent by the Saracens to offer com- 
 bat of ten aeaiiist ten Christrians. The Sara- 
 cens fail in their engagement. The town of Af- 
 rica is stormed, but unsuccessfully, and with the 
 
 loss of many worthy men 526 
 
 83. A grand tournament is holden at London. The 
 king of England gives splendid entertainments 
 during the siege of the town of Africa by the 
 Christians. The count D'Ostrevant receives the 
 Order i)f the Garter, which displeases the king 
 
 of France 527 
 
 SM. The siege of Africa is raised. The cause of it. 
 The knights and squires return to their own 
 
 countries 529 
 
 25. King Charles of France proposes to march to 
 Italy, to form a union of the Church by force, 
 and ihence to Barbary. Embassadors from 
 England offer proposals for a peace between 
 him and king Richard. The death of John, 
 king of Castille. He is succeeded by his son 
 Henry, who is crowned king, though but nine 
 
 years of age .530 
 
 S6. Of the expedition of count John d'Armagnac 
 into Lombardy. His death at the siege of Alex- 
 andria 531 
 
 87 The king of England is anxious to make peace 
 with France. The duke of Gloucester throws 
 obstacles in the way. Sir Peter de Craon, 
 formerly the favorite of king Charles and his 
 brother the duke of Touraine, incurs their 
 hatred, and takes refuge with the duke of Brit- 
 tany 534 
 
 2S. The death of the young count LoQis de Chastil- 
 lon, son to count Guy de Blois. The sudden 
 
 death of Gaston count de Foix 535 
 
 2S. Sir Evan de Foix, bastard-son to the late count, 
 intending to carry away privately the treasure 
 of his father, is discovered by the townsmen of 
 Orthes, who, however, promise every assistance 
 to him and to his brother that is not incompati- 
 ble with the true heir to the count de Foix, the 
 
 viscouut de Chastelbon 536 
 
 80. The corpse of the count de Foix is brought from 
 Rion to Orthes. The king of France sends the 
 bishop of Noyon and the lord de la Riviere into 
 the county of Foix, to make arrangements, ac- 
 cording to the decree of the council 537 
 
 31. The viscount de Chastelbon, heir to the count de 
 Foix, attends his funeral at Orthes. He is ad- 
 vised to send to the before-named commission- 
 ers from France, to demand possession of the 
 succession which had fallen to him by the death 
 of the count de Foix : He afterwards sends, to the 
 same purport, to the king of France 537 
 
 82. The king of France and the duke of Brittany 
 
 meet at Tours, to settle their differences. Em- 
 bassadors from England come thither also to 
 negotiate a peace. 539 
 
 83. Sir Roger d'Espaign and sir Espaign du Lyon, 
 
 embassadors from the viscount de Chastelbon, 
 practice so successfully with the court of France, 
 that he is declared heir and successor to the 
 count de Foix by letters patent from the king of 
 
 France 540 
 
 M. During the residence of the king of France and 
 duke of Brittany at Tours, their differences are 
 partly accommodated by means of the marriages 
 of the duke's son with a princess of France, and 
 a son of John of Brittany, son to the late Lord 
 Charles de Blois, with a daughter of the duke of 
 
 Brittany 541 
 
 K. The count de Blois and Mary of Namur, his 
 countess, sell to the duke of Touraine the county 
 of Blois with other lands. The viscount de 
 Chastelbon takes possession of the inheritance 
 
 of the late count de Foix 541 
 
 86. A grand assembly at Amiens, of the king and 
 lords of France and England, to treat of a 
 
 peace between the two kingdoms 542 
 
 J7. The French and English lords, not being able to 
 agree on the terms of peace, prolong the truce 
 one year. The English, on their return, are 
 accompanied by the lord de Chasteau-Morant, 
 to bring back the king of England's final an- 
 swer 544 
 
 8B. The first illness of king Charles. Count Bernard 
 d'Armagnac does homage to the king. The 
 lord de Cliastelmorant returns from England 
 
 with an answer respecting peace 544 
 
 39. Sir Peter de Craon, through malevolence, way- 
 lays sir Oliver de Clisson, beats and severely 
 wounds him. The king and council are greatly 
 
 angered thereat 545 
 
 40 The king of France sends his own physicians and 
 surgeons to visit the constable during the night. 
 
 orders the provost of Pn ris to pursue sir Peter 
 de Craon, who had fled for refuge to the duke of 
 Bri tany. Some of his men, having remained 
 
 at Paris, are executed 546 
 
 II. The king of France summons the duke of Brit- 
 tany to deliver up sir Peter do Craon. His an- 
 iwer not being satisfactory, the king declares war 
 •faint him. Tin kmx't uqcIvs murmur at ths 
 
 CHAP. PAGE. 
 
 great riches of the constable, which were dis- 
 closed by his will 547 
 
 42. The duke of Touraine is created duke of Orleans. 
 
 The conslal)le of France being recovered, the 
 king of France advances to Mans, with the in- 
 tention of continuing his march to make war on 
 the duke of Brittany 548 
 
 43. The king of France, during his stay at Mans, 
 
 again sends some noble personages to the duke 
 of Brittany, with orders to dismiss sir Peter de 
 Craon. The king is informed that sir Peter is 
 arrested at Barcelona by command of the Queen 
 of Arragon 544 
 
 44. The king having left Mans to carry on his war 
 
 against Brittany, is ordered to return by an un- 
 known person. This same day, his mind is de- 
 ranged, and he is brought back to Mans 544 
 
 45. King Charles VL of France, continuing deranged 
 
 in mind, is removed from Mans to Creil, on the 
 Oise, the regency of the kingdom is given to the 
 dukes of Berry and Burgundy by the three 
 estates 551 
 
 46. The lord de Coucy introduces the great physician, 
 
 master William de Harseley, to cure the king of 
 France. Various causes assigned for this dis- 
 order 557 
 
 47. The dukes of Berry and Burgundy ruin those 
 
 who had been the confidential servants of the 
 king. The duke of Burgundy treats rudely the 
 constable de Clisson 552 
 
 48. Sir Oliver de Clisson, after the harsh answer of the 
 
 duke of Burgundy, retires to Montlehery. Be- 
 ing pursued thither, he has time to make his re- 
 treat to Chasteau Josselin 553 
 
 49. The lord de la. Riviere, the principal minister of 
 
 the king of France before his illness, is made 
 prisoner by orders of the dukes of Berry and 
 Burgundy. The duchess of Berry intercedes for 
 him witn her lord 553 
 
 50. After many ad.journments and delays, the consta- 
 
 ble de Clisson is, by judgment of the court of 
 parliament of Paris, banished the realm of 
 France, condemned to pay a fine of one hun- 
 dred thousand francs, and declared incapable of 
 holding the oflice ot constable of France 565 
 
 51. King Charles recovers his senses through the 
 
 mercy of God, and the diligent attention of his 
 physician, master William de Harselev 556 
 
 52. The truce is prolonged between France and Eng- 
 
 land. Ttie viscount de Chastelbon does homage 
 for the county of Foix to the king of France 556 
 
 53. The king of France is in great danger of his life 
 
 at a masked dance ot men dressed like savages. 
 Pope Boniface and his cardinals at Rome send a 
 learned friar to the king 557 
 
 54. The duchess of Berry supports the lord de la 
 
 Riviere, in opposition to the duchess of Bur- 
 gundy 558 
 
 55. The lord de Coucy refuses to accept the sword of 
 
 constable in the room of Clisson. The dukes of 
 Berry and Burgundy invest the lord Philip d'Ar- 
 tois, count d'Eu, with it, in consideration of his 
 marriage with tlie lady Mary of Berry, widow of 
 the lord Louis de Blois 559 
 
 56. The constable de Clisson, during his absence from 
 
 France, wages war on the duke of Brittany 560 
 
 57. A treaty of peace concluded between the kings 
 
 of France and England, througn the media- 
 tions of their uncles 560 
 
 58. The treaty of peace is nearly broken off by 
 
 pope Boniface, and by the king of France re- 
 lapsing into his former illness 562 
 
 59. The death of pope Clement at Avignon. The 
 
 election of pope Benedict. A learned clerk in 
 the archbishoprft: of Rheims, supports the right 
 of the see of Avignon, by his speeches and 
 preachings 563 
 
 60. The king of England is advised to make a jour- 
 
 ney to Ireland, and to settle on the duke of 
 Lancaster and his heirs lor ever the duchy of 
 Aquitaine with all its dependencies 563 
 
 61. The death of the ladv Anne of Bohemia, queen 
 
 of England. The duke of Lancaster lands in 
 Aquitaine, and the king of England in Ireland... 564 
 
 62. Sir John Froissart arrives in England, and is pre- 
 
 sented to king Richard by the duke of York, 
 uncle to the king..., 565 
 
 63. The information Froissart gains in England, 
 
 touching the opposition of the inhabitants of 
 Aquitaine to the gift the king of England had 
 made of it to his uncle the duke of Lancaster. 
 The commissioners sent to remonstrate on the 
 matter with the king cannot obtain a decisive 
 answer relative thereto 566 
 
 64. Froissart presents his Book of Love Poems to 
 
 king Richard of England. He relates what he 
 had heard of the last e.\pcdition ol the English 
 to Ireland 568 
 
 65. The duke of Lancaster is ordered back from 
 
 Aquitaine. King Richard receives a friendly 
 answer to the proposals his embassadors had 
 made to the king of France for a marriage be- 
 tween him and the lady Isabella, princess of 
 France 570 
 
 66. A squire of Normandy, called Robert the 
 
 Hermit, having declared he had seen a vision, 
 while at sea, ordering him to interfere in mak- 
 ing a peace between France and England, is 
 sent to king Richard and his uncles to this 
 
 8ff«ct.,..., «.r........,...,.„.6n 
 
 CHAP. PA«B 
 
 67. The lord de la Riviere and sir John le Mercier are 
 
 «ielivered out of prison 57| 
 
 68. The duke of Brittany and sir Oliver de Clisson* 
 
 are reconciled. The dowager queen of Sicily 
 institutes a lav/-suit in tlie courts cf Paris against 
 sir Peter de Craon 57J 
 
 69. The king- of Hungary writes to the king of 
 
 France his ; ituarion in respect to the sultan Bu- 
 jazet. Join: of Burgundy, eldest sou to the duke 
 of Burgund. , marches, ts coiumauder-in- chief, 
 an army to ti 2 succor of the Hungarians 576 
 
 70. The count d'C trevant, brother-in-law to John of 
 
 Burgundy, being desirous to march to Hungary, 
 is advised by ins father to attempt, in preference, 
 the reconquest of Friesland, which belonged to 
 them 
 
 71. John of Burgundy, count of Nevers, leads an 
 
 army into Hungary against the Turks. The ne- 
 gotiations tor the marriage of king Richard of 
 England with the eldest princess of France are 
 continued •. 575 
 
 72. The queen of Naples, widow to the late duke of 
 
 Aiyou, obtains judgment in parliament against 
 sir Peter de Craon 577 
 
 73. The marriage is concluded between king Richard 
 
 of England and the lady Isabella, eldest daugh- 
 ter to Charles VI. king of France. The duke of 
 Lancaster marries again. Sir Peter de Craon is. 
 after some time, deiitered from prison, at the en- 
 treaty of the young queen of England 57? 
 
 74. John of Burgundy, count of Nevers, passes the 
 
 Danube with his army. After the capture of 
 several places, the town of Nicopoli is besieged., 578 
 
 75. A digression from the principal history to explain 
 
 why John Galeas of Milan was moved to eive 
 the Turk information of the expedition intended 
 against hiin 530 
 
 76. While Bajuzet is raising a great army to oppose 
 
 the Huntrariaus and French, the lord de Coucy, 
 during the siege of Nicopoli, deteats a large 
 body of Turks with an inferior force 581 
 
 77. The duke of Gueldres prevents the earl of Derby 
 
 joining the counts of Haiiiault and of Ostrevaut 
 in their expedition against Friesland. Negotia- 
 tions for peace between France and England 
 are continued until king Richard crosses over to 
 Calais, to conclude them with the duke of Bur- 
 gundy 583 
 
 78. The counts of Hainault and of Ostrevant mi&e a 
 
 large army of rnea-at-arms, knights and squires, 
 to invade Friesland. The king of France sends 
 them assistance, under the command of count 
 Walleran de Saint Pol and the lord Charles 
 d'Albret 533 
 
 79. The earl of Hainault lands with his army in 
 
 Freisland. He defeats the Frieslanders in battle, 
 but is nevertheless forced to retire to Holland, to 
 pass the winter, without having gained anything 
 in Friesland 534 
 
 80. The ceremony of the marriage of tlie king of 
 
 England with a princess of I'rance. The king 
 of France delivers her to the king of England, 
 in his tent between Ardres and Calais 585 
 
 81. The Christians are forced to raise the siege of 
 
 Nicopoli, by the arrival of Bajazet in Turkey. 
 TJiey are defeated, and the Hungarians put 
 to flight, through the presumptuous folly of tlie 
 French gg; 
 
 82. The Turks, after the battle of J>jicopoli, put to 
 
 death all their prisoners, except the count de 
 Nevers and some other great .Ords gg^ 
 
 83. The French and others who had been in Turkey 
 
 suffer great hardships on their return home, after 
 having es.-aped from the battle of Nicopoli. Sir 
 James de Helly brings certain intelligence ol this 
 defeat to the king of France 539 
 
 84. SirJamesdeHelly, having received his dispatches 
 
 from the king of France, arrives in Hungary, in 
 his way to Turkey. The king sends sir John dt 
 Chastelmorant, with presents to Bajazet, and his 
 recommendations in favor of the French prison- 
 ers. The manner in which they are treated 590 
 
 85. Sir James de Helly, 011 his return to Turkey, ob- 
 
 tains his liberty, and carries a passport from the 
 sultan to sir John de Chastelmorant in Hungary. 
 Sir John de Chastelmorant is forced to send a 
 messenger to the king of France, to inform him 
 that the king of Hungary will not allow the 
 presents to be carried to the sultan 581 
 
 86. The duchess of Orleans is suspected of causing 
 
 the king's illness 698 
 
 87. The duke and duchess of Burgundy diligently 
 
 exert themselves to find means to ransom the 
 count de Nevers, their son, and his fellow-priso- 
 ners in Turkey. The king of Hungary, through 
 the persuasion of the grand master of Rhodes, 
 permits the embassador from the king of France 
 to pass through his kingdom with the presents for 
 the sultan Bnjazet 593 
 
 88. The duke of Gloucester plots the destruction of 
 
 his nephew the king ».f England. The king, 
 having information of his practices, has him ar- 
 rested by the earl-ma rshai 593 
 
 89. The lord de Coucy and count d'Eu, constable of 
 
 France, die in Turkey, before the treaty for their 
 deliverance is arranged. A ransom is agreed on 
 for the other prisoners who were taken at the 
 battle of Nicopoli 597 
 
 90. The French lords who had been prisoners in Tur- 
 
 key wluxn by i«a to V«mc«t. ..«,.«, ,•.•••««. .m*6SI 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CBAF. PAQK. 
 
 81. The lord Louis de Snncerre is made constable of 
 France, in the room of the count d'Eu, who had 
 died in Turkey. Boucicaut, during Ins absence 
 with the count de Nevers, is appointed marshal 
 of France in the place of the lord Louis de San- 
 cerre. The French lords who liad been prison- 
 ers in Turkey return to France 600 
 
 93. The deatlis of the duke of Gloucester and the 
 earl of Arundel. The manner in which tlie 
 dukes of Lancaster and York, and tlie London- 
 ers, take the matter 601 
 
 93. A great assembly hoiden at Rheims, by the em- 
 peror of Germany and king of France, on the 
 •chism in tiieCliurcb, and on the means of unit- 
 ing the two parties 603 
 
 9*. The earl-marshal challenges the earl of Derby, 
 son to the duke of Lancaster, in the presence of 
 the king and his council 603 
 
 95. King Richard -of England banishes the earl of 
 
 Derby from England for ten years, and the earl- 
 marshal for his life 606 
 
 96. Tiie eari of Derby, in consequence of his banish- 
 
 ment, leaves England for France. The earl- 
 marshal, in obedience to his sentence, goes to 
 Flanders, and thence mto Lombardy 606 
 
 97. The count d'Ostrevant sends embassadors to the 
 
 earl of Derby. The carl arrives at Paris 607 
 
 98. The emperor and the king of France pursue the 
 
 plans they had settled at Rheims, for a union of 
 the church. The bishop of Cambray is sent by 
 them to the pope at Rome. The answer that is 
 made him 607 
 
 99. The king of France, in conformity to the advice 
 
 of his nobles and the university of Paris, sends 
 the bishop of Cambray to pope Benedict at 
 Avignon, on the subject of a union of the 
 church, and also his marshal Boucicaut thither 
 t** constrain the pope to obedience by force of 
 arms, should there be occasion 607 
 
 100. In consequence of the answer of pope Benedict, 
 the marshal Boucicaut obliges him by force of 
 arms to submit himself to the will of the krng of 
 France respecting a union of the church 608 
 
 BL The marshal Boucicaut returns to Hungary 
 •faioit the Turks. The earl of Derby lendi to 
 
 CHAP. PAOE. 
 
 request permission of the duke of Lancaster to 
 accompany Boucicaut in this expedition. The 
 king of England is solicited by the king of 
 France to engage his subjects to a neutrahty be- 
 tween tne two popes, until a new election shall 
 take place; -but they refuse compliance with 
 their monarch's request 609 
 
 102. The answer the duke of Lancaster gives the 
 
 knight who had been sent to him by the earl of 
 Derby, to request his permission to join the ex- 
 pedition against the Turks. The death of the 
 duke of Lancaster 610 
 
 103. The king of England makes the king of France 
 
 acquainted with the death of the duke of Lan- 
 caster, but does not notice it to the earl of 
 Derby, though son to the late duke 610 
 
 104. The treaty of marriage between the earl of 
 
 Derby and the daughter of the duke of Berry is 
 broken off by the king of England, through the 
 means of the earl of Salisbury 611 
 
 105. King Richard of England proclaims a tourna- 
 
 ment, which is attended by very few persons. 
 On setting out for Lreland, he banishes the earl 
 of Northumberland and hia son the kingdom 612 
 
 106. The English, and particularly the Londoners, rise 
 
 in favor of the earl of Derby against king 
 Richard 612 
 
 107. The archbishop of Canterbury is sent to France 
 
 by the Londoners, and others of their party in 
 
 England, to bring back the earl of Derby 613 
 
 l/)8. The earl of Derby takes leave of the king and 
 lords of France, to visit his cousin the duke of 
 Brittany 614 
 
 109. The earl of Derby sails from Brittany to England. 
 
 His reception by the citizens of London 615 
 
 110. The earl of Derby, now duke of Lancaster, un- 
 
 dertakes the government of England, and, by 
 the aid of the Londoners, determines to seize the 
 throne. He marches in arms agauist king Rich- 
 ard at Bristol 615 
 
 111. King Richard is informed that the earl of Derby 
 
 is marching against him with a powerful army. 
 He retires to Flint castie 616 
 
 112. King Richard surrender* himself to the earl of 
 
 Derby, to be conductea to London 616 
 
 CHAP. PABB. 
 
 113. The lady of Coucy is taken away from th»» y«jaYig 
 
 queen of England, and a new household ap- 
 pointed for her. King Richard is confined in 
 the tower of London , 617 
 
 114. The earl of Rutland, constable of England, hear- 
 
 ing the king has surrendered, dismisses his men- 
 at-arms. Four knights ol' the king's chamber, 
 having been put to death by the Londoners, he 
 is advised by those wiio were imprisoned with 
 him to resign hb crown to the duke of Lancas- 
 ter 617 
 
 115. King K'chard of England resigns his crov/n and 
 
 kingdom into the hands of the duke of Lancas- 
 ter 618 
 
 116. A parliament meets at ^Vestnniu-ter, when the 
 
 duke of Lancaster is publicly acknowledged 
 knig of England. The great magnificence of 
 his coronation 619 
 
 117. Intelligence of the imprisonment of king Richard 
 
 is carried to France by the lady of Coucy. King 
 " Charles is much displeased thereat. The duke 
 of Bourbon attempts in vain to reduce Bor- 
 deaux, and other towns in Aquitaine, to the 
 crown of J\ance (30 
 
 118 The council of France, by peimission of king 
 
 Henry, send over persons to visit Isabella, queeu 
 to Richard II 621 
 
 119 The earls of Huntingdon and Salisbury, and some 
 
 others, having failed to murder treacherously 
 king Henry of Lancaster, rise in arms again-st 
 him. They are defeated and beheaded, and 
 their heads sent to the king 622 
 
 12b. On the death of John of Montfort, duke of Brit- 
 tany, the Bretons undertake the wardship of the 
 young duke, and to be friendly to France. The 
 French king, disliusting the sentiments of the 
 new reign in England, makes provision against 
 any sudden change 623 
 
 121. The death of king Richard. The truces are re- 
 newed and kept between France and England. 
 The earl-marshal, who had been banished Eng- 
 land, dies at Venice 623 
 
 123. France preserves a neutrality between the popes 
 of Rome and Avignon. The election of the 
 emperor Robert , . . . .Ol 
 
 V 
 
I,IST OF ENGRAVINGS. 
 
 1. 
 2. 
 3. 
 4. 
 5. 
 6. 
 7. 
 8. 
 9. 
 10. 
 
 11. 
 
 12. 
 
 la 
 
 14. 
 
 15. 
 
 16. 
 17. 
 18. 
 19. 
 20. 
 21. 
 
 23. 
 24. 
 2o. 
 26. 
 27. 
 28. 
 
 29. 
 30. 
 
 81. 
 32. 
 33. 
 34. 
 35. 
 36. 
 
 37. 
 38. 
 
 40. 
 
 41. 
 
 42. 
 
 Imtialletter T 14 
 
 Grout) of Knffrhts of the Fourteenth Century 14 
 
 Portrait of Edward the Second 15 
 
 dueen Isabella's Visit to her Brother at Paris 16 
 
 Portrait of Edward the Third 19 
 
 fid ward the Third's Expedition against the Scots. .21 
 
 Portrait of Philip de Valois, kins of France 25 
 
 View of Herwick-upon-Tweed 27 
 
 Vis>w in Ghent 30 
 
 Edward the TJiird sending a Challenge to King 
 
 Philip .33 
 
 View of the City of Tournay 44 
 
 Entry of John de Montfort and his Duchess into 
 
 Nantes 49 
 
 Part of the Old Town Wall of Newcastle-upon- 
 Tyne 53 
 
 View of Wark Castle, Northumberland 54 
 
 A Tournament. From a Manuscript of the Fif- 
 teenth Century 61 
 
 The Trebuchet, a Machine for Casting Stones 68 
 
 Wooden Tower, used for Storming Walls 70 
 
 Battle of Caen 77 
 
 BatUe of Cressy 81 
 
 Portrait of Q,ueen Philiiipa. From her Totnb 85 
 
 Uueen Philippa haranguing her Troops at Ne- 
 
 vil's Cross 85 
 
 Lochaber Axes 86 
 
 ( Jonibat of La Roche D'Errien 89 
 
 Battle of Calais 93 
 
 Portrait of John, King of France 97 
 
 Portrait of Edward the Black Prince 106 
 
 Battle of Meaux, in Brie 113 
 
 War Waggons and Baggage Trains on their 
 
 March 124 
 
 Cathedral and Part of the Old Town of Rheims. .126 
 Whole-len^'th Figure of " Bertrand du Guesclin," 
 from a woodcut in a scarce Folio, Printed 1490.. 141 
 
 Portrait of Charles the Fifth of France 143 
 
 Coronation of Charles V. and his Uueen 147 
 
 Portrait of John of Gaunt (Duke of Lancaster).. .161 
 
 Scenery of the Pyrenees on the French side 162 
 
 Scenery of the Pyrenees on the Spanish side 170 
 
 Battle of Montiel— an inegular (/ombat of 
 
 French, Spaniards, Moors, and Jews 173 
 
 Tomb of Uueen Phdippa, Westminister Abbey.. .190 
 Sir John Chandos at the head of his troops, in 
 the act of making his Deathcharge on the 
 
 French 193 
 
 Edward tlie lilack Prince in a Litter at the Sack 
 
 of Limoges 201 
 
 The Round Tower of Windsor Castle, as it ap- 
 peared in tlie time of Edward III 207 
 
 Sea-tight oft" lia Rochelle 208 
 
 Dunfermline Abbey— the Burial Place of Robert 
 Bruce .^.o „21G 
 
 43. Tomb of Edward the Black Prince, Canterbury 
 
 Cathedral 223 
 
 44. Portrait of Richard II 234 
 
 45. Tomb of Edward III., Westminster Abbey 224 
 
 46. Duke of Anjou with his army, marching against 
 
 Bergerac 228 
 
 47. The Storming of Duras 231 
 
 48. View of Alnwick Castle 233 
 
 49. View of Evreux, in Normandy 239 
 
 50. Oliver du Guesclin made prisoner by the Garri- 
 
 rison of Cherbourg 242 
 
 51. Uueen Joanna of Naples, surrendering her Terri- 
 
 ritories to Pope Clement VII 250 
 
 52. Men of Ghent attacking the Earl of Flanders in 
 
 Dendermonde 257 
 
 53. The H6tel-de-Ville, Oudenarde 260 
 
 54. The Earl of Buckingham, with his Army, on 
 
 their Voyage to Calais, to assist the Uuke of 
 Brittany 263 
 
 55. Portrait of Charles VL of France 270 
 
 56. The H6tel-de-Ville. Ypres 277 
 
 57. John Bali preaching to the People in Kent 283 
 
 58. Richard the Second and the Rebels 285 
 
 59. Death of Wat Tyler 287 
 
 60. Citizens of Ghent begging a Peace of the Earl of 
 
 Flanders 292 
 
 61. Tomb of G ood Uueen Anne, wife of Richard II., 
 
 in Westminster Aubey 295 
 
 62. View of Castel del Ovo, Naples 296 
 
 63. A French Knight unfurling the Oriflarame 314 
 
 64. Battle of Rosebecque 321 
 
 65. The Bishop of Norwich at the head of his 
 
 Troops ■ 327 
 
 66. Funeral of the Earl of Flanders, bearing the body 
 
 into the Chiftch 336 
 
 67. Funeral of the Earl of Flanders, placing the body 
 
 before the Altar 337 
 
 68. Funeral of the Earl of Flanders, placing the body 
 
 in the Tomb 337 
 
 69. Genoese Cross-bowmen attacking the Bridge of 
 
 Taillebourg 344 
 
 70. King Robert of Scotland and his Nine Sons who 
 
 loved Arms 350 
 
 71. The Old Maison-de-Ville, Ghent 357 
 
 72. Froissart at the Court of the Count de Foix 359 
 
 73. Bishop of Pamiers singing the Mass at the Festi- 
 
 val of St. Nicholas 372 
 
 74. English and Gascon Lords at Bordeaux 387 
 
 75. Embassadors of Portugal presented to Richard 
 
 II. by the Duke of Lancaster 392 
 
 76. Attack on the Fortifications of Pontevedra 409 
 
 77. General View of Sluys 412 
 
 78. Battle-axe Fight between Sir John Holland and 
 
 Sir Reginald de Rove 421 
 
 79. View of the City of Burgoa 428 
 
 PA.QE. 
 
 80. Lord Beaumanoir paying the Ransom of the 
 
 Constable de Clisson 432 
 
 81. Richard the Second at Bristol 443 
 
 82. Bayonne, as it appeared in the Seventeenth Cen- 
 
 tury 453 
 
 83. The Emperor constituting the Duke of Brabant 
 
 Keeper of the Public Roads 45fi 
 
 84. Perrot le Bearnois and a company of Pillagers. . . .462 
 
 85. The Duke of Brittany presenting the Count d'Es- 
 
 tunipes with a handsome white palfrey... 466 
 
 86. Palace of tlie Louvre 473 
 
 87. View of Jedburgh 480 
 
 88. View of Brancepeth Castle 481 
 
 89. Death of Douglas at Otterboume 483 
 
 90. Triumphal Entry of Uueen Isabella into Paris 495 
 
 91. Entry of Charles, king of France, to Beziers 502 
 
 92. Count de Harcourt presenting the Comfit Box to 
 
 the king 504 
 
 93. Coronation of Pope Boniface 506 
 
 94. Tournament at St. Inglevere 509 
 
 95. English and French Knights under the Duke of 
 
 Bourbon on their voyage to Africa 515 
 
 96. Execution of Aymerigot Marcel at Paris 521 
 
 97. Siege of the Town of Africa 525 
 
 98. Richard the Second and his three Uncles, the 
 
 Dukes of Lancaster, York, and Gloucester 534 
 
 99. Assembly of the French King and the Lords of 
 
 France and England, to treat of a Peace be- 
 tween the two kingdoms. 543 
 
 100. Shrine of St. Aquaire 552 
 
 101. King Charles and a Hawking Party 565 
 
 102. The Masque at Paris, in which the king and oth- 
 
 ers were in great danger 557 
 
 103. Marriage of Philip d'Artois and Lady Mary de 
 
 Berry 559 
 
 104. Richard the Second on his Voyage to Ireland 564 
 
 105. Irish Chieftians making 0 Charge 569 
 
 106. King of Hungary holding a Council with the 
 
 French Knights 679 
 
 107. Battle of Nicopoli 581 
 
 108. William of Hainault on his Expedition against 
 
 Friesland 584 
 
 109. Isabella and the king of England taking leave of 
 
 the King of France, at the Camp between Ar- 
 dres and Calais 587 
 
 110. Visit of Richard the Second to his Uncle, the 
 
 Duke of Gloucester, in his Castle at Pleshy 596 
 
 111. The Earl-Marshal challenging the Earl of 
 
 Derby 604 
 
 112. Earl of Derby taking leave of the King and 
 
 Lords of France at Paris 614 
 
 113. Richard the Second resigning the Crown into the 
 
 hands of the duke of Lancaster 619 
 
 114. The Coronation of Henry the Fonrih 620 
 
 115. Funeral Procession of Richard the Second 6i23 
 
CHRONICLES 
 
 OF 
 
 ENGLAND, FKANCE, SPAIN, &e. &e. 
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 The Chronicles of Sir John Froissart have, ever since their first 
 publication, when they were circulated only through the medium of 
 manuscripts, and deemed worthy presents to kings and princes, been 
 so highly prized, as to make any apology for their reproduction in a 
 novel, and it is hoped an improved form, unnecessary. England is 
 particularly rich in MS. Froissarts, and from these stores most of the 
 illustrations have been drawn. The reader should, however, be made 
 aware that there scarcely exists one single MS. contemporary with 
 the time of the author containing illustrations, and that the dresses, 
 &c. displayed in the wood-cuts interspersed in these volumes, are 
 almftst all to be referred to a later date. The manners of the times 
 had not undergone much alteration, nor was the costume materially 
 different, and they at least approach very nearly to an exact represen- 
 tation of the scenes described in the history they illustrate. It is 
 difficult to represent the ex»iuisite finish of ancient illuminations, 
 through the medium of a copy composed of black lines and contrasted 
 lights ; but the fidelity of the outlines, and the spirit of the execution, 
 have been scrupulously obseiTed, and it is hoped that the general 
 effect does not discredit the originals. 
 
 It may be necessary to say a few words on the mode which has 
 been adopted in the conduct of the present edition. The text of 
 Johnes has been preferred to that of Lord Berners for several reasons : 
 * the more modern diction is better adapted for the extended circulation 
 among all classes of readers, which it is the ambition of the proprie- 
 tor of the Imperial Classics to achieve ; the style and language of Lord 
 Berners would probably be preferred by those who are familiar with 
 our earlier writers, but notes and glossaries would be required to make 
 clear to others many words and expressions which to them appear in 
 no degree obscure. Again, Mr. Johnes has in several places intro- 
 duced extensive additions, which are to be found in no other edition, 
 French or English. F these were embodied in the text of Lord 
 Berners, a proceeding necessary to make the edition complete, a very 
 piebald piece of patch-work would be the result ; and as the original 
 of these additions was lost when Mr. Johnes's house and library were 
 destroyed by fire, it is not possible to re-translate them in a style 
 assimilated to that of the noble trans^or. 
 
 Another objection to adopting the text of Lord Berners, is that 
 imperfection which induced Mr. Johnes to undertake his translation, 
 viz., the inaccuracies in rendering the names of both men and towns, 
 &c. Mr. Johnes did much to correct these, which are dreadfully 
 mangled and disfigured in the original ; and they have been still 
 further improved in the present edition. It has not been thought 
 necessary to point out all these emendations ; where no doubt existed, 
 the alteration has been made silently ; but wherever there was aay 
 ancertainty, the emendation has been proposed as a query. 
 
 All Mr. Johnes's original notes have been preserved, and many 
 .nore added on subjects which he had left unnoticed, or regarding 
 which he appeared to be in error. A few of the best passages of 
 Lord Berners's version have been appended as specimens of his style, 
 9uch as the celebrated episode of Edward III. and the countess of 
 Salisbury, p. 53. 
 
 The original divisions made by Froissart in his work are com- 
 mented on and explained in the Essay by M. de St. Palaye, trans- 
 lated by Mr. Johnes, and appended to this edition, and it will therefore 
 be suflacient in this place to explain the system here adopted. The 
 four original divisions into volumes or books have been preserved, 
 and the chapters of each book are separately numbered. No two 
 editions or MSS. exactly agree in the arrangement of the chapters, 
 and we have therefore adhered to that adopted by Mr. Johnes. 
 
 We will now take our leave of the reader in the words of Gray, 
 who, in a letter to a friend, thus addresses him: " I rejoice you have 
 met with Froissart ; he is the Herodotus of a barbarous age ; had he 
 but had the luck of writing in as good a language, he might have 
 been >mmortalI His locomotive disposition (for then there was no 
 other way of learning things,) his simple curiosity, his religious cre- 
 
 dulity, were much like those of the old Greciarj. When, you hare 
 tant chevauce as to get to the end of him, there is Mons'jelet waiti 
 to take you up, and will set you down at Philip de Commines." 
 
 MEMOIR 
 
 OF 
 
 THE LIFE OF FEOISSART. 
 
 John Fkoissart, priest, canon, and treasurer of the collegiate 
 church of Chimay, historian and poet, was bom in Valenciennes, a 
 town in Hainault, about the year 1337. This date, which appears 
 contradicted by one single passage in his Chronicle, is confirmed by 
 a number of others, as well in his Chronicle, as in his Manuscript 
 Poems. 
 
 However attentive he may have been to inform us of the minutest 
 particulars of his life, he does not say one word relative to his fam- 
 ily. One can only form a conjecture from a passage in his Poems, 
 that his father's name was Thomas, and that he was a painter of 
 arms. We find in his history a Froissart MeuUier, a young knight 
 from Hainault, who signalized himself by his valor at the siege of 
 the castle of Fighieres in Spain, which the English and Gascons at- 
 tacked in 1381. His country and name induce me to believe that 
 our historian might be a relation of his, and, like him, sprung from a 
 noble family. Froissart, is titled knight, in a manuscript in the abbey 
 of St. Germain.des.Pr6s ; but as he has not this title in any other 
 manuscript, though we have some of the most ancient and most au- 
 thentic, it seems probable that the copyist has given it to him from 
 his own authority. 
 
 His infancy announced what he would one day be ; he early man. 
 ifested that eager and inquisitive mind, which during the course of 
 his life never allowed him to remain long attached to the same occu- 
 pations, and in the same place. The different games suitable to that 
 age, of which he gives us a picture equally curious and ainusing, kept 
 up in his mind a fund of natural dissipation, which during his early 
 studies tried the patience and exercised the severity of his masters. 
 He loved hunting, music, assemblies, feasts, dress, good living, wine, 
 and women : all these tastes, which almost all showed themselves 
 from twelve years of age, being confirmed by habitude, were con- 
 tinned even to his old age, and perhaps never left him. The mind 
 and heart of Froissart being not yet sufficiently occupied, his love 
 for history filled up that void which his passion for pleasure left; and 
 became to him an inexhaustible source of amusement. 
 
 He had but just left school, and was scarcely twenty years old, 
 when at the entreaty of his dear lord and masttr, Sir Robert dt 
 Namur, knight, Lord of Beaufort, he undertook to write the history 
 of the wars of his ov/n time, more particularly those which ensued 
 after the battle of Poitiers. Four years afterwards, having gone to 
 England, he presented a part of his history to queen Philippa ot 
 Hainault, the wife of Edward III. However young he might then 
 be, he had already travelled into the most distant provinces of Francec 
 The object of his visit to England was to tear himself from the pains 
 of an attachment which had tormented him for a long time. This 
 passion took possession of his heart from his infancy ; it lasted ten 
 years, and sparks of it were again rekindled in a more advanced age, 
 in spite of his bald head and white hairs. 
 
 When poets sing their loves, they are not always believed on their 
 word ; as Froissart only mentions his in poetry, one may treat all h« 
 says as pure fiction ; but the portrait he draws is so natural, that one 
 cannot prevent one's self from acknowledging the character of a 
 young man in love, and the simple expressions of real passion. He 
 feigns, that when twelve years old, Mercury appeared to him foUo^©«i: 
 
2 
 
 MEMOIR OF THE LIF4E OF FROISSART. 
 
 •iy the three goddesses whose difference Paris had fonnerly decided ; 
 ihat this god, calling to mind the protection he had given him from 
 Tour years of age, ordered him to revise the dispute of these three 
 Jivmities ; that he had confirmed the judgment of Paris ; and that 
 Venus had promised him, as a recompense, a mistress more beautiful 
 : han the fair Helen, and of such high birth, that from thence to Con- 
 : tantinople there was not earl, duke, king, or emperor, who would 
 i:ot have esteemed himself fortunate to obtain her. He was to serve 
 tiiis beauty for ten years, and his whole life was to be devoted to the 
 adoration of that divinity who made him such fair promises. 
 
 Froissart had been early attached to romances ; that of Cleomades 
 was the first instrument Love made use of to captivate him. He 
 found it in the hands of a young maiden who was reading it, and 
 who invited him to read it with her : he readily consented, for such 
 complaisances cost little. There was soon formed between them a 
 literary connection. Froissart lent her the romance of the Baillou 
 
 Amours,* and took the opportunity of sending it to her, to slip into 
 it a ballad, in which he first spoke of his love. This spark of love 
 became a flame which nothing could extinguish ; and Froissart, having 
 experienced all that agitation which a first p^sion inspires, was almost 
 reduced to despair on hearing that his mistress was on the point of 
 being married ; his excessive grief overwhelmed him, and caused him 
 a fit of illness which lasted for three months. At last he took the 
 resolution to travel, to dissipate his chagrin and to recover his health. 
 As he travelled with a larg^ company, he was forced to be attentive 
 to himself, in order to hide his trouble. After two days' journey, 
 during which he had never ceased making verses in honor of his mis- 
 tress, he arrived at a town, which I believe to be Calais, where he 
 embarked. During his passage, the weather was so tempestuous as 
 to threaten an immediate wreck of the vessel : this however was not 
 capable of suspending the application with which he was working to 
 finish a rondeau to the honor of his love. The weather became calm, 
 and the rondeau was completed, when he found himself on a coast, 
 where, as he says, " they love war better than peace, and where 
 strangers are very well received." He speaks of England ; the recep- 
 tion they gave him, the amusements they procured him in the socie- 
 ties of " lords, ladies, and damsels," and the caresses they loaded him 
 with; but nothing was able to calm the melancholy which over- 
 whelmed him ; so that, not being able longer to support the pangs 
 of absence, he resolved to return nearer to the lady of his heart. 
 
 A lady, queen Philippa of Hainault, who detained him in England, 
 learnt from a virelay, which he presented to her, the cause of his 
 trouble ; she took compassion on him, by ordering him to go back to 
 his own country, on condition however of his promise to return* and 
 furnished him with money and horses to perform the journey. Love 
 soon conducted him to the lady of his affections. Froissart let no 
 opportunity slip of being in the same places where she might be, and 
 of conversing with her. We have before seen that she was of such 
 high birth, that " kings and emperors might have sought her these 
 words taken literally are only suitable for a person of blood royal, or 
 to the issue of a sovereign prince ; but how can we connect the idea 
 of such high birth with the detail he gives us of the secret conversa- 
 tions, the amusements, and assemblies, which he was at liberty to 
 partake of by day or by night ? and, as if these traits- were not suffi- 
 cient to make her known at the time he wrote, he seems to have 
 wished to have more clearly pointed her out by the name of Anne, 
 in the enigmatical verses which make part of his manuscript poems. 
 One may presume that this love, so passionate and so tender, had the 
 usual fate of almost every passion. 
 
 Froissart speaks in one of his rondeaus of another lady, whom he 
 nad loved, and whose name, composed of five letters, was to be found 
 in that of Polixena : this may be an Alix, which was formerly written 
 Aelix. There is reason to believe he had a third flame called Mar- 
 garet, and that it is she whom he indirectly celebrates in a poemt 
 under the title, and in honor, of the flower which bears her name.t 
 Perhaps he sought inUhese episodical amours some remedy for a 
 passion, which, accordmg to his own account, was unfortunate. At 
 least we know that, in despair for the little success which had attended 
 all his assiduities and attentions to his first mistress, he took the reso- 
 lution of again absenting himself from her. 
 
 This absence was no longer than the preceding one ; he returned 
 to England, and attached himself to the service of queen Philippa. 
 This princess, sister to the countess of Namur, wife of Robert, to 
 whom Froissart seems to have been a servant, saw always with 
 pleasure her countrymen from Hainault ; she loved letters ; the col- 
 lege which she founded, and which at this day is known at Oxford 
 under the name of Queen's College, is an illustrious monument of 
 the protection she granted to them ; Froissart therefore united all the 
 titles which could merit the affection of queen Philippa. The his- 
 tory which he presented to her, as I have before mentioned, whether 
 at his first journey or the second (for it is not possible to decide 
 which of the two,) was very well received, and probably gained him 
 the title of clerk (that is to say secretary or writer) of the chamber 
 of this {i.-'.ncess, which he was in possession of from 1361. 
 
 * M. St. Palaye, in a note, says he Vi not acquainted with the romance. Baillou 
 tignifics bailiff. 
 
 \ Bittie tie la fleur de la Marguerite, pages 70 and the following, of his Manuscript 
 Poems. 
 
 t The English rendei must be informed, that Marguerite js not only the name of a 
 0oxt.aa, but uUu <>i tho ilower called daisy, and of u pearl. 
 
 In the age of Froissart, all the world was persuaded that love was 
 the motive of the most brilliant actions of courage and virtue. 
 Knights made a parade of it in tournaments. Warriors exposed 
 themselves to the most perilous combats, to maintain the honor and 
 beauty of their ladies. It was then believed that love might be con- 
 fined to a delicate intercourse of gallantry and tenderness : it is 
 almost always under this form that we see it represented in the greater 
 parts of those efforts of the mind which have been handed down to 
 us from that period ; the ladies blushed not in feeling so pure a pas. 
 sion, and the most modest made it the ordinary subject of their con- 
 versations. The queen of England frequently amused herself by 
 making Froissart compose amorous ditties ; but this occupation m.ust 
 be considered solely as a relaxation that no way impeded more seri- 
 ous works, since, during the five years he was attached to the service 
 of this princess, he travelled at her expense to various parts of Eu- 
 rope, the object of which seems to be a research after whatever 
 might enrich his history. I draw this conclusion from a preface 
 which is found at the head of the fourth volume in several manu- 
 scripts of the Chronicle of Froissart ; and, as it is not to be found in 
 the printed copies,* I thought the insertion of it would not be improper 
 here. 
 
 " At the request, wish, and pleasure, of that most high and noble 
 prince, my very dear lord and master Guy de Chatillon, count de 
 Blois, lord of Avesne, of Chimay, of Beaumont, of Schoriove, of 
 Goude ; I, John Froissart, priest, chaplain to my very dear lord above 
 named, and at this time treasurer and canon of Chimay, and of Lille 
 in Flanders, am again awakened, and entered into my work-shop, to 
 labor and work at the grand and noble matters which, in former 
 times, occupied my attention, which treat and examine the feats and 
 events of the wars between France and England, and of all/ their 
 allies and adherents, as it clearly appears from the treaties which 
 have been made and completed until this very day of my again being 
 awakened. 
 
 " Now, you that read, or shall read this history, consider in your 
 own minds, how I could have known and collected such facts as I 
 treat of, and of so many different parties. In truth, I must inform 
 you that I began at the early age of twenty years, and came into the 
 world at the time these events were passing, in the knowledge of 
 which I have always taken greater pleasure than in anything else. 
 God has been so gracious to me, that I was well with all parties, and 
 of the household of kings ; more especially of king Edward, and of 
 the noble queen his lady, madame Philippa of Hainault, queen of 
 England, lady of Ireland and Aquitaine, to whom in my youth I was 
 secretary, and amused her with handsome ditties and madrigals of 
 love ; and through affection to the service of that noble and puissant 
 lady to whom I belonged, all the other great lords, dukes, earls, 
 barons, and knights, of whatever nation they might be, loved me, 
 saw me with pleasure, and were of the greatest utility to me. Thus, 
 under the protection of this good lady, and at her costs, as well as at 
 the expenses of great lords, I have searched in my time the greater 
 part of Christendom (in truth who seeks will find ;) and wherever I 
 came, I made inquiry after those ancient knights and squires who 
 had been present at these deeds of arms, and who were well enabled 
 to speak of them. I sought also for heralds of good repute, to verify 
 and confirm what I might have heard elsewhere of these matters. 
 In this manner have I collected the materials for this noble history ; 
 and that gallant count de Blois before mentioned, has taken great 
 pains in it. And as long as through God's grace I shall live, I shall 
 continue it, for the more I work at it, the greater pleasure I receive ; 
 like the gallant knight or squir^namored with arms, by perseverance 
 and attention he perfects and accomplishes himself, thus by laboring 
 and working on this subject, I acquire greater ability and delight." 
 
 Of all the particulars of Froissart's life during his residence in 
 England, we only know that he was present at the separation of the 
 king and queen in 1361, with their son the prince of Wales and the 
 princess his lady, who were going to take possession of Aquitaine ; 
 and that he was between Eltham and Westminster in the year 1363, 
 when king John passed on his return to England. There is in his 
 poems a pastoral which seems to allude only to that event. With 
 regard to his travels during the time he was attached to the service 
 of the queen, he employed six months in Scotland, and penetrated 
 as far as the Highlands. He travelled on horseback with his port- 
 manteau behind him, and followed by a grayhound. 
 
 The king of Scotland, and many lords whose names he has pre- 
 served us, treated him so handsomely, that he could have wished to 
 have returned thither. William, earl of Douglas, lodged him during 
 fifteen days in his castle of Dalkeith, five miles from Edinburgh. 
 We are ignorant of the date of this journey ; and of another, which 
 he made into North Wales, that I believe must have been made 
 about the same time. He was in France, at Melun-sur-Seine, about 
 the 20th of April, 1366 ; perhaps private reasons might have led him 
 to take that road to Bordeaux, where he was on All Saints day of 
 that year, when the princess of Wales was brought to bed of a son, 
 who was afterwards Richard II. The prince of Wales setting out 
 a few days afterwards for the war in Spain, Froissart accompanied 
 
 *M. de St. Palaye is not quite correct; for the beginning of this preface is in the 
 printed edition of Verard, and in another printed edition which 1 believe was not known 
 to Denys Sauvnge nor to M. de St. Palaye. It will be more particularly mentioned 
 hereafter. This preface in many printed editions is not so long as this, and is somewhat 
 different, it is not mentioned in th« editions of D«nys Sauvaje 
 
MEMOIR OF THE LIFE OF FROISSART. 
 
 3 
 
 nim to Dax, where the prince resided some time. He had expected 
 to have attended him during the continuance of this grand expedi- 
 tion ; but the prince would not permit him to go farther, and shortly 
 ifter his arrival sent him back to the queen his mother. 
 
 Froissart could not have made any long stay in England, since in 
 the following year he was at different Italian courts. It was this 
 same year, that is to Say 1368, that Lionel, duke of Clarence, son of 
 the king of England, espoused Joland, daughter of Galeas the 
 Second, duke of Milan. The marriage was celebrated the 25th of 
 April ; and Lionel died on the 17th of October following. Froissart, 
 who probably was in his suite, was present at the magnificent recep- 
 tion which Amadeus count de Savoy, surnamed the count Verd, gave 
 him on his return : he describes the feasts on this occasion, which 
 lasted three days ; and he does not forget to tell us that they danced 
 a virelay of his composition. 
 
 From the court of Savoy he returned to Milan, where the same 
 count Amadeus gave him a good cottehardie,* with twenty florins 
 of gold ; from thence to Bologna and Ferrara, where he received 
 forty ducats from the king of Cyprus ; and then to Rome. Instead 
 of the modest equipage we have seen him travel into Scotland with, 
 he was now, like a man of importance, travelling on a handsome 
 horse attended by a hackney. 
 
 It was about this period that Froissart experienced a loss which 
 nothing could recompense : Philippa of Hainault, queen of England, 
 who had heaped wealth on him, died in 1369. He composed a lay 
 on this melancholy event, of which, however, he was not a witness ; 
 for he says, in another place, that in 1395 it was twenty-seven years 
 since he had seen England. According to several authors,t he wrote 
 the life of queen Philippa ; but this assertion is not founded on any 
 proofs. 
 
 Independently of the employment of clerk of the chamber to the 
 queen of England, which Froissart had had, he had also been of the 
 household of Edward III., and even of that of John, king of France. 
 As there are several other princes and lords of whose households he 
 had been, or whom he calls his lords and masters, it is proper to 
 observe, that by this mode of speech he means not only those princes 
 and lords to whom he had been attached as a servant ; but likewise 
 all those who had made him presents or gratifications ; or who, 
 having received him in their courts or castles, had admitted him to 
 their tables. 
 
 Froissart, having lost his patroness, queen Philippa, did not return 
 to England, but went into his own country, where he obtained the 
 living of Lestines. Of all that he performed during the time he 
 exercised this ministry, he tells us nothing more than that the tavern- 
 keepers of Lestines had five hundred francs of his money in the short 
 space of time he was their rector. One reads in a manuscript jour- 
 nal of the bishop of Chartres, chancellor to the duke of Anjou, that, 
 according to letters sealed on the 12th December, 1381, this prince 
 •aused to be seized fifty-six quires of the Chronicle of Froissart, 
 rector of the parish church of Lestines, which the historian had sent 
 to be illuminated, and then to be forwarded to the king of England, 
 the enemy of France. 
 
 Froissart attached himself afterwards to Winceslaus de Luxem- 
 bourg, duke of Brabant, perhaps in quality of secretary, according to 
 the custom of princes and lords in those days, who employed clerks 
 to manage their affairs, and in their correspondence, and who amused 
 them by their knowledge^ or their wit. Winceslaus had a taste for 
 poetry ; he had had made by Froissart a collection of his songs, his 
 rondeaus, and virelays, who, adding some of his own pieces to those 
 of the prince, fomjed a sort of romance, under the title of Meliador, 
 or the Knight of the Sun ; but the duke did not live sufficiently long 
 to see the completion of the work, for he died in 1384. 
 
 Almost immediately after this event, Froissart found another 
 patron : he was made clerk of the chapel to Guy, count de Blois ; 
 and he was not long in testifying his gratitude to his nev/ patron, 
 by a pastoral on the betrothing of Louis, count de Dunois, son of 
 Guy, with Mary, daughter of the duke of Berry. Two years after, 
 on the solemnization of this marriage at Bourges, he celebrated it in 
 a sort of epithalamium, sufficiently ingenious for those times, entitled 
 "The Temple of Honor." He passed the years 1385, 1386, and 
 1387, sometimes in the Blaisois, sometimes in Touraine ; but the 
 count de Blois having engaged him to continue the course of his 
 history, which he had left unfinished, he determined in 1388 to take 
 advantage of the peace which was just concluded, to visit the court 
 of Gaston Phoebus, count de Foix and de Beam, in order to gain full 
 information in whatever related to foreign countries, and the more 
 distant provinces of the kingdom, where he knew that a great num- 
 ber of warriors signalized themselves daily by the most gallant 
 actions. His age and his health still allowed him to bear great 
 fatigue; his memory was sufik-iently strong to retain whatever' he 
 should hear ; and his judgment clear enough to point out to him the 
 use he should make of it. 
 
 He set out with letters of recommendation from the count de 
 Blois to Gaston Phoebus, and took the road through Avignon. One 
 
 * Or, as it is more often written, cotardie, a sort of coat, a dress common to men and 
 women ; here it means a pourpoint. Tiiis was one of the liberalities which great lords 
 were accustomed to make ; they put money, as one sees by this example into the purse 
 which, according to the usage of that time, was attached to the coat.— St. Palaye. 
 
 t Vossius de Historicis Latinis, lib. iii. cap. iv. BuUart, Academic des Sciences, tom. 
 
 of his pastorals informs us, that he resided in the environs of an 
 abbey,* situated between Lunel and Montpelier, and that he gained 
 the affections of a young person, who bewailed his departure : in the 
 same poem he tells us, that he carried with him four grayhounds,f 
 as a present to the count de Foix. Gaston was passionately fond of 
 dogs, and had upward of sixteen hundred always with him : there 
 exists a treatise written by him on hunting, which is presei-ved in 
 manuscript in several libraries, and which was printed in 1520. 
 
 Froissart went from Carcassonne to Pamiers, of which he gives an 
 agreeable description ; he remained there for three days waiting for 
 the chance of meeting some person with whom he might travel into 
 Beam. He was fortunate enough to meet with a knight from the 
 country of Foix, who was returning thither from Avignon, and they 
 journeyed together. Sir Espaign du Lyon, the name of the knight, 
 was a man of high distinction ; he had had considerable commands, 
 and was employed all his life in negotiations as delicate as they 
 were important. The two travellers agreed perfectly well together ; 
 the knight, who had served in all the wars in Gascony, was equally 
 desirous to learn everything which related to those that Froissart 
 was acquainted with; and Froissart, more in a situation to satisfy 
 him than any one, was not less curious to be infoiined of those events 
 in which the knight had borne a part : they mutually communicated 
 all they knew, with a reciprocal complaisance. They rode side by 
 side, and frequently only a foot's pace : their whole journey was 
 passed in conversations ; by which they mutually instructed each 
 other. Towns, castles, ruins, plains, heights, valleys, defiles ; every- 
 thing awakened the curiosity of Froissart, and recalled to the memory 
 of the lord Espaign du Lyon the difilnent actions which had there 
 passed under his eyes, or which he had heard related by those who 
 had been engaged in them. 
 
 The historian, too exact in the recital which he gives us of these 
 conversations, relates even the exclamations by which he testified 
 his gratitude to the knight, for all the interesting intelligence he was 
 so good to give him. If they arrived at a town before sunset, they 
 profited by the remnant of day to examine the outworks of the place, 
 or to observe those parts of it which had suffered from assaults. On 
 their return to the inn, they continued the same conversations, either 
 between themselves or with other knights and esquires, who might 
 be lodged there ; and Froissart never went to bed until he had put in 
 writing every particular he had heard. 
 
 After a journey of six days, thej'' arrived at Ortez. This town, 
 one of the most considerable in Beam, was the ordinary residence 
 of Gaston, count de Foix and viscount de Beam, surnamed Phoebus, 
 on account of his beauty. Froissart could not have chosen a court 
 more suitable to his views. The count de Foix, at the age of fifty- 
 nine years, was the most vigorous, the handsomest, and best-made 
 man of that period. Adroit at all exercises, valorous, an accom- 
 plished captain, noble and magnificent, he never suffered any war- 
 rior who waited on him to depart without carrying with him proofs 
 of his liberality: his castle was the rendezvous of all those brave 
 captains who had distinguished themselves in combats, or in tourna- 
 ments. Their conversations solely ran on attacks of places, surprises, 
 sieges, assaults, skirmishes, and battles. Their amusements were 
 games of address and force ; tilts, tournaments, and huntings more 
 laborious and almost as dangerous as war itself. These details 
 deserve to be read in Froissart : I can only imperfectly trace what 
 he has so excellently painted. 
 
 The count de Foix having learnt from sir Espaign du Lyon the 
 arrival of Froissart, who was well known at the court of Ortez by the 
 first tv.^o volumes of his Chronicle, sent to seek for him at the house 
 of one of his esquires, who had received and lodged him ; and, see- 
 ing him at a distance, said to him smiling, and in good French, 
 "That he was perfectly well acquainted with him, although he had 
 never before seen him ; but that he had heard much talk about him, 
 and he retained him in his household." 
 
 This expression, as I have before said, does not mean that Frok- 
 sart was lodged in the castle, but only that his expenses were defrayed, 
 by the count during the winter he passed at his court. His most 
 usual occupation, in that time, was to amuse Gaston, after his supper, 
 by reading- to him the romance of Meliador, which he had brought 
 with hivn. Every evening he repaired to the castle at midnight, 
 vv^iich was the liour the count sat down to table, and none dared to 
 interrupt the reading. Gaston himself, who listened with the greatest 
 attention, only spoke to ask questions concerning the book ; and he 
 never sent him away, before he had made him drink all the wine 
 which had remained on the table, from his own botde. 
 
 Sometimes this prince took pleasure to inform him of those par 
 ticulars of the wars in which he had distinguished himself. Frois- 
 sart did not gain less information from his frequent conversations 
 with those knights and esquires whom he found assembled at Ortez ; 
 more especially from the knights of AiTagon and England, attached 
 to the household of the duke of Lancaster, who at that time resided 
 at Bordeaux. They related to him all they knew of the battle« of 
 the kings John of Castile, and Denys of Portugal, and their allies / 
 Among others, the famous Bastot de Maulion, in giving him the his 
 tory of his own life, told him also that of almost all the wars whi' 
 
 *Probably St. Geniez, a monastery of nuns, one league and a half from the 
 which leads fiom Montpelier to Lunel.— St. Palaye. 
 t Their names were Tristan, Hector, Brun, and Rollant.— St, f aUlYS 
 
 / 
 
4 
 
 MEMOIR OF THE LIFE OF FROISSART. 
 
 aad happened in the different provinces of France, and even in 
 Spain, from the time of the battle of Poitiers, at which period he first 
 bore arms. 
 
 Ahhough he applied himself, without re/axation, in collecting his- 
 iorical memoirs, Froissart gave, hov^^cver, some moments to Poesy. 
 We have a pastoral by him, which ho seems to have composed in 
 he county of Foix, in honor of Gaston Phoubus. He says, that being 
 
 En beau Pr6 sert et plaisu'Jl 
 
 Par dessus Gave la riviere 
 
 Entre Pau et Ortais seani 
 he aaw shepherds and shepherdesses, who ^vere conversing of dif- 
 ferent lords, and the arms they bore. He aiMoitly makes use of this 
 fiction, to name with praise all those from >vhom he had received 
 any marks of liberality, and terminates his list with the count de 
 Foix. 
 
 After a tolerable long residence at the court of Ortez, Froissart 
 began to think of his departure. He was detained by Gaston, who 
 gave him hopes that an opportunity would soon offer for him to 
 travel in good company. The marriage of the countess of Boulogne, 
 a relation of the count, having oeen concluded with the duke de 
 Berry, the young bride was conducted trcm Ortez to Morlas, where 
 the equipr.'fes of the duke, her husband, were waiting "or her. He 
 set out '.u her suite, after having received proofs of tne gen^rosl^v of 
 GastOiij who warmly pressed him to return to him. He accompaui^j 
 the pt In jess to Avignon, and the remainder of the road which she 
 took across the Lyonnois, la Bresse, le For^s, and the Bourbonnois, 
 as far as Riom, in Auvergne. 
 
 The stay at Avignon was unfortunate to Froissart ; they robbed 
 him. This melancholy adventure was the subject of a long poem, 
 in which he introduces several incidents of his life, and which 
 I have made use of in this memoir. One sees, by this piece, that 
 the desire of visiting the tomb of the cardinal de Luxembourg, who 
 died in odor of sanctity, was not the sole motive which had induced 
 him to repass through Avignon in the suite of the young princess ; 
 but that he was charged with a private commission from the lord de 
 Coucy. He might, as he says, have endeavored to seek for redress 
 for the loss of his money by seeking a benefice ; but this resource 
 was not to his taste. He laid greater stress on the generosity of the 
 lord de la Riviere, and the count de Sancerre, who accompanied the 
 duchess de Berry, and on that of the viscount d'Asci. He paints 
 himself, in this poem, as a man of much expense : besides the reve- 
 nue of the living of Lestines, which was considerable, he had received, 
 since he was twenty-five years old, two thousand francs, of which 
 nothing remained. The composition of his works had cost him seven 
 hundred francs ; but he regretted not this expense ; for, as he says, 
 "I have composed many a history which will be spoken of by pos- 
 ierity." The remainder was spent among the tavern-keepers at 
 Lestines, and in his travels, which he always performed with a good 
 equipage, well mounted, well dressed, and living well wherever he 
 went. 
 
 Froissart had been present at all the feasts which were given on 
 the marriage of the duke of Berry ; celebrated the eve of Whitsunday 
 at Riom, in Auvergne. He composed a pastoral for the morrow of 
 the nuptials ; then, returning to France with the lord de la Riviere, 
 he went to Paris. His natural activity, and his ardor for information, 
 with which he was incessantly occupied, did not permit him to 
 remain there long. We have seen him in six months go from the 
 Blaisois to Avignon ; then to the county of Foix ; from whence he 
 returned again to Avignon, and cross Auvergne to go to Paris. One 
 sees him in less than two years successively in the Cambresis, in 
 Hainault, Holland, Picardy, a second time in Paris, at the extremity 
 
 Languedoc ; then again at Paris and at Valenciennes ; from thence 
 to Bruges, Sluys, in Zealand, and at last in his own country. 
 
 He accompanied the lord de Coucy into the Cambresis to the castle 
 of Crevcosur, which the king had just given to him. Hp '•'''ntes to 
 ...ir Sill he had seen, and learns from him the di^***'":. particulars 
 of the uv-t.-ce-''3*ions between France and Englsrj'Z. i^^*er having staid 
 fiT cen days in nia own country, he passeu a month in Holland wi^*" 
 the count de Blois, enterialning him with the hiatory of bijg. tra-^^cis. 
 lie then £ces to Lelinghen, to ie?"n the deta^^ of t! .3 negotiations 
 l"or peace, which were carrying on at that place. He is present at 
 the magnificent entry which Irabella de Bi^viere makes into Paris. 
 The exactness with which he describes the ceremonies observed 
 between the pope and Charbs VL at Avignon, seems to prove he 
 was an eye-witness of their meeting: this is the moie probable, 
 because it is certain that Charles ¥L weni from Avignon to Toulouse, 
 10 receive the homage o^ the count de Foix ; when Froissart was 
 present, and heard their conversation. 
 
 Nothing of novelty passed, as one sees, but Froissart wished to 
 be a spectator of ; feasts, tournaments, conferences for peace, inter, 
 views of princes, their entries, nothing escaped his curiosity. It 
 appears that, at the beginning of the year 1390, he returned to his 
 own country, and that he was solely occupied in the continuation of 
 his history, and in completing it, from the intelligence he had amassed 
 from all parts with so much labor and fatigue. However, what he 
 had learnt relative to the war in Spain did not satisfy him ; he felt a 
 Bcruple at only having heard one side ; that is to say, the Gascons 
 and Spaniards, who had been attached to the king of Castille. It 
 was the duty of an exact and judicious histtorian to know also what 
 the Portuguese had to say on this subjec» and on tae information 
 
 he had, that numbers of that nation were to be found at Bruges, he 
 went thither. Fortune served him beyond his hopes ; and the enthu- 
 siasm with which he speaks of it, paints the ardor with which he 
 was desirous of a perfect knowledge of facts. On his arrival, he learnt 
 that a Portuguese knight, " a valiant and wise man, and of the council 
 of the king of Portugal," whose name was Juan Fernando Portelet, 
 had lately come to Middleburgh, in Zealand. 
 
 Portelet, who was on his road to Prussia to join in the war against 
 the infidels, had been present in all the wars of Portugal. Froissart 
 immediately sets out, in company with a Portuguese, a friend of the 
 knight ; goes to Sluys, embarks, and arrives at Middleburgh, where 
 his fellow-traveller presents him to Portelet. This knight, "gracious, 
 amiable, and easy of access," relates to him, during the six days they 
 passed together, everything that had been done in Portugal and 
 Spain, from the death of king Ferdinand until his departure from 
 Portugal. Froissart, equally pleased with the recitals of Portelet, as 
 with his politeness, took leave of him, and returned home ; where, 
 having arranged all the information he had acquired in his various 
 travels, he composed a new book, which makes the third of his history. 
 
 The passage from whence these particulars are taken adds, that 
 Froissart, on quitting Zealand, and before his return to his own coun- 
 try, went once more to Rome. Although, in this instance, the printed 
 copies are conformable to the manuscripts, this journey, of which no 
 other mention is made, seems to me quite improbable. Denys Sau. 
 vage assu'.cs us, in a marginal note, that, instead of Rome, one should 
 read Bruges, S'ays, or Valenciennes: it is much more natural to 
 read Damme, a porf in the neighborhood of Sluys, where one has 
 'seen that the historian embarked. 
 
 One cannot say how long Frt i-^sart remained in Hainault ; one only 
 knows that he was again in Paris !392, at the time when the consta- 
 ble de Clisson was assassinated by Peter de Craon ; and at Abbeville 
 toward the end of that same year, or I'le beginning of the next, da- 
 ring the conferences which were held ihore by the plenipotentiaries 
 from France and England, when they a' Ijst established a truce for 
 four years. From the year 1378, Froissai^ l-ad obtained from pope 
 Clement VII. the reversion of a canonship a' Lille. One sees, in 
 the collection of his poetry, which was compl.'t-^d in 1393, and in a 
 preface, which is to be met with in several manjs< ripts at the begin- 
 ning of the fourth volume of his history, composfJ about this time, 
 that he titled himself canon of Lille ; butCleme'nt V* dying in 1394, 
 he gave up his expectations of the reversion, and U'^^ran to qualify 
 himself canon and treasurer of the collegial church ol O imay, which 
 he probably owed to the friendship of the count de Bi c is, who res- 
 pected him much; the lordship of Chimay being part o- ihe inherit, 
 ance which the count had had fallen in to him in 1381, b;- *he death 
 of John de Chatillon, count de Blois, the last of his brothers 
 
 It was twenty-seven years since Froissart had left England : when, 
 taking advantage of the truce between the French and English, he 
 returned thither in 1395, furnished with letters of recommenda<ion to 
 the king and his uncles. From Dover, where he disembarked, he 
 went to Canterbury, made his offering at the shrine of Thix.nas t 
 Becket, and from respect to the memory of the prince of Wales, to 
 whom he was perfectly well known, he visited his magnificen; mau- 
 solcum. He saw there the young king Richard, who had anived to 
 return thanks to God for the success of his last campaign i" Ireland; 
 but, 'u spite of the good intentions of the lord Percv, ragh steward of 
 EnglanJ, v. iv> had promised to procure lum an audience of the king, 
 he could no; b:* presented, aiiji was obliged to follow this prince to 
 the different pia.es he visited, until he came to Leeds castle.* This 
 time was not lost on our historian ; the English were still full of their 
 expedition to Ireland ; and he got them to tell him both their own 
 exploits, and the marvellous things they had seen there. Being yet 
 at Leeds castle, he presented to the duke of York his letters from the 
 count d' Hainault and the count d'Ostrevant.t " Master John," said 
 the duke to him, " keep near to our person, and to my people ; we 
 will show you all love and kindness ; we are bounden so to do from 
 affection to former times, and to our lady mother, to whom you were 
 . attached ; we well remember those times." He afterwards introduced 
 him into the king's chamber, who received him with very distinguished 
 marks of good will. Richard took the letters he had been charged 
 with, and having read them, said, "that since he had been of the 
 household ot his grandfather, and of the queen his grandmother, he 
 must be still of the household of England." 
 
 Froissart, however, had not yet been able to present to the king 
 the romance of .^eliador, which he had brought with him ; and Percy 
 afdvised him to wait a more favorable opportunity. Two important 
 objects occupied the mind of Richard ; one was his intended mar- 
 riage with Isabella of France ; the other, the opposition of the people 
 of Aquitaino to the donation which he had made of this province to 
 his uncle, the didie of York. The prelates and barons had been 
 summoned to Eltham, to deliberate on these two affairs ; and Frois. 
 sart had followed the court. He wrote down regularly all the news 
 of the day, which he heard in his conversations with the different 
 English lords ; and Richard de Servy,t who was of the king's cabinet 
 council, intrusted him, in confidence, with every resolution they had 
 determined upon, begging him only to keep them secret until they 
 should be publicly divulged. At last, on the Sunday which followed 
 
 * In Kent. r A fterwards earl of Holland, and knight of the gartjr 
 
 X (i. Was it Richard de Suiry lord Sorry 1 
 
MEMOIR OF THE LIFE OF FROISSART. 
 
 5 
 
 the holding of this council, the duke of York, Richard de Suny, and 
 Thomas de Percy, finding the king but little occupied, mentioned to 
 him the romance which Froissart had brought with him. The prince 
 asked to see it ; and the historian says, " he saw it in his chamber : 
 for I had it always with me, and placed it upon his bed. He then 
 opened and looked into it, and was greatly pleased : indeed, he ought 
 to have been pleased ; for it was illuminated, and the writing much 
 ornamented : it was, besides, bound in crimson velvet, with ten silver, 
 gilt nails, with a golden rose, in the midst of two clasps gilt, richly 
 worked with gold rose-trees. Then," continues Froissart, " the king 
 inquired what subject it treated of ; and I told him, of love. He was 
 delighted with this answer, and looked into different parts of the book, 
 and read therein : for he read and spoke French perfectly well. He 
 dien ordered one of his knights, named sir Richard Credon, to carry 
 it to his cabinet ; and he seemed much obliged to me for it." 
 
 Henry Castede, an English esquire, who had been present at this 
 conversation, and who knew besides that Froissart was writing his 
 histoiy, coming up to him, inquired if he had been informed of the 
 details of the conquest which the king had just made in Ireland. 
 Froissart pretended to be ignorant of them, in order to engage the 
 esquire in conversation, who took pleasure in recounting them to him. 
 Everything the historian heard, among the rest the repast which the 
 king of England gave in Ireland to the four kings after having con- 
 quered them, excited in him very great regret for not having come to 
 England a year sooner as he was prepanng to do, when the news of 
 the death of queen Anne of Luxembourg, Richard's first wife, made 
 him alter his intentions : he would not have failed to have gone to 
 Ij-eland to have seen everything himself ; for he was much interested 
 in collecting the minutest circumstances of this expedition, in order to 
 entertain *' his lords" the duke of Bavaria and his son, who had on 
 Friesland similar pretensions to those of the king of England on Ire- 
 land. After three months' residence in England, Froissart took his 
 leave of the king. This prince, whom he had followed in his dif- 
 ferent excursions near London, ordered him to be given, as a last 
 mark of his affection, 100 »obles* in a goblett of silver, weighing 
 two marcs. 
 
 The melancholy end of Richard, which happened in 1389, is 
 related at the end of the fourth volume of Froissart's history, who 
 acquits himself most gratefully to this prince by the affecting manner 
 with which he laments his misfortunes. At the same time he 
 remarks, that in this event he saw the accomplishment of a predic 
 tion which had been made on Richard, when he was born at Bor- 
 deaux ; and also of a prophecy in the romance of Brutus,t which 
 pointed out the prince who would dethrone him. 
 
 The death of Guy count de Blois happened soon after Froissart's 
 return home ; he mentions it in his Chronicle, under the year 1397. 
 He wa; then sixty years of age, and must have lived at least four 
 years more ; for he relates some events of the year 1400.§ If one 
 was to believe Bodin and la Popliniere, he would have lived to 1420 ; 
 but these two writers have probably been deceived by these words, 
 which begin the last chapter of his history: "En Pan de grace mil 
 quatre cent ung moins ;" instead of reading, " ung," as it is written 
 in several manuscripts and in the black-letter editions, they must have 
 read " vingt." Another passage in Froissart may also have given 
 rise to a belief that he lived to about the middle of the fifteenth cen- 
 tury. In speaking of the banishment of the count de Harcourt, who 
 persuaded the English to make a descent in Normandy, he says, that 
 the melancholy effects of this invasion were visible for more than a 
 hundred years after. These terms must not be taken literally ; the 
 author wrote rather as foreseeing those evils to come which he 
 dreaded, than as being a witness of these fatal effects. It is not, 
 however, possible to decide in what year he died ; it only appears 
 that it was in the month of October, since his " obit" is indicated in 
 that month in the obituary of the collegial church of St. Monegunda, 
 at Chimay, from which I have added an extract at the end of this 
 memoir. According to an old tradition of the country, he was in- 
 terred in the chapel of St. Anne, in this collegial church; and, 
 indeed, it seems very probable that he should end his days in his 
 own chapter. 
 
 The name of Froissart was common to several persons who lived 
 at the same time with our historian ; besides the Froissart Meullier, 
 the young esquire from Hainault, whom I mentioned in the beginning 
 of this memoir, one finds in the Chronicle of our author a Dom Frois- 
 sart, who had signalized himself at the siege which the count de 
 Hainault had formed in 1340 against the town of St. Amand. This 
 monk defended for a considerable time a breach whj^ had been 
 
 * This sum may amount to about 25 guineas of our present coin. — St. Palaye. 
 
 t This was called by our ancestors a Henepee, id est, hanap, full of money: from 
 wlience comes the Hanaper office in the English treasury.— St. Palaye. 
 
 X yee p;irticu!ars of Wace, author ofthe romance of Brutus, in Mr. Ellis's Specimens 
 of early En^iisii poets. 
 
 § I.* ilues not seem probable that he lived long after completing the last chapters of his 
 hisiory. They appear to be rather notes for future revisal, than finished portions of the 
 work, and the condusioD is singularly abmpt.— Ed. 
 
 made in the walls of the abbey, and did not abandon it before he had 
 killed or wounded eighteen men. One reads at the end of some 
 charters of the count de Foix, a signature of J. Froissart, or Jaquinot 
 Froissart: he was a secretary to the count, and perhaps a relation o\ 
 the historian. There is also mention made in the registers of the 
 " Trdsor des Chartes," of a remission granted in 1375 to Phiiiber 
 Froissart, esquire, who had been in the company of Gascons in the 
 country of Guyenne, under the command of Charles d'Artois, count 
 de Pezenas. 
 
 To avoid interrupting the thread of the narrative, I have deferred 
 to the end of this memoir the examination of a passage in the poetry 
 of Froissart, which points out, but in obscure terms, one of the prin- 
 cipal circumstances of his life. He recalls the faults of his youth, and 
 particularly reproaches himself for having quitted a learned profession 
 for which he had natural talents, and which had gained him much 
 respect (he seems to point at history, or poetry,) to follow another, 
 which, though much more lucrative, was as little suitable to him as 
 that of arms ; and having failed in it, had made him fall from that 
 degree of honor to which the first had elevated him. He says, he ia 
 determined to repair his fault, and returning to his former occupa- 
 tions, transmit to posterity the glorious names of those kings, princes, 
 and lords, whose generosity he had partaken of. 
 
 In the whole course of the life of Froissart, I see no period in 
 which this pretended change can be placed, nor that can point out 
 this lucrative trade, and which he himself calls " marchandise.^* Tae 
 indecency of the expression will not suffer us to suppose it could be 
 his cure of Lestines ; although he has said in another pwrt, that the 
 rectoiy was of considerable value ; could it be the profession of law- 
 yer, or that of his father, who was, as we have before stated, a painter 
 of arms ? A singular meaning of the word " marchandise" in Corn- 
 mines, may perhaps give us a plausible explanation. Commines, 
 bom in the same country, and not very far from the time of Froissart, 
 employs this word to signify a negotiation of affairs between princes. 
 The business of a negotiator, or rather a man of intrigue, who 
 seeks without any apparent character to penetrate the secret of courts, 
 would perhaps be that which Froissart repents to have followed. 
 The details in which we have entered respecting his various travels, 
 the long residence which he has often mode in critical times with 
 several princes, and the talents which he had to insinuate himself 
 into their good graces, seem to rae to wan-ant this conjecture. 
 
 Extract from a manuscript taken from the archives of the chapter 
 of St. Monegunda^ at Chimay, in which are found the obits and 
 pious foundations made to this chapter, and other antiquities. 
 Folio 39 and 40. 
 
 " The obit of sir John Froissard, born at Valenciennes, canon and 
 treasury of the aforesaid church, which flourished in 1364, may have 
 place here according to his quality, as having been domestic chap- 
 lain to the renowned Guy de Chatillon, count de Soissons and de 
 Blois, lord of Avesnes, Chimay, and Beaumont, &c., who has also 
 been a very celebrated historiographer of his tirjie, and has written 
 the wars and chronicles, and the most remarkable events from the 
 year 1335 until the year 1400 ; according as he himself relates in 
 divers parts of his history, and more especially in the 52nd chapter 
 of his 4th book, and as it is shown in the eulogium written in hia 
 praise in the following words : 
 
 Cognita Romanae vix esset gloria gentis, 
 
 Pluribus hunc scriptis ni decorasset honos. 
 Tanti nempe refert totum scripsisse per orbem, 
 
 Q,uaelibet et doctos sec' la tulisse viros. 
 Commemorent alios alii, super sethera toUam 
 
 Froissardum, historic per suo sec'la ducem ; 
 Scripsit enim historiam mage sexaginta per anno», 
 
 Totius mundi, quae memoranda notat, 
 Scripsit et Anglorum Reginae gesta Philippm. 
 
 Q,ui. Guiliebne, tuo tutia juncta toro." 
 
 HONORARIUM. 
 
 GaUorum sublimis honos et fama tuorum. 
 
 Hie Froissarde, jaces, si modo forte jacc?. 
 HistoriES vivus studuisti reddere vitam. 
 
 Deiuncto vitam reddet at ilia tibi. 
 
 JOANNES FROISSARD US, 
 
 Canonicus and Thesaurarius EcclesicB CoUegiaiiae Sancta Mohm 
 gundis Simaci, vetustissimo ferme totius Belgii oppido. 
 Proxima dum propriis florebit Francia scriptis. 
 
 Fania *dum ramos, Blancaque ffimdit aqua*. 
 Urbis ut hujus honos, templi sic fama vigebis 
 
 Teque ducem historise Gallia tola colet, 
 Belgica tota colet, Cymeaque vallis amabit 
 Dum rapidus proprio s Scaldis obib i t agrog. 
 
 * The Faigne de Cliimay, a smaU forest dependent on it 
 t La Blanche Eau. a river which runs by Clumay. 
 
6 
 
 AN ESSAY ON THE W 
 
 ORKS OF FROISSART. 
 
 AN ESSAY 
 
 ON 
 
 THE WORKS OF FEOISSAET. 
 
 TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF M. DE LA CURNE DE ST. PALAYE. 
 
 BY THOMAS JOHNES. 
 
 The life of Froissart has been the subject of the preceding pages. 
 1 will now give you the history of his works, as well printed as 
 manuscript, in verse and in prose ; and I will, as faithfully as I am 
 able, detail their contents. It may, perhaps, be thought I have 
 pushed these details too far ; but, I feel I owe a particular attention 
 to an historian who alone is worth a number of others, by the import- 
 ance of the subjects he treats of, and from the length of time his 
 history continues, I have besides observed that the author has 
 expanded, in the course of his work, many facts which serve to clear 
 up many preceding facts ; and that, for want of this information, it 
 has often happened that I have been stopped in my reading, and 
 have not profited so much by it as I otherwise should have done. It 
 is this which has made me sensible of the want those who read 
 Froissart would have of such an explanation. To smooth all diffi- 
 culties, and to lay down such rules as may condifct them, I have 
 attempted to do that, which I should have been glad to have found 
 done, when I began to read this author : for, I do not simply propose 
 to give an idea of our Historian, that may satisfy those whom curi- 
 osity alone may induce to peruse ; my object is, that these Memoirs 
 should serve as an introduction to those who may be induced to read 
 him ; and that they should render him, as much as may be possible, 
 more easy, more interesting, and more instructive. 
 
 I. General Plan of his History. — The History which Froissart has 
 left us extends from 1326 until 1400. It is not confined to the events 
 which were passing in France during this long period ; it compre- 
 hends, with almost as much detail, every considerable affair which 
 happened in England, Scotland, and Ireland, and in Flanders. It 
 includes also an infinite number of particulars relative to the affairs 
 of the popes of Rome and of Avignon ; of Spain, Germany, Italy ; 
 sometimes even of Russia, Hungary, Turkey, Africa, and other 
 places beyond sea ; in short, of almost the whole known world. 
 But this immense multitude of facts, so different from each other ; 
 whose chronological order is not very clearly made out, freauently 
 presents to the reader but a confused mixture of events, passed at 
 different times, and in different places, of which he cannot form any 
 distinct idea, and whose memory cannot unite so many scattered 
 objects, which have a necessary connection between each other. 
 
 II. A more detailed Flan of Froissart^s History. — The History of 
 Froissart is divided into four books, or volumes, as well in all the 
 manuscripts, as in all the printed editions. 
 
 The first begins with the coronation of Edward III. king of Eng- 
 land, in 1326, and with the accession of Philip de Valois to the 
 crown of France in 1328 : and closes with the year 1379 inclusively. 
 
 Froissart begins his second volume with the last three years of the 
 preceding volume, and with more detail, having gained fuller inform- 
 ation than when he first wrote it. He continues it until the peace of 
 the men of Ghent with the duke of Burgundy, the treaty of which is 
 in the last chapter but one of this volume, dated the 18th December, 
 1385. 
 
 The third volume goes back as far as the year 1382 inclusively, 
 reciting several events, which had been mentioned in the second, 
 from the 93rd chapter until the end. The events of these last four 
 years, which had been already related, are so much expanded in the 
 third volume, that they occupy the first twenty-nine chapters. The 
 rest is employed in the history of the following years until 1389, end- 
 ing with the truce concluded for three years between France and 
 England, and with the preparations that were making for the entry 
 of the queen Isabella de Baviere into Paris, of which the author 
 promises to speak hereafter. 
 
 The fourth volume begins with a recital of all the feasts and mag. 
 nificences which were made for this entry, and ends with the de- 
 throning and death of Richard II. king of England, in 1400, and 
 with the election which was made that same year of Robert, empe- 
 ror of Germany. These events terminate the last two chapters of 
 the whole work. 
 
 This manner of dividing the History of Froissart is the same in 
 all the manuscripts and printed copies ; but these divisions do not 
 always begin or end at the same places in all the copies.* 
 
 III. Division of the four volumes of Froissart into Chapters, xnd 
 of the first volume into several Farts. — The four volumes of the 
 History of Froissart are each subdivided into a great number of 
 chapters, which are differently placed, according to different manu- 
 scripts and printed copies ; but, besides these divisions, in a great 
 many manuscripts there is one which is particular to the first vol. 
 ume. Some have four books, or parts, others six, and some eight. 
 I will speak more fully when I come to mention the manuscripts of 
 
 'Froissart. 
 
 It is in one of these four, six, or eight divisions of the first volume, 
 • XJo two manuscripts of the first volume have been foand exactly agreeiBg. 
 
 that one must seek for the termination of that part of his History 
 which Froissart carried to England, and presented to queen Philippa 
 of Hainault.* It necessarily precedes those books, or parts, in which 
 the death of this queen in 1369 is related : it even precedes, if I am 
 not mistaken, everything one reads prior to 1367, when he was ap- 
 pointed clerk of the closet to the queen of England ; for, I believe, 
 it was the History which he presented to her that made him known, 
 and gained him the office he held in the household of that princess. 
 
 One cannot doubt but that it was posterior to the recital of the 
 battle of Poitiers in 1356, since it was but at that epocha he began 
 to write. One must not seek for it either before or after the years 
 1357, 1358, 1359, or 1360 ; I would rather fix on the year 1360 ; 
 for in that year was the treaty of Bretigny concluded, which gave 
 peace to the French and English. This period agrees tolerably well 
 with the time our author appears to have gone into England : the 
 circumstance of the peace naturally intercepted a History which had 
 apparently no other object than to treat of deeds of arms. 
 
 The second and third volumes are terminated at similar periods , 
 one at the peace between the duke of Burgundy with Ghent in 1385, 
 and the other between the French and English in 1387. 
 
 Froissart discontinued writing in 1392, and during the following 
 years, which were passed in a succession of truces between France 
 and England ; of which Froissart took advantage, by going to Eng- 
 land, where he had not been for twenty-seven years. 
 
 IV. Did Froissart make these divisions ? — One may ask if Frois- 
 sart himself divided his History in the manner we have related ? I 
 do not doubt but he was the author of the division into four volumes ; 
 for, besides that it is so in all the manuscripts, even of those of his 
 own time, he sometimes cites facts in some of these volumes which 
 had been related in a former, and makes use of these expressions, 
 " as it is mentioned in another History ;" or in these words, " as you 
 have before heard related in the preceding book of this renowned 
 excellent History." But as for the subdivisions of the first volume 
 into four, six, or eight books, it is not to be found in the most ancient 
 manuscripts ; besides, it is not uniformly the same in those wherein 
 it is seen : I therefore do not hesitate in attributing them to the 
 copyists, who have made them of their own accord. 
 
 With regard to the chapters of each volume, and the titles of these 
 chapters, they are only to be met with in the printed copies ; and in 
 the manuscripts of that time, and posterior to it, they are different, 
 according to the different manuscripts or printed copies ; and I see 
 no probability that Froissart was the author of them. One single 
 passage may create a difficulty on this subject. It is in the first 
 volume, where the historian refers you to a preceding chapter ; but 
 this passage is evidently an interpolation. Notwithstanding it is in 
 the three black-letter editions, and in those of Denys Sauvage, it is 
 not to be found in any of the manuscripts which I have seen, with 
 the exception of a single one in the National Library, No. 8321, 
 which is of the date of the latter end of the fifteenth century, and one 
 of the least authentic copies we have.t 
 
 V. The time which Froissart employed in the composition of his 
 History. — The principal of these divisions, that which divides the 
 history of Froissart into four volumes, serves to mark as many dif- 
 ferent epochs, at which he stopped in the course of his work ; whether 
 from want of materials, having carried his narration to the time of 
 his writing ; or whether he wished to take some repose himself, and 
 allow the same to his readers ; but these are not the only places 
 where Froissart has suspended the course of his history ; many have 
 been pointed out, and I will endeavor to fix a date to them, as well 
 as to others, to the utmost of my abilities. 
 
 Before entering on this examination, I shall explain the manner in 
 which I understand Froissart discontinued to write his history. From 
 all I have said of his life, he is seen continually occupied with this 
 object : upward of forty years of his life, reckoning from the time 
 he was twenty, were passed in this pursuit ; but in such a great 
 length of time, there is one part of it which more directly belongs to 
 the composition of this work ; I mean that, when, returning from his 
 travels and laborious inquiries, he collected his materials, arranged 
 them, and formed a connected history, such as we have it at th^. 
 
 * There exists at Valenciennes a very curious MS., recently made public by M. Buchon 
 in his excellent edition of Froissart, which there is reason to believe was the original of 
 the book presented to queen Philippa. In its general tenor it seems to be only the ground- 
 work of the more expanded narrative of subsequent MSS., but some more minute 
 details respecting the country of Hainault, of no general interest, and a variation in 
 the account^" Edward's investiture with the office of Legate to the Empire, an affair 
 which he anerwards wislied to suppress, make it very probable that the Valenciennes 
 MS. was the original expansion of that of John le Bel, which was afterwards remod- 
 eled at the English court.— Ed. 
 
 t The cliapters of Froissart are very difficult to settle. We have retained Mr. Johnes's 
 division into chapters, but not his notation, which he suited to his quarto or octavo 
 volumes, without any attention to the original division into four volumes. We 
 have restored the original division into books or volumes, without which the reader 
 is confused; since, as hiis been shown by M. de St. Palaye, each was written and 
 made public by the author as a separate history. There cannot be a stronger proof 
 of this, and of Froissart's strong desire to relate tlie real truth without bias, than 
 the fact, that the first book or volume, which was chiefly founded on the work of .Tolin 
 le Bel, is that in which the greatest variation of copies is found : in fact no two MSS. 
 of that book wholly agree. Froissart corrected it from time to time, and seemed 
 never tired of emendation ; the greater part of the original being hearsay, he was not 
 satisfied until he had himself examined the best witnesses : and hence the various 
 divisions and variations in thp first book, which have embanassed everv editor.-ED 
 
AN ESSAY ON THE W 
 
 ORKS OF FROISSART. 
 
 7 
 
 day. As he worked at it at different times, I shall attempt to assign 
 to each of the parts the suitable time for it ; to fix when it was begun 
 and 'finished ; how many years he employed upon it, and the inter- 
 vals during which he ceased to write : I think all these details neces- 
 sary. Froissart travelled over large tracts of country, and made in 
 several places long residences ; he was attached, at different times, 
 to courts whose interests were in opposition ; he lived with a great 
 number of princes and lords, of different parties It would have been 
 very difficult for him not to have been biassed by prejudices, or 
 influenced by affection for some, and hatred to others ; and that he 
 should always have steered clear of the illusions of partiality ; for 
 his candor alone would have served to have rendered him more sus- 
 ceptible of them.* If all the circumstances are recollected of the 
 life of our historian, which have been related in the preceding pages, 
 and they are connected with those times in which he worked at the 
 composition of different parts of his history, not only the nature of 
 the information he might be in a situation to collect will be manifest, 
 as well relative to places, as to the persons he had seen ; but those 
 persons to whom he may be supposed to have leaned, will be pointed 
 out. These grounds being once established, will be of very great 
 assistance in enabling us to appreciate more justly the different 
 degrees of authority he deserves, alccording to the various matters 
 he treats of, and the times in which he treats of them. Without it 
 being necessary for me to explain myself more at length on this sub- 
 ject, every reader may apply this rule as he shall advance in the 
 reading of Froissart ; it will sei-ve him as a guide each step he takes ; 
 it will guard him from error or seduction ; whether the historian shall 
 have been ill-informed ; whether he should wish to impose on his 
 readers, supposing it true that he should be capable of so doing. 
 
 The first volume of Froissart comprehends, as I have said before, 
 the history from 1326 to 1379. This period includes the time of his 
 journey to England, when one may readily suppose he had discon- 
 tinued the work ; for he considered it then as being finished to that 
 part, since he says he carried it to England, where he presented it to 
 the queen. It ends, as I have already said, about the year 1360 ; and, 
 as we have seen that it was completed in 1361, and that he had only 
 begun on it about the year 1357, it is evident that Froissart scarcely 
 employed more than three or four years in the composition of this part 
 of his work ; which nevertheless appears to me one of those with which 
 he has taken the most pains. 
 
 A sort of connection which I find between several chapters of the 
 remainder of this first volume, of which the first announces others at a 
 great distance, convinces me that this remainder has been composed 
 off-hand, and without interruption ; and that, consequently, the author 
 only began to write it toward the year 1379, since he closes it with the 
 account of the events of this same year. In truth, I believe that, during 
 the time he passed in the service of queen Philippafrom 1361 to 1369, 
 he was more occupied in writing, by her orders, poems on gallantry 
 and love verses, than in laboring at his history ; and that, although in 
 his different travels, several of which were after the death of this prin- 
 cess, he was anxious to gain every information of the history of his 
 own time, he had not, in the midst of an agitated life, either sufficient 
 leisure, or a mind enough disengaged, to write it. He employed three 
 or four years in composing the last half of his first volume ; for we 
 shall see, that the following volume, which he did not immediately 
 begin on, was written from 1385 to 1388. 
 
 Notwithstanding Froissart may have written the first volume at two 
 different times, it seems that the preface, which is at the beginning, 
 was not done until the whole was finished ; for the author speaks in 
 it of his travels into Scotland, whither he did not go until after he had 
 presented the first half of this volume to the queen of England. 
 
 ■No material interruption is met with in the course of the second 
 volume. The author employs the first twenty-seven chapters in re- 
 capitulating the events of the last three years of the preceding vol- 
 ume, which had been too succinctly related. He adds new facts 
 cr new circumstances to those he had before told, or rectifies the 
 narration, as having been better informed afterwards ; and it is from 
 this that I draw my proof, that there was some interval between the 
 composition of the first volume, and that which followed. After these 
 first twenty -seven chapters he resumes the thread of his history, which 
 he follows until the peace the men of Ghent obtained from the duke 
 of Burgundy, and of which he reports the original treaty, dated the 
 '.8th of December, 1385. 
 
 It is toward the year 1385 or 1386, that Froissart began to write his 
 second volume :^ it was finished in 1388. This same year he visited 
 ehe count de Foix ; and in the account he gives of his travels he says, 
 that different persons reminded him of events which he had related 
 in his history ; and these events are told in the second volume, which, 
 according to appearances, was immediately written. 
 
 There is an interval of upward of two years between the composition 
 ofthi.s volume and the ensuing one ; for the author only began on the 
 third in 1390. He then wrote it by order, and at the expense, of the 
 count de Blois : this he expressly says in the beginning of the first 
 
 * This is a very beautiful senliraent o.'* St. Palaye's, and no less beautiful than true. 
 But the earnest desire Froissart showed to acquaint himself with both sides of every 
 question, searching out truth with greater diligence than has ever before or since been 
 howii by any historian, attaches great weight to information given on his own autho- 
 •ity : and wherever he is convicted of misstatement?, it is upon the faith of another, 
 which he honestly quotes.— Ed. 
 
 chapter of this volume*. There is nothing to prevent us from believ- 
 ing that the preceding volume had been composed by the orders of 
 the same nobleman, since I have shown, in the Memoirs of his Life, 
 that Froissart had appeared to have been attached to his service from 
 the year 1385. 
 
 The third volume, which returns to those events that had happened 
 since the year 1382, and which gives a fuller account of them, had 
 been, as I have just said, begun on in 1390, and was already finished 
 in 1392. The author makes it so to be understood in that part 
 where he speaks of the conventions entered into by the duke of Brit- 
 tany with the king of France. He says, that at the time he was 
 finishing this book, the duke had faithfully obsei-ved them, and had 
 not done anything worthy of being noticed. We shall hereaftei 
 witness the disobedience of this duke in 1392 ; who having received 
 Peter de Craon at his palace, at the time a state criminal, he refused to 
 obey the orders which Charles VI. sent him to give him up. This whole i 
 volume seems to me to have been composed without interruption ; at f 
 least there is a material connection between several chapters at a great 
 distance from each other. 
 
 The interval there is between the third afid fourth volumes, seems 
 to have been caused more to give repose ,o the reader than to the 
 historian ; for Froissart, in ending the third, announces the events 
 which are to be the materials of the fourth volume. I believe the his- 
 torian, immediately on completing the third, wrote the first 50 chapters 
 of the fourth volume, which close with the ev«^ of 1392. A great 
 number of manuscripts, and black-letter editions, which only begin 
 the fourth volume after these fifty chapters, form a very natural preju- 
 dice in favor of this opinion : besides, from the year 1392, when they 
 end, two years passed in continual negotiations between the French 
 and English ; during which, several truces, but of short duration, were 
 made ; which, however, ended at last in a peace, or truce, for four 
 years. One cannot doubt but that Froissart then interrupted his 
 writing ; since that was the time he performed his journey into Eng- 
 land, where he resided three months-. I believe this interval was 
 considerable, because the remainder of the fourth volume, which 
 seems to me to have been written without intermission, was composed 
 if I mistake not, but several years after this journey ; that is to say 
 toward the end of the fourteenth, or the beginning of the fifteentl 
 century. One finds in it those events which belong to the years 1399 
 and 1400. I find nothing that may lead us to form any judgment 
 how long a time the author employed on this last part. 
 
 It is necessary to make one general observation on the subject of 
 these intervals which I have just been speaking of, and of which I 
 have attempted to determine the length. When our historian finished 
 one of the parts of his history, he brought it down to the time when 
 he was writing ; and toward the end he related the events as they 
 were passing : from whence it happens, as it seems to me, that there 
 is much confusion, often omissions and mistakes, which he has been 
 obliged to correct or alter in the following parts. It is probably these 
 different supplements which have made him take in many places the 
 title not only of " actor," that is to say, author, but in addition to it, 
 that of augmentator, of this history ; and that he says in other parts 
 of it, " to have undertaken, continued, and augmented." 
 
 VI. The inquiries Froissart made to compose his History, and the 
 pains he took on this subject. — It has been shown with how much 
 pains and fatigues Froissart had visited the greater part of the courts 
 in Europe. Admitted into the palaces of the greatest lords, he insin- 
 uated himself into their confidence to so great a degree, that they not 
 only related to him many particulars of their own lives, and of those 
 events in which they had had a share, or been eye-witnesses of ; but 
 they discovered to him sometimes the secret of the resolutions which 
 had been entered into in the councils of the cabinet upon the most 
 important affairs : he never failed to take advantage of his conversa- 
 tions with those with whom he could converse and interrogate with 
 greater freedom. It seems that he had learnt many details of the 
 court of France from the servants even of the king, and from those 
 who were near to his person. 
 
 If in his travels at court, or in other places he visited, he met with 
 any from whom he thought he could gain information, more especially 
 captains, or heralds, who in those times were the most usual agents 
 in negotiations, and in affairs of importance ; he began a conversa. 
 tion with them, and insensibly led them to speak of those parts of 
 history of which they ought to be best informed, whether in regard tt 
 the country where they were, or to other circumstances of their lives 
 and he never quitted them until he had made them tell all they knew 
 all of which he immediately set down in writing. Not content tc 
 collect all these precious authorities, and to compare very carefully 
 as he himself informs us, the information of persons who had beet 
 attached to different parties, he sought for proofs still less liable tc 
 suspicion. He consulted the treaties which princes had entered intc 
 with each other, their challenges or declarations of war, the letter 
 they wrote to each other, and other papers of this nature. He ex 
 pressly says, that he had seen many which he does not introduce 
 particularly those of the chancery of the king of England ; and sonn 
 of them are transcribed entire in the course of his history. It appear 
 that he did not choose everj^thing he found as chance offered them 
 but ^lat he examined them critically, and laid aside all those whil 
 authenticity did not seem to him fully proved. 
 
 * Page 68. Vol. II. of the division of this edition. 
 
8 ANESSAYONTHEW 
 
 • i ■ — — — 
 
 VII. IVhat end Frodssart proposed to himself in writing his his. 
 tory ; and wh^ rules he had laid down to himself in writing it. — 
 One may easily judge, from the detail of the attentions which Frois- 
 sart himself tells us he took, that he was acquainted with the rules of 
 sound criticism, and the true method which ought to be followed in 
 writing history. He likewise informs us, that he had not the inten- 
 tion of making a dry chronicle, wherein facts are simply related with 
 rheir dates, and in the order they happened, but that he was anxious 
 .«• write what may be called in truth history, in which the events 
 V c ; 0 presented with all the circumstances which had attended them. 
 I he details which lay open the secret springs by which mankind act, 
 are i>recisely those which unveil the character and the very heart of 
 the ;?srsonages which history places on the stage ; and this was one 
 of 'iit! essential parts of the design which Froissart had proposed to 
 himseji'in writing history. Many passages in his work indicate that 
 he had a natural inclination for it, and that he found infinite pleasure 
 in woiking at it; but another object, which does him- much more 
 honor, had greatly strengthened this natural taste : he proposed to 
 preserve, for ages to ccyne, the memory of those men who had made 
 themselves renowned by their courage, or by their virtues ; to give 
 to their actions a value, which nothing can efface or alter ; and, by 
 amusing usefully his readers, to give birth to, or augment in their 
 hearts, the love of glory, by the most brilliant examples. 
 
 This desire, whiik always animated him in his various inquiries, 
 supported him duflll forty years of labor, in which he neither spared 
 attention nor time, and for which he feared not expending very 
 considerable sums of money. In effect, nothing can be more proper 
 than the spectacle which Froissart places continually before the eyes 
 of his readers, to inspire them with a love for war ; that industrious 
 vigilance, always on its guard against surprises, is incessantly active 
 to surprise others ; that activity, which counts as nothing pains and 
 fatigue ; that contempt of death which elevates th« mind above the 
 fear of danger ; in short, that noble ambition which excites to enter- 
 prises of the greatest peril. He passes in review all the heroes 
 which, uearly during a whole century, were produced by two warlike 
 nations ; orx of which was encouraged by successes as flattering as 
 they were unintermpted ; and the other, irritated by its misfortunes, 
 was making exertions to revenge, at whatever price it may be, its 
 own honor and its king. In so great a number of actions, of which 
 many were extremely glorious to each party, it is not possible but 
 that some were to be found of a quite different sort. Froissart does 
 not take the less pains to paint these last, in order to give as much 
 horror for vice, as he wished to inspire love for virtue : but, if all 
 tliese pictures had been the fruits of his own imagination, they would 
 not have been felt as much as he wished them. In order that their 
 impression on the heart and mind should be perfectly sure a:)d .strong. ; 
 it was necessary that their basis should be founded on the purest 
 truth, disengaged from all flattery, as well as from partiality, or 
 3nterest. 
 
 It is this truth which our historian piques himself with having 
 80 ug^V, after with the greatest care. However, all I have just said is 
 taken from his own words, spread over an infinity of passages, in his 
 nistory ; and it is this alone that I guarantee. It remains to be seen 
 if he has as faithfully obsei-ved this law which he imposes on himself 
 as he has promised it. But before I enter into an examination of 
 this question, I shall make some general observations on his chro- 
 nology: I shall then speak of the first thirty years of his history, 
 which are, properly speaking, but an introduction to the forty, and 
 «ome years which follow them, until the end of the fift-eenth century. 
 
 VIII. The Chronology of Froissart. — I observe in the chronology 
 of Froissart two capital defects, which are the source of all the dis- 
 order found in it. The first is, that when he passes from the history 
 of one country to another, he makes the history which he begins go 
 back to a period anterior to what he has just spoken of, without 
 having had the attention to inform his readers of it. The second, 
 which is not less considerable, is, that he has not settled in his own 
 raind the manner of counting the years ; he makes them sometimes 
 begin the 1st of January ; at other times at Easter ; others even at 
 Palm Sunday. Froissart does not confine himself to date by years 
 the events he relates; months, days, hours of the day, are often 
 expressed in his different recitals. I remark, with regard to the 
 days, that he only begins them when night is completely gon-e, and 
 that daybreak begins to appear. With regard to the hours of the 
 day, he gives them a division, of which some examples, but in a 
 small number, are seen in our ancient authors, and to which he very 
 particularly attaches himself. He divides them according to the 
 canonical hours of prime, tierce, none, and vepres ; because, perhaps, 
 he was in the ecclesiastical line himself. I observe, that he has not 
 anywhere made use of the word sexte : what he means by prime, 
 was the morning, the first hour of the day, or the hour which followed 
 next after daybreak. Tierce seems to me to mark the intermediate 
 time between the morning and midday, which he expresses either 
 by the word midday, or by that of none. Afterwards comes vepre, 
 or, la vepree : it was, as the word points out, the end of the day ; 
 after which was reckoned midnight. Sometimes he adds to these 
 ♦words of prime, tierce, none, vepres, the epithet of basse, to mark 
 that the time of these hours was near closing ; and sometimes the 
 worJ haute, which, in some instances, appears to have the same 
 8ig» 'ication, and in others quite the contrary. He uses this mode of 
 
 0I7KS OF FROISSART. 
 
 sp. <L> h d Paube crevant, to say, that the dawn of day has but just 
 be^u.< to show itself; au soleil resconaant, to express the setting sun ; 
 d lu I .'■evee, for the time which follows the hour of midday ; and a 
 la rein.'jatee, which seems to me synonymous to la vepree, for the 
 evening, the time at which the day approaches to its end. 
 
 IX. Oj the first thirty years which Froissart has treated of at the 
 beginning his History, after John le Bel ; that is to say, from 1326 
 to 1356. — The first thirty years of the history of Froissart are prop, 
 erly but a preliminary, which serves to give the reader some inform- 
 ation relative to the wars which he was afterwards to give an account 
 of. He describes the state of France and of England ; and shows 
 the cause of the quarrel between the two crowns, which was the 
 origin of those bloody wars they carried on reciprocally against each 
 other. Froissart cannot be reckoned a contemporary writer of these 
 first thirty years; he was not born, or if he was, he was in his 
 infancy, or of such an age that he could not make any great use of 
 his reason. He therefore scarcely ever mentions these thirty years, 
 as an author who has seen what he relates ; and, without doubt, it 
 must be to this period alene that one can refer what he says in the 
 commencement of his history, that he wrote after another who had 
 lived before: it is, as he tells us, "The true Chronicles of John le 
 Bel, canon of Saint Lambert of Liege."* These chronicles have not 
 been handed down to us ; and I cannot discover anything more, 
 either concerning the work or its author, but what Froissart tells us. 
 He speaks of him as one who no longer existed ; but he boasts his 
 exactness, and the pains he took in comparing his chronicles, and 
 the considerable expenses he was at on this subject. He represents 
 him as the favorite and confidant of John of Hainault, in company 
 with whom he might have witnessed several great events, which, 
 says he, shall in the end be related ; for the earl, who was nearly 
 related to several kings, had played a principal part in many of these 
 transactions. 
 
 Froissart, in these thirty years, which are anterior to the battle ol 
 Poitiers, in 1356, enters more into the detail of the history of the 
 English than of the French, perhaps from having followed in this 
 respect his original author, who had taken a much greater interest in 
 the history of England, from its connections with the count de Hain- 
 ault. This certainly is the cause why those manuscripts, which only 
 contain the first years of the Chronicle of Froissart, are called Chron- 
 icles of England ; and also has given rise to the reproach which has 
 been made to him of being the partisan of England, and ill-inclined 
 toward France , an accusation which I shall examine at the end of 
 this criticism, i do not think Froissart could have chosen a better 
 guide for the hislory of the thirty years than the author he says he 
 followed. To jud<-e of the information which this historian might 
 \ nave drawn fron" die intimacy with which he lived with John oi 
 Hamaull, ere must recollect the situation in which this earl then was. 
 The queen of England, Isabella of France, had fled from England 
 with me young prince of Wales, her son, afterwards Edward III., to 
 free herself from the persecutions of the Spencers, and the other 
 favorites of her husband, Edward II. 
 
 Charles le Bel, king of France, brother to this queen, was forced 
 to order her to quit his kingdom, after he had afforded her an asylimi 
 for some time. The court of the count de Hainault, of whom we 
 are speaking, was the only resource for the mother and son ; not 
 only was this open to them, but they found there powerful succors to 
 carry with them to England, and to draw down vengeance on their 
 enemies. The young prince had there met a virtuous and amiable 
 princess (she was one of the daughters of the count,) who felt for 
 him those first sentiments of a natural inclination which seem to 
 foretell the most durable attachments : he conceived a strong affec- 
 tion for her, made her his bride, and afterwards she was placed with 
 him on the throne of England. It is the same to whom Froissart 
 presented his History. 
 
 Froissart wrote then after an author who was himself personally 
 acquainted with all these facts, and from the persons the best informed ; 
 for it was their own histoiy. The writer, who appears to have been 
 brought up at the court of the count de Hainault, was living in the 
 greatest familiarity with those, to whom all the circumstances of this 
 court, which were then recent, would be in their recollection, and 
 perfectly well known to them ; and he wrote the histoiy of it for 
 queen Philippa, of Hainault, who had acted so principal a part in it : 
 never was there a historian who had more undeniable witnesses of 
 the facts he relates. Never was there one in whom greater confi- 
 dence could be placed, than in Froissart in this part of his history. 
 You will, however, recollect the faults which M. Lancelot has cor- 
 rected in several articles which concern the history of England at 
 this period. His criticism is founded on the original acts which he 
 has had in his hands, and whose authority is unquestionable. I urge 
 this example, because it seems to me more proper than any other, to 
 make a truth, important to our history, more strongly felt, and which 
 has been so much recommended by authors the most versed in this 
 study ; I mean the absolute necessity of accompanying the study of 
 history with the comparing it with the original acts of those times. 
 Some of them enlighten parts which are wanting, while others add 
 to the testimonies of history a degree of audienticity of which they 
 are but in too much need ; and it is from this comparison that the 
 certitude of these truths results as much as their nature is susceptible 
 
 * 8«e note, p. vi. 
 
A CRITICISM ON THE H 
 
 ISTORY OP FROISSART. 
 
 9 
 
 with regard to us. I shall reserve for another opportunity to speak 
 of those forty and some years following, which Froissart wrote as a 
 contemporary historian, and as an eye-witness, I may say, of every, 
 thing which was then passing in the world. But I shall first exa- 
 mine the different judgments which have been passed on this histo- 
 rian, and particularly the almost universal reproach which has been 
 made to him, of being a violent partisan of the English, and a declared 
 enemy to the Fi snch. I shall speak, of his partiality in other res- 
 pects, his creduiity in certain articles, his exactness in others, and 
 his mode of writing : I will then enumerate the detail of the editions 
 which we have of his history ; I will discuss the merits and faults of 
 each of them ; I shall more especially examine whether that of Sau- 
 vage has more corrupted and falsified the taxt than it has enlightened it. 
 
 In short, I shall give a summary account of upward of forty vol- 
 umes, in folio, of manuscripts o/ Uiis history, which I have collated 
 with great attention. 
 
 A CRITICISM 
 
 ON 
 
 THE HISTOEY OF FEOISSART. 
 
 TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OP M. DE LA CURNE DE ST. PALATE, 
 
 BY THOMAS JOHNES. 
 
 I HATE laid before you the views with which Froissart wrote his 
 Chronicles, the care he took to be informed of all the events which 
 were to make parts of it, and the rules he had imposed on himself in 
 writing it. I shall at present examine if he has been exact in 
 observing these rules ; what are the defects and advantages of his 
 history ; what L; the form and style of it. From thence I shall pass 
 to the manuscripts and editions we have of it ; then to the abridg- 
 ments and different translations which have been published. 
 
 Froissart is accused of partiality ; and this accusation is become 
 BO general, that it seems to have acquired the character of notoriety ; 
 whose privilege is to supersede proofs. Froissart is said to have 
 sold his pen to the English, who paid him a considerable pension ; 
 and, by a necessary consequence of his affection for them, he is unfa- 
 vorable to the French. Bodin, Pasquier, Brant6me, Sorel, la Pope, 
 liniere, le Laboureur, decide against him in the most positive terms. 
 It seems even that his readers, prejudiced by the connections which 
 Froissart had with the English, may have some reason to distrust 
 everything he relates to their advantage. In truth, he begins by say. 
 ing, that he had written his history at the solicitations of Robert de 
 Namur, a near relation of the queen Philippa, and a vassal of the 
 crown of England, which he usefully served against France. In 
 another part he informs us, that he was of the household of Edward 
 III. the most cruel enemy of the French ; and that his queen, to 
 whom he was secretary, had not only, by her liberalities, enabled 
 him to travel into various parts in order to enrich his history, but 
 that she had generously paid him for his labors in it. 
 
 In short, the first twenty-six chapters of his Chronicle solely con. 
 cern the history' of England, which has been the reason why it has 
 been called the "Chronicle of England" in several manuscripts. 
 From thence it has been concluded that Froissart, fpom his intimate 
 attachment to the court of England, must be a violent partisan of that 
 nation, and the enemy of its enemies. Nothing more was wanted 
 for the most innocent accounts, if given by any other historian, 
 appearing as poisonous if issued from his pen ; but, in order to judge 
 if this suspicion has any foundation, I will run over the period of 
 which he has transmitted to us the history, in examining successively 
 the different situations he was in when he wrote the various parts 
 of it. ^ 
 
 Froissart cannot be suspected of partiality during the first years 
 of the reign of Edward III. This prince never forgot that his uncle, 
 kmg Charles le Bel, had given him an asylum in his kingdom ; 
 when, with his mother, Isabella of France, he had escaped from the 
 persecution of the Spencers, who governed the mind of his father, 
 Edward II. The court of France had not any misunderstanding 
 mth that of England during the reign of Charles. I pass over for a 
 moment the forty years which followed from 1329, when the sue 
 cession to the crown of France being opened by the death ofCharies 
 .e Bel, the bonds which had united the kings of France and England 
 became themselves the source of divisions and of the most murderous 
 wars ; and I come to the times which succeeded the death of queen 
 Phihppa in 1369, a penod when Froissart, no longer residing in Eng. 
 land, had attached himself to Winceslaus, duke of Brabant This 
 prince, brother to the emperor Charies IV., was, in fact, uncle to 
 Anne of Bohemia, who was afterwards queen of England, by her 
 mamage with Richard II.: but he was also in the same degree o 
 relationship with Charles V. of France, the son of his sister, and' 
 preserving a strict neutrality between the two rival crowns, he was 
 invited to the coronations of Charies V. and of Charies VI He 
 obtained even in the last of these ceremonies the pardon of the count 
 de St. Pol, whom the king's council wished to put to death for the 
 crime of high treason. 
 
 Froissart, who informs us of this circumstance, with which he must 
 have been well acquainted, tells us another, which clearly shows that 
 Wmceelaus ever preserved the friendship of king Charies, as well as 
 
 that of his council. During the time the war was carrying on with 
 the greatest obstinacy, he obtained a passport for the princess Anne 
 of Bohemia to go to England, where she was to marry Richard II. 
 Charles and his uncles accompanied this favor with the most obliging 
 letters, adding, they only granted it out of friendship to him. Frois- 
 sart had not any interest to write against France during the time he 
 passed with this prince ; he had, shortly afterwards, still less, when 
 he was secretary to the count de Blois, who crowned a life, com- 
 pletely devoted to the interests of France, by the sacrifice of the in. 
 terests of his own family. The most trifling marks of ill-will against 
 France would have exposed him to lose not only the good graces oi 
 his master, out the fruits of his historical labors, which he had in- 
 duced him to continue, and which he so generously recompensed. 
 The historian therefore, fearful of the reproaches which might be 
 made him for being too good a Frenchman, reproaches very differeiit 
 from those which have been since made him, thinks himself bound 
 to justify, in the following terms, what he relates of the inviolable 
 attachment of the Bretons to the crown of France against the Eng- 
 lish, vol. iii. chapter Ixv. p. 240, year 1387. " Let no one say I have 
 been corrupted by the favor which the count Guy de Blois (who has 
 made me write this history) has shown unto me, and who has so 
 liberally paid me for it that I am satisfied, because he was nephew 
 to the true duke of Brittany, and so nearly related as son to count 
 Louis de Blois, brother-german to Charles de Bloisj, who, as long as 
 he lived, was duke of Brittany : no, by my troth, it is not so ; for I 
 will not speak at all, unless it be the truth, and go straight forward, 
 without coloring one more than another : besides, the gallant prince 
 and court, who have made me undertake this history, had no other 
 wish but for me to say what is true." 
 
 Since Froissefrt in all these times, which carry us almost to the end 
 of his Chronicle, cannot be suspected of hatred to the French, nor 
 of affection to the English ; I return to those years I have omitted 
 from 1329 to 1369, of which he passed a considerable part in Eng. 
 land, attached to the king and queen, and living in a sort of famil. 
 iarity with the young princes, their children : it is in respect to these 
 years, that the suspicion of partiality to the English can subsist with 
 the greatest force. It was difficult, in a court where everything 
 breathed hatred to France, for him to preserve that perfect neutrality 
 which the quality of an historian demands ; and that he should not 
 lean toward that passion of princes to whom he owed his present 
 fortune, and from whom he expected more considerable establish, 
 ments. One might find reasons to weaken this prejudice, in the 
 sweetness and moderation which queen Philippa ever preserved in 
 the midst of all these wars ; who calmed the fury of her husband at 
 the siege of Calais, and who obtained, by her instances, the pardon 
 of the six generous citizens of that town whom he had condemned 
 to death. I might add, that if Froissart was of the household of king 
 Edward, he was also of the household of king John ; and it seems he 
 was attached to this prince even at the time when he was in Eng 
 land. 
 
 But, without seeking to combat these prejudices by others, I shall 
 simply consult the text of Froissart, which must, in this respect, be 
 the rule of our judgment. After having read him with all the atten. 
 tion I am capable of, without having marked one single trace of the 
 partiality they reproach him with, I have examined with the utmost 
 care some principal points, where naturally it ought to have been the 
 most apparent. 
 
 The accession of Philip de Valois to the crown had incensed all 
 England, who adopted the chimerical pretensions of Edv/ard III. 
 This was a delicate circumstance for an historian, who, living in the 
 midst of a court, and a nation so strongly prejudiced, was determined 
 not to quit the line of duty. Now, these are the terms in which 
 Froissart relates this event, after having mentioned the deaths of the 
 kings, Louis Hutin, Philip le Long, and Charles le Bel : " The twelve 
 peers and barons of France did not give the realm of France to their 
 sister, who was queen of England, because they declared and main- 
 tained, and still resolve, that the kingdom of France is so noble, that 
 it ought not to descend to a female, nor consequently to the king ot 
 England, her eldest son ; for thus they determine, that the son of a 
 female cannot claim any right of succession as coming from his 
 mother, when the mother herself has not any right ; so that, for these 
 reasons, the twelve peers and the barons of France unanimously de- 
 creed the kingdom of France to my lord Philip, nephew to the good 
 king Philip of France, before-mentioned, and took from the queen of 
 England and her son the right of succeeding to the last king, Charies. 
 Thus, as it appeared to many persons, did the kingdom of France go 
 out of the straight line of succession, which occasioned very great 
 wars in consequence," &,c. This whole passage presents nothing 
 but what must make one admire the courage and candor of the his- 
 torian, when even he should have added these words, " it appeared 
 to many persons ;" since it is not any matter of doubt that the suc- 
 cession passed from the straight line to the collateral branch. Never- 
 theless, some malignant intention was thought to lurk beneath, and 
 the words " took from " having offended some readers, they have 
 added in the margin a sort of correction, which I have seen in two 
 manuscripts in a hand almost as ancient as the manuscripts them- 
 selves : " They never could take away what they had never been in 
 possession of, nor had any right to. They never took it away ; for 
 neither the foresaid lady, nor her son, had even a right to it ; but 
 Froissart shows he was partial to the English." 
 
iO 
 
 A CRITICISM ON THE H 
 
 ISTORY OF FRQISSART. 
 
 The homage which king Edward III. paid to the king of France, 
 iurt exceedingly the delicac;s^ of the English : they had disputed for 
 lome time, and with great warmth, on the form in which it was to 
 yo made ; seeking to curtail it of all that was humiliating to them. 
 As the king of France firmly supported the prerogatives of his crown, 
 Uid obliged Edward to acquit himself of this duty according to the 
 terms which had been practiced by his predecessors, an historian who 
 was desirous of being complaisant would have slightly passed over 
 this article. Froissart, however, insists upon it as much as he is 
 ible ; he neither omits the difficulties which the English made, nor 
 the authorities which king Philip opposed to them ; and he accom- 
 panics these details with the original acts the most proper to confirm 
 ihem ; so that, if the kings of France should ever have occasion to 
 verify their rights, the deposition alone of Froissart would furnish an 
 tuthentic and incontestable title. 
 
 The English accuse the French of not being very scrupulous in 
 observing treaties ; and maintain, that sir Geoffry de Charni acted by 
 the secret orders of the king of France, when, in contempt of a truce 
 which had been made, he attempted to surprise Calais in 1349. 
 Rapin embraces this opinion, and supports it by the testimony of 
 Froissart whom he quotes in the margin. I know not from what copy, 
 nor what manuscript, he has taken his authority ; but, for my part, I 
 read in all the printed and in all the manuscripts these words, wliich 
 are quite contrary to his sentiments : " I believe, that Geoflfry de 
 Charni had never spoken of it to the king of France ; for, the king 
 would never have advised him to attempt it, on account of the truce." 
 The English again impute to Charles V. the infraction of the treaty 
 of Bretigny, which they first broke, if we believe the French. Far 
 from finding anything in Froissart which favors the English preten- 
 sions, I believe that, if the terms in which he expr^ses himself were 
 strictly examined, they would at least form a presumption against 
 them. I do not despair but that one day a brother academician will 
 give us all the proofs which a sound criticism, and a mature reading 
 of the historical monuments of that age, can furnish on a point of 
 history which is of equal consequence to the nation and to truth. 
 
 The single combat proposed in 1354 between the kings of France 
 and of England, is still a matter of dispute between the historians of 
 the two nations. According to the French, the challenge sent in the 
 name of king John was not accepted by Edward ; while the Eng. 
 lish say, their king dared the king of France to battle, but that he 
 refused the combat: Froissart decides formally for the French. 
 " The king of France," says he, " went after him as far as St. Omer, 
 and sent to him (the king of England) by the marshal d'Authain, and 
 by several other knights, that he would fight with them, if he pleased, 
 body to body, or strength against strength, any day he would name : 
 but the king of England refused the combat, and recrossed the sea 
 to England ; and the king of France returned to Paris." 
 
 To these examples I could add a great number of other passages 
 where he gives praise, as well to the people, as to the lords who sig- 
 nalized themselves by their attachment to the party of the French, 
 and wherein he neither spares those who had declared themselves 
 agamst, nor those who had cowardly abandoned them. In addition 
 to what he says of the fidelity of the Bretons, and of the counts de 
 Blois, their legitimate sovereigns, he praises the zeal with which 
 several lords in Scotland received the French fleet sent in 1385 to 
 assist them against the English. The earl of Douglas, to whom he 
 appears much attached, and in whose castle he had spent several 
 days in his travels into Scotland, seems to be of this number. At 
 the same time, he declaims against those whose bad faith and ingrati- 
 tude rendered this armament fruitless. He speaks in the strongest 
 terms of the presumption of the duke of Gueldres, who dared to 
 declare war against the king of France (Charles VI.) in 1387, and 
 of the insolence with which he expressed himself in his declaration 
 of war. He applauds the just indignation which induced this mon- 
 arch to march in person to chastise the pride of this petty prince. 
 
 In short, of all nations whom he speaks of in his history, there are 
 but few whom he has not sometimes marked with odious epithets. 
 According to him, the Portuguese are passionate and quarrelsome ; 
 the Spaniards envious, haughty, and uncleanly ; the Scots perfidious 
 and ungrateful; the Italians assassins and poisoners; the English 
 vain-boasters, contemptuous, and cruel. There is not one trait against 
 the French ; on the contrary, this brave nation supports itself, accord, 
 ing to Froissart, by the vigor and strength of its knighthood, which 
 was never so totally overwhelmed by its misfortunes, as not in the 
 end to find some marvellous resources in its courage. The historian 
 also seems to have taken a pride in having been born a Frenchman, 
 in telling us that he owed to this title the good reception which a 
 French esquire gave him, when he lodged with him at Orthez. 
 
 It is true, that the king of England, and his son the prince of Wales, 
 seem to have been, so long as they lived, the heroes of his history ; 
 and that, in the recital of several battles, he is more occupied with 
 them than with the king of France. But, where is the Frenchman 
 of candor, who will not find himself forced to give these princes the 
 utmost praise ? Besides, does not our historian render justice to the 
 valor and intrepidity of king Philip de Valois, and of king John? 
 Nothing can surpass the praises he gives as well to the wisdom as to 
 the ability of king Charles V. ; and above all, that glorious testimony 
 which he makes no difficulty to put into the mouth of the king of 
 England: "There never was a king who so little armed himself; 
 and there never was a king who gave me so much to do." 
 
 I think I have fully established, by all that you have just read, that 
 I roissart was not that partial historian that he has been accused of 
 Nevertheless, I think it will be more sure to read him with some cir 
 cumspection, and that one ought, as much as may be possible, never 
 to lose eight, I repeat it, of two objects which I have particularly 
 endeavored to make observed in the preceding pages : I mean to say, 
 on one hand, the details of his life, his different attachments to divers 
 princes and to certain lords, the connections he had or the friendships 
 he contracted with various persons ; on the other, the situations in 
 which he was placed when he wrote his history, what parts of it were 
 undertaken at the solicitation of the count de Namur, a partisan of 
 the English, and those which he composed by the orders of the count 
 de Blois, a friend to France. For if one is determined to persuade 
 oneself that he ought to be disposed to favor the English in all he 
 relates until 1369, from the same reason he should lean to the French 
 in all the ensuing years until the conclusion of his Chronicle. I 
 ought not to neglect to mention that his prejudices are sometimes 
 visible when he enters into the minuter details, as one may be con- 
 vinced of by the praise he gives to the piety and other virtues of the 
 count de Foix, strongly contrasted by those actions of cruelty he had 
 just before related. But when an historian, disengaged from all 
 passion, should hold an even balance between the different parties ; 
 when to this quality he adds that which cannot be refused to Frois- 
 sart, I mean, a continual anxiety to be informed of every event, and 
 of every particular, that may interest his readers ; he will yet be very 
 far from perfection, if to these acquirements he does not add sound 
 criticism, which, in the multitude of discordant relations, knows how 
 to separate everything that is distant from truth ; or his work will 
 otherwise be less a history, than a heap of fables and popular rumors. 
 
 Notwithstanding all Froissart tells us of the care he took to hear 
 both sides, and to compare their different accounts with each other, 
 often with the original pieces, I think he may be accused of some 
 little negligence on this head. His manner of life allowed him but 
 little leisure to make all the reflections and all the comparisons which 
 such an examination would require. In those countries whither his 
 active curiosity carried him, other attentions occupied his mind. 
 Charged sometimes with secret commissions, he endeavored to insin- 
 uate himself into the good graces of those princes he visited, by 
 compositions of gallantry, by romances, by poetry ; and the love he 
 ever had for pleasure took such possession of both his time and his 
 heart, that his mind must have been often turned from the serious 
 meditations of the cabinet, of which naturally it was not very capable. 
 I am not afraid to say, that his manner of life is to be found in some 
 sort retraced even in his Chronicles. One sees in ihem tumultuous 
 meetings of warriors of all ages, degrees, and countries ; feasts ; enter- 
 tainments at inns ; conversations after supper, which lasted until a late 
 hour ; where every one was eager to relate what he had seen or done : 
 after which the travelling historian, before he went .to bed, hastened 
 to put on paper everything his memory could recollect. One sees in 
 them the history of events which happened during almost a century, 
 in all the provinces of the kingdom, and of all the people in Europe, 
 related without order. In a small number of chapters, one frequently 
 meets with several different histories, begun, interrupted, recom- 
 menced, and again broken off"; and in this confusion the same things 
 repeated, whether in order to be corrected, contradicted, or denied, 
 or whether to be augmented. 
 
 The historian seems to have carried even to his composition of the 
 Chronicle his love of romances, and to have imitated the disorder 
 which reigns in these sort of works ; from which one might say he 
 has affected even to borrow their style. Thus, for example, when 
 he begins a narrative, he frequently uses this expression, " Now the 
 tale says ;" and when he speaks of the death of any one, or some 
 other melancholy event, he adds, "but amend it he could not;" 
 phrases which are to be met with in almost every page of the romances 
 of the Round Table. However, all I say of this romantic taste of 
 Froissart, which he seems to have preserved in his history, applies 
 solely to the style he makes use of ; for I have never once observed 
 that he attempts to embellish it with the marvellous. The faults 
 which are met with contrary to historical exactness, arise solely from 
 the natural confusion of his mind, the precipitation with which he 
 wrote, and the ignorance which, he must necessarily have been in 
 respectmg many things, wliich wovld have escaped his inquiries. 
 What he relates of distant countries, such as Africa, Hungary, Tar- 
 tary, and, in general, the eastern parts of the worid, is full of the 
 grossest blunders. In his time commerce had not then formed any 
 connection v.ith tho|p countries and our own: what w^as known of 
 them, was founded on the faith of those whom accident had carried 
 thither, and who had resided too short a time among them to gain 
 sufficient information respecting the manners, customs, and history 
 of these people. But if Froissart has committed many faults in what 
 he relates to us, the greatest, without doubt, is to have spoken at all 
 of what he could not but imperfectly know. 
 
 All these defects and imperfections do not prevent his Chronicle 
 from being considered as one of the most precious monuments of our 
 history ; and that the perusal of it should not be as agreeable as in- 
 structive to those who, not confining themselves to the knowledge of 
 general facts, seek in the details, whether of particular events, whether 
 of the usages of that' age, to develop the character of mankind, and 
 of the centuries which have passed. 
 
 Froissart was bom to transmit to posterity a living picture of an 
 
A CRITtClSM ON THE H 
 
 ISTORY OF FROISSART. 
 
 11 
 
 age, enemy to repose ; and which, amid the intervals of troubles with 
 which it was almost continually agitated, found relaxation only in the 
 most tumultuous pleasures. Besides the wars of so many nations 
 which he describes, and in which he informs us of divers usages 
 respecting the ban and arrier ban, the attack and defence of places, 
 fortifications, detachments, skinnishes, orders of battle, marine, the 
 armor of those on foot, and those on horseback ; one finds in this 
 history everythi:'g which can excite curiosity with regard to the no- 
 bility and knighrhood, their challenges, their deadly combats, tilts, 
 tournaments, entries of princes, assemblies, feasts, balls, the dresses 
 of both sexes ; so that his chronicle is for us a complete body of the 
 antiquities of the fourteenth century. One must own that these details 
 only attract attention from their own singularity ; they are related 
 without study, and without art : it is, in truth, the familiar conversa- 
 tion with a man of understanding', who has seen a great deal, and tells 
 his story well. Nevertheless, thi j amiable story-teller knows how, at 
 times, and in particular when he speaks of any grand event, to unite 
 the majesty of history with the simplicity of a tale. Let any one 
 read, among other things, among so many batdes which he has so 
 excellently painted ; let him read the recital of the famous battle of 
 Poitiers, they will there see in the person of the prince of Wales a 
 hero, far greater by the generosity with which he made use of his 
 victory, by his attentions to a conquered prince, and by the respect 
 he always paid him, than by those efforts of courage which had made 
 him triumph. I do not believe there is anything which can equal the 
 ' sublimity of this morsel of history, nothing which can more elevate 
 the heart and mind. Others, of a very different nature, have their 
 value in their simplicity : such is the episode of the love of the king 
 of England for the countess of Salisbury ; the tender and affecting 
 recital of which does not yield to the most ingenious and best-written 
 romances. The historian sometimes takes a gay tone ; as in the 
 chapter wherein he speaks of the impatience of the young king Charles 
 VI. to receive his new bride ; and in that wherein he relates the jokes 
 which this prince made on his uncle, the duke of Berry, who, at a 
 time of life not very suitable for love, married a young and amiable 
 wife. 
 
 The taste of the author is very visible in the manner which he 
 treats these subjects ; but as the age he lived in knew how to conciliate 
 all things, this taste did not exclude the fund of devotion which runs 
 through the course of this work. It is only to be wished that he had 
 not degraded his religion by a credulity ridiculously superstitious ; 
 false miracles, prophecies, enchantments, have nothing in them so 
 absurd as not to find in him an unbounded and blind belief. Every 
 one knows the tale he tells of the demon Gorgon. One can scarcely 
 comprehend how he can connect with Christianity the example 
 which he draws from the fable of Actaeon to justify the probability 
 of an adventure of the same sort, which makes part of this tale. 
 He has besides been reproached with having dishonored history by 
 his too great minuteness. I agree that we readily would have dis- 
 pensed with his telling ua at what sign those lodged of whom he was 
 speaking, and from pointing out the inns where he himself had some- 
 times taken up his quarters ; but I cannot equally condemn the love 
 adventares, the feasts, and ceremonies, of which he has left us de- 
 scriptions. When his narrations shall not be of subjects sufficiently 
 noble, yet he paints so agreeably and so truly the age of which he 
 writes the history, that it would, I think, be ungrateful to make any 
 complaints. 
 
 I have inserted summarily in this judgment a sketch of the opinions 
 which different authors have given of him, and they may be con- 
 sulted. I will add that of an author who knew better than any other 
 the full value of a ready and natural genius. " I love," says Mon- 
 taigne, " historians very unaffected or excellent : the unaffected, who 
 have not wherewithal to add of their own, and who are only careful 
 to collect and pick up everything which falls within their notice, 
 and to put down everything without choice and without sorting, giv- 
 ing us the opportunity of wholly judging of their truth. Such for 
 example is the good Froissart, who has gone on with his work with 
 such frank simplicity, that, having committed a fault, he is no way 
 ashamed of avowing it, and correcting it at the place he is informed 
 of it ; and who tells us the diversity of rumors which were current, 
 and the different accounts that were told to him. It is history, naked 
 and unadorned ; every one may profit from it, according to the depth 
 of his understanding." 
 
 I come now to the editions of Froissart. We have three black- 
 letter ones, and two posterior to them : that which I believe to be 
 the oldest, is by Anthony Verard, at Paris, %thout a date, three 
 j volumes in folio. The second is, Paris, by Michael le Noir, the 
 ' 15th July, 1505, two volumes in folio, a handsome type. The third 
 is, Paris, by Galliot du Pre, 1530, three volumes in folio. The 
 fourth, Lyons, by John de Tournes, 1559, 1560, 1561, three volumes 
 in folio, revised and corrected by Denys Sauvage. The fifth, which 
 copies exactly the fourth, is Paris, by Gervais Mallot, 1574, three 
 volumes in folio.* There is reason to believe, from the manner in 
 
 * M. de St. Palaye does not seem to have known all the editions of Froissart. I have 
 »hree of different dates to those he mentions. 
 
 1. A most superb copy on vellum, in four volume*, which originally belonged to the 
 8oubise library, purchased at the sale of the Bibliotheca Parisiana; printed in black 
 ■etter, by Guillaume Eustnce, at Paris, 1514. 
 
 2. An edition by Denys Sauvage, in four volumes, printed by Michael Sonnius, Paris, 
 . 1574. This had belonged to Mr. Secretary Craggs. 
 
 which father Long expresses himself on the subject of the editiorii 
 of Froissart, that there may be others where there have been united 
 into one body his Chronicle, with the first continuation, by an anony- 
 mous writer, until the year 1498, and with a second continuation 
 until the year 1513. But these works have never been printed to- 
 gether. This is not the only mistake which this learned librarian 
 has made in the same article, as I will some time hence explain, 
 when I speak of th-ese continuations. He also speaks of an histo. 
 rical work, printed under this title : " Order of the entry and happy 
 arrival in the city of Paris, of Isabella de Baviere, queen of France, 
 wife of Charles VI. in the year 1389, extracted from the fourth book 
 of the History of Froissart;" without noticing either the date or 
 place of its impression. I am ignorant if this is not an old fragment 
 of Froissart which Sauvage had consulted, that had been printed be- 
 fore the black-letter editions, and of which I have never been able 
 to gain any knowledge. To return to those editions I have pointed 
 out, I shall fix principally on that of Sauvage, and endeavor to show, 
 at the -same time, what opinion should be formed of the black-letter 
 editions which preceded his. 
 
 If the historian has been accused of showing too great a hatred 
 against the French in several parts of his Chronicle, the editor has been 
 equally accused of showing too great an inclination to them, by sup- 
 pressing everything which might displease them. Perhaps this 
 charge is only made in consequence of the first ; and readers, pre- 
 judiced on one hand that Froissart had been an enemy to the French, 
 surprised on the other at not finding any traces of this pretended 
 enmity in his history, may have judged, without further reason, that 
 Sauvage had retrenched, through love of his country, all that the 
 historian had written through hatred to it. The French, with whom 
 Sauvage, according to this mode of reasoning, ought to have found 
 favor, have not been less hard upon him on another head. Accord, 
 ing to several, he has altered and disfigured the proper names ; he 
 has changed the simple language of the times of Froissart to substi- 
 tute his own ; in which he has rather rendered the histoiy more 
 obscure than he has enlightened it, and has only caused those edi- 
 tions which were prior to his own to become more scarce, and more 
 dear. We shall see if this is the recompense that all the trouble he 
 gave himself deserved ; but I ought first to speak of the manner in 
 which he labored at his edition, and the assistance he had according 
 to the account which he gives himself. 
 
 Sauvage, having first transcribed the printed copy of Galliot du 
 Prd, compared it with the two other black-letter editions, when he 
 found the difference between them so trifling, that he thought he 
 ought to consider all three but as the same. He then collated his 
 text with a printed fragment still more ancient ; then with the third 
 volume of " La Mer des Histoires," in which Froissart has been 
 copied from the beginning until the 177th chapter ; and lastly, with 
 two abridgments in MS. which indicates not being acquainted with the 
 authors, by the names of " La Chaux and de Sala," who had com- 
 municated them to him. The editor, in acknowledging that these 
 abridgments, or manuscripts, were so much damaged, that he was 
 frequently obliged to guess the meaning, have been at times very 
 useful to him, gives notice that he did not follow their punctuation ; 
 but, persuaded that one cannot be too exact in religiously preserving 
 the language of ancient authors, he follows, with a scrupulous at- 
 tention, the orthography, the ancient modes of speech, although they 
 were very different from what they were when the first copies came 
 from the hands of Froissart. He, nevertheless, avows that, without 
 derogating from the respect due to the ancient text, he has thought 
 himself justified in making some changes, but solely, when he has 
 been under the indispensable necessity of seeking the aid of better 
 historians, to give a meaning to passages which were in want of it. 
 Even in these cases, the only ones in which he has taken the liberty of 
 making any change, he has had th^ precaution to place in the margin 
 the original reading, however defective it might be ; leaving, by 
 these means, the reader the power of judging of the corrections he 
 had made. With regard to proper names, and the names of places, 
 he has not touched them, from the impossibility of correcting them 
 with success. The editor addresses the four volumes of Froissart to 
 the constable de Montmorency, by as many dedicatory epistles. 
 One sees in the first, and by an advertisement to his readers, that the 
 editions he had already given of several of our historians were but 
 preparatory to a general history of the Gauls and of the kingdom of 
 France, which he was then at work on. 
 
 Sauvage promises nothing relative to his edition of Froissart which 
 he has not faithfully performed ; as one may be convinced of by fol- 
 lowing the notes which he added. I do not*say that he has always 
 well chosen from the different texts he had under his eyes ; but, if 
 the corrections he proposes are not all equally just, there are many 
 which offer a clear and very probable meaning of passages which, in 
 the old editions, are a collection of words without connection, and 
 without sense. With regard to the language, besides his attention 
 never to change anything of the ancient words, he accompanies them 
 with an explanation whenever he thinks them not sufficiently Intel, 
 ligible. His zeal in this respect is more praiseworthy than his intel- 
 ligence. It is surprising that, after having published several of our 
 
 3. An edition by Denys Sauvage, in four volumes, printed for Michael de Roijay, 
 Paris, 1574. This had belonged to Mr. Tyrwhitt. 
 [All Mr. Johnes's MSS. were destroyed at Hafod by fire.] 
 
19 
 
 A CRITICISM ON THE H 
 
 ISTORY OF FROISSART. 
 
 old authors, he was not better acquaint^ with their language, and 
 that he should add such unnatural explanations and etymologies. 
 
 As the chronology of Froissart was sometimes defective, Sauvage 
 has reformed it in those places which appeared to him most in need 
 of it. He has often recalled to the reader's memory distant passages, 
 in order to conciliate them, or to show their contradiction; or, in 
 short, to demonstrate the connection of certain facts to each other ; 
 but his attempt in this part is scarcely worth mentioning. Some 
 genealogies, which regard persons of whom Froissart speaks, as well 
 as some remarks on divers places, whose position he attempts to fix 
 by relating the different names they are called by, show that the 
 editor has not absolutely neglected these two objects. One must not 
 be surprised that so many foreign names should not always be exactly 
 eorrea' ; besides their having been changed since then, one should 
 act intpute as blame, either to the author or editor, the faults of 
 Eopyists who have incorrectly read them, and who have written them 
 »ccording to the pronunciation or orthography of their language and 
 Bge ; for not only are the names read in as many different ways as 
 there a,'e manuscripts, biit they often vary in the same MS. as often 
 4is they are met with. The only means to remedy this is to clear up 
 Froissi-^rt by himself, in collating the various passages where the 
 «ame ndme is found ; and this is what Sauvage has done ; and for 
 
 freater security he has read over five times the text of his author ; 
 owever, when he could not draw any advantage from this repeated 
 reading, he has made use of every assistance from any quarter he 
 could find. He appears, in fact, to have very carefully studied the 
 maps and descriptions of those countries the historian speaks of, and 
 also to have consulted the people of those countries. One observes, 
 lihat, when he had retired to Lyons to give himself up more freely to 
 study, he went to reconnoitre in that neighborhood the old field of 
 buttle of Brinay, or Brinais, in which the duke of Bourbon had been 
 defeated in 1360 by the free companies. The description he gives 
 of it is very instructive, and serves to clear up the circumstances of 
 tha^ event. An epitaph which he had read in a church at Lyons 
 series at another time to prove the falsity of a date in Froissart. In 
 shtt^, there is scarcely any historian of importance, of whatever 
 coup^ry he might be, whom Sauvage had not seen, in order the better 
 to bv^derstand on whom he was at work, and to make him better 
 und^> stood by others, and to confirm or to rectify his testimony. 
 One «ay count nearly forty authors whom he cites in his margins, 
 as W' 11 relative to the history of France, as to that of England, Scot- 
 land, flanders, Germany, Spain, Italy, Hungary, and Turkey. I add, 
 that he had consulted the original acts, since he has inserted in his 
 annotations the ratification of the treaty of Bretigny, done by the 
 prince of Wales at Calais, after having transcribed with hi§ hand 
 upon a copy from the same prince, collated by a "Tr^sorier des 
 Chartes." 
 
 If, then, the edition of Sauvage is still very imperfect, it has not 
 any defects but what the preceding editions have in common with it; 
 to which, however, it is infinitely superior. The editor, well vej-sed 
 in our antiquities and our history, exact and indefatigable, proves, by 
 the constant use he makes of the two manuscripts, by the judgment 
 te bears of their insufficiency, and by the regrets he utters at not 
 being able to meet with better, that he has been in greater want of 
 assistance, than of good will, good faith, and capacity. In his time 
 manuscripts, buried in the libraries of ignorant monks, or in the 
 archives of private persons, and unknown to their possessors, were 
 lost to the learned world. Times have since changed; thanks to the 
 attention of ministers, who neglect nothing for the public good, there 
 is scarcely a man of letters to whom manuscripts of all ages are not 
 become a sort of property. Nothing would be wanting to the good 
 fortune of this age, if, with such abundant succors, there could be 
 'bund men as laborious as Sauvage to take advantage of them ; for, 
 I have not a doubt but that, if he had had the manuscripts we pos- 
 sess, he would have given us an excellent edition of Froissart. 
 
 The number of those known at this day is so considerable, that, 
 after the Bible and the Fathers, I do not believe there is any work 
 of which there have been so many copies ; which shows the great 
 esteem it has been held in during every age. In the Royal Library 
 alone, there are upward of thirty volumes in folio, which contain 
 separately some one of the four books into which this history is 
 divided. The numbers 6760, 8317, 8318, 8319, 8320, 8324, 8331-2, 
 8332, 8334, 8335 and 36 joined together, 8344 ; and the numbers of 
 the manuscripts of Colbert, united with those of the Bibliothfeque du 
 Roi, 15, 85, and 231, include the first volume. The numbers 8321, 
 8330, 8333, 8337, and 8338, added together with those of Colbert, 
 16 and 86, compose the second volume. The numbers 8325, 8328, 
 8337, and 8338, added to those of Colbert, 87 and 232, the third 
 volume. The numbers 8329, 8331, 8341, 8344, added together, and 
 that of Colbert, 17, compose the fourth volume.* 
 
 I should extend this essay to too great a length if I was to describe 
 the form, the age, the titles, the omissions, or imperfections, and 
 other singularities, which distinguish these manuscripts. In regard 
 to other and more essential differences, I shall say in general, that 
 the greater part consist in transpositions of some articles, changes. 
 
 * M. Buchon. in his recent French edition, has made diligent use of all the MSS. 
 which he could hear of; and has seUled a text which frequently differs from his prede- 
 emton. He has not, however, admitted the additions made by Mr. Johnes from the 
 MSB. in tie Uafod Library — £d. 
 
 additions or retrenchments of words, of omissions sometimes con 
 siderable ; abbreviations of several chapters, or of many events ; 
 vague transitions, useless recapitulations of the foregoing chapters; 
 certain phraseology, which, like formulas, are repeated in every page ; 
 and some interpolations of the copyists, which, semng only to swell 
 out the volume, have been wisely curtailed by Sauvage in his prin ed 
 edition. I will not quote any other example but the passage where, 
 speaking of the affection of Edward III. for the princess of Hainault, 
 whom he married, he says, "A fine spark of love therefore struck 
 him ;" to which the copyist adds these words, "which madam Venus 
 sent him by Cupid the god of love." However, among these frivo. 
 lous additions there may have been some of importance, which it 
 would be proper to search for in those parts that offer any difiaculty, 
 or in those articles which demand a. serious discussion. 
 
 After these general observations, I will say one word of the prin. 
 cipal singularities which I have noticed in some of these MSS. 
 Those of the numbers 8317, and 15" of Colbert, are remarkable for 
 the correction which has been put on their margins in the article 
 that mentions Philip de Valois's accession to the crown of France. 
 The same hand has also added to this last manuscript a note, which 
 is written on one of the blank leaves which precede the Chronicle : 
 "Two verses which the peers of France sent to king Edward of 
 England, at the time he disputed the succession to the crown of 
 France. 
 
 " Credo Regnorum qui cupis esse duonim 
 Succedunt mares huic regno non mulieres."* • 
 
 In number 8318, one reads in the same hand.writing with the 
 manuscript, that it was given to John duke of Berry the 8th Novem. 
 her, 1407, by William Boisratier, master of requests, and counsellor 
 to this prince. If it is the same which has since been given by 
 M. de Chandenier to M. le Laboureur, as this last believed, it would 
 be rendered the more precious from this circumstance, that there 
 would be found in it very considerable differences, that he says he 
 has observed in this manuscript, from the printed copies, and more 
 especially from that of Sauvage ; or it would convince us of tj^e 
 falsity of this imputation, which appears to me very suspicious. But 
 as the copy of M. le Laboureur, as he himself informs us, contained 
 miniatures representing the principal events of the history, and that 
 the one which Boisratier presented to the duke of Berry does not 
 contain any, it is certain that it cannot be the same. Although the 
 miniatures, head-pieces, capital letters illuminated and embossed 
 with gold, in the MS. 8319, are of great beauty ; it must, nevertheless, 
 yield in this respect to number 8320, from which much may be 
 learnt regarding warlike customs, ceremonies, dresses, and other 
 points of antiquity. The reverend father Montfaucon has taken 
 from them the prints of the entry of queen Isabella of France, and 
 the arrest of the king of Navarre, which he has inserted in his 
 "Monuments Fran9ois." Notwithstanding this I believe, that in 
 these miniatures, which are not, at the most, Earlier than the middle 
 of the fifteenth century, the painter has confounded the dresses of 
 his own age with those of the times whose history he was painting. 
 
 One sees at the begining of several MSS. the author represented 
 differently dressed, sometimes as a canon, with his surplice and 
 aumusse t ; sometimes in a purple robe, presenting his work to the 
 king of France, or to some other prince, seated on his throne, and 
 crowned. The king of England is known by his robe embroidered 
 with leopards in the number 8331-2, and the queen of England in 
 number 15 of Colbert's collections. The most ancient of all the 
 manuscripts of the first volume are the numbers 8318 and 8331-2, 
 which appear to me to be of the end of the fourteenth century : and 
 though many things are deficient in each of them, their antiquity 
 ought to give them the preference. I have the same opinion respect- 
 ing the MS. 8333, being the most ancient of the second volume ; 
 though it does not seem to me to have been written earlier than the 
 middle of the fifteenth century. The number 8321 is a continuation 
 of number 8320 ; there are fewer miniatures, but they are equally 
 beautiful ; which is the only merit they have ; for otherwise they are, 
 properiy speaking, but an extract of Froissart, and frequently many 
 chapters are omitted together. 
 
 Number 16, which is the same writing as number 15, of which it 
 is a continuation, contains, besides the second volume, a part of the 
 third, as far as these words of the 44th chapter, page 151, of the 
 edition of Sauvage : " Thus was broken off the expedition by sea at 
 this time ;" to which it adds, " which cost the kingdom of France 
 c. M. francs, thirty times counted." Number 8330 has for title, " The 
 third volume of thtPChronicles of Froissart ;" although it contains but 
 the second. By a similar mistake one reads, at the end of number 
 8325, which concludes the third volume, " Here ends the second 
 volume of the Chronicles of Froissart." This MS., which is but of 
 the middle of the fifteenth century, is that in which the language of 
 old times is the most preserved : perhaps it has been copied from j 
 some other more ancient and better than those which remain to us. I 
 
 * To reestablish the measure and the sense of the first verse, one must, 1 Miink. add 
 the word Rex : regnorum qui Rex cupis esse duorum. And to make Edward feel the 
 application, one may, instead of Credo, read Crede, or Credito, of which Credo is per- 
 haps an abbreviation. With regard to the second, the number of syllables are there 
 which an hexameter verse requires ; and that should be sufficient not to quarrel with the 
 
 TTi6nsur6 """St Palaye* 
 t " Aumusse" is a sort of bracelet of fur, which canons wear on their anus when 
 
 dressed. 1 camiot find any English word to translate it 
 
 / 
 
A CRITICISM ON THE HISTORY OF FROISSART. 
 
 la 
 
 There is at the end some circumstances concerning Froissart, which 
 are also in the MSB. 8328 and 232, and which are not in the printed 
 copies. It is more from the antiquity of the style, that makes me 
 oojisider the MS. 8329, although scarce earlier than the end of the 
 fifteenth century, as the best we have for the fourth volume. One 
 finds in it, as in the numbers 8331, 8341, 42, and 17, two important 
 additions. The first is the preface, which I have noticed in the life 
 of Froissart ; the second terminates the whole of his Chronicle, when 
 tlie author, toward the end, speaking of the death of Richard, that he 
 would not enter into any detail of it, from want of having sufficient 
 information. The addition is a sort of letter, true or false, which is 
 addressed to him, and by which he is informed of all the particulars; 
 such as had been written by a man worthy of belief, who was then 
 in England. The manner witii which this fact is related has not been 
 forgotten by the English historians, who have mentioned the dififerent 
 rumors which had gone abroad on this subject. Number 17 seems 
 to have been written by the same hand as 15 and 16, and the three 
 added to the MS. of the third book, which is wanting, made perhaps 
 the work complete. 
 
 Under the number 169 of the Coislin library, at present in that of 
 St. Germain.des-Pr^s, are comprehended four volumes, three of which 
 are of the same hand- writing ; that is to say, of the middle of the 
 fifteenth century, containing the first, the third, and last book of Frois- 
 sart. The fourth, which is of the same writing, but more beautiful, 
 is another copy of the last book, with the addition which I have just 
 mentioned, concerning the death of Richard. M. Mahudel has com- 
 municated to me a MS. of the beginning of the fifteenth century, 
 without a title, and which may have been thought written by Frois- 
 sart ; but it is only a very succinct abridgment, in which has been 
 preserved, as much as possible, the original text of the historian until 
 the end of the first volume, where the abridgment ceases. It is divided 
 into six books, of which the first two end with these words, " Here 
 finishes the first (the second) book of this second volume of the Chron- 
 icles of England, and consequently the seventh (the eighth) of the 
 four volumes parciaulx.^' One reads also at ^e end of the sixth, 
 " Here finishes the second volume of the Chronicles of England." 
 This MS. probably made part of four volumes of a compilation of a 
 history of England, divided each into six books ; such nearly as our 
 Chronicles of St. Denys. The first volume would have contained 
 events anterior to Froissart; and as the second, which we have, 
 includes an abridgment of his first volume, one may presume that the 
 two following would, in like manner, have contained that of the three 
 other volumes, and perhaps also the history of the times posterior to 
 them. This abridgment, however, is the same as that of La Chaux, 
 which Sauvage has made use of ; I discover the marks by which he 
 has pointed it out, with the exception of the first leaf, which may 
 have been lost since that time. 
 
 To this great number of MSS. others must be added, which contain 
 only very short abridgments of the Chronicle of Froissart ; and which 
 are to be found in the Royal Library, among the MSS. of the Colbert 
 collection. Such are the numbers 169, which includes part of the first 
 and second volumes abridged ; 258, nearly conformable to the fore- 
 going: but where they have added-at the end four pages, containing 
 " The tenor of the Letters of alliance of France with Scotland" in 
 13V9, with the names of those lords, as v/ell Scots as French, who 
 signed the treaty ;, and 2444, which comprehends the abridgment of 
 the four volumes. This is preceded by a preface, wherein the abbrevi- 
 ator having said he should follow Froissart " chapter by chapter," adds, 
 " and because this same Master John Froissart has not made an index 
 to his first book ; and by means of the index to a book one may, at one 
 glance, see those parts which one may be desirous to read ; I have 
 resolved to divide this first book into one hundred and twenty-seven 
 chapters." We see nothing in these MSS. which either establishes 
 the pretended enmity of Froissart against the French, nor which jus- 
 tifies the accusation brought against Sauvage of having altered the 
 text of his historian. But a magnificent MS. at Breslaw furnishes, 
 according to some writers, an incontestable proof of it. The learned 
 
 i world, say they, believe they have an entire Froissart ; it has been 
 grossly deceived by Sauvage, who has not preserved the tenth part of 
 
 ' it in his edition. One may reply to this charge ; 1st, That Sauvage 
 will be always exempt from reproach, since he has given us the text 
 Fioissart, such as he had seen it in the known copies of his time. 
 
 2dly, That the description they give us of the miniatures of this MS. 
 of Brealaw, makes us believe that it cannot be much older than toward 
 the end of the fifteenth century ; and that, consequently, it is but of 
 very moderate authority. In short, after the agreement of so many 
 other MSS. of which many even have been written in England, or 
 destined for that country, since the author is represented as oflTering 
 his book to the king and queen of England, it will not be easy to 
 persuade the world that the single MS. of Breslaw contains alone 
 such very considerable differences. At least it becomes our prudence 
 to suspend our judgment, until they shall have published the MS. itself, 
 or some of those passages which are said to have been retrenched. 
 One cannot too eagerly press the possessors of it to allow the pubii® 
 to participate of a treasure so infinitely precious to the lovers of his- 
 tory. If, hitherto, we have been in an error, we will cheerfully turn 
 back ; and there is not a man of letters possessing sense, who, laying 
 aside all national interest, would not ardently desire to have the Chi on- 
 icles of Froissart such as they came from the hands of the author. 
 Many MSS. of Froissart are to be found in the libraries of foreign 
 countries. There is one in the libraiy of thg cathedral of Tournay^ 
 according to the report of several Flemish librarians* ; three in Eng- 
 land, according to the catalogue of MSS. in that kingdom ; which alsc' 
 mentions some manuscript notes collected by Mr. Ashmole ; and 
 others again, which may be seen in the new catalogue of MSS. by- 
 father Montfaucon. 
 
 Besides the ancient abridgments of Froissart, Sleidan, full of 
 admiration for this historian, and anxious that the utility which may 
 be drawn from him should be common to all ages and nations, made 
 in 1537 a Latin abridgment, which was afterwards translated into 
 French and English by P. Golin, in 4to. London^ 1608. In a preface 
 or epistle, which precedes the Latin edition, the author recommends 
 the study of the History of France above all others, and particularly 
 that of Froissart, whose candor he praises, and whom he only findB 
 fault with for being sometimes too minute in his military details, and 
 in his conversations with princes. Foreign writers have accused 
 Sleidan of not having composed this abridgment with the disinterest- 
 edness and fidelity that was to have been expected from a man of so 
 great a reputation, and ^o have wished to favor the French too much ; 
 to have passed over the most brilliant actions of the English, where 
 he quits the sense of his author, in writing otherwise than Froissart 
 had done: this last reproach does not seem to me founded. With 
 regard to omissions, he has taken that liberty which an abbreviator 
 ought to be allowed, to attach himself chiefly in extracting what he 
 thinks suitable for his purpose ; and that Sleidan, who at the time 
 was living in France with Frenchmen, may, without any want of 
 candor, have attached himself principally to those facts which con- 
 cerned them. It will not be so easy to justify Belleforet, who, giving 
 a French abridgment of Froissart, has contented himself with trans- 
 lating literally Sleidan, without ever mentioning the author whom he 
 translated. 
 
 The English, whom the reading of Froissart interests in so partic. 
 ular a manner, have in their language a translation of the Chronicles 
 of Froissart, composed by sir John Bouchier, lord Berners, by order 
 of king Henry VIII., and printed toward the end of his reign. There 
 is also one in Flemish, printed by Guerrit Vander Loo, in folio ; 
 without counting that in the same tongue which Vossius had seen in 
 manuscript. 
 
 I shall not say anything of these translations, not having met with 
 either. That of Bouchier is, they say, more correct than the French 
 editions, in regard to proper names ;t this must, however, be under- 
 stood to mean English names. The Flemish translation must have 
 the same advantage with regard to proper names, and names of 
 places in Flanders. They may both be of great utility to whoever 
 should wish to give a good edition of Froissart. 
 
 * M de St. Palaye is ignorant how rich this country is in MSS. of Froissart. There 
 are many magnificent ones in the British Museum, at Oxford, Cambridge, and in other 
 public and private Ubraries. I have in my library not less than six ; but not one is a com- 
 plete history. 
 
 1 1 am sorry 1 must contradict M. de St. Palaye, in his opinion of lord Berner's trans- 
 lation. Had it been as he imagines, 1 should not have attempted to offer a new transla- 
 tion to the public ; but, so far from being correct as to names, he mangles them nearly 
 as bad as old Froissart 1 cannot flatter myself witli having Aicceeded to my own 
 satisfaction, although I have taken every possible paiius to make It as complete oi tfa* 
 diificulties would allow me. 
 
.4 
 
 PREFACE — CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 SIR JOHN FROISSART'S 
 PREFACE 
 
 TO HIS 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, &c. 
 
 HAT the honorable enterprises, 
 noble adventures, and deeds of 
 arms, performed in the wars 
 between England and France, 
 may be properly related, and 
 held in perpetual remembrance 
 — to the end that brave men 
 taking example from them may 
 be encouraged in their well- 
 doing, I sit down to record a 
 history deserving great praise ; 
 but, before I begin, I request of 
 the Saviour of the world, who 
 from nothing created all things, 
 that he will have the goodness to inspire me with sense and sound 
 understanding, to persevere in such manner, that all those who shall 
 read may derive pleasure and instruction from my work, and that I 
 may fall, into their good graces. 
 
 It is said, and with truth, that all towns are built with many differ- 
 ent stones, and that all large rivers are formed from many springs ; 
 so are sciences compiled by many learned persons, and what one is 
 Ignorant of is known to another : not but that everything is known 
 sooner or later. Now, to come to the matter in hand, I will first beg 
 ihe grace of God and the benign Virgin Mary, from whom all comfort 
 
 and success proceed ; and then I will lay my foundation on the true 
 Chronicles fonnerly written by that reverend, wise, and discreet man, 
 John le Bel, canon of St. Lambert's, at Liege ; who bestowed great 
 care and diligence on them, and continued them, as faithfully as he 
 could, to his death, though not without much pains and expense : but 
 these he minded not, being ricn and powerful. He was also a man 
 of courteous manners, generous, and : privy counsellor, well beloved 
 by sir John de Hainault ; who is spok n of in these books, and not 
 without reason, for he was chief of many noble enterprises, and nearly 
 related to several kings ; and by his means the above mentioned John 
 le Bel could see, as through a perspective, the many gallant actions 
 recorded in the following sheets. 
 
 The true reason of my undertaking this book was for my amusement, 
 to which I have ever been inclined, and for which I have frequented 
 the company of many noblemen and gentlemen, as well in France as 
 in England and Scotland, and in other countries, from whose acquaint- 
 ance I have always requested accounts of battles and adventures, 
 especially since the mighty battle of Poictiers, where the noble king 
 John of France was taken prisoner ; for before that time I was young 
 m years and understanding : however, on quitting school, I boldly 
 undertook to write and relate the wars above mentioned — which com- 
 pilation, such as it was, I carried to England, and presented to my 
 lady Philippa Hainault, queen of England, who most graciously 
 received it from me, to my great profit. And perhaps as this book is 
 neither so exactly nor so well written as such feats of arms require — 
 for such deeds demand that each actor who therein performs his part 
 nobly should have due praise — in order to acquit myself to all, as in 
 justice is due, I have undertaken this present work on the ground 
 before mentioned, at the prayer and request of my dear lord and mas. 
 ter, sir Robert de Namur, knight, lord of Beaufort, to whom I owe 
 all love and obedience, and God give me grace to do always accord, 
 ing to his pleasure. 
 
 THE 
 
 CHRONICLES 
 
 OF 
 
 ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. &c. 
 
 CHAPTER L 
 
 OP THE BRAVEST KNIGHTS OF THIS PRESENT 
 BOOK. 
 
 To encourage all valorous hearts, and to 
 show them honorable examples, I, John Frois- 
 sart, will begin to relate, after the documents 
 and papers of master John le Bel, formerly 
 canon of St. Lambert's, at Liege, as follow- 
 eth : That whereas various noble personages 
 have frequently spoken of the wars between 
 France and England, without knowing any- 
 thing of the matter, or being able to assign the 
 proper reasons for them ; I, having perceived 
 the right foundation of the matter, shall neither 
 add nor omit, forget, corrupt, nor abridge my 
 history : but the rather will enlarge it, that 
 I may be able to point out and speak of each 
 adventure from the nativity of the noble king 
 Edward of England, who so potently reigned, 
 and who was engaged in so many battles and 
 perilous adventures, and other feats of arms 
 and great prowess, from the year of grace 
 1326, when he was crowned in England. 
 
 Although he, and also those who were with 
 him in his battles and fortunate rencounters, 
 or with his army when he was not there in 
 person, which you shall hear as we go on, 
 ought to be accounted right valiant ; yet as 
 of these there is a multitude, some should be 
 esteemed supereminent. Such as the gal- 
 lant king himself before named ; the prince of Wales, his son ; the 
 duke of Lancaster ; sir Reginald lord Cobham ; sir Walter Manny of 
 Hainault, knight ; sir John Chandos ; Sir Fulke Harley ; and many 
 others who are recorded in this book for their worth and prowess : for 
 in all their battles by sea or land) in which they were engaged, their 
 
 valor was so distinguished that they should be esteemed heroes 
 highest renown — but without disparagement to those with whom they 
 served. In France also was found good chivalry, strong of limb and 
 stout of heart, and in great abundance ; for the kingdom of Fance way 
 never brought so low a-s to want men ever ready for the combat. 
 Such was king Philip of Valois, a bold and hardy knight, and his son, 
 king John ; also John, king of Bohemia, and Charles, count of Alen- 
 9on, his son ; the count of Foix ; the chevaliers de Santr^, d'Arnaud 
 d'Angle, de Beauveau, father and son, and many others that I can 
 
 Knights of the Fourteenth Century— From original authorities in the British Museum . 
 
 not at present name ; but they shall all be mentioned in due time 
 and place : for, to say the truth, we must allow sufficient bravery 
 and ability to all who were engaged in such cruel and desperate 
 battles, and discharged their duty, by standing their ground till tb« 
 discomfiture. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 15 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 OP SOME OF THE PREDECESSORS OF KING EDWARD OF ENGLAND. 
 
 The better to understand the honorable and eventful history of the 
 noble king Edward of England, who was crowned in London on 
 Christmas-day, in the year 1326, in the life time of the king and 
 queen his parents, we must remark a common opinion of the Eng- 
 lish, of which there have been proofs since the time of the gallant 
 king Arthur, that between two valiant kings of England there is 
 always one weak in mind and body ; and this is apparent in the ex- 
 ample of the gallant king Edward, of whom I now speak ; for true 
 it is that his grandfather, called the good king Edward the First, was 
 brave, wise, enterprising, and fortunate in war. He was much en- 
 gaged against the Scots. He conquered them three or four times, 
 without their being able to gain any advantage over him. 
 
 Edward the Second.— From a painting in the Bodleian Lib. Oxford. 
 
 When he died, his son by his first marriage succeeded to the crown, 
 but not to the understanding or prowess of his father, for he governed 
 his kingdom very unwisely, through the evil counsels of others, the 
 ill consequences of which he afterwards suffered severely, as you will 
 see ; for, soon after his coronation, Robert Bruce, king of Scotland, 
 who had given so much and such frequent trouble to king Edward 
 above mentioned, and who well knew his valor, reconquered all Scot- 
 land, and took besides the good town of Berwick. He burnt and 
 destroyed great part of the country, four or five days' march within 
 the realm at two different times : he afterwards defaated the king and 
 all the barons of England,* at a place in Scotland, called Stirling, in 
 a pitched battle, when the pursuit lasted two days and two nights, 
 and the king of England, accompanied with a few followers, fled to 
 London. But, as this is no part of our matter, I shall here leave off". 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 OF THE RELATIONS OF KING EDWARD THE THIRD. 
 
 King Edward the Second, father of our gallant king, had two bro- 
 there : one was the Earl Marshal, of a wild and disagreeable tem- 
 per ; the other was called lord Edmund of Kent : he was very wise 
 and affable, and much beloved. 
 
 This king had married the daughter of Philip the Fair, king of 
 France, who was one of the greatest beauties in the world. He had 
 by this lady two sons and two daughters. The elder son was the 
 noble and valiant king Edward, of whom this history speaks ; the 
 other was called John, and died young. The elder of the two daugh- 
 ters was called Isabella, and was married to the young king, David 
 of Scotland, son of king Robert Bruce. They were affianced from 
 their earliest youth, with the consent of the two kings of England 
 and Scotland, as a bond to cement the peace. The other was mar- 
 * ried to the count Reginald, subsequently called duke of Guelderland, 
 who had by this lady two sons ; one named Reginald, the other 
 Edwards who afterwards reigned with great power. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 • THE OCCASION OF THE WARS BETWEEN THE KINGS OF FRANCE AND 
 
 ENGLAND. 
 
 History tells us that Philip, king of France, surnamed the Fair, 
 had three sons, besides his beautiful daughter Isabella, married to the 
 king of England. These three sons were very handsome. The eld. 
 est, Lewis, king of Navarre, during the lifetime of his father, was 
 called Lewis Hutin ; the second was named Philip the Great, or the 
 
 * By batel arertsyd the day of Saynt John Baptyst, in the 7th yere of ye reigne of the 
 tame kyng Edward, in the yere of our Lorde 1314. The chase of this discofeture endured 
 2 dayes and two nygiits. And the kyng of Ingiand wet w a small company to London. 
 And on Mydlent-sonday in tlie yere of our Lorde 1316 the Scottis wan agayne the cite 
 of Berwyk by treason."— Lord Berners. 
 
 Thi: . passage of Lord Berners', though given in his text, appears to be an interpolation 
 ot his own, correcting the error of Froissart, whose statement leads to the idea that the 
 capture of Berwici; was immediately subsequent to the battle, whereas two yean inter- 
 Tened. Ti e battle spoken of was that of Bannockbum. 
 
 Long ; and the third, Charles. All these were kings of France, after 
 their father Philip, by legitimate succession, one after the other, 
 without having by marriage any male heirs ; yet, on the death of the 
 last king, Charles, the twelve peers and barons of France did not 
 give the kingdom to Isabella, the sister, who was queen of England, 
 because they said and maintained, and still do insist, that the king, 
 dom of France is so noble, that it ought not to go to a woman ; con. 
 sequently neither to Isabella, nor to her son, the king of England , 
 for they hold that the son of a woman cannot claim any right of 
 succession, where that woman has none herself. For these reasons 
 the twelve peers and barons of France unanimously gave the king, 
 dom of France to the lord Philip of Valois, nephew to king Philip, 
 and thus put aside the queen of England, who was sister to Charles, 
 the late king of France, and her son. Thus, as it seemed to many 
 people, the succession went out of the right line, which has been the 
 occasion of the most destructive wars and devastations of countries, 
 as well in France as elsewhere, as you will , learn hereafter ; the real 
 object of this history being to relate the great enterprises and deeds 
 of arms achieved in these great wars, for from the time of good 
 Charlemagne, king of France, never were such feats performed 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 HOW EARL THOMAS, OF LANCASTER, AND TWENTY-TWO OF THE GREATEST 
 NOBLES IN ENGLAND WERE BEHEADED. 
 
 King Edward the Second, father to the noble king Edward the 
 Third, of whom our history speaks, governed his kingdom very 
 mdifferently, by the advice of sir Hugh Spencer, who had been 
 brought up with him from his youth. 
 
 This sir Hugh had managed matters so, that his father and himself 
 were the great masters of the realm, and were ambitious to surpass 
 all the other great barons in England ; for which reason, after the 
 great defeat at Stirling, the barons and nobles, and even the council 
 of the king, murmured much, particularly against sir Hugh Spencer, 
 to whom they imputed their defeat, on account of his partiality to the 
 king of Scotland. The barons had many meetings on this matter, 
 to consult what was to be done ; the chief of them was Thomas, ear£ 
 of Lancaster, uncle to the king. Sir Hugh soon found it would be 
 necessary for him to check them ; and he was so well beloved by 
 the king, and so continually in his presence, that he was sure of gain, 
 ing belief, whatever he said. He soon took an opportunity of 
 informing the king, that these lords had entered into an alliance 
 against him, and that, if he did not take proper measures, they would 
 drive him out of the kingdom ; and thus operated so powerfully on 
 the king's mind, that his malicious , intentions had their full effect. 
 The king caused all these lords to be arrested on a certain day when, 
 they were met together, and, without delay, ordered the heads of 
 twenty-two of the greatest barons to be struck off, without assigning 
 any cause or reason. Thomas, earl of Lancaster, suffered the first. 
 He was a discreet and pious man ; and since that time many mira- 
 cles have been performed at his tomb in Pomfret, where he was 
 beheaded. The hatred against sir Hugh Spencer was inciteased by 
 this deed, particularly that of the queen and of the earl of Kent, bro- 
 ther to the king ; which when he perceived, he fomented such a dis- 
 cord between the king and the queen, that the king would not see 
 the queen, or come to any place where she was. This quarrel lasted 
 some time ; when the queen and the earl of Kent were secretly 
 informed that, if they did not speedily quit the court, they would 
 repent it, for sir Hugh was endeavoring to stir up much mischief 
 against them. Then the queen, having made preparations fo'" pass- 
 ing secretly to France, set out as if to go on a pilgrimage to St. Tho- 
 mas of Canterbury ; whence she went to Winchelsea, and that night 
 embarked on board a vessel prepared for her reception, accompanied 
 by her young son Edward, the earl of Kent, and sir Roger Mortimer. 
 Another vessel was loaded with luggage, &c., and, having a fail 
 wind, they landed the next morning at Boulogne. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND GOES TO COMPLAIN OF SIR HUGH SPENCER TO 
 HER BROTHER THE KING OF FRANCE. 
 
 When the queen Isabella landed ai Boulogne, with her son and 
 her brother-in-law, the earl of Kent, the governor of the town and the 
 abbot waited on her, and conducted her to the abbey, where she and 
 her suite were jo}^ully received and remained two days ; on the third 
 she continued her route toward Paris. 
 
 King Charles, her brother, being informed of her coming, sent some 
 of the greatest lords at that time near his person to meet her ; among 
 whom were, sir Robert d'Artois, the lord of Crucy, the lord of Sully, 
 and the lord of Roy, and many others, who honorably received ann 
 conducted her to Paris, to the king her brother. When the kinj 
 perceived his sister (whom he had not seen for a long time) enterin|, 
 his apartment, he rose to meet her, and taking her in his arms, kisses, 
 her, and said, " You are welcome, my fair sister, wjth my fine nephe\^ 
 your son ;" then takmg one in each hand, he led them in. The 
 queen, who had no great joy in her heart, except being near her bra, 
 ther, would have knelt at his feet two or three times, but the kinj 
 would not suffer it, and holding her by the right hand, inquired vei^ 
 affectionately into her business and affairs. Her answeiB were pnk 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 dent and wise ; and she related to him all the injuries done to her by 
 ■ir Hugh Spencer, and asked of him advice and assistance. 
 
 When the noble king Charles had heard the lamentations of his 
 eister, who with many tears had stated her distress, he said, " Fair 
 sister, be appeased — for, by the faith I owe to God and to St. Denis, 
 I will provide a remedy." The queen then kneeled down, in spite 
 of the king, and said to him, " My dear lord and brother, I pray God 
 may second your intentions.* The king then taking her by the 
 hand, conducted her to another apartment, which was richly fur- 
 nished for her and her young son Edward ; he then left her, and 
 ordered that everything should be provided becoming the state of 
 aer and her son from his treasury. 
 
 QucBN Isabella's Visit to her Brother at Paris.'— From an illumination ki a MS. Froissait. 
 
 In a short time afterwards Charles assembled many great lords and 
 barons of his kingdom, to have their advice what was most proper to 
 be done in the business of his sister, the queen of England. Their 
 advice was, that the queen should be allowed to purchase friends and 
 assistance in the kingdom of France, and that he should appear 
 ignorant of this enterprise, lest he should incur the enmity of the 
 king of England, and bring a war upon his country — ^but that under- 
 hand he should assist her with gold and silver, which are the metals 
 wherewith the love of gentlemen and poor soldiers is acquired. 
 
 The king acceded to this advice, and caused his sister to be in- 
 formed of it by sir Robert d'Artois, who was at that time one of the 
 greatest men in France. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 SIR HUGH SPENCEE CAUSES THE QUEEN ISABELLA TO BE SENT OUT OF 
 
 ' FRANCE. 
 
 Now let us speak a little of this sir Hugh Spencer. When he 
 saw that he had the king of England so much in his power, that he 
 objected to nothing he said or did, he caused many noblemen and 
 others to be put to death without law or justice, but merely because 
 he suspected them of being ill-inclined to him. His pride was also 
 become so intolerable, that the barons who remained alive in Eng- 
 land, neither could nor would suffer it any longer. They required 
 and entreated that all private quarrels should be made up ; and sent 
 secretly to inform the queen (who had at this time remained in Paris 
 three years,) that if she could collect about a thousand men-at-arms, and 
 would come at the head of them herself, with her son, into England, 
 tiiey would immediately treat with her, and obey him as their lawful 
 sovereign.t 
 
 • Lord Berners' version is more affecting, and is almost word for word with the ori- 
 ginal ; it runs thus— 
 
 When the n9ble kyng Charles of France had harde his susters lamentation, who 
 weepingly had shewed hym all her nede and besynesse, he sayd to her, *' Fayre suster, 
 appease yourselfe, for, by the faith I owe to God and to saynt Denyce, I shall right well 
 ouruey for you some remedy." The quene then kneled down whether the kyng would 
 or not, and sayd, " My rght dyere lord and fayre brother, I pray God reward you." 
 [Dieu vous en veuille ouir.] 
 
 t John le Bel, according to what M. Lancelot says in one of his memoirs respecting 
 Robert d'Artois, has been much mistaken in the object of Isabella's journey to France, 
 and the time she went thither. It related to the homage due from Edward the Second 
 to Ohtirles, king of France. 
 
 Charles had seized on parts of Guyenne, and the Spencers sent the queen of France 
 to make up the matter with her brother, and also to keep her at a distance, as they knew 
 the disliked them. Tiiere is a letter in Rymer, from king Edward to pope John XXU., 
 dated March 8lh, 1324, in which he says he is determined to send the queen to France to 
 traet with her brother. This date is remarkable, because Froissart places the journey 
 of the queen two years earlier : for he says the queen of England remained at Paris 
 three years. Now it is certain she returned to England theZJnd of September, liS36; she 
 must, therefore, hare arrived in Prance in 1333. But Froissart is mistaken ; her journey 
 iraa posterior to ths szpedition aKAiast Guyenne, which lasted from May. 1321, to ttra 
 
 The queen showed these private letters that she had received from 
 England to the king, her brother, who replied, " God be your help ! 
 your affairs will prosper so much the better. Take of my subjects 
 as many as your friends desire ; I freely give my consent, and I will 
 order the necessary sums of money to be distributed among them." 
 The queen had already been active, and what with entreaties, gifts, 
 and promises, had gained over many frxeox lords, young knights, and 
 esquires, who had engaged to carry hf r back to England with a great 
 power. 
 
 The queen made all her preparatii as for her expedition very se- 
 cretly, but not 80 much so as to prevent its coming to the knowledge 
 of sir Hugh Spencer, who thought, that his most prudent plan would 
 be to win over to his interest the king oi 
 France ; for this effect he sent over trusty and 
 secret messengers, laden with gc^d, silver and 
 rich jewels. These were distributed among 
 the king and his ministers with such effect, 
 that the king and his council were in a short 
 time as cold toward the cause of Isabella, as 
 they had before been warm. The king dis 
 concerted the expedition, and forbade any 
 person, under pain of banishment, to aid or 
 assist the queen in her projected return to 
 England. 
 
 Sir Hugh also endeavored to get the queen 
 into his and the king's power, and to tliis effect 
 made the king write an affectionate letter to 
 the pope, entreating him to order the king of 
 France to send back his wife, as he was 
 anxious to acquit himself toward her before 
 God and the world ; since it was not his fault 
 that she had left him, for he v/as all love and 
 good faith toward her, such as ought to be 
 obsei*ved in marriage. There were similar 
 letters written at the same time to the cardi- 
 nals, and many subtle means devised to insure 
 their success, which it may not be so proper 
 here to mention. He also sent plenty of gold 
 and silver to many cardinals and prelates, the 
 nearest relations of the pope, and those most 
 in his councils, by able and adroit messengers, 
 who managed the pope in such a manner, by 
 their presents and address, that he wrote to the king of France to 
 send back Isabella, queen of England, to her husband, under pain of 
 excommunication. These letters were carried to the king of France 
 by the bishop of Xaintes, whom the pope sent thither as his legate. 
 
 The king, on the receipt of them, caused his sister to be acquainted 
 with their contents (for he had held no conversation with her for a 
 long time,) and commanded her to leave the kingdom immediately, 
 or he would make her leave it with shame. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE QUEEN ISABELLA LEAVES FRANCE AND GOES TO GERMANY. 
 
 When the queen heard this account, she knew not what to say, or 
 what measures to adopt, for the barons had already withdrawn them- 
 selves by the king's command, and she had no resource or adviser 
 left but in her dear cousin Robert of Artois : and he could only 
 advise and assist her in secret, for, as the king had forbidden it, he 
 could not act otherwise. He well knew, that the queen had been 
 driven from England through malice and ill-will, at which he was 
 much grieved. This was Sir Robert's opinion ; but he durst not 
 speak of it to the king, for he had heard the king say and swear, that 
 whoever should speak to him in her behalf should forfeit his land, 
 and be banished the kingdom. He was also informed, that the king 
 was not averse* to the seizure of the persons of the queen, her son 
 Edward, the earl of Kent, and sir Roger Mortimer, and to their 
 being delivered into the hands of the king of England and sir Hugh 
 Spencer. He therefore came in the middle of the night, to inform 
 the queen of the peril she was in. She was thunder-struckt at the 
 information — to which he added, " I recommend you to set out for 
 
 end of September in the same year: consequently her residence in France and Hainault 
 was only about eighteen months. The same historian mistakes the object of her journey. 
 He supposes her sole motive for going to France was to demand protection fironi the 
 king, her brother, againjt the Spencers ; that her departure was secret ; and that she 
 carried the young prince of Wales with her. All the documents which remain prove 
 this to be groundless. 
 
 She left England by the desire of Edward ; she succeeded m her mission, and a treaty 
 was concluded the 31st of May, 1325. The Spencers were afraid of suffering Edward to 
 pay the homage in person, and therefore persuaded him to give the duchy of Guyenne 
 and county of Ponthieu to the prince of Wales ; which was done on the 2nd and 10th 
 of September, 1325. The prince of Wales embarked at Dover the 12th of the same 
 month, to pay the homage, upward of six months after the passage of the queen his 
 mother. 
 
 It is true, that when he arrived at the court of Charles the Fair, she prevailed on hira 
 to stay longer than Edward and his favorites wished. She exerted herself as much as 
 possible to procure men and money, which she intended to employ in forcing the king, 
 her husband, from the hands of the Spencers. For further particulars, which, however, 
 do not seem to me very material to this part of the history, I must refer to the Memoir 
 itself in vol. x. des M6moires de I'Academie des Inscriptions, &c. 
 
 * Was in mynde & will to make his suster to be taken, &c.— Lord Berners. 
 
 t Then ye quene was greatly abasshed [ebahie] and required hym all wcprng of hii 
 cood couasaile. Then be wj^i, fcc—^LoRD Bsrners- 
 
CHRONIGLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN &c 
 
 • Hi» son WM one of the fitrt knight* of the garter. 
 
 See Ashmole's History of the 
 
 die empire, where there are many noble lords who will greatly assist 
 you, pai ticularly William, earl of Hainault, and his brother, who are 
 both great lords, and wise and loyal men, and much dreaded by their 
 enemies." 
 
 The queen ordered her baggage to be made ready as secretly as 
 she could ; and having paid for everything, she quitted Paris, accom- 
 panied by her son, the earl of Kent, and all her company, and took 
 the road to Hainault. After some days she came into the country 
 of Cambray. When she found she was in the territories of the em- 
 pire, she was more at her ease, passed through Cambresis, entered 
 I'Ostrevant, in Hainault, and lodged at the house of a poor knight 
 called Eustace d'Ambreticourt, who received her with great pleasure, 
 and entertained her in the best manner he could ; insomuch that 
 afterwards the queen of England and her son invited the knight, his 
 wife, and all his children, to England, and advanced their fortunes 
 in different ways.* 
 
 The arrival of the queen in Hainault was soon known in the 
 house of the good earl of Hainault, who was then at Valenciennes. 
 Sir John, his brother, was also informed of the hour when she 
 alighted at the house of the lord of Ambreticourt. This sir .Tohn, 
 being at that time very young, and panting for glory like a knight- 
 errant, mounted his horse, and, accompanied by a few persons, set 
 out from Valenciennes for Ambreticourt, where he arrived in the 
 evening, and paid the queen every respect and honor. 
 
 The queen was at that time very dejected, and made a very 
 lamentable complaint to him of all her griefs ; which affected sir 
 John so much, that he mixed his own tears with hers, and said, 
 "Lady, see here your knight, who will not fail to die for you, though 
 every one else should desert you ; therefore will I do everything in 
 my power to conduct you and your son, and to restore you to your 
 rank in England, by the grace of God, and the assistance of your 
 friends in those parts ; and I, and all those whom I can influence, 
 will risk our lives on the adventure, for your sake ; and we will have 
 a sufficient armed force, if it please God, without fearing any danger 
 from the king of France." The queen, who was sitting down, and 
 sir John standing before her, rose, and would have cast herself at his 
 feet, out of gratitude for the great favor he had just offered her ; but 
 the gallant sir John, rising up quickly, caught her in his arms, and 
 said, " God forbid that the queen of England should ever do such a 
 thing ! Madam, be of good comfort to yourself and company, for I 
 will keep my promise — and you shall come and see my brother, and the 
 countess his wife, and all their fine children, who will be rejoiced to 
 see you, for I have heard them say so." The queen answered, " Sir, 
 I find in you more kindness and comfort than in all the world besides, 
 and I give you five hundred thousand thanks for what you have said 
 and offered me. If you will keep what you have promised me with 
 BO much courtesy, I and my son shall be for ever bound unto you, 
 and we will put the kingdom of England under your management, 
 as in justice it ought to be." 
 
 After this conversation, sir John de Hainault took leave for the 
 night, and went to Douay, where he slept at the abbey. The next 
 day, after having heard mass and taken some refrefjhraent, he returned 
 to the queen, who received him with great joy. She had finished 
 her dinner, and was going to mount her horse, when sir John arrived. 
 The queen of England quitted the castle of Ambreticourt, and, in 
 taking leave of the knight and his lady, she thanked them for their 
 good cheer, adding, that she trusted a time would come, when she 
 and her son would not fail to remember their courtesy. 
 
 The queen set off, accompanied by sir John, lord of Beaumont, 
 who with joy and respect conducted her to Valenciennes. Many of 
 the citizens of the town came out to meet her, and received her with 
 great humility. She was thus introduced to William, earl of Plain, 
 auit, who, as well as the countess, received her very graciously. 
 Many great feasts were give n on this occasion, as no one knew better 
 than the countess how to do the honors of her house; This earl 
 William had at that time four daughters, Margaret, Philippa, Joan, 
 and Isabella : the young king Edward paid more court and attention 
 to Philippa than to any of the others ; the young lady also conversed 
 more frequently with him, and sought his company oftener than any 
 of her sisters. The queen remained at Valenciennes during eight 
 days, with the good earl and countess Joan of Valois ; in the mean 
 time the queen made every preparation for her departure, and sir 
 John wrote very affectionate letters unto certain knights, and those 
 companions in whom he put the most confidence, in Hainault, in 
 Brabant, and Bohemia, beseeching them, from all the friendship that 
 was between them, that they would accompany him in his expedition 
 to England. 
 
 There were great numbers in these countries who were willing to 
 go with him from the love they bore him, and many who refused, 
 notwithstanding his request ; and even sir John himself was much 
 reproved by the earl, his brother, and by some of his council, because 
 it seemed to them that this enterprise was of much hazard, on ac- 
 count of the great divisions and enmities which at that time subsisted 
 among the great barons and commons in England ; and also because 
 the English are always veiy jealous of strangers, which made theiln 
 doubt whether sir John de Hainault and his companions would ever 
 return. But, notwithstanding all their blame and all their advice 
 
 17 
 
 bestowed upon him, the gallant knight would not chan^ his purpo^ 
 saying, that he could die but once ; that the time was in the will of 
 God ; and that all true knights were bound to aid, to the utmost of 
 their power, all ladies and damsels driven from their kingdoms com 
 fortless and forlorn. 
 
 •CHAPTER ix. 
 
 QUEEN ISABELLA ARRIVES IN ENGLAND WITH SIR JOKHi DE HAINAULT. 
 
 Thus was sir John de Hainault strengthened and encouraf^ed in 
 his resolution. He earnestly entreated the Hainaulters to be at Halle 
 the Brabanters at Breda, the Hollanders (of whom he had a few) 'at 
 Dordrecht, and the Bohemians at Gertruydenberg, by a fixed and 
 limited day. The queen of England took leave of the earl and 
 countess, thanking them much for the honor and entertainment they 
 had shown her, and kissed them at her departure. The queen, her 
 son, and suite, set off, accompanied by sir John, who with great dif- 
 faculty had obtained his brother's permission. He said to him, when 
 he took his leave, « My dear lord and brother, I am young, anH be- 
 heve that God has inspired me with a desire of this enterprise for u v 
 advancement; I also think and believe for certain, that this lady ana 
 her son have been driven from their kingdom wrongfully and sinfully 
 If it IS for the honor and glory of God, and of the world, to comfort 
 the afflicted and oppressed, how much more so is it, to help and succor 
 one of such high birth, who is the daughter of a king descended 
 from royal lineage, and to whose blood we ourselves are° related ! I 
 would have preferred renouncing every expectation I have here, and 
 gone and served God beyond seas, without ever returning, rather 
 than this good lady should have left us without comfort and aid. If 
 you will permit me to go, and grant me a willing leave, I shall do ' 
 well, and thereby better accomplish my purpose." 
 
 When the good earl had heard his brother, and perceived the greai 
 desire he had for this enterprise, and that possibly it might turn out not 
 only to his own honor, but to that of his descendants ; he said to him, 
 " Dear brother, God forbid that there should be any hindrance to your 
 wish : therefore I give you leave in the name of God !" He then 
 kissed him, and squeezed his hand, in sign of great affection. 
 
 Sir John set out, and went that night to Mons, in Hainault, where 
 he slept, as did the queen of England. Why should I lengthen my 
 story ? They travelled in such a manner as to arrive at Dordrecht 
 by the time limited for their friends to meet them. At that place 
 they provided themselves with vessels of different sizes, and having 
 embarked their cavalry, baggage, &c., they set sail, having first 
 recommended themselves to the care of the Lord. In this expedi- 
 tion there were the following knights and lords of Hainault; first, 
 sir John de Hainault, lord of Beaumont, sir Henry d'Antoing, sir 
 Michael de Ligne, the lord of Gommegines, sir Percival de Semeries, 
 sir Robert de Bailleuil, sir Sanxen de Bouissoit, the lords of Vertaing, 
 de Pocelles, de Villers, de Hein, de Sars, de Boisiers, d'Ambreticourt, 
 de Sermuel, sir Oulphart de Guistelle, and many other knights and 
 esquires, all eager to sei-ve their master. When they left the harbor 
 of Dordrecht, the fleet, considering the force, made a beautiful ap. 
 pearance, from its good order, and from the weather being clear and 
 temperate. They came opposite to the dykes of Holland the first 
 tide after their departure. The next day they cast anchor and furled 
 their sails, intending to follow the coast of Zealand, and to land at a 
 port which they had descried ; but they were prevented by a violent 
 tempest, which drove them so far ouit of their course, that for two 
 days they knew not where they were. In this God was very merciful 
 to them ; for, had they landed at the port they intended, they would 
 have fallen into the hands of their enemies, who apprised of their 
 coming, waited for them at that place to put them to death. At the 
 end of two days the storm abated, and the sailors descrying England, 
 made for it with great joy, and landed upon the sands, having neither 
 harbor nor safe port. They remained there three days at a short 
 allowance of provisions, while they disembarked their cavalry, and 
 landed their baggage. They were ignorant in what part of England 
 they were, whether that part of the country was friendly to them or 
 not. The fourth day they began their march, putting themselves 
 under the protection of God and St. George, having suffered much 
 from cold and hunger in . addition to their late fears, of which they 
 had not yet divested themselves. They marched over hill and dale 
 until they came to some villages ; soon afterwards they saw a large 
 monastery of black friars, called St. Hamons, where they refreshed 
 themselves during three days.* 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND BESIEGES HER HUSBAND IN THE CITY OF BRISTOL. 
 
 The news of her amval being spread abroad, soon came to the 
 knowledge of those lords by whose advice she had returned ; they 
 got themselves ready as soon as possible to join her son, whom they 
 wished to have for their sovereign. The first who came was Henry, 
 earl of Lancaster, surnamed Wryneck, brother to the earl Thomas, 
 who had been beheaded, and father of the duke of Lancaster, who 
 makes so conspicuous a figure in the following history. This earl 
 Henry was attended by a great number of men-at-arms. A fter him 
 *P: Vir: says that this company landed in the county of Suffolk, and mentions a 
 village called Orwel, in which they refreshed themselves. The Chronicle of Flanders 
 calls it Norwell, and adds that it is a sea fotlr^AnnoUitions from D&ma Sauvaob'3 
 edition. 
 
18 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 .;ome, from different parts, earls, barons, knights, and esquires, and 
 with such an armed force, that they no longer thought they had any- 
 thing to apprehend. As they advanced, their forces were still in. 
 creased ; so that a council was called to consider if they should not 
 Tiarch directly to Bristol, where the king and the two Spencers then 
 vvere. 
 
 Bristol was at that time a large town, well inclosed, and situated 
 cn a good port. Its castle was very strong, and surrounded by the 
 sea. The king, and sir Hugh Spencer, the elder, who was about 
 ninety years of age, and sir Hugh Spencer, his son, the chief gov- 
 ernor of the king, and adviser of all his evil deeds, shut themselves 
 up in it. The eai-l of Arundel, who had married the daughter of the 
 younger Spencer, was also there, as well as divers knights and esquires, 
 attending the king's court. , i • 
 
 The queen, with all her company, the lords of Hainault, and their 
 suite, took the shortest road for that place ; and in every town through 
 which they passed were entertained with every mark of distinction. 
 Their forces were augmenting daily until they arrived at Bristol, which 
 they besieged in form. The king, and the younger Spencer, shut 
 themselves up in the castle ; old sir Hu/jh, and the earl of Arundel, 
 remained in the town. , rr . 
 
 When tae cnizens saw the queen's force, and the afFections of 
 almost all E- giand on her side, alarmed at their own perilous situation, 
 they de^•. mined in council to surrender the town, on condition that 
 their lives and property should be spared. They sent to treat with the 
 queen on this subject ; but neither she nor her council would consent 
 to it, unless sir Hugh Spencer and the earl of Arundel were delivered 
 up to her discretion, for she had come purposely to destroy them. 
 
 The citizens seeing they had no other means of saving the town, 
 their lives, and their fortunes, acceded to the queen's terms, and opened 
 their gates to her. She entered the town, accompanied by sir John 
 de Hainault, with all her barons, knights, and esquires, who took their 
 lodging therein ; the others, for want of accommodation, remained 
 without. Sir Hugh Spencer, and the earl of Arundel, were delivered 
 to the queen to do with them as it should please her. Her children 
 were also brought to her — John and her two daughters, found there in 
 the keeping of sir Hugh Spencer. As she had not seen them a long 
 time, this gave her great joy, as well as to all her party. 
 
 The king and the younger Spencer, shut up in the castle, were much 
 grieved at what passed, seeing the whole country turned to the queen's 
 party, and to Edward, his eldest son. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 8IK nUGH SPENCER THE ELDER, AND THE EARL OF ARUNDEL, ARE 
 ADJUDGED TO DEATH. 
 
 As soon as the queen and the barons were lodged at their ease, 
 ihey made their approaches to the castle as near as they could. The 
 queen then ordered sir Hugh Spencer the elder, and the earl of Arun- 
 del, to be brought before her eldest son, and the barons assembled, 
 and said to them, that she and her son would see that law and justice 
 should be done unto them according to their deeds. Sir Hugh replied, 
 " Ah I madam, God grant us an upright judge and a just sentence ; 
 and that if we cannot have it in this world, we may find it in another !" 
 Then rose up sir Thomas Wager, a good knight, wise and courteous, 
 and marshal of the army : he read, from a paper in his hand, the 
 charges against them, and then addressed himself to an old knight, 
 seated on his right hand, to decide the punishment due to persons 
 guilty of such crimes. This knight consulted with the other barons 
 and knights, and reported it as their opinion, that they deserved death 
 for the many horrible crimes with which they had been charged, and 
 which they believed to be clearly proved ; that they ought, from the 
 diversity of their "crimes, to suffer in three different manners : first, to 
 be drawn on a hurdle to the place of execution, there to be beheaded, 
 and afterwards to be hung on a gibbet. Agreeably to this sentence, 
 they were executed before the castle of Bristol, in the sight of the king, 
 Bir Hugh Spencer, and all those within it. This execution took place 
 in Octpber, on St. Denis's day, 1326. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Hfi Aim OF ENGLAND AND SIR HUGH SPENCER ARE TAKEN AT SEA AS THEY 
 WERE ENDEAVORING TO ESCAPE FROM THE CASTLE OF BRISTOL. 
 
 This act of justice performed, the king and sir Hugh Spencer, seeing 
 themselves so closely pressed, and being ignorant whether any succor 
 was coming to them, embarked one morning with a few followers, in 
 a small boat behind the castle, intending, if possible, to reach the 
 principality of Wales : they were eleven or twelve days in this small 
 boat, and notwithstanding every effort to get forward, the winds proved 
 60 contnry, by the will of God, that once or twice a day they were 
 driven back within a quarter o^ a league of the castle whence they 
 eet out. At length sii Henry Beaumont, s-on of the viscount Beau- 
 mont of Englano, espying the vessel, embarked with some of his com- 
 panions in a barge, and rowed so vigorously after it, that the king's 
 boatmen, unable to escape, were overtaken. The king and sir Hugh 
 Spencer were brought back to Bristol, and delivered to the queen and 
 
 her son as prisoners. Thus ended this bold and gallant enterprise of 
 sir John de Hainault and his companions, who, when they embarked 
 at Dordrecht, amounted to no more than three hundred men-at-arms. 
 By their means* queen Isabella recovered her kingdom, and destroyed 
 her enemies ; at which the whole nation, except some few who were 
 attached to the Spencers, was greatly rejoiced. 
 
 When the king and sir Hugh Spencer were brought to Bristol by 
 sir Henry Beaumont, the king was sent, by the advice of the barons 
 and knights, to Berkeley castle, under a strong guard. Many atten- 
 tions were paid to him, and proper people were placed near his person, 
 to take every care of him, but on no account to suffer him to pass the 
 bounds of the castle. Sir Hugh Spencer was delivered up to sir Thomas 
 Wager, marshal of the army. 
 
 The queen and all the army set out for London, which is the pi 
 cipal city in England. Sir Thomas Wager caused sir Hugh Spencer 
 to be fastened on the poorest and smallest horse he could find, clothed 
 with a tabart, such as he was accustomed to wear. He led him thus 
 in derision, in the suite of the queen, through all the towns they passed, 
 where he was announced by trumpets and cymbals, by way of greater 
 mockery, till they reached Hereford, where she and her suite were 
 respectfully and joyfully received. The feast of All Saints was there 
 celebrated with the greatest solemnity and magnificence, out of affec- 
 tion to her son, and respect to the noble foreigners that attended him. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 SIR HUGH SPENCER JUDGED AND EXECUTED. 
 
 When the feast was over, sir Hugh, who was not beloved in those 
 parts, was brought before the queen and knights assembled ; the 
 charges were read to him — to which he made no reply ; the barons 
 and knights then passed the following sentence on him : first, that he 
 should be drawn on a hurdle, attended by trumpets and clarions, 
 through all the streets in the city of Hereford, and then conducted to 
 the market-place, where all the people were assembled ; at that place 
 he was to be bound upon a high scaffold*, in order that he might be 
 more easily seen by the people. First, his private parts were cut off, 
 because he was deemed a heretic, and guilty of unnatural practices, 
 even with the king, whose affections he had alienated from the queen 
 by his wicked suggestions. His private parts were then cast into a 
 large fire kindled close to him ; afterwards, his heart was thrown into 
 the same fire, because it had been false and traitorous, since he had 
 by his treasonable counsels so advised the king, as to bring shame and 
 mischief on the land, and had caused some of the greatest lords to bo 
 beheaded, by whom the kingdom ought to have been supported and 
 defended ; and had so seduced the king, that he could not nor would 
 not see the queen, or his eldest son, who was to be their future sove- 
 reign, both of whom had, to preserve their lives, been forced to quit 
 the kingdom. The other parts of sir Hugh thus disposed of, his head 
 was cut off and sent to London. 
 
 After the execution, the queen aad all the lords, with a great num- 
 ber of common people, set out for London. As they approached it, 
 great crowds came out to meet them, and received both her and her 
 son, as well as those who accompanied her, with great reverence. 
 
 The citizens presented handsome gifts to the queen, as ^vell as to 
 those of her suite, where they thought them best bestowed. -After 
 fifteen days passed in feasts and rejoicings, the companions of sir 
 John de Hainault were impatient to return home, for they thought 
 they had well performed their duty, and acquired great honor. They 
 took leave of the queen and of the nobles of the country, who besought 
 them to tarry a little longer, to consider what ought to be done with 
 the king, then a prisoner ; but they had so great a desire to return 
 home, that entreaties were of no avail. When the queen and her coun- 
 cil saw this, they addressed themselves to sir John de Hainault, and 
 requested him to remain only till after Christmas, and that he would 
 detain as many of his followers as possible. That gallant knight, 
 wishing to leave nothing undone that depended on him, courteously 
 complied with the queen's request. He detained as many of his 
 companions as he could ; but small was the number, the greater part 
 refusing to stay on any account, which angered him much. 
 
 Though the queen and her council saw that no entreaties could 
 prevail on his companions to stay, they showed them every mark of 
 respect. The queen ordered a large sum of money to be given them 
 for their expenses, besides jewels of high price, which she presented 
 to each according to his rank ; so that all were perfectly satisfied. 
 She also paid to each, in ready money, the value of their horses that 
 they chose to leave behind, according to their own estimation, without 
 any demur. 
 
 Sir John and a few of his companions remained in England, ac- 
 cording to the queen's desire, and the English paid to him and Ids 
 companions all the respect in their power. 
 
 There was at that time a great number of countesses and other 
 noble ladies and damsels attendant on the queen, as well as others 
 who came there daily, who were not behindhand in their attentions to 
 lir John, thinking the gallant knight very deserving of them. 
 
 * Lord Bemers adds "& the Ibrdes in Inglande," not thinking it right that aL thi 
 praise should be given to the Hainaulters. 
 
 * Ty«d OQ high upon a ladd«r.lescbeli«.}— J^o&o Bernsrb. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &.c. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 THE CORONATION OF KING EDWARD THE THIRD. 
 
 Most of the followers of sir John de Hainault having returned home, 
 the lord of Beaumont however remaining, the queen gave leave to 
 many of her household, as well as others, to return to their country, 
 seats, except a few of the nobles, whom she kept with her as her 
 council, expressly ordering them to come back at Christmas to a great 
 court, which at that time she intended to hold. They took leave, pro. 
 mising to be there at the time appointed, as well as many others who 
 had notice of the feast. When Christmas came, she held the court 
 jabove mentioned, and it was very fully attended by all the nobles and 
 prelates of the realm, as well as by the principal officers of the chief 
 cities and towns. In this assembly it was determined, that the king, 
 dom could no longer remain without a sovereign, and that all the acts 
 of the king, then in prison, proceeding from his own will, or the evil 
 counsel of others, and ill government of the realm, should be stated in 
 writing, and read aloud to all the nobles and sages of the country, in 
 order that they might take advice, and resolve how, and by whom, 
 the country in future should be governed : and when all the acts done 
 by the king, or having his consent, as well as his conduct in private 
 life, had been read, the chiefs of the assembly consulted together, and 
 agreeing, from their own knowledge, that the greater part of what 
 they had just heard read was true, that such a man was not worthy 
 to be a king, neither to bear a crown, nor the title of king, they unani- 
 
 Edward the Third.— From the tomb at Westminister Abbey 
 
 mou'sly resolved, that his elder son and true heir, then present, should 
 be crowned instead of the father ; and that he should take good and 
 loyal counsel, that the kingdom might be henceforward better gov- 
 erned. They ordered that his father should be kept a prisoner, having 
 every attention paid to his rank, as long as he should live. All was 
 done, as agreed to by the chief nobles of the country and the princi- 
 pal officers of the great towns. 
 
 The young king Edward, since so fortunate in arms, was cj-owned 
 with a royal diadem, in the palace of Westminister, on Christmas- 
 day, 1326. He completed his sixteenth year on the feast of the con- 
 version of St. Paul following. 
 
 At this coronation, sir John de Hainault, and all his companions, 
 noble or otherwise, were much feasted, and many rich jewels were 
 given to him and those that stayed with him. He and his friends 
 remained during these grand feasts, to the great satisfaction of the 
 lords and ladies that were there, until Twelfth-day, M^hen he received 
 information that the king of Bohemia, the earl of Hainault his bro- 
 ther, and many great lords of France, had ordered a tournament to be 
 proclaimed at Conde : sir John, therefore, would no longer stay, not- 
 withstanding their entreaties, from the great desire he had to attend 
 this tournament, to see his brother and the other princes, especially 
 that gallant and generous prince, Charles, king of Bohemia. 
 
 When the young king Edward, his mother, and the barons, saw 
 Aat it was not possible to detain him any longer, they gave him per- 
 mission to depart very much against their will. The king, by the 
 advice of the queen, granted him an annuity of four hundred marks 
 sterling, hereditable rent, to be held of him in fee, payable in the 
 city of Bruges. He gave also to Philip de Chateaux, his principal 
 esquire and chief counsellor, a hundred marks sterling of rent, to bfe 
 paid at the same time and place. He likewise gave a considerable 
 sum to defray his expenses, and those of his attendants, on their re- 
 turn home. He ordered many knights to accompany him to Dover, 
 and that his passage should be free of all cost. He presented the 
 countess de Gareimes, sister to the count de Bar, and some other 
 
 ladies who had accompanied the queen to England, with many rich 
 jewels, on their taking leave. 
 
 Sir John and his company immediately embarked on board the 
 vessels prepared for them, to be in time for the tournament. The 
 king sent with him fifteen young and hardy knighL«, to attend him at 
 this tournament, there to try their skill, and to get acquainted with 
 the lords and knights that were to be there. Sir John and his com. 
 pany paid them all the attention in their power, and on this occasion 
 tournayed at Cond6. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 ROBERT BRUCE, KING OF SCOTLAND, DEFIES KING EDWARD. 
 
 After the departure of sir John de Hainault, king Edward and his 
 mother governed the kingdom, by the counsels of the good earl of 
 Kent, and of sir Roger Mortimer, who possessed vast estates in Eng- 
 land, to the amount of 700Z. sterling a.year. Both of them had been 
 banished with the queen. They also took the advice of sir Thomas 
 Wager, and of others, who were esteemed the wisest in the land. 
 This, however, created much envy, which never dies in England, but 
 reigns there as well as in other places. Thus passed the winter and 
 Lent in perfect peace, until Easter; when it happened that Robert, 
 king of Scotland, who, though brave, had suffered much in his wars 
 with England, having often been defeated by king Edward, grand- 
 father of the young king, being at this time very old, and afflicted 
 with leprosy, hearing that the king had been taken prisoner and de- 
 posed, and his counsellors put to death, thought it a favorable oppor 
 tunity to send a defiance to the present king, as yet a youth, whose 
 barons were not on good terms with each other, and to attempt the 
 conquest of some part of England. About Easter, 1327, he sent a 
 defiance to king Edward and all the country, informing them that he 
 would enter the kingdom, and burn it as far as he had done before 
 after the defeat of Stirling, in which the English suffered so much. 
 
 When the young king and his council received this challenge, they 
 published it throughout the kingdom, and ordered that all the nobles 
 and others should come properly accoutred and accompanied, accord- 
 ing to their different ranks, to York, the day of Ascension following. 
 He also sent a considerable body of men-at-arms to guard the fron- 
 tiers of Scotland, and messengers to sir John de Hainault, begging 
 him very affectionately to assist and accompany him in this expe- 
 dition, and to meet him at York on Ascension-day, with as many 
 companions at arms as he could bring with him. 
 
 When the lord of Beaumont received this request, he dispatched 
 I letters and messengers into Flanders, Hainault and Brabant, or 
 wherever he thought he could collect good companions, praying 
 them to meet him, well equipped, at Wissan,* there to embark for 
 England. Such as he sent to came, as well as others that heard of 
 it, in the expectation of gaining as large sums as those who had ac- 
 companied him in his former expedition to England. 
 
 When the lord of Beaumont came to Wissan, he found vessels 
 ready to transport him and his company. They embarked with their 
 cavalry as expeditiously as possible, and crossed over to Dover, 
 whence, without halting, they continued their march till they reached 
 York. The king, his mother, and a number of other lords and barons 
 were there assembled, as well to advise as to attend the king. They 
 waited at York the arrival of sir John, of the men-at-arms and arch- 
 ers, and of the common people from the different towns and cities. 
 As they came in large bodies, they were quartered in the villages 
 around York, at the distance of two or three leagues, and thence 
 marched toward the borders. • 
 
 Sir John and his company reached York by the appointed time, 
 and were welcomed and magnificently entertained by the king, 
 queen, and all the barons. The handsomest suburbs of the city 
 were assigned them for their quarters, and a monastery of white friars 
 was allotted for him and his household. In company with the 
 knight, came from Hainault, the lord of Anghien called sir Walter, 
 sir Henry, lord of Antoing, the lord of Seignoles, and the following 
 knights : iir Fastres de Reu, sir Robert de Bailleul, sir William de 
 Bailleirl, his brother, the lord of Havereth castellan of Mens, sir 
 Alurt de Briseil, sir Michael de Ligne, sir John de Montigny the 
 younger and his brother, sir Sause de Boussac, sir Percival de Seve- 
 ries, the lords of Gommegines, de Biaurien and de Folion. There 
 came also from Flanders ; first, sir Hector de Vilnius, sir John de 
 Rhodes, sir Vaufflat de Guistelle, sir James de Guistelle, his brother, 
 sir Gossuin de la Muelle, and the lord of Tarces. Many came from 
 Brabant ; as the lord of Dusle, sir Thierry de Vaucourt, sir Rasses 
 de Gres, sir John" de Cassebegne, sir .Tohn Pilestre, sir William de 
 Courterelles, the three brothers de Harlebeque, sir Walter de Haute 
 bergue, and several others. Of the Bohemians were, sir .Tohn de 
 Libeaux, Henry his brother, sir Henry de la Chappelle, sir Hugh de 
 Hay, sir John de Limies, sir Lambert des Prez, sir Gilbert de Hers. 
 There came also other volunteer knights out of Cambresis and Ar- 
 tois, in hopes of advancement ; so that sir John had five hundred 
 good men in his company, well apparelled and richly mounted. 
 
 ' * Wissaii is a town in the Boulonois, generality of Calais. It is believed by Camdeni 
 I to be the Partus Iccius from which Csesar embarked for Britain. Thi.» is disc»»sf'9d ir 
 I one of the dissertations at the close of the Memoires dp Joinville.— Fifth V5»Juw»' IS 
 I Collection of Historical Memoirs relative to the History of France. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 After the feast of the Pentecost, sir William, who was afterwards 
 Juke of Juliers, by the death of his father, and sir Thierry de Ham- 
 berque, since earl of Los, arrived with a gallant company, to do 
 honor to sir John de Hainault. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 A DISSENSION BETWEEN THE ARCHERS OF ENGhLAND AND TH2 HAIN- 
 
 AULTERS. 
 
 The kin^ of England, in order to entertain and feast the strangers 
 and their company, held a great court on Trinity-Sunday, at the house 
 of the Black Friars, where he and the queen were lodged, and where 
 each kept their household separate ; the king with his knights, and 
 the queen with her ladies, whose numbers were considerable. At 
 this court the king had five hundred knights, and created fifteen new 
 ones. The queen gave her entertainment in the dormitory, where 
 dt least sixty ladies, who she had invited to entertain sir John de 
 Hainault and his suite, sat down at her table. There, might be 
 Been a numerous nobility well sei-ved with plenty of strange dishes, 
 so disguised that it could not be known what they were. There 
 were also ladies most superbly dressed, who were expecting with 
 impatience the hour of the ball, or a longer continuance of the feast : 
 but it fell out otherwise ; for, soon after dinner, a violent aflfray hap. 
 pened between some of the grooms of the Hainaulters, and the Eng- 
 lish archers, who were lodged with them in the suburbs. This 
 increased so much that the archers collected together with their bows 
 strung, and shot at them so as to force them to retreat to their lodg- 
 ings. The greater part of the knights and their masters, who were 
 still at court, hearing of the affray, hastened to their quarters. Those 
 that could nut enter them were exposed to great danger ; for the 
 archers, to the number of three thousand, aimed both at masters and 
 servants. It was supposed that this affray was occasioned by the 
 friends of the Spencers, and the earl of Arundel, in revenge for their 
 having been put to death through the advice of sir John de Hainault. 
 The English also, at whose houses the Hainaulters lodged, barricaded 
 their doors and windows, and would not suffer them to enter : never- 
 theless, some of them got admittance at the back doors, and quickly 
 armed themselves, but durst not advance into the street, for fear of 
 the arrows. The strangers immediately sallied from behind their 
 lodgings, breaking down the hedges and inclosures, until they came 
 to a square, where they halted, waiting for their companions, till they 
 amounted to a hundred under arms, and as many without, who could 
 not gain admittance to their lodgings. United thus, they hastened 
 to assist their friends, who were defending their quarters in the great 
 street in the best manner they could : they passed through the hotel 
 of the lord of Anghien, which had great gates before and behind 
 open into the street, where the archers were dealing about their 
 arrows in a furious manner. Many Hainaulters were wounded with 
 them.* 
 
 Here we found the good knights, sir Fastres de Rue, sir Percival de 
 Severies, and sir Sause de Boussac, who, not getting admittance into 
 their lodgings, performed deeds equal to those that were armed. 
 They had in their hands great oaken stafTs, taken from the house of 
 a carter: they dealt their blows so successfully that none durst 
 approach them, and, being strong and valiant knights, beat down, 
 that evening, upward of sixty men. At last the archers were dis- 
 comfited and put to flight. There remained on the ground dead 
 three hundred men, or thereabouts, who were all from the bishoprick 
 of Lincoln. I believe that God never shov/ed greater grace or favor 
 to any one than he djd in that day to sir John de Hainault and his 
 company; for these archers certainly meant nothing less than to 
 murder and rob them, notwithstanding they were come upon the 
 king's business. These strangers were never in such great peril as 
 ;iuring the time they remained at York : nor were they in perfect 
 safety until their return to Wissan ; for, during their stay, the hatred 
 of the archers was so greatly increased against them, that some of 
 the barons and principal knights informed the lords of Hainault, that 
 the archers and others of the commonalty of England, to the number 
 of six thousand, had entered into an agreement to massacre and burn 
 them and their followers in their lodgings either by night or day, and 
 there was no one on the part of the king, or of the barons, that could 
 venture to assist them. The Hainaulters, therefore, had no other 
 resource left than to stand by each other, and to sell their lives as 
 dearly as- possible. They made many prudent regulations for their 
 conduct, were frequently obliged to lie on their arms, to confine 
 themselves to their quarters, and to have their armor ready, and their 
 horses always saddled. They were also obliged to keep detachments 
 continually on the watch in the fields and roads round the city, and to 
 send scouts to the distance of half a league, to see if those people, of 
 
 * In Lelund's Collectanoa, there is a different account ofthe cause of this affray. Part 
 second of'voluine first, p. 307 : 
 
 " Anno D.imini 132S, Hunaldi apud Eboracum combusseruntdesuburbiocivitatisfere 
 unam p uochiam, qua; vocatur S. Nicholai in Ousegate, propter contumeham motam 
 inter bnrsenses et illos, quia ceperunt uxores burpensium, et fihas, et ancillas, per vim in 
 «u!;!;r!)io civitatis. Bur^enses vero suburhii indignati de tali facinore, congressi sunt 
 cum Hiitialdis more belhco: et ex utraque parte bene armati una die Martis in Septem- 
 hri ante soiis, ortnm in Watelingate dormiente tota civitate summo mane. Ibi cecide- 
 runt (!e Hunaldis 5'J7, prseier eos oui laitaliter vulnerati sunt et obierunt in 3 die et in 4 
 wriyenti. De Anjhs ceciderunt 242. Submersi in Ouse, flu. de Hunaldis, inventi sunt 
 
 whom they had received information, were coming, with orders, that, 
 if they perceived any bodies in motion advancing tov/ard the town, 
 they were immediately to return to the detachments in the fields, in 
 order that they might be quickly mounted, and collected together 
 under their own banner, at an appointed alarm-post. They continued 
 in the suburbs four weeks in this distressing situation, and none, 
 except a few of the great lords, who went to court to see the king and 
 his council, or to the entertainments to hear the news, ventured to 
 quit their quarters or their arms. If this unfortunate quarrel had not 
 happened, they would have passed their time very pleasantly ; for 
 there was such plenty in the city and surrounding country, that during 
 more than six weeks, while the king and the lords of England, with 
 upward of forty thousand men-at-arms, remained there, the provis- 
 ions were not dearer ; for as much was to be bought for a penny as 
 before their arrival. Good wines from Gascony, Alsace and the 
 Rhine, were in abundance and reasonable ; poultry and other such 
 provisions at a low price. Hay, oats, and straw, of a good quality, 
 and cheap, were delivered at their quarters. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 OF THE MANNERS OF THE SCOTS, AND HOW THEY CARRY ON WAR. 
 
 After remaining three weeks from the time of this affray, the king 
 issued a proclamation by his marshals, that every one in the course of 
 the ensuing week should be provided with carts, tents, and everything 
 necessary for their march toward Scotland : when every one was 
 properly equipped, the king and all his barons marched out of the 
 city, and encamped six leagues from it. Sir John de Hainault and 
 his company were encamped near the king, as a mark of distinction, 
 and to prevent the archers from taking any advantage of him, the king 
 and this first division remained there two days and two nights, wait- 
 ing the arrival of money for his expenses, as well as to examine 
 whether anything were wanting. On the third day the army dis- 
 lodged, and before daybreak marched till they came to the city of 
 Durham, a long day's journey, at the entrance of a country called 
 Northumberland, which is wild, full of deserts and mountains, and 
 poor in everything except cattle. The river Tyne runs through it, 
 full of flints and large stones. Upon this river is situated the town 
 called Newcastle upon Tyne. The lord marshal of England was 
 there, with a numerous army to guard the country against the Scots. 
 At Carlisle was a considerable body of Welsh, under the command of 
 lord Hereford and lord Mowbray, to defend the passage of the Eden ; 
 for the Scots could not enter England without passing one of these 
 rivers. The English could get no certain information of the Scots 
 until they arrived at this place : they had passed the river so privately, 
 that neither those of Carlisle nor those of Newcastle had the smallest 
 knowledge of it. These towns are said to be distant from each other 
 four-and-twenty English leagues. 
 
 The Scots are bold, hardy, and much inured to war. When they, 
 make their invasions into England, they march from twenty to four- 
 and-twenty leagues without halting,* as well by night as day ; for 
 they are all on horseback, except the camp followers, who are on 
 foot. The knights and esquires are well mounted on large bay 
 horses, the common people on litde galloways. Tney brin^ no car- 
 riages with them, on account of the mountains they have to pass in 
 Northumberland ; neither do they carry with them any provisions ox 
 bread or wine ; for their habits of sobriety are such, in time of war, 
 that they will live for a long time on flesh half sodden, without bread, 
 and drink the river-water without wine. They have, therefore, no 
 occasion for pots or pans ; for they dress the flesh of their cattle in 
 the skins, after they have taken them off : and, being sure to find 
 plenty of them in the country which they invade, they carry none 
 with them. Under the flaps of his saddle, each man cames a broad 
 plate of metal ; behind the saddle, a little bag of oatmeal : when they 
 have eaten too much of the sodden flesh, and their stomach appears 
 weak and empty, they place this plate over the fire, mix with water 
 their oatmeal, and when the plate is heated, they put a litde of the 
 paste upon it, and make a thin cake, like a cracknel or biscuit, which 
 they eat to warm their stomachs : it is therefore no wonder, that they 
 perform a longer day's march than other soldiers. In this manner the 
 Scots entered England, destroying and burning everything as they 
 passed. They seized more cattle than they knew what to do with. 
 Their army consisted of four thousand men-at-arms, knights and 
 esquires, well mounted ; besides twenty thousand men, bold and 
 hardy, armed after the manner of their country, and mounted upon 
 litde hackneys, that are never tied up or dressed, but turned, imme- 
 diately after the day's march, to pasture on the heath or in the fields. 
 This army was commanded by two valiant captains. The king of 
 Scotland himself, who had been very brave, yet being old, and labor- 
 ing under a leprosy, appointed for one that gallant prince, so re- 
 nowned in arms, the earl of Moray, who bore upon his banner argent 
 three pillows gules ; the other was sir James Douglas, esteemed the 
 bravest and most enterprising knight in the two kingdoms : he bore 
 for arms azure on a chef argent. These two lords were the greatest 
 barons, and most renowned for their prowess and other feats of arms. 
 
 *Where%'er English leagues are mentioned, lord Berners translates them, and pro^ 
 bably correctly, miles ; it is incredible that a body of men armed at all points, slwuld 
 travel from sixty to eighty miles a day on horseback, which the Scots must have dos« 
 if we are here to read leagues.--£o. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 21 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 KIN.T EDWARD'S FIRST EXPEDITION AGAINST THE SCOTS. 
 
 When the English king and all his host had seen the smoke of 
 the fires, which the Scots had made, the alarm was immediately 
 sounded, and every one ordered to dislodge and to follow his ban. 
 ners : they all, therefore, withdrew to the fields, armed for imme- 
 diate oombat. Three battafions of infantry were formed; each 
 battalion having two wings, composed of five hundred men-at-arms, 
 who were to remain on horseback. 
 
 It was said, that there were eight thousand men-at-arms, knights 
 and esquires, and thirty thousand men armed and equipped, half of 
 whom were mounted on small hackneys ; the other half were coun- 
 trymen on foot, sent by the towns and paid by them. There were 
 also twenty-four thousand archers on foot, besides all the crew of 
 followers of the army. Thus being drawn up, they marched in 
 battle array after the Scots, toward the place from whence the 
 smoke came, until it was night. The army halted in a wood, by 
 the side of a small river, to rest themselves, and to wait for their 
 baggage and provision. 
 
 £l>WARt> THE Third's first Expedition against thk Scots.— From an illuminated Froiasart 
 
 The Scots had burnt and pillaged all the country within five 
 leagues* of the place where they were, without the English being 
 able to come up with them 
 
 At daybreak the next morning every one was armed, and, with 
 .lanners displayed, marched in good order over mountains and 
 through valleys, but could never approach the Scots, who were 
 advanced before them ; for there were so many marshes and danger- 
 ous places, that it was ordered, under pain of death, that no one 
 should quit his banner, except the mai*shals. When it drev/ toward 
 night, the cavalry, and those who attended the baggage, more espe- 
 cially the infantry, were so fatigued, that they could march no further. 
 
 The lords saw that they followed the Scots to no purpose ; and 
 that, if the Scots were willing to wait for them, they might post 
 themselves on some mountain, or in some dangerous pass, where 
 they could not be attacked but at extreme disadvantage. 
 
 The king then ordered the marshals to encamp the army there 
 for the night, in order that they might consider what was to be done 
 the next day. The army lay in a wood upon the banks of a small 
 river, and the king was lodged in a poor monastery hard by. The 
 men-at-arms, horses and baggage, were much fatigued. When each 
 had chosen a spot of ground to encamp himself on, the lords retired 
 apart, to consider what would be the best method to force the Scots 
 to battle, considering the situation of the country in which they 
 were. It appeared to them, that the Scots were sheering off to their 
 own country, burning and pillaging as they went, and that it would 
 be impossible to fight with them in these mountains, without a 
 manifest disadvantage, supposing they should overtake them, which 
 they could not ; but, as they must repass the Tyne, it was deter- 
 mined in fall council, that if they were to get themselves ready 
 al)ou# midnight, and hasten their march next day, they might cut 
 off the passage of the river, and force them to fight to a disadvantage, 
 or remain shut up prisoners in England. 
 
 After this resolution had been entered into, each retired to his 
 
 * Lord Berners again translates " lieues" miles. Mr. Johnes's translation does not 
 ■,'ive so lively an idea ot'the audacity of t!ie Scots, who destroyed tlie country as it were 
 in bravado, as that of Lord Berners ; his words are : " And all that day [et tout le jour] 
 ;he Scottis had brent, and wasted and pilled y*" country about within v myle of the 
 !:i!;iysshe oste, but the Inglysshmen coulde nat overtake them * * * * theycoulde 
 nsur aproche nere to the Scottis, who went wastyng the countrey before them."— Ed. 
 
 quarters, to eat and drink what he could find there ; and they desired 
 their companions to be silent, in order that the trumpets might b'. 
 heard : at the first sounding of which, the horses were to be saddle i 
 and made ready ; at the second, every one was to arm himself witi i 
 oiit delay; and, at the third, to mount their horses immediately, ar 1 
 join their banners. Each was to take only one loaf of bread wiih 
 him, slung behind him after the manner of hunters. All unnecessary 
 arms, harness, and baggage, were ordered to be left behind, as they 
 thought they should for a certainty give battle the next day, whatever 
 might be the consequejices, whether they should win or lose all. As 
 it had been ordered so was it executed, and all were mounted and 
 ready about midnight. Some had but litde rest, notwithstanding 
 they had labored hard the day before. Day began to appear as the 
 battalions were assembled at their different posts : the banner-bearers 
 then hastened on over heaths, moimtains, valleys, rocks, and many 
 dangerous places, without meeting any level country. On the sum- 
 mits of the mountains, and in the valleys, were large marshes and 
 bogs, and of such extent, that it was a miracle many were not lost 
 in them ; for each galloped forward without waiting for either com- 
 mander or companion : those who fell into them found difficulty in 
 getting any to help them. Many banners re. 
 mained there, and several baggage and sumpter 
 horses never came out again. 
 
 In the course of the day, there were frequent 
 cries of alarm, as if the ioremosi; ranks were 
 engaged with the enemy ; which those behind 
 believing to be true, they hurried fomaid as 
 fast as possible, over rocks and mountains, 
 sword in hand, with their helmets and shields 
 prepared for fighting, without waiting for father, 
 brother, or friend. When they had hastened 
 about half a league tov/;n-d the place from 
 which the noise Cc.me, they found themselves 
 disappointed, 8s the cries proceeded from some 
 herds of deer or other wild beasts, which 
 abounded in these heaths and desert places, 
 and which fled before the banners, pursued by 
 the shouts of the army, which made them ima- 
 gine it was something else. 
 
 In this manner, the young king of England, 
 agreeably to the advice of his council, rode all 
 that day over mountains and deserts, without 
 keeping to any fixed road, or finding any town. 
 About vespers, and sorely fatigued, they reached 
 the Tyne, which the Scots had already crossed, 
 though the English- supposed they had it still 
 to repass. Accordingly, they went over the 
 ford, but with great difficulty, owing to the large 
 stones that were in the river. 
 When they had passed over, each took up his lodging on its banks 
 as he could ; and at this time the sun was set. There were few 
 among them that had any hatchets, wedges, or other instruments, to 
 cut down trees, to make them.seives huts; many of them had lost 
 their companions, and even the foot had remained behind, not know, 
 ing what road to ask for. Those who were best acquainted with 
 the country said, that they had travelled that day twenty English 
 leagues* on a gallop, without stopping, except to arrange the furni. 
 ture of their horses, when it had been loosened by the violent exer- 
 cise. They were forced to lie this night on the banks of the river 
 in their armor, and at the same time hold their horses by their bri. 
 dies, for there was not any place where they could tie them. Thus 
 the horses had nothing to eat, neither oats nor any forage ; and the 
 men had only their loaf that was tied behind them, which v/as wetted 
 by the sweat of the horses. They had no other beverage but the 
 water of the river, except som.e great lords, who had bottles among 
 their baggage : nor had they fire or liglit, not having anything to 
 make them of ; except some few lords, who had some torches, 
 which they had brought on sumpter horses. In such a melancholy 
 manner did they pass the night, without taki ig the saddles from 
 off the horses, or disarming themselves. And when the long, 
 expected day appeared^ when they hoped to find some comfort for 
 themselves and horses, or to fight the Scots, which they wery much 
 wished for, to get out of their disagreeable situation, it began to rain, 
 and continued all the day, insomuch that the river was so increased 
 by noon, that no one could pass over, nor could any one be sent to 
 know where they were, or to get forage and litter for their horses, 
 or bread and wine for their own sustenance ; they were therefore 
 obliged to fast another night. The horses had nothing to subsist on 
 but the leaves of the trees and grass. They cut down with their 
 swords young trees, and tied their horses to them. They also cui 
 down brush wood to make huts for themselves. 
 
 Some po r peasants, coming that way in the afternoon, informed 
 the;n they vvere fourteen leagues from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and 
 eleven from Carlisle, and that there was not a town nearer whence 
 they could get any accommodation. When this intelligence waa 
 
 * Berners has "xxiv English miles." and D, Sauvage's edition, "vingt-huit lio'wi 
 Anfilesche."— Ed. 
 
CflRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &,c. 
 
 Oroiighi U) the king and the principal lords, they directly sent ofTmes. 
 sengors with horses to bring them provision, and they caused a pro. 
 clamaiion to be made in the king's name in Newcastle, that whoever 
 wished to get money, he had only to bring provision, wine, &c., for 
 which he would be instantly paid, and a safe conduct granted him. 
 They were also informed, that they should not move from their present 
 quarters, until they had information where the Scots were. The next 
 day the messengers which the lords had sent for provision returned 
 ebout noon with what they had been able to procure for them and 
 their households ; but it vv^as not much : and with them came people 
 of the country, to take their advantage of the situation of the army, 
 and brought with them on mules and small horses bread badly baked, 
 in baskets, and poor thin wine, in large barrels, and other kind of 
 prc\-ision to sell, with which the army was tolerably refreshed, and 
 their discontent appeased. This was the case during the seven days 
 that they remained on the banks of this river, among the mountains, 
 expecting the return of the Scots, who knew no more of the English 
 than they did of them. 
 
 Thus they had remained for three days ahd three nights without 
 bread, wine, candle, oats, or any other forage : and they were after- 
 wards for four days obliged to buy badly baked bread, at the price of 
 sixpence the loaf, which was not worth more than a penny, and a 
 gallon of wine for six groats, scarcely worth sixpence. Hunger, 
 however, was still felt in the camp, notwithstanding this supply ; and 
 frequent quarrels happened from their tearing the meat out of each 
 other's hands. To add to their unpleasant situation, it had rained all 
 the week, by which all their saddles and girths were rotted, and the 
 greater part of the cavalry were worn down. They had not where- 
 withal to shoe their horses that wanted it ; nor had they anything to 
 clothe themselves, or preserve them from the rain and cold, but their 
 jerkins or armor, and the green huts : nor had they any wood to burn, 
 except what was so green and wet as to be of small service. 
 
 Having continued for a whole week, without hearing any tidings 
 of the Scots, who they imagined must pass that way, or very near it, 
 in. their return home, great murmurs arose in the army: and many 
 laid the fault on those who had given such advice, adding, that it was 
 done in order to betray the king and his host. Upon which, the lords 
 of council ordered the army to make ready to march, and cross the 
 river seven leagues higher up, where the ford was better; and it was 
 proclaimed, that every one was to be in readiness to march the next 
 day, and to follow his banners. There was another proclamation 
 made, that whoever chose to take pains and find out where the Scots 
 were, and should bring certain intelligence of it to the king, the mes- 
 senger of such news should have one hundred pounds a-year in land, 
 and be made a knight by the king himself. When this was made 
 known among the host, many knights and eaquires, to the number 
 of fifteen or sixteen, eager to gain such rewards, passed the river with 
 much danger, ascended the mountains, and then separated, each taking 
 different routes. 
 
 The next day the army dislodged ; marched tolerably well, consid- 
 2ring that they were but ill clothed ; and exerted themselves so much, 
 that they repassed the river, though with much danger, from its being 
 swollen by the rains. Many were well washed, and many drowned. 
 When they had crossed over, they remained there for that night, 
 finding plenty of forage in the fields near to a small village, which 
 the Scots had burnt as they passed. The next day they marched over 
 hill and dale till about noon, when they came to some burnt villages, 
 and some fields where there were corn and hay, so that the host re- 
 mained there for that night. The third day they marched in the same 
 manner ; but many were ignorant where they were going, nor had 
 they any intelligence of the enemy. 
 
 They continued their route the fourth day in this order ; when, 
 about three o'clock, an esquire,* galloping up hastily to the king, 
 Baid, " Sire, I bring you news of the Scots : they are three leagues 
 from this place, lodged on a mountain, where they have been this 
 week, waiting for you. They knew no more where you were than 
 you did of them : and you may depend on this as true ; for I ap- 
 proached so near to them, that I was taken and led a prisoner to their 
 army, before their chiefs. I informed them where you were, and that 
 you were seeking them, to give them battle. The lords gave me up 
 my ransom, and my liberty, when I informed them that you had pro- 
 mised one hundred pounds a-year to whoever should first bring intel- 
 ligence of them, upon condition that he rested not until he brought you 
 this information ; and I now tell you that you will find them in the 
 place I have mentioned, as eager to meet you in battle as yourself 
 can be." As soon as the king heard this news, he ordered his army 
 to be prepared, and turned his horses to feed in the fields, near to a 
 monastery of white monks, which had been burnt, and which was 
 called in king Arthur's time Blanche Land. Then the king confessed 
 himself, and each made his preparations according to his abilities. 
 The king ordered plenty of masses to be said, to housel such as were 
 devoutly inclined. He assigned one hundred pounds value of land, 
 yearly, to the esquire, according to his promise, and made him a knight 
 with his own hands, in the presence of the whole army. When they 
 had taken some repose, and breakfasted, the trumpets sounded ; and 
 all being mounted, the banners advanced as the young knight led 
 
 * In Rymer is nn order for Thomas de Rokesby to receive half-yearly, at Michaelmas 
 and Euster, £100 at the Exchequer, until he was provided with £100 in land for his life. 
 Bigned by the lung at Lincoln, Sept. 28, 1387. 
 
 them on ; but each battalion marched by itself in regular array, over 
 hill and dale, keeping their ranks according to order. Thus they 
 continued marching, when about twelve o'clock they came within 
 sight of the Scots army. 
 
 As soon as the Scots perceived them, they issued forth from their 
 huts on foot, and formed three good battalions, upon thf descent of 
 the mountain on which they lodged. A strong rapid river* ran at 
 the foot of this mountain, which was so full of large rocks and stones, 
 that it was dangerous to pass it in haste. If the English had passed 
 this river, there was not room between it and the mountain for them 
 to draw up their line of battle. The Scots had formed their two first 
 battalions on the two sides of the mountain, and on the declivity of 
 the rock, which was not easy to climb to attack them : but they them- 
 selves were posted so as to annoy them with stones, if they crossed 
 the river ; which if the English effected, they would not be able to 
 return. 
 
 When the English lords perceived the"disposition of the Scots, they 
 ordered their men to dismount, take off their spurs, and form three 
 battalions as before. Many new knights were made ; and, when the 
 battalions were formed, some of the chief lords brought the young 
 king on horseback along the lines, to encourage the men. The king 
 spoke most graciously to all, and besought them to take every pains 
 to do him honor and preserve their own. He ordered, under pain 
 of death, that no one should advance before the banners of the mar- 
 shals, or move without orders. Shortly afterwards, the battalions 
 were commanded to advance toward the enemy in slow time, keeping 
 their ranks. This was done ; and each battalion moved on a con- 
 siderable space, and came to the ascent of the mountain, where the 
 Scots were posted. This manoeuvre was intended in order to see 
 whether the enemy would retire or make any movement ; but neither 
 one nor other was to be perceived : and the armies were so near each 
 other, that they could see the arms on their shields. The army was 
 ordered to halt to consider what was to be done ; and some compan- 
 ions were mounted to skirmish with the enemy, and to examine the 
 passage of the river and their appearance more clearly. They sent 
 heralds to make an offer of retiring on the morrow, if they would pass 
 the river, and fight upon the plain ; or, if the Scots would not consent 
 to this, that they would do the same. 
 
 When the Scots received this proposal, the chiefs retired to coun- 
 sel, and returned for answer by the heralds, that they would do 
 neither the one nor the other ; that the king and his barons saw that 
 they were in his kingdom, and had burnt and pillaged wherever they 
 had passed ; and that, if it displeased the king, he might come and 
 amend it; for they would tarry there as long as it pleased them. 
 When the council of the king of England heard the answer, he 
 ord&red it to be proclaimed, that each should take up his quarters 
 where he was, without quitting the ground or his arms; they there- 
 fore lay that night very uncomfortably upon the hard ground, among 
 rocks and stones, with their armor on ; nor could they get any stakes 
 for the purpose of tying their horses, or procure either litter, or forage, 
 or any bushes to make fires. 
 
 The Scots, seeing the English thus take up their quarters, ordered 
 part of the army to remain where the battalions had been drawn up; 
 and the remainder retired to their huts, where they made marvel- 
 lously great fires, and, about midnight such a blasting and noise 
 with their horns, that it seemed as if all the great devils from hell 
 had been come there. Thus were they lodged this night, which was 
 the night of the feast of St. Peter, the beginning of August, 1327, 
 until the next day, when the lords heard mass ; afterwards, every one 
 armed himself, and the battalions were formed as on the preceding 
 day. When the Scots saw this, they came and lodged themselves 
 on the same ground they had done before; and the two armies 
 remained thus drawn up until noon, when the Scots made no move- 
 ment to come toward the English, nor did these on their part make 
 any advances, for they dared not to attempt it with so great dis- 
 advantage. Several companions passed the river on horseback, as 
 did some of the foot, to skirmish with the Scots, who also quitted 
 their battalions to meet them, and many on each side were killed, 
 wounded, and taken prisoners. In the afternoon the lords ordered 
 every one to retire to their quarters, as it seemed to them that they 
 were drawn up to no purpose ; in this manner they remained for 
 three days. The Scots, on their side, never quitted the mountain ; 
 but there were continued skirmishes on both sides, and many killed 
 and taken prisoners ; in the evenings they made large fires, and great 
 noises with their horns and with shouting. The intention of the 
 English lords was to keep the Scots besieged there ; for, as they 
 could not well fight with them, they hoped to starve them : they 
 knew from the prisoners that they had neither bread, wine, salt, nor 
 other provision, except cattle, of which they had plenty, that they 
 had seized in the country — of these they might eat, indeed vnthout 
 bread, which would not be very palatable. But they had some little 
 flour to make such cakes as have been before mentioned, and which 
 some of the English use on their inroads beyond the borders. 
 
 The fourth day, in the morning, the English looked for the Scots 
 on the mountain, but saw none of them, for they found they had 
 decamped secretly at midnight. Scouts of horse and of foot were 
 immediately dispatched through the mountains to know what was 
 become of them ; they found them about four o'clock posted upon 
 
 • The Were. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 2:? 
 
 another mountain, much stronger than that they had left, upon the 
 same river, near a large wood, to be more conceajed, and in order 
 more privately to advance or retreat at pleasure. 
 
 As soon as this was known, the English had orders to dislodge, 
 and to march in battle array toward the place where the enemy was 
 posted ; and they encamped on a mountain opposite. They formed 
 their battalions, and seemed as if they meant to advance to them. 
 The Scots no sooner perceived this, than they sallied out of their 
 quarters, and came and posted themselves by the side of the river, 
 directly in front ; but they were unwilling to advance or come nearer. 
 The English could not attack them in such a situation without great 
 disadvantage and loss; they remained full eighteen days in this 
 situation upon this mountain, whence the lords sent frequent heralds 
 to the Scots, to offer to give them full place of plain ground to draw 
 up their battalions, or else they would accept the same from ihem ; 
 but they would not agree to either of these proposals. 
 
 The two armies had little comfort during the time they remained 
 in this position. The first night* that the English were posted on 
 this second mountain, the lord James Douglas took with him about 
 two hundred men-at-arms, and at midnight crossed the river, at such 
 a distance from the camp that he was jiot noticed, and fell upon the 
 English army most valiantly, shouting, " Douglas for ever! Ye shall 
 die, ye thieves of England 1" He and his companions killed more 
 than three hundred ; and he galloped up to the king's tent, and cut 
 two or three of its cords, crying, at the same time, " Douglas ! Douglas 
 for ever I" when he set off; and in his retreat, he lost some of his 
 ibllowers, but not many : he returned to his friends on the mountain. 
 Nothing more of the sort was attempted from that time ; but the 
 English in future kept a strong and attentive guard, for they were 
 fearful of another attack from the Scots, and had placed sentinels and 
 scouts to give notice of the smallest movement of the enemy; the 
 chief lords also slept in their annor There were frequent skirmishes, 
 and many lives lost on both sides. The twenty-fourth day from the 
 time they had received intelligence of the enemy, a Scots knight was 
 taken prisoner, who sore against his will gave an account to the lords 
 of the state of the enemy. He was so closely examined, that he 
 owned his lords had given orders that morning for every one to be 
 armed by vespers, and follow the banner of lord James Douglas ; 
 that it was to be kept secret; but he was not, for a certainty, 
 acquainted with their intentions further. Upon this the English lords 
 held a council ; ana they judged, from the information of the Scots 
 knight, that the enemy might perhaps come in full force at night to 
 attack them on both sides at once, and, from their sufferings by 
 famine, which they could endure no longer, make it a very bloodv 
 and doubtful com.bat. The English formed into three battalion.=^ and 
 posted themselves before their quarters, on three separate o-pots of 
 ground ; they made large fires, in order to see better, and left their 
 pages in their quarters to take care of their horses. They remained 
 under arms all the night, and each was placed under his own standard 
 or banner. 
 
 Toward daybreak two Scots trumpeters fell in with one of the 
 patrols, who took them, and brought them before the lords of the 
 council, to whom they said, " My lords, why do you watch here ? 
 You are losing your time ; for we swear, by our heads, that the Scots 
 are on their march home since midnight, and are now four or five 
 leagues off— and they left us behind, that we might give you the 
 information." The English said, that it would be in vain to follow 
 them, as they could never overtake them ; but, fearing deceit, the 
 lords ordered the trumpeters to close confinement, and did not alter 
 the position of the battalions until four o'clock. When they saw 
 that the Scots were, really gone, they gave permission for each to 
 retire to his quarters, and the lords held a council to consider what 
 was to be done. Some of the English, however, mounted their 
 horses, passed the river, and went to the mountain which the Scots 
 had quitted, and found more than five hundred large cattle, which 
 the enemy had killed, as they were too heavy to carry with them, 
 and too slow to follow them, and they wished not to let them fall 
 into the hands of the English alive. They found there also more 
 than three hundred caldrons, made of leather with the hair on the 
 outside, which were hung on the fires full of water and meat, ready 
 tor boiling. There were also upward of a thousand spits with meat 
 on them, prepared for roasting; and more than ten thousand pairs of 
 old worn-out shoes, made of undressed leather, which the Scots had 
 left there. There were found five poor English prisoners, whom the 
 Scuts had bound naked to the trees, and some of them had their legs 
 broken ; they untied them, and sent them away, and then returned 
 to the army, just as they were setting out on their march to England, 
 by orders from the king and council. 
 
 They followed all that day the banners of the marshals, and halted^ 
 at an early hour in a beautiful meadow, where there was plenty of 
 forage for their horses ; and much need was there of it, for they were 
 so weakened by famine, that they could scarce move.t The next 
 
 * The fyrst nyght that the englisshe ost was thus lodged on the second moutaigne, the 
 lorde William Dualas toke with hym aboute cc men-at-armes, & past the ryver fiirre 
 afro the oste, so that he was not parceyued : and sodeJy he brake into the englysshe ooste 
 about mydnyjht, crying, "Duglas! Duglas! ye shall all dye, theues of Inglande." 
 And lie slewe or he seased ccc men, some in their beddes, and some skan redy, and he 
 strake his horse with the spurres <S- came to the kyngis ownc tente, alwayes crying 
 Duglas, aiid stake a sundre ii or iii cordis of the kyng tent, & so departed.— L. Bernkrs. 
 
 tLord Berners here adds, "The englisshe cronicle saytb that thescottis had been 
 
 day they decamped betimes, and took up their quarters still earlier, 
 at a large monastery within two leagues of Durham. The king lay 
 there that night, and the army in the fields around it, where they 
 found plenty of grass, pulse, and corn. They remained there quiet 
 the next day; but the king and lords went to see the church of Dur- 
 ham. The king paid his homage to the church and the bishopric, 
 which he had not before done, and gave largesses to the citizens. 
 
 They found there all their carriages and baggage, which they had 
 left in a wood thirty-two days before, at midnight, as has been related. 
 The inhabitants of Durham finding them there, had brought them 
 away at their own cost, and placed them in empty barns. Each car- 
 riage had a little flag attached to it, that it might be known. The 
 lords were much pleased at finding them again. 
 
 The king and nobles reposed two days at Durham, and the army 
 in its environs, for there would not have been sufficient room to lodge 
 them in that city. They had all their horses well shod, and set out 
 on their march toward York. They made such haste, that in three 
 days they arrived there, and found the queen mother, who received 
 the king and nobles with great joy, as did all the ladies of the court 
 and city. The king disbanded the army, and gave permission for 
 every one to return to his home, and made many acknowledgments 
 to the earls, barons, and knights, for the services they had rendered 
 him by their advice and prowess. He kept near his person sir John 
 de Hainault and his company, who were much feasted by the queen 
 and all the ladies. The knights made out their cccounts for horses, 
 which had been ruined or lost, or had died, and gave them in to the 
 council ; and also a statement of their own expenf-es, which sir John 
 de Hainault took upon him as his own debt tov/ard his followers, 
 for the king and his ministers could not immediately collect such 3 
 sum as their horses amounted to ; but he gave them sufficient foi 
 their own expenses, and to carry them back to their own country.* 
 They were afterwards all paid within the year the full amount ol 
 their losses. 
 
 When the Hainaulters had received their demand for horses, they 
 purchased small hackneys to ride more at their ease, and sent thei; 
 carriages, sumpter horses, trunks, and servants, on board of two ships 
 which the king had provided for them, and which landed them a; 
 Sluys, in Flanders. They took leave of the king, queen, the earls ol 
 Kent and Lancaster, and of all the barons, who paid them many 
 honors ; and the king had them escorted by twelve knights and two 
 hundred men-at-arms, for fear of the archers, of whom they were not 
 well assuied, as they must pass through the bishopric of Lincoln. 
 Sir John and all his company set out, escorted as above, and by easy 
 journeys came to Dover, where they embarked on board vessels ready 
 provided for them. The English who had accompanied them took 
 their leave and returned to their homes. The Hainaulters arrived at 
 Wissan, where they tarried two days, in order to deck out their horses 
 and the remains of their armor ; during which time sir John de Hain- 
 ault and some other knights, went on a pilgrimage to our Lady of 
 Boulogne. They returned together to Hainault, when they separated 
 and each went to his own house ; but Sir John went to his brother, 
 who was at that time at Valenciennes : he was received by him with 
 great joy, as he was much beloved by him. The lord of Beaumont 
 then related to him all the above mentioned history. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 KING EDWARD MARRIES THE LADY PHILIPPA OF HAINAULT. 
 
 Shortly afterwards, the king, queen, the earl of Kent, his uncle, 
 earl Henry of Lancaster, the earl of Mortimer, and all the barons who 
 were of the council, sent a bishop,t two knights bannerets, t and two 
 able clerks, to sir John de Hainault, to beg of him to be the means 
 that the young king, their lord, should marry ; and that the count of 
 Hainault and Holland would send over one of his daughters, for he 
 would love her more dearly on his account, than any other lady. The 
 
 fought withall if syr Roger Mortymer a lorde of Inglande had not betraied tlie kyng, for 
 he toke mede and money of the scottis, to thentent they myght departe pryuely by nyghle 
 unfoughte vAth all."— Ed. 
 
 * In Rymerthere is an order from king Edward to his treasurer to pay sir John de Hain- 
 ault seven thousand pounds, in part of fourteen thousand, the subsidy for himself and 
 companions : dated York, June 28, 11327. In the same year, dated July 4. William d'Irland 
 is ordered to provide carriages forsir John de Hainault and his company. This order, &c. 
 is to continue in force until the following Michaelmas. There is another order to the 
 tr-easurer from York, August 20, 1327,to pay sir John de Hainault on his arrival in Lon 
 don, four thousand pounds, on account of his loss in horses, and to pawn the jewels in 
 the Tower, if there were not a sufficiency of money for the purpose. A passport, of the 
 same date, commanding none to do any harm, &c. to sir John de Hainault, An order, 
 signed by the king at Evesham, June 28, 1328, for seven thousand pounds to sir John 
 de Hainault, as part of the fourteen thousand pounds. 
 
 t Dr. Roger Northborough. bishop of Lichfield and Coventry.— AsHMOLH. 
 
 i On knights bannerets, translated from a manuscript which was in tlie Lamoignoa 
 library, but is now at Hafod : vol. iv. p. 227, first part: 
 
 " Knights bannerets were formerly gentlemen of great power, by landed possessioni, 
 and vassals, of whom they formed companies in times of war : they were called banner- 
 ets from their having the right of bearing banners. 
 
 " It was necessary, in order to obtain the prerogative, to be not only a gentleman by 
 name and arms, but also to have for vassals gentlemen who would follow their bannert 
 to the wars, under the command of the banneret. 
 
 " Ducange cites an ancient manuscript cc^remonial, which points out the manner ef 
 making a knight banneret, and the number of men he was to have follow him. 
 
 " Knights bannerets, according to father Daniel, do not appear in our history before 
 Philip Augustus ; they continued until the formation of companies of ordonnance bj 
 Charles the Seventh ; and from that period there were no longer any banners or kni^btt 
 bannerets. 
 
24 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 lord of Beaumont feasted and paid many honors to these messengers 
 and commissioners from the English king. He then took them to 
 Valenciennes, where his brother received them right honorably, and 
 gave them such sumptuous entertainments as would be tiresome to 
 relate. When they had told the cause of their mission, the count said 
 he gave many thanks to the king, queen, and the lords by whose 
 counsel they were sent thither, to do him so much honor ; and who 
 on such an occasion had sent such able men that he most willingly 
 complied with their request, if the pope and the holy church of Rome 
 were agreeable to the demand. 
 
 This answer was fully satisfactory to them, and they immediately 
 dispatched two of the knights and the clerks to the pope at Avignon, 
 to entreat his dispensation and consent to this marriage ; for without 
 the pope's dispensation it could not be done, on account of their near 
 relationship, being in the third degree connected, for their two mothers 
 were cousins-german, being the issue of two brothers. As soon as 
 they came to Avignon their business was done, for the pope and the 
 college gave their consent most benignantly. 
 
 When these gentlemen were returned to Valenciennes from Avig- 
 non with all their bulls, this marriage was directly settled and con- 
 sented to on each side, and immediate preparations were made for 
 the dress and equipage of such a lady, who was to be queen of Eng. 
 land. She was then married by virtue of a procuration, which the 
 king of England had sent thither, and went on board a ship at 
 Wissan, and landed at Dover with all her suite. Her uncle, sir John 
 de Hainault, conducted her to London, where she was crowned ; and 
 there were great crowds of the nobility, and feastings, tournaments, 
 and sumptuous entertainments every day, which lasted for three 
 weeks.* 
 
 After some days sir John took his leave, and set out with his com- 
 pany richly loaded with jewels, which had been presented to them 
 from different quarters. But few of our countrymen remained with 
 die young queen ; among whom was a youth called Wantelet de 
 Manny, to attend on and carve for her, who performed afterwards so 
 many gallant deeds of arms, in such various different places, that they 
 are not to be counted. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 ROBERT, KING OF SCOTLAND, DIES. 
 
 After the Scots had in the night quitted the mountain, where the 
 young king Edward and the nobles of England had held them besieged, 
 as you have before heard, they marched twenty-two leagues from that 
 desert country without halting, and crossed the Tyne pretty near to 
 Carlisle, where by the orders of the chiefs all disbanded, and went to 
 their own homes. Shortly afterwards some of the lords and barons so 
 earnestly solicited the king of England, that a truce was agreed on 
 between the two kings for three years. 
 
 During this truce, it happened that king Robert of Scotland, who 
 had been a very valiant knight, waxed old, and was attacked with so 
 isevere an illness,t that he sav/ his end was approaching ; l>e therefore 
 summoned together all the chiefs and barons, in whom he most con- 
 fided, and, after having told them, that he should never get the better 
 of this sickness, he commanded them, upon their honor and loyalty, to 
 keep and preserve faithfully and entire the kingdom for Ins son David, 
 and obey him and crown him king when he was of a proper age, and 
 to m-arry him with a lady suitable to his station. 
 
 He after that called to him the gallant lord James Do'^glas, and 
 said to him, in presence of the others, " My dear friend lord James 
 Douglas, you know that I have had much to do, and have suffered 
 many troubles, during the time I have lived, to support the rights of 
 my crown ; at the time that I was most occupied, I made a vow, the 
 non-accomplishment of which gives me much uneasiness — I vowed, 
 that, if I could finish my wars in such a manner, that I might have 
 quiet to govern peaceably, I would go and make war against the 
 enemies of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the adversaries of the Christ- 
 ian faith. To this point my heart has always leaned ; but our Lord 
 was not willing, and gave me so much to do in my lifetime, and this 
 last expedition has lasted so long, followed by this heavy sickness, 
 that, since my body cannot accomplish what my heart wishes, I will 
 send my heart in the stead of my body to fulfil my vow. And, as I 
 do not know any one knight so gallant or enterprising, or better 
 formed to complete my intentions than yourseif, I beg and entreat 
 of you, dear and special friend, as earnestly as I can, that you would 
 have the goodness to undertake this expedition for the love of me, 
 and to acquit my soul to our Lord and Saviour ; for I have that 
 opinion of your nobleness and loyalty, that if you undertake it, it 
 cannot fail of success — and I shall die more contented ; but it must 
 be executed as follows : 
 
 " I will, that as soon as I shall be dead, you take my heart from 
 nay body, and have it well embalmed ; you vdll also take as much 
 money from my treasury as will appear to you sufficient to perform 
 your journey, as well as for all those whom you may choose to take 
 with you in your train ; you will then deposit your charge at the Holy 
 Sepulchre of our Lord, where he was buried, since my body cannot 
 
 * The englisshe cronicle saith this marriage and coronation of the queen was done at 
 Yorke with moche honour the sonday in the euyn of the couersion of saynt Paule in y« 
 yere of our Lord mcccxxvii.— Lord Berness. 
 
 t La grosse TTio/o^fte— leprosy. 
 
 go there. You will not be sparing of expense — and provide your- 
 self with such cojnpany and such things as may be suitable to your 
 rank — and wherever you pass, you will let it be known, that you 
 bear the heart of king Robert of Scotland, which you are carrying 
 beyond seas by his command, since his body cannot go thither." 
 
 All those present began bewailing bitterly ; and when the lord 
 James could speak, he said, 
 
 " Gallant and noble king, I return you a hundred thousand thanks for 
 the high honor you do me, and for the valuable and dear treasure with 
 which you intrust me ; and I will most willingly do all that you com- 
 mand me with the utmost loyalty in my power ; never doubt it, how- 
 ever I may feel unworthy of such a high distinction." 
 
 The king replied, " Gallant knight, I thank you — you promise it 
 me then ?" 
 
 " Certainly, sir, most willingly," answered the knight. He then 
 gave his promise upon his knighthood. 
 
 The king said, " Thanks be to God ! for I shall now die in peace, 
 since I know that the most valiant and accomplished knight of my 
 kingdom will perform that for me which I am unable to do for myself." 
 
 Soon afterwards the valiant Robert Bruce, king of Scotland, 
 departed this life, on the 7th of November, 1337. His heart was 
 embalmed, and his body buried in the monastery of Dunfermline. 
 Shortly after died also the noble earl of Moray, who was one of the 
 most gallant and powerful princes in Scotland ; he bore for arms, 
 argent, three pillows gules.* 
 
 Early in the spring, the lord James Douglas having made provision 
 of everything that was proper for his expedition, embarked at the 
 port of Montrose, and sailed directly for Sluys in Flanders, in order to 
 learn if any one were going beyond the sea to Jerusalem, that he might 
 join companies. He remained there twelve days, and would not set 
 his foot on shore, but staid the whole time on board, where he kept a 
 magnificent table, with music of trumpets and drums, as if he had 
 been the king of Scotland. His company consisted of one knight 
 banneret, and seven others of the most valiant knights of Scotland, 
 without counting the rest of his household. His plate was of gold and 
 silver, consisting of pots, basins, porringers, cups, bottles, barrels, and 
 other such things. He had likewise twenty-six young and gallant 
 esquires of the best families in Scotland to wait on him ; and all those 
 who came to visit him were handsomely served with two sorts of 
 wine, and two sorts of spices — I mean those of a certain rank. At 
 last, after staying at Siuys twelve days, he heard that Alphonso, king 
 of Spain, was waging war against the Saracen king of Granada. He 
 considered that if he should go thither he should employ his time and 
 journey according to the late king's wishes ; and when he should 
 have finished there he would proceed further to complete that with 
 which he was charged. He made sail therefore toward Spain, and 
 landed first at Valencia ; thence he went straight to the king of Spain, 
 who was with his army on the frontiers, very near the Saracen king 
 of Granada. 
 
 It happened, soon after the arrival of the lord James Douglas, that 
 the king of Spain issued forth into the fields, to make his ap. 
 proaches nearer the enemy ; the king of Granada did the same ; 
 and each king could easily distinguish the other's banners, and they 
 both began to set their armies lu array. The lord James placed 
 himself and his company on one side, lo make better work, and a 
 more powerful effort. When he perceived that the battalions on each 
 side were fully arranged, and that of the king of Spain in motion, 
 he imagined they were about to begin the onset ; and as he always 
 wished to be among the first rather than last on such occasions, he 
 and all his company stuck their spurs into their horses, until they 
 were in the midst of the king of Granada's battalion, and made a 
 furious attack on the Saracens. He thought that he should be sup. 
 ported by the Spaniards ; but in this he was mistaken, for not one 
 that day followed his example. The gallant knight and all his com- 
 panions were surrounded by the 'enemy ; they performed prodigies of 
 valor ; but they were of no avail, as they were all killed. It was a 
 great misfortune that they were not assisted by the Spaniards.t 
 
 * Thomas Randolph, first earl of Moray, was very eminent in the reign of Robert 
 Bruce, who granted him the earldom of Moray, together with the seigniory of the Isle 
 of Man, as a fief, and great estates in Scotland, about the year 1315. He was appointed 
 by the parliament in 1315 governor of Scotland, in the probable event of the minority of 
 the successor, and entered on that office on the death of Robert. 
 
 Lord Hailes says, in his Annals of Scotland, anno 1332 : " Randolph, in consequence 
 of the En,?lish preparations, assembled an army, and advanced to Colbranspath, on tlie 
 frontier of East Lothian ; but having received intelligence of tiie naval armannent, he 
 marched northwards, to provide for the defence of the interior parts of the kingdom. 
 Amid the excruciating pains of a confirmed stone, he ceased not to discharge the 
 duties of his office with activity and vigilance. He expired on t-he march t20th July.) 
 A man he was to he remembered while integrity, prudence, and valor, are held iJi 
 esteem among men." 
 
 1 have quoted the above as a more probable reason for ihs death tJian the report of 
 some of the chroniclers, who have said he was poisoned by a monk, with the knowledge 
 of Edward IIL Lord Hailes has added a note to this passage, vol. ii., p. 146, which 
 completely disproves it. ,,,.■,„■ 
 
 t PJariana says, lib.xv. cap. 21, that the king of Arragon, although joined m alliance 
 with the king of Castile against the Moors, did not bring his troops to the field. 
 
 Lord Hailes's Annals of Scotland, anno 1330: " The detached troops fought with 
 equal advantage, and the Moorish cavalry fled. Douglas with his companions eagerly 
 pursued the Saracens. Taking the casket from his neck, which contained the heart of 
 Bruce, he threw it before him and cried. " J^oid pass thou onward as tlioii wast want, 
 and Douclas will follow thee, or die!' The fugitives lallied-surrounded and over- 
 whelmedby superior numbers, Douglas fell, while attempting to rescue sir VVilham St. 
 Clare, of Rosiin, who shared his fate. Robert and Walter Logan, both of them knighu. 
 were slain with Douglas. His friend, sir William Keith, having had his arm broke 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 S5 
 
 About this time many of the nobles and others, desirous of a settled 
 ptace between the Scots and English, proposed a marriage between 
 the young king of Scotland and the sister of the king of England. 
 This man-iage was concluded and solemnized at Berwick, witli great 
 feasts and rejoicings on both sides. 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 PHILli^, OF VALOIS CROWNED KING OF PRANCE. 
 
 Charles, king of France, son of Philip the Fair, had been thrice 
 married, and yet died without heirs male. The first of his wives, a 
 daughter of the count of Artois, was one of the most beautiful women 
 In the world ; however, she kept her marriage vow so ill, and be- 
 haved so badly, that she was long confined in prison at Chateau 
 Gaillard, before her husband was king. When the kingdom of 
 France devolved upon him, he v»^as crowned by the twelve peers of 
 France and all the barons, who were not willing that such a kingdom 
 should be deprived of male heirs ; they therefore strongly recom- 
 mended his marrying again, with which he complied, and took to wife 
 the daughter of the emperor Henry of Luxemburgh, sister to the gal- 
 iant king of Bohemia. His first marriage, with the lady in prison, 
 was dissolved by the pope of that day. By this second wife, the lady 
 of Luxembui'gh, who was modest and prudent, the king had a son, 
 who died very young, and the mother soon afterwards, at Issoudun, 
 in Berry. The cause of their deaths was much suspected, and many 
 were inculpated in it, and privily punished. 
 
 The king was afterwards married a third time, to the daughter of 
 his uncle, Lew.K, count of Evreux and sister to the king of Navarre. 
 She was called queen Joan. She was soon afterwards with child, and 
 at the same tim.; the king fell sick on his death-bed. When he per- 
 ceived that he could not recover, he ordered, that, if the child should 
 be a son, Philip of Valois, his cousin, should be his guardian, and 
 regent of the whole kingdom, until such time as his son should be of 
 age to reign ; that, if it should happen to be a girl, then the twelve 
 peers and great barons were to assemble to take counsel together, 
 and to give the kingdom to him who appeared to them to have the 
 clearest right. About Easter 1326, the king died ; and it was not 
 long before the queen was brought to bed of a beautiful girl. 
 
 The twelve peers and barons of France assembled at Paris without 
 delay, and gave the kingdom, with one consent, to Philip of Valois. 
 Thev passed by the queen of England, and the king her son, although 
 
 Phimp de Valois, Kino of France— From an ancient picture, engraTed in 
 
 Mezernay's History of France. 
 
 she was cousin-german to the king last deceased ; for they said, that 
 the kingdom of France was of such great nobleness, that it ought not 
 
 was detained from the battle. His few surviving companions found his body in the 
 field, together with the casket, and reverently conveyed them to Scotland. The remains 
 of Douglas were interred in the sepulchre of his fathers, in the church of Douglas, and 
 the heartof Bruce was deposited at Melrose. 
 
 " His natural son, Archibald Douglas, erected a marble monument to his memory ; 
 but his countrymen have more effectually perpetuated his fame, by bestowing on him 
 the name of the good sir James Douglas.' Fordun reports, that Douglas was thirteen 
 times defeated in battle, and fifty-seven times victorious. 
 
 '* Perhaps my readers will not dislike to see the portrait of Douglas drawn by Bar- 
 aour, p. 13. 
 
 " In visage was he some deal gray, 
 And had black hair, as I heard say ; 
 But then, of limbs he was well made. 
 With bones great, and shoulders braid; 
 His body well made and ienzie. 
 As they that saw him said to me. 
 When he was blyth, he was lovely. 
 And meek, and sweet in company ; 
 But who in battle might him see, 
 Another countenance had he ; 
 And in his speech he lispt some deal. 
 But that set him right wonder welL" 
 
 to fall by succession to a female. They crowned the lord Philip king 
 of France, at Rheims, the Trinity Sunday following. Immediately 
 he summoned his barons and men-at-arms, and went with a power- 
 ful army to Cassel, to make war upon the Flemings, especially those 
 of Bruges, Ypres, and of the Franc,* who would not willingly obey 
 their lord, the count of Flanders, but rebelled against him, and had 
 driven him out of the country, so that he could reside nowhere but 
 at Ghent, and there miserable enough. 
 
 King Philip discomfited full twelve thousand Flemings,t who iaad 
 for their captain one Colin Dannequin, a bold and courageous man. 
 The above mentioned Flemings had put the garrison of Cassel under 
 the command of the aforesaid towns, and at their charges, to guard 
 the frontiers at that place. I will inform you how the Flemings were 
 defeated and all through their own bad conduct. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 THE BATTLE OF CASSEL, IN FLANDERS. 
 
 Those that were in the garrison at Cassel set out one day, about 
 vespers, with a design to defeat the king and all his army. They 
 marched very quietly without noise in three divisions ; the first of 
 which advanced straight to the tents of the king, and was near sur- 
 prising him, as he was seated at supper, as well as his whole house- 
 hold. The second went to the tents of the king of Bohemia, and 
 almost found him in the same situation. The third division attacked 
 the quarters of the count of Hainault, and nearly surprised him : they 
 pressed him so closely, that he and his people had scarce time to arm 
 themselves ; and the lord of Beaumont, his brother, and his company, 
 were in a similar situation. All the three divisions came so quickly 
 up to the tents, that neither the lords nor soldiers had time to assem- 
 ble or properly arm themselves, and they would all have been slain, 
 if it had not been, as it were, a miracle of God : but by his grace, 
 each of these lords defeated their enemies, and so completely, that, 
 in the space of an hour, out of twelve thousand Flemings not one 
 escaped. Their captain v/as also killed. Nor did any of these lords 
 receive any intelligence of the other until the business was finished. 
 Of all the Flemings not one turned his back ; but ihey were ail 
 slaughtered on the spot and lay in three large heaps, one upon the 
 other. This battle happened in the year of grace 1328, on St. Bar- 
 tholomew's day. 
 
 The French then came to Cassel, and placed there the banners of 
 France, the town having surrendered to the king. Afterwards Pope, 
 ringue, and then Ypres, and all the castlewick of Bcrgues followed, 
 and received the count Lewis their lord, and swore fidelity and loy. 
 alty to him for the time to come. The king soon after set out with 
 his troops toward Paris, where, in the neighborhood, he staid some 
 time. He was much praised and honored for this enterprise, £.nd for 
 the service he had rendered to the count Lewis, his brother. He 
 lived in great prosperity and increased the royal power. No king 
 of France, it was said had ever kept so royal a state as king Philip. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII 
 
 THE EARL OF KENT AND SIR ROGER MORTIMER PUT TO DEATH. 
 
 The young king Edward of England was governed for a long time, 
 as you have before seen, by the counsels of his mother, the earl of 
 Kent his uncle, and sir Roger Mortimer; at last a jealousy arose 
 between the earl of Kent and sir Roger, insomuch that sir Roger, 
 with the consent of the queen mother, gave the king to understand 
 that the earl of Kent would shorten his life by poison, if he was not 
 upon his guard, to inherit the kingdom as the next heir ; for the young 
 brother of the king, called John of Eltham, was lately dead.t King 
 Edward believed these tales but too readily, and ordered his uncle, 
 the earl of Kent, to be arrested and publicly beheaded, before any 
 could come to intercede for him. The whole country were m.uch 
 concerned at it, and bore an ill will to the lord Mortimer ever after. 
 Not long after, great infamy fell upon the queen mother — whether 
 with just cause or not I am ignorant, but it was commonly said, thai 
 she was with child, and in this was the lord Mortimer inculpated 
 The king was likewise informed, that the lord Mortimer had been 
 the author of ail the charges respecting the earl of Kent, and conse. 
 quently was the author of his death, through jealousy ; and that the 
 whole country believed him loyal and honest. 
 
 The king then ordered the lord Mortimer to be arrested and brought 
 to London, before him and a very great number of baruns and nobles 
 of the realm. A knight, by the king's command, recited all the deeds 
 of the lord Mortimer, from a declaration which he held in his hand. 
 Every one was then asked, by way of counsel, what sentence should 
 be passed. Judgment was soon given ; for each had perfect know. 
 
 * " Le Franc, Franconatus, Terra Franca. It is part of French Flanders, and waa 
 yielded to the French by the peace of the Pyrenees; it comprehends the baihwicks of 
 Bourb miL', Be-irue, St. Winox, and Fumes, and besides the capital towns of these baili- 
 wicks, those of Dunkirk and Gravelines."— Z)zc/;j07wafre Geograpliique, par BaudraN. 
 
 t Lord Berners here and in the previous chapter says sixteen thousand ; Dr. Sauvaga 
 has twelve thousand in one place and sixteen thousand in another. 
 
 X Froissart mistakes. John of Eltiiam lived more than six years after thedeath^f tha 
 earl of Kent. There were, besides his elder brother, Thomas of Brotherton, earl of Nor* 
 folk, living, as well as the two sisters of the king, Joan and Eleanor. 
 
26 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 ledge of the facts, from report and good information. They replied 
 to the king's question, that he ought to suffer the same death as sir 
 Hugh Sppncer, which sentsnce had neither delay of execution or 
 mercy. He was immediately drawn upon a hurdle through the city 
 of London, and placed on a ladder in the midst of the market-place ; 
 when he had his private parts cut off, and cast into a fire, because he 
 had thought and acted treasonably. His body was then quartered, 
 and sent to the four principal cities in England ; his head remained 
 in London*. The king, soon after, by the advice of his council, 
 ordered his mother to be confined in A goodly castle, and gave her 
 plenty of ladies to wait and attend on her, as well as knights and 
 esquires of honor! He made her a handsome allowance to keep and 
 maintain the state she had been used to ; but forbade that she should 
 ever go out or show herself abroad, except at certain times, when any 
 shows were exhibited in the court of the castle. The queen thus 
 passed her time there meekly ; and the king, her son, visited her twice 
 or thrice a year. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 KING EDWARD PAYS HOMAGE TO THE KING OF FRANCE FOR THE DUCHY 
 
 OF GUIENNE. 
 
 After king Edward had administered these two great acts of just- 
 ice,t he took new counsellors, the wisest and best beloved by his 
 people. About a year after the coronation of king Philip of France, 
 when all tbe barons and tenants of the crown had done him fealty 
 and homage, except the young king Edward, who had neither ap- 
 peared, nor had even been summoned, the king of France, by the 
 advice of his council, sent to him the lord of Ancenis, the lord of 
 Beausault, and two clerks learned in the laws, and of the parliament 
 of Paris, named master Peter of Orleans, and master Peter of Maisiers. 
 These four left Paris, and travelled on to Wissan, where they em- 
 barked, passed over, and landed at Dover ; there they remained one 
 whole day, waiting for the disembarkation of their horses and baggage. 
 Then they went forward and came to Windsor, where the king and 
 queen resided. They sent to inform the king of the cause of their 
 journey ; when king Edward, to do honor to his cousin the king of 
 France, invited them to his presence, and treated them with much 
 favor. After they had delivered their message to the king, he replied, 
 that he had not then his council with him, but he would send for them, 
 and they might now return to London, where such an answer would 
 be given to them as should be sufficient. Upon hearing this, and after 
 they had dined, to their great satisfaction, in the king's apartment, 
 they set out, and lay that night at Coldbrook : the next day they 
 arrived in London. 
 
 The king did not delay long in following them, but came to his 
 palace of Westminster, and ordered his council to assemble. They 
 sent for the messengers from France, who, when they had told why 
 they were come, and had given the letters sent by the king their lord, 
 withdrew. The kmg having asked of his council what was to be 
 done, it was resolved to give an answer according to the ordinances 
 and style of his predecessors, and that the bishop of London should 
 deliver it, which was done as follows : " Gentlemen, who are come 
 hereby the orders of the king of France, I bid you welcome : we have 
 heard your speech, and read your letters. We inform you, that we 
 advise the king, our lord, to pass over to France to see his cousin, 
 who so kindly has sent to him ; and, moreover, to perform his homage 
 and loyalty, for in truth he is bounden U it by his duty. You will tell 
 the king, your lord, that our king and mister will shortly be with him, 
 and do all that is proper and right for him to do." 
 
 After the messengers had been well entertiined, and received many 
 rich presents and jewels from the king, they took their leave, and 
 returned to Paris, where they tound king Philip, to whom they related 
 all that had passed. The king said, he should be very happy to receive 
 his cousin, king Edward, whom he had never seen. When this news 
 was spread over France, dukes, counts, and all the nobility, made 
 great and rich preparations. The king of France sent letters to king 
 Charles of Bohemia and the king of Navarre, to inform them of the 
 day that the king of England was expected to appear, and to desire 
 they would be present. Accordingly they came in very great mag- 
 nificence. The king of France was advised to receive the king of 
 England in the city of Amiens. There were great preparations made 
 to get apartments, houses, and provision for him and his attendants, 
 as well as for the kings of Bohemia and Navarre, who were provided 
 for by him, and the duke of Burgundy. The dukes of Bourbon and 
 Lorraine, and lord John of Artois, were to be there, with upward of 
 three thousand horse ; and the king of England's suite was to consist 
 of six hundred horse. 
 
 The young king did not forget, in this journey to France, to equip 
 hiinself becoming his rank : he set out from England, accompanied by 
 two bishops with the bishop of London ; t four earls — Henry, earl of 
 
 • This is not correct. His body, after hanging for two days and two nights by the 
 llfng's special command, through iiis favor, was granted to the Friars Minors, or Gray 
 Friars, in London, who buried him in their church, now called Christ Church ; whence, 
 many years af erwards, it was translated to Wigmore.— Ditgdale. 
 
 1 Lord Berners says "executions:" a fitter le^m. Tlie death of tl-e earl of Kent can 
 •enrcely be deemed av act of justice. The original reads— "ces d j ix grans justices,' 
 which last word is properly rendered executions. 
 
 J Dr. Stephen Gravesend, bishop of London; Dr. John Stratford, bishop of Winches- 
 ter ; Dr. Henry 'iuru-ash, bishop of Lincob 
 
 Derby, his cousin-german, son of Thomas, earl of Lancaster, hii 
 uncle, surnamed Wryneck, the earl of Salisbury, the earl of Warwick, 
 the earl of Hereford ; and six barons — lord Reginald Gobham, lord 
 Thoma*s Wager, the marshal of England, lord Percy, the lord of 
 Manny, lord Mowbray, and more than forty other nobles and knights • 
 There were upward of a thousand horse attending on and provided 
 for by the king. They were two days in passing from Dover to Wis- 
 san. Then the king and his company rode to Boulogne, where he 
 staid one day — it was about mid-August when the king arrived at 
 Boulogne, t 
 
 News being soon carried to king Philip, that the king of England 
 was at Boulogne, he directly sent his constable, and a number of 
 knights, to meet him ; they found him at Montreuil sur Mer. After 
 many congratulations and professions of love, the king of England 
 rode on, accompanied by the constable, and he and all his company 
 arrived at Amiens, where king Philip was in all pomp ready to re- 
 ceive him, attended by the kings of Bohemia, Majorca, and Navarre, 
 and a number of dukes, counts, barons, and other nobles. The twelve 
 peers of France were also present, as well to do personal honor to 
 the king of England, as to be witnesses when he should perform his 
 homage. 
 
 The king of England was most magnificently received, and he and 
 his company remained there fifteen days, during which time many 
 conferences were held and ordinances framed. 
 
 It appears to me, that king Edward at that time did homage by 
 mouth and words, but without placing his hands in the hands of the 
 king of France, or any prince, prelate, or deputy doing it for him. 
 And the king of England, by the advice of his council, would not 
 proceed further in this business, until he should be returned to Eng- 
 land, and have examined the privileges of old times, to clear up this 
 homage, and see by what means a king of England was a vassal to 
 the king of France. 
 
 The king of France replied, " Cousin, we do not wish to deceive 
 you ; what you have hitherto done has been very agreeable to us, and 
 we will wait until you shall have returned into your own country and 
 seen, from the deeds of your predecessors, what you ought to do." 
 
 The king of England, taking a friendly leave of the king of France, 
 and of the other princes who were present, returned to England. He 
 journeyed on to Windsor, where the queen received him with much 
 pleasure. She made inquiries after king Philip her uncle, and after 
 her other relations in France. The king, her husband, related to her 
 all that had passed, and the particulars of his magnificent reception, 
 and the great honors that were paid to him in France ; whicn were 
 such that no other country could pretend to do the like. 
 
 It was not long before the king of France sent into England the fol. 
 lowing privy councillors : the bishops of Chartres and of Beauvais, the 
 lord Louis de Clermont, the duke de Bourbon, the count de Harcourt, 
 the count de Tancarville, and other knights and clerks learned in 
 the laws, to attend the conference that was to be hoi den at London 
 on the s-ubject above mentioned. The king of England had exam- 
 ined in what manner his predecessors had done their homage for 
 what they held in Acquitaine, of which they were styled dukes. 
 Many in England murmured, that their king should do homage to 
 Philip, who had not so near a right to the crown of France as him- 
 self. Neither the king nor his council was ignorant of this ; how. 
 ever, a great parliament and assembly were holden on the subject of 
 his homage. The embassadors from the king of France remained 
 all the winter, till the month of May following, without being able 
 to obtain any definitive answer. At last, the king of England, in 
 conformity to his privileges, in which he put much faith, was advised 
 to write letters in the manner of patents, sealed with his great seal, 
 acknowledging what kind of homage he owed, and ought to pay to 
 the king of France, which letters were in the following terms : 
 
 " Edward, by the grace of God king of England, lord of Ireland^ 
 and duke of Acquitaine, to all by whom these letters shall be seei 
 and heard, greeting. 
 
 " We make known, that when we paid our homage to our excel- 
 lent and well-beloved lord and cousin, Philip, king of France, al 
 Amiens, it was required by him of us, that we should acknovv ledge 
 such homage to be liege, and that we, in paying him such homage, 
 should promise expressly to be faithful and true to him — which things 
 we did not then do, as we were ignorant if they were due, and only 
 paid him general homage in such terms, as saying, we entered into 
 his homage in the same manner as our predecessors, the dukes of 
 Guienne, had in former days entered into homage to the kings of 
 France who for that time were, and being since better inforfhed as 
 to the truth, acknowledge by these presents, that the homage, which 
 we paid to the king of France in the city of Amiens, by general words, 
 was, is, and ought to be considered as liege homage, and that we owe 
 him loyalty and truth, as duke of Acquitaine, peer of France, earl of 
 Poitou, and Montreuil ; and we promise to bear him loyalty and truth. 
 That from henceforward no more disputes may arise, we promise for 
 ourselves and our successors, dukes of Acquitaine, that the above 
 mentioned homage shall be performed in the manner following : 
 " The king of England, as duke of Acquitaine, shall hold his hands 
 
 * See Rymer, anno 1329, for the names of those who passed over to France with king 
 Edward. 
 
 t In Rymer, there is a memorandum that the king embarked at Dover for France, at 
 midday, the 2bU of May, 132^. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 27 
 
 in the hands of the king of France ; and the person v/ho shall address 
 his speech to the king of England as duke of Acquitaine, and who 
 shall speak for the king of France, shall say thus : You become 
 liegeman to the king my lord, here present, as duke of Acquitaine, 
 and a peer of France ; and you promise to bear him faith and loyalty 
 —Say Yea : and the king of England, duke of Guienne, as well as 
 all their succes ors, shall sav Yea : and then the king of France shall 
 receive the kin<, of England, duke of Guienne, by faith and mouth, 
 saving any other their reciprocal rights. 
 
 " Moreover, when the said king and duke shall enter upon his 
 homage to the king of France for the earldoms of Foitou and Mon- 
 treuil, he shall put his hands into the hands of the king of France 
 for the earldoms of Poitou and Montreuil ; and the person who shall 
 speak for the king of France shall address these words to the king 
 as earl, and say as follows : You become liegeman to the king my 
 lord, here present, as earl of Foiiou and Montreuil, and you promise 
 to be faithful and loyal to him— Say Yea: and the king, as count of 
 Poitou and Montreuil, shall say Yea : and then the king of France 
 shall receive the said king and earl as liegeman by faith and mouth, 
 saving any other his right. And in this manner shall all future 
 homages be paid. For this cause we deliver, for us and our succes. 
 sors, dukes of Guienne, after homages done, letters patent, sealed 
 with our great seal, if the king of France shall require it ; and with 
 this we promise to keep on our faith the peace and concord most 
 amicably between the kings of France and the above mentioned 
 kings of England, dukes of Guienne."* 
 
 These letters were carried to France by the aforesaid lords, and 
 the king of France ordered them to be preserved in his chanceiy. 
 
 ROBERT, 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 COUNT D'ARTOIS, BANISHED *FRANCE. 
 
 Robert, count d'Artois, was the man above all others who had most 
 
 assisted king Philip to gain possession of the crown ; he was one 
 
 of the wisest and greatest barons in France, 
 
 of the highest birth, being descended from 
 
 kings. His wife was sister-german to Philip, 
 
 whose special companion and friend he had 
 
 been in all his fortunes ; and for the space 
 
 of three years he managed everything in 
 
 France — so that nothing was done without 
 
 his knowledge. 
 
 It happened afterwards, that king Philip 
 
 took a violent hatred against the lord Robert, 
 
 on account of a suit, which was brought before 
 
 him, that regarded the county of Artois ; and 
 
 the said lord Robert was desirous of obtaining 
 
 it by means of a letter that he produced, and 
 
 which, by all accounts, was forged. Had he 
 
 been arrested in the first movements of the 
 
 king's anger, he would infallibly have been 
 
 put to death ; he therefore thought it prudent 
 
 to quit the kingdom of France, and go to his 
 
 nephew, earl John, at Namur. The king 
 
 ordered his sister, wife of lord Robert, and 
 
 her two sons, his nephews, John and Charles, 
 
 to be arrested and shut up in a close prison, 
 
 out of which he swore they should never come 
 
 as long as he lived ; and since that time, 
 
 though many spoke in their behalf, they had 
 
 not greater liberty, for which he was after- 
 
 wards much blamed behind his back. 
 
 The king, in his warmth, sent to Raoul, 
 bishop of Liege, begging of him to challenge and make war upon the 
 earl of Namur, if he did not put away the lord Robert from his court. 
 
 The bishop, who loved exceedingly the king of France, and little 
 respected his neighbors, did immediately as the king desired. The 
 earl of Namur was therefore advised to send away the lord Robert, 
 which he did much against his inclinations. Lord Robert then went 
 to his cousin, the duke of Brabant, who received him with great joy, 
 and gav^ him every comfort. 
 
 As soon as the king knew it, he sent to say, that, if he supported 
 him, or suffered him to remain in his territories, he should not have 
 a worse enemy than himself, and that he would oppress him by 
 every means in his power. The duke, upon this, sent him very pri- 
 vately to Argentau, until he should know in what manner the king 
 would take it. The king, who had spies everywhere, was soon 
 informed of what had passed in Brabant ; and was so vexed, that he 
 stimulated by money the king of Bohemia, who was cousin-german 
 to the duke, the bishop of Liege, the archbishop of Cologne, the 
 duke of Gueldres, the marquis Juliers, the earl of Bar, the lords of 
 Los and Fauquemont, and many other lords, who were soon allied 
 together against the duke, whom they challenged, and entered his 
 territories near Esbaing. They advanced as far as Hannut, and burnt 
 the country at two different times, according to their pleasure. The 
 
 king of France sent with them the earl of Eu, his constable, with a 
 great company of men-at-arm.s. The earl Wil'iam of Hainault then 
 thought it time to interfere, and sent the countess, his lady, who was 
 sister to king Philip, and the lord of BesumouL his brother, to France, 
 to intercede with the king for a respite and Cruce between him and 
 the duke of Brabant. The' king made m^ny difiiculties, but at last 
 consented,- upon condition that the duke shociid submit himself to 
 whatever he and his council might judge p.-opev for him to do toward 
 the king of France, and toward those loMr' w ho had waged war 
 against him. He was also ordered to dism^se tho lord Robert from 
 his territories within a certain time, which he was forced to perform 
 though much against his will.* 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 KING EDWARD TAKES THE CITY OF BERWICK. 
 
 You have heard related all that passed between (he English and 
 Scotch, during the three years that the truce lasted : and for one year 
 more the two nations were at peace. This had not haiopened before 
 for two hundred years, during which they had been coustantly at war 
 with each other. 
 
 It fell out that king Edward was informed, that the young king 
 David of Scotland, who had married his sister, kept possession of 
 Berwick, which of right belonged to his kingdom, and which king 
 Edward his ancestor had held, and the king his father also, very peace- 
 ably for a long time afterwards. He was also informed, th^ t the king- 
 dom of Scotland was dependent on his crown as a fief, a.^d that the 
 young king of Scots, his brother-in-law, had never ackno\ ledged it, 
 or done homage for it. The king of England therefore se it embas- 
 sadors to the king of Scots, to request, that he would witl. Iraw his 
 people from the city of Berwick, and give him possession o it, as it 
 v/as his just inheritance, and had always appertained to the >ings of 
 England his predecessors. They also summoned him to c -^e and 
 do his homage for the kingdom of Scotland, which he oughi ? hold 
 from the crown of England as a fief. 
 
 * See the copy of the original instrument of the homage and the witnesses to it, in 
 Rymer, anno 1329. Also another, of wnich this in Froissart seems a copy, signed at 
 Eltham, March 31. 1331. 
 
 Berwick upon Tweed— showing the remains of the old fortifications. 
 
 The king of Scotland took the advice and opinions of his council 
 and chief barons, and made this reply to the embassadors : 
 
 " My lords, I and my barons marvel greatly at the claim you have 
 preferred ; for we do not find that any of our ancestors acknowledged 
 the kingdom of Scotland as a fief, or in any ways subject to the crown 
 of England, either by homage or otherwise : my lord, the king our 
 father, of happy memory, would never do homage to any preceding 
 kings of England, whatever wars may have been made on the sub. 
 ject — neither have I any intention or inclination to do it. As for the 
 town of Berwick, king Robert, our father, conquered it from the late 
 king of England by open war, and kept possession of it during his 
 lifetime as his true heritage — I also hope and mean to keep posses- 
 sion of It, and shall do everything in my power for that end. I shall 
 request of you, that you would have the goodness to entreat the king, 
 whose sister we have married, that he would allow us to enjoy the 
 same liberties as our ancestors have done, and to keep vv^hat our father 
 won and held peaceably all his life ; and that he would not listen to 
 any evil counsellorfj ; for, if any other prince should wish to do us 
 wrong, he ought to aid and defend us, from the love he must bear to 
 his sister, our queen." 
 
 The embassadors repl ied, " Sir, we have well heard your answer, 
 
 * For further particulars respecting Robert d'Artois, his crimes, trial. &.c. see the 8th 
 and 10th volumes of the Memoires de 1' Academie des Inscriptions, &c., where there ars 
 three interesting memoirs concerning him by M. Lancelot, very different from this account 
 of Froissart, or rather of John le Bel. They are too long to be inserted as notes 
 
28 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, PRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 and will report it to the king, our lord, in the manner you have told 
 it to us." They then took their leave, and returned to their king, to 
 whom this answer was not very agreeable. He summoned to a par- 
 liament, to be holden at London, barons, knights, and councillors, 
 from the chief towns in the kingdoii*, to have their advice in the pres. 
 ent state of aff:irs. 
 
 During the term of parliament, the lord Robert of Artois- arrived in 
 England disguised as a merchant. The king received him very kindly, 
 appointed him one of his councillors, and assigned to him the earl- 
 dom of Richmond, which had belonged to his ancestors*. 
 
 When the day of the meeting of parliament came, and the chiefs 
 of the country were assembled in London, the king ordered what he 
 had written to the king of Scotland to be read, and the answer to it 
 from that king. He then desired they would give him such advice 
 that the dignity of his crown might be preserved. After they had 
 consulted together, it appeared to them, that the king could no longer 
 with honor endure the wrongs which the king of Scots did to him ; 
 and they offered him such advice, that he immediately gave orders for 
 every preparation to be made, not only to enable him to regain the 
 good town of Berwick, but to penetrate into Scotland with so power- 
 ful an army, that the king of Scotland should think himself happy, if 
 permitted to do his homage, and make satisfaction. They added, 
 that they were v»rilling and desirous to accompany him in this expe- 
 dition. The kkig gave them many thanks for their willingness to 
 assist him, and begged of them to be ready, and properly prepared, 
 according to their different ranks, to meet him at Newcastle-upon- 
 Tyne by a day fixed. Each returned to his home to make prepara- 
 tions. The king was not idle ; and sent other embassadors to the 
 king of Scotland, his brother-in-law, to give him public notice, and, 
 if he had not altered his mind, to bid him defiance. 
 
 The day fixed on drew near ; king Edward and all his host came 
 to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and waited there three days for the rear 
 and followers of his array. The fourth day he advanced with his 
 whole army toward Scotland, and passed over the lands of the lords 
 Percy and Neville, v/ho are two great barons in Northumberland, 
 and marched forward to meet the Scots. Lord Roos, lord Mowbray, 
 and lord Lisle did the same. The king with his army drew toward 
 the town of Berwick ; for the king of Scotland had not sent any 
 other answer by the second embassadors than he had by the first ; 
 therefore he had been publicly summoned and defied. The king 
 advanced with his army, and entered Scotland. He was advised 
 not to stop at Berwick, but to march forward and burn the country, 
 as his grandfather had done before ; he therefore marched and de- 
 stroyed in this excursion all the plain country, and ruined many towns 
 that were inclosed with dikes and palisades. He took the strong 
 castle of Edinburgh, and placed his own garrison therein. He passed 
 the second river in Scotland below Dunfermline ; and his people 
 overran the whole country as far as Scone, and destroyed the good 
 town of Dunfermline, but touched not the abbey, for the king had 
 strictly forbidden it. They conquered the country as far as Dundee, 
 and took Dunbarton, a very strong castle on the borders of the High- 
 lands, whither the king, and the queen his consort, had retired. t No 
 one dared to oppose the English ; for the Scots had all retreated to 
 the forests of Jedworth, which are impenetrable, except to those well 
 acquainted with the country. They had carried all their moveables 
 with them, and placed them in safety, and held not what was left 
 behind of any account. It was not to be wondered that the Scots 
 were thus dismayed ; their king was but about fifteen years old ; the 
 carl of Moray was still younger ; and a youth, named William Doug- 
 las, nephew of him who was killed in Spain, was of a similar age ; 
 80 that Scotland was destitute of good captains. 
 
 When the king of England had I'un over and scoured the plains of 
 Scotland, and had remained there for three months, not seeing any 
 come to oppose him, he garrisoned maiiy castles which he had taken, 
 and thought by their means to make war upon all that remained. 
 
 • This seems to be a considerable mistaiie ; for the earldom of Richmond, according 
 to Dugdale. had been in tiie family of the dukes of Brittany a long time. 
 
 " In the 1st of Edward III., .John, duke of Brittany, obtained leave to grant the earl- 
 dom of Richmond, witii the castle, and likewise the castle of Bowes, unto Arthur, his 
 brother ind iieir. On the death of this John, John de Dreux. son of Arthur, did homage 
 Tot this earldom of Richmond. He died the Mh of May, in the 15th of Edward III. 
 John, duke of Brittany, and earl of Moiifovt, soon aftertliis event did his homage for it. 
 It continued in this family until John, surnamed the Valiant, united himself to the king 
 of France, contrary to his allegiance, and forfeited it in the second year of Richard II." 
 —Dugdale's Baronagii;, vol. i. p. 46. 
 
 t " Edward appears to have been at Belford on Iiis march northward, 7tli May ; Fce- 
 dera, torn. iv. p. 557. So that it is probable, that, in a day or two after, he came to Ber- 
 wick. Froissart relates, that Edward, leaving Baliol with his forces before Berwick, 
 invaded Scotland, wasted tiie country, penetrated as far north as Dundee, and from 
 thence marched across the island to the neighborhood of Dunbarton ; that he took the 
 castles of Edinburgh and Dalkeith, and placed garrisons in them ; and that, after having 
 employed six months in this expedition, he returned to the siege of Berwick. This story 
 has been transcribed by divers historians, wlio could not distinguish when Froissart was 
 well informed, and when not. 
 
 "Froissart has placed in 1333. events which, as to many particulars, occurred after- 
 wards. This course of six montks is an impossibility ; for Edward did not come to tlie 
 siege of Berwick before May, and the place surrendered on the 20th of July. Besides, it 
 appears from the Fccdera. turn. iv. pp. 558, 564, that Edward was in t!ie neighborhood of 
 Berwick, May 27th and 30th, the 2nd. 4th, 5th 6th. 8th. 26th June, and the 2nd. 6tli, and 
 16tb of July : so tiiat he never could have been three weeks absent, and indeed, it is not 
 probable that he was ever al)sent, from the siege. An invasion of Scotland at that time 
 could have served no purpose of coB<iuesi. and. by dividing the army, mifiht have had 
 iktal eonsflquences."— Lord Hailes's Ammals. 
 
 He then made a handsome retreat toward Berwick, and in his way 
 he took the castle of Dalkieth, which was the patrimony of the earl 
 of Douglas, situate just five miles from Edinburgh ; he appointed a 
 governor, with a good garrison. By short marches he came before 
 the good town of Berwick, which is situate at the end of Northum- 
 berland, at the entrance into Scotland. The king surrounded it on 
 every side, and said he would never quit the spot until he had reduced 
 it, or the king of Scotland came to force him to raise the siege at 
 the head of his army. It was well supplied with provision, and had 
 a good garrison of men-at-arms from the king of Scotland, and, 
 besides, was partly surrounded by an arm of the sea. There were 
 assaults and skirmishes every day before the walls of the town, for 
 those of the garrison refused to surrender themselves unconditionally, 
 expecting succor to arrive, in which however they were disappointed. 
 True it is that some Scottish knights formed an expedition to attack 
 the English camp in the evenings, or before daybreak ; but they 
 made little impression, for the English -army was so much upon its 
 guard, that the Scots could not make any attack with effect, or with- 
 out loss of men. 
 
 When those who were within the town saw that they had not any 
 hopes of assistance, that their provision began to fail, and that they 
 were so closely besieged by sea and land that nothing could enter, 
 they began to treat with the king ; who was prayed to grant them a 
 truce for one month upon condition that if, within that time, neither 
 king David, their Xo^t, nor any one from him, should come with a 
 sufficient force to raise tiie siege, they should surrender up the town, 
 upon having their lives and fortunes spared, and the soldiers liberty 
 to return whither they would into their own country, without loss oi 
 hindrance. This treaty, however, was not immediately concluded, 
 for the king was desirous of avoiding any conditions, to punish those 
 who had held out so obstinately against him : at last he was persuaded 
 to it, by the advice of his council, and particularly of the lord Robert 
 d'Artois, who took great deal of pains to bring it about. He had 
 accompanied the king in this expedition ; and being always near his 
 person, had often told him, from the opinions of several lawyers, that 
 the crown of France belonged to him by right of blood, as he was the 
 immediate heir, by his mother, to the last king. The lord Robert 
 was anxious for the king's leaving Scotland, in hopes that he would 
 carry his arms into France. By these and such like speeches the 
 king was induced to consent to the ratification of the treaty ol 
 Berwick. 
 
 The Berwiekers made the king of Scotland and his council ac- 
 quainted with their distressful situation, who, after much consideration, 
 could not find any means to send them succors or assistance : the 
 town of Berwick was therefore surrendered to the king at the end of 
 the month, as well as the castle, which was very handsome and strong, 
 and stood without the town. The marshals of the army took posses- 
 sion of them both, in the name of the king. The citizens then came 
 out to swear homage and fidelity to king Edward, and to acknowledge 
 that they held the town from him. The king made his public entry 
 into Berwick with great pomp and sounding of trumpets, and tarried 
 there twelve days. He appointed as governor thereof a knight, called 
 sir Edward Baliol, with whom he left, when he quitted Berwick, 
 many young knights and esquires, to assist him in keeping the con- 
 quests he had made from the Scots, and to guard the frontiers. The 
 king and all his people then returned toward London, and he gave 
 full liberty for every man to go to his own home. He himself went 
 to Windsor, where he chiefly resided, and the lord Robert accom- 
 panied him, who never ceased, day or night, from telling him how ) 
 just his right was to the crown of France ; to which the king opened ' 
 a willing ear, and thought of it with much satisfaction. 
 
 Thus ended the king's expedition against the king of Scots. He 
 destroyed the greatest part of the country, and took many more forts 
 than his people had achieved from the Scots for a long time. He 
 placed in them several able and expert knights and esquires ; among 
 whom were sir William Montacute and sir Walter Manny, who made 
 many severe skirmishes and attacks upon the Scots, and according to 
 custom were always victorious. In order the better to secure their 
 entrance and retreat from Scotland, and to harass the country, cir 
 William Montacute fortified the tower of Roxburgh, upon the bordei-s 
 of Scotland, and made it a strong castle, able to resist any attack. He 
 gained so much favor by his enterprises, that the king created him 
 earl of Salisbury, and married him to a noble and honorable lady. 
 The lord of Manny also, who was knighted on this expedition, was 
 nominated a privy councillor, and highly advanced at court. True 
 it is, that the Scots did greatly disturb the English ; they kept them- 
 selves in the wild parts of Scotland, among marshes and forests, where 
 no one could follow them, and harassed the English so constantly, 
 that there were skirmishes almost every day ; in one of which the 
 earl of Salisbury lost an eye, by his too great boldness. In the same 
 forests where the Scots now hid themselves, the gallant king Robert 
 had been forced to seek refuge, when king Edward, grandfather to 
 the present king, overran and conquered the Scottish realm ; and 
 many times was he so hard driven, that he could find none in his 
 kingdom who dared to lodge him, or give him succor from any casilo 
 or fortress, through fear of this king Edward. 
 
 The gallant Robert, after the king had returned to England, collect- 
 ed his people together where he could find them, and reconquered his 
 castles, fortresses, and cities, even as far as Berwick ; some by force 
 of arms, others by fair speeches, and through aiTection When king 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 29 
 
 Edward heard of this he was sorely vexed, and summoned his host, 
 and never ceased until he had discomfited the Scots, and reconquered 
 the kingdom. Thus it happened between these two kings : and I 
 have heard it related, that king Robert recovered his kingdom five 
 disferent times. In such manner did these two kings, who were 
 lootved upon as the two most gallant knights of their time, bear them- 
 selves, until the death of king Edward, at Burgh on the Sands. 
 
 When he perceived he could not recover, he called to him his 
 eldest son, who was afterwards king, and made him swear, in 
 presence of all his barons, by the Saints, that, as soon as he should 
 be dead, he would have his body boiled in a large caldron until the 
 flesh should be separated from the bones ; that he would have the 
 flesh buried and the bones preserved ; and thai every time the Scots 
 should rebel against him, he would summon his people, and carry 
 with him the bones of his father : for be believed most firmly, that 
 as long as his bones should be carried against the Scots, those Scots 
 would never be victorious. His son, however, did not fulfil what he 
 had sworn ; but had his father carried to London and buried—for 
 which much evil befell him, as you have before heard. 
 
 1 He sent embassadors to the king of Hungary, who was a right 
 , valiant man, to request that he would make himself ready, and open 
 his country to the pilgrims of God. The king of Hungary consented 
 to it, and very willingly returned him answer that he was prepared. 
 In the same manner the king sent information of it to the kmg of 
 Cyprus, Hugh de Lusignan, and to the king of Sicily, who made to 
 this end the necessary preparations. The king sent also to the 
 Venetians, to beg that their frontiers might be opened, and suflUcient 
 guards and provisions collected, v/hich they complied with, as did 
 the Genoese, and all that coast. He dispatched the great prior of 
 France into the island of Rhodes to make preparations there ; and 
 the kmghts of St. John made an agreement with the Venetians for 
 them to victual the island of Candia, which was under their depend- 
 ence. In short, there were proper provisions made everywhere t» 
 receive the pilgrims of God ; and upward of three hundred thousand 
 persona put on the cross, to undertake this holy voyage beyond sea. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 EINa PHILIP OF FRANCE AND SEVERAL OTHER KNIGHTS PUT ON THE CROSS. 
 
 About this time king Philip of France quitted Paris, accompanied 
 by the king of Bohemia, the king of Navarre, and a numerous com- 
 pany of dukes, earls, and other lords — for he kept a sumptuous table, 
 and at a great expense — to visit his kingdom. After passing through 
 Burgundy, he came to Avignon, where he was most honorably 
 received by pope Benedict, and by all the college of cardinals, who 
 treated him as magnificently as they could. He remained some time 
 with the holy father and the cardinals, and was lodged at Villeneuve, 
 out of the town. The king of Arragon came also at this time to 
 the court of Rome, to witness these entertainments. There were 
 great feasts and solemnities at their meeting, and they all remained 
 there the whole of Lent. 
 
 While they were there, certain intelligence came to the court of 
 Rome, that the enemies of God were marching in great force against 
 the Holy Land, and had reconquered almost the whole kingdom of 
 Rasse,* and taken the king, who had been baptised, and put him to 
 the most cruel death. The infidels also threatened the holy church 
 and all Christendom. The holy father preached, on the sacred festi. 
 val of Good Friday, before these two kings, on the sufferings of our 
 Saviour, and exhorted them greatly to put on the cross against these 
 Saracens. The king of France was so much affected, that he took 
 the cross, and entreated the pope to grant him his consent, which he 
 did, and confirmed it by giving him absolution for all sins and faults, 
 if confessed and truly repented of, and the same to all those who 
 should accompany him in this holy expedition. The kings of Bo. 
 hernia and Navarre, and the king of Arragon, put on the^ cross, as 
 well as a number of dukes, barons, and other nobles, who were there : 
 the cardinals of Naples, of Perigord, of Ostia, and the cardinal Blanc, 
 adopted it also. The croisade was preached and published over the 
 world, which gave much pleasure to many, especially to those who 
 wished to spend their time in feats of arms, and v/ho at that time did 
 not know where otherwise to employ themselves. 
 
 After the king of France and the lords above named had passed a 
 considerable time with the pope, and had settled and managed the 
 business, they took their leave and departed. The king of Arragon 
 returned into his own countiy. The king of France and his com- 
 pany went to Montpelier, where they remained a long time. During 
 his stay there king Philip completed the peace which was in agit^ 
 tioii between the kings of Arragon and Majorca. After having 
 finished this, he set out on his return toward Paris, by short day's 
 journeys, and at much expense, visiting his towns and castles, of 
 which he had great numbers. He passed through the provinces of 
 Auvergne, Berry, Beauce, and Gatinois, and came to Paris, where 
 he was received with much joy. 
 
 The kingdom of France was at that time powerful, rich, and com- 
 pact, the inhabitants at their ease, and wealthy, and no talk of war. 
 This croisade, which the noble king of France had undertaken t.o 
 lead beyond sea, and of which he had declared himself the chief, 
 was followed by many lords, and by some of them through devotion. 
 King Philip made the greatest and most magnificent preparations 
 that were ever seen to pass the seas ; those of the time of Godfrey 
 of Boulogne, or any others, were not to be compared to them. He 
 had engaged and placed in the diflferent ports of Marseilles, Aigues- 
 mortes, and Narbonne, and in the neighborhood of Montpelier, such 
 a quantity of ships, carracks, galleys, and barges, as might trc*nsport 
 forty thousand men-at-arms and their stores. He laid in a large 
 stock of biscuit, wines, fresh water, salt meat, and all other provis- 
 ions, in such plenty, that there might be sufficient, even if thev 
 remained there three years. 
 
 • (tiieri/, if not Rascie, Rascia, which is a country in Turkey in Europe. It is the 
 northern part of Servia, and takes its name from the river which empties itself into the 
 Hlorawe. Its principal towns are IJelgrade. Semendrie. and Galomhaz. This country 
 nau tonnerly kmgs of its own. Audran. iJic. Geo. Russe may also be mistaken for 
 wir^iiUln J'T'd "'"'^'^ ^'assanus king of Tharsis. and seven thousand Christians, 
 weie nam by the Pagans tboui this period.— JJ4atMlcs, p JB6. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 KIN© EDWARD IS ADVISED BY HIS COUNCIL TO MAKE WAR AG-AINST 
 KING PHILIP OF FRANCE. 
 
 At the time when nothing but this croisade was talked of, the lord 
 Robert d'Artois was in England, very near the king's person, whom 
 he was continually advising to make war upon the king of France 
 for wrongfully withholding his inheritance. The king held many 
 councils upon this subject, and consulted with his most special and 
 privy councillors by what means he could maintain his right, for he 
 would gladly amend himself if he knew how. The question was 
 argued, supposing he should demand his right, and it was refused, as 
 it was probable it would be, and he afterwards to sit quiet and not 
 support his claim, he would be more blamed than if he had never 
 moved in it. He saw clearly that it was impossible for him, and all 
 the force he could bring from his ov/n country, to subdue such a 
 great kingdom as that of France, if he did not obtain powerful friends 
 and assistance in the empire, and in other parts, by means of his 
 money ; he therefore frequently demanded of his privy council what 
 opinion they had on this subject. 
 
 They at length gave this as their unanimous answer : " Dear sir, 
 the question is of such importance, that we dare not advise you 
 definitively upon it, but recommend to 3^ou, der.r sir, to send embas- 
 sadors sufficiently instructed to the gallant carl of Hainault, whose 
 daughter you have married, and to lord John, his brother, who has 
 before so valiantly assisted you, to entreat their lordships to advise 
 you how to act, for in such a matter they ^re better informed than 
 we can be : if they agree with you in opinion, they will give you 
 counsel who are the lords most aisle to assist you, and also point out 
 the most proper means of gaining them to your interest." The king 
 agreed to this proposal, and entreated the bishop of Lincoln to under- 
 take this journey through affection to him, and desired two knights 
 bannerets, and two counsellors learned in the law, to accompany him 
 on the embassy. They set out as soon as they could, embarked and 
 landed at Dunkirk ; whence they rode through Flanders to Valenci- 
 ennes, where they found William, earl of Hainault, so sorely afflicted 
 with the gout and gravel that he could not move. The lord John, 
 his brother, was there also, by whom they were much feasted : and 
 to them they explained the object of their mission. Upon which the 
 gallant earl said : " I vow to God, if the king can succeed in this, I 
 shall be much rejoiced ; for as you may easily imagine, I feel more 
 intere£.4ed for him who has married my daughter than for king Philip, 
 who has never done anything for me although I am married to his 
 sister. He also prevented, clandestinely, the marriage of the young 
 duke of Brabant with my daughter ; on which account I will not fail 
 my dearly beloved son, the king of England, in any respect, if his 
 council should advise the undertaking of it. I will also give him 
 every aid, as will John, my brother, now present, who has before 
 assisted him. But know, that you must seek for other supporters 
 more powerful than we are, for Hainault is too small a territory to 
 measure itself with the kingdom of France, and England lies too far 
 off* to be of help to it." 
 
 " Certainly, sir, you have given us very excellent advice, and testi- 
 fied great love and good will, for which, in the name of our lord and 
 king, I return you my thanks," replied the bishop of Lincoln ; " but, 
 dear sir, tell us the names of those lords that you think can best help 
 our master, that we may report them to him." 
 
 " Upon my soul," replied the earl, " I cannot think of any lords, 
 that can so powerfully assist him as the duke of Brabant, his cousin- 
 german, the bishop of Liege, the duke of Gueldres, who married his 
 sister, the archbishop of Cologne, the marquis of Juliers, sir Arnold 
 de Bacqueghen, and the lord of Fauquemont: these are the lords 
 that can, in a short time, furnish greater numbers of men-at-arma 
 than any I know ; they are very warlike themselves, and, if they 
 choose, can easily make up ten thousand men completely armed and 
 equipped; but you must give them money beforehand, for they are 
 men who love to gain wealth. If by your means the king, my son- 
 in-law and your lord, could ally himself with the lords whom I have 
 just mentioned, and were on this s'ue of the sea, he might pass the 
 river Oise to seek king Philip, and offer' him battle." 
 
 The embassadors returned to London with the answer they had 
 
30 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 received, which, when king Edward heard it, gave him much pleasure 
 and comfort. News of what was going forward was soon carried to 
 France, and by degrees magnified, so that king Philip grew very 
 indifferent to this croiaade which had been preached, and of which he 
 had undertaken to be the chief. He countermanded his officers 
 (who were making very great preparations,) and gave them directions 
 not to proceed further, until he shculd see upon what footing the king 
 of Englnnd meant to act, as he was incessantly employed in assem- 
 bling men-at-arms. 
 
 The king of England ordered ten knights bannerets, and forty 
 knights bachelors, in company with the bishop of Lincoln, who was 
 a right valiant man, to cross the sea, and to go straight to Valenci- 
 ennes, to treat with those lords of the empire, whom the earl of Hain- 
 ault had named, and to act as he and his brother John might advise. 
 When they were arrived at Valenciennes, all were emulous of the 
 state they should hold, and spared no expenses ; for if the king of 
 England had been there in person, they could not have done more, 
 by which they gained great renown and reputation. There were 
 among them many young knights bachelors, who had one of their 
 eyes covered with a piece of cloth so that they 
 could not see with it. It was said they had made 
 a vow to some ladies in their country, that they 
 would never use but one eye until they had per- 
 sonally perf ormed some deeds of arms in France ; 
 nor would they make any reply to whatever ques- 
 tions were asked them ; so that all marvelled at 
 their strange demeanor. After they had been 
 sufficiently feasted and honored at Valenciennes, 
 the bishop of Lincoln and the greater number of 
 them drew toward the duke of Brabant, by the 
 advice of the earl of Hainault. The duke treated 
 them magnificently, and agreed afterwards to pro- 
 mise his support and assistance to the king of 
 England, to whom he was cousin-german, with 
 all the means in his power, and to allow him to « 
 enter and quit his territories, armed or disarmed, 
 as often as he pleased. He had also promised, 
 by the advice of his council, and for a round 
 sum of florins, that if the king of England, his 
 cousin, would defy the king of France, and enter 
 his territories with a sufficient force, and could 
 obtain the aid of the lords before mentioned, he 
 would defy him also, and join him v/ith a thou- 
 sand armed men. 
 
 The embassadors then returned to Valenci- 
 ennes : by their negotiations and gold, they 
 prevailed upon the duke of Gueldres, brother- 
 in-law to king Edward, the marquis of Juliers for himself, and for 
 the archbishop of* Cologne, and his brother AValeran, and the lord of 
 Fauquemont, to come to Valenciennes, to treat with them before the 
 earl of Hainault, who was unable to ride on horseback ; and before 
 his brother John. They managed matters so well, by a plentiful 
 distribution of florins among the principals and others, that they 
 agreed to defy the king of France, and to go with the king of Eng- 
 land whenever ar'd wherever he pleased, and that each would serve 
 him with a certain number of men-at-arms with helmets surmounted 
 with crests. Now is the time come when we must speak of lances, 
 swords, and coats of mail ; and I inform you, that the above 
 named lords promised the embassadors from England, that they would 
 ally themselves with the lords on the other side of the Rhine, who 
 had the power to bring a large number of men-at-arms, but they 
 must first be furnished with the means to fix them. These lords 
 from Germany then took their leave, and departed to their own coun- 
 try ; the English lords remained some little time longer with the earl 
 of Hainault. They sent many messages to Raoul, bishop of Liege, 
 and would most willingly have drawn him over to their own party ; 
 but he would do nothing against the king of France, whose liegeman 
 ne was, and to whom he had sworn fealty. The king of Bohemia 
 was not sent to, because they knew he was so connected with the 
 king of France, by the marriage of John, duke of Normandy, with 
 the lady Bona, daughter of that king, that he would never act against 
 him 
 
 had ordered those who were in his confidence to remark whenever 
 he should make a particular sign on meeting any person, and to 
 murder him directly without fail, or waiting further orders, of what, 
 ever rank he might be. This happened very frequently; so that 
 many principal men were killed ; and he was so dreaded, that no 
 one dared to speak against his actions, or scarce to contradict him, 
 but all were forced to entertain him handsomely. 
 
 When his companions before mentioned had conducted him to his 
 hotel, each went home to his dinner, i ad immediately after returned 
 to the street before his house, where they remained making a noise 
 and brawling, until he pleased to come out and go round the town, 
 to pass his time and amuse himself ; and thus was he escorted until 
 he chose to go to supper. Each of these soldiers had four Flemish 
 groats a day, as wages, and for his expenses, which he had paid to 
 him veiy regularly every week. He had also in every town and 
 castlewick, through Flanders, sergeants and soldiers in his pay, to 
 execute his orders, and serve him as spies, to find out if any were 
 inclined to rebel against him, and to give him information. The 
 instant he knew of any such being in a town, he was banished or 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 JACOB VON ARTAVELD GOVERNS ALL FLANDERS. 
 
 DtTRiNO these times of which I am speaking, there were great dis- 
 sensions between the earl of Flanders and the Flemings ; for they 
 would not obey him ; nor could he venture to remain in Flanders 
 without great danger to himself. 
 
 There was in Ghent i'man that had formerly been a brewer of 
 metheglin, called Jacob Von Artaveld, who had gained so much 
 popular favor and power over tlie Flemings, that everything was 
 done according to his will. He commanded in all Flanders, from 
 one end to the other, with such authority, that no one dared to con- 
 tradict his orders. Whenever he went out into the city of Ghent, 
 he was attended by three or four-score armed men on foot, among 
 whom were two or three* that were in his secrets; if he met any 
 1^ whom he hated or suspected, he was instantly killed; for he 
 
 Ghent. 
 
 killed without delay, and none were so great as to be exempted, loi 
 so early did he take such measures to guard himself. At the same 
 time he banished all the most powerful knights and esquires from 
 Flanders, and such citizens from the principal towns as he thought 
 were in the least favorable to the earl ; seized one half of their rents, 
 giving the other moiety for the dower of their wives and support of 
 their children. Those that were banished, of which the number was 
 very considerable, resided for the most part at St. Omer, and were 
 called les avolez. To speak the truth, there never was in Flanders, 
 or in any other country, count, duke, or prince, who had such perfect 
 command as Jacob Von Artaveld. He collected the rents, the duties 
 on wines, and other taxes belonging to the earl, though they were 
 the earl's lawful revenue, in whatever part of the country of Flanders 
 he might reside ; he raised also extraordinary subsidies, which he 
 spent and gave away, without rendering account to any one. When 
 he said he was in want of money, he was immediately believed — 
 and well it was for them who did believe him — for it was perilous to 
 contradict him ; and if he wished to borrow money of any of the 
 citizens, there was no one who dared to refuse him. 
 
 The embassadors from England, and who kept such honorable 
 state at Valenciennes, as you have before heard, thought among 
 themselves, that it would give their king great comfort and assist, 
 ance in what he was anxious to undertake, if they could get the aid 
 of the Flemings, who at that time were ill with the king of France, 
 and with the earl their lord. They consulted the earl of Hainault 
 on the subject ; who told them, that, in truth, it would be the great, 
 est support they could get ; but he did not see how it could be ob- 
 tained, unless they previously could win the friendship of Jacob Von 
 Artaveld. They replied, that they would directly do all in their 
 power to obtain it, and soon after set out from Valenciennes for 
 Flanders, by three or four diff'erent roads. One party of them went 
 to Bruges, another to Ypres ; but the largest went to Ghent, where 
 they spent such sums, that gold and silver seemed to fly out of their 
 hands. They sought friendship from all, promised largely to some, 
 flattered others, where they thought it would have more effect in 
 gaining their ends. The bishop of Lincoln, however, and his com- 
 panions, acted their part so well in Ghent, that, by fine speeches and 
 otherwise, they acquired the friendship of Jacob Von Artaveld, and 
 great favor in the city, particularly with an old knight who lived in 
 Ghent, where he was much beloved ; he was called my lord le Cour. 
 tisien,* was a banneret, and was looked upon as the most gallant 
 * " M. de Siger, a nobleman of Courtray ; by allusion to his lands of Contressin, com 
 monly styled the lord of Courtesy."— Cart*, vol. ii. p. 429 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 81 
 
 knight and warlike man in all Flanders, who had served his lords 
 right valiantly. This lord having kept company with the English 
 lords, and much honored them (and every loyal knight should honor 
 strangers,) he was criminally accused to the king of France for these 
 distinctions ne had paid the English, who instantly sent an order to 
 the earl of Flanders, commanding him by some means or other to 
 g'it hold of this knight, and to cut off his head. The earl, who dared 
 not refuse obedience to this command, managed so that Courtisien, 
 coming to the place which he had appointed, was immediately arrested 
 and beheaded. This caused infinite grief to many, for he was much 
 beloved by the gentry of the ( ountry, and it created much ill will 
 against the earl. The English lords were so active in Flanders, that 
 Jacob Von Artaveld assembled several times the chiefs of the princi- 
 pal cities to confer with them on the business they were come about, 
 as well as on the franchises and friendship which the king of Eng. 
 land oflered to them. The matter being fully discussed, was brought 
 to this conclusion ; the chiefs of the principal towns gave their con- 
 sent that the king of England and his army might pass through Flan, 
 ders whenever he pleased ; but as they were so much obliged to the 
 king of France, they could not annoy him, or enter his kingdom, 
 without suffering too heavy a penalty in a large sum of florins, and 
 entreated the embassadors to be satisfied with this answer for the 
 present. They returned to Valenciennes much pleased with what 
 they had done. They frequently informed the king, their master, 
 how things were going ; and he sent them large sums of money, as 
 well for their own expenses, as to distribute among the lords of Ger. 
 many, who did not wish for anything more agreeable. 
 
 About this time, the gallant William, earl of Hainault, died on the 
 sixth day of June, 1337. He was buried in the church of Cordeliers, 
 at Valenciennes ; the bishop of Cambray performed the funeral ser- 
 vice, and sang the mass. There was a great attendance ®f dukes, 
 earls, and barons, for he was exceedingly honored during his life by 
 all ranks of men. After his decease, the lord William, his son, 
 entered upon the countries of Hainault, Holland, and Zealand ; he 
 had to wife the daughter of duke John of Brabant ; her name was 
 Joan, heiress of the rich and valuable lands of Binch.* The lady 
 Joan, her mother, went and resided at the monastery of Fontenelles, 
 upon the Scheld, where she passed her days in a devout and charita- 
 ble manner. 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 CERTAIN NOBLES OF FLANDERS DEFEND THE ISLAND OF CADSANT 
 AGAINST THE ENGLISH. 
 
 King Philip, informed of these alliances, and of the influence 
 which the king of England had acquired on that side of the water, 
 would most willingly have attached the Flemings to his party ; but 
 Jacob Von Artaveld had so entirely subjected them, that none dared 
 to act contrary to his will ; even the earl, their lord, could not remain 
 there in safety, and had sent his wife, and Lewis, his son, into France. 
 However, certain knights and esquires in garrison on the island of 
 Cadsant, which lies between the havens of Sluys and Flushing, among 
 whom were sir Dutres de Halluyn, sir John de Rhodes, sir Giles, son 
 of the lord de I'Estrief, kept possession of it as lords paramount, and 
 defended the passage. They made war underhand upon the English, 
 of which the lords that were in Hainault had information, and also, 
 that if they passed that way into England, they might be encountered, 
 the consequences of which would be disagreeable to them. Notwith- 
 standing this, they rode over the country of Flanders according to 
 their pleasure, and to all the large towns ; but they were indebted 
 for this to Jacob Von Artaveld, who showed them every honor and 
 support. These lords went afterwards to Dordrecht, where they em- 
 barked to cross the sea, and to avoid the passage of the island of 
 Cadsant, where the aforesaid knights and Flemings were in garrison, 
 under the king of France and the earl of Flanders, as has been already 
 related. 
 
 The Englishmen returned in the best manner and as privately as 
 they could, to their own country, and to king Edward, who was right 
 glad to see them, and happy in the success of their mission. When 
 he heard how the garrison of Cadsant harassed his people, he said he 
 would shortly settle that business, and immediately ordered the' earl 
 of Dei-by, sir Walter Manny, and some other English knights and 
 esquires, to make themselves ready. They collected a number of 
 men-at-arms and archers, and embarked them in vessels on the 
 Thames at London : there iTiight be six hundred men-at-arms, and 
 two thousand archers. When they were all on board, they weighed 
 anchor, and with that tide came to Gravesend, where they lay that 
 first night. The next day they weighed and came to Margate. At 
 the third tide they hoisted and set their sails, and took to the deep, 
 and passed over to Flanders, when, having assembled and properly 
 arranged their vessels, they approached near to Cadsant. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 THE BATTLE OF CADSANT, BETWEEN THE ENGLISH AND THE FLEMINGS, 
 ATTACHED TO THE EARL OF FLANDERS. 
 
 When the English saw the town of Cadsant, whither they were 
 bending their course to attack those that were within it, they con- 
 
 sidered, that as the wind and tide were in their favor, in the name of 
 God and St. George they would run close up to it. They ordered 
 the trumpets to sound, and each made himself quickly ready; they 
 ranged their vessels, and placing the archers on the prows, made full 
 sail for the town. The sentinels and guards at Cadsant had plainly 
 perceived the approach of this large fleet, and taking it for granted 
 that it must be English, had already armed and placed themselves 
 upon the dykes and the sands, with their banners in their proper posi- 
 tion before them. They had also created a number of knights upon 
 the occasion, as many as sixteen ; their numbers might be about five 
 thousand, taking all together, very valiant knights and bachelors, as 
 they proved by their deeds. Among them were sir Guy of Flanders, 
 a good knight, but a bastard,* who was very anxious that all in his 
 train should do their duty ; sir Dutrcs de Halluyn, sir John de Rhodes, 
 sir Giles de I'Estrief, sir Simon and sir John de Bouquedent, who 
 were then knighted, and Peter d'Aglemoustier, with many other 
 bachelors and esquires, valiant men-at-arms. There was no parley 
 between them, for the English were as eager to attack as the Flem- 
 ings were to defend themselves. The archers were ordered to draw 
 their bows stiff and strong, and to set up their shouts ; upon which 
 those that guarded the haven vv^ere forced to retire, whether they 
 would or not, for this first discharge did much mischief, and many 
 were maimed and hurt. The English barons and knights then 
 landed, and with battle-axes, swords, and lances combated their ene- 
 mies. Many gallant deeds of prowess and courage were done that 
 day ; the Flemings fought valiantly ; and the English attacked them 
 in all the spirit of chivalry. The gallant earl of Derby proved 
 himself a good knight, and advanced so far at the first assault, that 
 he was struck down : and then the lord of Manny was of essential 
 service to him ; for, by his feats of arms, he covered him and raised 
 him up, and placed him out of danger, crying, " Lancaster for the 
 earl of Derby I" They then closed with each other ; many were 
 wounded, but more of the Flemings than of the English ; for the 
 English archers made such continual discharges, from the time they 
 landed, that they did them much damage. 
 
 The battle was very severe and fierce before the town of Cadsant, 
 for the Flemings were good men, and expert in arms ; the earl had 
 selected and placed them there to defend the passage against the 
 English, and they were desirous of perforiiiing their duty in every 
 respect, which they did. Of the barons and knights of England, there 
 were, first, the earl of Derby, son of Henry of Lancaster, surnamed 
 Wryneck ; the earl of Suffolk, lord Reginald Cobham, lord Levvi3 
 Beauchamp, lord William, son of the earl of Warwick, the lord \Yi\. 
 liam Beauclerk, sir Walter Manny, and many others, who most vigor 
 ously assaulted the Flemings. The combat was very shai-p, and 
 well fought, for they were engaged hand to fist ; but at length the 
 Flemings were put to the rout, and more than three thousand killed., 
 as well at the haven as in the streets and houses. Sir Guy, the Bastard, 
 of Flanders, was taken prisoner. Of the killed, were sir Dutres de 
 Halluyn, sir John of Rhodes, the two brothers Bouquedent, sir Giles 
 de I'Estrief, and more than twenty-six other knights and esquires. 
 The town was taken and pillaged ; and when everything was put on 
 board the vessels with the prisoners, it was burnt. The English 
 returned without accident to England. The king made the lord Guy 
 of Flanders pledge his troth, that he would remain a prisoner ; but 
 in the course of the year he turned to the English, and did his homage 
 and fealty to the king. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 KING EDWARD MAKES GREAT ALLIANCES IN THE EJIPIRE. 
 
 The news of the discomfiture at Cadsant was soon spread abroad ; 
 the Flemings said, that they were Mot sorry for it, as the earl had 
 placed that garrison there without their consent or advice ; nor was 
 Jacob Von Artaveld displeased at the event. He instantly sent over 
 embassadors to king Edward, recommending himself to his grace 
 with his whole heart and faith. He signified to the king, that it was 
 his opinion he should immediately cross the sea, and come to Ant. 
 werp, by which means he would acquit himself toward the Flemings, 
 who were very anxious to see him ; and he imagined, if he were on 
 that side of the water, his affairs would go on more prosperously, and 
 to his greater advantage. The king of England, upon this, made 
 very great preparations ; and when the winter was over, he embarked; 
 accompanied by many earls, barons, and knights, and came to the 
 city of Antwerp, which at that time was held for the duke of Brabant 
 miiltitudes came thither to see him, and witness the great state ana 
 pomp in which he lived. He sent to the duke of Brabant, his cousin, 
 to his brother-in.law, the duke of Gueldres, to the marquis of Juliers 
 the lord John of Hainault, and to all those from whom he expected 
 support and assistance, that he should be happy to have some con- 
 versation with them. They all therefore^ame to Antwerp between 
 Whitsuntide and St. John's day ; and when the king had sufficiently 
 entertained them, he was eager to know from them when they could 
 enter upon what thev had promised, and entreated them to make 
 dispatch : for this was his reason of coming to Antwerp ; and as he 
 had all his preparations ready, it would be a great loss to him if they 
 were tardy. These lords of Germany had a long consultation to- 
 gether, and finally made this their answer : 
 
 t A town io the Low Countries, tbreo leagues irom Mons, and four from Maubtuge. 
 
 * Guy de Rickenburg. basUrd brother to the earl of Flanders.— C arts. 
 
39 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 " Dear sir, when v/e came hither, it was more for the pleasure of 
 seeing you, than for anything else ; we are not yet in a situation to 
 give a positive answer to your demand ; but we will return home, 
 and come again to you whenever you please, and give you so full an 
 answer, that the matter shall not remain with us." 
 
 They fixed upon that day three weeks after St. John's day. The 
 king of England remonstrated with them upon the great expenses 
 and loss he should be at by their delays, for he thought they would 
 all have been ready with their answers by the time he had come 
 thither ; and added, that he would never return to England, until he 
 knew what their intentions were. Upon this the lords departed, and 
 the king remained quietly in the monastery of St. Bernard : some of 
 his lords stayed at Antwerp, to keep him company ; the rest went 
 about the country amusing themselves in a magnificent style, and 
 were well received and feasted wherever they came. The duke of 
 Brabant went to Louvain, and made a long stay there ; thence he 
 sent (as he had done before) frequently to the king of France, to 
 entreat that he would not pay attention to any reports that were in- 
 jurious to him, for he should be very sorry to form any connection 
 or alliance contrary to his interests ; but the king of England being 
 his cousin-german, he could not forbid his passing through his country. 
 The day came when the king expected the answers from the above- 
 mentioned lords : they sent excuses, saying, they were not quite 
 ready, neither themselves nor their men ; that he must exert himself 
 to make the duke of Brabant prepare to act with them, as he was 
 much nearer to France, and seemed to them very indifferent in the 
 matter ; and that as soon as they should for a certainty be informed 
 that the duke was ready, they would put themselves in motion, and 
 be as soon in action as he should be. 
 
 Upon this the king of England had a conference with the duke of 
 Brabant, and showed him the answers he had received, and begged 
 of him, by his friendship and his kindred, that no delay might come 
 from him. for he suspected that he was warmly inclined to the aid of 
 these German lords. The duke replied, that he would summon his 
 council. After bng deliberations, he told the king, that he would be 
 ready the moment the business required it — but that he must firsrsee 
 these lords ; to whom he wrote, to desire they would meet him at 
 whatever place was the most agreeable to them. The day for this 
 conference was fixed for the middle of August, and it was unani- 
 mously agreed to be held at Halle, on account of the young earl of 
 Hainault, who was to be there, as well as the lord John, his uncle. 
 
 When all the lords of the empire were assembled in the city of 
 Halle, they had long deliberations together, and said to the king of 
 England, " Dear sir, v/e do not see any cause for us to challenge the 
 king of France, all things considered, unless you can procure the con- 
 sent of the emperor, th?.t he will command us so to do on his account, 
 which may easily be done ; for there is an ordinance of a very old 
 date, sealed, that no king of France should take and keep possession 
 of anything that belongs to the empire. Now king Philip has gotten 
 possession of the castles of Crevecceur, in Cambresis, and of Arleux, 
 in Artois, as well as the city of Cambray, for which the emperor has 
 good grounds to challenge him through us, if you will have the good- 
 ness to obtain it from him, in order to save our honor." The king 
 of England replied, that he would cheerfully conform himself to their 
 advice. 
 
 It was then determined, that the marquis of Juliers should go to 
 the emperor, and with him knights and counsellors from the king, 
 and some from the duke of Gueldres : but the duke of Brabant would 
 not send any ; he lent, however, his castle of Louvain to the king for 
 his residence. The marquis of Juliers and his company found the 
 emperor at Nuremberg : they obtained by their solicitations the object 
 of their mission ; for the lady Margaret of Hainault, whom the lord 
 Lewis of Bavaria, then emperor, had married, took great pains and 
 trouble to bring it about. The marquis was then created an earl, 
 and the duke of Gueldres, who was but an earl, was raised to the 
 dignity of a duke. The emperor gave a commission to four knights 
 and two counsellors in the law, who were members of his council, 
 investing them with powers to make king Edward his vicar over all 
 parts of the empire ; and these lords took out sufficient instruments, 
 publicly sealed and confirmed by the emperor. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 DAVm, KING- OF SCOTLAND, FORMS AN ALLIANCE WITH PHILIP, KING OF 
 
 FRANCE. 
 
 About this time, the young king David of Scotland, great part of 
 whose kingdom was seized by the English, which he could not re- 
 cover from the power of the king of England, quitted Scotland, with 
 his queen and a few followers. They arrived at Boulogne, and thence 
 came to Paris, where the king magnificently received them, gave 
 them one of his castles to reside in as long as they chose, and sup- 
 plied them with money for their expenses, upon condition that the 
 king of Scotland would never make peace with the king of England 
 but with his consent ; for the king of France knew v^^ell that king 
 Edward was taking every measure to make war upon him.* The king 
 
 * *' In tuch circumstances, it became necessary to provide a safe place of refuge for 
 th* young king and his consort ; Malcolm Fleming found means to convey them from 
 tlw castle of Dunbarton into France, where they were honorably entertained." 
 
 ** Wbotiier David II. was conveyed ioto France, after the battle of Duplin, in 1332. or 
 
 of P'rance detained the king and queen of Scotland a long time ; thej 
 had everything they wanted delivered to them, for but litde came from 
 Scotland to support their state. He sent also embassadors to those 
 lords and barons who had rem.ained in Scotland, and were carrying on 
 the war against the English garrisons, offering them assistance, if they 
 would not consent to any pacification or truce without his approbation, 
 and that of their king, who had alread • promised and sworn the same. 
 
 The Scottish lords assembled, hel i a conference on the subject, 
 agreed most willingly to this request, md sealed and swore to what 
 their king had before promised. Thu was this alliance first formed 
 between the kings of France and Sccdand, which lasted for many 
 years. The king of France sent men-at-arms into Scotland to cany 
 on the war, under the command of the lord Arnold d'Andreghen, 
 afterwards marshal of France, the lord Garencieres, and many other 
 knights and esquires. King Philip imagined that the Scots would 
 find the English too much employment at home, for them to be able 
 to cross the sea ; or if they did, at all events in too small .lUmbers to 
 hurt or molest him. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 KING EDWARD OF ENGLAND MADE VICAR OF THE EMPIRE OF GERMANY. 
 
 When the king of England and the lords, his allies, had quitted the 
 conference at Halle, the king returned to the castle of Louvain, which 
 he set about preparing for his residence ; at the same rime he sent to 
 his queen, to inform her of his intentions, and that if she would come 
 to him, it would give him much pleasure, for he should not be able 
 to repass the sea this year. He sent back many of his knights to guard 
 the country, particularly the borders of Scotland. While these things 
 vv^ere going forward, the English knights remaining with the king in 
 Brabant spread themselves all over the countries of Flanders and 
 Hainault, living most sumptuously, and giving princely presents and 
 entertainments to the lords and ladies, in order to acquire their good 
 will and favor. Their behavior was such, that they were beloved 
 by those of both sexes, and even by the common people, who were 
 pleased with their state and magnificence. The marquis of Juliers 
 and his company returned from the empire about All Saints day ; 
 and when he sent to inform the king of this,Jie congratulated him on 
 the good success of his mission. The king wrote him for answer, 
 that he should come to him on the feast of Saint Martin, and de 
 manded of the duke of Brabant to name the place where he wished 
 this conference to be holden, who replied at Arques, in the county of 
 Los,* near to his own country. Upon this, the king gave notice of 
 it, that all his allies might be there. 
 
 The town-hall of Arques was hung with rich and fine cloths, like 
 to the presence-chamber of the king. His majesty was seated five 
 feet higher than the rest of the company, and had on his head a rich 
 crown of gold. The letters from the emperor to the king were pub- 
 licly read, by which the king of England was constituted and estab- 
 lished his vicar and lieutenant, and full powers granted to him to do 
 all acts of law and justice to every one, in his name, and also to coin 
 money in gold and silver. These letters commanded all those in the 
 empire, and all his other subjects, to obey his vicar as himself, and 
 that they should do fealty and homage to him as vicar of the empire 
 Several knights and lords swore fealty and homage before him. and 
 some took advantage of the opportunity of pleading their causes, as 
 if before the emperor, and they were judged as lawfully as if in his 
 presence. 
 
 On this occasion an ancient statute was renewed and confirmed, 
 which had been made in former times at the court of the emperor ; 
 it directed, that any one meaning to hurt or annoy another should send 
 him a sufficient defiance three days before he committed any hostile 
 act ; and that whoever should act otherwise should be degraded as an 
 evil doer. When all this was completed, the lords took their leave, 
 and gave each other their mutual promises to be fully equipped, with- 
 out delay, three weeks after the feast of Saint John, to sit down before 
 the city of Cambray, which of right belonged to the emperor, but had 
 turned to the French. The lords then set out each for his home, and 
 king Edward, as vicar of the empire, returned to Louvain to his queen, 
 who had lately arrived there with many of the nobility, and well ac- 
 companied by ladies and damsels, from England. The king and queen 
 kept their courts there in great state during all the winter, and caused 
 plenty of gold and silver coin to be struck at Antwerp. 
 
 The duke of Brabant, however, was not neglectful in sending 
 frequent messages to king Philip of France by the Lord Lewis de 
 Travehen, his special counsellor, to excuse himself ; for which pur- 
 pose this knight had made many different journeys ; and at last he 
 was commanded to remain near the person of the king, in order to 
 exculpate his master, and contradict any reports that might be circu- 
 lated against him. The knight did everything in his power, and 
 becoming his duty. 
 
 after the battle of Halidon, 1333, is a question of little importance. Our later authors 
 have decided in favor of 1333, and not without pioliable reasons : the chief is, that Baliol 
 the 23rd November, 1332, offered to marry .Tohiinna, the infant consort of David Bruce ; 
 Feed. tom. iv. pp. 536 — 539 ; which he would not have done, had she been conveyed to 
 France immediately after the battle of Duplin, 12th August, 1332. This is a more spe- 
 cious argument than anything drawn from the Chronicle of Froissart, where dates and 
 facts are strangely misplaced and confounded, as the manner is in colloquial history."— 
 Lord Hailks's Annals. 
 
 * The county of Los had fbrraerly its particular counts, and made part of the territoha 
 of the bishopric of Liege. 
 
THE NEW WORLD. 
 
 S3 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 KISQ EDWARD AND HIS ALLIES SEND CHALLENGES TO THE KINS OF 
 
 FRANCE. 
 
 Winter was now over, and the summer come, when the feast of 
 St. John the Baptist approaching, the lords of England and Germany 
 made preparations for undertaking their intended expedition. The 
 king of France also made his preparations to meet them ; for he was 
 well acquainted with part of what they intended, though he had not 
 yet received any challenge. King Edward collected his stores in 
 England, where he made his armaments ready, and, as soon as St. 
 John's day was passed, transported them across the sea to Vilvorde,* 
 whither he went himself. He made all his people, on their arrival, 
 take houses in the town ; and when this was full, he lodged them in 
 tents and pavilions in the fine meadows along the side of the river. 
 He remained thus from Magdalen day until the feast of our Lady in 
 September, expecting week after week the arrival of the lords of the 
 empire, especially the duke of Brabant, for whom all the others were 
 waiting. When the king of England saw that they came not, he 
 sent strong messages to each of them, and caused them to be sum- 
 
 be enabled to march in a fortnight, when they would be quite ready; 
 and, that their cause might have a better appearance, they determined 
 to send challenges to king Philip. At the head of this defiance was 
 the king of England, the duke of Gueldres, the marquis of Juliers, 
 sir Robert d'Artois, sir John of Hainault, the marquis of Nuyp, the 
 marquis of Blanckenburg, the lord of Fauquemont, sir Aruoid de 
 Bacqueghen, the archbishop of Cologne, his brother sir Waleran, ai'.d 
 all the lords of the empire, who were united as chief, with the king 
 of England. These challenges were written and sealed by ali, ex- 
 cept the duke John of Brabant, who said he would do his pan in 
 proper time and place. They were given in charge to the bishop ui 
 Lincoln, who carried them to Paris, and performed his message so 
 justly and well, that he was blamed by no one. He had a passpor( 
 granted him to return to his lord, who, as said before, was at Mechlin 
 
 Edward thk Third sending a Challenge to King Philip— From a MS. Froissart of the 15th centuiy 
 
 moned to be at the city of Mechlin on St. Giles's day, according to 
 their promises, and to give reasons for their delays. 
 
 King Edward was obliged to remain at Vilvorde, where he main- 
 tained daily, at his own cost, full sixteen hundred men-at-arms, that 
 had come there from beyond sea, and ten thousand archers, without 
 counting the other followers of his army. This must have been a heavy 
 expense ; not including the large sums he had given to the German 
 lords, who thus paid him back by fair promises ; and the great force 
 he was obliged to keep at sea against the Genoese, Bretons, Normans, 
 Picards, and Spaniards, whom king Philip supported at his cost, to 
 harass the English, under the command of sir Hugh Quiriel, sir Peter 
 Bahucet, and Barbenoire, who were the admirals and conductors of this 
 fleet, to gu^rd the straits and passa-ges between England and France ; 
 and these corsairs only waited for information of the war being com- 
 menced, and the English king, having challenged the king of France 
 as they supposed he would, to invade England and ravage the coun- 
 try. The lords of Germany, in obedience to the summons, came to 
 Mechlin, where, after many debates, they agreed, that the king should 
 
 * A imaU town in Brabant, between Brussels and Mechlin, on the river Senne. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVL 
 
 SIR WALTER MANNY, AFTER THE CHALLENGES HAD BEEN SENT, MAKES 
 THE FIRST INCURSION INTO FRANCE. 
 
 Sir Walter Manny, a week after the challenges had been sent, 
 
 and when he imagined the king of France 
 had received them, collected about forty 
 lances, on whom he knew he could depend, 
 and rode through Er?)l;;iiit night and day; 
 so that he came into Hainault, and entered 
 the wood of Blaton, i;efore any of his follow- 
 ers knew when- and why they were thus 
 hastening : he then told some of his inti- 
 mates, that he had made a promise in Eng- 
 land, before the nobles and ladies, that he 
 would be the first that would enter France, 
 and take some casde or strong town, and 
 perform some gallant deed of arms ; and 
 that his intention was to push forward as far 
 as Mortaigne, to surprise the town, which 
 was a part of the kingdom of France. 
 Those to v/hom he thus opened himself 
 cheerfully consented to follow him. They 
 then regirthcd their horses, tightened their 
 armor, and rode in close order: having 
 passed through the wood of Blaton, they 
 came at one stretch, a little before sunrise, 
 to Mortaigne, where luckily they found the 
 wicket open. Sir Walter alighted with 
 some of his companions, and having passed 
 the wicket in silence, and placed there a 
 guard, he then with his pennon marched 
 down the street before the great tower, but 
 the gate and the wicket were close shut. 
 The watch of the castle heard their voice, 
 and seeing them from his post, began to 
 blow his horn, and to cry out " Treason 1 
 treason I" This awakened the soldiers and 
 inhabitants, but they did not make any 
 sally from the fort. Sir Walter, upon this, 
 retre^ited handsomely into the street, and 
 ordered those houses to be set on fire that 
 were near the castle : full fifty houses were 
 burnt that morning, and the inhabitants 
 much frightened, as they concluded they 
 must all have been taken prisoners ; but sir 
 Walter and his company marched away, 
 and came straight to Cond^, where they 
 passed by the pond and river Haynes, tak- 
 ing the road to Valenciennes ; leaving which 
 on the right hand, they came to Avesnes, 
 and took up their quarters in the abbey. 
 They then pushed forward toward Bou- 
 chain, and managed matters so well with 
 the governor, that the gates of the castle 
 were opened to them : they crossed a river which empties itself into 
 the Scheld, and which rises near Arleux. Afterwards they came 
 to a very strong castle, called Thin-l'Eveque, that belonged to the 
 bishop of Cambray, which was so suddenly surprised, the governor 
 and his wife were taken in it. Sir Walter placed a strong garrison 
 there, and made his brother, sir Giles Manny, governor, who gave 
 much disturbance to the Cambresians, as this castle was but a short 
 league from the city of Cambray. When «r Walter had performed 
 these enterprises, he returned into Brabant toward the king, his lord, 
 whom he found at Mechlin, and related to him all that he had done. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII. 
 
 THE FRENCH, AFTER THE CHALLENGES, INVADE ENGLAND. 
 
 Upon king Philip's receiving the challenges from kmg Edward and 
 his allies, he collected men-at-arms and soldiers from all quarters ; he 
 sent the lord Gallois de la Bausme, a good knight from Savoy, to the 
 city of Cambray, and made him governor thereof, in conjunction with 
 sir Thibault de Marneil and the lord of Roye : they might be, includ. 
 
34 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 ing Spaniards and French, full two hundred lances. The king seized 
 the county of Ponthieu, which the king of England had before held 
 by right of his mother ; and he also.sent and entreated some lords of 
 •:he empire, such as the count of Hainault his nephew, the duke of 
 Lorrain, the count of Bar, the bishop of Metz, the bishop of Liege, 
 iiot to commit any hostile acts against him or his kingdom. The 
 , greater part of them answered as he could have wished ; but the count 
 .if Hainault, in a very civil reply, said that although he should be at 
 all times ready to assist him or his realm against any one, yet as the 
 king of England made war in behalf of the empire, as vicar and lieu- 
 tenant of it, he could not refuse him aid and assistance in his coun- 
 try, as he held lands under the empire. The king of France appeared 
 eatisfied with this answer, not however laying much stress on it, as 
 he felt himself in sufficient strength to oppose his enemies. 
 
 As soon as sir Hugh Quiriel, sir Peter Bahucet, and Barbenoire, 
 were informed that hostilities had commenced, they landed one Sun- 
 day morning in the harbor of Southampton, while the inhabitants 
 were at church ; Normans, Picards, and Spaniards entered the town, 
 pillaged it, killed many, deflowered maidens and forced wives ; and 
 having loaded their vessels with the booty, they fell down with the 
 tide, and made sail for the coast of Normandy. They landed at 
 Dieppe, and there divided the plunder. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
 
 KING EDWARD BESIEGES THE CITY OF CAMBRAY. 
 
 The king of England from Mechlin went to Brussels to see the 
 duke of Brabant : his people passed by without entering it. There 
 a large body of Germans, at least twenty thousand men, joined the 
 king, who asked the duke of Brabant what his intentions were — to 
 go before Cambray or to desert his cause. The duke replied, that, 
 as soon as he should know that Cambray was besieged, he would 
 come thither with twelve hundred lances of good men-at-arms ; which 
 answer pleased the king much. The king took his departure, and 
 lay that night at Nivelle ; the next day he came to Mons, in Hainault, 
 where he found the young count of Hainault and his uncle, who re- 
 ceived him joyfully. The lord Robert d'Artois was always with the 
 king, and of his privy council. He was attended by sixteen or twenty 
 great barons and knights from England, whom he carried with him 
 by way of state, and also as his council. The bishop of Lincoln was 
 among them, who was much renowned in this expedition for his 
 wisdom and valor. The English pushed forward, and lodged them- 
 selves on the roads in the flat countries through which they passed, 
 and found provision at hand for their money ; but some paid and 
 others not. 
 
 When the king had reposed himself two days at Mons, in Hain- 
 ault, he came to Valencjennes, which he entered, taking with him 
 but twelve knightn. The count of Hainault was already arrived 
 there, accompanied by the lord John, his uncle, the lord of Fagui- 
 nelles, the lord of Verchin, and the lord of Havareth, with many 
 others, who attended on the person of the count, their lord. The 
 count took the king by the hand, and led him to the great hall, which 
 was properly prepared to receive him, and as they were ascending 
 the steps, the bishop of Lincoln, then present, raised his voice and 
 said, "William d'Aussonne, bishop of Cambray, 1 admonish you, as 
 proctor on the part of the king of England, vicar of the emperor of 
 Rome, that you consent to open the gates of the city of Cambray; 
 and if otherwise you shall do, you will forfeit your lands and we will 
 enter by force." No reply was made, for the bishop of Cambray 
 was not present. The bishop of Lincoln continued, and said, " earl 
 of Hainault, we admonish you on the part of the emperor of Rome, 
 that you come and assist the king of England, his vica,r, before the 
 city of Cambray, with all your forces." The earl made answer, and 
 said, "Willingly." They entered the hall, and conducted the king 
 to his chamber. Shortly after the supper was served up, which was 
 sumptuous and splendid. The next day the king departed, and 
 ■came to Haspre on the Selle. Having halted there two days, till the 
 greater part of his forces had passed by, he set out and came before 
 Cambray; when, having fixed his quarters opposite to it, he sur- 
 rounded with his army the whole city, his forces every day increasing. 
 
 The young earl of Hainault came thither with a large body of men, 
 accompanied by his uncle, sir John, and they took up their quarters 
 near to those of the king. They were followed by the duke of 
 Gueldres, the marquis of Nuys, the earl of Mons, the earl of Saunes, 
 the lord of Fauquemont, sir Arnold of Bacqueghen, and all the other 
 lords of the empire, allies of the king, with their forces. On the 
 sixth day after the king and these lords had taken their position be- 
 fore Cambray, the duke of Brabant arrived with a fine army: there 
 were full nine hundred lances, without counting the other armed 
 men, of whom there were numbers. He took up his quarters at 
 Ostrenant upon the Scheld, over which a bridge was thrown for the 
 communication of one army with the other. The duke of Brabant 
 was no sooner arrived, than he sent his challenge to the king of 
 France, who was at Compi^gne ; at which sir Lewis de Travehen, 
 who had hitherto exculpated him, was so confounded, that he would 
 not return into Brabant, but died of grief in France. 
 
 During the siege of Cambray there were many skirmishes and 
 combats ; sir John of Hainault, and the lord of Fauquemont, as usual, 
 
 made their excursions together, and burnt and destroyed much of the 
 country of Cambresis. These lords, with five hundred lances, and a 
 thousand other men-at-arms, came to the castle of Oisy, in Cambresis, 
 and assaulted it so furiously, that it would have been taken, if the 
 knights and esquires within had not most valiantly defended it for 
 the lord of Coucy; so that little damage was done, and these lords 
 returned to their quarters. The earl of Hainault and his forces came 
 one Saturday to the gates of St. Quentin, and made a vigorous attack 
 upon them. John Chandos, as yet but an esquire, (of whose prowess 
 this book will speak much,) flung himself between the barrier and 
 the gate, at the length of a lance, and fought very gallantly with an 
 esquire of Vermandois, called John de Saint Dizier : each of them 
 performed great deeds of valor ; and the Hainaulters got possession 
 by force of the barriers. The earl of Hainault and his marshals, sir 
 Gerard de Verchin and sir Henry d'Antoing, were present, and ad- 
 vantageously posted, as well as many others, who ventured boldly in 
 the pursuit of honor. The lords of Beaumont, Fauquemont, Ang- 
 hien, sir Walter Manny, with their forces, were at a gate, called 
 Robert's gate, upon which they made a brisk attack ; but those of 
 Cambray, and the soldiers whom the king of France had sent thither, 
 defended themselves with so much valor and skill, that the assailants 
 gained no advantage, but retreated to their quarters well beaten and 
 tired. The young earl of Namur came to serve under the earl of 
 Hainault, according to his request, and said that he would be of their 
 party so long as they remained in the empire ; but, the moment they 
 entered France, he should go and join the king of France, who had 
 retained him, and entreated him to do so. This was also the inten. 
 tion of the earl of Hainault, who had commanded his people, that 
 none should dare to commit any acts of violence in the kingdom of 
 France under pain of death. 
 
 While the king of England was besieging the city of Cambray 
 with full forty thousand men-at-arms, and pressing it closely by dif- 
 ferent assaults, the king of France assembled his forces at Peronne, 
 in the Vermandois. About this time the king of England called a 
 council of those from his own country, and particularly sir Robert 
 d'Artois, in whom he had much confidence, and demanded of them, 
 whether it were best to enter the kingdom of France, and go to meet 
 his adversary, or to remain before Cambray until he should have 
 taken it. The lords of England, and his privy councillors, seeing the 
 city was strong and well provided with men, provision, and artillery, 
 and that it would take some time to conquer it — of which, however, 
 they were not well assured, for no great deeds of arms had yet been 
 performed — that the winter was fast approaching, and that they were 
 there at a very great expense, gave their opinion, that the king should 
 push forward into France ; for he could there find plenty of forage, 
 and a great supply of provision. This counsel was followed ; and 
 all the lords were ordered to dislodge and pack up their tents, pavil. 
 ions, and baggage. They advanced toward Mont St. Martin, which 
 is upon the borders of France, and they marched very regularly by 
 companies, each lord with his own people. 
 
 The earls of Northampton, Gloucester, and Suffolk, were the mar 
 shals of the English host, and the earl of Warwick was the constable 
 of England. They easily passed the river Scheld, not far from Mont 
 St. Martin, for it is not very wide at that place. When the earl of 
 Hainault had accompanied the king of England as for as the boun- 
 daries of the Empire, so that if he passed the Scheld he would be in 
 the kingdom of France, he took his leave, saying he would not ad- 
 vance further with him at this time ; for as he had been sent to, and 
 his aid requested by king Philip, his uncle, whose ill-will he wished 
 not to incur, he would go serve him in France, as he had served the 
 king of England in the Empire. The king replied, " God assist you." 
 The earls of Hainault and Namur then turned back, and went to 
 Quesnoy with all their troops ; the earl of Hainault disbanded the 
 greater part of iiis, but desired of them to hold themselves in readi- 
 ness, for he should shortly go to the assistance of the king of France, 
 his uncle. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX. 
 
 KING EDWARD CREATES SIR HENRY OF FLANDERS A KNIGHT,* AND AFTER- 
 WARDS MARCHES INTO PICARDY. 
 
 As soon as the king of England had passed the Scheld, and had 
 entered the kingdom of France, he called to him the lord Henry of 
 Flanders, who was but a young esquire, and knighted him — at the 
 same time giving him two hundred pounds sterling a year, properly 
 secured in England. The king was lodged in the abbey of Mont St. 
 Martin, where he remained two days; his troops were scattered 
 round about in the country. The duke of Brabant was quartered at 
 the monastery of Vaucelles. When the king of France, who was at 
 Compiegne, heard this news, he increased his forces everywhere, and 
 sent the earl of Eu and Guines, his constable, with a large body of 
 men-at-arms, to St. Quentin, to guard that town and the frontiers 
 against his enemies. He sent the lords of Coucy and of Ham to 
 their castles, and a great number of men-at-arms to Guise, Ribemont, 
 Bouchain, and the neighboring fortresses on the borders of his king. 
 
 * Hi» name was Henry Earn. He was eight years after^vards knighted, or, more pro- 
 bably, made a banneret, by the prince of Wales, who settled on him one hundred marks 
 for his life, payable from the manor of Bradenash in the couuty of D»von. He was aii9 
 the twenty-fourth knight of the garter.— Ashmols. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &,c. 
 
 35 
 
 dom; and came himself to Peronno, in the Vermandois. During the 
 time the king of England was at the abbey of Mont St. Martin, his 
 people overran the country as far as Bapaume, and very near to 
 Peronne and St. Quentin : they found it rich and plentiful, for there 
 had not been any wars in those parts. 
 
 Sir Henry of Flanders, to do credit to his newly acquired knight- 
 hood, and to obtain honor, made one of a party of knights, who were 
 conducted by sir John de Hainault. There vv^ere among them the 
 lords of Fauquemont, Bergues, Vaudresen, Lens, and many others, 
 to the number of five hundred combatants : they had a design upon 
 a town in the neighborhood, called Hennecourt, whither the greater 
 number of the inhabitants of the country had retired, who, confiding 
 in the strength of this fortress, had carried with them all their move, 
 ables. Sir Arnold of Bacqueghen and sir William du Dunor had 
 already been there, but had done nothing: upon which all these 
 lords had collected together, and were desirous of going thither to do 
 their utmost to conquer it. There was an abbot at that time in 
 Hennecourt of great courage and understanding, who ordered bar- 
 riers to be made of wood-work around the town, and likewise to be 
 placed across the street, so that there was not more than half a foot 
 from one post to another ; he then collected armed men, provided 
 stones, quick-lime, and such like instruments of annoyance, to guard 
 them. As soon as the lords above-mentioned came there, the abbot 
 posted his people between the barriers and the gate, and flung the 
 gate open ; the lords dismounted and approached the barriers, which 
 were very strong, sword in hand, and great strokes were given to 
 those within, who defended themselves very valiantly. Sir Abbot 
 did not spare himself; but, having a good leathern jerkin on, dealt 
 about his blows manfully, and received as good in his turn. Many 
 a gallant action was performed ; and those within the barriers flung 
 upon the assailants stones, logs, and pots full of lime, to annoy them. 
 
 It chanced that sir Henry of Flanders, who was one of the fore- 
 most, with his sword attached to his wrist, laid about him at a great 
 rate ; he came too near the abbot, who caught hold of his sword, 
 and drew him to the barriers with so much force, that his arm was 
 dragged through the grating, for he could not quit his sword with 
 honor. The abbot continued pulling, and had the grating been wide 
 enough, he would have had him through, for his shoulder had passed, 
 and he kept his hold, to the knight's great discomfort. On the other 
 side, his brother knights wei*e endeavoring to draw him out of his 
 hands ; and this lasted so long, that sir Henry was sorely hurt : he 
 was, however, at last rescued — but his sword remained with the 
 abbot. And at the time I was writing this book, as I passed through 
 that town, the monks showed me this sword, which was kept there, 
 much ornamented. It was there that I learnt all the truth of this 
 assault. Hennecourt was very vigorously attacked that day ; and it 
 lasted until vespers. Many of the assailants were killed or wounded. 
 Sir John of Hainault lost a knight from Holland, called sir Herman, 
 who bore for arras a fess compone gules, and in chief, three buckles 
 azure. When the Fleming^, Hainaulters, English, and Germans, 
 who were there, saw the courage of those within the town, and that, 
 instead of gaining any advantage, they were beaten down and 
 wounded, they retreated in the evening, carrying with them to their 
 quarters the wounded and bruised. 
 
 On the next morning the king departed from Mont St. Martin, and 
 ordered, under pain of death, that no damage should be done to the 
 abbey, which was observed. They then entered the Vermandois, and 
 at an early hour took up their lodgings on Mont St. Quentin. They 
 were in a regular order of battle ; and those of St. Quentin might 
 have encountered them, had they chosen it, but they had no desire 
 to issue out of the town. The scouts of the army went up to the 
 I barriers, and skirmished with those who were there. The constable 
 of France and sir Charles le Blois drew up their people in order of 
 battle before the barriers ; and when the Englishmen, among whom 
 were the earl of Suffolk, the earl of Northampton, sir Reginald Col)- 
 ham, and many others, saw the manner in which it was done, they 
 retreated to the main army of the king, which remained encamped 
 on the hill until four o'clock the next morning. A council was then 
 held, to consider whether they should march straight into France, or 
 draw toward Tierache, keeping near the borders of Hainault. By 
 the advice of the duke of Brabant, the latter plan was followed, as 
 ' from that country they drew all their provision ; and they resolved, 
 that if king Philip should follow them with his army, as they sup- 
 posed he would, they would wait for him in the plains, and give him 
 battle without fail. They then set out from Mont St. Quentin, 
 ranged in a regular order, in three battalions. The marshals and the 
 Germans led the van, the king of England the centre, and the duke 
 of Brabant the rear ; they advanced not more than three or four 
 i leagues a day, halting early, but burning and pillaging all the coun- 
 try they passed through. 
 
 A troop of English and Germans crossed the river Somme, a little 
 below the abbey of Vermans, to which they did much damage : ano- 
 ther troop under the command of Sir John of Hainault, and the lords 
 of Fauquemont and Bacqueghen, went by a different road, and came 
 to Origny St. Benoit,* a tolerably good town, but weakly inclosed ; 
 80 that it was soon taken by assault, robbed, and pillaged, an abbey 
 of nuns violated, and the whole town burnt. They then marched 
 forward toward Guise and Ribemont. The king of England came 
 
 * A smalltown in Picardy, three leagues frons St. Quentin. 
 
 and lodged at Vehories, where he remained a whole day, while his 
 people overran all the country thereabouts, and laid it v/aste. The ' 
 king then took his road to la Flamengrie, in his v/ay to I'Eschelle, in 
 Tierache : the marshals, with the bishop of Lincoln, ac(;ornpanied by 
 upward of five hundred lances, crossed the river Tri.sagee, enti^red 
 the Laonnois, near the estate of the lord of Goucy, and burnt St. Cou. 
 vin and the town of Marie. They lay one night at Vau, below Laon, 
 and the next day returned to the main army, as they had learnt from 
 some of their prisoners that king Philip of Franco was come to St. 
 Quentin with one hundred thousand men, and there intended to cross 
 the river Somme. They burnt in their retreat a very good town 
 called Crecy-sur-Selle, with a great many others, as well as villages, 
 in that neighborhood. 
 
 We must now speak of the expedition of sir John of Hainault, who 
 had with him full five hundred fighting men. He came first to Guise, 
 which he burnt, and destroyed the mills. In the fortress was the 
 lady Jane, his daughter, wife of Lewis earl of Blois ; she begged of 
 her father to spare the lands and heritage of his son-in-law ; but in 
 vain, for sir John would not depart, until he had completed the pur. 
 pose of his expedition. He then returned to the king, who was lodged 
 in the abbey of Sarnaques, while his people overran the country. The 
 lord of Fauquemont led six score German lances to Lonnion, in 
 Tierache, a large level town ; the inhabitants of which had almost all 
 retired vs^ith what they could carry off" into the v. juds, and there had 
 fortified their position, by cutting down large trees. The Germans 
 followed them, and being joined by sir Arnold Bacqueghen and hia 
 company, they atacked the people of Lonnion in the wood, who 
 defended themselves as well as they could : but they were over- 
 powered and obliged to flee. There were about forty killed and 
 wounded, and all they brought there plundered. Thus was this 
 country ruined without any hindrance ; and the English acted as they 
 thought proper. 
 
 CHAPTER XL. 
 
 THE KIN^GS OF FRANCE AND OF ENGLAND APPOINT A DAY FOR THEIR 
 
 ARMIES TO ENGAGE. 
 
 King Edward set out from Sarnaques, and came to Montreuil, 
 where he lay one day, and on the morrow to la Flamengrie, where 
 he cantoned all his people near him : their numbers amounted to 
 more than forty thousand men. He held a council, and resolved, that 
 he would wait for king Philip and his army, and would there oflfer 
 them battle. The king of France had left St. Quentin, where he waa 
 daily receiving reinforcements, with all his army, and advanced as far 
 as Vironfosse, where he stopped, and ordered his army to halt, saying 
 he would not move further, before he fought the king of England 
 and his allies, who were not more than two leagues distant. As soon 
 as the carl of Hainault, who had remained at Quesnoy with his men- 
 -at-arms, was informed that the king of France was at Vironfosse, in 
 expectation of giving battle, he pushed forward and joined the army 
 of France with about five hundred lances, and presented himself 
 befoi-e his uncle, who did not receive him very graciously, because 
 he had been with his adversary before Cambray ; nevertheless the 
 earl excused himself so handsomely, that the king and his counsellors 
 were well enough satisfied. It was ordered by the marshals, that is 
 to saj', by the marshals Eertrand and De Trie, that the earl should be 
 posted very near to the English army. The quarters of the two kings 
 were on the plain betv/een Vironfosse and la Flamengrie, without 
 any advantage of ground ; and in the memory of man there had not 
 been so fine an assembly of great lords ; for the king of France was 
 there in person, and had with him king Charles of Bohemia, the king 
 of Navarre, and the king of Scotland, dukes, counts, barons, and 
 knights without number, and they were daily increasing. 
 
 When the king of England had halted in the champaign country 
 of Tierache, as you have before heard, he was informed, that the 
 king of France was within two leagues of him, and eager to give 
 him battle ; he therefore summoned the chiefs of his army, and de- 
 manded of them the best method of preserving his honor, as hisj 
 intention was to accept the combat. The lords looked at each other» 
 and requested the duke of Brabant to give his opinion. The duke 
 replied, that he was for fighting, as they could not depart honorably 
 without it ; and he advised, that a herald should be sent to the king 
 of France, to offer him batde, and to fix the day. A herald, who 
 belonged to the duke of Gueldres, and spoke French well, had this 
 commission. After being informed what he was to say, he rode to 
 the French army, and coming to the king and his counsellors, told 
 them, that the king of England, having halted in the plains, demanded 
 and required the combat of one army against the other. To this 
 king Philip answered willinglv, and appointed the Friday follov/ing 
 for the day, this being Wednesday. The herald returned back, well 
 clothed with handsome furred mantles, which the king and lords of 
 j France had given him for the sake of the news he had brought, and 
 ! related the good cheer he had received. The day being thus fixed, 
 information of it was given to the captains of either army, and eveiy 
 on? made his preparations accordingly. 
 
 On the Thursday morning, two knights belonging to the earl of 
 Hainault, the lords of Faguinelles and Tupegny, mounted their steeds- ; 
 and these two leaving their own array, set out to view that of tha 
 
 1 
 
36 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 l:]nglish. They rode on for some time boldly along the line of the 
 Rnglish army ; when it chanced that the horse of the lord of Fagui- 
 iielles took fright, ran off in spite of all the efforts of his master, and 
 carried him, whether he would or no, to the quarters of the enemy. 
 Me fell into the hands of the Germans, who, soon perceiving he did 
 iiot belong to their party, surrounded him and his horse, and took 
 Mm prisoner. He remained prisoner to five or six German gentle- 
 ijien, who immediately ransomed him. When they found out that 
 he was a Hainaulter, they asked him whether he knew sir John of 
 Hainault ; he replied, Yes, and begged of them, for the love of God, 
 to carry him to him, because he was sure he would be security for 
 his ransom. The Germans were delighted nt this, and carried him 
 to sir John, who pledged himself for his ransom. The lord of Fagui- 
 nelles thereupon returned to the army of Hainault, to his earl and 
 other lords. His steed was returned to him through the entreaties of 
 the above lord of Beaumont. Thus passed that day, without any 
 other thing occurring worthy of being recorded. 
 
 CHAPTER XLI 
 
 THS KINGS OF FRANCE AND ENGLAND DRAW UP THEIR ARMIES IN BATTLE 
 ARRAY AT VIRONFOSSE. 
 
 When Friday morning was come, the two armies got themselves^ 
 in readiness, and heard mass, each lord among his own people, and 
 at his own quarters : many took the sacrament and confessed them- 
 selves. We shall speak first of the English order of battle, which 
 was drawn out on the plain, and formed three battalions of infantry. 
 They placed their horses and baggage in a small wood behind them, 
 and fortified it. The first battalion was commanded by the duke 
 of Gueldres, the marquis of Nuys, the marquis of Blanckenburg, sir 
 John de Hainault, the earls of Mons and Savines, the lord of Fauque- 
 mont, sir William du Fort, sir Arnold de Bacqueghen, and the Ger- 
 mana. There were twenty.two banners and sixty pennons ; and the 
 whole consisted of eight thousand good men. 
 
 The second battalion was under the duke of Brabant, with whom 
 were the barons and knights of his country. First, the lord of Kus, 
 the lord of Breda, the lord of -Berques, the lord of Rodas, the lord of 
 Vauselaire, the lord Broguinal, the lord d'Estonnevort, the lord of 
 Wyten, the lord d'Elka, the lord of Cassebegne, the lord of Duffle, 
 sir Thierry de Valcourt, sir Rasse de Gres, sir John de Cassebegne, 
 sir Walter de Hautebergue, the three brothers De Harlebeque, sir 
 John Fitifee, sir Giles de Cotterebe, sir Henry of Flanders, whom we 
 had before occasion to mention, and several other barons and knights 
 of Flanders, who were under the banner of the duke of Brabant ; 
 that is to say, the lords of Plallain and Guiten, sir Hector Villains, sir 
 John of Rhodes, sir Vauflart de Guistelles, sir William d'Estrates, 
 sir Gossuin de la Muelle, and many more. The duke of Brabant 
 had with him twenty-four banners and eighty pennons ; the whole 
 amounting to seven thousand men. 
 
 The third battalion, which was the greatest, was commanded by 
 the king of England in person. With him were, his cousin, the 
 earl of Derby, son of the earl of Lancaster, the bishop of Lincoln, 
 the bishop of Durham, the earl of Salisbury, the earls of Northamp- 
 ton and Gloucester, the earl of Suffolk, sir Robert d'Artois, who was 
 called earl of Richmond, the earl of Hereford, sir Reginald Cobham, 
 the lord Percy, the lord Roos, the lord Mowbray, sir Lewis and sir 
 John Beauchamp, the lord Delaware, the lord Lincoln, the lord Bas- 
 set, the lord Fitzwalter, sir Walter Manny, sir Hugh Hastings, sir 
 John Lisle, and many others, whom I cannot name. The king 
 created many knights; among whom was sir John Chandos,* whose 
 numerous acts of prowess are recorded in this book. The king had 
 twenty-eight banners and ninety pennons ; and there might be in his 
 division about six thousand men-at-arms, and the same number of arch- 
 ers. He had formed on his wing another battalion, under the com- 
 mand of the earl of Warwick, the earl of Pembroke, the lord Berkeley, 
 >lhe lord Molins, and some others, who were on horseback, in order to 
 rally those that might be thrown into disorder, and to serve as a rear- 
 guard. When everything had been thus arranged, and each lord under 
 his proper banner, as had been ordered by the marshals, the king 
 mounted an ambling palfrey, and, attended only by sir Robert d'Artois, 
 sir Reginald Cobham, and sir Walter Manny, rode along the line of his 
 army, and right sweetly entreated the lords and their companions, 
 that they would aid him to preserve his honor, which they all promised. 
 He then returned to his own division, set himself in battle array as 
 became him, and ordered that no one should advance before the 
 banners of the marshals. 
 
 We will now speak of the king of France, as it has been related 
 by those who were present. There were eleven score banners, four 
 kings, six dukes, twenty-six earls, upward of five thousand knights, 
 and more than forty thousand common men. With Philip de Valois, 
 king of France, were, the kings of Bohemia, of Navarre, and of Scot- 
 land ; the dukes of Normandy, Brittany, Burgundy, Bourbon, Lorrain, 
 and Athens ; the earls of Alen9on (the king's brother,) of Flanders, 
 of Hainault, of Blois, of Bar, of Forets, of Foix, of Armagnac, the 
 earl dauphin of Auvergne, the earls of Longueville, of Estampes, of 
 VendOme, of Harcourt, of St. Pol, of Guines, of Boulogne, of Roussy, 
 
 * Neither Lord Beniers' nor Suuvage's edition muke mention of tlii» creation of 
 Itnights, but speak of iir John Chandos as already a knight.— Ed. 
 
 of Dammartin, of Valentinois, of Auxerre, of Sancerre, of Geneve, 
 of Dreux ; and from Gascony and Languedoc so many earls and 
 viscounts, that it would take up too much time to name them. It 
 was a fine sight to see the banners and pennons flying in the plain, 
 the barbed horses, the knig«hts and esquires richly armed. The 
 French were formed in three large battalions, each consisting of 
 fifteen thousand men-at-arms, and twenty thousand men on foot. 
 
 CHAPTER XLII. 
 
 THE TWO KINGS RETIRE FROM VIRONFOSSE WITHOUT GIVING BATTLE. 
 
 It was a matter of much wonder how two such fine armies could 
 separate without fighting. But the French were of contrary opinions 
 among themselves, and each spoke out his thoughts. Some said it 
 would be a great shame, and very blameable, if the king did not 
 give battle when he saw his enemies so near him, and drawn up in 
 his own kingdom in battle array, in order to fight with him according 
 to his promise : others said it would exhibit a singular instance of 
 madness to fight, as they were not certain that some treachery was 
 not intended ; besides, if fortune should be unfavorable, the king 
 would run a great risk of losing his kingdom, and if he should con- 
 quer his enemies, he would not be the nearer to gain possession of 
 England, or of the land of the allies. Thus the day passed until near 
 twelve o'clock in disputes and debates. About noon a hare was 
 started in the plain, and ran among the French army, who began to 
 make a great shouting and noise, which caused those in rear to imag- 
 ine the combat was begun in front, and many put on their helmets, 
 and made ready their swords. Several new knights were made, 
 especially by the earl of Hainault, who knighted fourteen, and they 
 were ever after called knights of the hare. 
 
 In this situation the two armies remained all Friday, withoirt 
 moving, except as has been mentioned. In the midst of the debates 
 of the council of the king of France, letters were brought to the king 
 from Robert king of Sicily addressed to him and his council. This 
 king Robert was, as they said, a very great astrologer and full of deep 
 science ; he had often cast the nativities of the kings of France and 
 England, and had found, by his astrology and the influence of the 
 stars, that, if the king of France fought with the king of England in 
 person, he would surely be defeated ; in consequence of which, he, 
 as a wise king, and much fearing the danger and peril of his cousin 
 the king of France, had sent long before letters, most earnestly to re. 
 quest king Philip and his council never to give battle to the English 
 when king Edward should be there in person. These doubts, and 
 this letter from the king of Sicily, made many of the .lords of France 
 sore disheartened, of which the king was informed, who, notwith- 
 standing, was very eager for the combat ; but he was so strongly dis- 
 suaded from it, that the day passed quietly, and each man retired to 
 his quarters. 
 
 When the earl of Hainault saw that there was no likelihood of a 
 battle, he departed with all his people, and returned to Quesiioy. The 
 king of England, the duke of Brabant, and the other lords, began to 
 prepare for their return, packed up their baggage, and came that Fri- 
 day night to Avesnes, in Hainault, where they took up their quarters, 
 and in its neighborhood. The next day the Germans and Brabanters 
 took their leave, and returned to their homes. The king of England 
 went to Brabant with the duke, his cousin. 
 
 The king of France, the Friday afternoon that the two armies had 
 been drawn out in order of battle, retired to his lodgings, very nngry 
 that the combat had not taken place ; but those of his council told 
 him he had acted right well, and had valiantly pursued his enemies, 
 insomuch that he had driven them out of his kingdom, and the king 
 of England must make many such expeditions before he could con- 
 quer the kingdom of France. The next day king Philip gave per- 
 mission for all to depart, dukes, barons, knights, &c., most courteously 
 thanking the leaders for having come so well equipped to serve and 
 assist him. Thus ended this great expedition, and every man re- 
 turned to his own house. The king of France went to St. Omer, and 
 gave there his principal orders for public affairs. He dispatched a 
 great number of men-at-arms into his garrisons, especially to Tournay, 
 Lisle, and Douay, and to all the towns bordering on the empire. He 
 sent sir Godemar du Fay to Tournay, and made him governor-gen- 
 eral and regent of all the country thereabout, and sir Edward de Beau- 
 jeu to Mortaigne ; and when he had ordered the rest of his business 
 to his liking, he drew toward Paris. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIII. 
 
 KING EDWARD ASSUMES THE ARMS AND TITLE OF KING OF FRANCE. 
 
 When king Edward had departed from La Flamengrie, and arrived 
 in Brabant, he set out straight for Brussels, whither he was attended 
 by the duke of Gueldres, the duke of Juliers, the marquis of Blanck 
 enburg, the earl of Mons, the lord John of Hainault, the lord of Fau 
 quemont, and all the barons of the empire, who were allied to him, as 
 they wished to consider what was next to be done in this war which 
 they had begun. For greater expedition, they ordered a conference 
 to be holden in the city of Brussels, and invited Jacob von Artaveld 
 to attend it, who came thither in great array, and brought with him all 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 37 
 
 the councils from the principal towns of Flanders. At this parliament, 
 the king of England was advised, by his allies of the empire, to solicit 
 the Flemings to give him their aid and assistance in this war, to chal- 
 lenge the king of France, to follow king Edward wherever he should 
 J lead them, and in return he would assist them in the recovery of Lisle, 
 I Douay and Bethune. The Flemings heard this proposal with pleasure ; 
 
 but they requested of the king, that they might consider of it among 
 I themselves, and in a short time they would give their answer. The 
 king consented, and soon after they made this reply : 
 
 ** Beloved sire, you formerly made us a similar request ; and we are 
 I willing to do everything in reason for you, without prejudice to our 
 I honor and faith — but we are pledged by promise on oath, under a 
 
 I penalty of two millions of florins, to the apostolical chamber, not to 
 act offensively against the king of France in any way, whoever he 
 may be, without forfeiting this sum, and incurring the sentence of 
 I excommunication : but if you will do what we will tell you, you will 
 [ find a remedy ; which is, that you take the arms of France, quarter 
 I them with those of England, and call yourself king of France. We 
 I will acknowledge your title as good, and we will demand of you 
 ] quittance for the above sum, which you will grant us as king of 
 j France : thus we shall be absolved, and at liberty to go with you 
 
 wherever you please." 
 i The king summoned his council, for he was loth to take the title 
 and arms of France, seeing that at present he had not conquered any 
 ', part of that kingdom, and it was uncertain whether he ever should : 
 y on the other hand, he was unwilling to lose the aid and assistance of 
 ; the Flemings, who could be of greater service to him than any others 
 ' at that period. He consulted, therefore, with the lords of the empire, 
 1^ the lord Robert d'Artois, and his most privy councillors, who, after 
 j having duly weighed the good and bad, advised him to make for 
 i answer to the Flemings, that if they would engage, under their seals, 
 ■ to the agreement of aiding him to carry on the war, he would wil. 
 lingly comply with their conditions, and would swear to assist them 
 in the recovery of Lisle, Douay, and Bethune ; to which they willingly 
 consented. A day was fixed for them to meet at Ghent, where the 
 king and the greater part of the lords of the empire, and in general 
 the councils from the different towns in Flanders, assembled. The 
 above-mentioned proposals and answers were then repeated, sworn to, 
 and sealed ; and the king of England bore the arms of France, 
 quartering them with those of England : he also took the title of king 
 I of France from that day forward, and maintained it, until he laid it 
 aside by a certain agreement, as will be hereafter related in this book. 
 
 At this conference held at Ghent, the lords engaged the summer 
 ensuing to make an active war in France, and promised to besiege 
 I the city of Tournay. The Flemings were much rejoiced at this, for 
 ! they thought they should be strong enough to conquer it ; and if it 
 ' were once under the protection of the king of England, they could 
 easily recover Lisle, Douay, Bethune, and all their dependencies, 
 which of right belonged to the country of Flanders. The lords and 
 the councils were still at Ghent, much wondering why those of the 
 country of Hainault had not come to this conference ; but such proper 
 excuses were sent, that the king and the others were satisfied. 
 
 Things remained on this footing, when the lords took their leave, 
 and set out for their own country. The king of England went to 
 Antwerp ; but the queen remained with her train at Ghent, where she 
 was often visited and comforted by Jacob von Artaveld and other 
 lords and ladies of Ghent. The king left in Flanders the earls of 
 Salisbury and of Suffolk, who went to the town of Ypres, which they 
 garrisoned, and thence harassed much those of Lisle and its environs. 
 When the king's vessel was ready, he embarked with a numerous 
 ) attendance at Antwerp, and sailed for London, where he arrived 
 about St. Andrew's day, 1339, and was joyfully received by his sub- 
 jects, who were anxious for his return. Great complaints were made 
 ' to him of the ravages which the Normans, Picards, and Spaniards 
 had committed at Southampton ; upon which he answered, that, 
 whenever it came to his turn, he would make them pay dearly for it 
 fi —and he kept his word before the end of that year. 
 
 I CHAPTER XLIV. 
 
 THE FRENCH DESTKOY THE TERRITORIES OF SIR JOHN OF HAINAULT. 
 
 King Philip, after his return to Paris, had disbanded his army ; but 
 I he had sent strong reinforcements to the navy which he had at sea, 
 
 under the command of Quiiiel, Bahucet, and Barbenoire. These 
 
 three master corsairs had under them a number of Genoese, Normans, 
 i . Picards, and Bretons, as soldiers, and had done this winter much 
 
 d:image to the English : they frequently came near Sandwich, Rye, 
 ' Winchelsoa, and Dover, upon the English coast, and were much 
 
 dreaded, for they had upward of sixty thousand soldiers, and none 
 
 durst leave the English ports, for fear of being pillaged and put to 
 J death. These seamen had gained considerably for the king of France 
 ' during the course of the winter, and, in particular, had taken the ship 
 
 Christopher, richly laden with money and wool, which the English 
 Y were carrying to Flanders. This vessel had cost the king of England 
 I- a very large sum. When taken by the Normans and others, it was 
 
 pillaged, and all on board put to death. The French afterwards spoke 
 i much of this capture, and made great boastings respecting it. 
 
 The king of France was continually thinking hpw he could re. 
 
 venge himself on his enemies, and especially on sir John of HainauU, 
 who had done him, as he had been informed, much mischief ; suck 
 as conducting king Edward into the co»uitries of Cambresis anc 
 Tierache, and burning and destroying all he passed through. H< 
 wrote therefore to my lord de Beaumont, lord of Bresne, to the vidain*' 
 of Chalons, to the lord John de la Bone,* to the lords John an J 
 Gerald de Loire, ordering them to collect a body of men, and make' 
 an incursion upon the lands of the lord John of Hainault, and burn 
 them without delay. These lords obeyed the king's command, and 
 secretly collected so many, that they amounted to five hundred ■ 
 armed men, with whom they one morning came before the town of 
 Chimay, entered it, and made a large booty ; for the inhabitants 
 never imagined the French would advance so far into the country, or 
 venture to pass the forest of Tierache : however, they did so, and 
 they burnt the suburbs of Chimay, and many villages in the neigh- 
 borhood, indeed almost all the territoiy of Chimay except its for- / 
 tresses. They then retreated to Aubenton, in Tierache, v/iih their 
 plunder. News and complaints of this were soon brought to sir 
 John of Hainault, who at that time was at Mens with his nephew, 
 at which he was very angry, and not without cause : the earl was 
 also displeased, for these lands were held under him ; but he was 
 sile!>t, and showed not any open design of revenge, upon the king- 
 dom of France. 
 
 About the time of this disaster, it happened that some soldiers, 
 who were garrisoned in Cambray, came to a sniull fortified house,, 
 beyond the walls of that town, called Relenques, th;U belonged to sir 
 John of Hainault, and was guarded by a bastard of his, who might 
 have with him about fifteen men ; they attacked it one whole day, but 
 it was valiantly defended. The ditches were frozen over, so that 
 any one might approach the walls, which those v/ithin perceiving, 
 packed up all they could, and leaving it about midnight, set it on fire. 
 The next morning, when those from Cambray r( turned and saw it 
 on fire, they destroyed the walls and everything remaining. The 
 bastard and his companions retreated to Valenciennes. It has been 
 before related how bir Walter Manny took the castle of Thin-l'Eveque, 
 and placed his brother Giles Manny with a garrison iii it. This brother 
 made many incursions upon those of Cambray, and gave them much 
 uneasiness, for he was every day skirmishing close up to the barriers. 
 In this state he kept them for some time. 
 
 One morning very early he set out from the castle of Thin, with 
 about six score men-at-arms, and came to the baiTiers at Cambray 
 The alarm was so great, that many were frightened. The garrison 
 armed themselves as fast as they could, and mounted their horses 
 with all haste, hurrying to the gate where the skirmish was, where, 
 finding sir Giles had driven back those of Cambray, he instantly at . 
 tacked their enemies. Among the Cambresians was a young esquire 
 from Gascony, called William Marchant, who came to the field of 
 battle mounted on a good steed, his shield hanging on his neck, his 
 lance in its rest, completely armed, and spurriiig on to the combat. 
 When sir Giles saw him approach, he spurred on to meet him most 
 vigorously, and they met lance in hand, without fear of each other. 
 Sir Giles had his shield pierced through, as well as all the armor near 
 his heart, and the iron passed quite through his body. Thus he fell 
 to the ground. This caused as great dismay to one party as joy to 
 the other. The skirmish was very sharp, several were wounded, and 
 many gallant actions performed ; but at last those of Cambray kept 
 their ground, and drove back their enemies. They returned into 
 the town in triumph with the body of sir Giles, whom they imme- 
 diately disarmed, and had his wound examined, and most willingly 
 would they have preserved his life ; but their wishes were vain, for 
 he died the next day. They determined to send the body to his two 
 brothers, John and Thierry, who were in garrison at Bouchain, in 
 I'Ostrevant; for, although the countiy of Hainault was not in a state 
 of war, all the frontiers toward France were strictly guarded. They 
 ordered a handsome coffin, t in which they placed the corpse, and 
 directed two monks to carry it to his brothers, who received it with 
 much sorrow, and afterwards had it carried to the church of the Cor 
 deliers, at Valenciennes, where it was buried. The two brothers came 
 to the castle of Thin-l'Eveque, and made a very sf vere war against the 
 Cambresians, in revenge for the loss they had siiflered from them. 
 
 Sir Godemar du Fay at this time commanded for the king ot 
 France in Tournay and the fortresses in its neighborhood ; the lord 
 of Beaujeu, in Mortaigne upon the Scheld ; the high steward of Car 
 cassonne in the town of St. Amand; sir Aimery de Poictiers in 
 Douay ; the lord Gallois de la Bausme, the lord of Villars, the 
 marshal of Mirepoix, and the lord of Marneil, in the city of Cam. 
 bray. These knights, as well as the esquires and soldiers, desired 
 nothing more ardently than permission t j enter Hainault to pillage 
 and destroy it. The bishop of Cambray, who had retired to Paris, 
 being near the king's person, complained whenever he found a fit 
 opportunity, of the damage the Hainaulters had occasioned him, and 
 that they had burnt and destroyed for him more than any others would 
 have done, so that the king at last gave his consent for the soldiers 
 in the country of Cambray to make an invasion, and overrun the country 
 of Hainault. Then the garrison of Cambray prepared six hundred 
 i;ien-:it-arnis for this incursion, and they sent out on a Saturday at 
 
 * De la Boue.—D. Sauvage and Lord Bemers.-ED. 
 
 t Lord Berncrs sayg, " they ordayned a horse lytter right honorably, and put hit 
 body therein," &c.— Ed. 
 
3S 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 nightfall from Cambray those that were ordered for it. At the same hour 
 those from Male-maison began their march. The two detachments met 
 on the road, and came to the town of Haspres, which was a large 
 handsome town, though not fortified : nor had the inhabitants any fear, 
 for they had never received the smallest notice of war being declared 
 against the country. The French, on entering the town, found every 
 one within doors. Having taken and pillaged what they pleased, they 
 burnt the town so completely, that nothing but the walls remained. 
 
 In Haspres there was a priory of black monks, that was dependent 
 Oil iliat of St. Waas in Arras ; the monastery was extensive, and had 
 large buildings belonging to it, which they also pillaged and burned 
 most villainously. They returned to Cambray after this excursion, 
 driving all their booty before them. News of this was soon carried 
 to Valenciennes, and earl William was informed of it as he was sleep- 
 ing in his hotel, called La Salle. He immediately rose, and dressed 
 himself in great haste, and summoned all the lords that were with 
 him : at that time there were not many, only his high steward, sir 
 Gerald de Verchin, sir Henry d'Antoing, sir Henry de HufFulise, sir 
 Thierry de Walcourt, the lords of Flayon and Potrelles, and some 
 few attached to his person, for the others were lodged at different 
 houses, and were not ready as soon as the earl, who, without wq^iting 
 for them, hastened to the market-place of Valenciennes, and ordered 
 the alarm bells to be rung. This awakened all the inhabitants, who 
 made themselves ready as quickly as possible to follow their lord, 
 who was already out of the town, on horseback, pushing forward 
 toward Haspres. When he had advanced about a league, he was 
 informed that his efforts were in vain, for the French had retreated. 
 He then went to the abbey of Fontenelles, where the lady his mother 
 resided, who took all possible pains to appease and soften his anger ; 
 but he said, that for this robbery he would make the kingdom of France 
 shortly pay dear. The lady his mother did all she could to appease 
 him, and v»?ould most willingly have made excuses for the king of 
 France in this disaster ; but he would not listen to them, and said he 
 must consider in what manner he could most speedily revenge him. 
 self, and burn part of the French territories. When he had remained 
 there some little time, he returned to Valenciennes, and wrote letters 
 to the knights and prelates, to have their advice what should be done 
 under these circumstances, and to summon them to be at Mons by 
 a fixed day. 
 
 When sir John of Hainault, who was at Beaumont, thinking how 
 he could best revenge the burning of his land, heard these things, he 
 mounted his horse, and came to his nephew, whom he found at La 
 Salle. As soon as the earl perceived him, he came to meet him, 
 saying, " Fair uncle, your absence has made the French very proud." 
 Sir John replied, " God be praised ! for although I am much vexed 
 at the loss you have sustained, yet I cannot help being somewhat 
 pleased with what has happened ; for you now see what return you 
 have had for the love and assistance you bore to the French : you 
 must now make an incursion upon them on their own grounds." 
 " Fix upon the place," said the earl, " and it shall be directly under- 
 taken." When the day of the conference, which was to be holden 
 at Mons, was arrived, all the councils from the different towns, as 
 well as those of Holland and Zealand, were there. 
 
 Many proposals were made ; and some of the barons were for send- 
 ing persons properly instructed to the king of France, to demand if 
 he had consented or ordered the invasion and burning of Hainault, 
 or had sent his soldiers upon the lands of the earl, and upon what 
 title this had been done, as there had not been any defiance or chal- 
 lenge sent to the earl or to the country. Upon these proposals there 
 was much argument and debating, but it v^^as at last determined, that 
 neither the earl nor the country could get clear of this business with- 
 out declaring war against the kingdom of France, as well for the 
 burning of the lands of Chimay, as for their outrages committed at 
 Haspres : it was therefore resolved, that a challenge should be sent 
 to the king of France, and that afterwards they should enter his king- 
 dom with a large body of men. 
 
 These letters of defiance were M'ritten and sealed by the earl and 
 all the barons ; and the abbot Thibaut de St. Crispin was ordered to 
 carry them. The earl then returned thanks to all his lords for the 
 good disposition he saw them in, for they had promised him aid and 
 assistance in every situation. The abbot of St. Crispin carried this 
 challenge to the king, who made but light of it, saying that his 
 nephew was an outrageous madman, and was bargaining to have his 
 country burnt and destroyed. The abbot, upon this, retunied home, 
 and related to the earl and his council what had happened to him, 
 with the answers he had received. The earl immediately collected 
 men-at-arms, summoned all his knights and esquires in Brabant and 
 Flanders, as well as in his own country, and exerted himself so 
 much, that in a short time he got together a large body of horsemen, 
 well equipped. They set out from Mons, in Hainault, and that 
 neighborhood, and advanced toward the land of Chimay, for it was 
 the intention of the earl and his uncle to burn and destroy the terri- 
 tories of the lord of Bresne, as also Aubenton, in Tierache. 
 
 CHAPTER XLV. 
 
 THE EARL OF HAINAULT TAKES AND DESTROYS AIJBENTON, IN TIERACHE. 
 
 The inhabitants of the town of Aubenton were much afraid of 
 Ihe earl of Hainault and his uncle, and had expressed their alarms to 
 
 the high bailiflf of Vermandois, who sent to their aid the vidame of 
 Chalons, the lord of Beaumont, the lord de la Bone, the lord John 
 of Loire, and many others. These knights, with their companions, 
 marched into Aubenton, to the amount of full three hundred men-at- 
 arms. The town was inclosed only by a palisade, which in many 
 places was lately repaired. They had made every preparation to 
 wait for the Hainaulters and defend the town, which was large, rich, 
 and full of draperies. 
 
 The Hainaulters came on a Friday evening, and took up their 
 quarters near Aubenton, whence they considered on what side the 
 town was most easily to be taken. The next day they marched to 
 attack it in three battalions, their banners well arranged in front, with 
 their cross-bowmen. The earl of Hainault led the first battalion, 
 having under him a multitude of knights and esquires of his own 
 country. His uncle commanded the second, where there were many 
 men-at-arms. The third was under the lord of Fauquemont, and 
 composed of Germans. Each lord was with his own people, and 
 under his proper banner. The battle began immediately on their 
 advancing, and very sharp it was. The cross-bowmen shot from 
 within and without, by which many were wounded. The earl and 
 his battalion came to the gate, where there was a severe assault and 
 much skirmishing. The vidame of Chalons, who was there, per- 
 formed wonders ; and on the spot he made three of his sons knights, 
 who did many feats of arms worthy of their new honors : but the 
 earl pressed them so closely, that he gained the barriers, and obliged 
 his opponents to retire within the gate, where the assault continued 
 very fierce. Sir John de la Bone* and sir John of Beaumont were 
 posted at the gate leading to Chimay, which was gallantly attacked. 
 The French were forced to retire within the gate, for they had lost 
 their barriers, which the Hainaulters had carried, as well as the 
 bridge. The combat was here renewed with double vigor, for those 
 who had entered, mounting upon the gate, flung down upon their 
 assailants logs of wood, pots full of lime and plenty of stones, by 
 which those who h.id not very strong shields were very much hurt. 
 Baldwin of Beaufort, an esquire of Hainault, received there so vio- 
 lent a blow from a large stone, that his shield was split by it, and his 
 arm broken, which forced him to retire to his quarters ; and owing 
 to this accident, for a long time he could not give any assistance. 
 The attack was pushed on with vigor, and the town defended by the 
 garrison with much valor ; which was indeed necessary, as' their 
 assailants were many ; and, had it not been for the gentlemen who 
 entered Aubenton, it would have soon yielded. However, at length 
 the town was taken by force ; the palisades, which were only of 
 wood, were broken down. Sir John of Hainault and his banner 
 first entered the to\yn, with great shouting and noise of men-at-arms. 
 Then the vidame of Chalons retired toward the church with some 
 knights and esquires, where they formed themselves, with displayed 
 banners and pennons, to the intent of combating as long as their 
 honor demanded ; but the lord of Bresne and his banner withdrew 
 in a disorderly manner : for he knew well how much sir John of 
 Hainault was enraged against him, and, if he had him in his power, 
 would not admit of any ransom ; so he mounted his steed, and gal- 
 loped off. 
 
 When sir John of Hainault found that he who had done so much 
 damage to his lands at Chimay was gone off toward Vervins, he pursued 
 him, with part of his company ; but the lord of Bresne made greater 
 haste, and finding the gate of the town open, rushed in and saved 
 himself. Sir John had followed him sword in hand ; but when he found 
 that he had escaped, he returned speedily by the great road to Auben- 
 ton : however, his people meeting those who were following the 
 lord of Bresne, attacked them, and killed a great many. The combat 
 continued obstinate before the cathedral, and many were killed and 
 wounded. Among the first were the vidame and two of his sons : 
 nor did any knight or esquire escape death or being made prisoner, 
 but those who had followed the lord of Bresne. Upward of two 
 thousand men were taken in the town, which was pillaged of all the 
 riches it contained ; many wagons and carts were laden with it and 
 sent to Chimay. The town was afterwards burnt to the ground ; and 
 the Hainaulters took up their quarters on the river side. 
 
 After the destruction of Aubenton, they marched toward Maubert 
 Fontaine, which they took on their arrival, for it was defenceless, 
 and then pillaged and burnt it. They did the same to Aubencheul 
 aux Bois, to Signy I'Abbaye, Signy le Petit, and all the villages 
 thereabout, amounting to upward of forty. The earl of Hainault, 
 after this, returned to Mons, where, he dismissed all his bands, after 
 returning them his thanks in so gracious a manner for their assist- 
 ance, that they all left him well pleased. He then formed the design 
 of passing over to England to amuse himself, and at the same time 
 form a strict alliance with the king, his brother-in-law, in order to 
 strengthen himself ; as he naturally imagined, that what he had done 
 would not be taken quietly, but that the king of France, his uncle, 
 would make some incursions into his country : for which reason ho 
 was anxious to have the support of the English, the Flemings, and 
 the Brabanters, and summoned his council at Mons, to whom he de- 
 clared his intentions. He nominated and appointed his uncle, during 
 his absence, sir John of Hainault, governor of the three countries of 
 Hainault, Holland and Zealand, and set out with a small company for 
 Dordrecht, where he embarked and sailed over to England. 
 
 D. Sauvage's edition reads Boue ; but Lord Bemers, in this place, bat Bone.— £d. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 We shall now leave the earl, to relate what happened to his coun- 
 try during his absence. Sir John of Hainault, as you have heard, 
 remained master and governor of the three provinces, by order of 
 the earl, and he was obeyed as if he had been their true lord. He 
 took up his quarters at Mons, which he provisioned and strengthened, 
 as well as all the forts in its neighborhood, especially those on the 
 frontiers of France, with a sufficient number of men-at-arms. He 
 sent four knights, the lord of Antoing, the lord of Waartang, the 
 lord of Gommegines, and sir Henry Husphalize, to Valenciennes, as 
 counsellors and advisers to the citizens and inhabitants. To Mau- 
 beuge, he sent the seneschal of Hainault, sir Gerard de Werthin, 
 with a hundred good lances and men-at-arms. To Quesnoy, the 
 marshal of Hainault, sir Thierry de Walcourt ; and to Landrecy the 
 lord of Fotrelles. He placed in Bouchain three German knights, 
 who were brothers, of the name of Conrad. Sir Gerard de Sassegnes 
 was sent to Escaudavore, and the Lord of Fauquemont to Avesnes : 
 all the other fortresses bordering on France were properly strength- 
 ened. He begged and entreated each captain to be attentive to his 
 own honor, and careful of what was intrusted to him, which when 
 they had all promised, they set out for their different stations. We 
 will now return to the king of France, and speak of the expedition 
 he was forming to invade and destroy Hainault, of which he made 
 his son, the duke of Normandy, commander. 
 
 CHAPTER XLVI. 
 
 THOSE OF TOURNAY MAKE AN INCURSION INTO FLANDERS. 
 
 When the king of France had been informed that the Hainaulters 
 had burnt the country of Tierache, had killed his knights, and 
 destroyed his town of Aubenton, he ordered his son, the duke of 
 Normandy, to collect a number of forces, make an incursion into 
 Hain-ault, and destroy that country in such a manner, that it might 
 never recover from it. The duke replied, he would cheerfully under- 
 take this. The king then ordered the count de Lisle, a Gascon, who 
 was at that time near his person at Paris, and whom he much loved, 
 to collect forces, and march toward Gascony, as lieutenant for the 
 king of France, with the intent of making some severe reprisals upon 
 Bordeaux, in the Bourdelois, and upon all the places which held or 
 belonged to the king of England. The count obeyed the king's 
 orders, and left Paris for Toulouse, where he made his preparations 
 to fulfil his commission, as you will see in its proper time and place. 
 The king of France sent large reinforcements to the armament he 
 had at sea, and ordered his captains to watch the coast of Flanders 
 attentively, and upon no account to suffer the king of England to 
 pass over or land in Planders ; for, if he did so by their fault, he 
 would certainly punish them with death. 
 
 When king Philip heard that the Flemings had done honor to the 
 king of England, he sent to them a prelate, as from the pope, to say, 
 that if they would acknowledge him king of France, and abandon 
 the king of England, who had enchanted them, he would forgive 
 them all their misdoings, release them from the large sum of florins 
 which, by an old obligation, was due to him ; and moreover grant 
 them, under his seal, many profitable franchises in France. The 
 Flemings returned for answer, that they held themselves quit and 
 absolved from everything which they owed the king of France. Upon 
 this, the king made heavy complaints to to the pope, Clement VL, 
 who issued so tremendous an excommunication against them, that 
 no priest was daring enough to celebrate divine service there. The 
 Flemings made remonstrances on this to the king of England ; who, 
 to appease them, said, that the first time he should cross the sea, 
 he would bring with him priests from his own country, who should 
 say mass for them, whether the pope would or not, as he had a power 
 of so doing, and this satisfied them. 
 
 When the king of France saw that he could not make the Flem- 
 ings retract their opinions, he commanded those in Tournay, Lisle, 
 Douay, and the neighboring castles, to make war upon them, and 
 overrun their country. Upon which sir John de Roye, at that time 
 in Tournay, and sir Matthew de Trie, marshal of France, together 
 with sir Godemar du Fay and many other knights, collected a thou- 
 sand men, strongly armed and well mounted, with three hundred 
 cross-bowmen, as well from Tournay as from Lisle and Douay: 
 they set out from Tournay, one evening after supper, and marched 
 so expeditiously, that they came before Courtray about daybreak, 
 and bef;)re sunrise had collected all the cattle thereabouts. Some 
 of their li-jht-horse advanced to the gates of the town, and killed 
 and wounded many in the suburbs : they then retreated without 
 I033, and placed the river Lys, on their return, between them and 
 the booty, which they had carried off that day. They brought into 
 Tournay, more than ten thousand sheep, and of swine, beeves, and 
 kine, as many more. 
 
 The Flemings were sore vexed at this ; and Jacob von Artaveld, 
 who was at that time at Ghent, swore that this expedition should be 
 revenged on Tournay and its neighborhood. He gave immediate 
 orders for the different towns in Flanders to collect forces, and to 
 send them to him at a fixed day before Tournay ; he also wrote to 
 the earls of Salisbury and Suffolk, who w re at Ypres, to beg that 
 they would draw toward that quarter to meet him. He then set out 
 from Ghent, accomDanied by great numbers, and came to a place 
 
 called Geertsberg, between Oudenarde and Tournay, where he halted, 
 to wait for the two earls, and for those of Franc and Bruges. 
 
 When the two earls received the letters, they would not for their 
 honor's sake make any delay, but sent to inform von Artaveld, th^; 
 they would be with him at the appointed time and place. The^- 
 soon set out from Ypres with about fifty lances and forty cross-bow . 
 men, and took the road where he was waiting for them. They con- 
 tinued their route ; but, as they were forced to pass near the outskirts' 
 of Lisle, it was soon known in that town : accordingly, fifteen 
 hundred horse and foot were secretly armed, and sent out in three 
 divisions to lie in wait, so that these lords might not escape from 
 them. The earls and their company followed the guidance of sir 
 Vauflart de la Croix, who had long made war upon the people of 
 Lisle, and still continued so to do whenever he had an opportunitv' : 
 it was for this purpose that ho was come to Ypres. He thouglit 
 himself quite certain of conducting the carls in safety, as he was 
 well acquainted with all the roads in those parts ; and he would have 
 succeeded now, if those of Lisle had not thrown up a great trench 
 near their town, which was not there befoie. 
 
 When sir Vauflart came to this trend', and saw that their road 
 was cut off, he was quite astonished, and said to the earls, " My 
 lords, we cannot go further this way, without putting ourselves in the 
 power of those of Lisle ; on which account my advice is, that we 
 turn about and seek another road." But the lords replied, " Nay, sir 
 Vauflart, God forbid that we should go out of our way f^- those of 
 Lisle I Ride on, therefore, for we have promised Jacob von Artaveld, 
 that we would be with him some time this day." The English rode 
 on without care. Sir Vauflart said to them, " It is true, my lords, 
 that you have taken me for your guide in this expedition, and I have 
 remained with you all this winter at Ypres, and have many thanks 
 to give you and all your attendants; but if it should happen, that 
 those of Lisle make a sally upon us, do not fancy that I shall wait 
 for them, for I shall save myself as fast as .[ can. If by any accident 
 I should be taken, my head would pay for it, which is much dearer 
 to me than your company." The lords laughed lieartily, and told 
 him they would excuse him, if he should do so. And as he imagined, 
 so it fell out ; for, by not taking more precaution, tliey were surprised 
 by one of the parties from Lisle, who cried out, " Stop ! stop ! you 
 cannot pass here without our leave :" and immediately the lancemen 
 and cross-bowmen fell on the English. 
 
 As soon as sir Vauflart saw what was g' ing on, he took care not 
 to advance further ; but turning about as quickly as possible, galloped 
 out of danger. The two earls fell into the hands of their enemies, 
 and were taken as if in a net; for the smbuscade was placed be- 
 tween hodges and ditches in a very narrow road, so that they could 
 neither advance nor retreat to gain the open country ; however, 
 when they saw their mischance, they dismouniod, and defended 
 themselves as well as they could, killing and wounding a great many 
 of their opponents ; but it was all in vain, for fresh forces from 
 Lisle were continually pouring upon them. They were therefore 
 taken prisoners ; and a young brisk esquire of Limousin, of the 
 name of Raymond, nephew to pope Clement, wa:^ killed for the sake 
 of his beautiful armor, after he had surrendered hiinself, which made 
 good men angry. The two earls were kept prisoners in the market, 
 place at Lisle, and aftewards sent to the king of France, who pro- 
 mised, that those of Lisle should be well rewarded for the good 
 service they had done him.* When Jacob von Artaveld received 
 this information at Geertsberg, he was much enraged, and giving up 
 all thoughts of his expedition, disbanded his Flemings, and himself 
 returned to Ghent. 
 
 CHAPTER XLVII. 
 
 JOHN, DUKE OF NORMANDY, MARCHES INTO HAINATH.T. 
 
 The duke of Normandy, eldest son of the king of France, issued a 
 special summons of his intention to be at St. Quentin about Easter, 
 in the year 1340. When he came thither he v> as attended by the 
 duke of Athens, the earl of Flanders, the earl < f Auxene, the earl 
 Raoul of Eu, constable of France, the earl of bancerre, the earl of 
 Porcien, the earl of Roussi, the earl of Bresne, tiie earl of Grandpr6, 
 the lord of Coucy, the lord of Graon, and a nmltitude of other nobles 
 from Normandy and the Low Countries. On their being all assem- 
 bled at St. Quentin and its environs, the constable and the two 
 marshals of France, sir Robert Bertrand and sir Matthew de Trie, 
 numbered them, and found there were six thousand inen-at-arms, and 
 eight thousand others armed with brigandines, besides follov/ers of 
 the army ; which were fully sufficient, they said, to combat the earl 
 of Hainault, or any force he could bring against thern. They began 
 their march, and took the road to Cha,teau.Cambresis, going near to 
 Bohain ; and advanced so forward that they passed Chateau-Cam- 
 bresis, and took up their quarters at the town of Montay upon the 
 river Selle. 
 
 Sir Richard Verchin, seneschal of Hainault, was informed by his 
 spies, that the duke had halted at Montay. He asked those knights 
 and esquires, who were with him, if they were willing to follow him " 
 to which they consented. Accordingly, he set off from his hotel ai 
 
 * This is a mistMke. It was not the earl of Suffolk who was made prisoner, but 
 son, Kobert de UfiFord k Fitii, as he was called.— Dusdalk, vol. ii. 
 
40 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 Verchin, about sunset, accompanied by about forty lances, and 
 pushed on till he came to Foretz, at the' extremity of Hainault, a 
 small league from Montay, when it was dark night. He made his 
 company halt in a deld to tighten their armor and regirth their horses. 
 He then told them, he should like to give the duke an alert; at 
 which they were all rejaiced, and said they would stick by him till 
 death ; for which he gave them many thanks. At that time there 
 were with him, sir James du Sart, sir Henry de Phalise, sir Oulphart 
 de Guistelles, sir John and sir Bertrand de Chatelet, Of esquires, 
 there were, Giles and Thierre de Somain, Baldwin de Beaufort, Cole- 
 brier de Brale, Moreau de I'Escuyer, Sandrat de Stramen, John de 
 Rebersat, Bridoui de Thiaux, and many others. They set forward 
 in silence, and came to the town of Montay, which they entered, for 
 the PVench had neglected to place guards there. The seneschal and 
 his companions dismounted at a great hotel, where they thought the 
 duke was ; but he was lodged in another part of the town. In that 
 hotel were two great lords of Normandy, the lords of Bailleul and of 
 Beaute. The door was soon forced ; and when these two knights 
 saw themselves thus surprised, and heard the cry of Hainault from 
 the seneschal, they were quite confounded : they, however, defended 
 themselves in the best manner they could ; but the lord of Bailleul 
 was killed, and the lord of Beaute taken prisoner by the seneschal, 
 to whom he pledged his faith to surrender himself to him within 
 three days at Valenciennes. 
 
 The Ejench then began to be in motion, and to issue from their 
 quarters : they lighted great fires and torches, awakened every one, 
 even the duke himself, whom they armed as quickly as they could, 
 and displayed his banner before his hotel, to which people of all sorts 
 repaired. The Hainaulters wisely retreated to their horses, which 
 they mounted, and, when they were all collected together, they car- 
 ried off ten or twelve good prisoners, and returned without the 
 smallest loss or damage, for it was so dark they were not pursued. 
 About daybreak they reached Quesnoy, where they reposed and re- 
 freshed themselves, and then went to Valenciennes. 
 
 The next morning the duke of Normandy gave orders for his army 
 t0 dislodge and enter Hainault, and burn and destroy everything 
 without exception. The baggage therefore began to move, and the 
 lords of the advanced guard to proceed forward : they might amount 
 to two hundred lances, and were commanded by sir Theobald de 
 Marneil, sir Gallois de la Baume, the lord of Mirepoix, the lord of 
 Raivenal, the lord of Sempy, lord John of Landas, the lord of Han- 
 gest, and the lord of Tramelles. The two marshals followed with 
 full five hundred lances ; then the duke of Normandy, attended by a 
 crowd of earls, barons, and other lords. The advanced troops en- 
 tered Hainault, and set fire to Fores, Bertrand, Vertigrieulx, Escar- 
 main, Vendegyses-aux-Bois, Vendegyses upon the river Cinel. The 
 next day they advanced further into the country, and burnt Avesnes- 
 le-sec, Villiers-en.Cauchie, Gomegnies, Marchepois, Potel, Ansenoy, 
 Perseaux, le Frasrioit, Andegay, the good town of Bavay, and all the 
 country as far as the river Honneau. This second day a sharp attack 
 was made on the castle of Verchin, and some skirmishing, by the 
 division commanded by the marshals, but without success, as it was 
 very well defended. The duke took up his quarters for that night 
 upon the Selle, between Hausy and Sausoy. 
 
 Sir Valerian, lord of Fauqueraont, commanded in Maubeuge, and 
 with him were full one hundred lances of Germans and Hainaulters. 
 As soon as he was informed of this incursion of the French, and how 
 they were burning the country, and had heard the poor people lament 
 and bewail their losses, he put on his armor, and ordered his people 
 to get themselves in readiness. He gave up the command of the 
 town to the lords of Beaurevoir and Montigny, and told his com- 
 panions that he had a great desire to meet the French. He was on 
 horseback all that day, and rode along the bordere of the forest of 
 Morinaulx. Toward evening he heard, that the duke of Normandy 
 and all his host were lodged on the banks of the Selle ; upon which 
 he said he would awaken them, and rode on that evening, and about 
 midnight he and his company forded the river. When they had all 
 passed, they regirthed their horses, and set themselves to rights, and 
 advanced in silence to the quarters of the duke. When they were 
 near, they spurred on their horses, and at one rush drove into the 
 middle of the duke's host, crying out, " Fauquemont !" They laid 
 well about them, cutting down tents and pavilions, and 'killing or 
 wounding all whom they met. The army then, being roused, armed 
 as quickly as they could, and drew near to where the bustle was ; 
 but the lord of Fauquemont, seeing that it was time, collected his 
 people, and retreated most handsomely. Of the French, there \\^s 
 killed the lord of Requigny from Picardy. The viscount du Quesnes, 
 and Rouvroy with one eye, were made prisoners ; and sir Anthony 
 de Coudun was severely wounded. When the lord of Fauquemont 
 saw nothing more could be done, he set off with all his people, and 
 crossed the Selle without hindrance, for he was not pursued. They 
 rode easily forward, and came to Quesnoy about sunrise, when the 
 quartermaster-general, sir Thierry de Walcourt, opened the gates to 
 ^em. 
 
 The duke of Normandy ordered his trumpets to sound the next 
 morning at daybreak, for his army to prepare themselves, and to cross 
 the Selle, and advance further irA) Hainault. The marshal of Mire- 
 poix, the lord of Noysieres, sir Gmllois de la Baume, and sir Thibault 
 ie Marneil, advanced first with four hundred lances, besides those 
 
 armed with brigandines, and came before Quesnoy, even up to the 
 barriers : they made a feint as if they intended to attack it ; but it 
 was so well provided with men-at-arms and heavy artillery, they 
 would only have lost their pains. Nevertheless they skirmished a 
 little before the barriers ; but they were soon forced to retire, for 
 those of Quesnoy let them hear their cannons* and bombards, which 
 flung large iron bolts in such a manner, as made the French afraid 
 for their horses — so they retreated and burnt Grand Wargny and 
 Petit Wargny, Frelaines, Famars, Martre, Semery, and Artre, Sari- 
 ten, Turgies, Estinen ; and the Hainaulters fled from these towns to 
 Valenciennes. The French afterwards encamped their battalions 
 upon the hill of Castres near Valenciennes, where they lived in a 
 rich and splendid manner. During their stay there, about two hun- 
 dred lances, commanded by the lord of Craon, the lord of Maulevrier, 
 the lord of Mathefelon, the lord of Avoir, and some others, went 
 toward Main and attacked a large square tower, which for a long time 
 had belonged to John Vernier of Valenciennes, but of late to John 
 de Neufville. The assault was sharp and severe, and lasted the 
 whole day ; nor could they make the French retire before night, al- 
 though five or six were killed. Those within defended themselves 
 right valiantly, and did not suffer any loss. 
 
 A greater number of the French marched to Trie, intending, on 
 their arrival, to pass over the Scheid ; but those of the town had 
 destroyed the bridge, and defended that passage : nor could the 
 French ever have conquered it, if some among them had not been 
 acquainted with the fords of the river and the country, who con- 
 ducted upward of two hundred men to the foot-bridge at Prouvy. 
 When these had crossed over, they came and fell upon the men ot 
 Trie, who, being few in number in comparison to them, were not 
 able to resist ; so they took to their heels, and many of them were 
 killed and wounded. 
 
 The seneschal of Hainault left Valenciennes that day, accompanied, 
 at the utmost, with one hundred men-at-arms, by the gate of Dou. 
 zaing, to succor the inhabitants of Trie, who he thought would have 
 enough to do. It happened that a little beyond St. Waast, he met 
 about twenty-five light-horse of the French, commanded by three 
 knights from Poitou — the lord Boucicault, who was afterwards a 
 marshal of France, the lord of Surgeres, and sir William Blondel : 
 they had passed over the bridge, very near to Valenciennes, which is 
 called the bridge of La Tourelle, and is over the Vincel. When the 
 seneschal perceived them, he stuck spurs into his horse, and with 
 his lance overthrew the lord of Boucicault, made him prisoner, and 
 sent him to Valenciennes. The lord of Surgeres saved himself by 
 flight ; but sir William Blondel surrendered himself to sir Henry 
 d'Usphalise ; and almost all the others were either killed or taken 
 prisoner's. This done, the seneschal hastened toward Trie ; but he 
 was too late, for the French had already conquered it before he 
 came, and were busily employed in pulling down the mills, and 
 destroying a small castle that was there. As soon as the seneschal 
 arrived, they had not much leisure for such things, for they were 
 driven back, killed, and cut down. Some were forced to leap into 
 the river Scheid, and many were drowned. Thus was the town of 
 Trie liberated. The seneschal afterwards crossed the Scheid, at a 
 place called Denaing, and rode on with all his company to the castle 
 of Verchin, which he entered in order to defend it, should there be 
 any occasion. 
 
 The duke of Normandy still remained upon the hill of Castres, his 
 army drawn out, the greater part of the day ; for he thought that 
 those of Valenciennes would come out and give him battle. This 
 they would willingly have done, if sir Henry d'Antoing, who com- 
 manded in the town, had not prevented them. He posted himself 
 at the gate that leads to Cambray, and had much pain and trouble to 
 hinder them from going out. John de Vassey, provost of the town, 
 who was there with him, appeased them as well as he could, and 
 gave them such good reasons for their remaining quiet, that at last 
 they were satisfied. When the duke of Normandy had staid for a 
 considerable time on the hill, and saw that no one made any attempt 
 to come out of Valenciennes to fight with him, he sent the duke of 
 Athens, the marshals of France, the earl of Auxerre, and the lord 
 of Chastillon, with about three hundred lances, well mounted, to 
 skirmish close to the town. They advanced in good order, and came 
 to that side of it opposite to the Tourelle . at Gogueb, and even to 
 the very barriers ; but they did not stay long, as they were afraid 
 of the shot hurting their horses. The lord of Chastillon, however, 
 advanced so forward, that his horse was hit, fell under him, and he 
 was obliged to mount another. This detachment then changed its 
 course, and went toward the marshes, where they burnt and de- 
 stroyed all the mills upon the river Vincel : they then made a circuit 
 behind the Carthusian convent, and returned to their army. Some 
 stragglers, however, remained behind at Les I\Iarlcs, to forage more 
 at their ease. When those who were guarding a neighboring town, 
 which belonged to the heirs of Hainault, (though formerly to sir 
 Robert de Namur, by the lady Isabella his wife,) perceived them, 
 
 * It has generally been supposed, that cannons were first used at the battle of Crecy. 
 four years later: but as the same words are expressed in all my copies of Froissart. 
 whether printed or in manuscript, I cannot but believe they were employed when he 
 mentions it. It is most probable, that artillery was first used in the defence of towns: 
 and Edward, seeing the advantage that could be derived from cannons, employed them 
 at the battle of Crecy. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, & c 
 
 41 
 
 ji'id that the main body had retreated, they issued out of the town, 
 attacked them, killed one-half, took all their forage, and reentered 
 it without any loss. 
 
 The army remained in battle array upon the mount of Castres 
 untal the afternoon, when the scouts returned from all sides. There 
 was then a great council held ; the chiefs said, that, everything con- 
 sidered, they were not in sufficient force to attack so large a town as 
 Valenciennes ; i nd it was at last finally determined, that they should 
 retire to Cambray. They set out, therefore, and came to Main and 
 Fontenelles, where they took up their quarters for that night, and 
 kept a strong watch. The next day they marched away ; but burnt 
 Main and Fontenelles, and also the convent which belonged to ma- 
 dame de Valois, sister-german to the king of France. The duke 
 was much vexed at this, and had those who set it on fire hanged. ]n 
 their retreat, they completed the burning of the town of Trie and its 
 castle ; the mills were also destroyed. Prouvy, Rommency, Thyan, 
 Moncheau, and all the flat country between Cambray and Valen- 
 ciennes, suflfered in the same manner. The duke this day came 
 before Escaudoure, a strong and good castle, belonging to the earl 
 of Hainault, situate upon the Scheld, which had been of great an- 
 noyance to Cambray. When the duke had been only six days before 
 it, the governor, sir Gerard de Sassegines, who before this had never 
 been reproached for anything, nor can I say by what means he was 
 bewildered to do so, surrendered it undamaged, to the great surprise 
 of all the country, who strongly suspected both the governor and his 
 esquire, named Robert Marinaux, of treason. They were taken, 
 inculpated, and both died afterwards in a miserable manner at Mons, 
 in Hainault. The inhabitants of Cambray demolished this castle of 
 Escaudoure, and carried the stone into their town, to repair their 
 own dwellings and fortifications. 
 
 CHAPTER XLVIII. 
 
 THE aARRISON OF DOUAY MAKES AN INCURSION INTO OSTREVANT, DURING 
 THE ABSENCE OP THE EARL OF HAINAULT IN ENGLAND AND IN GERMANY. 
 
 After the destruction of the castle of Escaudoure, duke John of 
 Normandy retired to Cambray, dismissed the greater part of his 
 array, and sent the rest to the castle of Douay, and to the other for- 
 tresses in the neighborhood. This week the garrison of Douay, in 
 conjunction with those of Lisle, made a sally, in number about three 
 hundred lances : they were commanded by sir Lewis of Savoy, the 
 earl of Geneva, the earl of Villars, sir Gallois de la Baume, the lord 
 of Waurain, and the lord of Vasiers ; they burnt in Hainault all that 
 fine country of Ostrevant ; so that nothing remained but the fortresses. 
 When those of Bouchain saw all this fire and smoke round about 
 them, they were in a violent rage ; the more so, as they were unable 
 to prevent it; but they sent messengers to Valenciennes, to let them 
 know what was going forward, and to inform them, that if in the 
 night-time they would sally out with five or six hundred lances, they 
 might attack the French to great advantage, who were lying at their 
 ease in the flat country. But those of Valenciennes were not of the 
 same opinion, and would not leave their town ; so the French made 
 a great booty, and burnt the town of Anich, one-half of Escoux, Es- 
 caudaing, Erin, Montigny, Santain, Varlain, Vargny, Ambreticourt, 
 Laufche, Sauch, Roelt, Neufville, Lieu St. Amand, and all the villages 
 which were in that country. They carried off* with them immense 
 wealth. When this detachment had retreated to Douay, those of 
 Bouchain marched out, and burnt the other half of Escoux, which 
 belonged to the French, and the French villages, even to the gates 
 of Douay, and the town of Esquerchin. 
 
 I have before mentioned that all the towns on the frontier were 
 well garrisoned ; so that there were frequent skirmishings between 
 the two parties, and many gallant deeds performed. It chanced, 
 about this time, that there were some German soldiers, whom the 
 bishop of Cambray had stationed at Male-maison, two leagues dis- 
 tant from Cha,teau-Cambresis, and bordering on the other side of 
 Landrecy, where the lord of Potrelles, a Hainaulter, commanded ; 
 for the earl of Blois, although lord of it, had surrendered it to the 
 earl of Hainault, at the time he was attached to the French interest, 
 and the earl had kept possession of it. There were frequent quarrels 
 between the Germans of Male-maison and those of Landrecy, who 
 often came well mounted and armed up to the walls of the town. One 
 day, as they sallied forth to make an excursion and collect pillage, 
 news of it was brought to the lord of Potrelles, in Landrecy, who 
 immediately armed himself and his companions, and mounted his 
 horse to recapture the booty. The lord of Potrelles was followed 
 oy his men as fast as they could. He fixed his spear in the rest, and 
 cried out to the French to turn about, as it was a disgrace to them 
 to run away. Among them was a gallant esquire, named Albert of 
 Cologne, who, being ashamed of this flight, instantly turned back, 
 and couching his lance, spurred his horse violently against the lord 
 of Potrelles, who struck him such a blow on the shield, that his lance 
 was shivered to pieces ; but the German esquire hit him so strongly 
 with a firm spear, which broke not, but pierced through the plates 
 of his shield, and even his armor, passing straight to his heart, that 
 he knocked him off" his horse, wounded to death ; which when his 
 brother Hainaulters, the lord of Bansiers, sir Gerard, and sir John 
 Mastin, saw, and the rest who had come out of Landrecy with him, 
 they attacked the French so roughly, in revenge for the loss of their 
 
 captain, that they discomfited them. Few escaped death, or being 
 made prisoners. The pillage was recovered and brought back with 
 the prisoners to Landrecy, as was the dead body of the lord of Po- 
 trelles. 
 
 After the death of the lord of Potrelles, the lord of Floron com- 
 manded in Landrecy and its dependencies for a long time. He made 
 frequent excursions upon those of Male-maison, Cha,teau-Cambresis, 
 and other places on the frontiers. The Hainaulters did so one day, 
 and the French returned the compliment the next; of course many 
 mortal combats happened. The country of Cambresis was in great 
 tribulation, for one-half of it was burnt or destroyed ; the duke ot 
 Normandy was still on the frontiers, and it was not known what his 
 next intentions were ; nor had they any news of the earl of Hainault. 
 True it is that he had bten in England, where he was most honor- 
 ably entertained by the king and barons, and had made a strong 
 alliance with the king. He had left England, and gone into Ger- 
 many, to the emperor Lewis of Bavaria, which was the reason of 
 his long absence. On the ottier hand, the lord John of Hainault 
 was in Brabant and Flanders, and had remonstrated with the duke 
 and Jacob von Artaveld, upon the desolation of Hainault, and en. 
 treated them on the part of his countrymen that they would give 
 them aid and advice. They replied, that the absence of the earl 
 could not be much longer ; and the moment he returned, they would 
 be ready equipped to follow him, wherever he should choose to lead 
 them. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIX. 
 
 THE PUKE OF NORMANDY LAYS SIEGE TO THIN-L'EVEQUE, 
 
 During the time the duke of Normandy lay in Cambray, the bishop 
 and the inhabitants of that place informed him, that the Hainaulters 
 had taken by assault the strong castle of Thin ; and they entreated 
 him, out of love and honor, and by his regard to the country, that 
 he would use his endeavors to regain it, as the garrison was a great 
 annoyance to all the neighborhood. The duke then sent a fresh 
 summons to his army, and got together a number of lords and men- 
 at-arms, who were in Artois and Vermandois, and who had been 
 with him in his former excursion. He set out from Cambray with 
 all his host, and took up his quarters before Thin upon the river 
 Scheld, in those fine meadov/s nearly opposite to Ostrevant, ordering 
 many large engines to be brought from Cambray and Douay. Among 
 these were six of an immense size, which the duke had pointed 
 against the fortress, and which flung huge stones into it day and 
 night, beating down the roofs and the tops of the towers ; so that it 
 was not safe to remain in the chambers, and the people were obliged 
 to take refuge in the vaults. 
 
 This attack was severely felt, and none ever suffered more for 
 their honor than this garrison. The captains, upon whom fell all the 
 weight and trouble, were sir Richard Limousin, an Englishman, and 
 two esquires of Hainault, John and Thierry, brothers to sir Walter 
 Manny.* They encouraged their companions, by saying, " Gallant 
 gentlemen, the earl of Hainault will surely come in a few days, and 
 attack the French, to deliver us honorably out of our danger, and 
 will give us his warmest thanks for having so boldly defended our- 
 selves." The besiegers by their engines flung dead horses and other 
 carrion into the castle, to poison the garrison by their smell ; and 
 this distressed it more than anything else, for the air was as hot as in 
 the middle of the summer : they therefore having considered their 
 situation, and that they could not long hold out, from the horrible 
 stench, propose-d a treaty for a truc-e to last fifteen days, during which 
 time they would let sir John of Hainault, who was regent and go 
 vernor of the country, be informed of their distress, and, if they 
 were not then relieved, they would surrender the place. This treaty 
 was accepted, which gave great comfort to those within the castle 
 The garrison sent off" an esquire, named Estralart de Sommain, 
 according to the terms of the treaty, who came to Mons, in Hainault, 
 where he found the lord of Beaumont, who had had intelligence 
 from his nephew, the earl of Hainault, that he was returning to his 
 own country, after having been in Germany, where he had made 
 alliances with the emperor and other lords of the empire, who were 
 friendly to the king of England. 
 
 The lord of Beaumont assured the esquire Estralart de Sommain, 
 that the garrison of Thin should shortly be relieved, but that his 
 nephew must first return. Before ihis truce expired the earl arrived 
 in Hainault, which caused great joy to the inhabitants, as he had 
 been impatiently wished for. The lord of Beaumont related to him 
 all that had passed since his departure, and with what a powerful 
 army the duke of Normandy had invaded his territories, burning and 
 destroying all his villages and lands, as far as Valenciennes, except 
 the fortresses. The earl answered, that he would have ample amendg, 
 and the kingdom of France was sufficiently extensive, to make him 
 full satisfaction for all these ill deeds; but, first of all, he was anxious 
 to go toward Thin-l'Eveque, to the relief of those good men, who 
 had so loyally and so honorably defended it ; he issued therefore his 
 commissions, and sent letters of entreaty to his good friend Jacob 
 von Artaveld, in Flanders, to the dukes of Gueldres and Juliers, and 
 others in Germany, and went himself to Valenciennes with a large 
 
 * *' Bretherne to therle of JVawittr"— Lord Berners and D. Sauvage ; but see chapter 
 44, where they are spoken of as brothers to sir Giles Manny.— Ed, 
 
49 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 body of men-at-arms, knights, and esquires of his own country. His 
 forces increased every day; and he set off with a grand army of tents, 
 pavilions, and other ordinances and provisions, and encamped at Nans, 
 upon the fine meadows and plains along the banks of the Scheld. 
 
 Of the lords of Hainault, there were, sir John t-f Hainault, the 
 lord d'Anghien, the lord of Verchin, the seneschal of Hainault, the 
 lord of Antoing, the lord of Barbenson, the lord of Lens, sir William 
 de Bailleul, the lord of Havereth, governor of Mons, the lord of 
 Montegny, the lord of Barbais, sir Thierry de Walcourt, marshal of 
 Hainault, the lords of Almedc and of Gommegines, the lord of Biiseul, 
 the lord of Roisin, the lord of Trasegmes, the lord of Lalain, the 
 lords of Mastin, Sars, Vargny, Beaurieu, and many others, who en. 
 camped themselves near to the earl, their lord. Soon after the earl 
 of Namur arrived, handsomely attended by two hundred lances, and 
 posted himself upon the river Scheld, adjoining the army of the earl. 
 The duke of Brabant came next with six hundred lances ; and then 
 the duke of Gueldres, the earl of Mons, the lord of Fauquemont, sir 
 Arnold of Bacqueghen, and many other lords and men-at-arms from 
 Germany and Westphalia, who encamped themselves upon the river 
 Scheld near each other, and opposite to the French. They were 
 plentifully supplied with provision from Hainault, and from the ad- 
 jacent countries. 
 
 When these lords had thus encamped themselves upon the Scheld 
 between Nans and Illois, as just related, the duke of Normandy, who 
 was on the opposite bank, and with him a great number of other 
 gallant men-at-arms, sent to inform the king of France, his father, 
 that the army of the earl was increasing every day. The king, who 
 was at that time at Peronne, in the Vermandois, where he had been 
 for six weeks with a great many nobles, issued out his special orders 
 for raising a large body of men, and sent upward of twelve hundred 
 good lances to the army of his son, and soon foUov/ed after himself 
 as a simple solder, for he could not enter the empire with the com- 
 mand of an army without breaking his oath, which made him act 
 thus. The duke was appointed chief of this enterprise ; neverthe- 
 less nothing was done without the approbation of the king. When 
 the garrison of Thin-l'Eveque saw the earl of Hainault arrive with 
 so powerful an army, they were, as may be thought, mightily rejoiced. 
 The fourth day after they had been there, those of Valenciennes 
 came with a handsome body of men, led by John Boissy, who at 
 that time was provost of the town. They were immediately ordered 
 out to skirmish with the French upon the Scheld, to examine their 
 forces, and to show themselves to the garrison. Many different 
 skirmishes passed between each army, in which numbers were killed 
 and wounded. Sir Richard Limosin and his companions in Thin- 
 l'Eveque, perceiving them warmly engaged, quitted the castle and 
 embarked on the Scheld in boats, which had been prepared for them, 
 and passed over to the opposite shore ; they were carried to the earl 
 of Hainault, who received them most joyfully and honorably, for the 
 good services they had done him ; and for their sufferings in the 
 castle. While these two armies were thus encamped upon the 
 Seheld, the French on the side of France, and the Hainaulters near 
 their own country, the foragers of each side scoured the country ; but 
 they never met, for the river was between them : the French, how- 
 ever, burnt that part of Ostrevant which had escaped before, as did 
 those of Hainault that of Cambray. 
 
 Jacob von Artaveld came to the assistance of the earl of Hainault, 
 according to his request, with upward of sixty thousand Flemings, 
 all well armed, and posted himself strongly opposite to the French. 
 Immediately after their arrival, the earl sent his heralds to his cousin 
 the duke of Normandy, to say that he was ready for battle, and that 
 it would be a very great shame, if such fine armies should separate 
 without an engagement. The duke gave the herald for answer, that 
 he would summon his council, and consider af it. This council 
 lasted so long that the herald returned without any answer. Three 
 days afterwards the earl sent again to the duke, to know positively what 
 his intentions and those of his army were. The duke replied that he 
 had not yet finally determined upon fighting, and could not therefore 
 fix a day, adding, moreover, that the earl was too hasty. When this 
 was told to the earl, he looked upon it only as an excuse for delay ; 
 he therefore sent for all the commanders of his army, explained to 
 them his intentions and wishes, and also the answers he had received, 
 and desired to have their opinions upon the subject. They looked 
 at each other : at last the duke of Brabant, who was the principal 
 commander, spoke for all, and said, that he objected to throwing a 
 bridge over the Scheld and fighting the French, for, to his certain 
 knowledge, the king of England would very soon pass the sea, in 
 order to besiege Tournay ; and he had promised him, upon his faith 
 and loie to give him every aid and assistance in that enterprise. 
 "Now," added he, "if we fight the French, and should be unfortu- 
 nate, he cannot have that succor he expects from us ; and, should it 
 be otherwise, he will not give us much thanks ; it is therefore my 
 opinion that, as he is the chief of the war, we should never engage 
 with the forces of France, but when the king of England is present. 
 Now when we shall be before Tournay, and he there with us, it 
 would give me much uneasiness that the Fench king and his army 
 should depart without a battle ; I therefore advise, dear son, that you 
 decamp from this place, where you stay at a very heavy expense, 
 and thai all should return homeward, for within these ten days we 
 ■hall hear from the king of England." 
 
 The greater part of the lords agreed to this opinion. But the earl 
 of Hainauk was much dissatisfied, and thought his honor would suf« 
 fer, should the French retire without an action. He begged and 
 entreated of them, and of all the barons in general, that they would 
 not leave him, but consent to his wishes. After this the council 
 broke up, and each returned to his quarters. Those from Brussels 
 and Louvain would very cheerfully have returned home, for they 
 were so worn down with fatigue, they could scarce support them- 
 selves ; and they frequently complained to their captains, that they 
 remained at a great expense and did nothing. When the earl found 
 that the council differed in opinion, and were not unanimous to cross 
 the Scheld and fight the French, he called his uncle to him, and 
 said, " Dear uncle, will you take a ride along the river side, and 
 call to you some man of honor from the French army, and tell him 
 from me, that I will throw a bridge over the river; that I am willing 
 and eager to fight at all events ; but I ask a trued for three days to 
 build it." 
 
 The lord of Beaumont, seeing the eagerness of his nephew, com- 
 plied with his request, went home to prepare himself, and rode along 
 the banks of the Scheld, accompanied with two other knights, the 
 lord of Faguoelez and sir Florens de Beaurieu, with his pennon alone 
 borne before him. Perceiving on the opposite bank a knight from 
 Normandy, whom he knew by his arms ; he called to him — " My 
 lord of Marbuisson, my lord of Marbuisson, I wish to speak to you." 
 The knight, who knew him, stopped his horse, and asked what were 
 his commands. " I shall beg of you," said the earl of Beaumont, 
 " to have the kindness to go to the king of France and to his coun- 
 cil, and say, that the earl of Hainault has sent me to ask a truce for 
 the time necessary to throw a bridge over this river, in order that 
 our armies may pass. You will bring me here the answer, and I 
 will wait for you." " By my faith, that I will cheerfully do," said 
 the knight : when, sticking spurs into his horse, he galloped up to 
 the king's tent, where the duke of Normandy and a great many of 
 the nobility were. He related his message, and had shortly this 
 answer — *' My lord of Maubuisson, you will tell him who has sent 
 you hither, that it is our intention to keep the earl of Hainault in the 
 same state in which he is at present ; and we will make him mort- 
 gage his lands ; for he shall be attacked on all sides, and, whenever 
 we please, we will enter so far into his country, that we will burn 
 the whole of it." The lord of Maubuisson brought back this answer, 
 word for word, to the lord of Beaumont, who was waiting for him 
 on the bank. He thanked him for the trouble he had given him, 
 and returned to the earl of Hainault, whom he found playing at chess 
 with the earl of Namur. As soon as he saw his uncle, he rose up, 
 and asked what news he had brought him. " Sir," said sir John, 
 "from what I see, the king of France takes much pleasure in making 
 you keep up such forces at so great an expense, and declares he will 
 make you expend and mortgage all your lands ; snd whenever it 
 shall be his pleasure, and not yours, he will fight you." The earl 
 was much angered at this, and swore it should be otherwise. 
 
 CHAPTER L. 
 
 THB NAVAL ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE KING OF ENGLAND AND THE 
 FRENCH BEFORE SLUYS. 
 
 We will now leave the duke of Normandy and the earl of Hain- 
 ault, and speak of the king of England, who had embarked for 
 Flanders, in order to go to Hainault to assist his brother-in-law in 
 his war against France. He and his whole navy sailed from the 
 Thames the day before the eve of St. John tlie Baptist, 1340, and 
 made straight for Sluys. Sir Hugh Quiriel, sir Peter Bahucet, and 
 Barbenoire, v/ere at that time lying between Blanckenburgh and 
 Sluys with upward of one hundred and twenty large vessels, with- 
 out counting others : these were manned with about forty thousand 
 men, Genoese and Picards, including mariners. By the orders of 
 the king of France, they were there at anchor, waiting the return of 
 the king of England, to dispute his passage. 
 
 When the king's fleet was almost got to Sluys, they saw so many 
 masts standing before it, that they looked like a wood. The king 
 asked the commander of his ship what they could loe, who answered, 
 that he imagined they must be that armament of Normans, which 
 the king of France kept ot sea, and which had so frequently done 
 him much damage, had burnt his good town of Southampto;-;, aiid 
 taken his large ship the Christopher. The king replied, I have for 
 a long time wished to meet with them, and now, please God and 
 St. George, we will fight them ; for, in truth, they have done me so 
 much mischief, that I will be revenged on them, if it be possible." 
 The king drew up all his vessels, placing the strongest in the front, 
 and on the wings his archers. Betv/een every two vessels with 
 archers, there was one of men-at-arms. He stationed some detached 
 vessels as a reserve, full of archers, to assist and help such as might 
 be damaged. There were in this fleet a great many ladies from 
 England, countesses, baronesses, and knights' and gentlemen's 
 wives, who were going to attend on the queen at Ghent : these the 
 king had guarded most carefully by three hundred men-at-arms and 
 five hundred archers. When the king of England and his marshals 
 had properly divided the fleet, they hoisted their sails to have the 
 wind on their quarter, as the sun shone full in their faces, which 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 43 
 
 they considered might be of disadvantage to them, and stretched out 
 a little, so that at last they got the wind as they wished. The Nor. 
 mans, who saw them tack, could not help wondering why they did 
 so, and said they took good care to turn about, for they were afraid 
 of meddling with them : they perceived, however, by his banner, 
 that the king w is on board, which gave them great joy, as they were 
 eager to fight \ ith him ; so they put their vessels in proper order, 
 for they were e,\ oert and gallant men on the seas. They filled the 
 Christopher, the "large ship which they had taken the year before 
 from the English, with trumpets and other warlike instruments, and 
 ordered her to fall upon the English. The battle then began very 
 fiercely; archers and cross-bovvmen shot with all their might at each 
 other, and the men-at-arms engaged hand to hand : in order to be 
 more successful, they had large jrapnels, and iron hooks with chains, 
 which they flung from ship to ship, to moor them to each other. 
 There were many valiant deeds performed, many prisoners made, 
 and many rescues. The Christopher, which led the van, was recap, 
 tured by the English, and all in her taken or killed. There were 
 then great shouts and cries, and the English manned her again with 
 archers, and sent her to fight against the Genoese. 
 
 This battle was very murderous and horrible. Combats at sea are 
 more destructive and obstinate than upon the land, for it is not pos. 
 eible to retreat or flee — every one must abide his fortune, and exert 
 his prowess and valor. Sir Hugh Quiriel and his companions were 
 bold and determined men, had done much mischief to the English 
 at sea, and destroyed many of their ships ; this combat, therefore j 
 lasted from early in the morning until noon, and the English were 
 hard pressed, for their enemies were four to one, and the greater 
 part men who iiad been used to the sea. The king, who was in the 
 flower of his yemth, showed himself on that day a gallant knight, as 
 did the earls of i^erby, Pembroke, Hereford, Huntingdon, Northamp. 
 ton, and Gloucester ; the lord Reginald Cobham, lord Felton, lord 
 Bradestan, sir Richard Stafford, the lord Percy, sir Walter Manny, 
 sir Henry de Flanders, sir John Beauchamp, sir John Chandos, the 
 lord Delaware, Lucie lord Malton, and the lord Robert d'Artois, now 
 called earl of Richmond. I cannot remember all the names of those 
 who behaved so valiantly in the combat : but they did so well, that, 
 with some assistance from Bruges, and those parts of the country, 
 the French were completely defeated, and all the Normans and the 
 others killed or drowned, so that not one of them escaped. This 
 was soon known all over Flanders ; and when it came to the two 
 armies before Thin-l'Eveque, the Hainaulters were as much rejoiced 
 as their enemies were dismayed. 
 
 After the king had gained this victory, which was on the eve of 
 St. John's day, he remained all tha-; night on board of his ship before 
 Sluys, and there were great noises with trumpets and all kinds of other 
 instruments. The Flemings came to wait on him, having heard of 
 his arrival,, and what deeds he had performed. The king inquired of 
 the citizens of Bruges after Jacob von Artaveld, and they told him he 
 was gone to the aid of the earl of Hainault with upward of sixty thou- 
 sand men, against the duke of Normandy. On the morrow, which 
 was Midsummer-day, the king and his fleet entered the port. As 
 soon as they were landed, the king, attended by crowds of knights, 
 set out on foot on a pilgrimage to our Lady of Ardembourg, where he 
 heard mass and dined. He then mounted his horse, and went that 
 day to Ghent, where the queen was, who received him with great 
 joy and kindness. The army and baggage, with the attendants of 
 the king, followed him by degrees to the same place. 
 
 The king had sent notice of his arrival to the lords that were 
 before Thin-l'Eveque opposing the French, who, as soon as they 
 heard of it, and of his victory over the Normans, broke up their 
 camp. The earl of Hainault disbanded all his troops, except the prin- 
 cipal lords, whom he carried with him to Valenciennes, and treated 
 most nobly, especially the duke of Brabant and Jacob von Artaveld. 
 Jacob von Artaveld, in the full market-place, explained the right king 
 Edward had to the crown of France to all those lords that chose to hear 
 him, and of what importance it was to the three countries,that is to say, 
 Flanders, Brabant, and Hainault, when closely united. He spoke so 
 clearly, and with so much eloquence, that he was praised by all, 
 who agreed that he was worthy to exercise the dignity of earl of 
 Flanders.* These lords then took their leave, and agreed to meet 
 in eight days' time at Ghent, to see the king. He received them 
 all most courteously, as did the queen, who was but lately recovered 
 from lying-in of a,*son, called John, afterwards duke of Lancaster, 
 in the right of his wife, the lady Blanche, daughter of Henry duke 
 of Lancaster. A day of conference was then appointed to be held 
 at Vilvorde. 
 
 * There is some difference between this passage and the corresponding French of D. 
 SauvaKe's edition ; and as Lord Berners has translated it almost verbatim, his version 
 is subjoined: "And then Jaques Uartuell openly, and in the market-place, in the 
 presence of all the lordee and of all such as wold here hym, declared what right the 
 kying of Englande had to the crown of Frace, and also what puyssaience the three 
 countrcis were of Flanders, Heynault and Brabant surely joined in one alyance. And 
 he dyde so by his great wysdome and plesaunt wordes, that all people that harde hym 
 praysed hym moche and sayd howe he had nobly spoken, and by great experyece. 
 And thus he was greatly praysed, and it was sayd yt he was well worthy to goueme 
 ye countie of Flaunders." There is nothing said here of his exercising the dignity of Earl 
 )f Flanders, an expression which would seem to imply an intention of investing him 
 with the title.— Ed. 
 
 CHAPTER LI. 
 
 ROBERT, KING OF SICILY, ENDEAVORS TO MAKE PEACE BETWEEN THE 
 KINGS OF FRANCE AND ENGLAND. 
 
 When king Philip of France heard of the defeat of his fleet, and 
 that the king of England was quietly landed in Flanders, he was much 
 enraged ; but as he could not amend it, he immediately decamped, 
 and retreated toward Arras. He dismissed the greater part of hia 
 army, until he should receive other news : but he sent sir Godemar 
 du Fay to Tournay, to advise them in any difficulties, and to see 
 that the city was well provided, for he was more in fear of the 
 Flemings than of any other people. He placed the lord of Beaujeu 
 in Mortaigne, to guard the frontiers toward Hainault, and sent strong 
 bodies of rnen-at-arms to St. Omer, Aire, and St. Venant ; he also 
 formed sufficient magazines in the countries bordering upon Flanders. 
 At this time Sicily was governed by a king named Robert, who was 
 much renowned as a great astrologer ; he had prohibited the king of 
 France and his council from ever engaging the f^nglish when com- 
 manded by their king, for in such cases he was ever to be unfor. 
 tunate. This king was very desirous of bringing about a reconcili- 
 ation between those of France and England, being so strongly 
 attached to the crown of France, that he would have been much 
 hurt at any calamity which might have impaired its lustre. The 
 above-mentioned king v/ent to Avignon to represent to pope Clement, 
 and his college of cardinals, the great evils which might befal the 
 realm of France from the quarrels of the two kings, and entreat of 
 them to undertake the part of mediators in appeasing this disastrous 
 war. The pope and the college replied, they would very willingly 
 do their best endeavors, provided the two kings would listen to them. 
 
 CHAPTER LII. 
 
 THE KING OF ENGLAND AND HIS ALLIES HOLD A CONFERENCE AT 
 
 VILVORDE. 
 
 The conference holden at Vilvorde was attended by the following 
 personages : first, the king of England, the duke of Brabant, the 
 earl of Hainault and his uncle, the duke of Gueldres, the earl of 
 Juliers, the marquis of Blanckenberg, the marquis of Nuys, the earl 
 of Mons, the lord Robert d'Artois, the lord of Fauquemont, the lord 
 William de Dunort, the earl of Namur, Jacob von Artaveld, and 
 many other lords. Three or four men were sent by each of the prin- 
 cipal towns in Flanders, Hainault, and Brabant, by way of council 
 from them. The three countries of Flanders, Brabant, and Hainault, 
 there entered into a treaty, that thenceforward they would succor and 
 assist each other in every possible case ; they then formed an alliance, 
 with covenants, that if either of the three were attacked by any one 
 whatever, the other two should immediateh^ come to his assistance ; 
 and if at any future period two of them should quarrel, then the third 
 should settle the matters of difference between them ; and if he 
 should not be in suflScient force so to do, that then it should be laid 
 before the king of England, in whose hands these covenants had 
 been declared, and sworn to be duly maintained, as the power that 
 should at last make peace between them. Many statutes were then 
 sworn and agreed to, which afterwards turned out ill. But for a 
 further confirmation of their love and friendship, they ordered coins 
 to be struck, that should be current in these three countries, which 
 were styled companions or allies. It was there also determined, 
 that the king of England should put himself in motion about Mag- 
 dalen tide, and lay siege to the city of Tournay ; and all the lords 
 present promised to be there, as well as the forces from the prin- 
 cipal towns : they then set off" for their homes, to get ready and pre- 
 pare themselves properly for the business. 
 
 CHAPTER LIIL 
 
 THE KING OF ENGLAND BESIEGES THE CITT OF TOURNAY WITH A 
 
 POWERFUL ARMY. 
 
 King Philip, soon after the departure of these lords, was informed 
 of all that had passed, and what resolutions had been entered into 
 at this conference, and how king Edward was to come to Tournay ; 
 he therefore determined to provide it so well with ammunition, &c., 
 and with so many good knights, that the city should be well served 
 and well advised. Pie sent directly to the city of Tournay the flower 
 of his chivalry ; the earl Raoul of Eu, constable of France, the young 
 earl of Guines, his son, the earl of Foix, and his brothers, the earl of 
 Aymery and Narbonne, the lord Aymery of Poitiers, the lord Geoffry 
 of Chargny, the lord Gerard of Montfaucon, his two marshals, the 
 lord Robert Bertrand and lord Matthew de Trie, the lord of Caieux, 
 seneschal ofPoitou, the lord of Chatillon, and sir John of Landas, 
 who had with them many knights and esquires renowned in arms. 
 The king entreated of them earnestly, that they would pay so much 
 care and attention to Tournay, that nothing unfortunate might hap- 
 pen, which they all promised him. They took leave of the king of 
 France, left Arras, and arrived at Tournay, where they found sir 
 Godemar du Fay, who had been sent thither before them. He re. 
 ceived them joyfully, as did those of the town ; and, after having 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 well examined the purveyances which were there, as well of artillery 
 AS of provision, they ordered great quantities of corn, oats, and other 
 articles of food, to be brought into it from the country round about, 
 so that the city was in a good state to hold out for a long time. 
 
 To return to the king ot England, who, when the time for being be- 
 fore Tournay approached, and the corn was nearly ripe, set out from 
 Ghent, accompanied by seven earls from his own country, two pre. 
 lates, twenty-eight bannerets, two hundred knights, four thousand 
 raen.at-arms, and nine thousand archers, without counting the foot 
 soldiers. He passed through the town of Oudenarde, crossed the 
 Scheld, and encamped before Tournay, near St. Martin's gate, on the 
 road to Lisle and Douay. Soon after came his cousin, the duke of 
 Bra'-'vnt, with upward of twenty thousand men, knights and esquires, 
 and the companies from the different towns. The Brabanters were 
 
 Tournay. As it appeared two hunddred years since. 
 
 encamped at Pontanes upon the Scheld (a dependence of the abbey ' 
 of St. Nicholas,) as you return from the fields by the gate Valentinois. 
 The earl of Hainauk came with the fine cavalry of his country, with 
 many Dutchmen and Zealanders, who attended upon his person as 
 their lord. The earl was encamped between the king of England 
 and the duke of Brabant. Jacob Von Artaveld came next with more 
 than forty thousand Flemings,* not reckoning those from Ypres, 
 Poperingue, Cassel, and Bruges, who were ordered to another part, 
 as you will hear presently. He was quartered near the gate St. 
 Fontaine, on both sides of the Scheld, over which they had thrown 
 a bridge of boats, that they might have free intercourse. The duke 
 of Gueldres, the earl of Juliers, the marquis of Blanckenberg, thet 
 marquis of Nuys, the earl of Mens, the earl of Savines, the lord of 
 Fauquemont, sir Arnold de Bacqueghen, and all the Germans, were 
 stationed on the side toward Hainault, so that the city of Tournay 
 was very completely surrounded. Each division of the army had 
 open communication with each other, and no one could enter or 
 come out of the city without permission, or without being seen. 
 
 CHAPTER LIV. 
 
 THE EARL OF HAINAULT DESTROYS THE TOWNS OF SECLIN AND ORCHIES. 
 
 This siege of Tournay lasted a long" time. The army that lay 
 before it was plentifully and cheaply supplied with all sorts of pro- 
 visions, for they were brought to them from all the neighboring coun- 
 tries. Many gallant actions were performed ; for the earl of Hainault, 
 who was very bold and enterprising, took this war to heart, reflect, 
 ing as he did that his country had suffered so much at its commence, 
 ment, and headed every excursion. Ho set out one morning very 
 early from the camp with five hundred lances, and passing below 
 Lisle, burnt the good town of Seclin, and many villages in its neigh, 
 borhood. His light-horse advanced even as far as the suburbs of 
 Lens, in Artois. All this was related to his uncle, king Philip, at 
 Arras, who, though very angry, could not at this time help it. After 
 this excursion the earl took another route, and advanced toward the 
 capital town of Orchies, which was taken and burnt, for it was not 
 inclosed. Landas and Celle shared the same fate, as well as many 
 considerable villages thereabout. They scoured the country, and 
 took a very great booty, with which they retreated to the army before 
 Tournay. At the same time the Flemings made frequent and strong 
 assaults on Tournay ; they built boats, moveable towers, and other 
 machines of offence, with which they every day battered the town. 
 Skinnishes very frequently took place, in which many were killed 
 ' ' * Loid Semen says 60,00a~£D. 
 
 and wounded on both sides ; and the Flemings exerted themselves 
 to conquer or damage Tournay, so much had this war irritated them; 
 and they say there is never any discord so bitter, as that between 
 neighbors and friends. 
 
 Among these attacks there was one which lasted a whole day ; 
 much valor was shown, for all the knights that were in Tournay 
 were present. It was intended, by means of boats and other ma- 
 chines, to have forced and broken the barriers of the bridge ; but 
 they were so gallantly defended, that the Flemings made no impres- 
 sion, but lost a vessel in which there were one hundred and twenty 
 men, who were drowned ; so they retreated toward evening, sorely 
 tired. During this siege some soldiers made an excursion from St. 
 Amand, where there was a strong body, and came to Hasnon, which 
 belonged to Hainault, burnt the town, violated the nunnery, destroyed 
 
 the monastery, and took with them all they 
 could carry off to St. Amand. Shortly after 
 these same soldiers set out again, and having 
 passed through the wood of St. Amand, came 
 to the monastery of Vicogne, with the intent 
 V3^^_. to pillage and destroy it: they made a great 
 
 fire before the gate in order to burn it. When 
 the abbot perceived in what danger he was, 
 he set off directly on horseback, and riding 
 behind the wood, came to Valenciennes in 
 great haste, where he requested the provost 
 lo let him have some cross-bowmen ; whom 
 having obtained, he led behind Raimes, and 
 posted them in the wood looking toward 
 Pourcelet, and upon the causeway. Thence 
 they began to shoot upon the soldiers and 
 Genoese, before the gates of Vicogne, who 
 no sooner felt the arrows showering upon 
 them from the woods, than they were panic 
 struck, and ran off as fast as they could. By 
 these means was the monastery saved. 
 
 About this time the earl of Lisle was in 
 Gascony, carrying on the war, by orders from 
 the king of France. He had already taken 
 and recaptured the country of Aquitaine, and 
 kept the field with upward of four thousand 
 horse ; he had besieged Bordeaux by sea and 
 land. The earl had with him the flower ot 
 the chivalry of the marshes of Gascony — the 
 earl of Perigord, the earl of Cominges, the 
 earl of Carmaing, the earl of Villernort, the 
 viscount Brumquet, the lord de la Borde, and many other knights and 
 barons, and nothing resisted them but the fortresses, which the 
 English garrisons carefully guarded. Many gallant feats of arms were 
 performed in this country, of which we shall speak in proper time and 
 place ; for the present we must return to Scotland, and see what 
 is going on there during this siege of Tournay. 
 
 THE SCOTS RECOVER 
 
 CHAPTER LV. 
 
 GREAT PART OF THEIR 
 SIEGE OF TOURNAY. 
 
 COUNTRY DURING THE 
 
 The reader should be informed, that Sir William Douglas, son of 
 the brother of sir James Douglas, who was killed in Spain,* the earl 
 of Moray, the earl Patrick of Dunbar, the earl of Sutherland, sir 
 Robert Keith, sir Simon Fraser, and Alexander Ramsay, had re- 
 mained as governors of the remnant of Scotland, that was not in the 
 possession of the English. During the space of seven years they 
 had secreted themselves in the forest of Jedworth, in winter as well 
 as summer, and thence had carried on a war against all the towns 
 and fortresses wherein king Edward had placed any garrisons, in 
 which many perilous and gallant adventures befel them, and from 
 which they had acquired much honor and renown. While king Ed. 
 ward was beyond sea before Tournay, the king of France sent over 
 some forces to Scotland, which arrived safe in the town of Perth : 
 and he entreated the noblemen above mentioned, to carry on so bitter 
 a war in England, that king Edward should be obliged to desist from 
 his presenf%enterprise before Tournay, promising them every aid and 
 assistance ; in consequence of which these lords collected their forces, 
 and made themselves ready. They quitted th^forest of Jedworth, 
 traversed Scotland, retook as many fortresses as they were able, passed 
 by Berwick, and, crossing the river Tyne, entered Northumberland, 
 which was formerly a kingdom of itself, where they found plenty of 
 fat cattle. Having destroyed and burnt the M-hole country as far as 
 Durham, and even beyond it, they returned hy another road, doing 
 the same to all the countries they pa»sed through ; so that all the 
 country on the borders of England, to the extent of three days' 
 journey, was completely ruined and destroyed. They then reen- 
 tered Scotland, and gained all the fortresses which the king of Eng- 
 land held, except the good town of Berwick, and three other castles, 
 which annoyed them much, and which are so strong, that you will 
 
 * Celebrated in Scottish story under the name of the I\Jiight of Liddesdale. Lord 
 Hailes mentions him alone as being sent on the embassy to France. Eobert the Stewai 
 was regent of the kingdom. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ecarcely find their equals for strengtii in any country ; one is called 
 Stirling, the other Roxburgh, and the third, which may be styled the 
 sovereign of Scotland, Edinburgh. This last is situate upon a high 
 rock, commanding a view of the country round about; and the 
 mountain has so steep an ascent, that fe^^ can go up it without stop- 
 ping twice or thrice. The governor of it at that time was a gallant 
 English knight, called sir Walter Limousin, brother-german to him 
 who had so gallantly defended the castle of Thin.l'Eveque against 
 the French. 
 
 A bold thought came into sir William Douglas's mind, which he 
 mentioned to his companions, the earl of Dunbar, sir Robert Eraser, 
 who had been tutor to king David of Scotland, and Alexander Ram- 
 say, who all agreed to try to execute it. They collected upward 
 of two hundred lances of Highlanders, went to sea, and purchased 
 oats, oatmeal, coal, and straw, and landed peaceably at a port about 
 three miles from the castle of Edinburgh, which had made a stronger 
 resistance than ail the other castles. When they had armed them- 
 selves, they issued forth in the night time ; and having chosen ten 
 or twelve from among them, in whom they had the greatest confi- 
 dence, they dressed them in old threadbare clothes, with torn hats, 
 like poor tradesmen, and loaded twelve small horses, with a sack to 
 each filled with oats, meal, or coal ; they then placed the rest in am- 
 buscade in an old abbey, that was ruined and uninhabited, close to 
 the foot of the mountain on whrch the castle was situate. At day- 
 break, these merchants, who were privily armed, took the road with 
 their horses the very best way they could toward the castle. When 
 they had got about half way up the hill, Sir William Douglas and 
 sir Simon Frazer advanced before the others, whom they ordered to 
 follow in silence, and came to the porter's lodge. They informed 
 him, that they had brought, with many risks and fears, coal, oats, 
 and meal, and, if there were any want of such articles, they should 
 be glad to dispose of them, and at a cheap rate. The porter replied, 
 that the garrison would thankfully have them, but it was so early, 
 that he dared not awake either the governor or his steward : at the 
 same time he told him to come forward, and he would open the 
 other gate. They all then passed quietly through, and entered with 
 their loads to the gate of the barriers, which he opened for them. 
 
 Sir William Douglas had remarked, that the porter had all the 
 great keys of the casile gates, and had, in an apparently indifferent 
 manner, inquired which opened the great gate and which the wicket. 
 When the first gate was opened, they turned in their nags, and flung 
 off the loads of two, which consisted of coal, directly upon the sill 
 of the gate, so that it could not be shut, and then seized the porter, 
 whom they slew so suddenly, that he did not utter a word. They 
 then took the keys, and opened all the gates ; and sir William 
 Douglas gave a blast upon his horn, as a signal for his companions : 
 they then flung off" their torn clothes, and placed all the remainder 
 of the coal between the gates, so that they could not be shut. 
 When those in the amb-uscade heard the horn, they sallied forth, 
 and hastened forward to the castle. The noise of the horn awak- 
 ened the watch of the castle, at that time asleep, who, seeing these 
 armed men running up the castle hill, blew lustily on his horn, and 
 bawled out, " Treason ! treason ! Arm yourselves, my masters, as 
 fast as you can, for here are men-at-arms advancing to our fortress." 
 They all roused themselves as quickly as they could, and when 
 armed came to the gate ; but sir William and his twelve companions 
 defended the gate ; so that it could not be shut. The combat then 
 grew hotter; but those from without maintained their ground with 
 great valor, until their ambuscade arrived. The garrison made a 
 very gallant defence, killing and wounding many of their enemies ; 
 but sir William and his party exerted themselves so much, that the 
 fortress was taken, and all the English killed, except the governor 
 and six esquires, to whom they showed mercy. The Scots remained 
 in the castle all that day, and appointed for governor a squire of that 
 country, called sir Simon de Vesci, and left with him many of his 
 countrymen. This news was brought to the king of England Vhile 
 he lay before Tournay. 
 
 CHAPTER LVI. 
 
 THE KING OF FRANCE ASSEMBLES A LARGE ARMY, IN ORDER TO RAISE 
 THE SEIGE OF TOURNAY. 
 
 It has been before related in what manner the king of England 
 had besieged the city of Tournay, and that he pressed it very close ; 
 for he had upward of one hundred and twenty thousand men, in- 
 cluding the Flemings, who behaved very well in all their attacks. 
 The commanders within the city, finding their provisions beginning 
 to get low, sent out from it all those who had not laid in a proper 
 quantity for the occasion. They were driven out about the middle 
 of the day, and passed through the army of the duke of Brabant, 
 who took compassion on them, and had them conducted in safety to 
 king Philip at Arras ; he had remained there all this time, while 
 those within Tournay were in great distress, and had need of assist- 
 ance and advice. The king of France published a special summons 
 throughout his kingdom, and also in many parts of the empire, for 
 levying of forces. It had so good an effect, that Charles, king of 
 Bohemia, the duke of Lorrain, the earl of Bar, the bishop of Metz, 
 the bishjp of Verdun, the earl of Montbeliard, the lord John of 
 ChalonSj the earl of Geneva, the earl of Savoy, and the lord Lewis, 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 46 
 
 his brother, came to serve under the king of France, with as t /any 
 men as they could collect together. There came to him also the 
 dukes of Brittany, Burgundy, and Bourbon, the earls of Alen^on, 
 Flanders, Foretz, Armagnac, Blois, Harcburt, and Dammartin, the 
 lord Charles of Blois, the lord of Coucy, and many other knights 
 and barons. The king of Navarre afterwards came with a numbei 
 of men-at-arms, to serve for the lands he held in France, and foi 
 which he was a homager to the king. The king of Scotland was 
 also there, under the appointment of the king of France, and had 9 
 handsome body of men given to him. 
 
 CHAPTER LVII. 
 
 SOME OF THE GARRISON OF BOUCHAIN DEFEAT A BODY OF SOLDIERS 
 FROM MORTAGNE,* BEFORE THE TOWN OF CONDE. 
 
 When all these lords above-mentioned, and many others, were 
 come to Arras, the king of France advanced to a small river, which 
 is about three leagues distant from Tournay. It was veiy deep, and 
 the country about it so marshy, that it could not be crossed, but by a 
 very narrow causeway, on which two men would have difficulty to 
 pass abreast. The king and his army encamped in the fields, as they 
 could not cross this river. The next day they remained there also; 
 and the lords about the king held a council, on the best means of 
 building bridges, to pass over this river and the quagmires in safety. 
 They sent some knights and armed men to examine the passages, who, 
 after having well considered them, reported that it would be pains 
 thrown away, and that there was no other means of crossing this river 
 and country, but by the Pont-i-Tressin. Everything, therefore, re. 
 mained as before, and each lord took up his quarters among his own 
 men. The news was soon spread abroad, that the king of France 
 and his army were encamped between the bridges of Tressin and 
 Bouvines, with the intention of giving his enemies battle ; so that all 
 men of honor, who were desirous of fame, went and joined one side 
 or other, as pleased them best. Three German knights, who were in 
 garrison atBouchain, heard, as others had done, that the two kings 
 were near each other, and it was thought they would fight. Upon 
 which two of them urged and entreated their companion that he 
 would consent to remain in Bouchain, to guard and preserve it until 
 they returned, and that they would make an excursion as far as 
 Tournay, to seek adventures, and to see how things were going on. 
 
 The two knights set out, whose names were sir Courrat d 'Astra and 
 sir Courrat de Lancenuch ;t they rode till they came to Estampons, 
 above Valenciennes, for they were desirous of crossing the Scheld at 
 Cond6. Between Fresnes and Estampons they heard a noise, and 
 met many people running away; upon which they spurred their 
 horses, and pushed on toward the place from whence the outciy 
 came, with their whole company. They were altogether about 
 twenty-five lances. They inquired of the first they met of the mean- 
 ing of all the noise and flight : " Oh Lord, gentlemen,"' said they, 
 " the soldiers from Mortagne have made an incursion upon us, and 
 have collected a large booty in this neighborhood, which they are 
 driving to their fortress, together with many prisoners they have 
 taken." The two knights asked if they could conduct them to the 
 road these soldiers were going ? Upon their answering in the affirm- 
 ative, they pursued the French of Mortagne, and followed these 
 honest men, who showed them a way through the woods, so that they 
 gained ground upon them, near to N6tre-Dame-aux.Bois. The 
 French were full one hundred and twenty men, and they v/ere driving 
 before them two hundred large cattle, with some peasants, prisoners. 
 Their captain was a knight from Burgundy, called sir John de Frelais, 
 under the orders of the lord of Beaujeu. As soon as the Germans 
 perceived them they set up a loud shout, and rushed on full gallop. 
 The combat was veiy sharp, for the Burgundy knight made a gallant 
 defence, as well as some of his company, but not all, for several of 
 them betook themselves to flight ; but they were so closely pursued 
 by the Germans and peasants of the country, who had armed them- 
 selves with stakes, that few escaped death. Sir John de Frelais waa 
 taken, and all the booty recaptured and given to the proprietors, who 
 were very thankful to the Germans ever after. The knights then 
 went forward to Tournay, where they were very well received. 
 
 CHAPTER LVIII. 
 
 SIR WILLIAM DE BAILLEUL AND SIR VAUFLART D£ LA CROIX MAKB 
 
 AN EXCURSION TO FONT-A-TRESSIN. 
 
 Soon after the king of France had taken up his quarters, with hia 
 army, near the bridge of Bouvines, a company of Hainaulters put 
 themselves in motion by the exhortations of sir Vauflart de la Croix, 
 who told them he knew all the country well, and he could lead them 
 to a part of the French army which they would be sure of conquer- 
 ing. About one hundred and twenty of them, knights and esquires, 
 set out one day through love to each other, to do some deeds of 
 
 * Mortagne— a. small town in Flanders, near the confluence of the Scarpe and Scheld. 
 three leagues from Tournay. 
 
 t Sir Courrat d'Astra and sir Courrat de Lancenuch. The names of these knighti 
 are, in the 46th chapter, said to have been Conrad. " Courrat" is found in both placet, 
 in Lord Bemers and D'Sauvage ; but ia the latter it is corrected ia a narsiQaJ net*.-* 
 Ed. 
 
46 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 •rms, and advanced toward Pont-Ji-Tressin. They made the lord 
 of Bailleul their captain, and it was under his banner that they were 
 to enlist. 
 
 That same morning, some of the Liegeois made also an excursion, 
 under the command of sir Robert de Bailleul, brother-german to the 
 above-mentioned sir William de Bailleul, for he had made a promise 
 to do this to the bishop of Liege, and was bound to execute it with 
 his whole company. The Liegeois had passed Pont.a,-Tressin, were 
 foraging for their horses, and looking out to see if they could find 
 any chance to profit by. The Hainaulters had rode on, and passed 
 ihe bridge, without meeting with any one ; for there was such a fog 
 that they could not distinguish anything at the distance of a lance's 
 len,^th. When all had passed the bridge, they ordered sir William 
 de Bailleul, and his banner, to remain there, and sir Vauflart de la 
 Croix, sir Raflet de Monceaux, and sir John de Verchin, to advance 
 as far as the quarters of the king of Bohemia, and bishop of Liege, 
 which were near the bridge, and to attack them. The lord of Rode- 
 mach had had the guard that night of the army of the king of Bohe. 
 mia, and was on the point of retiring, when the light. horse of the 
 Hainaulters appeared. They attacked them, as they came up, very 
 valiantly, and they were repulsed also by the Liegeois. The conflict 
 was sharp, and the Hainaulters behaved themselves well. To secure 
 a retreat, however, to their banner, the Hainaulters drew toward the 
 bridge, where they were followed by those of Liege and Luxembourg, 
 and the engagement was renewed. Sir William de Bailleul was ad- 
 vised to recross the bridge with his banner, for many of his people 
 remained there ; and many a gallant deed was performed, many a 
 capture made, and many a rescue. Sir Vauflart unluckily was not 
 able to gain the passage of the bridge, so he got out of the crowd, 
 and saved himself the best way he could, by taking a road he was 
 acquainted with, and hiding himself among thorns and quagmires, 
 where he remained a considerable time. The rest still continued 
 the combat ; but the Liegeois, and those from Luxembourg, had 
 overthrown sir William de Bailleul. 
 
 While this was passing, sir Robert's company, who had been out 
 foraging, returned, and, hearing the noise, came to the bridge. Sir 
 Robert oj'dered his banner to advance, which was carried by a squire 
 called James de Forsines, crying out, " Moriennes." The Hain- 
 aulters, who were much heated, perceiving the banner of Moriennes, 
 which is quite straight, thought it was their own, which they had 
 been ordered to rally under, for there is but very little difference be- 
 tween the two ; the Morienne arms having bars counterbarred with 
 two chevrons, gules, and the chevron of sir Robert had on it a small 
 cross or. The Hainaulters made a sad mistake, and ran into the 
 midst of sir Robert's troop, who received them most fiercely, repulsed 
 and discomfited them. They lost, on their side, sir John de Vargny, 
 sir Walter de Pont-Ji.l'Arche, sir William de Pipempoix, sir John de 
 Soire, sir Daniel de Bleze, sir Race de Monceaux, sir Lewis Dampelu, 
 and many other knights and squires. Sir William de Bailleul saved 
 himself in the best manner he could, but he lost a great many of his 
 men. Sir Vauflart de la Croix, who hid himself among the reeds in 
 the marshes, hoped to have remained there until the night, but he 
 was perceived by some troopers, who were riding through these 
 marshes : they made such a shouting and noise, that sir Vauflart 
 came out and surrendered himself to them, who led him to the army, 
 and gave him up to their commander. He detained him a whole day 
 in his quarters, and would willingly, through pity, have saved him, 
 as he knew his head would probably suffer. But the king of France, 
 having heard of it, wished to take cognizance of it himself ; so sir 
 Vauflart was given up to him, and the king sent him to Lisle, where, 
 as he had done much harm to the inhabitants, they would not accept 
 of any ransom, but put him to death. 
 
 CHAPTER LIX. 
 
 THE EARL OF HAINAULT ATTACKS THE FORTRESS OF MORTAGNE IN 
 VARIOUS MAKNERS. 
 
 The king of France was much rejoiced at the arrival of sir Robert 
 de Bailleul, and his defeat of the Hainaulters. Shortly afterwards, 
 the earl of Hainault, sir John his uncle the seneschal of Hainault, 
 with full six hundred lances, Hainaulters and Germans, set out from 
 the siege before Tournay. The earl had sent orders for those of 
 Valenciennes to take another route, and place themselves between 
 the Scarpe and the Scheld, to attack the town of Mortagne. They 
 came there in a large body, and brought with them many engines, 
 to throw things into the place. T have before told how the lord of 
 Beaujeu had been sent thither as governor : he had expected an at- 
 tack, from the situation of Mortagne upon the Scheld, and bordering 
 upon Hainault, and had driven upward of twelve hundred piles into 
 the bed of the river, to prevent its navigation. It was not long before 
 the earl and his Hainaulters arrived on one side of the town, and the 
 Valenciennois on the other: they made preparations for an immediate 
 attack. The Valenciennois ordered their cross-bowmen to shoot, 
 and advance to the barriers ; but they were unable to do so, for the 
 wide and deep trenches which had been made before them. They 
 then bethought themselves to cross the Scarpe at any rate below 
 Chateau I'Abbaie, and passing near St. Amand, to make an assault 
 upon the gate which opens toward Mande. This they executed ; 
 
 and full four hundred light troops armed crossed the river, and Mor* 
 tagne's three gates were besieged. The weakest was certainly that 
 leading to Mande ; however, that was tolerably strong. 
 
 At that post the lord of Beaujeu placed himself ; for he knew that 
 all the rest were safe. He had armed himself with a very stout lance, 
 having the head of tempered steel, and on the under side a sharp 
 hook, so that, when he made his stroke, he could fix the hook into 
 the jackets, or armor, of those who auacked, draw them to him, and 
 make them fall into the river. By ti ls means, in the course of the 
 day, he caught and destroyed more ihan twelve of the assailants. 
 At this gate, the conflict was much more severe than anywhere else, 
 and the earl of Hainault was ignorant of it : he was hard by toward 
 Brismal, drawn out in order of battle upon the bank of the Scheld. 
 The lords took counsel how they might draw out the piles, either by 
 force or ingenuity, from the bed of the river, so that they might ad 
 vance upon it up to the walls of the town. They ordered an engine 
 to be made in a large vessel, to draw them out one after another ; 
 and all the carpenters were directly sef upon this business. This 
 same day the Valenciennois, on their part, erected a handsome engine, 
 which cast stones into the town and castle, and much annoyed the 
 inhabitants of Mortagne. In this manner passed the first day, and 
 the following night in assaulting and devising upon the best means 
 to molest the town. 
 
 On the morrow, they returned to the attack on all sides. The third 
 day the vessel and engine were ready to draw out the piles, and those 
 ordered upon that duty were set to work, but they had so much trouble 
 and labor in drawing out one, that the lords thought they should never 
 accomplish it, and therefore made them desist. There was, at that 
 time, a very able engineer at Mortagne, who, having considered the 
 machine of the Valenciennois, and how much it annoyed the town, 
 for it was perpetually in action, made another in the castle, which 
 was not very large, but well made and tempered, and so well pointed, 
 that it was used only three times ; the first stone fell within twelve 
 paces of the engine of the Valenciennois ; the second was nearer to 
 the box ; and the third was so well aimed, that it struck the machine 
 upon the shaft, and split it in two. The soldiers of Mortagne made 
 a great shouting at this event. The Hainaulters were thus two days 
 and two nights before Mortagne without conquering any part of it. 
 The earl and his uncle thought it advisable to return toward Tournay, 
 which they did ; and the Valenciennois went back to their town, 
 whence they had come. 
 
 CHAPTER LX. 
 
 THE EARL OF HAINAULT TAKES THE TOWN OF ST. AMAND DURINO THE 
 
 SIEGE OF TOURNAY. 
 
 Three days after the earl of Hainault had been returned from 
 before Mortagne, he made a request to his companions, that they 
 would come with him to St. Amand ; for he had received many 
 complaints of the soldiers of St. Amand having burnt the monastery 
 of Hanon, and of their attempt to do the same at Vicoigne, as well 
 as of many other vexations which they had committed upon the bor. 
 ders of Hainault. The earl set out from the siege of Tournay, with 
 three thousand combatants, and came before St. Amand by the way 
 of Mortagne, which town was only inclosed with a palisade. A 
 knight from Languedoc, and seneschal of Carcassonne, was governor 
 of it, and he had told the monks of the abbey, as well as the inhabit, 
 ants, that it was not tenable against any body of men ; not that he 
 meant to give it up, but on the contrary, to defend it as long as he 
 could, and mentioned it merely as a piece of information. These 
 words were not much attended to, or believed ; however, he had 
 some time before sent to Mortagne all the jewels of the monastery, 
 and thither went also the abbot and his monks, who were not very 
 well calculated to defend themselves. 
 
 The Valenciennois, who had been ordered by the earl their lord to 
 be before St. Amand on a certain day, as he would be there to meet 
 them, came with twelve thousand combatants, and posting themselves 
 before the town, armed all the cross-bowmen, and made them advance 
 toward the bridge over the Scarpe. The conflict was here very sharp : 
 it lasted all that day, without the Valenciennois being able to make 
 any impression ; but they had a great many of their men killed and 
 wounded, and the besieged, mocking them, called out, " Go your 
 ways, and drink your good ale." Toward the evening they retired 
 from before the town, much wearied and surprised that they had not 
 heard any tidings of their lord ; they called a council, and resolved 
 to return back to their own town. On the morrow after their de- 
 parture, the earl of Hainault arrived, as has been said, by the way 
 of Mortagne, and he immediately began the attack : it was so violent, 
 that the barriers w^ere instantly won, and they advanced to the gate 
 which opens toward Mortagne. The earl and his uncle headed this 
 attack ; they fought most valiantly, and spared none. Each of them 
 at this place received two such blows, from stones thrown' down upon 
 them, that their helmets were split through, and themselves stunned. 
 One present then said to the earl, " Sir, we shall never do anything 
 efl'ectual in this place, for the gate is very strong, the passage narrow, 
 and it will cost you too many of your people to gain it ; but if you 
 will order some large beams of wood to be brought, and shod with 
 iron in the manner of piles, and strike with them against the walla 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, <fcc. 
 
 4/ 
 
 of the monastery, I will promise you that you will make breaches in 
 many places : if once we get into the monastery, the tov,^n is ours, 
 for there is nothing to stop us between it and the town." The earl 
 ordered this advice to be followed, for he perceived it was reasonable, 
 and the shortest method of getting possession of the town. Great 
 beams of oak were brought, formed, and sharpened like piles, and 
 to each were ordered twenty or thirty men, who bearing it in their 
 hands, retreated some paces, and then ran with it with great force 
 against the wall, which they battered down in many places, so that 
 thev entered valiantly and crossed a small rivulet. 
 
 The seneschal of Carcassonne was there, with his banner displayed 
 before him, which was gules, with a chef argent, three chevrons in 
 chief, and an indented border, argent, and near him were collected 
 many companions from his own country, who received the Hainault- 
 ers very gallantly, and fought as well as they were able, but it was 
 in vain, as they were overpowered by numbers. It may be worth 
 remembering, that, on their entering the monastery, there remained 
 a monk, called sir Froissart, who did wonders, killing and wounding, 
 at one of the breaches where he had posted himself, upwai-d of eigh- 
 teen, so that no one durst venture to pass through : at last he was 
 forced lo fly, for he perceived that the Hainaulters were entering the 
 monastery by various other breaches ; the monk, therefore, made oflf 
 as fast as he could, and saved himself in Mortagne. As soon as the 
 earl, sir John, and the knights of Hainault, had entered the monas- 
 tery, the earl ordered no quarter to be given, so much was he enraged 
 at the violences they had committed in his territories. The town 
 was soon filled with soldiers, who pursued all they met from street to 
 street, and from house to house ; very few escaped being put to death. 
 The seneschal was slain under his banner, and upward of two hun- 
 dred men with him. The earl returned that evening to Tournay. 
 
 On the morrow, the men-at-arms of Valenciennes, and the com- 
 monalty, came to St. Amand, burnt the town, the monastery, and 
 the great minster : breaking and destroying all the bells, of which 
 there were numbers of very good and melodious ones. The earl of 
 Hainault made another excursion from the siege of Tournay, with 
 about six hundred men-at-arms, in order to burn Orchies, Landas, 
 and Le Celle. He afterwards crossed, with his army, the river 
 Scarpe above Hanon, and entering France, came before a large and 
 rich monastery, at Marchiennes, of which sir Ayme de Vervaulx was 
 governor, who had with him a detachment of cross-bowmen from 
 Douay. The attack was violent, for the knight had strongly forti. 
 fied the first gate, which was surrounded by wide and deep ditches, 
 and the French and monks withinside defended themselves valiantly. 
 The Hainaulters exerted themselves much ; and, having procured 
 boats, they by this means gained entrance into the monastery, but a 
 German knight, attached to the lord of Fauquemont, was drowned ; 
 his name was sir Bacho de la Wiere. At the attack of the gate, the 
 earl, his uncle the seneschal of Hainault, and many others, proved 
 themselves such good knights, that the gate was gained, sir Ayme 
 slain, and the greater part of the others. Many monks who were 
 there were captured, the monasteiy pillaged, and burnt, as well as 
 the village. The earl after this returned with his army to Tournay. 
 
 CHAPTER LXI. 
 
 SIR CHARLES DE MONTMORENCY, AND MANY OTHERS OF THE FRENCH, 
 CAPTURED AT PGNT-A-TRESSIN. 
 
 The siege of Tournay lasted a long time, and the town held out 
 well ; but the king of England thought he must gain it, for he knew 
 that there were within it great numbers of men-at-arms, and a scar- 
 city of provision, which would oblige them to yield through hunger. 
 But others said, that they would find supplies through the country of 
 the Brabanters, who permitted frequent and large quantities of pro- 
 visions to pass through their army, and even to enter the town. 
 Those from Brussels and Louvain were quite weary of remaining 
 there so long, and petitioned the marshal of their army for leave to 
 return to Brabant. The marshal replied, that he was very willing 
 to consent to their departure, but they must leave their arms and ac- 
 coutrements behind them. This made them so ashamed, that they 
 never again repeated their request. During this siege, the Germans 
 made an excursion toward Pont-i-Tressin, where sir Robert de Bail- 
 leul had defeated the Hainaulters, The lord of Rauderondenc, sir 
 John of Rauderondenc his son, at that time a squire, sir John de 
 Randebourgh, a sqtiire also, and tutor to the lord of Rauderondenc's 
 son, sir Arnold de Bacqueghen, sir Reginald d'Escouvenort, sir 
 Courrat d' Astra, sir Bastien de Basties, Candrelier his brother, the 
 lord Strauren de Leurne, with many others, from the duchies of Ju- 
 liers and Gueldres, held a conference together, and resolved to make 
 an excursion on the morrow, by break of day ; for which purpose 
 they armed, and prepared themselves well that night. 
 
 Some knights- bachelors* from Hainault joined them; among 
 
 * The word bachelor, from whence has come bachelier, does not signify bas chevalier, 
 but a knight who has not the number of bachelles of land requisite to display a banner ; 
 that is to say, four bachelles. The bacheile was composed of ten maz or meix (farms, 
 or domains,) each of which contained a sufficiency of land for the work of two oxen du- 
 ring a whole year— GZoss. du droit. Fr. de Laurica. 
 
 Bovatus terras. Tantum esse quantum bos unus colat; sex bovat© quantum sex. 
 In vet. autem statutorum mess, ad compositionem mensurarum, sic nolatur. Octo bo- 
 Tata t«rra faciunt carucatam terrse. octo carucatffi faciuntUQUm feodum militis, xviii. 
 Mrs feciunt bovatam ten^.-^Spelmanni Olossariutiu 
 
 whom were sir Florent de Beanrieu, sir Latas de la Haye, marshal of 
 the army, the lord John of Hainault, sir Oulphart de Guistelles, sir 
 Robert Glewes, from the county of Los, at that time only a squire, 
 and many more ; amounting altogether to upward of three hundred 
 good men-at-arms. They came to Pont-i-Tressin, which they 
 crossed without loss : they then held a council, on what would he 
 the most advantageous plan for them to beat up and skirmish with 
 the army of the French. It was determined, that the lord of Rau. 
 derondenc, and his son, sir Henry de Kalkren, a mercenary knight, 
 sir Thilman de Saussy, sir Oulphart de Guistelles, sir I'Alleman bas- 
 tard of Hainault, sir Robert Glewes, and Jacquelot de Thiaulx, 
 should act as light-horse, and skirmish up to the tents of the French ; 
 that the rest of the knights and squires, who might amount to three 
 hundred, should remain at the bridge, to keep and defend that pass, 
 in case of any attack. This advanced body then set out : they were 
 forty persons altogether, well mounted upon handsome and strong 
 chargers : they rode on till they came to the French camp, when 
 they immediately dashed in, and began to cut down tents and pavil, 
 ions, and do every possible damage, by skirmishing with all that 
 opposed them. That night, two great barons, the lord of Montmo- 
 rency and the lord of Saulieu, had the watch, and were with their 
 guard, when the Germans fell upon them. As soon as they heard 
 the noise, they and their banners moved toward it. 
 
 When the lord of Rauderondenc saw them approach, he turned hia 
 horse about, and ordered his pennon and his party to push for the 
 bridge, the French following him closely. In this chase, the French 
 captured sir. Oulphart de Guistelles, for he could not follow their 
 track, his sight being indifferent. He was surrounded by the enemy, 
 and made prisoner, as were two esquires, of the names of Mondrop 
 and Jacquelot de Thiaulx. The French galloped after them, but 
 the Germans escaped ; and, being scarcely more than half an acre 
 separated from them, they could plainly hear them crying out, " Ha, 
 gentlemen, you shall not return as easy as you came." Then one 
 of his party rode up to the lord of Rauderondenc, and said, " Sir 
 consider what you are about, or the French will cut us off from the 
 bridge." The lord of Rauderondenc replied, " If they know one 
 road to it, I know another ;" and, turning to his right, led his party 
 along a road tolerably well beaten, which brought them straight to 
 the river before mentioned, which is very deep, and surrounded by 
 marshes. On their coming thither, they found they could not ford it, 
 so that they must return, and pass over the bridge. The French, 
 thinking to cut off and take the Germans, went on full gallop toward 
 the bridge. When they were come near to it, and saw the large 
 3ody of men waiting for them, they said to one another, "We are 
 making a foolish pursuit, and may easily lose more than we can 
 gain." Upon which many turned back, particularly the banner 
 3earer of the lord of Saulieu, as well as that lord himself. But th< 
 ord of Montmorency would not retire, but pushed forward courage 
 ously, and, with his party, attacked the Germans. This attack v/a;. 
 very fierce on both sides, and each party had many unhorsed. Whik 
 they were engaged, the light troops made a circuit, and fell upon 
 their flank : notwithstanding this, and the hard blows given, the ' 
 French stood their ground. But sir Reginald d'Escouvenort, know, 
 ing the banner of Montmorency, under which the knight was, with 
 sword in hand, dealing his blows about him, came u°pon his right 
 hand, and, with his left hand seizing the reins of his horse, stuck 
 spurs into his own, and drew him out of the combat. The lord of 
 Montmorency gave many blows with his sword upon the helmet and 
 back of sir Reginald, which at once broke and received them. How- 
 ever, the lord of Montmorency remained his prisoner, and the Ger. 
 mans fought so well, that they maintained their ground, and made 
 fourscore gentlemen prisoners. They then repassed the bridge with- 
 out hindrance, and returned to Tournay, where each retired to hia 
 own quarters. 
 
 CHAPTER LXIL 
 
 the FLEMINGS ADVANCE TO ST. OMER DURING THE SIEGE OF TOURNAS. 
 
 We will now relate an adventure which happened to the Flemings,' 
 under command of sir Robert d'Artois and sir Henry de Flandres. 
 They amounted to upward of forty thousand, from the towns of 
 Ypres, Poperingue, Malines, Cassel, and Castlewick of Bergues 
 These Flemings were encamped in great array in the valley of Cas- 
 sel, to oppose the French garrisons which king Philip had sent into 
 St. Omer, St. Venant, Aire, and other towns and fortresses in that 
 neighborhood. By the king of France's orders, the dauphin of Au- 
 vergne, the lords of Kaleuhen, Montay, Rochefort, the viscount de 
 Touars, and many other knights from Auvergne and Limousin, 
 posted themselves in St. Omer. In St. Venant, and in Aire, there 
 were also a great many knights. The Flemings frequently skir- 
 mished with the French ; and one day, to the number of four or five 
 thousand lightly armed, they came to the suburbs of St. Omer, pulled 
 down many houses, and pillaged wherever they could. The alarm 
 was instantly spread in the town : the lords who were there soon 
 armed themselves and their men, and sallied out at the gate opposite 
 to where the Flemings were. They might amount to about six 
 banners, two hundred armed with helmets, and six hundred infantry. 
 They made a circuit round St. Omer, as their guides, who were well 
 acquainted with the road, led them, and came opportunely upon the 
 
48 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, PRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 Flemings, who were busily employed in collecting everything they 
 could find in the town of Arques, which is close to St. Omer, so that 
 ihev were dispersed about, without officers, and without order. The 
 Fre ich attacked them thus unawares, with banners displayed, and 
 lances in their rests, in regular order, crying out, "Clermont, Cler- 
 mont, for the dauphin of Auvergne." 
 
 When the Flemings heard this, they were sore alarmed ; and, not 
 attempting to rally in any order, they fled as fast as they could, throw- 
 ing down all the pillage they had gotten. The French pursued them, 
 and killed and knocked them down in great numbers. This pursuit 
 lasted full two leagues : there wei-e four thousand eight hundred slain, 
 and four hundred captured, who were carried to St. Omer, and there 
 imprisoned. When those few, who had escaped, arrived at their own 
 army, and related what had happened to them, it soon came to the 
 ears of their captains, who told them they had deserved what had 
 befallen them, for they had done this without orders, and without a 
 leader. About midnight, as these Flemings were asleep in their tents, 
 so sudden an alarm and fright came upon them, that they all got up, 
 and could not make sufficient haste to decamp. They directly pulled 
 down their tents and pavilions, flung them into the baggage-wagons, 
 and took to their heels ; without waiting for any one, or keeping any 
 order or regular road. When the two commanders heard of this, 
 they got up in the greatest haste, and ordered large fires and torches 
 to be lighted : they mounted their horses, and, galloping after the 
 Flemings, said to them, " Sirs, tell us what has ailed you, that you fly 
 thus, when no one pursues you ; you ought to think yourselves very 
 secure, and yet you are still going on. Return back, for God's sake : 
 you are exceedingly to blame, to run away without being pursued." 
 But, notwithstanding all their entreaties, they would not stop, and 
 each took the nearest way he could find to his own home. These 
 lords, perceiving they could not prevail with them, ordered their bag- 
 gage to be packed up in the wagons, and came to the siege of Tour- 
 nay, where they related to the chiefs what had happened to the Flem- 
 ings, which surprised all : some said, they must have been be\vitched. 
 
 CHAPTER LXIII. 
 
 THE SEEGE CF TOURNAY RAISED, BY MEANS OF A TRUCE. 
 
 The siege of Tournay had lasted a long time ; eleven weeks all but 
 three days : when the lady of John de Valois, sister to the king of 
 France, and mother to the earl of Hainault, took great pains with 
 both parties to make up a peace, so that they might separate without 
 a battle. The good lady had frequently, on her knees, besought it 
 of the king of France, and afterwards came to the lords of the em- 
 pire, especially to the duke of Brabant, and the duke of Juliers, who 
 had married her daughter, and to the lord John of Hainault. She at 
 last so far prevailed, by the help and assistance of the lord Lewis 
 d'Augimont, who was well beloved by both parties, that a day was 
 fixed for a negotiation, when each of the parties was to send five well- 
 qualified persons to treat upon the best means of bringing about a 
 reconciliation, and a truce for three days was agreed upon. These 
 commissioners were to meet at a chapel, situated in the fields, called 
 Esplotin. On the day appointed, having heard mass, they assembled 
 after dinner, and took the lady with them. On the part of the king 
 of France, there came Charles, king of Bohemia, Charles, earl of 
 Alen9on, the king's brother, the bishop of Liege, thei earl of Flan- 
 ders, and the earl of Armagnac. On the part of the king of Eng- 
 land, there came the duke of Brabant, the bishop of Lincoln, the 
 duke of Gueldres, the duke of Juliers, and the lord John of Hainault. 
 
 When they had all entered this chapel, they saluted each other 
 most politely, with every mark of respect : they then began on the 
 business, and the whole day passed in discussing the best means to 
 accomplish what they were met for. The lady Joan entreated of 
 them respectfully, but with earnestness, that they would exert them- 
 selves to bring about a peace : this first day, however, passed away 
 without anything being decided, when they all separated, promising 
 to return on the morrow. The next day they came to their appoint- 
 ment, began upon the treaty as before, and fell upon some arrange- 
 ments which seemed likely to end to their mutual satisfaction ; but 
 It was too late that day to put them in writing : so they separated, 
 with a promise of returning on the morrow to complete and finish it. 
 The third day these lords returned, and agreed upon a truce, to last 
 for one year, between the two kings and all the allies that were 
 present, as well as between those who were carrying on the war in Scot- 
 land, Gascony, Poictou, and Saintonge ; and it was in these coun- 
 tries to take place forty days from that day. Each party was to 
 infomi their adherents of the truce, and that they sincerely meant to 
 abide by it ; but they were to be left to follow their own inclinations, 
 adhering to it or not. 
 
 France, Picardy, Burgundy, and Normandy, agreed to it, without 
 any exception ; and this truce was to take place immediately in the 
 armies of France and England. The two kings also were to send 
 four or five noble personages to Arras, where the pope was to send 
 as many legates ; and to whatever these persons should determine 
 upon they promised most faithfully to accede. One of the conditions 
 of this truce was, that each person should retain whatever he had 
 got in his possession. The truce was immediately proclaimed in each 
 9imy, to the great joy of the Braoanters, who were heartily tired of 
 
 the siege. The day after, at daybreak, tents and pavilions were 
 struck, wagons loaded, and every one in motion to depart ; so that 
 any one who had been there before, and saw this, might have hailed 
 a new era. 
 
 Thus the good city of Tournay remained unhurt, but it had a nan. 
 row escape ; for there were at that time no more provisions in it than 
 would have been sufficient for three or four days. The Brabanters 
 began their march immediately, for they were very impatient to re- 
 turn. The king of England set oi, t sore against his will, but it 
 behoved him to consent to the will of others, and to agree to their 
 counsels. The king of France could not well remain longer where 
 he was, from the great stench of the dead cattle, and from the exces- 
 sive heat of the weather. The French thought they had gained much 
 honor in this business; giving for reason, that they had prevented the 
 city of Tournay from being lost, and separated the large army which 
 had lain before it and done nothing, notwithstanding the great prepa- 
 rations that had been made. The lords of the opposite party claimed 
 the honor of this affair ; because they had remained so long in the 
 kingdom of France, and besieged one of the best towns the king had, 
 burning and destroying his country before his eyes, and he not send- 
 ing any succor or relief as he ought to have done : and lastly, be- 
 cause he had consented to a truce with his enemies lying before his 
 city, burning and wasting his kingdom. 
 
 These lords then set out from Tournay, and returned to their own 
 country. The king of England went to Ghent, where his queen was, 
 and soon after crossed the sea with all his people, except those whom 
 he left to attend the conference at Arras. The earl of Hainault re- 
 turned to Valenciennes ; and upon that occasion there were great 
 entertainments, and a tournament at Mons in Hainault. Sir Gerard 
 de Verchin, seneschal of Hainault, was there, and tilted at this tour- 
 nament, at which he was mortally wounded. He left behind him a 
 son, called John, who was afterwards a bold and hearty knight, 
 though he enjoyed but indifferent health. The king of France dis- 
 banded his army, and went to amuse and refresh himself at Lisle, 
 where the principal persons of Tournay came to see him. He re- 
 ceived them with great joy ; and, as a mark of favor for having so 
 gallantly defended themselves against their enemies, so that they 
 made no conquests from them, he granted them back their franchises, 
 which they had lost for some time. This made them very happy ; 
 for sir Godemar du Fay, and many other knights, strangers to them, 
 had been made their governors : they, therefore, immediately elected 
 provosts and jurats from among themselves, according to their ancient 
 customs. When the king had settled to his liking part of his business, 
 he set out for Lisle, and took the road toward his good city of Paris. 
 
 The time approached for the meeting of the conference at Arras. 
 Pope Clement VI. sent, as his legates, the cardinal of Naples, and 
 the cardinal of Clermont, who came to Paris, where they were re- 
 ceived most honorably by the king of France, and then proceeded to 
 Arras. From the king of France, there came the earl of Alengon, 
 the duke of Bourbon, the earl of Flanders, the earl of Blois, the 
 archbishop of Sens, the bishop of Beauvais, and the bishop of Aux- 
 erre. On the part of the king of England there were, the bishop 
 of Lincoln, the bishop of Durham, the earl of Warwick, the lord 
 Robert d'Artois, the lord John of Hainault, and the lord Henry of 
 Flanders. At this conference, there were many subjects brought 
 forward for discussion, and a great deal of talk during the fifteen days 
 which it lasted, but nothing positively determined upon ; for the 
 English made large demands, which the French would not allow 
 of ; they agreed only to restore the county of Ponthieu, which had 
 been given as a marriage portion with Isabella, to the king of Eng- 
 land. This conference, therefore, broke up without doing anything, 
 except prolonging the truce to two years, which was all that these 
 cardinals could obtain. Every one returned homeward ; and the 
 cardinals took their road through Hainault, at the entreaties of the 
 earl, who right nobly entertained them. 
 
 CHAPTER LXIV. 
 
 THE DUKE OF BRITTANY DIES WITHOUT HEIRS, TH'ON WHICH A WAK 
 ENSUES FOR THE SUCCESSION. 
 
 As soon as the truce made before Tournay had been agreed to 
 and sealed, the lords and all others set off" for their own countries. 
 The duke of Brittany, who had attended the king of France, with 
 his army before Tournay, better accoutred than any other prince or 
 lord, was, upon his return home, taken ill, insomuch that he was 
 obliged to stop, and his disorder increased so fast, that he died.* 
 The duke, at his death, had no child, nor had the duchess, his wife, 
 any expectations of one. He had a brother by his father's side, called 
 the earl of Montfort, then living, and who had married the sister of 
 eari Lewis of Flanders. The duke had also another brother, who 
 was dead, but had left a daughter, whom her uncle, the duke, had 
 married to the lord Charles of Blois, younger son of Guy eari of Blois, 
 by the sister of king Philip of France, then reigning, and had promised 
 her, on her marriage, the duchy of Brittany, after his decease, though, 
 
 * John III. duke of Brittany died at Caen, 30th of April, 1341. His body was carried 
 to the Carmelites of Ploermel. Charles de Louvier, who lived at that period, assurei 
 us, m his Smtffe du Verger, that duke John seeing himself without children, declais4 
 the eail of Montfort hi* heir. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 49 
 
 at the time, he was doubtful if the earl of Montfort would not claim 
 it, as being nearest of kindred, though he was not properl}^ his brother- 
 german. It seemed to the duke, that the daughter of his brother- 
 german ought, by reason of her proximity, to have the duchy after 
 his death, in preference to the earl of Montfort, his brother. And as 
 he had long had his suspicions that the earl of Montfort would, after 
 his decease, enforce his claim, to the prejudice of his young niece, 
 with all his power, he had married her to the lord Charles of Blois, 
 with the intent that the king of France, his uncle, might more power- 
 fully assist him in preserving his rights, should the earl of Montfort 
 attempt to encroach on them. 
 
 As soon as the e arl of Montfort knew of the death of the duke his 
 brother, he set off directly for the city of Nantes, which is the capital 
 of Brittany, and exerted himself so much among the citizens and the 
 inhabitants of the neighborhood, that he was received as their lord, 
 as being the next relation to the duke just departed ; and they all 
 swore fealty and homage to him. Then he and his wife, who had 
 
 the heart of a lion, took counsel together upon holding a solemn 
 court, and a great feast at Nantes. Summons were ordered to be 
 sent to all the barons and nobles of Brittany, and to the councils of 
 the great towns, inviting them to attend this court, to do their fealty 
 and homage as to their true lord, which was done. In the mean 
 time, before the commencement of this feast, he set out from Nantes, 
 with a great number of men-at-arms, and went toward Limoges, 
 where he had been informed his brother had placed the large sums 
 he had amassed. On his arrival he entered the town in a most splen. 
 did manner, and was nobly and honorably received by the inhabitants, 
 clergy, and commonalty of the place. They all did him homage, as 
 to their right lord ; and the grand treasury was delivered up to him, 
 by the consent of the lords and burgesses, whom he gained by the 
 presents and promises he made to them. When he had feasted and 
 remained at Limoges as long as was agreeable to him, he departed 
 wifh all the treasure, and came directl^to Nantes, where the lady, 
 his wife, was expecting him. They continued there in private, with 
 
 The Entry of John de Movtfout and ins Ducnicss into Nantes? ; f.-oui n .M?. Froissart of the 15th century. 
 
 much joy, until the day arrived for the grand court and solemn feast, 
 and made great preparations for the celebration of it. On the day 
 of the feast, no one appeared to the summons but one knight, sir 
 Henry de Leon, who was a powerful and valiant man : nevertheless, 
 they continued the feast for three days with the citizens of Nantes, 
 and those near the city, in the best manner they could. It was then 
 resolved to expend the great treasure in obtaining possession of the 
 duchy, to collect a numerous body of soldiers, both horse and foot, 
 and to force all that should rebel against him to ask his mercy. This 
 council was attended by all who were at Nantes, knights, clerks, 
 and citizens. Soldiers were enlisted from all parts, and well paid ; 
 so that they soon had a large body of horse, as well as foot, of those 
 that were noble, as well as those that were not, and from all parts 
 and countries. 
 
 CHAPTER LXV. 
 
 THE EARL OF MONTFORT TAKES THE TOWN AND CASTLE OF BREST. 
 
 When the earl of Montfort found that he had men in plenty, he 
 was advised to go and possess himself, either by violent or gentle 
 means, of all the country, and to subdue his enemies. He sallied 
 •ut, therefore, from Nantes, with a large army, and drew toward a 
 
 very strong castle, situated upon the sea-coast, called Brest : si: 
 Walter* de Clisson was governor of it, a most noble knight, and one 
 of the greatest barons of Brittany. The earl, in his march towarc 
 Brest, so conquered all the country, except the fortresses, that th 
 inhabitants followed him, on foot or on horseback, for they darei 
 not leave him : he thereby had a numerous body of men-at-armS: 
 When he and his army were come before Brest, he ordered sir Henrt 
 de Leon to summon the governor, and require of him, in obedience 
 to the earl of Montfort, as duke of Brittany, to surrender to him the 
 castle and town of Brest, as to his liege lord. The governor replied, 
 he would do nothing in the business, until he should have received 
 orders from the lord to whom of right it belonged. The earl then 
 retreated to a small distance, and sent challenges to those of the 
 town and castle. On the morrow, after he had heard mass, he or- 
 dered his men to arm, and make an assault upon the castle, which 
 was very strong, and well provided with everything. 
 
 The governor, sir Walter de Clisson, on his part, was not inactive 
 he armed all the garrison, who were full three hundred good fighting 
 men, and sent every one to the post he had assigned them, taking 
 with him about forty of the bravest, and advanced out of the castle, 
 
 * Sir Oamier de Clisson, Lord Berner's, and D. Sauvage's edit— Ed. 
 
50 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 os far as the barriers. The assailants came there to make their at- 
 t;ick. which was very sharp; and many of them were slain and 
 NVt^iuided : the governor performed wonders ; but at last, such num. 
 l ers camo upon him, the carl urged them on so sharply, and each 
 t certed himself so much, tliat the barriers were won, and the defend- 
 V IS of them forced to retire toward the castle with great loss ; for 
 
 • eir opponents had fought lustily: many were killed. The gov- 
 
 * .nor, however, comforted them as well as he could, and conducted 
 il-eni in safety to the chief gate. When those who kept the ward 
 of the gate perceived the defeat of the governor's party, they were 
 afraid of losing the castle, and let fall the portcullis, which shut them 
 out : the knight however defended himself vnliantly, though most of 
 his party were killed or wounded : the governor himself, though 
 very badly wounded, would not sun-ender, in spite of all entreaties. 
 Those within the castle exerted themselves with their cross-bows ; 
 and, by throwing large stoa|3 upon the assailants, forced them to 
 retire, and gave an opportunity of raising a little the portcullis, so 
 that the knight and the remnant of his detachment entered : all of 
 them were dangerously wounded. 
 
 The next day, the earl of Montford ordered machines to be made, 
 and got ready to attack the castle more vigorously; and he declared, 
 that nothing should make him depart, until he had gained possession 
 of it. On the third day he was informed that sir Walter de Clisson 
 was dead of the wounds he had received, which was confirmed. 
 Upon this the earl ordered his men to arm themselves, to renew the 
 attack with vigor, and the machines which had been made to ad- 
 vance, and large beams of timber to be thrown across the trenches, 
 in order to come to the walls of the castle. Those v/ithin defended 
 themselves with their cross-bbws, and by throwing down upon the 
 assailants stones, firebrands, and pots of hot lime, till toward mid- 
 day, when the earl again summoned them to surrender, promising 
 them indemnity for what was past, on their acknowledging him as 
 their lawful lord. Upon this they had a long consultation, and the 
 earl ordered a cessation of arms. After they had fully considered 
 this proposal, they freely surrendered themselves, their persons and 
 effects being preserved inviolate. The earl then entered the castle, 
 with a few attendants, and received the fealty of all those of the cas- 
 tlewick. He appointed a knight, in whom he had great trust, as the 
 governor of it, and returned, very well pleased, to his camp. 
 
 CHAPTER LXVI. 
 
 THE EARL OF MONTFORT TAKES THE CITY OF RENNES. 
 
 When the earl had concluded this business, and had established 
 proper guards and garrison in the castle of Brest, he was advised to 
 advance toward ihe city of Rennes, which was at no great distance. 
 He ordered his c;tnp to be broken up, and his army to march toward 
 Xennes : through all the country he passed, he made the inhabitants 
 3wear homage and fealty to him, as their liege lord, and took as 
 .iiany with him as he could, to help and assist his anny. None 
 lared to refuse him, for fear of their persons. When he was arrived 
 it Arras, he ordered his tents to be pitched, and placed his army 
 found the town and suburbs. Those of the town made a show of 
 defending themselves; their governor was sir Henry de Spinefort, 
 whom they much loved for his prowess and loyalty. He one day 
 made a sally, vv^ith two hundred men, before the dawn, upon the 
 enemy's camp, cutting down tents, and killing some few. Upon 
 which the army cried out " To arms," and made ready for their de- 
 fence : those who were upon guard, hearing these cries, and the 
 stir, advanced to the place, and met those of the town returning 
 home. An attack commenced, which was boldly fought on both 
 «ides ; when the army had armed themselves, they advanced to the 
 support of the gup.rd ; which the town's-people seeing, lost courage, 
 and ran away as fast as they could, but many remained on the field, 
 '■;illed and prisoners. Among the last was sir Henry de Spinefort, 
 A-'ho being brought to the earl of Montfort, he determined to send 
 lim to the inhabitants of the town, to demand their surrender, or he 
 tfvould hang the knight before the gates : for he had heard how very 
 much he was beloved by them. 
 
 Upon this demand the commonalty had a long consultation. They 
 loved sir Henry much, and greatly compassionated him : they had 
 also made but very scanty provision for enduring a long siege, so 
 that they wished to accept the terms offered : but the higher ranks 
 of citizens would not agree to them, for they had laid in ample 
 stores. This occasioned a quarrel among them ; and as those of the 
 higher ranks were nearly allied to each other, they withdrew them- 
 selves on one side, and said aloud, that all who were of this opinion 
 should come to them : so many were of their way of thinking, and 
 connected with them, that they amounted to full two thousand 
 against accepting the earl's proposals. When the lovv^er sorts saw 
 this, they began to stir, and cried out against them, using many bad 
 and villainous expressions, and at last fell upon them and killed 
 many. The citizens perceiving their danger, begged for mercy, and 
 promifcd to agree to whatever the people chose. Upon this the riot 
 ceased, and the people ran to open the gates, and deliver up the city 
 to the earl of Montfort. All the inhabitants, both great and small, 
 iid him homage and fealty, acknowledging him for their lord. This 
 was done out of love to sir Henry de Spinefort, and he was made 
 i>ne of the earl's councii. 
 
 CHAPTER LXVII. 
 
 THE EARL OF MONTFORT TAKES THE TOWN AND CASTLE OF HENNEBON.* 
 
 The earl entered the town of Rennes in great triumph ; and he 
 quartered his army in the fields round about it. He made up the 
 quarrel between the inhabitants, and then established bailiffs, pro- 
 vests, sheriffs, sergeants, and other officers. He remained in the 
 city three days, to repose himself and army, and to consider upon 
 what steps he should next take. The fourth day he decamped, and 
 marched to one of the best fortified castles, and the strongest town, 
 without comparison, in all Brittany, called Hennebon. It is situated 
 near the sea, and a river runs about it in deep trenches. When sir 
 Henry de Spinefort was informed of his intentions, he began to be 
 alarmed lest some mischance should befall his brother, who was 
 governor of that place, and, taking the earl aside, said to him, " Sir. 
 you have admitted me to the honor of your council, and I have 
 sworn fealty to you. I perceive that you mean to sit down before 
 Hennebon : I think it, therefore, my duty to inform you, that the 
 town and castle are so strongly fortified, that it will not be so easily 
 won as you may think. You may lie before it a whole year, and 
 never conquer it by dint of force : but if you will put your confi. 
 dence in me, I will point out a method by which you may gaifi it. 
 It is proper to use artifice when strength is of no avail. You will 
 give me, if you please, five hundred men-at-arms, for me to act with 
 as I shall think proper : I will advance with them half a league be- 
 fore your army, with the banner of Brittany displayed. As soon as 
 my brother, who is commandant of the town and castle, shall see 
 the banner of Brittany, and distinguish me, I am sure he will open 
 the gates, which I will enter and seize, as well as the town and 
 castle, and arrest my brother, whom I will give up to your will, if 
 he will not follow my advice, under your promise of honor that you 
 will not do him any bodily harm." " No, by my head, I will not," 
 replied the earl, " and you have hit upon a lucky expedient. I love 
 you more than before for it, and shall be charmed with you, if you 
 can bring it about that I may be master of the town and castle." 
 
 Sir Henry de Spinefort, and his party, amounting to full five hun- 
 dred armed men, took leave of the earl, and, in the evening, came 
 before Hennebon. As soon as Oliver de Spinefort knew of his ar- 
 rival, he permitted him and his forces to enter the gates, and went 
 down the street to meet him. When sir Henry saw him approach, 
 he stepped forward, and taking hold of him said, " Oliver, you are 
 my prisoner." " How is this ?" replied Oliver : " I trusted in you, 
 and thought you were come here to help and assist me in defending 
 this town and castle." " Sweet sir," said sir Henry, " things do not 
 go on in that manner. I take possession of this place for the earl of 
 Montfort, who at this moment is duke of Brittany ; to whom I, as 
 well as the greater part of the country, have sworn fealty and homage ; 
 and you will, I am sure, do the same, for it will be more agreeable 
 to do it out of love than through compulsion, and my lord the earl 
 will think himself the more obliged to you for it." Oliver was so 
 much pressed and entreated by his brother, that he consented to his 
 proposals, and confirmed it to the earl, who entered the town tri- 
 umphantly, which is a large place, and a good sea-port. After having 
 taken possession of the town and strong castle, he placed in both, 
 men-at-arms, for their garrisons^ He then advanced toward Vannes, 
 and was so active in treating witH the inhabitants, that they surren- 
 dered it, and swore fealty and homage, as to their true lord. He es- 
 tablished in that town all manner of municipal officers, and tarried 
 there three whole days. When he departed, he marched to besiege 
 a very strong castle, called La Roche Perion, the governor of which 
 was the lord Oliver de Clisson, cousin-gerraan to the lord of Clissont. 
 
 The earl remained before it more than ten days, without being 
 able to find out any means to gain this castle, it was so strong, nor 
 obtain any parley or conference with the governor, so that he might 
 attempt to gain him to his obedience, either by promises or by threats. 
 He therefore left it until he should have a greater force, and went to 
 besiege another castle, ten leagues off, called the castle of Aurai. Sir 
 Geoffry de Malestroit was governor of it, and he had for his compan- 
 ion, sir Yves de Trisiguidi. The earl made two assaults upon it, 
 but he saw he should lose more than he could gain : he consented to 
 a truce, and a day of parley, through the earnest solicitations of sir 
 Herv^ de L6ont, who at that time was with him. The parley was 
 so managed, that everything was amicably adjusted, and the two 
 knights swore fealty and homage to the earl, who immediately de- 
 parted, after having appointed them as his governors of the surround- 
 ing country, and went toward a strong castle in that neighborhood, 
 called Goy la Forest. He who was governor of it, perceiving that 
 the earl had a strong force, and that all the country was submitting 
 itself to him, by the advice and remonstrances of sir Herve de L^on 
 (with whom he had formerly been companion at arms in Prussia, 
 Grenada, and in many other foreign countries) yielded it up to the 
 earl, and swore fealty and homage to him, who continued him as 
 governor of the place. He then went to Carhaix, a good town, with 
 
 * Situated upon the river Biavet, in the diocese of Vannes, thirty-seven leagues from 
 Nantes. 
 
 * The Histoire de la Bretagne, by Pere Morice, a Benedictine monk, says, that Oli- 
 ver de Clisson was the true lord de Clisson. 
 
 t Called Henrp de Leon in chapter 64. Both Lord Berners and D. Sauvage's edition 
 , lead Henry throughout.— Ep. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 51 
 
 a strong castle. The lord of it was a bishop, who at the time was 
 there : he was uncle to sir Herve de Leon, and by his advice and 
 affection for him, he surrendered it to the earl, acknowledging him 
 as his lord, until some other should come, and show a more just title 
 to the dukedom of Brittany*. 
 
 CHAPTER LXVIII. 
 
 THE EARL OF MONTFORT DOES HOMAGE TO THE KING- OF ENGLAND FOR 
 THE DUKEDOM OF BRITTANYt. 
 
 Why should I make a long story of it ? The earl of Montfort con- 
 tinued his conquests, gained the whole country, and was everywhere 
 addressed as duke of Brittany. He advanced to a sea-port town 
 called Roscoff, when he dismissed his troops, and sent them to garri- 
 son and preserve for him the different towns he had won. He then 
 embarked, and landed in Cornwall, at a port called Cepsee, where, 
 upon his inquiries after the king of England, he was informed that he 
 was at Windsor. He set off for that place, and was received at 
 Windsor, by the king, queen, and all the barons at that time there, 
 with great joy. He explained to the king, the lord Robert d'Artois, 
 and to the council, the manner of his seizing and taking possession 
 of the duchy of Brittany, which had devolved to him, as next heir 
 to his brother lately deceased. Pie suspected, however, that the lord 
 Charles of Blois, and the king of France, would attempt to deprive 
 him of it by force ; for which reason he had come to hold the duchy 
 of the king of England, and to do him homage for it, provided he 
 should be secured against the king of France, or any others that 
 should attempt to molest him in his rights. The king of England, 
 considering that his war against France would be strengthened by 
 this means — that he could not have a better entry inio that kingdom 
 than through Brittany — that the Germans and Brabanters had done 
 nothing for him, but cost him large sums — and that the lords of the 
 empire had led him up and down, taking his money, without making 
 any return for it — was very happy to comply with the earl's request, 
 and received his homage for the duchy by the hand of the earl, who 
 was called and addressed by the title of duke. The king then gave 
 his promise, in the presence of the lords who had accompanied him, 
 as well as before those barons of England that were there, that he 
 would aid, defend, and preserve him, as his liege man, against any 
 one, the king of France, or any other, to the uttermost of his royal 
 power. These promises and homage were written and sealed, and 
 each party had a copy of them. After this, the king and queen made 
 such rich presents of jewels, and other gifts, to the earl, and to those 
 who had come over with him, that they pronounced him a gallant 
 king, and fit to reign many years in great prosperity. They after- 
 wards took leave, embarked, and landed at Roscoff, a town in Brit- 
 tany, the place whence they had sailed ; and thence he went to 
 Nantes, where his countess had remained, who told him that he had 
 done well, and had acted wisely. 
 
 CHAPTER LXIX. 
 
 TEE EARL OF MONTFORT SUMMONED BEFORE THE PARLIAMENT OF PARIS 
 AT THE REQUEST OF THE LORD CHARLES OF BLOIS. 
 
 When the lord Charles of Blois, who, by right of his wife, looked 
 upon himself as lawful duke of Brittany, was informed that the earl 
 John of Montfort was conquering, by force of arms, all the country and 
 fortresses which of right belonged to him, he went to Paris, and 
 complained of it to king Philip, his uncle. King Philip called upon 
 his twelve peers for their advice what was best to be done in this 
 business. They recommended, that the earl of Montfort should be 
 sent to and summoned, by properly qualified messengers, to appear 
 at Paris, to be interrogated judicially ; which was done. The mes- 
 sengers found the earl in the city of Nantes, keeping great feasts, 
 which he made them partake of, and told them, he would be obedient 
 to the king's commands, and would cheerfully attend them. He 
 made very magnificent preparations, set out from Nantes, and jour- 
 neyed on till he came to Paris, which he entered with more than four 
 hundred attendants on horseback, and tarried there that day and 
 night. On the morrow, about eight o'clock, he and his attendants 
 mounted their horses, and rode to the palace, where king Philip was 
 waiting for him, surrounded by his twelve peers, great numbers of 
 other barons, and the lord Charles of Blois. When the earl of Mont- 
 fort was arrived at the palace, he withdrew to the chamber where 
 the king and his barons were : he was civilly regarded and saluted 
 by them. He advanced toward the king, and making him a reve- 
 rence, said, " Sir, I come here in obedience to your commands and 
 good pleasure." The king replied, " Earl Montfort, I thank you for 
 so doing ; but I am much surprised how you could think or dare, of 
 your own accord, to invade the duchy of Brittany, where you have no 
 
 * It was the bishop nf Ciuimper, Aiain le Gii!. wlio was probably on his visitation 
 round his diocese. The author of the History of Brittany before quoted, seems to doubt 
 the relationship between tl;e bishop andiiir Herve de Leon. 
 
 T Froissart seems to mistake this honiaire for the one the earl of Montfort paid to the 
 king of England as earl of Kichmond, which had fallen to the king on the death of 
 earl John. But I cannot account for this, as Froissai''^ before says, king Edward created 
 Robert d'Artois earl of Richmond. Montfort positively denied having paid any homage, 
 when he attended the king of France, at Paris, in obedience to his summons. The 
 procuration to treat with the duke of Brittany, and the powers to receive his homage for 
 the lands appertaining to the earldom of Richmond, are given to the archbishop of Can- 
 terbury, and sir Walter Scroop, both dated the 13th March, 1331 — Rymer 
 
 right, for there are nearer heirs than you, whom you attempt to dis 
 inherit : and, in order the better to strengthen your claim, you have 
 been, as I am informed, to do homage for it to my enemy, the king 
 of England." 
 
 The earl answered, " Oh dear, sir, do not believe it ; for, in goo^ 
 truth, you have been misinformed : but, with regard to my claim oj 
 which you have just spoken, with all due deference to your grace,! 
 believe you are quite mistaken ; for I know of no nearer relation te 
 the duke, my brother, lately deceased, than myself : and I shall no\ 
 think myself a rebel, or be ashamed, for not giving up my right."* 
 " Sir earl," said the king, " you say well ; but I command you, by 
 what you now hold, and expect to hold, from me, that you quit not the 
 city of Paris for fifteen days, when the peers and barons shall try this 
 claim of relationship; at which time you will know what your right 
 is : and, if you act otherwise, you will incur my displeasure." " Your 
 will shall be done, sir," answered the earl. He then left the court 
 and returned to his hotel to dinner. When he was come there, he 
 retired to his own chamber ; and having well weighed and considered 
 some suspicions he had conceived, he mounted his horse and set out 
 for Brittany, accompanied by a very small number of attendants, and 
 arrived at Nantes, before the king or any others, except his own 
 particular friends, knew anything of the matter. It was imagined, 
 ill health kept him within his hotel. He related to his countess all 
 that had happened, and wrote, according to her advice, to all the 
 towns and castles which had been surrendered to him ; established in 
 each able captains, with plenty of soldiers, cavalry as well as infantry, 
 and paid them handsomely. 
 
 CHAPTER LXX. 
 
 THE DUCHY OF BRITTANY ADJUDGED, BY THE PARLIAMENT OF PARIS, TO 
 THE LORD CHARLES DE BLOIS. 
 
 It may be easily conceived, thai the king of France, and lord 
 Charles de Blois, were exceedingly enraged, on hearing that the 
 earl of Montfort had escaped from them. However, they waited for 
 the expiration of the fifteen days, when the peers and barons were to 
 give their judgment to whom belonged the duchy of Brittany. They 
 adjudged it wholly to the lord Charles de Blois, from the earl of Mont, 
 fort, for two reasons. One was, because the wife of lord Charles de 
 Blois, as the representative of her father (who after the last duke was 
 the next brother, both by father and mother,) was a nearer relation 
 than the earl of Montfort, who was the youngest of these brothers, by 
 another mother ; which mother had never been duchess of Brittany ; 
 so that he never could deduce any claim from her. Another was, 
 that, supposing the earl of Montfort had any legal claim to the suc- 
 cession, he had forfeited it, because he had done homage for it to 
 another lord than the king of France, to whom he owed it ; and also, 
 because he had transgressed the commands of the king of France, 
 had broken his arrest, and had quitted Paris without leave. When 
 the barons had publicly given their judgment in this affair, the king 
 called to his nephew, the lord Charles of Blois, and said to him, 
 " Good nephew, you have had adjudged to you a handsome and great 
 heritage ; make haste to take possession of it, and conquer it from 
 him who wrongfully holds it ; and entreat all your friends to aid and 
 assist you in this undertaking. I will not fail you, but will lend you 
 money in sufficiency, and will give orders to my son, the duke of 
 Normandy, to take the command of the expedition." The lord 
 Charles made a profound reverence to the king, and returned him 
 many thanks. He soon after requested the duke of Normandy his 
 cousin, the count d'Alengon his uncle, the duke of Burgundy, the 
 count de Blois his brother, the duke of Bourbon, the lord Lewis of 
 Spain, the lord James of Bourbon, the count d'Eu, at that time con- 
 stable of France, the count de Guines his son, the viscount de Rohan, 
 and all the princes and barons then present, to assist him to gain hk 
 right ; which they all promised, and said they would cheerfully follow 
 him, and their lord, the duke of Normandy, with all the forces thej 
 
 * Lord Berners, whose account agrees with that in D. Sauvage's edition, represents 
 Montfort as willing to submit to judgment, if given against him ; and as this is a favor- 
 able opportunity for contrasting tlie style of Lord Berners' and Mr. Johnes's transla- 
 tions, we annex the whole passage. 
 
 "The next day, he (the earl of Montfort) and all his mounted on their horses, and 
 rode to the kynge'a palayse. Ther the kynge and his xii peres, with other great lordea 
 of Fraunce, taryed hiscommying, and the lorde Charles of Blois with the. Than therle 
 entred into the kynge's chambre : he was well regarded and saluted of every person. 
 Than he enclyned hymselfe to the kyng, and sayd, Sir, I am come hyther ai your 
 comaundement and pleasure. Than the kyng sayd, earl of Mountfort, for your so doing 
 I can you good thanke, howbeit, 1 have marueyle howe that ye durste undertake oo 
 you the duchy of Bretayne, wherein ye liave no right, for there is another nerer than y» 
 be, and ye wolde disinheryt hym ; and to mentayne yourquarell, ye have ben wt myne 
 aduersary the kynge ofEnglande, and as it is shewed me ye haue done hym homage for 
 the same. Than therle sayd. Sir beleue it nat, for surely ye are but yuell enfc-med in 
 that behalf; but sir, as for the right that ye speke of, sauying your dispeasur, ye do 
 me therein wrong, for sir, 1 knowe none so nereto my brother that is departed as I ; if it 
 zcere iuged or playnly declared by right that there were a nother nerer than I, I wolde 
 not be rebell nor ashamed to leave it. Well, sir, quoth the kyng, ye say well ; but I 
 comaund you, in all that ye holde of me, that ye depart not out ofthis cytie of Parys this 
 XV dayes, by which tyme the xii peres and lordes of my realme shall iudge this mater, 
 and tha ye shall knowe what right ye haue, and if ye do otherwyse, ye shall displease 
 me. Thantherl sayd, sir, all shal be at yor pleasure. Than he went fto the court to his 
 lod'gynge to dyner. Whan he came to his lodgynge, he entred into his chambre, ana 
 ther satte and ymagined many doutes, and finally, with a small company, he mounted 
 on his horse, and retoumed agayne into Bretayne, or the king or any other wyst wher hg- 
 
 -"om©. Some thought he had beea but a lytell sicke in his lodgying."— Ed. 
 
53 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 jpvW collect together. Upon which every one set off for his own 
 lv)me, to make himself ready, and provide properly for the occasion 
 
 CHAPTER LXXI. 
 
 • HE LORDS OF FRANCE ENTER BRITTANY, WITH LORD CHARLES DE BLOIS. 
 
 Wh^n all the lords of Normandy, the count d'Alen5on, the duke 
 of Burgundy, and the others that were to accompany the lord 
 Charles de Blois, in his expedition to conquer Brittany, were ready, 
 some of them set out from Paris, and the rest from different places, in 
 jrder to meet together at Angers. From thence they proceeded to 
 Ancenis which is at the extremity of the kingdom on that side. 
 They remained there three days, for the purpose of arranging and 
 ordering their army and baggage. Upon entering Brittany, they 
 lumbered their forces, and found them to amount to five thousand 
 nen-at-arms, v^thout counting the Genoese, who were at least three 
 thousand, under the command of three knights from Genoa : the 
 name of one was Othes de Rae, and of another Charles Germanly.* 
 There was a large body of foot soldiers and cross-bowmen, led on 
 by sir Grilois de Baume. When the whole army had marched out 
 of Anceuis, they advanced tOM'ard a very strong castle, situated 
 upon a liigh mountain, called Chateauceaux, on the borders of Brit- 
 tany, which was very well provided with men and ammunition. It 
 was under the command of two knights from Lorraine ; one called 
 sir Giles, and the other sir Valerian. The lords of France, on 
 drawing near to this castle, were of opinion to besiege it ; for if they 
 left a place of such strength behind them, it would do them much 
 harm. They therefore surrounded it, and made many assaults, 
 particularly the Genoese, who were eager to show themselves at the 
 onset, and lost many of their men ; for those within made so gallant a 
 defence, that these gentlemen remained a long time before it without 
 any success. At last, however, they brought such quantities of great 
 beams and faggots us filled up the ditches, so that they could get to 
 the foot of the walls of the castle, and attack it with greater vigor. 
 The besieged flung down upon them stones, hot lime, and brands of 
 fire, notwithstanding which, their opponents advanced close to the 
 walls, having secured themselves by means of large beams, so that 
 they could mine the walls under cover. Upon this the castle was 
 surrendered, the lives and effects of the garrison being spared. 
 
 When the lords of France had thus gained the castle, the duke of 
 Normandy, as commander-in-chief, gave it up to the lord Charles de 
 Blois, as appertaining to him of right, who placed a garrison there, 
 with a sufficient force to guard it and the neighboring country, and 
 also to conduct such troops after him as might arrive. t They then 
 advanced toward Nantes, which is the principal town of Brittany, and 
 where their enemy, the earl of Montfort, had fixed his residence. The 
 ;narshals of the army, and the advanced guard, came to a tolerable 
 good town, surrounded with ditches, which they immediately at- 
 tacked. Those within were not very numerous, nor well armed ; 
 consequently the town was soon taken and pillaged : one half of it 
 was burnt and the inhabitants slain. This town was called Carquefou, 
 and is about four or five leagues from Nantes. The lords remained 
 for the night in that neighborhood : the next day they advanced to 
 Nantes, which they laid siege to, and pitched their tents and pavil- 
 ions. The men-at-arms in the city, who were very numerous, and 
 the citizens, having perceived this, hastened to arm themselves, and 
 went to the different posts assigned them for defending their town. 
 The army before it, having fixed upon their quarters, went out a for- 
 aging ; and some of the Genoese and foot soldiers advanced, as far 
 as the barriers, to skirmish. Several young men of the town with a 
 few soldiers sallied out to meet them, and many were slain on both 
 lides. Skirmishes were continually going on as long as the afmy 
 ;emained before it. 
 One morning, some of the soldiers and citizens sallied forth, to 
 " seek adventures. They met about fifteen carts loaded with provis- 
 ions, going to the army, conducted by sixty persons. Those from 
 the town were two hundred. They fell upon them, seized the carts, 
 and slew many. Those that escaped fled to the army, and related 
 what had passed ; when immediately a detachment was sent to rescue 
 the prisoners. They came up with them near the barriers : the affray 
 then became more serious ; for those from the army multiplied so 
 quickly, that the citizens had enough to do. However, they took 
 the horses from the carts, and drove them into the town, that if their 
 opponents should gain the field, tliey might not so easily carry off the 
 wagons or provisions. Other soldiers came out from the town, to 
 help their friends or relations : it became every moment more severe, 
 and of a long continuance : many were killed and wounded on both 
 sides. At length. Sir Herv6 de Leon perceived it was time to retreat : 
 for, by staying, they might lose more than they could gain ; he there- 
 fore ordered those in the town to retire in the best manner they 
 
 * According to the Annals of Genoa, by Agostino Justiniano, I think their names 
 OUffht to be Odoard de Done and Charles Grimaldi.—DEms Sauvage. 
 
 Val'^ini, in his (^hronique Universelle, makes mention of Anton Doric and Charles 
 GrimcUdi, as captains of the Genoese, at the battle of Crecy— /dern. 
 
 t The historian ol Brittany says, the French kept this place, and that kir>g John gave 
 it as an appv-mge tf" bis sou, Lewis count d'Anjou. Charles V. acknowledged that it 
 iMlon^ed to tiieauket of £nttany, and gave it back 
 
 could ; but they were so closely pursued, that numbers were killed, 
 and more than two hundred burgesses of the town taken prisoners. 
 The earl of Montfort was very angry at this, and blamed sir Herv6 
 much for having ordered the retreat so soon. Sir Rer\6 took thia 
 to heart, and would never attend the councils of the earl, as he had 
 formerly used to do ; which conduct surprised many 
 
 CHAPTER LXXI1-. 
 
 THE EARL OF MONTFORT TAKEN PRISONER AT NANTES, AND THE MAW- 
 
 NER OF HIS DEATH. 
 
 It came to pass, as I have heard it related, that the burgesses, see- 
 ing their property destroyed both within and without the town, and 
 their children and friends thrown into prison, were fearful lest worse 
 might happen to them ; they therefore assembled privately, and, in 
 their meetings, came to a determination to treat in an underhand 
 manner, with the lords of France, about obtaining a peace, securing 
 their property, and delivering their children and friends out of prison. 
 Their proposals were acceded to ; and their friends were to be set at 
 liberty, upon condition that they would allow them to pass through 
 one of the gates of the town, to attack the castle, and seize the earl 
 of Montfort, without doing hurt, either to the city or to any of the 
 inhabitants. There were some people who seemed to say, that this 
 treaty was brought about through the solicitation of sir Herve de 
 Leon (who had formerly been one of the earl's chief advisers,) out 
 of revenge for having been menaced and blamed by him, as before 
 related. By this means they entered the city, accompanied by as 
 many as they chose, went sti-aight to the castle, broke down the gates, 
 and took the earl of Montfort, whom they carried off to their camp, 
 without injuring house or inhabitant in the city. This event took 
 place in the year of grace 1341, about All-Saints day. The lords of 
 France entered the city in great triumph ; when all the burgesses and 
 inhabitants did homage and fealty to the lord Charles de Blois, as to 
 their true lord. They continued in the city for three days, keeping 
 great feasts ;* they advised the lord Charles to remain there, and in 
 its neighborhood, until another season, and to employ the soldiers of 
 the garrisons from the places he had won in the most advantageous 
 manner. These lords then took their leave and departed, and rode 
 on till they came to Paris, where the king was, to wliom they de- 
 livered up the earl of Montfort, as his prisoner. The king confined 
 him in the tower of the Louvre at Paris, where he remained for a 
 length of time, and at last died there, as it has been told me for a 
 truth.t 
 
 I wish now to return to the countess of Montfort, who possessed 
 the courage of a man, and the heart of a lion. She was in the city 
 of Rennes when she heard of the seizure of her lord ; and, notwith- 
 standing the great grief she had at heart, she did all she could to 
 comfort and reanimate her friends and soldiers : showing them a 
 young child, called John, after his father, she said, " Oh, gentlemen, 
 do not be cast down by what we have suffered through the loss of 
 my lord : he was but one man. Look at my little child, here : if it 
 please God, he shall be his restorer, and shall do you much service. I 
 have plenty of wealth, which I will distribute among you, and will 
 seek out for such a leader, as may give you a proper confidence." 
 When the countess had, by these means, encouraged her friends and 
 soldiers at Rennes, she visited all the other towns and fortresses, 
 taking her young son John with her. She addressed and encouraged 
 them in the same m.anner as she had done at Rennes. She strength, 
 ened her garrisons both with men and provisions, paid handsomely 
 for everything, and gave largely wherever she thought it would have 
 a good effect. She then went to Hennebon, near the sea, where she 
 and her son remained all that winter ; frequently visiting her gar- 
 risons, whom she encouraged, and paid liberally. 
 
 * The French remained at Nantes until the 18th December ; and the earl of Montfort 
 surrendered the town himself to the duke of Normandy, on learning what were the real 
 dispositions of the townsmen, and knowing he could not longer depend on them. It is 
 said, he was deceived by the fine speeches of the duke, who promised, on oath, to deliver 
 him again the town of Nantes, in the same state he received it, and granted him pass- 
 ports, &LC.—Hist. of Brittany. 
 
 t Froissart has been misinformed. "It was about this time, (1445) t'' at the earl of 
 Montfort found means to escape from the tower of the Louvre, where he had been con- 
 fined upward of three years. Some persons, touched with compassion disguised him 
 as a merchant, and assisted him in his escape. He went directly to England, and found 
 king Edward at Westminster, who had just written to the Pope, to complain of the in- 
 fractions Philip de Valois was making on the truce concluded at Malestroit. and to ex- 
 plain the reasons he had for declaring war against him. He was solely occupied with 
 the great armament he was preparing against France, and the war he intended to carry 
 on in Gascony. Nevertheless, he thought proper to grant some troops to the earl of 
 Montfort, to support him against Charles de Blois; the command of which he gave to 
 William Bohun, earl of Northampton, whom he had nominated his lieutenant-general, 
 as well in Brittany as in France. ■ ■ • /• 
 
 " The earl of Montfort, before he quitted England, paid homage liege to the king for 
 the duchy of Brittany, at Lambeth, in the apartment of the archbishop, m presence of 
 the earl of Northampton, and several other lords. 
 
 " He embarked with the troops for his duchy-made an unsuccessful attack on Quim- 
 per, which he did not long survive. He died the 26th September. 134), in the castle of 
 Hennebon, and was first buried in the church of the Holy Cross at Kimperl6, but wM 
 afterwards transferred to the church of the Dominicans, m the same town. Betore ha 
 deaUi he made a will, and appointed the king of Eneland guardian to hu ion John ol 
 Brittany."— ifi«t. de Bretagne. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 53 
 
 ' CHAPTER LXXIII. 
 
 THE KING OF ENGLAND, FOR THE THIRD TIME, MAKES WAR UPON THE SCOTS. 
 
 It has been mentioned before, how the lords of Scotland, during 
 the siese of Tournay, had retaken many towns and fortresses from 
 the English, which they possessed in Scotland. There only remained 
 to them the castles of Stirling, Roxburgh, and Berwick. The Scots 
 had laid siege to the castle of Stirling, assisted by some French lords, 
 whom king Philip sent to aid them in their wars, and had pressed it 
 so closely, that the English garrison found great difficulty in holding 
 it out. When the king of England was returned into his own coun- 
 try, he thought it advisable to make an incursion into Scotland, 
 which he immediately set about, and began his march between 
 Michaelmas and All-Saints. He issued out his summons for all 
 archers and men-at-arms to follow him to York. The English put 
 themselves in motion to obey his commands, and came to the place 
 appointed. The king arrived at York, where 
 he remained waiting for his forces, who follow, 
 ed him very quickly. When the Scots heard 
 of the king's arrival at York, they pushed on the 
 siege of Stirling v.'ith the greatest vigor ; and 
 by engines and cannons so pressed the garri- 
 son, that they were forced to surrender it, pre- 
 serving their lives, but not their effects. This 
 intelligence was brought to the king, where 
 he lay. He began his march toward Stirling, 
 and came to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where, 
 and in the neighboring villages, he quartered 
 his army, and continued upward of a month, 
 waiting for their purveyances, which had 
 been embarked between All-Saints and St. 
 Andrew's day. Many of their ships were 
 lost ; and they had sustained such contrary 
 winds, that they were driven upon the coasts 
 of Holland and Friezeland, in spite of all their 
 eff6rts, so that very few arrived at Newcastle. 
 On which account the army of the king of 
 England, which consisted of six thousand 
 eavalry and forty thousand infantry, were in 
 very great disvress, and provisions exceed- 
 ingly scarce. They could not advance farther, 
 as the winter was set in, and no forage or 
 provisions to be had ; for the Scots had se- 
 cured all tlie cattle and corn in their fortresses. 
 The Scottish lords, who, after the conquest of 
 Stirling, had retired to the forest of Jedworth, 
 understanding that the king of England was 
 
 come to Newcastle with a large force, to burn and destroy their coun- 
 try, collected together, to consider the best means to defend them- 
 5elves. They were not very numerous, and had carried on the war, 
 night and day, for more than seven years, without a leader, very much 
 to their own discomfort : and, seeing there was no expectation of re- 
 ceiving succor from their own king, they determined to send to the 
 king of England a bishop and an abbot, to solicit a truce. 
 
 These embassadors set out, and came to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 
 where they found the king surrounded by his barons; to whom, hav- 
 ing come with a safe conduct, they explained so handsomely their 
 mission, that a truce was granted them for four months, upon condi- 
 tion that the Scots should send messengers to king David in France, 
 and signify to him, that if, in the month of May following, he did 
 not return to his own country, with powers sufficient to defend it 
 against king Edward, they would own themselves subjects to the 
 king of England, and never more acknowledge him for their lord. 
 Upon this the two prelates returned to Scotland, when the Scots 
 ordered sir Robert de Vesci and sir Simon Frazer, with two other 
 knights, to set off for France, to inform the king of these conditions. 
 The king of England, who remained at Newcastle with his whole 
 army in a very uncomfortable manner, on account of the-scarcity of 
 provisions and other stores, the more readily granted this truce : he 
 immediately set off homeward, and dismissed all his troops. The 
 embassadors from Scotland to France took their way through Eng- 
 land, and crossed the sea at Dover. King David, who had remained 
 seven years in France, knowing that his country had been much 
 desolated, and that his people had suffered exceedingly, determined 
 to take his leave of the king of France, and return to his own king- 
 dom, to endeavor to comfort and assist them. He therefore had set 
 out, accompanied by his queen, before these embassadors arrived, 
 .'Hid had embarked at another port, under the guidance of a mariner 
 called sir Richard the Fleming,* so that he landed in the port of 
 Moray, in Scotland, before any of the lords knew of it.t 
 
 they conducted him to the town of Perth. Thither came people 
 from all parts to see him, and to carouse : they afterwards remon- 
 strated with him upon the destruction which king Edward and the 
 English had done to Scotland. King David told them he would have 
 ample revenge, or he would lose his kingdom, and his life into t'le 
 bargain. By the advice of his council, he sent messengers to all 
 his friends, far and near, to beg and entreat they would aid and assist 
 him in this enterprise. The earl of Orkney was the first who obeyed 
 the summons : he was a great and powerful baron, and had married 
 king David's sister. There came with him many men-at-arms. There 
 were such numbers from ail parts, that, when they were arrived at 
 Perth and its neighborhood, on the day which king David had ap- 
 pointed, they amounted to sixty thousand men on foot, and three 
 thousand men more mounted on galloways, with arms, knights, and 
 squires : in short, all the nobility and gentry of Scotland. Whe" 
 they were ready, they set out, to do as much mischief as possible * 
 
 Part or the Old Town Wall or Newcastle-upon-Tyne— From an Original Drawing by luctiardson 
 
 their neighbors in England : for the truce was expired ; or to fight 
 with the king who had destroyed their country. They left, there- 
 fore, the town of Perth, in regular order, and came the first night to 
 Dunfermline, where they lay. On the morrow, they crossed a small 
 arm of the sea* hard by. When they had all })assed, they pushed 
 forward, and went under Edinburgh castle, traversing Scotland near 
 to Roxburgh, where there was an English garrison, but without ^ 
 making an attack upon it, for fear of losing any of their men, or 
 despoiling their artillery ; not knowing what force they might have 
 to encounter, as they proposed doing some gallant deeds of renown 
 before their return to Scotland. 
 
 They then passed near to the town of Berwick, but without assault- 
 ing it, entered the county of Northumberland, and came to the rivet 
 Tyne, burning and destroying all the country through which they 
 passed. They marched on until they wej-e before the town of New- 
 castle, where king David and his army halted that night, in order to 
 consider if they could net achieve something worthy of them. To- 
 ward daybreak, some gendemen of the neighborhood, who were in 
 the town, made a sally out of one of the gates, in a secret manner, 
 with about two hundred lances, to make an attack upon the Scots 
 army. They fell upon one of the wings of tlic army, directly on 
 the quarters of the earl of Moray, who bore for his arms three pillows, 
 gules on a field argent. He was in his bed when they took him 
 prisoner, and killed a great many before the army was awakened. 
 Having made a very large booty, they regained the town, which they 
 entered with great joy and triumph, and delivered up the earl of 
 Moray to the governor, the lord John Nevilie.t When the army 
 was awakened and armed, they ran like madmen toward the town, 
 even to the barriers, where they made a fierce assault, which lasted 
 a considerable time. It availed them, however, nothing, but the loss 
 of their people ; for the town was well provided with men-at-arms, 
 
 CHAPTER LXXIV. 
 
 BilNG UAMTl CI SCOTLAND ADVANCES WITH A LARGE ARMY TO NEW- 
 
 CASTLE-UPON-TYNE, 
 
 When the young king David was landed in his own country, his 
 subjects came to him in crowds ; and with great joy and solemnity 
 
 * Malcolm i-'leming of Cunimirnald. 
 
 t Duvid II., with his consort, Johanna of England, landed from France, at Inver- 
 •ervie, in Kincardineshire. 4th May. IMl.— Annals of Seo^nd, 
 
 * Probably at Q,ueen's Ferry, 
 t He was afterwards exchanged for the earl of Salisbury, made prisoner by the 
 French near Lisle. ' The French would not release Salisbury, unless he made oath, 
 never more to bear arms in France ; and Edward III. consented to this extraordinary 
 condition, 20th May. 15^.-Jlmials of Scotland, vol. 2, p. 210. 
 
 Lord Berners describes this attack in tliese spirited words: "And in the morning a 
 certayne nombre of frentyimen that were in the towne yssued out to the number of cc 
 speres. to make a skry in the scottysshe ho«t: tlicy dashed into the Scottybhe host, right 
 ontherleof Morets tcntcs.\\\^o bare in his armour, syluer three creylles goules ; ther 
 they toke hym in his bed, and slewe many, or thoost was moued, and wan great pyiiage. 
 Than ^liey returned into the towne boldely witli great ioye, and delyuered therle Moret 
 (18 prisoner to the captayne of the castell the lord John Neuell."--ED. 
 
54 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 who defended themselves valiantly and prudently, which obliged the 
 assailants to retire with loss. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXV. 
 
 KING DAVID OF SCOTLAND TAKES AND DESTROYS THE CITY OF DURHAM. 
 
 When king David and his council saw that their stay before New. 
 castle was dangerous, and that they could neither gain profit nor 
 honor, they departed, and entered the bishopric of Durham, burning 
 and destroying as they marched. They came before the city of 
 Durham, which they laid siege to, and made many attacks upon it, 
 like men distracted in revenge for the loss of the earl of Moray ; and 
 they also knew that very great wealth was carried into it by all the 
 inhabitants of the country who had fled thither. They, therefore, were 
 every day more earnest in their attacks ; and the king of Scotland 
 ordered some engines to be made, that they 
 might approach to assault them nearer the 
 walls. When the Scots had marched from 
 before Newcastle, the governor, lord John Ne- 
 ville, mounted a fleet courser, passed by them, 
 for he was as well acquainted with all the by- 
 roads and passes as a native,* and made such 
 haste, that in five days he came to Chertsey, 
 where the king of England then was, and re- 
 lated to the king of England all that the Scots 
 were doing. The king sent out immediately 
 his messengers, ordering all knights, squires, 
 and others, that were able to assist him, above 
 the age of fifteen and under sixty years, with- 
 out fail, upon hearing these orders, to set out 
 directly toward the marches of the north, to 
 succor and defend the kingdom against the 
 Scots, who were destroying it. Upon this 
 earls, barons, knights, and the commonalties 
 from the provincial towns, made themselves 
 ready, and hastened most cheerfully to obey 
 the summons, and advance toward Berwick. 
 The king himself set off* directly, such was 
 his impatience, without waiting for any one ; 
 and he was followed by his subjects, as fast 
 as they could, from all parts. During this 
 time, the king of Scotland made so many 
 violent attacks with the engines he had con- 
 structed upon the city of Durham, that those 
 
 who were within could not prevent it from being taken, pillaged, 
 arid burnt. All were put to death without mercy, and without 
 distinction of persons or ranks, men, women, children, monks, 
 canons, and priests ; no one was spared, neither was there house 
 or church left standing. It was pity thus to destroy, in Christendom, 
 the churches wherein God was served and honorcd.t 
 
 wood ; when he and his companions fell upon them, killed and ' 
 wounded upward of two hundred, and took one hundred and twenty 
 horses very richly laden, which they drove toward the castle. The 
 criers and the runaways soon reached the lord William Douglas, 
 who commanded the rear-guard, and had already passed the wood. 
 Whoever at that time had seen the Scots return full gallop, over 
 mountain and valley, with sir William Douglas at their head, would 
 have been alarmed. They made such haste that they soon came to 
 the castle, and ascended the hill on which it is situated with great 
 expedition ; but as they came to the barriers, those within had closed 
 them, and placed what they had seized in safety. The Scots com- 
 menced a violent assault, and the garrison defended themselves well: 
 the two Williams did all they could devise to hurt each other. This 
 lasted until the whole army, and even the king himself, arrived there. 
 When the king and his council saw their people lying dead, and the 
 assailants sore wounded, without gaining anything, he ordered them 
 
 CHAPTER LXXVI. 
 
 THE KING OF SCOTLAND BESIEGES WARK CASTLE, BELONGING TO THE 
 
 EARL OF SALISBURY. 
 
 When the king of Scotland had done this, he was advised to fall 
 back upon the river Tyne,t and retreat toward Scotland. As he 
 was on the march, he halted one night hard by a castle belonging to 
 the earl of Salisbury, which was well furnished with men-at-arms. 
 The captain of it was sir William Montacute, son to the sister of 
 the earl, and so called after an uncle who had that name. When 
 the night was passed, king David decamped, to pursue his march to 
 Scotland ; and the Scots passed through roads close to this castle. 
 Heavily laden, with the booty which they had made at Durham. As 
 fioon as sir William saw that they had passed the castle without 
 halting, he sallied out of it well armed on horseback, with about 
 forty companions, and followed in silence the last division, which 
 consisted of horses so loaded with money and ri(?hes that they could 
 scarcely get on, and came up with them at the entrance of a small 
 
 * " Car il savoit bien les adresses et les refuges du pays, comme celui qui en estoit," 
 are the words used by Froissart, and they sliould probably be rendered, " for he had a 
 native's knowledge of the by-roads and passes." Sir John IS'evill liere spoken of was 
 the eldest son and heir of Ralph lord de Nevill, and father of the lirst earl of Westmore- 
 land, and the estates of the family lay in the north.— Ed. 
 
 t Lord Berners translates this passage rather more correctly, ns Froissart did not mean 
 to say that the burning of churches in a pagan country would not be equally a pity as 
 in Christendom. "The city was won by force, and robbed and clene brent: and all 
 manner of people put to deth without mercy, men, women, and chyldren, monkes, 
 preestes and chanons ; so that ther abode alyue no manner of person, house nor church, 
 but it was destroyed ; the whiche was great pytte so to destroy christenblode, and the 
 churches of God wherein that God was honoured and serued." 
 
 This passage is remarkable as an illustration of the superstitious fee ings of these chi- 
 valric times. We have before had many accounts of burnings and massacres, nay, even 
 of the violation of nuns, but all were passed by as mere matters of course. " I am now 
 reading Johnes's Froissart," says Mrs. Barbauld in one of her elegant letters, " and 1 
 think I was never more struck with the horrors of war— simply because ke seems not at 
 all struck with them." It is only when the churches are included in the destruction 
 that the compassion of the canon is excited.— Ed. 
 
 t As Wark Castle is situated on the Tweed, it must be the Tweed, instead of Tyne, 
 I havft. in consequence, altered Scotland for Carlisle, as it is in the original ; otherwise 
 It would be inconect as to the geography of the country. 
 
 Wark Castle, Northumbkrlanu. 
 
 to desist, and to seek out for quarters ; for he was determined not 
 to leave the place before he had seen his men revenged. Upon this 
 eveiy one was employed in searching out where he could lodge 
 himself, to collect the dead, and to dress the wounded. The king, 
 on the morrow, ordered all to be ready for the attack of the castle: 
 those within prepared themselves to defend it. This assault wa.s 
 very fierce and perilous, and many gallant deeds were performed. 
 
 The countess of Salisbury, who was esteemed one of the most 
 beautiful and virtuous women in England, was in this castle, which 
 belonged to the earl of Salisbury, who had been taken prisoner, with 
 the earl of Suffolk, near Lisle, and was still in prison at the Chatelet 
 in Paris. The king had given him this castle, upon his marriage, 
 for his many deeds of valor, and for the services he had received 
 from the said earl, who was formerly called sir William Montacute, 
 as appears in another part of this book. The countess comforted 
 much those within the castle ; and from the sweetness of her looks, 
 and the charm of being encouraged by such a beautiful lady, one 
 man in time of need ought to be worth two. This attack lasted a 
 considerable time, and the Scots lost a great many men ; for they 
 advanced boldly up to it, and brought large trees and beams to fill 
 up the ditches, that they might bring their machines, if possible, 
 nearer, to play upon the castle : but the garrison made so good a 
 defence, that they were forced to retreat ; and the king ordered the 
 machines to be watched, to renew the attack the next day. Each 
 retired to their quarters, except those who guarded the machines : 
 some bewailed the dead, others comforted the wounded. Those of 
 the castle saw that they had too hard a task, for they were much 
 fatigued ; and, if king David" were steady to his purpose, they should 
 have difficulty to defend it. They therefore thought it advisable to 
 send some one to king Edward, who was arrived at Berwick,* which 
 they knew for truth, from some of the Scots prisoners they had taken, 
 and were looking out for a proper person for this business : for not one 
 would agree to quit the defence of the castle, or of the beautiful lady, 
 in order to carry this message, and there was much strife among 
 them : which, when their captain, sir William Montacute, saw, he 
 said, " I am very well pleased, gentlemen, with your loyalty and 
 heartiness, as well as for your affection to the lady of this house; so 
 that, out of my love for her and for you, I will risk my person in this 
 adventure. I have great confidence and trust in you, and that you 
 will defend the castle until I shall return. On the other hand, I 
 have the greatest hopes in our lord the king, and that I shall bring 
 
 * This seems incorrect, as in that case the English army would have intercejrted the 
 Scots on their return. Lord Berners read York, and Sauvage's edition Wai-wick.—Eik 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 55 
 
 back with me, speedily, such succor, to your great joy, that you will 
 all be rewarded for the gallant defence you shall have made." 
 
 This speech cheered both the countess and all present. When 
 night came, sir William prepared himself the best way he could, to 
 get out of the castle privately, and unseen by any of the Scots. 
 Fortunately for him, it rained so hard all night, that none of them 
 quitted their quarters : he therefore passed through the army without 
 being noticed. Shortly after, and about daybreak, he met, on his 
 road, two Scotsmen, about half a league from their army, driving 
 thither two oxen and a cow : sir William, knowing them to be 
 Scotsmen, wounded them both very severely, killed the cattle that 
 they might not carry them to the army, and said to them, " Go and 
 tell your king, that William Montacute has passed through his army, 
 and is gone to seek for succor from the king of England, who is 
 now at Berwick." When the Scots lords heard this,* they said to 
 one another, " The king often makes his men be wounded and killed 
 without any reason ;" and, believing that the king of England would 
 come to give them battle before they should gain the castle, they 
 went in a body to the king, and told him, that his longer stay there 
 would neither brng him honor nor profit ; that their expedition had 
 turned out evcceedingly well, and that they had done much mischief 
 to the English by remaining in their country twelve days, and burning 
 and destroying the city of Durham ; that, everything considered, it 
 was now proper for them to return to their own kingdom and homes, 
 and carry off safe the booty they had made ; and that, at another 
 season, they would follow him to England, according to his will and 
 pleasure. The king did not choose to act contrary to the opinions 
 of his chieftains, but consented to their advice, sore against his will. 
 On the morrow, he and his whole army decamped and marched 
 straight for the forest of Jedworth, where the wild Scots lived at 
 their ease ; for he vv^as desirous of knowing what the king of Eng. 
 land meant to do, whether he would return to his own kingdom, or 
 advance further northward.t 
 
 CHAPTER LXXVII. 
 
 THE KING OF ENGLAND IS ENAMORED WITH THE COUNTESS OF 
 
 SALISBURY. 
 
 That same day that the Scots had decamped from before the 
 castle of Wark, king Edward, and his whole army, arrived there 
 about midday, and took up their position on the ground which he 
 Scots had occupied. When he found that they were returned home, 
 he was much enraged ; for he had come with so much speed, that 
 both his men and horses were sadly fatigued. He ordered his men 
 to take up their quarters where they were, as he wished to go to 
 the castle to see the noble dame within, whom he had never seen 
 since her marriage. Every one made up his lodgings as he pleased; 
 and the king, as soon as he was disarmed, taking ten or twelve 
 knights with him, went to the castle, to salute the countess of Salis- 
 bury, and to examine what damage the attacks of the Scots had 
 done, and the manner in which those within had defended them- 
 selves. The moment the countess heard t of the king's approach. 
 
 * Froissart's words, according to D. Sauvage's edition, with which Lord Berners 
 nearly agrees, are as follows: "They talked one to another wkile king David still 
 continued to make fierce attacks, and seeing that the king caused his people to l)e 
 wounded and sacrificed (martyrer) without reason, and that the king of England might 
 well come and give them battle before the castle should be taken, they said to king David 
 with one accord, that his longer stay," &c.— Ed. 
 
 t All this seems to be fabulous, and to have been invented by some person who meant 
 to impose on the inquisitive credulity of Froissart. It cannot be reconciled with known 
 historical dates, with the characters and conditions of the persons therein mentioned, or 
 with the general tenor of authenticated events. Had David violated the patrimony of 
 St. Cuthbert in the savage manner related by Froissart, the English histories would have 
 teemed with declamations on an enormity, more heinous, in the opinion of those days, 
 tliaa any crime prohibited by the decalogue- Besides, the sacking of Durham, related 
 by Froissart, was an event too singular and momentous to be altogether omitted ; and 
 yet the English historians make no mention of it: neither does Fordun, whose simple 
 narra tion I have chosen to M\o\v .—Annals of Scotland, vol. ii. p. 211. 
 
 t We hope our readers will pardon our again transcribing a passage from the terse 
 old English of Lord Berners, but we could not refrain from giving his beautiful ro- 
 mance, for it is no more, in his very poetical diction, whicn does full justice to, if indeed 
 it do not surpass, his autlior. " Assone as the lady knt we of the kynge's comyng, she 
 set oi)yn the gntes and came out so richly besene, that euery man marueyled of her 
 beauty, and coude nat cease to regard her nobleness, with her great beauty and tlie gra- 
 cyou;; wordes and countenaunce that she made. When she came to the kyng she 
 knolyd (lowne to the yertli, tliankyng hym of his sucours, and so ledde hym into the 
 (■asteil to make hym chere and lK)nour as she that coude ryght well do it. Euery man 
 re-:;rded her marnelussly ; the kynge hymselfe coud nat witholde his regardyng of 
 lier, ti)r Ik? tlioiiglit lhat he neuer saw before so noble nor so fiiyre a lad^y ; he was 
 .-trykca Ihtncifh to the hcrt 'loith a spcrcle of finte loue that endured long after • he 
 MsDuuiit no lady in the worlde so worthy to be beloude as she. Thus they entred into 
 W'tjriistell !i'ui(le in hnnde; the lady ledde hym first into the hall, and after into the 
 :-li:i;nhre noijly aparelled. The kiiig regarded so the lady that she was abasshed ; at 
 Ui>t .'le went to .-i wytido to rest hym, and so fell into a great study. The lady went 
 ab:;i;t. io m,ike ciicre to thelonles and knyghtes that were ther, andcomaunded to dresse 
 tiic iiall for dyr.er. Whan slie had al deuyscd and comaunded them she came to the 
 kynge with a mery chere, (who was in a great study) and she said Dere sir, why do you 
 study so, for your grace nat dyspicased, it aparteyneth nat to you so to do : rather ye 
 shulde make good chere and be joyfull scying ye bane chased away yourenmies who 
 durst nat abyde you ; let other men study f>r the reuiynant. Than the kyng savd A 
 dere lady, knowe for trouthe that syth I entred into the castell th.eris a study comVto'my 
 myndesothat lean nat cliuse but to muse, nor I can nat tell wi. -it shall fall thereof; 
 put It out of my hcrte I can nat. A sir, quoth the lady, ye ought alw&ves to make good 
 ciiere to comfort therwith your peple. God hath ayded you so in your besynes and 
 hath gyuen you so great graces, that ye be the moste douted and honoured prince in all 
 ehnstendome, and if the kynge of Scottes haue done you any dyspyte or damage ye may 
 
 she ordered all the gates to be thrown open, and went to meet him, 
 most richly dressed ; insomuch, that no one could look at her but 
 with wonder, and admiration at her noble deportment, great beauty, 
 and affability of behavior. When she came near the king, she mad ) 
 her reverence to the ground, and gave him her thanks for coming t > 
 her assistance, and then conducted him into the castle, to entertain 
 and honor him, as she was very capable of doing. Every one was 
 delighted with her : the king could not take his eyes off her, as he 
 thought he had never seen so beautiful or sprightly a lady ; so that 
 a spark of fine love struck upon his heart, which lasted a long time, 
 for he did not believe that the whole world produced any other lady 
 so worth ^ .of being beloved. Thus they entered the castle, hand in 
 hand : for the lady led him first into the hall, then to his chamber, 
 which was richly furnished, as belonging to so fine a lady. The 
 king kept his eyes so continually upon her, that the gentle ^iame was 
 quite abashed. After he had sufficiently examined his apartment, 
 he retired to a window, and leaning on it, fell into a profound reverie. 
 The countess went to entertain the other knights and squires, ordered 
 dinner to be made ready, the tables to be sot, and the hall ornamented 
 and dressed out. When she had given all the orders to her servants 
 she thought necessary, she returned, with a cheerful countenance, to 
 the king, who continued musing, and said to him, " Dear sir, what 
 are you musing on ? So much meditating is not proper for you, 
 saving your grace : you ought rather to bo in high spirits, for having 
 driven your enemies before you, without their having had the cour- 
 age to wiiit for you, and should leave the trouble of thinking to 
 others." The king replied, "Oh, dear lady, you must know, that 
 since I have entered this castle, an idea has struck my mind that I 
 was not aware of ; so that it behoves me to reflect upon it. I am 
 uncertain what may be the event, for I cannot withdraw my whole 
 attention from it." " Dear sir," replied the lady, " you ought to be 
 of good cheer, and feast with your friends, to give them more 
 pleasure, and leave off thinking and meditating; for God has been 
 very bountiful to you in all your undertakings, and showed you so 
 much favor, that you are the most feared and renowned prince in 
 Christendom. If the king of Scotland have vexed you by doing 
 harm to your kingdom, you can, at your pleasure, make yourself 
 amends at his expense, as you have done before : therefore come, if 
 you please, into the hall to your knights, for dinner will soon be 
 ready." 
 
 " Oh, dear lady," said the king, " other things touch my heart, 
 and lie there, than what you think of; for. in truth, the elegant car- 
 riage, the perfections and beauties which I have seen you possess, 
 have very much surprised me, and have so deeply impressed my 
 heart, that my happiness depends on meeting a return from you to 
 my flame, which no denial can ever extinguish." 
 
 " Sweet sir," replied the countess, " do not amuse yourself in 
 laughing at, or tempting me ; for I cannot believe you mean what 
 you have just said, or that so noble and gallant a prince as you are 
 would ever think to dishonor me or my husband, who is so valiant a 
 knight, who has served you faithfully, and who, on your account, 
 now lies in prison. Certainly, sir, this would not add to your glory ; 
 nor would you be the better for it. Such a thought has never once 
 entered my mind, and I trust in God it never will, for any man liv- 
 ing : and, if I were so culpable, it is you who ought to blame me, 
 and have my body punished through strict justice." 
 
 The virtuous lady then quitted the king, who was quite astonished, 
 and went to the hall to hasten the dinner. She afterwards returned to 
 the king, attended by the knights, and said to him, "Sir, come to the 
 hall ; your knights are waiting for you, to wash their hands, for they, 
 as well as yourself, have too long fasted." The king left his room, 
 and came to the hall ; where, after he had washed his hands, he 
 seated himself, with his knights, at the dinner, as did the lady also ; 
 
 well amende it whan it shall please you, as ye haue done dyuerse tymes or this. Sir, 
 leaue your musing and come into the hall if it please you ; your dyner is all redy. A 
 fayre lady, quoth the kyng, other thynges lyeth at my herk that ye knowe nat of, but 
 surely your swete behauyng, the perfect wysedom, the good grace,ncblenes and excellent 
 beauty that I see in you, hath so sore surprised my hert that I can nat but loue you, and 
 without your loue I am but deed. Than the lady sayde, A ry;; ht noble prince for Goddes 
 sake mocke nor tempt me nat ; I can nat beleue that it is true that ye say, nor that so 
 noble a prince as ye be wolde thynke to dyshonour me and my lorde ray husbande, who 
 is so valyant a knyght and hath done your grace so gode seruyce and as yet lyethe in pri- 
 son for your quarell. Certely sir ye shulde in this case haue but a small prayse and 
 nothing the better therby. I had neuer as yet such a thoght in my hert, nor I trust in 
 God, neuer shall haue for no man lyueng : if Ihadany suche intencyon your grace ought 
 nat all onely to blame me, but also to punysshe my body, ye and by true iustice to be 
 dismembred. Therwith the lady departed fro the kyng and went into the hall to hast the 
 dyner ; than she returned agayne to the kyng and broght some of his knyghtes with 
 her, and sayd, Sir, yf it please you to come into the hall your knyghtes abideth for you 
 to wasshe ; ye haue ben to long fastyng. Than the kyng went into the hall and vvassht 
 and sat down among his lordes and the lady also. The kyne ete but lytell, he sat styli 
 musing, and as he durst he cast his eyen upon the lady. Of hissadnesse his knyghtes had 
 maruell for he was nat acustomed so to be ; some thought it was because the Scotts were 
 scaped fro hym. All that day the kyng taryd ther and wyst natwhattodo. Sometime 
 he ymagined that honour and trouth defended hym to set his hert in such a case to dys- 
 honour such a lady and so true a knight as her husband was who had alwaj es well anii 
 truelyseruedhym. On thotherpartlouesoconstrayned hym that the power therof sur- 
 mounted honour and trouth. Thus the kyng debated in hymself ail that day and all 
 that night. In the mornyng he arose and dyssloged all his boost and drewe after the 
 Scottes to chose them out of his realme. Than he toke leaue of the lady sayeng. My 
 dere lady to God I comende you tyll I returne agayne, requiryng you to aduyse yoK 
 otherwyse than ye haue sayd to me. Noble prince, quoth the lady, God the father 
 glorious be your conduct, and put you out of all vylayne thoughts. Sir I am and euer 
 shal be redy to do your grace seruyce to your honou- and to myne. Therwith me Kyn« 
 departed all abasshed." — Ed. 
 
56 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 but the king ate ver/ little, and was the whole time pensive, casting 
 his eyes, whenever ho had an opportunity, toward the countess. 
 Such behavior surprised his friends ; for they were not accustomed to 
 it, and had never seen the like before. They imagined, therefore, 
 that it was by reason of the Scots having escaped from him. The 
 king remained at the castle the whole day, without knowing what 
 to do with himself. Sometimes he remonstrated with himself, that 
 Iwnor and loyalty forbade him to admit such treason and falsehood 
 into his heart, as to wish to dishonor so virtuous a lady, and so gal. 
 lant a knight as her husband was, and who had ever so faithfully 
 serv(;d him. At other times, his passion was so strong, that his honor 
 and loyalty were not thought of. Thus did he pass that day, and a 
 sleepless night, in debating this matter in his own mind. At day- 
 break he arose, drew out his whole army, decamped, and followed 
 the Scots, to chase them out of his kingdom. Upon taking leave 
 of the countess he said, " My dear lady, God preserve you until I 
 return ; and I entreat that you will think well of what I have said, 
 and have the goodness to give me a different answer." " Dear sir," 
 replied the countess, " God of his infinite goodness, preserve you, 
 and drive from your heart such villainous thoughts ; for I am, and 
 always shall be, ready to serve you, consistently with my own honor, 
 and with yours." He left her quite surprised, and went with his 
 army after the Scots, following them almost as far as Berwick, and 
 look up his quarters four leagues distant from the forest of Jedworth, 
 ivhere, and in the neighboring woods, king David and all his people 
 were. He remained there for three days, to see if the Scots would 
 venture out to fight with him. During that time there were many 
 skirmishes ; many killed and taken prisoners on both sides. Sir 
 William Douglas, who bore for arms argent on a chef azure,* was 
 always among the foremost in these attacks. He performed many 
 gallant exploits, and was a great annoyance to the English. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXVIII. 
 
 THE EARLS OF SALISBURY AND MORAY ARE SET AT LIBERTY IN 
 EXCHANGE FOR EACH OTHER, 
 
 During these three days, there were some discreet men on both 
 sides, who held conferences, in order if possible to conclude a treaty 
 of peace between the tv/o kings ; at last they succeeded in obtaining 
 a truce for two years, provided the king of France assented to it ; 
 for there was so close an alliance between the kings of Scotland and 
 France, that he could not make peace, or a truce, without the king of 
 France agreed to it. If king Philip should refuse his consent, then 
 the truce was to last only until the first of May. The earl of Moray 
 was to have his liberty, if the king of Scotland could obtain that of 
 the earl of Salisbury from the king of France. This was to be done 
 by the feast of St. John the Baptist. The king of England consented 
 tho more readily to this truce, because he was carrying on war in 
 France, Gascony, Poictou, Saintonge, and Brittany, and had soldiers 
 everywhere. The king of Scotland then departed, and sent embas- 
 sadors to the king of France, that the truce might be confirmed. 
 The king agreed to it, and sent the earl of Salisbury immediately 
 into England, when, as soon as he arrived, the king of England sent 
 the earl of Moray to king David in Scotland. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXIX. 
 
 LORD CHARLES OF BLOIS, WITH SOME OTHER LORDS OF FRANCE, TAKE 
 
 THE CITY OF RENNES. 
 
 You before have heard how the duke of Normandy, the duke of 
 Burgundy, the duke d'Alencon, the duke of Bourbon, the earl of 
 Blois, the constable of France, the earl of Guines his son, sir James 
 de Bourbon, sir Lewis d'Espagne, and the other barons and knights 
 from France, had left Brittany, after conquering the strong castle of 
 Chateauceaux, and the city of Nantes, and had taken and given up to 
 the king of France the earl of Montfort, whom he had confined in the 
 tower of the Louvre at Paris. The lord Charles of Blois had remained 
 in the city of Nantes, and in that country, which he had reduced to 
 obedience, until a more favorable opportunity for carrying on the 
 war than winter. When the summer wa-s returned, the above-men- 
 lioned lords, and a great many others, came, with a large army, to 
 assist the lord Charles in reconquering the remainder of the duchy 
 of Brittany. They resolved to besiege the city of Rennes, which the 
 countess of Montfort had well fortified, and placed there as captain 
 Bir William de Cadoudal, a Breton. The French lords surrounded 
 it on all sides, and did a great deal of damage, by the fierce assaults 
 they made upon it ; but the garrison defended themselves so valiantly, 
 that their opponents lost more than they gained. As soon as the 
 countess of Montfort was informed of the return of the French lords 
 into Brittany, with so great a force, she sent sir Amauri de Clisson to 
 king Edward in England, to entreat his assistance, upon condition 
 
 • The most prominent feature in the Douglas arms, as now borne, is the Heart, which 
 was added to it in consequence of the honor conferred by Robert Bruce on his death-bed, 
 as has been already related, but when this distinctive mark was adopted, I believe is 
 uncertain. 
 
 [Lord Bemers gives the original arme— "Azure a corable syluer, three starres goules ;" 
 which is correct.— £d 1 
 
 that her young son should take for his wife one of the daughters of 
 the king, and give her the title of duchess of Brittany. 
 
 The king, at that time, was in London, feasting the earl of Salis- 
 bury, newly returned from prison. When sir Amauri de Clisson had 
 made known to the king the cause of his visit, his request was 
 was readily complied with. The king ordered sir Walter Manny to 
 collect as many men-at-arms as sir Amauri should judge proper, and 
 to make every possible haste to go to the assistance of the countess 
 of Montfort; and also to take with him two or three thousand of 
 the best archers of England. Sir Walter, therefore, embarked with 
 sir Amauri de Clisson ; and with them went the two brothers de 
 Land-Halle, sir Lewis and sir John, le Haze of Brabant, sir Herbert 
 de Fresnoi, sir Alain de Sirefonde, and many others, with six thou- 
 sand archers. But they were overtaken by a great tempest, and, 
 by contrary winds, forced to remain at sea forty days. The lord 
 Charles, in the mean time, kept Rennes closely besieged, and harassed 
 the citizens so much that they would willingly have surrendered it ; 
 but sir William de Cadoudal would not listen to them. When they had 
 been harder pressed, and saw no likelihood of any succors arriving, 
 they became impatient ; but sir William continued firm : at length 
 the commonalty seized him, flung him into prison, and sent word to 
 lord Charles that they would surrender themselves to him on the 
 morrow, on condition that those of the Montfort party might retire 
 in safety to wherever they thought proper. The lord Charles com- 
 plied with these terms ; and thus was the city of Rennes surrendered, 
 in the year 1342, in the beginning of May. Sir William de Cadou- 
 dal, not desiring to remain at the court of lord Charles of Blois, left 
 it, and went to Hennebon, where the countess of Montfort was, who 
 had not had any tidings of sir Amauri de Clisson, or of his company. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXX. 
 
 THE LORD CHARLES OF BLOIS BESIEGES THE COUNTESS OF MONTFORT 
 
 IN HENNEBON. 
 
 Soon after the surrender of Rennes, and when the inhabitants had 
 performed their homage and fealty to lord Charles of Blois, he waa 
 advised to set out for Hennebon, where the countess of Montfort 
 resided ; for as her husband was safe confined at Paris, if he could 
 but get possession of her person, and of her son's, the war must be 
 concluded. The countess had with her in Hennebon, the bishop 
 of Leon, uncle to sir Herve de Leon, who was attached to lord 
 Charles, and had ever been so since the capture of the earl of Mont- 
 fort ; sir Yves de Tresiquidi, the lord of Landreman, the before- 
 mentioned sir William de Cadoudal, the governor of Guingamp, the 
 two brothers de Quirich, sir Oliver, and sir Henry de Spinefort, and 
 many others. When the countess and her knights heard that their 
 enemies were coming to besiege them, and that they were hard by, 
 they ordered the alarm-bells to be rung, and every one to arm himself 
 for defending the town. Lord Charles drew near to Hennebon, and 
 then encamped his men. Some of the youths among the Spaniards, 
 French and Genoese advanced to the barriers to skirmish ; which 
 those in the town seeing, sallied out to meet them ; so there was a 
 sharp conflict, and the Genoese lost more than they gained. About 
 vespers, they all retired to their diiferent quarters. On the morrow, 
 the lords determined to make an assault on the barriers, to see what 
 mien those within had, .-T^^nd to try to gain some advantage. On the 
 second day, therefore, th sy made so very vigorous an attack upon the 
 barriers early in the mor ixng, that those within made a sally : among 
 them were some of their bravest, who continued the engagement 
 till noon with great courage ; so that the assailants retired a little to 
 the rear, carrying off with them numbers of wounded, and leaving 
 behind them a great many dead. When the lords of France per- 
 ceived their men retreat, they were much enraged, and made them 
 return again to the assault more fiercely than before ; while those of 
 the town were in earnest to make a handsome defence. 
 
 The countess, who had clothed herself in armor, was mounted on a 
 war-horse, and galloped up and down the streets of the town, entreat- 
 ing and encouraging the inhabitants to defend themselves hjnorably. 
 She ordered the ladies and other women to unpave the streets,* 
 carry the stones to the ramparts, and throw them on their enemies. 
 She had pots of quicklime brought to her for the same purpose. That 
 same day the countess performed a very gallant deed : she ascended 
 a high tower, to see how her people behaved ; and, having observed 
 that all the lords and others of the army had quitted their tents, and 
 were come to the assault, she immediately descended, mounted her 
 horse, armed as she was, collected three hundred horsemen, sallied 
 out at their head by another gate that was not attacked, and gallop- 
 ing up to the tents of her enemies, cut them down, and set them on 
 fire, without any loss, for there were only servants and boys, who 
 fled upon- her approach. As soon as the French saw their camp on 
 fire, and heard the cries, they immediately hastened thither, bawling 
 out, " Treason ! Treason !" so that none remained at the assault. 
 
 * Lord Bemers r«ads, *' She caused damoselles and other women *' to cut skorte 
 their kyrtels," instead of "to unpave the striets," as Mr. Johnes translates it. The 
 words in D. Sauvage's edition are, " depecer esciiaussees," to tear up the causeicays, 
 but when we consider that the streets of cities were very rarely paved at this period. 
 Lord Bemers' version appears tlie more probable, and may be reconciled to the text 
 if we read ' chausses" for " chaussees," which is not anlikely to be an error in trani- 
 scribins-— Ed. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 67 
 
 The countess, seeing this, got her men together, and, finding that 
 she could not reenter Hennebon without great risk, took another 
 road, leading to the castle of Brest, which is situated near. The 
 lord Lewis of Spain, who was marshal of the army, had gone to his 
 tents, which were on fire ; and, seeing the countess and her company- 
 galloping off a • fast as they could, he immediately pursued them 
 with a large body of men-at-arms. He gained so fast upon them, 
 that he came up with them, and wounded or slew all that were not 
 • well mounted ; but the countess, and part of her company, made 
 such speed that they arrived at the castle of Brest, where they were 
 received with great joy. 
 
 On the morrow, the lords of France, who had lost their tents 
 and provisions, took counsel, if they should not make huts of the 
 branches and leaves of trees noar to the town, and were thunder- 
 struck when they heard that the countess herself had planned and 
 executed this enterprise : while those of the town, not knowing 
 what was become of her, were very uneasy ; for they were full five 
 days without gaining any intelligence of her. The countess, in the 
 mean while, was so active that she assembled from five to six hun- 
 dred men, well armed and mounted, and with them set out, about 
 midnight, from Brest, and came straight to Hennebon about sunrise, 
 riding along one side of the enemy's host, until she came to the 
 gates of the castle, which were opened to her : she entered with 
 great triumph and sounds of trumpets and other warlike instruments, 
 to the astonishment of the French, who began arming themselves 
 to make another assault upon the town, while those within mounted 
 the walls to defend it. This attack was very severe, and lasted till 
 past noon. The French lost more than their opponents : and then 
 the lords of Fi ance put a stop to it, for their men were killed and 
 wounded to no purpose. They next retreated, and held a council 
 whether the lord Charles should not go to besiege the castle of Aurai, 
 which king Arthur had built and inclosed. It was determined that 
 he should march thither, accompanied by the duke of Bourbon, the 
 earl of Blois, sir Robert Bertrand, marshal of France ; and that sir 
 Herv6 de Leon was to remain before Hennebon, with a part of the 
 Genoese under his command, and the lord Lewis of Spain, the 
 viscount of Rohan, with the rest of the Genoese and Spaniards. 
 They sent for twelve large machines which they had left at Rennes, 
 ' to cast stones and annoy the castle of Hennebon ; for they perceived 
 that they did not gain any ground by their assaults. The French 
 divided their army into two parts : one remained before Hennebon, 
 and the other marched to besiege the castle of Aurai. The lord 
 Charles of Blois went to this last place, and quartered all his division 
 in the neighborhood ; and of him we will now speak, and leave the 
 others. The lord Charles ordered an attack and skirmish to be made 
 upon the castle, which was well garrisoned : there were in it full two 
 hundred men-at-arms, under the command of sir Henry de Spinefort 
 and Oliver his brother. 
 
 The town of Vannes, which held for the countess of Montfort, was 
 four leagues distant from this castle ; the captain whereof was sir 
 Geofifry de Malestroit. On the other side, "was situated the good 
 town of Guingamp, of which the captain of Dinant was governor, 
 who was at that time with the countess in the town of Hennebon ; 
 but he had left, in his hotel at Dinant, his wife and daughters, and 
 had appointed his son, sir Reginald, as governor during his absence. 
 Between these two places there was a castle * which belonged to 
 the lo-rd Charles, who had well filled it with men-at-arms and Bur- 
 gundian soldiers. Girard de Maulin was master of it ; and with 
 him was another gallant knight, called sir Peter Portebceuf, who 
 harassed all the country round about, and pressed these two towns 
 so closely that no provisions or merchandise could enter them, 
 without great risk of being taken ; for these Burgundians made 
 constant excursions, one day toward Vannes, and another day to 
 Guingamp. They continued their excursions so regularly, that sir 
 Reginald de Dinant took prisoner, by means of an ambuscade, this 
 sir Girard de Maulin and thirty-five of his men, and at the same time 
 rescued fifteen merchants and all their goods, which the Burgundians 
 had taken, and were driving them to their garrison, called la Roche 
 Perion ; but sir Reginald conquered them, and carried them pris- 
 oners to Dinant, for which he was much praised. 
 
 We will now return to the countess of Montfort, who was be- 
 sieged by sir Lewis of Spain in Hennebon. He had made such 
 progress by battering and destroying the walls with his machines, 
 that the courage of those within began to falter. At that moment, 
 the bishop of Leon held a conference with his nephew, sir Herve de 
 Leon, by whose means, it has been said, the earl of Montfort was 
 made prisoner. They conversed on different things, in mutual con- 
 fidence, and at last agreed, that the bishop should endeavor to gain 
 over those within the town, so that it might be given up to the lord 
 Charles : and sir Hervd, on his side, -Cvas to obtain their pardon from 
 the lord Charles, and an assurance that they should keep their goods, 
 &.C., unhurt. They then separated, and the bishop reentered the 
 town. The countess had strong suspicions of what was going 
 forward, and begged of the lords of Brittany, for the love of God, 
 that they would not doubt but she should receive succors before 
 three days were over. But the bishop spoke so eloquently, and 
 
 * La Roche Perion. This Dinant is a different place from the town of the same 
 name, in the diocese of St. Malo.— //i'sf. de Bretagne. i 
 I should imagine, it must be St. Sauveur de Dinan, which is a village in Brittany. 
 
 made use of such good arguments, that these lords were in much 
 suspense all night. On the morrow he continued the subject, and 
 succeeded so far as to gain them over, or very nearly so, to his 
 opinion ; insomuch that sir Herve de Ldon had advanced close to 
 the town to take possession of it, with their free consent, when the 
 countess, looking out from a window of the casde toward the sea, 
 cried out, most joyfully, " I see the succors I have so long expected 
 and wished for coming." She repeated this expression twice ; and 
 the towns-people ran to the ramparts, and to the windows of the 
 castle, and saw a numerous fleet of great and small vessels, well 
 trimmed, making all the sail they could toward Hennebon. They 
 rightly imagined, it must be the fleet from England, ao long detained 
 at sea by tempests and contrary winds. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXI 
 
 SIR WALTER MANNY CONDUCTS THE ENGLISH INTO BRITTANY. 
 
 When the governor of Guingamp, sir Yves de Tresiquidi, sii 
 Galeran de Landreman, and the other knights, perceived this sue 
 cor coming to them, they told the bishop that he might break up his 
 conference, for they were not now inclined to follow his advice. 
 The bishop, sir Guy de Leon, replied, " My lords, then our com- 
 pany shall separate ; for I will go to him who seems to me to have 
 the clearest right." Upon which he sent his defiance to the lady, 
 and to all her party, and left the town to inform sir Herve de L6on 
 how matters stood. Sir Herve was much vexed at it, and imme- 
 diately ordered the largest machine that was with the army to be 
 placed as near the castle as possible, strictly commanding that it 
 should never cease working day nor night. He then presented his 
 uncle to the lord Lewis of Spain, and to the lord Charles of Blois, 
 who both received him most courteously. The countess, in the 
 mean time, prepared, and hung with tapestry, halls and chambers, to 
 lodge handsomely the lords and barons of England whom she saw 
 coming, and sent out a noble company to meet them. When they 
 were .landed, she went herself to give them welcome, respectfully 
 thanking each knight and squire, and led them into the town and 
 castle, that they might have convenient lodging : on the morrow 
 she gave them a magnificent entertainment. All that night, and the 
 following day, the large machine never ceased from casting stones 
 into the town. 
 
 After the entertainment, sir Walter Manny, who was captain of 
 the English, inquired of the countess the state of the town and ol 
 the enemy's army. Upon looking out of the window, he said, he 
 had a great inclination to destroy that large machine which was 
 placed so near, and much annoyed them, if any would second him 
 Sir Yves de Tresiquidi replied, that he would not fail him in this 
 his first expedition ; as did also the lord of Landreman. They went 
 to arm themselves, and sallied quietly out of one of the gates, taking 
 with them three hundred archers ; who shot so well, that those who 
 guarded the machine fled ; and the men-at-arms who followed the 
 archers, falling upon them, slew the greater part, and broke down 
 and cut in pieces this large machine. They then dashed in among 
 the tents and huts, set fire to them, and killed and wounded many 
 of their enemies before the army was in motion. After this, they 
 made a handsome retreat. When the enemy were mounted and 
 armed, they galloped after them like madmen. Sir Walter Manny, 
 seeing this, exclaimed, " May I never be embraced by my mistress 
 and dear friend, if I enter castle or fortress before I have unhorsed 
 one of these gallopers." He then turned round, and pointed his 
 spear toward the enemy, as did the two brothers of Lande-Halle, ie 
 Haze de Brabant, sir Yves de Tresiquidi, sir Galeran de Landre- 
 man, and many others, and spitted the first coursers. Many legs 
 were made to kick the air. Some of their own party were also un- 
 horsed. The conflict became very serious, for reinforcements were 
 perpetually coming from the camp ; and the English were obliged 
 to retreat toward the castle, which they did in good order until they 
 came to the castle ditch : there the knights made a stand, until all 
 their men were safely returned. Many brilliant actions, captures, 
 and rescues might have been seen. Those of the town who had not 
 been of the party to destroy the large machine now issued forth, and, 
 ranging themselves upon the banks of the ditch, made such good 
 use of their bows, that they forced the enemy to withdraw, killing 
 many men and horses. The chiefs of the army, perceiving they had 
 the worst of it, and that they were losing men to no purpose, 
 sounded a retreat, and made their men retire to the camp. As soon 
 as they were gone, the townsmen reentered, and went each to his 
 quarters. The countess of Montfort came down from the castle to 
 meet them, and with a most cheerful countenance, kissed sir Walter 
 Manny, and all his companions, one after the other, like a noble and 
 valiant dame. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXII. 
 
 THE CASTLE OF CONQtTET* TWICE TAKEN. • 
 
 The next day, the lord Lewis of Spain called to him the viscount de 
 Rohan, the bishop of Leon, sir Herve de L^on, and the commander 
 of the Genoese, to have their advice what was to be done ; for they 
 
 * Le Conquet. a seaport town in Brittany five leagues from Brest. 
 
58 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 saw how strong the town of Hennebon was, and that succors had 
 arrived there, particularly those archers who had always discomfited 
 ihem. If they remained' longer, it would be but lost time ; for there 
 was not the smallest appearance that they could gain an advantage ; 
 they therefore rssolved to decamp on the morrow, and make for 
 Aurai, which the lord Charles was besieging. They broke up their 
 huts and tents, and set off', as they had before determined : the towns, 
 people, pursuing them with hootings, and attempting to harass their 
 rear, were driven back, and lost some of their men before they could 
 reenter the town. When the lord Lewis of Spain was come to 
 lord Charles with his army and baggage, he explained to him the 
 reasons why he had quitted the siege of Hennebon. It was then 
 determined, by a full and long council, that the lord Lewis should 
 march to besiege the good town of Dinant, which was only defended 
 ' by a palisade and ditch. During his march, he passed near an old 
 castle called Conquet, in which the countess had placed as governor, 
 a Norman knight of the name of Mencon, who had with him many 
 soldiers. The lord Lewis drew up his army, and made an assault 
 upon it, which was very sharp, and lasted until midnight ; for those 
 within defended themselves well. Finding he then could not do 
 more, he lay with his men before it, and renewed the attack on the 
 morrow. The assailants came quite close up to the walls, for the 
 ditch was not deep, and made a large breach in them ; through 
 which they entered, and put all to death, except the governor, whom 
 they made prisoner. They appointed another in his room, and left 
 with him sixty soldiers to guard it. Then the lord Lewis departed, 
 and marched to lay siege to Dinant. 
 
 The countess of Montfort, upon hearing that the lord Lewis of 
 Spain was with his army before Conquet, sent for sir Walter Manny 
 and his brethren at arms, and told them, that if they could break up 
 the siege before this castle, and discomfit the lord Lewis, they would 
 obtain great glory. They assented to it, and, on the morrow, left 
 Hennebon with so many volunteers that few remained behind. They 
 pushed on till they came to the castle about noon, and found there 
 the French garrison who, the evening before, had conquered it ; upon 
 which sir Walter said, he would not leave it before he knew what 
 they were made of, and how they got it. But when he was informed 
 that the lord Lewis was gone to besiege Dinant, he was much grieved, 
 as he should not have an opportunity of fighting with him. He and 
 his friends made ready to attack the castle, and began the assault well 
 covered with their shields. The garrison, seeing such a force coming 
 against them, made as good a defence as they were able ; but the 
 attack was very severe, and the archers came so close that they dis- 
 covered the breach through which the castle had been gained the 
 preceding evening. They also entered by this breach, and killed all 
 within, except ten, whom some knights took under their protection. 
 They then returned to Hennebon, for they did not think it safe to be 
 at too great a distance from it, and left the castle of Conquet without 
 any garrison, for they saw that it could make no resistance. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXIII. 
 
 THE LORD LEWIS TAKES THE TOWNS OF DINANT AND GUERRANDE. 
 
 To return now to the lord Lewis ; he quartered his army in haste 
 all round the town of Dinant, and ordered boats and vessels to be im- 
 mediately prepared, that he might attack it by sea as well as by land. 
 When the inhabitants of the town, vs^hich was only defended by a 
 palisade, saw this, they were much frightened, both great and small, 
 for their lives and fortunes : on the fourth day after the army had en- 
 camped before it, they surrendered, in spite of their governor, sir 
 Reginald de Guingamp, whom they murdered in the market-place, 
 because he would not consent to it. After the surrender of the town, 
 when the lord Lewis had received the homage and fealty of the citi- 
 zens, he tarried there two days, and gave them for governor sir Ge- 
 rard de Maulin, whom he had found there prisoner, and the lord Peter 
 Portebceuf, as his colleague. He then marched toward a large town, 
 situated upon the sea coast, called Guerrande. He besieged it on the 
 land side, and found at Croisic a great many boats and ships full of 
 wine, which merchants had brought thither, from Poictou and Ro- 
 chelle, for sale. The merchants soon sold their wine, but they were 
 badly paid for it : the lord Lewis seized these vessels, in which he em- 
 barked men-at-arms, with some of the Genoese and Spaniards, and 
 assailed the town on the morrow, by sea and land. It was so ill 
 fortified that it could not make any defence : it therefore was soon 
 taken by storm, and pillaged without mercy. Men, women, and 
 children were put to the sword, and fine churches sacrilegiously burnt : 
 at which the lord Lewis was so much enraged, that he immediately 
 ordered twenty-four of the most active to be hanged and strangled 
 upon the spot. The booty they gained there was immense, every 
 one got as much as he could carry ; for the town was very rich, from 
 Its great trade. After they had taken this town of Guerrande, they 
 were uncertain which way they should proceed to gain more : the 
 lord Lewis therefore, in company with sir Antony Doria and some 
 other Genoese and Spaniards, embarked in the vessels they had seized, 
 and sailed to seek adventures at sea. The viscount of Rohan, the 
 bishop of L6on, sir Herv^ de Leon his nephew, and the others, re- 
 turned to the army of the lord Charles, which was lying before Aurai. 
 They found there a great many lords and knights newly arrived from 
 
 France ; such as sir Lewis of Poictiers, count de Valence, the count 
 d'Auxerre, the count de Porcien, the count de Joigny, the count de 
 Boulogne, and many others, whom king Philip had sent to their as- 
 sistance ; some had come as volunteers, to see the lord Charles, and 
 to serve under him. The strong castle of Aurai was not yet won ; 
 but there was so severe a famine in it, that for the last seven days 
 they had eaten nothing but horse flesh. Lord Charles would grant 
 them no other conditions, than that they should surrender themselves 
 for him to do with them as he thought proper. When they saw, there. • 
 fore, that they could not expect anything but death, they issued out by 
 God's will silently in the night, and passed through one of the wings 
 of the enemy's army. Some few were perceived, and killed : but 
 sir Henry de Spinefort and his brother Oliver saved themselves ; they 
 escaped through a little wood hard by, and came to the countess in 
 Hennebon. Thus the lord Charles conquered the castle of Aurai, 
 after having lain more than ten weeks before it. He had it put in 
 good repair, well supplied with men-at-arms, and all sorts of provis- 
 ions ; he then set out with his army to besiege the town of Vannes, 
 which was commanded by sir Geofiry de Malestroit, and encamped 
 all round it. On the morrow, some Bretons and soldiers, that lay in 
 the town of Ploermel, issued forth in hopes of gain ; they fell upon 
 the army of lord Charles, and gave them an alert ; but they were 
 surrounded by the enemy, lost many of their men, and the rest who 
 fled were pursued as far as the gates of Ploermel, which is near to 
 Vannes. When tliey were returned from this pursuit, they made, 
 that same day, so violent an assault on the town of Vannes, that they 
 took by storm the barriers, and one of the gates of the town : there 
 the conflict became more violent, and many were killed on both sides. 
 It ended with the night, when a truce was agreed upon, to last all 
 the next day. The citizens assembled together to consult if they 
 should surrender or not ; and, on the morrow, they determined to 
 surrender, in spite of their governor, who, when he saw this, got se- 
 cretly out of the town, during their conferences, and went away to 
 Hennebon. The conference ended in such a manner, that the lord 
 Charles and the lords of France entered the city, where they remained 
 five days, and then set out to besiege another town called Carhaix. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXIV. 
 
 SIR WALTER MANNY DEFEATS THE LORD LEWIS OF SPAIN, AT QUIJirERLE. 
 
 When the lord Lewis of Spain had embarked with his company 
 at the port of Courrande, they sailed toward Lower Brittany, and 
 came to the port of Quimperle, which is near to Quimpercorentin and 
 St. Mah^. They disembarked, and began to pillage and destroy the 
 country ; where they found a great deal of riches, which they carried 
 to their vessels, and then set off" to do the same in other parts, not 
 finding any to oppose them. As soon as this news was brought to 
 sir Walter Manny and sir Amauri de Clisson, they had a great desire 
 to go after them ; and having opened themselves on this subject to 
 sir Yves de Tresiquidi, the governor of Guingamp, the lord of Lan- 
 dreman, sir William de Cadoudal, the two brothers de Spinefort, and 
 to all the other knights at Hennebon, they consented cheerfully to 
 follow them. 
 
 They immediately set oflT, embarking with them three thousand 
 archers, and never slackened sail until they came to the port where 
 the vessels of the lord Lewis were. They entered the harbor, killed 
 all those who guarded the vessels, and were astonished at the quan. 
 tity of riches they found in them. They then disembarked, and went 
 to many places, burning the houses and villages. Having divided 
 themselves into three divisions out of prudence, the more readily to 
 find their enemies, and leaving three hundred archers to guard the 
 vessels and the riches they had taken, they set out after them by dif- 
 ferent ro«ds. News of this event was soon carried to the lord Lewis 
 of Spain, who collected his army together, and began his retreat with 
 great speed toward his vessels ; but, meeting with one of the three 
 divisions, he saw he must fight, and put a good countenance upon it 
 He made many knights upon the occasion, especially his nephew 
 named Alphonso. When the lord Lewis and his party made their 
 first onset, it was so brilliant, numbers were unhorsed ; and they would 
 have carried the day, if the other two divisions had not come up, 
 alarmed by the noise and cries of the country people. The attack 
 was then very serious, and the English archers performed so well, that 
 the Genoese and Spaniards were discomfited, almost all being killed 
 or wounded ; for the country people pursued them with stones and 
 slings, so that the lord Lewis had difficulty to escape, very badly 
 wounded. He fled toward his vessels : and of the six thousand, 
 which his army consisted of, he did not save more than about three 
 hundred : he left dead his nephew, whom he much loved. Wlien he 
 came to his ships, he was prevented from entering them by those 
 archers who remained to guard the fleet. He then embarked, in the 
 greatest haste, on board a vessel called a lique, with as many of his 
 people as he could collect together, and escaped with all possible 
 expedition. 
 
 As soon as sir Walter Manny and his party were come to the fleet, 
 in pursuit of the lord Lewis, they embarked on board the first ves- 
 sels they found ready, and hoisting every sail, made after him, leaving 
 those of the country to take care of what remained of his army, to 
 revenge themselves, and recover what they had been robbed of. Si/ 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 59 
 
 Walter and his company had a favorable wind ; but, though they 
 were within sight, all the time, of the lord Lewis, they could not 
 come up with him. His mariners made such exertions that they got 
 into the port of Redon, where he immediately landed, with all those 
 who had escaped: having entered the town, he made no long stay there, 
 for the English had disembarked, and were close after, to fight with 
 him ; so he ha; tened away, mounted upon such horses ae he could 
 borrow in the U wn, and made for Rennes, which was not far off. 
 Those who could not get any were obliged to do as well as they 
 could, and follow their companions on foot. Many were so tired and 
 badly mounted, that they fell into the hands of their enemies. The 
 lord LevWs, however, made such speed that he got into Rennes ; and 
 the English and Bretons returned to Redon, where they reposed 
 themselves that night. On the morrow they embarked, in order to 
 return to the countess, their lady, at Hennebon ; but they had con- 
 trary winds, which forced them to land about three leagues from the 
 town of Dinant. They advanced into the country, destroying it as 
 they marched, and taking what horses they could lay hands on ; so 
 that some were mounted without saddles or bridles, and went for- 
 ward until they came to Roche Perion ; when sir Walter Manny 
 addressing his companions, said, " Gentlemen, I should like much 
 to attack this strong castle, all fatigued as I am, if I had any to assist 
 me, to see if we could not conquer it." The other knights replied. 
 Go on, sir, boldly ; we will follow you until death." They then 
 ■all set forward to the assault of the castle. The captain of it was 
 Girard de Maulin ; the same who had been prisoner at Dinant, as 
 before related : he armed his people, and placing them upon the bat- 
 Uernents and r-ther parts of the defence, without sheltering himself 
 behind them, j repared for the assault. It was very sharp and peril- 
 ous ; among nmny v/ho were severely wounded were, sir John Bo- 
 teler of Wamn Tton, and sir Matthew Trelawney ; insomuch that 
 they were obliged to be carried off, and laid in a field, with the other 
 wounded. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXV. 
 
 SIR WALTER MANNY TAKES THE CASTLE OF GOY LA FORET. 
 
 This Girard de Maulin had a brother of the name of Ren6 de 
 Maulin, who was captain of another little fort, called Faouet, situated 
 at least half a league from Roche Perion. When Rene heard that 
 the English and Bretons were attacking his brother, he armed forty 
 of his companions, and set out for Roche Perion, to adventure his 
 own person, and to see if by any means he could give aid to his 
 brother. Rene therefore came suddenly upon those knights and 
 squires, who lay wounded in the field, attended by their servants ; 
 and falling upon them, made them prisoners, and drove them before 
 him to Faouet, wounded as they were. Some of their attendants 
 fled to sir Walter Manny, who was eagerly engaged at the assault ; 
 when they had informed him what had happened he put an end to 
 it, and with all his company hastened toward Faouet, in order to 
 overtake those who were carrying his friends away prisoners ; but, 
 with all his speed, he was not in time to hinder Rene fi'om entering 
 his casile with them. 
 
 When the English and Bretons had come there, they directly made 
 an assault, tired as they were ; but they did little, for the garrison 
 defended themselves valiantly, and the night was far advanced. They 
 lay before it that night, in order to renew the assault the next day. 
 Girard de Maulin was soon informed of what was passing, and 
 mounting his horse, set out alone for Dinant, where he arrived a 
 little before daybreak. He related to the lord Peter Portebceuf, 
 governor of Dinant, the cause of his coming ; who, when it was day, 
 summoned all the citizens to the town-hall. Girard de Maulin then 
 30 eloquently displayed the reasons of his arrival, that the citizens 
 and soldiers were unanimous to assist him. All sorts of people im- 
 mediately armed themselves, and set oflf toward Faouet in the best 
 manner they could; in all, they were six thousand persons at least. 
 Sir Walter Manny was informed of this by a spy ; and calling a 
 council of his companions, they considered it would be best for them 
 to rtstreat toward Hennebon ; for their situation would be very dan- 
 gerous, if those from Dinant should attack them on one side, and the 
 army of the lord Charles of Blois on the other : they might be sur- 
 rounded and taken prisoners or slain. They therefore judged it 
 most expedient, for the present, to leave their friends in prison, and 
 gave up all thoughts of assisting them till a better opportunity should 
 offer. 
 
 As they were returning to Hennebon, they passed near a castle, 
 called Goy la Foret, which a fortnight before, had surrendered itself 
 tu the lord Charles. Sir Walter told his companions, he would not ad- 
 vance a step farther, in spite of his fatigue, until he had made an assault 
 on this fort,and seen who were within it. Then hanging his target to 
 his neck, he galloped up to the barriers and ditch of the castle, the 
 English and Bretons following him. The attack was sharp, and those 
 within defended themselves vigorously. Sir Herve de Leon and sir 
 Guy de Goy were with the lord Charles before Carhaix. The as- 
 sault lasting some time, sir Walter encouraged his men, by posting 
 nimself at their head in the most dangerous situations ; the archers 
 shot so dexterously, that those within the castle dared not show them, 
 selves. Sir Walter and his party made such exertions, that the 
 ditches on one side were filled with straw and wood, so that they 
 
 could approach the walls ; in which, with mallets and pick-axeS; 
 they made an opening six feet wide. They then entered through 
 this opening, took the castle by storm, and slew all that were within. 
 They remained there that night ; on the morrow they continued their 
 march, and arrived at Hennebon.* 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXVI. 
 
 THE LORD CHARLES DE BLOIS TAKES THE TOWN OF CARHAIX.t 
 
 When the countess of Montfort was informed of the return of the 
 English and Bretons, she went out to meet them, and most nobly 
 thanked them with kisses and embraces ; she gave a grand dinner 
 and entertainment to all the knights and squires of renown. At this 
 period, the lord Charles had conquered the town of Vannes, and was 
 besieging Carhaix. The countess and sir Walter Manny sent spe- 
 cial messengers to king Edward, to inform him how the lord Charles 
 of Blois, and the lords of France, had recaptured Rennes, Vannes, 
 and many other large towns and castles in Brittany ; and that, unless 
 there were succors speedily sent, they would gain the remainder of 
 that duchy. The embassadors set out from Hennebon, and arrived 
 at Cornwall, whence they journeyed toward Windsor. 
 
 We will now return to lord Charles of Blois, who had so pressed 
 the town of Carhaix by his attacks and his engines, that it was sur- 
 rendered to him, the lives and fortunes of the inhabitants being pre. 
 served. He pardoned what was past, and the inhabitants swore 
 homage and fealty to him, acknowledging him for their tme lord. 
 Lord Charles placed new officers in the town, and remained there 
 with the lords of France, to recruit themselves and the army. He 
 held a council upon marching to Hennebon, which being determined 
 on, they besieged it as closely as they vv'ere able. That town was 
 very well provided with men, provisions, and ammunition. 
 
 The lord Lewis of Spain came to these lords the fourth day after 
 they had begun the siege : he had remained at Rennes six weeks, in 
 order to have his wounds properly attended to and cured. They 
 were rejoiced to see him, as he v»^as much esteemed by these noble 
 men. The French army increased every day ; for as great numbers 
 of barons and knights were daily returning from the king of Spain 
 (who at that time was at war with the king of Granada and the Sara- 
 cens,) in passing through Poitou, hearing of this war in Brittany, they 
 turned their steps thither. The lord Charles had erected fifteen oi 
 sixteen large engines before Hennebon, which threw great stones 
 over the walls into the town : but those within were not much alarmed 
 at them, for they had taken every precaution to shelter themselves 
 against their effects : they frequently came to the walls and battle, 
 ments, and, by way of joke, kept rubbing them, crying out, " Go 
 your ways, and seek your friends who are sleeping in the plains of 
 Quimperle ;" which vexed mightily the lord Lewis of Spain and the 
 Genoese. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXVII. 
 
 SIR JOHN BOTELER AND SIR MATTHEW TRELAWNEY ARE RESCUED FROM 
 
 DEATH. 
 
 The lord Lewis of Spain came one day into the tent of lord Charles 
 of Blois, where were numbers of the French nobility, and, requested 
 of him a boon for all the services he had done him, and as a recom- 
 pense for them. The lord Charles promised to grant whatever he 
 should ask, as he held himself under many obligations to him. 
 Upon which the lord Lewis desired that the two prisoners, sir John 
 Boteler and sir Matthew Trelawney, who were in the prison of the 
 castle of Fouet, might be sent for, and delivered up to him, to do 
 with them as should please him best. " This is the boon I ask ; for 
 they have discomfited, pursued, and wounded me, have also slain the 
 lord Alphonso my nephew, and I have no other way to be revenged 
 on them than to have them beheaded in sight of their friends who 
 are shut up in Hennebon." The lord Charles \:as much amazed at 
 this request, and replied, " I will certainly give you the prisoners, 
 since you have asked for them ; but you will be very cruel and much 
 to blame if you put to death two such valiant men ; and our enemies 
 will have an equal right to do the same to any of our friends whom 
 they may capture, for we are not clear what may happen to any one 
 of us every day. I therefore entreat, dear sir and sweet cousin, that 
 you would be better advised." Lord Lewis said, that if he did not 
 keep his promise, he would quit the army, and never serve or love 
 him so long as he lived. When the lord Charles saw that he must 
 comply, he sent off messengers to the castle of Faouet, who returned 
 with the two prisoners, and carried them to the tent of lord Charles. 
 Neither prayers nor entreaties could prevail on lord Lewis to desist 
 from his purpose of having them beheaded after dinner, so much was 
 he enraged against them. 
 
 All the conversation, and everything that passed between the lord 
 Charles and lord Lewis, relative to these two prisoners, was told to 
 sir Walter Manny and sir Amauri de Clisson by friends and spies, 
 
 * I suspect, although the historian of Brittany copies Froissart exactly, that La Roche 
 Perion must be Rosperden, which is in Bleau's map of Brittany ; undBemers calls it 
 Rosternan ; but I cannot find anywhere this Dinan, for Dinan le Sauveur is in the dio 
 cese of St. Malo, which must have been too far off. There is much confusion in th« 
 names of places. 
 
 t Carhaix, a town in the diocese of duimper. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &e. 
 
 who represented the danger in which the two knights were. They 
 bethought themselves what was best to be done, but, after consider- 
 ing different schemes, could fix on none : at last sir Walter said, 
 '* Gentlemen, it would do us great honor if we could rescue these 
 two knights : if we adventure it, and should fail, king Edward would 
 hold himself obliged to us ; and all wise men who may hear of it in 
 times to come, will thank us, and say that we had done our duty. I 
 will tell you my plan, and you are able to undertake it ; for I think 
 we are bound to risk our lives in endeavoring to save those of two 
 Buch gallant knights. I propose, therefore, if it be agreeable to you, 
 that we arm immediate! v, and form ourselves into two divisions: 
 one shall set off, as soon after dinner as possible, by this gate, and 
 draw up near the ditch, to skirmish with and alarm the enemy : who, 
 you may believe, will soo i muster to that part; and, if you please, 
 you, sir Amauri de Clisson, shall have the command of it, and shall 
 take with you a thousand good archers, to make those that may come 
 to you retreat back again, and three hundred men-at-arms. I will 
 have with me a hundred of my companions, and five hundred archers, 
 and will sally out at the postern on the opposite side privately, and 
 coming behind them, will fall upon their camp, which we shall find 
 unguarded. I will take with me those who are acquainted with the 
 road to lord Charles's tent, where the two prisoners are, and will 
 make for that part of the cump. I can assure you, that I and my 
 companions will do everything in our power to bring back in safety 
 these two knights, if it please God." 
 
 This proposal was agreeable to all ; and they directly separated, 
 to arm and prepare themselves. About the hour of dinner, sir 
 Amauri and his party set off ; and having had the principal gate of 
 Hennebon opened for them, which led to the road that went straight 
 to the army of lord Charles, they rushed forward, making great cries 
 and noise, to the tents and huts, which they cut down, and killed all 
 that came in their way. The enemy was much alarmed, and, putting 
 themselves in motion, got armed as quickly as possible, and advanced 
 toward the English and Bretons, who received them very warmly. 
 The skirmish was sharp, and many on each side were slain. When 
 sir Amauri perceived that almost the whole of the army was in 
 motion, and drawn out, he retreated very handsomely, fighting all 
 the time, to the barriers of the town, when he suddenly halted : then 
 the archers, who had been posted on each side of the ditch before- 
 hand, made such good use of their bows, that the engagement was 
 very hot, and all the army ran thither, except the servants. During 
 this time, sir Walter Manny with his company issued out privily by 
 the postern, and making a circuit, came upon the rear of the enemy's 
 camp : they were not perceived by any one, for all were gone to the 
 skirmish upon the ditch. Sir Walter made straight for the tent of 
 lord Charles, where he found the two knights, sir John Boteler and 
 sir Matthew Trelawney, whom he immediately mounted upon two 
 couTsers which he had ordered to be brought for them, and, returning 
 as fast as possible, entered Hennebon by the same way as he sallied 
 forth. The countess came to see them, and received them with great 
 joy. The English and Bretons continued still fighting at the barriers, 
 where they gave their enemies sufficient employment. 
 
 News was soon brought to the nobles of France, that the two 
 knights had been rescued ; which, when the lord Lewis heard, he 
 was sorely disappointed, and inquired the way the English and Bre- 
 tons, who had rescued them, had taken : they informed him, that they 
 had immediately returned, and were probably now in Hennebon. 
 The lord Lewis, upon this, left the assault, and retired to his tent in 
 despite ; and all the rest of the army began to retreat from the bar- 
 riers. In this combat, two knights of the countess's were captured, 
 who had adventured too far ; the lord of Landreman and the governor 
 of Guingamp ; which gave the lord Charles much pleasure. They 
 were carried to his tent, where they were so effectually talked to, that 
 they turned on his side, and swore homage and fealty to him. 
 
 Three days after, there was a council of all the nobles held in 
 lord Charles's tent, to consider what was best to be done ; for they 
 saw that the town and castle of Hennebon was too well provided 
 with men and provisions for them to expect to make any impression 
 there ; and, on the other hand, the country round about was so destroyed 
 that they had difficulty in finding forage : winter was also approach, 
 ing. They therefore determined to separate ; and they earnestly 
 advised lord Charles to place sufficient garrisons, with able and val- 
 iant captains, in all the castles and towns he had taken, to prevent 
 his enemies from reconquering them : they agreed, that if any person 
 should interfere, and propose a truce, to last until Whitsuntide, they 
 would readily consent to it. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXVIII. 
 
 LORD CHARLES OF BLOIS TAKES THE TOWN AND CASTLE OP JTTGON.* 
 
 All the army agreed to what this council had determined upon ; 
 for it was between the feasts of St. Remy and All Saints 1342 : they 
 then separated, and went each to his country. Lord Charles marched 
 to Carhaix, and took Vv-ith him all the barons of Brittany that were 
 of his party. He also kept with him many of the French nobles, to 
 fidvise with and consult. While he was in Carhaix, settling and 
 
 • In the diocese of the St. Pol de Lion, five leagues fiom the sea, and seven from St 
 Bmnz. 
 
 ordering his different garrisons to their posts, it happened that a rich 
 citizen and great merchant of the town of Jugon was met by his 
 marshal, sir Robert de Beuvais,* whom he captured, and brought to 
 lord Charles in the town of Carhaix. This citizen provided all the 
 purveyances for the countess of Montfort, in the town of Jugon and 
 elsewhere, and was much beloved and esteemed in that town, which 
 is well inclosed and finely situated : the castle is also handsome and 
 strong. He was very much afraid of being put to death, and begged 
 that he might be allowed to pay for his ransom. To make short of 
 it, the lord Charles had him so often examined on different subjects, 
 that at last he agreed to betray the town of Jugon to him, and en- 
 gaged to deliver one of the gates of it at a certain time in the night ; 
 for he was so much respected in the town, that he had the keeping 
 of the keys ; and, to give security for his promise, he left his son as 
 hostage for him. Lord Charles promised to give him five hundred 
 livers of yearly rent. 
 
 The day fixed for the opening of the gate of Jugon arrived, and 
 lord Charles entered the town at midnight, with a large force. The 
 watch of the castle, perceiving this, gave the alarm, and cried out, 
 " Treason 1 treason !" The inhabitants, not suspecting anything, 
 began to stir ; and, when they saw that their town was lost, they ran 
 in crowds toward the castle. The citizen who had betrayed them 
 ran thither also, in order to hide his treachery. As soon as it was 
 day, lord Charles and his party entered the houses of the inhabitants, 
 to repose themselves ; and took whatever they pleased. When he 
 saw that the castle was so strong and full of citizens, he declared he 
 would never quit the place, until he should have possession of it. 
 The governor, sir Girard de Rochefort, and the citizens, soon found 
 out they had been betrayed ; they seized, therefore, the traitor, and 
 hung him on the battlements, on the outside of the walls of the castle. 
 Having received notice of the lord Charles's declaration, that he would 
 not depart until he had gained the castle, and finding that they had 
 not provisions for more than ten days, they consented to surrender it, 
 upon having their lives spared, and the remnant of their chattels re- 
 stored to them. This was granted ; and they swore homage and 
 fealty to lord Charles, who continued the same sir Girard de Roche- 
 fort governor of it, having reinforced the town and castle with men 
 and provisions. While these things were passing, some prudent and 
 wise men in Brittany were busy in proposing a truce between the 
 lord Charles of Blois and the countess of Montfort, who consented 
 to it, as did all her allies : for the king of England had advised them 
 so to do, by the messengers which came to him from the countess 
 and sir Walter Manny. As soon as this truce was concluded, the 
 countess of Montfort embarked, and passed over to England. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXIX. 
 
 THE KIN& OF ENGLAND MAKES GREAT FEASTS AND TOURNAMENTS AT 
 LONDON, THROUGH AFFECTION FOR THE COUNTESS OF SALISBURY. 
 
 It has been related in the foregoing parts of this history, how the 
 king of England had great wars in many distant parts and countries, 
 and that he maintained everywhere armies and garrisons at a heavy 
 expense : that is to say, in Picardy, Normandy, Gascony, Poitou, 
 Saintonge, Brittany, and in Scotland. You have also heard how 
 passionately he was smitten with the charms of the noble lady, Cath- 
 erine of Salisbury ; insomuch that he could not put her out of his 
 mind, for love reminded him of her day and night, and represented 
 her beauty and lively behavior in such witching points of view, that 
 he could think of nothing else, notwithstanding that the earl of Salis- 
 bury was one of his most trusty counsellors, and one who in England 
 had most loyally served him. Out of affection for the said lady, and 
 his desire to see her, he ordered a great feast and tournament to be 
 proclaimed, to be holden in London the middle of August. He sent 
 his proclamation into Flanders, Hainault, Brabant, and France, pro. 
 mising passports to all knights and squires, from whatever country 
 they might come, for their arrival and return. He commanded, that 
 all barons, lords, knights, and squires, of his own realm, should be 
 there without fail, if they had any love for him : and he expressly 
 ordered the earl of Salisbury to have the lady his wife there, with as 
 many young ladies as he could collect to attend her. The earl very 
 cheerfully complied w'ith the king's request ; he thought of nothing 
 evil ; and the good lady dared not say nay. She came, however, 
 much against her will ; for she guessed the reason which made the 
 king so earnest for her attendance, but was afraid to discover it to 
 her husband, imagining, at the same time, by her conduct and con- 
 versation, to make the king change his opinion. 
 
 There were at this feast, which was very noble and magnificent, 
 William earl of Hainault, sir John his uncle, and great numbers of 
 barons and knights of high birth : the dancing and feasting continued 
 for the space of fifteen days. The lord John, eldest son of the vis- 
 countt Beaumont in England, was killed at this tournament. He 
 was a handsome and hardy knight, and bore for arms a shield azure, 
 besprinkled with flower-de-luces, or, with a lion or rampant, and a 
 battoon gules upon the shield. The ladies and damsels were most 
 superbly dressed and ornamented, according to their different degrees, 
 
 ♦Robert de Beauinanoir, mareschal de Brein-ene.— Hist, de Bretagne. 
 t No mention is made of this in Dugdole, and there were no vKcounts, but barons, at 
 thatpetiod. 
 
 / M 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 except the countess of Salisbury, who came there in as plain attire 
 as possible. She was not willing that the king should give up loo 
 much time to admire her ; for she had neither wish nor inclination 
 to obey him in anything evil, that might turn out to her own or h«r 
 
 husband's dishonor. At this feast were Henry, surnamed Wry.neck, 
 earl of Lancaster, sir Henry his son earl of Derby, lord Robert d'Ar- 
 tois earl of Richmond, the earl of Northampton and Gloucester, the 
 earl of Warwick, the earl of Salisbury, the earl of Pembroke, the 
 
 TouiiNAMKNT—From a MS. Froissart. of the fifteenth century. 
 
 earl of Hereford, the earl of Arundel, the earl of Cornwall, the earl 
 of Oxford, the eari of Suffolk, the lord Stamford, and many other 
 barons and knights of England. The king, on the departure of these 
 nobles, received letters from different lords in the countries of Gas- 
 cony, Bayonne, Flanders, and from his great friend Jacob von Arta. 
 veld. He also heard from the borders of Scotland, from the lord 
 Roos of Hamlake and lord Percy, and the lord Edward Baliol, who 
 was governor of Berwick, that the Scots kept the truce, which had 
 been agreed to last year between the English and Scots, very indif- 
 ferently ; and that they had issued out proclamations for assembling 
 a large force, but he was uncertain to what part they would direct it. 
 
 The garrisons which he kept in Poitou, Saintonge, la Rochelle, 
 and the Bourdolois, wrote to inform him that the French were making 
 great preparations for war ; and that as the truce agreed to by the 
 kings of France and England, after the breaking up of the siege of 
 Tournay, was near expiring, it behoved his majesty to have good 
 advice. Pie answered every part of their letters. 
 
 CHAPTER XC. 
 
 THE KING OF ENGLAND SENDS THE LORD ROBERT d'aRTOIS INTO BRITTANY. 
 
 During the sessions of a parliament held at London, the king was 
 desirous of putting everything else aside, and to succor the countess 
 of Montfort, who at that time was on a visit to the queen of England. 
 He entreated, therefore, his dear cousin lord Robert d'Artois, that he 
 would collect as many men-at-arms and archers as he could, and pass 
 over with the countess into Brittany. The lord Robert made his 
 preparations, and, having assembled his number of men-at-arms and 
 archers, went to Southampton, where they lay a considerable time 
 on account of contrary winds. About Easter, they embarked and 
 put to sea. At this same parliament, the barons earnestly advised 
 the king, in consideration of the multitude of business he had upon 
 his hands, to send the bishop of Lincoln to his brother-in-law the 
 king of Scotland, to treat for a jfirm and stable truce to last for two 
 other years. The king was loath to do it ; as he was desirous to 
 carrv on the war against the Scots in such a manner that they them- 
 
 selves should request a truce. His council, however, witn all due 
 deference, said, that that would not be the most advisable means, 
 considering he had before so ruined and destroyed that country, and 
 that he had more important affairs on his hands in other parts. They 
 added, that it was great wisdom, when engaged in different wars, to 
 pacify one power by a truce, another by fair Vv^ords, and make war on 
 the third. The king was persuaded, by these and other reasons, and 
 begged the above-mentioned prelate to undertake this mission. The 
 bishop would not say nay, but set out on his journey. He soon re- 
 turned without doing anything, and related to the king, that the king 
 of Scotland had no power io make a truce without the will and con- 
 sent of the king of France. Upon hearing this, the king exclaimed 
 aloud, that he would shortly so ruin and destroy the kingdom of 
 Scotland, it should never recover from it He issued out a procla- 
 mation through his realm, for all persons to assemble at Berwick, 
 by the feast of Easter, properly armed, and prepared to follow him 
 wherever he should lead them, except those who were to go into 
 Brittany. 
 
 When Easter came, the king held a great court at Berwick. All 
 the princes, lords, and knights, who at that time were in England, 
 were there, as well as great numbers of the common people of the 
 country. They remained there three weeks, without making any 
 excursion ; for prudent and good men were busily employing them- 
 selves to form a truce, which at last was agreed and sworn to, for 
 two years ; and the Scots had it confirmed by the king of France. 
 The king of England sent all his people to their own homes ; he 
 himself returned to Windsor. He sent the lord Thomas Holland and 
 sir John Darvel to Bayonne, with two hundred men-at-arms and four 
 hundred archers, to guard that frontier against the French. 
 
 CHAPTER XCI. 
 
 A SEA ENGAGEMENT, OFF GUERNSEY, BETWEEN THE LORD ROBERT D'aE. 
 TOIS AND THE LORD LEWIS OF SPAIN. 
 
 We must now return to lord Robert d'Artois and his army. Easter 
 fell so late that year, that it was about the beginning of Mav;^and 
 
62 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 the middle of that month was the period when the truce between the 
 lord Charles and the countess of Montfort was to expire. The lord 
 Charles had received information of the countess of Montfort's jour- 
 ney into England, of her solicitations for assistance, and of the succor 
 the king of England was to give her : on which account, the lord 
 Lewis of Spain, sir Charles Grimaldi, and sir Otho Doria, were sta. 
 tioned off Guernsey, with thirty-two large vessels, having on board 
 three thousand Genoese, and a thousand men-at-arms. The lord 
 Robert d'Artois, the earl of Pembroke, the earl of Salisbury, the earl 
 of Suffolk, the earl of Oxford, the baron of Stamford, the lord De- 
 spcncer, the lord Bouchier, with many other knights frem England, 
 and their followers, were accompanying the countess of Montfort to 
 Brittany, and had a wind to their wish : when in an afternoon, as 
 they were near the island of Guernsey, they perceived the fleet of 
 the Genoese, of which the lord Lewis was commander. Upon this, 
 the sailors cried out, " Gentlemen, arm yourselves and make ready, 
 for here are the Genoese and Spaniards bearing down upon us." 
 The English then sounded their trumpets, spread out their pennons 
 to the wind, ornamented with the devices of their arms and with 
 the banner of St. George. Every one posted himself properly at his 
 quarters, and filling up the intervals with archers, they advanced full 
 sail toward the enemy. They might be about forty-six vessels, great 
 and small ; but there v/ere none so large as nine of those under the 
 lord Lewis, who had likewise three galleys, in each of which were 
 the three leaders, the lord Lewis, sir Charles Grimaldi, and sir Otho 
 Doria. The fleets approached each other, and the Genoese began to 
 shoot with their cross-bows at random, which the English archers 
 returned. This continued some time, and many were wounded : but 
 when the barons, knights, and squires were able to come to close 
 combat, and could reach each other with their lances, then the battle 
 raged, and they made good trial of each other's courage. The 
 countess of Montfort was equal to a man, for she had the heart of a 
 lion ; and, with a rusty sharp sword in her hand, she combated 
 bravely. 
 
 The Genoese and Spaniards, who were in these large vessels, 
 threw down upon their enemies great bars of iron, and annoyed them 
 much with very long lances. This engagement began about vespers, 
 and lasted until night parted them ; for, soon after vespers, there came 
 on such a fog, they could scarcely distinguish each other ; they there- 
 fore separated, cast anchor, and got their ships in order, but did not 
 disarm, for they intended renewing the fight the next day. About 
 midnight, a violent storm arose ; and so tremendous was it, that it 
 seemed as if the world would have been destroyed : there were not, 
 on either side, any so bold, but who wished themselves on shoi-e ; 
 for these barges and vessels drove so furiously against each other, 
 that they feared they would go to pieces. The English lords inquired 
 of the sailors what was best to be done : they answered, to disembark 
 as soon as they could ; for there were such risks at sea, that if the 
 wind should continue as violent as it then was, there would be danger 
 of their being all drowned. They therefore drew up their anchors, 
 set their sails about half a quarter, and made off. On the other hand, 
 the Genoese weighed their anchors, and put off to sea ; for their ves- 
 sels being so much larger than the English, could weather the tempest 
 more securely ; and also, if they should drive too near the shore, they 
 ran a risk of being wrecked, which made them take to the deep. As 
 they were going off, they fell in with four English vessels, laden with 
 provisions, which had kept out of the engagement : they seized them, 
 and took them in tow. The wind and tempest were so vehement, 
 that, in one day, they were driven more than a hundred leagues from 
 the place where they had fought. The lord Robert gained land at a 
 small port near the city of Vannes ; and they were all rejoiced when 
 they set foot on shore. 
 
 CHAPTER XCII. 
 
 THE LORD ROBERT d'ARTOIS TAKES THE CITY OF VANNES. 
 
 Thus by this tempest was the engagement at sea interrupted, be- 
 tween the lord Robert and lord Lewis and their fleets. It is difiicult 
 to say to whom the honor belongs ; for they separated unwillingly, 
 on account of the badness of the weather. The English, having 
 landed near Vannes, disembarked, on the sand, their horses, provis- 
 ions, and arms. They then ordered their fleet to make for Henne- 
 bon, and determined to lay siege t® Vannes. The lords Herv^ de 
 L^on and Olivier de Clisson were in it, as governors for the lord 
 Charles of Blois : the lords of Tournemine and Loheac were there 
 also. When they perceived that the English were coming to besiege 
 them, they looked well to the castle, their watch-towers, and gates ; 
 and at every gate they posted a knight, with ten men-at-arms and 
 twenty archers among the cross-bows. To return to the lord Lewis 
 and his fleet, who were, all that night and the morrow until noon, 
 violently driven about by the tempest, and in very great danger: 
 they lost two of their ships, with all that were on board. The third 
 day early, the stormy weather abated, when the knights asked the 
 sailors which was the nearest land ; who ansAvered, the kingdom of 
 Navarre : and the masters of the vessels said, the tempest had driven 
 them more than one hundred and twenty leagues from the coasts of 
 Brittany. They cast anchor, and waited for the return of the tide. 
 When the flood came, they had a tolerably fair wind to carry them 
 toward La Rochelle. They coasted by Bayonne, but did not touch 
 
 there : and falling in with four vessels belonging to Bayonne, which 
 were coming from Flanders, they attacked and took them, and put 
 all whom they found on board to death. They made for La Ro- 
 choUe, and, in a few days, came to Guerrande, where they landed; 
 and, having heard that the lord Robert d'Artois was laying siege to 
 Vannes, they sent to lord Charles, who was at Rennes, to know how 
 he would have them act. 
 
 The lord Robert, as you have heard, was before Vannes, with a 
 thousand men-at-arms, and three thousand archers. He overran, 
 burnt, and destroyed all the country round about as far as Dinant 
 and Goy la Foret, so that no one dared remain in the flat country. 
 During this siege of Vannes, there were many skirmishes and attacks 
 at the barriers of the town, the inhabitants of which were eager to 
 defend themselves. The countess remained all the time with the 
 lord Robert at the siege. Sir Walter Manny, who had continued in 
 Hennebon the whole time that the countess was in England, gave 
 up the charge of it to the lord of Cadoudal ; and taking with him sir 
 Yves de Tresiquidi, a hundred men-at-arms, and two hundred arch 
 ers, came to the. army before Vannes. Soon after his arrival, the 
 town was assaulted in three places at once ; and the English archers 
 shot so quickly, that scarcely any one dared to show themselves at 
 the battlements. This combat lasted a whole day, and many were 
 killed and wounded on both sides. Toward evening, the English 
 retired to their quarters, and the inhabitants to their houses, quite 
 tired, when they disarmed themselves : but the army did not so ; 
 they only took off their helmets, and drank once to refresh them- 
 selves. Presently after, by the advice of lord Robert, the army was 
 drawn out again in three divisions : two of them were led to that 
 part of the town where they intended to make the strongest assault, 
 and the third was ordered to remain quiet, until the engagement 
 should have lasted some time, which would probably bring all the 
 inhabitants to that quarter to defend themselves : they were then to 
 advance to the weakest part of the place, and, being provided with 
 rope ladders and iron hooks, they were to attempt to scale the walls 
 and conquer the town. This was executed. The lord Robert 
 marched with the van division, and skirmished close up to the bar 
 riers : the earl of Salisbury did the same at another gate : #and be- 
 cause it was very late, to alarm the inhabitants more, they made 
 great fires, so that the flames lighted the whole town ; which made 
 many think their houses were on fire. They cried out " Treason ! 
 treason ! arm yourselves ;" for many were already gone to rest, as 
 they had worked hard in the day time. They got up as quickly as 
 they could, and ran, without any order, and without speaking to their 
 captains, to the part where the fires were. The lords also, who were 
 in their hotels, armed themselves. In the midst of this bustle, the 
 earl of Oxford and sir Walter Manny advanced, with the third divi- 
 sion, to a part where there was no guard ; and, having fixed their 
 ladders, mounted them, with their targets on their heads, and entered 
 the town very quietly, without the French or Bretons, who were 
 within it, having the least suspicion until they saw their enemies in 
 the streets. They then all took to flight, each to save himself : their 
 captains, not having time to get into the castle, mounted their horses, 
 and, passing through a postern, gained the fields, to save their lives : 
 happy were those who could by this means escape. However, the 
 four knights mentioned at the beginning of this chapter, saved them- 
 selves, and a part of their people ; but all who were encountered by 
 the English were slain or made prisoners. The town of Vannes 
 was overrun and sacked ; all sorts of people entered into it ; and the 
 countess of Montfort made her entry there with lord Robert d'Artois, 
 to her great joy. 
 
 CHAPTER XCIII. 
 
 THE DEATH OF THE LORD ROBERT D'ARTOIS. 
 
 Thus, as I have related, was the town of Vannes taken. Five 
 days after that event, the countess of Montfort, sir Walter Manny, 
 sir Yves de Tresiquidi, and many other English and Breton knights, 
 returned to Hennebon. At the same time, the earl of Salisbuiy, the 
 earl of Suffolk, the earl of Pembroke, with three thousand men-at- 
 arms and three thousand archers, took leave of the lord Robert, lef 
 Vannes, and went toward Rennes, which the lord Charles and his 
 lady had quitted four days before, and were gone to Nantes ; but 
 they had left in that city great numbers of knights and squires. The 
 lord Lewis of Spain remained at sea with his Genoese and Span- 
 iards, and so carefully guarded the coasts of England, that no one 
 could come from thence, or go into Brittany, without much danger; 
 and this year he did great damage to the English. 
 
 The country was much agitated by the capture of the city of 
 Vannes; for they imagined that the captains who were within it 
 ought to have defended it against all the world, as it was sufficiently 
 strong, very well provided with men-at-arms, artilleiy, and all other 
 sorts of provision. The lord of Clisson and sir HeiT^ de L^on were 
 quite ashamed of their mishap ; and, their enemies speaking villain- 
 ously of what they had done, they sent to a great number of knights 
 and squires of Brittany, and entreated they would meet them at an 
 appointed rendezvous, by a certain day, with as many followers as 
 they could bring. They all cheerfully promised, and exerted them- 
 selves so much, as did many of the people in Brittany, that, by the 
 appointed time, there came before the town of Vannes twelve thou. 
 
. EXTRA NE 
 
 dand men armed, including freemen and feoffs. Thither came, with 
 a numerous body, the lord Robert de Beaumanoir, marshal of Brit- 
 tany; and having besieged the city on every side, they began to 
 assault it very sharply. When the lord Robert found himself thus 
 besieged in Vannes, he was not negligent to defend it valiantly against 
 the Bretons, who repeated their attacks with great courage and eager- 
 ness, lest tho^^.e who had gone for Rennes should return and disap- 
 point their enterprise. They gave one assault so well supported by 
 the knights, squires, and even by the commonalty of the country, 
 that tiiey overpowered the barriers of the tov/n, then the gates, and 
 entered the town by storm, putting the English to flight, killing and 
 wounding many. Among the Inst was the lord Robert, who was 
 very badly wounded, insomuch that it was with difliculty he escaped 
 being taken : he fled through a postern gate, and lord Stafford with 
 him. At this capture of Vannes, the lord Despencer, son of the lord 
 Hugh Spencer, mentioned at the beginning of this history, was taken 
 prisoner by sir Herve de Leon ; but he was so badly wounded that 
 he died the third day afterwards. Thus did the French regain the 
 town of Vannes. 
 
 Lord Robert d'Artois continued some little time in Hennebon ; 
 but at last he was recommended to return to England, where he 
 would find more skilful surgeons and physicians. On his voyage, 
 he was so much affected and oppressed by sea-sickness that his 
 wounds grew worse : he survived but a short time after he had been 
 carried to London. He was courteous, courageous, and gallant, and 
 of the first l»lood in the world. He was buried at London in the 
 church of St, Paul ; and the king of England made his obsequies as 
 solemn as if they had been for his eousin-german the earl of Derby. 
 The lord Robert was much lamented in England ; and when the 
 king was informed of his death, he swore he would never rest until 
 he had revenged it: he would go himself into Brittany, and reduce 
 the country to such a situation that it should not recover itself for 
 forty years. He issued out his summons for all manner of persons 
 to get themselves in readiness to follow him at the end of the month ; 
 and he collected a numerous fleet, well provided with everything 
 that was necessary. At the end of the month he put to sea, and 
 anchored near Vannes, at the same place where lord Robert had 
 landed with his army. It took them three days to disembark their 
 horses, provisions, &.c. : on the fourth, they advanced toward Vannes. 
 The earls of Salisbury and Pembroke, with the English before named, 
 were all this time carrying on the siege of Rennes. 
 
 CHAPTER XCIV. 
 
 THE KING OF EN&LAND CONTINUES THE WAK IN PEKSON IN BRITTANY. 
 
 The English king was so active from the time of his landing in 
 Brittany, that he advanced with his whole army before Vannes, and 
 laid siege to it. At that time there was in Vannes Olivier de Clis- 
 son, sir Hee-ve de Leon, the lord of Tournemine, sir Geoffry de 
 Malestroit, sir Guy de Loheac, who having imagined for some time 
 that the king of England would come to Brittany, had amply pro- 
 vided the town and castle with men, and every kind of stores and 
 provisions. When the king had quartered his men, he ordered an 
 assault, and his archers to make good use of their bows. This lasted 
 half a day ; but he won nothing, though he labored hard, so well was 
 the town defended. As soon as the coiintess of Montfort knew of 
 the arrival of the king of England, she set out from Hennebon, ac- 
 companied by sir Walter Manny and other knights and squires, and 
 came toward Vannes to compliment the king, and entertain him and 
 all the barons of his army. After a stay of four days, she anc* her 
 suite returned to Hennebon. 
 
 We must now speak of the lord Charles of Blois, who remained 
 in the city of Nantes. When he was informed that the king of 
 England was come into Brittany, he signified it to the king of France, 
 his uncle, in order to obtain assistance. The king of England per- 
 ceiving that Vannes was strong, and well provided with every neces- 
 sary, and hearing from his people that the country round about was 
 poor, and so destroyed that they had difficulty in getting forage for 
 themselves and horses, as they were very numerous, ordered the earl 
 of Arundel, the baron of Stafford, sir Walter Manny, sir Yves de 
 Tresiquidi, sir Girard de Rochefort, with five hundred men-at-arms 
 and six thousand archers, to remain there. He himself, with the rest 
 of his army, advanced toward Rennes, burning and ruining the 
 country on all sides, and was most joyfully received by his army, 
 who lay before it, and had been there for a considerable time. When 
 he had tarried five days, he learnt that the lord Charles was at Nantes, 
 collecting a large force of men-at-arms. He set out, therefore, leaving 
 those whom he found at Rennes, and came before Nantes, which he 
 besieged as closely as he could ; but he was unable to surround it, 
 such was its size and extent. The marshals, therefore, and their 
 people, overran the country, and destroyed it. The king of England 
 drew out one day his army in battle array on a hill near Nantes, in 
 expectation that the lord Charles would ceme forth, and offer him 
 an opportunity of fighting with him : but, having waited from morn- 
 ing till noon in vain, they returned to their quarters : the light horse 
 however, in their retreat, galloped up to the barriers, and set fire to 
 the suburbs. 
 
 The king of England, in this manner remained before Nantes : 
 
 W WORLD. 63 
 
 the lord Charles, who was within it, sent frequent information to the 
 king of France of the state of his affairs, who had already ordered 
 his son, the duke of Normandy, to his assistance, and which duke 
 was then come to Angers, where he had fixed the rendezvous for his 
 forces that came to him from all quarters. During this siege, the 
 king of England made frequent skirmishes, but without success, 
 always losing some of his men. When, therefore, he found he could 
 gain nothing by his assaults, and that the lord Charles would not 
 come out into the plains to fight with him, he established there the 
 earl of Oxford, sir Henry Beaumont, the lord Percy, the lord Roos, 
 the lord Mowbray, the lord Delawar, sir Reginald Cobharn, sir John 
 Lisle, with six hundred men armed and two hundred archers. He 
 himself advanced into the country of Brittany, wasting it wherever 
 he went, until he came to the town of Dinant, of which sir Peter 
 PortebcBuf was governor. He immediately laid siege to it all round, 
 and ordered it to be vigorously assaulted : those within made a val- 
 iant resistance. Thus did the king of England, in one season and 
 in one day, make an assault by himself, or those ordered by him, upon 
 three cities in Brittany and a good town. 
 
 CHAPTER XCV. 
 
 THE LORD OF CLTSSON AND SIR HERVE DE LEON ARE TAKEN PRISONERS 
 
 BY THE ENGLISH. 
 
 During the time that the king of England was thus oveiTunning the 
 country of Brittany, his army that was besieging Vannes made every 
 day some sharp assaults upon one of the gates : all the most expert 
 warriors of each side were attracted to that place, and many gallant 
 deeds of arms were performed ; for those of Vannes had opened the 
 gate, and posted themselves at the barriers, because they had noticed 
 the banners of the earl of Arundel, the earl of Warwick, the baron 
 of Stafford, and sir Walter Manny, who appeared to them to adven- 
 ture themselves too rashly. Upon which the lord of Clisson, sir 
 Herve de Leon, and some other knights, took more courage. The 
 engagement was well supported on both sides, and lasted a consider- 
 able time : but finally the English were repulsed, and driven back 
 from the barriers. The Breton knights, opening the barriers, pushed 
 forward, sword in hand, leaving behind them six knights, with a suf- 
 ficient force, to guard the town, and pursued the English, who fought 
 well as they retreated. The conflict became stronger ; for the Eng. 
 lish increased and were strengthened, which forced the Bretons to 
 retire, but not so regularly as they had advanced. The struggle now 
 was very hard : the Breton knights had much difficulty to return, 
 and many were killed and wounded. When those at the barriery 
 saw their people retreating and driven back, they closed them, but 
 so untimely that the lord of Clisson was shut out, and also sir Herv^ 
 de Leon, who were both taken prisoners. On the other hand, on 
 the part of the English, who had advanced too eagerly, was the baron 
 of Stafford, who was inclosed between the barriers and the gate, 
 where the combat raged fiercely. The lord Stafford v*'as taken, and 
 many of his people were made prisoners, or slain. So the English 
 retreated to their quarters, and the Bretons into the city of Vannes 
 
 CHAPTER XCVI. 
 
 THE KING OF ENGLAND TAKES THE TOWN OF DINANT. THE LORD LEWIS 
 OF SPAIN MAKES SOME CRUISES AT SEA. 
 
 In the manner above related were these knights taken prisoners. 
 After that engagement, there were not many others of consequence ; 
 for each side was upon the guard. The king of England had laid 
 siege to Dinant, who when he had been four days before it, collected 
 a great number of boats, in which he placed his archers, and had 
 them rowed up to the palisades of wood with which the town was 
 inclosed. They shot so well that no one dared scarcely to show him- 
 self at the windows, or anywhere else, to defend it. With the archers, 
 there were others who with sharp axes, while the archers made use 
 of their bows, cut the palisades, and in a short time did so much 
 damage that they flung down a large part of them, and entered the 
 town by force. The towns-people fled toward the market-place ; 
 but there was little regularity or order among them, for those who 
 had passed the ditch in boats, and had entered the town, advanced 
 to the gate, and opened it, so that every one might pass. Thus was 
 the town of Dinant in Brittany taken, sacked and pillaged, and the 
 governor, sir Peter Portebceuf, made prisoner. The English took 
 whatever they pleased, and made a rich booty, for the town at that 
 time was very wealthy and full of merchandise. When the king of 
 England had achieved this deed, and had conquered the town, he left 
 it empty, not having any intention of keeping it, and advanced 
 toward Vannes, where he took up his quarters. 
 
 We must now speak of the lord Lewis of Spain, the lord Charles 
 Grimaldi, and the lord Otho Doria, who at this time had under their 
 command eight galleys, thirteen barges, and thirty-nine vessels, man- 
 ned by Genoese and Spaniards. They kept cruising between Eng- 
 land and Brittany, and at times did great mi&chief to the English, 
 who were coming to recruit their countrymen with troops and pro- 
 visions. Once among other times, they attacked the fleet of the 
 king of England, that lay at anchor in a small port. of Brittany near 
 
64 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, dkc. 
 
 Vannes, which not being sufficiently guarded, they slew a great part 
 of the mariners, anci would have done much more damage, if the 
 English, who were before Vannes, had not hastened to their assist- 
 ance. When this news was brought to the army, every one was in 
 motion : but, notwithstanding the speed they made, they could not 
 prevent the lord Lewis and his party from carrying off four vessels 
 laden with provisions, and sinking three others, the crews of which 
 were all drowned. The king was then advised to send one part of 
 his fleet to the harbor of Brest, and the other to that of Hennebon, 
 which he complied with, and continued to besiege both Vannes and 
 Rennes. 
 
 CHAPTER XCVII. 
 
 THE DUKE OF NORMANDY BRINGS WITH HIM SOME LORDS OF FRANCE, 
 TO OPPOSE THE KING OF ENGLAND IN BRITTANY. 
 
 We will now return to the army which the duke of Normandy 
 was marching into Brittany, to assist his cousin the lord Charles of 
 Blois. The duke, after having collected his forces, was informed 
 how the king of England was laying waste all the country of Brit- 
 tany ; that he was besieging three cities, and had taken the town of 
 Dinant ; he set out therefore with a very great force from the city 
 of Angers, having more than four thousand men-at-arms, and thirty 
 thousand others. All the baggage took the high road for Nantes, 
 under the command of the two marshals of France, the lord of Mont- 
 morency, and the lord de St. Venant. After them came the duke 
 of Normandy, the earl d'Alen9on his uncle, the earl of Blois his 
 cousin, the duke de Bourbon, the earl de Ponthieu, the earl of Bou- 
 logne, the earl of Vend6me,the carl of Dammartin,the lord of Craon, 
 the lord of Coucy, the lord of Sully, the lord of Fresnes, the lord of 
 Roye, and so many barons and knights from Normandy, Auvergne, 
 Limousin, Berry, Maine, and Poitou, that it would take too much 
 time to name them all ; and they were eveiy day increasing, for the 
 king of France had reiterated his summons. The Euglish lords be- 
 fore Nantes received intelligence that the duke of Normandy was on 
 his march with forty thousand men ; this news they sent off in great 
 haste to king Edward ; the receiving of which made him very 
 thoughtful ; and he had at one time the idea of breaking up the siege 
 of Vannes, as well as that of Rennes, and to retire toward Nantes. 
 He was, however, advised to continue w^here he was, as his position 
 was strong, and near lo his fleet, and to wait for his enemies. He 
 was also advised to send for the division of his army that was before 
 Nantes, and continue the siege of Rennes ; as that place was not so 
 'ar distant but that his army could come to his assistance, if there 
 should be any necsssity for it. The king followed this counsel, and 
 sent for those that were before Nantes, where the lord Charles, and 
 a number of knights were. The lords were lodged in the town, and 
 the army round about ; for there was not room for them in the city 
 or suburbs. 
 
 neste and the cardinal of Clermont, who made frequent visits from 
 one army to the other, to endeavor to reconcile them ; but they would 
 not consent to a peace.* There were frequent engagements between 
 the foragers, and many killed on each side. The English were 
 obliged to go out foraging in large parties, for fear of falling into am- 
 buscades ; and every time they went abroad they were in great dan- 
 ger of them. Add to this, that the lord Lewis of Spain, and his 
 fleet, guarded so carefully the coast, that the English army could 
 scarcely receive anything from En j land, which made them suffer 
 much. It was the intention of the duke to keep the king thus in a 
 manner besieged : but the French endured much pain from the incle- 
 mency of the weather, for it rained night and day, which destroyed 
 the greater part of their horses, and forced them to dislodge and lie 
 in the open fields, from the great quantity of water which inundated 
 their camp. The cardinals now exerted themselves so effectually, 
 that a truce for three years was agreed to ; and the king of England 
 and the duke swore, as is customary, not to infringe it during that 
 time.* 
 
 CHAPTER XCVIIL 
 
 THE KING OF ENGLAND AND THE DUKE OF NORMANDY ENCAMP THEIR 
 ARMIES OPPOSITE TO EACH OTHER, NEAR TO VANNES. 
 
 During the time the duke of Normandy remained in Nantes, the 
 lords of England who were before Rennes made a vigorous assault 
 upon that city ; they had, for a long time before, prepared machines 
 for this attack. Though it lasted a whole day, they gained no ad- 
 vantage, but lost many of their men. The baron d'Ancenis, the lor^ 
 du Pont, sir John de Malestroit, Yvain Charruel, and Bertrand du 
 Guesclin, then a squire, were in the town, and, as well as the bishop, 
 defended themselves so valiantly, that they suffered no loss. Not- 
 withstanding this, the English remained before the place, and wasted 
 and destroyed the country round about. 
 
 The duke of Normandy left Nantes with his army, and was ad- 
 vised to advance toward Vannes, that he might the sooner meet the 
 enemy ; for he had heard that that town was much straitened, and 
 in greater danger of being lost than Rennes. He and his whole army, 
 therefore, took their route to Vannes, under the command of the 
 two marshals and sir Geoffry de Charny : the earl of Guines, son to 
 the constable of France, had the rearward. They continued their 
 march until they came pretty near to Vannes, on the opposite side 
 to where the king of England was quartered ; they then halted, en- 
 camped in a fine meadow, and made a large ditch in their front. The 
 marshals, and sir Robert de Beaumanoir, marshal of Brittany, made 
 frequent excursions : there were skirmishes on both sides, which 
 occasioned the overthrow anc^death of many. The king of England 
 sent for the earl of Salisbury, the earl of Pembroke, and the rest who 
 were besieging Rennes. The-English, and the Bretons of the Mont- 
 fort party, might amount to nearly two thousand five hundred men- 
 at-arms, six thousand archers, and three thousand men on foot. The 
 French were four times that number, well conditioned and well 
 armed. The king of England had taken such a position before 
 Vannes, that the French could not attack him but to their disadvan- 
 tage ; and since the arrival of the duke of Normandy, he had not 
 made any assault upon the town, wishing to spare his men and his 
 artillery. 
 
 Thus these two armies lay near each other for a long time. When 
 tM winter set in, pope Clement VI. aeni thither the cardinal of Pre. 
 
 CHAPTER XCIX. 
 
 THE KING OF FRANCE ORDERS THE LORD OF CLISSON, AND MANY OTHER 
 LORDS OF BRITTANY AND NORMANDY, TO BE BEHEADED. 
 
 Thus these great armies were separated, and the siege of Vannes 
 raised. The duke of Normandy retired to Nantes, and took the two 
 cardinals with him ; the king of England went to the countess of 
 Montfort at Hennebon. There was an exchange made of the lord 
 of Clisson for the baron of Stafford. When the king of England 
 had been some time at Hennebon with the countess, and had arranged 
 his affairs, he gave her in charge to the two brothers de Spinefort, 
 sir William de Cadoudal, and others, and set out with his knights 
 for England, where he arrived about Christmas.t The duke of Nor- 
 mandy returned into France, and having disbanded his army, each 
 went to his own home. 
 
 Soon afterwards, the lord of Clisson was arrested, upon suspicion 
 of treason, and confined in the prison of the Cha,telet in Paris ; at 
 which all who heard it were much surprised. The barons and knights 
 of France asked each other what could be the reason, for they 
 could not make out anything satisfactory : but they imagined it 
 might be occasioned by jealousy, because the king of England had 
 preferred to exchange him for lord Stafford to sir Herve de L^on, 
 who was still a prisoner; so that the favor the king of England 
 had shown to the lord of Clisson in preference to sir Herve, his ene- 
 mies tlrought had been improperly gained, and grounded upon that 
 the suspicion for which he lost his head at Paris, and which occa- 
 sioned great grief, for no one could find a sufficient reason for it.t 
 Shortly afterwards, many other knights were accused of similar 
 crimes. The lord of Malestroit and his son, the lord of Avaugour, 
 sir Tibaut de Morillon, and other lords of Brittany, to the number 
 of ten knights and squires, were beheaded at Paris. Four other 
 knights of Normandy, sir Wi'Jiam Baron, sir Henry de Malestroit, 
 the lord of Rochetesson, and sir Richaid de Persy, were put to death 
 upon reports, whether well rounded or not I am ignorant, which 
 caused afterwards great troubles in Brittany and Normandy. The 
 lord of Clisson left behind him a son, named Olivier de Clisson afte; 
 his father, who withdrew himself immediately to the castle of Mont 
 fort, with the countess and her son, who was nearly of the same ag*" 
 with himself, and without a father ; for in truth the earl of Montfort 
 had died in the Louvre at Paris.§ 
 
 CHAPTER C. 
 
 KING EDWARD INSTITUTES THE ORDER OF ST. GEORGE, AT WINDSOR. 
 
 About this time, the king of England resolved to rebuild and em. 
 hellish the great castle of Windsor, which king Arthur had firsS 
 founded in time past, and where he had erected and established that 
 noble round table from whence so many gallant knights had issued 
 forth, and displayed the valiant prowess of their deeds at arms over 
 the world. King Edward, therefore, determined to establish an or- 
 der of knighthood, consisting of himself, his children, and the most 
 gallant knights in Christendom, to the number of forty. He ordered 
 it to be denominated "knights of the blue garter," and that the 
 feast should be celebrated every year, at Windsor, upou St. George's 
 day. He summoned, therefore, all the earls, barons and knights of 
 
 * The first of these prelates was Peter des Pres. born in Quercy, chancellor of the 
 church of Rome, and bishop of Frescati ; the other was Annibal de Cecano, bishop o 
 Palestine. The conference was lield in the priory of the Magdalen, in the town of Males- 
 troit. The commissioners on the part of France were, Eudes duke of Burgundy, and 
 Peter duke of Bourbon ; on the part of England, Henry earl of Lancaster. William Bo- 
 hun and William Montacute.— Hist, de Bretagne. 
 
 t Edward embarked about the end of February, and landed at Weymouth, on a Sun- 
 day, 2nd March, 1343.— Rymer. 
 
 X The lord Stafford was exchanged for Olivier de Clisson, and Godfrey de Harcourt 
 They entered into a treaty with Edward, and the earl of Salisbury was the person to 
 whom it was intrusted. On the earl's return to England, on hearing from his countess 
 Edward's conduct to her during his absence, he retired from the court secretly, and 
 went to France, when he delivered up to Philip de Valois the engagemenU of Olivier de 
 Clisson and the other knights, Olivier was beheaded, and his body hung on tiie gibbet 
 at Montfaucon. Godfrey de Harcourt, being banished the kingdom, retired to JEnBlairf 
 —Hist, de Bretagne, vol. i. p. 268. 
 
 SSee a former note, p. Si. raspectin^ iu* deatb. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 65 
 
 his realm, to inform them of his intentions ; they heard it with ^eat 
 pleasure ; for it appeared to them highly honorable, and capable of 
 increasing love and friendship. Forty knights were then elected, 
 according to report and estimation the bravest in Christendom, who 
 sealed, and swore to maintain and keep the feast and the statutes 
 which had been made. The king founded a chapel at Windsor, in 
 honor of St. George, and established canons, there to serve God, 
 with a handsome endowment. He then issued his proclamation for 
 thi^ feast by his heralds, whom he sent to France, Scotland, Bur- 
 gundy, Hainault, Flanders, Brabant, and the empire of Germany, 
 and otfered to all knights and squires, that might come to this cere- 
 mony, passports to last for fifteen days after it was over.* The cele- 
 bration of this order was fixed for St. George's day next ensuing, to 
 be held at Windsor, 1344 ; and the queen was to be present, accom- 
 panied by three hundred ladies and damsels, all of high birth, and 
 richly dressed in similar robes.t 
 
 CHAPTER CI. 
 
 THE KING OF ENGLAND SETS AT LIBERTY SIR HERVE DE LEON. 
 
 While the king of England was employed in making preparations 
 for the reception of the lords and ladies whom he expected at this 
 feast, news was brought him of the death of the lord of Clisson and 
 the other knights. He was so much enraged at it, that he had deter- 
 mined to retaliate upon the body of Sir Herve de Leon, who was his 
 prisoner, and would surely have executed it, if the earl of Derby, his 
 cousin, had not remonstrated, and showed in council such good rea. 
 sons, as, for the sake of his own personal honor, induced him to re. 
 frain from this revenge. He added, " My lord, if that king Philip 
 has, through rashness, had the villainy to put to death such valiant 
 knights as these were, do not suffer your courage to be tainted by it ; 
 for in truth, if you will but consider a little, your prisoner has no- 
 thing to do with this outrage : have a goodness, therefore, to give 
 him his liberty, at a reasonable ransom." The king ordered the cap- 
 tive knight to be brought before him, and said, " Ha, sir Herve, sir 
 Herv^, my adversary, Philip de Valois, has shown his treachery in 
 too cruel a manner, when he put to death so many knights. It has 
 given me much displeasure ; and it appears as it were done in de- 
 spite of us. If I were to take his conduct for my example, I ought 
 to do the like to you ; for you have done me more harm in Brittany 
 than any other; but I shall endure it, and let him act according to 
 his own will. I will preserve my own honor unspotted, and shall 
 allow you your liberty at a trifling ransom, out of my love for the 
 earl of Derby, who has requested it ; but upon condition, that you 
 perform what I am going to ask of you." The knight replied, 
 " Dear sir, I will do, to the best of my power, whatever you shall 
 command." The king said, " I knoM^, sir Herve, that you are one 
 of the richest knights in Brittany ; and, if I were to press you, you 
 would pay me thirty or forty thousand crowns for your ransom. But 
 you will go to king Philip de Valois, my adversary, and tell him from 
 me, that, by putting so many knights to death in so dishonorable a 
 manner, he has sore displeased me : and I say and maintain, that he 
 has by this means broken and infringed the trace which we had 
 agreed to ; and that from this moment I consider it as broken, and 
 send him by you my defiance. In consideration of your carrying 
 this message, I will let you off for ten thousand crowns, which you 
 will pay, or send to Bruges, in five days after you shall have crossed 
 the sea. You will also inform all such knights and squires as wish 
 to attend my feast, for we shall be right glad to see them, not to de- 
 sist on this account, for they shall have passports for their safe return, 
 to last for fifteen days after it be over." " Sir," answered the 
 knight, " I will perform your message to the best of my abilities ; 
 and God reward you and my lord of Derby for your kindness to me." 
 
 Sir Herve de Leon did not after this remain long in prison, but, 
 having taken leave of the king, went to Southampton, and embarked 
 on board a vessel, with the intention of landing at Harfleur. A vio- 
 lent storm, however, which lasted fifteen days, prevented it. He 
 lost his horses, as well as those of his servants, which were thrown 
 overboard ; and he himself Was so ill by it, that he never after en- 
 joyed good health. At last the mariners, with much danger, landed 
 at Crotoy ;| from whence sir Herve and his suite went on foot to 
 
 *The number of knights of the garter were only twenty-six: underneath are the 
 names of the first knights : 
 
 1. King Edward. 14. Thomas lord Holland. 
 
 2. Edward prince of Wales. 15. John lord Gray of Codnore. 
 
 3. Henry earl of Lancaster. 16. Sir Richard Fitzsimon. 
 
 4. Thomas earl of Warwick. 17. Sir Miles Stapleton. 
 
 5. Piers de Greilly, captal of Buch. IS. Sir Thomas Wale. 
 
 6. Ralph lord Stafford. 19. Sir Hugh Wrottesiey. 
 
 7. William earl of Salisbury. 20. Sir Nele Loiing. 
 
 8. Roger earl of March. 21. Sir John Chandos. 
 
 9. John lord Lisle, 22. Lord James Audley. 
 
 10. Bartholomew lord Burgherst. 23. Sir Utho Holland. 
 
 11. John lord Ueauchamp. 24. Sir Henry Earn of BrahaHt. 
 
 12. John lord Mohun of Diinster. 25. Sir Sanchio d'Ambreticonrl 
 
 13. Hugh lord Courtenay. 26. Sir Walter Paveley. 
 
 ; Tn,^"« '^^'^ particulars respecting the order of the garter, see Ashmole and Anst is. 
 
 T Ihe first mention of robes for the queen, &c., is an. 7 Ric. 2; but it is supposed the 
 custom originated at the institution.— Ashmole. 
 
 J Crotoy, a town in Picardy, situated at the mouth of the Somme, opposite to St 
 valery. 
 
 Abbeville, where they procured horses ; but sir Herve was so ill, he 
 could not bear the motion of the horse : he was therefore put in a 
 litter, and came to Paris, to king Philip, to whom he delivered his 
 message, word for word ; but he did not live long. He died in re. 
 turning to hi^ own country, in the city of Angers. God have mercy 
 on his soul I 
 
 CHAPTER CII. 
 
 THE KING- OF ENGLAND SENDS THE EARL OF DERBY TO MAKE WAR IN 
 
 GASCONY. . 
 
 St. George's day drew near, when the grand feast was to be cele- 
 brated at the castle of Windsor. The king had made great prepara- 
 tions for it ; and there were earls, barons, ladies, and damsels, most 
 nobly entertained. The festivities and tilts lasted a fortnight. Many 
 knights came to them from beyond sea, from Flanders, Hainault, and 
 Brabant, but not one from France. During the holding of these 
 feasts, the king received intelligence from different countries, par. 
 ticularly from Gascony. The lord de I'Esparre, the lord de Cliau. 
 mont, the lord de Mucident, were sent thence by the other barons 
 and knights who at that time were dependent on the king of England ; 
 such as the lord d'Albret, the lord de Pumiers, the lord de Montfer. 
 rant, the lord of Duras, the lord of Craton, the lord of Grailley, and 
 many others ; and some were likewise sent by the cities of Bordeaux 
 and Bayonne. These embassadors were most courteously entertained 
 and received by the king and his council ; to whom they explained 
 the weakness of the country of Gascony, and that his good friends 
 in that country and the loyal city of Bordeaux wanted aid : they there- 
 fore entreated, that he would send thither such a captain and force 
 of men-at-arms, as he might think able to make head against the 
 French, who kept the field in opposition to all that were sent to meet 
 them. The king soon afterwards appointed his cousin the earl ot 
 Derby leader of this expedition, and nominated those knights that he 
 had fixed upon to be under him ; first, the earl of Pembroke, the 
 earl of Oxford, the lord Staflford, sir Walter Manny, sir Frank van 
 Halle, sir Henry Eam of Brabant, sir Richard Fitzsimon, sir Hugh 
 Hastings, sir Stephen Tombey, sir Richard Hay don, sir John Not 
 wich, sir Richard Radcliffe, sir Robert Oxendon, and several more. 
 They were fully three hundred knights and squires, six hundred men. 
 at-arms, and two thousand archers. The king advised the earl his 
 cousin to take plenty of gold and silver with him, and to bestow it 
 liberally among the knights and squires, in order to acquire their 
 good opinion and affection. 
 
 The king also, during the time of these festivals, sent sir Thomas 
 Dagworth into Brittany, to reinforce the countess of Montfort, and 
 assist her in preserving that country ; for notwithstanding the truce, 
 he doubted not but that king Philip would begin the war, on account 
 of the message he had sent to him by sir Herve de Leon. He there- 
 fore dispatched thither one hundred men-at-arms, and two hundred 
 archers, under the command of sir Thomas. He likewise ordered 
 the earl of Salisbury into the county of D'ulnestre ; for the Scots had 
 rebelled against him, had burnt much in Cornwall, and had adyanced 
 as far as Bristol, and besieged the to'wn of D'ulnestre.* However, 
 the earl of Salisbury marched thither, with three hundred men.at-arms, 
 and six hundred archers well appointed. Thus the king sent forth 
 his people, and directed his treasurers to deliver out to the command, 
 ing officers a sufficiency of money for their own expenses, and to pay 
 their fellow-soldiers ; and each set out according to the orders he had 
 received. 
 
 We will speak first of the earl of Derby, as he had the greatest 
 charge, which he conducted to Southampton, and embarking on 
 board the fleet stationed there for him, made sail for Bayonne : it 
 was a handsome city, and had always held out for the English. He 
 arrived there, without accident, on the 6th day of June, 1344, when 
 he disembarked and landed his stores ; they were joyfully received 
 by the inhabitants, and he remained there seven days, to refresh him. 
 self and his horses. The earl of Derby and his army left Bayonne 
 the eighth day after his arrival, and set out for Bordeaux, where a 
 grand procession came out to receive him. The earl was lodged in 
 the abbey of St. Andrew and his people within the city. When the 
 count de Lisle was informed of the arrival of the English, he sent 
 for the count de Comminges, the count de Perigord, the count de 
 Carmain, the viscount de Villemur, the count Duras, the count de 
 Valentinois, the count de Mirande, the lord of Mirade, the lord de 
 la Barde, the lord of Pincornet, the viscount de ChUtillon, the lord 
 of Chateauneuf, the lord de Lescun, the abbot of St. Savin, and 
 for all the other lords who were attached to the king of France. 
 As soon as they were all assembled, he demanded their counsel on 
 the arrival of the earl of Derby. The lords, in reply, said, they were 
 sufficiently strong to defend the passage of the river Dordogne, at 
 Bergerac, against the English. This answer mightily pleased the 
 
 * This passage has puzzled me much. Mr. Barnes, in his Life of Edward IlL, says, 
 it was the young earl of Salisbury. One of my MSS. calls him the lord William earl of 
 Salisbury, which was the name of the earl's son. But Dugdale contents himself with 
 saying, that in the 18th of Edward HI., "the earl of Salisbury" (speaking of the first 
 earl) *' was sent into the north, with the earl of Ulster, one hundred men-at-arms, and 
 six hundred archers, against the Scots, then in hostility." 
 
 If the Scots had advanced to Bristol, then it may perhaps be Dunster castle. 
 
 Froissart seems to have been under a mistake, from misinformation, as I cannot &niS 
 any traces of this invasion. 
 
t)6 CHRONICLESOFENGLA 
 
 count de Lisle, who was at that time like a king in Gascony, and had 
 been so since the commencement of the wars between the two kings, 
 ile had taken the field, captured towns and castles, and waged Avar 
 'ipon all who were of the English party. These lords sent imme- 
 .!iately to assemble their dependents on all sides, and advanced to Ber- 
 i.erac, where they entered the suburbs, which are large, strong, and 
 partly surrounded by the Dordogne. They had all their purveyances 
 brought to them there in safety. 
 
 CHAPTER CIII. 
 
 THE EARL OF DERBY CONQUERS BERGERAC* 
 
 When the earl of Derby had remained at Bordeaux for about fifteen 
 days, he was informed that the barons and knights of Gascony were 
 in Bergerac : he therefore, one morning, marched that way with his 
 army, and ordered his marshals, sir Walter Manny and sir Frank van 
 Halle, to push forward. The English marched that morning no more 
 than three leagues, to a castle called Montcroullier, which belonged to 
 them, and was situated a short league from Bergerac. At this castle 
 of Montcroullier, they tarried that day and night. The day following, 
 their scoiitd were sent as far as the barriers of Bergerac : and, on 
 their return, they related to sir Walter Manny, that they had recon- 
 noitred the position of the French, which did not appear to them any. 
 thing very formidable. This day, the English dined early; and, 
 during the repast, sir Walter Manny, addressing himself to the earl 
 of Derby, said, " My lord, if we were good knights, and well armed, 
 we might, this evening, partake of the wines of these French lords 
 who are in garrison in Bergerac." The earl answered, " that it should 
 not be his fault if thoy did not." When their companions heard this, 
 they said, " Let us hasten to arm ourselves ; for we will ride toward 
 Bergerac." It was no sooner said than done : they were all armed, 
 and mounted, in an instant. When the earl of Derby perceived such 
 willingness in his men, he was exceedingly joyful, and cried out, 
 " In the name of God, and of St. George, let us march to our ene- 
 mies." They then rode on, with banners displayed, during the 
 greatest heat of the day, until they came to the barriers of Bergerac : 
 which was not a place easily to be taken, for a part of the river Dor- 
 dogne surrounded it. The French lords v/ho were in the town, 
 seeing the English coming to attack them, said they should be well 
 received, and sallied forth in battle array : they had with them a mul- 
 titude of foot soldiers, and country people badly armed. The Eng- 
 lish made their approaches in close order, so that they were plainly 
 to be distinguished by the townsmen, and the archers began to shoot 
 thickly. When the foot soldiers felt the points of the arrows, and 
 saw the banners and pennons glittering in the air, which they had 
 not been accustomed to see, they fell back upon their men-at-arms : 
 the archers continued to shoot with great quickness, doing much mis- 
 chief to them. The lords of England then advanced, mounted on 
 their excellent coursers, with lances in their rests, and, dashing into 
 the midst of this infantry, drove them down at pleasure, and killed 
 and wounded the French men-at-arms in abundance ; for they could 
 not in any way exert themselves, as these runaways had blocked up 
 the road. 
 
 There was a severe engagement, and many were killed and un- 
 horsed : for the English archers, being posted on each side of the 
 road, shot so well together, that no one dared to venture upon it. 
 Thus were those of Bergerac driven back again to the suburbs, but 
 with so much loss, that the first bridge and bars were taken by storm, 
 and the English entered with them. Upon the pavement were many 
 knights and squires slain and wounded, and many prisoners made of 
 those who came forward to defend the passage. The lord of Mirepoix 
 was slain under the banner of sir Walter Manny, who was the first 
 that entered the suburbs. When the count de Lisle saw that the 
 English had got possession of the suburbs, and were knocking down 
 and killing his people without mercy, he and the other lords of Gas- 
 cony made a handsome retreat toward the town, and passed the bridge 
 with great difficulty. At this place the engagement was very severe, 
 and lasted a considerable time : the noblemen qf France and of Eng- 
 land, named in the preceding chapters, combated most valiantly hand 
 to hand : neither knight nor bachelor could there conceal himself. 
 Sir Walter Manny had advanced so far among his enemies, that he 
 was in great danger. The English made prisoners of the viscount 
 de Bousquetin, the lords of Chatillon, of Chateauneuf, and of Lescun. 
 The French retreated into the fort, let down the portcullis, and, 
 getting upon the battlements, began to throw stones and other things, 
 to drive their enemies away. This assault and skirmish lasted until 
 vespers, when the English reti'eated, quite weary, into the suburbs, 
 which they had won ; where they found such quantities of provision 
 and wine, that might, on occasion, have lasted them for four months 
 most plentifully. 
 
 When the morrow dawned, the earl of Derby had his trumpets 
 sounded, and his forces drawn out in battle array, to approach the 
 town, and make a mighty assault, which lasted until noon. They 
 had not much success; for they found that there were within it 
 men who defended themselves valiantly. At noontide, the English 
 retreated, perceiving that they only lost their time. The lords then 
 
 assembled in council, and determined to attack the town on the side 
 
 * ' — ' — — — - — . 
 
 * A pouulous town in Perigord, diocese of Perigueux. 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, 6lc. 
 
 next the river ; for it was there only fortified by palisades. The earl 
 of Derby sent therefore to the fleet at Bordeaux for vessels, which 
 he ordered to come to him up the Dordogne ; there were upward 
 of sixty barks and other vessels lying at Bordeaux, that came to 
 Bergerac. In the evening of the following day, the English made 
 their arrangements, and at sunrise, all those who were ordered to 
 attack the town, and the fleet, were quite ready, under the com- 
 mand of the lord Stafford. There were many knights and squires 
 who had requested to be on this expedition, in hopes of prefer- 
 ment, as well as a body of archers. They advanced in haste, and 
 came to some large round piles placed before the palisades, which 
 they flung down. The townsmen, seeing this, went to the count de 
 Lisle, the lords, knights, and squires, who were present, and said to 
 them, " Gentlemen, we pray you to take heed what you are about; 
 for we run a great risk of being ruined. If the town be taken, we 
 shall lose all we have, as well as our lives : it will therefore be 
 much better that we surrender it to the earl of Derby, before we 
 suffer more damage." The count replied, "We will go to that 
 quarter where the danger is ; for we will not consent to surrender it 
 so easily." The Gascon knights and squires came, therefore, to de- 
 fend the palisades ; but the archers, who were in the barks, kept up 
 so quick an attack with their arrows, that none dared to show them, 
 selves, unless they chose to run the risk of being killed or wounded. 
 In the town there were with the Gascons two or three hundred Ge 
 noese cross-bowmen, whose armor shielded them from the arrows ; 
 they kept the archers well employed all the day, and many on each 
 side were wounded. At last, the English who were in the vessels 
 exerted themselves so much that they broke down a large piece of 
 the palisades ; those of Bergerac then retreated, and requested time 
 to consider if they should not surrender the place. The remainder 
 of that day and night was granted them, upon condition that they 
 did not attempt to repair the breaches : and every one retired to his 
 quarters. The lords of Gascony held, that night, a long council ; 
 and about midnight, having packed up all their baggage, they set 
 out from Bergerac, and followed the road to la Rfeole,* which is not 
 far distant, whose gates were opened to them, and there they took 
 up their quarters. 
 
 The English, on the morrow morning, reembarked on board their 
 fleet, and came to the part where the palisades had been broken 
 down ; they found in that place great numbers of the townsmen, 
 who intreated the knights, that they would beseech the earl of Derby 
 to have mercy on them and allow them their lives and fortunes, and 
 thenceforward they would yield obedience to the king of England. 
 The earl of Pembroke and the earl of Oxford replied, that they 
 would cheerfully comply with their request, and went to the earl of 
 Derby who was not present, and related to him what the inhabitants 
 of Bergerac had desired of them. The earl of Derby answered, " He 
 who begs for mercy should have mercy shown him : tell them to 
 open their gates, and let us enter, and we will assure them of safety 
 from us and from our people." The two lords returned, and reported 
 what the earl had said. Upon which the townsmen went to the 
 market-place, where every one men and women being assembled, 
 they rang the bells, threw open the gates, went out in procession to 
 meet the earl of Derby, and with all humility conducted him to the 
 church, where they swore homage and fealty to him, acknowledging 
 him as their lord, for the king of England, by virtue of a procuration 
 which he had with him. 
 
 CHAPTER CIV. 
 
 THE EARL OF DERBY CONQUERS MANY TOWNS AND FORTRESSES IH 
 
 UPPER GASCONY. 
 
 The same day that the count de Lisle, the barons and knights of 
 Gascony, had retreated to la Reole, they held a council, and resolved 
 to separate, and withdraw into fortresses, to carry on the war from 
 these garrisons, and to form a body of four or five hundred combat- 
 ants, by way of a frontier guard, under the command of the seneschal 
 of Toulouse. The count de Villemur was ordered to Auberoche ;t 
 sir Bertrand des Pres to Pelagrue ;t the lord Philip de Dyon to Mon. 
 tagret ;§ the lord of Montbrandon to Mauduran ; sir Arnold de Dyon 
 to Montgis ; Robert de Malmore to Beaumont, in Laillois ; sir Charles 
 de Poitiers to Pennes in the Angenois. All these knights departed 
 for their different garrisons ; but the count de Lisle remained in l« 
 R^ole, and had the fortress put in proper repair. When the earl ol 
 Derby had taken possession of Bergerac, and staid there two days, 
 he asked the seneschal of Bordeaux, what was most advisable for 
 him next to undertake, as he wished not to remain idle. The senes- 
 chal replied, that he thought it would be best to go toward Perigord 
 and upper Gascony. The earl of Derby then gave out his orders to 
 march toward Perigord, and left sir John de la Sante|| captain ot 
 Bergerac. As the English advanced, they came to a castle called 
 
 ♦ Reole— a town of the Bazadois, on the Garonne. 
 
 t In Perigord, diocese of Perigueux. 
 
 X A small town of Condomois, in the diocese of Condom. 
 
 § A town in Perigord, diocese of Perigueux. 
 
 II In one MS. it is Sonce ; in Barnes's history of Edward III., sir John St. John ; bat 
 he does not mention his auUiority for so altering it. la my print«d copy and anotb« 
 MS. it is Sant^, and is so in lord Berner's traoslatioo. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 fi7 
 
 Langon,* of which the provost of Toulouse was governor : they 
 halted there, not thinking it prudent to leave such a post in their 
 rear, and the marshal's battalion immediately began the assault, which 
 lasted all that day, but they gained nothing. Almost the whole army 
 was employed against it the next day ; and, with wood and faggots 
 they filled up the ditches, so that they could approach the walls. Sir 
 Frank van Halle asked the French if they were willing to surrender, 
 because they might delay it until it was too late. Upon this, they 
 demanded a truce to consider of it, which being granted them, after 
 some little time spent in counsel, they all set out for Monsac,t in the 
 French interest, but took nothing with them. The earl of Derby 
 appointed a squire called Aymon Lyon, governor of the castle of 
 Langon,t and gave him thirty archers. 
 
 The earl of Derby then rode on toward a town called Le Lac ; but 
 the townsmen came out to meet him, brought him the keys of the 
 town, and swore homage and fealty to him. The earl passed on, 
 and came to Mandarant, which he- took by storm : after he had 
 placed a garrison in the fortress, he came before Montgis, won it in 
 the same manner, and sent the governor prisoner to Bordeaux. He 
 afterwards advanced to Punach, which he took, and did the same to 
 the town and casde of Lieux§, where he staid three days to refresh 
 himself and army. On the fourth day he marched to Forsath, |i 
 which he gained easily enough, and then the town of Pondaire. He 
 next came to a town of considerable size, called Beaumont en Lail- 
 lois, which was a dependency on the count de Lisle. The earl was 
 three days before it, and many vigorous attacks were made ; for it 
 was well provided with men-at-arms and artillery, who defended 
 themselves as long as they were able ; at last it was taken, with 
 much slaughter on all those that were found in it. The earl of Derby 
 recruited his forces there with fresh men-at-arms, and then advanced 
 toward the principal town of the inheritance of the count de Lisle, 
 wnich was under the command of the Lord Philip de Dyon and the 
 lord Arnold de Dyon. He invested it on all sides, and made his 
 archers advance to the barriers, where they shot so well that none 
 durst appear to defend them ; the English having won the barriers, 
 and everything even to the gate, retired in the evening. On the 
 next morning, they renewed the attack in different places at once, 
 and gave those within so much to do, that they did not know which 
 way to defend themselves. The inhabitants therefore requested two 
 knights who were there to treat with the earl of Derby for a peace, 
 that their fortunes might be saved. They sent before them a herald, 
 who obtained a short truce, to see if any agreement could be entered 
 into. The eari of Derby ordered his men to retire, and came him- 
 self, accompanied by the lord Stafford and sir Walter Manny, to the 
 bars, to confer with the inhabitants. The earl at first would hear 
 of nothing but unconditional submission : at last it was settled, that 
 the town should put itself under the dependency of the king of Eng- 
 land, as duke of Guienne, and that twelve of the principal citizens 
 should be sent to Bordeaux as hostages. The French knights and 
 squires left the place with passports, and went to la Rfeole. 
 
 CHAPTER CV. 
 
 THS EARL OF OXFORD IS TAKEN PRISONER IN GASCONY, BUT SET AT 
 LIBERTY BY EXCHANGE. 
 
 After this conquest, and that the earl of Derby had left there 
 men-at-arms and archers, he came before Bonneval,ir and made a 
 violent attack upon it, in which many were killed and wounded. 
 At last he took it, and showed mercy. After he had reinforced it 
 with men-at-arms, and another governor, he pushed forward, and, 
 entering the country of Perigord, passed by Bordelles,** but did not 
 attack it, as he saw it would be only pains thrown away. He still 
 advanced, until he came before Perigueux.tt There was in the town 
 the earl of Perigord, the lord Roger de Perigord his brother, the lord 
 of Duras, and fully six-score knights and squires of that country. 
 When the earl of Derby came there, he considered in what manner 
 he might attack it most advantageously, for he saw it was very 
 strong. But, after having maturely weighed it, he thought it most 
 prudent not to waste his time : he therefore retreated two leagues, 
 and took up his quarters upon the banks of a river, in order to attack 
 the castle of Pelagrue.tt 
 
 Toward midnight, about two hundred lances, well mounted, sallied 
 out of Perigueux : they rode so fast, that before daylight they came 
 to the English camp, and falling upon it, killed and wounded many. 
 They entered the tent of the earl of Oxford, whom they found arming 
 himself : he was immediately attacked and taken prisoner, as well 
 as three knights of his household, otherwise he would have been 
 slain. The Gascons finding they had awakened the whole army, 
 Retired, and took their road to Perigueux. It was time for them to 
 do so : and fortunately they found the gates of the barriers open ; 
 for they were so closely pursued that they were thrown into con- 
 fusion : but the Gascons, as soon as they could rally themselves, 
 
 * Langen— atown in Bavadois, upon the Garonne, about six leagues from Bordeaux. 
 t> A town in Perigord, diocese of Sarlat. 
 
 X Barnes calls him an English squire, Timothy Lyon ; but I see no authority for it. 
 
 § In Gascony, diocese of Comminge. 
 
 II Fronsac— upon the Dordogne, six leagues from Bordeaux. 
 
 H A village in the diocese of Agen. Capital of Perigord. 
 
 tt A village in Bazadois, election of Condom. U A town in the Condomois. 
 
 dismounted, and, sword in hand, fought with the English, and main, 
 tained their ground so well that they lost nothing. 
 
 The English returned to the earl of Derby, who marched forward 
 until he came before Pelegrue, where he remained six days, and 
 many an assault was made upon it. During the time he continued 
 there, the earl of Oxford and his companions were exchanged, for 
 the viscount de Bousquetin, the viscount de ChJitillon, the lord of 
 Lescun, the lord of Chateauneuf ; and upon condition that the lands 
 of Perigord should remain in peace for three years : not, however, 
 but that any knight or squire might take up arms, without forfeiting 
 the treaty ; but nothing was to be burnt or pillaged in that country 
 for that space of time. The English therefore departed from before 
 Pelagrue, as it was part of Perigord, and rode toward Auberoche,* 
 where there is a handsome and strong castle, appertaining to the 
 archbishop of Toulouse. The English took up their quarters round 
 about it, as if they meant to remain there for a length of time, and 
 sent word to those within, that if they did not surrender speedily, 
 when the town was taken, they should be all put to the sword with, 
 out mercy. The inhabitants of the town and castle were much 
 alarmed ; and, seeing no appearance of any succor coming to them, 
 they put themselves under the obedience of the earl of Derby, upon 
 condition that their lives and fortunes were spared, and acknowledged 
 him as their lord, for the king of England. 
 
 The earl then made a handsome retreat toward Bordeaux, having 
 left in Auberoche a sufficient garrison, under the command of sir 
 Frank van Halle, sir Alain de Finefroide, and sir John Lendal. On 
 his road he came to Libourne, a fair and large town, twelve leagues 
 from Bordeaux ; to which he laid siege, and told those about him, 
 that he would not quit it before he had got possession of it. The 
 inhabitants consulted together; and considering well the good and 
 evil of being assaulted and vexed, they surrendered themselves to 
 the earl of Derby, and did homage to him during the three days 
 he remained there. The earl of Derby sent the earl of Pembroke to 
 Bergerac, and left the lord Stafford, sir Steven de Courcy, and the 
 lord Alexander de Haulfiel,t with their men, in Libourne. He him. 
 self, accompanied by the earl of Oxford and sir Walter Manny, took 
 the road for Bordeaux, where they arrived. 
 
 CHAPTER CVI. 
 
 THE COUNT DE LISLE, LIEUTENANT FOR THE KIN& OP FRANCE IN 
 GASCONY, LAYS SIEGE TO THE CASTLE OF AUBEROCHE. 
 
 The earl was joyfully received on his return to Bordeaux : the 
 clergy and inhabitants of the town came out to meet him, in a grand 
 procession : they allowed him to take provisions, and whatever else 
 he desired, according to his will and pleasure ; and he and his army 
 continued in the town, amusing themselves with the citizens and 
 their wives. 
 
 We will now return to the count de Lisle, whom we left m la 
 R^ole : as soon as he was informed that the earl of Derby had 
 returned to Bordeaux, and had taken up his residence there, he did 
 not think it probable he would undertake any more expeditions this 
 season. He sent letters therefore to the earls of Perigord, of Car- 
 main, of Comminges, of Bruniguel, and to all the barons of Gascony 
 that were in the French interest, to desire that they would collect as 
 many people as they could, and come with them properly armed, by 
 an appointed time, to meet him at Auberoche, as he intended to 
 besiege it. They all obeyed his summons ; for he was as a king in 
 these parts of Gascony. The knights who were in Auberoche were 
 not aware of this, until they found themselves so closely besieged on 
 all sides that no one could go out of the garrison without being seen. 
 The French brought from Toulouse four large machines, which cast 
 stones into the fortress night and day ; and they made no other 
 assault ; so that in six days' time they had demolished all the roofs 
 of the towers, and none within the castle dared to venture out of the 
 vaulted rooms on the ground floor. It was the intention of the army 
 to kill all within the castle, if they would not surrender themselves 
 unconditionally. 
 
 News was brought to the earl of Derby, that Auberoche was be- 
 sieged ; but he did not imagine his friends were so hard pushed. 
 When sir Frank van Halle, sir Alain de Finefroide, and sir John 
 Lendal, who were thus besieged, saw how desperate their situation 
 was, they asked their servants, if there were not one among them 
 who would, for a reward, undertake to deliver the letters they had 
 written to the earl of Derby at Bordeaux. One from among them 
 stepped forward, and said, he would be the man who would cheer- 
 fully undertake the commission, not through lust of gain, but from 
 his desire to deliver them from the peril they were in. The follow- 
 ing night the servant took the letters, sealed with their seals, and 
 sewed them up in his clothes. He was let down into the ditches : 
 when he was at the bottom, he climbed up the opposite side, and took 
 his road through the army ; for he could not avoid passing through 
 it. He was met by the first guard, but was not stopped, for he under 
 stood the Gascon language well, and named one of the lords of the 
 army, as if belonging to him ; so he was suffered to pass on : but he 
 was afterwards arrested, and detained under the tents of some other 
 lords, who brought him to the main watch. He was interrogated., 
 
 * A town in Perigord, t Barnes makes him Sir Alexander Hussey. 
 
68 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 searched, and the letters found upon him, and guarded until morning, 
 when the principals of the army assembled in the tent of the count 
 t';8 Lisle, where the letters were read. They were rejoiced to find 
 that the garrison was so much straitened that they could not hold 
 I at longer ; and, seizing the servant, they hung the letters round his 
 I eck, thrust him into one of the machines, and flung him into 
 iivuberoche. The valet fell quite dead amid the other valets of the 
 i'. stle, who were much terrified at it. 
 
 About this time, the earl of Perigord, his uncle sir Charles de Poi- 
 tiers, the earl of Carinain, and the lord of Duras, mounting their 
 horses, rode as near to the walls of the castle as they could, and calling 
 out to those within by way of derision, said, " Gentlemen, inquire of 
 your messenger where he found the earl of Derby, and whether he 
 is prepared to assist you, since your man was so eager to quit your 
 fortress, and has returned as quickly." Sir Frank van Halle replied, 
 " By my faith, gentlemen, if we be so closely confined in this place, 
 we will sally forth whenever it shall please God and the earl of Derby. 
 I wish to Heaven he were acquainted with our situation ; for if he 
 were, the proudest of you all would be afraid of standing your ground ; 
 and, if you will send any one to give him this information, one of us 
 will surrender himself to you, to be ransomed as becomes a gentle- 
 man." The French answered, " Nay, nay, matters must not turn 
 out so : the earl of Derby, in proper time, shall be made acquainted 
 v/ith it ; but not until our engines have battered your walls level with 
 the ground, and you shall have surrendered yourselves to save your 
 lives." " That, for certain, will never happen," said sir Frank van Halle , 
 for we will not surrender ourselves, should wc all die upon the walls." 
 The French lords then rode on, and returned to their army. The 
 three English knights remained in Auberoche, quite confounded by 
 the force of these engines, which flung such quantities of stones, that 
 in truth it seemed as if the thunder from heaven were battering the 
 walls of the castle. 
 
 Tbe Trebuchkt, a machine for casting stones, engraved in Grose's Military Antiquities 
 
 of the period. 
 
 carvinj 
 
 CHAPTERCVII. 
 
 THE EARL OF DERBY MAKES THE COUNT OF LISLE AND NINE MORE COUNTS 
 AND VISCOUNTS PRISONERS, BEFORE AUBEROCHE. 
 
 All these speeches, the treatment of the messenger, the contents 
 of the letters, and the perilous situation of Auberoche, were known 
 to the earl of Derby, by means of a spy he had in the French army. 
 The earl therefore sent orders to the earl of Pembroke in Bergerac, to 
 meet him at an appointed place and hour ; and also to the lord Stafford 
 and sir Stephen Tombey, who were at Libourne. The earl of Derby 
 then, accompanied by sir Walter Manny and the forces he had with 
 him, took the road toward Auberoche as secretly as possible; for he 
 had guides who were acquainted with all the by-roads. They came 
 to Libourne, where they staid a whole day for the earl of Pembroke ; 
 but honrirjg no tidings of him, and being impatient to succor their 
 frienjis who were so distressed, the earl of Derby, the earl of Oxford, 
 sir Valter Manny, sir Richard Hastings, sir Stephen Tombey, the 
 lord Ferrers, and other knights, set out from Libourne : riding all 
 night, they came on the morrow within two leagues of Auberoche. 
 They entered a ^'/M vhen, alighting from their horses, they tied 
 
 them to the trees, and allowed^ them to pasture, in expectation of the 
 arrival of the earl of Pembroke ; they waited all that morning, and 
 until noon, in vain, not knowing what to do ; for they were but three 
 hundred lances and six hundred archers, and the French were from 
 ten to twelve thousand men. They thought it would be cowardice 
 to suffer their friends to be lost, when they were so near them. At 
 last sir Walter Manny said, " Gentlemen, let us who are now here 
 mount our horses, skirt this wood, and advance until we come to their 
 camp ; when we shall be close to it, we will stick spurs into our 
 horses, and, with loud shouts, fall upon them. It will be about their 
 hour for supper ; and we shall see them so much discomfited, that 
 they can never rally again." The knights present replied, that the.}- 
 would all do as he had proposed. Each went to his horse, re-girthed 
 him, and tightened his armor : they ordered their pages, servants and 
 baggage, to remain where they were. 
 
 They advanced in silence by the side of the wood until they came 
 to the other end, where the French army was encamped in a wide 
 valley, near a small river : they then displayed their banners and 
 pennons, and sticking spurs into their horses, dashed into the midst 
 of the French and Gascon forces, who were quite confounded and 
 unprepared for this attack, as they were busy about their suppers, 
 many having set down to table. The English were well prepared to 
 act, and crying " Derby, Derby forever I" they cut down tents and 
 pavilions, and slew and wounded all that came in their way. The 
 French did not know where to turn, so much were they surprised ; 
 and when they got into the plains, if there were any large body of 
 them, the archers and cross-bowmen made such good use of their 
 weapons, that they were slain or dispersed. The count de Lisle was 
 taken, in his tent, badly wounded ; the earl of Perigord in his pavilion, 
 and also sir Charles, his uncle ; the lord of Duras was killed, and so 
 was sir Aymery de Poitiers ; but his brother, the earl of Valentinois, 
 was made prisoner. Every one took to his heels as fast as he could ; 
 
 but the earl of Comminges, the earls of Carmain, Ville- 
 mur, and Bruniguel, the lords de la Barde and de la 
 Taride, with others, who were quartered on the op- 
 posite side of the castle, displayed their banners, and 
 having drawn up their men, marched for the plain : 
 the English, however, who had already defeated the 
 largest body of the army, fell upon them most vigor- 
 ously. In this engagement, many gallant deeds of 
 arms wera performed, many captures made, and many 
 _ ^ rescues. As soon as sir Frank van Halle and sir John 
 
 ^^Jte Lendal, who were in Auberoche, heard the noise, and 
 
 perceived the banners and pennons of their friends, 
 they hastened to arm themselves, and all those that 
 were with them ; when, mounting their horses, they 
 sallied out of the fortress, made for the plain, and 
 dashed into the thickest of the combat, to the great 
 encouragement of the English. 
 
 Why should I make a long story of it ? All those 
 who were of the count de Lisle's party were discom- 
 fited, and almost all taken prisoners, or slain. Scarcely 
 any would have escaped, if night had not closed so 
 soon. Nine earls and viscounts were made prisoners, 
 and so many barons, knights and squires, that there 
 was not a man-at-arms among the English that had 
 not for his share two or three. This battle before 
 Auberoche was fought on the eve of St. Laurence's 
 day, in the year 13 J 4. The English treated their 
 prisoners like friends : they received many upon their 
 promises to surrender themselves by a certain day 
 at Bordeaux, or Bergerac. The English retired into 
 Auberoche ; and the earl of Derby entertained at sup- 
 per the greater part of the prisoners, earls, viscounts, 
 barons, and knights. They gave thanks and praises 
 to God, for having enabled them to overcome upward 
 of ten thousand men, when they themselves were not 
 more than one thousand, including every one, and 
 to rescue the town of Auberoche, in which were their 
 friends, that must have been captured in two days' time. On the 
 next morning, a little after sunrise, the earl of Pembroke arrived with 
 three hundred lances and four thousand archers ; he had been in- 
 formed of the event of the battle as they came along, and said to the 
 earl of Derby, " Certainly, cousin, you have neither been courteous, 
 nor behaved honorably, to fight my enemies without waiting for me, 
 seeing that you had sent for me ; and you might have been assured, 
 that nothing should have prevented my coming to you." The earl 
 replied, " Fair cousin, we were very anxious for your arrival, and we 
 waited for you from the morning until vespers : when we saw no 
 appearance of your coming, we dared not wait longer ; for had our 
 enemies been informed of our arrival, they would have had the ad- 
 vantage over us; but now, thanks to God, we have conquered them, 
 and we pray of you to help us in conducting them to Bordeaux." 
 They remained that day and night in Auberoche : on the next day 
 early, they were armed and mounted, and set oflf, leaving there a 
 Gascon knight in their interest, as governor, named the lord Alex- 
 ander of Chaumont. They took the road to Bordeaux, and carried 
 with them the greater part of their prisoners. 
 
 From an ivory 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 €9 
 
 CHAPTER CVIII. 
 
 THE EARL OF DERBY TAKES DIFFERENT TOWNS IN GASCONY, IN HIS 
 ROAD TOWARD LA REOLE. 
 
 The earl of Derby and his army, upon their arrival at Bordeaux, 
 were received with very great rejoicings : the inhabitants thought 
 they never could enough testify their joy to the earl, and to sir Walter 
 Manny, for their enterprise ; in which the count de Lisle and more 
 than two hundred knights were made prisoners. The winter passec 
 over, without any action taking place in Gascony that is worthy of 
 being recorded. Easter, which may be reckoned the beginning of 
 the year 1345, was about the middle of May, and the earl of Derby, 
 vvho had tarried all the winter in Bordeaux, collected a very large body 
 of men-at-arms and archers, and declared he would make an expe- 
 dition to la Rcole, where the French had fixed their head-quarters. 
 He went the first day from Bordeaux to Bergerac, where he found the 
 earl of Pembroke ready with his troops. These two noblemen, with 
 their forces, remained for three days in Bergerac, and on the fourth 
 departed. When they were got into the open country they halted 
 their men, counted them, and found that they had about a thousand 
 men-at-arms, and two thousand archers. They pushed forward, until 
 they came to a castle called St. Basile, to which they laid siege. Those 
 within, considering that the principal barons of Gascony were pris- 
 oners, and that they had no expectations of receiving succors from 
 any place, resolved to swear fealty to king Edward of England. The 
 earl of Derby continued his route, and took the road toward Aiguil- 
 lon* ; but, before he arrived there, he came to the castle of Roche- 
 milon; which was well provided with soldiers and artillery ; never- 
 theless, the earl ordered it to be vigorously assaulted. As the English 
 advanced to the attack, those within threw down upon them stones, 
 bars of iron, and pots full of hot lime ; by which many were slain and 
 wounded who adventured themselves too rashly. 
 
 When the earl of Derby perceived that his men were laboring in 
 vain, and getting themselves killed without any advantage, he sounded 
 a retreat : on the morrow, he ordered the peasants to bring great 
 quantities of brushwood, faggots, straw, and turf, and to throw them 
 all into the ditches of the castle, and plenty of earth with them. When 
 a part of the ditch was so filled that one jnight get to the foot of 
 the walls, he assembled three hundred archers, well armed, and in 
 battle aiTay, and sent before them two hundred countrymen covered 
 with shieldsjt having large pick-axes and hooks : while these first 
 were employed in picking the walls, the archers made such good use 
 of their bows, that no one dared to show himself on the battlements. 
 This lasted the greatest part of the day, when the pick-axe men made 
 so large a breach in the walls, that ten men might enter abreast. 
 The inhabitants of the town and castle were quite confounded ; some 
 fled toward the church, and others by a back way out of the town. 
 The fortress was immediately taken and pillaged ; and all the garri- 
 son were put to death, excepting such as had taken refuge in the 
 church, whom the earl of Derby pardoned, for they had submitted to 
 his mercy. The earl placed in the castle a fresh garrison, under the 
 command of two English captains, Richard Willes and Robert Scot ; 
 and then he came before Monsegur,t where he ordered his men to 
 prepare huts for themselves and horses : he continued before it fifteen 
 days. 
 
 The governor of the town was sir Hugh de Bastefol, and there 
 never passed a day without some assault being made upon it. They 
 sent for large machines from Bordeaux and Bergerac ; and the stones 
 which they cast into the town destroyed roofs, tiles, and the princi- 
 pal buildings. The earl of Derby sent every day to let them know, 
 that if they sufi'ered the town to be stormed, every one would be put 
 to the sword : but, if they would render obedience to the king of 
 England, he would pardon them, and treat them like friends. The 
 townsmen would cheerfully have surrendered ;, and they went to the 
 governor to consult him, and to sound his intentions, who answered 
 them by ordering them to the battlements, for that he had provision 
 of every sort in sufficiency to hold out for half a year, if it were ne- 
 cessary. They left him in apparent good-humor ; but about the time 
 of vespers they seized him, and closely confined him ; assuring him 
 at the same lime, he should never be set at liberty, if he did not as- 
 sist them to make some terms with the earl of Derby. When he had 
 Bvvorn that he would do everything in his power, they let him go ; 
 ne went directly to the barriers of the town, and made signs that he 
 wished to speak with the earl of Derby. Sir Walter Manny being 
 present came to the governor, who said to him," Sir Walter Manny, 
 you ought not to be surprised if we shut our gates against you, for 
 we have sworn fealty to the king of France : but not perceiving any 
 '^•riH coming from him to stop your career, and believing that you 
 ".viU still proceed further — for these reasons, in behalf of myself and 
 the inhabitants of this town, we wish you would allow us these 
 lorm^^, namely, that no hostilities be carried on against us for the 
 space of one montli ; and if in that time the king of France, or the 
 duke of Normandy, come into this country in such force as to give 
 you battle, we then shall hold ourselves free from our engagement ; 
 but if neither of them come, v/e will then enter under the obedience 
 of the king of England." 
 
 * A town of Guienne, situated at the confluence of the Lot aud Garonne, 
 t Pavisses, says Lord Berners, that is large shields or coverings of planks, which being 
 Bupported by some of tlie party, sheltered the others while at their work.— Ed. 
 t A town of Bazadois, election of Condom, near to la Reole 
 
 Sir Walter Manny went to relate this proposal to the earl of Derby, 
 who acceded to it, upon condition that there should not in the mean 
 time be any repairs made to the fortifications of the town, and that, 
 if any of the English army should want provisions, they might be at 
 liberty to purchase them. Upon this there were sent twelve of thp 
 principal citizens as hostages, who were ordered to Bordeaux. The 
 English refreshed themselves with provisions from the town, but 
 none were suffered to enter it. They then continued their march, 
 burning and destroying all the country as far as Aiguillon ; the gov, 
 ernor of which place came out to meet the earl, and surrendered the 
 town and castle to him, on condition of their lives and fortunes being 
 spared, to the great astonishment of all the country, for it was one of 
 the strongest castles in the world, and almost impregnable. When 
 the squire, who had thus surrendered Aiguillon, came to Toulouse, 
 which is seventeen leagues distant, the townsmen arrested him on 
 suspicion of treason, and hung him. This castle is situated on the 
 point between two navigable rivers. The earl ordered it to be re- 
 victualled, and the fortifications repaired, in order to its being fit to 
 receive him on his return, and that it might serve for a secure guard 
 to his other possessions. He gave the command of it to sir John de 
 Gombry.* He then came to a castle called Segart, which he took 
 by storm, and put all the foreign soldiers he found in it to death ; 
 from thence he came to the town of La Rfeole. 
 
 CHAPTER CIX. 
 
 THE EARL OF DERBY LAYS SIEGE TO LA REOLE, WHICH StTRRENDEM 
 
 TO HIM. 
 
 When the earl of Derby was arrived at la Rfeole, he encompassed 
 it closely all round, erecting towers in the plains, and near to every 
 road, that no provision of any kind could enter it. He caused it to 
 be assaulted almost every day. This siege took up much of the sum- 
 mer ; and, when the time had expired which those of Monsegur had 
 fixed for surrendering themsekes, the earl of Derby sent thither, and 
 the inhabitants of the town became liege men to the earl, who in all 
 these cases, was the representative of the king of England. Even 
 sir Hugh de Bastefol served under the earl with the men of Monse. 
 gur, for a certain salary, which he received from the said earl, for 
 himself and his fellow-soldiers. The English, who were besieging 
 la R^ole had lain before it more than nine weeks, and had con- 
 structed two large towers of great beams of wood, three stories high : 
 each tower was placed on wheels, and covered over with prepared 
 leather, to shelter those within from fire and from the arrows : in 
 each story were one hundred archers. These two towers, by dint 
 of men's force, were pushed close to the walls of the town ; for, du. 
 ring the time they were building, they had filled up the ditches, so 
 that these towers could easily pass over them. Those that were in 
 them began immediately to shoot so well and quick, that none dared 
 to appear upon the battlements unless he were well armed, or had a 
 shield. Between these two towers were posted two hundred men 
 with pick-axes and bars, to make a breach in the walls ; which they 
 did, and cast away the stones. The inhabitants seeing this, came 
 upon the walls, and inquired for some of the chiefs of the army, to 
 speak to them. The earl of Derby, being informed of it, sent thither 
 sir Walter Manny and the lord Stafford, who found the townsmen, 
 willing to surrender the town, on condition of their lives and fortunes 
 being spared. 
 
 When the governor, sir Agos de Bans, a Proven5al, found that the 
 inhabitants wanted to surrender the town, he retired into the castle 
 of la R^ole, with his fellow-soldiers ; and, while this treaty was go. 
 ing on, he had conveyed into it great quantities of wine and other 
 provision. He then ordered the gates to be fastened, and said, he - 
 would never surrender in so shameful a manner. The two knights 
 returned to the earl of Derby, and related to him that the townsmen 
 were desirous of surrendering upon the terms above named : the earl 
 sent them back, to know what the governor's intentions were re- 
 specting the castle. They returned with the answer, that he had 
 shut himself up in the castle, and would not yield it. After a little . 
 consideration, the earl said, " Well, well, let us have compassion on 
 the inhabitants : by means of the town, we shall soon gain the cas- 
 tie." The knights again went to the townsmen, and received their 
 submissions. They all came out to the plain, and presenting the 
 keys of the town to the earl, said, "Dear sir, from this day forward, we 
 acknowledge ourselves as your loyal subjects, and place ourselves, in 
 every respect, under the obedience of the king of England." They 
 swore by their heads, that they would not in any manner, assist or 
 succor those in the castle, but on the contrary, distress them all in 
 their power. The earl forbade under pain of death, that any hurt 
 should be done toward the inhabitants of la Reole. He then entered 
 it with his army, and surrounding the castle, erected all his machines 
 against it ; but they did little mischief, for the castle was very high 
 and built of a hard stone. It was erected a long time since by the 
 Saracens, who laid the foundations so strong, and with such curious 
 workmanship, that the buildings of our time cannot be compared to 
 
 * Barnes says, to the lord John Moubrny ; but 1 do not see upon what grounds. 1 
 should rather unagine it was Jokri de Montgomerie, who was captain of Calais in the 
 21st of Edward III., and had other charges of trust. 
 
70 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, Ac. 
 
 it. When the ear), found that his machines had no effect, he com- 
 manded them to desist ; and, as he was not without miners in his 
 
 ariTiy, he ordered them to undermine the ditches of the castle, so that 
 they might pass under. This was not however soon done. 
 
 CHAPTER ex. 
 
 Sm WALTER MANNY FINDS IN LA REOLE THE SEPULCHRE OF HIS 
 
 FATHER. 
 
 While they were lying before this castle, and miners only could 
 be employed, sir Walter Manny was reminded of his father, who 
 formerly had been murdered in his journey from St. James of Com- 
 postella; and he had heard in his infancy, that he had been buried in 
 la R^ole, or in that neighborhood. He therefore made inquiries in 
 the town, if there were no one who could inform him of the truth of 
 this matter, and offered a hundred crowns to whoever would conduct 
 him to the spot. This brought forward an old man, who said to sir 
 Walter Manny, " Certainly, sir, I think I can lead you to the place 
 where your father was buried, or very near to it." Sir Walter re- 
 plied, " If you prove your words true," I will stick to my bargain and 
 even go beyond it." To explain this matter more clearly, you must 
 know that there was formerly a bishop of Cambray, a Gascon, and of 
 the families of Buc and Mirepoix ; and, during the time of his hold- 
 ing that see, a magnificent tournament was held at Cambray, where 
 there were upward of five hundred knights. A knight from Gas- 
 cony tilted with the lord of Manny, the father of sir Walter: the 
 Gascon knight was so roughly handled and wounded, that he never 
 enjoyed his health afterwards but died. His death was laid to 'the 
 door of the lord of Manny, and the bishop and his kindred vowed re- 
 venge for it. Two or three years after, some good-hearted people 
 endeavored to reconcile them ; and peace was agreed to, on condi- 
 tion and by way of penance that the lord of Manny made a pil. 
 grimage to St. James of Compostella. 
 
 During the time of this journey, the earl Charles of Valois, brother 
 
 to king Philip the Fair, was besieging la Rfeole, and had been there 
 some time ; for it appertained, as well as many other cities and 
 towns, to the king of England, the father of him who besieged Tour- 
 nay ; so that the lord of Manny on his return went to visit the eari 
 Charles of Valois, as William earl of Hainault had married the lord 
 Charles's daughter, and showed him his letters; for, in these parts, 
 he was as king of France. It chanced, one night, as he was return- 
 ing to his lodgings, he was watched and waylaid by the kindred of 
 him on whose account he had performed this pilgrimage, and was 
 murdered at a small distance from the earl Charles's hotel. No one 
 knew positively who had done this deed ; but the relations of the 
 Gascon knight above mentioned were very strongly suspected : how- 
 ever, they were so pow^erful, that it was passed over, and excused ; 
 for none took the part of the lord of Manny. The earl of Valois 
 had him buried immediately in a small chapel, which at that time 
 was without the walls of la Reole ; and, when the earl of Valois had 
 conquered the town, this chapel was inclosed in it. The old man 
 remembered all these circumstances perfectly well, for he had been 
 present when the lord of Mau^y was interred. When sir Waltei 
 came to the spot, where his fatiier had been formerly buried, with 
 his aged conductor, he found there a small tomb of marble, which 
 his servants had erected over him ; and the old man said, " You 
 may be perfectly assured, that your father was buried and lies under 
 this tomb." Sir Walter then caused the inscription, which was in 
 Latin, to be read to him by a clerk, and found that the old man had 
 told him the truth. Two days afterwards, he had the tomb opened, 
 took out the bones of his father, and, placing .them in a coffin, sent 
 them to Valenciennes, in the county of Hainault, where they were 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN. &c. 
 
 n 
 
 again buried in the church of the Frferes Mineurs, near the choir. 
 He ordered masses to be said, and continued yearly. 
 
 CHAPTER CXI. 
 
 THE EARL OF DERBY CONQUERS THE CASTLE OF LA REOLE 
 
 The earl of Derby was more than eleven weeks besieging the 
 eastle of la R^ole : the miners, however, made such advances, that 
 they had got under one of the courts of the castle ; but they could 
 not undermine the donjon, for it was built on too hard a rock. The 
 lord Agos de Bans, the governor, then told his companions they were 
 undermined, and in great danger, who were much alarmed at it, and 
 said, " Sir, you will be in equal peril with ourselves, if you cannot 
 ^nd some method of avoiding it. You are our captain, and we ought 
 tb^bey you. In truth, we have defended ourselves honorably, and 
 no qne can blame us if now we enter into a treaty. Will you, there, 
 fore,, talk with the earl ©f Derby, and know if he will accept of our 
 surrejnder, sparing our lives and fortunes, seeing that we cannot at 
 present act otherwise ?" Sir Agos went down from the great tower, 
 and,' putting his head out of a window, made signs that he wished to 
 speak with some one from the army. A few of the English came 
 near him, and asked what he wanted : he replied, that he would 
 speak with the earl of Derby, or sir Walter Manny. When this 
 was told the earl, he said to sir Walter Manny, and to lord Stafford, 
 "Let us go to the fortress, and see what the governor. has to say to 
 us :" they rode therefore up to it. When sir Agos perceived them, 
 ne saluted each very respectfully, and said, " Gentlemen, you know 
 for fact that the king of France has sent me to this town and castle, 
 to defend them to the best of my abilities. You know in what 
 manner I have acquitted myself, and also that I should wish to con- 
 tinue it on : but one cannot always remain in the place that pleases 
 one best. I should therefore like to depart from hence, with my 
 companions, if it be agreeable to you ; and that we may have your 
 permission, if you will spare our lives and fortunes, we will surrender 
 this castle up to you." The earl replied, " Sir Agos, sir Agos, you 
 will not get off so : we know that you are very much distressed, and 
 that we can take you whenever we please ; for your castle now only 
 stands upon props : you must surrender yourselves up uncondition- 
 ally, and so shall you be received." Sir Agos, answering, said, 
 " Certainly, sir, if we should do so, I hold you of such honor and 
 gallantry, that you will show us every mark of favor, as you would 
 wish the king of France should do toward any of your knights ; and, 
 please God, you will never stain your honor and nobility for a few 
 poor soldiers, that are within here, who have gained their money 
 with great pain and trouble, and whom I brought with me from Pro- 
 vence, Savoy, and Dauphine : for know, that if the lowest of our men 
 be not treated with mercy, as well as the highest, we will sell our 
 lives in such a manner as none besieged ever did before. I therefore 
 entreat of you to listen to me, and treat us like brother soldiers, that 
 we may feel ourselves obliged to you." 
 
 The three knights withdrew to a little distance, and conversed a 
 long time together : when, considering the gallantry of sir Agos, that 
 he was a foreigner, and besides, that they could not undermine the 
 donjon, they returned, and said to him, " Sir Agos, we shall be happy 
 always to treat every stranger knight as a brother at arms ; and if, 
 fair sir, you and yours wish to leave the castle, you must carry nothing 
 with you but your arms and horses." " Let it be so then," replied 
 sir Agos. Upon this he returned to his companions, and related 
 what he had done : they immediately armed themselves, and capari- 
 soned their horses, of which they had only six remaining. Some 
 purchased horses of the English, who made them pay dearly for them. 
 Thus sir Agos de Bans gave up the castle of la R^ole, of which the 
 English took possession ; and he went to the city of Toulouse. 
 
 CHAPTER CXII. 
 
 THE EARL OF DERBY TAKES CASTEL MORON,* AND AFTERWARDS VILLE- 
 FRANCHE,t IN PERIGORD. 
 
 When the earl of Derby had gained possession of the town and 
 castle of la Reole, where he had spent a long time, he pushed for- 
 ward, but left there an English knight, to see after the repairs, that 
 it might be put in a similar situation as when he had come before it. 
 The earl advanced toward ?vIonpouillant,t which he instantly ordered 
 to be attacked the moment he arrived. There were in the castle 
 none but the peasantry of the country, who had retired thither with 
 their cattle, depending on the strength of the place ; they defended 
 '.hciaselves as long as they were able ; but at last it was taken by 
 escalade, though it cost the earl dear, in the loss of many archers, 
 and a young English gentleman called sir Richard Pennort,§ who 
 bore the banner of the lord Stafford. The earl gave the command 
 of the castle and its dependencies to a squire of his own, called 
 Thomas Lancaster, and left him with twenty archers. The earl 
 then came to Castel Moron, which he attacked; but, finding he could 
 not make any impression, he took up his quarters before it for that 
 
 A town of Bazadois, near la Reole. % A town of Bazadois. 
 
 A small town, not far from Bergerac § Penford, according to Barnes. 
 
 night. On the morrow morning, a knight from Gascony came to 
 him, called sir Alexander de Chaumont, and said, *' Sir, pretend to 
 decamp with your army, leaving only a small detachment here before 
 the town ; and, from the knowledge I have of its inhabitants, I am 
 sure they will sally forth to attack them. Your men will defenc' 
 themselves as they retreat, and by placing an ambuscade under these 
 olive trees, which as soon as they have passed, one part of your army 
 may fall upon their rear, and the other make for the town." The 
 earl followed this advice, and ordered the earl of Oxford to remain 
 behind, with only one hundred men, giving him directions what he 
 wished to have done. He then ordered all the baggage to be packed 
 up, and to march off, as if he were going to another place : after 
 having posted a strong ambuscade in the valley among the olives 
 and vines, he rode on. 
 
 When the townsmen of Castel Moron perceived that the earl and 
 the greater part of his army were marching off, they said among 
 themselves, " Let us hasten to arm, and sally forth to combat this 
 handful of English that stay behind : we shall soon discomfit them, 
 and have them at our mercy, which will bring us great honor and 
 profit." They all agreed to this proposal ; and, hastening to arm 
 themselves, they sallied out for the fastest, and might amount to about 
 four hundred. As soon as the earl of Oxford and his party saw them 
 coming, they began to retreat, and the French to follow them with 
 great eagerness ; they pursued them, until they had passed the am- 
 bush, when those posted there advanced upon them, calling out, 
 " Manny for ever !" for sir Walter commanded this ambuscade. One 
 part of his detachment fell upon those that had come from the town, 
 and the other made for Castel Moron, where they came about mid- 
 night, and found the gates wide open ; for the guards thought it wa5 
 their own people returning. The first comers therefore seized the 
 bridge, and were soon masters of the town ; for the inhabitants that 
 had sallied out were surrounded on all sides, and either slain or made 
 prisoners. Those that had remained in the town surrendered them- 
 selves to the earl of Derby, who received them kindly, and, out of 
 his nobleness of disposition, respited the town from being pillaged 
 and burnt. He made a present of it, and all its dependencies, to sir 
 Alexander de Chaumont, through whose advice he had gained it. 
 Sir Alexander made his brother, who was a squire, called Antony 
 de Chaumont, governor : and the earl of Derby left with him his 
 archers, and forty infantry armed with bucklers, in order to enable 
 him the better to guard the town. The earl then came before Ville-* 
 franche, which he took by storm, as well as the castle. He made 
 an English knight, sir Thomas Cook, governor of it. Thus did the 
 earl of Derby march through every part of the country, without any 
 one venturing out to prevent him. He conquered many different 
 towns and castles ; and his army gained so much riches, that it waa 
 marvellous to think on. 
 
 CHAPTER CXIII. *^ 
 
 THE EARL OF DERBY CONQUERS THE CITY OF ANGOULEME. 
 
 When the earl of Derby gained Villefranche, he advanced toward 
 Miraumont,* approaching nearer to Bordeaux ; for, in all this expe- 
 dition his light-horse, or scouts, had never come near to Port Sainte 
 Marie. t He was three days before Miraumont, and on the fourth it 
 surrendered. The earl gave the command of it to one of his squires, 
 called John Briscoe :t his army took afterwards a small fortified town 
 upon the Garonne, called Tonniens,§ and the strong castle of Dama- 
 zan, which was well provided with men-at-arms and archers. He 
 then came to the city of Angouleme,|| which he closely besieged, 
 and declared he would not depart before it was in his possession. 
 The townsmen hearing this entered into a treaty that their city 
 should remain unhurt for one month ; and twenty-four of the princi- 
 pal inhabitants were sent to Bordeaux, as hostages : if during this 
 time the king should send forces sufficient to make head against the 
 earl of Derby, the hostages should be returned, and they be accounted 
 free to take which side they pleased ; but if otherwise, they would 
 put themselves under the obedience of the king of England. 
 
 The earl of Derby continued to march, and came before Blayes,? 
 which he besieged on all sides. Two knights from Poitou were 
 governors of it, named sir Guiscard de I'Anglc,** and sir William 
 de Roche-chouart, who declared they would never surrender to any 
 man. While the English were besieging Blayes, a detachment of 
 them marched on to Mortaignett in Poitou, which was under the 
 command of the lord of Boucicault ; and there was a sharp engage- 
 ment, which ended in nothing, except leaving behind many of their 
 men dead and wounded. They returned, therefore, and came by 
 Mirabeau and Aulnay to the siege before Blayes, where almost every 
 day there was some gallant deed of arms performed. The term of 
 the month being expired when the town of Angoulerae was to sur- 
 render, the earl sent his two marshals thither, to whom they swore 
 homage and fealty, in the name of the king of England : the city by 
 
 * In the diocese of Agen. t town on the Garonne, near Aiguillos 
 
 + Barnes and lord Bernere call him Bristol, but I see no authority. 
 
 § In the Agenois, diocese of Agen. II The capital of the Angoumois, 
 
 *ir An ancient town upon the Garonne. 
 
 ** See more of him, and sir Frank Van Halle, in the histories of the order of tlie gar 
 ter, and also of sir Henry Earn. tt Diocese of Rochelle. 
 
72 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE^ SPAIN, &c. 
 
 this means enjoyed peace, and had their hostages returned to them ; 
 and the earl, at their request, made sir John Norwich* governor of 
 , it. The siege of Blayes was still continued, until the English began 
 to be weary of it ; for winter was approaching, and as yet they had 
 gained no advantage. They held a council, to consider if it would 
 not be better to retire to Bordeaux, and return in a more favorable 
 season. This was agreed to, and they decamped, passed the Ga- 
 ronne, and came to Bordeaux. Soon afterwards the earl divided his 
 forces, and sent detachments to different garrisons, to keep order, 
 and spread more over the country. 
 
 CHAPTER CXIV. 
 
 SIR GODFREY D£ HARCOURT BANISHED FROM FRANCE. 
 
 About this period, sir Godfrey de Harcourt incurred the anger of 
 the king of France. He was a great baron in Normandy, brother to 
 the earl c»f Harcourt, and lord of St. Sauveur le Vicomte, and of 
 many other towns in Normandy. This was occasioned through 
 jealousy ; for a little before he was so much in favor with the king 
 and duke, that he could do as he liked with either.t He was pub- 
 licly banished from France ; and, if the king's rage had not subsided, 
 he would have been served as sir Olivier de Clisson and the other 
 knights who had been beheaded the preceding year in Paris. Sir 
 Godfrey, however, had some good friends, who gave him informa. 
 tion privately how much the king was incensed against him. He 
 quitted the kingdom as speedily as possible, and went to Brabant, 
 where the duke John, his cousin, received him most joyfully. He 
 remained there a considerable time, and spent what revenue he had 
 in Brabant 5 for in France he had nothing, as the king had seized all 
 his estates in Coutantin, and received the rents for his own use. 
 The knight could never regain the love of the king of France, not- 
 withstanding all the earnest entreaties of the duke of Brabant. 
 
 This hatred cost dear to France, especially to the province of 
 Normandy ; for the traces of it appeared a hundred years afterwards, 
 as you will find by the following history .J 
 
 CHAPTER CXV. 
 
 ^ JACOB VON ARTAVELD IS MURDERED AT GHENT. 
 
 Jacob von Artaveld, the citizen of Ghent that was so much 
 attached to the king of England, still maintained the same despotic 
 power over all Flanders. He had promised the king of England, 
 that he would give him the inheritance of Flanders, invest his son the 
 prince of Wales with it, and make it a duchy instead of an earldom. 
 Upon which account the king was, at this period, about St. John the 
 Baptist's day, 1345, come to Sluys, with a numerous attendance of 
 barons and knights. He had brought the prince of Wales with him, 
 in order that Jacob von Artaveld's promises might be realized. The 
 king remained on board his fleet in the harbor of Sluys, where he kept 
 his court. His fiiends in Flanders came thither to see and visit him ; 
 and there were many conferences between the king and Jacob von 
 Artaveld on one side, and the councils from the difi'erent capital towns 
 on the other, relative to the agreement before-mentioned; as to which, 
 -hose from the country did not unite in sentiment with the king or 
 witli von Artaveld, who kept continually reminding him of their 
 quarrel, and exhorting them to disinherit earl Lewis, their natural 
 lord, and his youngest son Lewis, in favor of the so!i of the king of 
 England : but they declared they never would consent to such a 
 thing. At the last conference, which was held in the harbor of 
 Sluys, on board the king's ship, the Catherine (which was of such 
 an enormous size that wonders might be told of it,) they made this 
 unanimous reply: "Dear sir, the request you have made has given 
 us much uneasiness, and may in times to come be prejudicial to 
 Flanders and our successors. True it is, that there is not in the 
 world any prince whom we love so much, or for whose profit and 
 advantage we would exert ourselves so greatly as for you : but we 
 alone cannot agree to this proposition, unless all the commonalties 
 of Flanders give their consent. Therefore each of us will return to 
 our difierent towns, and will explain in a general way this business 
 to the inhabitants : when, if the greater part of them shall consent, 
 we also will agree to it : we will return to you again within a month, 
 and bring such answers as we hope will be satisfactory." Neither 
 the king of England nor Jacob von Artaveld could at that time ob- 
 tain mor^ or any other answer. They wished to have had a shorter 
 day appointed, but in vain : so the king answered, he was satisfied 
 that it should be as they determined. The conference broke up, and 
 each returned to the town from whence he had been deputed. 
 
 * Summoned to parliament the 16th and 34th Edward 111.— See Dugdale. 
 
 TSir Godfrey de Harcourt's disgrace was caused by a quarrel he had with the mard- 
 chal de Bnquebec, on account of a marriage being broken. Tiiey fought. The king 
 ordered the affair to be discussed in his parliament : but Harcourt, instead of appearing, 
 besieged a castle belonging to the bishop of Bayeux, brother to the marshal, entered into 
 negotiations with the enemies of his country, and by his hatred to his king gained the 
 favor of Edward. 
 
 Grands Chroniques de St. Denis, a beautiful copy on vellum in the Hafod Library. 
 Tliey had formed a part of the celebrated library of Diane de Poitiers, at Anet. 
 ^ J Godfrey de Harcourt did homage to king Edward, as king of France, the 13th June, 
 1345; when Edward engaged, if he could not recover for him his estates in Normandy, 
 !o eive him their equivalent in England.— Rymkr. 
 
 Jacob von Artaveld remained some little time longer with the king 
 of England, in order to be made acquainted with all his affairs : he, 
 in return, promised and assured him that he would bring his country- 
 men over to his opinion ; but he deceived himself, and did wrong in 
 staying behind, and not being at Ghent at the time when the citizens 
 who had been deputed by the corporations of the town arrived there : 
 for as soon as they were returned, taking advantage of the absence 
 of von Artaveld, they collected a large meeting of high and low in 
 the market-place, and there explained to them the subject of the late 
 conferences at Sluys, and what the king of England had required of 
 them, through the advice and information of Jacob von Artaveld. 
 The whole assembly began to murmur against him ; and this request 
 was received unfavorably by all. They said, " that if it pleased God, 
 they never would be pointed out, or found so disloyal, as to disinherit 
 their natural lord, in i'avor of a stranger." They then left the mar- 
 ket-place much discontented, and angry with Artaveld. Now, see 
 how unfortunately it fell out ; for if he had gone to Ghent, instead of 
 Bruges and Ypres, and had remonstrated with them upon the quarrel 
 , of the king of England, they would all have consented to his wishes, 
 as those of the two above-mentioned towns had done : but he trusted 
 so much to his prosperity and greatness, that he thought he could 
 recover everything back in a little time. 
 
 When on his return he came to Ghent about midday, the towns, 
 men, who were informed of the hour he was expected, had assembled 
 in the street that he was to pass through ; as soon as they saw him, 
 they began to murmur, and put their heads close together, saying, 
 " Here comes one who is too much the master, and wants to order in 
 Flanders according to his will and pleasure, which must not be lon- 
 ger borne." With this they had also spread a rumor through the town, 
 that Jacob von Artaveld had collected all the revenues of Flanders, 
 for nine years and more ; that he had usurped the government with- 
 out rendering an account, for he did not allow any of the rents to 
 pass to the earl of Flanders, but kept them securely to maintain his 
 own state, and had, during the time above-mentioned, received all 
 fines and forfeitures : of this great treasure he had sent part into Eng- 
 land. This information inflamed those of Ghent with rage ; and, as 
 he was riding up the streets, he perceived that there was something 
 in agitation against him ; for ^ose who were wont to salute him very 
 respectfully, now turned their backs, and went into their houses. He 
 began therefore to suspect all was not as usual ; and as soon as he 
 • had dismounted, and entered his h6tel, he ordered the doors and win- 
 dows to be shut and fastened. 
 
 Scarcely had his servants done this, when the street which he in- 
 habited was filled from one end to the other with all sorts of people, 
 but especially by tlse lowest of mechanics. His mansion was sur- 
 rounded on every side, attacked and broken into by force. Those 
 within did all they could to defend it, and killed and wounded many : 
 but at last they could not hold out against such vigorous attacks, for 
 three parts of the town were there. When Jacob von Artaveld saw 
 what efforts were making, and how hardly he was pushed, he came to 
 a window, and, with his liead uncovered, began to use humble and 
 fine language, saying, " My good people, what aileth you ? Why are 
 you so enraged against me ? by what means can I have incurred your 
 displeasure ? Tell me, I will conform myself entirely to your wills." 
 Those who had heard him made answer, as with one voice, *' We 
 want to have an account of the great treasures you have made away 
 with, without any title or reason." Artaveld replied in a soft tone, 
 " Gentlemen, be assured that I have never taken anything from the 
 treasures of Flanders ; and if you will return quietly to your homes, 
 and come here to-morrow morning, I will be provided to give so good 
 an account of them, that you must reasonably be satisfied." But they 
 cried out, " No, no, we must have it directly, you shall not thus es- 
 cape from us ; for we know that you have emptied the treasury, and 
 sent it into England, without our knowledge : you therefore shall 
 suffer death." When he heard this, he clasped his hands together, 
 began to weep bitterly, and said, *' Gentlemen, such as I am, you 
 yourselves Jiave made me : you formerly swore you would protect me 
 against all the world ; and now, without "any reason, you want to 
 murder me. You are certainly masters to do it if you please ; for I 
 am but one man against you all. Think better of it, for the love of 
 God : recollect former times, and consider how many favors and kind- 
 nesses I have confgjTcd upon you. You wish to give me a sorry 
 recompense for all the generous deeds you have experienced at my 
 hands. You are not ignorant, that, when commerce was dead in this 
 country, it was I who restored it. I afterwards governed you in so 
 peaceable a manner, that under my administration you had all things 
 according to your wishes ; corn, oats, riches, and all sorts of mer- 
 chandise which have made you so wealthy." They began to bawl 
 out, " Come down, and do not preach to us from such a height ; for 
 we will have an account and statement of the great treasures of Flan- 
 ders, which you have governed too long without rendering any ac- 
 count ; and it is not proper for an officer to receive the rents of a 
 lord, or of a country, without accounting for them." When Jacob 
 von Artaveld saw that he could not appease or calm them, he shut the 
 window, and intended getting out of his house the back way, to take 
 shelter in a church adjoining ; but his hdtel was already broke into 
 on that side, and upward of four hundred were there calling o»t to 
 him. At last he was seized by them, and slain without mercy : his 
 death-stroke was given him by a saddler, called Thomas Denys. In 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 73 
 
 this manner did Jacob von Artaveld end his days, who in his time 
 had been complete master of Flanders. Poor men first raised him, 
 and wicked men slew him. News of this event was soon spread 
 abroad ; some pitied him, while others rejoiced at it. The earl Lewis 
 had remained all this time at Dendremonde, and with much pleasure 
 heard of Jacob von Artaveld's death, as he had very much opposed 
 him in all his u ndertakings : nevertheless, he durst not yet place con- 
 fidence in those of Flanders, nor return to Ghent. 
 
 When the kin ,f of England, who was waiting at Sluys for the re- 
 turn of the deputies, was informed in what manner the inhabitants of 
 Ghent had slain his faithful friend and companion Artaveld, he was 
 in a mighty passion, and sore displeased. He immediately departed, 
 put to sea, and vowed vengeance against the Flemings and all Flan- 
 ders, declaring that his death should be dearly paid for by them. The 
 councils of the principal towns guessed that the king of England 
 would not be much enraged agaiastthem ; they therefore considered 
 that their best method to soften his anger, v/ould be to go and excuse 
 themselves from the murder of Jacob von Artaveld, especially those 
 of Bruges, Ypres, Gourtray, Oudenarde, and the franc of Bruges. 
 They sent to the king and his council for a safe conduct, that they 
 might come over to make their excuses ; and the king, whose anger 
 was somewhat cooled, granted it to them. 
 
 The principal persons of all the chief towns in Flanders, except 
 those of Ghent, came into England about Michaelmas. The king 
 was at that time in Westminster, near London. They made very 
 fair excuses, and swore most solemnly that " they were guiltless of 
 the murder of von Artaveld, which, had they suspected, they would 
 have guarded and defended him : that they were exceedingly vexed 
 at his loss, anci regretted it most sincerely ; for they knew how kind 
 he had been to them, how useful he was in all their affairs, and that 
 he had reigned and governed Flanders most wisely : that since those 
 of Ghent had slain him, they should make ample amends for it." 
 They also explained to the king and his council, " that though Jacob 
 von Artaveld was dead, he was not the less beloved, or less in the 
 good graces of the Flemings, save and except in the investiture of 
 Flanders, which he wished to be taken from the earl, their natural 
 lord, however he may be attached to the French interest, and from 
 his son, their lawful heir, to give it to the prince of Wales ; for the 
 Flemings would not, on any account, listen to it. But, dear sir, you 
 have a fine family of sons and daughters : the prince of Wales, your 
 eldest son, cannot fail being a great prince, with an ample inherit- 
 ance, without desiring that of Flanders : and you have also a young 
 daughter ; we have too a young lord, whom we are bringing up and 
 taking care of, that will be lord of Flanders : it perhaps may be, that 
 a marriage could be brought about between them, so that the country 
 of Flanders will in the end be possessed by one of your children." 
 These speeches softened very much the anger and ill-will of the king 
 of England ; and, in the end, both he and the Flemings were equally 
 satisfied with each other. Thus, by degrees, was the death of Jacob 
 von Artaveld forgotten. 
 
 CHAPTER CXVL 
 
 WILLIAM EARL OF HAINAULT IS SLAIN IN FRIEZLAND, AND MANY 
 NOBLEMEN WITH HIM. 
 
 At this time and season, William earl of Hainault was laying 
 siege to the town of Utrecht, and had been there for a long time, in 
 order to recover some rights which he claimed as belonging to him. 
 He pressed the siege so closely by his vigorous assaults, that he 
 brought it back to its duly, and obtained everything he wished for. 
 Soon afterwards, in the same year, about the feast of St. Remy (1st 
 of October,) the earl collected a large body of men-at-arms, knights 
 and squires, from Hainault, Flanders, Brabant, Holland, Gueldres, 
 and Juliers; and, embarking them on board a considerable fleet at 
 Dordrecht, made sail for Friezland ; for the earl considered himself 
 as lord thereof. If the Friezlanders had been people to listen to the 
 legality and reasonableness of the claim, the earl was entitled to it ; 
 but, as they were obstinate, he exerted himself to obtain it by force, 
 and was slain, as well as a great many other knights and squires. 
 God have mercy on their souls ! 
 
 Sir John of Hainault did not accompany his nephew, but went to 
 another part. On hearing of his nephew's death, he wanted to com- 
 bat the Friezlanders like one out of his senses ; when his servants 
 found the state he was in, they took him and carried him on board a 
 vessel, whether he would or no. Sir Robert de Glewes, who was his 
 body squire, was most active in saving him. They returned in small 
 numbers, and in disorder, to Gertruydenberg in Holland, where the 
 lady Jane his niece, the wife of the above-mentioned earl, was wait- 
 ing for him. She was the eldest daughter of the duke of Brabant, 
 and from that moment withdrew to the terytory of Binch,* which 
 was her dower. The county of Hainault remained vacant some time, 
 and was governed by sir John of Hainault, until the lady Margaret, 
 mother to earl Albert, came thither, and took possession of the heri- 
 tage ; to whom all the lords did homage and fealty. This lady Mar- 
 garet, countess of Hainault, was married to the lord Lewis of Bavaria, 
 emperor of Rome and king of Germany. 
 
 * Binch, near Mons, in Hainault. 
 
 CHAPTER CXVII. 
 
 SIR JOHN OF HAINAULT QUITS THE ALLIANCE OF ENGLAND FOR THAT 
 
 OF FRANCE. 
 
 Soon after this, king Philip of France endeavored by a treaty, 
 through the means of the earl of Blois, to persuade sir John of 
 Hainault to take part with France. He promised to allow him the 
 same subsidy which he received from England, and would assign it 
 upon whatever lands his council might think best. But sir John was 
 not willing to comply ; for he had spent the flower of his youth in 
 fighting for England, and king Edward had always much loved and 
 esteemed him. When the earl of Blois, who had marriecl his daugh- 
 ter, and had three sons by her, Lewis, John and Guy, found that he 
 could not succeed in this busines s himself, he endeavored, by means 
 of the lord of Faguinelles, who was the chief friend and adviser of 
 sir John, to gain his point. In order to make him alter his opinion 
 of the English, they made hiijri believe that they would not pay him 
 his subsidy for a considerable time. This put sir John so much out 
 of humor, that he renounced all treaties and agreements which he 
 had entered into with England. The king of France was no sooner 
 informed of it, than he sent to .him persons sufficiently authorized, 
 who retained him, as well as his council, for France, at a certain 
 salary ; and he recompensed him in his kingdom with a greater 
 revenue than he derived from England. 
 
 CHAPTER CXVIII. 
 
 THE DUKE OF NORMANDY MARCHES WITH A GREAT ARMY INTO GAS- 
 CONY AGAINST THE EARL OF DERBY. 
 
 The king of France having received information of the expeditions 
 and conquests that the earl of Derby had made in Gascony, issued a 
 special summons for all nobles, and others, that were capable of 
 bearing arms, to assemble in the cities of Orleans and Bourges, and 
 in that neighborhood, by a certain day. In obedience to this sum- 
 mons, there came to Paris, Eudes duke of Burgundy, and his son the 
 earl of Artois and Boulogne ; they presented themselves before the 
 king with a thousand lances. Next came the duke of Bourbon, the 
 earl of Ponthieu his brother ; then the earl of Eu and of Guignes, 
 constable of France, each attended by a numerous body men-at- 
 arms. The earl of Tancarville, the dauphiue of Auvergne, the earls 
 of Forets, Dammartine, Venddme; the lords of Coucy, of Craon, oi 
 Sully, of Fresnes, of Beaujeu, of Roye, the bishop of IBeauvais, the 
 lord John of Cha.lons, and many others, assembled at Orleans : and 
 those from the west side of the Loire ; those from the eastern side 
 and beyond Poitou, Saintonge, la Rochelle, Quercy, Limcnisin, Au. 
 vergne, assembled in the neighborhood of Toulouse. These all 
 advanced toward Rouergue, where they found great multitudes col- 
 lected in the city of Rhodez, and on the borders of Auvergne and 
 Provence. At last these lords were all assembled, with their men, 
 in and near Toulouse, for they were too great in numbers to be lodged 
 in the city : they amounted, in the whole, to upward of a hundred * 
 thousand persons. This was the year of grace 1345. Soon after 
 the feast of Christmas, the duke of Normandy, who was the com- 
 mander-in-chief of this army, set out to join it, and ordered his mar- 
 shals, the lord of Montmorency and the lord of St. Venant, to advance 
 Math the van. They came first to the castle of Miraumont, which 
 the English had conquered in tlie summer, and most vigorously as. 
 saulted it. There were within about a hundred Englishmen for its 
 defence, under the command of John Briscoe. 
 
 With the French were the lord Lewis of Spain, and a number of 
 Genoese cross.bowmen, that spared none ; those within could not 
 defend themselves against so superior a force, but were taken and 
 the greater part of them slain, even their captain. The marshals, 
 having recruited their battalion with fresh men, advanced further, 
 and came before Villefranche, in the county of Agenois. The army 
 halted there, and surrounded it on all side?. Sir Thomas Cook, the 
 governor, was not there, but at Bordeaux, whitlier the earl of Derby 
 had sent for him. However, those within made a vigorous defence; 
 but, in the end they were taken by storm, and the greater part of 
 the garrison put to the sword. The army then marched toward the 
 city of Angouleme, leaving the town and castle of Villefranche stand- 
 ing undemolished, and without any guard. The city of Angou- 
 leme was closely besieged, and the governor of it for the king of 
 England was sir John Norwich. 
 
 The earl of Derby, who was at Bordeaux, heard of the arrival of 
 this great army from France* and that they had already recaptured 
 Miraumont, and Villefranche, which they had plundered and burnt, 
 except the citadel. Having sent for four of his knights, in whom he 
 placed much confidence, he ordered them to take sixty men-at-arms 
 and three hundred archers, and set out for Villefranche to gain pos- 
 session of the casde, which was empty, and put it, as well as the 
 gates of the town, into good repair ; if the French should come to 
 attack them, to make a good defence, for he should hasten to their 
 assistance, let it cost what it would. These knights did according 
 to their orders, and their names were sir Stephen Tombey, sir Richard 
 Heydon, sir Ralph Hastings, and sir Normant de Finefroide. The 
 earl then requested the earl of Pembroke, sir Walter Manny, sir 
 Frank van Halle, sir Thomas Cook, sir John Touchet, sir Richard 
 
74 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 de Beauvais,* sir Philip Radcliff, sir Robert Neville, sir Thomas Bis. 
 set, and many other knights and squires, that they would immediately 
 set off to defend Aiguillon, for he should be very much displeased if 
 he lost that town. They departed, in number about forty knights 
 and squires, and three hundred men-at-arms and archers. They got 
 into the castle of Aiguillon, where they found about six score brother 
 soldiers, whom the earl of Derby had left there. They laid in a suffi. 
 cient stock of meal, and all other sorts of provision. As the four 
 first-mentioned knights were on their road to Villefranche, they col. 
 lected a quantity of cattle, sheep, corn, and all other provision, which 
 they drove before them to Villefranche. They entered the castle, 
 and repaired its walls, as well as those of the town, and were upv/ard 
 of fifteen hundred fighting men, well supplied with provision for six 
 months. 
 
 The duke of Normandy was a long time before Angouleme ; and, 
 when he found that he made no impression by his assaults, so well 
 was it defended, but lost many of his* people every day, he ordered 
 them to cease from their attacks, and to take up their quarters nearer 
 the city. One day during this siege, the seneschal of Beaucaire 
 came to the duke, and said, " Sir, I am very well acquainted with 
 all this country ; and, if you will let me have six hundred men-at. 
 arms, I will make an excursion, in search of cattle and provision ; 
 for very shortly, if we remain here, we shall be in need of both." 
 This was very agreeable to the duke and his council ; and on the 
 morrow morning, the seneschal took those knights and squires who 
 were desirous of advancement. Among those who placed them- 
 selves under his command were the duke of Bourbon, his brother the 
 earl of Ponthieu, the earls of Tancarville, Forets, the dauphine of 
 Auvergne, the lords of Pons, of Partenay, of Coucy, of Daubigny, of 
 Aussemont, of Beaujeau, sir Guiscard d'Angle, the lord of Saintr^, 
 and many others, to the amount of nine hundred lances. Toward 
 the evening they -mounted their horses, and riding all night, came 
 about the dawn before a large town called Athenis,t which had but 
 lately surrendered to the English. A spy came to the seneschal, and 
 informed him that in the town there were six score men-at-arms, 
 Gascons and English, and three hundred archers, who would defend 
 themselves well, if they were attacked: "but," added the spy, "I 
 have observed that their cattle are without the town ; and in a 
 meadow underneath it are two hundred large beasts feeding." The 
 seneschal then addressed himself to his companions, and said, "Gen- 
 tlemen, I think it most advisable that you should remain in this val- 
 ley: I will go, with sixty men, to collect the booty, which I will 
 drive this way ; and I am mistaken, if the English do not sally out, 
 thinking to rescue them, which will throw them into your power." 
 This was executed ; and the seneschal, accompanied by sixty com. 
 panions well mounted, rode through by.roads round the town, until 
 he came to the fine meads, where the cattle were pasturing. He 
 then separated his companions, for them to collect the beasts to. 
 gether, and drive them under the walls of the town by a different 
 road. 
 
 The watch on the walls and on the castle, seeing this, began to 
 make a great noise, and to sound the alarm to awaken their fellow, 
 soldiers and the townsmen ; for, as it v/as very early, many were 
 asleep: they immediately began to stir, and, saddling their horses, 
 assembled in the market-place. They came there as well armed as 
 they could, and left none in the town but servants. The English 
 were very eager in the pursuit, to recover their cattle, crying out to 
 the French, " You must not think to get oiT so." The seneschal 
 hastened the more, so that the English fell into the ambuscade, 
 which attacked them ; and, through the disorder they were in by 
 their too great eagerness, in the space of an hour they were all over- 
 eome. Their captain, sir Stephen Lacy, was made prisoner, as well 
 as those who, through a point of honor, were around him : the rest 
 were slain. The French then made for the town, which they en- 
 tered by storm ; for there were none to defend it. The first battal. 
 ion which entered was that of the duke of Bourbon. These lords 
 took possession of it ; and, having placed a new garrison and gov. 
 ernor, they set out with all their booty and prisoners, and returned 
 the next day to the army before Angouleme. Notwithstanding there 
 were many greater lords in this expedition than the seneschal of 
 Beaucaire, he had all the honor and glory of it. 
 
 CHAPTER CXIX. 
 
 SIR JOHN NORWICH ESCAPES FROM ANGOULEME, WHEN THAT TOWN 
 SURRENDERS TO THE FRENCH. 
 
 The lords of France remained for a very considerable time before 
 Angouleme. The French overran all the country which had been 
 conquered by the English : they created much trouble, and, when- 
 over they found a fit opportunity, brought to their camp many pris- 
 oners and much pillage : the two brothers of Bourbon acquired great 
 praise from all, as they were the foremost in every excursion. When 
 sir John Norwich, the governor of Angouleme, found that the duke 
 of Normandy would not break up the siege until he had gained the 
 
 * Bayeux.— Barnes. 
 
 tMr. Bames makes it ^ncenis ; but that is too far off; and he quotes Du Chcsne, 
 page 663. In my opinion, it must be Su Jean tCAngely, as that is in fiaintonge, and 
 Dot too far distant for this excursion. 
 
 city ; that his provisions were growing short, and that the earl o' 
 Derby showed no signs of coming to his relief : having also per- 
 ceived tliat the inhabitants were much inclined to the French, and 
 would have turned to them before, if they had dared : he began to 
 be suspicious of treason, and bethought how he could best save him- 
 self and his companions. On the eve of the Purification, he came 
 on the battlements of the walls of the city alone, without having 
 mentioned to any one his intentions, and made signs with his cap 
 that he wanted to speak with some one from the army. Those who 
 had noticed the signal came to know what he wanted : he said, " he 
 wished to speak with my lord the duke of Normandy, or v/ith one of 
 his marshals." They went to inform the duke of this, who came 
 there, attended by some of his knights. As soon as sir John saw 
 the duke, he pulled off" his cap, and saluted him. The duke returned 
 the saiute, and said, " Sir John, how fares it with you? Are you 
 inclined to surrender yourself ?" " I have no intentions to do that," 
 replied sir John ; " but I could wish to entreat of you, in reve'rence 
 to the feast of our Lady, which is to-morrov/, that you would grant 
 us a truce for that day only, that neither of us may hurt the other, 
 but remain in peace." The duke said, " he was willing to consent 
 to it." 
 
 Early the next morning, which was Candlemas day, sir John and 
 his companions armed themselves, and packed up all they had. 
 They then ordered one of the gates to be opened, and issued forth ; 
 which being perceived by the army, some part of it began to put 
 itself in motion : sir John, upon this, rode up to them, and said, 
 " Gentlemen, gentlemen, beware that you do no harm to us ; for we 
 have had a truce agreed on for this whole day, as you must know, 
 by the duke of Normandy ; and we shall not touch you. If you have 
 not been informed of it, go and inquire ; for we can, upon the faith 
 of this truce, ride and go wherever we please." This information 
 was brought to the duke, and he was asked what was to be done, 
 who replied, "Let them go, in God's name, whatever way they 
 choose ; for v.'e cannot force them to stay. I will keep the promise 
 I made them." Thus sir John Norwich passed through the whole 
 French army unhurt, and took the road to Aiguillon. When those 
 who were in garrison there heard in what manner he had escaped 
 and saved his men, they said he had acted very cunningly. The 
 inhabitants of Angouleme held a council on Candlemas day, and 
 determined to surrender themselves to the duke : they sent persons 
 properly authorized to treat, who managed so well, that the duke 
 showed them mercy, and pardoned them. He entered the city and 
 castle, where he received their homage, and appointed sir Anthony 
 de Villiers governor, with a hundred soldiers to defend it. The 
 duke afterwards decamped, and came before the castle of Damazan,* 
 which he laid siege to for fourteen days. There were continued 
 assaults ; but at last it was taken, and all within it, Gascons and 
 English, put to the sword. The duke gave this castle and its depend- 
 encies to a squire, from Beausse, named the Borgne de Nully. He 
 then came before Tonniens,t which is situated on the Garonne, and 
 which he found well provided with Gascons and English. There 
 were many attacks and skirmishes ; and he remained some time be- 
 fore it. However, at last they surrendered, upon condition of pre. 
 serving their lives and fortunes, and to be conducted in safety to 
 Bordeaux. When these foreigners had left it, the town entered un- 
 der obedience to the duke, who staid here with his whole army, and 
 on the banks of the Garonne, until after Easter, when he advanced 
 toward Port St. Marie upon the same river. There were about two 
 hundred English to defend the town and this passage, who had 
 strongly fortified it; but they, and all within, were taken by assault. 
 The French, after they had repaired and reinforced it with men-at. 
 arms, set out and took the road toward Aiguillon. 
 
 CHAPTER CXX. 
 
 THE DUKE OF NORMANDY LAYS SIEGE TO AIGUILLON WITH A HUNDRED 
 
 THOUSAND MEN. 
 
 The noblemen of France, under the command of the duke of 
 Normandy, pushed on until they came before the castle of Aiguillon, 
 when they encamped and divided their forces in the extensive and 
 handsome meadows on the banks of the river Garonne, which is 
 navigable for great vessels. Each lord v/as posted with his own 
 people, and every company by itself, according to the orders of the 
 marshals of the army. This siege continued until the beginning of 
 October ; and there were upward of one hundred thousand men in 
 arms, including cavalry and infantry. Those within were obliged to 
 defend themselves against this army two or three times every day, 
 and most commonly from noon until eve without ceasing ; for there 
 were continually pouring upon them fresh forces, Genoese or othei-s, 
 who gave them no repose. The chiefs of the French army found 
 they could never attack, with advantage, the fortress, unless they 
 passed the river, which was wide and deep : the duke therefore 
 ordered a bridge to be constructed, that they might cross it : three 
 hundred workmen were employed at this bridge, who worked day 
 and night. As soon as the knights who were in Aiguillon perceived 
 that this bridge was nearly finished, and that one half of it was com- 
 pleted, they prepared three vessels, in which they embarked, and, 
 
 * A towQ in Gaseony, in the election of Condom. t Diocese oi Agen. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, tfe c . 
 
 * 
 
 75 
 
 driving away the workmen and guards, instantly destroyed what had 
 taken so much time to make. The lords of France, seeing Jhis, got 
 ready other vessels to attack them, in which they placed a number 
 of men-at-arms, Genoese cross-bowmen and infantry, and ordered the 
 workmen to continue their works, under the support of these guards. 
 When these workmen were thus employed, sir Walter Manny, and 
 some of his coiiipanions, embarked about noon, and, dashing upon 
 them, made then quit their work and run off : he soon destroyed all 
 that they had duae. This kind of skirmish was continued daily; 
 but at last the French sent such large detachments to guard the work- 
 men, that the bridge was completed in a good and strong manner. 
 The army then passed over i!; in order of battle, and attacked the 
 castle for the space of one whole day, but did no harm ; and, in the 
 evening, they retreated to their camp, where they were plentifully 
 supplied with everything. 
 
 • Those within the castle repairt d what damage had been done, for 
 they had plenty of workmen. On the morrow, the French resolved 
 to divide their army into four divisions ; the first of which should 
 make an attack on this fortress from the dawn until about nine 
 o'clock ; the second from that time until noon ; the third from noon 
 till four o'clock ; and the fourth division from that time till night. 
 This mode of attack was continued for six successive days. How. 
 ever, those within the castle were never so much harassed but that 
 they could defend themselves valiantly ; and their enemies gained 
 nothing but the bridge, which was before the castle. The French 
 lords, upon this, held a council, and sent to Toulouse for eight of 
 their largest battering engines, and constructed four other large ones 
 upon the spot. These twelve engines cast stones into the fortress 
 day and night ; but the besieged had taken such pains to avoid what 
 mischief they ;ould do, that they only destroyed the roofs of the 
 houses : they h id also made counter-engines, which played upon 
 those of their enemies, and in a short space of time totally ruined six 
 f of them. 
 
 During this siege, sir Walter Manny made frequent excursions 
 beyond the river, with about six score companions, to forage, and 
 often returned with his booty in sight of the army. One day the 
 lord Charles of Montmorency had been on a foraging party, with five 
 or six hundred men, and was conducting a great number of cattle to 
 victual the army, when he met sir Walter Manny under the walls of 
 Aiguillon. They immediately began an engagement, which v^^as 
 very sharp ; and many were killed and wounded on both sides. The 
 French were at least five to one. News was brought of this into 
 Aiguillon, when every one sallied out for the fastest, and the earl of 
 Pembroke with the foremost : they dashed into the midst of them, 
 and found sir Walter Manny unhorsed, and surrounded by his ene- 
 mies, but fighting most valiantly. He was directly rescued and 
 remounted. During the heat of the engagement, the French 
 hastened to drive off the cattle to a place of safety, or they would 
 have lost them ; for the English were coming in crowds to succor 
 their countrymen, and, falling upon the French vigorously, they put 
 them to flight, rescued those they had made prisoners, and captured 
 also many from them. The lord Charles de Montmorency had great 
 difficulty to escape, and retreated as fast as he could, quite discom- 
 fited. When it was over, the English returned to Aiguillon. 
 
 Such skirmishes frequently happened, for scarcely a day passed 
 withofiit some engagement. The French having one day drawn out 
 their army, ordered those noblemen that were from Toulouse, Car- 
 cassonne, and Beaucaire, and their dependencies, to make an attack 
 with their men, from the morning until noon ; and those from Rou- 
 ergue, Cahors, and Agenois, to continue it from their retreat until 
 the evening. The duke promised to any of his soldiers who should 
 gain the draw-bridge of the castle, a reward of a hundred golden 
 crowns.* The duke, in order to assist this attack, commanded a 
 number of vessels and barges to come down the river, in which 
 many embarked to cross it, while the remainder passed over the 
 bridge. Those in the castle made a gallant defence ; but at last, 
 some of the French got into a small boat, and, passing under the 
 bridge, fastened strong hooks and chains to the draw-bridge, with 
 which they pulled so lustily, that they broke the iron chains which 
 held the bridge, and forced it down. 
 
 The French, so eager were they to gain the promised reward, 
 leaped upon the bridge in such haste that they tumbled over each 
 other. . The besieged flung down upon them stones, hot lime, large 
 beams, and boiling water, so that many were hurt, and drowned in 
 the ditches. The bridge, however, was taken, though it cost them 
 more than it was worth : but they could not gain the gate : therefore, 
 as it was late, they returned to their camp, for they had need of rest; 
 and those within the castle sallied out, and repaired the bridge, 
 making it stronger than ever. 
 
 On the next day, two principal engineers came to the duke, and 
 said. If he would find them wood and workmen, they would build 
 for him four such high towers, as, when they were advanced to the 
 walls of the castle, should overtop them. The duke commanded all 
 the carpenters of the country to be sent for, and handsomely paid. 
 These four towers were constructed, and placed on the decks of 
 four large vessels ; but they took a long time in making, and cost 
 much money. Those ordered upon this attack embarked on board 
 the vessels, and, when they were about half way over the river, the 
 
 ♦ 6a. 8d. each.— Barnes. 
 
 besieged let off four martinets,* which they had newly constructed, to 
 defend themselves against these towers. These four martinets cast 
 such large stones, and so very rapidly, that the men-at-arms in the 
 towers were much hurt by them : and, having no means to shield 
 themselves, they returned back as fast as they were able ; but in their 
 retreat one of the vessels foundered and sunk : the greater number 
 of those that were on board were drowned, which was a great pity, 
 as they were chiefly valiant knights who were eager to distinguish 
 themselves. When the duke found that this scheme did not answer 
 his expectations, he ordered them to disembark from the three 
 remaining vessels. He was at a loss what plan to follow, by which he 
 could gain the castle of Aiguillon ; for he had vowed he would never 
 quit the place until he was master of it and the garrison, unless the 
 king, his father, ordered otherwise. The lords therefore advised him 
 to send the constable of France and the earl of Tancarville to Paris, 
 to inform king Philip of the state of the siege, and to know if the 
 king wished the duke of Normandy to continue before Aiguillon, 
 until he had, through famine, made himself master of it, since he 
 could not gain it by force. 
 
 The king of England, having heard how jiiuch pressed his people 
 were in the castle of Aiguillon, determined to lead a great army into 
 Gascony. He set about making his preparations, summoned all the 
 vassals in his kingdom, and collected forces from whatever quarter 
 he could, that were willing to enter into his pay. About this time 
 sir Godfrey de Harcourt, who had been banished from France, 
 arrived in England. He was received by the king in his palace ; 
 and he assigned over to him a handsome estate in England, to main- 
 tain him, suitable to his rank. Soon after this, the king assembled a 
 large fleet of ships at Southampton, and sent thither his men-at-arms 
 and his archers.t About St. John the Baptif^t's day, 1316, the king 
 took leave of the queen, and, setting out, left her to the care of his 
 cousin, the earl of Kent. He appointed the lord Percy, and the lord 
 Neville of Raby, the archbishop of York, the bishop of Durham, and 
 the bishop of Lincoln, to be his lieutenants for the northern parts of 
 his kingdom ; and he did not take so many forces out of the realm 
 but that there was a sufficiency of men-at-arms left to defend it, 
 should there be occasion. Pie took the road to Southampton, where 
 he tarried until he had a favorable wind, when he embarked with 
 his whole army. On board the king's ship, were the prince of Wales 
 and sir Godfrey de Harcourt : the other lords, earls, and barons em- 
 barked with their men, as they had been ordered. There might be 
 about four thousand men-at-arms, and ten thousand archers, not 
 including the Irish and the Welch, who followed the army on foot. 
 
 I will enumerate the names of those lords that accompanied king 
 Edward. I must mention first the prince of W^Ies, v/ho at that time 
 was only thirteent years old, or thereabouts : there were Humphry 
 Bohun earl of Hereford and Essex, his brother William Buhun earl 
 of Northampton, Thomas Beauchamp earl of Warwick, Richard 
 Fitzalan earl of Arundel, John Vere earl of Oxford, William Clinton 
 earl of Huntington, Robert Hufford earl of Suffolk : of barons, there 
 were the young lord Roger Mortimer, the lord Gerard Lisle, and his 
 kinsman the lord John Lisle, the lord Reginald Cobham, the lord-3 
 John and Roger Beauchamp, and the lord John Mowbray, the lord 
 William Roos of Hamlake, the lord Thomas Lucy of Cockermouth, 
 the lord William Felton, the lord Thomas Bradestan, the lord Ralph 
 Basset of Sapcoat, John lord Willoughby of Eresby, the lord Peter 
 Manly fifth of the name, Thomas lord Ughtred, John lord Fitzwalter, 
 William lord Kerdeston, the lord Roger Say, the lord Almaric de 
 St. Amand, the lord Robert Bourchier, the lord John le Strange, the 
 lord Edward Montagu, the lord Richard Talbot, the lord John Mohun 
 of Dunster, William lord Boteler of Wemme, Robert lord Ferrers, 
 John lord Seymour, John lord Grey, William lord Botreaux, the lord 
 Hugh Spencer, the lord John Striveling, Michael lord Poynings 
 Robert lord M«rley, Thomas lord Ashley, John lord Sutton, the lord 
 Nicholas Cantilupe, and others ; of knights-bachelors, sir John 
 Chandos, the lord Peter Audley, and the lord James Audley, the lord 
 Bartholomew Burgherst junior, the lord Thomas Holland, the lord Fulk 
 Fitz warren, sir Richard Pembridge, and several others. There were 
 few strangers : only sir Oulphart de Guistelles, from the country of 
 Hainault, and five or six knights from Germany, whose names I have 
 forgotten. 
 
 When they embarked, the weather was as favorable as the king 
 could wish, to carfy him to Gascony ; but on the third day, the wind 
 was so contrary, that they were driven upon the coasts of Cornv/all, 
 where they cast anchor, and remained for six days and six nights. 
 During this time, the king altered his mind with respect to going to- 
 ward Gascony, through the advice and representations of sir Godfrey 
 de Harcourt, who convinced him that it would be more for his inte- 
 rest to land in Normandy, by such words as these : " Sir, that pro. 
 
 * Du Cange, supplement, under the word Martinetus, calls it an instrument of war 
 and quotes this passage for his authority, but does not explain it further. 
 
 t Edward appoinis his son, Lionel, lieutenant of the reahn, during his absence, by an 
 ordinance dated Porchester, 5th June, 1346.— Rymer. 
 
 He was at Porchester the 1st and 2nd of July, 1346.— Rymer, 
 
 John de Offord, chancellor, delivered up the great seal to John de Thoresby, the 2nd 
 July, in the Isle of Wight. 
 
 X This is a mistake ; for he was born tlae 15th June, 1330 : he must tlierefore have been 
 sixteen. 
 
 I have copied the names out of Barnes's Life of Edward III., wherein he mentions 
 that twenty-two of them, from lord Ughtred, are taken from an old MS, in C. C C 
 iibrary, Cambridge, intituled. " ActaEdwardi filii, Edwardi tertii." 
 
76 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 vince is one of the most fertile in the world ; and I will answer on 
 my head, that you may land in any part of it you shall please without 
 hindrance, for no one will think of opposing you. The Normans 
 have not beeji accustomed to the use of arms ; and all the knight- 
 hood, that otherwise would have been there, are at present with the 
 duke before Aiguillon. You will find in Normandy rich towns and 
 handsome castles, without any means of defence, and your people 
 will gain wealth enough to suffice them for twenty years to come. 
 Your fleet may also follow you, up the river Orne, as far as Caen. 
 I therefore entreat you will listen, and give belief to what I say." 
 The king, who at that time was in the flower of his youth, and who 
 desired nothing better than to combat his enemies, paid much atten- 
 tion to what sir Godfrey de Harcourt, whom he called cousin, had 
 said. He commanded his sailors to steer straight for Normandy, and 
 ordered the flag of the admiral, the earl of Warwick, to be hoisted 
 on board his ship ; he took the lead, as admiral of the fleet, and 
 made for Normandy, with a very favorable wind. The fleet anchored 
 near to the shores of Coutantin,* and the king landed at a port 
 called La Hogue St. Vast. News of his arrival was soon spread 
 abroad : it was told all over the country, that the English had landed 
 with a very great array. Messengers were instantly dispatched to 
 Paris, to the king, from the towns of Coutantin. He had already 
 been informed, that the king of England had embarked a numerous 
 army, and was on the coasts of Normandy and Brittany ; but he was 
 not sure for what particular part he intended to make. As soon, 
 therefore, as he heard the English had landed, he sent for his con- 
 stable, the earl of Guignes, and the earl of Tancarville, who were 
 just come from Aiguillon, and ordered them to set ofl* directly for 
 Caen, to defend that place and the neighborhood against the English. 
 
 They replied, they would cheerfully do it, to the utmost of their 
 power, and left the king at Paris, taking with them a number of 
 men-at-arms, whose ranks were every day increasing, and rode on to 
 Caen, where they were received most joyfully by the inhabitants and 
 the good people of the country, who had retired thither, with their 
 effects. These lords immediately made inquiries into the state of the 
 town, which at that time was not walled, and ordered arms to be 
 prepared, to supply every one with them according to his degree. 
 We will now return to the king of England, who had landed at la 
 Hogue St. Vast, not far from St. Sauveur le Vicomte,t the inherit- 
 ance of sir Godfrey de Harcourt, who at that time was a partisan of 
 England.t 
 
 CHAPTER CXXI. 
 
 THE KINO OF ENGLAND MARCHES INTO NORMANDY WITH HIS ARMY IN 
 
 THREE BATTALIONS. 
 
 When the fleet of England was all safely arrived at La Hogue, the 
 king leaped on shore first ; but by accid-ent he fell, and with such 
 violence that the blood gushed out of his nose : the knights that 
 were near him said, " Dear sir, let us entreat you to return to your 
 ship, and not think of landing to-day, for this is an unfortunate 
 omen." The king instantly replied, " For why ? I look upon it as 
 very favorable, and a sign that the land is desirous of me." 
 
 His people were much pleased with this answer. The king and 
 his army lay that night upon the sands. In the mean time, they dis- 
 embarked their baggage, armor, and horses ; and there was a council 
 held, to consider how they could act most advantageously. The 
 king created two marshals of his army : one was sir Godfrey de Har- 
 court ; the other the earl of Warwick : and he made the earl of 
 Arundel his constable. He ordered the earl of Huntington to remain 
 with his fleet, with a hundred or six score men-at-arms, and four 
 hundred archers. He then held another council respecting the order 
 of march, and determined to divide the army into three battalions ; 
 one of which should advance on his right, following the sea-coast, 
 and another on his left ; and he himself, with the prince his son, and 
 the main body, in the centre. Every night, the marshal's battalion 
 was to retire to' the quarters of the king. They thus began their 
 march, as they had resolved upon : those who were on board the fleet 
 coasted the shores, and took every vessel, great and small, they met 
 with. Both the armies of sea and land went forward, until they 
 came to a strong town, called Barfleur,§ which they soon gained ; 
 the inhabitants having surrendered immediately, for fear of losing 
 their lives : but that did not prevent the town from being pillaged 
 and robbed of gold, silver, and everything precious that could be 
 found therein. There was so much wealth, that the boys of the 
 army set no value on gowns trimmed with fur. They made all the 
 townsmen quit the place, and embarked them on board the fleet ; 
 for they did not choose that, after they had continued their march, 
 they should collect together, and attack them. 
 
 After the town of Barfleur had been pillaged, but not burnt, they 
 spread themselves over the country, near the sea-coast, where they 
 did whatever they pleased, for there were none to oppose them. 
 They advanced until they came to a considerable and wealthy town 
 
 * Coutantin— a district of Normandy, of which Coutances is the capital town, 
 t Diocese of Coutances. 
 
 X On the king's landing at La Hogue, he created the prince of Wales a knight, and, 
 m consequence, demanded the usual aid on such occasions, dated Calais, the Nativity 
 of our Lady, 1346.— Rymer. 
 
 i Diocese of Coutances. 
 
 called Cherbourg,* which they burnt and pillaged in part ; but they 
 could not conquer the castle, as it was too strong, and well garri- 
 soned with men-at-arms ; they therefore passed on, and came before 
 Montbourg, near Valognes, which they pillaged, and then set fire 
 to it. In this manner did they plunder and burn a great many towns 
 in that country : and acquired so much riches that it would have 
 been difficult to have counted their wealth. They afterwards marched 
 to a very considerable tov/n, and well inclosed, cnlled Carentan,t 
 which had a strong castle, garrisoned by a number of soldiers. Those 
 lords that were on board the fleet then disembarked with their peo- 
 pic, and made a vigorous attack upon it; which, when the townsmen 
 perceived, they were fearful of losing their own lives, as well as 
 those of their wives and children, and opened the gates to them, in 
 spite of the men-at-arms and soldiers that were within the town. 
 They voluntarily offered the English all they had, thinking it best 
 for their advantage. The men-at-arms, finding the inhabitants deter- 
 mined to admit the English, retired into the fortress, which was very 
 strong ; and the English entered the town ; but, not thinking it right 
 to leave so strong a place behind them, for two successi ve days they 
 kept up a strong assault against the castle. Those within, not hear, 
 ing of any assi^ftance coming to them, surrendered, on condition 
 of their lives and fortunes being spared. They marched out, and 
 withdrew to another part of the country. The English did what 
 they pleased in the town and castle ; but, finding that they could not 
 conveniently keep them, they burnt and destroyed both, and forced 
 the inhabitants to embark on board their fleet, and go with them, aa 
 they had done to those of Barfleur, Cherbourg, Montebourg, and all 
 the other towns which they had plundered on the sea.coast. 
 
 We will now return to the expedition of the king of England. As 
 soon as he had sent part of his army, under the command of the 
 earl of Warwick, one of his marshals, and the lord Pi-cginald Cob- 
 ham, along the sea-coast, as you have heard, he set out from La 
 Hogue, where he was lodged, under the guidance of sir Godfrey de - 
 Harcourt, who was well acquainted with every part of Normandy. 
 Sir Godfrey, as marshal, advanced before the king, with the van. 
 guard of five hundred armed men and two thousand archers, and 
 rode on for six or seven leagues' distance from the main army, burn, 
 ing and destroying the country. They found ft rich and plentiful, 
 abounding in all things : the barns full of every sort of corn, and 
 the houses with riches : the inhabitants at their ease, having cars, 
 carts, horses, swine, sheep, and everything in abundance which the 
 country afforded. They seized whatever they chose of all these good 
 things, and brought them to the king's army ; but the soldiers did 
 not give any account to their officers, or to those appointed by the 
 king, of the gold and silver they took, which they kept to themselves 
 In this manner did sir Godfrey, every day, proceed to the left of the 
 king's army ; and each night returned, with his party, to the place 
 where he knew the king intended fixing his quarters. Som.etimes, 
 when he found great plenty of forage and booty, he Vv as two or three 
 days before he returned. The king, therefore, with his army and 
 baggage, advanced toward St. Lo,t in Coutantin ; but, before he 
 arrived there, he took up his quarters on the banks of the river, to 
 wait for the return of that part of his army which he had sent along 
 the sea-coast. When they were come back, with all their booty 
 safely packed in wagons, the earl of Warwick, the . earl of Suffolk, 
 the lord Thomas Holland, and the lord Reginald Cobham, took their 
 march, with their battalion, on the right, burning and destroying the 
 country in the same way that sir Godfrey de Harcourt was doing. 
 The king marched, with the main body, between these two battalions ; 
 and every night they encamped together. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXII. 
 
 THE KING OF FRANCE COLLECTS A LARGE FORCE, TO OPPOSE THE 
 KING OF ENGLAND. 
 
 Thus, while the English were burning and destroying great part 
 of Normandy, the king of France was not idle, but had issued out 
 his sunmions to the lord John of Hainault, who came to him with 
 a powerful company of knights from Hainault and elsewhere : he 
 also sent to every earl, baron and knight that were dependent on 
 him. They obeyed his summons in such numbers as France had 
 not seen for a hundred years ; but as those in foreign countries were 
 at great distances, they were long before they arrived, and the king 
 of England had overrun and destroyed the whole district of Coutan- 
 tin in Normandy, to its great detriment. 
 
 When king Philip first heard of the destruction the king of Eng. 
 land was making in his realm, he swore that the English should 
 never return without his having combated with them ; and, that the 
 mischief they had done to his people should be dearly paid for. He 
 hastened, therefore, to dispatch his letters : he sent first to his good 
 friends in the empire, because they were at the greatest distance, 
 and also to the gallant king of Bohemia, whom he much loved, and 
 to the lord Charles of Bohemia his son, who had then the title of 
 king of Germany, which he had obtained, as was well known, 
 through the influence of his father and the king of France, and he 
 
 * Diocese of Coutances. 
 
 t About three leagues from the sea, diocese of Coutances. 
 t Diocese of Coutances. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 77 
 
 had already quartered the arms of the empire. King Philip entreated 
 of them to come speedily to his assistance, for he was impatient to 
 meet the English, who w re despoiling his kingdom. These lords 
 had no intention of excusing themselves, but set about collecting a 
 large body of men-at-arms, from Germany, Bohemia, and Luxem- 
 bourg, and came to the king of France with a powerful army. The 
 king of France wrote also to the duke of Lorraine, who came to 
 serve him with upward of three hundred lances. The earl of 
 
 sir Robert de Blargny was governor, with a garrison of three hundred 
 Genoese. 
 
 In the heart of the town was the earl of Eu and of Guigncs, the 
 constable of France, and the earl of Tancarville, with a crowd of 
 men-at-arms. The king rode on very prudently ; and, having united his 
 three battalions, he took up his quarters, for that night, in the fields, 
 two short leagues from Caen, near a town called Estreham,* where 
 there is a haven. He ordered the earl of Huntington, whom he had 
 
 made admiral of his fleet, to 
 sail for that place. The con. 
 stable of France, and the othei 
 lords who were assembled in 
 Caen, watched it well thai 
 night ; and, on the morrow, 
 they armed themselves, and 
 all the inhabitants. After they 
 were drawn out, the constable 
 and the earl of Tancarville 
 ordered that no one should 
 leave the town, but should 
 guard well the bridge, the 
 gates, and the river. They 
 gave up the suburbs to the 
 English, because they were 
 not inclosed ; and they thought 
 they should find sufficient em- 
 ployment to guard the town, 
 which was only defended by 
 the river. The townsmen, 
 howeveV, said, they would 
 march out into the plains, as 
 they were in sufficient force 
 to fight with the English 
 When the constable perceived 
 their willingness, he said, " It 
 shall be so then ; but, in God's 
 name, you shall not fight with- 
 out me." They then marched 
 out of the town, in handsome 
 order, and made a show as it 
 they would fight valiantly, 
 and risk their lives upon the 
 event. 
 
 Battlb of Caen— From a MS. Froissart of the Fifteenth Century. 
 
 Savoy,* the earl of Saltzburgh, the earl of Flanders, and earl William 
 of Namur, cyme also to king Philip, each of them with a very hand- 
 some company. 
 
 You have before heard the manner of the king of England's march : 
 the two marshals, on the right and left, and the king and prince of 
 Wales in the centre. They advanced by short marches ; and every 
 day they encamped between ten and twelve o'clock. They found 
 the country so abounding with provisions, that they had no need to 
 seek for forage, except wines, of which there > was a reasonable 
 quantity. It is not to be wondered at, if the people ®f the country 
 were alarmed and frightened ; for they had never seen any men-at- 
 arms, and knew nothing of war or battles : they therefore fled before 
 the English, as soon as ever they heard they were coming, leaving 
 their houses and barns quite full, for they had neither means nor art 
 to save them. 
 
 The king of England and prince of Wales had, in their battalion, 
 about three thousand men-at-arms, six thousand archers, ten thou- 
 sand infantry, without counting those that were under the marshals ; 
 and they marched on in the manner I have before mentioned, burn- 
 ing and destroying the country, but without breaking their line 
 of battle. They did not turn toward Coutances, but advanced to 
 St. L6, in Coutantin, which in those days was a very rich and com- 
 mercial town, and worth three such towns as Coutances. In the 
 town of St. L6 was much drapery, and many wealthy inhabitants: 
 among them, you might count eight or nine score that were engaged 
 in commerce. AVhen the king of England was come near to the 
 town, he encamped : he would not lodge in it for fear of fire. He 
 sent, therefore, his advanced guard forward, who soon conquered it, 
 at a trifling loss, and completely plundered it. No one can imagine 
 the quantity of riches they found in it, nor the number of bales of 
 cloth. If there had been any purchasers, they might have bought 
 enough at a very cheap rate. 
 
 The English then advanced toward Caen, which is a much larger 
 town, stronger, and fuller of draperies and all other sorts of mer- 
 chandise, rich citizens, noble dames and damsels, and fine churches. 
 In particular, there are two very rich monasteries ; one dedicated to 
 St. Stephen, and the other to the Trinity. The castle is situated on 
 one side of the town : it is the handsomest in all Normandy : and 
 
 * Tho earl of Savoy did not come, aa you will M« Atithw on. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXIJi. 
 
 THE BATTLE OF CAEN THB 
 
 ENaLISH TAKE THE TOWN. 
 
 On this day the English 
 rose very early, and made 
 themselves ready to march to 
 Caen : the king heard mass before sunrise, and afterwards mount- 
 ing his horse, with the prince of Wales, and sir Godfrey de Har- 
 court (who was marshal and director of the army, and through 
 whose advice the king had undertaken this expedition) marched for- 
 ward in order of battle. The battalion of the marshals led the van, 
 and came near to the handsome town of Caen. 
 
 When the townsmen, who had taken the field, perceived the 
 English advancing, with banners and pennons flying in abundance, 
 and saw those archers whom they had not been accustomed to, they 
 were so frightened that they betook themselves to flight, and ran for 
 the town in great disorder, without regarding the constable and the 
 men-at-arms who were with them. The English pursued them 
 eagerly; which, when the constable and the earl of Tancarville saw, 
 they gained a gate at the entrance of the bridge in safety, and a few 
 knights with them, for the English had already entered the town. 
 
 Some knights and squires of the French, who knew the road to 
 the castle, made for it ; and the governor, sir Robert de Blargny, 
 received them all : as the castle was very large, and plentifully vict. 
 ualled, those were safe that could get there. 
 
 The English, who were after the runaways, made great havoc ; 
 for they spared none. When the constable, and those that had taken 
 refuge with him within the gate of the bridge, looked round them, 
 and saw the great slaughter the English were making, for they gave 
 no quarter, they began to fear lest they should fall into the hands of 
 some of those archers, who wonld not know who they were. But 
 they perceived a knight who had but one eye, named sir Thomas 
 Holland (whom they had formerly known in Prussia and Grenada,) 
 coming toward them, in company with five or six other knights : 
 they called to him, and asked if he would take them as his prisoners? 
 Sir Thomas and his company advanced to the gate, and, dismount, 
 ing, ascended to the top, with sixteen others, where he found the 
 above-mentioned knights, and twenty-five more, who surrendered 
 themselves to sir Thomas.t 
 
 Having left a sufficient guard over them, he mounted hift horse, 
 
 * Estreham— diocese of Bayeux, at the mouth of the river Ome, four leagues from 
 Caen. 
 
 t ** But here whatsoever Froissart doth report of the taking of this town, and of the 
 of tbcM two noblQawn, it ii to b« proved, that the said eul of Taacarvillo yru 
 
78 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGL AND, FRANCE, SPAIN, dtc. 
 
 rode through the streets, and prevented many acts of cruelty: as did 
 jflso other knights and squires, to whom several of the citizens ovv^ed 
 their lives, and many a nun was protected from violation by their 
 interference. It was fortunate for the English, that it was ebb tide 
 in the river, which carries large vessels, and the water very still, so 
 that they could pass and repass it without any danger from the 
 bridge.* Those inhabitants who had taken refuge in the garrets 
 flung down from them, in these narrow streets, stones, benches, and 
 whatever they could lay hands on ; so that they killed and wounded 
 upward of five hundred of the English, which so enraged the king 
 of Eng'and, when he received the reports in the evening, that he 
 ordered the remainder of the inhabitants to be put to the sword, and 
 the town burnt. But sir Godfrey de Harcourt said to him : " Dear 
 sir, assuage somewhat of your anger, and be satisfied with what has 
 already been done. You have a long journey yet to make before 
 you arrive at Calais, whither it is your intention to go : and there 
 are in this town a great number of inhabitants, who will defend 
 themselves obstinately in their houses, if you force them to it : be- 
 sides, it will cost you many lives before the town -can be destroyed, 
 which may put a stop to your expedition to Calais, and it will not 
 redound to your honor : therefore be sparing of your men, for in a 
 month's time you will have call for them ; as it cannot otherwise 
 happen, but that your adversary king Philip must soon come to give 
 you battle, and, you may meet with many difficulties, assaults and 
 skirmishes, that will find full employment for the number of men 
 you have, and even more if we could get them. We are complete 
 masters of the town without any more slaughter; and the inhabitants, 
 and all they possess, are at our disposal." The king replied : " Sir 
 Godfrey, you are our marshal ; therefore order as you please ; for 
 this time we wish not to interfere." 
 
 Sir Godfrey then rode through the streets, his banner displayed 
 before him, and ordered, in the king's name, that no one should 
 dare, under pain of immediate death, to insult or hurt man or woman 
 of the town, or attempt to set fire to any part of it. Several of the 
 inhabitants, on hearing this proclamation, received the English into 
 their houses ; and others opened their coffers to them, giving up their 
 all, since they were assured of their lives. However, there were, in 
 spite of these orders, many atrocious thefts and murders committed. 
 The English continued masters of the town for three days ; in this 
 time, they amassed great wealth, which they sent in barges down 
 the river of Estreham, to St. Sauveur, two leagues oflT, where their 
 fleet was. The earl of Huntington made preparations therefore, 
 with the two hundred men-at-arms and his four hundred archers, to 
 carry over to England their riches and prisoners. The king pur- 
 chased, from sir Thomas Holland and his companions, the constable 
 of France and the earl of Tancarville, and paid down twenty thou- 
 sand nobles for them.t 
 
 taken by one surnamed Legh, ancestor to sir Peter Legh now living : whether in the fight 
 or within the tower I have not to say ; but for the taking of the said earl, and for other 
 manhke prowess showed here and elsewhere in this journey, king Edward, in recom- 
 pense of his agreeable service, gave him a lordship in the county of Chester, called 
 Hanley, which the said sir Peter Legh doth now possess, as successor and heir to his 
 ancestor, the foresaid Peter Legh, to whom it was so first given."— Hollingshed. 
 
 * This is scarcely intelligible. Lord Berners says, " the ryuer was so lowe that men 
 vent in and out besyde the bridge," that is across the bed of the river, avoiding the 
 danger of pressing in crowds over a narrow bridge.— Ed. 
 
 lAs the reader may perhaps wish to see another account of Edward's progress, by an 
 eye-witness, 1 copy from Robert deAvesbury's " Historia de Mirabilibus Gestis Edwardi 
 tertii," the following very curious letter : a 
 
 De Progressu Regis AnglicB de Hogges usque Cadamum. 
 " You may remember that our lorn the king and his army landed at La Hogue St. 
 Vast, the twelfth day of July, and remained there some days to unship the horses, and 
 repose himself, and his people, and provide bread, until the following Tuesday. They 
 found eleven ships at La Hogue, eight of which had castles before and behind : these a 
 man set on fire. On the Friday, while the king still remained, a party proceeded to Bar- 
 fleur, where they expected to have found many people, but there were none of any 
 consequence. Here were eleven ships with castles before and behind, two caiTacks, and 
 a number of smaller vessels lying at the quays. The town is about as large, and of the 
 same importance, as Sandwich. When this party retired, the mariners set fire to the 
 town, and several good towns and manors were burnt in the country round about. 
 When the king removed on Tuesday he went to Valognes, where they remained all 
 night and found plenty of provisions. The next day they made a long march, as far as a 
 bridge which the inhabitants of Carantan had broken down. The king caused it to be 
 repaired the same night, and the next day proceeded to Carantan, which is not above an 
 English league from the bridge. This town is as large as Leicester, and here they found 
 plenty of wine and provisions. A great part of tho city was burnt, in spite of the king's 
 efforts to prevent it. On the Friday the king went on, and lodged in the villages on the 
 banks of a river difficult to pass, for the inhabitants of St. Lo had broken down the bridge. 
 The king caused the bridge to be repaired, and passed it the next day with all his army, 
 and took post close to the town. Those of the town had begun to strengthen it, and 
 had drawn together many men-at-arms, who ought to have defended the place, but they 
 left it before the coming of the king. Great riches were found in the town, a thousand 
 tuns of wine, and a great quantity of other goods. The town is larger than St. Nicholas. 
 And the next day the king went his way and abode at an abbey, and his host at the vil- 
 lages round about; and those of the host made excursions every day, robbing and destroy- 
 ing every day five or six leagues about, and burnt several places. And the Monday the 
 king removed and lodged in the villages, and Tuesday also. And Wednesday, about 
 the hour of noon, they arrived before the town of Caen, and received intelligence that a 
 number of men-at-arms were in the town. The king drew up his forces in good order 
 an» in strong number, and sentsome of his people to reconnoitre the town. They found 
 the castle well built and strong, and that it was held by the knights and men-at-arms of 
 the Bishop of Bayeux. The town on the side of the water is very strong and large, and 
 in one part of the town is nn abbey as noble as can be, where William the Conqueror 
 is buried ; it is inclosed with walls and large and strong battlemented towers ; no person 
 
 aThis is given by Mr. Johnes in the original old French, but we considered it would be 
 more agreeable to our readers to present it in an English dress, and bav« accordingly 
 tnuulated it.— £d. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXIV. 
 
 THE ENGLISH COMMIT GREAT DISORDERS IN NORMANDV. SIR GODFREY 
 DE HARCOURT ENCOUNTERS THE MEN-AT-ARMS OF AMIENS, ON THEIR 
 WAY TO PARIS, AND KING EDWARD MARCHES INTO PICARDY. 
 
 When the king had finished his business in Caen, and had sent 
 his fleet to England, loaded with clotl.s, jewels, gold and silver plate, 
 and a quantity of other riches, and upward of sixty knights, with 
 three hundred able citizens, prisoners : he then left his quarters and 
 continued his march as before, his t\ o marshals on his right and 
 left, burning and destroying all the flat country. He took the road 
 to Evreux,* but found he could not gain anything there, as it was 
 well fortified. He went on toward another town called Louvier3,t 
 which was in Normandy, and where there were many manufactories 
 of cloth : it was rich and commercial. The English won it easily, 
 as it was not inclosed ; and having entered the town, it was plun- 
 dered without opposition. They collected much wealth there ; and. 
 after they had done what they pleased, they marched on into the 
 county of Evreux, where they burnt everything except the fortified 
 towns and castles, which the king left unattacked, as he was desirous 
 of sparing his men and artillery. He therefore made for the banks 
 of the Seine, in his approach to Rouen, where there were plenty of 
 men-at-arms from Normandy, under the command of the earl of 
 Harcourt, brother to sir Godfrey, and the earl of Dreux. 
 
 The English did not march direct toward Rouen, but went to 
 Gisorsjt which has a strong castle, and burnt the town. After this, 
 they destroyed Vernon, § and all the country between Rouen and 
 Pont-de-l'Arche :|1 they then came to ManteslI and Meulan,** which 
 they treated in the same manner, and ravaged all the country round 
 about. They passed by the strong castle of Roulleboise,tt and every, 
 where found the bridges on the Seine broken down. They pushed 
 forward until they came to Poissy,t$ where the bridge was also de- 
 stroyed ; but the beams and other parts of it were lying in the river. 
 The king remained here five days, while they were repairing the 
 bridge, so that his army might pass over without danger. His mar- 
 shals advanced very near to Paris, and burnt St. Germain-en-Laye,§§ 
 la Montjoie,|||| St. Cloud,irir Boulogne near Paris, and Bour(j la 
 Reine.*** The Parisians were much alarmed, for Paris at that 
 time was not inclosed. King Philip upon this began to stir, and 
 having ordered all the pent-houses in Paris to be pulled down, went 
 to St. Denis,ttt where he found the king of Bohemia, the lord John 
 of Hainault, the duke of Lorrain, the earl of Flanders, the earl of 
 Blois, and great multitudes of barons and knights, ready to receive 
 him. When the Parisians learnt that the king was on the point of 
 quitting Paris, they came to him, and falling on their knees, said, 
 "Ah, sire, and noble king, what are you about to do ? to leave your 
 fine city of Paris?" The king replied : " My good people, do not 
 be afraid : the English will not approach you nearer than they have 
 done." He thus spoke in answer to what they had said, that " our 
 enemies are only two leagues off" : as soon as they shall know you 
 have quitted us, they will come hither directly ; and we are not able 
 to resist them ourselves, nor shall we find any to defend us. Have 
 the kindness, therefore, sire, to remain in your good city of Paris, to 
 take care of us." The king replied, " I am going to St. Denis, to 
 
 remained in the abbey ; and in another quarter of the town was another noble abbey o* 
 ladies, and nobody remained in the said abbeys nor in the town on that side of the water, 
 where the castle was ; and the inhabitants had gone over to the town on the other side 
 of the water, where were the constable of France and the chamberlain of Tankerville, 
 who is a very great lord, and many gentlemen, to the number of five or six hundred, and 
 the commons of the town. The people of our host attacked the bridge without com- 
 mand and without order. The bridge had been strengthened with battlements and bar- 
 riers, and there was much to do, for the French defended it very stoutly, and they bore 
 much before they gave way ; and then the said constable and chamberlain were taken, 
 together with about a hundred knights, and six or seven score esquires. A great 
 multitude of knights, esquires, and others, people of the town, were slain in the streets, 
 houses and gardens ; no, one can tell how many people of note, for the bodies were 
 despoiled so they could not be known. No gentleman was slain on our side, except 
 one esquire, who was badly wounded and died two days afterwards. Wines, pro- 
 visions, and other goods, and moveables without number, were found in the town, 
 which is larger than any town in England, except London. When the king left 
 La Hogue, two hundred ships remained, which were taken to Rothemasse; then tho 
 country was burnt two or three leagues inland, and many things were taken and brought 
 to the ships : they went as fur as Cherbourg, which was a good town, with a strong castle 
 and a handsome and noble abbey : they burnt the said city and abbey, and the whole 
 country on every side, from the sea at Rothemasse to the army at the haven of Caen, a 
 distance of twenty-six English leagues. And the number of ships that were burnt was 
 sixty-one ships of war, with castles before and behind, and twenty-three carracks, besides 
 of other smaller vessels more than twenty one ; they also destroyed thirty tunsot wine. 
 On the Thursday after the king had come before Caen, they of the city of Bions demanded 
 of our lord the king, that they might surrender themselves and their city to him, and do 
 him homage, but he would not admit them to any conditions, but that they should be 
 saved from damage." 
 
 *An ancient town in Normandy, and a bishopric, twenty-eight leagues from Caen. 
 
 t Louviers— in the diocese ofEvreux. It still maintains its celebrity for the goodnflM 
 of its cloths. 
 
 X Diocese of Rouen, fourteen leagues from Rouen. 
 § Diocese ofEvreux, thirteen leagues from Rouen. 
 II Diocese of Evreux, four leagues from Rouen. 
 
 IF In the Isle of France, diocese of Chartres, nineteen leagues from Rouen. 
 
 ** In the Isle of France, ten leagues from Paris, twenty-three from Kouen. 
 
 tt A village in Normandy, election of Chaumont. 
 
 ii In the Isle of France, seven leagues from Paris. 
 
 §§ In the Isle of France, five leagues from Paris. 
 
 II II Q.. if not Montjoye St. Denis. 
 
 IT IT Isle of France, two leagues from Paris. 
 
 *** Isle of France, one league from Paris. 
 
 ttt Isl« of France, two leagues from Paris. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 79 
 
 my army, for I am impatient to pursue the English, and am resolved 
 to fight with them at all events." 
 
 The king of England remained at the nunnery of Poissy to the 
 middle of August, and celebrated there the feast of the Virgin Mary. 
 He sat at table in his scarlet robes without sleeyes, trimmed with 
 furs and ermines. He afterwards took the field, and his army 
 marched as before : sir Godfrey de Harcourt, one of his marshals, 
 had the command of the vanguard, with five hundred men-at-arms, 
 and about thirteen hundred archers. By accident, he fell in with a 
 large party of the citizens of Amiens on horseback, who were going 
 to king Philip at Paris, in obedience to his summons. He imme. 
 diately attacked them with those under his command; but they made 
 a good defence, as they were very numerous and well armed, and 
 had four knights from Amiens with them. The engagement lasted 
 a long time, and many were slain at the onset ; but at last those from 
 Amiens were overthrown, killed or taken prisoners. The English 
 seized all their baggage and arms, and found many valuables ; for 
 they were going to the king excellently well equipped, and had but 
 just quitted their city. Twelve hundred were left dead on the spot. 
 The king of England entered the country of Beauvais, destroying all 
 the flat country, and took up his quarters in a rich abbey called St. 
 Messien, near to Beauvais,* where he lodged one night. The mor- 
 row, as he was on his march, he by chance turned his head round 
 and saw the abbey all in flames ; upon which he instantly ordered 
 twenty of those who had set fire to it to be hung, as he had most 
 strictly forbidden that any church should be violated, or monastery 
 set on fire. He passed near Beauvais without attacking it, for he 
 was anxious to be as careful of his men and artillery as possible, and 
 took up his quarters at a small town called Milly.t The two mar- 
 shals passed so near to Beauvais, that they advanced to attack it and 
 skirmish with the townsmen at the barriers, and divided their forces 
 into three battalions ; this attack lasted until the afternoon ; for the 
 town was well fortified and provided with everything, and the bishop 
 was also there, whose exertions were of more service than those of 
 all the rest. When the English found they could not gain anything, 
 they set fire to the suburbs, which they burnt quite close to the gates 
 of the town, and then came, toward evening, to where the king was. 
 
 The next day, the king and his whole army marched forward, 
 burning and wasting all the country as they went, and lay that night 
 at a village called Grandvillier. On the morrow, he passed near 
 to Argis : his scouts not finding any one to guard the castle, he at- 
 tacked and burnt it, and passing on, destroyed the country, and came 
 to Poix,J which was a handsome town with two castles. The lords 
 of both were absent, and no one was there but two handsome daugh- 
 ters of the lord of Poix, who would have been violated, if two Eng- 
 lish knights, sir John Chandos and lord Basset, had not defended 
 them. In order more eflTectually to guard them, they brought them 
 to the king, who, as in honor bound, entertained them most gra- 
 ciously : he inquired whither they would wish to go ? they answered, 
 To Corbie, § to which place they were conduced in safety. The 
 king of England lay that night in the town of Poix. The inhabit- 
 ants of Poix, as well as those of the castle, had a conference with 
 the marshals of the army, in order to save the town from being plun- 
 dered and burnt. They offered to pay, as a ransom, a certain number 
 of florins the ensuing day, as soon as the army should have marched 
 off". On the morrow morning, the king and army departed, except 
 some few, who remained behind, by order of the marshals, to receive 
 the ransom from the townsmen. When the inhabitants were assem- 
 bled together, and considered the small number of the English who 
 were left with them, they resolved to pay nothing, told them so, and 
 directly fell upon them. The English defended themselves gallantly, 
 and sent after the army for succor. When lord Reginald Cobham 
 and sir Thomas Holland, who commanded the rear-guard, were told 
 of this, they cried out, " Treason ! treason !" and returned back to 
 Poix, where they found their countrymen still engaged with the 
 townsmen. Almost all the inhabitants were slain, the town was 
 burnt, and the two castles razed to the ground. The English then 
 followed the king's army, which was arrived at Airaines,|l where he 
 had ordered the troops to halt, and to quarter themselves for that 
 night, strictly commanding, under pain of death, that no harm should 
 be done to the town or inhabitants, by theft or otherwise ; for he 
 wished to remain there a day or two, in order to gain information 
 where he could best cross the river Somme, which he was under the 
 necessity of doing, as you will shortly hear. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXV. 
 
 THE KING OF FRANCE PURSUES THE KING OF ENGLAND, IN THE COUNTRY 
 
 OF BEAUVAIS. 
 
 I WISH now to return to king Philip, whom we left at St. Denis 
 with his army, which was increasing every day. He marched off 
 with it, arid pushed forward until he came to Coppigny les Guises, 
 which is three leagues distant from Amiens, where he halted. The 
 king of England, who was still at Airaines, was much embarrassed 
 how to cross the Somme, which was wide and deep, as all the bridges 
 
 * A city in the Isle of France, sixteen leagues from Paris, 
 t A town in the diocese of Beauvais. 
 % Poix— a town in Picardy, six leagues from Amieni. 
 i Corbie — a town in Picardy, four leagues from AadiM. 
 I A town ia Picardy, tour leagues from Atnieiw. 
 
 had been broken down, and their situations were well guarded by 
 men-at-arms. The two marshals, at the request of the king, followed 
 the course of the river, in order if possible to find a passage for the 
 army : they had with them a thousand men-at-arms and two thousand 
 archers. They passed by Lompre,* and came to Pont de Remy,t 
 which they found defended by numbers of knights, squires, and people 
 of the country. The English dismounted, and attacked the French 
 from the very dawn of the morning until near ten o'clock : l)ut the 
 bridge was so well fortified and guarded, that they could not gain 
 anything ; so they departed, and went to a large town called Fon- 
 taines.sur-Somme,t which they completely plundered and burnt, as it 
 was quite open. They next came to another town, called Long, in 
 Ponthieu ;§ but thoy could not gain the bridge, so well was it guarded. 
 They then rode on to Pecquigny,]] but found the town, castle, and 
 bridge, so well garrisoned that it was impossible to pass. In this 
 manner had the king of France ordered all the bridges and fords of 
 the river Somme to be guarded, to prevent the king of England from 
 crossing it with his army ; for he was resolved to force them to fight 
 when he should see the most favorable opportunity, or else to starve 
 them. 
 
 The two marshals, having thus in vain followed the course of the 
 Somme, returned to the king of England, and related to him that 
 they were unable to find a passage anywhere. That same evening, 
 the king of France took up his quarters at Amiens, with upward of 
 one hundred thousand men. The king of England was very pensive : 
 he ordered mass before sunrise, and his trumpets to sound for de- 
 camping. All sorts of people followed the marshals' banners, accord- 
 ing to the orders the king had issued the preceding day ; and they 
 marched through the country of Vimeu,1F drawing near to the good 
 town of Abbeville. In their march, they came to a town where a 
 great number of country people had assembled, trusting to some small 
 fortifications which were thrown up there ; but the English conquered 
 the town, as soon as they came to it, and all that were within. i\Iany 
 of the townsmen and those from the adjoining country were slain oi 
 taken prisoners. The king lodged, that night, in the great hospital. 
 
 The king of France set out from Amiens, and came to Airaines 
 about noon : the English king had quitted it about ten o'clock. The 
 French found there provisions of all sorts; meat on the spits, bread 
 and pastry in the ovens, wine in barrels, and even some tables ready 
 spread, for the English had left it in very great haste. The king of 
 France fixed his quarters there, to wait for his nobles and their retinue. 
 The king of England was in the town of Oisemont.** When his 
 two marshals returned in the evening, after having overrun the coun. 
 try as far as the gates of Abbeville, and to St. Valery, where they had 
 a smart skirmish, the king of England summoned a council, and 
 ordered many prisoners, whom his people had made in the districts 
 of Ponthieu and Vimeu, to be brought before him. 
 
 The king most courteously asked, " if any of them knew a ford 
 below Abbeville, where he and his army could pass without danger;" 
 and added, " Whoever will show us such a ford shall have his liberty, 
 and that of any twenty of his fellow-soldiers whom he may wish to 
 select." .There was among them a common fellow whose name was 
 Gobin Agace, who answered the king, and said, " Sir, I promise 
 you, under peril of my life, that I will conduct you to such a place, 
 where you and your whole army may pass tke river Somme without 
 any risk. There are certain fordable places where you may pass 
 twelve men abreast twice in the day, and not have water above your 
 knees ; but when the tide is in, the river is full and deep, and no 
 one can cross it ; when the tide is out, the river is so low that it may 
 be passed, on horseback or on foot, without danger. The bottom 
 of this ford is very hard, of gravel and white stones, over which all 
 your carriages may safely pass, and from thence is called Blanche, 
 taque. You must therefore set out early, so as to be at the ford 
 before sunrise." " Friend," replied the king, " if I find what thou 
 hast just said to be true, I will give thee and all thy companions their 
 liberty ; and I will besides make thee a present of a hundred nobles." 
 The king gave orders for every one to be ready to march at the first 
 sound of his trumpet, and to proceed forward. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXVI. 
 
 THE BATTLE OF BLANCHETAQUE, BETWEEN THE KING OF ENGLAND AND 
 
 SIR GODEMAR DU FAY. 
 
 The king of England did not sleep much that night, but, rising at 
 midnight, ordered his trumpet to sound. Very soon everything was 
 ready ; and, the baggage being loaded, they set out from the town of 
 Oisemont about daybreak, and rode on, under the guidance of Go. 
 bin Agace, until they came to the ford of Blanchetaque, about sun 
 rise : but the tide was at that time so full, they could not cross 
 The king, however, determined to wait there for those of his army 
 who were not yet come up ; and he remained until after ten o'clock, 
 when the tide was gone out. The king of France, who had his 
 scouts all over the country, was infomed of the situation of the king 
 
 * Lompre-Corps-Saints, a small town in Picardy. 
 t In the election of Abbeville. 
 
 t In Picardy • c? j o i. 
 
 § A fertile district of Picardy, between the rivers Somme and Cancfae 
 II A town in Picardy. on the Somme, three leagues from Amiens. 
 V A district in Picardy, of which St. Valery is the capital. 
 *♦ A town in Picardy, four leagues from Amieiw, five from St. Valery 
 
88 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 of England : he imagined he should be able to shut him up between 
 Abbeville and the Somme, and thus take him prisoner, or force him 
 to fight at a disadvantage. From the time of his arrival at Amiens, 
 he had ordered a great baron of Normandy, called sir Godemar du 
 Fay, to guard this ford of Blanchetaque, which the English must 
 cross, and nowhere else. Sir Godemar had set out, in obedience to 
 this order, and had with him, in the whole, one thousand men-at. 
 arms and six thousand foot, with the Genoese. He had passed St. 
 Ricquier* in Ponthieu, and from thence came to Grotoy,t where 
 this ford was ; he had collected, in his march, great numbers of the 
 country people. The townsmen of Abbeville had also accompanied 
 him, excellently well appointed : they had arrived at the passage be- 
 fore the English. They were, in all, fully twelve thousand men : 
 among them were two thousand who had jackets, resembling wag- 
 oners' frocks, called torviquiaux. 
 
 On the arrival of the English army, sir Godemar du Fay drew up 
 his men on the banks of the river, to defend and guard the ford. 
 The king of England, however, did not for this give up his intention 
 of crossing; but, as soon as the tide was sufficiently gone out, he 
 ordered his marshals to dash into the water, in the name of God and 
 St. George. The most doughty and the best mounted leaped in 
 first ; and, in the river, the engagement began : many on both sides 
 were unhorsed into the water : there were some knights and squires, 
 from Artois and Picardy, in the pay of sir Godemar, who in hopes 
 of preferment, and to acquire honor, had posted themselves at this 
 ford, and they appeared to be equally fond of tilting in the water as 
 upon dry land. 
 
 The French were drawn up in battle array, near the narrow pass 
 leading to the ford ; and the English were much annoyed by them 
 as they came out of the water to gain the land ; for there were 
 among them Genoese cross-bowmen who did them much mischief. 
 On the other hand, the English archers shot so well together that 
 they forced the men-at-arms to give way. At this ford of Blanche- 
 taque many gallant feats of arms were performed on each side : but, 
 in the end, the English crossed over, and, as they came on shore, 
 hastened to the fields. After the king, the prince, and the other 
 lords had crossed, the French did not long keep in the order they 
 were in, but ran off for the fastest. When sir Godemar du Fay 
 found his army was discomfited, he saved himself as quickly as he 
 could, and many with him; some making for Abbeville, others for 
 St. Ricquier. The infantry, however, could not escape ; and there 
 were numbers of those from Abbeville, Arras, Montreuil, and St. 
 Ricqurer, slain or taken prisoners : the pursuit lasted more than a 
 league. The English had scarcely gained the opposite bank, when 
 some of the light horse of the French army, particularly those be- 
 longing to the king of Bohemia and sir John of Hainault, advanced 
 upon the rear, took from them some horses and accoutrements, and 
 slew several on the bank who were late in crossing. The king of 
 France had set out from- Airaines that morning, thinking to find the 
 English on the banks of the Somme : when news was brought to 
 him of the defeat of sir Godemar and his army, he immediately 
 halted, and demanded from his marshals, what was to be done : they 
 answered, " You can only cross the river by the bridge of Abbe, 
 ville, for the tide is now in at Blanchetaque." The king of France 
 therefore turned back, and took up his quarters at Abbeville. The 
 king of England, when he had crossed the Somme, gave thanks to 
 God for it, and began his march in the same order as he had done 
 before. He called to him Gobin Agace, gave him his freedom with- 
 out ransom, as well as that of his companions, and ordered the hun- 
 dred nobles of gold to be given him, and also a good horse. The 
 king continued his march, thinking to take up his quarters at a good 
 and large town called Noyelle,t situated hard by ; but when he was 
 informed that it belonged to the countess d'Aumarle, sister to the 
 late Robert d'Artois, he sent to assure the inhabitants, as well as all 
 the farmers belonging to her, that they should not be hurt. He 
 marched further on ; but his two marshals rode to Crotoy, near the 
 sea ; they took the town, and burnt it. In the harbor they found 
 many ships, and other vessels, laden with wines, from Poitou, Sain- 
 tonge, and la Rochelle : they ordered the best to be carried to the 
 English army: then one of the marshals pushed forward, even as 
 far as the gates of Abbeville, and returned by St. Ricquier, following 
 the sea-shore to the town of St. Esprit de Rue.§ 
 
 These two battalions of the marshals came, on a Friday in the 
 afternoon, to where the king was ; and they fixed their quarters, all 
 three together, near Crecy in Ponthieu. The king of England, who 
 had been informed that the king of France was following him, in 
 order to give him battle, said to his people : " Let us post ourselves 
 here ; for we will not go further before we have seen our enemies. 
 I have good reason to wait for them on this spot ; as I am now upon 
 the lawful inheritance of my lady-mother, which was given her as 
 her man-iage portion ; and I am resolved to defend it against my 
 adversary, Philippe de Valois." On account of his not having more 
 than an eighth part of the forces which the king of France had, his 
 marshals fixed upon the most advantageous situation ; and the army 
 went and took possession of it. He then sent his scouts toward 
 
 *St Ricquier— two leagues and a half from Abbeville. 
 
 t A town in Picardy, at the mouth of the Somme, opposite to St. Valery, 
 
 t Government of Montreuil. 
 
 I TwQ leagues fiom St. Valenr. I believe it u sow c»ll«d Bue Qolir. 
 
 Abbeville, to learn if the king of France meant to take the field thia 
 Friday ; but they returned, and said they saw no appearance of it ; 
 upon which, he dismissed his men to their quarters, with orders to 
 be in readiness by times in the morning, and to assemble in the same 
 place. The king of France remained all Friday in Abbeville, wait, 
 ing for more troops. He sent his marshals, the lord of St. Venant, 
 and lord Charles of Montmorency, o it of Abbeville, to examine the 
 country, and get some certain inteLigence of the English. They 
 returned, about vespers, with informs ion that the English were en. 
 camped on the plain. That night tht king of France entertained at 
 supper, in Abbeville, all the princes and chief lords. There was 
 much conversation relative to war ; and the king entreated them, 
 after supper, that they would always remain in friendship with each 
 other ; that they would be friends without jealousy, and courteous 
 v/ithout pride. The king was still expecting the eaii of Savoy, who 
 ought to have been there with a thousand lances, as he had been 
 well paid for them at Troyes in Champaign, three months in advance 
 
 CHAPTER CXXVII. 
 
 THE ORDER OF BATTLE OF THE ENGLISH AT CRECY, WHO WERE DRAWN 
 UP IN THREE BATTALIONS ON FOOT. 
 
 The king of England, as I have mentioned before, encamped this 
 Friday in the plain : for he found the country abounding in provisions ; 
 but, if they should have failed, he had plenty in the carriages which 
 attended on him. The army set about furbishing and repairing their 
 armor ; and the king gave a shipper that evening to the earls and 
 barons of his army, where they made good cheer. On their taking 
 leave, the king remained alone, with the lords of his bed-chamber : he 
 retired into his oratory, and, falling on his knees before the altar, 
 prayed to God, that, if he should combat his enemies on the morrow, 
 he might come off with honor. About midnight he went to bed ; and, 
 rising early the next day, he and the prince of Wales heard mass, and 
 c.orrmunicated. The greater part of his army did the same, confessed, 
 and made proper preparations. After mass, the king ordered his men 
 to arm themselves, and assemble on the ground he had before fixed 
 on. He had inclosed a large park near a wood, on the rear of his 
 army, in which he placed all his baggage-wagons and horses ; and 
 this park had but one entrance : his men-at-arms and archers remained 
 on foot. 
 
 The king afterwards ordered, through his constable and his two 
 marshals, that the army should be divided into three battalions. In 
 the first, he placed the young prince of Wales, and with him the 
 earls of Warwick and Oxford, sir Godfrey de Harcourt, the lord Regi- 
 nald Cobham, lord Thomas Holland, lord Stafford, lord Mauley, the 
 lord Delaware, sir John Chandos, lord Bartholomew Burgherst, lord 
 Robert Neville, lord Thomas Clifford, the lord Bourchier, the lord 
 Latimer, and many other knights and squires whom I cannot name. 
 There might be, in this first division, about eight hundred men-at- 
 arms, two thousand archers, and a thousand Welshmen. They ad- 
 vanced in regular order to their ground, each lord under his banner 
 and pennon, and in the centre of his men. In the second battalion 
 were the earl of Northampton, the earl of Arundel, the lords Rooa, 
 Willoughby, Basset, Saint Albans, sir Lewis Tufton, lord Multon, the 
 lord Lascels, and many others ; amounting, in the whole, to about 
 eight hundred men-at-arms, and twelve hundred archers. The third 
 battalion was commanded by the king, and was composed of about 
 seven hundred men-at-arms, and two thousand* archers. 
 
 The king then mounted a small palfrey, having a white wand in 
 his hand, and attended by his two marshals on each side of him : he 
 rode a foot's pace through all the ranks, encouraging and entreating 
 the army, that they would guard his honor and defend his right. He 
 spoke this so sweetly, and with such a cheerful countenance, that all 
 who had been dispirited were direcVly comforted by seeing and hear- 
 ing him. When he had thus visited all the battalions, it was near ten 
 o'clock : he retired to his own division, and ordered them all to eat 
 heartily, and drink a glass after. They ate and drank at their ease ; 
 and, having packed up pots, barrels, &.C., in the carts, they returned 
 to their battalions, according to the marshals' orders, and seated 
 themselves on the ground, placing their helmets and bows before 
 them, that they might be the fresher when their enemies should arriva 
 
 CHAPTER CXXVIII. 
 
 the order of the FRENCH ARMY AT CRECY. 
 
 That same Saturday, the king of France rose betimes, and heard 
 mass in the monastery of St. Peter's in Abbeville, where he was 
 lodged : having ordered his army to do the same, he left that town 
 after sunrise. When he had marched about two leagues from Ab- 
 beville, and was approaching the enemy, he was advised to form his 
 army in order of battle, and to let those on foot march forward, that 
 they might not be trampled on by the horses. The king, upon this, 
 sent off four knights, the lord Moyne of Bastleberg,t the lord of Noy- 
 ers, the lord of Beaujeu, and the lord of Aubigny, who rode so near to 
 
 • D, Sauvage's edition and lord Bemers' say twelve hundred orcheM.— Ep. 
 t Til* lord Aloyoe of Butlebure in fiohemiB.—BAR»E9> 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN 
 
 81 
 
 the English that they could clearly distinguish their position. The 
 English plainly perceived they were come to reconnoitre them: 
 however, they took no notice of it, but suffered them to return un- 
 molested. When the king of France saw them coming back, he 
 halted his army ; and the knights, pushing through the crowds, came 
 near the king, who said to thcni, " My lords, what news ?" They 
 looked at each other, without opening their mouths : for neither chose , 
 to speak first. At last, the king addressed himself to the lord Moyne, j 
 
 Battle of Crecy— From a MS. Froissart of the 15th Century. 
 
 who was attached to the king of Bohemia, and had performed very 
 many gallant deeds, so that he was esteemed one of the most valiant 
 knights in Christendom. The lord Moyne said, " Sir, I will speak, 
 since it pleases you to order me, but under the correction of my com- 
 panions. We have advanced far enough to reconnoitre your enemies. 
 Know, then, that they are drawn up in three battalions, and are 
 waiting for you. I would advise, for my part, (submitting, however, 
 to better counsel,) that you halt your army here, and quarter them 
 for the night ; for before the rear shall come up, and the army be 
 properly drawn out, it will be very late, your men will be tired and 
 in disorder, while they will find your enemies fresh and properly ar- 
 rayed. On the morrow, you may draw up your army more at your 
 ease, and may reconnoitre at leisure on what part it will be most ad- 
 vantageous to begin the attack ; for, be assured they will wait for 
 you." The king commanded that it should so be done : and the two 
 marshals rode, one toward the front, and the other to the rear, crying 
 out, " Halt banners, in the name of God and St. Denis." Those that 
 were in the front halted ; but those behind said they would not halt, 
 until they were as forward as the front. When the front perceived 
 the rear pressing on, they pushed forward ; and neither the king nor 
 the marshals could stop them, but they marched without any order 
 until they came in sight of their enemies. As soon as the foremost 
 rank saw them, they fell back at once, in great disorder, which 
 alarmed those in the rear, who thought they had been fighting. There 
 was then space and room enough for them to have passed forward, 
 had they been willing so to do : some did so, but others remained shy. 
 All the roads between Abbeville and Crecy were covered with com- 
 mon people, who, when they were come within three leagues of their 
 enemies, drew their swords, bawling out, " Kill, kill ;" and with 
 hem were many great lords that were eager to make show of their 
 courage. There is no man, unless he had been present, that can 
 imagine, or describe truly, the confusion of that day ; especially the 
 bad management and disorder of the French, whose troops were out 
 of number. What I know, and shall relate in this book, I have learnt 
 chiefly from the English, who had well observed the confusion they 
 were in, and from those attached to sir John of Hainault, who was 
 always near the person of the king of France. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXIX. 
 
 THE BATTLE OF CRECY, BETWEEN THE KINGS OF FRA.\CE AND OF 
 
 ENGLAND. 
 
 ^ The English, who were drawn up in three divisions, and seated on 
 the ground, on seeing their enemies advance, rose undauntedly up, 
 and fell into their ranks. That of the prince was the first to do so, 
 whose archers were formed in the manner of a portcullis, or harrow, 
 
 and the men-at-arms in the 
 rear. The earls of Northamp. 
 ton and Arundel, who com. 
 manded the second division, 
 had posted themselves in good 
 order on his wing, to assist and 
 succor the prince, if necessary 
 You must know, that these 
 kings, earls, barons and lords 
 of France, did not advance in 
 any regular order, but one after 
 the other, or any way most 
 pleasing to themselves. As 
 soon as the king of France 
 came in sight of the English, 
 his blood began to boil, and he 
 cried out to his marshals, " Or- 
 der the Genoese forward, and 
 begin the battle, in the name 
 of God and St. Denis." There 
 were about fifteen thousand 
 Genoese cross-bowmen ; but 
 they were quite fatigued, hav. 
 ing marched on foot that day 
 six leagues, completely armed, 
 and with their cross-bows. 
 They told the constable, they 
 were not in a fit condition to 
 do any great things that day in 
 battle. The earl of Alencon, 
 hearing this, said, " This is 
 what one gets by employing 
 such scoundrels, who fall oft 
 when there is any need for 
 them." During this time a 
 heavy rain fell, accompanied 
 by thunder and a very terrible 
 eclipse of the sun ; and before 
 this rain a great flight of crows 
 hovered in the air over all those 
 battalions, making a loud noise. 
 Shortly afterwards it cleared 
 up, and the sun shone veiy 
 bright ; but the Frenchmen 
 had it in their faces, and the 
 English in their backs. When the Genoese were somewhat in 
 order, and approached the English, they set up a loud shout,* in order 
 to frighten them ; but they remained quite still, and did not seem to 
 attend to it. They then set up a second shout, and advanced a little 
 forward ; but the English never moved. 
 
 They hooted a third time, advancing with their cross-bows presented, 
 and began to shoot. The English archers then advanced one step 
 forward, and shot their arrows with such force and quickness, that it 
 seemed as if it snowed. When the Genoese felt these arrows, v.-hich 
 pierced their arms, heads, and through their armor, some of them cut 
 the strings of their cross-bows, others flung them on the ground, and 
 all turned about and retreated quite discomfited. The French had a 
 large body of men-at-arms on horseback, richly dressed, to support 
 the Genoese. The king of France, seeing them thus fall back, cried 
 out, " Kill me those scoundrels ; for they stop up our road, without 
 
 * Lord Berners' account of the advance of the Genoese is somewhat different from 
 this ; lie describes them as leaping forward with s.fell cry, and as this is not menUoned m 
 the printed editions, it seems probable that he followed a MS. varying from those exam- 
 ined by Mr. Johnes. The whole passage is so spirited and graphic that we give it entire, 
 for the gratification of the reader.— Ed. 
 
 " Whan the genowayes were assembled toguyderandbeganneto aproche Uiey made 
 a great leape and crye to abasshe thenglysshmen. but they stode styll and s yredde nat 
 for all that. Than the genowayes agayne the seconde tyme made another 'eape and a 
 fell crye and stepped for^varde a lytell. and thenglysshmen remeued nat one fote ; thirdly 
 agayne they leapt and cryed. and went forthe tyll they came withm shotte ; than they 
 shotL feersly with their crosbo we.. Than thenglysshe archers stept forthe one pase and 
 lette fly their arowes so hotly and so thycke that it semed sno we. V\ ban the genowayes 
 fe te the arowes persynge through heedes, armes, and brestes many of them cast dovvne 
 leiie uie aiuwcap i r, „„ff^ tuoi, «trvno-es and retourned dysconfited. Whan the 
 their crosbowes and did cutte their siiynges uuu i<= « i > .1 1 n 1 j 
 " , , ^, fl„a„,„nv hf^s'iid See these rascals, for they shall lette and 
 
 frenche kynge sawe them flye away, ne saiu, i^icc ' „ . , ■ 
 
 ouble us without reason; than you shoulde haue sene the men of armes dasshem 
 among them and kylled a great nombre of them: and euer styll the englysshmen shot 
 Xe as they sawe thyckest preace. the sharpe arowes ranne into the men of armes 
 and into their horses, and many fell horse and men amonge the genowayes apd whan 
 they were downe they coude nat relyne agayne; the preace was so thycke that one 
 ouerthrewe a nother. And also amonge the englysshemen there were certay ne rascalles 
 that went a fote with great knyues, and they went m among the men of armes and 
 slewe and murdredde many as they lay on the grounds, bo h erles barownes. knyghts. 
 and squyers, whereof the kyng of Englande was after dyspleased. for he had rather they 
 bad been taken prisoners." 
 
82 
 
 CHRONICLEb OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &e. 
 
 :;ay reason." You would then have seen the above-mentioned men- 
 ut-arms lay about them, killing all they could of these runaways. 
 
 The English continued shooting as vigorously and quickly as be- 
 1 ore ; some of their arrows fell among the horsemen, who were sump, 
 laously equipped, and, killing and wounding many, made them caper 
 I ad fall among the Genoese, so that they were in such confusion they 
 t nuld never rally again. In the English army there were some Corn- 
 ivh and Welshmen on foot, who had armed themselves with large 
 knives : these advancing through the ranks of the men-at-arms and 
 archers, who made way for them, came upon the French when they 
 were in this danger, and, falling upon earls, barons, knights and 
 squires, slew many, at which the king of England was afterwards 
 much exasperated. The valiant king of Bohemia was slain there. 
 He was called Charles of Luxembourg ; for he was the son of the 
 gallant king and emperor, Henry of Luxembourg : having heard the 
 order of the battle, he inquired where his son, the lord Charles, was: 
 his attendants answered, that they did not know, but believed he was 
 fighting. The king said to them ; " Gentlemen, you are all my peo- 
 pie, my friends and brethren at arms this day : therefore, as I am 
 blind,* I request of you to lead me so far into the engagement that 1 
 may strike one stroke with my sword." The knights replied, they 
 would directly lead him forward ; and in order that they might not 
 lose him in the crowd, they fastened all the reins of their horses 
 together, and put the king at their head, that he might gratify his 
 wish, and advanced toward the enemy. The lord Charles of Bohe- 
 mia, who already signed his name as king of Germany, and bore the 
 arms, had come in good order to the engagement ; but when he per- 
 ceived that it was likely to turn out against the French, he departed, 
 and I do not well know what road he took. The king, his father, 
 had rode in among the enemy, and made good use of his sword ; for 
 he and his companions had fought most gallantly. They had advanced 
 so far that they were all slain ; and on the morrow they were found 
 on the ground, with their horses all tied together. 
 
 The earl of Alen9on advanced in regular order upon the English, 
 to fight with them ; as did the earl of Flanders, in another part. 
 These two lords, with their detachments, coasting, as it were, the 
 archers, came to the prince's battalion, where they fought valiantly 
 for a length of time. The king of France was eager to march to the 
 place where he saw their banners displayed, but there was a hedge of 
 archers before him. He had that day made a present of a handsome 
 black horse to sir John of Hainault, who had mounted on it a knight 
 of his, called sir John de Fusselles, that bore his banner: which horse 
 ran off with him, and forced his way through the English army, and, 
 when about to return, stumbled and fell into a ditch and severely 
 wounded him : he would have been dead, if his page had not fol- 
 lowed him round the battalions, and found him unable to rise : he 
 had not, however, any other hindrance than from his horse ; for the 
 English did not quit the ranks that da^to make prisoners. The page 
 alighted, and raised him up ; but he did not return the way he came, 
 as he would have found it difficult from the crowd. This battle, 
 which was fought on the Saturday between la Broyest and Crecy, 
 was very murderous and cruel; and many gallant deeds of arms were 
 performed that were never known. Toward evening, many knights 
 and squires of the French had lost their masters : they wandered up 
 and down the plain, attacking the English in small parties : they 
 were soon destroyed ; for the English had determined that day to 
 give no quarter, or hear of ransom from any one. 
 
 Early in the day, some French, Germans, and Savoyards, had 
 broken through the archers of the prince's battalion, and had engaged 
 with the men-at.arm.3 ; upon which the second battalion came to his 
 aid, and it was time, for otherwise he would have been hard pressed. 
 The first division, seeing the danger they were in, sent a knightt in 
 great haste to the king of England, who was posted upon an emi- 
 nence, near a windmill. On the knight's arrival, he said, " Sir, the 
 earl of Warwick, the lord Reginald Cobham, and the others who are 
 about your son, are vigorously attacked by the French ; and they en- 
 treat that you would come to their assistance with your battalion, for, 
 if their numbers should increase, they fear he will have too much to 
 do." The king replied, " Is my son dead, unhorsed, or so badly 
 wounded that he cannot support himself?" " Nothing of the sort, 
 thank God," rejoined the knight; but he is in so hot an engagement 
 that he has great need of your help." The king answered, " Now, 
 sir Thomas, return back to those that sent you, and tell them from 
 me, not to send again for me this day, or expect that I shall come, let 
 what will happen, as long as my son has life ; and say, that I com- 
 mand them to let the boy win his spurs ; for I am determined, if it 
 please God, that all the glory and honor of this day shall be given to 
 him, and to those into whose care I have intrusted him." The knight 
 returned to his lords, and related the king's answer, which mightily 
 encouraged them, and made them repent they had ever sent such a 
 message. § 
 
 * His blindness was supposed to be caused by poison, which was given to him when 
 engaged in the wars of Italy.— Bonamy- Mem. tte V Acadtmie. vol. ixiii. 
 t A village in Picardy, election of Mondidier. 
 % Sir Thomas Norwich.— MRS. 
 
 § Tiiestyleof Lord Berners, in many instances, is so different from the mode of expres- 
 tion adopted by Mr. Johnes, as almost to make the parallel passage appear a distinct nar- 
 rative, and in such cases it is interesting to compare the two translations. The following 
 it Lord Berners' version of this narration.- Ed. 
 
 '* In the mornyng the day of the batayle certayae frenchemen and almaygnes p«rforc« 
 
 It is a certain fact, that sir Godfrey de Harcourt, who was in the 
 prince's battalion, having been told by some of the English, that 
 they had seen the banner of his brother engaged in the battle against 
 him, was exceedingly anxious to save him ; but he was too late, for 
 he was left dead on the field, and so was the earl of Aumarle his 
 nephew. On the other hand, the earls of Alen9on and of Flanders 
 were fighting lustily under their banners, and with their ov/n people ; 
 but they could not resist the force of the English, and were there 
 slain, as well as many other knights and squires that were attending 
 on or accompanying them. The earl of Blois, nephew to the king 
 of France, and the duke of Lorraine, his brother-in-law, with their 
 troops, made a gallant defence ; but they were surrounded by a troop 
 of English and Welsh, and slain in spite of their prowess. The earl 
 of St. Pol and the earl of Auxerre were also killed, as well as many 
 others. Late after vespers, the king of France had not more about 
 him than sixty men, every one included. Sir John of Hainault, who 
 was of the number, had once remounted the king ; for his horse had 
 been killed under him by an arrow : he said to the king, " Sir, re- 
 treat while you have an opportunity, and do not expose yourself so 
 simply : if you have lost this battle, another time you will be the 
 conqueror." After he had said this, he took the bridle of the king's 
 horse, and led him off by force ; for he had before entreated of him 
 to retire The king rode on until he came to the castle of la Broyes, 
 where he found the gates shut, for it was very dark. The king 
 ordered the governor of it to be summoned : he came upon the 
 battlements, and asked who it was that called at such an hour? 
 The king answered, " Open, open, governor ; it is the fortune of 
 France." The governor, hearing the king's voice, immediately 
 descended, opened the gate, and let down the bridge. The king 
 and his company entered the castle ; but he had only with him five 
 barons, sir John of Hainault, the lord Charles of Montmorency, the 
 lord of Beaujeu, the lord of Aubigny, and the lord of Montfort. 
 The king would not bury himself in such a place as that, but, having 
 taken some refreshments, set out again with his attendants about 
 midnight, and rode on, under the direction of guides who were well 
 acquainted with the country, until, about daybreak, he came to 
 Amiens, where he halted. This Saturday the English never quitted 
 their ranks in pursuit of any one, but remained on the field, guarding 
 their position, and defending themselves against all who attacked 
 them. The battle was ended at the hour of vespers. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXX. 
 
 THE EN&LISH ON THE MORROW AGAIN DEFEAT THE FRENCn. 
 
 When, on the Saturday night, the English heard no more hooting 
 or shouting, nor any more crying out to particular lords or their 
 banners, they looked upon the field as their own, and their enemies 
 as beaten. They made great fires, and lighted torches because of 
 the obscurity of the night. King Edward then came down from his 
 post, who all that day had not put on his helmet, and, with his whole 
 battalion,advanced to the prince of Wales, whom he embraced in his 
 arms and kissed, and said, " Sweet son, God give you good perse, 
 verance : you are my son, for most loyally have you acquitted your- 
 self this day : you are worthy to be a sovereign." The prince 
 bowed down very low, and humbled himself, giving all the honor to 
 the king his father. The English, during the night, inade frequent 
 thanksgivings to the Lord, for the happy issue of the day, and with- 
 out rioting ; for the king had forbidden all riot or noise. On the 
 Sunday morning, there was so great a fog that one could scarcely see 
 the distance of half an acre. The king ordered a detachment from 
 the army, under the command of the two marshals, consisting of 
 about five hundred lances and two thousand archers, to make an 
 excursion, and see if there were any bodies of French collected 
 together. The quota of troops from Rouen and Beauvais, had, this 
 Sunday morning, left Abbeville and St. Ricquier in Ponthieu, to 
 join the French army, and were ignorant of the defeat of the preced- 
 ing evening : they met this detachment, and, thinking they must be 
 French, hastened to join them. 
 
 As soon as the English found who they were, they fell upon them ; 
 and there was a sharp engagement ; but the French soon turned 
 their backs, and fled in great disorder. There were slain in this 
 flight in the open fields, under hedges and bushes, upward of seven 
 thousand; and had it been clear weather, not one soul would have 
 escaped. 
 
 opyned the archers of the princes batayle, and came and fought with the men at armes 
 hande to hande. Than the second batayle of thenglyshemen came to socour the prince s 
 batayle, the whiche was tyme, for they had as Uian moche ado, and tkey with the 
 prince sent amessangarto the kynge who was on a lytell wyndmill hill. Than the 
 knyght sayd to the kyn-, Sir therle of Warwyke and tJierle ot Cafort (Stafford) Sir 
 Reynolde Cobham and other such as be about the prince your sonne are feers.y fought 
 with all, and are sore handled, wherefore they desire you tliat you and your batayle woU 
 come and ayde them, for if the frenchemen encrease as they dout they wo 11 your sonne 
 and they shall have moche a do. Than the kynge sayde, is my sonne deed or nurt or on 
 the yerthe felled? No, sir, quoth the knight, but he is hardely matched wherfore he hath 
 nede of your ayde. Well sayde the kyng, retourne to hym and to them that sent yon 
 hyther, and say to them that they sende no more to me for any adventure that falleth as 
 long as my sonne is aly ve ; and also say to them that they suffer hym this day to wynne , 
 his spurres, for if God be pleased, I woll this iourney be his and the honoure tlierof and 
 to them that be aboute hym. Than the knyght retourned agayn to them and shewed 
 the kynges wordes, the which grsaUy •ncouraged them, and repoyned m that they had 
 send* to tiie kroge as they dyd." 
 
^ CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &,c. 
 
 83 
 
 A little time afterwards, this same party fell in with the archbishop 
 of Rouen and the great prior of France, who were also i2;norant of 
 the discomfiture of the French : for they had been informed that the 
 king was not to fight before Sunday. Here began a fresh battle : for 
 those two lords were well attended by good men-at-arms; however, 
 they could not withstand the English, but were almost all slain, 
 with the two chiefs who commanded them ; very few escaping. In 
 the course of the morning, the English found many Frenchmen who 
 had lost their road on the Saturday, and had lain in the open fields, 
 not knowing what was become of the king, or their own leaders. 
 The English put to the sword all they met : and it has been assured 
 to me for fact, that of foot soldiers, sent from the cities, towns and 
 municipalities, there were slain, this Sunday morning, four times as 
 many as in the battle of Saturday. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXXI. 
 
 THE ENG-LISH NUMBER THE DEAD SLAIN AT THE BATTLE OF CRECY. 
 
 This de-tachment, which had been sent to look after the French, 
 returned as the king was coming from mass, and related to him all 
 that they had seen and met with. After he had been assured by 
 them that there was not any appearance of the French collecting 
 another army, he sent to have the numbers and condition of the dead 
 examined. 
 
 He ordered on this business, lord Reginald Cobham, lord Stafford, 
 and three heralds to examine their arms,* and two secretaries to 
 write down all the names. They took much pains to examine all 
 the dead, and were the whole day in the field of battle, not returning 
 but just as the king was sitting down to supper. They made to him 
 a very circumstantial report of all they had observed, and said, they 
 had found eighty banners, the bodies of eleven princes, twelve hun- 
 dred knights, and about thirty thousand common men. 
 
 The English halted there that day, and on the Monday morning 
 prepared to march oflf. The king ordered the bodies of the principal 
 knights to be taken from the ground, and carried to the monastery 
 of Montenay, which was hard by, there to be interred in consecrated 
 ground. He had it proclaimed in the neighborhood, that he should 
 grant a truce for three days, in order that the dead might be buried. 
 He then marched on, passing by Montrieul-sur-mer.t 
 
 His marshals made an excursion as far as Hesdin,t and burnt Vau- 
 bain and Serain ; but they could make nothing of the castle, as it 
 was too strong and well guarded. They lay that Monday night upon 
 the banks of the Canche, near Blangy. The next day they rode 
 toward Boulogne, and burnt the towns of St. Josse and Neufchatel :§ 
 they did the same to Estaples, in the country of the Boulonois. The 
 whole army passed through the forest of Hardelou, and the country 
 of the Boulonois, and came to the large town of Wisant, where the 
 king, prince, and all the English lodged ; and having refreshed them- 
 selves there one whole day, they came, on the Thursday, before the 
 strong town of Calais. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXXII. 
 
 THE KING OF ENGLAND LAYS SIEGE TO CALAIS — THE POORER SORT OF THE 
 INHABITANTS ARE SENT OUT OF IT. 
 
 A BURGUNDY knight, named sir John de Vienne, was governor of 
 Calais; and with him were sir Arnold d'Andreghen, sir Johnde Su- 
 rie, sir Bardo de Bellebourne, sir Geoffry de la Motte, sir Pepin de 
 Were, and many other knights and squires. On the king's arrival 
 before Calais, he laid siege to it, and built between it and the river 
 and bridge, houses of wood : they were laid out in streets, and thatched 
 with straw or broom : and in this town of the king's, there was 
 everything necessary for an army, besides a market-place, where 
 there were markets, every Wednesday and Saturday, for butchers' 
 meat, and all other sorts of merchandise : cloth, bread, and everything 
 else, which came from England, and Flanders, might be had there, 
 as well as all comforts, for money. The English made frequent 
 excursions to Guines|| and its neighborhood, and to the gates of St. 
 Omer and Boulogne, from whence they brought great booties back 
 to the army. The king made no attacks upon the town, as he knew 
 it would be only lost labor ; and he was sparing of his men and artil- 
 lery ; but said, he would remain there so long that he would starve 
 the town into a surrender, unless the king of France should come 
 there to raise the siege. When the governor of Calais saw the pre- 
 parations of the king of England, he collected together all the poor 
 inhabitants, who had not laid in any store of provisions, and, one 
 Wednesday morning, sent upward of seventeen hundred men, wo- 
 men and children, out of the town. As they were passing through 
 the English army, they asked them, why they had left the town ? They 
 replied, because they had nothing to eat. The king, upon this, 
 allowed them to pass through in safety, ordered them a hearty dinner, 
 
 * In those days, knights, or persons of note, wore over their armor a surcoat, having 
 iheir arms blazoned upon it. Tliis may be seen in any old paintings of that age. 
 t In Picardy, diocese of Amiens. 
 t In Artois, situated on the Canche, diocese of Arras. 
 § Villages in Picardy. 
 
 H In Picardy, two leaRues and a half from Calais. It was in ths poisession of the 
 finclith above two hundred yrnt 
 
 and gave to each two sterlings, as charity and alms, for which many 
 of thern prayed earnestly for the king. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXXIII. 
 
 THE DUKE OF NORMANDY RAISES THE SIEGE OF AJCiUlLLON. 
 
 The duke of Normandy, whom we left before Aiguillon, which 
 he was besieging, and sir Walter Manny and the other knights v^ho 
 were within it, made, about the middle of August, a ski-nniph beiore 
 the castle, which increased so much that almost hif; Vv hole army wm 
 engaged in it. Near about this time, the lord Philip of Burgundy, 
 earl of Artois and of Boulogne, and cousin-german to the duke, 
 arrived. He was a very young knight : as soon as this skirmish 
 commenced, he armed himself, and, mounting a handsome steed, 
 stuck spurs into him, in order to hasten to the combat ; but the horse, 
 taking the bit between his teeth, ran off with him, and, in crossing a 
 ditch, fell into it, upon the knight, who was so grievously bruised 
 that he never recovered, and in a short time died. Soon afterwards, 
 the king of France sent to his son. the duke of Normandy, to lay 
 all other things aside, and raise the siege, in order to return directly 
 into France, to defend his inheritance against the Eaglish. The 
 duke, upon this, demanded advice from the earls and barons there 
 present ; for he had vowed he would never move from thence uutil 
 he had the castle, and all within it, in his power : but they assured 
 him, since the king, his father, had so expi.T ssly ordered him to re- 
 turn, he might comply without any forfeinu-e of his honor. On the 
 morrow, at break of day, therefore, the French decamped, and, trus- 
 sing up tents and baggage with great haste, took the road for France. 
 
 The knights who were in Aiguillon, seeing this, armed themse'ves, 
 and mounting their horses, sallied forth ; the pennon of sir Walter 
 Manny taking the lead, fell upon the French, who were scarcely 
 all marched off, cut down and slew numbers, and took upward of 
 .'orty prisoners, whom they brought back to the castle. From them 
 they learned the successful campaign the king of England had made 
 in France, and that at present he was laying siege to Calais. Before 
 the king of France left Amiens, after the battle of Crecy, to go for 
 Paris, he was so much enraged against sir Godemar du Fay, for not 
 laving done his duty in defending the ford of Blanchetaque, by 
 which means the English had entered Ponthieu, that he had deter- 
 mined to hang him ; to which many of his council also were inclined, 
 I'or they were desirous that sir Godemar should make some amends, 
 jy his death, for the defeat the king had suffered at Crecy, and called 
 lim traitor ; but sir John of Hainault excused him, and averted the 
 king's anger, by saying that it would have been difficult for him to 
 lave resisted the English army, when all the flower of the French 
 nobility could do nothing. Soon after this, the duke of Normandy 
 ai-rived in France, where he was joyfully received by his parents, tho 
 king and queen. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXXIV. 
 
 SIR WALTER MANNY, BY MEANS OF A PASSPORT, RIDES THROUGH FRANCE, 
 FROM AIGUILLON TO CALAIS. 
 
 About this time, sir Walter Manny had a conversation with a 
 great knight from Normandy, whom he detained as his prisoner, and 
 asked him, what sum he was willing to pay for his ransom ? The 
 knight replied, " Three thousand crowns." Upon this, sir Walter 
 said, " I know you are related to the duke of Normandy, much be- 
 loved by him, and one of his privy councillors. I will let you free 
 upon your honor, if you will go to the duke, and obtain from him a 
 passport for myself and twenty others, that we may ride through 
 France, as far as Calais, paying courteously for whatever we may 
 want; if therefore you obtain this from the king, I shall ho d you 
 free from your ransom, and also be much obliged to you ; for I have 
 a great desire to see the king of England, and will not remain in 
 any town more than one night. If you cannot accomplish it, you 
 will return in a month to this fortress, as to your prison." The knight 
 set out for Paris, and having obtained from the duke the passport, 
 returned with it to sir Walter at Aiguillon, who acquitted him of his 
 ransom., Sir Walter, shortly afterwards, set out with twenty horse, 
 and took his road through Auvergne. He told everyv/here who he 
 was, and, at every place he stopped, showed his passport, and was 
 directly set at liberty ; but at Orleans he was arrested, although he 
 showed his papers, and from thence conducted to Paris, where he 
 was confined in the prison of the Chatelet. When the duke of Nor- 
 mandy heard of it, he went immediately to the king and remonstrated 
 with him on the subject, because sir Walter Manny had had his pass, 
 port through his means, and demanded that he should, as soon as 
 possible, be set at hberty ; otherwise it would be said that he had 
 betrayed him. The king answered, that he intended putting him to 
 death, for he looked upon him as one of his greatest enemies. Upon 
 which the duke said, that if he put his intentions in execution, he 
 would never bear arms against the king of England, and would pre- 
 vent all those dependent on him from doing the same. Very high 
 words passed between them ; and he left the king, declaring he would 
 never serve in any of his armies, so long as Walter Manny should 
 remain in prison. 
 
84 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, «&c. 
 
 Things remained in this situation a long time. There was a knight 
 tVom Hainault, named sir Mansart d' Aisnes, who was eager to serve 
 ';ir Walter, but* had great difficulty in getting access to the duke of 
 Normandy : however, at last the king was advised to let sir Walter 
 mt of prison, and to pay him all his expenses. The king would 
 ' lave sir Walter to dine with him in the h6tel de Nesle at Paris ; 
 > "hen he presented him with gifts and jewels to the amount of a thou- 
 ^ ind florins. Sir Walter accepted of them, upon condition, that 
 when he got to Calais he should inform the king, his lord, of it ; and 
 if it were agreeable to his pleasure, he would keep them, otherwise 
 he would send them back. The king and duke said, that he had 
 spoken like a loyal knight. Sir Walter then took leave of them, 
 rode on by easy day's journeys to Hainault, and remained, to refresh 
 himself, three days in Valenciennes. He arrived at Calais, where 
 he was well received by the king of England, who, upon being in- 
 formed by sir Walter of the presents he had had from the king of 
 France, said, " Sir Walter, you have hitherto most loyally served us, 
 and we hope you will continue to do so ; send back to king Philip 
 his presents, for you have no right to keep them : we have enough, 
 thank God, for you and ourselves, and are perfectly well disposed to 
 do you all the good in our power, for the services you have rendered 
 us." Sir alter took out all the jewels, and. giving them to his 
 cousin, tlie lord of Mansac, said, " Ride into Irance, to king Philip, 
 and recommend me to him ; and tell him, that I thank him many 
 times for the fine jewels he presented me with, but that it is not 
 agreeable to the will and pleasure of the king of England, my lord, 
 that I retain them." The knight did as he was commanded ; but 
 the king of France would not take back the jewels : he gave them 
 to the lord of Mansac, who thanked the king for them, and had no 
 inclination to refuse them. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXXV. 
 
 THE EARL OF DERBY TAKES MANY TOWNS AND CASTLES IN POITOU, AND 
 
 THE CITY OF POITIERS. 
 
 Ft has been before mentioned, that the earl of Derby had remained 
 in the city of Bordeaux during the siege of Aiguillon. As soon as 
 he was informed that the duke of Normandy had raised the siege, he 
 issued out his summons to all knights and squires in Gascony that 
 were attached to the English. In obedience to which, there came to 
 Bordeaux the lords d'Albret, de I'Esparre, de Rosem, de Mucidan, 
 de Pumiers, de Courton, de Bouqueton, sir Aymery de Traste, and 
 many others. The earl collected twelve hundred men-at-arms, two 
 thousand archers, and three thousand infantry. With these he 
 crossed the Garonne, between Bordeaux and Blayes, and took the 
 road for Saintonge. He first came before Mirabeau,* which he took 
 by assault as well as the castle ; and, having placed therein a garri- 
 son of his own men, rode on to Aulnay,t which he also took and its 
 castle, and then Benont and Surgeres :§ but they could make nothing 
 of the castle of Marans,|] which is about three leagues from la Ro- 
 chelle : they pushed on, therefore, to Montaigne-sur-mer in Poitou, 
 which they took and re-garrisoned. They then advanced to Lusig- 
 nan^ and burnt the town, but could not gain the castle. They next 
 marched to Taillebourg,** and, having conquered the bridge, town 
 and castle, put all the inhabitants to the sword, because they had in 
 the assault killed a valiant knight. The whole country was so much 
 alarmed that they ficd before the English, leaving their houses empty 
 and defenceless, to shut themselves up in the fortified towns. There 
 was not any appearance of opposition from the knights and squires 
 of Saintonge, who had retired to their fortresses, without making any 
 effort to combat tho English. 
 
 The earl of Derby at last came before the town of St. Jean d'An- 
 gely,tt and immediately began an attack upon it. There were not 
 in the town any men-at-arms ; and at vespers, when the attack was 
 nearly ended, sir William de Rion, mayor of the town, and the prin- 
 cipal inhabitants, sent to demand passports for six of the citizens to 
 come and treat with the earl: it was granted them for that night, and 
 the whole of the next day. On the morrow, these citizens came to 
 the earl in his tent, and swore to be good Englishmen as long as the 
 king of England, or any one from him, would keep them in peace 
 from the French. The earl refreshed himself in the town for four 
 days, and received the homage of the inhabitants: he then advanced 
 to Niort,tt of which sir Guiscard d'Angle was governor. He made 
 three attacks upon it; but not gaining anything, he passed on, and 
 came to the village of St. Maximien, which he took by storm, and slew 
 all that were v,athin it. He next marched to Montreuil Bonin,§§ 
 where there were upward of two hundred coiners, who were mint- 
 ing money for the king of France, and who declared that they would 
 not obey the summons of the earl ; but there was so sharp an assault 
 made on it, that the town v>'as taken and all within put to death. The 
 earl placed a new garrison in the castle, and advanced to Poitiers, 
 which is a large straggling city : he could only therefore lay siege to 
 
 * A town in Poitou, diocese of Poitiers. t A town in Poitou. 
 
 t A town in Ancenis. § A town in Ancenis. 
 
 II A town in Ancenis. IT A town in Poitou. 
 
 A town in Saintonge, three leagues from Saintes. 
 tt In SaintonRe, diocese of Saintes. 
 tX A city in Poitou, nineteen leagues from Poitiers. 
 6§ A town in Poitou, three league* from Poitieri. 
 
 it on one side ; for he had not forces sufficient to surround it. He 
 immediately made an assault ; but the townsmen of the poorer sort 
 were so numerous, though little prepared for such an attack, and de- 
 fended the town so well, that the earl's people gained nothing : they 
 retired to their quarters much fatigued. On the morrevv some of the 
 earl's knights armed themselves, rode round the town, and after- 
 wards made their report to him of \\4iat they had seen ana heard 
 There was then a council held ; and it was resolved to attack the 
 town in three different places at once the next day, and to post the 
 greater number of the men-at-arms and archers at the weakest part ; 
 which was executed. 
 
 It happened, that at that time there was not any gallant knight in 
 the town who knew wliat deeds of arms were ; nor were they pro- 
 vided with any accustomed to wars, that might advise them how pro. 
 perly to defend themselves. The earl's people, therefore, at this 
 assault entered the town at the weakest part : and, when those within 
 saw themselves thus conquered, they ffed for the fastest out of the 
 other gates, for there were many. Upward of seven hundred were 
 slain ; for the earl's people put every one to the sword, men, women 
 and little children. The city was instantly plundered, and was full 
 of wealth, as well of its own inhabitants, as of those in tire neighbor- 
 hood, who had retired into it as to a place of safety. The army de- 
 stroyed many churches, committed great waste, and would have done 
 much more, if the earl had not forbidden, under pain of death, 
 that either church or house should be set on fire ; for he was desirous 
 of remaining there ten or twelve days. Part of the disorders were 
 stopped, but much thieving still continued. The earl remained in the 
 city twelve days : he might have stayed longer had he chosen it, for 
 no one came to oppose him, and the whole country tiemblea : none 
 dared to show themselves out of their strong garrisons. He left Poi- 
 tiers empty, for its size rendered it untenable. The army at its de- 
 parture was so laden vAth the riches they had found there, that they 
 made no account of clothes, unless they were of gold and silver, or 
 trimmed with furs.* They returned by easy marches to St. Jean 
 d'Angely, where they remained for some time. The earl during this 
 stay made handsome presents to the ladies and damsels of the town, 
 and almost every day gave them grand dinners or suppers. He en- 
 livened them so much that he acquired great popularity : and they 
 publicly said, he was the most noble prince that ever mounted steed. 
 On his taking leave of them, he made the mayor and principal citi- 
 zens renew their oath, that they would keep and defend the town, a& 
 the legal inheritance of the king of England. The earl then rode on 
 with his whole army to Bordeaux, passing by the fortresses he had 
 conquered, when he dismissed his troops, and gave them many thanks 
 for the services they had done. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXXVI. 
 
 THE KING OF SCOTLAND, DURING THE SIEGE OF CALAIS, INVADES 
 
 ENGLAND. 
 
 I HAVE been silent some time respecting the king of Scotland ; 
 but until this moment I have not had anything worth relating ; for, 
 as I have before said, mutual truces had been granted between him 
 and the king of England, which had not been infringed. Dnring the 
 time the king of England was carrying on the siege of Calais, the 
 Sco^s determined to make war upon him, thinking it a good oppor- 
 tunity to be revenged for the many disasters he had brought on them. 
 England had at that time very few men-at-arms, as the king had a 
 great number with him before Calais, as well as in his other armies 
 in Brittany, Poitou, and Gascony. The king of France took great 
 pains to foment this war, in order that the English might have so 
 much to employ themselves at home as would oblige them to raise 
 the siege of Calais, and return to England. 
 
 King David issued his summons for a parliament to be holden at 
 Perth ; which was attended by the earls, prelates, and barons of Scot, 
 land, who were unanimous for invading England as speedily as pos. 
 sible. Raynald, lord of the isles, who governed the wild Scots, and 
 whom alone they obeyed, was sent to, and entreated to attend the 
 parliament. He complied with the request, and brought l»hree thou- 
 sand of the wildest of his countrymen with him. When all the 
 Scots were assembled, they amounted together to about forty thou- 
 sand combatants : but they could not make their preparations so 
 secretly as to prevent news of it coming to the knowledge of the 
 queen of England, who had taken up her residence in the north, 
 near the borders. She wrote, and sent summons to all that were 
 attached to England to come to York by a certain day. Many men. 
 at-arms and archers, who had remained at home, put themselves in 
 motion, and advanced to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, which the queen 
 hnd appointed as the final place of rendezvous. In the meanwhile, 
 the Scots set out from Perth, and advanced the first day to Dunferm. 
 line ; the next day they crossed a small arm of the sea ; but the king 
 went to Stirling, crossed the water there on the morrow, and came 
 to Edinburgh. Here they halted and numbered their men. There 
 
 * The original according to D. Sauvage's edition, runs thus : " qu'il.^ ne faisoienl 
 copte de draps : 'fors d'or et d'arpeiit, et de pennes." The meaning here is not very 
 clear, and Mr. Johnes has endeavored to overcome the difficulty by substituting tur« for 
 feathers. The author probably intended to say, that they mnde no account of cloth 
 except it was of gold or silver, nor of anything else except feathers. Lord Berners saya, 
 " they s«tte by nothynga but gold and syluer and fethers for men of warre."— £»• 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, & c . 
 
 85 
 
 were full three thousand knights and squires, well armed, and thirty 
 thousand others, mounted on galloways. They marched to Rox- 
 
 whence they began to destroy and burn the country of Cumberland 
 Some of their scouts advanced as far as York, %vhcre they burnt all 
 without the walls and down the river, antl returned to their army, 
 within one day's march of Newcastle. 
 
 Q,UEEN Philippa— From the Tomb in Westminster Abbey. 
 
 burgh, the first fortress belonging to the English on their road, under 
 the command of the lord William Montacute, who had lately erected 
 it against the Scots, This castle is handsome, and very strong ; the 
 Scots therefore passed on without attacking it, and took up their 
 
 Queen Philippa haranguing her troops before the Battle of Neville's Cross— From a MS. Froissart 
 
 of the 15th Century. 
 
 quarter s on the banks of a river,* between Precy and LincoUe ; ^ the earl John Douglass,^ sir 
 
 * Probably the river was the Irthing, and the towns Lidel and Lanercost. for lord 
 Hailessays, in his Annals, that "David stormed the castle of Lidel, and beheaded 
 Walter Selby, the governor. Selby. according to the usage of those loose times, seems 
 to have been both a robber and a warrior, alternately plundering and defendmg his 
 eouniry." 
 
 " He was one of the band of robbers so famous in English story, who, under their 
 leader, Gilbert Middleton, robbed two cardinals and the bisliop of Durham. He after 
 
 CHAPTER CXXXVII. 
 
 THE BATTLE OF NEVILLE'S CROSS. 
 
 The queen of England, who was very anxious to defend her king- 
 dom, and guard it from all disturbers, in order to show that she was 
 in earnest about it, came herself to Newcaj-.lle-upon.Tyne. She took 
 up her residence there, to wait for the forces she expected from dif- 
 ferent parts of the kingdom. The Scots, who were informed thst 
 Newcastle was the place of rendezvous of tljc English amiy, advanced 
 thither, and sent their vanguard to skirmish near the town ; who, on 
 their return, burnt some hamlets adjoining to it. The smoke and 
 flames came into the towuj which made the English impatient to 
 sally out upon those who had done this mischief, but their leaders 
 would not permit them. On the morrow, the king of Scotland, with 
 full forty tliousand men, including al! sorts, advfinced within three 
 3hort Englit>li miles of Newcastle, and took up hi'; quarters on the 
 land of the lord Neville. He sent to inform the army in the town, 
 that, if they were v/illing to come forth, he would wait for them and 
 give them battle. The barons and prelates of England sent for an- 
 swer, that they accepted his offer, and would risk their lives with the 
 realm of their lord and king. They sallied out iu number about 
 twelve hundred men-at-arms, three thousand rjr'jhers, and seven 
 thousand other men, including the Welsh. The Scots posted them, 
 selves opposite to the English ; and each army was drawn out in 
 battle array. 
 
 The queen of England came to the place where her army was, and 
 remained until it was drawn out in four battalions. The first was 
 under the command of the bishop of Durham, and the lord Percy ; 
 the second, under the archbishop of York, and the lord Neville ; 
 
 the third, uiider the bishop of 
 Lincoln, and lord Mowbray ; 
 the fourth, was commanded by 
 lord Boliol, governor of Ber- 
 wick, the archbishop of Can- 
 terbury, and ihe lord Roos. 
 Each battalion had its just pro. 
 portion of men-at-arms and 
 archers, as was expedieait. The 
 queen now advanced among 
 them, and entreated them to 
 do their duly well, in defend- 
 ing the honor of their lord and 
 king, and urged them, for the 
 love of God, to fight manfully. 
 They promised her that they 
 would acquit themselves loy. 
 ally, to the utmost of their 
 power, and perhaps better than 
 if the king had been there in 
 person. The queen then took 
 her leave, and recommended 
 them to the protection of Gotf 
 and St. George. The twt 
 armies were soon after iii mo 
 tion, and tlie archers on eact 
 side began to shoot; but thost 
 of the Scots did not long con 
 tinueit, while the English sho- 
 incessantly. When the bat 
 talions were got into eloss 
 combat, the engagement was 
 sharp, and well fought. 
 
 The b;,ttle began about nine 
 o'clock, and lasted until noon 
 The Scots had very hard and 
 sharp axes,* with which they 
 dealt deadly blows; but at lasi 
 the English gained the field, 
 though it cost them dear by 
 the loss of their men. On the 
 part of the Scots, there fell in 
 the field the earl of Sys, the 
 earl Dostre, the earl Patr's,t 
 the earl of Furlaryt,t the earl 
 Dastredure, the earl of Mar, 
 Alexander Ramsay, who bore the 
 wards held out the castles of Mitford andHtort^HT^nst his soyeieign.-Scala Chron 
 ap. Leland, t. i. p. 561. 
 
 Yet Packington, apud Leland, t. i. p. 470. says, " David, kmg of Scottes, caused tlia 
 noble kmehtWalter Selby. capitayne of the Pyle of Lydelle, to be slayne afore his 
 owne face, not suffering him so much as to be confessed. , , 
 * a. Lochaber axes. t Probably Patrick, eari of Dunbar, 
 
 i a. Sutherland. § No earl Douglas at tnat period. 
 
86 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 king's banners, and many other barons, knights, and squires * The 
 
 * " Knyjjhton is tlie historian who has given tlie most ample list of the killed at the 
 battle oI'Durham : yet it is, in various particulars, erroneous ; and it has been strangely 
 distiKured by the mistakes of transcribers. Knyghton has afforded the ground-work of 
 the fuliowiii;: list; and care has been taken to correct his errors, whenever they could be 
 detected. This was the more necessary, because our writers seem to have despaired of 
 beiii? able to correct the list, and have left many names as erroneous as they found 
 fJiein. Thus, A bercrombie has Humphrey de BLois and Robert Maltalent ; and to con- 
 ceal his ignorance, he alKrms them to have been Frenchmen. He has also David Ba- 
 navt and J\rickol(is Clopodolian. names for which he has not ventured to account. Some 
 additions have been procured from Fordun, although his list is not so full as that in 
 Knygiiton. 'i'hese additions are marked F. 
 
 " It is impossible to give a correct list of all the prisoners of distinction taken at Dur- 
 ham , for it appears, that many persons privately took ransom for the prisoners they 
 had made, jind suffered them to depart. This practice became so general, that it was 
 prohibited under pain of death [20th November, and 13th December, 1346.] 
 
 " JMobt of the prisoners of distinction, who had not escaped by means of this conni- 
 vance, were ordered to be conveyed to the tower of London [8th December, 1346.] From 
 that innlrument, and from some other scattered notices, lhave drawn up a list of pris- 
 oners, not so complete, indeed, as might have been wished, y 2t more authentic and in- 
 telligible than any that has been hitherto exhibited. 
 
 "KILLED. 
 
 "John Randolph, earl of Moray— the youngest son of Randolph the regent. With 
 him the male line of that heroic family ended. He was succeeded in his honors and 
 estate by his sister, the countess of March, vulgarly termed Black Agnes. 
 
 " Maurice Moray, earl of Strathern— in right of his mother Mary. The English, in 
 general, did not acknowledge his title. Knyghton mentions him again under the name 
 oi' Maurice de Murref. 
 
 *' David de laye Haye, constable, F.— Knyghton mentions his name, but without his 
 title of office. 
 
 *' Robert Keith, marshal. P.— grandson of sir Robert Keith. 
 " Robert de Peebles, chamberlain, F.— There is considerable uncertamty as to this 
 
 name. 
 
 "Thomas Charters, chancellor, F.— De Carnuto. A name of great antiquity in 
 Scotland. See Crawford, Officers of State, p. 19. 
 
 " Humphrey de Boys.— Knyghton and his copyists say, deBloys, probably Boys, the 
 same with Boyse, Boece. 
 
 *' John de Bonneville, F. 
 
 " Thomas Boyd.— This is a mistake in Knyghton, unless there were two persons of 
 that name ; for tliere was a Thomas Boyd among the prisoners. 
 
 "Andrew Buttergask. F.— This family subsisted until about the beginning of the 15th 
 century, when the heiress, Margaret Buttergask, ofthat ilk, made over her estate to the 
 family of Gray. 
 
 " Roger Cameron. 
 
 " John ^e Crawford. 
 
 " William Frazer, F.— of Cowie : ancestor of lord Salton. 
 
 '* David Fitz-Robert.— Probably some person who had not as yet assumed a sur- 
 name. 
 
 " William de Haliburton.— Fordun says Walter, but there is a Walter de Haliburton 
 imong the prisoners. 
 " William de la Haye. 
 " Gilbert de Inchmartin, F. 
 " Edward de Keith. 
 
 • Edmunde de Keith.— According to Knyghton, the brother of Edward de Keith. 
 ' " Reginald Kirkpatrick. 
 
 " David de Lindesay— said by Fordun to have been ' the son and heir of lord David 
 de Lindesay,' ancestor of the earls of Crawfurd and Balcarras. 
 " John de Lindesay. 
 
 "Robert Maitland: called Mantaleiit by Knyghton, frotn whence Abercrombie 
 formed ' Maltalent, a French knight ;' plainly Matulent, now Maitland, of Thiries- 
 tane, ancestor of the earl of Lauderdale. 
 
 " Maitland— the brother of Robert Maitland of Thirlestane. 
 
 " Philip de Meldrum— called tie Mildronhy Knyghton. 
 
 " Jolin de la More. 
 
 "Adam Moygrave. 
 
 " William Moubray.— There was a William Mowbray among the prisoners. 
 
 "William de Ramsay, the lather.— A William de Ramsay, probably the younger, 
 was among the prisoners. 
 
 " Michael Scot, F.— of Murthockstone, now Murdiestone, ancestor of the duke of 
 Buccleugh. 
 
 "John St. Clair.— There was a John St. Clair among the prisoners. 
 "Alexander Strachan— called Straggy hy Knyghton. 
 
 " Strachan, the brother of Alexander Strachan. 
 
 " John Stewart. 
 
 " John Stewart. — I conjecture that sir John Stewart of Dreghorn is meant, whose fa- 
 tlier Ala n was killed atHalidon. 
 "Alan Stewart, the brother of John Stewart. 
 
 "Adam de Wbitsom.— Knyghton h&s Jldam deJ^yston, which is plainly an error in 
 transcribing. Perhaps de Dennistoun is the right name. Knyghton reckons Patonus 
 Heryng, r. Patricias Heron, among the ^Jain. It appears from Fcedera, that he was 
 a prisoner. Knyghton also reckons the e<f I of Sutherland among the slain, Fordun 
 among the prisoners. It is certain that he was not killed; and, if he were made pris- 
 oner, he must have been among those who were suffered to escape immediately after 
 the battle. 
 
 "PRISONERS. 
 
 "David II. king of Scots.— He received two wounds before h« yielded himself a pris- 
 oner. 
 
 " Duncan earl of Fife.— He had sworn fealty to Baliol. He was condemned to suf- 
 fer death as a traitor, but obtained mercy. 
 
 " John Graham, earl of Menteth— in right of his wife, according to the mode of those 
 times : he was executed as a traitor. He had formerly sworn fealty to Edward III. 
 
 "Malcolm Fleming, earl of Wigton.— He is called Malcolm Fleming, without any 
 addition ; Fcedera, t. v. p. 537. He had a grant of the earldom of Wigton in 1342. See 
 Crawfurd. Peerage, p. 493. But the English government did not acknowledge the 
 right of D^id II. to confer titles of honor. It is probable that he made his escape ; 
 for, in Calendars of Ancient Charters, p. 203, there is this title, ' de capiendo Robertum 
 Bertram, qui Malcolmum Fleming, Scotum, inimicum, regis evadere permisit.' 
 
 " George Abernethy— of Salton, ancestor of lord Salton. 
 " David dg Annand. 
 
 "William Baillie— supposed to beBaillie ofLambistoun or Lambintoun, vulgarly 
 Lntnington ; Nisbet, vol. ii. Appendix, p. 137. But see sir James Dalrymple, p. 410. 
 
 " Thomas Boyd— probably of Kilmarnock. The son of that Boyd who was the 
 faithful and fortunate companion of Robert Bruce. 
 
 "Andrew Campbell— of Loudon. In riirht of his mother, Susanna Crawfurd, herit- 
 able sheriff of Airshire, ancestor of the earl of Loudon. 
 
 " Gilbert de Carrick— ancestor of the earl of Dassilis. His son assumed the name of 
 Kennedy. 
 
 " Robert Chisholm. 
 
 "riicbolas Knockdolian— called Clopdolian by Knyghton. and by Abererombie 
 f jfr ^irlivK Galloway, although tbenam* fa&s a G«rman air. 
 
 king of Scotland was taken prisoner, fighting most gallantly, and 
 badlj' wounded, before he was captured by a squire of Northumber. 
 land, named John Copeland ; who, as soon as he got him, pushed 
 through the crowd, and with eight other companions, rode off, and 
 never stopped until he was distant from the field of battle about 
 
 Heads of Lochaber Axes— From specimens preserved in the Tower oi 
 Newcastle-upon-Tyne. 
 
 fifteen miles. He came about Vespers to Ogle castle, on the river 
 Blythe, and there declared that he would not sun-ender his prisoner, 
 the king of Scotland, to man or woman except to his lord the king 
 of England. That same day were taken prisoners, the earls of Mur- 
 ray and March, lord William Douglas, lord Robert de Wersy, the 
 bishops of Aberdeen and St. Andrews, and many other barons and 
 knights. There were about fifteen thousand slain, and the remainder 
 saved themselves as well as they could. This battle was fough' near 
 Newcastle, in the year 1346, on a Saturday preceding Michaelmas 
 day.* 
 
 " Fergus de Crawfurd.— Roger de Crawfurd. rr,, ■ ■ 
 
 "Bartholomew de Dermond-a German, as the record m Fcedera bean. This is 
 mentioned because Abercrombie, vol. ii. p. 99, says, 'perhaps Drummond: although 
 he had perused Fcedera. . 
 
 "John Douglas, the elder-probably the younger brother of William Dougles of 
 Liddesdtile, ancestor of the earl of Morton. . „r-„- r^ i 
 
 "William Douglas, the elder.-This person, I am confident, is William Douglas ti;e 
 bastard brother of William Douglas of Liddesdale. There is no evidence that W il- 
 liam lord Douglas, son of Archibald, surnamed Tineman, and first earl of that iamily, 
 was made prisoner at Durham, or indeed that he was present at the baUle. Fordnn. 
 1 xiv c 6 expressly says, that he did not come from France till after the baUle. W e 
 learn from Fcedera, that he was at liberty while others were prisoners ; and we do not 
 Icam from Fcedera, that he was ever a prisoner. To support an erroneous hypothesis 
 of Boece, concerning William lord Douglas, records have been misconstructed and mis- 
 
 ^^" Patrick de Dunbar. Adam de Fullarton. John Giffard. Laurence Gilibrand. 
 
 "David Graham— of Montrose ; ancestor ofthe duke of Montrose. 
 
 " Alexander Haliburton— John de Haliburton. Douglas, Peerage, p. 321, conjec- 
 tures, not improbably, that they were the brothers of Walter de Haliburton. But he 
 ought not to have referred to Fordun, v. ii. [1. xiv. c. 3] in proof of this, for Fordun 
 
 mentions them not. rv- i 
 
 " Walter de Haliburton— predecessor ofthe lords Haliburton of Dirleton. 
 "Patrick Heron. William deJardin. . j ru- 
 
 " Roger de Kirkpatrick.-Made prisoner by Ralph de Hastings. Hastings died orm» 
 wounds. He bequeathed the body of Roger de Kirkpatrick to his joint legatees, Ed- 
 mund Hastings of Kynthorp and John de Kirkeby ; Fcedera, t. v. p. 535. 
 
 " Thomas de Lippes— called, in Calendars of Ancient Charters, chevalier. It he 
 was not a foreigner, I know not who he was. 
 "William de Livingston. , -r, . t ■ rri 
 
 " Lorein— ^aid in the record, to have been the son of Eustace L.orein. iiiis 
 
 Eustace, called Tassy by Fordun, l.xiv.c.5, wascaptainofRokesburgh under Doug- 
 las of Liddesdale, the governor, -o- , . J 
 
 " Duncan M'Uonnel.-Not in the list in Fcedera. t. v. p. oSd, but mentioned as a pris- 
 oner, Fcedera, t. v. p. 554. c i. e 
 " Duncan M'Donnel.— See Fcedera, ib. the son ofthe former. 
 
 " de Makepatb.-Were it not for the particle de, 1 should suppose that some 
 
 person ofthe name of M' Beth was here understood. 
 
 " John de Maxwell-of Carlaverock, ancestor ot the earl of Nithsdale. 
 
 "Walter Moine. David Moray. William de Moray. Wilham Moore. William 
 Moubray. 
 
 " Patrick dePolwartb, ancestor ofthe eari of Marchmont. , , 
 
 *• John de Preston-supposed to have been the ancestor ot Preston lord Dmgwai.. 
 "Alexander de Ramsay. Henry de Ramsay. Ness de Ranisay. 
 " William de Ramsay. -Probably sir William Ramsay of Colluthy. He was atth^ 
 battleofPoictiersinl366. and was made prisoner there. 
 " William de Salton.-Not in Fcedera ; but mention is made of him, Calendar of 
 
 Ancient Charters, p. 199. . . , , 
 
 "John St. Clair. Alexander Steel. Alexander Stewart. ,^rr-L 
 " John Stewart-of Dalswinston, as the record bears. Ancestor of the earl of Ga*- 
 
 loway. , , , 
 
 " John Stewart-a bastard, as the record bears. 
 " John de Valence. William de Vaux. Robert Wallace. 
 Jlnnals of Scotland, vol. ii. App. No. 6, p. 321. etseq. 
 * It was on the 17tb October. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 ^ ■ ^ :; 
 
 CHAPTER CXXXVIII. 
 
 JOHN COPELAND TAKES THE KING OF SCOTLAND PRISONER, AND RECEIVES 
 GREAT ADVANTAGES FROM IT. 
 
 When the queen of England, who had remained in Newcastle, 
 heard that her army had gained the day, she mounted her palfrey, 
 and went to the field of battle. She was informed that the king of 
 Scotland had been made prisoner, by a squire of the name of John 
 Copeland, but who had rode off with him they could not tell whither. 
 The queen ordered him to be written to, to bring the king of Scots 
 to her, and to tell. him that he had not done what was agreeable to 
 her, in carrying off his prisoner without leave. All that day the 
 queen and army remained on the field of battle, which they had won, 
 and on the morrow returned to Newcastle.* 
 
 When the letter from the queen was presented by a knight to John 
 Copeland, he answered that he would not give up his prisoner, the 
 king of Scots, to man or woman, except to his own lord, the king of 
 England : that they might depend on his taking proper care of him, 
 and he would be answerable for guarding him well. The queen, 
 upon this, wroto letters to the king, which she sent ofi' to Calais. 
 She therein informed him of the state of his kingdom. ' The king 
 then ordered John Copeland to come to him at Calais, who, having 
 placed his prisoner under good guards, in a strong castle on the bor- 
 ders of Northumberland, set out, and, passing through England, 
 came to Dover, where he embarked, and landed near Calais. When 
 the king of England saw the squire, he took him by the hand, and 
 said, " Ha ! welcome, my squire, who by his valor has captured my 
 adversary the king of Scotland." John Copeland, falling on one 
 knee, replied, " If God, out of his great kindness, has given me the 
 king of Scotland, and permitted me to conquer him in arms, no one 
 ought to be jealous of it ; for God can, when he pleases, seijd his 
 grace to a poor squire, as well as to a great lord. Sir, do not take 
 it amiss, if I did not surrender him to the orders of my lady, the 
 queen : for I hold my lands of you, and my oath is to you, not to 
 her, except it be through choice." The king answered, " John, the 
 loyal service you have done us, and our esteem for your valor is so 
 great, that it may well serve you as an excuse ; and shame fall upon 
 all those that bear you any jll-will. You will now return home, and 
 take your prisoner, the king of Scotland, and convey him to my 
 wife ; and, by way of remuneration, I assign lands, as near your 
 ' house as you can choose them, to the amount of five hundred pounds 
 sterling a-year, for you and your heirs ; and I retain you as a squire 
 of my body and of my household. "t John Copeland left Calais the 
 third day after his arrival, and returned to England ; when he was 
 come home, he assembled his friends and neighbors, and in com- 
 pany with them, took the king of Scots and conveyed him to York, 
 where he presented him, in the name of the king, to the queen, and 
 made such handsome excuses that she was satisfied. 
 
 When the queen had sufficiently provided for the defence of the 
 city of York, the castle of Roxburgh, the city of Durham, and the 
 town of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, as well as for all the borders, and 
 had appointed the lords Percy and Neville governors of Northum- 
 berland, to take proper care of it, she set out from York and returned 
 to London. She ordered the king of Scots, the earl of Murray, and 
 the other prisoners, to be confined in the tower of. London, and, hav- 
 ing placed a suflScient guard over them, set out for Dover, where she 
 embarked, and, with a favorable wind, arrived before Calais three 
 days preceding the feast of All-Saints. t The king, upon her arrival, 
 held a grand court, and ordered magnificent entertainments for all 
 the lords who were there, but more especially for the ladies ; as the 
 queen had brought a great many with her, who were glad to accom- 
 pany her, in order to see fathers, brothers, and friends, that were 
 engaged at this siege of Calais. 
 
 * " Froissart supposes that Philippa, the consort of Edward III., was their leader ; 
 and in tins he has been imphcitly followed by the later historians of both nations. A 
 young and comely princess, the mother of heroes, at the head of an army in the absence 
 of her lord, is o n ornament to history ; yet no English writer of considerable antiquity 
 mentions this circumstance, which, if true, they would not have omitted. Baliol also 
 is said to have been ne.\t in command to queen Philippa ; yet the ancient English wri- 
 ters say nothing of it; and the whole strain of the Fcedera is inconsistent with the hy- 
 pothesis of iiii having any such command. Barnes, page 398, says, that the English 
 * were in number twelve hundred men-at-arms, three thousand archers, and seven thou- 
 sand footmen, besides a choice band of expert soldiers, newly come from before Calais, 
 the whole amounting to sixteen thousand complete.' For this he quotes Giovanni Vil- 
 lani, the Florentine liistorian, lib. xii. c. 75. Villani's account of the battle of Durham 
 is exceedingly superficial ; and, which is remarkable, he says nothing of what Barnes 
 quotes as from him. See Muratori Scrip. Ital. t. xiii. p. Annals of Scotland. 
 
 t " Copeland was made a banneret, with a salary of 500Z. yearly, to him and to his 
 heirs, until lands of the like yearly amount should be bestowed on him. He obtained 
 a pension for life of 100/., under condition of furnishing twenty men-at-arms. He was 
 also made warden of Berwick. Besides all this, it appears that he obtained the office 
 ol sheriff pf Northumberland, and keeper of Roxburgh castle. Robert de Bertram had 
 a pension of 200 marks given to him and to his heirs, until the king should provide him 
 in lands of equal value, for his capture of the knight of Liddesdale." 
 
 ^nnals~B.nd FtBdera. 
 X Knyghton. p. 2592, relates, that by command of Edward III., David Bruce was con- 
 ducted to the tower, under an escort of 20.000 men, well armed ; that tiie different com- 
 panies of London, m their proper dresses, were present at the procession - and that 
 Uavia Bruce rode on a tali black hopBe. so as to be seen bv all men 
 
 87 . 
 
 CHAPTER CXXXIX. 
 
 THE YOUNG EARL OF FLANDERS IS BETROTHED, THROUGH THE CONSTRAlJfT 
 OF THE FLEMINGS, TO THE DAUGHTER OF THE KING OF ENGLAND. HR 
 ESCAPES TO FRANCE IN A SUBTLE MANNER. 
 
 The siege of Calais lasted a long time ; during which many gal- 
 lant feats of arms and adventures happened : but it is not possible 
 for me to relate the fourth part of them : for the king of France had 
 posted so many men-at-arms in the fortresses, and on the borders of 
 the counties of Guines, Artois, Boulogne, round to Calais, and had 
 such numbers of Genoese, Normans, and others in vessels on the 
 sea, that none of the English could venture abroad on horseback or 
 on foot, to forage, without meeting some of these parties : there were 
 frequent skirmishes near the gates and ditches of the town, v/hich 
 never ended without several being killed and wounded : sometimes 
 one side gained the advantage, and sometimes the other. The king 
 of England and his council studied nioht and day to invent new en. 
 gines more effectually to annoy the town : but the inhabitants were 
 equally alert to destroy their effect, and exerted themselves so much, 
 that they suffered nothing from them. However, no provisions could 
 be brought into the place but by stealth, and by the means of two 
 mariners, who were guides to such as adventured : one was named 
 Maraut, and the other Mestriel ; both of them resided in Abbeville. 
 By their means, the town of Calais was frequently victualled ; and 
 by their boldness they were often in great danger, many times pur- 
 sued and ;,hnost taken ; but they escaped, and rlevv and wounded 
 many of the English. The siege lasted all the \v7:uer. The king 
 had a great desire to keep on good terms with the- municipalities of 
 Flanders, because he thought that through them he should the more 
 easily obtain his end. He made, therefore, frequent protestations of 
 friendship to them, and gave them to understand, that, after he should 
 have succeeded at Calais, he would reconquer for them Lisle, Douay, 
 and all their dependencies: so that the Flemings, believing in such 
 promises, put themselves in motion, about the time that the king wtis 
 in Normandy, whence he came to Crecy and Calais ; and they laid 
 siege to Belirane. They had chosen for their commander the lord 
 Oudart de Renty, who had been banished from France, and had 
 closely besieged the town, and much damaged it by their attacks : 
 but there were within four knights for the king of France, who well 
 defended it; their names were, sir Geoffry de Chargny, the lord Eu- 
 stace de Ribeaumont, the lord Baudoiti d'Anequin, and lord John 
 de Landas. The town of Bethune was so well defended, that the 
 Flemings conquered nothing : they returned therefore to Flanders, 
 not having been more successful than before. 
 
 When the king of England was come to Calais, he did not cease 
 sending flattering messengers and promises to the municipalities of 
 Flanders, to preserve their friendship, and lessen their opinion of the 
 king of France, who was taking great pain.s to acquire their affec- 
 tions. The king of England would have gladly seen the earl Lewis 
 of Flanders, who at that time was but fifteen years old, married to 
 his daughter Isabella, and set so many engines to work among the 
 Flemings that they acceded to it, which mightily rejoiced the king ; 
 for he imagined that by this marriage he would easily govern that 
 country. The Flemings also thought that this alliance would enable 
 them more effectually to resist the French ; and that it would be 
 more profitable to be connected with the king of England than with 
 the king of France. Their young earl, however, who had been 
 educated with the royal family of France, and who at the time was 
 in that kingdom, would not agree to it, and declared frankly, that he 
 would never take to wife the daughter of him ^vho had slain his 
 father. On the other hand, duke John of Brabant was very eagerly 
 trying to make a match between the earl and his daughter, and 
 promised to obtain for him the full enjoyment of Flanders, by fair 
 or foul means. The duke also gave the king of France to under- 
 stand, that, if the marriage took place, he would manage the Flem- 
 ings, that they should attach themselves to him in preference to the 
 king of England. Upon the strength of these promises, the king of 
 France consented to the marriage of the carl el" Flanders with the 
 duke of Brabant's daughter. After the duke \y, A obtained this con- 
 sent, he sent messengers to all the principal citizens of the great 
 towns in Flanders, who colored the union with so many specious 
 reasons, that the councils of the principal towns sent to the earl, 
 and informed him that if he would come to Flanders, and follow 
 their advice, they would be his true friends, and would give up to 
 him all royalties, rights, and jurisdictions, in a greater degree than 
 any earl had hitherto been possessed of. The earl was advised to 
 go to Flanders, where he was joyfully received ; and the chief towns 
 made him rich and handsome presents. 
 
 As soon as the king of England was informed of this he sent the 
 earls of Northampton and Arundel, and lord Reginald Cobham, into 
 Flanders; who managed matters so well with the leading men in the 
 place, and with the corporations, that they were more desirous their 
 lord should marry a daughter of the king of England, than the 
 daughter of the duke of Brabant : they very affectionately entreated 
 their lord so to do, and supported it by many strong and good argu. 
 ments, which would be too tedious to detail here ; insomuch that 
 those of the duke of Brabant's party could say nothing to the con- 
 trary. The earl, however, would not consent to it, notwithstanding 
 
88 
 
 CHRONICLES OF EN LAND, FRANCE, SPAIN. &c. 
 
 I 
 
 their fair speeches and arguments, but repeated his former declara- 
 tion, that he would never marry the daughter of him who had killed 
 his father, were he to have a moiety of the kingdom of England lor 
 her dower. When the Flemings heard this, they said, their lord 
 was too much of a Frenchman, and very ill advised, and that he 
 must not expect any good from them, since he would not listen to 
 their counsels. They arrested him, and confined him, though not a 
 close prisoner, and told him, he should never have his liberty until 
 he would pay attention to their advice : they added, that if the late 
 earl, his father, had not loved the French so much, but had listened 
 to them, he would have been the greatest prince in Christendom, 
 and would have recovered Lisle, Bethune, and Douay, and been 
 alive at this day. While all this was passing, the king of England 
 still held on the siege of Calais. He kept his court there at Christ- 
 mas in a royal and noble manner ; and in the ensuing Lent, the earl 
 of Derby, the earl of Pembroke, the earl of Oxford, and many knights 
 and squires who had crossed the sea with them, returned from Gas- 
 cony. 
 
 The Earl of Flanders was for a long time in danger from the 
 Flemings, and, being a prisoner, was perfectly weary of it. He 
 therefore made them understand, that he was willing to follow their 
 advice, for he could receive more advantages from them than from 
 those in any other country. These words pleased the Flemings 
 much : they gave him his liberty, and allowed him to partake of 
 one of his favorite amusements, hawking, of which he was very 
 fond. However, when he went to follow this sport, they set a good 
 watch over him, that he did not escape, nor was stolen from those 
 who had undertaken to guard him, on pain of death. These guards 
 were of the king of England's party ; and watched him so closely 
 that they would scarcely allow him to make water. This conduct 
 lasted so long, and was so offensive to the earl, that he agreed to 
 marry the king of England's daughter. The Flemings immediately 
 informed the king of it, and desired that the king and queen would 
 come to the monastery at Bergues, accompanied by their daughter, 
 and they would bring their earl there, and conclude the marriage. 
 You may easily imagine how pleased the king and queen were with 
 this news : they said the Flemings were very good sort of people. 
 A day was fixed on for all parties to be at Bergues St. Vinox, be. 
 tween Newport and Gravelines. The most powerful and leading- 
 men of the principal towns of Flanders came hither in great pomp, 
 bringing their lord with them. He respectfully saluted the king and 
 queen, who were there in great state. The king took the earl gently 
 by the hand, led him forth, and said, to excuse himself as being the 
 cause of the death of his father, that, as God should help him, he 
 had never heard, on the day of the battle of Crecy, nor on ihe mor- 
 row, that the earl had been there. The young eari appeared to be 
 satisfied with this excuse. The subject of the marriage was next 
 discussed, and certain articles and treaties were agreed upon between 
 the king, the earl, and the states of Flanders, which were promised 
 and sworn to be adhered to*. The e«rl was then betrothed to the 
 lady Isabella, daughter of the king and queen of England, whom he 
 engaged to espouse ; but the day of marriage was put ofl", until the 
 king should have more leisure. The Flemings returned home, ta- 
 king with them their lord ; and they quitted the king, queen, and the 
 council, in very good humor : the king went back to the siege of 
 Calais. Things remained in this state : while the king was making 
 preparations for rich presents of cloths and jewels to distribute on 
 the wedding-day, the queen was employed in the same manner, as 
 she was anxious to acquit herself on the occasion with honor and 
 generosity. 
 
 The earl of Flanders, who was returned to his own country, and 
 among his own people, was continually hawking, and pretended 
 that this English alliance was perfectly agreeable to him. The 
 Flemings believed all he said, and did not keep so strict a guard upon 
 him as before : but they were not then acquainted with the dispo- 
 sition of their lord ; for, however much he might dissemble in his 
 outward behavior, he was in his heart devoted to the French. It 
 happened one day, in the same week that he was to espouse the 
 English princess, he went out a hawking : the falconer fied his hawk 
 at a heron, and the earl did the same with his : the two hawks pur- 
 sued their game, and the earl galloped off, as if following them, cry- 
 ing, " Hoye, hoye." When he was at some distance from his keepers, 
 and in the open fields, he stuck spurs into his horse, and made such 
 speed that he was soon out of sight : he did not stop until he was 
 get into Artois, where he was safe. He then went to king Philip 
 in France, and related to him and his nobles his adventu|ps, who 
 told, him he had acted wisely; but the English, on the contrary, ac- 
 cused him of betraying and deceiving them. The king of England, 
 nevertheless, did not fail for this, to cultivate the friendship of the 
 Flemings ; for he knew that what had happened was not through 
 their consent, but, on the contrary, that they were very much enraged 
 at it ; so he was immediately satisfied with the excuses they made 
 on the occasion. 
 
 * There is in the Foedera the Treaty of Marriage, dated Dunkirk, 3rd March, 1346 ; 
 but the seal has been torn off, probably as not having been carried into effect. 
 
 CHAPTER CXL. 
 
 THE LOKD ROBERT DE NAMUR* DOES HOMAGE TO THE KING OF EN&LAND, 
 
 BEFORE CALAJi;. 
 
 Many barons and knights, from Flanders, Hainault, Brabant, and 
 Germany, came to pay their respects to the king and queen, while 
 they were besieging Calais ; and none returned without considerable 
 presents. About this time, the lord Robert de Namur was newly 
 returned into the county of Namur, from an expedition to the Holy 
 Land,t where he had been knighted by the lord Despentin. He was 
 very young, and had not been solicited for iiis assistance by either 
 of the two kings. He set out with a rich and numerous attendance, 
 and came to Calais, accompanied by many knights and squires, where 
 he was kindly received by the king, queen, and all the barons. He 
 gained their favor and esteem, from bearing the same name as his 
 uncle, the lord Robert d'Artois, who had been formerly so well be- 
 loved by them, and from whose counsel they had reaped so much 
 benefit. Lord Robert de Namur from this time became a loyal ser- 
 vant to the king of England, who granted him a pension of three 
 hundred pounds sterling a-year, and assigned the payment of it on 
 his chest at Bruges. He remained with the king at the siege of 
 Calais, until the town was won, as you will hear related. 
 
 CHAPTER CXLI. 
 
 THE ENGLISH CONQUER LA ROCHE-D'ERRIEN,t TO WHICH PLACE THE LORD 
 CHARLES OF BLOIS LAYS SIEGE. 
 
 I HAVE abstained a long time from speaking of the lord Charles of 
 Blois, at that time duke of Brittany, and of the countess of Mont, 
 fort ; but it has been occasioned by the truce agreed to before V amies, 
 which was strictly observed : each party, during that time, kept 
 peaceably all that they had gained. As soon as the truce was ex- 
 pired, the war wafi renewed with vigor. The king of England had 
 sent into Brittany sir Thomas Daggeworth§ and sir John Hartwell ; 
 and they had quitted the siege of Calais with two hundred men-at. 
 arms and four hundred archers. The countess of Montfort remained 
 in the town of Hennebon ; and she had with her sir Taneguy du 
 Cha,tel, a kniglit from lower Brittany. The English and Bretons 
 made frequent attacks upon the lord Charles's party, and with various 
 success ; but the country Vv^as completely ruined and destroyed by 
 these men-at-arms, and the poor people paid dearly for it. 
 
 Three knights one day set out to besiege a town called la Roche- 
 d'errien : they had collected a number of men-at-arms on horseback, 
 and foot soldiers, :md made some violent attacks upon the town ; 
 but it v/as so vv-cll defended, that the English could not gain any 
 advantage. The captain of the garrison for lord Charles was Tassart 
 de GuineSjII but three parts of the inhabitants were more attached to 
 the English than to the French ; so they arrested sir Tassart, and 
 declared they would murder him, if he would not join them in sur- 
 rendering the place to the English. Upon this, he said he would 
 comply with whatever they wished : they then let him go, and ad- 
 vanced toward the English army, whom they admitted into their 
 town. Sir Tassart was continued as before, governor of it. When 
 the English returned to Hennebon, they left with him a eufiiciency 
 of men-at-arms and archers, to defend the town and castle. Lord 
 Charles when he heard this, swore things should not go on thus. 
 He summoned all his partisans in Brittany and Normandy, and as- 
 sembled in the city of Nantes sixteen hundred men in armor, and 
 twelve thousand foot soldiers. There might be four hundred knights 
 and twenty-three bannerets, who all came to lay siege to la Roche- 
 d'emen. They brought with them large engines, which threw stones 
 into the town day and night, and much annoyed the inhabitants. 
 The townsmen sent off messengers to inform the countess what was 
 going forward ; as she had promised them assistance, if they should 
 be besieged. Upon this, the countess sent everywhere that she could 
 think likely to procure men, and in a short time collected a thousand 
 men in armor, and eight thousand foot soldiers, wlrich she put under 
 the command of the three^ knights before mentioned. These knights 
 declared that they would cither raise the siege of la Roche-d'errien, 
 or perish in the attempt; and, taking the field, they advanced very 
 near to the army of lord Charles : they took up their quarters on the 
 banks of a river, with the intention of fighting the next day. About 
 midnight sir Thomas Dagworth and sir .John Hartwell armed one half 
 of their people, and, setting off in silence, fell upon one of the wings 
 of lord Charles's army, and slew a great number of his men. They 
 remained in this action so long, that the whole army was roused and 
 armed ; they could not therefore retreat, without encountering the 
 whole of the lord Charles's force. They were surrounded, and so 
 sharply dealt with that they could not withstand the powers of the 
 
 * Lord Robert de Namur was Froissart's great patron ; and to him we are indebted 
 for this history, as he himself mentions in his preface. He was created a knight ot th- 
 garter, in Richard ll.'s reign, and is the 85th knight of that order. See Athmole's His- 
 tory of the Order of the Garter. 
 
 t Lord Berners says, "at the holy sepidchre.''"—Ej>. 
 
 t A town in Brittany, about two leagues from Treguier, near Gumgamp. 
 
 § Sir Thomas Daggeworth was appointed commander in Brittany, by writ ol privy 
 seal, dated Reading, January 10. 1347.— FtEDKRA. j nr, • 
 
 II The historian of Brittany seems to think this person should be Richard Toussamt. 
 IT From what follows, one may suppose these three knights were, t^ir Thomas Dag- 
 worth, sir John Hartwell. sir Taneguy du Chatel, 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 89 
 
 French. Sir Thomas Dagworth was taken prisoner, after having 
 been severely wounded. Sir John Hartwell escaped as well as he 
 was able, with all that he could bring off with him, by making for the 
 river. He related to sir Taneguy du Chatel the ill success of their 
 attack ; and they held a council, whether they ought not to return to 
 Hennebon * 
 
 CHAPTER CXLII. 
 
 THE COMBAT OF LA ROCHE-D'ERRIEN, WHERE THE LORD CHARLES OF 
 BLOIS IS MADE PRISONER. 
 
 At the time they were holdir q this council, whether to decamp or 
 not, there came to them a knigL t from the countess, called Garnier, 
 lord of Cadoudal, with a hundred men-at-arms, who had been pre- 
 
 COMBAT OF LA Rochk-d'errien. Lord Charles OF Blois TAKEN PRISONER— From a MS. Froissart of the 15th century. 
 
 vented trom coming sooner. When he was informed of the resolu- 
 tio-n they were about to take of returning, " Oh come," said he, " arm 
 yourselves quickly, and mount your horses ; and he that has no horse, 
 let him follow on foot ; for we will go and look once more at our 
 enemies, who are now so elated that we shall be sure to conquer 
 them." Those that had horses soon got themselves in readiness, 
 and set out, and the foot followed them ; so that, about sunrise, they 
 came upon the army of the lord Charles, which they found wrapped 
 up in sleep, for they did not imagine they should have any more dis- 
 turbance. The English and Bretons began immediately to cut down 
 and destroy tents and pavilions, and to slay all those whom they had 
 thus surprised ; for they had thought themselves so secure, they had 
 not set any watch. Thus were those of the party of lord Charles 
 defeated, and all the barons of Normandy and Brittany that were 
 with him taken prisoners that night. The siege of la Roche-d'errien 
 was raised, and lord Charles conducted to Hennebon. Nevertheless 
 the towns and fortresses that he had before gained, still held out for 
 him ; for his wife, who called herself duchess of Brittany, undertook 
 most cheerfully to continue the war. 
 
 * Our historians relate this affair differently. See Dugdale's Baronage. Sir Thomas 
 Dagworth was not made prisoner, nor wounded ; he was the person who advised the 
 second attaci?, not the lord of Cadoudal, as Froissart relates. The king, for his good 
 conduct, made him his lieutenant-general of the duchy of Brittany ; and the ensuing 
 year he was called up to the house of peers. 
 
 In the Histoire de Bretagne, so often quoted, the account of these engagements is very 
 different, and in part not very much to the honor of sir Thon>as Dagworth, if the frets 
 be true Vol. i. pp. 762, 277. 
 
 CHAPTER CXLIII. 
 
 THE KING OF FRANCE COLLECTS A GREA.T ARMY TO RAISE THE SIEGE OP 
 
 CALAIS. 
 
 King Philip of France, who felt that his subjects in Calais must 
 be severely oppressed, commanded all the knights and squires of his 
 realm to rendezvous at Amiens, or near that town, on the feast of 
 Whitsuntide. No one dared to disobey this order, but all were punc 
 tual in being there at the appointed time. King Philip kept a solemn 
 court at Amiens, at which were present the duke of Normandy his 
 eldest son, the duke of Orleans his youngest son, Eudes duke of Bur- 
 gundy, the duke of Bourbon, the earl of Foix, the lord Lewis of 
 Savoy, the lord John of Hainault, the earls of Armagnac, Valentinois, 
 Forets, and a great many other earls, barons and knights. When 
 all these noblemen were assembled in Amiens, they held many 
 councils. The king of France was very anxious to have a free 
 
 passage through Flanders, 
 that he might send through 
 it a part of his aiTny by 
 way of Gravelines, to rein- 
 force the garrison of Calais, 
 and to attack and fight with 
 the English on that side of 
 the town. He sent, there- 
 fore, a very magnificent 
 embassy into Flanders, to 
 treat with the Flemings on 
 this subject : but the king 
 of England had so many 
 friends there, that they 
 would not grant him his 
 request. The king upon 
 this said, he would then ad- 
 vance as far as Boulogne. 
 
 The king of England, 
 who found he could not 
 conquer Calais but by fam- 
 ine, ordered a large castle 
 to be constructed of strong 
 • timbers, in order to shut 
 up the communication with 
 the sea ; and he directed it 
 to be built and embattled 
 in such a manner that it 
 could not be destroyed. He 
 placed it between the town 
 and the sea, and fortified it 
 with all sorts of warlike in- 
 struments,* and garrisoned 
 it with forty men-at-arms 
 and two hundred archers, 
 who guarded the harbor 
 and port of Calais so 
 closely, that nothing could 
 go out or come into the 
 town, without being sunk 
 or taken. By this means 
 he more sorely aggrieved 
 the Calesians than by any- 
 thing he had hitherto done, 
 and sooner brought famine 
 am.ong them.. About this 
 time, the king of England was so active among the Flemings (with 
 whom, as you have just heard, the king of France wanted to make 
 a treaty,) that they, to the amount of a hundred thousand men, marched 
 out of Flanders, and laid siege to the town of Aire :t they then burnt 
 all the country round it, as far as Su Venant, Mourville la Gorge, 
 Estelly le Ventre, and a tract of country round Loo, and even as far 
 as the gates of St. Omert and Terouenne.§ 
 
 The king of France took up his quarters at Arras.jj He sent a 
 large body of men to strengthen his garrisons in Artois, and in par- 
 ticular sir Charles d'Espagne, his constable, to St. Omer ; for the earl 
 of Eu and of Guines, who had been constable, v/as a prisoner, as I 
 have before related, in England. The Flemings kept advancing into 
 the country, and gave the French employnient enough before they 
 retreated.' When the Flemings v/ere returned, after having made 
 themselves well acquainted with the parts about Loo,*^ the king of 
 France and his army left Arras, and came to Hesdin :** the army 
 and baggage occupied three leagues of country. When the king 
 had rested one day at Hesdin, he advanced the next day to Blangy,t1 
 where he halted, in order to consider whither he should march next. 
 
 * " Springalles, bombardes, bows and other artillery."— Lord Berners. 
 
 t A strong town in Artois, generality of Amiens, fourteen leagues from Calais 
 
 t A strong town in Artois, ten leagues from Calais. 
 
 § An ancient town in Artois, destroyed by Charles V. 1553. 
 
 II A strong city in Artois, twenty-seven leagues from Calais. 
 
 11 Loo— a town to the south of Fumes. 
 
 ** A strong town m Artois, diocese of Anas, thirteen leagues distant fiom tt. 
 tt Village in Artois, bailiwick of St. Pol. 
 
«0 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 He was advised lO maKe for that part of the country called la Belune, 
 and accordingly began his march thither, his army following, which 
 amounted, including men of all descriptions, to two hundred thou, 
 sand. The king and his army passed through the country of Fau- 
 kenberg,* and came straight to the hill of Sangate,t between Calais 
 and Wissant : they marched armed, with banners flying, by moon, 
 light; so that it was a beautiful sight to see their gallant army. 
 When those in Calais perceived them, from the walls, pitching their 
 tents, they thought it had been a new siege. 
 
 CHAPTER CXLIV. 
 
 THE KING OF ENGLAND GUARDS ALL THE PASSES ROUND CALAIS, SO THAT 
 THE KING OF FRANCE CANNOT APPROACH TO RAISE THE SIEGE. 
 
 I WILL now relate what the king of England had done, and was 
 doing, when he saw with what a prodigious force the king of France 
 •was come to raise the siege of Calais, which had cost him so much 
 money and labor. He knew that the town was so nearly famished, 
 that it could hold out but a very short time : therefore it would have 
 sorely hurt him to have been forced at that time to raise it. He 
 considered, that the French could neither approach his army nor the 
 town of Calais but by two roads ; the one by the downs along the 
 sea-shore ; the other higher up the country, which however was full 
 of ditches and bogs ; and there was but one bridge, called the bridge 
 of Nieullet, by which they could be crossed. He posted, therefore, 
 his fleet along the shore, as near as he could to the downs, and pro- 
 vided it with plenty of every warlike engine ;t so that the French 
 could not pass that way. He sent the earl of Derby, with a sufficient 
 force of men-at-arms and archers, to guard the bridge of Nieullet. 
 The French, therefore, were prevented from advancing thither, unless 
 they attempted crossing the marshes between Sangate and the sea, 
 which were impassable. There was also, nearer to Calais, a high 
 tower, which was guarded by thirty archers from England ; and they 
 had fortified it with double ditches, as a stronger defence of the pas- 
 sage over the downs. When the French had taken up their quarters ! 
 on the hill of Sangate, those from Tournay, who might amount to 
 about fifteen hundred men, advanced toward this tow^er : the garrison 
 shot at them, and wounded some , but the men of Tournay crossed 
 the ditches, and reached the foot of the tower with pick-axes and 
 bars. The engagement was then very sharp, and many of the 
 Tournaymen were killed and wounded ; but, in the end, the tower 
 was taken and thrown down, and all that were within it put to the 
 sword. 
 
 The king of France senf his two marshals, the lords of Beaujeu 
 and the lord of St. Venant, to examine the country, and see where 
 the army could pass, in order to fight with the English ; but, after 
 they had well examined all the passes, they returned and told the 
 king there was not any possibility of doing it, but with infinite loss 
 of men. Things remained in this state that day and the following 
 night ; but on the morrow, after the king of France had heard mass, 
 he sent to the king of England the lord Geoffry de Chargny, the 
 lord Eustace de Ribeaumont, sir Guy de Nesle, and the lord of 
 Beaujeu, who, as they rode along, observed how strongly all the 
 passes were guarded : they were allov/ed to proceed freely, for so 
 the king of England had ordered, and praised very much the dispo- 
 sitions of the earl of Derby, who was posted at the bridge of Nieullet, 
 over which they passed. They rode on until they came where the 
 king was, whom they found surrounded by his barons and knights : 
 they all four dismounted, and advanced toward the king, with many 
 reverences ; then the lord Eustace de Ribeaumont said, " Sir, the 
 king of France informs you through us, that he is come to the hill 
 of Sangate, in order to give you battle ; but he cannot find any means 
 of approaching you : he therefore wishes you would assemble your 
 council, and he will send some of his, that they may confer together, 
 and fix upon a spot where a general combat may take place." The 
 king of England was advised to make his answer as follows: "Gen- 
 tlemen, I perfectly understand the request you have made me from 
 my adversary, who wrongfully keeps possession of my inheritance, 
 which weighs much upon me. You will therefore tell him from me, 
 if you please, that I have been on this spot near a twelvemonth : 
 this he was well informed of, and, had he chosen it, might have come 
 here sooner ; but he has allowed me to remain so long, that I have 
 expended very large sums of money, and haVe done so much that I 
 must be master of Calais in a very short time : I am not therefore 
 inclined, in the smallest degree, to comply with his request, or to 
 gratify his convenience, or to abandon what I have gained, or what 
 I have been so anxious to conquer. If, therefore, neither he nor his 
 army can pass this way, he must seek out some other road."§ The 
 four noblemen then returned, and were escorted as far as the bridge 
 of Nieullet, and related to the king of France the king of England's 
 answer. 
 
 While the king of France was devising means to fight with the 
 
 * A village in Artois, hailiwick of Aire. 
 
 t A village in Picardy, government of Calais. 
 
 t " Bombardes. crossbowes, archers, springalles, and other artillery."— L. Berners. 
 
 4 By a letter from Edward to the archbishop of Canterbury, which is at length in 
 Avesbury, pp. 162, tec. h j says Ac accepted this challenge, but that the enemy varied in 
 hUternis of acceptance, so that they could not agree ; and that the French, Mttiog fir* 
 to their tents, ran off with precipitation, u if they bod been defeated. 
 
 English, two cardinals, from Pope Clement, arrived as embassadors 
 in the camp. Immediately on their arrival, they visited each army, 
 and exerted themselves so much that they procured a sort of truce ; 
 during which time, four lords of each party were to meet, and en- 
 deavor to form a peace. On the part of the king of France, were 
 nominated the duke of Burgundy, the duke of Bourbon, the lord 
 Lewis of Savoy, and sir John of Hainault. The English commis- 
 sioners were, the earl of Derby, the earl of Northampton, lord Rcgi- 
 nald Cobham, and sir Walter Manny.* The two cardinals were the 
 most active persons in this business, going backward and forward 
 from one army to the other. These commissioners were three days 
 together ; and various propositions for peace were brought forward, 
 though none took eflfect. During which time the king of England 
 was strengthening his army, and making wide and deep ditches on 
 the downs, to prevent the French from surprising him. When these 
 three days were passed without any treaty being effected, the two 
 cardinals v/ent to St. Omer. The king of France, perceiving he 
 could not in any way succeed, decamped on the morrow, and took 
 the road to Amiens, where he disbanded all his troops, the men-at- 
 arms, as well as those sent from the different towns. When the 
 Calesians saw them depart, it gave them great grief. Some of the 
 English fell on their rear, and captured horses, and wagons laden 
 with wine and other things, as well as some prisoners ; all which 
 they brought to their camp before Calais. 
 
 CHAPTER CXLV. 
 
 THE TOWN OF CALAIS SURRENDERS TO THE KING OF ENGLAND. 
 
 After the departure of the king of France, with his army, from 
 the hill of Sangate, the Calesians saw clearly that all hopes of succor 
 were at an end ; which occasioned them so much sorrow and dis- 
 tress, that the hardiest could scarcely support it. They entreated, 
 therefore, most earnestly, the lord John de Vienne, their governor, 
 to mount upon the battlements, and make a sign that he v/ished to 
 hold a parley. The king of England, upon hearing this, sent to him 
 sir Walter Manny and lord Basset. When they were come near, 
 the lord de Vienne said to them, " Dear gentlemen, you who are very 
 valiant knights, know that the king of France, whose subjects we 
 are, has sent us hither to defend this town and castle from all harm 
 and damage : this we have done to the best of our abilities. All 
 hopes of help have now left us, so that we are most exceedingly 
 Straitened ; and if the gallant king, your lord, have not pity upon us, 
 we must perish with hunger.t I therefore entreat, that you would 
 beg of him to have compassion on us, and to have the goodness to 
 allow us to depart in the state we are in, and that he will be satisfied 
 with having possession of the town and castle, with all that is within 
 them, as he will find therein riches enough to content him." To 
 this sir Walter Manny replied: "John, we are not ignorant of Avhat 
 the king our lord's intentions are ; for he has told them to us : know 
 then, that it is not his pleasure you should get off so ; for he is re- 
 solved that you surrender yourselves solely to his will, to allow those 
 whom he pleases their ransom, or to put them to death ; for the 
 Calesians have done him so much mischief, and have, by their ob- 
 stinate defence, cost him so many lives and so much moqey, that he 
 is mightily enraged." The lord de Vienne answered : " These con. 
 ditions are *oo hard for us. We are but a small number of knights 
 and squires, who have loyally served our lord and master, as you 
 would have done, and have suffered much ill and disquiet ; but we 
 will endure more than any mcin ever did in a similar situation, before 
 we consent that the smallest boy in the town should fare worse than 
 the best. I therefore once more entreat you, out of compassion, to 
 return to the king of England, and beg of him to have pity on us : 
 he will, I trust, grant you this favor : for I have such an opinion of 
 his gallantry as to hope, that, through God's mercy, he will alter his 
 mind." The two lords retured to the king, and related what had 
 passed. The king said he had no intentions of complying v/ith the 
 request, but should insist that they surrendered themselves uncondi- 
 tionally to his will. Sir Walter replied : " My lord, you may be to 
 blame in this, as you will set us a very bad example ; for if you order 
 us to go to any of your castles, we shall not obey you so cheerfully, 
 if you put these people to death ; for they will retaliate upon us, in 
 a similar case." Many barons who were then present supported this 
 opinion. Upon which the king rep'ied : " Gentlemen, I am not so 
 obstinate as to hold my opinion alone against you all : sir Walter, 
 you will inform the governor of Calais, that the only grace he must 
 expect from me is, that six of the principal citizens of Calais march 
 out of the town, with bare heads and feet, with ropes around their 
 necks, and the keys of the town and castle in their hands. These 
 six persons shall be at my absolute disposal, and the remainder of 
 the inhabitants pardoned." 
 
 Sir Walter returned to the lord de Vienne, who was waiting for 
 him on the battlements, and told him all that he had been able to 
 gain from the king. " I beg of you," replied the governor, " that 
 
 * The edition of D. Sauvage and lord Berners, here both term Sir Walter Manny " the 
 Lorde (Monseigneur) Gualtier of Manny." and it appears from Dugdale that he had a 
 summons to parliament among the barons of the realm, from the 21st to the 44th of this, 
 king's reign, inclusive.— Ed. 
 
 * We rauit all dye or el( enrage for lu&]m.">-LoRD fiBRMERi 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 you would be so good as to remain here a little, while I go and relate 
 all that has passed to the townsmen ; for, as they have desired me to 
 undertake this, it is but proper they should know the result of it." 
 He went to the market-place, and caused the bell to be rung ; upon 
 which all the inhabitants, men and women, assembled in the town- 
 hall. He then related to them what he had said, and the answers he 
 had received ; vnd that he could not obtain any conditions more 
 favorable, to which they must give a short and immediate answer. 
 This information caused the greatest lamentations and despair ; so 
 that the hardest heart would have had compassion on them ; even 
 the lord de Vienne wept bitterly. 
 
 After a short time, the most wealthy citizen of the town, by name 
 Eustace de St. Pierre, rose up and said : *' Gentlemen, both high and 
 low, it would be a very great pity to suffer so many people to die 
 through famine, if any means c 'uld be found to prevent it; and it 
 would be highly meritorious in the eyes of our Saviour, if such mis- 
 ery could be averted. I have such faith and trust in finding grace 
 before God, if I die to save my townsmen, that I name myself as first 
 of the six." When Eustace had done speaking, they all rose up 
 and almost worshipped him : many cast themselves at his feet with 
 tears and groans. Another citizen, very rich and respected, rose up 
 and said, he would be the second to his companion, Eustace ; his 
 name was John Daire. After him, James Wisant, who was very 
 rich in merchandise and lands, offered himself, as companion to his 
 two cousins ; as did Peter Wisant, his brother. Two others then 
 named themselves, which completed the number demanded by the 
 king of England. The lord John de Vienne then mounted a small 
 hackney, for it was vAth difficulty that he could walk, and conducted 
 them to the gate. There was the greatest sorrow and lamentation 
 all over the town ; and in such manner were they attended to the 
 gate, which the governor ordered to be opened, and then shut upon 
 him and the six citizens, whom he led to the barriers, and said to 
 sir Walter Manny, who was there waiting for him, " I deliver up to 
 you, as governor of Calais, with the consent of the inhabitants, these 
 six citizens ; and I swear to you that they were, and are at this day, 
 the most wealthy and respectable inhabitants of Calais. I beg of 
 you, gentle sir, that you would have the goodness to beseech the 
 king, that they may not be put to death." " I cannot answer for 
 what the king will do with them," replied sir Walter, " but you 
 may depend that I will do all in my power to save them," The bar- 
 riers were opened, when these six citizens advanced toward the 
 pavilion of the king, and the lord de Vienne reentered the town. 
 
 When sir Walter Manny had presented these six citizens to the 
 king, they fell upon their knees, and, with uplifted hands, said, 
 " Most gallant king, see before you six citizens of Calais, who have 
 been capital merchants, and who bring you the keys of the castle 
 and of the town. We surrender ourselves to your absolute will and 
 pleasure, in order to save the remainder of the inhabitants of Calais, 
 who have suffered much distress and misery. Condescend, there- 
 fore, out of your nobleness of mind, to have mercy and compassion 
 upon us." All the barons, knights, and squires, that were assembled 
 there in great numbers, wept at this sight. The king eyed them 
 with angry looks, (for he hated much the people of Calais, for the 
 great losses he had formerly suffered from them at sea,) and ordered 
 their heads to be stricken off. All present entreated the king, that 
 he would be more merciful to them, but he would not listen to them. 
 Then sir Walter Manny said, " Ah, gentle king, let me beseech you 
 to restrain your anger : you have the reputation of great nobleness 
 of soul, do not therefore tarnish it by such an act as this, nor allow 
 any one to speak in a disgraceful manner of you. In this instance, 
 all the world will say you have acted cruelly, if you put to death six 
 such respectable persons, who, of their own free will, have surren- 
 dered themselves to your mercy, in order to save their fellow-citizens." 
 Upon this, the king gave a wink, saying, " Be it so," and ordered 
 the headsman to be sent for ; for that the Calesians had done him so 
 much damage, it was proper they should suffer for it. The queen 
 of England, who at that time was very big with child, fell on her 
 knees, and with tears said, " Ah, gentle sir, smce I have crossed the 
 sea with great danger to see you, I have never asked you one favor : 
 now, I most humbly ask as a gift, for the sake of the Son of the 
 blessed Mary, and for your love to me, that you will be merciful to 
 these six men." The king looked at her for some time in silence, 
 and then said ; " Ah, lady, I wish that you had been anywhere else 
 than here : you have entreated in such a manner that I cannot refuse 
 you ; I therefore give them to you, to do as you please with them." 
 The queen conducted the six citizens to her apartments, and had the 
 halters taken from round their necks, after which she new clothed 
 them, and served them with a plentiful dinner : she then presented 
 each with six nobles, and had them escorted out of the camp in 
 safety.* 
 
 *" Froissart alone Jimong his contemporaries relates this remarkable fact: and the 
 eimplicity of his style may give even to fable the appearance of truth. Edward was 
 generous: he is here represented as a ferocious conqueror, whom love alone could 
 Boften, and who obstinately persists to punish a courage which he ought to have es- 
 teemed. The action of these six men, thus devoting themselves for their fellow citi- 
 zens, was sufficiently great to have been trumpeted through all France by the thousand 
 and thousand voices of Fame. This action, however, brilhant as it was, and which 
 the wretches driven out of Calais would have spoken of everywhere, was unknown in 
 the capital. If it had been otherwise, the Chronicle of St. Denis, and other histories of 
 the time, would not have been silent on the subject ; and yet not one mentions it. Aves- 
 bury, an Englishman and contemporary, who is very particular as to all the circum- 
 
 CHAPTER CXLVI. 
 
 THE KIN& OF ENGLAND RE-?E0PLE's CALAIS. 
 
 Thus had the strong town of Calais been besieged by king Edward 
 of England, as you have heard, about St. John's day, in August, in 
 the year 1346, and surrendered about the end of August, 1347. 
 The king, after he had presented these six citizens to the queen, 
 called to him sir Walter Manny, and his two marshals, the earls of 
 Warwick and Stafford, and said to them, " My lords, here are the 
 keys of the town and castle of Calais : go and take possession of 
 them. You will put into prison the knights you may find there : bu* 
 you will send out of the town all the other inhabitants, and all sol- 
 diers that may have come there to serve for pay ; as I am resolved to 
 re-people the town with English alone." These three noblemen, 
 with only one hundred men, went and took possession of Calais, and 
 from the gates sent to prison the lord John de Surie, the lord John 
 de Vienne, the lord John de Bcllobourne, and other knights. They 
 then ordered every sort of arms to be brought and piled in a heap 
 in the market-place. They sent out of the town all ranks of people, 
 retaining only one prisst, and- two other old men, that were well 
 acquainted with the customs and usages of Calais, in order to point 
 out the different properties, and gave directions for the castle to be 
 prepared for lodging the king and queen, and diflferent hotels for their 
 attendants. When this had been done, the king and queen mounted 
 their steeds, and rode toward the town, which they entered at the 
 sound of trumpets, drums, and all sorts of v/arlike instruments.* 
 The king remained in it until the queen was brought to bed of a 
 daughter, called Margaret.t 
 
 The king gave to sir Walter Manny, lord Stafford, lord V/arwick, 
 sir Bartholomew Burghersh, and other knights, very handsome houses 
 in Calais, that they might re-people it : r.nd his intentions v^ere, to 
 send thither, on his return to England, thirty-six substantial citizens, 
 with all their wealth, and to exert himself in such a manner that the 
 inhabitants of the town should be v/holly English : which he after- 
 wards accomplished. The new town and lortifications, v.'hich had 
 been built before Calais, were destroyed, as v/ell as the castle upon 
 the harbor, and the great boom which was thrown across was brought 
 into the town. The king posted different persons to guard the gates, 
 walls and towers of the town ; and what had been damaged he got 
 repaired, which, however, was not soon done. The lord John de 
 Vienne and his companions were sent to England ; they remained 
 in London about half a year, and then were ransomed. In m.y opin- 
 ion, it was a melancholy thing for the inhabitants of both sexes of 
 the town of Calais, thus to be sent abroad, with their children, fronr« 
 their "inheritances, leaving everything behind ; for they were not 
 
 stances of the siege of Calais, is equally silent. Villaiii alone goes even beyond Froissart . 
 for he says, that Edward intended to hang all the citizeiis of Calais ; and he adds, they, 
 were all forced to abandon the town naked, ail but their sliirts. This falsehood should 
 render the other parts of his recital doubtful. Froissai t, an liistorian and poet, and who 
 has too often expanded over history the privileges of poetry, has only embroidered a 
 little what truth offered him. When the Calesians saw tlie retreat of Philip, they struck 
 the flag which was flying on the great tower: John de Vienne ordered the gatss to be 
 opened, and left the town mounted on a small hackney, for he had been wounded. The 
 warriors who accompanied him held their swords pointed to the ground ; and many of 
 the citizens followed with halters round their necks, and \vi;h their heads and feet bare. 
 Edward kept, as prisoners, the governor, fifleen knights, and some citizens ; but he did 
 not send them to England, until he had loaded them witli presents : he hastened to dis- 
 tribute food among the inhabitants who had remained in the town. We only see, in all 
 these circumstances, the humiliation of the inhabitants, wis-hing by it to affect the con- 
 queror, and the generosity of the prince. 
 
 "Froissart supposes that the queen of England was melted into tears at the fate of 
 these citizens, condemned by her husband, and that she humbled herself so as to cast 
 herself at the feet of the inflexible conqueror to obtain their pardon : and we see, some 
 days afterwards, this queen, so generous, obtain, for her own profit, the confiscation of 
 the houses of this John Daire, whose life, it is said, she saved. On the other iiand, Ed- 
 ward is described as obstinately bent on having the ventrabie Eustace de St. Pierre be- 
 headed: and we see, shortly after, this same Eustace de &\. Pierre overwhelmed, as it 
 were, with gifls. The conqueror gives him houses, considerable pensions, and even 
 deigns to express himself, that he only grants these first favors until he shall have more 
 amply provided for him : they are recompenses hj wliich b.e ackno\vledges beforehand 
 the services this citizen may render him, either by kceiini!! j^ood order in tlie town of 
 Calais, or in watching over its security, iiere Slien is this famous St. Pierre, one day the 
 hero, and the next the complaisant betrayer of his country ; one moment the object of 
 the revenge and cruelty of Edward, the .lext of his confidence and favor. The interests 
 of this prince forced him to a necessary rijor. He wished to preserve Calais, as it opened 
 to him an entrance into France: and he could not leave their inliabitnnts too much 
 attached to their own country not to hate its destroyer. Those who refused to swear 
 fidelity to him were obliged to quit the town, and make room for a new population 
 imported from England ; and this St. Pierre, this St. Pierre whose noble courage should 
 have rendered him the most to be dreaded, is one of those v. liom the conqueror retains, 
 and who is by him charged to overlook the conduct of i.thers. 
 
 " The English monarch certainly showed signs of seventy. We see, by the letter he 
 wrote to the archbishop of Canterbury, tr.at when Philip, encamped near to Calais, had 
 demanded, as a preliminary of peace, that the inhabitants should have liberty to quit 
 the town with their fortunes, it was refused : and when Edward granted to the humilia- 
 tion of the townsmen what he had refused to Philip, he only detained as prisoners some 
 of the principal citizens ; but detaining them as prisoners is very different from having 
 them put to death before his eyes. The king of France did not forsake the miserable 
 • Calesians when they were driven out of their town, but gave them all the oftices which 
 were then vacant in his realm, with powers to sell them, or exercise them by deputies. 
 He also granted them landed or other estates that might escheat to the crown. But 
 whether these resources came too late, or were insufficient ; whether the monarch met 
 with contradictions in these acts of beneficence, it is asserted that a great number of 
 the Calesians were reduced to beggary." 
 
 La Prance sous les cinq Premiers Valois, 
 par M. Levesque, pp 518, &c. 
 * " Trumpets, labours, nakqnayres and homes."— Lord Berners. 
 t Margaret of Calais was married to the lord John Hastings, earl of Pembroke bnt 
 died before her husband, without issue.— Barnes. 
 
93 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 allowed to carry off any of their furniture or wealth ; and they re- 
 ceived no assistance from the king of France, for whom they had 
 lost their all. They did, however, as well as they were able ; and 
 the greater part went to St. Omer.* 
 
 The cardinal Guy de Boulogne, who was come into France as 
 embassador, and was with his cousin king Philip in the city of 
 Amiens, labored so earnestly, that he obtained a truce between the 
 two kings and their adherents, which was to last for two years. 
 This truce was agreed to by all parties except the rivals for the duchy 
 of Brittany ; but there the two ladies carried on the war against each 
 other. The king and queen returned to England ; and sir Aymery 
 de Pavie was appointed governor of the castle of Calais : he was a 
 native of Lombardy, and had been much promoted by the king.t 
 The king sent the thirty-six substantial citizens, with their wives and 
 families, to Calais : their number increased daily ; for he multiplied 
 and enlarged their privileges so much, that many were eager to go 
 there, in order to gain fortunes.J 
 
 About this time the lord Charles of Blois, who called himself the 
 duke of Brittany, was brought prisoner to London. He was sent to 
 the Tower, but not as a close prisoner, where the king of Scotland 
 and the earl of Moray were also confined. He did not, however, 
 long remain there, but at the entreaties of the queen of England, to 
 whom he was cousin-german, was set at liberty on his parole, and 
 rode all over London wherever he pleased ; but he was not permitted 
 to lie a night out of the Tower, except it was in such places where 
 the royal family were.§ The earl, of Eu and Guines was also in 
 London a prisoner : he was a very gallant knight, and so amiable 
 that he was always well received by the king, queen, barons, and 
 ladies of the court. 
 
 CHAPTER CXLVII. 
 
 A ROBBER, OF THE NAME OF BACON, DOES MUCH MISCHIEF IN LANGITEDOC. 
 
 All this year of the truce, the kings remained at peace. But 
 lord William Douglas, and the Scots, who had taken refuge in the 
 forest of Jedworth, carried on the v/ar against the English, wherever 
 they could meet with them. Those in Gascony, Poitou, and Sain- 
 tonge, as well French as English, did not observe the truce any 
 better, but conquered towns and castles from each other, by force or 
 intrigue, and ruined and destroyed the country day and night. 
 There were frequently gallant deeds of arms performed, with alter- 
 late success. 
 
 Poor rogues took advantage of such times, and robbed both towns 
 ■and castles ; so that some of them, becoming rich, constituted them- 
 selves captains of bands of thieves : there were among them those 
 worth forty thousand crowns. Their method was, to mark out the 
 particular towns or castles, a day or two's jom*ney.from each other: 
 they then collected twenty or thirty robbers, and, travelling through 
 by-roads in the night-time, entered the town or castle they had fixed 
 on about daybreak, and set one of the houses on fire. When the 
 inhabitants perceived it, they thought it had been a body of forces 
 sent to destroy them, and took to their heels as fast as they could. || 
 
 * Wo subjoin Lord Berners' version cf this passage; it is much more striiiing and 
 affecting. " We tliynii it was great pyte of the burgesses and other men of the tovvne 
 of Calys nnil women and chyldren, whan they were fayne to forsake their houses, hery- 
 tages and goodes, and to bare away nothing ; and they had no restorement of the 
 frenche kyng fur whose sake th(3y lost all. The most part of tiiem went to Saynt 
 Omers."— Ed. 
 
 t Sir John Montgomery was appointed governor of the town of Calais, tlie 8th Octo- 
 ber, 1347, by the king at Calais ; sir John Gattesden was at the same time nominated 
 marshal of the town.— Rymkr. 
 
 i An ancient manuscript gives the annexed establishment of the army of king Edward 
 in., in Normandy and before Calais, in the 20th year of his reign, with their several 
 stipends : 
 
 Jit per diem. 
 £. s. d. 
 
 My lord the prince 1 0 0 
 
 Bishop of Durham 0 6 8 
 
 13 earls, each 0 6 8 
 
 44 barons and bannerets 0 4 0 
 
 1046 knights 0 2 0 
 
 4022 esquires, constables, centenary, and leaders 0 1 0 
 
 5104 vintenars and archers on horseback 0 0 6 
 
 335 pauncenars. 
 500 hobblers. 
 
 16,480 foot archers 0 0 3 
 
 314 masons, carpenters, smiths, engineers, tent-makers, miners, armorers, 
 gunners, and artillery-m.en— some at 12d., lOd., 6d., and 3d. per diem. 
 
 4474 Welsh foot, of whom 200 vintonare at 0 0 4 
 
 The rest at 0 0 2 
 
 700 masters, constables, marinere, and pages. 
 960 ships, barges, balingers, and victualers. 
 Sum total for the aforesaid men, besides lords, 31,294^. ; and for some men from Ger- 
 many and France, who each receive for their wages 15 florins per month. 
 
 The sum total of the wages of war, with the wages of the marines, from the 4th day 
 of June, in the 20th of the said king Edward, to the 12th day of October in the 21st of 
 the same king, for one year, 131 days, as appears from the book of particular account^ 
 of Walter Wentwaght, then treasurer of the household, entitled, " Wages of War in 
 Normandy, France, and before Calais," was 127,201/. 2s. 9id.— Grose's Military 
 JSntiQuities, vol. i. p. 330. 
 
 § George de Lesnen, physician to Charles de Blois, and Oliver de Bignon, his valet de 
 chambre, affirmed that tiieir master was closely confined for two yer.r: ; that he was 
 •hut up every night in the tower, from whence he only came out to walk in the court of 
 the castle, where the English soldiers insulted him ; and that he never mounted a horse 
 during these two years.— Hist, de Bretaene, p. 2?8. 
 
 II Lord Berners here adds, " and that thanne these brigant wolde breko np coffeM and 
 hooM and robb« and take whftt they lyste, and flye away whan they had done."— Ed. 
 
 The town of Donzere* was treated in this manner ; and many othei 
 towns and castles were taken, and afterwards ransomed. Among 
 other robbers in Languedoc, one had marked out the strong castle of 
 Cobourue in Limosin, M'hich is situated in a very strong country. 
 He set off in the night-time with thirty companions, and took and de 
 stroyed it. He seized also the lord of Cobourne, whom he impris- 
 oned in his own castle, and put all his household to death. He kep 
 him in prison until he ransomed himself for twenty-four thousand 
 crowns paid down. The robber kept possession of the castle and 
 dependencies, which he furnished with provisions, and whence made 
 war upon all the country round about. The king of France, shortly 
 afterwards, was desirous of having him near his person : he pur- 
 chased the castle for twenty thousand crowns, appointed him his 
 usher-at-arms, and heaped on him many other honors. The name 
 of this robber was Bacon, and he was always mounted on handsome 
 horses of a deep roan color, or on large palfreys, apparelled like an 
 earl, and very richly armed ; and this state he maintained as long as 
 he lived. 
 
 CHAPTER GXLVIII. 
 
 A PA&E, OF THE NAME OF CROQUART, TURNS ROBBER. 
 
 There were similar disorders in Brittany ; and robbers carried on 
 the like methods of seizing and pillaging different towns and cas- 
 tles, and then selling them back again to the country at a dear rate ; 
 by which means many of their leaders became very rich. Among 
 others, there was one of the name of Croquart, who was originally 
 but a poor boy, and had been page to the lord d'Ercle in Holland. 
 When this Croquart arrived 'at manhood, he had his discharge, and 
 went to the wars in Brittany, where he attached himself to a man- 
 at-arms, and behaved very well. It happened, that in some skir- 
 mish his master was taken and slain ; when, in recompense for his 
 prowess, his companions elected hiA their leader in the place of his 
 late master ; he then made such profit by ransoms, and the taking 
 of towns and castles, that he was said to be worth full forty thousand 
 crowns, not including his horse-?, of which he had twenty or thirty, 
 very handsome and strong, and of a deep roan color. He had the 
 reputation of being the most expert man-at-arms of the country, was 
 chosen to be one of the thirty that engaged against a similar num. 
 ber, and was the most active Combatant on the side of the English, t 
 King John of France made him the offer of knightujg him, and 
 marrying him very richly, if he would quit the English party, and 
 promised to give him two thousand livres a-year ; but Croquart would 
 never listen to it. It chanced one day, as he was riding a young 
 horse, which he had just purchased for three hundred crov/ns, and 
 was putting him to his full speed, that the horse ran away with him, 
 and in leaping a ditch, stumbled into it, and broke hi3 m:if ter's neck. 
 Such was the end of Croquart. 
 
 A town of Dauphinc, on the Rhone, election of Monteliiiiarn 
 t 1 have been mucli snrprised thatFroissart, who in general is so verj' minute m re- 
 lating every transaction, should have omitted an account of this extraordinary engage- 
 ment. The relation of it wliich follows is taken from the Histoire de Bretngne, vol. i. 
 p. 280. 
 
 After the death of sir Thomas Daggewortli, the king npponited sir AValter Bertly 
 commander in Brittany. The English being much irritated at the death of Baggeworth, 
 and not being able to revenge tliemselves on those who slev,- him, did so on tne whole 
 country by burning and destroying it. The marshal de Beaumaiioir, desirous of putting 
 a stop to tliis, sent to Bembro, who commanded in Ploerinel. for a passjiort to hold a 
 conference with him. The marshal reprobated the conduct, of the English, and high 
 words passed between them ; for Bemhro liad been the compa-ion in amis to Dagge- 
 worth. At last one of tiiem proposed a combat of thirty on each side ; the place ap- 
 pointed for it was at the halfway oak-tree between Josseiin and Ploermei ; and the day 
 was fixed for the 27tli March, the fourth Sunday in Lent, 1351. Beaumanoir chose nine 
 knights and twenty-one squires; the first were, the lord de Tinteniac, Guy de Roche- 
 fort, Yves Charruel, Robin Raguenel, Huon de St. Yvon, Caro de Bodegat. Olivier 
 Arrel, Geoffiy du Bois, John Rousselet, &.c. Bemhro could not l1nd a sutiicient num- 
 ber of English in his garrison ; there were but twenty, the remainder were Germans and 
 Bretons. Among them were sir Robert Knolles, Croquart, Herve de Lexualen, John 
 Plesanton, Richard and Hugh le Gaillart. Juniiequin Taillart, ResL-efort, Richard de la 
 Lande,Thomelin Billefort, Hugh Calverly, Robinet Melipars, YlVai nr Isannai, John 
 Russel, Dagorne, and a soldier iuimed Ilulbilee. of a very large size, and ot great 
 strength, &c. Bemhro first entered the field of b;iU!e, and drew up his troop. Beauma- 
 noir did the same. Each made a short harangue to his men, exhorting them to sup- 
 port their own honor, and that of their nation. Bemhro added, tliere was an old pro- 
 phecy of INlerlin, which promised victory to the English. As they were on the point of 
 enga-ing. Bemhro made a sign to Beaumanoir he wished to spe.-ik to him, and_ repre- 
 sented he had enga-ed in this maUer rather imprudently; for such comoats ongnt Ux^X 
 to have had the pei mission of their respective princes. Beaumanoir replied, he had 
 been somewhat late in discovering tliis ; and tl'.e nobility of Brittany would not return 
 without having proved by battle who had the fairest mistresses. 1 he .signal was given 
 for the attack. Their arms were not similar ; for each was to choose such as he liked. 
 Billefort fought with a mallet 25 lbs. weight, and others with what arms they chose. 
 The advantage, at first, was for the English ; as the Bretons had lost five of heir men. 
 Beaumanoir exhorted them not to mind this, as they stopped to take breath ; when, 
 each party having had some refreshments, the combat was renewed. Bern bro was 
 killed On seeing this, Croquart cried out-" Companions, don't let us think of the 
 prophecies of Merlin, butdependon ourcourage and arms; keep yourseWes close toge- 
 ther, be firm, and fight as I do." Beaumanoir. being wounded, was quitting he field to 
 quench his thirst, when GeofFry du Bo.scried out, " Beaumanoir drmk thy blood and 
 Uiy thirst will go off." This made him ashamed, and return to the battle. The Bre- 
 tons at last gained the day. by one of their party breaking on horseback the ranks of the 
 English ; the greater part of whom were killed Knolles Calverly. and Croquart were 
 made prisoner, and carried to the castle of Jossehn. Tmteniac, on the side of the 
 Bretons, and Croquart, on the English, obtamed the prize of valor Such was the issue 
 of thl ftimous combat ofThirty. so glorious to the Bretons, but wh>ch decided nothing 
 as to the posseuion of the duchy of Brittany. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 93 
 
 CHAPTER CXLIX. 
 
 SIR AYMERY DE PAVIE PLOTS WITH SIR GEOFFRY DE CHARGNY TO SELL 
 THE TOWN OF CALAIS. 
 
 At this time sir GeofFry de Chargny was stationed at St. Omer, to 
 defend the frontier; and, in everything touching war, he acted as 
 if he had been king. He bethought himself, that as Lombards are 
 veiy poor,* and by nature avaricious, he would attempt to recover 
 the town of Calais, by means of Aymery de Pavie the governor : 
 and as, from the terms of the truce, the inhabitants of the towns of 
 St. Omer and Calais might go to each place to sell their different 
 merchandises, sir Geoffry entered into a secret treaty with sir Ay- 
 
 Battib of Calais, between the king of England (undersir Walter de Manny) and the French— From a MS. Froissart of the 15th century. 
 
 mery, and succeeded so far that he promised to deliver up t:ie t jwn, 
 on receiving twenty thousand crowns. The king of England, how- 
 ever, got intelligence of it, and sent to Aymery the Lombard, orders 
 to cross the sea immediately, and come to him at Westminster. He 
 obeyed; for he could not imagine that the king knew of his treason, 
 it had been so secretly carried on. When the king saw the Lom- 
 bard, he took him aside, and said, " Thou knowest that I have in- 
 trusted to thee what I hold dearest in this world, except my wife and 
 children, I mean the tov/n and castle of Calais, which thou hast sold 
 to the French, and for which thou deservest death." The Lombard 
 flung himself on his knees, and said ; "Ah, gentle king, have mercy 
 on me, for God's sake. All that you have said is very true ; but 
 there is yet time to break the bargain, for hitherto I have not received 
 one penny." The king had brought up this Lombard from a child, 
 and much loved him ; he replied, "Aymery, it is my wish that you 
 continue on this treaty ; you will inform me of the day that you are 
 to deliver up Calais, and on these conditions, I promise you my par- 
 don." The Lombard then returned to Calais, and kept everything 
 secret. In the mean time, sir GeofFry de Chargny thought himself 
 sure of having Calais, and issued out privately his summons for five 
 hundred lances ; the greater part were ignorant where he intended 
 to lead them ; for it was only known to a few barons. I do not 
 believe he had even informed the king of France of his plan, as he 
 would have dissuaded him from it, on account of the truce. The 
 Lombard had consented to deliver up the town to him, the last night 
 of the year, with which he made the king of England acquainted by 
 means of his brother t 
 
 * Poverty was not the general characteristic of the Lombards, however justly they 
 may be charged with avarice ; Lord Berners and D. Sauvage's ed. allude only to the 
 iatter.— Ed. 
 
 T Sir Aymery de Pavie was appointed commander of the galleys by the king, dated 
 WwtouMttr, 24th April, 1348. Sir Aymery does not seem to have forfeited Edward's 
 
 CHAPTER CL. 
 
 THE BATTLE OF CALAIS, BETWEEN THE KING OF ENGLAND, UNDER THE 
 BANNER OF SIR WALTER MANNY, WITH SIR GEOFFRY DE CHARGNY AND 
 THE FRENCH. 
 
 When the king of England was informed of this, and knew that 
 the day was for a certainty fixed, he set out from England v/ith 
 three hundred men-at-arms and six hundred archers. He embarked 
 at Dover, and came so privately to Calais, that no one knew of his 
 being there. He placed his men in ambuscade in the rooms and 
 towers of the castle, and said to sir Walter Manny, " Sir Walter, I 
 will that you be the chief of this enterprise : and I and my son will 
 
 fight under your banner." 
 Sir Geoffry de Chargny 
 had left St. Omer the lat- 
 ter end of December, with 
 all the forces he had col. 
 lected, and arrived near to 
 Calais about midnight, the 
 last day of the month. He 
 halted there for his rear 
 to come up, and sent for- 
 ward two of his squires, 
 who found sir Aymerj' 
 waiting for them ; they 
 asked if it were time for 
 sir Geoffry to advance? the 
 Lombard answered that 
 it was. The two squires 
 upon this returned to sir 
 Geoffry, who marched his 
 men in battle array over 
 the bridge ofNeiullet: he 
 then sent forward twelve 
 i f his knights, with one 
 hundred men-at-aims, to 
 take possession of the 
 castle of Calais; for he 
 thought, if he had posses- 
 sion of the castle, he 
 should soon be master 
 cf the town, considering 
 what strength he had with 
 him ; and in a few days- 
 time he could have a.s 
 much more, should there 
 be occasion. He gave or- 
 ders for twenty thousand 
 crowns to be delivered to 
 sir Odoart de Renty, who 
 was in this expedition, 
 for him tapay to the Lorn- 
 bard ; and sir Geoflfry re- 
 mained in the plain in 
 silence, his banner dis- 
 played before him, with 
 the rest of his army ; for 
 his intention was to enter the town by one of its gates, otherwise 
 he would not enter it at all. 
 
 The Lombard had let down the draw-bridge of the castle, and 
 opened one of the gates, through which his detachment entered un- 
 molested ; and sir Odoart had given him the twenty thousand crowns 
 in a bag, who said, " he supposed they were all there ; for he had 
 not time to count them, as it would be day immediately." He flung 
 the bag of crowns into a room, which he locked, and told the French 
 he would conduct them to the great tower, that they might the sooner 
 be masters of the castle : in saying this, he advanced on, and pushing 
 back the bolt, the door flew open. In this tower was the king of 
 England with two hundred lances, who sallied forth, with swords and 
 battle-axes in their hands, crying out, " Manny ! Manny I to the 
 rescue : what, do these Frenchmen think to conquer the castle of 
 Calais with such a handful of men !" The French saw that no de- 
 fence could save them, so they surrendered themselves prisoners ; 
 and scarcely any of them were wounded. They were made to enter 
 this tower, whence the English had sallied, and there shut in. The 
 English quitted the castle, and, forming themselves in array, mounted 
 their horses, for they knew the French were mounted, and made for 
 the gate leading to Boulogne. Sir Geoflry was there with his bannei 
 displayed ; his arms were three escutcheons argent on a field gules^, 
 and he was very impatient to be the first that should enter Calais, 
 He said to those knights who were near him, that " if this Lombard 
 delayed opening the gate, they should all die with cold." " In God's 
 name," replied sir Pepin de Werre, " these Lombards are a malicious 
 sort of people ; perhaps he is examining your florins, lest there shouU 
 be any false ones, and to see if they be right in number." During 
 
 confidence : I therefore think, with M. Levesque, that Avesbury's account is mote 
 probable. 'VDictus vero genuenbis nolens prodere regem Anglorum dominum suumi . 
 
 Aurum tamen sibi promissum cupiens imbursare. cum eodcm domiio 
 
 Galfi-ido pacifice loquens, in dolo suis suasionibus caliidis adquievit.' —AvKSBDirri 
 p. 18P. • 
 
94 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, (fee. 
 
 this conversation, the king of England and his son advanced, under 
 the banner of sir Walter Manny. There were many other banners 
 also there, such as the earl of Suffolk's, the lord Stafford's, lord John 
 Montacute's, brother to the earl of Salisbury, the lord John Beau- 
 champ's, the lord Berkeley's, the lord de la Waae : all these were 
 barons having banners ; and no more than these were in this expe- 
 dition. 
 
 The great gates were soon opened, and they all sallied out : when 
 the French saw this, and heard the cries of " Manny to the rescue I" 
 they found they had been betrayed ; and sir Geoffry said to those 
 around them, " Gentlemen, if we fly, we shall lose all : it will be 
 more advantageous for us to fight valiantly, in the hopes that the 
 day may be ours." " By St. George," said some of the English, who 
 were near enough to hear it, " you speak truth : evil befal him who 
 thinks of flying." They then retreated a little, and dismounted, 
 driving their horses away, to avoid being tramp' ed on. When the 
 king of England saw this, he halted the banner under which he was, 
 and said, " I would have the men drawn up here in order of battle ; 
 and let a good detachment be sent toward the bridge of Nieullet ; 
 for I have heard that there is posted a large body of French, on horse, 
 back and on foot." Six banners and three hundred archers left his 
 army, and made for the bridge of Nieullet, where they <ound the lord 
 Moreau de Fiennes, and the lord of Crequi, who guarded it. There 
 was also posted, between the bridge and Calais, the cross-bowmen 
 from St. Omer and Aire, who had that day sharp work : more than 
 six hundred were slain or drowned ; for they were immediately dis- 
 comfited, and pursued to the river : it was then scarcely daybreak. 
 The knights of Picardy maintained this post some time ; and many 
 gallant actions were performed ; but the English kept increasing 
 from the town, when, on the contrary, the French fell off, so that 
 when they found they could not longer keep the bridge, those 
 that had horses mounted them, and betook themselves to flight. The 
 English immediately pursued them, and many were overthrown : 
 but those that were well mounted escaped ; among them were the 
 lords de Fiennes, de Crequi, de Sempy, de Lonchinleich, and the 
 lord of Namur. Many were taken through their own hardiness, who 
 migt otherwise have saved themselves. When it was broad day. 
 light, that each could see the other, some, knights and squires collected 
 themselves together, and vigorously attacked the English, insomuch 
 that several of the French made good prisoners, that brought them 
 much profit.* 
 
 We will now speak of the king of England, who was there incog- 
 nito, under sir Walter Manny's banner. He advanced with his men 
 on foot, to meet the enemy, who were formed in close order with 
 their pikes, shortened to five feet, planted out before them. The 
 first attack was very sharp and severe. The king singled out sir 
 Eustace de Ribeaumont, who was a strong and hardy knight : he 
 fought a long time marvellously well with the king, so that it was a 
 pleasure to see them ; but, by the confusion of the engagement, they 
 were separated ; for two large bodies met, where they were fighting, 
 and forced them to break off their combat. On the side of the 
 French, there was excellent fighting by sir Geoffry de Chargny, sir 
 John de Landas, sir Hector and sir Gavin Ballieul, and others ; but 
 they were all surpassed by sir Eustace de Ribeaumont, who that day 
 struck the king twice down on his knees : at last, however, he was 
 obliged to surrender his sword to the king, saying, " Sir knight, I sur- 
 render myself your prisoner, for the honor of the day must fall to the 
 English." All that belonged to sir Geoffry de Chargny were either 
 slain or captured : among the first were sir Henry du Bois, and sir 
 Pepin de Werre : sir Geoffry and the rest were taken prisoners. The 
 last that was taken, and who in that day excelled all, was sir Eustace 
 de Ribeaumont. This business was finished under the walls of 
 Calais, the last day of December, toward morning, in the year of 
 grace 1348. 
 
 CHAPTER CLI. 
 
 THE KINa OF ENGLAND PRESENTS A CHAPLET OF PEARLS TO SIR EUSTACE 
 
 DE RIBEAUMONT. 
 
 When the engagement was over, the king returned to the castle 
 in Calais, and ordered all the prisoners to be brought before him. 
 The French then knew for the first time that the king of England 
 had been there in person, under the banner of sir Walter Manny. 
 The king said he would, this evening of the new year, entertain 
 them all at supper, in the castle. When the hour for supper was 
 come, the tables spread, and the king and his knights dressed in new 
 robes, as well as the French, who, notwithstanding they were prison- 
 ers, made good cheer (for the king wished it should be so :) the king 
 seated himself at table, and made those knights do the same around 
 him, in a most honorable manner. The gallant prince of Wales, and 
 the knights of England, served up the first course, and waited on 
 iheir guests. At the second course, they went and seated them- 
 selves at another table, where they were served and attended on 
 Tery quietly. 
 
 When supper was over, and the cables removed, the king remained 
 in the hall, among the English and French knights, bareheaded, ex- 
 cept a chaplet of fine pearls, which was round his head. He con- 
 versed with all of them : but, when he came to sir Geoffry de Chargny, 
 
 * BgUi bonoiii and profit— Lord Bbrnsrs. 
 
 his countenance altered, and looking at him askance, he said, " Sir 
 Geoffry, I have but little reason to love you, when you wished to 
 seize from me by stealth, last night, what had given me so much 
 trouble to acquire, and has cost me such sums of money. I am, how- 
 ever, rejoiced, to have caught you thus in attempting it. You were 
 desirous of gaining it cheaper than I did, and thought you could pur- 
 chase it for twenty thousand crowns ; but, through God's assistance, 
 you have been disappointed." He then passed on, and left sir 
 Geoffry standing, without having a v> )rd to say for himself. When 
 he came to sir Eustace de Ribeaumoi t, he assumed a cheerful look, 
 and said, with a smile ; " Sir Eusta e, you are the most valiant 
 knight in Christendom, that I ever saw attack his enemy, or defend 
 himself. I never yet found any one in battle, who, body to body, 
 had given me so much to do as you have done this day. I adjudge 
 to you the prize of valor above all the knights of my court, as what 
 is justly due to you." The king then took off the chaplet, which was 
 very rich and handsome, and placing it on the head of sir Eustace, 
 said ; Sir Eustace, I present you with this chaplet, as being the best 
 combatant this day, either within or without doors ; and I heg of you 
 to wear it this year for love of me. I know that you are lively and 
 amorous, and love the company of ladies and damsels ; therefore, 
 say wherever you go, that I gave it to you. I also give you your 
 liberty, free of ransom ; and you may set out to-morrow, if you please, 
 and go whither you will.* 
 
 In this same year, 1349, king Philip of France married his second 
 wife, at Brie.comte-Robert,t on Tuesday the 29th day of January. 
 She was the lady Blanche, daughter of PhiUp king of Navarre, who 
 had died in Spain : was very well beloved, and about eighteen years 
 old. On the 19th of the following February, which was Shrovetide, 
 the duke of Normandy, eldest son of the king of France, was married 
 at St. Genevieve, near St. Germain-en-Laye, to his second wife, Jane 
 countess of Boulogne : she was the widow of the lord Philip, son of 
 the duke of Burgundy, who died before Aiguillon, 1346. The 
 countess was the daughter of earl William of Boulogne, by the 
 daughter of Louis earl of Evreux, and held in her own right the 
 duchy of Burgundy, the counties of Artois, Boulogne and Auvergne, 
 with many others. 
 
 ADDITIONS, 
 
 From two MSS. in the Hafod Library, not in any of the Printed 
 
 Copies. 
 
 You have heard related how the young earl Lewis of Flanders had 
 been betrothed to the lady Isabella, daughter of king Edward oi 
 England, and that afterwards he had escaped from Flanders int«. 
 France, where he was joyfully received by the king and his barons, 
 who told him he had acted wisely, for that such forced marriages 
 were of no avail : and the king added, that he would otherwise ally 
 him more to his honor and profit. Things remained in this state for 
 about a year. Duke John of Brabant was not much displeased at 
 this ; for he was desirous of marrying the young count of Flanders 
 to his second daughter, the eldest being countess of Hainault. He 
 sent embassadors to king Philip, to entreat he would consent to the 
 match between the count of Flanders, and his daughter : that, if he 
 consented, he would in future be his good neighbor, and that neiiher 
 he nor any of his children would ever bear arms again for the king 
 of England. 
 
 The king of France, who knew the duke of Brabant to be a pow. 
 erful l(5rd, that could hurt or assist him according to his pleasure, 
 listened to his proposal in preference to any other, and let the duke 
 know, that if he could prevail on the states of Flanders to consent to 
 this marriage, he would be agreeable to it, and would press it on the 
 earl. The duke, in his answer, engaged for the consent of the states. 
 He instantly sent able commissioners to the principal towns, to nego- 
 tiate with them this marriage : he treated, as I may say, sword in 
 hand ; for he gave them to understand, that if they married the young 
 earl otherwise, he would instantly declare war against them ; and, 
 on the contrary, if they complied with his desire, he would unite 
 himself strongly with them, and defend them against any other lords. 
 The councils of the principal towns heard with attention the propo- 
 sals and promises the duke of Brabant, their neighbor, made them. 
 They knew their young lord was not within their power, but under 
 the direction of the king of France and the lady his mother, and that 
 his heart was entirely French. Upon mature consideration, therefore, 
 they thought, that as the duke of Brabant was a very powerful prince 
 and of great enterprise, it would be much more advantageous to con. 
 
 * Mr. Johnes seems to have missed the exact sense of this passage; t!ie proclaiming 
 the giver of the chaplet, was the condition on which the knight's hberty was granted. 
 The passage in lord Berners is as follows : " Than the kinge came to Syr Eustace of Ry- 
 baniont and iously to him he sayd, Sir Eustace ye are the knyglit in the worlde that I 
 have sene most valyaiit assayle his enemyes and defende himself, nor I never founde 
 knyghtthat euer gaue me so moche ado, body to body, as ye haiie done this day; 
 wherefore I gyue you the price aboue all the knightes of my court by right sentence. 
 Than the kyng toke the chapelet that was upon his heed beyng bothe fayre goodly 
 and ryche, and sayd. Sir Eustace. 1 gyue you this chapelet for the best doar in armes in 
 this journey past of eyther party, and I desyre you to here it this yere for the ioue of me. 
 I knowe well ye be fresshe and amourouse, and often tymes be among ladyes and 
 •lamoselles ; Sqy whersoever ye come that I dyd gyue it you and I quyte you your 
 prison and ransome, and ye shall depart tomorrowe if it please you."— Ed. 
 
 t A market-towa of Brie-Fransais^i diocese and election of Paris, seven leagues from 
 Pani. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGL A 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 95 
 
 elude a match with him than with any one else ; for by it they would 
 enjoy peace, and have their lord among them, which they very much 
 desired. The business was so well arranged that the young earl of 
 Flanders was brought to the city of Arras, whither the duke of Brabant 
 gent his eldest son, the lord Godfrey earl of Mons, the earl of Los, 
 and all his council. The principal towns of Flanders sent thither 
 also their magistrates. Many conferences were held ; and the young 
 earl and his countrymen engaged for his marriage with the daughter 
 of the duke of Brabant, provided it were agreeable to the church. 
 This had been already secured, and the dispensation from the pope 
 was arrived. Not long after this, the young earl came to Flanders, 
 where all due homage was paid him ; and greater powers were 
 granted to him than even his father, or any of his predecessors, had 
 enjoyed. The earl married the duke's daughter ; and, by the mar- 
 riage-articles, the towns of Mechlin and Antwerp were to revert to 
 the earl of Flanders, after the death of the duke ; but this treaty was 
 no secretly managed, that few heard of it. The duke gave so much 
 to his daughter, that great wars were the consequence between 
 Flanders and Brabant in after times, as you will hear : but, as this 
 is not as yet the subject-matter of my history, I shall briefly state, 
 that the king of England was sorely vexed with all parties for this 
 marriage : with the duke of Brabant, because he was his cousin- 
 german, and had carried off from his daughter the heir of Flanders, 
 to whom she had been betrothed ; with the earl, because he had bro. 
 ken his engagement with him, respecting his daughter. The duke 
 sent, however, very prudent and .handsome apologies ; as did after- 
 wards the earl of Flanders. 
 
 About this period, there was much ill-will between the king of 
 England and the Spaniards, on account of some infractions and 
 pillages committed at sea by the latter. It happened at this season, 
 that the Spaniards who had been in Flanders with their merchandise, 
 were informed they would not be able to return home, without meet- 
 ing the English fleet. The Spaniards did not pay much attention to 
 this intelligence : however, after they had disposed of their goods, 
 they amply provided their ships from Sluys with arms and artillery, 
 and all such archers, cross-bowmen and soldiers as were willing to 
 receive pay. The king of England hated these Spaniards greatly, 
 and said publicly : " We have for a long time spared these people ; 
 for which they have done us much harm, without amending their 
 conduct : on the contrary, they grow more arrogant ; for which reason 
 they must be chastised as they repass our coasts." His lords readily 
 assented to this proposal, and were eager to engage the Spaniards. 
 The king therefore issued a special summons to all gentlemen who 
 at that time might be in England, and left London. He went to the 
 coast of Sussex, between Southampton and Dover, which lies oppo- 
 site to Ponthieu and Dieppe, and kept his com in a monastery, 
 whither the queen also came. At this time and place, that gallant 
 knight, lord Robert de Namur, who was lately returned from beyond 
 sea, joined the king : he came just in time to be one of this arma- 
 ment ; and the king was exceedingly pleased at his arrival. On find- 
 ing that he was not too late to meet the Spaniards on their return, 
 the king, with his nobles and knights, embarked on board his fleet ; 
 and he was never attended by so numerous a company in any of his 
 former expeditions at sea. 
 
 The same year the king created his cousin, Henry earl of Derby, 
 duke of Lancaster, and the baron of Stafford an earl, who were now 
 both with him. The prince of Wales and John earl of Richmond 
 were likewise on board the fleet : the last was too young to bear 
 arms, but he had him on board because he much loved him. There 
 were also in this fleet, the earls of Arundel, Northampton, Hereford, 
 Suffolk, and Warwick, the lord Reginald Cobham, sir Walter Manny, 
 sir Thomas Holland, sir Lewis Beauchamp, sir James Audley, sir 
 Bartholomew Burghersh, the lords Percy, Mowbray, Neville, Roos, 
 de Difort, de Gastrode, de Berder, and many others. There were 
 four hundred knights ; nor was he ever attended by a larger company 
 of great lords. The king kept the sea with his vessels ready pre- 
 pared for action, and to wait for the enemy, who was not long before 
 he appeared. He kept cruising for three days between Dover and 
 Calais. 
 
 When the Spaniards had completed their cargoes, and laden their 
 vessels with linen cloths, and whatever they imagined would be pro- 
 fitable in their own country, they embarked on board their fleet at 
 Sluys. They knew they should meet the English, but were indif- 
 ferent about it ; for they had marvellously provided themselves with 
 all sorts of warlike ammunition ; such as bolts for cross-bows, cannon, 
 and bars of forged iron to throw on the enemy, in hopes, with the 
 assistance of great stones, to sink him. When they weighed anchor, 
 the wind was favorable for them : there were forty large vessels of 
 such a size, and so beautiful, it was a fine sight to see them under 
 -sail. Near the top of their masts were small castles, full of flints 
 and stones, and a soldier to guard them ; and there also was the flag- 
 ataflf, from whence fluttered their streamers in the wind, that it was 
 pleasant to look at them. If the English had a great desire to meet 
 them, it seemed as if the Spaniards were still more eager for it, as 
 will hereafter appear. The Spaniards were full ten thousand men, 
 including all sorts of soldiers they had enhsted when in Flanders : 
 this made them feel sufficient courage not to fear the combat with 
 
 the king of England, and whatever force he might have at sea. In. 
 tending to engage the English fleet, they advanced with a favorable 
 wind until they came opposite to Calais. The king of England being 
 at sea, had very distinctly explained to ail his knights the order Ol 
 batde he would have them follow : he had appointed the lord Robert 
 de Namur to the command of a ship called Le Salle du Roi, on board 
 of which was all his household. The king posted himself in the 
 fore part of his own ship : he was dressed in a black velvet jacket, 
 and wore on his head a small hat of beaver, which became him 
 much. He was that day. as I was told by those who were present, 
 as joyous as he ever was in his life, and ordered his minstrels to play 
 before him a German dance which sir John Chandos had lately in- 
 troduced. For his amusement, he made the same knight sing with 
 his minstrels, which delighted him greatly. From time to time he 
 looked up to the castle on his mast, where he had placed a Vv'atch 
 to inform him when the Spaniards were in sight. While the king 
 was thus amusing himself with his knights, who were happy in see- 
 ing him so gay, the watch, who had observed a fleet, cried cut, " Ho, 
 I spy a ship, and it appears to me to be a Spaniard." The minstrels 
 were silenced ; and he was asked if there were more than one : soon 
 after he replied, " Yes ; I see two, three, four, and so many that, 
 God help me, I cannot count them." The king and his knights then 
 knew they must be the Spaniards. The trumpets were ordered to 
 sound, and the ships to form a line of battle for the combat ; as they 
 were aware that, since the enemy came in such force, it could not 
 be avoided. It was, however, rather late, about the hour ot vespers. 
 The king ordered wine to be brought, which he and his knights 
 drank ; when each fixed their helmets on their heads. The Span- 
 iards now drew near ; they might easily have refused the battle, if 
 they had chosen it, for they were well freighted, in large ships, and 
 had the wind in their favor. They could have avoided speaking 
 with the English, if they had willed, but their pride and presumption 
 made them act otherwise. They disdained to sail by, but bore in- 
 stantly down on them, and commenced the battle. 
 
 When the king of England saw from his ship their order of battle, 
 he ordered the person who managed his vessel, saying, " Lay me / 
 alongside the Spaniard who is bearing down on us ; for I will have 
 a tilt with him." The master dared not disobey the king's order, 
 but laid his ship ready for the Spaniard, who was coming full sail. 
 The king's ship was large and stiflT ; otherwise she would have been 
 sunk, for that of the enemy was a great one, and the shock of their 
 meeting was more like the crash of a torrent or tempest ; the rebound 
 caused the casde in the king's ship to encounter that of the Spaniani : 
 so that the mast of the latter was broken, and all in the castle fell 
 with it into the sea, when they were drowned. The English vessel, 
 however, suffered, and let la water, which the knights cleared, and 
 stopped the leak, without telling the king anything of the matter. 
 Upon examining the vessel he had engaged lying before him, he 
 said; "Grapple my ship with that; for I will have possession of 
 her." His knights replied ; " Let her go her way : you shall have 
 better than her." That vessel sailed on, and another large ship bore 
 down, and grappled with chains and hooks to that of the king. The 
 fight now began in earnest, and the archers and cross-bows on each 
 side were eager to shoot and defend themselves. The battle was not 
 in one place, but in ten or twelve at a time. Whenever either party 
 found themselves equal to the enemy, or superior, they instantly 
 grappled, when grand deeds of arms were performed. The English 
 had not any advantage ; and the Spanish ships were much larger and 
 higher than their opponents, which gave them a great superiority in 
 shooting and casting stones and iron bars on board their enemy, 
 which annoyed them exceedingly. The knights on board the king's 
 ship were in danger of sinking, for the leak still admitted water : 
 this made them more eager to conquer the vessel they v/ere grappled 
 to : many gallant deeds were done ; and at last they gained the ship, 
 and flung all they found in it overboard, having quitted their own 
 ship. They continued the combat against the Spaniards, who fought 
 valiantly, and whose cross-bowmen shot such bolts of iron as greatly 
 distressed the English. 
 
 This sea-fight, between the English and Spaniards, was well and 
 hardly fought : but, as night was coming on, the English exerted 
 themselves to do their duty well, and discomfit their enemies. The 
 Spaniards, who are used to the sea, and were in large ships, acquitted 
 themselves to the utmost of their power. The young prince of Wale? 
 and his division were engaged apart : his ship was grappled by a 
 great Spaniard, when he and his knights suffered much ; for she had 
 so many holes, that the water came in very abundantly, and they 
 could not by any means stop the leaks, which gave the crew fears of 
 her sinking ; they therefore did all they could to conquer the enemy's 
 ship, but in vain ; for she was very large, and excellently well de. 
 .fended. During this danger of the prince, the duke of Lancaster 
 came near, and, as he approached, saw he had the worst of the en- 
 gagement, and that his crew had too much on their hands, for they 
 were bailing out water : he therefore fell on the other side of the 
 Spanish vessel, with which he grappled, shouting, " Derby to the 
 rescue !" The engagement was now very warm, but did not last 
 long, for the ship was taken, and all the crew thrown overboard, not 
 one being saved. The prince, with his men, instantly embarked on 
 
9% 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 board the Spaniard ; and scarcely had they done so when his own 
 vessel sunk, which convinced them of the imminent danger they had 
 been in. 
 
 The engagement was in other parts well contested by the English 
 knights, who exerted themselves, and need there was of it, for they 
 found those who feared them not. Late in the evening, the Salle 
 du Roi, commanded by lord Robert de Namur, was grappled by a 
 large Spaniard, and the fight was very severe. The Spaniards were 
 determined to gain this ship ; and, the more effectually to succeed 
 in carrying her off, they set all their sails, took advantage of the 
 wind, and in spite of what lord Robert and his crew could do, towed 
 her out of the battle : for the Spaniard was of a more considerable 
 size than the lord Robert's ship, and therefore she more easily con- 
 quered. As they were thus towed, they passed near the king's 
 ship, to whom they cried out, " Rescue the Salle du Roi," but were 
 not heard ; for it was dark ; and, if they were heard, they were not 
 rescued. The Spaniards would have carried away with ease this 
 prize, if it had not been for a gallant act of one Hanequin, a servant 
 to the lord Robert, who, with his drawn sword on his wrist, leaped 
 on board the enemy, ran to the mast, and cut the large cable which 
 held the mainsail, by which it became unmanageable ; and with 
 great agility, he cut other four principal ropes, so that the sails fell 
 on the deck, and the course of the ship was stopped. Lord Robert 
 seeing this, advanced with his men, and, boarding the Spaniard 
 sword in hand, attacked the crev/ so vigorously, that all were slain 
 or thrown overboard, and the vessel won. 
 
 I CANNOT speak of every particular circumstance of this engage- 
 ment. It lasted a considerable time ; and the Spaniards gave the 
 king of England and his fleet enough to do. However, at last, vic- 
 tory declared for the English : the Spaniards lost fourteen ships ; 
 the others saved themselves by flight.* When it was completely 
 over, and the king saw he had none to fight with, he ordered his 
 trumpets to sound a retreat, and made for England. They anchored 
 at Rye and Winchelsea a little after nightfall, when the king, the 
 prince of Wales, the duke of Lancaster, the earl of Richmond and 
 other barons, disembarked, took horses in the town, and rode to the 
 mansion where the queen was, scarcely two English leagues distant. 
 The queen was mightily rejoiced on seeing her lord and children : 
 she had suffered that day great affliction from her doubts of success ; 
 for her attendants had seen from the hills of the coast the whole of 
 the battle, as the weather was fine and clear, and had told the queen, 
 who was very anxious to learn the number of the enemy, that the 
 Spaniards had forty largo ships : she was therefore much comforted 
 by their safe return. The king, with those knights who had attended 
 him, passed the night in revelry with the ladies, conversing of arms 
 and amors. On the morrow, the greater part of his barons who 
 had been in this engagement, came to him : he greatly thanked 
 them for all the services they had done him, before he dismissed 
 them, when they took their leave, and returned every man to his 
 home. 
 
 You have before heard how Aymery de Pavie had plotted to sur- 
 render the town and castle of Calais, for a sum of florins to the 
 French, and how it befel them : that sir GeofTry de Chargny and the 
 knights with him were made prisoners, and carried to England, 
 whence they ransomed themselves as soon as they could pay the 
 money, and returned to France. It happen-ed, that, during the time 
 he was at St. Omer by order of the king of France, he heard that 
 Aymery de Pavie was at a castle in the country near Calais, called 
 Fretun, which the king of England had given him. The Italian 
 lived there at his ease with a beautiful English woman, whom he 
 had brought thither as his mistress ; and he fancied the French had 
 forgotten his courtesy to them : but that was not the case, as you 
 shall hear. As soon as sir GeofTry received this information, he 
 secretly inquired from those of the country who knew this castle, if 
 it could easily be taken : they assured him it might ; for that sir 
 Aymery lived there without any suspicion, and without guards or 
 watch, thinking himself as safe as if he were in London or Calais. 
 Sir Geoffry did not let the matter sleep, but, collecting privately a 
 band of men-at-arms, left St. Omer in an evening, taking with him 
 the cross-bows that were quartered there, and marched all night, 
 when, at daybreak, he arrived at the castle of Fretun. They 
 instantly surrounded the castle, as it was not of any size, and having 
 entered the ditch, passed through. The servants, awakened by the 
 noise, ran to their master, who was asleep, and said, " My lord, rise 
 instantly ; for the castle is surrounded by a large body of men-at- 
 arms, who are forcing their way into it." Aymery was much alarmed, 
 
 * " Anno Grutiae miilesimo trecentissimo quinquagessimo, qui est annus regni regis 
 Edwardi h conquestu tertii vicesimus quartus, commissum est bellum navale inter 
 Anglicos et Hispanos quarto calendas Septembris. Edwardus nempe rex Anglias cunr 
 paucis navibusobviavitnavigioHispanite, viris beliicosis refertissimo juxta Winchelsee. 
 Et facto atrocissimo conflictu, multi laesi sunt ex utraque parte. Nam tarn fervens erat 
 bellum, tarn crebra vulnera inflicta ex omni parte, quod ab illo prselio vix aliquis evasit 
 illssus. Demum (Deo volente) victoria cessit Anglis. Captas sunt ibi igitur 26 naves 
 magnse, reliquis submersis, vel in fugam versis. In hoc conflictu dum Hispani timidi et 
 superbi, atque fidentes in robore suo et strenuitate, dedignantur se reddere jussu regis 
 Edwardi, omnes miserabileter perierunt, alii ferro caesi, aliiaquis submersi."— Thomas 
 Walsingham, Hist. Anglia, p. 169. 
 
 Stowe says, that Edward returned triumphant, but bewailing the loss of sir Richard 
 Qoklesborough. Page 250. 
 
 and rose as speedily as he could ; but notwithstanding his hastS; h* 
 could not arm himself before his court-yard was filled with soldiers. 
 He was thus made prisoner with his mistress ; bht nothing was pil 
 laged in the castle, on account of the existing truce between France 
 and England ; and besides sir Geoffry only wanted to take Aymery. 
 He was greatly pleased with his success, and carried sir Aymery tc 
 St. Omer, where he did not suffer him to languish in prison, but had 
 him put to death, with much cruel ry, in the market-place of St. 
 Omer, in the presence of the knigh s and common people of the 
 country, who had been sent for thith r. Thus died sir Aymery de 
 Pavie ; but his mistress escaped, for his death freed her, and she 
 afterwards attached herself to a squire of France. 
 
 This year of our Lord 1349, there came from Germany, persons 
 who performed public penitences by whipping themselves v/ith 
 scourges having iron hooks, so that their backs and shoulders were 
 torn: they chanted also, in a. piteous manner, canticles of the 
 nativity and sufferings of our Saviour, and could no', by their rules 
 remain in any town more than one night : they travelled in compa. 
 nies of more or less in number, and thus journeyed through the 
 country performing their penitence for thirty-three days, being the 
 number of years Jesus Christ remained on earth, and then returned 
 to their own homes. These penitences were thus performed, to 
 entreat the Lord to restrain his anger, and withhold his vengeance ; 
 for, at tuis period, an epidemic malady ravaged the earth, and de. 
 stroyed a third part of its inhabitants. They v/ere chiefly done iii. 
 those countries the most afflicted, whither scarcely any could travel^ 
 but were not long continued, as the church set itself against them. 
 None of these companies entered' France : for the king had strictly 
 forbidden them, by desire of the pope, who disapproved of such 
 measures, by sound and sensible reasons, but which I shall pass over. 
 All clerks or persons holding livings, that countenanced' them, were 
 excommunicated, and several were forced to go to Rome to purge 
 themselves. 
 
 About this time, the Jews throughout the world were arrested 
 and burnt, and their fortunes seized by those lords under whose 
 jurisdictions they had lived, except at Avignon, and the territories 
 of the church dependent on the pope. Each poor Jew, Vv'hen he 
 was able to hide himself, and arrive in that country, esteemed him- 
 self safe. It was prophesied, that for one hundred years people 
 were to come, with iron scourges, to destroy them : and this would 
 now have been the case, had not these penitents been checked in 
 their mad career, as has been related.* 
 
 CHAPTER CLII. 
 
 THE DEATH OF KING PHILIP, AND CORONATION OF HIS SON KIN& JOHN. 
 
 In the beginning of August, in the year 1350, Raoul de Cahoui-s,t 
 and many other knights and squires, to the number of one hundred 
 
 * Here end the additions. I cannot help supposing there must have been more: for 
 Froissart would certainly have particularly mentioned this sad calamity of the plaguo, 
 that afflicted all Europe, and he scarcely notices it. 
 
 It began in the spring of the year 1348, and came from Asia. It destroyed in some 
 parts the fourth, in others the third of their population : sometimes it left not the tenth 
 part. It carried off in Paris from 40 to 50,000, and in the little town of St. Denis, 1600. 
 There were sometimes, at Paris, 800 burials in a day : and in the single church-yard of 
 the Charter-house, London, were buried 200 daily It broke every bond of attachment 
 asunder: servants fled from their masters, wives from their husbands, and children from 
 their parents. There were no laws in force : the greatest excesses were committed ; and, 
 when the contagion was at an end, morals were found more corrupted. 
 
 I refer my readers to the different ciironicles of the times, for more particular informa- 
 tion. Lord Hailes dates its ravages in 1349, and says; "The great pestilence, which 
 had long desolated the continent, reached Scotland. The liistorians of all countries 
 speak with horror of this pestilence. Ittook a wider range, and proved more destructive 
 than any calamity of that nature known in the annals of mankind. Barnes, pp. 428— 
 441. has collected the accounts given of this pestilence by many historians ; and hence 
 he has, unknowingly, furnished materials for a curious inquiry into the populousness of 
 Europe in the fourteenth century." 
 
 " The same cause which brought on this corruption of manners produced a new spe- 
 cies of fanaticism. There appeared in Germany, England and Flanders, numerous con- 
 fraternities of penitents, who, naked to the girdle, dirty and filthy to look at, flogged 
 themselves in the public squares, chanting a ridiculous canticle. Underneath are two 
 stanzas of their canticle, consisting of nineteen in the whole. It is entire in a chronicle 
 belonging to M. Brequigny, which is the only one supposed to express it: 
 " Oravant, entre nous tuit frere, 
 
 Battons nos charoignes bien fort. 
 
 En remembrant la grand misere 
 
 De Dieu, et sa piteuse mort 
 
 Q.ui fut pris de la gent amere, 
 
 Et venduz, et traiz k tort, 
 
 Et battu sa char vierge et claire ; 
 
 On nom de ce, battons plus fort. 
 
 O Roiz des roiz, char precieuse, 
 Dieuz Pere, Filz, Sains Esperis. 
 Vos saintisme char glorieuse, 
 Fut pendue en crois par Juis 
 Et la fut grief et doloreuse : 
 Quar vo douz saint sane beneic 
 Fit la eroix vermeille et hideuse. 
 Loons Dieu et battons nos pis." 
 
 M. Lkvesque, torn. i. pp 530, 531. 
 
 t Raoul de Cahours was of the English party, but gained over by the magnificent 
 promises of king John. He first changed his side at this battle, when he fought with 
 the commander in Brittany, who had only one hundred men. and might have gained 
 the day, if he had not been too rash. King John, as a recompense, gave him 24,000 
 lines, and allowed him the possession of the lands of Beaiivoir, the island of Chauvet 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 97 
 
 and twenty men-at-arms, or thereabouts, combated with the com- 
 mander for the king of England in Brittany, called sir Thomas 
 Daggeworth, before the castle of Aurai. Sir Thomas* and all his 
 men were slain, to the amount of about one hundred men-at-arms. 
 On the 22nd of August, in the same year, king Philip of France 
 departed this life at Nogent-le-Roi,t and was carried to Notre-Dame 
 in Paris. On the Thursday following, his body was buried at St. 
 Denis, on the left hand of the great altar: his bowels were interred 
 at the Jacobins at Paris, and his heart at the convent of the Carthu- 
 sians at Bourgfontaines in Valois. The 26th day of September en- 
 suing, John, eldest son of king Philip, was crowned king, on a 
 
 iamv. Kino 9T France— Drawn on his return from England, in 1309 : by Bkvclaire, 
 
 Croix of St. Eloy, Paris. 
 
 Sunday, at Rheims. His wife. Queen Jane, was also crowned at the 
 same time. The king, on this occasion, made many knights : his 
 eldest son, the dauphin of Vienne ; his second son, Louis earl of 
 Alen9on ; the earl of Estampes ; the lord John d'Artois ; Philip 
 duke of Orleans, brother to the king ; the duke of Burgundy, son 
 of the Queen, by her first marriage with the lord Philip of Burgundy ; 
 the earl of Dammartin, and many others. The king set out from 
 Rheims on the Monday, and returned to Paris, by way of Laon, 
 Soissons and Senlis. The king and queen made their public entry 
 into Paris on a Sunday, the 17th of October. There were great 
 feasts, which lasted the whole week. The king remained at Paris 
 at the hotel de Nesle, or at the palace, until near Martinmas, v/hen he 
 assembled his parliament. 
 
 On Tuesday, the 16th day of November following, Raoul, earl of 
 Eu and Guignes, constable of France, who was but lately returned 
 from his prison in England, was arrested by order of the king, in 
 the hdtel de Nesle, + where king John resided, by the provost of 
 Paris, and was detained in confinement in his hdtel, until the next 
 Thursday ; when, about the hour of matins, he was there beheaded, 
 in the presence of the duke of Bourbon, the earl of Armagnac, the 
 earl of Montfort, the lord John Boulogne, the earl of Rueil, and 
 many other knights, who attended the execution by command of 
 the king, at that time in his palace. He was thus executed, for great 
 treasons, of which he had confessed himself guilty to the duke of 
 Athens, and some others. His body was buried in the Augustins at 
 Paris, within the walls of the monastery, by permission of the king, 
 out of respect to the friends of the constable. In the month of the 
 ensuing January, Charles of Spain, to whom the king had given the 
 earldom of Angouleme, was appointed by him constable of France. 
 
 and other estates which he had seized from Jane de Belleville. Cahours engaged, in 
 return, to deliver into the king's hands Vannes, Guerrande, Brest, Hennebon, &c.— 
 Hist, de Bretagne. 
 
 Rauul de Cahours was made commander in Poitou, by writ of privy seal, dated 
 Eltham, 17th January, 1347.— Rymer. 
 
 The 4th July, 1348, the king grants him JGIOOO a year, in Poitou, besides other advan- 
 tages.— /(/ctk. 
 
 * Oujjdiile, in his Baronage, says he was slain through the treachery of the French. 
 
 t A town in Beauce, on the river Eure, five leagues from Ciiartres. 
 
 t Tl.e hotel de Nesle is now demolished ; and its situation would be unknown, were 
 it not for a curious memoir respecting it, in the xxiiid. vol. of the Memoires de I'Acade- 
 niie, by M. Bonamy, to which I lefer the reader. 
 
 § De Dulo Regis Francix Jokannis, Sec.—" Comes de Ewe, constabularius Franciee, 
 qui in conflictu inter Anglicos & Normanos, anno Domini miliesimo. cccmo. XLvito. 
 apud Cadamum habito, cuptus fuit, & tunc missus in Aiisrliam, per in. annos & amplius 
 ibidem remanserat sub carcerali custodia mancipatus, circiter testum Sancti Michaelis, 
 anno Domini miliesimo. ccmo. Limo. licenciatus per regem Anglorum loca sua in par- 
 tibus Franciae visitare, Parisios venitad novum Franciae regem Johannem, utiijue statura 
 magnum &. discretum, minus tamen graciosum, & fama publica referente libidine ple- 
 num, ab uxore propria divertentem, fornicarisquetamsecularibus quam religiosis etiam 
 incestuosc turpitcr adhserentem, k paucis magnatibus vel plebeis dilectum. Tunc idem 
 rex, se amicum ipsius comitis simulans, & paditice sibi loquens, convivavit eundem. 
 Bed statim nocte sequenti, misso spiculatore cum quibusdam satellitibus adhospiciMfii 
 4icti cumitis, ipsum comitcm fecit lubito decullari."— Avjssbury, p. 187. 
 
 The lord Guy de Nesle, marshal of France, had an engagement, on 
 the first of April, in Saintonge, with the English and Gascons ; the 
 army of the marshal was defeated : he himself was taken prisoner, 
 with his brother the lord William, lord Arnold d'Anreghen, and many 
 others. On Palm Sunday, which was the 10th of April, 1351, Giles 
 Rigault de Rouffy, who was abbot of St. Denis, and lately made a car- 
 dinal, was presented with the red hat, in presence of king John in his 
 palace, by the bishops of Laon and of Paris. This had never been 
 done before ; but the pope had directed it to be so, by a bull addres- 
 sed to these bishops. 
 
 In the following September, the French recovered the town of St. 
 Jean d'Angely, of which the English had kept possession for five 
 years. It was surrendered by the garrison without striking a blow, 
 and merely through want of provisions. In the month of October, 
 the fraternity of the noble house of St. Ouen,* near Paris, was estab- 
 lished by order of the king. All those who were of this order wore 
 a star on their hoods, and another on the front of their mantles.t 
 This year, there was the greatest scarcity of provisions all over the 
 kingdom of France ever known in the memory of man. Wheat 
 was sold at Paris for eight livres parsisi the septier :§ a septier of 
 oats for forty sols parsis, and a boisseau]] of peas eight sols, and o^her 
 grains according to their value. In this month of October, on the 
 day of the celebration of St. Ouen, the English took the town of 
 Guignes, notwithstanding the truce : and in thin year the constable 
 of France was married to the daughter of lord Charles of Biois. 
 
 CHAPTER GLIII. 
 
 THE KING OF NAVARRE CAUSES THE LORD CHARLES OF SPAIN, CONSTABLE 
 OF FRANCE, TO BE H'JRDERED WITH OTHER MATTERS. 
 
 In the year 1352, on the eve of the feast of our Lady, the middle 
 of August, the lord Guy de Nesle, lord of Ossemont, at that time 
 marshal of France in Brittany, had an engagement, in which the 
 marshal was slain in battle, and also the lord of Briquebec, the 
 baron of Beauvais, and many other nobles, as well of the country of 
 Brittany, as of other parts of France. The 4th of September was 
 the day appointed for the combatlT at Paris, between the duke of 
 Brunswick and the duke of Lancaster, for words which the duke of 
 Lancaster had spoken, and for which the duke of Brunswick had 
 summoned him to answer at the court of the king of France. The 
 two dukes came to the field completely armed, and entered the lists 
 which had been prepared for the German appellant, and the English 
 respondent. As the English were at war with France, the duke of 
 Lancaster had come thither under a safe-conduct from king John, 
 to defend his honor. The king of France, however, would not per- 
 mit them to fight ; but, although they had armed themselves, and 
 had taken the oaths, and were mounting their steeds, he took the 
 business into his own hands, and made up the difference between 
 them. 
 
 On the 6th day of December, pope Clement VI. died, at Avignon, 
 in the eleventh year of his pontificate ; and, on the 11th of the fol- 
 lowing month, a cardinal from Limosin, styled cardinal of Ostia, but, 
 because he had been bishop of Clermont, commonly called cardinal 
 of Clermont, was elected pope, about the hour of ten in the morning, 
 in his room. He took the title of Innocent VI., though his own 
 proper name was sir Stephen Aubert. 
 
 On the 6th day of January, 1353, soon after daybreak, the lord 
 Charles Navarre, earl of Evreux, caused the lord Charles of Spain, 
 constable of France, to be murdered in his bed, at an inn in the 
 town of Aigle** in Normandy, by some men-at-arms whom he sent 
 there ; he remained in a barn without the town, until they were 
 returned to him after the performance of this deed. It was said he 
 
 * St. Ouen is a small town in the Isle of France, diocese and election of Paris. 
 
 t Barnes says, that on the 8th September, 1351, king John revived the almost obsolete 
 order of the Star, in imitation of the Garter ; and the first chapter of it was held at \ui 
 palace of St. Ouen. At first there were but eighteen knighte ; the rest vvere added at 
 different chapters. 
 
 They wore a bright star on the crest of their helmets, and one pendent at their necki 
 and the same was embroidered on their, mantles. 
 
 The day fixed for the annual celebration of this order was the Epiphany, and the stat 
 chosen for the emblem. 
 
 The eighteen first knights were: 
 
 John king of France, sovereign. 
 
 Philip duke of Orleans, his only brother. 
 
 Charles of France, dauphin of Vienne— Louis duke of Aru'ou— John duke of Berry- 
 Philip duke of Touraine— king John's sons. 
 Charles king of Navarre. 
 
 Peter duke of Bourbon— James Bourbon count de la Marche— brothers. 
 
 Charles de la Cerda of Spain, earl of Angouleme. 
 
 Arnold d'Andreghen— John de Clermont— marshals of France. 
 
 Geoffry count de Chargny, great chamberlain of France. 
 
 Cimrles earl of Tancarville. 
 
 William de Brenne. duke of Athens, master of the horse. 
 
 John o Artois, earl of Eu-Charles of Artuis, count de Longuevdle-John viscount 
 de Melun, sons of Robert d'Artois. 
 For more particulars, see Fa vine's Theatre d'Honneur. 
 
 t Cotgrave says, that a livre parisis is 2i. 6d., and that ten sols parisis is equal to ont 
 
 ^ § A septier of wheat, according to Cotgrave, weighs 240 pounds. 
 
 :| A boisseau of wheat weighs 20 pounds. .... 
 
 ir See Dugdale's Baronage, for a more particular account ol this duel, and cf an end 
 being put to it by the^ng of France, at the entreaty of the duke of Brunswick, who, 
 through cowardice, siiWinitted to hi» award. 
 
 ** "^'ocese of Evreux. 
 
W CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 v. as accompanied by the lord Philip of Navarre his brother, the lord 
 Lewis de Harcourt, and lord Godfrey de Harcourt his uncle, and 
 many other knights, as well from Navarre as from Normandy. The 
 King of Navarre and his company retreated to the city of Evreux, 
 ( f which he was lord, provisioned it, and added to the fortifications. 
 ^/ith him went the above-mentioned Harcourts, the lord of Malue, 
 J )hn Mailer lord of Graville, the lord Almaury de Meulent, and 
 many other noblemen of Normandy. Shortly after, the king of 
 Navarre went to Mantes: he had before sent many letters sealed, to 
 different towns in the kingdom, to inform them that he had put to 
 death the constable, for various evil deeds which the constable had 
 done against him. He sent the earl of Meaux to the king of France 
 at Paris, on the stime subject. The king dispatched to the king of 
 Navarre at Mantes, the cardinal de Boulogne, the bishop of Laon, the 
 duke de Bourbon, the earl of Venddme, and others, who entered into 
 a treaty with the king of Navarre : forasmuch as he had married the 
 king's sister, the mere pardon of the king for this crime would not 
 satisfy him ; but he required of the king, his lord, many other things. 
 Every one in France imagined that a war Was unavoidable, between 
 the two kings ; for the king of Navarre had made many alliances, 
 collected troops in different places, and had victualled and fortified 
 his tOy\'ns nnd castles. At last, however, after many treaties, there was 
 one agreed to, of which the following are some of the principal points. 
 
 The king of France was to give the king of Navarre thirty-eight 
 thousand livres tournois, on account of an annuity which the king of 
 Navarre received from the treasury of Paris, in lieu of lands which, 
 according to an agreement made between their royal predecessors, 
 were to be assigned to him, for the county of Champagne, as well as 
 on account of his marriage with the king of France's daughter, when 
 he was promised as much land as would amount to twelve thousand 
 livres a-year. The king of Navarre wished to have the lordship of 
 Beauraont-le-Roger,* the lands of Breteuil,t in Normandy, Conches,} 
 and Orbec,§ the viscounty of Pont-Audemer,|| and the bailiwick of 
 Coutantin: which were acceded to by the king of France, though 
 the first four lands belonged to Philip duke of Orleans, the king's 
 brother, and he gave him other estates in lieu of them. The king 
 consented also, for the sake of peace, that all the Harcourts and his 
 other allies should hold from him, as their lord, all lands dependent 
 on Navarre, in whatever part of France they might be situated ; and 
 it was at their option to do him, if they pleased, homage for them. 
 The king of Navarre obtained also, that these lands, and those he 
 possessed before, should be holden by him as a peerage : and he had 
 the power to hold, twice a-year, a court of exchequer as nobly as the 
 duke of Normandy. The king of France consented to pardon all 
 who had been concerned in the death of the constable, and promised, 
 upon his oath, that neither now nor hereafter would he see-k to do 
 them hurt for this act. The king of Navarre, in addition, received 
 from the king of France a large sum in golden crowns ; and, before 
 he would come to Paris, he made the king send him, by way of 
 hostage, the earl of Anjou, his second son. 
 
 When he came to Paris, he was attended by a numerous body of 
 nen-at-arms. The 4th day of March following, he came to the 
 chamber of parliament, where the king was sitting, attended by many 
 peers of France, the parliament, and some of his council : the cardi- 
 nal of Boulogne was there also. The king of Navarre besought the 
 king of France to pardon him the death of the constable, alleging 
 that he had good reasons for so doing, which he offered then to lay 
 before the king, or at any other time. He swore he had not done it 
 out of any contempt to the king of France, or to the office of con- 
 stable ; and he added, that he should not feel anything so much, as 
 to be thought he had incurred the anger of the king. Upon this, the 
 lord James de Bourbon, constable of France, by order of the king, 
 gave his hand to the king of Navarre, and drew him aside. Shortly 
 after, the queen .loan, aunt to the king of Navarre, and queen 
 Blanche, his sister ; the first of whom had been the wife of Charles 
 ie Bel, and the last of king Philip, lately deceased ; came into the 
 presence of the king, and made a low reverence : sir Reginald de 
 Trie, falling on his knees, said : " My most redoubted lord, here are 
 my ladies the queens, Joan and Blanche, who have heard that my 
 lord of Navarre is in your ill graces, and are much hurt at it. They 
 beseech you to have the goodness to pardon him ; and, if it please 
 God, he will for the future behave himself in such a manner, that 
 you and all the people of France shall be satisfied." 
 
 The constable and the marshals then went to seek the king of 
 Navarre, who, coming again into the presence of the king, placed 
 himself between the two queens, when the cardinal spoke as follows: 
 *' My lord of Navarre, no one ought to be surprised, if my lord the 
 king of France is offended with you, for the crime you have com- 
 mitted. There is no occasion for me to name it, you have made it 
 so public, by your letters and otherwise, that it is known to all. You 
 are so much beholden to him, that you ought never to have done it : 
 you are of his blood, and nearly related to him ; besides, you are his 
 liege man, and one of his peers, and have also espoused his daughter; 
 therefore this deed is so much the more blameable. However, for 
 
 *A market t(,wn in Normandy, on the Rille, diocese of Evreax. 
 
 t Election of Conches. 
 
 t A muriiet tiiwn in Normnndy, diocese of Evreux. 
 § A town oi Normandy, diocese of Lisieux. 
 
 II Pont-Audomer— a town in Normandy, dioceie of LisiedS geyentetn leagues from 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &e. 
 
 the love and affection he bears my ladies the queens, here present, 
 who have most earnestly entreated him in your behalf; and, because 
 he believes you have committed this crime through bad advisers, he 
 pardons you heartily and willingly." The two queens, and the king 
 of Navarre, upon this, fell on their knees, and thanked the king. 
 The cardinal added, " that in future if any of the king's relations, or 
 others, should dare commit such a crime as the king of Navarre had 
 done, and even if it should again happen to the king's son, to insult 
 or injure the lowest officer of the king, he should infallibly be pun- 
 ished." Upon this, the court broke up.* 
 
 The 22nd of March, a knight-banneret of the low marches, called sir 
 Reginald de Pressigny, lord of Marans near la Rochelle, Vv^as drawn 
 and hanged on a gibbet, by orders of the parliament and many of 
 the great council of the king. On the 4th of August, 1354, the 
 king of France was reconciled to the earl of Harcourt and the lord 
 Lewis his brother, who were, as it was then said, to reveal to him 
 many things of consequence, especially all that related to the death 
 of the constable. In the following month of September, the car- 
 dinal de Boulogne set out from Paris to go to Avignon, and, it was 
 commonly reported, not in the good graces of the king ; howbeit, 
 during the space of a year that he had remained in France, he had 
 lived as well with the king as any other courtier. About this time, 
 lord Robert de Lorris, chamberlain to the king of France, suddenly 
 quitted the kingdom. It was said, that, had he been taken, he 
 would have suffered, for having revealed to the king of Navarre the 
 secrets of the king of France, in the like manner as the Harcourts 
 had done to the king of France. 
 
 The king of Navarre, in the month of November, set out from 
 Normandy, and passed through divers places, amusing himself until 
 he came to Avignon, and from thence went to Navarre. And this 
 month the archbishop of Rouen, chancellor of France, and the duke 
 of Bourbon, set off for Avignon ; as did the duke of Lancaster, and 
 others of the English, in order to hold a conference touching a peace 
 between the two kings. This same month the king of France left 
 Paris, and went into Normandy as far as Caen. He took possession 
 of all the lands belonging to the king of Navarre, and appointed 
 new officers and garrisons in all the castles belonging to him, except 
 six, viz. Evreux, Pont-Audemer, Cherbourg, Gavrey,t Avranches,t 
 Mortain,!^ which v/ere garrisoned by men from Navarre, who would 
 not surrender themselves, but answered those sent to them from the 
 king of France, that they would not give them up save to their lord, 
 the king of Navarre, who had put them under their guard. 
 
 In the month of January, the lord Robert de Lorris returned to 
 Paris, by a passport from the king, where he remained a fortnight 
 without having permission to see him ; and, when he was admitted 
 to his presence, he was not fully reconciled; he therefore, by the 
 advice of the king's council, returned to Avignon, that he might be 
 present during the conferences. Toward the end of February, news 
 was brought, that the truce which would expire in April, between 
 the kings of France and England, had been prolonged by the pope 
 to the nativity of St. John the Baptist, in order that he might find 
 some means of making a permanent peace ; and that the commis- 
 sioners from each king had consented to it. The pope sent embas- 
 sadors to the kings, respecting another mode of carrying on the treaty 
 than what had hitherto been practiced. This same month, the king 
 of France coined florins of fine gold, which were called Lamb Florins, 
 because on the reverse was the figure of a lamb. They were valued 
 at fifty-two the marc ;|| and when they were coined, the king gave 
 forty-eight for a marc of pure gold, and forbade the currency of any 
 other florins. This month, sir Gaucher de I'Orme came to Paris, to 
 the king of France, as embassador from the king of Navarre; he 
 returned the following March, carrying with him passports for the 
 king of Navarre. 
 
 This year, about Shrovetide, many of the English advanced near 
 to Nantes, and by means of rope-ladders, about fifty-two of them 
 got into and took the castle : but sir Guy de Rochefort, who was 
 the governor, and at that time in the town, attacked them so vigor- 
 ously that he regained it that same night ; and the fity-two Eng- 
 lish were either slain or taken prisoners. King John, about Easter 
 1355, sent his eldest son, Charles dauphin of Vienne, into Nor- 
 mandy, as his lieutenant, where he remained al' the summer, and 
 the province granted him three thousand men-at-arms for three 
 months. In the month of August following, the king of Navarre 
 landed at the castle of Cherbourg, and with him ten thousand men, 
 including every one. There were many treaties begun between 
 those attached to the king of France and those belonging to the king 
 of Navarre : each sent respectively embassadors to the other. The 
 king of Navarre's garrisons in Evreux and Pont-Audemer plundered 
 all the country thereabout : some of them advanced to the castle of 
 Conches, which at that time was in king John's hands, took it, and 
 filled it with provisions and men-at-arms. Several other acts of hos. 
 tility were done by the men of Navarre against the subjects of the 
 
 * The cause of the murder of Charles d'Espagne, constable of France, by Charles^ Ie 
 Mauvais, was the opposition the constable made to the pretensions of the king of Na- 
 varre to the counties of Champagne, Brie, and to the duchy of Burgundy.— See Ferrera'i 
 Hist, of Spain, vol. v. po. 276, 277. 
 
 t A market town in Normandy four leagues from Coutancai. 
 
 i A town in Normandy— a bishop's see. 
 
 § A town in Normandy— diocese of Avrancbas 
 
 II Eight ounc«s of gold, silver, or bullion. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 99 
 
 king of France. At last, peace was made ; and the king of Na. 
 varre then went to the dauphin of Vienne, in the castle of Verneuil,* 
 who conducted him to the good city of Paris. On the 24th day of 
 September, they both came to the king, who then resided at the 
 castle of the Louvre at Paris : and, \yhen admitted to his presence, 
 the king of Navarre made his reverence before the many nobles who 
 were there assembled. He excused himself very honorably for hav- 
 ing quitted the realm, and added, that he had heard some had found 
 fault with his conduct toward the king : he therefore requested the 
 king to name those who had done so : for he swore that, since the 
 death of the constable, he had done nothing against the king of 
 France but what a loyal subject should and ought to do. Neverthe- 
 less, he besought the king of France, that he would pardon all that 
 was passed, and admit him to his favor. He promised that in future 
 he would be as good and loyal as a son ought to be to a father, or a 
 vassal to his lord. The king informed him, through the duke of 
 Athens, that he forgave everything heartily. 
 
 CHAPTER CLIV. 
 
 THE TAX OP THE GABELLEt IMPOSED THROUGHOUT FRANCE, BY THE 
 THREE ESTATES, ON ACCOUNT OF THE WAR. 
 
 The prince of Wales went into Gascony some time in the month 
 of October, 1355, and advanced as far as Toulouse, where he crossed 
 the Garonne, and went to Carcassonne. t He burnt the suburbs, but 
 could do nothing to the town, as it was well defended. He then 
 marched to Narbonne§ burning and destroying the country, and in 
 the month of November, returned to Bordeaux with great plunder 
 and a multitude of prisoners, without having met with any oppposi. 
 tion, notwithstanding that the earl of Armagnac, the king of France's 
 lieutenant in Laguedoc, was at that time in the country, as well as 
 the lord of Foix, the lord James de Bourbon, lord of Ponthieu and 
 constable of France, and the lord John de Clermont, marshal of 
 France, with a more numerous army than that of the prince of 
 Wales. 
 
 The king of England landed at Calais in the month of October 
 of this year, and marched to Hesdin,|| where he destroyed the out- 
 works, and burnt the houses within them ; but he did not enter the 
 town or castle. The king of France, on hearing this news of the 
 English, issued out his summons for an army to assemble at Amiens, 
 and marched toward the king of England, who had retreated toward 
 Calais. The king of France advanced as far as St. Omer, whence 
 he sent to inform the king of England, by the marshal de Authain, 
 and many other knights, that he was willing to give him battle, either 
 in single combat, or with his army, any day he would choose to 
 name ; but the king of England refused the combat, and crossed the 
 sea to England. The king of France returned to Paris. 
 
 In this same year, about St. Andrew's day, the king of France 
 summoned all the prelates, chapters, barons, and citizens of the 
 principal towns, to Paris, when he laid before them, through his 
 chancellor, in the chamber of parliament, the state of the war, and 
 requested of them to consult together on what aids they could grant 
 that should be sufficient to enable him to carry it on. And because 
 the king had heard that his subjects complained of being much ag. 
 grieved by the alteration in the coin, he offered to coin money that 
 should be good and weighty, if they would grant him other supplies 
 sufficient to enable him to pursue the war. Upon which they an- 
 swered, that is to say, the clergy by the mouth of the archbishop of 
 Rheims, the nobles by the duke of Athens, and the citizens by Ste- 
 phen Marcel, provost of merchants in the good town of Paris, that 
 they were willing to live or die for him, and offered him the disposal 
 of their lives and fortunes, requiring only a little time to deliberate 
 together. This request was willingly complied with. 
 
 The king of France gave this year, on the vigil of the feast of the 
 Conception of the Virgin Mary, the duchy of Normandy to his eldest 
 son the dauphine of Vienne, earl of Poitiers ; and, on the morrow, 
 he did homage for it. 
 
 After the three estates had deliberated, they replied to the king 
 of France, in the chamber of parliament, by the aforementioned per- 
 sons, that they would grant him an army of thirty thousand men, to 
 be maintained by them for one year ; and in order to have the fund 
 for paying this, which was estimated at fifty thousand livres parisis,ir 
 the three estates ordered that there should be levied upon all persons 
 whatever their state may be, churchmen, nobles or others, a tax of 
 eight deniers parisis per pound, on all sorts of provisions ; and that 
 the tax upon salt should be established throughout France. But, as 
 it was not known if this tax, and the extension of the gabelle, would 
 be sufficient, it was ordered that the three estates should remain in 
 Paris, to see and examine the result of this tax, and that on the 1st 
 of March following they should again assemble ; v/hich was done, 
 
 * Verneuil— a city of Normandy, twenty-nine leagues and a half from Paris. 
 
 T The Gahelle is a tux upon salt, first imposed by Philippe le Long. All persons 
 in France before the Revolution in 1789, when it was abolished, were obliged to pay a 
 certain sum for salt, whether they used any or not. This necessary article was monopo- 
 lized by contractors, who enriched themselves at the public expense. 
 
 t A considerable town in Languedoc, twenty-three leagues from Toulouse. 
 
 5 \ large city in Languedoc, an archbishopric, thirty-seven leagues from Toulouse. 
 
 II A strong town in Artois, on the Canche, twenty-two leagues from Calais. 
 
 H My two MSS. say '• cinquant cent mille livres," which appears most probable from 
 Vi» leverity oi'the tax. 
 
 except by some of the nobles and citizens from the chief towns in 
 Picardy, and many other towns in Normandy. Those who had ex- 
 amined the receipt of the taxes were also there ; and upon their 
 information that it was not sufficient, a new subsidy was resolved 
 on ; and it was ordered, that all manner of persons, of the blood 
 royal or not, priest or layman, monk or nun, privileged or unprivi. 
 leged, innkeepers, heads of churches, who possessed rents, or reve- 
 nues from offices or administrations, widows as well as those who 
 held estates in their own right, children, married or not, who had 
 any fortune in the hands of trustees or otherwise ; coiners, and all 
 others who had formerly been exempted from taxation, and who were 
 possessed of one hundred livres a.year, or under, whether by inherit- 
 ance, annuity, wages or pension for life, should pay a subsidy of four 
 livres, to defray the expense of the war ; those of forty livres a.year 
 and under, to pay forty sols : ten livres a-year, and upward, twenty 
 sols ; and under ten livres a-year, children, whether in wardship or 
 upward of fifteen years old, laborers and workmen gaining their live- 
 iihood by work, should pay ten sols : if they had any fortune besides 
 what they acquired by labor, they were to pay as the others. Ser. 
 vants and all who worked for hire, so that they gained a hundred 
 sols, and upward, a-year, were also to pay ten sols. The sol was to 
 be taken as the sol parisis, in those parts where this mode of reckon- 
 ing was jisual, and as the sol tournois in the other parts. Those 
 servants who did not gain more than the exact sum of one hundred 
 sols a-year, or under, were to pay nothing ; but if they had any equi. 
 valent fortune, they were to pay according to the rate of the others. 
 None of the mendicant monks, nor those in cloisters without office 
 or administration, nor children under the age of fifteen, without any 
 property, were to pay this subsidy. Nuns were also exempted, who 
 had not any income exceeding ten livres. Wives paid nothing, be- 
 cause their husbands were taxed, and theirfortunes would be reckoned 
 as part of their hj^ands'. With regard to the clergy, whether they 
 were prelates, ab Ws, priors, canons, curates, or others who possessed 
 upward of one hundred livres a-year, by benefices', or inheritance 
 from the holy church, or by both, and extendmg to five thousand 
 livres a-year, they were to pay four livres for the first hundred livres, 
 and forty sols for every hundred of the five thousand. No further 
 a*d was to be required for any sum above five thousand livres. The 
 •ffenues of the benefices were to be estimated by the tax of the 
 tenth penny, and no one was allowed to claim any privileges from 
 their tenths if they had been once granted. 
 
 With regard to the nobility, and citizens of the chief towns, who 
 had upward of one hundred livres a-year : the nobles were to be 
 taxed as far as five thousand livres of rent, and fo'-ty sols for every 
 hundred livres, besides the four livres for the hrst hundred. The 
 inhabitants of the towns in the same manner, as far as one thousand 
 livres a.year. As for the furniture of those noblemen who did not 
 possess a hundred livres a-year, it was to be valued as high as one 
 thousand livres, and no higher ; and for those who were not noble, 
 and had not four hundred livres a-year, their furniture was to be 
 valued as far as four thousand livres, that is to say, at the rate of one 
 hundred livres for every ten livres of rent ; and they were to pay the 
 tax in the manner above specified. If it should happen that any 
 nobleman possessed but just the rental of one hundred livres, and 
 his furniture oi no higher value than one thousand livres ; or that 
 any one, not a noble, had a rental of four hundred livres, and fur- 
 niture to the amount of four thousand livres, then their rentals and 
 furniture should be entered together, as high to the nobleman as one 
 thousand livres, and to others as far as four thousand livres, and no 
 more. 
 
 On Saturday, the 5th of March, 1356, there was a dissension in 
 the.town of Arras, between the higher and lower ranks of inhabit, 
 ants ; the lower sort killed, that day, seventeen of the higher rank 
 in the town. On the Monday following, they murdered four others, 
 and banished many more : so that they remained masters of the 
 town of Arras. 
 
 CHAPTER CLV. 
 
 the king of FRANCE ARRESTS THE KING OF NAVARRE, AND ORDERS THS 
 EARL OF HARCOURT AND OTHERS TO BE BEHEADED AT ROT'EN. 
 
 The king of France, on Tuesday the 5th of April, which was the 
 Tuesday after midlent Sunday, set out early, completely armed, from 
 Mainville,* attended by about one hundred lances. There were with 
 him his son the earl of Anjou, his brother the duke of Orleans, 
 the lord John d'Artois, earl of Eu, the lord Charles his brother^ 
 cousins-german to the king, the earl of Tancarville, sir Arnold 
 d'Andreghen, marshal of France, and many other barons and knights. 
 They rode straight for the castle of Rouen, by a back way, without 
 passing through the town, and on entering found, in the hall ol the 
 castle, Charles, duke of Normandy, Charles king of Navarre, John 
 earl of Harcourt, the lords de Preux, de Clerc,de Graville, and som«3 
 others seated at dinner. .The king immediately ordered them all, 
 except the dauphin, to be arrested, as also sir William and sir Louii 
 de Harcourt, brothers to the earl, the lord Fricquet de Friquart, th« 
 lord de Tournebeu, the lord Maubue de Mamesnars, two sqr>et 
 called Oliver Doublet and John de Vaubatu, and many others. H< 
 had them shut up m different rooms in the castle , and his rc-so^ 
 
 * Mnipville— a raark«t town in Vexin Normaadv in the election of Gisore 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGL AND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 ^ 
 
 100 
 
 'or so doing was, that, since the reconciliation made on occasion of 
 the death of the constable of France, the king of Navarre had con- 
 spired and done many things contrary to the honor of the king, and 
 tile good of his realm ; the earl of Harcourt had also used many inju. 
 rious expressions in the castle of Vaudreuil,* when an assembly was 
 h olden there to grant a subsidy to the king of France, against the 
 s. id king, in order to prevent, as much as lay in his power, the sub- 
 sidy from being agreed to. The king, after this, sat down to dinner, 
 and afterwards, mounting his horse, rode, attended by all his com- 
 pany, to a field behind the castle, called the Field of Pardon. The 
 king then ordered the earl of Harcourt, the lord of Graville, the lord 
 Maubu^, and Oliver Doublet, to be brought thither in two carts : their 
 heads were cut off, and their bodies dragged to the gibbet at Rouen, 
 where they were hung, and their heads placed upon the gibbet. In 
 the course of that day and the morrow, the king set at liberty all the 
 other prisoners, except three; Charles king of Navarre, who was 
 conducted to prison in the Louvre at Paris, and afterwards to the 
 Cha,telet ; some of the king's council were appointed as a guard 
 over him. Friquet and Vaubatu were also confined in the Cha,telet. 
 Philip of Navarre, however, kept possession of several castles which 
 the king his brother had in Normandy, and when the king of France 
 sent him orders to surrender them, refused to obey, but in conjunc- 
 tion with the lord Godfrey de Harcourt and other enemies of France, 
 raised forces in the country of Coutantin, which they defended 
 against the king's troops. 
 
 On Wednesday after Easter, 1356, sir Arnold d'Andreghen went 
 to Arras, and there very prudently, and without the help of his sol- 
 diery, arrested one hundred of those who had put the town in a state 
 of rebellion, and who had murdered the citizens. On the morrow, 
 he had twenty of them beheaded ; and the rest he kept in prison 
 until the king should have ordered otherwise. By this means the 
 town was rendered obedient to the king. In the||^nth of June fol- 
 lowing, the duke of Lancaster landed in the country of Coutantin, 
 and joined the lord Philip of Navarre and sir Godfrey de Harcourt. 
 They were about four thousand combatants. They marched straight 
 for Lisieux, Orbec, and Pont-Audemer, where they reinforced the 
 castle, which had been besieged for upward of two months. The 
 lord Robert de Hotetot, captain of the cross-bowmen in France, who 
 with other nobles had laid siege to it, broke it up, as he heard of the 
 coming of the duke of Lancaster, leaving behind him his machines 
 and artillery, which were captured by those of the castle. The duke 
 and lord Philip made an excursion as far as Breteuil,t which they 
 Btrengthened, robbing and plundering the country through which 
 they passea. When they found that the city and castle of Evreux 
 had lately surrenaered to the king of France, who had for a length 
 of time laid siege to it, and that the town and cathedral had been 
 pillaged and burnt by the men of Navarre, who gave up the castle 
 by capitulation ; as well as by some of the king's forces, who were 
 besieging the town, the duke and lord Philip went forward to Ver- 
 neuiljt which town and castle they took and plundered : they also 
 burnt part of the town. 
 
 The king of France, on hearing of the landing of the duke of Lan- 
 caster, had issued out his orders for raising troops : he assembled a 
 large body of men-at-arms and infantry, set out in pursuit of him, 
 and, passing through Conde,§ made straight for the town of Verneuil. 
 He passed by l'Aigle,|l and followed him to Tubceuf, two leagues 
 distant ffom. I'Aigle. The king of France was then informed that 
 he could not pursue him further ; for there were immense forests in 
 which his party could secrete themselves : the king therefore re. 
 turned, and came with his whole army before the castle of Thilliers,ir 
 which they said was in possession of Navarre. He took it, and gar- 
 risoned it with his own people. He afterwards came to the castlS of 
 Breteuil, which was defended for the king of Navarre. The king 
 of France remained befere this castle the space of two months, when 
 it was surrendered on capitulation that the garrison might go whither 
 they pleased, and all they could carry with them. 
 
 CHAPTER CLVI. 
 
 THE KIN(J OF F7ANCE ISSUES OUT A SUMMONS FOR ASSEMBLING AN ARMY 
 TO COMBAT THE PRINCE OF WALES, WHO WAS OVERRUNNING THE PROV- 
 INCE OF DERBY. 
 
 When king John of France had finished his expedition, and had 
 reconquered all the towns and castles in lower Normandy which 
 belonged to the king of Navarre, whom he detained in prison, he 
 returned to the city of Paris. He had not been long there before he 
 heard that the prince of Wales, with his whole army, had invaded 
 his kingdom, and was advancing toward the fertile country of Berry. 
 When this was told him, the king said, with an oath, that he would 
 Jnmicdiately set out after him, and give him battle wherever he should 
 ♦ find him. He issued out a special summons, to all nobles and others 
 who held fiefs under him, that they shoufd not, under any pretence 
 whatever, absent themselves without incurring his highest displea- 
 
 * Vandreuil— :i smalltown ofNorniandy. diocese of Evreux, six leagues froiuRouen. 
 t A town in Norm:indy, election of Conches. 
 I A city in Normandy, twelve leagues from Evreux. A 
 I ^ "'^^^'f.^ Normandy, in the election of Alen9on. ^ 
 m -'^"•■'nandy, diocese of Evreux, election of VernauiL 
 
 TlulliOTs IS a vUlage of Ficnrdy. near JVIoatidier. 
 
 sure, but, immediately on the receipt of these letters, set out to meet 
 him on the borders of Touraine and Blois ; for he was determined to 
 fight the English. The king, to hasten the business, marched from 
 Paris ; for he had at this time a large body of men-at-arms in the field ; 
 and went to Chartres, to gain more certain intelligence of the enemy. 
 He remained there some time, and great crowds of troops and men- 
 at-arms came to him from the different countries of Auvergne, Berry, 
 Burgundy, Lorraine, Hainault, Vermandois, PicaTdy, Brittany, and 
 Normandy. They passed through the town on their arrival, to show 
 their musters, and took up their quarters in the fields, according to 
 the orders of the two marshals, the lord John de Clermont and lord 
 Arnold d'Andreghen. The king gave orders for all the towns in 
 Anjou, Poitou, Maine and Touraine, to be well garrisoned and pro. 
 vided with all things, especially those on the borders, by v*'hich it 
 was hoped the English would pass, that they might be inclosed, and 
 cut off" from any subsistence for themselves and horses. In spite of 
 this, however, the prince, who had with him two thous-and men-at- 
 arms and six thousand archers, rode on at his ease, and collected 
 everywhere provisions in plenty. They found the country of Au- 
 vergne, which they had entered and overrun, very rich, and all things 
 in great abundance ; but they would not stop there, as they were 
 desirous of combating their enemies. They burnt and destroyed all 
 the countries they passed through ; and when they entered any town 
 which was well provisioned, they rested there some days to refresh 
 themselves, and at their departure destroyed what remained, staving 
 the heads of wine casks that were full, burning the wheat and oats, 
 so that their enemies could not save anything. They kept advanc- 
 ing, and found plenty everywhere ; for the countries of Berry, Poitou, 
 Touraine and Maine are very rich, and full of forage for men-at-arms. 
 
 The English advanced so far that they came to the good city of 
 Bourges,* where there was a great skirmish at one of the gates. 
 Two knights, the lord de Cousant and the lord Hutin de Memelles, 
 had charge of the city. Many gallant deeds were performed ; but 
 the English left it without doing any damage, and went to Issodun,t 
 where there was a strong castle. They attacked it very briskly, with 
 their whole army, but they c©uld not gain it ; for the governor and 
 the knights who were with him too valiantly defended themselves. 
 The English therefore passed on, and came to a large townt and 
 castle : the town, being weakly fortified and badly defended, was 
 taken by storm. They found there great plenty of wines and other 
 provisions, and remained three days to repose themselves. News 
 was brought there to the prince of Wales, that the king of France 
 was in the city of Chartres, with a very large army, and that all the 
 passes and towns on that side of the Loire were secured, and so well 
 guarded no one could cross the river. The prince then held a coun- 
 cil, when it was resolved he should set out on his return to Bordeaux, 
 whence he had come, through Touraine and Poitou, and destroy all 
 the country as he passed. They began their retreat after they had 
 done their pleasure with the town ; and this day they gained the 
 castle, and slew the greater part whom they found in it. 
 
 They marched toward Romorantin.§ The king of France serit 
 into Berry three gallant barons, the lord of Craon, the lord of Bouci- 
 cault, and the hermit of Chaumont, to defend the frontiers, and to 
 observe the motions of the English. They had with them three hun- 
 dred lances ; and, skirting the borders of the province, they followed 
 them for six days, without finding any opportunity of intercepting or 
 of attacking the enemy ; such good and close order did the English 
 maintain on their march. The French, therefore, had recourse to 
 an ambuscade, near to Romorantin, in a wonderfully narrow spot, 
 which the English were obliged to pass. That same day, there left 
 the prince's army, from the battalion of the marshals, by permission 
 of the prince, the lord Bartholomew Burghersh, the lord of Muyssidan, 
 a Gascon, the lord Petiton Courton, the lord Delawar, the lord Basset, 
 sir Walter Pavely, sir Richard Pontchardan, sir Nesle Loring, the 
 young lord Despencer, sir Eustace and sir Sanchez d'Ambreticourt, 
 with about two* hundred combatants, in order to push forward to 
 Romorantin. They passed through the ambuscade of the French 
 without molestation ; but, the moment they were clear of it, the 
 French, who were mounted on excellent and well-dressed horses, 
 stuck spurs into them, to overtake them. The English, who had 
 got far forward, hearing the sound of horses' feet, turned round and 
 found it was the enemy. They immediately halted, to vvait for the 
 French, who advanced on a gallop, fully determined what to do, 
 with their lances in their rests. The English, seeing them thus 
 charge full speed, opened on each side and let them pass through, so 
 that no more than five or six were unhorsed : they then closed their 
 ranks, and fell upon the rear of the French. This engagement was 
 very sharp : many knights and squires were unhorsed, raised up again 
 and rescued on both sides. It lasted a long time, and no one could 
 tell, so valiantly was it disputed, to which side victory would incline, 
 when the battalion of the marshals appeared in sight. The French 
 first noticed it, as it marched, skirting along a wood, and immediately 
 thought of saving themselves as fast as they could, taking the road 
 to Romorantin. The English followed on full gallop, overthrowing 
 all they could, without sparing themselves or their horses. The 
 
 * A large city in Berry, and an archbishopric. 
 
 t In Berry, diocese of Bourges, and eight leagues distant. 
 
 X Vierzon, according to a marginal note in D. Sauvage's edition.— Ed. 
 
 % Romorautin— a couiiderabla town on Uw Saudre, io Blai*oi», and capital of Soloftw 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, Sec 
 
 slaughter was great, and many were killed and unhorsed. One half 
 of them, however, got safe into the castle of Romorantin, whose 
 gates were opened to receive them. There the three barons saved 
 themselves, as well as some knights and squires who were the best 
 mounted. The town of Romorantin was taken on the first arrival 
 of the English, for it was not fortified. The remainder of the French 
 endeavored to escape by getting into the castle. 
 
 CHAPTER CLVII. 
 
 THE PKINCE OF WALES TAKES THE CASTLE OF ROMORANTIN. 
 
 When the prince of Wales was informed that his people had been 
 engaged, he hastened the march of his army toward Romorantin, 
 and, when he entered the town, found it full of men, who were 
 studying how they could take the castle. The prince called sir John 
 Chandos, and ordered him to go and hold a parley with those in the 
 castle. Sir John went to the barriers, and made a sign that he 
 wished to speak with some one : those upon guard inquired his 
 name, by whom he was sent, and then went to inform their masters. 
 Upon which, the lord of Boucicault and the hermit of Chaumont 
 came down to the bars. When sir John saw them, he saluted them, 
 and said : " Gentlemen, I am sent to you by my lord the prince, who 
 wishes, as it appears to me, to behave courteously toward his ene- 
 mies, and thus says, that, if you will surrender the castle your- 
 selves, he will show you mercy, and give you good company/' The 
 lord of Boucicault replied : " We have no sort of inclination to ac- 
 cept of such terms, nor to commit such an act of folly without any 
 necessity ; for we are determined to defend ourselves." Upon this 
 they parted ; and the prince ordered his men to quarters, for the next 
 day he meant to attack the castle : they were therefore commodi- 
 ously lodged in the town of Romorantin, and close about it. 
 
 On the next morning, the men-at-arms prepared themselves, and 
 the archers advanced under their respective banners, and made a 
 sharp attack upon the castle. The archers, who had posted them- 
 selves on the ditches, shot so justly, that scarcely any one" dared to 
 show himself on the battlements. Some got upon hurdles and doors, 
 with pickaxes and mattocks in their hands, and swam over the ditch, 
 when Lhey began to undermine the walls. Those within flung down 
 upon tliem large stones and pots of hot lime. On this occasion, 
 there was slain on the part of the English, a squire called Remond 
 de Gederlach, who belonged to the division of the captal de Buch. 
 The attack lasted the whole day, with little intermission. The Eng- 
 lish retreated, toward night, to their quarters, in order to take care 
 of the wounded ; and on the morrow at sunrise, the marshals' trum- 
 pets sounded. All who were ordered for this assault got themselves 
 in readiness : the prince of Wales himself attended in person, and 
 by his presence mightily encouraged the English. A squire, of the 
 name of Bernard, was killed close at his side, by a stone thrown 
 from the castle : upon which the prince swore, he would never move 
 from that place until he had the castle and all in it in his power, and 
 immediately ordered reinforcements to the assault. 
 
 Some of the wisest thought that they might use lances and ar- 
 rows for ever in vain ; and therefore they ordered cannons to be 
 brought forward, and also aqueraux,* to fire le feu Gregeoisf into the 
 lower court of the castle, so that it was all in a blaze. The fire in- 
 creased so much, that it gained a large tower which was covered 
 with thatch. When those within the castle found that they must 
 either surrender themselves or perish by fire, the lord of Craon, the 
 lord of Boucicault, and the hermit of Chaumont, came down Irom 
 the castle, and surrendered themselves to the prince, who made them 
 ride and attend him, as his prisoners : many other knights and 
 squires who were in the castle were set at liberty, and the castle was 
 destroyed. 
 
 CHAPTER CLVIII. 
 
 THE KING OF FRANCE LEADS A GREAT ARMY TO THE BATTLE OF 
 
 POITIERS. 
 
 After the taking of the castle of Romorantin, and the above, 
 mentioned knights, the prince and his army marched forward as be- 
 fore, burning and destroying the country, in his approach to Anjou 
 and Touraine. The king of France, who had resided at Chartres, 
 set out from tkat place and came to Blois,t where he remained two 
 days. He then came to Amboise,§ and then to Loches,|| where he 
 heard that the English were in Touraine, taking the road for their 
 return through Poitau ; for the English army was constantly observed 
 
 * Jlqueraulx. In Du Cange, this passage is referred to as authority for the word ; he 
 calls it mackina belli. [It seems that the aqueraulx were weapons projected from the 
 cannons, and net machines used fur casting the Greek fire. Froissart's words are, " et 
 ordonnerent k porter canons en avantet k traireen aqueraux et.^ feu Gregeois." They 
 ordered camions to be brought up and aquereaux and Greek fire to be shot from them 
 — Ed.J 
 
 t Feu Grefreois, or fen Grecquois, was composed of sulphur, naptha, pitch, gum, and 
 bitumen. It is only extinguishal)le hy vinejiar mixed with sand or urine, or by' raw 
 hides. It wns first used by the Greeks, about the year 660. For further accounts, see 
 EncycIopiL'dia Britjinnica, w ox A Fire. 
 
 X A handsome city and bishopric, on the north side of the Loire, forty-four leagues 
 nnd a half from Paris. 
 
 § A small city of Touraine, on the Loire, ten leagues from Blois. 
 
 U A town in Touraine, on the Indre, diocese of Tours, sixty-nine leagues from Pari.s. 
 
 by some able and expert knights of France and Burgundy, who ser ; 
 the king particular information of its movements. The king ol 
 France then advanced to La Haye,* in Touraine. His army hsd 
 crossed the Loire, by the bridges of Orleans, Mehun, Saumur, Bio a 
 and Tours, and wherever else they could. There were such nun.- 
 bers of good and able men, that they were at least twenty thousand 
 men-at-arms, without reckoning the others: there were twentj'-five 
 dukes and earls, and upward of six score banners. The four young 
 sons of the king were also with him ; Charles duke of Normandy, 
 the lord Lewis, who was afterwards duke of Anjou, the lord John, 
 since duke of Berry, and the lord Philip, the younger, who was 
 afterwards duke of Burgundy. 
 
 About this time, pope Innocent VL had sent into France two car. 
 dinals, sir Bertrand, cardinal of Pcrigord, and sir Nicholas, cardinal 
 d'Argel,t to endeavor to make a peace between the king of France 
 and his enemies, and especially between him and the king of Navarre, 
 who was still detained in prison. The two cardinals held frequent 
 conferences with the king on this subject, during the siege of Bre- 
 teuil, but were not able to bring it to a conclusion. The cardinal of 
 Perigord had retired to the city of Tourt , where he was informed 
 that the king of France was marching in all haste after the English. 
 He therefore left Tours, and hastened to Poitiers, as he had learnt 
 that the two armies were approaching near to each other in that 
 quarter. 
 
 When 'he king of France heard that the prince of Wales was 
 making as much haste as possible to return, he did not think he could 
 any way escape from him. He marched from La Haye, with his 
 whole army, and made for Chauvigny,!: where ho took up his quarters 
 on Thursday, as well in the town as without the walls, in meads 
 along the banks of the river Vienne. On the morrow, after break- 
 fast, the king crossed the river at the bridge of Chauvigny, and im- 
 agined that the English were just before him, but he was mistaken. 
 However, in the pursuit, upward of forty thousand horse crossed 
 this bridge on Friday ; many others did so at Chittelleraut ;§ and all, 
 as they passed, took the road to Poitiers. On the other hand, the 
 prince of Wales and his army were ignorant of the exact motions 
 of the French ; but they supposed they wt re not far distant, for their 
 foragers found 'great difficulties in procuring forage, of which the 
 whole army was in extreme want. Th'^v^ repented of the great 
 waste they had made in Berry, Anjou, and Touraine, and that they 
 had not more amply provisioned thenis^elves. 
 
 It happened on this Friday, from the king of France in person 
 passing the bridge of Chauvigny, and the great crowds which attended 
 him, that three great barons of France, the lord of Auxerre, the lord 
 Raoul de Joigny, and the earl of Joigny, were o'oliged to remain all 
 that day in the town of Chauvigny, and a part of their people with 
 them : the others passed over without baggage or armor except what 
 they had on their backs. On the Saturday morning, they dislodged, 
 crossed the bridge, and followed the army of the king, which was 
 about three leagues oft'. They made for the open fields and the 
 heaths, which were surrounded by woods, in order to arrive at 
 Poitiers. This same Saturday, the prince decamped from a village 
 hard by, and sent forward a detachment to seek adventures, and to 
 bring some intelligence of the French. They consisted of about 
 sixty men, well armed and mounted for the occasion. Among the 
 knights were sir Eustace d'Ambreticourt and sir John de Guistelles. 
 By accident, they got on the heaths surrounded by the woods above 
 mentioned. The French soon saw they were enemies; they fixed 
 on their helmets, and unfurled their banners as quickly as they were 
 able ; when, fixing their lances in their rests, they stuck spurs to 
 their horses. 
 
 The English no sooner perceived these Frenchmen, who were 
 about two hundred lances, than they allowed themselves to be pur- 
 sued, as the prince and his army were not far distant : they therefore 
 wheeled about, and made for the rutty road through the wood. The 
 French chased them with shouts and a great noise, and as they 
 galloped on, fell in with the army of the prince, which had halted 
 among the heaths to wait for their companions. The lord Raoul de 
 Joigny, and those under his banner, were advanced so tar that they 
 came right upon the banner of the prince : the engagment was very 
 sharp, and sir Raoul fought well : however, he was made prisoner, 
 as were the earl of Joigny, the Viscount de Breuse, and the lord of 
 Chauvigny : the greater part were either slain or captured. By these 
 the prince learnt, that the king of France had marched forward, and 
 that he could not return without fighting him. Upon which he col- 
 lected all the stragglers, and ordered that no one, under pam of 
 death, should advance or skirmish before the battalion of the marshal* 
 They marched on this Saturday, from about nine o'clock until 
 vespers, when they came within small leagues of Poitiers. The 
 captal de Buch,il sir Haymenon dePomiers, sir Bartholomew Burg- 
 
 * A town in Touraine. on the Creuse. twelve leagues from Tours. 
 
 t In some, it is d'Urgel. . . . , ^ 
 
 X A town in Poitou, on the Vienne. diocese of Poitiers, six leagues from Poitiers. 
 
 § A town in Poitou, on the Vienne. diocese of Poiuers, ten leagues^distant. 
 
 II The Captal de Buch. The title of captal had anciently been nffected by some oi 
 the most illustrious lords of Aquitaine. It seems tliat it was originally equivalent to the 
 title of count, and marked even a superiority, as the v.oxd capitalis announces, principal 
 chief. This dignity at first personal, as v/eli ns all the others, been me, in length of time, 
 attached to particular families, and to the estates of which they were possessed. In the 
 time of the first dukes of Aquitaine, there were several captals ; but this title, perhaps by 
 
102 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 hersi and sir Eustace d'Ambreticourt were ordered to advance, and 
 observe where the French were encamped. These knights, with 
 two liundred men well armed and mounted on their best steeds, set 
 out, and soon perceived the French king's army. All the plain was 
 covered with men-at-arms; and these English could not refrain from 
 attacking the rear of the French; they unhorsed many, and took 
 some prisoners, insomuch that the main army began to be in motion. 
 News was brought of this to the king of France, as he was on the 
 point of entering the city of Poitiers : upon which he turned back, 
 and ordered his whole army to do the same, and make for the open 
 fields, so that it was very late before they were quartered. The 
 English detachment returned to the prince, and related to him the 
 appearance of the French, that they were 'in immense numbers. 
 The prince, on hearing this, said, " God help us ; we must now 
 consider which will be the best manner to fight them the most ad- 
 vantageously." This night, the English were quartered in a very 
 Btrong position, among vineyards and hedges, and both armies were 
 well ^juarded. 
 
 CHAPTER CLIX. 
 
 THE DISPOSITION OF THE FRENCH BEFOKE THE BATTLE OF POITIERS. 
 
 On the Sunday morning, the king of France, who was very im- 
 patient to combat the English, ordered a solemn mass to be sung in 
 his pavilion ; and he and his four sons received the communion. 
 Mass being over, there came to him the duke of Orleans, the duke 
 of Bourbon, the earl of Ponthieu, the lord James de Bourbon, the 
 duke of Athens, constable of France, the earl of Tancarville, the 
 earl of Saltzburg, the earl of Dammartin, the earl of Vantadour, and 
 many barons of France, as well as other great lords who held fiefs in 
 the neighborhood, such as my lord of Clermont, sir Arnold d'An- 
 dreghen, marshal of France, the lord de St. Venant, the lord John de 
 Landas, the lord Eustace de Ribeaumont, the lord de Fiennes, the 
 lord Geofiiy de Chargny, the lord of Cha,tillon, the lord of Sully, the 
 lard of Nesle, sir Robert de Duras, and many more, according to a 
 summons they had received for a council. They were a considera- 
 ble time debating : at last it was ordered, that the whole army should 
 advance into the plain, and each lord should display his banner, and 
 push forward in the name of God and St. Denis. Upon this, the 
 trumpets of the army sounded, and every one got himself ready, 
 mounted his horse, and made for that part of the plain where the 
 king's banner was planted and fluttering in the wind. There might 
 be seen all the nobility of France, richly dressed out in brilliant 
 armor, with banners and pennons* gallantly displayed ; for all 
 the flower of the French nobility were there : no knight nor squire, 
 for fear of dishonor, dared to remain at home. By the advice of the 
 constable and the niarshals, the army was divided into three bat- 
 talions, each consisting of sixteen thousand men-at-arms, who had 
 before shown themselves men of tried courage. The duke of Or- 
 leans commanded the first battalion, where there were thirty-six 
 banners and twice as many pennons. The second was under the 
 command of the duke of Normandy, and his two brothers, the lord 
 Lewis and lord John. The king of France commanded the third. 
 
 While these three battalions were forming, the king called to 
 him the lord Eustace de Ribeaumont, the lord John de Landas, and 
 the lord Guiscard de Beaujeu, and said to them, " Ride forward, as 
 near the English army as you can, and observe their countenance, 
 taking notice of their numbers, and examine which will be the most 
 advantageous manner for us to combat them, whether on horseback 
 or on foot." The three knights left the king to obey his commands. 
 The king was mounted upon a white palfrey, and, riding to the 
 head of his army, said aloud : " You, men of Paris, Chartres, Rouen 
 and Orleans, have been used to threaten what you would do to tha 
 English, if you could find them, and wished much to meet them in 
 arms : now, that wish shall be gratified : I will lead you to them ; 
 and let us see how you will revenge yourselves for all the mischief 
 and damage they have done you ; be assured we wall not part with- 
 out fighting." Those who heard him replied : " Sir, through God's 
 assistance, we will most cheerfully meet them." At this instant the 
 three knights returned, and pushing through the crowd, came to the 
 king, who asked what news they had brought : sir Eustace de Ri- 
 beaumont, whom his companions had requested to be their spokes- 
 man, answered : " Sir, we have observed accurately the English ; 
 they may amount, according to our estimate, to about two thousand 
 men-at-arms, four thousand archers, and fifteen hundred footmen. 
 They are in a very strong position ; but we do not imagine they can 
 make more than one battalion ; nevertheless they have posted them- 
 selves with great judgment, have fortified all the road along the 
 hedge-side, and lined the hedges with part of their archers ; for, as 
 
 ncglrrt. was replaced by others, so that, toward the fourteenth century, there were no 
 more thnn two captnis acknowledged, that of Buch and tliatof Franc— F£t/c Gloss. 
 Du Cnvffo ad. verb. Capitalis. 
 
 * The peiivun was the proper ensign of a bachelor or simple knight. Du Fresne 
 ihnws, that even sciuires might hear pennons, provided they could hrinp a sufficient suit 
 of vassiils to the field.— JVote in Grose's Military Jlntiquities. See also p. 206, vol. i., 
 for an account of'the banner and banneret, and p. 256, vol. ii. 
 
 In computing the numbers of an army, every man-at-arnss should be counted as 
 three • for eaoli hnd his squire to hear his lance, &c., and also his body squire. 
 
 Villiiret, in his History of France, says that three thousand men-at-arms amounted to 
 nearly twelve thousand men. Vol. v. 4th edit, p, 179. 
 
 that is the only road for an attack, one must pass through the midst 
 of them. This lane has no other entry ; and it is so naiTow, that 
 scarcely can four men ride through it abreast. At the end of this 
 lane, amid vines and thorns, where it is impossible to ride or march 
 in any regular order, are posted the men-at-arms on foot ; and they 
 have drawn up before them their archers, in the manner of a harrow, 
 so that it will be no easy matter to defeat them." The king asked, 
 in what manner they would advise him to attack them : " Sir," re- 
 plied sir Eustace, " on foot : except three hundred of the most 
 expert and boldest of your army, who must be well armed and ex- 
 cellently mounted,' in order to break, if possible, this body of archers, 
 and then your battalions must advance quickly on foot, attack the 
 men-at-arms hand to hand, and combat them valiantly. This is the 
 best advice that I can give you ; and, if any one know a better, let 
 him say it." The king replied ; " Thus shall it be then ;" and, in 
 company with his two marshals, he rode from battalion to battalion, 
 and selected, in conformity to their opinions, three hundred knights 
 and squires of the greatest repute in his army, each well armed and 
 mounted on the best of horses. Soon after, the battalion of the 
 Germans was formed, who were to remain on horseback to assist the 
 marsha s : they were commanded by the earls of Saltzburg, Neydo, 
 and Nassau. 
 
 King John was armed in royal armor, and nineteen others like 
 him*. He had given his eldest son in charge to the lord of St. 
 Venanl^fte lord of Landas, and the lord Theobald de Bodenay. 
 The lord GeofTry de Chargny carried the banner of France, as be- 
 ing the most valiant and prudent knight of the army. The lord 
 Reginald de Quenolle t, surnamed the Archpriest, wore the full 
 armor of the young earl of Alen9on. 
 
 CHAPTER CLX. 
 
 THE CARDINAL DE PEKIGORD ENDEAVORS TO MAKE PEACE BETWEEN THX 
 KING OF FRANCE AND THE PRINCE OF WALES, PREVIOUS TO THE BATTLE 
 OF POITIERS. 
 
 When the battalions of the king of France were drawn up, and 
 each lord posted under his proper banner, and informed how they 
 were to act, it was ordered, that ail those who were armeA with 
 lances should shorten them to the length of five feet, that they might 
 be the more manageable, and that every one should take off his 
 spurs. As the French were on the point of marching to their ene- 
 mies, the cardinal de Perigord, who had left Poitiers that morning 
 early, came full gallop up to the king, making a low reverence, and 
 entreated him, with uplifted hands, for the love of God, to halt a 
 moment, that he might speak to him : he thus began : " Most dear 
 sire, you have here with you all the flower of knighthood of your 
 kingdom against a handful of people, such as the English are, when 
 compared to your army ; you may have them upon other terms than 
 by a battle ; and it will be more honorable and profitable to you to 
 gain them by these means than to risk such a fine army, and such 
 noble persons as you have now with you. I therefore beseech you, 
 in all humility, and by the love of God, that you will permit me to 
 go to the prince, and remonstrate with him on the dangerous situa- 
 tion he is in." The king answered, " It "is very agreeable to us ; 
 but make haste back again." 
 
 The cardinal upon this, set off", and went in all speed to the prince, 
 whom he found on foot in the midst of his army, in the thickest part 
 of a vineyard. When the cardinal came there, he dismounted, and 
 advanced to the prince, who most affably received him, and, after he 
 had made his reverence, said : " Fair son, if you have well consid- 
 ered the great army of the king of France, you will permit me to 
 make up matters between you both, if I possibly can." The prince, 
 who was but in his youth, replied : " Sir, my own honor, and that of 
 my army saved, and I am ready to listen to any reasonable terms." 
 The cardinal answered : " Fair son, you say well : and I will bring 
 
 * This custom of arming several in like manner to the commander of an army, seems 
 to have been usual, and was carried down to our Richard llL's time. Shakspeare 
 makes Richard say in tiie fourth scene of the last act: • 
 " I think, there be six Richinonds in the field : 
 Five have I slain fo-duy, instead of him." 
 Also in the First part of Henry IV. Douglas says ; 
 
 " Another king ! they grow like hydras' heads ; | 
 I am the Dnuirias, fetal to all those ^ 
 That wear these colors on them. What art thou. 
 That counterfeit'st the person of a king 1" 
 t His name was Arnaut de Cervole. 
 
 " The family of Orvole. Cervolle, or Servoia, held a distinguished rank among the 
 nobility of Pprigord. Ai naut was of this family. Some authors make him a Gascon, 
 because formerly all borderers on the Garonne were so called. 
 
 "The title of arckiprcsbyter de Verviis, which Dom. Vaissete translates, 'arch 
 priest of Vezzins,' was given to him, for though a knight and a married man. he pos- 
 sessed an archpriestship of that name. It is known, that Hugh, duke of France and 
 Burgundy, earl of Pa ris and Orleans, who died in 956, was surnamed the Abbot : because, 
 though a layman, he possessed the abbeys of St. Denis, St. Germain-des-pres, and St. 
 Martin de-Tours. Vizzins was probubly an archpriestship, whose revenues Cervolle 
 received. One cannot determine where it was situated, for villages and hamlets of this 
 name are in Anjou, louraine. Bouergue, and in Brittany." 
 
 For further particulars, I shal' refer to M. de Zurlauhen's memoir it'.eif. m the .xxvtb 
 volume of the Menioires de I'Academie. 
 
 " In this same year [1366], about Trinity-day, sir Arnold de Cervoie. surnamed the 
 Archpriest. who commanded a large body o( men-at-arms in the kingdom of France 
 was put to death by his own men, which r«aoiced inanF."— See more in tl;e Grand«f 
 Chroniques de France, T. S. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, 
 
 103 
 
 about a treaty, if I can ; for it would be a great pity, that so many 
 worthy persons, who are here, should meet in battle." The cardinal 
 returned tj the king of France, and said : *' Sir, you have no occa. 
 sion to be so impatient to fight with them, for they cannot escape 
 from you : I therefore entreat you would grant them a truce from 
 this time, until to-morrow's sunrise." The king at first would not 
 agree to it, for a part of his council refused their consent: however, 
 the cardinal spoke so eloquently, that the king at last assented. He 
 ordered a very handsome and rich pavilion of red silk to be pitched 
 on the spot where he stood, and dismissed his army to their quarters, 
 except the battalion of the constable and marshals. 
 
 All this Sunday, the cardinal rode from one army to the otJier, 
 and was very anxious to reconcile the two parties. But the king 
 would not listen to any other terms than that four principal persons 
 of the English should be given up to his will, and that the prince 
 and his army should unconditionally surrender themselves. Many 
 proposals were made : the prince offered to surrender to the king of 
 France all the towns and castles which he had conquered in this 
 expedition ; to give up, without ransom, all his prisoners, and to 
 swear he would not for seven years take up arms against the king of 
 France. The king and his council refused to accept of this, and 
 the affair remained some time in suspense : at last, they declared 
 that, if the prince of Wales and one hundred of his knights did not 
 surrender themselves prisoners to the king of France, he would not 
 allow them to pass on without an engagement. The prince and his 
 army disdained accepting of such conditions. 
 
 While the cardinal was riding from one army to the other, en- 
 deavoring to make peace, some knights of either party rode forth, 
 skirting their enemy's army, to examine its disposition. It chanced, 
 on that day, that sir John Chandos had rode out near one of the 
 wings of the French army, and lord John de Clermont, one of the 
 king's marshals, had done the same, to view the English. As each 
 knight was returning to his quarters, they met ; they both had the 
 same device upon the surcoats which they wore over their other 
 clothes ; it was a Virgin Mary, embroidered on a field azure, or, en- 
 compassed with the rays of the sun argent.* On seeing this, lord 
 Clermont said : " Chandos, how long is it since you have taken upon 
 you to wear my arms ?" " It is you who have mine," replied Chan- 
 dos ; " for it is as much mine as yours." " I deny that," said the 
 lord of Clermont ; " and were it not for the truce between us, I 
 would soon show you that you have no right to wear it." " Ha," 
 answered sir John Chandos, " you will find me to-morrow in the 
 field, ready prepared to defend, and to prove by force of arms, that 
 it is as much mine as yours." The lord of Clermont replied: 
 '* These are the boastings of you English, who can invent nothing 
 new, but take for your own whatever you see handsome belonging 
 to others." With that they parted, without more words, and each 
 returned to his own army. The cardinal de Perigord, not being able 
 by any means to reconcile the king and prince, returned to Poitiers 
 late in the evening. That same day the French kept in their quar- 
 ters, where they lived at their ease, having plenty of provisions ; 
 while the English, on the other hand, were but badly off, nor did 
 they know whither to go for forage, as they were so straitly kept by 
 the French, they could not move without danger. This Sunday they 
 made many mounds and ditches round where the archers were 
 posted, the better to secure them. 
 
 On Monday morning, the prince and his army were soon in readi- 
 ness, and as well arrayed as on the former day. The French were 
 also drawn out by sunrise. The cardinal, returning again that 
 morning, imagined that, by his exhortations, he could pacify both 
 parties ; but the French told him to return where he pleased, and not 
 attempt bringing them any more treaties or pacifications, else worse 
 might betide him. When the cardinal saw that he labored in vain, 
 he took leave of the king of France, and set out toward the prince 
 of Wales, to whom he said : " Fair son, exert yourself as much as 
 possible, for there must be a battle ; I cannot by any means pacify 
 the king of France." The prince replied, " that such were the 
 intentions of him and his party ; and God defend the right." The 
 cardinal then took leave of him, and returned to Poitiers. In his 
 company, there were some knights and men-at-drms more inclined 
 to the French- than to the English, who, when they saw that a battle 
 was unavoidable, stole away from their master, and, joining the 
 ■ French forces, chose for their leader the castellan of Ampostat, who 
 at that time was attached to the cardinal. The cardinal knew 
 nothing of this, until he was arrived at Poitiers. 
 
 The arrangement of the prince's army,'in respect to the battalions, 
 was exactly the same as what the three knights before named had 
 related to the king of France, except at this time he had ordered 
 some valiant and intelligent knights to remain on horseback, similar 
 to the battalion of the French marshals, and had also commanded 
 three hundred men-at-arms, and as many archers on horseback, to 
 post themselves on the right on a small hill, that was not too steep 
 nor too high, and, by passing over its summit, to get round the wing 
 of the duke of Normandy's battalion, who was in person at the foot 
 
 • ''n'^"'"*' '''"^^"""-^ seems erroneous ; at al! events it is incorrectly expressed; The words 
 Sfi oauviiKe's ed. are " line l)!eue Daineouvree d'une brodure, an ray du soieil :" a. blue 
 Mdclonna worked m embroidery, surrounded by sunbeams and it is tlie same in Lord 
 Berners.— Ed. 
 
 t Among the cortes of Spain was the castellan of Amposta. 
 
 of it. These were all the alterations the prince had 'made in hi ; 
 order of battle : he himself was with the main body, in the midst 
 of the vineyards : the whole completely armed, with their horses 
 near them, if there should be occasion for them. They had fortified 
 and inclosed the weaker parts, with their wagons and baggage. 
 
 I wish to name some of the most renowned knights who were 
 with the prince of Wales. There were Thomas Beauchamp earl 
 of Warwick, John Vere earl of Oxford, William Montacute earl of 
 Salisbury, Robert Hufford carl of Suffolk, Ralph lord Stafford, the 
 earl of Stafford, the lord Richard Stafford, brother to the earl, sir 
 John Chandos, the lord Reginald Cobharn, the lord Edward Spen- 
 cer, the lord James Audley and his brother the lord Peter, the lord 
 Thomas Berkley (son of the lord Maurice Berkley, who died at 
 Calais nine years before,) Ralph lord Basset of Drayton, John lord 
 Warren (eldest son to John Plantagenet, late earl of Warren, Strath, 
 ern and Surrey, by his first lady, Maude de Hereford,) Peter lord 
 Mauley, the sixth of the name, the lord John Willoughby de Eresby, 
 the lord Bartholomew de Burghersh, the lord William Felton and 
 the lord Thomas Felton his brother, the lord Thomas Bradestan; sir 
 Walter Pavely, sir Stephen Cossington, sir Matthew Gournay, sir 
 William de la More, and other English. From Gascony, there were 
 the lord of Pumiers, the lord d'Albret, the captal de Buch, the lord 
 John de Chaumont, the lord de I'Esparre, the lord of Rosen, the lord 
 of Cousrn, the lord de Montferrand, the lord de Landulas, the lord 
 Souldich de la Traine,* and many more whom I cannot remember. 
 Of Hainaulters, there were sir Eustace d'Ambreiicourt, the lord John 
 de Guystelie, and two other strangers, the lord Duniel Phaselle and 
 Lord Denis de Morbeque. The whole army of the prince, includ 
 ing every one, did not amount to eight thousand ; when the French, 
 counting all sorts of persons, were upward of sixty thousand com- 
 batants ; among whom were more than than three thousand knights. 
 
 . CHAPTER CLXI. 
 
 THE BATTLE OF POITIERS, BETWEEN THE PRINCE O'c WALES AND THB 
 
 KING OF FRANCE, 
 
 When the prince of Wales saw, from the departure of the cardinal 
 without being able to obtain any honorable terms, that a battle waa 
 inevitable, and that the king of France held both him and his army 
 in great contempt, he thus addressed himself to them \ "Now, my 
 gallant fellows, what though we be a small body v/hen compared to 
 the army of our enemies ; do not let us be cast down on that account, 
 for victory does not always follow numbers, but where Almighty 
 God pleases to bestow it. If, through good fortune, the day shall be 
 ours, we will gain the greatest honor and glory iii this world ; if the 
 contrary should happen, and we be slain, I have ;i father and beloved 
 brethren alive, and you all have some relations, or good friends, who 
 will be sure to revenge our deaths. I therefore entreat you to exert 
 yourselves, and combat manfully ; for, if it please God and St. 
 George, you shall see me this day act like a true knight."t By 
 such words and arguments as these, the prince Larangued his men ; 
 as did the marshals, by his orders ; so that they were all in high 
 spirits. Sir John Chandos placed himself near the prince, to guard 
 and advise him ; and never, during that day, wo'.ild he, on any ac 
 count, quit his post. 
 
 The lord James Audley remained also a considerable time near 
 him ; but, when he saw that they must certainly engage, he said to 
 the prince : " Sir, I have ever served most loyally my lord your father, 
 and yourself, and shall continue to do so, as long as I have life. Dear 
 sir, I must now acquaint you, that formerly I made a vow, if ever 
 ] should be engaged in any battle where the king your father or any 
 of his sons were, that I would be the foremost in the attack, and the 
 best combatant on his side, or die in the attempt. I beg therefore 
 most earnestly, as a reward for any services I m.ay have done, that 
 you would grant me permission honorably to quit you, that I may 
 post myself in such wise to accomplish my vov.-." The prince 
 granted this request, and, holding out his hand to him, said ; " Sir 
 James, God grant that you may this day shiue in valor above all 
 other knights." The knight then set off, and posted himself at the 
 front of the battalion, with only four squires whom he had detained 
 with him to guard his person. This lord James was a prudent and 
 valiant knight ; and by his advice the army had thus been drawn up 
 in order of battle. Lord James began to advance, in order to fight 
 with the battalion of the marshals. In like manner, sir Eustace 
 d'Ambreticourt took great pains to be the first to engage, and was 
 so, or near 'it: and, at the same time that lord James Audley was 
 pushing forward to seek his enemies, it thus befel sir Eustace. I 
 
 * He is called sir Sandich de la Trane in the account of the knighis of the garter. 
 See Anstis's Order of the Garter, where there is a short history of him. He supposes the 
 word Souldich (but says he can nowhere find the meaning ot it) to be that of some 
 office, like to captal. which, in the customs of Bordeaux, article 75, is ranked with the 
 viscounts and barons. 
 
 t Now sirs, though we be buta small conip:iny, as m regarde to the puyssance of our 
 \ enneniyes. let us nat be abasshed therefore, for the vyctorie lyeth nat in tlie niultituda 
 of people but wher as God wyll sende it ; if it fortune that the iourney be ours, we slial 
 be the most honoured people of all the worlde ; and if we dye in our risht quareil, I iiave 
 the kyng my father and brGlherne, and also ye have good frendes and kynsmen ; these 
 shall reuenge us. I'lierfore sirs, for Goddes sake, I reqnyre you do your deuoyers tlitj 
 day, for if God be pleased and Saynt George, \hif> day ye shall ge m« a fiood kaygiit - 
 Lord Bernkrs. 
 
104 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SFAiN, &c. 
 
 mentioned before that the Germans attached to the French interest 
 were drawn up in one battalion on horseback, and remained so, to 
 assist the marshals. Sir Eustace d'Ambreticourt, being mounted, 
 placed his lance in its rest, and, fixing his shield, stuck spurs into his 
 horse, and galloped up to this battalion. A German knight, called 
 lord Lewis von Coucibras (who bore for arms five roses, gules, on a 
 shield argent, while those of sir Eustace were ermine, three humets, 
 in pale gules,) perceiving sir Eustace quit his army, left his battalion, 
 that was under the command of earl John of Nassau, and made up 
 to him : the shock of their meeting was so violent, that they both 
 fell to the ground. The German was wounded in the shoulder, so 
 that he could not rise again so nimbly as sir Eustace, who, when 
 upon his legs, after he had taken breath, was hastening to the knight 
 that lay on the ground ; but five German men-at-arms came upon 
 iiim. struck him down, and made him prisoner. They led him to 
 those that were attached to the earl of Nassau, who did not pay 
 much attention to him, nor do I know if they made him swear him- 
 self their prisoner : but they tied him to a car with some of their 
 harness. 
 
 The engagement now began on both sides : and the battalion 
 of the marshals was advancing before those who were intended to 
 break the battalion of the archers, and had entered the lane where 
 the hedges on both sides were lined by the archers ; who, as soon as 
 they saw them fairly entered, began shooting with their bows in 
 such an excellent manner, from each side of the hedge, that the 
 horses, smarting under the pain of the wounds made by their bearded 
 arrows, would not advance, but turned about and, by their unruli- 
 nes3, threw their masters, who could not manage them, nor could 
 those that had fallen get up again for the confusion : so that this bat- 
 talion of the marshals could never approach that of the prince : how. 
 ever, there were some knights and squires that were so well mounted, 
 that, by the strength of their horses, they passed through, and broke 
 the hedge, but, in spite of their efforts, could not get up to the bat- 
 talion of the prince. The lord James Audley, attended by his four 
 squires,* had placed himself, sword in hand, in front of this bat- 
 talion, much before the rest, and was performing wonders. He had 
 advanced through his eagerness so far, that he engaged the lord 
 Arnold d'Andreghen, marshal of France, under his banner, when 
 they fought a considerable time, and the lord Arnold was roughly 
 enough treated. The battalion of the marshals was soon after put 
 to the route Joy the arrows of the archers, and the assistance of the 
 men-at arms, who rushed among them, as they were struck down, 
 and seized and slew them at their pleasure. The lord Arnold d'An- 
 dreghen was there made prisoner but by others than the lord James 
 Audley or his four squires ; for that knight never stopped to make 
 any one prisoner that day, but was the whole time employed in 
 fighting and following his enemies. In another part, the lord John 
 Clermont fought under his banner as long as he was able ; but, being 
 struck down, he could neither get up again nor procure his ransom : 
 he was killed on the spot. Some say, this treatment was owing to 
 his altercation on the preceding day with sir John Chandos. 
 
 In a short time, this battalion of the marshals was totally discom- 
 fited; for they fell back so much on each other, that the army could 
 not advance, and those who were in the rear, not being able to get 
 forward, fell back upon the battalion commanded by the duke of 
 Noimandy, which was broad and thick in the front, but it was soon 
 hin enough in the rear ; for, when they learnt that the marshals had 
 been defeated, they mounted their horses and set off. At this time, 
 a body of English came down from the hill, and, passing along the 
 battalions on horseback, accompanied by a large body of arch ers, 
 fell upon one of the wings of the duke of Normandy's division. To 
 say the truth, the English archers were of infinite service to their 
 army ; for they shot so thickly and so well, that the French did not 
 know which way to turn themselves, to avoid their arrows ; by this 
 means they kept advancing by little and little, and gained ground. 
 When the men-at-arms perceived that the first battalion was beaten, 
 and that the one under the duke of Normandy was in disorder, and 
 beginning to open, they hastened to mount their horses, which they 
 had, ready prepared, close at hand. As soon as they were all mounted, 
 they gave a shout of St. George, for Guienne !" and sir John 
 Chandos said to the prince, " Sir, sir, now push forward, for the day 
 is ours : God will this day put it in your hand. Let us make for our 
 adversary the king of France ; for where he is will lie the matn 
 stress of the business ; I well know that his valor will not let him 
 fly ; and he will remain with us, if it please God and St. George ; 
 but he must be well fought with ; and you have before said, that 
 you would show yourself this day a good knight." The prince re- 
 plied ; " John, get forward ; you shall not see me turn my back 
 this day, but I will always be among the foremost." He then said 
 to sir Walter Woodland, his banner-bearer, " Banner, advance, in 
 the name of God and St. George." The knight obeyed the com- 
 niands of the prince. In that part, the battle was very hot, and 
 greatly crowded ; many a one was unhorsed ; and you must know, 
 that whenever any one fell, he could not get up again, unless he were 
 quickly and well. assisted. As the prince was thus advancing upon 
 his enemies, followed by his division, and upon the point of charg- 
 ing them, he perceived the lord Robert de Duras lying dead near a 
 
 * Their names were: Dutton of Dutton — Delves of Doddington— Fowlehurst of 
 Crew-Hawkestone of Wainehill.— Ashmoli's Garter. 
 
 small bush on his right hand, with his banner beside him, and ten oi 
 twelve of his people ; upon which he ordered two of his squires and 
 three archers to place the body upon a shield, carry it to Poitiers, 
 and present it from him to the cardinal of Perigord, and say, that 
 " I salute him by that token." This was done ; for he had been 
 informed how the suite of the cardinal had remained in the field of 
 battle in arms against him, which was not very becoming, nor a fit 
 deed for churchmen to do, as they, under pretext of doing good and 
 establishing peace, pass from one army to the other, they ought not 
 therefore to take up arms on either side. These, however, had done 
 so, at which the prince was much enraged, and for this had sent the 
 cardinal his nephew sir Robert de Duras, and was desirous of strik- * 
 ing off the head of the castellan of Amposta, who had been made 
 prisoner, notwithstanding he belonged to the cardinal ;* but sir John 
 Chandos said, " My lord, do not think of such things at this moment, 
 when you must look to others of the greatest importance ; perhaps 
 the cardinal may excuse himself so well, that you will be convinced 
 he was not to blame." 
 
 The prince, upon this, charged the division of the duke of Athens, 
 and very sharp the encounter was, so that many were beaten down. 
 The French, who fought in large bodies, cried out, " Montjoye St. 
 Denis !" and the English answered them with, " St. George for 
 Guienne !" The prince next met the battalion of Germans, under 
 the command of the earl of Saltzburg, the earl of Nassau, and the 
 earl of Neydo ; but they were soon overthrown, and put to flight* 
 The English archers shot so well, that none dared to come within 
 reach of their arrows, and they put to death many who could not 
 ransom themselves. The three above-named earls were slain there, 
 as well as many other knights and squires attached to them. In tho 
 confusion, sir Eustace d'Ambreticourt was rescued by his own men, 
 who remounted him ; he afterwards performed many gallant deeds 
 of arms, and made good captures that day. 
 
 When the battalion of the duke of Normandy sav*^ the prince ad- 
 vancing so quick upon them, they bethought themselves how to 
 escape. The sons of the king, the duke of Normandy, the earl of 
 Poitiers, the earl of Touraine, who were very young, too easily be- 
 lieved what those under whose management they were placed said 
 to them ; however, the lord Guiscard d'Angle and sir John de 
 Saintre, who were near the earl of Poitiers, would not fly, but rushed 
 into the thickest of the combat. The three sons of the king, ac- 
 cording to the advice given them, galloped away, with upward of 
 eight hundred lances who had never been near the enemy, and took 
 the road to Chauvigny. When the lord John de Landas, who, with 
 the lord Theobald de Bodenay and the lord of St. Venant, were the 
 guardians of the duke of Normandy, had fled with him a good 
 league, they took leave of him, and besought the lord of St. Venant 
 not to quit him until they were all arrived at a place of safety ; for, 
 by doing thus, he would acquire more honor than if he were to re- 
 main on the field of battle. On their return, they met the division 
 of the duke of Orleans, quite whole and unhurt, who had fled from 
 behind the rear of the king's battalion. True it is, there were many 
 good knights and squires among them, who, notwithstanding the 
 flight of their leaders, had much rather have suffered death than the 
 smallest reproach.t The king's battalion advanced in good order, 
 to meet the English ; many hard blows were given with swords, 
 battle-axes, and other warlike weapons. The king of France, with the 
 lord Philip his youngest son, attacked the division of the marshals, 
 the earls of Warwick and Suffolk ; there were also with the mar- 
 shals some Gascons, such as the captal de Buch, the lord of Pumiers, 
 the lord Amery de Charree, the lord of Languran, the lord de I'Es- 
 trade. The lord John de Landas, with the lord Theobald de Bodenay, 
 returning in good time, dismounted, and joined the battalion of the 
 king. On one side, the duke of Athens, constable of France, was 
 engaged with his division ; and, a little higher up, the duke of Bour- 
 bon, surrounded with good knights, from the Bourboncis and Picardy. 
 Near to these were the men of Poitou, the lord de Pons, the lord de 
 Partenay, the lord de Dampmaire, the lord de Montabouton, the lord 
 de Surgeres, the lord John de Saintr6, the lord Guiscard d'Angle, 
 the lord d'Argenton, the lord de Linieres, the lord de Montrande, 
 the viscount de Rochechouart, the earl of Aulnoy. Many others 
 were also engaged, such as the lord James de Beaujeu, the lord of 
 Chateau-Villain, and other knights and squires from Burgundy. In 
 another part were the earls of Vantadour and Montpensier, the lord" 
 James de Bourbon, the lord John d'Artois, and the lord James his 
 brother, the lord Arnold de CervoUe, surnamed the Arch-priest, 
 
 * This is incorrectly translated ; the castellan's connection with the cardinal was the 
 very reason why the prince desired his death. Lord Berners properly translates the 
 words of the oriftinai, " pourtantqu'il estoit," bi/causc he was pertaynynge."— Ed. 
 T My manuscripts make iiere a new chapter, and it besins as follows : 
 " You have heard before related in this history the battle of Crecy. and how fortune 
 was marvellously unfavorable to the French. They had equally ill-luck at the battle 
 o» Poitiers : for the French men-at-arms were at least seven to one. It must theiefore be 
 looked upon as very unfortunate that, with this advantage, they could not gamthetiek 
 from their enemies. But, to say the truth, this batUe of Poitiers was much beUer fought 
 than thatof Crecy ; and the men-at-arms had more leisure ano better opporlunilies t*. 
 observe their enemies, than they had at Crecy; for that battle aid not begin before ves- 
 pers, and with an army in disorder, while the battle of Poitiers commenced early in tlia 
 morning, and the French army well ananged. There were many more gallant deeds 
 performed, without comparison, in this than in the lormer battJe; and there were not 
 so many great lords slain. Those that were there behaved themselves so loyally that 
 their heirs, to this day, are honored for their sake." 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 m 
 
 armed as the young earl of Alen^on. There were also from Au- 
 vergne, the lord de Marcueil, the lord de la Tour, the lord de Cha- 
 lenton, the lord de Montagu, the lord de Rochefort, the lord de la 
 Chaire, the lord d'Achon ; and from Limousin, the lord de Linal, 
 the lord de Naruel, and the lord Pierre de Buffiere. From Picardy, 
 there were the lord William de Merle, the lord Arnold de Renne- 
 val, the lord Gt offry de St. Dizier, the lord de Chauny, the lord de 
 Hely, the lord do Monsant, the lord de Hagnes, and many others. 
 The lord Douglas,* from Scotland, was also in the king's battalion, 
 and for some time fought very valiantly ; but, when he perceived 
 that the discomfiture was so complete on the side of the French, he 
 saved himself as fast as he could ; for he dreaded so much being 
 taken by the English, that he liad rather have been slain. 
 
 The lord James Audley, with the assistance of his four squires, 
 was always engaged in the he;it of the battle. He was severely 
 wounded in the body, head and face ; and as long as his strength 
 and breath permitted him, he maintained the fight, and advanced 
 forward : he continued to do so until he was covered with blood : 
 then, toward the close of the engagement, his four squires, who were 
 as his body-guard, took him, and led him out of the engagement, 
 very weak and wounded, toward a hedge, that he might cool and 
 take breath. They disarmed him gently as they could, in order to 
 examine his wounds, dress them, and sew up the most dangerous. 
 
 King John, on his part, proved himself a good knight; and, if the 
 fourth of his people had behaved as well, the day would have been 
 his own. Those, however, who had remained with him acquitted 
 themselves to the best of their power, and were either slain or taken 
 prisoners. Scarcely any who were with the king attempted to 
 escape. Among the slain, were the duke Peter de Bourbon, the 
 duke of Athens, constable of France, the bishop of Chalonst in 
 Champagne, the lord Guiscard de Beaujeu, and the lord of Landas. 
 The archpriest, sir Theobald de Bodenay and the lord of Pompadour, 
 were made prisoners, badly wounded. In another part of the field 
 of battle, the earls of Vaudemont and Genville, and the earl of Ven- 
 d6me, were prisoners. Not far from that spot were slain, the lord 
 William de Nesle and the lord Eustace de Ribeaumont, the lord de 
 la Tour and the Lord William de Montagu. The lord Lewis de 
 Melval, the lord Pierre de Bufiiere and the lord de Senerach, -were 
 taken. In this engagement, upward of two hundred knights and 
 squires were killed or captured. A band of Norman knights still 
 kept up the battle, in another part of the field ; and of these, sir 
 Guinenton de Chambly and sir Baudrin de la House were slain : 
 many others were discomfited, who were fighting in small bodies. 
 
 * '* Lord Douglas, forgetful of his religious pilgrimage, offered his sword to the French 
 king. He was received with distinguished honors, ' was made a knight of his hande,' 
 Scala C'hron. ap. Leiand, and his service was accepted. To say that a person received 
 t}ie honor of knighthood, is, in modern language, uninteresting, and sometimes it isludi- 
 crous. I'his must always be the case, when names and ceremonies are retained, while 
 from a total change of manners, that which gave dignity to such names and ceremonies 
 is forgotten by the vulgar. 
 
 '* Great carnage was made of the Scots at the battle of Poitiers. Lord Douglas, after 
 having been wounded, was forced oft' the field by liis surviving companions. Archibald 
 Douglas, a warrior eminent in our history, fell into the power of the enemy ; but, by the 
 extraordinary presence of mind of sir William Ramsay of CoUuthy, he was concealed, 
 and escaped unknown. The story of Archibald Douglas's escape, as related by For- 
 dun, is curious. It shall be translated as nearly as possible in his own manner. 'Archi- 
 bald* Douglas, having been made prisoner along with the rest, appeared in more sump- 
 tuous armor than the other Scottish prisoners ; and, therefore, he was supposed by the 
 English to be some great lord. Late in the evening after the battle, when the English 
 were about to strip off his armor, ^^ir William Ramsay ofColluthy, happening to be pres- 
 ent, fixed his eyes on Archibald Douglas, and aftecting to be in a violent passion, cried 
 out, " You cursed, damnable murderer, how comes it, in the name of mischief (ez parte 
 diaholi, ) that you are thus proudly decked out in your master's armor 1 Come hither, 
 and pull oft" my boots." Douglas approached trembling, kneeled down, and pulled 
 off one of the boots. Ramsay, taking up the boot, beat Douglas with it. The Eng 
 lish bystanders, imagining him out of his senses, interposed, and rescued Douglas. 
 They said, that the person whom he had beaten was certainly of great rank, and a 
 lord. "What, he a lord?" cried Ramsay: "he is a scullion, and abase knave, and 
 as 1 suppose, has killed liis master. Go, you villain, to the field, search for the body 
 of my cousin, your master ; and when you have found it, come back, that at least 
 f may give him a decent burial." Then he ransomed the feigned serving-man for 
 forty shillings; and, having buffeted him smartly, he gried, "Get you gone; fly." 
 Douglas bore all this patiently, carried on the deceit, and was soon beyond the 
 reach of his enemies.' 
 
 " This story, as to some of its circumstances, may not seem altogether probable ; 
 yet, in the main, it has the appearance of truth. Had I been at liberty to vary the 
 narrative, I would have made Ramsay suspect, that the feigned serving man had 
 stripped his master, after he had been slain or mortally wounded. This Archibald 
 was the natural son of the renowned sir James Douglas, slain by the Saracens in 
 Graniida."— Lord Hailk's Jlnnals of Scotland, vol. i. pp. 240, 241. 
 
 ^Tkebishop of Ch^ons. Wesee, by the example o-f this prelate and of the archbishop 
 of Sens, who assisted at the battle of Poitiers, that the custom, arising out of the feudal 
 Jaw, wliich obliged ecclesiastics to personui service in the armies, subsisted in many parts 
 of France The Itiws of the church condemned this practice, to which their temporal 
 possessions subjected the clergy. This contradiction in the form of our government with 
 the spi it of our relijrion existed until the practice was insensibly abolished by different dis- 
 pensations, and exchan^'ed for contributions of money and men. Francis I. by his edict 
 of the 4th July, 1541, regulated the clauses for their exemption. Since that period the 
 clergy have been exempted from service of ban and arriere ban, by different letters patent 
 and particularly by an edict of the 29th April, 1636, under Lewis XIII.— Villarkt Hist, 
 de France, vol. v. 2, 104, ' 
 
 CHAPTER CLXIL* 
 
 TWO FRENCHMEN, RUNNING AWAY FROM THE BATTLE OF POITIERS, XRZ 
 PURSUED BY TWO ENGLISHMEN, WHO ARE THEMSELVES MADE PRISONERS. 
 
 Among the battles, skirmishes, flights and pursuits, which hap. 
 pened in the course of this day, an adventure befel sir Edward de 
 Roucy, which I cannot omit relating in this place. He had left the 
 field of batde, as he perceived the day was irrecoverably lost ; and, not 
 wishing to fall in the hands of the English, v: as got about a league 
 off* ; when he was pursued by an English knight, his lance in rest, 
 who cried to him, " Sir knight, turn about : you ought to be ashamed 
 thus to fly." Upon this, sir Edward halted, and the Englishman 
 attacked him, thinking to fix his lance in his target ; but he failed, 
 for sir Edward turned the sti-oke aside, nevertheless he did not miss 
 his own : with his spear he hit his enemy so violent a blow on the 
 helmet, that he was stunned and fell to the ground, where he re. 
 mained senseless. Sir Edward dismounted, and, placing his lance 
 on his breast, told him he would certainly kill him, if he did not 
 surrender himself his prisoner, rescued or not. The Englishman sur. 
 rendered, and went with sir Edward, who afterwards ransomed him. 
 
 It happened that, in the midst of the general pursuit, a squire from 
 Picardy, named John de Helennes, had quitted the king's division, 
 and, meeting his page with a fresh horse, had mounted him, and 
 made off" as fast as he could. At that time, there was near to him 
 the lord of Berkeley, a young knight, who, for the first time, had that 
 day displayed his banner : he immediately set out in pursuit of him. 
 When the lord of Berkeley had followed him for some little time, 
 John de Helennes turned about, put his sv.'ord under his arm in the 
 manner of a lance, and thus advanced upon the lord Berkeley, who 
 taking his sword by the handle, flourished it, and lifted up his arm 
 in order to strike the squire as he passed. John de Helsnnes, seeing 
 the int3nded stroke, avoided it, but did not miss his own ; for as they 
 passed each other, by a blow on the arm he made lord Berkeley's 
 sword fall to the ground. When the knight found that he had lost 
 his sword, and that the squire had his, he dismounted, and made for 
 the place where his sword lay: but he could not get there before the 
 squire gave him a violent thrust which passed through both his thighs, 
 so that, not being able to help himself, he fell to the ground. John 
 upon this dismounted, and, seizing the sword of the knight, advanced 
 up to him and asked him if he were willing to surrender. The knight 
 required his name : " I am called John de Helennes," said he, " what 
 is your name?" "In truth, coi^jianion," replied the knight, "my 
 name is Thomas, and I am lord of Berkeley, a very handsome castle 
 situated on the river Severn, on the borders of Wales." Lord of 
 Berkeley," said the squire, " you shall be my prisoner : I will place 
 you in safety, and take care you are healed, for you appear to me to 
 be badly wounded." The knight answered, " I surrender myself 
 willingly, for you have loyally conquered me." He gave him his 
 word that he would be his prisoner, rescued or not. John then drew 
 his sword out of the knight's thighs and the wounds remained open ; 
 but he bound them up tightly, and, placing him on his horse, led him 
 a foot-pace to Chatelherault. He continued there, out of friendship 
 to him, for fifteen days, and had medicines administered to him. 
 When the knight was a little recovered, he had him placed in a litter, 
 and conducted him safe to his house in Picardy ; where he remained 
 more than a year before he was quite cured, though he continued 
 lame; and when he departed, he paid for his ransom six thousand 
 nobles, so that this squire became a knight by the great profit he got 
 from the lord of Berkeley. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXIII. 
 
 THE MANNER IN WHICH KING JOHN WAS TAKEN PRISONER AT TH» 
 BATTLE OF POITIERS. 
 
 It often happens, that fortune in war and love turns out more fav 
 orable and wonderful than could have been hoped for or expected 
 To say the truth, this battle which v\ as fought near Poitiers, in the 
 plains of Beauvoir and Maupertius, was very bloody and perilous : 
 many gallant deeds of arms were performed that Vv-ere never known, 
 and the combatants on each side suffered much. King John himself 
 did wonders : he was armed with a battle-axe, with which he fought 
 and defended himself. The earl of Tancarville, in endeavoring to 
 break through the crowd, was made prisoner close to him : as were 
 also sir James de Bourbon, earl of Ponthieu, and the lord John d'Ar- 
 tois, earl of Eu. In another part, a little farther off", the lord Charles 
 d'Artois and many other knights and squires were captured by the 
 division under the banner of the captal de Buch. The pursuit con- 
 tinued even to the gates of Poitiers, where there was much slaughter 
 and overthrow of men and horses ; for the inhabitants of Poitiers 
 had shut their gates, and would suffer none to enter : upon which 
 account, there was great butchery on the causeway, before the gate, 
 where such numbers were killed or wounded, that several surrendered 
 themselves the moment they spied an Englishman : and there were 
 many English archers who had four, five, or six prisoners. 
 
 The lord of Pons, a powerful baron in Poitou, was slain there, as 
 
 * This chap, in the original ed. is numbered CLX. and chap. XIX. is there numbere* 
 XVIII. ; consequently from the latter point to this chapter, the present numbering is one 
 higher, and henceforward will be two higher, thun the original ed. of Mr. Johnes. Thi» 
 it here aoticsd to avoid confusion in quotations.— £i>. 
 
106 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 were several other knights and squires. The viscount de Roche, 
 chouart, the lords de Partonay and de Saintonge, and the lord of 
 Montendre, were taken prisoners : as was the lord John de Saintr6, 
 but so beaten that he never afterwards recovered his health : he was 
 ooked upon as the most accomplished knight in France. The lord 
 Guiscard d'Angle was left for slain among the dead : he had fought 
 well that day. The lord de Chargny, who was near the king, com- 
 bated bravely during the whole engagement: he was always in the 
 crowd, because he carried the king's sovereign banner: his own also 
 was displayed in the field, with his arms, which were three escutch. 
 eons argent on a field gules. The English and Gascons poured so 
 fast upon the king's division that they broke through the ranks by 
 force; and the French were so intermixed with their enemies, that 
 at times there were five men attacking one gentleman. The lord of 
 Pompadour and the lord Bartholomew de Brunes were there captured. 
 The lord de Chargny* was slain, with the banner of France in his 
 hands, by the lord Reginald Cobhara ; and afterwards the earl of 
 Dammartin shared the same fate. 
 
 There was much pressing at this time, through eagerness to take 
 the king ; and those who were nearest to him, and knew him, cried 
 out, " Surrender yourself, surrender yourself, or you are a dead man." 
 In that part of the field was a young knight from St. Omer, who was 
 engaged by a salary in the service of the king of England ; his name 
 wa^ Denys de Morbeque ; 'who for five years had attached himself to 
 the Eng'ish, on account of having been banished in his younger days 
 from France for a murder committed in an affi-ay at St. Omer. It 
 fortunately happened for this knight that he was at the time near to 
 the king of France, when he was so much pulled about ; he, by dint 
 of force, for he was very strong and robust, pushed through the 
 crowd, and said to the king in good French, " Sire, sire, surrender 
 yourself." The king, who found himself very disagreeably situated, 
 turning to him, asked, " To whom shall I surrender myself : to whom? 
 Where is my cousin the prince of Wales ? if I could see him, I 
 would speak to him." " Sire," replied sir Denys, " he is not here ; 
 but surrender yourself to me, and I will lead you to him." " Who 
 are you?" said the king. " Sue, I am Denys de Morbeque, a knight 
 from Artois ; but I serve the king of England, because I cannot be- 
 long to France, having forfeited all I possessed there." The king 
 then gave him his right hand glove, and said, " I surrender myself to 
 you." There was much crowding and pushing about, for every one 
 was eager to cry out, "I have taken him." Neither the king nor 
 his youngest son Philip were able (p get forward, and free themselves 
 from the throng. 
 
 The prince of Wales, who was as courageous as a lion,t took great 
 delight that day to combat his enemies. Sir John Chandos, who was 
 near his person, and had never quitted it during the whole of the 
 day, nor stopped to make prisoners, said to him toward the end of 
 the bat le; " Sir, it will be proper for you to haU here, and plant your 
 banner on the top of this bush, which will serve to rally your forces, 
 that seem very much scattered ; for I do not see any banners or pen- 
 nons of the French, nor any considerable bodies able to rally against 
 us; and you must refresh yourself a little, as I perceive you are very 
 much heated." Upon this the banner of the prince was placed on a 
 high bush : the ministrels began to play, and trumpets and clarions to 
 do their duty. The prince took off his helmet, and the knights at- 
 tendant on his person, and belonging to his chamber, were soon 
 ready, and pitched a small pavilion of crimson color, which the prince 
 entered. Liquor was then brought to him and the other knights who 
 were with him: they increased every moment ; for they were return, 
 ing from the pursuit, and stopped there surrounded by their prisoners. 
 
 As soon as the two marshals were come back, the prince asked 
 them if they knew anything of the king of France : they replied, 
 " No, sir, not for a certainty ; but we believe he must be either killed 
 or made prisoner, since he has never quitted his battalion." The 
 prince then, addressing the earl of Warwick and lord Cobham, said ; 
 *' I beg of you to mount your horses, and ride over the field, so that 
 on your return you may bring me some certain intelligence of him." 
 The two barons, immediately mounting their horses, left the prince, 
 and made for a small hillock, that they might look about them: from 
 their stand they perceived a crowd of men-at-arms on foot, who were 
 advancing very slowly. The king of France was in the midst of 
 them, and in great danger ; for the English and Gascons had taken 
 him from sir Denys de Morbeque, and were disputing who should 
 have him, the stoutest bawling out, " It is I that have got him :" 
 " No, no," replied the others, " we have him." The king, to escape 
 from this peril, said, " Gentlemen, gent'emen, I pray you conduct me 
 and my son in a courteous manner to my cousin the prince ; and do 
 not make such a riot about my capture, for I am so great a lord that 
 I can make all sufficiently rich." These words, and others which 
 fell from the king, appeased them a little ; but the disputes were 
 always beginning again, and they did not move a step without riot- 
 ing. When the two barons saw this troop of people, they descended 
 from the hillock, and sticking spurs into their horses, made up to 
 them. On their arrival, they asked what was the matter: they were 
 answered, that it was the king cf France, '.vho had been m.ade pris- 
 oner, and that upward of ten knights and squires challenged hirn at 
 
 ♦ Monseiftneur Geoffroy ile Chnrgny.— D. Saitvage. 
 
 t Courageous aad cruel as a lion, says Lord Berners ; the edition of D. Sauvac* has 
 fttaooMword* 
 
 the same time, as belonging to each of them. The two barons then 
 pushed through the crowd by main force, and ordered all to draw 
 aside. They commanded, in the name of the prince, and under pain 
 of instant death, that every one should keep his distance, and not ap. 
 proach unless ordered or desired so to do. They all retreated behind 
 the king; and the two barons, dismounting, advanced to the king 
 with profound reverences, and conducted him in a peaceable riianner 
 to the prince of Wales. 
 
 Edward the Black Fringe— From the Tomb at Canterburr 
 
 CHAPTER CLXIV. 
 
 THE FRINGE OF WALES MAKES A HANDSOME PRESENT TO THE LORD 
 JAMES AIIDLEY, AFTER THE BATTLE OF POITIERS. 
 
 Soon after the earl of Warwick and the lord Reginald Cobham 
 had left the prince, as has been above related, he inquired from those 
 knights who were about him of lord James Audley, and asked if any 
 one knew v/hat was become of him : "Yes, sir," replied some of the 
 company, " he is very badly wounded, and is lying in a litter hard- 
 by." " By my troth," replied the prince, " I am sore vexed that he 
 is so wounded. See, I beg of you, if he be able to bear being carried 
 hither : otherwise I will come and visit him." Two knights directly 
 left the prince, and coming to lord .Tames, told him how deeirous the 
 prince was of seeing him. " A thousand thanks tj the prince," 
 answered lord James, "for condescending to remember so poor a 
 knight as myself." He then called eight of his servants, and had 
 himself borne in his litter to where the prince was. When he was 
 come into his presence, the prince bent down over him, and em- 
 braced him, saying ; " My lord James, I am bound to honor you Very 
 much ; for, by your valor this day, you have acquired glory and re. 
 nown above us all, and your prowess has proved you the bravest 
 knight." Lord James replied ; " My lord, you have a right to say 
 whatever you please, but I wish it were as you have said. If I have 
 ^his day been forward to serve you, it has been to accomplish a vow 
 that I had made, and it ought not to be thought so much of." " Sir 
 James," answered the prince, " I and all the rest of us deem you the 
 bravest knight on our side in this battle ; and to increase your renown, 
 and furnish you withal to pursue your career of glory in war, I retain 
 you henceforward, for ever, as my knight, with five hundred marcs* 
 of yearly revenue, which I will secure to you from my estates in 
 England." " Sir," said lord James, " God make me deserving of the 
 good fortime you bestow upon me." At these words he took leave 
 of the prince, as he was very weak, and his servants carried him back 
 to his tent : he could not have been at a great dista^ice, when the 
 earl of Warwick and lord Reginald Cobham entered the pavilion of 
 the prince, and presented the king of France to him. The prince 
 made a very low obeisance to the king, and gave him as much com- 
 fort as he was able, which he knew v»'ell how to administer. He 
 ordered wine and spices to be brought, which he presented to the 
 king himself, as a mark of his great affection. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXV. 
 
 THE ENGLISH GAIN VERY CONSIDERABLY AT THE BATTLE OF POITIERS. 
 
 Thus was this battle won, as you have heard related, in the plains 
 of Maupertius, two leagues from the city of Poitiers, on the 19th 
 day of September, 1356.t It commenced about nine o'clock, and 
 
 * The marc is 13s. 4d.— Phillips 
 
 t Froissiirt calls it on the 22nd day of September, 1357 ; but Boiichet proves it to be a 
 mistake, in his Annales d' Aquitaine, from the regjijtPjc of ilie convent vvliere the noble- 
 men that were slam were buried: and in my two MSS. it is 1856. Also in the Annales 
 Rerum Anglicarum, Wilhelmi Wincester, 1356. " Hoc anno, xix die Septembris, captio 
 mis Jobaimii Francie. per Edwardum principem." 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 107 
 
 was ended by noon ; but the English were not all returned from the 
 pursuit, and it was to recall his people that the prince had placed his 
 banner upon a high bush. They did not return till late after vespers 
 from pursuing the enemy. It was reported that all the flower of 
 French knighthood were slain ; and that, with the king and his son 
 the lord Philip, seventeen earls, without counting barons, knights or 
 squires, were m \de prisoners, and from five to six thousand of all 
 sorts left dead i.i the field. When they were collected, they found 
 they had twice a ; many prisoners as themselves : they therefore con- 
 sulted, if, considering the risk they might run, it would not be more 
 advisable to ransom them on the spot. This was done : and the 
 prisoners found the English and Gascons very civil, for there were 
 many set at liberty that day on their promise of coming to Bordeaux 
 before Christmas to pay their ransom. 
 
 When all were returned to their banners, they retired to their 
 camp, which was ao'joining to the field of battle. Some disarmed 
 themselves, and did the same to their prisoners, to whom they showed 
 every kindness ; for whoever made any prisoners, they were solely 
 at his disposal, to ransom or not, as he pleased. It may be easily 
 supposed that all those who accompanied the prince were very rich 
 in glory and wealth, as well by the ransoms of his prisoners, as by 
 the quantities of gold and silver plate, rich jewels, and trunks stuffed 
 full of belts, that were weighty from their gold and silver ornaments, 
 and furred mantles. They set no value on armor, tents, or other 
 things ; for the French had come there as magnificently and richly 
 dressed as if they had been sure of gaining the victory. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXVI. 
 
 THE LORD JAMES AUDLEY GIVES TO HIS SQUIRES THE PENSION OF FiVE 
 HUNDRED MARCS HE HAD RECEIVED FROM THE PRINCE. 
 
 When the lord James Audley was brought back to his tent, after 
 having most respectfully thanked the prince for his gift, he did not 
 remain long before he sent for his brother sir Peter Audley, the lord 
 Bartholomew Burghersh, sir Stephen Coffington, lord Willoughby of 
 Eresby, and lord William Ferrers of Groby : they were all his rela- 
 tions. He then sent for his four squires that had attended upon him 
 that day, and, addressing himself to the knights, said: " Gentlemen, 
 it has pleased my lord the prince to give me five hundred marcs as a 
 yearly inheritance ; for which gift I have done him very trifling 
 bodily service. You see here these four squires, who have always 
 served me most loyally, and especially in this day's engagement. 
 What glory I may have gained has been through their means, and by 
 their valor ; on which account I wish to reward them. I therefore 
 give and resign into their hands the gift of five hundred marcs, which 
 my lord the prince has been pleased to bestow on me, in the same 
 form and manner that it has been presented to me. I disinherit 
 myself of it, and give it to them simply, and without a possibility of 
 revoking it." The knights present looked on each other, and said, 
 "It is becoming the noble mind of lord James to make such a gift;" 
 and then unanimously added : " May the Lord God remember you 
 for it I We will bear witness to this gift to them wheresoever and 
 whensoever they may call on us." They then took leave of him ; 
 whien some went to the prince of Wales, who that night was to give 
 a supper to the king of France from his own provisions : for the 
 French had brought vast quantities with them, which were now fallen 
 into the hands of the English, many of whom had not tasted bread 
 for the last three days. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXVII. 
 
 THE PRINCE OF WALES ENTERTAINS THE KING OF FRANCE AT SUPPER, THE 
 EVENING AFTER THE BATTLE. 
 
 When evening was come, the prince of Wales gave a supper in 
 his pavilion to the king of France, and to the greater part of the 
 princes and barons who were prisoners. The prince seated the king 
 of France and his son the lord Philip at an elevated and well, covered 
 table : with them were, sir James de Bourbon, the lord John d'Artois, 
 the earls of Tancarville, of Estampes, of Dammartin, of Graville, 
 and the lord of Partenay. The other knights and squires were placed 
 at different tables. The prince himself served the king's table, as 
 well as the others, with every mark of humility, and would not sit 
 down at it, in spite of all his entreaties for him so to do, saying, that 
 "he was not worthy of such an honor, nor did it appertain to him to 
 seat himself at the table of so great a king, or of so valiant a man as 
 he had shown himself by his actions that day." He added also with 
 a noble air: " Dear sir, do not make a poor meal because the Al- 
 mighty God has not gratified your wishes in the event of this day ; 
 for be assured that iny lord and father will show you every honor 
 and friendship in his power, and will arrange your ransom so reason- 
 ably, that you will henceforward always remain friends. In my 
 opinion, you have cause to be glad that the success of this battle did 
 not turn out as you desired ; for you have this day acquired such 
 high renown for prowess, that you have surpassed all the best knights 
 on your side. I do not, dear sir, say this to flatter you, for all those 
 of our side who have seen and observed the actions of each party, 
 have unanimously allowed this to be your due, and decree you the 
 
 prize and garland for it." At the end of this epeech there were 
 murmurs of praise heard from every one ; and the French said, the 
 prince had spoken nobly and truly, and that he would be one of the 
 most gallant princefls in Christendom, if God should grant him life to 
 pursue his career of glory.* 
 
 * Extract taken from the convent of the Frtires Mineurs, in the city of Poiner;-, of tli« 
 names of those kni^liu who were slain i»» t!ic battle of Poitiers, and other gentlemen that 
 were buried in that convent. 
 
 " First, the underneath knights : 
 The duke of Athens, constable of France Sir William de Linnieres 
 The bishop of Chalon, (Regnauld Chaveau Sir Olivier de St. Giles 
 
 — Chronique de Wassebourg) 
 M. Andre, viscount de Chauvigny 
 Sir Lewis de Bros^e 
 Sir John, lord ofMailly in Berry 
 Sir Geoffry de Chargny in Champagne 
 M. de Montjouan 
 Sir John de Lisle 
 Sir Gris Mouton de Chambely 
 Sir Peter de Uhambely, his brother 
 M. de Chateau Vilain, in Cliampagne 
 Sir John de Montigny 
 Sir John de Maulmont 
 Sir John de Bourbon 
 Sir Philip de Boutennillier 
 Sir Hugh de Maille 
 Sir Geoffry de St. Dizier 
 Sir Aymery de la Barre 
 SirWdliam de Blese 
 Sir John de Grillon 
 M. de Chitre, lord of Rademonde 
 M. Clerin de Cherues 
 M. Baudin de Gargalingaen 
 Sir Ansiaulme de Hois 
 Sir Michael de Pommoy 
 Sir Richard de Beaulieu 
 Sir William de Fuylie 
 Sir Hugh Bonnyn 
 M. Dannee de Melon 
 Sir William de Creneur 
 
 Sir William de Romeneuil 
 
 Sir John de Cranches 
 
 M. Yvoii du Pont, lord of Rochecheruisi* 
 
 Sir William ile Mongy 
 
 Sir John de Ticny 
 
 Sir John Bri^idene 
 
 Sir John de Noii terre 
 
 Sir Wiiliiuii de Pnty 
 
 Sir Robert de Chains 
 
 Sir Adam de Beauvillierj 
 
 Sir Bonabes de Roges 
 
 Sir Vynies de St. Denis 
 
 Sir Miic6 de Grosboii 
 
 Sir Louis de Nul'y 
 
 Sir Simon Oynepuiile 
 
 Sir Henry, his brother 
 
 M. de Champrecour 
 
 Sir William Sauvage 
 
 Sir William du Retail 
 
 Sir Sequin de Cloux 
 
 M. le Vidame de la Roche Uagon 
 
 Sir Raol de Resay 
 
 Sir John de la Mirabeau 
 
 Sir Guisciird de Chantylon 
 
 M. Ancelin deCarou, lord ofHes 
 
 M. Guy des Barres, lord of Chaumont 
 
 Sir John de Cloys 
 
 M. le Borgne de Prie. 
 
 Bernard de Douzenac 
 Robert Gilles de Miraumont 
 Guicheaux de Maronnay 
 Girard de Pierre 
 William de la Fosse 
 Robert de la Roche Pierre de Bra* 
 John Ribriche, lord of Corbon 
 Celart Herausant 
 Hopart de Hanpedourt 
 Guymon Pery 
 William de la Jarracere 
 William Grinu 
 Olivier de la Rosay 
 Girard Delec 
 Berai t de Lemont 
 Heymonnet Embert 
 Jobertd'Artoy 
 Richard de Vendel 
 William Seurin 
 John du Fltiiiie 
 
 SaUIRES. 
 
 John Defleat 
 Guy de Bournay 
 Le Moine de Montigny 
 Guinet de B jyssoa 
 John de Brinac 
 Ymbert de Ch:imborant 
 Brunei d'Augun 
 Joim Surrayn 
 Peter de St. Denis 
 Perrine de Pache 
 Ferry Pate 
 John Dyiiie 
 Le Petit d'lncheqiiin 
 Jehannot de Moutabis 
 Jolivet Buffart 
 John de Bounneuilla 
 John Martin 
 Ardouyn de la Touche 
 
 William de Lusange 
 Le Petit Bidaut de la Rochedegon. 
 " Many other bodies slain at the aforesaid b ittle, by licence from the official, and per- 
 mission of the mayor of Poitiers, were brought in ciats IVom the Freres Mineurs of that 
 tov-fn, and buried in large graves in their church-yard, witliout the church, tl.e feast-day 
 of St. Valentine, 1356; and honorable obsequies were performed in all the churches and 
 convents in the town of Poitiers, at the cost ot the good citizens of that town. 
 
 " Underneath are the names of those who were buried in the church of les Freres Pres- 
 cheurs, of the town of Poitiers, which 1 have taken and extracted from the book called 
 the Kalendar of the Convent, and translated from the Latin into French, chapter tifth. 
 The duke of Bourbon on the ri^iit of the great altar. 
 The marechal de Clermont on the opposite side. 
 Lower down, but near him, sir Aubert d'Anget. 
 After him the viscount de Rociiechouart. 
 In the middle of the choir, Aymer de la RochefoucaulL 
 At the entrance of the choir, on the right. Sir John de Sancerre. 
 In the chapel of the Magdalen, Sir John de St. Didier. 
 In the same chapel, near the wall, Thibaut de Laval. 
 In the chapel of the Apostles, near the wall, sir Thomas deMotuz, 
 In the chapel of our lady, sir Walter de Montagu. 
 Adjoining to him, sir Raoul Rabinard. 
 In the nave, nearthe door, sir John Ferchaut. 
 Near to him, sir Peter Marchadier, and Heliot his brother. 
 Opposite the statue of St. Midiael, sir Oliver ue Mouviile. 
 On ihe other side, sir Phili)) de Forges. 
 
 Before the great door, sir William de Bar and sir John de Nully. 
 "The names of those who were interred in rhe cloisters of the said convent. 
 
 Le chevalier Miloton, 
 
 Sir John de Chumbes 
 
 Sir John Macillou 
 
 Sir Oliver de St. George 
 
 Sn- Ymbert de St. Saliirnin 
 
 Sir John de Ridde 
 
 Sir Hugh Odard 
 
 Sir Giles Cberchemont 
 
 Sir John de Senyce 
 
 Sir Wm. de Digoyne and his son 
 
 Sir John Drouyn de Metz in Loraine 
 
 Sir Robert d'Aulnay 
 
 Master John Dannermarie 
 
 Sir John de la Lang 
 
 Sir Simon de Renouylle 
 
 Sir Philip de Pierreficte 
 
 Sir William de Mausenac 
 
 Sir William de Miners 
 
 Sir Raou! de Bouteillier 
 
 Sir Peter de la Rocdete 
 
 The lord de la Fayete 
 
 A German called Erroys Pinceme 
 
 Sir Boulenuille, viscount d'Aumalle 
 
 Sir John Fretart 
 
 Sir Robert Daucre 
 Sir John la Gai pe, ung appel le filz da ro? 
 Sir Lewis Defcrinel 
 Sir John de Vernicourt 
 Sir Peter Andouyn 
 Sir John de Vernoil 
 Sir John de Montmorillon and bisto* 
 Sir Hugelin de Vuux 
 Sir John de Almaigne 
 The lord d'Espraigny 
 Sir Hugh de Tinctes 
 The lord of St. Gildart 
 Sir Henry del'Aunoy 
 Sir Girard de Helchemao* 
 SirGourard Guenif 
 Sir Vipert Beau 
 Sir Henry Michiner 
 Sir John de Brie 
 Sir Raoul Seil 
 Sir Symon de Blesy 
 GirHugh Orry de Melle 
 Sir Segnyn de Cluys 
 Sir Thomas de Baignsl 
 Sir Peter BailJon 
 
108 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENOLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN. &c. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXVIII. 
 
 THE PRINCE OF WALES RETURNS TO BORDEAUX, AFTER THE BATTLE 
 
 OF POITIERS. 
 
 When they had supped and sufficiently regaled themselves, each 
 departed to his lodging with the knights and squires they had cap. 
 tured. Those that had taken them a^ked. what they could pay for 
 their ransoms, without much hurting their fortunes ; and willingly 
 believed whatever they told them ; for they had declared publicly, 
 that they did not wish to deal harshly with any knight or squire that 
 his ransom should be so burdensome as to prevent his following the 
 profession of arms, or advancing his fortune. Toward morning, 
 when these lords had heard mass, and had eaten and drunk a little, 
 while the servants were packing up or loading the baggage, they 
 decamped and advanced toward Poitiers. 
 
 That same night, the lord of Roy had entered the city of Poitiers 
 with a hundred lances, that had not been engaged in the battle, for, 
 having met the duke of Normandy near Chauvigny, he had com- 
 manded him to march for Poitiers, and to guard it until he should 
 receive other orders. When the lord of Roye had entered Poitiers, 
 he ordered the gates, towers, and walls, to be well watched that 
 night, on account of the English being so near ; and on the morning 
 he armed all sorts of people, and posted them wherever he judged 
 most convenient for the defence of the town. The English, how. 
 ever, passed by, without making any attempt upon it; for they were 
 BO laden with gold, silver, jewels, and great prisoners, that they did 
 not attack any fortress in their march, but thought they should do 
 great things if they were able to convey the king of France and his 
 Bon, with all their booty, in safety to the city of Bordeaux. Thvy 
 returned, therefore, by easy marches, on account of their prisoners 
 and heavy baggage, never advancing more than four or five leagues 
 a day • they encamped early, and marched in one compact body, 
 without quitting the road, except the division of the marshals, who 
 advanced in front, with about five hundred men-at-arms, to clear the 
 country. They met with no resistance anywhere ; for the whole 
 country was in a state of consternation, and all the men-at.arms had 
 retreated into the strong fortresses. 
 
 During this march, the prince of Wales was informed how lord 
 James Audley had made a present of his pension of five hundred 
 marcs to his four squires. He sent for him : lord James was carried 
 in his litter to the presence of the prince, whe received him very 
 graciously, and said to him : " Sir James, I have been informed, 
 that after you had taken leave of me, and were returned to your tent, 
 you made a present to your four squires of the gift I presented to 
 you. I should like to know if this be true, why you did so, and if 
 the gift were not agreeable to you." " Yes, my lord," answered 
 lord James, "it was most agreeable to me, and I will tell you the 
 reasons which induced me to bestow it on my squires. These four 
 squires, who are here, have long and loyally served me, on many 
 great and dangerous occasions ; and until the day that I made them 
 this present, I had not any way rewarded them for all their semces ; 
 and never in this life were they of such help to me as on that day. 
 I hold myself much bound to them for what they did at the battle of 
 Poitiers; for, dear sir, I am but a single man, and can do no more 
 than my powers admi% but, through their aid and assistance, I have 
 accomplished my vow, which for a long time I had made, and by 
 their means was the first combatant, and should have paid for it with 
 my life, if they had not been near to me. When, therefore, I con- 
 sider their courage, and the love they bear to me, I should not have 
 been courteous nor grateful, if I had not rewarded them. Thank 
 God, my lord, I have a sufiiciency for my life, to maintain my state ; 
 and wealth has never yet failed me, nor do I believe it ever will. If, 
 therefore, I have in this acted contrary to your wishes, I beseech 
 you, dear sir, to pardon me ; for you will be ever as loyally served 
 by me and my squires, to whom I gave your present, as heretofore." 
 The prince answered : " Sir James, I do not in the least blame you 
 for what you have done, but, on the contrary, acknowledge youj 
 bounty to your squires whom you praise so much. I readily confirm 
 your gift to them ; but I shall insist upon your accepting of six 
 hundred marcs, upon the same terms and conditions as the former 
 gift." 
 
 The prince of Wales and his army kept advancing, without meet- 
 ing any obstacle, and, having passed through Poitou and Saintonge, 
 came to Blaye, where he crossed the Garonne, and arrived in the 
 good city of Bordeaux.* It is not possible to relate all the feasts and 
 entertainments which the citizens and clergy of Bordeaux made for 
 the prince, and with what joy they received him and the king of 
 France. The prince conducted the king to the monastery of St. 
 
 " Eialit were buried in threi graves, whose names and surnames were unknown ; and 
 among them was the body of a knight, whose surcoat of arms was three chevrons or, in 
 a shield gules. 
 
 " The arms of all the princes, knights, and lords above-mentioned were blazoned on 
 the stalls of the convent, in order to keep them in perpetual remembrance. 
 
 Bouchet's Jinnales d'Jiquitaine, Amc parte, folio 15. 
 
 * "A letter from the P>lack Prince lotho bishop of Worcester, dated 20th October 
 J356, relating to the battle of Poitiers, wherein the French king was made prisoner, &.c. 
 Ex registro Reginald! Brien, Wigorn. episcopi, fol. 113. 
 
 ••n '^'' P'"' P""cipis,Wall' de Capcione R. Franciae par le prince de Gales. 
 Reve'nt pierre en Dieu, ettresch' ami.— Nous vous mercions entierement dece oue 
 Bousavongcntendu q'vous estes si bien et si naturelment porta dev's nous, en p'ant 
 uau p'r nous et p'r n're exploit ; ei sumes tout certiem q' p'r cause do vous devout«« 
 
 Andrew, where they were both lodged ; the king on one eide, and 
 the prince on the other. The prince purchased from the barons, 
 knights and squires of Gaecony, the ransoms of the greater part of 
 the French earls who were there, and paid ready money for them. 
 There were many meetings and disputes among the knights and 
 squires of Gascony, and others, relative to the capture of the king of 
 France. On this account Denys de Morbeque truly and by rigi t of 
 arms claimed him. He challenged another squire of Gas( < ny, 
 named Bernard de Trouttes, who had declared that he had an eqi al 
 right to him. There was much disputing between them before ti.e 
 prince and the barons present ; and as they had engaged to fight 
 each other, the prince put them under an arrest, until they should be 
 arrived in England, and forbade anything more being said on the 
 subject till they were in the presence of the king his father. How- 
 ever, as the king of France gave every assistance to sir Denys in 
 support of his claim, and leaned more to him than to any of the other 
 claimants, the prince ordered two thousand nobles to be given pri- 
 vately to Sir Denys, in order to enable him the better to support his 
 rank. 
 
 Soon after the prince's arrival at Bordeaux, the cardinal de Peri- 
 gord came thither as, it was said, embassador from the pope. It was 
 upward of a fortnight before the prince would speak to him, on ac- 
 count of the castellan of Amposta and his people having been engaged 
 against him at the battle of Poitiers. The prince believed that the 
 cardinal had sent them thither ; but the cardinal through the means 
 of his relations, the lord of Chaumont, the lord of Montferrant, and 
 the captal of Buch, gave such good reasons for his conduct to the 
 priice, that he admitted him to an audience. Having obtained this, 
 he exculpated himself so clearly that the prince and his council were 
 satisfied; and he regained the place he before held in the prince's 
 affection. All his people were set at liberty at moderate ransoms: 
 the castellan's amounted to ten thousand francs, which he paid. 
 The cardinal, soon after, began to touch upon the deliverance of king 
 John: but I shall say little on that head, as nothing was done in the 
 business. The prince, with his Gascons and English, remained all 
 that winter at Bordeaux, where was much feasting and merriment ; 
 and they foolishly expended the gold and silver they had gained. In 
 England also, there were great rejoicings, when the news arrived of 
 the affair of Poitiers, and of the defeat of the French. Solemn thanks- 
 givings were offered up in all churches, and bonfires made in every 
 town and village. Those knights and squires who returned to Eng- 
 land, after having been in this battle, were honored in preference to 
 any others. 
 
 CHAPTER GLXIX. 
 
 THE THREE ESTATES OF FRANCE ASSEMBLE AT PARIS, AFTER THE BATTLE 
 
 OF POITIERS. 
 
 During the time of this defeat at Poitiers, the duke of Lancaster 
 was in the county of Evreux, on the borders of Coutantin ; and with 
 him were sir Philip de Navarre and the lord Godfrey de Harcourt. 
 They had made war on Normandy from that quarter, and had con- 
 tinned to do so all that summer, on account of the king of Navarre, 
 whom the king of France detained in prison. Those three lords 
 
 p'eres et dautres, Dieu nous a en toutes nos besoignes be' vucliz aide ; de quoi nous 
 sumes a tous jo'stenuz de lui grazier, en p'ant que v're part ancy vieullietz faire en 
 continuant dev's nous come devantces heures avetz faitde quoi nous nous tenons g'n'- 
 menttenuz a vous. Et, rev'entpiere, endroitde n're estat, dont nous penceons bien q'vous 
 desirez la v're merci doier bones nouveiles, vuellietz entendre q' ti la fuisance de cestes 
 estions sains et heures et tout en bon point, loiez en soitDieux q' nousdonit y ces mesmes 
 de vous toutes soitz oir et saver, etdece nous vuellietz certifier p'r vos I'res et p' lesentre- 
 venantz a plus souvcnt q' vous p'res bonement eu droit de nouveiles ceandroitz. Vueil 
 letz savoirq'la veillede la translation Saint Thomas de Canterbire, nouzcommenceusmes 
 a chivauch' ove n're povarv's les parties de France et souvraignementp' cause q' nous 
 entesdismes la venue de n're treshonn'e seign'r et piere le roy la endroitz, et si neismes 
 dev's les parties de Bergies en Berye, Orlions et Tours, et avions nouveiles q' le roy de 
 France ove g' nt povar bien pres de celles marches venoit p' combatt re ove no's, et appro- 
 cheasmes tantq' la battaille se prist entre nous en tiele maniere q' les enemis estoient dis- 
 consitez. grace en soit Dieux, et le dit roi et son fils et plusieurs autres g'ntz pris et mortr, 
 les noms de queauz nous vous envions p' n're trescli' bachiler mons" Roger de Cottesford 
 portoir de cestes. Rev'ent piere en Dieux, et n're tresch'ami, le Saint Esprit vous ait toute 
 jours en sa guarde. 
 
 ' Donne souz n're seal a Birdeaux, le xxe jour d'Octob'r.' ''—Arck<Boloeia, \o\. i. p. 213. 
 We subjoin a translation of this curious letter.— Ed. 
 
 Reverend father in God, and very dear friend.— We thank you Iieartily for, as we have 
 heard, you have been well and affectionately (naturelment) inclined toward us in pmymg 
 to God for us and our enterprise ; which we are very certain succeeded on account ot your 
 prayers and those of others. God has been pleased to aid us in all our necessities: for 
 which we are bound to give him thanks forever, and we pray that you will also do your 
 part continuing with us as heretofore, fo^ which service we hold ourselves much mdebted 
 to you. And, reverend father, in regard to our health, of which we believe that you in 
 your kindness desire to hear good news, know that at this time we are well and happy 
 and altogether in a good condition, praise be to God, which enables us now to let you 
 hear and know that which we wish you to certify in your leUers, and in frequent visits 
 which you priests good naturedly permit, forthe purpose of circulating news. You must 
 know that on the eve of the translation of St. Thomas of Canterbury, we commenced an 
 incursion with our power, into the French territory, chiefly because we expected the arri- 
 val of our much honored lord and father in those parts ; and thus we advanced into the 
 countries of Berges in Berry, Orleans and Tours, and had news that the king of France 
 with a great power was at hand, and was coming to fi-ht with us. and we approached 
 so near that a battle took place between us. in which the enemy was discomfited, thanks 
 be to God, and the said king and his son. and several otlier gentlemen were taken or 
 killed, for whose names we refer you to our very dear bachelor Mr. Roger de Cottesford, 
 the bearer of these. Render thanks to God. and may the Holy Ghost have you our veir 
 dear friend, always in his keeping. 
 
 Given under our seal at Bordeaux, the twentieth day of Octobet. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 Nt), FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 109 
 
 had done all in their power to join the prince of Wales ; but it was 
 not possible, for all the passages of the river Loire were too well 
 guarded. When they were informed that the prince had made the 
 king of France prisoner, and of the manner in which the battle of 
 Poitiers had been won, they were much pleased, and put an end to 
 their excursions ; for the duke of Lancaster and Philip de Navarre 
 wished to go to England, which they did. 'They sent sir Godfrey de 
 Harcourt to guafd the frontiers, at St. Sauveur le Vicomte. 
 
 If the kizigdom of England and its allies were much delighted with 
 the capture of the king of France, that realm was sore troubled' and 
 vexed. It had very good cause to be so ; for there were great dis- 
 . tresses and desolations in every quarter, and men of understanding 
 foresaw that greater mischiefs might arise : since the king of France 
 and all the flower of chivalry of that kingdom were either slain or 
 made prisoners, and the three sons of the king, Charles, Louis, and 
 John, who had escaped, were very young in years and understanding, 
 so that no great expectation could be formed from them ; and neither 
 were they willing to undertake the government of the kingdom. 
 Add to this, that the knights and squires who had returned from the 
 battle were so mucli despised and blamed by the common people, 
 that they very unwillingly entered the great towns. 
 
 There were many conferenoes held, and much discontent appeared ; 
 when the most prudent and wise perceived that this state could not 
 continue, nor longer go on without some remedy ; for the English 
 and Navarrois were in force in Coutantin, under sir Godfrey de Har- 
 court, who was overrunning and destroying the country. The pre- 
 lates of the church, bishops and abbots, and all the noblemen and 
 knights, the provost of merchants and citizens of Paris, as well as 
 the council from the other capital towns in the kingdom, assembled 
 together in the city of Paris, in order to consult and advise upon the 
 best manner of governing the kingdom of France, until king John 
 should be set at liberty. But they were first determined to inquire 
 what was become of the great sums of money that had been raised 
 in France by way of dismes, maletostes*, subsidies, by the coinage 
 and other vexations. Notwithstanding the country had been much 
 harassed and distressed by levying them, the army had been badly 
 paid, and the kingdom ill guarded and defended : but there was no 
 one who could give any account of them. Th" clergy, therefore, 
 resolved to select twelve of the wisest from among themselves, to 
 consider and determine what would be most advisable to be done. 
 The barons and knights chose twelve also, to attend to this business. 
 The citizens likewise did the same, according to their unanimous 
 agreement. These thirty-six personages were to remain at Paris, 
 in order to confer together upon the better government of the king- 
 dom ; and all affairs were to be laid before these three estates : all 
 prelates, noblemen, and all cities, towns and commonalties, were to 
 obey them and execute their orders. In the beginning, however, 
 there were many in this selection that were not agreeable to the 
 duke of Normandy, or to his council. 
 
 The first act of the three estates was to forbid the coining any 
 money in the manner in which it was then done, and to seize the 
 dies. They next required of the duke of Normandy, that he would 
 order the chancellor of the king his father to be arrested, the lord 
 Robert Lorris, the lord Simon de Buci t, as well as many other 
 masters of accounts and counsellors in former times to the king, that 
 they might give a just account of what sums through their advice 
 had been levied and raised in the kingdom. When all these per- 
 sonages heard of this, they quitted the realm as speedily as possible, 
 and took refuge in other kingdoms until the face of aflfairs should 
 be changed. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXX. 
 
 THE THREE ESTATES SEND MEN-AT-ARMS AGAINST SIR GODfREY DE 
 
 HARCOURT. 
 
 The three estates, after this, established and appointed, in their 
 names, receivers to collect whatever taxes might be due to the king, 
 or to the realm. They coined money of fine gold, which was called 
 Moutonst: and they would with pleasure have seen the king of 
 Navarre delivered from his prison in the castle of Crevecour in 
 Cambresis, where he was confined ; for it appeared to many mem- 
 bers of the three estates, that the kingdom would be stronger and 
 more ably defended, provided he would be true and loyal : for there 
 were few noblemen at that time in France that were able to make 
 any good defence, the greater part having been slain or made prison- 
 ers at the battle of Poitiers. They therefore requested the duke of 
 Normandy to give him his liberty ; for they thought he had been un- 
 justly used, nor did they know for what reason he was a prisoner. 
 
 ^ J\Ialetoste—an extraordinary tax, or subsidy, levied the year 1296, by Philip ie Bel, 
 viz. at first the value of the hundredth, and afterwards of the fiftieth part of all either 
 lay orchurchman's goods.— Cotgrave's Dictionary. 
 t He was first president of the parliament.— Hainault. 
 
 X The gold coin called Moutons had the impression of the Agnus Dei, which the 
 vulgar mistook for a sheep ; hence it got the ridiculous name of Moutons. This coin 
 was originally of the value of twelve sols six deniers fine silver.— jSnnois of Scotland, 
 vol. ii. note, p. 231. 
 
 Le mouton d' or wos a coin on which was impressed the figure of a lamb, with this 
 insc'iption : ** Agnus Dei, qui tollit peccata mundi, miserere nobis ; and on the reverse 
 a cross, with these words, " Chmtus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus iraperat." Ther« 
 were fifty-two of thete piece* in a marc of fine gold.— Du Gasqs, Oloti, ad verb JUiU- 
 (9nM 
 
 The duke replied, that he could not advise his being set at liberty; 
 for the king his father had ordered him to be confined, and he was 
 ignorant of the cause or reason of it. 
 
 At this period, news was brought to the duke and to the three 
 estates, that sir Godfrey de Harcourt was waging a destructive war 
 against Normandy ; that his army, which was not very numerous, 
 overran the country twice or thrice a week, as far as the suburbs of 
 Caen, of Saint Lo *, Evreux and Coutances, and no one went out to 
 oppose him. The duke and the three estates ordered an expedition 
 of men-at-arms, consisting of three hundred lances and five hundred 
 with iron armor : they nominated four captains to conanand them, 
 the lord de Reyneval, the lord de Chauny, the lord dc Riville, and 
 the lord de Frianville. This army set out from Paris, and marched 
 to Rouen, where there was a large body collected from different 
 parts. There were many knights from Artois and Vermandois, such 
 as the lord of Crequi, the lord Lewis de Havesquerque, the lord 
 Edward de Renti, lord John de Fiennes, lord Enguerrant de Hedin, 
 and many others : there came also from Normandy many expert 
 men-at-arms. These lords, with their troops, advanced until they 
 came to the city of Coutances, which they garrisoned. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXXl. 
 
 THE BATTLE OF COUTANTIN, BETWEEN SIR GODFREY DE HARCOtHlT, AND 
 .SIR RAOUL DE REYNEVAL. 
 
 When sir Godfrey de Harcourt, who was strong, bold, and cour- 
 ageous, heard that the French were come to the city of Coutances, 
 he collected together as many men-at-arms as possible, archers and 
 other friends, and said he would go to meet them. He left, there- 
 fore, St. Sauveur le Vicomte, accompanied by about seven hundred 
 men, including every one. This same day, the French also sallied 
 out, and had sen*^ forward their scouts to examine the country, who 
 returned and infonned their lords that they had seen the Navarrois. 
 On the other hand, sir Godfrey had sent out his scouts, who had 
 taken a different road, and, having examined the army of the French, 
 had counted their banners and pennons, and to what numbers they 
 amounted. Sir Godfrey, however, paid but little attention to tlieir 
 report : he said, that since he saw his enemies he would fight with 
 them. He immediately placed his archers in the front of his men, 
 and drew up in battle array the Englishmen r.nd Navarrois. When 
 lord Raoul de Reyneval perceived he had drawn up his men, he 
 ordered part of the French to dismount, and to place large shields 
 before them to guard themselve.s ngain.st the arrows, and for none to 
 advance without his orders. 
 
 The archers of sir Godfrey began to advance, as they were com- 
 manded, and to shoot their arrows with aU their strength. The 
 French, who were sheltered behind their shields, allowed them to 
 shoot on, as this attack did not hurt them in the least. They re- 
 mained so long in their position without moving, that these archers 
 had expended all their arrows ; they then cast away their bows, and 
 began to fall back upon their men-at-arms, who were drawn up 
 alongside of a hedge, sir Godfrey in front, vAih his banner di:?p!ayed. 
 The French then began to make use of their bows, and tu pick up 
 arrows everywhere, for there were plenty of them lying about, which 
 they employed against the English and men of Navarre. The men- 
 at-arms made a vigorous charge ; and the combat was very sharp and 
 severe, when they were come hand to hand ; but the infantry of sir 
 Godfrey could not keep their ranks, and were therefore soon discom- 
 fited. Sir Godfrey, upon this, retreated into a vineyard which was 
 inclosed with strong hedges, and as many of his people as could get 
 in followed him. When the French saw this, they all dismounted, 
 surrounded the place, and considered how they could best enter it. 
 They examined it on every side, and at last found an entrance. As 
 they went round, seeking a passage, sir Godfrey and his men did the 
 same, and halted at the weakest part of the hedge. 
 
 As soon as the French had gained this entrance, many gallant 
 deeds of arms were performed ; but it cost the French dear before 
 they were complete masters of it. The banner of sir Raoul was 
 the first that entered. He followed it, as did the other knights and 
 squires. When they were all in the inclosure, the combat was re- 
 newed with greater vigor, and many a one was beat down. The 
 army of Sir Godfrey would not keep the order which he had ap- 
 pointed, according to the promise made to him ; but the greater part 
 fled, and could not withstand the French. Sir Godfrey, on seeing* 
 this, declared, that he would prefer death to being taken, and, arming 
 himself with a battle-axe, halted where he was ; he placed one foot 
 before the other, to be firm.er ; for he was lame of one leg, though 
 very strong in his arms. In this position, he fought a long time 
 most valiantly, so that few dared encounter his blows ; when two 
 Frenchmen mounted their horses, and, placing their lances in their 
 rests, charged him at the same time, and struck him to the ground, 
 some men-at-arms immediately rushed upon him with their swords, 
 which they ran through his body, and killed him on the spot. The 
 greater part of his army were slain or made prisoners, and those 
 who were able to escape returned to St. Sauveur le Vicomte. This 
 happened in the winter of 1356, about Martinmas. 
 
 * A city of Itonaandr. lituated oo tlie Vii«, diocese of Coutoaces. 
 
ilO 
 
 * 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXXII. 
 
 THE PRINCE OF WALES CONDTTCTS THE KING OF FRANCE FROM BOR- 
 DEAUX TO ENGLAND. 
 
 After the death of the before-mentioned knight, sir Godfrey de 
 Harcourt, as soon as the country had been freed from his incursions 
 by the aefeat of his troops, the French returned to Coutances, 
 carrying with them their booty and prisoners. Shortly afterwards, 
 they returned to Paris, to the duke of Normandy, who was styled 
 Regent, and to the three estates, who paid much honor to the knights 
 and squires who had been in Coutantin. From that time, the town 
 of St. Sauveur le Vicomte, and all the landowners of sir Godfrey de 
 Harcourt, attached themselves to the English ; for he had sold it, 
 subject to his life, to the king of England, and had disinherited the 
 lord Louis de Harcourt, his nephew, because he would not follow 
 his party. When the king of England was informed of the death of 
 sir Godfrey, he lamented him much, but embarked men-at-arms, 
 knights, squires, and cross-bowmen, to the amount of upward of 
 four hundred men, to take possession of St. Sauveur le Vicomte, 
 which was well worth thirty thousand livres annual rent. He 
 nominated the lord John Lisle governor of the lands and castles. 
 The three estates, a'l this time, paid great attention to the better 
 ordering of the realm of France, which was governed by them. 
 
 The prince of Wales, and the greater part of those lords who had 
 been with him at the battle of Poitiers, remained all this winter at 
 Bordeaux, revelling, making preparations for shipping, and settling 
 their own affairs, or engaged in making arrangements for conducting 
 the king of France, his son, and the principal lords who were pris- 
 oners, to England. When the season was sufficiently advanced, and 
 everything was ready for the prince's departure, he sent for the great 
 barons of Gascony, the lord d'Albret hrst, and the lords de Mucident, 
 de I'Esparre, de Longueren, de Pumiers, de Courton, de Rosem, de 
 Chaumont, de Montferrant. de Landuras, sir Aymery de Tarse, the 
 captal de Buch, the souldich de la Trane, and many others. He re- 
 ceived them with every sign of affection and friendship, and promised 
 them great rewards and profits, which is all that a Gascon loves or 
 desires. He then informed them of his intention of going to Eng- 
 land ; that he should take some of them with him, and the rest he 
 should leave in different parts of the province, to guard the frontiers 
 against the French, and should put all the cities and castles under 
 their management, as if they were their own property. 
 
 When the Gascons learnt that the prince of Wales intended taking 
 away with him the king of France, whom they had assisted to make 
 prisoner, they were unwilling to consent to it, and said to the prince : 
 Dear sir, we owe you, as it becomes us, all honor and obedience, 
 to the utmost of our power, but it is not our intention you should 
 carry the king of France from us, who have so largely contributed 
 by our services to place him in the situation he is now in. Thank 
 God, he is at present well in health and in a good ci*y : and we are 
 powerful enough to guard him against any force France may send 
 to take him from us." The prince replied, " My dear lords, I will- 
 ingly agree to all you have said, but the king, my father, wishes to 
 have him, and to see him. We are very sensible and thankful for 
 the services which you have done both to him and myself, and you 
 may depend on being handsomely rewarded for them." These 
 words, however, did not satisfy the Gascons, nor would they agree 
 to the departure of the king of France, until lord Reginald Cobham 
 and sir John Chandos found a means of appeasing them. They 
 were well acquainted with the avaricious disposition of the Gascons, 
 and therefore said to the prince, " Sir, sir, offer them a handsome 
 sum of florins, and you will see they will soon comply with whatever 
 you wish." Upon this, the prince offered them sixty thousand 
 florins ; but they would not listen to him : at last it was settled that 
 the prince should give them one hundred thousand florins, to be 
 distributed among the barons of Gascony, and that he might set out 
 with the king when he pleased. After this, he nominated four of 
 them as governors of the country until his return : the lords d'Albret, 
 de I'Esparre, de Pumiers, and de Rosem. This being done, the 
 prince embarked on board a handsome ship, and took with him a 
 great many Gascons ; among them were the captal de Buch, sir 
 Aymery de Tarse, the lord de Tarse, the lord de Landuras, the lord 
 de Mucident, the souldich de la Trane, and many others. 
 
 The king of France was in a ship by himself, in order that he 
 might be more at his ease. In the fleet there were five hundred men- 
 at-arms and two thousand archers, to guard against any accidents at 
 sea, and also because the prince had been informed before he left 
 Bordeaux, that the three estates, who then governed France, had 
 raised two large armies, which were posted in Normandy and at 
 Crotoy,* to meet the English, and to carry off the king, but they saw 
 nothing of them. They were eleven days and nights at sea, and on 
 the twelfth they arrived at Sandwich, where they disembarked, and 
 took up their quarters in the town and neighborhood. They re- 
 mained there two days to refresh themselves, and, on the third, set 
 out and came to Canterbury. 
 
 When the king of England was informed of their arrival, he gave 
 orders for the citizens of London to make such preparations as were 
 suitable to receive so great a prince as the king of France. Upon 
 
 * A viUage in Ficard>-, near the mouth of the Sommeu 
 
 which they all dressed themselves very richly m companies, and the 
 different manufactories of cloth appeared with various pageants.* 
 The king and prince remained one day at Canterbury, where they 
 made their offerings to the shrine of St. Thomas. On the morrow, 
 they rode to Rochester, where they reposed themselves. The third 
 day they came to Dartford, and the fourth to London, where they 
 were received with every honor and distinction, as indeed they had 
 been by all the chief towns on their road. 
 
 The king of France, as he rode th. ough Londoi#was mounted on 
 a white steed, with very rich furnitui and the prince of Wales on 
 a little black hackney by his side. Le rode through London, thus 
 accompanied, to the palace of the Savoy, which was part of the in- 
 heritance of the duke of Lancaster. There the king of France 
 kept his household for some time ; and there he was visited by the 
 king and queen of England, who often entertained him sumptuously, 
 and afterwards were very frequent in their visits, consoling him all 
 in their power. The cardinals de Perigord and St. Vital soon after 
 came to England, by command of pope Innocent VI. They en- 
 deavored to make peace between the two kingdoms, which they 
 labored hard to effect, but without success. However, by some 
 fortunate means they procured a truce between the two kings and 
 their allies, to last until St. John the Baptist's day, 1359. The lord 
 Philip de Navarre and his allies, the countess of Montfort and the 
 duchy of Brittany, were excluded from this truce. 
 
 Shortly afterwards, the king of France and all his household were 
 removed from the palace of Savoy to Windsor castle,t where he waa 
 permitted to hunt and hawk, and take what other diversions he 
 pleased in that neighborhood, as well as the lord Philip his son 
 The rest of the French lords remained at London, but they visited 
 the king as often as they pleased, and were prisoners on their parole 
 of honor. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXXIII. 
 
 DAVID BRUCE, KING OF SCOTLAND, OBTAINS HIS LIBERTY. 
 
 You have before heard how king David of Scotland had been a 
 prisoner in England, where he had remained upward of nine years. 
 Shortly after this truce was agreed to between France and England, 
 the two cardinals, in conjunction with the bishop of St. Andrew's in 
 Scotland, undertook the enlargement of the king of Scotland. The 
 treaty was formed upon this ground, that the king of Scotland should 
 never bear arms against the king of England, in his realm ; neither 
 advise nor consent that any of his subjects should molest or wage 
 war upon the English: that the king of Scotland, upon his return to 
 his kingdom, should make every exertion in his power to obtain his 
 subjects' consent that the crown of Scotland be held in fief and 
 homage from the king of England. If the country would not submit 
 to this, then the king of Scotland would swear solemnly to maintain 
 and keep a firm and lasting peace with the king of England. He 
 was also to bind himself and his kingdom, as its own real lord and 
 heir, in the payment of five hundred thousand nobles within ten 
 years. And, upon the demand of the king of England, he was to 
 send good hostages and securities for the performance of this treaty, 
 such as the earl of Douglas, the earl of Moray, the earl of Mar, the 
 earl of Sutherland, the earl of Fife, sir Thomas Bisset and the bishop 
 of Caithness, who were to remain in England as prisoners or hostages 
 for their lord and king until there should have been paid the whole 
 of the above sum. Public instruments were drawn up according to 
 these resolutions and obligations, with letters patent, sealed by each 
 of the kings. 
 
 The king of Scotland then left England, and returned to his own 
 country, with his queen Johanna,t sister to the king of England. 
 He was received by his subjects with every honorable mark of dis- 
 tinction, and, after having visited them, gave orders for his castle of 
 Scone, near Perth, to be repaired, as it was in ruins. This is a good 
 and commercial town, situated upon a river called the Tay.§ 
 
 * Unless Mr. JohneS's MSS. differed here from D. Sauvage's edition, he seems to have 
 misconceived Froissart's meaning, " Adoncquesceux de Londres se vestirent par Con- 
 nest-abiies, et tre richement: et tons les maistres, en draps differens des autres." are the 
 words in D. Sauvage's edition, wliich Lord Berners thus translates: "Then they ofLon- 
 don arrayed themselfe by companies : and the chief masters clothing different fro the 
 other:'— Eo. 
 
 t He was afterwards confined in Hertford Castle, under the guard of Roger de De.iu- 
 champ. David king of Scotland was likewise a prisoner there. John was removed to 
 different other castles, from a suspicion of his being delivered by treason or force.— 
 
 ASHMOLE. 
 
 t "There is a strange diversity among historians concerning the time of the death of 
 this unfortunate lady. Fordun, 1. xiv. c. 18, says, 'she went to England in 1357. and 
 died after she had remained there for some time. In Scala Chron. ap. Leland, 1. 1. p. 
 568, it is said, the queen of Scotland, sister to king Edward, came out of tecotland to 
 Wyndesore, to speak with him, and atler was with her mother, queen Isabella, at Hert- 
 ford, and there died. This imports, that she died either before her mother, or soon after 
 her. It is certain that her mother died in the autumn, ia58.' F'.rdun and the author of 
 ' Scala Chronica are in a mistake. Queen Johanna must have lived beyond the year 
 ! 1357 or tloe year la^S. Her husband speaks of her as alive on the 21st February, 1358-9, 
 ! Foedera, t. vi. p. 118. Nay more, on the 2nd May, 1362, a passport is granted by Edward 
 III. to .John Heryne, the servant of Johanna queen of Scotland, our sister; Fcdera, t. 
 vi. p. 364: and, therefore, I incline to follow VValsingham, p. 179. who places her death 
 inl362."— ./^TtTja/so/Scof/anrf, vol. ii. p.250. 
 
 § "The treaty which hnd been in agitation so many years was at length concluded, 
 at Ber\vick, 3rd October, 1357. By it the king of Scots was released, after a captivity of 
 eleven years The Scottish nation agreed to pay one hundred thousand marks sterling 
 as the raiKom of their sovereign, by yearly payment* of ten thousand marks on the 24th 
 Jun*. 
 
in 
 
 CHAPTER CLXXIV. 
 
 THE DUKE OF LANCASTER LAYS SIEGE TO RENNES. 
 
 About the middle of May, in the year 1357, the duke of Lancaster 
 raised a large body of men-at-arms, of English and Bretons, for the 
 assistance of the countess of Montfort and her young son, who at 
 that time bore arms, and was a party in their excursions. There 
 might be a thousand men-at-arms, well equipped and appointed, and 
 five hundred others among tiie archers. The army left Hennebon, 
 scouring and burning all the country until they came to the good 
 town of Rennes, which the duke besieged on every side, and lay a 
 long time before it, making many assaults, by which he gained not 
 much, for there were in the town the viscount de Rohan, the lord de 
 Laval, sir Charles de Dinan, and many others. 
 
 There was also in the town a young knight-bachelor called sir 
 Bertrand du Guesclin, who, during the siege of Rennes, fought with 
 an Englishman named sir Nicholas Dagworth. The terms of the 
 combat were to be three courses with spears, three strokes with bat. 
 tie-axes, and three stabs with daggers. The two knights behaved 
 most valiantly, and parted without hurting each other. They were 
 seen with pleasure by both armies.* The lord Charles of Blois was 
 at that time returned to the country: but, as he could not bear arms 
 himself, he was perpetually teazing the regent of France to send him 
 a sufficiency of men-at-arms to raise the siege of Rennes. But the 
 regent was too much occupied with the affairs of France, which were 
 in great confusion, to attend to his request, and therefore the siege 
 of Rennes was still continued. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXXV. 
 
 A KNIGHT OF THE COUNTBY OF EVREUX, CALLED SIR WILLIAM DE GRA- 
 VILLE, RECONQUERS THE CITY AND CASTLE OF EVREUX FROM THE 
 ZING OF FRANCE, WHO HAD TAKEN IT FROM THE KING OF NAVARRE. 
 
 A KNIGHT, named the lord de Graville, who was attached to the 
 king of Navarre by his faith and oath, was much hurt at his imprison- 
 ment, as were likewise many of the inhabitants of the Evreux ; but 
 they could not help themselves so long as the castle was in the 
 «nemy's possession. This sir William lived about two short leagues 
 from Evreux, and whenever he came to that city, was received by a 
 citizen, who in former times had been a great friend to the king of 
 Navarre. When sir William came to the house of this citizen, he 
 ate with him, and, during their repasts, discoursed on various sub- 
 jects, but generally of the king of Navarre, and of his imprisonment, 
 which vexed them sorely. 
 
 It happened one day that sir William said to him : " If you will 
 give me your assistance, I will surely reconquer this city and castle 
 for the king of Navarre. "How will you do that?" replied the citi- 
 zen, " for the governor is strongly attached to the French interest ; 
 and, without having gained the castle, we dare not show ourselves, 
 for he is master of the town and suburbs." Sir William answered : 
 "I will tell you. You must get three or four citizens of your friends, 
 that are of the same way of thinking as yourself, and fill your houses 
 well with armed men that can be depended on ; and I promise you 
 on my head, that we will enter the castle by a trick, without incur- 
 ring any danger." The citizen was so active, that he soon collected 
 a hundred of his friends, who were as well inclined as himself. 
 
 Sir William went in and out of the town without any suspicion ; 
 for he had not borne arms in the last expedition with the lord Philip 
 de Navarre, because the greater part of his property lay near to 
 Evreux, and the king of France, at the time he conquered Evreux, 
 had made all the landholders in the neighborhood swear allegiance 
 to him, otherwise he would have taken possession of their lands ; he 
 had thus only gained outwardly their affections, but their hearts re- 
 mained attached to the interest of Navarre. If Wing John, however, 
 had been in France, this sir William would not have dared to attempt 
 what he performed. But he perceived the embarrassed state of pub- 
 lie affairs, and that the three estates were desirous of giving the king 
 of Navarre his liberty. 
 
 Sir William having made his preparations, the citizens were ap. 
 prized what they were to do : he armed himself at all points, put on 
 
 " Twenty yuung men of quality, and among them the eldest son of the Stewart, were 
 to be given as hostages ; and for further security, three of the following great lords were 
 to place themselves in the hands of the English : the Stewart, the earis of March, Mar, 
 Ross, Angus, and Sutherland, lord Douglas and Thomas Moray of Bothwell. it was 
 provided, that a truce should continue between the two nations until complete payment 
 of the ransom. 
 
 " The king of Scots, the nobility and the boroughs, ratified this treaty the 6th of Octo- 
 ber, and the bishops rutitied it on the following day. 
 
 "David, immediately after his relense, summoned a parliament, laid the treaty before 
 the tliree estates, obtained their approbation, and then ratified the treaty anew at Scone 
 6th November:'— Jl finals of Scotland, vol. ii. p. 244. ' ' 
 
 * The historian of Brittany says, it was William de Blancbourg, brother to the gov- 
 ernor of Fougerai, who had been slain by Bertrand. In confirmation of this Dugdale 
 makes no mention of this duel, which he would probably have done, had sir' Nicholas 
 Uag^vonh been tlie person. 
 
 Bertrand, in the first course, pierced the coat of mail of Blancbourg, and his own 
 iielmet suffered the same. The two ensuing courses were harmless. Bertrand asked if 
 he would run three more : which was accepted. In the first course, Bertrand struck him 
 JO violently on t.ie l)ody, his lance entered very deep, and unhorsed him. He would not 
 
 .ll J""' 'H'^^^} ^" ^''^ ^""^^ «^ LaucMter. but wi2«d iiu horn, whieh he carried 
 •way as a trophy of hu vietory. 
 
 a short gown, and over all his cloak. He had under his aim a small 
 batt'e-axe, and, thus equipped, he came, attended by his servant, 
 whom he had let into the secret, to walk upon the square before the 
 castle, as had been of late his custom. He walked there £0 long a 
 time, that the governor, who usually came to the gate twice or thrice 
 about that time, opened the gate of the castle to look about him, but 
 it was only the wicket-gate, and he placed himself right before it. 
 When sir William perceived him, he approached nearer hy little and 
 little, saluting him most respectfully. The governor, though he re. 
 turned the salute, kept his position. Sir William, however, at last 
 came up to him, and began to converse with him on different sub 
 jects : he inquired if he had heard what was doing in France. The 
 governor, from being constantly shut up in the castle, had enjoyed 
 little communication from without, and being eager to learn the 
 news, replied that he had heard nothing, and would thank him to let 
 him know what was passing. "Very willingly," answered sir Wil- 
 liam. " It is reported in France, that the kings of Denmark and 
 Iceland* have made an alliance, and have sworn never to return to 
 their countries before they shall have destroyed England and brought 
 back the king of France to Paris. They have an armament at sea, 
 with upward of one hundred thousand men : and the English are so 
 much alarmed and frightened, that they knov/ not which way to turn 
 themselves to defend their coasts ; for it was a very old saying with 
 them that they were to be destroyed by the Danes." The governoi 
 inquired from whom he had learnt this news. Sir William said, that 
 a knight in Flanders had written it to him as a fact, and added, 
 "He has sent me the handsomest set of chess men I ever saw." He 
 had invented this tale, because he had learnt the governor was very 
 fond of playing at chess. The governor said, he should be very 
 glad to see them. "Well," replied sir William, "I v/ill send for 
 them, but on condition you play with me for some wine;" and, turn- 
 ing to his servant, said, " Go, look for the chess-board and men, and 
 bring them to us at the gate." / 
 
 The servant set off, and the governor and sir William entered the 
 first gate of the castle. The governor fastened the v.'icket on the 
 inside with a bolt, but did not lock it. Sir William said, " Governor, 
 open this second gate ; you may do it without any ri^k." The 
 governor opened the wicket only, and let sir William pass through 
 to see the inside of the castle, while he himself followed. The 
 servant, in the mean time, went to those citizens who had the srmed 
 men in their houses, led them up to th# castle, and then hlew his 
 horn, as had been agreed on between him and his master. When 
 sir William heard the horn, he said to the governor, " Let us go out, 
 and pass this second gate, for my servant will soon return." Sir 
 William repassed this wicket, and stood close by it on the other 
 side. When the governor had put one foot through, and had lowered 
 his head, sir William drew out the axg he had under his cloak, and 
 struck him such a blow that he split his head asunder, and felled 
 him dead on the sill of the door. He then went to the first gate, 
 which he opened. 
 
 The watch of the castle had heard with astonishment the servant's 
 horn, for it had been proclaimed in the city, that no one should dare 
 to sound a horn, under pain of losing his hand. He perceived also 
 armed men running toward the castle ; upon which he sounded his 
 horn, and cried out, " Treason ! treason !" Those that were in the 
 castle hastened to the gate, which, to their surprise, they found open 
 the governor lying dead across it, and sir William, his axe in his 
 hand, guarding the passage. The men-at-arms, who were to assist 
 him, soon arrived, and having passed the fii*st and second gates, 
 fiercely drove back the garrison. Several were killed, and as many 
 taken as they chose. They entered the castle : and in this manner 
 was the strong castle of Evreux retaken. The citizens and inhabit- 
 ants of the town immediately surrendered, when they drove out all 
 the French. They sent to inform lord Philip de Navarre of this 
 event, who was but lately returned from England. He came imme- 
 diately to Evreux, and made it his principal garrison to carry the war 
 into the rich country of Normandy. There were with him sir Robert 
 KnoUes, sir James Pipe, the lord Fricquet de Fricquant, le Eascle de 
 Marneil, sir John Jewel, who afterward, as you will hear in thii 
 history, did much mischief to France. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXXVI. 
 
 THE ARCHPRIEST ASSEMBLES A COMPANY OF MEN-AT-ARMS — ^HF. IS NVCh 
 
 HONORED AT AVIGNON. 
 
 About this period, a knight, named sir Arnold de Cervole, but 
 more commonly called the archpriest, collected a large body of men- 
 at-arms, who came from all parts, seeing that their pay would not be 
 continued in France, and that, since the capture of the king, there 
 was not any probability of their gaining more in that country. They 
 marched first into Provence, where they took many strong towns and 
 castles, and ruined the country by their robberies as far as Avignon 
 Pope Innocent VI., who resided in Avignon, was much alarmed, as 
 not knowing what might be the intentions of the archpriest, the leader 
 of these forces ; and, for fear of personal insult, he and the cardinals 
 kept their household armed day and night. When the archpriest 
 and his troops had pillaged all the country, the pope and clergy entered 
 
 *Irtland, According to 0% Sauvage and iiord Bepoon.-'Eo, 
 
112 
 
 CHRON-CLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 into treaty with him. Having received proper security, he and the 
 greater part of his people entered Avignon, where he was received with 
 as much respect as if he had been son to the king of France. He dined 
 many times with the pope and cardinals, who gave him absolution 
 from all his sins ; and, at his departure, they presented him with forty 
 thousand crowns, to distribute among his companions. These men, 
 therefore, marched away to different places, following, however, the 
 directions of the archpriest.* 
 
 CHAPTER CLXXVII. 
 
 k WELSHMAN, OF THE NAME OF RUFFIN,t COMMANDS A TROOP OF THE 
 
 FREE COMPANIES. 
 
 At this time, also, there was another company of men-at-arms, or 
 robbers, collected from all parts, who stationed themselves between 
 the rivers Loire and Seine, so that no one dared to travel between 
 Paris and Orleans, nor between Paris and Montargis, or even to re- 
 main in the country : the inhabitants on the plains had all fled to 
 Paris and Orleans. This company had chosen for their leader a 
 Welshman named Ruffin, whom they had knighted, and who ac- 
 quired such immense riches as could not be counted. These com- 
 panies advanced one day near to Paris, another day toward Orleans, 
 another time to Chartres ; and there was no town nor fortress but 
 what was taken and pillaged, excepting such as were strongly gar- 
 risoned. St. Arnout,t Galardon,§ Broumaulx, Aloes, Estampes,|| 
 ChartreSjIT Montlehery,** Plouviers in the Gatinois, Mil'y,tt Lar- 
 chantjU Chatillon,§§ Montargis,|||| Yssieres, were plundered, and so 
 many other towns that it would be difficult to recount them all. 
 
 They rode over the country in parties of twenty, thirty, or forty, 
 meeting with none to check their pillage ; while, on the sea-coast of 
 Normandy, there were still a greater number of English and Navar- 
 rois, plunderers, and robbers. Sir Robert Knolles was their leader, 
 who conquered every town and castle he came to, as there was no 
 one to oppose him. Sir Robert had followed this trade for some 
 time, and by it gained upward of 100,000 crowns. He kept a grea t 
 many soldiers in his pay ; and, being very liberal, he was cheerfully 
 followed and obeyed. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXXVIII. 
 
 THE PROVOST OF THE MERCiJaNTS OF PARIS KILLS THREE KNIGHTS IN 
 THE APARTMENT OF THE PRINCE. 
 
 During the time that the three estates governed the kingdom, all 
 sorts of people united themselves together, under the name of Free 
 Companies ; they made war upon every man that was worth robbing. 
 I must here inform you that the nobles and prelates of the realm 
 and church began to be weary of the government and regulations 
 of the three estates : they therefore permitted the provost of the 
 merchants to Paris to summon some of the citizens, because they 
 were going greater lengths than they approved of. 
 
 It happened one day, when the regent of France was in his palace 
 at Paris, with many knights, nobles, and prelates, that the provost 
 of the merchants collected also a great number of the common 
 people of Paris who were devoted to him, all wearing capslTIF similar 
 to his own, that they might know each other ; and attended by this 
 crowd, the provost came to the palace. He entered the apartment 
 of the duke, and demanded of him, in an insolent manner, to take 
 the management of the kingdom of France, and to govern it wisely 
 (since it would become his by inheritance,) that all those free compa. 
 nies, who at present were overrunning the country, might be prevented 
 from doing further mischief. The duke replied that he would very 
 willingly comply with his request, if he had the means to carry it 
 into execution, but that it more properly belonged to those who had 
 raised and received the imposts due to the realm, to perform it. 
 I cannot pretend to say how it happened, but words increased so 
 much and with such warmth, that at last three of the principal coun- 
 sellors of the duke were slain, and so near to him that their blood 
 flew over his robe : he himself was in very great danger, but they 
 had put one of their caps on his head, and he consented to pardon 
 the death of his three knights. Two of them were knights of arms, 
 and the other of laws. Their names were, the lord Robert de Cler- 
 mont, a gallant and magnificent knight, and the lord de Conflans : 
 the knight of laws was the lord Simon de Buci.*** 
 
 * " So some of liis company departed : but styll the archpriest kept company to- 
 cether.— Lord Rkrnkrs. 
 
 Barnes calls liim Griffith, but mentions no authority. 
 XA town in Beauce, election of Dourdon. 
 5 A town in Beauce, election of Clmrtres. 
 II A city in Beauce, thirteen leagues from Paris. 
 
 II A city of Orleanois, capital ol Beauce, twenty-two leagues from Paris. 
 **A town in the isle of France, seven leagues from Paris, 
 tt A market-town in Giitinois. 
 ttSt. Mathurin de Larchant, a town in Gatinois. 
 §§ A town in Beauce, election of Chateaudun. 
 II!' l^opiial of Gatinois, twenty-seven leagues and a half from Paris. 
 Mi partie lileu. 
 
 m*>r Etienne Marcel was provost of the merchants. The president, Henault, only men- 
 tions Robert ile (.-lermont, marechal de Norniandie, and Jean de (Conflans, marechal de 
 Champagne, as having t)een slain iti the apartment of the regent. Rlezeruy says the 
 •anie. fcimoi> de Buci he states as premier president, and ennobled 13©. This msolence 
 ot Marc«l h« puts under Uie ysur 1368, and the king of 2ittvaire'»escap« from prison 
 
 CHAPTER CLXXIX. 
 
 BY WHAT MEANS THE KING OF NAVARRE ESCAPES OUT OF PRISON. 
 
 Shortly after this happened, the lord John de Piquigny and 
 some other knights, through the advice of the provost of merchants 
 and the principal persons of some of the other considerable towns, 
 went to the strong castle of Alleres* in Pailleul, situated in Picardy, 
 where the king of Navarre was imprisoned, under the guard of sir 
 Tristan du Bois. These gentlemen bi ought such certain and assured 
 tokens to the governor, that he allowt d them to watch the opportu- 
 nity when sir Tristan should be absexit, so that by their means the 
 king of Navarre was delivered out of his prison, and carried by 
 them with great joy to Amiens, where he was gladly and honorably 
 received. 
 
 He dismounted at the house of a canon, who was much attached 
 to him, whose name was the lord Guy Kyrec. The king was con- 
 ducted thither by the lord John de Piquigny ; and he remained 
 with the canon fifteen days, until he had completed his equipage, 
 and was assured of the duke of Normandy's dispositions ; for the 
 provost of the merchants, who much loved him, obtained by entrea- 
 ties his pardon from the duke, as well as from his fellow-citizens at 
 Paris. Upon this, the king of Navarre was escorted to Paris by the 
 lord John de Piquigny and others, citizens of Amiens, where he was 
 gladly seen by all sorts of people : even the duke of Normandy en. 
 tertained him ; for it was necessary he should do so, as the provost 
 and his faction had exhorted him to it ; and the duke dissembled his 
 own inclinations, to comply with those of the provost and the Pa- 
 lisians. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXXX. 
 
 THE KING OF NAVARRE MAKES A SOLEMN HARANGUE TO THE PARISIANS. 
 
 When the king of Navarre had been some time in Paris, he col- 
 lected an assembly of all sorts of people ; prelates, knights, and the 
 students at the university. He made to them a very long and studied 
 harangue in Latin. The duke of Normandy was likewise present. 
 He complained of the grievances and ills he had unju£<ly suffered, 
 and said that no one could possibly entertain a doubt that his sole 
 wish must be to live and die defending the realm and crown of 
 France. It was his duty so to do ; for he was descended from it, in 
 a direct line, both by father and mother ; and by his words he gave 
 them to understand, that if he chose to challenge the realm and 
 crown of France for himself, he could show that his right to them 
 was incontestably stronger than that of the king of England. 
 
 It must be observed, that he v. as heard with great attention, and 
 much commended. Thus, by little and little, he won the hearts of 
 the Parisians, who loved and respected him more than they did the 
 regent, duke of Normandy. Many other cities and towns in France 
 followed this example : but, notwithstanding all the love and affec 
 tion which the provost of merchants and the Parisians showed to ths 
 king of Navarre, the lord Philip de Navarre would not be seduced 
 by it, or consent to come to Paris. He said, that in commonalties 
 there was neither dependence nor union, except in the destruction 
 of everything good. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXXXI. 
 
 THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE INFAMOUS JAQUERIE OF BEAUVOISIS. 
 
 Soon after the deliverance of the king of Navarre out of prison, a 
 marvellous and great tribulation befel the kingdom of France, in 
 Beauvoisis, Brie, upon the river Marne, in the Laonnois, and in the 
 neighborhood of Soissons. Some of the inhabitants of the country 
 towns assembled together in Beauvoisis, without any leader : they 
 were not at first Aore than one hundred men. They said that the 
 nobles of the kingdom of France, knights and squires, were a dis- 
 grace to it, and that it would be a very meritorious act to destroy 
 them all : to which proposition every one assented, and added, shame 
 befal him that should be the means of preventing the gentlemen 
 from being wholly destroyed. They then, without further counsel, 
 collected themselves in a body, and with no other arms than the 
 staves shod with iron, which some had, and others with knives, 
 marched to the house of a knight who lived near, and breaking it 
 open, murdered the knight, his lady, and all the children, both great 
 and small ; they then burnt the house. 
 
 After this, their second expedition was to the strong castle of 
 another knight, which they took, and, having tied hmi to a stake, 
 many of them violated his wife and daughter before his eyes : they 
 then murdered the lady, her daughter, and the other children, and 
 last of all the knight himself, with much cruelty. They destroyed 
 and burnt his castle. They did the like to many castles and hand- 
 some houses ; and their numbers increased so much that they were 
 in a short time upward of six thousand : wherever they went, they 
 received additions, for all of their rank in life followed them, while 
 every one else fled, carrying off with them their ladies, damsels, and 
 children, ten or twenty leagues dista nt, where they thought they 
 
 * Q. if not Allery, which is a town in Picardy, near to Amiens. It was said before, 
 that the castle of Crevacoeur was his prison- Barnes says it was Arleuz, a town in 
 tbe dioces* of Cumbray aad Douax. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 113 
 
 could place them in security, leaving their houses, with all their 
 riches in them. 
 
 These wicked people, without leader and without arms, plundered 
 and burnt all the houses they came to, murdered every gentleman, 
 and violated every lady and damsel they could find. He who com- 
 mitted the most atrocious actions, and such as no human creature 
 
 Battle of Meaux, in Brie, where the Jacquerie were defeated by the count de Foix and the captal de Buch 
 
 Fifteenth Century. 
 
 would have imagined, was the most applauded, and considered as 
 the greatest man among them. I dare not write the horrible and 
 mconceivable atrocities they committed on the persons of the ladies. 
 
 Among other infamous acts, they murdered a knight ; and having 
 fastened him to a spit, roasted him before the eyes of his v/ife and 
 his children, and, after ten or twelve had violated her, they forced 
 her to eat some of her husband's flesh, and then knocked her brains 
 out. They had chosen a king among them, who came from Cler- 
 mont in Beauvoisis : he was elected as the worst of the bad, and 
 they denominated him James Goodman.* These wretches burnt 
 and destroyed in the county of Beauvoisis, and at Corbie, Amiens, 
 and "Montdidier, upward of sixty good houses and strong castles. 
 By the acts of such traitors in the country of Brie and thereabout, it 
 behoved every lady, knight, and squire, having the means of escape, 
 to fly to Meaux, if they wished to preserve themselves from being 
 insulted and afterwards murdered. The duchess of Normandy, the 
 duchess of Orleans, and many other ladies, had adopted this course 
 to save themselves from violation. These cursed people thus sup- 
 ported themselves in the countries between Paris, Noyon, and Sois- 
 sons, and in all the territory of Coucy, in the county of Valois. In 
 the bishoprics of Noyon, Laon, and Soissons, there were upward 
 of one hundred castles and good houses of knights and squires de- 
 Btroyed. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXXXIII. 
 
 THE KING OF NAVARRE DEFEATS MANY OF THESE VILLAINS IN BEAU- 
 VOISIS. THE PROVOST OF MERCHANTS BUILDS A WALL ROUND PARIS. 
 
 When the gentlemen of Beauvoisis, Corbie, Vermandois, and of 
 the lands where these wretches were associated, saw to what lengths 
 their madness had extended, they sent for succor to their friends in 
 Flanders, Hainault, and Bohemia : from which places numbers soon 
 came, and united themselves with the gentlemen of the country. They 
 began therefore to kill and destroy these wretches wherever they 
 met them, and hung them up by troops on the nearest trees. The 
 king of Navarre even destroyed in one day, near Clermont in Beau- 
 voisis, upward of three thousand : but they were by this time so 
 much increased in number, that had they b een altogether, they would 
 
 * Jacques Bon Homme. 
 
 have amounted to more than one hundred thousand. When they 
 were asked for what reason they acted so wickedly ; they replied, 
 they knew not, but they did so because they saw others do it ; and 
 they thought that by this means they should destroy all the nobles 
 and gentlemen in the world. 
 
 At this period, the duke of Normandy, suspecting the king of 
 
 Navarre, the provost of 
 merchants and those 
 of his faction, for they 
 were always unani- 
 mous in their senti- 
 ments, set out from 
 Paris, and went to the 
 bridge at Charenton- 
 upon-Marne, where he 
 issued a special sum- 
 mons for the attend, 
 ance of the crown 
 vassals, and sent a de- 
 fiance to the provost 
 of merchants, and to 
 all those who should 
 support him. The pro- 
 vost, being fearful he 
 would return in the 
 night-time to Paris, 
 (which was then un- 
 inclosed,) collected as 
 many workmen as pos- 
 sible from all parts, 
 and employed them to 
 make ditches quite 
 round Paris. He also 
 surrounded it by a 
 wall with strong gates. 
 For the space of one 
 year, there were three 
 hundred workmen 
 daily employed ; the 
 . expense of which was 
 equal to maintaining 
 an army. I must say, 
 that to surround, with 
 a sufficient defence, 
 such a city as Paris, 
 was an act of greater 
 utility than any pro- 
 vost of merchants had 
 ever done before ; for 
 otherwise it would 
 
 have been plundered and desti'oyed several times by the different 
 factions. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXXXIV. 
 
 THE BATTLE OF MEAUX IN BRIE, WHERE THE VILLAINS ARE DISCOMFITED 
 BY THE EARL OF FOIX AND THE CAPTAL OF BUCH. 
 
 At the time these wicked men were overrunning the country, the 
 earl of Foix, and his cousin the captal of Buch were returning from a 
 croisade in Prussia.* They were informed, on their entering France, 
 of the distress the nobles were in ; and they learnt, at the city of 
 Chalons, that the duchess of Orleans, and three hundred other ladies, 
 under the protection of the duke of Orleans, were fled to Meaux on 
 account of these disturbances. The two knights resolved to go to 
 the assistance of these ladies, and to reinforce them with all their 
 might, notwithstanding the captal was attached to the English ; but 
 at that time there was a trace between the two kings. They might 
 have in their company about sixty lances. They were most cheer- 
 fully received, on their arrival at Meaux, by the ladies and damsels ; 
 for these Jacks and peasants of Brie had heard what number of ladies, 
 married and unmarried, and young children of quality, were in 
 Meaux ; they had united themselves with those of Valois, and were 
 on their road thither. On the other hand, those of Paris had also been 
 informed of the treasures Meaux contained, and had set out from 
 that place in crowds . having met the others, they amounted together to 
 nine thousand men : their forces were augmenting every step they 
 advanced. 
 
 They came to the gates of the town, which the inhabitants opened 
 to them, and allowed them to enter ; they did so in such numbers 
 that all the streets were quite filled, as far as the market-place, which 
 is tolerably strong, but it required to be guarded, though the river 
 Marne nearly surrounds it. The noble dames who were lodged there, 
 seeing such multitudes rashing toward them, were exceedingly 
 frightened. On this, the two lords and their company advanced to 
 the gate of the market-place, which they had opened, and marching 
 under the banners of the earl of Foix and duke of Orleans, and the 
 
 From a MS. Froissart of the 
 
 * Barnes says that the lord Fauconbridge was with them, and quotes Du^dale, vol. H 
 p 4 ; but I do not see that he mentions anythins relative to this mMwr, except that Aa. 
 made A voyage to the Holy Land. 
 
114 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FCANCE, SPAIN, <fcc. 
 
 ;:3nnon of the captal of Buch, posted themselves in front of this peas- 
 antry, who were badly armed. When these banditti perceived such 
 c. troop of gentlemen, so well equipped, sally forth to guard the mar- 
 ket-place, the foremost of them began to fall back. The gentlemen 
 t!ien followed them, using their lances and swords. When they felt 
 t le weight of their blows, ihey, through fear, turned about so fast, 
 t >.ey fell one over the other. All manner of armed persons then 
 ru.shed out of the barriers, drove them before them, striking them 
 down like beasts, and clearing the town of them ; for they kept 
 neither regularity nor order, slaying so many that they were tired. 
 They flung them in great heaps into the river. In short, they killed 
 upward of seven thousand. Not one would have escaped, if they 
 had chosen to pursue them further. 
 
 On the return of the men-at-arms, they set fire to the town of 
 Meaux, burnt it ; and all the peasants they could find were shut up 
 in it, because they had been of the party of the Jacks. Since this 
 discomfiture which happened to them at Meaux, they never collected 
 again in any great bodies ; for the young Enguerrand de Coucy* had 
 plenty of gentlemen under his orders, who destroyed them, wherever 
 they could be met with, without mercy .t 
 
 CHAPTER CLXXXV. 
 
 PARIS BESIEGED BY THE DUKE OF NORMANDY, REGENT OF FRANCE. 
 
 Not long after this event, the duke of Normandy assembled many 
 noblemen and gentlemen, as well those of his own kingdom as from 
 the empire, by means of subsidies. They might amount, in the 
 whole, to more than three thousand lances. With this force he 
 marched to lay siege to Paris, toward the suburbs of St. Antoine, 
 along the river Seine. He took up his quarters at St. Maur,t and 
 encamped his army in that neighborhood ; whence he made excur- 
 sions with it every day toward Paris. Sometimes the duke resided 
 at Charenton, at others at St. Maur. 
 
 Nothing could enter Paris, by land or water, on that side ; for the 
 duke had possession of the two rivers, Marne and Seine : his people 
 had burnt all the villages around Paris, which were not inclosed, in 
 order to chastise more severely the Parisians. Paris itself would 
 have been destroyed if it had not been fortified, as before related ; 
 and no one dared to enter or go out of it, for fear of the duke's army, 
 who scoured both sides of the Seine as they pleased, for none ven- 
 tured to oppose them. The provost of merchants still continued his 
 attachment to the king of Navarre as strong as ever ; as did the 
 council and commonalty of Paris ; and, as before said, he employed 
 people night and day the more strongly to fortify the city. He had 
 also a large body of men-at-arms, Navarre soldiers and English arch- 
 ers, and other companions with him. There were among the inhab- 
 itants some very determined and able men, such as John Maillart, 
 his brother Symon, and many of their relations, by whom he was 
 very much disliked on account of his hatred to the duke of Normandy; 
 but the provost had attached to himself such a strong party, that no 
 one dared to contradict him, unless he wished to be murdered with- 
 out mercy. 
 
 The king of Navarre, who was acquainted with all this variance 
 between the duke of Normandy and the Parisians, justly imagined, 
 that things could not long continue in their present state ; nor had he 
 any very great confidence in the commonalty of Paris : he therefore 
 quitted Paris as handsomely as he could, and went to St. Denis, 
 where there was a large body of men-at-arms in the pay of the Pari- 
 sians. In this position, the kiiig remained for six weeks, and the 
 duke at Charenton. The two armies pillaged and ruined the country 
 on all sides. The archbishop of Sens, the bishop of Auxerre, the 
 bishop of Beauvais, the lord of Montmorency, the lord of Fiennes and 
 the lord de St. Venant, undertook to mediate between them. They 
 managed so wisely with both parties, that the king of Navarre, of his 
 own free will and accord, went to the duke, his brother-in-law, at 
 Charenton, and made excuses for having given him cause of suspi- 
 cion. First, for the death of the two marshals and master Simon de 
 Buci ; also for the insult which the provost of the merchants had 
 offered to him in his own palace at Paris, which he swore had been 
 done without his knowledge. He promised the duke to remain with 
 him at all events, during this expedition. Upon this peace was made 
 between them. The king of Navarre added, that he would have the 
 Parisians corrected for the evil deeds they had committed. The com- 
 monalty were to be included in this peace ; but the duke was to have 
 the provost of the merchants delivered up to him, and twelve of the 
 citizens, according to his choice, to punish in what manner he should 
 think best. 
 
 * Enguerrand de Coucy was one of tlie hostages given by France to England, at 
 •^iie treaty for the liberty of king John. 
 
 Edward, to attach him to his interest, married him to Isabella his second daughter, and 
 gave him very large possessions in England. He erected the barony of Bedtord into 
 an earldom in his favor. 
 
 For farther particulars relating to Enguerrand de Coucy, see M. de Zurlauben'a me- 
 moir, in tlifi xxvth vol. of the M6moires de I'Acad^mie des Inscriptions, p. 168. 
 
 t Barnes says, that "their captain, James the Goodman, being here taken alive, was 
 •ent to the dauphin, who, understanding that he had assumed the name of a king, 
 caused him to be crowned with a trivet, or the three-legged frame of an iron skellet, red 
 t. hot, and so to be hanged, in requitai for all his barbarous cruelties. 
 
 J Probably St. Maur des-Fossez. in the Isle of France. 
 
 These things being settled, the king of Navarre returned to St 
 Denis, and the duke went to Meaux in Brie, where he dismissed hia 
 army. Some of the citizens of Paris, to whom the treaty had given 
 more freedom to speak their minds, entreated the duke to return to 
 Paris, in all security, and that they would pay him every honor in 
 their power. The duke answered, " that he should consider the peace 
 as good, having sworn to it ; that it should never, with God's per- 
 mission, be infringed by him ; but that he would never again enter 
 Paris, unless he had satisfaction from those who had insulted him." 
 The provost of the merchants, and those of his faction, frequently 
 visited the king of Navarre at St. Denis : they remonstrated with him 
 on the indignation of the duke, which they had incurred on his ac- 
 count (for they had delivered him out of prison and brought him to 
 Paris, )and that in the name of God, they would not place any confi- 
 dence in the duke, nor in his council. 
 
 The king replied : " Be assured, gentlemen and friends, that you 
 shall not suffer any ills without my partaking of them ; and, as you 
 have at present the government of Paris, I would advise you to pro- 
 vide yourselves with gold and silver, so that, if there should be any 
 necessity, you may know where to find it, and send it confidentially 
 here to me at St. Denis, trusting to my faith : I will take good care 
 of it, and will keep secretly a body of men-at-arms, and other com- 
 panions, with whom, in case of need, you may make war upon your 
 enemies." The provost of the merchants followed this advice ; and 
 thrice* every week afterwards, he conducted two horses laden with 
 florins to the king of Navarre, at St. Denis, who most cheerfully 
 received them. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXXXVI. 
 
 SOME PARISIANS ARE SLAIN AT ST. CLOUD, BY THE ENGLISH WHO HAD 
 BEEN SOLDIERS IN PARIS. 
 
 There had remained in Paris a great number of the English and 
 Navarre soldiers, whom the provost and commonalty of Paris had 
 in their pay, to assist them against the duke of Normandy, and very 
 loyally and well had they served them during the time the war lasted. 
 When the treaty was concluded, between the duke and the Parisians, 
 some of these soldiers left Paris, others remained. Those that quitted 
 it went to the king of Navarre, who retained them all, but there were 
 left behind in Paris about three hundred, who enjoyed themselves, 
 and spent their money cheerfully. There happened, hov/ever, a quar- 
 rel between them and the inhabitants, when upward of sixty English 
 were slain. The provost was exceedingly angry at this, and blamed 
 the Parisians highly ; but to appease the commonalty, he seized one 
 hundred and fifty of the English, whom he confined over three gates, 
 and told the Parisians, who were so much incensed that they wanted 
 to murder them, that he would have them punished, according to 
 their deserts, which satisfied them. When night came, the provost 
 set them at liberty to go where they pleased ; they went to St. Denis 
 to the king of Navarre, who accepted their services. 
 
 In the morning, when the Parisians found that the English were 
 let out of prison, they were much enraged against the provost ; but 
 he, who was a prudent and wise man, knew well how to dissemble 
 what part he had in it, and to turn it off, so that it was soon forgotten. 
 When these soldiers, English and Navarrois, were all collected to- 
 gether at St. Denis, they were upward of three hundred. They re- 
 solved to be revenged for the murder of their companions and the 
 insults they themselves had sustained. They first sent a challenge 
 to the Parisians, and then made war upon them, cutting off and slay, 
 ing all those who issued out of the town, so that no one dared to 
 venture beyond the gates. The provost of the merchants was, upon 
 this, required to arm a part of the commonalty, and take the field, 
 for they were desirous of fighting these English. He complied with 
 their request, and said he would accompany them. He armed, there- 
 fore, a body of the Parisians, and marched out, to the number of 
 twelve hundred, who, when they were in the plains, were informed 
 that the English they were in search of were in the neighborhood of 
 St. Cloud. Upon this intelligence, they divided themselves in two 
 bodies, and took separate roads. These two parties were on their 
 ,march all that day round Montmartre, but did not meet their enemies. 
 
 It chanced that the provost had the smallest division, and, after 
 searching ■ all about, entered Paris by St. Martin's gate, without 
 having done anything. The other division, who were ignorant of 
 the return of the provost, kept the field until vespers, when they be- 
 gan their retreat, but without any regular order, like those who did 
 not look for or expect any hindrance. They came back in crowds 
 quite fatigued; some carried their helmets in their hands, others 
 slung them round tlieir necks ; some dragged their swords after them 
 on the ground, while others hung theirs on their shoulders. They 
 had taken their, road so as to enter Paris by the gate of St. Honord,t 
 when suddenly they came upon the English, to the amount of four 
 hundred, in a hollow road, who, upon seeing them, began to shout, 
 " Here are the Frenchmen !" and fell upon them, which made them 
 fly in every direction. At the first onset, there were upward of two 
 
 * Lord Berners and D. Sauvaee say twice.— Ev. 
 
 t At that period the gate of St Honor6 wai near the Quinze-Vingts "JUitntn-ts d$ 
 I rjlcadimie, tom, xvii. p. 696. 
 
CHRONICLfJS OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 115 
 
 hundred overthrown. The French, who had not kept any order in 
 their march, were so much astonished that they never thought of 
 rallying, but made the best of their way to escape, and were killed 
 in their flight like so many sheep. There were upward of six hun- 
 dred slain in this pursuit ; they were followed even beyond the bar- 
 riers of Paris. The commonalty of Paris threw all the blame of 
 this accident on the provost of the merchants, and said that he had 
 betrayed them. On the next morning, the near relations and friends 
 of those that had been slain, issued out of Paris with cars and carts, 
 to seek for the bodies of the dead to bury them : but the English 
 had placed an ambuscade near the field of battle, when they killed 
 and wounded more than six score of them. 
 
 The Parisians were thrown into great trouble and dismay, for they 
 did not know whom to trust. They were night and day under much 
 alarm, for the king of Nav^re was grown cold in his proffered as- 
 sistance to support them, on account of the peace which he had 
 sworn to the duke of Normandy, and also for the outrage which the 
 Parisians had committed on the English soldiers: he connived, 
 therefore, at the chastisement they had received. On the other hand, 
 the duke of Normandy was much enraged, that the provost of the 
 merchants should still keep the government of Paris. The provost 
 and his faction were not quite at their ease ; for the Parisians, as 
 they ji^ere well informed, despised them exceedingly. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXXXVII. 
 
 TRE DEATH OF THE PROVOST OF THE MERCHANTS OF PARIS. 
 
 The provost and those of his party held many secret councils 
 ■among themselves, to consider in what manner they could best keep 
 iheir authority. They knew they should not find mercy from the 
 duke oi" Normandy, whose general answer to the Parisians was, that 
 he would never make peace with them, until twelve persons from Paris 
 should be given up to him, according to his choice, for him to deal 
 with as he pleased. This declaration had very much alarmed the 
 provost and his friends ; they thought it preferable to remain alive 
 in good prosperity than to be destroyed, and that it was much better 
 to slay than to be slain. They entered, therefore, into a secret treaty 
 with the English, to continue on the war against Paris. It was 
 agreed upon between them, that the provost and his friends should 
 be posted over the gates of St. Honors and St. Anthony, so that the 
 English and Navarrois might together enter Paris at midnight, pro- 
 perly prepared to ruin and destroy the town, except such parts where 
 signals should be placed at the doors or windows : wherever this 
 signal was not found, they were to put men and women to the 
 sword. 
 
 The night on which this enterprise was to take place, God showed 
 his mercy to some of the citizens who had always been attached to 
 the duke, that is to say, John Maillart, his brother Symon, and many 
 others, by divine inspiration (as one may well suppose it) gained in- 
 formation that Paris was to be sacked and destroyed. They there- 
 fore armed themselves secretly, made all their party do the same, 
 and whispered their suspicions abroad, in order to acquire more help. 
 They all came properly armed, a little before midnight, to the gate of 
 St. Anthony, where they found the provost of the merchants vAih the 
 keys of the gate in his hand. Upon this, John Maillart said to him, cal- 
 ling him by his name : " Stephen, what do you here at this time of 
 night?" The provost replied: "John, why do you ask it? I am here to 
 take care of, and to guard the city, of which I have the government." 
 " By God," answered John, " things shall not go on so : you are not 
 here at this hour for any good, which I will now show you," addres- 
 sing himself to those near him ; " for see how he has got the keys 
 of the gate in his hand, to betray the city." The provost said, 
 " John, you lie." John replied, " It is you, Stephen, who lie ;" and 
 rushing on him, cried to his people, " Kill them, kill them : now strike 
 home, for they are all traitors." There was a very great bustle ; and 
 the provost would gladly have escaped, but John struck him such a 
 blow with his axe on the head, that he felled him to the ground, 
 although he was his comrade, and never left him until he had killed 
 him. Six others, who were present, were also killed : the remainder 
 were carried to prison. They then put themselves in motion, and 
 awakened every one in the different streets of Paris. 
 
 John Maillart and his party went to the gate of St. Honors, where 
 they found those of the provost's faction, whom they accused of 
 treason, and whose excuses were of no avail. Many of them were 
 taken, and sent to different prisons : those who would not suffer 
 themselves to be made prisoners, were slain without mercy. This 
 same night, all those who were inculpated in the treason, for which 
 the provost was slain, were taken in their beds ; for those who had 
 been sent to prison had confessed the fact. On the morrow morning, 
 John Maillart assembled the greater part of the commonalty of Paris 
 in the market-place ; where, having mounted a scaffold, he explained, 
 in general terms, his reasons for having killed the provost of the 
 merchants. All those who had been of the faction of the provost 
 were then condemned to die by the elders of the commonalty, and 
 were accordingly executed with various tortures. 
 ^ These things done, John Maillart, who was so much in the Pari- 
 liane' favor, and some of the elders attached to him, sent Symon 
 
 Maillart and two masters in Parliament, sir John Alpnonso, and 
 master John Pastorel, to the duke of Normandy, v,'ho resided a? 
 Charenton. They related to the duke the event that had happened iv 
 Paris, and besought him to return thither to direct and counsel the 
 city henceforward, as all his adversaries were slain. The duke 
 replied, that he would willingly comply with their request. He ac- 
 cordingly came to Paris, attended by sir Arnold d'Andreghen, the 
 lord of Roye, with many other knights, and took up his lodgings in 
 the Louvre.* 
 
 * All this chapter I have translated from my copy printed on vellum, whicii is con- 
 formable to Denys Saiivage's edition, and to lord Berners's translation : but, on compar- 
 ing it with tw^o of my manuscripts, there is a very great difference; they are perfectly 
 similar in the text to the three manuscripts mentioned by M. Dacier in his memoir, "To 
 whom ought to be attributed the glory of the revolution which saved Paris durinj; tlia 
 captivity of king John V'—Memoires de VAcadimit des Inscriptions, &c., vol. xliii. 
 p. 563. 
 
 M. Dacier proves very clearly, that John Maillart, so far from being the hero who 
 saved his country, was a rebel, and connected with the provost : that the regent, on that 
 account, confiscated the property which John Maillart had in the county of Dampmar- 
 tin, and gave to John de Chastilson, earl of Porcien, and his heirs for ever, on account 
 of the services he had rendered, and was still rendering to the king, a rent charge of five 
 hundred livres of this confiscated property in Dampuiartin and elsewhere. Extracted 
 from the Tresor des Chartres— Registro 86, piece 142. 
 
 M. Dacier continues : " If this piece should leave any doubts upon the want of exact- 
 ness in the narration of Fi-oissart, I hope to be able to show, tiiatthe commonly-received 
 narration is not the true text. I believe I have found this text in *hree manuscripts in the 
 king's library, two of which are perhaps the most ancierl ar,u authentic that exist in 
 any library. One, numbered 8318, has a date, which m:u''..> its age ; upon one of the 
 leaves of the vellum, at the beginning, is written : 
 
 " ' This is a part of the chronicles done by master .lohn Froissart, a Hainaulter, from 
 the time of king Charles IV., of the wars betwer a France and England ; which chron 
 icles master William Boisratier, master of requests of the king's palace, one of his coun- 
 sellors, and counsellor also to the duke of Berry his lord, gave to the aforesaid duke hia 
 lord, in his hotel de Neelle, the 8th day of November in the year 1407.'— Signed 
 Flamkl. 
 
 " The manuscript cannot be later than this date ; and one may see by the signature of 
 W Boisratier, which is on a leaf of parchment pasted on the inside of the cover, that 
 he had been owner of it some time before he presented it to the duke of Berry ; so that 
 it may, without difficulty, be estimated as having been written the latter end ot the 14th 
 century. The second manuscript is so perfectly conformable to the first in the quality of 
 the vellum, the color of the ink, and tlie form of the letters, that it clearly belongs to the 
 same period." 
 
 M. Dacier does not believe these manuscripts copied from the same original, nor from 
 each other. He then goes on to the 
 
 "Third manuscript, numbered 6760, which is less ancient. It appears to have been 
 written toward the middle of the 15th century. In comparmg it with the Xwo preceding, 
 I have found some differences that prove it is not a copy from them. This forms a third 
 testimony in favor of the text of Froissart. As this text has never been published, 1 
 shall transcribe the whole chapter, except the first twenty lines, in which the historian 
 lays down the plan of the conspiracy of Marcel similar to what is in the printed editions. 
 
 " That very night which was to disclose all this mischief, (that is to say, the destruc- 
 tion of Paris,) God inspired and alarmed some of the citizens of Paris, who were and 
 ever had been attached to the duke of Normandy, of whom sir Pepin des Essarts and 
 sir John de Charny were the leaders ; and these were, as we may suppose, informed by 
 divine inspiration that Paris was to be overrun and destroyed. They soon armed them- 
 selves, made all those of their party do the same, and secretly spread abroad their intel 
 ligence in different quarters, that they might have more assistance. This sir Pepin then 
 set out, with many other determined companions, well armed. Sir Pepin displayed the 
 banner of France, crying out Au Roi, and A^l Due, followed by crowds of people, 
 until they came to the gate of St. Anthony, where tJjey found the provost of the mcr 
 chants, holding the keys in his hands. 
 
 " John Maillart was Lkewise there, who, having had that day a dispute with the pro 
 vost and with Josseran de Mascon, had joined the party of the duke of Normandy, 
 The provost was severely taunted by words end arguments ; and there was such a noise 
 made by the crowd, that scarcely anything could be heard : they kept crying out, ' Kill 
 them, kill them ! kill the provost of the merchants and his allies, for they are all traitors." 
 There was a great tumult; and the provost, who was standing on the steps of the fort 
 of St. Anthony, would willingly have escaped, but he was so beset that he could not. 
 Sir John de Charny struck him to the ground by a blov/ of his battle-axe on the head. 
 He was then attacked by master Peter Fouace and others, who never quitted him until 
 he was dead, as well as six of his party: among whom were Philip GuifTart, John da 
 Lille, John Poiret, Simon le Paonnier, and Giles Marcel. Many more were taken ana 
 sent to prison. They then made search in all the streets of Paris, put the town in a state 
 of security, and kept a strong guard all that night. 
 
 " You must know, that as soon as the provost of the merchants and the others, had 
 been slain and made prisoners, which happened on Tuesday, the last day of July, 1358, 
 in the afternoon, messengers were sent in haste to carry this news to the duke of Nor- 
 mandy, at that time at Meaux, which gave him, and not without reason, great pleasure. 
 He made preparations for his journey to Paris ; but, before his arrival, Josseran de Mas- 
 con, who was the treasurer to the king of Navarre, and Charles Toussac, sheriff of 
 Paris, who had been made prisoners, were executed in the square of the Greve, by hav- 
 ing their heads cut off, because they had been traitors, and were of the provost's party 
 The body of this provost and of those that had been slain with him, were dragged into 
 the court of the church of St. Catherine du Val des Ecoliers, and, naked as they were, 
 extended before the cross in that court, and left there a considerable time for the view 
 of all those that chose it: they were afterwards thrown into the river Seine. 
 
 "The duke of Normandy, who had sent a sufficiency of men-at-arms to Paris, to de- 
 fend and reinforce it against the English and Navarrois, wlio were in the neighborhood 
 continually harassing it, set out from Meaux, where he then resided, and came with 
 speed to Paris, attended by a noble and numerous escort of men-at-arms. He was re- 
 ceived by the good town of Paris, and by all persons with great joy, when he dismounted 
 at the Louvre. John Maillart was at that time near his person, and much m his grace 
 and favor; and, to say the truth, he was then very deserving of it, as you have heard 
 related above, notwithstanding he had been formerly, as it was said, one of tiie allies ol 
 the provost of the merchants. Shortly afterwards, the duke sent for the duchess of Nor- 
 mandy his wife, and all the ladies who had for some time Uiken refuge at Meaux in Brie. 
 When they came to Paris, the duchess alighted at the hotel of the duKe, which had 
 been the hotel de St. Pol, whither he had retired, and where he had remained for a con- 
 siderable time." 
 
 M. Dacier then adds : . , , , • > . c i_i 
 
 "This is the new reading I announced, and which appears to me far preferable to the 
 common one because it unites the double advantage of coming from the most authentic 
 manuscripts we know, and of agreeing much better than the printed copies, as well 
 with the contemporary historians, as with the other monuments of the times, to which 
 it may serve both as a commentary and supplement." I shall refer the reader, for further 
 proofs that John Maillart was not the hero who saved Paris, to the memoirof M. Dacier, 
 in the xliiid. vol. of the Memoirs of the Academy of Inscriptions, &c. 
 
116 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SfAlN. &.c. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXXXVIII. 
 
 THE ZIN& OF NAVARRE DECLARES WAR AGAINST FRANCE, THE FRENCH 
 KING BEING AT THE TIME A PRISONER IN ENGLAND. 
 
 When the king of Navarre was informed of the death of his great 
 f iend the provost of the merchants, and of those who were attachec 
 i-» him, he was sorely vexed; for the provost had always been very 
 favorable to his designs. And because he had the reputation of being 
 the chief cause of the provost's treasons, the lord Philip de Navarre, 
 who at that time was at St. Denis with him, advised him, as he coulc 
 not see any means of getting clear of this suspicion, to declare war 
 against the kingdom of France. He sent his challenge to the duke 
 of Normandy, to the Parisians, and to the whole realm of France 
 He quitted St. Denis, and his people overran the whole country, 
 plundering it as far as Melun-sur-Seine,* where the queen Blanche 
 his sister, the widow of king Philip, resided. That lady received 
 him cheerfully, and gave up to him everything she possessed. 
 
 The king of Navarre made this town and castle his principal gar- 
 rison. He collected men-at-arms from all parts, and soldiers from 
 Brabant, Germany, Hainault, and Bohemia. People everywhere 
 came willingly to serve under him ; for he paid them largely out of 
 the treasures he had amassed, through the means of the provost of 
 merchants, from the city of Paris, as well as from the neighboring 
 towns. The lord Philip de Navarre withdrew his forces to Mantes,t 
 and Meulan,J upon the river Seine, where he posted garrisons. Every 
 day their forces were increased by those who were desirous of getring 
 money. In this manner did the king of Navarre begin his war upon 
 the kingdom of France, which was especially directed against the 
 city of Paris, for he was master of the three rivers, the Seine. Marne, 
 and Gise. 
 
 The Navarrois multiplied so fast, that they took the strong town 
 of Creil :§ they were besides the masters of the river Oise, and the 
 strong castle of Herielle|| three leagues distant from Amiens, and 
 afterwards of MauconseiLH The capture of these three fortresses 
 was the cause of innumerable ills to the realm of France. There 
 were at least fifteen hundred combatants who were overrunning the 
 country, without any attempt made to oppose them. They soon 
 spread further, and took, shortly afterwards, the castle of St. Valery,** 
 of which they made a very strong garrison. Sir William de Bonne- 
 mare and John de Segurestt were governors of it. They had under 
 them full five hundred fighting men, with whom they scoured the 
 sountry as far as Dieppe and Abbeville, along the sea-coast, to the 
 gates of Crotoy, Roye, and Montreuil-sur-mer. These NavaiTois, 
 whenever they had determined to take a castle, whatever its strength 
 might be, never failed of succeeding. They frequently made excur- 
 sions of thirty leagues in a night, and fell upon a country that never 
 suspected they could come to them. Thus did they ruin and destroy 
 the fortresses and castles in the kingdom of France. They took 
 pleasure to summon knights, ladies, and damsels, before they were 
 ■out of bed, for their ransoms. Sometimes they seized all they had, 
 and then turned them out of doors. 
 
 The lord Fondrigais of Navarre was chief governor of Creil-upon- 
 Oise. He gave passports to those who wished to go from Paris to 
 Noyon, or from Noyon to Compiegne, or from Compeigne to Sois- 
 sons, or Laon, as well as to other parts in the neighborhood. These 
 passports were worth to him, while be remained at Creil, one hundred 
 thousand livres. Sir John de Piquigny, who, though of Picardy, 
 was strongly attached to the cause of Navarre, resided in the castle 
 of Herielle. His troops grievously oppressed the inhabitants of 
 Montdidier, Arras, Peronne, Amiens, and all that part of Picardy on 
 the river Somme. In the castle of Mauconseil were three hundred 
 men, under the command of Rabigeois de Dury,tt Charles Frang- 
 nelin, and Hannequin Frangois ; they plundered the country all 
 round Noyon, and all the large towns and monasteries which were 
 not fortified, if their inhabitants did not ransom themselves from 
 these captains, by paying them a certain number of florins weekly. 
 On any other conditions they would have been burnt and destroyed, 
 for these ruflians were very cruel to their enemies. From such causes 
 as these, the lands were uncultivated ; for no one dared to till them; 
 so that very great scarcity soon added to the disasters under which 
 the kingdom already labored. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXXXIX. 
 
 THE NAVARROIS ARE BESIEGED IN THE CASTLE OF MAUCONSEIL, BY THE 
 
 MEN OF PICARDY. 
 
 When the duke of Normandy, who resided at Paris, heard that 
 these men-at-arms were destroying the country, under the name of 
 
 Meliin— an iincient town in the Isle of France^ ten lenirues and u half from Paris, 
 t Mantes— in the Isle ot France, capital of the Mantois, Iburteeii leagues from Paris. 
 t Jleiilan, or Meullent— in the Isle of France, four leagues from Mantes, ten from Paris. 
 § Creil— a town in the Isle of France, on the Oise, twenty leagues and a half from 
 Amiens, ten leagues and a half from Paris. 
 II La Herielle— a village in Picardy, in the electiofi of Montdidier, near Breteuil. 
 IT Q. If not Maucourt, which is a village of Picardy near Noyon. 
 
 A town in Picardy, at the mouth of the Somme, four leagues and a half from 
 Abbeville. 
 
 tt ^'ir.Tohn Segar, an Englishman.— Barnes. 
 
 It Barnes snys, that "in Mauconseil were three hundred men-at-arms, tinder these 
 :aptains, Rabigois of Derry, an Irishman, Franklin and Hawkins, two jquires of Enj- 
 tand, <> r Robert KnoUes his companions." Page B44. 
 
 the king of Navarre, and that their numbers were daily increasing, 
 he sent to all the principal towns in Picardy and Vermandois, to 
 require that each should, according to his proportion, send a certain 
 number of men-at-arms, on foot and on horseback, to oppose the 
 Navarrois, who were ruining the kingdom of which he had the gov- 
 ernment. The cities and chief towns willingly complied with his 
 request ; they taxed themselves, according to their fortunes, with 
 men-at-arms, both horse and foot, archers, and cross-bowmen. These 
 advanced first toward the good city of Noyon, making straight for 
 the garrison of Mauconseil, because they thought this the weakest 
 of the fortresses of the Navarrois, and that which had most harassed 
 the inhabitants of Noyon and .the country of Vermandois. 
 
 The bishop of Noyon, the lord Raoul de Coucy, the lord de Ra- 
 venal, the lord de Chauny, the lord de Roye, and sir Matthew de 
 Roye, his brother, were the captains ind leaders of these men-at. 
 arms, and the other troops. These lords had with them many other 
 knights and squires from Picardy and Vermandois, who, laying 
 siege to Mauconseil, made many assaults on it, and hardly pressed 
 the garrison ; who, when they could not hold out much longer, sent 
 to inform sir John de Piquigny of their distressed situation. He 
 then resided in the castle of la Herielle. All these garrisons and 
 places were under his command. He made haste, therefore, to sue 
 cor his good friends in Mauconseil, and sent orders privately to the 
 garrison of Creil, to arm themselves directly, and to march to a cer- 
 tain spot which he pointed out to them ; for he meant to makie an 
 excursion through the country with all the men-at-arms under his 
 command. When they were all assembled, they amounted to one 
 thousand lances at least. They rode on, under the direction of 
 guides, all that night, without halting, and came before the castle of 
 Mauconseil at daybreak. There was so thick a fog that morning, 
 that they could not see the length of an acre of ground. Imme- 
 diately on their arrival, they fell suddenly on the French army, vho, 
 not expecting them, nor having a suflacient guard, were sleeping as 
 if in perfect safety. The Navarrois set up their cry, and began to 
 kill and cut down both men, tents, and pavilions. The skirmish 
 was very sharp, insomuch that the French had not time to arm them- 
 selves or collect together, but ran off, as fast as they could, to No- 
 yon, which was hard by, and the Navarrois after them. Many were 
 slain and unhorsed between Noyon and Orcamp,* and between 
 Noyon and Pont l'Eveque,t and in that neighborhood. The dead 
 and wounded lay in heaps on the ground, on the highways, and be- 
 tween the hedges. 
 
 The pursuit lasted as far as the gates of Noyon, which put that 
 town in great danger of being ruined ; for some of both parties who 
 were there, have declared, that if the Navarrois had chosen, they 
 might for a certainty have entered the town, as those who belonged 
 to it were so much frightened, when they returned, that they forgot, 
 or had not time to shut the gate leading to Compiegne. The bishop 
 of Noyon was taken prisoner, near the barriers, and gave his word 
 to surrender himself, or he would have been killed. On the morrow 
 the lord Raoul de Coucy was taken, as were the lord Raoul de Ravenal, 
 the lord de Chauny, and his two sons, le borgne t de Rouvroy, the 
 ord de Turte, the lord de Vendueil, the lord Anthony de Coudun, and 
 j'ull one hundred knights and squires. 
 
 There were upward of fifteen hundred men slain ; the greatest 
 OSS fell upon those who came from the city of Tournay ; they suf- 
 ] ered much, as many had come from that part. Some said, that of 
 the seven hundred which they at first were, scarcely any returned 
 )ack, but all were either killed or taken prisoners. The garrison of 
 Vfauconseil made a sally, to complete this defeat, which happened 
 in the year 1358, on the Tuesdsy following the feast of our Lady, 
 the middle of August. The Navarrois conducted the greater part 
 of their prisoners to Creil, because it was a good and strong town. 
 They acquired by this expedition much wealth, as well in jewels as 
 Dy the ransoms of their prisoners. From this time they became rich, 
 and ransomed the citizens of Tournay and those of the other towns 
 whom they had captured cheerfully, for such sort of ware as swords, 
 axes, spearheads, jackets, doublets, housings, and for all the differ- 
 ent sorts of tools they were in want of. The knights and squires 
 took their payments in ready money, in coureers or other horses ; 
 and one poor gentleman that had not wherewithal to pay, they made 
 serve for a quarter of a year : two or three were treated in this man- 
 ner.§ With regard to wines and provision, they had plenty : for all 
 the flat countries supplied them handsomely by way of ransom. The 
 towns got nothing, but in an underhand manner, or by means of 
 their passports, which they sold at a high price. By this method 
 they could obtain all they wanted, except hats of beaver, ostrich fea, 
 thers, and spearheads ; which things they never would insert in their 
 passports. The garrison of Mauconseil destroyed the greater part of 
 the fine abbey of Orchamps, at which the governor was, much en- 
 raged when informed of it. 
 
 These Navarrois spread themselves over many places, along the 
 banks of the Somme and the Oise ; and two of their men-at:arms, 
 called Rabigeois de Dury and Robin' l'Escot|| took by escalade, the 
 
 * t " Villages near Noyon. 
 
 t Q. Borgne— whether one-eyed ; or some title, as captal or souldich 1 
 
 § And of a poor gentylman that had nothing to pay, they took their seruyce for a 
 
 quarter of a yereora halle or thre quarters, as they could agTee.^—Lord Bemers—wbo 
 
 in this agrees witli D. Sauvage.— Ed. 
 II Q. The first, see note %%, 1st col.; the lecond, Robin Scott, 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN,«&c. 
 
 117 
 
 good town of Berly,* in which they placed a garrison, and strongly 
 fortified it. These two companions had in pay, under their com- 
 mand, about four hundred men, to whom they gave fixed wages, and 
 paid them every month. The garrisons of Beaulieu, Greil, Maucon- 
 seil, and la Herielle, scoured all parts of the country, as no one op- 
 posed them ; the knights having sufficient employment in guarding 
 their houses and castles. These English and Navarrois went armed 
 or unarmed, and rode over the country at their pleasure, to amuse 
 themselves, from one garrison to another, as if all had been at peace. 
 The young lord de Coucy had his towns and castles extremely well 
 guarded ; he was also lord paramount of that part of the country. 
 The canon de Robesart watched the Navarrois better than any other, 
 and harassed them much.; for frequently he had overthrown many 
 of them. 
 
 CHAPTER CXC. 
 
 SEVERAL OF THE CITIZENS OF AMIENS ATTEMPT TO GIVE UP THAT CITY 
 TO THE NAVARROIS. A FAMINE IN FRANCE. 
 
 The lord John de Plquigny, who was much attached to the king 
 of Navarre, was the chief of his council, and through whose assist- 
 ance he had escaped from prison, resided at la Herielle, three leagues 
 from Amiens. He had tampered sc successfully, by fine speeches 
 and otherwise, with several of the principal citizens of Amiens, that 
 they had consented to admit the Navarrois into the city. These 
 treacherous citizens had even hid in their chambers and garrets some 
 of the Navarrois that were to assist in destroying their town. Lord 
 John de Piquigny, lord William de Graville, lord Fricquet de Fri- 
 quant, lord Lin de Belaysy, and the lord Fondrigay, came one night, 
 with upward of seven hundred men. to the gates of the city, which 
 lead to la Herielle, on assurance of their friends within the town, 
 that they should be open ; and they kept their promise. Upon this, 
 those who had been hid in cellars and garrets sallied forth, shouting, 
 " Navarre !" while the inhabitants, being awakened, cried out, 
 " Treason, treason !" and collecting themselves together, hastened 
 toward the gate where the greatest tumult was, between the suburbs 
 and the city. The first comers defended the gate well, and with 
 good courage ; numbers were slain on both sides. If the Navarrois 
 had hastened to enter the city instantly on their arrival, they would 
 have won it ; but they loitered in the suburbs, and performed the 
 enterprise in a cowardly manner enough. 
 
 This same night, God inspired the lord Morel de Fiennes, consta- 
 ble of France, and the earl de St, Pol, who were at Corbie in great 
 force, with the design to go to Amiens. They rode there so fast, 
 and came so opportunely, that the Navarrois had but just gained the 
 suburbs : they were exerting all their efforts to win the city, and must 
 have succeeded, it these gentlemen had not arrived. As soon as 
 they had entered the city of Amiens by another gate, they advanced 
 to the place vt^here the battle raged, and having displayed their ban- 
 ners, drew up their men in the street, without passing through the 
 gate to the suburbs ; for they gave them up as lost, which in truth 
 they were. They, by this timely succor, inspired courage into the 
 men of Amiens, who lighted- the streets with a number of torches, 
 and with pitched ropes in iron lanterns. The lord John de Piquigny, 
 and the Navarrois, on hearing that these lords and their squadrons 
 were arrived, and drawn up in the city, thought that, if they remained, 
 they ran a risk of losing more than they could gain : lord John, there- 
 fore, collected his people together, and sounded a retreat, which he 
 made as handsomely as he could, but not before he had destroyed 
 and burnj the suburbs. There were at least three hundredt houses, 
 and a number of handsome hdtels, with parish churches, burnt ; for 
 nothing was spared. Thus did the Navarrois carry off" with them 
 great wealth, which they had found in the large suburbs of Amiens, 
 and returned with many prisoners to their different garrisons. 
 
 The constable and the earl of St. Pol, upon the retreat of the 
 Navarrois, separated their troops, and sent them to all the different 
 gates of the city, with orders, under pain of death, to suffer no one 
 to quit the town. On the morrow morning, these two lords, and 
 some of the citizens of Amiens, who were acquainted with the man- 
 ner in which the town had of late been governed, and who suspected 
 some of the citizens of both sexes of this treason, went to the houses 
 of those they were in search of, and arrested seven, who were soon 
 after beheaded in the public market-place. The abbot of Gars was 
 among the number, who had been an accomplice to this treason, and 
 even lodged some of the Navarrois in his house. Shortly after, six 
 of the principal inhabitants of Laon were arrested and executed, for 
 a similar crime : and it would have gone hard with the bishop of 
 Uiat place if he had been caught, for he was accused of being con- 
 cerned, which afterv/ards he could not deny : but he quitted the 
 town secretly, as he had good friends, who gave him notice of what 
 was likely to happen, and went immediately to the king of Navarre, 
 at Melun-sur-Seine, who most courteously received him. Such 
 adventures as these happened often in France : on which account, 
 the barons and knights, as well as the cities and principal towns, 
 were always upon their guard. To speak truly, the king of Na- 
 varre had many friends intermixed in every part of France ; and, if 
 
 they had not been discovered, much worse things would have bee!i 
 done, though in truth they did enough. 
 
 During this time', the duke of Normandy and his brothers resided 
 at Paris. No merchants nor others dared to venture out of the 
 town, to look after their concerns, or to take any journey : for th( y 
 were attacked and killed, whatever roads they took. The kingdo.n 
 was so full of the Navarrois, they were masters of all the flat coun- 
 tries, the rivers, and the principal towns and cities. This caused 
 such a scarcity of provisions in France, that a small cask of herrings 
 was sold for thirty golden crowns, and everything else in proportion. 
 Many of the poor died with hunger. This famine lasted more than 
 four years. The great towns, in particular, were much distressed 
 for salt, which could only be had through the ministers of the duke 
 of Normandy, who sold it at a very dear rate, in order to collect 
 more money to pay the soldiers. 
 
 * Q. If not Beaulieu, which is a town in Picardy in the diocese and election ofNoyon. 
 t Lord Berners and D. Sauvage say three thousand.— "Ev. 
 
 CHAPTER CXCI. 
 
 THE MEN OF PICARDY BESIEGE THE NAVAKROIS IN ST. VALERT. TH5 
 KINGDOM OF FRANCE IS FILLED WITH NAVARROIS. 
 
 The constable of France and the young earl of St. Pol acquired 
 great popularity in Picardy, for the succors which they had brought 
 to Amiejis. The knights and squires of that province united them- 
 selves to them ; and they thought they were now in sufficient force 
 to lay siege to St. Valery. The constable sent to all the principal 
 towns, to inform them of it : upon which those of Tournay, Lisle, 
 Douay, Airas, Bethune, St. Omer, St. Quentin, Peronne, Amiens, 
 Corbie, and Abbeville, met together: they engaged to find a certain 
 number of men, whom they sent to the constable and the earl of St. 
 Pol. Even the knights and squires of Hainault put themselves in 
 motioUj and came thither, on account of the estates they had in 
 France. The lord d'Andreghen sent thither the young seneschal 
 of Hainault, the lord John de Verthin, magnificently equipped, the 
 lord Hugh d'Antoing his cousi^i, with many others; when they 
 marched to lay siege to St. Valery. There were full two thousand 
 knights and squires ; and the chief towns liad sent twelve thousand 
 common soldiers at their expense : Abbeville, in particular, was too 
 heavily taxed, for thence they took all their purveyances. 
 
 The siege of St. Valery lasted some time. There were many 
 sharp assaults and skirmishes. Almo&^^t every day there was some- 
 thing of the sort going forward ; for the young knights and squires 
 were eager to make trial of their arms, and they readily found those 
 who would gratify them. The lord William de Bonnemare, sir John 
 Segar, and several other knights, who were in the garrison, advanced 
 from the barriers of the castle, to tilt and skirmi;-h with those of the 
 army ; so that there were generally some killed or wounded on both 
 sides daily. There might have been in St. Vclery three hundred 
 companions, without counting those of the town, whom they forced 
 to fight and assist them, otherwise it would have ended badly. The 
 chiefs of the besiegers ordered engines of war to be brought from 
 Amiens and Abbeville, and to be pointed again:-t St. Valery, which 
 cast large stones, and much harassed the inh abitants, who had 
 cannon and springalls,* with which they annoyed the army. 
 While this siege was carrying on, and the king of Navarre making 
 war in all parts of France, the captal of Buch, cousin to the king of 
 Navarre, arrived at Cherbourg, according to his entreaties, being 
 retained by him, with two hundred lances in his pay. 
 
 The captal, on his arrival in Normandy, took the field, and, passing 
 through the lands of the king of Navarre, came to Mantes, where he 
 found the lord Philip de Navarre, with whom he tarried some days. 
 He then set out secretly with all his companions, and made such 
 expedition in one night, through the good country of Vexin and 
 Beauvoisis,t that he arrived at Clermont + in Beauvoisis, which is a 
 large town, though not inclosed, with a handsome castle, having 
 one large tower walled all round. Immediately after having sum- 
 moned it, he took it by escalade, though the tovcer had hitherto been 
 deemed impregnable. Nevertheless he succeeded by means of rope- 
 ladders, and by using arrow-heads to attach then to the walls. The 
 first person who entered was sir Bernard de In Salle, climbing like 
 a cat. He, in his time, had taken many other places by simdar 
 means. The captal de Buch exerted himself so much that he con- 
 quered Clermont, which he and his companions kept possession of 
 for a long time. He from that post harassed the countiies of Vexin 
 and Beauvoisis, with the assistance of the Navarrois, who were in 
 garrison in the neighboring fortresses, such as Creil, la Herielle, and 
 Mauconseil. All the flat countries were at their disposal, as there 
 were none to oppose them. 
 
 In such manner was the whole kingdom of France kept m a state 
 of warfare, under the name of the king of Navarre. Many strong 
 castles were taken in Brie, Champagne, and Valois, yi the bishoprics 
 of Noyon, Soissons, Senlis, and Laon, of which divers knights and 
 
 * Espringalles, orespringolds. orspringolds. were machines whence came shot, stones, 
 or bolts.— Skinner's Dictionary. 
 
 " And eke within the castil were „ 
 Springoldis, gonnes, bowes, and archers. 
 
 Chaucer's Roman de la Rose, verses 490, 49t 
 t A small province in the Isle of France. Beauvais is the capital 
 t Fifteen leagues from Paris. 
 
118 
 
 CHI^ONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 squires from foreign parts were made governoi-s. In that part of the 
 country, near Pont-sur-Seine,* toward Provins,t Troyes,t Auxerre,6 
 and Tonnerre,|| they were so overrun with soldiers that no one dared 
 to venture out of the strong cities and well-fortified towns. Sir 
 Peter Audley resided in the castle of Beaufort, between Chalons and 
 Troyes, which was part of the duke of Lancaster's inheritance. Sir 
 Eustace d'Ambreticourt, a Hainaulter, resided sometimes at Pont. 
 sur-Seine, sometimes at the castle of Nogent, with about five hun. 
 dred combatants, who pillaged all the country round about. In 
 another part of Champagne, lived a squire from Germany called 
 Albret. These three captains kept possession of Champagne and 
 the country on the Marne, and upward of sixty castles and fortified 
 houses. At any time they pleased, they could bring into the field 
 more than two thousand combatants. 
 
 That whole district was under their subjection : they ransomed 
 or robbed every one. They had pillaged and burnt the good towns 
 of Ay, Epernayj'ff and Vertus,** and all the chief towns on the Marne, 
 as far as the Cha,teau.Thierrytt5 with those that were in the neighbor, 
 hood of Rheims.tt They had also taken the good town and castle 
 of Ronay,§§ and the strong castle of Hans|||I in Champagne, ascending 
 the river as far as St. Antoine in Pertois.iTIT Further advanced on 
 the borders of Burgundy and Pertois, Thibat de Chaufour and John 
 de Chaufour had taken up their quarters in the name of the king of 
 Navarre. They had got possession of a strong castle called Mont 
 Sangon,*** in the diocese of Langres ; in which they had a garrison 
 of four hundred men, who scoured the country as far as the bishopric 
 of Verdun and the country of Soissons. 
 
 Between Laon and Rheims were other pillagers, whose principal 
 garrison was at Vely, in which were six hundred men. Rabigeois 
 de Dury, an Englishman, was the governor of it. He retained all 
 sorts of persons, who wished to serve under him ; and, as he paid 
 well and punctually, he was duly obeyed. He had with him Robert 
 Scott, as companion in his gains and losses, who, during the Christ, 
 mas holidays, won and plundered the strong castle and town of 
 Roucy,+tt in which he established a garrison that was a great griev. 
 ance to the neighborhood. He rftnsomed the earl, his lady, and 
 daughter, for the sum of twelve thousand gold florins au mouton, and 
 kept possession of the town and castle all that winter and ensuing 
 summer of 1359, As soon as the earl of Roucy had paid his ransom, 
 he went to reside in Laon, and in divers other places. During this 
 period, there was not any tilling of the ground, so that it caused a 
 great scarcity in a short time. 
 
 CHAPTER CXCII. 
 
 THE CANON DE ROBESART DEFEATS THE NAVARROIS IN THE LAONNOIS, 
 
 NEAR TO CREIL. 
 
 Aeout this time, as I have been informed, the canon de Robesart 
 performed a very gallant action. It fell out, that as the lord of Pinon, 
 a knight-banneret of Vermandoi's, was riding from one strong place 
 to another, accompanied by about sixty men-at-arms, the garrisons 
 of Velyttt and Roucy, to the number of three hundred, but without 
 their captains, were also abroad to see what they could capture. As 
 they advanced toward Creil, they perceived the lord of Pinon march- 
 ing in good order, in the plain near that town, with his pennon dis- 
 played. They immediately saw they were French : the lord of 
 Pinon also knew they were his enemies, and that he had no way to 
 escape from them. However, he and his little troop turning to the 
 right and skirting Creil, for the Navarrois had cut off his retreat the 
 way he had come, stuck spurs into their horses to save themselves, 
 if possible, by flight ; but the Navarrois pursued them, crying out, 
 " St. George, Navarre !" and, being better mounted, would have 
 come up with them in less than half a league. 
 
 It chanced that the lord de Pinon, in his flight, met with a large 
 and deep ditch, inclosed on one side by strong hedges, and having 
 only one entrance, which was so narrow horses could not pass through. 
 As soon as he was come near, he noticed the advantage that might 
 be made of it, and said, " Dismount, dismount: it is much better to 
 wait here the chance of war, and defend ourselves, than to be slain 
 or made prisoners in our flight." Upon which, all his people dis- 
 mounted ; as did the Navarrois on their arrival. In the troop of the 
 lord de Pinon, there was a knight,§§§ who, calling his page, said, 
 " Mount my courser, and spare him not, but gallop to the garrison of 
 
 ♦ A town in Champagne, diocese of Sens, twenty-eight leagues from Paris, 
 t An ancient city of Brie, diocese of Sens, twenty-two le«£;ues from Paris, 
 i A large city of Champagne, thirty-eight leagues and a half from Paris. 
 § An ancient city of Burgundy, capital of the Auxerrois, forty-one leagues and a 
 half from Paris. 
 
 II A to\yn in Champagne, diocese of Langres, forty-eight leagues and a half from 
 Paris, 
 
 If An ancient c\tf of Champagne, diocese of Rheims, thirty-three leagues from Paris. 
 ** A town in Chumpagne, near Epeniay. 
 
 tt A city in Brie, diocese of Soissons, twenty-one leagues and a half from Paris. 
 
 tX An ancient city and archbishopric in Champagne, thirty-eight leages from Paris. 
 
 §§ A villnge in Champagne, diocese and election of Troyes, 
 
 nil A village in Champagne, election of St Menehould. 
 
 nil Periois. a fertile country of Champagne. 
 
 *** Q. if not Mansaujon ? which is in the diocese of Langres. 
 
 TTT A town in Picardy, diocese and election of Laon. 
 
 fit Vely, a chattellany in Picardy, diocese of Soissons, 
 
 A squirt according to D, Sauvage and Lord Bemen.'*E». 
 
 Pierrepont,* and entreat the canon de Robesart to come to our assist- 
 ance." The page answered, " Suppose I should meet with him, 
 how will it be possible for him to arrive in time, for it is five leagues 
 distant from hence ?" The knight said, " Do thy duty." The page 
 immediately set off, and left his master fiercely attacked by these 
 plunderers of Vely and Roucy. The lord de Pinon and his company 
 defended themselves with great valor. He kept possession of the 
 advantageous position in the ditch, without any loss, from ten o'clock 
 in the morning until the afternoon. 
 
 I will now return to the page, who never broke gallop until he 
 came to Pierrepont in the Laonnois. He delivered his message to 
 the canon de Robesart, who replied that he would do his duty, and 
 hasten to the place where the' lord de Pinop was engaged, as he was 
 perfectly acquainted with the spot. He ordered his trumpet to sound, 
 and his companions, who might be about six score, to mount their 
 horses. At the same time, he sent off one of his servants to Laon, 
 which was not far distant, to inform a captain who was stationed 
 there what was going forward. He would not wait for the arrivaJ 
 of this reinforcement, but set off directly, full gallop, which he con. 
 tinned until he came to the lord de Pinon and his company, whom 
 he found so hard pressed by the Navarrois, that they could not have 
 held out much longer. The canon immediately placed his lance in 
 its rest, and rushed upon the Navarrois with such force, that he 
 struck down three the first onset. His people being fresh and in 
 spirits, drove down the Navarrois, who were quite fatigued with 
 having combated the whole day. The canon de Robesart gave such 
 deadly blows with his battle-axe, that none could stand before him. 
 These plunderers were totally routed : more than one hundred and 
 fifty were left dead on the field of battle ; and if any attempted to 
 save themselves they were met by the detachment from Laon, who 
 made such a slaughter, that, of the three hundred they amounted to 
 at first, -fifteen only escaped ; the rest were either slain or made 
 prisoners. 
 
 CHAPTER CXCIII. 
 
 THE NAVARROIS SURRENDER ST. VALERY TO THE FRENCH, AVHO HAD BE 
 
 SIEGED IT A LONG TIME. 
 
 I HAVE before related, that the lords of Picardy, Artois, Ponthieu 
 and the Boulonnois, were a considerable time before St, Valery ; that 
 they had made many grand attacks upon it by machines and other 
 instruments. Among other events, it chanced that the lord de Bacien 
 from Picardy, having got into a boat to reconnoitre more particularly 
 the castle, was struck with a bolt from an espringal, of which he died 
 The garrison had such quantities of artillery, that every attack upon 
 them was attended with great danger. This siege, therefore, lasted 
 from the beginning of August until the following Lent. The lords 
 then declared they would starve them to a surrender, since they could 
 not take it by assault. They therefore remained a long time inactive, 
 but took great care to guard all the passes, so that nothing ccuW 
 enter the town by sea or land. 
 
 Their provisions soon began to lessen, for they could not venture 
 abroad to forage : on the other hand, they saw no appearance of any 
 succors coming to them. They therefore determined in council to 
 treat with the constable of France, the earl of St. Pol and the other 
 barons of the army, to surrender the fortress upon condition that their 
 lives and fortunes should be spared, and that they might be allowed 
 to go wherever they pleased. This was granted them ; but they were 
 to leave the place unarmed. Some diflttculties also attended the com- 
 pliance with their proposals, for the earl of St, Pol insisted on their 
 surrendering unconditionally. At this time, the lord Philip de Na- 
 varre was advanced toward St. Valery, to raise the siege, which he 
 would have done, if the garrison had not been in such haste to sur- 
 render. He and his army were very angry at the event ; but they 
 could not now by any means prevent it. 
 
 CHAPTER CXCIV. 
 
 THE LORD PHIEir DE NAVARRE ASSEMBLES THREE THOUSAND MEN TO 
 RAISE THE SIEGE OF ST. VALERV. 
 
 The lords of France were still drawn up in the plain ; and, though 
 no one had left the army, yet they were about departing; their tents, 
 pavilions and baggage were packing up ; when news was brought 
 them that the Navarrois were upon their march, and not more than 
 three leagues off'. It was the lord Philip of Navarre who governed 
 all the territories of the king his brother ; that is to say, the county 
 of Evreux ; and all the different parties that were making war on 
 France obeved his orders. He had been informed by sir John de 
 Piquigny, that the garrison of St, Valery was on the point of sur- 
 rendering. The lord Philip was encouraged to attempt raising tJic 
 siege : and for this purpose he had a=.-cmbled secretly, at Mante? 
 and Meulan, three thousand men, one with the other. The young 
 earl of Harcourt, the lord de Granville, sir Robert Knolles, and sir 
 John de Piquigny, were there, with many other knights and squires, 
 who had followed him to within three leagues of St. Valery when it 
 was surrendered. He was assured of the truth of it, by the arrival 
 
 * A village in Picardy, diocese of Laon 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &,c. 
 
 119 
 
 of the lord de Bonnemare and sir John Segar, who met him on his 
 march. 
 
 When the French, who had taken possession of St. Valery, heard 
 of the approach of the Navarrois, the constable, the earl of St. Pol, 
 the lord de Chatillon, the lord de Poix, the lord de Beausault, the 
 lord de Helly, the lord de Crestkes, lord Odoart de Renty, lord 
 Baudoyn d'Ennekin, and some other barons and knights who were 
 present, retired into the castle, to a council ; when it was resolved 
 they should advance to combat their enemies. The constable issued 
 his orders for every one to fall into his rank, and prepare for combat; 
 upon which they all marched forward in good order, as if they were 
 immediately to fight with the lord Philip. The Navan-ois, learning 
 that the French were marching toward them in battle-array, to the 
 amount of thirty thousand men, did not think it advisable to wait 
 for them, but crossed the river Somme as speedily as possible, and 
 took post in the castle of Long* in Ponthieu, with their horses, bag- 
 gage, and. whatever else they had, which straightened them much 
 for room. They had scarcely entered it, when the French, who 
 were in pursuit of them, came before it, about the hour of vespers. 
 Their numbers were continually increasing ; for the common soldiers 
 from the cities and chief towns could not march so fast as the men- 
 at-arms. The lords held a council, and determined to take up their 
 quarters that night before the castle, to wait for more troops, which 
 were dropping in one after another, and on the morrow to make a 
 general assault upon it. This was done. But the Navarrois within 
 the castle, being short of provisions, as soon as it was midnight sal- 
 lied out at a back way, without any noise, and took the road for the 
 Vermandois. 
 
 They were more than two leagues off before the French knew of 
 their departure : they immediately armed themselves, and set out 
 after them, following the tracks of their horses. Thus did both par- 
 ties push forward, the Navarrois first, and the French behind them, 
 until the Navarrois came to the little village of Thorigny, which is 
 situated on an eminence whence there is a good view of all the 
 country round about. It is in the Vermandois, between the St. 
 Quentin and Peronne. There the Navarrois halted, to refresh them- 
 selves and horses, and to fight their enemies, if they were forced to 
 it. They had formed themselves in a circle on the summit of the 
 eminence, so that they might profit from the situation of the place. 
 They had not remained long before they saw the whole country 
 below them covered over, and full of Frenchmen, who seemed to 
 amount to upward of thirty thousand. When the Navarrois perceived 
 they had the appearance of coming to attack them, they issued out 
 of the town, and drew up their army in three battalions : the first of 
 them was given to sir Robert Knolles, the second to sir Lewis de 
 Navarre, and the third to the earl of Harcourt. Neither of these 
 Dattalions consisted of more than seven hundred fighting men. They 
 cut their lances to five feet in length, and ordered their servants to 
 carry their spurs to the slope of the hill, where they were to fix them 
 with the rowels uppermost; so that their enemies might not ascend 
 the hill at their ease. The lord Philip de Navarre knighted the 
 young earl of Harcourt, who displayed his banner, as did also the 
 young lord de Granville. 
 
 The French halted in sight of the Navarrois, and dismounted, for 
 many were desirous to give them immediate combat, while others 
 were against it, saying, " Our people are fatigued ; besides, we have 
 such numbers in the rear, that it is proper we wait for them, and 
 take up our quarters where we are for the remainder of the day. It 
 will be night soon, and we can fight them to-morrow in better order." 
 
 In this situation, the French encamped themselves, placing all 
 their baggage-wagons round them, of which they had great numbers. 
 When the Navarrois found that there was no intention of attacking 
 them, they retired toward evening into their village of Thorigny, 
 making great fires and smoke, to let them understand they meant to 
 remain there that night : but as soon as it was dark, they got their 
 horses ready, having previously made every other preparation, and 
 set off in silence. The night was dark and foggy ; and they marched 
 down to the river Somme, which they crossed at a ford, near a small 
 village not far distant from Bethencourt ;t thence they took the road 
 to the wood of Bohain,t which they skirted : they marched that night 
 upward of seven leagues, which caused many of the v/orst mounted 
 to remain behind, who were made prisoners by the inhabitants of 
 Bchain. The peasants also of the country slew many who were un- 
 able to keep up with their masters, and all who had lost their road. 
 
 The French v/ere informed of the departure of the Navarrois a 
 little before daybreak ; when they resolved to cross the Somme by 
 the bridge at St. Quentin,§ and to push forward toward Liannes,|| 
 ;ind by this means to come up with them.. Every one, therefore, 
 inountGd his horse as quickly as possible, and galloped on for the 
 fastest, taking the road for St. Quentin, where they arrived as day 
 appeared, for it was but two short leagues distant. The constable 
 and the earl of St. Pol were among the first. When the guards of 
 the town who were stationed over the first gate heard the bustle of 
 their arrival, they began to be alarmed, as they knew the enemy was 
 
 * Lone et le Castlelet— a villasre of Picardy, near Abbeville, 
 t A village in Picardy, election of Peronne. 
 
 JBohain— a small tov/n in Picardy, election of Guisg, near St. Q.uentin. 
 § A strong city in Picardy, diocese of Noyon, generality of Amiens. 
 HLiannes. a village in Picardy, generality of Amiens. 
 
 in their neighborhood ; but recollecting that the drawbridge was up. 
 they were somewhat reassured, as that would prevent them from 
 doing any mischief. They asked, who they were that were comfj 
 there at such an unusual hour: the constable answered, "We are 
 such and such persons, and wish to pass through this town in pursn it 
 of the Navarrois, who have stolen away from Thorigny, and are 
 flying from us : we command you therefore, in the king's name, in. 
 stantly to open the gates." The guard replied, that the keys were 
 with the magistrates in the town. Two of the guard went to those 
 that had the keeping of the keys, who told them they would not 
 consent to open the gates till they had consulted the inhabitants. 
 By this means, so much time was lost that it was after sunrise, before 
 they had considered what answer to give : they then ascended over 
 the gateway, and, putting their heads out of the windows, thus ad- 
 dressed the constable and the carl of St. Pol, who were waiting : 
 " Dear lords, have the goodness to take compassion and excuse us 
 this time ; but it is the determination of the commonalty of the town, 
 that only five or six of you may enter, out of the respect we bear you: 
 the others must go any other way they choose." The lords were 
 so much enraged at this, that many high words and abusive language 
 ensued ; nevertheless, those of St. Quentm would not open their 
 gates. These lords, therefore, gave up all thoughts of following 
 further the Navarrois, as it would have been in vain. By the advice 
 of the constable, the French separated themselves, and the earl of 
 St. Pol wont to his castle of Bohain, in such a rage that no one 
 dared to speak to him. 
 
 CHAPTER CXCV. 
 
 SIR PETER ATJDLEY LEADS A PARTY OF NAVARROIS, IN THE NI&HT, TO TACT 
 
 CHALONS. 
 
 Thus did this grand expedition end ; the French separating, went 
 one way, and the Navarrois another : the last came that day to Vely, 
 where they crossed the river Oise at a ford : when, finding they were 
 out of all danger, they halted and refreshed themselves. As soon as 
 they thought proper, they returned into Normandy, and journeyed 
 from fortress to fortress in perfect security, as they were masters of 
 all the rivers and flat country. Having again entered the district of 
 Coutantin, they carried on their excursions, as before, through Nor- 
 mandy. During this time, the king of Navarre remained at Melun- 
 sur-Seine, with a large body of men-at-arms. 
 
 It happened that while sir Peter Audley was governor of Beaufort, 
 which is situated between Troyes and Cha,lons, he imagined, that if 
 he could cross the Marne above the town of Cha,lons, and advance 
 by the side of the monastery of St. Peter, he might easily take the 
 town. To carry this scheme into effect, he waited until the river 
 Marne was low, when he secretly assembled his companions from 
 five or six strong castles he was master of in that neighborhood. His 
 army consisted of about four hundred combatants. They set out 
 from Beaufort at midnight. He led them to a ford of the river Marne, 
 which he intended to cross, for he had people of the country as 
 guides. On coming thither, he made them all to dismount, and give 
 their horses to their servants, when he marched them through the 
 river, which was very low. All having crossed, he led them slowly 
 toward the monastery of St. Peter. There were many guards and 
 watchm.en scattered over the town of Chillons, and in the public 
 squares : those who were nearest to the monastery of St. Peter, 
 which is situated above the town, heard very distinctly the noise of 
 the Navarrois : for as they were advancing, their arms, by touching 
 each other, made a noise and sounded. Many who heard this won- 
 dered what it could be : for all at once, sir Peter having halted, the 
 noise ceased, and, when he continued his march, the same sounds 
 were again heard by the sentinels posted in St. Peter's street, as the 
 wind came from the opposite quarter ; and some among them said, 
 " It must be those English and Navarrois thieves that are advancing, 
 to take lis by escalade : let us immediately sound the alarm, and 
 awaken our fellow-citizens." Some of them went to the monastery, 
 to see what it might be. They could not, however, make such speed 
 but that sir Peter and his army were in the court-yard ; for the walls 
 in that part were not four feet high ; and they immediately rushed 
 through the gate of the monastery into the street, which was large 
 and wide. The citizens were exceedingly alarmed, because there 
 were cries from all parts of, "Treason, treason! To arms, to arms 1" 
 They armed themselves in haste, and, collecting in a body to be the 
 stronger, advanced to meet their enemies, who overthrew and killed 
 the foremost of them. 
 
 It happened, very unfortunately for Cha,lons, that Peter de Chylous, 
 who had been governor of the city upward of a year, with a hundred 
 lances under his command, had lately left it, on account of not being 
 able to get paid according to their wishes. The commonalty of the 
 city were numerous, and set themselves in earnest to make a good 
 defence. It was high time ; but they sufii-red much, and the Navar- 
 rois conquered all the lower town, as far as the bridges over the 
 Marne. Beyond the bridges, the citizens collected themselves, and 
 defended the first bridge, which was of great service to them. The 
 skirmish was there very sharp : the Navarrois attacked and fought 
 well. Some of the English archers advanced, and, passini?^ over the 
 
120 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 supports of the bridge, shot so well, and so continually, that none 
 from Chalons dared to come within reach of their arrows. 
 
 This engagement lasted until midday. It was said by some, that 
 Chalons must have been taken, if sir Odes de Grancy had not learnt, 
 as it were by inspiration, this excursion of the Navarrois. In order 
 to defeat it, he had entreated the assistance of many knights and 
 squires ; for he knew that there was not one gentleman in Chalons. 
 He had come therefore, day and night, attended by sir Philip de Jan- 
 court, the lord Anceau de Beaupr6, the lord John de Guermillon, 
 and many others, to the amount of sixty lances. As soon as they 
 were come to Chalons, they advanced toward the bridge, which the 
 inhabitants were defending against the Navarrois, who were exerting 
 themselves to the utmost to gain it. The lord de Grancy displayed 
 his banner, and fell upon the Navarrois with a hearty good will. The 
 arrival of the lord de Grancy mightily rejoiced the people of Chalons ; 
 arid well it might, for without him and his company they would have 
 been hard driven. When sir Peter Audley and his friends saw these 
 Burgundians, they retreated in good order the way they had come, 
 and found their servants with their horses on the banks of the Marne. 
 They mounted them, and, crossing the river without molestation, re. 
 turned toward Beaufort, having by a trifle missed their aim. The 
 inhabitants of Chalons were much pleased at their departure, and 
 gave thanks to God for it. After expressing their obligations to the 
 lord de Grancy for the kindness he had done them, they presented 
 him with five hundred livres for himself and his people. They en. 
 treated the lord John de Besars, who was present and a near neighbor, 
 to remain, to advise and assist them. He consented to their request, 
 for the handsome salary they allowed him, and set about fortifying 
 the city in those places which were the weakest. 
 
 CHAPTER CXCVI. 
 
 THE EARL DE ROTJCY TAKEN A SECOND TIME. 
 
 About this period, the two garrisons of Vely and Roucy* united 
 together, and took by assault the town of Sissonne,* which they gar- 
 risoned with all sorts of people : the captain of it was Hannequin 
 Fran9ois,t a lad from Cologne on the Rhine. He was so cruel in all 
 his excursions, that he showed neither pity nor mercy to any one 
 who fell in his way. He burnt all the country, slaying men, women 
 and children, whom he could not ransom according to his will. The 
 earl of Roucy, who had still at heart the loss of his town and castle, 
 which these robbers had wrested from him, entreated the assistance 
 of those knights and squires who were his neighbors. He collected 
 upward of a hundred lances and forty horsemen, whom he conducted 
 from the city of Laon. Among them were the earl de Porcien, lord 
 Robert de Canency, the lord de Montegny in Ostrevant, and others. 
 They advanced toward Sissonne, and meeting with that garrison, 
 who were burning a village, fell upon them merrily. This Hanne. 
 quin and his followers immediately dismounted, and placed their 
 archers in the front. The engagement was very sharp ; but those 
 from Laon retreated toward their city without having done much. 
 The other Frenchmen remained, and fought manfully for a long time. 
 However, the fortune of the day was against them : the earl de Roucy 
 was severely wounded, and made prisoner : the lord Gerald de Ca- 
 nency, the lord de Montegny and many other men-at-arms, were 
 likewise captured. Thus was the earl of Roucy made prisoner twice 
 in the space of one year. 
 
 The lord Eustace d'Ambreticourt resided at this time in Cham- 
 pagne, with seven hundred fighting men under his command ; by 
 whose means he acquired great wealth, from the ransoms of towns, 
 castles, vineyards and private houses, as well as- by granting pass- 
 ports. He was master of at least twelve fortresses, and much in 
 love with the lady Isabella de Juliers,t daughter of the earl of Juliers, 
 whom he afterwards married. The lady was greatly attached to sir 
 Eustace, for his gallant deeds of arms, which had been /elated to 
 her ; and she sent him coursers, hackneys, and letters full of love, 
 which so much emboldened sir Eustace, and spurred him to perform 
 such feats of chivalry and of arms, that all those under him made 
 fortunes. 
 
 CHAPTER CXCVII. 
 
 THREE QUEENS, WITH THE NAVARROIS, ARE BESIEGED IN MELUN. 
 
 After the surrender of St. Valery, as you have heard related, the 
 duke of Normandy collected upward of three thousand lances, set 
 ou,t from Paris, and laid siege to Melun-sur-Seine, of which the Na- 
 varrois kept possession. At that time, three queens resided therein : 
 Jane, aunt to the king of Navarre and widow of Charles king of 
 France ; Blanche, widow of king Philip of France and sister to the 
 king of Navarre : the third was the queen of Navarre, sister to the 
 duke of Nonnandy. The duke of Normandy sent his forces thither, 
 but did not accompany them in person : they were under the com. 
 mand of the lord Morel de Fiennes, constable of France, the earl de 
 
 * 21°^^"^ Picardy, diocese of Laon. 
 
 t Mentioned in chapter 188, as one of the ganison of Mauconseil.-ED. 
 
 I JNiece to the queen of England, and widow ofthe earl of Kent."— Jtfarftnoi note. 
 
 St. Pol, the lord Arnold d'Andreghen, marshal of France, the lord 
 Arnold de Coucy, the bishop of Troyes, the Lord Broquart de Fenes- 
 trages, Peter du Bar and Philip des Armoyes, with others, amounting 
 in the whole to three thousand lances. They besieged Melun all 
 round, and had brought from Paris a number of springals and other 
 engines, which, day and night, kept continually throwing stones into 
 the fortress, against which also many assaults were made. 
 
 The Navarrois within the town began to be alarmed, more par- 
 ticularly those queens, who would cheerfully have seen this siege 
 raised at any rate : but the governors of the town, lord John Pippes 
 and lord John Carbinaux*, desired the ladies not to be so much 
 frightened, for in a few days this siege would be raised, as they had 
 learnt from the king of Navarre, who was at that time at Vernon t. 
 The lord Philip de Navarre also was assembling a body of men at 
 Mantes and Meulan, to come to their assistance ; and at those places 
 all the various garrisons in the Navarre interest were collecting to- 
 gether. On the other hand, the duke of Normandy, who knew the 
 Navarrois intended to attempt raising the siege, retained soldiers 
 wherever he could get them, and sent them to Melun. But good 
 people interposed between the duke and the king ; for at that time 
 the cardinals de Perigord and de St. Vitalis were in France, who 
 exerted themselves so efficaciously, that a day was appointed for 
 treating of a peace between them cit Vernon. The duke of Nor- 
 mandy and his council came thither ; as did the king of NavaiTe, 
 accompanied by the lord Philip his brother ; when a peace was made. 
 The king of Navarre swore, that from henceforward he would be a 
 loyal Frenchman. There were included in this peace as many as 
 three hundred knights and squires, who were pardoned by the duke : 
 some others, however, were excepted, whose evil deeds he refused 
 to forgive. 
 
 The lord Philip of Navarre would not accept of the peace. He 
 told the king his brother, he was bewitched for so doing, and was 
 acting very ill toward the king of England, who was his ally, and 
 who had always faithfully assisted him. In despite of his brother 
 the king of Navarre, the lord Philip, with three others, set oflf, and 
 rode as fast as they could to St. Sauveur-le-Vicomte, where was an 
 English garrison. The lord Thomas Dagworth commanded there, 
 in the name of the king of England, who received the lord Philip, 
 and told him he had acquitted himself loyally toward the king his 
 lord. 
 
 CHAPTER CXCVIII. 
 
 SIR BROQUART DE FENESTRAGES, WITH MANY FRENCH, DRAW UP IN BAT 
 TLE ARRAY, AGAINST SIR EUSTACE D'AMBRETICOURT AND THE ENGLISH 
 IN CHAMPAGNE. 
 
 By the articles of this peace, many towns and castles in Normandy, 
 which had been in dispute, were given up to king Charles of Na- 
 varre, particularly Mantes and Meulan. Peace was also made 
 between the young earl of Harcourt and the duke of Normandy. 
 The lord Lewis de Harcourt, uncle to the earl, who was of the 
 council and household of the duke, interested himself much in its 
 success ; and the duke gave to the earl in marriage the daughter of 
 the duke of Bourbon, sister to the duchess of Normandy. The 
 siege of Melun.sur-Seine was raised. The town remained to the 
 French. But, in spite of this peace, the kingdom of France was 
 torn in pieces by war as before ; for the truce between the two king- 
 doms of France and England had lately expired ; so that those cap- 
 tains who had carried on the war for the king of Navarre, in the 
 provinces of Burgundy, Normandy, Champagne, Picardy, Brie, and 
 Beauce, still continued it in a powerful and shameful manner, in the 
 name of the king of England. They never passed any fortress 
 without attacking it, notwithstanding the peace ; for these soldiers 
 had learnt to pillage or ransom the inhabitants of the country, and 
 to make excursions sometimes in bodies of two thousand, many of 
 whom had from ten to twelve horses, who, if they had not kept up 
 this war, would perhaps have gone on foot. 
 
 After the siege of Melun had been raised, the duke of Normandy 
 besought the lord Broquart de Fenestrages, who was from Lorraine, 
 and who had in his pay five hundred men, to assist him in driving 
 the English out of the province of Champagne, where they had 
 established themselves, and were harassing the country day and 
 night. Sir Broquart consented, on condition of receiving a large 
 su-m of florins for himself and for his people. Upon this, the bishop 
 of Troyes, the count de Vaudemont, the count de Jouy, the lord 
 John de Chalons, and the lord Broquart de Fenestrages, assembled 
 men-at-arms in the provinces of Champagne and Burgundy : they 
 amounted to full two hundred lances, and fifteen hundred footmer 
 who advanced and posted themselves before the strong castle 
 Hanst in Champagne, which the English had taken and kept poss 
 sion of a year and a half. They carried it by assault at the thi 
 attack; and there were upward of fourscore English slain, for non 
 were spared. The French then retreated to the city of Troyes; and, 
 when they had refreshed themselves, they sallied forth with twelve 
 
 * Lord James Pipe— sir Hugh Calvery— English natives.— Barnes. 
 t Vemon-sur-Seine— a town in Normandy, diocese of Evreux. 
 i Honfr— a village in Champagne, in the election of St. Meuahould. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 121 
 
 hundred lances ,* and nine hundred footmen, taking: the road to 
 Nogent-sur-Seine.t 
 
 Sir Eustace d'Ambreticourt, who was informed of this expedition, 
 collected those garrisons under his command, to the amount of four 
 hundred I'ances and two hundred archers, with whom he set out 
 from Pont-sur-Seine.t He was completely armed, except his hel- 
 met, and was mounted on a hackney which had been given to him, 
 but he had a very fine war horse led by one of h4s people. He had 
 not rode far before he heard of the French from his scouts, who 
 brought intelligence that they had seen his enemies. Had sir Eus- 
 tace known that they were in such numbers, he would have asked 
 assistance from the lord Peter Audley and lord d'Albret, who could 
 easily have sent to his aid four hundred combatants. Sir Eustace 
 having drawn up his men beyoi;d Nogent, placed himself on a small 
 hillock, in the midst of a vineyi^rd, his archers in front. As soon as 
 the French arrived, they formed themselves into three battalions : 
 the first under the command of the bishop of Troyes and sir Bro- 
 quart ; the second under the lord John de Chalons and the count de 
 Jouy ; the third under the count de Janville,§ 
 
 Sir Eustace, who was in the midst of his people, said to them ; 
 " Gentlemen, let us fight courageously, and the day will be ours : 
 we then shall be masters of all Champagne, whicn^Was formerly an 
 earldom. Perhaps I may in time do such essential services to the 
 king of England, whom I hold as the rightful king of France, that 
 he may confer this earldom on me." He then called to him some 
 young squires, such as the courageous Manny, his cousin John of 
 Paris, Martin of Spain and others, whom he knighted. Having 
 dismounted his men, he caused their lances to be shortened to the 
 length of five feet, and placed his pennon before him, which had 
 his arms, ermine, three humets in pale guies. 
 
 CHAPTER CXCIX. 
 
 THE BATTLE OF NDGENT-SUR-SEINE, BETWEEN SIR BROQUART DE FENES- 
 TRAGES AND THE FRENCH, AND SIR EUSTACE d'AMBRETICOURT AND THE 
 ENGLISH. 
 
 When sir Broquart de Fenestrages, who was a bold and coura- 
 geous knight, saw that sir Eustace d'Ambreticourt and his battalion 
 were not inclined to quit their position, he said, " Let us march to 
 them, for we must fight, whatever be the consequences." Upon 
 which, he advanced with his battalion. Sir Eus'ace received the 
 attack of this battalion in such a manner, that he broke it and threw 
 it into confusion. At the first shock he unhorsed upward of forty, || 
 and would have completely routed them, if the second battalion of 
 the French had not immediately moved forward to their assistance, 
 who, having rallied them, collected all the stragglers together. Upon 
 this, the English archers bega-n to use their bows, and so well, that 
 none dared to come within the reach of their arrows. The third 
 battalion of the French now advanced on their flank, to support the 
 other two ; and the engagement was very sharp and bloody, but the 
 French were three to one. Sir Eustace struck to the ground four 
 of the most vigorous of his enemies, with the spear he had in his 
 hand ; which was no sooner perceived by sir Broquart de Fenestra, 
 ges, than he flung his lance over the heads of all those that were 
 between him and sir Eustace, and, hitting him on the visor of his 
 helmet, it penetrated through and broke three of his teeth : this, 
 however, did not prevent sir Eustace from continuing the combat. 
 
 The English had the advantage of the hill, and they kept so 
 closely together that they could not be broken. The French were 
 on horseback, the English on foot. The archers had retreated, in a 
 battalion by themselves, to somewhat higher ground, and shot 
 briskly against the French ; and when the French attempted, by 
 marching about, to surround them, they kept their front to face the 
 enemy. At this time, however, the French infantry, who could not 
 make such haste as the men-at-arms, arrived. This infantry were 
 full nine hundred men, and, being armed with lances and large 
 shields,^! broke through the line of the archers, and flung them in 
 disorder ; for their shields were so strong, that the arrows made no 
 impression on them. They kept up the fight as long as they could ; 
 but, being thrown into confusion, the second battalion of the French 
 men-at-arms galloped after them, and slew them all. This second 
 battalion then went to the boys who were guarding the English 
 horses, and killed or made prisoners the greater part of them, for 
 very few escaped. 
 
 During this time, the two other battalions of the French were en- 
 gaged with the English ; and in the end they broke them, that they 
 
 * Denys Sauvage has on this passage the following note, in the margin : 
 " From what follows it appears to me that each lance was, upon both sides, only one 
 man." This is probably in reference to the numbers which could have been furnished 
 by ord Audley and lord d'Albret, " four hundred combatants,'''' which Froissart speaks 
 of as sufficient to have insured sir Eustace's success. Such a reinforcement would have 
 been of great service, if the twelve hundred French lances consisted only of that num- 
 ber of individuals, but would have been quite inefficient if they had amounted to three 
 or four times that number. The remark is, however, confined to this particular instance 
 —in genera each lance was equal to three men. See Note, p. 102.— Ed. 
 
 t Nogent-sur-Seine— a town in Champagne, between Paris and Troyes, diocese of 
 Sens. 
 
 X Pont-stj-Seine— a town in Champagne, diocese of Sens, election of Nogent. 
 § Q.. if not Joinville. 
 
 U Suty.-^LoRo Bernxrs. ? Pavisses.— Lord Bkrnbrs. 
 
 never were able to rally : the pennon of sir Eustace, which was their 
 standard, was taken and torn to pieces. When the English were 
 thrown into confusion, many were beaten down, and the French 
 made prisoners at their choice. Sir Eustace fell into the hj^nds of a 
 knight who served under the count de Vaudernont, whose .lame was 
 sir Henry de Quenillart, to whom he surrendered himself, and who 
 had great difficulty to save his life ; for the common people of 
 Troyes wanted to put him to death for the gallant deeds of arms he 
 had performed in Champagne. Lord John de Paris and lord Martin 
 of Spain were also made prisoners, as well as many other knights 
 and esquires. Those that were able to escape fled to the garrison 
 of Nogent ; but very few were so fortunate, as almost all were slain 
 or taken. 
 
 Sir Courageous de Manny* was left for dead on the field ot 
 battle, and by this means forgotten : but after the defeat, and when 
 all the French were retired, he, who had been grievously wounded, 
 and more than half killed, raised his head a little, and saw nothing 
 but dead bodies around him. He then got up as well as he could, 
 and seating himself, looked about to see if he were far from Nogent, 
 which had an English garrison ; and, by crawling on his hands and 
 knees, in about an hour's time he came to the foot of the tower of 
 Nogent. He made signs to the garrison, that he was of their party. 
 Upon which, they carried him into the fortress ; and, by dressing 
 and sewing up his wounds with much care, he was completely 
 cured. This engagement took place in the year 1359, the vigil of 
 the feast of St. John the Baptist. 
 
 CHAPTER CC. 
 
 THE PILLAGERS WHO HAD KEPT POSSESSION OF DIFFERENT FORTRESSE* 
 IN FRANCE BEGIN WONDERFULLY TO FALL OFF. 
 
 After the defeat of Nogent-sur-Seine, which I have just related, 
 the country being cleared of the enemy, the French barons and 
 men-at-arms returned to Troyes, carrying with them their booty; 
 but the prisoners they sent by different roads to several of the French 
 garrisons, because the common people at Troyes were desirous of 
 putting them to death. When those who had remained at Pont-sur- 
 Seine heard that sir Eustace, their captain, was made prisoner ; that 
 all his army were slain or taken ; they packed up their baggage and 
 set out as quickly as possible, for they were but a very few in number. 
 Those also who were at Torcis,t Espoye,t Ausy,§ Mery,ll and 
 Pleusy,1F and in all the forts that had been under the command of sir 
 Eustace, did the same, and left them void, for fear of the bishop of 
 Troyes and sir Broquart de Fenestrages, who were great warriors : 
 they united themselves with other garrisons at a distance. Sir 
 Peter Audley did not, for this check, quit Beaufort ;** nor sir John 
 Segar, Nogent ; nor the lord Albret, Gie-sur-Aube.tt 
 
 About this time, the lord John of Piquigny died in an extraor- 
 dinary manner at his castle of la Herielle, within three leagues of 
 Amiens : it was reported that he Vv-as strangled by his chamberlain, 
 and that sir Luke de Bekusy, who was uf his council, died much in 
 the same manner. Near this period, as some of the soldiers belong- 
 ing to sir Peter Audley were riding through the country, they came 
 to a good large village of the name of Ronay,t+ which they plun- 
 dered ; insomuch that, as the curate of the place was celebrating 
 high mass, an English squire entered the church, took the chalice 
 from the altar, in which the curate was preparing to consecrate the 
 precious body of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and cast the wine upon 
 the floor. Upon the curate remonstrating with him for this conduct, 
 he struck him so hard a blow with his gauntlet upon the hand, that 
 the blood spirted upon the altar. These pillagers then marched out 
 into the fields, and the squire carried with him the sacred vessels 
 and the cloth. He was, however, scarcely got into the fields, when 
 his horse began to caper, and to play such violent tricks hat no one 
 dared to approach him: after many plunges, they both fell to the 
 ground with their necks broken, and M cre immediately turned into 
 cinders and dust. His companions, seeing thi?, made a vow, that 
 from henceforward they would never violate the sanctity of any 
 church. 
 
 The garrison of Mauconseil, not having any provisions, sold the 
 place to the inhabitants of Noyon,§§ and those in its neighborhood, 
 for about twelve thousand gold moutons,|||| with liberty to go away 
 in safety, which they did, carrying oflT all that belonged to them. 
 They withdrew into the fortresses of Creil, Clermont, la Herielle, 
 
 * I cannot find anything relative to this Monseigneur Courageu.x de Manny in Dug- 
 dale's Baronage. Lord Walter Manny seems to have left at his death only one daugh- 
 ter, married to the earl of Pembroke. . 
 
 Barnes says, he was cousin to sir Eustace and nephew to sir Walter IVlanny, and waa 
 honored always with the epithet courageous. 
 
 t A village in Champagne, diocese and election of Troyes. 
 
 t A village in Champagne, diocese of Eheims. . , ^. - 
 
 § Ausson is a town and village in Champagne-Arcy le Pousard, election of 
 
 ^II^Mery-sur-Seine— a town in Champagne, diocese of Troyes. 
 
 H A town in Champagne, diocese of Troyes. _ 
 
 Beaufort-les-Regnicourt. a village in Champagne, election of Rheims. 
 
 tt Gie— tt village m Champajiue, election of Bar-sur-Aube. 
 
 it Ronay— a village of Champagne, diocese and election of Troyes. 
 
 §§ Noyon— an ancient town in Picardy. Its bishop is suffragan to the bi»hop of 
 Rheims. 
 
 nil Moutona— see note. p. 109. 
 
(23 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 Vely, Pierrepont, Roucy, and Sissonne, which, for a length of time, 
 had been held by the Navarre party ; but since the conclusion of the 
 peace with the king of Navarre, they had remained with the Eng. 
 lish. As soon as those of Noyon were in possession of Mauconseil, 
 they razed it to the ground. 
 
 Sir John Segar sold also Nogent to the bishop of Troyes, and gave 
 it up for a large sum of florins, which he was to receive, and had it 
 ratified to him under the hand and seal of the bishop. Upon this, 
 he went to the city of Troyes, and dismounted at the h6tel of the 
 bishop, who said to him : " John, you will stay with me two or three 
 days ; and, while you are courteously treated, I will prepare the 
 money for your payment." Sir John, who had come thither on the 
 bishop's word, agreed to the proposal : but the populace began to 
 murmur, and to say, " How can our lord bishop make such a mock 
 of us, as to entertain at his house the greatest pillager of all France, 
 besides wanting to make us give him our money ?" They then 
 collected together, sent strong guards to each of the gates, to prevent 
 his escape, and marched in a body of six thousand, with arms, to 
 slay sir John Segar in the court of the bishop's h6tel. When the 
 bishop saw this, he spoke to them, and said : " My good friends, he 
 is come here under the security of my passport ; and you know that 
 a treaty has been made between us, with your consent : it would 
 therefore be highly disloyal to do anything, under this assurance, that 
 may be hurtful to him." However, notwithstanding the endeavors 
 of the bishop, they forced into the hall and the apartments, in which 
 they made so exact a search that they found sir John Segar, slew 
 him, and cut him into pieces. 
 
 CHAPTER CCI. 
 
 THE FRENCH REFUSE TO RATIFY THE TREATY WHICH KIN& JOHN HAD 
 ENTERED INTO WITH ENGLAND. 
 
 I HAVE been a long time silent with regard to the king of England : 
 but until this moment there has not been any cause for speaking of 
 him ; for as long as the truce lasted, his people did not carry on the 
 war in his name. The truce having expired the first day of May, 
 1359, from that period the English and Navarre garrisons made war 
 for him as king of France, and continued so to do daily. It hap. 
 pened that soon after the peace between the duke of Normandy and 
 the king of Navarre had been concluded, as has been related, the 
 lord Arnold d'Andreghen, marshal of France, returned to England ; 
 for he was not yet ransomed since he was made a prisoner at Poitiers. 
 At that time also, the king of England and the prince of Wales 
 came to Westminster, to meet the king of France and lord James 
 de Bourbon ; when these four assembled together in council, and 
 agreed on a peace, without any arbitrator between them, upon certain 
 conditions which were written down, and also a letter was indited 
 to be sent to France to the duke of Normandy. 
 
 The earl of Tancarville and sir Arnold crossed the sea with these 
 dispatches, landed at Boulogne, and hastened on to Paris ; where 
 they found the duke of Normandy and the king of Navarre, to whom 
 they delivered their letters. The duke of Normandy consultea the 
 king of Navarre on the subject of them, who advised that the pre. 
 lates, nobles, and the councils of the principal towns should be as. 
 eembled, which was accordingly ordered. It appeared to the king 
 of Navarre, the duke of Normandy and his brothers, as well as to 
 the council of state, that the conditions of peace were too hard : and 
 they gave an unanimous answer to the two lords who had brought 
 them, that " they would much rather endure the great distress they 
 were in at present, than suffer the kingdom of France to be dimin. 
 ished, and that king John must remain longer in England." When 
 the king of France was informed they had not succeeded in their 
 mission, he said, " Ha, ha, my good son Charles, you consult with 
 the king of Navarre, who deceives you, and would deceive forty 
 such as you." The king of England, on receiving their answer, 
 said, that since it was so, before the winter was over, he would enter 
 France with a most powerful army, and remain there until there was 
 an end of the war by an honorable and satisfactory peace. He began 
 making more splendid preparations than he had ever done before. 
 
 About this season, which was the middle of August, 1359, the 
 lord John de Craon, archbishop of Rheims, the inhabitants of that 
 town and its neighborhood, with many other knights and squires of 
 the counties of Rethel and Laon, marched and laid siege to the castle 
 of Roucy : they pressed it so hard for five weeks, that the garrison 
 surrendered, on condition of saving their lives and fortunes. For 
 this effect, they had letters, with permission to go wherever they 
 pleased with surety, under the hands of the archbishop, the count de 
 Porcien and the count de Braine, who were there : but when they 
 were setting out, the common people came forth to meet them, and 
 slew the greater part, in spite of the lords, who with much difl[iculty 
 saved the life of their leader, Hannequin Frangois. Thus had the 
 count de Roucy once more possession of his town and castle. 
 
 CHAPTER ecu. 
 
 SIR EUSTACE D'AMBRETICOURT OBTAINS HIS LIBERTY BY A GREAT RANSOM. 
 
 Soon after the recapture of the castle of Roucy, sir Peter Audley 
 fell sick, and died in his bed, at ihe castle of Beattfort in Champagne, 
 
 which caused great grief among all the followers of his fortunes 
 Upon this, the English and Germans, who were united in carrying 
 on the war in the name of the king of England, consulted together, 
 and determined that they could not fix on a more proper leader than 
 sir Eustace d'Ambreticourt, v/ho was then recovered from his wounds. 
 They sent Faucon the herald into the county of Vaudemont, to confer 
 with the earl of that name, and with the lord Henry de Quenillart,* 
 who had made him prisoner, touching his redemption. His liberty 
 was granted, on condition of his paying down twenty-two thousand 
 French livres for his ransom. Sir Eustace thus recovered his free- 
 dom ; the different garrisons in Champagne and Brie having made a 
 subscription for that purpose; when each man cheerfully paid his part. 
 He obtained his hackney and war.horse that he had lost at the battle 
 of Nogent, which had been sent to him by the lady Isabella de Jul- 
 iers, countess of Kent, from England, out of her affection to him. 
 The English also surrendered at that time the castle of Conflanst in 
 Champagne, of which they were in possession. 
 
 When these troops, who were carrying on the war against France, 
 had thus ransomed sir Eustace d'Ambreticourt, they elected him 
 their chief, and all sorts of persons enlisted under his banner. He 
 made an excursion into Rhetelois,t where no one had been before, 
 and took by sto^pi the good town of Attigny§ upon the Aisne, where 
 they found upward of a hundred butts of wine. They fixed upon 
 this as the principal garrison, and overran from it the whole country 
 in the environs of Rheims : they pillaged Epernay,|| Damery,^ Tou- 
 raine,** and the town of Vertus,tt where they met with very great 
 booty ; they placed there another garrison, which scoured the country 
 from the river Marne to la Ferte.Milon ;tt while those of Attigny 
 overran it as far as Mesieres§§ upon the Meuse, Donchery,lll| and 
 even to le Ch^ne Pouilleux.inr 
 
 CHAPTER CCIII. 
 
 SIR BROQUART DE FENESTRAGES FORCES PAYMENT FROM THE DUK3E Ot 
 NORMANDY, REGENT OF FRANCE. 
 
 About this time it happened, that sir Broquart de Fenestrages, 
 who had been to the aid of the duke of Normandy and the French, 
 against the English and men of Navarre, and had much assisted them 
 in their conquests, and in driving them out of their fortresses in 
 Champagne, had been very badly paid for his assistance, insomuch 
 that there was owing to him and his men, for their subsidy, thirty 
 thousand livres. He sent therefore certain persons to the duke at 
 Paris, who did not give them very pleasant answers, for they returned 
 without having been able to do anything. Upon this, sir Broquart 
 sent a defiance to the duke and to all France, and took possession 
 of a handsome town called Bar.sur-Seine,*** where at that time there 
 were nine hundred h6tels, and plundered the inhabitants ; but the 
 castle was so well guarded, he could not gain it. Having packed 
 up his booty, he carried away upward of five hundred prisoners, and 
 burnt the town so completely, that nothing remained but the walls. 
 His men retreated to Conflans, which they had made their garrison, 
 and afterwards committed more atrocious acts in Champagne than 
 ever the English or men of Navarre had done. When sir Broquart 
 and his troop had thus overrun and pillaged the country, there was 
 an agreement made with them; and each- man v/as paid even more 
 than he demanded ; so that sir Broquart retreated into Lorraine, 
 whence he had come, carrying with him all his soldiers : he left 
 peaceably the kingdom of France and country of Champagne, after 
 having done a sufficiency of evil to each of them. 
 
 CHAPTER CCiV. 
 
 SIR ROBERT KNOLLES MAKES AN EXCURSION INTO BERRY AND AUVERONE. 
 HE IS PURSUED BY THE GENTLEMEN OF THOSE COUNTRIES. 
 
 At this same period, in the year 1359, sir Robert KnoUes prepared 
 an expedition, consisting of three thousand persons, including every 
 one. With this army, he quitted the marches of Brittany; and hav- 
 ing followed the course of the Loire upv/ard, entered the province 
 of Berry, overrunning and destroying all that part of the country. It 
 was reported that his intentions were to pass through Auvergne, to 
 pay a visit to the pope and cardinals at Avignon, and get some of their 
 florins, as the archpriest had done before. The gentlemen of Au. 
 vergne and Limousin assembled, in large bodies, to oppose this in. 
 vasion ; in particular, the count de Forests, who brought with him 
 
 * Barnes calls him sir Henry de Quingey, but why, I know not. 
 f Diocese and election of Chalons, near Chalons, 
 i A country of Champagne, near Rhetel. 
 
 § A market-town in Champagne, diocese of Rheims, and near KheteL 
 II Diocese of Rheims, eight leagues from Chalons. 
 IT Damery— a village near Epernay. 
 
 ** I can find only TourniUe, a village in Champagne, elecUon of Chaumont, neu 
 Liigny. . 
 
 tt A town in Champagne, six leagues from Chalons 
 
 tt A town in Picardy, diocese of Senhs, election ol Crespy. 
 
 §^ A strong city in Champagne, on the Meuse. 
 
 II II A town in Champagne on the Meuse, bordering on Luxembourg. 
 
 Chesne Pouilleux-a town in Champagne, in the election of Rhetel, near Sedan- 
 made famous by the retreat of the duke of Brunswick, before Dumounez, in the year 1793 
 
 *** A town of Burgundy, on the Seine, diocese of Langres. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 133 
 
 four hundred lances : and they were very numerous when all were 
 assembled. 
 
 Sir Robert Knolles and his troops, who were all called Englishmen, 
 continued their J^arch from Brittany unmolested, until they came to 
 the borders of Auvergne. The lords of Auvergne, with their array, 
 advanced to within a short day's journey of sir Robert. They ob- 
 served from a n ountain, where they had posted themselves, all that 
 the English weru doing. On the morrow, they marched to that part ; 
 there were only two short country leagues between them ; when they 
 halted, and took post on a mountain, and the English did the same 
 on another : each army saw the fires the other was making. The 
 next morning, the French decamped, and advanced still nearer to 
 meet them, for they were well acquainted with the country, and, about 
 noon, took up their quarters on an eminence right before the English : 
 the two armies were only separ ated by a meadow of about twelve 
 acres. The English immediately drew up in order of battle, and 
 placed their archers on the declivity of the hill, in the front. The 
 French lords then drew up their army in two battalions, each of which 
 consisted of upward of five thousand men. The count de Clermont, 
 dauphin of Auvergne, commanded the first battalion ; his name was 
 Berault. He was knighted on the spot, and displayed his banner, 
 which was quartered with the arms of Auverghe and Clermont.* 
 There were near to his person, his uncle the lord Robert Dauphin, 
 the loi-d of Montagu, the lord of Talen9on, the lord of Rochefort, the 
 lord of Serignac, the lord Godfrey of Boulogne, and many young 
 squires from Limousin, Quercy, Auvergne, and Rouergue. In the 
 second battalion, were the count de Forests, the lord John of Bou. 
 logne, the count d'Auvergne, the lord d'Archer and his sons, the lord 
 d'Achon, the Icrd d'Uzes, the lord Reginald de Forests, brother to 
 the count, and ^rreat numbers of knights and squires, with a thorough 
 good will for tho combat, as was apparent. On the other hand, sir 
 Robert Knolles and his troops showed an equally good countenance 
 to engage. 
 
 Thus then they remained until the evening, each in their intrench, 
 ments, without moving, except some young knights and squires, who, 
 in hopes of gaining glory by feats of arms, descended into the mea. 
 dow, with the leave of their marshals, in order to tilt with their oppo- 
 nents. He who conquered his adversary carried him off prisoner. 
 Toward night, each party retired to his quarters, and kept a good 
 and great guard. The lords of France held a council, and resolved 
 at the hour of midnight to descend the mountain, not on the side next 
 the English, but by that which they had ascended; when, by making 
 a circuit of only two leagues, they would come to the opposite side 
 of the hill where the English were posted, which part was not high 
 nor difficult of ascent : they had hopes to arrive there so early, that 
 the English would not be all armed. Each lord was to give these 
 orders to his own people : this, however, was not done so secretly 
 but that the English were informed of it by one of thei: countrymen, 
 a prisoner in the French army, who made his escape, and told sir 
 Robert Knolles of ;heir intentions. Sir Robert summoned a council 
 of those in whose opinion he most confided, who, considering the 
 superiority of the French forces, thought it not advisable to v/ait for 
 them. Upon this, their baggage was immediately loaded : they de- 
 camped, and were conducted by those of the country whom they had 
 made prisoners. 
 
 At midnight, the French were drawn up in battle array, and 
 marched according as it had been ordered. They arrived by day- 
 break on the mountain, where they thought to have found the Eng- 
 lish : but, when they saw they had decamped, they sent off some of 
 their most expert and best mounted, over the hills, to see if they 
 could get any tidings of them. They returned about nine o'clock, 
 and reported that they had seen them on their march, named the 
 roads they had taken, and added they were advancing toward Limo. 
 ges. When the lords of Auvergne heard this, they broke up their 
 expedition, and each returned to his own home. 
 
 Very soon after, a treaty of marriage was entered into, and com- 
 pleted, between the gallant knight the lord Berault, dauphin of Au. 
 vergne, with the daughter of the count de Forests, whom he had by 
 a sister of the lord James de Bourbon. 
 
 CHAPTER CCV. 
 
 SOME GERMANS WAIT FOR THE KING OF ENGLAND AT CALAIS, TO A.TTEND 
 HIM IN HIS EXPEDITION INTO FRANCE, DURING THE TIME KING JOHN 
 WAS IN ENGLAND. 
 
 During all this time, the king of England was making such great 
 preparations for his expedition into France, that the like was never 
 seen before : on which account, many barons and knights of the 
 German empire, who had formerly served him, exerted themselves 
 
 * In all my manuscripts and printed editions, it is Auvergne and Merquel. Denys 
 Sauvage says, that there must be some mistake, and proposes Clermont in lieu of Mer- 
 quel, which, as he was count de Clermont as well as dauphin of Auvergne, seems to me 
 proper. Barnes changes the word Merquel into Marteques ; but he gives no reason or 
 authority for so doing. 
 
 The counts of Auvergne added the title of dauphin, in rivalship to the dauphin of 
 Viennois, 1167. How long they continued it I know not. The last dauphin of Viennois 
 was Humbert, who ceded the title and his estates to the crown of France, 1345 on con- 
 dition of the heir apparent to that crown bearing it. Dauphin was formerly a title of 
 honor, o* duJke, marquis, &c. is now. 
 
 much this year, and provided themselves handsomely in horses and 
 equipage in the best manner they could, each according to his rank, 
 and hastened as fast as possible, by the frontiers of Flanders, to Ca- 
 lais, where they remained, to wait for the king of England. It hap- 
 pened that the king could not come thither with his army by the 
 time appointed, which caused such numbers to remain at Calais, that 
 there were no lodgings for them, nor stables for their horses. In ad- 
 dition to this, bread, wine, hay, oats, and all sorts of provisions, were 
 so scarce, that none could be had for money. 
 
 Thus did these mercenary Germans, Bohemians, Brabanters, Flem- 
 ings, Hainaulters, both poor and rich, wait from the beginning of * 
 August until St. Luke's day ; so that many were forced to eell the 
 greater part of their jewels. If the king had arrived then, they would 
 not have known where to have lodged him and his people, except in 
 the castle, for the whole town was occupied. There was also some 
 doubt if these lords who had spent their all, would have quitted Calais, 
 for the king or any one else, if their expenses had not been allowed 
 them. The king had not sent for a fourth part of them. Some came 
 out of good-will to him, in hopes of grace and favor: others, with the 
 expectation of gaining from the plunder of France. 
 
 The king of England at last ordered the duke of Lancaster to Ca. 
 lais, with four hundred men in armor and two thousand archers and 
 Welchmen. When the duke came to Calais, he was much rejoiced 
 to see so many foreign lords, who made earnest inquiries after the 
 king. He excused the king for not coming, on the impossibility of 
 getting all preparations ready for so large 'an army by the time he had 
 fixed. He then told these lords, that a longer residence there would 
 be of no service ; that as he intended making an excursion into 
 France, to see what he could find, he entreated of them to accom. 
 pany him, offering to lend to each a sum of money, to pay their land- 
 lords and other expenses, as well as to supply them with as much pro- 
 vision as their horses could carry. They accepted the duke's proposal, 
 for they were ashamed to refuse it: and having had their horses new 
 shodden, and packed up their baggage, they set oiit from Calais in a 
 magnificent train, accompanying the duke toward St Omer. They 
 might be about two thousand men with armor, without counting the 
 archers or footmen. They passed by St. Omer, riding on toward 
 Bethune,* which they also left unmolested, and came to Mont St. 
 Eloy,t where there was a large and rich monastery, situated two 
 leagues distant from Arras. Here they halted four days, to refresh 
 themselves and their horses, as they found a sufficiency for both in 
 the monastery. 
 
 When they had robbed and plundered the country round about, 
 they advanced until they came to the tov/n of Braye,t which they 
 attacked a whole day. A knight-banneret§ of England was slain 
 there, with many others ; for the townsmen defended themselves 
 valiantly, owing to a reinforcement which the count de St. Pol and 
 the lord de Lameval, with others, to the amount of tv/o hundred 
 lances, had thrown into the back part of the town. When the Eng. • 
 lish perceived they could make no impression, they marched off, 
 following the course of the river Somrne, being in great distress for 
 bread and wine, until they came to a town called Cherisy,|| where 
 they found enough of both. They crossed the river at this last place 
 by the bridge, which was not destroyed, and remained there that 
 night and the feast of All-Saints. That day, a messenger brought 
 the news to the duke, that the king was arrived at Calais, with orders 
 for him and his troops to join hirn immediately. Upon which they 
 all returned to Calais. In this expedition was sir Henry of Flan- 
 ders, with two hundred lances. From Brabant, there were sir Henry 
 de Beautresen, lord of Bergues, the lord Girard de la Harde, and 
 lord Franque de Halle. IT From Hainault, the lord Walter de 
 Manny and the lord John de Gommeguines. From Bohemia, sir 
 Walter de la Hautepomme, sir Reginald de Boullant, the lord God- 
 frey de Harduemont, and the lord John his son, the lord Duras, 
 Thierry de Ferram, the lord Russe de Jumeppe, the lord Giles Ser- 
 ies, the lord John de Bermont, the lord Reginald de Bergehes, and 
 many other noblemen. The Germans and mercenaries from strange 
 countries, I am unable to name ; therefore, for the present, I shall 
 be silent on that head. 
 
 CHAPTER CCVI. 
 
 THE KING OF ENGLAND LEADS A GREAT ARMY INTO FRANCE, DURINO 
 THE TIME THE KING OF FRANCE WAS A PRISONER IN ENGLAND 
 THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE ARMY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 As the duke of Lancaster, with his barons and knights, were re- 
 turning to Calais, to salute the king of England, who was impatient 
 to see them, they met, within four leagues of Calais, such a multi- 
 tude of people, the whole country was filled with them ; and they 
 were so richly armed and dressed out, that it was a pleasure to view 
 their arms glittering in the sun, their banners waving in the wind, 
 and the whole army marching slowly in battle array. When the 
 
 * A strong town in Artois. 
 
 t A village of Artois, diocese of Arras. 
 
 X Braye.sur-Somme— a village in Picardy. 
 
 § Barnes says it was sir Thomas Murrers, but gives no authority. 
 
 II A village in Picardy, diocese of Noyon. 
 Sir Francis van Halle was afterwards captain of Calais, and a commissioner for 
 treating of peace with France. He was installed knight of the garter in the 23rd stall 
 in the room of six Otho Holland.— Bdbwell's Account of tke Oarter, No. 50. 
 
124 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 duke and the above-mentioned lords were come to the king, he re- 
 ceived them very graciously, and thanked them much for their ser- 
 vices. Shortly afterwards, these mercenary Germans, Brabanters, 
 and Bohemians, having assembled together, informed the king, that, 
 having spent their money, and sold their horses and armor, very little 
 remained with them for his service, according to the design of their 
 coming, and that, if there should be occasion, they had not where- 
 withal to return to their own country : they entreated him, out of 
 his generosity, to pay some regard to their situation. The king thus 
 replied : " I am but ill prepared at this place to give you a complete 
 answer; and, as I imagine, you must all be much fatigued ; if you 
 will go and refresh yourselves in Calais for two or three days, I will 
 consider your requests this night, and to-morrow will send you such 
 an answer as ought to be satisfactory to you in reason, and according 
 to my means." These lords then left the king and the duke, and 
 advanced toward Calais. When they had marched about half a 
 league, they met a great number of handsome wagons, and soon 
 after the prince of Wales, who, as well as all his attendants, were 
 most brilliantly armed, and in such numbers that the whole country 
 seemed covered with them: they marched slowly in close order, as 
 if they were about to engage in battle, and always a league or two 
 in the rear of the king's division, with their baggage and provisions 
 between them ; which arrangement the foreign lords viewed with 
 delight. 
 
 These lords attentively con. 
 eidered this army, and respect. 
 
 fully saluted the prince, the , 
 barons, and the other lords that 
 were with him. After the prince 
 had courteously and handsomely 
 received them, like one who 
 knew well how to do so, on their 
 taking leave, they informed him 
 also of their poverty and situa- 
 tion, beseeching him that he 
 would have the goodness to at. 
 tend to their necessities. The 
 prince listened to them, and 
 cheerfully complied with their 
 request. They then rode on, 
 and came to Calais, where they 
 took up their lodgings. The 
 second day after they had been 
 there, the king of England sent 
 them his answer by three worthy 
 knights, who told them plainly, 
 that the king had not with him 
 adequate sums of money to pay 
 all their expenses, nor what they 
 might perhaps demand : that he 
 had brought with him only suf- 
 ficient for the enterprise he had 
 undertaken : that, however, if 
 they thought proper to accom- 
 pany him, and partake of his 
 good and bad fortune, should 
 any success ensue, they should 
 partake of it, and largely ; but 
 that he would not be understood 
 as obliged to pay them any 
 wages, nor anything for horses 
 
 desti'oyed, or other expenses which they might be put to ; for he 
 had brought an army from his own country equal to the business 
 that he had undertaken. This answer was not very agreeable lo 
 these lords, nor to their companions, who had labored hard, and 
 expended their all ; they had also pawned their horses and armoi, 
 having sold everything superfluous through necessity. Nevertheless, 
 they could obtain nothing except some small sums lent them to 
 carry them home again. However, some of these noblemen chose 
 to remain with the king and share his adventures ; for they would 
 have been blamed if they had gone back to their own country with- 
 out having done anything. 
 
 I shall now point out the manner of the arrangement of the king 
 of England's forces, which he brought with him for this expedition. 
 It ought not to be passed oyer in silence, for so large an army* had 
 never left England before. Previous to the king's embarking for 
 France, he sent all the French earls and barons, his prisoners, into 
 different parts and strong castles in his kingdom, in order to be more 
 under command. He placed the king of France in the Tower of 
 London, which is very large and strong, and situated on the river 
 Thames : his young son Philip was sent thither with him : but they 
 were deprived of many of their attendants, curtailed in several com. 
 forts, and more closely confined than before. 
 
 When he was ready to set out, he summoned all those who had 
 provided themselves with everything necessary to attend him in 
 France, to advance toward Dover, where they would find vessels to 
 cross the sea. Each man got himself ready as fast as he could : 
 there was not knight, squire, or man of honor, from the age of twenty 
 
 • Or M well ordered.->LoRD BsiuntRi. 
 
 to sixty years, that did not go ; so that almost all the earls, baroni, 
 knights, and squires of the realm went to Dover, except those whom 
 the king and his council had ordered to remain to guard his castles, 
 bailiwicks, mayoralties, sea-ports, havens, and marches. When all 
 were collected together at Dover, and the vessels ready, the king or. 
 dered both small and great to assemble at a particular place out of 
 the town, where he distinctly told them, that his intentions were to 
 pass into France, and never to return until he should have put an end to 
 the war, and obtained an honorable and efficient peace ; that he 
 would die sooner than not accomplish this object; and that if there 
 were any ^mong them who disapproved of what he had said, he 
 desired they would return home. They all approving, em-barked on 
 board the ships, to the cries of " God and St. George !" and arrived 
 at Calais two days before the feast of All-Saints, 1359. 
 
 CHAPTER CCVII. 
 
 THE KING OF ENGLAND LEAVES CALAIS. THE ORDER OF HIS ARMY IN 
 THEIR MARCH THROUGH PICARDY TOWARD RHEIMS. 
 
 When the king of England was arrived at Calais, attended by 
 the prince of Wales and three other sons, namely, Lionel earl of 
 Ulster, John earl of Richmond, and Edmund, afterwards earl of 
 Cambridge, the youngest of the four, with the following lords and 
 
 War Wagons and Baooaoe Trains on their March. From Authorities of the I'ifteenth Century. Engraved and describe 
 
 in Grose's Milit&ry Antiquities. 
 
 their attendants, he ordered the cavalry, provision, and baggage, 
 to be landed, and remained there four days. He then commanded 
 every man to get ready ; for he was desirous of marching after his 
 cousin the duke of Lancaster. 
 
 He left the town of Calais on the next morning, and took the field 
 with the largest army and best appointed train of baggage-wagons, 
 that had ever quitted England. It was said, there were upward of 
 six thousand carts and wagons, which had all been brought with him. 
 He then arranged his battalions : they were so richly and well, 
 dressed that it was a pleasure to look at them : he nominated his 
 cousin the earl of March, whom he much loved, his constable. 
 
 First marched five hundred knights, well armed, and a thousand 
 archers, in the van of the king's battalion, which was composed of 
 three thousand men-at-arms and five thousand archers ; himself and 
 attendants riding among them in close order after the constable. In 
 the rear of the king's .battalion, was the immense baggage train, 
 which occupied two leagues in length : it consisted of upward of five 
 thousand carriages, with a sufficiency of horses to ciutv the provision 
 for the army, and those utensils never before accustomed to be car. 
 ried after an army, such as hand-mills to grind their corn, ovens to 
 bake their bread, and a variety of other necessary articles. Next 
 marched the strong battalion of the prince of Wales : he was accom. 
 panied by his brothers : it was composed of full two thousand m'en. 
 at.arms, most excellently mounted and richly dressed. Botlj the 
 men-at-arms and archers marched in close order, so that they were 
 ready instantly to engage, should there be occasion. On their march, 
 they did not leave even a boy behind them without waiting for them, 
 so that they could not well advance more than four leagues a-day. 
 
 In this state, they were met by the duke of Lancaster with the 
 
CHfeONIGLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 U5 
 
 oreign lords, as has been before related, between Calais and the 
 abbey of Licques,* in a handsome plain. There, were also, in this 
 array of the king of England, five hundred pioneers with spades and 
 pick-axes, to level the roads, and cut down trees and hedges, for the 
 more easily passing of the carriages. 
 
 I wish now to name the great lords of England who crossed the 
 sea with the king, and the duke of Lancaster his cousin-german : 
 First then, there were his four sons already named ; Henry duke of 
 Lancaster ; John earl of March, constable of England ; the earls of 
 Warwick and Suffolk, marshals of England; the earls of Hereford, 
 Northampton, Salisbury, Stamford, Oxford ; the bishops of Lincoln 
 and Durham ; the lords Percy, Neville, Despenser, Roos, Manny, 
 Reginald Cobham, Mowbray, Delaware ; sir John Chandos, sir 
 Richard Pembridge,t the lord Maine, the lord Willoughby, the lord 
 Felton, the lord Basset, the lord Charlton,t the lord Silvancier ;t sir 
 James Audley, sir Bartholomew de Burghersh, the lord Scales, sir 
 Stephen Cossington, sir Hugh Hastings, sir John Lisle, sir Nesle 
 Loring, and a great many others whom I cannot recollect. 
 
 These lords then rode on in the same order I mentioned on their 
 quitting Calais, and marched through Artois, passing by Arras, taking 
 the same road which the duke of Lancaster had done before. They, 
 however, could not find any provision in the flat countries, for every, 
 thing had been carried into the diflferent garrisons. The country 
 had been so pillaged and destroyed, that the ground had not. been 
 cultivated for the last three years ; and there was such distress and 
 famine in the kingdom of France, that if corn and oats had not been 
 sent from Hainault and the Cambresis, into Artois, Vermandois, the 
 bishopric of Laon, and Rheims, must have died with hunger. It was 
 upon this account, that the king, who had been informed of the 
 poverty and distress in France, had made such ample provision be- 
 fore he quitted England. Each lord had done the same according 
 to his rank, except in the articles of straw and oats, and for that they 
 did with their horses as well as they could. The season, however, 
 was very rainy, which hurt greatly both themselves and their horses ; 
 for almost every day and night it rained in torrents, so that the vin. 
 tage of this year was worth nothing. 
 
 The king continued his march, by short journeys, with his whole 
 army, until he came near Bapaume.§ I must notice here aji adven- 
 ture which befel sir Galahaut de Ribemmont, a fery gallant and expert 
 knight of Picardy. I will first inform you, that all the towns, cities, 
 and castles, near the road that the king of England was following, 
 were well guarded ; for each town in Picardy took and received 
 knights and squires into their pay. The count de St. Pol had posted 
 himself, with two hundred knights, in Arras ; the constable of 
 France in Amiens ; the lord de Monsault in Corbie ; sir Odart de 
 Renty and sir Enguerrant de Hedin in Bapaume ; sir Baldwin de 
 Annequin, captain of the crosp-bowmen, in St. Quentin : and thus 
 from city to city, for it was well known to all that the king of Eng. 
 land was marcing to lay siege to the city of Rheims. It happened, 
 that the inhabitants of Peronne in Vermandois had neither captain 
 nor leader ; a-nd as their town was on the line of march the king 
 was taking, and the English very near, they were not at their ease. 
 This town is situated upon the river Somme ; and the English fol- 
 lowed the course of the rivers in preference : they bethought them- 
 selves, therefore, of sir Galahaut de Ribemmont, who was not at that 
 time engaged to any town, and, as they had heard, was at Tournay. 
 They sent thither to him most courteous letters, to entreat that he 
 would come to assist in guarding the good town of Peronne, and 
 bring as many companions as were attached to him ; that they would 
 pay him every day, for himself, twenty livres ; for each knight under 
 him, ten livres ; and each lance having three horses, seven livres|l 
 a-day. 
 
 Sir Galahaut was always eager for any warlike enterprise, and, 
 finding himself thus courteously sought after by his neighbors of 
 Peronne, readily complied with their request, and answered, that he 
 would set out and be with them the day after the morrow. He left 
 Tournay with about thirty lances ; but his numbers, as he rode on, 
 increased. He sent to sir Roger de Cologne, to meet him at an ap. 
 pointed place, which sir Roger did, accompanied by nineteen good 
 companions, so that sir Galahaut had now fifty lances. They took 
 up their quarters one night, in their way to Peronne, within two short 
 leagues of the enemy, at a village, but where they found no one, for 
 all the inhabitants of the low countries had fled to the fortified towns. 
 On the next morning, they were to have got into Peronne, as they 
 were but a small distance from it. About the hour of midnight, 
 when supper was over, after they had posted their watch, they were 
 chatting and jesting about feats of arms, of which they had where, 
 withal to talk, sir Galahaut said : " We shall get into Peronne very 
 early to-morrow morning ; but, before we make our entry there, I 
 would propose an excursion toward the flanks of our enemies ; for I 
 shall be much mistaken, if there will not be some of them who will 
 
 * Licques— a small town in Picardy. sovereisnty of Ardres. 
 
 t Sir Richard Pembridge is buried in Hereford cathedral. See Cough's Sepulchral 
 Monuments. 
 
 nu 'i" '"^ MSS. it is Corbanton and Silvancier. Barnes says, there was lord John 
 Charlton, who was chamberhiin to the king; but who Silvancier is, I cannot find out. 
 Jiord Berners repeats the word, and calls the first lord Grabalton. 
 \ ^i^P^"""^^ strong town in Artois, diocese of \rras. 
 
 i. All my copies. MS. as well as printed, have 'zrg'/r.-nc«-day ; but as Denys Sauvage 
 ftas altered it to set^en, and says that other authors say sev«a, and particularly as La 
 Wiaux marks it clearly vii., I have therefgre followvd it. 
 
 set out early in hopes of gaining honor or booty by pillaging the 
 country; and we may perchance meet with them, and make them 
 pay our score. His companions immediately agreed to this proposal, 
 kept it secret among themselves, and were ready with their horses 
 saddled at break of day. They took the field in good order, and, 
 leaving the road which led to Peronne, skirted the woods to see if 
 they could meet with any one : they arrived at a village, the inhabit, 
 ants of which had fortified the church : sir Galahaut dismounted at 
 this place, where there was wine, with bread and meat in plenty, 
 which were offered to them by those within. While they were at 
 this place, sir Galahaut called to him. two of his squires, one of whom 
 was Bridoul de Tallonne, and said to them : " Ride forward, and 
 examine the country round, to see if you can perceive any one : and, 
 if you find nothing, return here to us : we will wait for you." The 
 two squires set off", mounted on good horses, and made for a wood 
 which was about half a French league distant. 
 
 The same morning, sir Reginald de Boullant, a German knighi 
 belonging to the duke of Lancaster's division, had rode forth since 
 daybreak, and, having made a large circuit without seeing any one, 
 had halted at that spot. The two squires, being come thither, imag- 
 ined they might be some persons of the country, who had placed 
 themselves there in ambuscade, and rode so near that each party saw 
 the other. The two Frenchmen, therefore, consulted together, and 
 said, " If they be Germans, we must pretend we belong to them : if 
 they be of this part of the country, we will tell them who we are." 
 When they were so near each other that they could speak, the two 
 squires soon perceived, by their uniforms, that they were Germans 
 and their enemies. Sir Reginald de Boullant spoke to them in 
 German, and inquired whose soldiers they were. Bridoul de Tal. 
 lonne, who well understood that language, answered, " We belong 
 to sir Bartholomew Burghersh." "And where is sir BartholomevN^ ?" 
 " He is," replied he, " in that village." " For what reason has he 
 stopped there ?" " Sir, because he has sent us forward, to see if 
 we can find anything to forage in this part of the country." "By 
 my faith, there is not," answered sir Reginald ; " for I have been all 
 over it, and have not been able to pick up anything. Return to him, 
 and tell him to advance, and we will ride together as far as St. 
 Quentin, and see if we cannot find out a better country, or some 
 good adventure." "And who are you ?" demanded the squire. " I 
 am called Reginald de Boullant," answered the knight, " and say so 
 to sir Bartholomew." Upon this the two squires turned about, and 
 went to the village where they had left their master. As soon as sir 
 Galahaut saw them, he asked, "What news? have you found or 
 seen anything ?" " Yes, sir, enough, in conscience : beyond this 
 wood is sir Reginald de Boullant, with about thirty more : he has 
 been riding about this neighborhood all this morning, and desires 
 much to have your company to ride further forward toward St. 
 Quentin." "How," replied sir Galahaut, "what are you saying ? 
 sir Reginald de Boullant is a German knight, and in the service of 
 England." "All this we know well," answered the squire. "Then 
 how could you get away from him ?" " Sir," said Bridoul, " I will 
 tell you." He then related to him all that conversation which has 
 just been mentioned. 
 
 When sir Galahaut heard what had passed, he was for a moment 
 thoughtful, and then asked the opinions of sir Roger de Cologne and 
 some other knights present, what was best to be done. The knights 
 answered, " Sir, you are seeking for adventures, and, when they fall 
 into your mouth, take advantage of them, for by all means, allowed 
 by the laws of arms, every man ought to molest his enemy." To 
 this advice sir Galahaut cheerfully assented, for he was very desirous 
 of meeting the Germans. He ordered his steed to be got ready, and 
 put on his helmet with the visor down, that he might not be known : 
 the rest did the same. They quitted the village, and, getting into 
 the fields, rode to the right for the wood, where sir Reginald was 
 waiting for them. They might be about seventy men-at-arms, and 
 sir Reginald had but thirty. As soon as sir Reginald perceived them 
 advancing, he collected his men together in a very orderly manner, 
 and thus left his ambuscade, with his pennon displayed before him, 
 and marched with a gentle pace to meet the French, whom he be- 
 lieved to be English. When he was come up with them, he raised 
 his visor, and saluted sir Galahaut, by the name of sir Bartholomew 
 Burghersh. Sir Galahaut kept his face covered, and replied in a low 
 voice, adding, " Come, come, let us ride on." Upon which, his 
 people drew off on one side, and the Germans on the other. When 
 sir Reginald de Boullant noticed his manner, and that sir Galahaut 
 was eyeing him askance without saying a word, some doubts entered 
 his mind. He had not rode a quarter of an hour before he stopped 
 short, under his banner, in the midst of his people, and said aloud : 
 "I have some suspicions, sir knight, that you are not sir Bartholomew 
 de Burghersh ; for I am well acquainted with sir Bartholomew, and 
 hitherto I have not seen your face ; therefore, you must tell me your 
 real name, before I ride any farther in your company." At these 
 words, sir Galahaut raised his visor, and advanced toward the knight, 
 in order to seize the reins of his horse, cr>'ing out, " Our Lady of 
 Ribemmont 1" which was echoed by sir Roger de Cologne, crying, 
 " Cologne to the rescue ! ' 
 
 Sir Reginald, perceiving his mistake, was not much frightened 
 but laying his hand quickly on his sword of war, which he wore by 
 his side, that was both stiif and strong, drew it out of the scabbard * 
 
126 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN. &c. 
 
 and, as sir Galahaut advanced to take the bridle, sir Reginald gave 
 him so furious a stroke with this sword, that it penetrated the armor, 
 and passed through his body. Having drawn it back again, he stuck 
 spurs in his horse, and left sir Galahaut grievously wounded. 
 
 The companions of sir Galahaut, perceiving their master and cap- 
 tain in such a condition, were like madmen : they threw themselves 
 up, and attacked the party of sir Reginald most fiercely, when some of 
 Ihem were unhorsed. As for sir Reginald himself, he had no sooner 
 struck sir Galahaut, than, clap- 
 ping spurs to his horse, he had 
 galloped off. Some of sir Gal- 
 ahaut's squires pursued him, 
 while others were engaged 
 with the Germans, with the in. 
 tention of being fully revenged: 
 but sir Reginald, who was a 
 bold and accomplished knight, 
 was not much alarmed : how- 
 ever, when he found himself so 
 closely pursued, that it was pro. • 
 per to turn about or be dis- 
 graced, he wheeled round, and 
 struck the nearest so violently 
 with his strong sword, that he 
 had not any desire to follow 
 him further: thus, as he was 
 riding off, he beat down and 
 severely wounded three ; and 
 had he had a sharp battle-axe 
 in his hand, every one of his 
 strokes would have killed a 
 man. In this manner did the 
 knight escape from the French, 
 without receiving the smallest 
 wound, which his enemies, as 
 well as all those who heard of 
 it, considered as a most gaf- 
 lant act : but it fared otherwise 
 with his people, as they were 
 almost all killed or made pris- 
 oners, scarcely any escaping. 
 They placed sir Galahaut de 
 Ribemmont, who was very se- 
 verely wounded, on a litter, 
 and carried him to Peronne to 
 a physician. He was never 
 perfectly cured of this wound ; 
 for he was a knight of such 
 courage that he would not al- 
 low it time to heal, so that he died shortly afterwards. 
 
 We will now return to the king of England, and relate how he 
 laid siege to the city and castle of Rheima. 
 
 Burghersh, in riding toward St. Quentin, accidentally met the 
 governor of that^place, sir Baldwin d'Annequin, when both riders 
 and horses met together: there was great confusion, and many were 
 unhorsed on each side ; but in the end the English gained the field, 
 and sir Baldwin d'Annequin was captured by sir Bartholomew Burg 
 hersh, to whom he had been before a prisoner at the battle o* 
 Poitiers. 
 
 The English returned to the king , who that day was lodged in 
 
 CHAPTER CCVIII. 
 
 THE KING OP ENGLAND LAYS SIEGE TO THE CITY OF RHEIMS, AND TO THE 
 CASTLE OF CHARGNY. THE WAR RECOMMENCES BETWEEN THE DUKE 
 OF NORMANDY AND THE KING OF NAVARRE. 
 
 The English continued their march, until they had passed through 
 Artois, the low country of which they found in great poverty and 
 distress for provisions, and had entered Cambresis, where all things 
 were in greater abundance : for the inhabitants of the plains had not 
 carried their provisions into any fortresses, thinking themselves secure 
 from the English, as forming a dependence .of the empire ; but the 
 king of England did not consider them in that light, nor look upon 
 Cambresis as part of the empire. 
 
 The king took up his quarters in the town of Beaurevoir in Cam- 
 bresis, encamping his army in the neighborhood, where they halted 
 four days to refresh themselves and horses, and from whence they 
 overran the greater part of the country of Cambresis. The bishop, 
 Peter of Cambray, and the councils of the lords of the country and 
 the principal towns, sent divers messengers, under a passport, to 
 inquire the grounds of the war. They received for answer, that 
 some time ago they had contracted alliances with the French, had 
 aided them much, had supported them in their towns and fortresses, 
 and had before made part in the war as enemies : that these were 
 the reasons why the war was carried on in their country : nor could 
 they get any other answer. The Cambresians were therefore obliged 
 to put up with their losses and grievances as well as they could. 
 The king continued his route through Cambresis, and entered 
 Tierache;* but his people overran the country to the right and left, 
 and took provisions wherever they could lay hands on them. It 
 chanced, that in one of these foraging parties sir Bartholomew 
 
 • Tierache— a fertile country in Picardy, wat«red by the Oise and the Sene, to the 
 w«it of Champagne, and south of Hainault. 
 
 Rhkims. The Cathedral and part of the old town, as it appeared during the Siege. Designed from Original sketches- 
 
 the abbey of Femy,* where they found great plenty of provisions 
 for themselves and horses ; they then passed on, and continued their 
 march without any hindrance, so that they arrived in the environs 
 of Rheims. 
 
 The king's quarters w^ere at St. Waal beyond Rheims, and the 
 prince of Wales's at St. Thierry,t where they held their courts. 
 The duke of Lancaster, after them, kept the greatest household. 
 The counts, barons, and knights, were quartered in the neighboring 
 villages to Rheims, so that they were not very comfortable, nor had 
 they weather to please them ; for they had arrived there in the depth 
 of winter, about St. Andrew's day, when it was very rainy : their 
 horses were badly housed, hardly treated, and ill fed, as the whole 
 country v/as so destroyed, by having been for two or three years 
 before the theatre of war, that no one had tilled or sowed the ground. 
 There was such scarcity of corn of all sorts, many were forced to 
 seek forage ten or twelve leagues off. These parties met frequently 
 with the garrisons of the neighboring fortresses : sharp skirmishes 
 ensued between them : sometimes the English lost, at others were 
 victoVious. 
 
 Sir John de Craon, archbishop of Rheims, the count de Porcien, 
 sir Hugh de Porcien his brother, the lord de la Bone, the lord de 
 Canency, the lord Dannore, the lord de Lore, were governors and 
 captains of the town at the time the king of England besieged it. 
 Many other barons, knights and squires of the district of Rheims 
 were also there, who exerted themselves so much that the town suf. 
 fered but little loss or damage from the siege : besides, it w'as strong, 
 well fortified, and as well defended. The king of England was not 
 desirous of storming it, lest his army might suffer too much from 
 wounds or fatigue ; he remained, therefore, before it, from St. An- 
 drew's day to the beginning of Lent. Detachments from his army, 
 however, scoured the country in search of adventures. Some of 
 them went over the w-hole country of Rhetel, as far as Warq,t to 
 Maisieres,§ Donchery,|l and Mouson :^ they quartered themselves 
 
 * Femy— a village in Cambre&is, on the borders of Hainault. 
 t St. Thierry— a small village in Champagne, diocese of Rheims. 
 t VVarq-les-iMaisons— a village of Champagne, election of Rhetel, 
 § Mezieres— a strong city of Champagne, diocese of Rheims, election of Rhetel. 
 II Donchery— a town of Cliampagne, on the Meuse, diocese of Rheims, election of 
 Rhetei. 
 
 IT Mousoa—a town of Champagne, diocese of Rhsinu 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGL 
 
 AND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 127 
 
 .■n the country for three or four days ; and after having pillaged it 
 vithout let or hindrance, they returned again to their army. 
 
 During the time that the king of England was before Rheims, sir 
 Eustace d'Ambreticourt had taken the good town of Achery-sur- 
 Aine ;* in which he had found a great quantity of provisions, and, 
 in particular, upward of three thousand butts of wine. He sent a 
 large portion of it to the king of England and his sons, for which 
 they were very thankful. 
 
 While this siege lasted, many knights left it, to seek what good 
 fortune they might find. Among others, sir John Chandos, sir James 
 Audley, the lord of Mucident, sir Richard de Pontchardon, with their 
 companies, advanced so near to Chalons in Champagne, that they 
 came to Chargny-en.Dornois,t where there was a very handsome 
 and strong castle. Having carefully examined it, they were very 
 desirous of gaining this castle, and directly made an assault on it. 
 Within it were two good and valiant knights as governors : the name 
 of one was sir John de Caples, who bore for arms a cross anchored 
 sable on a shield or. 
 
 The attack was sharp and long : the two knights and their garrison 
 defended themselves well : and it behoved them so to do, for they 
 were assaulted very roughly. The lord of Mucident, who was a 
 powerful and rich lord in Gascony, advanced so forward at this at- 
 tack, that he received a severe blow from a stone on his helmet, 
 through which it found a passage to his head : he was so badly 
 wounded, that he cou'd not be carried away, but died in the arms 
 of his people. The other barons and knights were so enraged at the 
 death of the lord of Mucident, they swore they would never quit the 
 place until they had conquered the castle, and all that were in it. 
 They renewed the assault with double vigor : many gallant deeds 
 were performed : for the Gascons, being irritated by the loss of their 
 lord, rushed into the ditches, close to the walls of the castle, without 
 sparing themselves, and, placing their shields over their heads, climbed 
 up them : the archers, in the meantime, kept such a continual volley 
 of arrows, that no one dared to appear. The castle was so briskly 
 assaulted, that it was won, but it cost them dear. When the English 
 were masters of it, they made the two knights prisoners who had so 
 valiantly defended it, and some other squires and gentlemen : the 
 rest of the garrison they put to the sword. They destroyed much 
 of the castle of Chargny, because they did not wish tc keep it, and 
 returned to the king and his barons, to relate what they had performed. 
 
 During the time they were before Rheims, great animosities and 
 hatred arose between the king of Navarre and the duke of Normandy. 
 I am not perfectly well informed of the real cause,t but so it was, 
 for the king of Navarre quitted Paris suddenly, and went to Mantes- 
 sur-Seine, from whence he sent his challenge to the duke and his 
 brothers. Many a baron was much surprised at this, and wondered 
 for what cause the war was to be renewed. However, a squire 
 from Brussels, whose name was Waustre Ostrate, under pretence of 
 this war took the strong castle of Roulleboise upon the Seine, a short 
 league from Mantes, which was afterwards a great annoyance to the 
 Parisians and all the neighborhood. 
 
 While the king of England was besieging Rheims, with his whole 
 army, it happened that the lord Gomegines, who had returned to the 
 queen in England, at the time the king of England had sent all 
 strangers out of Calais, as had been before related, repassed the sea, 
 and with him some squires of Gascony and England, who accompa- 
 nied him into Hainault, intending to join the army before Rheims. 
 The young lord of Gomegines, being eager to advance himself, col- 
 lected some men together on his return to Hainault. Many men-at- 
 arms joined him, and served under his pennon. When they were 
 all assembled, they might amount to about three hundred. They 
 Bet out from Maubeuge,§ where they had been mustered, and came 
 to Avesnes,!] which they passed through, and then to Trelon.lT 
 
 The lord of Roye, at this period, was in garrison at Roye** in 
 Tierache : there were a great many companions with him, as well 
 knights as squires ; and he had been informed, by the spies he kept 
 m pay on the borders of Hainault, of the lord of' Gomegines having 
 collected a body of forces, which he was marching to the assistance 
 of the king of England before Rheims, and that he and his troops 
 must pass through Tierache. As soon as the lord of Roye had as- 
 certained the truth of this intelligence, he communicated it secretly 
 to all his fellow-soldiers in the neighborhood, and particularly to the 
 lor^ Robert, canon de Robersart, who at that time managed the estates 
 of the young earl de Courcy, and resided in the castle of Marle.tt 
 When the canon heard it, he was not slow in obeying the summons, 
 but came to the lord of Roye with full forty lances. The lord of 
 Roye was chosen chief of this expedition, as indeed he had reason 
 to expect, for he was a powerful baron in Picardy, and for the times 
 
 * Achery— a town in Picardy, on the Oise, diocese of Laon. The river Aine fells into 
 le Oise near Compiesne. 
 
 t Dormois— a country of Champagne, diocese of Rheims. 
 
 % Probably occasioned by the king of Navarre's treasonable designs being discovered 
 
 <ee Villaret's Hist, of France, pp. 216, &c. It is said there, that the castle of Roulle^ 
 
 oise was taken by one of the king of Navarre's captains. 
 
 § A strong town in Hainault, on the Sambre, diocese of Cambray. 
 
 II Avesnes— a strong town in Hainault, diocese of Cambray. 
 
 ** D^'°"~^ tillage in Flanders, near Avesnes. 
 
 le Rosoy"^ ^^"^^"^ ^^^"^^ ^" Picardy. My printed eopie* have it Eay, two MS3. Kor, 
 tt Marle-a town in Picardy, diocese of Laon. 
 
 was a good man, and a gallant soldier, much renowned, and well 
 spoken of in various places. 
 
 These French men-at-arms, who might amount to three hundred, 
 posted themselves in ambuscade, on the road the lord of Gomegines 
 and his troops must necessarily pass, who was quite ignorant of their 
 intentions, and who thought to continue his march unmolested ; he 
 entered, therefore, Tierache, and taking the road to Rheims, came 
 very early in the morning to a village called Habergny,* where they 
 determined to halt for a short time to refresh themselves and horses, 
 and then to continue their route without any more delay. They 
 dismounted in this village, and began to make preparations for feed- 
 ing their horses. While his companions were thus employed, the 
 lord of Gomegines, who was then young and wilful, said, he v/ould 
 ride out of the village to see if he could not meet with something 
 better to forage. He called to him five or six of his companions, 
 and Christopher de Murt his squire, who bore his pennon : they 
 quitted the village furiously, but without any order or regularity. 
 
 It happened that the French knights and their troops were in am- 
 buscade near this village : they had followed them the preceding day 
 and night, in order that they might combat them with more certainty; 
 and, if a proper opportunity had not offered itself in the plain, they 
 intended to have entered the village, for the purpose of attacking 
 them ; but the lord of Gomegines fell into their hands. When the 
 French lords perceived the lord of Gomegines and his company ad- 
 vancing on this secret excursion, they were at first surprised, and 
 could not conceive who they might be. They sent two scouts on 
 the look-out, who brought back word that they were enemies. This 
 news was no sooner heard than they quitted their ambuscade, each 
 crrying out, " Roye, for the lord of Roye !" The knights advanced 
 before the lord of Roye, who had his banner displayed in front. 
 There were sir Flamen de Roye his cousin, sir Lewis de Robersart, 
 the canon de Robersart his brother, who was a squire, sir Tristram 
 de Bonne-roye, and others, each armed according to his condition, 
 with their swords hanging to their v/rists, and their spears couched, 
 toward their enemies, crying out, " Roye, for the lord of Roye i" 
 
 When the lord of Gomegines perceived the ambuscade he had 
 fallen into, he was much astonished ; but he determined to stand his 
 ground, and wait his enemies, for both himself and followers dis- 
 dained to fly : they couched their spears, and formed themselves in 
 order of battle. The French, being v/eil mounted, charged these 
 English and Gascons, who were not very numerous ; and, at the first 
 charge, the lord ol" Gomegines was run tbrougii with a spear, and 
 had not afterwards an opportunity, from t;ie situation of the place, 
 to remount his horse. His people fought valiantly, and many gallant 
 deeds were done ; but in the end the lord of Gomegines could not 
 ho'd out: he whs therefore made prisoner, on his parole. Two of 
 his squires had fought valiantly, but were forced to yield, or they 
 would have been slain, as well as Christopher de Mur, a valiant 
 squire, who boie the pennon of the lord of Gomegines. To make 
 an end of this affair, all those of the Gomegine party were either 
 slain or made prisoners, except the va'ets, who being well mounted, 
 saved themselves by flight. No pursuit was made after them, more 
 weighty considerations occupying their enemies. 
 
 CHAPTER CCIX. 
 
 THE LORD OF ROYE AND HIS COMPANY DEFEAT THE REMAINDER OF THB 
 TROOPS OF THE LORD OF GOMEaiNES. THE CASTLE OF COMMERCYJ 
 SURRENDERS TO THE ENGLISH. 
 
 The knights who had taken the lord of Gomegines, and overthrown 
 all those who had followed him out of the village, did not wish to lose 
 time, but, putting spurs to their horses, galloped into the above-men- 
 tioned village, calling out, " Roye, for the lord of Roye !" Those 
 who were there were much alarmed at this cry, and surprised to find 
 their enemies so near them, as they were chiefly disarmed and scat- 
 tered about, so that they«could not rally nor collect together. The 
 French made prisoners of them at their pleasure, in houses, barns, 
 and ovens : and the canon de Robersart had many who surrendered 
 themselves to him, because his banners were better known than those 
 of the others. It is true, indeed, that some of them retreated to a 
 small fortified house, surrounded by a moat, which is situate in this 
 village of Harcigny, and consulted among themselves whether to 
 defend it until the king of England, who was before Rheims, might 
 hear of their disaster (for the mansion could very soon be made strong 
 enough to enable them to hold out,) when they thought, that as soon 
 as he should know of their situation, he would without doubt send 
 forces to relieve them. While they were thus debating, the lord of 
 Roye and his companions came before it, and said to them : " Listen, 
 gentlemen ; if you force us to make the slightest attack, we will not 
 sufier any one of you to escape death ; for, if we begin, we will con 
 tinue the attack until we take it." These and such-Uke words threw 
 them into confusion, and even the boldest were alarmed : they sur- 
 rendered, therefore, on having their lives spared. They were all 
 
 * Habergny. Barnes calls it Harcigny, which is a village in Picardy, diocese of LaoQ 
 
 Ifabergny is not in the Gazetteer. 
 1 Barnes makes him an Englishman, of the name of Moor, but I see no cause for it 
 I Commercy is not in the Gazetteer. Barnea cailis it Cormicy, wliich ia a town in 
 
 Champagoe, diocese of Rheiou. 
 
l28 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 made prisoners, and sent to the castle of Coucy, and the other gar- sur-Seine, his constable,* who commanded always the van battalion 
 
 risons from whence the French had marched. This disaster happenec 
 to the lord of Gomegines and his party about Christmas, 1359. When 
 the king of England was informed of it, he was mightily enraged ; 
 but he could not amend it. 
 
 We will now return to the siege of Rheims, and speak of an ad 
 venture which happened to sir Bartholomew Burghersh, who had 
 laid siege to the town and castle of Cormicy, in which was a knight 
 of Champagne, whose name was sir Henry de Vaulx; he wore black 
 armor, and bore for arms five almonds argent on a field sable : his 
 war-cry was " Viane."* 
 
 During this siege of Rheims, • the earls, barons, and great lords 
 were quartered in the neighborhood, as you have before heard, in 
 order to prevent any provision being carried into that city. Among 
 them was sir Bartholomew Burghersh, a great baron of England : he 
 and his suite, with his company of archers and men-at-arms, were 
 lodged near Cormicy, where there is a handsome castle belonging to 
 the archbishop of Rheims, who had put into it the knight before, 
 mentioned, with many good companions, to guard it against their 
 enemies. They were far from fearing any attack ; for the castle 
 had a large square tower, whose walls were very thick, and it was 
 well furnished with arms of defence. 
 
 When sir Bartholomew had surrounded this castle, and, by well 
 reconnoitering its strength, found he could not take it by assault, he 
 ordered a number of miners, whom he had with him in his pay, to 
 get themselves ready and do their duty in undermining the fortress, 
 when he would reward them handsomely: upon which they replied, 
 they would cheerfully undertake it. The miners immediately broke 
 ground, and, having lodged themselves in their mine, worked night 
 and day : insomuch that they advanced far under the great tower ; 
 arid, as they pushed forward, they propped up the work, that those 
 within knew nothing of it. When they had thus completed their 
 mine so that they could throw down the tower when they chose, 
 they came to sir Bartholomew Burghersh, and said to him : " Sir, 
 we have carried our works so far that this tower, great as it is, shall 
 be thrown down whenever you please." " It is well," replied sir 
 Bartholomew, " but do nothing more without my orders :" to which 
 they willingly consented. The knight immediately mounted his 
 steed; and taking John de Guistellest with him, who was one of 
 his companions, they advanced to the castle, and sir Bartholomew 
 made a signal that he wished to have a parley with" those within. 
 Upon this, sir Henry came forward on the battlements, and demanded 
 what he wanted. " I want you to surrender," replied sir Bartholo. 
 mew, " or you will all infallibly be destroyed." " By what means ?" 
 answered the French knight, who began to laugh ; " we are per- 
 fectly well supplied with everything ; and you wish us thus simply 
 to surrender: certainly it shall not be to-day," added sir Henry. 
 " Certainly," said the English knight, " if you were truly informed 
 what your situation is, you would surrender instantly, without more 
 words." " Why, what is our situation ?" demanded sir Henry. 
 " If you will come out, upon my assurance of your safety, I will 
 show you," replied sir Bartholomew. Sir Henry accepted the con. 
 dition, and came out of the fortress, witn only three others, to sir 
 Bartholomew and John de Guistelles, who immediately conducted 
 them to the mine, and showed them that the great tower was only 
 supported on props of wood. 
 
 When the French knight saw the peril he and his garrison were 
 in, he told sir Bartholomew, that he had very good reasons for what 
 he had said, and that his proceedings were truly gallant and noble : 
 " We shall therefore surrender ourselves to your will." Sir Bartho- 
 lomew took them all his prisoners, made them leave the tower one 
 after the other with their baggage, and then set fire to the mine. 
 The timber was soon on fire ; and, when the props were burnt, the 
 tower, which was extremely large, opened in two places, and fell on 
 the opposite side to where sir Bartholomew was standing, who said 
 to sir Henry and the garrison of the fortress, " Now, see if I did not 
 tell you the truth." " We own it, sir," replied they, " and remain 
 prisoners at your pleasure. We also returft you our best thanks for 
 your kindness to us ; for if the Jacquerie, who formerly overran this 
 country, had had the same advantage over us that you have, they 
 would not have acted so generously." Thus were all the garrison 
 of Cormicy made prisoners, and the castle thrown to the ground. 
 
 The king of England remained before Rheims for upward of seven 
 weeks, but never made any assault upon it, as it would have been 
 useless. He began to tire ; and as his army found great difficulties 
 in obtaining forage and provision, their horses perished. He broke 
 up his camp, and marched oflf toward Ch^ilons, in Champagne, in the 
 same order as before. The king and his army passed very near to 
 Chalons, and sat down before Bar-sur-Aube, and afterwards before 
 the city of Troyes. He took up his quarters at Mery-sur-Seine.t 
 
 The whole army lay between Mcry and Troyes, which is reckoned 
 to be eight leagues distant from each other. While he was at Mery- 
 
 In all the printed books I have seen, his name is Henry de Noir, but ut the end it is 
 Henri de Vaulx. My two MSS. have, "Messire Henri de Vaulx, et s'armoit le dit 
 messire Henri, de noir a cinq nmans d'argent, et criet Viane." 
 
 Q,. Amans— not in any of my dictionaries. Mr. Lodge supposes they must mean 
 almonds. 
 
 [Amans, in Norman French, mean diamonds, or, in heraldic phrase, lozenges ; the 
 armi of Henri de Noir or de Vaulx, are not given in D. Siiuvage's or Lord Bernen.— Ed.] 
 I 5.**"^*^ ^™ J"*!" de Botetourt : but he gives no authority for it. 
 I Mwy^ur-Seine-diocese aad election of Troyes, seven leagues from Troyej. 
 
 advanced and came before St. Florentin.t which was under the com. 
 mand of sir Odoart de Rency ; and, after having displayed his 
 banner (which was blazoned, or and azure, a chief pally, and at 
 each of the two corners girons, and an escutcheon argent in the 
 midst of the shield,) before the gate of the fortress, made a fierce 
 attack on it, but in vain. The king of England and his whole army 
 came and tooh. up their quarters at Saint Florentin and the neigh, 
 borhood, on the banks of the river An ;ian9on.t When they marched 
 from thence, they came before Ton/ erre,§ which was so briskly 
 attacked, the town was won,- but not t.ie castle. The English, how 
 ever, found in that town upward of three thousand butts of wine, 
 which were of great service to them. 
 
 At this period the lord de Fiennes, constable of France 
 the city of Auxerre || with a number of men-at-arms. 
 
 :e, was m 
 
 CHAPTER CCX. 
 
 THE KING OP ENGLAND, AFTER HE HAD RAISED THE SIEGE OF RHEIMS, 
 WASTES AND DESTROYS ALL THE COUNTRIES HE PASSES THROUGH. 
 HE COMES TO GUILLON, WHERE HE REMAINS. GREAT QUANTITIES 
 OF PROVISION FOLLOAV THE ARMY. 
 
 The king of England and his army remained five days in Ton- 
 nerre, on account of the good wines he found there. The castle was 
 often assaulted : but it was well provided with men.at-arms, com 
 manded by sir Baldwin d'Annequin, master of the cross-bows. 
 When they had well reposed and refreshed themselves in Tonnerre, 
 they marched off", and crossed the river Armangon. The king of 
 England left the road to Auxerre on his right hand, and took that 
 which leads to Noyers:ir his intentions were to enter Burgundy and 
 pass his Lent there. He and his whole army marched above Noyers ; 
 Dut he would not suffer any attack to be made on it, as the lord of it 
 was his prisoner since the battle of Poitiers. They marched on for 
 their quarters to a town called Montroyal,** situated on a river called 
 Sellettes ; and, when the king left it, he went up that river, and pro- 
 ceeded straight to take possession of his lodging at Guillon,tt which 
 is also on its banks ; for one of his squires, called John d'Alen9on, 
 who bore for his arms a scutcheon argent in a field azure, had taken 
 the town of Flavigny tt in its neighborhood, and had found within it 
 a sufficiency of provision for the whole army for a month. This 
 was very fortunate, as the king remained there from the night of 
 Ash-Wednesday until Mid-lent. His marshals and light troops 
 scoured the country round, burning and destroying it, and frequently 
 bringing to the army fresh provisions. 
 
 I must inform you, that the king of England and his rich lords 
 were followed by carts laden with tents, pavilione, mills, and forges, 
 to grind their corn and make shoes for their horses, and everything 
 of that sort which might be wanting. For this purpose there were 
 upward of six thousand carts, each of them drawn by four good and 
 strong horses which had been transported from England. Upon 
 these carts also were many vessels and small boats, made surpri- 
 singly well of boiled leather : they were large enough to contain 
 three men, to enable them to fish any lake or pond, whatever might 
 be its size : and they were of great use to the lords and barons during 
 Lent: but the commonalty made use of what provisions they could 
 get. The king had, besides, thirty falconers on horseback, laden 
 with hawks : sixty couple of strong hounds, and as many greyhounds ; 
 so that every day he took the pleasure of hunting or fishing either by 
 land or water.§§ Many lords had their hawks and hounds as well aa 
 the king. 
 
 Their army was always in three divisions, and each person kept 
 to his division : there was also a vanguard to every one of them, 
 and their quarters were one league distant from each other, the king 
 being with the third and largest division. This order was constantly 
 kept on their march from Calais, until they came before the town of 
 Chartres. 
 
 During the time the king of England remained at Guillen, where 
 he was living on the provision which John d'Alen9on had found in 
 
 * Roger earl of Mortimer. See more of him and his arms, in Ashmole, p. 692. 
 Mr. Lodge says, the arms of Mortimer have puzzled heralds at aU times ; but the 
 terms heralds nW use in blazoning the arms of Mortimer are these: "Barry of six or 
 and azure, and an escutcheon argent ; on a chief of the first three pallets of the seoDnd, 
 between two girons or." [The arms of Mortimer, given in Burke's " Extmct, dornflint. 
 and suspended Peerages," are as follow : Barry of six or and azure on a chiet of the 
 first, three pelleU between two esquires, bust dexter and sinister, of the second, and an 
 escutcheon argent. — Ed.] 
 t St. Florentin— situutea on the Armancon, thirteen leagues from Iroyes. 
 X In the printed copies it is Mouson, but in my MSS. Armancon. 
 § Tonnerre— situated on the Armancon, diocese of Langres. 
 
 li It is Dampierre in the printed copies. Denys Sauvuge thinks it ought to have been 
 Auxerre. [t is Auxerre in my MSS. 
 % Noyers-a town in Burgundy, on the river Serin, diocese of Langres. 
 ** I cannot find Montroyal, nor the river Sellettes, m the Gazetteer. 
 Tt Quillon-a town in Burgundy, in the bailiwick of Avalon. ' 
 it Flavigny— a town of Burgundy, situated near the Onzeram, bailiwick of Semur- 
 
 en-Auxois. . , , , . ,, t. ■ . ^ x. 
 
 §§ Lord Berners says " he either hunted or hawked at the ncer. It is not to be sup- 
 posed that he or his lords could find much pleasure m fishing in their leather boats or 
 coracles, althiugh they were useful to obtain a supply of fish for them m Lent. The 
 words in D. Sauvage's ed. are, " Le roy avoit bien pour lui trent fauconiers h. cheval, 
 charges d'oiseaux, et bien soixantes couples de forts chiens et autant de leuriers: donZ 
 U alloit chacun jour ou en chace ou en riv**©."— Ed. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 129 
 
 Flavigny, his thoughts were employed in devising means to keep 
 and maintain himself in France. The young duke of Burgundy and 
 his council, at the request of his subjects, sent to the king divers 
 lords and knights, as embassadors to treat with him, so that the 
 duchy of Burgundy should not be destroyed or pillaged. The under- 
 named lords accepted this commission : first, the lord Anselme de 
 Sallins, great chancellor of Burgundy ; sir James de Vienne, sir John 
 Derie, sir Hugh de Vienne, sir William de Thoroise and sir John de 
 Montmartin. These lords managed the affair so well, and found 
 the king of England in such good humor, that a treaty was soon 
 entered into between them ; and a composition was made, that for 
 three years no part of the duchy of Burgundy should be overrun, on 
 condition of having 200,000 livres paid down.* When this treaty 
 was finished and sealed, the king and his whole army dislodged, 
 and set out on his return, taking the straight road for Paris, fixing 
 his quarters at Avalont upon the river Cousin, below Vezelay.t 
 
 The quarters of his army extended from the river Yonne as far as 
 Clamecy,§ to the entrance of the county of Nevers. The English 
 entered Gatinois ; and the king made such forced marches that he 
 came so near Paris as to take up his quarters within two short 
 leagues of it, at Bourg-la-Reine. As he and his army passed through 
 the country, they destroyed it on all sides. On the other hand, the 
 garrisons which he had in Picardy, Beauvoisis, the Isle of France, 
 Champagne and Brie, carried on a continual war, and ruined the 
 country. 
 
 The king of Navarre resided in Normandy, and made a cruel 
 war against France, insomuch that that noble kingdom was so griev- 
 ously oppressed, it did not know which way to turn itself. 
 
 But above all, sir Eustace d'Ambreticourt was tlie m.ost active : 
 his quarters were at Cheny-sur-Aisne, where he had a strong garri- 
 son of soldiers and men-at-arms, who oveiTan, pillaged and ransomed 
 the good county of Rethel, from Donchery to Mezieres, and as far 
 as Chesne-le-Pouilleux and Stenay,l| in the county of Bay.lF They 
 quartered themselves wherever they chose in all that country, for 
 ^ two or three nights, without opposition from any one, and then re- 
 turned unmolested to their garrison at Cheny, to refresh and recruit 
 themselves. It is true indeed, that all the neighboring lords, knights 
 and squires, threatened them much : they met together, and appointed 
 different days for their assembling, to take the field and besiege sir 
 Eustace in his castle of Cheny ; but nothing in fact was done. 
 
 It happened that these adventurers (whose whole thoughts, night 
 and day, were occupied on the best means of taking towns, and in 
 what parts of the country they should find most to pillage) came one 
 night to a good town with a strong castle, situated in the Laonois,** 
 tolerably near to Montagu,tt and in a very deep marshy country, the 
 name of which was Pierrepont.+t At this time, there were in it 
 a great many people of the countiy, who had carried thither their 
 goods, trusting to the strength of the place. When sir Eustace's 
 companions arrived, the guard was asleep : they marched, therefore, 
 through the deep marshes with much loss, for their avarice urged 
 them on, and they came to the walls of the town, which they entered 
 without resistance, and robbed at their pleasure. They found in it 
 more riches than in any other place ; and, when it was day, they 
 burnt the town, and returned to Cheny, well laden with booty.§§ 
 
 CHAPTER CCXI. 
 
 THE KIN(J OF ENGLAND LAYS THE KINGDOM OF FRANCE UNDER GREAT 
 TRIBULATION. A CORDELIER FRIAR PROPHESIES. THE ENGLISH PLACE 
 AN AMBUSCADE FOR THOSE WHO SHOULD COME OUT OF PARIS. 
 
 About this period, a Franciscan friar, full of knowledge and under- 
 standing,||l| was at Avignon : his name was John de Rochetaillade : 
 and pope Innocent VI. kept him a prisoner in the castle of Baignoux, 
 not only on account of the great prophecies he made of the times to 
 come, chiefly and principally relating to the heads and prelates of 
 
 * See this treaty in Rynier, anno 1360. The sum was 200,000 moutons— 50,000 to be 
 paid at the ensuing feast of St. John the Baptist, 100,000 at Christmas, and 50,000 at 
 Easter. 
 
 t Avalon— a town of Burgundy, on the Cousin, which falls into the Yonne. 
 t Vezelay— a town in Nivemois, diocese of Autun, four leagues from Clamecy 
 § Clamecy— a small city of the Nivernois, diocese of Auxerre, on the conflux of the 
 Yonne and Beuvron. 
 II Stenay— in the diocese of Treves, on the Meuse. 
 
 IT I cannot find, in any dictionary, the county of Bay. It is Buy in Denys Sauvage. 
 Stenay is in the diocese of Treves : but even the connection of names is so wide, I can- 
 not suppose it to be a mistake for Treves. 
 
 ** Laonois— in Picardy. 
 
 tt Montagu— in Picardy, diocese of Laon. 
 
 tt Pienepont— village of Picardy, diocese of Laon. 
 
 §§ This passage is one of those so excellently translated by Lord Bemers, that we are 
 induced to subjoin it. " These companyons who ymagined ny-ght and daye howe they 
 might geat and steals townes and fortresses on a night ther, came to a stronge towne 
 and a good castell in Laonnoyse nere to Montague; this fortresse was called Pierpont 
 standyng inamaresse; the same season there were within the towne great nombre of 
 men of the countrey that had brought thither theyr goodes on trust of the strength of 
 the place. When they of Cheny came thither the watche within was aslepe; they 
 »pared not the dangerous maresses, but went through them and came to the walles and 
 •o entered into the towne and wanne it without defence and robbed it at their pleasure. 
 They found ther more riches than ever they found before in any towne. And whan it 
 was day they brent the towne and returned to Cheny well fumysshed with great uyl- 
 lage."— Ed. 
 
 illl "Plein de grand clergie et de grande «ntendement." are the words used in D. 
 Sauvage's ed.— £o 
 
 the holy church, by reason of their pride and the expensive life tliey 
 led, but also concerning the kingdom of France, and the great lorda 
 of Christendom, for their heavy oppressions on the common people. 
 Tlie above-mentioned John was willing to prove all he said from the 
 Apocalypse, and by the ancient books of the holy prophets, which 
 were opened to him through the grace of the Holy Ghost, by which 
 he uttered things that were difficult to be credited. Some of the 
 predictions he had made were seen to come to pass within the time, 
 which he never could have foretold as a prophet but by means of the 
 ancient Scriptures, and the Holy Spirit, that had given him the power 
 of understanding these ancient prophecies, and of announcing to all 
 Christians the year and time when they were to be fulfilled. 
 
 He made many books, full of much science and learning. One 
 was written in the year 1346, which contained many marvellous 
 things, difficult of belief, but of which some had come to pass 
 already. When he was questioned concerning the war' against 
 France, he answered, that what they had seen was nothing to what 
 was to happen ; for there would be no peace until the realm of France 
 was destroyed and ruined from one end to the other*. This indeed 
 happened afterwards ; for that kingdom was completely spoiled at 
 the time the friar had fixed, in the years 1356, 1357, 1358, and 1359 ; 
 insomuch that none of its princes or gentlemen dared to show them- 
 selves against those of the low estate collected from all parts, and 
 who had arrived, one after the other, without leader or chief, while 
 the country had not any means of resisting tliem. They elected 
 (as you have before seen,) in different parts of the country, captains 
 from among themselves, to whom they paid obedience. The cap- 
 tains, when they enrolled any man in their companies, made certain 
 agreements with them respecting their shares of booty and the 
 ransom of prisoners : they found so much pillage, that all the leaders 
 became rich from the great wealth they amassed. 
 
 King Edward was lodged at Bourg-la-Reine, two short leagues 
 from Paris, and his army in different parts between that and Mont- 
 Ihery t. He sent from thence his heralds to the duke of Normandy 
 in Paris, who had with him a great number of men-at-arms, to offer 
 him battle : but the duke would not accede to it. His messengers, 
 therefore, returned without having done anything. When the king 
 found that his enemies would not venture out of Paris, he was 
 mightily enraged : upon which that good knight, sir Walter Manny, 
 stepped forth and besought his lord that he would permit him to 
 make an excursion and assault as far as the barriers of Paris. The 
 king consented to his request, and named himself those knights that 
 should accompany him. He made also many new knights on the 
 occasion ; among whom were, the lord Delaware, the lord de Silva. 
 cier, sir Thomas Banaster t, sir William Torceaux, sir Thomas le 
 Despensier, sir John Neville, sir Richard Dostmay, and many others. 
 Colart d'Ambreticourt, son of sir Nicholas, would have been of the 
 number ; for the king was desirous of it, as he was attached to his 
 person and squire of his body ; but the young man excused himself, 
 by saying he could not find his helmet. 
 
 Sir Walter Manny set out on this enterprise, and carried with him 
 these new knights to skirmish and" to make an attack on the barriers 
 of Paris. Many hard blows were given and received ;' for there 
 were within the city several valiant knights and squires, who would 
 willingly have sallied forth, if the duke of Normandy had given his 
 consent. They, however, guarded the gates and barriers so well 
 that no damage was done to them. This skirmish lasted until twelve 
 o'clock, and many were killed on both sides. Sir Walter then 
 retreated with his people to their quarters, where they remained 
 together that day and the following night. On the morrow, the king 
 dislodged, and took the road to Montlhery. 
 
 When the camp was breaking up, some English and Gascon 
 knights planned the following enterprise. They thought, that as 
 there were so many knights in Paris, some of them would sally out 
 after them : and some young adventurers would endeavor to gain, 
 by their valor, both honor and booty. They therefore placed two 
 hundred picked men, well armed, in an old empty house, three 
 leagues from Paris. The chiefs of the Gascon party were, the captal 
 de Buch, sir Aymery de Pommiers, and the lord de Courton : of the 
 English, the lord Neville, the lord Mowbray, and Sir Richard de 
 Pontchardon. These six knights v^re the leaders of this ambus, 
 cade. 
 
 When the French who were within Paris perceived that the king 
 of England was decamping, some young knights collected together, 
 and said among themselves : " It will be a good thing for us to sally 
 out secretly, and follow a while the army of England, to see if we 
 
 * There is a difference here in Lord Bemers, and we have therefore transcribed his 
 version. The ed. of D. Sauvage agrees with Mr. Johnes. It will be seen that Lord 
 Bemers makes the friar j9ar«/cu^arii/ predict the Jacquerie, while in Mr. Johnes's ver- 
 sion a general prophecy alone is ascribed to him. " The whiche sayemg was well seen 
 after, for the noble realme of Fraunce was sore wasted and exyled, and specially in 
 that terme that the sayd frere had sette, the which was m the yeres of our Lorde 
 MCCCLVI, VII, VIII, and VIX. He sayde in those years the pryncis and gentyl- 
 men of the realme shuU notforfeare shewe themselfe agynst the people of lowe estate 
 assembled of all countres without heed or capitayne, and they shulde do as they lyste 
 in the realme of Fraunce, the whiche felle after as ye have herde, howe the companyons 
 assembled theym toguether and by reason of theyr robbery and pyllage waxed riclie and 
 became great capitaynes," are the words of Lord Bemers.— Ed. 
 
 t Montlhery— a town in the Isle of France, seven leagues from Paris. 
 
 X SirThomas Banaster was afterwards elected knight of the garter in this king's reign 
 See his life, in Anstis's History of the Garter, vol. ii. p. 153. 
 
130 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &e. 
 
 rtuinot gain something." They were all instantly of this opinion, 
 so that sir Raoul de Coucy, sir Raoul de Ravenal, the lord de Mon- 
 s.uilt, the lord de Helay, the constable of Beauvais, le bfegue de 
 Villaines, the lord de Beausiers, the lord of Ulbarin, sir Gauvain de 
 V alouel, sir Flamant de Roye, sir Azelles de Cavilly, sir Peter de 
 !• ormoises, Peter de Savoises, and upward of a hundred lances with 
 ti.em, sallied out well mounted, with a thorough good will to do 
 something ; but tliey must first find the occasion. They took the 
 roiid to Bourg-la-Reine, which they passed, and gained the open 
 fields, when they followed the track of the cavalry and army of 
 England, and rode beyond the ambuscade of the captal and his 
 company. 
 
 They were no sooner passed than the English and Gascons marched 
 out of it, after them, with their lances in their rests, shouting their 
 war-cry. The French turned about, wondering who they could be : 
 but they soon found they were their enemies. They immediately 
 halted, and drew themselves up in battle array, and, with .couched 
 epears, prepared to meet the English and Gascons, who soon joined 
 them. At this first onset many were unhorsed on both sides, for 
 both parties were well mounted. After this tilting-bout, they drew 
 their swords, and attacking each other more closely, many hard 
 blows were given, and many gallant deeds performed. This attack 
 lasted a considerable time, and the ground was so well disputed, that 
 it was difficult to say which of the two would be conqueror. The 
 captal de Buch shone particularly, and did with his hand many deeds 
 worthy so good a knight. In the end, however, the English and 
 Gascons fought so valiantly, that the field remained to them : they 
 were more than half as many again as the French. 
 
 The lord of Campreny showed himself a valiant knight on the 
 side of the French, and fought gallantly under his banner, the bearer 
 of which was slain: his banner was argent, a buckle gules, between 
 six martlets sable, three above and three below. The lord of Cam- 
 preny was made prisoner. The other French knights and squires, 
 who saw the ill success of their attempt, and that they could not 
 recover themselves, took the road toward Paris, fighting as they 
 retreated, and the English pursuing them most eagerly. In this 
 retreat, which continued beyond Bourg-'a-Reine, nine knights, as 
 well bannerets as others, were made prisoners ; and, if the English 
 and Gascons who pursued them had not been afraid that others 
 might sally out of Paris to their assistance, not one would have 
 escaped being killed or taken. When this enterprise was finished, 
 they returned toward Montlhery, where the king was. They carried 
 heir prisoners with them, to whom they behaved very courteously, 
 and ransomed them handsomely that same evening, allowing them 
 to return to Paris, or wherever else they chose, taking readily their 
 word of honor as sufficient security for their ransom. 
 
 The intention of the king of England was to enter the fertile 
 country of Beauce, and follow the course of the Loire all the summer, 
 to recruit and refresh his army in Brittany until after August ; and 
 as soon as the vintage was over, which from all appearances prom- 
 ised to be abundant, he meant to return again and lay siege to 
 France, that is to say, to Paris ; for he wished not to return to Eng- 
 land, as he had so publicly declared, on setting out, his determina- 
 tion to ronquer that kingdom, and to leave garrisons of those who 
 were carrying on the war f(3r him in France, in Poitou, Champagne, 
 Ponthieu, Vimeu, Valguessin,* in Normandy, and throughout the 
 whole kingdom of France, except in those cities and towns which 
 had voluntarily submitted to him. 
 
 The duke of Normandy was at this time at Paris with his two 
 brothers, their uncle the duke of Orleans, and all the principal coun- 
 cillors of state, who, v^^ell aware of the courage of the king of 
 England, and how he pillaged and impoverished the whole realm of 
 France, knew also that his situation could not last, for the rents both 
 of the nobles and clergy were generally unpaid. At this period, a 
 very wise and valiant man was chancellor of France, whose name 
 was sir WiUiam t de Montagu, bishop of Therouenne : by his advice 
 the kingdom was governed : every part of it profited from his good 
 and loyal counsel. Attached to him were two clerks of great pru- 
 dence ; one was ^he abbot of Clugny, the other friar Symon de 
 Langres, principal of the predicant monks, and doctor in divinity. 
 These two clerks just named, at the request and command of the 
 duke of Normandy and his brothers, the duke of Orleans their uncle, 
 and of the whole of the great council, set out from Paris with certain 
 articles of peace. Sir Hugh de Geneve, lord of Autun, was also 
 their companion. They went to the king of England, who was 
 overrunning Beauce, near to Gallardon.t 
 
 These two prelates and the knight had a parley with the king of 
 England, when they began to open a treaty of peace with him and 
 his aUies. To this treaty the duke of Lancaster, the prince of Wales, 
 the earl of March, and many other barons were summoned. How. 
 ever, this treaty was not concluded, though it was discussed for a 
 long time. The king of England kept advancing into the country, 
 seeking for those parts where was the greatest abundance. The 
 commissioners, like wise men, never quitted the king, nor suffered 
 
 * Most probably Vexin. Vexin Norman is bounded on one side by the Seine. 
 
 t The president Ile.iault calls him Gille Aycelia de Montagu, cardinal and bishop of 
 Therouenne, vol. i. 4to, p. 263. 
 
 ^ P,f !''V'^""~'^ '^^^^■'i Beauce, diocese and election of Chartres. 
 «,?^u r'^'* ^ mistake, for the earl of March was killed a month prior to this treatr, the 
 i6th of Febi-uary, at Rouvray in Burgundy.— BARNKa. 
 
 their proposals to drop; for they saw the kingdom in such a miserable 
 situation, that the greatest danger was to be apprehended if they 
 should suffer another summer to pass without peace. On the othej 
 hand, the king of England insisted on such conditions as would have 
 been so very grievous and prejudicial to France, that the commis. 
 sioners, in honor, could not assent to them : so that their treaties ano 
 conferences lasted seventeen days, the two prelates and the lord of 
 Autun constantly following the king of England this last was much 
 listened to at the court of the king. They sent every day, or every 
 other day, their treaties and minutes to the duke of Normandv and 
 his brothers at Paris, that they might see what state they Vvere in, and 
 liave answers thereto ; as well as to know in what manner they were 
 to act. All these papers were attentively examined and considered 
 privately in the apartments of the duke of Normandy, and then the 
 full intentions of the duke were written down, with the opinions of 
 his council to these commissioners ; by which means, nothing passed 
 on either side without being fully specified and examined most cau- 
 tiously. These aforesaid Frenchmen were in the king's apartments 
 or in his lodgings, as it happened, in the different places he halted at] 
 as well on his march toward Chartres as otherwise ; and they made 
 great offers, to bring the war to a conclusion ; but the king was very 
 hard to treat with : for his intention was, to be in fact king of France, 
 although he had never been so, to die with that rank, and also to put 
 Brittany, Blois and Touraine in the same situation as those other 
 provinces where he had garrisons. If his cousin, the duke of Lan- 
 caster, whom he much loved and confided in, had not persuaded him 
 to give up such ideas, and advised him to listen to the offers of peace, 
 he never would have come to any terms. He very wisely remon- 
 strated with him, and said : " My lord, this war which you are car. 
 rying on in the kingdom of France is wonderful to all men, and not 
 too favorable to you. Your people are the only real gainers by it ; 
 for you are wasting your time. Considering everything, if you per. 
 sist in continuing the war, it may last you your life ; and it appears 
 to me doubtful if you will ever succeed to the extent of your wishes. 
 I would recommend therefore, while you have the power of closing 
 it honorably, to accept the proposals which have been offered to you ; 
 for, my lord, we may lose more in one day than we have gained in 
 twenty years." These prudent and sensible words, which the duke 
 of Lancaster uttered loyally, and with the best intentions, to advise 
 the king of England to his good, converted the king to his opinion, 
 through the grace of the Holy Spirit, who also worked to the same 
 effect : for an accident befel him and all his army, v/ho were then 
 before Chartres, that much humbled him, and bent his courage. 
 
 During the time that the French commissioners were pa!ising back, 
 ward and forward from the king to his council, and unable to obtain 
 any favorable answer to their offers, there happened such a htorm and 
 violent tempest of thunder and hail, which fell on the English army, 
 that it seemed as if the world was come to an end. The hailstones 
 were so large as to kill men and beasts, and the boldest were fright- 
 ened. 
 
 The king turned himself toward the church of Our Lady at Char- 
 tres, and religiously vowed to the Virgin, as he has since confessed, 
 that he would accept of terms of peace. He was at this time lodged 
 in a small village, near Chartres, called Bretigny ; and there were 
 then committed to writing, certain rules and ordinances for peace, 
 upon which the following articles were drawn out. To follow up 
 this, and more completely to treat of it, the councilloio and lawyers 
 of the king of England drew up a paper called the Charter of Peace, 
 with great deliberation and much prudence, the tenor of which follows. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXII. 
 
 THE FORM AND TENOR OF THE PAPER DRAWN UP AS ARTICLES OF THB 
 PEACE, WHICH WAS CONCLUDED BEFORE CHARTRES, BETWEEN THE 
 KINGS OF FRANCE AND ENGLAND. 
 
 " Edward, by the grace of God, king of England, lord of Ireland 
 and of Aquitaine, to all to whom these presents shall come, greeting. 
 As, in consequence of the dissensions, variance, discord and strife, 
 that have arisen, or that might have been expected to arise between 
 us and our very dear brother the king of France, certain commis- 
 sioners and procurators from us and from our dear son, Edward prince 
 of Wales, having sufficient power and authority for us, for him and 
 for our kingdom on the one part, and certain others commissioners 
 and procurators from our said brother, and from our very dear nephew 
 Charles duke of Normandy and dauphin of Vienne, eldest sen to the 
 aforesaid king of France, having power and authority from his father 
 in this instance, for his father and for himself on the other part, have 
 been assembled at Bretigny, near Chartres : in which place the above, 
 mentioned dissensions, variances and strife were discussed, debated, 
 and finally closed ; and the commissioners from us and from our son, 
 for us and for him, and the commissioners from our aforesaid brother 
 and nephew, for his father and for himself, did swear upon the holy 
 Evangelists, to preserve, keep and fulfil the aforesaid treaty, as we 
 have also sworn and will swear to whatever is said or concluded m 
 the above treaty. 
 
 " And in this treaty, among other articles, our brother of France 
 and his son aforesaid, are held and have promised to give up and sur 
 render to us, our heirs and successors for ever, the counties, cities^ 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 13 
 
 towns, castles, fortresses, lands, islands, rents, and revenues, and other 
 things which follow, with all that we are now in possession of in 
 Guienne and Gascony, to hold forever by us, our heirs and succes. 
 sors, in the same manner that the kings of France have always held 
 them : that which is in demesne in demesne, and that which is in 
 fief in fief, in such manner as will be hereafter explained ; that is to 
 say, the city, castle and county of Poitiers with all the lands and 
 country of Poitou, together with the fief of Thenars* and the lands 
 of Belleville :t the town and castle of Saintes, and all the lands and 
 tenitory of the county of Saintonge on each side the river Charente, 
 with the town and fortress of la Rochelle, their appurtenances and 
 appendages ; the city and castle of Agen, and the country of Age. 
 nois : the city, town, castle, and all the lands of Perigord, with the 
 whole country of Periguex : the city and castle of Limoges and 
 country of Limousin : the city and castle of Cahnrs and country of 
 Cahorsin : the city, castle and country of Tarbes , the territory of 
 the country of Bigorre : the country and lands of Gaure : the city and 
 castle of Angouleme, with all the country of Angoumois : the city 
 and castle of Rodais, and the county and country of Rouergue : and if 
 there should be any lords in the duchy of Guienne (such as the count 
 de Foix, the count de Armagnac, the count de I'Isle, the viscount de 
 Carmain, the count de Perigord, the viscount de Limorges or others,) 
 that hold any lands within the boundaries of the above-mentioned 
 places, they shall be bounden to do us homage, and all other services 
 and duties due on account of their lands and places in the same man- 
 ner as they formerly have performed them : and we shall reenter 
 upon all that we, or any other kings of England have possessed, as 
 well as upon these places whence we formerly had received nothing. 
 
 " The viscounty of Montreuil-sur-mer has been also promised to 
 be given up to us in the same manner as in former times, and all 
 whatsoever we or any other king of England possessed there : and 
 whereas there have arisen disputes relative to the division of this ter- 
 ritory, our brother of France has promised, that he will declare it to 
 be ours as speedily as possible after his return to France. 
 
 " Item, it is also promised that the county of Ponthieu shall be 
 delivered over to us entire, save and except that if any part of it 
 should have been alienated by the kings of England who reigned 
 before us, and were formerly possessors of it and its appurtenances, 
 to others than the kings of France, neither our aforesaid brother, nor 
 his successors, shall be bounden to surrender them : and if the said 
 alienations have been made to any former kings of France, imme. 
 diately, without passing through a third person, and our aforesaid 
 brother be in possession of them, he shall render them wholly up to 
 us : excepting that if the kings of France have had them from us in 
 exchange for other lands, we will deliver up such lands so exchanged : 
 but if any of the kings of England at former times should have alien- 
 ated or disposed of any parts to others than to the kings of France, 
 and it should afterwards have come into the hands of our aforesaid 
 brother, he shall not be obliged to surrender them : and if the parts 
 aforesaid owe homage to us, or our successors, he shall grant them 
 to others, who will pay us that homage ; but, if they do not ov/e 
 homage, he shall give them to a tenant that shall do us suit and ser- 
 vice, within the year ensuing upon our departure from Calais. 
 
 " Item, the castle and town of Calais ; the castle, town, and lord- 
 ship of Merle ; the towns, castles, and lordships of Sangato, Cou- 
 loigne, Ham,Walles, and Oye, with the lands, woods, marshes, rivers, 
 rents, lordships, advowsons of churches, and all other appurtenances 
 and places lying within the limits and bounds following ; that is to 
 say, from Calais to the course of the river before Gravelines, and also 
 by the course of the river which fa Is into the great lake of Guines, as 
 far as Fretun, and from thence by the valley round the mountain of 
 Chalk, inclosing that mountain, and as far as the sea, including San- 
 gate and all its appurtenances. 
 
 " Item, the king of England shall also possess the castle, town, 
 and the whole county of Guines, with all its castles, towns, fortresses, 
 woods, lands, men, homages, lordships, forests, rights, as completely 
 as the last count of Guines, lately deceased, held it during his life : 
 and the churches and good men, being within the boundaries of the 
 said county and other places above mentioned, shall obey him in the 
 , same manner as they did our aforesaid brother, the count of Guines, 
 for that time. All these things comprehended in the present article, 
 and in the preceding one of Merle and Calais, we shall hold in de- 
 mesne, excepting the inheritances and possessions of the churches, 
 which shall remain wholly to the said churches, wherever they may 
 be situated ; and also except the inheritances of the other people of 
 the countries of Merle and Calais, as far as the value of one hundred 
 pounds a-year in land, according to the current coin of the country; 
 which inheritances shall remain to them of the abovesaid value and 
 under ; but the habitations and inheritances in the town of Calais, 
 and their appurtenances, shall remain in demesne to us, for us to 
 order and do as we please with them : and also all the possessions 
 of the householders and inhabitants of the county and town of Guines 
 shall remain to them, and shall be restored fully, save and except 
 what is said and declared relative to the bounds and frontiers above 
 mentioned, in the article of Calais. 
 
 * Thouars— an ancient city on a hill, and on the river Thoue, sixteen leagues from 
 Poitiers. 
 
 t Belleville. There are two villages in Poitou of this name— one nect Niort, the other 
 uar Iss Sables d'Olonne. 
 
 " Item, the king of England shall have possession of all islands 
 adjoining to the lands or places above-mentioned, together with all 
 other islands he was possessed of at the time of this treaty. 
 
 "And it has also been discussed, that our aforesaid brother and 
 his eldest son should renounce all right and sovereignty which they 
 may have over the above-mentioned places, and that we should pes. 
 sess them as a neighbor, without any vassalage or dependence on 
 our said brother, or on the kingdom of France ; and that our broiiier 
 aforesaid shall give up to us in perpetuity all right and dominion 
 which he mt-y have over the places before mentiuned. 
 
 "And it has also been discussed, that in like manner we and our 
 said son shall expressly renounce all those things that are not to be 
 given up and surrendered to us by the said treaty, more especially 
 the name of king of France, and all right and title to that kingdom, 
 and to the homage, sovereignty, and domain of the duchy of Nor- 
 mandy, the county of Touraine, and the counties of Anjou and 
 Maine ; and to the sovereignty and homage of the county of Flan- 
 ders ; and to the sovereignty and homage of the duTchy of Brittany 
 (excepting the right of the count de Muntfort, and what claim ho 
 may have on that duchy and country of Brittany, v/hich we reserve, 
 and by express words put out of our treaty; saving, however, that 
 when wc and our aforesaid brother shall come to Calais, we will so 
 manage the business, by the advice of able counsellors and other 
 deputies, that we will establish peace and concord between the count 
 de Montford and our cousin sir Charles de Blois, who claims and 
 challenges the inheritance of Brittany:') and we renounce whatever 
 claims we made, or may have made, of any sort whatever, except 
 those things above-mentioned which are to be given to us and our 
 heirs ; and we give up and cease from making any claims on all 
 other things, but those which are to be yielded to us. 
 
 " Upon this subject, after many altercations had taken place, end. 
 ing in a mutual agreement that these renunciations, transportations, 
 cessions and aforesaid surrenderings should be made as soon as our 
 said brother shall have given up to us, or to our people especially 
 deputed for that purpose, the city and castle of Poitiers, with all the 
 territory of Poitou, together with the fief of Thouars and of Belle, 
 ville : the city and castle of Agen, with all the territory of the Agen. 
 ois ; the city and castle of Perigord, with the territory of Perigueux ; 
 the city and castle of Cahors, with the territory of Cahorsin ; the city 
 and castle of Rodais, with the territory of Rouergue ; the city and 
 castle of Saintes, with the territory of Saintonge ; the city and castle 
 of Limoges, with all the territory of Limousin ; and that which we 
 or other kings of England have held in the town of Montreuil-sur. 
 mer, with its appurtenances. Item, the whole county of Ponthieu, 
 save and except the contents of the article contained in the said 
 treaty which makes mention of the said county. Item, the castle 
 and town of Calais ; the castle, town and lordship of Sangate, Col- 
 loigne. Ham., Walles, Oye, with the lands, rivers, marshes, rents, 
 woods, lordships and other things mentioned in the article respecting 
 them. Item, the castle, town and entire county of Guines, with all 
 the lands, castles, towns, fortresses, places, men, homages, woods, 
 lordships, forests and rights, according to the tenor of the article 
 which in the treaty makes fuller mention of them, and with the 
 islands adjacent to the said lands, countries and places before m.en. 
 tioned, together with those other islands which we are now in the 
 possession of (that is to say, at the date of this article and of the 
 peace.) We, and our brother the king of France, have promised by 
 faith and oath to each other to preserve and keep this treaty and 
 maintain the peace, and to do nothing against it; and we are bounden, 
 us and our said brother the king of France, and our eldest sons before 
 mentioned, by obligation and promise and by faith and oath to each 
 other pledged, to make certain renunciations one to the other accord, 
 ing to the form and tenor of the aforesaid article of peace. 
 
 " Item, it is agreed, that the king of France and his eldest son the 
 regent, for them and for their heirs for ever, shal' as soon as possible, 
 and without any double dealing, at the latest within the feast of St. 
 Michael next ensuing, deliver up and give to the king of England, 
 his heirs and successors, and convey to them the honors, royalties, 
 services, homages, allegiances, vassalages, fiefs, obediences, acknow. 
 lodgments, oaths, rights, seizures, and all manner of jurisdictions, 
 both criminal and civil, appeaJs, securities, lordships and sovereignties 
 which appertained, nov*^ appertain, or may hereafter appertain to the 
 kings or to the crown of France, or to any other person on account 
 of the king or for the aforesaid crown of France, in whatever time it 
 may have been, in the cities, towns, castles, fortresses, islands, cou.n. 
 tries and places before named, or in any one of them, their appur. 
 tenances and appendages, wherever they may be, whether held by 
 princes, dukes, counts, viscounts, archbishops, bishops, abbots or other 
 prelates of the church, barons, knights, nobles or others whomsoever, 
 without reserve to themselves, their heirs and successors, or to the 
 crown of France, or to any other person whatever : nor shall they 
 challenge or demand, at any future period, anything of the above 
 from the king of England, his heirs or successors, or from any one 
 of his vassals or subjects aforesaid, in any one of the places or coun. 
 tries before-mentioned, in behalf of the king or crown of France. 
 Thus, therefore, all the before-named persons, and their heirs and 
 successors, shall be liege men and subjects of the king of England, 
 his heirs and successors for ever ; and they shall hold and keep all 
 persons, cities, counties, lands, islands, castles and places before 
 
IS2 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGL A 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, <fcc. 
 
 Mentioned, with all their appurtenances and appendages, and shall 
 remain fully and peaceably for ever in their lordship, sovereignty, 
 obedience, loyalty and subjection, as the preceding kings of France 
 iiad and kept them in former times: and the aforesaid king of Eng. 
 land, his heirs and successors, shall and will maintain, peaceably and 
 jjerpetually, all the countries before-named in full freedom and liberty 
 i^r ever, as sovereign and liege lord, and neighbor to the king of 
 Ir'rance and said kingdom of France, without acknowledging any 
 s overeignty or paying any obedience, homage, jurisdiction or sub. 
 jection, and in time to come without doing any service or acknow- 
 ledgment to the king or crown of France for the cities, counties, 
 castles, lands, territories, islands, places and persons before-named, 
 or for any one of them. 
 
 Item, it is agreed, that the king of France and his eldest son 
 shall expressly renounce the said jurisdictions and sovereignties, and 
 all those things which by this present treaty ought to belong to the 
 king of England ; and in like manner the king of England and his 
 eldest son shall renounce all those things which, by this present 
 treaty, are not to be granted to the king of England, and all those 
 claims he made on the king of France, and particularly the title, 
 right, and arms, and the challenge he made of the crown and king- 
 dom of France ; the homage, sovereignty and domain of the duchy 
 of Normaudy, of the county of Touraine, the counties of Anjou and 
 Maine, and the sovereignty and homage of the county and territory 
 of Flanders, and all other claims which the king of England made 
 at the time of the aforesaid challenge, and might make in times to 
 come upon the said realm of France, through any reason whatever, 
 except those things which by the present treaty are granted to the 
 king of England and his heirs ; and they will convey, surrender, 
 and yield, one king to the other, in perpetuity, all the right which 
 each has or may have on all those things and places which by the 
 present treaty are to remain or to be granted to each of them ; and 
 with regard to the time and place when these renunciations are to 
 be made, the two kings will consult each other, and order it when 
 they shall be at Calais together. 
 
 " And because also our said brother of France and his eldest son, 
 in order to maintain and keep the said articles of peace and agree- 
 ment aforesaid, have expressly renounced the jurisdictions and sove. 
 reignties comprised in the said articles to all rights which they had 
 or might have had on all the above-mentioned things which our said 
 brother has granted, delivered, and abandoned to us, and in those 
 other things v>^hich henceforward ought to appertain and belong to 
 us by the said treaty of peace. We, among these said things, 
 renounce expressly all those which are not to be granted to us, for 
 ourselves and our heirs, and all those claims which we made or 
 might make on our said brother of France, and especially to the 
 title and right to the crown of France and the sovereignty of that 
 kingdom, and to the homage, sovereignty, and domain of the duchy 
 of Normandy, the counties of Anjou, Maine, and Touraine ; and to 
 the sovereignty and homage of the county and territory of Flanders ; 
 and other claims which we made, or might have made, on our said 
 brother, for whatever cause there might be, save and except that 
 which by this present treaty is to remain to us and our heirs : and 
 we yield, abandon, and give up to him, and he to us, mutually to 
 each other, in the securest way we can, all the rights which each 
 of us may have, or may have had in all things, which by the said 
 treaty are lo be respectively granted to each of us : reserving to the 
 churches and to churchmen that which appertains or may appertain 
 to them ; and all that which has been occupied or detained of their 
 property, on account of the wars, shall be made good and restored 
 to them. The towns, fortresses, and all dwellings of the inhabitants, 
 shall retain and enjoy such liberties and franchises as before they 
 came into our hands ; and, if required, they shall be confirmed by 
 our said brother of France, if not contrary to what has been already 
 agreed on. 
 
 " And with regard to ourselves, we submit all things belonging to 
 us, our heirs and successors, tp the jurisdiction and coercion of the 
 church of Rome, and are willing and desirous that our holy father 
 the pope should confirm all these things by giving monitions and 
 gentle mandates, for the accomplishment of them against ourselves, 
 our heirs and successors, our commonalty, colleges, universities, or 
 any particular persons whatsoever, and by giving general sentences 
 of excommunication, suspension or interdict, which we may incur 
 by ourselves or by them, by this act, when we shall, cither by our. 
 selves oif by others, infringe the peace, by taking or occupying any 
 town ot castle, city or fortress, or in anything else, by giving advice, 
 aid, or assistance, public or private, against the said peace ; from 
 which sentences they cannot be absolved until they shall have made 
 full satisfaction to all those who by this act shall have sustained or 
 Qiight sustain any damage. And with this we desire and consent, 
 that by our holy father the pope fin order that the same may more 
 fiimly be kept, maintained, and observed for ever) all the agree, 
 ments, confederations, alliances and conventions, under whatever 
 name they may be, in case they become prejudicial or inimical to the 
 said peace in the present moment or hereafter (supposing they were 
 closed under penalties and by oaths, and confirmed by our holy father 
 the pope or others,) should be broken and annulled as contrary to 
 the public welfare, to the good of the peace, unprofitable to all Chris- 
 tendom, and displeasing to God : and that all oaths, in such a case 
 
 made, shall be reported to our holy father the pope, that it may b^ 
 decreed that no one should be bounden to keep such oaths or con,, 
 ventions ; and if, in fact, any one attempted to act contrary, th/-,y 
 shall from this moment be broken and annulled, and of no weight , 
 nevertheless we shall punish such by corporal punishment and confis. 
 cations, as violators of the peace, if the case should require it, or it 
 should appear reasonable : and if we should encourage or suffer any 
 thing to be done hurtful to the peace (which God forbid !) we are wil- 
 ling to be counted as liars and disloyal, and also to suffer in this case 
 such blame and disrepute as a sacred king ought to undergo for such 
 conduct : and we swear upon the body of Jesus Christ to conclude, 
 maintain, and keep the aforesaid treaty, and neither by ourselves nor 
 by others, to depart from it for any cause or reason whatsoever. And 
 in order that these premises may be concluded and maintained, we 
 bind ourselves, our heirs, our property, and the property of our heirs, 
 over to our said brother the king of France, and to his heirs, and 
 swear by the holy Evangelists, bodily touched by us, that we will 
 complete, conclude, and preserve (according to the articles aforesaid) 
 all the preceding conditions by us promised and agreed to, as is be. 
 fore mentioned. And we will, that in case our brother, or his depu- 
 ties at the place and time, and in the manner before stated, do his 
 duty, that from that time our present letters, and whatever is compre- 
 hended in them, should have as much force, effect, and vigor as any 
 of our other letters shall have that have been promised and granted 
 by us, as has been already said: saving, however, and reserving for 
 us, our heirs and successors, that the letters above incorporated shall 
 have no effect, or be of any prejudice or damage until our said 
 brother and nephew shall have performed, sent, and given the above 
 renunciations, in the manner before specified ; and therefore they 
 shall not avail themselves of them against us, our heirs and successors, 
 in any manner but in the case above-mentioned. 
 
 " In testimony of which, we have caused our seal to be put to 
 these present letters, given at Calais this twentieth day of October, 
 in the year of grace and of our Lord one thousand three hundred 
 and sixty." 
 
 When this private charter (which is called letter of renunciation, 
 as well from one king as the other) was written, engrossed, and 
 sealed, it was read and published generally in the council chamber, 
 when the two above-named kings were present with their counseL 
 lors. It appeared to each to be handsome, good, well dictated and 
 well ordered ; and then again the two said kings and their two said 
 eldest sons, swore upon the holy Evangelists, bodily touched by 
 them, and upon the sacred body of Jesus Christ, to conclude, keep 
 and maintain, and not to infringe any of the articles included in it. 
 
 Afterwards, by the advice and deliberation of the king of France 
 and his council, and toward the end of the conference, the king of 
 England was requested to make out and give a general commission 
 to all those who for the time, and under shadow of the war held 
 towns, castles and forts in the kingdom of France, that they may 
 have knowledge of what had passed, with orders to give them up 
 and quit them. The king of England, who was sincerely desirous 
 of maintaining a good understanding and peace between himself 
 and the kmg of France, his brother, as he had before sworn and 
 promised, readily acceded to this request, which he thought reason- 
 able. He ordered his people to make it out in the clearest manner 
 they could, to the satisfaction of the king of France and his council. 
 The most able of the counsellors of the two kings aforesaid, united, 
 and then was drawn up, written and engrossed by the advice of each 
 other, a commission, the tenor of which is underneath. 
 
 " Edward, by the grace of God, king of England, lord of Ireland 
 and of Aquitaine, to all our captains, governors of towns and castles, 
 adherents and allies, being in parts of France, as well as in Ficardy, 
 in Burgundy, in Anjou, in Berry, in Normandy, in Brittany, in Au- 
 vergne, in Champagne, or Maine, in Touraine, and within the bounda- 
 ries and limits of France, greeting. As peace and concord is now 
 sstablished between us, our allies and adherents on the one part, 
 and our dear brother the king of France his allies and adherents on 
 the other part, in regard to all quarrels or discords which we may 
 have had in times past ; and having sworn upon the body of Jesus 
 Christ, as well our dear eldest son and others our children, and those 
 of our blood, as likewise many prelates, barons and knights, and the 
 principle men of our kingdom ; and also our said brother, and our 
 nephew the duke of Normandy, and our other nephews his children, 
 with many barons, knights and prelates of the said kingdom of 
 France, to maintain and firmly keep the peace : and as it may fall 
 out or happen that some warriors from our kingdom, or other of our 
 subjects, may endeavor to do or undertake things contrary to the 
 said peace, by taking or detaining forts, towns, cities and castles, or 
 in pillaging and arresting persons, and taking from them their goods, 
 merchandise or other things, acting against the said peace (the 
 which will sorely displease us, and we will not suffer it, nor pass it 
 over under any sort of dissembling ;) We, willing to remedy these 
 aforesaid things with all our power, wish, desire and ordain, by 
 the deliberation of our council, that none of our subjects, or allies, 
 whatever their state or condition may be, do, or endeavor to do, 
 anything contrary to the said peace, by pillaging, taking, or detain- 
 ing forts, persons, or goods of any sort in the kingdom of France, or 
 belonging to our said brother, his subjects, allies or adherents whom- 
 soever. And in case there should be. found any one that act* con- 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, & 
 
 133 
 
 trary to this said peace, and who does not cease from so doing, nor 
 renders back, the damages he may have committed, within the space 
 of one month from the time he shall be required so to do by any of 
 our officers, sergeants or public persons, for this act alone, without 
 other suit or condemnation, he shall be reputed banished from our 
 realm and from our protection, as well as from the kingdom and 
 territories of our said brother ; all his goods confiscated and sub- 
 jected to our governance ; and if he should be found in our king- 
 dom, we command and expressly will, that punishment should be 
 inflicted on him, as a rebel and traitor to us according to the cus- 
 tomary punishment for leze majesty, without any pardon, grace or 
 remission : and we will that the same be done to our subjects, of 
 whatever condition they may be, who, in our kingdom on either side 
 of the sea, shall seize, occupy or detain any forts whatever, conti-ary 
 to the will of those to whom they belong ; or who shall burn or ran. 
 som towns or persons, and shall pillage or be guilty of robberies, or 
 who shall stir up war within our realm against our subjects. 
 
 We therefore order, command and expressly enjoin all our senes- 
 chals, bailiffs, provosts, captains of castles or others our officers, 
 under pain of incurring our high displeasure, and of losing their offi. 
 ces, that they proclaim, or cause to be proclaimed, tnese presents in 
 the most public places of their districts, bailiwicks, provostships and 
 castlewicks ; and that no one, after having seen and heard this proc- 
 lamation, remain in any fort which belongs to the kingdom of 
 France, except according to the tenor of the treaty of peace, under 
 pain of being considered as an enemy to us and to our aforesaid 
 brother the king of France ; and that they, in all the aforesaid points, 
 conform to, preserve and make to be strictly observed in every par- 
 ticular. And be it known to all, that if they fail, or are negligent, 
 in addition to the punishment aforesaid, we will make them pay the 
 losses to all those who through their fault or neglect may have been 
 aggrieved, or suffered any loss ; and with this we will punish them 
 in such a manner that they shall be an example to all others : in testi- 
 mony whereof, we have had these letters patent drawn up, given at 
 Calais the 24th day of October, in the year of grace and of our 
 Lord 1360." 
 
 CHAPTER CCXIII. 
 
 THE TRANSACTIONS OP THE TWO KINGS OF FRANCE AND ENGLAND, WHEN 
 AT CALAIS, RESPECTING THE DUCHY OF BRITTANY AND SOME LANDS OF 
 THE LATE GODFREY DE HARCOURT. KING JOHN SETS OUT FROM CALAIS 
 AND RETURNS HOME IN FREEDOM. 
 
 When all these letters had been drawn up, and the different com- 
 missions delivered, which were mutually done by the advice and to 
 the satisfaction of each other, there was some conversation respecting 
 sir Charles de Blois and sir John de Montfort, and the state of Brittany, 
 for each of them claimed it as their right of inheritance : and though 
 there was a conference holden, how these matters could be settled, 
 nothing was definitely done ; for, as I have since been informed, the 
 king of England and his party had no great desire of agreeing to it. 
 They presumed, that henceforward, all men-at-arms attached to them 
 would be obliged to surrender every fort and strong place which they 
 at present held and possessed in the kingdom of France, and that 
 they would retire to whatever parts they chose ; it was therefore 
 much better and more profitable that these warriors and pillagers 
 should retire into the duchy of Brittany, which is one of the richest 
 and best foraging countries in the world, than that they should come 
 to England, which might be pillaged and robbed by them. 
 
 This consideration made the English shortly break up the confer, 
 ence respecting Brittany. It was a pity, and ill done that it so hap- 
 pened ; for, if the two kings had been in earnest, peace would have 
 been established, by the advice of their counsellors, between the 
 parties, and each would have held what should have been given him. 
 Sir Charles de Blois would have recovered his children, who were 
 prisoners in England, and probably have lived longer than he did. 
 As nothing was done at this conference, the wars in Normandy were 
 more bitterly carried on than before the peace we have just spoken 
 of (as you will hear in the continuance of this history,) and even 
 between the knights and barons of Brittany who had supported 
 different interests. 
 
 The duke of Lancaster (Who was a valiant and discreet knight, 
 full of devices, and who too strongly loved the count de Montfort 
 and his advancement) then addressed himself to the king of France, 
 in the presence of the king of England and the greater part of the 
 counsellors: "Sire, the truces of Brittany, which were made and 
 agreed to before Rennes, will not expire before the first of the ensu. 
 itig month of May ; then, or within that time, the king our Lord 
 will send, by the advice of his council, persons from him, and from 
 his son-in-law the young duke, sir John de Montfort, to you in France, 
 and they shall have power and authority to explain and declare those 
 rights the said sir John claims from the inheritance of his father in 
 the duchy of Brittany, and accept them in such manner as you, your 
 counsellors and ours assembled together, shall ordain ; for greater 
 safety, it is proper the truces should be prolonged until the feast of 
 St. John the Baptist next ensuing." All this was agreed to, as the 
 duke of Lancaster had proposed, and then the lords conversed on 
 different matters. 
 King John, who had a great desire to return to France (as wa.s 
 
 natural,) testified most heartily to the king of England every proo " 
 of that affection which he had for him and for his nephew the princr 
 of Wales : the king of England made an equal return : and, for a 
 stronger confirmation of their friendship, the two kings (who by th^ 
 articles called each other Brother) gave to four knights of each part 
 eight thousand francs, French money of revenue ; that is to say, two 
 thousand to each. And because the lands of St. Sauveurle Vicomte,in 
 Coutantin, came to the king of England from sir Godfrey de Har- 
 court by the sale the said sir Godfrey had made of them to the king, 
 as has been before related in this history, and that the said lands 
 were not included in the articles of peace, it was necessary for those 
 who should hold the said lands to do homage and service to the king 
 of France : the king of England, therefore, had reserved and given 
 it to sir John Chandos, who had done him and his children many 
 notable services ; and the king of France, through his great affection 
 and love, confirmed and sealed it, at the entreaty of the king of Eng. 
 land, to the said sir John Chandos, as his right and lawful inheritance 
 It is a very fair estate, and worth full sixteen hundred francs ot 
 yearly rent. 
 
 In addition to these things, many other letters and alliances were 
 made, of which I cannot relate the particulars ; for, during the fifteen 
 days or thereabouts, that the two kings, their children and their 
 counsellors, were at Calais, there were every day conferences, and 
 new ordinances made, strengthening and confirming the peace ; and, 
 moreover, other deeds were drawn up, without annulling or changing 
 the former ones; and they were all made to one date, as more sure 
 and certain, of which I have seen copies in the chanceries of the 
 two kings. 
 
 When everything relative to the peace had been so concluded and 
 settled, that no one could think of any means to strengthen or amend 
 it, and that nothing could be devised to add to the strong alliance 
 between the two kings and their children, which bound them, and 
 by which they had sworn to maintain the jjeacefroni being infringed, 
 which was indeed kept, as you will hereafter see in reading this 
 book ; and that those who were to be the hostages for the redemp. 
 tion of the king of France were arrived at Calais, whom the king ot 
 England had sworn to guard in peace in England, until the six hun- 
 dred thousand francs*" were paid to the deputies of the king of 
 England, that king gave to the king of France a most magnificent 
 and grand supper in the castle of Calais : it was well arranged ; and 
 the children of the king, and the duke of Lancaster with the greatest 
 barons of England, waited bare-headed. After this supper, the two 
 noble kings took final leave of each other, in a most gracious and 
 affectionate manner, and the king of France returned to his hotel. 
 
 On the morrow, which was the vigil of St. Simon and St. Jude, 
 the king of France set out from Calais, with all tliose of his party 
 who were to accompany him.t The king of France went on foot, 
 in pilgrimage to our Lady of Boulogne. The prince of Wales and 
 his two brothers, Lionel and Edmund, accompanied him : and in 
 this manner they arrived, before dinner, at Boulogne, where they 
 were received with great joy. The duke of Normandy was there 
 waiting for them, when all these aforesaid lords went on foot to the 
 church of our Lady of Boulogne, where they made their offerings 
 most devoutly, and afterwards returned to the abbey at Boulogne, 
 which had been prepared for the reception of the king of France and 
 the princes of England. They remained there that day, and on the 
 following night returned to the king their father. All these lords 
 crossed the sea together with the hostages from France : it was the 
 vigil of AU-Saints, in the year 1360. It is proper that I should name 
 the nobles of France who went to England as hostages for the king 
 of France. First, sir Philip, duke of Orleans, son of the late king ' 
 Philip of France ; his two nephews, the dukes of Anjou and Berry : 
 after them the duke of Bourbon, the count d'Alen(;on, sir Joim d'Es- 
 tampes, Guy de Blois, for his brother the count Louis de Blois: the 
 count de St. Pol, the count de Harcourt, the count dauphin of Au- 
 vergne ; sir Enguerrant, lord of Coucy : sir John de Ligny ; the count 
 de Porcien, the count de Breme, the lord of Montmorency, the lord 
 of Roye, the lord of Preaux, the lord d'Estouteville, the lord de Cle- 
 ritez, the lord de St. Venant, the lord de la T( ir d'Auvergne, and 
 many others, but I cannot name them all.t There were also from 
 
 * This seems a mistake ; for in the fourteenth article of the peace of Bretigny in 1360, 
 in Rymer, particular mention is made of the value of the crown, two of which shall be 
 worth an Exglish noble. . c t:, , , 
 
 14th article.—" It is agreed that the king of France shall pay to the king of England 
 three millions of crowns of gold, two of which shall be of the value of an English noble. 
 
 "And there shall be paid to the said king of England, or his deputies, six hundred 
 thousand crowns at Calais, in fourteenths, from the time the king of France shall be a1 
 
 " And within the next year ensuing, there shall be paid four hundred thousand crowm , 
 of the above value, in the city of London. 
 
 " And from thenceforward, every following year, four himdred thousand cron-ns, lik* 
 to the above, shall be paid in the said city, until such time as the atoresaid tnree mil 
 lions shall be paid." 
 According to Cotgrave. a noble in his time was worth fifteen shillings, 
 t Froissart seems to have been mistaken as to the day king John left Calais, when he 
 savs it WMS the eve of St. Simon and St. Jude, the 27fl. October ; ror in an ancient state 
 of Brittany, by iNicholas Vignier. page there i6 abetter from kmg Jsini, dated 
 Boulogne-sur-Mer, October 26, 1360. 
 
 (1 Aiencon son Here ; le comte ae f omen ; le comte ae Vaientinois : le comte de Breme ; 
 le comte de Vaudemont; le comte de Forez; le vicompte de Beaumont; le sire de 
 
134 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 the good city of Paris, from Rouen, Rlieims, Bourges in Berry, Tours 
 in Touraine, Lyons upon the Rh6ne, Sens in Burgundy, Orleans, 
 Troyes in Champagne, Amiens, Beauvais, Arras, Tournay, Caen in 
 Normandy, St. Omer, L'Isle, Douay, from each city two or four 
 burgesses, who all crossed the sea, and shortly arrived in London.* 
 The king of England commanded all his officers, under pain of 
 incurring his displeasure, to behave courteously to all these lords and 
 their attendants, and to preserve peace between them and his subjects, 
 r.s they were under his special care. The king's orders were strictly 
 obeyed in every respect ; and the hostages were allowed to enjoy 
 themselves, without any danger or molestation, in the city of London 
 and its neighborhood. The lords followed the chase or hawking, 
 according to their pleasure, and rode out as they pleased to visit the 
 ladies without any constraint, for the king was right courteous and 
 amiable. 
 
 We will now speak a little of the king of France on his arrival at 
 Boulogne, after he had quitted Calais. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXIV. 
 
 COMMISSIONERS. APPOINTED ON BOTH SIDES TO SEE THE GARRISONS IN THE 
 KINGDOM OF FRANCE EVACUATED. DIFFERENT BODIES OF ARMED MEN 
 OVERRUN THE KINGDOM, AND DO MUCH MISCHIEF. 
 
 The king of France did not remain long at Boulogne, but set out 
 soon after AlUsaints, and went to Montreuil and Hesdin : he con. 
 tinued his journey until he came to Amiens ; and wherever he passed 
 he was most magnificently and honorably received. After he had 
 remained at Amiens until Christmas was passed, he set out for Paris, 
 when he was solemnly and reverently met by all the clergy of Paris, 
 and conducted to the Palace,t where he dismounted, as did sir Philip 
 his son, and all the nobles who accompanied him. The dinner was 
 grandly magnificent, and the tables well covered ; but I can never 
 tell how warmly the king of France was received on his return to 
 his kingdom, by all sorts of people, for he was much wished for. 
 They made him rich gifts and presents, and the prelates and barons 
 of the realm feasted and entertained him as became his condition ; 
 and the king gave them a most gracious reception. 
 
 Soon after king John was returned to France, the commissioners 
 appointed by the king of England crossed the sea, to take possession 
 of the lands, countries, counties, bailiwicks, cities, towns and castles, 
 that were to be given up to him, according to the articles of the 
 peace. But this was not so soon accomplished ; for many of the 
 nobles in Languedoc at first absolutely refused to obey them, or to 
 surrender themselves to the king of England, though the king of 
 France had acquitted them of their fidelity and homage to him : for 
 they thought it highly contrary and adverse to their interests to be 
 obliged to obey the English. The count de la Marche, the count de 
 Perigord, the count de Comminges, the viscount de Chatillon, the 
 viscount de Carmaing, the lord of Pincornet, in particular, with 
 many others in the distant countries, wondered much that the king 
 of Fra nee should force them from his jurisdiction. Others said, it 
 was not in his power thus to free them ; and it was not in his right 
 60 to do ; for, as they were Gascons, they had very old charters and 
 privileges from the noble Charlemagne (who was king of France,) 
 which placed them under the jurisdiction of his court, and of no other. 
 On which account, these lords would not at first yield obedience to 
 the commissioners ; but the king of France, who wished to uphold 
 and maintain what he had sworn and sealed, sent thither his dear 
 cousin sir James de Bourbon, who appeased the greater part of these 
 nobles ; and those who were bounden became liege men to the king 
 of England ; such as the count d'Armagnac, the lord d'Albret, and 
 many others, who at the entreaties of the king of France and of sir 
 James de Bourbon, obeyed, but very unwillingly. 
 
 On the other hand, it was very displeasing to the barons, knights 
 and inhabitants of the towns on the sea-coast, and in the country of 
 Poitou, the Rochellois and all Saintonge, that they should be given 
 up to the English : in particular those in the town of La Rochelle 
 would not consent to it ; they made frequent excuses, and would not, 
 for upward of a year, suflfer any Englishmen to enter their town. 
 The letters were very affecting which they wrote to the king of 
 France, beseeching him, by the love of God, that he would never 
 liberate them from their fidelity, nor separate them from his govern- 
 ment and place them in the hands of strangers; for they would pre- 
 fer being taxed every year one half of what they were worth, rather 
 than be in the hands of the English. The king of France (who 
 knew their good will and loyalty, and had frequently received their 
 
 Couci; le sire de Frenles ; le sire de Preaus ; le sire de St. Venant ; ie sire de Gaiin. 
 •rines; le daupliin d'Auvergne; le sirede Hangest; le sire de Montmorency; monsire 
 Guillaume deCraon : monsire Louis de Harcouri; monsire Jeande Ligny. 
 
 * Clfilons, Chartre^s, Toulouse, Compiegne, are mentioned, in addition to those of 
 Froissart, in the treaty in Rymer. 
 
 t Palace.— I believe the king of France's palace at that time was the hotel de Nesle. 
 I find, by Villaret's history, that he was lodged there after his coronation at Rheims. 
 
 This hoftl was built on the banks of the Seine, where the hotel de Nevers was after- 
 wards constructed, and nearly upon the site which tlie College Mazarin and the hotel 
 de Conti now occupy. 
 
 This hotel must be distinguished from another hotel de Nesle, which was built at the 
 •ametime. This second hotel de Nesle was situated on the spot where the hotel de 
 SoissuBS was bui't, and which was demolished 1747- 
 
 excuses) felt great pity for them ; he wrote, therefore, very affec- 
 tionatc letters, and sent to inform them, that it was necessary they 
 should obey, or otherwise the peace would be infringed, which 
 would be too prejudicial to the kingdom of France. When the 
 inhabitants of La Rochelle received these letters, and saw the situa. 
 tion they were in, that neither excuses, prayers nor entreaties, were 
 of any avail, they obeyed; but it was sore against their inclinations. 
 The principal persons of the town said, " We will honor and obey 
 the English, but our hearts shall never change." 
 
 Thus had the king of England seisin and possession of the duchy 
 of Aquitaine, the counties of Poitou and Guignes, and of all those 
 lands which he was to have beyond the sea, that is to say in the 
 kingdom of France, which were given to him by the articles of the 
 peace. This year sir John Chandos crossed the sea, as regent and 
 lieutenant of the king of England, to take possession of all the lands 
 aforesaid, and receive the faith, fidelity and homage of the counts, 
 viscounts, barons, knights, towns and castles ; he instituted every- 
 where seneschal?, bailiffs and officers, according to his will, and fixed 
 his residence at Niort. 
 
 Sir John kept a noble and great establishment ; and he had the 
 means of doing it ; for the king of England, who loved him much, 
 wished it should be so. He was certainly Vv^orthy of it ; for he was 
 a sweet-tempered knight, courteous, benign, amiable, liberal, coura^ 
 geous, prudent and loyal in all affairs, and bore himself valiantly on 
 every occasion : there was none more beloved and esteemed by the 
 knights and ladies of his time. 
 
 While the commissioners and deputies of the king of England 
 were taking seisin and possession of the aforesaid lands, according 
 to the articles of peace, other commissioners and deputies were on 
 the frontiers of France with commissioners from that king, ordering 
 all men-at-arms, wiio were garrisoned in the different castles and 
 forts of France, to evacuate and surrender them to the king of France, 
 under pain of confiscation and death. There were some knights 
 and squires attached to England who obeyed, and surrendered, or 
 made their companions surrender such forts as they held : but there 
 were others who would not obey, saying that they had made war in 
 the name of the king of Navarre. There were also some from 
 different countries, who were great captains and pillagers, that would 
 not, on any account, leave the country ; such as Germans, Brabant, 
 ers, Flemings, Hainaulters, Gascons and bad Frenchmen, who had 
 been impoverished by the war: these persons persevered in their 
 wickedness, and did afterwards much mischief to the kingdom. 
 
 When the captains of the forts had handsomely delivered them 
 up, with all they contained, they marched off, and when in the plain, 
 they dismissed their people : but those who had been so long accas- 
 tomed to pillage, knowing well that their return home would not be 
 advantageous for them, but that they might perhaps suffer for the bad 
 actions they had committed, assembled together, and chose new 
 leaders from the worst disposed among them. They then rode on, 
 one party following the other, and made their first stand in Burgundy 
 and Champagne, where they formed large squadrons and companies, 
 which were called the Late-comers, because as yet they had but 
 little pillaged that part of the kingdom of France. They suddenly 
 came before and took the fort of Joinville,* with great wealth in it, 
 which the whole country round had brought thither, confiding in 
 the strength of the place. When these troops found such riches as 
 were valued at a hundred thousand francs, they divided it among 
 them as far as it would go, and held the castle for a time, from 
 whence they scoured all the country of Champagne, the bishoprics 
 of Verdun, Toul and Langres : but, when they had plundered suffi. 
 ciently, they departed, and sold the castle of Joinville to the inhab 
 itants of the country for one thousand francs.t 
 
 They then entered Burgundy, where they reposed and refreshed 
 themselves until they were all collected, and did many bad and vil- 
 lainous .actions ; for they had among them some knights and squires 
 of that country, who advised and conducted them. They remained 
 some time in the neighborhood of Besan9on, Dijon and Beaune, de. 
 spoiling everywhere, for none went out to oppose them. They also 
 took the good town of Guercheyt in the Beaunois, which they sacked, 
 and remained for a time near Vergy,§ on account of the fertility of 
 that country. Their numbers were perpetually increasing : for those 
 who quitted the castles and towns on theii* being surrendered, and 
 who were disbanded by their captains, came into those parts ; so 
 that bv Lent they amounted to at least sixteen thousand combatants. 
 
 When they found their numbers so great, they appointed many 
 captains, whom all obeyed implicitly. I am able to name some of 
 their greatest leaders ; and first, a knight from Gascony, called sir 
 Seguin de Batefol, who had under his command two thousand com- 
 batants. There were also Tallebert Tallabaton, Guy du Pin, Espi. 
 ote, le petit Mechin, Battailler, Hannequin P>an?ois, le BourgH de 
 I'Espare, Nandoz de Bauguerant, le Bourgcamus, le Bourg de Bre- 
 teuil, la Nuyt, Arbrethoury the Scot, Bourdonnelle the German, Ber 
 nard de la Salle, Robert Briquet, Carnelle, Aimenon d'Ortige, Garsioi 
 du Chatel, Gironet du Paux, I'Ortingo de la Salle, and many otheis. 
 
 * Joinville— an ancient town in Champagne, on the Marne, diocese of Chalons 
 
 t Lord Bernerssays. fo- 20.000 francs.— Ed. 
 
 J A village in Champagne, near Joigny. 
 
 § V ergy -a village of Burgundy, bailiwick of Nuits. 
 
 II See not«, p. TSe 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 135 
 
 These leaders, about the middle of Lent, resolved that they would 
 advance with their forces toward Avignon, and pay a visit to the 
 pope and cardinals. They therefore traversed the country of Bur- 
 gundy and Mascon, making for the rich and fertile country of Fo- 
 ret", and for Lyons situate on the Rh6ne. When the king of France 
 was' informed in what manner these freebooting troops overran and 
 pillaged his kingdom, he was mightily enraged. It was stated, by 
 special orders of the council, to his majesty, that unless these bands 
 were repressed, they would multiply so much and do such mischief, 
 to judge from what they had already done, that the kingdom of 
 France would suffer equally as during the war with the English. 
 The council, therefore, advised the king to send a sufficient force to 
 fight them. The king in consequence wrote especial letters to his 
 cousin the lord James de Bourbon* (who was at that time in the 
 town of Montpelier, and had lately put sir John Chandos in full pos. 
 session of the cities, lands, towns and castles of the duchy of Gui- 
 enne, as has been before mentioned,) ordering him to put himself at 
 the head of the force that was to be sent against these freebooters, 
 and to take a sufficient number of men-at-arms to give them combat. 
 
 When the lord James de Bourbon received these orders, he set off 
 immediately for the city of Agen,t without stopping anywhere, and 
 Gent off letters and messengers to the nobles, knights, and squires, 
 requiring, in the king's name, their instant attendance. Every one 
 most willingly obeyed his orders, and followed him to the city of 
 Lyons ; for he was eager to fight with these wicked people. The 
 lord James of Bourbon was much beloved throughout the kingdom 
 of France, and all most cheerfully obeyed his orders. Knights and 
 squires, therefore, came to him from all quarters ; from Auvergne, 
 from Limousin, Provence, Savoy and Dauphin^. On the other 
 hand, many attended him from the duchy of Burgundy, whom the 
 young duke of Burgundy had sent to him. 
 
 This army began its march, making no halt at Lyons, but advanced 
 into the country of Mascon. The lord James entered the county of 
 Foretz, which was dependent on his sister in right of her children, 
 for the count de Foretz was lately dead, and was governed by Reg- 
 inald de Foretz in the interim, who was brother to the late count. 
 He received the lord James and his company with great joy, and 
 feasted them in the best manner he was able. The two nephews of 
 the lord James de Bourbon were at home : he presented them to him, 
 who received them very graciously, and ordered them to be posted 
 near his person, that they might aid to defend their country. 
 
 The free companies were advancing toward this neighborhood ; for 
 those who were at Chalonst upon the Saone and near to Turnus,§ 
 and in that fertile country, having heard that the French were as- 
 sembling an army to fight with them, their captains called a council, 
 to determine what steps they should take. They made a muster of 
 their troops, and found they amounted, one with another, to sixteen 
 thousand combatants. They then resolved to go and meet the French, 
 who were so desirous of it, and to offer them battle, in such situations 
 only as would be for their advantage, but upon no other terms. " If 
 fortune," said they, " should be favorable to us, we may all be rich, 
 and at our ease for a long time, as well by the valuable prisoners we 
 shall make, as from the fear we excite ; for no more troops will be 
 hardy enough to come against us : but, if we lose the battle, we shall 
 have hard blows for our pay." This resolution was adopted : they 
 broke up their camp, and marched toward the mountains, in order to 
 penetrate into the county of Foretz : they came to the river Loire, 
 and, in their road, to a good town called Charlieu,|| in the bailiwick 
 of Mascon, which they surrounded and attacked. They exerted 
 themselves to take it by assault, which employed them a whole day, 
 but they could do nothing, for it was well defended and guarded by 
 the gentlemen of the country, who had flung themselves into the 
 town ; otherwise it would have been won. They then marched off, 
 and revenged themselves on the estates of the lord of Beaujeu, which 
 were near, and where they did very considerable mischief, and en- 
 tered the diocese of Lyons. 
 
 As they advanced, they took all the smaller forts, and lodged 
 themselves in them, and did much damage wherever they passed. 
 They took a castle, and a lord and lady in it ; which castle was 
 called Brignais,^ and is situate on the Rh6ne, three leagues from 
 Lyons. There they halted and took up their quarters, for they were 
 Informed that the French army was drawn out in the plain in order 
 of battle. 
 
 * Lord Jrirnes de Bourbon, Count de la Marche received from king John, to whom he 
 was always faithful, the county of Ponthieu and the dignity of constable. He was 
 famous in three battles : first in that of Crecy, where he was wounded ; next in that of 
 Poitiers, when he was taken prisoner ; and lastly in that of Brignano, where he con- 
 f-iuered. But soon afcer, a company of disbanded soldiers ravaging Champagne and the 
 Lyonnois, lord James was sent against them, when, being overpowered by numbers, he 
 and his son Peter were mortally wounded, and died three days afterwards at Lyons, 6tb 
 April, 1382.— Anderson's Royal Oenealogics. 
 
 I suspect, however, there is some mistake, and that Brignano means Brignais, where 
 he was mortally wounded. 
 
 t Agen is a considerable city in Guienne, the capital of the Agenois, twenty-eight 
 leagues from Toulouse, and thirty-six from Bordeaux. 
 
 X Chalons— an ancient town in Burgundy, twenty nine leagues from Lyons. 
 
 § Tournus— an ancient town of Burgundy, on the Saone, in the road from Lyons to 
 Dijon. 
 
 II Charlieu— a town of the Lyonnois, 
 
 H Brignais. In all my old editions, and in Lord Earners'* translation, it is Bn^nay : but 
 Atnys Sauvac* is certainly right to alter it to Brignais. 
 
 CHAPTER CGXV. 
 
 THE LORD JAMES DE BOURBON AND HIS ARMY ARE DEFEATED BT THES'-: 
 FREEBOOTING COMPANIES. THE POPE ORDERS A CROISADE TO BE PRO. 
 CLAIMED, AFTER THEY HAVE TAKEN THE PONT DU ST. ESPRIT, AI D 
 FINDS MEANS TO GET RID OF THEM. 
 
 The men-at-arms, assembled under the lord James de Bourbon, 
 were in the city of Lyons upon the Rh6ne, when they heard that 
 these companies were approaching in great strength, and had taken 
 by assault the town and castle of Brignais, as well as several others, 
 and were pillaging and ruining the wholb country. This was very 
 unpleasant news to the lord James, who had taken the management 
 of the estates of the county of Foretz for his nephews, as well as to 
 all the other chiefs. They immediately took the field, and were a 
 numerous body of men-at-arms, knights and squires. They sent out 
 their scouts for intelligence respecting these companies, to know 
 v/here they were, that they might find them. 
 
 I must now mention the grand trick which these free companies 
 played. They were encamped upon a hi^h mountain,* on the sum. 
 mit of which there was a plain that could not be seen : in this pkce 
 they had posted the geater part of their army, and permitted the 
 French scouts to come so near, they could have taken them if they 
 had chosen it, but they were allowed to return unhurt.t They in- 
 formed the lord James de Bourbon, the count d'Usez, the lord Regi- 
 nald de Foretz, and those lords who had sent them, all they had ob- 
 served and heard, adding, " We have seen the companies drawn up 
 in array upon a hillock, and, according to our understanding, well 
 formed ; but, having attentively considered them, they cannot be 
 more than five or six thousand men, and seem marvellously ill-armed." 
 
 When lord James de Bourbon heard this, he said to the archpriest, 
 " You told me they amounted to at least sixteen thousand combat- , 
 ants, and you now hear the contrary." " My lord," answered he, 
 " I still think they are not less in number : if it should be otherwise, 
 we may thank God for it, and it is so much the better for us : you 
 will therefore determine what you will do." " In the name of God," 
 said the lord James, " we will go and fight them."' The lord Jamea 
 ordered all the banners and pennons to halt immediately, and formed 
 his battalions in good order to begin ^the combat, for they saw their 
 enemies before them. He then created many new knights : the first 
 was his eldest son Peter, who displayed his banner ; his nephew, the 
 young count de Foretz, did the same ; the lord of Toui:non, the lord 
 de Molinier, and the lord de Groslee, in Dauphine. Among the no- 
 bility, there were, sir Louis and sir Robert de Beaujeu, sir Louis de 
 Chalons, sir Hugh de Vienne, the count d'Usez, and many other 
 worthy knights and squires, eager to advance to the combat, both for 
 their own honor and to destroy these freebooters, who were wasting 
 the country without right or reason. The archpriest, whose name 
 was Arnaut de Cervole, was ordered to take the command of the 
 first battalion. He willingly obeyed ; for he v, as an expert and hardy 
 knight, and had under his command about sixteen hundred com- 
 batants. 
 
 The freebooters, from their situation on the hill, saw but too clearly 
 all these arrangements of the French, who could not see what they 
 were about, nor approach them without danger and loss; for there 
 were at least a thousand cart-loads of flints ready to be thrown 
 against the first assailants by that body of men who appeared so ill- 
 armed to the scouts. I must mention, that the only way these 
 French men-at-arms, who were so desirous to fight the companions 
 at any rate, could approach them, was to ascend sideways the hill on 
 which they had placed themselves. When they, therefore, attempted 
 this, those who were on the hill began to throw down on them the 
 stones and flints, of which they had made so large a provision that 
 they had only to stoop and pick them u]) : and, having full time to 
 aim them well, they wounded and killed many, so that others were 
 afraid to push forward. This advanced battalion was so severely 
 treated, it was not of any good use afterwards. The other battahons 
 marched to its succor, under the lord James de Bourbon, his son and 
 his nephews, with their banners, and many othf r respectable gentle- 
 men, who rushed on to their own destruction, so that it was a pity 
 they had not»formed better plans, or listened to wiser counsel. The 
 archpriest and some other knights had truly said, they were going to 
 fight with these companions at a disadvantage, with certain loss, 
 considering the situation they had chosen for themselves. They 
 advised waiting until they should have been dislodged from the 
 strong-hold where they had posted themselves, that then they would 
 have a better chance of success, but they were never listened to. 
 Thus then, when the lord James de Bourbon and the other lords, 
 with banners and pennons flying, approached and ascended sideways 
 
 * " A high mountain." Denys Sauvage has written a long note to say, that he had 
 visited this spot in 1553, and that it ought not to be called a high mountain, for it was 
 but a hillock. This Froissart himself allows in the following lines, where the scouts call 
 it a " tertre." D. Sauvage says, the place corresponds to the description, and that dif- 
 ferent weapons have been found in the adjoining grounds. 
 
 t Lord Berners, who here agrees with D. Sauvage, has these words : " Now shall I 
 shewe you the great malice of these companyons who were lodged on a niountayne, 
 and there they had such a place that they could nat be discryed 79r auewed , and spe- 
 cially the chief of them, who were beste harnessed : for the residfsii {who wore woi-ste 
 harneysed) arenged alonge on the hylle side, and suffered the frenche currours to 
 aproche nere to them, and to retoume agayne withoute any damage." The stratagem 
 practiced is here plainly described, but is scarcely intelligible in Mr. Johnes's version.- 
 £d. 
 
136 
 
 CHRONICLES OF E N G L A N D , F R A N C E , SPAIN, &c. 
 
 this hill, the weaker and less completely accoutred of the freeboot- 
 ers were enabled to harass them ; for they flung upon them so rap. 
 idly and vigorously stones and flints, that the boldest and best armed 
 were in dread of them. When they had thus for some time kept 
 them in check, their grand battalion, fresh and untouched, advanced 
 by a secret road round the hill, and being in close order like a brush, 
 with their lances cut down to six feet or thereabouts, with loud cries, 
 and a thorough good will, fell upon the French army. In this first 
 attack, very many were unhorsed, and many gallant deeds per- 
 formed ; but the freebooters fought so hardily, it was marvellous to 
 tliink of it, and the Frenph army was forced to retreat. That good 
 and valiant knight the archpriest fought excellently well : but he 
 was so overpowered by numbers that, after being grievously wounded, 
 he was made prisoner, as well as several knights and squires of his 
 company. Why should I make a longer talk of this affair ? in fact, 
 the French had the worse of the day : lord James de Bourbon and 
 the lord Peter his son were very badly wounded : the young count 
 de Foretz was slain : sir Reginald de Foretz his uncle, the count 
 d'Usez, the lord Robert de Beaujeu, the lord Louis de Cha,lons, and 
 upward of one hundred knights, were made prisoners. It M'as with 
 great difficulty the lord James de Bourbon and his son the lord 
 Peter were brought back to Lyons. This battle of Brignais was 
 fought on the Friday after Easter, in the year of our Lord 1361. 
 
 All the bordering countries were thrown into the greatest confu- 
 sion, when they heard that the army had been discomfited ; and 
 there was no one so bold, who had even the strongest castle, that 
 did not tremble ; for the wisest among them immediately supposed 
 the greatest mischiefs would ensue and multiply, if God did not 
 directly bring some remedy. The inhabitants of Lyons were con. 
 founded when they first heard that victory had declared for these 
 freebooting companies. They, however, received in the kindest 
 manner all those who returned from the battle, and were much 
 hurt at what had befallen the lord James de Bourbon and his son the 
 lord Peter. The ladies, both young and old, visited them in the 
 kindest manner ; for they were much beloved in the city of Lyons. 
 The lord James departed this life the third day after the battle, 
 and his son did not long survive him. They were much pitied 
 and regretted. The king of France was greatly affected at the 
 death of the lord James de Bourbon; but as it was not now to be 
 amended, he was obliged to bear his mourning as well as he could. 
 
 We will now return to these freebooters, who, having resolved to 
 keep themselves united, were rejoiced at the fortunate issue of this 
 battle. They had been great gainers, as well by what they had 
 seized on the spot as from the ransoms of their wealthy prisoners. 
 These companies had the whole country under their disposal, for no 
 one now ventured to attack them. Soon after the battle at Brignais, 
 they entered and overspread the county of Foretz, which they com- 
 pletely sacked and ruined, except the fortresses ; and because they 
 were in such large bodies that no small extent of country could 
 maintain them, they divided themselves into two parties ; sir Seguin 
 de Bastefol commanded the smallest, which, however, consisted of 
 about three thousand fighting men. He advanced toward Ance,* 
 near to Lyons, where he fixed his quarters. He then strongly forti- 
 fied and rebuilt parts of it, and kept his troops in its neighborhood, 
 which is one of the richest countries in the world. He overran and 
 ransomed at his ease all the countries above and below the Saone, 
 such as the county of Ma,con, the archbishopric of Lyons, the terri- 
 tories of the lord of Beaujeu, and the whole country as far as Mar- 
 silly les Nonnains,t and the county of Nevers. 
 
 The other division of these free companies under the command 
 of Nandoz de Baugerant, Espiote, Carnelle, Robert Briquet, Ortingo 
 and Bernard de la Salle, Lannuyt, le Bourgcamust, le bourg de Bre- 
 teuil, le bourg de I'Esparre, and many others of the same sort and 
 with the same intentions, advanced toward Avignon, saying they 
 would go and visit the pope and cardinals, in order to have some of 
 their money ; otherwise they should be well vexed. They waited in 
 that neighborhood to receive the amount of their ransoms for the 
 prisoners taken at Brignais, as well as to see if the peace that had 
 been made between the two kings was likely to be lasting. In their 
 route to Avignon, they took towns, castles, and forts ; for nothing 
 could stand before them. The whole country was in alarm ; for in 
 those parts they had not had any war, and the guards did not know 
 
 * Ance — an ancient town of the Lyonnois, situated near the Saone, diocese and elec- 
 tion of Lyons, about a league from Villefianche. 
 
 t Marsilly les Nonnains. I cannot find in the Gazetteer this name. There is Marcilly- 
 sur-Saone, a village in Burgundy, near Auxonne, which is, I suppose, the same. 
 
 t Bourg, in the dictionaries of the old French language, seems to mean bastard or 
 illegitimate. 
 
 Burgi, in Ducange's Glossary, is as follows: "Calepino ex Tit. C. d© fund, rei pri- 
 vatse. ' Q,ui collegio, vel curiae, vel burgis caeterisque corporibus servierit. An inde, an 
 non potius k burggravius per contractionem Bourgs, appellati sunt casteliani, et pre- 
 focti castrorum, per arcium, apud Froissartem,' torn. ii. cap. 34. * Si etoient de sa route 
 les capitaines des iiutres chateaux, comme le bourg Calart, le bourg Anglois, le bourg 
 de Champagne, et Raymond de Force, &c. 
 
 " Burgi, nddo, ' A genuina vocis Gallicae bourg notione longe aberrari mihi videtur, 
 cum ex Froissarte exponitur de Ciistellnno sur burgi praefecto. Bourg enim eo loci, 
 quemadmodum et in uliis ejusdem aevi historicis, spurium, nothum sonat. Gall, batard; 
 quod npprime docet Berry in Hist. Chronol. Carol. VII. ad an. 1432, ubi quern bourg 
 dicit, paula infra appellat bastard : sic et ad an. 1430, le bourg de Masquaren. Bourc 
 in Liu. Remiss, an. 1411 ex reg. 165. Chartoph. reg. ch. 219. Icelui Pierre appellast le 
 •uppliant arlot, tacain, bourc ; qui vaut autant k dire en languaige du Pais de par de h 
 gar^on, truant, bastart. Bort, eodem sensu usurpant Hispani. Vide in hac voce.' " 
 
 how to defend or to keep their strong holds againet Buch' rrieii.at. 
 arms. 
 
 These companions got information, that at the Pontdu St. Esprit*, 
 seven leagues from Avignon, there was very great wealth ; and that 
 all the riches of the country thereabouts had been carried thither, as 
 to a place of safety, trusting to the strength of its castle. They 
 therefore consulted together, and agreed that if they could get pos 
 session of this town of St. Esprit, it would be of the greatest advan 
 tage to them ; for they then would be masters of the Rhone as well 
 as of Avignon. After they had well digested their plan, Guyot du 
 Pin and the little Mechin (as I have heard it related) mounted their 
 horses, and, with their companies, rode one v/hole night to the extent 
 of fifteen leagues. They arrived by break of day at the town of St. 
 Esprit, which they took, and all those of both sexes which were 
 therein. It was a pitiful sight; for they murdered many a discreet 
 man, and violated many a virgin. They gained immense riches, and 
 provision sufficient to last them a whole year. They could from 
 this town escape easily, in an hour's time and without danger, into 
 the kingdom of France, and in another hour into the empire. They 
 collected their companies together, and kept advancing toward Avig- 
 non, at which the pope and cardinals were much alarmed. These 
 companions had chosen, at the Pont du St. Esprit, a captain to com- 
 mand the \vhole of their forces, who was commonly styled the 
 friendt of God, and the enemy of all the world. 
 
 There were at that time in France, besides these companies, many 
 other pillagers, English, Gascons, and Germans, who were desirous 
 of living there, t and who maintained many garrisons in fortresses. 
 Although the commissaries from the king of England had ordered 
 them to evacuate these castles, and to leave the country, they had 
 not obeyed, v/hich was very displeasing to the king of France, as 
 well as to his council. 
 
 But Vi/hen many of them learnt (for they had possession of different 
 places in France ) that their brethren had overthrown the lord James 
 de Bourbon with two thousand knights and squires, had taken a 
 great many prisoners, and had very lately surprised and conquered 
 the town of St. Esprit, v/here they had found immense riches, and 
 that they had expectations of gaining Avignon, where they would 
 have the pope and cardinals at their mercy, as well as all ProvencC; 
 each was eager to join them, in the hopes of gain and doing more 
 mischief. This was the reason why many warriors left their forts 
 and castles, and advanced before their companions, expecting greater 
 pillage. 
 
 When Pope Innocent VI. and the Roman college saw themselves 
 thus threatened by these accursed people, they were exceedingly 
 alarmed, and ordered a croisade to be published against these wicked 
 Christians, who were doing everything in their power to destroy 
 Christianity (like Vandals§ of old, without right or reason) by ruin- 
 ing all the countries whither they resorted ; by robbing, wherever 
 they could find anything ; by violating women, both young ond old, 
 without pity ; and by killing men, women, and children, without 
 mercy, who had done no ill to them ; for he was reckoned the 
 bravest, and most honored, who could boast of the most villainous 
 actions. 
 
 The pope and the cardinals had therefore a croisade publicly 
 preached. They absolved from every crime and sin|| all those who 
 should take the cross, and voluntarily give themselves up to destroy 
 these wretches. The cardinals elected the lord Peter de Monstier, 
 cardinal d'Arras, by some called cardinal d'Ostia, to be the chief of 
 this croisade ; who, upon his nomination, immediately left Avignon, 
 and went to Carpentras, seven leagues distant, where he fixed his 
 quarters. He retained all soldiers, and others, who were desirous oi 
 saving their souls, and of gaining the foresaid pardons : but he would 
 not give them any pay, which caused many of them to depart and go 
 into Lombardy ; others returned into their own countries, and some 
 joined these wicked companies, which were daily increasing. They 
 divided themselves into several companies, over each of which they 
 nominated captains, and took up their quarters in different places. 
 Thus they harassed the pope, the cardinals, and the merchants in the 
 neighborhood of Avignon, and did a great deal of mischief until the 
 summer was far advanced of the year 1361. 
 
 It happened that the pope and cardinals cast their eyes upon a very 
 
 * Pont du St. Esprit— a town of lower Languedoc, on the Rhone, diocese and receipt 
 of Uzes ; so called from one of the most beautiful bridges in Europe buHt over Ujp 
 Rhone, in the road from Montpelier to Paris. 
 
 It is probable that the town of Pont St. Esprit was taken twice ; for s chronicle, writ- 
 ten in the reign of king John, assures us positively, 'que les compagnons qui etoient 
 sortis de la France, etflui se faisoient appeler la grande compagnie,' took possession of 
 the town and custle of St. Esprit on Innocents' day, 126^.— Chroniqur. MSS. du Roi 
 Jean, Bibliot. du Roi. No. 9652. 
 
 t " Friend." Denys Sauvage says, in a note on the margin, that instead of ami it wa.<i 
 ennemi in all the editions ; but that he had corrected it from the two abridgment*. He 
 is certainly right as to the printed editions of Verard and Eustace, as well as in lord 
 Berners's translation and Barnes's History of Edward IH. : but it is ami in my two 
 MSS 
 
 t Lord Berners uses these words, " icho sayd theii must nedes lyue,'' which fully ex- 
 press the feelings and condition of these disbanded soldiers.— [Ed. 
 
 § " Vandals." Denys Sauvage has Bandes. and says it is so in all the editions, but 
 that he thinks it should be Vandals. It is Vandcs in all my printed editions, as well as MSS. 
 [Lord Berners's version is, " And than ordeyned a croysey agaynst these yuell christen 
 people who dyde their payne to distroy chrystendome as other bandes had done before 
 without tytell of any reason." May not this have reference to the expedition of the 
 archpriest mentioned before, instead of the Vandals ?]—IEd. 
 
 U A poena et culpa.— Lord fiiRMSRS. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 137 
 
 accomplished knight and good warrior ; that is to say, upon the m ar 
 quis de Montferrat,* who for a long time had been engaged in war 
 against the lords of Milan, and was at this time so employed. They 
 sent to him to come to Avignon, where he was received with much 
 honor by the pope and cardinals. 
 
 A treaty was then entered into with him. He agreed, for a con- 
 siderable sum 0/ money, to free the territories of the pope and the 
 neighborhood of those freebooting companies, and to lead them with 
 him into Lombardy. The marquis negotiated, therefore, with the 
 captains of these companies,! and managed so well, that by means 
 of sixty thousand iiorins which he divided among them, and the high 
 pay he promised them, they consented to follow him into Lombardy ; 
 but they also insisted on receiving pardon and absolution from all 
 crimes and sin. Every article was fulfilled, and the money paid : 
 they gave up the town of St. Esprit, quitted the territory of Avignon, 
 and marched away with the marquis of Montferrat. 
 
 King .Tohn and his whole kingdom were much rejoiced, when they 
 found themselves delivered from these people ; but many of them 
 returned back into Burgundy: sir Seguin de Batefol, who kept his 
 garrison at Ance, would not surrender it for any treaty or promise 
 they made him : however, France was, in many places, more at peace 
 than it had been. 
 
 When the greater part of these companies had quitted the country, 
 and had marched with the marquis de Montferrat into Piedmont, the 
 marquis managed his affairs well against the lords of Milan. He 
 conquered many towns, castles, and forts, and gained much territory 
 from them. He had also many skirmishes and attacks, which turned 
 out to his profit as well as honor ; and these companies, within the 
 year, gave him a superiority in the war, and were in a great measure 
 the cause that The lords Galeas and Bernabo Visconti,t who were 
 sovereigns of M. Ian, and who since reigned there in great prosperity, 
 came to a proper understanding with him. 
 
 About this time sir Seguin de Batefol, who had retained his garri- 
 son at Ance upon the river Sadne, took by escalade a good city in 
 Auvergne, called Brioude, and which is situated on the river Allier. 
 He maintained himself there for upward of a year, and fortified it 
 so strongly that he was not afraid of an attack : from this place he 
 overran all the country as far as Clermont, § Tilhac, Puy,|l Case 
 DieUjIT Montferrant,** Riom,ttla Nonnette,tt Ussoire,§§ Oudalle,l]j| 
 and the lands of the count Dauphin, who was at that time a hostage 
 in England, and committed the greatest damages. When he had 
 very much impoverished the whole country, he marched away, 
 according to an agreement, carrying oflT with him great riches. Sir 
 Seguin de BatefolU returned into Gascony, whence he had originally 
 come. Of this sir Seguin I know no more, except that by accident 
 I heard it related that he died in an extraordinary manner. God 
 sardon him for all his migdeeds ! 
 
 CHAPTER CCXVI. 
 
 THE DEATHS OF THE DUKES OF LANCASTER AND OF BURGUNDY, WHICH 
 LAST CAUSES NEW DISSENSIONS BETWEEN THE KINGS OF FRANCE AND 
 NAVARRE. THE PRINCE OF WALES CROSSES THE SEA AT AQUITAINE. 
 
 At this period died in England the good duke of Lancaster,*** 
 
 * The marquis de Montfen at. John Palaeologus, 16th marckgrave of Montferrat, 1338, 
 died 1371, reigned 33 years.— Anderson's Royal Genealogies. 
 
 \ " Captains of these companies." Barnes says, that the principal leader was sir 
 John Hawkwood ; Iiut the following quotation from the life of sir John Hawkwood, 
 published in the fa'th volume of the Bibliot. Typog. Britan. page 6, shows it was not so. 
 
 " The company of English adventurers who now entered into the service of the mar- 
 quis of Montferrat, 1363, is said, by Muratori, vol. xii, p. 207, to have been commanded 
 \)y one Albaret. ^ 
 
 " Upon the conclusion of the peace between tlie marquis of Montferrat and Galeazzo, 
 the few English who remained with the former went and joined their countrymen in 
 Tuscany, and soon after formed a body under Hawkwood." 
 
 There mus-t be a mistake respecting the date of 1363, for Froissart, as well as Denys 
 Sauvage, fixes it positively 1361. 
 
 : In the year 1354, Matthew II., Bernabo and Galeas n., all three sons of Stephen 
 Visconti, brother of John, succeeded their uncle in the state of Milan and divided it into 
 equal portions, except Milan and Genoa, which the two last individually held. Matthew 
 dying without maie children, the 26th September, 1355, his two brothers inherited his 
 portion, except Bologna, which they suffered Visconti d'Olegio to carry from them. 
 They obtained the same year, from the emperor Charles IV. the viceregency of Lom- 
 bardy. Their union defended them against a powerful league, formed by the Flo^entine^ 
 the marquises of Este, of Mantua, and of Montferrat. In 1359, Galeas, assisted by his 
 brother Bernabo, made the conquest of Pavia, in the month of November, afler a long 
 siege. In 1371, Bernabo acquired, from Feltrin de Gonzague, the city of Reg^io. Galeas 
 died 1378, aged 59 years. Muratori gives a very bad character of him. 
 
 See more of the house of Visconti, in I'Art de Verifier les Dates, whence the above 
 is taken. 
 
 I Clermont, or Clermont-Ferrard, capital of Auvergne. 
 
 ii Puy— a village in Auvergne, diocese of Clermont.- 
 
 IT Case Dieu, Q. an abbey, diocese of Auch. 
 
 ** Montfenant— a town in Auvergne, near Clermont. 
 
 tt Rion, Riom— a city of Auvergne, near Clermont. 
 
 tt La Nonnette— a town of Auvergne, election of Issoire. 
 
 §§ Ussoire, TJsson— a town of Auvergne, four leagues from Brioude. 
 
 III! Oudalle, 1 cannot find, nor Tilhac. 
 
 " Sir Seguin de Batefol." Mezeray calls him Simon Batefol, Villaret calls him 
 gentilhomme navarrois, and says that he died from some poisoned oranges, which 
 Charles le Mauvais, king of Navarre, had served at dinner, in order to get rid of him. 
 He was desirous of engaging sir Seguin de Batefol to make fresh disturbances in France^ 
 contrary to the promise he had made king John, on surrendering Brioude ; but he asked 
 too large a sum ; and, having possession of Charles's secret, he thus poisoned him that it 
 might not bedixxi\sed.-Histoire de France, par Villaret, torn. v. p. 258. 
 
 •* • Henry duke of Lancaster, who died of the plague ofl360, was buried on the south 
 
 whose Christian name was Henry. The king and all his barons, 
 knights, and squires, were much afflicted, and wished it had not 
 been so. He left two daughters, the lady Maude and the lady 
 Blanche. The eldest was married to the earl of Hainault of the 
 name of William, son of the lord Lewis of Bavaria and Margaret of 
 Hainault. The youngest was married to the lord John, earl of Rich- 
 mond, son of the king of England, who was afterwards duke of Lan- 
 caster, in right of his wife, and by the death of Henry duke of 
 Lancaster. 
 
 In this season also died the young duke Philip of Burgundy,* earl 
 of Burgundy, of Artois and of Boulogne, palatine of Brie and Cham- 
 pagne. He married the daughter of Louis earl of Flanders, by one 
 of the daughters of John duke of Brabant, to v. hom fell the earldom 
 of Burgundy, by the near relationship of Margaret his mother, who 
 did homage and fealty for it to the king of France. The lord John 
 of Boulogne, earl of Auvergne, Ccime, by the same means, into pos- 
 session of the earldom of Boulogne, and was homager to the king of 
 France. King John also, from his proximity, took possession of and 
 retained the duchy of Burgundy, and all rights over Champagne and 
 Brie, which was highly displeasing to the king of Navarre ; but he 
 could not help himself ; for he claimed Champagne and Brie, as 
 being the nearest heir : his reasons were not listened to, for king 
 John hated him much, and declared that he should never possess a 
 foot of ground in Champagne nor in Brie.t 
 
 About this time, the king of France had formed a resolution- to go 
 to Avignon, and visit the pope and cardinals, and, in his road, to 
 amuse himself by inspecting the duchy of Burgundy, which had lately 
 fallen in to him. The king, therefore, ordered preparations to be 
 made, and set out from Paris about St. John's day 1362, having left 
 his eldest son Charles duke of Normandy, regent and governor of the 
 kingdom during his absence. The king took with him the lord John 
 of Artois, his cousin, whom he much loved ; the earl of Tancarville, 
 the earl of Dampmartin, Boucicault marshal of France, sir Arnold 
 d'Andreghen, the grand prior of France, and several others. He 
 travelled slowly and with much expense, making some stay in all 
 the cities and towns of Burgundy, so that he did not arrive at Ville. 
 neuve,t until about Michaelmas. It was there that his hotel was 
 prepared, as well for himself as for his attendants. He was most 
 magnificently received and feasted by the pope and the college at 
 Avignon ; the king, pope, and cardinals, visited each other often. 
 The king remained at Villeneuve during the whole time.§ 
 
 About Christmas pope Innocent VI. departed this life : and the 
 cardinals were in great discord about the election of another, for 
 each was desirous of that honor ; more particularly the cardinals ot 
 Boulogne and Perigord, who were the greatest in the college. Their 
 dissensions kept the conclave a long time shut up. The conclave 
 had ordered and arranged everything according to the desires of the 
 two before-mentioned cardinals, but in such a manner that neither 
 of them could succeed to the papacy : upon which they both agreed, 
 that none of their brethren should wear the papal crown, and elected 
 the abbot de St. Victor|| of Marseilles, who was a holy and learned 
 man, of good morals, and who had labored hard for the church in 
 Lombardy and other places. The two cardinals sent to inform him 
 of his elevation, and to desire he would come to Avignon : which he 
 
 side of the high attar of the collegiate chur<-h of Leicester, fbunded by his father (not by 
 him, as in Dugdale,) and on the nextniclse tohi;n lay a lady, by likelihood his wile."— 
 Cough's Sep. Mon. 
 
 " He left issue by his wife Isabel, daughter of Henry lord Beaumont, two daughters, 
 his heiresses. Maude first married to Ralph, son and heir to Raipli Lord Stafford, and 
 afterwards to WiUiamduke of Zealand ; and Blanche (by virtue of a special dispensa 
 tion from the pope, in regard to their near alliance) to John of Gaunt, earl of Richmond, 
 fourth son to Edward III. and afterwards duke of Lancaster.— Duqdale's Baronage. 
 
 Maude came to England soon afler her father's death, and died, supposed by poison.— 
 Knyghton. 
 
 * Philip duke of Burgundy succeeded to the earldonis of Boulogne and Auvergne 
 at the age of fifteen by the death of his mother, 29th September, 1360. Toward the latter 
 end of November, 1371, he died at Rouvre, and was buried at Citeaux. He lived but a 
 short time, and was very much regretted, as he promised well. The duchy of Burgundy 
 passed to the king of France, not by virtue of the law of appanages, but as being nearest 
 heir to duke Philip. The earldom of Diirriundy, bv tiie same riglit, passed to Marga- 
 ret, who married Philip, fourth son of .lolni king of Fruuce, who was created duke of 
 Burgundy by letters patent, 6th Sept. IcG'd.—L'Jlrt de verifier les Dates. 
 
 t In place of this paragraph lord Berners has the following: "The lord James 
 of Burbone abode styll pursuynge the treaty bytwene the lord John de Mountforde and 
 the lord Charles of Bloys for the right of the duchy of Bretayne acordyng to the treaty 
 begon at Calais as ye have herd before. And for lacke of concludyng tliereof great warres 
 and yuels fell after in the countri of Bretayne as ye shall here in this hystorie."— Ed. 
 
 + Villeneuve d' Avignon— a town of Lower Languedoc, on the Rhone, opposite to 
 Avignon. 
 
 § Villaret seems to think Froissart has made a mistake respecting this visit of the king, 
 and that it was to prevent the marriage of Edmund earl of Cambridge, son of king Ed- 
 ward III. with the widow of the late duke of Burgundy, by means of the pope 
 
 "Since his (the king's) return from London, he made only one journey to the court 
 of Avignon, where he did not arrive till afler the death of Innocent VI." This opinion 
 will not agree with what Froissart says of the entertainments and feasts he received from 
 the pope. John must have made two journeys, at a short di^tancc from one another. 
 The contrary, however, is proved by the letters of this king, preserved in the fourth vol- 
 ume des Ordonnances. Froissart will have, without doubt, confour.ded this journey 
 with the one made before his imprisonment.— de Prance, vol v. p. 270, note. 
 
 In the Grands Chroniques de St. Denis, vol. ii. feuillet 273. " In the month of August. 
 13ii2, the king of France set out to visit the pope, Innocent, at Avignon, who was then 
 alive, and that same year, the 22nd Dec, he died." 
 
 " King John entered Avignon St. Catherine's day, the 22nd November, Pope Urban 
 received him very honorably in consistory, and retamed him to dinner." 
 
 There must be some mistake in these dates. 
 
 II "Abbot de St. Victor." Urban V. William Grimoald, abbot de St, Germain 
 d'Auxerre, then abbot of St. Victor de Marseille, was elected pope, 28th September,] 
 at the age of 53 years ; he died 19tii December, 1370. 
 
138 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 did as soon as possible, and received this gift with joy. He was 
 called Urban V., and reigned with great prosperity : he augmented 
 much the power of the church, and did great good to Rome and other 
 parts. 
 
 Soon after this election, the king of France heard that the lord 
 Peter de Lusignan, king of Cyprus and Jerusalem, was on his road 
 to Avignon, having crossed the sea ; upon which he resolved to wait 
 for him, as he was anxious to see one of whom so many handsome 
 things had been related, for having made war upon the Saracens. 
 Lately, the new king of Cyprus had taken the strong city of Sati- 
 lie* from the enemies of God, and had slain, without any exceptions, 
 all the inhabitants of both sexes whom he had found there. 
 
 There was, during this winter, a full parliament holden in Eng- 
 land, respecting regulations for the country, but more especially to 
 form establishments for the king's sons. They considered that the 
 prince of Wales kept a noble and grand state, as he might well do ; 
 for he was valiant, powerful, and rich, and had besides a large inher- 
 itance in Aquitaine, where provisions and everything else abounded. 
 They therefore remonstrated with him, and told him from the king 
 his father, that it would be proper for him to reside in his duchy, 
 which would furnish him withal to keep as grand an establishment 
 as he pleased. The barons and knights of Aquitaine were sAso de- 
 sirous of his residing among them, and iiad before entreated the king 
 to allow him so to do ; for although the lord John Chandos was very 
 agreeable and kind to them, they still loved better to have their ovvn 
 natural lord and sovereign than any other. The prince readily as- 
 sented to this, and made every preparation becoming his own and 
 his wife's rank.t When all was ready, they took leave of the king, 
 the queen and their brothers : set sail from England, and were landed, 
 with their attendants, at La Rochelle. 
 
 But we will for a while leave this prince, and talk of some other 
 regulations which were made at this time in England. It was enacted 
 by the king and his council, that the lord Lionel, the king's second 
 Bon, and who had borne the title of earl of Ulster, should from thence- 
 forward bear that of duke of Clarence ; and the lord John, who was 
 called earl of Richmond, was created duke of Lancaster, which estate 
 came to him by his wife, the lady Blanche, as heiress to the good 
 duke of Lancaster, her father. It was also taken into consideration 
 by the king and his council, that the lord Edmund, the king's young- 
 est son, who was called earl of Cambridge, should be well provided 
 for, and, if it were possible, that he should be united in marriage 
 with the daughter of the earl of Flanders, at that time a widow. 
 However, that matter, though proposed, was not fully entered upon ; 
 for it would be necessary to go cautiously to work about it ; besides, 
 the lady herself was sufficiently young. 
 
 About this time, the lady Isabella of France, mother of the king, 
 died. She was daughter of Philip the Fair. The king ordered a 
 most magnificent and pompous funeral for her, at the Friar Minors,t 
 at which all the prelates and barons of England, as well as the lords 
 of France who were hostages for the performance of the articles of 
 peace, attended. 
 
 This happened before the prince and princess of Wales left Eng- 
 land ; soon after which th'ey set out, and arrived at La Rochelle, 
 wheie they were received with great joy, and remained four whole 
 days. As soon as the lord John Chandos (who had governed the 
 duchy of Aquitaine a considerable time) was informed that the prince 
 was coming, he set out from Niort§ where he resided, and came to 
 La Rochelle with a handsome attendance of knights and squires, 
 where they feasted most handsomely the prince, princess, and their 
 Buite. The prince was conducted from thence, with great honor and 
 rejoicings, to the city of Poitiers. The barons and knights of Poitou 
 and Saiutonge, who at that time resided there, came and did homage 
 and fealty to him. 
 
 The prince rode from city to city, and from town to town, receiv- 
 ing everywhere due homage and fealty. He at last came to Bor- 
 deaux, where he resided a considerable time, and the princess with 
 him. The earls, viscounts, barons, knights, and lords of Gascony, 
 came thither to pay their respects to him : all of whom he received 
 in so gracious and pleasing a manner, that every one was contented. 
 Even the count de Foix came to visit him, whom the prince and 
 princess received most honorably, and treated him magnificently. A 
 peace was at this time concluded between him and the count d'Ar- 
 
 * City of Sat^ilie— is the AUalea of tlie ancients, situated in Pamphilia, a province 
 which at tliis day makes part. ofCaramania. 
 
 Antalia, or Satklie— at the bottom of the gulf of Satklie.— D'Anville's map. Geo- 
 graphic Moderne. 
 
 Peter de Lusignan had succeeded his father Hugh. He did not arrive at Avignon 
 Hntil the 29th Marcli, 1362, the Wednesday of the holy week. 
 
 Valdemar. king of Denmark, was there at the same time, who came to place his per- 
 •on and kingdom under the protection of the holy see.— Villaret, Hist, de France. 
 
 Peter I. succeeded his father Hugh, as king of Cyprus, in 1361. January 18, 1372, he 
 was assassinated by two lords whom he had abused. He disgraced the glories and 
 fame of his early life by his debaucheries and cruelties in his latter days.— Jfrt de veri- 
 fier lei Dates. 
 
 t " His wife's rank." The prince of Wales married this yaar the lady Joan, daugh- 
 ter of Edmund Plantagenet earl of Kent, commonly called the fair countess of Kent. 
 She was a widow, and of the blood royal of England. She was first married to the earl 
 of Salisbury, and divorced from him, then she was married to sir Thomas Holland.— 
 Fabian. 
 
 t Friar Minors— commonly called the Gray Friars, now o parish church called Christ 
 Church.— Grafton 
 I Nioit. A city in Poitou. diocese of La Rochelle. 
 
 magnac, with whom there had been a continual warfare for a very 
 considerable time. The lord John Chandos was soon after appointed 
 constable of all Guienne, and sir Guiscard d'Angle marshal. The 
 prince thus provided for the knights of his own country and his house, 
 hold, particularly those he loved most, with these noble and hand, 
 some offices, which were at his disposal in the duchy of Aquitaine. 
 He nominated to all his stewartries and bailiwicks knights from 
 England, who kept up greater state and magnificence than the inhab- 
 itants of the country could have wished : but thinafs did not go ac- 
 cording to their desires. We will now leave the prince and the 
 princess of Wales, to speak of king John of France, who at this time 
 was at Villeneuve d'Avignon. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXVII. 
 
 THE KIN&S OF FRANCE AND OF CYPRUS UNDERTAKE AND SWEAR TO TER. 
 FORM A CROISADE AGAINST THE INFIDELS. THE KING OF CYPRUS MAKES 
 EARNEST SOLICITATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE TO MANY KINGS AND PRINCES 
 IN DIVERS PLACES OF CHRISTENDOM. 
 
 About Candlemas,* 1362, the king of Cyprus came to Avignon : 
 at which event the whole court was much rejoiced, and many cardi- 
 nals went out to meet him, and to conduct him to the palace of pope 
 Urban, who received him very graciously, as did the king of France, 
 who was present. When they had remained together some time, 
 and had had wines and spices served to them, the two kings took 
 leave of the pope, and each went to his h6tel. 
 
 During this time, there was a public combat before the king of 
 France, at Villeneuve, from pledges given and received, between 
 two valiant and noble knights, whose names were sir Aymon de 
 Pommiers and sir Foulques d'Archiac. V/hcn they had fought well 
 and valorously for a length of time, the king of France appeased 
 them, and made up their quarrel. 
 
 The two kings remained the whole Lent at Avignon, or there 
 about. They often visited the pope, who received them with joy. 
 During these frequent visits, the king of Cyprus remonstrated with 
 the pope, the king of France, and the cardinals present, how noble 
 and praiseworthy a thing it would be for Christendom, to open a 
 holy passage beyond sea, and to fall upon the enemies of the true 
 faith. The king of France listened eagerly to this discourse, and 
 proposed that for himself he would willingly undertake such an enter- 
 prise, if he should live three years only, for two reasons: one was, 
 that king Philip, his father, had formerly made a vow to do the same; 
 the other was, to draw out of his kingdom all those men-at-arms, 
 called free companions, who pillaged and robbed his subjects with- 
 out any shadow of right, and to save their souls. These reasons, 
 however, the king of France kept to hini'^elf, without mentioning 
 them to any one, until Holy Friday, when the pope preached in his 
 chapel before the kings of France and Cyprus, and the college of 
 Cardinals. After the sermon, which was very humble and devout, 
 the king of France, through his great devotion, put on the cross, and 
 requested the pope, with great sweetness, to confirm it to him. The 
 pope immediately and benignantly complied with his request, and 
 crossed in like manner the lord Talleyrand cardinal de Perigord, the 
 lord John d'Artois, the earl of Eu, the earl of Dampmartin, the earl 
 of Tancarville, the lord Arnold d'Andreghen, the grand prior of 
 France, the lord Boucicaut, and many knights there present. The 
 king of Cyprus was highly pleased, and returned fervent thanks to 
 the Lord for having inspired their hearts. 
 
 Thus, as you have heard, the king of France, and those barons 
 and knights that were with him, put the red cross upon their outward 
 robes. The holy father gave it his benediction, and ordered it to be 
 preached in many places : not, however, throughout all Christendom, 
 for a reason I will give. The king of Cyprus (who had come thither 
 with the intention of forming this croisade, having promised himself 
 much pleasure in visiting the emperor and all the great barons of the 
 empire, the king of England, and the chief princes of Christendom, 
 which he did, as this history hereafter will show you,) offered to the 
 holy father and to the king of France his personal services, his wealth, 
 and his eloquence, wherever he should arrive or make any stay, in 
 remonstrating and arguing the grace and devotion of this expedition, 
 in order to excite all those princes and lords to join in it who before 
 had not had much religion. This said king was so much honored, 
 as it was but just he should be, that, from the eloquence and warmth 
 with which he Avould display the value of this expedition to the dif- 
 ferent princes, he would gain more hearts than all the preachments. 
 The pope assented to this proposal, which was then resolved on. 
 
 Soon after Easter, 1363, the king of Cyprus left Avignon, saying 
 he was going to visit the emperor and the lords of the empire, and 
 then return by Brabant, Flanders, and Hainault, to the kingdom of 
 France. He took leave of the pope and the king of France, who on 
 every occasion showed him marked attentions; the pope gave to him 
 and to his attendants presents of jewels and benedictions.t Soon 
 
 * " Candlemas." Denys Sauvage says, in a note on tlie margin, that Froissart forgets 
 in this place to begin the year the first of January. 
 
 " By an edict given by Charles IX. at Roussillon Chateau in Dauphm6, 1564. he fixe<; 
 the beginning ot the year 1565 at the first of January ; whereas formerly the year com- 
 menced at Easter. It appears to me that its commencement ougl^t tp be the 2l8t o. 
 March."— Essaw Hiatoriaues sur Paris, tome iii. p. 328. 
 
 t Many fayre gyfU and ieaweU and pardons.— LoiM> Bernxr«> 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 1S9 
 
 after the departure of the king of Cyprus, the king of France took 
 leave of the pope, and went toward the city of Montpelier, in order 
 to visit Languedoc, where he had not been for a long time. 
 
 We will now return to the king of Cyprus, and to the journey 
 which he made. After many days' travel in Germany, he came to 
 a city called P. ague, and found there the emperor of Germany, the 
 lord Charles of Bohemia,* who received him magnificently, as did 
 all the lords of ti e empire who were with him. The king of Cyprus 
 remained in Prague and in its environs three weeks, and greatly 
 e\erted himself in exhorting all the Germans to assist in this holy 
 expedition. The emperor defrayed his expenses during the stay he 
 made, and for his journeys in Germany. The king of Cyprus went 
 next to the duchy of Juliers, where the duke received him with much 
 feasting and rejoicings. From the duchy he went to Brabant, where 
 the duke and duchess received him magnificently in the good town 
 of Brussels. He was there entertained with grand dinners, suppers, 
 tournaments, and other sports, in which he knew well how to play 
 his part ; and, at his departure, they made him many presents of 
 rich jewels. 
 
 When he left Brussels, he went to Flanders, to visit earl Lewis, 
 who received and feasted him grandly. He found at Bruges the 
 king of Denmark, who had come thither to see him. They were 
 magnificently treated at Bruges ; insomuch that the two kings were 
 very v^ell pleased with earl Lewis, and with the knights and barons 
 of his country. The kiag of Cyprus thus passed his summer, since 
 he had left Avignon, in his journey through the empire and along 
 its frontiers, exhorting all to undertake this expedition against the 
 Saracens. This gave much pleasure to many of the great lords, who 
 were desirous that it should be accomphshed ; but many others 
 excused themselves from taking part in it. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXVIII. 
 
 THE KmG OF ENGLAND DETAINS THE HOSTAGES AS PRISONERS. THE KING 
 OF CYPRUS USES GREAT ENTREATIES WITH THE KINGS OF NAVARRE AND 
 ENGLAND AND THE PRINCE OF WALES, TO INDUCE THEM TO UNDERTAKE 
 THIS CROISADE AGAINST THE SARACENS. 
 
 About this time, the king of England showed much favor to four 
 dukes, viz. the duke of Orleans, the duke of Anjou, the duke of 
 Beny, and the duke of Bourbon. These lords had returned to Calais, 
 whence they had liberty to make excursions whither they chose for 
 three days; but they were to return on the fourth day by sunset. 
 The king had granted this favor with the good intent of their being 
 nearer to make solicitations to their friends, and that they might 
 hasten their ransoms, which they were eager to do. During the 
 time the four above-mentioned lords were at Calais, they sent many 
 and pressing messages to the king of France, and to the duke of 
 Normandy his eldest son, who had nominated them as hostages, to 
 remonstrate with them on the subject of their ransoms, which they 
 had sworn and promised to attend to at the time they v/ent to Eng- 
 land, otherwise they would have undertaken it themselves, threaten- 
 ing no longer to consider themselves as prisoners. But although 
 these lords were, as you know, very near relations to the king of 
 France, their solicitors and messengers were not listened to, nor 
 themselves ransomed, which was very displeasing to them, more 
 particularly to the duke of Anjou, who declared he would himself 
 find a remedy, happen what would. 
 
 At this moment, the kingdom and the councils of the king and 
 duke of Normandy were hardly pressed, as well on account of the 
 croisade which the king had undertaken, as for the war with the 
 king of Navarre, who was harassing the realm of France, and who 
 had recalled some of the captains and companions from Lombardy, 
 in order the better to carry on his designs. This was the principal 
 reason why they could not immediately attend to the ransoms of the 
 four dukes, nor give satisfactory answers by their messengers, when 
 they came to France. 
 
 We will now return to the king of Cyprus. When he had visited 
 the empire and other countries, as you have heard, he returned to 
 France, vv^here he was magnificently received by the king and the 
 great lords of his court. Several councils were held on the subject 
 of this croisade, to discover in what manner it could turn out to the 
 honor of the king of France or to the good of his realm. The wisest 
 were of opinion, that seeing the kingdom so much harassed, robbed, 
 and ruined, by the companies and thieves that invaded it from all 
 parts, this expedition ought not to take place until the kingdom were 
 in a better state, or till peace were made with the king of Navarre. 
 However, notwithstanding the good sense of this advice, the king 
 would not listen to it, nor allow his ardor for this croisade to be 
 cooled. He confirmed his engagement to the king of Cyprus, and 
 promised to be at Marseilles in March the ensuing year (which 
 would be 1364,) and that then he would without delay cross the sea, 
 and order purveyances to all who were willing to do the same. 
 
 Upon this, the king of Cyprus took his leave of the king of France, 
 finding that he had sufiicient time to return to his own country and 
 make his preparations. He considered with himself, if he should 
 
 *Lord Charles of Bohemia— Charles IV. emperor of Germany. He published the 
 famous Golden Bull, that has evei since regulated all the elections of emperon of Ger- 
 many. 
 
 ( 
 
 not do well to pay a visit to his cousin the king of Navarre, and 
 endeavor, if possible, to make a peace between him and the king 
 of France. He therefore set out from Paris with a grand equipage, 
 and took the road to Rouen ; where, when he was arrived, he was 
 most handsomely received by his cousin the lord John d'Alengon, 
 archbishop of Rouen, v/ho entertained him very agreeably for three 
 days. On the fourth he departed, taking the road to Caen, and 
 continued his route to Cherbourg, where he tound the king of Na- 
 varre, the lord Louis* his brother, and a very small company with 
 them. 
 
 These two lords of Navarre received the king of Cyprus gra- 
 ciously and honorably, feasted him grandly, as they had the means, 
 and knew we'l how to use them. While he was there, he endeav- 
 ored to begin a treaty between them and the king of France, and 
 talked to them frequently and eloquently upon this subject ; for he 
 was a man of excellent understanding, master of many languages, 
 and much beloved. The two brothers made very handsome replies 
 to him, but excused themselves by saying, it was not their fault if 
 they were not good friends with the king and realm of France ; for 
 their great desire was to be so, but the king must give back their 
 inheritance which he held from them wrongfully. The ki-ng of 
 Cyprus would willingly have brought this business to a conclusion, 
 for the king of Navarre would have left it to him, had not their 
 differences been too great. 
 
 When the king of Cyprus had remained at Cherbourg about fifteen 
 days, having been entertained by the king of Navarre and his brother 
 suitably to his rank, he took leave of them, saying he should not 
 rest until he had been in England, and exhorted king Edward and 
 his children to put on the cross. He departed from Cherbourg, and 
 arrived at Caen ; thence he crossed the sea at Pontde l'Arche,t and 
 entered Ponthieu ; having passed the Somme at Abbeville,t he came 
 to Rue,§ to Montreuil,|I and to Calais, where he found the three 
 dukes of Orleans, Berry and Bourbon : for the duke of Anjou had 
 returned to France, but by what means or in what condition I know 
 not.ir 
 
 These three dukes, prisoners, though they were in the town of 
 Calais, received the king of Cyprus very joyfu'ly, and the king be- 
 haved with equal politeness to them. They continued together for 
 twelve days. When the king of Cyprus had a favorable wind, he 
 crossed the Straits, and arrived at Dover. He remained there two 
 days to recover himself, while they unloaded his vessel and disem. 
 barked his horses. The king then continued his route by easy day 
 journeys, until he arrived at the good city of London. He was 
 honorably received on his arrival, as well by the barons of France, 
 who were there as hostages, as by the English lords, v/ho had rode 
 out to meet him ; for king Edward had ordered some of his knights, 
 viz. the earl of Hereford,** sir Walter Manny, the lord Despencer,+t 
 the lord Ralph de Ferrers, H sir Richard Pembridge,'§§ sir Richard 
 Stafford, 111! and others to meet him, who accompanied and conducted 
 him to the lodgings which yvere prepared for him in the city of 
 London. 
 
 It would take me a day were I to attempt relating to you the 
 grand dinners, suppers, and other feasts and entertainments that were 
 made, and the magnificent presents, gifts and jewels which were 
 given, especially by queen Phihppa, to the accomplished king of 
 Cyprus. In truth, he was deserving of them, for he had come a 
 long way and at a great expense, to visit them, to exhort the king 
 to put on the red cross, and assist them in regaining countries now 
 
 * "Lord Louis." Charles had two brothers, Philip and Louis: but which is here 
 meant, I know not. Denys Sauvage says it was Philip, my MSS. Louis, 
 t Pont de I'Arche— a town of Normandy, on the Seine, diocese of Evreux. 
 t Abbeville— a considerable town in Lower Picardy, diocese of Amiens, 
 § Rue— a small town in Picardy. 
 II Montreuil— a town in Picardy, diocese of Amiens. 
 
 li" See Rymer, anno 1363, for different letters from king John while at Avignon, and 
 other matters respecting the ransoms of these princes of the blood. It appears that they 
 were all promised their freedom, on possession being given to the officers nnmed by kin? 
 Edward of certain lands and castles belonging- to e'ich fu' them, diited at Westminster, 
 26th May, 1363. The duke of Anjou and other {lostiiges broke their parole and escaped 
 In the Fcedera 1364, there are various remonstrances made by Edward on this subject. 
 
 Stowe says, in his Chronicle, that the duke of Anjou, by breaking his word and oath 
 to return to England as one of the hostages for king John, and thus deceiving him, wna 
 the cause of his majesty's death, through grief. 
 
 Carte says. " Their negotiations not succeeding, the duke of Anjou made use of that 
 indulgence to escape into France : the kina:, his father, blamed him e.xceedingly, and, to 
 repair his son's fiults, resolved to go himself to England, and, by a personal trnr-ity with 
 Edward, remove the obstructions which had hitherto prevented the full execution of the 
 treaty of Bretigny. His ministers tried, in vain, to dissuade him from tliis resolution; 
 for he told them, that though good fliith were banished out of the rest of the world, it 
 ought still to be found in the words of princes, and as the performance of the articles of 
 that treaty was the condition of his, he v/ould at any rate see them executed." 
 
 ** The earl of Herelbrd— son of William IJohun, earl of Northampton, succeeded to 
 I'he title and estates ot Hereford, on the death of his uncle, Humphrey de Bohun, in 1361. 
 He was afterwards nominated embassador to the duke of Milan, respecting the mar- 
 riage of his daughter Violante to the duke of Clarence, and died shortly after. 
 
 tt Lord Despencei— grandson of Edward that was executed at Hereford. Heeryoyed 
 much favor under Edward III., and was buned at Tewkesbury. 
 
 tt " Lord Ralph de Ferrers." I cannot find in Dugdale's Baronage any of this family 
 that bore the name of Ralph. There is Rauf de Ferriers, banneret, in Ashmole, which 
 I suppose must be the same, 
 
 §§ Sir Richard Pembridge— was fifty-third knight of the garter. He died 1375, and hit 
 tomb is in Hereford cathedral. Tiie only account I can find of him is in Mr. Gough'g 
 first volume of Sepulchral Monuments, to which I refer. 
 
 nil Sir Richard Stafford— was son to sir Richard Stafford, brother to Ralph, earl of 
 Stafford. He served in Edward lll.'s wars in Gascony, and was summoned to parlia* 
 ment among the Hbxons, from 44tb Edward III. until 4th Richard II. iucusive. 
 
140 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN. &c. 
 
 bccujned by the enemiea of God. But the king of England politely 
 and wisely excused himself, by saying : " Certainly, my good cousin, 
 I have every inclination to undertake this expedition ; but I am 
 growing too old, and shall leave it to my children. I make no doubt, 
 that when it shall have been begun, Vou will not be alone, but will 
 be followed most willingly by my knights and squires." " Sir," 
 replied the king of Cyprus, " what you say satisfies me. I verily 
 believe they will come, in order to serve God, and do good to them- 
 selves ; but you must grant them permission so to do ; for the knights 
 of your country are eager in such expeditions." " Yes," answered 
 the king of England ; " I will never oppose such a work, unless 
 some things should happen to me or to my kingdom which I do not 
 at this moment foresee." The king of Cyprus could never obtain 
 anything more from king Edward, in respect to this croisade ; but, 
 as long as he remained, he was politely and honorably feasted with 
 a variety of grand suppers. 
 
 About this time, king David* of Scotland had some affairs to 
 transact with king Edward, that made it necessary for him to come 
 to England ; so that when he heard the king of Cyprus was there, 
 he hastened his journey, in order to meet him, and made such dis- 
 patch that he arrived in London before he had left it. The two 
 kings were much rejoiced to meet, and congratulated each other 
 upon it. The king of England gave them two grand entertainments 
 in his palace of Westminster. At the last of these, the king of 
 Cyprus took his leave of the king and queen of England, who made 
 him very magnificent presents : king Edward gave him also a ship 
 called the Catherine, which was very beautiful and well built. The 
 king of England had had her constructed, by his orders, to make 
 the voyage to Jerusalem. She was valued at twelve thousand francs, 
 and lay in the harbor of Sandwich. 
 
 The king of Cyprus was much pleased with this gift, and returned 
 many thanks for it. He made no long stay after this in England, 
 but returned to the king of France. The king of England, however, 
 defrayed all his and his attendants' expenses during the time he 
 remained, as well as the cost of his journeys in coming and return- 
 ing. I do not know how it was, nor for what reason, but he left the 
 ship in the harbor of Sandwich ; for, two years afterwards, I saw it 
 there at anchor. 
 
 The king of Cyprus left England,! and crossed the sea to Boulogne. 
 Having learnt on the road, that the king of France, the duke of Nor- 
 mandy, the lord Philip, youngest son to king John, and the council 
 of state, were to be in the good town of Amiens, the king of Cyprus 
 took that road, and found the king of France just arrived, with part 
 of his council. He was kindly received by them, and related to them 
 the greater part of his travels, which they listened to with p'easure. 
 "When he had been there some time, he said that as yet he had done 
 but little, until he should have seen the prince of Wales ; and that, 
 if it pleased God, he would go visit him, as well as the barons of 
 Poitou and Aquitaine, before he returned home. The king of France 
 made no objection to this, but earnestly entreated, that when he set 
 out on his return home, he would take his departure from France, to 
 which the king of Cyprus readily assented. He therefore left Amiens, 
 taking the road to Beauvais, passed the Seine at Pontoise, and con- 
 tinued his route to Poitiers. 
 
 At this time, the prince was at Angouleme, where there were 
 shortly to be grand entertainments and justs by forty knights and as 
 many squires, in honor of the princess, who had lately been brought 
 to bed of a handsome son, called Edwardjt after his father. As soon 
 as the prince was informed of the arrival of the king of Cyprus at 
 Poitiers, he sent by special command, sir John Chandos, attended by 
 many knights and squires of his household, to meet him. They 
 accompanied him, with great joy and respect, to the prince, who 
 received him kindly and honorably. We will now leave the king 
 
 ' "King David." It appears, by Rymer, from the passport granted iiim by king 
 Edward, the 20th February, 1364,t.hat David Bruce's journey into England was to pay 
 his devotions at the shrine of Our Lady atWaisinghani. The same religious motives 
 might have made him so eager to converse with the king of Cyprus on the subject of 
 the croisade. His passport was to continue in force until the ensuing Michaelmas. 
 
 His new queen, Margaret Logic, had at the same time a passport, to pay her devo- 
 tions nt the shrine of Thomas k Becket, at Canterbury. 
 
 t Barnes, in his history of Edward III. says, that the king of Denmark and the duke 
 of Bavaria accompanied him to England, and that their passports wete dated tith De- 
 cember. 
 
 In Rymer, there is a passport for Waldemar, king of Denmark, dated the 1st of Feb 
 raary, 1364, to continue to the ensuing ftlichaelmas, for himself and three hundred horse- 
 men, &c., but not one word is said of the king of Cyprus nor of the duke of Bavaria. 
 
 "Anno reg. 31, 1357.— Henry Picard, vintner, mayor of London, in one day did 
 sumptuously feast Edward king of England, .lohn king of France, the king of Cyprus 
 (then newly arrived in England.) David king of Scots, Edward prince of Wales, with 
 many noblemen and others: and after, the said Henry Picard kept his hall against all 
 comers whosoever that were willing to play at dice and hazard. In like manner, tlie 
 lady Margaret, his wife, did also keep her chamber to the same intent. The king of 
 Cyprus, playing with Henry Picard in his hall, did win of him fifty marks; but Henry 
 being very skilful in that art, altering his hand, did after win of the said king the same 
 fifty marks and fifty marks more ; which when the said king began to take in ill part, 
 although he dissembled the same, Henry said unto him, ' My lord and king, be not ag- 
 grieved: I covet not your gold, but your play ; for I have not bid you hither to grieve 
 you, but that among other things I might try your play ;' and gave him his money again, 
 plentifully bestowing his own among llie retinue. Besides, he gave many rich gifts to 
 the king and other nobles and knights, who dineji with him, to the great glory of the 
 eiti/ens of London in those days."— Stowk's Chronicle. 
 
 t *' By her (the princess) he had two sons, namely, Edward the eldest, bom at Angou- 
 Kme in February, 1365 (Leland saith 1364,) who died in Gascoigne at seven years of 
 •C», ' and Ridiard, who was afterwards king of England.— AsHMOtK's Garter, p. 676. 
 
 of Cyprus for a while, and return to the king of France, to relate 
 what were the reasons why he and his council had come to Amiens. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXIX. 
 
 KING JOHN RETURNS, OF HIS OWN FREE WILL, TO ENGLAND, AND DIES 
 
 THERE. 
 
 I WAS informed, and indeed truly, that king John had a wish to 
 go to England, to visit his brother king Edward and the queen his 
 sister, and for this effect had summoned part of his council. They 
 could not tnake him change his mind, though they gave freely their 
 opinions on the subject : and many of the prelates and barons of 
 France told him, he would do a very foolish thing, if he again put 
 himself in the power of the king of England. But the king answered, 
 that he had found so much loyalty and honor in his brother the king 
 of England, the queen, and his nephews their children, that he could 
 not sufficiently praise them : he did not in the least doubt but that 
 they would be courteous, polite, and loyal, and friends to him in all 
 situations. He was also anxious to go to England, in order to make 
 excuses for his son, the duke of Anjou, who had returned to France. 
 On hearing this, not one of the council had a word more to say, since 
 his majesty had thus ordered and settled it. He again appointed his 
 son, the duke of Normandy, regent of France during his absence. 
 He promised his youngest son, the lord Philip, that on his return from 
 the journey he was about to make,* he would create him duke of 
 Burgundy, and that he should inherit the lands of that duchy. 
 
 When all things were prepared according to his orders, and his 
 purveyances sent to Boulogne, he departed from the city of Amiens, 
 and, having begun his journey, continued it until he came to Hesdin, 
 where he remained to pass his Christmas. The earl, Louis of Flan- 
 ders, who was much attached to him, came there to visit his majesty; 
 and they continued together about three or four days. On Innocent's 
 day, he left Hesdin, rode forward to Boulogne, where he took up his 
 quarters in the abbey, and remained there until he had a favorable 
 wind. He was accompanied, when he crossed the sea, by the fol- 
 lowing nobles of his realm : the lord John d'Artcis, the earl of Eu, 
 the earl of Dampmartin, the grand prior of France, the lord Bouci. 
 caut, marshal of France, sir Tristan de Mr.guelles, sir Peter and sir 
 John de Villiers, sir John d'Anville, sir Nicholas Bracque, and several 
 great knights. When their vessels were laden, and the mariners had 
 a wind to their wishes, they informed the king, who embarked on 
 board his vessel about midnight, ss did his attendants on board of 
 theirs. Having set their sails for the coast of England, they arrived 
 at Dover about vespers. It was on the day preceding the vigil of the 
 feast of the Three Kings, called the Epiphany .t 
 
 News was brought to the king of England (who at that time was 
 with the queen at Eltham, a very magnificent palace which the king 
 had, seven miles from London,) that the king of France had landed, 
 at Dover. He immediately ordered many knights of his household 
 to go and congratulate the king on his arrival ; the lord Bartholomew 
 Burghershjt sir Richard Pembridge,§ sir Allan Boxhall,|| and severatl 
 others. They took leave of king Edward, and rode toward Dover, 
 where they found the king of France, who had remained there since 
 his arrival. They attended and conducted him with every mark of 
 respect and honor, as they well knew how to do. Among other 
 compliments, they told him the king their lord was much rejoiced at 
 his coming, which the king of France readily believed. 
 
 On the morrow morning, the king and his attendants wore on 
 horseback early, and rode to Canterbury, where they dined. On 
 entering the cathedral, the kii^g paid his devotions to the shrine ot 
 St. Thomas Becket, and presented to it a rich jewel of great value 
 The king of France remained two days in the cit\' of Canterbury 
 The third day he set out, taking the road to London, and rode on 
 until he came to Eltham, where the king of England was, with a 
 number of lords, ready to receive him. ]t was on a Sunday, in the 
 afternoon, that he arrived ; there were, therefore, between this time 
 and supper, many grand dances and cards. The young lord de 
 CoucylF was there, who took pains to shine in his dancing and sing- 
 ing whenever it was his turn. He was in great favor with both the 
 French and English ; for whatever he chose to do he did well and 
 with grace. 
 
 I can never relate how very honorably and magnificently the king 
 
 * That on his return, &c. King .John's passport is in Rymer, dated 10th December, 
 1363. There is also in that excellent collection, the patent of the creation of Philip duke 
 of Burgundy, which is dated Germigny-sur-Marne, 6th September, 1363.— Carte, vol. ii. 
 
 There are two Germignys, Germigny I'Eveque and Germigny sous Colome, villages 
 of Brie, in the diocese and election of Meaux. 
 
 t This, according to a marginal note of Denys Sauvage, makes it 1364, beginning the 
 year the 1st of January. 
 
 J Lord Burghersh— knight of the Garter. See Dcgdale's Baronage. 
 
 § Sir Richard Pembridge. See p. 139, note. 
 
 II Sir Allan Boxhall— fifty-second knight of the Garter. See Ashmole. 
 
 Walsing. Ypodigma, p. 136, saith: "Hoc anno Rob. Haule scutifer fuit occisus in 
 ecclesia VVestmon. tempore majoris missa per o.uosdam regis satellites quorsum ductot 
 extitit Alanus de Buxhalle. miles per ante non ignobilis, sed hoc facto postea sempei 
 infamis ;" for which he was by name excommunicated. 
 
 Anno 1378, sir Ralph de Ferrars was excommunicated with him for the same offence. 
 
 IT "Lord deCoucy." Enguerrand deCoucy, son of Enguerrand de Coucy and Cath- 
 erine, daughter of Leopold, first duke of Swabia (the present Imperial family.) He 
 married Isabella, eldest daughter of Edward the Third.— Anderson's Roval Omealo- 
 gtes. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 and queen of England received king John. On leaving Eltham, he 
 went to London ; and, as he came near, he was met by the citizens 
 dressed out in their proper companies, who greeted and welcomed 
 him with much rererence, and attended him with large bands of 
 minstrels, unto the palace of the Savoy, which had been prepared for 
 them. The princes of the blood-royal that remained, as his hostages,' 
 in England, were also lodged in the same palace ; namely, his brother 
 the duke of Orleans, his son the duke of Beny, his cousin the duke 
 of Bourbon, the earl of Alen9on, Guy de Blois, the earl of St. Pol, 
 and many more. 
 
 The king passed there part of the winter very gayly with his coun- 
 trymen. The king of England visited him often ; as did his chil- 
 dren, the duke of Clarence, the duke of Lancaster, and the lord Ed- 
 mund his youngest son. There were several great feastings between 
 them, in dinners, suppers, and other entertainments, at this h6tel of 
 the Savoy, and at the palace of Westminster, which is not far off, 
 whither the king went in a private manner, whenever he chose it, 
 by the means of the river Thames. They both frequently regretted 
 the loss of the lord James de Bourbon, and said that it was a very 
 unfortunate business ; for no one deserved better his rank among 
 nobles. 
 
 We will now leave the king of France for a short time, and speak 
 of the king of Cyprus, who had come to Angouleme to visit his 
 cousin the prince of Wales. He was most graciously received by 
 his royal highness, and by all the barons, knights and squires of 
 Poitou and Saintonge who were then with the prince, such as the 
 viscount de Thouars, the young lord of Pons, the lord of Partenay, 
 sir Louis de Harcourt, sir Guiscard d'Angle ; and, among the Eng- 
 lish, by sir John Chandos, sir Thomas Felton,* sir Nele Loring,t 
 sir Richard de Pontchardon,t sir Simon de Basselles,§ and several 
 others, as well of that country as from England. The king of Cyprus 
 fv'as magnificently entertained by the prince, princess, and the barons 
 aud knights above-mentioned. He staid there upward of a month ; 
 and then sir John Chandos accompanied him, for his amusement, 
 into different parts of Poitou and Saintonge, and showed him the 
 good town of La Rochelle, where there was a grand feast made for 
 him. When he had seen everything, he returned to Angouleme, to 
 assist at the noble tournament which the prince held, where there 
 were plenty of knights and squires. Soon after this feast, the king 
 of Cyprus took his leave of the prince and of the knights of the coun- 
 try, but not before he had related to them the principal reason of his 
 visit, and for what cause he had put on the red cross which he wore, 
 how the pope had blessed this expedition, which was deserving of 
 every praise ; and how the king of France through devotion, as well 
 as many other great lords, had put it on, and had sworn to its exe- 
 cution. 
 
 The prince and the knights made him a courteous answer, saying, 
 that in truth it was an expedition in which every man of worth or 
 honor was interested ; and that, if it pleased God, and the passage 
 were open, he would not be alone, but would be followed by all those 
 who were desirous to advance themselves. The king of Cyprus was 
 well pleased with this speech, and took his departure : but sir John 
 Chandos attended him, until he had quitted the principality. It ap- 
 pears to me, that he went back into France, and took the road 
 toward Paris, in the hopes of finding the king of France returned 
 home ; but it was not so ; for he was still at the palace of the Savoy, 
 confined to his bed by sickness, of which he grew worse every day, 
 to the great uneasiness of the king of England and his queen, as the 
 most learned physicians had declared him to be in much danger. 
 
 The duke of Normandy was informed of all this at Paris, where 
 he resided, having the regency of the realm ; for the lord de Bouci- 
 caut had crossed the sea, to convey the news of this illness to him. 
 The king of Navarre also heard of the progress of this disorder, 
 which gave him no displeasure, for he hoped, if the king of France 
 died, to carry on his war more to his satisfaction : he sent letters, 
 therefore, to the captal de Buch,l| who at that time was with his 
 brother-in-law the earl of Foix,^ to desire that he would come to him 
 in Normandy, and that he would exalt him in dignities above all 
 other lords and knights. 
 
 The captal, who was fond of arms, and cousin to the king of Na- 
 varre, complied with his request. He left the earl of Foix, taking 
 his road through the principality of Aquitaine, where he solicited 
 several knights and squires to go with him ; but he succeeded with 
 only a few. Neither the English, Gascons, nor Poitevins were wil- 
 ling to take up arms for the king of Navame, against the crown of 
 
 Sir Thomas Felton," of Lutcham in Norfolk, forty-ninth knight of the Garter. 
 He was grand seneschal and commandant de Guienne for Richard II. He was killed 
 in opposing Henry Transtamare, before the battle of Najara. Sir Thomas Hoo, knight 
 of the Garter, married his daughter.— Anstis's MS. Collections. 
 
 t " Sir Nele Loring," twentieth knight of the Garter. See his life in Ashmole. He 
 was ».Viamberlain to the Black Prince. He died the 9th Richard II. and was buried at 
 Duns mble.— Anstis's MS. Collections. 
 
 t " Sir Richard dp Pontchardon." I cannot find anything about him. 
 
 § " Sir Simon de Basselles." probably Basset, but I cannot say more. 
 
 II " Captal de Buch," fifth knight of the Garter. M. An^tice, in his second volume, 
 »ay«, " It wassir John de Greilly, of royal lineage, and the most renowned commander 
 at that time, whose una'terable loyalty to the crown of England was such, that he chose 
 to die a prisoner at Paris. 1397, rather than deviate from it." 
 
 *• Buch is a small promontory lying along the coast from Bayonneto Medoc,"&c. 
 Se^ANsns. 
 
 H Ear! ofFoix."Gaj|Gnn.«uec«tded hi«fttlw. 1341 Hi«il»t«rBl«Q€RwMmi^ 
 to Joha d« Greilly. 
 
 France ; for they considered the treaties and alliances entered into 
 and sworn by the king of England, their sovereign lord, with the 
 king of France at Calais, so sacred and strong, they would not by 
 any means infringe or break them. During the time the captal de 
 Buch was journeying toward the king of Navarre, John king of 
 France departed this life in England. The king, queen, the princes 
 of the blood, and all the nobles of England were exceedingly con- 
 cerned at it, from the great love and affection he had shov/n to them 
 since the conclusion of the peace. 
 
 His brother, the duke of Orleans, and his son, the duke of Berry, 
 were in great affliction at his death, and sent in haste to inform the 
 duke of Normandy of the melancholy event ; who, when he was cer- 
 tain it waa true, was much affected by it, as he had reason to be ; 
 but considering that everything which is created must in the course 
 of nature have an end, and that he could not remedy this loss, he 
 bore it as patiently as he was ;:Lble. Finding himself thus successor 
 to the inheritance of the kingdom of France, and being well informed 
 that the king of Navarre was daily reinforcing his garrisons in the 
 county of Evreux, and that he was engaging men-at-arms to carry on 
 the war, he resolved to provide himself with an able council, and to 
 oppose this evil by every means in his power. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXX. 
 
 KIN& CHARLES OF FRANCE MAKES WISE PREPARATIONS AGAINST THE KINO 
 OF NAVARRE, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE DEATH OF JOHN HIS FATHER, 
 AND BEFORE HIS CORONATION. 
 
 At this period, there was a knight of Brittany, who had always 
 borne arms in favor of the French, called sir Bertrand du Guesclin.* 
 
 His worth and fame were but little known except among the knights 
 of Brittany, who were his neighbors in that country, where he had 
 resided and carried on the war in favor of the lord Charles of Blois. 
 This sir Bertrand was always much esteemed by them as a valiant 
 knight, and well beloved by his brethren-at-arms : he was already 
 in the good graces of the duke of Normand-y, on account of the great 
 acts of valor that he had heard related of him. 
 
 It happened that the duke of Normandy, soon after the death of the 
 king his father, had very strong suspicions of the king of Navarre . 
 he therefore gave orders to the lord of Boucicaut, saying, " Set out 
 from hence as speedily as you can, with as many friends as possible, 
 
 * " Bertrand du Gjiesclin." For more ol him see his memoirs in th^Jhird and foBlttF 
 Tolomn ofLw M^saeirn iiistoriques. and aUo in Hi«t. de la Bretagne, &c. 
 
143 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 and lide toward Normandy, where you will meet sir Bertrand du 
 Guesclin : I shall then desire that you both fall on the king of Na- 
 varre, and retake Mantes ; by which means we shall be masters of 
 the river Seine." The lord de Boucicaut answered, " Sir, this I will 
 most willingly perform."* 
 
 He then quitted Paris, taking with him a great number of knights 
 and squires. He followed the road toward Normandy, through St. 
 Germain-en.Laye, and gave those to understand who accompanied 
 him, that he was going to attack the castle of Roulleboise,t which 
 was detained by certain persons called free companions, who did 
 every mischief possible. Roulleboise has a very good and strong 
 castle upon the river Seine, about a league distant from Mantes, and 
 was at that time filled and garrisoned by these companies and their 
 men-at-arms, who carried on the war for their own benefit, and at- 
 tacked the friends of the kings of France and of Navarre without dis- 
 tinction. They had a captain of the name of Wautaire Austarde,t 
 a native of Brussels, whom they implicitly obeyed. He paid them 
 according to a fixed proportion of wages, and was an expert soldier 
 of great courage. He and his people pillaged the country all around ; 
 so that none dare travel from Paris to Mantes, nor from Mantes to 
 Rouen or Pontoise, for fear of them ; for they attacked both French 
 and Navarrois, pressing especially the people of Mantes very hard. 
 
 When the lord de Boucicaut left Paris, though he made it to be 
 understood he was going to that part of the country, nevertheless he 
 missed taking the right road to Roulleboise. He waited therefore 
 for sir Bertrand du Guesclin and his army, who a short time before 
 had made an excursion to Evreux,§ and held a parley with the in- 
 habitants of that city ; but instead of opening their gates to him, they 
 severely attacked him with stones, &c.: he retreated, and made for 
 the marshal, who had halted for him in a road not far from RouUe- 
 boise. Upon mustering their forces, they were fuU five hundred 
 men-at-arms. These two captains had a long conference together, 
 upon the best means of subsisting themselves, and what would be 
 the surest method of gaining the town of Mantes, their principal 
 object. They determined that the lord de Boucicaut, with one 
 hundred of his knights only, should ride to Mantes, and feign them- 
 selves to be much frightened, crying out that the garrison of Roulle- 
 boise was in pursuit of them, and begging that they would give them 
 admittance. If they consented, they were to seize the gates, and sir 
 Bertrand would directly follow with the remainder of the army : they 
 would then be masters of the place. Should this plan fail, they did 
 not see by what other means they could gain it. The council being 
 dissolved, the lords kept the secret among themselves. The lord de 
 Boucicaut set out, according to their plan, and took the road to 
 Mantes : sir Bertrand went v/ith the rest of the troops another road, 
 but placed himself and men in ambush not far from the town. 
 
 When the lord de Boucicaut was near to Mantes, he and his troops 
 separated, like to people that had been beaten and were pursued. 
 The marshal, attended only by ten others (followed, however, by the 
 rest at a small distance,) came to the barricadoes of the town, and 
 cried out, "Hollo ! good people of Mantes, open your gates, I beg of 
 you, and let us come in ; for the thieves of Roulleboise have dis- 
 comfited us, and are now at our heels." " Who are you ?" asked 
 those whom he had addressed. " I am, gentlemen, the lord de Bou- 
 cicaut, marshal of France, whom the duke of Normandy had sent 
 against Roulleboise : but those rogues there have beaten us, and 
 made us fly, whether willing or not ; and they will capture me and 
 my people unless you open your gates to us." The people of Mantes, 
 thinking he had said nothing but truth, replied : " Sir, we know well 
 that those in Roulleboise are our enemies as well as yours, and that it 
 is indifferent to them on which party they make war : on the other 
 hand, the duke of Normandy hates us, on account of our attachment 
 to the king of Navarre our lord : we are therefore in great doubt, if 
 we shall not be betrayed by you, who are marshal of France." " By 
 my faith, gentlemen, that shall never be ; for I am come into this 
 country solely to destroy the garrison of Roulleboise." At these 
 words they opened the gates. The lord de Boucicaut entered, with 
 some of his companions ; but he was followed so slowly by the re- 
 mainder, that the people of Mantes had not time to shut their gates 
 upon sir Bertrand's men, who came in with the last of the lord de 
 Boucicaut's party : for though the lord de Boucicaut went with his 
 men directly to an h6tel, where they disarmed themselves, in order 
 the better to blind the inhabitants, sir Bertrand and his forces came 
 full gallop into the town, crying, " St. Yves Guesclin ! death to the 
 Navarrois." They entered, pillaged the houses of whatever they 
 found, and made prisoners of whom they pleased : they also mur- 
 dered several. 
 
 Soon after they had possession of Mantes, a detachment of Bretons 
 advanced to Meulan, a league distant, and very cunningly entered it. 
 They said they were men-at-arms whom sir William de Graville had 
 sent thither, and that as many or more had remained at Mantes. The 
 
 * It does not appear from the memoirs of Bertrand du Guesclin, republished in tlie 
 third and fourth volumes of Les Me moires Historiques, that the marechal de Boucicaut 
 had anything to do with the taking of Mantes, &.c. as his name never once occurs. Nor 
 are the chronicles agreed as to the exact date when this happened.— See Note 19, Mem. 
 Hist. 
 
 t Roulleboise villnge in Normandy, on the Seine. 
 t " Wautaire Auslarde." Barnes calls him Vantair Austart. 
 § Evreux, aa ancisat city of Noimaudy. lu bishop is suffiasao to the arcbbiibop of 
 Bowa. 
 
 people of Meulan believed the truth of this the more readily because 
 they came by the road from Mantes, and because they could not 
 have crossed the river but by the bridge of Mantes. Thinking what 
 they had told them must be true, they opened their gates, which 
 were instantly seized by the Bretons, who entered, crying out, " St. 
 Yves Guesclin!" and began to layabout them with their arms. 
 When the inhabitants found themselves thus deceived, and that there 
 were no hopes of redress, they fled a ul saved themselves as well as 
 they could. 
 
 Thus were Mantes and Meulan tali, m, to the great joy of the duke 
 of Normandy. The king of Navarre was in a furious rage when he 
 was informed of it : he directly reinforced all his towns and castles 
 with troops and well-tried ofllicers : for he was much chagrined at 
 losing Mantes and Meulan, as they were to him- convenient entrances 
 into France. 
 
 This same week, the captal de Buch arrived at Cherbourg with 
 four hundred men-at-arms. The king of Navarre was well pleased 
 thereatj and received him most graciously. In his complaints against 
 the duke of Normandy, he was very sore upon the losses of the 
 towns of Mantes and Meulan, which, he said, had been taken from 
 him by stealth. The captal replied : " My lord, if it please God, we 
 will go and meet your enemies, and exert ourselves so effectually 
 that, God willing, you shall speedily have again possession of these, 
 as well as many other towns and castles. It is said that the king of 
 France will very soon go to Rheims, for his coronation : we will 
 therefore at that time begin our attack on his country." The king 
 of Navarre, being much rejoiced at the arrival of the captal de Buch, 
 said he should send him on an excursion into France. The king 
 sought for men-at-arms wherever he could get them, or where there 
 was any likelihood of obtaining them. 
 
 There was at that time in Normandy, an English knight who for- 
 merly had borne arms for the king of Navarre : his name was sir 
 John Jouel ; a very able and expert man in his profession. He com. 
 manded about two or three hundred lances. The king of Navarre 
 sent to entreat him to serve under him, together with his men ; which 
 sir John Jouel* consented to, and waited on him to place himself 
 under his orders. 
 
 The duke of Normandy was inforaied that the king of Navarre 
 was collecting large bodies of men-at-arms, and that the captal de 
 Buch was to be the commander of them. He therefore formed his 
 resolutions, and wrote to sir Bertrand du Guesclin, to order him and 
 his Bretons to make a stand against the Navarrois, and that he would 
 speedily send him suflncient reinforcements to offer battle to the troops 
 of the king of Navarre. At the same time, he ordered the lord de 
 Boucicaut to remain at Mantes and Meulan. Sir Bertrand and his 
 Bretons departed, and took up their quarters near to Vernon. In a 
 few daysi, afterwards, the duke of Normandy sent to him some noble 
 men-at-arms ; such as the earl t)f Auxerre, the viscount de Beaumont, 
 the lord de Beaujeu, the lord Lewis de Chalons, the archpriest, the 
 master of the cross-bowmen, and many other knights and squires. 
 
 About this time, several knights of Gascony came to serve under 
 the duke of Normandy: among whom were the lord d'Albret, sir 
 Aymon de Pommiers, the souldich de l'Estrade,t sir Petiton de Cour. 
 ton, and several more. The duke of Normandy felt himself much 
 obliged to them for coming to his assistance, and begged of them to 
 go into Normandy to oppose his enemies. The above-named lords 
 willingly obeyed, and, having put their men in proper array, marched 
 toward Normandy, except the lord d'Albret, who remained with the 
 duke ; but his troops went on the expedition. 
 
 At this period a knight, called Beaumont de Laval, came from the 
 French frontiers of Brittany, and advanced toward Evreux, with about 
 forty lances under him. A young knight, sir Guy de Graville, hap. 
 pened to be in that town at the time, who no sooner heard of the 
 alarm than he hastened to arm himself, ordering all the garrison to 
 do the same : they were soon mounted, and in pursuit after them. 
 But sir Beaumont had already succeeded in his enterprise. How- 
 ever, by the fleetness of his horse, sir Guy de Graville came near 
 enough to cry out, " Beaumont, you must not go off thus : the men 
 of Evreux must speak to you, for they wish to be better acquainted 
 with you." When sir Beaumont thus heard himself called upon, he 
 turned his horse about, lowered his lance, and made straight for sir 
 Guy. These two knights met each other with such force, that their 
 lances were shivered on their sl.ields ; but they were so firm in their 
 seats that neither was unhorsed, as they passed each other. On their 
 return, they drew their swords ; and, at the same time, both their 
 companies began to fight so furiously, that in the course of the ren- 
 counter many were unhorsed on each side. The Bretons acquitted 
 themselves most loyally ; but in the end they could not maintain their 
 ground, for numbers increased upon them every moment, so that they 
 were all killed or made prisoners : none escaped. Sir Beaumont de 
 Laval was taken by sir Guy de Graville, and brought as his prisoner 
 to the castle of Evreux, whither all the other prisoners were con- 
 ducted. Thus ended this adventure ; for which sir Guy was much 
 praised, and beloved by the king of Navarre and the citizens of Evreux 
 
 * " Sir John Jouel" Barnes calls him sir John Jones; but he quotes no authoritr 
 for this change fiom ah the chronicles and memoirs of the times. 
 
 t"The souldich de TEstrade." He was afterwards created a knight of the GortWl 
 S«8 Anstu's Qartm-. voL ii. p. 157. H« calls him sir Sandich de Trane. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 143 
 
 CHAPTER CCXXI. 
 
 tHfi KING OF CYPRUS RETURNS TO PARIS. THE FUNERAL OF KING JOHN 
 AT ST. DENIS. THE CAPTAL DE BUCK MAKES AN ATTACK ON SIR BER- 
 TRAND DU GUESCLIN. 
 
 The king of Cyprus, who was now returned from Aquitaine to 
 France, went to meet the king, who had before borne the title of 
 duke of Normandy. His two brothers, the duke of Anjou, and the 
 lord Philip, since duke of Burgundy, were with the duke waiting for 
 the corpse of their father, which was on the road from England. The 
 king of Cyprus very cordially condoled with them on the subject of 
 their loss, and was himself much affected by the death of the king of 
 France, because his expedition would be retarded by it : he clothed 
 himself in black for his mourning.* 
 
 When the body of the king of France, which had been embalmed 
 and put into a coffin, approached near to Paris, attended by the lord 
 John d'Artois, the earl of Dampmartin, and the grand prior of France, 
 the duke of Normandy, his brothers, the king of Cyprus, and the 
 greater part of the clergy of Paris, went on foot beyond St. Denis, to 
 meet it. On being brought thither, it was buried with great solem. 
 nity; and the archbishop of Sens said mass on the day of interment. 
 After the service was over, and dinner ended, (which was very mag. 
 nificent,) the great lords ai\d prelates returned to Paris. There were 
 then held many councils on the state of the kingdom, which could 
 not any longer do well without a king ; and it was determined by the 
 prelates and nobles, that they should immediately go for Rheims. 
 The duke of Normandy (for such was still his title) wrote to his uncle, 
 
 PcVnAlT or CHARtKi v., SCRNAMITD TH£ WlsE— From a Print in Mezeray's Hist. 
 
 d9 France. 
 
 Winceslaus duke of Brabantt and Luxemburgh, and also to his cousin 
 the earl of Flanders,$ to request their attendance at his coronation, 
 which was fixed for Trini'ty-day next ensuing.§ 
 
 * And the kyng of Cypre holpe tlietn to complayne the dethe of the kyng, and was 
 mnrueyously displeased therewith, because of the hyndringe of his vyage of the croyse ; 
 and so he clothed hymself with the vesture of doloure. — Ed. 
 
 t Winceslaus dulie of Brabant, son of the emperor Charles IV.— Anderson's Royal 
 Omealogies. 
 
 X Earl of Flanders— Lewis II. the last earl of Flanders. He was stabbed in a quarrel 
 by John, son of the king of France, at Boulogne, 1382. — Anderson. 
 
 § As the account of the funeral of king John is very different in the superb edition of 
 Les Grandes Chroniques de St. Denis, in my possession, 1 translate it. 
 
 "This Tuesday, the 1st day of May, 1364, the body of king John, who had died at 
 London, as has been related, was brought to the abbey of St. Anthony, near Paris. It 
 remained there until the Sunday following, that preparations might be made for the 
 funeral. On that day, the 5th of ftlay, it was transported from thence to the churcn of 
 Notre-Dame, attended by processions on foot from all the churches of Paris, and by three 
 of the king's sons, namely, Charles duke of Normandy, Lewis duke of Anjou, and Philip 
 duke of Terouenne : the king of Cyprus was also there. 
 
 " The body was carried by the members of his parliament, as had been the usage with 
 other kings, because they represent the person of the king m matters ot justice, which is 
 the fairest jewel in his crown, and by which he reigns. On the Monday morning solemn 
 mass was sung in the church of Notre-Dame ; and, soon afterwards, the body was car- 
 ried to St. Denis in the same manner as it had been brought from the abbey of St. 
 
 Anthony. The three princes and the king of Cyprus followed on foot, as far as the gate 
 
 of St. Landri.a where they mounted their horses, and accompanied the body to the 
 
 town of St. Denis, where, on their arrival, they dismounted, and, as before, followed the 
 
 body on foot to the church. 
 " On Tuesday, the 7th day of May, the obsequies of the late king were performed in 
 
 the church of St. Denis, and the body was interred on the left of the high altar. 
 "Shortly after mass, king Charles, the eldest son of the late king, went into the 
 
 meadow, and there received the homa ges of the peers of France and other great barons. 
 
 He then went to dinner, and remained at St. Denis that and the following day. On the 
 
 Thuridr.y, king Charles left that town, to prepare for his coronation, which was fixed 
 
 for the Trinity Sunday following." 
 
 tt There was formerly a gate called Port St. Landri, near to St. Grennain-i'Auzerrois. 
 It was J)uUt up ia the year 1558.— M. Sauvai, Antiquitia dt ParU. 
 
 While these things were going forward, and the nobles were 
 making preparations for the coronation, the French and Navarrois 
 were advancing toward each other in Normandy: the captal de Buch 
 was already in the city of Evreuv, collecting his men-at-arms and 
 soldiers from every place he could get them. We will speak of him 
 and of sir Bertrand du Guesclin, as well as of a famous battle which 
 was fought the Thursday preceding Trinity Sunday, the day the 
 duke was to be crowned king of France (as indeed he was) in the 
 cathedral of the city of Rheims. 
 
 When the lord John de Greilly, known by the appellation of the 
 captal de Buch, had completed his numbers of archers and foot-sol. 
 diers in the city of Evreux, he made his final arrangements, and 
 appointed as governor of it a knight called the lord Michael d'Orgery. 
 He sent to Conches* the lord Guy de Graville, to defend that place 
 as a sort of frontier. He then marched v/ith all his men-nt-arma and 
 archers ; for he had heard that the French were abr ad, but was not 
 certain in what quarter. 
 
 He took the field, very desirous of finding them ; and, having 
 mustered his army, he found he had seven hundred lances, and full 
 three hundred archers, v/ith five hundred other serviceable men. 
 There were among them several good knights and squires, especially 
 a banneret of the kingdom of Navarre, named the lord Saulx; >,\i\ 
 the greatest and most expert, with the largest company of men-at- 
 arms and archers in his train, was an English knight, called sir John 
 Jouel. There were also the lord Peter de Saque-viUe, the lord Wil- 
 liam de Graville, the lord Bertrand du Franc, Basque de Marneil, and 
 many others, who were eager to meet sir Bertrand du Guesclin, to 
 give him battle. They marched toward Passyt and Pont de I'Arche, 
 thinking the French would pass the Seine there, ii in truth they had 
 not already crossed it. 
 
 It chanced that, as on the Whitsun-Wednesday, the captal and his 
 companions were riding through a wood, he met a herald, whose 
 name was Faucon,t and who had that morning left the French army. 
 As soon as the captal saw him, he recognized him, for he was one 
 of the king of England's heralds, and asked him from whence he 
 came, and if he could give them any intelligence of the French army. 
 " Yes, that I can, in God's name, my lord, replied he ; " for I only 
 left them this day : they are seeking after you, and are very anxious 
 to meet with you." "Where are they?" asked the captal, "on this 
 or on the other side of Pont de I'Arche ?" " In the Lord's name," 
 answered Faucon, " they have passed Pont de I'Arche and Vernon, 
 and are, as I believe, at this moment very near to Passy." " Tell 
 me, I pray thee," said the captal, " what &o:f. of people they are, and 
 ! who are their captains ?" " In God's name," replied Faucon, "they 
 are full fifteen hundred combatants, and all good men-at-arms. Sir 
 Bertrand du Guesclin is there, vv'ho has the largest com.pany of Bretons: 
 there are the earl of Auxerre, the viscount de Beaumont, the lord 
 Lewis de Ch£ilons, the lord oi Beaujeu, the lord Baudcin d'Ennequin, 
 grand master of the cross-bows, the archpriest, the lord Odoart de 
 Renty. Some lords from Gascony, your own countr>'men, are like- 
 wise among them, with the men-at-arms of the lord d'Albret ; as also 
 the lord Aymon de Pommiers and the lord Souldich de la Trane." 
 
 When the captal heard the names of these Gascons, he was mar- 
 vellously astonished, and turned red with anger: recovering his 
 
 * Conches— a market-town in Normandy, four leagues from Evreu.x. 
 t Passy— a town in Normandy, four leagues from Evreux. 
 
 X Faucon was the title, not the name of this herald. Noble, in his History of the 
 College of Arms, says under the title Falcon : " This heraldship was anciently writter 
 Faucon. The falcon was .a badge of Edward HI., who had an officer of that name ; 
 but whether king, herald, or pursuivant, authors are not agreed. Richard U. had Fal- 
 con king-at-arms : in the reign of Edward IV. the office was fallen to that of herald." 
 Both Lord Berners and D. Sauvage calls him "king Fauccn."— Ed. 
 
 Lord Berners's version is so spirited that we are induced to subjoin it : " So it happened 
 that the Friday in the whytson weke the captall and his company rode out of a vvode, 
 and by auenture they met a haraude of armes called kynge Faucon, and the same morn- 
 ynge he was departed fro the Frenche boost. As sone as the ciiptall se hym he knewe 
 hym well, and made him great chere, for he was perteynyng to the kyng of England. 
 Then he demaunded of hym fro whens he came, and if he knewe any tidyngs of the 
 Frenchmen. ' Sir,' quoth he, ' in the name of God, I knowe well where they be ,• I de- 
 parted tro them to-day ; they seke you as well as ye do them.' ' Where be they,' quoth 
 the captall: 'beyond the bridge of Tharche, or a this sydel' 'Si ,' quoth Faucon, 
 'they be passed the bridge at Vernon; and, as I beleue, they are nowe about Passy.' 
 ' What nornbre be they,' quoth the captall, ' and what cnpitens haue they? I pray you 
 shewe me.' 'Sir,' quoth Faucon, ' they are well a xvc fightyng men, and there is sir 
 Bertrand of Clesquy (Guesclin) who hath the grettest company of Bretons ; also there 
 therle of Aucer, the vycount of Beaumont, the lorde Loys of Chalon, the lord of Beauieu 
 the master of the cross-bowes, thavchpreest, the lorde Edward of Remy ; and of Gascone, 
 there is the company ofthe lorde Dalbret, and the lorde Aymon of Punyers, the lorde ot 
 Saldyche and of Lestrad:' and when the captall herd those Gascons named, he mareu- 
 yled gretly, and blussed for displeasure, and sayd, ' Faucon, is this true ye saye, that 
 these lordes of Gascone are there, and the lord Dalbret's company V ' Sir,' quoth the 
 herald, ' ye without fail.' 'And where is the lorde Dalbret himselt V quoth the captall. 
 * Sir,' quoth Faucon, * he is at Parys with the regent duke of Normandy, who aparelleth 
 himselfe to goto Reynes, for it is sayd that on Sunday next comyng he shulde be crowned 
 kyng.' Than the captall layd his hand on his own heed and said in great displeasure 
 ' By Saint Antones cap Gascon against Gascon.' ' Sir,' quoth Faucon, ' here by tiryeth 
 for me a harald of tharchpreest, sent to speke with you fro hy m ; and as I understand by 
 the harald, tharchpreest wolde speke with you.' Than the captall sayd, 'A Faucon, 
 say to the Frenche harald he nede not to go any farther ; let him shewe to tharchpreest 
 that I wyll not speke with him.' Than sir Johan Jouell stept forthe and sayd, ' Sir, why 
 wyll ye nat spake with hym, perauenture, it is for our profyte.' Than the cantall said, 
 'Nay, I warrant you it is not for our profyte, for tharchpreest is so great a braule', that 
 if he come to us. he wyll but iangle, and in the meantyme ymagen our strengthe, und 
 anewe our nombre, the which, parauenture, shall come more to our preiudice than ad- 
 uantage— therefore I haue no hast to speke with hym.' Than Faucon the haraud went 
 to thother haraud and excused the captall so wysely, that he was well content, and 
 tbaa bt went to the tbarcbprieit and shewed him all as Faucon had sayd."— Ed. 
 
144 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAN 
 
 D, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 speech, he said, " Faucon, Faucon, is it indeed true what thou hast 
 just told me of these Gascon lords being in the French army? and 
 tlie men attached to the lord d'Albret?" " Yes, in good faith, it is 
 really as I have said," answered the herald. "And where is the lord 
 d'Albret himself?" asked the captal. "In God's name," answered 
 Faucon, " he is at Paris, with the regent-duke of Normandy, who is 
 making preparations for going to Rheims, to be croVned ; for it is 
 commonly reported that that ceremony is to take place on Sunday 
 next." The captal then put his hand to his head, and cried out in 
 anger : " By the head of St. Anthony, Gascons against Gascons will 
 make mischief enough." 
 
 Then Faucon spoke concerning Prie (a herald whom the avchpriest 
 had seat thither,) and said to the captal, " My lord, there is a herald 
 hard by waiting for me, whom the archpriest has sent to you, and 
 who, as I understand from the herald, would willingly speak to you." 
 The captal made answer, saying, " Ha, Faucon, Faucon, tell this 
 French herald, that he need not come nearer ; and let him say to the 
 archpriest, that I do not wish to have any parley with him." Sir 
 John Jouel, upon this, stepped forward, and said, " Why, my lord, 
 will you not see the archpriest ? perhaps he may give us some infor- 
 mation that we may profit by." The captal replied, "John, John, it 
 will not be so ; for the archpriest is so great a deceiver, that if he 
 were to come among us, telling his tales and his nonsense, he would 
 examine and judge of our strength and numbers, which would turn 
 out probably to our disadvantage : therefore I do not wish to hear of 
 any parleys." Faucon, king-at-arms, upon this returned to the herald 
 Prie, who was waiting for him at the end of the hedge, and made 
 such good and sensible excuses for the captal that the herald was 
 perfectly satisfied, went back to the archpriest, and related to him all 
 that Faucon had told him. 
 
 By the reports of the two heralds, both armies were acquainted 
 with each other's situation. They therefore made such dispositions, 
 as would speedily force them to meet. When the captal had heard 
 from Faucon the numbers the French army consisted of, he imme- 
 diately dispatched messengers to the captains who were in the city 
 of Evreux, with orders for them to send him as many recruits and 
 young gallants* to his assistance as they could possibly collect : they 
 were to meet him at Cocherei ;t for, supposing that he should find 
 the French in that neighborhood, he had determined to fight them 
 wherever he should meet them. When the messengers came to 
 Evreux, the lord Michael d'Orgery had it publicly cried, and strictly 
 ordered all those who were horsemen to join the captal. Upon this, 
 there immediately set out one hundred and twenty young companions 
 from that town. 
 
 On the Wednesday the captal de Buch took up his quarters, about 
 two o'clock, on a mountain, and encamped his army. The French, 
 who were wishing to meet them, marched straight forward until they 
 came to a river, called Yton, in that country, which runs toward 
 Evreux, having its source near Conches, and encamped themselves 
 at their ease, this same W^ednesday, in a handsome meadow, through 
 which this river runs. On the morrow, the Navarrois decamped, and 
 sent their scouts out, to examine whether they could learn any news 
 of the French. The French also sent their scouts on the same 
 errand. Before they had gone two leagues, each brought back to 
 his army such intelligence as could be depended upon. 
 
 The Navarrois, conducted by Faucon, marched straight by the 
 way he had come, and, by four o'clock in the morning, found them- 
 selves in the plains of Cocherei, with the French in front of them, 
 who were already drawing up their army in battle aiTay. There 
 were a great many banners and pennons flying ; and they seemed 
 to be in number more than half as many again as themselves. The 
 Navarrois directly halted on the outside of a small wood. The cap. 
 iains assembled together, and began to form their men in order of 
 battle. 
 
 They first formed three battalions well and handsomely on foot, 
 sending their baggage and attendants into the wood. Sir John Jouel 
 commanded the first battalion of English, which consisted of men- 
 tti-arms and archers. The captal de Buch had the second battalion, 
 which, one with another, was about four hundred combatants. 
 With the captal, there were the lord of Saulx in Navan-e, a young 
 knight who had a banner, the lord William de Graville, and the lord 
 Peter de Saque-ville. The third battalion had three knights; the 
 lord Basque de Marneil,! the lord Bertrand de Franc and the lord 
 Sauseloppins, and were in the whole about four hundred men under 
 arms. 
 
 When they had formed their battalions, they marched them not 
 'ar distant from each other, taking advantage of the mountain which 
 was on their right, between them and the wood, posting their front 
 open this mountain facing their enemies, and fixing, by orders of 
 the captal, his banner in the midst of a large thorn bush. He com- 
 manded sixty men to remain there, to guard and defend it. They 
 had so placed it to serve as a standard for them to rally round, if by 
 chance of war they should be dispersed or separated ; and they 
 strictly ordered, that no one should, on any pretence, descend the 
 
 * ''Young gallants." In all the originals, it is " jeiines armerets," which D. Sauvage 
 thinks should be bannerets, but I do not see why. In Du Cange, armaret is a gallant, 
 ADd thus I have translated it. 
 
 t Cocherei— a village in Normandy, diocese of Evreux. 
 
 X 'Lord Basque de Marneil." In the memoirs of Bertrand, he IB called Baiconde 
 Blaoucl, aad the boron de MarceuU 
 
 mountain ; but if their enemies wished to fight, they must come to 
 seek them. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXXII. 
 
 I THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE FRENCH UNDER SIR BERTRAND DU GUES. 
 CLIN, AND THE NAVARROIS UNDER THE CAPTAL DE BUCH, AT COCU. 
 EREL, IN NORMANDY. THE CAPTAL IS MADE PKISONER, AND VICTOR"/ 
 DECLARES FOR THE FRENCH. 
 
 Thus drawn out and formed were t le English and Navarrois, who 
 remained, as I have said, upon the mountain. The French, in the 
 mean time, arranged themselves into three battalions also, and a '•ear- 
 guard. 
 
 Sir Bertrand du Guesclin commanded the first battalion, which 
 was composed of all his Bretons, and they were fronted opposite to 
 the battalion of the captal. The earl of Auxerre had the second 
 battalion. There were with him, as his advisers, the viscount de 
 Beaumont, and the lord Baudoin d'Ennequin, grand master of the 
 cross-bows. There were also in that battalion French, Picards, and 
 Normans, and sir Odoart de Renty, sir Enguerrant de Hesdin, sir 
 Louis de Havenquerque, with several other good knights and squires, 
 The third battalion consisted of Burgundians, commanded by the 
 archpriest : with him were the lord de Cha,lons, the lord de Beau- 
 jeu, the lord John de Vienne, the lord Guy de Felay, the lord Hugh 
 de Vienne, and many more. This battalion was to oppose Basque 
 de Marneil and his company. The other battalion, which was to 
 serve as a rear-guard, was entirely composed of Gascons ; and they 
 were commanded by the lord Edmund de Pommiers, the lord Soul, 
 dich de la Trane, the lord Perdiccas d'Albret, and the lord Petiton-de 
 Courton. 
 
 These captains had a grand consultation. They considered the 
 arrangement of the captal, and that his people had fixed his banner 
 in a bush, with part of his men guarding it, as if it were to serve as 
 a standard : they therefore said, " It is absolutely necessary, when 
 the combat shall begin, that we march directly for this banner of the 
 captal, and that we exert ourselves as much as possible to gain it 
 for, if we be successful, our enemies will be much disheartened, and 
 incur great danger of being conquered." These Gascons thought 
 also of another plan which was of great sei-vice to them, and was the 
 cause of their gaining the day. As soon as the French had formed 
 their line, the principal Gascon chiefs withdrew together, and con- 
 suited for a long time how they could best act ; for they saw that their 
 enemies, from their position, had greatly the advantage over them. 
 One of them made a proposal, which was cheerfully listened to : 
 " My lords, we well know that the captal is as hardy a knight as 
 can be found upon earth ; and, as long as he shall be able to keep 
 with his men and fight, he will be too much for us. I therefore think 
 that if we order thirty of our boldest and most expert cavaliers to do 
 nothing but to follow and attack the captal, while we are making for 
 his banner, his men will be thrown into some confusion : and then 
 our thirty, by their own strength and that of their horses, will be able 
 to push through the crowd, and advance so near the captal, that they 
 may seize him and carry him oflf between them to some place of 
 safety, where they will remain until the end of the battle ; for, if he 
 can be taken by such means as this, the day will be ours, as his 
 army will be panic-struck."* 
 
 The Gascon knights immediately assented to this plan, saying it 
 was well thought of, and should be followed. They chose from their 
 battalion thirty of the most enterprising men-at-arms, and mounted 
 them upon the strongest and most active horses they had with them. 
 They then marched into the plain, well instructed what they were to 
 do. The army remained where it was, on foot, in order of battle. 
 
 When the French had thus drawn up their forces, and each knew 
 what he was to do, the chiefs held a consultation, and long debated 
 what war-cry they should use, £fad whose banner or pennon they 
 should fix on as a rallying point. They for a long time determined 
 to cry, " Notre Dame Auxerre I" and to make the earl of Auxerre 
 their commander for that day. But the earl would not by any means 
 accept of it, excusing himself by saying : " My lords, I return you 
 many thanks for the good opinion you have of me, and for the honor 
 you oflfer me ; but at this moment I cannot accept of such an office, 
 for I am too young to undertake so honorable a charge. This is the 
 first pitched battle I was ever at : for which reason I must beg of 
 you to make another choice. We have here many very able and 
 enterprising knights, such as my lord Bertrand du Guesclin, my lord 
 the archpriest, my lord the grand master of the cross-bows, my lord 
 Lewis de Chalons, my lord Edmund de Pommiers, and sir Odoart 
 de Renty, who have been in many hard engagements, and know 
 much better than I do what in such cases is proper to be done. I 
 must, therefore, entreat you to excuse me from accepting your honor- 
 able offer." , 
 
 The chiefs, after looking at each other, said : " Earl of Auxerre, 
 you are the highest by birth, and of the largest property and estates 
 of any of us ; you have therefore the right of being our chief." " Cer- 
 tainly, my lords," replied the earl of Auxerre, " what you say is very 
 pleasing to me ; but this day I will only rank as one of your com- 
 panions; and, whether I live or die, I will hazard the adventure 
 
 * The editors of the M6moires Historiquee doubt very much this fact, in a note to th» 
 M^moiiei de Guesclio, and think jProissart must have heard it from a Gascon 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 H5 
 
 among you ; but, as to the command, I am determined not to accept 
 it." They again looked at each other, in order to see whom they 
 should fix on for their chief. Sir Bertrand du Guesclin was unan- 
 imously thought on, and considered as the best knight of the whole 
 company, one who had been engaged in the greatest number of bat- 
 tles, and who was the best informed in military affairs. It was 
 therefore resolved they should cry, " Notre Dame Guesclin !" and 
 that the whole arrangement of that day should be as sir Bertrand 
 would order it. Everything, therefore, being settled, each lord re- 
 tired to his banner or pennon. They found that their enemies were 
 still upon the hill, and had' not quitted their strong situation (not hav- 
 ing a desire or thought of so doing,) which veiy much vexed the 
 French, seeing that they had greatly the advantage where they were, 
 and that the sun was beginning to be high, which was the more to 
 their disadvantage, for it was at that season very hot. This delay 
 was what the most able and expert knights dreaded ; for they were 
 as yet fasting, and had not brought with them any wine or victuals 
 worth mentioning, except some of the lords, who had small flagons 
 of wine that were soon emptied, and none had been procured or 
 thought of in the morning, as they imagined the engagement would 
 begin on their arrival : but this, as it appeared, was not the case. 
 The English and Navarrois deceived them thus by subtlety, and it 
 was a late hour before they engaged. 
 
 When the French lords perceived their situation, they assembled 
 in council, to know what would be the best for them to do, and 
 whether they should march to attack them or not. In this council, 
 all were not of the same opinion. Some wished to fight, whatever 
 might be the consequences ; for, they said, it would be shameful for 
 ihem to make any difficulties about it. But others, better advised, 
 said, that if they should begin the combat, situated as they were so 
 much to their disadvantage, they would be in the greatest danger, 
 and out of five men they would certainly lose three. In short, they 
 could not agree to fight in their present position. 
 
 During this time, the Navarrois saw them very plainly, and how 
 they were formed : they said to each other, " Look at them : they 
 will very soon come to us, for they have a good will so to do." 
 There were among them some knights and squires of Normandy, 
 that had been' made prisoners by the English and Navarrois, who 
 had been allowed perfect liberty to go and ride about wherever they 
 pleased, upon the faith of their word of honor, provided they did 
 not bear arms in favor of the French. They rode toward the French 
 army, and, in conversation, said to the French lords : " My lords, 
 consider what you are about ; for, should this day pass without an en- 
 gagement, your enemies will to-morrow receive a very large rein- 
 forcement ; as it is reported among them, that the lord Lewis de 
 Navarre is on his road to join them with at least four hundred 
 lances." 
 
 This intelligence much inclined the French to attack the Navar- 
 rois at all events : they were made ready for it two or three different 
 times : but the wiser advice got the better. Those lords said, " Let 
 us wait a little longer, and see what they will do ; for they are so 
 proud and presumptuous that they are as eager to fight us as we are 
 to meet them." Many of them were very ill and faint, from the 
 great heat, as it was now about noon ; they had fasted all the morn- 
 ing, and had been under arms : they were therefore much heated by 
 the sun, which affected them doubly through their armor. They 
 said, therefore, " If we attempt to fight them by ascending the hill 
 in our present state, we shall certainly be beaten ; but if we retreat 
 to our quarters, through the necessity of the case, by to-morrow 
 morning we shall form a better plan." Thus had they different 
 opinions on what was to be done. 
 
 When the knights of France (to whose honor the command of 
 this army was intrusted) saw the English and Navarrois were not 
 inclined to quit their stronghold, and that it was now midday ; having 
 heard the information which the French prisoners who had visited 
 their army had given, and having considered that the greater part of 
 their men were exceedingly faint, through the heat ; they met to- 
 gether, by the advice of sir Bertrand du Guesclin, whose orders they 
 obeyed, and held another council. " My lords," said he, " we perceive 
 that our enemies are very eager to fight us, and have a great wish for 
 it ; but, however violent they may be, they will not descend from 
 their strong position, unless by a plan which I shall propose to you. 
 We will make dispositions, as if for a retreat, not intending to fight 
 this day, (our men, indeed, are severely afllicted by the great heat ;) 
 and order our servants, baggage, horses, &,c. to cross the bridge and 
 river, and retire to our quarters : we will, at the same time, keep 
 close to them, watching attentively the enemy's motions. If they 
 really wish to fight us, they will descend the hill, and follow us into 
 the plain. As soon as we shall perceive their motions, if they act as 
 I think they will, we shall be ready armed to wheel about, and thus 
 shall have them more to our advantage." This proposal was ap- 
 proved of by all, and considered as the best that could have been 
 offered. Each lord, therefore, returned to his people, under his ban- 
 ner or pennon. The trumpets sounded as for a retreat, and every 
 knight and squire ordered his sei-vants to cross the river with their 
 baggage. This the greater part did, and afterwards the men-at-arms 
 followed, but very slowly. When sir John Jouel (who was an expert 
 and valiant knight, and eager to engage with the French) saw the 
 maimer of their retreat, he said to the captal, " My lord, my lord, let 
 
 us now descend boldly : do you not see how the French are running 
 away?" "Ha," replied the captal, "they are only doing so out of 
 malice, and to draw us down." 
 
 Sir John Jouel upon this advanced forward (for he was veiy de. 
 sirous of fighting,) crying out, " St. George !" and said to his bat. 
 talion, " March : those that love me let them follow me, for I am go. 
 ing to engage." Ho then drev/ his sword, and, with it in his hand, 
 marched at the head of his battalion. He and his company were 
 almost down the liill before the captal moved : but when he found 
 this to be so, and that sir John Jouel meant to fight without him, he 
 considered it as a great presumption, and said to those around them, 
 " Come, let us descend the hill speedily, for sir John Jouel shall not 
 fight without me." The company of the captal advanced forward, 
 with him at their head, his sword in his hand. AVhon the French, who 
 had been watching them all the time, saw them descend and enter 
 the plain, they mightily rejoiced, and said, " See, now, what we have 
 been waiting for aU this day has come to pass !" They then faced 
 about, with a thorough good will to meet their enemies, crying out, 
 " Notre Dame Guesclin !" They dressed their banners in front of 
 the Navarrois, and began to form under them from all parts and on foot 
 On the side of the Navarrois, sir John Jouel advanced, sword in hand, 
 most valiantly, and drew up his battaUon opposite to that c*f the Bretons, 
 which was commanded by sir Bertrand du Guesclin, and performed 
 many gallant deeds of arms ; for he was a bold knight ; but he found 
 there one who was too able a match for him. The knights an^ 
 squires then spread themselves over the plain and began to fight with 
 all sorts of weapons, just as they could lay hands upon them; and 
 each party met the other with great courage. 
 
 The English and Navarrois shouted out, " St. George !" the French, 
 "'Notre Dame Guesclin !" In this battle, there were many good 
 knights on the side of the French : sir Bertrand du Guesclin, the 
 young earl of Auxerre, the viscount de Beaumont, sir Baudoin d'En- 
 nequin, grand master of the cross-bows, the lord Louis de Chalons, 
 lord Anthony the young lord de Beaujeu, who raised his banner for 
 the first time, the lord Anthony de Kanerley, sir Odoart de Renty, 
 sir Enguerrand de Hedin. In like manner, in the battalion of Gas. 
 cons, who were drawn up by themselves, there combated most vaU 
 iantly, sir Aymon de Fommiers, sir Perdiccas d'Albret, the souldich 
 de la Trane, sir Petiton de Courton, and several others of the same 
 sort. This battalion was formed opposite to that of the captal, which 
 consisted of Gascons also, and they were very desirous of meeting. 
 There were many hard blows given, and many valorous deeds of 
 arms performed on each side ; for no one should wilfully lie.* 
 
 It may be asked, " What became of the archpriest, who was an 
 excellent knight, and had the command of a battalion, that I have 
 not hitherto made any mention of him ? I will tell the truth. As 
 soon as the archpriest saw the enemies drawn up, and that the battle 
 was going to begin in earnest, he quitted his company, but said to 
 his people, and particularly to his banner-bearer : "I order and com. 
 mand you, under pain of my greatest displeasure, that you remain 
 where you are, and wait the event of the battle. I set out directly 
 from hence, not meaning to return ; for I can neiriier bear arms noi 
 fight against some of the knights that are with the enemy. If any 
 one should inquire after me, this is the answer that you will give 
 him." He then set out, accompanied by a sicgle squire, recrossed the 
 river, and left the others to make the best of it. They did not notice 
 his absence, as they saw his banner, ahd thought that he was among 
 them until the business was over. I will now speak of this battle, 
 and how it was stiffly maintained. At tlie commencement of the 
 conflict, when sir John Jouel had descended the hill, he was followed 
 by all as closely as they could, and even by the captal and his com. 
 pany, who thought they should have gained the day ; but it turned 
 out otherwise. When they perceived that the French had wheeled 
 about in good order, they immediately found they had been deceived. 
 However, like determined men, they M ere not panic-struck at the dis. 
 covery, but were resolved to recover it by their gallantry in the combat. 
 
 They retreated a little, then assembled together, and after that they 
 opened the ranks to give room to their archers, who were in their 
 rear, to make use of their bows. When the archers were advanced 
 in front, they extended themselves, and began to exert themselves 
 handsomely in shooting ; bat the French were so strongly armed and 
 shielded against their arrows, they were but little hurt by them, if at all, 
 and for this did not figlff the less valiantly, but intermixed themselves 
 with the English and Navarrois, as did the English with them, equally 
 eager in the combat. There was much hacking and cutting of each 
 other, with lances and battle-axes, seizing each other by main strength 
 and wrestling. They took and ransomed prisoners from each alter- 
 nately, and were so' much intermixed together, that they engaged 
 man to man, and behaved with a degree of valor scarcely to be 
 credited but by eye-witnesses. You may easily imagine that, in 
 such a crowd and so situated, numbers were thrown down, wounded 
 and killed : for neither side spared the other. The French had need not 
 to sleep on their bridles ; for they had opposed to them men of ability 
 and determined enterprise.^E ach, therefore, loyally agreed, not only 
 
 * These words " for no one should wilfully lie." in their present position do not seem 
 at all necessary. It appears probable that they ongmally belonged to the next para- 
 graph, where they are natural and proper. The word for does not occur in D. Sau- 
 vaee the "sentence being quite unconnected with the preceding ; but as Ins arraiifrement, 
 vi's'M,is exception, is the same as Mr. Johaes's, we have not venluied to uiutr uua 
 
I 
 
 146 CIIRONICLESOFENGLA 
 
 to defend himself and his post most vigorously, but to take every 
 itdvantage that should offer ; if they had not done so, they must have 
 been defeated. In truth, I must say, that the Bretons and Gascons 
 v\ ere good men, and perfonned many gallant feats of arms. 
 
 I wish now to speak of the thirty who had been selected to attack 
 tl.s captal. They had been excellently mounted, on the best horses 
 oi the army, and attentive to nothing but their orders (as, being so 
 charged, they were bound to do) : they advanced in a close body 
 toward the captal, who was using his battle-axe manfully, and gave 
 such deadly strokes with it that none dared approach him. They 
 pushed through the crowd by the strength of their horses, as well as 
 by the help of some Gascons who had accompanied them. 
 
 These thirty men, who, as you have seen, were so well mounted, 
 and who knew well what they were to do, neither looking to the 
 risk nor danger, made up directly to the captal and surrounded him. 
 They all fell upon him, and carried him off by dint of force, quitting 
 the spot directly. This created great confusion, and all the battalions 
 drew thitherward ; for the captal's men were like to madmen, shout- 
 ing out, " Rescue, rescue the captal !" All this, nevertheless, was 
 of no service or help to them : for, in fact, the captal was carried off 
 in the manner I have related, and placed in safety. However, at 
 the moment this happened, it was not truly known which side had 
 the best of the battle. In this grand bustle and confusion, while the 
 Navarrois and English, like madmen, were following the captal, 
 who had been captured before their eyes, sir Aymon de Pommiers, 
 sir Petiton de Courton, the souidich de la Trane, and the company of 
 the lord d'Albret, determined unanimously to make for the banner 
 of the captal, which was fixed in a bush, and which served as a 
 standard for the Navarrois. 
 
 The attack and defence was equally sharp and vigorous ; for it 
 was guarded by good men : particularly by s'ir Bascon de Marneil 
 and sir Geoffry de Roussillon: many were wounded, killed, un- 
 horsed, and rescued. The Navarrois, at last, who were near this 
 bush and about the banner, were broken in upon and forced to 
 retreat. Sir Bascon de Marneil with several others were slain. Sir 
 Geoffry de Roussillon was made prisoner by sir Aymon de Pommiers. 
 The banner of the captal was immediately seized : and those who 
 defended it were either killed, taken, or had retreated so far that 
 there was no news of them. While the banner of the captal was 
 thus conquered, torn and dragged upon the ground by the Gascons, 
 the Bretons, the French, the Picards, the Normans and Burgundians 
 were most valiantly fighting in another part of the field ; and well it 
 behoved them so to do, for the Navarrois had made them retreat. 
 Among the French, there was already killed the viscount de Beau- 
 mont ; the more the pity, for he was a young knight well formed to 
 do great things. His people, to their great sorrow, had carried him 
 out of the battle, and guarded him, as I have heard related, by those 
 of both sides. No one had ever seen a battle, with the like number 
 of combatants, so well fought as this was ; for they were all on foot, 
 and combated liand to hand, intermixing with each other, and striv- 
 ing for victory with the arms they used, and, in particular, with those 
 battle-axes which gave such astonishingly fatal blows. 
 
 Sir Petiton de Coxirton and the souidich de la Trane were sorely 
 wounded, insomuch that they could do no service during the remain- 
 der of the day. Sir John .Touel, by whom the combat began, and 
 who had most courageously attacked and fought the French, per- 
 formed, that day, many veiy gallant feats of arms, and never deigned 
 once to retreat. He had been engaged so far in the battle that he 
 was grievously wounded in several parts of the head and body, and 
 at last made prisoner by a inquire of Brittany under sir Bertrand du 
 Guesclin : he was then carried out of the crowd. At length, the 
 French gained the field ; bm on their side there were killed the 
 grand master of the cross-bows, sir Louis de Havenquerque, and 
 many others. On the side of the Navarrois, the lord de Saulx and 
 numbers of his people were slain. Sir John .Touel died in the course 
 of the day. There were made prisoners, sir William de Graville, sir 
 Peter de Sequainville, sir Geoffry de Roussillon, sir Bretrand du 
 Franc, and several more. Few of t'ae Navarrois escaped being slain 
 or taken. This battle was fought in Normandy, pretty near to 
 Cocherel, on a Thursday, the 24th day of May, 1364.* 
 
 After this defeat, when all the dead were stripped, and those who 
 had made prisoners had put them aside and attended to the wounded ; 
 when the greater part of the French, having repassed the bridge, 
 were retiring bruised and weary, to their quarters ; sir Guy de Gra- 
 ville- son of sir William de Graville, who had been made a prisoner, 
 having in haste left Conches (a garrison town of the Navarrois,) with 
 fifty lancemen,t intending to join the captal, came on full speed to 
 tlie field where the battle had been fought. Upon which the French 
 in the rear cried out, " Let us turn back, for here are more enemies." 
 On hearing this, sir Aymon and his company, who had remained on 
 the field, seeing these Navarrois advancing, fixed his pennon aloft in 
 a bush as a rallying-post for the French. When sir Guy saw this, 
 
 * " It i3 singular enough, that the date of so memorable a battle should not have 
 been more certaiii-.y known. Historians place it the 23rd May, 13S4. Du Chatelet re- 
 'jorts ancient acts, which prove it to have been the 16th May. 
 
 " Froissart, in relating this battle, differs from our memoirs in several details," &c.— 
 JUimoiren Historiques, vol. iv. 
 
 t Lord Berners and D. Sauvage say fifty spears; when individuals are meant, the 
 word combattans, fighting-men, is generally to be made use of by Froissart. Mr. Johues's 
 reason for trarslating " lances" lancemen in this instance is not apparent.— Ed. 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 " ' — ~ ' -' — — — — *■ ,11 
 
 and heard the shout of "Notre Dame Guesclin !" and that none of 
 hi* party appeared, but plenty of dead bodies were lying around, he 
 soon found that the Navarrois had been discomfited ; he therefore 
 quickly faced about, and returned the way he came. In the evening, 
 the French examined those prisoners whom they had in their tents. 
 The archpriest was much inquired about and spoken of, Vv hen it was 
 found that he had not been in the engagement: his people made the 
 best excuses for him tiiey could. You must know that the thirty 
 cavaliers who had carried off the captal, as you have heard, never 
 halted until they had brought him safe to Vernon, and lodged him 
 in the castle. On the morrow the French decamped, and marched 
 to the city of Rouen, where they left a part of their prisoners. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXXIII. 
 
 CHARLES V. SURNAMED THE WISE, IS CROWNED KIN& OF FRANCE. HIS 
 BROTHER PHILIP IS INVESTED WITH THE DUCHY OF BURGUNDY, ANI 
 SENT AGAINST THE FREE COMPANIES OF PILLAGERS. 
 
 On Trinity-day, 1364, king Charles, eldest son of the late John ot 
 France, was crowned and consecrated king, in the great church of 
 our Lady at Rheims, by the archbishop of that city ; and with him 
 his queen, the daughter of duke Peter of Bourbon. The king of 
 Cyprus, the dukes of Anjou and Burgundy, the lord Wenceslaus of 
 Bohemia, duke of Luxembourg and Brabant, the earls of Eu, of 
 Dampmartin, of Tanc^rville, of Vaudemont, and great numbers of 
 other lords and prelates, were present at this ceremony. There were 
 great entertainments and feasts at Rheims, during the time the king 
 remained, which was five days : he then departed for Paris. It 
 would take me a long time were I to relate all the fine shows and 
 feasts the Parisians made for him at his entry. The lords 
 after this, that is to say, the strangers Vvho had come to his corona- 
 tion, returned to their own countries. When the king of France 
 was come back to Paris, he gave the investiture of the duchy of Bur- 
 gundy to his youngest brother, who left Paris v/ith a noble company, 
 in order to take possession and receive the homage of the barons, 
 knights, cities, castles and large towns in that duchy. After he had 
 visited the whole country, he returned to Paris. 
 
 He brought with him the archpriest, who appeased the anger of 
 the king, which he had incurred by not fighting at the battle of 
 Cocherel, by the fair reasons he gave for not bearing arms against 
 the captal.* The captal had been brought a prisoner to Paris, and, 
 through the intercession of the lord d'Albret, obtained his liberty on 
 his parole. He also assisted the archpriest to excuse himself toward 
 the king, as well as toward the French knights who had talked very 
 scurvily of him, notwithstanding he had overthrown lately, in a part 
 of Burgundy, beyond Dijon, four hundred pillagers ; over whom 
 Guillot du Pin, Taillebert, Taillebourdon and John de Chaufour 
 were captains. 
 
 • About this time, the king of France ordered sir Peter de Sequain- 
 ville to be beheaded in the city of Rouen, for having taken the part 
 of the Navarrois. Sir William de Graville would have undergone 
 the same punishment, if his son, sir Guy, had not signified to the 
 king of France, that whatever treatment his father suffered, he v/ould 
 do the like to sir Beaumont de Laval, a great lord of Brittany, whom 
 he kept as his prisoner. Upon this, the family of sir Beaumont in- 
 terceded with the king, and exerted themselves so effectually that 
 they obtained the exchange of sir Beaumont for sir William de Gra- 
 ville.t Sir Bertrand du Guesclin, at this time, gained the castle of 
 Roulleboise, by presenting the governor of it, sir Vautaire Austard, 
 with six thousand francs, who retired to Brabant, whence he had 
 come. Many large companies of pillagers still kept possession of 
 different forts in the countries of Caux, Normandy, Beauce, and 
 Perche, whence they gready harassed the kingdom of France : some 
 under pretence of serving the king of Navarre ; others, for themselves 
 robbed and destroyed the country, without any claims of right or of 
 reason. 
 
 The king of France sent his brother, the duke of Burgundy, 
 against the pillagers, who appointed his rendezvous in the city of 
 Chartres. He then took the field, accompanied by sir Bertrand du 
 Guesclin, the lord de Boucicaut, the earl of Auxerre, the lord Louis 
 de Chalons, the lord de Beaujeu, sir Aymon de Pommiers, the lord 
 Raineval, Pierre de Villaines, snrnamed le Bfegue, the lord Nicholas 
 de Ligne, grand master of the cross-bows, sir Odoart de Renti, sir 
 Enguerrand de Heden, and full five thousand combatants. When 
 they found they mustered so strong, they divided themselves into 
 three bodies ; from which sir Bertrand took, at the most, one thousand 
 fighting men, and marched for the country of Coutantin, toward the 
 
 * The archpriest, according to the life of Charles V. by the abbe de Choisy, had often- 
 times changed sides: sometimes tor the king of France, but oftener for the king of Na- 
 varre, because there was more licence allowed the soldiers of his army. After the peace, 
 he pillaged various provinces of France. In his retreat from the emperor Charles IV., 
 near Macon in Burgundy, he was assassinated by his own men. His deatii gave great 
 j oy to the people, whom he had robbed for ten years successively.— ^isfoire de Charles 
 v.. p. 88. 
 
 T In the M6moires Historiques, note 31, of Bertrand du Guesclm, it is said, that sir 
 William de Graville was ransomed from sir Guy de Bayeuz, who had taken him, for one 
 thousand florins, and that the king was so much angered by it, against Bayeux, and h'» 
 children, they were forced to leave the kingdom : the king afterwards pardoned them. 
 In the contifluatioD, however, of this note, it is related nearly the same as Froiwart 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE SPA 
 
 neighborhood of Cherbourg, to guard the frontiers, and to prevent 
 the Navarrois from doing any mischief to Normandy. The lord of 
 Sancerre, the earl of Joigny, the lord Arnold d'Andreghen, and a 
 crowd of knights and squires from Brittany and Normandy, accom- 
 panied sir Bertrand. Another division waS under the command of 
 the lord John de la Riviere ; and with him were many knights and 
 squires of France and Picardy, whom he sent toward Evreux. The 
 tiuke had the largest division. He went and laid siege to the castle 
 of Marcheville,* which was a very strong fortress, in possession of 
 the Navarrois. He ordered many machines to be brought from 
 Jhartres, by which he flung into it stones and other things day and 
 •light, that much annoyed the garrison. 
 
 IN . Sl 
 
 147 
 
 Coronation or Charles V. and his Queen. From a MS. Froissart of the 15th Century. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXXIV. 
 
 THE LORD LEWIS OF jfAVARRE MAKES INCURSIONS INTO FRANCE. THE 
 DUKE OF BURGUNDY PLANS SEVERAL EXPEDITIONS AGAINST HIM, BUT 
 IS FORCED TO GO INTO BURGUNDY, TO DEFEND IT AGAINST THE EARL DE 
 MONTBELLIARD. 
 
 While these men-at-arms were harassing the Navarrois, and 
 enemies of the realm, in Beauce and in Normandy, the lord Lewis 
 of Navarre (the lord Philip being dead) had taken upon himself the 
 management of the war for his brother the king of Navarre, and had 
 sent a challenge to the king of France, because the object of this war 
 was personal to their family, being for a right of inheritance. He 
 had therefore assembled men-at-arms ever since the battle of Co- 
 cherel and was collecting them from every part he could get them 
 He had been so active himself, and by means of the captains of com- 
 panies, of which great numbers still remained in France, that he had 
 assembled upward of twelve hundred lances. With him were sir 
 Robert Knolles,t sir Robert Ceny,t and sir Robert Briquet de Cars. 
 nelle.§ The men-at-arms, who were every day increasing, were 
 quartered between the rivers Loire, and Allier,|| and had oven-un a 
 part of the Bourbonnois and Auvergne, between Moulins,^ St. Pierre 
 ie Moustier** and St. Poursaint.tt From this body, whom the lord 
 Lewis d'N avarre commanded, acom.pany of about three thousand were 
 detached under the orders of Bertrand de la Salle and Ortingo. They 
 cn)ssed the Loire above Marcilly les Nonnains,tt and pushed for- 
 
 * Marcheville— a town in Beauce, diocese of Chartres. 
 
 ^ Robert Knolles was a great captain, and the maker of his own fortune There 
 IS a doubt If he were or were not a knight of the Garter (No. 74.) See M. j^nstis Hav- 
 Llerhf;2o\'rh:'S;S -Pl«yn>ents he heid.&c., I an, inchned to 
 
 iVTL",3'ln^''^^«-^f 'i' ^"''^'■^ ^^^"y- '^'^ pedigree in M. Cough's Sepulchral 
 monuments. His descendants were called to the house of Peers, 3rd Henry VU 
 
 § bir Robert Briquet de Carsnelle." I can find nothing about him. 
 drnv whpn,l"fl^"" ^''"S"f'^««' ^vhich rises in the Gevaudan, near the village ofCou- 
 
 Jhen'enteStheN"' ""''^''rf,''^' ^"^^^^"^ ^"'l the Bourbonnois, and 
 Uien. entering the Niyemois, fills into the Loire, about a league above Nevers 
 
 J Mouhns-capital of the Bourbonnois, on the Allier. 
 
 ** St. Pierre le Monstier-a town of the Nivernois. 
 
 TT bt.Poursaint— a town of Auvergne 
 
 « Marcilly les Nonnains-a village in Berry, election of La Charity. 
 
 ward with so much haete, that by daybreak, they came before La 
 ^ ^^^'^^ ''^^^ ^^'^''^ inclosed tov/;i upon the Loire. 
 A *u^^ ™"iediately scaled without any opposition ; and, having 
 entered the town, took possession of that part of it ; but as they were 
 teariul lest the townspeople might have laid an am.buscade for them 
 they dared not advance lurther until it should be broad day. 
 
 During this delay, the inhabitants of the town embcrked all their 
 most valuable things in boats which were on the river Loire, and hav. 
 ing also placed their wives and children in them, sailed off in safety 
 toward the city of Nevers, which was five leagues distant. The 
 English, Navarrois and Gascons, who entered the town, upon day 
 appearing, marched forward, but found all the houses empty. Upon 
 
 this, they called a coun. 
 cil, to consider if they 
 should keep possession 
 of the town, and fortify 
 it ; for it would be very 
 convenient for them, as 
 a place of strength, to 
 attack each side of the 
 Loire. They sent to in- 
 form the lord Lewis de 
 Navarre of their situa- 
 tion, who was at that 
 time in Auvergne, and 
 who immediately dis- 
 patched to them sir Ro- 
 bert Briquet, with three 
 hundred armed men. 
 They crossed the coun- 
 try without molestation, 
 and entered the town oi 
 La Charity, by the bridge 
 over the Loire. When 
 they were thus assem- 
 bled together, they were 
 in such force, they be- 
 gan to make grievous 
 war upon the kingdom 
 of France. 
 
 We will return to 
 the duke of Burgundy, 
 whom we left besieging 
 Marcheville. He had 
 done so much by his 
 machines and by his as. 
 saults, that the garrison 
 sun-endered upon hav. 
 ing their lives and for. 
 tunes spared. The duke 
 sent the lord de Bouci- 
 
 , , , r John 
 
 de Vienne, marshal of Burgundy, to take possession of it. He gave 
 the castle to a squire of Beauce, called William de Chartres, and 
 forty men to guard it. The duke then led his army to the castle of 
 Camerolles, which he surrounded, for it is situated in the flat country. 
 
 It is time to say something of the lord John de la Riviere, who was 
 besieging Acquigni, near to Passy, in the county of Evreux. He 
 had under him two thousand good combatants ; for he was so great a 
 favorite with the king that he managed the finances according to his 
 pleasure. The castle of Acquigni was gamsoned bv English, Nor- 
 mans, French and Navarrois, who had fled thither after the battle of 
 Cocherel. They defended themselves well, and were amply provided 
 with artillery and provision. Notwithstanding this, matters were so 
 well managed, that they surrendered upon having their lives and 
 fortunes spared, and carried their property with them to Cherbourg, 
 whither they retired. The lord John placed a new garrison in the 
 casde, and marched toward the city of Evreux. Under his com- 
 mand, were sir Plugh de Chatillon, the lord of Sanny, the lord Louis 
 de Sancerre, sir Matthew de Roye, the lord of Monfang, the lord of 
 Eloy, the lord of Crequi, the lord of Campy, sir Odoart de Renti, sir 
 Enguerrand de Hedin, and many other knights and squires of France. 
 
 In the mean time, the duke of Burgundy pressed so hard upon the 
 garrison of Camerolles, that they were forced to surrender at discre. 
 tion. All the foreign soldiers were pardoned ; but some French 
 pillagers, who had taken refuge there, were put to death. Some of 
 the principal burgesses of Chartres came to the duke's camp, to entreat 
 of him to give them the castle of Camerolles, as a recompense for the 
 tise of their machines ; for it had done them much harm in former 
 times. The duke consented to their request ; and immediately they 
 sent workmen, who levelled the castle vvith the ground. 
 
 The duke marched next to a castle called Drue, which is situated 
 in the plains of Beauce, and was in the possession of pillagers. He 
 took it by storm, and killed all that were found in it. He then halted 
 before a castle called Preux, and surrounded it on all sides. He made 
 many an assault, in hopes of carrying it; but at last the ganison sur- 
 rendered on having their lives spared : they carried nothing with 
 them ; but all the French remained prisoners at the duke's will. 
 * La Charity, a town in the Nivernois. 
 
148 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 <iuke ordered the castle to be taken possession of by his marshals, 
 and made a present of it to a knight of Beauce, caUed sir Peter du 
 Bois, in order that he might sufficiently guard and repair it. The 
 tluke, and the greater part of his army, went after this to Chartres, to 
 refresh themselves. i • u 
 
 When he had been there five or six days, he set out to besiege the 
 c istle of Connie,* which had done so much mischief to all the country 
 round, and pointed against it six large machines. During the time 
 these sieges, assaults, and conquests were going forward in Beauce 
 and Normandy, the lord Lewis de Navarre was overrunning Au- 
 vergne. He kept the field, and impoverished the whole country ; 
 for no one went forth against him. Those also who were at La 
 Charite upon the Loire did in those parts just what they pleased. 
 
 On the other hand, the earl of Montbelliard, with some allies from 
 Germany, had entered the duchy of Burgundy, near Besan9on, and 
 was despoiling it. On which account, the king of France ordered 
 the duke of Burgundy to raise the siege of Connie, and come to Paris; 
 for it was necessary that he should go into Burgundy. 
 
 The duke, on receiving this news, was very pensive ; for he had 
 publicly declared, that he would never depart from Connie until he 
 had subjected it to his will. But those of his council made him tin- 
 derstand, that since the king, who had sent him thither, ordered him 
 to return, he might very well leave the place without disgrace. Those 
 in Connie had no information whatever respecting this : they were, 
 therefore, summoned by the marshals to surrender unconditionally, 
 which they refused. They said, they were willing to surrender, on 
 having their lives and fortunes spared. These terms were then 
 agreed upon. The duke gave the castle to a squire of Beauce, whose 
 name was Philip d'Arcieres, who repaired it, and garrisoned it with 
 good and trusty men. 
 
 The duke went to Chartres, and then gave up the command ot the 
 greater division of his army to the earl of Auxerre, Boucicaut, and the 
 lord Lewis de Sancen-e. He set out for Paris, taking with him 
 the lord Louis d'Alen9on,the lord of Beaujeu, and the lord of Vienne. 
 He ordered the Burgundians to march toward Burgundy as speedily 
 as possible. But the duke himself went to meet the king, who was 
 at that time at Vaux-la-Comtesse in Brie. He remained but one day 
 there, and then set out for Troyes in Champagne ; whence he took 
 the road to Langres, sending everywhere for men-at-arms. The 
 Burgundians were already collected, and drawn out as a frontier to 
 their enemies : the archpriest, the lord of Chateau- Vilain, the lord of 
 Vergey, the lord of Grancy, the lord of Soubournon, the lord of Rou- 
 gemont, and a very rich man called John of Boulogne, the lord of 
 Prises, sir Hugh de Vienne, the lord du Ch^tel, the bishop of Langres, 
 and several more, who were all mightily rejoiced on the arrival of the 
 lord duke. They immediately marched against their enemies, who 
 were full fifteen hundred lances ; but they retreated across the Rhine. 
 Upon which, the Burgundians entered the county of Montbelliard, 
 and burnt the greater part of it. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXXV. 
 
 XING CHARLES ORDERS THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY TO BESIEGE LA CHARITE. 
 
 HE WANTS IT TO SURRENDER UNCONDITIONALLY, THAT HE MAY SEND 
 ASSISTANCE TO LORD CHARLES DE BLOIS, WHO IS CONTESTING THE 
 DUCHY OF BRITTANY WITH THE EARL OF MONTFORT. 
 
 In the interim, the king of France sent his constable, the lord 
 Moreau de Finnes, and two marshals, the lord de Boucicaut and 
 John de Mauquerchi, lord of Blainville, accompanied by many knights 
 and squires, to besiege La Charit^ upon the Loire. On their arrival, 
 they attacked it one side, and every day had skirmishes with the 
 garrison of the place. 
 
 When the duke of Burgundy and the greater part of his troops, 
 who had accompanied him into the county of Montbelliard, were re- 
 turned to Paris, the king sent him, with upward of a thousand lances, 
 to La Charite. There were then at that siege three thousand knights 
 and squires, of whom many went every day to skirmish with the 
 garrison ; when several were killed and wounded on both sides. At 
 a sally which the garrison made, the lord Robert of Alengon, son of 
 the earl of Alen9on, who was killed at Crecy, and the lord Louis 
 d'Auxerre, who was the son of the earl of Auxerre, then present, 
 were knighted, and displayed their banners. The inhabitants of La 
 Charitd were very hard pressed, and would willingly have surrendered 
 upon terms ; but the duke was resolved to have them unconditionally, 
 and for that reason had guarded the river so that no provision could 
 enter the town. 
 
 During this time, the lord Lewis de Navarre, who was destroying 
 everything before him in the country of Auvergne, exerted himself 
 much, and assembled a sufficient body of men to enable him to raise 
 the siege of La Charit^ : he had collected two thousand combatants 
 at the least, and had also sent into Brittany to request that sir Robert 
 KnoUes, sir V/alter Huet, sir Matthew Cournay, and several other 
 knights and squires, would hasten to his assistance. They would 
 have complied cheerfully ; but at the time they were engaged with 
 the earl of Montfort, besieging the castle of Auray,t who had sworn 
 he would not depart until it had submitted to his pleasure. ^ 
 
 * Connie — a village in Beauce, election of Chateaudun. 
 
 t Auray— a sea-port ia Brittany-— diocese of Vannei. One of my MSS. »ay«, it was 
 (bunded by Arthur. 
 
 When the lord Lewis found he could not have their aid, he re 
 treated, by the orders of his brother, toward Cherbourg. Upon which, 
 the king of France, that the lord Charles de Blois might have more 
 men-at-arms, commanded the duke of Burgundy to treat with the 
 garrison for their surreniering the town and fort, on condition of not 
 bearing arms for the king of Navarre during three years. The gar- 
 rison complied with these terms, surrendered La Charity, took nothing 
 with them, and marched out on foot : they passed through the king- 
 dom of France under passports of the duke of Burgundy. The old 
 inhabitants of La Charite now returned back to it, having been forced 
 to reside in other places. The duke went to Paris. 
 
 After this, the king of France granted permission for liis cousin, 
 the lord Charles de Blois, to raise in his kingdom a thousand lances. 
 He again wrote to sir Bertrand du Guesclin, who at the time was ia 
 Normandy, to march to the assistance of the lord Charles, against 
 the earl of Montfort. These orders gave sir Bertrand great pleasure, 
 for he had always considered the lord Charles as his natural lord. 
 He set out, therefore, from Normandy, with all the troops that were 
 under him, and marched through Tours, in his way to Brittany. The 
 lord de Boucicaut went to guard Normandy in his place. Sir Ber- 
 trand continued his march until he came to Nantes, where he met 
 the lord Charies de Blois and his lady. They received him very 
 kindly, and thanked him much for coming to their assistance. They 
 had then a long conference, upon what was to be done : for they 
 were in the best parts of Brittany, which were much attached to the 
 lord Charies de Blois, as their duke and lord, and willing to support 
 him. They conferred also on the means of raising the siege of Au- 
 ray, and fighting with the lord John de Montfort. Within a very 
 short time, many barons and knights came thither from France and 
 Normandy : among whom were the earl of Auxerre, the eaii of 
 Joigny, the lord de Franville, the lord de Prie, le Bfegue de Villaines, 
 and many other knights and squires, all of the right sort, and good 
 men-at-arms. 
 
 News was brought to the lord John de Montfort, at that time be. 
 sieging Auray, that the lord Charies de Blois was assembling large 
 bodies of men ; that a number of the lords of France were come to 
 him, and were daily arriving, to assist him, in conjunction with those 
 barons, knights and squires of Brittany, who had remained steady to 
 his interest. As soon as lord John heard this, he made it known in 
 the duchy of Aquitaine to the knights and squires of England who 
 were there, and in particular to sir John Chandos, earnestly entreat, 
 ing them to come to his aid in the difficulties they were about to 
 encounter: adding, that he expected Brittany would afford such a 
 field of honor, that all knights and squires who were desirous of ad 
 vancing their name ought most cheerfully to come thither. 
 
 When sir John Chandos saw himself thus affectionately entreated 
 by the eari of Montfort, he spoke of it to the prince of Wales, to 
 know how he should act. The prince said, he might go there with 
 out any blame, since the French had already taken part against the 
 eari in support of the lord Charles; and he advised him to ^accept 
 the invitation. Sir John Chandos was much rejoiced at this, and 
 made accordingly grand preparations. He asked several knights and 
 squires of Aquitaine to accompany him ; but few went except the 
 English. However, he conducted full two hundred lances, and as 
 many archers, and marching through Poitou and Saintonge, entered 
 Brittany. He went straight to the siege of Auray, where he found 
 the eari of Montfort, who was very happy at his arrival ; as were sir 
 Olivier de Clisson, sir Robert Knolles, and the other companions. It 
 seemed to them, that now no evil could befal them, since sir John 
 Chandos was in their company. i j 
 
 Many knights and squires crossed the sea in haste from England, 
 eager to advance their fortunes, and to fight with the French. They 
 came to the aid of the eari of Montfort, before Auray, who received 
 them all with great joy. They were therefore in all, as well Bretons 
 as English, when mustered, sixteen hundred men-at-arms, and from 
 eight to nine hundred archers. ^ 
 
 We will now return to the lord Charies de Blois, who remained 
 in the good city of Nantes, and made there his muster of knights 
 and squires from all parts ; for he had been informed that the eari 
 of Montfbrt had been strongly reinforced by the Enghsh. He there, 
 fore entreated those barons, knights and squires whose homage he 
 had received, to assist him in guarding his inheritance, and in de. 
 fending him against his enemies. . 
 
 Among the barons of Brittany who came to ser^'e him, in obedi. 
 ence to his summons, were the viscount de Rohan, the lords de 
 L6on, Charies de Dinan, de Rieux, de Tournemine, d'Ancenis, de 
 Malestroit, de Quentin, d'Avaugour, de Loheac, du Font, and many 
 others whom I cannot name. These lords and their compames were 
 quartered in the city of Nantes, and in the villages around it. When 
 they were mustered, thev were estimated at two thousand hve hun 
 dred lances, including those who had come from trance These 
 lords did not wish to make any long stay, but advised the lord Chariea 
 to march against his enemies. , . i 
 
 When the lord Charies was about to set out, and was taking leavo 
 of the lady his wife, she said to him, in the presence of sir Bertrand 
 du Guesclin and some of the barons of Brittany : " My lord, you are 
 going to defend your inheritance and mine (for that which is mine la 
 yours,*) which the lord John de Montfort had seized, and has kept toi 
 
 * Johanna, countew of Ptntbievre, bom 1219. was made beiran ot Bnttanr by bM 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 149 
 
 a long time most wrongfully, without any right, aa God knows. The 
 barons vef Brittany, who are here present, know well that I am the 
 rightful heiress of it. I therefore most earnestly beg and entreat of 
 you, that you will not listen to any treaty, or composition, which 
 may be offered, so that the whole body of the duchy may be ours." 
 The lord Charles promised to comply with her request. 
 
 All the lords, knights, and barons who were at Nantes departed, 
 each having bid adieu to his lady, whom he considered as his duchess, 
 they began their march, and took the road to Rennes,* where, on 
 their arrival, they were quartered, and in its environs. They halted 
 there to refresh themselves, as well as to learn the numbers and 
 countenance of their enemies, and to consider of the best place to 
 offer battle, in case they should not be able to find a situation which 
 might give them an advantage. Many fine speeches and harangues 
 were made by the knights and squires of France and of Brittany, 
 who had come to the succor of the lord Charles de Blois. Lord 
 Charles was very courteous and polite, and perhaps would willingly 
 have listened to terms of peace, and been content with a part of 
 Brittany, without much wrangling : but he was, in God's name, so 
 hard pressed by the last words of the lady his wife, and the knights 
 of his party, that he could neither draw back nor dissemble. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXXVI. 
 
 THE LORD CHARLES OF BLOIS ADVANCES AGAINST THE EARL OF MONTFORT 
 IN ORDER OF BATTLE. SIR JOHN CHANDOS, AFTER HAVING DRAWN UP 
 THE BATTALIONS OF THE EARL OF MONTFORT, PREVENTS THE TREATY 
 FROM TAKING PLACE WHICH THE LORD DE BEAUMANOIR WAS NEGOTI- 
 ATING BETWEEN THE TWO PRETENDERS TO THE DUCHY OF BRITTANY. 
 
 Between Vannes and Auray, where the earl of Montfort was en- 
 camped, there are eight country leagues ; so that news was soon 
 brought to him that the lord Charles was advancing with the finest 
 body of men-at-arms, the handsomest equipped and the best ordered 
 that had ever left France. This intelligence gave great joy to the 
 English who were there ; for they were eager for the fight. These 
 companions, therefore, immediately set about putting their armor in 
 good repair, and refurbishing their lances, daggers, battle-Eixes, coats 
 I of mail, helmets, skull-caps, visors, swords, and all sorts of weapons, 
 as they well imagined they should soon have use for them. 
 
 The commanders of the army then waited on the earl of Mont- 
 fort ; first, sir John Chandos (whose advice he meant in particular 
 to follow,) sir Eustace d'Ambreticourt, sir Robert KnoUes, sir Hugh 
 Calvery, sir Matthew Gournay.t These knights and barons, having 
 deliberated on their present situation, resolved that it would be most 
 advantageous to quit their quarters early in the morning, and take 
 the field. They might then consider on the best mode of acting 
 against the enemy, when they should have had more exact informa- 
 tion concerning them. Orders were therefore given, that the whole 
 army should, on the following morning, be ready armed and in battle- 
 array, as if they were immediately to begin the engagement. 
 
 This night passed quietly. On the morrow, which was a Saturday, 
 the English and Bretons issued forth from their quarters, marching 
 gayly in order of battle, to the rear of the castle of Auray, where they 
 halted, and, having chosen a situation, declared they would wait 
 there the coming of their enemies. Almost immediately after day- 
 break, the lord Charles and his army appeared. They had marched 
 on the Friday after dinner from Vannes, and had rested that night 
 three small leagues distant from Auray. The troops of the lord 
 Charles were in the handsomest and best order, and drawn up in the 
 most brilliant manner that could be seen or imagined. They marched 
 in such close order, that one could not throw a tennis-ball among 
 them, but it must have struck upon the points of some of their lances, 
 so stiffly did they carry them. The English took great pleasure in 
 looking at them 
 
 The French halted in this order in front of their enemies, and took 
 their ground on an extensive heath. Their marshals gave strict charge 
 that no one should quit his ranks without orders, and that there 
 should be no tilting, justs, or assaults. The men-at-arms, having 
 halted, formed their line o|^battlp, and made preparations for an im- 
 mediate combat, as they expected nothing less, and were very de- 
 sirdus of it. The lord Charles de Blois, by the advice of sir Bertrand 
 du Guesclin, (who was a great captain, and much praised and con- 
 fided in by the Bretons.) formed his army again. He divided it into 
 three battalions and a rear-guard. It seems to me, that sir Bertrand 
 had the command of the first ; and with him were numbers of knights 
 and squires of Brittany. The earl of Auxerre had the second, with 
 tlie earl of Joigny and many knights and squires from France. The 
 tliird battalion was commanded by the lord Charles himself : under 
 him were the principal lords of Brittany ; among whom were the 
 
 uncle, John III., who, to strengthen her title, gave her in marriage to Charles de Blois, 
 lord of Guyse and Mayenne, nephew of Pliilip IV. king of France. 
 
 " When the earl of Montfoi* gained the dukedom, and held it from the crown of 
 France, he engaged to give Johanna lands that should yield her 20,000 francs yearly, 
 besides Penthievre and Limoges."— Anderson. 
 
 * " Rennes." I believe, with Denys Sauvage, it should be Vannes, consistently with 
 what follows ; but it is Rennes, in all my printed editions and IVIS. and also in the Hi«- 
 loire de ^reta^ne. 
 
 t Sir Matthew de Gournay, See more of him in the second volume of Cough's Se- 
 pulchral Monuments, page 2Q. He died at the age of 96. 
 
 viscount de Rohan, the lords de L^on, d'Avaugour, Charles de Dinan. 
 d'Ancenis, de Malestroit, and several others. In the rear-guard were, 
 the lords de Raix, de Rieux, de Tournemine, du Pont, and many good 
 knights and squires. Each of these battalions was composed of a 
 thousand men. The lord Charles de Blois entreated every one in tl a 
 fairest manner, that they would loyally and discreetly assist him. He 
 swore, upon his soul, and his hopes of Paradise, that it was for a just 
 and right cause they were going to engage. He assured each, that, 
 if they acquitted themselves well, he should feel himself ever obliged 
 to them. 
 
 We must now speak of the dispositions of the English and Bretons, 
 and in what manner they drew up their army. You first must under- 
 stand that, though the earl of Montfort was the commander-in-chief, 
 yet it was under the sole direction of sir John Chandos : for the king 
 of England had thus settled it with the earl of Montfort. He had also 
 ordered sir John Chandos to have especial regard to whatever con. 
 cerned the interests of his son-in-law ; for the earl of Montfort had 
 received one of the king's daughters* in marriage. In obedience to 
 such orders, sir John Chandos advanced before the knights and 
 squires of Brittany who were about the person of the earl of Montfort, 
 and having well considered the dispositions of the French in his own • 
 mind, thought so highly of them, he could not remain silent, but said: 
 " As God is my help, it appears to me that all the flower and honoi 
 of chivalry is there, most wisely and expertly drawn up." He then 
 added aloud to those knights who were within hearing: " Gentlemen, 
 it is time that we form our line of battle ; for the enemy have set U3 
 the example." Those who heard him replied : " Sir you say truly; 
 and, as you are our commander, you will form us atcording to your 
 wish ; for there is none higher than yourself to look io, and you know 
 much better than any one how to order such things." 
 
 Sir John Chandos formed three battalions and a rear-guard. He 
 placed over the first, sir Robert KnolleSj sir Walter Huet, and sir 
 Richard Burley.t The second battalion was under the command of 
 sir Olivier de Clisson,t sir Eustace d'Ambreticourt, and sir Matthew 
 Gournay. The earl of Montfort had the third, which was to remain 
 near his person. There were in each battalion five hundred men-at- 
 arms, and four hundred archers. When he came to the rear-guard, 
 he called sir Hugh Calverly to him, and said : " Sir Hugh, you will 
 take the command of the rear-guard of five hundred men, and keep 
 on our wing, without moving one step, wiiatever may happen, un- 
 less you shall see an absolute necessity for it ; such as our battalions 
 giving way, or being by accident broken : in that case, you will 
 hasten to succor those who are giving way, or who may be in disor- 
 der : and assure yourself, you cannot this day do a more meritorious 
 service." 
 
 When sir Hugh heard sir John Chandos give him these orders, he 
 was much hurt and angry with him, and said : Sir John, sir John, 
 give the command of this rear-guard to some other; for I do not wish 
 to be troubled with it ;" and then added, " Sir knight, for what man- 
 ner of reason have you thus provided for nie ? and why am not I as 
 fit and proper to take my post in the front-rank as others ?" 
 
 Sir John discreetly answered : " Sir Hugh, I did not place you with 
 the rear-guard because you were not as good a knight as any of us ; 
 for, in truth, I know that you are equally valiant with the best : but 
 I ordered you to that post, because I know you are both bold and 
 prudent, and that it is absolutely necessary for you or me to take that 
 command. I therefore most earnestly entreat it of you ; for, if you 
 will do so, vs'e shall all be the better for it ; and you yourself will ac- 
 quire great honor : in addition, I promise to comply with the first re- 
 quest you may make me." Notwithstanding this handsome speech 
 of Sir John Chandos, sir Hugh refused to comply, considering it as a 
 great affront offered him, and entreated, through the love of God, with 
 uplifted hands, that he would order some other to that command; for, 
 in fact, he was anxious to enter the battle with the first. This con- 
 duct nearly brought tears to the eyes of sir John. He again ad- 
 dressed him, gently saying : " Sir Hugh, it is absolutely necessary 
 that either you or I take this command : now, consider which can be 
 most spared." Sir Hugh, having considered tt;is last speech, was 
 much confused, and replied : " Certainly, sir, I kjiow full well that 
 you would ask nothing from me which could turn out to my dishonor; 
 and, since it is so, I will very cheerfully undertake it." Sir Hugh 
 Calverly then took the command of the battalion called the rear- 
 guard, entered the field in the rear, on the wing of the others, and 
 formed his line. 
 
 It was on Saturday the 8th day of October, l'j64, that these bat- 
 talions were drawn up facing each other, in a I landsome plain, neai 
 to Auray in Brittany. I must say, it was a fine (hing to see and reflec* 
 on ; for there were banners and pennons ilyi ag, with the richest -* 
 mor on each side : the French were so handsc /mely and grandly (' Af* 
 up, it was great pleasure to look at them. >f»Avfl 
 
 While either party was forming or divir'^ing its battalion^ 
 of Beaumanoir, a very great and rich bar on of Brittany, v /** 
 and from each army, with propositior.s for peace. V ^'^^^S tu 
 . — . — • '*viUingly 
 
 * The princess Mary. *" " — ". 
 
 1 t Sir Richard Burley— was nephew of sir S.imon Buj ley, knig'^t of\h 
 j was beheaded early in Richard II.'s reign.— G oush's 5 cp. Jilon, vn? ; ^>i'ter, who 
 ■ t " Sir Olivierde Clisson." Dom Morice. m his BisU .iie de ia fiii'otp ' ^' 
 ! Olivier de Clisson was not the nephew of sir.-Waltetde Clisson, %vh' ^'^'^^ ^fcfs 
 
 ' the siege of Chateauceau, but seems to b^x? been th^ •' v^ritabV ^ -^ "^^ ^JJfed, JSH "ar 
 -Vol. i. p. 148, ' -'^'^"eai deChsson.- 
 
 V 
 
ISO 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 would he have labored, if he had been able toward off the perils that 
 were on the point of happening. He was earnest in the business : 
 and the English and Bretons on the side of Montfort, allowed him to 
 pass and repass, to parley with sir John Chandos, and the earl of 
 Montfort, because he had pledged his honor, as a prisoner, and there, 
 fore could not bear arms against them. This same Saturday, he 
 brought many proposals, in hopes to make a peace ; of which, how- 
 ever, none succeeded : he was occupied with one party or the other 
 until noon. He nevertheless obtained, through his good sense, a 
 truce between the two armies for this day and the following night, 
 until the morrow at sunrise. Each army retreated to their quarters, 
 and refreshed themselves with what they had. 
 
 During the time the truce lasted, the governor of the castle of Au. 
 ray came out of it, on Saturday night, and went peaceably to the 
 army of the lord Charles de Blois, who graciously received him. The 
 name of the governor was Henry de Hauternelle, a very expert war- 
 rior, who brought Vv^ith him forty lances, good companions, well armed 
 and well mounted, who had aided him in guarding that fortress. 
 When the lord Charles saw the governor, he asked him, laughingly, 
 the state of the castle. " In God's name," replied the squire, " and 
 praise be to him, we are still sufficiently provided with everything for 
 two or three months, should theVe be occasion." " Henry, Henry," 
 answered lord Charles, " to-morrow by daybreak, you shall be made 
 free in every respect, either by a treaty of peace or by a battle." 
 " My lord," replied tRe squire, " God grant us his assistance." " By 
 my faith, Henry," said the lord Charles, " I have under my command 
 two thousand men-at-arms, of as good stuff, and as much inclined to 
 acquit themselves well, as there are in the kingdom of France." 
 " My lord," answered the squire, " this is a great advantage : you 
 should therefore praise God, and thank him most gratefully: likewise 
 sir Bertrand du Guesclin, and the Barons of France and Brittany, 
 who have come so courteously to your assistance." Thus the lord 
 Charles amused himself in conversation with sir Henry, and with one 
 or another, and passed the night much at his ease. 
 
 In the course of this evening, some English knights and squires 
 earnestly begged of sir John Chandos that he would not listen to any 
 overtures of peace between the earl of Montfort and the lord Charles 
 de Blois ; for they had expended their whole fortune, and were so 
 poor, that they hoped by means of a battle, either to lose their all, or 
 to set themselves up again. The knight assented to the request. 
 
 When Sunday morning came, each army made itself ready, and 
 armed. Many masses were said in that of lord Charles, and the sa- 
 crament was administered to all who wished i't. The same was done 
 in the army of the earl of Montfort; and a little before sunrise, each 
 person posted himself in the same battle array as on the preceding day. 
 
 Shortly after, the lord de Beaumanoir, who had prepared different 
 proposals of peace, and who would willingly have brought them to 
 some agreement, had he been able, returned to the charge, and came 
 galloping toward sir John Chandos, who left his battaUon and the 
 earl of Montfort, at the time with him, ao soon as he perceived his 
 intentions, and advanced into the plain to meet liim. When the lord 
 de Beaumanoir came up, he saluted him very humbly, and said ; " I 
 entreat of you, sir John Chandos, in the name of God, that vre may 
 bring these two lords to some agreement ; for it is a great pity that 
 80 many good persons who are here should slaughter each other in 
 support of their opinions." Sir John Chandos gave him a very dif- 
 ferent answer than what he expected, from what had passed on the 
 preceding evening : " Lord de Beaumanoir, I would advise you not 
 to make any more attempts at peace to-day ; for our men declare 
 that, if they can inclose you within their ranks, they will kill you. 
 You will say to lord Charles de Blois, that happen what may, the 
 lord John de Montfort is determined to risk the event of a combat. 
 Have done, therefore, with all ideas of peace or agreements ; for he 
 will this day be duke of Brittany, or die in the field." 
 
 When the lord de Beaumanoir had received this answer from 
 Chandos, he was mightily enraged, and replied : " Chandos, Chan- 
 dos, that is not less the intention of my lord, who has as good a will 
 to fight as the lord John de Montfort ; his army are also of the same 
 mind." At these words, he set off without saying anything more, 
 and went to lord Charles and the barons of Brittany, who were wait- 
 ing for him. 
 
 Sir John Chandos returned to the earl of Montfort, who asked, 
 " How goes on the treaty ? What does our adversary say ?" " What 
 does he say ?" replied Chandos : " why, he sends word by the lord 
 de Beaumanoir, who has this instant left me, that he will fight with 
 you at all events, and remain duke of Brittany, or die in the field." 
 This answer was made by sir John, in order to excite the courage of 
 the earl of Montfort ; and he continued saying, " Now consider what 
 you will determine to do, whether to engage or not." " By St. 
 George," answered the earl of Montfort, " engage I will, and God 
 assi?t the right cause : order our banners to advance immediately." 
 
 With regard to the lord de Beaumanoir, he said to lord Charles de 
 Blois : " My lord, my lord, by St. Ives I have heard the proudest 
 speech from John Chandos that my ears have listened to for a long 
 time ; he has just assured me, that the earl of Montfort shall remain 
 duke of Brittany, and will clearly show to you that you have not any 
 right to it." These words brought the color into lord Charles's 
 cheeks ; when he answered, " Let God settle the right, for he knows 
 lo v.'hom it belongs ;" and thus said all the barons of Brittany. He j 
 
 then ordered his banners and men-at-arms to march, in the name of 
 God and St. Ives. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXXVII. 
 
 THE BATTLE OF AURAY, IN WHICH SIR BERTRAND DU GUESCLIN IS MADB 
 PRISONER. CHARLES DE BLOIS IS SLAIN ; AND JOHN DE MONTFORT IS 
 VICTORIOUS. 
 
 A LITTLE before eight in the morning, the two armies advanced 
 near to each other It was a very fine sight, as I have heard those 
 relate who saw it ; for the French were in such close order that one 
 could scarcely throw an apple among them without its falling on a 
 helmet or lance. Each man-at-arms carried his spear right before 
 him, cut down to the length of five feet ; a battle-axe, sharp, strong, 
 and well steeled, with a short handle, was at his side, or hung from 
 his neck. They advanced thus handsomely a foot's pace, each lord 
 in array and among his people, with his banner or pennon before 
 him, well knowing what they were to do. On the other hand, the 
 English were drawn up in the handsomest order. 
 
 The Bretons, under the command cf sir Bertrand du Guesclin, 
 posted themselves with his banner opposite to the battalion of sir 
 Robert Knolles and sir Walter Huet. The Bretons of either party 
 placed the banners of their two lords, vi^ho wzs each called duke, 
 opposite to the other. 
 
 In this first onset, there were hard blows between the lancemen, 
 and a sharp scuffle. True it is, that the English archers shot v»^ellat 
 the commencement ; but their arrov/s hurt not, as the French were 
 too well armed and shielded from them. Upon this, they flung away 
 their bows ; and being light and able men, they mixed with the men- 
 at-arms of thei;- party, and attacked those of the French who had 
 battle-axes. Being men of address and courage, they immediately 
 seized several of these axes, with which they afterwards fought val- 
 iantly and successfully. There were many gallant feats of anns 
 performed ; many u struggle, many a capture, and many a rescue. 
 You must know, that whoever had the misfortune to fall, found great 
 difficulty to rise again unless he was speedily 
 
 The battalion of lord Charles marched straight to that of lord John 
 de Montfort, which was very strong and deep. In his company 
 were the viscount de Rohan, the lords de Leon, Charles de Dinan, 
 de Quintin, d'Ancenis, and de Rochfort, each with his banner dis- 
 played before him. The engagement betv\^een these two battalions 
 was very severe and desperate, and well fought on both sides. That 
 of the earl of Montfort was at first thrown into confusion ; but sir 
 Hugh Calverly, who was upon its wing with a good battalion of gal- 
 lant men, perceiving them giving way and opening their ranks, drove 
 the enemy back, and replaced everything by force of arms. This 
 action was certainly of great use to them.. 
 
 In another part of the plain, sir Olivier de Clisson, sir Eustace 
 d'Ambreticourt, sir Matthew Gournay and several other valiant 
 knights and squires, fought valorously with the battalion of the earls 
 of Auxerre and Joigny, which was very numerous and deep, and 
 crowded with several able men-at-arms. Many bold actions were 
 performed on both sides : prisoners and rescues were frequent. The 
 French and Bretons fought in earnest with their battle-axes. The 
 lord Charles showed himself a marvellously good knight, eagerly 
 seeking for and engaging his enemies. His adversary, the earl of 
 Montfort, fought with equal gallantry ; and each person spoke of them 
 according to their deserts. 
 
 Sir John Chandos proved himself more able than his opponents ; 
 for he was at the same time bold and hardy, redoubted by his adver- 
 saries in battle, as well as wise and discreet in council, giving the 
 clearest orders. He advised the earl in everything, and, in order to 
 animate him and his people, said to them, " Do so and so ; march to 
 to this side or to that." The young earl of Montfort believed all he 
 said, and followed his advice. 
 
 In another part, sir Bertrand du Guesclin, the lords du Pont, de 
 Tournemine, d'/Avaugour, de Raix, de Loh6ac, de Malestroit, de 
 Prie, and many other able knights and squires of Brittany and Nor- 
 mandy, who were there on the side of the lord Charles, fought very 
 determinedly, and did many handsome d«eds of arms. The battle 
 was so warmly contested that all the battalions were engaged, except 
 the rear-guard of the English, which sir Hugh Calverly commanded. 
 This battalion kept always on one wing, and never engaged with 
 any, but was solely occupied in recovering and bringing back to their 
 ranks those who were thrown into confusion. 
 
 A].-nong other knights, sir Olivier de Clisson played his part hand- 
 somely, and did marvels with his battle-axe, by which he opened and 
 cut through the ranks, so that none dared to approach him. Once, 
 indeed, his eagerness brought him into great peril ; for he advanced 
 so forward that he had the battaUon of the earl of Auxerre and 
 Joigny upon him, and had hard work to extricate himself. He re- 
 ceived in this affiir a stroke of a battle-axe, w^hich struck off the visor 
 of his helmet ; and its point entered liis eye, which he afterwards 
 lost. He was not, however, for this, a less gallant knight during the 
 whole of the day. 
 
 Battalions and banners rushed against each other, and sometimes 
 were overthrown, and then up again. Among the knights, sir John 
 Chandos showed his ability, valorously fighting with his battle-axe : 
 he gave such desperate blows, that all avoided him : for he was of 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 151 
 
 great stature and strength, well made in all his limbs. He advanced 
 to attack the battalion of the earl of Auxerre and the French. Many- 
 bold actions were performed ; and through the courage of himself 
 and people, he drove this battalion before him, and threw it into such 
 disorder that, in brief, it was discomfited. All their banners and 
 pennons were thrown on the ground, torn and broken : their lords 
 and captains were in the greatest danger ; for they were not succored 
 by any, their people being fully engaged in fighting and defending 
 themselves. To speak ti-uly, when once an army is discomfited, 
 • those who are defeated are so much frightened, that if one fall, three 
 follow his example, and to these three ten, and to ten thirty ; and 
 also, should ten run away, they will be followed by a hundred. Thus 
 it was at the battle of Auray. 
 
 These lords shouted again and again their cries of war, as well as 
 their banner-bearers, which some who heard them answered ; but 
 others were too much in the rear, and from the greatness of the crowd 
 could not advance, so that the earl of Auxerre was desperately 
 wounded, and taken, under the pennon of sir John Chandos : he 
 gave his pledge as a prisoner, as well as the earl of Joigny and the 
 lord de Prie, a great banneret in Noi-mandy. The other battalions 
 fought very valiantly, and the Bretons made a good appearance still. 
 It must however, to speak loyally of this battle, be allowed, that they 
 did not keep their line nor array (as it seemed) like the English and 
 Bretons on the side of Montfort. The wing commanded by sir Hugh 
 Calverly was to them, in this battle, of the greatest advantage. When 
 the English and Bretons of the Montfort party perceived the French 
 to be in confusion, they were much rejoiced. Some of the French 
 had their horses got ready, which they mounted, and began to fly as 
 fast as they could. 
 
 Sir John Chandos then advanced with a part of his company, and 
 made for the battalion of sir Bertrand du Guesclin, where many cour- 
 ageous deeds were doing ; but it had been already broken, and several 
 good knights and squires slain. Many a hard blow v/as given by 
 the battle-axes, and many a helmet opened, so that several were 
 wounded and killed. To say the truth, neither sir Bertrand nor his 
 people were able to withstand the strength of their adversaries. Sir 
 Bertrand was made prisoner by an English squire, under the pennon 
 of sir John Chandos. In this conflict, sir John received the pledge 
 as prisoner, from a baron of Brittany, called the lord of Raix, a won- 
 derfully hardy knight. After this, the Bretons and their battalion 
 being broken, were as good as defeated : the others being in disorder, 
 took to flight, each in the best way he could to save himself, except 
 some good knights and squires of Brittany, who would not quit their 
 sovereign, the lord Charles de Blois, preferring death to reproach. 
 They collected themselves together, and rallied round him, fighting 
 valiantly. The lord Charles and his companions kept their ground a 
 long time, by their valor in defending themselves : at last, however, 
 it was of no avail, for they were defeated and put to the rout by 
 numbers ; for the whole strength of the English was drawing toward 
 them. The banner of the lord Charles was conquered, cast to the 
 ground, and the bearer of it slain : he himself was also killed facing 
 his enemies, as well as a bastard of his called the lord John de Blois, 
 with many other knights and squires of Brittany. 
 
 It appears to me, that orders had been given to the English army, 
 that if they should gain the battle, and the lord Charles were found 
 or made prisoner, no ransom should be taken for him, but that they 
 should kill him. In a similar case, the French and Bretons had given 
 the like orders respecting the lord John de Montfort ; for in this day 
 each party wished, by battle, to pat an end to the war. 
 
 When a pursuit took place, great slaughter and many mischiefs 
 happened, and several good men were killed or made prisoners. 
 The whole flower of chivalry, who had that day taken the side of 
 lord Charles de Blois, were either prisoners or slain, particularly the 
 bannerets of Brittany. Among the dead, lay the lord Charles de 
 Dinan, the lords de Leon, d'Ancenis, d'Avaugour, de Loh^ac, de 
 Gargolle, de Malestroit, du Pont, and many whose names I cannot 
 remember. There were made prisoners, the viscount de Rohan, sir 
 Guy de Leon, the lords de Rochefort, de Raix, de Rieux, de Tourne- 
 mine, sir Henry de Malestroit, sir Olivier de Mauny, the lords de 
 Riville, de Franville, de Raineval, with several from Normandy, and 
 many good knights and squires from France, with the earls of Aux- 
 erre and Joigny. In a word, the defeat and loss were immense : 
 numbers were slain in the field, as well as in the pursuit, which con- 
 tinued for eight good leagues, even as far as Vannes. A variety of 
 accidents happened this day which had never coxne to my knowledge, 
 and many a man was killed or made prisoner. Some fell into good 
 hands, where they met with kind and civil masters. 
 
 This battle was fought near to Auray, in the year of our Lord 1364. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXXVIII. 
 
 THE CHIEFS ATTACHED TO THE EARL OF MONTFORT RETIRE AFTER THE 
 VICTORY AT AURAY. THE EAFvL'S CONDUCT, ON SEEING CHARLES DE 
 BLOIS DEAD. TRUCES GRANTED FOR BURYING THE SLAIN. IN WHAT 
 MANNER THE KING OF ENGLAND WAS INFORMED OF THE EVENT OF THIS 
 BATTLE OF AURAY. 
 
 After the total defeat of lord Charles's anny, when the field of 
 battle was free, and the principal leaders, English and Bretons, were 
 
 returned from the pursuit, sir John Chandos, sir Robe/t Knolles, si; 
 Eustace d'Ambreticourt, sii Matthew Gournay, sir John Boursier,* 
 sir Walter Huet, sir Hugh Calverly, sir Richard Burley, sir Richard 
 Tancon,t and several others, drawing near to the earl of Montfort, 
 came to a hedge, where they began to disann themselves, knowin ,' 
 the day was theirs. Some of them placed their banners and pennons 
 in this hedge, with the arms of Brittany high above all, in a bush, as 
 a rallying post for their army. 
 
 Sir John Chandos, eir Robert Knolles, sir Hugh Calverly and others, 
 then approached to the earl of Montfort, and said to him, smiling ; 
 " My lord, praise God, and make good cheer, for this day you have 
 comjuered the inheritance of Brittany." He bowed to them very 
 respectfully, and then said, loud enough to be heard by all around 
 him ; Sir John Chandos, it is to your valor and prudence that I am 
 indebted for the good fortune of this day : this I know for a truth, 
 as well as all those who are with me : I beg you will, therefore, re- 
 fresh yourself out of my cup." He then extended to him fi flagon 
 full of wine, and his cup, out of which ho himself had just drank, 
 adding, " After God, I owe more thanks to you than to all the rest 
 of the world." As he finished these words, the lord de Clisson 
 returned, out of breath and very hot. He had purj^ucd the enemy a 
 long way, and had ju^t left them, bringing back his men, with a 
 number of prisoners. He advanced directly to the earl of Montfort 
 and the .knights who were about him, leaped ofl" his courser, and 
 refreshed iumself with them. While they were thus together, two 
 knights anJ two heralds returned, who had been sent to examine the 
 dead bodies in the field, to know what was become ef the lord Charles 
 de Blois : for they were uncertain if he had been slain or not. They 
 cried with a load voice, " My lord, be of good elieer, for wc have 
 seen your adversary lord Charles de Blois among the dead." Upon 
 this, the earl of Montfort rose up and said, he wished to see him him- 
 self, for that, " he should have as much pleasure in seeing him dead 
 as alive." All the knights then present accompanied him to the spot 
 where he was lying apart from the others, c:overed by a shield, which 
 he ordered to be taken away, and looked at him very sorrowfully. 
 After having paused a while, he exclaimed ; " Ha. my lord Charles, 
 sweet cousin, how much mischief has happe;ied to Brittany from your 
 having supported by arms your pretensions I God help me, I am 
 truly unhappy at finding you in thi;, situadon, b-.it at present this 
 cannot be amended." Upon which he burst iiUu tears. Sir John 
 Chandos, perceiving this, pulled him l)y the skirt, and said : " My 
 lord, my lord, let iis go away, and return thanks to God for the suc- 
 cess of the day: for without the death of this person, you never would 
 have gained your inheritance of Brittany." 
 
 The earl then ordered that lord Charles's body should be carried 
 to Guingamp,t which was immediately done with great respect, and 
 he was most honorably interred. This vvas but liis due, as he was 
 a good, loyal, and vaUant knight. His body w^is afterwards sancti- 
 fied by the grace of God, and venerated as Syint Charles. Pope 
 Urban V. who was the reigning pointift', appro\ ed of it, by canonic 
 zing it ; for it performed then, as it does to this d.iy, many miracles.^ 
 
 After these orders, when the dead were stripped, and the victors 
 returned from the pursuit, they all retired to the (juarters which they 
 had left that morning. They disarmed themselves ; and having 
 taken some refreshments, of which they had an ample provision, 
 they -attended to their prisoners. Those that were wounded, were 
 moved and dressed : even the servants who had suffered were well 
 taken care of. 
 
 On the Monday morning, the earl of Montfort sent information to 
 the city of Vannes, and to the neighboring towns, that he should 
 grant a truce for three days, in order that those slain in the battle 
 might be buried in consecrated ground. This conduct was very 
 pleasing to all. 
 
 The earl of Montfort sat down before the castle of Auray, de 
 daring he would not depart thence until he had possession of it 
 News was spread abroad with great celerity, and in different places, 
 that the earl of Monfort, by the help and assistance of the English, 
 had gained the victory ; that the lord Charles was defeated and slain ; 
 and that all the knights of Brittany, who had ided with the lord 
 Charles, were either taken prisoners or dead. Sir John Chandos 
 had the whole honor of this battle ; for all the. knights, lords, and 
 squires who had been engaged in it, declared that it was solely ow- 
 ing to his prudence and prowess they had gained the day. 
 
 The friends and allies of lord Charles v/ere much afliicted at thib 
 news, as was natural for them to be ; but the king of France was the 
 most hurt ; for this defeat aflfected him greatly, considering tn^t n^any 
 of the knights of his realm had been made prisoners and killed. 
 Among the first, sir Bertrand du Guesclin, whom he much loved ; 
 the earls of Auxen-e, of Joigny, and all the barons ot Brittany with- 
 out exception. The king of France, therefore, sent his brother, the 
 duke of Anjou, to the borders of Brittany, to the assistance of the 
 
 * Sir John Bourchier.-BARNES. t Sir Richard Taunton.-BARNES. 
 
 ■ J Guingamp-a town of Brittany, diocese of Tregui2r. . „ - a 
 
 § This is a mistake of Froissart. There was some such intention in the pope s mind, 
 us there are extant letters from him to John duke of Brittany on this subject ; but when 
 he understood the manner of his death, he was not looked upon as a martyr Le was 
 very angry with thosewho had given luin such honors, without the approbation of tbe 
 apostolic see, and, by his letters to the bishops of Bnttany, enjoined them to prohib» 
 such Uiings being done in future.-BARNEs's Ht^t. Edw. IIL. p. 660. 
 
152 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 country, which was much distrepsed by the loss of their lord, Charles 
 de lilois; and to comfort and condole with the duchess of Brittany, 
 his widow, -who was in the deepest affliction. This it was the duty 
 of ihe duke to do; but he was the more earnestly engaged in this 
 melancholy task, having married her daughter. He therefore most 
 willingly gave his promise of advice, assistance, and succor to the 
 large cities, towns, casdes, and to all the country of Brittany in 
 which the duchess, whom he called his mother, and the whole 
 country, had for a long time great confidence, until the king of France, 
 to avoid all difficulties, made other arrangements, as you shall here- 
 after be informed of. 
 
 News of this victory was brought to the king of England ; for the 
 earl of Montfort had written to him on the fifth day after the battle 
 of Auray, anid sent the intelligence, with credential letters, by a 
 pursuivant-at-arms, who had been in the engagement, to the town of 
 Dover. The king of England nominated him his herald, and gave 
 him the name of Windsor,* with a handsome present of money. 
 Through this herald, and from some knights of both parties, I have 
 been informed of the whole. With regard to the cause why the 
 king of England was then at Dover, you shall immediately learn. 
 It is a well-known fact, that proposals for a marriage between the 
 lord Edmund earl of Cambridge, son of the king of England, and 
 the daughter of earl Lewis of Flanders, had been treated of, and 
 different negotiations entered upon three years before :t to which 
 marriage the earl of Flanders had but lately given his consent, pro- 
 vided a dispensation could be obtained from pope Urban V., as they 
 were very nearly allied. 
 
 The duke of Lancaster, and the lord Edmund his brother, attended 
 by many knights, had been to visit the earl of Flanders, who received 
 them with every mark of distinction ; and, to show greater affection 
 and love, he had accompanied them to Calais, and crossed the sea 
 to Dover, where the king and part of his council had remained. 
 When the before-mentioned pursuivant brought to this place the 
 news of the affair at Auray, as it has been told, the king and his 
 barons were much rejoiced at the event ; as was also the earl of 
 Flanders, on account of the advancement of his cousin-german the 
 earl of Montfort. 
 
 The king of England, the earl of Flanders, and the other barons, 
 staid at Dover three days, which were spent in feasts and entertain- 
 ments. When they indulged in these sufficiently, and had finished 
 the affairs on which they had met, the earl of Flanders took his leave 
 of the king, and departed. 
 
 It seems to me, that the duke of Lancaster and the lord Edmund 
 crossed the channel with the eai-1, and attended him until he arrived 
 at Bruges. We will not speak longer of this matter, but return to 
 the earl of Montfort, and mention how he conducted himself in 
 Brittany. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXXIX. 
 
 THE EARL OF MONTFORT CONQUERS AURAY AND SEVERAL OTHER PLACES 
 FROM THE WIDOW OF LORD CHARLES DE BLOIS. KIN& CHARLES INTER- 
 POSES BETWEEN THEM, AND MAKES PEACE. A PEACE IS ALSO MADE 
 BETWEEN THE KINGS OF FRANCE AND NAVARRE, THROUGH THE MEDIUM 
 OF THE CAPTAL DE BUCH. 
 
 The earl of Montfort, as it has been before related, laid siege to 
 Auray, and declared that he would not leave it until he had con- 
 quered it ; at which those of the castle were not very well pleased. 
 They had lost their captain, Henri de Hauternelle, who had fallen 
 in the battle with the flower of the garrison ; so that they were very 
 few to defend it, and without hope of assistance. They took coun- 
 sel together, whether it would not be advisable- to surrender, on 
 having their lives and fortunes saved, and on these terms entered 
 into a negotiation with the earl. The earl, who had many other 
 places to look to, and was not certain how the country would act 
 after this victory, accepted their terms, allowing those who would 
 not remain with him to depart according to their inclinations. He 
 then took possession of the castle, new garrisoned it, and marched 
 forward with his whole army, which increased daily ; for men-at-arms 
 and archers came to him in crowds, and many knights and squires 
 turned to his party, especially those of Lower Brittany. 
 
 He came before the good town of Jugon,t which shut its gates 
 against him. He remained there three days, and ordered it to be 
 assaulted twice, which occasioned many within and without the 
 walls to be badly wounded. Those in Jugon, seeing themselves 
 thus hardly pressed, and no hopes of aid, did not wish to be further 
 harassed : they acknowledged, therefore, the earl of Montfort for 
 their lord, opened the gates, and swore homage and fealty to him, 
 which they faithfully promised to keep. The earl changed all the 
 municipal officers, appointing new ones in their stead. 
 
 He then advanced toward the city of Dinan,§ and laid siege to 
 it, which continued during the winter ; for that town was well fur- 
 nished with men-at-arms and provision : besides, the duke of Anjou 
 
 * This was tlie first institution of a Windsor herald, an office which has continued to 
 the present time.— Ed. 
 
 iCiA^u ^''^^ "mention I find in Rymer is dated 7th February, 1362— the second. 20th July, 
 l*4-the third, the articles of marringe. dated I9th October, at Dover, 1366-the fourth, 
 to postpone the day of mnrriage, Windsor. 18th December, 1364. 
 
 i Juson— a town in Brittany, diocese of St. Pol. J 
 
 § Dinan-a considerable town in Brittany, diocese of St Malo. 
 
 had exhorted them to behave themselves as good men should do (for 
 he had stssisted them :) this made them hold out, and suffer many 
 a sharp assault. When they found their provision growing low, and 
 that no relief was coming to them, they entered into a treaty of peace 
 with the earl, who willingly listened to it ; for he was desirous of 
 nothing but that they should acknowledge him as their lord, which 
 they did. He made a solemn entry into the town of Dinan, where 
 all the inhabitants swore homage and fealty to him. 
 
 After this, the earl marched with his army to the city of Quimper 
 Corentin.* He laid close siege to it, and ordered large machines to 
 be brought from Vannes and Dinan, saying, he would have it before 
 he left it. I must now inform you, that the English and the Bretons 
 of Montfort's party, such as sir John Chandos and others, who had 
 made prisoners at the battle of Auray, would not accept of ransoms 
 for them, nor allow them to go and seek for money ; because they 
 were unwilling they should again assemble in a body and offer them 
 battle : they sent them into Poitou, Saintonge, Bordeaux, and la 
 Rochelle, to remain there as prisoners. During this time, the Eng- 
 lish and Bretons conquered all Brittany, from one end to the other. 
 While the earl of Montfort was besieging the city of Quimper Co. 
 rentin, to which he did much damage by his machines that played 
 night and day, as well by his assaults, his men overran the country, 
 leaving nothing unpillaged. 
 
 The king of France was duly informed of all that was going on : 
 many councils were held to consider how he could turn these affairs 
 of Brittany to his own interest ; for they were in a desperate situa- 
 tion, unless promptly remedied, and he would be forced to call upon 
 his subjects to support him in a new war against England on account 
 of Brittany. This his council advised him not to think of ; but, after 
 many deliberations, they said to him : " Our most dear lord, you have 
 supported your cousin, the lord Charles de Blois, in Brittany, as did 
 the king your father, and your grandfather Philip, who gave to him 
 the heiress of the last duke of Brittany in marriage ; by which means 
 much evil has befallen Brittany and the neighboring countiies. Since 
 the lord Charles de Blois, your cousin, was slain in defending that 
 country, there is no one now of his party in a situation to resume the 
 war ; for at this moment those to whom it belongs, and whom it 
 touches so nearly, are prisoners in England : we mean the lord John 
 and lord Guy de Blois, his two sons. We hear every day of the 
 earl of Montfort conquering towns and castles, which he possesses 
 as his lawful inheritance : by this means you will lose your rights, as 
 well as the homage of Brittany, which is certainly a great honor and 
 a noble appendage to your crown. This you ought to endeavor to 
 keep ; for, if the earl of Montfort should acknowledge for his lord 
 the king of England, as his father did, you will not be able to recover 
 it without great wars with England, with whom we are now at 
 peace, and which we would advise you not to break. Everything, 
 therefore, fully considered, we recommend to you, our dear lord, to 
 send embassadors and wise negotiators to the earl of Montfort, to 
 find out what his intentions are, and to enter upon a treaty of peace 
 with him, as well as with the country, and the lady of it, who bears 
 the title of duchess. You will derive from these negotiators positive 
 information as to what are his intentions. At the worst, it will be 
 much better he should remain duke of Brittany (provided that he will 
 acknowledge you for his lord, and pay you all your rights, as a loyal 
 man should do,) than that this business should continue longer in 
 peril." 
 
 The king of France willingly assented to this proposal. The lord 
 John de Craon, archbishop of Rheims, the lord de Craon his cousin, 
 and the lord de Boucicaut, were ordered to set out for Quimper Co- 
 rentin, to treat with the earl of Montfort and his council, as it has 
 been above related. These three lords departed, after having received 
 full instructions how they were to act, and rode on until they came 
 to the siege which the English and Bretons were laying to Quimper 
 Corentin, where they announced themselves as embassadors from 
 France. The earl of Montfort, sir John Chandos, and the members 
 of the council, received them with pleasure. These lords explained 
 the cause of their coming. To this first opening, the earl of Mont- 
 fort replied, "We will consider of it," and fixed a day for his answer: 
 during this interval, these three lords retired to Rennes, where they 
 resided. 
 
 The earl of Montfort dispatched lord Latimer t to the king of 
 England to inform him of the proposals for a peace he had received, 
 and to have his advice on the subject. The king of England, having 
 considered them, advised the earl to make a peace, on condition the 
 duchy should be his ; and also to make handsome reparation to the 
 lady who was called duchess, by assigning her a fixed annuity, or 
 rent-charge, on certain lands where they might collect it without 
 danger. 
 
 Lord Latimer brought back the opinion of the king of England to 
 the eari of Montfort^ who was still before Quimper Corentin. Upon 
 the arrival of these letters, the earl and his council sent to the em- | 
 bassadors from France, who had remaiiied at Rennes : they came 
 immediately to the army, and had a very courteous and civil answer 
 given to them. They were told that the earl of Montfort would never * 
 give up his claims to the duchy of Brittany, which he was now pos. ^ 
 sessed of : that, nevertheless, wherever the king of France should 
 
 * Quimper Corentin— a town in Brittany, Renerality of Nantei. 
 t Lord Latimer. See Dcodale's Baronage. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 cause any cities, towns, or castles to surrender peaceably upon the 
 same terms of homage, fealty, and rights, as they were held from the 
 preceding duke of Brittany, he would willingly acknowledge him for 
 his liege lord, and would do him homage and service in the presence 
 of the peers of France. Moreover, on account of the affinity between 
 him and his cousin, the widow of the lord Charles de Blois, he was 
 willing to do every'hing to assist her ; and would also use his en- 
 deavors to obtai 1 the liberty of his cousins, the lords John and Guy 
 de Blois, who were detained prisoners in England. 
 
 This answer was very agreeable to the French lords who had been 
 sent thither : a day was appointed for them to declare the acceptance 
 of these terms or not : they instantly sent information of what had 
 passed to the duke of Anjou, who had retired to Angers, to whom 
 the king had referred the accepi mce of the terms, according to his 
 pleasure. When the duke of Aajou had considered the proposals 
 for some time, he gave his assent. The two knights who had been 
 sent to him returned with his answer sealed. The embassadors of 
 France again left Rennes, and went to Quimper Corentin, when a 
 peace with the lord of Montfort was finally agreed to and sealed. 
 
 He was to remain duk^ of Brittany ; but, in case he should have 
 no leg:al heirs by marriage, the duchy should revert, after his decease, 
 to the children of lord Charles de Blois. The lady who had been 
 the wife of lord Charles was created countess of Penthievre, with 
 the lands attached to it ; which lands were supposed worth about 
 twenty thousand francs a-year, or if not, that sum was to be made 
 up to her. The earl of Montfort engaged to go to France, whenever 
 he should be summoned, to do homage to the king of France, and 
 acknowledge that he held the duchy of him. Charters and publicly 
 sealed instruments were drawn up of all these articles. Thus had 
 the earl of Montfort possession of Brittany : he remained duke of it 
 for a time, until new wars began, as you shall hear in the following 
 history. Among these articles, it was stipulated, that the lord de 
 Clisson should repossess those lands which king Philip had formerly 
 taken from his family. This lord de Clisson gained the confidence 
 of the king of France, who did whatever he wished, and without him 
 nothing was done. The whole country of Brittany was full of joy 
 upon the conclusion of a peace. The duke received homages from 
 cities, towns, castles, prelates, and gentlemen. 
 
 Soon afterwards, the duke married* the daughter of her royal 
 highness the princess of Wales, which she had borne to her former 
 husband, the lord Thomas Holland. The nuptials were celebrated 
 with gi-eat pomp and magnificence in the good city of Nantes. 
 
 It also happened this winter, that queen Jane, aunt to the king of 
 Navarre, and queen Blanche, his sister, labored so earnestly for peace 
 that it was concluded between the kings of France and Navarre, as- 
 sisted much by the advice and prudence of the captal de Buch, who 
 took great pains in the business. He also obtained his liberty by it. 
 The king of France showed him great marks of esteem, and, as a 
 proof of it, gave him the handsome castle of Nemours, with all its 
 rights, appurtenances, and jurisdictions, which were worth three 
 thousand francs of revenue. The captal became, by this means, 
 liege man to the king of France. The king was well pleased at 
 receiving him a homager; for he loved much the service of a knight 
 such as the captal ; but he was not so long, for. when he was returned 
 into the principality to the prince, who had been informed of what 
 had passed, he was much blamed, and told that he could not acquit 
 himself loyally in his service to two lords : that he was over covetous, 
 when he accepted of lands in France, where he was neither honored 
 nor beloved. When he found himself in this situation, and so treated 
 and taunted by the prince of Wales, his own natural lord, he was 
 quite ashamed of himself, and made excuses, saying, " that he was 
 not by any means too much connected with the king of France, and 
 that he could very easily undo all that had been done." He sent, 
 therefore, by his own squire, his homage back to the king of France, 
 renounced all that had been given him, and remained attached to the 
 prince. 
 
 Among the articles of the treaty between the kings of France and 
 Navarre, the towns of Mantes and Meulan were to be given the king 
 of France, who restored to the king of Navarre other castles in Nor- 
 mandy. 
 
 About this tim^, the lord Louis de Navarre set out from France, 
 and passed through Lombardy, to espouse the queen of Naples, t 
 At his departure, he borrowed of the king of France sixty thousand 
 francs, upon the security of some castles which belonged to him in 
 Normandy. . He survived his marriage with that queen but a short 
 time. May God forgive him his faults! for he was a good and 
 courteous knight. 
 
 * Johanna of Holland, daughter of Thomas earl ^^Kent— married 1366— died, without 
 issue, 1386.— Anderson. 
 
 t ** The queen of Naples." This must have been the too celebrated Jane, but I can- 
 not find the marriage mentioned in any other book. [Q,ueen Joan of Naples married 
 James of Arragon, called the infant of Majorca, in 1362; he died in 1375. It is probably 
 to this marriage that Froissarl alludes, but he is mistaken in naming Louis as the hus- 
 band.— Ed .} 
 
 CHAPTER CCXXX. 
 
 A WAR IN SPAIN BETWEEN THE KING, DON PEDRO OF CASTILLE, AND 
 HIS BASTARD BROTHER HENRY — TO WHOSE AID THE LORD JOHN DE 
 BOURBON AND SIR BERTRAND DU GUESCLIN LEAD THE PILLAGING 
 COMPANIES. HENRY, BY THEIR MEANS, IS CROV/NED KING OF CAS- 
 TILLE. 
 
 At this period,* those companies of freebooters were so much 
 increased in France that the government did not know what to do 
 with them, since the wars in Brittany and those with the king of 
 Navarre were now put an end to. These companies having been 
 brought up to arms, and taught to live on pillage and plunder alone, 
 neither could nor would abstain from it. Their great resource was 
 France; and these companions called the kingdom of France their 
 domain. They dared not, however, make any attempts on Aqui- 
 taine, for the country would not have suffered it ; besides, to say the 
 truth, the greater number of their captains were Gascons and Eng. 
 lish, or persons attached to the king of England or prince of Wales. 
 Some lords of Brittany were among them, but they were few in num- 
 ber. On this account, marjy of the inhabitants of France murmured 
 much, and complained secretly of the king of England and the 
 prince, that they did not act well toward the king of France in not 
 assisting him to drive these bad people out of the realm. They 
 were better pleased to see them with their neighbors than among 
 themselves. The wisest of the kingdom declared, that if something 
 were not speedily done in this business, either by fighting or getting 
 rid of them out of the country, by a handsome present in money, 
 they would destroy the noble kingdom of France. 
 
 There was at the time a king in Hungary who was desirous of 
 having their assi t ince, and would have given them full employment 
 against the Turks, with whom he was at v/ar, for they had done him 
 much mischief. He wrote, therefore, to pope Urban V, (who was 
 then at Avignon, and who would gladly have seen France delivered 
 from these companies,) and also to the king of France and to the 
 prince of Wales. He wished to enter into a treaty with their lead- 
 ers, and offered large sums of money to them and a free passage ; 
 but they would not listen to it, saying, that they would not go so far 
 to make war. It was told them by their oldest captains, who were 
 well acquainted with the country of Hungary, that there were such 
 narrow passes, if they should in any combat be engaged in them, they 
 would never be able to get out, but must infallibly be cut off". This 
 report frightened them so much, that they had not any desire to go 
 thither. When pope Urban and the king of France found these 
 wicked people were not likely to come into their plan, and would 
 not quit the kingdom, but, on the contrary, multiplied daily, they 
 thought upon another method to free' the country from them. 
 
 There was in these times a king of Castillo, of the name of Don 
 PedrOjt whose mind, full of strange opinions, v/as very rebellious 
 and refractory to all the regulations and commands of the church : 
 he wanted to subdue his Christian neighbors, more especially the 
 king of Arragon, of the name of Peter,t who was a good Catholic : 
 he had even taken from him part of his possessions, and was pre- 
 paring to seize the remainder. 
 
 This king, Don Pedro of Castillo, had three bastard brothers, chil. 
 dren of the good Alphonso his father and a lady called la Riche Done.§ 
 The eldest was named don Henry ; the second, don Tello ; the 
 third, don Sancho.|| Don Pedro hated them mortally ; and, could 
 he have laid hands on them, he would have had them beheaded. 
 They had been, however, much loved by their father, who in his 
 lifetime had given to Henry, the eldest, the county of Trastamare ; 
 but the king, don Pedro his brother, had taken it from him by force, 
 and every day was harassing him. This bastard Henry was a very 
 valiant and worthy knight : he had been a long time in France, 
 where he followed the profession of arms, and had served under the 
 king of France, IT whom he loved much. 
 
 The king don Pedro, as common report told the story, had by dif- 
 ferent means caused the death of their mother, which, as was natural, 
 gave them great displeasure. He had banished and murdered many 
 of the greatest barons of the realm of Castille. He was withal so 
 cruel, and of such a horrid disposition, that all men feared, suspected 
 and hated him, but dared not show it. He had also caused the 
 death of a very good and virtuous lady, whom he had married, the 
 lady Blanche, daughter of duke Peter de Bourbon, and cousin-ger- 
 man to the queen of France and to the countess of Savoy. AH her 
 relations, who are of the noblest blood in the world, were most ex. 
 ceedingly irritated by the manner of her death,** There was also a 
 report current among the people, that king Peter had even formed 
 an alliance with the kings of Benamarine,tt Granada and Treme. 
 
 * This period— 1365. t Don Pedro— the fourth, surnamod the cruel. 
 
 % Peter— the fourth, surnamed the Ceremonious. 
 § La Richa Donna— Eleanora de Guzman. 
 
 II Sancho. In 1' Art de verifier les Dates, the second son is called Frederick, and the 
 third D. Tello. Frederick was murdered by Don Pedro, 1358. 
 
 Ti King of France-John. Uon Henry was at the battle of Poitiers. 
 
 ** She was puisoned, by Don Pedro's orders, in the castle of Medina Sidonla, where 
 he had confined her.— Choisy. Hist. Charles V. Others say, smothered between two 
 cushions. 
 
 tt Benamarine. Aben Jacob, king of Fez, sent his son Abomelique to take possession 
 of lands given him by the king of Granada, as a barrier against Alphonso XI. He 
 landed with his fleet at Algeziras 1331, with a number of Benamarine Moors, and 
 formed a nert' kingdom in Spain, styling himself king of Algeziras and Ronda.->DlL' 
 lon's Hist. Peter the Cruel, vol. i. p. 14. 
 
154 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 gen,* who were enemies to God, and infidels. Many were uneasy 
 at wrongs he might do to his country, and lest he should violate the 
 churches : for he had seized their revenues, and detained the priests 
 of holy church in prison, where he 'Vexed them with all sorts of 
 tyranny. 
 
 Great complaints of these proceedings were sent daily to the pope, 
 entreating him to put a stop to them. Pope Urban received and 
 attended to these complaints. He sent embassadors to the king, 
 don Pedro, ordering and enjoining him to come forthwith in person 
 to the court of Rome, to purge and clear himself from all the vil- 
 lainous actions he was charged with. 
 
 Don Pedro, proud and presumptuous as he was, not only refused 
 to obey the mandate, but even received with insults the embassa- 
 dors from the holy father, for which he fell grievously under his indig- 
 nation. This wicked king still persevered in his sin. It was then 
 considered how or by what means he could be corrected ; and it was 
 determined that he was no longer worthy to bear the title of king, 
 nor to possess a kingdom. He was therefore publicly excommuni- 
 cated, in full consistory, held in the apartmeRts of the pope, at Avig. 
 non, and declared to be a heretic and infidel. They thought they 
 should be able to punish him by means of the free companies who 
 were in France. They requested the king of Arragon, who hated 
 very much this Don Pedro, and Henry the bastard of Spain, to come 
 immediately to Avignon. The holy father then legitimated the birth 
 of Henry the bastard, so that he might be in a condition to obtain 
 the kingdom from Don Pedro, who had been cursed and condemned 
 by the sentence of the pope. 
 
 The king of Arragon offered a free passage through his kingdom, 
 with a supply of men-at-arms, and all sorts of provision and aid, to 
 whoever should enter Castille, and attack don Pedro to deprive him 
 of his throne. The king of France was much pleased with this intel- 
 ligence, and took great pains that sir Bertrand du Guesclin, whom 
 sir John Chandos held as his prisoner, should be ransomed. This 
 was fixed at one hundred thousand francs.t The king of France 
 paid one part, the pope and Henry the bastard the other. Soon after 
 his liberty was obtained, they entered into a treaty with the chiefs of 
 those companies, promising them great advantages if they would go 
 into Castille. They readily assented to the proposal by means of h 
 large sum of money, which was divided among them. 
 
 The prince of Wales was informed of this intended expedition, as 
 well as his knights and squires, but particularly sir John Chandos, 
 who was solicited to be one of the leaders of it, in conjunction with 
 sir Bertrand du Guesclin. He excused himself, and said he could 
 not go. This, however, did not put a stop to it : many knights who 
 were attached to the prince, among whom were sir Eustace d'Am- 
 breticourt, sir Hugh Calverly, sir Walter Huet, sir Matthew Gournay, 
 sir Perducas d'Albret, and several others, were of the party. The 
 lord John de Bourbon, earl of March, took the chief command, in 
 order to revenge the death of his cousin the queen of Spain : but he 
 was under the advice and control of sir Bertrand du Guesclin, as he 
 was at that time a very young knight. 
 
 In this expedition were also the lord of Beaujeu, whose name was 
 Anthony, and many worthy knights : such as lord Arnold d'Andre- 
 ghen, marshal of France, the lords Begue de Villaines, d'Antoin in 
 Hainault, de Brisnel,- John de iyeufville,t Guimars de Bailheul, John 
 de Bergutes, the German lord de St. Venant, and others whom I 
 cannot name. All these men-at-arms assembled together in order to 
 begin their march at Montpellier in Languedoc. 
 
 These men-at-arms might be about thirty thousand. They all 
 passed through Narbonne, in their march to Perpignan, in order to 
 enter Arragon by that town.§ All the leaders of these companies 
 were there : the lords Robert Briquet, John Carsneille, Nandon de 
 Bagerant, La Nuit, le petit Meschin, le bourg Camus, le bourg de 
 I'Esparre, Battiller, Espiote, Aymemon d'Ortige, Perrot de Savoye, 
 and numbers more : all of one mind and accord, to dethrone don 
 Pedro from his kingdom of Castille, and to place there in his room 
 the bastard Henry, earl of Trastamare. 
 
 Don Pedro had received information that this army was marching 
 against him : he collected his troops, in order to meet them, and fight 
 boldly on their entering Castille. When they were about to enter 
 
 * Treme^en. By Moreri, this appears to have been a town in Africa, dependent on 
 the kingdom of Talensin. 
 tTheabb6 Choisy says, it was HO.OOO francs. 
 
 In a note to the Memoiies deDu Guesclin, it is said, that " it cost Du Guesclin 100,000 
 francs for his ransom. As he had no ready money, the lords de Matignon, de Montbour- 
 cher and De Laval were his security to the general, (Jhandos. Charles V. paid of it 
 40.000 francs, the pope and Henry Trastamare, afterwards king of Castille, made up the 
 remainder.— Jlfemoires Historiques. 
 
 In a most curious history, called Lez Faiz de Messire Bertrand du Guesclin, which I 
 consider as the editio princeps (from the style and manner of printing) in the Hafod 
 Library, no mention whatever is made of a ransom. 
 
 " Les Faiz du Messine Bertrand du Guesclin, in fol. figures, ancienne edition gothique. 
 
 *'Je n'iii vu ce livre nulle part ailleurs que dans le catalogue du mar6chal d'Estr^es. 
 num. 15052. On seroit porte k croire c'est le meme que le manuscrit de M6nard, qu'ila 
 publi6 comme inconnu jusqu'alors, ainsi qu'il dit dans son avis au lecteur."— JExiract 
 ftom the Bibliotheque Historique dc France du Pere le Long. 
 
 In the Memoires de Bertrand, by M. Guyavtl de Berville, 2 vols. 12mo. it is said that 
 Charles V. paid part of the 100,000 francs of the ransom, and that Bertrand found the 
 rest himself. 
 
 X •' Neufville." Sir John Neville. 
 
 i Choisy says, that one part embarked at Aigues-Mortes for Barcdona, and that the 
 net went by land. 
 
 Arragon, they sent to him, in order to cover and mask their real in. 
 tentions, to ask a free passage through his country, and that provision 
 might be supplied to some pilgrims of God, who had undertaken, 
 through devotion, an expedition into the kingdom of Grenada, to 
 revenge the sufferings of their Lord and Saviour, to destroy the infidels, 
 and to exalt the Cross. Don Pedro laughed at this request, and sent 
 for answer, that he would never attend to such beggarly crew. When 
 the men-at-arms and companions heard this reply, they thought him 
 very proud and presumptuous, and made every haste to do him as 
 much mischief as they could. 
 
 They marched through the kingdom of Arragon, where every ac- 
 commodation was prepared for them, and they found all sorts of pro- 
 vision plenty and cheap ; for the king of Arragon was very joyfuJ 
 on their arrival, because this army would soon reconquer from the 
 king of Caf'tille the whole country which he had taken from him, and 
 kept by force. Whenever they won any towns, castles, cities or 
 fortresses, which don Pedro had seized from Arragon, sir Bertrand 
 and his army gave them back to the king of Arragon, who declared, 
 that from that day forward, he would assist Henry the bastard against 
 don Pedro. All the men-at-arms passec^ the great river* which 
 divides Castille from Arragon, and entered Spain. 
 
 News was brought to the king of Castille, that French, English, 
 Bretons, Normans, Picards and Burgundians had crossed the Ebro, 
 and entered his kingdom : so that they had reconquered every place 
 on the other side of the river that separates Castille from Arragon, 
 which had cost him so much trouble to gain. Upon hearing this, he 
 was in a great rage, and said things should not go on thus. He issued 
 a special ordinance throughout his kingdom, ordering all those to whom 
 it was addressed to meet him without delay, as he was determined to 
 combat these men-at-arms, who had entered the kingdom of Castille 
 
 Too few obeyed his mandate ; for, when he thought to have as. 
 sembled a large force, scarcely any came to the rendezvous. All 
 the barons and knights of Spain fell off from him, in favor of his 
 brother the bastard. This event forced him to fly, or he would have 
 been taken ; and so much was he hated by his subjects and enemies, 
 that not one rem.ained with him, save one loyal knight called Ferdi- 
 nand de Castro. t He was determined never to quit don Pedro, 
 whatever iil-fortune might happen to him. The king of Castille went 
 to Seville, the handsomest city in Spain ; but, not thinking himself 
 in security there, he ordered all his treasures and other things to be 
 packed up in large coffers, which he embarked on board of ships, 
 leaving Seville with his wife, his children, and Ferdinand de Castro 
 Don Pedro arrived that same eveningt (like a knight that had been 
 beaten and discomfited) at a town called Corunna, in Galicia, where 
 there was a very strong castle. He immediately flung himself into 
 it, with his wife and children ; that is to say, two young damsels, 
 called Constance§ and Isabella.|| None of his courtiers followed 
 him, nor had he any of his council with him except the above-named 
 Ferdinand de Ceistro. 
 
 We will now return to his brother, Henry the bastard, and relate 
 how he persevered in his designs. I have before said, that don Pedro 
 was much hated by all his subjects, for the great and numberless acts 
 of injustice he had committed, and for the various murders by which 
 he had cut off so many of the nobility, some of them even by his own 
 hands ; so that, as soon as they knew his brother the bastard had 
 entered Castille with a powerful army, they all joined him, acknow 
 lodged him for their lord ; and, having increased his army, caused 
 all the cities, towns, and castles to open their gates to him, and the 
 inhabitants to do him homage. The Spaniards shouted with one 
 voice, "Long live king Plenry! down with don Pedro, who has 
 treated us so cruelly and wickedly." Thus they conducted Henry 
 throughout the kingdom of Castille ; that is to say, the lord Gomez 
 Garilz,ir the grand master of the order of Calatrava,** and the master 
 
 *The Ebro— probably at Alliiro or Calahorra. 
 
 f'Ferdmund de Castro." In the history of Spain by Ferraras, don Pedro publicly 
 marries the daughter of a don Pedro Fernandez de Castro, v,-ido\v ofdon Diego de Haro, 
 during the life of his wife, Blanche de Bourbon, and of Maria di Padilla, in the year 
 1354 ; whether the daughter of this knight who accompanied him in his flight, I know 
 not. 
 
 J Don Pedro retired first to Portugal, where he offered his daughter Beatrice to the 
 infant of Portugal, in marriage, with a large portion of money he had brought with him. 
 This proposal was rejected, for fear of embroiling the two kingdoms. He retreated to 
 different castles, the governors of which refused to admit him, and stopped at the castle 
 of Montery in Galicia ; from thence he went to San .Tago, and murdered the archbishop, 
 and thence to Corunna, where finding twenty-two vessels, he embarked for Bayonne. 
 Don Ferdinand de Castro did not accompany him, but remained to support Ins interest 
 in Biscay. 
 
 He could not at that time have any wnfe ; for he had murdered Blanche de Bourbon, 
 and Maria di Padilla died before this. He indeed owned his marriage with Maria very 
 solemnly, but was not believed. 
 
 Don Pedro had entered into an alliance with the king of England and prince of Wales 
 as early as 1363, for fear of the vengeance of France, for the murder of queen Blanche 
 
 For more particulars, see Ferraras's Hist, of Spain, Dillon, &c. 
 
 §C(mstance married John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, who claimed the kingdom of 
 Castille after don Pedro's death. 
 
 II Isabella— first wife of Edmund, duke of York, married X372, much lamented for her 
 youthful wantonness, died 1392.— Anderson's R. Gen. 
 
 IT "Gomez Garilz." Denys Sauvage cannot make out who this is; nor is the account 
 correct, according to other historians. Many of the king's friends remained steady to 
 him, as did the bulk of his army. Don Garcia Alvarez de Toledo, master of the knights 
 of St. James, who commanded at Logrono ; Garcia de Padilla, governor of Agreda . 
 Fernando de Toledo, brother to the master of St. James : and Boccanegra, admiral of 
 Castille, were among the number.— Dillon. 
 
 ** " Master of Calatrava." Martin Lopez de Cordov.a, master of CalatraTa, fol 
 lowed don Pedro's fortunes, and went with him from Seville to Portugal.— Dillor. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGL 
 
 AND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 155 
 
 of the order of St. James, making all the people obey him. They 
 crowned him the king in the city of Burgos, where all the prelates, 
 earls, barons, and knights paid him their homage, and swore they 
 would serve and obey him as their king for evermore, and if there 
 ehould.be occasion, would sacrifice their lives for him. King Henry 
 then passed fr;: m city to city, all the inhabitants of which ti-eated 
 him as their kinj. 
 
 Henry made hrge presents and gifts to the foreign knights who 
 had put him in possession of the kingdom of Castille. They were 
 so magnificent that he was considered as a most generous and boun- 
 tiful lord : the Normans, Freiich and Bretons, who had been par- 
 takers of his bounty, said he was deserving of a large fortune, and 
 that he ought to reign with groat prosperity. Thus the bastard of 
 Spain found himself master of C istille. He created his two brothers, 
 don Tello and don Frederick, c arls, and gave them large estates, 
 with other revenues. He continued king of Castille, Galicia, Seville, 
 Toledo and Leon, until the forces of the prince of Wales deprived 
 him of them, replacing the king, don Pedro, in possession of these 
 realms, as you will find related in the following history. 
 
 When king Henry saw himself thus situated, and the business 
 completed, so that all obeyed him, both nobles and serfs, as their 
 king and lord ; that there was not an appearance of opposition to 
 his crown ; he imagined it would add lustre to his name, if he made 
 an irruption into the kingdom of Granada with those free companies 
 that had come from France, as a means of giving them employment. 
 He mentioned it therefore to several of the knights who were about 
 him, when they consented to it. He retained constantly near iiis person 
 those knights v;ho were attached to the prince of Wales ; namely, sir 
 Eustace d'Amfcreticourt, sir Hugh Calverly and others, showing them 
 the most marked attentions and kindness, in expectation of being 
 aided by them i:i his intended expedition to Granada, which he was 
 desirous of undertaking. 
 
 Soon after his coronation, the greater number of French knights 
 took their leave and departed. On their going away, he made them 
 very rich presents. The earl de la Marche, sir Arnold d'Andreghen, 
 the lord de Beaujeu and many more returned to their own country. 
 However, sir Bertrand du Guesclin, sir Olivier de Mauny and the 
 Bretons, as well as the free companies, remained in Castille until 
 other news arrived. Sir Bertrand du Guesclin was made constable 
 of Castille by Henry, with the assent of all the barons of the realm. 
 We will now return to don Pedro. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXXXI. 
 
 EINO PON PEDRO SENDS TO ENTREAT THE PRINCE OF WALES'S ASSIST- 
 ANCE AGAINST HIS BROTHER, HENRY THE BASTARD. HE RETIRES INTO 
 GUIENNE, WHERE HE IS WELL RECEIVED BY THE PRINCE. 
 
 You have heard how don Pedro had cast himself into the castle 
 of Corunna near the sea, with only his v>'ife, his two daughters, and 
 don Fernando de Castro; while in the mean time, his brother, the 
 bastard, through the assistance of the men-at-arms, M^hom he had 
 drawn from France, was conquering Castille, to whom the whcle 
 Qountry had surrendered. All this much alarmed him ; and he did 
 not think himself in perfect safety in the castle of Corunna ; for he 
 had a great dread of his brother the bastard, and well knew that, if 
 he were informed where he was, he would come and seek him with 
 his forces, to besiege him in the castle. He would not wait this dan- 
 ger, but embarked on board a vessel, with his wife, his daughters, 
 don Fernando de Castro, and whatever he had amassed of money 
 and jewels, and put to sea in the night. The wind, however, was 
 so contrary, that they could not clear the coast, but were obliged to 
 return, and again to enter the castle of Corunna. Don Pedro then 
 demanded from his knight, don Fernando de Castro, complaining of 
 his evil fortune, which was so much against him, what was best to 
 be done. " My lord," replied the knight, " before you leave this 
 place, I think it would be proper that you send some person to your 
 cousin, the prince of Wales, to know if he will receive you, and to 
 entreat of him, for God's sake, that he would attend to your distress. 
 He is in a manner bound to it, from the strong connection that has 
 subsisted between the king, his father, and yours in former times. 
 The prince of Wales is of such a noble and gallant disposition that, 
 when he shall be informed of your misfortunes, he will certainly take 
 compassion on you ; and, if he should determine to replace you on 
 your throne, there is no one, sir, that could oppose him, so much is 
 he redoubted by all the world, and beloved by soldiers. You are 
 now safe where you are ; for this fortress will hold you out until 
 some intelligence shall be brought you from Aquitaine." 
 
 Don Pedro immediately assented to this : a letter, in a most lament- 
 able and piteous strain, was written : and a knight, with two squires, 
 having been instructed to undertake this employ, cheerfully accepted 
 it, directly put to sea, and made sail for Bayonne, a city dependent 
 on the king of England, where they safely arrived. They made 
 inquiries after the prince, and learnt that at that time he was at Bor. 
 deaux. Upon this, they rode to Bordeaux, and took up their quar- 
 ters at an inn. Soon afterwards they made for the monastery of St. 
 Andrew, where the prince resided. 
 
 The knight and squires who had come from Spain informed the 
 linights of the prince, that they were Spaniards, and embassadors 
 
 from don Pedro, of Castille. The prince, when informed of it, wished 
 to see them, and to know what business had brought them. They 
 were, upon this, introduced, and having cast themselves on their 
 knees, saluted him according to their custom, recommending the 
 king their lord to him, as they presented him his letter. The prince 
 made thern rise : having taken the letter, he opened it, and after- 
 wards read it more at his leisure. He found that don Pedro had 
 written a most melancholy account of himself, informing him of his 
 hardships and distress, and in what manner his brother the bastard, 
 by means of the great alliances he had made, first, with the pope, 
 then with the kings of France and Arragon, and the free companies, 
 had driven him out of his inheritance, the kingdom of Castille. In 
 that letter, he entreated the prince, for the love of God, and for pity's 
 sake, that he would attend to his situation, and find some remedy to 
 it ; for it was not a Christian-like act, that a bastard, through force, 
 should disinherit a legitimate son, and seize his possessions. 
 
 The prince, who was a valiant and wise knight, having folded up 
 the letter in his hands, said to the embassadors, who had remained 
 in his presence, " You are welcome to us from our cousin the king 
 of Castille : you will stay here in our court, and will not return wi^h- 
 out an answer." The knights of the prince were already prepared ; 
 for they well knew what was proper to be done, and took with them 
 the Spanish knight and his two squires to entertain them hand- 
 somely. The prince had remained in his apartment, thinking much 
 on the contents of the letter from the king of Castille. He imme- 
 diately sent for sir John Chandos, and sir William Felton, the chiefs 
 of his council : one was high steward of Aquitaine, and the other 
 constable. 
 
 When they were come, he said, smiling, " My lords, here is great 
 news from Spain. The king, don Pedro our cousin, complains griev- 
 ously of Henry his bastard brother, who has seized his kingdom, and 
 driven him out of it, as perhaps you may have heard related by those 
 who are come hither. He entreats of us help and assistance, as his letter 
 will more fully explain to you." The prince then again reed it over, 
 word for word, to the knights, who lent a willing ear. When he had 
 read it, he said, " You, sir John, and you, sir William, who are my 
 principal counsellors, and in whom I have the greatest confidence 
 and trust ; tell me, I beg of you, what will be most advisable for us 
 to do in this business." The two knights looked at each other, but 
 uttered not a word. The prince again appealed to them, and said, 
 " Speak boldly, whatever be your opinion." The prince was then 
 advised by these two knights, as I have heard it told afterwards, to 
 send a body of men-at-arms to king don Pedro, as far as Coranna, 
 where he was, and whence he had dated his letter ; to conduct him 
 to Bordeaux, in order more fully to learn what were his wants and 
 intentions : that then they should be better informed from his conver- 
 sation how they were to act. 
 
 This answer pleased the prince. Sir William Felton was ordered 
 to take the command of the expedition ; and the prince asked sir 
 Richard Pontchardon, sir Nele Loring, sir Simon Burley* and sir 
 William Trousseaux to accompany it into Galicia, to escort from Co- 
 runna the king don Pedro, and the remnant of his ai-my. The 
 armament for this expedition was to consist of twelve vessels, which 
 were to be filled with archers and men-at-arms. The above-named 
 knights made proper purveyances for the occasion, and set out from 
 Bordeaux accompanied by the embassadors from don Pedro. They 
 continued their journey to Bayonne, w^here they remained three or 
 four days, waiting for a favorable wind, and to load the ships. On 
 the 6th day, as they were on the point of sailing, don Pedro, king of 
 Castille, arrived there. He had left Corunna in great suspense, being 
 afraid to stay there longer, and had brought with him a few of his 
 people, and as much of his treasures as he could carry away. 
 
 This was great news for the English. Sir William Felton and the 
 other knights waited on him, on his landing, and received him hand- 
 somely. They informed him, that they had prepared themselves, and 
 were on the point of sailing to Corrunna, or farther, had it been ne. 
 cessary, to seek for him, by orders from the prince their lord. Don 
 Pedro heard this with great joy, and returned his warmest thanks to 
 the prince, as well as to the knights then present. Sir William Fel- 
 ton immediately sent the prince information of the arrival of the king 
 of Castille at Bayonne, who was much pleased thereat. These knights 
 did not make any long stay at Bayonne, but, taking the king with 
 them, made for the city of Bordeaux, where they safely arrived. 
 
 The prince, who was anxious to see his cousin the king, don Pedro, 
 and also to do him the more honor, rode out of Bordeaux, attended 
 by his knights and squires, to meet him. When they m.et he saluted 
 him very respectfully, and paid him every attention by speech and 
 action ; for he knew perfectly well how so to do : no prince of his 
 time understood so well the practice of good breeding. After their 
 meeting, when they had refreshed themselves as was becoming them 
 to do, they rode toward Bordeaux. The prince placed don Pedro on 
 his right hand, and would not suflTer it to be otherwise. During their 
 return, don Pedro told the prince his distresses, and in what mannei 
 his brother the bastard had driven him out of the kingdom of Castille 
 He complained bitterly of the disloyalty of his subjects ; for all had 
 deserted him except one knight, don Fernando de Castro, then with 
 him, and whom he pointed out to the prince. The prince comforted 
 him by a most courteous and discreet answer: he begged of him no! 
 
 * Sir Simon Burley— knight of the Garter, &c.— beheaded in the reign of Richard 11 
 
15€ 
 
 CHRONICLBSr OF BNOLAND, PRANCE, SPAIN, &o, 
 
 to be too much cast down ; for, if he had loBt everything, it was fully 
 m the power of God to give him back what he had lost, and more, as 
 well as vengeance upon his enemies. 
 
 Conversing on this subject, as well as on other topics, they rode on 
 to Bordeaux, and dismounted at the monastery of St. Andrew, the 
 residence of the prince and princess. The king, don Pedro, was 
 conducted to an apartment which had been prepared for him. When 
 he had dressed himself suitably to his rank, he waited on the princess 
 and the ladies, who all received him very politely. I could enlarge 
 much on the feasts and entertainments which were made : but I will 
 briefly pass them over, and relate to you how don Pedro conducted 
 himself toward his cousin the prince of Wales, whom he found cour- 
 teous and affable, and willing to attend to his request of aid, notwith- 
 standing some of his council had given him the advice I will now 
 mention. 
 
 Before the arrival of don Pedro at Bordeaux, some lords, as well 
 English as Gascons, who had much wisdom and forethought, were 
 of the prince's council, and by inclination as well as duty, thought 
 themselves bound to give him loyal advice, spoke to the prince in 
 words like the following : " My lord, you have often heard the old 
 proverb of ' All covet, all lose.'* True it is, that you are one of the 
 princes of this world the most enlightened, esteemed, and honored, 
 in possession of large domains and a handsome principality on this 
 side of the sea, and are, thank God, at peace with every one. It is 
 also well known, that no king, far or near, at this present moment 
 dares anger you ; such reputation have you in chivalry for valor and 
 good fortune. You ought, therefore, in reason, to be contented with 
 what you have got, and not seek for enemies. We must add, like- 
 wise, that this don Pedro, king of Gastille, who at present is driven 
 out of his realm, is a man of great pride, very cruel, and full of bad 
 dispositions. The kingdom of Gastille has suffered many grievances 
 at his hands : many valiant men have been beheaded and murdered, 
 without justice or reason ; so that to these wicked actions, which he 
 ordered or consented to, he owes the loss of his kingdom. In addition 
 to this, he is an enemy to the church, and excommunicated by our 
 holy father. He has been long, considered as a tyrant, who, without 
 any plea of justice, has always made war upon his neighbors ; such 
 as the kings of Arragon and Navarre, whom he was desirous to de- 
 throne by force. It is also commonly reported, and believed in his 
 kingdom, and even by his own attendants, that he murdered the 
 young lady, his wife, who was a cousin of yours, being daughter to 
 the duke of Bourbon. Upon all these accounts, it behoves you to 
 pause and reflect before you enter into any engagements ; for what 
 he has hitherto suffered are the chastisements of God, who orders 
 these punishments as an example to the kings and princes of the 
 earth, that they should never commit such wickedness." 
 
 With similar language to this was the prince also addressed by his 
 councils, on the arrival of the king of Castillo at Bordeaux : but to 
 tliis loyal advice they received the following answer : " My lords, I 
 take it for granted and believe that you give me the best advice you 
 are able. I must, however, inform you, that I am perfectly well ac- 
 quainted with the life and conduct of don Pedro, and well know that 
 he has committed faults without number, for which at present he suf- 
 fers : but I will tell you the reasons which at this moment urge and 
 embolden me to give him assistance. I do not think it either decent 
 or proper that a bastard should possess a kingdom as an inheritance, 
 nor drive out of his realm his own brother, heir to the country by 
 lawful marriage ; and no king, or king's son, ought ever to suffer it, 
 as being of the greatest prejudice to royalty. Add to this, that my 
 lord and father and this don Pedro have for a long time been allies, 
 much connected together, by which we are bounden to aid and assist 
 him, in case he should require it." These were the reasons that in- 
 stigated the prince to assist the king of Castillo in his great distress, 
 and thus he replied to his council. No one could afterwards make the 
 smallest change in his determination, but every day it grew firmer. 
 
 When don Pedro arrived at Bordeaux, he humbled himself to the 
 prince, offering him many rich presents, and the promise of further 
 advantage ; for he said, he would make his eldest son, Edward, king 
 of Galicia, and would divide among him and his people the great 
 riches he had left in CasftUe, where it was so well secured and hidden 
 that no one could find its situation except himself. The knights paid 
 a willing attention to these words ; for both English and Gascons are 
 by nature of a covetous disposition. The prince was advised to 
 summon all the barons of Aquitaine to an especial council at Bor- 
 deaux, so that there might be a grand conference held ; when the 
 king don Pedro might lay before him his situation, and his means of 
 satisfying them, should the prince undertake to conduct him back to 
 his own country, and to do all in his power to replace him upon his 
 throne. Letters and messengers were therefore sent to all parts, and 
 the lords summoned : first, the earl of Armagnac, the earl of Com- 
 minges, the lord d'Albret, the earl of Carmaing, the captal de Buch, 
 the lord de Tande, the viscount de Ch^itillon, the lords de I'Escut, de 
 Rosem, de I'Esparre, de Chaumont, de Mucident, de Courton, de 
 Pincornet, and other barons of Gascony and Guienne. The earl of 
 Foix was requested to attend ; but he would not come, and excused 
 himself, having at the time a disorder in one of his legs, which pre- 
 vented him from mounting on horseback : he sent, however, his coun- 
 a \ in his stead. 
 
 * Ha that to otocbe embmieth. hould«th the wek«ljrei.— L9iu>^ Bsamxm. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXXXII . 
 
 THE PRINCE OF WALES HOLDS A GRAND CONFERENCE AT BORDEATTX ON 
 THE AFFAIRS OF THE KING OF CASTILLE. HE RECEIVES LETTERS FROM 
 THR KING OF ENGLAND, TO ASSENT TO THE PROPOSALS OF ASSISTING 
 DON PEDRO. HE MAKES OVERTTTRES TO THE KING OF NAVARRE, FOR A 
 FREE PASSAGE THROUGH HIS KINGDOM, TO ENABLE HIM TO CONDUCT 
 DON PEDRO BACK TO CASTILLE. 
 
 To this conference, which was holden at Bordeaux, there came all 
 the counts, viscounts, barons, and men of abilities, in Saintonge, Poi- 
 tou, Quercy, Limousin, Gascony, and Aquitaine. When they were 
 all assembled, they formed a parliament ; and, having entered upon 
 the business of their meeting, they for three days discussed the situ- 
 ation and future prospect of this don Pedro, king of Castille, who was 
 all the time present, placing himself near his cousin the prince, who 
 spoke in his behalf, and gave the best account he was able of his 
 affairs. It was at last resolved, that the prince should send sufficient 
 embassadors to the king, his father, in England, to know his opinion 
 on the subject : and that, as soon as they should have the king's 
 answer, they would then assemble, and give the prince such good 
 advice as reasonably ought to be satisfactory to him. 
 
 The prince immediately named four knights ; the lord Delawar, 
 sir Nele Loring, sir John and sir Hely de Pommiers ; and ordered 
 them to set out for England. This conference then broke up, and 
 each returned to his home. The king, don Pedro, remained at Bor- 
 deaux with the prince and princess, who entertained him handsomely, 
 and with due honor. 
 
 These four knights began their journey, according to their orders, 
 for England ; and, having embarked on board two ships, they arrived 
 safely at Southampton, through God's good will and favorable winds. 
 They remained there one day, to refresh themselves and to disein- 
 bark their horses and equipage. On the second day, they mounted 
 their horses, and rode on to the city of London, where they inquired 
 after the king, and where he was. They were told he was at Wind- 
 sor. They set out for that place, and were very well received by the 
 king and queen, as much through love for the prince their son, as 
 because they were lords and knights of great renown. 
 
 These lords and knights gave their letters to the king, who opened 
 them and had them read. After having for a short time considered 
 their contents, he said : " My lords, you may retire : I will send for 
 some of my barons and learned men of my council : we will then 
 give you our answer, that you may return back soon." This reply 
 was very pleasing to the embassadors, who went the next day to 
 London. It was not long before the king of England came to West- 
 minster, where he was met by the greater part of his council ; that 
 is to say, his son the duke of Lancaster, the earl of Arundel, the earl 
 of Salisbury, sir Walter Manny, sir Reginald Cobham, earl Percy, 
 lord Neville, and many others. Among the prelates were the bishops 
 of Winchester, Lincoln, and London. They deliberated for a long 
 time on the letters from the prince, and on the request he had made 
 to the king his father. It appeared reasonable to the king and his 
 council, that the prince should attempt to conduct back and replace 
 the king of Spain on his throne and in his inheritance, which was 
 unanimously agreed on. Upon this, they drew up excellent answers, 
 from the king and council of England, to the prince and all the barons 
 of Aquitaine. They were carried back by the same persons who 
 had brought the letters, to the city of Bordeaux, where they found 
 the prince, and *\ie King don Pedro ; to each of whom they gave other 
 letters which the king of England had sent by them. 
 
 Another conference was determined upon : and, a day being fixed 
 for holding it in the city of Bordeaux, all those who were summoned 
 attended. The letters from the king of England were publicly read, 
 who clearly and decidedly gave his opinion, that the prince his son, 
 in the names of God and St. George, should undertake the restoration 
 of don Pedro to his heritage, from which he had been driven unjustly, 
 and, as it would appear, fraudulently. In these letters, mention was 
 also made, that the king thought himself obliged, from certain treaties 
 which had been formerly entered into between him and his cousin 
 don Pedro, to grant him help and succor, in case he should be re- 
 quired so to do. He ordered all his vassals, and entreated his friends 
 to help and assist the prince of Wales, by every means in their power, 
 throughout this affair, in the same manner as if he himself were pres 
 ent. When the barons of Aquitaine had heard these letters read, 
 and the commands and requests of the king and of the prince their 
 lord, they cheerfully made the following answer : " Sir, we will 
 heartily obey the commands of the king our sovereign. It is but just 
 that we should be obedient both to him and to you : this we will do, 
 and will attend you and don Pedro upon this expedition ; but we 
 wish to know from whom we are to have our pay, as it is not cus- 
 tomary for men-at-arms to leave their habitations to carry on a war 
 in a foreign country without receiving wages." 
 
 The prince, on hearing this, turned toward don Pedro, and said 
 " Sir king, you hear what our people say : it is for you to give them 
 an answer ; for it behoves you so to do who are about to lead them 
 into action." Don Pedro made the following reply to the prince : 
 " My dear cousin, as long as my gold, my silver, and my treasure will 
 last, which I have brought with me from Spain, but which is not so 
 great by thirty times as what I have left behind, I am willing it should 
 be divided among yotir people." Upon which the prince said : " My 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 157 
 
 lord, you speak well : and for the surplus of the debt, I will take that 
 upon myself toward them, and will order whatever sums you may 
 want to be advanced you as a loan, until we shall be arrived in Cas- 
 tille." " By my head," replied don Pedro, " you will do me a great 
 kindness." , . , r 
 
 Several of the most experienced among them, such as the earl ot 
 Armagnac, the lord de Pommiers, sir John Chandos, the captal de 
 Buch, and some others, having considered the business, said, the 
 prince of Wales could not well undertake this expedition without 
 having gained the consent and good-will of the king of Navarre ; for 
 he could not enter Spain without traversing his kingdom, and by the 
 pass of Roncevaux * This entrance to Spain they were not quite 
 sure of obtaining ; for the king of Navarre had lately formed fresh 
 alliances with the bastard Henry. It was therefore debated for a long 
 time, in what manner they could succeed in gaining this important 
 point. The wisest were of opinion, that another meeting should be 
 appointed, and that it should be held in the city of Bayonne ; and 
 that the prince, when there, should send able embassadors to the king 
 of Navarre, to entreat he would come to this conference at Bayonne. 
 This resolution was adopted ; and the conference broke up. They 
 had all a wish to attend the meeting at Bayonne, and a day was fixed 
 for holding it. 
 
 During this interval, the prince sent sir John Chandos and sir 
 William Felton to the king of Navarre, who was at that time in the 
 city of Pampeluna. These two knights, having wisdom and elo- 
 quence, exerted themselves so effectually with the king of Navarre, 
 that he agreed to their request, and gave it under his seal that he 
 would attend the conference at Bayonne. Upon which they returned 
 to the prince, and related to him what they had done. On the ap- 
 pointed day#3r this meeting in the city of Bayonne, the king of Spain, 
 the prince, the earl of Armagnac, the lord d'Albret, and all the barons 
 of Gascony, Poitou, Quercy, Rouergue, Saintonge, and Limousin 
 came thither. The king of Navarre was also there ; to whom the 
 king of Spain and the prince paid every attention, thinking they 
 should not lose by it. 
 
 This conference in the city of Bayonne was long. It lasted five 
 days. The prince and his council had many difficulties before they 
 could get the king of Navarre to consent to their wishes ; for it was 
 not easy to make anything of liim whenever he found that his services 
 were wanted. However, from the great influence which the prince 
 had over him, he brought him at last to swear, promise and seal a 
 treaty of peace, alliance, and confederation with don Pedro. The 
 king of Castille entered into certain engagements with the king of 
 Navarre, which had been proposed to him by the prince of Wales. 
 These engagements were, that don Pedro, as king of both Castilles, 
 should give, under his seal, to the king of Navarre and his heirs, to 
 hold as their inheritance, all the domain of Logrono, with the lands 
 on each side of the river, and also the town, castle, territory, and 
 dependencies of Salvatierra, with the town of St. Jean Pied du Port 
 and its surrounding country ; which towns, castles, and lordships he 
 had in former times taken possession of, and held by force. In addi- 
 tion to this, the king of Navarre was to receive twenty thousand 
 francs, for laying open his country, and permitting the army to pass 
 peaceably through, finding them provisions upon being paid for them : 
 in which sum he acknowledged himself debtor to the king of Na- 
 varre, t 
 
 When the barons of Aquitaine learnt that these treaties were made, 
 and that don Pedro and the king of Navarre were friends, they made 
 inquiry who was to pay them their wages : the prince, who was very 
 eager for this expedition, took that upon himself, king don Pedro 
 having promised punctual repayment. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXXXIII. 
 
 THE PRINCE OF WALES MAKES PREPARATIONS FOR REPLACING- DON PEDRO 
 ON HIS THRONE OF CASTILLE. HENRY THE BASTARD, THOUaH LATE 
 INFORMED OF IT, ENDEAVORS TO PREVENT IT. 
 
 When all those things had been so ordered and settled that every 
 one knew what he was to do, and they had remained in the city of 
 Bayonne twelve days amusing themselves together, the king of Na- 
 varre took his leave, and set out for the kingdom of Navarre whence 
 he had come. The other lords departed also, and each returned to 
 his own home. Even the prince came back to Bordeaux ; but the 
 
 * Roncevaux— a village in Navarre, made famous by the defeat of Charlemagne, m 
 which Orlando and Rinaldo. so much celebrated by the old romances, were slain. 
 
 t See the Fnedera for the underneath treaties, which relate to these transactions. 
 
 The first, treaty between Edward III. and don Pedro, king of Castille, appears to be 
 the 22nd June, 1362. Confirmed 1st February, 1363, and 1st March, 1363. 
 
 " Forbidding all soldiers to enter Spain as enemies," addressed to sir John Chandos, 
 sir Hugh Calverly, &c. December 6th, 1365. 
 
 A treaty, in which don Pedro acknowledges himself debtor to the prince of Wales in 
 56,000 gold florins, of good weight, &c., which the prince, by the king's directions, had 
 paid to the king of Navarre, &c., dated Libourne (a city on the Dordogne, ten leagues 
 distant from Bordeaux,) Sept. 23rd, 1366. The number of witnesses to this deed shows 
 ihat Froissart was misinformed when he says that don Pedro was solely attended by don 
 Fernando de Cnstro. 
 
 Articles of convention between Pedro king of Castille, Charles king of Navarre, and 
 £dward prince of Wales— dated Libourne, Sept. 23rd, 1366. 
 
 There are various other treaties between the king and prince, ai well at the prince's 
 ktter to UtOTF dc Tnutamaift aad tiic aoawcr. btfoie Um battle of r*iavantt«. Sm 
 fiyuMr. 
 
 king of Castille remained at Bayonne. The prince immediately sent 
 his heralds into Spain, to the knights and other captains, who were 
 English or Gascons, attached to or dependent on him, to tignify [da 
 orders to take their leave of the bastard, and to return as speedily as 
 possible ; for he had need of them, and should find them employment 
 elsewhere. When the heralds who were the bearers of these orders 
 to the knights of Castille came to them, they guessed they were sent 
 for home ; they immediately took leave of king Henry in the most 
 courteous manner they could, without discovering either their own 
 or the prince's intentions. King Henry, who was liberal, courteous, 
 and honorable, made them very handsome presents, thanking them 
 most gratefully for their services. Sir Eustace d'Ambreticourt, sir 
 Hugh Calverly, sir Walter Huet, sir Matthew Gournay, sir John 
 Devreux, with their men, left Spain, and returned as speedily as pos- 
 sible. They were followed by several other knights and squires of 
 the prince's household, whose names I cannot remember. 
 
 The free companions were at this time scattered in different part? 
 of the country, and did not receive this intelligence so soon as the 
 other knights. Upon their receiving the information, sir Robert Bri- 
 quet, John Treuelle,* sir Rabours,t sir Perducas d'Albret, sir Garsis - 
 du Chastel, Nandon de Bagerant, the bastard de I'Esparre, the has- 
 tard Camus, the bastard de Breteuil, assembled together and set out 
 on their return. 
 
 King Henry had not heard of the prince's intentions to bring hia 
 brother, don Pedro, back to Castille, so soon as these knights ; and 
 well it was for them he had not ; otherwise if he had received this 
 intelligence, they would not have been suffered to desert so easily ; 
 for he had the power to detain and vex them. However, when he 
 knew the truth of it, he did not seem much affected by it : neverthe- 
 less, he spoke to sir Bertrand du Guesclin, who was still with him, 
 as follows : " Sir Bertrand, think of the prince of Wales : they say, 
 he intends to make war upon us, to replace by force this Jew, who 
 calls himself king of Spain, upon our throne of Castille. What do 
 you say to this ?" To which sir Bertrand replied : " He is so valiant 
 and determined a knight that, since he has undertaken it, he v/ill 
 exert himself to the utmost to accomplish it. I would therefore ad- 
 vise you to guard well all the passes and defiles on every side, so 
 that no one may enter or go out of your kingdom without your leave. 
 In the mean time, keep up the affections of your subjects. I know 
 for a truth, that you will have great assistance from many knights in 
 France, who will be happy to serve you. I will, with your permis- 
 sion, return thither, where I am sure of finding several friends : and 
 I will bring back with me as many as I possibly can." " By my faith," 
 replied king Henry, " you say well ; and I will, in this business, follow 
 everything you shall order." • 
 
 Not long after, sir Bertrand took leave of king Henry, and went 
 to AiTagon, where he was received with joy by the king ; with whom 
 he remained fifteen days, and then departed. He continued his jour- 
 ney to Montpellier, where he found the duke of Anjou, who was very 
 happy to see him, as he loved him much. When he had passed some 
 time there, he took his leave, and went to France, where he had a 
 most gracious reception from the king. 
 
 When it was publicly known through Spain, Arragon and France, 
 that the intentions of the prince of Wales were to replace don Pedro 
 in the kingdom of Castille, it was a matter of great wonder to many 
 and was variously talked of. Some said, the prince was making 
 this expedition through pride and presumption ; that he was jealous 
 of the honor sir Bertrand du Guesclin had obtained, in conquering 
 Castille in the name of king Henry, and then making him king of it. 
 Others said, that both pity and justice moved him to assist don Pedro 
 in recovering his inheritance ; for it^was highly unbecoming a bas- 
 tard to hold a kingdom, or bear the name of a king. Thus were 
 many knights and squires divided in their opinions. King Henry, 
 however, was not idle ; he sent embassadors to the king of Airagon, 
 to entreat him not to enter into any treaty or convention with the 
 prince and his allies ; for that he was, and would continue to be, hia 
 good neighbor and friend. 
 
 The king of Arragon, who esteemed him much, for in former 
 times he had found don Pedro very overbearing, assured him, that 
 upon no account, no, not for the loss of one half of his kingdom, would 
 he enter into any treaty with the prince nor with don Pedro, but would 
 lay open his kingdom to all sorts of men who should wish to enter 
 Spain to his assistance, and would shut it up to all who had evil in 
 tentions against him. This king of Arragon kept faithfully all hi 
 had promised to king Henry ; for as soon as he knew that don Pedrc 
 was aided by the prince, and that the companies were marching thai 
 way, he ordered all the passes of Arragon to be closed, and caused theni 
 to be strictly guarded. He posted men-at-arms and watchmen on 
 the mountains and in the defiles of Catalonia, so that no one coidd 
 pass that way without great danger. 
 
 The companies, however, on their return, found out another road 
 they! had much to endure from famine and other evils before they 
 could be free from danger in Arragon. They advanced to the fron 
 tiers of the country of Foix, but could not obtain permission to pass 
 through it ; for the earl was not desirous that such people should 
 enter his territories. News was brought of their distress to the 
 prince, who was then at Bordeaux, occupying his mind night and 
 
 * " John Treuelle." Barnes calls him sir John Charnells. 
 t " Sii Kabgun." Sir Egbert CIi«ner.—fiAftMX8. 
 
158 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 day on the best means of executing this expedition with honor. He 
 saw that these companies could neither pass nor return to Aquitaine, 
 for the defiles of Arragon and Catalonia were well guarded, and they 
 were now on the borders of the country of Foix very ill at their ease. 
 He was therefore alarmed, lest the king of Arragon or don Henry 
 should gain by force, or by large gifts and promises, these companies 
 (who were upward of twelve thousand men, from whom he ex- 
 pected great assistance,) and they might be engaged to fight against 
 him. The prince, therefore, determined to send sir John Chandos 
 to meet and to retain them. He at the same time ordered him to 
 wait on the earl of Foix, to beg that, for his love to him, he would 
 allow these companies to pass through his country, and that he would 
 pay double the value for any mischief they might commit in their 
 march. Sir John Chandos undertook this journey most willingly, to 
 oblige his lord ; he set out from Bordeaux, and rode on to Dacqs ;* 
 ihence he continued his route until he arrived in the country of Foix, 
 where he waited on the earl. 
 
 He found these companies in a country called Basques,t where he 
 entered into a treaty with them, and managed it so well that they all 
 agreed to serve the prince, in his intended expedition, upon having a 
 handsome sum of money paid down to them, which sir John Chandos 
 swore to see done. He again returned to the earl of Foix, and en- 
 treated him most earnestly that he would permit those companies, 
 who now belonged to the prince, to pass through one end of his do- 
 main. The earl, who was desirous of pleasing the prince, and firmly 
 attached to him, in order to gratify his wishes, complied with the 
 request, provided they did no damage to him or to his lands. This 
 sir John Chandos promised to be answerable for, and sent back one 
 of his squires, attended by a herald, with the treaty he had made 
 with the earl of Foix, to the commanders of the companies. He 
 then returned to Bordeaux, and related to the prince his journey, and 
 the successful issue of it. The prince, who loved him and had great 
 confidence in him, was well pleased with both. The prince was at 
 this time in the full vigor of youth, and had never been weary or 
 satiated with war, since the first time he bore arms, but was always 
 looking forward to some achievement of high renown. This Spanish 
 expedition occupied his mind entirely. Both honor and compassion 
 urged him to replace on his throne, by force of arms, a king who had 
 been driven from it. 
 
 He conversed frequently on this subject with sir John Chandos, 
 and sir William Felton, who were his principal advisers, and asked 
 them their opinions. These two knights truly said : " My lord, this 
 undoubtedly is, without comparison, a much more difficult enter- 
 prise than driving him out of his realm ; for he was detested by his 
 subjects, insomuch that they all fled from him when he most wanted 
 their help. The bastard king at this moment possesses the kingdom 
 from the affection which the nobility, prelates and commonalty bear 
 him ; and therefore they will do everything in their power to keep 
 and maintain him as their king, whatever may be the consequences. 
 It behoves you then to have a sufficient number of archers and men- 
 at-arms ; for you will find, on your entering Spain, work enough for 
 them. We advise you also to melt the best part of your plate and 
 treasure, of which you are abundantly furnished, that it may be coined 
 into money, for you to distribute liberally among the companions who 
 are to serve under you in this expedition, and who, from affection to 
 you alone, will engage to do so ; for as to Don Pedro, they will do 
 nothing on his account. You should send likewise to the king your 
 father, to beg of him to allow you to receive the hundred thousand 
 francs which the king of France is bound to send to England in a 
 short time. You ought also to collect money wherever you can pro- 
 cure it (for you will have need of an immense quantity,) without 
 taxing your subjects or country ; by which means you will be more 
 beloved by them." 
 
 These and such like counsels, equally good and loyal, were at times 
 given by those two knights, and followed by the prince. He had his 
 plate, both gold and silver, broken and coined into money, which he 
 liberally distributed among the free companies. He also sent to Eng- 
 land, to request that he might obtain from the king the hundred 
 thousand francs before mentioned. The king of England, who knew 
 the wants of the prince, immediately complied, wrote to the king of 
 France on this subject, and sent him proper acquittances for the sum 
 he was to pay him. The hundred thousand francs were by this 
 means paid to the prince, who divided them among different men- 
 at-arms. 
 
 During the time the prince passed at Angouleme, he was one day 
 amusing himself in his apartment with many knights of Gascony, 
 Poitouand England, joking each other alternately upon this Spanish 
 expedition (sir John Chandos was at the time absent, on his journey 
 to retain the companies,) when he turned himself toward the lord 
 d'Albret, and said ; " My lord d'Albret, how many men can you 
 bring into the field for this expedition ?" Lord d'Albret was quick 
 in his answer, replying, " My lord, if I wished to ask all my friends, 
 that is, all my vassals, I can bring full a thousand lancos, and leave 
 
 * Ducqs, or Dax— an ancient city of Gascony, on the Adour, forty-two leagues and 
 a half from Bordeaux, fifteen from Pau. Denys Sauvage thinks it ought to be Auch. 
 This town is certainly more in a direct line to Foix, from Bordeaux, than Dax. It is 
 d'Ast in liis edition : but my MSS. have Dax. 
 
 t " Basques." Le pays de Basques is a small country of France, near -the Pyr6n6es, 
 b«twe«n the river Adour, the frontiers of Spain, the ocean and B6am. It comprehends 
 it Labour, la Bute jNavane. and tli« country of Soule. Bayonne is the capital. 
 
 a sufficiency behind to guard the country." " By my head, lord 
 d'Albret, that is handsome," returned the prince ; then lookingatsii 
 William Felton and other English knights, he added in English, "On 
 my faith, one ought to love that country well where there is a baron 
 who can attend his lord with a thousand lances." Then, again ad- 
 dressing himself to the lord d'Albret, he said ; " Lord d'Albret, with 
 great willingness, I retain them all." " Let it be so, then, in God'a 
 name, my lord," answered the lord d'Albret. This engagement was 
 the cause of much mischief hereafte •, as you will see in the course 
 of this history. < 
 
 CHAPTER CCXXXIV. 
 
 THE VISCOUNT OF NARBONNE, THE SENESCHAL OF TOULOUSE, WITH OTHEK 
 FRENCH LORDS, HAVING ATTACKED SOME OF THE FREE COMPANIES THAT 
 WERE COME INTO FRANCE ACCORDING TO THE ORDERS OF THE PRINCE, 
 ARE DISCOMFITED NEAR MONTAUBAN. THE POPE FORBIDS THE PRISON- 
 ERS WHOM THE COMPANIES HAD TAKEN, AND SET FREE ON THEIR PAROLE 
 AFTER THE COMBAT, TO KEEP THEIR FAITH, OR TO PAY ANY RANSOM. 
 
 We must now return to those free companies who had become 
 allied and connected with the prince. I have already said, that they 
 suffered great hardships before they entered his principality. As soon 
 as they found themselves clear of all danger from Arragon and Cata- 
 lonia, they divided themselves into three bodies, with the consent of 
 the earls of Foix and Armagnac and the lord d'Albret. One of these 
 divisions marched along the borders of the countries of Foix and 
 Toulouse ; another through the country of Armagnac, and the third 
 toward Albret. The first division consisted chiefly of Gascons ; and 
 they might, in the whole, amount to three thousand ; but they had 
 again divided themselves into companies of three and four hundreds, 
 and thus advanced toward Toulouse and Montauban. 
 
 At this time, there was a knight of France, high steward of Tou- 
 louse, whose name was Guy d'Asai.* When he learnt that these 
 companies were near at hand, that they were advancing in divisions, 
 and did not amount, in the whole, to more than three thousand com- 
 batants, who were pinched by hunger, badly armed and mounted, 
 and still worse clothed and shod, he declared that ho such persons 
 should enter Toulouse, nor the kingdom of France, to recruit them- 
 selves ; and that, if it pleased God, he would march out, to offer them* 
 batfle. He directly gave notice of his intentions to the lord Aimeri, 
 viscount of Narbonne, to the high stewards of Carcassonne and of 
 Beaucaire, and to all knights, squires and officers in that quarter, 
 commanding them to give him aid and assistance to defend the bor- 
 ders against these wicked companions. Those who had been sent 
 to, obeyed, and came with all speed to the city of Toulouse. They 
 amounted to five hundred men-at-arms, knights and squires, with 
 upward of four thousand infantry, who immediately took the field, 
 and marched toward Montauban, seven leagues distant from Tou- 
 louse. --Those who arrived first,- and the others as they came in, in- 
 stantly quitted the town, to wait until the whole were assembled 
 ogether. 
 
 When the viscount of Narbonne and sir Guy d'Asai, who were 
 the commanders of these men-at-arms, had left Toulouse, they fixed 
 their quarters near to Montauban, which was at that time dependent 
 on the prince of Wales, who had appointed for its governor a knight, 
 called sir John Combes. These French lords ordered their scouts, 
 with the vanguard, to advance to Montauban, in hopes of drawing 
 out some of the companions who had lately anived there, and who 
 were entertained by sir John Combes. The governor of Montauban 
 was much surprised, on hearing that the French were come with a 
 numerous army so near to his town, because the territory belonged 
 to the prince ; he ascended, therefore, the battlements of the gates, 
 and, having obtained a hearing from these scouts, demanded who 
 had sent them thither, and for what reason they had thus come upon 
 the lands of the prince, who was their neighbor, and who had sworn 
 friendship to the king and kingdom of France. 
 
 They answered him, that they were not charged by the lords who 
 had sent them thither to give any reasons for so doing ; but that, in 
 order to be satisfied, he might come himself, or send any one to their 
 commanders, who would give him an answer. " Indeed," replied 
 the governor of Montauban, " I shall beg of you then to go back, and 
 tell them to send me a passport, that I may safely come to them and 
 return, or let them s'end to inform me fully for what reasons they have 
 marched in this warlike manner against me ; for did I think they 
 were in earnest to make war, I would immediately inform my lord 
 the prince of it, who would speedily provide a remedy." They wil- 
 lingly accepted his proposal, and returned to their lords, to whom they 
 exactly repeated the governor's words. 
 
 The passport was made out in sir John's name, and sent to Mon. 
 tauban. Upon the receipt of it he set out, attended only by -four 
 persons, and went to the quarters of these lords, who were ready 
 dressed to receive him, and prepared with their answers. He saluted 
 them, which they returned ; he then asked them their reasons for 
 
 * " Guy d'Asai." When Bertrand saw the duke d' Anjou at Montpellier, he requested 
 him to prevent those companies from returning to Aquitaine : he thereupon assembled 
 the militia of the country, and collected a force of tive hundred lances and four thou- 
 sand archers. He gave the command of this army to Guy d'Asai seneschal de Tou 
 louse, Amould d'Espagne s6n65chal de Carcassonne, Guy de Prohms seneschal deBeau 
 caire,' and Aimeri viscount de Narbonne.-ifwt. de Laneuedoc, vol. iv. p. m 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 159 
 
 ordering troops to advance to the fortress, which was a dependency 
 on the prince. They replied, " We wish not to invade the rights of 
 any one, nor to make war ; but we are determined to pursue our 
 enemies where we know they are." Who are your enemie.g ? and 
 where are they ?" demanded' the knight. " In God's name," an- 
 swered the viscount of Narbonne, " they are at this moment in Mon- 
 tauban. They are robbers and pillagers, who have severely oppressed 
 the kingdom of France. And you, sir John, if you had become cour- 
 teous to your neighbors, ought not thus to have supported them in 
 tlieir robberies of poor persons, without a shadow of justice ; for these 
 are the causes that give rise to hatred between the great. If you do 
 not therefore drive them out of your fortress, you are neither a friend 
 to the king nor kingdom of France." 
 
 " My lords," replied the governor, "it is true there are men-at-arms 
 in my garrison, whom my lord the prince has ordered thither, and 
 whom I retain for him. I am' not therefore inclined to send them 
 away thus suddenly. If they have given you any cause of displea- 
 sure, I do not see from whom you can right yourselves ; for they are 
 men-at-arms, and they will support themselves in their usual manner, 
 either on the territories of the king of France or on those of the prince." 
 The lord of Narbonne and sir Guy d'Asai made answer by saying : 
 " They are indeed men-at-arms, but of such a sort that they cannot 
 exist without pillage and robbery, and have very unbecomingly tres- 
 passed on our boundaries, for w^hich they shall pay dearly, if we could 
 but once meet with them in the open plains. They have burnt, stolen, 
 and done many shameful acts within the jurisdiction of Toulouse, 
 complaints of which have been made to us, which if we suffer to go 
 unpunished, we shall be traitors to the king our lord, who has ap- 
 pointed us to watch over and guard his country. You will therefore 
 tell them from us, for, since we know where their quarters are, we 
 can find them, that they shall make us amends for their proceedings, 
 9r they will fare the worse for it." 
 
 The governor could not, at that time, get any other answer from 
 them. He returned very ill pleased, and said that all their menaces 
 would not make him change his mind. Upon his return, he told the 
 companions all that had passed, as well as the message he was to de- 
 liver. The leaders on hearing it, were not much satisfied ; for they 
 were unequal in numbers to the French, so that they k.ept themselves 
 .on their guard as much as they could. 
 
 Now it chanced, that exactly five days after this conversation, sir 
 Perducas d'Albret with a large body of companions were on their 
 march to pass through Montauban, for that was the direct road into 
 the principality. He sent information of it to the governor : which j 
 when sir Robert Cheney and the other companions who had shut 
 themselves iip in the town heard, they were mightily rejoiced. They 
 secretly made sir Perducas acquainted with the arrival of the French, 
 and how they kept them besieged, threatening them much : they also 
 informed him of the numbers of the French, v/ith the names of their 
 commanders. / 
 
 When sir Perducas learnt this, he was no way frightened, but, 
 collecting his men in a body, galloped into Montauban, where he 
 was joyfully received. Upon their arrival, they discussed, among 
 themselves, what would be most advisable to do : they unanimously 
 resolved, that on the morrow they w-ould arm, issue out of the town, 
 and address themselves to the French, to request they would allow 
 them peaceably to pass on. If they would not agree to this, and it 
 were absolutely necessary to fight, they would then exert themselves, 
 and risk the event of a battle. 
 
 What they had determined the preceding day, they put in execu- 
 tion the following. On the morning, having armed themselves and 
 mounted their horses, their trumpets sounded, when they sallied out 
 of Montauban. The French had already drawn up before the town, 
 from the alarm of what they saw and heard the preceding evening, 
 00 that the companies could not pass but through them. Upon this, 
 sir Perducas d'Albret and sir Robert Cheney stepped forward, to de- 
 mand a parley of the French, and to beg of them to allow them quietly 
 to pass. But these lords sent to inform them, they would have 
 Slothing to say to them, and that they should not pass but over the 
 points of their spears and swords. They instantly began to shout 
 their war-cry, and to call out, " Advance, advance upon these robbers, 
 who pillage the world, and who live upon every one, without reason 
 or justice." 
 
 When the companions saw that they must fight in earnest, or die 
 with dishonor, they dismounted and formed their line, to wait for the 
 French, who advanced very boldly on foot to meet them. Much 
 fighting and pursuing now commenced : many hard blows were given, 
 which knocked down several on each side. The combat was severe 
 and long ; many gallant deeds were performed, and several knights 
 and squires unhorsed. The French, however, were more in number 
 than the companions by at least two to one. They had not, therefore, 
 a'^y cause of fear, and by valiantly fighting, drove the companions 
 all back, even within the barriers. When they were in that situation, 
 the combat became more hot : many were killed and wounded on 
 both sides. It would have been very hard with the companions, if 
 •the governor had not ordered all the towns-people to take arms and 
 assist, to the utmost of their power, those who were attached to the 
 :service of their prince. The inhabitants immediately took to their 
 .arms, and united themselves with the companies in the fray. Even 
 she women, haviijg collected stones, ascended tlieir garrets, whence I 
 
 they flung so many on the French that they had sufficient employ- 
 ment in shielding themselves from them, and by wounding many 
 made them retreat. The companions upon this took courage (for 
 they had been for a considerable time in greal peril,) and boldly 
 attacked the French. Many as gallant deeds were performed by 
 captures and rescues as had been seen for some time, though the 
 companies were but few in comparison of the French : every man 
 exerted himself to do his duty well, and to drive the enemy by force 
 out of the town. 
 
 It happened, that during this engagement, the bastard de Breteui] 
 and Nandon de Bagerant, with about four hundred men whom they 
 commanded, entered the back way into the town. They had marched 
 all night with the greatest expedition ; for they had had information 
 how the French were besieging their comrades in Montauban. The 
 battle was now renewed with fresh vigor ; and the French were 
 sadly beaten by these new comers. All those combats lasted from 
 eight o'clock in the morning until four in the afternoon. At last, the 
 French were completely discomfited and put to flight : happy were 
 those who could find horses to mount and escape. 
 
 The viscount de Narbonne, sir Guy d'Asai, the earl of Uz^s, the 
 lord de Montmorillon, the seneschal de Carcassonne, the seneschal 
 de Beaucaire, with upward of a hundred knights, as well of France 
 as of Provence, and the adjoining countries, many rich squires, and 
 others of large property in Toulouse and Montpellier, were made 
 prisoners. They would have taken more, if they had pursued them ; 
 but, as they were few in number and badly mounted, they were 
 afraid to follow them, contenting themselves with what they had got. 
 
 This battle was fought before Montauban, the vigil of the feast of 
 our Lady, in August 1366. After this defeat, sir Perducas d'Albret, 
 sir Robert Cheney, sir John Combes, the bastard de Breteuil and 
 Nandon de Bagerant, divided the booty they had gained among 
 themselves and their companions. All those who had made any 
 prisoners were to keep them, in order to gain by their ransom, or to 
 give them their liberty, as they pleased. They were very attentive 
 to them, accepting moderate ransoms, suitable to their rank, or the 
 state of their affairs. They were the kinder to them, because this 
 affair had turned out fortunately, and through their own gallantry. 
 Those who had pledged their faith went away, having fixed a time 
 for bringing their ransoms to Bordeaux, or other places more agree- 
 able to them. Each now departed, and returned to his own countiy. 
 The companies marched to join the prince, who received them very 
 graciously, and sent them to their quarters in a country called Basques, 
 which is among the mountains. 
 
 I will now relate the end of this business, in what manner the 
 viscount of Narbonne, the high steward of Toulouse and the o'hei 
 prisoners, paid their ransoms. Pope Urban V., who at this time 
 reigned, hated mortally these free companies, whom he had for a 
 long time excommunicated on account of their wicked deeds. Upon 
 being informed of this engagement, and how the viscount of Nar. 
 bonne, having exerted himself to the utmost to succeed in his attack 
 upon them, had been miserably defeated, he was in a gi'eat rage. 
 This was increased on learning that, having given pledges for their 
 ransoms, they were returned home. He immediately sdnt expresses 
 to them, strictly forbidding them to pay any ransom, and at the same 
 time dispensations and absolutions from all engagements on this 
 subject. 
 
 Thus were these lords, knights and squires, wno had been made 
 prisoners at Montauban, acquitted of their ransoms ; for they dared 
 not disobey the orders of the pope. It turned out luckily for some, 
 but quite the contrary to the companions, who were expecting the 
 money : indeed they were in want of it, and intended out of it to 
 equip themselves handsomely, as soldiers should do who have a suffi- 
 ciency, but they never received anything. This order of the pope 
 was so hurtful to them that they made frequent complaints of it to 
 sir John Chandos, who, being constable of Aquitaine, had the super- 
 intendence of such affairs by right of office : but he turned them off 
 as well as he could, because he was fully acquainted that they were 
 excommunicated by the pope, and that all their thoughts and acts 
 were turned to pillage. I do not believe they ever received anv of 
 this debt at any time afterwards. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXXXV. 
 
 DTJRINa THE TIME THE PRINCE OF WALES IS PREPARIXa FOR HIS EXPEDI- 
 TION INTO CASTILLE, THE KINO OF MAJORCA SEEKS REFUGE WITH HIM 
 AGAINST THE KING OF ARRAGON. THE PRINCE DISPLEASES THE LORD 
 D'ALBRET. 
 
 We will now return to the prince of Wales, and show with what 
 perseverance he continued to make preparations for his expedition. 
 He had, as I have before related, gained over all the free companies, 
 who might be about twelve thousand fighting men. It had cost him 
 much to retain as well as to subsist them, which he did at his own 
 expense, from the end of August until they quitted the principality 
 the beginning of February. In addition to the-3e, the prince accepted 
 the services of men-at-arms from every quarter whence he could 
 obtain them, under his dependence. 
 
 From the kingdom of France, there came none ; for king Henry 
 had every person from that kingdom, on account of the alliances 
 
160 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 that existed between their sovereign and king Henry, who had also 
 some of the free companies that came from Brittany, and were at- 
 tached to sir Bertrand du GuescUn ; of these, sir Bertrand de Budes, 
 sir Alain de St. Pol, sir William de Brueix, and sir Alain de Cou- 
 vette, were the leaders. The prince might have had foreign men- 
 at-arms, such as Flemings, Germans and Brabanters, if he had 
 chosen it ; but he sent away numbers, choosing to depend more on 
 his own subjects and vassals than on strangers. There cams, there- 
 fore, to him a great reinforcement from England ; for, when the king 
 his father found this expedition was near taking place, he gave leave 
 for his son, the duke of Lancaster, to go to the prince of Wales, 
 with a large body of men-at-arms ; that is to say, four hundred men- 
 at-arms and four hundred archers. As soon as the prince heard that 
 his brother was coming to him, he was much rejoiced, and gave 
 orders accordingly. 
 
 At this period, the lord James, king of Majorca, came to visit the 
 prince in the city of Bordeaux ; for such was his title, though he 
 possessed nothing, the king of Arragon having kept his kingdom 
 from him by force, and caused his father to be put to death in prison, 
 in a city of Arragon called Barcelona. On which account, this king 
 James, to revenge the death of his father, and to recover his inher- 
 itance, had left the kingdom of Naples, whose queen was at that 
 time his wife.* 
 
 The prince of Wales received the king of Majorca very kindly, 
 and entertained him handsomely. After he had heard from him the 
 reasons of his coming, and the cause why the king of Arragon did 
 him so much wrong, in keeping his heritage from him, and destroying 
 his father, the prince replied : " Sir king, I promise you most loyally, 
 that upon our return from Spain, we will undertake to replace you on 
 your throne of Majorca, either by treaty or by force of arms." 
 These promises were highly pleasing to the king. He remained at 
 Bordeaux with the prince, waiting for his departure for Spain with 
 the others. The prince, through respect, equipped him as hand- 
 somely as he could ; because he was a stranger, far distant from his 
 own country, and his finances were but low. 
 
 Great complaints were daily made to the prince of the bad conduct 
 of the free companies, who were doing all possible mischief to the 
 inhabitants of the countries whei-e they were quartered. They 
 pressed the prince to hasten his march, who would willingly have 
 complied, if he had not been advised to let Christmas pass over, so 
 that lie should have winter in his rear. The prince listened to this 
 counsel the more, because his lady the princess, being far gone with 
 child, was melancholy and sorrowful at the thoughts of his absence. 
 He was desirous to wait until she should be brought to bed, as she 
 wished to detain him. 
 
 During this time, he was collecting great quantities of pui'veyan- 
 ces of all kinds ; and well he had need to do so, for he was about to 
 enter a country where he would find little enough. While he 
 remained at Bordeaux, the prince and his council held many consul, 
 tations together. It seems to me, that the lord d'Albret and his 
 thousand lances were countermanded, and that the prince, by the 
 advice of his council, wrote to him in such terms as these. " My 
 lord d'Albret, whereas, out of our liberal bounty, we have retained 
 you with a thousand lances, to serve under us in the expedition 
 which, through the grace of God, we intend speedily to undertake, 
 and briefly to finish : having duly considered t.ie bu iness, and the 
 costs and expenses we are at, as well for those who have entered 
 into our service as for the free companies, whose number is so great 
 that we do not wish to leave them behind, for fear of the dangers [ 
 which may happen, we have resolved that several of our vassals 
 should remain, in order to guard the territories. For these causes it 
 has been determined in our council, that you shall serve in this 
 expedition with two hundred lances only, as has been written to 
 you. You will choose them out from the rest ; and the remainder 
 you will leave to follow their usual occupations. May God have 
 you under his holy protection ! Given at Bordeaux, the eighth day 
 of December." 
 
 These letters were sealed with the great seal of the prince of 
 Wales, and sent to the lord d'Albret, who was in his own countiy, 
 busily employed making his preparations ; for it was daily reported 
 that the prince was on the point of setting out. , 
 
 When he received these letters from the prince, he opened them 
 deliberately, and read them twice over, in order the better to com- 
 prehend them ; for what he saw of their contents astonished him 
 greatly. Being mightily vexed, he exclaimed, " How is this ? My 
 lord, the prince of Wales laughs at me, when he orders me to dis- 
 band eight hundred knights and squires, whom, by his command, I 
 have retained, and have diverted from other means of obtaining 
 profit and honor." In his rage, he called for a secretary, and said to 
 him, " Write ;" and the secretary wrote as follows from his dicta- 
 ting : " My dear lord — I am marvellously surprised at the contents 
 of the letters you have sent me ; and I neither know nor can imagine 
 what answer to make to them. Your orders will be to me of the 
 greatest prejudice, and subject me to much blame ; for all the men- 
 at-arms, whom I have retained by your commands, are ready prepared 
 to do you service, and I have prevented them seeking for honor and 
 
 • Don Jaymc, king of Majorca, married Jane, queen ot Naples, 1363.— Fhrraras. 
 Toward the end of this year, the infant Piiilip of Navarredied. /dm.— If, as before- 
 Btolionsd, he manied Jane, don Jayms must bav« manied ths widow. 
 
 profit elsewhere. Some of these knights were engaged to pass the 
 sea, to Jerusalem, to Constantinople, or to Prussia in order to advance 
 themselves. They will, therefore, be much displeased if left behind. 
 I am equally so, and canno: conceive for what reason I have deserved 
 this treatment. My dear lord, have the goodness to understand I 
 cannot separate myself from them. I am the worst and least among 
 them ; and, if any of them be dismissed, I am convinced they will 
 all go their ways. May God kec p you in his holy protection ! 
 Given," &c. 
 
 When the prince of Wales receive d this answer, he looked upon 
 it as a very presumptuous one ; as did also some knights from Eng. 
 land, who were present, and of his council. The prince shook h:a 
 head, and said in English (as I was told, for at that time I was not 
 at Bordeaux ;) " This lord d Albret is too great a man for my country, 
 when he thus wishes to disobey the orders of my council : but, by 
 God, it shall not be as he thinks to have it. Let him stay behind, if 
 he will ; for we will perform this expedition, if it please God, without 
 his thousand lances." Some English knights added ; " My lord, you 
 are but little acquainted with the thoughts of these Gascons, nor how 
 vain.glorious they are : they have but little love for us, nor have they 
 had for some time past. Do you not remember how arrogantly they 
 behaved to you when king John of France was first brought to 
 Bordeaux ? They then declared publicly, that it was by their means 
 alone you had succeeded at Poitiers, and made the king of France 
 your prisoner. It is apparent that they had intended carrying things 
 farther ; for you were upward of four months negotiating with them 
 before they would consent that king John should be carried to Eng. 
 land, and it was first necessary for you to comply with their demands 
 in order to preserve their attachment." Upon hearing this, the prince 
 was silent, but did not the less occupy his thoughts with what had 
 just been said. 
 
 This was the first ground of the hatred between the prince of 
 Wales and the lord d'Albret. The lord d'Albret was at this time 
 in great peril : for the prince was of a high overbearing spirit, and 
 cruel in his hatred : he would, right or wrong, that every lord who 
 was under his command should be dependent on him : but the earl 
 of Armagnac, uncle to the lord d'Albret, hearing of this quarrel 
 between the prince and his nephew, came to Bordeaux to wait on 
 the prince. Sir John Chandos and sir William Felton (by whose 
 advice and counsels the prince solely acted) managed the matter so 
 well that the prince was appeased, and said nothing more. How. 
 ever, the lord d'Albret received orders to join with only two hundred 
 lances, which was equally disagreeable to him and to his vassals : 
 they never afterwards were so affectionate to the prince as they had 
 formerly been. They were forced, nevertheless, to bear this disap- 
 pointment as well as they could, for they had no remedy for it. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXXXVI. 
 
 THE BIRTH OF RICHARD, SON OF THE PRINCE OF WALES. THE ARRIVAL 07 
 THE DUKE OF LANCASTER, TO ACCOMPANY HIS BROTHER ON HIS IN- 
 TENDED EXPEDITION. NEW TREATIES WITH THE KING OF NAVARRE, FOR 
 THE SECURITY OF PASSING THROUGH HIS KINGDOM. SIR BERTRAND DU 
 GUESCLIN RETURNS TO THE ASSISTANCE OF KING HENRY 
 
 Time passed away so quickly while the prince was collecting his 
 stores, and awaiting the arrival of his brother the duke of Lancaster, 
 that the princess was taken in labor, and, through God's grace, de. 
 livered of a fine boy on a Wednesday, the feast of the Eipiphany, in 
 the year 1367. The child was born about eight o'clock in the mom. 
 ing.* The prince and his whole household were very much re. 
 joiced at this event. On the following Friday, he was baptized, 
 about noon, at the holy font of St. Andrew's church, in the city of 
 Bordeaux. The archbishop of Bordeaux performed the ceremony : 
 the bishop of Agen and the king of Majorca were his godfathers. 
 They gave him the name of Richard : he was afterwards king of 
 England, as you will hear in the continuation of this history. 
 
 On the ensuing Sunday, the prince set out from Bordeaux, with a 
 grand army, about eight o'clock in the morning : he carried with him 
 all the men-at-arms who had been quartered there. The greater 
 part of his force had already marched forward, and were cantoned 
 in the city of Dax in Gascony. The prince arrived that Sunday 
 evening at Dax, where he halted, and remained for three days ; for 
 he was there informed that his brother the dvke of Lancaster was on 
 the road to him, having crossed the sea to Brittany, where he had 
 landed a fortnight since, at St. Mah^ de fine P6terne : he went 
 thence to Nantes, where he was magnificently entertained by the 
 duke of Brittany. 
 
 The duke of Lancaster continued his route, through Poitou and 
 Saintonge, to Blaye, where he crossed the river Gironde, and landed 
 at the quay at Bordeaux. He went to the monastery of St. Andrew, 
 where the princess lay in, and was joyfully welcomed by her and by 
 all the ladies of her court. At this time, however, the duke would 
 not remain in Bordeaux : but, having bid adieu to his sister the 
 
 * Heure de tierce— Ueure de prime (canonical liours.) These do not both point out 
 thesame hour at the same season of the year. The former, according to Cot^rave, i« 
 •• in summer eight of ihe clock, in winter ten ;" tiie latter, "in summer four o'clock, in 
 winter eight." The Dict.de I'Acad^mie explains "tierce" as equivalent to nine o'clock 
 of gar calcuUtioo of iim», bvX dow not state th« houi to which " prime" cone8ponds.-£»i 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 1.1 
 
 princess, he and all his troops departed, never halting until they were 
 arrived in the city of Dax, vi^here he found his brother the prince of 
 Wales. The two brothers were very happy in this meeting, for they 
 had a mutual affection for each other ; and^many proofs of friendship 
 passed between them and their men. Soon after the arrival of the 
 duke of Lancaster, the earl of Foix came thither, who paid much 
 court and respect, at least in outward appearance, to the prince and 
 his brother, offering himself and vassals for their service. 
 
 John of Gaunt, Duke op Lancaster. From a painting on glass in an ancient win- 
 dow, Library of Ail Souls' College, Oxford. 
 
 The prince, who knew how to pay every honor and attention ac- 
 cording as they were due, showed him all respect, thanking him much 
 for his obliging offers, and for having come to visit them. He after- 
 wards gave him in charge the government of the country, and desired 
 that, during his absence, he would be attentive to guard it. The 
 earl very willingly accepted this charge : having taken his leave of 
 the prince and the duke, he returned to his home. The prince, how- 
 ever, remained at Dax with his army, which was spread all over the 
 country, as far as the entrance of the defiles which lead to Navarre ; 
 for they were uncertain if they could pass through them or not, or if 
 the king of Navarre would lay open his country to them according to 
 his treaty. 
 
 It had been currently reported, that he had entered into new con- 
 ventions with king Henry, which had much astonished the prince and 
 his council, and made don Pedro very melancholy. While these 
 reports were believed, and during the stay at Dax, sir Hugh Calverly 
 and his men entered J^avarre, and took the city of Miranda and the 
 town of Puenta della Reyna, which alarmed the whole country, so 
 that information was immediately sent of it to the king of Navarre. 
 Upon hearing that the companies were forcibly entering his kingdom, 
 he was much enraged, and wrote to the prince, who made very light 
 of it, because he thought the king of Navarre did not perform the 
 articles of his treaty with don Pedro : he therefore wrote back to 
 him to come himself, or to send some person to explain those things 
 which were laid to his charge, as it was publicly reported he had 
 changed sides, and had joined king Henry. 
 
 When the king of Navarre heard that he was accused of treachery, 
 he was more enraged than before, and sent an experienced knight, 
 called don Martin de la Carra, to wait on the prince. When he 
 arrived at the city of Dax, to exculpate the king of Navarre, he 
 spoke so ably and eloquently to the prince that he satisfied him. It 
 was then agreed that he should return to Navarre to his king, and 
 induce him to come to St. Jean Pied de Port,* where, when he should 
 be arrived, the prince would consider whether he would meet him in 
 person or not. Upon this, don Martin de la Can-a quitted the prince, 
 and returned to Navarre, where he related to the king all that had 
 passed, in what disposition he had left the prince and his council, and 
 upon what terms he had been sent back. Don Martin exerted him- 
 self so much that he brought the king to St. Jean Pied de Port : he 
 himself went to wait on the prince at Dax. When it was known 
 that the king of Navarre was on his road, the prince was advised to 
 send, to meet him, his brother the duke of Lancaster and sir John 
 Chandos. These two lords, with a few attendants, set out, accom- 
 panied by don Martin, who conducted them to St. Jean Pied de 
 Port to the king of Navarre, who very graciously received them, and 
 they had a long conference together. It was after some time settled, 
 that the king of Navarre should advance, to meet the prince, to a 
 place called in that country Peyre Hourarde,t where the prince and 
 don Pedro should be ; and that then and there they should renew 
 
 * St. Jean Pied de Port— a small town in Navarre, on the Nive, and at the foot of the 
 Pyr6n6es. 
 
 t Feyre Houraida>-a town in Goscony, diocese «f Dax. 
 
 their treaties, so that each party might for a certainty know on what 
 he was to depend. The king of Navarre was thus dissembling, be- 
 cause he wished to be more sure of the articles of the treaty being 
 complied with than he was at that moment ; for he was afraid, that if 
 these companies should once enter his territories before what he de. 
 manded was fully signed and agreed to, it would never be thought of 
 afterwards. 
 
 The duke of Lancaster and Sir John Chandos, having finished 
 their business, returned, and related what they had done to the 
 prince and don Pedro. This agreement was satisfactory to both 
 of them. They kept the appointment, and went to the place fixed 
 on, where they met the king of Navarre and his privy council. 
 There were at Peyre Hourarde these three princes, the prince of 
 Wales, don Pedro, and the duke of Lancaster, on one part, and the 
 king of Navarre on the other, where conferences were held between 
 them. At last, it was finally settled what each party was to receive 
 and to perform ; and the treaties which had been made before, at 
 Bayonne, were renewed. The king of Navarre then knew for cer- 
 tain what was to be given up to him in the kingdom of Castille. 
 He sv/ore to maintain and preserve faithfully peace and friendship 
 with don Pedro. They broke up their conferences very amicably, 
 having settled that the prince and his army might pass through his 
 country whenever he pleased, as all the defiles were left unguarded ; 
 and provision would be had for the men, upon pnying for it. The 
 king of Navarre returned to the city of Pampeluna, and the king 
 don Pedro, the prince, and his brother, to their quarters at Dax. 
 
 There were at this time many great barons from Poitou, Gascony, 
 and Brittany, who had not joined the army of the prince. They 
 had remained behind, because, as has been before said, it was not 
 quite clear, until after this last conference, if the prince would have 
 a free passage through Navarre. It was even thought in France, 
 that it would be refused him, and that the king of Navarre would 
 cause this expedition to fail. However, the contrary happened. 
 When the knights and squires of each party found that the passage 
 was open, they hastened their preparations, and m.adc speed to join 
 their friends ; for they knew the prince would pass soon, and that 
 he would not return without a battle. Sir Olivier de Clisson csme 
 with a handsome company of men-at-arms ; and also, but very 
 unwillingly, came last, the lord d' Albret, with two hundred lances : 
 he was accompanied in this expedition by the captal de Buch. 
 
 Everything which had passed in these conferences was known in 
 France ; for there were messengers constantly going and coming, 
 who carried with them all the news they could pick up. Sir Ber. 
 trand du Guesclin (who was with the duke of Anjou; was no sooner 
 informed that the passes in Navarre were opened, and that the 
 prince was on his march, than he hastened his departure, and 
 reiterated his summons ; for he knew now, that this business would 
 not be settled without an engagement. He took the road to Arra- 
 gon, in order to join king Henry as speedily as possible. He was 
 followed by all sorts of men-at-arms to whom he had sent his 
 orders. Many came from France and other countries, who were 
 attached to him, or who were desirous of acquiring honor. We 
 will now return to the prince, and relate what befei him and his 
 army in his passage through Navarre. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXXXVII. 
 
 THE PRINCE OF WALES AND HIS ARMY PASS THE MOUNTAINS OF NAVARRE, 
 AND ARRIVE AT PAMPELUNA. KIN& HENRY OF CASTILLE WRITES 
 LETTERS TO HIM. SIR WILLIAM FELTON COMMANDS AN ADVANCED 
 PARTY OF THE ARMY. 
 
 Between St. Jean Pied de Port and Pampeluna are the defiles 
 and strong passes of Navarre, which are very dangerous : for there 
 are a hundred situations among them which a handful of men would 
 guard and shut up against a whole army. 
 
 It was very cold in these countries when the army passed, for it 
 was the month of February. But before they began their march, 
 though very eager to get forward, the principal leaders held a council 
 to determine in what numbers and in what manner they should 
 march through these mountains. They learnt that the whole army 
 could not pass together ; for which reason, they ordered it. to be 
 divided into three bodies, and to pass one at a time three days sue 
 cessively ; that is to say, on the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. 
 
 On the Monday, the vanguard marched, under the command of 
 the duke of Lancaster. He was accompanied by the constable of 
 Aquitaine, sir John Chandos, who had under him full twelve hundred 
 pennons, all ornamented with his arms, which were a sharp pile 
 gules, on a field argent.* It was a handsome sight to behold. The 
 two marshals of Aquitaine were also in this first division, namely, 
 sir Guiscard d' Angle and sir Stephen Cossington, with whom was 
 the pennon of St. George. There were also in this division, with 
 the duke, sir William Beauchamp,t son of the earl of Warwick, sir 
 Hugh Hastings, sir Ralph Neville,$ who served under sir John 
 Chandos with thirty lances at his own expense and charges, out of 
 what he had gained at the battle of Auray. There were likewise 
 
 * Barnes.— See the arms in Ashmole. 
 
 t Barnes says, he was lord Abergavenny, and fourth son to the eaxl of War^vicL 
 I Lord Ralph Neville.— Barnbs. 
 
163 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 the iord d' Aubeterre, sir Garses du Chatillon, sir Richard Causton, 
 sir Robert Cheney, sir Robert Briquet, sir John Tyrrel, sir Aimery 
 cs Rochechouart, sir Gaillart de la Moitre, sir William Clayton, 
 Villebos le Bouteiller et Pannetier.* All these, with their pennons, 
 V- ere under the command of sir John Chandos, and might amount in 
 ti e whole to ten thousand cavalry, who all crossed the mountains, as 
 before related, on the Monday, 
 On the Tuesday, passed the 
 pnnce of Waies and don Pedro, 
 
 accompanied by the king of 
 
 Navarre, who had returned to 
 
 them, in order to serve as their 
 
 guide. In this division of the 
 
 prince were the lord Louis de 
 
 Harcourt, the viscount de ChJL. 
 
 telleraut, the viscount de Roche. 
 
 chouart, the lords de Partenay 
 
 and de Pinane, sir William 
 
 Felton, high steward of Aqui- 
 
 taine, sir Thomas Felton his 
 
 brother, sir Eustace d' Ambre- 
 
 ticourt, the high stewards of 
 
 Saintonge, of la Rochelle, of 
 
 Quercy, of Limousin, of Age. 
 
 nois, of Bigorre, the lord de 
 
 Cannaibouton and all the men 
 
 of Poitou, sir Richard de Pont. 
 
 chardon, sir Nele Loring, the 
 
 earl of Angus, sir Thomas Ban. 
 
 aster,t sir Louis de Merval, sir 
 
 Aymon de Marnel, the lord de 
 
 Pierre-Buffiere, and four thou. 
 
 sand men.at.armsat least: there 
 
 were in the whole about ten 
 
 thousand horse. This Tuesday 
 
 was bitter cold, with a sharp 
 
 wind and snow, so that their 
 
 march was very painful : how- 
 ever, they passed the mountains, 
 
 and took up their quarters in 
 
 the valley of Pampeluna. The 
 
 king of Navarre, indeed, con. 
 
 ducted the prince of Wales and 
 
 don Pedro to the city of Pam. 
 
 peluna to supper, and entertained them handsomely, as he was 
 enabled to do, . 
 
 The king of Majorca crossed these mountains on the Wednesday, 
 accompanied by the earl of Armagnac, the lord d'Albret his nephew, 
 sir Bernard d'Albret, lord de Gironde, the earl of Perigord, the vis- 
 count de Carmaing, the earl of Comminges, the captal de Buch, sir 
 Olivier de Clisson, the three brothers de Pommiers, sir John, sir 
 Elias, and sir Edmund, the lords de Chaumont, and de Mucident, 
 Bir Robert KnoUes, the lords de I'Esparre, de Condon, de Rosem, 
 the souldich de la. Trane,t sir Petiton de Courton, sir Aimery de 
 Tarse, the lord de la Barde, sir Bertrand de Caude, the lord de Pin- 
 cornet, sir Thomas Winstanley, sir Perducas d'Albret, the bastard 
 de Breteuil, Nandon de Bagerant, Bertrand de la Salle, Ortingo, La 
 Nuit, and all the other captains of tlie free companies, amounting to 
 full ten thousand horse. They had much better weather than the 
 preceding division which crossed on the Tuesday. All these differ- 
 ent bodies of men-at-arms were encamped in the vale of Pampeluna, 
 lo recruit their horees. They remained in the country about Pam- 
 peluna (where they found abundance of provision, such as meat, 
 bread, wine, and all sorts of food for themselves and horses) until 
 the following Sunday. 
 
 I must say, that all these companies did not pay the demands 
 which were made upon them ; nor could they abstain from pillaging 
 as heretofore ; they also caused great disturbances in the country 
 round Pampeluna, as well as on their march. The king of Navarre 
 was much vexed at this ; but better himself he could not : he re- 
 pented more than once that he had ever consented to the passage of 
 the prince and his army through his dominions, or that he had left 
 unguarded the defiles ; for there was more loss than profit by what 
 he had done. This, however, was not the time to show what his 
 thoughts were ; for he was not then master of his own country. He 
 daily received great complaints from his subjects on this head, 
 which, though the circumstance grieved him much, he could not 
 remedy. Nevertheless, he entreated the men-at-arms of the prince, 
 by means of some cf his principal barons, -who had served longest 
 with them in Normandy and in other places in France, that they 
 vrould refrain from robbing the country in the manner tiiey were 
 ,»loing, which they promised and engaged to do. 
 
 ■> " Villebcs le Bouteiller et Pannetier." Barnes calls him sir William Botelor, or 
 5uUir, ftfOversley in Warwickshire; but I see no authority for it. Some of the other 
 nai ies I have nitered from Barnes, as being probable: but lord Berners, who ought to 
 have been better informed, keeps the very names in Froissart, who, from being a 
 loreisner, might easily mistake them. 
 
 t Sir Thomas Banastcr— tifty-sixth knight of tht Gnrt«r.— S€« his life in Ajjstis'b 
 fJarter. 
 
 i ifuuldicb d« la Tranc. S«e Ansni. 
 
 King Henry was duly informed of the march of the prince of 
 Wales through Navarre, for he had his messengers and spies con- 
 stantly upon the look-out. He was therefore increasing his forces aa 
 much as possible by earnest and kind entreaties to the knights of 
 Castillo (of which he had assumed the title of king) in order to have 
 a sufficient army to resist the attack. He also impatiently expected 
 the arrival of sir Bertrand du Guesclin, with great reinforcements 
 
 ScKNKRY OF THE PYRENEES ON THE FRENCH SiDE.— From an Original Sketch. 
 
 from France. He had besides issued special orders throughout the 
 kingdom, to all his vassals, under pain of death, that each, according 
 to his rank, should immediately come to his assistance, and defend 
 the realm. This king Henry was much beloved, as the Castillians 
 had exerted themselves in aiding him to drive don Pedro out of the 
 kingdom : they therefore willingly obeyed his summons, and flocked 
 in great numbers every day to the rendezvous he had appointed at 
 St. Domingo de la Calgada. They amounted in all to upward of 
 sixty thousand, as well horse as foot, ready to act for him, and re- 
 solved to live or die for his service. 
 
 Upon king Henry having sure intelligence that the prince of Wales, 
 with his whole army, had passed the straits of Roncesvalles, and 
 was in the kingdom of Navarre, whence he was about to advance 
 toward him, he knew that a battle must be the consequence. This 
 seemed to give him great pleasure, and he said aloud : " The prince 
 of Wales is a valiant and worthy knight ; and in order that he may 
 know that I am waiting for him, to defend my right, I will \vYite 
 him a part of my mind." He then called for a secretary, who ad- 
 vancing into his presence, " Write," said king Henry to him, " a 
 letter in such terms as these : 
 
 " To the high, puissant, and honorable lord, the prince of Wales 
 and of Aquitaine. 
 
 " My lord — We have been informed, that you have with an army 
 passed the mountains, and have entered into treaties and alliances 
 with our enemy, to make war upon and to harass us ;»all this has 
 caused in us much astonishment ; for we have not done anything, 
 nor ever had the smallest hostile intentions against you, that should 
 justify your advancing hitherward with a large anmy, to deprive us 
 of the small inheritance which it has pleased God to give us. But 
 as you are the most powerful and most fortunate prince of the age, 
 we flatter ourselves and hope that you glorify yourself in it. Since 
 we have received certain intelligence that you seek us in order to 
 offer us batde, if you will have the goodness to inform us by what 
 road your intentions are to enter Castille, we will advance to meet 
 you, in order to guard and defend our realm. Given," &c. 
 
 When this letter was written, -king Henry had it senled, and call- 
 ing his own herald to him, said : " Go thou as fast as possible, by the 
 nearest road, to the prince of Wales, and give him from me this let- 
 ter." The herald replied, " Willingly, my lord." He left the king, 
 and taking the road to Navaire, came up to the prince ; when, bend- 
 ing on his knee, he delivered to him the letter from king Henry. 
 The prince made the herald rise, and taking the letter, opened it, 
 and read it twice over, the better to understand it. When he had 
 read, and considered a little its contents, he ordered part of bis 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 1(13 
 
 council to be summoned, telling the herald to quit the place where 
 the council was to be held. 
 
 When the council was assembled, he read again the letter, and ex- 
 plained it to them word for word ; after which, he asked their advice 
 upon it. While they were thinking what advice to give, the prince 
 said : " This bastard is a gallant knight, and of good prowess ; for 
 he must be a valiant gentleman to write me such a letter." The 
 prince and his council were a considerable time together, for they 
 could not agree as to what answer they should send. They said to 
 the herald : " My friend, you cannot yet set out on your return. 
 When it shall suit my lord the prince, he will write back by you, and 
 by no one else : you will, therefore, tarry with us until you have 
 your answer, for the prince wishes it to be so." The herald an- 
 swered, " Please God, it shall be as you say." He remained, there- 
 fore, with them quite at his ease. 
 
 The evening of the same day that the herald had brought this let- 
 ter, sir William Felton came to the prince, and asked hirn a favor. 
 The prince, who was ignorant what he wanted, demanded what 
 favor he had to request : " My lord," replied sir William, " I en- 
 treat permission to quit the army, and make an excursion into the 
 enemy's country ; for I have many knights and squires under my 
 command, as good men as myself, that are anxious to do something 
 worthy of notice. I promise you, if you will permit us to ride for- 
 ward, we will see what appearance the enemy makes, and where 
 their quarters are." The prince immediately granted his request, as 
 he was pleased with him for having made it. Sir William Felton 
 left the prince's army, as the leader of this expedition, accompanied 
 by the following knights : sir Thomas Felton his brother, sir Thomas 
 Hufford, sir Robert KnoUes, sir Gaillard Viguier, sir Ralpli Hastings, 
 the earl of Angus, and several other knights and squires. They were 
 in all one hundred and sixty lances well mounted, and three hundred 
 archers. There were also with him, sir Hugh Stafford, sir Richard 
 Causton, and sir Simon Burley, who are not men to be forgotten. 
 
 This body rode on through the kingdom of Navarre, under the 
 direction of guides, who conducted them to the river Ebro, which, at 
 Logrono, is very deep and rapid. They, however, advanced beyond 
 it, and took up their quarters at a village called Navarretta :* there 
 they halted, in order to be the better informed where king Henry 
 was, and to learn the state of his army. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXXXVIII. 
 
 THE EIXG OF NAVARRE IS MADE PRISONER BY SIR OLIVIER DE MAUNY, 
 A BRETON AND PARTISAN OF KIN& HENRY. THE PRINCE OF WALES 
 ADVANCES TO SALVATIERRA, IN SPAIN. SIR WILLIAM FELTON SKIR- 
 MISHES WITH THE ENEMY NEAR THE QUARTERS OF THE KIN& OF 
 SPAIN. THE TWO ARMIES ADVANCE TOWARD EACH OTHER. 
 
 While all these things were going on, the knights remained at 
 Navarretta, and the prince and his army in the country round Pam- 
 peluna. The king of Navarre, in riding from one town to another 
 on the side where the French lay, was made prisoner by sir Olivier de 
 Mauny. The prince and all the English were much astonished at 
 it : some in the army thought it might have been done designedly, 
 in order to prevent his accompanying the prince farther in this ex- 
 pedition, as he was uncertain what would be the issue of the business 
 between king Henry and don Pedro.t Although there was no one 
 who was not clear as to the cause of this capture, the lady his queen 
 was much alarmed and dispirited at it. She cast herself at the feet 
 of the prince, exclaiming, " For God's mercy, my dear lord, have 
 the goodness to inquire about the king my lord, who has been 
 treacherously made prisoner by some means unknown to us ; and 
 exert yourself in such manner that, through pity to us, and the love 
 of God, we may have him back again." The prince courteously 
 replied as follows : " Certainly, fair lady and cousin, this capture is 
 highly displeasing to us ; and we will provide shortly a remedy for 
 it. I beg, therefore, you will not be cast down, but take comfort ; 
 for when once this expedition is over, he shall be delivered : this I 
 faithfully promise, for I will attend to nothing else : immediately on 
 our return, you shall have him restored to you." 
 
 The queen of Navarre then departed. But one of her noble 
 knights, called don Martin de la Carra, undertook to conduct the prince 
 through the kingdom of Navarre, and to procure guides for the army ; 
 otherwise they would not have been able to have found the roads, or 
 the easiest passes through the mountains. 
 
 The prince broke up his encampment, and began his march. They 
 came to a place called Echarriaranas, where they met with many 
 difficulties ; for it was a narrow pass, with very bad roads. In ad- 
 dition to this, there was a great scarcity of provision ; for they found 
 nothing on this road until they arrived at Salvatierra, which is a very 
 good town, situated in a fertile and rich country according to the ap. 
 pearance of the adjoining lands.t This town of SalvatieiTa is on the 
 confines of Navarre, on the road to Spain, and was attached to 
 
 * A small village on the frontiers of Navarre.— Ed. 
 
 t This was a trick of the king of Navarre, thinking to exculpate himself for having 
 •ufFered the prince of Wales to pass through his strong country ; for he had, before his 
 last treaty with the prince, entered into one of a contrary tendency with the king of Ar- 
 ragon and king Henry. 
 
 t According to the map of Spain by JaSlot. 1781. Salvatiena is io the division of Gui- 
 puacoa. m tb« principality of Biscay. 
 
 king Henry. The whole army spread itself over the country. The 
 free companies advanced eagerly toward Salvatierra, in hopes to take 
 it by assault and plunder it : they much wished to do so : for they 
 had learnt there were great riches collected, which had been brought 
 thither from all the neighborhood, confiding in the strength of its 
 castle. The inhabitants of Salvatierra, however, were too wise to 
 wait for this danger : they well knew they could not withstand the 
 great army of the prince, if he should think proper to lead it against 
 them : they came and surrendered themselves to don Pedro, craving 
 his pardon, and presenting to him the keys of their town. By the 
 advice of the prince, don Pedro forgave them, or they would have 
 fared worse, for he wished to destroy them : however, they were all 
 pardoned ; and the prince, don Pedro, the king of Majorca, and the 
 duke of Lancaster, entered the town, where they took up their quar. 
 ters : the earl of Armagnac and the rest lodged themselves in the 
 villages round about. 
 
 We will for a while leave the prince, to speak of that advanced 
 corps which was in Navarretta. The before-named knights, who 
 had remained there, were very desirous of distinguishing themselves : 
 for they had advanced five days' march before their main army. 
 They made frequent excursions from Navarretta to the country of 
 their enemies, to find out where they lay and what they were doing. 
 King Henry was encamped in the open plain, with his whole army. 
 He was desirous of hearing some intelligence of the prince, and 
 much surprised that his herald did not return. 
 
 His people made also daily excursions, to learn something of tho 
 English, and even advanced near to Navarretta ; so that don Tello, 
 brother to king Henry, was informed there was an enemy's garrison 
 in that town ; which made him resolve to go thither with a greater 
 force, in a more regular manner, to see if what he had heard were 
 true. But before this was done, it happened that the English knights 
 made, one evening, so long an excursion, that they fell in with king 
 Henry's quarters. A grand skirmish was the consequence, which 
 threw the whole army into a great alarm. They slew some, and 
 made several prisoners : in particular, the knight who commanded 
 the guard was taken, without loss to themselves, and carried clear 
 off. On the morrow, they sent a herald to the prince, who was at Sal. 
 vatierra, to inform him what they had discovered. They told him 
 the situation the enemy had chosen, and what numbers they con- 
 sisted of ; for they had obtained every information from their pris- 
 oners. The prince was delighted with this intelligence, and with the 
 good success of his knigble. 
 
 King Henry was much enraged that the English who were quar 
 tered at Navarretta should thus alarm his army, and said that he 
 would advance toward them. He therefore decamped with all his 
 army, designed to fix his quarters in the plains near Vittoria : he 
 crossed the river* which runs near Navarretta, in order to march to 
 that country. 
 
 Sir William Felton, as soon as he heard that don Henry had passed 
 the river, and was on his march toward the prince, held a council of 
 all the knights who were with him. They determined to quit their 
 present quarters, and take the field in order to be satisfied of the 
 truth in regard to the Spaniards. They therefore marched from 
 Navarretta, sending information to the prince, that king Henry w^as 
 advancing toward him in great force, and that, from appearances, he 
 seemed desirous to meet him. When the prince received the news 
 at Salvatierra, where he still was, that king Henry had crossed the 
 river, and was on his march to meet him, he was right glad, and 
 said aloud to those about him : " By my faith, this bastard is a bold 
 and gallant knight, and shows great valor and enterprise in thus 
 coming to seek us. Since he is as eager to find us as we are desir- 
 ous of meeting him, it is most probable it will so happen, and a com- 
 bat ensue. Our best way, therefore, will be to decamp hence 
 immediately, in order to gain possession of Vittoria before our 
 enemies." 
 
 The prince and his army marched from Salvatierra very early in 
 the following morning, and halted at Vittoria, where he found sir 
 William Felton and his party, whom he graciously entertained, ask 
 ing them different questions. While they were thus discoursing, the 
 scouts brought news that they had seen the scouts of the enemy, 
 and were certain that king Henry and his whole army was not far 
 distant, from the signals they had observed, and from the demcdnor 
 of the Spaniards. The prince, on hearing this, ordered the trumpets 
 to sound an alarum through the army ; which being heard, every man 
 made for his post. They were all instantly drawn up in regular order 
 of batde : for each man had been informed what he was to do before 
 he had left Salvatierra, so that every man made directly for his ban- 
 ner. It was a noble sight to see so great a number of banners and 
 pennons, ornamented with different arms.t 
 
 The vanguard was excellently well drawn up, under the com= 
 mand of the duke of La ncaster. With him were, sir John Chandos, 
 
 * I imagine this must be the Ebro ; for by the map, there is no river that rims neas. 
 Navarretta which it was necessary for don Henry to cross in his march from St. Dominga 
 de la Calcttda, where he was encamped, to Vittoria in Biscay. 
 
 Barnes says, don Henry advanced a? far as St. Miguel to meet the English ; but it i£- 
 not so in my copies, nor can I find St. Miguel in my maps. It seems, however, probable, 
 as Vittoria was far distant, and out of the line to Navarretta. 
 
 t Ther might have been sens great noblenoss, and baners and penons beaten with 
 armes wauing in the v/ynde. What shulde I ?ay morel It was great nobleness to 
 ueholde : the vanward was so well ranged tbw it was marueyie to beiiolde — Loru 
 Bermsrs. 
 
164 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 . onstable of Aquitaine, with a great retinue, and in fine order. 
 .\Iany received the order of knighthood. The duke of Lancaster, in 
 rhe vanguard, knighted as many as twelve : among whom were, sir 
 Ilalph Camois, sir Walter Loring, and sir Thomas Danvery. Sir 
 .^ohn Chandos advanced some good squires to that honor in his divi- 
 j ion ; such as Mr. Cotton, Mr, Clifton,* Mr. Prior, William Firme- 
 t >n, Aimery de Rochechouart, Girard de la Motte and Robert Briquet. 
 
 The prince made also several knights ; first, don Pedro, king of 
 ;^pain, sir Thomas Holland, the son of the princess, his lady, sir 
 Philip and Sir Denis Courtenay, sir John Covet, sir Nicholas Bond, 
 and rnai-iy more. The other lords bestowed similar honors on their 
 battalions ; so that there were upward of three hundred knights, 
 who remained drawn up the whole day, waiting for their enemies, 
 to give them battle, if they had advanced to them ; but they did not 
 come nearer than where the scouts were. 
 
 King Henry was expecting, great reinforcements from Aixagon ; 
 and he waited also for sir Bertrand du Guesclin, who was coming to 
 his assistance with upward of four thousand combatants ; for he was 
 not desirous of engaging before their arrival. The prince was not 
 displeased at this delay; for liis rear-divisions, which consisted of 
 more than six thousand men, were above seven country leagues be- 
 hind. The prince was, during the whole time he lay before Vittoria, 
 in the greatest anguish of mind at their being so long in coming up to 
 him. Nevertheless, had the Spaniards thought proper to advance 
 nearer them with the intent of offering battle, the prince, without 
 waiting for this division, would not have refused the combat. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXXXIX. 
 
 THE ARRIVAL OF SIR BERTRAND DU GUESCLIN, TO THE AID OF KING HENRY. 
 DON TELLO ATTACKS THE ADVANCED GUARD OF THE PRINCE OF WALES 
 — DEFEATS SIR WILLIAM FELTON AND HIS BODY OF MEN. 
 
 When evening came, the two marshals, sir Guiscard d'Angle and 
 sir Stephen Cossington, ordered every man to retire to his quarters ; 
 but, on the trumpets sounding on the morrow morning, they were all 
 to take the field in the same position they had done before. Every 
 one obeyed these orders, except sir William Felton and his company, 
 whom I have before mentioned. They left the prince that same 
 evening, and advanced farther into the country, to learn the state of 
 the enemy : they took up their quarters about two leagues distant 
 rom their army. 
 
 Don Telle happening this very evening to be in his brother king 
 Henry's tent, conversing on various topics, said to the king : " Sire, 
 you know that our enemies are encamped very near us, and yet none 
 of our men think of beating up their quarters. I therefore entreat you 
 will give me permission to make an excursion toward them to-morrow 
 morning, with a detached body of the army, who are well inclined : 
 I promise you to advance so far that we will bring you back certain 
 news of them, and what they are about." King Henry, observing the 
 eagerness of his brother, wished not to baulk him, and gave his con- 
 sent directly. 
 
 . At this same hour, sir Bertrand du Guesclin, with upward of four 
 thousand fighting men, arrived at the army, from France and Arra- 
 gon. The king was much rejoiced at this : he received them in the 
 most honorable and gracious manner, as was becoming him to do. 
 Don Tello was anxious not to let his plan sleep, but immediately 
 mentioned it to several of his friends who he knew would join him. 
 He would have done the same to sir Bertrand du Guesclin, sir Ar- 
 nold d'Andreghen, the bdgiie de Villaines and the viscount de Roque- 
 bertin, if he had dared; but, as they were just arrived, he did not: 
 besides, king Henry had forbidden him to speak to them on this sub- 
 ject. Don Tello, therefore, left them alone. Nevertheless, he had 
 with him some French and Arragonian knights, who had been with 
 the army the whole season : he had exerted himself so much that, in 
 the whole, he had collected a body of more than six thousand horse, 
 men, well mounted and ac coutred. His brother, don Sancho, accom- 
 panied him. 
 
 At the first break of day, they were all ready mounted. They left 
 the army, advancing in good order toward the quarters of the English. 
 About sunrise, they met, in a valley, part of sir Hugh Calverly's com- 
 pany, with his baggage, who had slept about a league distant from the 
 main army, and also sir Hugh himself. When the Spaniards and 
 French perceived them, they immediately attacked and defeated 
 them. The greater part were slain, and the baggage seized : but sir 
 Hirgh, who was behind, had taken another road : he was, however, 
 seen, pursued, and forced to fly with all his attendants, as fast as they 
 could, to the army of the duke of Lancaster. The Spaniards, who 
 wore upward of six thousand in one body, rode on, and made a vio- 
 leni assault upon the outskirts of the quarters of the vanguard, under 
 thft command of the duke of Lancaster. They began to shout, "Cas- 
 tills I" with loud cries, to overthrow tents, huts, and everything that 
 came in their way, killing and wounding all that opposed them ; so 
 that when the vanguard heard this noise, the leaders as well as men 
 were alarmed, and hastened to arm themselves and draw up before 
 thr lodgings of the duke of Lancaster, who was already armed, with 
 his banner flying in front. The English and Gascons hurried to the 
 a aUd, each lord to his bann er or pennon, according to the arrangements 
 
 * Tim nam* is given according to Bamas. Lord Berners says Clisson.— E». ' 
 
 made at Salvatierra, supposing that they were instantly to have a 
 general engagement. 
 
 The duke of Lancaster marched straight for a small hill : he was 
 followed by sir John Chandos, the two marshals, and several other 
 knights, who drew themselves up in order of battle. After a short 
 time, the prince and don Pedro came thither, and, as they advanced, 
 formed themselves in like manner. 
 
 Don Tello and his brother were also very desirous of gaining this 
 eminence, it being a favorable position ; but they were disappointed 
 in their wishes, as you have just heard. When, therefore, they saw 
 that they could not attempt it, without great risk, for the whole Eng. 
 lish army was in motion, they formed themselves into a compact body 
 to return to their own army, and thus retreated, marching in handsome 
 array, and hoping to have some fortunate adventure ere they got 
 home. Before they had retired, several gallant actions were per- 
 formed ; for some of the English and Gascons had quitted their ranks, 
 to tilt with these Spaniards, many of whom they had unhorsed : but 
 the main body of the English army remained upon the mountain, 
 expecting a general engagement. 
 
 When the Spaniards, in their retreat from the prince's army, were 
 approaching their own, they met the detached part of the English 
 under the command of sir William Felton and his brother, sir Hugh 
 Hastings, sir Richard Causton, the earl of Angus, and many more 
 who might amount in the whole to two hundred knights and squires, 
 as well Gascons as English. They immediately charged them m a 
 wade valley, shouting out, " Castille, for king Henry !" The above- 
 named knights, perceiving they had but litde chance of success against 
 such superior numbers as the Spaniards were, comforted themselves 
 the best they could, and, advancing into the plain, took possession of 
 a small eminence, where they drew up in order of battle. The Span- 
 iards marched toward them, and halted to consider what would be the 
 most advantageous manner of fighting them. 
 
 Sir William Felton performed that day a most brilliant action : 
 descending the hill full gallop, with his lance in its rest, he dashed 
 into the midst of the Spaniards, when meeting a Spanish knight, he 
 he drove his spear with such force, it passed tlu-ough his armor, body 
 and all, and threw him dead on the ground. Sir William v/as sur- ■ 
 rounded on all sides ; but he fought as manfully as any knight could 
 have done, and did them much mischief before they were able to 
 bring him down. His brother and the other knights were witnesses, 
 from the eminence, of his valor, and the gallant acts he was doing, 
 as well as the peril he was in ; but it was out of their power to assist 
 him, without running every risk themselves. They remained, there- 
 fore, steadily upon the mountain in order of battle. The knight fought 
 as long as his strength lasted, but in the end was unfortunately slain. 
 
 The French and Spaniards, after this, began to attack the English, 
 and to endeavor to take them that had drawn themselves up on the 
 hill. That day, many good actions were done. At one time, they 
 made a general attack, and descended in a body upon their enemies : 
 and then, wheeling suddenly about, they wisely regained their moun- 
 tain, where they remained until high noon. Had the prince known 
 their dangerous situation, he would have relieved them ; but he was 
 quite ignorant of it. They were therefore obliged to wait the issue | 
 of this business in the best way they could. 1 
 
 When the combat had been thus carried on, advancing and retreat, 
 ing, until the hour I have mentioned, don Tello, tired at their holding 
 out so long, cried angrily aloud : " My lords, shall we remain here 
 all the day, with this handful of men ? By St. Jago, we ought to 
 have swallowed them up before this time. Forward I forward ! let 
 us attack them in a better and more vigorous manner than before. | 
 One cannot gain anything without taking some pains." Upon hear, 
 ing this, the Spaniards and French advanced courageously, mounted 
 the hill, with their spears presented before them, in such close order | 
 and in such numbers, that the English could neither break nor force 
 through them. Many valorous deeds were done on this mountain ; 
 for the English and Gascons defended themselves most valiantly, but, 
 from the moment the Spaniards had gained the hill, they could not 
 make any long resistance. They were all taken or slain; and not 
 one of the knights escaped : only a few boys saved themselves by 
 the fleetness of their horses, who returned to the army of the prince, 
 which had all that day continued drawn up in battle array, in the 
 expectation of an engagement. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXL. 
 
 SIR ARNOLD D'ANDREGHEN GIVES GOOD ADVICE TO KING HENRY OF CASTILLB. 
 THE PRINCE OF WALES SENDS A TARDY ANSWER TO THE KING'S LETTER. 
 
 After having conouered the before-named knights, don Tello and 
 don Sancho returned with their detachment in great joy to the army, 
 and went in the evening to the quarters of king Henrj\ The two 
 brothers who had been in this expedition made a present to the king 
 of their prisoners, and related to him, in the presence of sir Bertrand 
 du Guesclin, sir Arnold d'Andreghen and others, how the day had 
 passed, and what road they had taken ; how they had first fallen in 
 with the people of sir Hugh Calverly, whom they had slain or chased 
 even to the army of the English : that they had beaten up the quar- 
 ters of the duke of Lancaster, alarmed the whole army, and done 
 much mischief: that upon their retreat they had met these knight? 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, Sec. 
 
 165 
 
 whom they had taken prisoners. King Henry, who had listened to 
 this account with great pride, replied most graciously to his brother, 
 don Tello, and said : "Amiable brother, well have you performed 
 your promise : I will reward you hdndsomely for it ; and I feel, that 
 all the rest of our enemies must ultimately come to this pass." 
 
 Sir Arnold d'Andreghen, on this, stepped forth and said : " Sire, 
 eire, with your permission, I wish not to doubt your majesty's words, 
 but to make an amendment by informing you, that when you shall 
 meet the prince of Wales in battle, you will find men-at-arms such 
 as they ought to be ; for with him is the flower of chivalry of the 
 whole world, and hardy and tough combatants : those who, in truth, 
 would rather die on the spot than think of flying. It therefore 
 behoves you to weigh maturely this point, before you determine : and, 
 if you will believe what I am going to say, you may take them all, 
 without striking a stroke. You have only to guard the passes and 
 defiles, so that no provision can be brought them, when famine will 
 do the business for you : they must then return back to their own 
 country in disorder and spiridess, so that you may easily gain your 
 object, and defeat them without striking a blow." 
 
 King Henry answered, " By the soul of my father, marshal, I have 
 such a desire to see this prince, and to try my strength with him, that 
 we will never part without a batde. Thank God, I have enow of 
 men to assist me. In the first place, there are already in our army 
 seven thousand men-at-arms, each mounted on a good courser, and 
 so well covered with armor that they fear not the arrows of the archer. 
 In addition, I have twenty thousand more, mounted on genets and 
 armed from head to foot. I have besides forty thousand common 
 soldiers, with lances, darts and shields, who will do much service, 
 for they have all sworn they will rather die than leave me ; so that, 
 my lord marshal, I ought not to be afraid, but rather place great con- 
 fidence in the power of God and of my men." Thus ended this 
 conversation : wine and spices were brought in by some knights, of 
 which the king and the lords present partook ; and then they all retired 
 to their quarters. The knights and squires who had that day been 
 made prisoners, gave their oaths as such, and were put under the 
 care of different knights. 
 
 We will return to the prince, to speak of his arrangements. He 
 and the duke of Lancaster had remained in the position they had 
 taken in the morning, until about vespers, when they were informed 
 that their advanced detachment had been all taken or killed ; at 
 which they were much vexed, but they could not then amend it. 
 They retired to their quarters, where they remained that night. On 
 the morrow morning, they called a council, and determined to leave 
 their present position, to advance more into the country. They de- 
 camped, and took up their quarters nearer to Vittoria, marching full 
 armed, as if immediately to engage ; for they had heard that king 
 Henry and his brothers, with their army, were not far distant : how- 
 ever, they made no advances to meet them. 
 
 You must know, the prince and his brother were in great want of 
 provision for themselves and their horses, as they had entered a very 
 barren country, while king Henry and his army enjoyed a quite con- 
 trary situation. A loaf of bread, and of no great size, was sold in 
 the prince's army for a florin ; and many were very eager to pay this 
 price, whenever they were able to get it. The weather was also 
 extremely bad, with high wind, rain and snow ; and in this miser- 
 able distressing plight they remained for six days. 
 
 When the prince and his lords found the Spaniards make no ad- 
 vances to offer them battle, and that their distress was great where 
 they were, they held a council, and resolved to seek elsewhere for 
 a passage over the Ebro. They therefore decamped, and took the 
 road toward Navarretta, through a country called La Guardia, which 
 having passed, they came to a town called Viana. There the prince, 
 the duke of Lancaster, the earl of Armagnac and the other lords, 
 halted two days, to refresh themselves. They then crossed the river 
 which divides Castille from Navarre, at the bridge of Logrono, in the 
 midst of gardens and olive trees. They found there a richer country 
 than that which they had left ; but even here they were much dis- 
 tressed for want of provision. 
 
 When king Henry was told that the prince and his army had 
 crossed the Ebro at the bridge of Logrono, he left St. Miguel, where 
 he had kept his quarters for a long time, advanced to Najarra upon 
 the same river, and there encamped. News was soon brought to the 
 prince of king Henry's approach. This gave him great joy ; and he 
 said aloud, " By St. George, this bastard proves himself a valiant 
 knight, from the desire he shows to meet us in battle. We shall 
 certainly soon see each other ; for we cannot fail doing so much 
 longer." He then summoned his brother, the duke of Lancaster, 
 and some other barons of his council who were there, and wrote, 
 with their advice, an answer to the letter which king Henry had 
 sent to him, in the following terms : 
 
 " Edward, by the grace of God, prince of Wales and of Aquitaine, 
 to the renowned Henry earl of Trastamare, who at this present time 
 calls himself king of Castille : 
 
 " Whereas you have sent to us a letter by your herald, in which, 
 among other things, mention is made of your desire to know why 
 we have admitted to our friendship your enemy, our cousin the king 
 don Pedro, and upon what pretext we are carrying on a war against 
 you, and have entered Castille with a large army : in answer to this, 
 we inform you, that it is to maintain justice und in support of reason, 
 
 as it behoveih all kings to do, and also to preserve the firm alliance ^ 
 made by our lord the king of England, with the king don Pedro, in 
 former times. But as you are much renowned among all good 
 knights, we would wish, if it were possible, to make up these dif- 
 ferences between you both ; and we would use such earnest e 
 treaties with our cousin, the king don Pedro, that you should have a 
 large portion of the kingdom of Castille, but you must give up all 
 pretensions to the crown of that realm, as well as to its inheritance. 
 Consider well this proposition ; and know further, that we shall enter 
 the kingdom of Castille by whatever place shall be most agreeable 
 to us. Written at Logrono, the 30th day of March, 1367." 
 
 When this letter was finished, folded up and sealed, it was given 
 to the herald who had brought king Henry's, and who had waited for 
 an answer for three weeks. He took his leave of the prince and the 
 other lords, and rode on until he came to Navarretta, near to which 
 place the king was encamped upon the heath. He made for the 
 king's tent, followed by the principal lords of the army, who, having 
 heard of the return of the herald, were anxious to know what news 
 he had brought. 
 
 The herald, on his knees, presented the king the letter which the 
 prince had sent by him. The king took and opened it, calling sir 
 Bertrand du Guesclin, and some of the lords of his council, to its 
 perusal. When the letter had been read and well considered, sir 
 Bertrand du Guesclin thus spoke to king Henry : " Sire, be assured 
 that very shortly you must have a battle : from what I know of the 
 prince, I am convinced that it must be so. I therefore advise you to 
 look well to this business, to order and arrange your men the best pos- 
 sible manner." "Sir Bertrand," replied king Henry, "in God's 
 name so it shall be. I have no dread of the prince's army : for I have 
 three thousand barbed horses, which will be on our two wings, seven 
 thousand warders,^'* and upv/ard of twenty thousand men-at-arms, the 
 best that can be ibund in all Castille, Gallicia, Portugal, Cordova and 
 Sicily, besides ten thousand cross-bows, and full fortyt thousand foot, 
 armed with lances, darts, swords and all :-;orts of w eapons, who have 
 sworn to die rather than desert me. I trust, therefore, sir Bertrand, 
 that through God's grace, in whom I put my trust, we shall have the 
 best of it, as well as from the justice of cur right in this affair. I 
 therefore entreat you all to be of good courage." 
 
 Thus the king and sir Bertrand conversed together, as well as on 
 different subjects, laying aside all thoughts of the letter which the 
 prince had sent, for king Henry was determined to have a battle. 
 Don Tello and don Sancho began to drav*^ up their men in proper 
 order, and to busy themselves in preparing everything: they were 
 much esteemed, for the success of their late expedition. But we 
 must now return to the prince, and show how he was going on. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXLI. 
 
 THE BATTLE OF NAVARRETTA, WHICH THE PRINCE OF WALES, SUPPORTING 
 THE PART OF KING DON PEDRO AGAINST HIS BROTHER THE BASTAI^D, 
 GAINS. SIR BERTRAND DU GUESCLIN IS MADE PRISONER, AND KING 
 HENRY FORCED TO FLY, AFTER HAVING FOUGHT MOST VALIANTLY. 
 
 On Friday, the 2nd of April, the prince decamped from Logrono, 
 where he and all his army had halted. He marched in order of 
 battle, as if an engagement were on the point of commencing ; for ' 
 he knew that king Henry was not far distant. After having marched 
 about two leagues, he arrived before the town cf Navarretta, about 
 nine o'clock, where he took up his quarters. As soon as they had 
 dismounted, the prince sent his scouts, to observe the countenance 
 of the enemy and where they lay. These scouts, being mounted on 
 the best of horses, left the army, and advanced until they saw the 
 whole of the Spanish force encamped upon the heaths beyond 
 Navarretta: they instjmtly informed the prince of this, who was 
 very glad to hear it. Toward evening he gave out secret orders for 
 the army to hold itself in readiness at the first sound of his trumpet : 
 that at the second sound it should arm, and on the third mount, and 
 immediately follow the banners of the marshals and the pennon of 
 St. George ; and that no one, under pain of death, should break his 
 rank, without being ordered so to do. 
 
 King Henry had done exactly as the prince of Wales, and had 
 sent out his scouts on this Friday evening, to learn the condition of 
 the prince's army, what appearance they made, and where they were 
 quartered. Those sent brought back true intelligence : upon hear- 
 ing it, the king and sir Bertrand held a consultation on the subject. 
 They made their men sup and go to bed very early; that they might 
 be more fresh and hearty by midnight, when they were commanded 
 to make themselves ready, arm, and take the field in battle-array ; 
 for they well knew that a batde must ensue on the morrow. The 
 Spaniards, therefore, made themselves merry, for they had where- 
 withal largely to do so : but the English were in the greatest want 
 of provision ; for which reason they were anxious to fightt. 
 
 The trumpets of king Hemy sounded r.t midnight : on which, his 
 whole army was on foot : at the second blast, they left their tents, 
 
 * This word in D. Sauvage is " guetteurs"— a warder, a watcher, or a spy : this is not 
 very intelligible. Lord Berners says genetours ; that is. men mounted on the light 
 Spanish horses called genets.— E>^- 
 
 t D. Sauvage and Lord Berners say sixty.— E>D. 
 
 I Thev had great desyre to fight outhtr to vyKM or to Use oW.— JL»oRS> Bmumt. 
 
1G6 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 took the field, and formed in three battalions. The first battalion 
 was commanded by sir Bertrand du Guesclin and sir Robert de 
 Roquebertin, a viscount of Arragon. Under him were all the for- 
 eigners, as well from France as from other countries : among whom 
 were two barons from Hainault, the lord d' Antoing and sir Alard 
 lord de Brisueil. There was also in this division the bfegue de Vil- 
 laines, the b6gue de Villiers, sir John de Bergettes, sir Gauvain de 
 Bailleul, I'AUemant de Saint Venant, who was there created a 
 knight, with many other knights from Arragon, France, Provence, 
 and the neighboring countries. There were in this battalion full 
 four thousand knights and squires, excellently armed, and drawn 
 up according to the French manner. 
 
 Don Tello and his brother don Sancho commanded the second 
 division. There were under them twenty-five thousand lancemen, 
 as well on horse as on foot,* who drew up a little behind the division 
 of sir Bertrand, on his left hand. 
 
 The third, and largest battalion without comparison, was com- 
 manded by king Henry himself. There were in it, and drawn up in 
 array, upward of seven thousand horsemen and fortyt thousand in- 
 fantry among the cross-bowmen. 
 
 When they were thus formed, king Henry mounted a handsome 
 and strong mule, according to the custom of his country, and rode 
 through the ranks, paying his compliments to the lords, graciously 
 entreating them to exert themselves this day in defending his honor, 
 and pointing out to every one of them what they were to do with so 
 much cheerfulness and good-humor, that they were all in high spirits. 
 After he had thus visited his army, he returned to his own battalion. 
 It was soon broad day. About sunrise, they began their march 
 toward Navarretta, in order of battle, to meet and engage the 
 enemy. 
 
 The prince of Wales, as it has been before related, drew up his 
 army in the manner he intended they should engage, while he lay 
 before Vittoria, when the enemy did not appear according to his 
 expectations. He had not since then made any alterations concern- 
 ing it, and had always marched in this order. At break of day, 
 therefore, the prince's army took the field, marching in battle-array, 
 as expecting to meet the Spaniards. No one advanced before the 
 battalion of the marshals excepting those who received orders, as 
 scouts ; and the two leaders, as well as both the armies, knew, from 
 the intelligence of the scouts, that they should shortly meet; they 
 therefore marched forward with a gentle pace. 
 
 When the sun was risen it was a beautiful sight to view these bat- 
 talions, with their brilliant armor glittering with its beams. In this 
 manner, they nearly approached to each other. The prince, with a 
 few attendants, mounted a small hill, and saw very clearly the enemy 
 marching straight toward them. Upon descending this hill, he 
 extended his line of battle in the plain, and then halted. The 
 Spaniards, seeing the English had halted, did tlie same in order of 
 battle ; then each man tightened his armor, and made ready as for 
 instant combat. 
 
 Sir John Chandos advanced in front of the battalions, with his 
 banner uncased in his hand. He presented it to the prince, saying : 
 " My lord, here is my banner : I present it to you, that I may dis- 
 play it in whatever manner shall be most agreeable to you ; for 
 thanks to God, I have now sufficient lands to enable me so to do, 
 and maintain the rank which it ought to hold." The prince, don 
 Pedro being present, took the banner in his hands, which v/as bla- 
 zoned with a sharp stake gules on a field argent : after having cut 
 oflf the tail to make it square, he displayed it, and, returning it to 
 him by the handle, said : " Sir John, I return you your banner. 
 God give you strength and honor to preserve it.$" 
 
 Upon this, sir John left the prince, went back to his men with the 
 banner in his hand, and said to them: "Gentlemen, behold my 
 banner and yours : you will therefore guard it as it becomes you." 
 His companions, taking the banner, replied with much cheerfulness, 
 that " if it pleased God and St. George, they would defend it well, 
 and act worthily of it, to the utmost of their abilities." The banner 
 was put into the hands of a worthy English squire, called William 
 Allestry, who bore it with honor that day, and loyally acquitted 
 himself in the service. The English and Gascons soon after dis- 
 mounted on the heath, and assembled very orderly together, each 
 
 * Lord Berners says, *' In that batayle with the genctours there were fifteen thousand 
 a fote and a horseback." D. Sauvage here uses the word Genctaires instead of 
 etutteurs, but no reason appears for Mr. Johnes's omitting it altogether. The differ- 
 ence in the numbers is remarkable. D. Sauvage had this note in the margin: "Tne 
 abridgments say sixteen thousand ; but Sala adds horses only ; and La Chaux, simply 
 men.—Ev. 
 
 t Lord Bemers and D. Sauvage both say sixty.— Ed. 
 
 t This ceremony gave Chandos the rank of Knight Banneret, which it is surprising 
 that lie, who had seen so many stricken fields, hud not received before. This order of 
 knighthood was the most honorable, benig conferred only on the field of battle. All 
 the treatises on heraldry say that it must be conferred after the battle, although in this 
 case we see an instance of its being obtained before the fight, the strict rule being 
 probably waived in consideration of the knight's former fields. It is generally supposed 
 that this order, which took precedence of all others below barons, and whose members 
 were anciently cnlled to parliament by summons, originated in the reign of Edward I., 
 but Edmondson in his Body of Heraldry says they were first created in 736; he does not 
 however quote any authority in support of his assertion. The order was hereditary in 
 France, but in England endured only for life. Knights Bannerets were allowed to 
 tear arms with supporters, which is denied to all others under the degree of a baron. 
 The last Knight Banneret created in England was sir John Smith, who was advanced 
 to the dignity after the battle of Edgehill for rescuing the royal standard ; he was slain 
 in batlle at Alresford in Hampshire.— Ed. 
 
 lord under his banner or pennon, in the same battle array as when 
 
 they passed the mountains. 
 
 It was delightful to see and examine these banners and pennons, 
 with the noble army that was under them. The two armies beean 
 to move a little, and to approach nearer each other ; but, before they 
 met, the prince of Wales, with eyes and hands uplifted toward 
 heaven, exclaimed : " God of truth, the Father of Jesus Christ, who 
 has made and fashioned me, condescend, through thy benign grace, 
 that the success of the battle of this day may be forme and my army; 
 for thou knowest, that in truth I have been solely emboldened to 
 undertake it in the support of justice and reason, to reinstate this 
 king upon his throne, who has been disinherited and driven from it, 
 as well as from his country." After these words, he extended his 
 right arm, took hold of don Pedro's hand, who was by his side, and 
 added, ''Sir king, you shall this day know whether you will have 
 anything in the kingdom of Castille or not." He then cried out, 
 "Advance', banners, in the name of God and St. George !" 
 
 As he said this, the duke of Lancaster and sir John Chandos came 
 up to him. The duke said to sir William Beauchamp : " William, 
 there are our enemies ; you shall see me this day act like a true 
 knight, or die for it." At these words, the two armies advanced. 
 The first conflict was between the battalion of the duke of Lancaster 
 and sir John Chandos and that of .-ir Bertrand du Guesclin and the 
 marshal d'Andreghen, who had under them four thousand men-at- 
 arms. At its commencement, there was a terrible m.edley of spears 
 and shields. They were in this situation a considerable time before 
 they could make any opening into each other. Many gallant deeds 
 were performed, and many a knight unhorsed, who could not again 
 raise himself. 
 
 When these two divisions were thus engaged, the others were not 
 willing to remain idle, but advanced to the combat with eagerness. 
 The prince of Wales, accompanied by the king don Pedro of Castille, 
 and don Martin de la Carra, who represented the king of Navarre, 
 charged the division which was commanded by don Tello and don 
 Sancho. But it seems that, as the prince and his battalion were on 
 the point of engaging, a sudden panic seized don Tello, so that he 
 wheeled about, and fled in disorder without striking a blow, carrying 
 with him two thousand cavalry of his division. No one knew how 
 to account for this conduct. This second division was no sooner 
 broken than it was discomfited ; for the captal de Buch and the lord 
 de Clisson, quitting the battalion of the earl d'Armagnac with their 
 men, fell upon them, and slew and wounded immense numbers. The 
 prince and don Pedro, upon this, advanced to the division commanded 
 by king Henry, in which there were at least forty thousand men, as 
 well on foot as on horseback. The fight now began in earnest on 
 all sides ; for the Spaniards and Castillians had slings, from which 
 they threw stones with such force as to break helmets and scull-caps, 
 so that they wounded and unhorsed many of their opponents. The 
 English archers, according to their custom, shot sharply with their 
 bows, to the great annoyance and death of the Spaniards. On one 
 side, there were shouts of " Castille, for king Henry !" on the other, 
 " St. George, for Guienne I" 
 
 During this time, the firet battalion, commanded by the duke of 
 Lancaster, sir John Chandos, and the two marshals, sir Guiscard 
 d'Angle and sir Stephen Cossington, was warmly engaged with that 
 of sir Bertrand du Guesclin and the other knights from Arragon and 
 France. Many valorous actions were done ; and each tried his 
 strength to open a passage through the enemy. Several fought with 
 their spears in both hands, with which they dealt about lustily their 
 blows ; others made use of short swords and daggers. At the com- 
 mencement the French and Arragonians made a desperate resistance, 
 and gave the good knights of England much trouble. 
 
 Sir John Chandos showed himself an able knight, and performed 
 many gallant deeds under his banner ; but, in his eagerness in fighting 
 and driving his enemies before him, he was so far engaged as to be 
 surrounded, and in the crowd unhorsed. A large man of Castille, 
 called Martin Ferrand, W'ho was much renowned for courage among 
 the Spaniards, threw himself upon him with a determined resolution 
 to kill him, and kept him down in the greatest danger. Sir John, 
 however, bethought himself of a knife he had in his bosom, which 
 he drew, and struck so well with it this Martin in the sides and back 
 that he gave him his death-blow as he was lying under him : he then 
 turned him over, and rose up as speedily as he could : his people 
 were now all ready about him, for they had with great difficulty 
 broken through the crowd to come to the place where he had fallen. 
 
 It was on a Saturday, in the morning, between Najarra and Navar- 
 retta, that this severe and bloody battle was fought, in which multi. 
 tudes of men were slain. In this engagement many were the bril- 
 hant actions performed by the prince of Wales, his brother the duk?. 
 of Lancaster, sir John Chandos, sir Guiscard d'Angle, the captal dc 
 Buch, the lords de Clisson and de Raix, sir Hugh Calverly, sir Mat- 
 thew Gournay, sir Louis de Harcourt, the lords de Pons and de 
 Partenay. On the other hand, among the Gascons, the lords d'Ar- 
 magnac, d'Albret, de Pommiers and his two brothers, de Mucident, 
 de Rosem, the earls de Perigord, de Comminges, de Carmain, the 
 lords de Condon, de I'Esparre, de Chaumont, de Pincornet, Bartholo- 
 mew de Cande, de Geronde, sir Bernard d'Albret, sir Aimery de 
 Tarse, the souldich de I'Estrade, sir Petiton de Courton, with many 
 other knights and squires, gave equad proofs of gallantry, *iv^oiii- 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 167 
 
 Under the pei.non of St. George, and attached to the banner of 
 ar John Chandos, were the free companies, who had in the whole 
 twelve hundred streamers.* Among them were good and hardy 
 knights and squires, whose courage was proof ; namely, sir Robert 
 Cheney, sir Ferducas d'Albret, Robert Briquet, sir Garsis du Chastel, 
 sir Gaillard Viguier, sir John Charnels, Nandon de Bagerant, Ayme. 
 mon d'Ortige, Perrot de Savoye, le bourg Camus, le bourg de I'Es- 
 parre, le bourg de Breteuil, Espiote, and several others. I must 
 therefore say, that sir Bertraftd du Guesclin, sir Arnold d'Andreghen, 
 don Sancho, don Gomez Garilz,t and the French and Arragonian 
 knights who had engaged with this b-attalion, did not find themselves 
 the better for it, as these companies were composed of tried men, 
 who had been long accustomed to arms. 
 
 There were besides many other knights and squires from England, 
 ander the banners of the duke of Lancaster and sir John Chandos ; 
 among whom were sir William Beauchamp, son to the earl of War- 
 wick, sir Ralph Camois, sir Walter Urswick, sir Thomas de Demiery, 
 sir John Grandison, sir John Draper, sir John du Fr6, sir Aimery de 
 Rochechouart, sir Gaillard de la Motte, and upward of two hundred 
 other knights whom I am not able to name. 
 
 To say the truth, sir Bertrand du Guesclin, the marshal d'An- 
 dreghen, le bfegue de Villaines, the lords d'Antoing and de Briseuil, 
 Ar Gauvain de Bailleui, sir John de Bergettes, le begue de Villiers, 
 i'AUemand de St. Venant, and the good knights who were then from 
 France, acquitted themselves most valiantly : truly, had the Spaniards 
 as well performed their parts, the English and Gascons would have 
 suffered more than they did. 
 
 Those who were near king Henry did their duty like men ; for he 
 had before entreated of them to behave courageously. He himself 
 set the example, and performed such valorous acts as gave courage 
 to all around him. He advanced before tho^e who were beginning 
 to give way and fly, calling to them : " My lords, [ am your king. 
 Yom have placed me upon the throne of Castiile, and have sworn 
 that you would die sooner than forsake me. For the love of God 
 preserve your oaths sacred which you have sworn to rnc, and behave 
 yourselves handsomely in my cause. I will acquit myself toward 
 you, for I will not fly one step as long as I shall see you combating 
 by my side." By these words, or others of a similar tendency, did 
 king Henry thrice bring back his men to the co.iibat. He himself 
 behaved so valiantly, that he ought to be much honored and respected. 
 This battle was fought with great perils : many were slain, wounded, 
 and put to flight. 
 
 The Spanish commonalty made use of slings, to which they were 
 accustomed, and from which they threw large stones which at first 
 much annoyed the English ; but when their first cast was over, and 
 they felt the sharpness of the English arrows, they kept no longer 
 any order. King Henry had in his battalion a large number of good 
 men-at-arms, as well from Spain as from Lisbon, Arragon, and Por- 
 tugal, who acquitted themselves exceedingly well, and did not give 
 up so easily, but fought very courageously with lances and guisarmes,t 
 pikes, and swords. He had also upon his two wings bodies of iance- 
 men, mounted oh excellent coursers, who kept up the courage of his 
 division ; for when they saw any part of it likely to be broken, or 
 willing to give way, they galloped up to them, and drove them back. 
 The English and Gascons had not much advantage here, but what 
 they gained from their experience and by dint of deeds of prowess 
 and vigor. The prince had indeed with him the flower of chivalry, 
 and there were under him the most renowned combatants in the 
 whole world. 
 
 A little to the right of the battalion of the prince was the king of 
 Majorca and his company, who fought vigorously, and exerted them- 
 selves to the best of their power. On the other hand was don Martin 
 de la Carra, who represented the king of Navarre, and did his duty 
 well. I cannot particularize all that were deserving of notice ; but 
 the prince had in his division many well-famed knights from England 
 and Gascony : namely, sir Richard de Pontchardon, sir Thomas 
 Despenser, sir Thomas Holland, sir Nele Loring, sir Hugh and sir 
 PhiUp Courtenay, sir John Combes, sir Nicholas Bond, sir Thomas 
 Combes, and several others, such as the seneschal of Saintonge, sir 
 Baldwin de Franville, the high stewards of Bordeaux, of la Rochelle, 
 of Poitou, of AngDuleme, of Rouergue, of Limousin, of Perigord, sir 
 Louis de Marnel, sir Raymond d'Ondueil, and many more. All 
 these you must know fought in earnest, as indeed they had need to 
 do : for the Spaniards and Castillians were near one hundred thousand 
 men in arms, so tliat their great numbers kept up their courage : there 
 could not but be among them many who fought well and did their 
 n.tmost. 
 
 The king don Pedro was much heated, and very anxious to meet 
 his brother the bastard : he galloped about, calling out, " Where is 
 thio son .'vf a v.7hore who calls himself king of Castiile ?" King Henry 
 was engaged in another part of the field, where he fought manfully, 
 and kept up the courage of his men, as well as he could, by his 
 
 * "Pennonceaux"— IhepgTJse/s, as lord Berners cal's them, or flags attached to the 
 lance of a knight ; they were in the form of a swallow's tail, and when the points were 
 cut off, as ill the case of sir John Chandos, the flag became a banner, and its master a 
 eader, with kvights as well as squires under his particular guidance.— Ed. 
 
 t " (jonaez Gariiz." Gomez C'tirillo di Cluintano.— Dillon's Peter the Cruel. 
 
 I Guisarms— "a kind of (oirensive) long-handled and long-headed weapon; or (as 
 the Spanish visarTna) a st;ifif that hath within it two long spikes, which, with a shoot or 
 Umist forward, came forth.— Cotgrave's Dictionary. 
 
 speeches to them ; he said, " My good people, you have made mc 
 your king, and have crowned me : help me to defend the inheritancf 
 which you have given to me." By such words as these which he 
 every now and then addressed to them, many were so bold and 
 valorous that for their honor they fell on the spot, disdaining to fly. 
 
 The division on the side of the Spaniards which behaved the best, 
 and was also the best fought with, was that commanded by sir Ber- 
 trand du Guesclin ; for there were on both sides true men-at-arms, 
 who exerted themselves to the utmost of their abilities. Many gal- 
 lant deeds were performed by them. Sir John Chandos distinguished 
 himself particularly. He governed, that day, the duke of Lancaster, 
 in the same manner he had done the princf- of Wales at the battle of 
 Poitiers ; for which he was exceedingly praised and honored, as was 
 indeed but just; when such a valiant and good knight thus acquit.'- 
 himself toward his lords, he is worthy of honor and respect. Sir 
 John, therefore, during the day, never thought of making any pri;-.- 
 oners with Ids own hand, but was solely occupied in fighting a)id 
 pushing forward. However, many good knights and squires from 
 Arragon, France, and Brittany, were mad.-i prisoners by his people, 
 and under his banner : particularly sir Bertrand du Guesclin, sir 
 Arnold d'Andreghen, the begue dc Villaines, with upward of sixty 
 knights ; consequendy the battalion of sir Bertrand was discomfited. 
 All tho'?e who had come thither from France and Arragon were 
 either tirin or taken. Among the slain v,-as thr begue de Villien;. 
 The lord d'Antoing in Hainault, the lord de Bri ruil, sir Gauvin de 
 Bailleui, .=!i; John de Bergettes, sir I'Allemand de St. Venant, with 
 many othert , were made prisoners. 
 
 Upon this the banners and pennons, that is tj say, the banner of 
 the duke of Lancaster, the banner of f-ir ,lohn Chandos, the banner 
 of the two marshals, and the pennon of St. George and others, returned 
 toward the division which was commanded by king Henry, shouting 
 out, St. George, for Guienne !" Upoii thi^? the Spaniards, and those 
 who supported them, were repulsed. On one eido, was seen the 
 captal de Buch and the lord de Clisson .'nanfuUy engaged : on another, 
 sir Eustace d'Ambreticourt, sir Hugh Calverly, the souldich de i'Es- 
 trade, and sir John Devereux, showed themselves good knights. 
 
 The prince shone preeminently : he pre ved his noble birth, and 
 the gallantry of his knighthood, by his eagerness to sr-ek his enemies, 
 and bravely fighting with them. 
 
 On the other hand, king Henry acquitted himself right vaHantlyin 
 every situatio^i : he more than once rallied his men to the combat; 
 for when they saw don Telle take flight, accompanied by two thou- 
 sand men, they began to be cast down, and the greater part of them 
 were so much frightened, that they were willing to follow his ex- 
 ample ; but king Henry galloping up to the foremost, said, " My good 
 lords, what are you doing ? why would you thus seek to abandon 
 and betray me? you who have chosen me for your king, and placed 
 the crown of Castiile upon my head, giving me the inheritance of it? 
 Return back, and help me to guard, defend, and maintain it : rem.ain 
 steady near to me, for, through God's grace, the day shall still be 
 ours " By such speeches as these, he encouraged many, and caused 
 them to fight boldly : they could not for shame lly, when they saw 
 their king and lord act himself so vigorously in the combat, and 
 address such friendly words to them. More than fifteen hundred 
 persons lost their lives by this management, who would otherwise 
 have been saved by taking advantage of a favorable opportunity, if 
 it had not been for their love of the king. 
 
 After the defeat of the battalion of sir Bertrand du Guesclin and 
 the marshal d'Andreghen, when all the divisions of the prince were 
 formed into one large body, the Spaniards could no longer keep their 
 ground, but began to fly in great disorder, much frightened, toward 
 the town of Najarra,* and to cross the river v/hich runs by it : in 
 spite of everything king Henry could say, they would not rally nor 
 return to the fight. 
 
 When king Henry perceived that his army was totally defeated, 
 without hopes of recovery, he called for his horse, mounted it, and gal- 
 loped among the crowd of runaways, but was careful not to take the 
 road either to Najarra or to the river : for he wished not to be sur- 
 rounded ; he followed another road, to avoid ever / danger; in which 
 he acted wisely, as he was fully aware that, if he should be made 
 prisoner, he would be slain without mercy. The English and Gas- 
 cons now mounted their horses, and went in pursuit of the Spaniards, 
 who were flying in dismay, as far as Najarra. There was much 
 slaughter and eflfusion of blood at the entrance of the bridge : many 
 were killed and drowned : for great numbers leaped into the river, 
 which was both rapid and deep, preferring the being drowned to 
 being murdered. 
 
 In this flight, there were two valiant men of Spain, knights at 
 arms, who wore, however, the dress of monks : one was called the 
 grand prior of St. Jago, the other the grand master of the order of 
 Calatrava : they and their attendants threvv^ themselves for safety into 
 the town of Najarra, but were so closely pursued by the English and 
 Gascons, who were at their heels, that they won the bridge with 
 great slaughter, and entered the town with. them. They took pos- 
 
 * D. Sauvage will have it Navarretta ; but I think it must beNnjarra, forthey would 
 never run away toward Navarretta, but on the contrary toward their ov/n homes. Tht 
 battle was fought between Najarra and Navarretta. A river runs by Najarra, none by 
 Navarretta. The Ebro is not far distant ; but, if they had crossed tiiat river, there would 
 have been mention niade of Logrono : and besides, they would then have beea in ojs 
 ensmy's country. 
 
168 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 session of a strong house, which was well built with worked stone : 
 but this was soon gained, the knights taken, many of the people 
 killed, and the whole town pillaged. The English and Gascons 
 gained considerable riches : they went to the lodgings of king Henry 
 and the other Spanish lords, where the first comers found quantities 
 of plate and jewels ; for king Henry and his army had come thither 
 with much splendor, and after the defeat had not leisure to return to 
 place in security what they had left behind them in the morning. 
 
 The defeat was very complete and dreadful, especially upon the 
 banks of this river, where numbers were slain. Some said, as I have 
 heard from those who were there, that the river below Najarra was 
 tinged with the blood of men and horses there killed. This battle 
 was fought between Najarra and Navarretta, in Spain, on Saturday 
 the third day of April, in the year of our Lord 1367. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXLII. 
 
 ALL CASTILLE, AFTER THE BATTLE OF NAVAERETTA, ACKNOWLEDGES DON 
 PEDRO. HE PROTRACTS THE STAY OF THE PRINCE OF WALES AT VALLA- 
 DOLID, WHILE HE SEEKS FOR MONEY TO PAY THE ARMY. 
 
 After this defeat at the battle of Navarretta, which was corn- 
 pleted before noon, the prince of Wales ordered his banner to be 
 fixed in a bush, on a small eminence, as a rallying-point for his men, 
 on their return from the pursuit of the enemy. The duke of Lan- 
 caster, sir John Chandos, the lord de Clisson, the captal de Buch, the 
 earl of Armagnac, the lord d'Albret and the other barons came 
 thither; their banners were displayed to assemble their men, who 
 formed themselves under them as they returned. The lord James, 
 king of Majorca, was there, with his banner before him : his men 
 collected themselves. A little higher was don Martin de la Carra, 
 with the banner of his lord, the king of Navarre. In similar order 
 were all the other earls and barons drawn up ; so that it was a beau- 
 tiful sight to look at and contemplate. 
 
 The king, don Pedro, came thither in a great heat from the pur- 
 suit, mounted upon a black courser, with his banner, emblazoned 
 with the arms of Castille, borne before him : he dismounted as soon 
 as he perceived the banner of the prince, and advanced toward it. 
 When the prince saw him coming, he hastened, out of respect, to 
 meet him. Don Pedro would have cast himself on his knees, to 
 return thanks to the prince, but he would not suffer it, and took him 
 by the hand ; upon which don Pedro said : "Dear and fair cousin, I 
 owe you many thanks and praises for the event of this day, which I 
 have gained through your means." The prince replied : " Sir, render 
 your thanks to God ; for to him alone belongs the praise : the victory 
 comes from him, and not from me." 
 
 The lords of the council of the prince were now assembled, and 
 conversed on different matters. The prince remained there so long 
 that all his men were returned from the pursuit, when he ordered 
 four knights, with as many heralds, to search the field of battle, and 
 Bee what men of rank had been killed ; and also to know of a truth 
 what was become of king Henry called the Bastard, if he were among 
 the dead or not, for at that time they knew nothing certain about 
 him. After having given these orders, the prince and his barons 
 descended toward the quartens of king Henry and the Spaniards. 
 The army, according to orders, spread itself abroad among the tents 
 of the enemy, where they found plenty of every sort of provision, 
 from the want of which they had so lately suffered. They made 
 themselves very comfortable, and supped with great joy. After sup- 
 per, the knights and heralds who had been sent to examine the field 
 of battle, returned, and reported, from the account they had taken, 
 that only five hundred and sixty men-at-arms lay dead ; that they had 
 not found the body of king Henry, which was displeasing informa- 
 tion to don Pedro. Among the dead, they had only found four 
 knights of their party ; two of whom were Gascons, one a German, 
 and the other an Englishman. But of the commonalty they said 
 there were about seven thousand five hundred dead, without counting 
 those drowned, the numbers of whom they were ignorant of ; and 
 of their own party about forty common men. 
 
 They reposed themselves this Saturday night at their ease ; they 
 were well enabled to do so, from the great plenty of provision and 
 wine they had met with. They remained there the whole of the en- 
 suing day, which was Palm-Sunday, to refresh themselves. 
 
 On that morning, about six o'clock, when the prince was risen 
 and dressed, he came forth from his tent, and the duke of Lancaster, 
 the earl of Armagnac, the lord d'Albret, sir John Chandos, the captal 
 de Buch, the lord de Pommiers, sir Guiscard d'Angle, the king of 
 Majorca, with a great number of knights and squires, advanced to 
 pay their respects to him. Soon afterwards, the king don Pedro 
 came thither, to whom the prince paid every respect and honor. 
 Don Pedro, having saluted him, said : " Dear lord and fair cousin, 
 I entreat and beseech you, as a mark of your friendship, that you 
 will have the kindness to deliver up to me the traitors to my country, 
 especially my brother Sancho the bastard, and the others, that I may 
 cut off their heads ; for they have done me much injury." 
 
 The prince of Wales, after having considered for a moment the 
 request which don Pedro had just made him, answered : " Sir king, 
 1 have, al^o a request to make you ; and I beg of you, in the name of 
 oai friendship and coiinefetion, that you will not deny it to me." Don 
 
 Pedro, who could refuse him nothing, assented, saying : " My lor^ 
 and fair cousin, whatever I have is yours." Upon which the prince 
 replied : *' Sir king, I entreat and beg of you to pardon all the ill 
 which your rebellious subjects have done against you. You will do 
 an act of kindness and generosity, and will by this means remain in 
 peace in your kingdom. But I except from this amnesty Gomez Ga. 
 rilz ; for I am willing you should do with him as best pleases you." 
 
 The king don Pedro granted this favor, though much against his 
 inclination : he dared not refuse it, feeing himself under so many 
 obligations : he therefore answered, " Fair cousin, I will grant your 
 request." All the Spanish prisoners who were in the army of the 
 prince were then sent for, and he gave them up to the king don 
 Pedro, their lord. The king kissed the earl don Sancho, his brother, 
 and forgave him all his misdeeds toward him, as well as all the 
 others, on condition that they would swear fealty, homage, and ser- 
 vice, and would become his vassals, and acknowledge him for their 
 lord.. 
 
 This courtesy and much more did the prince to don Pedro, who 
 but very little remembered them, as you will see in the continuation 
 of this history. He made very liberal presents to the barons of 
 Spain who had been his p-risoners. If the king could have had them 
 given up to him, in his rage he would infallibly have put them all 
 to death. Gomez Garilz was delivered up to him ; for whom he 
 would not hear of any ransom, so much did he hate him, but had 
 him beheaded before his eyes, on the outside of the tent. After this, 
 don Pedro mounted on horseback, attended by his brother don San- 
 cho, and all those who were again become his subjects, with the two 
 marshals of the prince, sir Guiscard d'Angle and sir Stephen Cos- 
 sington, and upward of five hundred men-at-arms ; they set out from 
 the army of the prince, and rode toward Burgos, where they arrived 
 on the Monday morning. 
 
 The inhabitants of Burgos, who had been informed of the defeat 
 of king Henry, had neither the will nor inclination to shut them, 
 selves up in the town, to hold out against their prince. The richest 
 and principal persons of the city went out of the gates, to present 
 the keys to don Pedro, whom, after acknowledging for their lord, 
 they conducted with all his company, in great pomp and solemnity, 
 into the city of Burgos. 
 
 The prince remained all Sunday in his newly-acquired quarters. 
 On Monday, after vespers, he and his army decamped, and marched 
 to Villorado, where he halted until the Wednesday following, when 
 he marched to Burgos. The prince entered the town in great parade. 
 With him were the duke of Lancaster, the earl of Armagnac, and 
 others of the principal lords. The army encamped in the plains with, 
 out the town, in which there was not room to quarter them comfort, 
 ably. The prince visited his army every day during its encampment 
 on the plain ; for his tent was there pitched, and he gave judgment 
 concerning arms and all things thereunto belonging ; he there kept 
 the field and wager of battle ; so that one may truly say, all Spain 
 was for some days under his command. 
 
 The prince of Wales and the king don Pedro celebrated the fes- 
 tival of Easter in the city of Burgos, where they tarried upward oi 
 three weeks. On Easter-day, the deputies from Asturias, Leon, 
 Cordova, Seville, and from all the other towns and provinces de- 
 pendent on the crown of Castille, came to Burgos to do homage to 
 don Pedro. That loyal knight of Castille, don Ferdinand de Castro, 
 came also thither to pay his respects, whom they handsomely enter- 
 tained, and were happy in seeing. 
 
 When the king don Pedro had resided in Burgos rather more than 
 the time I have mentioned, and had learnt from exact information 
 that the rebellion was at an end, all having returned to their allegi. 
 ance, the prince of Wales, in order to satisfy his army, and to act 
 conformably to what was becoming him, said to the king : " Sir 
 king, you are now, thanks to God, king and lord over your country : 
 all rebellion and opposition to you are at an end : we therefore remain 
 here at such very great expense, that I must desire you will provide 
 yourself with money sufficient to pay those who have replaced you 
 in your kingdom, and that you now fulfil all the articles of the trea- 
 ties which you have sworn and sealed to perform. We shall feel 
 ourselves obliged by your so doing, and as speedily as it may be 
 possible, which may be the more profitable to you ; for you know 
 that men-at-arms will live, and, if they be not paid, will help them- 
 selves." The king don Pedro replied as follows : " Sir cousin, we 
 will punctually perform, as far as shall be in our loyal power, what- 
 ever we have promised and sworn to : but at this moment we have 
 no money : we will therefore set out for Seville and its environs, and 
 will there collect a sufficiency to satisfy every one. If you will 
 march to Valladolid, which is a fertile country, we will return to 
 you, as soon as it shall be in our power, but at the latest by Whit- 
 suntide." 
 
 This answer was agreeable to the prince and his council. Tlie 
 king don Pedro left the prince abruptly, and went to Seville with 
 the intention of procuring money. The prince marched to Vallado- 
 lid, where he fixed his quarters. The army was spread over the 
 country about that town, in order to find provision for themselves 
 and horses ; they continued there with little profit to the peasants, for 
 the companies could not refrain from pillaging. 
 
 News was immediately carried through France, England, Ger- 
 many, iind other countries, that the prince of Wales had defeated 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 169 
 
 king Henry (who was himself either taken, drov/ned, or slain,) with 
 upward of a hundred thousand men, in a regular battle. The 
 prince was therefore the more honored and renowned for it wherever 
 true knighthood and deeds of enterprise were esteemed, particularly 
 in the empire of Germany and in England. The Germans, Flemings, 
 and English declared the prince of Wales was the mirror of knight, 
 hood, and that mch a prince was worthy of governing the whole 
 world, who, by personal prowess, had gained three glorious victories : 
 tlie first at Crecy in Ponthieu, the second at Poitiers ten years after- 
 wards, and the third in Spain at Najarra. The citizens of London 
 made solemn shows, triumph;?, and feasts, for this victory ; such as 
 were formerly done in honor of their kings, who had taken a town 
 or defeated their enemies. 
 
 But in France, there was much lamentation for the knights of that 
 kingdom, who had been either tlain or made prisoners ; more espe- 
 cially for sir Bertrand du Guesclin, sir Arnold d'Andreghen, and 
 several others, who, however, were courteously treated, and some 
 immediately set at liberty on their ransom. Sir Bertrand had not 
 his freedom so soon ; for sir John Chandos, whose prisoner he was, 
 being unwilling to consent to it, sir Bertrand was not over-pressing 
 on the subject. 
 
 We will now speak a little of king Henry, what became of him 
 after his flight from the battle, and then return to the prince of Wales 
 and king don Pedro of Castille. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXLIII. 
 
 KING HENRY OF CASTILLE HAVING ESCAPED FROM THE BATTLE OF NAJAR- 
 RA, MAKES V/AR UPON AQUITAINE. THE PRINCE OF WALES LEAVES 
 SPAIN, DISCONTENTED WITH THE KING DON PEDRO. 
 
 King Henry, as has been before related, escaped the best way he 
 could, and leaving his enemies behind him, conducted his wife and 
 children as quickly as he was able to the city of Valencia, where the 
 king of Arragon resided, who was his godfather and friend : to him 
 he related the ill success of the battle. Upon considering the state 
 of his affairs, he determined to make a long journey, and visit the 
 duke of Anjou, who was then at Montpellier, to tell him of his mis- 
 fortunes. 
 
 The king of Arragon approved of this plan, and consented to his 
 leaving him, because the duke was an enemy to the prince of Wales, 
 who was his too near neighbor. King Henry then departed from 
 the king of Arragon, leaving his wife and children in the city of 
 Valencia. Pursuing his journey, he passed through Narbonne, which 
 is the first city of the realm of France on that side ; then through 
 Beziers, and that country, until he arrived at Montpellier, where he 
 found the duke of Anjou, who loved him much and as cordially 
 hated the English, though he was not at war with them. 
 
 The duke, who had before heard of his ill fortune, received king 
 Henry in the handsomest manner and comforted him by every means 
 in his power. He remained with him some time, and then set out 
 for Avignon, to visit pope Urban V., who was about to depart for 
 Rome, which he shortly afterwards did. King Henry then returned 
 to Montpellier, to .the duke of Anjou, when some treaties were 
 entered into between them. It was related to me, by those who at 
 the time thought themselves well informed of what was going on 
 (and there is every appearance from ensuing circumstances that it 
 was true,) that king Henry bought or borrowed of the duke of Anjou, 
 a castle near Toulouse, upon the borders of the principality ; which 
 castle was called Roquemaure.* He there assembled some of the 
 free companies, such as Bretons and others, who had not fallowed 
 the prince into Spain : they amounted, at this commencement, to 
 three hundred. 
 
 News was immediately dispatched to the princess of Wales, who 
 had remained at Bordeaux, that king Henry was seeking for assist- 
 ance, and making preparations on all sides, to wage war upon the 
 principality and the duchy of Guienne. She was much astonished 
 on hearing it ; but, since he was upon the territories belonging to 
 the crown of France, she sent special embassadors to the king of 
 France, to entreat he would not suffer the bastard of Spain to make 
 war upon her, nor to have any support from France to carry such 
 designs into effect, for too serious evils would arise from it. 
 
 The king of France immediately assented to the request of the 
 princess : he sent messengers in haste to the bastard Henry (who still 
 remained in the castle of Roquemaure, near to Montauban, and who 
 had already begun to make war upon Aquitaine and the territories 
 
 * " Roquemaure." From all the searches 1 have made, Froissart seems to h^vebeen 
 misinformed as to the castle king Henry retired to from Montpellier. 
 
 " Henry and the duke of Anjou went together to Avignon. On their return, they en- 
 tered into a treaty, as well against don Pedro as the English : but this was kept secret. 
 Henry then retired to his comte de Cessenon, in the diocese of St. Pons and of Beziers. 
 Being distressed formoney, he sold this county, with the castles of Cessenon, of Servian, 
 Thesiin, &c,., to the king of France, for the sum of 27,000 gold francs. Henry gave a 
 receipt far this sum, 27th July, and then went with his family to reside at the castle of 
 Pierre Pertuse, where he had rested on coming from Spain "—Hist, de Languedoc. 
 
 Thss castle of Pierre Pertuse I believe to be the castle which Froissart calls Roque- 
 maure. It was demolished by Louis XIV. after tlie peace of Nimeguen, who built the 
 castle of Bellegarde on its ruins. It is a very strong situation, commanding the Col de 
 Pertns. Roussillon nt that time was attached to the crown of Arragon. 
 • 3).h,e,fe is a town called Roquemaure in Upper Languedoc, near to and in the diocese 
 of Monfaubah, so tTiat Froissart' raay .Jbe ri?bt, notwithstanding what the historian of 
 Languedoc says, which I have jtfsratMefli^ 4c3(.4*t!t»AS taSwcif 4aiti»Ti» 
 
 of the prince,) commandir/g him as he was a resident in his kingdom, 
 not to wage war on th-. principality of his dear nephew the prince 
 of Wales and of Aquitaine. To give greater weight to these orders, 
 and as an example for his subjects not to form any aUiance with the 
 bastard Henry, he sent the young* earl of Auxerre to prison in the 
 castle of the Louvre in Paris, because he had entered into treaties 
 with king Henry, and as it was suid, v/as to join him with a large 
 body of men-at-arms : the king of France made him give up this 
 expedition, and dissolve the connection. 
 
 King Henry paid obedience to the orders of the king of France, 
 as it was natural he should : but for all this he did not think the less 
 of his attempt. He departed from the castle of Roquemaure, with 
 about four hundred Bretons, having for his allies the following knights 
 and squires : sir Arnold de Limousin, air Gecffry Ricons, tir Pons | 
 de Laconet, Silvester Budes, Aliot de Calais,* and Alain de St. Pol. 
 These men-at-arms, Bretons as well as others, advanced into the 
 territories of the prince, and galloping boldly through the mountains, 
 entered the principahty by Bigorre, and took by escalade a town 
 called Bagnieres.t They repaired and fortified it veiy strongly ; 
 whence they made irruptions on the territories of the prince, to 
 which they did much mischief. But the princess sent after them 
 sir James Audley, who had remained as governor in Aquitaine, to 
 guard the country. Notwithstanding this, king Henry and the 
 Bretons did a great deal of damage ; for his army was continually 
 increasing. 
 
 We will now return to the prince of Wales and his army, who 
 had been encamped at Valladolid and its environs waiting for the 
 return of don Pedro. 
 
 The prince had continued at Valladolid until after the feast of St. 
 John the Baptist, expecting don Pedro, who did not return, nor could 
 he learn' any certain tidings of him. He became very melancholy, 
 and assembled his council, that they might deliberate what was best 
 to be done. The conncil advised the prince to send two or three 
 knights to remonstrate with the king on his situation, and to demand 
 the reason why he did not keep to the engagement he had made, 
 nor return the day he had himself appointed. Sir Nele Loring, sir 
 Richard Pontchardon, and sir Thomas Banister were ordered to 
 make themselves ready to wait on don Pedro. These knights of 
 the prince set out immediately, and rode on until they came to the 
 city of Seville, where don Pedro was, who, in outward appearance, 
 received them with great joy. 
 
 The knights delivered their message punctually and literally, as 
 they had been ordered by the prince. The king don Pedro replied, 
 and by way of excusing himself, said : " It is, my lords, very dis- 
 pleasing most certainly to us, that we have not been able to jjer- 
 form what we covenanted to do with our cousin the prince. We 
 have remonstrated ourselves, and made ethers do so with our sub- 
 jects, frequently on this business ; but our people excuse themselves, 
 and say they cannot collect any money as long as the free companies 
 remain in the country, for they have killed three or four of our treas. 
 urers, who were carrying sums of money tovv^ard the prince our 
 cousin. You will therefore tell him from us that we entreat he will 
 have the goodness to send out of our kingdom these wicked com- 
 panics, and that he will leave us some of his knights, to whom, in 
 his name, we will pay such sums of money as he demands, and 
 which we hold ourselves obliged and bound to pay him." 
 
 This was all the answer the knights could obtain. They took 
 leave of don Pedro, and returned to the prince at Valladolid ; to 
 whom, and to his council, they related all they had seen or heard. 
 This answer made the prince more melancholy than before, because 
 he clearly found that, though the king don Pedro entered into agree- 
 ments, he put off the fulfilling of them. 
 
 During the stay the prince made at Valladolid, which was upward 
 of four of the hottest months, the king of Majorca was confined to 
 his bed, through sickness ; at v.'hich the prince and the other lords 
 were very much concerned. At this place sir Arnold d'Andreghen, 
 and le begue de Villaines, with several knights of France and Brit- 
 tany, who had been made prisoners, were ranscmed, or exchanged, 
 for sir Thomas Felton, sir Richard Causton, sir Hugh Hastings, and 
 others. But sir Bertrand du Guesclin remained still in the power of 
 the prince, for he was not ransomed so soon. The English and 
 council of the prince thought, that if he obtained his liberty, he would 
 immediately join the bastard Henry, and carry on the war with fresh 
 vigor. The prince heard that Henry had entered Bigorre, had taken 
 Bagnieres, and was wasting his principality : on which account he 
 was not in any haste to grant sir Bertrand his liberty. 
 
 When the prince of Wales had considered the answer of don 
 Pedro, he was more disturbed than ever, and ordered his council to 
 give him their opinions on it. ' His people, who were anxious to ra. 
 turn, (for the air and hent of Spain had been very hurtful to their 
 health ; even the prince himself was unwell, and in low spirits ;) re. 
 commended a retreat, and declared that don Pedro had shamefully 
 and dishonorably failed in his engagements. 
 
 Orders were immediately given for the return of the army. When 
 they were on the eve of their departure, the prince sent sir Hugh 
 Courtenay and sir John Chandos to inform the king of Majorca of the 
 reasons why he was about to quit Spain ; and that he should be very 
 
 * Barnes calls him Eliot du Carhais, 
 
 t " Basnieres"— a town of Bigoixe, diocese of Toibet. 
 
170 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCS, SPAIN, (fee. 
 
 much concerned to leave him behind, in case he wished to return. 
 The king of Majorca replied to the knights : " I give my lord the 
 prince, our brother soldier, my best thanks ; but for the present I 
 cannot ride, nor, until God please", can I raise my foot to the stirrup." 
 The knights answered, by inquiring if he wished the prince should 
 leave behind some men-at-arms, as a guard for him, and to conduct 
 him when he should be in a situation to mount on horseback ? The 
 king said, " By no means, for it is uncertain how long I may be 
 forced to remain here " 
 
 Upon this, the knights took leave of the king, and returned to the 
 prince ; to whom they related what had passed, with the answers of 
 the king of Majorca. He replied, " Be it so, then." The prince 
 and his whole army now be- 
 
 CHAPTER CCXLIV. 
 
 AFTER THE RETURN OF THE PRINCE TO AQUITAINE, HENRY KING Of 
 CASTILLE LEAVES BAGNIERES IN BIGORRE, AND RETIRES TO THE KING- 
 DOM OF ARRAGON. SIR BERTRAND DU GUESCLIN OBTAINS HIS RAN- 
 SOM. THE FREE COMPANIES OF THE PRINCE ENTER THE KINGDOM 
 OF FRANCE. SOME OF THE GREAT BARONS OF AQUITAINB COMPLAIN 
 TO KING CHARLES OF FRANCE OF A CERTAIN TAX, CALLED FOUAGE,* 
 WHICH THE PRINCE WAS ABOUT TO LAY ON THEIR LANDS. 
 
 As soon as king Henry, who had remained in the garrison of Bag. 
 niers for a considerable time, heard of the prince's return from Spain 
 into the principality, he set out, accompanied by all his men-at-arms, 
 
 gan their march toward a 
 good city called Madrigay,* 
 where he stayed a short time. 
 He then advanced to a val- 
 ley called de Foirie,t upon 
 the borders of Spain, Arra- 
 gon, and Navarre, where he 
 and his army remained up. 
 ward of a month : for some 
 of the passes on the borders 
 of Arragon were shut against 
 him ; and it was reported in 
 the army, that the king of 
 Navarre (who had lately 
 come out of prison) had com- 
 promised his quarrel with the 
 bastard of Spain and the king 
 of Arragon, and had engaged 
 to cut off the retreat of the 
 prince through his uominions. 
 However, as it appeared after- 
 wards, there was no truth in 
 this report : nevertheless, it 
 was suspected, because he 
 was in his kingdom, and had 
 not waited on the prince. 
 
 While the prince remained 
 in this situation, he sent nego- 
 tiators to an appointed place 
 between Spain and Arragon, 
 where they met others from 
 the king of Arragon, with 
 whom they had long confer- 
 ences for several days : at 
 last, it was finally agreed, 
 
 that the king of Arragon should open his country for the peaceable 
 return of the prince and his army: through which they were to pass, 
 without doing any violence or molestation, and paying courteously 
 for whatever they should want. 
 
 The king of Navarre, when he found that a treaty had been en- 
 tered into with the king ©f Arragon, came to meet the prince, at- 
 tended by don Martin de la Carra. He paid him every respect and 
 honor, handsomely offering a passage through his dominions, for 
 himself, his brother, the duke of Lancasisr, as well as for several 
 barons and knights of England and of Gascony ; but he was anxious 
 that the free companies should take any other road than through 
 Navarre. 
 
 The prince and the lords, who knew that their march would be 
 much shortened by going through Navarre, were not willing to re- 
 nounce such a favor : they therefore greatly thanked the king for his 
 offer : and the prince managed him so well that be obtained the same 
 permission for the companies as for the rest of his army, assuring 
 the king, upon his word and oath, that they should pass so peaceably, 
 and pay so well for what they might want, that he would be satisfied 
 with them. 
 
 The prince, therefore, and his men-at-arnis, quitted the kingdom 
 of Castille, on their return, marching as quietly as they could through 
 Navarre. The prince was attended by the king of Navarre and don 
 Martin de la Carra, as far as Roncevaux ; whence he continued his 
 march to Bayonne, where he was received with great joy. He re- 
 mained there four days, to repose and recruit himself. When he 
 approached Bordeaux, he was received with great solemnity ; the 
 princess of Wales came out to meet him, accompanied with her 
 eldest son, Edward, who was then about three years old. 
 
 He there disbanded his army ; the men-at-arms departed different 
 ways : the lords, barons, and knights of Gascony, to their castles ; 
 the knights of England to their governments, or high stewardships ; 
 and the free companies as they returned, remained in the principal, 
 ity wailing for payment. The prince, who thought himself much 
 obliged to them, was desirous of satisfying them as far as was in his 
 power, and as soon as money could be raised. He said, that '* al. 
 though don Pedro had not kept his engagements, it was not becom. 
 ing him to act in like manner to those who had so well served him." 
 
 • " Madrigay." Agreda— Coluns's Hist, of the Black Prince. 
 
 ♦ " Foiiie." Vale of Sona, between Anagon and Spain.— CoLLWi. 
 
 BcXNiltV or THE Pyrxnkis, on the Spanish side. From an original Sketch. 
 
 Bretons and companions, toward the king of Arragon, who had 
 much affection for him, and who received him with great joy. He 
 passed there the whole winter: when new treaties were entered 
 into between them, to carry on the war against don Pedro. The 
 Bretons, who 'vvere his adherents, had already made incursions into 
 Spain, in the name of king Henry : they were commanded by sir 
 Arnold de Limousin, sir Geoffry Ricons and sir Pons de Lakonet. 
 
 We will now relate how sir Bertrand du Guesclin obtained his 
 liberty. After the prince was returned to Aquitaine, his brother the 
 duke of Lancaster to England, and all the other barons to their dif- 
 ferent homes, sir Bertrand du Guesclin remained prisoner to tlic 
 prince and to sir John Chandos ; for he could not by any means ob- 
 tain his ransom ; which was highly displeasing to king Henry, but 
 he could not remedy it. 
 
 Now it happened (as I have been informed) that one day, when 
 the prince was in great good humor, he called sir Bertrand du Gues- 
 clin, and asked him how he was. " My lord," replied sir Bertrand, 
 " I was never better : I cannot otherwise but be well, for I am, 
 though in prison, the most honored knight in the world." " How 
 
 * Fomige ; " a yearly tax levied in old time, by supreme lords, upon every chimney or 
 house tire kept within their (iominions. In Cliarles V.'s time, it was four livres tournois 
 Since that time, in most places the tallies iiave been introduced in lieu thereof. Th» 
 tallies were originally only allowed in four cases; nouvelle chevalerie, inaniape des 
 filles, voyage d'outre-mer. et captivite. Ciiarles VII. made them ordinary. AH gentle 
 men, or such of a gentlemanly profession, are exempted from them."— Cotgravk's Die 
 tioiinry—Fouage — Taille. 
 
 " The taille was levied on goods, moveable and imm^.venble. It anjounted to the 
 tenth part of the revenues. A false declaration occasioned the confisociioii c-f the over- 
 plus.-lBcaumanoir, chap. L.) When the kings imposed the taille on the subjects of 
 their domain, those barons who were bound to serve them in their wars laid it on their 
 vassal^. According to a regulation oi St. Louis, tlie parishes elected thirty or forty 
 men, who from among themselves chose twelve that v ere appointed to apportion thu 
 tax: and they swore on the Gospels, neither to fiivor nor injure any one through love or 
 hatred. These twelve men elected in their turn four who were appointed to raise this 
 
 " The aide was a tax which the principal barons levied in money from their vassals. 
 There were two sort"; of aides, ' I'aide lesitirae," which was rigorously exacted in cer- 
 tain instances, such as the ransom of the lord, tne marriage of the eldest daughter, the 
 knighthood of the son, the accession of tlie presumptive heir to the estate. From this 
 aide, the clergy were not exempted. Tlie other was called " Taule gracieux. It was 
 demanded as a gift in certain cases, and depended on the will of the inferior. It was 
 granted when the lord wentcroisadingto Palestine-when he himself, or his brother, was 
 armed knight-when he married his sister or younger children-when he built or repaired 
 any castle-when he was at war for the defence of his lands. This voluntary tax was 
 not long before it became a forced one."-Introduction to M. Levksque s Hist, of 
 FranuuiuUr th*jirstjivc Falois, vol. i. pp. 325, &c 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 •0 ?" rejoined the prince. " They say in France," answered sir 
 Bertrand, " as well as in other countries, that you are so much afraid 
 of me, and have such a dread of my gaining my liberty, that you 
 dare not set me free ; and this is my reason for thinking myself so 
 much valued and honored." The prince, on hearing these words, 
 thought sir Beirrand had spoken them with much good sense ; for, 
 in truth, his ecu icil were unwilling he should have his liberty, until 
 don Pedro had p: id to the prince and his army the money he had en- 
 gaged to do : he answered, " What, sir Bertrand, do you imagine 
 that we keep you a prisoner for fear of your prowess ? By St. 
 George, it is not so ; for m> good sir, if you will pay one hundred 
 thousand'francs, you shall be free." Sir Bertrand was anxious for 
 his liberty, and now having heard upon what terms he could obtain 
 it, taking the prince at his word, replied, " My lord, through God's 
 will, I will never pay a less sum/' The prince, when he heard this, 
 began to repent of what he had done. It is said, that some of his 
 council went farther, and told him ; *' My lord, you have acted very 
 wrong, in thus granting him so easily his ransom." They wanted to 
 break through the agreement; but the prince, who was a good and 
 loyal knight, replied, " Since we have granted it, we will keep to it, 
 and not act any way contrary ; for it would be a shame, and we 
 should be blamed by every one for not agreeing to his ransom, when 
 he has offered to pay so largely for it as one hundred thousand 
 francs." 
 
 From the time of this conversation, sir Bertrand was taking great j 
 pains to seek the money, and was so active, that by the assistance 
 of the king of France and the duke of Anjou, who loved him well, 
 he paid in less than a month the hundred thousand francs, and went 
 to the aid of th i duke of x\njou, with two thousand combatants, in 
 Provence, where the duke was laying siege to Tarascon, which held 
 out for the quee.i of Naples. 
 
 At this period,* a treaty of marriage was entered into between 
 the lord Lionel, duke of Clarence and earl, of Ulster, with the daugh. 
 ter of the lord Galeas, sovereign of Milan. This young lady was 
 niece to the earl of Savoy, being daughter of the lady Blanche, his 
 sister. The treaty was so well conducted on both sides that it was 
 agreed upon. The duke of Clarence came from England, attended 
 by a great number of English knights and squires to France, where 
 he was received by the king, the duke of Burgundy, the duke of 
 Bourbon, the lord de Courcy, and magnificently feasted at Paris. 
 He passed through France, and entered Savoy, where the gallant 
 earl received him most honorably, at Chamberry : he was hand- 
 somely entertained there, during three days, by the ladies, both 
 young and old. On the fourth day, he departed. The earl of Savoy 
 conducted him to Milan, where he espoused his niece, the daughter 
 of the lord Galeas, on the Monday after Trinity, in the year 1368. 
 We will now return to the affairs of France. 
 
 You have before heard of the expedition which the prince of 
 Wales made into Spain ; how he had left it, discontented with the 
 conduct of don Pedro, and was returned to Aquitaine. When he 
 arrived at Bordeaux, he was followed by all the men-at-arms. ; for 
 .hey were unwilling to remain in Spain longer, because they could 
 not obtain their pay from don Pedro, according to the engagements 
 he had entered into with them. At the time of their return, the 
 prince had not been able to collect money sufficient for them as 
 speedily as he could have wished ; for it was wonderful to imagine 
 how much this expedition had impoverished and drained him : for 
 which reason, those men kept their quarters in Aquitaine, and could 
 not be prevented from doing mischief, as they were upward of six 
 thousand fighting men. The prince had them spoken to, and en- 
 treated that they would change their quarters, and seek elsewhere 
 for a maintenance, for he could not longer support them. 
 
 The captains of these companies (who were all English or Gas- 
 cons ; namely, sir Robert Briquet, John Tresnelle, sir Robert Che. 
 ney, sir Gail ard Viguier, la bourg de Breteuil, le bourg Camus, le 
 bourg de I'Esparre, Nandon de Bagerant, Bernard de la Salle, Ortigo, 
 la Nuit, and several others) were not willing to anger the prince ; 
 they therefore quitted the principality as soon as possible, and en- 
 tered France, which they called their home, by crossing the river 
 Loire. They halted in Champagne, in the archbishopric of Rheims, 
 in the bishobrics of Noyons and Soissons, and their numbers were 
 daily increasing. They were so much blamed for their former 
 deeds by the French, which greatly irritated them, that they would 
 willingly, as it appeared, have fought with all France, if they had 
 been listened to : and to put this to the hazard, they made incur- 
 sions through the kingdom of France, where they did so much dam. 
 age and such wicked acts, as caused great tribulation. Complaints 
 were frequently made of them to the king of France and to his 
 council ; but they could not remedy it, for they were afraid of risk, 
 ing a battle, and some of those who had been made prisoners from 
 the French garrisons said that the prince of Wales encouraged them 
 underhand. Many in France were astonished at this conduct of the 
 prince. At last, the king of France sent for the lord de Clisson, and 
 appointed him captain against these disorderly companies, because 
 he was a good and hardy knight, for which the king was very fond 
 of him. 
 
 At this time, a marriage was concluded between the lord d'Albr'et 
 
 * See Rymer, 1366, 1367, 1368. where the treaty is at length, and the names of those 
 •ho accompanied tJie duke of Clareh ce to Milan, 
 
 171 
 
 and the lady Isabella de Bourbon, which was not very agreeable to 
 the prince of Wales, who would have wished that he had chosen his 
 wife from another house. He spoke very coarsely and rudely both 
 of him and his bride. The principal per&ons cf his council, as v/ell 
 knights as squires, made excuses for him as well as they could, %J 
 saying, " Every one advances and aggrandizes himself in the best 
 way he can ; and a gallant knight ought never to be blamed, if he 
 seek for honor and profit in the way most agreeable to himself, pro. 
 vided he do not fail in his service to the lord whose vassal he is." 
 By these, and such fike words, was the prince answered, in hopes of 
 appeasing him : but nevertheless, in spite of appearances, he was 
 very far from being satisfied ; for he was well aware that this mar 
 riage would cause an estrangement of affection from him and from 
 his party, as in truth it happened, according to what will be hereafter 
 more fully explained. 
 
 During the time the companies were quartering themselves in 
 France, the prince of Wales was advised by some of his council to 
 lay a tax on the lands of Aquitaine ; the bishop of Rhodez in Rouer- 
 gue, in particular, took great pains to persuade him to it. The estab- 
 lishments of the prince and the princess were so grand, that no prince 
 in Christendom maintained greater magnificence. 
 
 The barons of Gascony, Poitou, Saintongc and Rouergue, who 
 had the right of remonstrating, as v/ell as those from, the principal 
 towns in Aquitaine, were summoned to a council on this tax. This 
 j parliament was held at Niort ; when the bishop of Rhodez, chancellor 
 of Aquitaine, in the presence of the prince, explained fully the nature 
 of this tax, in what manner it was to be levied, and, that the prince 
 had not any intentions to continue it longer than for five years, or 
 until he should have satisfied the large debt which had been caused 
 by the Spanish expedition. The deputies from Poitou, Saintonge, 
 Limousin, Rouergue and La Rochelle, were agreeable to this impo 
 sition, provided the prince would keep his coin to the same t^tandard 
 for seven years : but it was refused by those from the upper parts of 
 Gascony, namely, the earl of Armagnac, the lord d'Albrer, his nephew, 
 the earl of Comminges, the viscount of Carmain, the lord dc la Barde, 
 the lord de Cande, the lord de Pincornet, and several great barons 
 from the counties, cities and good towns under their jurisdiction, say. 
 ing, that " in former times, when they were under the vassalage of 
 the king of France, they were not oppressed by any tax, subsidy, or 
 imposition or gabelle, and that they never would submit to any such 
 oppression so long as they could defend themselves : that their lands 
 and lordships were free from all duties, and that the prince had sworn 
 to maintain them in this state. Nevertheless, in order to leave the 
 parliament of the prince in an amicable manner, they declared, they 
 would, when returned to their own country, consider this business 
 more fully : and that thev would consult several prelates, bishops, 
 abbots, barons and knights, to whom it oeionged to speck more de- 
 liberately on this demand than had hitherto been done." The prince 
 of Wales and his council not being able to gain more at this time, 
 the parliament broke up at Niort, and each person returned to his 
 own home ; but they were commanded by the prince to return again 
 by a certain day, v/hich had been fixed upon before they broke up. 
 
 These lords and barons of Gascony being arrived in their own 
 country, and having their opinions strengthened, were resolved 
 neither to return again to the parliament of the prince nor to suffer 
 this tax to be imposed upon their lands, even should they be obliged 
 to oppose force in preventing it. Thus this country began its rebel- 
 lion against the prince. The lords of Armagnac, d'Albret, de Com- 
 minges, the earl of Perigord, and several great prelates, barons, 
 knights and squires of Gascony, went to France, to lay their com. 
 plaints before the court of the king of France (the king and his peers 
 being present) of the wrongs the prince was about to do them. They 
 said, they vv^ere under the jurisdiction of the king of France, and that 
 Shey were bound to return to him as to their sovereign lord. 
 
 The king of France, who was desirous not openly to infringe the 
 peace between the king of England and him, dissembled his joy ar 
 these words, and replied in a guarded macner to the barons of Gas- 
 cony, saying ; «' Certainly, my lords, v/e shall always be very anxious 
 to preserve and even augment the jurisdiction of our inheritance, and 
 of the crown of France ; but we have sv/orn, as our father had done, 
 to several articles of the peace, all of which we do not now recollect; 
 we will have them looked into and examined, and all that shall be in 
 them to our and to your advantage we will aid you to preserve. We 
 will endeavor to make up your differences with our dear nephew the 
 prince of Wales ; for perhaps it has been through evil advisers that 
 he has wished to encroach upon you and your vassals' franchises." 
 With this answer, which the king made to them off-hand, the Gas. 
 cons were mightily satisfied, and remained at Paris, near the king's 
 person, without wishing to return home. 
 
 The prince was not pleased at this conduct. He continued to per^ 
 severe, and to make his council persevere, in the affair of the hearth, 
 tax. Sir John Chandos, who was one of the principal of his council 
 and a valorous knight, was of a contrary opinion, and wanted the 
 prince to desist : so that, when he saw he could not succeed, in order 
 that he might not be accused, nor have any blame, he requested 
 leave of the prince to visit his estate of St. Sauveur le Vicomte, of 
 which he was iord. tor he had not been there these three years. The 
 prince granted him leave ; and sir John Chandos set out from Poitou 
 to Coutantin, and remained in the town of St. Sauveur upward of 
 
178 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, <fe c . 
 
 half a year. In the mean time, the prince proceeded with this tax, 
 which, if it had been properly managed, would have been worth 
 twelve hundred thousand francs, one paying with the other one franc 
 each fire. We -.vill now return to king Henry, who had remained in 
 the kingdom of Arragon, and relate how he conducted his affairs. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXLV. 
 
 rap BASTARD HEJTRY OF CASTILLE, BY THE ASSISTANCE OF THE KING OF 
 ARRAGON AND SIR BERTRAND DU GUESCLIN, AGAIN MAKES WAR UPON 
 HIS BROTHER DON PEDRO. HAVING DEFEATED HIM IN A BATTLE, HE IS 
 MADE PRISONER, AND MURDERED. HENRY REMAINS KING OF SPAIN. 
 
 The situation of the prince of Wales and the state of his affairs 
 were well known *o the neighboring monarchs ; particularly to the 
 king of Arragon and king Henry ; for they took great pains to gain 
 information concerning them. They had been truly told how the 
 barons of Gascony were gone to Paris, to wait on the king ; and that 
 all that country was beginning to rebel against the prince. This 
 intelligence was not displeasing to either of the above-mentioned 
 kings, especially king Henry, who looked forward to the conquest of 
 Castille, which he had lost througlj the power of the prince of 
 Wales. 
 
 King Henry took leave of the king of Arragon, and set out from 
 the city of Valencia, accompanied by the viscounts de Roquebertin* 
 and de Rhodez. They had with them three thousand men-at-arms 
 and six thousand infantry, including some Genoese, who served for 
 a subsidy. This body of men-at-arms advanced into Spain, to the 
 city of Burgos, which instantly opened its gates, and surrendered to 
 king Henry, receiving him as its lord. From thence they marched 
 to Valladolid ; for kiiig Henry had received information that the king 
 of Majorca had been left there, which gave him great joy. 
 
 When the inhabitants of Valladolid heard that those of Burgos had 
 surrendered and had acknowledged king Henry, they no longer 
 thought of making any resistance, or holding out against him, but 
 surrendered also, and received king Henry as their lord, in the same 
 manner as formerly. As soon as king Henry had entered the town, 
 he inquired where the king of Majorca was lodged, and when the 
 place was pointed out to him, he immediately, on his going thither, 
 entered the h6tel and the room where he was confined by illness. 
 King Henry advanced toward him, and said : " King of Majorca, 
 you have been our enemy, and have entered our kingdom of Castille 
 with a large army ; for which reasons we lay our hands on you, and 
 make you our prisoner, or you are a dead man." The king of Ma- 
 jorca, sensible of the difficulty of his situation, and that opposition 
 would be of no avail, replied : " Sir, I am certainly dead, if you order 
 it so ; but I am very willing to surrender myself as your prisoner, and 
 to you alone. If you intend to place me in any other's hands, say 
 60 ; for I had much rather die than fall into the hands of my adver- 
 sary the king of Arragon." " By no means whatever," answered 
 king Henry, " will I act so disloyally by you, for which, and with 
 good reason I should be greatly blamed. You shall remain my pris. 
 oner, for me to ransom or set at liberty according to my own will and 
 pleasure. "t Thus was the king of Majorca made prisoner, on his 
 oath, by king Henry, who placed a numerous garrison in Valladolid, 
 for the more securely guarding it, and then advanced toward the city 
 of Leon in Spain, which immediately opened its gates on hearing he 
 was marching that way. 
 
 Upon the surrender of the city of Leon to king Henry, the whole 
 province of Galicia did the same, and changed their party. The 
 principal barons and lords, who had lately done homage to the king 
 don Pedro, came out to meet king Henry ; for, notwithstanding their 
 outward appearances of friendship to don Pedro during the presence 
 of the prince of Wales, they could not love him, from the cruelties 
 he had formerly exercised upon them, and from their doubts of what 
 he might do in future ; while king Henry had always treated them 
 kindly : not only did he not oppress them, but promised to do them 
 much good : all the country, therefore, returned to their allegiance 
 to him. 
 
 Sir Bertrand du Guesclin had not as yet arrived in Spain, but was 
 hastening to join king Henry with two thousand fighting men. He 
 had left the duke of Anjou, who had put an end to the war in Pro- 
 vence, and broken up the siege of Tarascon by a capitulation with 
 its inhabitants, the terms of which I do not know.t He had there- 
 fore set out for Spain, attended by several French knights and squires 
 who were desirous of signalizing their prowess, and had already 
 entered Arragon to join king Henry, who was laying siege to the 
 city of Toledo. 
 
 News was brought to the king don Pedro of all these conquests ; 
 that the whole country was turning to his brother the Bastard, during 
 
 * Rocaberti.— Ferrera's Hist. Gen. d'Espagne, translated by d'Hermilly. 
 
 t The k'lng of Majorca was afterwards ransomed by liis wife, tlie too celebrated Joan 
 of Naples, whose third husband he was, for 28,000 florins of gold.— Fz'c de Du Oiieschn. 
 
 t " The duke of Anjou and Bertrand du Guesclin having crossed the Rhone, hiid siege 
 to Tarascon, which is opposite to Beaucaire, the 4th March, 1368. The real history of 
 tiiis siege i» unknown to us ; for we cannot place any reliance on tlie different autliors 
 of the life, or rather romance of Bertrand du Guesclin, who relate various circumstances 
 about it. What may be depended on is, that the duke of Anjou, having besieged 
 Tarascon by sea and land, the inhabitants, who had an understanding with him, de- 
 livered up the town, of which he made himself master."— .ffwf. Ocn. de Lanevedoc, 
 vol iv. p. 836. 
 
 the time he tarried in the neighborhood of Seville, and on the borders 
 of Portugal, where he was but little loved. Upon hearing these 
 tidings, he was in a violent rage against his brother and against the 
 Castillians, who had abandoned him, and declared with an oath, that 
 he would avenge himself so severely upon them, they should be a 
 warning to all others. He immediately issued his commands to all 
 those from whom he expected help or service. He sent to some, 
 however, who never came, but excused themselves to the best of 
 their ability : while others turned to king Henry, and paid to him 
 their homage. When the king don Pedro found his people were 
 wavering, and failed to obey his summons, he began to be alarmed : 
 he therefore applied ^o don Fernando de Castro for counsel, who had 
 never yet deserted him. He advised him to collect as large a force 
 as he could from all countries, as well in Granada as elsewliere, and 
 to hu'-'tcn to meet his brother before he should have made any further 
 progress into the kingdom. 
 
 Don Pedro did not hesitate following this advice, but sent to the 
 king of Portugal, who was his cousin-german, from whom he had a 
 large body of men ; and also to the kings of Granada, Bellemarine, 
 and Tramesames,* with whom he entered into alliances, and engaged 
 to support them in their kingdoms, anH not to make war against them 
 for the space of thirty years. These kings, on their part, sent him 
 upward of twenty thousand Moors to assist him in his war. Don 
 Pedro used so much activity that he had assembled, as well Christians 
 as Moors, forty thousand men, in the country round Seville. 
 
 While these treaties and negotiations were going forward, and du. 
 ring the time of the siege of Toledo, sir Bertrand du Guesclin, with 
 his body of two thousand men, arrived in the camp of king Henry, 
 where he was received with great joy, as was naturally to be ex- 
 pected : the whole army was happy at his arrival. The king don 
 Pedro, who, as I have already said, had assembled his whole force 
 at Seville and in its environs, was desirous of giving his brother bat- 
 tle : he left Seville with his numerous army, in order to raise the 
 siege of Toledo. There may be between these two places, Seville 
 and Toledo, seven days' march. 
 
 Intelligence was brought to the army of king Henry, that don Pe- 
 dro was approaching with forty thousand men, including those of 
 every description. He called a council, to consider what was to be 
 done, to which all the French and Arragonian knights were sum- 
 moned ; and in particular sir Bertrand du Guesclin, by whose opinion 
 they wished to act. Sir Bertrand gave the following advice, which 
 was followed ; namely, that king Henry should immediately collect 
 as many of his army as he could spare from the siege, advance by 
 forced marches to meet don Pedro, and, in whatever situation he 
 should meet him, begin the battle ; " For," added he, " we have heard 
 that he is marching against us with a strong army, and he would be 
 too powerful, were he to come regularly upgn us : let us, therefore, 
 be beforehand with him, without his knowing anything of our inten^ 
 tions ; that we may surprise him and his army so unexpectedly as to 
 have the advantage, and, I doubt not, defeat him." This plan of sir 
 Bertrand was applauded and followed. Toward evening, king Henry 
 set out with a chosen band of men-at-arms, and left the command 
 of the siege to his brother don Tello. On his inarch, he had his 
 spies dispersed over the country, in order to bring him exact intelli- 
 gence the moment they should see or hear of don Pedro and his army, 
 and what condition they were in. 
 
 The king don Pedro was ignorant of everything his brother was 
 doing, even of his marching to meet him ; so that he and his army 
 were advancing slowly, in a very disorderly manner. It fell out, 
 that upon the dawn of day king Henry and his army met don Pedro 
 and his force ; for, the preceding night, he had slept in a castle called 
 Montiel, where the lord of Montiel had received him with all possible 
 honor and respect. He had left it very early in the morning, and 
 was continuing his march in the same disorderly manner, for he 
 never expected to fight that day, when suddenly king Henry, his 
 brother don Sancho, sir Bertrand du Guesclin, by whose orders they 
 acted, le bfegue de Villaines, the lord de Roquebertin, the viscount 
 de Rhodez,t and their companies, with banners flying and prepared 
 for action, came upon them : they might be six thousand fighting 
 men : they advanced in very close order, and at a full gallop, so that 
 they fell heavily and with a good will upon the first they met,ci7ing 
 out, " Castille for king Henry !" and " Our Lady, for Guesclin !" 
 They overthrew and defeated all whom they first encountered, driving 
 them before them. Many were slain and unhorsed ; for none were 
 made prisoners, according to the orders of sir Bertrand du GuescUn 
 the preceding day, on account of the great number of .Tews and infi. 
 dels who were in don Pedro's army. 
 
 When don Pedro, who was advancing with the largest division of 
 his army, received the news that his van had been defeated by his 
 brother the Bastard and the French, he was amazed where they could 
 come from : he perceived that he had been betrayed, and was in 
 
 * Bellemarine— Tramesames. Probably Benmarin and Tremecen, kingdoms in Bar 
 bary. 
 
 Neither Mariana nor Ferraras makes mention of any other king than Mahomet king 
 of Granada, who joined don Pedro with six thousand ciivalry and about thirty thousand 
 me.v).—Hist. Gen. de VEspagve, vol. v. p. 400. 
 
 t M. Dillon, in his history of Peter the Cruel, says, " While Jlenry lay before Toledo, 
 embassadors arrived at his camp from Charles V. of France, who sent his chanberlain 
 Francisde Perelles, viscount de Rhodez, and John de Ric, lord of Neburis, to acquaint 
 him, that war was declared between England and France, &c."— Vol. U. p. 104. 
 
 This John de Ric may perhaps be the Geoffry Ricon of Froissart 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &,c. 
 
 173 
 
 danger of losing everything ; for his men were very much dispersed ; 
 80 that like a bold and valiant knight as he was, and of great resource 
 and enterprise, he halted upon the spot, and ordered his banner to 
 be displayed in the wind to rally his men. He sent orders for the 
 rear to advance with all speed, for tnat the engagement was begun. 
 Upon this all men of courage hastened toward his banner, which was 
 fluttering in the wind. The battle now became more general and 
 hot : many of don Pedro's army were slain and unhorsed ; for king 
 
 Battle of Montiel/ 
 
 -A mixed and irregular combat of French, Spaniards, Moors and Jews. 
 
 in the Harleian and Cottbnian Libraries. 
 
 , iiwTT^T^-i, was not so 
 immense numbers, as to be at 
 
 Henry, sir Bertrand, and their friends, fought them so manfully, that 
 none could stand before them. The battle, however 
 soon over : for don Pedro had such 
 least six to one : but they were so closely followed that it was won- 
 derful to see how they were discomfited and slain. 
 
 This battle of Spaniards against Spaniards, and the two brother 
 kings, with their allies, near Montiel, was very grand and horrible. 
 Many were the good knights on king Henry's side ; such as sir 
 Bertrand du Guesclin, sir Geoffry Ricon, sir Arnold de Limousin, 
 sir Gauvain de Bailleul, le b^gue de Villaines, Alain de St. Pol, 
 Aliot de Calais, and the Bretons who were there. From the king- 
 dom of Arragon were the viscount de Rocaberti, the viscount de 
 Rodais, with many other good knights and squires whom I cannot 
 name, who performed various gallant deeds of arms, as in truth they 
 had full need. They had strange people to encounter, such as 
 Moors and Portuguese : the Jev/s who were there very soon turned 
 their backs, and would not fight ; but those from Grenada and Belle- 
 marine fought valiantly : they were armed with bows and lances, 
 of which they made good use, and behaved themselves right well. 
 Don Pedro was in the midst, and with intrepid courage fought so 
 valiantly with his battle-axe that scarcely any dared to come near 
 him. 
 
 King Henry drew up his division opposite to his brother, in very 
 compact order, and full of bold combatants, who shouted loudly, 
 making good use of their lances ; so that the army of don Pedro was 
 thrown into confusion, and those near his person began to be 
 alarmed. Don Fernando de Castro, who had watched over the 
 king his lord, soon perceived (so good was his judgment) that their 
 army would be beaten : for they were too much frightened from 
 having been so suddenly attacked : he therefore said to don Pedro, 
 " Sir, save yourself, and hasten back to the castle of Montiel, which 
 *you left this morning : if you retire thither, you will be in safety ; 
 but if you be taken, your enemies will slay you without mercy." 
 The king approved of this advice, set out directly on his retreat to 
 the castle of Montiel, and arrived there so a,.propos that he found 
 the gates of the castle open, where he was received with only eleven 
 followers. 
 
 While this was passing, the remainder of his men, who were dis- 
 persed over the plain, continued the combat as well as they could ; 
 for the Moors who were among them, and had not any knowledge 
 of the country, were indifferent whether they were directly slain or 
 
 suffered a long pursuit : they therefore sold their lives dearly 
 Others also acted marvellously well. 
 
 Intelligence was brought to king Henry and to sir Bertrand, that 
 don Pedro had retreated to the castle of Montiel, where he had shut 
 himself up ; that the hiigne de Villaines and his men had pursued 
 him to the castle, which had but one path to enter or come from it, 
 and that le b5gue had there placed himself and fixed his pennon. 
 King Henry and sir Bertrand were delighted with this news : they 
 
 advanced toward that 
 place fighting and slay- 
 ing muUiiudes, killing 
 them like beasts : they 
 were quite fatigued witli 
 this business of butch- 
 ery. The pursuit lasted 
 more than three long 
 hours, and there were 
 upward of fourteen 
 thousand killed and 
 wounded': very few es- 
 caped ; those v/lio did 
 were i'rom that part of 
 the country, and ac- 
 quainted with its strong 
 places. This battle was 
 fought under Montiel, 
 and its environs, the 
 13th dav of August, 
 1368, 
 
 After the defeat oi 
 don Pedro and his army, 
 king Henry and i^ir Ber- 
 trand encamped them- 
 selves before the castle 
 of Montiel, where don 
 Pedro was ; they sur- 
 rounded it on all sides . 
 for they said truly, that 
 what they had hitherto 
 done would be of no ef. 
 feet, unless they took 
 the castle of ?*lontiel 
 with don Pedro, who 
 had shut himself up in 
 it. They sent the prin- 
 cipal part of their force 
 back to Toledo, in order 
 to reinforce the be- 
 Tello, who commanded 
 
 Designed from various MS. authorities 
 
 siegers, which was very agreeable to don 
 there.* 
 
 The castle of Montiel was of sufficient strength to have held out a 
 considerable time, if it had been properly victualled ; but when don 
 Pedro entered it, there was not enough for four days, which much 
 alarmed him and his companions. They were so strictly watched 
 that a bird could not escape from the castle without being noticed. 
 Don Pedro was in great anguish of heart at seeing himself thus sur- 
 rounded by his enemies, well knowing that they would not enter into 
 any treaty of peace or agreement with him ; so that considering his 
 dangerous situation, and the great want of provision in the castle, 
 he was advised to attempt an escape with his eleven companions 
 about midnight, and to put himself under the protection of God : he 
 was offered guides that would conduct him to a place of safety. 
 
 They remained in the castle, with this determination, until mid 
 night, when don Pedro, accompanied by don Fernando de Castro 
 and others of the eleven companions, set out. It was very dark. 
 At this hour the bfegue de Villaines had the command ot the watch, 
 with upward of three hundred men. Don Pedro had quitted the 
 castle with his companions, and was descending by an upper path, 
 but so quietly that it did not appear as if any one was moving: 
 however, the bfegue de Villaines, who had many suspicions, and was 
 afraid of losing the object of his watch, imagined he heard the sound 
 of horses' feet upon the causeway : he therefore said to thuse neai 
 him : " Gentlemen, keep quiet : make no movement : for I hear the 
 steps of some people. We must know who they are, and what they 
 seek at such an hour. I suspect they are victuallers, who are bring, 
 ing provision to the castle ; for I know it is in this respect very 
 scantily provided." The b6gue then advanced, his dagger on his 
 wrist, toward a man who was close to don Pedro, and demanded, 
 " Who art thou ? Speak, or thou art a dead man." The man to 
 whom the b^gue had spoken was an EngUshman, and refused to 
 answer: he bent himself over his saddle, and dashed forward. The 
 bfegue suffered him to pass ; when addressing himself to don Pedro, 
 and examining him earnestly, he fancied it was the king, notwith- 
 standing the darkness of the night, from his likeness to king Henry 
 his brother, for they very much resembled each other. He demanded 
 from him, in placing his dagger on his breast, " And you, who are 
 
 * M. Dillon says, that Manrique, archbishop of Toledo, assisted by some able officers, 
 had the command of the blockade of Seville, when Henry marched to meet don Pedru 
 luid tbat don TeWo bad joined the king of Kavaire in ipoiling the kinsdom uf Spftia. 
 
174 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAN 
 
 D, FRANCE. SPAIN, &c. 
 
 you ? Name yourself, and surrender this moment, or you are a dead 
 man." In thus saying, he caught hold of his horse, and would not 
 iuffer him to escape as the former had done. 
 
 King don Pedro, who saw a large body of men-at-arms before him, 
 and found that he could not by any means escape, said to the b^gue 
 de Villaines, whom he recognized : " B6gue, bfegue, I am don Pedro 
 king of Castille, to whom much wrong has* been imputed, through 
 evil counsellors. I surrender myself, and all my people, but twelve 
 in number, as thy prisoners : we place ourselves under thy guard 
 and disposition. 1 beseech thee, in the name of thy gentility, that 
 thou put me in a place of safety. I will pay for my ransom what- 
 ever sum thou shalt please to ask ; for, thank God, I have yet a 
 sufficiency to do that ; but thou must prevent me from falling into 
 the hands of the Bastard." The bfegue (according to the information 
 I have since received) replied, that he and his company might come 
 with him in all security ; for that his brother should not from him 
 have any intelligence of what had happened.* Upon this consider- 
 ation, they advanced, when don Pedro was conducted to the tent of 
 the b6gue, and into the chamber of sir Lyon de Lakonet. He had 
 not been there an hour, when king Henry and the viscount de Roca- 
 berti, with their attendants, but not in great numbers, came thither. 
 As soon as king Henry had entered the chamber where don Pedro 
 was, he said, " Where is this son of a Jewish whore who calls him- 
 self king of Castille ?" Don Pedro, who was a bold as well as a 
 cruel m.an, stepped forward, and said : " Why thou art the son of a 
 whore, and I am the son of Alphonso." On saying this, he caught 
 hold of king Henry in his arms, began to wrestle with him, and, 
 being the strongest, threw him down under him upon unc aubarde 
 qu'on dit en Frangois coeste de materats dt soye:i placing his hand on 
 his poniard, he would infallibly have killed him, if the viscount de 
 Rocaberti had not been present, who seizing don Pedro by the legs, 
 turned him over, by which means king Henry being uppermost, im- 
 mediately drew a long poniard which he M^ore in his sash, and 
 plunged it into his body. His attendants entered the tent, and 
 helped to dispatch him. There were slain with him a knight from 
 England called sir Rabul Heline, who had formerly had the surname 
 of the Green Squire, and another esquire of the name of James 
 Roland, because they had put themselves in postures of defence.! 
 But no harm was done to don Fernando de Qastro, nor to the rest of 
 don Pedro's attendants : they continued, therefore, prisoners to le 
 bfegue de Villaines and to sir Lyon de Lakonet. Thus died don 
 Pedro, king of Castille, who had formerly reigned in great prosper- 
 ity. Those who had slain him left him three days unburied, which 
 was a pity for the sake of humanity ; and the Spaniards made their 
 jokes upon him. 
 
 On the morrow, the lord of Montiel came to surrender himself to 
 king Henry, who received him graciously, as well as all those who 
 returned to their allegiance. News was soon spread abroad of the 
 death of don Pedro, to the great joy of his enemies and sorrow- of his 
 friends. When the king of Portugal heard in what manner his cousin 
 don Pedro had been slain, he was mightily vexed at it, and swore he 
 would have satisfaction for it. He immediately sent a challenge to 
 king Henry, and made war upon him, remaining master of all the 
 environs of Seville for one whole season. This, however, did not 
 preventking Henry from following his enterprise : he returned before 
 Toledo, which surrendered to him as soon as it learnt the death of 
 don Pedro ; as did all the other parts of the country dependent on 
 the crown of Castille. Even the king of Portugal did not wish to 
 continue the war longer against king Henry ; so that there was a 
 treaty of peace concluded between them, by means of the barons and 
 prelates of Spain. King Henry, therefore, reigned in peace over all 
 Castille. Sir Bertrand du Guesclin, sir Olivier de Mauny, and some 
 others from France, Brittany, and Arragon, continued with him, to 
 whom king Henry behaved very handsomely: indeed, he was in 
 justice bound so to do, for without their aid he would never have 
 been able to have accomplished this business. Sir Bertrand du 
 
 * There are different accounts of this affair. Ferreras attributes the capture of don 
 Pedro to Bertrand du Guesclin, and not much to his honor: but I cannot beheve this, 
 as avarice was not a vice of such gallant men, and am inclined to believe Froissart has 
 been rightly informed. 
 
 t Not knowing how to translate this, I have left it as in the original. Du Uange, in 
 the last volume of his Glossary, refers the word aubarde to abbarda, in the first volume 
 of the Supplement, which is as follows: " Jlbbarda, Clitella— arfrfe Provincialibus 
 bardo, nostris olim barde, equi armatura. Aubarde vero dixerunt, pro culcitra, vulgo 
 toite de matelas. Froissart," (quoting the expressions in the text.) Mbardacha. — Gall. 
 Hallebarde. Vide supra AIjibarda.—7JM Cfin^-c. [Unc aubarde qxC on dit en Francois 
 coeste de materats de soye, thiit is, " an aubarde, or, as it is called in French, a silken 
 tounterpane or quilt;" literally the silk cox enng oi a mattress. Lord Berners trans- 
 lates it a bench, and probably he is not far wrong. According to the quotation from Du 
 Cange.tlie original meaning of the word was a war-saddle, which might not unnatu- 
 rally be applied to the camp-bed of a tent, which serves for a seat or a couch as occasion 
 requires, and may thence be aptly likened to r soldier's saddle, which serves him for a 
 pillow in a bivouac. As Froissart however confines the meaning to the covering of the 
 couch, this conjecture may very possibly be wxong, but in that case the etymology still 
 tscapes us.]— Ed. 
 
 X " With this unfortunate monarch there also fell two gallant Englishmen, who were 
 ilain for having drawn their swords in his defence when grappling with Henry. These 
 were sir Ralph Holmes and James Rowland. The life of Fernando de Castro was 
 •fared, on account of his long attachment and fidelity to his sovereijrn. 
 
 " Don Fernando de Castro, after the death of King Peter, made his escape into Por- 
 tugal, and afier\vards retired to Guienne, where he died. Over his tomb was placed the 
 following inscription: Aqui yack don Fernando pkrkz dk castro, toda la 
 f UXUOAi) OS itsPANA.— DiLLOM's Hist. cf Pttcr the Cruel, vol. ii. p, U9. 
 
 Guesclin was made constable of Spain, and received the estate of 
 Soria, worth twenty thousand francs a-year. The king gave to hi3 
 nephew, sir Olivier de Mauny, the estate of Crecte, worth ten thou- 
 sand francs a-year ; and so on to the other knights v/itb such libe. 
 rality that they were all contented. King Henry went to Burgos with 
 his queen and children, to hold his court there, which he did in a 
 princely style.* The kings of France and of Arragon, as well as 
 the duke of Anjou, who luved him personally, were very much re- 
 joiced at the fortunate event of the w ir. 
 
 About this time died the lord Lion 1 of England, who had crossed 
 the Alps, as has been before related, ; nd had taken for his wife the 
 daughter of the lord Galeas Visconti, sovereign of Milan. But, as 
 his death appeared extraordinary ,t the lord Edward Despenser, his 
 companion, who had remained with him, declared war against 
 Galeas, and slew many of his subjects at different times : at last, 
 however, the earl of Savoy made peace between them. Let us now 
 return to what was going forward in the duchy of Aquitaine. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXLVI. 
 
 KING CHAKLES V. IS ADVISED TO DECLARE HIMSELF LORD PARAMOUNT OF 
 GUIENNE AND AQUITAINE, ON ACCOUNT OF THE HEARTH-TAX WHICH THE 
 PRINCE OF WALES WAS ABOUT TO RAISE. THIS CAUSES A RENEWAL OF 
 THE WAR BETWEEN THE FRENCH AND THE ENGLISH. 
 
 We have before related how the prince had been advised to raise 
 a hearth-tax in his dominions : by which many thought themselves 
 over burdened, especially the Gascons ; for those of the low coun- 
 tries of Poitou, Saintonge, and la Rochelle had acceded to it with 
 tolerable good humor, as living nearer the residence of their prince, 
 and as being more obedient and more tractably disposed to the or- 
 dinances of their lords, more to be depended on, and firmer in their 
 allegiance than those from the more distant parts of the country. 
 
 In order to carry these intentiona of the prince into effect, several 
 parliaments were held at Niort, Angouleme, Poitiers, Bordeaux, and 
 Bergerac : but the Gascons declared they would never pay this tax, 
 nor suffer it to be laid upon their lands, and asserted, that they had 
 an appeal to the courts of the king of France. This claim of appeal 
 much angered the prince, who answered, that they had no such ap- 
 peal ; for that the king of France had surrendered all right to appeals 
 and jurisdictions, when he had given these territories to his lord and 
 father, as was fully apparent by the treaties of peace ; for that the 
 negotiators of this peace had not reserved the slightest article where- 
 by an appeal to the king of France could be jnade. To this the 
 Gascons replied, that it was not lawful for the king of France, nor in 
 his power, nor had ever been in his power, to free them from appeal- 
 ing to him, without the will of the prelates, barons, cities, and prin- 
 cipal towns of Gascony, who would never have consented to it, nor 
 ever will consent to it, if it were to be proposed, because it would be 
 the cause of a perpetual warfare with France. 
 
 Thus were the prince and the barons of Gascony quarrelling with 
 each other ; for either party supported his own opinion, and main, 
 tained that it was the right. The earl of Armagnac, the earl of 
 Comminges, the lord d'Albret, the earl of Perigord, and several other 
 barons from Gascony, remained quiet at Paris, near the person of 
 the king, and at his leisure moments infoiTned his majesty, that the 
 
 * King Henry assembled the states of the realm at Medina d'el Campo, to make ar- 
 rangements for recompensing the French and other knights. They paid Bertrand du 
 Guesclin one hundred and twenty thousand gold fiorins. The king also gave Soria, 
 Almazan, Atienca, Monteagudo, and Seron, with tiieir dependencies, to sir Bertrand: 
 to Olivier de Mauny, Agreda : Ribadeo, with the title of count, to the Viguer de Vil- 
 lames, whom he married to a lady of the Guzman family : Aquilar de Campo to Geof&y 
 Relor, and Villalpand to Arnold Solier."— Fkrrkra's Hist, d' Espagne, vol. v., pp 
 414, 415. 
 
 t "Anno Domini 1367, et regni 42 Edwardi, Leonellus dux Clarentiae obiit in natali S. 
 Marise, ut fertur, potionafus."— Lklandi Collectanea, vol. i. p. 251- 
 
 "duo anno (1368,) mense Aprilis, Leonellus dux Clarenciae, regis Edwardi tertii 
 filius, cum electa inultitudine nobilium Anglicorum transivit versus Mediolaniim, an 
 accipiendum in uxorem filiam domini Gallias, domini Mediolani, cum qua medietatem 
 ejusdem dominii fuerat habiturus. Sedtamen medico tempore snper conjuge vel domi- 
 nio guadere permissus est, morte (quae cuncta disjungit & separat) mox prseveutus. Ue- 
 lebrato nempe inter eos cum maxima gloria matrimonio, Leonellus, circa festura nati- 
 vitatis beatK Mariee proximo sequentem diem clausit extremum."— Tho. Walsino- 
 HAM, Hist. Angli. Edw. III. pp. 132, 3. 
 
 " Moreover, at the coming of Leonell, such abundance of treasure was m the most 
 bounteous manner spent, in making of most sumptuous feasts, setting forth stately 
 sights, and honoring with rare «ifls above two hundred Englishmen who accompanied 
 his son- in-law, as it seemed to surpass the greatness of the most wealthy pnnces : for 
 the banquet at which Francis Petrarch was present among the chiefest guests, had about 
 thirty courses of service at the table, and betwixt every course there were as many pre«- 
 ents of wondrous price intermixed ; all which John Galeasius, chief of the choice 
 youth, bringing to the table, did offer to Leonell. There were m one only course se- 
 venty goodly horses, adorned with silk and silver furniture ; and in another silver ves- 
 sels, falcons, hounds, armor for horses, costly coats cf mail, bre.-ist-plates glistermg of 
 massy steel, helmets and corselets decked with costly crests, apparelled distinct with costly 
 jewels, soldiers' girdles, and lastly, certain gems by curious art set in gold and purple, 
 and cloth of gold for men's apparel in great abundance. And such was the sumptu- 
 ousness of that banquet, that the meats which were brought from table would suth- 
 ciently have served ten thousand men. But not long after, Leonell, living with his new 
 wife while after the manner of his own country, as forgetting or not regarding his 
 change of air, he addicted himself overmuch to untimely banquetings, spent and con- 
 sumed with a limtering sickness, died at Alba." 
 
 This account from Stowe, pp. 267, 268, edition 1631, seems very naturally to account 
 for the death of the duke of Clarence, without supposing it caused by treachery. 
 
 For a more particular account of this entertainment, see Cono's History of MiUa 
 printed at JVlUan, 1503. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 175 
 
 prince, through pride and presumption, was desirous of trampling 
 them under foot, and oppressing them with taxes upon their lands 
 which had not been heard of before, and which they would never 
 permit to be levied. They demonstrated to the king, that they had 
 an appeal to him, and demanded that the prince should be summoned 
 before the parliament and the peers, to answer for the grievances and 
 oppressions he intended to lay on them. 
 
 The king of France listened with complacency to these lords of 
 Gascony, when they requested from him help and assistance as from 
 their sovereign lord, adding, that should he refuse it to them, they 
 would withdraw their allegiance, and apply to some other court ; so 
 that, for fear of losing his claim to this sovereignty, he in the end 
 complied with their request. He was, however, sensible that this 
 affair must cause a war, which he was desirous not to begin without 
 some appearance of right : besides, his kingdom was not r(^covered 
 from the effects of the late war, nor from the oppressions of the free 
 companies and other enemies. In addition also to these reasons, his 
 brother the duke of Berry was still a hostage in England ; so that he 
 was determined to act with prudence and caution. 
 
 About this time, sir Guy de Ligny, earl of St. Pol, had returned to 
 France from England, v/ithout permission of the English, by a very 
 ingenious trick. As the full detail of it would take a considerable 
 time, I pass it over. This earl hated the English more than words 
 can express, and took much pains that the king of France should ac- 
 cede to the request of the Gascon lords ; for he was well aware, that 
 if the prince of Wales were summoned to appear before the parlia- 
 ment, it v/ould create a war. Many prelates, barons, earls, and 
 knights of France had united themselves with the earl of St. Pol, and 
 had told the king, that the king of England had not in any way main- 
 tained the peace, nor paid any respect to what he had sworn and 
 sealed, according to the tenor of the treaties which had been made 
 at Bretigny near Chartres, and afterwards confirmed at Calais ; for 
 the English had carried on the war with France in an underhand 
 manner, as much, if not more, since the peace had been made than 
 before. They remonstrated with the king on the subject, adding, that 
 if he would have the articles and treaty of peace read, which had 
 been accepted by the king of England and his eldest son upon their 
 faith and oath, he would iind the truth of what they had told him. 
 
 Upon this, the king of France, to be better informed, and to pre- 
 serve the rights of the crown, ordered all the papers relative to the 
 last peace, to be brought to the council-chamber, where they were 
 read several times, that the different points and articles might be 
 fully examined. They were very carefully inspected, and among 
 them they found one relating to the territories given up, witich the 
 king and his council fixed on with greater attention, because it spoke 
 fully and clearly on the subject they were desirous to discuss. The 
 paper was in these terms : 
 
 " Edward, by the grace of God, king of England, lord of Ireland 
 and of Aquitaine, to all those to whom these present letters shall come, 
 greeting. Know all, that in the agreement and final peace entered into 
 between our very dear brother the king of France and ourselves, 
 there are two articles of the following tenor : Item, the aforesaid 
 kings shall be found to have all the before-mentioned things con- 
 finned by our holy father the pope; and they shall be strengthened 
 by oaths, sentences, and censures of the court of Rome, and by every 
 other bond in the strongest manner possible : and there shall be 
 obtained from the aforesaid court of Rome dispensations, absolutions, 
 and letters in regard to the perfecting and accomplishing this present 
 treaty, which shall be forwarded to the different parties within three 
 weeks at the latest after the king shall be arrived at Calais. Item, in 
 order that the aforesaid things, which have been gone through and 
 treated of, may be more firm and stable, the securities which follow 
 shall be given ; that is to say, letters drawn up in the best possible 
 manner by the councils of the two kings, and sealed with the seals 
 of the two kings, and also with the seals of their two eldest sons. 
 The aforesaid kings, their eldest sons, and their children, as well as 
 others of the branches of the royal family, and of the principal nobi- 
 lity of their kingdoms, to the number of twenty, shall swear they will 
 keep, and help to keep as far as in them lies, all these articles which 
 have been made, entered into and agreed upon, and will keep them 
 without doing anything contrary, either by fraud, malice, or by any 
 hindrance whatever. And if there should be any persons in the two 
 before-mentioned kingdoms of France and England who shall be 
 rebellious, and not consenting to the aforesaid treaties, the two afore- 
 said kings together shall use every exertion of body, fortune, and 
 friends, to bring the aforesaid rebels into true obedience, according 
 to the form and tenor of the aforesaid treaty. And withal, the two 
 aforesaid kings will submit themselves and their kingdoms to the 
 coercion of our holy father the pope, in order that he may constrain 
 by ecclesiastical censures, or other means, him who shall be rebel- 
 lious, according to what shall be thought reasonable. And among the 
 securities and assurances aforesaid, the two kings shall renounce for 
 themselves and their heirs, upon their faith and oath, all wars and 
 actions of war : and if through disobedience, rebellion, or power of 
 some of the subjects of the kingdom of France, or through any other 
 just cause, the king of France shall not be able to accomplish and 
 fulfil all the things aforesaid, the king of England aforesaid, his heirs 
 and kingdom, or any of them, shall not make war, nor cause war to 
 bo made upon the aforesaid king of France, uor upon his heirs nor 
 
 kingdom ; but both together shall unite and exert themselves in 
 bringing back the aforesaid rebels to their proper obedience, and to 
 the fulfilling the aforesaid things. And also, if in the aforesaid 
 kingdom, and under the obedience of the king of England, there 
 should be any not willing to surrender and give up those castles, 
 towns, or fortresses which they hold in the kingdom of France, nor 
 to obey the aforesaid treaty : or if, through any just cause, the king 
 of England shall be prevented from accomplishing what is laid down 
 in the aforesaid treaty, neither the king of France, his heirs, nor any 
 one for them, yhall make war upon the king of England, nor upon 
 his kingdom ; but both of them together will, with all their might, 
 endeavor to regain the aforesaid castles, towns, and fortresses, and 
 to bring back such rebels to their proper obedience^ so that the per 
 feet fulfilment of the aforesaid treaties may be wrought. And there 
 shall be mutually given on both parts, according to the nature of the 
 act, every sort of security which may be devised, as well by the pope 
 and college of Rome as by others, for the maintaining the peace and 
 other articles of the treaty. For which reasons, wishing to preserve 
 and cherish a perpetual peace and love between us and our aforesaid 
 brother and kingdom of Franco, we have renounced, and by these 
 presents do renounce, all war and offensive acts against our brother 
 aforesaid, his heirs and successors, the kingdom of France, and his 
 subjects. And we promise and swear, and have promised and sv/orn 
 upon the body of Jesus Christ, for ourselves and successors, that we 
 will not do, nor suffer to be done, any act or word against this renun 
 ciation, nor against anything contained in these aforesaid articles. And 
 if we should do or suffer to be done anything to the contrary, which God 
 forbid, we are willing to be reputed false, wicked and perjured, and 
 to incur such blame and infamy as a consecrated and crowned king 
 ought to incur in similar cases. We renounce all idea of importun- 
 ing any dispensation or absolution from the pope from our oath afore, 
 said ; and if obtained, we declare it to be null and of no weight, and 
 that no advantage whatever ought to be made of it. In order more 
 fully to strengthen the aforesaid declarations, we submit ourselves, 
 our heirs and successors, to the jurisdiction and coercion of the church 
 of Rome, and will and consent that our holy father the pope confirm 
 all these things by ordering monitory and general mandates for the 
 accomplishment of them, against us, our heirs and successors, and 
 against our subjects, (whether commonalties, universities, coheges, 
 or private persons of whatever descriptions,) and by granting sen. 
 tences of excommunication, suspension, or interdict, to be incurred 
 by us or by them, as soon as we or they shall* attempt or do anything 
 contrary to these articles, by occupying tov/ns, castles, fortresses, oi 
 any other act, by giving comfort, aid, advice, or assistance, that may 
 in any way infringe upon the true meaning of this treaty. 
 
 "We have caused our very dear eldest son, Edv/ard, prince of 
 Wales, to swear to the aforesaid articles, in like manner as ourself ; 
 and also our younger sons, Lionel earl of Ulster, John earl of Rich, 
 mond, and Edmund of Langley ; and also our dear cousin Philip de 
 Navarre, the dukes of Lancaster and Brittany, the earls of Stamford 
 and Salisbury, the lord of Manny, the captal de Buch, the lord de 
 Montfort, lord James Audley, sir Roger Beauchamp, sir John Chan- 
 dos, lord Ralph Ferrers, lord Edward de Spenser, sir William and 
 sir Thomas Felton, sir Eustace d'Ambreticourt, sir Franque van 
 Halle, sir John Moubray, sir Bartholomew Burghersh, sir Henry 
 Percy, and several other knights. And we will have the aforesaid 
 articles in like manner sworn to, as soon as we well can, by our other 
 children, and by the greater part of our prelates, churchmen, earls, 
 barons, and other nobles of our realm. In witness whereof, we have 
 affixed our seal to these presents, given in our town of Calais, the 
 24th day of October, in the year of grace 1360."* 
 
 Among other letters which had been drawn up, as well at Bretigny 
 near Chartres as at Calais, during king John's residence there, was 
 the above letter, now under examination of king Charles, his eldest 
 son, and the principal persons of his council. After it had been 
 maturely considered by the prelates and barons of France who had 
 been summoned to this council, they told the king, that neither the 
 king of England nor the prince of Wales had kept or fulfilled the 
 articles of the treaty of Bretigny; but, on the contrary, had taken 
 possession of castles and towns by force, and had remained in the 
 aforesaid kingdom of France, to its great loss ; where they had pil- 
 laged and ransomed its subjects, by which means the payment for 
 the redemption of the late king John was still part in arrear : that 
 upon this, and upon other points, the king of France and his subjects 
 had good right and just cause to break the peace, to make war upon 
 the English, and deprive them of the possessions they had on this 
 side the sea. 
 
 The king was also secretly advised, after much deliberation, in 
 such words as these : " Dear sire, undertake with courage this war : 
 you have a very good cause to induce you to do so : and know, that 
 as soon as you shall have determined upon it, you will find that many 
 in the duchy of Aquitaine will turn to your side ; such as prelates, 
 barons, earls, knights, squires, and citizens of the principal towns ; 
 for as the prince proceeds in levying this hearth-tax, in the same 
 proportion will hatred and ill-will follow from all ranks, as they will 
 be very miserable should he succeed in his attempt. As for those of 
 Poitou, Saintonge, Rouergue, Quercy, and La Rochelle, from their 
 nature they cann ot love the English, who, in their turn, being proud 
 
 . Sm tbii and other traatiw. ia the F<£d«ra. relativs to the peace of JSxetifisy. 
 
176 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 and prf^umptuous, have not any affection for them, nor ever had. 
 Add to iliis, that the officers of the prince are such extortioners, as 
 to lay tl eir hands on whatever they can find, and levy such heavy 
 taxes, ULider the name of the prince, that they leave nothing to the 
 subject : besides, the gentlemen of the country cannot obtain any 
 offices, f jr they are all seized on by the English knights attached to 
 the prince." 
 
 By these arguments, the king of France was determmed to declare 
 war ; and the duke of Anjou, who at that time was at Toulouse, 
 took great pains to bring it about ; for he was very desirous that the 
 war should be renewed with the English, as he was one who could 
 not lova them for some affronts they had put upon him in former 
 times* 
 
 On the other hand, the Gascons frequently said to the king of 
 France : " Dear sire, we insist that we have an appeal to your court, 
 (and therefore supplicate you to do us justice, as being the most up. 
 right prince in the world,; in regard to the great injuries and extor- 
 tions which the prince of Wales and his people want to impose upon 
 us. Should you refuse, however, to do us right, we will seek for it 
 in other courts, and we will place ourselves under that lord who will 
 exert himself to preserve our rights ; by which means you may lose 
 the principality." 
 
 The king of France, who very unwillingly would have suffered 
 this loss, for it would have been of the greatest prejudice to his king- 
 dom, made a courteous reply : " that never, for want of law or advice 
 should they apply to any other court than his own ; but it was proper 
 such affairs should be treated with much deliberation and prudence." 
 In this manner, he kept them in expectation for one year, detaining 
 them privately at Paris ; where, besides paying all their expenses, he 
 made them handsome presents and gave them rich jewels. He, 
 however, inquired secretly, whether, in case the peace be broken, 
 and war with the English recommence, they would support him : 
 they replied, that he ought not to be alarmed, nor prevented from 
 carrying on the war in their country, as they were sufficiently able 
 to make head against the prince, and the force he could employ. 
 
 The king at the same time, sounded those of Abbeville, if they 
 would return to their allegiance, and become good Frenchmen : they 
 desired nothing more earnestly than to do so, for much did they l^ate 
 the English. Thus did the king of France acquire friends on all 
 Bides : otherwise, he would not have dared to act as he did. At this 
 time was born Charles of France, eldest son to the king of France, 
 in the year of grace 1368, which gave great joy to the kingdom. 
 Before this time, had been born Charles d'Albret. The birth of these 
 two children, who were cousins-german, was highly pleasing to the 
 whole realm, but particularly to the king of France. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXLVII. 
 
 TWE KING OF FRANCE SENDS A SUMMONS TO THE PRINCE OF WALES, TO 
 APPEAR IN THE CHAMBER OF PEERS AT PARIS, IN THE MATTER OF AN 
 APPEAL FROM THE BARONS OF GASCONY. 
 
 The king of France was so strongly advised by his council, and 
 ID strenuously entreated by the Gascons, that an appeal was drawn 
 4p, and sent to Aquitaine, to summon the prince of Wales to appear 
 defore the parliament of Paris. It was in the name of the earl of 
 Armagnac, the lord d'Albret, the earls of Perigord and of Comminges, 
 the viscount of Carmaing, the lords de la Barde and de Pincornet, 
 who were the principal appellants. In this appeal, the said Gascons 
 complained of certain oppressive grievances which the prince of 
 Wales and of Aquitaine was about to inffict on them and their vas 
 sals ; and that the said Gascons appealed to and claimed the juris- 
 diction of the king of France, whom as a matter of right, they had 
 chosen for their judge. When this appeal from the said barons and 
 lords of Gascony had been well drawn out, and reduced to writing, 
 after different corrections in the best possible manner by the wisest 
 of the French council, and after it had been very fully considered, 
 they resolved that it should be signified to the prince of Wales, that 
 they summoned him to appear in person, in the chamber of peers at 
 Paris, to answer the complaints made against him and attend the 
 judgment : to which effect, orders were given to an eloquent lawyer, 
 that the business might be more properly done, and a very noble 
 knight of Beauce, called Caponnel de Caponnal. 
 
 These two commifsionei-s left Paris with their attendants, taking 
 the road toward Bordeaux. They passed through Berry, Touraine, 
 Poitou, Saiiitonge, and came to Blaye, where they crossed the Ga 
 ronne: from thence they went to Bordeaux, where the prince and 
 princess at that time resided, more than at any other place. These 
 commissioners declared, wherever they passed, that they were come 
 by orders of the king of France ; by which means they were in all 
 places well received. When they entered the city of Bordeaux, they 
 took up their quarters at an inn (for it was late, about the hour of 
 vespers,) and remained there all that night. On the following day, 
 At a proper hour, they went to the abbey of St. Andrev^, where the 
 prince of Wales kept his court. 
 
 The knights and squires of the prince received them kindly, out 
 •f respect to the king of France, by whom they said they were sent. 
 
 •Very probably for having escaped dishonorably fiom Eogiaad. where be was an 
 M<wg« for hu faiher kins J oho. 
 
 The prince of Wales was soon informed of their arrival, and ordered 
 them to be brought to him. When they came into his presence, they 
 bowed very low, and saluted him with great respect (as was on every 
 account his due, and they well knew how to pay it,) and then gave 
 him their credential letters. The prince took them, and, after having 
 read every word, said, " You are welcome ; now communicate all 
 that you have to say to us." " Respected sir," said the lawyer, 
 " here are letters which were given to us by our honored lord the 
 king of France ; which letters we en/ aged on our faith to publish in 
 your presence, for they nearly relate h> you." The prince upon this 
 changed fcolor, from his great difficult} to conjecture what they could 
 relate to : the barons and knights who were with him were equally 
 astonished : but he restrained himself, and added, " Speak, speak : 
 all good news we will cheerfully hear." The lawyer then opened 
 the letter and read, word for word, the contents of it, which were : 
 " Charles, by the grace of God king of France, to our nephew the 
 prince of Wales and Aquitaine, health. Whereas several prelates, 
 barons, knights, universities, fraternities and colleges of the country 
 and district of Gascony, residing and inhabiting upon the borders of 
 our realm, together with many others from the country and duchy of 
 Aquitaine, have come before us in our court, to claim justice for cer- 
 tain grievances and unjust oppressions which you, through weak coun- 
 sel and foolish advice, have been induced to do them, and at which 
 we are much astonished. Therefore, in order to obviate and remedy 
 such things, we do take cognizance of their cause, insomuch that 
 we, of our royal majesty and sovereignty, order and command you 
 to appear in our city of Paris in person, and that } ou show and pro- 
 sent yourself before us, in our chamber of peers, to hear judgment 
 pronounced upon the aforesaid complaints and grievances done by you 
 to your subjects, who claim to be heard, and to have the jurisdiction 
 of our court. Let there be no delay in obeying this summons, but 
 set out as speedily as possible after having heard this order read. In 
 witness whereof, we have affixed our seal to these presents. Given 
 at Paris, the 25th day of January, 1369." 
 
 CHAPTER CCXLVIII. 
 
 THE PRINCE OF WALES IMPRISONS THE COMMISSIONERS FROM THE KING 
 OF FRANCE WHO HAD BROUGHT HIM THE SUMMONS OF APPEAL FROM 
 THE LORDS OF GASCONY TO THE COURT OF FRANCE. 
 
 When the prince of Wales had heard this letter read, he was more 
 astonished than before. He shook his head ; and after having eyed 
 the said Frenchmen, and considered awhile, he replied as follows : 
 " We shall willingly attend on the appointed day at Paris, since the 
 king of France sends for us ; but it will be with our helmet on our 
 head, and accompanied by sixty thousand men." The two French, 
 men, upon this, fell upon their knees, saying, " Dear sir, have mercy, 
 for (Jod's sake : do not bear this appeal with too much anger nor 
 indignation. We are but messengers sent by our lord the king of 
 France, to whom we owe all obedience (as your subjects in like 
 manner do to you,) and to whom it is proper we should pay it : 
 therefore, whatever answer you shall wish to charge us with, we will 
 very willingly report it to our lord." " Oh no," replied the prince, 
 " I am not in the least angry with you, but with ^ose who sent you 
 hither. Your king has been ill advised, thus to take the part of our 
 subjects, and to wish to make himself judge of what he has nothing 
 to do with, nor any right to interfere in. It shall be very clearly 
 demonstrated to him, that when he gave possession and seisin of the 
 whole duchy of Aquitaine to our lord and father, or to his commis. 
 saries, he surrendered also all jurisdiction over it; and all those wh< 
 have now appealed against us, have no other court to apply to but 
 that of England, and to our lord and father. It shall cost a hundred 
 thousand lives, before it shall be otherwise." On saying this, the 
 prince quitted them, and entered another apartment, leaving th<jm 
 quite thunderstruck. 
 
 Some English knights came to them, and said : " My lords, you 
 must go from hence, and return to your h6tel ; you have well exe- 
 cuted the business you came here upon, but you will not have any 
 other answer to it than what you have just heard." The knight and 
 lawyer returned to their inn, where having dined, they soon after 
 packed up their baggage, and mounting their horses, set out from 
 Bordeaux, taking the road to Toulouse, to relate to the duke of An- 
 jou what they had done. 
 
 The prince of Wales was much cast down by this appeal which 
 had been made against him. His knights and barons were not in 
 better spirits : they wished, and even advised the prince to kill the 
 two messengers, as a salary for their pains ; but the prince forbade 
 it to be done. His thoughts, however, were ill-inclined to them : 
 when he heard they were set out, and had taken the road to Tou- 
 louse, he called sir Thomas Felton,* the high steward of Rouergue, 
 ' sir Thomas de Pontchardon, sir Thomas Percy, his chancellor the 
 bishop of Rhodez, and several others of his principal barons ; of 
 whom he asked, " Have these Frenchmen who have gone away any 
 passports from me ?" They answered, that they had heard nothing 
 about it. " No," replied the prince, shaking his head, " it is not 
 right that they should so easily leave our country, and go to relate 
 
 * Barnes says sir Thomas FeltoD was seneschal of Aquitaine, and sir Thomas Wak* 
 seneschal of fiouersue. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE. SPAIN, &c. 
 
 their prattle to the duke of Anjou, who loves us little, and say how 
 they have summoned us personally in our own palace. They are, 
 upon due consideration, messengers from my vassals, the earl of Ar- 
 magnac, the lord d'Albret, the earls of Perigord, Comminges and 
 of Carmaing, rather than from the king of France ; so that, for the 
 vexation they have given us, we consent they should be detained and 
 thrown into prison." The council of the prince were well pleased 
 on hearing this^ as it was before their advice, and said it had been 
 but too long delayed. 
 
 The high steward of Agenois was charged with this commission : 
 his name was sir William le Moine, a very gallant and noble knight 
 of England; who immediately mo inted his horse with his attend- 
 ants, and left Bordeaux. He made such haste, in pursuing these 
 Frenchmen, that he overtook tl em before they had passed the dis- 
 trict of Agenois. Upon coming up with them, he arrested them 
 under title of his office, and found another pretence for so doing 
 without compromising the prince, whose name he never mentioned, 
 but said, their host of the preceding evening had complained to him 
 that they had taken one of his horses in mistake from his inn. The 
 knight and lawyer were astonished on hearing this, and endeavored 
 to excuse themselves, but in vain, for they could not obtain their 
 liberty. They were conducted to the city of Agen, and put in the 
 prison of the castle. The English suffered some of their attendants 
 to return to France ; who, passing through Toulouse, related to the 
 duke of Anjou everything as it had happendd. The duke was not 
 much displeased thereat ; for he thought it would be the beginning of 
 the war, and prepared to take his measures accordingly. 
 
 News of the imprisonment of his commissioners was soon carried 
 to the king of France ; for their servants being returned to court, 
 told all they had seen and heard from their masters, in regard to the 
 state, government and countenance of the prince of Wales ; which, 
 coming to the ears of the king, inflamed his anger : he was greatly 
 vexed, and thought much upon it, as well as upon the words of the 
 prince, on receiving this appeal, namely, that he would attend the 
 appeal in person, with his helmet on his head, accompanied by sixty 
 thousand men. This haughty and proud answer occupied the mind 
 of the king of France : he therefore, most prudently and wisely, be- 
 gan to make preparations for supporting the weight of this ensuing 
 war ; for in truth it was likely to be very heavy as well as hazardous, 
 and to draw upon him the whole force of the king of England, 
 against whom his predecessors had labored so much in former times, 
 as has been related in this history. But he was strongly solicited by 
 the great lords of Guyenne on the other hand, who demonstrated to 
 him the extortions of the English, and the great losses which this 
 might in future occasion to him, the truth of which he well knew. 
 What appeared to affect him most, in beginning this war, was his 
 consideration for the destruction of his poor people, which njight 
 continue for a long time, and the dangers and opprobrium which 
 his nobles had suflfered from the last war. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXLIX. 
 
 THE DUKE OF BERRY AND SEVERAL MORE LORDS, WHO HAD BEEN HOST- 
 AG-ES IN ENGLAND RETURN TO FRANCE. 
 
 The king of France and his council, not regarding the haughty 
 answer of the prince of Wales, made every preparation which might 
 be necessary for the grand event about to take place. At this pe- 
 riod, the lord John of France, duke of Berry, had returned home, 
 through the favor of the king of England, who had granted him per- 
 mission to remain a year in France. He acted so prudently, ahd 
 made so many excuses, that he never went back ; for the war speed- 
 ily broke out, as you will hear related. Sir .Tohn de Harcourt had 
 also returned to his own country, where his estates had been granted 
 him, through the solicitations of sir Lewis de Harcourt his uncle, 
 who was from Poitou, and at the time one of the prince's knights. 
 Sir John de Harcourt fell sick, which happened to him very oppor- 
 tunely, for it lasted until the renewal of the war, so that he never 
 again returned to England. 
 
 Sir Guy de BUns, who at that time was a young squire, and brother 
 to the earl of Blois, obtained his liberty also ; for when he perceived 
 that the king of France, for whom he was hostage, had not thought 
 of ransoming him, he made overtures to the lord de Coucy, who had 
 married one of the king's daughters, and who had a very great 
 revenue in right of his wife, assigned to him on the king's treasury. 
 This treaty advanced so well between the king, his son-in-law, and 
 sir Guy, that the latter, with the permission of his two brothers Louis 
 and John, and with the consent of the king of France, gave up 
 wholly and absolutely into the hands of the king of England, the 
 county of Soissons ; which county the king of England gave again, 
 and presented to the lord de Coucy, who released it for four thousand 
 livres a-year annual rent. Thus were these agreements and cove, 
 nants finished. The earl Peter d'Alen9on had, through the good 
 will of the king oi" England, returned also to France, where he re. 
 mamed so long, and made so many excuses, that he never went back 
 to resume his duty as hostage ; but, I believe, at last he paid thirty 
 thousand francs, to acquit his faith and oath. 
 
 Before this time, a fortunate circumstance happened to duke Louis 
 de Bourbon, who was one of the hostages in England. By favor of 
 
 the king of Eng'and, he had returned to France ; and while he was 
 at Paris with his brother-in-law king Charles, it chanced that the 
 bishop of Winchester, chancellor of England, died. There was at 
 that time a priest in England of the name of William of Wykeham : 
 this William was so high in the king's grace that nothing was done, 
 in any respect whatever, without his advice. When the chancellor, 
 ship and bishopric thus became vacant, the king immediately wrote 
 to the duke of Bourbon, at the request and prayer of the said Wil. 
 liam, to beg of him, through the affection he had for him, to go to 
 the holy father Urban, and prevail on him to grant the vacant bish 
 opric of Winchester to his chaplain ; and that, in return, he would be 
 very courteous to him as to his ransom. 
 
 When the duke of Bourbon received the messengers with the let- 
 ters from the king of England, he was much pleased, and explained 
 to the king of France what the king of England and sir William 
 wanted him to do. The king advised him to go to the pope. The 
 duke therefore, with his attendants, immediately set out and travelled, 
 until they came to Avignon, where pope Urban resided, for he had 
 not as yet set out for Rome. The duke made his request to the holy 
 father, who directly granted it, and gave to him the bishopric of Win. 
 Chester, to dispose of as he should please ; and if he found the king 
 of England courteous and liberal as to his ransom, he was very wil- 
 ling that Wykeham should have this bishopric. The duke upon thi3 
 returned to France, and afterwards to England, where he entered 
 into a treaty with the king and his council for his ransom, showing at 
 the same time his bulls from the pope. The king, who loved Wyke. 
 ham very much, did whatever he desired. The duke had his liberty, 
 on paying twenty thousand francs ; and sir* William Wykeham was 
 made bishop of Winchester and chancellor of England. 
 
 In this manner, the French lords who were hostages in England 
 obtained their liberty. We will now return to the war in Gascony, 
 which first broke out on account of the appeal which has been 
 already spoken of. 
 
 CHAPTER CCL. 
 
 THE EARL OF PERIG0RD,t THE VISCOUNT OF CARMAING AND OTHEE 
 BARONS OF GASCONY, DEFEAT THE HIGH STEWARD OF ROUERGUE. 
 
 You have heard how much the prince of Wa'es was offended by 
 the summons which had been served on him to appear at the court 
 of the parliament in Paris. It was fuUv his intention to perform the 
 answer he had given to the commissioners from the king, namely, 
 that in the course of the summer he would come and take his seat, 
 and personally appear at the feast of the lendit.t He therefore sent 
 orders to those captains of English and Gascon companies who weie 
 attached to him, and in quarters upon the banks of the Loire, not to 
 march to any great distance from that river, for he should shordjr 
 have occasion for them, and would find them employment. The 
 greater part of these companies were much rejoiced at the news. 
 The prince would not have failed in his intentions, but that his illness 
 and the swelling daily increased (which had been caused by his ex. 
 .pedition into Spain :) so that his attendants were very much alamied 
 at it, for he could not at this moment mount his horse. The king 
 of France had received accurate information of all this, and had 
 been furnished with the statement of his case drawn up in writing; 
 from which the physicians and surgeons of France judged that he 
 had a confirmed dropsy, and declared him unable ever to recover. 
 
 As soon as the capture of sir Caponnel de Caponnal and the man 
 of law was publicly known, who, as it has been before said, were 
 arrested by sir William le Moine, and carried prisoners to Agen, the 
 earl of Comminges, the earl of Perigord, the viscount of Carmaing, 
 sir Bertrand Taude, the lord de la Barde, the lord de Pincornet, and 
 many more knights and squires who resided on their estates, and 
 lordships, were very much offended at this measure ; since for them, 
 and upon their account, had they undertaken this commission. They 
 determined to have revenge for this violence, and to begin the war in 
 
 * " The custom oi'prefixing the addition of Sir, to the Christian name ofa clergyman 
 was formerly usual in this country. Fuller, in his Church History, book vi., eiiutiierates 
 seven chantries, part of a much larger number. in the old cathedral of St. Paul, !!i the 
 time of king Edward VL, with the names of the then incumbents, most of whom had 
 the addition of sir; upon which he remarks, and gives this •ason why tliere were for- 
 merly more sirs than knights : such priests as have tlie addition of sir, before their Chris- 
 tian names, were men not graduated in the university, being in orders, but not in degrees ; 
 while others, entitled masters, had commenceu in the arts. This ancient usage isulluded 
 to in the following humorous catch : 
 
 ' Now I am married. Sir John I'll not curse : 
 He joined us together for better lor worse. 
 But if I were single, I do tell you plain, 
 I'd be well advis'd.ere I married again.' " 
 
 Sir John Havvki.ns's Hist. Music, vol. ii. p. 518. 
 
 t The earls of Carmaing have since taken the name of FoLx, by an alliance with an 
 heiress of this name, who brought to them the county of Foix, in the 14ih century. The 
 earls of Perigord bear to this day the same name ; they are likewise known under those 
 of princes of Chalais. earls of Perigord, or earls of Talleyrand, which is the principal 
 name of their house. M. de Talleyrand de Perigord was bishcp (if Autun. of which 
 office he divested himself, when, in the course of the revolutionary furor, episcopacy 
 became unpopular, and is now minister for foreign affairs to the republic of France, 
 1803. [Prince Talleyrand has within these few days (Way, 18S8) departed this lifo, aftet 
 reconciling himself to the church of Rome.-ED.] 
 
 X Lendit— a great fair kept (in a field near bt. Denis) from the second vVedne:-day in 
 June until Midsummer eve— whence Imdits—gaie-money, fiiirings, or yearly presents, 
 bestowed by the scholars of the university, especially those of Paris, on their tutors.— 
 
 UOTQRAVS. 
 
178 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, Sf»AlN, &c. 
 
 f leir own country, by making prisoners some of those attached to 
 tlie party of the prince. They had information that sir Thomas 
 Wake was on his road to Rhodez, to examine the 'strength of the 
 castle ; that he was at Villeneuve d'Ag^nois, from whence he was 
 ! ) be escorted by only sixty lances. 
 
 When these knights heard this news, they were in high spirits, and 
 i > solved to lay an ambuscade for sir Thomas, consisting of three 
 hundred lances; so that about two leagues from Montauban, as the 
 high steward was continuing his route with sixty lances and two 
 hundred archers, they were attacked by this large ambuscade of Gas- 
 cons. The English were very much surprised : for they, not sus- 
 pecting such an attack, were quite unprepared for it : however, they 
 began to exert themselves stoutly in self-defence ; but the Gascoi>s, 
 who had formed their plans at leisure, were too many for them, and 
 at the first shock numbers were dismounted : the English, not being 
 able to resist the violence of the Gascons of Perigord, Comminges and 
 Carmaing, were thrown into disorder, and, being defeated without 
 much resistance, turned their backs. Many were taken and slain. 
 Sir Thomas was obliged himself to fly, otherwise he would have 
 been made prisoner ; and he owed his safety to the fleetness of his 
 horse, which carried him to Montauban. The Gascons and others 
 returned to their own country, carrying with them their prisoners 
 and booty. 
 
 News was very soon brought to the prince of Wales, who at that 
 time resided at Angouleme, how his high steward of Rouergue had 
 been defeated by the earl of Perigord, and by those other noblemen 
 who had summoned him by appeal to the chamber of peers at Paris. 
 Much enraged was the prince, when it was told him : he said, he 
 would have a severe and early revenge for this, upon the persons and 
 lordships where this outrage had been committed. He wrote directly 
 to sir John Chandos, who had retired to his estate at St. Sauveur le 
 Vicomle in Coutantin, ordering him to come to him, without delay, 
 as soon as he should have received his letter. 
 
 Sir John Chandos, desirous of obeying the prince, made all possible 
 haste, and came to Angouleme to the prince, who received him with 
 great joy. Soon after, the prince sent him to Montauban, with a 
 large body of men-at-arms and archers, to make war upon the Gas. 
 cons and French, who were every day increasing in numbers, making 
 incursions upon the territories of the prince. Sir Thomas Wake 
 collected his scattered men as well as he could, and went to Rhodez, 
 which he amply reinforced and revictualled, as well as the castle of 
 Milhaud upon the confines of Montpellier ; and in every place he put 
 men-at-arms and archers. 
 
 Sir John Chandos made the town of Montauban his head-quarters, 
 and. gallantly defended the frontiers against the Gascons and French, 
 with the other knights whom the prince of Wales had sent thither ; 
 such as, the captal de Buch, the two brothers de Pommiers, sir John 
 and sir Helie, the souldich de I'Estrade, the lord of Partenay, the 
 lord of Pons, sir Louis de Harcourt, the lord de Pinaine, the lord de 
 Tannaybouton, and sir Richard de Pontchardon. These knights, 
 with their companies, made frequent attacks upon the forces of the 
 earl of Armagnac, the lord d'Albret, the earls of Perigord and Com- 
 minges, the viscounts of Carmaing and of Tharide, the lord de la 
 Barde, and several other barons and knights of the same connection, 
 who, with their companies, were upon this frontier. Sometimes one 
 side was victorious, sometimes the other, as in war such things com- 
 monly happen. 
 
 The duke of Anjou remained very quiet, and made not the smallest 
 movement, notwithstanding the rumors he heard ; for the king of 
 France had strictly ordered him not to make war upon the prince of 
 Wales, nor on his subjects, until he should receive from him positive 
 orders for so doing. 
 
 CHAPTER CCLI. 
 
 THE KING OF FRANCE GAINS OVEA SEVERAL CAPTAINS OF THE FREE COM- 
 PANIES. HE SENDS KIS DEFIANCE TO THE KING OF ENGLAND. 
 
 The king of France, ail this time, was secretly and ably gaining 
 over several of the captains of the free companies, and others attached 
 to the party of the English, who had ascended the river Loire, and 
 Were on the conf nes of Berry and Auvergne, where the king of 
 France had given permission for them to reside. Not one of the 
 companies of France was in motion ; for the king did not wish that 
 his name should yet be made use of in this war, lest it might do his 
 affairs harm, and lest he should lose the country of Ponthieu, which 
 he was very anxious to regain. 
 
 Had the king of England perceived that the king of France in- 
 tended war, he would easily have prevented the loss of Ponthieu by 
 reinforcing the garrisons of Abbeville with English, and others at- 
 tached to him ; so that he would have been master of the whole 
 country ; and in the like manner would he have done to all the other 
 garrisons dependent on that county. The king of England had at 
 this time, for high steward of Ponthieu, a good English knight called 
 sir Nicholas Louvain, in whom the king had great confidence, and 
 with justice ; for, sooner than commit any cowardly or unworthy 
 de(;d, he would have had his limbs torn from him. 
 
 At this period, the king of France sent to England the earl of Saltz- 
 burg and sir William des Dormans, to remonstrate with the king and 
 his council, and to complain that part of the country of France had 
 
 been, and still was, much harassed, as well by the daily incursions 
 of the free companies, who had for these la?t six years made war 
 upon France, as by other oppressors, of whi:h the king of France 
 and his council had had information, and were very i!! satisfied that 
 the king of England and his eldest son the prince cA Wales should 
 act in such a manner as to countenance theia. These two person, 
 ages remained in England for the space of two morths ; and during 
 this time, they proposed various agreemt jita and reasons to the king, 
 which made him frequently out of humor and in a passion ; but they 
 did not pay much Pttention to this, for they had received instructions 
 from the king of France and hjs council how to act and v/hat to say. 
 
 When the king of France had received such information as he 
 could depend on, that the inhabitants of Abbeville were in their 
 hearts Frenchmen; that the war was begun in Gascony ; that all 
 the men-at-arms in the kiiigdom oi" France were prepared, and eager 
 to wage war upon the prince of Wales and to cuter his territories ; 
 he was anxious that no reproach might be ca: t on him, either at the 
 present moment, or in times to come, for haviag ordered an army 
 into the territories of the king of England, or the prince of Wales, 
 to take cities, castles, towns or fortresses, without having sent them 
 a challenge : he therefore resolved to defy the king of England ; 
 which he did by sealed letters. One of his valets, who was from 
 Brittany, carried them. He met at Dover the earl of Saltzburg and 
 sir William des Dormans, who were returning from England to 
 France, having accomplished the business they had been sent on. 
 The Breton, according to the orders he had received, told them what 
 he was going about ; which they no sooner heard than they set off 
 as quickly as possible, and crossed the sea. They were very happy 
 when they found themselves in the town and fortress of Boulogne. 
 
 About this time, sir Guiscard d'Angle, marshal of Aquitaine, had 
 been sent by the prince of Wales to pope Urban V. at Rome, on 
 affairs relating to Aquitaine. He had found the pope very polite in 
 complying with the requests he had to make to him. On his return, 
 he first heard the news of war being made on the prince, and that 
 the French had entered the principality. He was very much sur 
 prised at this, and dubious how he should be able to continue his 
 journey. He v/ent, however, to the gallant earl of Savoy, whom he 
 found at the town of Pignerol, in Piedmont, engaged in war with 
 the marquis de Saluces. The earl of Savoy received sir Guiscard 
 and his company with great pleasure : he entertained them for two 
 days with much magnificence, and presented them with handsome 
 gifts, particularly sir Guiscard, who had the larger share : for the gal- 
 lant earl respected him greatly, on account of his hardy knighthood. 
 
 When sir Guiscard and his companions had left the earl of Savoy, 
 the nearer they approached the boundaries of France and Burgundy 
 the worse news they heard, and more disagreeable to their feelings. 
 Sir Guiscard having well considered all the information he could 
 gain, saw that it would be impossible for him to return to Guyenne 
 in the state he travelled. He therefore delayed as much as he could, 
 and gave the command of his whole army and attendants to a knight 
 called sir John Shore, who had mamed his daughter. Sir John came 
 from Brittany, and spoke very good French : he took the connnand 
 of all the attendants and baggage of his father-in-law : when coming 
 to the estate of the lord of Beaujeu, he crossed the river Sadne, and 
 became so well acquainted with the lord of Beaujeu that he conducted 
 him and his whole company to Rion in Auvergne, to the duke of 
 Berry : he there offered to become a true Frenchman, provided he 
 were suffered to return peaceably to his house in Brittany, as it had 
 before been settled between him and the lord of Beaujeu. 
 
 In the mean time, sir Guiscard, under the disguise of a poor chap- 
 lain, ill mounted and badly equipped, passed through France, Bur- 
 gundy, and Auvergne, and with great diflnculty entered the principality. 
 On his arrival at Angouleme, he was heartily welcomed by the prince 
 of Wales. Another knight, whose name w^as sir William de Sens, 
 who had accompanied him on this embassy to Rome, took refuge in 
 the abbey of Clugny in Burgundy, from whence he never stirred for 
 five years, and at last turned Frenchman. 
 
 We will now return to the Breton who was the bearer of the chal- 
 lenge from Charles king of France to Edward king of England. 
 
 CHAPTER CCLII. 
 
 CHALLENGES FROM FRANCE ARE DELIVERED TO THE KING OF ENGLAND. 
 THE EARL DE ST. POL AND THE LORD DE CHATILLON CONQUER THE 
 COUNTY OF PONTHIEU. 
 
 The valet before mentioned made haste to London, as he had heard 
 the king of England and his council were assembled at the palace 
 of Westminster. The king had for some time held various councils 
 upon the state of tlie prince's affairs, who was at war with the barons 
 and knights of Gascony, to examine into the best means of assisting 
 him, and to consider whom he should send from England to the 
 prince's aid. He soon heard ether news, which troubled him more 
 than before ; for the valet who was the bearer of these letters man- 
 aged so as to enter the chamber where the king and his council were 
 sitting. He said he was a valet belonging to the household of the 
 king of France, and had been sent by that king with letters addressed 
 to the king of England, but was ignorant what were their contents, 
 nor did it belong to him to know. He presented them on his kneea 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 i79 
 
 to the king; who, being desirous to know what might be their sub. 
 ject, ordered them to be taken, opened, and read. The king and all 
 those with him were much surprised when they heard the challenge 
 they contained. They examined them very carefully every way, as 
 well as the seal, and clearly saw that the challenge was good. They 
 ordered the valet to withdraw, telling him he had done his business 
 well, and that he might boldly set out on his return, for he would 
 not meet with any obstacle to his doing so, as indeed he did not: 
 he therefore went back to France as speedily as possible. 
 
 The earl dauphin of Auvergne, the earl of Porcien, the lord de 
 Maulevrier, and several others at this time in England, as hostages 
 for the king of France, were in the greatest anxiety on hearing the 
 above intehigence ; for they were doubtful of the intentions of the 
 king of England and his council, and what they meant to do to 
 them. 
 
 It is proper to be known that the king and his council were greatly 
 offended that this challenge should have been brought by a va'et : 
 they said it was not decent that a war between two such great lords 
 as the kings of France and of England should be announced and de- 
 clared by a common servant ; that it would not have been unworthy 
 of a prelate, or of a valiant baron or knight, to have been the bearer 
 of such a declaration'; however, nothing more was done. 
 
 In this council, the king was advised to send directly reinforce, 
 ments of men-at-arms to Ponthieu, to guard that country, more par- 
 ticularly to Abbeville, which ran much risk of being taken. The 
 king approved of this, and ordered the lord Percy, the lord Neville, 
 the lord Carbestone* and sir William Windsor on this business, with 
 three hundred men-at-arms and one thousand archers. 
 
 While these lords were making their preparations, and were 
 already as far advanced on their road as Dover, to cross the sea, other 
 news was brought which did not please them much. For as soon 
 as the earl Guy de St. Pol and sir Hugh de Chatillon, who was at 
 that time master of the cross-bows of France, could suppose that the 
 king of England had received the defiance, they advanced toward 
 Ponthieu, having before sent privately their summons to the knights 
 and squires of Hainault, Artois, Cambresis, Vermandois, Vimeu, and 
 Picardy ; so that their v/hole force amounted to not less than a hun- 
 dred and twenty lances, with which they appeared before Abbeville. 
 The gates were immediately opened, as had before been privately 
 concerted ; and these men-at-arms entered the town without doing 
 any harm to the inhabitants. 
 
 Sir Hugh de Chatillon, who was the leader of this expedition, 
 marched to that part of the town where he thought he should find 
 the high steward of Ponthieu, sir Nicholas Louvain, and exerted 
 himself so effectually as to make him his prisoner, as well as a very 
 rich clerk and valiant man who was treasurer of Ponthieu. The 
 French made this day many a good and rich prisoner ; for the Eng- 
 lish lost everything they had in the town. On the same day, the 
 French advanced to St. Valery, which they took by storm ; they did 
 the same to Crotoy,t as well as to the town of Dernet upon the sea. 
 
 Shortly after, the earl of St. Pol went -o Pont de St. Remy on the 
 Somme, where some English were collected. The earl ordered 
 them to be attacked. There was a grand skirmish, with many valor- 
 ous deeds of arms. His eldest son, Galeran, was created a knight, 
 and did honor to his new knighthood. The English were so roughly 
 handled, that they were either slain or made prisoners, and the bridge 
 and fort conquered by the French. In short, the whole territory and 
 county of Ponthieu were freed from the English, so thajt none re- 
 mained who could any way do mischief. 
 
 News was brought to the king of England, who was at London, 
 how those of Ponthieu had deserted him, and turned to the French. 
 The king was much enraged at this, and at first had intentions of 
 severely retaliating upon those of the hostages who were still in Lon- 
 don ; but he thought it would be cruel to make them answer for his 
 ill fortune. Nevertheless, he sent all the citizens who had been 
 given as hostages from the cities and principal towns of France, to 
 other towns, castles, and forts in his kingdom, and did not allow 
 them the same liberty they had before enjoyed. He ransomed the 
 earl dauphin d' Auvergne for thirty thousand francs, and the earl of 
 Porcien for ten thousand. The lord de Roye, however, remained in 
 prison, in great peril ; for, as he was not in any favor at the court of 
 England, he was obliged to tndure much ill treatment, until delivered 
 by accident and great good fortune, as you will hear in the continu- 
 ance of this history. 
 
 CHAPTER CCLIII. 
 
 THE KING OF ENOLAND SENDS A LARGE BODY OF MEN-AT-ARMS TO THE 
 BORDERS OF SCOTLAND. THE DUKES OF BERRY AND OF ANJOU IS- 
 SUE THEIR ORDERS FOR THEIR VASSALS TO ATTACK THE PRINCE OF 
 WALES. 
 
 When the king of England thus sav/ himself defied by the king of 
 France ; the county of Ponthieu lost, after having cost him such 
 sums in the reparation of towns, castles, and houses (for he had ex- 
 
 * Burnessays. lord Henry Percy, lord William Neville, and lord William Windsor, 
 and one lord more, but does not name him, 
 t Crotoy— a town opposite to St. Valery, on the Somme. 
 
 X " Derne." No such place. Q. if not Rue, which is a small town on the coast, two 
 ■uletfromSt. Valery 1 
 
 pended one hundred thousand francs in addition to the revenues he 
 drew from it;) he was in a mighty passion. He had, howev&r, more 
 fears of a war from Scotland than from France : he knew the Scots 
 did not love hin>, for the great mischiefs he had done them in former 
 times. He therefore sent large detachments of men-at-arms to Ber» 
 wick, Roxburgh, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and to the v/hole border, to 
 guard it. He also ordered detachments to Southampton, Guernsey, 
 and to the island of Blisso ;* for he had procured information that 
 the king of France was making great preparations, and collecting a 
 number of ships, in order to invade England. He did not know 
 what part to guard the most ; and, to speak truth, the English were 
 very much alarmed. 
 
 As soon as the dukes of Berry and of Anjou vere certain that the 
 challenge had been delivered, and war declared, being unwilling to 
 remain idle, they issued their special orders ; one in Auvergne, the 
 other at Toulouse; for their vassals to enter the principality. The 
 duke of Berry had under his command all the barons of Auvergne, 
 of the bishoprics of Lyons and Macon, the lords de Beaujeu, de Vil. 
 lars, de Tournon, sir Godfrey de Boulogne, his brother-in-law sir 
 John d'Armagnac, sir John de Villemur, the lords de Montagu and 
 de Talencon, sir Hugh Dauphin, the lord de Rochefort, and several 
 more. These meri-at-arms immediately advanced to Touraine, and 
 to the borders of Berry, from whence they carried the war into the 
 fine country of Poitou ; but they found it well filled with knights and 
 squires, who did, not permit them to gain much advantage. 
 
 Sir Louis de St. Julian, sir William des Bourdes, and Carnet le 
 Breton, were at that time in garrison in the French castles of Tou. 
 raine. These three were great capt iins, brothers in arms : they 
 performed many gallant deeds, and did much harm to the Engliisli, 
 as will hereafter be more fully related. 
 
 CHAPTER CCLIV. 
 
 SEVERAL CAPTAINS OF COMPANIES SIDE WITH DIFFERENT PARTIES. TH5 
 KING OF ENGLAND SENDS THE EARL OF CAMBRIDGE AND THE EARL 
 OF PEMBROKE TO THE ASSISTANCE OF HIS SON THE PRINCE OF WALES 
 THEY PASS THROUGH BRITTANY. 
 
 The duke of Lancaster possessed, as part of his inheritance in 
 Champagne, a castle situated between Troyes and Ch-alons, called 
 Beaufort ; of which an English squire, named the Poursuivant 
 d'Amourt was the captain. When this squire perceived that tho 
 war was renewed between the kings of France and England, he 
 turned to the king of France, and swore to him faith and loyalty 
 from this time foith, as a good Frenchman. The king for this en. 
 riched him greatly and left this castle under his care, in conjunction 
 with another squire of Champagne called Yvain.t The poursuivant 
 and Yvain were great friends. They performed many feats of arms 
 against the English, v\nd against their partisans. 
 
 The canon de Rob'jsart, who had before been a loyal and a good 
 Frenchman, on the renev/al of the war turned to the English, and 
 became the liege man of the king of England, who was vv ell satis, 
 fied with his services. In this manner several knights and squires 
 changed their party. The duke of Anjou had been so active among 
 the free companies of Gascony that sir Perducas d'Albret, le petit 
 Mechin, le bourg de Breteuil, Aimenon d'Ortige, Perrot de Savoye, 
 Jacquet de Bray and Arnaudon de Pans, turned Frenchmen ; which 
 much displeased the English, as their forces were greatly v/eakened 
 by it. Naudon de Bagerant, le bourg de I'Esparre and le bourg 
 Camus, remained steady to the English ; as well as the most approved 
 captains among them, such as sir Robert Briquet, Robert Thin, 
 John Tresnelle, Gaillard de Pilotte, and Aimery de Rochechouart. 
 These companies of English and Gascons, with their followers, 
 fixed their quarters in the bishopric of Mans in lower Normandy ; 
 where they took a town called Vire,§ and destroyed and ruined all 
 the neighboring country. Thus these free companies changed their 
 sides ; but ail of them v/ere engaged for the French or English. 
 
 The king of England determined to send his son, Edmund ot 
 
 * " Blisso." Q.. of Wight. Lord Berners snys the Isle of Wiglit.— Ed. 
 
 t Poursuivant d' Amour, was a title that knights and squires gave themselves, on ac- 
 count of their wearing the portrait or colors of their mistresses, and challenging each 
 other to fight in honor of their iaaies. Barnes calls him Percival Damorie, hut I do not 
 see on what foundation : it seems to m.e to be a corruption of Poursuivant d'Amour. 
 
 " The duke of Lancasterat this same time lost his castle of Beaufort, between Tro'es 
 and Chalons. He had intrusted this place to the guard of Evan of Wales. This Evan 
 was called le Poursuivant d' Amour. He was the son of Edmund, the last of the ancient 
 sovereigns of Wales, who had been beheaded by Edward. He had been brought up at 
 the court of Philip de Valois, as page of honor to his chamber, and made his first cam- 
 paign under king John. At the peace, the duke of Lancaster, who was probably igno- 
 rant of his birth, made him governor of his castle of Beaufort. Bemg naturally an enemy 
 to the English, he eagerly seized this opportunity of revenging himsell for the ancient 
 injuries of his house. The king of France accepted his offers of service, and gave him 
 the command of some ships, with which he made mcursions on the English coasts."- 
 Hist. de Fravce, par ViUaret, tome v. p. 3r6. 
 
 There must be some mistake in the preceding account from Villaret, for Uales was 
 finally conquered by Edward L in 1283, by the defeat of Llewelin, and the di>graceful 
 manner in which Edward murdered his brother David. The surrender of the castle of 
 Beaufort happened nearly one hundred years afterwards, so that Evan could not have 
 been a son of one of our last sovereigns. . , . , ^ 
 
 X It seems probable that this chevalier was the Welshman mentioned in the foregoing 
 note, and that the Poursuivant was a totally different person. Who Evanreaiiy wa* A. 
 is not easy to discover.— Ed. , • ,t. m 
 
 § Vire-a town in Normandy, on the nver Vire, diocese of Bayeux. 
 
180 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 Lungley earl of Cambridge, and his son-in-law, John Hastings, earl 
 of Pembroke, to the assistance of the prince of Wales in the duchy 
 of Aquitaine, with the command of a body of men-at-arms and 
 cross-bowmen. He also named such as he thought right to send 
 with them : and in the number were, the lord Braddeston,* sir Bryan 
 otapleton, sir John Trivet, sir Thomas Banaster and divers others. 
 They embarked as speedily as they could, and put to sea, having 
 with them four hundred men-at-arms and as many archers. They 
 steered their course for Brittany; and, having a wind to their wish, 
 they landed at the port St. Malo. When John de Montfort, duke 
 of Brittany, was informed of their arrival, he was much rejoiced, 
 and immediately sent some of his knights to receive and entertain 
 them ; namely, sir John de Laigniguay and sir John Augustin. The 
 earls of Cambridge and Pembroke were well pleased on seeing 
 these knights : but they were not perfectly assured if the barons and 
 principal towns of Brittany would permit them to pass through the 
 country, in their way to Poitou. The English lords, therefore, made 
 this their request to the duke and to the country. The duke, being 
 very partial to the English, complied directly with their wishes, and 
 acted so efficaciously with the barons and principal towns, that it 
 was agreed they should pass through the country in a peaceable 
 manner, upon paying for whatever they might have occasion to use : 
 to which terms the English joyfully assented. 
 
 The earls of Cambridge and Pembroke prepared to march with 
 their army to join those free companies who were in the province of 
 Maine, at Chateau Gontiert and at Vire ; where they had destroyed 
 and pillaged the whole country ; declaring their intentions to advance 
 farther into the interior of the kingdom. The Bretons entered into 
 treaty with them ; and it was agreed that they should have liberty to 
 oass through that country, by crossing the river Loire at the bridge 
 of Nantes, engaging not to do any mischief on their march. 
 
 At this time, sir Hugh Calverley was on the borders of Arragon, 
 with a large body of the free companies, who had lately quitted 
 Spain. As soon as he heard that the French were making war upon 
 the prince, he set off with all the men-at.arms of the companies, 
 passed through Arragon and Foix, entered Bigorre, and hastened 
 until he came to the prince, who at that time held his court in the 
 city of Angouleme. When the prince saw him arrive, he gave him 
 a handsome reception, and thanked him much for the assistance he 
 had brought. He prevailed with him to be his guest until the com- 
 panics which had left Normandy (having first sold those fortresses 
 which they held there) were come ; for the Bretons allowed them to 
 pass through their countr)% provided they behaved themselves well. 
 As soon as they v/ere arrived at Angouleme and in that neighbor- 
 hood, the prince appointed sir Hugh Calverley to be their captain. 
 They were in the whole, including those who had come with them 
 from Arragon, two thousand fighting men. The prince immediately 
 ordered them to march to the estates of the earl of Armagnac and 
 the lord d'Albret, to burn and destroy them. In consequence of 
 this order, they made a very disastrous war, and did great damages. 
 
 CHAPTER CCLV. 
 
 THE EARLS OF CAMBRIDGE AND OF PEMBROKE ARRIVE AT ANGOULEME. 
 THE PRINCE SENDS THEM TO OVERRUN THE COUNTY OF PERIGORD. 
 SOME ENGLISH ARE DEFEATED NEAR TO LUSIGNAN. 
 
 The earls of Cambridge and Pembroke remained at St. Malo with 
 their troops, as has before been said, until all the free companies of 
 their party had come through the country with the assent of the duke 
 of Brittany. When they had sufficiently recruited themselves, and 
 had permission to march, they set out from St. Malo, and by easy 
 days' journeys arrived at Nantes, where the duke received these 
 lords most honorably, and kept them with him for three days, which 
 were spent in magnificent feasts. On the fourth day they crossed 
 the great river Loire over the bridge at Nantes, and then continued 
 their march until they came to Angoul6me, where they found the 
 prince and princess. The prince was much rejoiced at the arrival 
 of his brother the earl of Cambridge and the earl of Pembroke. He 
 inquired after the healths of the king his father, the queen, and his 
 other brothers : to which questions he received satisfactory answers. 
 After they had remained with him three days, and had refreshed 
 themselves, the prince ordered them to set out from Angouleme, to 
 make an excursion into the county of Perigord. 
 
 The two lords and knights who had come with them from Eng- 
 land instantly made preparations to provide themselves with every- 
 thing that miglit be necessary. Having taken leave of the prince, 
 they marched off in grand array. They were, in the whole, full 
 three thousand combatants: among these were several knights and 
 squires from Poitou, Saintonge, Limousin, Quercy and Rouergue, 
 "■/vhom the prince ordered to accompany them. These lords and 
 men-at-arms entered hostilely the county of Perigord, which they 
 overran, and did much mischief to it. When they had burnt and 
 deptroyed the greater part, they laid siege to a fortress called Bor- 
 deille3,+ of which two squires of Gascony were governors : they 
 
 * In Proissart, it is " le sire de Tarbestonne," which I think must be Braddeston. See 
 Higdale's Baronage. 
 
 t (^iiateiiuGi)ntier— a town in Anjou, diocese of Angers, 
 V Bordeilles— a town in Perigord, diocese of Perigueux 
 
 were brothers, named Ernaldon and Bernardel de Batefol. There 
 were in this garrison of Bordeilles with the two captains, a number 
 of men-at-arms, whom the earl of Perigord had sent thither. It 
 was also amply provided with artillery, wine, provision and every, 
 thing else that might be necessary to hold out for a considerable 
 time; and those in garrison were well inclined to defend it: so that 
 during the siege of Bordeilles many gallant deeds of arms, many a 
 skirmish and many an assault, v/ere daily performed. The two 
 before-mentioned squires were bold, proud and enterprising : they 
 little loved the English, and in consequence advanced frequently 
 to their barriers to skirmish with them. Sometimes one side con.* 
 quered, sometimes the other, as it happens in such adventures and 
 deeds of arms. 
 
 On the other hand, there were full one thousand combatants, 
 French, Burgundians, Bretons, Picards, Normans and Angevins, in 
 Poitou, and on the borders of Anjou and Touraine, who were over- 
 running the lands of the prince of "W ales, and daily committing great 
 devastations. The leaders of these men-at-arms were, sir John de 
 Bueil, sir William de Bourdes, sir Louis de St. JuUan and Carnet le 
 Breton. 
 
 In order to oppose this force, some knights and squires of the 
 prince, in particular sir Simon Burley and the earl of Angus, were 
 quartered on the borders of Poitou and Saintonge : but they were 
 scarcely a fourth part of the strength of the French. Whenever the 
 French made any excursions, they amounted always to a thousand 
 fighting men : whereas the English were never more, at the utmost, 
 than two or three hundred ; for the prince had sent off three very 
 large detachments — one to Montauban, of five hundred men-at-arms, 
 under sir John Chandos, to ravage the lands of the earl d'Armagnac 
 and the lord d'Albret — another of considerable numbers, under sir 
 Hugh Calverley — and the largest division under the command of his 
 brother, the earl of Cambridge, before Bordeilles. Notwithstanding 
 this, those who were in Poitou did not fail to acquit themselves gal. 
 lantly, and to do their duty in making excursions on the lands of 
 France, and in guarding their own. The English, wi^h their parti- 
 sans, have always acted in this manner, and have never refused nor 
 dreaded the combat because they were not in greater numbers. 
 
 It happened then one day, that the French had gained exact infor- 
 mation how the English had taken the field and were out on an ex- 
 cursion, which gave them such spirits that they collected all their ■ 
 forces, and placed themselves in ambuscade, to fall upon the English 
 as they returned from the inroad which they had made between 
 Mirebeau* and Lusignan.t It was on a broken causeway that the 
 French, to the amount of five hundred men, commanded by the 
 before-mentioned captains, sir Johnde Bueil, sir William des Bourdes, 
 sir Louis de St. Julien, and Carnet le Breton, advanced to attack 
 them. A sharp engagement ensued, when many were unhorsed ; 
 for the English defended themselves bravely, and fought gallantly 
 as long as it lasted. Many valorous actions were performed. Sir 
 Simon Burley and the earl of Angus proved themselves good knights : 
 but in the end they had the disadvantage, for they were only a hand- 
 ful of men when compared with the French. They were therefore 
 defeated, and compelled to fly. The earl saved himself as well as he 
 could, and gained the castle of Lusignan ; but sir Simon Burley was 
 so closely pursued, and surrounded on the broken causeway near 
 Lusignan, that he was made prisoner by the French : most of his 
 people being killed or taken, for very few escaped. 
 
 The French returned to their garrisons rejoiced at the issue of this 
 adventure, as was also the king of France when he heard it. Not 
 so the prince of Wales, who was much vexed, and bitterly lamented 
 the capture of his good knight sir Simon Burley, whom he loved 
 well, as indeed he had reason ; for, to say the truth, he was a most 
 expert man-at-arms for his time, very courageous, and had always 
 carried himself valiantly for his lord the king of England and his 
 country. His companions who had been slain or made prisoners on 
 the causeway had behaved equally well ; for whose loss the prince 
 was in great sorrow, and much enraged. It is a comm.on saying, 
 that one man is worth a hundred, and that a hundred is not worth 
 one man ; for, in truth, it happens, sometimes, that by the good con. 
 duct and courage of one man, a whole country is presei'ved, while 
 another person may totally ruin and destroy it. Thus things fre- 
 quently fall out 
 
 CHAPTER CCLVI. 
 
 SIR JOHN CHANDOS TAKES TERRIERES. THE EARL OF PERIGORD AND MANY 
 OTHER KNIGHTS LAY SIEGE TO REALVILLeJ FN QUERCY. 
 
 After this defeat, which happened, as has been related, between 
 Mirebeau and Lusignan, the English and Poitevins, when they made 
 any excursions, acted with greater prudence and keptmo»-c cogether. 
 We will now speak of sir John Chandos, sir Guiscp.ru d'Angle,§and 
 
 * " Mirebeau"— a town in Poitou. 
 
 T " Lusignan"— a town in Poitou, seven leagues from Poitiers. 
 t "Realviile"— a town of duercy, on the river Aveyron, about two leagues froB 
 Montauban. 
 
 § Sir Guiscard d' Angle was created a peer, by the title of earl of Huntingdon, Isi Ric 
 U. He was also a knight of the Garter, which dignity he received fur having been in- 
 strumental to the marriage of the duke of Lancaster with a daughter of doa Pedro ei 
 Caitaie. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, «fcc. 
 
 others who were in Montauban, seven leagues distant from Toulouse, 
 and who made frequent sallies from that place very much to their 
 honor. However, while they were there, they thought they could 
 employ their time more profitably than in guarding the frontiers, and 
 in consequence determined to lay siege toTerneresin the Toulousin. 
 They made therefore every necessary preparation, and, marching 
 from Montauban in grand array, came to Terri^res. The whole 
 army being arrived, it was surrounded closely ; for they depended 
 on gaining it by means of mines, as it could not easily be taken by 
 assault. Their miners were set to work, who labored so well that at 
 the end of fifteen days they took the town ; all who were in it were 
 killed, and the place pillaged and destroyed. In this excursion, they 
 had intended to take another town, three leagues from Toulouse, 
 called Laval, and had placed an ambuscade in a wood near that 
 place. They advanced with about forty men, armed, but dressed in 
 peasant's clothes. They were, however, disappointed by a country 
 boy, who, following their footsteps, discovered their intentions ; by 
 which means they failed, and returned to Montauban. 
 
 The earl of Perigord, the earl de Comminges, the earl de I'Isle, 
 the viscount de Garmaing, the viscount de Brunikel, the viscount de 
 Talar, the viscount de Murendon, the viscount de Laustre, sir Ber- 
 trand de Tharide, the lord de la Barde, the lord de Pincornet, sir 
 Perducas d'Albret, the little Mechin, the bourg de Breteuil, Aime- 
 mon d'Ortige, Jacquet de Bray, Perrot de Savoye, and Arnaudon de 
 Pans, took the field about this period. There were among these free 
 companies full ten thousand fighting men. By orders from the duke 
 of Anjou, who at that time resided in Toulouse, they entered Quercy 
 in great force, where they brought on rhuch tribulation by burning 
 and destroying the whole country. They advanced to Rfealville, 
 wherein they besieged the high steward of Quercy, who had before 
 provided it with everything necessary for the defence of a town, and 
 with good English soldiers, who had resolved never to surrender 
 but with their lives : notwithstanding the inhabitants were well in- 
 clined to the French. 
 
 During the time these knights and barons of France were besieg- 
 ing this town, they sent to Toulouse for four great engines, which 
 were immediately brought thither. They were pointed against the 
 walls of Realville, into which they flung night and day large stones 
 and pieces of timber that did much mischief and weakened it. They 
 had also miners with them, whom they set to work, and who boasted 
 that in a short time they would take the town. The English, how- 
 ever, behaved hke good and brave men, supported each other, and 
 in appfearance held these miners very cheap. 
 
 CHAPTER CCLVII. 
 
 THE ARCHBISHOP OF TOULOUSE TURNS THE CITY OF CAHORS AND SEVERAL 
 OTHER TOWNS TO THE PARTY OF THE KING- OF FRANCE. THE DUKES OF 
 GUELDRES AND OF JULIERS SEND DEFIANCES TO THE KING OF FRANCE. 
 
 While the French men-at-arms were thus quartering themselves 
 in Quercy, and upon the borders of Limousin and Auvergne, the duke 
 of Berry was in another part of this last province, where he had a 
 large body of men-at-arms, under sir John d'Armagnac, his brother- 
 in-law, the lord John de Villemur, Roger de Beaufort, the lord de 
 Beaujeu, the lords de Villars, de Sergnac, de Calencon, dr Griffon de 
 Montagu, sir Hugh Dauphin, and a great many other good knights. 
 They made inroads on the confines of Rouergue, Quercy, and Li- 
 mousin, and carried ruin and devastation wherever they went, for 
 nothing was able to stand before them. By the advice of the duke 
 of Berry, the duke of Anjou sent the archbishop of Toulouse from 
 that city, during the time these armies were overrunning the country, 
 to the city of Cahors, of which place his brother was bishop. This 
 archbishop was a very learned clerk, as well as a valiant man. He 
 preached up this quarrel of the king of France so earnestly, and so 
 well, that the city of Cahors turned to the French side : and the 
 inhabitants swore that from this time forth they would be loyal and 
 faithful subjects to the king of France. After this, the archbishop 
 continued his journey through the country, preaching everywhere, 
 with such good success, the rights of the king of France, that all the 
 people of those parts embraced his opinions ; and upward of sixty 
 towns, castles, and fortresses were turned to the king of France, with 
 the assistance of the army of the duke of Berry ; that is to say, of sir 
 John d'Armagnac and the others who were overrunning the country. 
 He caused also Sigeac, Gaignac, Capedonac, and several other prin- 
 cipal towns and strong castles to change sides ; for he remonstrated 
 and preached, that the king of France had a good and clear right in 
 this quarrel, with such effect, that all who heard him were con- 
 vinced : besides, naturally in their hearts they were more French 
 than English, which greatly helped this business. 
 
 In like manner, as the archbishop went preaching and remonstra- 
 ting on the justice of the quarrel of the king of France along the 
 confines of Languedoc, there were in Picardy many prelates and 
 lawyers who were as active in doing the same duty, by preaching 
 and converting the people of the cities, large towns, and villages. 
 Sir William des Dormans, in particular, distinguished himself by 
 preaching this quarrel of the king of France from city to city, and 
 from town to town, so wisely and ably that all people listened to 
 him Willingly ; and it was wonderful how well he colored the whole 
 
 business through the kingdom by his harangues. In addition . 
 this, the king of France, moved by devotion and humility, orderc-j 
 frequent processions of the whole clergy : when he himself, as we I 
 as the queen, attended without stockings, and bare-footed. In th s 
 manner, they went praying and supplicating God to listen to thei,., 
 and to the necessities of the kingdom of France, which had bc-en 
 for so long a time under tribulation. The king ordered all the sub- 
 jects of his realm to do the same, by the advice of the prelates and 
 churchmen. 
 
 The king of England acted in a similar manner in his kingdom. 
 There was at that time a bishop of London * who made several long 
 and fine sermons : he demonstrated and preached in these sermons, 
 that the king of France had most unju- tly renewed the war, and 
 that it was against right and reason, as he plainly showed in different 
 points and articles. In truth, it was but proper, that both kings, 
 since they were determined on war, should explain and make clear 
 to their subjects the cause of the quarrel, that they might understand 
 it, and have the better will to assist their kings ; to which purpose 
 they were all equally alert in the two kingdoms. 
 
 The king of England had sent to Brabant and Haiuault, to learn 
 if he could have any assistance from either of them ; and had fre. 
 quently, on account of his near connectit>n, requested duke Albert, 
 who at that time governed the country for his brother, to allow him 
 to pass through his territories, or to remain there, if there should be 
 occasion, and to enter through his country the kingdom of France, to 
 carry the war into the heart of it. 
 
 Duke Albert would willingly have complied with the requests of 
 the king of England, his uncle, and of queen Philippa his aunt, 
 through the mediation and advice of lord Edward de Gueldres, who 
 was of the king's party, and also by means of the duke of Juliera 
 his cousin-gernjan, but he had been already gained, as you will hear. 
 These two were in those times stricth'^ connected, by faith and 
 homage, to the king of England, who Ircd desired each of them to 
 engage for him as many as a thousand lances, for which they should 
 be well satisfied. On this account, these two lords would have 
 been very glad to have had duke Albert in alliance with the king of 
 England. The duke was much tempted to join them by the magni- 
 ficent presents which the king offej-ed to make him ; which promises 
 were frequently repeated by these two lords, as well as by other 
 knights whom he sent over to him, and principally by the lord de 
 Cominest, who chiefly on this account liad returned to Hainault, 
 after having resided some time with the king. But the king ot 
 France and his council had gained over the lord John de Verchin, 
 seneschal of Hainault, who governed the whole country. He was 
 a wise man, a valiant knight, and a good Frenchman, This high 
 steward had so much weight, and was to beloved by the duke and 
 duchess, that he overset all the expectations of the English, with the 
 assistance of the earl of Blois, sir John de Blois his brother, the 
 lords de Ligny and de Barbangon, and exerted himself so that duke 
 Albert and the whole country remained neuter, and would not take 
 either side, which was the answer made by the lady Jane duchess 
 of Brabant. 
 
 King Charles of France, who was wise and artful, had taken the 
 previous measures, and settled all this business three years t before. 
 He well knew that he had good friends in Hainault and Brabant, 
 especially among the greater part of the counsellors of the principal 
 noblemen. In order to put a better color on his war, he had copies 
 made by learned men of different papers relative to the peace, which 
 were signed at Calais, in which he stated all the facts in his favor, 
 and those articles the king of England and his children had sworn to 
 maintain, and to which they had submitted by i,eided deeds, with 
 the orders which they ought in consequence to have given to their 
 subjects : in short, all the points and articles which were favorable 
 to him, and condemned the actions of the English. These papers 
 were made public in the town halls, and in the presence of different 
 noblemen and their counsellors, that they might be fully informed on 
 the subject. 
 
 On the other hand, the king of England act"d in like manner; 
 for he sent memorials and remonstrances tlrough Germany, oi 
 wherever he expected to gain assistance. The duke of Gueldres 
 (who was nephew to the king of England, being the son of his 
 sister, and thus cousin-german to the children of the king,) and the 
 duke of Juliei-s, were at that time true and loyal Englishmen : they 
 had been very much affronted by the manner of the king of France 
 sending his challenge by a servant, and rebuked the king for it, 
 highly blaming both him and his councfl for this unbecoming form 
 of sending it. They said, that war between such great and renowned 
 
 *Dr. Simon Tibald. alias Sudbury.— Barnes. 
 
 fLord de Comines." My MSS. have Gomniegines, This passage seems verj 
 much confused. Lord Berners says, in his translation, that tiie lord de Commes was at 
 the French court, and came away to prevent duke Albert joinin?: the king of Kngland.- 
 LThis passage has been, as D. Sauvage expresses it. " horribl> corrupted. ' He liad 
 considerable difficulty in settling it, and quotes the parallel passage from tno other 
 copies besides his own text, all varying from each otht r. It is not at all clear from these 
 that Comines or Gommegines was not on the French party as lord Berners represents 
 him to be, and this appears more probable from a former passage, where he isrepre. 
 sented as attached to the French party; and, again, at page 411, Mr. Johnes m that 
 place uses q third orthography, and spells the name Comminges, but all three appeal 
 
 to be the same name.]— Ed. . , , . , , 
 
 t Three years. Denys Sauvage suspects it ought to be three months, but gjres no 
 
 reason for it. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 182 
 
 U»rds as ilic kings of France and of England should have been 
 declared by proper messengers, such as dignified prelates, bishops or 
 abboti!. They added, that the French had not followed this usual 
 mode, through pride and presumption. These lords sent their chal. 
 lenge to the king of France in a handsome manner, as did several 
 other knights of Germany. It was their intention immediately to 
 have entered France, and to have done such deeds there as twenty 
 vears should not efface : but their schemes were broken by means 
 iliey did not expect, as you wiil hereafter find recorded in this 
 history. 
 
 CHAPTER CCLVIII. 
 
 THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY, BROTHER TO KING CHARLES V. MARRIES THE 
 DAUGHTER OF THE EARL OF FLANDERS. THE KING OF ENGLAND 
 ENTERS INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE KING OF NAVARRE. 
 
 It has been before related how much the king of England solicited 
 and intrigued, during upward of five years, the marriage of his son, 
 Edmund earl of Cambridge, with the daughter of the earl of Flan- 
 ders. As the detailed account of the different negotiations would 
 be too long, I shall briefly pass them over: but you must know that 
 the king of England cou'd not by any means whatever obtain from 
 pope Urban V. a dispensation. As this was absolutely necessary, 
 the hiarriage remained in suspense. The earl of Flanders being 
 solicited, on the other hand, by the king of France, for his brother 
 the duke of Burgundy ; and seeing that the marriage not being 
 likely to take place with England, his daughter ought to marry, as 
 he had not any other children ; having also learnt that the countess 
 of Artois, his mother, was favorable to the duke of Burgundy's suit, 
 for it was a grand and well assorted alliance ; for these reasons he 
 sent noble embassadors to England, to treat with the king for an ac- 
 quittal of his engagements between them. 
 
 These embassadors managed the business so ably that the king of 
 England, who always wished to act honorably, assented to the earl 
 of Flanders' request. They returned, therefore, to Bruges, and re- 
 lated to the earl their lord what they had done. The earl was much 
 pleased at their success. It was not long before the marriage of the 
 duke of Burgundy with the heiress of Flanders was determined on. 
 There were great treaties, agreements and alliances made between 
 both parties ; and it was then told me, that the earl of Flanders, in 
 consideration of this marriage, received upward of fifty thousand 
 crowns ;* that the tawns of Douay and Lille were given up to him, 
 on account of the money which the king of France was to give hi? 
 brother on this marriage. The earl of Flanders took possession of 
 these towns, put his own subjects into them, and they were esteemed 
 as part of Flanders, on account of the sums they were pledged for. 
 But I know nothing furthur. 
 
 Soon after these arrangements were concluded, they proceeded to 
 the marriage, which was celebrated in the city of Ghent. There 
 were great feasts at the solemnity of the wedding, and afterwards, 
 which were attended by crowds of lords, barons and knights. The 
 gallant lord of Coucy was there, whose presence was so acceptable 
 at a feast, of which none knew better how to do the honors ; it was 
 for this reason the king of France had sent him thither. After they 
 had been magnificently entertained, as well with tournaments as 
 otherwise, they separated, and returned to their homes. 
 
 The king of England, who saw that from this marriage the earl of 
 Flanders must become the ally of the king of France, was ignorant 
 whether the earl would take part against him with the duke of Bur- 
 gundy his son, who of course would be his heir to the county of 
 Flanders, and what treaties had been entered into by the ear! with 
 the king of France. The king, therefore, was much harder upon the 
 Flemings than before, and harassed them by sea and land, and when- 
 ever he found them in his own country with their merchandise. The 
 king of France was not displeased at this, and would willingly have 
 seen a war declared between the Flemings and the English : but the 
 prudent men of Flanders and the citizens of the principal towns were 
 averse to it, for the commonalties of Flanders maintained the quarrel 
 between the two kings to be more just on the part of England than 
 of France. 
 
 King Edward was gaining friends on all sides, and much need had 
 he of them, from the appearance of the great wars and rebellions that 
 were breaking out in his dominions beyond sea. He was given to 
 understand, that his cousin king Charles of Navarre, v/ho at that time 
 resided in lower Normandy, would join his party ; for he hated the 
 king of France, on account of some estates which the king of Na- 
 varre claimed as his inheritance, and which the king of France denied 
 his right to. Counsellors on each side had frequently met, but they 
 could never come to any agreement. The affair had remained in 
 this situation, and each was on his guard. The king of Navarre had 
 amply provided his towns and castles in Coutantin, in the county of 
 Evreux, as well as his principal towns in Normandy, with all sorts 
 of stores : he had filled Cherbourg, where he resided, with men-at- 
 arms. 
 
 At this time, sir Eustace d'Ambreticourt was with the king of Na. 
 
 • One of the frngments or abridgments made use of by D. Sauvage in his ed.and 
 f^teU by him a» " Z,o CAaui." has 100,000 crowns.— Ed. 
 
 varre : he was governor of a town called Carentan,* beyond the forda 
 of St. Clement in Coutantin, which he held under the king of Na. 
 varrc, being part of his inheritance : sir Eustace was also one of his 
 privy counsellors : so that the king of England sent to him 'Jot he 
 was his liege man and knight,) to sound the intentions of the king of 
 Navarre. He found him well inclined, and treated so successfully 
 that the king of Navarre, with a small retinue, embarked on board a 
 ship called the Lynne, and visited the king of England, who was 
 right glad to see him. He entertained him handsomely ; and they 
 had many conferences together, in which they understood each other 
 so well that, on the return of the king of Navarre, he was to declare 
 war against me king of France, and to admit English garrisons into 
 all his castles. 
 
 After these engagements and treaties had been concluded, the 
 king of Navarre returned to Cherbourg in Normandy. He was es- 
 corted thither by some of the knights of the household of the king 
 and queen of England, who were unfortunate as they came back ; 
 for they met some pirates of Normandy that attacked their vessel's, 
 and, being the strongest, overpowered them, and killed every person: 
 they gave no quarters to any one. The king of England was much 
 enraged when he heard this but he could not possibly then remedy it. 
 
 Soon after the return of the king of Navarre to Cherbourg, sir 
 Eustace d'Ambreticourt (who had been sent for by the prince of 
 Wales, and whose heralds had summoned his attendance) took his 
 leave, in order to obey the prince. The king parted with him with 
 much regret, but sir Eustace explained his reasons so fully that he 
 allowed him to depart. He embarked v/ith his attendants, and sailed 
 for St. Malo, where he landed, and then rode to Nantes, in order to 
 to pass the river Loire, with the permission of the duke of Brittany 
 and the inhabitants, who as yet had not taken any part in this war. 
 He continued his journey until he arrived in Poitou, at the town of 
 Angouleme, where the prince received him with great pleasure, and 
 shortly aftervv^ards sent him to sir John Chandos and the captal de 
 Buch, who were in Montauban, guarding the frontiers against the 
 French. Sir Eustace, on his arrival, was most joyfully greeted by 
 his former companions. t 
 
 CHAPTER CCLtX 
 
 THE CONSTABLES OF FRANCE AND OF HAINAULT UNDERTAKE A GRAND 
 EXPEDITION TO ATTACK ARDRES. THE FORTRESS OF REALVILLE IS 
 TAKEN, AND ALL THE ENGLISH WHO WERE LN IT PUT TO THE SWORD. 
 
 The knights of Picardy, about this period, were preparing a grand 
 expedition of men-at-arms, with the intention of paying a visit to 
 those. of Ardres.t Sir John Moreau de Fiennes, constable of France, 
 and sir John Werthin, constable^ of Hainault, were appointed, by 
 order of the king of France, the leaders of it. Their rendezvous was 
 in the good town of St. Omer. They amounted, in the whole, to a 
 thousand lances, knights and squires. These men-at-arms advanced, 
 to show their array, before the fort of Ardres, which was well gar- 
 risoned with English. They encamped there, and gave out that they 
 intended to lay siege to it. The English in Ardres were not alarmed, 
 but made every necessary preparation to defend themselves, if they 
 should be attacked. One day these lords of France and of Hainault 
 drew out their army to the field in gay spirit, and in noble array. It 
 was a fine sight to behold the banners of these lords flying before 
 them, and the gallant muster they made. They began an attack, but 
 with little advantage : for many were killed and wounded ; and 
 nothing gained. According to the information which I then received, 
 I believe it was on the fifth day they left Ardres, v/ithout any other 
 action, and each man returned to his own home. Thus was this 
 expedition put an end to. 
 
 We will now return to what was going forward in a distant part 
 of the country, and relate the siege of R^alville in Quercy by the 
 French. There were upward of twelve thousand combatants, all 
 good men-at-arms ; and at two days' march were the duke of Berry, 
 sir John d'Armagnac, sir John de Villemur, the lord de Beaujeu, and 
 others from Auvergne and Burgundy, in all about three thousand 
 fighting men, who were ready to advance should there be occasion. 
 Sir John Chandos, the captal de Buch, sir Guiscard d'Angle, and the 
 others who were guarding the frontiers of Montauban, knew well 
 what was passing at R^alville, and what the strength cf their own 
 forces in that part of the country consisted of. They fdund they were 
 not strong enough to fight, nor to raise the siege : for the earls of 
 Cambridge and Pembroke, who were besieging Bourdeilles, would 
 not give up that siege. 
 
 The Frencii had set their miners to work at R^alville, and by tlieir 
 
 * Carentan— a town of Normandy, three leagues from the sea-coast, dioceje of 
 Coutances. 
 
 t From the Foedera it would appear, that Charles of Navarre sent two embassadors 
 to England ; for there is a piissport for Peter Terturon, his secretary, and one also for 
 William Dordane, dated the 6lli June. 1370. The king's passport is dated the 12th Au- 
 gust. 1370, wlien. I suppose, he came to England, where he must have remained some 
 time, for tiie passport for his return is dated the 28th November, 1370. The convention 
 between tlie two kings is in the Foedera, to which I refer for further particulars. The 
 king of Navarre, when returned to Cherbourg, sent otlier embassadors to England, as 
 their passport in the Foedera is dated the 1st December, 1370. 
 
 t Ardres— a strong town in Picardy, four leagues from Calais. Near this place wa» 
 held the famous interview between Henry VIII. and Francis I. 
 
 § Sir John Werthin, or Verchin, constable. He was before sineschai 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 183 
 
 machines, which cast stones, &c.into it day and night, had harassed 
 the garrison so much, they could cot sufficiently v/atch these miners, 
 who succeeded in their operations, and flung down a great part of 
 the walls ; by which means the town was taken, and all the English 
 in it were put to death without mercy, v/hich was a pity, for there 
 ■were among them several good squires. The inhabitants were par. 
 doned on their promising from that time forth to be loyal Frenchmen. 
 The French commanders appointed captains and men-at-arms to 
 guard it, as well as others to give advice in the article of repairs, or 
 in whatever other business occasion might require. 
 
 After the conquest of Realville, the army dispersed itself over the 
 countries of Quercy and Rouergue, to get refreshments and recruit 
 themselves. The companies went to the city of Cahors and its 
 neighborhood. Their leaders were, Aimemon d'Ortige, Perrot de 
 Savoye, le petit Mechin, Jacques de Bray and Arnaudon de Pans, 
 who despoiled the whole country. The earl of Perigord, the earl de 
 I'Isle, the earl de Comminges,* the viscount de Carmaing and the 
 other lords returned to their own estates ; for sir Hugh Calverley, sir 
 Robert Briquet, John Tresnelle, Lanut, Naudon de Bagerant, lebourg 
 Camus, le bourg de I'Esparre and other captains of these free com- 
 panies, vv'ere carrying on a destructive war there, and had burnt and 
 ravaged the lands of the earl d'Armagnac and the lord d'Albret. 
 
 There was at this time, as high steward of Rouergue, a very val- 
 iant man and good knight, an Englishman, called sir Thomas 
 V/hiteval.t He resided in the town and castle of Milhaud,? a day's 
 journey from Montpellier ; and notwithstanding the whole country 
 surrounding it had changed sides, and was conquered, he kept this 
 garrison upward of a year and a half, and also another fortress in 
 Rouergue called Vauclerc. He made many expeditions, and differ- 
 ent sallies much to his honor, until sir Bertrand du Guesclin drove 
 nim out, as you will hear related anon in the course of this history. 
 
 The town and castle of Bourdeilles still remained besieged. 
 
 CHAPTER CCLX. 
 
 THE FRENCH TAKE LA ROCHE P0SAY.§ THE SENESCHAL OF POITOU BURNS 
 AND DESTROYS THE LANDS OF THE LORD DE CHAUVIGNY, AND TAKES BY 
 ASSAULT HIS PRINCIPAL TOWN OF BRUX. 
 
 Sir John de Bueil,sir William des Bourdes, sir Louis de St. Julien 
 and Garnet le Breton, remained on the frontiers of Poitou, with up, 
 ward of twelve hundred fighting men, and studied night and day by 
 what means they could take, gain by surprise or otherwise, any 
 towns, castles or fortresses in Poitou. From these measures it hap- 
 pened that they took by scalado a castle called La Roche Posay, at 
 the entrance of Poitou, on the river Creus, two leagues distant from 
 La Haye|| in Touraine, and tolerably near to Chatelheraut on the 
 same river. The whole country was exceedingly alarmed at this ; 
 for the French placed a large garrison in it, repaired the walls, and 
 amply provided it with all sorts of provision, ammunition and artillery. 
 
 When this news was brought to the prince, he was much dis- 
 pleased ; but he could not prevent it. He sent orders to sir Guiscard 
 d'Angle, sir Lewis de Harcourt, the lord de Partenay, the lord de 
 Pinane, and several others who were at Montauban with sir John 
 Chandos, to return to him directly, as he wanted to employ them in 
 another part of the country. The aforesaid lords, in consequence of 
 this command, left Montauban, and journeyed to Angouleme, where 
 •he prince was, who immediately sent them to Poitiers, to guard that 
 city and defend the frontiers against the French. 
 
 There had lately turned to the French party a great baron of Poitou, 
 called the lord de Chauvigny, viscount de Brux. This town had 
 followed his example, which he had filled with Bretons and men-at- 
 arms : he himself had left the country, and gone to France to the 
 king. The prince and all the barons of Poitou were exasperated at 
 this defection. The viscount de Rochechouart was also suspected : 
 and the prince, being informed that he was about to change sides, 
 sent for him to Angouleme, where he told him what he had heard. 
 The viscount denied it, and excu- t rl himself as well as he could : 
 notwithstanding this, he was committed a close prisoner, and re- 
 mained a considerable t'me in this dangerous situation. 
 
 Sir James Audley w s at this period high steward of Poitou, a 
 right sage and valiant ,caight. He made preparations for a grand 
 expedition. There we e with him sir Guiscard d'Angle, sir Louis 
 de Harcourt, the lord Je Pons, the lord de Partenay, the lord de 
 Pinane, sir Geoffry d'A-ge;iton, sir Maubrunde Linieres, the lord de 
 Tanuaybouton, sir Wil'iam de Montaudire, and many other knights 
 and squires of Poitou. TLey amounted in the whole to twe've hun- 
 dred lances ; end there was also with them sir Baldwin Freville, 
 high steward of Saiutonge. These lords made Poitiers their place 
 of rendezvous' : from that place they rode in grand array, and ad- 
 vancod until they cuter' d Berry, where they began to burn and de. 
 stroy the country, and t> pillage poor people, to whom they did great 
 daniuge. They then retur.ied to Touraine. Wherever they passed, 
 the countries suffered most exceedingly ; for none ventured to oppose 
 
 * See note page 181. 
 
 I Vvliiteval. Q,. If not Whltwe!!. Barnes calls him sir Thomas Wake. 
 { Milhaud. or MiOau— a trnva Rouergue, on the river Tame. 
 
 § La Roclie Posay— a 1 own i i Touraine, on the Crense, noted forits medicinal springs. 
 
 II La Haye— four leagues frcm Chatelheraut. 
 
 them, as they were in such force as to be masters of the country. 
 These men-at-arms entered the lands of the lord de Chauvigny, 
 whose lord had lately turned Frenchman, which they burnt and de- 
 stroyed without hindrance, except the towns and strongholds. The>' 
 came to his principal town of Brux,* attacked it, and continued th ^ 
 attack a whole day with their men-at-arms, but gained nothing. 
 They then encamped, and declared they would not thus leave it, 
 for it was to be taken. They rose at daybreak, and. having made 
 everything ready, sounded their trumpets for an assault. The Poit- 
 evins and English being formed into battalions, each lord with his 
 men under his own banner, they made, on this Saturday, a most 
 fierce attack. It lasted some time : for there were in the town men- 
 at-arms, and some from the companies, wlio defended themselves as 
 well as they could, as they knew their lives depended upon it. Many, 
 therefore, were the gallant deeds of arms performed. The two high 
 stewards of Poitou and Saintonge were anxious to gain the town. 
 They made their archers shoot so quickly that scarcely any one dared 
 to appear on the walls to defend it. On this Saturday morning, the 
 town of Brux was so vigorously attacked, that it was won at last, 
 and the gate thrown open for every one to enter it who chose. 
 
 All the men-at-arms of the viscount were taken: and the lords of 
 the army had sixteen of them hanged in their armor, from hatred to 
 the viscount, who was not in the country, but with the king of France 
 at Paric. The town was burnt, and the inhabitants lost their all : 
 there were besides very many slain and drowned. The English 
 returned to Poitiers with their army, the better to refresh themselves. 
 
 CHAPTER CCLXl. 
 
 SIR ROBERT KNOLLES IS APPOINTED CAPTAIN OP THE PRINCE'S COMPANY. 
 HE CAUSES SIR PERDUCAS D'aLBRET TO TURN TO THE ENGLISH. HE 
 BESIEGES THE FRENCH COMPANIES IN THE FORT OP DURMEL. 
 
 Sir Robert Knolles resided in Brittanj-, where he had a fine and 
 large estate : he had always been a good and loyal Englishman, and 
 had served imder the king of England, and the prince of Wales his 
 eldest son, in their different expeditions, by whom he was much 
 loved : having heard that the French v/ere carrying on a disastrous 
 war against the prince, and meant to take from hiin his inheritance 
 of Aquitaine, which he had assisted in gaining for him, he was very 
 much surprised and displeased. He therefore resolved in his own 
 mind to collect as many men-at-arms as lie possibly could, and go 
 with them to serve the prince of Wales at his own cost and charges. 
 As he had resolved, so did" he execute : he sent to summon all his 
 vassals, and to entreat his friends to accompany him. He gathered 
 about sixty men-at-arms, with as many archers of his own dependents 
 and friends, and made liis preparations for embarking them on board 
 four large vessels, at a town and seaport in Brittany called Conquet.t 
 When all his purveyances had been completed and sent on board, 
 he set out for his castle at Derval,t and followed them, when he 
 embarked on board his vessel, perceiving that his people were already 
 at sea. He made sail, and arrived at the quay of La Rochelle, where 
 the inhabitants gave him a grand entertainment, much against their 
 inclinations ; but tlfey dared not do otherwise. He found there sir 
 John Dcvreux, who commanded for the prince of Wales, as high 
 steward, sir Thomas Percy being with sir John Chandos. Sir John 
 Devreux received sir Robert Knolles with great joy, and entertained 
 him in the best m.anner he could. Sir Robert remained there two 
 days, to refresh himself and his people. On the third day, he set 
 out, taking the road to Angouleme, and continued his journey until 
 he arrived there. The prince and princess were exceedingly pleased 
 to see sir Robert, and it seemed they could not do enough to show 
 it. The prince appointed him captain of the knights and squires of 
 his household, out of love to him, and as a rev.'ard for his valor and 
 honor. He ordered them to pay sir Robert the same obedience aa 
 to himself, which they prom.ised willingly to do. 
 
 When sir Robert had remained with the prince about five days, 
 and those who were to accompany him in an expedition were ready, 
 he was informed to what part it was meant that he should lead them : 
 he took his leave of the prince, and set out from Angouleme well 
 attended by the prince's knight?. There were sir Richard de Pont- 
 chardon, sir Stephen Cossington, sir Dagloiret, sir Nele Loring, sir 
 William Torceil, sir tfugh Hastings, sir John Trivet, sir Thomas 
 Despenser, sir Tancon,§ sir Thomas Baji aster, sir Nicholas Bond, 
 sir William le Moine, the high steward of the Ag^nois, sir Baldwin 
 Freville, and upward of sixty knights. They amounted in the whole 
 to about sixty men-at-arms, five hundred archers, and as many foot 
 soldiers, all in high spirits, eager to meet the French. || This small 
 army, of which sir Robert was the leader, advanced tow^ard Agen 
 to enter Quercy, where the free companies had quartered them.selves, 
 and continued their march until they came to the city of Agen. 
 
 * Brux— a town in Poitou. near Chaunay, diocese of Poitiers. 
 TConquet— a seaport, situated five leagues from Brc t. 
 
 This name is much disfigured in all iny copies, except in the Lamoignon maBusciipt 
 t Derval— a village between Nantes and Rennes, thirteen bagues from Nantes. 
 § "Tancon." a. Sir Richard Taunton.— Barnes. 
 
 II There seems some mistake relative to the number of men-at-arms: for sir Robert 
 brought with him si.vty men-at-arins. We mu.-t .suppose, that many of the prince's 
 household were at the time of sir Robert's arrival with sir .lohn Chandos or sir Jaiqej 
 Audley, and, though mentioned by narne. were not perbftpe present 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 Tney halted there a short time to refresh themselves, and to wait for 
 the enemy. While sir Robert made this halt at Agen, he learnt that 
 sir Pfirducas d'Albret (a famed captain of the free companies, who 
 liad upward of three hundred men under his command) was in that 
 part of the country, and that, through the solicitations of the duke of 
 Anjou, he had embraced the French side. Sir Robert immediately 
 sent tD him a herald, with other messengers, who managed so well, 
 that he consented to meet him at an appointed place in the open 
 fields, on the faith of his passport. When sir Robert met sir Per- 
 duc.is d'Albret, he feasted him well, and then by degrees entered 
 upon the business of his having left the prince. He blamed him very 
 much for having turned Frenchman, and for quitting the service of a 
 prince who loved him so much, and who had advanced him to honors. 
 Why should I make a long story of it? Sir Robert argued and talked 
 the matter over so ably that sir Perducas d'Albret changed to the 
 English party, and went over to them with upward of five hundred 
 Gascons from the free companies. The duke of Anjou was much 
 angered at this when he heard it, and held sir Perducas cheap for 
 his breach of promise, as did all the others who were of the French 
 party, and hated the English more than ever. 
 
 This news was soon carried to the city of Cahors, and to the other 
 free companies, who formed a large garrison there, and had done so 
 for a considerable lime. When their leaders, Aimemon d'Ortige, le 
 petit Mechin, Jacques de Bray, Perrot de Savoye and Arnaudon de 
 Pans, heard that sir Perducas d'Albret had, with his whole company, 
 gone over to the English, they were very much disheartened and 
 alarmed. Finding that the city of Cahors was of too great an extent 
 for them to hold out against the English, they departed, after having 
 given up the town to the bishop and the inhabitants. They went to 
 the priory of Durmel, that was not far distant, which they had forti- 
 fied some time before, and was not difficult to defend. They ej^ered 
 this place in good order, to wait for their enemies, who came as soon 
 as they knew they had retired thither : they surrounded it, and made 
 many a gallant attack : but those within, being tried men-at-arms, 
 and well supplied with everything, made very light of it. As soon 
 as sir John Chandos, sir Thomas Felton, the captal de Buch, sir John 
 de Pommiers, sir Thomas Percy, sir Eustace d'Ambreticourt, and 
 the other knights attached to the prince in Montauban, heard that 
 sir Robert KnoUes was besieging the companies in Durmel, they 
 determined to march to his assistance ; for it seemed to them that 
 much glory might be acquired. Upward of three hundred lances 
 went from Montauban, leaving behind in garrison full two hundred, 
 under the command of sir Aimery de Chartres, the souldich de 
 I'Estrade, sir Bernardet d'Albreth, and the lord de Gironde. They 
 pressed their march to arrive at the siege of Durm.el. In their road, 
 they came to a tolerably strong French town, called Moissac* It 
 was only guarded by the townsmen, for there was not a gentleman 
 in it. They sent their scouts to examine the place, who brought 
 information that it was sufficiently strong, and that without a siege 
 they could not well gain it. The leaders immediately called a coun- 
 cil, to see what was best to be done ; and they resolved in this 
 council, that it should be wrong for them to stop at this place, which 
 would interfere with their intentions regarding Diirmel. They there, 
 ^ore continued their march: it was but early morning: and they had 
 not advanced more than a league from the place before they met four 
 carriers' horses laden with provision, who were immediately stopped 
 and seized. They inquired whence they came, and whither they 
 were going. The carriers truly answered, that they had come from 
 Toulouse, and were going to Moissac, with the intent of selling their 
 provision. They were then questioned as to the state of that town, 
 and what was the force within it. The carriers, not daring to tell a 
 lie, said, that the town was much distressed by a scarcity, and they 
 did not believe there were in it provisions for four days, if they should 
 be besieged ; and that there were no gentlemen in it, nor had it any 
 defenders but the citizens. 
 
 The chiefs then called a council, and determined not to march 
 further till they should have conquered this town. They returned, 
 and, keeping the provision for themselves, gave the carriers their 
 horses, telling them to go and seek for more. They halted before 
 Moissac, and encamped as if they meant to fix their quarters before 
 it for a month : this first day they made preparations seemingly for 
 an assault on the following, and pointed their cannon against the 
 walls. When the inhabitants of Moissac saw what was going for- 
 ward, they were much frightened, knowing they could not long hoid 
 out: for they were in great want of all sorts of provision; they opened 
 a treaty with the English knights, which was soon concluded. By 
 it they acknowledged the prince of Wales for their lord, and agreed 
 to hold the town from him for ever, without fraud or treachery. On 
 which they had peace granted, and nothing was taken from them. 
 Sir John Chandos and the other knights, at the request of the inhab- 
 itants, appointed a knight, called sir Robert Myttan,t governor, with 
 twenty men-at-arms, and forty archers, to be maintained and paid at 
 the expense of the town. They then marched to Durmel, where sir 
 Robert Knolles and his army were. There was great joy at their 
 arrival, and thus all meeting together again. The new comers united 
 with their former friends in pushing on the siege with vigor. 
 
 ♦ Moissac— a town of Q,uercy, on the Tame, seven leagues from Montauban. 
 t"Mytton." Barnes calls hinn Mutton, and quotes "the true use of armory, in the 
 UTe of the lord John Chandos.** p. 88. 
 
 CHAPTER. CCLXII. 
 
 SIR ROBERT KNOLLES AND SIR JOHN CHANDOS RAISE THE SIEGE OF DCR. 
 MEL. THEY LAY SIEGE TO THE CASTLE OF DOMME.* 
 
 During the siege of Durmel, there were many attacks, skirmishes, 
 and gallant feats of arms ; for they were good and able men, as well 
 those who besieged the place as those who defended it. Had they 
 not been such skiltul soldiers, they could not have held out as they 
 did. The English and their partisans who lay before it, did not gain 
 much advantage, for they were overpowered in two ways : it rained 
 night and day, which hurt both men and horses ; added to this, there 
 was such a scarcity of provision, they had great difficulty in procu- 
 ring wherewithal to satisfy their hunger. A loaf was sold there for 
 three old groats. They were distressed to obtain any even at such 
 a price. Of wines, they had a sufficient quantity, which to them 
 were of the greatest comfort. In this bituation, they remained up- 
 ward of five weeks. When they perceived that they made no impres- 
 sion, nor were likely to take the garrison of Durmel, and that they 
 remained there in a very comfortless state, they determined to raise 
 the siege, and to march for the town and castle of Domme, which 
 was situated in a richer country. 
 
 Sir Robert de Domme, the lord of it, was governor of the town 
 and castle ; and there was with him a knight, his cousin, called sir 
 Peter Sanglet. These two knights had collected large quantities of 
 everything necessary from the low countries, which they had brought 
 into the town. When the English and Gascons, who were fifteen 
 hundred men-at arms, two thousand archers and foot soldiers, arrived 
 at Domme, they drew up in array, to lay siege to it, and began a brisk 
 attack on the place. They pointed large machines against the walls; 
 and many severe skirmishes and assaults were made on each side. 
 After they had besieged this place for fifteen days, and found they 
 did not gain any advantage, nor were likely to conquer it, but were 
 much straitened themselves, they determined to inform the prince of 
 Wales of their situation, who was at that time at Angouleme. Chan- 
 dos, the herald, was ordered to carry this message, who immediately 
 set out, and journeyed until he came to Angouleme, where he found 
 the prince with very few attendants, for all his knights and squires 
 were away on different expeditions. 
 
 When the herald, Chandos, was arrived in the presence of the 
 prince, he dropped on his knees, and recommended to him his mas- 
 ters who had sent him, and whom he had left at the siege of Domme. 
 He then related their situation most wisely, as he had been ordered 
 to do, and gave the credential letters, which be had brought to the 
 prince. The prince listened attentively to all that was told him, and 
 said he would consider this subject. He kept the herald with him 
 five days, and, on the sixth, he had letters delivered to him under the 
 prince's seal, who said to him on his departure, " Chandos, salute 
 from me all our companions." He replied, " Most willingly, my 
 lord." When the herald set out, he took the road through Quercy. 
 I will now relate what passed in the army, and what things they did 
 during the absence of this herald. 
 
 CHAPTER CCLXIII. 
 
 SIR ROBERT KNOLLES AND SIR JOHN CHANDOS MARCH FROM DOMME, WITH. 
 OUT DOING AJJYTHING. THEY TAKE GAVACHES,t R0CHEMAD0UR,t AND 
 SEVERAL OTHER TOWNS WHICH HAD TURNED TO THE PARTY OF THE 
 FRENCH. 
 
 Soon after Chandos had left his masters at the siege of Domme, 
 sir John Chandos, sir Robert Knolles, sir Thoma-s Felton, "he captal 
 de Buch, sir James Audley, and other knights, held a council, and 
 resolved to break up the siege, for they gained nothing, and to 
 make an incursion more into the country, in order to conquer such 
 towns and garrisons as had lately turned to the French, through the 
 means of the duke of Berry, and the free companies. They decamped, 
 and marched from Domme, taking the road for Gramat, which im- 
 mediately surrendered : the inhabitants turned again to the English 
 the moment they came before it. The chiefs and the army remained 
 for three days in Gramat, to refresh themselves, and during that time 
 considered whither they should go next. When they went away, 
 they made for a fortress which the companies had newly taken, called 
 Frons. As soon as the garrison perceived the English advancing 
 with so great a force, and learnt that those of Gramat had become 
 English, they also changed their side, and swore that they would be 
 faithful to the English ; but they lied. The English continued their 
 march, and halted before Roquemadour. The inhabitants had 
 strongly fortified themselves, not having any inclination to surrender. 
 
 The' English having well examined the dtuation of the town of 
 Roquemadour and the countenance of its inhabitants, brought for- 
 ward their engines and artillery, and began to attack it with great 
 vivacity and vigor. I can say, that many and sharp were the attacks : 
 several were slain and wounded by the arrows from those within and 
 without. This assault lasted one whole day- Toward vespers, the 
 English retired to their camp, with the intention of renewing the 
 
 * Domme— a town in Perigord. election of Snrlet. on the Dordogr.e. 
 t Gavuches. I cannot find this in the Gazetteer, and suspect it must be Gramat, a 
 town in Quercy, election of Figeac, near Peyrac. 
 t Rochemador— Roquemadour— a town in Quercy, election of Figeac, nea" P#yraa 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 195 
 
 attack on the rnorrow : but during the night those of Roquemadour, 
 wlio the preceding day had severely felt the courage of their oppo- 
 nents, and how hardly they had pushed them, called a council. The 
 wisest among them said, that in time they must surrender ; and if 
 they were taken by assault, they would all be slain, the town burnt 
 without mercy ; and that, weighing the bad and good, they advised 
 opening an imi: ediate treaty with the English. This was soon con- 
 eluded." They d eclared that from that day forward, they would be 
 true to the Engli h, which they afterwards solemnly swore to observe. 
 They were also obliged to supply the army with fifty horse-load of 
 provisions from the town, during the space of fifteen days, which 
 were to be paid for at a certain fixed price : and thus Roquemadour 
 obtained peace. 
 
 The English continued their march toward Villefranche, in the 
 Toulousin, burning and destroying the flat countries, bringing great 
 calamities on the poor inhabitants, and conquering such towns and 
 castles as had changed sides ; some by treaty, others by force. They 
 came at length before Villefranche, which was tolerably wdl inclosed, 
 and provided with provision and artillery ; for all those of the sur- 
 rounding flat country had retired into it. They commenced the 
 attack, on their arrival, with much intrepidity. During the four days 
 they lay before it, frequent were the assaults, and many were killed 
 on both sides. The garrison having reflected on their situation, found 
 they could not hold out much longer, and, as there was no appear, 
 ance of help coming to them, they surrendered to the English, on 
 condition that neither themselves nor their town should receive any 
 harm. In this manner did Villefranche, on the borders of Toulouse, 
 become English ; which v/hen told to the duke of Anjou, who was 
 at Toulouse, giieved him much. Sir John Chandos appointed gov- 
 ernor and captain of Villefranche an English knight, called sir Rob- 
 ert le Roux,* and then continued his march, burning and destroying 
 the country. 
 
 We v/ill now return to the siege of Bourdeilles, and relate how the 
 earls of Cambridge and Pembroke persevered in it. 
 
 CHAPTER CCLXIV. 
 
 THE EARLS OF CAMBRIDGE AND OF PEMBROKE CONQUER THE GARRISON OF 
 
 BOURDEILLES. 
 
 While these last-mentioned barons and knights of England, with 
 their army, were making excursions and conquests in Rouergue, 
 Quercy and the Agdnois, where they continued a considerable time, 
 the siege of Bourdeilles v/as still going on. It had lasted upward of 
 nine weeks. All this while there were daily skirmishes, attacks and 
 gallant deeds of arms. The besieged had a custom of advancing 
 every day with their whole army without the gate, where they skir- 
 mished valorously with all comers, and behaved themselves so gal- 
 lantly that they acquired great praise even from the enemy. The 
 garrison remained in this situation some time, and would have con. 
 tinued so longer, if pride and presumption had not tempted them ; 
 for they were in sufficient numbers, all tried men, with plenty of 
 provision, and artillery to defend themselves. The besiegers began 
 to grow weary, notwithstanding they acted much to their honor, for 
 they considered that their expenses were greater than the conquest 
 ihey were attempting was worth. After holding a council, to con- 
 yider by what means they could the sooner bring this business to an 
 end, they determined to arm all their people by four o'clock in the 
 merning, and to keep them in their quarters, sending a part of them 
 to skirmish with the garrison as usual : for the gairison were so eager 
 for these combats, they would frequently march into the open fields 
 to engage in them. The English ordered their party to make a feint, 
 and to reti-eat by degrees toward their own army, as if they were de- 
 feated, in order to draw them further out, and then a body of cavalry 
 was to sally forth, and by getting between them and the town, pre- 
 vent them from entering it again. The plan was adopted ; for they 
 Baid, if they could not win the place by this means, they should not 
 easily gain it. On the morrow morning they armed themselves, and 
 sent two hundred to skirmish with the garrison. 
 
 When the companies in Bourdeilles, and their captains Ernaudon 
 and Bernardin, saw them approach, they were very much rejoiced, 
 and quickly made themselves and their men ready. There might 
 be about seven score young men, active soldiers, who, having or- 
 dered the gate to be thrown quite open, advanced to their barriers, 
 and met the English lances and bucklers very handsomely. They 
 fought so well that the English gave way, and retreated as they had 
 been ordered ; which being observed, those of the garrison ordered 
 their standard to be advanced, crying out at the same time, " By St. 
 Anthony's head, we shall take them." On which they attacked 
 them with greater fury as they were flying before them, so that some 
 were unhorsed, wounded or made prisoners. But because they 
 were s6 eager to gain everything, and as the proverb says, " All 
 covet, all lose," they had advanced so far from the town that when 
 they wished to return they could not ; for sir John Montague,t who 
 had the command of the ambuscade, which consisted of five hun. 
 dred chosen men, placed himself between them and the town. He 
 was knighted on the field, by the earl of Cambridge, and directly 
 
 * Sir Robert le Roux. Biirnes calls him sir John Roof?. Why not sir Robert Rous? 
 
 * Sir Juhn Montugucnephew and heir to the earl oi Salisbury.— Barnes. 
 
 attacked them with great vigor. When the companies of Bour. 
 deilles saw themselves thus entrapped, they were sensible of their 
 folly in pursuing so far: however, they collected themselves in a 
 body like brave men, and began to fight va'iantly, and to perform 
 such feats of arms as were marveUous to behold. This combat lasted 
 upward of two hours : and they annoyed their enemies so much, 
 and behaved so gallantly, that tlic English lords were much delighteu 
 with them. Sir John Montague proved himself deserving of hi? 
 knighthood, by his valor and prowess in attacking the enemy. At 
 last, those of the Bourdeilles were entirely defeated : all were killed 
 or made prisoners, for not one of them escaped. Those of the En- 
 glish who had been takei^were rescued. Sir John Montague made 
 the two governoi-s, Ernaudon and Bernardin de Batefol, his prison, 
 ers. 
 
 During the time of this skirmish, the earls of Cambridge and Pem. 
 broke had advanced to the barriers and gate, which having gained, 
 they entered the town, the earl of Cambrid re's banner displayed 
 before them. Thus did the English conquar Bourdeilles. They 
 made the inhabitants swear fealty and allegiance to the prince. The 
 chiefs ordered the lord de Mucident to remain there as governor, 
 and. gave him sixty archers, in addition to his own people. They 
 then broke up their encampment, having determined to march to 
 Angouleme, to know from the prince what he wished them next to 
 do. Thus ended the siege of Bourdeilles ; and the lords with their 
 companies set out on their return. We will now speak of those 
 knights of England and Gascony, who were making inroads in 
 Quercy, and of Chandos the herald, and the news he brought from 
 the prince of Wales. 
 
 CHAPTER CCLXV. 
 
 sir ROBERT KNOLLES, SIR JOHN CHANDOS, AND SIR THOMAS FFLTON 
 MARSHAL THEIR MEN, AND RETURN TO THE PRINCE OF WALES. 
 
 As these knights and their army were making incursions on the 
 borders of Rouergue and Quercy, taking towns and castles, and dis- 
 tressing the whole country, Chandos the herald returned. He found 
 them before a castle in Quercy, which they had hard pressed. When 
 they sav/ the herald, they received him joyfully, and inquired what 
 news he had brought. He told them that his highness the prince 
 saluted them all, and was very desirous of seeing them ; and at these 
 words he gave them the letters from the prince, which the barons 
 took and read. They found that, with m.any assurances of affection 
 and friendship, he desired that sir John Chandos, sir Thomas Felton, 
 and the captal de Buch should return to him at Angouleme ; and 
 that sir Robert Knolles with his army, and all the free companies, 
 should remain where they were to continue the war. 
 
 When these three lords, who were the chiefs of the army, heard 
 the prince's orders, they looked at each other, and asked what was 
 best to be done. With one voice, they addressed themselves to sir 
 Robert Knolles, and said, " Sir Robert, you see and hear how our 
 lord the prince orders us back, and directs that you should remain 
 in this country to be the leader of the army." " My lords," replied 
 sir Robert, " his highness the prince does me more honor than I could 
 wish. Know, that I will never remain here without you, and that, 
 if you go I will not stay behind." So they resolved to return all 
 four to the prince, to learn more fully wliat were his intentions. 
 This gi'and expedition was broken up : and, when the time of sepa. 
 ration arrived, they ordered sir Perducas d'Albret to the town of 
 Roquemadour with his company to defend that part of the frontiers 
 against the French. The lords then addressed the other free com 
 panics as follows : " Gentlemen, you hear how our lord the prince 
 sends for us to come to his presence ; for what cause we are as yet 
 ignorant. We will therefore explain to you what we wish you to do 
 in our absence. You will collect all your forces into one body, and 
 with them pass the frontiers of Limousin and Auvergne, to carry the 
 war thither ; for without war you cannot subsist ; and we swear and 
 promise you faithfully, that whatever town, castle or fortress of France 
 ye shall take and conquer, wherever it may be situated, and shall be 
 besieged in it, we will fly to your assistance, and will cause the 
 siege to be raised." Those who heard this promise replied, "It is 
 well spoken, and we will abide by it; for perhaps we, may be obliged 
 to have recourse t ) you." ^ 
 
 In this manner they separated : the excursion was put an end to 
 by the lords on one side, and the companies on the other. The lords 
 returned to the town of Angouleme, where the prince entertained 
 them handsomely. A short time before, the earls of Cambridge and 
 of Pembroke, with sir Jphn Montague and several others, had also 
 returned from Perigord. We will now mention the companies and 
 men-at-arms who had separated from sir John Chandos, and how 
 they prospered. 
 
186 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 CHAPTER CCLXVI. 
 
 THE FREE COMPANItS ATTACHED TO THE ENGLISH TAKE THE CASTLE OF 
 BELLEPERCHE,* aND THE MOTHER OF THE DUKE OF BOURBON WHO WAS 
 IN IT. THEY ALSO TAKE THE STRON& CASTLE OF ST. SAUVEURt IN 
 SEIiKlt . 
 
 Ajiong the leaders of these companies, there were three squires 
 from the territories of the prince, who were great captains and val- 
 iant men-at-arms- very enterprising, and determined scalers of for- 
 tresses. One of them was named Ortingo, another Bernard de Wifle, 
 and the third Bernard de la Salle. t These three captains wished 
 not to remain long idle, nor without beinggpoken of for some gallant 
 deed of arms. They marched with their companies into Limousin, 
 to refresh themselves. At that time, sir .Tohn Devreux was senes- 
 chal and governor of the province for the prince. These three squires, 
 having considered what castle they might conquer from France, fixed 
 upon that of Belleperche, in the Buurbonnois. It was beautiful and 
 strong. The mother of the duke of Bourbon, and of the queen of 
 France, made it her residence. They learnt by their spies that the 
 good lady was alone, and had not any guards with her except her 
 own household ; and that the governor of the castle, making frequent 
 incursions from it, was very far from being attentive or on his guard. 
 
 These captains, and such companions whom they had picked out, 
 did not let their intentions sleep after they had formed them, but rode 
 day and night, and arrived by break of day at Belleperche, which 
 they took by escalade, and the mother of the queen of France who 
 was in it. Finding the castle was so strong, and handsome, and in 
 so rich a country, they declared they would keep it against all oppo- 
 sers. In that same night, they also took another castle, called St. 
 Sauveur, on the borders of Limousin, and gave it to sir John Dev. 
 reux. 
 
 News was soon carried to France, that Belleperche was taken by 
 the English, and the mother of the queen made prisoner. The king 
 was very much vexed at this, as were the queen and duke of Bour- 
 bon, but they could not better themselves, at least for the present. 
 About this time, sir Louis de Sancerre was nominated a marshal of 
 France : he was a valiant and hardy knight. Sir Arnold d'Andreg- 
 hen was still alive, but so old and worn out with bearing arms, and 
 from his former labors, that in truth he could not be of any service, 
 nor was he able to do the duties of his office ; but he was willing to 
 carry arms whenever it might be necessary. We will say a little of 
 the affairs of Picardy, as we have been some time with those of the 
 distant parts, and speak of an assembly which was held in the city 
 of Rouen. 
 
 CHAPTER CCLXVII. 
 
 THE KING OF FRANCE, INTENDING TO SEND A LARGE NAVAL ARMAMENT TO 
 THE ENGLISH COAST, IS PREVENTED BY THE ARRIVAL OF THE DUKE OF 
 LANCASTER AT CALAIS. 
 
 The king of France, during the summer (1369,) had made great 
 preparations of ships, barges and other vessels in the port of Har- 
 fleur, with the intent of sending a large force to England, well fur- 
 nished with men-at-arms, knights and squires. His brother, the lord 
 Philip, duke of Burgundy, was appointed commander of this army, 
 which was to destroy all England. The king of France fixed his 
 residence in the good city of Rouen in order to attend more promptly 
 to this business. He visited his fleet two or three times every week, 
 to which he showed much affection. Added to this, his summons 
 were so extensive that it was wonderful to see the number of men- 
 at-arms who were collected in Vexin, Beauvoisis, and in the neigh, 
 borhood of Rouen. Provisions and other stores were so abundantly 
 brought there, that they would have been sufficient for a voyage to 
 Spain or Portugal. The lord de Clisson, who was one of the privy 
 counsellors to the king, approved not of this expedition to England, 
 and did all he could to dissuade the king and his nobles from it. He 
 told them, they were not so much accustomed to naval engagements 
 as the English, and urged many reasons in support of this, as one 
 who was better acquainted with the manners and habits of the Eng- 
 lish, and the state of that country, than many others. Notwithstand 
 ing this, neither the king nor his council would change their mind, 
 but resolved this armament shou]^ sail. 
 
 The king of England and his son the duke of Lancaster, as well 
 as several of his council, had received information of this army, and 
 of the intentions of the French to invade and carry the war into 
 England. They were much rejoiced at this, and had provided all 
 the ports and harbors opposite to Ponthieu and Normandy with suf- 
 ficient garrisons of men-at-arms and archers to receive them, if they 
 should come. The whole kingdom of England was ready prepared 
 to give them a good reception whenever they should land. The 
 king, having determined to send the duke of Lancaster, with a body 
 of men-at-arms to Calais, immediately named those whom he ordered 
 to accompany him. There were the earl of Salisbury, the earl of 
 Warwick, sir Walter Manny, the lord Roos of Hamlake, sir Henry 
 
 ♦ Belleperche— a town and abbey on the Garonne, in the diocese of Montauban, near 
 to Castel Sarasin. 
 
 t St. Sauveur— a village in Berry, diocese and election of Bourees. 
 
 J Q. these three names. One of my MSS. calls the second Bernard de Wiike, and 
 «o does Barne*. 
 
 Percy, the lord Basset, the lord Willoughby of Eresby, the lord De 
 laware, the lord de la Pole, sir Thomas Grandison, sir Alan Boxhall, 
 sir Richard Stury,* and many others ; the whole force amounted to 
 about five hundred men-at-arms, and as many archers. They marched 
 to Dover and its neighborhood. When the transports were ready, 
 they embarked, and having a favorable wind, arrived at the strong 
 town of Calais, where they landed, and by little and little disem. 
 barked everything which belonged to them. They took up their 
 quarters in the town. 
 
 About this time the king of England sent embassadors to entreat 
 most earnestly sir Robert de Namur to assist him in the war, with 
 all the men-at-arms that were dependent on him. Sir Robert, who 
 had ever been steady and loyal to the English, replied, that he should 
 be as soon on his march as was necessary ; for having been informed 
 that the king or one of his sons was to be at Calais, to make an 
 incursion, the moment he should hear of the duke of Lancaster's 
 arrival, he would summon all his companions, and those whose assist, 
 ance he wished for ; his arms and everything e)se being already 
 prepared. 
 
 We will now return to what was passing in Poitou. 
 
 CHAPTER CCLXVUI. 
 
 THE CASTLE OF LA ROCHE SUR YON SURRENDERS TO THE ENGLISH. THl 
 GOVERNOR OF IT PUT TO DEATH, BY ORDERS FROM THE DUKE OF ANJOXJ 
 
 You will remember, that when the herald Chandos brought th., 
 orders from the prince of Wales, the barons and knights of Guiennc, 
 who were upon an expedition in Quercy and Rouergue, returned 
 with one accord to the town of Angouleme, where they found tho 
 prince, who received them with great joy. Some little time before, 
 the earls of Cambridge and Pembroke had also returned with their 
 army, after the conquest of Bourdeilles, as you have before heard. 
 The lords and barons rejoiced exceedingly at this meeting, and grea* 
 entertainments were made by them. They considered which way 
 they should next march, to make the most of the season. They 
 found, on examining the country, that there was near the borders of 
 Anjou a fine and strong casde called la Roche sur Yon,t which was 
 a dependency of Anjou ; there they resolved to march, lay sioge to 
 it, and conquer it if they were able. They made their preparations, 
 and set out for that part of the country. They were joined by all 
 the barons and knights of Poitou : sir James Audley, the lord de 
 Pons, the lord de Partenay, sir Louis de Harcourt, sir Guiscard 
 d'Angle, the lord de Pinane, the lord de Tannaybouton, sir Maubran 
 de Linieres, and the seneschal of La Rochelle, sir Thomas Percy. 
 These men-at-arms and gallant company of lords, when they were 
 all assembled, amounted to more than three thousand lance;j. They 
 took the field, and came before the castle of la Roche sur Yon, 
 which was well built and strong, with a good garrison, and well pro. 
 vided with provisions and artillery. The duke of Anjou had ap. 
 pointed governor a knight called sir John Blondeau, who had under 
 his command many good companions, at the charge and pi.y of the 
 duke. 
 
 The lords and barons formed the siege in a handsome manner, 
 and with great display. They surrounded the castle, for they were 
 strong enough to do so, and had ordered from Poitiers and Thouarst 
 large engines on carriages, which they pointed against the fort, as 
 well as several cannons and springalls, with winch the arrny was 
 provided, and from long custom had always carried with them. They 
 had also great plenty of provision, which was brought to them daily 
 from Poitiers and the adjacent country. Sir John Blondeau, finding 
 himself thus besieged by so many good men-at-arms (for almost all 
 the knights of Aquitaine were there,) and that no aid was likely to 
 be sent to him, began to be alarm.ed ; he well knew that these lords 
 would never leave the place until they had won it by fair or foul 
 means. 
 
 In the army of the earl of Cambridge, with sir John Chandos and 
 the other barons, were some knights from Poitou well acquainted 
 with the governor, and who in former times had been his companions 
 in arms. These knights advanced to the barriers, and upon their 
 faith and assurances held a conversation with him. and talked the 
 matter over so ably (for he was not a sensible man, though a valiant 
 knight,) that he entered into a treaty to deliver up the castle, if he 
 were not succored, nor the siege raised, within a month ; v\-lien he 
 was to receive the sum of six thousand francs for the provisions in 
 it. The treaty thus entered into was ratified ; and the garrison re- 
 mained quiet, under condition, that if the castle was not relieved 
 within a month, it should be surrendered. Tliis being done, the 
 knight sent information of it to the king of France, the dukes of 
 Anjou and of Berry, and to all the lords from whom he expected as. 
 sistance, in order that he might be secure from any reproaches they 
 might cast upon him. Notwithstanding these informations, that the 
 castle was strong, and absolutely essential to Fiance, on account of 
 the provinces of Touraine and Anjou, no relief was sent ; so that, 
 when the month was expired, the English lords; summoned the gov. 
 
 * Sturie. Barnes calls him Sterrie ; Hollingshed, Stnrrie. < 
 t La Roche sur Yon— a town in Poitou, on the Yon, eighr leagues from Lu^on, fow^ 
 teen from Nantes. 
 t Thouars— en ancient city of Poitou sixteen leagues firom Poitiers. 
 
 * 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 187 
 
 ernor to perform his promise, for which he had given good hostages. 
 Sir John did not intend to break his engagement : he said to his 
 companions, " Since the king of France and the duke of Anjou are 
 determined to lose this castle, I cannot defend it alone :" he there- 
 fore delivered it up to the English, who took possession with great 
 joy. The gover lor received the sum of six thousand francs, as agreed 
 upon for the provision ia the casde, which was well worth it : and 
 he and his garri:; on were escorted to the town of Angers. 
 
 Instandy on his arrival, he was arrested by the governor of An- 
 gers, and thrown into prison ; and, as I have heard, was the same 
 night put into a sack, cast int d the river, and drowned by the orders 
 of the duke of Anjou, for having accepted money to surrender a cas- 
 tle, which had been well provided, and was strong enough to have 
 held out for a year, if the goven;or had chosen. Thus did the Eng. 
 h'sh gain the castle of la Roche ::ur Yon in Anjou, which they well 
 garrisoned and strengthened: they then returned to the prince of 
 Wales at Angouleme. 
 
 After the conquest of la Roche sur Yon, which enraged the 
 French much, the lords, as I have said, returned to Angouleme, 
 where the prince gave leave for some to go to their homes. Lord 
 James Audley, the valiant knight and seneschal of Foitou, went to 
 his residence at Fontenay le Comte,* where he was attacked by so 
 severe a disorder that it ended his life. The prince and princess 
 v/ere exceedingly grieved at this event, as were all the knights and 
 barons of Foitou. His obsequies were performed at Poitiers in a 
 most magnfficent manner, and were attended by the prince in 
 person.t Soon afterwards, at the request of the barons and knights 
 of Foitou, sir John Chandos, who was constable of Aquitaine, was 
 appointed seae. chai of Foitou, and went to the city of Poitiers, 
 which he fixed on for his residence. He frequently made excursions 
 upon the Frencn, and kept them under such continual alarms, they 
 never dared to venture abroad but in very large bodies. 
 
 About this time, the viscount de Rochechouart obtained his liberty. 
 The prince of Wales had kept him a prisoner, because he suspected 
 him of being inclined to the French ; but at the solicitations of his 
 friends in Foitou, who were at that time with the prince, he gained 
 his freedom, and was restored to his estate. When the viscount de 
 Rochechouart had got his liberty, he went in disguise as speedily as 
 he could to Paris, to the king of France, where he turned French, 
 man, and then came back to his estate, without any one being 
 informed of the matter. Having placed Thibaut du Pont, a Breton 
 and expert man-at-arms, in his castle, he directly sent his challenge 
 to the prince of Wales, against whom he kept up a vigorous warfare. 
 
 CHAPTER CCLXIX. 
 
 THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY MARCHES FROM THE CITY OF ROUEN, WITH 
 THE INTENTION OF COMBATING THE DUKE OF LANCASTER AND THE 
 ENGLISH. THE TWO ARMIES ARE ENCAMPED OPPOSITE TO EACH 
 OTHER AT TOURNEHEM.} 
 
 When the duke of Lancaster v/as arrived at Calais, as has' been 
 before mentioned, and had refreshed his army a little, he was not 
 willing to remain there without performing some warlike deeds upon 
 the French : he therefore marched out with his two marshals and 
 full three hundred lance;;, with as many archers. They passed 
 through Guine3,§ and continued their march until they had crossed the 
 river Dostre, and overran that whole country. They turned toward 
 the abbey of Liques,|| where they collected a large booty, which they 
 brought safe with them to Calais. On another day, he made an 
 excursion toward Boulogne, where he did much damage to the flat 
 countries. The count Guy de St. Pol and sir Galeran his son were 
 at the time in the city of Terouenne, with many men-at-arms ; but 
 they made no sally against the English, when they were on these 
 expeditions, for they did not think themselves sufficiently strong to 
 oppose them in the field. 
 
 News was brought to the king of France, who at that time was 
 holding his court at Rouen in the greatest pomp and magnificence, 
 that the duke of Lancaster was come to Calais, and that from thence 
 he was daily making inroads into France. When the king and his 
 council heard this, their minds were occupied on a different subject ; 
 for this same week the duke of Burgundy was to embark with his 
 whole army, consisting of upward of three thousand fighting men, 
 to invade England. The king demanded from his prelates and 
 council vvlmt was best to be done, supposing the English had crossed 
 the sea, whether to advance to them and offer battle, or to continue 
 their plan of operation for the invasion of England. This last pro. 
 positi.m was given up, and orders sent to the French army to break 
 up their quarters in and near Rouen as soon as possible, and to pre. 
 pare everything for marching tov/ard Calais with the duke of Bur- 
 
 * Fontenay le Comte— a city in Poitou, near la Vendee, diocese of la Rochelle, 
 ivventy-five leagues from Poitiers. 
 
 t Barnes says this is a mistake— of the son for the father. Sir Jnmes Audley. son of 
 lord James Audley, senesclial of Poitou, died in Gascony about this time; and on this 
 ioss, lord .lames, with the prince's leave, retired to Eagland, where he lived many years. 
 He died in 1386, in the seventy-third year of his age. 
 
 Sir John Chandos was nominated seneschal of Poitou, on lord James retiring to 
 Snsland. 
 
 t Tournehern~a small town of Artois, bailiwick of St, Omer. 
 § Guines— a town in Picardy, two leagues and a half from Calais, 
 r. Abbey olLiques— diocese of Boulogne-sur-mei. 
 
 gundy. Such were the commands of the king of France, for he was 
 desirous of combating the English on that side of the water. The 
 men-at-arms heard these orders v.'ith great joy, and were soon ready. 
 The duke of Burgundy with his whole army, to.ok the field, and 
 formed his march so as to cross the river Sortime at Abbeville, He 
 continued until he came to Montreuil-sur-mer,* and from thence to 
 Hesdint and St. Paul,t where they halted for the rear of the army 
 to join them. 
 
 News was brought to the duke of Lancaster, that the French were 
 on their march to offer him battle ; upon which the duke, with his 
 whole army, left Calais, and toak up their quarters in the valley of 
 Tournehem. He had not been long there before that gallant knight 
 sir Robert de Namur came in grand array to terve under him, with 
 a hundred lances of good meu-at-arniH, accompanied with knights 
 and squires. The duke of Lancaster was much rejoiced on his 
 arrival, and said : " My good uncle, you are heartily welcome ; for 
 they say that the duke of Burgundy is on his march, and wishes to 
 fight with us." Sir Robert replied, " My lord, by God's help, we 
 will willingly meet him." 
 
 The English found good quarters in the valley of Tournehem, 
 v/nere they fortified. themselves with strong hedges, and there came 
 daily to them provision in abundance from Calais. Their light horse 
 scoured the country of Guioes, but they gained little ; for all the low 
 countries had been spoiled, and their most valuable things carried 
 for safety to the adjoining fortresses. The duke of Burgundy amved 
 with all his chivalry, and fixed his quarters at the hill of Tournehem, 
 where his marshals immediately encamped the men-at-arms opposite 
 to where the English lay. 
 
 The French lodged themselves orderly, and without delay : they 
 took up much ground, and with good reason ; for I have had it men- 
 tioned to me as a certain fact, that the duke of Burgundy had under 
 his command four thousand good knights. You may judge there, 
 fore of the great difference between the two armies. Each army 
 remained in these positions a considerable time without doing any- 
 thing ; for the duke of Burgundy, notwithstanding he was so much 
 superior in force, and had with him, of good men-at-arms, seven to 
 one, would not engage without the positive orders of the king of 
 France, his brother, who was not desirous of it. In truth, had the 
 French come forward to battle, the English would not have refused 
 it ; for they were daily drav;n ou , and in readiness to receive them. 
 They had made every preparation, and each person knew what he 
 was to do, should the enemy show any inclination to fight : but be- 
 cause they were so small a body, and so well fortified, they would 
 not foolishly lose an advantage by quitting their camp. Some knights 
 advanced from each army to skirmish ; and, as usual in such cases, 
 sometimes one side gained, and sometimes the other. 
 
 The earl of Flanders, at this time, was very anxious for the honcr 
 and reputation of the du ke of Burgundy, his son-in-law : he resided in a 
 handsome house which he had lately built near to Ghent: he frequently 
 heard from or sent to the duke, by messengers who were constantly 
 employed on this service. The earl strongly advised his son-in-law, 
 for his own honor, not to exceed, on any account, the orders which 
 he had received from his brother the king of France, or from his 
 council. 
 
 We will now return to the affairs of the distant provinces, where 
 the knights had frequently more employment, and rae! with adven- 
 tures in greater abundance than anywhere else, on account of the 
 war being carried on more vigorously. 
 
 CHAPTER CCLXX. 
 
 SIR JOHN CHANDOS DOES GREAT MISCHIEF TO THE PROVINCE OF ANJOTJ. 
 HE DESPOILS THE ESTATES OF THE VISCOUNT DE ROCHECHOUART, 
 EXCEPT THE FORTRESSES AND STRONGHOLDS. 
 
 During the time of this expedition to Tournehem, and in that 
 neighborhood, som.e feats of arms were performed in Poitou, which 
 ought not to be forgotten. Sir John Chandos, being seneschal of 
 Poitou. and a hardy and valiaut knight, had a great desire to meet 
 the French : he therefore did not remain long idle, but collected, 
 during the time he passed at Poitiers, a body of men-at-arm.s, Eng 
 lish and Poitevins, and said he would make an excursion with them 
 toward Anjou, and return by Touraine, to look at the French who 
 were assembled in those parts. He sent information of the expedi 
 tion he meditated to the earl of Pembroke, § v/ho was in garrison at 
 Mortagne-sur-mer|| with two hundred lances. 
 
 The earl was much pleased with this intelligence, and would wil- 
 lingly have been of the party ; but his attendants and some knights 
 of his ccuncil prevented him, by saying : " My lord, you are a young 
 and noble knight, formed to excel : if you at this moment unite 
 yourself with sir John Chandos and his army, he will obtain all the 
 glory of the expedi ion, and you will be only named as his com. 
 
 * Montreuil— a town in Picardy, seventeen leagues and a half from Calais, 
 t Hesdin— a strong town in Art(/is, eigi-.teen leagues and a half from Calais. 
 t St. Paul— a small town in Picardy, dioce>e of Beauviinis. 
 
 § Lord John Hastings, second earl of Pembroke, only son of the earl mentioned In 
 the former part of this history. He was not more than 21 years old at this period, and it 
 seems doubtful whether he had yet succeeded to the title, as the received date of hit 
 lather Lawrence's death is 1375, and the events above related took place in 1363.— fij>, 
 
 ti " Mortagne "—a town in Suintonge, on the Garonne. 
 
188 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 panion. It is therefore more proper for you, who are of such high 
 rank and birth, to act for yourself, and let sir John Chandos do so 
 on his part, who is but a knight.bachelor when compared with you." 
 Thesa and such like words cooled the ardor of the earl of Pembroke, 
 who having no longer •any wish to go, sent an excuse to sir John 
 Chandos. 
 
 Sir John would not, liowever, give up his enterprise, but ordered 
 his rendezvous at Poitiers ; from whence he marched with three 
 hundred lances, knights, and squires, and two hundred archers. In 
 this number were lord Thomas Percy, sir Stephen Cossington, sir 
 Richard de Pontchardon, sir Eustape d'Ambreticourt, sir Jlichard 
 Taunton, lord Thomas Spencer, sir Nele Loring. the earl of Angus,* 
 sir Thomas Banaster, sir John Trivet, sir William dc Montendre, 
 sir Maubrins de Linieres, sir GeofFry d'Argenton, and several other 
 knights and squires. These men-at-arms marched boldly forth and 
 in good array, as if going upon some grand enterprise, and having 
 passed through the province of Poitou, entered that of Anjou. When 
 they were arrived in that country, they fixed their quarters in the 
 flat parts of it, and sent out their light divisions to burn and destroy 
 everything. They did infinite mischief to this rich and fine country, 
 without any one attempting to prevent them : and they remained 
 there upward of fifteen days, especially in that part of it called the 
 Loudnnois. They retreated from Anjou down the river Creuse, 
 which separates Touraine from Poitou ; and sir John Chandos, with 
 his army, entered the lands of the viscount Rochechouart, where 
 everything, except the fortresses, was ruined. They advanced to 
 the town of Rochechouart, and vigorously assaulted it, but without 
 effect ; for there were excellent men-at-arms within it, commanded 
 by Thibault du Pont and Helyons de Talay, who prevented it from 
 being taken or injured. 
 
 The English continued their march to Chauvigny,t where sir John 
 Chandos received information that the lord Louis de Sancerre, mar- 
 shal of France, with a great body of men-at-arms, were at la Hayet 
 in Touraine. He was very desirous to march that way, and sent in 
 great haste to the earl of Pembroke to signify his intentions, and to 
 beg of him to accompany him to la Haye in Touraine, and that he 
 would meet him at Cha,telheraut.§ Chandos the herald was the 
 bearer of this message. He found the earl of Pembroke at Mor- 
 tagne, busily engaged in mustering his men, and preparing, as it 
 appeared, to make an excursion. He excused himself a second time, 
 by the advice of his council, saying he could not accompany him. 
 The herald, on his return, found his master and the army at ChS,tel. 
 herauf, to whom he delivered his answer. When sir John Chandos 
 heard it, he was very melancholy, knowing that pride and presump. 
 tion had made the earl refuse to be a party in the expedition, and 
 only replied, " God's will be done." He dismissed the greater part 
 of his army, who separated, and he, with his attendants, returned to 
 Poitiers. 
 
 CHAPTER CCLXXI. 
 
 THE LORD LOUIS DE SANCERRE SURPRISES THE EARL OF PEMBROKE. SEVE- 
 RAL OF HIS MEN ARE SLAIN AND THE EARL IS BESIEGED IN A HOUSE 
 AT PUIRENON. 
 
 We will now relate how the earl of Pembroke prospered. As 
 eoon as he knew that sir John Chandos had disbanded his army, and 
 was returned to Poitiers, he assembled his orn forces, which con. 
 fiisted of three hundred English and Poitevins, and marched from 
 Mortagne. He was joined by some knights and squires of Poitou 
 and Saintonge, as well as by some English knights that had been in 
 sir John Chandos's army. These men-at-arms, therefore, advanced 
 tinder the command of the earl of Pembroke, and took the direct 
 road to where sir John Chandos had been, burning and despoiling 
 all those part5 of Anjou which the first had left, or which had been 
 ransomed. They halted to refresh themselves in the Loudunois, 
 and then took the road for the lands of the viscount Rochechouart, 
 to which they did great damage. 
 
 The French who were in garrison on the frontiers of Touraine, 
 Anjou, and Poitju, consisting of a large body of men-at-arms, 
 heard the whole truth of these two excursions, and how the earl of 
 Pembroke, who was a young man, would not, through pride, serve 
 under sir John Chandos. They therefore resolved to conquer him, 
 if they could ; for they thought they should more easily defeat him 
 than sir John Chandos. They made, in consequence, a secret levy 
 of their forces from all their garrisons ; and sir Louis de Sancerre, 
 marshal of France, took the command of them. They marched all 
 night to la Roche-posayH in Poitou. which was in the French interest. 
 There were in this expedition sir Robert de Sancerre, cousin to the 
 marshal, sir John de Vienne, sir John de Bueil, sir William des 
 Bourdes, sir Louis de St. Julien, and Carnet le Breton ; in the whole, 
 seven hundred fighting men. 
 
 The earl of Pembroke had finished his excursion, and reentered 
 
 * David, king of Scotland, created sir John Stuart of Bonkill earl of Angus. He mid 
 his heirs iield tiie estates, but the Umplirav iiles of England (the earl mentioned in the 
 t«xt) erasped at the title for many generations.— Pinklrton's History of Scotland, 
 vol. i. p. 7. 
 
 t " Chauvigny"— a town in Poitou, six leagues from Poitiers. 
 
 % " La Haye"--a town in Touraine. on the Creuse. 
 
 % " Chateiheraut"— a town in Poiti)u, on the Vienne 
 
 U " La Aoche-potay"— a town io Touraine, on the Ciettsa. 
 
 Poitou, having completed the total destruction of the viscount de 
 Rochechouart's estate. In tlais company v/ere, sir Baldwin de Fran 
 ville, seneschal of Saintonge, lord Thomas Spencer, lord Thomas 
 Percy, the oarl of Angus, sir John Orvvich,* sir John Harpedon, sir 
 James de Surgeres, sir John Cousins, sir Thomas de St. Alban, sir 
 Robert Twiford, sir Simon Ausagre, sir John de Mortain, sir John 
 Touchet, and several others. The English and Poitevins marched 
 on without any thought or precaution, having heard nothing of these 
 men-at-arms : they had entered Poitou with all their pillage, and 
 came, one day about noon, to a village called Puirenon, where they 
 halted, after the manner of persons in perfect security. But when 
 the servants were about to put the horses in the stable, and to pre- 
 pare the supper, the French, who well knew what they were about, 
 entered the village of Puirenon, with their lances in their rests, 
 bawling out t-heir cry, " Our Lady, for Sancerre the marshal !"t and 
 then overthrew all they met in the streets. The noise became so 
 violent, that the English ran to the head-quarters with great alarm, 
 to inform the earl of Pembroke, lord Thpmas Percy, sir Baldwin de 
 Franville, and the others, that the French had suddenly attacked 
 and surprised them. These lords were soon armed, and sallying 
 out from their hotels, collected their men together ; but they could 
 not all assemble, for the numbers of the French were so considerable 
 that the English and Poitevins were overpowered ; and, in this first 
 attack, more than one hundred and twenty were killed or made pris- 
 oners. The earl of Pembroke and some knights had no other 
 remedy but to retire, as quickly as they could, into an unembattled 
 house, which belonged to the knights-templars, without a moat, and 
 only inclosed with a stone wall. All v.'ho could get there in time 
 enough shut themselves in : the greater part of the others wei;e 
 slain or made prisoners, and their arms and horses taken. The earl 
 of Pembroke lost all his plate. 
 
 The French, who closely pursued them, finding those who could 
 get together had shut themselves up in this house, were much 
 rejoiced, saying among themselves : " They must be our prisoners, 
 for they cannot escape ; and we will make them dearly repay the 
 damage they have done in Anjou and Touraine." On which, they 
 advanced to this house in regular order, and with a good will to 
 assault it: when they were come thither, it was evening : after they 
 had examined it narrowly on all sides, to see if it might be easily 
 taken, they began the attack, in which were performed many gallant 
 deeds of arms, for the French were all well tried men. They made 
 different attempts on this house, which was very strong, and gave 
 the earl of Pembroke and his men enough to do ; for the English 
 being so few, labored hard to defend themselves, as it was to them 
 of the utmost consequence. Scaling ladders were brought, and 
 fixed against the walls, which some bold adventurers mounted, with 
 their shields over their heads to shelter themselves from stones and 
 arrows; but when they were got to the top they had done nothing, 
 for they found there, ready to receive them, knights, squires, men-at- 
 arms, with lances and swords, with which they handsomely fought 
 hand to hand, and made them descend much quicker than they had 
 mounted. Add to this, that there were English archers intermixed 
 with these men-at-arms, at two feet distance on the walls, who shot 
 so well that the French beneath suffered much. 
 
 The English continued under constant alarm, repelling these at. 
 tacks until night, when the French, tired with fighting and fatigue; 
 sounded their trumpets for the retreat, saying they had done enough 
 for one day, but that they would return to the attack on the morrow; 
 adding, that, as they could not escape from them, they would starve 
 them to surrender. They returjied to their quarters in high spirits, 
 and made merry, having placed a strong guard in front of the house 
 to be more secure of their enemies. It will readily be believed that 
 the earl of Pembroke and those who were thus blockaded were not 
 much at their ease : they were aware that this house was not of suf. 
 ficient strength to hold out long against so many men-at-arms. It was 
 as badly provided with artillery, to their great sorrow, as with pro- 
 vision ; but this last was not of much consequence, for they could 
 well fast a day and night, if necessary, in defending themselves. 
 
 When it was dark, they entreated a squire, an expert soldier, and 
 in whom they placed great confidence, to set out directly by a postern, 
 and ride as fast as he could to Poitiers, to inform sir John Chandos 
 and his friends how awkwardly they were situated, and to beg 
 they would come to their assistance ; in the hopes of which they 
 would hold out until noon ; and, if he made haste, he might easily 
 make this journey by early morning. The squire, who perceived the 
 extreme danger in which all the lords were, very cheerfully under- 
 took it, but boasted a little too much of his knowledge of the roads. 
 He set out about midnight by a postern gate, and took the straight 
 road, as he thought for Poitiers ; but it so fell out, that during the 
 whole night he wandered about, before he hit upon the right road. 
 
 At daybreak, the French, who were besieging the English at Pui- 
 renon as you have before heard, sounded their trumpets to arms, say- 
 ing it would be better to make their attacks in the cool of the morning 
 than in the heat of the day. The earl of Pembroke and the knights 
 shut up with him, instead of sleeping, had fortified themselves with 
 whatever they could find, making use even of benches and stones, 
 
 * " Sir John Orwich," Q,. Barnes calls him Nele Loring. Why not Norwich ? 
 f And crud their ctyu, " Our ladjr of Sanxerre for the marsbaJ of Frauace.^—LoRn 
 BBKMIRt. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 189 
 
 which they had carried to the top of the walls. They found the French 
 were preparing to renew the attack, and comforted each one upon it. 
 Some time before sunrise, the French were ready, when they marched 
 by companies, and with great vigor, to the assault of the hdtel. They 
 acquitted themselves too well, and having brought scaling ladders, 
 placed them against the walls, mounting them with the utmost eager- 
 ness) covered by their shields, otherwise they would not have ven- 
 tured : it was held highly honorable to those who mounted the first, 
 as in truth it was a very brave act. The English were not idle nor 
 faint-hearted in their own defence, but fought marvellously well, and 
 flung down upon the shields of the assailants stones and great beams 
 of wood, with which they beat them so severely, that they killed or 
 wounded several. They did their duty excellently well, and so small 
 a fort was never seen to hold out so long against such a force. This 
 assault continued from early dawn until six o'clock. 
 
 CHAPJER CCLXXII. 
 
 »JK JOHN CHANDOS COMES TO THE ASSISTANCE OF THE EAKL OP PEM- 
 BROKE, BESIEGED IN PUIRENON. 
 
 Between six and nine o'clock, after the heat of the attack, the 
 French, indignant that the English had made so long a defence, sent 
 orders to all the villagers thereabouts to bring pick-axes and mattocks 
 to undermine the walls, which was what the English were most afraid 
 of. The earl of Pembroke called one of his own squires and said to 
 him, " My friend, mount a horse, and sally out from the back gate, 
 where they will make way for you,* and ride as fast as possible to 
 Poitiers to sir John Chandos, to tell him our situation and the immi- 
 nent danger we are in : recommend me to him by this token.'- He 
 then took off his finger a rich ring of gold, adding, " Give him this 
 from me : he will know it well again." The squire who thought him- 
 self much honored by this commission, took the ring, mounted the 
 best courser he could find, and set off by the back gate during the 
 attack, for they opened it for him. He took the road to Poitiers ; and, 
 while he was making all the haste he could, the assault was carried 
 on warmly by the French, and as vigorously opposed by the English : 
 indeed, it behoved them so to do. 
 
 We will now say something of the first squire, who had left Puire- 
 non at midnight, and who, having lost his road, had wandered about 
 all the night. When it was broad day, he knew his road, and made 
 straight for Poitiers ; but, his horse being tired, he did not arrive there 
 until about nine o'clock, when he dismounted in the square before the 
 hotel of sir John Chandos, and immediately entered it, having learnt 
 that he was at mass : he approached him, and, falling on his knees, 
 delivered his message. Sir John Chandos, who had not yet recovered 
 his vexation at the earl of Pembroke's refusal to join him in his expe- 
 ditions, was not very eager to give him assistance : he coldly said, 
 " It will be almost im.possible for us to get there in time and hear the 
 whole mass." Soon after mass the tables were spread, and dinner 
 set out. His servants asked sir John, if he would dine : " Yes," said 
 he, " since it is ready," and then entered the hall, where his knights 
 and squires had preceded him with water to wash his hands. As 
 he was thus employed, and before he had sat down to table, the 
 second squire ^om the earl of Pembroke entered the hall, and, hav- 
 ing knelt down, drew the ring from his purse, saying : " Dear sir, my 
 lord the earl of Pembroke recommends himself to you by this token, 
 and entreats you most earnestly to come to his assistance, and rescue 
 him from the imminent danger he is now in atPuirenon." Sir John 
 Chandos took the ring, and, having examined it, knew it well. He 
 then replied, " It will not be possible for us to arrive there in time, 
 if they be in the situation you describe." He added, " Come let us 
 dine." 
 
 Sir John seated himself with his knights at table, and ate of the 
 first course : as the second was served, and indeed begun on, sir John 
 Chandos, vAio had much thought on this business, raised his head, 
 and, looking at his companions, spoke as follows, which gave much 
 pleasure to those around him : " The earl of Pembroke (a lord of such 
 high birth and rank that he has even married a daughter of my natu- 
 ral lord the king ot England, and is brother-in-arms as in everything 
 else with my lord of Cambridge,) entreats me so courteously, that it 
 behoves me to comply with his request to succor and rescue him, if 
 it be possible to arrive in time." He then pushed the table from him, 
 and, rising, said to his knights and squires, " Gentlemen, I am de- 
 termined to go to Puirenon." This was heard with joy, and they 
 were soon ready to attend him. The trumpets sounded, and every 
 man-at-arms in Poitiers was mounted in the best way he could ; for 
 It had been speedily told abroad, that sir John Chandos was marching 
 .0 Puirenon, to the assistance of the earl of Pembroke and his army, 
 who were there besieged by the French. When these knights and 
 squires took the field, they amounted to upward of two hundred 
 lances, and increased every moment. They marched with all haste : 
 news of this was brought to the French, who had constantly been 
 engaged at this assault from daybreak until noon, by their spies, who 
 said : " Dear lords, look well to yourselves ; for sir John Chandos has 
 marched from Poitiers with upward of two hundred lances, and is 
 advancing with great haste and a greater desire to meet with you." 
 
 * And we shall make you way, says lord Berners, which is more likely than that the 
 French would willingly permit a messenger to deparj. 
 
 When sir Louis de Sancerre, eir John de Viennc, J^hii de Beuil, 
 and the others who v/ere present, heard this, the best informed 
 among them said, " Our men are tired and worn down by their as- 
 saults upon the English, yesterday and to-day: i»: will be much wiser 
 for us to make a handsome retreat with all v/c have gained, and our 
 prisoners, than to wait the arrival of sir John Chandos and his com- 
 pany, who are quite fresh ; for we may lose more than we can gain." 
 This plan was immediately followed, for thjre was not a moment to 
 lose : the trumpets were ordered to sound a retreat : their men as. 
 sembled in a body, and, having sent off their baggage, they themselves 
 took the road to la Roche-Posay. 
 
 The earl of Pembroke and those with him, imagining the French 
 must have had some intelligence, said nmong themselves : "Chandos 
 must certainly be on his march, fcr the French are retreating, not 
 daring to wait his coming: come, come, let us immediately quit this 
 place and take the road toward Poitiers, and we shaU meet him." 
 Those who had horses mounted them ; and others v/ent on foot, and 
 several rode double. They thus left Puirenon, following the road to 
 Poitiers : they had scarcely advanced a league before they met sir 
 John Chandos and his army in the condition I have before told : 
 some on horseback, some on foot, and some riding double. Much 
 joy was shown on both sides at this meeting ; but sir John said, he 
 was sorely vexed that he had not been in time to have met the French. 
 They rode together conversing for about three leagues, when they 
 took leave of each other and separated. Sir John Chandos returned 
 to Poitiers; the earl of Pembroke to Mortagne, the place he had 
 marched from ; and the marshal of France and his army to la Roche- 
 Posay, where they refreshed themselves and divided their booty ; 
 they then retired to their garrisons, carrying with them their prisoners, 
 whom they courteously admitted to ransom, as the French and Eng. 
 lish have always been accustomed to act toward each other. 
 
 We will now return to the armies in Tournehem ; and speak of 
 the death of the most courteous, noble, and liberal queen that reigned 
 in her time, the lady Philippa of Hainault, queen of England and 
 Ireland.* 
 
 CHAPTER CCLXXIII. 
 
 THE DEATH OF QUEEN PHILIPPA OF ENGLAND : SHE MAKES THREE RE- 
 QUESTS TO THE KING ON HER DEATH-BED. SOME FRENCHMEN, HAVING 
 ATTACKED THE ENGLISH CAMP AT TOURNEHEM, ARE REPULSED BY SIR 
 ROBERT DE NAMUR. 
 
 During the time that such numbers of the noblemen of the king- 
 dom of France were assembled at Tournehem under the command 
 of the duke of Burgundy, and the duke cf Lancaster v/as encamped 
 with his army in the valley opposite to them, a circumstance hap. 
 pened in England, which, though so very common, was not the less 
 unfortunate for the king, his children, and the v/hole kingdom. That 
 excellent lady the queen of England (who had done so much good, 
 and during her whole life had assisted all knights, ladies, and dam- 
 sels who had applied to her,t who had had such boundless charity 
 for all mankind, and who had naturally such an affection for the 
 Hainault nation, being the country from which she sprung,) lay at 
 this time dangerously ill at Windsor castle, and her disorder daily 
 increas-ed. 
 
 When the good lady perceived her end approaching, she called to 
 the king, and, extending her right hand from under the bed-clothes, 
 put it into the right hand of the king, who was very sorrowful at 
 heart, and thus spoke : " We have enjoyed our union in happiness, 
 peace, and prosperity : I entreat, therefore, of you, that on our sepa- 
 ration you will grant me three requests." The king, with sighs and 
 
 * The moost gentyll quene, moosl lyberall, and moost couriesse that ever was quene 
 in her dayes, the whiche was the fayre lady Philipp of Keynault, quene of England and 
 Irelande.— LoRr Bkrners. 
 
 t Froissart does not intimate that she waited to be applied to, and indeed his own case 
 shows that she needed no instigation but her own " liberal and most courteous " nature 
 to prompt her bounty. The passage is one ot' the gems of Lord Berners, and is worthy 
 to be given entire. "There fell in Enslande a heuy case and a comon, howbeit it was 
 right pyteouse for the kyng, his chyldren, and all his real me. For the good quene of Eng- 
 lande, that so many good dedes had done in hertyme, and so many knights socoured, 
 and ladyes and damosels comforted, and had so largely deported of her goodes to her 
 people, and naturally loued always the nacyon of Heynaulte, the countrey where she 
 was borne: She fell sicke in the castell of Wyndsore, the which sickenesse contynewed 
 on her so longe, that tkere was no remedye but dethe. And the good ladye, whanne she 
 knewe and parceyued that there was with her no remedye but detiie. she desyred to 
 speke with the kynge her husbande. And whan he was before her sue put out of her 
 bedde her right hande and tokethe kynge by his right liande, who w as right sorrowfull 
 at his hert. Than she sayd, ' Sir, we haue in peace, ioye, and great prosperyte used all 
 our tyme toguyer. Sir, nowe, I pray you, at our departyng, that ye will graunte me 
 thre desyres.' The kynge, ryght sorowfully wepynge, sayd. ' Madame, desyre what ye 
 wyll, I graunt it.' " Sir,' sayd she. ' I requyre you. firste of all, that all maner of people, 
 suche as I haue dault withall in their mojchaundyse. on this syde the see or beyond, 
 that it may please you to pay euery thynge that I owe to theym, or to any other. And, 
 secondly, sir, all such ordynaunce and promyses ns I haue made to the churches as 
 well of this countrey as beyond the see, whereas I haue hadde my deuocyon, that it 
 maye please you to accomplysshe and to fulfy II the same. Thirdely, sir, 1 requyre you that 
 it may please you to take none other sepulture, whansoeuer it shall please God to call 
 you out of this transytorie lyfe, but besyde me in Westmynster.' The kynge. all wep- 
 ynge, sayd, ' Madame, I graunt all your desy-e.' Than the good lady and quene made 
 on her the signe of the crosse, and commaunded the kynge her liusbande to God, and 
 her youngest son, Thomas, who was there besyde her. And anone, after, she yelded 
 up the spiryte. the whiche I beleue surely the holy angels receyued with great ioy up to 
 heuen, for in all her lyfe she dyd neyther in thought nor dede thyng whereby to lese her 
 soul, as ferr as any creature coulde knowe. Thus the good quene of Englande dyed in 
 the yeie of our lorde tf cccbXix, in the vigyll of our ludy in the myUdes of Aufiust."-^£)h 
 
190 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, «&c 
 
 tears, replied, " Lady, ask. : whatever you request shall be granted." 
 * My lord, I beg you will acquit me of whatever engagements I may 
 have entered into with merchants for their wares, as well on this as 
 on the other side of the sea. I beseech you also to fulfil whatever 
 gifts or legacies I may have made, or left to churches, here or on 
 the continent, wherein I have paid my devotions, as well as what I 
 may have left to those of both sexes who have been in my service. 
 Thirdly, I entreat that, whenever it shall please God to call you 
 hence, you will not choose any other sepulchre than mine, and that 
 
 you will lie by my side in the cloisters of Westminster." The king, 
 in tears, replied, " Lady, I grant them." 
 
 Soon after, the good lady made the 
 sign of the cross on her breast, and, hav- 
 ing recommended to God the king and 
 her youngest son, Thomas, who was 
 present, gave up her spirit, which, I 
 lirmly believe, was caught by the holy 
 angels and carried to the glory of 
 Heaven ; for she had never done any- 
 thing, by thought or deed, that could 
 endanger her losing V. Thus died this 
 queen of England, in the year of grace 
 1369, the vigil of the assumption of the 
 Virgin, the 15th of August. 
 
 Information of this loss was carried 
 to the English army at Tournehem, 
 which greatly afflicted every one, but 
 particularly the duke of Lancaster. 
 However, as there is no death but 
 what must be passed over and forgot, 
 ten, the English did not neglect to 
 keep up very strict discipline in their 
 camp, where they remained a long time 
 facing the French. It happened that 
 some of the French knights and squires, 
 seeing the enemy every day before their 
 eyes, held a conversation, and, after dis- 
 cussing the matter, agreed to meet on 
 the morrow, at daybreak, to skirmish 
 with them, and beat up the guard. 
 There were upward of three hundred 
 knights and squires, the greater part of 
 them from the Vermandois, Artois, and 
 Corbiois, who had entered into this 
 agreement, and, without mentioning it 
 to their marshals, had each informed the 
 
 other of their intentions. When the morning came for this expe- 
 dition, they were all ready armed, mounted, and assembled. They 
 rode forth in this array, nothing doubting of success, and began to 
 make a circuit round the hill of Tournehem, in order to gain an 
 advantageous position, and to fall upon one of the wings of the 
 English army. 
 
 This wing was allotted to sir Robert de Namur and his people. 
 Sir Robert had been on guard that night, but toward daybreak had 
 entered his tent, and was then sitting at supper, quite armed, except 
 his helmet, and the lord Despontin* with him. The French at this 
 moment arrived at the quarters of sir Robert, which were also those 
 of some other German and English lords ; but the guard very fortu- 
 nately had not disarmed themselves : they immediately opposed the 
 Frenchmen who came up spurring and galloping, and checked their 
 career. News soon reached sir Robert that his men were fighting, 
 having been attacked by the French. In an instant, he pushed the 
 table from him where he had been seated, and said to the lord Des- 
 pontin, " Come, come to the assistance of our men." Instantly he 
 fixed his helmet on his head, and ordered his banner, which was 
 placed before his tent, to be displayed. Some one said, " My lord, 
 send to the duke of Lancaster, and do not engage without him." 
 He bluntly replied, " Not I : I shall go the shortest way I can to help 
 my men. Those may send to my lord of Lancaster who will ; but 
 let all who love me follow me." 
 
 He then advanced, sword in hand, to meet the enemy: the lord 
 Despontin and sir Henry de Sancelle were with him, as well as his 
 other knights, who directly engaged in the battle, having found their 
 men fighting with the French, in great numbers, and who, to speak 
 truth, ought to have done much this day : but no sooner did they 
 perceive sir Robert de Namur marching with his banner than they 
 wheeled about and gave up their plan, for they thought the whole 
 army was ready to fall on them : indeed it was so in different parts 
 of the camp, for the sun was now risen. A Vermandois knight was 
 slain under the banner of sir Robert de Namur, called sir Robert dc 
 Coulogne, who was much regretted ; for he was rich, amiable, and 
 courteous, and an honorable, knight in every station. Thus ended 
 the aP"air. The French retreated without doing anything more, for 
 they were afraid of greater Ic-ss than gain. Sir Robert did not pur. 
 sue them farther than was wise, but brought back his men when he 
 found the enemy was quite gone, and returned to his quarters. 
 
 CHAPTER CCLXXIV 
 
 THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY AND HIS ARMY DECAMP WITHOUT A BATTLE. 
 THE DUKE OF LANCASTER RETURNS TO CALAIS. 
 
 Since this last aff'air, nothing happened worth relating. It was 
 very displeasing to many on both si.Jes that they thus remained so 
 long without a battle : every day it vas said, " We shall engage to- 
 morrow ;" but that morrow never cl ne ; for, as I have said before, 
 the duke of Burtjundy would not ac: contrary to the orders of the 
 king. The orders he received were \ cry strict ; for there were con 
 tinually messengers going from the king to the duke, and from the 
 
 ' Lgid D«spontia. U. Barnes calls lura lord of f onthieu. 
 
 Tomb of Queen Philippa, Westminster Abbey. From an Original Drawing 
 
 duke to the king on this subject. At last the duke of Burgundy, as 
 I was then informed, having considered, that he was encamped at a 
 very heavy expense, and could not remain so much longer with any 
 honor ; for he had upward of four thousand knights, while the enemy 
 was but a handful in comparison, with whom, however, he had not 
 fought, nor had had any intentions of so doing : the duke, I say, 
 sent some of his knights to lay his situation before the king, and to 
 explain to him his wishes. The king thought the duke judged 
 rightly, and ordered him, on the receipt of his lett»s, to break up 
 his camp, to dismiss his army, and come to Paris, where he himself 
 was going. 
 
 When the duke received these orders, he sent for the principal 
 lords of his army, and told them secretly their contents ; saying, 
 " We must bre.ak up our camp, for the king sends for us back." 
 When it was midnight, those to whom he had given this infonna- 
 tion, having packed up everything, were mounted, and had set fire 
 to their quarters. At this hour, sir Henry de Sancelle was return- 
 ing to his tent, having been on guard with sir Robert de Namur's 
 men, to whom he was attached ; and seeing first one, then two, and 
 then three fires in the enemy's camp, he said to himself, " These 
 French think, perhaps, to surprise us : they have the appearance of 
 intending it. Let us go," said he to those near him, " to sir Rob. 
 ert's tent, and awaken him, that, should it be so, he maybe prepared 
 in time." Sir Henry went thither, and, calling his chamberlains, 
 told them, they must instantly awaken sir Robert. They went to 
 his bed-side and sir Henry de Sancelle with them, who awakened 
 him, and told him all that he had seen. Sir Robert made answer, 
 " We shall soon hear other news : let our men be instantly armed 
 and made ready." He himself was soon armed. When his men 
 were drawn up, he had his banner displayed, and marched to the 
 tent of the duke of Lancaster, who was arming also, for he had re- 
 ceived similar information. It was not long before the different 
 lords came thither, one after another : as they arrived, they were 
 drawn up and remained quiet without any light. 
 
 The duke of Lancaster ordered his marshals to march the archers 
 to where he hoped the French would make their attack, if they 
 came ; for he certainly expected a battle. When they had remained 
 at their posts for two hours, and saw no one advancing to them, 
 they were more 'surprised than before. The duke called to him his 
 lords, and asked them what he had best now to do. Some replied 
 one thing, and some another, and each defended his own opinion. 
 The duke, perceiving that valiant knight sir Walter Manny, said, 
 
• CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, ^ 
 
 tJj 
 
 " And you, sir Walter, what do you advise ?" "I do not know," 
 replied sir Walter, " but, if you will follow my advice, I would 
 draw up my men-at-arms and archers in order of battle, and would 
 advance slowly ; for, as it will soon be day, we shall then see clearly 
 before us." The Duke assented to this proposal : but others were 
 of a contrary opinion, and advised him not to march from where he 
 was. This discussion continued until orders were given for some 
 of the troops of sir Robert de Namur and sir Waleran de Bourne* 
 to mount their horses, because they were lightly accoutred and rode 
 well. Thirty, horsemen were chosen from the best mounted, and 
 sent off toward the French camp. 
 
 While they were gone on this expedition, sir Walter Manny, 
 addressing the duke, said, " My lord, never believe me again, if 
 these French be not fled : mount your horse, and order the others to 
 do the same, that you may pursue them, and I v/ill engage you will 
 have a fine day of it." The duke replied, " Sir Walter, I have 
 hitherto always followed the advice of my council, and intend now 
 doing so; for I can never believe that so many brave men-at-arms 
 and noble knights would thus run away. Perhaps the fires we see 
 may have been lighted to entrap us. Our scouts will soon return, 
 and then we shall know the truth." As they were thus conversing, 
 the scouts returned, and confirmed all that sir Walter Manny had 
 thought: they said they had found none but some poor victuallers, 
 who followed the army. Sir Walter Manny gained great credit. 
 The duke went to his tent to disarm : he would that day have dined 
 in the French camp, but the fire was too great : he and his men-at- 
 arms, however, supped there, and took up their quarters on the moun- 
 tain for the night, and made themselves comfortable with what they 
 found there. On the morrow they decamped, and returned to Calais. 
 
 The duke of Burgundy, when he marched ofi', made his quarters 
 at St. Omer, where he and all his army remained until they were 
 disbanded, and every man returned to his home. There was after- 
 wards much trouble to reassemble them again. 
 
 CHAPTER CCLXXV. 
 
 THE EAKL OF PEMBROKE, DESIROUS OF AVENGINO HIMSELF FOR THE 
 DEFEAT HE RECEIVED AT PUIRENON, MAKES AN INCURSION TO ANJOU. 
 THE ABBEY OF ST. SALVIN IN POITOU IS BETRAYED TO TH3 FRF-NCH, 
 AND FORTIFIED. 
 
 The same week that the armies quitted Tournehem, the earl of 
 Pembroke (who was in Poitou, and had been much mortified at the 
 defeat he had suffered from sir Louis de Sancerre, sir John de Vienne, 
 sir .Tohn de Bueil and the others at Puirenon, as has been related) re- 
 solved to have his revenge, if poseible ; and for this end he marched 
 from Mortagne with his army, which consisted of about two hundred 
 lances, and came to Angouleme, where the prince received him most 
 courteously. The earl entreated of him permission to lead another 
 expedition, and to lend him some of his men, as he was very anxious 
 to avenge himself of the affronts he had suffered from the French. 
 The prince, who had much affection for him, immediately granted 
 his request. Sir Hugh Calverley was just returned from his excur- 
 sion into the county of Armagnac, with five hundred fighting men ; 
 and the prince gave him leave to accompany the earl of Pembroke 
 in his intended expedition. He also requested the company of sir 
 Louis de Harcourt, sir Guiscard d'Angle, sir Perceval de Coulogne, 
 the lords de Pons, de Partenay and de Pinane, lord Thomas Percy, 
 sir Richard de Pontchardon, and several knights of the prince's 
 household, who willingly accepted the invitation, for they were ready 
 for any excursion : so that, when they were assembled, they amounted 
 to five hundred lances, three hundred archers, and fifteen hundred 
 foot soldiers, armed with pikes and shields, who followed the army 
 on foot. This army marched, under the command of the earl of 
 Pembroke as their leader, and took the road toward Anjou : where 
 they no sooner arrived than they began to destroy, and to do every 
 damage to the country they passed through, by razing castles and 
 forts, burning such to.jvns as could not hold out against them, and 
 levying contributions oh all the flat country as far as Saumurt on 
 the Loire. They gained possession of the suburbs, and began an 
 assault on the town ; but they could not take it, for Sir Robert de 
 Sancerrre was in it with a large body of men-at-arms, who defended 
 it from suffering any damage : all the country round about it, how. 
 ever, was pillaged, burnt, and ruined. 
 
 Sir Hugh Calverley and his division advanced to a bridge on the 
 Loire, called le Pont de C6 ;X when he defeated those who guarded 
 it, took the bridge, and placed such a garrison of his own men there, 
 after he had fortified it well, that they kept possession of it for a long 
 time. The English, in this expedition, took a large abbejj, at St. 
 Maur,§ on the Loire, which they repaired and fortified, and placed 
 therein a considerable garrison, which, during the ensuing winter 
 and summer, did great mischief to the adjacent country. 
 
 At this time, there was in Poitou an abbey, which still exists, 
 called St. Salvin,|| situated seven leagues from Poitiers ; and in this 
 
 * Sir Waleran de Bourne. Q. Barnes calls him Van Bornico. 
 
 t Saumur — on the Loire, diocese of Angers. 
 
 •t Pont de Ce— Pontde Se— two leagues from Angers. 
 
 5 St. Maur— on the Loire, election of Saumur. 
 
 y St. Salvin— St. Savin— a village in Poitou, election of Poitiwi 
 
 abbey there was a monk who hated the abbot, as he afterwards 
 showed. It was on account of this hatred which he bore him that 
 he betrayed the abbot and the whole convent, and delivered up the 
 abbey and the town to sir Louis de St. .Tulien and to Carnet le Breton, 
 who took possession of it, and made it a strong garrison. Sir John 
 Chandos was much vexed at St. Salvin being thus surprised, and nof 
 being able to retake it ; for, as he was seneschal of Poitou, he waa 
 angry that such a house should have been taken in his government, 
 and declared, that if he should live long enough, he v/ould have it 
 again by some means or other, and make them pay dearly for the insult 
 they had put upon him. We will now quit Poitou, and return to the 
 duke of Lancaster. 
 
 CHAPTER CCLXXVI. 
 
 THE COUNTY OF ST. POL IN PICARDY IS PILLAGED AND RUINED BY THE 
 ENGLISH. SIR HUGH DE CHASTILLON IS TAKEN PRISONER. 
 
 When the duke of Lancaster had retreated to Calais after the 
 decampment of Tournehem, as has been before related, and had re- 
 freshed himself and men for three days, he resolved, by advice of his 
 council, to draw out his troops, and make an excursion iato France. 
 His marshals, the earl of Warwick and sir Roger Beauchamp, were 
 ordered to muster the army, which orders they very readily obeyed, 
 for they were desirous of making an inroad on France. The men- 
 at-arms and archers marched from Calais in excellent array : every 
 man was apprized what he was to do, and where he was going. 
 The first day's march was only five leagues from Calais. On the 
 morrow, they came before St. Omer, where there were many skir- 
 mishes at the gates; but the English did not make any long halt: 
 they continued their march, and that night encamped on the heights 
 of Hersault.* On the third day, they arrived at the city of Terou- 
 enne,t where was the count de St. Pol with a large company of 
 men-at-arms. The English did not halt, but continued their march, 
 taking the road to Hesdin,t and fixed their quarters at night on a 
 small river. 
 
 When the count de St. Pol found that the English were taking the 
 road to his country, he knew they were not going thither for his good, 
 for they hated him too much : he set out, therefore, in the night, and 
 gave the government of the city to the lord de St. Py and sir John 
 de Roye ;§ and riding hard, he arrived at his town of St. Pol.|| The 
 English came before the place very early on the moiTOW morning, 
 and several severe skirmishes happened ; but the arrival of the count 
 was fortunate for himself and for the town, as he, with the a.ssistance 
 of those who had accompanied him, prevented the place from being 
 taken. The duke of Lancaster, therefore, and his army refreshed 
 themselves at their ease in the county of St. Pol, which they over- 
 ran, and did great damage to all the flat country." They advanced 
 to the castle of Pernes,^ where the countess dowager resided. 
 They examined well the fort, and the duke sounded the depth of the 
 ditches with a lance : notwithstanding this, they made no attack, 
 though they showed every appearance of it. They made no long 
 stay, but continued their march, and went toward Lucheux,** 
 a handsome town, which belonged to the count. They burnt the 
 town, and without touching the castle, continued their road for St. 
 Riquier.tt The English did not march more than three or four 
 leagues a-day, so that they burnt and destroyed all the countries they 
 passed through. They crossed the river Somme at Blanche taque 
 below Abbeville, and then entered the country of Vimeu.tt with the 
 intention of pushing forward to Harfleur on the Seine, in order to 
 burn the navy of the king of France. 
 
 The count de St. Pol, and sir Moreau de Fiennes, constable of 
 France, with a large body of men-at-arms, pursued and hovered 
 about the English army, so that they could not disperse nor quit the 
 straight road, but were obliged to keep in a compact body, to be 
 ready to combat the French should they be so inclined. In this 
 manner they marched through Vimeu and the county of Eu : enter, 
 ing the archbishopric of Rouen, they passed Dieppe, and continued 
 their march until they came before Harfleur, where they fixed their 
 quarters. The count de St. Pol out-marched them, and had entered 
 the town with two hundred lances, at the utmost. The English re. 
 mained three days before Harfleur, but did nothing : on the fourth, 
 they decamped, and returned through the lands of the lord d'Estoville, 
 whom they did not love much, and burnt and destroyed the whole or 
 greater part. They then passed through Vexin Normand in their 
 way to Oisemont,§§ to recross the Somme at Blanchetaque. 
 
 Sir Hugh de Chastillon, master of the cross-bov.-s in France, was 
 at this time captain and governor of Abbeville. When he heard 
 
 * Hersault. Q. If not Herissart; but that seems to be too great a distance. 
 
 t Terouenne— is now in ruins. It was taken by Henry VIII. by a stratagem of point- 
 ing wooden guns painted, which were thought to be real ones, and threatened to battel 
 down the town, if not surrendered. 
 
 t Hesdin— a strong town in Artois, on the Canche. 
 
 § Two of my MSS. have different names, the lord de Sampy, sir Guy de Roye. On* 
 has sir John de Roye. 
 II St. Pol— a town in Artois, five leagues from Hesdin. 
 IT Castle of Pernes— a town in Artois, three leagues from St. Pol. 
 ** Lucheux— a town of Picardy, near Doulens. 
 
 tt St. Riquier— an ancient t^jwn in Picardy. two leagues and a half from Abbevill*, 
 tt Vimeu— in Picardy, St. Valery is its capital. 
 
 OuemoDt—a market towa ia Picardy. five leagues from AkbeTiUs. 
 
192 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. • 
 
 that the duke of Lancaster was returning that way, he armed himself, 
 and ordered twelve of his people to do the same. On mounting their 
 horses, he said he was going to view the guard of the gate of Rou- 
 vray, that it might not be wanting in defence, and that the English 
 should not find it too weakly guarded. It was early in the morning, 
 and there was a thick fog. Sir Nicholas Louvaine, who had been 
 sdneschal of Ponthieu, and whom, this very year, sir Hugh de Chas. 
 tillon had taken and ransomed for ten thousand francs, remembered 
 this so sorely that, having a great desire to recover hi-3 losses, he set 
 out on the point of day from the duke's army, accompanied by only 
 twenty men. As he was well acquainted with all the roads and 
 passes of that country, having resided there for upward of three years, 
 he intended lying in ambuscade between Abbeville and the castle of 
 Rouvray, in the hope of taking some prize : he had crossed a small 
 rivulet which ran through a marsh, and hid himself and men in some 
 old uninhabited houses. 
 
 Sir Hugh never dreamed that the English would form an ambus, 
 cade so near the town. Sir Nicholas and his men kept themselves 
 very quiet : they perceived sir Hugh de Chastillon riding down the 
 road which leads to Rouvray, with only twelve others, armed at all 
 points, except his helmet, which one of his pages bore on a courser 
 behind him. He crossed the little rivulet, &nd made for the gate of 
 Rouvray to see what the guard of ci-oss-bowmen were about, and to 
 inquire if they had heard or seen the English. .When sir Nicholas 
 Louvaine, who was on the watch, saw him, he recognized him 
 directly, and was more rejoiced than if any one had given him twenty 
 thousand francs. He sallied out from his ambush, saying, " Follow 
 me : here is what I wished for : it is the master of the cross-bows, 
 and I ask for nothing better." Then sticking spurs into his horse, 
 and pointing his lance, he came upon sir Hugh, crying, " Surrender, 
 Chastillon, or thou art a dead man." Sir Hugh, who was much puz- 
 zled to conjecture whence these men could come, had neither time 
 to put on his helmet nor to mount his courser : finding himself in 
 such a strait, he asked, " To whom am I to surrender ?" Sir Nich- 
 olas replied, " To Louvaine, to Louvaine." In order, therefore, to 
 avoid the danger he could not escape from, he said, " I surreiider." 
 He was then taken, and told, " Ride on quick y, for the army of the 
 duke of Lancaster marches on before us." On this occasion was 
 slain, a very valiant citizen of Abbeville, called Lawrence Dancons,* 
 who was much regretted. Thus was taken and entrapped sir Hugh 
 de Chastillon, at that time master of the cross-bows in France and 
 governor of Abbeville, through the good fortune of sir Nicholas Lou- 
 faine : with which capture the duke of Lancaster and the English 
 ivere much rejoiced. On the other hand, the inhabitants of Abbe- 
 /ille were exceedingly vexed at it ; but for the present they could 
 noi better themselves. 
 
 The English marched on, crossed the Somme at Blanchetaque, and 
 then passed through the towns of Rue-sur-mer and Montreuil-sur-mer, 
 until they at last arrived at Calais. The duke of Lancaster there dis- 
 missed all the foreigners, when sir Waleran de Bourne and the Ger- 
 mans departed. The duke returned to England, and the Germans to 
 their own country, as there was not any intention of continuing the war 
 until the ensuing summer, for now Martinmas was passed : but the duke 
 informed them, that in the approaching spring, he should cross the sea 
 with a greater force than he had hitherto done, and should entreat 
 his cousins the dukes of Gueldres and Juliers to accompany him into 
 France. We shall now be silent as to the affairs of Picardy, for 
 indeed nothing of great moment happened since this time, and return 
 to Poitou, where warlike deeds were oftener performed. 
 
 CHAPTER CCt^XXVIII. 
 
 SIR JOHN CHANDOS IS SLAIN IN A SKIRMISH. THE FRENCH, AT FIRST VIC- 
 TORIOUS, ARE IN THE END DEFEATED. 
 
 Sir .Tohn Chandos, being seneschal of Poitou, was seriously afflicted 
 with the loss of St. Salvin : he was continually devising means to 
 retake it, whether by assault or by escalade was perfectly indifferent to 
 him, so that he could gain it. He made many nightly ambuscades, 
 but none succeeded ; for sir Louis, who commanded in it, was very 
 watchful, as he knew the capture of it had highly angered sir John 
 Chandos. It happened that, on the night preceding the eve of the 
 new year (1370,) sir John ChandoSj who resided in the city of Poi- 
 tiers, had sent out his summons to the barons and knights of Poitou 
 to come to him as secretly as they could, for he was going on an ex- 
 pedition. The Poitevins would not refuse him anything, being much 
 beloved by them : they obeyed his summons, and came to Poitiers. 
 Sir Guiscard d'Angle, sir Louis de Harcourt, the lords de Pons, de 
 Partenay, de Pinane, de Tannaybouton, sir GeofFry d'Argenton, sir 
 Maubrun de Linieres, lord Thomas Percy, sir Baldwin de Franville, 
 sir Richard de Pontchardon, came thither, with many others. When 
 they were all assembled, they were full three hundred lances. 
 
 They left Poitiers in the night, and no one, except the principal 
 lords, knew whither they were go'^ng. The English, however, had 
 Bcaling-ladders and everything they might have occasion for with 
 them. They marched to St. Salvin ; and, when there arrived, were 
 told what was intended ; upon which thejj all dismounted, and,giv. 
 
 ing the horses to their valets, the English descended into the ditch. 
 It was then about midnight. They were in this situation, and would 
 very shortly have succeeded in their expedition, when they heard the 
 guard of the fort wiad his horn. The reason was this. That very 
 night Garnet le Breton had come from la Roche-Posay, with forty 
 lances, to St. Salvin, to request sir Louis de St. Julien to accompany 
 him in an expedition to Poitou: he therefore awakened the guard 
 and those within the fort. 
 
 The English, who were on the opp ^site side, ignorant of the in- 
 tentions of this body of Frenchmen w -nting to enter the fort, thought 
 they had been seen by the guard, or t.iat spies had given informa- 
 tion of their arrival to the garrison. They immediately left the ditch, 
 and said, " Let us away ; for this night we have been disappointed 
 in our scheme." They mounted their horses, and advanced in a body 
 to Chauvigny on the river Creuse, two short leagues distant. When 
 all were arrived there, the Poitevins asked sir John Chandos if he 
 wished them to remain with him ; he answered, " No : you may re- 
 turn in God's name : I will to-day stay in this town." The Poito- 
 vins departed, and with them some English knights : in all, about 
 two hundred lances. 
 
 Sir John Chandos entered an hotel, and ordered a fire to be lighted. 
 Lord Thomas Percy, seneschal of la Rochelle,and his men, remained 
 with him. Lord Thomas asked sir John Chandos if he intended 
 staying there that day : " Yes," replied sir John ; " why do you 
 ask ?" " Because, sir, if you be determined not to go further, I shall 
 beg of you to give me leave to make an excursion, to see if I shall 
 meet with any adventure." " In the name of God, go then," replied 
 sir John. At these words, lord Thomas Percy set out, attended by 
 about thirty lances. Sir John Chandos remained with his own peo- 
 pie. Lord Thomas crossed the bridge of Chauvigny, taking the 
 longest road to Poitiers, having left sir John Chandos quite low. 
 spirited for having failed in his intended attack on St. Salvin. He 
 continued in the kitchen of the hotel, warming himself at a straw 
 fire which his herald was making for him, conversing at the same 
 time with his people, who very readily passed their jokes in hopes of 
 curing him of his melancholy. After he had remained some time, 
 and was preparing to take a little rest, and while he was asking if it 
 were yet day, a man entered the hotel, and came before him, saying, 
 " My lord, I bring you news." " V/hat is it ?" asked sir John. " My 
 lord, the French have taken the field." " How dost thou know this ?" 
 " My lord, I set out from St. Salvin with them." "And what road 
 have they taken ?" " My lord, that I cannot say for a certainty ; 
 but it seemed to me they followed the road to Poitiers." "And who 
 are these French ?" " My lord, they are sir Louis de St. Julien and 
 Carnet le Breton, with their companies." "Well, it is indifferent to 
 me," replied sir John : " I have not any inclination to exert myself 
 this day : they may be met with without my interference." He re- 
 mained a considerable time very thoughtful ; after having well con- 
 sidered, he added : " Notwithstanding what I have just said, I think 
 I shall do right to mount my horse ; for at all events, I must return to 
 Poitiers, and it will be soon day." " It is well judged," rep'ied the 
 knights who were with him. Sir John ordered everything to be got 
 ready, and his knights having done the same, they mounted and set 
 off", taking the road to Poitiers, following the course of the river. 
 The French might be a good league before them on this same road, 
 intending to cross the river at the bridge of Lussac* The English 
 suspected this from perceiving the tracks of the horses, and said 
 among themselves, " Either the French or lord Thomas Percy are just 
 before us." Shortly after this conversation, day appeared ; for in 
 the early part of January the mornings begin to be soon light. The 
 French might be about a league from the bridge of Lussac, v/hen 
 they perceived lord Thomas Percy and ins men on the other side of 
 the river. Lord Thomas had before seen them, and had set off* full 
 gallop to gain the bridge. They said, "There are the French : they 
 are more in number than we are ; let us hasten to take advantage of 
 the bridge." When sir Louis and Carnet saw the English on the 
 opposite side of the river, they also made haste to gain the bridge : 
 however the English arrived first, and were masters of it. They all 
 dismounted, and drew themselves up to defend and guard it. The 
 French likewise dismounted on their arrival, and giving their hm-ses 
 for the servants to lead them to the rear, took their lances, and ad- 
 vanced in good order to attack the English and win the bridge. The 
 English stood firm, although they were so few in comparison with 
 the enemy. 
 
 While the French and Bretons were considering the most advanta- 
 geous manner to begin the onset, sir John Chandos arrived with his 
 company, his banner displayed and flying in the wind. This was 
 borne by a valiant man-at-arms, called James Allen, and was a pile 
 gules on a field argent. They might be about forty lances, who 
 eageriy hastened to meet the French. As the English arrived at a 
 small hillock, about three furiongs from the bridge, the French ser- 
 vants, who were between this hillock and the bridge, saw them, and 
 being much frightened, said, " Come aw,y • let us save ourselves 
 and our horses." They therefore ran of/, leaving their masters to 
 shift as well as they could. When sir Jo in Chandos, with displayed 
 banner, was come up to ih( French, wh.ini he thought very lightly 
 of, he began from horseback to rail at tl em, saying : " Do you hou. 
 
 * Dancons. My two MSS. bav9 DenXshr 
 
 * ** JLiuKic"«-a town in Poitou, diocese of Foitien. 
 
'CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 193 
 
 incur- 
 
 Frenchmen ! you are mischievous men-at-arms : you make 
 Bions night and day at your pleasure : you take towns and castles in 
 Poitou, of which I am seneschal You ransom poor people without 
 my leave, as if the country were your own ; but, by God, it is not. 
 Sir Louis, sir Louis, you and Garnet are too much the masters. It 
 is upward of a year and a half that I have been endeavoring to meet 
 you. Now, thanks to God, I will do so, and will tell you my mind. 
 We will now try which of us is the strongest m this country. It 
 has been often told me that you were very desirous of seeing me : 
 you -have now that pleasure. I am John Chandos : look at me well ; 
 and, if God please, we will now put to the proof your great deeds 
 of arms which are so renowned." With tuch words as these did 
 sir John Chandos greet them : he would not have wished to be any- 
 where else so eager was tie to fight them. 
 
 Bill JoHM Chandos at th« head of his troops, in the act of making his death charge on the French. 
 
 the Harleian and Cotlonian Libraries. 
 
 Sir Louis and Garnet kept themselves in a close body, as if they 
 were willing to engage. Lord Thomas Percy and the English on 
 the other side of the bridge knew nothing of what had passed, for 
 the bridge was very high in the middle, which prevented them from 
 seeing over it. During this scoffing ot sir John Chandos, a Breton 
 drew his sword, and could not resist from beginning the battle : he 
 struck an English squire, named Simkin Dodenhale, and beat him 
 so much about the breast with his sword that he knocked him off his 
 horse on the ground. Sir John Chandos, who heard the noise be- 
 hind him, turned round, and saw his squire on the ground and per- 
 sons beating him. This enraged him more than before : he said to 
 his men, " Sirs, what are you about ? how suffer you this man to be 
 slain ? Dismount, dismount :" and at the instant he was on foot, as 
 were all his company. Simkin was rescued, and the battle began. 
 
 Sir John Chandos, who was a strong and bold knight, and cool in 
 all his undertakings, had his banner advanced before him, surrounded 
 by his men, with the scutcheon above his arms. He himself was 
 dressed in a large robe which fell to the ground, blazoned with his 
 arms on white sarcenet, argent, a pile gules ; one on his breast, and 
 the other on his back ; so that he appeared resolved on some adven- 
 turous undertaking ; and in this state, with sword in hand, he 
 advanced on foot toward the enemy. 
 
 This morning there had been a hoar-frost, which had made the 
 ground slippery ; so that as he marched he entangled his legs with 
 his robe, which was of the longest; and made a tumble : during 
 which time a squire, called James de St. Martin (a strong expert 
 man,) made a thrust at him with his lance, which hit him in the 
 face, below the eye, between the nose and forehead. Sir John 
 Chandos did not see the aim of the stroke, for he had lost the eye on 
 that side five years ago, on the heaths of Bordeaux, at the chase of 
 Q stag : what added to this misfortune, sir John had not put down 
 his vizor, so that in stumbling he bore upon the lance, and helped it 
 to enter into him. The lancCj which had been struck frnjn a strong 
 
 arm, hit him so severely that it entered as far as the brain, and then 
 the squire drew it back to him again. 
 
 The great pain was too much lor sir John, so he fell to the ground, 
 and turned twice t)ver m great agony, like one who had received 
 his death-wound. Indeed, since the blow, he never uttered a v.'crd. 
 His people, on seeing this mishap, Vv'ere like madmen. His uncle, 
 sir Edward Clifford, hastily advanced, and striding over the body, 
 (for the French were endeavoring to get possesfion of it,) defended 
 it most valiantly, and gave such well-directed blows with his sword 
 that none dared to approach him. Two other knights, namely, sir 
 John Chambo and sir Bertrand de Cassilies,* were like men distracted 
 at seeing their master lie thus on the ground. 
 
 The Bretons, who were more numerous than the English, were 
 much rejoiced when they saw their chief thus prostrate, and greatly 
 
 hoped he was 
 mortally wounded. 
 They therefore ad- 
 vanced, crying cut, 
 " By God, my lords 
 of England, you 
 will all stay with 
 us, for you cannot 
 now escape." The 
 English performed 
 wonderful feats of 
 arms, as well to ex- 
 tricate themselves 
 from the danger 
 they were in as to 
 revenge their com- 
 mander, sir John 
 Chandos, whom 
 they saw in so 
 piteous a state. A 
 squire attached to 
 sir John marked 
 out this James de 
 St. Martin, who 
 had given the blow; 
 he fell upon him 
 in such a rage, and 
 struck him vVith his 
 lance as he was 
 flying, that he ran 
 him through both 
 his thighs, and then 
 withdrew his lance, 
 however, in spite 
 of this, James de 
 St. Martin contin- 
 ued the fight. Now 
 if lord Thomas 
 Percy, who had 
 first arrived at the 
 bridge, had im. 
 agined anything of 
 
 v.'hat Vv^as going forward, sir John Chandos's men would have been 
 considerably reinforced ; but it was otherwise decreed : for not hear- 
 ing anything of the Bretons since he had seen them advancing in a 
 large body toward the bridge, he thought they might have retrerted ; 
 so tiiat lord Thomas and his men continued their march, keepings 
 the road to Poitiers, ignorant of what was passing. 
 
 Though the English fought so bravely at the bridge of Lussac, in 
 the end they could not withstand the force of the Bretons and French, 
 but were defeated, and the greater part made prisoners. Sir Edward 
 Clifford stood firm, and would not quit the body of his nephew. If 
 the French had had their horses, they would have gone off with 
 honor, and have carried with them good prisoners; but, as I have 
 before said, their servants had gone away with them. Tho^e of the 
 English also had retreated, and quitted the scene of battle. They 
 remained therefore in bad plight, which sorely vexed them, and said 
 among themselves, " This is a bad piece of business : the field is 
 our own, and yet we cannot return through the fault of our servants. 
 It is not proper for us who are armed and fatigued to mnrch through 
 this country on foot, which is quite against us ; and we are ^upward 
 of six leagues from the nearest of any of our fortresses. We have, 
 besides, our wounded and slain, whom we cannot leave behind." 
 As thev were in this situation, not knowing what to do, and had 
 sent off two or three of the Bretons, disarmed, to hunt after and en. 
 deavor to find their servants, they perceived advancing toward them, 
 sir Guiscard d'Angle, sir Louis de Harcourt, the lords de Partcnay^ 
 de Tanuaybouton, d'Argenton, de Pinane, sir James de Surgeres, 
 and several others. They were full two hundred lances, and were 
 seeking for the French ; for they had received information that they 
 were out on an excursion, and were then following the traces of 
 their horses. They came forward, therefore, with di?played ban- 
 ners fluttering in the windf and marching in a disorderly manner. 
 
 * Sir John Chambo.-sir John Cassilies." Q. Barnes calls the la?-' Case. 
 
 Designed from various MS. authorities in 
 
194 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN. &c 
 
 The moment the Bretons and French saw them they knew them 
 fv.r their enemies, the barons and knights of Poitou. They there- 
 fore said to the English : " You see that body of men coming to your 
 aisistance : we know we cannot withstand them ; therefore," calhng 
 
 ich by his name, " you ai e our prisoners ; but we give you your 
 U )erty, on condition that you take care to keep us company ; and we 
 si. -render ourselves to you, for we have it more at heart to give our- 
 selves up to you than to those who are coming." They answered, 
 "God's will be done." The English thus obtained their liberty. The 
 Poitevins soon arrived, with their lances in their rests, shouting their 
 war-cries ; but the Bretons and French, retreating on one side, said, 
 "Holla! stop my lords : we are prisoners ah'eady." The English 
 testified to the truth of this by adding, " It is so : they belong to us." 
 Garnet was prisoner to sir Bertrand de Cassilies, and sir Louis de St. 
 Julien to sir John Chambo : there was not one who had not his 
 master. 
 
 These barons and knights of Poitou were struck with grief when 
 they saw their seneschal, sir John Chandos, lying in so doleful a way, 
 and not able to speak. They began grievously to lament his loss, 
 raying, " Flower of knighthood ! oh, sir John Chandos I cursed be 
 the forging of that lance which wounded thee, and which has thus 
 endangered thy life." Those who were around the body most ten- 
 derly bewailed him, which he heard, and answered with groans, but 
 could not articulate a word. They rung their hands, and tore their 
 hair, uttering cries and complaints, more especially those who be- 
 longed to his household. 
 
 Sir John Chandos was disarmed very gently by his own servants, 
 laid upon shields and targets, and carried at a foot's pace to Morte- 
 mer, the nearest fort to the place where they were. The other barons 
 and knights returned to Poitiers, carrying with them their prisoners. 
 I heard that James Martin, he who had wounded sir John Chandos, 
 suffered so much from his wounds that he died at Poitiers. That 
 gallant knight only survived one day and night. God have mercy on 
 his soul ! for never since a hundred years did there exist among the 
 English one more courteous, nor fuller of every virtue and good 
 quality than him. 
 
 When the prince, princess, earls of Cambridge and Pembroke, and 
 the other English knights in Guienne heard of this event, they were 
 completely disconcerted, and said, they had now lost everything on 
 Doth sides of the sea. Sir John was sincerely regretted by his friends 
 of each sex : and some lords of France bewailed his loss. Thus it 
 happens through life. The English loved him for all the excellent 
 qualities he was possessed of. The French hated him because they 
 were afraid of him. Not but that I have heard him at the time 
 regretted by renowned knights in France ; for they said it was a great 
 pity he was slain, and that, if he could have been taken prisoner, he 
 was so wise and full of devices, he would have found some means of 
 establishing a peace between France and England ; and was so much 
 beloved by the king of England and his court, that they would have 
 believed what he should have said in preference to all others. Thus 
 were the French and English greater losers by his death, for never 
 have I heard otherwise ; but the English the most, for by his valor 
 and prudence Guienne might have been totally recovered.* 
 
 Lord Thomas Percy was appointed seneschal of Poitou after the 
 death of sir John Chandos. His estates of St. Sauveur le Vicomte 
 fell to the king of England, who gave them to one of his own knights, 
 by name sir Aleyne Boxhull,t an uncommonly able man. The 
 prince of Wales succeeded as heir to the other riches of sir John 
 Chandos, as he never was married, and therefore had no children, to 
 the amount of four hundred thousand francs. t Shortly afterwards, 
 those captains who had been made prisoners at the bridge of Lussac 
 were ransomed, and received their freedom on paying down the sums 
 agreed on, in which the king of France assisted them. Sir Louis de 
 St. Julien, sir William des Bourdes, and Garnet le Breton returned 
 to their garrisons. 
 
 *Sir John Chandos was buried at Morte- these iliymes as closely as a metrical ver- 
 mer. Underneath is his epitapli, from les sion will permit. The reader must pardon 
 Annales d'Aquitaine par Bouchet. their being as rude as the original. 
 
 Je Jehan Chandault. des aniilois capitane, i John Chandos, an English knight, 
 Fort, chevalier, de Poictou sdneschal Seneschal of all Poictou, 
 
 Apres avoir fait guerre tres lointn ine Against the French king oft did fight 
 
 Au rois fran9ois, tant i pied qu'k cheval, On foot and horseback ; many slew : 
 Et pris Bertrand de Guesclin en un val, Bertrand du Guesclin prisoner too 
 JLes Poitevins pres Lussac, me diffirent. By me was taken in a vale. 
 A Mortemer, mon corps enterrer firent, At Lu--sac did the foe prevail ; 
 En un cercueil eleve tout de neuf. My body then at Mortemer 
 
 L'an mil trois cens avec soixante neuf In a new tomb my friends inter, 
 
 [For the satisfaction of the English In the year of grace divine, 
 reader, we have endeavored to imitate Thirteen hundred sixty-nine,— Ed.] 
 
 He founded and endowed the Carmelite convent at Poitiers. 
 
 " He was never married. Elizabeth and Eleanor, two of his sisters, (the latter being 
 the wife of sir Roger Collins) and Isabella, daughter to Margaret the third sister, at llmt 
 time married to sir John Annesley, were ibund to be his next heirs."— Barnes. 
 
 t Sir Aleyne BoxhuU was the 52nd knight of the Garter, constable of the Tower cf 
 London, custos of tlie i)arks of Clarendon, &c. He lies buried near St. Erkenwalde's 
 •hrine in St. Paul's church, about the year 1380. 
 
 Sir Aleyne BoxhuU had a commission to restrain the excesses of Charles de Navane, 
 in Normandy, and to put the castle in good repair, dated the 24ih November, 1370.— 
 Rymkr. ^ 
 
 t I siio'ild imagine Froissart must mean that the prince inherited all he possessed in 
 Aquilaino, &.c. but his sister's children were his heirs in England. 
 
 CHAPTER CCLXXIX. 
 
 THE LORD DE COUCY AND THE LORD DE POMMIERS ARE UNWILLINO TO 
 TAKE PART WITH EITHER SIDE IN THIS WXR. THE LORDS DE MALEVAL 
 AND DE MARNEIL TURN TO THE FRENCH. 
 
 At this time there were knights in France greatly hurt at seeing 
 this war between the two kings carried on with increasing vigor; and 
 in particular, the lord de Coucy, who was much interested in it, as 
 indeed he ought to be, for he held a very large estate in England, as 
 well in his own right as in that of his wife, who was daughter of the 
 king of England ; which estate it would be necessary for him to re- 
 nounce, if he wished to serve the king of France, whose kinsman 
 and countryman he was : he therefore thought it most profitable to 
 dissemble between the two kings, and to travel to foreign parts. He 
 very wisely took all his measures ; and, having obT^ined leave of the 
 king of France, he set out with few attendants, and went to Savoy, 
 where he was handsomely received by the earl, barons and knights 
 of that country. When he had remained there as long as he judged 
 proper, he departed, and, continuing his road, entered Lombardy, 
 visited the lords of Milan, the lords Galeae and lord Barnabo Visconti, 
 when at first he was made heartily welcome by them. In like man- 
 ner did sir Aimemon de Pommiers, who was one of the prince's 
 knights, quit the duchy of Aquitaine. He declared, that during the 
 war, he would not bear arms for one side nor the other. This knight 
 crossed the sea to Cyprus. He visited the holy sepulchre, and trav- 
 elled to several other places. At this period, sir John de Bourbon* 
 came to Paris. He held some lands of the prince ; and the king of 
 France would have gladly seen him return the homage to the prince, 
 but the count de la Marche would not listen to it. The lord de 
 Pierre Buffiere, a Limousin knight at that time at Paris, followed his 
 example. But the two other barons and great lords in Limousin un- 
 fortunately acted otherwise : sir Louis de Maleval and sir Raymond 
 de Marneil his nephew, who being at Paris turned Frenchmen, and 
 from their fortresses afterwards made a disastrous war on the prince. 
 
 The king of England and his council were much vexed at this; for 
 it appeared that the barons and knights of Guienne thus changed their 
 sides without any constraint, and of their own free v>dll. The king 
 therefore, by the advice of his council, ordered letters to be written 
 and sealed with his seal, which he ordered to be sent by two or three 
 of his knights, into Poitou and Aquitaine, to publish them in all the 
 cities, castles and principal towns. 
 
 At this time, sir Caponnel de Caponnal was delivered from his prison 
 at Agen, in exchange for one of the prince's knights, by name Thomas 
 Banaster, who had been taken in a skirmish before Perigord. But 
 the counsellor of state who had been sent with him remained prisoner 
 in Agen, and sir Caponnel returned to France. We will report the 
 letter which the king of England sent into Aquitaine. 
 
 CHAPTER CCLXXX. 
 
 THE FORM OF THE LETTER WHICH THE ENGLISH KING SENT INTO AQUI- 
 TAINE. CHATELHERAUT IS TAKEN BV THE FRENCH, AND BELLEPERCHE 
 IS BESIEGED. 
 
 Edward, by the grace of God, king of England, lord of Ireland 
 and of Aquitaine, to all who shall see or hear these present letters : 
 know, that we having considered the matter of the boundaries of our 
 lordship of Aquitaine, as well as its extent under various lords, have 
 had information relative to some oppressions done, or intended to 
 have been done, by our very dear son the prince of W ales, to this 
 lordship aforesaid ; for which cause we hold it a duty to endeavor 
 to obviate and remedy any such improper acts, and to conciliate all 
 hatred and rancor that may have arisen between us and our loyal 
 friends and subjects. We therefore announce, pronounce, and or- 
 dain, out of our deliberate and perfect good will, and by the resolu- 
 tions of our council for this cause assembled, that our very dear son 
 the prince of Wales desist from all sorts of exactions, done or about 
 to be done ; and that he restore and make restitution to all of each 
 sex who may have been oppressed by him, or by his officers in 
 Aquitaine, with all costs, fees and expenses that they may have in- 
 curred under the name of these taxes, aids or fouages. And if any 
 of our feal subjects and friends, as well prelates as other members of 
 the church, universities, barons, knights, townships, inhabitants of 
 cities and large towns have turned, or may be willing to turn, through 
 bad information or weak advice, to the party of our adversary the 
 king of France, we pardon this misdeed, if, after having read this 
 letter, they shall return to us within one month from the date hereof. 
 And we entreat those our loyal and trusty friends, that they so com- 
 port themselves not to draw on them any reproach as to their faith 
 and homage ; which thing would greatly displease us, and with sor- 
 row should we perceive it. If our very dear son the prince of Wales, 
 or any of his dependents, complain of being hurt or oppressed, either 
 now or in former times, we will have such oppressions amended ; 
 so that in reason it may be sufficient to encourage love, peace and 
 concord, between us and those within our boundaries in our afore- 
 
 * " Sir John de Bourbon." He was son of sir James de Bourbon who combated the 
 free companies, chapter ccxxvii., and was count de la Marche— Dknys Sauvaob— 
 ^nnpt. 120. 
 
 ( 
 I 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE SPAIN 
 
 & 
 
 195 
 
 said lordship. And, in order that these things may be publicly- 
 known, we will that each person have a copy of this present letter, 
 the conditions of which we have solemnly swore to observe, and not 
 break through, upon the body of Jesus Christ, in the presence of our 
 very dear son John, duke of Lancaster. William, earl of Salisbury, 
 the earl of Warwick, the earl of Hereford, Walter Manny, the bas- 
 tard of Percy, lords Neville, Bourchier and Stafford, Richard Pem- 
 bridge, Roger Beauchamp, Guy Brian, the lords Mohun and Delaware, 
 Aleyne Boxhull and Richard Sterry, knights. Given at our palace 
 of Westminster, the fifth day of November, in the fourty-fourth year 
 of our reign.* 
 
 This letter was carried by two of the king of England's knights 
 into the principality and duchy of Aquitaine, proclaimed and pub- 
 lished everywhere. Copies of it were promptly and secretly sent to 
 Paris, to the viscount de la Rochechouart, the lords de Maleval and 
 de Marneil, as well to several others of the French nation as to those 
 who had turned to that interest. Notwithstanding the letter they 
 had proclaimed in the country of Aquitaine and elsewhere, I never 
 heard that it had any effect, or that any one was prevented by it 
 from following his own inclinations ; but that more turned to the 
 party of France, and the French daily advanced in their conquests. 
 
 As soon as sir Louis de Julien was returned to la Roche-Posay, 
 sir William des Bourdes to his gamson of La Haye in Touraine, and 
 Garnet le Bretont to St. Salvin, they secretly planned a new expedi- 
 tion of men-at-arms, and companions well mounted on wJiom they 
 could depend. They set off to scale the walls of the town of Chat- 
 elheraut, and, arriving there at early morn, would have made prisoner 
 sir Louis de Harcourt, who was sleeping at his h6tel in the town, 
 not any way suspecting such an enterprise, if he had not fled with 
 his bed-clothes, without shoes or stockings, from house to house, and 
 from garden to garden, in great dread of being taken by the French, 
 who had scaled the walls of the town, until at last he arrived at the 
 bridge of Chatelheraut, which his people had fortified : there he 
 saved himself, and remained a considerable time. The Bretons and 
 French, however, were masters of the whole town, and placed a 
 strong garrison in it, of which Garnet was captain. This garrison 
 advanced daily to engage with those who still kept possession of the 
 bridge ; and many a gallant skirmish and feat of arms were performed. 
 
 Duke Louis de Bourbon was much enraged that the English and 
 free companies should keep possession of his country, the Bourbon- 
 nois, and that Ortigo, Bernard de Wist and Bernard de la Salle, 
 should hold his castle of Belleperche, and detain his mother prisoner 
 in it : he resolved, therefore, to set on foot an expedition of men-at- 
 arms, and lay siege to the castle of Belleperche, which, he declared 
 he would not quit until he had retaken it. He spoke of it to the 
 king of France, who instantly promised to assist him in the siege 
 with men and money. He left Paris, having ordered his rendezvous 
 at Moulins in the Bourbonnois, and at St. Poursaint,t whither there 
 came a numerous body of men-at-arms and able combatants. The 
 lord de Beaujeu came to serve him, with three hundred lances : the 
 lords de Villars and de Roucillon, with one hundred ; and numbers 
 of barons and knights from Auvergne and Forets, of which he was 
 lord paramount, through the lady his wife, the daughter of that gal- 
 lant lord Beroald count dauphin. The duke arrived and fixed his 
 quarters before the castle of Belleperche, where he built a large and 
 strong redoubt, in which his men might be sheltered every night, 
 and skirmish with the gamson during the day. He had also brought 
 and pointed against the castle four large machines, which kept con- 
 tinually throwing, night and day, stones and logs of wood, so that 
 they broke through the roofs of all the houses, and beat down the 
 greater part of the towers. The mother of the duke of Bourbon, 
 who was a prisoner within the castle, was much alarmed, and sent 
 frequently to entreat her son to abstain from this mode of attack, for 
 these machines annoyed her exceedingly ; but the duke, who knew 
 for certain that these requests came from his enemies, replied that he 
 would not desist happen what would. 
 
 When the garrison found themselves so much harassed, and that 
 tlie French force was daily increasing ; for sir Louis de Sancerre, 
 marshal of France, had just arrived with a large body of men-at-arms ; 
 they resolved to send and acquaint sir John Devereux, seneschal of 
 Limousin, who resided at La Souteraine,§ two short days' journey 
 from them, of their distress, and who knew that, when these lords of 
 Poitou and Gascony had made an excursion from Quercy, it was 
 upon the faith, that if they should take any castles in France, and 
 were besieged in them, they would be assisted. They wrote their 
 letters, and sent them off in the night by one of their servants to the 
 castle of sir John Devereux. Sir John recognized the messenger by 
 the tokens he mentioned, and, having read the letters, said, " that he 
 would most willingly acquit himself of his engagement, and that the 
 more effectually to do so, he would immediately wait on the prince 
 and the lords who were with him, at Angouleme, and exert himself 
 so that the garrison of Belleperche should be reinforced." 
 
 * This letter is not in Rymer. 
 
 t His name was Jean de Keranlouet. In the proofs attached to the Histoire de la 
 rfretagne, are several acquittances from Jean de Keranlouet, in which he is styled, 
 Ecuyer, Huissier, d'Armes du Roi notre Sire, Capitaine de la Ville de la Roche-Posay 
 for his own pay as well as for his soldiers. He was to conduct four hundred combatants 
 into Guyenne, 1371 ; and also to march to the assistajice of Moncontour. 
 
 t St. Poursaint— a town in Auvergne, diocese of Clermont. 
 
 5 La Souttraine-'a town in Liraousin» about two leagues from Limoges, 
 
 Sir John Devereux set out, after having given proper directions 
 respecting his castle and garrison to his officers, and, being arrived 
 at Angouleme, found there the prince, the earl of Cambridge, the 
 earl of Pembroke, sir John Montague, sir Robert KnoUes, lord Thomas 
 Percy, sir Thomas Felton, sir Guiscard d'Angle, the captal de Each, 
 and many others. He explained to them, how these free companies 
 in the castle of Belleperche were besieged and much straitened by 
 the French under the duke de Bourbon and the count de St. Pol.* 
 The lords, on hearing this statement, replied with great cheerfulness, 
 that they must be relieved, according to the promises vvhich had been 
 made to them. This business was intrusted to the carls of Cam- 
 bridge and Pembroke ; and the prince issued a summons to all his 
 vassals, who, on sight of it, were to assemble in the town of Limoges. 
 Upon which, knights, squires, free com.panics, and men-at-arms, 
 marched to that place, according to their orders ; and, when they 
 were mustered, they amounted to upward of fifteen hundred lances 
 and about three thousand othors. They marched to Belleperche, 
 where they encamped themselves opposite to the French. The 
 French kept themselves close in their redoubt, which was as strong 
 and as well fortified as a town might be. The English foragers 
 were at a loss where to seek for provisions, so that, whenever it was 
 possible, some were brought to them from. Poitiers. 
 
 Sir Louis de Sancerre, marshal of France, gave exact information 
 of the number and condition of the English to the king of France, 
 and to those knights who had remained at Paris : he sent also a proc- 
 lamation, which he had affixed to the gptos of the palace. It ran in 
 these words : " Ye knights and squirt .s who are anxious of renown, 
 and seek for deeds of arms, I inform you for a truth, that the earl of 
 Cambridge and the earl of Pembroke are arrived with their troops 
 at Belleperche, with the intention of raising the siege which we have 
 so long made : we have so much straitened the garrison of the castle 
 that it must immediately surrender, or our enemies beat us in a 
 pitched battle. Come therefore hither, directly, for you will have 
 opportunities of exhibiting your prowess in arms ; and know that the 
 English are encamped so much apart, and in such positions, that 
 they may be wonderfully annoyed." 
 
 Upon this exhortation and request of the marshal, several good 
 knights and squires of France advanced to those parts ; and I know 
 myself that the governor of Blois, named Alart de Toustanne, went ' 
 thither with fifty lances ; as did also the count de Porcien, and his 
 brother sir Hugh de Porcien. 
 
 CHAPTER CCLXXXI. 
 
 /HE EARLS OF CAMBRIDGE AND PEMBROKE CARRY OFF THE MOTHER OP 
 THE DUKE OF BOURBON WITH THE GARRISON OF BELLEPERCHE. THE 
 DUKE OF BOURBON TAKES POSSESSION OF THAT CASTLE. 
 
 When the earls of Cambridge and Pembroke had remained before 
 the French army at Belleperche fifteen days, and did not see any 
 signs of the French quitting their redoubt to fight with them, they 
 called a council, in which they resolved to send them a herald, to 
 know what they meant to do. Chandos the herald was ordered on 
 this business, and it was repeated to him what he was to say : he 
 therefore went to them, and said : " My masters and lords send me 
 to you, and inform you by my mouth, that they are quite astonished 
 you have allowed them to remain fifteen days here, and you have 
 not sallied out of your fort to give them battle. They therefore tell 
 you, that if you will come forth to meet them, they will permit you 
 to choose any plot of ground for the field of battle ; and let God give 
 the event of it to whomsoever he pleases." The duke of Bourbon 
 made to this the following reply : " Chandos, you will tell youi 
 masters, that I shall not combat as they may wish or desire. I know 
 well enough where they are : but for all that, I will not quit my fort 
 nor raise the siege, until I shall have reconquered the castle of Belle- 
 perche." " My lord," answered the herald, " I will not fail to report 
 what you have said." 
 
 The herald set out, and on his return gave the duke's answer, 
 which was not very agreeable. They called another council, and 
 when it was over, gave to Chandos a proposal, for him to cany to the 
 French. He did so, and said : " Gentlemen, my lords and masters 
 let you know, that since you are not willing to accept the offer they 
 have made you, three days hence, between nine and twelve o'clock 
 in the morning, you my lord duke of Bourbon, will see your lady- 
 mother placed on horseback, and carried away. Consider this, and 
 rescue her if you can." The duke answered : " Chandos, Chandos, 
 tell your masters, they carry on a most disgraceful war, when they 
 seize an ancient lady from among her domestics, and carry her away 
 like a prisoner. It was never seen formerly, that in the war between 
 gentlemen, ladies or damsels were treated as prisoners. It will cer- 
 tainly be very unpleasant to me to see my lady-mother thus carried 
 off" : we must recover her as soon as we can : but the castle they 
 cannot take with them : that, therefore, we will have. Since you 
 have twice come hither with propositions, you will bear this from 
 me to your masters, that if they will draw out fifty men, we will draw 
 
 * Denys Sauvage thinks it ought to be the count de Sancerre, as the count de St Pol't 
 name has not teen mentioned before. I should be of this opinion, if every copy 1 hs-vn 
 orinted and MS., did not say St. Pol. 
 
196 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 > ut the same number, and let the victory fall where it may." " My 
 lord," replied the herald, " I will relate to them everything you have 
 told mc." 
 
 At these words, Chandos left them, and returned to the earls of 
 ( -ambridge and Pembroke and the other lords, and told them the 
 I fFer the duke of Bourbon had sent them. They were advised not 
 ! ) accept it. Preparations were therefore made for the departure of 
 tiie army, and to carry off with them the lady and the garrison, which 
 hud been exceedingly harassed by the machines of the enemy. When 
 t]i<t appointed day arrived, they ordered their trumpets to sound at 
 early morning : upon which every one armed himself and drew up, 
 both horse and foot, in order of battle, as if they expected a combat, 
 with their banners and pennons flying before them. In this manner 
 were they arrayed ; and on this day sir John Montacutc,* nephew to 
 the earl of Salisbury, displayed his banner. They had ordered their 
 trumpets and minstrels to sound very loud ; and at nine o'clock the 
 garrison and madame de Bourbon came out of the castle of Belle- 
 perche. They mounted her on a palfrey handsomely equipped for 
 her. She was accompanied by her ladies and damsels. The Eng- 
 lish army marched away at midday. Sir Eustace d'Ambreticourt 
 and sir John Devereuxt attended upon madame de Bourbon ; and in 
 this manner they returned to the principality, where the lady remained 
 a considerable time a prisoner to the free companions at La Roche 
 Vaucloix in Limousin. t 
 
 This capture never pleased the prince, who, whenever it was men- 
 tioned, said, that if any other than the free companies had taken the 
 duchess, she should instantly have had her liberty : and when the 
 captains of these free companies spoke to him on the subject, he told 
 them to make some sort of an exchange, for him to get back his 
 knight, sir Simon Burley,§ whom the French had taken. You may 
 suppose the duke of Bourbon was greatly incensed when he saw his 
 lady-mother carried away from the castle of Belleperche in the Bour- 
 bonnois. Soon after her departure, he marched from the redoubt, 
 and sent his men to take possession of his own castle of Belleperche, 
 which the English had left quite empty. Thus ended this grand 
 expedition, and each withdrew to his usual place of residence. The 
 French who were under the duke of Bourbon, retired to the garrisons 
 from whence they had come. The duke returned with his knights 
 and squires to the king of France, who received them with great 
 joy, and entertained them handsomely. The earl of Cambridge 
 went to his brother at Angouleme ; and the earl of Pembroke and 
 his troops to Mortagne in Poitou. Those free companies and men- 
 at-arms who had been in Belleperche went into Poitou and Saint- 
 onge, seeking for provisions, and committing many disgraceful acts, 
 from which they had not the inclination to refrain themselves, nor 
 power to restrain others. 
 
 Sir Robert Knolles, shortly after this, left the prince, and returned 
 to his castle of Derval in Brittany, where he had not been a month, 
 before the king of England sent him positive orders to set out, with- 
 out delay, and cross the sea to him in England, as he would find his 
 profit in it. Sir Robert very willingly obeyed this summons : having 
 made his preparations, he embarked and landed in Cornwall, at St. 
 Michael's Mount, and thence continued his road until he arrived at 
 Windsor, where he found the king, who was right glad to see him, 
 as were all the English barons ; for they thought they should haye 
 much need of him, as he v/as so great a captain and leader of men- 
 at-arms. 
 
 CHAPTER CCLXXXII. 
 
 THE FOUR BROTHERS OF FRANCE HAVE A MEETING. THEIR PREPARATIONS 
 FOR THE WAR, THE MOTHER OF THE DUKE OF BOURBON OBTAINS HER 
 LIBERTY. A TREATY ENTERED INTO BETWEEN THE KINGS OF FRANCE 
 AND NAVARRE. 
 
 At this time the duke of Anjou set out from Toulouse, and marched 
 in great array through the kingdom of France ; he continued his route 
 until he arrived in Paris, where he found the king and his other 
 brothers the dukes of Berry and Burgundy, who received him with 
 infinite pleasure. The four brothers, during the time they were 
 together at Paris, held many councils and consultations on the state 
 of the kingdom, and in what manner they should best act during the 
 ensuing summer. It was determined to raise two large armies, and 
 make an incursion to Aquitaine. The duke of Anjou was to com- 
 
 * Son of sir .!ohn Montacute before-mentioned, and third e;irl of Salisbury.— Ed. 
 
 t Sir.Ioiui LVivereux— banneret— 76tli kni'ihtof the Garter, a baron from the 8th to the 
 16tJi Richard II. See Dugdale. Steward oftlie liousehoid to Richard 11. constable and 
 governor of tha cinque ports. Died suddenly 16th Richard II. Buried at Grayfriars, 
 liondon. 
 
 " Sir Nicholai Louvaine held Pcnshurst44th Edward 111. and married Margaret, eld- 
 est (lauglitev oi' John Vere, earl of Oxf)rd— remarried to Henry lord Beaumont, and 
 t-fter to si'. Johft Oevereux, knight of the Garter, lord warden of the cinque ports, stew- 
 ard of Uie household 11th Richard II.; in whose 16th year he had license to embattle his 
 mansion {ioa.«fc at Penshurst, and his daughter and heiress was married to William lord 
 Fit7.w!\lt but, he only enjoyed this manor in right of his wife."— Anstis's MMS.from 
 Philjio'i'!: Kent, p. 270. 
 
 X In liie curious life of the duke de Bourbon, printed at Paris, 1612, from old MSS. the 
 ttccodi^ of this siege is very differently related, and entirely to the honor of the French. 
 The duthess is there said to be carried prisoner to the tower of Bron near to Brouage, 
 on the.-eacoast. 
 
 § Sir Simon Burley— knight— was 75th knight of the Garter, warden of. the cinque 
 i>ura. Koveruor of Windsor and Dover castles. Beheaded 1288.— See HoLUNOSKSD. 
 
 mand one of these armies, which should enter Guienne by La R^ole 
 and Bergerac ; the duke of Berry the other toward Limoges and 
 Quercy, when these two armies were to unite and march to Angou- 
 leme, to besiege therein the prince of Wales. It was also proposed 
 and determined in these consultations to recal that valiant knight sir / 
 Bertrand du Guesclin, who had so gallantly and loyally fought for 
 the crown of France, and entreat hiin to accept the charge of con- 
 stable of France. 
 
 When king Charles, his brothers, and his council, had completely 
 arranged their future plans, and had enjoyed themselves together for 
 some time, the duke of Anjou, early in May, took his leave of them, 
 to return the first to his government, for he had the longest journey 
 to make. He was escorted by the barons and knights of France, 
 being much beloved by them, and pursued his journey until he came 
 to Montpellier, where he tarried upward of a month, and then returned 
 to Toulouse. He directly collected as many men-at-arms as he was 
 able, wherever he could hear of them, and soon had a large force 
 from those who had kept the field guarding the frontiers of the Eng- 
 lish in Rouergue and Quercy : for le petit Mechin, Naudon de Pans, 
 Perrot de Savoye, le bourg Camus, Antoine le Negre, Lanuit, Jacques 
 de Bray, and numbers of their companions, had remained all the year 
 at Cahors, where they had ravaged and ruined the country. On the 
 other hand, the duke of Berry went to Bourges in Berry, where he 
 had issued a grand summons to all knights and squires of France and 
 Burgundy. The duke of Bourbon had gone into his own country, 
 where he had given orders concerning this intended expedition, and 
 had collected a large body of ki-iights and squires from the country 
 of Forets and the Bourbonnois. His brother, count Peter d'Alen9on, 
 made preparations in another part, and with good effect. 
 
 Sir Guy de Blois, at this period, was returned from Prussia, where 
 he had been made a knight, and displayed his banner in an enterprise 
 against the enemies of God. As soon as this gallant knight arrived 
 in Hainault, and was informed of the expedition which his cousins 
 of France were about to undertake in Aquitaine, he made immediate 
 preparations for joining it ; and, setting out from Hainault with all 
 his array, he arrived at Paris to present himself to the king. He was 
 gladly received by him, and ordered to join the duke of Berry with 
 a command of knights, squires, and men-at-arms in the expedition. 
 Sir Guy de Blois, therefore, left the city of Paris, and rode to Orleans 
 in his way to Berry. 
 
 In like manner as the king of France had arranged his armies, so 
 did the king of England by two armies and two expeditions. It was 
 ordered that the duke of Lancaster should march with four hundred 
 men-at-arms and as many archers into Aquitaine, to reinforce his 
 brothers ; for it was thought that the greatest force of the enemy 
 would be sent to that country. The king and his council determined 
 that another army of men-at-arms and archers should enter Picardy 
 under sir Robert Knolles, who was perfectly capable of such a com- 
 mand, having learned it under the most able masters for a considera- 
 ble time. Sir Robert, at the request of the king, willingly undertook 
 this expedition: he promised to cross the sea to Calai.s,to pass through 
 the whole kingdom of France, and to fight with the French, if they 
 were bold enough to meet in the field. Of this he seemed quite cer- 
 tain, and made wonderful preparations for himself, as well as for all 
 those who were to accompany him. 
 
 The mother of the duke of Bourbon about this time obtained her 
 liberty, being exchanged for sir Simon Burley, the prince of Wales's 
 knight. Sir Eustace d'Ambreticourt was very instrumental in bring- 
 ing this business to an end, for which the duke of Bourbon and the 
 queen of France testified their obligations to him. There had been, 
 for a considerable time, long negotiations carried on between the 
 king of France and the king of Navarre, who resided at Cherbourg. 
 The ministers of both kings managed the business in such a manner 
 that they informed the king of France he had not any reason for wa- 
 ging war against his brother-in-law the king of Navarre. They added, 
 that for the present he had enough on his hands with his war with 
 England, and that he had better leave things as then they were, lest 
 greater evils might arise ; for, if the king of Navarre should consent 
 to admit the English into his forts in Coutantin, they would harass 
 the country of Normandy most grievously, which was a thing to be 
 .well considered and attended to. Upon receiving this information 
 and advice, the king of France consented to a peace. He went to 
 the town of Rouen, where all the treaties were drawn up and con- 
 firmed. The archbishop of Rouen, the count d'Alen9on, the count 
 de Sallebruche, sir William des Dormans* and sir Robert Lorris, 
 waited on the king of Navarre, whom they found at Vernon. He 
 made for them grand dinners and magnificent feasts ; after which 
 they conducted him to the king of France at Rouen, when these trea. 
 ties and alliances were again read, sworn to, confirmed, and sealed. 
 It seems that the king of Navarre, by the articles of this peace, was 
 to renounce whatever engagements he might have entered into with 
 the king of England ; and that he himself, on his return to Navarre, 
 was to declare war against him. For greater security of the affeo 
 tion between him and the king of France, he was to leave in his 
 hands his two sons, Charles and Peter, as hostages. Upon this trea^ 
 being concluded, the two kings left Rouen, and came to Paris, where 
 there were again great feasts. When they had sufficiently enjoyed 
 and amused themselves, they took leave of each other. The ^ijagLof 
 
 * Sif William d« Dormans was chancellor of Franc*. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND. FRANCE, SPAIN, Sec. im 
 
 Navarre quitted the king of France in the most amicable manner, 
 leaving his two children with their uncle. He set out for Montpel- 
 lier, and returned through that country to Foix, and from thence to 
 his own kingdom of Navarre. 
 
 We will now return to what was passing in Aquitaine. 
 
 CHAPTER CCLXXXIII. 
 
 SIR BERTRAND DU GUESCLIN LEAVES SPAIN AND ARRIVES AT TOULOUSE, 
 where' THE DUKE OF ANJOU RECEIVES HIM WITH GREAT JOY. THEY 
 TAKE TOGETHER SEVERAL CASTLES FROM THE ENGLISH. 
 
 You know, as we have before mentioned it, that the duke of Anjou 
 had been in France, and that, according to arrangements then made 
 upon his return to Languedoc, he was to invade, with his whole force 
 Guienne ; for he never loved the prince of Wales nor the English, 
 and made no pretensions to that effect. Before he left Paris, the king 
 of France, by his desire, had sent letters and embassadors to the king 
 of Castille, t j request he would send back sir Bertrand da Guesclin, 
 for by so doing he would very much oblige him. At the same time, 
 the king and duke of Anjou wrote most friendly letters to sir Bertraud 
 him:-3lf. The envoys mads haste on their journey, and found king 
 Henry with sir Bertrand in the city of Leon in Spain, to whom they 
 delivered their letters and the message from the king of France. The 
 king of Spain never wished to detain sir Bertrand, nor would have 
 forgiven himself for so doing. Sir Bertrand therefore made his pre- 
 parations in haste, and, taking leave of king Henry, set out with his 
 attendants, and continued his road until he came to Toulouse, where 
 the duke of Anjou was. He had already there assembled a very 
 large force of men-at-arms, knights, and squires, and waited for 
 nothing but the arrival of sir Bertrand du Guesclin : so that upon his 
 coming the duke of Anjou and all the French were mightily rejoiced. 
 Orders were given to march from Toulouse, and invade the territo- 
 ries of the prince. 
 
 The duke of Lancaster at this time was arrived at Southampton, 
 with four hundred men-at-arms, and an equal number of archers. 
 He embarked them and every necessary provision and stores on board 
 ships, with the intent of sailing for Bordeaux, provided they might 
 have a favorable wind. With the duke, and under his command, 
 were the lord Roos (of Hamlake,) sir Michael de la Pole,* sir Rob- 
 ert le RouXjt sir .lohn de St. Lo, and sir William Beauchamp.t 
 
 The duke of Anjou left the city of Toulouse with a great and 
 well ordered array. He was attended by the count d'Armagnac, 
 the lord d'Albret, the count de Perigord, the count de Comminges, 
 the viscount de Carmaign, the count de Lisle, the viseount de Bruni- 
 guel, the viscount de Narbonne, the viscount de Talar, the lord de 
 la Barde, the lord de Pincornet, sir Bertrand Tande, the seneschal of 
 Toulouse, the seneschal of Carcassonne, the seneschal of Beaucaire 
 and several others, amounting in the whole to upward of two thou, 
 sand lances, knights and squires, and six thousand footmen, armed 
 with pikes and shields. Sir Bertrand du Guesclin was appointed to 
 the command of all this force. They directed their march through 
 the Agdaois; and being joined by more than a thousand combatants 
 from the free companies, who had waited for them all the winter in 
 Quercy, they made for Agen. 
 
 The first fort they came to was that of Moissac.§ The whole 
 country was so frightened at the arrival of the duke of Anjou, and the 
 large army he had brought, that they trembled before him, and 
 neither towns nor castles had any inclination to hold out against 
 him. When he arrived before Moissac, the inhabitants instantly 
 surrendered and turned to the French. They then advanced to 
 Agen, which followed this example. They afterwards marched 
 toward TonneinsH on the Garonne ; and the French went on un- 
 molested, following the course of the river Garonne, in order to have 
 plenty of forage : they came to Port St. Marie,ir which immediately 
 surrendered. The French placed men-at arms and garrisons in all 
 these towns. The town and castle of Tonneins did the same, in 
 which they placed a captain and twenty lances to guard it. They 
 afterwards took the road to Montpezat** and Aiguillon,tt burning 
 and destroying all the country. When they came before Montpezat, 
 which is a good town and has a strong castle, those within were so 
 much friarhtened by the duke of Anjou that they directly opened 
 their gates. The French then advanced to the strong castle of 
 Aiguil'on, where they only remained four days; for then the garrison 
 surrendered to the duke, not being such men as sir Walter Manny 
 commanded, when he defended it against .Tohn duke of Normandy, 
 afterwards king of France. The inhabitants of Bergerac were very 
 much astonished at tlieir having so done ; for the governors, at this 
 time, of Bergerac, were the captal de Buch and sir Thomas Felton, 
 who had with them one hundred lances, English and Gascons. 
 
 * Sir Michael de la Pole, afterwards earl of Suffolk, and favorite of Richard II.— See 
 
 Dl'UDALK. 
 
 t Biirnes calls him sir Robert Ros. 
 
 i Sir Wiliiiim Beauchnmp— Lord Abergavenny.— Dugdali:. 
 § Moissac— a town in duercy, twelve leagues from Agen. 
 
 ll Tonneins— a town of Agenois, on the Garonne, forty-one leagues from Toulouse. 
 
 1 Port St. Marie— on the Garonne, below Agen. 
 
 ** Montpezat— a village in Guienne, near Tonneins. 
 
 tt Aiguillon— a town ofGuienn« one league from Tonneins 
 
 CHAPTER CCLXXXIV. 
 
 THE DUKE OF BERRY INVADES LIMOUSIN. 
 
 Just as the duke of Anjou and his army had invaded the terri- 
 tories of the prince by the way of Toulouse and Agen, so did the 
 duke of Berry with his army enter the Limousin. He had full 
 twelve hundred lances and three thousand footmen, who conquered 
 towns and castles, and burnt and destroyed the country they 
 marched through. 
 
 With the duke of Beny were, the duke of Bourbon, the count 
 d'Alen9on, sir Guy de Blois, sir Robert d'Alen(;on, count du Perche, 
 sir .John d'Armagnac, sir Hugh Dauphin, sir John de Villemur, the 
 lords de Beaujeu, de Villars, de Denac, tir Geoffry de Montagu, sir 
 Louis de Maleval, sir Raymond do Marncil, sir John de Boulogne, 
 his uncle sir Geoffry de Boulogne, the viscount d'Uzes, the lords de 
 Sully, de Talenton, de Confant, Dappechere, Dacon, sir John 
 Damenue, Ymbaut de Peschin, and many other good barons, 
 knights and squires. This army entered Limoufdn, where they did 
 infinite mischief, and advanced to besiege the city of Limoges. In 
 this city were a body of English, whom sir Hugh Calverley the 
 s(?neschal of Limousin had placed there ; but he was not the master, 
 for the bishop of the city governed it, in whom the prince of Wales 
 put mui-.h confidence, looking upon hirn as his steady friend. 
 
 The i'rince of Wales, who kept his court ;it Angouleme., had 
 received i formation of these two grand expeditions of the dukes of 
 Anjou- and of Berry, and how they had invaded his principality at 
 two different places. It was also told the prince, that as far as 
 couM be imagined, they were marching to forrr; a junction near An. 
 gouleme, to besiege him and the princess therein, and advised him 
 to consider of it. The prince, who was valor itself, and full of 
 resources, replied, that " his enemies should never find him shut 
 up in a town or castle, and that he would imnitdiately march and 
 take the field against them.." Clerks and knighto were instantly 
 employed to write and send off letters to loyal friends and subjects 
 in Poitou, Saintonge, La Rochelle, Rouergue, Quercy, Gorre, 
 Bigorre and Agenois, commanding them, with as many men as they 
 could bring, to meet him at the town of (.'ognac. Plis rendezvous 
 was fixed there ; and he soon left Ang<)ulenic, attended by tlie 
 princess and his young son Richard. 
 
 But during the time this summ.ons \\^as sent, and every one ma. 
 king his preparations, the French kept ad\ ancing, burning and rava- 
 ging the country. They came before Linde, a good town situated 
 upon the river Dordogne, one league from Bergerac : a valiant 
 knight of Gascony, named sir Thonius de Batefol,* was the governor 
 of it. The duke of Anjou, the count d'Armagnac, the lord d'Albret, 
 the count de Perigord, the viscount de Carmain^; and all the other 
 barons with their men, came thither and formed the siege in a regular 
 manner, saying they would not depart without having taken it. 
 
 This town was large, strong and well provided with all sorts of 
 provision and artillery : for the captal de Kuch and sir Thomas Fel- 
 ton had been there a fortnight before, and had reinforced it. They 
 thought that Linde was very capable of holding out, if those within 
 were determined, considering the assistajice they might draw from 
 Bergerac, should there be occasiojj. But the inhabitants were so 
 wonderfully inclined to the French, that they entered into a negotia- 
 tion with the duke of Anjou, and listened to his promise, which made 
 them press the governor, sir Thonius, that he also consented to be 
 a true Frenchman, upon consideration of receiving a large sum of 
 money, and having a good annuity from the duke for his life 
 Everything being thus settled, the town was to be delivered up to 
 the French. This treaty was, however, known at Bergerac the 
 evening preceding the day of surrender. The earl of Cambridge had 
 just arrived there with two hundred lances, and was present when 
 this information was given. The captal and sir Thomas Felton were 
 thunderstruck at the intelligence, and said they would be present at 
 this surrender. Having ordered their troops, they set out from Ber- 
 gerac after midnight, and rode toward the town of Linde. They 
 came there by daybreak, and, ordering one of th" gates to be opened, 
 pushed forward without stopping until they arriv ed at the other gate, 
 through which the French were to enter : indeed, they were already 
 assembled there in crowds, for sir Thonius was about to allow them 
 to eater the gate. On seeing which, the captal, grasping his sword, 
 dismounted, as did all his troops, and, advancing to sir Thonius, said: 
 " Sir Thonius, thou wicked traitor, thou shalt be the first dead man : 
 and never more shalt thou commit another treason." Upon which 
 he thrust his sword into him, and with so much force that it went 
 through his body and came out upward of a foot on the other side, 
 and struck him down dead. The French, on seeing the banners of 
 the captal de Buch and sir Thomas Felton, immediately retreated, 
 having failed in their attempt. 
 
 Thus did the town continue English, but was in great danger of 
 being burnt, and the inhabitants slain, because they had consented 
 to this treaty. They excused themselves wisely and prudently, s&y. 
 ing that what they had done and consented to was through fear, and 
 principally through their governor, who had brought this business 
 
 * Sir Thonius de Batefol. It is so in all my printed copies, but otherwise in the MSS. 
 One has Thomas. Q. il it should not be so. (Or rather Anthony! though Lord Bernen 
 and Barnes both read Thomas.-^EoJ 
 
198 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 about. The lords appeared to believe all this, and the inhabitants 
 remained in peace : but the captal and sir Thomas Felton continued 
 in the town as long as the duke of Anjou lay before it, and until he 
 had taken another road. 
 
 We will now speak a little of the state and condition of England, 
 for that is now necessary; and of the invasion of France by sir 
 Robert KnoUes 
 
 CHAPTER CCLXXXV. 
 
 A TRUCE IS ESTABLISHED BETWEEN ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND. SIR ROBERT 
 KNOLLES OVERRUNS, BURNS AND RAVAGES THE WHOLE COUNTRIES OF 
 PICARDY AND THE VERMANDOIS. 
 
 When sir Robert KnoUes was about to leave England, there were 
 •nany councils held between the English and Scots. They were 
 so well conducted by the able ministers of both kingdoms, that a 
 truce was established between each king, kingdom, subjects and 
 adherents, for nine years. The Scots, by this treaty, might arm and 
 hire themselves out to others for subsidies, taking which side they 
 pleased, English or French ; by which means sir Robert increased 
 his army with one hundred lances.* When sir Robert and all who 
 were to accompany him were ready, and had arrived at Dover, they 
 passed the sea, he himself crossing the last, and landed at Calais, 
 where, on his disembarking, he was received with great joy by the 
 governor, sir Nicholas Stambourn, and his brother soldiers. When 
 they had refreshed themselves for seven days, and had formed their 
 plans with respect to the parts of France into which they should 
 carry their attack, they ordered their baggage and stores to advance, 
 and took the field in a very handsome manner. They were about 
 fifteen hundred lances and four thousand archers, including the 
 Welshmen. Sir Robert was accompanied, according to the king's 
 orders, by sir Thomas Granston,t sir Aleyne Boxhull, sir Gilbert Gif- 
 ford, the lord de Salvatier,t sir John Bourchier,§ sir William de Mer- 
 ville,|I sir Geoflfry Urswell,ir and many other knights and squires, 
 expert and able men-at-arms, who marched this first day pretty near 
 to Fiennes.** 
 
 Sir Moreau de Fiennes, who at that time was constable of France, 
 resided in his castle, with a great number of men-at-arms, knights, 
 and squires, all prepared and ready to receive the English. On the 
 rfiorrow, when they advanced toward the castle and drew up to the 
 attack, they found they should not gain anything, so they marched off 
 through the country of Guines, and entered that of Faukenbourg, 
 burning everything on their road, and came before the city of Te- 
 rouenne, but did not attack it : for it was ^o well garrisoned with 
 men-at-arms that it would only have been lost trouble. They con- 
 tinued their march through the country of the Terouennois, to enter 
 Artois ; and, as they only advanced three or four leagues a-day, on 
 account of their baggage and infantry, they took up their quarters in 
 the large villages at the early hour of midday or noon. Thus did they 
 advance with their whole army, until they came before the city of 
 Arras. The lords and principal captains were lodged in the town 
 of Mount St. Eloy, near Arras, and their army in the environs ; 
 whence they pillaged and ravaged the country round, as far as they 
 dared to extend themselves. The king of France had at this season 
 ordered a number of men-at-arms to the different cities, fortresses, 
 large towns, castles, bridges and fords, to guard and defend those 
 which should be attacked, and which they were not to quit on any 
 account. 
 
 When sir Robert Knolles had refreshed-.himself and his army for 
 two days, he quitted St. Eloy, and marched from before x\rras in 
 good array. Sir William de Merville and sir Geoffry Urswell, who 
 were the marshals of the army, could not resist a wish to see those 
 of Arras a little nearer. They quitted, therefore, the battalion, and 
 advanced with about two hundred lances and four hundred archers, 
 as far as the barriers of the suburbs of Arras which they found well 
 guarded by men-at-arms and cross-bows. The lord Charles de Poi- 
 tiers was at that time in the tovvn with madame d'Artois, but he 
 made not any attempt to sally out on the English or otherwise attack 
 them. The English having finished their course, had halted a short 
 time at the barriers ; and seeing no appearance of any one coming to 
 them, they set out on their return to the main army, who were wait- 
 ing for them drawn up in a line of battle. However, before they 
 departed, they wished to leave a remembrance behind, and set fire 
 to the suburbs of Arras, in order to entice the inhabitants out of the 
 town, who had not any good will to do so. This fire did much mis- 
 
 * Mezeray says, this truce was for three years— Buchanan, fourteen— Froissart, nine.— 
 
 JVote in Barnes, p. 800. „ , ^ , , ■ «. ■ 
 
 I cannot find tfiis truce in the Foedera. On the contrary, there is an offensive and 
 defensive treaty with the king of France, dated at Edinburgh Castle, 28th October, 1371, 
 in which it expressly mentions that no truce is to be entered into, without including 
 both France and Scotland, by either of the parties. For more particulars see Rymer. 
 
 t Sir Thomas Granston— 82nd knight of the Garter. See Grandison in Dugdale. 
 % " Le sire de Saivatier." Q. 
 
 § Sir John Boarchier— 86th knight of the Garter— a baron. See Dugdale. 
 
 II " De Merville." Q,. if not Neville. I believe it to be sir William Neville, one of 
 the sons of Ra ph lord Neville, of Raby. See Dugdale. 
 
 Barnes names sir Hugh Meinel, sir Walter Fitzwalter, and sir John Mentsreworth. 
 IF I have called this person Urswell, after Barnes : but as Froissart writes it Ourcday, 
 It is probably one of the Worseley family. It may also be sir Hugh Wrottesley, spelled 
 Worthesley in Mills, who was 19th knight of the Garter, and perhaps with mor» proba 
 bility. 
 
 ** Fiennes— a village in the Boulonnois, generality of Amieni. 
 
 ! chief, for it burnt a large monastery of preaching friars, cloisters, and 
 all that was without the town. After this, the English continued 
 their march, taking the road to Bapaume,* burning and ravaging the 
 whole country. The army was constantly in motion, and having 
 entered the Vermandois, arrived at Roye ;t which town they burnt, 
 and then marched toward Ham+ in Vermandois. All the inhabitants 
 of the flat country had retired into this town, and into St. Quentin 
 and Peronne, carrying with them everything portable. The English 
 found nothing but barns full of unthreshed corn, for it was now after 
 August. They advanced by easy marches, without any labor or 
 fatigue, until they came to a rich country, where they halted for two 
 or three days. During this time, sir Robert Knolles sent parties to 
 a town or castle which commanded the surrounding country, and the 
 marshals having obtained a parley with the governors, asked, " How 
 much will you give us for all this country, if we will not despoil 
 it ?" A treaty and composition was entered into with sir Robert, 
 and a large sum of florins paid down. This country was respited 
 from being burnt. Sir Robert gained by this treaty a sum amount- 
 ing to one hundred thousand francs, for which he was afterwards 
 ill at court, and accused to the king of the English for not having 
 done his duty faithfully, as I shall fully relate in the continuance of 
 this history. 
 
 The lands of the lord de Coucy v/cre unmolested ; and never did 
 the English hurt m.an or woman, nor take from them a farthing, who 
 said, " I belong to the lord de Coucy." They marched unto the 
 good town of Noyon,§ which was well provided with men-at-arms, 
 and halted in the neighborhood : they made their approaches very 
 near, to see if it w^ere possible to carry it by assault, but found it 
 well fortified, and able to defend itself should there be occasion. 
 Sir Robert was lodged in the abbey of Orcamp,|| and his men in the 
 neighborhood. They advanced one day in order of battle to the 
 walls of the city, to see if the garrison and inhabitants would issue 
 forth, but in vain. 
 
 There was a Scots knight in the English army who performed a 
 most gallant deed of arms. Pie quitted his troop, with his lance in its 
 rest, and mounted on his courser, followed only by his page ; when, 
 sticking spurs into his horse, he was soon up the mountain and al 
 the barriers. The name of this knight was sir John Assueton,ir a 
 very valiant and able man, perfect master of his profession. When 
 he was arrived at the barriers of Noyon, he dismounted, and, giving 
 his horse to his page, said, " Quit not this place :" then, grasping 
 his spear he advanced to the barriers, and leaped over them. There 
 were on the inside some good knights of that country, such as sir 
 John de Roye, sir Launcelot de Lorris, and ten or twelve others, 
 who were astonished at this action, and wondered what he would do 
 next : however, they received him well. The Scots knight, address- 
 ing them, said : " Gentlemen, I am come to see you ; for, as you do 
 not vouchsafe to come beyond your barriers, I condescend to visit 
 you. I wish to try my knighthood against yours, and you will con- 
 quer me if you can." After this, he gave many grand strokes v^ith 
 his lance, which they returned him. He continued in this situation 
 against them all, skirmishing and fighting most gallantly, upward of 
 an hour. He wounded one or tv^^o of their knights ; and they had 
 so much pleasure in this combat, they frequently forgot themselves. 
 The inhabitants looked from above the gates and top of the walls 
 with wonder. They might have done him much hurt with their 
 arrows, if they had so willed : but no : the French knights had forbidden 
 it. While he was thus engaged, his page came close to the barriers, 
 mounted on his courser, and said to him aloud, in his own language, 
 " My lord, you had better come away : it is time, for our army is 
 on its march." The knight, who had heard him, made ready to 
 follow his advice ; and after giving two or three thrusts to clear his' 
 way, he seized his spear, and leaped again over the barriers without 
 any hurt, and, armed as he was, jumped up behind the page on his 
 courser. When he was mounted, he said to the French, " Adieu, 
 gentlemen: many thanks to "you," and spurring his steed, soon 
 rejoined his companions. Thig gallant feat of sir John Assueton 
 was highly prized by all manner of persons. 
 
 CHAPTER CCLXXXVI. 
 
 THE GARRISON OF NOYON MAKE THE ENGLISH PRISONERS WHO HAD SET 
 FIRE TO PONT-L'EVEQUE. THE KING OF FRANCE SENDS FOR SIR BER. 
 TRAND DU GUESCLIN. 
 
 Sir Robert Knolles and his army, on their departure from the town 
 ot Noyon, set fire to Pont-l'Eveque on the river Oise, where there were 
 several handsome hotels. Those knights and squires in the town of 
 Noyon were exceedingly angry at this proceeding, and, understanding 
 that sir Robert and his forces had proceeded, left the city of Noyoi. 
 with about fifty lances, and came so well in time to the town of Pont- 
 I'Eyeque, that they found there those who had burnt it, and others 
 occupied in the pillage. They were attacked most furiously, and 
 the greater part of them slain or made prisoners. The French took 
 
 * Bapaume— a strong town of Artois. six leagues from Arras. 
 ■ t Roye— a strong town in Picardy, eighteen leagues from Arras. 
 t Ham— a town in Picardy, on the Somme, six leagues from Roy a 
 § Noyon- now a village in Picardy, diocese of Amiens. 
 II Orcamp, or Su Anne— a village in Picardy, near Noyon. 
 •ir Sir John Assueton. Probably Seton 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 199 
 
 more than sixty horses, and rescued <nany prisoners whom the ene- 
 my intended carrying off. Several good houses would have been 
 burnt if they had not come there so opportunely. They returned to 
 Noyon with upward of fifteen English prisoners, whom they be- 
 headed. 
 
 The English continued their march in battle array, intending to 
 enter the Laonnois, and to cross the river Oise* and Aine.t They 
 committed no devastation in the county of Soissons, because it be- 
 longed to the lord de Coucy. True it is, they were followed and 
 watched by some lords of France, such as the viscount de Meaux, 
 the lord de Chauny, lord Raoul de Coucy, lord William de Melun, 
 son of the count de Tancarville, and their forces ; so that the Eng. 
 lish, not daring to quit their line of march, kept in a compact body. 
 The French did not attack them, but every night took up their 
 quarters in castles or strong towns ; while the English encamped in 
 the open plains, where they found provision in plenty and new wine, 
 with which they made very free. Thus did they advance, burning, 
 ravaging, and oppressing all the country, when they crossed the 
 river Marne,t and entered Champagne, and then passed the Aube,§ 
 returning to the country about Provins :|| when they several times 
 passed the Seine, and made appearances of marching toward Paris ; 
 for they had heard that the king of France had collected a large 
 force of men-at-arms under the command of the count de St. Pol 
 and the lord de Clisson, with whom they were very eager to engage, 
 ^nd for that end made every preparation as if they only wished for 
 the combat. Upon this, the king of France wrote to sir Bertrand 
 du Guesclin, who was in Aquitaine with the duke of Anjou, to 
 order him, as soon as he should have read the letters, to set out for 
 France, as he intended to«mploy him in another part of his kingdom. 
 
 Pope Urban V. came back about this time to Avignon, after hav- 
 ing resided nearly four years at Rome. He returned, in the hope of 
 making peace between the two kings : for this renewal of war was 
 very displeasing to him. All those of Avignon and the country 
 around it were very happy at the return of the pope, as they thought 
 it would be more advantageous for them. 
 
 We will now say how the prince of Wales carried on his afiairs. 
 
 CHAPTER CCLXXXVIL 
 
 THE PRINCE OF WALES ASSEMBLES HIS ARMY AT COGNAC, WHERE HE 
 MEETS HIS BROTHER THE DUKE OF LANCASTER. THE DUKES OF ANJOU 
 AND BERRY BREAK UP THEIR EXPEDITION, LIMO&ES HAVING TURNED TO 
 THE FRENCH. 
 
 You have before heard of the prince of Wales fixing his rendez- 
 vous at Cognac, with the intent of advancing to combat the duke of 
 Anjou, who was burning and despoiling his territories. The barons, 
 knights, and squires of Poitou and Saintonge, and all who were vas- 
 sals to the prince, hastened to obey his summons. The earl of Pem- 
 broke quitted his garrison, with a hundred lances, and came to meet 
 him. The duke of Lancaster and his army arrived about this time 
 at Bordeaux, at which the country rejoiced much. He made not any 
 long stay there ; for, hearing that the prince was about to march 
 against his enemies, he departed, and met, one day's march from 
 Cognac, the earl of Pembroke, who v/as likewise going thither. 
 They were very happy to see each other, and rode together to Cog- 
 nac, where they found the prince, princess, and earl of Cambridge, 
 who were greatly pleased at their arrival. Men-at-arms daily came 
 in from Poitou, Saintonge, La Rochelle, Bigorre, Gorre, Gascony, 
 and the siuTounding countries under the obedience of the prince. 
 
 The duke of Anjou, the count d'Armagnac, the lord d'Albret, and 
 the counts, viscounts, knights, and squires of that army, who as be- 
 fore has been related, conquered cities, towns, and fortresses to the 
 number of more than forty, by merely showing themselves before 
 them, and who had advanced within fifteen leagues of Bordeaux, 
 burning and ravaging the country round Bergerac and Linde, hearing 
 that the prince had summoned his forces to meet him at Cognac, and 
 that the duke of Lancaster was arrived with a strong body of men- 
 at-arms and archers from England, called a council to consider what 
 measures would be now most proper for them to pursue. It was at 
 this time that the king of France had sent back sir Bertrand du 
 Guesclin to the duke of Berry, who was besieging the city of Limo- 
 ges, and had pressed it so hard that it was upon the point of surren- 
 dering, but upon good terms. Sir' Bertrand was summoned to 
 utteud this- council of the duke of x\njou, as was right, and many 
 vve;re the debates at it. At last, after well considering the business, 
 .he duke of Anjou was advised, for the present, to break up this 
 •'xpedition, to order his men to different garrisons, and to carry on 
 the war iVom thence, as he had done sufficient in the open field. 
 It was therefore highly behoving the lords of Gascony who were 
 present, such as the count d'Armagnac, the count de Perigord, the 
 lore d'Aibret, and others, to retire to their own country to guard and 
 defend it ; for they knew not what the prince might be inclined to 
 
 * "Oise"— a river in Picardy— rises in Hainault. 
 
 t " Aine"— or Aisjie, a river which rises in Champagne, and joins the Oise a little 
 above Cornpiegne. 
 1 " Marne"— a large river which rises near Bassiny. 
 
 § " Aube"— a considerable river in Champagne. It rises at Auberive, near Langres. 
 j| " Provins"— an ancient town of Brie, on the Morjn, M'hich runs, into the MamCj 22 
 «a£ue« from Paris, 
 
 [ do with so large an army. They then separated, each going on hi? 
 own business. The duke of Anjou returned to the city of Cahors : 
 his men and the free companies spread themselves over the country 
 which they had conquered, and quartered themselves in different gr> ■ - 
 risons. The count d'Armagnac and the other lords went to the ,r 
 homes, and amply stored their towns and castles with all sorts of 
 provision and artillery, as if they expected a war : they ordered out 
 their vassals, and trained them to defend their country should 
 need be. 
 
 We will now speak of sir Bertrand du Gueschn, who, on his 
 departure from the duke of Anjou, marched with his men to the 
 siege of Limoges, where the duke of Bourbon, and the great knights 
 of Franco were employed. The French were in high spirits On the 
 arrival of sir Bertrand, and it was a grand piece of news both within 
 as well as without the city. He immi diately I'ollowed up some 
 treaties which had been before opened between the bishop and 
 citizens with the duke of Berry, aud monaged that they were con 
 eluded by the bishop and citizens turning to the French. The rlukea 
 of Berry and Bourbon, sir Guy de Blois, and tlui lords of France, 
 entered the town vv'ith great state, when they received fro>a the 
 inhabitants their homage and fealty. After they liad rested ihem- 
 solves for three days, they followed the same resolutions as had been 
 deteniiined upon, in the council held by the duke of Anjou, and 
 each man retired to his own country to guard his towns and castles 
 against sir Robert Knolles, vvdio still kept his gnjimd in France, and 
 also because they had done enough by taking such a city as Limoges. 
 The lords then separated, but sir Bertrand remained in Limousin 
 with two hundred lances, which he posted in ilie castles of the lord 
 de Maleval, who had turned to the Frcncli. 
 
 When the duke of Berry left Limoges, he ordered into the city, 
 at the request of the bishop, sir John de Villernur, sir Hugh de la 
 Roche, and Roger de Beaufort, with one hundred men-at-arms. He 
 then retreated to Berry, and the duke oi" Bourbon to the Bourbon- 
 nois. The other lords who had come from distant parts went to 
 their different countries. 
 
 We will now return to the prince. 
 
 CHAPTER CCLXX XVIII. 
 
 THE PRINCE OF WALES, ANXIOUS TO RECOVER LIMOGES, LAYS SIEGE TO IT, 
 
 AND UNDERMINES IT. 
 
 When intelligence was brought to the prince that the city of Li- 
 moges had become French, that the bishop, who had been his com- 
 panion, and one in whom he used to place great confidence, was a 
 party to all the treaties, and had been much aiding and assisting in 
 the surrender, he was in a violent passion, and held the bishop and 
 all other churchmen in very low estimation, in whom formerly he 
 had put great trust. He swore by the soxd of his father, which he 
 had never perjured, that he would have it back again, that he would 
 not attend to anything before he had done this, and that he would 
 make the inhabitants pay dearly foi- their tre.fcheiy. When the 
 greater part of his forces were arrived, he mustered them : they 
 amounted to twelve hundred lances, knights and squires, a thousand 
 archers, and a thousand footmen. They marched from the town of 
 Cognac. Sir Thomas Felton and the captal de Buch remained at 
 Bergerac, to guard that frontier against the French and the free com- 
 panics who were dispersed over that part of the country. 
 
 With the prince were, his brothers of Lancaster and Cambridge, 
 sir Guiscard d'Angle, sir Louis de Harcourt, the lords de Pons, de 
 Parte nay, de Pinane, de Tannaybouton, sir Percival du Coulogne, 
 sir Geoffry d'Argenton, Poitevins : of Gascons there were, the lords 
 de Montferrant, de Chaumont, de Longueren, sir Aimery de Tharse, 
 the lords de Pommiers, de Mucident, de I'Esparre, the souldich de 
 la Trancj* the lord de Gironde and several more : of English there 
 were, lord Thomas Percy, the lord Roos, sir William Beauchamp, 
 sir Michael de la Pole, sir Stephen Cossington, sir Richard de Pont- 
 chardon, sir Baldwin de Franville, sir Simon Burley, the earl of An- 
 gus, sir John Devereux, sir William Neville, an 1 more whom I can- 
 not name : of Hainaulters, were sir Eustace d'Ambreticourt : of the 
 free companies, sir Perducas d'Albret, Naudon de Bagerant, Lanuit, 
 the bourg de I'Esparre, the bourg de Breteuil, Espiote, Bernard de 
 Wist, and others. 
 
 All these men-at-arms were drawn out in battle array, and took 
 the field, when the whole country began to tremble for the conse- 
 quences. At that time the prince of Wales was not able to mount 
 his horse, but was, for his greater ease, (tarried in a litter. They 
 followed the road to Limousin, in order to get to Limoges, where in 
 due time they arrived and encamped all round it. The prince swore 
 he would never leave the place until he had regained it. The bishop 
 of the place and the inhabitants found they had acted too wickedly, 
 and had greatly incensed the prince ; for which they were very re- 
 pentant, but that was now of no avail, as they were not the masters 
 of the town. Sir John de Villernur, sir Hi gh de la Roche, and |loger 
 
 * " The souldich de la Trane." See Anstis, vol. ii. where theie is a long account of 
 him. and mention also is made of the tords de Montferrant and de I'Esparre. [A pedi 
 gree of the family is given, and it is ^.early shown that the niime of Souldich de la 
 Trane. or more properly Tran, wiis only n ti«le. and that !jis ftipiily name was de PreU 
 sac— EdJ 
 
1200 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN. &c. 
 
 de Bfaufort, who commanded in it, did all they could to comfort 
 them by saving, " Gentlemen, do not be alarmed : we are sufficiently 
 strong to hold out against the army of the prince : he cannot take us 
 by assault, nor greatly hurt us, for we are well supplied with artil- 
 lery » 
 
 When the prince and his marshals had well considered the strength 
 and force of Limoges, and knew the number of gentlemen that were 
 in it, they agreed that they could never take it by assault, but said 
 they would attempt it by another manner. The prince was always 
 accustomed tj carry with him, in his expeditions, a large body of 
 miners: these were immediately set to work, and made great pro. 
 gress. The knights who were in the town soon perceived they were 
 undermining them, and on that account began to countermine, to 
 prevent the effect. But we will now leave the prince a little, to re- 
 turn to sir Robert Knolles. 
 
 CHAPTER CCLXXXIX. 
 
 SIR ROBERT KXOLLES, IN C0NTIJSrUIN& HIS INCURSIONS THROUGH DIFFER- 
 ENT PROVINCES OF FRANCE, ADVANCES NEAR TO PARIS. A KNIGHT OF 
 HIS ARMY IN RETURNING FROM A VAINGLORIOUS EXPEDITION, IS SLAIN 
 BY A BUTCHER OF PARIS. 
 
 Sir Rolort Knolles, as has been before related, had entered France 
 with a large body of men, and was marching by short stages through 
 thai kingdom with a magnificence for which the people and the rich 
 provinces paid dearly. The English, as they advanced and retreated, 
 did infinite mischief, at the same time showing as if they only wished 
 for a battle. Having passed through the countries of Artois, Ver- 
 mandois, the bishopric of Laon, the archbishopric of Rheimsin Cham- 
 pagne, they returned into Brie, and from thence came near to Paris, 
 and quartered themselves for a day and two nights in the villages 
 around it. 
 
 King Charles of France was at that time in the city, and he could 
 see from his palace of St. Pol the fire and smoke v^^hich the enemy 
 were making in the Ga,tinois. There were also in the city the con- 
 stable of France sir Moreau de Fiennes, the count de St. Pol, the 
 count de Tancarville, the count de Saltzburg, the viscount Meaux, 
 sir Raoul de Coucy, the seneschal of Hainault, sir Odoart de Renti, 
 sir Enguerrand d'Audin, the lord de Cha,teau-julien, sir John de 
 Vienne, the lord de la Riviere, and many more great knights and 
 valorous men of France, but not one of them sallied forth, for the king 
 had strictly forbidden them so to do. The lordde Clisson, vrho was 
 of the king's cabinet council, and more listened to than the rest, 
 said everything he could to prevent any knight from quitting the 
 town, adding, among other things, " Sire, why should you employ 
 your men against these madmen ? Let them go about their busi- 
 ness. They cannot take your inheritance from you, nor drive you 
 out of it by smoke." 
 
 The count de St. Pol, the viscount de Rohan, sir Raoul de Coucy, 
 the lords de Canin, de Cresquos, sir Odoart de Renti and sir En- 
 guerrand d'Audin, were at the barriers of St. James's gate. Now 
 it happened one Tuesday morning, when the English began to de- 
 camp, and had set fire to all the villages wherein they were lodged, 
 BO that the fires were distinctly seen from Paris, a knight of their 
 army, who had made a vow the preceding day that he would advance 
 as far as the barriers and strike them with his lance, did not break 
 his oath, but set off with his lance in his hand, his target on his 
 neck, and completely armed except his helmet, and spurring his 
 steed, was followed by his squire on another courser carrying the 
 helmet. When he approached Paris, he put on the helmet, which 
 his squire laced behind. He then galloped away, sticking spurs into 
 his horse, and advanced prancing to strike the barriers. They were 
 tlien open ; and the lords and barons within imagined he intended 
 to enter the town, but he did not mean any such thing, for, having 
 fitruck the gates according to his vow, he checked his horse and 
 turned about. The French knights who saw him thus retreat cried 
 out to him, " Get away ! get away ! thou hast well acquitted thy- 
 self." As for the name of tbis knight, I am ignorant of it, nor do I 
 know from what country he came ; but he bore for his arms gules b. 
 deux fousses noir, with une bordure noire non cndentee. However, 
 an adventure befel him, from which he had not so fortunate an es- 
 cape. On his return, he met a butcher on the pavement in the sub- 
 urbs, a very strong man, who had noticed him as he had passed 
 him, and who had in his hand a very sharp and heavy hatchet with 
 a long handle. As the knight was returning alone, and in a care- 
 less manner, the valiant butcher came on one side of him, and gave 
 him such a blow between the shoulders that he fell orj his horse's 
 neck : he recovered himself, but the butcher repeated the blow on 
 his head so that the axe entered it. The knight, through excess of 
 pain, fell to the earth ; and the horse galloped away to the squire, 
 who was waiting Ibr his master in the fields at the extremity of the 
 suburbs. The squire caught the courser, but wondered what was 
 become of his master ; for he had seen him gallop to the barriers, 
 Btrike them, and then turn about to come back. He therefore set 
 out to look for him ; but he had not gone many paces before he saw 
 him in the hands of four fellows, who were beating him as if they 
 were hammering on an anvil : this so much frightened the squire 
 that he dared not advance further, for he saw he could not give him 
 yny elfeciual assistance : he therefore returned as speedily as he 
 
 could. Thus was this knight 8l#in : and those lords who were posted 
 at the barriers had him buried in holy ground. The squire returned 
 tD the army, and related the misfortune which had befallen his mas- 
 ter. All his brother-warriors were greatly angered thereat : and they 
 marched to take up their quarters for the night, betvv'een Montle- 
 hery* and Paris, upon a small river, where they encamped at an eai-ly 
 hour in the day. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXC. 
 SIR bertrand du guesclin takes the fortress of ST. yrier in limotj 
 
 SIN. the prince of wales RECONQUI.RS LIMOGES. 
 
 During the time sir Robert Knolles was employed in this expedi- 
 tion, and the prince of Wales with his two brothers were at the siege 
 of Limoges, sir Bertrand du Guesclin with his company, amounting 
 to about two hundred lances, marched through a part of Limousin, 
 but did not encamp in the open plain for fear of the English. He 
 retreated every night into some of the strong places which had lately 
 turned to the French : in that number were the castles of sir Louis 
 de jMaleval and sir Raymond de Marneil, and several others : from 
 thence he made daily excursions to conquer other towns and castles. 
 The prince knew well all this ; for he received every day informa. 
 tion of what was passing, as well complaints on the subject; but 
 he would not break up his siege, forj he had too much ot heart the 
 loss of Limoges. Sir Bertrand entered the viscounty of Limoges, a 
 territory which was dependent on lord John de Montfort, duke 
 of Brittany, in the name of the widow of lord Charles de Blois, to 
 whom it had formerly belonged. He made war upon it v.'ithout any 
 opposition ; for the duke of Brittany did not imagine sir Bertrand 
 would carry the war into any part of his property. He came before 
 St. Yrier,t where there were iiot any gentlemen that knew how to 
 defend it; and the inhabitants were so frightened, they surrendered 
 themselves under ihe obedience of the duchess dowager of Brittany, 
 in whose name the war vvas made. The Bretons formed St. Yrier 
 into a considerable garrison ; by which means they took many other 
 towns in Limousin; But let us return to the prince. 
 
 The prince of Wales remained about a month, and not more, be- 
 fore the city of Limoges : he would not allow of any assaults or 
 skirmishing, but kept his miners steadily at work. The knights in 
 the town perceived what they were about, and made countermines 
 to destroy them ; but they failed in their attempt. When the miners 
 of the prince (v/ho, as they found themselves countermined, kept 
 changing the line of direction of their own mine) had finished their 
 business, they came to the prince, and said : " My lord, we are ready, 
 and will throw do v/n, whenever you please, a very large part of the 
 wall into the ditch, through the breach of which you may enter the 
 town at your ease and without danger." This news was very agree- 
 able to the prince, who replied, " I wish then that you would prove 
 your words to-morrow morning at six o'clock." The miners set fire 
 to the combustibles in the mine ; and on the morrow morning, as they 
 had foretold the prince, they flung down a great piece of wall, which 
 filled the ditches. The English saw this with pleasure, for they 
 were all armed and prepared to enter the town. Those on foot did 
 so, and ran to the gate, which they destroyed as well as the barriers, 
 for there were no other defences ; and all this was done so suddenly 
 that the inhabitants had net time to prevent it. 
 
 The prince, the duke of Lancaster, the earls of Cambridge and of 
 Pembroke, sir Guiscard d'Angle and the others, with their men, 
 rushed into the town. You would then have seen pillagers, active 
 to do mischief, running through the town, slaying men, women and 
 children, according to their orders. It was a most melancholy busj. 
 ness ; for all ranks, ages and sexes cast themselves on their knees 
 before the prince, begging for mercy ; but he was so inflamed with 
 passion and revenge that he listened to none, but all v.'ere put to the 
 sword, wherever they could be found, even those who were not 
 guilty : for I know not why the poor were not spared, who could 
 not have had any part in this veason ; but they suffered for it, and 
 indeed more than those who had been the leaders of the treachery. 
 There was .not that day in the city of Limoges any hearts *so har- 
 dened, or that had any sense of religion, who did not deeply bewail 
 the unfortunate events passing before their eyes ; for upward of three 
 thousand men, women and children were put to death that day. God 
 have mercy on their souls ! for they were veritable martyrs. 
 
 A company of English, in entering the town, hastened to the 
 palace of the bishop, whom they there found and took prisoner, carry, 
 ing him, without any regard to his dignity, to the prince of Wales, 
 who, eyeing him indignantly, told him that his head should be cut 
 off", and ordered him out of his presence. 
 
 We will now speak of those knights who ware in the town, sir 
 John de Villemur, sir Hugh de la Roche, and Roger de Beaufort, 
 son to the count de Beaufort, governors of the city. When they 
 perceived the tribulation which was overpow^enng them, they said 
 " We shall all be slain for a certainty, if we do not gallantly defenc 
 ourselves : let us therefore sell our lives as dearly as good knighU 
 ought to do." Upon this, sir John de Villemur said to Roger de 
 Beaufort, " You must be knighted." Roger replied, " Sir, I have 
 not as yet signalized myself sufl[icientiy for that honor, but I thank 
 
 * " Montleliery"— a town in the Isle of France, seven leagues from Paris. 
 T " St. Yrier"— a village in Limousin, election of Tulle». 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FUAInCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 m 
 
 you much for your good opinion in suggesting it to me." No more 
 was said, for they had not time hold further conversation. They 
 collected in a body, and, placing themselves before an old wall, sir 
 John de Villemur and sir Hugh de la Roche displayed their banners, 
 ond drew up in good order. They might be, in the whole, about 
 fourscore. Th 5 duke of Lancaster and the earl of Cambridge, with 
 their men, adva; ced upon them, and dismounted, to be on an equality 
 with the enemy. They attacked them with hearty good will. You 
 may easily imagine that this handful of men could not resist the 
 *^nglish, but were all slain or made prisoners. 
 
 Sack of Limoges. From a MS. FroisiJart of the 15th century. 
 
 The duke of Lancaster was engaged for a long time with sir John 
 de Villemur, v/ho was a hardy knight, strong and well made. The 
 earl of Cambridge singled out sir Hugh de la Roche, and the earl 
 of Pembroke Roger de Beaufort, who was but a simple esquire. 
 These three Frenchmen did many valorous deeds of arms, as all 
 allowed, and ill did it betide those who approached too near. The 
 prince, coming that way in his carriage, looked on the combat with 
 great pleasure, and enjoyed it so much that his heart was softened 
 and his anger appeased. After the combat had lasted a consider, 
 able time, the Frenchmen, with one accord, viewing their swords, 
 said, " My lords, we are yours : you have vanquished us : there- 
 fore act according to the law of arms." " By God," replied the duke 
 of Lancaster, "sir John, we do not intend otherwise, and we accept 
 you for our prisoners." Thus, as I have been informed, were these 
 three knights taken. But the business was not here ended, for the 
 whole town was pillaged, burnt, and totally destroyed. The Eng. 
 lish then departed, carrying with them their booty and prisoners. 
 They marched to Ccgnac, where the princess had remained, and 
 there the prince disbanded his forces, not intending to do anything 
 more that season ; for he did not feel himself at his ease, as every 
 exertion aggravated his disorder, which was increasing, to the great 
 dismay of his brothers and all those about him. 
 
 I must inform you how the bishop of Limoges escaped with im- 
 prisonment, who had been in imminent danger of his life. The duke 
 of Lancaster asked him of the prince, who consented, and ordered 
 him to be given up to the duke, for him to do with according as he 
 vv'illed. The bishop having good friends, they sent information of 
 his situation to the pope, who had lately arrived at Avignon ; and 
 fortunate was it for the bishop they did so, otherwise he would have 
 been a dead man. The pope wrote such pressing and kind letters 
 to the duke of Lancaster, to request he would give him the bishop, 
 that he was unv/illing to refuse, and sent him tp the pope, who felt 
 exceedingly obliged for it. 
 
 We will now say what was going forward in France. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXCI. 
 
 SIR BERTRAND DTJ GUESCLIN IS MADE CONSTABLE OF rRANCE. 
 
 The king of France was informed of the conquest and destruction 
 nf Limoges, and how the prince and his army had left it empty and 
 
 deserted, which vexed him much on account of the distress and loss 
 cf the late inhabitants. It was therefore thought advisable in a 
 council of nobles and prelates, as well as by the common assent of 
 the whole kingdom, to elect a chief or commander, cal'ed a constable 
 (for sir Moreau de Fiennes wished to resign the office) who was a 
 valiant and enterprising man, and one to whom all knights and squires 
 would pay proper deference. After all things had been well con- 
 sidered, they unanimously elected sir Bertrand du Guesclin (provided 
 he would undertake the office,) as the most valiant, the best informed, 
 the most virtuous and fortunate in conducting affairs for the crown 
 
 of France of all 
 those who were 
 bearing arms in its 
 defence. The king 
 wrote to him by 
 messengers, for 
 him to ccme to 
 Paris. Those eent 
 found him in the 
 viscounty of Limo- 
 ges, taking castles 
 ■and forts, which 
 he put under the 
 obedience of mad- 
 ame de Bretagne, 
 widow cf the late 
 lord Charles de 
 Blois. He had 
 lately taken a town 
 called Bran tome,* 
 whose inhabitants 
 had surrendered 
 themselves to him, 
 and was then on an 
 ^ expedition against 
 another. 
 
 When the king's 
 messengers came 
 to him, he received 
 them handsomely, 
 as he knew well 
 how to do. They 
 gave him their let. 
 ter, and delivered 
 their messageword 
 for v/ord. When 
 sir Bertrand thus 
 saw himself spe- 
 cially ordered, he 
 
 was unwilling to make any more excuse* for not waiting on the king 
 of France to know his will : he set out as soon as possible, having 
 ordered all his men into the garrisons which he had conquered, 
 and appointed his nephew, sir Olivier de Mauny, commander over 
 them. He rode on to Paris, where he found the king surrounded 
 by a number of the lords of his council. He was received by all 
 with great pleasure ; and the king told him of his being chosen 
 constable of France. On hearing which, sir Bertrand modestly 
 and sagely excused himself, saying, " he was not worthy of it : that 
 he was a poor knight and simple bachelor, in comparison with the 
 great lords and valorous men of Frar/ce, however fortune might have 
 been favorable to him." The king replied, " that his excuses would 
 be of no avail ; that he must consent to accept this dignity, for it 
 had been so determined by the decision of the whole of the council 
 of France, and that he would not break through such a resolution." 
 Sir Bertrand used other arguments to excuse himself ; adding '-Dear 
 lord and noble king, I cannot, I dare net, v.'hatever I may wish, op- 
 pose what may be your good pleasure : but in truth I am too poor 
 a man, and of low extraction, for the office of constable, which is 
 so grand and noble that it is proper for those (who wish to exercise 
 it justly and honorably) to command and keep a strict eye more 
 upon the great than the poor. Now Sir, here are my lords your 
 brothers, your nephews and your cousins, who will have different 
 commands in your armies, and in various expeditions; and how 
 shall I dare to order them ? Certainly, my dear lord, envy and 
 jealousy are so much abroad, I ought to be on my guard against 
 them ; I therefore entreat yoti will not insist on my taking this office, 
 but give it to some other who will readily accept it, and, who knows 
 better than I do how to execute it." The king made answer : " Sir 
 Bertrand, that excuse will not serve you ; for I have neither brother, 
 nephew, cousin, count or baron in my realm but who will obey your 
 orders ; and should any one act otherwise, he would so anger me that 
 he should soon feel the effects of it : I therefore beg of you to accept 
 this office with a good will." 
 
 Sir Bertrand, finding that no excuse nor anything he could say 
 would be listened to, accepted the king's offer, but it was much 
 against his inclination. He was invested with the office of constable , 
 and the king, to show him greater affection, made him be seated at 
 his table, and gave him, besides this ofllce, many rich gifts and large 
 
 * " Brantome"— a tgwQ in Parigord, diQcese of f erigueus 
 
203 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, F R A N C E, S P A I N , &c. 
 
 domains in land, for him and his heirs. The duke of Anjou was 
 very active in forwarding this promotion. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXCII. 
 
 SIR BERTRAND DU GUESCLIN AND THE LORD DE CLISSON DEFEAT THE 
 FORCES OF SIR ROBERT KNOLLES AT PONT-VALIN.* 
 
 Soon after sir Bertrand du Giiesclin had been invested with the 
 dignity of constable, he told the king he wished to form an expedi- 
 tion against sir Robert KnoUes and his forces, who were at that time 
 on the borders of Maine and Anjou. This was very agreeable to 
 the king, who said to him, " Take any number of men-at-arms you 
 please, and whatever else you may think right." The constable 
 made every necessary preparation, and collected a large body of 
 men-at-arms, Bretons and others, and marched toward Maine, taking 
 with him the lord de Clisson. The constable came to the city of 
 Mans, where he fixed his head-quarters, and the lord de Clisson in 
 another town hard by : they might be about five hundred lances. 
 
 Sir Robert Knolles and his army were still in that part of the 
 country, but did not agree very well together ; for there was an 
 English knight among them, called sir John Menstreworth,t who 
 always objected to what others proposed, and said they only wasted 
 their time in these expeditions, and wore down and fatigued the men 
 without doing anything essential, or making any conquest. This 
 knight, v/ho commanded a large force, and had some able men-at- 
 arms with him, left the others. Sir Robert Knolles and sir Aleyne 
 Boxhull, however, kept together, and were quartered pretty near to 
 Mans. Sir Thomas Grantson, sir Gilbert Gifford, sir Geoffry Worsley, 
 and sir William Neville, were quartered a good day's march in the 
 rear. 
 
 When sir Robert Knolles and sir Aleyne Boxhull heard that the 
 constable of France and the lord de Clisson were come into those 
 parts, they were much rejoiced, and said, " It will be well for us to 
 collect our forces more together, and post ourselves to our advantage 
 in this country ; for sir Bertrand, in the novelty of oflace, is certainly 
 come to look at us, and he would not have been happy if he had not 
 made this expedition. We have already rode through the realm of 
 France without meeting with any hindrance. Let us inform sir 
 Hugh Calverley (who is at Saumur on the Loire,) 'and sir Robert 
 Cheney, sir Robert Briquet, and the other captains of companies who 
 are near us, of our situation and intentions, who will willingly hasten 
 to join us. We may therefore fall upon this new constable, and the 
 lord de Clisson, who is so much our enemy ;t and we shall make a 
 handsome finish to our campaign." Between sir Robert Knolles, sir 
 Aleyne Boxhull, and sir .John Seton, there was not any difference of 
 opinion ; and they acted always in unison. They immediately sent 
 off messengers secretly to sii Hugh Calverley, sir Robert Briquet, and 
 the others, with letters to inform them how they were situated, and 
 to propose that they should join in an attack upon the French. They 
 signified the same to sir Thomas Grantson, sir Gilbert Gifford, sir 
 Geoffry Worsley and the others, desiring them to advance to a place 
 which they pointed out to ihem, for they were in hopes to engage the 
 French who had come on this expedition. Upon recsiving this intel- 
 ligence, they all made ready with great cheerfulness to join their 
 companies, amounting to about two hundred spears. This matter, 
 however, was not carried on so secretly but that sir Bertrand and 
 the lord de Clisson got wind of it, and knew also what was intended 
 on the junction of their forces : they therefore armed themselves 
 during the night, and, marching vith their men and garrisons, took 
 the field. This same night, sir Thomas Grantson, sir Geoffry Worsley, 
 sir Gilbert Gifford, sir William Neville, and the others, had left their 
 quarters, and advanced toward sir Robert Knolles and sir Aleyne 
 Boxhull, to a spot where they expected to find them. But their 
 march was shortened ; for, directly at a place called Pont-valin, they 
 were met by the French, who immediately charged them, and sur- 
 rounded them, as they were full four hundred lances, and the English 
 about two hundred. The battle was sharp and long, and well fought 
 on both sides. As soon as they met, they dismounted, and attacked 
 each other most valiantly with spears and swords. The French 
 gained the victory over the English, who were all slain or made 
 prisoners ; for not an Englishman fled, except some of the pages or 
 servants, who, mounting their masters' coursers, made off as fast as 
 
 * Pont-valin— a town in Anjou, election of la Fleclie. 
 
 t "Sir John Menstreworth.'' Froissart calls liini Maistrurde. I have followed 
 Barnes, who adds that he was a traitor, sold to the French, and, having embezzled large 
 sttms destined for the pay of the army, was afraid to be called to an account for them. 
 
 X The lord de Clissov, so much our enemy. His quarrel with the duke of Brittany and 
 the English, to whom he had always been attached, was caused by the duke's refusal of 
 a request he made for the lordship of Gavre, which was very convenient to him, and 
 near his castle of Blein. 
 
 When he asked for it, the duke said he had disposed of it in fiivor of sir John Chandos, 
 to whom he had essential obligations. Clisson, enraged at this preference, swore he 
 would never have an Englishman for his neighbor, set fire to the house, and had the 
 ■tones carried to Blein, using them to fortify this castle. He conceived so mortal a hatred 
 to the English that he embraced tlic party of the countess de Penthievre, on whom he had 
 before made war, and accepted the lieutenancy of Brittany under her. and the guard of 
 •lithe places she had there. This change of conduct introduced him to the service of 
 Charles V. who admitted him to his councils, loaded him with gifls, and gave him the 
 lieutenancy-general de Tomaine.-J^imoiresde Bertrand du Outsclin, par Bkrville, 
 ToLi. p.310. note. 
 
 possible when they saw they were defeated. Among the prisoners 
 were, sir Thomas Grantson, sir Gilbert Gifford, sir Geoffry Worsley, 
 sir William Neville, sir Philip Courtenay, sir Hugh Despencer, and 
 many more knights and squires, who were all .conducted to the city 
 of Mans. Intelligence of this was speedily spread over the country, 
 and soon known to sir Robert Knolles, sir Hugh Calverley and the 
 others, who were much vexed thereat, and broke up their intended 
 attack, through this unexpected event. Those at Saumur, as well 
 as in other quarters, remained quiet. Sir Robert Knolles and sir 
 Aleyne Boxhull made a handsome retreat into Brittany, for they 
 were not far distant. Sir Robert went to his castle of Derval, where 
 he gave orders to all his men-at-arms and archers to go wherever 
 they might find profit or honor, and several returned to England, 
 whence they had come. Sir Aleyne Boxhull went to pass the wintei 
 in his town of St. Sauveur le Vicomte, which the king of England 
 had given to him. 
 
 After the defeat of Pont-valin, where a part of the English were 
 slain and the remainder put to the rout, so that the expedition was 
 ruined, sir Bertrand du Guesclin (whose entrance into the office of 
 constable had been thus fortunately signalized, in a way to gain him 
 great honor and reputation) came to Paris, accompanied by the lord 
 de Clisson, and bringing with them the greater part of the prisoners, 
 to whom they behaved very handsomely, allowing them to go at 
 large on their parole for their ransom. They neither shut them up 
 in prison, nor put on shackles and fetters, as the Germans do in order 
 to obtain a heavier ransom. Curses on them for it. These people 
 are without pity or honor, and they ought never to receive quarter. 
 The French entertained their prisoners well, and ransomed them 
 courteously without being too hard with them. 
 
 The prince of Wales, the duke of Lancaster and all the English, 
 who, after the conquest and vengeance taken on Limoges, had retired 
 to Cognac, were much dismayed by the defeat at Pont-valin. 
 
 This year, about Christmas, Pope Urban V. died at Avignon. He 
 was a learned and wise man, and a good Frenchman. The cardinals 
 assembled in conclave to choose a successor, when they unanimously 
 elected the cardinal de Beaufort, who took the name of pope Gregory 
 XI. The king of France was well pleased with this creation and 
 divine election, for he knew him to be a loyal Frenchman and a 
 prudent man. The duke of Anjou was at Avignon during the con- 
 clave, and took much pains that he should be elected pope. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXCIII. 
 
 SIR EUSTACE D'aMBRETICOURT IS MADE PRISONER AND RANSOMED. SII, 
 RAYMOND DE MARNEIL, A PARTISAN OF FRANCE, IS TAKEN, AND IN 
 IMMINENT DANGER, BUT SAVED BY HIS KEEPER. 
 
 A VERY unfortunate adventure befel sir Eustace d'Ambreticourt 
 much about this time. As he was riding one day through Limousin, 
 he came in the evening to the castle of the lord de Pierre Bufliere, 
 which he entered, thinking him a friend, a brother soldier, and a good 
 Englishman. But Pierre Buffiere had given up his castle to Thibaut 
 du Pont, a man-at-arms from Brittany, and his company. Thibaut 
 seized sir Eustace, who was not any way on his guard, made him 
 his prisoner, and afterwards ransomed him for twelve thousand francs, 
 of which he paid down four thousand, and left his son, Fran9ois 
 d'Ambreticourt, his hostage for the remainder to the duke of Bour- 
 bon, who had gone security for him, and had taken great pains to 
 obtain his liberty, because sir Eustace had been very active in ob- 
 taining the freedom of the lady his mother, when she had been made 
 prisoner by the free companies at Belleperche. After he had obtained 
 his liberty, sir Eustace went and resided in Carentan, beyond the 
 fords of St. Clement in lower Normandy, a very handsome town 
 which the king of Navarre had given him, and where he died.- God 
 have mercy on his soul ! for while he lived and remained in the 
 world he was a most valiant knight. 
 
 Nearly at this period, sir Raymond de Marneil, who had changed 
 his party from the English to the French, was returning to his own 
 country from Paris, when he met with a disagreeable accident. On 
 his road he encountered a body of English, belonging to the forces 
 of sir Hugh Calverley, commanded by a knight of Poitou, and came 
 so suddenly among them that he could not escape : he was thus 
 taken, and carried prisoner to the castle of the knight in Poitou. 
 The capture of sir Raymond was known in England, and came to 
 the king's knowledge, who immediately vvrote to the knight, ordering 
 him to send that enemy and traitor sir Raymond de Marneil directly 
 to England, on whom he would wreak such vengeance as chould 
 serve as an example to all others ; and that he would pay him six 
 thousand francs for his ransom. Sir Geoffry d'Argenton, who had 
 taken sir Raymond, was not willing to disobey the orders of hia 
 sovereign and lord, and replied he would pmictually follow his com- 
 mands. Sir Raymond de Marneil was informed that the king of 
 England wished to have his person, and had sent orders to that effect; 
 and also that sir Geoffry was detemiined to obey him. He was there- 
 fore more alarmed than ever, and not without reason. He began to 
 utter in his prison the most piteous moans, insomuch that the person 
 who guarded him, and was an Englishman, began to compassionate 
 him, and gently to soothe him. Sir Raymond, who saw no rays of 
 comfort in his distress, since he was to bp sent to England, at last 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 203 
 
 opened his mind to his keeper. " My friend," said he, " if you will 
 engage to deliver me from the peril in which I am, I will promise 
 and swear on my loyalty to divide half and half with you all my 
 landed possessions, which you shall have for your inheritance ; and 
 never as long as I live will I be wanting to you in whatever manner 
 you may please." The Englishman, who was poor, considered that 
 sir Raymond w is in danger of his life, and as he had promised him 
 such a handsomt recompense to save it, he took compassion on him, 
 and said he wouM do all he could to serve him. Sir Raymond heard 
 this with great joy, and swore upon his honor to perform strictly what 
 he had promised, and even m >re if he insisted upon it. Upon which 
 they consulted how they could best bring this business to a happy end. 
 
 When night came, the Englishman, who kept the keys of the 
 tower of the castle where sir Raymond lay, opened his prison and a 
 postera-gate, from which they is: ued into the plain, and made for a 
 wood, to prevent themselves being overtaken. They were in greater 
 distress all the night than can be imagined ; for they marched seven 
 leagues on- foot, and it had frozen so hard that their feet were all cut 
 and torn. At last, however, at the dawn they came to a French 
 fortress, where they were heartily received by the companions who 
 guarded it. Sir Raymond related to them his adventures, and they 
 all returned thanks to God for his fortunate escape. In truth, when 
 the knight on the morrow found they had gone off, he sent horsemen 
 everywhere round the country in search of them, but in vain. In 
 ihis manner did sir Raymond de Marneil escape from such imminent 
 danger. He returned to Limousin, and told all his friends his great 
 obligations to the English squire. The Englishman was much hon- 
 ored by them, a id sir Raymond wanted to divide his estate with him ; 
 but he refused i 3 accept so much, and would only take two hundred 
 livres a-year, adding that was fully sufficient for the support of him- 
 self in his situati )n. 
 
 CHAPTER CGXCIV. 
 
 THE PRINCE OF WALES, HAVING LOST BY DEATH HIS ELDEST SON, 
 GIVES UP THE DUCHY OF AQUITAINE TO THE CARE OF THE DUKE OF 
 LANCASTER. FOUR KNIGHTS OF BRITTANY TAKE THE CASTLE OF 
 MONT-PAON.* 
 
 At this time, the eldest son of the prince and princess of Wales 
 died in the city of Bordeaux. TKey were exceedingly grieved at 
 this event, and not without reason. The prince was advised to re- 
 turn to England, as perhaps he might there recover his health ; and, 
 as this advice was given him by his physicians and surgeons, he 
 agreed to it. Preparations were made for his departure ; and, I be- 
 lieve, the earls of Cambridge and Pembroke were ordered to return 
 with him to bear him company. 
 
 When the prince was about to leave Aquitaine, and his vessel 
 was in the harbor of Bordeaux, on the river Garonne, where he had 
 arrived with the princess and the young Richard, his son, he issued 
 from the city of Bordeaux a special summons to all the barons and 
 knights of Gascony and Poitou, and to all others over whom he was 
 lord or who depended on him. When they were arrived, and assem- 
 bled before him in his hall of audience, he addressed them by say- 
 ing, " that during the time he had been their prince, he had always 
 maintained them in peace, prosperity, and power, as far as depended 
 on him, against all their enemies ; but that now, in the hope of re- 
 covering his health, of which he had great need, he intended to return 
 to England : he therefore besought them earnestly to put their faith 
 in, and to serve and obey his brother, the duke of Lancaster, as they 
 had before served and obeyed him : that they would find him a good 
 and courteous lord, and he begged of them to aid and assist him in 
 all his affairs." The barons of Aquitaine, Gascony, Poitou, and 
 Saintonge assented to his request, and swore upon their faith and 
 loyalty never to desert him. They performed fealty and homage to 
 the duke, declaring themselves willing to pay him all affection, ser- 
 vice, and obedience. This they swore in the prince's presence, and 
 they all kissed him on the mouth.t After these affairs were settled, 
 the prince did not tarry long in Bordeaux, but embarked on board 
 his vessel with the princess and his son, accompanied by the earls 
 of Cambridge and Pembroke. There were in this fleet five hundred 
 combatants, besides archers. They had favorable weather, and, 
 meeting with no accident, arrived safely at Southampton. They 
 were disembarked ; and, after having refreshed themselves for two 
 days, all mounted their horses, and took the road for Windsor, ex- 
 cept the prince, who was carried in his litter. On their arrival, they 
 found the king, who was then there. He received his children very 
 kindly, and made many inquiries into the state of Guienne.' After 
 the prince had made some stay with the king, he took his leave, 
 and retired to his manor of Berkhamstead, twenty miles from the 
 city of London. We will for the present leave the prince, and say 
 what had passed in Aquitaine. 
 
 Soon afvr the departure of the prince from Bordeaux, the duke of 
 Lancaster ordered preparations for the funeral of his nephew Ed- 
 ward. It was very grand and magnificent, and was attended by all 
 
 * ^'1 Mont-paon"— a village of Rouergue, election of Milhaud. 
 
 t All kissed him on the mouth." Hommage de bouche et des mains is done by a 
 vassal with head uncovered, hands joined, and a kiss received, which binds him to fight 
 for his lord only in defence of the lands whereof he holds.— Cotgrave. 
 
 the barons of Gascony and Poitou.* While all these things were 
 going forward, and the funeral occupied every one's attention, and 
 detained the barons in Bordeaux, there issued forth from the garri- 
 son of Perigord upward of two hundred lances of Bretons, whom the 
 duke of Anjou had sent and posted there. They were commanded 
 by four valiant and hardy knights, whose names vrere, sir William 
 de Longueval, sir Alain de la Houssaye, sir Louis de Mailly, and 
 the lord d'Arcy. These knights marched with their men to a hand- 
 some and strong castle called Mont-paon, of which a knight was 
 lord. When these Bretons arrived, and had advanced up to the 
 barriers, they manoeuvred as if they intended an immediate assault, 
 and completely surrounded it. Upon which sir William de Mont, 
 paon, proving he had more of French courage than English, turned 
 to them, and in short surrendered. He gave admittance to these 
 knights and their companions into his castle, of which they took 
 possession, and said they would defend it against all the world. 
 They repaired and added to it v/hatever might have been wanting. 
 
 Intelligence of this was soon carried to Bordeaux, when the duke 
 of Lancaster told the barons they were inactive, for that the Bretons 
 had made an incursion, and had taken Mont-paon, which was close 
 to their borders. Indeed, when the duke and barons first heard of 
 this, they were much ashamed and made immediate preparations 
 for marching toward that part ; they set out from the city of Bor- 
 deaux on a Wednesday after dinner. With the duke of Lancaster 
 there were, the lords de Pons and de Partenay, sir Louis de Har- 
 court, sir Guiscard d'Angle, sir Percival de Coulogne, sir Geoffry 
 d'Argenton, sir James de Surgeres, sir Maubrun de Liniers, sir Wil- 
 liam de Montendre, sir Hugh de Vinoye, the lord de Crupenac, aad 
 many more knights and barons of Poitou and Saintonge. From 
 Gascony were, the captal de Buch, the lord de Pommiers, sir Helie 
 de Pommiers, the lords de Chaumont, de Montferrant, de Langeron, 
 the souldich de la Trane, sir Bernardet de Albret, the lord de 
 Gironde, sir Aimery de Testu, and several others. Of the English 
 were, sir Thomas Felton, lord Thomas Percy, the lord Roos, sir 
 Michael de la Pole, the lord Willoughby, sir William Beauchamp, 
 sir Richard de Pontchardon, sir Baldwin de Franville, the earl of 
 Angus, and many more. They were in all rather more than seven 
 hundred spears and five hundred archers. They marched in good 
 order to Mont-paon, where on their arrival sir William de Mont- 
 paon, seeing the duke of Lancaster and his army come to besiege 
 him, felt very uneasy ; for he knew that, if he were taken, he should 
 die a disgraceful death, without hopes of mercy, as he had done too 
 much against him to expect any. He told his fears to the four 
 knights, and said he should make his escape and go to Perigord : 
 but that they were masters of his castle to do as they pleased with 
 it. Upon this he directly departed, and went to the city of Peri- 
 gord, which was very strong, and left his castle under the guard of 
 these four knights. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXCV. 
 
 THE FOUR KNIGHTS DEFEND THEMSELVES AGAINST THE DUKE OF LAN- 
 CASTER. THE DUKE, ON TAKING THE PLACE, ADMITS THEM TO 
 RANSOM. 
 
 When the duke of Lancaster was arrived at Mont-paon, with all 
 his barons, knights, and men-at-arms, he immediately laid siege to 
 it. They built themselves substantial huts all round the castle, as if 
 they were to remain there seven years. They were not, however, 
 idle, but began the assault with great vigor, and had large quantities 
 of wood and faggots cut down by the peasants, and carried to the 
 ditches, which they threw in and covered with large beams and 
 earth ; by which means they were so filled up that they could ad- 
 vance to the walls to skirmish with the garrison, as was daily done, 
 and there were many gallant conflicts. The four Breton knights in 
 the castle were right good men-at-arms, and fought and defended 
 themselves so valorously, that they were deserving of great praise. 
 They were not dismayed, however iiear the English or Gascons 
 might advance, and never suffered them to return conquerors. 
 
 Not far distant, in the ganison of St. Macaire,t which belonged to 
 the Bretons, were John de Malef.troit and Silvestre Budes, the gov- 
 ernors of it, who, hearing every day of the great feats of arms which 
 were doing before Mont-paon, were anxious to be partakers of them. 
 They conversed frequently on this subject, saying, " Since wg know 
 that our companions are so near to us, and those valiant men," as 
 such a one and such a one, naming them, " have daily five or six 
 attacks on their hands, and are continually fighting, while we remain 
 here doing of nothing, we certainly do not act well." They were 
 very eager to go and assist them ; but, when their companions had 
 all spoken, they began to consider the danger there might be, if they 
 should leave the garrison without one of the commanders, and thia 
 puzzled them how to act. Silvestre Budes said, "By God, I will 
 go." " Silvestre," replied John, " you shall stay, and I will go." 
 This dispute continued some time. At last they agreed on their 
 oaths, before all their companions, to draw straws, and that he who 
 
 * He was buried in the Augustine Friars, London. 
 
 •' Here was interred the bodie of Edward, the eldest soane of Edward the black prince, 
 by Joan his wife, surnamed The Faire Maide of Kent, who was born at AngcJesme 
 anno 1375, and died at seven years of age."— Weever's Funeral Manuments. 
 
 t St. Macaire— a city of Guienne, on the Garonne, nine leagues from Bordeaux. 
 
804 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &e. 
 
 had the longest straw should go, and the other remain. Upon which 
 they drew straws, and Silvestre B'tdes had the longest, which created 
 a gruut liugh am^ng the company. Silvestre did not take it for a 
 joke, but went and made himself ready ; when, mounting his horse, 
 he set ctf with eleven men-at-ams, and rode for the castle of Mont- 
 paon, where he arrived and entered in the evening. The knights 
 and garrison were much rejoiced at seeing him, for they had a high 
 opinion of his courage. 
 
 As I have before said, there were continued attacks every day 
 made on Mont-paon ; and the knights within defended themselves so 
 well that they acquired great honor, for until a large piece of the 
 wall had been thrown down, they were not any way dismayed. The 
 English had brought thither large machines and other engines of as. 
 sault, which they could now place near t3 the walls where the ditches 
 were filled up. There were also footmen covered with large shields, 
 who worked with pick-axes, and labored so earnestly that one after- 
 noon they flung down upward of forty feet of the wall. The lords 
 of the army directly ordered out a body of archers, who kept up so 
 well-directed and sharp an attack with their arrows, that none could 
 stand against them, nor even show them?elves. Upon this, sir Wil- 
 liam de Loagueval, sir Alain de la Houssaye, tir Louis de Mailly, 
 and the lord d'Arcy, finding from this situation that they could not 
 any longer hold out, sent one of their heralds mounted on horseback, 
 through the breach, tj speak with the duke of Lancaster ; for they 
 wished, if possible, to enter into a treaty. The herald advanced to 
 the duke, way being made for him, and explained the business on 
 which he was sent. The duke, by the advice of those about him, 
 granted an armistice t j the garrison during the time of a parley ; and 
 the herald returned with his answer to his masters. The four knights 
 directly came forward upon the ditch, and the duke sent sir Guiscard 
 d'Angle to hold a parley with them. 
 
 Upon the ditch, therefoiq, they entered on a treaty, by asking, 
 " In what sort or manner does the duke intend to make us prisoners ?" 
 Sir Guiscard, who had received his instructions, replied : " Gentle- 
 men, you have greatly displeased my lord ; for you have detained 
 him here several weeks,* which has fretted him very much, and 
 caused the loss of several of his men : for which reasons, he will 
 not receive you, nor grant you mercy, but will have you surrender 
 yourselves simply to him. He also insists on sir William de Mont- 
 paon being first given up, for him to be dealt with according to his 
 deserts as a traitor." Sir LDuis de Mailly replied : " Sir Guiscard, 
 in regard to sir William de Mont-paon, whom you require from us, 
 we swear truly and loyally that we are ignorant what is become 
 of him, for he did not remain in this town a moment after you had 
 begun to besiege it. But it will be very hard for us to surrender our- 
 selves in the manner you insist on, who are soldiers sent here for pay, 
 just as your commanders may send you, or you may be obliged to it 
 by personal service ; and, before we accept of such a bargain, we 
 will sell our lives so dearly that report shall speak of it a hundred 
 years hence. Return, therefore, to the duke of Lancaster, and tell 
 him to accept of us in a courteous manner, upon certain terms of 
 ransom, as he would wish should be done to any of his party, should 
 they happen to be so unfortunate." 
 
 Sir Guiscard answered, that he would very willingly do so to the 
 utmost of his power. With these, words, he returned to the duke, 
 and took with him the captal de Buch, the lords de Rosen and de 
 Mucident, the better to forward the business. When these lords 
 were come into the duke's presence, they remonstrated with him so 
 eloquently, and with such good success, that he granted their request, 
 and received the four knights, with Silvestre Budes, and their men, 
 in mercy as prisoners. 
 
 Thus had he once more pos?scssion of the castle of Mont-paon, 
 and received the homage of the inhabitants of the town. He placed 
 there two Gascon knights as governors, with forty men-at-arms and 
 as many archers, and had all the walls completely repaired by masons 
 in the neighborhood : he victualled the place, and supplied it well 
 with all sorts of artillery. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXCVI. 
 
 TBI DVKE OF LANCASTER DISBANDS HIS ARMY, AND RETURNS TO BOR- 
 DEAUX. THE LORD DE PONS TURNS TO THE FRENCH PARTY. 
 
 After the conquest of Mont-paon, when the duke of Lancaster 
 had reinforced it with good men-at-arms and captains, he broke up 
 his camp and disbanded his army. Each therefore went to his own 
 home, and the duke returned to Bordeaux. The Poitevins retreated 
 to their country, and the Gascons to their towns and castles ; but the 
 free companies dispersed themselves over the whole principality, 
 where they did as much mischief to friends as enemies. The duke 
 winked at this, and suflTered them to act as they pleased, because he 
 thought he might soon have a fresh occasion for their services ; more 
 especially as the war at that moment was much more oppressive in 
 Poitou, without comparison, than anywhere else. 
 
 The French kept a large garrison in the castle of Montcontour, 
 four leagues distant from Thouars, and six from Poitiers, which was 
 commanded by sir Peter de GuerfiUe and Jourdain de Coulogne. 
 
 * " Several weeks All mj copies differ as to the number of weeks: some eleven, 
 Bome SIX weeks; I have therefore said several weeks, as it appe&rs very uncerU«n : but I 
 •bouid rather iodine to the smaller number. 
 
 They daily harassed the country, either about Thouars or about Poi. 
 tiers, and greatly damaged and pillaged the inhabitants. On the 
 other side, Garnet le Breton held Chatelheraut, with seven hundred 
 Bretons, who much ruined the country. The garrisons from la 
 Roche-Posay and St. Salvin were out almost every day, so that the 
 barons and knights of Poitou attached to the English, dared not ven. 
 ture abroad but in large parties, for fear of the French, who had 
 thus forced themselves into their country. 
 
 Soon after the return from Mont-paon, and when the lords of Poi. 
 tou had retired to their own country, which was one of the frontiers 
 to France, many secret negotiations were set on foot by the lord 
 Louis de St. .lulien, the viscount de la Rouchechouart, and several 
 others in the French interest, who, with large sums received from 
 the king of France, labored day and night, to gain over the lords of 
 Poitou to his party. These negotiations were so successful that the 
 lord de Pons turned to the French, in spite of the entreaties of the 
 lady his wife, and of all the inhabitants of the town of Pons in Poi. 
 tou. Notwithstanding, however, the lord de Pons changed his side, 
 the lady remained attached to the English. All the barons and 
 knights in Poitou in the English interest were violently enraged, for 
 the lord de Pons was a powerful baron. The duke of Lancaster 
 was much grieved at this, and, wishing every curse to attend the lord, 
 felt himself obliged to the lady and to those of the town who had 
 not deserted him. Sir Aimemon de Bours, a good and vaUant 
 knight, was ordered to assist the lady with his advice and courage ; 
 for the lord de Pons advanced every day to the gates of the town, 
 doing no damage to any one ; but sometimes he was driven back, 
 and retreated with loss. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXCVII. 
 
 THE ENGLISH TAKE THE CASTLE OF MONTCONTOUR. 
 
 Thus were the English aflfaira in Poitou entangled ; the lords and 
 knights opposed to each other ; when the strong oppressed the weak, 
 and none received either law, justice, or right. The castles and 
 strong places were intermixed ; some being French, others English, 
 who each made excursions on the other, and pillaged on all sides 
 without mercy. Some of the barons and knights of Poitou of the 
 English party, having considered that the garrison of Montcontour 
 was more active in harassing the country than the others, resolved to 
 march thither and lay siege to it. They therefore issued a summons 
 from the city of Poitiers in the name of lord Thomas Percy, s^nes. 
 chal cf Poitou, which was obeyed by all knights and squires. They 
 amounted to five hundred spears and full two thousand footmen, with 
 large shields, among the archers who accompanied them. There 
 were sir Gtiiscard d'Angle, sir Lauis d'Harcourt, the lords de Parte, 
 nay, de Pinane, de Tannaybouton, du Cupegnac, sir Percival do 
 Coulogne,* sir Geoffiy d'Argenton, sir Hugh de Vinoye, the lord de 
 Coyes, the lord de Puissances, sir James de Surgeres, sir Maubrun do 
 Linieres, and several more. There were also some English, who at 
 the time were resident in Poitou, either from the offices they held 
 there, or to assist in guarding the country : such as sir Baldwin de 
 Franville, the earl of Angus, sir Walter Hewett, sir Richard de Pont- 
 chardon and others. When they had been mustered at Poitiers, and 
 had completed their preparations, they marched from thence, taking 
 the road for Montcontour, in full aiTay, with everything necessary for 
 the siege of that place. 
 
 The castle of Montcontour is situated in the country of Anjou, is 
 very strong and handsome, and four leagues distant from Thouars. 
 The Poitevins, to the amount of three thousand combatants, continued 
 their march until they arrived there, when they laid siege to it, and 
 invested it on all sides. There had been brought from Thouars and 
 Poitiers large engines, which they pointed against the castle, and flung 
 from them stones night and day. They made daily assaults, and the 
 lords frequently had skirm.ishes with the garrison, in which several 
 gallant actions were performed : there were with the Poitevins sev- 
 eral of the free companies, who were unwilling to remain during the 
 siege ; such as John Creswell and David HoUegrave : these two, with 
 sir Walter Hewett, were their leaders. Sir Peter de Guerfille,t and 
 Jourdain de Coulogne, who were in the castle, defended it vaUantly, 
 and advanced every day to the combat with the English at their bar- 
 riers. On the tenth day after their arrival, in the midst of these at- 
 tacks, the English and Poitevins assaulted it so briskly, and in such 
 good order and strength, that they broke down the walls of the castle, 
 through which they passed, and conquered the French. All within 
 were slain, except sir Peter and Jourdain, and five or six men.at- 
 arms, to whom the companions granted quarter. 
 
 After the capture of Montcontour, lord Thomas Percy,t sir Louis 
 de Harcourt, and sir Guiscard d'Angle, by the advice and consent of 
 the other barons and knights, gave the castle to sir Walter Hewett, 
 John Cresswell, and David HoUegrave and their companies, who 
 
 * " Sir Percival de Coulogne." Barnes calls him sir Percival Collins 
 
 t In the Hist, de Bretagne, he is called Pierre de la Gresille. 
 
 X Lord Thomas Percy was knight of the Garter.— Anstis's MS. Collections. 
 
 " He was brother to the first earl of Northumberland, and uncle to Hotspur, who wa# 
 created earl of Worcester by Richard II. His barony was that of Haverfordwest, an4 
 he had a considerable estate in South Wales, now in the possession of the duke of Rut 
 land."— Note in the above Collections, by l)r. Percy, bishop of Dromore. 
 
 This estate is, I believe, sold ; at leasi a rent resolute was sold by the duke (lord lieu* 
 tenant of Ireland) to Mr. John Manners. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE. SPAIN, &c. 
 
 ^05 
 
 were full five hundred combatants, for ihern to guard the frontiers 
 against Anjoii and Maine. The lords then marched away, and dis- 
 missed their army. Thus was this casde made a guard for the borders 
 by those to whom it had been given, who collected a numerous gar- 
 rison, and had it completely repaired. They maintained possession of 
 it for a very long time, and much harassed all the country about it; for 
 there was not a day but they made some excursions into Anjou or 
 Maine. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXCVIII. 
 
 I SIR BEKTP.A.ND DU GUESCLIN, CONSTABLE OF FRANCE, BESIEGES THE TOWN 
 OF UZES,* WHICH SURRENDERS TO HIM UPON CAPITULATION. 
 
 We will now return to sir Bertrand du Guesclin, constable of 
 France, who had remained at Paris, near the king, since the defeat 
 of Pont-valin, where he and sir Oliver de Clisson had so dreadfully 
 beaten the English, as has been before related. It was told him that 
 the Engli-sh still kept the field ia Poitou and Guienne : upon which he 
 declared his intentions, that soon after Candlemas, at the commence- 
 ment of spring, he should collect a very large force of men-at-arms 
 and noblemen, and would make an incursion to another part of the 
 country, since the English were thus employed in Quercy, Poitou, 
 and Rouergue. Some of the English had very honorably remained 
 in these countries, and had maintained themselves there since the re- 
 newal of the war. Sir John Devereux and his men had again got 
 possession of Limousin, and had taken in Auvergne a castle with its 
 dependencies, called Uzes, which the constable said was not to be 
 suffered, and that he was determined to march thither. With the 
 king's permission, he assembled a large body of men-at-arms ; and, 
 quitting Paris, his army increased daily until he arrived in Auvergne. 
 
 There came with him, under his command, the duke of Berry, the 
 (duke of Bourbon, the count d'Alengon, the count du Perche his 
 •brother, 'the count de St. Pol, the dauphin of Auvergne, the counts de 
 Venddme and de Porcien, the lords de Sully and de Montagu, sir 
 Hugh Dauphin, the lord de Beaujeu, the lords de Rochefort and de 
 Talen9on, and a great many more barons and knights of France. 
 This army continued its march until it came before the city of Uzes, 
 when they encamped ; and, after remaining their fifteen days, during 
 A'hich time many fierce assaults were made, but v/ithout impression 
 on the fortress, for it had an English garrison who very valiantly de- 
 fended it, they broke up the siege and departed, the constable con- 
 tinuing his rharch into Rouergue. Some of the principal lords took 
 this opportunity of going to Avignon to visit pope Gregory and the 
 duke of Anjou, who at that time was v/ith him. Soon after this visit, 
 and having had a conference v/ith the duke, they left the city of Avig- 
 snon and followed the constable, who was advancing through Rouer- 
 gue, Jaking towns and castles from the English. They came before 
 the tovf/n of Milhaud,t which was held by sir Tliomas Wake,t and 
 !iad been so for some time : they laid siege to it, as well as to the rock 
 of Vuuclere ; but the English knight surrendered upon terms, to sir 
 Bertrand, this as well aa some other castles on the borders of Li- 
 mousin. 
 
 When sir Bertrand had refreshed his army, he marched away, 
 taking the road on his return to the city of Uzes, to which he again 
 laid siege. The constable and the dukes of Berry and Bourbon had 
 ordered large machines to be brought from Rioms and Clermont, 
 which they had pointed, as well as other warlike engines, against the 
 walls of the castle. 
 
 The English, who had before so gallantly defended the place, seeing 
 the great preparations which were making against them, as well as 
 the numerous army of the besiegers, and having heard the manner in 
 which sir Thomas Wake had given up the strong places in Rouergue, 
 at the same time not expecting any succors to come to their assist- 
 ance, held a council, and resolved to surrender upon capitulation, but 
 not upon any other terms. They entered into a treaty with the con- 
 stable, which was so well conducted on all sides, that they were to 
 march out without danger or blame, carrying off whatever they could 
 take with them, and besides were to be escorted as far as St. Severe 
 in Limousin. This treaty was strictly observed, and the English 
 marched out, having surrendered whatever they had held in the town 
 and castle of Uzes, and were conducted without peril to the garrison 
 ihey had fixed upon. Sir Bertrand gained by this expedition a very 
 large extent of country, of which the English had had possession, and 
 then returned to France. 
 
 CHAPTER CCXCIX. 
 
 THE KING OF ENGLAND'S ANGER AGAINST SIR ROBERT KNOLLES IS AP- 
 PEASED. PEACE IS MADE BETWEEN THE ENGLISH AND FLEMINGS. 
 
 You have before heard of the expedition which sir Robert Knolles§ 
 
 * " Uzes." I am inclined to believe it must be Usson, a town in Auvergne, instead of 
 Uzes, which is in Lower Languedoc, eight leagues from Avignon. See Mist, de Bre- 
 tagne, vol. i. p. 336. 
 
 t Milhaud— a town in Rouergue, on the Tame. 
 
 t " Sir Thomas Wake." In all the editions, printed and MSS. which 1 have seen, 
 this name is strangely disfigured. I have followed Barnes, for I could not make any- 
 thing of Veulqud'aire or Bueilcafare. 
 
 ? Sir Robert Knolles was but of mean parentage in the county of Chester, but by his 
 »ttIor advanced from a common soldier in tho French wan under Edward III. to r creat 
 
 commanded in P'rance, and how afterwards he retired to his castle of 
 Derval in Brittany. In truth, some of the English, on their return 
 hcmie, spoke much against him, so that the king and his council had 
 information of it, and were highly displeased with him. When sir 
 Robert heard of this, he sent over his two principal squires to explain 
 everything, and to clear him of whatever might be said against him : 
 insomuch that the king and his council were satisfied they had been 
 wrongly informed, and thought as favorably of him as before. Sir 
 Aleyne Boxhull, and other knights who were favorites with the king, 
 assisted in his disculpation, and made sir John Menstreworth pay 
 dearly for what he had done.* By this act of justice sir Robert 
 Knolles was cleared of all the charges which had been laid against 
 him, and remained in the good graces of the king and prince. 
 
 The king of England, who found himself hard pressed by this war 
 wi.di France, gained as many friends as he could on the other side 
 of the sea. He had for allies the duke of Guelders, his nephew, and 
 the duke of Juliers, who had engaged to raise a large force, as they 
 were well able to do, and to make an incursion into France. At 
 this time, the king sent the earl of Herefordt and some other knights 
 of his household, handsomely equipped, to Brittany, to consult with 
 the duke on the arrangements which it was necessary should be 
 made between them. 
 
 The English and Flemings were not at this time on good terms, 
 but attacked each other whenever they met on the seas ; and so 
 much had the Flemings lost, that they were exceedingly angry. By 
 accident, a fleet of each nation met off the island of Bas in Briitany.t 
 The commander of the Flemings was John Peterson, and of the 
 English sir Guy Brian.^ As soon as they saw each other, they pre- 
 pared for action, which was immediately begun : and very sharp it 
 was. The king's knights who accompanied the earl of Hereford, 
 sir Richard Sturey,|| sir Thomas Vuisque and the others were in this 
 engagement. These knights and their men fought very valiantly 
 against the Flemings, and exerted themselves the more, because the 
 enemy were in greater numbers, and were better prepared for action, 
 as, during the whole summer, they had been wishing to meet the 
 English. However, this time they did not gain much by the meet- 
 ing. This sea-fight lasted full three hours : many gallant acts were 
 performed, and many were killed and wounded by the arrows. The 
 ships were grappled together with chains and hooks, so that they 
 could not escape. In the end, the victory remained with the Eng- 
 lish ; for the Flemings were discomfited, and John Peterson, their 
 captain, made prisoner : the rest were either taken or slain, for none 
 escaped. The English made sail for England uith their prizes and 
 prisoners, which prevented ihem from continuing their voyage to 
 Brittany. The king was much rejoiced at the success of this en- 
 gagement, and defea-t of the Flemings, especially when 'he learnt 
 that they were the aggressor?.. John Peterson and his captains were 
 put into close confinement, and the others dispersed in various parts 
 of England. 
 
 After this defeat off the isie of Bas, the king of England ordered 
 
 commander. Being sent general of an army into France, in despite of their power he 
 drove the people before h:m like sheep, destroying towns, cisties, nnd cities in such 
 a manner and number that long after, in memory oftliis net, the siinrp points and gable 
 ends of overthrown houses and minsters were called Knolles' Mi; res. After which, to 
 make himself as well beloved of his country, he built a goodly f iir bridge at Rochester 
 over the Medway, with a chapel and chauntry at tiie east end thereof. He built much 
 at the Grayfriai-s, London, and an hospital at Rome for English travellers, and pil- 
 grims. He deceased at his manor of Scone Thorpe in Norfolk— w,!s buried by the lady 
 Constance, his wife, in the church of Grayfriars, London, I5tli August, 1407."— 
 Wekver's Fun. Mon. p. 436. 
 
 In 1365, John de Mor.tfort, duke of Brittany, gave him, at the assembly ofthe states at 
 Vannes, the lands, castle, &c. of Derval and Rouge, which had been excepted at the 
 treaty of peace. — Hist, de Bretagne. 
 
 He was created a knight of the Garter, Richard IL and is the 74th knight. 
 
 Knolles earl of Banbury, took his descent from sir Robert Knolles.— Di/gdals's 
 Baronage. 
 
 Lobineau says, Derval, &c. was given to him and his descendants. In 1373, the duke, 
 going into England, left his government to sir Robert Knolles: but few lords obeyed 
 him. The French besieged his castle of Derval, which he had left in the custody ot 
 Hugh Broo his kinsman, who capitulated to surrender if not relieved in two months, 
 during which time no person was to be received there. But Knclles disavowed the act 
 of his nephew, alleging he could not treat without Ins consent: so that the dnke of 
 Anjou sent his herald to say, that having done contrary to his capitulation in admitting 
 Knolles, in case he did not surrender, he would put to deiith the two knights and a squir?, 
 who were hostages; which being done, Knolles immediately executed three French 
 knights and a squire, and threw their bodies into a ditch : whereui)ou the siege wa» 
 raised.— Lobineau, p. 409. r t i. 
 
 * His head was affixed to a pole on London Bridge, which, on the rebellion of Jack 
 Straw, &c. was taken down to make room for the head of the bishop of London.— 
 Leland s Collectanea, vol. iii. . oo j i • r , 
 
 t "Earl of Hereford"— Humphry Bohun, constable of England, 32nd knight ot the 
 Garter.— See DuGDALE. , „ j w i j o 
 
 It appears, however, from Rymer, that sir Robert de Neville and Raulyn de Barey, 
 ecuyer de sa chambre, were the embassadors from Edward. 
 
 + The island of Bas is on the coast of Brittany, near Morlaix, In the original, it is, the 
 two fleets met in a harbor of Brittany, " qu'on dit ^ la Baye :" and Carte says in " the 
 bay:" but I should rather suppose it was meant as 1 have translated it. This signa 
 victory is very little noticed by our historians. e ■ r , 
 
 § •* Sir Guy Brian "-was 57th knight of the Garter, in the stall of sir John Chandos. 
 He was third husband to Elizabeth dowager of William earl of Salisbury-aied 14tb 
 Richard II. He was brother to the bishop o£Ely. _ . . j ^ 
 
 Pat 35 Ed III p I Guidoni de Bryan 200 marcos in provita quod prudenter defer 
 ebat vexillum" regis, in 'quodam conflictu apud Cales.-ANSTis's MS. Collect. 
 
 He is buried at Tewksbury. In Cough's Sepulchral Monuments is a plate of hu 
 
 ^^ITsir Richard Sturey. I cannot find anything of him but in the first volume of 
 Leiand's Collectanea, p. 183. dal» STs-Ricardus Sturey revocatus in famiJiariiateai « 
 gratiam ab £dwardo t9g,9. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 :i06 
 
 a large armament to be prepared against the Flemings, to engage 
 the enemy wherever they should meet with them, and to blockade 
 tiieir ports, so that no vessel could sail from them without risk of 
 being taken. When the citizens of Bruges, Ypres, and Gl^pnt, 
 heard of these orders, they summoned a council, and, jafter mature 
 deliberation, resolved that it was not for their advantage to be at 
 war or to have any ill-will with the English, who were their neigh- 
 bors, and connected wdth them by commerce, on account of any 
 quarrel of their earl, nor would it be expedient for them to aid and 
 support him. The principal towns, therefore, dissembled, but sent 
 able and good men to negotiate with the king of England and his 
 council, who managed the affair so well that on their return they 
 brought peace to the country of Flandei-s and to the Flemings, con- 
 formably to certain articles in the treaty which was sealed by each 
 party. Thus was this business settled on a good and solid found- 
 ation. 
 
 We will now say something of the king of Majorca. 
 
 CHAPTER CCC. 
 
 THE KING OF MAJORCA IS RANSOMED FROM KING HENRY OF SPAIN. HE 
 MAKES WAR ON THE KING OF ARRAGON. 
 
 You have before heard how James, king of Majorcaj was taken 
 at Valadolid, when king Henry reconquered Spain, and that he con- 
 tinued prisoner to king Henry, When the queen of Naples, his 
 <vife, and the marchioness of Montferrat, his sister, heard this they 
 were much distressed, and immediately began to think of remed3?ing 
 it in the manner I shall mention. They sent trusty men to king 
 Henry to treat for his ransom, who brought the matter about on con- 
 sideration of the sum of one hundred thousand francs, which those 
 ladies so graciously paid that king Henry was obliged to them. 
 The moment the king of Majorca gained his liberty he set out for 
 Naples, but remained there only sufficient time to collect large sums 
 of money and a body of troops, with which he again set off to make 
 war on the king of Arragon his adversary, whom he could never 
 love, as he had slain his father and detained his inheritance. The 
 king continued his journey until he came to Avignon, to visit pope 
 Gregory XI, where he staid upward of a month. He made such 
 able remonstrances with the holy father that he listened to his en- 
 treaties, and consented to the war which he was desirous of making 
 on the king of Arragon, as the cause which urged him to it was the 
 recovery of his heritage. The king of Majorca engaged men-at-arms 
 at a very high price wherever he could meet with them ; English, 
 Gascons, Germans, Bretons, and some of the free companions, under 
 the command of sir Gracien du Chatel, John de Malestroit, Sylvestre 
 Budes, and James Bray. They might amount to about twelve hun- 
 dred fighting men, who marched with him, and entered Navarre, 
 and there remained with the consent of that king. From thence 
 they advanced into Arragon, where the knights and men-at-arms 
 made war on the king, overran his country, taking and destroying 
 small forts and ransoming its inhabitants. The king of Arragon, 
 expecting this war, sent some men-at-anns toward the frontier of his 
 kingdom, under the command of the count de Roquebertin and the 
 count de Rodais. 
 
 While this war was carried on, which was done with much invet- 
 eracy and cruelty, the king of Majorca fell sick again at Val di So- 
 ria, and the disorder increased so much that he there died. By this 
 means, the Arragonians had peace for a long time from that quarter. 
 The free companions who had been engaged in this war returned 
 to France, to that party from whom they thought they should gain 
 most. 
 
 We will now speak of the duke of Lancaster. 
 
 CHAPTER CCCI. 
 
 THE DUKE OE LANCASTER ESPOUSES THE ELDEST DAUGHTER OF THE LATE 
 DON PEDRO, KING OF SPAIN. TREATIES OF ALLIANCE ARE ENTERED 
 INTO BETWEEN THE KINGS OF FRANCE AND SPAIN. 
 
 Duke John of Lancaster remained in the city of Bordeaux, and 
 with him many knights, barons, and squires of Aquitaine ; for, not- 
 withstanding some barons of Poitou and Limousin had turned to the 
 French party, that of the English was in a tolerably good state, and 
 made frequent inroads upon the French, on which occasions they 
 lost nothing, but well scoured the country of those who were defend, 
 ing the frontiers for the duke of Anjou. The duke of Lancaster was 
 a widower since the death of the lady Blanche, duchess of Lancaster 
 and Derby : upon which the barons of Gascony, in concert with sir 
 Guiscard d'Angle, considered that don Pedro, king of Spain, had 
 left two daughters by his marriage with the sister of the king of Por- 
 tugal, who were then in the city of Bayonne, whither they had been 
 conducted, under the safeguard of some knights, by sea, from the 
 neighborhood of Seville, for fear of king Henry. As soon as they 
 were informed of the death of don Pedro, these ladies were almost 
 distracted with grief. Every one compassionated them, for they 
 were the true heiresses of Castille, which was their just right, by 
 succession to their father. This matter was thus opened to the duke : 
 " My lord, it ia time you should think of remarrying : we know of a 
 
 very noble match for you, one from which you or your heirs will be 
 kings of Castille. It will be a charitable deed to comfort and advise 
 damsels who are daughters of a king, especially when in such a pit- 
 iable state as those ladies are. Take, therefore, the eldest for your 
 bride. We advise you to do so ; for at this moment we know not 
 where you can more nobly ally yourself, nor from whence greater 
 profit can accrue t<, you. These and such like words made an im. 
 pression on the duke, and were so a; .reeable to him that he consent- 
 ed to what they had proposed with m ch good will. He immediately 
 ordered four knigb.is to seek these lac es without delay, whose names 
 were Constance and Isabella. The ciuke himself set out from Bor- 
 deaux, when he knew they were coming, to meet them in grand 
 array. He married the eldest, the lady Constance, at a village on 
 the road called Rochefort, on the other side of the city of Bordeaux, 
 and gave there, on the day of his marriage, a splendid feast, to which 
 were invited a great number of lords and ladies to add to its mag- 
 nificence. Soon after the wedding, the duke conducted his lady to ^ 
 Bordeaux, where there were again grand entertainments. The 
 duchess and her sister were much feasted by the ladies and damsels 
 of Bordeaux, who presented them with magnificent gifts and presents 
 for the love they bore the duke. 
 
 News was brought to king Henry in Castille, and to all the barons 
 of the realms, who were allied to him by fealty and homage, that his 
 niece had married the duke of Lancaster, and that it was supposed 
 the younger sister would espouse the earl of Cambridge upon' the 
 duke's return to England. The king was very melancholy on hear- 
 ing this, and summoned his council. He was then advised to send 
 able embassadors to the king of France, to explain his situation. 
 The king agreed to their opinions, and chose the wisest men in his 
 kingdom to go to France. They set out with a grand retinue, and 
 continued their road without interruption until they came to Paris, 
 where they found the king, who received them with every politeness. 
 The king of France had many interviews with these embassadors, 
 who had full powers, properly sealed and authenticated, to enter into 
 any treaties, and to act in everything for their lord, so that many se- 
 cret councils were held. At last, everything was concluded ; and a 
 treaty was entered into between the two kings, of perpetual amity, 
 love and alliance, which was most solemnly sworn to be maintained, 
 and that neither party would dissolve or weaken without the other's 
 consent. The king of France swore, on the word of a king, that he 
 would aid and assist the king of Castille in every matter which might 
 concern him, and that he would never make peace with the king of 
 England without his being a party. 
 
 Sir Bertrand du Guescli"n, who much loved the king of Spain, took 
 great pains to bring this treaty about. After this business had been 
 completely finished, the embassadors took their leave and returned 
 to Spain. They found their king at Leon, who was much pleased 
 at having so well concluded the matters they were sent on. King 
 Henry, from this alliance, felt himself ever after much more assured 
 and comforted. 
 
 CHAPTER CCCII . 
 
 THE duke of LANCASTER APPOINTS GOVERNORS IN GUIENNE : HE RETURNS 
 TO ENGLAND, AND CARRIES HIS LADY WITH HIM. SIR WALTER MANNY 
 DIES IN LONDON. 
 
 We now return to the duke of Lancaster, who still resided in the 
 city of Bordeaux. He had de^eraiined that about Michaelmas he 
 would embark for England, in order to make the king his father bet- 
 ter acquainted with the affairs of Aquitaine. To this end he made 
 every preparation ; and, a little before his departure, he assembled 
 in Bordeaux all those barons and knights of Gascony who were of 
 the English party. When they were all collected, he addressed 
 them by saying, he had a great desire to return to England on par- 
 ticular business, as well as for the advantage of all present as for the 
 principality of Aquitaine ; but that he would come back in the ensu. 
 ing summer, if the king his father would permit it. These words 
 were very agreeable to all who heard them. He then appointed the 
 captal de Buch, the lords de Mucident and de I'Esparre, governors 
 of all those parts of Gascony which were attached to England. In 
 Poitou, he nominated sir Louis de Harcourt and the lord de Parte- 
 nay. In Saintonge, sir Louis d'Argenton and sir William de Mon. 
 tendre. He left all the seneschals and other officers as they were 
 before. The council of the Gascons, Poitevins, and Saintongers 
 ordered sir Guiscard d'Angle, the lord de Pinane and sir Aimery de 
 Tarbe to accompany the duke to England, in order more fully to ex- 
 plain the affairs of Aquitaine ; and the duke, by waiting for them, 
 delayed some little his voyage. When all was ready, they embarked 
 on board of vessels in the harbor of Bordeaux, which is large and 
 spacious. The duke was attended by a large body of men-at-arms 
 and archers, having sixty vessels in the fleet, including those with 
 provisions : he carried with him his lady and her sister. They sailed 
 with favorable winds, which brought them safe to Southampton, 
 where they disembarked, and entered the town. They reposed 
 themselves there for two days, when they set out, taking the road to 
 Windsor, where the king resided. He received his son the duke, 
 the ladies, damsels, and the foreign knights with great joy and feasts, 
 but especially sir Guiscard d'Angle, whom he was delighted to see. 
 
 About this time, that gallant knight sir Walter Manny departed 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, & 
 
 90i 
 
 this life in the city of London ; for which all the barons of England 
 were much afflicted, on account of the loyalty and prudence they 
 had always found in him. He was buried with great pomp in the 
 monastery of the Carthusians,* which he had built, at his own ex. 
 pense, without the walls of London. His funeral was attended by 
 the king, his children, and the barons and prelates of England. All 
 his landed property on each side of the sea fell to John earl of Pem- 
 broke, who had married his daughter Anne. The earl sent two 
 knights to take possession of the lands which had fallen to him in 
 Hainault, and they performed their duty well toward duke Albert, 
 who at that time governed the country in the name of his deranged 
 brother William. 
 
 CHAPTER CCCIII. 
 
 THE KING OF ENGLAND APPOINTS THE EARL OF PEMBROKE GOVERNOR OF 
 AQUITAINE. THE SPANIARDS, BEING ALLIES OF FRANCE, ATTACK HIM 
 AT SEA, OFF LA ROCHELLE. 
 
 During this winter (1372,) many councils were held in England on 
 the state of affairs, and upon the best methods of conducting them. 
 The English had planned two expeditions ; one to Guienne, another 
 into France through Calais ; and were gaining allies, as well in Ger- 
 many as in other parts of the empire, where several knights and 
 squires had joined them. They were busily employed in making 
 ^reat preparations for the largest army which had been seen for a 
 
 Round Tower OF Windsor Castle, as it appeared in the time of Edward HI., under whose directions it was built. From one 
 of a series engraved from original documents by Battey Langley, to exhibit the erections of the successive sovereigns. 
 
 long time. The king of France was regularly informed by some 
 Englishmen of these transactions, the state of them, and what was 
 the end proposed. Upon which, having duly considered his intelli- 
 gence, he acted accordingly, and laid in a sufficiency of provision 
 in all the cities, towns and castles of Picardy ; having strongly rein- 
 forced the garrisons with men-at-arms, that the country might not 
 be surprised. 
 
 When summer was arrived, king Edward kept the feast and so- 
 lemnity of St. George in Windsor castle, as he was yearly accustomed 
 to do, when sir Guiscard d'Angle was elected a brother-knight with 
 the king, the princes and barons, who were called, in this fraternity, 
 The Knights of the Blue Garter. The king, after this, went to 
 London, to his palace of Westminster, where he held a grand council 
 on public affairs. The duke of Lancaster was ordered to invade 
 Picardy. He was to be accompanied by his 
 
 Cambridge. The king, at the entreaty of sir 
 
 France by entering 
 brother the earl of 
 
 Guiscard d'Angle and the Poitevins, appointed the earl of Pembroke 
 governor of Aquitaine, in room of the duke of Lancaster, with orders 
 to hasten to those countries, and to conduct the war against the 
 French. 
 
 The Gascons and Poitevins had requested the king by letters, as 
 well as by sir Guiscard d'Angle, that if he should be advised not to 
 send any of his own children, he would nominate the earl of Pem- 
 broke, whom as they loved much they desired to have, for they knew 
 him to be a good and hardy knight. The king, therefore, spoke to 
 the earl of Pembroke, who, with several other barons and knights, 
 was present at this council, saying : " John, my fair son, I ordain 
 
 * Now the Charter House. 
 
 and institute you governor and captain of all the men-at-arms in 
 Poitou, who according to the accounts I have had, are very numerous ; 
 and also of those you will conduct from hence thither. You will, 
 therefore, accompany sir Guiscard d'Angle into Poitou." The earl 
 of Pembroke, falling on his knees, replied : " My lord, I return you 
 my warmest thanks for the high honor you have conferred upon me. 
 I will act for your majesty beyond seas as one of your smallest mar- 
 shals." After this, the council broke up, when the king returned to 
 Windsor, taking sir Guiscard d'Angle with him. They frequently 
 conversed on the affairs of Poitou and Guienne. In one of these 
 conversations, he said : " My lord, when our governor and captain 
 shall arrive in that country, we shall carry on a good war ; for we 
 shall there find between four and five hundred lances, who will all 
 cheerfully obey you, but they must be regularly paid." The king 
 answered : " Sir Guiscard, sir Guiscard, do not be uneasy on account 
 of wanting money to continue the war, for I have enough, and will 
 eagerly employ it for such an occasion, as it very sensibly affects us 
 and our kingdom." In these and such like discourses did the king 
 of England amuse himself with sir Guiscard d'Angle, for he had 
 great confidence in him, not indeed withoUit reason. 
 
 The season was now arrived for the departure of the earl of Pem- 
 broke, who took his leave of the king, as did all those who accom- 
 panied him. It seems to me that sir Otho de Grantson,* d'outre la 
 Somme, was appointed to go with him. The earl of Pembroke had 
 not a very large force with him, but only the knights of his household, 
 
 on account of the information which 
 sir Guiscard d'Angle had given the 
 king ; but he carried a sufficient sum 
 in nobles and florins to pay three 
 thousand fighting men. After tak- 
 ing leave of the king, they set out 
 for Southampton, where they re- 
 mained fifteen days waiting for a 
 wind. On the sixteenth, they had 
 a wind to their wish ; and, embark- 
 ing, they sailed out of the harbor for 
 the coasts of Poitou, recommending 
 themselves to the care of God and 
 St. George. 
 
 King Charles of France was per- 
 fectly well acquainted with the 
 greater part of the king of England's 
 councils (I do not know by whom 
 or how they were revealed to him,) 
 and that sir Guiscard d'Angle and 
 his companions were gone to Eng. 
 land to request from the king an able 
 leader. He already knew that the 
 earl of Pembroke had the appoint- 
 ment, and that he was on his way 
 thither. Upon which the king of 
 France had secretly raised a large 
 naval armament ; that is to say, it 
 had been raised at his request, for it 
 belonged to king Henry of Castille, 
 who had sent this armament in con. 
 formity to the treaty which had been 
 lately concluded betv/een them 
 This Spanish fleet consisted of forty 
 large vessels, and thirteen barks, 
 well provided with towers and ramparts, as the Spanish ships usually 
 are. Four valiant men were the commanders of this fleet: Am- 
 brosio de Balequer, Cabesso de Vaccadent, Hernando de Leon, Rod. 
 rigo de Rosas.t These Spaniards had remained a considerable time 
 at anchor, waiting for the return of the Poitevins, and the coming of 
 the earl of Pembroke ; for they were well informed that he was to 
 land on the coast of Poitou, and had therefore placed themselves at 
 anchor before the town of La Rochelle. 
 
 It happened, therefore, that on the day preceding the vigil of St. 
 John the Baptist, in the year of grace 1372, when the earl of Pem- 
 broke and his fleet expected to enter the port of La Rochelle, they 
 found that the Spaniards had blocked up the entrance by lying before 
 its mouth, and were ready prepared to receive them. When the 
 English and Poitevins saw the Spaniards thus posted, and that an 
 engagement must happen, they encouraged each other, though they 
 were not near an equal match, either in regard to the number of 
 vessels or men, and made preparations for an immediate combat, 
 posting their archers on the bows of the ships. The Spaniards were 
 well equipped with men-at-arms and foot soldiers, who had cross- 
 
 * " Six Otho de Grantson." Barnes calls him sir Thomas Grantson ; but sir Thomas 
 Grantson was made prisoner by sir Bertrand du Guescliii, and, I suppose, was then at 
 Paris. Froissart, 1 should imagine, by mentioning outre la Somme, must mean a differ- 
 ent person, one who had an estate beyond the Somme. In the MS. collections of Mr. 
 Anstis, a sir Otho Grantson is spoken of; but, by a reference to Dugdale, it appears he 
 must have lived in a much earlier period. 
 
 1 1 have copied the names of these Spanish captains from Barnes, but am doubtful 
 if they are right ; for in Choisi's history »f Charles V. Roderioue de Roux is mentioned 
 as admiral. In Villaret's history of France, Boccanera is called the admiral. Indeed, 
 tlus is nearer to Froissart, who calls the first captain Boucquenegrc. Barnes gives not 
 «ny authority for his alterations. 
 
908 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 bows and cannons : many had also large bars of iron, and staves 
 loaded with lead, to make thtir attacks wit-'i. They advanced with 
 shoutings and a great noise. The large ships of Spain made sail to 
 gain the wind, so that they might bring their towors to bear on the 
 English, wlto little suspected their intent, and less feared them. Thus 
 did they bear down on them full sail. At this commencement, great 
 were the shouts and cries on both sid-ss. The English behaved 
 gallantly, and the earl of Pembroke, his knights and squires, acted 
 worthy of their honor. 
 
 The engagement was very severe, and the English had enough to 
 do ; for the Spmiard? who were in large vessels had great bars of iron 
 and huge stjnes, which they launched and flung from their ships in 
 order to sink those of the English, by which they wounded despe- 
 rately both sailors and men-at-arms. The knights of England and 
 Poitju that day showed excellent proof| of chivalry and prowess. 
 The earl fought gallantly, seeking his enemies everywhere, and did 
 extraordmary feats of arms. Sir Otho de Grantson, sir Guiscard d'- 
 Angle, the lord de Pinane and all the other knights, behaved equally 
 well. 
 
 » 
 
 CHAPTER CCCIV. 
 
 THE INHABITANTS OF LA ROCHELLE REFUSE TO ASSIST THE EARL OF 
 PEMBROKE. THE SENESCHAL AND THE LORD DE TANNAYBOUTON, 
 WITH OTHERS, COME TO HIS AID. 
 
 Bv what I have heard from those who were present at this engage, 
 ment, the English and Poitevins showed plainly they wished for 
 victory, and obtiined 
 great praise for their va. 
 lor, for never people 
 exerted more courage, 
 nor fought more brave- 
 ly, considering what a 
 handful of men they 
 were in comparison 
 with the Spaniards, and 
 in such small vessels 
 that one cannot but mar- 
 vel how it lasted so 
 long: but their great 
 prowess and chivalry 
 raised a mutual spirit 
 of emulatic^n, and, had 
 their vessels been of the 
 same size with their 
 enemy's, the Spaniards 
 would not have had the 
 advantage ; for they 
 handled their spears, 
 which were well steel- 
 ed, so briskly, and gave 
 Buch terrible strokes, 
 that none dared to come 
 near, unless he was well 
 armed and shielded ; 
 but the showers of 
 Btones, lead, and iron 
 bars, annoyed them ex- 
 teedingly, and in this 
 first engagement seve- 
 ral knights and squires 
 were severely wounded. 
 
 The Rochellers saw 
 plainly the whole of 
 this engigement, but 
 never offered to ad- 
 vance to the assistance 
 of their countrymen, 
 leaving them to shift for 
 themselves. This bat- 
 tle lasted until night, 
 
 when each party separated and cast their anchors : but the English 
 lost two barges of provision, and all those in them were slain. Sir 
 John Harpedo?, who at that time was seneschal of La Rochelle, 
 employed himself all the night in entreating the inhabitants, the 
 mayor, John Chauderon, and the others to arm themselves, and to 
 draw out the commonalty, and embark in the vessels and barges 
 which were lying on the shore, in order to assist and aid their fellow 
 subjects whom they had seen so valorously defend themselves. The 
 inhabitants, however, who had no inclination so to do, excused them- 
 selves by saying they had their town to guard ; that they were not 
 seamen, nor accustomed to fight at sea, nor with Spaniards ; but 
 that, if the battle had been on shore, they would very willingly have 
 comi.lied with his request. The business remained in this state, and 
 nothing could bring them to change their resolution. 
 
 At this moment there were in La Rochelle, the lord de Tannay- 
 bouton, sir James de Surgeres, and sir Maubrun de Linieres, who 
 handsomely acquitted themselves in joining their entreaties with 
 those of the seneschal. When those four knights saw they could 
 
 not gain anything, they armed themselves, ordering their people, who 
 were not in any great numbers, to do the same ; and, on the return 
 of the tide, they embarked in four boats which they took from the 
 shore, at break of day, and made for the vessels of their friends, who 
 were right glad to see them. They told the earl of Pembroke and 
 sir Guiscard d'Angle, that they must not expect any assistance from 
 La Rochelle, as the townsmen had positively refused it ; to which, 
 as they could not better themselves, they replied that they trusted in 
 the mercy of God, and would wait the event ; that a time might 
 come when the Rochellers should rep !nt of their refusal. 
 
 CHAPTER CCCV. 
 
 THE EARL OF PEMBROKE IS DEFEATED, AND MADE PRISONER BY THE 
 SPANIARDS. THEY SAIL FROM LA ROCHELLE WITH THEIR PRISONERS. 
 THE CAPTAL DE BUCH ARRIVES THERE, BUT TOO LATE. 
 
 When it was day, and the tide had flowed full, the Spaniards 
 weighed their anchors, and, with a great noise of trumpets and drums, 
 formed a lin§ of battle, like to that of the preceding day, with their 
 large vessels, which were well manned and armed, and having 
 gained the wind in hopes of inclosing the English vessels, which 
 were but few in comparison, the before-mentioned four captains led 
 the van in handsome order. The English and Poitevins, observing 
 their line of battle, formed theirs accordingly, and having collected 
 themselves together, placed their archers in front. The Spaniards, 
 under the command of these captains, bore down on them full sail^ 
 
 Bka Fight off La Rocheli-e. From a MS. Froissart of the 15th Century. 
 
 and began the engagement, which was dreadfully deadly. Whfin 
 they came to close quarters, the Spaniards flung out grappling-hooks 
 with chains of iron, which lashed the English to their vessels, so 
 that they could not separate, and thus, as it were, held them close.* 
 With the earl of Pembroke there were twent,v.two knights, who 
 united good inclinations to tried valor, and v\'ho vigorously defended 
 themselves Math spears, swords, and other weapons. They remained 
 there closely engaged, fighting desperately, for a considerable time ; 
 but the Spaniards had too much the advantage, as their vessels were 
 larger and higher above the v»-ater than those of the English, from 
 which they flung down stones, bars of iron, and lead, that much an- 
 noyed their adversaries. The engagement continued with great 
 fury between them until near nine o'clock ; and no people ever 
 labored harder than the English and Poitevins, but the greater part 
 of their men were now wounded by the stones and other things 
 
 * The Meinoires de Du Guesclin say, tliai fire-ships were first used in this eiigngement 
 by the Spaniards, and that by their means thirteen of the largest English ihip* wcrt 
 destroyed.— a»«. Mimoirea HisUniques, vol. i. p. 432. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 209 
 
 which were thrown on them, and that gallant knight Ox" Gasccny sir 
 Aimery de Tarbe was slain, as well as sir John Lauton, who was 
 knight of the body to the earl of Pembroke. Four large Spanish 
 ships had grappled with that in which was the earl : they were com- 
 manded by Cabesso de Vaccadent and Hernando de Leon, and full 
 of men-at-arms for the combat and to work the vessels. After an 
 obstinate resistance, they boarded the earl's ship, when he was made 
 prisoner, and all on board slain or taken. Among the last were, sir 
 Robert Beaufort, sir John Curzon, sir John Grimstone : sir Simon 
 Whitaker, sir John Morton, and sir John Touchet shared the fate of 
 the first. 
 
 At some distance, the Poitevins, under the command of sir Guis- 
 card d'Angle, the lord de Pinane, the lord de Tannaybouton, and 
 other knights, with their followers, continued the fight ; and in 
 another ship, sir Otho de Granston was engaged against Ambroise de 
 Boccanera and Roderigo de Rosas, who were too many for him ; 
 so that all these knights were taken by the Spaniards, not one 
 escaped being killed or made prisoner. Their men were also in 
 great danger, but their lords, when taken, desired they would cease 
 the slaughter, as they would pay a proper ransom for them. Who- 
 ever may find himself in such a strait of arms as the earl of Pem- 
 broke or sir Guiscard d'Angle were in, before La Rochelle, must 
 cheerfully submit to whatever God or fortune may please to order. 
 But know, that in the loss of this day, of knights or squires, the king 
 of England in comparison was by far the greatest sufferer ; for, in 
 consequence of this defeat, he lost afterwards all Guienne, as you will 
 have related in this history. 
 
 I was informed that the English vessel which had on board the 
 money for sir Guiscard d'Angle, to pay the soldiers of Guienne was 
 lost, and everything on board with it ; so that it was not of profit to 
 any one. All this day, which was the vigil of St. John the Baptist, 
 the ensuing night, and the morrow until noon, did the Spaniards re- 
 main at anchor before La Rochelle, shouting and rioting with joy. 
 It happened fortunately that a knight of Poitou, called sir James de 
 Surgeres, addressed the person who had taken him with so much 
 eloquence that he agreed to give him his liberty for three hundred 
 francs, which he paid down. He dined in La Rochelle on St. John's 
 day ; and by him it v/as known how the affair had ended, who were 
 slain or made prisoners. Many citizens of the town pretended to be 
 much concerned at this event, though in their hearts they rejoiced, 
 for they never were well inclined toward the English. 
 
 In the afternoon of St. John's day, at high flood, the Spaniards 
 weighed anchor, set their sails, and departed with a great ncHe of 
 drums and trumpets. They had on their mast-heads standards like 
 to pennons, with the arms of Castille displayed on them, and of such 
 a length that their ends frequently touched the sea. It was a fine 
 sight to see them thus sail off, as they steered for the coast of Galicia. 
 In this same day, toward the evening, there came into La Rochelle a 
 large body of men-at-arms, Gascons and English, who had not heard 
 what had passed, but they knew that the Spaniards were, lying before 
 the town, and had done so for some time : they came, therefore, to 
 reinforce it. The leaders of the Gascons were, the captal de Buch, 
 sir Beras de la Lande, sir Peter de Landura, the souldich, sir Bertrand 
 du Trane : of the English, lord Thomas Percy, sir Richard de Pont- 
 chardon, sir William Farrington, the earl of Angus, sir Baldwin Fre- 
 ville,* sir Walter Hewet, and sir John Devereux.t 
 
 When these lords and their troops, which were full six hundred 
 men, were arrived in La Rochelle, the inhabitants made appearance 
 of being very glad to see them, for they dared not do otherwise. 
 They learnt from sir James de Surgeres the event of the battle with 
 the Spaniards, and the names of those killed and taken. The barons 
 and knights were sorely afflicted at this news, and thought them- 
 selves more unfortunate than they had ever yet been for not arriving 
 sooner. They regretted much the loss of the earl of Pembroke and 
 sir Guiscard d'Angle. I ^now not how many days they remained in 
 La Rochelle, to consider what would be the best manner for them to 
 conduct themselves, and whither they should march. We will leave 
 them for a while, and speak of Evan of Wales, and of his exploits 
 this season. 
 
 CHAPTER CCCVI. 
 
 KTAN OF WALEst DEFEATS THE ENGLISH OFF THE ISLAND OF GTJERNSEY. 
 THE KING OF FRANCE SENDS HIM TO SPAIN TO SEEK FOR MEN-AT- 
 ARMS, TO LAY SIEGE TO LA ROCHELLE. 
 
 Evan of Wales was the son of a prince of Wales, whom king 
 Edward, for some reason I am ignorant of, had put to death, and 
 seized his territories and principality, which he had given to his son 
 
 *"Sir Bnldwin Freville"— hud summons to parliament the 1st Edward III. See 
 Dugdale. He was competitor for the office of champion at the coronation of Richard 
 II. butthe earl marshal decided on the superior claim of the Dymocks. See Dugdale's 
 Warwickshire, where the pedigree is. 
 
 t " Sir John Devereux," See Dugdale. From him are descended the viscounts Here- 
 ford, 4tc. 
 
 I Among the members of the council of war whom Du Guesciin called, before he 
 attacked St. Maure-sur-Loire, are Carenlouet capitaine de la Roche-Posay, Ivain de 
 Galles, and another knight called the Poursuivant d'A mours.--"Note 83rd in the same 
 Tol. says, "This famous Poursuivant d' Amours was also called le chevalier Bauwen, 
 most probably a Welshman of the name of Bowen." But how is this to be reconciled 
 with the preceding quotations ?— See M^moires de Du Guesciin, vol. iv, of the Histor- 
 ical Collection ot French Memoirs, p. 397. 
 
 the prince of Wales. Evan went to France, to lay his complaints 
 before king Charles of the injuries he had suffered from the king oi 
 England, by the death of his father and the seizure of his inher 
 itance. The king of France had retained him in his service, and 
 much advanced him, by giving him the command of a large body of 
 men-at-arms. In this summer, he sent him to sea with four thousand 
 fighting men, with whom he acquitted himself much to his honor, aa 
 you shall now hear. 
 
 When he took the command of these men-at-arm?, and vessels 
 which the king of France had equipped and profided for him, hf 
 embarked in the port of Harfleur, and set full sail for England, mak- 
 ing the island of Guernsey, which lies opposite to Normandy. Ed- 
 mund Ross, squire of honor to the king of England, was then gov. 
 ernor of that island. On hearing of the arrival of the French under 
 the command of Evan, he was much angered, and advanced out to 
 meet him. He issued his summons throughout tlie island, which is 
 not large, and collected, as well of his own men as of the islanders, 
 about eight hundred, with whom he gave battle. It was sharp and 
 long ; butthe English, at last, were defeated, leaving upward of four 
 hundred dead on the field. Edmund was forced to fly, otherwise he 
 must have been slain or taken. He escaped with great difficulty 
 and saved himself in a handsome castle, called Cornet, situated at 
 the distance of two leagues from the place where the battle had been 
 fought, and which he had beforehand provided with everything 
 necessary for such a fortress. After this defeat, Evan, having coU 
 lected his army, and hearing that Edmund h;:d retreated into Cornet 
 castle, advanced thither, and invested it closely, giving frequent as- 
 saults ; but the castle was strong and well provided with artillery, so 
 that the French could not gain it. 
 
 It was during the time of this siege the unfortunate defeat and 
 capture of the earl of Pembroke and sir Guiscard d'Angle happened 
 before La Rochelle, which has been just related. The king of 
 France, when he heard of the success of the Spaniards, was exceed- 
 ingly rejoiced, and paid more attention than ever to the affairs of 
 Poitou ; for he thought, perhaps lightly enough, that if the English 
 should have a few more such defeats, the cities and principal towns 
 would willingly surrender to him. He therefore determined, with 
 the advice of his council, to send the constable and all his men at- 
 arms into Poitou, Saintonge and the Rochellois, in order to carry on 
 the war more briskly by sea and land, while the English party should 
 be without a leader, for the whole country was wavering in its alle- 
 giance. He therefore sent messengers to Evan of Wales, who was 
 lying before Cornet castle, as he was perfectly acquainted with the 
 state of it, and knew it to be impregnable, ordering him instantly to 
 break up the siege, and put to sea in a vessel equipped for him, and 
 to make sail for Spain to prevail on king Henry to grant him boats 
 and galleys, with his admirals and men-at-arms, to blockade La Ro- 
 chelle. Evan, on receiving the messengers with the king's orders, 
 pr^ptly obeyed them, as was right ; broke up the siege, and dis 
 banded his men, lending them vessels to carry them to Harfleur. 
 He himself immediately embarked on board a large ship, and made 
 sail for Spain. Thus was the siege of Cornet castle raised. 
 
 CHAPTER CCCVII. 
 
 THE KING OF ENGLAND IS MUCH CAST DOWN AT THE CAPTTJRE OF THB 
 EARL OF PEMBROKE. EVAN OF WALES MEETS THE LAXL A PRISONER 
 IN WALES. 
 
 You must know that when the king of England heard of the :^.efeat 
 of the armament he had sent to Poitou, and that it hdd been overcome 
 by the Spaniards, he was greatly afflicted ; so were all those who 
 were attached to him ; but for the moment he could not amend it. 
 The wisest in the kingdom imagined that this unfortunate business 
 would cause the loss of the countries of Poitou and Saintonge ; and 
 they stated this as their opinion to the king and duke of Lancaster. 
 They held many councils upon it. The earl of Salisbury was ordered 
 thither with five hundred men-at-arms. However, notwithstanding 
 this order, he never went ; for other affairs came into agitation res- 
 pecting Brittany, which prevented it from taking place. The king 
 repented of this afterwards, when it was too late. 
 
 The Spaniards who had taken the earl of Pembroke and his com. 
 panions were detained some little time at sea by contrary winds. 
 They arrived at the port of St. Andero in Biscay, and entered the 
 town about midday, when they conducted their prisoners to a strong 
 castle, and fastened them with iron chains according to their usual 
 custom ; for the Spaniards know not how to show courtesy to their 
 prisoners, but act like the Germans. Evan* of Wales had the same 
 day arrived with his ship at St. Andero, and had entered the hdtcl 
 where don Fernando de Rosas and Cabesso de Vaccadent had con. 
 ducted the earl of Pembroke and his knights. This was told to Evan 
 in his apartment, saying : " Sir, come and see the English knights 
 
 * By everything I can find, this Evan was an impostor. Llewellyn, the last prince 
 of Wales was tieacherously slain, nearBulith. in Edward I.'s reign. Probably thekmg 
 of France knew this, but employed him in hopes of his assistance against England.— 5e« 
 Barnks and others. 
 
 I Llewellyn left only one legitimate child, a daughter, afterwards married to Malcolm 
 earl of Fife: he also, it is said, left an illegitimate son called Rladoc, but n<»lhmg a 
 known of his history or fate; it is not improbable that this Evan wuslheson of Ala- 
 , doc— Ed.J 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, <fec. 
 
 eio 
 
 \:hom our people have made prisoners, they will enter this hMel, for 
 it is not long since they arrived." Evan beingvery desirous of seeing 
 rhom, to know who they were, went out. He met, on quitting his 
 • humber, in the apartment of the landlord, the earl of Pembroke, 
 ^v'hom he directly recognized, though he had scarcely ever seen him 
 ' efore. He addressed him in a reproachful manner: " Earl Pem- 
 U:oke, are you come into this country to do me homage for the lands 
 y )U hold of me in the principality of Wales, of which I am the heir, 
 and which your king has deprived me of, through the advice of evil 
 counsellors ?" 'Jhe earl of Pembroke was much displeased and 
 ashamed, feeUng himself a prisoner in a strange country, to be thus 
 apostrophized in his own language by one whom he did not know, 
 and replied, " Who are you that you address me in such words ?" 
 Evan answered, " I am Evan, son and heir of prince Edmund of 
 Wales, v/hom your king wickedly and wrongfully put to death, and 
 disinherited me afterwards. But I may perhaps be able, through the 
 assistance of my very dear lord the king of France, to apply a remedy 
 io this, and I will certainly then do so. I wish you to know, that if 
 I can meet you in a proper place and time to offer you combat, I will 
 sliow you the wrongs you have done me, as well as the earl of Here- 
 ford and Edward Spencer ; for by your father and other evil coun- 
 sellors wa? my lord and father betrayed, which ought to anger me, 
 and I will be revenged of it whenever I may have an opportunity." 
 
 Sir Thomas St. Aubin, who was one of the earl's knights, stepped 
 forward and eagerly said : Evan, if you mean to say and maintain, 
 that my lord has now, or at any other time, commited a dishonorable 
 act, or that my lord his father has done so, or that he owes you any 
 homage or anything else, throw down your glove and you will find 
 one ready enough to take it up." Evan replied : " You are a pris- 
 oner : I shall gain no honor in calling you out, for you are not your 
 own master, but belong to those who have taken you : but when you 
 have gained your liberty, I shall s|5eak out more boldly, for things 
 shall not remain as they now are." As he finished these words, 
 som.e knights and Spanish men of valor got between them, and sepa- 
 rated them. The four admirals did not, after this, make any long 
 stay, but led their prisoners to Burgos, to deliver them up to the king 
 of Spain, who at that time resided there. 
 
 When the king heard of their coming, and that they were near to 
 Burgos, he sent his eldest son, John, who was called the Infanta of 
 Castille, attended by a large company of knights and squires, to meet 
 and to do them honor ; for king Henry knew well that it became 
 him so to act ; and he himself paid them much attention, as soon as 
 they were come into his presence. Shortly after, the king issued out 
 his orders, when they were sent to different places in the kingdom of 
 Castille. 
 
 CHAPTER CCCVIII. 
 
 THE CONSTABLE DU QUESCLIN TAKES THE CASTLE OF MONMOBILLON,* A^fD 
 ^HER PLACES IN POITOU. 
 
 We will return to the affairs of Poitou, which at that time were not 
 trifling matters, and say how those knights from England and Gas- 
 cony acted who had come into La Rochelle at the feast of St. John 
 the Baptist, as has been before related. They were exceedingly 
 vexed ihey had not arrived there the preceding day, and been in time 
 for the Spaniards. They held long councils how they should act, 
 and which way they should advance, for they already had their suspi- 
 cions of the loyalty of the Rochellers. They appointed sir John De- 
 vereux seneschal of La Rochelle, with three hundred men-at-arms for 
 the defence of the castle, for as long as they should be masters of that, 
 the town dared not to rebel. This business done, the captal de Buch, 
 who commanded the expedition^ lord Thomas Percy, the earl of An- 
 gus, sir Richard de Pontchardon, the souldich,t sir Peras de la Lande, 
 and the others with their men, marched from La Rochelle. About 
 four hundred lances took the road for Soubise ;t for there were some 
 Bretons near that place, who having taken possession of several i 
 churches and small forts, had fortified them : but as soon as these | 
 lords approached they fled, and the country was freed of such visitors. 
 
 At this time, the constable of France, the dukes of Berry and Bour- 
 bon, the count d'Alen9on, the dauphin d'Auvergne, the lord Louis de 
 Sancerre, the lords de Clisson and" de Laval, the viscount de Rohan, 
 the lord de Beaumanoir, and numbers of the barons of France, had 
 taken the field, and were with the army in the countries of Anjou, Au- 
 vergne and Berry : in all, upward of three thousand spears. Those 
 lords who were under the immediate command of the constable ad- 
 vanced into Poitou, where they kept in a body, and then proceeded 
 to lay siege to a castle called Monmorillon. On their arrival, they 
 assaulted it briskly and gained it, putting all within to the sword. 
 They reinforced it with another garrison. They then marched to 
 Chauvigny,§ on the river Creuse, and besieged it. They remained 
 there two days, but on the third it surrendered, and the garrison was 
 spared. They continued their march toward Lussac, where there is 
 a town and castle, which surrendered immediately without waiting 
 the assault. They advanced toward the city of Poitiers, and lay one 
 night in the vineyards, which very much alarmed the city, as they 
 
 * Monmorillon— a town in in Poitou, eleven leagues from Foitisrt. 
 VMonseigneur le Souldich.— D. Sauvaqk. 
 •«■ y<>iib:sc— a town in Saintonge, six leagues from La Rochall*. 
 § Ciiauviaay— sLx leataes from Pgitien. 
 
 were fearful of being besieged ; but for this time they were free, for 
 they marched off the following day, advancing toward Moncontour. 
 John Cresswell and David Hollegrave commanded in the place, and 
 had under them about sixty good companions, bold and hardy, who 
 had very much harassed the surrounding countries of Anjou and Tou. 
 raine, as well as all the French garrisons, so that the constable de. 
 clared he would not undertake anything before he had gained this 
 town. 
 
 CHAPTER CCCIX. 
 
 THE CONSTABLE OF FRANCE TAKES MONCONTOUR BY A CAPITTJLATIOM 
 HE MARCHES FROM THENCE TO FORM A JUNCTION WITH THE DUKE OF 
 BERRY IN THE LIMOUSIN, WHEN THEY LAY SIEGE TO ST. SEVERE. 
 
 The constable of France, the duke of Bourbon, the count d'Alen- 
 9on, the lord de Clisson, the viscount de Rohan, the lords de Laval, 
 de Beaumanoir and de Sully, with the others, advanced until they 
 came before Moncontour, a handsome castle, six leagues from Poi. 
 tiers. On their arrival, they began the siege, and made different 
 assaults in good order ; but, as the ditches were very deep round the 
 walls, they could not easily approach. They ordered the peasants 
 to cut timber and faggots which they caused to be drawn and thrown 
 into them, and afterwards covered with straw and earth. Four days 
 were taken up in doing this. When they had completed it, they be 
 gan their attacks in earnest, and in a regular way. Those within 
 defended themselves well, for they were masters of their profession ; 
 and they sustained the assault one whole day, when they had hard 
 fighting, and were in great danger of being taken. On the sixth, 
 the constable advanced himself with his Bretons in regular order, to 
 make a fiercer assault than any of the former ones. Being covered 
 with large shields, and armed with pick-axes and mattocks, they 
 came up close to the walls, which they immediately battered, pulling 
 out stones in various places, insomuch that the garrison began to be 
 alarmed : they, however, defended themselves as well as ever garri- 
 son did. 
 
 John Cresswell and David Hollegrave, the governors, saw the 
 peril they were in, and guessed that sir Bertrand, from this manner 
 of proceeding, v/ould not quit the place before he had conquered it ; 
 so that, should they be taken by assault, they would certainly be put 
 to death ; and, not seeing nor hearing of any succor coming to them, 
 they opened a treaty to surrender the place, on their lives being 
 spared. The constable, who did not wish to harass his own people, 
 nor t#push too far the garrison, whom he knew to be resolute men- 
 at-ai-ms, accepted the terms, and agreed they should leave the castle, 
 taking nothing with them but gold or silver, and that they sliould be 
 escorted to Poitiers. In this manner did the constable get the castle 
 of Moncontour, of which he took possession, and had it well repaired. 
 He remained in it to refresh himself and men, for he was not deter- - 
 mined whither he should march next, to Poitiers or «3lscwhere. 
 
 When the news was known in the city of Poitiers, that the con- 
 stable and his Bretons had retaken the castle of Moncontour, they 
 were more alarmed than before, and immediately sent oflf messen- 
 gers to lord Thomas Percy, their seneschal, who was on the expedi. 
 tion with the captal de Buch. At the same time that lord Thomas 
 Percy received this information, sir John Devereux, who resided in 
 the castle of La Rochelle, was told that the constable of France, 
 having encamped before Poitiers, had reconnoitred the place, and 
 that the inhabitants were the more afraid he would besiege it because 
 their seneschal was absent. Sir John did not hear this intelligence 
 with indifference, but set about to aid and comfort the Poitevins : he 
 marched from La Rochelle, with only fifty lances, having appointed, 
 on his departure, one of his squires, named Philip Mansel, governor 
 of the castle until his return. He took the road to Poitiers, which he 
 entered ; and the citizens testified their obligations to him for it. The 
 principal citizens who brought the news from Poitiers to lord Thomaa 
 Percy, sers'ing in the capta4's army, begged of him to hasten thither • 
 and as they expected an immediate siege, to bring with him as strong 
 a force as he could, for the French army was very considerable. 
 On hearing this, lord Thomas explained the business to the captal, 
 to know what "he would say to it. The captal, having considered it, 
 was unwilling to break up his expedition, but gave lord Thomas 
 Percy leave to go there : he set off, and on his arrival in Poitiers 
 was received with great joy by the inhabitants, who were very de- 
 sirous of having him among them. He found sir John Devereux 
 there, and great feastings and rejoicings were made on the occasion. 
 
 All this was known to the constable, who had continued in Mon- 
 contour, and also that Poitiers had been reinforced with a body of 
 men-at-arms. At the same time he heard from the duke of Berry, 
 who commanded a large army in Auvergne, Berry, and Burgundy, 
 upon the borders of Limousin, that he was desirous of laying siege 
 to St. Severe ;* which town belonged to sir John Devereux, but was 
 garrisoned, under his orders, by sir WiUiam Percy, Richard Gill, and 
 Richard Orme, and a large body of men-at-arms, who had overrun 
 the countries of Auvergne and Limousin, doing much mischief to 
 both of them. The duke of Berry, on this account, wished to march 
 thither, and therefore entreated the constable, if he had not any 
 other views, that he would join him before St. Severe. The con. 
 stable, who was very wise, pru dent, and inventive in all his under. 
 
 * " St 9«T«re"— a towa ia SaiatoDge. near Saintcs 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, >fec. 
 
 takings, considered that at that moment he could not expect success 
 before Poitiers, even if he were to march his men thither ; for the 
 city had been greatly reinforced with men-at-arms : he therefore de- 
 clared he would join the duke of Berry. He set out from Moncon- 
 tour with his wh le army after he had appointed a garrison to defend 
 it, and joined the duke, who thanked him much for coming, as well 
 as all his knights and squires. When this junction was formed, there 
 was plenty of men-at-arms. The duke of Berry, in company with 
 the constable, reconnoitred St. Severe : their force was about four 
 thousand men-at-arms : they directly laid siege to the place, decla- 
 ring they would not depart until they had possession of it. They 
 began the siege with great vigor, and sir William Percy and his com- 
 panions defended themselves equally well. 
 
 News was brought to sir John Devereux in the city of Poitiers, 
 how the duk*" of Berry, the dauphin d'Auvergne, the constable of 
 France, the lo/d de Clisson, the viscount de Rohan, with four thou- 
 sand men-at-arms, were besieging his castle of St. Severe. He was 
 very pensive on hearing this, and spoke to lord Thomas Percy, who 
 was present when the intelligence came : " Lord Thomas, you are 
 seneschal of this country, and have sufficient influence and power to 
 do what I am about to request of you ; which is, that you would ad- 
 vise and assist me in succoring my people, for unless they are rein- 
 forced they must be taken by assault." " By my faith," replied lord 
 Thomas, " I have every inclination and good wish to assist you : and 
 through love to you, I will set out, and speak to my lord the captal^e 
 Buch, who is not far distant. I will do all in my power to induce 
 him to accompany us, to raise the ^ege, and to offer battle to the 
 French." They immediately set out from Poitiers, leaving the city 
 under the guard of the mayor of the place, whose name was John 
 Regnault, a good and loyal man. These knights rode until they met 
 the captal de Buch, in the plain, advancing toward St. Jean d'Angely. 
 They remonstrated with him in a courteous manner, how the French 
 had taken Monmorillon, near Poitiers, as well as the strong castle of 
 Moncontour ; and that they were now employed at the siege of St. 
 Severe, which belonged to sir John Devereux, to whom certainly 
 some good services were due. Besides, there were shut up in the 
 castl'e, sir William Percy, Richard Gill, and Richard Orme, who 
 were too valiant men to be lost. 
 
 The captal de Buch, having considered a moment, replied, " Gen- 
 tlemen, what is it you wish me to do ?" Some knights who were 
 near had been called to this council, and they replied : " It is now a 
 long time since we have heard you express a strong desire for an oppor- 
 tunity of fighting with the French, you can never find a more favor- 
 able one than by hastening to St. Severe ; and, if you will issue your 
 summons to Anjou and Poitou, we shall have a sufficient number to 
 combat the French with the good will we have to meet with them." 
 " By my faith," answered the captal, " I wish nothing better ; and 
 we will soon measure our strength with theirs, if it please God and 
 my lord St. George." The captal immediately issued his summons 
 to all barons, knights, and squires of Poitou and Saintonge attached 
 to the English, entreating and enjoining them strictly to meet him, 
 at a certain fixed place, armed and prepared in the best manner they 
 could. Every knight and squire who received these letters made all 
 possible dispatch to make himself ready, and took the field to meet 
 the captal as speedily as he could. Among the principal were, the 
 lord de Partenay, sir Louis de Harcourt, sir Hugh de Vinoue, sir 
 Thomas his brother, sir Percival de Coulonge, sir Aimery de la Roche- 
 chouart, sir James de Surgeres, sir Geoffry d'Argenton, the lords de 
 Puissances, de Roussillon, de Crupenac, sir John d'Angle, sir Wil- 
 liam de Montendre, and many other barons and knights : so that they 
 mustered full nine hundred lances and five hundred archers. 
 
 CHAPTER CCCX. 
 
 THE &ARRISON OF ST. SEVERE, AFTER A SHARP ASSAULT, SURRENDERS TO 
 SIR BERTRAND DU GUESCLIN. THE CITY OF POITIERS TURNS TO THE 
 FRENCH PARTY. 
 
 . Intelligence was brought to sir Bertrand du Guesclin and the 
 army before St. Severe, that the English, Poitevins, and their allies 
 were fast approaching with a great force, in order to oblige them to 
 raise the siege. When the constable heard of this, he was no way 
 alarmed, but ordered every one to arm and to march directly to the 
 assault. No one disobeyed this command, but French and Bretons 
 advanced to the fort armed and well covered by their shields, when 
 they began a vigorous attack, each lord under his own banner and 
 surrounded by his people. It was a handsome sight to look at, for 
 at this assault nhere were forty-nine banners, and numbers of pen- 
 nons. The constable and the marshal lord Louis de Sancerre were 
 there at their proper posts, laboring hard to encourage the men to 
 conduct their attack with greater valor. Knights and squires of all 
 nations were eager to gain honor and advancement, and performed 
 many gallant exploits. Several crossed the ditches, which were full 
 of water, with their shields on their heads, and marched up to the 
 walls. In doing this, they never retreated, notwithstanding the things 
 which were thrown down on them, but advanced the nearer to the 
 fort. The dukes of Berry and Bourbon, the count d'Alen9on, and 
 the dauphin d'Auvergne, with several other great lords, were on the 
 ditch encouraging their men, who, on account of such spectators, 
 advanced boldly, fearless of death and danger. 
 
 211 
 
 Sir William Percy and the two squires of honor, who were gov. 
 ernors of the castle, perceiving how briskly the attacks were made, 
 and that they never cooled nor ceased, were sensible, that, if it thus 
 continued, they could not long resist, and, according to their imagi. 
 nation, no aid was coming to them from any part ; for, if they had 
 suspected that a reinforcement was within ten leagues, they would 
 have taken courage, and have held out until they should have been 
 relieved : but, being ignorant of this, they opened a treaty with the 
 constable, to avoid further loss. Sir Bertrand, who had had certain 
 intelligence that before evening he should see or hear of the English, 
 eagerly concluded the negotiation, granting them their lives : on 
 which he made great rejoicings. He then ordered the army to march 
 into the plain, and draw up in order of battle, saying to the chief 
 commanders : " Gentlemen, look to yourselves, for the enemy is ad- 
 vancing, and I hope that we may have a battle before night." Each 
 made ready, upon hearing this, as well for the attack as to defend 
 himself. The English, however, were in no hurry to march further, 
 when they learnt for certain that St. Severe was taken. We will, 
 therefore, speak of what was passing in Poitiers. 
 
 At this time there were great disscntions in Poitiers, for three 
 parts of the town wished to turn to the French ; but John Regnault, 
 the mayor, and a part of the commonalty, wanted to remain with the 
 English. Notwithstanding this, the richest citizens and the church, 
 men, of whom there were plenty, would, whatever might be the 
 consequences, have the constable sent for : indeed they secretly ad. 
 vised him to make haste and take possession of the city, for on his 
 approach they would open to him the gates. The constable was 
 much rejoiced, and told it to the dukes of Berry and of Bourbon, 
 who determined that he should leave the army with three hundred 
 men-at-arms, mounted on the fleetest coursers they had. They rode 
 that day and the following nighty, with scarcely any repose, upward 
 of thirty leagues by another road than that the English had taken, 
 and by daybreak arrived at Poitiers. They found the gates ready 
 opened, and their party prepared to receive them. Had they but 
 delayed one half hour, they would have lost the opportunity ; for 
 John Regnault and his friends, having learnt the intention of the 
 others, had sent off in great haste to sir John Devereux and lord 
 Thomas Percy, who, with a hundred spears and as many archers, 
 were within one short league of the city. 
 
 The barons and knights of Poitou were thunderstruck at the cap. 
 ture of Poitiers, as well as those from Gascony and England, who 
 were collected in Poitou, to the amount of eight hundred lances and 
 four hundred archers. They called a council to consider in what 
 manner they should act, for they saw themselves in great difficulties, 
 and were doubtful in whom they could put confidence. The barons 
 and knights of Poitou therefore, the better to reassure the English, 
 thus addressed them : " Certainly, gentlemen, it is exceedingly dis- 
 agreeable for us to see the affairs of this country in such a state that 
 we cannot bring any remedy to them ; but depend upon it, that as 
 long as we exist, and there shall remain any house or fort in Poitou 
 to receive us, we will always remain steadily and loyally attached 
 to our natural lord the king of England and to you." The English 
 knights replied, "We place our entire confidence in you, and you 
 will fiad in us companions and friends to death." There were very 
 long debates, when it was at last resolved, that the Poitevins should 
 march off one way, and the English to a different quarter. They 
 parted from each other in the most amicable manner ; that is to say, 
 the lord de Partenay, the lords de Thenars and de Roussillon, sir 
 Aimery de la Rochechouart, sir,John d'Angle, sir Louis de Harcourt, 
 sir Percival de Coulonge governor of Thenars, Hugh de Brionne, 
 Reginald de Thenars, William de Crupenac, James de Surgeres, and 
 other knights and squires of Poitou, who took the road to Thenars 
 The English, such as sir John Devereux, lord Thomas Percy, sir 
 Richard de Pontchardon, the earl of Angus, sir Geoffry d'Argenton, 
 sir Matthew Foulkes, sir Thomas Gournay, sir Walter Hewitt, sir 
 John Creswell, and others, took the road to Niort,* which they in. 
 tended to enter without halting ; but, when they arrived there, they 
 found the gates shut and the drawbridge raised, and were told by the 
 inhabitants they should not have admittance. The English lords 
 immediately called a council, and declared such an insult was not to 
 be suffered : they drew up in good array, and attacked the town with 
 great courage, which was defended by the inhabitants : but there 
 was not any gentleman or knight within it to order or lead them, 
 only mechanics, who knew not what it was to make war: so they 
 were conquered by the English. Could they have held out until 
 vespers, they would have been assisted, for the constable had ordered 
 Thibaut du Pons, with two hundre'd combatants, to reinforce the 
 ganison. They did not, however, arrive in time, for the town was 
 taken by assault, and pillaged, while men and women were promis- 
 cuously put to the sword. The English took up their quarters in 
 Niort, waiting for intelligence. 
 
 CHAPTER CCCXI. 
 
 THE FRENCH MAKE THE CAPTAL DE BUCH PRISONER. LA ROCHELLE TTHINS 
 
 TO THE FRENCH. 
 
 During the time the English were in Niort, from whence, in truth, 
 they were afraid of departing, Evan of Wales, in company with the 
 
 * " Niort"— a gity m Poitou, fifteen leagues from Poitiers. 
 
213 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 - panish Admiral don Roderigo di Rosas, arrived at La Rochelle 
 '.vith fourteen large ships and eight galleys, laden with men-at-arms 
 :'ud provision. They anchored before the town, so that nothing 
 • ould enter or come out without danger of being taken. Upon which 
 i*ie Rochellers, who were wavering, had a secret interview with 
 J Ivan and the Spanish admiral ; and it was agreed mutually not to 
 l.art each other. The Spaniards and French remained at anchor 
 b'^fore La Rochelle ; but they had spies in the countries of Poitou 
 and Saintonge, to inform them what was going forward. The gov- 
 ernor of La Rochelle was at that time Philip Mansel. 
 
 The constable of France still continued in Poitiers, but he sent 
 the lord du Pons, and Thibaut du Pons, with three hundred spears, 
 including every one, to Soubise, a very strong castle situated on the 
 seashore, directly to the mouth of the river Charente, where it dis- 
 embogues itself into the sea. The lady of Saubisc was in the castle, 
 but had not many men-at-arms to garrison it : she therefore directly 
 sent off a squire to John de Grailly, captal de Buch, constable of 
 Aquitaine, to ask for succor, who was at the time in St. Jean d'An- 
 gely. He sent orders for sir Henry Playe, seneschal of Angouleme, 
 sir William de Marneil, nephew to the lord Raymond de Marneil, 
 lord Thomas Percy, and sir John Creswell, to come immediately to 
 St. Jean d'Angely. 
 
 Evan of Wales was informed of all the particulars of this siege, as 
 well as the assembly of St. Jean d'Angely. He therefore picked 
 out four hundred lances of those most to be depended upon from his 
 whole army, and embarking them on board thirteen barges, set sail 
 with sir James de Montmoy and Morellet his brother. He left the 
 Spanish admiral, with the remainder of the armament before La 
 Rochelle, and arrived undiscovered on the opposite shore to the 
 castle of Saubise, v^here the lord de Pons was, who knew nothing of 
 this embarkation. 
 
 The captal was also ignorant of it, as he was collecting his forces 
 in St. Jean d'Angely ; for, had he suspected anything of the sort, he 
 would have had a larger body of men : but he sent back a consider- 
 able number, having also left many in St. Jean d'Angely. He marched 
 with only two hundred lances at the utmost, and about night arrived 
 near to the French army and to the castle of Soubise. They dis- 
 mounted on the outside of a small coppice, to tighten their gloves of 
 mail and regirth their horses. Having remounted, they displayed 
 iheir banners, dashing among the French with their shouts of war. 
 Many were slain and wounded at this onset, for the French were 
 not on their guard. The lord du Pons and Thibaut du Pens, with 
 sixty of their principal men, were made prisoners, and the rest put 
 to flight. 
 
 At this moment, Evan of Wales with his forces advanced, having 
 hastily crossed the Charente, with torches and other lights, for it was 
 exceedingly dark. These four hundred lances, who were determined 
 men and quite frerh, fell upon the English and Gascons, who thought 
 they had accomplished their business. Many were scattered about 
 pillaging, and the knights were attending to their prisoners. They 
 were treated by these new comers very roughly, and in a short time 
 completely defeated. An able squire of Vermandois, called Peter 
 Danvilliers,* advanced and came so near the captal de Buch that he 
 made him his prisoner by a gallant deed of arms. The captal was, 
 at this period, the knight of Gascony attached to England whom the 
 king of France and the Frenchmen wished most to gain, for he was 
 a hardy and enterprising captain. Lord Thomas Percy was also 
 that day made prisoner by a Welsh priest, called David Howel.t Sir 
 Maubrun de Linieres, sir Henry Ha»ye, and several other knights and 
 squires were taken likewise. Sir Walter Hewett, sir Petiton de 
 Courton, sir William Farrington and Carmillet escaped with great 
 difficulty ; they made for the town of Soubise, but would have failed 
 of help if the lady had not been on the walls, who had the gate in- 
 stantly opened. They entered the place with several others. 
 
 On the next morning, Evan of Wales ordered all his barges and 
 boats to be drawn up before Soubise, on which he made a brisk at- 
 tack. The lord du Pons and sir Thibaut du Pons, who had been 
 rescued, assaulted it on the opposite side. The garrison and town 
 defended themselves valiantly ; but the lady called a council of the 
 knights and barons, as the place was not strong, and could not hold 
 for any time : for she did not, in the present state of affairs, expect 
 any succor ; and sent them to negotiate with tlie French. A treaty 
 was made on such terms that the knights who were in the town 
 might retire in safety to Niort, Saintes, Lusignan, or whithersoever 
 they pleased ; but the lady of Soubise was to place herself under the 
 obedience of the king of Franoe. 
 
 The English departed from Soubise, and were safelv escorted 
 wherever they chose to go. The French took possession of the town 
 and received the fealty of the lady, who swore allegiance to the king 
 of France for herself and for her dependencies. Evan of Wales, sir 
 James de Montmoy, and their men, returned to their boats, carrying 
 with them the captal de Buch, and their other prisoners, to the large 
 fleet, which was lying before La Rochelle. 
 
 * " Danvilliers." Froissart calls him Pierre Danielles ; but I copy from Villaret's 
 Hist, de France, torn. v. who says that Charles V. gave the squire twelve hundred livres 
 for the ransonj of the captal,"and cites leTresor de Cliartres for the receipt. 
 _ t " David Howel." Villaret calls him David Honnel. I suppose it should be DaviJ 
 Howel. In those days, it was common for priest* t9 «ueage in war, notwithstauding 
 ..their priesthood. 
 X "Carmille." d. 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &.c. 
 
 " ' ' — III I i 
 
 The lord du Pons and the Bretons hastened their march toward 
 St. Jean d'Angely, to join the other men-at-arms whom the consta. 
 ble had sent thither. There were the viscount de Rohan, the lords 
 de Clisson, de Tournemine, de Beaumanoir, and de Rochefort, sir 
 William des Bourdes, sir Olivier de Mauny, sir Reginald de Limou- 
 sin, sir Geoffry Ricon, Yvon de Laconnet, Alain de St. Pol, Gar- 
 suelle, and several more, who came before the town of St. Jean 
 d'Angely, and made a great show as if they meant to ae.nault it. 
 The inhabitants, seeing the country was lost, and their captain taken, 
 at the same time not expecting succor from any part, surrendered 
 themselves to the French. The Bretons then marched toward An- 
 gouleme, which turned to the French, as did Taillebourg, They 
 next advanced to Saintes, where they remained tv/o days and two 
 nights ; for the governor, sir William Farrmgton, said he would not 
 surrender so easily, and made preparations for its defence ; but the 
 bishop of the town, who was a Frenchman, worked upon the citizens 
 so far as to induce them to seize the governor, and declare they would 
 put him to death if he would not permit them to surrender. Sir 
 William consented, provided when they treated for themselves they 
 did so for him, and that he should be permitted to march out free. 
 This treaty was accepted, and the French took possession of Saintes 
 and its castle. Sir William Farrington marched out, and was es- 
 corted to Bordeaux. 
 
 Evan of Wales still lay before La Rochelle in company with the 
 Spanish admiral, don Roderigo de Rosas, with forty large ships, 
 thirteen barges, and eight galleys. There were many negotiations 
 between them and the citizens^ but these last could not do anything 
 so long as the castle was in the hands of the English, They waitedj 
 therefore, dissembling their intentions, until the English should have 
 drawn off the greater part of the garrison, as they were doing by 
 litde and littie, and until sir John Devereux had left it under the com- 
 mand of Philip Mansel, who had but a hundred companions one 
 with the other. At this time, a citizen called Johh Candorier,* 
 mayor of the town, assembled a meeting of those that were more 
 inclined to the French than to the English, and addressed them : 
 " Gentle sirs, we see our neighbors taking part with the French on all 
 sides of us, and we shall soon be so inclosed that we shall not know 
 which way to turn ourselves, nor even to go out of our town. I 
 would therefore be expedient, as the moment seems favorable, to 
 consider in what manner we may be able to gain possession of the 
 castle, which has so much annoyed and vexed us, for the garrison is 
 now much weakened. Philip Mansel is not very crafty. I will 
 therefore tell him I have received orders from the king of England, 
 which command me to arm and muster all tlie inhabitants of the 
 town in a place which I will name, but that I must know the number 
 of the garrison as well as the townsmen, so that I may be enabled to 
 send him an exact account. I will desire him to march out of the 
 castle, and make his muster before me, which I am persuaded he will 
 do. We will then have provided an ambuscade among the old ruins, 
 on the outside of the castle, of two hundred companions, v/ho, when 
 the garrison have marched out, shall post themselves between thera 
 and the draw-bridge, which will have been let down. We will also 
 have a sufficient force elsewhere, who must advance in their front 
 and make them prisoners ; by which we shall take both castle and 
 garrison, if you, gentlemen, approve of my plan." They all replied 
 in the affirmative, and adopted it, appointing the mayor captain of 
 the enterprise. 
 
 The mayor, shortly afterwards, sent to invite the governor to a grand 
 entertainment, where he met most of the principal inhabitants that 
 were in the plot. The conversation ran chiefly on the king of Eng- 
 land and his affairs ; during which a large packet was brought to the 
 mayor, sealed with the great seal of England, the better to impose on 
 Philip Mansel, who could not read, but knew well the seal. The 
 mayor read aloud this letter, putting such words in it as suited his 
 purpose, but which were not written. He then addressed his guest: 
 "Governor, you sec and hear what the king our lord's commands are 
 to you and me. You must make your muster to-morrow, as we will 
 do ours." The governor, who but too well believed all he had heard, 
 said he would willingly obey, and with this he took his leave. During 
 the course of the night, the mayor chose two hundred men, whom 
 he well armed, and before day placed them in ambush among the 
 old walls on the outside of the castle. After nine o'clock the mayor 
 ordered the bells to ring, and the townsmen to arm themselves. Soon 
 after, Philip Mansel armed his garrison, of sixty able men, and fit to 
 defend the place. They marched out of the castle ; but when they 
 had passed the draw-bridge, the men who formed the ambuscade 
 sallied forth, and posted themselves between the English and the gate. 
 
 The garrison now saw they were betrayed, and marched toward 
 the ambuscade in hopes of regaining the entrance of the castle ; but 
 at this moment the mayor advanced, with upward of two thousand 
 of the inhabitants, so that the English, being attacked in front and 
 rear, were all made prisoners : they surrendered, on having their 
 lives saved. The castle was not yet taken ; for the English had left 
 twelve of their men within, who had strongly closed the gate. The 
 mayor then came up to the governor and his men, and said, " Gen. 
 tlemen, attend to what I say : if you do not immediately give orders 
 for the castle to surrender, you may be assured we will have you all 
 beheaded at the foot of this bridge." The English replied they would 
 
 * " Caudoritr." Us was called Chaudroa boture. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, Sec. 
 
 S13 
 
 willingly do all in their power, and held several parleys with those 
 of the castle. It was agreed on all sides, that those who had been 
 made prisoners and the remainder in the castle should be embarked 
 on board a ship, and conducted by the mayor and burgesses to Bor- 
 deaux. Thus did the Rochellers win their castle. 
 
 When the dukes of Berry, Burgundy, Bourbon, the marshal de 
 Sancerre, the viscount de Rohan, the lords de Sully, du Pons, de 
 Clisson, de Beaumanoir, and the other barons and knights of PVance 
 were informed of it, they quitted Berry, Anjou and Limousin, where 
 they had made their quarters, and took the direct road for Poitiers, 
 where the constable resided. In their march, these lords took a town 
 in Poiiou called St. Maixant,* which sun-endered as soon as they 
 came before it. The castle was taken by assault, and all in it put 
 to the sword.. They afterwards took the castle of Merle, the castle of 
 Aunay, and several other forts in their road. When they were ar- 
 rived at Poitiers, they sent messengera to treat with the Rochellers, 
 but they would not open their gates to them. They told the messen- 
 gers, that the inhabitants would not surrender themselves in so easy 
 a manner ; but that if the duke of Berry and the before-mentioned 
 lords were willing to agree, within six days, to send them passports 
 to come to Poitiers, they would then declare to them their intentions, 
 and fully explain what they meant to do. The messengere returned, 
 and told what the inhabitants had said. Passports were granted, and 
 some of the burgesses came to Poitiers, when they declared to the 
 lords that it was their intention to place themselves under the obedi- 
 ence of the king of France ; but that they would not allow of any 
 castle, and the present one must be razed to the ground : that it should 
 be declared, under the king's seal, that no other should be erected : 
 that the town of La Rochelle, and country dependent on it, should 
 remain for ever as the particular domain, and under the jurisdiction, 
 of the kings of France, and that it should never be severed from it 
 by marriage, peace, or by any other means, whatever fortune may 
 oefal the kingdom of France ; that the tovm should be allowed a 
 mint, with liberty to coin florins, and black and white money, with 
 the same alloy and form as those of Paris. The French lords would 
 not agree to these terms until the king had considered them ; and 
 they gave the Rochellers passports to wait on him at Paris. 
 
 Twelve burgesses went to the king, who granted them everything 
 they had asked. He entertained them handsomely, and gave them 
 several rich jewels. When they returned to La Rochelle, they dis- 
 played their chartera, which were sealed with the king's seal, and 
 had been confirmed in the parliament of the king and his peers. 
 They immediately began to demolish and raze to the ground the large 
 and strong castle of La Rochelle. They then sent to inform the lords 
 who were at Poitiers, that if they would come thither the gates would 
 be open to them. The constable of France went with only two 
 hundred men-at-arms. They received him with great joy, and did 
 to him their homage and fealty as to the king of France ; for he 
 showed them a lawful commission from the king, which constituted 
 him his representative in all those parts of the realm. 
 
 CHAPTER CCCXII. 
 
 SIR BERTRAND DU GUESCLIN TAKES SEVERAL CASTLES IN THE ROCIIELLOIS. 
 THE KING OF ENGLAND EMBARKS TO COME TO THE ASSISTANCE OF 
 THOUARS, BUT IS PREVENTED BY CONTRARY WINDS : UPON WHICH 
 THOSE OF TKOUARS, AND MANY OTHERS IN POITOU, SURRENDER TO THE 
 FRENCH. 
 
 When sir Bertrand du Guesclin had resided four days in La Ro- 
 ".helle, and had pointed out to the inhabitants in what manner they 
 ihould support and demean themselves henceforward, he set out on 
 iiis return to the lords he had left at Poitiers, whom he instantly 
 marched off to conquer other strong places in Poitou. They were 
 full three thousand lances. On their departure from Poitiers, they 
 laid siege to the castle of Benon,i" and declared they would not leave 
 it until it had changed masters. A squire from the county of Foix, 
 named William de Pau, was governor of the place, under the captal 
 de Buch : he had with him a Neapolitan knight, called sir James, 
 but without any surname. Many violent assaults were made, which 
 were well repulsed by the garrison. 
 
 Not far distant was the town of Surgeres,t which was garrisoned 
 with English, by orders of the captal, then a prisoner, who said one 
 evening they would beat up the French quarters. They therefore 
 marched out, according to an agreement with those of Maran3,§ and 
 mustered in the whole about forty lances : they fell upon the quarters 
 of the constable of France, vv'ounded many, and particularly slew one 
 of his own squires. The army were roused, and the French collected 
 together us fast as they could ; but the English, who had performed 
 all they intended, reentered their fortresses unhurt. The constable 
 was so enrdged at this, that he swore he would never quit the spot 
 where he was without conquering the castle of Benon, and putting to 
 death all within it. He gave orders that very morning for every one 
 to be ready for the assault, and had large machines brought, so that 
 for a long time such an attick hod not been seen. The men-at-arms 
 
 * " St. Maixant"— in tlie road between Saintes and Poitiers, fifteen leasues from the 
 iiaiter. 
 
 t " Benon"— a snr.all town in Aunis. diocese of La Rochelle. 
 t "Surgeres"— a town in Aunis, six leagues from La Rochelle. 
 i " Marans"--a town in Auuis, six leagues from La Rochelle. 
 
 and the Bretons did not spare themselves : they entered the ditches 
 with shields on their heads, and advanced to the foot of the walls with 
 pick-axes and iron-crows, with which they worked so effectually thar 
 a large breach was made, through which they might easily enter. 
 The castle was taken, and all within put to the svv^ord. The con 
 stable had it repaired and new garrisoned. He then advanced toward 
 Marans, the garrison of which surrendered on having their litres and 
 properties saved. He next came to Surgeres, which also put itself 
 under the obedience of the king of France ; for the English gan-ison 
 had gone away, being afraid to wait the arrival of the constable. He 
 marched after this to the castle of Fontenay le Gomte,* where the 
 lady of sir John Harpcdon resided. He assaulted both town and 
 castle frequently : at last, the garrison left it on capitulation, and 
 retreated to Thouars with the lady, under passports from the constable. 
 The French therefore took possession of the caatle and town, and 
 halted there to rest themselves. 
 
 Sir Bertrand and the lords of Franco marched to besiege Thouars. 
 whither the greater part of the knights of Poitou had retired, namely, 
 the viscount de Thouars, the lords de Partenay, de Pousanges, de 
 Cors, de Crupignac, sir Louis ^e Harcourt, sir Geoffry d'Argenton, 
 sir James de Surgeres, sir Percival de Coulogne. They had caused 
 to be made at Poitiers aiid^it la Rochelle large machines and cannons, 
 with vv-hich they much harassed these lords of Poitou in Thouara; 
 who, having nmtually considered their situation, proposed a treaty, 
 the terms of which were, that there should be a ti uce for them and aU 
 that belon^^ed to them until Michaelmas ensuing 1372 : during which 
 time, they thould let the king of England, their lord, kn6w the state 
 of the town uud country : and if, within that period, they were not 
 succored by the king of England or some of his children, they were, 
 for themselves and their territories, to swear obedience to the king of 
 France. When the treaty was agreed to, some of the knights re 
 turned to Paris. The captal de Buch, was conducted thither, and 
 imprisoned, under a good guard, in one of the towers of the Temple 
 The king v/as so much pleased with this prize, that he gave to the 
 squire that had taken him twelve hundred francs. 
 
 The messengers from the lords of Poitou arrived in England, to ac 
 quaint the king, the prince of Wales (who at that time had pretty 
 well recovered his health) and the council with the situation of Poitou 
 and Saintonge. The king, learning that he was thus losing all the 
 territories which had cost him so much to conquer, remained pensive 
 and silent : at last he said, that in a very ehort time he would go to 
 that country with such a powerful force a- would enable him to wait 
 for the army of the king of France, and never return to England be- 
 fore he had regained all that had been conquered from him, or lose 
 what remained. 
 
 At this period, the army under the command of the duke of Lan- 
 caster was completed. It was very numerous, and had been ordered 
 to Calais ; but the king and council changed its destination, having 
 determined it should go to Poitou, Saintonge and La Rochelle, as 
 being the places where the business was the most pressing. The 
 king of England issued a special summons throughout the realm, 
 ordering all persons capable of bearing arms to come properly equip 
 ped to Southampton and its neighborhood by a certain day, when 
 they were to embark. None either wished or dared to disobey the 
 command, so that numbers of men-at-arms and archers of all sorts 
 marched toward the sea-coast, where there were about four hundred 
 vessels of different sizes ready to receive them. The principal nobility 
 waited on the king and his family, who resided at Westminster. It 
 had been setded between the king and prince, that if either of them 
 should die in this expedition, the son of the prince, named Richard, 
 born at Bordeaux, should succeed to the crown. When therefore all 
 the nobles were assembled about the king before his departure, the 
 prince caused them to acknowledge, that in case he should die before 
 his father, his son should succeed as king of England after the de. 
 cease of his grandfather. The earls, barons, knights and commonalty 
 of the country were so much attached to the prince for his gallantry 
 at home and abroad, that they cheerfully assented to his request ; 
 the king first, then his clwldren, and afterv/ards the lords of England. 
 The prince put them upon their oath, and made them sign and seal 
 to observe this arrangement before they separated. 
 
 Matters being thus settled, the king, the prince, the duke of Lan- 
 caster, the earls of Cambridge, Salisbury, Warwick, Arundel, Suf. 
 folk and Stafford, the lord Despencer (who was but lately returned 
 from Lombardy,) the lords Percy, Neville, Roos, de la Warre, and all 
 the principal barons of England, with about thiee thousand lances 
 and ten thousand archers,t arrived at Southampton, when they em- 
 barked on board the fleet, which was the largest that ever a king of 
 England sailed with on any expedition whatever. They steered for 
 La Rochelle, coasting Normandy and Brittany, and had various 
 winds. The king of France, in the meantime, was collecting a great 
 army in Poitou, to maintain his pretensions to Thouars : so that the 
 whole country was full of soldiers. The Gascons, on the other hand, 
 were as actively employed in raising men under the command of 
 the lord Archibald de Grailly, uncle to the captal de Buch, who had 
 come forward at the entreaties cf sir Thomas Felton, seneschal of 
 Bordeaux: they amounted to full three hundred speaks. In this 
 I Murnber were the lords de Duras, de Courton, de Mucident, de Rosen, 
 
 l * " Fontenay le Comte"— a city in La Vendee, bishopric of La Rochelle. 
 i t My MS. says, *' four thousand men-at-anns and twenty thousand arcben.' 
 
214 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 de Langoren, and de Landuras, sir Peter de Landuras, sir Peter de 
 Coui ton, and sir William Farrington, an Englishman. 
 
 This body of men left Bordeaux, and advanced to Niort, where 
 they found sir Walter Hewett, sir John Devereux, sir Thomas Gour- 
 nay, sir John Cresswell, and several others. When they were as- 
 sembled, they amounted to about twelve hundred combatants. Sir 
 Richard de Pontchardon arrived there also, and brought with him 
 twelve hundred more. The king of England and his children, with 
 his large army, were beaten about on the sea, and could not land at 
 La Rochelle, nor anywhere near it, for wind and weather were 
 against them. They remained in this situation for nine weeks ; and 
 Michaelmas was so near at hand that he found it was not possible for 
 him to keep his engagement with the Poitevin lords in Thouars. He 
 was severely disappointed at this, and disbanded his troops to go 
 whither they wished. The king, on his return, said of the king of 
 France, " that there never was a king who had armed himself so lit- 
 tle, nor one who had given him so much embairassment." Thus did 
 this large fleet steer to England, when it had as favorable a gale as 
 could be wished. After they were disbanded, there arrived at Bor- 
 deaux upward of two hundred merchant ships for wines. 
 
 When Michaelmas was nearly arrived, the barons of England and 
 Gascony, who had advanced to Niort in order to attend the king of 
 England at Thouars, were very much surprised that they heard not 
 any tidings of him. In order, therefore, to acquit themselves, they 
 sent messengers to the Poitevin lords in Thouars, who said to them : 
 " Very dear lords, we are sent hither by the lords of Gascony in the 
 dependence of the king of England, and by those English lords now 
 in company with them, who have desired us to inform you, that they 
 have collected all their forces, which may amount to about twelve 
 hundred fighting men,* ready and willing to serve you. They en- 
 treat you to inform them, if, in the absence of the king of England 
 and his children, they can assist you, and if the relief may now be ac- 
 cepted ; for they are eager to adventure their lives and fortunes in your 
 company." The barons of Poitou replied : " We will call a council 
 on what you have said ; and we return our kind thanks to the barons 
 of Gascony and England for sending to us, and for being so well 
 prepared and willing to assist us." 
 
 The knights of Poitou assembled ; but at the first meeting they 
 could not agree on any determination, for the lord de Partenay, who 
 was one of the principal barons, was desirous they should defend 
 themselves, as if the king of England had been present ; but others 
 maintained, that they had given under their seals a declaration, that 
 if neither the king of England nor any of his children were present, 
 they would surrender themselves to the obedience of the king of 
 France. The lord de Partenay returned to his h6tel in a very ill hu- 
 mor ; but he was afterwards so much talked to that he consented to 
 agree with the others. They therefore sent word, that according to 
 their treaty, it was absolutely necessary for the king of England or 
 one of his sons to be present. The English and Gascons at Niort were 
 much vexed on hearing this, but they could not prevent it. 
 
 The dukes of Berry, Burgundy, Bourbon, the constable of France, the 
 lord de Clisson, the viscount de Rohan, the dauphin of Auvergne, the 
 lord Louis de Sancerre, the lord de Sully, and the barons of France : 
 in all, about ten thousand lances, without reckoning the others, ad- 
 vanced from Poitiers, and drew up in battle-array before Thouars the 
 eve of Michaelmas-day, and also on the feast-day until evening, when 
 they retired to their quarters. On the morrow, the two brothers of the 
 king of France and the constable sent to the knights of Poitou in 
 Thouars, to remind them of what they had sworn and scaled. They 
 returned for answer, that they should very soon retire to Poitiers, 
 when they would put themselves and their dependencies under the 
 obedience of the king of France. The lords of France, satisfied 
 with this answer, departed from before Thouars ; and the dukes dis- 
 banded the greater part of their men. 
 
 On this separation, the lord de Clisson, with a large body of men- 
 at-arms, of whom the constable had given him the command, came 
 before Mortaigne-sur-mer, which at that time was attached to the 
 English. An English squire, called James Clerk, was governor of 
 the place, and might have had with him sixty companions. When 
 the lord de Clisson came before Mortaigne, he assaulted it very vigor- 
 ously : but, though he did not spare himself on the occasion, he 
 gained nothing ; upon whicli he retreated to his quarters. The gov- 
 ernor, who found he should be hard pushed, sent off" secretly to those 
 knights of Gascony and England who were at Niort, to desire they 
 would come that night to Mortaigne ; that he would lodge them in 
 his h6tel ; and that they might easily pass through the quarters of the 
 French forces, who were but two hundred fighting men. These lords 
 set out from Niort, with five hundred lances, and rode all night to 
 arrive at Mortaigne, for they had a great desire to catch the lord de 
 Chsson. But a spy, who had left Niort with them, having overheard 
 some part of their intentions, made as much haste as possible to the 
 lord de Clisson, whom he found sitting at his supper. He informed 
 him that the enemy had marched from Niort with five hundred com- 
 
 * All the printed copies and MSS. except tlie one I have lately quoted, have 1200, In 
 the preceding page, Froissart says 1200 men came to Niort with sir John Devereux, &.c. 
 and that sir Richard de Pontchardon brought 1200 more. They ought, therefore, to have 
 been 2400. My MS. nearly reconciles this by saying, that, "the herald Chandos, who 
 carried the message to the knighta in Thouars, informed them his lords were assembled 
 in Niort with 1200 lanc«s, Enslisb and Gascons, and about 2000 archers and lusty 
 
 batants, and were advancing fast toward him. Upon hearing this, the 
 lord de Clisson pushed the table from before him, and hastily armed 
 himself. He mounted his steed, and set off suddenly, with all his 
 men, leaving the greater part of what belonged to them on the field. 
 He never stopped until he arrived at Poitiers. The English were 
 much vexed at their disappointment. They returned to Niort, where 
 they left in garrison sir John Devereux, the earl of Angus and Cress- 
 well. Sir Walter Hewett went to England. All the others went 
 back to Bordeaux, burning in their way the whole territories of the 
 lord de Partenay. 
 
 Thus was all Poitou conquered, except the fortresses of Niort, Eli- 
 seth, Mortemer, Mortaigne, Lusignan, Chastel-Accart,* La Roche. 
 sur-Yon, Gauzar, La Tour de I'Arbre, Merxis and others. These 
 castles, however, held out, and made frequent inroads and attacks on 
 their neighbors ; sometimes invading, at other times chased back 
 again. 
 
 CHAPTER CCCXIII. 
 
 THE DUKE OF BRITTANY DARES NOT OPENLY DECLARE FOR THE KhNO 
 OF ENGLAND. SIR BETRAND DU GUESCLIN LAYS SIEGE TO CIVRAY.+ 
 THE ENGLISH ARE DEFEATED, AND THE WHOLE OF THE COUNTRIES 
 OF POITOU, SAINTONGE, AND LA ROCHELLE, ARE GIVEN UP TO THE 
 FRENCH. ' 
 
 The duke of Brittany, who remained peaceably in his duchy, was 
 much hurt at the losses of the English ; for he said, such as he was 
 the king of England and his power had made him, as he never should 
 have been anything of himself : that he owed all to the English 
 king, who had made war in his behalf, had lent him large sums of 
 money, and had given to him his daughter in marriage, he would 
 therefore have been happy to have added Brittany as an ally of Eng. 
 land : but all the barons, knights, and squires of that country were 
 too much attached to the French, particularly the lords de Clisson, 
 de Laval, and the viscount de Rohan, who at that time were the 
 greatest lords in Brittany. They addressed the duke in these words : 
 " Dear lord, as soon as we shall clearly perceive that you take any 
 part with the king of England against the king of France, our sove- 
 reign lord, we will all quit you and the country of Brittany." The 
 duke could but ill disguise his anger : however, he only said, " they 
 did great wrong to the king of England." He now began to open 
 himself more, and to discover his sentiments to others of the lords of 
 Brittany. 
 
 The king of PVance, who had gained over to him all the principal 
 persons in that country except sir Robert Knolles, had besought them 
 to inform him whenever they found the duke acting contrary to #ieir 
 wishes, assuring them he would provide a remedy. The duke saw 
 that he was not only suspected, but narrowly watched ; which alarmed 
 him lest they should seize his person, and send him to Paris. He 
 therefore signified to the king of England his situation, and entreated 
 him to send men-at-arms to assist him if there should be any occa- 
 sion. The king ordered thither four hundred men-at-arms and as 
 many archers, under the command of lord Neville, who arrived at 
 St. Mathieu Fin de Terre,t where they remained all the winter, 
 without doing any damage to the country, paying for everything they 
 had ; for the duke, on account of the suspicions of his nobles, did not 
 choose to put them into any of his castles. When the knights of 
 Brittany saw the English thus come to the assistance of the duke, 
 they were indignant, and shut up their own castles, showing much 
 ill-will against the duke. Things remained in this doubtful manner 
 all the winter. 
 
 As soon as the season permitted, sir Bertrand du Guesclin marched 
 from Poitiers with full fourteen hundred combatants, and laid siege 
 to the town and castle of Civray. There were with him, of Breton 
 knights, sir Alain de Beaumanoir, John de Beaumanoir, Arnoul 
 Limousin, Geoffry Ricon, Yvon de Laconnet, Geoffry de Kerimel,, 
 with many other knights and squires. They fixed their quarters be • 
 fore Civray, and surrounded them with palisadoes to prevent being 
 surprised in the night. Frequently the most expert of them advanced 
 to make trials of skill with those of the castle, who defended them- 
 selves valiantly. During the siege, sir Robert Micon, and Nicotin 
 l'Escot,§ the governors of Civray, sent intelligence of their situation 
 to sir John Devereux and the earl of Angus, who were in gan'ison 
 at Niort. They instantly ordered the garrisons from Lusignan and 
 Gouzar to murch to Niort, when they amounted all together to six 
 or seven hundred good men-at-arms, well equipped, without counting 
 the pillagers. They advanced until they came near to Civray, 
 which is but four leagues from Niort ; when they halted sometime to 
 arrange themselves, but it had been better for them had they pro- 
 ceeded to the quarters of the constable. || 
 
 News was brought to him of the arrival of the English, while they 
 were forming themselves in the plain. He was not any way alarmed 
 at it, but ordered his men to arm without making any delay, and to 
 march out in a body. When he saw them all assembled, he said 
 
 * Chatel r Archer— a village in Poitou. 
 
 t " Civray "—a towit in Poitou, on the Charente, ten leagues from Poitiers. 
 
 j St. Mathieu Fin de Terre, or St. Mahe, is a village in Brittany, diocese of St. Pol 
 de Leon. Froissart calls it St. Mathieu de Fine Poterne. 
 
 § "Sir Robert Micon and Nicotin I'Escot." My MSS. have sir Robert Miton and sir 
 Martin Scott. 
 
 U The historian of Brittany says, they there intoxicated themselves. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, 6c c. 
 
 335. 
 
 to them ; " My good gentlemen, what hearts have you for a battle ? 
 I fancy we must engage our enemies." They replied : " My lord, 
 we are very willing to do so, thanks to God." The consfable then 
 ordered an ambuscade to be formed, of two hundred combatants, 
 near to the castle : for he judged the garrison would of course make 
 a sally. He then commanded the greater part of the palisadoes to 
 be levelled to the ground, that there might not be any hindrance 
 when he should march out, and drew up his forces in two battalions. 
 Sir Alain de Beamont commanded one, and sir Geoffry de Marneil* 
 the other. It was strictly forbidden for any one to advance before 
 his banner until ordered, and he was to remain till then quietly in 
 his rank. 
 
 We will now return to sir Robert Miton and sir Martin Scott, 
 who, from the heights of the castle saw the English in the plain 
 drawn up in battle-array. They said, " Let us make ready to quit 
 the castle, for we can easily pass through these Bretons ; and when 
 our friends shall see we are engaged, they will come to our help, 
 and we may do much mischief before they will be prepared to 
 defend themselves or suspect our intent." About sixty combatants 
 that were to make this sally aimed themselves, who, when ready, 
 sallied forth on horseback to skirmish with the enemy ; but they 
 were attacked by the ambuscade which had been laid for them. 
 Hard indeed was the fight, but the English were so surrounded that 
 they could neither advance nor retreat : they were all slain or made 
 prisoners, not one escaping: the two governors were also taken. 
 
 The English remained in battle-array in the plain, and the con- 
 stable of France in his quarters : for he imagined that the English 
 had placed a large ambuscade in a coppice on his rear. The Eng- 
 lish had brought with them a rout of pillaging Poitevins and Bretons, 
 amounting to about two hundred, whom they sent forward to skir- 
 mish with the French. As soon as these pillagers came opposite to 
 the battalion of the lord constable, they declared themselves loyal 
 Frenchmen, and, if he pleased, would serve under him. The con- 
 stable immediately assented, commanding them to wheel on one 
 side, when he learnt from them the arrangement of the English force, 
 and that there was not any ambuscade. On hearing this, the con- 
 stable was more easy than before ; and having ordered his men to 
 form, he advanced with his banner, marching on the wing of the 
 two battalions. They had dismounted, and pushed toward the 
 palisadoes, which they had allowed to remain standing, every one 
 shouting, " Notre Dame Guesclin !" 
 
 The English on seeing them issue out of their fort, drew up also 
 on foot, and advanced with great alacrity. Their firet onset was 
 against the battalion of the constable, which was fierce and desperate. 
 The English drove quite through this battalion, and overthrew 
 many. But the Bretons had wisely drawn up their army : there 
 were two battalions on the wing, who, being quite fresh, followed the 
 constable, and, falling upon the English who were tired, beat them 
 most dreadfully. They, however, like men of courage, turned about, 
 without shrinking from their ill fortune, and combated most valiantly 
 with the arms they had, such as battle-axes and swords of Bordeaux, 
 with which they dealt many hard blows. Several excellent knights 
 of each side adventured boldly, to exalt their renown. This battle 
 was as well fought, as many gallant deeds performed, and as many 
 captures and rescues took place as had been seen for a long time in 
 all that country ; for both armies were on foot, on a plain, without 
 advantage to either. Each labored to perform his duty well, and 
 many were slain outright or desperately wounded. In short, all the 
 English who had marched thither were so completely discomfited 
 that not one escaped death or captivity. Two good squires were 
 there slain, Richard Neville and William Worsley ; James Wil- 
 loughby was very badly wounded. Sir John Devereux, sir Aimery 
 de Rochechouart, David Holgrave, Richard Oliver, John Cresswell, 
 and many others from England and Poitou, were made prisoners. 
 This battle of Civray happened on the 20th day of March, 1373. 
 
 The constable and his army returned to their quarters, where they 
 cleaned and refreshed themselves, and attended to the wounded and 
 prisoners, of whom they had great numbers. The constable then 
 sent sir Alain de Beaumont to hold a parley with the garrison, who 
 told them, that if they suffered themselves to be taken by assault, 
 they would all be put to the sword without mercy. Upon this, the 
 garrison surrendered to the constable, who allowed them to leave the 
 place and march to Bordeaux, with a passport from him. The French 
 gained this castle and territory, which submitted to the obedience of 
 the king of France. The Bretons advanced eagerly toward Niort, 
 which is a handsome town in Poitou, and had always supported the 
 interest of the English, who had kept there a very large garrison. 
 As soon as the inhabitants of Niort heard the constable was marching 
 thither, they went out to meet him, and, presenting him the keys of 
 the town, conducted him and all his men into it with great rejoic- 
 ings.t The Bretons remained there four days to recover themselves, 
 
 * "Marneil." Tlie differenteditionsbaveavariet y of names for tliis person. I have 
 followed the oldest WS. I have, which, from its writing, seems to be of the same age 
 with Froissait: but I should rather suppose it ought to be sir Geoftry de Kerimel, as he 
 IS particularly mentioned before. 
 
 t Niort is said to have been gained by a stratagem. After the defeat at Civray, the 
 const-able ordered his knights to dress themselves 'he emblazoned surcoats of his pris- 
 oners.which caused the garrison at Niort to open itieir gates, believing them tlie English 
 UMgnts returning victorious from Civray.— i/wt. ae Brctatnie 
 
 when they departed in greit array, with about fourteen hundred 
 lances, for Lusignan,* which surrendered upon condition the garri- 
 son should march out unhurt, carrying away all they were able, and 
 with a passport for the constable to conduct them to Bordeaux. Tho 
 French gained this castle, which was very grand and handsome, and 
 all the lordship dependent on it, whose vassals became liege men to 
 the king of France. 
 
 After this, the Bretons marched to Cha.tel I'Archer, when the con- 
 stable sent immediately to the lady de Plammartin, who was the wife 
 of sir Guiscard d'Angle, and resided in it. She entreated he would 
 grant her an escort, that she might speak with the duke of Berry at 
 Poitiers. The constable complied with her request, and ordered one 
 of his knights to conduct her. When she came before the duke, she 
 prostrated herself to the ground. The duke caused her to rise, and 
 demanded what she wished to say : " My lord," replied she, " I am 
 summoned by the constable to put myself and my lands under the 
 obedience of the king of France. You know well, my lord, that 
 my husband is now lying a prisoner in Spain : his lands, therefore, 
 are under my direction. I am but a weak woman, and cannot dis- 
 pose of my husband's property as I please; for, if by accident I 
 should do anything contrary to what he would have wished, he will 
 be angered and blame me for it. However, to satisfy you, and to 
 keep my lands in peace, I offer you a composition for me and mine, 
 on these terms : that no war shall be made on us, nor will we engage 
 in any oflcnsive or defensive war. When my lord shall have gained 
 his liberty and be returned to England, whither I suppose he will 
 retire, I will inform him of the terms of this composition, and what- 
 ever answer he shall return to me, the same I will forward to you." 
 " Lady," answered the duke, " I grant it on condition that neither 
 for yourself, nor castles, nor fortresses, you lay in a greater stock of 
 provision, artillery, or men-at-arms than arc now within them." The 
 lady returned to Cha.tel PAreher, when the siege; was raised ; for she 
 showed the agreement made with the duke of Berry. 
 
 This army of Bretons, of which the constable was the leader, 
 departed, and came before Mortemer. The lady de Mortemer sur- 
 rendered herself and lands to the obedience of the king of France. 
 She gave up also the castle of Didonne,t which belonged to her. 
 Thus was all Poitou, Saintonge, and La Rochelle freed and delivered 
 from the English. When the constable had placed sufficient garri- 
 sons everywhere, and found nothing rebellious, as far as the river 
 Gironde, he returned to Paris. The dukes of Berry, Burgundy, and 
 Bourbon, with the greater part of the barons of France who had 
 been concerned in these conquests, had already arrived there. The 
 king had entertained them most handsomely on their return ; but this 
 was nothing to the honors that were shown sir Bertrand du Guesclin 
 when he came to Paris : the king did not fhink he could sufficiently 
 testify his regard and esteem for him, and detained him constantly 
 about his person at Paris and elsewhere. 
 
 CHAPTER CCCXIV. 
 
 THE SIEGE OF BECHEREL.t PEACE BETWEEN THE KINGS OF FRANCB AKD 
 NAVAKRE. THE DEATH OF THE KING OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 About this time, the lords de Clisson, de Laval, d'Avangour, do 
 Tournemine, de Rieux, de Rochefort, the viscount de Rohan, sir 
 Charles de Dinan, banneret of Brittany, the marshal de Blainville, 
 the lords de Bambie, de Ruille, de Fontcville, de Granville, de Far- 
 mille,de Denneval, and de Cleres, bannerets of Normandy, with many 
 others from Normandy and Brittany, laid siege to the strong castle of 
 Becherel, and pressed it hard by their assaults. There were in this 
 castle two able captains from England, sir John Appleyard and sir 
 John Cornewall, who, with their compaiiions, bravely defended them, 
 selves : and at this time there were various gallant deeds, sallies, 
 skirmishes, and rescues, performed before Becherel. Not far distant 
 was the town of St. Sauveur le Vicornte ; in which were, sir Thomas 
 Trivet, sir Aleyne Boxhull, sir Philip Pechard, and the three brothers 
 Maulevrier ; so that, before the siege of Bechert 1, these two garrisons 
 overran all lower Normandy, and nothing cot; Id escape, but what 
 was inclosed in forts, from being taken and carried to one or other 
 of these towns. They ransomed the bishoprics of Bayeux and Ev- 
 reux, in which the king of Navarre had connived, and reinforced them 
 with men and provisions from the garrisons he held in the county of 
 Evreux. 
 
 He was not in good humor with the king of France ; inasmuch as 
 the garrisons of Cherbourg, Cocherel, Conches, Breteuil, Evreux, and 
 several others dependent on the king of Navarre, had much impover- 
 ished and ruined the country of Normandy. However, about this 
 period, the differences were accommodated between the two kings, 
 and treaties entered into, through the mediation of the count de 
 Saltzbourg, who had made many visits to each party, and the bishop 
 of Evreux. The two kings met in an amicable manner in the castle 
 of Vernon, when they swore, in the presence of several of the great 
 lords of France, peace, love, amity, and alliance henceforward for 
 ever. The king of Navarre accompanied the king of France to 
 
 * " Lusignan "—a town in Poitou, twelve leagues from Niort. 
 t " Didonne "—or St. Georges de Diodonne— a small town in Saintonge. 
 T ^Jelieve it was a dependency of the sandich de Trane.— See Asiunoie. 
 t BecnereH-a town in Brittany, two ieagnes from St. Male. 
 
216 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 Paris, who showed him and his companions all manner of respect. 
 The king of Navarre put his territories in Normandy under the gov. 
 ernment of his brother-in-law the king of France, and left his two 
 sons, Charles and Peter, with the king their uncle. He then affec- 
 tionately took his leave, and returned to Navarre. 
 
 This peace continued for four years ; but then great dissensions 
 arose between them, as you will hear in the course of this history. 
 If I should live to finish it : I do not think, however, that it will be 
 concluded in this book. 
 
 The 7th of May, 1373, king David of Scotland departed this life 
 in the city of Edinburgh, and was buried in the abbey of Dunferm- 
 line, beside Robert the Bruce his father. He left behind him neither 
 male nor female offspring, and was succeeded by his own nephew, 
 Robert the Stewart of Scotland, who was a fine knight, and had 
 eleven sons.* 
 
 CHAPTER CCCXV. 
 
 THE EARL OF SALISBURY, SIR WILLIAM NEVILLE, SIR PHILIP COURTENAY, 
 WITH MANY OTHER MEN-AT-ARMS, LAND IN BRITTANY. THE CONSTA- 
 BLE OF FRANCE MARCHES THITHER ; ON WHICH THE DUKE OF BRITTANY 
 (JOES TO ENGLAND. 
 
 Orders were given in England for the earl of Salisbury, sir Wil- 
 liam Neville, and sir Philip Courtenay, to put to sea with a large 
 body of men-at-arms, to 
 guard the coasts ; for it was 
 reported that the Spaniards 
 and Evan of Wales were on 
 the seas, with six thousand 
 men, 'to burn the country. 
 These lords had under their 
 command forty large ships, 
 without counting sloops, and 
 two thousand men-at-arms, 
 not including archers. They 
 set sail from Cornwall,where 
 they had embarked for the 
 coasts of Brittany, and, ar- 
 riving at St. Malo, burnt in 
 the harbor seven large Span- 
 ish ships that were lying 
 there. The country was 
 much surprised at this, and 
 said the duke had sent them 
 orders to come thither : they 
 began to suspect his inten- 
 tions more than ever, and 
 sti-engtiiengd all their towns, 
 castles, and cities. 
 
 The duke had placed his 
 confidence in some of the 
 knights of Brittany, who 
 had betrayed his secret, so 
 that the king of France or- 
 dered his constable to in- 
 vade Brittany with a large 
 body of men-at-arms, and to 
 take possession for him of 
 ail cities, towns, castles, and 
 fortresses, as well as such 
 persons whom he should find 
 in rebellion, and confiscate 
 their property. The con- 
 stable marched from Paris 
 
 to Angers, and from thence issued his summons. He was there 
 joined by the duke de Bourbon, the count d'Alenyon, the vis- 
 counts de Meaux and d'Ausnay, sir Raoul de Coucy, Robert de St. 
 Pol, Raoual de Raineval, Louis de Sancerre marshal of France, with 
 numbers of barons and knights from the countries of Vermandois, Artois, 
 and Picardv. without counting those from An jou, Poitou, and Tourainc. 
 
 The earl of Salisbury, who was at St. Malo with his army, was 
 informed of this assembly of men-at-arms, and also that the whole 
 of Brittany was in opposition to the duke. He set sail with his fleet, 
 and bore away until he came to Brest, which has one of the strongest 
 castles in the world. When the duke of Brittany heard of the march 
 of the constable, he was afraid of trusting himself to the inhabitants of 
 Vannes or Dinan, or indeed to any of his principal towns: he thought 
 if he should shut himself up in any one of them, he would run great 
 risks. He went, therefore, to the castle of Auray, which is situated 
 between Vannes and Rennes, and was attached to him ; for he had 
 given the command of it to an English knight called sir John Austin. 
 The duke left his lady under the care of this knight, entreating him 
 to guard her well, which he promised to do. After this, he rode to 
 St. Mah6 ; but they shut the gates against him : from thence he 
 wentto ConcarneaUjt where he embarked for England. 
 
 The constable of France entered Brittany, attended by those barons 
 and knights of the country who had been at the siege of Becherel, 
 they having left the continuance of it to the knights and lords of 
 Normandy. On the arrival of the constable before Rennes, tlic in- 
 habitants knew that his visit was to take possession of the whole 
 country ; for the king and his council had published a declaration 
 that the duke had forfeited it, because he had surrendered to the 
 English different towns, castles, and forts, and had even wished to 
 take part with the king of England against the crown of France, 
 from which he held his duchy by faith and homage. They were 
 unwilling to incur the horrors of war, and received the constable in 
 a peaceful manner, acknowledging the king of France for their lord. 
 After the constable had gained possession of Rennes, he hastened 
 to Dinan, which surrendered to the obedience of the king of France. 
 He next advanced to Vannes, which did the same. Luzumont,* 
 however, held out for the duke ; it was roughly assaulted and taken 
 by storm, so that all within were put to death. The constable 
 marched to Jugon, which accepted the terms of the king of France ; 
 as did also the castle of Guy la Foret, la Roche-derrien, the towns 
 of Guingamp, St. Mah6, and St. Malo. In like manner did Quim- 
 percorentin, Quimper'6, Credo, Galande, as well as several other 
 fortresses in the neighborhood, turn to the French. The constable 
 marched first through lower Brittany, because it was more attached 
 to duke John de Montfort than the upper parts. 
 
 When the duke of Brittany embarked for England, he nominated 
 
 *Lord Hniles in his Annals, says: "David II. died 22nd February, 1370-1, in the 
 castle of Edinburgh, in the 47th year of his age, and the 42nd of his reign. He was 
 buried in the church of the abbey of Holyrood. before the great altar." 
 
 t " Concaineau "—a waport in Brittany, about four leagues from Quimper. 
 
 DDNfBRMLiNE Abbey. the Burial Place of Robert Bruce and the early Kings of Scotland. From an Origioai Drawing. 
 
 sir Robert Knolles governor of the duchy, but very few lord* obeyed 
 him. He, however, sufficiently reinforced his castle of Der/ai with 
 men, and, having provided it with every necessary, gave tiic com- 
 mand of it to his cousin Hugh Brock. Sir Robert shut himself up 
 in Brest. 
 
 The constable came before Hennebon : the governor was an Eng- 
 lish squire, called Thomelin Ubich.t nominated by the duke. There 
 was also with him in the castle a knight named sir Thomas Prior, 
 who had been sent thither by sir Robert Knolles ; and their garrisons 
 might consist of about fourscore men, without counting the inhabit- 
 ants of the town. The French, on their arrival, began to make a 
 violent attack on the castle: they always carried with them many 
 large engines and cannons, by means of which they had taken several 
 towns, castles, and forts in Brittany : in particular, they had stormed 
 the town of Quimperl^, of which James Ross, a valiant squire of 
 England, was governor. He could obtain no quarter, for he fell into 
 the hands of sir Oliver de Clisson, who slew him and several others 
 with his own hand : he had no mercy nor pity on any Englishman. 
 
 Let us return to the siege of Hennebon. The constable of France, 
 after he had pointed his engines and cannon against the walls of the 
 town and castle, which the lord Charles de Blois could never con 
 quer, ordered all the men-at-arms to make a brisk assault, for he had 
 
 * Probably Sucinio— a castle near Vannes, whicli was taken by assault, and the gar 
 rison s\ain.— Hist, de Bretagne. 
 t " Thomelin Ubicb." Q,. Wicb. or Holbeck. fiamtt calls him Tbomu Win 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 resolved to sup in the place that evening. They made a most fierce 
 attack, without sparing themselves ; and the inhabitants, assisted by 
 the English, made as gallant a defence. Upon this, the constable 
 called out to them, saying : Attend to me, you men of Hennebon : 
 it is quite certain we must conquer you, and that we will sup in your 
 town this evening : if, therefore, any of you be bold enough to throw 
 a stone, arrow, i r Sy any means hurt the smallest of our boys so that 
 he be wounded, I vow to God I will have you all put to death." 
 These words so much frightened the inhabitants that they retired to 
 ♦heir houses, leaving the English to defend the place as well as they 
 could : but the town was too large for them to guard every part of 
 it, so that the army of the con jtable entered, and put all the English 
 to death except the two captair.s, whom they made prisoners. Be- 
 cause the townsmen had obeyed the constable, he commanded that 
 no one, when they stormed the y'ace, should dare any way to injure 
 them. When sir Bertrand du Guesclin had thus won the town and 
 strong castle of Hennebon in Brittany, he remained there for fifteen 
 days, and then marched toward Concarneau. 
 
 In the mean while, the earl of Salisbury, sir William Neville, sir 
 Brian Stapleton, and sir William Lucy, having reinforced and revict- 
 ualled the fort of Brest with men-at-arms, archers, and provisions, 
 had embarked on board their ships in order the better to defend it 
 against the French, whom the English knew to be in Brittany, but 
 were uncertain to what quarter the constable would lead them. The 
 constable on coming before Concarneau, which is a sea-port, took it 
 by storm, and slew all the English except their captain, sir John 
 Langley, who received quarter. The French repaired the town, and 
 Etrengthened it with men-at-arms and all sorts of provision. They 
 then advanced to Brest, in which were sir Robert Knolles, with two 
 hundred men-at-arms, and as many archers. 
 
 The lords of France and Brittany laid siege to Brest : they had 
 with them about six thousand combatants. Shortly after they had 
 commenced this siege, the duke of Anjou sent for sir Oliver de Clis- 
 Bon, who had under his command some of his men, to come and lay 
 Biege to la Roche-sur-Yon, which the English still held. Sir Oliver 
 sun'ounded the place, and pointed against it large engines, which he 
 had brought from Angers and Poitiers. In company with thes-e Bre- 
 tons came several nobles and gentlemen of Poitou and Anjou : they 
 kept up a sharp attack, and pressed hard the garrison of la Roche- 
 sur-Yon, saying they would never leave the place before they had 
 conquered it. The duke of Anjou returned to his own country, but 
 frequently sent provision and other art;.;! ' - ta those who were carry- 
 ing on the siege. The constable, the duke of Bourbon, the counts 
 d'Alengon and de Perigord, the dauphin d'Auvergne, and the great 
 barons of France still maintained the siege of Brest ; but too little 
 did they gain, for it is one of the strongest castles in the world. 
 As sir Robert Knolles was the governor, the lords of France resolved 
 to send a body of men to invest his castle of Derval. Many noble- 
 men of Brittany and of Touraine went on this expedition : they 
 were, in the whole, about four liuudred fighting men. 
 
 CHAPTER CCCXVI. 
 
 THE FRENCH BESIEGE FOUR DIFFERENT PLACES. LA ROCHE-SUR-YON 
 SURRENDERS TO THE FRENCH. THE SIEGE OF BREST IS RAISED BY 
 CAPITULATION, WHICH IS NOT KEPT. 
 
 The lords of France were at this time besieging four towns at 
 yce ; namely, Becherel, Brest, la Roche-sur-Yon, and the one just 
 formed before Derval. The besiegers had many an assault to make, 
 and manjrgallant feats of arms to perform, in order to obtain sue- 
 cess. 
 
 The inhabitants of la Roche-sur-Yon, being farthest off from any 
 assistance, and surrounded on all sides, entered into a capitulation, 
 that if they were not succored within one month, the garrison would 
 march out, and deliver up the castle to the king of France. The 
 lord de Clisson and the other lords returned at the appointed day ; 
 and, when no reinforcements appeared to raise the siege, the castle 
 surrendered, and the English, under the passports of the lord de Pons 
 marched away for Bordeaux.* 
 
 After this, sir Oliver de Clisson and the others who had been at 
 this conquest, marched to Derval, whither they had caused large 
 machines and engines to be brought. To this siege of Derval came 
 the constable of France, the duke of Bourbon, the counts d'Alengon 
 and du Perche, with numbers of ilie knights and barons of France 
 -for they found they were only losing their time before Brest. Two 
 thousand, however, remained behind, who built a block-house in 
 such a situation that no one could enter Brest to reinforce or revictual 
 it. Sir Hugh Brock and the garrison in Derval, seeing themselves 
 attacked by such a force, were alarmed lest they should be taken by 
 storm, and proposed a treaty for a truce of two months; and if with- 
 in that time they were not relieved by the duke of Brittany, or others 
 in sufficient force to keep the field, to raise the siege, and to com. 
 bat the French, they would surrender themselves and the castle to 
 the duke of Anjou, or to the constable ; but if a body of men-at-arms 
 should arrive, and offer batde to the French, the garrison should 
 remain in peace. This treaty was concluded, and information sent 
 
 * M V MS. mentions sir Robert Grenacres as governor of La Roche-sur-Yon. 
 
 to the duke of Anjou, who was on the borders: he approved of it 
 on condition that the garrison of Derval should not during the truce 
 receive any one into the castle. Sir Hugh Brock sent several knights 
 and squires as his hostages for the due execution of the treaty. 
 
 After this capitulation, the constable of France made an excursion 
 to the city of Nantes. The citizens shut their gates, because he had 
 with him a large army, and went forth to know his intentions. The 
 constable told them he had been nominated and sent by the king of 
 France, their lord, to take seisin and possession of the duchy of 
 Brittany, which sir .Tohn de Montfort, who called himself duke, had 
 forfeited. The citizens requested time to hold a council, to deliberate 
 on what he had said, before they gave an answer. After a long 
 time debating the business, they returned and tpake to the constable; 
 " Dear lord, it seems quite marvellous to us how the king of France 
 can thus seize the inheritance of our lord the duke ; for the king, 
 not long since, commanded us to receive him as our duke. We 
 have therefore sworn fealty and homage to him ; and he has in 
 return promised and sworn to govern us as subjects, which he has 
 hitherto punctually done. We have never had any grounds for sus- 
 pecting him of fraud or guile. If you enter this town by virtue of 
 the procuration you say you have, we will allow you so to do ; but 
 on condition, that if it should happen that the duke of Brittany 
 return to this country, and be desirous of becoming a good French- 
 man, so that all prelates, barons, gentlemen, and good towns in 
 Brittany, shall acknowledge him for their lord, we shall be acquitted 
 without loss for what we now do, or may have before done ; and 
 that you will not consent to any violence being offered to us, nor 
 will you receive the rents or revenues of Brittany, but they shall 
 remain as a deposite with us until we have other information, or 
 hear news more agreeable to us than what you have brought. The 
 constable swore to keep everything as procurator for the king of 
 France in this case. He and all those who were with him then en 
 tered the city of Nantes, which is the principal town in Brittany. 
 
 When sir Robert Knolles heard that his cousin, sir H^ugh Brock, 
 had concluded a capitulation for the castle of Derval with the French, 
 and found that unless he also entered into a negotiation he could 
 by no means leave his post to succor it, sir Robert made offers of 
 treating with the French and Bretons who had remained before 
 Brest : they replied that they could do nothing without the constable. 
 An English knight and two squires, having had passports, came to 
 a mansion near Nantes, where the constable resided, on the banks of 
 the Loire, with other knights of France and Brittany. A treaty waa 
 entered into, on these terms ; that the garrison of Brest should have 
 a truce for forty days, during which time, unless there should arrive 
 a suflicient force to fight with the constable, the fort was to be sur- 
 rendered. The garrison was to remain on the same footing it then 
 was, without receiving any reinforcements of men -or provision. The 
 negotiators returned to sir Robert Knolles, who sent, as pledges to 
 the constable, able and suflScient knights and squires. The hostages, 
 on their arrival, were ordered to the prison of the constable ; and all 
 those who had been at the siege of Brest departed. The constable 
 gave also leave for several others to go away, whom the king of 
 France sent to garrison his cities, castles, towns, and forts in Picardy, 
 for the duke of Lancaster had landed at Calais with a large army. 
 
 When the earl of Salisbury (who had all that season cruised on 
 the coasts of Brittany and Normandy, having for that purpose been 
 reinforced by the king of England, so that he might have on board 
 with him a thousand men-at-arms and two thousand archers,) heard 
 of the capitulation of Brest, he said, that if it pleased God, he would 
 offer combat to the French. He made sail, and arrived at Brest, 
 which is situated on the seashore, when he disembarked, and drew 
 up his men in order of battle before Brest : at night, they all retreated 
 to their vessels. This he daily performed, in order to be ready to 
 fight the enemy, should they advance to that quarter. 
 
 The constable had dismissed the greater part of his men: he had 
 also on his hands, the sieges of Becherel and of Derval, and did not 
 imagine the earl of Salisbury vv^ould have anived on the coast so 
 soon. He set out from Nantes when the day approached for the 
 surrender of Brest, but did not march quite so far; for he had 
 had iii'telligence that the English were in sufficient force to fight 
 with him. On hearing this, he halted where he was, and remained 
 there quiet for about seven days, being desirous of having the advice 
 of a full council of war which he had summoned. The earl of Salis- 
 bury had posted himself very advantageously before Brest ; and, 
 finding that the constable and Bretons did not advance, he sent a 
 herald to sir Bertrand du Guesclin, who, on his arrival, respectfully 
 saluted him, and said : " My lord, the earl of Salisbury and the lorda 
 of England signify by me, who am a herald at arms and their ser- 
 vant, that as you had for a long time besieged the town and caatld 
 of Brest, and certain treaties and capitulations had been entered into 
 for its sun-ender unless it should be succored before a certain day, 
 which is not far distant, they wish to inform you that they have en- 
 camped themselves before Brest to fulfil this engagement and to de- 
 fend the castle : they beg and entreat of you, therefore, to advance, 
 when you shall be fought with without fail ; and supposing you re- 
 fuse your consent to this, that you will send back the hostages.'-* 
 The constable replied : " Herald, you bring us agreeable news, and 
 are welcome. You will tell your masters, that we are more desirous 
 to combat them than they are too meet us ; but that they must march 
 
S18 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND. FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 to the place where the treaty was first entered into and agreed upon. 
 You will inform them, that if they will advance to that place, they 
 shall infallibly have a battle." 
 
 The herald returned to his masters before Brest, and delivered his 
 message : they sent him back to the constable, to whom he said : 
 " My lord, I come again from my lords and masters, to whom I re- 
 peated the words you charged me with : they say, that as they are 
 only attached to the sea service they have not brought any horses 
 with them, and are not accustomed to march on foot ; for whichirea- 
 Bon they inform you, that if you will send them your horses, they 
 will come without delay to any place you shall please to appoint, and 
 fight with you." " My good friend," answered the constable, " we 
 will not, please God, give such advantage to our enemies as we 
 should do were we to send them our horses. It would also be con- 
 sidered as an insult ; and, should we think of such a thing, it would 
 be right we should have good and sufficient security to answer for 
 our horses." " In truth," replied the herald, " they have not charged 
 me to add anything on this head ; only, that if you do not accept their 
 proposition, they say you have not any cause to detain their hosta- 
 ges, and that iri returning thenj you will act but justly." The con- 
 stable said, he was not of that opinion. * 
 
 Thus did the business remain; and the herald returned to the 
 earl of Salisbury and the knights before Brest, who, when they 
 found they could not gain anything, and that the hostages were not 
 sent back, were exceedingly vexed ; they, however, remained stead- 
 ily before the place, without moving, until the appointed day was 
 passed, and then perceiving the constable would not advance to fight 
 with them, they entered Brest, which they greatly reinforced and 
 rcvictualled. The constable, finding the English were not likely 
 to come to offer him battle, marched off, caiTying with him the Eng- 
 lish hostages as prisoners, and said, the English had not kept what 
 they had bound themselves to perform.* After the relief of Brest, 
 the earl of Salisbuiy put to sea to guard the coasts, according to the 
 orders he had received. Sir Robert KnoUes set out also from Brest, 
 and arrived at his castle of Derval. As soon as this was known, 
 information of it was sent to the duke of Anjou, who was with the 
 constable near Nantes. They guessed what would be the conse- 
 quence of this ; for sir Robert broke all the treaties which his cousin 
 had entered into, and sent to tell the duke of Anjou and the consta- 
 ble, that he should not keep one article of them, as his people had 
 not the power to enter into any treaty without his knowledge and 
 consent. The duke, on hearing this, came in person to the siege of 
 Derval. 
 
 CHAPTER CCCXVII. 
 
 THE DUKE OF LANCASTEK LANDS AT CALAIS, AND INVADES PICARDY. A 
 PART OF HIS ARMY DEFEATED BY THE LORD DE BOURSIERSt BEFORE 
 RIBEMONT.t ANOTHER PART OF HIS ARMY IS DEFEATED NEAR SOIS- 
 SONS BY AN AMBUSCADE OF BUR&UNDIANS AND FRENCH. 
 
 Upward of three thousand men-at-arms and ten thousand English 
 archers had landed at Calais. Three years before, this expedition 
 had been planned and provided for : of course, it was well furnished 
 with all things. The following knights passed over with the dukes 
 of Lancaster and Brittany : the earls of Warwick, Stafford and Suf- 
 folk, Edward lord Despencer, first baron of the realm, and at that 
 time constable of the army, the lords Willoughby, de la Pole, Basset, 
 Roos, Latimer, lord Henry Percy, lord Lewis Clifford, lord William 
 Beauchamp, the canon de Robesart, sir Walter Hewett, sir Hugh 
 Calverley, sir Stephen Cossington, sir Richard de Pontchardon, and 
 many other knights and squires from England ; but I cannot name 
 them all. 
 
 The king of France, who knew well that the English would cross 
 the sea, had reinforced his cities, towns, castles, and forts in Picardy, 
 Artois, and also in Vermandois, and had everywhere posted men-at- 
 arms in sufficient numbers ; such as Bretons, Burgundians, Picards, 
 Normans, and many whom he had subsidized from the Empire. 
 The English left Calais as soon as they had mounted and arranged 
 their carriages, of which they had great numbers. They marched 
 in three battalions, and in such good order as it was not easy to im- 
 prove : that of the marshals marched first, of which the earls of War- 
 wick and Suffolk were the leaders ; then the dukes of Lancaster and 
 
 * My MS. has the following additions : 
 
 " The herald, on receiving his last message, returned to his lords before Brest, who 
 held a council on it. 
 
 " Shortly after this, the constable, tlie duke of Bourbon, the count d'Alen^on, the lords 
 de Clisson and de Laval, with the other barons and knights, amounting to four thousand 
 lances and twenty thousand other men, marched to within one day's journey of Brest, 
 where, having strongly encamped themselves, they sent to let the English know they were 
 now on the spot where the treaty had been concluded, and if they would march thither 
 they would be combated ; otherwise they would lose their hostages. Tlie earl of Salisbury , 
 on learning this, found the French were trickish and had not any real intention of fight- 
 ing, so that he returned for answer by his own herald, who accompanied the French 
 herald, that if the constable would advance two-thirds of the way, they would perform 
 Ihe other third ; or, if the French would not do this, the Knglish would advance half of 
 the way on f >ot, if t!ie French would theru meet them cn foot : or, if the French would 
 not accept either of these propositions, they were bound in justice to return the hostages, 
 ten the English had cheerfully and honorably performed their engagement." 
 
 t Denys Sauvage calls him the lord de Soubise, but gives no reason for it. My MSS. 
 nave Boursiers. 
 
 1 Kibemont u a town in Picardy, four leagues from St Qaentin. 
 
 Brittany, who had many gallant knights to accompany them : thft 
 constable, the lord Despencer, brought up the rear. They marched 
 in close order, without any one being suffered to quit his rank ; and 
 the van was always armed ready for combat. They were quartered 
 together at night, keeping a strong and strict guard to prevent a sur. 
 prise. They advanced three leagues a day, and no one dared to 
 march before the banners of the marshals, unless he had been or- 
 dered forward as a scout. 
 
 They passed by Montreuil, of which the lord Handebourg* was 
 governor, St. Omer, and afterwards Terouenne, but without attack, 
 ing them. The light troops burnt all the lands of the count de St. 
 Pol, and the army advanced very near to Arras, when the two dukes 
 took up their quarters in the monastery of St. Eloy, and remained 
 there two days. They then marched off by the walls of Arras, but 
 made no assault, for they knew it would be lost time. They came 
 to Bray.siu--Somme,t where the two marshals had a sharp engage, 
 ment before the gates ; for there was a good garrison within of able 
 knights and squires of Picardy, under the command of the viscount 
 de Meaux and sir Raoul de Rayneval. The canon de Robesart 
 struck down three with his spear before the gate, and the skirmish 
 was severe ; but the French so well defended the gates, that they 
 lost nothing. The English continued their march, following the 
 course of the river Somme, vv^hich they thought to cross between 
 Ham, in Vermandois, and St. Quentin. Thus did this army advance 
 under the command of the duke of Lancaster, according to orders 
 from the king his father. 
 
 The lord de Boursiers was at this time returning from Hainault 
 into France, and arrived so opportunely at Ham that the inhabitants 
 most earnestly entreated of him to remain there to assist them in 
 defending their town against the English. He comphed vnih their 
 request, staying with them two days, during the time the English 
 passed by, following the course of the river Somme, to enter the 
 Vermandois and to cross the river at the narrowest part. When the 
 lord de Boursiers heard that the English had almost all passed, and 
 that they were advancing toward St. Quentin and Ribemont, where 
 the lord du Chin, whose daughter he had married, possessed a large 
 estate, and where he also had lands in right of his wife, he took leave 
 of the citizens of Ham, who thanked him much for his services, as 
 he knew the castle of Ribemont was quite unprovided with n>en.at. 
 arms. He was attended by as many companions as he could mus. 
 ter, but they were very few in number, and rode on until he came 
 to St. Quentin, where he did not arrive without great danger, for 
 the whole country was overspread with English. He got into the 
 town just in time, for the English light troops came to the gates aa 
 he entered them. The lord de Boursiers found there sir William 
 des Bourdes, who was governor of it for the king : he was received 
 by him joyfully, and much pressed to stay there, to help in defence 
 of the town. 
 
 The lord de Boursiers excused himself by saying, that he had un- 
 dertaken to go to Ribemont, to defend that town and castle, which 
 was without any garrison ; and he entreated sir William so much 
 for assistance that he gave him twelve cross-bows. He had not ad- 
 vanced far before he saw a company of English ; but, as he knew 
 the country well, he took a more circuitous road to avoid them : the 
 English never quitted their line of march. He was this whole day 
 in much peril on his road toward Ribemont. He met a knight from 
 Burgundy, called sir John de Bueil, who was going to St. Quentin; 
 but, after some conversation with the lord de Boursiers, he returned 
 with him toward Ribemont. His force might now consist of about 
 forty spears and thirty cross-bows. As they were approaching Ribe- 
 mont, having sent forward one of their scouts to inform ike inhabit- 
 ants that they were coming to their aid, they perceived a body of 
 English advancing, who appeared to consist of at least fourscore 
 men on horseback. " The French said, " Plere are our enemies re- 
 turning from pillage : let us meet them." Upon which they stuck 
 spurs into their horses, and galloped off as fast as they could, crying 
 out, " Notre Dame Ribemont ;" they fell upon the English, whom 
 they defeated and slew. Happy were they who could escape. 
 
 When the French had thus conquered these English, they came 
 to Ribemont, where they found the lord du Chin, who a Httle before 
 had entered the town with forty spears and twenty cross-bows 
 While these three noble knights were on the square of the town be- 
 fore the castle, and many of their men had gone to their quarters to 
 disarm themselves, they heard the sentinel on the castle wall cry 
 out, " Here are men-at-arms advancing to the town." On which 
 they went nearer the castle, and asked how many he thought there 
 might be : he answered " About fourscore." Upon which, the lord 
 de Boursiers said, " It behoves us to go and fight with them, for 
 otherwise we shall have much blame in having suffered them thuf 
 to come up to our very walls unnoticed." The lord du Chin replied-^ 
 " Fair son, you say well : order out our horses, and display my ban 
 ner." Sir John de Bueil rejoined, " Gentlemen, you shall not go 
 without my company : but I would advise you to act more delibe- 
 rately in this business ; for peradventure they may be men-at-arms 
 lightly mounted, whom the marshals or constable may have sent 
 hither to draw us out of our fortress, and our sally may turn out to 
 our loss." 
 
 ♦ " Handebourg." tt. 
 
 t " Bmy-sur^mme"— ft village of Picardy. election of P«ronn& 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 S19 
 
 The lorJ de Boursiers said : " If you will adopt my plan, we will 
 go and fight them, and . that as speedily as may be ; for whatever 
 may happen, I am determined to do so." On saying this, he fixed 
 on his helmet and tightened his armor, and then sallied forth with 
 about one hundred and twenty combatants. The English were about 
 fourscore, part c f the troop of sir Hugh Calverley, though sir Hugh 
 himself had reniained with the duke of Lancaster: there were as 
 ^ many as six knights and other squires, who had advanced to revenge 
 the deaths of their companions. On the French coming out at the 
 gate, they met the English, who, lowering their spears, vigorously 
 attacked them : they opened their ranks, when the English galloped 
 quite through : this caused so great a dust that they could scarcely 
 distinguish each other. The French soon formed again, and shouted 
 their cry of " Notre Dame Ribe:nont !" Many a man was unhorsed 
 on both sides. The lord du Chi i fought with a leaden mace, with 
 which he smashed every helmet that came within reach of it ; for he 
 was a strong and lusty knight, well made in all his limbs : but he 
 himself received such a blow on his casque that he reeled, and would 
 have fallen to the ground had he not been supported by his squire. 
 He suffered from this blow as long as he lived. 
 
 Several knights and squires of the English were greatly surprised 
 that the arms on the lord du Chin's banners were perfectly the same 
 as those of the lord de Coucy, and said, " How is this ? has the lord 
 de Coucy sent any of his men hither ? he ought to be one of our 
 friends." The battle was very mortal ; for in the end almost all the 
 Ei>glish were killed or made prisoners, few escaping. The lord de 
 Boursiers took two brothers of the name of Pembroke : one a knight, 
 the other a squire. Sir John de Bueil took two others, with whom 
 they retreated i ito Ribemont. The English army marched by, but 
 made no assault ; for they thought it would be losing time. Orders 
 were given to do no damage, by burning or otherwise, to the lands 
 of the lord de Coucy, who was at that time in Lombardy, and inter- 
 fered not with the wars in France. 
 
 The English fixed their quarters in the valleys below Laon and 
 lower down than Bruyeres* and Crecy,t whence they did much mis- 
 chief to the Laonnois. But before this, the king of France had or- 
 dered everything valuable to be carried into the towns and strong 
 places, which were so well garrisoned that the English could not 
 gain anything by attacking them, nor indeed had they any thoughts 
 of so doing, but were only anxious that the French would meet them 
 in battle in the plain. The king, however, had forbidden this very 
 strictly in his daily orders. He had them followed by the rest of his 
 cavalry so close on their rear, as to intimidate them from quitting the 
 main army. The French took up their quarters every evening in 
 fortified towns, and in the day time pursued the English, who kept 
 themselves in a compact body. 
 
 I: happened that one morning a party of English, to the number 
 of six score lances, who were overrunning the country beyond Sois- 
 sons, fell into an ambuscade of Burgundians and French. It was 
 commanded by sir John de Vienne, sir John de Bueil, sir William 
 des Bourdes, sir Hugh de Porcien, sir John de Coucy, the viscount 
 de Meaux, the lords de Rayneval and de la Boue, with several more 
 snights and squires, amounting in the whole to full three hundred 
 .ances. They had followed the English, and this night they had 
 encamped in the fields of the Soissonnois, where they had placed an 
 ambuscade in a small coppice. The English came in the morning 
 to plunder a village behind which their army was quartered. When 
 ihey had passed the ambush, the French sallied forth with banners 
 and pennons displayed. The English, seeing such a large body so 
 near them, halted, and would have sent to their army, which was a 
 good league oflf; but sir Walter Huet, a great English captain, and 
 near the spot where this surprise happened, mounting his horse in 
 great haste, his lance in its rest, but without helmet or vizor, and 
 only his coat of mail on, galloped forward without further thought or 
 consideration : his men followed him as well as they could. In the 
 confusion, he had his neck quite pierced through with a spear, and 
 fell d^ad on the field. 
 
 The English fought very valiantly, but at last were almost all ta- 
 ken or slain. The French made prisoners of the following knights : 
 sir Matthew Redmayne, sir Thomas Fowkes, sir Hugh Brudenel, sir 
 Thomas Spencer, sir Thomas Emerton, sir Nicholas Gascoign, sir 
 John Chandler, sir Philip Cambray, sir John Harpedon, sir Matthew 
 Gournay, sir Robert Twyford, sir Geoffry Say, sir John Bourchier, 
 sir Geoffry Worsley, sir Lionel Daultry ; and, of esquires, William 
 Daultry, John Gaillard, Thomas Bradley, Henry Montford, Guy 
 Hewett, John Meynil, William Gostwick, John Flamstead, Thomas 
 Sollerant, William Quentin, Robert Boteler, Robert Audley, Ralph 
 Stanley, and Thomas Archer.t 
 
 News was carried to the main body that their men were engaged : 
 upon which, the marshals, with the whole army, hastened thither: 
 though they could not make such speed, but that the business was 
 finished, and the Burgundians and French had left the field. The 
 English knew not where to seek the French. Thus passed this ac- 
 tion, according to the information I have received, near to Soucy in 
 the Soissonnois, the 20th September, 1363. 
 
 After these two encounters at Ribemont and Soucy, nothing fur- 
 
 * " Bruyeres"— a town in Picardy, diocese of Laon. 
 t " Crecy-sur-Serre"— a town in Picardy, three leagues from Laon. 
 i nave copied these name* from Barnes. 
 
 ther befel the duke of Lancaster and his army that is worth men- 
 tioning. They majched through various narrow passes and defiles, 
 but kept in close and good order. The council of the king of 
 France therefore said to him : " Let them go ; by their smoke alone 
 they cannot deprive you of your kin-gdom : they will be tired poon, 
 and their force will dissolve away, for as storms and tempests appear 
 sometimes in tremendous forms over a whole country, yet they dissi. 
 pate of themselves, and no essential harm happens: thus it will befal 
 these English. 
 
 CHAPTER CCCXVIII. 
 
 THE HOSTAGES SENT FROM DERVAL ARE BEHEADED. SIR ROBERl 
 KNOLLES RETALIATES ON THOSE PRISONERS WHOM HE HAD TAKEN. 
 THE DUKE OF LANCASTER FINISHES HIS EXPEDITION. 
 
 Sir Robert Knolles, as I have before related, was returned to his 
 castle of Derval, which he considered as his own inheritance, and 
 had determined to break the treaty which had been entered into by 
 his cousin and the duke of Anjou ; on which account, the duke him- 
 self was come to the siege of Derval, attended by numbers from 
 Brittany, Poitou, and the lower countries. The king of France was 
 desirous that his constable, who was there, and the lord de Clisson, 
 with several more, should return to France, to assist his brother the 
 duke of Burgundy in the pursuit of the English. He frequently re- 
 newed these orders to the different lords, who were anxious to obey 
 them, and also to gain possession of this castle of Derval. 
 
 When the day was passed on which the castle was to have been 
 surrendered, the besiegers wondered what the garrison were thinking 
 on : they imagined that sir Robert Knolles had thrown himself into 
 it with reinforcements. The duke and constable sent to sir Robert, 
 and to sir Hugh Brock who had made the treaty. The herald, on ar- 
 riving in the square of the castle, said to the gentlemen present : 
 " My lords send me here to inquire from you the reasons, which they 
 would willingly learn, why you do not ransom your hostages by sur- 
 rendering the castle according to the terms of the treaty to which 
 you, sir Hugh, have sworn." Sir Robert Knolles then addressed 
 the herald, saying, " Herald, you will tell your masters, that my 
 cousin had no authority to enter into any capitulation or treaty with- 
 out my consent first had ; and you will now return with this answer 
 from me." 
 
 The herald went back to his lords, and related to them the mes- 
 sage sir Robert Knolles had charged him with : they sent him 
 again to tell the gamson, that from the tenor of the treaty, they ought 
 not to have received any one into the fort, and that they had received 
 sir Robert Knolles, which they should not have done ; and likewise 
 to inform them for a truth, that if the castle was not surrendered, the 
 hostages would be beheaded. Sir Robert replied, " By God, herald, 
 I will not lose my castle for fear of the menaces of your lords ; and 
 if it should happen that the duke of Anjou, through arrogance, puts 
 my friends to death, I will retaliate ; for I have here in prison seve- 
 ral knights and squires of France, and if I were offered one hundred 
 thousand francs I would not show mercy to any one of them." When 
 the herald had delivered his answer, the duke of Anjou sent for the 
 headsman, and ordered the hostages, who were two knights and a 
 squire, to be brought forth, and had tliem beheaded before the castle, 
 so that those within might see and know them. 
 
 Sir Robert Knolles instantly ordered a table to be fixed without- 
 side of the windows of the castle, and had led there four of his pris- 
 oners, three knights and a squire, for whom he might have had a 
 great ransom, but he had them beheaded and flung down into the 
 ditch, the heads on one side and the bodies on the other. The siege 
 was raised after this, and all the men-at-amis returned to France ; 
 even the duke of Anjou went to Paris to visit the king his brother : 
 the constable, with the lord de Clisson and others, marched to the 
 city of Troyes, for the English were already in that part of the coun- 
 try: they had crossed the river Marne, and were taking the road 
 toward Auxerre. 
 
 At this time, pope Gregory XI. had sent the archbishop of Rouen 
 and the bishop of Carpentras in legation to France, to endeavor, if 
 possible, to make peace between the kings of France and England : 
 these two prelates had many difficulties in travelling toward the king 
 of France and his brothers, and afterwards to the duke of Lancas- 
 ter : the English, however, kept advancing through the country of 
 F6rets, having passed Auvergne, Limousin, and the rivers Loire, 
 Allier, Dordonne, and Lot. Neither the English nor French were 
 much at their ease in this expedition : three knights of Hainault, sir 
 Fateres de Barlammont, sir Bridol de Montagin, and le bfegue de War- 
 Ian, as well as some on the side of the English, died on their march. 
 The dukes of Lancaster and Brittany continued their route with the 
 army until they were arrived at Bergerac, four leagues from Bor. 
 deaux, continually pursued by the French. The duke of Anjou and 
 the constable of France were in the upper countries near Roucrgue, 
 Rodais, and Toulouse, and had advanced as far as Perigueux, where 
 they had fixed their quarters. 
 
 The two before-mentioned prelates journeyed from each party, 
 preaching to them several reasons why they should come to an agree, 
 ment. But each held so obstinately to his own opinion that they 
 would not make any concessions, without having considerable ad. 
 
S20 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 vantages given them. The duke of L mcaster came to Bordeaux 
 about Chrisimas ; and the two dukefe remained there the whole winter 
 and the following Lent. Several knights went away, on the expe. 
 dition being finished : the lord Basset and his company returned to 
 England, for which king Edward reprimanded him. 
 
 CHAPTER CCCXIX. 
 
 THE DUKE OF ANJOU'S CAMFAIGN INTO UPPER OASCONY.* 
 
 Soon after Easter, in the year 1374, the duke of Anjou, who re- 
 eided at Perigord, made a great muster of his forces ; at which the 
 constable of France and the greater part of the barons and knights 
 of Brittany, Poitou, Anjou, and Touraine, were present. There were 
 also, from Gascony, sir John d'Armagnac, the lords d'Albret and de 
 Perigord, the counts de Comminges and de Narbonne, the viscounts 
 de Caraman, de Villemure, and de Thalar, the count dauphin d'Au. 
 vergne : most of the lords of Auvergne and of Limousin : the vis. 
 count de Minedon, the lords de la Barde and de Pincornet, and sir 
 Bertrand de Charde. They amounted to fifteen thousand men on 
 foot, and a large body of Genoese and cross-bows. They began 
 their march toward upper Gascony, and came before St. Silvier,t of 
 which an abbot was lord. Notwithstanding it was talked of as a 
 strong town, the abbot was afraid of losing it by force ; so that he 
 began to treat with the duke of Anjou, telling him that neither him- 
 self nor his territ Dries wished to wage war against him, or in any 
 way incur his indignation, and that the strength of his town and all 
 he could bring to defend it, were as nothing in comparison with the 
 castles of upper Gascony, whither, it was supposed, he intended to 
 march. He therefore entreated that he might remain in peace, upon 
 the terms that he should observe an exact neutrality ; and that, what- 
 ever those lords of Gascony who possessed mesne fiefs should do, 
 he would do the same. His request was granted, on his giving hos- 
 tages, who were sent to prison in Perigueux. 
 
 The whole' army, of v/hich the duke of Anjou was commander, 
 marched away toward Montmar3en,t and the town of Lourde§ in 
 Upper Gascony, of which sir Arnold de Vire was governor. The 
 French besieged and surrounded it on all sides, having demanded if 
 they were willing to surrender themselves to the duke of Anjou. 
 The inhabitants of Lourde soon agreed to it ; but the knight said, 
 that the count de Foix had appointed him to that .post, and he would 
 not surrender to any man except to him. 
 
 When the constable of France heard this, he ordered the army to 
 advance and briskly assault it, which they did with so much vigor 
 that the town was taken and the governor slain, as well as several 
 men and women : the town was pillaged and ruined, and left in that 
 state ; however, on their departure they placed therein some of their 
 men. The French entered the lands|| of ChS-tel-bon, which they de- 
 spoiled ; they then passed through the territories of Chatel-neuf, which 
 they attacked, and continued their march upward toward Bierne, and 
 came to the entrance of the lands of the lord de I'Escut : they ad- 
 vanced until they came to a good town and strong castle, called 
 Sault,ir which was dependent on the county of Foix. 
 
 The prince of Wales had frequently intended, before his expedi- 
 tion to Spain, to make war on the count de Foix for all these mesne 
 fiefs, which he had in Gascony, because the count would not acknow. 
 ledge that he held them from him : the affair had remained in this 
 situation in consequence of the Spanish expedition. Now, however, 
 the duke of Anjou, who was conquering all Aquitaine, seemed wil- 
 ling to take possession of it, and had thus besieged Sault in Gascony, 
 which was not a trifle nor easy to gain : the governor of it was sir Wil. 
 liam de Pan. When the count heard they were conquering his lands 
 and the mesne fiefs, for which it was just he should pay homage 
 either to the kings of France or England, he sent for the viscount de 
 Cha.tel-bon, the lords de Marsen and de I'Escut, and the abbot de 
 St. Silvier. He then demanded a passport from the duke of Anjou, 
 who was occupied with the siege of Sault, that they might wait upon 
 him in safety : the duke granted it. They therefore went and held 
 a conference with him and his council, when it was agreed that the 
 aforesaid lords and their territories should remain in peace until the 
 middle of August, on condition that those who should then be the 
 strongest before the town of Monsac,** on the part of the kings of 
 France or of England, and there keep the field, should have the en- 
 joyment of these rights, and to that party these lords of mesne fiefs 
 should ever after belong. The count de Foix and the other lords 
 gave hostages for this agreement. The duke of Anjou returned to 
 . Perigueux with his army, but did not dismiss any one. 
 
 * For a more chronological account of this campaign, see hist, de Languedoc, vol. 
 V. p. 580. 
 
 t " St. Silvier." Probably St. Silvier de Rustan. in Bigone. 
 t " Montmarsen"— a town in Giiscony. 
 
 S " Lourde"— a town in Gascony— the capital of the valley of Lavedan, diocese of 
 Tarbes. 
 
 II These lands are beyond the Pyrenees ; therefore, it more probably alludes to the 
 town of Mauvoisin, and the other lands the viscount held under the king of England.— 
 Bee Hist, de Lanpuedoc, vol. iv. p. 583. 
 
 % *' Sault de Navaille"— a smiill town in Gascony, near Oithez. 
 A town in Perigord, near Bergeme. 
 
 CHAPTER CCCXX. 
 
 THE XARL or PEMBROKE AND HIS COMPANIONS ARE RANSOMED. A 8H0M 
 TRUCE BETWEEN THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH. BECHEREL SURRENDERS 
 ON TERMS. THE DEATH OF THE EARL OF PEMBROKE. 
 
 About this time there was an exchange made of the lands of the 
 constable of France and sir OHver de Mauny, which the king oi 
 Spain had given to them for their gallant services. The constable 
 exchanged his estate of Soria in Castille for the earl of Pembroke, 
 who had been made prisoner off La Rochelle. Sir Oliver de Mauny 
 gave up his estate of Grette for sir Guiscard d' Angle and his nephevr 
 William, Otho de Grantson, John de Grinieres, and the lord de Tan- 
 naybouton. 
 
 While this treaty was going forward, another was opened between 
 the dukes of Anjou and of Lancaster, through the means of the two 
 before-mentioned prelates. The duke of Lancaster sent, under pass- 
 ports, to the duke of Anjou at Perigord, (where he resided and gov. 
 erned as king or regent the lordships of England and France,) the 
 canon de Robesart, and the lords William Hellunay and Thomas 
 Douville. A truce was agreed on, between these dukes and their 
 allies, until the last day of August : and they engaged themselves to 
 be, in the month of September, in the country of Picardy — the duke 
 of Anjou at St Omer, and the duke of Lancaster at Calais. After 
 this truce, the dukes of Lancaster and of Brittany, the earls of War. 
 wick, Suflfolk, and Stafford, the lords de Spencer and Willoughby, 
 the canon de Robesart, lord Henry Percy, the lord Manne,* with 
 the other lords and knights, set out from Bordeaux the eighth day of 
 July, and returned to England. 
 
 Sir John Appleyard and sir John Cornwall held their castle of 
 Becherel for nearly a year against the French, who were closely be. 
 sieging it, and had much constrained them ; but not receiving any 
 intelligence of succors coming to their afsistance, and- their provis- 
 ions beginning to fail, they held a council whether it wou'd not be 
 advisable to offer terms for its surrender. They entered, therefore, 
 into a treaty with the lords d'Hambuye, d'Estonville, de Blainville, 
 de Frainville, and the bafons of Normandy, who were quite tirea 
 with the siege having continued so long. But they would not con- 
 clude anything without the knowledge of the king of France. He 
 consented, that if the duke of Brittany in person did not come in 
 sufficient force before Becherel, by All-Saints day next approaching, 
 to raise the siege, the garrison should surrender on capitulation. 
 Hostages were given to observe these terms. 
 
 The earl of Pembroke was ransomed for 120,000 francs, which 
 the Lombards of Bruges agreed to pay when he should be arrived in 
 good health at Bruges. The earl journeyed, under the passport of 
 the constable, through the kingdom of France : but a fever, or some 
 other sickness, overtook him on the road, so that he was obliged to 
 travel in a litter unto the city of Arras, where his disorder increased 
 so much as to occasion his death. The constable, by this event, 
 lost his ransom.t The earl of Pembroke left by his second wife, 
 the lady Anne, daughter of sir Walter Manny, a fair son who at that 
 time was two years old. 
 
 Sir Guiscard d'Angle obtained his ransom, as you shall hear. You 
 remember that the lord de Roye entered into an agreement with sir 
 Oliver de Mauny, a Breton knight, and nephew to sir Bertrand du 
 Guesclin, that if he could deliver the lord de Roye from his prison 
 by means of an exchange, he should have the daughter of the 
 baron de Roye for his wife, who was of very high birth. Upon this, 
 sir Oliver de Mauny sent to the king of England, to know which 
 of the knights he would wish to have set at liberty for the lord de 
 Roye. The king vv^as most inclined for sir Guiscard d'Angle. The 
 lord de Roye was therefore sent home free, and the lord de Mauny 
 espoused his daughter. Shortly afterwards, the lord de Roye him- . 
 self married the daughter of the lord de Ville and de Floron in Hai- 
 nault. The other knights, that is to say, the lord de Tannaybouton, 
 sir Otho de Grantson, and sir John de Grinieres, obtained their lib- 
 erties, and compounded in a handsome manner for their ransom 
 with sir Oliver de Mauny. 
 
 CHAPTER CCCXXI. 
 
 SEVERAL TOWNS IN GASCONY SURRENDER TO THE KING OF FRANCE. SIR 
 HUGH DE CHASTILLON RETURNS FROM PRISON. THE CASTLE OF BECHE- 
 REL SURRENDERS TO THE FRENCH. 
 
 When the middle of August approached, which was the appointed 
 time for the meeting before Monsac, the duke of Anjou arrived with 
 a grand array of men-at-arms. He fixed his quarters in the plain 
 before Monsac, where he was lodged for six days without any one 
 coming to meet him. The English thought that the truce which 
 had been entered into would have annulled this agreement- But 
 the duke of Anjou and his council did not consider it in this light. 
 Sir Thomas Felton, seneschal of Bordeaux, argued the matter for a 
 long time ; but he could not gain anything. The duke, therefore, 
 sent to the count de Foix, the viscount de ChateUBon, to the lords 
 
 * Q.. Maine. 
 
 t The constable carried on. for three years, a fruitless lawsuit with the Flemish nwr- 
 chants for this ransom, which they refused to pay. He at length gave up his claim U» 
 the kiss of Franc* for 60,000 franct.— i/Mt dt Britagiu. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 221 
 
 de Marsen, He Chateauneuf, de I'Escut, and to the abbot de St. Sil- 
 vier, to summon them to keep their agreements, or he would put to 
 Jeath their hostages, and enter their lands in such a manner as 
 would oblige them to throw themselves on his mercy. These lords, 
 therefore, placed themselves and their lands under the obedience of 
 the king of France. The inhabitants of Monsac opened their gates, 
 dnd presented the keys to the duke of Anjou doing to him fealty 
 and homage. The lords who attended the duke entered the town 
 with him, where they remained for eighteen days ; during which 
 lime they held councils as to what part they should next march. 
 
 Shortly after the middle of August, when the truces which had 
 oeen entered into between the English and French in Gascony were 
 expired, these lords recommenced the war. The duke of Anjou 
 came before la R6o\e ;* and, after three days' siege, the inhabitants 
 submitted to the king of France. From thence he marched to Lan- 
 gon,t which also surrendered ; as did St, Macair,t Condom,^ Ba- 
 silic, || la Tour de Prudence, Mauleon,ir and la Tour de Drou. Full 
 ^orty towns and castles turned to the French in this expedition : the 
 last was Auberoche.** The duke of Anjou placed in all of them 
 men-at-arms and garrisons : and, when he had arranged everything 
 according to his pleasure, he and the constable returned to Paris, for 
 the king had sent for them. He dismissed, therefore, the greater 
 part of his army : and the lords de Clisson, de Beaumanoir, d'Avau- 
 gour, de Ray, de Riom, the viscounts de la Val, de Rohan, and the 
 other barons, returned to the siege of Becherel, to be ready at the time 
 appointed : for it was reported that the duke of Brittany, sir Robert 
 KnoUes, and the lord de Spencer vvould attempt to raise the siege. 
 
 You have before heard how sir Hugh de Chatillon, master of the 
 cross-bows, had been made prisoner near Abbeville, by sir Nicholas 
 Louvain, and carried into England : he was unable to obtain his 
 liberty on account of the large sum asked for his ransom : however, 
 a Flemish merchant stepped forward, and exerted himself so effect- 
 ually that he cunningly got him, out of England. It would take too 
 much time to enter into the whole detail of this business ; therefore, 
 I shall pass it over. When he was returned to France, the king 
 gave him back his office of master of the cross-bows, and sent him 
 to Abbeville, as he had before done, to guard that frontier, with two 
 hundred lances under his command. All the captains of castles and 
 towns were ordered to obey him ; such as sir John de Bethouilliers 
 governor of Boulogne, sir Henry des Isles governor of Dieppe, and 
 tliose who commanded in the frontier towns of Terouenne, St. Omer, 
 Liques, Fiennes, and Montroye. 
 
 It happened that the lord de Gommegines, governor of Ardres, 
 and sir John d'Ubrues, collected their forces in Ardrcs, to the 
 amount of about eight hundred lances. They marched, one morn. 
 ing early, well mounted, toward Boulogne, to see if they should meet 
 with any adventures. That same morning, sir John de Berthouil- 
 liers, governor of Boulogne, had also made an excursion, with about 
 sixty lances, toward Calais, and with the same intent. On his return, 
 he was met by the lord de Gommegines and his party, who imme- 
 diately charged the French, and overthrew them, so that their captain 
 saved himself with great difficulty, but lost fourteen of his lancemen. 
 The lord de Gommegines,, after the pursuit, returned to Ardres. 
 
 The master of the cross-bows this day made a muster of his forces : 
 he had with him a great number of men-at-arms from Artois, Ver- 
 mandois, and from that neighborhood : in all, upward of three hun- 
 dred lances. The count de St. Pol, who had lately come to Picardy 
 from his estates in Lorraine, was on his road to fulfil a pilgrimage to 
 our Lady of Boulogne : he was informed on his way, that the mas- 
 ter of the cross-bows was about to undertake an excursion which 
 made him wish to be of the party : they therefore rode together and 
 advanced before Ardres, where they remained drawn up for some 
 time ; but they knew nothing of the English being abroad, nor the 
 English of them. 
 
 After the French had continued some time before Ardres, and saw 
 that none attempted to sally from the town, they began their retreat 
 toward the abbey of Liques. No sooner had they marched away 
 than an Englishman privately left the place, and rode through lanes 
 and cross-roads (for he knew the country well) until he met the lord 
 de Gommegines and his party returning to Ardres, who, when he 
 iearnt the expedition of the French, slowly advanced with his men 
 in a compact body. When the French had passed Tournehem, 
 kaving also had intelligence of the English being abroad under the 
 command of the governor of Ardres, they immediately marched 
 toward them, and placed an ambuscade in a coppice, above Liques, 
 of three hundred lances, of which sir Hugh de Chatillon was the 
 captain. The young count de St. Pol was ordered forward on the 
 look-out, and with him went many knights and squires. Not far 
 distant, by ihe side of a large hedge, the lord de Gommegines and 
 sir Walter Ukeuestt had halted, and drawn up their force on foot in 
 a very handsome manner. Sir John Harlestone set off on a gallop, 
 with twenty lances, to entice the French into this ambuscade, saying 
 
 * *' La R6ole"— a town in Bazadois, eighteen leagues and a half from Bordeaux. 
 
 t" Langon"— a town in Bazadois, six leagues from Bordeaux. 
 
 t " St. Macaire"— nine le.tgues from Bordeaux. 
 
 § *• C<»ndom," a city ofGascony, four leagues from the Garonat. 
 
 11 ** Bisille." Not in G:izetteer. 
 
 ^ *' Muul6on"— a town in Armagnac, diocese of Aire. 
 
 " Auberoche"— a town in Perigord, near Perii{U«uz< 
 *t ii« u before called or John d'UbraM. 
 
 he would allow himself to be pursued to the place v/here they were : 
 he therefore entered the plain. The young count de St. Pol, who 
 was arrived thither with a hundred lances, spying sir John Harie. 
 stone's troop, called out to his companions, " Forward, forward ! 
 here are our enemies." Upon which they stuck spurs into their 
 horses, and ha.<?tened as fast as they could to come up with the Eng- 
 lish. But sir John Harlestone began his retreat, allowing them to 
 pursue him until he came to the hedge where the English were 
 drawn up, with their archers in front. On the arrival of the French, 
 the English received them with battle-axes, swords, and spears : tue 
 archers began so brisk an attack that men and horses were over, 
 thrown. Many gallant deeds were done ; but in the end the French 
 were surrounded, and the greater part slain. The young count de 
 St. Pol was made prisoner by a squire of Gueldres : the lords de 
 Pons and de Clary, sir William de Nielle, sir Charles de Chatillon, 
 Leonnet d'Araines, Guy de Vaisnel, Plenry des Isles and John his 
 brother, the chatelain de Beauvais, and several other knights and 
 squires, were also captured. 
 
 Shortly after this defeat, the lord de Chatillou came, with his ban. 
 ner and three hundred lances, to the path of the hedge ; but, when 
 he saw that his men were defeated, he wheeled about with his troops, 
 and returned without striking a blow ; upon this, the English and 
 Hainaulters led their prisoners to the town of Ardres. The lord de 
 Gommegines, that evening, bought the count de St. Pol from the 
 squire who had taken him : he soon after carried him to England, 
 and presented him to the king, who thanked him kindly for so doing, 
 and made him great presents. 
 
 When the duke of Anjou and the constable were returned to Paris 
 from Gascony, they found the archbishop of Rouen and the bishop 
 of Carpentras had been some time with the king. These prelates 
 continued their journey, and arrived at St. Omer. The duke of 
 Lancaster and the lord Bacinier had crossed the sea to Calais, and 
 from thence went to Bruges. The duke of Anjou soon after came 
 to St. Omer in grand array, and sent for his cousin sir Guy de Blois 
 to meet him, who left Hainault handsomely equipped to wait on the 
 duke. The constable of France, the lords de Clisson, de la Val, and 
 sir Oliver de Mauny, with upward of six hundred lances, had posted 
 themselves on the frontiers between France and Flanders, near to 
 Aire, La Croix, Bailleul, Cassel, and in that neighborhood, to guard 
 the country, and to prevent any injury being offered to the count of 
 Flanders ; for he had not any great confidence in the negotiators, nor 
 would he go to Bruges notwithstanding their earnest solicitations. 
 
 You have before heard how the garrison of Becherel had held ou 
 for upward of a year, and had entered into a capitulation to surren 
 der, if they were not relieved before All-saints-day. When the day 
 was near approaching, the king of France ordered thither many meiu 
 at-arms : and all the knightn of Brittany and Normandy were entreated 
 to be there, except such as were with the constable. The tv/o mar 
 shals of France, the lord Louis de Sancerre and lord Mouton de 
 Blainville, the earl of Harcourt, sir James de Vienne admiral of 
 France, the dauphin of Auvergne, sir John dc Bueil and several 
 more, arrived before Becherel. These lords kept the day with great 
 solemnity ; but as none appeared to relieve the castle, it was surren. 
 dered, and those who were so inclined left it. Sir John Appleyard 
 and sir John Cornwall marched out with their men, embarked and 
 crossed over to England. The barons of France took possession of 
 the place, ^^hich they repaired, revictualled and reinforced with men, 
 provision and artillery. 
 
 By orders from the king of France, these men-at-arms shortly after 
 laid siege to St. Sauveur le Vicomte in Coutantin, which had be- 
 longed to sir John Chandos ; and after his death the king of England 
 had given it to sir Aleyne Boxhull, who at that time was in England : 
 he had left there as governor a squire called Carenton,*^ with sir 
 Thomas Cornet, John de Burgh, and the three brothers Maulevriers 
 there might be with them about six score companions, all armed and 
 ready for defence. St. Sauveur was first besieged on the side next 
 the sea by sir John de Vienne admiral of France, with all the barons 
 and knights of Brittany and Normandy. There was also a large 
 army before it, with plenty of eveiything. The lords of France had 
 pointed large engines against it, which much harassed the garrison. 
 
 CHAPTER CCCXXII. 
 
 A TRUCE AGREED ON AT BRUGES BETWEEN THE KINGS OF FRANCE AND 
 ENGLAND. THE DUKE OF BRITTANY RETIRES TO HIS OWN COtJNTRY, 
 AND REGAINS SOME OF HIS TOWNS AND CASTLES. 
 
 We will now return to the noble negotiators at Bruges, that i3 to 
 say, the dukes of Anjout and Burgundy, the count de Saltzbourg, 
 the bishop of Amiens, the elected bishop of Bayeux ; the duke of 
 Lancaster, the earl of Salisbury and the bishop of London.! In 
 
 * Probably Carrington. 
 
 tThe historian of Languedoc says, the duke of Anjou was not present at this meet 
 ing, but in Avignon ; and that, when the treaty was concluded, the duke of BurRundr 
 sent from Bruges orders for the s6neschal of Beaucaire to publish it. Vol, iv. p. 367 
 Passports were, however, granted to the duke of Anjou, by Edward, to come to Bruges 
 and are to be found in Rymer. 
 
 t In addition, there were sir John Uobham, sir Frank van Hall, sir Arnold Savage 
 and master Juiu Sbcpeyt muter Suqoq Multoo. doctor of laws.— Sw liteirwaxnct 
 in Brmer. 
 
SS2 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 order that 90 harm might happen to these lords, nor to their people, 
 who were going from one to the other, it was agreed there should 
 be a truce, to last to the first of May, 1375, in all the country between 
 Calais and the river Somme ; but that it should not interfere with 
 the other parts of the country now at war. Upon this being done, 
 the lords de Clisson and de la Val were sent back to Brittany with 
 their forces, to assist in guarding that country and the neighboring 
 frontiers. 
 
 During the time these negotiations were going forward at Bruges, 
 the duke of Brittany, as has before been said, lemained in England, 
 where he felt much for the distress of his country, the greater part 
 of which had turned against him : his duchess also was besieged and 
 shut up in the castle of Auray. The duke, while he resided with 
 the king of England, was very melancholy : upon which the king, 
 who much loved him, said : " Fair son, I well know that through 
 your affection to me, you have put into the balance, and risked, a 
 handsome and noble inheritance : but be assured that I will recover 
 it for you again, for I will never make peace with th-e French with- 
 out your being reinstated." On hearing these fine promises, the 
 duke bowed respectfully to the king, and humbly thanked him. 
 Soon after this conversation, the duke of Brittany assembled at 
 Southampton two thousand men-at-arms and three thousand archers, 
 who all received their pay for half a year in advance, by orders from 
 the king of England.* Among the commanders were the earls of 
 Cambridge and March, the lord de Spencer, sir Thomas Holland, sir 
 Nicholas Camoire, sir Edward Twyford, sir Richard de Pontchar- 
 don, sir John Lesley, sir Thomas Grantson, sir Hugh Hastings, the 
 lords de Mannet and de la Pole, with many other knights and 
 squires. 
 
 The duke and all his men-at-arms arrived at St. Mathieu de Fine 
 Poterne in Brittany, where, after they had disembarked, they attacked 
 the castle very sharply. This castle was out of the town, and ill 
 supplied with men and artillery, so that the English took it by storm, 
 and slew all who were in it. When the inhabitants of the town were 
 informed of thiSj they opened their gates, and received the duke as 
 their lord. The English next advanced to the town of St. Pol de 
 L6on, which was strong and well inclosed. The duke took his sta- 
 tion ; and, during a marvellously well-conducted attack, the archers, 
 who were posted on the banks of the ditches, shot so excellently, 
 and so much together, that scarcely any dared appear to defend 
 them : the town was therefore taken and pillaged. After this, they 
 came before St Brieu, which at that time was well provided with 
 men-at-arms and all other provisions and stores : for the lords de 
 Clisson, de Beaumanoir, the viscount de Rohan, and many other 
 barons of Brittany, whose quarters were at Lamballe, had lately been 
 there and had reinforced it with everything necessary. The duke 
 and the English besieged this town. 
 
 When the garrison of St. Sauveur le Vicomte heard that the duke 
 of Brittany and the English lords were arrived in Brittany, they ex- 
 pected them to come and raise their siege ; which they much 
 desired, for they were greatly straitened by the engines, which day 
 and night cast stones into the castle, so that they knew not where 
 to retire to avoid them. Having called a council, they resolved to 
 make overtures to the French lords, to obtain a truce for six weeks, 
 until Easter 1375 ; and proposed, that if within- that time there 
 should not come any relief, which might be suflacient to offer battle 
 and raise the siege, they would surrender themselves, thedr lives and 
 fortunes being spared, and the fortress should be given up to the king 
 of France. This treaty went off, and the siege continued ; but no 
 harm was further done to those of St. Sauveur, for the besiegers and 
 garrison were both inactive. 
 
 CHAPTER CCCXXIII. 
 
 SOME BRETON LORDS OF THE FRENCH PARTY ARE NEAR BEING TAKEN 
 BY THE DUKE OF BRITTANY, BUT ARE DELIVERED BY THE TRUCES 
 AT BRUGES. 
 
 The viscount de Rohan, the lords de Clisson and de Beaumanoir, 
 were guarding the frontiers against the duke of Brittany and the 
 English, at that time before St. Brieu. Sir John Devereux was then 
 quartered near to Quimperl^, and was destroying that part of the 
 country : he had caused to be repaired and fortified by the peasants 
 a small fort which he had made his garrison, and called it the New 
 Fort, in which he resided, so that none could venture out of the town 
 without risk of being taken. This information the townsmen of 
 Quimperl6 sent to the lord de Clisson and the other lords at Lam- 
 balle. They marched immediately thither, leaving a sufficiency of 
 men to guard that town, and rode on until they came before this 
 new fort, which they surrounded. News of this was carried to the 
 British army before St. Brieu. The duke had ordered a mine to be 
 sprung, which they had worked at for fifteen days; but at that 
 moment the miners had lost their point, so that it was necessary for 
 them to begin another : which when the duke and the lords of the 
 army heard, they said among themselves ; " Everything considered, 
 we are but losing time here : let us go to the assistance of sir John 
 
 ■• Edward nominated the earl of Cambridge conjointly with the duke of Brittany, his 
 lieutenants in France, with full powers to act as they pleased, without prejudice to the 
 xiflits of the duke or to th» patrimony of the church, dated 24tli Nov«mb«r, 1374.— S«e 
 Ktiiu. t JUttioe. 
 
 Devereux, and if we shall be able to fall in with those who are be. 
 sieging him in the open field, we shall perform a good exploit. Upon 
 this, they held a council, and marched off, taking the road for the 
 new fort, which the lords of Brittany were then assaulting. They had 
 done so much that they were already at the foot of the walls, and 
 dreaded not what might be thrown down upon them ; for th^.y were 
 well shielded, but those within the fort had not wherewithal to annoy 
 them in that manner. 
 
 Just at this instant a scout came Vv ith speed to the lords of Brit- 
 tany who were busy at the assault, s, ying, " My lords, make off in 
 haste from hence ; for the English are coming with the duke of 
 Brittany, and they are not more than two leagues off." The trum- 
 pet sounded a retreat : they collected themselves together, called for 
 their horses, set off, and entered Quimperle, which was hard by. 
 They closed the gates ; but scarcely had they raised the draw-bridges, 
 and strengthened the barriers, when the duke of Brittany with the 
 barons of England were before it. They had passed by the new 
 fort, and spoken with sir John Devereux, who thanked them exceed- 
 ingly for coming, otherwise he must have been very shortly made 
 prisoner. The duke and the English formed the siege of Quimperle, 
 and ordered their archers and foot soldiers, well shielded, to advance, 
 when a sharp attack commenced ; for the English, as well as those 
 in the town, were very determined : so that there were many 
 wounded on both sides. Every day there were such skirmishes and 
 assaults that those in the town saw they should not be able to hold 
 out much longer, and there did not seem any likelihood of their 
 receiving assistance. They could not escape any way without being 
 seen, so well was the town surrounded : and if they should be taken 
 by storm, they doubted if they should receive any quarter, more 
 especially the lord de Clisson, for he was much hated by the Eng. 
 lish. 
 
 These lords of Brittany opened & treaty with the duke to surrender ; 
 but they wanted to depart on a moderate ransom, and the duke 
 would have them surrender unuonditionally : they could only obtain 
 a respite for eight days, and that with very great difficulty. This 
 respite, however, turned out very fortunate to them ; for during that 
 time two English knights, sir Nicholas Carswell and sir Walter 
 Ourswick,* sent by the duke of Lancaster from Bruges, where he 
 had remained the whole winter, arrived at the army of the duke of 
 Brittany. They brought with them deeds engrossed and sealed of 
 the truces, entered into between the kings of France and England 
 The duke of Lancaster sent orders, that in consequence of the 
 treaty of Bruges, the army should be disbanded without delay. The 
 truce was immediately read and proclaimed through the army, and 
 signified also to those who were within Quimperle. The lords de 
 Clisson, de Rohan, and de Beaumanoir, and the others, were much 
 rejoiced thereat, for it came very opportunely. 
 
 The siege of Quimperle being raised, the duke of Brittany dis- 
 banded all his troops, except those of his household, and went to 
 Auray, where his duchess was. The earls of Cambridge and of 
 March, sir Thomas Holland earl of Kent, the lord de Spencer, and 
 the other English, returned home. When the duke of Brittany had 
 settled his affairs at his leisure, and had reinforced the towns and 
 castles of Brest and Auray with artillery and provisions, he set out 
 from Brittany with his duchess, and went for England. 
 
 CHAPTER CCCXXIV. 
 
 ST. SAUVEUR LE VICOMTE SURRENDERS TO THE FRENCH. THE LORD DE 
 COUCY LEADS A LARGE ARMY INTO AUSTRIA, WHICH HE CLAIMS AS HIS 
 INHERITANCE. 
 
 On the day in which the truces were concluded at Bruges between 
 the kings of France and of England, to last for one whole year, in- 
 cluding their allies, the dukes of Lancaster and Burgundy again swore 
 they would return thither on All-saints-day. Each party was to keep, 
 during this truce, whatever he was then in possession of. The Eng- 
 lish thought that the capitulation respecting St. Sauveur le Vicomte 
 would be voided by this treaty ; but the French would not allow of 
 this, and said the treaty did not affect the prior engagement con. 
 cerning it : so that, when the day arrived for its surrender, the king 
 of France sent troops thither from all quai^ers. There were assembled 
 before it upward of six thousand knights and squires, without count- 
 ing the others ; but no succor came to its relief, and when the day 
 was expired, St. Sauveur was given up to the French, but most un- 
 willingly, for the fortress was very convenient for the English. The 
 governor sir Thomas Cornet, John de Burgh, the three brothers 
 Maulevriers, and the English, went to Carentan, where having em- 
 barked all which belonged to them, they sailed for England.t The 
 constable of France reinforced the town and castle of St. Sauveurle 
 Vicomte with a new garrison, and appointed a Breton knight as .gov- 
 
 * Sir Nicholas Chamels— sir Walter Urswick— Barnes. 
 
 T Froissart has forgotten to add sir Thomas Carington among the governors of St 
 Sauveur le Vicomte. Nothing was said aeainst him until the reign of Ricnard II. whea 
 he was accused of having treacherously given up this place by sir John Annesley, who 
 had married sir John Chandos's niece : he challenged him to single combat, fought and 
 vunqished him in the lists, formed in Palace-yard in the presence of the king. He was 
 afterward* drawn to Tyburn, and tliere baogcd for hi» treason.-DuoDALK, Fasuji, 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 223 
 
 ernor. I heard at the time, that the king of France gave him the lord, 
 ship of it, • 
 
 The lord de Cobcy at this period returned to France : he had been 
 a long time in Lombardy with the count de Vertus,* son of the lord 
 Galeas Visconti, and had made war on lord Bernabo Visconti and his 
 allies, for the cause of the church and of Gregory XI. who at that 
 time was pope, and for the holy college of Rome. The lord de Coucy, 
 in right of succession to the lady hia mother, who was sister to the 
 
 more especially by that of the duke of Burgundy, who kept a most 
 noble and grand state. Sir Robert de Namur resided with the duke 
 of Lancaster, and showed him every attention as long as he remained 
 in Flanders. 
 
 The embassadors from the pope, the archbishop of Rouen and tlie 
 bishop of Carpentras, were also there, who went to and fro to each 
 party, proposing different terms for an accommodation, but y'lJn. 
 out any effect ; for these lords, in their first parley, were too much 
 
 divided to come to any agreement. 
 The king of France demanded repay, 
 ment of fourteen hundred thousand 
 francs which had been given for kincf 
 John's ransom, and that the town of 
 Calais should be dismantled. This the 
 king of England would never consent 
 to. The truces were therefore pro- 
 longed until the feast of St. John the 
 Baptist in the year 1376. The lords 
 remained all that winter in Bruges, and 
 some time longer. In the summer, 
 each returned to his own country, ex- 
 cept the duke of Brittany: he continued 
 in Flanders with his cousin the count 
 Lewis, who entertained him hand- 
 somely. 
 
 In this year, on Trinity-Sunday, that 
 flower of English knighthood the lord 
 Edward of England, prince of Wales 
 and of Aquitaine, departed this life in 
 the palace of Westminster near Lon- 
 don. His body was embalmed, placed 
 in a leaden coffin, and kept until the 
 ensuing Michaelmas, in order that be 
 might be buried with greater pomp and 
 magnificence when the parliament as- 
 sembled in London.* 
 
 King Charles of France, on account 
 of his lineage, had funeral service for 
 the prince performed with great mag. 
 nificence, in the holy chapel of the 
 palace in Paris, which was attended, ac- 
 ToMB OF Edward the Black Prince. Canterbury Cathedral. The Surcoat, Shield, Sword, and Gloves, placed by our cordinir to the king-'s orders bv manv 
 ArtiJt, at the end of the Tomb, are those actually worn by the Prince, and now preserved in the Cathedral. . ° 111 c ^ ' 1 ' • 
 
 From an original drawing. prelates and nobles of the realm ot 
 
 France. 
 
 The truces, through the mediation o f 
 the embassadors, were again prolonged until the first day of April. 
 
 We will now say something of the lord de Coucy and the Germans. 
 When those of Austria and Germany heard that he was advancing 
 with so strong a force to carry on the war against them, they burnt 
 and destroyed three days' march of country by the river side, and then 
 they retreated to their mountains and inaccessible places. The men- 
 at-arms, of whom the lord de Coucy was the leader, expected to find 
 plenty of forage, but they met with nothing : they suffered all this 
 winter very great distress, and knew not in what place to seek pro- 
 vision for themselves, or forage for their horses, who were dying of 
 cold, hunger, and disorders : for this reason, when spring came, they 
 returned to France, and separated into different troops to recruit 
 themselves. The king of France sent the greater part of the compa- 
 nies into Brittany and lower Normandy, as he imagined he should 
 have occasion for their services. 
 
 The lord de Coucy, on his return into France, began to tliink of 
 becoming a good and true Frenchman ; for he had found the king 
 of France very kind and attentive to his concerns. . His relationship 
 to the king made him consider it was not worth his while to risk the 
 loss of his inheritance, for so slender a reason as the war with the 
 king of England : for he was a Frenchman by name, arms, blood, 
 and extraction. He therefore sent the lady his wife to England, and 
 kept with him only the eldest of his two daughters : the youngest had 
 been left in England, where she had been educated. The king of 
 France sent the lord de Coucy to attend the negotiations carrying on at 
 Bruges, which continued all the winter. None of the great lords were 
 there, except the duke of Brittany, who had staid with his cousin 
 the count of Flanders ; but he entered very little into the business. 
 
 CHAPTER CCCXXV. 
 
 mra: TRUCE BETWEEN FRANCE AND ENGLAND IS PROLONGED. THE DEATH 
 OF THE BLACK PRINCE. THE LORD DE COUCT RETURNS, HAVING HAD 
 INDIFFERENT SUCCESS. 
 
 When the feast of All-saints was drawing near, the duke of Bur. 
 gundy, the count de Saltzbourg, the bishops of Amiens and of Bay- 
 eux, came to Bruges by orders of the king of France, to hold a con- 
 ference. The duke of Anjau staid at St. Omer, v/here he continued 
 the whole time. From the king of England there came, the dukes 
 of Lancaster and Brittany, the earl of Salisbury and the bishop of 
 London : so that the town of Bruges was well filled by their retinues, 
 
 * John Galeas Vi?conti, first duke of Milan, bore the title of count de Vt/tus, until 
 Wenceslaus, king of the Romans, invested him with the ducal dignity 1395. He g"iiaed, 
 by ireach«ry, possession of his uncle Bernabo. and put ium to d«atb by poisou. For 
 further particulars, see Muratoriand Corio. 
 
 duke of Austria last deceased, was the true heir of that duchy. The 
 last duke did not leave any child by legal marriage, and the inhabit, 
 ants of Austria had disposed of the estate in favor of a relation, but 
 farther removed than the lord de Coucy. This lord had frequently 
 complained of such conduct to the emperor, the lord Charles of Bo. 
 hemia. The einperor readily acknowledged the lord de Coucy's 
 right : but he could not compel the Austrians to do the same, who 
 were in great force in their own country, and had plenty of men-at 
 arms. The lord de Coucy had gallantly carried on the war against 
 them several times, through the aid of one of his aunts, sister to the 
 aforesaid duke, but he had not gained much. On the lord de Coucy's 
 return to France, the king entertained him handsomely. Having 
 considered there were numbers of men-at-arms in France then idle, 
 on account of the truce between the French and English, he entreated 
 the king to assist him in obtaining the free companies of Bretons, 
 who were overrunningiand harassing the kingdom for him, and lead 
 them into Austria. The king, who wished these companies any- 
 where but in his kingdom, readily assented to his request. He lent, 
 or gave, 1 know not which, sixty thousand francs, in order to get rid 
 ^f these companions. They began their march toward Austria about 
 Michaelmas, committing many ravages wherever they passed. Many 
 ^barons, knights, and squires of France, Artois, Vermandois, Hainault, 
 and Picardy, such as the viscounts de Meaux and d'Aunay, sir Raoul 
 .de Coucy, the baron de Roye, Pierre de Bar, and several others, 
 offered their services to the lord de Coucy. His army was increased 
 hy all 'those v^ho wished to advance themselves in honor. 
 
 CHAPTER CCCXXVI. 
 
 RICHARD, SON OF THE PRINCE OF WALES, IS ACKNOWLEDGED AS PRESUMP- 
 TIVE HEIR TO THE CROWN OF ENGLAND. THE NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE 
 HAVING FAILED, AND THE TRUCES EXPIRED, THE WAR IS RENEWED 
 BETWEEN THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH. 
 
 After the, feast of Michaelmas, when the funeral of the prince 
 had been performed in a manner suitable to his birth and merit, the 
 king of England caused the young prince Richard to be acknowledged 
 as his successor to the crown after his decease, by all his children, 
 the duke of Lancaster, the earl of Cambridge, the lord Thomas his 
 youngest son, as well as by all the barons, earls, prelates, and knights 
 
 * The prince of Wales was buried in th« cathedral at Canterbury. For particUiUS, 
 •Mli^ Gougb's Sepulchral MoQurosots. 
 
224 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 of England. He made them solemnly swear to observe this; and 
 oa Christinas.day he had him seated next to himself, above all his 
 
 Portrait of Richard the Second. From a curious full-length picture, formerly on 
 the walls of the Jerusalem. orPaiuted Chamber, in the ancient Falaes of Westminster. 
 
 CHAPTER CCCXXVII. 
 
 POPE GREGrORT XI. LEAVES AVIGNON, AND RETURNS TO ROME. ON THK 
 DEATH OF EDWARD III. RICHARD, SON OF THE LATE PRINCE OF WALES, 
 IS CROWNED KINGr OF ENGLAJID. 
 
 When pope Gregory XI. who had for a long time resided at Avig. 
 non, was informed there was not any nrobability q{ i oeace being 
 concluded between the two kings, ;ie was very mciancnuiy, ana, 
 having arranged his affairs, set out f c r Rome, to hold there his seat 
 of government. 
 
 The duke of Brittany, finding the A/ar was to be renewed, took 
 leave of his cousin the count of Flanders, with whom he had resided 
 upward of a year, and rode towara Gravelines, where the earl of 
 Salisbury and sir Guiscard d'Angle, with a body of men-at-arms and 
 archers, came to meet him, to escort him to Calais, where the duke 
 tarried a month : he then crossed over to England and went to Shene , 
 a few miles from London, on the river Thames, where the king of 
 England lay dangerously ill : he departed this life the vigil of St. 
 John the Baptist, in the year 1377. Upon this event, England was 
 in deep mourning. Immediately all the passes were shut, so that no 
 one could go out of the country ; for they did not wish the death of 
 the king should be known in France, until they had settled the gov- 
 eminent of the kingdom. The earl of Salisbury and sir Guiscard 
 d'Angle returned at this time to England. 
 
 The body of king Edward was carried in grand procession, fol- 
 lowed by his children in tears, and by the nobles and prelates of 
 England, through the city of London, with his face uncovered, to 
 Westminster, where he was buried by the side of his lady the queen. 
 
 Shortly afterwards, in the month of July, the young king Richard, 
 who was in his eleventh year, was crowned with great solemnity at 
 the palace of Westminster : he was supported by the dukes of Lan- 
 caster and Brittany. He created that day four earls and nine knights ; 
 namely, his uncle the lord Thomas of Woodstock earl of Bucking, 
 ham, the lord Percy earl of Northumberland, sir Guiscard d'Angle 
 
 The 
 
 children, in royal state, that it might be seen and declared he was to 
 be king of England after his death. 
 
 The lord John Cobham, the bishop of Hereford, and the dean of earl of Huntingdon, and the lord Mowbray earl of Nottingham 
 London, were at this time sent to 
 Bruges on the part of the English. 
 The French had sent thither the count 
 de Saltzbourg, the lord de Cha,tillon, 
 and master Philibert I'Espiote. The 
 prelates, embassadors from the pope, 
 had still remained there, and con- 
 tinued the negotiations for peace. 
 They treated of a marriage between 
 the young son of the prince and the 
 lady Mary, daughter of the king of 
 France : after which the negotiators 
 of each party separated, and reported 
 what they had done to their respective 
 kings. 
 
 About Shrovetide, a secret treaty 
 was formed between the two kings 
 for their embassadors to meet at 
 Montreuil-sut-mer ; and the king of 
 England sent to Calais sir Guiscard 
 d'Angle, sir Richard Sturey, and sir 
 Geoffry Chaucer. On the part of the 
 French were, the lords de Coucy and 
 de la Rivieres, sir Nicholas Bragues 
 and Nichloas Bracier. They for a 
 long time discussed the subject of the 
 above marriage ; and the French, as 
 I was informed, made some offers, 
 but the others demanded different 
 terms, or refused treating. These 
 lords returned therefore, with their 
 treaties, to their sovereigns ; and the 
 truces were prolonged to the first of 
 May. The earl of Salisbury, the 
 bijhop of St. David's chancellor of 
 E igland, and the bishop of Hereford, 
 rc ,urned to Calais ; and with them, 
 bj orders of the king of France, the 
 loid de Coucy, and sir William de 
 Darmans chancellor of France. 
 
 Notwithstanding all that the pre- 
 lates could say or argue, they never 
 could be brought to fix upon any 
 place* to discuss these treaties be- 
 tween Montreuil and Calais, nor be- 
 tween Montreuil and Boulogne, nor 
 ou any part of the frontiers ; these 
 treaties, therefore, remained in an un- 
 finished state. When the war recommenced, sir Hugh Calverleywas 
 •ent governor of Calais. 
 
 Tomb or Edward the Third, Westminster Abbey. From an original drawing. 
 
 • They durst never trust to meet together ia any place between Montxeiul and Calais, 
 
 iK.~L0RD BXRMSRa. 
 
 young king was placed under the tutorship of that accomplished 
 knight sir Guiscard d'Angle, w^ith the approbation of all, to instruct 
 him in the paths of virtue and honor. The duke of Lancaster had 
 the government of the kingdom. 
 As soon as the king of France learnt the death of king Edward, 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 226 
 
 he said that he had reigned most nobly and valiantly, and that his 
 name ought to be remembered with honor among heroes. Many 
 nobles and prelates of his realm were assembled, to perform his ob- 
 sequies with due respect, in the Holy Chapel of the Palace at Paris. 
 Shortly after, Madame, the eldest daughter of the king of France, 
 died. She had been betrothed to that gallant youth William of 
 Hainault, eldest son of duke Albert. 
 
 CHAPTER CCCXXVIII. 
 
 THE KING OF FRANCE EQUIPS FOR SEA A LAR&E FLEET, WHICH BURNS 
 SEVERAL TOWNS IN ENGLAND. 
 
 During the negotiations for peace, the king of France had been 
 very active in providing ships and galleys : the king of Spain had 
 sent him his admiral, sir Fernando Sausse, who, with sir John de 
 Vienne, admiral of France, had sailed for the port of Rye, which 
 they burnt, five days after the decease of king Edward, the vigil of 
 St. Peter, in June, and put to death the inhabitants, without sparing 
 man or woman. Upon the news of this event coming to London, 
 the earls of Cambridge and Buckingham were ordered to Dover 
 with a large body of men-at-arms. The earl of Salisbury and sir 
 John Montague, on the other hand, were sent to the country near 
 Southamjiton. 
 
 After this exploit, the French landed in the Isle of Wight. They 
 afterwards burnt the following towns : Portsmouth, Dartmouth, Ply- 
 mouth,* and several others. When they had pillaged and burnt all 
 in the Isle of Wight, they embarked and put to sea, coasting the 
 shores until they came to a port called Poq.t The earl of Salisbury 
 and sir John Montague defended the passage, but they burnt a part 
 of the town of Poq. They again embarked, and coasted toward 
 Southampton, attempting every day to land ; but the earl of Salisbury 
 and his forces, who followed them along the shore, prevented them 
 from so doing. The fleet then came before Southampton ; but sir 
 John Arundel, with a large body of men-at-arms and archers, guarded 
 well the town, otherwise it would have been taken. The French 
 made sail from thence toward Dover, and landed near to the abbey 
 of Lewes, where there were great numbers of the people of the country 
 assembled. They appointed the abbot of Lewes, sir Thomas Cheney, 
 and sir John Fuselee their leaders, who drew up in good array to 
 dispute their landing, and to defend the country. The French had 
 not the advantage, but lost several of their men, as well might hap. 
 pen. However, the better to maintain the fight, they made the land, 
 when a grand skirmish ensued, and the English, being forced to re- 
 treat, were finally put to flight. Two hundred at least were slain, 
 and the two knights, with the abbot of Lewes, made prisoners. 
 
 The French reembarked, and remained at anchor before the 
 abbey all that night. They then heard, for the first time, from their 
 prisoners, the death of king Edward and the coronation of king 
 Richard, and also a part of the regulations of the kingdom, and that 
 great numbers of men-at-arms were under orders to march to the 
 coast. Sir John de Vienne dispatched a sloop to Harfleur, where 
 there was a knight in waiting, who immediately rode to Paris to the 
 king, and reported to him such intelligence respecting the death of 
 king Edward that he was convinced of its truth. 
 
 The French and Spaniards put to sea, and having the wind favora- 
 ble, came with an easy sail that same tide, about the hour of nine, 
 before Dover. They amounted in all to about six score galleys. Ai 
 that time there were in Dover the earb of Cambridge and Bucking 
 ham, with immense numbers of men-at-arms and archers, who, with 
 a hundred thousand common men, were waiting for the arrival of the 
 French, drawn up before the port with displayed banners, for they 
 had seen them at a distance, and they were continually joined by 
 people from the country who had noticed this large fleet. 
 
 The French came before the harbor, but uid not enter it, making 
 for deep water, as the tide began to ebb. Notwithstanding this, the 
 English continued strict guard all that day and following night. 
 The French who were on the sea came with the next tide before 
 Calais,t to the great surprise of the inhabitants, who closed their gates 
 against them. 
 
 CHAPTER CCCXXIX. 
 
 THE TOWN OF ARDRES SURRENDERS TO THE FRENCH. THE DEATHS OF 
 THE CAPTAL DE BUCH AND OF THE QUEEN OF FRANCE. 
 
 While these things were passing, sir Hugh Calverley, governor of 
 Calais, sir John Harlestone, governor of Guines, and the lord de 
 Gommegines, governor of Ardres, made very frequent excursions 
 into Picardy ; three or four in every week. They advanced often 
 before St. Omer, Arques, Mouton, Fiennes, and the towns in that 
 neighborhood, as well as to Boulogne and near to Terouenne, which 
 were particularly molested by the gamson of Ardres. Complaints 
 of them had frequently been made to the king of France. On 
 asking how this was to be prevented, he was answered, " Sire, the 
 
 * Lamende, Dartemode, Plamende, Plesunie.—D. Sacvaqe. 
 t U. if not Pool. 
 
 t Lord Berners says. The Frenchmen with the next Ude came before the L'"en of Ca- 
 A», and there enttred.-^Ej). 
 
 garrison of Ardres is not so strong but it may be won." The king 
 replied, " have it then we will, whatever it may cost us." He soon 
 after issued a secret summons, and it was not guessed to what part 
 he intended sending this army, of which he made the duke of Bur- 
 gundy general. There were in it twenty-five hundred lances of 
 good and hardy men. They marched suddenly to the castle of 
 Ardres, which they invested. With the duke of Burgundy v/ere the 
 count de Guines, the marshal de Blainville, the lords de Clisson and 
 de la Val, de Rougement, de la Riviere, de Bregide, de Frainville, 
 d'Ainville, d'Ancoing, de Rayneval, and d'Angest, sir James de 
 Bourbon, the seneschal of Hainault, with many other knights and 
 barons. They had with them machines that cast stones of two 
 hundred weight, with which they made a most vigorous assault. 
 
 The lord de Gommegines, captain of the castle, was astonished to 
 see himself surrounded by such numbers of gallant men-at-arms, who 
 seemed determined, that if the place were taken by storm, they would 
 spare no one they should find within it. As he was not provided 
 with artillery for a long siege, through the mediation of his cousin, 
 german, the lord de Rayneval, he offered to enter into a treaty for 
 surrendering the place, on condition of their lives and fortunes being 
 spared. This treaty was long debated ; but at length the castle was 
 surrendered, and all who chose it departed, and were conducted by 
 sir Walter de Bailleul to the town of Calais. Sir William des Bor 
 des was appointed governor of Ardres : he was succeeded by the 
 viscount de Meaux, who remained there a long time : the third 
 governor was the lord de Saimpy. 
 
 The same day that Ardres surrendered, the duke laid siege to the 
 castle of Ardvick, which the three brothers Maulevriers held for 
 England. During the three days he staid there, many skirmishes 
 passed ; but they at last suiTendered, and the garrison was conducted 
 to Calais by the marshal of France. After this the duke besieged 
 Vauclignen, which also sun-endered on the same terms as the others 
 had done : and, when the duke had revictualled and reinforced them 
 with men-at-arms and cross-bows, he disbanded his army and re. 
 turned to the king at Paris. The Breton lords went to Brittany, for 
 they had heard that the duke of Brittany had arrived at Brest with. 8 
 large army. The Barons of Burgundy and the others returned \a 
 their own homes. 
 
 You have before heard how the lord John captal de Buch, having 
 been made prisoner before Soubise, was confined in the Temple at 
 Paris. The king of England and his son greatly desired his liberty, 
 and it had been much debated at the negotiations at Bruges : they 
 would willingly have given in exchange for him the young count de 
 St. Pol and three or four other knights : but the king of France and 
 his counsel would not consent. The king had him informed through 
 the grand prior, who had the guard of him, that if he would swear 
 never to bear arms against the crown of France, he would listen to 
 terms for his liberty. The captal replied, that he would never make 
 this oath, though he were to die in prison. He remained therefore 
 strictly guarded for five years in confinement, to his great discomfort ; 
 for he bore it so impatiently that at last he died.* The king of 
 France had him interred ; and a solemn service was performed, 
 which was attended by the barons, prelates and nobles of France. 
 
 England was thus losing her grest captains ; for, in this same year, 
 the lord de Spencer, a gr<»at banneret of England, died. He left 
 issue by his lady, the daughter of the late sir Bartholomew Bur. 
 ghersh, one son and four daugkters. Soon after the death of that 
 gallant knight the captal de Buch, the queen of France was brought 
 to bed of a daughter, who was named Catherine ; and, while in 
 childbed, the queen was seized with an illness that caused her death. 
 This amiable queen was daughter of the valiant duke of Bourbon, 
 killed at the battle of Poitiers. Her obsequies were performed in 
 the abbey of St. Denis, where she was buried with great solemnity, 
 to which were invited all the nobles and prelates of France in the 
 neighborhood of Paris. 
 
 CHAPTER CCCXXX. 
 
 THE WAR RECOMMENCES BETWEEN THE KING OF FRANCE AND THE 
 KING OF NAVARRE. THE SIEGE OF CHERBOURG. THE DUKE OF LAN- 
 CASTER INVADES BRITTANY. THE CASTLE OF AURAY SURRENDERS 'fO 
 THE FRENCH. 
 
 Since the peace made at Vernon between the kings of France and 
 Navarre, as has been before related, and since the king of Na^aire 
 had left his two children with their uncle the king of France, sus- 
 picions had fallen on a squire of the king's household. He had been 
 placed there by the king of Navarre at the time he left his chil Jren : 
 his name was James de la Rue. A lawyer, who w as one of the king 
 of Navarre's council, and his chancellor in the county of Evercux, 
 was also implicated in this business : the name of this chancellor 
 was master Peter du Tertre. 
 
 These two men were cruelly executed at Paris, and acknov/ledged, 
 before all the people, that they had intended to have poisoned the 
 king of France. The king immediately collected a large f.rmy, the 
 command of which he gave to the constable : there were nf'rja him 
 the lord de la Riviere and many other barons and knight 3. They 
 marched into Normandy, to attack the castles of the k?tig o( Navarre, 
 
 * The prince of Wales gave to the captal de Buch, and his male heire, Ihe county ( f 
 BigoriSi with all its towns, &c. the 7th June, 1369. Confirmed by the king — Rymkii 
 
226 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 V. hich were strong and well garrisoned, and laid siege to one of 
 tiiem called Pont-au-demer.* The French had with them many 
 cannon, and various engines and machines, with which, in the course 
 of different assaults, they pressed the garrison hard ; but they defend- 
 ei themselves valiantly. Though there were many attacks and 
 siiirmishes, the siege lasted a long time : the castle was much ruined, 
 a id the garrison hard pushed. They were frequently required by 
 the constable to surrender, or they would all be put to death, if the 
 place were taken by storm : this was the threat which the constable 
 was accustomed to make. The men of Navarre seeing their provisions 
 decrease, and finding themselves much weakened, without any hopes 
 of assistance from their king, who was at too great a distance, sur- 
 rendered the castle, and were conducted to Cherbourg, carrying with 
 them all their plunder. This castle was razed to the ground, though 
 it had cost large sums to erect : and the walls and towers of Pont, 
 au-demer were levelled with the ground. 
 
 The French then advanced to besiege the fortress of Mortain,t 
 where they remained some time ; but the garrison, seeing no appear, 
 ance of assistance from the king of Navarre, and that the other Navarre 
 fortresses were too weak to resist the French, surrendered themselves 
 on the same conditions with those of Pont.au.demer. You must 
 know, that in this expedition, the constable put under the obedience 
 of the king of France all the towns, castles, and forts in the county 
 of Evreux : the castles and principal towns were dismantled, that 
 from henceforward no war should be carried on against the kingdom 
 of PVance from any town or castle which the king of Navarre held 
 in the county of Evreux. The king of France established in them 
 the gabelle and subsidies, in like manner as they were in the realm 
 of France. 
 
 On the other hand, the king of Spain had ordered his brother, the 
 bastard of Spain, to enter Navarre with a powerful army : he attacked 
 towns and castles, and gained much country, in spite of the king of 
 Navan-e, who could do but little to defend himself. He sent to in- 
 form king Richard of England how he was situated, in the hope that 
 he would aid him in opposing the king of France in his county of 
 Evreux ; for that he himself would remain in Navarre, to guard his 
 fortresses against the king of Spain. 
 
 King Richard, in consequence of a council which had been called 
 on this business, sent sir Robert le RouxJ with a body of men-at- 
 arms and archers, to Cherbourg. The garrisons of the different for- 
 tresses won by the constable in the county of Evreux were also col- 
 lected at that town. When all were assembled, they were a numerous 
 and handsome body of picked men, who had provided the castle with 
 stores, for they concluded it would be besieged. The constable and 
 the lord de la Riviere, having visited every place in the county of 
 Evreux v^^ith their army, found that all the towns formerly belonging 
 to the king of IN avarre were now under the obedience of the king 
 of France : they tlien came before Cherbourg, which is a strong and 
 noble place, founded by Julius Cassar, when he conquered England, 
 and likewise a sea-port. 
 
 The French besieged it on all sides except that of the sea, and took 
 up their quarters in such a manner before it as showed they were 
 determined not to quit until they had conquered it. Sir Robert le 
 Roux and his forces made frequent sallies, for neither night nor day 
 passed without ekirmishing. The French could never form a wish 
 for feats of arms but there were always some ready to gratify it. 
 Many combats took place with lance and sword, and several were 
 killed or taken prisoners on each side, during this siege, which lasted 
 the whole summer. 
 
 ^Sir Oliver du Gucsclin posted himself in an ambuscade near the 
 castle : he then ordered his men to begin a skirmish, in which the 
 French were repulsed by the English, and driven back as far as the 
 umbuscade of sir Oliver, who immediately rushed out with his troop, 
 fiword in hand, and advanced boldly on the enemy, like men well 
 practiced in arms. The encounter was sharp on both sides, and 
 many a man v/as unhorsed, killed, wounded, or made prisoner : at 
 last, sir Oliver du Guesclin was taken, and avowed himself a prisoner 
 to a Navarrois squire, called John le Coq, an able man-at-arms : he 
 was dragged into Cherbourg. The skirmish was now over, more to 
 the loss of the French than of the English. Sir OHver was sent to 
 England, where he remained prisoner for a long time in London, 
 and was at laft ransomed. 
 
 The French remained before Cherbourg, at a heavy expense, the 
 greater part of the winter, without having gained much. They 
 thought they were losing time, and that Cherbourg was impregnable, 
 as all sorts of reinforcements, men-at-arms, provision and stores, might 
 be introduced into it by sea : for which reason the French broke up 
 their camp, and placed strong garrisons in the places round Cher- 
 bourg, such as Montbourg, Pont Doue, Carentan, St. Lo, and in St. 
 Sauveur le Vicomte. The constable then disbanded his army, and 
 everv one returned to the place whence he came. This was in the 
 year' 1378. 
 
 You have before heard how the duke of Brittany had left that 
 country, and had carried his duchess with him to England. He re- 
 sided at the est ate he had there, which was called the honor of Rich- 
 m nd, and took great pains to obtain assistance from the young king, 
 
 * " Pont-A'.idemer"— a town in Normandy, on the Rille, forty-one leagues from Paris. 
 
 t " Moitaiii"— a town in Normandy, seventy-one league* from Paru. 
 
 t Probably sir Robert Roose, or Rouse. , 
 
 Richard, to reconquer his duchy, which had turned to the French, 
 but he was not listened to. At length the duke of Lancaster was 
 informed, that if he landed in Brittany with a good army, there were 
 some forts and castles that would surrender to him : in pnrticular, St. 
 Malo, a handsome fortress, and a sea-port town. Upon tliis, the duke 
 of Lancaster, having raised a large army, went to Southampton. He 
 there prepared his vessels and store?, and embarked witii many lords, 
 men-at-arms, and archers. This fleet had favorable v/inds to St 
 Malo ; and when near the shore, having landed and disembarked 
 their stores, they advanced toward the town, and closely besieged it. 
 The inhabitants were not much alarmed, for they v/ere well provided 
 with provision, men-at-arms, and cross-bows, who valiantly defended 
 themselves, so that the duke remained there a considerable time. 
 When the constable of France and the lord de Clisson heard of this, 
 they sent summonses everywhere, and marched to St. Malo to raise 
 the siege. Many thought that a battle must ensue ; and the English 
 drew out their army several times in battle-anay, ready for the com- 
 bat ; but the constable and the lord de Clisson never came near 
 enough for an engagement. The English, therefore, having lain before 
 the town some time, and not perceiving any inclination in the inhab- 
 itants to surrender, the duke of Lancaster was advised to decamp, 
 for he saw it was only wasting time : he therefore reembarked, and 
 returned to England, where he dismissed his army. 
 
 The castle of Auray was still in the possession of the duke of 
 Brittany, who resided quietly in England : the king of France sent 
 thither several lords of France and Brittany, who began a siege which 
 lasted a long time. The garrison of Auray, not seeing any hope of 
 succor, entered into a treaty, that if they were not relieved by the 
 duke of Brittany or the king of England, with a sufncient force to 
 raise the siege on a certain day, they would surrender. This treaty 
 was acceded to ; and when the appointed day arrived, the French 
 were there, but no one came from the duke nor the king of England : 
 the castle was therefore placed under the obedience of the king of 
 France, in the same manner as the other castles and principal towns 
 of Brittany ; and those of Auray, who were attached to the duke, 
 departed thence. 
 
 CHAPTER CCCXXXI. 
 
 THE FRENCH GARRISON OF M0NTB0UPv& IS DEFEATED BY THE ENGLISH AT 
 
 CHERBOURG. 
 
 Soon after Easter, in the year of our Lord 1379, king Charles of 
 France, finding the garrison of Cherbourg was oppressir.g tne whole 
 country of Coutantin, appointed sir William des Bourdes, a valiant 
 knight and good captain, to be chief governor of Coutantin, and of 
 all the fortresses round Cherbourg. Sir William des Bourdes went 
 thither with a handsome body of men.at.arms and Genoese cross- 
 bows, and fixed his quarters at Montbourg ; which he made a garri- 
 son against Cherbourg ; whence he formed frequent expeditions, and 
 would willingly have met with the men of Cherbourg ; for he wished 
 for nothing better than an engagement with them, as he felt himself 
 a good knight, bold and enterprifing, and had also under his com- 
 mand the flower of the men-at-arms from all the adjacent garrisons. 
 About the same time, sir John Harlestone was sent to Cherbourg, to 
 take command of it. I have before mentioned him as bei:ig gov- 
 ernor of Guines. He had embarked at Southampton v.ith three 
 hundred men-at-arms and as many archers, and with tlicmhad safely 
 arrived at Cherbourg. There were in this army sir Otho de Grant, 
 son,* and among the English sir John Aubourc,t sir John Orcelle,t 
 with other knights and squires. On their arrival, they disembarked 
 their horses and armor, with other stores, and remained some days 
 in Cherbourg to recruit themselves, and make preparations for expe- 
 ditions and for carrying on the war in earnest. 
 
 Sir William des Bourdes puzzled himself day and night in en- 
 deavoring to find out some means of annoying them. You must 
 know, that these two governors laid several ambuscades for each 
 other, but with little effect : for by chance they never met, except 
 some few companions, who adventured themselves fool-hardily, as 
 well to acquire honor as gain : these parties frequently attacked each 
 other : sometimes the French won, at others, they lost. Such skir- 
 mishes continued so often, that sir William des Bourdes marched out 
 one morning from Montbourg, with his whole force, toward Cher- 
 bourg, in hopes of drawing that garrison out into the plain. 
 
 On the other hand, sir John Harlestone, who was ignorant of the 
 intentions of the French, had also that same morning made an ex- 
 cursion, and had commanded his trumpets to sound for his men to 
 arm themselves, as well horse as foot, and to advance into the plam : 
 he had already ordered who were to remain in the grirnson. He 
 marched forth in handsome display, and ordered sn- John Orcelle, 
 with his foot soldiers, to take the lead as their guide, having done 
 this, he sent forward his light troops. Sir Wilham des Bourdes had 
 made a similar arrangement of his army. They both advanced in 
 this array until the light troops of each party met, and came so near 
 that they could easily distinguish each other. Upon which, theyi re- 
 turned to the main bod y, and reported all they had observed. The 
 
 " ' Sir Otho de Grantson"— was before mentioned, not as an Englishman, but as on* 
 who had an estate on the other side of tlte sea. 
 
 t " gir John Aubourc." May it not be Aubrey 7 
 
 X " Sir John Orcelle." Perhaps VVorseley, or Hor$«l»y. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 227 
 
 two leaders, on hearing their reports, were quite happy ; for they 
 iiad at last found what they had been seeking for, and were much 
 rejoiced thus to meet. 
 
 When the two knights had heard the news from their light troops, 
 they each drew up their forces with great wisdom, and ordered their 
 pennons to be displayed. The English foot were intermixed with 
 their men-at-arms. As soon as they were within bow-shot, the 
 French dismounted ; so did likewise the English : then the archers 
 and cross-bowmen began to shoot sharply, and the men-at-arms to 
 advance with their lances before them in close order. The armies 
 met, and blows with spears and battle-axes began to fly about on all 
 sides The battle was hardly fought, and one might there have seen 
 men-at-arms make trial of their prowess. 
 
 Sir William des Bourdes was completely armed, and, with his bat- 
 tle-axe in his hand, gave such blows to the right and left, that on 
 whomsoever they fell that person was struck to the ground. He per- 
 formed valorous deeds, worthy of being praised for ever after ; and 
 it was not his fault the English were not discomfited. In another 
 part of the field, sir John Harlestone, governor of Cherbourg, fought 
 well and valiantly with his battle-axe, one foot advanced before the 
 other ; and well it needed him, for he had to do with an obstinate 
 body of hardy men. Several gallant deeds were performed this day ; 
 many a man slain and wounded. Sir John Harlestone was struck 
 down and in great peril of his life ; but by force of arms he was res- 
 cued. The battle lasted long, and was excellently kept up, as well 
 on one side as on the other. The English had not any advantage, 
 for they had as many killed and wounded as the French ; but at last 
 the English continued the combat so manfully, and with such courage, 
 that they gained the field ; the French were all either slain or made 
 prisoners : few men of honor saved themselves, for they had entered 
 into the engagement with so much good heart that they could not 
 prevail on themselves to fly, but were determined to die or to con- 
 quer their enemies. 
 
 Sir William des Bourdes was made prisoner on good terms by a 
 squire from Hainault, called William de Beaulieu, an able man-at- 
 arms, who for a considerable time had been attached to the English 
 in the castle of Calais : to him sir William surrendered in great grief, 
 and much enraged that the victory was not his. The English that 
 day did much harm to the French. Several were made prisoners 
 toward the end of the engagement ; but it was a pity to see the num- 
 bers killed. When the English had stripped the dead, sir John 
 Harlestone and his men returned to Cherbourg, carrying with them 
 their prisoners and their riches. You may be assured that they 
 rejoiced mightily in the success of this day, which God had given 
 to them. Sir WiUiam des Bourdes was feasted and entertained with 
 every possible attention; for he was personally deserving of whatever 
 could be done for him. This defeat took place, between Montbourg 
 and Cherbourg, the day of St. Martin le bouillant 1379. 
 
 When the king of France heard that the garrison of Montbourg 
 and its governor were either slain or made prisoners, and that the 
 country was much alarmed by this defeat, the king, like one well 
 advised and attentive to his affairs, immediately provided a remedy, 
 by sending, without delay, fresh troops to guard the frontiers, the for- 
 tresses and the country round Cherbourg. Sir Hutin de Bremalles 
 was appointed general to these troops by the king of France, who 
 kept the country against the English. However, by orders of the 
 king, they afterwards abandoned Montbourg, and all the country of 
 Coutantin, which is one of the richest in the world. They made all 
 the inhabitants give up their handsome houses and other possessions, 
 and retreat out of this peninsula. The French guarded the frontiers 
 at Dune, Carentan, and at St. Lo, and all the borders of the penin- 
 sula of Coutaritin.* 
 
 * The division into volumes here observed is in accordance with the French pJition 
 of D. Sau vage and of the most authentic MSS. Mr. Johnes did not adhere to th«: original 
 arrangement, but divided the work and numbered tiie chapters to suit the four quarto 
 volumes in which he originally published his work ; and Lord Berners, vybo published 
 his translation in two folio volumes, attended only to that natural diviy»on,so that the 
 numbers of his latter chapters are quite at variance with those of ot^ier editions. We 
 have thought it better to restore the old division which originated with Froissart himself. 
 The numeration and arrangement of the chapters will be found nearly in unison with 
 that of D. Sauvage, but Mr. Johnes's additions and corrections prevent their being 
 identicaL—Ei). 
 
 EKD OF THE FIRST V0LtT3I£ OF THS CHRONICI.ES OF SIR JOHN FROISSART. 
 
 SECOND VOLUME* 
 
 OF THE 
 
 CHRONICLES OF SIR JOHN FROISSART. 
 
 CHAPTER L 
 
 THE DUKE OF ANJOU UNDERTAKES AN EXPEDITION AGAINST THE ENGLISH 
 
 IN THE BORDELOIS. 
 
 You have before heard related how the duke of Burgundy had 
 made an incursion from the borders of Picardy, which was very 
 honorable to him and profitable to the French ; and how he had 
 placed in Ardres, and the other castles of which he had gained pos- 
 session, governors and men-at-arms to djefend them ; especially in the 
 town of Ardres, where he had established for a time sir William des 
 Bourdes, and, in his absence, the viscount de Meaux and the lord de 
 Saimpy. These captains had it repaired and strengthened, notwith. 
 standing it was strongly fortified before. The king of France had 
 heard the news of this with infinite pleasure, and considered this ex- 
 pedition as having done him great sei-vice. He sent immediate orders 
 to the governor of St. Omer, commanding the town of Ardres to be 
 ^•einforced and provided with every kind of store and provision in the 
 most ample manner : which orders were punctually obeyed. The 
 army was disbanded, except the troops which were attached to the 
 lord de Clisson and the Bretons ; but they returned as speedily aa 
 they could into Brittany, for news had been brought to the lord de 
 Clisson and the other barons before Ardres, that Janequin le Clerc,t 
 an English squire and an expert man-at-arms, had sailed from Eng- 
 land to Brittany, and had reinforced Brest with Englishmen. These 
 Bretons, therefore, carried with them sir James de Verchin, seneschal 
 of Hainault. The duke of Burgundy returned to his brother the king 
 of France. 
 
 At this period, there was a large body of men-at-arms assembled 
 on the borders of the Bordelois, in obedience to the summons of the 
 duke of Anjou and the constable of France, who had appointed a 
 day for attacking the Gascons and English, of which I shall speak 
 more fully when better informed than I am at present 
 
 While the duke of Burgundy was with his army in Picardy, as I 
 have before said, the duke of Anjou resided in the good town of 
 Toulouse with the duchess his lady, and was devising, night and day, 
 different schemes to annoy and harass the English ; for he found 
 that various castles and towns on the river Dordogne, and on the 
 borders of Rouergue, the Toulousain, and Querci, were still harassing 
 the country and those inhabitants who had put themselves under his 
 obedience. He was anxious to provide a remedy for this, and re- 
 solved to lay siege to Bergerac • this place being the key to Gascony, 
 and standing on the frontiers of Rouergue, Querci, and Limousin. 
 But as he found there w^ie yet several great barons of Gascony ad- 
 verse to him, such as che lords de Duras, de Rosem, de Mucident, 
 de Langurant, de Caernoles, de Carles, and sir Peter de Landuras, 
 with many more? he determined to raise a large force that would 
 not only enaWe him to oppose these lords but to keep the field. He 
 wrote, therefore, to sir John d'Armagnac, who, in such a business, 
 would net fail him, and sent also to the lord d'Albret. He had be- 
 fore sent for the constable of France, the lord Louis de Sancerre, the 
 lorf? de Coucy, and many knights and squires, in Picardy, Brittany, 
 2xid Normandy, who were all willing to serve him and to advance 
 their reputation in arms and renown. The constable and marshal 
 of France were already arrived. 
 
 The duke of Anjou knew that there existed a coolness between 
 the relations and friends of the lord de Pommiers, and sir Thomas 
 Felton, high seneschal of Bordeaux, and the Bordelois. I will tell 
 you the reason of it, and afterwards clear it up. Long before that 
 period, in the year 1375, there was a cruel instance of justice ex- 
 ecuted at Bordeaux by the orders of sir Thomas Felton, lieutenant 
 for the king of England in the Bordelois, upon sir William lord de 
 Pommiers, on suspicion of treason, which astonished every one. By 
 orders of sir Thomas Felton, this lord de Pommiers was arrested in 
 Bordeaux, together with a lawyer, his secretary and counsellor, called 
 John Coulon, a native of Bordeaux. It was proved on them (as I was 
 at the time informed,) that the lord de Pommiers had agreed t.^ sur. 
 render himself and all his castles to the French ; from which charge 
 they could never clear themselves, so that they were condemned to 
 death. The lord de Pommiers and his secretary vvere publicly be. 
 headed in the market-place of the city of Bordeaux, before all the 
 people, who much wondered thereat.t His relations blamed this 
 proceeding exceedingly, and that gallant knight, sir Aymon de Pom^ 
 
 * The author employs the first twenty-seven chapters in recQpitulatinc the events ol 
 the three last years of the preceding volume, which had been too succinctly rehtcd.— 
 St. Palaye's Es.'iay on the fVorks of Froissart. 
 
 t Janequin le Clerc— I imagine to be sir John Clark, of whom Holli igshed speaks so 
 handsomely in the 3rd of Richard II., and who was killed in a battle at a sea-port in 
 Brittany.— See Hollingshkd. 
 
 t A. D. 1377, 1378. 
 
 Rotuli Vasconiffi de anno primo Eicardi II. Membran» 16, 17, 18, 19. 
 1. Processus judicii rediti contra Willelmum Sans, dominum de Pomers, pro prctV» 
 tioae, ia curia Vasconis. et de castiis et tenis suis satisfactis ad domiaum tQgQva^ 
 
828 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 n iers, uncle to sir William, ^et out from Bordeaux and the Bordelois 
 very indignant st such a disgrace to his family, and swore he would 
 never again bear arms for the king of England. He crossed the seas 
 to the Holy Sepulchre, and made several other voyages. Oa his re. 
 turn, he changed to the French interest, placing himself and his ter- 
 ritories under the obedience of the king of France. He immediately 
 St at his challenge to the lord de I'Esparre, and made war upon him, 
 because he had been one of the judges of his nephew. 
 
 Sir John Blessac, sir 
 Peter de Landuras, and sir 
 Bertrand du Franc, were 
 also implicated in these 
 Buspicions of treason, as 
 well as on account of the 
 lurrender of the castle of 
 Fronsac, which had been 
 delivered up to the French, 
 it being the inheritance of 
 
 the lord de Pommiers who 
 
 nad been beheaded : they 
 
 were detained in prison 
 
 at Bordeaux upward of 
 
 ieven months. They were 
 
 at length set at liberty, 
 
 through the entreaties of 
 
 their friends, for nothing 
 
 could be proved against 
 
 them. SirGaillardVighier, 
 
 however, continued a long 
 
 time in imminent danger, 
 
 which surprised many, as 
 
 he was not of that country, 
 
 but had come from Lom- 
 
 bardy with the lord de 
 
 Coucy, and was in the 
 
 service of pope Gregory, 
 
 who exerted himself in 
 
 his deliverance as soon as 
 
 he heard of his imprison- 
 ment, the knight having 
 
 insisted on his innocence. 
 
 By these means, much se- 
 cret hatred was caused, 
 
 from which many mis- 
 
 chiefs ensued. 
 
 When the duke of An> 
 
 jou saw the time was ar- 
 rived for his marching 
 
 from Toulouse, and that 
 
 the greaterpartof his men- 
 
 at-arms were in the field — in particular, the constable of France, in 
 whom he had the greatest confidence — he set out from Toulouse, and 
 look the direct road to Bergerac. Sir Perducas^'Albret wasgovernor 
 of the place : he resided in a small castle, a shoiA. league from Lan- 
 guedoc, called Moueux, which is a strong fort. 
 
 The duke of Anjou and his army marched until they came before 
 Bergerac, when they encamped themselves all around it, uid as near 
 the river as possible, for the greater ease of themselves -«id their 
 horses. Many great barons were with the duke : in the first ?lace, 
 sir John d'Armagaac, with a large troop ; the constable of Frai^je, 
 with another large body ; the lord Louis de Sancerre, sir John 69 
 Bueil, sir Peter de Bueil, sir Evan of Wales, sir Maurice de Trisi- 
 quidi (who had fonnerly been one of the thirty knights on the French 
 side at the duel in Brittany,) sir Alain de Beaumont, sir Alain de la 
 Houssaye, sir William and sir Peter de Mornay, sir John de Vers, sir 
 Baldwin Cremoux, Thibaut du Pont, Heliot de Calais, and many 
 other able men-at-arms with large companies. They encamped them- 
 selves to a great extent in those fine meadows along the river Dor- 
 dogne, so that it was a great pleasure to look at them. 
 
 The constable was lodged very near to the quarters of the duke. 
 Those companions who were desirous of advancing themselves fre- 
 quently came to the barriers to skirmish : many of whom were slain 
 or wounded by arrows, as in such adventures must happen. At the 
 end of six days after the town of Bergerac had been besieged, the 
 lord d'Albret, and sir Bernard d'Albret his cousin, arrived in the 
 camp of the duke, well accompanied by men-at-arms and foot-soldiers, 
 where they were received with joy, as the army was by them greatly 
 reinforced. 
 
 The duke, with the principal leaders of the army, held a council on 
 thf; eighth day, to consider in what manner they could most effect- 
 ually annoy the inhabitants of Bergerac. Many speeches were made, 
 and difierent proposals offered. It was long debated to storm the 
 town, but afterwards this measure was abandoned, as their men 
 might suffer much, and not make any great gain. The council broke 
 up without coming to any determination, except to continue on the 
 sie;je ; for they were still expecting large bodies of men-at-arms from 
 Fra.nce, and in particular the lord de Coucy. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 SIR THOMAS FELTON IS DEFEATED AND MADE PRISONER, WITH MAXY OF 
 THE PRINCIPAL LORDS OF GASCON Y, BY A PARTY OF FRENCH AT TAB 
 SIEGE OF BERGERAC. 
 
 Sir Thomas Felton, who resided at Bordeaux, was not at his ease 
 from knowing that his enemies were but twelve leagues distant, and 
 j in such numbers that he could not think of opposing them by force. 
 
 Duke of Anjou with his army, marching against Bergerac. From a MS. Froissart of the 15th century 
 
 having also learnt the duke of Anjou's summons and intentions : he 
 had, therefore, sent information to the king and council in England ; 
 but those whom he had dispatched thither had not been able to do 
 anything, for the kingdom of England was much shaken, and differ- 
 ent parties were mutually opposing each other. The duke of Lan- 
 caster, in particular, was unpopular with the common people ; from 
 which cause much party animosity and danger happened afterwards 
 in England. No men-at-arms were sent either to Gascony or to 
 Brittany ; on which account, those who were defending the frontiers 
 for the young king were very ill pleased. It happened that sir 
 Thomas Felton had desired the lord de I'Esparre to go to England, 
 ^or the better information of the king and his uncles respecting the 
 aiY*irs of Gascony, in order that they might take counsel to provide 
 for tliP.m. The lord de I'Esparre had already left Bordeaux, and was 
 proceeding on his voyage ; but the wind proving unfavorable, he was 
 driven into the Spanish seas, where he was met by some ships from 
 Sppin, witVi whom he engaged unsuccessfully; he was made pris. 
 oner and carried to Spain, where he remained upward of a year and 
 a half, and suffered many mortifications from the relations of the lord 
 de Pommiers. 
 
 Sir Thomas was a. truly valiant man : he had written and sent 
 special messengers to the lords de Mucident, de Duras, de Rosem, 
 and de Langurant, four of the most noble and powerful barons of 
 Gascany, and who were attached to England, to request, that for the 
 honor of the king their lord, they would not f lil, on any account, to 
 defend the principality, and to desire they would come to Bordeaux 
 with their vassals ; for all knights who were anxious to acquit them- 
 selves toward the king and lord were already arrived there. When 
 they were all assembled, they amounted to full five hundred lances ; 
 they remained at Bordeaux, and in the Bordelois, during the fkne 
 when the duke of Anjou was beginning the siege of Bergerac. Sir 
 Thomas Felton and these four Gascon barons held a counci', in 
 which they resolved to march toward the French, and post them- 
 selves in a secure situation, to see if they could gain any advantage 
 over them. They set out, therefore, from Bordeaux with upward of 
 three hundred lances, taking the road for La R^ole, and came to a 
 certain town called Yuret * in which they quartered themselves. The 
 
 * •• Yuret," probably Yurac— a village in Guienne, near Bordeaux. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 229 
 
 French knew nothing of this ambuscade, and suffered much from it. 
 The siege of Bergerac was still going forward : there were many 
 skirmishes and deeds of arms performed with the garrison by the be- 
 siegers ; but the French were not great gainers, for sir Perducas 
 d'Albret, the governor,' was very active in opposing them, that no 
 blame might be imputed to him. 
 
 The army called another council, and resolved to send for a large 
 machine, called a sow, from La Reole, in order the more to harass 
 the garrison. This sow was a large engine, which cast weighty 
 stones, and one hundred men, completely armed, could be drawn up 
 in it, and attack the walls. Sir Peter de Bueil, sir John de Vers, sir 
 Baldwin de Cremoux, sir Alain de Beaumont, the lord de Montcalay, 
 and the lord de Gaures, were ordered to go for this engine : they left 
 the army, in consequence, with about three hundred men-at-arms 
 whom they could depend on, and, fording the river Dordogne, rode 
 toward La R6ole : they advanced between Bergerac and La R6o\e, 
 until they came to Yurac, where the English were in ambuscade 
 with upward of four hundred combatants, of which they were igno- 
 rant. 
 
 News was brought to the army and to the constable of France, that 
 the English had taken the field ; but it was unknown which way 
 they had marched. The constable, lest his men might be surprised, 
 immediately ordered a large detachment to guard the foragers, who 
 were out between the rivers Garonne and Dordogne, and gave the 
 command of it to sir Peter de Mornay, sir Evan of Wales, Thibaut du 
 Pont, and Heliot de Calais : there might be in this detachment two 
 hundred lances of tried men. Sir Peter de Bueil, and the others who 
 were sent to bring the sow, rode on to La Reole, and, having laden 
 a great many carts with it, set out on their return, but by a different 
 route from that by which they had arrived, for they required a broader 
 road for their convoy, and yet they were to pass by Yurac, or very 
 near to it, where the English were in ambuscade : however, they 
 were so fortunate as to meet with a second detachment from their 
 army, when they were within a short league of the town. The whole 
 then amounted to full six hundred lances. They continued their 
 march in greater security, and more at their leisure. 
 
 Sir Thomas Felton and the barons of Gascony in Yurac were in- 
 i formed, that the French were escorting that way a very large engine, 
 from La Reole to their siege of Bergerac. They were much rejoiced 
 at this intelligence, and said it was what they wished. They then 
 armed themselves, mounted their horses, and drew up in the best 
 array they were able. When they had advanced into the plain, they 
 had not long to wait before they saw the French, marching in a large 
 body, and in handsome order. No sooner was each party assured 
 that those whom they saw were enemies, who seemed mutually eager 
 for the contest, than sticking spurs into their horses, and with spears 
 in their rests, they charged each other, shouting their different war- 
 cries. I nmst say, that in this first conflict, many a gallant tilt was 
 performed, and many a knight and squire were unhorsed and driven 
 to the ground. In such deadly warfare, there is no accident but 
 what may happen. Heliot de Calais, a most able squire and good 
 nan-at-arms, was knocked off his horse, by a violent stroke on the 
 ihroat-piece with a spear, whose broad point was as sharp and as fine 
 as a razor. This iron cut through the throat-piece, as well as all the 
 veins : the stroke beat him to the ground, when he shortly after died : 
 the more the pity. By this accident did he end his days. Among 
 the French, tliere was a knight from Berry or Limousin, named sir 
 William de Lignac, an excellent man-at-arms, who this day performed 
 many gallant deeds. 
 
 The combat was sharp, and long continued on each side, close to 
 the village of Yurac : when their lances failed, they drew their 
 swords, and the attack was more vigorously renewed. Many feats 
 of prowess were performed, many captures made, and many rescued. 
 Of the English slain on the spot, was a Gascon knight, called the lord 
 de Gernos and de Calais : of the French, Thibaut du Pont. This 
 battle was well and long fought : many handsome deeds were done, 
 for they were all men of valor : but in the end the English could not 
 gain the field : they were fairly conquered by the French. Sir Wil- 
 liam de Lignac captured with his own hand sir Thomas Felton, sen- 
 eschal of Bordeaux : nearly at the same time, the lords de Mucident, 
 tie Daras, de Rosem, de Languran% were also made prisoners. Few 
 of ths English or Gascons but were made prisoners or slain. 
 
 Those who could escape met, on their return toward Bordeaux, the 
 seneschal des Landes, sir William Helman, the mayor of Bordeaux, 
 and sir .Toha de Multon ; in the whole, about one hundred lances, 
 who were hastening to Yurac; but, when they heard the news of so 
 complete a defeat, they wheeled about, and returned as speedily as 
 possible to Bordeaux. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 BEKGERAC SUKUENDERS TO THE DUKE OF ANJOU. THE LORDS DE DURAS 
 
 AND DE ROSEM, AFTER HAVING PROMISED TO BE OF THE FRENCH INTE- 
 REST, RETURN AGAIN TO THE ENGLISH. 
 
 When this engagement was over and the field cleared, and all 
 those who had been made prisoners placed under a secure guard, 
 they feet out on their return to the siege carrying on at Bergerac. The 
 
 duke of Anjou was mightily rejoiced when he heard of the detach- 
 ments having had such success, and that all the flower of Gascony, 
 the knights and squires his enemies, were either killed or taken, and 
 among them sir Thomas Felton, who had been very active against 
 him ; so that he would rather have lost five hundred thousand fran ;s 
 than that it should have been otherwise. Sir Peter de Bueil, lit 
 W illiam de Lignac, sir Evan of Wales, and others, continued theif 
 march until they came to their army before Bergerac, where they 
 were received with much pleasure by the duke of Anjou, the con. 
 stable, the barons and knights their friends, who considered th^;ir 
 success as very honorable and profitable to them. 
 
 On the morrow, the sow they had brought was erected near to the 
 walls of Bergerac, which much alarmed the inhabitants, who held 
 a council to consider their situation, and whether they could main, 
 tain it. They addressed themselves to their governor, for they found 
 they could not long hold out, as no succor was to be expected since 
 their seneschal was taken, and with him the chivalry of Gascony, on 
 whose asssistance they had depended. Sir Perducas told them, 
 they were in suflicient strength to hold out for some time, being well 
 provided with provisions and artillery, if they made not any foolish 
 agreement. 
 
 Things remained in this situation until the next morning, when 
 the trumpets of the army sounded for an assault, and every one re. 
 paired to his banner. The constable of France, who was in the 
 field with a grand array, sent to hold a parley v/ith the inhabitants 
 before the assault began, or any of their men were wounded or slain ; 
 in which he remonstrated with them, that having had their leaders 
 made prisoners, from whom alone they could hope for assistance, and 
 who were now in treaty to place themselves and their lands under 
 the obedience of the king of France, they could not look for any re- 
 lief ; and, should the town be taken by storm, it would inevitably be 
 destroyed by fire and flame, and none receive quarter. These threats 
 frightened the inhabitants, who demanded time to hold a consulta- 
 tion, which was granted to them. The burghers then assembled, 
 without calling in their governor, and agreed to surrender as good 
 Frenchmen, provided they were peaceably and gently dealt with, 
 without any of the army entering their town, M'hich was directly 
 granted. 
 
 When sir Perducas d'Albret, their governor, heard of this, he 
 mounted his horse, ordered his men to march, and, having passed 
 the bridges, made for the fort of Monciu, when Bergerac surren- 
 dered to the French. The constable of France took possession of 
 it, placing therein a governor and men-at-arms to keep and defend 
 it. 
 
 After the surrender of Bergerac, the duke of Anjou was advised to 
 advance further into the country, and lay siege to Castilion * on the 
 Dordogne. News of this was soon spread through the army, when 
 every one began to make his preparations accordingly ; that is to 
 say, the duke, the constable, and the other men-at-arms, except the 
 marshal of France, who remained behind to wait for the lord de 
 Coucy, as he was expected to arrive that evening (which indeed he 
 did,) when the marshal advanced to meet him with a very large at- 
 tendance of his men, and received him most amicably. They 
 remained all that night in the place v/hich the duke had left. The 
 duke and his army advanced to a fine mead, on the banks of the 
 Dordogne, in his march to Castilion. 
 
 Under the command of the lord de Coucy were, sir Aymon de 
 Pommiers, sir Tristan de Roye, the lords de Faignelles, de Jumont, 
 sir John de Rosay, sir Robert de Cleremont, and several other knights 
 and squires. They marched from their quarters, and continued 
 advancing in company with the marshal of France and his troops 
 until they arrived at the army of the duke, where they were received 
 with much satisfaction. 
 
 In the road to Castilion, there is a town called -St. Foy : before 
 the vanguard arrived at Castilion, they marched thither, and having 
 surrounded it, began to attack it briskly. This town had not any 
 men-at-arms, and but trifling fortifications, so that it did not long 
 defend itself. On its surrender, it was pillaged. The siege was 
 formed before Castilion above the river, and .ontinued for fifteen 
 days: of course, there were many skirmishes at the barriers, for 
 some English and Gascons had retreated thither after the battle of 
 Yurac, and defended themselves valiantly. The Gascon barons 
 v/ho had been made prisoners at Yurac, were still in the French 
 camp, and in treaty to turn to the French party. Sir Thomas Fel- 
 ton was not solicited so to do, as he was an Englishman, but had his 
 ransom fixed by his master, sir William de Lignac, to whom he paid 
 thirty thousand francs, and obtained his liberty : but this was not 
 immediately settled. After much negotiating, the four Gascon 
 barons turned to the French : they engaged, on their faith and^honor, 
 that themselves and their vassals would ever remain good French- 
 men; for which reason the duke of Anjou gave them their liberties. 
 
 The lords de Duras and de Rosem left the duke with a good un 
 derstanding, intending to visit their estates : the lords de ?>Iucident 
 and de Langurant remained with the army, and were graciously 
 treated by the duke of Anjou, with whom they frequently dined and 
 supped. The first-mentioned lords thought the duke very obliging in 
 thus lightly allowing them to depart, which indeed he afterwards 
 
 * " Castilion "—a town of Guieone, election of Bordeaux. 
 
230 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 repented, as he had good reason. These two lords, when on their 
 road conversing together, said, " Plow can we serve the duke of An- 
 iou and the French, when we have hitherto been loyal English ? 
 It will be much better for us to deceive the duke of Anjou than the 
 king of England, our natural lord, and who has always been so kind 
 to us." This they adopted, and resolved to go to Bordeaux, to the 
 e»iuf?schal des Landes, sir William Helman, and assure him that their 
 hearts would not suffer them to become good Frenchmen. The two 
 br.rons continued their journey to Bordeaux, where they were joy- 
 fully received : for they had not then heard anything of their treaties 
 with the duke of Anjou. 
 
 The seneschal des Landes and the mayor of Bordeaux were in- 
 quisitive after news, and what sums they had paid for their ransoms. 
 Tiiey said, that through constraint and threats of death, the duke of 
 Anjou had forced them to turn to the French : but added, " Gentle- 
 men, we will truly tell you, that before we took the oath, we reserved 
 in our hearts our faith to our natural lord the king of England ; and, 
 for anything we have said or done, will we never become French- 
 men." The knights from England were much pleased with these 
 words, and they declared they had acquitted themselves loyally to- 
 ward their lord. 
 
 Five days afterwards, news was brought to the duke of Anjou and 
 the army before Castillon, that the lords de Duras and de Rosem had 
 turned to the English, which very much astonished the duke, the 
 constable, and the other barons. The duke then sent to the lords de 
 Mucident and de Langurant, told them what he had heard, and asked 
 what they thought of it : these barons, wha were exceedingly vexed, 
 replied, " My lord, if they have broken their faith, we will not belie 
 ours ; and that which we have said and sworn to you we will loyally 
 keep, nor shall the contrary be ever reproached to us ; for by valor 
 and gallant deeds of arms have your party conquered us, and we will 
 therefore remain steady to our obedience to you." " I believe you 
 firmly," said the duke of Anjou ; " and I swear by God first, and 
 then by my lord and brother, that on leaving this place, we will not 
 undertake any one thing before we have besieged the towns of Duras 
 and Rosem." Things remained in this state ; that is to say, the duke 
 of Anjou much enraged at the conduct of the two Gascon barons, 
 and the siege continuing before Castillon. The town and castle of 
 Castillon, on the Dordogne, was a town and inheritance of the captal 
 de Buch, whom the king of France had detained in prison at Paris. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 CASTILLON, AND SEVERAL OTHER PLACES IN GASCONY, SURRENDER TO 
 
 THE DUKE OF ANJOU. 
 
 During the time Castillon was besieged, there was a great famine, 
 insomuch that for money there was difficulty in getting provisions. 
 The French were forced to march twelve or fifteen leagues for forage 
 for the army, and in going and returning they ran great risks ; for 
 there were many castles and English garrisons on the frontiers, from 
 whence they sallied forth and formed ambuscades ; or they waited 
 in the narrow passes and defiles ; and whenever they found them- 
 selves the strongest, they fell upon the French foragers, killed and 
 wounded them, and carried off their forage. For this reason, they 
 never could forage but in large bodies. 
 
 The siege of Castillon was carried on with much vigor, and the 
 garrison so harassed by assaults and engines that they surrendered, 
 on their lives and fortunes being spared. The men-at-arms marched 
 out, and as many more as chose to leave it, and went to St. Macaire,* 
 where there is a good castle and strong town. On the surrender of 
 Castillon, the duke of Anjou received the fealty and homage of the 
 inhabitants, and renewed the officers : he appointed as governor of 
 it a knight from Touraine, called sir James de Montmartin. When 
 they were about to march from Castillon, they called a council to 
 consider whither they should go next ; and it was determined to 
 advance toward St. Marine ; but, as several small forts were scat- 
 tered about the country before they could arrive there, it was not 
 thought proper to leave them in the rear on account of the foragers. 
 They therefore, on quitting Castillon, marched to SauveteiTe,t which 
 they besieged. 
 
 Other intelligence was brought, respecting the lords de Duras and 
 de Rosem, different from what had been at first reported ; that in 
 truth they were at Bordeaux, but it was not known on what terms. 
 This news was spread through the army, and was so public as to 
 come to the ears of the lords de Mucident and Langurant : they 
 mentioned it to the lord de Coucy and sir Peter de Bueil, whom they 
 were desirous to interest in excusing those knights, adding that it 
 was very simple to believe such tales so lightly told. They replied, 
 they would willingly undertake to speak to the duke, who told them 
 he should be very happy to find the contrary true to what he had 
 heard. The affair remained in this state, and the siege of Sauve- 
 terre continued. The town of Sauveterre held out only for three 
 days ; for the knight who was governor surrendered it to the duke, 
 on condition of himself, his troops, with their fortunes, being spared. 
 
 * St. Macaire— a city in Guienne, on the Garonne, nine leagues from Bordeaux. 
 T Sauveterre— a town ia Gascony, diocese of CommiiiRet 
 
 By these means they marched and came before St. Bazille, a good 
 town, which immediately surrendered, and put itself under the obedi. 
 ence of the king of France. 
 
 They then advanced to Montsegur,* which they attacked on their 
 arrival, but did not gain it on this first attempt. They encamped and 
 refreshed themselves for the night. On the moriow, they prepared 
 for the assault, and those within, seeing they were in earnest, began 
 to be greatly alarmed, and called a council, wherein it was at last 
 determined that they would offer to surrender on having their lives 
 and fortunes spared ; and upon these terms they were received. 
 The French marched away to another good walled town, situated 
 between St. Macaire and La R^ole, called Auberoche. They were 
 four days before they could gain it, which was done by capitulation. 
 
 The French then advanced to St. Macaire 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE DUKE OF ANJOU TAKES THE TOWN. AND CASTLE OF ST. MACAIRE BY 
 
 CAPITULATION THE TOWN OF DURAS BY STORM, BUT THE CASTLE 
 
 RECEIVES QUARTER. 
 
 The army of the duke of Anjou was daily increasing from all 
 quarters ; for such knights and squires as were desirous of renown 
 came to wait on him, and to serve him. -The siege was formed be- 
 fore St. Macaire in a very handsome manner ; for those men-at-arms 
 had retreated thither who had quitted the garrisons which had sur- 
 rendered. The town, therefore, had been greatly reinforced, and 
 better guarded. There were many grand assaults and skirmishes, 
 as well before the town as a't the barriers. While the siege was going 
 forward, the duke of Anjou and the constable of France ordered the 
 leaders of the different corps to make excursions in various parts. 
 Large detachments, therefore, set out, under the orders of the marshal 
 of France, sir Perceval de Marneil and sir William de Moncontour. 
 These detachments remained for six days in the field, took several 
 towns and small castles, and put all the surrounding country under 
 the subjection of the king of France. None went out to oppose 
 them, for the whole country was almost empty of men-at-arms at. 
 tached to the English, and the few who were there fled toward Bor- 
 deaux. When they had finished their expeditions, they returned to 
 the army. 
 
 The inhabitants of St. Macaire knew well that they could not hold 
 out for a long time : and the besiegers promised them every day, that 
 if they suffered themselves to be taken by storm, they should all 
 without mercy be put to death. They began to be doubtful lest their 
 career might terminate in this cruel manner, and secretely opened 
 a treaty with the French to surrender, on their lives and fortunes 
 being spared. The men-at-arms in St. Macaire had intelligence of 
 this, and suspecting the inhabitants might perhaps form some treaty 
 inimical to them, they retired into the castle, which was large and 
 strong, and built to stand a good siege, taking with them all their 
 own wealth, and a good deal of pillage from the town. Upon this, 
 the inhabitants surrendered their town to the king of France. The 
 duke of Anjou received intelligence during the siege of St. Macaire, 
 that his lady the duchess had been brought to bed of a son at Tou- 
 louse. The duke and the whole army were much rejoiced at this 
 event, and their warlike heroism was greatly increased. The men- 
 at-arms entered the town, for it had large and handsome houses, in 
 which they refreshed themselves, as they had wherewithal, the town 
 being well provided with every sort of provision. 
 
 The castle was surrounded on all sides, and engines erected before 
 it, which cast such large stones as greatly astonished the garrison. 
 While this siege was carrying on, true intelligence was brought re. 
 specting the lords de Duras and de Rosem, by two heralds, who 
 declared they had turned to the English. On hearing this the duke 
 said, " Let me but gain St. Macaire, and I will immediately march 
 and lay siege to Duras." He ordered the attacks on the castle to be 
 renewed with greater vigor, for he was not willing to leave it in his 
 rear. The garrison seeing themselves thus attacked, without any 
 hopes of succor, and knowing that the duke and constable were 
 determined to have them by fair or foul means, thought they should 
 act wisely if they entered into a treaty, which they accomplished, and 
 delivered up the castle, on their lives and fortunes being spared, and 
 on being conducted to Bordeaux. Thus did the town and castle of 
 St.. Macaire become French. The duke of Anjou took possession 
 of it, appointed a governor, and then decamped with his whole army, 
 taking the road toward Duras. 
 
 The army continued its march until it came before Duras, when 
 an attack was immediately ordered. The men-at-arms made them, 
 selves ready, and the cross-bowmen, well shielded, advanced to the 
 town : some of whom had provided themselves with ladders, in order 
 the more easily to scale the walls. This attack was very severe, and 
 those who had mounted the walls fought hand to hand with their 
 opponents : so many gallant deeds were done by each party, that it 
 lasted the greater part of the day. When they had thus well fought 
 for a length of time, the marshals ordered the trumpets to sound a 
 retreat, and every man retired to his quarters for the night. In the 
 mean time, sir Alain de la Haye, and sir Alain de St. Pol, arrived at 
 the army with a large troop of Bretons, who had marched toward 
 
 * A villast in Gascony. election of Landw. 
 
 \ 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 231 
 
 Libourne,* and had attacked an English garrison at Gudillac,t which 
 they had taken by storm, and slain all within it. 
 
 On the morrow m(jrning, the duke ordered the storming to be re. 
 new.jd, and that each man should exert himself to the utmost. He 
 had U also proclaimed by a herald, that whoever should first enter 
 
 Storming of Duras. From a MS. of Froissart of the fifleentb eentnijr. 
 
 amined it, they found it was marvellously strong, and said, that with- 
 out a very long siege, it would not be easily taken : on their return, 
 they related this to the duke of Anjou. " That does not fignify," 
 replied the duke, " for I have said and sworn, that I would not stir 
 from hence until I should have this castle under my obedien. e." 
 
 " And you shall not 
 forswear yourself,"an- 
 Bwered the constable. 
 Engines were direcdy 
 pointed against the 
 caetle, as they were 
 ready on the spot. 
 When these within 
 saw the great prepara- 
 tions that were mak- 
 ing against them, as 
 well by these in the 
 town as by the French, 
 and that the attack 
 would be severe, and 
 probably fatal to them, 
 they thought it ad- 
 visable to enter into 
 a negotiation. They 
 opened a treaty with 
 the constable, who 
 agreed to spare their 
 lives and fortunes on 
 their surrendering the 
 castle. The duke of 
 Anjou was therefore 
 advised by the consta. 
 ble not to fatigue or 
 hurt his men, but to 
 grant them quarter, 
 which he did. On 
 the third day they 
 marched out of the 
 castle, and were con- 
 ducted whither they 
 wished to go, and the 
 constable took posses- 
 sion of it ; but I be- 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 TOULOUSE, AND THE 
 WALES LAYS SIEGE 
 
 Duras should receive five hundred francs. The desire of gaining lieve that the duke of Anjou ordered it to be razed to the ground, 
 this reward made many poor companions come forward. Ladders 
 were placed against the walls in various places, and the attack began 
 in earnest ; for the young knights and squires, who were eager for re- 
 nown, did not spare themselves, but fought with a thorough good will. 
 
 The lord de Langurant had ascended a ladder, with a sword in 
 his hand, and fought hard to enter the town the first, not indeed for 
 the five hundred francs, but to illustrate his name ; for he was ex- 
 ceedingly angry that the lord de Duras had so lightly turned to the 
 English. The lord de Langurant, as I must say, performed such 
 deeds that his own people as well as strangers were quite astonished 
 therewith, and advanced so far that his life was in great jeopardy ; 
 for those withinside the walls tore oflT the helmet from his head, and 
 with it the hood, so that he would inevitably have been slain, if his 
 own squire, who followed him close, had not covered him with his 
 target. The knight descended the ladder by degrees, but he received 
 in his descent several heavy blows on the target. He was much 
 esteemed for this assault, by all those who saw him. 
 
 In another part, sir Tristan de Roye and sir Perceval d'Ayvenal, 
 mounted on ladders, fought most valorously ; and also sir John de 
 Jurnont and sir John de Rosay, where each for his part did wonders 
 in arms. On the battlements was the lord de Seriel, mounted on a 
 ladder, fighting gidlantly hand to hand with those on the inside ; and 
 all who saw him said, that if any one was likely to have the advan- 
 tage of first entering the town, he was in the road so to do. This 
 knight did not thus adventure himself for profit, but for glory : how. 
 ever, as fortune is hazardous, he was struck down with such force by 
 a sword, that he tumbled into the ditch, and broke his neck. In 
 suchwise died this knight. The same fate attended a squire from 
 Brittany, who bore for his arms two chevrons gules, chequered with 
 or, argent, and azur. This vexed the constable so much that he 
 ordered the assailants to be reinforced, and the fight continued with 
 more vigor than before. The lord de Mucident proved himself an 
 able knight, and showed he was indeed a Frenchman from the man. 
 ner in which he assaulted. 
 
 The town of Duras was taken by storm, and the first persons who 
 entered it were sir Trinran de Roye and sir John de Rosay. When 
 the men-at-arms in Duras saw that the town must be lost, they retreated 
 into the castle, leaving the rest to its fate. Thus was Duras taken, 
 and all found in it were put to death. The men-at-arms retired to 
 their quarters, where they disarmed themselves, and took their ease, 
 having plenty of provision with them. 
 
 On the morrow morning, the constable of France, attended by the 
 marshal, mounted their horses, and rode to the castle to reconnoitre, 
 
 and see on which side they could best attack it. Having well ex. ^ T..n^„.„„t'-_.i,o„i,i Landiras-a town in Guienne. near Bordeaux. WilliaB 
 
 * " Libourne"— a city of Gueinne on the Dordogne, ten leagues from Bordeaux, 
 t " Cadillac*'— & town in Guieane, iev«n leagues from Bordeaux. 
 
 THE DUKE OF ANJOU RETURNS TO THE DUCHESS AT 
 CONSTABLE TO THE KIN& OF FRANCE. EVAN OF 
 TO MORTAIN SUR-MER. 
 
 4fter the conquest of the town and custlc of Duras, the 
 duke of Anjou ordered sir John de Juraont, s^r Tristan de Roye, 
 and sir John de Rosay, to remain in the town of Landurant,* (for 
 the lord of it had turned to the French since he had been made 
 prisoner at the batde of Yurac,) with one hundred good spears to 
 guard the frontiers against the Bordelois : he himself wished to re- 
 turn to Toulouse to see his duchess, who had been delivered of a 
 handsome boy, for he was desirous of holding a grand feast at Ton- 
 louse to celebrate this event. He therefore ordered men-at-arms to 
 the diflferent towns and castles which he had conquered. On dis- 
 missing Evan of Wales, he said to him : " You will take under your 
 command the Bretons, Poitevins and Angevins, with whom you will 
 march into Poitou, and lay siege to Mortain-sur-mer, which the lord 
 de I'Estradet holds ; and do not quit the place for any orders you may 
 receive in the king's name until you have had possession of it ; 
 for it is a garrison that has done us much mischief." " My lord," 
 replied Evan, " as far as it shall be in my power I will loyally obey 
 you." The duke, the constable, Snd the lord d( Coucy, then ordered 
 all those who were to accompany Evan into Poitou. Upon this full 
 five hundred good men-at-arms left the duke, and took the road to 
 Saintonge, in order to advance toward St. Jean d'Angely. 
 
 The duke of Anjou, the constable of France, the lord de Coucy, 
 the marshal of France, sir John and sir Feter de Bueil, returned to 
 Toulouse, where they found the duchess newly recovered from her 
 lying-in. On this event there were very great rejoicings and feast- 
 ings at Toulouse. The constable and the lord de Coucy then re- 
 turned to Paris : the marshal de Sancerrc into Auvergne, to assist 
 the dauphin of Auvergne and the barons of that country, who were 
 carrying on the war against the English that had remained in Limou- 
 sin, Rouergue, and on the borders of Auvergne. 
 
 Let us now say something of Evan of Wales, how he laid siege 
 at this season to Mortain, and how he harassed its garrison. Evan oi 
 Wales, being desirous of obeying the ord rs of the duke of Anjou, 
 (for he knew well that whatever the duke did was by the directions 
 of the king of France his brother, as he had paid all the expenses of 
 
 * " Landurant'"— should be Landiras— a town in Guienne, near Bordeaux. 
 Shalton was lord of Landiras.— See RoLLEs' Oasconnu. 
 t The louldifth de l'Estrade.=^ Anstu. 
 
232 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 the ditfjrent expeditions he had made) had advanced as far as 
 Sr-intes. He had lialted to refresh himself and his companions in 
 that rich country between Saintes and Poitou, and in the beautiful 
 Ricads which are on the banks of the rivers in those parts. Many 
 knights and squires of Poitou were with him, such as the lords de 
 Pons, de Touar?, de Vivarois, the lord James de Surgeres, and seve- 
 ral more. On the other hand, from Brittany and Normandy, were 
 sir Maurice de Trisiquedi, sir Alain de la Houssaye, sir Alain de St. 
 Pel, sir Perceval d'Ayneval, sir William de Moncontour, the lord 
 d? Monmor, and Morelet his brother. These troops, when ordered, 
 marched away, and laid siege to Mortain. The castle is situated on 
 the Garonne, near to and below its embouchure with the sea : it is 
 the handsomest and strongest fort in all the borders of the countries 
 of Poitou, la Rochelle, and Saintonge. 
 
 When Evan of Wales, the barons and knights, were arrived there, 
 they formed the siege very prudently, and provided themselves by 
 little and little with everything they wanted ; for they were well 
 aware that they could never conquer the castle by storm, but that it 
 must be won by distressing the garrison with famine and' a long 
 blockade. Evan, therefore, ordered four block-houses to be erected, 
 so that no provision could enter the place by sea or by land. 
 
 At times, the young knights and squires who wished to display 
 their courage, advanced to the barriers of the castle, and skirmished 
 with the garrison. Many gallant deeds were there performed. There 
 was a knight in Mortain called the souldich, who was from Gascony, 
 a valiant knight and able man-at-arms, whose orders they obeyed as 
 if he had been their governor. The castle was plentifully supplied 
 with wines and provision, but they were in great want of several 
 smaller necessaries. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 KING CHARLES OF FRANCE INSTIGATES THE SCOTS TO MAKE WAR ON 
 ENGLAND. THE SCOTS TAKE THE CASTLE OF BERWICK. 
 
 King Charles of France, notwithstanding he always resided at 
 Paris, or at various other places in France which pleased him more, 
 and that he never bore arms himself, kept up a very sharp war against 
 his enemies the English. He had formed alliances, as well in the empire 
 as with the adjoining kingdoms, in a greater degree than the four or 
 five preceding kings of France had ever done. He paid great atten- 
 tions to all from whom he thought he should derive any assistance ; 
 and because king Richard of England was young, and his kingdom 
 unsettled, he had sent to renew his alliance with the Scots, and with 
 their king, Robert Stuart, who had succeeded his uncle king David 
 Bruce, and to excite them to make war upon the English, so that 
 they should be disabled from crossing the seas. Upon this, king 
 Robert, after the death of Edward and the coronation of Richard, 
 assembled his council at Edinburgh, where he had summoned the 
 greater part of those barons and knights from whom he looked 
 for assistance. He remonstrated with them against the English for 
 having in former times done them much mischief by burning their 
 countiy, razing their castles, killing and ransoming the inhabitants : 
 that the time was now arrived when they might revenge themselves 
 for all these disgraces ; as king Edward was deceased, who had been 
 80 successful against them, and a young king was now on the 
 throne. 
 
 The barons of Scotland and the young knights present, being de. 
 sirsus of advancing themselves and revenging the injuries which the 
 English had formerly done to their country, replied unanimously, that 
 they were willing and prepared to invade England, either to-day or 
 to-morrow, or whenever he pleased. This answer was very agree- 
 able to the king of Scotland, who returned them his thanks for it. 
 Four earls were appointed captains of the men-at-arms ; namely, the 
 earl of Douglas, the earl of Moray, the earl of Mar and the earl of 
 Sutherland ; sir Archibald Douglas constable of Scotland, and sir 
 Robert de Versi* marshal of the whole army. 
 
 Summonses were immediately issued for the assembling of the 
 forces by a certain day in the Mei-fee,t which is the country border- 
 ing on England. While this summons was obeying, a valiant squire 
 of Scotland, named Alexander Ramsay, set off with forty men from 
 his company, determined to perform a gallant enterprise. They were 
 all well mounted, and, having rode the whole night through bye- 
 roads, came to Berwick nearly at daybreak. A squire attached to 
 the earl of Northumberland, called William Bisset, was governor of 
 the town of Berwick ; and a very able knight, called sir Robert 
 Abeton,t was constable of the castle. 
 
 When the Scots were arrived near Berwick, they concealed them- 
 
 * " Sir Robert de Versi." Q. t The Marches.— [Ed. 
 
 t "SirRobertAbeton"— sir Robert Boynton. Dr Fuller, in his history of Be^^vick, 1799. 
 Bays, " that seven intrepid Scotsmen in 1377 took possession of Benvick castle by storm in 
 the night, and continued masters of it for eight days, though it was besieged by seven 
 thousand EnfcUsh archers and three thousand cavalry, and only lost two of tlieir num- 
 ber, which had increased to forty-eight when they were subdued. Notwithstanding this 
 heroic achievement, tliey were all put to the sword. 
 
 " Upon entering the castle, they killed the governor, sir Robert Boynton, but liberated 
 his lady for two thousand marks. ^ 
 
 *' When the earl of Northumberland summoned these heroes to surrender, they boldly 
 replied : 
 
 " Tliat they would not yield it either to the king* of England or Scotland, but would 
 K'tain and defend it for the king of France." 
 tio authority is mentioned. 
 
 selves, and sent a spy to observe the state of the castle. The spy 
 entered it as far as the ditches, wherem there was not any water, nor 
 indeed could any be retained in them, for they were of moving 
 sands : he looked about him on all sides, but did not see a soul : upon 
 which, he returned back to his masters. Alexander Ramsay directly 
 advanced with his companions, without speaking a word, and passed 
 the ditches : they had brought good ladders with tkem, which they 
 placed against the walls. Alexander was the first who mounted them 
 sword in hand, and entered the castle followed by his men without 
 opposition. 
 
 When they hxid all entered, they hastened to the great tower where 
 sir Robert Boynton slept, and began td cut down the door of it with 
 the axes they had brought. The governor was suddenly awakened : 
 he had slept all the night, and kept but a poor watch, for which he 
 paid dear. He heard the door of his chamber broken, and thought 
 it might be done by some of his own men who wanted to murder 
 him, because he had quarreled with them the preceding week. 
 With this idea, he opened a window which looked on the ditches, 
 leaped out of it without further consideration, and thus broke his 
 neck and died on the spot. The guards of the c£-3tle, who toward 
 daybreak had been asleep, awakened by his groans, found the castle 
 had been scaled and taken : they began to sound their trumpets, and 
 to cry out, " Treason ! treason !" 
 
 John Bisset, the governor of Berwick, on hearing their cries, armed 
 himself, as well as all the able men of the town, and advanced to- 
 ward the castle, when they plainly heard the noise of the Scots ; but 
 they could not gain entrance, for the gates were shut, and the drav/- 
 bridge raised. Upon this, John Bisset, having considered a short 
 time, said to those with him : " Come quickly : let us break down 
 the supports of the bridge, so that none can sally out, nor get away 
 without danger from us." 
 
 They soon got hatchets and wedges, and the supports of the gate 
 next the town v/ere destroyed. John Bisset sent off a messenger- to 
 the lord Percy at Alnwick, which is but twelve leagues off, to re- 
 quest he would come immediately to his assistance with all \v.z forces, 
 for that Berwick castle had been taken by the Scot?. He also said 
 to Thomelin Friant,* who was the person he sent : " Tell my lord 
 of Percy the state you have left me in, and how the Scots are shut 
 up in the castle, and cannot get away, unless they leap the walls ; so 
 let him hasten here as fast as he possibly can." 
 
 Alexander Ramsay and his men having scaled the castle of Ber- 
 wick, thought they had done wonders, as in truth they had : they 
 would have been masters of the town if John Bisset had not acted 
 so prudently, and slain whomever they pleased, or shut them up in 
 the tower, for such was their intention : they said, " Let us now go 
 into the town ; it is ours ; and seize all the riches, which we will 
 make the good men of the town carry away for us, and then we will 
 set fire to it, for it cannot now make any resistance : in three or four 
 days' time, succors will come from Scotland, so that we shall save 
 all our pillage : and on our departure we will set the castle on fire, 
 and by these means repay our hosts." All his companions assented, 
 for they were eager for gain. They tightened on their arms, and 
 each grasped a spear, for they had found plenty in the castle, and, 
 opening the gate, let down the draw-bridge; When the bridge was 
 let down, the chains which supported it broke ; for the pillars on 
 which it should have rested were destroyed, and the planks carried 
 into the town. When John Bisset, and the inhabitants there assem- 
 bled, saw them, they began shouting out, " Oh what, are you there ? 
 keep where you are, for you shall not go away for a certainty with- 
 out our permission." 
 
 Alexander Ramsay, seeing their appearance, soon found they in- 
 tended to keep them confined in the castle, and that they must get 
 away as well as they could : he therefore shut the gates, to avoid 
 their arrows, and ordered his people to inclose themselves within, 
 intending to defend the castle. They flung all the dead into the 
 ditches, and shut up the prisoners in a tower. They thought the 
 place was full strong enough to hold out until succors should come 
 from Scotland, for the barons and knights were assembling in the 
 Merse and in that neighborhood : the earl cf Douglas had even left 
 Dalkeith, and arrived at Dunbar. We will now return to the squire 
 whom John Bisset sent to Alnwick, and speak of his arrival, and of 
 the information he gave to the earl of Northumberland. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE EARL OF NORTHUMBERLAND RETAKES THE CASTLE OF BERWICK. 
 
 Thomelin Friant made haste until he arrived at Alnwick, and 
 entered the castle from the knowledge he had of it ; for it was so 
 early that the earl of Northumberland was not out of bed. Havinp 
 arrived at his bedside to speak to him, for the business was very 
 pressing, he said : " My lord, the Scots have this morning taken Ber- 
 wick castle by surprise ; and the governor of the town sends me to 
 inform you of it, as you are the lieutenant of all these countries." 
 When the earl heard this news, he made every possible ha^te to order 
 succor to Berwick : he sent off letters and messengers to all knights 
 and squires of Northumberland, and to those from whom he expected 
 any assistance, desiring them to repair to Berwick without delay, and 
 
 *^Thoinelin Fnant," O. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, o&c 
 
 informing them that he was marching thither to besiege the Scots, 
 who had conquered the castle. 
 
 This smamons was soon spread over the country, and every man- 
 at-ai'ms, ituight, squire, and cross-bowman, left their houses. The 
 lord Neville, the lord Lucy, the lord Gastop,* the lord Stafford, the 
 lord de Blelles,! the governor of Newcastle, and a right valiant and 
 expert man-at-ai tjs, called sir Thomas Musgrave, were there ; but the 
 e<irl of Northuml erland first arrived at Berwick with his people ; and 
 
 AtNViTicE Castle. From an original (irawing. 
 
 we have fully reconnoitered them : we can tell you, they are waiting 
 for you, drawn up in two handsome battalions, on the plain before 
 the town : each battalion may consist of five thousand men : you 
 will therefore consider this well. We approached them so close that 
 they knew us for Scots scouts ; but they made not the smallest at- 
 tempt to break their line to pursue us." 
 
 When sir Archibald Douglas and the Scots knights heard this 
 account, they were quite melancholy, and yaid, "We cannot think 
 
 it will be any way profitable for 
 us to advance further to meet tht- 
 fjnglish ; for they are ten to one^ 
 and all tried men : we may lose 
 more than we can gain : and a 
 foolish enterprise is never good, 
 and such is what Alexander 
 Ramsay has performed." Sir 
 William Lindsay, a valiant knight 
 and uncle to Alexander Ramsay, 
 took great pains to persuade them 
 to succor his nephew, saying, 
 " Gentlemen, my nephew, in con- 
 fidence of your assistance, has 
 performed this gallant deed, and 
 taken Berwick castle. It will 
 turn to your great shame, if he 
 should be lost, and none of our 
 family in future will thus boldly 
 adventure themselves." Those 
 present answered, " That they 
 could not amend it, and that the 
 many gallant men who were 
 there could not be expected to 
 risk their own destruction in the 
 attempt to prevent a single 
 squire from being made pris- 
 oner." It was therefore dete:. 
 mined to retreat farther up in 
 their own country among the 
 mountains near the river Tweed, 
 whither they marched in good 
 order and at their leisure. 
 
 When the earls of Northum- 
 
 forces daily came thither from all parts. They were in the whole 
 about ten thousand men, who surrounded the castle so closely on all 
 sides that a bird could not have escaped from it without being seen. 
 The English began to form mines, the sooner to accomplish their 
 purpose against the Scots and regain the castle. 
 
 Intelligence was brought to the barons and knights of Scotland, 
 that the earl of Northumberland, with the chivalry of that country, 
 were besieging their countrymen in Berwick castle : they therefore 
 determined to march thither, raise the siege, and reinforce the castle, 
 for they considered what Alexander Ramsay had performed as a 
 most gallant achievement. Sir Archibald Douglas, the constable, 
 said, " Alexander is my cousin, and it is his high birth that has 
 caused him to undertake and execute so bold a feat as the taking of 
 Berwick castle ; it behoves us to do all in our power to assist him in 
 ♦his business, and if we can raise the siege it will be to us of great 
 ■/alue : I am of opinion, therefore, that we march thither." He im- 
 mediately ordered part of the army to remain behind, and the rest to 
 advance toward Berwick. He chose five hundred lances from the 
 flower of the Scots army, and set oflf well mounted and in good order, 
 taking the road to Berwick. 
 
 The English, who were before Berwick with ten thousand men, 
 including archers, soon heard how the Scots intended to raise the 
 siege and reinforce the garrison : they called a council, and resolved 
 to extend their ground, to wait for them and offer battle, as they 
 were anxious to meet them. The earl of Northumberland ordered 
 all to prepare themselves, and march into the plain to be mustered, 
 when they were found to amount to full three thousand men-at-arms 
 and seven thousand archers. When the earl saw his army so nu. 
 merous, he said, " Let us keep to this ground, for we are able to 
 combat all the force Scotland can send against us." They encamped 
 on an extensive heath, without the walls of Berwick, in two battal- 
 ions, and in good array. 
 
 This had been scarcely done an hour before they perceived some 
 of the scouts of the Scots army advancing, but too well mounted to 
 be attacked by the English : however, some English knights and 
 squires would have been glad to have quitted their lines to have 
 checked their career, but the earl said, " Let them alone, and allow 
 their main body to come up : if they have any inclination for the 
 combat, they will themselves advance nearer to us." The English 
 remained very quiet, so that the Scots scouts came so close they 
 were able to reconnoiter their two battalions and judge of how many 
 men they were composed. When they had sufficiently observed 
 them, they returned to their lords, and related what they had seen, 
 Baying, " My lords, we have advanced so near to the English that 
 
 berland and Nottingham, and the 
 other barons of England, found 
 the Scots were not advancing, they sent off scouts to inquire what 
 was become of them, who brought back intelligence that they had 
 retreated toward the Merse beyond the castle of Roxburgh.* On 
 hearing this, each man retired quietly to his quarters, where they 
 kept a strict guard until the morrow morning about six o'clock, when 
 they all made themselves ready for the attack of the castle. The 
 assault immediately began : it v/as very severe, and continued until 
 the afternoon. Never did so few men as the Scots defend them- 
 selves so well, nor wa-s ever castle so briskly attacked ; for there 
 were ladders raised against different parts of the walls, on which 
 men-at-arms ascended vv^ith targets over their heads, and fought hand 
 to hand with the Scots. In consequence, many were struck down 
 and hurled into the ditches. V/hat most annoyed the Scots were the 
 English archers, who shot so briskly that scarcely any one dared to 
 appear on the bulwarks. This assault was continued until the Eng- 
 lish entered the castle, when they began to slay all they could lay 
 hands on : none escaped death except Alexander Ramsay, who was 
 made prisoner by the earl of Northumberland. 
 
 In this manner was Berwick regained. The earl of Northumber- 
 land appointed John Biiset constable thereof, a very vaUant squire, 
 through whose means, as you have already heard, it had been re. 
 conquered. He had every part of it repaired, and the bridge which 
 he had broken down restored. 
 
 ••Gastop," a. 
 
 f'BleUes." Q. BeUusis. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE EARLS OF NORTHUMBERLAND AND NOTTINGHAM ENTER SCOTLAND 
 
 WITH A LARGE ARMY. 
 
 After the recapture of Berwick castle, the earls of Northumber. 
 land and Nottingham, the two most powerful barons of the army, 
 determined to make an excursion after their enemies, and if they 
 could find them to offer them battle. As they had resolved, so did 
 they execute : early on a morning they marched away taking the 
 road to Roxburgh up Tweedside. When they had marched about 
 three leagues, they called a council, and the two earls thought it 
 advisable to send a detachment to Melrose, a large monastery of 
 black monks, situated on the Tv/eed, which is the boundary of the 
 two kingdoms, to know if any Sc-cts were lying thereabouts in am. 
 buscade ; while they with the main body would march into the 
 Merse ; by which means they would not fail of hearing some news 
 of the Scots. That valiant knight sir Thomas Musgrave was ap. 
 poinfed commander of this detachment : it consisted of three hun- 
 dred men-at-arms and as many arcJiers. They left the army, which, 
 
 * There seems some mistake of eeogmph; here. 
 
234 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, «&c. 
 
 cm the separation, took a different route, one marching to the right 
 and the other to the left. Sir Thomas and his son rode on to Mel. 
 rose, where they arrived at an early hour, and took up their quarters, 
 to refresh themselves and their horses, as well as to make inquiries 
 after the Scottish army. 
 
 They ordered two of their squires, well mounted, to ride over the 
 country, t-o endeavor to find out the situation of the Scots, and in 
 what order they were. These two squires, on leaving their com- 
 manders, continued their route until they fell into an ambuscade of 
 the Scots, commanded by sir William Lindsay, who had posted him- 
 self in hopes of meeting with some adventure, and to hear news of 
 Berwick, and also wkat had .been the fate of his nephew, Alexander 
 Ramsay, and into whose hands he had fallen : this he was very anx- 
 ious t J earn : he had with him about forty lances. The English were 
 seized immediately on their entering this ambush, which gave the 
 knight very great pleasure. He demanded from them whence they 
 came : but they were afraid of speaking, lest they should betray their 
 masters: however,, they were forced to be explicit, for the knight as- 
 sured them that he would have them beheaded, if they did not truly 
 answer all the questions he should put to them. 
 
 When things became so serious, and thew saw no means of es- 
 caping, they related how the castle of Berwick had been regained, 
 and all found within put to death except Alexander Ramsay : they 
 afterwards told h ow the earls of Northumberland and Nottingham 
 were marching along Tweedside in search of the Scots, and how sir 
 Thomas Musgrave, his son, sir John Seton, and sir Richard Breton, 
 with three hundred spears and as many archers, were lodged in the 
 abbey of Melrose, and that these knights had sent them out to dis- 
 cover where the Scots were. " By my troth," replied sir William 
 Lindsay, " you have found us, and you will now remain with us." 
 They were then taken aside, and given up to some of their compan- 
 ions, with orders to guard them well under penalty of their lives. Sir 
 William Lindsay instantly sent off. one of his men-at-arms, saying, 
 " Ride to our main army, and tell them all you have heard, and the 
 situation of the English : I will remain here until morning, to see if 
 anything else may happen." 
 
 This man-at-arms rode on until he came to a large village beyond 
 Morlaine,* which is called Hondebray,t situated on the Tweed, 
 among the mountains, where there were large meads and a plentiful 
 country; for which reason the Scots had quartered themselves there. 
 Toward evening, the squire arrived ; and, as they knew he had 
 brought some intelligence, he was conducted to the earls of Douglas, 
 Murray, Sutherland, and to sir Archibald Douglas, to whom he re. 
 lated all you have just read. The Scots were much vexed on hear- 
 ing of the recapture of Berwick castle, but they were reconciled by 
 ihe news of sir Thomas Musgrave and the other English knights 
 being quartered at Melrose. They determined to march instantly, 
 to dislodge their enemies, and make up from them for the loss of Ber- 
 wick. They armed themselves, saddled their horses, and left Ha- 
 dingtoun, advancing to the right of Melrose, for they were well 
 acquainted with the country, and arrived a little before midnight. 
 But it then began to rain very heavily, and with such a violent wind 
 in tJieir faces that there were none so stout but was overpowered by 
 the storm, so that they could scarcely guide their horses : the pages 
 suffered so much from the cold, and their comfortless situation, that 
 they could not cany the spears, but let them fall to the ground : they 
 also separated from their companions, and lost their way. 
 
 The advanced guard had halted, by orders of the constable, at the 
 entrance of a large wood, through which it was necessary for them to 
 pass ; for some knights and squires who had been long used to arms 
 said, they were advancing foolishly, and that it was not proper to con- 
 tinue their course in such weather, and at so late an hour, as they ran 
 a risk of losing more than they could gain. They therefore concealed 
 themselves and their horses under oaks and other large trees until it 
 was day. It was a long time before they could make any fire from 
 their flints and wet wood : however, they did succeed, and several 
 large fires were made : for the cold and rain lasted until sunrise, but 
 it continued to drizzle until the hour of six. Between six and nine 
 o'clock, the day began to get somewhat warmer, the sun to shine, and 
 the larks to sing. The leaders then assembled to consider what was 
 best to be done, for they had failed in their intentions of arriving at 
 Melrose during the night. They resolved to breakfast in the open 
 fields on what they had, to refresh themselves and horses, and send 
 out parties to forage. This was executed, and the greater part of 
 their foragers spread themselves over the country and the adjacent 
 villages. They brought hay and corn for the horses, and provision 
 for their masters. 
 
 It happened th*-t the English quartered in the abbey of Melrose 
 had that morning sent out their foragers, so that the two parties met, 
 and the English had not the advantage : several of their party were 
 slain and wounded, and their forage seized. When sir Thomas 
 Musgrave and the English knights in Melrose heard of it, they knew 
 the Scots were not far distant : they ordered their trumpets to sound, 
 and their horses to be saddled, while they armed themselves, for they 
 were determined to take the field. They left the abbey in good 
 
 * ** Morlaine." Lambirlaw.— M'Pherson's Geographical Illustrations of Scottish 
 HistoT]!. 
 
 t *• Hondebny." " It seems Hadingtoun ; and, if wo, the river ought to be Tyne.'' 
 M'Pskrbom'b Oeoeraphical llltutrationa 
 
 order, and in handsome array. The Scots knights had received in. 
 formation from their foragers of their enemies being near : they there, 
 fore made all haste to refresh their horses, to arm and draw them- 
 selves up in order of battle, alongside and under cover of the wood. 
 They were full seven hundred lances, and two thousand others, 
 whom I call lusty varlets, armed with hunting spears, dirks, and 
 pointed staves. The lord Archibald Douglas and his cousin the ear' 
 of Douglas said, " We cannot fail to have some business since the 
 English are abroad : let us therefore be on our guard, for we will 
 fight with them if the parties be nearly equal." They sent two of 
 their men-at-arms to observe the order of the English, while they 
 remained snug in their ambush. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 SIR THOMAS MUSGRAVE AND THE ENGLISH UNDER HIS COMMAND ARE DE- 
 FEATED BY THE SCOTS. 
 
 Sir Thomas Musgrave and the knights of Northumberland, being 
 desirous of meeting the Sects on equal terms, set out from Mel. 
 rose, and took the road to Morlaine : they left the Tweed on their 
 left hand, and, bv an ascending road, made for a mountain called 
 St. Giles.* 
 
 Two Scota scouts were posted there, who, having well considered 
 the English, immediately set off to their own troops, and related their 
 observations on the English ; in what order they were marching, and 
 that they had only seen three banners and ten pennons. The Scots 
 were highly pleased with this intelligence, and said with a hearty 
 good will, " In the name of God and St. Giles, let us march toward 
 them, for they must be our prisoners." They then shouted their war- 
 cry, which I think was, " Douglas, St. Giles 1" They had not ad- 
 vanced half a league before both armies came in sight, and each knew 
 a combat v/as unavoidable. Upon this the earl of Douglas knighted 
 his son, and sir .Tames Douglas displayed his banner. He also 
 knighted the lord Robert and lord David, sons of the king of Scot, 
 land, who in like manner displayed their banners. There were made 
 on the spot about thirty knights in the Scottish army, and one from 
 Sweden, called sir George de Besmede, who bore on a shield argent 
 a mill-iron guiles with an indented bordure gules. 
 
 On the other hand, sir Thomas Musgrave made his son Thomas a 
 knight, with others of his household. The lord Stafford and lord 
 Gascoyn made some likewise. They drew out their archers, posting 
 them on their wings ; and, this day, the English cry was, " Oui 
 Lady of Arlestone !" The engagement then commenced with vigor, 
 and the archers by their shooting confounded the men-at-arms ; but 
 the Scots were in such numbers, the archers could not be every, 
 where. There were between the knights and squires many a tilt 
 and gallant deed performed, by which several were unhorsed. Sir 
 Archibald Douglas was a good knight, and much feared by his ene- 
 mies : when near to the English, he dismounted, and v/ielded before 
 him an immense sword, whose blade was two ells long, which 
 scarcely another could have lifted from the ground, but he found no 
 difficulty in handling it, and gave such terrible strokes, that all on 
 whom they fell were struck to the ground ; and there were none so 
 hardy among the English able to withstand his blows. 
 
 The battle was sharp and well fought as long as it lasted : but that 
 was not any length of time, for the Scots were three to one, and men 
 of tried valor. I do not say but the English defended themselves 
 valiantly : in the end, however, they were defeated, and sir Thomas 
 Musgrave, his son, with several other knights and squires, made 
 prisoners. The Scots took seven score good prisoners ; and the pur. 
 suit lasted as far as the river Tweed, where numbers were slain. 
 The Scots, after this victory, resolved to march straight to Edin. 
 burgh, as they learnt from their prisoners that the earls of Northum. 
 berland and Nottingham were in the neighborhood on the other side 
 of the Tweed, on their road to Roxburgh, and that they were in suffi- 
 cient numbers to engage with all the force the Scots could bring 
 against them : on which account, they thought they might as well 
 abandon their expedition, in order to save themselves and guard 
 their prisoners. They had wisely determined to retreat without 
 making any halt ; for, had they returned that evening to their former 
 quarters, they would have run a risk of being conquered, as I shall 
 now relate. 
 
 When the earls of Northumberland and Nottingham, and the other 
 barons of England, had separated from sir Thomas Musgravn, they 
 advanced direc tly toward Roxburgh. They learnt from their spies, 
 that the Scots, whom they were seeking to fight with, were quar. 
 tered at Hondebray, which pleased them much, and they resolv'ed to 
 have a skirmish with them : they were marching thither that same 
 night the enemy had left it : but it rained so hard that they could 
 not accomplish their purpose : they therefore took up their quarters 
 in the woods until the morrow, when they again sent out their scouts 
 to find where the Scots were, who returned, saying that they could 
 not see anything of them. They then determined to advance to. 
 ward Melrose, in order to gain intelligence of sir Thomas Musgrave 
 and his companions. When they had dined, they marched along 
 Tweedside, on their way thither, and sent scouts over the river to 
 learn some news of them. 
 
 * " St Giles." ^ this mountain. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 235 
 
 After the defeat on the plains of St. Giles, which 1 have just re- 
 lated, the scouts met several of their fellow.soldiers flying like men 
 discomfited, who told them as much as they knew of the battle. 
 Upon this, they returned, and with them the runaways, who related 
 tmly what had passed between the English and Scots : they well 
 knew they had been defeated, but were ignorant who had been 
 killed or who : mde prisoners. The lords of Northumberland, on 
 hearing this unl irtunate intelligence, were very melancholy, and 
 with reason. Tiiey had two causes for vexation ; for having lost the 
 battle, and for having missed finding the Scots, whom they had been 
 in search of. 
 
 A numerous council was arsembled in the field, whether or not 
 to pursue the Scots ; but as they did not know which way they had 
 marched, and night approaching, they resolved to make for Melrose, 
 and fix their quarters there. Before tbey could accomplish their march 
 to Melrose, they heard the truth of the event of the battle ; that sir 
 Thomas Musgrave, his son, with seven score men-at-arms, had been 
 made prisoners by the Scots, who were carrying them off, and had 
 taken the road to Edinburgh. These barons then found that they 
 must submit to their loss, for help it they could not. They passed 
 the night as well as they were able, and on the morrow they de- 
 camped, when the earl of Northumberland gave permission for every 
 one to return to his home : he himself retired into his own country. 
 Thus was this expedition put an end to. The Scots returned to 
 Edinburgh, but not all, for the earl of Douglas and his son took the 
 road to Dalkeith. This great success which they had obtained was 
 a great novelty for Scotland. The knights and squires treated their 
 prisoners handsomely, ransomed them courteously, and did with 
 tliem the best ihey could. We v^^ill now leave off speaking of the 
 Scots^ and relat e other events which happened in France. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 THE DEATHS OF THE QUEENS OF FRANCE AND OF NAVARRE, AND THE 
 RENEWAL OF THE FEUDS BETWEEN THEIR TWO HUSBANDS. 
 
 This year, in the month of February, the queen of France died, 
 and, as the physicians said, by her own fault. She was with child 
 of the lady Catherine, who was afterwards duchess of Berry.* The 
 queen, as I have before said, was not very far advanced in preg- 
 nancy ; but the doctors had forbidden her bathing, as being full of 
 danger: however, she would persist and continued using baths, 
 which brought on a mortal disorder. King Charles of France never 
 married again. Soon after the death of the queen of France, the 
 queen of Navarre died also. She was sister-german to the king of 
 France. Upon her death disputes arose among the lawyers of the 
 county of Evreux in Normandy : they said, that that county was, 
 by rightful succession from the mother, devolved to the children of 
 the king of Navarre, who were separated from him, under age, and 
 in the guardianship of king Charles their uncle. 
 
 King Charles of Navarre was so much suspected of having caused, 
 in former times, many ills to France, that he was not thought worthy 
 of possessing any inheritance in that kingdom under the name of his 
 children. The constable of France, therefore, returned from Aqui- 
 taine, where he had been a considerable time with the duke of An- 
 jou, and brought with him the lord of Mucident, that he might see 
 the king and become acquainted with him. The constable was re- 
 ceived by the king with great joy, as was the lord de Mucident on his 
 account. There were many secret councils and conversations between 
 the king and constable, which were not immediately made public, 
 respecting the situation of France and Navarre. We will shortly 
 return to this business ; but, in order to chronicle justly all the events 
 which at this period happened in the world, I will relate to you the be- 
 ginning of that grand schism which desolated the church, by which all 
 Christendom was shaken, and from which many evils were engen- 
 dered and spread abroad. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE DEATH OF POPE GRE&ORY XI. AFTER THE SUDDEN DEATH OF HIS 
 IMMEDIATE SUCCESSOR, THE CARDINALS ARE CONSTRAINED TO ELECT 
 URBAN VI. WHICH CAUSES A SCHISM IN THE CHURCH OF ROME. 
 
 You have before heard how pope Gregory XI. filled the papal 
 chair at Avignon. When he found there was not any likelihood of 
 his bringing about a peace between the kings of France and Eng. 
 land, he was much displeased, for he had labored hard at it, as well 
 as the cardinals by his orders. He resolved, as a matter of devotion, 
 to revisit Rome and the holy see, which St. Peter and St. Paul had 
 edified and augmented ; for he had made a vow to God, that if he 
 should ever be raised to so eminent an honor as the papacy, he 
 MTould never hold his seat but where St. Peter had placed it. This 
 pope was of a delicate constitution and sickly habit, so that he suf- 
 fered more than another ; and during his residence at Avignon he 
 was much engaged with the affairs of France, and so much pressed 
 by the king and his brothers, that he had not time to attend to his 
 own concerns : he therefore said, he would place himself at a dis- 
 tance, that he might enjoy more repose. He made preparations in 
 the most ample manner becoming such a great personage, on the 
 
 * See Chap. ccczxu.—£s. 
 
 riviera of Genoa and on all the roads. He told his brethri'U the car- 
 dinals to provide for themselves ; for, being resolved to go lo Rome, 
 he should certainly set out. On hearing this, the ctrtlinals were 
 much surprised and vexed; for they remembered the Romang^and 
 would willingly have turned him from taking this jouuiey, but they 
 could not succeed. 
 
 When the king of France was informed of it, he was in a violent 
 passion ; for when at Avignon he had him more under his power 
 than anywhere else. He wrote, therefore, directly to his brother 
 the duke of Anjou, at Toulouse, signifying, that on the receipt of the 
 letter, he should set out for Avignon, and endeavor, by talking to the 
 pope, to make him give up his intended journey. The duke of Anjou 
 did what the king had ordered, and went t.) Avignon, where he was 
 received with great respect by the cardinals. He took up his lodgings 
 in the palace of the pope, that he might have more frequent oppor- 
 tunities of conversing with him. You may easily imagine that he 
 acquitted himself ably in the different conversations he had with the 
 pope, to dissuade him from his intentions of going to Rome ; but he 
 would not listen to him on this subject, nor give up anything that 
 related to the affairs beyond the Alps: he oidered, however, four 
 cardinals to remain at Avignon ; to whom he gave full powers for 
 them to act in all respects, excepting some pnpal cases, which he had 
 not the power to delegate out of his own hands. When the duke 
 found that neither reason nor entreaties could prevail with his holi- 
 ness to remain where he was, he took leave of him, and said at his 
 departure, " Holy father, you are going into a country, and among 
 people by whom you are but litde loved. You leave the fountain of 
 faith, and a kingdom wherein the church has more piety and excel- 
 lence than in all the rest of the world. By this action of yours, the 
 church may fall into great tribulation ; for should you- die in that 
 country (which is but too probable, as your physicians declare,) these 
 Romans, who are a strange people and traitors, will be lords and 
 masters of all the cardinals, vi^hom they will force to elect a pope 
 according to their wishes." 
 
 Notwithstanding these speeches and reasons, he vv^ould not put oflf 
 his journey, but set out and arrived at Marseilles, where the galleys 
 of Genoa had been ordered to wait for him. The duke of Anjou 
 returned to Toulouse.* Pope Gregory embarked at Marseilles with 
 a numerous attendance, and a favorable wind landed him at Genoa. 
 After having revictualled his galleys, he again embarked, and, mak- 
 ing sail for Rome, disembarked not far from it. You must know^ 
 that the Romans were exceedingly rejoiced at his arrival: the consuls 
 and all the principal nobility of Rome went out to meet him on horse- 
 back with great pomp, and conducted him with triumph into that 
 city. He took up his residence in the Vatican, and often visited a 
 church within Rome which he was much attached to, and to which 
 he had made many considerable additions : it was called Santa Maria 
 Maggiore. He died soon after his arrival, in this same church, in 
 which he was buried, and there lies. His obsequies were performed 
 in a magnificent manner, as was becoming so eminent a personage. 
 
 The cardinals, shortly after the death of pope Gregory, assembled 
 in conclave at the Vatican. As soon as they had met to elect a 
 pope, according to the usual modes, who might be worthy and of 
 service to the church, the Romans collected in great numbers, in the 
 suburbs of St. Peter : they were, including all sorts, upward of thirty 
 thousand, encouraging each other to do mischief, if things did not 
 go according to their wishes. They came frequently before the 
 conclave and said, " Listen to us, my lords cardinals : allov/ us to 
 elect a pope : yon are too long about it. Choose a Roman, for we 
 will not have one of any other country : if you shall elect another, 
 neither the Roman people nor the consuls will consider him as pope, 
 and you will run a risk of being all put to death !" The cardinals 
 heard these words, and being in the power of the Romans, were not 
 at their ease, nor assured of their lives : they therefore appeased their 
 anger as well as they could. The wickedness of the Romans arose 
 to such a height that those who were nearest the conclave broke in, 
 to frighten the cardinals, in order thfit they might the sooner decide 
 in favor of him whom they vv-ished. The cardinals were much 
 alarmed, fearing they would all be put to death, and fled, some ono 
 way, some another. The Romans, however, would not suffer them 
 to depart, but collected them again together whether they would or 
 not. The cardina's, finding themselves in their power and in great 
 danger, made quickly an end of the business, to appease the people : 
 and, though it was not done through devotion, yet they made a^good 
 election of a very devout man, a Roman, whom Pope Urban V. had 
 raised to the purple : he was called the Cardinal of St. Peter. 
 
 This election pleased the Romans exceedingly, and the good man 
 had all the rights attached to the papacy ; but he only lived three 
 days, and I will tell you the reason. The Romans, being desirous of 
 having a pope f;-om their own nation, were so much rejoiced at the 
 election falling as it had done on the cardinal of St. Peter, that they 
 took the good man, who was at least one hundred years cf age, and 
 placing him on a white mule, earned him in triumph for such a 
 length of time, through Rome, out of wickedness and exultation of 
 their victory over the cardinals by having gained a Roman pope, 
 that the fatigue was too much for him. On the third day, he took 
 to his bed, and died, and was buried in the church of St. Peter. 
 
 * Denys Sauvage says in a note, that it was after this return to Toulouse, ha under 
 took the expedition mentioned in tbs 1st chapter of this volume. 
 
 0 
 
236 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE. SPAIN, &c. 
 
 The cardinals were much vexed at the death of the pope ; for as i 
 they saw things were taking wrong turn, they had determined, du- 
 ring ^lie I'iie of this pjpe, t j have dissembled with the Romans, for 
 two or tliree years, and tj fix the seat of the church elsewhere than 
 at Rome, at Naples or Genoa, out of the power of the Romans. This 
 would have been carried into execution, but the pontiff's death de- 
 ranged everything. The cardinals assembled in conclave, in greater 
 danger than before ; for the populace collected in large bodies before 
 St. Peter's, showing plainly that they would not scruple to destroy 
 them unless they elected a pope according to their pleasure. They 
 kept crying out before the conclave, "Consider, my lords cardinals; 
 consider well what you are about, and give us a Roman pope, who 
 will reside among us ; otherwise we will make your heads much 
 redder than your hats." Such speeches and menaces frightened the 
 cardinals, for they wished rather to die confessors than martyrs ; to 
 free themselves from all danger, they began to deliberate on the 
 choice of a pope, but it fell not on one of their brother cardinals. 
 They elected the archbishop of Bari, a very learned man, who had 
 labored much for the church. With this promotion to the papacy 
 the Romans were satisfied. The cardinal of Geneva put his head 
 out of one of the windows of the conclave, and, calling out aloud to 
 the Roman populace, said, " Be appeased, for you have a Roman 
 pontiff, Bartholomew Prigaano, archbishop of Bari." The people 
 unanimously answered, " We are satisfied."* 
 
 The archbishop was not at his moment at Rome, but, as I believe, 
 at Naples. He was immediately sent for, and, being much pleased 
 at the event, came directly to Rome to show himself to the cardinals. 
 On his arrival, great feasts were made : jie was elevated, and had 
 all the powers of the papacy. He took the name of Urban VI. 
 This name was very gratifying to the Romans, on account of Urban 
 V. who had much loved them. His elevation was published in all 
 the churches in Christendom, and made known to the different poten- 
 tates, emperors, kings, dukes, and earls. The cardinals wrote also 
 to their friends, to inform them that they had chosen a pope by a good 
 and fair election, of which several repented afterwards. This pope 
 renewed all the graces and pardons which his predecessor had given, 
 so that divers left their own countries and repaired to Rome to receive 
 them. We will now for a while leave this matter, and return to the 
 principal object of our history, the affairs of France. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THE KING OF NAVARRE SENDS EMBASSADORS TO FRANCE, IW HOPES OF 
 REGAINING POSSESSION OF HIS CHILDREN. TWO OF HIS PEOPLE ARE 
 CONVICTED OF HAVING ATTEMPTED TO POISON THE KING OF FRANCE. 
 
 You have before heard, that after the death of the queen of Na- 
 varre, sister to the king of France, there were many persons who, 
 from love to one and hatred to the other, had declared that the in- 
 heritance of the children of the king of Navarre, which had fallen 
 to them on their mother's decease, was legally their due ; and that 
 the king of France, their uncle by the mother's side, had a right to 
 the guardianship of them, and the management, in their name, of all 
 the lands which the king of Navarre held in Normandy, until his 
 nephews should be of age.* The king of Navarre was suspicious 
 of something being proposed like to the above, for he was well ac- 
 quainted with the laws and customs of France. He therefore deter- 
 mined to send the bishop of Pampeluna and sir Martin de la Carra 
 into France, to entreat the king in the most amicable manner that, 
 out of love to him, he would send him his two sons, Charles and 
 Peter ; and that, if it were not agreeable to the king to allow of 
 both coming to him, he at least would let him have Charles, for a 
 treaty of marriage was in contemplation between him and the daugh- 
 ter of king Henry of Castille. He resolved, notwithstanding this 
 embassy to France, to order his castles in Normandy to be secretly 
 inspected and reinforced, that the French might not seize them ; for, 
 if they were not strengthened in every respect, they might do so ; 
 and, should they once get possession, he could not regain them when 
 he pleased. 
 
 He made choice, for this business, of two valiant men-at-arms of 
 Navarre, in whom he had great confidence, whose names were Peter 
 de Basilic and Ferrando. The bishop of Pampeluna and sir Martin 
 dc la Carra arrived in France, and had long conferences with the 
 king, to whom, with much reverence, they recommended the king 
 of Navarre, and entreated of him that he would suffer his two sons 
 to depart. The king replied, that he would consider of it. They 
 afterwards received an answer in the king's name, his majesty being 
 present, that " the king wished to have his nephews, the children of 
 Navarre, near him : that they could not be anywhere better placed: 
 and that the king of Navarre ought to prefer their being with their 
 uncle, the king of France, to any other person : that he would not 
 allow either of them to leave him, but would keep them near his 
 person, and form them a magnificent establishment, suitable to their 
 rank as sons of a king, and his own nephews." This was all they 
 could obtain. 
 
 * Uenys SauviiKe siiys, in a marKinnl note, that he does not understand this ; for the 
 kings of Nnvf\rre, from father to son, were tlie lesal inheritors of the couatjr of Evreux ; 
 poi buw tlie children Muld claim any rielit fxom their rootJier. 
 
 During the time these embassadors were in France, Peter de Ba. 
 sille and Ferrando arrived at Cherbourg with many stores. Theae 
 two visited, by orders of the king of Navarre, the whole county of 
 Evreux, renewed the officers, and placed others in the different forts 
 according to their pleasure. The bishop of Pampeluna and sir Mai 
 tin de la Carra returned to Navarre, and related to the king, whom 
 they met at Tudelle,* all that had passed in France. The king was 
 not well pleased that he could not have his children, and conceived 
 a violent hatred against the king of France, which he would have 
 shown if he had had the power ; but he vv^as incapable of hurting 
 that kingdom, and besides he had not formed any alliances. Pic 
 thought it, therefore, better to dissemble, until he should have greater 
 cause of complaint, and more real evils be done unto him. The king 
 of France and his council received information that the king of Na- 
 varre was reinforcing all the castles and towns in Normandy, which 
 he called his own ; and they knew not what to think of his conduct. 
 
 At this time there was a secret armament formed in England, of 
 two thousand men-at-arms, who were embarked, but without any 
 horses, of which the duke of Lancaster and earl of Cambridge were 
 the commanders. The Normans, hearing ol' it, had informed the 
 king of France that this expedition was certainly intended for the 
 coasts of Normandy, but they could not say whither it had sailed. 
 Others supposed it to have been undertaken by the advice of the 
 king of Navarre, who meant to deliver up to the English his strong 
 places in Normandy. The king of France was also told, that he 
 must hasten his preparations, if he wished to be master of these cas. 
 ties, and that it had been too long delayed : for, if the English should 
 once gain them, they would be enabled to harass France very much, 
 and they could not obtain a more convenieiit entrance into the king, 
 dom than by being possessors of the towns and castles of the king of 
 Navarre. Two secretaries of the king of Navarre were arrested in 
 France, a lawyer and a squire : the name of the first was Peter du 
 Tertre, and the other James de Rue : they were conducted to Paris 
 for examination, and were found so intimately connected with the 
 king of Navarre's intentions of poisoning the king of France, that 
 they were condemned to death, and were executed and quartered at 
 Paris accordingly.? 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 THE KING OF FRANCE ORDERS THE POSSESSIONS OF THE KING OF NAVARRE 
 TO BE SEIZED AS WELL IN NORMANDY AS IN LANGUEDOC. THE KING OF 
 NAVARRE FORMS AN ALLIANCE WITH THE ENGLISH. THE TERMS OF 
 THAT ALLIANCE. 
 
 These machinations and wicked attempts of the king of Navarre 
 were so numerous, that the king of France swore he would not un. 
 dertake anything before he had driven him out of Normandy, and 
 had gained possession, for his nephews, of every town and castle 
 which the king of Navarre held there. Every day brought fresh in- 
 formation and worse news, respecting the king of Navarre, to the 
 palace of king Charles. It was currently reported that the duke of 
 Lancaster was to give his daughter Catherine to the king of Navarre, 
 who, in return, was to deliver up to him the whole county ol Evreux. 
 These reports were readily believed in France, for the king of Na- 
 varre had but few friends there. The king of France, at this period, 
 went to reside at Rouen, where he had summoned a large body of 
 men-at-arms, and had given the command of it to the lords de Coucy 
 and de la Riviere, who advanced to Bayeux, a city in Normandy at. 
 tached to Navarre. These barons had with them the lord Charles 
 and lord Peter, the two sons of the king of Navarre, to show to the 
 whole country and to the county of Evreux, that the war they were 
 carrying on was in behalf of these children, and for the inheritance 
 which belonged to them in right of their mother, and which the king 
 of Navarre wrongfully withheld. However, the greater part of the 
 men.at-arms were so much attached to the king of Navarre, that 
 they would not quit his service ; the Navarrois who were collected 
 in Bayeux, as well as those whom he had sent thither, maintained 
 the war for him handsomely. 
 
 The king of Fi ance ordered commissioners to Montpellier, to seize 
 all the lands tin.' lordships which were in the possession of the king 
 of Navarre. 'Then these commissioners, sir Wil'iam des Dormans 
 and sir John i.^ Mercier, were arrived at Montpellier, they sent for 
 the principal inhabitants, to whom they showed their instructions. 
 Those of Montpellier obeyed. Indeed it v/as necessary for them to 
 do so ; for had they acted otherwise they would have suffered for it, 
 as the duke of Anjou and the constable of France had entered their 
 territories with a considerable force, who wished for nothing better 
 than to carry the war thither. Two knights of Normandy, gover- 
 nors of Montpellier for the king of Navarre, were made prisoners by 
 orders of the king of France, as were also sir Guy de Graville and 
 sir Liger d'Argesi, who remained a long time in confinement. Thus 
 was the town of Montpellier and all the barony seized by the French. 
 
 We will now return to the army of Normandy, and relate how the 
 lords de Coucy and de la Riviere went on. They advanced to 
 Bayeux, and laid siege to it. The garrison towns of Navarre had 
 closed their gates against the French, and showed no intentions of 
 speedily surrendering them. When the king of Navarre heard that 
 the French had seized the town and territory of Montpellier, and that 
 
 » " Tudella"— a village in Armagnac. diocese of Auch. t See Chap, eccxsz.— £p 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 23T 
 
 a large army was in the county of Evreux, wnere they were pilla- 
 ging and destroying his towns and castles, he held many conferen. 
 ces on these subjects with those in whom he placed the greatest trust. 
 It was determined in these councils, that as he could not receive any 
 assistance but from England, he should send thither a person in 
 whom he confided, with credential letters, to know if the young 
 king Richard and his council were willing to form an alliance with 
 him, and to assure them, that from henceforward he would swear to 
 be true and loyal to the English, and would place in their hands all 
 the castles which he possessed in Normandy. To execute this em- 
 bassy to England, he called to him a lawyer in whom he greatly 
 trusted, and said to him : " Master Paschal, you will set out for 
 England, and manage so as to return to me with good news, for 
 from this dav forward I will be steady in my alliance with the Eng. 
 lish." 
 
 Master Paschal prepared to do what he had been ordered ; and, 
 having made himself ready, he»embarked, made sail, and landed in 
 Cornwall, and from thence journeyed on until he arrived at Sheen, 
 near London, where the king resided. He approached his person, 
 and recommended to his majesty his lord the king of Navarre. The 
 king entertained him handsomely. There were present the earl of 
 Salisbury and sir Simon Burly, who entered into the conversation 
 and .answered for the king, saying his majesty would shortly come 
 so London, and summon his council on a day fixed on between them. 
 
 Master Paschal, at this council, informed the king of all that he 
 had been charged to say : he harangued so ably and eloquently, that 
 he was listened to with pleasure. The council for the king replied, 
 that the offers which the king of Navarre had made were worth at- 
 tending to ; but that in order to form so extensive an alliance as the 
 king of Navarre was desirous of making, it would be necessary for 
 him to come over himself, that he might more fully explain every- 
 thing, for the alfair seemed well deserving of it. On this, the coun- 
 oil broke up, and master Paschal returned to Navarre, when he re- 
 lated to the king, that the young king of England and his council 
 were desirous of seeing him. The^king replied, he would go thither, 
 and ordered a vessel, called a lin,* to be prepared, which sails with 
 all winds, and without danger. He embarked on board this vessel, 
 with a small attendance : he, however, took with him sir Martin de 
 la Carra and master Paschal. The king of France, some little time 
 before he set out for Rouen, had conceived a great hatred against the 
 king of Navarre : he was informed secretly, by some of his house- 
 hold, of all his negotiations with England : in consequence, he had 
 manr.ged so well with king Henry of Castille, that he had sent the 
 king of Navarre his defiance, and had commenced a severe war 
 against him. The king of Navarre had therefore, before his embark- 
 ation, left the viscount de Castillon, the lord de Lestrac, sir Peter 
 de Vienne, and Bascle, with a large body of men-at-arms, as well 
 from his own country as from the county of Foix, with orders to de- 
 fend his kingdom and his forts against the Spaniards. He embarked 
 with a very favorable wind, which landed him in Cornwall, from 
 whence he journeyed until he came to Windsor, where king Richard 
 and his council were. He was received there with great joy ; for 
 they thought they might gain much from him in Normandy, more 
 especially the castle of Cherbourg, which the English were very de- 
 fiirous of possessing. 
 
 The king of Navarre explained to the king of England and his 
 council, in a clear manner, with eloquent language, his wants, and 
 his reasons for coming, so that he was willingly attended to, and re- 
 ceived such promises of succor that he was well satisfied. I will 
 inform you what treaties were entered into between the two kings. 
 
 The king of Navarre engaged to remain for ever true and loyal to 
 the English, and never to make any peace with the kings of France 
 or Castille without the consent of the king of England. He engaged 
 to put the castle of Cherbourg into the hands of the king of England, 
 who was to guard it for three years at his own costs and charges, 
 but the lordship and sovereignty of it were to remain in the king of 
 Navarre. If the English should be able, by force of arms, to gain 
 any of the towns or castles which the king of Navarre had then in 
 Normandy, from the French, they were to remain with the English : 
 the lordship, however, resting in the king of Navarre.t The English 
 were much pleased with these terms, because they gained a good 
 entrance to France through Normandy, which was very convenient 
 for them. 
 
 The king of England promised to send, at this season, a thousand 
 spears and two thousand archers, by the river Gironde, from Bor- 
 deaux to Bayonne ; and these men-at-arms were to enter Navarre, 
 and make war on the king of Castille. They were not to quit the ; 
 king nor the kingdom of Navarre so long as there should be war 
 between the kings of Navarre and Castille. But these men-at-arms 
 and archers, on entering the territories of Navarre, were to be paid 
 and clothed by the king of Navarre as was beooming them, and on 
 the same footing as the king of England was accustomed to pay his 
 soldiers. 
 
 * "Lin "—a Felucca, orsmall frigate.— Du Canqe. 
 
 t See Rymer— for the passport to the kiaif of Navarre, and the treaty at length, ah. 
 teg. Ric. II. 
 
 The passport for Charles of Navarre is dated a year Inter than Froissan mentions. It 
 is in Rymer dated the 12th August, from the manor of Clarendon, 1370. to eOQtiau^to 
 tiM MAit of S3t. Joha Baptist fuUowiag, foi fiv« hundred penoni. 
 
 Different treaties, alliances, and regulations were drawn up, signed, 
 sealed, and sworn to, between the kings of England and Navarre, 
 which w^ere tolerably well observed. In this council, the king 
 named such members as were ordered to Normandy, and those who 
 were to go to Navarre : because neither the duke of Lancaster, the 
 earl of Cambridge, nor the duke of Brittany, were present at these 
 treaties, it was resolved to send copies sealed to them, in order that 
 they might hasten to invade Normandy. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 THE LORDS DE COUCY AND DE LA RIVIERE TAKE SEVERAL PLACES IN THE 
 COUNTY OF EVREUX FROM THE KING OF NAVARRE. 
 
 King Charles of France, being wise and subtle (as his whole life 
 plainly showed,) had received information of the armament in Eng. 
 land, but was ignorant whither it was to sail, to Normandy or Brit- 
 tany. On account of these doubts, he had kept in the latter country 
 a large body of men-at-arms, under the command of the lords de 
 Clisson, de Laval, the viscount de Rohan, the lords de Beaumanoir 
 and de Rochefort. They had besieged Brest by block-houses only, 
 to prevent any provision from entering. The governor of Brest was 
 a valiant English squire called James Clerk. 
 
 Now, because the king of France knew of the king of Navarre's 
 voyage to England, in the hopes of forming an alliance with his ad- 
 versary the king of England, he suspected that this naval armament 
 would land in Normandy, and seize by force those castles which 
 belonged to the king of Navarre : he therefore in haste sent orders 
 to the lords de Coucy and de la Riviere, stating to them his suspi- 
 cions, with orders to conquer, by the speediest modes possible, all 
 castles, more particularly such as were near to the sea-coasts, by 
 force or by negotiation. He knew that Cherbourg was not easy to 
 be taken, and also that it could not be reinforced on the land side. 
 
 The king of France had likewise ordered large bodies of men-at- 
 arms to Valognes* from the lower parts of Brittany. Sir Oliver du 
 Guesclin commanded the Bretons ; and the lord d'lvoy and sir Per- 
 ceval were the leaders of the Normans. The lords de Coucy and de 
 la Riviere had besieged the city of Bayeux with a great force, which 
 was daily increasing, from the additions the king of France was 
 sending to them from all quarters. Bayeux is a handsome and strong 
 city near the sea, which at that time belonged to the king of Na- 
 varre. The citizens (finding themselves thus besieged by their 
 neighbors, who told them, that if the the town were taken by storm, 
 they would all inevitably be destroyed, both men and women, and 
 the town repeopled with another set of inhabitants,) began to be 
 seriously alarmed. They saw no appearance of assistance coming 
 to them, but, on the contrary, found themselves in oppositir>n to the 
 lord Charles de Navarre, to whom the country of Evreux belonged, 
 in right of succession to his late mother. The inhabitants also list- 
 ened to the harangues of the lords de Coucy and de la Riviere, who, 
 with impressive language, showed them the dangers into which 
 they were running : knowing likewise that their bishop was well 
 inclined toward the French, they thought, considering all things, it 
 would be much better for them to surrender their city from affection, 
 as they were required to do by the above-mentioned lords, than to 
 remain in such peril. The inhabitants of Bayeux demanded a trUce 
 for three days; during which time, a treaty was so far concluded 
 that the lords de Coucy and de la Riviere entered the city, and took 
 possession of it for the king of France, as his acknowledged commis- 
 saries. The attorney.general was sent thither on the part of the 
 children of Navarre, who were present during all the negotiations. 
 
 The two lords renewed all the officers of the city, and, for fear of 
 a rebellion, left a body of good men-at-arms : they then marched of! 
 to lay siege to Carentan, a handsome and strong town situated on 
 the sea-shore, and in the district of Caen. The inhabitants o Ca- 
 rentan were without any governor of note : indeed, they had not 
 had one since sir Eustace d'Ambreticourt, who had been their gov- 
 ernor for four years, and had died there ; so that they had not any 
 to look to for advice but themselves : they knew also that the admi- 
 ral of France, sir John de Vienne, in conjunction with the Spanish 
 admiral, and a large force, were before Cherbourg, but were ignorant 
 of the treaties of the king of Navarre, as well as unacquainted with 
 the^-esult of his journey to England. They were attacked every 
 day in two different manners ; by words "nd by arms ; for the lords 
 de Coucy and de la Riviere were very anxious to gain this town, and 
 succeeded in winning it by capitulation ; they put it under the obedi- 
 ence of the king of France, reserving the rights of the two sons of 
 the king of Navarre. 
 
 These lords of France readily granted very favorable terms, in 
 order to get possession of such towns and castles as they wanted by 
 the most expeditious means. They took possession of Clarentan, re- 
 inforcing it with men-at-arms : they then departed, and came before 
 the castle of Molineaux,t which in three days capitulated. They 
 advanced to Conches,! and encamped on the banks of the beauti- 
 ful river Orne, which runs by Caen, and there refreshed themselves, 
 until they knew the inclinations of the inhabitants, who shortly sur. 
 
 * "Valognej"— a town in Normandy : it lies between Cherbourg and Cftrantao. 
 t ••Moiineaux"— a village in Normandy, elecUon of Caen. 
 I "CoaclMa"— a maiket town ia SioiaxMdf, neai.£vreux* 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 rendered on terms ; for the lords de Coucy and de la Riviere having 
 the lieir of Navarre with them, gave a good color to their proceed- 
 ings. 
 
 However, when any town or castle surrendered itself to the king 
 of France, or to his commissaries, there was a condition in the treaty, 
 that all those who chose to depart might go wheiever they pleased : 
 those who did depart only went to Evreux, of which Ferrando, a 
 Navarrois, was governor. After the conquest of Conches, which 
 was gained, as you have heard, by treaty, they advanced before 
 Passy,* where there was an assault : many were killed and wounded 
 on both sides. That same day, the castle surrendered to the king of 
 France : they then marched away. In short, all that the king of 
 Navarre possessed in Normandy surrendered, excepting Evreux and 
 Cherbourg. When they had won different small forts, and placed 
 the whole country under the obedience of the king of France, they 
 laid siege to Evreux, which was cut Off from any communication 
 with Cherbourg. 
 
 In Evreux there was, according to custom, the strongest garrison 
 of Navarrois in Normandy ; and the inhabitants never perfectly 
 loved any ether lord but the king of Navarre. The place was closely 
 besieged. It held out for a long time : for Ferrando, the governor, 
 performed in person several gallant deeds of arms. About this time 
 the king of Navarre, being returned to his own country, expected to 
 have had some assistance from the English ; but it does not appear 
 that he had any succors from them, for the duke of Lancaster and 
 the earl of Cambridge, before these treaties had been entered on, 
 had experienced very contrary v/inds for their voyage to Normandy, 
 and so numerous a levy as had been ordered of four thousand men- 
 at-arms and eight thousand archers, could not immediately be assem- 
 bled at Southampton, where they were to embark. It was St. John 
 Baptist's day before they were all collected and had sailed from Eng- 
 land. The earl of Salisbury and sir John Arundel were still at Ply- 
 mouth, who ought to have reinforced Brest and Hennebon ;t but 
 they had wanted wind, so that they joined the duke of Lancaster and 
 earl of Cambridge's army. They landed on the Isle of Wight, where 
 they remained some time waiting for intelligence, and to know 
 whether they should sail for Normandy or Brittany : they there learnt 
 that the French fleet was at sea, on which sir John Arundel was 
 ordered back to Southampton, with two hundred men-at-arms and 
 four hundred archers, to defend that place. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 XHE DUKE OF ANJOU RETAINS LARGE BODIES OF MEN-AT-ARMS AGAINST 
 THE ENGLISH. THE SPANIARDS LAY SIEGE TO BAYONNE. 
 
 On account of the information the king of France had received 
 from the Normans, that the English were in great force at sea, but 
 doubtful whither it was directed, he had issued a special summons 
 throughout his realm for every knight and squire, according to his 
 degree, to keep himself fully prepared to march to whatever part he 
 should be ordered. The duke of Anjou had also, at this period, 
 retained large bodies of men-at-arms from all quarters, with the in- 
 tention of laying siege to Bordeaux. He had with him his brother 
 the duke of Berry, the constable of France, and all the flower of 
 knighthood from Gascony, Auvergne, Poitou and Limousin. In 
 order to carry their enterprise, he had raised an immense army, and 
 had also, with the consent of the king of France, collected two hun- 
 dred thousand francs in Languedoc ; but he could not at present 
 undertake this siege, for the king of France had recalled the duke 
 of Berry, the constable and other barons, on whose assistance he had 
 depended, as it was well known the English were at sea, but uncer- 
 tain in what part of the kingdom they would attempt to land. Not- 
 withstanding this expedition from Languedoc had failed, the poor 
 people who had been so hard pressed to pay such large sums were 
 never repaid any part. 
 
 The king of Castille, about this time, laid siege to Bayonne with 
 full twenty thousand Spaniards and Castillians : he began the siege 
 in the winter, and continued it through that whole season. Many 
 gallant deeds were performed there by sea and land, for Roderigo le 
 Roux, don Fernando de Castille, Ambrose de Boccanegra and Peter 
 Bascle, lay at anchor before Bayonne with two hundred vessels, and 
 gave sufficiency of employment to its inhabitants. The govern^ of 
 the town at the time was a right valiant knight from England, called 
 fiir Matthew Gournay. His good sense and prowess were, as I have 
 been informed, of great assistance to the townsmen. I have heard 
 from some of those who were besieged, that the Spaniards would 
 have succeeded in their attempt on Bayonne, had not a great mor- 
 tality afflicted their army, so that out of five that were taken ill three 
 died. 
 
 King Henry had with him a necromancer from Toledo, who de- 
 clarcd that the whole air was poisoned and corrupted, and that no 
 remedy could be had for it without risking the death of all. In con- 
 sequence of this decision, the king broke up the siege ; but the 
 Spaniards and Bretons had conquered a number of small forts and 
 castles in the adjacent country, into which they entered ; and the 
 
 • ** Pa»sy "— n town in Norm:iniiy, four leagues from Evreux. 
 t "Henebgn." D«ny» Suuvag* Uuulu it should beAubray, or D«rval. instead of 
 Baofivboa 
 
 king went to refresh himself at la Coulongnc.* He sent his con. 
 stable, with ten thousand men, to lay siege to Pampeluna. 
 
 In that city were the viscount de Castillon, the lord de Lescut and 
 le Bascle, with two hundred lances in the whole, v/ho carefully 
 guarded the place. The king of Navarre, who had but lately 
 returned from England, resided at Tudelle, impatiently expecting 
 the succors which were to come to him from England, and which 
 indeed had been ordered ; for, by dii ections from the king and coun. 
 cil, the lord de Neville and sir The mas de Termes,t were at Ply- 
 mouth, or in that neighborhood, wii i about one thousand men-at- 
 arms and two thousand archers, and were laying in their stores for 
 the voyage to Bordeaux ; but they had not met with a passage ac 
 cording to their wishes. 
 
 With regard to the great army under the command of the duke of 
 Lancaster, at last it landed near to St. Malo : news of which was soon 
 carried to the Breton lords of the French party, and immediately the 
 viscount de Belliere, sir Henry de Malatrait and the lord de Combor, 
 left their habitations and flung themselves into St. Malo with two 
 hundred men-at-arms, to the great joy of Morfonance the governor 
 who otherwise would have been hardly pushed. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 THE ENGLISH, AT THIS PERIOD, MAKE EXCURSIONS INTO VARIOUS PARTS 
 OF THE KINGDOM OF FRANCE. THE MELANCHOLY DEATH OF EVAN 
 OF WALES. 
 
 Sir John Arundel, who had remained at Southampton with hia 
 two hundred men-at-arms and four hundred archers, received infor- 
 mation from some prisoners who had been taken in a Norman vessel, 
 that the duke of Lancaster had well scoured the ports of Normandy, 
 so that none of the French dared to put to sea. He directly ordered 
 his vessels and four large ships to be got ready, laden with provi- 
 sions, in which he embarked, and made sail for Cherbourg, where 
 he was joyfully received. The castle remained under the guard of 
 the English, on the departure of the Navarrois ;' but sir Peter de 
 Basle the governor, did not leave it. I must inform you, that Cher- 
 bourg is only to be conquered by famine ; for it is one of the strongest 
 castles in the world : the garrison made many pi:ofitable excursions 
 on those of Valognes. Sir John Arundbl, after he had garrisoned 
 Cherbourg with English, remained there but fifteen days to re- 
 victual it, and returned to Southampton, of which he was governor. 
 
 We will now speak of the siege of St. Malo. When the English 
 entered the harbor, they found therein a number of vessels from La 
 Rochelle, laden with good wines ; the merchants were soon eased ' 
 of them, and their vessels burnt. The siege of St. Malo was directly 
 commenced, for they were in sufficient numbers to undertake it : 
 they overran the country, and did much damage. Those who were 
 most active in this business were sir Robert Knolles, and sir Hugh 
 Broc his nephew, who were well acquainted with those paits. 
 These two made excursions daily, and the canon de Robesart in 
 company with them. Some days they lost, and at others gained : 
 they, however, burnt and destroyed all round St. Malo. 
 
 The army of the duke of Lancaster had plenty of provision, for 
 they had brought with them large quantities from England. Many 
 severe assaults were made on St. Malo, and the attacks as ably re- 
 sisted, for there were several men-at-arms within it not easily to be 
 conquered. The lords of the army caused the carpenters to make 
 sheds, under which they could with greater ease carry on their at- 
 tacks ; they had four hundred cannons pointed against the different 
 parts of the town, which veiy much harassed its inhabitants. Among 
 the various assaults, there was one which was particularly severe, for 
 it lasted a whole day, and many English were killed arid wounded : 
 those within made so prudent a defence as not to lose a man : a 
 knight from England called sir Peter I'Es^ume, was slain, for whose 
 death the duke and the earl were sorely vexed. We will now return 
 for a while to the siege gf Mortain-sur-mer in Poitou, and to Evan 
 of Wales. 
 
 Evan of Wales had closely blockaded Mortain in Poitou, of which 
 place the souldich de I'Estrade was governor, and had erected foUr 
 block-houses ; the first was built on the edge of a rock before the 
 castle, on the Garonne, and Evan had posted himself within it : the 
 second was built between the water and the lower castle, opposite 
 to a postern gate, from which none could issue without the certainty 
 of being taken : the third was on the opposite side of the castle : 
 the fourth was the church of St. Leger, near half a league from the 
 fort. The inhabitants of Mortain were long sorely harassed by these 
 means, for the blockade lasted upward of a year and a half, in which 
 time they were hardly pushed for provision and other necessaries, 
 having neither stockings nor shoes to their feet ; but what was the 
 most grievous, they did not see any appearance of succor being sent 
 to them. 
 
 During the time of this siege, there came out of England, and 
 from the borders of Wales, a Welsh squire named John Lambe, 
 who was scarcely a gentleman ; and indeed he showed it, for no 
 gentleman would ever have practised such base wickedness. It was 
 said, that on his departure from England, he had been instigated hy 
 
 ♦ " La Couh)ngne." Salla calls it Calongae. Q. if not t>fogn« 
 I f 'DeTeroiM." Sir Tlionia* Trivet. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &;c. 
 
 some English knights to perform the treason he did ; for Evan of 
 Wales was greatly imted ia England and Gascony, on^account of the 
 captal de Bach, whom he had made prisoner before Soubise in Poi- 
 tou, and whose ransom could never be obtained either by the ex- 
 change of the count de St. Pol or by any other, nor for any sum of 
 money that could be offered : this caused his death, through melan- 
 choly, in tbe Tpraplo at Paris, to the very great regret of all his 
 frieni*' 
 
 jBvbecz, Normandy.— Prom a Print in Nodier's Voya-'es Fitttue -. u'. l. ei iloawntitjues dans I'ancienne France. 
 
 About this time John Lambe arrived in Brittany, and continued his 
 journey until he came to Poitou : he was honorably received every, i 
 where, by calling himself one of Evan's friends, and speaking very j 
 good French, He said he was come from Wales to visit Evan, and 1 
 was too lightly believed. For these reasons he was escorted by the j 
 men of Poitou to Mortain, where the siege was going forward. John ! 
 Lambe advanced toward Evan, when, falling on his knees, he said 
 in his country Innguage, that he h»d left Wales to see and serve him. 
 Evan, not harboring the least suspicion, received him kindly, thanked 
 him for coming, and accepted his offers of service : he then asked the 
 news from Wales. He told him enough of true and false, and made 
 him believe that the whole principality was desirous of having him 
 for their lord. This information gained so much the love of Evan 
 (for every one naturally v/ould wish to retura to his own country) 
 that he immediately appointed him his chamberlain. John won 
 daily on the affection of Evan : there was no one in whom he had so 
 great a conlidence. Evan's regard increased so fast that evil befell 
 him, for which it was a great pity, for he was a valiaijt knight, a 
 good man, and the son of a prince of Wales whom king Edward had 
 caused to be beheaded, but on what account I am ignorant. 
 
 The king of England had seized his lands in Wales ; and this Evan, 
 in his infancy, having come to France, explained his situation to king 
 Philip, who willingly listened to him, retained him near his person, 
 and as long as he lived he was one of the pages of his chamber, 
 with his nephews d'Alen9ons and several other young nobles. He 
 was also retained by king John, under whom he bore arms, and was 
 at the battle of Poitiers, but fortunately escaped, otherwise death 
 would soon have followed his captivity. On the peace between 
 France and England, he went to Lombardy, where he continued to 
 bear arms ; and, on the renewal of the war, he returned to France, 
 - and conducted himself so well that he was much praised and loved 
 by the king of France, and by all the great lords. I will now tell 
 his end, v/hich I shall do unwillingly : but it is necessary to show 
 to posterity what became of him. 
 
 Evan of Wales had a custom during the siege of Mortain, as soon 
 as he was risen, if it were a fine morning, to seat himself before the 
 castle, when he had his hair combed and p'aited for a considerable 
 length of time, during which he viewed the castle, and the surround- 
 ing country, for he had not the smallest dread from any quarter : it 
 was not usual for any one to attend him as a guard but this John 
 Lambe. Very often it happened that he there completely dressed 
 himself; and, if any one hxd business with him, they went there to 
 seek him. On his last visit it was early morn and fine clear weather, 
 and the heat of the night had prevented him from sleeping : he went 
 thither all unbuttoned, with only his jacket and shirt, and his cloak 
 thrown over him, when he seated himself as usual, attended bv John 
 
 Lambe, All the others were asleep, and no guard was kept, for he 
 considered the castle of Mortain as conquered. After Evan had 
 seated himself on the trunk of a tree, he said to John Lambe, " Go 
 and seek my comb, for that will refresh me a little." He answered, 
 " Willingly, my lord." On his way to seek for the comb, or when 
 returning with it, the devil must have entered the body of this John ; 
 for with the comb he brought a short Spanish dagger that had a broad 
 point, to accomplish his evil intentions : he struck this dagger into 
 
 Evan, whose body v.'as almost 
 naked, and pierced him through, 
 so that he fell down dead. After 
 he had pcrfcimed this deed, he 
 left the dagger in the bcdy, set cff, 
 and went fckv. ly to the barriers of 
 the c&Etle, wherein he was received 
 by the guards, to whcm he made 
 himself known, and was conducted 
 to the sculdich de PEstrade. " My 
 lord," said he to the sculdich, " I 
 have delivered ycu frcm one of the 
 greatest entmies ycu ever had." 
 "Frcm whcm?" replied the soul- 
 dich. " Frcm Evan of Wales," an- 
 swered Jchn. "By what means?" 
 demanded the sculdich. " By such 
 means," said Jthn, and then re. 
 lated to him the circ umetances you 
 have just heard. When the soul, 
 dich heard this he shook his head, 
 and, eyeing him with anger, re 
 plied, " Thcu hast murdered him 
 but know frcm me, that if we did 
 not reap much advantage from thy 
 wicked deed, I would have thy 
 head cut cff: what is done, how- 
 ever, cannot be undone ; but such 
 a death is unworthy of a gentleman, 
 and we shall have more blame than 
 praise for it."* 
 
 Thus was Evan of Wales killed 
 by a wicked and treasonable act, to 
 the great grief of the army and all 
 manner of people. King Charles 
 of France particularly lamented his 
 los3,"but ne could not help it. Evan of Wales was buried in the 
 church of St. Leger, which he had converted into a fort, half a league 
 distant from the castle of Mortain, and all the gentlemen of the army 
 attended his ' bsequies, which were very grandly performed. 
 
 The siege of Mortain was not, however, discontinued for this loss. 
 There were very good knights from Brittany, Poitou, nnd France, 
 who had resolved never to quit it unless forced by superior numbers ; 
 and they were more eager than before to conquer the castle, by way 
 of revenge for the death of Evan. They remained in the same 
 position, without making any assaults, for they knew the garrison 
 were exceedingly straightened for provision, and that none could 
 enter the place. We will leave this siege for a short time, and return 
 to that of St. Malo ; but we will first mention how those who had 
 besieged Evreux persevered m it. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 THE INHABITANTS OF EVREUX SURRENDER TO THE FRENCH. THE TWX) 
 ARMIES ASSEMBLE BEFORE ST. MAL0. 
 
 The siege of Evreux being formed by the lords de Coucy and do 
 la Riviere, they had frequent communication with the king of Franco, 
 who had fixed his residence at Rouen to be as near his army as pos- 
 sible. He was desirous they should gain Evreux, either by storm or 
 capitulation, as soon as might be, for he knew the English were in 
 great force in Brittany : he ordered, therefore, all his troops to ad. 
 vance thither to raise the siege of St. Malo, and to combat the Eng. 
 lish. These two lords acquitted themselves loyally and valiantly, for 
 every day there were assaults as well as negotiations going forward 
 They sent to remonstrate with the inhabitants on their folly in thus 
 having war made upon them with the risk of losing their fortunes 
 and having their houses razed to the ground ; for they had their law. 
 
 * It would appear, however, fiom the following extract from the Fa'dera, under Ibo 
 year 1381, of payments made on accomit of the war in Aquitnine, tliat John Lambo 
 was sent on purpose to murder Evan ; at /east he is recom|)ensed for it : 
 
 ** Item paie ie xviii jour de Septembre k Jolian Lambe & kses deux compnpnions, en 
 recompensacion & regarde, si bien de les bons & ogre;ibies services qu' il a fait k monv 
 sieur le prince, que Dieu assoile, &l fera au roi q'ore est, come de la mouit de You de 
 Galles— C francs." 
 
 After all the inquiries I have been able to make, I have not succeeded in identifyiny 
 Evan of Wales with any known character in the old Welsh books. In the works of 
 David Nanmor, who flourished from about 1430 to 1470, there is a passajre where ther 
 poet, in looking for more happy times than his own in futurity, among other prediction! 
 announces the coming of levan Dyvi. or Evan of Dovy. Now this Evan of Dovy must 
 have been some person of celebrity, at sonrie period prior to the lime of the writer before- 
 mentioned, whose fame is totally obscured, probably owing to the danger of espousing 
 the cause of that personage, from his being hostile to the existing government. Thi» 
 seems to be the only reason for the ambiguity of the poet, and it seems also satisiactoulf 
 . —eAuat for the siieacs of th* Weltb writers xespectias fivaa of Wales. 
 
1^40 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, «fec. 
 
 ful lord with them, the lord Charles de Navarre, to whom, by right 
 of succession from his mother, the county of Evreux had devolved. 
 They advised them, therefore, not to attend to the erroneous opinions 
 of that madman Ferrando of Navarre, who was there only to Tuin 
 them ; for they must well know that the goodness of their cause 
 would never allow them to march from thence witLout having con- 
 quered it ; and, should it be taken by storm, every one would be put 
 Co the sword, and the town repeopled with new inhabitants. Such 
 were the offers, speeches, and menaces to the townsmen of Evreux ; 
 6ut these did not prevent daily assaults from being made. 
 
 The inhabitants at last began to waver, on seeing that no succor 
 was likely to be sent them ; and they said to each other, *' We see 
 that the king of France does not claim the territory for himself, but 
 for his nephew." They therefore entered into a treaty with the lord 
 de Coucy. When Ferrando perceived this, he shut himself up in the 
 castle, and would not be present at any of the meetings. In short, 
 they surrendered on their lives and fortunes being spared, whether 
 they were in town or country, and acknowledged the lord Charles for 
 their lord. They then besieged Ferrando in the castle, who nego- 
 tiated with the lords of France, and offered to surrender the castle 
 if they would permit him and his men freely to depart. His offer 
 was accepted. Shortly after, they packed up their baggage, and 
 marched out of Evreux, under the co:iduct of the lords de Coucy, 
 de la Riviere, and sir John le Mercier, taking the road to Cherbourg. 
 
 After the conquest of Evreux, all the leaders of the French army 
 went to Rouen, where the king resided, in order to consider what 
 was next for them to do ; for they had heard that the English were 
 besieging St. Malo. The king of France received them very gra- 
 ciously ; in particular, the lords de Coucy and de la Riviere ; for 
 having so well succeeded in their exploits. All the men-at-arms re- 
 mained in Normandy : not one of their captains were dismissed, but 
 were regularly paid their allowances. The* king of France, during 
 his residence at Rouen, had heard of the English having laid siege 
 to St. Malo with a powerful army, and that the inhabitants were hard 
 pressed by their daily assaults. He was unwilling to lose his sub- 
 jeets, as well as the town ; for if St. Malo were taken, Brittany would 
 be very much weakened in that part. The king had, therefore, to 
 this purpose, issued a special summons for assembling troops, in order 
 to a3sist them against the English, which no one dared to disobey. 
 The dukes of Berry and Burgundy, the count d'Alen9on, the count 
 de la Marche, the dauphin d'Auvergne, the count de Guinea, sir John 
 de Boulogne, and great numbers of barons and knights of all sorts, 
 marched thither with numerous forces. The king sent orders to his 
 constable, sir Bertrand du Guesclin, to see that noae absented them- 
 selves from this assembly. 
 
 The constable obeyed, and came with all the men-at-arms of An- 
 jou, Poitou, and Touraine. The marshal de Blainville and the mar- 
 shal de Sancerre, the two marshals of France, were also there. From 
 other parts came sir 01ivier.de Clisson, tho~lord de L^on, with the 
 knights and barons of Brittany : there were ten thousand men-at-arms 
 at least, and in the plains one hundred thousand horses.* 
 
 These men-at-arms took up their quarters as near to each other as 
 £hey could ; but there were between them and the English an arm 
 <)f the sea and a river. When the sea ebbed, some young knights 
 usually adventured on the sands, and performed several gallant deeds. 
 Never was there seen so numerous an assembly of knighthood in 
 Brittany. If the French were in great force, the English were very 
 powerful, and each party thought there must be a combat, for every 
 day there was an appearance of it from the banners and pennons 
 fluttering in the wind. The English frequently drew out their army 
 in battle-array, to examine the force of the French and the strength 
 of the banners and pennons, which were there in very great abund- 
 ance. It was a great pleasure to see them thus drawn out in a line 
 of battle, and advance toward the river, to show that they were ready 
 to engage. The English said, " Let us look at our enemies, who 
 will soon, at low water, cross over and fight with us." But they had 
 no such inclination, and were afraid of trying the chance ; for their 
 leaders would not allow them to advance to the combat. 
 
 During these frequent displays on each side, the earl of Cambridge, 
 being fatigued with their inutility, declared with an oath, that if he 
 saw them continued without any further advance made toward a 
 battle, he would engage the French himself, whatever might be the 
 consequence. The vanguard, compDsed of numbers of able men 
 under the command of the constable, who well knew the hot and 
 impatient temper of the English, were ordered to draw up their bat- 
 talions on foot, on the sands as near to the river as possible. The earl of 
 Cambridge, who saw this manoeuvre, cried out, " Let them who love 
 me follow me, for I am going to engage !" He then dashed into 'the 
 river, which was low, but the nde was returning, and he began to 
 cross it with his banner : the English commenced shooting at the 
 French, when the constable ordered his men to retreat to the fields, 
 in hopes the English would have crossed ; for very willingly would 
 he have seen them do so, and have had them on the other side of 
 the water. 
 
 The duke of Lancaster was prepared, with a very strong battalion, to 
 follow his brother, should there have been occasion.. He said to Gerard 
 de Brees. a squire from Hainault who was near him : " Gerard, see 
 how m y brother ventures : he shows the French by his example his 
 
 * Denys Sau7a{;9 doubu if this oumber of bones be not too great. 
 
 willingness for the combat, but they have no such inclination." 
 Thus was this business carried on, without any deeds of arms being 
 performed worth mentioning : the French keeping on one side the 
 water, the English on the other. The flood beginning to increase, 
 the English retreated out of the river, and returned to their quarters : 
 the French followed their example. While these appearances of a 
 battle were carried on, the siege of St. Malo was continued, and 
 several feats of arms were done. The French guarded the banks 
 so well, that the English were afraid to cross the water. 
 
 It frequently happened that several knights or squires of Brittany, 
 well acquainted with the country, for led the river, and in their ex- 
 cursions met the English foragers, with whom they engaged ; and 
 success, as is usual in such cases, was sometimes on one side, some, 
 times on the other. The lords of England resolved to employ a mine, 
 to gain entrance into St. Malo ; for otherwirse they thoueht they 
 could not win it, as it was well provided with men-at-arms, who care- 
 fully defended it, as well as with all sorts of stores and artillery. The 
 English were obliged to be continually armed, and to keep in a body 
 ready for battle, should the French advance; arid for this reason, 
 they had not leisure to assault the town, except by their cannon, of 
 which they had plenty, that greatly annoyed it. Having fixed on a 
 spot, they set their miners to work. We will now leave for a wliile 
 the siege of St. Malo, and return to that of Mortain in Poitou. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 THE ENaLISH RAISE THE SIEGE OF MORTAIN. 
 
 You have before heard related the death of Evan of Wales, how 
 he was murdered, and how the Bretons and Poitevins were before 
 Mortain, under the command of sir James de Montmort, sir Per- 
 ceval d'Ayneval, sir William de Montcontour, and sir James de Sur- 
 geres, who would not break up the siege, for they were much enraged 
 at the death of Evan of Wales their commander, and wished to re- 
 venge themselves on the garrison for it. You have also heard how 
 sir Thomas Trivet, sir William Scrope, sir Thomas Breton, sir Wil- 
 liam Cendrine, with a large body of men-at arms and archers, had 
 been ordered to the country near Bordeaux, and to assist those in 
 Mortain, with sir Matthew Gournay, who resided in Bayonne, and 
 who daily found employment there against the Gascons and barons 
 possessing fortresses in those parts. These four knights had re- 
 mained with their men upward of seven months at Plymouth, wait- 
 ing a favorable wind to carry them to Gascony, which though it 
 vexed them much, they could not help themselves. 
 
 You have heard likewise that the lord Neville of Raby had been 
 ordered with a body of men-at-arms and archers to the assistance of 
 the king of Navarre, with the appointment of seneschal of Bordeaux. 
 All these knights met at Plymouth, which was very agreeable to 
 every one of them. On the arrival of the lord Neville, they had a 
 wind to their wish, and, having embarked on board the vessels that 
 had been long laden, they set their sails, and steered for Gascony. 
 This fleet consisted of six score vessels and forty barges, having on 
 board about a thousand men-at-arms and two thousand archers. 
 They had favorable weather, which carried them into the port of 
 Bordeaux, the night of Our Lady, in September, in the year of grace 
 1378. 
 
 When the Bretons and Poitevins who were before Mortain saw 
 this great fleet pass by, with trumpets sounding and every sign of 
 joy, they were much bast down ; while, on the contrary, the garrison 
 were rejoiced, for they justly imagined they should very soon be re- 
 lieved, or that there would be a battle, as they thought they never 
 would have come so far to remain idle. Sir James de Montmort 
 and the otWfer leaders of the army assembled in council, and debated 
 for some time in what manner they should act ; they repented they had 
 neglected to accept the offers of negotiating ; for the souldich do 
 I'Estrade had, a short time before, proposed a parley, and offered to 
 surrender the castle, on the garrison being allowed to march in safety 
 to Bordeaux ; but the French would not listen to it. However, they 
 now sent a herald to say, they would accept of their terms : but the 
 souldich replied, he would have nothing to say to them ; that he diii 
 not want to capitulate, for that the reinforcements he looked for 
 were arrived ; and that they might remain or march away, as should 
 please themselves. Things remained thus, when the lord Neville 
 and the English arrived at Bordeaux, where they were magnificently 
 received by sir William Helmen, seneschal des Landes, sir John de 
 Multon, mayor of Bordeaux, the archbishop, the ladies, and citizens. 
 
 Soon after his arrival, he issued a summons to the knights and 
 squires of Gascony attached to England, and collected so many ves- 
 sels that four thousand embarked on board of them, and sailed down 
 the river Garonne, to raise the siege of Mortain. News was soon 
 carried to the French army, that the English and Gascons were 
 coming down the river in great force to raise the siege : upon this, 
 the leaders called another council, wherein it was resolved, that as 
 they were not sufficiently strong to wait for their enemies, it was 
 better to give up tlieir lost time than to run a greater danger ; having 
 ordered their trumpets to sound, they marched away without doing 
 anything Tnore, and retreated "into Poitou. .A.11, however, did not 
 march off, for a company of Bretons and Welsh, who had been at. 
 tached to Evan of Walesj retired into the block>huuse of St. Ueger, 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 241 
 
 which they said would hold out against every force, and dragged all 
 their artillerj in with them. The English and Gascon knights, who 
 came fu'l sail down the river Garonne, cast anchor in its mouth be. 
 fore Mortain ; when they disembarked leisurely, and as they landed 
 drew up la order of batde to attack the fort of St. Leger, into which 
 the Bretons and Welsh had retired. Immediately a sharp attack 
 commenced. While this assault was going on, the lord Neville sent 
 u iierald to the castle to speak with the souldich, and to inquire how 
 he was. The herald performed his message, and reported that thej 
 were ia good health, but so naked they had not a shoe to their feet 
 nor a coat to their backs. The attack on St. Leger lasted three 
 houre ; and the assailants gained nothing, but had several wounded. 
 Tiie barons then encamped, with the intent of not departing thence 
 before they had conquered it, and were much vexed that the lord de 
 Montmort and the other lords were not shut up in this fort : those 
 lords had very wisely marched off, and had left the Bretons. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 TUT. ENGLISH RECOVER SEVERAL STRONG CASTLES FROM THE TRENCH 
 
 IN THE BOURDELOIS. 
 
 The lord Neville and the English knights, on the morrow, gave 
 orders for the assault being renewed : the trumpets sounded for the 
 attack, and each company advanced to the fort St. Leger, when it 
 began marvellously fierce. That fort is situated on a rock which 
 cannot easily be approached, and the weakest side is defended by 
 wide ditches. The assailants labored hard, but got nothing except 
 many killed and wounded. The attack ceased ; when they thought 
 it most advisable to fill up the ditches as well as they could, that 
 they might gain more advantage in their next assault. Having filled 
 up the ditches with much difficulty, the Bretons who were within 
 the fort began to be more alarmed than before, and not without rea- 
 son ; so they entered into a treaty. The lords from England, being 
 as anxious to assist the king of Navarre as to recover several places 
 which the Bretons held in the Bourdelois, readily listened to their 
 proposals. The fort of St. Leger was surrendered, on condition that 
 the garrison should depart without danger to themselves or fortunes, 
 and be conducted whither they chose to go. Thus was the fort of 
 St. Leger won by the English ; when the principal lords went into 
 Mortain, and found there the souldich de I'Estrade and his party in 
 the manner the herald had described them. He was immediately 
 ac ^ommodated suitably to his rank, and the castle revictualed and 
 reinforced with fresh troops. They then returned by the river Ga- 
 ronne to Bordeaux the same way they had come. 
 
 When these knights were recruiting themselves at Bordeaux, they 
 learnt that a baron held a fort called St. Maubert, six leagues dis- 
 tant, in Medoc, from whence he much harassed the country. They 
 embarked on the Garonne great provision of stores and artillery, 
 and, having mounted their horses, marched by land to St. Maubert, 
 with about three hundred spears. The Gascons who accompanied 
 lord Neville in this expedition were, sir Archibald de Greilly, the 
 lords de Roussy, de Duras, and de Tournon. On the arrival of these 
 barons with their forces before St. Maubert, they encamped, and 
 soon after began an assault, which at the onset was very severe ; for 
 the Bretons v/ho were in St. Maubert were men of courage, and had 
 for their captain a person called Huguelin, round whom they rallied, 
 and by whose advice they acted with vigor. 
 
 These first attacks did not harm the Bretons ; when the English 
 retired to their quarters, and on the morrow erected their engines to 
 cast stones, in order to break through the roof of the tower in which 
 they resided. On the third day they ordered an assault, and said 
 such a ruffianly crew could not hold out much longer. This attack 
 was sharp, and many were slain ; for never drd men defend them- 
 selves better than these Bretons : however, seeing that no assistance 
 was likely to come to them, they entered into a treaty : for they found 
 they would never be left in quiet until they were conquered. Trea- 
 ties were concluded between them and the lords of the army, that 
 they should surrender St. Maubert, and march out without any damage 
 to themselves or fortunes, and should retire into Poitou, or wherever 
 they chose, and be conducted thither. 
 
 When lord Neville had gained St. Maubert, he had it repaired, re- 
 victualled, and provided with artillery : he placed therein Gascons to 
 guard it, and appointed a squire from Gascony, called Peter de Pre- 
 fias, governor, and then returned to Bordeaux. The English at Bor 
 deaux received daily information that Pampeluna in Navarre was 
 besieged, under the conduct of the infant of Castille ; but they 
 neither heard from the king of Navarre nor that king from them, 
 which very much displeased him. We will now return to the affairs 
 of Brittany and Normandy, and tell how the siege of St. Malo con- 
 tinued. 
 
 CHAPTER XXL 
 
 THE MINE WHICH THE ENGLISH HAD MADE AT ST. MALO FAILS; IN 
 CONSEQUENCE, THE SIEGE IS RAISED. 
 
 There were many grand attacks made by the English on St. Malo, 
 during the siege ; for they had full four hundred cannon, which fired 
 day and night against the town and castle. The governor, whose 
 
 name was Morfonace, a valiant man-at-arms, was resolved to defend 
 it well, aided by the counsels of sir Herv6 de Malatrait, the lord de 
 Combor and the viscount de la Belliere, and had so far succeeded 
 that there was not as yet any apparent damage. In the adjacent 
 country, as I have before said, was the flower of France, aa well 
 great lords as others ; they amounted to sixteen thousand men-at. 
 arms, knights and squires, with upward of one hundred thousand 
 horses. They were as willing for the combat as the English could 
 be ; but each of them sought to have an advantage : what, however, 
 prevented this from happening several times was the large river, 
 when the tide was in, between the two armies, which hindered them 
 from attacking each other. The mine was advancing, of which the 
 inhabitants of St. Malo had some suspicions. In such large armies 
 as these, it was not possible but that the foragers of each should fre- 
 quently have rencounters, in which fortune favored sometimes one 
 party, and sometimes the other; for there were very expert and 
 youthful knights of each army who sought for such exploits. The 
 miners of the duke of Lancaster labored hard at their work day and 
 night, to carry it under the town and throw down part of the walls, 
 so that the men-at-arms and archers might easily gain an entrance. 
 
 Morfonace and the knights in the town guessed what they were 
 about, and knew well that if they should succeed they were ruined. 
 They did not fear their other assaults, for the iown was well provided 
 with all sorts of stores and artillery for two years, if necessary: 
 v»-herefore they considered how they might best counteract this mine. 
 After having long consulted, they succeeded in their attempt : it was 
 in some sort accidental, for things fell out with extraordinary good 
 fortune for them. 
 
 Richard, earl of Arundel, was on guard one night wiih his people, 
 but he was very inattentive to obey the orders he had received, of 
 which the garrison w^ere informed by their spies or otherwise. When 
 they had fixed on an hour in which they imagined the army (trusting 
 to lord Arundel's want of vigilance; would be fast asleep, they sal- 
 lied from the town very secredy, and advanced to where the miners 
 were at work, who had little more to do to complete their mine. 
 Morfonace and his company, being prepared to accomplish their en- 
 terprise, destroyed the mine at their ease ; and some of the workmen 
 who were within were never seen afterwards, as the mine fell upon 
 them. 
 
 When they had finished this business, they said they would awaken 
 the guard next the town, in order that they might kn»w with what 
 success their gallantry had been crov/ned. They advanced to one 
 of the wings of the army, shouting their war-cry, cutting down tents, 
 and slaying all they met, so that the whole army was seriously 
 alarmed. Morfonace and his companions retreated into St. Malo 
 without aHy loss ; during which time the English armed themselves, 
 and advanced in front of the duke's division, who \\a.s much aston- 
 ished at this event : he demanded how it could have happened, when 
 they informed him, that by the negligence of the guard, the mine had 
 been destroyed, and they had suffered a great loss. Upon this, the 
 earl of Arundel was sent for and sharply reprimanded by the duke 
 of Lancaster and earl of Cambridge for his neglect : he excused him- 
 self as well as he was able, but was so greatly ashamed that he had 
 rather have lost several thousand pounds. After the destruction of 
 the mine, the principal chiefs held a council to determine how they 
 I should act. They saw they had lost the season of the year, which 
 I was not to be regained : for should they attempt another mine, winter 
 would come before it could be finished ; they therefore resolved, 
 taking all things into consideration, that ti:ieir wisest plan would be 
 to break up their camp and return to England. Orders were, in "on- 
 sequence, issued by the duke and the marshals for the army to de. 
 camp, and embark on board their fleet in the port of St. Mal'^. This 
 order was soon obeyed ; and, having a favorable wind, they made 
 sail for Southampton, where they arrived. On disembarking, they 
 learnt that sir John Arundel, the governor of Southampton, was gone 
 to reinforce the garrison of Cherbourg. 
 
 Thus was this army dispersed, when some recrcssed the seas, 
 and others returned to their own country. The common people in 
 England began to murmur against the nobles, saying they had that 
 year done litde good in suffering St. Malo to escape from them : in 
 particular, the earl of Arundel found no favor with them. We will 
 now leave the English, to speak of the French and of Cherbourg. 
 
 — ^ 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 SIR OLITER DU GUESCLIN IS MADE PRISONER BY THE GARRISON OF 
 
 CHERBOURG. 
 
 Soon after the English had retreated from St. Malo, and the Frencn 
 had reinforced the town and castle, the constable of France resolved 
 to march and lay siege to Cherbourg ; of which place sir John Harles 
 tone was governor, who had with him many knights from England 
 and Navarre, The whole army, however, did not march thither , 
 for the dukes of Berry, of Burgundy, of Bourbon, the count de la 
 Marche, the dauphin of Auvergne, with other chiefs and great lords, 
 sent back their troops to their different countries. Several went to 
 pay their respects to the king at Rouen, who very graciously received 
 them. The Bretons and Normans advanced to Valognes. thre^ 
 leagues from Cherbourg, where they erected small forts. They knew 
 
242 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND. FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 ell that sir John Arundel had reinforced the garrison, and they sup. 
 posed he was still there. 
 
 Between Cherbourg and Valognes are large forests, even as far as 
 ' 'outances. The garrison of Cherbourg could sally forth, and make 
 < xcursions over the country as often as they pleased, for there were 
 1 1 the forests well-hedged roads, which prevented them from being 
 : rtacked, and Cherbourg is one of the strongest castles. The gar- 
 rison of Valognes were exceedingly vexed that they could not hurt 
 the English, by harassing the country. Sir Oliver du Guesclin, 
 brother to the constable, imagined that if he could, by means ot the 
 forest, approach in a cunning way near to Cherbourg, to reconnoitre 
 it; particularly if he 
 could any how be- 
 siege it ; or if at least 
 he could seize the 
 town, which lies at 
 some little distance 
 from the castle, he 
 would so strongly 
 fortify it that the gar- 
 rison could not quit 
 or enter the castle 
 without great loss. 
 
 Sir Oliver deter, 
 mined to try this pro- 
 ject; and taking with 
 him about fifteen 
 lances, and guides 
 who were acquaint- 
 ed with the roads 
 through the forest, 
 he set out one morn- 
 ing from Valognes, 
 continuing his march 
 until he had passed 
 through the forest op- 
 posite to Cherbourg. 
 That same day sir 
 John Arundel had 
 visited the town to 
 amuse himself, and 
 had brought with 
 him a squire of Na- 
 varre, called John 
 Coq,to show him the 
 town. He was there 
 informed that the 
 French were at hand 
 reconnoitering the 
 place. » My lord," 
 said John Coq, " I 
 have heard that sir 
 
 Oliver du Guesclin, the constable's brother, has passed the wood, 
 and is examining our castle : for God's sake, let him be pursued. I 
 think I can conduct you in such a manner that he must fall into our 
 hands, so that we may conquer them all." " By my faith," replied 
 sir John, " I am very willing so to do." Having armed themselves 
 secretly, they mounted their horses, in number about one hundred 
 lances, picked men, and set out from Cherbourg, entered the forest 
 withoiit the French knovv'ing anything of ti.e matter, and rode on. 
 Sir Oliver, findinsr the place of such strength as to make it impos- 
 sible to besiege it, took the same road to Valognes by which he had 
 come. He had not marched three leagues before sir John Arundel 
 and John Coq, with their companions, who had been very exactly 
 conducted, charged them, shouting " Our Lady for Arundel f" When 
 sir Oliver heard this cry, and saw them advancing, he wished himself 
 in Valognes : he therefore mounted a fleet courser, in hopes of saving 
 himself, for he found the parties were too unequal for a combat; and 
 his people dispersed themselves in the forest. Too few kept together. 
 John Coq, like a valiant man-at-arms, pursued sir Oliver so closely 
 that at last he made him his prisoner : there were also ten or a dozen 
 more taken ; the remainder saved themselves among the trees, and 
 returned to Valognes as well as they could, and related to sir Wil- 
 liam des Bordes how they had fallen into an ambuscade, and that 
 sir Oliver, with the remainder of their companions, had been made 
 prisoners. 
 
 The knights and squirrs at Valognes were greatly hurt at this, but 
 help it they could not. Sir Oliver du Guesclin was conducted by 
 the garrison to the castle of Cherbourg, where he was told his ransom 
 would be at least ten thousand francs. This capture was great news 
 for England ; and the business continued thus for a considerable 
 time. Sir Oliver du Guesclin remained prisoner in Cherbourg, under 
 the guard of John Coq who had taken him ; but sir John Arundel 
 had all the profit : he ransomed sir Oliver and those who had been 
 captured with him, but not immediately. When the garrison of 
 Cherbourg had been reinforced, sir John Arundel returned to South, 
 ampton, of which place he was governor. There remained with sir 
 -ohn Harlestone in Cherbourg some English knights ; such as sir 
 John Copeland, sir John Briole, sir Thomas Pigourde and several 
 
 knights and squires : who so carefully guarded it that no damage 
 was done. We will now leave for a while Cherbourg, and speak ot 
 lord Neville, the seneschal of Bordeaux, sir Thomas Trivet, with 
 others their companions, and show how they prospered. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII 
 
 THE FRENCH GARRISON OF BERSAT* IS DEFEATED. 
 
 DERS TO THE EN&LISH. THE KING OF NAVARRE 
 • TO SOLICIT AID FROM THE ENGLISH. 
 
 The lord Neville, who resided at Bordeaux, had had good infor 
 
 THE TOWN SURREN. 
 COMES TO BORDEAtJX^ 
 
 Olivxr vv Guesclin made prisoner by the garrison of Cherbourg 
 
 mation that the infanta of Castille, with a large army of Spaniards, 
 
 was besieging the good city of Pampeluna, and that the viscount de 
 Chastillon, the lord de I'Escut, Raimond de Rameren, with several 
 others, were shut up in it ; but he had no intelligence of the king of 
 Navarre, nor where he kept himself, which very much astonished 
 him : he supposed, however, that he should soon hear from him. 
 The inhamtants of Bordeaux and the adjacent countries entreated 
 him not to quit those parts, nor to send away any of his men-at-arms, 
 so long as the Bretons should hold any forts near them : they in. 
 formed him particularly how the garrison of Bersat very much haras, 
 sed the country of the Bourdelois. To the inquiries of the lord 
 Neville, how many Bretons there might be in Bersat; they answered, 
 there were full five hundred fighting men. Upon this, he called to 
 him the seneschal des Landes and sir William Scrope, and said to 
 them : " Take two or three hundred lances, with as many archers, 
 and march to Bresat, and manage so as to free the country from that 
 garrison ; when we will afterwards turn our tlioughts to things of 
 greater importance." 
 
 These two knights wished nothing more than to obey the orders 
 they had received ; and collecting their men, they crossed the Ga- 
 ronne, and marched toward Bersat. The same day the EngUsh had 
 left Bordeaux, the garrison of Bersat had made an excursion, with 
 about six score lances : they had ascended the river Garonne in hopes 
 of meeting some boats, and were under the command of a knight 
 from Perigord, called sir Bertrand Raimond, a good man.at-arms. 
 About a short league from Bersat, the two parties of English and 
 French came suddenly in sight of each other. When sir Bertrand 
 saw that a combat was unavoidable, he was no way alarmed, but 
 gave proper orders to his men, who were almost all Gascons, and 
 drew them up in handsome array. 
 
 The English charged them with couched lances, spurring their 
 horses until they were in the midst of them. On the first shock, 
 many were unhorsed on each side, and several gallant deeds done. 
 At last, however, the French Gascons could not maintain the fight; 
 for there were too many against them, who were likewise chosen 
 men. The party from the garrison of Bersat were either slain or 
 
 * " Bersaf'-a small town of Lunouuo, diocese of Limoges. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN,'&c. 
 
 made prisoners ; very few es :aped. Sir Bertrand Raimond and sir 
 William Hemon were among those taken. Tlie English then rode 
 on toward Bersat. When the garrison found that their party had 
 been defeated, they were thunder-struck, and surrendered the place 
 upon their lives being spared. Thus did Bersat become English; 
 and the detachment returned to Bordeaux. At the same time the 
 English returned to Bordeaux (the night of All-saints, in the year 
 1378.) the king of Navarre came also thither, without being expected. 
 The English received him most honorably ; and, after they had lodged 
 him and his attendants commodiously, they asked what news from 
 his country and of the Spaniards, for they had received orders to 
 make such inquiries. He fully answered their questions, by saying 
 that the infant John of Castille had besieged Pampeluna with a large 
 army, and had much constrained those who were within it. He 
 therefore entreated them, in conformity to the orders they had from 
 the king of England, to make themselves ready to assist his people, 
 and to raise the siege.. The English knights replied they were per- 
 fectly willing, and through no negligence on their part should the 
 siege fail to be raised ; that they would prepare everything speedily, 
 but added, " Sir, you will return to your country, and issue out a 
 special summons to your people ; for we will be with you on a fixed 
 day, when we shall be altogether in greater force : besides, your 
 people know the country better than we do." The king of Navarre 
 replied that they spoke well, and what they had proposed should be 
 done. After this, he remained with the English but three days, when 
 he took his leave, and left the city of Bordeaux, returning home by 
 sea ; for there were, in the neighborhood of Bayonne and the city of 
 Dax in Gascony, several fortresses in the hands of the Bretons. The 
 king of Navarre safely arrived at the town of St. Jean, where he 
 resided. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 THE INFANT OF CASTILLE BESIEGES PAMPELUNA. SIR THOMAS TRIVET, 
 IN CONDUCTING SUCCORS TO THE KING OF NAVARRE, TAKES SEVERAL 
 PLACES IN GASCONY FROM THE FRENCH. 
 
 During the time the king of Navarre was at Bordeaux, and since 
 his return to his own country, John of Castille, son of the king of 
 Spain, with the constable of Castille, who was the chief of this war, 
 and whose name was don Pedro de Manriquez, had besieged the 
 good city of Pampeluna with a large force. 
 
 With them were the count don Alphonso, the count de Medina, 
 ♦he count de Manons, the count de Ribede, Peter Ferrand de Fal- 
 esque, Peter Goussart de Modesque, and several other barons and 
 Knights from Spain, with their troops.* 
 
 These Spaniards, on their march toward Pampeluna, had taken and 
 burnt the town of Lorwich and the city of Viana, on this side Lo- 
 grono ; and there was not a lord in Navarre who dared to show him- 
 self before them, but each remained shut up in his castle. The king 
 of Navarre knew well all this, for he had continually messengers 
 coming and going, but he could not do anything without the assist- 
 ance of the English. 
 
 Lord Neville,! who resided at Bordeaux, whither he had been 
 sent by the king of England and his council, was informed of all the 
 treaties between the two kings, and that it was incumbent on him to 
 fulfil them. Having considered this matter, he called to him sir 
 Thomas Trivet, a very valiant knight, and said to him, " Sir Thomas, 
 you know that we have been ordered hither to guard the frontiers of 
 this country, to drive out our enemies, and to assist the king of Na- 
 varre, who has been lately here, and told us how much he was in 
 want of our help. You were present when I promised him assistance. 
 This must be done, or we shall be blamed. Therefore, my dear 
 friend and companion, I appoint you leader of the troops I shall send 
 .to this v/ar, and now order you to march thither with five hundred 
 lances and a thousand archers. I shall remain where I am, being 
 seneschal of Bordeaux, under the orders of the king of England ; 
 for I must pay attention to what passes here, as this whole country 
 is not very secure against our enemies." " My lord," replied sir 
 Thomas, " you do me more honor than I deserve : I will obey your 
 orders, as in justice I ought to do, and will acquit myself in this 
 business to th-a utmost of my power." " Of that, sir Thomas," an- 
 swered lord Neville, " I am perfectly assured." 
 
 Sir Thomas Trivet made no long delay, but, having completed his 
 preparations, set out from Bordeaux with his complement of men-at- 
 arms and archers, taking the road toward Dax in Gascony. There 
 were with him William Condone, sir Thomas Berton, sir John 
 Afful^e, sir Henry Paule, sir William Croquet, sir Louis Malin, sir 
 Thomas Fourque, and sir Robert Haston, all Gascons. When this 
 army was arrived at the city of Dax, they received intelligence that 
 the king of Navarre was at St. Jean du Pied des Ports, there assem- 
 bling his men-at-arms. This news was very pleasing to them. Sir 
 Matthew Gournay,t uncle to sir Thomas Trivet, was governor of Dax, 
 
 * Ferreras does not mention any siege of Pampeluna, but says tlie infiint advanced to 
 Gorriaz, near P.impeluna, and afterwards besieged Viana ; wlien, having taken it, he 
 returned to Castille. He notices only the tiret of the Spaniards ia the text.— Vol, v. pp. 
 458. 459. 
 
 T Lord Neville of Raby.— Duudale. 
 
 X Sir Matthew Gournay was fourth and youngest son of Thomas, one of the murderers 
 of Edward II. He was a soldier of fortune, an able and valiant man, and seneschal 
 ftei JLiondM (a sandy tract betwaon Bordeaux and Bayonne.) He died 26th September, 
 
 243 
 
 who received his nephew and his companions very agreeably, and 
 helped them to find out lodgings. Sir Thomas's intentions were to 
 have continued his march without halting : but sir Matthew Gournay 
 said to him, "Fair nephew, since you have with you so large a force, 
 let us free this country from the Bretons and French, who hold at 
 least a dozen fortresses between this place and Bayonne ; otherwise 
 you leave them in your rear, and they may do us much mischief the 
 ensuing winter. If you consent, the country will thank you, and 1 
 entreat it of you." " By my faith," replied sir Thomas, " I am very 
 willing." Soon after this conversation, he set about the business, 
 and, drawing out his forces in the plain, marched toward a fort called 
 Montpin, which was in the possession of the Bretons. A squire from 
 the county of Foix, whose name was Taillardon, was governor of it. 
 
 On their arrival, the English began a very severe attack. The fort 
 was stormed, and all in it put to the sword except Taillardon, who 
 was made prisoner. After having placed in the castle a new garrison, 
 they marched away, and came before another, called Carcilhat, which . 
 the Gascons held. They immediately commenced an assault, but 
 not gaining it directly, they encamped. On the morrow, they re- 
 newed the attack with so much vigor that it Vv'as taken, and all within 
 slain except the governor, who was from Lower Brittany, and called 
 Yvonnet Aprisidly : he was given to the English as prisoner, and the 
 castle burnt. They then marched toward another fort, called Be. 
 senghen, of which a Gascon squire was governor, whose name was 
 Roger de Morelac. The English were two daj s before they could 
 win it, which was at last done by capitulation : the garrison marched 
 out in surety, and each man returned to his home 
 
 From this castle they came before Tassegnon, which is situated 
 three leagues from Bayonne, and laid siege to it. The Bayonnow 
 were much rejoiced when they heard of this ; and they were joined 
 from that town by full five hundred men with lances and shields, 
 bringing with them the largest of their warlike engines. The gar- 
 risen of Tassegnon having done so much harm to those of Bayonne, 
 made them thus desirous of their destruction ; but they would never 
 have succeeded had it not been for the judgment and advice of the 
 English : yet with all their united force they were fiiteen days before 
 they gained it, which was done by capitulation, on the garrison 
 marching out in safety under passports from sir Thomas Trivet, who 
 had them escorted as far as Bregent, which belonged to the French. 
 The Bayonnois bought the castle for three thousand francs, and then 
 razed it, carrying the stones to Bayonne ; where the English were 
 received with great joy, and had all things according to their wish 
 by paying for them. 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 SIR THOMAS TRIVET WITH THE ENGLISH COMES TO THE SUCCOR OF THE 
 KING OF NAVARRE. THE SIEGE OF PAMPELUNA IS RAISED. 
 
 The king of Navarre, who resided at St. .Tean du Pied des Ports, 
 was exceedingly angry that the English were so long coming, for his 
 country was in great danger ; and the city of Pampeluna would have 
 been taken by the Spaniards, had it not been for the viscount de 
 Chastillon, the governor, who had under him in all but two hundred 
 Gascon spears, but his prudence and watchfulness prevented it. 
 
 Sir Perducas d'Albret was governor of the town of Tudcla in Na. 
 varre; the count Pullois and his brother Roger commanded in the 
 city of Miranda: a knight from Catalonia, called sir Raymond de 
 Bageth, was governor of another strong town in Navarre, named 
 Arques.* The king of Navarre, placing his confidence in these 
 captains, remained at St. Jean du Pied des Ports, and left them to 
 act as they pleased. The whole country round Pampeluna was de- 
 stroyed ; for none dared to oppose the Spaniards, and they concluded 
 they must by a long siege gain the town. However, those within 
 thought otherwise ; for the viscount de Chastillon, the lord de I'Escut, 
 and sir William de Paux, defended it so well, that the Spaniards be- 
 gan to be tired : winter was approaching, it being about St. Andrew's 
 day, and their provision was becoming scarce : for, if the viscount 
 de Roquebertin had not reinforced them with men-at-arms and sixty 
 horse loads of provision, they would have retreated at All-saints day. 
 
 The king of Navarre sent one of his knights, called sir Peter de 
 Bascle, to the English, to entreat them, if they wished to serve him, 
 to hasten their march; for they had too long delayed it, according to 
 the promises they had made, and the need he had of them. The 
 knight rode until he came into the country of Bayonne, and found the 
 English before a castle named Poulat, to v/hom he delivered his 
 message very punctually. Sir Thomas Trivet replied, that as soon 
 as the castle he was now before was conquered, he would march foi 
 Navarre, and that the knight might return and depend on what he 
 had said. Sir Peter went back, and two days afterwards the castle 
 surrendered, on the garrison marching out in safety. It was re-gar- 
 risoned, and afterwards the country continued tolerably quiet. There 
 were some other smaller bodies, who had posted themselves in 
 churches and monasteries, that harassed the country ; but they were 
 in no great numbers. The English, therefore, declared they could 
 no longer remain with them, but must march to Navarre to raise the 
 siege of Pampeluna and combat the Spaniards. 
 
 1406. and is burfed at Stoke under Hamden, county of Somerset— For further partiett- 
 lars, and his epitaph, see Gouoh's Sepulchral Monuments, vol. ii. j,. 20. 
 * " Arque*"— probably lea Avcom, 
 
^14 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, ^c. 
 
 Sir Thomas Trivet, sir Matthew Gournay, with their men, returned 
 to Dax, where they halted four days : on the fifth, they departed, 
 and took the road to Navarre. Sir Matthew Gournay marched back 
 ■o the city of Bayonne with those under his command, to defend the 
 country, and to conquer some of the small forts which the Bretons 
 'till held. Sir Thomas continued his march until he arrived at St. 
 fean du Pied des Ports, where he found the king of Navarre, who 
 \/as right glad to see him. He lodged the knights in the town, and 
 the men-at-arms found the best quarters they could in the country 
 about. The king had, some time before, issued his summons for a 
 large army to assemble before the city of Miranda : none dared to 
 disobey it, and all knights and squires had in consequence prepared 
 themselves to march to Pampeluna against the Spaniards. 
 
 News arrived at the Spanish army, that the English with a power- 
 ful force were with the king of Navarre, at St. Jean, to the amount 
 of twenty thousand men-at-arms. Upon this, a council was held of 
 the principal chiefs, to consider whether to wait for the king of Na- 
 varre, or to retreat. This was long debated ; for some of the captains 
 wished to wait for the English and Navarrois, while others were of a 
 contrary opinion, saying they were not strong enough to meet such 
 an army, and tjo much fatigued and worn down by the length of 
 the siege. This council sat a considerable time : at last, orders 
 were given to decam.p, and make a handsome retreat into their own 
 country. What inclined them most to this was, that some valiant 
 knights who had great experience in war, declared that their honor 
 woiild not suffer any disgrace, for that king Henry, being returned 
 into Castille, had sent, fifteen days before, orders of recal to his son, 
 as well as for the discontinuance of the siege of Pampeluna. 
 
 The Spaniards, therefore, quitted their quarters, and when they 
 marched off, set fire to them, taking the road to Logrono and to St. 
 Domingo in Castille. When the inhabitants of Pampeluna saw them 
 march away, they were much rejoiced, for they had pressed them 
 hard. News was brought to the king of Navarre and to the English 
 at St. Jean of the Spaniards having raised the siege, and ol iheir re- 
 treat to their own country. They seemed as if much enraged at it, 
 for they would willingly have fought with them. Notwithstanding 
 this, they marched to Pampeluna, where they found the viscount de 
 Chastillon, the lord de I'Escut, and the others, who received them 
 with pleasure. 
 
 When these men-at-arms had refreshed themselves for two or three 
 days in Pampeluna, they thought it advisable to march from thence 
 and divide themselves in different garrisons, to gain more country: 
 besides, the mountains of Navarre are too cold in the winter, being 
 covered with snow. The English were, therefore, ordered to Tudela ; 
 the lord de I'Escut to Pont k la Reine ;* the count PuUois and his 
 brother Roger to Corella, and the lord de Chastillon to Mundon. In 
 this manner were the men-at-arms distributed, and the king of Na- 
 varre remained in his palace at Pampeluna. The garrisons in Na- 
 varre continued in peace without manifesting any inclination to 
 make excursions during the winter : on which account, the Spaniards 
 dispersed, and king Henry went to reside at SeviiU, accompanied 
 by his queen and children. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 THE ENaLISH AND ?rAVA-RR0IS OVERRUN THE KINGDOM OP SPAIN. THE 
 EVENTS THAT BEFEL THEM THERE. 
 
 Sir Thomas Trivet and his companions were quartered in Tudela, 
 and had not done anything since their entrance into Navarre ; but, 
 hearing that the Spanish army was disbanded, they determined to 
 make an excursion into Spain, to perform something for their pay. 
 They made preparations for a secret expedition, and sent information 
 of it to the count Fullois and his brother Roger, who came to Tudela 
 with two hundred lances and three hundred shields : when they 
 were all mustered, they might be about seven hundred spears, twelve 
 hundred archers, and as many other foot soldiers. They loaded 
 many horses, with all sorts of provision, and, marching away, en- 
 camped, on Christmas-eve, in a fair meadow by a river side at the 
 foot of the mount-lin Montcain,t which separates the three kingdoms 
 of Navarre, Castille, and Arragon : on the other side of this moun- 
 tain lies a country called Val di Soria. This day the weather was 
 very fine, and \vo;]drous hot. Vv'hen they had dined, the captains 
 assembled in council to determine whether they should remain there 
 Christmas-day, or attempt some warlike exploit; for they were on 
 the borders of the enemy's country. They resolved to march that 
 very night, so as to arrive at the city of Soriat by dawn on Christ- 
 mas-day, and scale its walls. 
 
 This plan was adopted, and orders given in consequence. Three 
 hundred lances were only to be employed ; the others with the foot 
 were to remain where they then were until the morrow, to hear the 
 success of the enterprise. The count PuUois with one hurfdred 
 lances, and sir Thomas Trivet with his troops, having guides to con- 
 duct them, were to march in four divisions and to form three ambus- 
 cade?, the more secretly to execute their enterprise and the more 
 puvcly to succeed in it. About two o'clock after midnight, they 
 
 * " Ponr ? l;i Reine"— Punte k la Reyna— appears by the map to be in Arragon. 
 
 * ■* Mop'cain"— pn)bnl)ly by the map, Moncaio: it seems near to Taracona. 
 " Soiia"'— a town of Castille. 
 
 were armed and mounted, but without any trumpets. The captains 
 and the guides made themselves well acquainted with the different 
 points of the country, that they might all arrive punctually at Soria 
 at the same time. They had ascended the mountain and advanced 
 mto the plains, when it began to snow and hail so marvellously fast 
 that the ground was all covered, and they rode on until the morrow 
 without meeting each other. This misfortune of the English fell out 
 luckily for the inhabitants of Val di Soris, as they had not taken any 
 precautions against an attack ; and, had they met according to the 
 plan laid down, they must have taken the town by escalade, vvithout 
 a possibility of a disappointment. 
 
 When sir Thomas Trivet and the other captains saw that their 
 attempt had failed, they were much vexed : they collected themselves 
 as well as they could, to take some refreshment from their sumpter 
 horses, and then to follow the right road to Soria, according to their 
 original intentions. As they had resolved, so did they execute ; and, 
 after a short breakfast, sir Raymond de Balge, a Navarrois, was 
 chosen to advance before the town with forty lances, in order to draw 
 out the javelin-men who were the guard of it. The knight rode up 
 to the barriers, where he skirmished with the guard ; for these javelin, 
 men were full two hundred ; they sallied forth instantly, and began 
 a combat, when the others retreated by little and litde to draw them 
 further into the plain. The garrison would have very roughly treated 
 this detachment, if their ambuscade had not advanced to their assist- 
 ance : they charged the guard full gallop, with spears in their rests, 
 so that at the first shock several were killed and wounded, and the 
 rest driven back into the town with great loss. They immediately 
 closed their gates and barriers, and mounted the battlements, for they 
 expected an assault ; but they were disappointed, as the English and 
 Navarrois retreated in the course of the day, and returned to their 
 quarters, where they had left their men. 
 
 They remained there that night ; and on the morrow, which was 
 St. Stephen's day, they marched to a town called Quasquan,* in 
 Navarre, where they met the king of Navarre, who had come thither 
 on Christmas-eve. The English, on their way to Cascante, burnt 
 several villages, and in particular a considerable one called Niffreto, 
 which they completely pillaged. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 SIR THOMAS TRIVET MAKES AN EXCURSION TO THE TOWN OP AT.FARO W 
 CASTILLE. PEACE CONCLUDED BETWEEN THE KINGS OF SPAIN AND NA- 
 VARRE. THE DEATH OF HENRY KING OF SPAIN. HIS SON JOHN U> 
 CROWNED AS HIS SUCCESSOR. 
 
 While king Henry resided at Seville, in the heart of his kingdom 
 news was brought to him that the English had made an incursion 
 and burnt the town of Soria, in the name of the king of Navarre 
 He was much enraged thereat, and swore he would make them pa) 
 for it. He wrote letters to his son, John of Castille, commanding 
 him instantly to issue a particular summons throughout the kingdom, 
 and to assemble the nobles : for that he should very shortly be in 
 Castille, to revenge himself on the king of Navarre for the exceeises 
 which he had committed. The infant neither dared nor wished to 
 disobey the commands of his father, but immediately issued the 
 summons. 
 
 While these men-at-anns were collecting, and before the arrival 
 of king Henry, sir Thomas Trivet resolved to march toward a hand- 
 some town in Spain called Alfaro. In this design, he set out one 
 evening from Cascante, leaving there the king of Navarre, with only 
 one hundred lances ; but they were all such as he could depend on 
 They came near to Alfaro about daybreak, and halted a league from 
 the town, where they placed themselves in ambush. Sir V/illiam 
 Cendrin and sir Andrew Andrac were sent forward, with about ten 
 spears, to alarm the place. They came to a little brook which runs 
 before the town, and is dangerous to pass : however, Andrew Andrac 
 and Peter Mascle, Navarrois, made their coursers leap over it, and 
 galloped up to the barriers. 
 
 The town was exceedingly alarmed ; and, having sounded their 
 trumpets to assemble their men-at-arms, they opened the gates and 
 barriers, sallied forth, and directly began to skirmish. Of these ten 
 lances, there were only those I have named who had crossed the 
 brook, so that, when they saw such numbers advancing, they wheeled 
 about and leaped back again. Those of Alfaro seeing so small a 
 number, and not suspecting an ambuscade, followed them closely, 
 passing the rivulet a little higher up, at the ford. The ten spears 
 allowed themselves to be pursued as far as the ambush, from whence 
 sir Thomas and the others rushed full gallop, shouting their cry, and, 
 charging the enemy, unhorsed several. In truth, the Spaniards, un- 
 able to withstand the English, turned about as quickly as they could: 
 few escaped death or being made prisoners. 
 
 The alarm was great in the town, which made the English think 
 they should be immediate masters of it, for they saw the inhabitants 
 were as good as defeated : however, they were disappointed, for the 
 women of the place saved it by their presence of mind. While the 
 English were crossing the brook, they closed the gates and barriere, 
 and, having mounted the battlements over the gate, showed every 
 inclination to defend themselves. When sir Thomas saw them thi« 
 
 * * QuasquaQ"— Cascante, near to Tudela. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 245 
 
 drawn up, he said as he was advancing, "Look at those good 
 women : let us return back, for wc cannot do anything niore." Upon 
 whjcji thoy retreated, crossed t!ie brook, and made for Cascantc, 
 carrying with them tlieir prisoners. Sir Thomas Trivet acquired 
 great lavor Irom the king Navarre for the success of this ex- 
 pediiion. 
 
 A!)oui fifteen days after this afTair of Alfaro, the Spaniards took 
 iho iield, amouiiting in the whole, horse and foot, to twenty thousand 
 men, with a good inclination to combat the English. The king of 
 Navarre, o!i hearing this, went to Tudela, attended by sir Thomas 
 Trive* and his troops, and sent orders for all the garrisons of Navarre 
 to march thither: they willingly obeyed his orders, as they wished 
 for nothing more than to engage the Spaniards. The Spaniards 
 were only waiting for the arrival of king Henry, who had left Seville 
 with a nu)nerou3 attendance, and was traversing his kingdom to St. 
 Domingo, where on his arrival he halted, and quartered his people 
 in the adjacent plain. When don John heard that tlic king was 
 come to St. Domingo, he left Alfaro, and marched thither with Jiis 
 army. It was the intention of the Spaniards to lay siege to Tudela 
 and inclose the king of Navarre in it, or force him to figiit. 
 
 The king of Navarre was informed of all this, and he knew that 
 he was not°strong enough to risk a battle with king Henry, who had 
 forty thousand men, including horse and foot. There were some 
 c: elates and barons, wise and valiant men of both kingdoms, in 
 citiier army, who foresaw that great troubles might arise if the two 
 kings, Henry and Charles, should mutually slay each other in battle : 
 ihcy therefore proposed an armistice, that ihey might endeavor to 
 settle their diflcrcnees : but these negotiators had much labor and 
 difficulty before they -jould bring matters to an issue, for the English, 
 v/ho amounted to full two thousand, were haughty and bitter against 
 tiie Spaniards, and advised the king of Navarre to risk a battle. 
 
 On the other hand, the Spaniards, who were very numerous, held 
 the English and Navarrois cheap. The treaties, however, were 
 drawing to a conclusion; and,Avith much ditliculty, an armistice 
 w?s agreed on^ for six weeks, between the two kingdoms, with the 
 intent of concluding a peace. The negotiators proposed also that a 
 marriage should take place between the eldest son of king Henry 
 v/ith a daughter of the king of Navarre, that the peace might be more 
 solid and durable. The king of Navarre readily listened to this pro. 
 posal, for he saw by it how highly his daughter would be settled. 
 The prelates and barons of both realms advised also that Charles, 
 eldest son of the king of Navarre, should marry a daughter of king 
 Henry. This was concluded ; and don Henry, king of Castille, was 
 to use his influence with the king of France, under whose guardian, 
 ship Charles was, that he should be permitted to r&turn to Navarre. 
 This he performed; and the king of France complied with his 
 request. 
 
 The king of Navarre, on account of these marriages, was willing 
 to surrender, for ten years, to the king of Spain, as a security for his 
 good faith, the towns and castles of Estella, of Tudela, and of la 
 Guardia, King Henry consented to give up to the English sir Peter 
 Courtenay and the lord de I'Ssparre, a Gascon, who were his prison, 
 ers. All these different treaties were sealed, and sworn to be faith- 
 fiilly observed for ever by the two kings ; and it was agreed that 
 ■whoever should any way infringe them should submit himself to the 
 judgment of the pope. 
 
 While these negotiations were going forward, the king of Navarre, 
 who was indebted to the English twenty thousand francs, sent the 
 ^?iscount do Chastillon to Arragon ta borrow this sum from the king 
 if Arragon, who readily lent it to him, but took for his security the 
 .?ood towns of Pampeluna, Miranda, Borgo la Reyna, Corella and St. 
 lean du Pied des Ports. By these means, the English were paid 
 their demands : they left the king of Navarre, well satisfied with 
 their conduct, returned to Bordeaux, and from thence to England. 
 
 The marriage was concluded between Charles of Navarre and the 
 daughter of king Henry : she was called Jane, and was very hand- 
 'zome. In this year the king of Castille died, and his eldest son, don 
 John, succeeded him. He was crowned with the consent of all the 
 prelates and barons of Spain, king of Castille, Seville, Gallicia and 
 Cordova ; and they swore to him, for ever, fealty and homage. About 
 this time, war commenced between the kings of Portugal and Cas. 
 tille, which lasted a considerable time, as you will hear related in 
 this history. But we must now return to the affairs of France. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 THE LORD DE MUCIDEiVT TURNS TO THE ENGLISH. THE LORD DE LANGU- 
 RANT IS MORTALLY WOUNDED. THE GOVERNOR OF BOUTEVILLE IS 
 DEFEATED, AND THE CASTLE SURRENDERS TO THE FRENCH. 
 
 Yov have before heard that the lord de Mucident had turned to 
 the French party. He had remained at Paris for upward of a year, 
 until he was tired ; for he had expected more from the king of France 
 than he had received, which made him repent having changed his 
 side. He said he had been forced so to do, and that it was not of his 
 own tree will. 
 
 He had therefore resolved to quit Paris privately, where he had too 
 long resided, return to his own country, and then surrender himself 
 to the English ; for he preferred serving the king of England to the 
 
 I king of France. He acted upon this plan, and gave all his acquaint- 
 ance to understand, except those of his council, that he was dis- 
 gusted. One evening he mounted his horse incognito, only \w t 
 persons with iiim, set out from Paris, and rode to his own countrr-, 
 where his people followed him. He continued his journey until he 
 came to Bordeaux, where he found the lord Neville, to whom lie 
 related his adventures. He attached himself to the English, and 
 declared he would rather betray Ids troth to the king of France than 
 to his natural lord the king of England. The lord de Mucident re- 
 mained steady to the English ever after aa long as he lived. 
 
 The duke of Anjou was much enraged wiven he heard of this, 
 and swore, that if ever he could lay hands upon him, he would make 
 his head fly from his shoulders. This wirs told lo the lord de Muci- 
 dent, who in consequence took every precaution in his power. The 
 lord de Langurant remained steadfast to the French. He was an 
 able and active knight, and harassed much the vassals of those who 
 had turned to the English possessing lands adjoining to liis own ; 
 s-uch as the lords dc Roscm, de Duras, de Mucident ; which made 
 these three barons very angry, and excited them to attempt afl means 
 to slay him; for he was their bitter enemy. 
 
 The lord de Langurant, being a knight eager for battle, was riding 
 out one day attended by about forty lances : he advanced near to 
 an English garrison called Cadillac,* which belonged to the captal 
 dc Buch and iiis brothers. He posted his men in ambush in a wood, 
 telling them that he would ride alone to the castic to sec if any «uie 
 would sally forth against him. Plis men obeyed : when, riding to 
 the barriers of Cadillac, he spoke to the guards, asking, " Whore ia 
 Bernard Courant, your captain ? Tell him that the lord de Langurant 
 wishes to tilt with Jiiin ; and, since he is so valiant a man-ut.arms. 
 he will not refuse my request for the love of his lady. If he should 
 not consent, it will turn to his shame, and I will publish evcrywhcra 
 that he had refused to break a lance with me through cowardice." 
 One of the valets of Bernard, at that time at tlic barriers, replied^ 
 '* Lord de Langurant, I have perfectly heard what you have said : .' 
 will go and inform my master; for cowardice shall never be a ro 
 proach to him, if you will be so good as to wait." " By my faith,' 
 answered the lord de Langurant, '° that I will." The valet went if 
 his master, whom he found in his chamber, and told him what yot 
 have heard. 
 
 When Bernard heard this, his heart swelled within him, and ha 
 fiercely exclaimed, " Give me my arms, and saddle my steed, for li« 
 shall never return with a refusal." His orders were promptly obeyed: 
 being armed, he mounted on horseback with his lance and buckler, 
 and, having the gates and barriers thrown open, advanced into the 
 plain. The lord de Langurant was much pleased when he saw him 
 lowering his spear, he placed himself in the position of a good knight, 
 as did his squire. They were both well mounted ; and, spurring 
 their horses, their lances struck with such force on their shields as 
 shivered them to pieces. At the second pass, Bernard Courant gave 
 such a deadly blow on the shoulder of the lord de Langurant as ta 
 drive him out of his saddle, and fell him to the ground*. V/hen 
 Bernard saw him fall, he was rejoiced, and tun ing his horse upon 
 him, as the lord de Langurant was raising himself up, Bernard, who 
 had great strength, caught him with both hands by the helmet, tors 
 it off his head, and flung it under his horse. 
 
 The troops of the lord de Langurant who were in ambush, noticing 
 all this, began to advance to rescue their lord. Bernard Courant 
 perceived them, and, drawing his dagger, said to the lord de Langu- 
 rant, " Surrender yourself my prisoner, lord de Langurant, rescued 
 or not, or you are a dead man." The lord de Langurant, who 
 trusted to his people for assistance, was shy, and made no answer. 
 When Bernard saw that he would not make any reply, he was in. 
 ' flamed with passion, and, fearing lest he might suffer from delay, 
 struck him with his dagger on the head, which was bare,. and drove 
 it into him : then, drawing it back, he put spurs to his horse, galloped 
 within the barriers, where he dismounted, and put himself in a pos. 
 ture of defence, if there should be a necessity for it. The lord de 
 Langurant's people, on coming to him, found him mortally wounded : 
 they were very much enraged at it, and, having bandaged his wound 
 as well as they could, carried him back to his castle, where he, on 
 the morrow, expired. Such was the end of the lord de Languranl 
 in Gascony. 
 
 At this period, a deed of arms was performed, in the RochelloiSv 
 against Heliot de Plaisac, a very amiable squire and gallant man-at 
 arms, governor of BoutevilIe,t an English garrison, wherein there 
 were about six score lances, English and Gascons, who, pillaging the 
 whole country, advanced almost daily as far as the towns of La Ro- 
 chelle or St. Jean d'Angely. They kept these towns in such dread 
 that none dared to venture out but very privately, which cngered 
 greatly the knights and squires of that country. They considered 
 well this business, and resolved either to apply such a remedy as 
 would put a stop to it, or to lose their lives or liberties in the attempt. 
 They collected, in the town of La Rochelle, about two hundred 
 spears, on whom they could depend ; for it was toward this town 
 that Heliot de Plaisac made his excursions. There were now in it, 
 from Poitou and Saintonge, the lords de Touars, de Puissances, sii 
 James de Surgeres, sir Perceval de Coulogne, sir Reginald de Ga 
 
 * " Cadillac"— a viljage in Guienne. eeven leagues from BunieAUiC 
 t " Bout«vill* near Cognac 
 
84C 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 mers, sir Hugh de Vivoiine, and several other knights and squires, 
 all well inclined to meet and combat their enemies. These lords 
 had had information that Heliot de Plaisac was on his march toward 
 La Rochelle, in search of prey. They gave their orders accordingly, 
 and sallied out in the evening well armed and mounted. On their 
 departure, they directed that the cattle should, on the morrow, be 
 driven out to the fields to take their chance ; which was obeyed. 
 
 When thp niorrow came, Heliot de Plaisac and his troop arrived 
 befort La Rochelle, while their foragers collected the cattle, and had 
 tlicm driven av/ay by the peasants of the country. They had not 
 gone more than a league before the French (who were upward of 
 two hundred lances) fell upon their wing, quite unexpectedly, and 
 charged them vigorously ; so that, at this first onset, several were 
 unhorsed. Hciiot de Plaisac cried out, " On foot, on foot ! let no 
 man fly, but send away the horses ; for, if the day be ours, we shall 
 have horses enow, and, if we lose it, we shall not want any." The 
 English and Gascons, of Heliot's party, drew up on foot, and in good 
 order. The French did the same, for they were afraid of their horses 
 being wounded by the spears and swords of the enemy. 
 
 The battle then commenced. It was severe, and of long contin. 
 aance ; for they fought hand to hand, pushing their spears up to their 
 guards at every thrust. Many gallant deeds were done ; there was 
 many a capture, and many a rescue. However, the Poitevins and 
 Saintongers won the field, and their enemies were either slain or 
 made prisoners, for very few escaped : the forage was recaptured, 
 and Heliot de Plaisac taken and carried to La Rochelle. 
 
 Shortly afterwards, these lords marched to the castle of Bouteyille, 
 which was soon and easily taken, for scarcely any one was within 
 it. Thus was Bouteville gained by the French, to the great joy of 
 all the country round about. Heliot de Plaisac remained in prison 
 for a long time. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 SIR THOMAS TRIVET RETURNS TO ENGLAND WITH HIS COMPANIONS. HIS 
 HERALD RELATES TO THE DUKE OF LANCASTER THE PARTICULARS OF 
 THE DEATH OF KIN& HENRY OF CASTILLE, AND THE CORONATION OF HIS 
 ELDEST SON DON JOHN. 
 
 At this time, sir Thomas Trivet, sir William Helmen, and the 
 other knights who had been in Spain t3 the assistance of the king 
 of Navarre, returned to England. They immediately waited on the 
 king, who at that time resided at Chertsey : his two uncles, the duke 
 of Lancaster and the earl of Cambridge, were with him. These 
 knights were graciously received by the king and his lords ; and 
 many questions were asked concerning the news of the countries 
 they came from : they told all they knew ; how the war had been 
 carried on in Spain and Navarre, and how those two kings had con- 
 cluded a peace, relating exactly the articles of the treaties, and also 
 that tne king of Navarre had married his eldest son to a daughter 
 of king Henry. 
 
 The duke of Lancaster and the earl of Cambridge were very pen- 
 sive on hearing this intelligence, for they had considered themselves 
 as heirs to all Spain in right of their wives : they inquired at what 
 time king Henry had died, and if the Spaniards had crowned his 
 son king. Sir Thomas Trivet and sir William Helmen answered : 
 " My dear lords, when king Henry the bastard died, we were not at 
 the coronation of his son ; for at that time we had retreated into 
 Navarre ; but we have a herald who was present, and you may, if 
 you please, learn, from him every particular concerning it." 
 
 The herald was called in, and the duke desired he would relate 
 how everything passed. He answered : " My lords, I will comply 
 with your request, and tell you all. While these knights were at 
 Pampeluna, waiting the conclusion of the treaties, 1 remained by 
 their permission with the king of Navarre, and was much respected 
 by him and his people. I left Pampeluna, and accompanied him to 
 St. Domingo, where, on his approach king Henry came out to meet 
 him with a numerous train, as a proof of his affection. The king of 
 Navarre and his people were treated with much honor : in the even- 
 ing he was entertained with a very handsome supper. While at 
 table, news was brought that a wild boar was discovered in the ad- 
 joining moors ; a hunting party was directly formed for the morrow. 
 The two kings and their huntsmen were present ; the boar was 
 taken ; and they returned to St. Domingo in the most friendly 
 manner. 
 
 " The next day, king Henry set out for Pierreferrade,* to keep an 
 appointment he had made with his people. He was there seized 
 with an illness, of which he died. The king of Navarre was told of 
 it as he was on his road to visit him : he returned back much vexed 
 thereat. I then took my leave of him, and went to Castille to learn 
 
 * " Piene-ferrade." Q. I cannot find anything like this name in the map near to St. 
 Domingo. There is Pon-ferrada on the western borders of Leon, but tliat appears to be 
 too distant. 
 
 Denys Sauvage does not seem to understand this passage. 
 Moreii says, Henry died at St. Domingo. 
 
 F«rreras, in hia History of Spain, says, tlie vulgar report was, that Henry was poisonBd 
 by means of a handsome pair of buskins, which Mahomet king of Granada sent him as 
 a present, lest, when having made peace with the king of Navarre, he might turn his 
 arms against him. Ferreras himself seems to doubt it. He died at Saint Domingo la 
 C*i^ada. 29th May, 1374. The infant John was instantly proclaimed king, and left St. 
 Uomineo for Burgos, carrying with him the body of his father, which he deposited 
 %tme. in order for its being transported to Toledo. 
 
 what was going forward. King Henry died on Wednesday. Shortlj 
 after, on the 25th day ©f July, the feast of St. James and St. Chris, 
 topher, John, eldest son of the late king Henry, was crowned king 
 of Castille, in the cathedral church of the city of Burgos. All the 
 barons and prelates of Spain, Galicia, Cordova, and Seville were 
 present, and swore, on the holy Evangelists, their homages to him 
 as king. He created that day two hundred and ten knights, and 
 made several magnificent presents. On the morrow after his core 
 nation, he went, attended by great numbers of his nobles, to a oon. 
 vent of nuns, out of Burgos, which is called les Oruches, where he 
 heard mass and dined. After dinner, there was a grand tournament ; 
 at which the viscount de Roquebertin, from Arragon, won the prize. 
 When this was over, the king returned to Burgos, where the feasts 
 lasted for fifteen days." 
 
 The duke of Lancaster asked if the king of Portugal had been in- 
 vited thither : the herald said, *' He had been invited, but did not 
 come ; and I was informed he told the envoy who carried the invita- 
 tion, that he would never attend the coronation of the son of a bas- 
 tard." " On my faith," replied the duke, " he did well to send such 
 an answer, and I thank him for it. Things shall not long remain as 
 they now are. It shall soon be otherwise, for my brother and myself 
 will call upon don John for that inheritance of which he now scyles 
 himself king." Here the conversation ended, when they called for 
 wine and refreshments. We will now leave this matter, and return 
 to what was passing in France. 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 THE EARL OF FLANDERS STOPS THE PROGRESS OF AN EMBASSADOR FROM 
 THE KING- OF FRANCE TO SCOTLAND : THIS CAUSES GREAT DISSENSIONS 
 BETWEEN THEM. 
 
 King Charles, who at this time governed France, was very saga- 
 cious and subtle, as his conduct showed ; for, though he never quitted 
 his closet or his amusements, he reconquered all that his predeces- 
 sors had lost in the field at the head of their armies, for which he was 
 greatly to be commended. Now, because the king of France knew 
 that king Robert of Scotland, and that whole kingdom, bore a mortal 
 hatred to the English (for never can these two kingdoms love each 
 other,) that a better understanding between him and the Scots might 
 be continued, he determined to send one of his knights, and a secre- 
 tary to his council, to king Robert and the Scots, to treat with them ; 
 to examine the state of that country, and see whether they were in a 
 condition to carry on any effectual war: for Evan of Wales had 
 during hie life-time informed him, that the most certain way of dis- 
 turbing England was through Scotland. 
 
 The king of France, having well considered this matter, had various 
 ideas on the subject ; and, having fixed his plan, he called to him 
 one of his knights, a prudent man, named sir Peter lord de Bournezel, 
 and said : " You will carry this message to Scotland, and salute the . 
 king and barons, with the assurance that we and our realm are vvil. 
 ling to enter into treaties with them on the footing of good friencp, 
 in order that, when the season shall be favorable, we may send over 
 troops, to be there admitted in the like manner as the practice has 
 been with our predecessors in former times : and in your journeys 
 thither and back again, as well as during your residence, you will 
 take care to keep such state as shall become an embassador from the 
 king ; for such is our will ; and every expense shall be repaid you." 
 The knight answered, " Sire, your orders shall be obeyed." 
 
 He did not delay his journey long after this ; but, when his pre- 
 parations were ready, he took leave of the king, and set out from 
 Paris, continuing his route until he came to Sluys in Flanders. He 
 waited there for a wind, which being unfavorable, detained him fif- 
 teen days. During this time he lived magnificently ; and gold and 
 silver plate were in such profusion in the apartments as if he had 
 been a prince. He had also music to announce his dinner, and 
 caused to be carried before him a sword in a scabbard, richly 
 blazoned with his anns in gold and silver. His servants paid well . 
 for everything. Many of the towns-people were much astonished at 
 the great state this knight lived in at home, which he also maintained 
 when he went abroad. The bailiff of the town, who was an officer 
 under the earl of Flanders, had noticed this conduct, and could not 
 remain silent on the subject, for which he was to blame, but went 
 and informed the earl of it, who at the time resided at Bruges, and 
 his cousin the duke of Brittany with him. The earl of Flanders 
 having considered a while, with the advice of the duke of Brittany, . 
 ordered the embassador to be brought thither. The bailiff returned 
 to Sluys, and came very uncourteously to the king's knight ; for h( -If j 
 laid his hand on him, and arrested him in the name of the earl. 
 
 The knight was exceedingly surprised at this proceeding : he tola 
 the bailiff, that he was embassador and commissioner from the king 
 of France. The bailiflT said, " that might be ; but he must speak 
 with the eari, who had ordered him to be conducted into his pres- J 
 ence." The knight could not by any means excuse himself from 
 being carried to Bruges with all his attendants. When he was 
 brought into the apartments of tht^ earl, he and the duke of Brittc.iy 
 were leaning on a window which looked into the gardens. The 
 knight cast himself on his knees b efore the earl, and said, " My lord, 
 I am your prisoner." At which wo\ "ds, the earl was mightily enraged, 
 and replied with a passion, " How, rascal, do you dare to call your. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 self my prisoner, when I have only sent to speak with you ? The 
 subjects of my lord may very freely come and speak, with me ; but 
 thou hast ill acquitted thyself by remaining so long at Sluys without 
 coming to visit me, when thou knewest I was so near ; but, I suppose, 
 thou disdainedst it." " My lord," answered the knight, " saving your 
 displeasure"— He was interrupted by the duke of Brittany, who said, 
 " It is by such tattlers and jesters of the parliament of Paris, and of 
 the king's chamber, as you, that the kingdom is governed ; and you 
 manage the king as you please, to do good or evil according to your 
 wil's : there is not a prince of the blood, however great he may be, 
 if he incur your hatred, who will be listened to : but such fellows 
 shall yet be hanged, until the gibbets be full of them." 
 
 The knight, who was still on his knees, was much mortified by 
 these words : he saw that it was better for him to be silent than to 
 make any reply : he did not therefore answer, but quitted the pres. 
 ence of the earl and his lords, when he found an opportunity. Some 
 worthy people who were with the earl made way for him, and carried 
 him to refresh himself. The knight afterwards mounted his horse, 
 and returned to his hotel in Sluys, where I will tell you what hap- 
 pened to hirn. Although all his stores were embarked, and there 
 was a favorable wind for Scotland, he would not sail and risk the 
 dangers of the sea ; for he was warned that he was watched by the 
 English who resided in Sluys, and that, if he should sail, he would 
 be taken, and carried to England. Through fear of this happening, 
 he gave up his intended voyage, quitted Sluys, and returned to the 
 king at Paris. 
 
 You may easily imagine, that the lord de Bournezel was not long 
 before he told the king all that had befallen him in Flanders : he re- 
 lated everything exactly as it had happened. It was necessary he 
 should do so by way of excusing himself for not having obeyed his 
 orders, as the king was very much surprised at his return. When sir 
 Peter was relating the events of this journey, there were present 
 several knights of the king's chamber : in particular, sir John de 
 Guistelles of Hainault, a cousin to the earl of Flanders, who mutter- 
 ingly repeated the words of sir Peter; so that, thinking the knight 
 had spoken too freely qf the earl of Flanders, he could not contain 
 himself, but said : " I cannot thus hear my dear cousin the earl of 
 Flanders so slightingly spoken of ; and if, sir knight, you mean to 
 affirm for truth all you have said, and assert that he by his act pre- 
 vented you from fulfilling your orders, I challenge you to the field, 
 and here is my glove." 
 
 The lord de Bournezel was not slow to reply : " Sir .Tohn, I say 
 that I was thus arrested and conducted by the bailiff of Sluys, and 
 brought before the earl of Flanders ; and that every word which I 
 have spoken as from that earl and the duke of Brittany were said by 
 them ; and if you wish to say anything to the contrary, and that it 
 was not so, I will take up your glove." " I do say so," replied the 
 lord de Guistelles. At these words, the king looked very grave, and 
 said, " Come, come ; we will hear no more of this." He then retired 
 into his closet, attended by his chamberlains, very well pleased that 
 sir Peter had so frankly spoken, and had so well answered sir John 
 de Guistelles. He said to them smiling, " He has kept his ground 
 well : I would not for twenty thousand francs it had not so hap. 
 pened.'' Sir John de Guistelles, who was one of the king's cham- 
 berlains, was afterwards so ill at court, and received with so much 
 coldness, that he noticed it, and wished not to abide the consequen- 
 ces : he therefore took leave of the king, and went to Brabant to 
 duke Winceslaus, who retained him in his service. With regard to 
 the king of France, he was much angered with the earl of Flanders ; 
 for it appeared to several of the kingdom, that he had prevented the 
 lord de Bournezel from continuing his journey to Scotland. He had 
 also entertained his cousin the duke of Brittany, who was greatly 
 out of favor with the king of France. Those who were near the 
 person of the king easily saw that the earl of Flanders was not in 
 his good graces. Shortly after this event, the king of France wrote 
 very sharp letters to his cousin the earl of Flanders, which contained 
 , also menaces, for that he had supported and kept with him the duke 
 of Brittany, whom he considered as his enemy. 
 
 The earl wrote back again, and made the best excuses he could. 
 These were, however, of no avail ; for the king of France sent him 
 sharper letters, in which he declared, that if he did not send away 
 his enemy the duke of Brittany, he would look upon him in the same 
 light. When the earl of Flanders saw the manner in which the king 
 took it, and that he would follow it up, he -considered with himself 
 (i'or he had a quick imagination,) and resolved to show these menaces 
 to his priacipal towns, more especially to Ghent, to know what answer 
 they would wish him to send. He dispatched copies to Bruges, 
 Ypres and Courtray ; and he set out with the duke of Brittany for 
 Ghent, where they lodged at the postern gate. He was received by 
 the citizens v/ith very great joy, for at that time they were much 
 pleased to have him an.jng them. When the deputies from the other 
 towns were arrived* according to their orders, the count had them 
 assembled ; and John de la Faucille harangued them, in his name, 
 on the cause of his meeting them : he read to them the letters which 
 had been received within the last two months from the king of France. 
 After these letters had been read, the earl spoke as follows : " My 
 children, and good people of Flanders, through God's grace, I have 
 been for a long time your lord : I have governed you in peace as 
 much as was in my power ; and you have never seen anything in 
 
 [ me but a desire to maintain you in prosperity, as a good lord shouh^ 
 act in regard to his subjects. It must be very displeasing to me, am* 
 to you also v/ho are my faithful subjects, that I should incur thr 
 hatred of my lord the king, because I keep with me my cousin-germa i 
 the duke of Brittany, who at this time is not in favor with the cou' t 
 of France ; nor, in truth, can he place any dependence on his vassab 
 of Brittany, through the hatred of five or six of his barons. The 
 king insists that 1 banish him my house and territories, which would 
 be very extraordinary. I do not say but that if I should assist my 
 cousin in opposition to France, the king might*liave cause to com- 
 plain : but I have neither done so, nor have I any such inclinations. 
 It is for this cause I have assembled you, to explain to you the dangers 
 that might happen if you should be desirous for him to remain with 
 me." They answered unanimously, " My lord, we do wish him to 
 remain with you : and we know not that prince, liowever great he 
 may be, who should resolve to make war upon you, but who would 
 find in your earldom of Flanders two hundred thousand men com- 
 pletely armed." 
 
 This reply was very agreeable to the tarl of Flanders, who said, 
 " My good children, I thank you." The assembly novv' broke up ; 
 and the earl was so well pleased that he gave them permission to 
 return to their own homes in peace. The earl, at a proper time, re- 
 turned to Bruges in company with the duke of Brittany. Things 
 remained in this situation. The earl was very popular with his sub. 
 jects, and the country continued in peace and prosperity: this, how- 
 ever, did not last long, through extraordinary wickedness, whick 
 brought on great tribulation, as you will hear related in this history. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 THE DUKE OF BRITTANY RETIRES FROM FLANDERS TO ENGLAND. THB 
 YOUNG COUNT DE ST. POL, WHILE A PRISONER IN ENGLAND, MARRIES. 
 
 The king of France was punctually informed of everything that 
 had passed, and the speech which the earl of Flanders had made. 
 He did not love him the better for this : but, as he could not remedy 
 it, he thought it more prudent to overlook it : he declared, however, 
 that the earl was the proudest prince alive. From the king's manner, 
 it was visible he was the lord he would most willingly have humbled, 
 both for his pride and for his opposition to his desires. The earl of 
 Flanders, notwithstanding the king of France had written to say he 
 was very much displeased at his keeping the duke of Brittany with 
 him, did not send him away, but entertained him as long as he wished 
 to stay, and gave him a handsome establishment. At last, the duke 
 was advised to visit England, which he likewise wished to see : he 
 took leave of the earl his cousin, and went to Gravelines, where ha 
 was met by the earl of Salisbury, with five hundred men-at-arms and 
 a thousand archers, for fear of the French garri-^ons, and conducted 
 to Calais : sir Hugh Calverley, the governor, received him with all 
 respect. 
 
 When the duke had staid at Calais five days, having a favorable 
 wind, he embarked with the earl of Salisbury, a id landed at Dover, 
 and from thence went to the young king Richard, who received them 
 v/ith much joy ; as did also the duke of Lancaster, the earls of Cam- 
 bridge and Buckingham, and the great barons of England. 
 
 You have before heard how sir Valeran de Luxembourg, the young 
 count de St. Pol, had been made prisoner in a battle between Ardres 
 and Calais, and had been carried to England under the king's plea- 
 sure, who had purchased him of the lord de Gommegines : for the 
 lord de Gommegines had set on foot this expedition, in which the 
 count had been made a prisoner by a squire, a good man-at-arms, 
 from the country of Gueldres. The young count de St. Pol remained 
 a long time a prisoner in England, without being ransomed : true it 
 is, that the king of England, during the lifetime of the captal de 
 Buch, offered him several times to the king of France and to his 
 allies in exchange for the captal ; but neither the king of France nor 
 his council would listen to it, nor give up the captal in exchange, to 
 the great dissatisfaction of the king of England. 
 
 Things remained for some time in this -situai on. The count de 
 St. Pol had an agreeable prison in the beautiful castle of Windsor, 
 and was allowed the liberty of amusing himself with hawking wher- 
 ever he pleased in the environs of Westminster and Windsor : he 
 was thus trusted on the faith of his word. The princess, mother of 
 king Richard, resided at that time at Windsor, with her daughter, 
 the lady Maude, the most beautiful woman in England. The young 
 count de St. Pol and this lady fell loyally in love with each other : 
 they frequently met at dancings, caroUings, and at other amuse 
 ments ; so that it was suspected the young lady tenderly loved the 
 count, and she discovered the whole to, her mother. A treaty of 
 marriage was then entered into between the count de St. Pol and the 
 lady Maude Holland : the count was ransomed for six score thousand 
 francs ; of which one half was to be remitted on his marriage, the 
 remainder he was to pay. When the treaty had been concluded be- 
 tween the young people, the king of England granted permission for 
 the count to cross the sea, in order to procure his ransom, on his pro. 
 mise to return within the year. The count went to France to see 
 his friends, the king and his cousins of France, the earl of Flanders, 
 the duke of Brabant, and also duke Albert. 
 
 I In this year, a cruel charge was laid against the count de St. Pol 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 he was accused of an intention to deliver up to the English the strong 
 castle of Bouchain. The king ordered him to be arrested and closely 
 guardsd, declaring that the count in fact meant to have entered into 
 treaties inimical 'tov/ard him ; from which charge the count could 
 never clear hiniTclf. On this occasion also, the lord canon de Robe- 
 sart, the lord de Vertaing, sir James du Sart and Gerard d'Obies, 
 were imprisoned in the castle of Mons in Hainault. This charge at 
 length came to ccthing ; for, the king of France not being able to 
 prove anything against them, they were set at liberty. The young 
 count returned to England, to acquit himself of his engagement to 
 the king, and to marry his bride. He paid the sixty thousand francs 
 according to his obligation, and recrossed the sea, but did not enter 
 France, for the king disliked him much. 
 
 The count and countess went therefore to reside at the castle of 
 Han-sur-Heure, which the lord de Moraine, who had married his 
 sister, lent them ; and there they remained during the life of the king 
 of France ; for the count could never regain his love. We will now 
 leave these things, and return to France. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 THE DTJKE OF ANJOU MAKES WAR ON BRITTANY. SIR WILLIAM DES 
 BORDES IS TAKEN PRISONER BY THE GARRISON OF CHERBOURG. 
 
 At this period, all Brittany was armed, as well against the duke as 
 against the French. Several of the principal towns had a good under- 
 standing with the duke, and wondered he was not sent back : there 
 were also many knights and squires of Brittany of the same opinion ; 
 and, by m.eans of a treaty, the countess de Penthievre, mother to the 
 children of Charles de Blois, was not averse to his return. But sir 
 Bertrand du Guesclin, constable of France, the lords de Clisson, de 
 Laval, the viscouat de Rohan, and the lord de Rochefort, kept the 
 country in a state of warfare with the force sent them from France. 
 At Pontorson, St. Malo, and in that neighborhood, were great num. 
 bers of men-at-arms from France, Normandy, Auvergne, and Bur- 
 gundy, who committed very great devastations. 
 
 The duke of Brittany, who was in England, received full informa- 
 tion of all this, and that the duke of Anjou, who resided at Angers, 
 was carrying the war into his country : he heard also that the princi- 
 pal towns had a,rmed themselves against the French, as well as sev- 
 ci-al knights and squires, in his name, for which he felt himself much 
 obiigod. But, notwithstanding all these favorable symptoms, he was 
 afraid to return to Brittany with full confidence in them, for he was 
 always suspicious of some treason: neither did his own council, the 
 king of England, nor duke of Lancaster advise him to go thither. 
 
 Sir William des Bordes maintained the garrisons in Normandy and 
 Valognes of which he was captain : he had with him the deputy s^n- 
 eschal of Eu, sir William Marcel, sir Braque de Braquemont, the 
 lord de Torcy, sir Percival d'Ayneval, the b^gue d'Yury, sir Lancelot 
 de Lorris, with many other knights and squires, who, day and night, 
 employed their thoughts in devising how they could damage Cher- 
 bourg, of which sir John Harlestone was governor. The garrison of 
 Cherbourg made as frequent sallies as they pleased ; for they could do 
 £0 without any one knowing of it, through the extensive forest with 
 which they were surrounded. They had made a road through the 
 wood in such a manner that they could overrun part of Normandy 
 without danger from the French. 
 
 It fell out that both garrisons made an excursion the same day 
 without the knowledge ©f each other, and by accident met at a place 
 called Pastoy.^3.Bois. When they met, like knights and squires 
 desirous of fighting, they all dismounted except sir Lancelot de Lorris, 
 who remained on horseback, his lance in its rest, and his target on 
 his neck, requesting a tilt in honor of his lady. Several heard his de- 
 mand ; for there was also among the English some knights and squires 
 who had bound themselves in like manner by vows of love to their 
 ladies. I believe it was sir John Copeland, a hardy knight, who ac- 
 cepted his challenge. Then, spurring their horses, they charged each 
 other very gallantly, and gave dreadful blows on their targets. Sir 
 Lancelot was, however, so severely struck by the English knight that 
 his shield and other armor was pierced through, and himself mor- 
 tally wounded. It was a great pity, for he was an expert knight, 
 young, handsome, and much in love. He vvas there and elsewhere 
 sincerely lamented. 
 
 The French and English then attacked each other, fighting hand to 
 hand. On the part of the French, sir William des Bordes, the deputy 
 seneschal of Eu, sir William Marcel, sir Braque de Braquemont, and 
 the others, showed themselves good knights, and fought manfully. 
 Sir John Harlestone, sir Philip Picourde, sir John Burley, sir John 
 Copeland, and the rest of the English behaved well ; and, from their 
 superior fighting, they at last won the day. The French knights and 
 Bquires were either taken or slain : in particular, a squire from Hain- 
 ault, called William de Beaulieu, and'sir William des Bordes were 
 made prisoners. They were conducted to Cherbourg, where they 
 met sir OUver du Guesclin, who was a prisoner also. 
 Thus ended the business, as I was informed. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 GEOFFRY TETE-NOIRE AND AIMERIGOT MARCEL, CAPTAINS ATTACHED TO 
 ENGLAND, TAKE SEVERAL STRONG PLACES IN AUVERGNE AND LIMOUSIN 
 FROM THE FRENCH. 
 
 There happened daily in Auvergne and Limousin feats of arms, 
 and wonderful enterprises ; more especially in the neighborhood of 
 the castle of Ventadour, in Auvergne, which is one of the strongest 
 places in all that country. It was sold or betrayed to the most crael 
 of all Bretons, called GeofTry T^te-noire. I will relate how this 
 happened. 
 
 The count de Ventadour de Montpensier v/as an ancient knight 
 and honorable man, who no longer took part in the wars, but remained 
 peaceably in his castle : this knight had a squire, or varlet, called 
 Ponce du Bois,. who had served him for a length of time without 
 having profited much by his service : seeing that henceforvv'ard he 
 should have no opportunities of gaining riches, he determined, by bad 
 advice, to enrich himself, and in consequence entered into a secret 
 treaty with Geoffry Tete-noire, who resided in Limousin, to deliver 
 up the castle of Ventadour to him for the sum of six thousand francs. 
 This was agreed to ; but he had inserted among the conditions that 
 no harm should be done to his master, the count de Ventadour, and 
 that he should be put out of his castle in a courteous manner, and that 
 everything of his should be restored to him. This was comphed 
 with, for the Bretons and Enghsh who entered the castie did not in 
 the smallest degree hurt the count nor his people, and only retained 
 the stores and artillery, of which there were great plenty. 
 
 The count de Ventadour went to reside at Montpensier,* with 
 his wife and children, beyond Aigueperse in Auvergne. GeofFry 
 Tete-noire and his troops kept possession of Ventadour ; from whence 
 they ravaged the country, and took many strong castles in Auvergne, 
 Rouergue, Limousin, Quercy, Gevaudan, Bigoire, and in the Age- 
 nois, one after the other. 
 
 With this Geolfry Tete-noire, there were other captains, who 
 performed many excellent deeds of arms, Aimerigot Pvlarcel, a 
 Limousin squire attached to the English party, who took the strong 
 castle of Cassuriel, situated in the bishopric of Clermont in Auvergne; 
 from whonco the above-mentioned Aimerigot and his companions 
 overran the country at their pleasure. Captains of other castles were 
 also in his company, such as the bourg Calart, the bourg AngloiSjthe 
 bourg de Champagne, Raymond de Force, a Gascon, and Peter de 
 Bearn, a B^arnois. 
 
 Aimerigot made one day an excursion, with only twelve compan 
 ions, to seek adventures: they took the road tovv'ard Aloise, near St. 
 Flour, which has a handsome castle, in the bishopric of Clermont: 
 they knew the castle was only guarded by the porter. As they were 
 riding silently toward Aloise, Aimerigot spies the porter sitting on 
 the trunk of a tree withoutside of the castle : a Breton, who shot 
 extraordinarily well with a cross-bow, says to him, "Would you like 
 to have that porter killed at a shot?" " Yes, replied Aimerigot ; " and 
 I beg you will do so." The cross-bowman shoots a bolt, which he 
 drives into the porter's head, and knocks him down : the porter, feel- 
 ing himself mortally wounded, regains the gate, which he attempts to 
 shut, but cannot, and falls down dead. Aimerigot and his compan. 
 ions hasten to the castle, which they enter by the wicket, and see the 
 porter lying dead and his wife distracted beside him: they do her no 
 harm, but inquire where the constable of the castle is : she replies 
 that he is at Clerm.ont. They promise to spare her life, if she will 
 give them the keys of the castle and of the dungeon ; which when 
 she had done, for she could not any way defend herself, they shut 
 her out, having given her what belonged to her, and indeed as much 
 as she could carry away. She went to St. Flour, which is but a league 
 off: the inhabitants were much frightened, as well as the adjoining 
 country, when they heard that Aloise was become Engli.-h. 
 
 Soon after this, Aimerigot Marcel recaptured the strong castle of 
 Balon by surprise ; the governor was asleep in the great tower, when 
 he scaled the walls, for the place was not easy to be taken by force; 
 but, by means of this tower, the castle might be gained. Aimerigot, 
 therefore, thought of a subtle trick : having possession of thr; father 
 and mother of the governor, he ordered them to be led in sight of 
 the tower, making every preparation to behead them, if the son did 
 not surrender himself. The good people thought they were instantly 
 to be murdered, and cried out to their son to take compassion on 
 them, bewailing most lamentably their unfortunate lot. 
 
 The governor was much affected : he could not suffer his parents 
 to be put to death : he therefore surrendered the tower, when the 
 whole family were thrust out of the casde. Thus did Balon belong 
 to the English, a circumstance which, in its consequences, much 
 harassed the country ; for all sorts of people who wished to do evil 
 retired thither, or to Cassuriel, two leagues from Limoges, to Carlat, 
 to Aloise, to Ventadour, or to some other such castles. When these 
 garrisons were all collected in a body, they might amount to five or 
 six hundred lances : they overran the v/hole country, and the terri- 
 tories of the count dauphin d'Auvergne, situated at no great distance 
 from their garrison ; for none ventured to oppose them when thus 
 collected together. It is true, the lord de Chupier was a great enemy 
 to them ; as were the lord de Forterel and the basttird de Forterel 
 
 * " Meatpeiui8r"«>a town in Auvexgas, diocese of Clermont, near Aiguepen* 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 his brother, and a squire from the Bourbonnois called Gordomes. 
 This Gordomes, one day meeting Aimerigot Marcel, by a gallant 
 exploit, took him prisoner, and ransomed him for five thousand francs: 
 so much did he gain for him. Thus was the war carried on in 
 \uverg.ne, Limousin, and the adjoining countries. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 4 SCHISM IN THE CHURCH. THE CAUSE OF IT. THE BRETONS MAKE WAR 
 ON THE ROMANS. THE QUEEN OF NAPLES GIVES UP HER TERRITORIES 
 TO POPE C^EIMENT VII. 
 
 I HAVK been a long while silent on the affairs of the church : I 
 now itturn to them, for it is be-^ome necessary. You have before 
 heard how the cardinals, to appe. se the Roman populace, who were 
 very much enraged against them, had chosen for pope the archbishop 
 of Bari, whose name, before his elevation, was Bartholomew Prig- 
 nano : be afterwards assumed that of Urban VI. and gave indulgences 
 according to the usual custom. The cardinals intended, on a proper 
 opportunity, to make another election : for this pope, being choleric 
 and obstinate, was neither profitable to them nor to the church ; so 
 that when he found himself invested with the powers of papacy, in 
 consequence of which many princes of Christendom had written to 
 him to acknowledge their obedience, he became very haughty, and 
 desirous of retrenching the powers of the cardinals, and depriving 
 them of several of their rights and accustomed prerogatives. 
 
 This conduct was highly displeasing to them : they held a meet- 
 iag, arid declaisd that he would never do them any service, and was 
 besides unfit to ,;overn the Christian world. Several proposed to elect 
 another, more vi ise and prudent, and better able to govern the church. 
 The whole bod - were eager for this, more especially that cardinal 
 who was afterwards elected pope. During the whole summer, the 
 affair continued ia suspense ; for those who wished a new election 
 dared not publicly declare their intentions for fear of the Romans. 
 About the time of the vacations, many cardinals left Rome to amuse 
 themselves in different places in the neighborhood. Urban went to 
 a city called Tivoli, where he remained a considerable time. During 
 these vacations or terms (that lasted not long, for there were many 
 clergy from different parts of the world at Rome, waiting for graces 
 which had been promised, some of whom had been collated to 
 churches,) the refractory cardinals assembled to elect a pope, and 
 their unanimous choice fell on sir Robert de Geneva, son to the 
 count of Geneva, whose first promotion had been to the bishopric of 
 Terouenne, then to the archbishopric of Cambray, and at last cardi- 
 nal of Geneva. The greater number of cardinals attended this elec- 
 tion. The new pope tjok the name of Clement. 
 
 At this period, Silvester Budes, a valiant knight from Brittany, 
 was in the country near Rome, and had under him upward of two 
 thousand Bretons, who in the late years had done much against the 
 Florentines, whom pope Gregory had made war upon and excom- 
 municatsd for their rebellion; but, through the intercession of Silves- 
 ter Budes, they had been pardoned. Pope Clement and the cardinals 
 ©f his party, sent secretly for him and his troops. Ho marched 
 directly into the strong castle of St. Angelo, in the village of St. 
 f eter, the better to check the Romans. 
 
 Pope Urban, and the cardinals attached to him, were afraid to 
 |uit Tivoli, though they very much wished it, on account of these 
 3retons; for they were determined men, who murdered all whom 
 they met in opposition to them. The Romans, on finding how dan. 
 geronsly they were situated, sent for other soldiers, Germans and 
 Lombards, who daily skirmished with the Bretons. Clement granted 
 indulgences to all the clergy who wished for them, and published his 
 election throughout the world. 
 
 When king Charles of France was informed of this, he was much 
 astonished : he summoned his brothers and all the great barons, the 
 prelates, the rector and principal doctors of the university of Paris, 
 to know which of the two popes, the first or the last, he ought to pay 
 obedience to. This matter was not soon determined, for the clergy 
 were of divided opinions : but, in the end, all the prelates in France 
 inclined to Clemtnt, as did the king's brothers and the majority of 
 the university of Paris. The king received so much instruction and 
 information at this assembly from the most learned of the clergy, 
 that he put himself under the obedience of Clement, whom he held 
 for the true and loyal pope. He then published an edict throughout 
 his realm for every person to consider Clement as pope, and to obey 
 him as a god upon earth. The king of Spain was of the same opin- 
 ion ; as were the earl of Savoy, the duke of Milan and the queen of 
 Naples. 
 
 Clement having gained the king of France, his cause acquired 
 great credit ; for the kingdom of France is the fountain of faith and 
 of excellence, from the grand churches which are established there 
 and the noble p';elatures. Charles of Bohemia, king of Germany and 
 emperor of Rome, was still living : he resided at Prague in Bohemia, 
 where he had heard of all these things to his great astonishment. 
 However, his empire of Germany, excepting the bishopric of Trect.* 
 was so strongly inclined in their faith to Urban, that they would not 
 hear mention made of another. The emperor dissembled as long as 
 ho lived, and replied so courteously, whenever any conversation 
 
 ♦"Trett" (i. Trent. 
 
 passed on this subject, that his barons and prelates were quite satis, 
 fied. Notwithstanding this, the churches in the empire obeyed 
 Urban ; but the whole of Scotland acknowledged Clement. 
 
 Earl Lewis of Flanders oppressed very mucli the Clementists in 
 Brabant, Hainault and Liege ; for he was a determined Urbanist, 
 and said that this pope had been scandalously treated. The earl 
 was so much believed and loved in the parts where he resided, that, 
 on his sole account, the churches and landholders followed his opin- 
 ion. But those of Hainault, with the churches and their appendages, 
 as well as their sovereign, called Albert, remained neuter, and obeyed 
 neither one nor the other of the popes ; for which reason, the arch 
 bishop of Cambray at that time, called John, lost his temporalities in 
 Hainault. 
 
 Pope Clement, about this time, sent the cardinal de Poitiers, a 
 very prudent and wise man, to France, Hainault, Flanders and Bra. 
 bant, to preach and to instruct the people ; for he had been present 
 at the first conclave, and could well explain that through fear they 
 had elected the archbishop of Bari to the papacy. The king ot 
 France, his brothers and the prelates of that realm, received him very 
 graciously, and listened attentively to his words and doctrines, which 
 seemed to carry truth with them, and to be of a nature to engage 
 their whole faith. On leaving France, he v/ent to Hainault, where 
 he was received with joy. He was also received in the same mannei 
 by the duke and duchess of Brabant, but gained nothing more. He 
 thought of calling at Liege on his return, but was advised to the 
 contrary, and therefore returned to Tournay, intending to visit Flan, 
 ders from thence, and converse with the earl: however, he did not; 
 for it was signified to him from the earl, that he would have nothing 
 to say to him, considering Urban as pope, and in that opinion would 
 live and die. 
 
 The cardinal went from Tournay to Valenciennes, and from 
 thence to Cambray, where he staid a long time in hopes of receiving 
 good news. Thus was the Christian world divided, and the churches 
 differed in regard to which was the legal pope Urban had the lar- 
 ger number ; but the most profitable in revenue and obedience fell 
 to Clement. 
 
 Clement, by the advice of his cardinals, sent to have the palace at 
 Avignon prepared for him ; for it was his intention to repair thither 
 as soon as he was able. In the interim, he resided at Fondi. where 
 he granted his indulgences to all such clergy as were desirous ot 
 having them. Large bodies of soldiers occupied the plains and vil- 
 lages near Rome, and made war upon that city and the village of St. 
 Peter, which they attacked day and night ; while those Vv^ho were in 
 the castle of St. Angelo gave much disturbance to the Romans. 
 The inhabitants, having strengthened themselves by many German 
 soldiers, collected together, and in one day conquered the village of 
 St. Peter : such Bretons as were able, secured themselves in the 
 castle of St. Angelo ; but they v/ere so much harassed, as to sur- 
 render the castle on having their lives spared, and retreat toward 
 Fondi, and to the flat country thereabouts. The Romans dismantled 
 the casde of St. Angelo, and burnt the village of St. Peter. 
 
 When sir Silvester Budes, who was stiii in that country, heard 
 that his people had lost the village of St. Peter and the castle of St. 
 Angelo, he was much vexed, and thought how he could revenge 
 himself on the Romans. He learnt from his spies, that the principal 
 persons from the city were to meet in council at the capitol ; upon 
 which he planned an enterprise of m.en-at-arms, whom, he had 
 retained near him, and rode that day through by-roads to Rome, 
 which he entered by the gate leading to Naples. On his arrival, he 
 made directly for the capitol, and came there so opportunely that the 
 council had just left their hall, and were in the square. These Bre- 
 tons, couching their spears and spurring their horses, charged the 
 Romans full gallop, and slew and wounded numbers of the principal 
 persons of the city. Among those that lay dead in the square were 
 seven banners and two hundred other rich men : a great many more 
 were wounded. When the Bretons had performed this exploit they 
 retreated, as it was evening : they were not pursued, on account of 
 the night, and because the Romans were so frightened that they 
 could only attend on their friends. They passed the night in great 
 anguish of heart, burying the dead, and taking care of the wounded 
 
 The next morning, they bethought themselves of an act of cruelty, 
 which they put into execution : they attacked the poor clergy who 
 resided in Rome, and who had not been guilty of the smallest fault 
 slew and wounded upward of thnjc hundred, but in particular, they 
 showed no mercy to any Bretons who fell into their hands. In this 
 miserable situation was Rome and its neighborhood, on account of 
 two popes ; and those who had not been any way concerned in the 
 business paid dearly for it. 
 
 Pope Clement and his cardinals resided at Fondi, where the queea 
 of Naples came to visit and encourage him ; for she and her subjects 
 were attached to him as pope, and anxious to support him as such. 
 The queen of Naples* had entertained an idea for a considerable 
 time of surrendering the kingdom of Sicily and county of Provence, 
 which were dependencies on her crown, into the hands of the pope, 
 for him to give according to his will, as an inheritance, to any prince 
 of high birth in France, but who must have the means of defending 
 her against those of the house of Hungary, whom she mortally hated 
 
 * " The queen of Naples;" ths celebrated Joan. Uer history is diAereatly related 
 from Froitsart's account. 
 
250 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &o. 
 
 On the queen's arrival at Fondi, she humbled herself before the 
 
 pope, and having confessed herself to him, related all her affairs 
 
 without aisguise, adding : " Holy father, I possess several great and 
 
 noble inheritances ; the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily, la Puglia, 
 
 Calabria, and the county of Provence. In truth, king Lewis of 
 
 Sicily, duke of la Puglia and Calabria, 
 
 my father, during ..iS lifetime, acknow. 
 
 ledged holding these territories from the 
 
 church, and, taking my hand on his death- 
 
 bed, said to me : My good child, you are 
 
 heiress of a very extensive and rich coun- 
 try ; and 1 believe that many princes will 
 
 endeavor to obtain you for a wife on ac 
 
 count of the handsome territories you will 
 
 possess. Now, I would recommend you 
 
 to follow my advice, which is, to unite 
 
 youn^elf with a powerful prince, who will 
 
 be able to keep your kingdoms in peace ; 
 
 and should it so happen that, through 
 
 God's will, you have not any heirs, yield 
 
 to whoever may be at the time pope all 
 
 your territories ; for king Robert, my fa- 
 ther, so charged me on his death-bed, 
 which is the reason, my dear daughter, I 
 order you so to do, and discharge myself 
 from it. Holy father, I promised to com- 
 ply with his wishes, and pledged my faith, 
 in fhe presence of all who were in the 
 chamber, to fulfil his last request. In 
 truth, holy father, after his decease, with 
 the consent of the nobles of Sicily and 
 Naples, I wedded Andrew of Hungary, 
 brother to Lewis king of Hungary, by 
 whom I had not any children ; for he died 
 a young man, at Aix in Provence.* After 
 his death, they married me to Charles 
 prince of Taranto, by whom I had a 
 daughter. The king of Hungary, being 
 angry that his brother died, made war on 
 my husband, the lord Charles, and took 
 from him la Puglia and Calabria: he also 
 
 made him prisoner in battle, carried him to Hungary, where he 
 died during his confinement. 
 
 " After this, with the consent of ray nobility, I was united to James 
 king of Majorca, who went to France for the lord Louis de Navarre 
 to come and mar-ry my daughter, but he died on the road. The 
 king of Majorca left me with the intention to reconquer his kingdom 
 of Majorca, which the king of Arragon kept from him by force ; for 
 he had put his father to death in prison, and disinherited the son. I 
 told the king, my husband, that I was sufficiently rich to maintain 
 him in as pompous a style as he should please ; but he insisted so 
 much, and gave such plausible reasons for recovering his inherit, 
 ance, that I consented, with a half- willing mind, for him to act as he 
 pleased ; but, on his departure, I particularly enjoined him to go to 
 king Charles of France, and explain to him his business, and to fol- 
 low what he should advise : this, however, he totally neglected to 
 do, and ill consequences resulted from it ; for he went to the prince 
 of Wales, in whom he had greater confidence than in the king of 
 France; who is my relation, and who promised to assist him in his 
 undertaking. However, during the time he was on this esipcdition, 
 I wrote and sent embassadors to the king of France, to desire he 
 would send me a nobleman of the blood-royal, to whom I might give 
 my daughter, that our territories should not be without heirs. The 
 
 Pope Clement heard this speech with pleasure, and received th© 
 gift in great reverence, replying, " My daughter of Naples, we will 
 take such measures that your territories shall have an heir of your 
 noble and powerful blood, and who shall be fu-Uy able to resist all 
 who may wish to oppose him." Public and authentic acts wert 
 
 QtTEEif OF Naples surrendering her Territories to pope Clement Vn. From a MS. of the ISth centoiy. 
 
 drawn up of all these gifts, so that they might in future establish 
 the right, and make everything clear to those who in times to come 
 may hear of them.* 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 POPE CLEMENT GOES TO AVIGNON. HE MAKES THE DUKE OF ANJOU MAG- 
 NIFICENT PRESENTS. SIR SILVESTER BUDES AND HIS C03IPAM0NS ARB 
 BEHEADED. 
 
 When the queen of Naples and the l«rd Otho of Brunswick had 
 concluded with the pope the object of their journey to Fondi, and 
 had remained there to amuse themselves as long as they chose, they 
 took leave, and returned to Naples. Pope Clement thought it would 
 not be for his advantage to remain longer so near Rome. Having 
 learnt that Urban and the Romans were laboring hard to gain the 
 love of the Neapolitans and the lord Charles Durazzo, he was alarmed 
 lect t\\e rosds to Avignon should be so blocked up by sea and 
 land that he would not get thither, which he was very desirous to ac- 
 complish. What made him the more eager to arrive at Avignon was 
 his wish to present as a gift, without prejudice or violation, those 
 rights which the queen of Naples had given him over the kingdoms 
 
 of Naples and Sicily, to the duke of Anjou, and wliich had been le- 
 king of France attended to my proposals, for which I thank him, and gaily signed and sealed. 
 
 eent me his cousin Robert d'Artois, whom I married to my daughter. 
 
 " Holy father, my husband, the king of Majorca, died during his 
 expedition : I then married the lord Otho of Brunswick. The lord 
 Charles Durazzo, seeing that the lord Otho would enjoy my inherit- 
 ance during my life, made war upon us, and took us prisoners in the 
 Castle del Ovo, when the sea was so high that it seemed to cover us. 
 We were all so much frightened that we surrendered ourselves, on 
 our lives being spared. The lord Charles detained in prison my hus- 
 band, myself, my daughter, and her husband, so long that the two 
 last died. We gained our liberty afterwards by a treaty, which gave 
 up to him la Puglia and Calabria ; and he now looks to inherit Na- 
 ples, Sicily, and Provence ; for which reason he seeks alliances 
 everywhere, and will set aside the rights of the church as soon as I 
 shall be dead, or at least he will do everything in his power to 
 accomplish it. 
 
 " Wherefore, holy father, as I wish to acquit myself toward God, 
 you, and the souls of my predecessors, I now place in your hands 
 all the territories which belong to me, of Sicily, Naples, la Puglia, 
 Calabria, and Provence, and give them up to you to dispose of to 
 whomsoever shall be to you the most agreeable, and who shall be 
 able to conquer them from our enemy Charles Durazzo." 
 
 ♦ She hod him murdered, and thrown out of a window at Averse, where he lay for 
 leveral days, and was at last interred secretly by his nurse, who was very fond of him, 
 and a canon of St. Januarius, in the cathedral of Naples. Th« whole tale which she 
 nIatM ii very incorrect , 
 
 He therefore prudently arranged his affairs in secret, ana embarked 
 on board the galleys which had been sent from Arragon, attended by 
 his cardinals and their families : having favorable winds, they ar- 
 rived, without accident, at Marseilles, to the great joy of the people 
 in those parts : thence the pope went to Avignon, and sent informa- 
 tion of his arrival to the king of France and his broihers, who were 
 much pleased thereat. The duke of Anjou, who at that time resided 
 at Toulouse, waited on him. The pope, immediate'y on his arrival, 
 presented him with all those powers' with v/hich the queen of Naples 
 had invested him. The duke of Anjou, who was ever ambitious to 
 be possessed of honors and large possessions, received these gifts 
 most gratefully, and accepted them for himself and his heirs, telling 
 his holiness, that as soon as he was able, he would visit those coun- 
 tries with such a force as should enable him to resist all the enemies 
 of the queen of Naples. The duke remained with the pope about 
 fifteen days, and then returned to Toulouse to the duchess and his 
 children. The pope gave the command of his men-at-arms to sir 
 Bernard de la Salle and to Florimond Guerrier. 
 
 At this period, there was in Tuscany a right valiant English knight, 
 called sir John Hawkvvood,t who had there performed many most 
 gallant deeds of arms ; he had left France at the conclusion of the 
 
 ♦ For further accounts of her life, see Bayle's Dictionary. 
 
 t "Sir John Hawkwood." For an account of him, see vol. vi. of the Bibliotheca 
 Britannica, where there is a life of him, his engraved portrait and tomb. See alio Mr. 
 Slwpberd's lift of foggio Bncciolini. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 251 
 
 peace of Bretigny, and was at that time a poor knight, who thought 
 it would be of no advantage to him to return home ; but when he 
 saw, that by the treaties, all men-at-arms would be forced to leave 
 France, he put himself at the head of those free companions called 
 late-comers, and marched into Burgundy. Several such companions, 
 composed of English, Gascons, Bretons, Germans, and of men from 
 every nation, \> ere collected there. Hawkwood was one of the 
 principle leaderb, with Bricquet and Carnelle, by whom the battle of 
 Brignais was foujht, and who aided Bernard de la Salle to take the 
 Font du St. Esprit.- 
 
 When they had harassed the country for some time, the marquis 
 de Montferrat made a treaty with them to assist him in his war with 
 the lords of Milan. This marquis led them over the Alps, after he 
 had paid them sixty thousand fr.mcs, of which Hawkwood received, 
 for himself and his troops, ten t'lousand. When they had finished 
 the war for the marquis, the greater part of them returned to France ; 
 for sir Bertrand du Guesclin, the lords de la Marche, de Beaujeau, 
 and sir Arnold d'Andreghen marshal of France, wished to lead them 
 into Spain, to don Henry de Trastamare, against don Pedro king of 
 Spain. 
 
 Sir John Hawkwood and his companions remained in Italy, and 
 were employed by pope Urban as long as he lived in his wars in the 
 Milanese. Pope Gregory, successor to Urban, engaged him in the 
 same manner. Sir John had also a profitable employment, under 
 the lord de Coucy, against the count de Vertus and his barons ; in 
 which, some say, the lord de Coucy would have been slain, if sir 
 John Hawkwood had not come to his assistance with five hundred 
 combatants, w'lich he was solely induced to do because the lord de 
 Coucy had mar led one of the king of England's daughters. This 
 sir John Hawk\/ood was a knight much inured to war, which he had 
 long followed, a id had gained great renown in Italy from his gal- 
 lantry. 
 
 The Romans, therefore, and Urban, who called himself pope, re- 
 solved, on Clement leaving Italy, to send for Hawkwood, and appoint 
 him commander-in-chief of all their forces : they made him large 
 offers of retaining him and his whole troop at a handsome subsidy, 
 which he accepted, and acquitted himself loyally for it. In com- 
 pany with the Romans, he defeated a large body of Bretons under 
 the command of Silvester Budes ; the greater part of whom were 
 either slain or taken : Silvester Budes was carried prisoner to Rome, 
 where he was in great danger of being beheaded. To say the truth, 
 it would have been more for his honor, and for that of his friend, had 
 he been so the day he was brought there ; for he and another squire 
 of Brittany, called William Boileau, were afterwards beheaded in the 
 city of Mascon by order of pope Clement. They were suspected of 
 treachery, on account of having escaped from the prisons in Rome, 
 no one knew how, and had come to Avignon, where they were 
 arrested. 
 
 The cardinal of Amiens was the author of their arrest ; for he hated 
 them ever since the wars in L:aly, when they had killed some of his 
 baggage-horses, and seized a large quantity of money and gold and 
 eilver plate, which Silvester had distributed among his followers, by 
 way of pay, being unable otherwise to satisfy them. The cardinal 
 was much enraged at this conduct, and secretly charged them with 
 treason. On their arrival at Avignon, they were seized, and accused 
 of treacherously intending to betray the pope : they were then sent 
 to Mascon, where both were instantly beheaded. 
 
 In this state were affairs in those distant countries. Sir Bertrand 
 du Guesclin was indignant against the pope and cardinals on account 
 of the death of his cousin Silvester Budes ; and, if he had lived a 
 little longer, he would have shown, or have caused it to have been 
 shown them, that it was very displeasing to him. We will, for the 
 present, leave these matters, and speak of the war in Flanders, which 
 began about this time. The people were very murderous and cruel, 
 and multitudes were slain or driven out of the country. The country 
 itself was so much ruined, that it was said a hundred years would 
 not restore it to the situation it was in before the war. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 
 THE STATE OF FLANDERS BEFORE THE WAR. THE CAUSES OF THE DIS- 
 PUTES BETWEEN THE EARL OF FLANDERS AND THE FLEMIN&S. JOHN 
 LYON INTRODUCES THE DISTINCTION OF WHITE HOODS. 
 
 Before the commencement of these wars in Flanders, the country 
 v^as so fertile, and everything in such abundance, that it was mar- 
 vellous to see ; and the inhabitants of the principal towns lived in 
 very grand state. You must know, that this war originated in the 
 pride and hatred that several of the chief towns bore to each other : 
 those of Ghent against those of Bruges, and others in the like man- 
 ner, vying with each other through envy. However, this could not 
 have created a war without the consent of their lord the earl of 
 Flanders, who was so much loved and feared that no one dared to 
 eager him. 
 
 The earl, being wise and prudent, carefully avoided encouraging 
 a war between his vassals ; for he foresaw, that if any difference 
 should arise between him and them, he would be much weakened 
 and less formidable to his neighbors. He carefully avoided war for 
 another reason, considering it as destructive to all his possessions, al. 
 
 I though at last he was forced to it : he had hitherto reigned in great 
 prosperity and peace, and had as many pleasures and enjoyments as 
 any earthly lord can have. The wars which ensued were caused 
 by so trifling an event, that if the earl had possessed any prudence, 
 it ought not to have produced that efi'ect ; and those who read this 
 book, or who may have it read to them, will say, that it was the work 
 of the devil. You know wise men think the devil, who is subtle and 
 full of artifice, labors night and day to cause v/arfare wherever he 
 finds peace and harmony, and seeks by distant means, and by de. 
 grees, how to accomplish his ends. And thus it fell out in Flanders, 
 as you will clearly see and learn from the different treaties and ordi. 
 nances which follow relative to these matters. 
 
 During the time that earl Lewis of Flanders was in his greatest 
 prosperity, there was a citizen of Ghent called John Lyon ; he was 
 wise, subtle, and bold, but cruel, enterprising and cool in business, 
 and very much in favor with the earl, as it should seem ; for he em- 
 ployed him to assassinate, in a secret way, a man of Ghent that was 
 disagreeable to him, and who acted contrary to the wishes of the 
 earl. John Lyon sought a quarrel with him, and killed him. This 
 man was greatly lamented by all ; and, for grief of what he had done, 
 John Lyon went and resided at Douay, where he lived for three 
 years, keeping a handsome state, for which the earl paid. 
 
 John Lyon, on account of this murder, was instantly deprived of 
 everything he had in the city of Ghent, and banished from it for four 
 years. The earl managed so as to make up the matter and recover 
 for him the freedom he had lost of Ghent, which Vv^as a circumstance 
 not before heard of, and several in Ghent and Flanders were much 
 astonished at it, but so it happened. In addition to this, the earl, that 
 he might enrich himself and live v/ell, made him deacon of the pilots : 
 this office might be worth to him a thousand francs a-year, doing 
 honestly his duty. Thus was John Lyon so much in the good graces 
 of the earl that no one was equal to him. 
 
 At this time, there was a family in Ghent called the Matthews : 
 they were seven brothers, and the most considerable of all the pilots. 
 Among these seven brothers was one named Gilbert Matthew, who 
 was rich, wise, subtle, and more enterprising than any of his family 
 This Gilbert bore in secret a great hatred to John Lyon, because he 
 saw him so much in favor with the earl ; and he occupied his 
 thoughts, day and night, how he could supplant him. He some- 
 times inclined to have him slain by his brothers, but gave it up for 
 fear of the earl. He thought so much on this subject that at last he 
 hit upon a plan to accomplish it : however, I will first tell you the 
 real cause why they hated each other, that you may the more fully 
 understand it. There existed formerly, in the town of Deynse, a 
 mortal hatred between two pilots and their families ; one was called 
 Peter Guillon, and the other John Barb6. Gilbert Matthew and his 
 brothers were connected by blood to one of these families, and John 
 Lyon, by similar ties, to the other. This hatred was for a long time 
 nourished in secret, though they sometimes spoke, and even ate and 
 drank with each other ; and Gilbert made more of this connection 
 than John Lyon did. Gilbert, without striking a blow, bethought 
 himself of a cunning contrivance. 
 
 The earl of Flanders resided sometimes at Ghent : Gilbert, during 
 these residences, got acquainted with one of the earl's chamberlains, 
 who was attached to his person, and said to him : " If my lord of 
 Flanders pleased, he might gain, every year, a handsome revenue from 
 the pilots, who now pay nothing : it might be levied on the foreign 
 trade, provided John Lyon, who is deacon of the pilots, would acquit 
 himself honestly." The chamberlain said he would inform the earl 
 of it, which he did. The earl (like other great lords, who naturally 
 wish for gain, and who did not foresee the consequences, but only 
 seek to get the money into their hands) told his chamberlain to bring 
 Gilbert Matthew to him, and he would hear wliat he had to say. 
 
 Gilbert was introduced, and, in conversation, made use of such ar- 
 guments as appeared reasonable to the earl, who rephed, " It is well : 
 let it be so." John Lyon was immediately called into the apartment, 
 in presence of Gilbert Matthew, quite iguora.ut; of what had passed, 
 when the earl opened the business to him, and added, John, if you 
 choose, we may gain much wealth by this scheme." John was in- 
 deed loyal in his employment, but saw this was not a reasonable de. 
 mand : being unwilling to speak to the contrary, he replief, " My 
 lord, what you have required, which it seems Gilbert has proposed, 
 I cannot execute myself, for it will be too heavy upon the mariners." 
 " John," answered the earl, " if you exert yourself, the business will 
 be done." " My lord," replied John, " I will then do every thing ir 
 my power." 
 
 The conference broke up, when Gilbert Matthew (whose only aim 
 was to ruin John Lyon in the mind of the earl, to deprive him of his 
 office, so that, being turned out, it might profit him) went to his six 
 brothers, and said to them ; " It is now time to assist me, which I 
 hope you will do, like good friends and brothers, for it is your cause 
 I am fighting. I will discomfit John Lyon without striking a blow, 
 and so ruin him in the opinion of the earl that he shall be more dis- 
 liked by the earl than he had before been liked. Now, notwith. 
 standing all I may say or argue at the meeting to be holden, you 
 must refuse to comply : I will dissemble, and argue that if John 
 Lyon would faithfully acquit himself, this ordinance would be obeyed. 
 I know so well our lord, that sooner than give up his point, Joha 
 Lyon will lose his favor, as well as his office, which will be given to 
 
S59 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 me ; and, when I am in the possession of it you will comply with 
 the demand. We are very powerful with the mariners of this town, 
 so that none of them will dare oppose us. I will afterwards so man. 
 age that John Lyon shall be slain, and we have our revenge without 
 appearing in the njatter." 
 
 All his brethren complied with this request. The meeting was 
 held of the mariners, when John Lyon and Gilbert Matthew explained 
 the will of the earl, who proposed, by a new statute, to lay a tax on 
 the navigation of the Lys and the Scheld. It appeared very bur- 
 jlensome, and too great a stretch of power, particularly to the six 
 brothers of Gilbert, who were more firm and unanimous in theiropposi- 
 'ion to it than all the rest. John Lyon, their deacon, was secretly re- 
 Diced at this ; for he was desirous of maintaining all their ancient rights 
 and privileges, and flattered himself that the brothers were in his favor, 
 while they were acting just the contrary. John Lyon reported to the 
 earl the answer of the mariners, adding, " My lord, it is a thing which 
 "Cannot be done : much evil may result from it : let things remain as they 
 «vre, and do not attempt to introduce any novelties." This answer was 
 not very pleasing to the earl, for he perceived that if the impost were 
 laid, and collected in the manner he had been told, he should have re- 
 ceived from six to seven thousand florins of revenue : he therefore 
 made no reply, but did not think less upon it, and had those mariners 
 whom John Lyon found rebellious sued by actions and other»vise. 
 
 On the other hand, Gilbert Matthew came to the earl and his 
 council, to say that John Lyon did not act well in this business; 
 that if he had hi-; office, he would so manage the mariners that the 
 earl of Flanders should have this revenue hereditarily. 
 
 The earl did not see clear, for this revenue, with his avarice, 
 blinded him ; and, without asking for advice, he deprived John Lyon 
 of his office, which he gave to Gilbert. When Gilbert thus saw 
 himself deacon- of the pilots, he turned his brothers according to his 
 will, and gave the earl satisfaction in regard to this impost, for which 
 he was not the more beloved by the majority of the mariners ; but 
 they were forced to submit, for the seven brothers, assisted by the 
 earl, were too many for them, and it behooved ihera to do so in 
 eiience. 
 
 Thus did Gilbert Matthew, by this wary method c&rry his point, 
 and obtain the favor of the earl of Flanders. Gilbert made very 
 ka.idsome presents to the oflricers and chamberlains of the earl ; by 
 which means he blinded them, and gained their friendship. All 
 these fine gifts were paid for by the mariners, which dissatisfied 
 many, but they dared not complain. John Lyon, by the above- 
 mentioned means and intrigues of Gilbert, entirely lost the good 
 graces of the earl : he lived quietly on liis fortune, suflfering patiently 
 whatever was done t3 him. Gilbert, being nov»' deacon, and secretly 
 hating John Lyon, to.k away from him a third or fourth of the 
 profits which were his due from the navigation. John Lyon did not 
 say one word, but, prudently dissembling, and with an apparent 
 good will, took whatever they gave him ; for, he said, there were 
 times when it was better to be silent than to talk. 
 
 Gilbert Matth'^w had a brother named Stephen, a cunning fellow, 
 who had watched all the actions of John Lyon : he said to his 
 brothers (for he prophesieri to them all that was to happen ;) " Cer- 
 tainly, gentlemen, John Lyon suff"ers at this moment, and keeps his 
 head very low; but he acts with good sense, and will contrive to 
 throw us as low as we are now high. I will give you one piece of 
 advice, which is, to kill him while we continue in the favor of my 
 lord the earl : I can very easily do it, if you charge me with this 
 business, by which we shall escape all the danger, and can easily 
 get acquitted for his death." His brothers refused to consent to 
 this, saying he had not done them any wrong, and that no man 
 ought to lose his life but by the sentence of a judge. 
 
 Things remained in this situation for some time, when the devil, 
 who never sleeps, put it into the heads of the people of Bruges to 
 make a canal from the river Lys : the earl agreed in their plans, and 
 sent a number of pioneers, with a body of men-at-arms to guard 
 them. They had in former nmes attempted to do this, but the citi- 
 zens of Ghent had by force made them desist. News was brought 
 to Ghent, that the inhabitants of Bruges were now intending to carry 
 by force their old scheme of making a canal to obtain the waters of 
 the L^s, which would be very prejudicial to them ; so that great 
 murmurs arose in Ghent, mure particularly among the mariners, who 
 were much affected by it. They said, that the people of Bruges 
 should not thus make a canal to draw off" the course of the river, as 
 it would be the ruin of the town. Some others said, in an under, 
 hand manner, " Now God save John Lyon 1 had he been our dea. 
 con, such an attempt would not have been made, nor the peopk of 
 Bruges have had the courage to have undertaken this business." 
 
 John Lyon was duly informed of all these things: he began to 
 awaken, saying, " I have for some time slept ; but it seems that this 
 trifling affair in appearance has roused me, and shall create such 
 troubles between this town and the earl as will cost a hundred thou- 
 sand lives." Intelligence of these diggers was brought, with great 
 additions, that much inflamed men's minds ; for it chanced, that a 
 woman on h-er return from a pilgrimage to our Lady of Boulogne, 
 being weary, seated herself in the market-place, where there were 
 crowds of people. They asked her, where she came from ? she said, 
 " From Boulogne : and I have seen in my road the greatest curse 
 that can ever befal the town of Ghent ; for there are upward of 
 
 five huadred diggers, who are laboring day and night to open a 
 course for the Lys ; and, if they be not immediately prevented, they 
 will turn to their town the current of that river." 
 
 This speech of the woman was heard, and repeated in different 
 parts of the town. The townsmen rose, and said, such things were 
 not to be suflTered nor borne quietly. Many of them went to John 
 Lyon to ask advice in the matter, and how they should act. When 
 John Lyon saw himself thus appealed to by those v/hose love and 
 favor he wished to gain, he was much rejoiced, but took care not to 
 show any signs of it ; for it would net be a fit opportunity until the 
 business should be more fully ascertained : he therefore made them 
 greatly intreat him before he would speak, or give any opinion on 
 the subject. When he was prevailed on to speak, he said : " Geru 
 tlemen, if you wish to risk this business, and put an end to it, you 
 must renew an ancient custom that formerly subsisted in the town 
 of Ghent : I mean, you must first put on white hoods, and choose a 
 leader, to whom every one may look, and rally at his signal." 
 
 This harangue was eagerly listened to, and they all cried out, 
 "We will have it so, we wi'l have it so! now let us put on white 
 hoods." White hoods were directly made, and given out to those 
 among them who loved war better than peace, and had nothing to 
 lose. John Lyon was elected chief of the v/hite hoods. He \ery 
 willingly accepted of this office, to revenge himself on his enemies, 
 to embroil the towns of Ghent and Bruges with each other, and with 
 the earl their lord. He was ordered, as their chief, to march against 
 the pioneers and diggers from Bruges, and had with him two hundrei' 
 such people as preferred rioting to quiet. 
 
 When Gilbert Matthev/ and his brothers saw the numbers of these 
 white hoods, they were not too well pleased : Stephen said to his 
 brothers, " Did not I well forewarn you, that this John Lyon would 
 discomfit us ? It would have been better if 1 had been believed, 
 and had been allowed to have killed him, than to have seen him in 
 the situation he is in, or will be, through these white hoods he has 
 reestablished." "No, no," replied Gilbert, "let me but speak 
 with my lord, and they shall be put down. I am willing they should 
 accomplish their enterprise against the pioneers from Bruges', for the 
 good of our town ; for, in truth, it will be completely ruined, if they 
 be suffered to proceed." 
 
 John Lyon and his rout, when they had all their v/hite hoods, 
 marched from Ghent, with the intention of killing the diggers and 
 those who guarded them. News was soon carried to the pioneers, 
 that a large force from Ghent was coming against them : they were 
 so much afraid of the consequences they left their work, and retired 
 to Bruges ; and none were bold enough to return to their digging. 
 John and his white hoods, not seeing any one, returned to Ghent: 
 but they did not remain quiet, for they went up and down the town, 
 looking at and examining everything. John Lyon kept them i-n this 
 state, and told some of them in private to make themselves comfort- 
 able, to eat and drink, and not to mind expense ; for those should 
 pay their score at a future time who would not now give them a 
 farthing. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII. 
 
 BY THE EXHORTATIONS OF JOHN LYON, THE INHABITANTS OP GHENT 
 SEND SOME OF THEIR PRINCIPAL CITIZENS TO THE EARl, OF FLAN- 
 DERS, TO DEMAND THE PRESERVATION OF THEIR LIBERTIES AND 
 FRANCHISES. THE EARL REQUESTS THESE CITIZENS TO ABOLISH THE 
 WHITE HOODS. 
 
 During the time of these white hoods, and in the same week that 
 they had marched, under the conduct of John Lyon, to Deynse, in 
 search of the pioneers from Bruges, another cause of distrust origin- 
 ated at Ghent, by some who were alarmed for its franchises : they 
 complained to those who, by the constitution, were their magistrates, 
 that at Erclo* (a dependency on Ghent) one of their burgesses was 
 confined in the prisons of the earl, and that they had summoned the 
 bailiff" of the earl to surrender him up, but he had refused, which was 
 directly contrary to their privileges, and thus by little and little they 
 were encroached upon. In former times, they were held so high 
 and of such consequence, and were then so well defended, that the 
 noblest knight of Flanders thought himself honored by being a bur. 
 gess of Ghent. The magistrates replied, " We will cheerfully write 
 to the bailiflT of Ghent on the part of the burgess whom he detains in 
 prison, for him to send him to us ; for, in truth, the powers of his 
 oflSce do not extend so far as to confine one of our burgesses in the 
 prisons of the earl." 
 
 They acted accordingly, and wrote to the bailiflT for the burgess 
 who was prisoner at Erclo. The bailiff*, Roger d'Auterme, was ad. 
 vised to send the following answer: "Hal what a noise is this 
 about a mariner ? Were my prisoner ten times as rich as the one I 
 have, I would never let him out of my prison without orders from the 
 earl. I have powers to arrest, but none to set free." This speech 
 was carried back, which gave much displeasure : they said, he had 
 proudly answered. By such replies, and such unlucky accidents as 
 the pioneers from Bruges wanting to dig on the lands of fchent, and 
 the encroachments on the privileges of Ghent, were that cursed crew 
 
 * Probably £celoo 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 253 
 
 called White Hoods introduced, and they became by degrees more 
 feared and renowned. It behooveth such a set to have among them 
 madmen and firebrands, to work upon the more peaceable. 
 
 This stjry of the burgess of Ghent being detained in the earl's 
 prison at Erclo, and of the bailiff having refused to give him his lib. 
 ertyj was soon spread through the town of Ghent. Many began to 
 murmur, and to say it ought not to be suffered ; and that, from being 
 too quiet about it, all the franchises of Ghent, which were so noble, 
 would be lost. John Lyon, who only aimed at the embroiling the 
 town of Ghent in such a "manner with its lord that it would be impos- 
 sible to settle it without loss, was not sorry when he heard these 
 words, and wished they had been still stronger : he continued to 
 spread secret rumors in different parts of the town, " that never could 
 the jurisdiction or privileges of any town be properly maintained when 
 once offices are put to sale." He intended this in allusion to Gilbert 
 Matthew, meaning to say that he had bought the deaconship : he had 
 also added a new debt to the navigation, which was greatly against 
 tlie franchises of Ghent and their ancient privileges. 
 
 The earl now received, every year, three or four thousand francs, 
 besides what he had from ancient custom, which caused many com- 
 plaints from merchants as well as from the mariners ; insomuch that 
 those of Valencionnes, Douay, Lille, Bethune, and Tournay, began 
 to think of giving up their commerce with Ghent, by which greater 
 i-uin would be brought upon the town, and very soon their franchises 
 would be so neglected as to be worth nothing, if no one stood for- 
 ward in support of them. Gilbert Matthew and the deacon of the 
 small craft, who was his relation, had such speeches daily rung in 
 their ears : they knew they came from John Lyon, but they dared 
 not attempt to remedy it ; for John had posted white hoods in vari^ 
 ous parts of the town, and had enlisted among them the boldest and 
 most outrageous, so that they were afraid to attack them: besides, 
 John Lyon never went abroad alone, for when he quitted his house 
 he was surrounded by two or three hundred white hoods, and never 
 went down the town but in cases of absolute necessity. He always 
 made himself be much entreated before he would give any advice on 
 «vents which happened, at home or abroad, against the privileges of 
 die town. 
 
 Whenever he did give advice or harangue the people, he spoke so 
 well, and with so much art, that his auditors were highly pleased 
 with his language : they commonly were unanimous in believing all 
 he spoke as truth. John Lyon, with much art, thus harangued : " I 
 do not say that we should in any way weaken or diminish the inher- 
 itance of my lord of Flanders ; for, if we wished it, we are not able 
 to do it : reason and justice forbid it. I am, therefore, of opinion, 
 that we should be cautious how by any event we may incur his dis. 
 pleasure ; for every subject ought to be on good terms with his lord. 
 The earl of Flanders is our good lord, much feared and renowned : 
 he has always maintained us in full peace and prosperity, which we 
 should ever acknowledge, and endure the more (as we are bound to 
 do) than if he had harassed us, and made it diffic It for us to keep 
 our own. True it is, that at this present moment, he is wickedly ad- 
 vised against us and the franchises of the go ad town of Ghent : that 
 we of Ghent are no more in his good graces is apparent by the dig- 
 gers (he residing in Bruges,) who came to break in on our inherit, 
 ance, and carry away our river, by which measure our good town 
 would have been quite ruined. In addition to this, he intends to 
 build a castle at Deynse in opposition to us and to harass us ; and 
 we know that the people of Bruges have promised him, for some time 
 past, that they would pay him from ten to twelve thousand francs 
 a-year, if they could have the advantages of the river Lys. I would 
 therefore advise, that the good town of Ghent should send to him 
 some learned men, well informed of our affairs, who would remon- 
 strate wisely and boldly with him on all these matters, and also respect- 
 ing the burgess v/ho is in prison at Erclo, whom his bailiff will not 
 give up, at vv^hich the tov/n is not pleased, as well as on other affairs 
 respecting our town. After having remonstrated with him on these 
 things, let them inform him, that neither himself nor advisers must 
 imagine that we are so disheartened, that, if there should be occasion, 
 we are not able and determined to resist ; and that, after the town 
 shall have had his answers, the good men of Ghent v/ill take proper 
 measures to punish those who shall act with hostility toward them." 
 When John Lyon had concluded this oration in the square of the 
 market-place, each man said, " He has well spoken ; he has well 
 spoken ;" and then they all retired to their own homes. 
 
 Gilbert Matthew was not present at this harangue of John Lyon ; 
 for he was already afraid of the white hoods : but his brother. 
 Stephen, had been there, who was ever foretelling what was to hap. 
 pen : he said on his return, " I have told you truly, and I have 
 always so said, that, by God, John Lyon will be the ruin of us all, 
 Cursed be the hour when you would not consent to my proposal ; 
 for, had you suffered me to have killed him, I could then have easily 
 done it; but now he is out of our reach, and we dare not attempt 
 even to hurt him, for he has more power in this town than the earl 
 himself." Gilbert, replying, said : " Hold thy tongue, fool ; when. 
 €ver t please, with the assistance of my lord, I can put down these 
 white hoods ; and some of them who now wear ihem will not, in a 
 short time, have heads to put them on." 
 
 Several of the most discreet nien of the town were ordered to wait 
 ^ ihtt earl as «ifthassadore ; and I beUeve thai Gilbert Matthew, the 
 
 deacon of the pilots, was one of those chosen to go thither. John 
 Lyon was the cause of this, because, if they should bring back any 
 harsh answer, he would share the disgrace of it. They departed, and 
 found the earl at Male,* and managed the business so well that at 
 last the earl assented to all their demands, as well in regard to the 
 prisoner detained at Erclo, as in his intentions to preserve inviolate 
 all their franchises, and also in forbidding the people of Bruges ever 
 again to dig on the territories belonging to Ghent. All llii-s he pro- 
 mised ; and, the more to please the citizens of Ghent, he engaged to 
 command the canal which the men of Bruges had dug to be co«i. 
 pletely filled up again. They quitted the earl very amicably, and 
 returned to Ghent; when they related all that had passed with their 
 lord, and how willing he was to mi^intain all their franchis.es ; but he 
 requested, as a proof of their friendship, that the while hoods should 
 be laid aside. As these words were speaking, the officers of the 
 earl brought in their prisoner from Erclo, and surrendered him up, by 
 way of reestablishing peace according to the orders they had received, 
 which caused great joy in the town of Ghent. 
 
 John Lyon, the chief of the white hoods, was present when the 
 above answer was received, attended by ten or tv/elve of the princi- 
 pal of his rout. When they heard the earl's request for the white 
 hoods to be laid aside, they were silent ; but John Lyon addressed 
 the meeting, and said, " My good people, you know and see clearly 
 at present the value of these white hoods : have they net preserved 
 for you, and do they not guard better your franchises, than those of 
 red and black, or hoods of any other color ? Many arc they who are 
 afraid of them ; but be assured, and remember I tell you so, that as 
 soon as the white hoods shall be laid aside, according to the ordi- 
 nance which my lord wishes to have issued against them, I will not 
 give three farthings for all your privileges." This speech so deceived 
 the people that they separated, and the greater part returned to their 
 homes, saying, " Let him manage the business ; for he speaks truth, 
 and we have never seen anything in him but v/hat was for the 
 advantage and honor of the town." 
 
 Things remained in this state, and John Lyon in greater danger 
 of his life than before : upon which he formed a plan, which he 
 afterwards executed ; for he clearly savv that Gilbert Matthew had, 
 in this embassy to the earl, instigated some mischief against him and 
 his companions, notwithstanding the friendly ansvv-ers which the earl 
 had sent. He therefore resolved to counterwork his enemies, and 
 gave secret orders to the leaders of the white hoods, and to thosa 
 who commanded the companies of hundreds and of fifties, to keep 
 their men day and night on guard well armed, and, on the first 
 appearance of any movement, to march to him ; for it v/ould be bet- 
 ter to kill than to be killed, since affairs were brought to such a pass. 
 These orders were punctually observed, and they were exact in 
 keeping themselves in readiness. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
 
 THE WHITE HOODS MURDER THE BAILIFF OF GHENT !N THE BIIDST OP 
 THE MARKET. THE HOUSES A;\D GOODS OF THE FAMILY OF THE 
 MATTHEWS ARE DESTROYED. A GRAND CONFUSION IX GHENT. 
 
 Not long afterwards, the bailiff of Ghext, Roger d'Auterme, 
 came to town with full two hundred horse, in order to execute what 
 had been planned between the earl, Gilbert Pvlatthew, and his bro- 
 thers. The bailiff, with his two hundred men, galloped up the 
 streets, with the banner of the earl in his hand, unto the market, 
 place, where he halted, and posted his banner before him. Gilbert 
 Matthew, his brothers, and the deacon of the small craft, imme. 
 diately went thither. It had been determined that these men.at 
 arms should march instantly to the house of John Lyon, and arrest 
 him as the chief of the white hoods, with six or seven others, the 
 most culpable, carry them to the castle of Ghent, and immediately 
 cut their heads off. 
 
 John Lyon suspected some such thing ; for he had received secret 
 intelligence from his spies, scattered over different parts of the 
 town. He knew of the arrival of t-he bailiff, and saw it was a thing 
 determined upon. The other white hoods were informed that this 
 day had been fixed on to arrest them, and were therefore ready pre- 
 pared and assembled near the house of John Lyon, who was wait- 
 ing for them: they came in bands of ten and twenty, and, as they 
 marched up, they formed in the street : when they were all as- 
 sembled, they were full four hundred. John Lyon marched off 
 as fierce as a lion, saying, " Let us advance against these traitors, 
 who wish to ruin the town of Ghent. I thought all those fine 
 speeches which Gilbert Matthew brought back the other day were 
 only meant for our destruction, and to lull us asleep ; but we will 
 make him pay dearly for them." He and his rout advanced hastily : 
 they increased very much by the way ; for there were those who 
 joined him that had not as yet put on the white hoods, wbs cried 
 out, " Treason ! treason I" 
 
 They marched, by a roundabout way and a narrow street, to the 
 corn.market, where the bailiff, who represented the earl, had posted 
 himself. Gilbert Matthew and his brethren, the moment they saw 
 
 * It would seem from Bleau's grand atlas, thul the duinaiii und park of Mule imd be«Q 
 drowned by the itea since this time. The earl of Fianden was bora there, aod theaos 
 called Louis de Mal«.i 
 
254 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 John Lyon and the white hoods enter the markeUplace, left the bai- 
 liff, and ran away as fast as they could ; and neither order nor array 
 was! observed, except by the men-at-arms whom the bailiff had 
 brought thither. Immediately on the arrival of John Lyon in the 
 market-place, with the white hoods, a large body of them advanced 
 toward the bailiff ; and, without saying a word, he was seized, 
 thrown on the ground and slain. The banner of the earl was then 
 dragged through the dirt, and torn to pieces ; but not one man, 
 except the bailiff, was touched. They then collected round John 
 Lyon. When the earl's men-at-arms saw the bailiff dead, and their 
 banner torn to pieces, they were thunder-struck, and, like men 
 defeated, took to flight, and left the town. 
 
 You may easily imagine that Gilbert Matthew and his brethren, 
 who were known to be the enemies of John Lyon and the white 
 hoods, did not think themselves very safe in their houses : they 
 therefore set out as speedily as they could, and quitted the town 
 through by.streets, leaving their wives, children, and goods behind 
 them. They made what haste they could to the earl of Flanders, 
 to whom they related all that had happened, and the death of his 
 bailiff. The earl was sorely afflicted at this intelligence, as well he 
 might, for they had treated him with great contempt ; he was much 
 enraged, and swore that he would have ample revenge before he 
 ever returned to Ghent, and before they should have peace from him, 
 so that all other towns should take an example from it. Gilbert 
 Matthew and his brothers remained with the earl. 
 
 John Lyon and the white hoods persevered in their outrages ; after 
 the death of the bailiff, and the flight of the men-at-arms, as no one 
 offered to revenge this murder, John, who wished to ruin the Mat- 
 thews (for he bore them deadly hatred,) said, " Come, let us go after 
 those wicked traitors who this day intended to have destroyed ^he 
 town of Ghent." They hastened down the streets to the residence 
 of the Matthews, but found none, for they had all gone off. They 
 were sought for in every room throughout the houses of the adjoin- 
 ing streets ; and, when they were convinced they were gone, John 
 Lyon was much vexed. He gave up to his companions all their 
 goods, when the houses were completely pillaged and razed to the 
 ground, so that no vestige remained, as if they had been traitors to 
 the whole body of the town. 
 
 When they had done this deed, they retired to their homes ; nor 
 was there a sheriff, or any other officer belonging to the earl or to 
 the town, who said they had acted wrong : indeed, at that time all 
 were afraid to say a word against them : for the white hoods were 
 60 numerous that none dared to provoke them, and they paraded 
 the streets in large bodies without any opposition. It was said, both 
 within and without the town, that they were connected with some 
 of the sheriffs and rich men in Ghent, which was not unlikely ; for 
 such a ruffianly crew would never have dared to slay so noble a 
 man as Roger d'Auterme, bailiff of Ghent, holding the banner of 
 the earl in his hand at the time, if they had not depended on some 
 good and able supporters in their wicked acts. They alterwards 
 increased so much as to want no foreign aid, and became so pow- 
 erful that none were bold enough to oppose anything they thought 
 proper to undertake. Roger d'Auterme was carried away by the 
 Friar Minors to their church, where he was by them buried. 
 
 After this event, several of the wisest and richest citizens in 
 Ghent began to murmur, and were much vexed : they said among 
 themselves, that a great outrage had been committed when the earl's 
 bailiff had thus been murdered in the execution of his office ; and 
 that their lord would be justly offended, and never grant them peace ; 
 that these wicked people had put the town to the hazard of being 
 totally destroyed, if God did not speedily afford a remedy. Not- 
 withstanding all these words, there was not one among them who 
 had courage personally to correct or reprove the author of these 
 atrocities. John de Faucille, who at that time was a man much 
 renowned for his wisdom in Ghent, on finding things carried to such 
 lengths as the murdering of the earl's bailiff, thought it must end 
 badly : that he might not be suspected by the earl, he left the town 
 privately, and went to a handsome country-house which he had near 
 Ghent, and there remained, having given orders to tell every one he 
 was very unwell and melancholy, and could see none but his own 
 people. Every day, however, he had news from Ghent ; for he had 
 left there the greater part of his family, his wife, his children and 
 his friends ; and thus he dissembled for a considerable time. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX. 
 
 TWELVE CITIZENS OF GHENT ARE DEPUTED TO THE EARL OF FLANDERS. 
 THE WHITE HOODS PILLAGE AND BURN THE CASTLE OF ANDREGHIEN,* 
 OF WHICH THE EARL WAS VERY FOND. 
 
 The gooQ people of Ghent who were rich and industrious, and 
 had wives, families and fortunes in the town and neighborhood, wish- 
 ;ng as they did to live in an honorable way, were not well pleased 
 to see things in this situation, and were very sensible how ill they 
 had acted toward their lord ; they therefore consulted among them- 
 ■elves how they could best remedy this ill deed, and throw them- 
 ■elves on his mercy, for it was better to do so soon than late. They 
 
 * Q if not Adeeheox >vlucliun«ar£ccloo. 
 
 called a council, in which it was debated what most profitable 
 means they could use to save their own honors, and to promote the 
 advantage of the town. John Lyon and the other leaders of the 
 white hoods were invited to this council ; otherwise they would not 
 have dared to have hoJden it. Many proposals were made, and 
 long debates ensued ; but at last they determined unanimously to 
 elect twelve of the most respectable of the inhabitants, who should 
 solicit mercy and pardon for the murder of the bailiff: and if by 
 this they could obtain peace, it woi Id be a good thing; but every 
 person must be included in the pea. e, and nothing moved in the 
 business hereafter. 
 
 This resolution was acted upon, and twelve citizens elected to 
 wait on the earl. John Lyon kept always saying, that it was right 
 to be on good terms with their lord ; but his wishes were just the 
 contrary, for he thought and said internally, " Things are not yet in 
 the situation I wish to put them in." The determination of the 
 council soon became public : the twelve deputies set off, and jour- 
 neyed on until they came to Male, where they found the earl, who 
 on their approach was wondrous angry, and in a cruel passion against 
 the inhabitants of Ghent. The twelve deputies acted well their 
 parts by appearing contrite, and, with uplifted hands, entreated him 
 to have pity on them. They pleaded their excuse for the death of 
 his bailiff, adding, " Dear lord, have m-ercy on us, so that we may 
 carry peace back to the town of Ghent, which loves you so much ; 
 and we engage, that for the time to come, this outrage shall be amply 
 atoned for by those who have done it or excited it, so that you shall 
 be satisfied, and that all large towns shaU take example from it." 
 They so long and affectionately solicited the earl, that he restrained 
 his anger ; and, by other good arguments which they urged, the affair 
 was arranged and articles of peace drawn up. The earl was on the 
 point of pardoning all the outrages committed against him by those 
 of Ghent, on their making the reparation agreed on, when other in- 
 telligence arrived that I will now relate. 
 
 John Lyon, who had, remained at Ghent, thought directly the re. 
 verse of what he had said in the council, that it was proper to be on 
 good terms with their lord. He knew for a certainty he had already 
 so much irritated the earl, that he would never forgive him, and if 
 his pardon were promised, it would be through dissimulation,' which 
 would end in his being put to death. He therefore chose rather to 
 throw aside all shame, since he had entered so far in the business, 
 than to continue daily in the fear of his life ; and thus he acted! 
 During the time the deputation was gone to the earl to solicit peacej 
 he collected all the white hoods under his command, and the differ' 
 ent handicrafts in the town the most inclined to his way of thinking, 
 and gained his end by great artifice ; for, when they were assembled,' 
 he said to them, " Gentlemen, you well know how much we have 
 angered my lord of Flanders, and upon what grounds we have sent 
 a deputation to him. We do not know what answer they will bring 
 back ; whether peace or war ; for he is not of a temper easily ap- 
 peased, and he has near his person Gilbert Matthew and his brethrea, 
 who will not fail to excite his anger. It is therefore, a hundred to 
 one that we have peace. It behooves us, if we should have war, to 
 look to ourselves, and see from whom we may get assistance, and by 
 whom we may be supported. You, deacons of the different trades, 
 do you draw out into the fields to-morrow your men ; and we will 
 see what appearance they make ; for it is proper-we take measures 
 against a surprise. This will not cost us anything, and will make us 
 more feared." They all answered, that he had well spoken. This 
 measure was followed ; and, on the morrow, they marched out of the 
 gate leading to Bruges, and drew up in a handsome plain vv'ithout 
 Ghent, called Andreghien. When they were all arrived, John Lyon 
 looked at them with great pleasure ; for they were full ten thousand, 
 well armed; and said, "Here is indeed a handsome company." 
 When he had examined them for a short space, and had been all 
 round them, he added, " I would propose that we visit my lord'o 
 house, since we are so near to it. I have been told that he has lai(^ 
 therein many stores and provisions, which may be of great prejudice 
 to the town of Ghent." 
 
 This was agreed to ; and they marched to Andreghien, which at 
 the time was without guards or defence. They entered the house, 
 and began to search it everywhere. The white hoods and their 
 ribald crew which had entered, very soon despoiled it, taking away 
 whetever they could lay their hands on. There were many rich 
 jewels and clothes, for the earl kept there his wardrobe. John Lyon 
 affected to be in a violent passion at this conduct, but was not so in 
 reality, as it afterwards appeared ; for, after they had left the castle 
 and marched into the plain, on looking behind them, they saw the 
 mansion in flames in twenty different places ; and, if they had enter, 
 tained the inclination, it was not in their power to extinguish it. 
 John Lyon, who pretenised to be much surprised, cried out, " How 
 has this fire happened in my lord's house?" They answered, "By- 
 accident." " Well," replied he, " it cannot now be helped ; and it 
 is still better that accident should have burnt it, than that we should. 
 Everything considered, it was but a dangerous neighbor ; and my 
 lord might have established a garrison therein, which would have 
 annoyed us much." They all answered, " What you say is true." 
 
 They then returned to Ghent, and did nothing more that day ; but 
 what they had done was mischief enough, for it cost afterwards two 
 hundred thousand lives, and was one of the principal causes which 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 955 
 
 enraged the earl of Flandors the most. John Lyon had done it, be- 
 cause he wished not for peace : he well knew, that whatever treaty 
 Was entered into, it would be sealed with his blood. This castle of 
 Andreghiea had cost the earl of Flanders, in building and ornament- 
 ing. two hundred thousand francs ; and he loved it in preference to 
 all iais other residences. The well-intentioned inhabitants of Ghent, 
 who were desirous of peace, were exceedingly hurt at this business; 
 but help it they could not, nor did they dare to show any symptoms 
 of anger, for the white hoods said the castle had been burnt acci- 
 dentally. 
 
 News of this was brought to the earl at Male : those who came 
 said, " My lord, you do not know that your beautiful house of An- 
 dreo-hien, which has cost you such sums to build, and of which you 
 are "so fond, is burnt to the ground." "Burnt?" replied the earl, 
 who was much enraged at this intelligence. " Yes ; help me, God, 
 if it be not true." " And by what means ?" " By accidental fire, as 
 they seiy." " Ha, ha," answered the earl, " now it is all over : there 
 shall never be peace in Flanders as long as John Lyon lives : he has 
 had this house burnt in an underhand manner, but he shall dearly 
 pay for it." He then ordered the deputation from Ghent to come to 
 him, and said, " Ah, wretches ! you supplicate my favor with sword 
 in hand. I had acceded to eveiy proposal you had made, according 
 to your wisli ; and your people have set fire to and burnt the house I 
 loved in preference to all my others. Do you think there had not 
 been sufficient contempt shown me when they murdered my bailiff, 
 while he was executing my orders, tore my banner, and trod it under 
 foot ? Know, that if my own honor were not concerned, and if you 
 ^lad not already obtained passports from me, I would now have you 
 all beheaded. Quit my presence, and tell those wicked and out- 
 rageous men of Ghent, that they never shall have peace, nor will I 
 listen to any negotiation, until I shall have given up to me all those 
 whom I shall point out, and whom I will have beheaded without 
 mercy." 
 
 These citizens were exceedingly hurt at the news they heard, and, 
 like people who were perfectly innocent, endeavored to excuse them- 
 selves ; but in vain, for the earl was so much enraged he would not 
 hear them : he made them leave his presence, when they mounted 
 their horses and relumed to Ghent, and there related what they had 
 done, and how well they had managed the business ; that they had 
 succeeded ia obtaining an amicable settlement with the earl, when 
 the unfortunate event of the castle being burnt came to his ears. 
 After this, the earl threatened them greatly, and declared he .would 
 iiever consent to any peace until such of the townsmen as he should 
 choose were given up to him. The well-meaning inhabitants saw 
 things were taking a bad turn, and that the white hoods had imined 
 all ; but there were none bold enough to speak out. 
 
 The earl of Flanders set off with his attendants from Male, and 
 came to his h6tel at Lille, whither he summoned all the knights of 
 Flanders, and eveiy gentleman dependent on him, to have their advice 
 how he should act on this occasion, and by what means he should 
 revenge himself on the inhabitants of Ghent for the contempt they 
 had shown. All the gentlemen of Flanders swore to be true and 
 loyal to him, as every one ought to be toward their lord. The earl 
 was much pleased at this, and sent reinforcements to the garrisons 
 in all his castles at Dendremonde, Russelmonde, Alost, at Courtray 
 •dnd Oudenarde. 
 
 CHAPTER XL. 
 
 THE DEATH OF JOHN LYON. THE MEN OF GHENT CHOOSE CAPTAINS TO j 
 COMMAND THEM. SEVERAL TOWNS IN FLANDERS ALLY THEMSELVES 
 WITH GHENT. 
 
 John Lyon was rejoiced when he found the earl of Flanders in 
 earnest, and so much enraged against Ghent that he would not grant 
 them peace ; and that, by his manoeuvres, he had pushed matters so 
 forward, that the town would be obliged to make war whether it 
 would or not. He said publicly : " You hear, gentlemen, how our 
 lord, the earl of Flanders, is making preparations against you, and 
 will not listen to any tei-ms of peace : I therefore would advise, for 
 greater security, that before we shall be more oppressed, we know 
 what towns of Flanders will give us their support. I will answer for 
 those of Gramon'. noi: being against us, but on the contrary they will 
 assist us, as well as those of Courtray, which is in our castlewick, 
 and within our jurisdiction. But as for those of Bruges, they are 
 proud and haughly, and it has been by their means that all this mis- 
 chief has been fomented : it therefore becomes us to march against 
 them, in such force, that through fair or foul means, they unite them, 
 selves with us." All present answered, that his advice was good. 
 
 In course of time, every one that was to go on this expedition made 
 himself ready. When they were all duly prepared, in a manner be. 
 coming them, they marched from Ghent, in number from nine to ten 
 thousand men, canying with them a large train of stores and provis- 
 ions. The first day, they halted at Deynse : on the mon'ow, they 
 advanced within a short league of Bmges, when they drew up in order 
 of battle, in the plain, with their baggage in the rear. John Lyon 
 ordered the deacons of the trades to go into Bruges, and know their 
 intentions. They advanced thither, but found the gates shot and well 
 guarded. When they therefore informed them what their business 
 was, the guards said, they would cheerfully go and tell it to the bur- 
 
 gomaster and sheriffs, who had postea them there. They did so, 
 and the burgomasters and jurats told them to return and say that 
 they would call a council to consider of it. When they came back 
 with this answer, John Lyon cried out : " Advance, advance I let 
 us attack Bruges ; for, if we wait until they shall have held their 
 council, we shall find great difficulty to gain an entrance : it is bet- 
 ter we attack them before they consult together, and the sudden, 
 ness of our attack will surprise them." 
 
 This plan Was followed ; and the men of Ghent advanced to the 
 barriers and ditches of Biniges, John Lyon marching at their head on 
 a black horse. He quickly dismounted, and took an axe in his hand. 
 When the guard, who were not in sufficient strength, saw the men 
 of Ghent were so determined to attack them, they were frightened, 
 and ran away down the streets as far as the market-place, crying out, 
 " Here are the men of Ghent ! Quickly to your posts ; for they are 
 before your walls, and at your gates." 
 
 Those of Bniges who were assembling for the council were thun- 
 der-struck, and had not time to assemble nor to give any orders upon 
 the occasion, while the majority of the people were desirous that the 
 gates should be immediately thrown open. It behooved them to 
 agree in this with the commonalty ; otherwise it would have turned 
 out badly for the rich inhabitants. The burgomaster and sheriffs, 
 with many of the townsmen, came to the gate where the men of 
 Ghent were with a good inclination to attack it. The burgomaster 
 and the magistrates of Bruges, who for that day had the government 
 of the town, advanced to open the wicket to parley with John Lyon. 
 By treaty, they opened the barriers and gate, at which they held their 
 conference, and were good friends. All now entered the town. 
 John Lyon rode by the side of the burgomaster, and showed himsell 
 a bold and valiant man i his men marched in the rear in bright armor. 
 It was a handsome sight to see them thus enter Bruges until they 
 came to the market-place, where, as they arrived, they formed them- 
 selves into array in the square. John Lyon held a white tnincheon 
 in his hand. 
 
 A formal alliance was then entered into between the townsmen ot 
 Ghent and Bruges, which they mutually swore to keep, and to remain 
 for ever as good friends and neighbors : those of Ghent were allowed 
 to summon them, and to lead them with them wherever they pleased. 
 Soon after they had been thus drawn up in the market-place, John 
 Lyon and some of his captains went to the hall, whence they i.«t;ued 
 a proclamation for all the men of Ghent to retire peaceably to their 
 quarters, and there to disarm themselves without noise, or any tumult, 
 under pain of death ; which was quickly obeyed. They were also 
 forbidden to dislodge any one, or to engage in any quarrels, or to take 
 anything from their hosts without instantly paying for it, under the 
 same penalty. 
 
 This proclamation being issued, another was published on the part 
 of the town, for each householder to receive as friends the guod men 
 of Ghent, and to afford them all sorts of provisions at the market 
 prices ; and that no undue advantage should be taken, nor any quar- 
 rels or contentions stirred up, under pain of death. All persons now 
 retired to their houses or quarters ; and the inhabitants of the two 
 towns thus remained amicably together for two days, and strength- 
 ened their alliance and friendship mutually. Their treaties being 
 drawn out and sealed, on the third day the men of Ghent departed, 
 and marched to the town of Damme, which instantly opened its gates, 
 and received them most courteously : they remamed there two days. 
 John Lyon, during his short stay, was seized with a sudden sickness 
 that swelled his body exceedingly : the night he was taken ill, he had 
 supped in gi-eat revelry with the ladies of the town ; for which reason 
 several said and maintained that he had been poisoned. Of this 1 
 know nothing, therefore shall not insist on it; but I do know that on 
 the morrow he was placed on a litter, for ho was taken ill in the 
 night, and carried to Ardenbourg; but death prevented him going 
 further, to the great son-ow of the men of Ghent, who were thrown 
 into confusion by the event. All his enemies were as much rejoiced 
 thereat as his friends were cast down. His body was conveyed to 
 Ghent ; and, on account of his death, the whole army returned thither. 
 When the news of his decease was known in that town, it caused 
 much soiTow ; for he was greatly beloved by all, excepting the party 
 of the earl. The clergy went out to meet the body, and conducted 
 it into the town with as much solemnity as if he had been earl of 
 Flanders. He was interred in the church of St. Nicholas, where his 
 obsequies were performed, and where he lies. 
 
 Notwithstanding the death of John Lyon, the alliance between 
 Ghent and Bruges was not broken ; fer they had can-ied sufficient 
 hostages with them to Ghent, for the due performance of all its arti- 
 cles. The earl was exceedingly rejoiced at the death of John Lyon ; 
 as were Gilbert Matthew, his brothers, the deacon of the small craft, 
 and all the party of the eari, who sent greater reinforcements than 
 before to all his towns and castles, and ordered a sufficient number 
 of good knights and squires of the castlewicks of Lille and Douay 
 into the town of Ypres, declaring he would make Ghent repent of its 
 conduct. 
 
 Soon after the death of J^hn Lyon, those of Ghent considered they 
 could not long remain without leaders. The deacons of the trades 
 and the guards of the gates selected, according to their opinion, four 
 of the most courageous and enterprising for their commanders, whose 
 j names were, John Pruniaux, John Boule, Rasse de Harzelle, and 
 
25S 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 Peter du Bois. They swore Ij piy these commanders the most exact 
 obedience, under pain of death ; and these four swore also to preserve 
 and defend the honor and franchises of the town of Ghent. The four 
 commanders excited those of Ghent to march against Ypres and the 
 franc de Bruges, in order to obtain their union or put them to death. 
 They therefore s-et off from Ghent, in grand array, to the amount of 
 at least twelve thousand, all clad in bright armor. They took the 
 road to Courtray. The inhabitants of Courtray allowed them to enter 
 their town v/ith-out fear, for they were within the jurisdiction of Ghent : 
 they there refreshed themselves at their ease for two days. On the 
 third day they marched toward Ypres, canying with them two hun- 
 dred vvell-artned men from among the cross-bows of Courtray. They 
 followed the road tj Thorout, where on their arrival they halted ; and 
 the commanders held a council, in which they resolved to send three 
 or four thousand of their men, under the command of the captain of 
 the white hoods, to treat with the inhabitants of Ypres, and the main 
 body to follow to reinforce them, if there should be occasion. These 
 orders were executed, and they came before Ypres. 
 
 The commonalty of Ypres and the small handicrafts, hearing of 
 the arrival of the army from Ghent, instantly armed themselves, and 
 drew up in the market-place, to the amount of full five thousand. 
 The rich inhabitants had not any power in the town. The knights 
 placed there in garrison by the earl, advanced in handsome order, to 
 the gate leading to Thorout, where the Ghent men had halted with- 
 outside the barriers, requesting they would allow then: to enter. The 
 knights and their men were drawn up before the gate, and showed 
 such an appearance that the men of Ghent could never have gained 
 admittance but by force. However, the ancient trades of the town 
 were resolved that they should enter, in spite of the knights: they 
 left, therefore, the market-place, and came to the gate which the 
 knights were guarding, and said : " Open the gate to our friends and 
 neighbors from Ghent: we will have them enter our town." The 
 knights replied, " They would do no such thing: for they had been 
 ordered th'ther by the earl of Flanders to defend the town, which 
 they would do to the utmost of their power ; and it was not possible 
 for the force of those of Ghent to enter otherwise than by treason." 
 
 Words multiplied so fast between the gentlemen and the deacons 
 of small handicrafts, that the last shouted out, " Kill them, kill them ! 
 they shall not be masters of our town." They were immediately 
 attacked, and, after a long contest, were roughly driven down the 
 streets, as numbers were against them ; and five knights were slain, 
 among whom were sir Robert and sir Thomas de la Hourdrie, which 
 was a great pity. Sir Henry d'Antoing was in imminent danger of 
 his life, and with great difficulty could some of the principal inhabit, 
 ants save him : at last, they did succeed in it, and many of the 
 others were saved also. The gate was opened, so that the men of 
 Ghent entered the town, and became the masters of it, without do- 
 ing any damage. When they had remained there for two days, and 
 had taken hostages from the inhabitants, who entered into a similar 
 treaty with those of Bruges, Courtray, Gramont, and Damme, they set 
 out from Ypres in a most courteous manner, and returned to Ghent. 
 
 CHAPTER XLI. 
 
 THIS MEN OP GHENT BESlEaE THE TOWN OF OUDENARDE ON ALL SIDES. 
 THEY MAKE A GRAND ASSAULT ON THE EAKL OF FLANDERS IN DEN- 
 DREMONDE. 
 
 Tf.e earl of Flanders, who resided at Lille, heard how the inhabit, 
 ants of Ypres had turned against him, and what the small handi- 
 crafts had done ; he was sorely vexed, as well for the loss of those 
 knights who had there been slain as for other causes. He, how. 
 ever, comforted hjmself by saying, " Well, if we have this time lost 
 Ypres, we shall another time regain it to their curse ; for I will strike 
 off such numbers of heads, all others shall be astonished at it." The 
 earl intended particularly to provide the town of Oudenarde most 
 amply with all sorts of stores, provision, and men-at-arms : for he 
 thought that the men of Ghent would soon come to besiege it; and, 
 if they succeeded, the loss would be great to him, for they would 
 then have the whole navigation of the fine river Scheld at their com- 
 mand. He sent thither numbers of knights and squires from Flan- 
 ders, Hainault, and Artois, who assembled their people in the town 
 whether the inhabitants would or not. 
 
 The commanders in Ghent were informed what great preparations 
 the earl had made in Oudenarde : they determined to attack it, de- 
 daring they would not return until they had gained it, had slain all 
 within, and razed the Walls to the ground. Orders were given in 
 Ghent for every one to provide himself in a manner becoming his 
 rank, and to be ready to march whithersoever he might be led. 
 None dared to disobey this order: tents and pavilions were packed 
 up, with all other stores : having marched out of Ghent, they en- 
 camped before Oudenarde, in the beautiful meadows on the banks of 
 the Scheld. Three days after, the men from Bruges arrived, for 
 they had been summoned, and took up their quarters on the side near 
 to their town, bringing with them great^quantities of baggage and 
 provision. Next came those from Ypres in great array : then the 
 men of Poperingue, Messines, and Gramont. The Flemings thus 
 drawn up before Oudenarde were upward of one hundred thousand : 
 they made bridges ot boats and hurdles by which they crossed over 
 the Scheld to each other. 
 
 The earl, who resided at Lille, thinking they would attack Den- 
 dremonde first, had sent to (iermany, Gueldres, and Brabant, to ask 
 the succor o-f a number of knights. The duke of Mons, his rousin, 
 had come to serve him with a large body of knights, and had entered 
 Dendremonde, where they met the earl of Flanders, who was 
 already arrived there by his frontiers of Hainault and Brabant, and 
 was truly glad of their company. The Flemings maintained the 
 siege of Oudenarde for a long time ; during which, there were daily 
 many grand attacks and skirmishes, and several gallant deeds of 
 arms, both before the town and at th( barriers, where numbers were 
 killed and wounded, for the Flemings acted madly and foolishly in 
 hazarding their persons in these skirmishes, often to their great loss. 
 
 There were full eight hundred lances, knights and squires, in the 
 town of Oudenarde, all valiant men : among whom were several 
 barons, such as the lords de Guistelle, de Villiers, de Hullut, and de 
 Cornais, Flemings : from Hainault were, the lords d'Anghicn, d'An. 
 toing, de Bosnel, de Taux, de Gommegines, and his three brot'.-.ers, 
 sir John, sir Daniel, and sir .Toseph, the lords de Stainbourg, de Ca- 
 rue, sir Gerard de Marqueillies, the lord de Cohen, sir Rasse de 
 Montigny, sir Henry de la Hamede, sir John de Gres, and other 
 knights, amounting to about one hundred and five in number. They 
 kept up a regular and numerous guard ; for they had not any confi- 
 dence in the inhabitants, and they made the women and children 
 retire into the monasteries. The citizens and townsmen kept within 
 their houses ; and, in order to prevent the bad effects of the cannon 
 and the perpetual fire which the Flemings kept up against the town, 
 they had the houses covered with earth, to hinder them from taking 
 fire. 
 
 During the siege of Oudenarde, the commanders of the Flemings 
 were informed that the eari was at Dendremonde, and had with him 
 his cousin the duke de Mons and numbers of other knights. They 
 determined to send six thousand of their army thither, to examine its 
 appearance, and to make an assault upon it. This resolution was 
 executed. The detachment which had been ordered, under the com 
 mand of Rasse de Harzelle, continued their march, until they came 
 to a small village on the river Teure, a short league from Dendre- 
 monde, where they took up their quarters. These Flemings had 
 provided themselves with a number of boats, which they had sent 
 down the river, that they might embark on board of them, and at- 
 tack the place by land and water. A little after midnight, they 
 arose, armed themselves, and made every preparation to begin the 
 attack the instant they should be arrived there ; for they wished to 
 surprise the knights in their beds. They began their march; bui 
 some of the country people, who had heard of this intention of the 
 Flemings, informed the guards of it, saying, " Be sure you keep a 
 strict and good guard ; for a large body of the men of Ghent, who 
 have been benighted, are lying hard by here, and we know what 
 they intend to do." The guard at the gate related this to their cap. 
 tain, who was a knight from Holland, called sir Thierry de Bredoro : 
 on receiving this intelligence, he strengthened his guard, and sent 
 information of it to all the knights lodged in the castle and in the 
 different houses. 
 
 Immediately on the break of day, the Flemings advanced by land 
 arid in their boats, well prepared for an instant attack. When those 
 in the castle and town saw them approach, they sounded their trum- 
 pets to alarm every one, the greater part of the knights and squires 
 being already armed. The earl of Flanders, who slept in the castle, 
 heard of the march of the Flemings, and that they had commenced 
 the attack ; on which he instantly rose, armed himself, and sallied 
 forth from the castle, his banner displayed before him. At this time, 
 there were in the town, sir Gossuin de Wrle great bailiff of Flanders, 
 the lord de Gau, sir Gerard de Rasenghien, sir Philip de Mamines, 
 sir Philip de Rungi, a Burgundian, and others. All these knights 
 advanced to meet the banner of the earl, and then they marched un. 
 der it to the assault, which was already begun in a severe and horri- 
 ble manner ; for these Flemings had brought in their boats cannona 
 and cross-bows, which shot such large and heavy bolts that when 
 any one was struck by them there was no escape from death. 
 Against these bolts they were strongly shielded ; and the earl had 
 with him some excellent cross-bows, who by their shooting gave the 
 Flemings enough to do. 
 
 The duke de Mons was in another part with his troops drawn up, 
 his banner before him ; and there were in his company the lord de 
 Brederode, sir Joseph and sir Thierry Lavare, sir Vivant de Chupe- 
 
 I rois, and several more, who each performed well their duty. In 
 another quarter of the town, posted at a gate, were sir Robert Dale, 
 
 ; sir John Villain, the lord de Vindescot, and sir Robert Mareschal. 
 The attack here was very sharp, for the Flemings made vigorous 
 assaults by land and water, in which many were killed and wounded 
 on each side ; but more on the side of the Flemings than on that of 
 the gentlemen, as the Flemings adventured themselves fool-hardily 
 This attack lasted, without ceasing, from the break of day until full 
 noon. A knight of the eari's party was slain, called sir Hugh de 
 Rony, a Burgundian : he was much lamented, for he lost his life by 
 too much boldness, and for want of prudence. Rasse de Harzelle, 
 the commander of the detachment, fought valiantly, and by his words 
 and actions greatly encouraged the men of Ghent. 
 
 The assault ceased in the afternoon, for Rasse found he was labor 
 ing in vain, and thai in Dendremonde there were such brave men that 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 257 
 
 it could not easily be taken : his troops also began to be fatigued. 
 He thprefore sounded a retreat, when the men retired in a handsome 
 manner along the river side, bringing off their fleet of boats ; and on 
 the morrow they retqjrned to their army before Oudenarde. 
 
 iMbn of Ghent attacking the eaii of Flanders in Dendremonde. From a MS. of the fifteenth century. 
 
 CHAPTER XLII. 
 
 SEVERAL ASSAULTS ARE MADE ON OUDENARDE. PEACE CONCLUDED BE- 
 
 TWEEN THE FLEMINGS AND THE EARL OF FLANDERS, BY MEANS OF 
 THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY. 
 
 The siege of Oudenarde continued for a long time ; and the Flem. 
 ings before it were masters of the river and of the adjoining country, 
 so that no provision could be introduced without great danger, and 
 on the side toward Hainault. Sometimes victuallers, in hopes of 
 gain, ventured, while the army was asleep, to come close to the bar- 
 riers with provision, which by that means were brought into Oude- 
 narde. Among the many attacks made upon the town, there was one 
 which was very vigorous : it lasted the whole day. Upon this occa- 
 sion, some new knights were created from Flanders, Hainault, and 
 Artois, who wished to distinguish themselves. These new knights 
 advanced to the barriers, where several skirmishes took place with 
 the men of Ghent, in which many were killed and wounded ; but 
 they paid little attention to this, and being regardless of death, they 
 advanced so boldly that when those in the front were slain or disabled, 
 the rear dragged them out, took their places, and kept a handsome 
 countenance. This attack lasted until the evening, when those of 
 Oudenarde returned into the town, and shut the gates and barriers : 
 they then buried their dead, and took great care of their wounded. 
 
 The Flemings thought they should certainly conquer the town by 
 assault or famine ; for they well knew that they had so closely sur- 
 rounded it by land and water that nothing could enter it ; and their 
 remaining before it would not be of any detriment to them, for they 
 were in their own country, and near their own homes. They had 
 also, every necessary article for their support, with all other things in 
 great abundance, and cheaper than they would have had them at 
 Bruges or Ghent. The earl of Flanders, being aware of the great 
 number of men-at-arms that were in the town, suspected the inten. 
 tions of the Flemings, that by keeping up the blockade, they would 
 in the end starve them to a surrender : he would therefore have wil- 
 lingly listened to any overture for a negotiation that was honorable to 
 him. To say the truth, this war against his subjects was highly disa- 
 greeable to him, and he had undertaken it contrary to his own opinion. 
 His mother, the lady Margaret, countess of Artois, blamed him much, 
 and took great pains to put an end to it. 
 
 The countess resided in the city of Arras, whence she wrote to the 
 duke of Burgundy, to whom the heritage of Flanders would fall by 
 his marriage with her grand-daughter, on the death of the earl. The 
 duke, who had before received information of this afl^air, for news 
 was daily brought to him on the subject, came to Arras, attended by 
 his council, and sir Guy de la Trimouille, sir John de Vienne, admi- 
 ral of France, sir Guy de Pontalliers, and several others. The 
 countess received him with great joy, discussed with much wisdom 
 
 coming and very displeasing it was not only to her but to all reasoita- 
 ble persons. She told him, that many valiant men, barons, knights, 
 and squires, were honorably shut up in the town of Oudenarde, and 
 in very imminent danger ; and she begged, for God's sake, he would 
 
 think of and provide a reme. 
 dy. The duke replied, that 
 he was bound to do so, and 
 would exert himself to the 
 utmost of his power. Shortly 
 after he left Arras and went 
 to Tournay, where he v/os 
 joyfully received ; for the in- 
 habitants of Tournay wished 
 much for peace on account 
 of their merchandise, which 
 was shut up on the Scheld. 
 
 The duke of Burgundy 
 sent the abbot de St. Martin 
 to the army before Oude. 
 narde to sound the leaders 
 of the men of Ghent, if they 
 would enter into a negotia- 
 tion. The abbot brought the 
 the duke for answer, that 
 out of respect for him, they 
 would enter into a treaty: 
 the duke granted passports, 
 and received the same from 
 the Flemings, for the nego. 
 tiators to meet at Pont de 
 Rosne, where the first con- 
 ference lasted from morning 
 until night. The duke him- 
 self went thither to parley 
 with the Flemings; and, after 
 the conference, he returned 
 to Tournay in company with 
 the earl, whom he brought 
 back with him. These con- 
 ferences continued for fif- 
 teen days. It was difiicult 
 to satisfy the Flemings, as they insisted on having Oudenarde de- 
 molished, to which the duke and his ministers would not consent. 
 The Flemings kept up a grand and haughty appearance, making 
 no account of peace ; for they maintained, that as those within Oude- 
 narde could not leave it without great danger to themselves, they 
 considered the town as conquered. 
 
 The duke of Burgundy, seeing these Flemings so proud and pre- 
 sumptuous, and so indifferent to conclude a treaty, could not conceive 
 their meaning ; he therefore requested a passport for his marshal to 
 visit the knights in Oudenarde, which was instantly granted him 
 The marshal of Burgundy went into the town, and found the knights 
 well provided, excepting some articles of which they were greatly in 
 want ; they, however, boldly said to the marshal : " Tell my lord of 
 Burgundy from us, not to enter into any dishonorable treaty on our 
 account ; for, through God's mercy, we are in good health, and cane 
 not for our enemies." This answer pleased the duke much, who at 
 the time was at Pont de Rosne : however, he did not neglect to push 
 forward his negotiations. To say the truth, those of Ypres and 
 Bruges were th"ed of the war, as well as those from the Franc, who 
 saw winter approaching: they therefore argued in council, that since 
 the duke of Burgundy, to accommodate the business, had come 
 thither in person, and had engaged to have everything pardoned ; 
 since also the earl would return in an amicable manner to Ghent, 
 there to reside, and, let what would happen, would never remember 
 the past ; all these considerations ought to be attended to ; and they 
 considered themselves bound to acknowledge their lord with respect, 
 and not attempt to tear his inheritance from him. 
 
 These words greatly softened the men of Ghent, and they agreed 
 to accept the treaty. The duke gave a most magnificent dinner to 
 the principal persons from Ghent, Bruges, Ypres and Courtray. On 
 that day, it was settled that the siege should be raised, and a solid 
 peace concluded between the earl and his subjects : that the earl 
 should grant a general pardon to all, without any reservation, dissem- 
 bling or exception whatever: that he should reside at Ghent, and 
 that within a year the citizens of Ghent should rebuild the castle of 
 Andreghien, which report said they had burnt. For the fuller con. 
 firmation of all this, Jobn Pruniaux was to accompany the duke of 
 Burgundy to Tournay, where it was to be properly drawn up and 
 sealed. After this, t^e duke returned to Tournay, and John Pru. 
 niaux and John Boule remained with the army. On the morrov/, 
 peace was proclaimed between the two parties, the siege was raised, 
 and every man returned to his home. The earl disbanded his sol- 
 diers, and greatly thanked the foreigners for the gillant services they 
 had done him : he then went to Lille, to execute the treaties which 
 his son-in-law the duke of Burgundy had concluded for him. 
 
 Some of the neighboring countries said, that this was a double- 
 faced peace ; that there would be another rebellion . and that the 
 
 the subject of this war between her son and his subjects ; how unbe- ' eari had only consented to it, in order to extricate such a number 
 
258 
 
 # 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &d 
 
 (■:. noble knights and squires from the danger they ran in Oudenarde. 
 John Pruniaux, after the breaking up of the siege, went to Tournay, 
 where the duke of Burgundy entertained him handsomely. The 
 i.ticles of the treaty were there completed, and sealed by the duke 
 cud the earl of Flanders. John Pruniaux afterwards returned to 
 C> hent, and showed what he had done. The duke of Burgundy had 
 s.' well managed the men of Ghent by kind words, that Oudenarde 
 was saved from destruction ; for, when the siege was raised in con- 
 foimity to the treaty, they would have demolished the gates and walls 
 of tha tov/n, that it might remain open and ready for them to retire 
 to. The earl of Flanders having resided some time at Lille, after 
 the duke of Burgundy had returned to France, went to Bruges, where 
 he made a long s!ay : during which, he secretly showed great dis- 
 pleasure to some of the citizens of Bruges, without, however, doing 
 anything more, nor seeming desirous of otherwise punishing them, 
 for their having so readily deserted his party, and placing themselves 
 under the command of Ghent. These citizens excused themselves 
 by saying, what was indeed true, that it had not been through any 
 fault of theirs, but was solely owing to the small handicrafts of the 
 town, who would ally themselves with those of Ghent when John 
 Lyon came before Bruges. The earl passed over their misconduct 
 with as fair looks as he could, but he did not the less remember it. 
 We will now leave him and the Flemings, and return to the affairs 
 of Brittany. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIII. 
 
 THE DUKE OF BRITTANY RETURNS FROM ENGLAND, AT THE ENTREATY OF 
 HIS SUBJECTS. T:iE ENGLISH ARE DESIROUS OF MARRYING THEIR 
 YOUNG KING. THE KNIGHTS OF ENGLAND SENT TO THE AID OF THE 
 DUKE OF BRITTANY MEET WITH GREAT TEMPESTS AT SEA. 
 
 You have before heard that the duke of Brittany resided in Eng. 
 land with king Richard and his uncles, who entertained him hand- 
 somely, and that his country was in great trouble ; for the king of 
 France had ordered thither his constable with a large body of men- 
 at-arms, who had fixed their quarters at Pontorson, and near St. 
 Michael's Mount, Vv hence they made war on all the adjacent country. 
 The inhabitants of the cities and principal towns kept themselves 
 well inclosed, and were very anxious for the return of their lord, to 
 whom they had already sent letters and messengers : but he was 
 fearful of trusting to them, until the prelates and barons of Brittany 
 and the great towns began to murmur, and say : " We send every 
 week letters of invitation to the duke ; but, instead of coming, he 
 only returns us excuses." " In God's name," said some of them, 
 " there must be a reason for this : we send to him in too simple a 
 manner. We ought to send him a knight or two of rank, in whom 
 lie may trust, and who will fully explain to him the true state of the 
 country." 
 
 This proposal was agreed to ; and two valiant knights, sir Geoffry 
 de Querimel and sir Eustace de la Houssaye, were entreated to go 
 to England, at the joint solicitations of the prelates, barons, and prin- 
 cipal towns in Brittany.* These two knights made preparations for 
 their voyage to England, and, embarking on board a vessel at Cano,t 
 had weather and wind according to their wish. They made sail for 
 Southampton, and there disembarked : continuing their journey to 
 London, they found »he duke and duchess of Brittany and sir Robert 
 Knolles, who received them with great joy, and handsomely enter- 
 tained them. 
 
 The knights then related to the duke the state and disposition of 
 his country, and how very ardently his return was looked for ; to 
 confirm which, they gave the duke their credential letters from the 
 prelates, barons, ui.d principal towns of Brittany. The duke gave 
 full credence to the knights and their letters, and said he would show 
 ihem to the king and his uncles, which he did. When the king and 
 his uncles heard all these things, and how the whole of Brittany, the 
 prelates, barons and principal towns, excepting Guesclin, Laval, 
 Clisson, Rohan and Rochefort, had sent to the duke their lord, sup- 
 plicating him to return t > his own country, the king said to him, 
 " You must go over to Britiany, since they send for you, and main- 
 tain your rights : we will shortly send to your assistance a sufficient 
 force of men-at-arms to defend your frontiers ; but you will leave the 
 lady-duchess with my mother and her brothers, while you go to carry 
 on this war." 
 
 The duke heard these words with great joy, and made his prepa- 
 rations accordingly : he was not long in having everything ready at 
 Southampton. When taking leave of the king, the princess of Wales, 
 and of his duchess, he m:.de a strict treat; of alliance with the king 
 of England, and swore on his faith, that 'if he should speedily be 
 succored by the English, he would alwa5^s remain steadily attached 
 to them, and do all in his power to make his country join with him ; 
 and that England should always find his portt open, whenever her 
 fleets came ihith-rr. After this, he set out from Lendon^ accompa- 
 nied by sir Robert Knolles and the two knights who were sent to 
 him, with about one hundred men-at-arms and two hundred archers. 
 ThcTc V:'as a short delay at Southampton, waiting for a favorable 
 
 * The Histoire de la Bretagne mentions three other persons as deputies, and cites the 
 public acts for authority. Geoffrey de Querimel WM a favorite of the duke. 
 t*'Cauo" Q. CoDcarueau. 
 
 wind, where they embarked. The> landed at Guerrande,* and rode 
 on to Vannes. The inhabitants of that city received the duke with 
 great demonstrations of joy, as indeed did the whole country when 
 they heard of his arrival. The duke refreshed himself for five days, 
 or thereabouts, at Vannes, and then went to Nantes : there he was 
 waited on by barons, prelates, knights, ladies and damsels, who all 
 offered their services, and put themselves under his obedience. They 
 greatly complained of the French, and of the constable, who had 
 quartered himself in the country near Rennes. The duke said, 
 " My friends, I shall shortly have aid from England ; for without the 
 assistance of the English, I shall not be able to defend myself sgainst 
 the French ; otherwise they will be too strong for us, seeing that we 
 are not all in this country of one mind. But when the forces which 
 the king of England has promised shall be arrived, if they have done 
 you wrongs, we will return them the compliment." This speech 
 greatly pleased those of the duke's party who were present. 
 
 In this same year, about St. Andrew's day, died the lord Charles, 
 king of Germany and emperor of Rome. King Charles had done 
 so well by money and by his great connections, that the electors of 
 the empire had given it under their oaths and seals, they would elect, 
 after his decease, his son emperor, and exert their whole power to 
 maintain the siege before Aix, and to defend him against all oppo- 
 sers : so that, after the death of Charles, his son Winceslaus, who 
 before was king of the Romans, signed himself emperor of Rome, 
 king of Germany and Bohemia. 
 
 About this same season, there were many councils held in Eng- 
 land, by the uncles of the king, the prelates and barons, relative to 
 marrying the young king Richard. The English would have pre- 
 ferred a princess of Ilainault, out of love for that good lady queen 
 Philippa, who had been so virtuous, liberal and honorable, and who 
 had come from Hainault ; but duke Albert, at that time, had not any 
 daughters marriageable. The duke of Lancaster would willingly 
 have seen the king, his nephew, married to his daughter, whom he 
 had had by the lady Blanch of Lancaster, but the people would not 
 have consented to this for two reasons ; that the lady was his cousin, 
 german, and too nearly related ; and that they wished the king to 
 choose a queen from beyond sea, in order to gain stronger alliances. 
 The sister of the king of Bohemia and of Germany, daughter of the 
 lately deceased emperor, was then proposed, and the whole council 
 assented to it. 
 
 Sir Simon Burley, a sage and valiant knight, who had been the 
 king's tutor, and much beloved by the prince his father, was nomi- 
 nated to go to Germany, to treat of this marriage, as a v/ise and abia 
 negotiator. Every necessary preparation was ordered, as well fcr 
 his expenses as otherwise. He set out from England magnificently 
 equipped, and arrived at Calais \ from thence he went to Gravelines, 
 and continued his journey until he came to Brussels, where he met 
 the duke Winceslaus of Brabant, the duke Albert, the count de Blois, 
 the count de St. Pol, Sir William de Maulny, and nurnbers of knights 
 from Brabant, Hainault, and other parts, partaking of a grand feast 
 of tilts and tournaments ; and it was on this occasion all these lords 
 were there assembled. The duke and duchess of Brabant, from the 
 love they bore the king of England, received this knight most cour- 
 teously. They were much rejoiced on hearing the cause of his 
 journey into Germany, and said it would be a good match between 
 the king of England and their niece. They gave Sir Simon Burley, 
 on his departure, special letters to the emperor, to assure him they 
 approved very much of the marriage. The knight set out from 
 Brussels, and took the road through Louvain to Cologne. 
 
 About this time, the king of England and his council ordered two 
 hundred men-at-arms and four hundred archers to Brittany, under 
 the command of Sir John Arundel : sir Hugh Calverley, sir Thomas 
 Banaster, sir Thomas Trivet, sir Walter Pole, sir John Bourchier, 
 the lord Ferrers and the lord Basset were appointed to this expedition. 
 The knights made all the preparation they wanted, and went to 
 Southampton, where they embarked on board their vessels. When 
 they had a favorable wind, they set sail. The first day, it was fair; 
 but, toward evening, it veered about, and became quite contrary, 
 which drove them, whether they would or not, on the coasts of 
 Cornwall. The wind was so strong and impetuous, they were 
 afraid to cast anchor. On the morrow, the storm . continued as fierce 
 as ever, and forced them into the Irish sea ; when it became so vio. 
 lent, three of their ships sunk, on board of which were sir John 
 Arundel, sir Thomas Banaster, and sir Hugh Calverley. Upward 
 of eighty perished of their complement of men-at-arms, and in tho 
 number the commander-in-chief, sir John Arundel, which v.-as great 
 pity, for he was a valiant and enterprising knight. Sir Thomas 
 Banaster and sir Walter Pole, two brave knights, were drowned, 
 and many others. 
 
 Sir Hugh Calverley never before experienced greater peril ; for all 
 those who were in his vessel were drowned, except himself and 
 seven sailors ; but sir Hugh and the sailors took to the masts and 
 cables to save themselves, and, as the wind was strong, they were 
 blown on shore : but, having swallowed much sea-water, they were 
 long sick and uncomfortable. Sir Thomas Trivet, sir John Bour- 
 chier, the lords Ferrers and Basset escaped this danger, with others : 
 however, they were much driven and tumbled about. When the 
 
 * •' Guerrande"— a town in Brittany, between the rivers Vilaine and Loire, dioc«» 
 of Nantes. * 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 tempest ceased, they returned as well as they could to Southampton, 
 and waited on the king and his uncles ; to whom they related their 
 misfortunes, including sir Hugh Calverley among the drowned : but 
 It was not so, as it afterwards appeared when he came to London. 
 
 This expedition was put an end to ; and the duke of Brittany did 
 not receive any assistance from the English, which was very much 
 against him ; for all that season and the ensuing winter the French 
 carried on a destructive war. The Bretons, that is to say, sir Oliver 
 de Clisson and his men, took the town of Dinant, by means of ves- 
 sels and boats, which they pillaged, and kept afterwards, for a long 
 time, against the duke and the country. We will now return to the 
 affairs of Flanders. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIV. 
 
 THE TOWN OF GHENT SENDS EMBASSADORS TO THE EARL OF FLANDERS 
 TO ENTREAT HIM TO COME THITHER. 
 
 When peace was concluded between the earl of Flanders and the 
 men of Ghent, by the mediation of the duke of Burgundy, which 
 gained him great popularity throughout the country, the men of 
 Ghent were very desirous that the earl should come and fix his resi- 
 dence in their town. The provost of Haerlabeke had strongly 
 advised the earl to improve the affection between him and Ghent, in 
 which he was seconded by all the earl's relations. The earl, how. 
 ever, continued to reside at Bruges, and never went near Ghent, 
 which surprised every one ; but, in particular the well-intentioned 
 and principal inhabitants, who were anxious for peace. As for the 
 white hoods and pillagers, who only sought disturbance, they dreaded 
 his return : for they suspected, that if he did come, they would be 
 privately corrected for the evils they had done. 
 
 Notwithstanding these doubts of the magistracy and town-council, 
 the rich men were particularly impatient for his arrival, and wished 
 they vv'ould send to request it ; for they did not look upon the peace 
 as stable until he should have resided in Ghent. Twenty-four 
 deputies were selected to go to Bruges, to declare to the earl the 
 great love the town of Ghent had for him, and their wishes for his 
 residence among them. They set off in a magnificent manner, as 
 those should who wait on their lord ; but they were told on leaving 
 the town, " Never think of returning to Ghent, unless you bring back 
 the earl with you; otherwise you will find the gates shut." Thus 
 did the citizens of Ghent set out, taking the road toward Bruges. 
 When they were between Deynse and Bruges, they learnt that the 
 earl was coming, which gave them great pleasure ; and, after they 
 had rode on about a league, they perceived ihe earl in the plain. 
 On seeing him, they advanced in two divisions, making a lane, 
 through which the earl and his knights passed. 
 
 The citizens made low reverences, and showed every mark of 
 respect to the earl and to his attendants : but he scarcely looked at 
 them, only touched a little his hat ; and, during the whole time, he 
 never noticed them. Thus they all rode on ; the earl on one side, 
 the deputation from Ghent on another, until they came to Deynse, 
 where they stopped, for the earl was to dine there. The deputation 
 took some houses for themselves, and dined also. After dinner, they 
 waited on the earl ; and, having knelt down before him (for the 
 earl was seated,) they presented to him the humble affection of the 
 citizens of Ghent, and remonstrated with him, that from their great 
 love to him, and their earnest desire for him to reside among them, 
 they had been deputed, adding ; " On our departure, my lord, the 
 townsmen said, that we must not think of returning unless we 
 brought you with us." The earl, who had well heard these words, 
 was for a time silent ; when he said calmly — " I willingly believe 
 all you say, and that many in Ghent wish me to come thither: but I 
 am surprised they do not recollect, nor seem inclined to remember 
 former times, when I was so desirous of complying with all their 
 requests, and how I expelled from the country such of my gentle- 
 men as they complained of, in compliance with their laws. I have 
 too often opened my prisons, to surrender up mine and their own 
 burgesses, whenever they solicited it. I have loved and esteemed 
 them more than any other of my subjects ; and they have behaved 
 to me quite the contrary, slain my bailiff, destroyed the houses of my 
 people, driven away my officers, burnt the house in the world which 
 I loved the most, forced my towns to side with them, murdered my 
 knights in the town of Ypres : in short, they have acted so wickedly 
 toward me and my rights that I am tired of mentioning them, and 
 wish never to remember them ; but, whether I will or not, I cannot 
 help doing so." 
 
 " Ah, my lord," replied the deputies, " do not think more of what 
 has passed : you have pardoned us for all those evil deeds." "That 
 is true," answered the earl, " and I do not mean, by what I have 
 just said, that in time to come you shall fare the worse for it. 1 only 
 point out to you the great cruelties and wickedness which I have 
 suffered from the town of Ghent." The earl was then softened : 
 risiiig up, he made them rise also, and, calling to the lord de Ruise- 
 liers v/ho was near him, said, " Let them bring wine." The depu. 
 tation drank of it, and then retired to their lodgings, where they 
 remained all night, for the earl staid there. On the morrow, ihey 
 ail rode together toward Ghent 
 
 CHAPTER XLV. 
 
 THE EARL OF FLANDERS ENTERS THE TOWN OF GHENT, AND SECRETLY 
 DEPARTS FROM IT. THE WALLS OF OUDENARDE ARE RAZED BY THE 
 WHITE HOODS, THEIR ALLIES AND ACCOMPLICES. 
 
 When the inhabitants of Ghent heard the. A was on the road 
 thither, they were much rejoiced, and went out to meethimon horse, 
 back and on foot: they bowed very lowly w^^fui they met him, and 
 showed him all the reverence in their power ; but he passed on with- 
 out saying a word, only just bowed his head to them. He rode to 
 his hotel, called La Fdterne, where he dined. Great presents were 
 made him by the town, and the magistrates waited on him, who 
 humbled themselves greatly in his presence, as was but right. The 
 earl addressed them, saying, " that when there was a stable peace, 
 everything ought to have a peaceable appearance : I would, there- 
 fore, that these white hoods be laid aside, and some amends made 
 for the death of my bailiff, for his family are very importunate with 
 me on the subject." 
 
 " My lord," replied the magistrates, " that is fully our intention ; 
 and we beseech your highness, that you would have the goodness t£> 
 come to-morrow to the square, and explain to your subjects, in an 
 amicable manner, v/hat your wishes are : they will be so much re- 
 joiced at seeing you again that they will comply with all your de. 
 sires." The earl agreed to their request. In the evening, it was 
 known to numbers, that the earl was, on the morrow, to harangue 
 the people at eight o'clock in the morning, i;i the market-place. Good 
 men were much pleased thereat; but the mad and outrageous thought 
 little of it, and said they had had enough of harangues, and knew well 
 what they were to do. John Pruniaux, John Boule, Rasse de Har. 
 zelle, and Peter du Bois, leaders of the white hoods, were fearful 
 that everything would be laid to their charge, and, having discoursed 
 together, sent for some of their men, making choice of those that 
 were the worst and most violent of their companions, and said to 
 them, " Be sure you remain all this night and to-morrow armed ; and 
 whatever may be said to you, do not put off your white hoods ; but 
 be all of you in the market-place to-morrow by eight o'clock, and 
 make not any riot unless it be first begun on you. You will either 
 give these orders to your companies or send them by a safe hand." 
 They answered they would punctually comply, which they did. 
 
 The next morning, at eight o'clock, they all went to the markets 
 place, but not in a body ; they separated in different parties, for their 
 leaders were among them. The earl came on horseback to the 
 market-place, attended by his knights, squires, and magistrates of 
 the town. John de Faucille was with him, and upward of forty of 
 the richest and most respectable inhabitants. The earl, as he was 
 passing up the market-place, cast his eyes on the white hoods, which 
 made him melancholy : he dismounted, as did his attendants, and 
 went to a window, from whence he leaned out, on a crimson cloth, 
 which had there been spread for him. 
 
 The earl began to address the people in a very discreet speech, in 
 which he showed what love and affection he had borne them before 
 they had angered him. He remonstrated, that a prince and sovereign 
 lord ought to be loved, feared, obeyed, and honored by his subjects, 
 and explained how very contrary they had acted. He also noticed ' 
 how well he had always defended them against their enemies, and 
 had kept them in peace and prosperity : that he had opened to them 
 communications by sea, which before his joyful accession had been 
 shut against them. He displayed much argument and good sense, 
 which were understood by the wise, and acknovvled for truth. He was 
 well listened to by several, but by others not at all, for they were 
 desirous of confusion. When he had spoken an hour, he concluded 
 by saying, " that after having so fully explained everything, he v/as 
 willing to continue their good lord, in the same manner as be had 
 formerly been : that he forgave all the injuries and contempt they 
 had shown him ; and that he would never more recollect the evil 
 deeds which had passed, but would preserve to them their rights and . 
 franchises, as he had done. He entreated therefore, that no novel- ■ 
 ties might be introduced, and that those white hoods should he laid 
 aside." 
 
 During the first part of his speech, all v/ere silent, as if there had 
 not been any one present ; but, the moment he touched on the white 
 hoods, murmurs were heard on all sides, which showed it was (Ui 
 that account. The people were then entreated to^retire to their houses 
 in a peaceable manner. The earl left the market-place with his at- 
 tendants, and the rest went to their homes. But I must sar, that 
 the white hoods came the first to the market-place, and were t!;e last 
 to quit it ; and, when the earl passed through them, they looked ill- 
 humored at him, disdaining to pull off their caps, which affectetl him 
 much ; for he said afterwards to his knights, when lie retired to La 
 Poterne, " I shall never gain my wish with these white hoods: they 
 are an accursed wicked people. My mind tells me, things will not 
 remain long as they now are: if I may judge from appearuncos, 
 there is much evil intended ; and, were I to lose all, I will not ^lufiL-r 
 such pride and wickedness." 
 
 The earl remained four or five days at Ghent, and then he departed 
 in such a manner as showed he never again intended returning thulier. 
 He went to Lille, where he made his preparations for passiu'i; t'le 
 winter. He scarcely took leave of any one when he quitted C? hfii'*, 
 and set out much out of humor, for which several of the towu wo \ 
 
869 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, fee. 
 
 di pleased, and said he would never do them any good again ; that 
 they would no more love him than he did them : he had now left 
 them as he had done before ; and that Gilbert and his brothers had 
 so advised, seeing that he had so suddenly, and without affection, 
 d- parted from Ghent. John Pruniaux, Rasse de Harzelle, John 
 B ule and Peter du Bois, with the other wicked captains, were much 
 p": ased at all this, and spread rumors over the town, that the earl 
 vv( uld return in the summer with sufficient force to break the peace ; 
 thut it behooved every one to be on his guard, and to 
 lay in good store of corn, oats, meat, salt, and all 
 sorts of provision, for that no dependence could be 
 placed on the carl. 
 
 The townsmen, therefore, laid in very great stores 
 of all things necessary for them : when it was told 
 the earl, he was mightily surprised, and could not 
 guess why they were so very suspicious. To say the 
 truth, when all which I have related is duly con. 
 sidered, one cannot but wonder how the men of 
 Ghent dissembled, and had done so from the be- 
 ginning. The rich and principal men of the town 
 could not excuse themselves for their conduct at the 
 commencement of these commotions ; for certainly 
 if they had been willing, when John Lyon first in- 
 troduced the wearing of white hoods, they could 
 easily have prevented it : they might have sent 
 against the canal-diggers of Bruges other men who 
 would have done as well as the white hoods : 
 but they permitted them, because they did not choose 
 lo have it thought they were against the franchises 
 of the town. They therefore consented to every- 
 thing, for which the richest and most discreet men 
 paid very dearly afterwards. They were no longer 
 masters in the town, and dared neither speak nor 
 act but as the white hoods pleased. They said, that 
 neither for John Lyon nor for Gilbert Matthew, nor 
 for their wars and hatreds would they take part ; 
 but they were united in one point, the preserving 
 and defending the franchises of the citizens of 
 Ghent, which they afterwards demonstrated, for 
 they made a war which lasted for seven years ; 
 and, during that time, there were no quarrels in the 
 town, which was their great cause of defence both 
 at home and abroad. They were so much united 
 together that there were not any distractions among 
 them, but each subscribed his money and jewels to 
 the general fund ; and those among them who had 
 the greatest abundance gave it to this stock, as you 
 shall hear related. 
 
 Not long after the earl of Flanders' departure from 
 Ghent, and fixing his residence at Lille, Oliver d'Au- 
 terme, cousin-german to Roger d'Auterme, whom 
 the men of Ghent murdered, sent his defiance to 
 that town, in revenge for his death. Sir Philip de 
 Mamines did the same, as well as several others. 
 After these challenges had been delivered, they met about fifty boats, 
 with their cvews, descending the Scheld, laden with corn for Ghent, 
 on whom they retaliated for the death of their cousin : having seized 
 the mariners, they put out their eyes, and in this maimed and miser- 
 able state they sent tiiem to Ghent. Tlie citizens of Ghent looked on 
 this act as a personal injury done to them : when complaints of it 
 were brought before the magistrates, they were much enraged, and 
 knew not what to say. There were great murmurings throughout 
 the town ; and the majority of the inhabitants said the earl of 
 Flanders had done it, so that scarcely any one that was a respectable 
 character could offer anything in his defence. 
 
 The instant John Pruniaux, who was at the time the principal 
 '.'leader and master of the white hoods, heard this news, without say- 
 ing a v/ord to the magistrates of the town (I know not if he mentioned 
 his plan to the other captnins, his companions, but I should suppose 
 he did,) assembled the greater part of the white hoods, and others 
 equally inclined to do evil, and marched out of Ghent, taking the 
 road to Oudenarde. When he came thither there was not any guard 
 nor sentinel, for they suspected nothing : he seized the gate, and 
 entered the town with his men, who amounted to more than five 
 thousand. When morning came, he set laborers to work, with car- 
 penters and masons whom he had brought with him ; and they never 
 ceased working until they had destroyed the two gates, the towers 
 and the walls, which they flung into the ditch on the side toward 
 Ghfint. Now, how could those excuse themselves who had con- 
 senied to this wicked deed ? for they remained in Oudenarde, up- 
 ward of a month, destroying the gates and the walls. If they had 
 remanded their people as soon as it was known what they were 
 doing, one might have excused them ; but they did no such thing : 
 on the contrary, they winked at it, and suffered them to proceed, 
 until news was carried to the earl, who resided at Lille, how John 
 Pi uuiaux had stolen into Oudenarde, and was destoying two of the 
 gates and walls of it, as well as the towers. 
 
 The carl was in great choler on hearing this ; indeed, he had good 
 cause for it ; and said, " Ha, these accursed people I the devil pos. 
 
 sesses them : I shall never have peace as long as these Ghent men 
 have such power." He then sent some of his council to the magis- 
 trates of Ghent, to remonstrate with them on the violent outrage thev 
 had committed, and to declare they were people with whom no terms 
 could be kept, since the peace which the duke of Burgundy had with 
 great difficulty procured for them, had been already broken and 
 infringed. The mayor and jurats of the town of Ghent excused 
 theraaelves by saying, *' that they never thought of breaking the 
 
 HOTEI. DE-VlLLK, OUDENARDE. 
 
 From a Flemish Drawing. 
 
 peace, nor had they any such wish or inclination ; and that if .Tohn 
 Pruniaux had of himself committed any outrage, the town v/ould not 
 avow it." They excused themselves loyally and fully ; but they 
 added, " that the earl had permitted great excess to be committed 
 against them, by those of his household, who had wounded and slain 
 some of their fellow-citizens ; and this was much felt b}' the whole 
 town. What say you, my lords, to this?" 
 
 The commissaries from the earl replied, " They had well re- 
 venged themselves." " Oh no," answered the magistrates : " we 
 do not say that what John Pruniaux has done at Oudenarde was by 
 way of revenge ; for we can clearly prove by the treaty of peace, if 
 we choose, and we appeal to the testimony of the duke of Burgundy, 
 that Oudenarde was to have been dismantled by us, or put in the 
 state it is now in : but at the entreaty of the duke, we did not then 
 insist upon it." The commissaries replied ; " It appears then, by what 
 you have said, that you ordered it to be done, and you cannot now 
 excuse yourselves from this charge : since you knev/ that John Pru- 
 niaux was gone to Oudenarde (whither he had marched with a large 
 army, and had surprised it under shadow of the peace,) and that he 
 was destroying the fortifications and throwing the walls into the 
 ditch, you ought to have gone thither and forbidden him to commit 
 such outrages, until you should have laid your complaints before the 
 earl. Of the wounding and assaulting your citizens, you should have 
 addressed yourselves to the duke of Burgundy, who had made the 
 peace, and remonstrated with him on the business. By this^ means, 
 your quarrels would have been made up ; but you have not done so. 
 My lord of Flanders therefore informs you, that since you have thus 
 contemptuously behaved yourselves toward him, and then petition 
 him with swords in your hands, he will one day take such cruel 
 revenge on you that all the world shall ever afterwards speak of it." 
 Then they left the mayor and jurats of Ghent, and, after they had 
 dined, set out on their return through Courtray to Lille; when they 
 related to the earl what they had done, and what excuses the town 
 of Ghent had made. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 26 
 
 CHAPTER XLVI. 
 
 THE MEN or GHENT SURRENDER OUDENARDB. THEY DESTROY THE HOUSES 
 OF THE NOBLES. A CRUEL AND PITILESS WAR RENEWED BETWEEN THE 
 MEN OF GHENT AND THE NOBILITY. 
 
 One may well be surprised to hear the matter of this treaty so 
 diversely spoken of, and such astonishing accounts told of it, which 
 every one who reads may understand. Some said the men of Ghent 
 were in the right to make this war, which was so cruel and of such 
 long continuance in Flanders, adding, they had a just cause for so 
 doing ; but it does not so appear to me from what I have seen, nor 
 can I learn or understand but that the earl always preferred peace 
 to war, except where his honor and dignity were concerned. Did 
 he not give up the citizen who was confined in his prison at Erclo? 
 Yes, he did ; and they murdered his bailiff. In order to preserve 
 peace, he again pardoned them this outrage ; when they in one day 
 caused an insurrection throughout all Flanders against him, and slew, 
 even in the town of Ypres, five of his knights. They afterwards 
 attacked Oudenarde, and besieged it, doing everything in their 
 power to take and destroy it. After this, peace was concluded ; but 
 they refused to make any atonement for the death of Roger d'Au- 
 terme, though his family had frequently demanded it ; for which 
 that family had revenged themselves on some mariners, by whom all 
 these disturbances were originally created : and was this a sufficient 
 reason for the total destruction of Oudenarde ? I think not; and 
 this opinion is confirmed by many others agreeing in it. They said 
 in reply, that the earl had other things to settle with Ghent ; and 
 insisted on having reparation made for what had been done to the 
 mariners, before they would surrender Oudenarde. 
 
 The earl was exceedingly enraged, as well as his council, that 
 the Ghent men should keep possession of Oudenarde. He knew 
 not how to expel them from it, which made him sorely repent, that 
 notwithstanding the peace he had entered into with Ghent, he had 
 not more strongly guarded it. He frequently wrote and sent to them 
 to surrender it to him ; otherwise he would wage so severe a war 
 that they should for ever remember it. The citizens of Ghent were 
 unwilling to avow this act ; for, if they had, the peace would have 
 been broken. At last, some of the principal inhabitants, who wished 
 for peace and tranquillity, such as John de Faucille, Guisebert de 
 Guise, sir Simon Bete and many others, undertook the business ; 
 and, after twelve days negotiating, those from Ghent who were in 
 Oudenarde returned home, and the town was surrendered to the 
 earl's men. In order further to appease the earl, John Pruniaux 
 was banished from Ghent and from Flanders for ever : his sentence 
 stated it as the reason, that he had gone and taken possession of 
 Oudenarde vv^ithout the knowledge of the magistrates of Ghent. 
 Sir Philip de Mamines, sir Oliver d'Auterme, le Galois de Mamies, 
 le bastard de Widringues, and all those who had been actors or 
 abettors in the maiming the mariners of Ghent, were also banished 
 the country. These banishments appeased both parties. 
 
 Pruniaux quitted Flanders, and went to Ath in Brabant. Sir 
 Philip de Mamines went to Valenciennes in Hainault ; but, when 
 those of Ghent heard it, they worked upon the provost and jurats of 
 Valenciennes, so that the provost, John Paris, prevailed on the 
 knight quietly to leave the town : he departed of his own free will, 
 and resided at Warlain, near Douay, until he heard better news. 
 The other knights and squires went from Flanders to Brabant, 
 where they remained until more agreeable intelligence made them 
 quit it. As soon as the earl of Flanders had regained possession of 
 Oudenarde, he sent thither numbers of workhaen to repair the gates, 
 towers and walls, which he made stronger than before : the ditches 
 also were deepened. 
 
 All this was known at Ghent ; but they took no notice of it, lest 
 they should be reprimanded for having infringed the peace. The 
 discontented, however, said among themselves ; " Let them work 
 as long as they please in repairing Oudenarde, for, were it now of 
 steel, it could not resist us, whenever we may choose to take it." 
 
 Although there was peace in Flanders, the earl had constant sus- 
 picions of Ghent ; for every day some tales were brought him re- 
 spectiMg it : and similar ones were told of him to the townsmen of 
 Ghent. John de Faucille went to reside at Nazareth, a very hand- 
 some and strong house of his a good league distant from Ghent. 
 He dissembled there as long as he was able, and would not be of 
 the town-council, in order to avoid being marked by the earl. He 
 also absented himself very much from his attendance on the earl, to 
 preserve his popularity in Ghent, and thus, as it were, swimming 
 between two streams, kept himself as much neuter as he could. 
 
 During the time the earl was repairing Oudenarde, and had just 
 finished it, he was earnest, by letters and messages to his cousin the 
 duke of Brabant, to get possession of John Pruniaux, who resided 
 at Ath. He managed the matter so well that he was delivered up, 
 and brought to Lille, where he was beheaded, and his body placed 
 on a wheel as a traitor. Such was the end of John Pruniaux. At 
 this same time, the earl came to Ypres, and held there several courts 
 ot justice, by vv^hose judgments many wicked people were beheaded ; 
 such a? fullers and weavers, who had opened the gates to the men 
 of Ghent, and slain the earl's knights, that others might from them 
 take warning. Ail this was told in Ghent, which made them more 
 suspicious than before, especially the leaders of the expeditions to ! 
 
 Oudenarde. They said among themselves ; " Certainly the ei;rl 
 will, if he can, destroy all of us. He loves us so well, he oniy 
 wants our lives. Has he not put to death John Pruniaux ? In 
 truth, we must own that we acted very wrong in regard to Jolm 
 Pruniaux, when we suffered him to be banished : we are guilty of 
 his death ; and, if they can catch ua, such an end as his awaits us. 
 Let us be on our guard." 
 
 Peter du Bois added ; " If you will be advised by me, there shall 
 not a gentleman's house of any strength remain in the country about 
 Ghent ; tor by such houses we may al' be destroyed, if we do not 
 take care and provide a remedy." The others answered, "You 
 say well; come quick, let us down with them all." Upon this, the 
 captains, Peter du Bois, John Boule, Rasse de Harzelle, John de 
 Launoy, and several others made preparations for setting out from 
 Ghent, which they did, and burnt and destroyed all the houses ot 
 the gentlemen : whatever they found therein, they divided among 
 themselves as fair booty. After this, they returned to Ghent ; and . 
 none were bold enough to say to them. You have done ill. 
 
 The gentlemen, knights and squires, who resided at Lille with 
 the earl, on hearing this, were much enraged, and with reason: 
 they told the earl, that this outrage ought to be punished, and the 
 pride of the Ghent men humbled. The earl gave to these knights 
 and squires permission to make war on Ghent, and revenge them, 
 selves for the injuries they had suffered. They made alliances with 
 many knights and squires of Flanders, and entreated their friends 
 in Hainault to assist them, and chose for their commander le Hasle 
 de Flandres, the eldest bastard son of the earl, a ; ight valiant knight. 
 
 This Hasle de Flandres and his companions sometimes fixed their 
 quarters in Oudenarde, at others at Gavres, Alos-t or Dendremonde, 
 and had frequent skirmishes with the Ghent men. They advanced 
 up to the barriers of the town, and destroyed almost all the wind- 
 mills which were around it, committing other injuries on Ghent. 
 They had with them a young knight from Hainault, well inclined to 
 serve them, whose name was sir Jam(;.s de Verchin, seneschal of 
 Hainault. He performed many gallant deeds, and advanced himself 
 sometimes too rashly, in tilting close to the barriers, and twice or 
 thrice won from them their helmets and cross-bows. This sir Jamea 
 de Verchin was very fond of arms, and would have greatly excelled 
 if he had lived longer ; but he died young, and in his bed, at the 
 castle of Ombre, near Mortaigne, which was a great loss. 
 
 CHAPTER XLVII. 
 
 THE NOBLES MAKE WAR UPON THE ELEMINGS. 
 
 The men of Ghent had been very free in their jokes and mocR- 
 eries of the noblemen and gentry of Flanders, but were afterwards 
 sorry for it, and had once intentions of sending to duke Albert of 
 Hainault, to request he would recal his knights who were making 
 war against them ; but, on reconsidering the bu^^iness, they thought 
 it would only be lost labor, for the duke would not interfere in it. 
 They were unwilling also to anger him more, for they should fare 
 ill without his country ; and if Hainault, Holland and Zealand were 
 shut against them, they might consider themselves as ruined. They 
 therefore gave up this, and followed other counsel, which was to 
 send to those knights and squires of Hainault who held possessions 
 within Ghent or its dependency, to come and serve them under 
 pain of losing their estates: they, however, paid no attention to 
 their summons. To this effect, they sent to sir Herve, lord d'Antoing, 
 who had an estate in Ghent, and was also constable of the castle, 
 to assist them, or he would lose the rights of his castlewick ; and, 
 because he would not obey their summons, they razed his house of 
 Vienne to the ground. 
 
 The lord d'Antoing sent them word, he would cheerfully serve 
 them at their expense, and to their ruin ; that they were not to place 
 any dependence on him, for he would always be their enemy, and 
 oppose them in every instance ; that he would not hold anything of 
 them, but from his lord the earl of Fhmder?, to whom he owed 
 service and obedience. This lord kept well the promise he had 
 made them ; for he waged a mortal war egainst Ghent, and did them 
 many injuries. He reinforced the castle with men and stores, by 
 which means those in Ghent were much annoyed. On the other 
 hand, the lord d'Anghien, whose name was Walter, though a young 
 squire, but well inclined, did them much mischief. The war was 
 thus sharply carried on during the whole season. The Ghent men 
 dared not venture out of their town but in large troops ; for whf;n. 
 ever they met their enemies, if in superior numbers, they were all 
 slain without mercy. 
 
 Thus was the war embittered between the earl of Flanders and 
 Ghent, which afterwards cost a hundred thousand lives twice told ; 
 and with great difficulty could any end be put to it and peace re. 
 established, for the leaders in Ghent knew they had done such evil 
 deeds against the earl of Flanders and t ie duke of Burguiidy that 
 they were persuaded no treaty could be made or sworn to, whatever 
 the outward appearance of it might be, but that their lives v/ould be 
 sacrificed. This made them firm in their resolutions,- and resolved 
 to keep up the division and war. against the earl and gentlemen of 
 Flanders: it also gave thena the courage to fight desperately, whkb. 
 
269 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, dtc. 
 
 however, sometimes ill befel them in their enterprises, as you will 
 hear related. 
 
 The earl of Flanders, who had fixed his residence at Lille, received 
 <laily information of the ill deeds of the men of Ghent, how they 
 were destroyiijnr and burning the houses of his nobles : he was sore 
 vexed, and said he would take so great a revenge on Ghent, that he 
 would put it in lire and flames, with all the inhabitants within it. 
 la order to be Jiiore powerful, the earl summoned all the barons of 
 Flanders and gave up to them the whole country, the better to resist 
 the white hoods. He appointed two leaders, Galois de Mamines 
 and Peter d'Estrevilles. These two, with their company, bore the 
 banner of the earl, and remained about three weeks between Oude- 
 narde and Coiirtray, upon the Lys, where they did much damage. 
 When Rasse de Harzelle was informed of this, he marched out of 
 Ghent with the white hoods, to Deynse, where he thought to meet 
 the army of the earl : but, when they knew that the Ghent men 
 were on their march, they retreated to Tournay, and strengthened 
 the town. They continued there, and in the neighborhood of Damme, 
 Orchies and Vorlam a considerable time, so that the merchants dared 
 not go from Tournay to Douay for fear of them. It was reported, 
 the Ghent men intended besieging Lille and the earl within it ; and 
 for this purpose they would have formed an alliance with Bruges 
 and Ypres. They had gained over Gramont and Courtray ; but 
 those of Bruges and Ypres were irresolute. They had disagreed 
 with the handicraft trades, declaring it would be great folly to go so 
 far to lay siege to Lille ; for the earl, their lord, might form an alii- 
 ance with the king of France, as he had formerly done, and receive 
 from him much assistance. 
 
 These doubts kept the principal towns of Flanders at this time 
 from entering into the war, so that no siege was formed. To pre- 
 vent the earl from entering into any treaty with his son-in-law the 
 duke of Burgundy, they sent embassadors, with most amicable letters, 
 to the king of France, to supplicate him, for the love of God, not to 
 take any part to their disadvantage ; for their only wish was love, 
 peace, obedience and service ; and that their lord had very v^^rong- 
 fully and wickedly oppressed and harassed them : that what they 
 were now doing was only for the preservation of their franchises, 
 Virhich their lord wanted to destroy. The king was somewhat in- 
 clined in their favor, though he showed not any appearance of it in 
 public. The duke of Anjou, his brother, did the same ; for, although 
 the earl of Flanders was their cousin, he was not in their good graces, 
 on account of having entertained the duke of Brittany for a long 
 time much against their wills. They therefore troubled not them- 
 selves about his affairs : neither did pope Clement, who said, that 
 God had sent him this rod because he was his enemy and would not 
 acknowledge him as pope. 
 
 CHAPTER XLVIII. 
 
 THE DEATH OF SIR BERTRAND DU GUESCLIN, CONSTABL* OF FRANCE. 
 
 The good- constable of France, sir Bertrand du Guesclin, had 
 remained in Auvergne with many able men-at-arms. He had laid 
 siege to Chateau-neuf de Randon,* three leagues from the city of 
 Mende,t and four from the town of Puy in Auvergne, in the castle 
 of which he had shut up several English and Gascons, who had 
 come from the country of Limousin, where there were plenty of 
 fortresses. The constable made many severe attacks on the castle 
 during the siege, and swore that he would never depart until he was 
 the master of it. When there, he was seized with so great a sick- 
 ness that he kept his bed : this, however, did not prevent the siege 
 from being continued : indeed, it was carried on by his army with 
 greater eagerness. Sir Bertrand's malady was so deadly that he fell 
 a victim to it, which was a severe loss to his friends and to the king- 
 dom of France. His body was carried to the church of the Corde- 
 liers of Puy in Auvergne, where it remained one night ; and on the 
 morrow it was embalmed, conveyed to St. Denis in France, and 
 buried in a tomb very near that of king Charles of France, which 
 the king had caused to be made in his lifetime. By his order, the 
 body of sir Bertrand, his constable, was placed at his feet ; and his 
 obsequies were performed with the same honors as if he had been 
 his own son : ihe king's brothers, as well as great numbers of the 
 nobility, attended. 
 
 By the death of sir Bertrand, the office of constable became vacant; 
 on which many councils were held to nominate a successor. Several 
 great barons of France were thought of : in particular, the lords de 
 L]'':3on and de Coucy. The king of France appointed the lord de 
 Coucy governor of all Picardy, and also gave him the domain oi 
 Mortaigne, which is a handsome heritage, situated between Tournay 
 and Valenciennes. Sir James de Verchen, the young seneschal of 
 Hainault, was turned out of it : he held it in succession from his 
 father, who had been lord of it for a long time. I say, therefore, the 
 lord de Coucy was greatly in favor with the king of France, who 
 was desirous to nominate him constable : but the gallant knight 
 excused himself with many reasons, and refused to undertake so 
 weighty a charge as that of constable, adding that sir Oliver de Clis. 
 
 * C!mteau-neuf de Randon "— «. village in Lower Languedoc. 
 
 * " Meridfl "—an ancient city in Lower Laneuedoc. twenty-eight leagues from Alby. 
 
 son was the fittest person of any, for he was a valiant, enterprising, 
 and prudent knight, well known to and beloved by the Bretons. 
 
 Things remained thus for some time, when the men-at-arms of 
 sir Bertrand returned to France , for tlie castle had surrendered the 
 same day the constable had died, and the garrison of it had gone to 
 that of Ventadour. When the king of France saw the men-at-arms 
 of the constable, he turned aside for grief at the loss of him whom he 
 had so much loved : he gave to each of them a handsome present 
 suitable to their ranks. We will now leave this subject, and relate 
 how the earl of Buckingham, youngest son of Edward III, of Eng- 
 land, having assembled a large army of men-at-arms and archers, 
 crossed the eea, and marched his army through France to Brittany. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIX. 
 
 THE DUKE OF BRITTANY REQUESTS SUCCOR FROM THE K1N& OF ENGLAND. 
 THE EARL or .BUCKINGHAM, YOUNGEST SON TO THE LATE KING, IS AF. 
 POINTED COMMANDER OF THE EXPEDITION. 
 
 You have before heard, that when the duke of Brittany left Eng- 
 land, king Richard and his uncles promised him aid of men at-arms 
 and archers, which they performed with ill success ; for this was the 
 expedition under the command of 'Ar John Arundel, who with two 
 hundred men-at-arms were shipwrecked, he hiniself drowned, with 
 fourscore men-at-arms and as many archers, and from which sir 
 Hugh Calverley and sir Thomas Trivet most narrowly escaped. 
 This unfortunate event put an end to the expedition, which not 
 being known to the duke of Brittany, he and his council were ex- 
 ceedingly surprised, and could not conceive what was become of the 
 English ; for they were very anxious to profit by their assistance, in 
 the sharp war which was carrying on against the duke by sir Oliver 
 de Clisson, sir Guy de Laval, sir Oliver du Guesclin, the count de 
 Longueville, the lord de Rochefort, and the French on the frontiers 
 of his duchy. 
 
 The duke was advised to send some able men to England, to 
 know why the reinforcements were not sent according to promise, 
 and to hasten them over, for they were in great need of them. The 
 lord de Beaumanoir and sir Eustace de la Houssaye were entreated 
 by the duke and his nobility to make this journey to England : they 
 answered, they would willingly comply. Letters were given to them 
 by the duke and nobles of the country ; when having departed, they 
 embarked at Vannes, with a favorable wind, and arrived at South- 
 ampton. They there disembarked, and, having mounted their horses, 
 went to London. It was about Whitsuntide, in the year of grace 
 1380. 
 
 The arrival of these two lords was soon notified to the king and 
 to his three uncles. The Whitsun feast being arrived, the king 
 went to Windso-r to celebrate it, attended by his uncles and great 
 numbers of the barons and knights of England The two embassa- 
 dors went thither also, and were graciously received by the king and 
 the barons, when they presented their letters to his majesty and his 
 uncles. After they had perused them, they knew the great need the 
 duke of Brittany had for assistance, from the earnest entreaties he 
 and the country made for it. 
 
 The embassadors then first heard of the death of sir John Arundel 
 and his companions, who had perished at sea on their voyage to 
 Brittany. The duke of Lancaster made excuses, saying, it was not 
 owing to any fault of the king or his ministers, but ill-fortune at sea, 
 against which none can make head when God wills it so. The 
 embassadors, therefore, fully acquitted the king, and greatly lamented 
 the deaths of those knights and squires who had perished. When 
 the feasts of Whitsuntide were over, a parliament was holden at 
 Westminster, to which were summoned all the members of the 
 council. 
 
 While these doings were passing, sir Guiscard d'Angle, earl of 
 Huntingdon, departed this life in the city of London, He was buried 
 in the church of the Austin-friars.* The king ordered his obsequies 
 to be most honorably performed, and they were attended by a great 
 number of the prelates and barons of England : the bishop of Lon- 
 don sung mass. Soon after the parliament was opened, the lord 
 Thomas, youngest son of the late king of England, and many barons, 
 knights, and" squires of the realm, were ordered to cross the sea to 
 Calais; and, if God should permit, they were to march through 
 France, with three thousand men-at-arms, and as many archers, so 
 that the lord Thomas might arrive in Brittany, attended by earls, 
 barons, and knights, suitably to the dignity of a king's son. He 
 undertook a bold task to pass through the kingdom of France, which 
 is so extensive and noble, and which has such gallant chivalry and 
 valiant men-at-arms. 
 
 When everything relative to the expedition had been discussed 
 and finally arranged, the king of England and his uncle wrote letters 
 to the duke of Brittany and to the nobles of the country, informing 
 them in part of their will, what had been determined on by the par- 
 liament, and that for a certainty the eari of Buckingham would this 
 season cross the sea to march to their aid. The king of England 
 showed the embassadors many honors, and gave them vew rich 
 presents, as also did his uncles, when they set out on iheir departure 
 for Brittany. They pres ented their letters to the duke, who, having 
 * ** Ausliq-friars." See Gouqb's Sepulchral J^onumentt. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 263 
 
 opened and read them, showed them to the states of his country, 
 who were satisfied with their contents. The king of England and 
 his uncles did not delay this expedition, but sent summons to all 
 those who had been selected to attend the earl of Buckingham ; the 
 barons to assemble in one place, and the knights in another. They 
 had their wages paid them at Dover for three months, which were 
 to commence as soon as they should land at Calais, as well for the 
 men-at-arms as the archers, and their passage over was given to 
 them. They crossed in small parties to Calais, and ivere upward 
 of Mteea davs before the whole had there landed. 
 
 Eari. of Buckingham, with his array, oo their voyage to Calais, to assistjthe duke of Brittany. From a MS. of the 15th century. 
 
 Those of Boulogne having noticed such large bodies of men-at- 
 arms continually crossing from Dover to Calais, gave notice of it to 
 all the country and the different garrisons, that they might not be 
 surprised. When this intelligence was known in the Boulonnois, 
 the Teroucnnois, and in the county of Guines, all the knights and 
 squires of those countries placed their wealth in different strong 
 towns, to avoid losing it. The governors of Boulogne, Ardres, de 
 la Montoire, d'Esperleck, de Tournehem, de Nordt, de Liques, and 
 other castles on the frontiers, exerted themselves greatly in strength- 
 ening and victualing their garrisons; for they knew, that since the 
 English had crossed over with so large a fleet that they would be 
 attacked. 
 
 News of this armament was carried to the king of France, who 
 resided at Paris. He sent immediate orders to the lord de Coucy, 
 who at that time was at St. Quentin, to provide himself with men- 
 at-arms, and to march to Picardy, to reinforce all the towns, cities, 
 and castles in that province. The lord de Coucy duly obeyed the 
 king's orders, and issued his summons atPeronne in the Vermandois, 
 for the instant assembling of all the knights and squires of Artois, 
 Vermandois, and Picardy. The lord de Saimpi was at that time 
 governor of Ardres, and sir John de Bouilld of Boulogne. 
 
 The earl of Buckingham arrived at Calais with his army three 
 days before Magdalen-day, in the month of July, 1380. 
 
 CHAPTER L. 
 
 THE EAEL OF BUCKIN&IIA.M MARCHES WITH HIS ARMY FROM CALAIS. 
 
 The garrir.on in Calais were much rejoiced at the arrival of the 
 earl of Buckingham, for they well knew it would not be long before 
 they begin thviv march. The earl having refreshed himself for two 
 days at Cctkis?, on the third departed, and took the field, following 
 the road toward Marquignes.* It is proper I should name to you the 
 banners and pennons under the earl's command : first, the earl him- 
 self, and the earl of Stafford who had married his niece, a daughter 
 of the lord de Coucy, rode with displayed banners ; the earl of De- 
 vonshire, the lord Despeacc;r, who v.'as constable of the army, the 
 lord Fitzwalter, marshal, the lord Basset, the lord Bourchier, the lord 
 Ferrars, the lord Morley, the lord Darcey, sir William Windsor, sir 
 
 * "Marquignes"—! suppose must be Marquise, a town in the Boulonnois, between 
 CoJais and Boulogne, five ieagues from Calais. 
 
 Hugh Calverley, sir Hugh Hastings, and sir Hugh de la Sente,* 
 advanced with their pennons ; lord Thomas Percj, sir Thomas Trivet, 
 sir William Clinton, sir Evan de Fitzwarren, sir Hugh Tyrrel, the 
 lord de la Warr, sir Eustace and sir John de Harbeston, sir Willie m 
 Farrington, the lord de Braose, sir William. Fabre, sir John and ,ir 
 Nicholas de Ambieticourt, sir John Mace, sir Thomas Camois, sir 
 Ralph, son to the lord Neville, sir Henry, bastard of Ferrars, sir 
 Hugh Broc, sir GeofTry Worseley, sir Thomas West, the lord de 
 Saincte More, David Holgrave, Huguelin de Calverley, bastard, Bar- 
 nard de Coderieres, and several more. 
 
 These men-at-arms rode in 
 handsome array, but did not 
 . - , march farther the day they 
 
 left Calais than to Marquise, 
 where they halted, to attend 
 to their affairs, and to hold 
 a council which road they 
 should take to accomplish 
 their expedition ; for there 
 w ere several among them who 
 had never been in France be- 
 fore : in particular, the king's 
 son, and many barons and 
 knights. It was therefore but 
 reasonable, that those who 
 were acquainted with the 
 kingdom of France, and hav. 
 ing formerly passed through, 
 and had several engagements 
 in it, should have such weight 
 given to their advice and opin- 
 ions as redounded to their 
 honor. True it is, that in for- 
 mer times, when the English 
 invaded I'rance, they made a 
 regulation, for the leaders to 
 sv, ear, in the presence of the 
 king and his council, to ob. 
 serve two things ; that to no 
 one, except to themselves, 
 would they reveal the secrets 
 of their councils, their intend, 
 ed march, nor what might be 
 their intentions ; and second- 
 ly, that they would never agree 
 to any treaty with the enemy 
 without the knowledge and 
 
 consent of the king and his council. 
 
 When these barons, knights, and squires, v/ith their men, had re- 
 mained for three days at Marquise, and their whole force had joined 
 them from Calais, the captains, having w ell considered their line of 
 march, departed, and took the road to Ardres. They halted before 
 the castle of Ardres, to show themselves to the garrison within ; when 
 the earl of Buckingham having created the earl of Devonshire and 
 the lord Morley knights, these tvvo lords first displayed their banners. 
 The earl of Buckingham created also the following knights : the son 
 of the lord Fitzwalter, sir Roger Strange, sir John d'Ypre, sir John 
 Coie, sir James Tyrrel, sir Thomas Raraestone, sir John Neville, sir 
 Thomas Roselie. The whole army took up their quarters at Hosquet 
 when the above knights were made. The vanguard then marched 
 to a strong house called Folant.t situated upon a river. There was 
 a squire within it of the name of Robert, to whom the house belonged. 
 He was a good man-at-arms, and had well garrisoned it with stores 
 and hardy soldiers, whom he had picked up in the neighborhood, to 
 the amount of forty, who showed every intention to defend them- 
 selves well. 
 
 These barons and knights, eager to do honor to their new knight, 
 hood, surrounded the tower of Folant, and iinmediately began the 
 attack ; but it was well defended by those winiin. Many a gallant 
 deed was performed; and those in the fortshct well and continually, 
 by which many of the assailants were killed v.iid v/ounded who ven- 
 tured too near. There were in the fort some good cross-bowmen, 
 whom the governor of St. Omer had sent thither at the squire's re- 
 quest ; for he had imagined the English would pass near his house, 
 and was resolved to defend it to the utmost of his power, which he did, 
 for he behaved gallantly. The earl of Devonshire, while he was on 
 the ditch, his banner displayed before hi;n, spoke out bravely, which 
 greatly encouraged his men, saying, "What, my lords! shall we so 
 much disgrace our new honors as to remain all the day before this 
 pigeon-house ? The strong places and castles in France may well 
 hold out against us, when such a place as this stops us. Advance, 
 advance 1 let us prove our knighthoods." Those who heard him 
 took proper notice of what he said, and, sparing themselves less than 
 before, leaped into the ditches, and maue for the walls, the archers 
 shooting so briskly that scarcely any dared show themselves on the 
 parapets. 
 
 Several were killed and wounded, and the lower court taken and 
 
 * a. "DeiaSente" 
 
 ta. "Hosque." 
 
 $ Q. Folant.' 
 
264 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 burnt. At length, the whole garrison were made prisoners ; bin, 
 though they had defended themselves well, none were mortally 
 wounded. Thus was the house of Folant gained, and Robert Fo- 
 lant with his garrison made prisoners, by the earl of Devonshire and 
 his men. The whole division took up their quarters on the banks of 
 the river of Hosque, to wait for sir William Windsor, who com- 
 manded the rear-guard. He came thither in the evening. On the 
 morrow, they marched off together, and advanced as far as Esper- 
 icck, where they lodged themselves. 
 
 The .governor of St. Omer, finding the enemy so near, doubled his 
 guauls, and ordered two thousand men to be in readiness the whole 
 nigh ., ihar the enemy might not surprise the town. The next day, 
 the R'liglish decamped, about six o'clock, and advanced in battle-ar- 
 ray before St. Omer. The inhabitants, hearing of their march, armed 
 themselves, according to the orders they had received, and drew up 
 in the market-place, from whence they went to the gates, towers, 
 ■md battlement?, with a determined resolution to resist, for they had 
 lieani that the English would attack the town; but they had no such 
 hitentions, for, as it was very strong, they might lose more than they 
 could gain. 
 
 The earl of Buckingham, however, who had never before been in 
 France, wished to see St. Omer, because ii appeared from its gates, 
 walls, towers, and steeples, to be a handsome place. He drew up 
 and halted his army »n a hill about a half a league from it, where he 
 remained for three hours. While there, some of the young knights 
 and squires, mounting their coursers, spurred them up to the barriers, 
 and demanded to tilt with the knights in the town; but, no answers 
 being made to them, they returned back to the army. The day the 
 eari came before St. Omer, he made more knights ; among whom 
 were sir Ralph Neville, sir Bartholomew Bourchier, sir Thomas Ca- 
 mois, sir Foulke Corbet, sir Thomas d'Angleere, sir Ralph Patipas, 
 sir Lewis St. Aubin, and sir John Paulet. These new knights, in 
 the first vigor of chivalry, mounted their horses, and galloped up to 
 the gates, calling on the knights within to tilt with them; but they 
 experienced the same neglect as the others had done. 
 
 When the army saw that the French lords in St. Omer made not 
 any attempt to come out to meet them, they continued their march, 
 and came that day to Esquilles, between St. Omer and Terouenne, 
 where they took up their quarters for the night. On the morrow, 
 they departed, and made for Terouenne. The French garrisons in 
 the counties of Boulogne, Artois, and Guines, having observed the 
 dispositions of the English, that they continued their march without 
 slopping at any place, mutually informed each other of their inten- 
 tions to follow them, since much might be gained by it : they there- 
 fore assembled, under the pennons of the lord de Fransures and the 
 lord de Saimpi, to the number of more than two hundred lances. 
 They pursued the English army ; but, though they kept close to them, 
 the English marched in such compact order, they were not put into 
 the least disorder, and their enemies could not attack them, without 
 the risk of suffering a total defeat. These French knights and 
 squires, however, at times fell upon the English foragers, so that they 
 dared not forage but in large companies. 
 
 The English passed Terouenne without attempting anything, for 
 the lords de Saimpi and de Fransures were within it. They marched 
 on toward Bethune, where they halted for a day ; and I will tell you 
 the reason. You have before heard how king Richard, by the ad- 
 vice of his uncles and council, had sent into Germany sir Simon Bur- 
 ley, to the emperor,* to demand his sister in marriage. This knight 
 so well managed the business, that the emperor, by advice of his 
 council and the great lords of his court, complied with the request, 
 but he had sent, with sir Simon Burley, the duke of Saxony, first to 
 Luxembourg and then to England, to observe that kingdom, in order 
 that his sister might have a just account of it, so that if agreeable, 
 the marriage might be concluded. 
 
 The cardinal of Ravenna was at that time in England, and, being 
 an Urbanist, was converting the English to the same way of think- 
 ing : he was waiting also the arrival of the above-mentioned duke. 
 At the entreaties of the emperor and the duke of Brabant, he and 
 all his company obtained liberty to pass through France to Calais, 
 They therefore travelled by way of Tournay, Lille, and Bethune, 
 from whence they came to visit the earl of Buckingham and his 
 barons, who received the duke of Saxony and his suit most honor- 
 ably. The Germans continued their journey through Aire and St. 
 Omer, and from thence to Calais. 
 
 The earl of Buckingham marched his army before Liques, and en- 
 camped that same day at Bouhain les Bouissieres ; but they were 
 constantly followed by the lords de Saimpi and de Fransures with 
 their forces. In the morning, they advanced nearer to Bethune. 
 There were in that town a numerous garrison of men-at-arms, knights 
 and squires, whom the lord de Coucy had sent thither ; such as the 
 lord de Hangest, sir John and sir Tristan de Roye, sir GeofTry de 
 Charny, sir Guy de Harcourt, and many more. The army passed 
 by Bethune without making any attempt to attack it, and lay at 
 Donchtres.t 
 
 In the evening the lords de Saimpi and de Fransures entered Be. 
 thune, and the next day went to Arras, where they met the lord de 
 Coucy, who received them very politely, inquiring news from them, 
 
 • Winceslaus VJ. emperor. t Q.. if not Donchy, a viJlage near Arraj. 
 
 and which road the English had taken. They replied, they had 
 lodged the preceding night at Doncheres ; that they marched with 
 very great prudence, for they constantly kept in close order. " It is 
 then clear," answered the lord de Coucy, "that they wish for battle; 
 which they shall have, if the king our lord will trust us, before they 
 have finished their march." The earl marched by Arras, in order of 
 battle, continuing his route without doing anything : he took up his 
 quarters at Anet,* on the morrow at Miraumont,t and the next day 
 at Clery-on-the-SomaiC. 
 
 The lord de Coucy, who resided at Arras, on hearing that they 
 had gone this road, sent the lord Hangest to Braye-sur-Somme,+ and 
 with him thirty lances, knights and squires : he ordered to Peronne 
 sir James de Verchin, seneschal of Hainault, the lord de Hamireth, 
 sir John de Roye, and several others : he himself went to St. Quen- 
 tin. He sent the lord de Clery, with others, into the Vermandois ; 
 for he was anxious that no loss should be suffered through any negli- 
 gence on his part. 
 
 CHAPTER LI. 
 
 THE LORD DE BRIMEU, HIS SONS AND HIS MEN, ARE TAKEN PRISONERS 
 BY THE ENGTLISH. THE GARRISON OF PERONNE ARE DRIVEN BACK 
 INTO THAT TOWN. 
 
 The night the English had quartered themselves at Clery-on-the- 
 Somme, some knights of the army, such as sir Thomas Trivet, sir 
 William Clinton, sir Evan Fitzwarren, at the instigation of lord Dela- 
 warr, who was well acquainted with the whole country, and knew 
 that the lord de Coucy was with a large body of men-at-arms in the 
 town of Arras, resolved to march from the army, at early dawn, with 
 the foragers, to see if they should meet with any adventure worth 
 attending to ; for they wished to perform some deed of arms. As 
 they had planned, so did they execute ; and about thirty lances set 
 out after the foragers, in search of adventures. 
 
 This same day the lord de Coucy left Arras with a large body of 
 men, and had taken the road to St. Quentin. When they were on 
 their march, the lord de Brimeu, his sons, with about thirty spears, 
 quitted the army of the lord de Coucy, anxious to perform some gallant 
 act. These two bodies of English and French, meeting in the plains, 
 saw a combat was inevitable : they therefore struck spurs into their 
 horses, and galloped toward each other, shouting their cries of v/ar. 
 On the first shock, several were unhorsed, killed and wounded on 
 both sides. Many handsome deeds were done : they dismounted, 
 and began to thrust with their spears, each party behaving bravely. 
 This mode of combat continued about an hour, and no one could 
 say to whom would be the victory, but in the end the English won 
 th(f field. Sir Thomas Trivet made prisoners the lord de Brimeu, 
 and his two sons, John and Lewis, and sixteen men-at-arms : the 
 rest saved themselves : and the English returned to their army with 
 their prisoners. They remained some little time in the neighborhooji 
 of Peronne, having heard from their prisoners, that the lordde Coucy 
 was in that town with upward of a thousand lances, and they knev/ 
 not if he wished to offer them battle. 
 
 This day the lord Delawarr, with Fierabras his bastard-brother, sir 
 Evan Fitzwarren and several others, quitting the army, hastened to 
 Mont St. Quentin, where they posted themselves in ambuscade ; for 
 they had learnt that the seneschal of Hainault was with a strong body 
 of men-at-arms in Peronne, and they knew him to be so self-sufficient 
 that he would not fail to sally out, which in truth he did. The van- 
 guard ordered ten men-at-arms to march to Peronne ; among whom 
 were Thierry de Soumain, Fierabras, sir Hugh Calverley and Hopo- 
 quin Hay, mounted on their chargers. They galloped up to the bar- 
 riers, where there were at least fifty spears with the seneschal of 
 Hainault ; who, thinking to catch these gallopers, ordered the barriers 
 to be thrown open, and immediately commenced a pursuit after 
 them, as they retreated toward their ambuscade. 
 
 When those who had placed themselves in ambush saw the French 
 pursuing their men, they discovered themselves ; but it was some- 
 what too soon, for when the seneschal perceived this large body so 
 well mounted, he sounded a retreat, and the horses then knew the 
 effect of spurs ; very opportunely did these lords find the barriers 
 open. They were, however, so closely followed, that sir Richard de 
 Marqueillies, sir Louis de Vertaing, Honard de la Honarderie, Vital 
 de St. Hilaire, with ten other men-at-arms, remained prisoners to the 
 English : the others escaped. When the English learnt that the 
 seneschal of Hainault, the lord de Hamireth, the lord de Clery, with 
 twenty other knights, had escaped, they cried out, "God I what a 
 fortunate event it would have been, if we had taken them, for they 
 would have paid us forty thousand francs." Thev returned to the 
 army, and nothing m.ore was done that day. 
 
 The army remained for three days at Clery-sur-Somme, and in that 
 neighborhood. On the fourth, they marched away, and came to the 
 abbey Vaucelle,§ three leagues from Cambray, and the next day 
 nearer St. Quentin. This day, about thirty spears attached to the 
 duke of Burgundy, had set out from Arras for St. Quentin. Sir 
 Thomas Trivet, sir Evan Fitzwarren, the lord Delawarr, and sceral 
 others who had been from the vanguard with the foragers, as they 
 
 * a. "Anet." 
 
 It" Miraumont"— " Braye-sHr-Somire"— villages in Picardy, election of Peronne 
 § " Vaucelle"— on the Scheid, near to CrevecoBur. 
 
 • 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 365 
 
 were about o fix on their quarters, fell in with these Burgundians, i 
 when a battle ensued : but it did not last long, for the Burgundians were 
 soon dispersed, one here, another there, and all tried to save them- 
 selves as well as they could. Sir John de Mornay, however, stood 
 his ground in good order, with his pennon before him, and fought 
 valiantly, but at last was taken, and ten men of his company. The 
 English then m rched to Foursons, two leagues from Amiens, where 
 the vanguard qu irtered itself. 
 
 CHAPTER LII. 
 
 THE ENGJ.ISH BURN AND DJ-SPOIL CHAMPAGNE. THEY MEET WITH VARI- 
 0U3 ADVENTURES ON THEIR MARCH, AND MAKE MANY PRISONERS. 
 
 On the ensuing morning, wh. n the earl of Buckingham and his 
 army had heard mass, they began their march toward St. Quentin ; 
 in which town there were numbers of men-at-arms, but they did not 
 sally forth. Some of the light troops galloped up to the barriers, and 
 soon returned ; for the army continued its march without halting un- 
 til it arrived at Origny St. Benoiste,* and the adjacent villages. In 
 the town of Origny, there was a handsome nunnery, the abbess of 
 which at that time happened to be aunt-in-law to the lord Delawarr, 
 at whose entreaty the nunnery and the whole town were respited 
 from being burnt and pillaged : the earl was lodged in the abbey. 
 •That evening and the following morning, there were many skimishes 
 at Ribemont, which was hard by, when several were slain and 
 wounded on each side. In the morning, the army dislodged from 
 Origny, came to Crecy, and passed Vaux below Laon, fixing their 
 quarters at Sist jnne.t The next day, they crossed the river Aisne, 
 at Pont k Vaire, and came to Hermonville and Coumissy, four leagues 
 from Rheinis, without meeting with any forage on their march. 
 
 Everything had been driven or carried into the towns and strong 
 places, the king of France having abandoned to his own men-at-arms 
 whatever they could find in the open country : the English, therefore, 
 suffered great distress for want of food. They determined to send a 
 herald to Rheims, to open a treaty with the inhabitants, for them to 
 send provisions to the army, such as cattle, bread and wine. The 
 inhabitants refused to enter into any negotiation, and, in their reply, 
 saia, Aey must make the best of it. This answer so much enraged 
 them that, in one week, the light troops burnt upward of 60 villages 
 dependent on Rheims. The English heard that the people of Rheims 
 had secured six thousand sheep in the ditches of the town, thinking 
 them safe there : the vanguard advanced thither, and made their 
 men descend into the ditches and drive out the sheep, without any 
 one daring to issue from the town to prevent them, or even appear- 
 ing on the bulwarks; for the archers, being posted on the banks of 
 the ditch, shot so sharply that no one ventured to show himself : the 
 English gained several thousand head of sheep. They sent to inform 
 the townsmen, they would burn all the corn in the fields, unless they 
 ransomed it by sending them bread and wine. The inhabitants were 
 frightened by this threat, and sent the army from ten to fifteen loads 
 of bread and wine : by this means, the corn and oats were saved 
 from being burnt. The English marched by Rheims in order of 
 battle to Beaumont-sur.Vesle,t for they had crossed the river below^ 
 Rheims. Ok their departure from Beaumont, the English rode along 
 the river Marne, to seek a passage, and came to Conde-sur-Marne, 
 where they found the bridge broken down ; but, as the supporters 
 still remained, they sought for planks and beams, with which they 
 rebuilt the bridge, crossed the river, and quartered themselves in the 
 villages above Marne ; and on the ensuing day, they came before the 
 town of Vcrtus,§ when there v/as a grand skirmish in front of the 
 castle, in which many were wounded. 
 
 The earl of Buckingham was lodged in the abbey. During the 
 night, the town was burnt, except the abbey, which, from the earl 
 lodging in it, was saved ; otherwise it would infallibly have suffered 
 the same fate, for the townsmen had retreated into the castle, and 
 would not ransom it. The army marched off the following day, 
 and passed by the castle of Moymer, which is the inheritance of 
 the lord de Chastillon. The skirmishers advanced to the barriers, 
 and then passed on and took up their quai'ters for the night at Pe. 
 lange, making for the city of Troyes, and the next day at Plancy-sur- 
 Aube.jl The lord de Chateauneuf and John de Chateauneuf his 
 brother, with Remond St. Marsin, Gascons, and some English, 
 about forty spears in the whole, rode from the army to seek adven- 
 tures, but met with none, which vexed them much. On their return 
 they saw in the plain a body of men-at-arms riding toward Troyes : 
 it was the lord de Hangest and his men : the English and Gascons 
 immediately spurred their horses to come up with them. The lord 
 de Hangest had well observed them, and, doubting they were in 
 greater numbers than they appeared, said to his men, " Make for 
 Plancy and save yourselves ; for these English have discovered us, 
 and their main army is not far off ; let us put ourselves in safety in 
 the castle of Plancy." They rode in that direction, and the English 
 after them. ^ 
 
 * "Origny St. Benoiste"— a town in Piciirdy, on the Oise, three leagues from St. 
 ttuentin. t " Sissoniie"— ii town in Picuriiy, diocese of Laon. 
 
 1 1^ Beaumont-sur-Vesle"— near Rheims. 
 
 § " Vertus"-a town ot Cliamimgne, twelve leagues from Kheims. 
 11 rJancy-Eur'Aube"— uear Troyes. 
 
 There was a valiant man-at-arms from Hainault in the troop of the 
 lord Delawarr, called Peter Berton, who fixing his lance in its rest, 
 and being well mounted, came up with the lord de Hangest, who 
 was flying before him, and gave him such a blow on the back with 
 his lance that he almost drove him out of the saddle ; but the lord 
 de Hangest neither lost his seat nor his stirrups, though Peter Ber- 
 ton kept the i/on hard at his back ; and in this manner did they 
 arrive at Plancy. Straight at the entrance of the castle the lord de 
 Hangest leaped from his horse, and got into the ditch. Those 
 within it were anxious to save him, and ran to the barriers, where 
 there was a grand skirmish ; for the garrison kept shooting briskly, 
 being very good cross-bowmen ; and several valiant deeds were 
 done on each side. With great difficulty the lord de Hangest waa 
 saved. He fought gallantly on entering the castle ; for reinforce- 
 ments from the vanguard were continually arriving. The lord 
 Delawarr, sir Thomas Trivet, sir Hugh Calverley, came thither, and 
 the conflict was great : there were upward of thirty of the French 
 killed and wounded, and the lower court of the castle burnt. The 
 castle itself was warmly attacked on all sides, but well defended : 
 the mills of Plancy were burnt and destroyed. The whole army 
 then retired, passed the river Aube at Pont k I'Ange, and marched 
 toward Valant-sur-Seine. The lord de Han^jxist had a very narrow 
 escape. 
 
 This same day the captains of the vanguard, sir Thomas Trivet, 
 sir Hugh Calverley, the Lord Delawarr, the bastard his brother, Peter 
 Berton, and many others, made an excursion from the army, and 
 met Sir John de Roye, with about twenty spears of the duke of Bur- 
 gundy who were going to Troyes. The English, on seeing them, 
 spurred their horses ; for the French were making off, as not in suf. 
 ficient numbers to wait for them. The greater part did escape ; 
 and Sir John de Roye, with others, got within the barriers of Troyes, 
 which at the time chanced to be open. On their return, they cap. 
 tured four of his men, who could not save themselves, among whom 
 was a squire to the duke of Burgundy, called Guion Goufer, an 
 expert man-at-arms. His horse was much heated, ao that he had 
 dismounted, and, having placed himself against a walnut-tree, fought 
 valiantly two Englishmen, who pressed him hard, crying out to him 
 in English to surrender ; but he understood them not. Fierabras, 
 on his return from the pursuit, arriving at the spot, said to the squire 
 in French, " Surrender thyself." On hearing this, he replied, " Art 
 thou a gentleman ?" The bastard rejoined, he was. " I then sur- 
 render myself to thee," presenting him his sword and gauntlet ; foi 
 which the English would have killed him when he was in the bas- 
 tard's hands, and they told him he was not very courteous thus to 
 carry from them their prisoner, but the bastard was stronger than 
 they. Nevertheless this affair was, in the evening, brought before 
 the marshals, who, having well considered it, determined he should 
 remain to the bastard, who that evening ransomed him, taking his 
 word for the payment, and sent him on the morrow to Troyes. 
 The whole army were quartered at Valant-sur-Seine, and the next 
 day crossing the Seine at a ford, came to a village one league from 
 Troyes, called Bernard-Saint-Simple, where the lords and captains 
 held many councils. 
 
 CHAPTER LIU. 
 
 THE ENGLISH COME BEFORE TROYES. A SKIRMISH AT ONE OF THE 
 GATES. THEY TAKE A FORT WHICH THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY HAP 
 ERECTED ON THE OUTSIDE. KING CHARLES PRACTICES WITH THE 
 INHABITANTS OF NANTES. 
 
 The duke of Burgundy was in the city of Troyes, and had fixed 
 on that place for the rendezvous of his forces. His intentions wer.e 
 to fight the English between the rivers Seine and Yonne ; and the 
 barons, knights and squires of France did not wish for anything bet- 
 ter ; but Charles of France, doubtful of the fortune of the war, would 
 not give his permission so to do. He recollected too well the great 
 losses his nobles had formerly sufTered iVom the victories of the 
 English, and would never allov/ them to fight unless the advantages 
 were very considerable on their side. There were with the duke 
 of Burgundy, in Troyes, the duke of Bourbon, the duke of Bar, the 
 count d'Eu, the lord de Coucy, sir John de Vienne, admiral of 
 France, the lords de Vienne, and de Sainte Croix, sir James de 
 Vienne, sir Walter de Vienne, the lord de la Tremouille, the lord de 
 Vergy, the lord de Rougemont, the lord de Hambue, the seneschal 
 of Hainault, the lord de Saimpi, the baron des Barres, the lord de 
 Roye, the viscount d'Assi, sir William bastard de Langres, with up- 
 ward of two thousand knights and squires. I was informed, that 
 the lord de la Tremouille was sent by the duke and the other lords 
 to Paris, to entreat the king to allow them to fight ; and he was not 
 returned at the time the English came before Troyes. The lords of 
 France, doubting the English would not pass by without coming to 
 look at them, had erected, about a bow.shot from the gates of 
 Troyes, a large redoubt of great beams of timber, which might 
 hold about a thousand men-at-arms: it was made of good strong 
 wood, and well built. 
 
 All the captains of the English army were summoned to a coun. 
 cil, to consider in what manner they should act the ensuing day. It 
 was resolved, that all the lords and knights should march, fully armed 
 with theix baiiners and pennons displayed, before Troyes : tliey were 
 
t68 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 to draw up in the plain, and to send their heralds to offer battle to 
 those in the town. They armed themselves, therefore, on the mor- 
 row, and, being formed in three battalions, advanced into the plain 
 before Troyes, where they halted. The two heralds, Glocester and 
 Aquitaine, were called, when the earl of Buckingham said to them : 
 *' You will go to Troyes, and tell the lords within the city that we 
 are come from England in search of deeds of arms: wherever we 
 think they can bo found, there we shall demand them : and, because 
 we know that a part of the lilies and chivalry of France repose in 
 the town of Troyes, we have purposely come this road. If they 
 wish to say anything to us, they will find us in the open plain in the 
 form and manner in which you shall leave us, and in suchv,rise as 
 we ought to meet our enemies." The heralds replied, " My lord, 
 we shall obey your commands." 
 
 They then set off, and rode to Troyes. The entrance of the 
 redoubt was opened to them, where they stopped ; for they could 
 not get. to the gate of the town from the numbers of men-at-arms 
 and cross-bowmen issuing forth, and drawing up before this redoubt. 
 The two heraiJs wore thb emblazoned arms of the earl of Bucking, 
 ham : they were asked by the lords, what they wanted : they an- 
 swered, they wished, if it were possible, to speak with the duke of 
 Burgundy. 
 
 During the time the heralds were endeavoring to deliver their 
 message to the duke of Burgundy, the English were arranging their 
 battalions ; for they looked on a battle as certain. All who were 
 desirous of knighthood were called : first came sir Thomas Trivet, 
 with his banner rolled up, to tlie earl of Buckingham, and said : 
 " My lord, if you please, I will this day display my banner ; for, 
 thanks to God, I have a sufficient revenue to support the state which 
 a banner requires." " It is highly pleasing to us," replied the earl : 
 then, taking the banner by the staff, he gave it back into his hands, 
 saying, *' Sir Thomas, God grant you may show your valor here, 
 and everywhere else." Sir Thomas look his banner, and, having 
 displayed it, gave it to one of his squires in whom he had great 
 confidence, and went to the vanguard ; for he was there stationed 
 by orders from the lord Latimer and the lord Fitzwalter, captain and 
 eonstable. The earl then created the following knights : sir Peter 
 Berton, sir John and sir Thomas Paulet, sir John Stingulie, sir Tho- 
 mas Dortingues, sir John Vassecoq, sir John Braisie, sir John Bu- 
 raine, sir Henry Vernier, sir John Colville, sir William Everat, sir 
 Nicholas Stingulie and sir Hugh de Lunit. They advanced to the 
 van battalion, in order to have their share of the first blows. 
 
 A very gallant squire from the country of Savoy was then called, 
 who had before been requested to be made a knight at St. Omer 
 and at Ardres : his name was Ralph de Gruyeres, son to the count 
 de Gruyeres : when the earl said to him, " We shall to-day, if it 
 please God, have an engagement, and I will make you a knight ;" 
 the squire excused himself, saying, " God give you all the good and 
 honor you wish me ; but I will never be a knight until my natural 
 lord, the earl of Savoy, shall confer it upon me in battle." He was 
 not pressed further on this subject. 
 
 It was a pleasure to observe the order of battle in which the Eng- 
 lish were drawn up; and the French were busy in strengthening 
 their forts, for they concluded that at least there would be some skir- 
 mishes, and that such warriors as the English would not depart 
 without a nearer examination of them. The French formed them- 
 selves handsomely : and the duke of Burgundy was abroad, with his 
 battle-axe in his hand, armed from head to foot : he passed in review 
 all the knights and squires as they marched to the fort ; and the 
 crowd was so great, there was not any passing, nor could the heralds 
 swrive as far as the duke to deliver the message with which they had 
 been charged. 
 
 To the words which the earl of Buckingham had delivered to the 
 heralds, Glocester and Aquitaine, others were added ; for, on the 
 evening when the lords had held their council, they told the heralds : 
 " You will carry this message, and tell the duke of Burgundy, that 
 the duke and country of Brittany in conjunction have sent to the 
 king of England, for support and aid against certain knights and 
 barons of Brittany in rebellion against the said duke, whom they 
 refuse to obey as their lord, as the better disposed part of the country 
 do, but carry on war, in which they are supported by the king of 
 France. On this account, the king of England is resolved to assist 
 the duke and the country, and has ordered his fair uncle the earl of 
 Buckingham, with a large body of men-at-arms, to march to Brittany 
 for this purpose. They landed at Calais, and, having marched 
 through the kingdom of France, are now so much in the heart of it 
 as 10 be arrived before the city of Troyes, wherein they know are 
 great numbers of the nobility : in particular the duke of Burgundy, 
 son of the late king of France and brother to the king now on the 
 throne : therefore, the lord Thomas of Buckingham, son to the late 
 king of England, demands a battle." The heralds requested to have 
 this put down in writing, which they were promised to have on the 
 morrow ; but, when they again asked for it, they had changed their 
 opinions, and no letters were given ; but they were told to go, and 
 eay what they had heard, as they were of sufficient credit ; *' and, if 
 they choose, they will believe you." The heralds could not approach 
 near enough to the duke to deliver their message, nor obtain any 
 Answer. 
 
 The young English knights had already begun to skirmish, which 
 
 had troubled everything, and some French knights and men-at-arms 
 said to the heralds, " Gentlemen, you are in a hazardous situation, 
 for the common people of this town are very wicked." This hint 
 made them return without doing anything. We will now relate the 
 beginning of the skirmish. In the first place, there was an English 
 squire, a native of the bishopric of Lincoln, who was an excellent 
 man-at-anns, and there gave proofs of his courage. I know not if he 
 had made any vow : but with his lance in its rest, his target on his 
 neck, he spurred his horse, and, riding full gallop down the cause, 
 way, he made him leap over the bars of the barriers, and came to 
 the gate where the duke was, surrounded by the French nobility, 
 who looked on this enterprise with amazement. The squire intended 
 returning ; but he was prevented by his horse receiving a blow from 
 a speur, which felled him and killed the squire. It much angered 
 the duke that he had not been made prisoner. 
 
 Instantly the battalions of the earl of Buckingham advanced on 
 foot, to the attack of the men-at-arms in the v/ooden redoubt, which 
 had been formed of shutters, doors and tables, and wt;.s not, to say 
 the truth, fit to hold out against such men-at-urms as the English.* 
 When the duke of Burgundy saw them advance in such numbers, and 
 with so much spirit, that the lords, barons and knights in this fort 
 were not in force to withstand them, he directly ordered them to 
 retreat into the town, excepting the cross-bowmen. They retired, 
 by little and little, to the gate ; and, as they were entering it, the 
 Genoese cross-bowmen shot and wounded the English. There was 
 a good and sharp skirmish : the redoubt was soon conquered, but it 
 did not long remain to the English. Ail sorts of people came in 
 great strength to the gates ; and, as they passed, they drew up on 
 the causeways. The duke of Lorraine was there handsomely dis- 
 posed ; as were the lord de Coucy, the duke of Bourbon, and others. 
 Between this gate and the bars, many valorous deeds vv^ere done, 
 and of course numbers slain,, v/ounded and taken. The English, 
 seeing the French retreat, retreated also in excellent order, and 
 formed themselves on the plain, in battle-array, for upward of two 
 hours ; when, toward evening, they retired to their quarters. 
 
 The next day, the army marched to Maillerois.le-Vicomte, near 
 Sens in Burgundy, where they halted for two days, to refresh them, 
 selves and to gather provision from the low countries, of v/hich they 
 were in the greatest want. 
 
 You have heard how the English marched through France, and 
 thus took the road to Brittany. They pubhcly declared the duke 
 and country of Brittany had sent for them, and that they had not any 
 pretence for waging war in the name of the king of England their 
 lord, but that they were then in the pay of the duke of Brittany. 
 King Charles was at the time fully informed of all these matters, and, 
 like a wise and prudent man as he was, examined well all the perils 
 and incidents which might arise from them. He considered, that 
 if Brittany joined these English against him, the fortune of war 
 would be more doubtful ; and, as he was ill with the duke, if the 
 principal towns were to open their gates to his enemies, it would 
 turn out very much to his prejudice. He therefore sent, secretly, 
 letters sealed, but written in the most gracious manner, to the 
 inhabitants of Nantes (which is the key to all the other towns in 
 Brittany,) to request they would consider that the English, who were 
 marching through his kingdom, boasted they were sent for by them, 
 and declared themselves to be their soldiers ; and that in case they 
 had thus engaged them, and would persevere in this evil act, they 
 would incur the malediction of their holy father the pope, according 
 to the sentence he had passed, as well as the penalty of two hundred 
 thousand florins, which he coidd legally demand from them, and 
 which they had bound themselves to pay, according to treaties 
 sealed which had formerly passed between them, and of which he 
 had copies, as they could not be ignorant : that he had ever been 
 their friend, and had assisted them in all their necessities ; and that 
 by persisting in this matter they would be very much to blame, for 
 they had not any well-grounded complaint againi-t him to induce 
 them to enter so warmly into the war as to receive his enemies. He 
 therefore recommended them maturely to reconsider this ; and, if 
 they had been wickedly or ill advised, he would frankly forgive it, 
 provided they did not open their gates to his enemies the English, 
 and would maintain them in all just rights and privileges, and even 
 renew them, should there be occasion. 
 
 When these letters and oflfers from the king of France had been 
 read by the men of Nantes and considered, the principal persons 
 among them said, the king of France was in the right, and had 
 cause for remonstrating with them as he had done ; that in truth 
 they had sworn and sealed never to be enemies themselves to the 
 kingdom of France, nor to give any assistance to its enemies. They 
 began, therefore, to be on their guard, and sent privately to the king 
 of France not to be uneasy on this head, as they would never aid or 
 succor the English in their attempts to injure the kingdom of France 
 by force, nor would their town afford them any assistance ; for they 
 were determined, if there should be any necessity, to claim the help 
 of the king, and that to his army alone would they open their gates, 
 and tq none else. The king of France, having received their mes- 
 senger, put confidence in their declarations, for Nantes was ever 
 attached to the French interest : of all this, hov/ever, the duke, who 
 
 resided at Vannes, was ignorant : he thought, nevertheless, .that the 
 — « , . I 
 
 * This contradicts bis prior account of the redoubt 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE. SPAIN, &c. 
 
 267 
 
 inhabitants of Nantes would remain steady to him, and that they 
 would open their gates to the English when they should come 
 thi*Jier. 
 
 We will now return to the English who were quartered near to 
 Sens in Burgundy ; in which city the duke of Bar, the lord de Coucy, 
 the lord de Saimpi, the lord de Fransures, were in garrison with 
 their ti-oops. 
 
 CHAPTER LIV. 
 
 THE ENGLISH OVERRUN THE COUNTRIES OF GATINOIS AND BEAUCE. A 
 FRENCH SQUIRE DEMANDS TO TILT WITH AN ENttUSH SQUIRE : THEY 
 BOTH BEHAVE VERY GALLANTLY. 
 
 When the earl of Buckingha n and his army had reposed them- 
 selves at Mailleroia-le-Vicomte, t.;ey determined to advance into the 
 Gatinois : they crossed, in consequence, the river Yonne, and their 
 light troops went even to the suburbs of Sens. The next day they 
 quartered themselves at St. Jean de Nemours and thereabouts, and 
 afterwards at Beaune in Gatinois, where they remained three days, 
 on account of its fertile and rich country. There they held a coun- 
 cil, whether to follow the road into the plains of Beauce, or keep to 
 the course of the river Loire : they resolved on the first, and marched 
 toward Toury in Beauce. In this castle were the lord de Saimpi, 
 sir Oliver de Mauny, sir Guy le Baveux, and numbers of men-at- 
 arm:?. There were besides, at Geneviile in Beauce, the lord de 
 Voiainnes, le BarroV> des Barres, with others to the amount of three 
 hundred spears ; and in all the castles and fortresses of Beauce were 
 posted men-at- irms to defend the country. 
 
 Those of th ; vanguard skirmished with the garrison of Toury, 
 when. there wero some slain on both sides. The earl of Buckingham 
 and his whole army were quartered at Toury in Beauce, and in the 
 environs, where they found plenty of provisions. During the skir- 
 mish at Tomy, a squire from Beauce, a gentleman of tried courage, 
 who iiad advanced himself by his own merit, without any assistance 
 from others, came to the barriers, and cried out to the English, " Is 
 "there among you any gentleman who for love of his lady is willing 
 to try with me some feat? of arms ? If there should be any such, 
 here I am, quite ready to sally forth completely armed and mounted, 
 to tilt three courses with the lance, to give three blows with the 
 battle-axe, and three strokes with the dagger. Now look, you Eng. 
 lish, if there be none among you in love." 
 
 Thi^ squire's name was Gauvain Micaille. His proposal and 
 request was soon spread among the English, when a squire, an ex- 
 pert man at tournaments, called Joachim Gator, stepped forth and 
 said, *• I will deliver him from his vow : let him make haste and 
 come out of the castle." Upon this, the lord Fitzwalter, marshal of 
 the army, went up to the barriers, and said to sir Guy le Baveux, 
 " Let your squire come forth : he has found one who will cheerfully 
 deliver him ; and we will afford him every security." 
 
 Gauvain Micaille was much rejoiced on hearing these words. 
 He immediately armed himself, in which the lords assisted, in the 
 putting on the different pieces, and mounted him on a horse, which 
 they gave to him. Attended by two others, he came out of the 
 castle ; and his varlets carried three lances, three battle-axes, and 
 three daggers. He was much looked at by the English, for they did 
 not think any Frenchman would have engaged body to body. There 
 were besides, to be three strokes with a sword, and with all other 
 sorts of arms. Gauvain had three brought with him for fear any 
 should break. 
 
 The earl of Buckingham, hearing of this combat, said he would 
 see it, and mounted his horse, attended by the earls of Stafford and 
 Devonshire. On this account, the assault on Toury ceased. The 
 Englishman that was to tilt was brought forward, completely armed 
 and mounted on a good horse. When they had taken their stations, 
 they gave to each of them a spear, and the tilt began ; but neither 
 of them struck the other, from the metilesomeness of their horses. 
 They hit the second onset, but it was by darting their spears ; on 
 which the earl of Buckingham cried out, " Hold, hold I it is now late." 
 He then said to the const ible, " Put an end to it, for they have done 
 enough this day; we will make them finish it when we have more 
 leisure than we have at this moment, and take great care that as 
 much attention is paid to the French squire as to our own ; and 
 order some one to tell those in the castle not to be uneasy about 
 hiiTi, for we shall C3.rry him with us to complete his enterprise, but 
 not as a prisoner ; and that when he shall have been delivered, if 
 he escape with his life, we v/ill send him back in all safety." 
 
 These orders of the earl were obeyed by the marshal, who said to 
 Jthe French squire, " You shall accompany us without any danger, 
 |BKd when it shall be agreeable to my lord, you will be delivered." 
 Gauvain replied, " God help me !" A herald was sent to the castle, 
 to repeat to the governor the words you have heard. 
 
 The following day, they marched toward Geneviile in Beauce, 
 always in expectation of having an engagement with the enemy ; 
 for they well knew they were followed and watched by the French, 
 in greater numbers than themselves. True it is, that the French 
 dukes, counts, barons, knights, and squires, eagerly wished for a 
 battle, and said among themselves, that it was very blameable and 
 foolish not to permit them to engage, and suffer the enemy thus to 
 slip through their hands. But, when it was mentioned to the king, 
 
 he replied, " Let them alone : they will destroy themselves." The 
 English continued their march, witli the intent to enter Brittany. 
 
 You before heard, that there were three hundred spears in Gen^ 
 ville, so the whole army passed by it. There was indeed at the 
 barriers some little skirmishing, which lasted not long, as it was 
 time thrown away. Without Geneviile a handsome mill was de- 
 stroyed. The earl came to Yterville,* and dismounted at the house 
 of the Templars. The vanguard went forward to Puiset,t where 
 they heard that sixty companions had posted themselves in a large 
 tower : they marched to the attack, for it v/as situated in the open 
 plain without any bulwarks. The assault was sharp, but did not 
 last long, for the archers shot so briskly that scarcely any one dared 
 to appear on the battlements : the tower v/as taken, and those within 
 slain or made prisoners. The English then set fire to it, and marched 
 on, for they were in the utmost distress for water. From thence 
 they went to Ermoyon, where they quartered themselves, and then 
 to the forest of Marchenoir. In this forest there is a monastery of 
 monks, of the Cistertian order, which is called the Cistertian Abbey, 
 and has several handsome and noble edifices, where formerly a mast 
 renowned and noble knight, the count de Blois, received great edifi. 
 cation, and bequeathed to it large revenues ; but the vv^ars had greatly 
 diminished them. The earl of Buckingham lodged in this abbey, 
 and heard mass there on the feast of our Lady in September. It 
 was there ordered, that Gauvain Micaille and Joachim Gator should 
 on the morrow complete their enterprise. That day the English 
 came to Marchenoir :t the governor was a knight of that country, 
 called sir William de St. Martin, a prudent and valiant man-at-arms. 
 The English, after having reconnoitered the castle, retired to their 
 quarters. In another part, the lord Fitzwalter came before the castle 
 of Verbi, not to attack it, but to speak with the governor at the bar- 
 riers, with whom he was well acquainted, having been together 
 formerly in Prussia. The lord Fitzwalter made himself known to 
 the lord de Verbi, and entreated him, out of courtesy, to tend him 
 some wine, and in return he would prevent his estate from being 
 burnt or spoiled. The lord de Verbi sent him a large quantity, and 
 thirty great loaves with it ; for which the lord Fitzv/alter was very 
 thankful, and kept his promise. 
 
 On the day of the feast of our Lady, Gauvain Micaille and Joachim 
 Gator were armed, and mounted to finish their engagement. They 
 met each other roughly with spears, and the French squire tilted 
 much to the satisfaction of the earl : but the Englishman kept his 
 spear too low, and at last struck it into the thigh of the Frenchman.^ 
 The earl of Buckingham as well as the other lords were m.uch en. 
 raged at this, and said it was tilting dishonorably ; but he excused 
 himself, by declaring it was solely owing to the restiveness of liia 
 horse. Then were given the three thrusts with the sword ; iiid the 
 earl declared they had done enough, and would not have it longer 
 continued, for he perceived the French squire bled exceedingly : the 
 other lords were of the same opinion. Gauvain Micaille was there, 
 fore disarmed and his wound dressed. The earl sent him one hun- 
 dred francs by a herald, with leave to return tu his own garrison in 
 safety, adding that he had acquitted himself much to his satisfaction. 
 Gauvain Micaille went back to the lords of France : and the Eng. 
 lish departed from Marchenoir, taking the road to Vend6me ; but 
 before they arrived there, they quartered themselves in the forest of 
 Goulombiers. 
 
 CHAPTER LV. 
 
 king- CHARLES OF FRANCE IS TAKEN ILL—HIS LAST WORDS ON HIS 
 
 DEATH-BED. 
 
 You have heard what secret intrigues the king of France was 
 carrying on with the principal towns in Brittany, to prevent them from 
 admitting the English, menacing those who should do so that they 
 should never be forgiven. The inhabitants of Nantes sent him word 
 not to be alarmed ; for they would never consent to admit them, 
 whatever treaties had been entered into wita their lord : but they 
 were desirous, if the English should approach, that some men-at-arm* 
 might be sent, to defend the town and the inhabitants against theit 
 enemies. 
 
 The king of France was well inclined to this, and charged hii 
 council to see it executed. The main-spring of all these treatiei 
 was sir John de Bueil, on the part of the duke of Anjou, v/ho re. 
 sided at Angers. The duke of Burgundy was quartered in the city 
 of Mans, and in that country. Other lords, such as the duke of 
 Bourbon, the count de Bar, the lord de Coucy, the count d'Eu, tho 
 duke of Lorraine, were in the neighboring castles and forts, with a 
 force of upward of six thousand men-at-arms : they said among 
 themselves, that whether the king willed it or not, they would combat 
 the English before they crossed the river Sarthe, which divides 
 Maine from Anjou. 
 
 The king of France was at this moment seized with an illness, 
 which much disheartened all who loved him ; for, as no remedy 
 could be found for it, they foresaw that in a very short time he must 
 
 * Probably Interville. t " Puisd "—near Janvillc Ln Beauce. 
 
 t *' Marchenoir"— u town in Beauos, election of Chateaudun. Near this to^vn is » 
 forest of 4230 arpenu.- Gazetteer. 
 
 ^ It was against the law of iirms to strike below the giidJe, a rule still observed IQ th* 
 PUSilistic combats of the prize-ring.— £d. 
 
268 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 NP, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 depart this life : indeed, he himself knew this, as well as his sur- 
 geons and physicians. The reports were firmly believed, that the 
 king of Navarre, during thrf time he resided in Normandy, had at. 
 tempted to poison him, and that the king was so much infected by 
 the venom that the hairs of his head, and the nails of his hands and 
 feet fell off, and he became as dry as a stick, for which they could 
 not discover any remedy. His uncle, the emperor, hearing of his 
 illness, sent to him his own physician, the most able man of that time, 
 and of the greatest learning then known in the world, as his works 
 indeed show : h-e was called a second Aristotle, but his name was 
 George of Prague. When this great doctor came to visit the king, 
 who at that time was duke of Normandy, he knew his disorder, and 
 declared, that having been poisoned, he was in danger of dying : 
 however, he performed the greatest cure ever known, by so weak- 
 ejiing the force of the poison that he caused him to regain his former 
 strength. 
 
 This poison oozed out in small quantities from an issue in his arm. 
 On the departure of the doctor, for they could not detain him, he 
 prescribed a medicine which was to be made use of constantly. He 
 told the king and his attendants that whenever the issue dried up, 
 he would infallibly die : but that he would have fifteen days or more 
 to settle his affairs, and attend to his soul. 
 
 The king of France well remembered these words, and had this 
 issue for twenty-two years, which at times alarmed him much. Those 
 in whom he put great confidence, in regard to his health, were able 
 physicians, who comforted him, and kept up his spirits, by saying 
 that, with the excellent medicines they had, they would make him live 
 long in joy and happiness, so that he had great faith in them. The 
 king had, besides, other disorders that afflicted him much, as the 
 tooth-ache : from thfts he suffered the greatest torment ; and his ma- 
 jesty knew, from all these symptoms, he could not live very long ; 
 but the greatest comfort, toward the end of his days, was in God for 
 having given him three fine children, two sons and a daughter, 
 Charles, Louis, and Catherine. 
 
 When this issue began to cease running, the fears of death came 
 upon him ; he therefore, like a wise and prudent man, began to look 
 to his affairs. He sent for his three brothers, the duke of Berry, the 
 duke of Burgundy, and the duke of Bourbon,* without noticing his 
 next brother, the duke of Anjou, whom he did not send for, because 
 he knew him to be very avaricious. When they were arrived, he 
 said to them : " My dear brothers, I feel I have not long to live : I 
 therefore recommend to your charge my son Charles, to take that 
 care of him that good uncles ought to do of their nephew, by which 
 you will loyally acquit yourselves. Have him crowned king as soon 
 as you possibly can after my decease, and advise him justly in all his 
 affairs. My whole confidence rests in you : the child is young, and, 
 being of an unsteady temper, will want to be well managed and 
 properly instructed in sound learning. Teach him, or have him 
 taught, every point relative to royalty, and the manner in which he 
 ehould, according to the situation he may be in, conduct himself. 
 Marry him to such a princess of high birth that the kingdom may 
 gain by it. I have had with me for a considerable time a learned 
 astronomer,t who has predicted that in his youth he will have much 
 to do, and escape from great perils and dangers. Having thought 
 much on these expressions, I have considered that the events alluded 
 to must have their origin in Flanders ; for, thanks to God, the affairs 
 of my kingdom are in a very good condition. The duke of Brit- 
 tany is very deceitful and froward, and has always had more of Eng- 
 lish than French courage ; for which reason, you must keep the 
 nobles and principal towns of that country in good affection to you, 
 in order to traverse his designs. I have every cause to praise the 
 Bretons, for they have served me faithfully in the defence of my 
 kingdom against its enemies. You will make the lord de Clisson 
 constable : everything considered, I know no one so proper for that 
 office. Seek out, in Germany, an alliance for my son, that our con. 
 nections there may be strengthened. You have heard our adversary 
 is about to marry from thence, to increase his allies. The poor 
 people of my realm are much harassed and tormented by taxes and 
 subsidies : take them off as speedily as you can, for they are things 
 which, notwithstanding I proposed them, weigh very heavy on my 
 mind : but the great undertakings we have had to maintain in every 
 part of the kingdom forced me to submit to them." Many more 
 kind words did king Charles utter, but I have not thought it requisite 
 to ciie them all. The king explained why the duke of Anjou was 
 absent; for he suspected him much, knowing him to be of an am- 
 bitious temper. Notwithstanding the king of France did not permit 
 him to attend his death-bed, nor to have any part in the government 
 of France, this duke did not keep at a very great distance : he had 
 besides messengers continually going between Paris and Angers, 
 who brought him exact accounts of the state of his brother's health. 
 He had some also about the king's person, who informed him secretly 
 what daily passed ; and the last day, when the king of France de- 
 parted this life, he was at Paris, and so near the king's chamber that 
 he heard all the discourse I have just related. But we will now fol. 
 low the English in their march to Brittany. 
 
 * The du'<e of Bourbon was brother to the late queen. 
 
 t Thomas de Pisan. For particulars of him and hia dausbttr. M* Moreri's Diction- 
 •ly, and vol xvii. of the Memoiies de l*Acad6mia. 
 
 CHAPTER LVI. 
 
 THE LORD DE HANGEST IS NEAR TAKEN BY THE ENGLISH. THE LORD 
 DE MAUVOISIN REMAINS THEIR PRISONER. THE ENGLISH CROSS TOB 
 RIVER SARTHE IN DISORDER. 
 
 When the earl of Buckingham quitted the forest of Marchenoir 
 with his army, he took the road toward Vend6me and the forest of 
 Coulombiers. Sir Thomas Trivet and sir William Clinton were 
 somewhat advanced, with forty spears, and by accident met the lord 
 de Hangest, who was returning from Vend6me, accompanied by 
 thirty lances. The English soon saw they were French, and eagerly 
 galloped toward them. The French, who found they were not in 
 equal numbers, had no wish to wait for them, nor to fight, for thev 
 were near to Vendbme : they made, therefore, for that place, the 
 English pursuing them. Sir Robert de Hangest, cousin to the lord 
 of that name, was slain, and John de Mondecris, with five or six 
 others, were made prisoners. The lord de Hangest came so oppor- 
 tunely to the barrier that he found it open. Having fixed his lance, 
 he put himself in a gallant posture of defence : the rest of his com- 
 panions did 80 as they came up : however, twelve of them remained 
 prisoners. 
 
 Sir Robert Knolles had also this day made an excursion from the 
 army : he met the lord de Mauvoisin, who defended himself val- 
 iantly, but was in the end made prisoner by sir Robert himself. 
 This day the army marched by Vend6me to Aussie, and on the 
 morrow to St. Calais,* where they halted for two days, and then 
 came to Pontvalin.t The English thus advanced, without meeting 
 any to oppose them : but the whole country was full of men-at-arms, 
 and numbers were in the city of Mans. At this period, the duke 
 of Anjou passed through Tours, Blois, and Orleans, in his way to 
 Paris ; for he had heard his brother was in so dangerous a state there 
 were not any hopes of his recovery, and he was anxious to be with 
 him at his decease. Notwithstanding this illness of the king, from 
 which he was never expected to recover, the men-at-arms did not 
 desist from pursuing and watching the English on their march : the 
 commanders ordered their men to harass them as much as they could, 
 and to attempt, if possible, to surround them, which would prevent 
 them from having any provision ; and then they would engage with 
 them at their will, whether the king of France gave permission or 
 not. In consequence, the lords of France had brought to that part 
 of the Sarthe which the English were to pass, large beams which 
 they had fixed across the river with sharp stakes, so that they would 
 not be able to cross it. On the banks, they dug very wide and deep 
 ditches, to prevent their descending to the river, or ascending from it. 
 
 The earl of Buckingham marched from Pontvalin with his army 
 to the Sarthe, where he halted ; for they could not find a ford, as the 
 river was swelled and deep, and difficult t ) cross, except in certain 
 places. The vanguard marched up and down, but could not dis- 
 cover any other ford but where the beanis of timber and stakes had 
 been fixed. The lords dismounted, and, observing the ford, said, 
 " It is here we must pass, if we mean to march further : come let us 
 be active, and drag these beams out of our way." You would have 
 seen, after this speech, knights, barons, and squires enter the river, 
 and labor most heartily before they could succeed : at last, they 
 gained their point, but with much difficulty, and, having cleared 
 away all obstacles, opened a passage. Had the French been watch- 
 ful enough, they might have done them much harm ; for those who 
 crossed first could not assist those that followed, on account of the 
 deep marshes they had to go through." The English took such pains 
 that they did pass them, and arrived at Noyon-sur-Sarthe. 
 
 CHAPTER LVII. 
 
 THE DEATH OF CHARLES THE FIFTH, KING OF FRANCE. 
 
 That same day on which the English crossed the Sarthe with so 
 much difficulty, Charles, king of France, departed this life, in his 
 hotel at Paris called the hotel de St. Pol.t No sooner did his brother, 
 the duke of Anjou, know that the king's eyes were closed, than he 
 seized all the jewels of the king, which were very valuable, and had 
 them secured in a safe place, flattering himself they would be of the 
 utmost use to him in the intended war and journey he was about to 
 make ; for he already signed himself king of Sicily, la Piiglia, Cala. 
 bria and Jerusalem. 
 
 The king of France was carried through the city of Paris to the 
 abbey of St. Denis, with his face uncovered, followed by his brothers 
 and his two sons, where he was most honorably interred. He had 
 given orders respecting his burial during his lifetime ; and his con- 
 stable, sir Bertrand du Guesclin, lies at his feet. 
 
 Notwithstanding the orders king Charles had given, before his 
 death, respecting the government of the kingdom, they were totally 
 disregarded ; for the duke of Anjou immediately took possession, 
 
 * "St. Calais"— a town in Maine, six leagues from Vendome. 
 t " Pontvalin "—a town in Aruou. 
 
 ♦ King Charles died Sunday the 16th September, 1380, at his chateau of Beaut* sur 
 Marne. On the Monday, his body was carried early to St. Anthony, hard by Paris, to 
 wait the arrival of his brothers. It remained there until Monday I4th October, when it 
 was borne to the church of Notre Dame in Paris, and on the followins dar to St. Denia 
 '-OrantUs ChroniguM ds Franu. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 269 
 
 tad overruled all the others. He was willing his nephew should be 
 «rowned king, but resolved to have the management of affairs as 
 much, if not more, than any other, on account of his being the eldest 
 tincle ; and there were none in the kingdom who dared to dispute it 
 with him. The king of France died on the eve of Michaelmas : 
 fiooa after his decease, the peers and barons of France recommended 
 that the king should be crowned immediately after All-saints, at 
 Rheims. The three uncles, Anjou, Berry and Burgundy, agreed to 
 this proposal ; but they insisted on governing the realm until the 
 child should be of age, that is to say, twenty-one years,* which they 
 made the great barons and prelates of France swear to observe. 
 After this, the coronation of the young king was notified in foreign 
 countries, to the duke of Brabant, duke Albert of Bavaria, the count 
 de Savoye, the count de Blois, the duke de Gueldres, the duke de 
 Juliers, the count d'Armagnac, and to the count de Foix. The duke 
 of Bar, the duke of Lorraine, the lord de Coucy, the count dauphin 
 of Auvergne, were pursuing the English : they were not, therefore, 
 so soon sent to ; but the count of Flanders was invited ; and the 
 day fixfid was All-saints, which fell on a Sunday. 
 
 The men of Ghent were very much grieved at the death of the 
 king of France ; for he had been very friendly to them during their 
 war, loving but little the earl of Flarwders. 
 
 We will now speak of the English, and then return to the coro- 
 nation of the king of France. 
 
 CHAPTER LVIII. 
 
 THE ENOLISH ARRIVE IN BRITTANY. THE DUKE EXCUSES HIMSELF FOR 
 HAVING SO LONG DELAYED COMING TO MEET THEM. THEY UNDERTAKE 
 TOGETHER THE SIEGE OF NANTES. 
 
 The English, having crossed the Sarthe in great danger, were not 
 ignorant of the death of the king of France. They were quartered 
 at Noyon-sur-Sarthe : from thence they marched to Poilli, two leagues 
 from Sabl^.t The whole strength of France was at that time in the 
 city of Mans, and in that part of the country, but they contented 
 themselves with following the march of the English : some, however, 
 said they would comb-at them. 
 
 Wiien iuteiligence of the king's death became public, the inten- 
 tions, of the French were frustrated : for many of the barons de» 
 camped, and returned to Paris, to learn what was going forward. 
 The English continued for three days in their quarters : on the fourth 
 day they departed, and came to St. Pierre d'Arne, and from tlience 
 to Argentic. The next day tlie army crossed the river Mayenae, 
 and passed a marsh with much difficulty, for only two or three could 
 march in front the whole of this road, which lasted upward of two 
 leagues. Now, consider what danger they were in ; for if the French 
 had known this, and attacked the van, the rear could not have as. 
 sisted them : of this the English were greatly afraid : however, they 
 passed in safety, and arrived at Coss^,}: where they halted four days 
 in constant expectation of having some intelligence from Brittany. 
 
 The duke of Brittany resided at Hennebon, in the district of 
 ¥annes : he had heard frequently of the English, and that they were 
 near the frontiers of Brittany, but he did not know how to act. 
 When he learnt the king of France's death, he took little notice of 
 It, for he did not love him, but said to those near him, " The rancor 
 and hatred I bore the kingdom of France, on account of this king 
 Charles, is now one-half diminished ; for those who hated the father 
 may love the son, and those who have made war on the father may 
 assist the son. It is necessary, however, for me to acquit myself to 
 the English ; for in truth, it has been at my request and solicitation 
 they have marched through the kingdom of France, and I must keep 
 the promises I have made them : but in this there is much difficulty, 
 both in regard to them and me, as I wish our principal towns to shut 
 their gates, and not allow them to enter within them." 
 
 The duke then summoned some of hw council, such as the lord 
 de Montboursier, sir Stephen Guyon, sir William Tanneguy, sir 
 Eustace de la lioussaye, sir Geoffry de Kerimel and the judge-asses- 
 sor of Leon, and said to them : " You will ride to my lord of Buck- 
 ingham, who is approaching Brittany, and whom I believe you will 
 find not far off : recommend me to him, and salute on my part all 
 his barons. You will tell them, that I shall shortly be at Rennes to 
 meet them ; to which place I wish they would direct their march ; 
 when we will consider together on the best plans for our further pro- 
 ceedings. Tell them also, that I do not find my country in the same 
 dispositions as when I sent to England, which vexes me much ; that, 
 in particular, I am hurt with the men of Nantes, who are more rebel- 
 lious than any of the others." The knights rephed, they would 
 cheerfully carry this message. They took leave of the duke, and 
 rode to Nantes : in the whole, they were about sixty spears. 
 
 The English having marched from Cosse, and entered the forest 
 of la Gravelle, which they traversed, arrived at Vitre§ in Brittany, 
 
 * Froissart must mistake ; for Charles V. enacted, the 21st May, 1375, a law, that the 
 faeirs apparent should henceforward be of age to govern when fourteen years old. He, 
 at the same time, ordered the duke of Aryou to have the government during the mi- 
 nority, and the duke* of Burgundy and Bourbon to have the management of his son 
 anlil he was 14 years of age.— Granges Chroniques. 
 
 t " Sabl6 "—an ancient town in Maine, on the Sarthe, 29 leagues from Eeane*. 
 
 X " tponi "—a town of Maine, election of Laval. 
 
 « " Vitt6"-» cit? of Brittany, oa tb* Vilaia». dioeew of Ef siM. 
 
 where they felt themselves more secure than they had hitherto been, 
 for they knew they should no longer be pursued by the French. 
 From thence they went to Chateaubriant,* where they remained with 
 the knights from the duke of Brittany, who met them at that place. 
 The earl of Buckingham and the barons of England received the 
 knights from the duke of Brittany most honorably, and there were 
 many councils and debates. The English said in plain terms, they 
 were much astonished that neither the duke nor the country were 
 better prepared, and showed not any inclinations to receive them ; 
 for it was at their request they were come, and had suffered so many 
 difficulties in their march through France. 
 
 The lord de Montboursier then said, in excuse of the duke, " My 
 lords, you have very good cause for having thus spoken, and the 
 duke has a thorough good will to fulfil every article of the engage- 
 ments which have been entered into between you both, to the utmost 
 of his power ; but he cannot act as he wishes : in particular, the in- 
 habitants of Nantes, which is the key to Brittany, are in complete 
 rebellion, and are ready lo receive men-at-arms from France. This 
 conduct has very much astonished my lord ; for it was that town 
 which first entered into the alliance with the other chief towns in 
 Brittany, and my lord believes that the men of Nantes have entered 
 into a new treaty with the young king of P'rance, who is to be 
 crowned on All-saints day ensuing. My lord, therefore, begs and 
 entreats you will hold him excused : he also desires that you will 
 take the road to Rennes, whither he will come to m.eet you ; for he 
 has a great desire to see you, and will not fail being there." These 
 words much pleased the earl of Buckingham and the English : they 
 declared, he could not say more. The messengers, returning to the 
 duke toward Hennebon, met him at Vannes. The English continued 
 four days at Cha,teaubriant, when they marched away to the suburbs 
 of Rennes : the gates of the city w-ere shut, and no man-at-arms was 
 suffered to enter ; the earl of Buckingham, however, was lodged in 
 the town, as were the lord Latimer, sir Robert KnoUes, and five or 
 six other barons of the council to the er;]). They remained 'there 
 upward of fifteen days, waiting in vain for the duke, who never 
 came, which astonished them greatly. 
 
 The lord de Monteraulieu, the lord Montfort of Brittany, sir 
 Geoffry de Kerimel, and sir Alain de la Houssaye, the governor of 
 Rennes, were in the city, as also sir Eustace, the governor's brother, 
 who made daily excuses for the duke. I know not if they had a good 
 cause to plead or not, but the English began to be very discontented 
 with the duke for not coming. Those of Nanfns kept their gates 
 well guarded ; for they did not think themselves secure from the 
 English, whom they knew to be at Rennes : they sent, therefore, to 
 the duke of Anjou, who had been the origin of the late treaties, and 
 by whom the greater part of the kingdom was governed, to remon. 
 strate with him on their incapacity to defend themselves, if they 
 should be b-esieged, without having a stronger body of men-at-arms: 
 they therefore entreated him to provide them with a reinforcement. 
 The four dukes who governed France, Anjou, Berry, Burgundy and 
 Bourbon, complied with their request, and sent upward of six hun- 
 dred good and valorous men-at-arms. Thus was Nantes reinforced. 
 Those men-at-arms immediately repaired every part of the walls, 
 and put the town in a proper condition to resist a siege or an attack, 
 if such should happen. 
 
 The English, quartered at Rennes and thereabouts, began to des- 
 pond on account of the duke's not coming to them : they resolved, 
 in a council, to send to know his reasons of delay. Lord Thomas 
 Percy and sir Thomas Trivet were ordered to wait on him, escorted 
 ' by five hundred lances, to prevent or oppose any ambuscades which 
 might be laid for them. These two barons departed from Rennes, 
 attended by this body of lances, with as many archers, and took the 
 road to Hennebon. They set out on a Thursday : the following 
 Saturday, the earl marched the army to St. Sulpice in Brittany, where 
 he halted three days : on the fourth, he marched to Combront, where 
 he remained four days. The duke of Brittany had left Hennebon, 
 and was at Vannes : he Ixad regular information of all the English 
 were doing, and, after having well considered everything, resolved 
 to go to them : for his own honor, and the alliances he had formed 
 with them, would not suffer him longer to delay it. Having learnt 
 that sir Robert Knolles, lord Thomas Percy and sir Thomas Trivet 
 were coming to him, he began his journey to Rennes ; and, the day 
 that he set out from Vannes, he met the English knights. This 
 meeting caused great joy : the duke of Brittany made inquiries after 
 the earl of Buckingham, and the knights told him they had left him 
 very melancholly at Rennes, because he had not any tidings of him. 
 The duke excused himself by saying, that by his faith he could not 
 help it. They then rode all together to Vannes, where they were 
 well received ; but they knew that the English army had marched 
 from Combront to la Hede and la Maisiere, for they had followed 
 that road. 
 
 The earl of Buckingham arrived at Vannes the next day, when 
 great affection was shown on both sides. The duke handsomely 
 excused himself to the earl and the English for his delay in coming 
 to them : the reason of it was, that he did not find his country 
 determined to perform what they had promised him at the beginning 
 of the summer. 
 
 The earl replied : " Fair brother of Brittany, it shall not be long, 
 * " Chftt«aubria»C'»a town of fiiittaoy. on the confines of Aitfou, diocese of Naauw. 
 
870 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 if you follow my advice, before you punish these rebels ; for, with 
 the forces which you have yourself, and those we have brought, 
 with the additional reinforcements that may arrive from England 
 every day, we shall bring your subjects into such a state of subrais- 
 sion that they will gladly throw themselves on your mercy." With 
 these and such like speeches they conversed for a long time, when 
 each retired to his hotel. On the morrow, they rode out together: 
 it was then settled that the council of the earl should attend the duke 
 to Rennes, and finally make arrangements for their future proceed- 
 ings. That evening the duke, with the earl's council, remained at 
 ia Maisiere, and the earl returned to la Hed6, for they were all quar- 
 tered in the environs of la Maisiere. The next day, the duke went 
 .0 Rennes, accompanied by the lord Latimer, sir Robert KnoUes, 
 lord Thomas Percy, sir Thomas Trivet, and others of the council of 
 the earl. 
 
 They remained three days in consultation at Rennes : at last, it 
 was determined, and sworn to, on the part of the duke of Brittany, 
 on the holy Evangelists, that he would lay siege to Nantes, in com- 
 pany with the earl of Buckingham, and be there in person fifteen 
 days after the English were arrived. The duke also engaged to send 
 down the river Loire plenty of barges, the more to constrain those 
 of Nantes, and would not himself quit the place, nor suffer his army 
 to do so, before it should be conquered. The earl of Buckingham 
 was sent for to la Hede, that all his busmess might be completely 
 settled, and that he might be present at these councils. The army 
 therefore dislodged, and took up their former quarters in the suburbs 
 of Rennes. The earls and barons entered Rennes, when the earl 
 gave them a most magnificent dinner. The duke of Brittany en- 
 gaged, and swore by his faith solemnly on the holy Evangelists, to 
 come to Nantes with all his forces. After this, he returned to Hen- 
 nebon. The English remained for upward of fifteen days at Rennes, 
 in making the necessary preparations. 
 
 The inhabitants of Nantes, being informed that the siege of their 
 town was intended, took every precaution to defend themselves. 
 One of the principal captains in Nantes was sir John le Barrois des 
 Barres, a valiant and expert knight : there were with him the fol- 
 lowing captains; John de Clisson,John de Chatelmorant, Morfonace, 
 sir John de Malatrait, the lord de Tournemine and several more, all 
 the flower of the army. These leaders made very prudent and able 
 defences, as well toward the river as at the gates, walls and towers 
 which were opposite to the plain, and at those parts where they 
 thought it probable an attack might be made. 
 
 We will now give these affairs a respite, and speak of the cere- 
 monies of the coronation of the young king Chailes, who at this 
 period was crowned at Rheims. 
 
 CHAPTER LIX. 
 
 THE CORONATION OF KING CHARLES VI. OF FRANCE. 
 
 As you may well imagine, nothing was spared by the nobility and 
 great lords to add to the magnificence of the coronation of the young 
 king Charles of France, who was crowned at Rheims on a Sunday,* 
 in the twelfth year of his age, in the year 1380. At. this solemnity 
 there were many high and mighty lords : his uncles of Anjou, 
 Berry, Burgundy and Bourbon, were present ; as were also his great 
 uncles, Winceslaust duke of Brabant, the duke of Bar, the duke of 
 Lorraine, the count de Savoye, the count de la Marche, the count 
 d'Eu and sir William de Namur : but the earl of Flanders and the 
 count de Blois sent excuses. There were several other lords whom 
 I cannot name. 
 
 The young king made his entry into the city of Rheims on the 
 Saturday, handsomely attended by the great lords, nobility and 
 minstrels, at vespers. In particular, there were upward of thirty 
 trumpets, which preceded him, and sounded so clear it was quite 
 marvellous to hear them. The young king of France dismounted 
 before the church of our Lady at Rheims, in company with his 
 uncles and brother. There were also his cousins of Navarre^, 
 d'Albert, of Bar and of Harcourt,t and a great many other young 
 squires, children of the great barons of France, whom the king on 
 the morrow, being the day of his coronation, created knights. This 
 Saturday the king heard vespers in the church of our Lady, and 
 performed his vigils in that church, according to the custom of those 
 times, the greater part of the night. All the youths desirous of 
 knighthood attended him, and did the same. 
 
 On the Sunday, which was All-saints day, the church of our Lady 
 was very richly decorated for the coronation ; so much so that it 
 could not possibly have been better ordered. The archbishop of 
 Rheims, after having said mass with great solemnity, consecrated 
 the king with the holy ampulla with which St. Remy had anointed 
 Clovis, the first Christian king of the French. This sacred oil was 
 Bent from God by a holy angel, with which the kings of France 
 have ever since been anointed, and it never diminishes. Now this 
 must be considered as wonderfully miraculous. 
 
 Before the consecration, the king created, in front of the altar, all 
 
 * The 4Ui November, 1380. He returned to Paris the lltli.— Gra7jc/es ChroniQues. 
 t *' Winceslaus, &.c."— See unnotation 9th by 1). Sauvage. 
 
 t D. Sauvnge siays, the thr«e fint w«r« his cuusi^s ly iiia mothtr'i side ; but bg knowi 
 Mthiog of the fuurJi 
 
 those young squires, knights : the office of mass v, as afterw<i*ds 
 chanted by the archbishop, the king being clothed in his royal 
 robes, and seated on an elevated throne, adorned with cloth of gold ; 
 and all the young knights were placed on low benches, covered also 
 with the same, at his feet. In this state did they remain the whole 
 day. The new constable, sir Oliver de Clisson, was present: he 
 had been named constable a few days prior to this ceremony, and 
 performed well his charge, and everything belonging to it. The 
 
 Charles Sxith or France. From a Print in Mezeray'i Hiatorr of France. 
 
 principal barons of France were also there so richly dressed it woukl 
 be tedious to relate : the king was seated in royal majesty, with a 
 crown on his head rich and precious beyond measure. The church 
 of our Lady at Rheims was so much crov/ded during this ceremony 
 that one could not turn one's foot. I have heard also, that at this 
 accession of the young king to the throne, in order to please the 
 people of France, all impositions, aids, taxes, subsidies and other 
 levies, which had displeased and had much oppressed them, were 
 abolished, greatly to the joy of the subjects. 
 
 After mass, they went to the palace ; but, as the hall was too small 
 for such numbers, they erected in the court of the palace a large 
 covered stage, on which the dinner was served. The king was 
 seated with his five uncles of Brabant, Anjou, Berry, Burgimdy and 
 Bourbon ; but, though they were at his table, they were at a distance 
 from him. The archbishop of Rheims and other prelates were on 
 his right hand. He was served by the great barons, the lord de 
 Coucy, the lord de Clisson, sir Guy de la Tremouille, the lord high 
 admiral and several others, on handsome r horses, covered and deco. 
 rated with gold brocade. The whole day passed in ceremonies. 
 On the morrow, many of the great barons took leave of the king 
 and his uncles, and returned to their own country. The king went 
 that day to dinner at the abbey of St. Thierry, two leagues from 
 Rheims ; for those monks are bound to give him this entertainment, 
 and the city of Rheims to provide for the coronation of the king. 
 Thus ended this noble feast. He returned to Paris, where he was 
 grandly feasted by the Parisians at his entrance. 
 
 After all these ceremonies, entertainments and honors, there were 
 great councils holden on the present and future administration of the 
 kingdom. It was settled that the duke of Berry should have the 
 government of Languedoc; the duke of Burgundy, Picardy and 
 Normandy ; and that the duke of Anjou should remain near the 
 king's person, and have, in fact, the whole government of the realm. 
 The count de St. Pol was recalled, who had been banished from the 
 favor of the late king Charles. He was indebted for this grace to 
 Winceslaus duke of Brabant, and to the duke of Anjou, in whose 
 affection the count de St. Pol was. He immediately left Han-sur- 
 Heure, situated in the bishopric of Liege, v/here he had remained a 
 long time, and returned to France, leaving his lady in the castle of 
 Bouhaing. All the confiscations were taken off his estates, which 
 reverted to his profit. 
 
 We will say no more on these subjects, but return to the affairs of 
 Brittany and the earl of Buckingham. 
 
 TWO ADDITIONAL CHAPTERS, WHICH ARE ONLY IN ONE OF MY MSS. 
 AND NOT IN ANY PRINTED COPY. 
 
 You have heard how Sir Simon Burley, that gallant knight at- 
 tached to the household of king Richard of England, had been sent 
 with proposals to the emperor in Germany respecting the marriage 
 of the lady Anne, his sister, with the king of England. He had 
 
Chronicles of England, france, spa in. &c. 
 
 S71 
 
 transacted the business with ability, so that the emperor and his 
 council consented ; but he had brought with him, on his return, the 
 duke of Saxony, one of the council of the emperor, for him to 
 observe the state of England, and to make inquiries concerning the 
 dower, and how it was to be settled on the queen. It is the custom 
 in England for the queen to have a large estate, independent of the 
 crown, which is always managed by her directions ; and it is called 
 the inheritance or dowry lands of the queen. This estate is worth 
 twcTiT;/-five thousand nobles a-year ; for I, John Froissart, author of 
 this history, during my youth, served that queen of good memory, 
 the lady Philippa of Hainault, to whom I was secretary ; and I then 
 heard from many lords, ladies and knights, who had received the 
 rents of these estates, their amount. 
 
 The duke of Saxony was much pleased with all he saw and heard, 
 particularly respecting the dower : he was well satisfied with the 
 king, and his two uncles of Lancaster and Cambridge ; for the other 
 was in France ; and also with the eari of Salisbury, the earl of War- 
 wick, the eari of Northumberiand, and the other lords about the per- 
 son of the king. When the duke had remained some time in Eng- 
 land, and finished the business he had come upon, he took leave of 
 tlie king, promising to persevere in the marriage to the conclusion. 
 At his departure he received handsome presents of jewels for him- 
 self, for those attendant on the person of the emperor, and also for 
 tlie ladies who had the management of the young lady, Anne of 
 Bohemia, the intended future queen of England. The duke returned, 
 well pleased, to his own country ; but this business was not imme- 
 diately concluded, for the damsel was young, and the councils of 
 each party had many things to arrange : add to this, there shortly 
 afterwards happened in England great misery and tribulation, as you 
 will hear recounted in this history. 
 
 [The remaining part of this chapter mentions the death of sir Guis- 
 card d'Angle, earl of Huntingdon, nearly as it has been before related.] 
 
 There fell out about this time, in England, an event that gave 
 great displeasure to the earl of Buckingham when he heard of it. I 
 will explain to you what it was. Humphrey, earl of Hereford and 
 Northampton, and constable of England, was one of the greatest 
 lords and landholders in that country ; for it was said, and I, the 
 author of this book, heard it when I resided in England, that his 
 revenue was valued at fifty thousand nobles a-year. From this earl 
 of Hereford there remained only two daughters as his heiresses ; 
 Blanche the eldest, and Isabella* her sister. The eldest was mar- 
 ried to Thomas of Woodstock, earl of Buckingham. The youngest 
 was unmarried, and the early of Buckingham would willingly have 
 had her remain so, for then he would have enjoyed the v^^hole of the 
 earl of Hereford's fortune. Upon his marriage with Eleanor, he went 
 to reside at his handsome casde of Fleshy, in the county of Essex, 
 thirty miles from London, which he possessed in right of his wife. 
 He took on himself the tutelage of his sister-in-law, and had her in- 
 structed in doctrine ; for it was his intention she should be professed 
 u nun of the order of St. Clare, which had a very rich and large con- 
 went in England. In this manner was she educated during the time 
 the earl remained in England, before his expedition into France. 
 She was also constantly attended by nuns from this convent, who 
 tutored her in matters of religion, continually blaming the married 
 state. The young lady seemed to incline to their doctrine, and 
 thought not of marriage. 
 
 Duke John of Lancaster, being a prudent and wise man, foresaw 
 ihe advantage of marrying his only son Henry, by his first wife 
 Blanche, to the lady Mary : he was heir to all the possessions of the 
 house of Lancaster in England, which were very considerable. The 
 duke had for some time considered he could not choose a more 
 desirable wife for his son than the lady who was intended for a nun, 
 as her estates were very large, and her birth suited to any rank ; but 
 he did not take any steps in the matter until his brother of Bucking- 
 ham had set out on his expedition to France. When he had crossed 
 the sea, the duke of Lancaster had the young lady conducted to 
 Arundel castle ; for the aunt of the two ladies was the sister of 
 Richard, earl of Arundel, one of the most powerful barons of Eng- 
 land. This lady Arundel, out of complaisance to the duke of Lan- 
 caster, and for the advancement of the young lady, went to Fleshy, 
 where she remained with the countess of Buckingham and her sis. 
 ler for fifteen days. On her departure from Fleshy, she managed so 
 well that she carried with her the lady Mary to Arundel, when the 
 marriage was instantly consummated between her and Henry of 
 Lancaster. During their union of tv/elve years, he had by her four 
 handsome sons, Henry, Thomas, John and Humphrey, and two daugh- 
 ters, Blanche and Fhilippa. 
 
 The Earl of Buckingham, as I said, had not any inclination to 
 laugh when he heard these tidings ; for it would now be necessary 
 to divide an inheritance which he considered wholly as his own, 
 excepting the constableship which was continued to him. When he 
 learnt that his brothers had all been concerned in this matter, he 
 became melancholly, and never after loved the duke of Lancaster as 
 he had hitherto done. 
 
 We will now return to the affairs of Brittany. 
 
 ♦ Froissart mutak«s : theix namM wert fileaaer wad MJUT- 
 
 CHAPTER LX. 
 
 THE EARL OF BUCKINGHAM BESIEGES NANTES. SALLIES ARE MADE BI 
 
 THE GARRISON. 
 
 You have heard of the agreement which had been sworn to, be. 
 tween the duke of Brittany and the earl of Buckingham, to besiege 
 Nantes. When the duke had left Rennes, the lord de Montboursier, 
 sir Stephen Guyon, the lord de la Houssaye and their company 
 retired to Vannes and Hennebon ; and the earl of Bucki.igham and 
 his army prepared to march to Nantes : they set out, therefore, from 
 the suburbs of Rennes, and the adjacent villages where they had 
 been quartered, and lodged that day at Chastillon, on the next day 
 at Bain, and the third at Nozay : and on the fourth they quartered 
 themselves in the suburbs of Nantes. The earl was lodged at the 
 gate of Sauvetout : the lord Latimer constable of the army,* lord 
 Fitzwalter and lord Basset were quartered at the gate of St. Nicho- 
 las, close to the river side. Sir William Windsor and sir Hugh Cal- 
 verley were lodged right honorably among their own m.en, as was 
 proper for them. 
 
 In the town were numbers of knights and squires from Brittany, 
 Beauce, Anjou and Maine, who v*'ell understood hov/ to defend the 
 place : they had the whole load and charge, for the inhabitants gave 
 themselves no trouble about it. It happened that on Martinmas eve, 
 sir John le Barrois des Barres collected some of his companions in 
 the town, and said to them ; " My good gentlemen, we know that 
 our enemies are close to us, and we have not yet given them an 
 alert : I am of opinion, that this fine night we should look at them, 
 and give them a skirmish." " By my faith," they replied, " you 
 speak loyally : tell us what you wish, and we will do it." 
 
 They collected a body of about one hundred and twenty well 
 armed and determined men, and having ordered the gate to be opened 
 where the constable, the lord Basset and the lord Fitzwalter were 
 quartered, placed foot guards at it to secure their retreat. The lead- 
 ers of this troop were le Barrois des Barrcp, John ChS.telmorant and 
 the captain de Clisson. They came so uuexpectedly as to find the 
 English at supper: having shouted their Vv'ar cry, "Des Barres!" 
 the French began to lay about them, slaying and wounding many. 
 The English were soon prepared and drawn up before their quarters, 
 which when the French saw they very prudently retreated in a com- 
 pact body toward the town. The English came from all parts to the 
 skirmish : some of each were struck to the ground, and the French 
 driven within their barriers. There were some slain and v/ounded 
 on both sides; but le Barrois des Barres catered the town with so 
 little loss that this skirmish was held, both at home and abroad, as u 
 gallant action. 
 
 On the evening of St. Martin's day, le Barrois des Barres spoke to 
 his companions, saying, " It would be a good thing if, at daybreak 
 to-morrow, we could get six or seven large barges, witli tv. o hun- 
 dj-ed men and the same number of cross-bows, to visit our enemies 
 by water; for they have not the least suspicion of our corning to 
 them down the river. They all assented to this proposal, and assem- 
 bled that same night the number of men des Barres had fixed on : 
 before daylight they embarked in six large boats, and, floating down 
 the stream, landed below the enemy's quarters. Sir John Harle- 
 stone with his men v/ere lodged in a large hotel, not far from vv'here 
 they had landed, and which, at daybreak, they surrounded and 
 attacked. Sir John was soon dressed and armed, as were his men: 
 they defended themselves courageously, the archers shooting at the 
 cross-bows. The skirmish was long and severe : many were killed 
 and wounded, and sir John would have been conquered, if sir Robert 
 Knolles, who was quartered not far distant, had not armed himself 
 and his men, and, with displayed banner, advanced hastily to his 
 assistance. Sir William Windsor did the same, who, having had 
 information of what was going on, hurried thither ; besides, the Eng- 
 glish were now coming from all parts. The French retreated to 
 their boats, as they saw the necessity of it, or else of risking tlie 
 event of a battle. There was much skirmishing on the shore, aa 
 they reembarked, but they departed very gallantly. The captains 
 performed many valorous deeds ; but, on their return to Nantes, 
 several of the French were taken, slain or drowned. All who heard 
 of this enterprise considered it as one of great courage and ability. 
 
 The English, finding themselves thus constantly attacked by the 
 garrison of Nantes, resolved to be more on their guard, and to keep 
 a stricter watch. The seventh night, however, after the attack 
 which le Barrois had led down the river, he made another sally from 
 the gate where the earl of Buckingham was quartered ; Is Barrois 
 had with him about two hundred men-at-arms and one hundred 
 cross-bows. The Germans were on guard this night, under the 
 command of sir Algars and sir Thomas de Roddes. Le Barrois, 
 John de Chatelmorant and de Clisson, with their men, immediately 
 attacked this guard of Germans, when a sharp contest began, and 
 many were struck to the earth. Those quartered near to the earl 
 arose, armed themselves, and hastened to this skirmiih ; but, when 
 le Barrois saw the numbers increasing, he retreated to the gate, 
 fighting all his way. Several were killed by the arrows, and many 
 
 * Lord Despencer was constable in the preceding chapter. D. Sauvage suppose* 
 Froissart had forgotten it. But Dugdale says, ia his Baronage, "hi was conitabta of 
 ths host at til* aioge ofSitmXm." 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 wouiided on both sides. Sir Thomas de Roddes, a knight from 
 Germany, was struck by an arrow, which pierced quite through his 
 helmet to his head ; of which wound he died three days after : it was 
 a pity, for he was a very able knight. The French and Bretons 
 reentered Nantes with scarcely any loss, carrying with them six 
 prisoners. 
 
 Things remained in this state, and the English much on their 
 guard, for they expected an alert every night. 
 
 CHAPTER LXI. 
 
 THE DUKE OF BRITTANY EXPLAINS HIS REASONS FOR NOT C0M1N& TO 
 THE SIEGE OF NANTES. THE GARRISON CONTINUE MOST VAIJANTLY 
 TO MAKE SALLIES. 
 
 The earl of Buckingham remained in this situation before Nantes, 
 daily expecting the arrival of the duke of Brittany, who never came, 
 nor kept any of the promises he had engaged to perform, which quite 
 discouraged the English, who knew not what to think of it. They 
 sent repeatedly messengers with letters, to remonstrate with him how 
 ill he was conducting himself, by not keeping those promises and 
 agreements he had sworn to so solemnly when in the city of Rennes. 
 To all these letters the earl did not receive one answer : the Epglish 
 supposed the messengers to have been slain, for none returned ; and 
 in truth there was great danger to all who travelled between Nantes 
 and Hennebon, unless they were strongly escorted. The roads were 
 so strictly guarded by men-at-arms, no one could pass without being 
 taken, or his business known ; and, if there were found upon him 
 letters from the English to the duke, or from the duke to them, the 
 bearer was sure to be put to death. In addition to this, the foragers 
 of the army dared not venture abroad but in large companies ; for 
 the knights and squires of the country had assembled, and would not 
 suffer their lands to be overrun and pillaged, so that, whenever they 
 fell in with bodies of twenty or thirty, they took all they had and 
 their horses from them, besides wounding or killing them. This 
 much enraged the army, but they knew not on whom to revenge 
 themselves. 
 
 To say the truth, the duke of Brittany did everything he could to 
 make his people consent to follow him to the siege of Nantes, accord- 
 ing to the agreement he had entered into with the earl of Bucking, 
 ham at Rennes : but - he could not succeed. Even the barons, 
 knights, and squires, told him plainly they would not assist in the 
 destruction of their country for the sake of England, and would 
 never arm themselves in his behalf so long as the English remained 
 in Brittany. The duke, upon this, remonstrated with them, and 
 asked why they had desired him to send for the aid of the English. 
 They told him, in answer, that it was more to give alarm to the king 
 of France and his council, that they might not be deprived of their 
 ancient privileges, than for anything else ; and, in case the king of 
 France wished them no ill will, they would not make war against 
 him. The duke could not obtain any other answer. 
 
 On the other hand, the lord de Clisson, constable of France, the 
 lord de Dinant, the lord de Lavaf, the viscount de Rohan, the lord 
 de Rochefort, and all the great barons of Brittany, had their castles 
 well fortified and guarded. They told the duke, or sent word to him 
 by messengers, that he had best consider well what he was about; 
 for he had been ill advised in sending for the English, and bringing 
 them over to destroy and carry war into his country : that he must 
 not expect any aid from them : therefore, if he should go to Nantes, 
 to assist in the siege, as they had heard it to be his intention, and 
 which he ought not to have promised, they would attack his country 
 on all sides, and would give him so much employment that he should 
 not know what he ought to attend to first : but, if he were willing to 
 acknowledge the king of France, and place himself under his obedi- 
 ence, as he was bounden to do, they engaged to make his peace 
 with the young king. They added, that those who had had the 
 courage to oppose king Charles deceased might be beloved by the 
 king his son. Such was the treatment the duke met with from the 
 great lords of Brittany, so that, in fact, he did not know what to do ; 
 for he found he could not place any security on his barons or subjects: 
 it therefore behooved him to dissemble. 
 
 The siege of Nantes still continued; and on the day of our Lady, 
 in Advent, the French garrison resolved to make another attack on 
 the besiegers, for they had left them quiet for some time. Sir Am- 
 aury de Clisson, cousin-german to the lord de Clisson, and the lord 
 d'Amboise, made an assault, with about two hundred spears, on the 
 quarters of sir William Windsor. They sallied out at the gate of 
 Richebourg, on the river side, where sir Hugh Calverley's men were 
 that night on guard. The lord d'Amboise was made a knight by sir 
 Amaury de Clisson. These men-at-arms, French and Bretons, 
 Advanced in high spirits to the foiW, which having gained, though 
 guarded by sir William Cossington, a sharp contest ensued, in which 
 many a man was overthrown. Sir William Windsor and sir Hugh 
 Calverley were in their quarters, and, hearing the noise, armed them- 
 selves and issued forth to the midst of the tumult, where the conflict 
 mightily increased : both parties behaved valiantly. The French 
 end Bretons made good their retreat, fighting all the way, and ru. 
 entered the gate of Richebourg with little loss: they had made a 
 
 knight with ten men-at-arms prisoners, and had only three of their 
 men taken. 
 
 On Thursday, before the eve of Christmas-day, Barrois des Barres, 
 with the lord de Solete and six score men-at-arms, made another 
 sally from the gate of Sauvetout, to beat up the quarters of the earl 
 of Buckingham : the earl of Devonshire had that night the command 
 of the guard. The engagement was very severe, and many were 
 thrown down and wounded by spt ars ; but the English, being in 
 greater force than their enemies, dro ve them back to their barriers : 
 they lost, in killed and prisoners, six.een. In this attack, an Eng- 
 lish knight, called sir Hugh Kitiel, r.^ceived a blow on his helmet, 
 with a bolt, that caused his death. 
 
 Every man then retired to his quarters, and nothing more wa? 
 done that night: but the captains in Nantes held a council, and 
 resolved on Christmas-eve to make a sally with the whole garrison. 
 The earl of Buckingham and the other English were kept in con- 
 stant alarm by the garrison, and the foragers had many difficulties 
 in providing provender for the horses, for they dared not forage bui 
 in large companies. The earl and his council were much astonished 
 that the duke of Brittany came not, nor sent them any intelligence, 
 so that they began to be very discontented. Upon considering every- 
 thing, they found but a very weak support in him on all occasions, 
 which they could not account for, nor did they know how to seek 
 redress for it. They therefore determined to send once more sir 
 Robert Knolles, lord Thomas Percy, and sir Thomas Trivet, to 
 Vannes or Hennebon, to remonstrate with him on the part of the 
 earl, how very ill he had conducted himself in not having fulfilled 
 his engagements with greater honor. This resolution was after 
 wards broken; for, when they more maturely v/eighed it, they found 
 they could not send off this detachment without weakening too 
 much iheir army, and that they could not go to the duke but with 
 the whole army ; for, if thev should march only five or six hundi'ed 
 lances, and meet with a thousand or fifteen hundred, the odds would 
 be too great, and they would be slain : they therefore did not detach 
 any part of their army. 
 
 When the eve of Christmas was come, le Barrois des Barres, sir 
 Amaury de Clisson, the lord d'Amboise, the lord de Solete, the cha- 
 telain de Clisson, John de Cha.telmorant, and all the captains in 
 Nantes, sallied forth in the evening through St. Peter's gate, with a 
 determination to act well, accompanied by six hundred men-at-arms. 
 On passing the gate, they formed themselves into two divisions ; one 
 of which marched down the street, and the other through the fields, 
 toward the quarters of the lord Latimer and the lord Fitzwalter. Sir 
 Evan Fitzwarren and sir William Renton commanded the guard. 
 On the first attack, they gained the barriers of the guard, and, killing 
 many, they drove them as far as the quarters of the constable, lord 
 Latimer. They halted before the hotel of the lord Delawarr, where 
 there was a grand engagement ; for the French had an intention of 
 conquering this hotel, which they were on the point of taking and 
 the lord Delawarr in it. The guard suffered much before any suc- 
 cors arrived. Sir Evan Fitzwarren, the lord Delawarr, and sir Wil- 
 liam Drayton, did many gallant deeds. These assaults caused the 
 battalions of the constabloi and marshal to exert themselves : they 
 sounded their trumpets, and directly armed. Sir William Windsor 
 and sir Hugh Calverley, hearing the trumpets, knew the vanguard 
 was engaged : they ordered their trumpets to sound also, and a 
 number of torches to be lighted and their banners displayed, with 
 which they marched to the place where the combat was, attended 
 by one hundred men-at-arms and as many archers. In another part, 
 sir Thomas Trivet, lord Thomas Percy, and lord Basset, each with 
 their banners before them, advanced to the skirmish. Good need 
 had the vanguard of the haste they made to their relief, for they 
 were on the point of losing their quarters : but when these barons 
 and their men were arrived, they drove back the French and Bretons, 
 who, forming together in a handsome body, retreated toward the 
 town, skirmishing all the way. Many valiant deeds were done ; and 
 some young French knights and squires, in order to gain honors, 
 ventured too far, so that sir Tristran de la Jaille was taken, in his 
 foolish attempt, by a squire from Hainault called Thierry de Sommain. 
 
 Thus was this attack made. All those, or at least a part, who 
 had come from Nantes, reentered it; for, in these cases, there must 
 be wounded and slain ; and, when the heat of an engagement ani- 
 mates, such accidents are to be expected. They returned, however, 
 without much loss ; for they had full as many prisoners from the 
 English as they had taken from them. When the gates were closed, 
 they attended to their wounded. The army returned to their quar- 
 ters, but did not dismiss the guard : on the contrary, additions were 
 made to it. 
 
 No sally was attempted on Christmas-day, nor on the succeeding, 
 feasts. The English expected to be attacked every night ; but what 
 troubled them the most was their not receiving any intelligence from 
 the duke of Brittany. Their provisions were become very short, for 
 it was with difficulty they could forage. The garrison was well sup. 
 plied, by means of the river Loire, from the rich counties of Poitou, 
 Saintonge, and La Rochelle. 
 
CHRONICLES OFENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 273 
 
 CHAPTER LXII. 
 
 TXnt EICOLISH BREAK UP THE SIEGE OF NANTES. THE DUKE OF BRITTANY 
 SENDS HANDSOME EXCUSES TO THE EARL OF BUCKINGHAM. 
 
 After the earl of Buckingham and the English had been before 
 Nantes two months and four days, they found they could gain no- 
 thing, and that the duke of Brittany would not keep any of his en- 
 gagements, for he neither came nor sent to them. They thought it 
 best to decamp from thence (since they could not succeed,) and 
 march toward Vannes, to have some conversation with the duke, 
 and know from himself the reasons of his conduct. Orders were 
 issued for the army to pack up and dislodge : they decamped, the 
 last day of the year, in the same order of battle with which they had 
 marched through France, and halted, the day they left Nantes, at 
 Nort, where they remained for three days, on account of the bridge 
 being broken down. They had much trouble in repairing this bridge, 
 that the carriages might pass over: however, it was made good and 
 strong, and the army, having also crossed the river Vilaine on a Sat. 
 urday, took up their quarters at Loh^ac, where they staid two days. 
 When the army left Lohdac, they quartered themselves at Gosselin, 
 where they also halted for two days, and then came to la Trinite. 
 They crossed the river Aust at the Pont de Boquinio, when the whole 
 army stopped on that side of the water on the plains. 
 
 The inhabitants of Vannes received exact information of the day 
 on which the army decamped, and when they crossed the river, 
 from the country people, and that the earl of Buckingham was march- 
 ing his army thither, intending to fix his quarters in their city. They 
 knew not how to act, whether to permit them to come into their 
 town or not : they therefore went to the duke at Hennebon ; but the 
 day they set out they met him, two leagues from Vannes, on his road 
 thither. The duke, perceiving his good subjects advancing toward 
 him, asked them what was the news, and whither they were going. 
 " My lord," they replied, " as for news, we can tell you enough : the 
 earl of Buckingham and the English are marching hitherward ; and 
 it is their intention, as we have been informed, to quarter themselves 
 in your good town of Vannes. Now, you must consider bow you 
 would have us act ; for without your order we will not do anything. 
 In truth, they have repaired the Pontde Boquinio, which was broken 
 down." 
 
 The duke, on hearing these words, paused a little, and then an- 
 swered, " God help us I do not you be uneasy nor alarmed at trifles, 
 for everything will turn out well. These English will not do you 
 any harm. I have entered into certain engagements which I must 
 perform, and acquit myself to them. I am now going to Vannes ; 
 and to-morrow, as I verily believe, they will arrive there. I will 
 advance to meet my brother, the earl, and will pay him every honor 
 and respect in my power, for truly I am bounden so to do. As 
 for the rest, you will act according to my advice, which is, that you 
 meet him, and present him the keys of your town, saying, that you 
 and all the town are ready to receive him and to obey his orders, on 
 condition that he swear, fifteen days after he shall be requested to 
 depart, he will march out of the town, and will deliver back to you 
 the keys of it. This is the best advice I can give you." The citi- 
 zens of Vannes rephed, " My lord, we will obey your directions," 
 They then rode on together to Vannes, where the duke lodged that 
 night ; and the English fixed their quarters at St. Jean, a small vil- 
 lage, situated two leagues from Vannes. 
 
 The earl of Buckingham received that evening letters from llie 
 dnke, written with great affection, welcoming him to the neighbor- 
 hood of Vannes. 0;a the morrow, when the earl had heard mass, 
 and drank a cup, he mounted his horse, and with his whole nrmy 
 marched in great order toward Vannes ; first the vanguard, then die 
 earl in the centre battalion, the rearguard following close upon him. 
 In this order they met the duke of Brittany, who had come out a 
 long leagi'ie from Vannes to meet them. Great aflfection was shown 
 to each other by the duke and earl. After this reception, which was 
 very honorable, they rode together, the earl on the right and the duke 
 on the left, and entered into conversation : the earl said, " By holy 
 Mary, fair brother of Brittany, we waited most impatiently for your 
 arrival at Nantes, during the siege, according to the treaty entered 
 into between you and me, and yet you never came." " By my faith, 
 my lord," answered the duke, " I could not any way accomplish it ; 
 and I must own to you that I have been exceedingly enraged thereat, 
 but it was not possible for me to act otherwise ; for my subjects, 
 notwithstanding every argument I could use, in remonstrating with 
 them on the treaties I had made with you at their own requests, 
 would never agree to march to assist you in the siege of Nantes. The 
 principal barons kept themselves ready prepared on the borders, such 
 as the lord de Clisson, the lord de Dinant, the lord d'Orval, the vis- 
 count de Rohan, and the lord de Rochefort, to guard the entrances of 
 Brittany. All those my adherents and friends, as well knights and 
 prelates as principal towns, are this moment in a state of rebellion ; 
 at which [ am very much mortified, for by their misconduct you have 
 reason to find fault with me. I will tell you, therefore, my lord, 
 what you shall do : being now in the depth of winter, it is cold and 
 uncomfortable to keep an army in the field : you shall come to Van- 
 nc8, where you will remain until April or May, to recover yourselves 
 *rom your fatigues, and I will give orders that your men are taken 
 
 care of. You will pass your time as v/ell as you c-r.n, and in tho 
 summer we will revenge ourselves for all these contempts." 
 
 The earl replied, " May God assist us :" for he saw plainly there 
 was nothing better to be expected. The duke conducted him toward 
 Vannes. when the inhabitants of the town came out in their robes, 
 and, addressing the earl, said to him in an amicable manner, " My 
 lord, out of respect to your lordship, and in reverence to your great 
 honor, we have not any objections to your entering our town ; but 
 we wish, in order to satisfy the people (otherwise you will not be 
 very secure,) you would swear to us, on the holy Evangelists, that 
 fifteen days after v/e have requested you to depart, you will march 
 away with your whole army, without doing or suflTering to be done 
 to us the least molestation." " By my troth, none shall be done to 
 you," answered the earl of Buckingham : " and I will swear and 
 keep it." They afterwards made the other lords swear on their 
 faith, and on the holy Evangelists, to keep the same engagement as 
 the earl had done, to which they readily assented. It behooved them 
 so to do, unless they had wished to sleep in the fields. The division 
 of the army of the earl of Buckingham was quartered in the town of 
 Vannes, and himself lodged in the hotel of the duke, a well-built and 
 pleasantly situated castle, called la Motte. 
 
 The duke of Brittany entertained the English knights handsomely 
 at dinner in his castle of la Motte, and then retired to Sucinio,* 
 where he resided ; but sometimes he came to Vannes to visit the 
 earl and hold conferences with him, and then returned to the place 
 whence he had come. Lord Latimer, lord Fitzwalter, lord Thomas 
 Percy, sir Thomas Trivet, and the whole of the van of the army, 
 were to have been quartered at Hennebon ; but the inhabitants would 
 not open their gates to them, so that they were forced to lodge 
 themselves in the suburbs and in the fields. 
 
 Sir Robert Knolles and lord Fitzwarren, with many more, were to 
 have been quartered in Quimpercorentin ; but the inhabitants treated 
 them as those of Hennebon had done, and they were obliged to make 
 the same shifts with the van. Sir V^illiam Windsor and the rear- 
 ward were, by orders of the duke, to lodge at Quimperl<$ ; but they 
 could not, by entreaties nor threats, prevail upon the inhabitai-.ts to 
 open their gates. In consequence, they suffered much from the in. 
 clemency of the weather and the ill usage they met with : what was 
 not worth three farthings was sold to them for twelve, and hardly 
 could they get any provision at such prices. Their horses perished 
 through cold and famine, for they knew not where to collect forage ; 
 and, when they went out to seek it, they were in great peril, as the 
 adjacent countries were all inimical to them. 
 
 The viscount de Rohan possessed at that time two strong castles 
 in the neighborhood of Vannes ; one was called Caire, and the other 
 Linguighant. In these two castles the viscount had strong garrisons, 
 which, aided by other garrisons of the lord de Clisson situated on this 
 frontier, such as chateau Josselin, Montagu, and Moncontour, did 
 much mischief to the English foragers, killing many. The duke of 
 Brittany could not prevent this ; for the lord do Clisson, constable of 
 France, carried on the war in the name of the king of France, and 
 had in the country numerous bodies of men-at-arms, so that the En^ 
 glish dared not stir abroad in small parties. When it is considered 
 that they were encamped in the fields, without any intrenchm.ents. 
 it is marvellous ihey did not suflfer great losses ; for those quartered 
 in Vannes «.oald not easily help those near Quimperl6, Hennebon, or 
 Quimpercorentin. To say the truth, the duke stood boldly forward, 
 and guarded them to the best of his abilities, to prevent their destruc 
 tion. He fairly told his council, that he had but poorly acquitted him- 
 self toward the earl and his army of all the promises he had made thera. 
 
 At this time, there were four great barons at Paris, whom the duke 
 had sent to the king of France to make his peace ; the viscount de Ro. 
 ban, sir Charles de Dinan, sir Guy lord de Laval, and sir Guy lord de 
 Rochefort. These four barons of Brittany had remonstrated with 
 him in council, during the time the earl of Buckingham was before 
 Nantes, several times, and with much wisdom, in such terms az 
 these : " My lord, you show to all the world, that your heart is en- 
 tirely given to the English : you have brought into this country- 
 Englishmen who, if they gain the upper hand, will diminish your 
 inheritance. What profit or pleasure can you have in this great 
 affection for them ? Look to the situation of the king of Navarre, 
 who put his confidence in them : after having given them possession 
 of his town and castle of Cherbourg, they have never quitted it, nor 
 ever will, but keep it as their own property. Therefore, if you put 
 them into any of your fortified towns in Brittany, they will net leave 
 them, for daily reinforcements will arrive. See how they keep Brest : 
 nor have they any thoughts of surrendering it, although it is your in- 
 heritance. Be satisfied, my lord, with the love of the people of ihia 
 country, who will never give up the king of France to serve and be. 
 long to the king of England. If your duchess is from England, would 
 you, for that, run the risk of losing your whole dukedom, which has 
 cost you so much to gain, and always continue in a Ftafe of warfare? 
 In case the country should be against you, you will be but as one 
 man. Quit your present advisers: for the king of France whom you 
 did not love is dead, and at present there is a young and amiable 
 monarch on the throne, who has good abilities ; and those who have 
 hated the father may serve the son. We undertake to make your 
 
 * " Sucinio"—* castle neai Vannw.— Gazetteer 
 
S74 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, gPAIN, &e. 
 
 /leace with him, and bring you to a proper understanding with each 
 other. You will continue lord and duke of Brittany with great 
 uower, and the English return to their own country." In such words 
 13 the above, and others well glossed over, had these barons remon- 
 trated several times with the duke ; they had succeeded so far as to 
 lave half gained his consent to their purpose : but he still dissembled 
 vith the king of France and the English, as well as with his own 
 council, until he should more plainly see what would be the event. 
 
 The earl of Buckingham and his barons were ignorant of all these 
 secret intrigues which the four barons above mentioned were carry- 
 ing on at Paris with the lung and his uncles, until the matter was 
 arranged. Prior to their knowledge of it, and before they left Brit- 
 tany, there were tilts and tournaments held at Vannes, in the pres- 
 ence of the earl of Buckingham and the lords who were there, of 
 which I shall speak ; for it is not a thing that I ought to be silent 
 about, nor should it be forgotten. 
 
 CHAPTER LXIII. 
 
 TILTS AND TOURNAMENTS ARE PERFORMED BEFORE THE EARL OF BUCK- 
 INGHAM BETWEEN CERTAIN FRENCH AND ENGLISH KNIGHTS. 
 
 At the time when Gauvain Micaille and Joachim Cator performed 
 iheir combat before the earl of Buckingham and the English lords, 
 certain knights and squires from France had come a^s spectators to 
 Marchenoir, near Blois, when sir Reginald de Touars, lord de Pou- 
 sanges, a baron of Poitou, had some words with the lord de Vertain, 
 and said he would like to tilt with him three courses with the lance 
 and three strokes with the battle-axe. The lord de Vertain wishing 
 not to refuse, was eager to accommodate him immediately, whatever 
 might be the event: but the earl of Buckingham would not consent, 
 and forbade the knight at that time to think of it. 
 
 What had been said relative to this feat of arms was not forgot, 
 ten by the two knights. Similar v/ords had passed that same day 
 between a squire from Savoye, called the bastard Clarius, and Ed- 
 ward Beauchamp, son of sir Robert Beauchamp ; and also between 
 sir Tristan de la Jaille and sir John d'Ambreticourt ; sir John de 
 Cha.telmorant, and Jannequin Clinton ; and le Gallois d'Aunay and 
 sir William Clinton ; between sir Hoyau d'Araines and sir William 
 France : but these were all set aside like the first. 
 
 During the time the English were quartered in the suburbs of 
 Nantes, these French knights and squires were Mathin the town. 
 The lord de Vertain and the others were requested to deliver them 
 from their engagements while they were before Nantes ; but the 
 governors in Nantes would not consent, and excused their friends by 
 saying, they were in Nantes, as soldiers, intrusted with the guard and 
 defence of the town. Nothing more passed until the earl of Buck- 
 ingham's army were fixed in their quarters at Vannes, Hennebon, 
 Quimperie, and Quimpercorentin, when Sir Barrois des Barres, sir 
 Hoyau d'Araines, and many other knights and squires, came to cht- 
 lean Josselin, seven leagues from Vannes, where the constable of 
 France resided. The count de la Marche, with several knights, 
 were also there, who were very glad to see them, and received them 
 handsomely. They informed the constable of all that had passed, 
 and that such and such persons had undertaken deeds of prowess 
 against others of tlie English. The constable heard this with pleas- 
 ure, and said, " Send to them : we will grant them passports, to 
 perform these deeds of arms, if they be willing to come." 
 
 Le Gallois d'Aunay and sir Hoyau d'Araines were the first to say 
 tney were ready to perform their etigngement of three courses with 
 the spear, on horseback. When sir William Clinton and sir William 
 France heard they were called upon by the French to perform their 
 challenges, they v. ere much rejoiced, and took leave of the earl and 
 barons of England to go thither. They were accompanied by many 
 knights and squires. The English and French tilted very hand- 
 somely, and performed their deeds of arms as the rules required. 
 Then sir Reginald de Touars, sir Tristan de la Jaille, sir John de 
 Cha,telmorant, and the bitstard Clarius, summoned each of them his 
 knight or squire ; that is to say the lord de Vertain, sir John d'Ambre- 
 ticourt, Edward Beauchamp, and Jannequin Clinton. These four 
 were so eager for the combat, that they wished to go to chateau 
 Josselin on the passports of the constable ; but the earl of Bucking- 
 ham, hearing at Vannes tlie summons from the French, said aloud 
 to the heralds, " You will tell the constable, from the earl of Buck- 
 insham, that he is equally powerful to grant passports to the French 
 as he may be to grant them to the English ; and to all those who 
 may wish to perform any deeds of arms with his knights, on their 
 arrival at Vannes, he will, out of his affection to them, give pass- 
 ports, and to all who may choose to accompany them, both for their 
 stay and for their return." 
 
 When the constable heard this, he instantly perceived the earl was 
 in the right, and tSiat he wanted to see those deeds of arms : it was 
 but reasonable there should be as many performed at Vannes as had 
 been before him at chateau Josselin. The constable therefore said, 
 "The earl of Buckingham speaks like a valiant man and a king's 
 son, and I will that what he says shall be believed : let me know 
 th )se who may be desirous of accompanying the challengers and we 
 will send for a proper passport." Thirty knights and squires imme. 
 cliatcly stepped forth : a herald came to Vannes for the passport, 
 
 which was given to him, sealed by the earl of Buckingham. Tho 
 three knights who were to perform their deeds of arms set out from 
 chateau Josselin, attended by the others, and came to Vannes, where 
 they were lodged in the suburbs, and the English entertained them 
 well. On the morrow, they made preparations for the combat, as it 
 behooved them to do, and advanced to a handsome space, Vv hich was 
 large and even, on the outside of the town. Afterwards came the 
 earl of Buckingham, the earl of Stafford, the earl o^" Devonshire, and 
 other barons, with those who were to engage in this deed of arms : 
 the lord de Vertain against sir Reginald de Touars, lord de Pousan- 
 ges ; sir John d'Ambreticourt against Tristan de la Jaille; Edward 
 Beauchamp against the bastard Clarius de Savoye. 
 
 The French took their places at one end of the lists,* and the 
 English at the other. Those who were to tilt were on foot com- 
 pletely armed, with helmets, vizors, and provided with lances of 
 good steel from Bordeaux, with which they performed as follows : 
 
 First, the lord de Pousanges and the lord de Vertain, iv/o barons 
 of high renown and great courage, advanced toward each other on 
 foot, holding their sharp spears in their hands, with a good pace : 
 they did not spare themselves, but struck their lances lustily against 
 each other in pushing. The lord de Vertain was hit, without being 
 wounded ; but the lord de Pousanges received such a stroke that it 
 pierced through the mail and steel breastplate, and everything under- 
 neath, so that the blood gushed out, and it was a great wonder he 
 was not more seriously wounded. They finished their three courses 
 and the other deeds of arms without further mischief, when they 
 retired to repose themselves, and to be spectators of the actions of the 
 others. Sir John d'Ambreticourt, who was from Hainault, and sir 
 Tristan de la Jaille, from Poitou, next advanced, and performed 
 their courses very valiantly, without hurt to either, when they also 
 retired. 
 
 Then came the last, Edward Beauchamp and Clarius de Savoye. 
 This bastard was a hardy and strong squire, and much better formed 
 in all his limbs than the Englishman. They ran at each other with 
 a hearty goodwill: both struck their spears on their adversary's 
 breast ; but Edward was knocked down on tbe ground, v/hich much 
 vexed his countrymen. When he was raised up, he took his spear, 
 and they advanced again to the attack ; but the Savoyard drove him 
 backward to the earth, which more enraged the English : they said, 
 Edward's strength was not a match for this Savoyard, and the devil 
 was in him to make him think of tilting against one of such superior 
 force. He was carried off among them, and declared he would not 
 engage further. When Clarius saw this, wishing to finish his couree 
 of arms, he said, " Gentlemen, you do not use me %vell : since 
 Edward wishes not to go on, send me some one with whom I may 
 complete my courses." 
 
 The earl of Buckingham would know what Clarius had said, and, 
 when it was told him, replied, that the Frenchman had spoken weL' 
 and valiantly. An English squire then stepped forth, who was since 
 knighted, and called Jannequin Finchley, and, coming before the 
 earl, kneeled down and entreated his permissson to tilt with Clarius, 
 to which the earl assented. Jannequin very completely armed him- 
 self on the spot : then each, seizing his spear, made thrusts at the 
 other, and with such violence that their spears were shivered, and 
 the stumps of them flew over their heads. They began their second 
 attack, and their lances were again broken : so were they in the 
 third. All their lances were broken, which was considered by the 
 lords and spectators as a decisive proof of their gallantry. They 
 then drew their swords, which were strong ; and, in six strokes, four 
 of them were broken. They were desirous of fighting with h&vle 
 axes, but the earl would not consent to more being done, saying they 
 had sufficiently shown their courage and abilities. Upon this, they 
 both retired ; when sir John de Chatelmorant and Jannequin Clinton 
 advanced. This Jannequin was squire of honor to the earl of Buck- 
 ingham, and the nearest about his person ; but he was lightly made 
 and delicate in his form. The earl was uneasy that he should have 
 been matched with one so stout and renowned in arms as John 
 Chatelmorant: notwithstanding, they M-ere put to the trial, and 
 attacked each other most vigorously ; but the Englishman could not 
 withstand his opponent, for, in pushing, he was very roughly struck 
 to the ground : on which, the earl said, they were not fairly matched. 
 Some of the earl's people came to Jannequin, and said, ".lannequin, 
 you are not sufficiently strong to continue this combat ; and my lord 
 of Buckingham is angry with you for having undertaken it : retire 
 and repose yourself." The Englishman having retired, John de 
 Chatelmorant said, "Gentlemen, it seems your squire is too weak: 
 
 * In tlie histoire de la vie de Louis III. due de Bourbon, xliv. p. 160, five cnmbntants 
 are tiientioned ; sir Joiiii de Chatelmorant, sir Barrois des Barres, tlie bastard of Clai- 
 rains (probably the same as the bastard of Savoy,) the viscount d'Aunay, and sir 
 Tristan de la Jaille. 'J"he English were, sir Walter Clopton, Edward Beauchamp, 
 Thomas de IJennefort, Crosby, and sir John de Tracio, probably Tracy. 
 
 Sir John de Chatelmorant tilted with sir Walter Clopton, and wounded him so badly 
 as to prevent the completing his engagement. Sir Barrois was opposed by Thomas de 
 Hennefort, and these finished their career with lances unhurt ; but sir Thomas wa» 
 wounded too badly with the sword to continue it. 
 
 The bastard de Clairains vanquished Edward Beauchamp: he reeled so much, the 
 English said he was drunk. S'r Tristan de la Jaille conquered his adversary. Tlia 
 viscount d'Aulnay had similar success. 
 
 Sir William Farrington cliallenged sir John de Chatelmorant to complete theengnft 
 mem which his relation, sir Walter, had been obliged to relinquish, and wounded ak 
 John, as meatioaed in the text, to the great tcaodal of the Eugluh. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 275 
 
 fclioose another, I beg of you, more lo your liking, that I mav accom- 
 plish tho deeds of arms I have engaged to perform ; for I shall be very 
 disgracefully treated if I depart hence without having completed them." 
 
 The constable and marshal of the aiTny replied, " You speak well, 
 end you shall be gratified." It vs^as then told to the surrounding 
 knighLs and squires that one of them must deliver the lord de ChateU 
 morant. On these words, sir William Fanington immediately 
 replied : " Tell him, he shall not depart without combating : let him 
 go and repose himself a little in his chair, and he shall soon be 
 delivered ; for I will arm myself against him." This answer was 
 very pleasing to John de ChcLtelmorant, who went to his seat to rest 
 himself. The English knight was soon ready and in the field. 
 They placed themselves opposite to each other, when taking their 
 lances, they began their course on foot to tilt with their spears within 
 the four members; for it was esteemed disgraceful to hit any part 
 but the body. 
 
 They advanced to each other with great courage, completely 
 armed, the vizor down and helmet tightly fixed on. John de Cha,- 
 telmorant gave the knight such a blow on the helmet that sir Wil. 
 liam Fanington staggered some little, on account of his foot slipping : 
 he kept his spear stiffly with both hands, and, lowering it by the 
 stumble he made, struck John de Chatelmorant on the thighs; he 
 could not avoid it ; and the spear-head passed through, and came 
 out the length of one's hand on the other side. John de Cha,tel- 
 morant reeled with the blow, but did not fall. 
 
 The English knights were much enraged at this, and said, it was 
 infamously done. The Englishman excused himself by saying, " he 
 was extremely sony for it ; and if he had thought it would have so 
 happened at the commencement of the combat, he would never 
 have undertaken it ; but that he could not help it, for his foot slip- 
 ped fron^, the violence of the blow he had received." Thus the 
 matter v/as passed over. The French, after taking leave of the 
 earl and other lords, departed, carrying with them John de ChateU 
 morant in a Utter, to chateau Josselin, whence they had come, and 
 where he was in great danger of his life from the effects of this 
 wound. 
 
 These deeds of arms being finished, each retired to his home ; 
 the English to Vannes, the French to cha.teau Josselin. 
 
 CHAPTER LXIV. 
 
 THE DUKE OF BRITTANY MAKES HIS PEACE WITH THE KING OF FRANCE. 
 THE ENGLISH RETURN HOME. A COMBAT BETWEEN AN ENOLISH AND 
 A FRENCH SQUIRE. 
 
 After these deeds of arms were performed, during the residence 
 of the earl of Buckingham at Vannes, nothing happened worth men- 
 tioning. The English, as I have before said, were quartered at 
 Vannes, Hennebon, Quimperl^ and Quimpercorentin : they passed 
 the whole winter in Brittany as well as they could. Very many of 
 them v/ere ill, and suffered much from the badness and scarcity of 
 provision ; as also did their horses, for their foragers could not find 
 anything in the open country, which at that season is always bare. 
 The French had taken every precaution that the enemy should not 
 be very comfortable. The English were in this perilous state for 
 eome time; fjr the French were so strong in the surrounding gar- 
 risons, they dared not make any excursions. Some provisions came 
 to them by sea from Cornwall, Guernsey and the Isle of Wight, 
 which were of great succor to them ; otherwise they and their cav- 
 airy would have perished through famine. 
 
 During this time, the four Breton barons remained at Paris on the 
 part of the duke, negotiating a peace between him and the king. 
 He did not oppose it ; for he saw clearly that he could not keep the 
 promises he had made the English, unless he would lose his duke- 
 dom. It was the intention of the earl of Buckingham and his ba- 
 . rons to pass the winter in the town of Vannes as well as they could, 
 ' and in the summer to return to France to continue the war : he had 
 i,J written a full account of his situation and intentions to the king of 
 ^' England and to the duke of Lancaster. The king and his council," 
 I having approved of this plan, ordered him to carry it into execution, 
 ! i adding, that at the proper season, a reinforcement of English should 
 tl be sent to Normandy and land at Cherbourg ; and those two armies, 
 j: being united in Normandy, might be able to perform some decisive 
 I actions in France. 
 
 The king of France, his uncles and council, foresaw all that might 
 i ' happen, having been duly informed of the intended plans : they 
 V said, in their secret councils, that if the duke of Brittany, or any of i 
 w his principal towns, were at enmity with the realm, and united with 
 I * the English force, France would have, for a time, too heavy a bur. 
 ! I den to bear. For this reason, the four barons from Brittany, who 
 ' ; represented the duke and managed his affairs very well, had thrown 
 out these doubts : in particular, they had opened themselves to the 
 I duke of Anjou, at that time regent of France, who having a grand 
 || expedition in his head, and intending within two years at the far- 
 ,1 thest to march to la Puglia and Calabria, would not have chosen 
 |! that the kingdom of France should be shaken, nor his expedition 
 I pu,t off. He was therefore strongly inclined to make peace with the 
 h duke of Brittany, that he might become a good Frenchman, loyal in 
 I (faith and homage to the king of France. The articles of peace 
 J 
 
 were now discussed by the four barons : it v/as eettled that the uuke 
 might, without blame, assist the English with vessels to return to 
 their own country. The duke was permitted to add to his ordi. 
 nances; that if those who had come from the garrison of Cherbourg 
 to serve under the earl of Buckingham wished to return thither by 
 land, they should have passports from the king and constable to 
 march through France, but unarmed, and any knights or squires 
 from England who might be desirous of accompanying them : that, 
 when the English had quitted Brittany, the duke was to come to the 
 king and his uncles at Paris, and acknowledge himself vassal by faith 
 and homnge to the king, in such a way as a duke of Brittany owes 
 to his lord, the king of France. All these articles were properly 
 drawn out and sealed, and carried to the duke of Brittany, who at 
 that time was resident at Sucinio, near to Vannes. He agreed to 
 what his embassadors had done, but sore against his inclination : 
 for he knew he could not do it, without incuning the greatest ill. 
 will from the English. 
 
 When the earl of Buckingham and his knights heard that the 
 duke of Brittany had made peace with France, they were greatly 
 enraged and very indignant, saying, he had sent for them and made 
 them come to Brittany, where he had never performed any one of 
 the promises he had sworn to ; for which reason they pronounced 
 hirn void of loyalty. Shortly after, the duke visited the earl of 
 Buckingham and his barons at Vannes, when ho openly explained 
 to them the treaty his people had made for him, and which it be. 
 hooved him to agree to, for otherwise he should lose his whole duchy. 
 Upon this, high words passed between the earl and his barons with 
 the duke ; but the duke humbled and excused himself as much a3 
 possible, for he was conscious that he had been in some sort to 
 blame. It was, however, necessary to come to terms, in order that 
 the English might quit Brittany. The earl then gave notice to the 
 city of Vannes, that if any of his men were indebted to the inhab. 
 itants, they should con\^e forward, when they would be paid. He 
 gave back to the magistrates the keys of the town, and thanked 
 them for their attentions to him. 
 
 The earl was supplied wi'^h vessels at Vannes, Hennebon and 
 Quimperl^, and wherever else they had been quartered, on paying 
 for them : he left Vannes on the eleventh day of April, in battle- 
 array, with banners displayed, and thus marched to the haven. The 
 duke of Brittany, sir Alain de la Houssaye, the lord de Montbour- 
 sier, sir Stephen Guyon, sir William de Tresiquidi, sir Gecffjy de 
 Kerimel and others of his council, came thither ; they sent to inform 
 the earl, who was in his vessel, that the duke wanted to speak with 
 him ; but the earl refused to come, and sent the lord Latimer and 
 lord Thomas Percy. These two had a conference v/ith the duke 
 for three hours, and, after long debates, consented to request the 
 earl, that before he set sail, he would on another day have a conver. 
 sation with the duke : they then went to his ship, and related to the 
 earl all that had passed. 
 
 About midnight, on the return of the tide, the wind became favor, 
 able ; and the mariners asked the earl what were his intentions. 
 The eari, who wished not for any further conferences, said, " Weigh 
 your anchor and set your sails, and lec us begone." This was soon 
 done ; and thus did the English sei sail from the harbor of Vannes 
 for England. All the others did the same in their different ports, 
 and collected together at sea. 
 
 We will now speak of certain knights and squires who returned 
 to Cherbourg by land, and relate what befel them on the road. The 
 constable of France, who at that time resided at chSiteau Josselin, 
 seven leagues from Vannes, had granted passports to some English 
 and Navarre Icnights of the garrison of Cherbourg, who had served 
 under the earl of Buckingham. Among others, were sir John 
 Harlestone, governor of Cherbourg, sir Evan Fitz warren, sir Wil- 
 liaiP Clinton and sir John Burley. They set out from Vannes fol- 
 lowing the road to cha,teau Josselin, for it was in their route. On 
 their arrival, they took up their quarters in the town below the cas- 
 tle, not intending more than to dine and continue their journey. 
 When they had dismounted at the inn, like travellers who wis hed 
 to repose themselves, the knights and squires of the castle came to 
 visit them as brother-soldiers, who always see each other with pleas- 
 ure ; particularly the French and English. Among the French, 
 there was a squire of great renown in arms, who belonged to .Tohn 
 de Bourbon, count de la Marche, the nearest to his person of all 
 his squires, and whom he loved the most : his name was John 
 Boucmel. He had formerly been in garrison in Valogne with sir 
 William des Bordes, and in his expedition against Cherbourg. 
 During that time, he had often had words with an English squire, 
 called Nicholas Clifford, who, was then present, respecting a tilling 
 match. In the course of the conversation which these French 
 knights and squires held at the inn with the English, John Boucmel, 
 recollecting Clifford, cried out, "Nicholas Clifford ! Ah 1 Nicholas, 
 Nicholas, we have often wished and sought to perform a tilting 
 match ; but we never could find fit opportunity or place for it. Now, 
 as we are here before my lord constable and those gentlemen, let 
 us perform it: I therefore demand from you three courses with a 
 lance." " John," replied Nicholas, " you know that we are here 
 but as travellers on our road, under the passport of my lord consta. 
 ble : what you ask from me cannot now be complied with, for I am 
 not the principal in the passport, but under the command of theeo 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN*- &c; 
 
 k lights whom you see : if I were to stay behind, they would set 
 cat without me." " Ha, Nicholas, do not make such excuses as 
 nese: let your friends depart, if they please, for I give you my 
 { romise, that as soon as our tilt shall be over, I will conduct you 
 1 ivself within the gates of Cherbourg without loss or peril, as I can 
 L ;pend on my lord constable's good-will. 
 
 Nicholas said : " Now, suppose it to be as you say, and that I 
 pia'je my confidence in being safely conducted by you, vet you see 
 we are travelling through the country without arms of any sort : 
 therefore, if I were willing to arm myself, I have not wherewithal to 
 do so." John replied : " You shall not excuse yourself that way, 
 for I will tell you what I will do : I have plenty of arms at my com- 
 mand, and will order dilferent sorts to be brought to the place where 
 we shall tilt ; and, when ail are laid out, you shall examine them, 
 and consider which will suit you best : for I will leave the choice to 
 you, and, when you shall have chosen, I will then arm myself." 
 
 When Nicholas saw himself so earnestly pressed, he was ashamed 
 that those present should have heard it, and thought, that since John 
 made such handsome offers, he could not in honor refuse them ; for 
 John still added, " Make vs^hatever arrangements you please, I will 
 agree to them sooner than we should not have a tilting match." 
 Nicholas then said, he would consider of it ; and, before his depart- 
 ure he would make him acquainted with his resolution ; adding, " if 
 it will not be possible for me to comply with your request at this 
 place, and if my lords, under whom I am, should be unwilling to as- 
 sent to it, on my return to Cherbourg, if you will come to Valogne, 
 and signify to me your arrival, I will immediately hasten thither, and 
 deliver you from your engagement." " No, no," said John, "seek 
 not for excuses : I have oftbred you such handsome proposals, that 
 you cannot in honor depart without running a tilt with me, according 
 to the demand I make." Nicholas was more enraged than before ; 
 for he thought, and true it was, that he, by such a speech, greatly 
 outraged his honor. Upon this, the French returned to the castle, 
 and the English to their inn, where they dined 
 
 When these knights had got to the castle, you may suppose they 
 were not silent on the words which had passed between Tohn Bouc- 
 mel and Nicholas ClilTord, insomuch thai the constable heard of them. 
 He considered a short time ; and, when the knights and squires of 
 the country who were with him entreated him to interest himself 
 that this combat might be fought, he willingly promised it. The 
 English knights and squires, wishing to pursue their journey after 
 dijiner, went to the castle to wait on the constable; for he was to 
 give thern seven knights to escort them the whole road, through Brit- 
 tany and Normandy, as far as Cherbourg. 
 
 When they were arrived at the castle, the constable received them 
 very amicably, and then said, " I put you all under arrest, and for- 
 bid you to depart hence this day : to-morrow morning, after mass, 
 you shall witness the combat between your squire and ours, and then 
 you shall dine with me. Dinner over, you shall set out, and I will 
 give you good guides to conduct you to Cherbourg." They com- 
 plied with his requests, and, having drank of his wine, returned to 
 their inn. Now the two squii-es consulted together, for it was fixed 
 they should on the morrow moaning engage without fail. When 
 morning came, they both heard mass, confessed themselves, and 
 rnounted their horses; the French \ieing on one side, and the Eng- 
 lish on the other : they rode together to a smooth plain on the out- 
 side of the castle, where they dismounted. John Boucmel had pro- 
 vided there tvv^o suits of armor, according to his promise, which were 
 good and strong, as the occasion demanded: having had them dis- 
 played, he told the English squire to make the first choice. " No," 
 said the Englishman, " I will not choose : you shall have iWe choice." 
 John was therefor.- forced to choose first, which he did, and armed 
 himself completely (in doing which he was assisted,) as a good man- 
 at-arms should be. Nicholas did the same. When they were both 
 armed, they grasped their spears, well made with Bordeaux steel and 
 of the same length ; and each 'took the position proper for him to run 
 his course, with their helmets and vizors closed. They then ad- 
 vanced, and, when they approached pretty near, they lowered their 
 spears, aiming them to hit each other. At the first onset, Nicholas 
 Chfford struck with his t^pear John Boucmel on the upper part of his 
 breast ; but the point slipped off the steel breast-plate, and pierced 
 the hood, which was of good mail, and, entering his neck, cut the 
 jugular vein, and passed quite through, breaking off at the shaft with 
 the head ; so that the truncheon remained in the neck of the squire, 
 who was killed, as you may suppose. The English squire passed on 
 to hi? chair, where he seated himself. The French lords, who had 
 seen the stroke and the broken spear in his neck, hastened to him : 
 they immediately took off his helmet, and drew out the spear. On 
 its being extracted, he turned himself about without uttering a word, 
 and fell down dead. The English squire hurried to his relief, cry- 
 ing out to have the blood stanched, but could not arrive before he 
 expired. Nicholas Clifford was then exceedingly vexed, for having 
 by ill-fortune slain a valiant and good m.an-at-arms. . All who at that 
 time could have seen the despair of the count de la Marche, who 
 had such an affection for his deceased squire, would surely have much 
 pitied him; he was in the greatest distress, for he esteemed him 
 above all others. 
 
 The constable was present, and endeavored to comfort him, say- 
 ing, " that such things were to be expected in similar combats. It 
 
 has turned out unfortunate for our squire, but the Englishman could 
 not help it." He then addressed himself to the English : " Come, 
 come to dinner, for it is ready." The constable led them, as I may 
 say, against their wills to the castle to dinner, for they wished nn< 
 to go there on account of the death of the Frenchman. 
 
 The count de la Marche most tenderly bewailed his squire, as he 
 viewed his corpse, Nicholas Clifford directly retired to his lodgings, 
 and would not by any means dine at the castle, as well for the great 
 vexation he was in for this death as on account of his relations and 
 friends ; but the constable sent to seek for him, and it was necessary 
 he should comply. On his arrival, the constable said : " In truth, 
 Nicholas, I can very well believe, and I see by your looks, that you 
 are much concerned for the death of John Boucmel ; 'but I acquit 
 you of it, for it was no fault of yours, and, as God is my judge, if I 
 had been in the situation you were in, you have done nothing more 
 than I would have done, as it is better to hurt one's enemy than to 
 be hurt by him. Such is the fate of war." 
 
 They then seated themselves at the table, and these lords dined at 
 their ease. After they had finished their repast, and drank their 
 wine, the constable called the lord le Barrois des Banes, and said to 
 him, "Barrois, prepare yourself: I will that you conduct these Eng- 
 lishmen as far as Cherbourg, and that you have opened to them every 
 town and castle, and have given to them whatever they shall be in 
 need of." Le Barrois replied, " My lord, I shall cheerfully obey 
 your orders." 
 
 The English then, taking leave of the constable and the knights 
 with him, came to their lodgings, where everything was packed up 
 and ready. They mounted their horses, departed from chateau Jos- 
 selin, and rode straight to Pontorson and Mont St. Michel. They 
 were under the escort of that gallant knight !e Barrois des Barres, 
 who never quitted them in Brittany or Normandy, until they had ar- 
 rived in Cherbourg. In this manner did the army of the earl of 
 Buckingham quit France by sea and by land. W^e will now return 
 to the affairs of Flanders during that period, and say how the men of 
 Ghent behaved themselves, and how the earl of Flanders, their lord, 
 persisted in continuing an oppressive and heavy war. 
 
 CHAPTER LXV. 
 
 THE WAR RECOMMENCES BETWEEN THE EARL OF FLANDERS AND TOT 
 INHABITANTS OF GHENT. THE MEN OF GHENT AND OF YPRES ARE 
 DISCOMFITED DY THE AMBUSCADES OF THE EARL OF FLANDERS. 
 
 True it is, that the earl of Flanders at the beginning had very 
 little dread of the Flemings and men of Ghent, imagining he could 
 conquer them by little and little, both by reason and arms, since 
 John Lyon and John Pruniaux were dead : but the men of Gheni 
 had still able captains in whom wholly they trusted, and by whom 
 they were governed ; &uch as Rasse de Harzelle, captain of the cas- 
 tlewick of Ghent, and John de Launoy, captain of the men of Cour- 
 tray. There were other captains ; John Boule, Peter du Bois, Arnoul 
 le Clerc and Peter la Nuitee. At this period, there arose a contest 
 between the grandees and populace of Bruges ; the small handicraft 
 trades there wished to act according to their own inclinations, which 
 the richer sort would not suffer. This caused a rebellion, and great 
 numbers of fullers and weavers lost their lives before the rest were 
 appeased. The inhabitants sent information of all this to the earl, 
 who resided at Lille, entreating of him, for the love of God, ts come 
 to them ; for they acknov^'ledged him as their lord, and were at that 
 moment masters of the populace. 
 
 The earl of Flanders was pleased /n hearing this intelligence : 
 he set out from Lille, in company with sir William de Namur and a 
 great number of knights and squires of Flanders, and came to Bruges, 
 where he was received with great joy by the council. On the arrival 
 of the earl at Bruges, all the leaders and those who were even sas. 
 pected to have similar intentions with the men of Ghent, were 
 arrested and sent to prison, to the amount of five hundred, who in a 
 short time were beheaded. 
 
 When those of the Franconate* learnt that the earl was quiet in 
 Bruges, they began to be alarmed, and immediately threw themselves 
 on the mercy of the earl, who pardoned them, to their great joy ; for 
 his power was daily increasing, and the inhabitants of the Franco- 
 nate have been always more attached to their earl than all the rest 
 of Flanders. The earl, seeing himself master of Bruges and of the 
 Franc, and that he had at his orders knights and squires from Hain. 
 ault and Artois, thought he had now a good opportunity to recover 
 his country and to punish the rebels : he therefore declared he would 
 first pay a visit to Ypres. He hated them much for having so easily 
 opened their gates to those of Ghent, and said that those who by 
 treaties had admitted his enemies within the town, and slain his 
 knights, should pay dearly for it, if he should gain the upper hand 
 of them. He then issued his summons to the Franc and Bruges, for 
 he was resolved to march to Ypres. 
 
 News was carried to Ypres, that the earl was pieparing to attack 
 them : they deteimined, in consequence, to send to Ghent to ask 
 assistance : for they were not in sufficient strength to hold out with- 
 
 * Du Franc. That part of Flanders, in which the towtis ot'Dunkirk, IJerffues, Grave- 
 lines, Borobourg and Fumes are situated, is called tht Fracc. or the Francooat*.— 
 JVbte in Mi moires de I'Acadcmis, vol. xx. p. 4i9> 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 277 
 
 out succors from that party, who had always promised to help them 
 in their need. They sent secretly letters and messages to the cap- 
 tains in Ghent, to inform them of the situation of the earl, and his 
 Hienaces of coming to attack them. 
 
 The men of Ghent considered themselves as bound by their faith 
 and oaths to grant their request, and having called two captains, 
 John Bou!e and Arnoul le Clerc, said to them, " You will take three 
 tliousand of our men. and march in haste to Ypres, to succor our 
 
 Hotel se Ville, Ypres. From an Original Drawing 
 
 good friends." Soon after this order was given, the detachment 
 marched from Ghent, and three thousand men arrived at Ypres, to 
 the great joy of the inhabitants. 
 
 The earl of Flanders set out from Bruges with a large force, and 
 came to Thorout : on the moiTOvv to Poperingue, where they halted 
 for three days, until his whole army was come up, which amounted 
 to twenty thousand men. The men of Ghent being informed of all 
 these preparations, and that the earl was to march against Ypres 
 with a powerful army, resolved to assemble their whole force, and 
 take the road by Courtray to Ypres. when, by uniting with those of 
 the last town, they might engage the earl's army ; and, if they should 
 once completely defeat him, he would never be able to ref'.ovev the 
 blow. In consequence of this determination, the following captains 
 marched from Ghent : Rasse de Harzelle, Peter du Bois, Peter la 
 Nuitee, John de Launoy, with others, who were captains of hun- 
 dreds or of fifties in the different parishes ; and, when drawn out in 
 the plain, they amounted to upward of nine thousand men. 
 
 They marched for Courtray, where they were received with great 
 joy, for John de Launoy was governor. The earl of Flanders, whose 
 quarters were at Poperingue, heard how those of Ghent intended 
 marching to Ypres, and that they were already at Courtray. Upon 
 this, he called a council, and kept his army in a compact body. 
 The Ghent men who had come to Courtray marched from thence to 
 Rousselaer, where they halted, and sent to inform those of Ypres of 
 their arrival ; and, if they would come forth with the troops they had 
 sent to them, they should be in sufficient force to combat the earl. 
 The men of Ypres were delighted at this intelligence ; and, having 
 every inclination to do what had been requested, they sallied out in 
 the morning, to the amount of eight thousand, under the command 
 of John Boule and Arnoul le Clerc. 
 
 The earl, who was with, his army in that district, got information, 
 I know not by what means or by what accident, that the men of 
 Ypres had mirched to join those from Ghent: he therefore ordered 
 two large ambuscades on a pass through which those from Ypres 
 must march, under the command of his son, le Haze, bastard of 
 Flauders, and the lord d'Anghien : there were knights and squires 
 {'roni Haiiiault, Artois, Bruges, and the Franconate, and in each 
 ambuscade were ten thousand men. 
 
 When those of Ypres and the Ghent men who had been sent 
 thither under the command of John Boule were in the plains, and 
 had marched about a league, they came to two roads ; one of which 
 led to Rousselaer, and the other to Thorout : they halted, and asked 
 which road they should take. Arnoul le Clerc, answering, said, " I 
 would advise you to go and see our men who are at Rousselaer." 
 " By my troth," replied John Boule, I think we shall be better 
 lodged on Mont d'Or than anywhere else ; for be assured I know so 
 
 well Peter du Bois and Rasse de Harzelle, that, since they have scvt 
 to us to say they intend to offer the earl battle, they will get as near 
 to him as they can : I therefore think you should follow this road." 
 Arnoul le Clerc disputed, but John Boule insisted upon it, and made 
 them follow his road. When they had advanced about two leagu s, 
 and were almost tired, they fell into the midst of these two ambus- 
 cades, which when they perceived, they cried out, "We are be. 
 trayed !" No people ever made so poor a defence as they did : they 
 
 saved themselves as fast as 
 they could, some returning 
 to Ypres, others flying over 
 the fields, without any sort 
 of order. 
 
 The earl's army had sur- 
 rounded a great number, 
 whom they slew without 
 mercy : however, John 
 Boule and Arnoul le Clerc 
 saved themselves. Tha 
 runaways who made foi 
 Courtray met their allies, 
 who had set out from 
 Rousselaer, and were 
 marching toward Rose, 
 becque. When Peter du 
 Bois and the other officer* 
 saw them in such a state, 
 they demanded the reason 
 of it, and what had hap. 
 pened: they replied, " they 
 could not tell ; they had 
 not had time to see wha» 
 was the matter ; but thai 
 they were flying, having 
 been betrayed, and that the 
 whole plain was coveree 
 with them." 
 
 Peter du Bois was doubt- 
 ful, whether to march back 
 to cover the runaways, and 
 to combat those who were 
 thus chasing them, or to ro 
 treat with them to Cour. 
 tray. All things considered, he was advised this time to retreat, aa 
 being the most advantageous ; he therefore began his return in regu 
 lar order, without quitting the road, and the same day came back to 
 Courtray. The runaways took shelter there : the men of Ghent 
 were quartered in the town, and placed strong guards at the gates 
 to prevent any surprise. Vv'hen John Boule and Arnoul le Clerc 
 were returned, and had counted their men, they found there had 
 been slain of the men of Ghent, including tho-e in the detachment 
 sent to Ypres, twelve hundred ; and of those of Ypres as many, it 
 not more. If the ambuscade had pursued those flying toward Ypres 
 and Courtray, they must have been overtaken, and scarcely one 
 would have escaped : but the giving up the pursuit, to slay those who 
 had fallen into their hands, was the saving of many. 
 
 The inhabitants of Ypres were much cast down on seeing their 
 men return defeated the very day they had marched, and asked how 
 it could have happened. Some said, that John Boule had betrayed 
 them, and led them thus to be slaughtered. You have often heard 
 how difficult it is to appease the populace when once they are stirred 
 up : I shall instance it by those of Ghent, for when they had returned 
 thus defeated to Courtray, and heard tiiat John Boule was in the 
 town, they collected upward of a thousand, bawling out, " Let us go 
 seek that arch traitor John Boule, who has betrayed us ! for it was 
 he and no other who would have us follow that road which led to 
 the ambuscade. If we had believed Arnoul le Clerc, we should 
 have escaped it ; for he wanted to conduct m straight to our men, 
 and John Boule, who had sold and betrayed us, would march us 
 where we have been tricked and defeated." Now, observe how 
 unjustly they accuse him of treason, when I do not see that there 
 was the least cause for it. Had it been, as they said, that he had 
 sold and betrayed them, he would never have returned, but would 
 have staid with the earl and his army. This, however, could not 
 save him from being killed : the men of Ghent sought for him in his 
 house, and, having found him, dragged him into the street, when he 
 was torn in pieces, and as many as could, carried off a morsel. 
 Such was the end of John Boule. 
 
 The next day, the men of Ghent departed from Courtray, and 
 returned home. They sent John de Launoy to Gavre, a casllf 
 longing to the earl, and situated on the Scheld, of which V' lOok 
 possession, and placed a garrison in it. 
 
278 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 CHAPTER LXVI. 
 
 TUB TOWNS OF YPRES AND C017RTRAY TURN TO THE EARL OF FLANDERS. 
 
 GHENT IS BESIEGED. 
 
 We will now return to the earl of Flanders and his army. When 
 they had thus, by their ambuscades, defeated the men of Ghent, 
 and had slain three thousand or thereabouts, including those of 
 Ypres, the earl was advised to advance and lay siege to Ypres. 
 This counsel he followed, and marched thither with a fine army of 
 knights and squires from Hainault, Artois, and Flanders, who had 
 come to serve under him. As soon as the citizens of Ypres learnt 
 that the earl was on his march thither with such a force, they were 
 greatly alarmed ; and the principal and richest inhabitants held a 
 council, in which they resolved to open their gates, and go out to 
 meet him, with offers to replace themselves under his obedience, 
 trusting to his mercy. It was well known to him that they had 
 allied themselves with Ghent through fear of the lower ranks, such 
 as weavers, fullers, and other ill-intentioned people of the town : 
 they besides depended on his kind and merciful character for their 
 pardon. As they had resolved, so did they execute ; and upward 
 of three hundred in a company went out of the town, carrying the 
 keys of the gates with them. On meeting the earl of Flanders, 
 they fell on their knees, and begged for mercy, saying, that they 
 personally, and the whole town, resigned themselves to his will. 
 
 The earl took pity on them, made them rise, and granted them 
 his pardon. He entered the town of Ypres with his whole army, 
 and there remained for three weeks, sending back those of the 
 Franc of Bruges to their several towns. Daring his residence in 
 Ypres, he had upward of seven hundred weaves and fullers be- 
 headed, and all those who had been any way concerned in admitting 
 John Lyon and the Ghent men into the town, who had slain the 
 knights and men-at-arms whom he had sent thither, and which had 
 enraged him so much. To prevent them from again rebelling 
 against him, he sent three hundred of the principal inhabitants to 
 prison in Bruges, escorted by a handsome body of men-at-arms. 
 He then marched toward Courtray, in order to bring that town 
 under his obedience. When the inhabitants heard this was his 
 intention, and that he was on his way, having subjugated those of 
 Ypres, they were much afraid, for they saw no appearance of any 
 aid coming to them from Ghent : they therefore determined to sur- 
 render themselves amicably to their lord ; for it was better to depend 
 on the earl, to whom they owed fidelity, homage, and loyalty, than 
 on Ghent. Upon this, three hundred of the principal citizens as- 
 sembled, and went out of the town on foot, to meet the earl, taking 
 the keys with them. When the earl was near to pass them, they 
 flung themselves on their knees, crying out to him for mercy. The 
 earl, taking compassion on them, pardoned them, and made a joyful 
 entry into the town, where every one paid him honor and reverence. 
 He arrested about two hundred of the principal inhabitants, whom 
 he sent to Lille and to Douay, as hostages for the town. 
 
 When he had continued at Courtray six days, he returned to 
 Bruges; where, having reposed himself for a fortnight, he issued a 
 grand summons for his vassals to attend him at the siege of Ghent, 
 for at this time all Flanders was dependent on him. He left Bruges 
 with a numerous army to lay siege to Ghent, and fixed his quarters 
 at a place called La Briete. Sir Robert de Namur came thither to 
 serve him, v»^ith a large body of men-at-arms, according to his let- 
 ters and orders : but sir William de Namur could not come, for he 
 was at the time in France with the king and duke of Burgundy. 
 
 It was about the feast of the decollation of St. John that the siege 
 of Ghent was commenced. Sir Walter, lord of Anghien, was 
 marshal of the army of Flanders: he was young, bold, enterprising, 
 and fearless of whatever dangers or perils might befal him. Not. 
 withstanding the earl of Flanders was before Ghent with so nume- 
 rous an army, he could not prevent the town from having two or 
 three gates open, by which means all sorts of provision entered 
 without danger. The Brabanters and Liegeois were very favorable 
 to them, more particularly the citizens of Brussels. The Liegeois 
 wrote to them, t^ keep up their spirits: "Good men of Ghent, we 
 are well aware that at this present you have enough to do ; that you 
 are hard pushed by the earl your lord, and by the gentry and the 
 rest of the country, which we are extremely sorry for: know, that 
 if you were only five or six leagues from our frontiers, we would 
 Bend that succor which ought to be given to our brothers, friends, 
 nnd neighbors ; but you are too far from us, and the country of 
 Brabant lies between, which is the cause that prevents us. Now, if 
 you should be besieged at this moment, do not be cast down ; for 
 God knows, and all the principal towns, that you have justice on 
 your side in this war, whic^i must make your labors more effective." 
 Thus did the citizens of Liege write to those of Ghent, in order to 
 comfort them. 
 
 The earl of Flanders had invested Ghent on the sides toward 
 Bruges and Courtray ; but on those toward Brussels and les Quatre 
 Mcstiers,* he could not, on account of the Beheld and Lys. I may 
 therefore say, everything considered, that Ghent is one of the 
 
 * Tl;e territory comprehenaed under tiie name of Les Quatre Mestiers, wns formerly 
 subject U) t)ie liishop of Utreclit. and contained thirty villages, HuUe, Axele. Bocliol.'e, 
 and 'i^^iioile ure t..e four principal towns ; the two last are not inclosed witli walls.- 
 
 Strongest places in the world : it would be necessary to have two 
 hundred thousand men, if any one wishes to block up all the passes . 
 besides, the armies ought to be near the rivers, or, in time of need, 
 they would not be able to cooperate with each other; for Ghent is 
 very populous, and full of determined men. They found, on num- 
 bering the inhabitants at this time, they had eighty thousand men, 
 all fit for bearing arms, under sixty and above fifteen years. 
 
 When the earl had been before Ghent about a month, and his men 
 under the lord d'Anghien, le Haze his son, with the young seneschal 
 of Hainault, had had various skirmishes with those of Ghent, in 
 which sometimes they won, and at others lost, as in such cases will 
 happen, he was advised to send the men from Bruges, Ypres, and 
 Poperingue, on an expedition to a place called Longpont, the con- 
 quest of which would be highly advantageous ; for by this they could 
 enter the Quatre Mestiers, and then approach Ghent as near as they 
 pleased. Those who had been ordered on this expedition were 
 drawn up, and a very valiant and prudent knight, called sir Josse de 
 Haluin, was nominated commander : with him were very many 
 knights and squires, but sir Josse was the chief. When they arrived 
 at Longpont, they did not find it defenceless, but garrisoned with a 
 great number of men-at-arms: Peter du Bois, Peter la Nuitee, and 
 Rasse de Harzelle, were there in front. The skirmish was severe ; 
 for, on the arrival of the detachnioiit from the earl, they began on 
 both sidea- to shoot from cannons and cross-bows, which slew and 
 wounded many. The men of Ghent behaved too well, for they 
 drove back their enemies, and took by force the banner of the gold- 
 smith's company of Bruges, which they flung into the river and be- 
 smeared with filth. There were, of this goldsmith's company and 
 of many others, numbers slain and wounded : in particular sir Josse 
 de Haluin was killed, which was a great pity. So valiantly did 
 the Ghent men behave, that those who had been sent to Longpont 
 returned discomfited- 
 
 CHAPTER LXVII. 
 
 THE EARL OF FLANDERS RAISES THE SIEGE OF GHENT. HE DEFEATS 
 A GREAT PART OF THE ARMY OF GHENT, THROUGH THE SELF-SDF- 
 FJCIENCV OF RASSE DE HARZELLE, NEAR TO NEVELE. 
 
 During the siege of Ghent by the earl of Flanders, there were 
 numerous skirmishes before the city. The lord d'Anghien, the s^n- 
 eschal of Hainault and le Haze de Flanders, never ransomed those 
 whom they fell in with unprotected in the plains; and sometimes 
 they were forced to retreat in such a hurry as not to have time to 
 look behind them. Six thousand well-appointed men were drawn 
 up in the city, and put under the command of Rasse de Harzelle, 
 Arnoul le Clerc and John de Launoy : they marched from Ghent 
 without any fear of the army, and took the road to Alost, which was 
 then a good town and well inclosed, in which the earl had placed a 
 garrison of several knights. They, on hearing of this intended at- 
 tack, made off", through the gate leading to Brussels, in haste, ether- 
 wise they would have been slain. The Ghent men burnt everything, 
 even the gates, and gained great pillage. 
 
 'I'hey then marched to Dendremonde, which is a strong town, bu« 
 they took it by storm. Sir Philip de Namur was there killed. The 
 men of Ghent were masters of the town, but not of the castle ; for 
 the lord de Widescot and his companions held it out valiantly against 
 them. The Ghent army went next to Gramont, which had lately 
 turned to the earl, through the entreaty and negotiation of the lord 
 d'Anghien. I know not whether by treachery or not, but the Ghent 
 men entered it, and very many of the inhabitants were slain. After 
 these exploits, they returned to Ghent with a great booty. 
 
 When the earl of Flanders considered that, besides losing his time, 
 he was at a vast expense in the siege, and that he and his army were 
 suffering greatly, and also that he could not prevent the Ghent men 
 from sallying forth and burning the country ; that lately they had con. 
 quered Dendremonde and Gram.ont ; he resolved to break up the 
 siege and depart, for winter was approaching. He marched away, 
 and sent his men to their difl^erent homes to recruit themselves. He 
 ordered the lord d'Anghien and the lord de Montigny to garrison 
 Oudenarde : they had, besides men-at-arms, two hundred English 
 archers, on whom they placed great dependence. With regard to 
 the earl, he went to Bruges. The lords who were in Oudenarde 
 made several sallies against those of Ghent; and there were frequent 
 skirmishes, for they were almost constantly in the field, so that none 
 could carry provision or merchandise to Ghent without risk of being 
 taken. 
 
 When the winter was over, and the month of April arrived, the 
 earl assembled his army, having sent for those of Ypres, Courtray, 
 Poperingue, Damme, Sluys, and the PVanconate : he marched from 
 Bruges and came to Nevele, where he remained some time. While 
 there, he appointed the lord d'Anghien commander-in-chief of all the 
 men-at-arms, comprehending those of Lille, Douay and Oudenarde. 
 The earl's army was fully twenty thousand men : they were pre- 
 pared to march to Gavre, where John de Launoy resided, who, on 
 receiving intelligence of this, sent off" directly to Ghent, to inform 
 Rasse de Harzelle that he must send him immediate reinforcements, 
 for the army of the earl had taken the field. Rasse de Harzelle in 
 stantly collected six thousand men, and marched to Gavre : he did 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, <feo. 
 
 279 
 
 not find John de Launoy, but overtook him at Deynee, where he was 
 pillaging the country on the other side of the river. They then, 
 having united their forces, marched that day together, and fell in with 
 those rVom Oudenarde and Deynse, who were going to join the earl, 
 whom they immediately attacked, and slew at least six hundred of 
 thesn. The lord d'Anghien was not present : he had gone before to 
 tif) tarl, who was with his army between Deynse and Bruges. 
 
 When news was brought to the earl, and the lord d'Anghien, that 
 the men of Oudenarde had been so roughly treated, they were much 
 vexed : the lord d'Anghien was ordered to march with four thousand 
 men toward Gavre, where they expected to find John de Launoy ; 
 but he had retreated to Ghent with his pillage and prisoners, of whom, 
 indeed, he had no great number. On the morrow, he and Rasse de 
 Harzelle marched out with ten thousand men ; and, though the earl 
 was not come to Gavre, they were anxious to surround him. The 
 same day that Rasse de Harzelle had marched from Ghent, Peter du 
 Bois made a sally also with six thousand men, accompanied by Arnoul 
 le Clerc : they burnt the suburbs of Courtray, and then retreated to. 
 ward Deynse, in order to fall in with their townsmen ; but it was too 
 late, for, when Rasse de Harzelle and John de Launoy were come 
 to Nevele, they perceived the earl with his whole army in the plain : 
 thus did these two armies find themselves in sight of each other, 
 without either of them suspecting it in the morning. When Rasse 
 do Harzelle and John de Launoy saw a battle was inevitable, they 
 were not cast down, but drew up their men in three battalions ; in 
 each battalion were two thousand men, all bold and hardy, and the 
 best soldiers in Ghent. 
 
 Peter du Bois and Arnoul le Clerc had an equal number of men, 
 who, though in the country, were ignorant of this meeting, or that 
 their friends were about to engage. When they left Ghent, they 
 had entered inta an agreement, that if either party should meet the 
 earl, they were not to fight without the other; for they were not sepa- 
 rately of sufficient strength, but, when united, they were able to en- 
 gage with three times their number : this they had sworn to Peter du 
 Bois they vv^ould adhere to ; and to say the truth, if Rasse had wished 
 it, he might easily have delayed the combat, for he had only to keep 
 himself in the town of Nevele to wait for Peter du Bois, and the 
 eari would never there have fought him : but the moment Rasse de 
 Harzelle saw the army of the earl, through pride and self-sufl^iciency, 
 he took the field, saying to himself that he would offer battle to 
 his enemies, and reap all the honor, without waiting for Peter du 
 Bois or the others. He had great confidence in his men, and such 
 hopes in the good fortune of Ghent that he thought he could not be 
 defeated ; and manifested his willingness to engage, as I shall pres. 
 ently relate to you. 
 
 Greatly was the earl rejoiced when he saw Rasse de Harzelle 
 march out of Nevele to the plain to fight. He immediately ordered 
 his men to be drawn up in proper order : his infantry were about 
 twenty thousand, able men, and about fifteen hundred lances, knights 
 and squires, from Flanders, Hainault, Brabant, and Artois. Among 
 those from Hainault were the lord d'Anghien, marshal of the army, 
 and, in his company, the lord de Montigny, the bastard of Anghien, 
 Giles de Riscon, Hutin de Lay, the lord of Lens, sir John de Berlam- 
 mont and several more. From Flanders were, the lord de Guistelles, 
 sir Guy de Guistelles, the lord des Cornets, the lord de Hallue, the 
 lord de Haluin, sir Daniel de Haluin, sir Thierry de Disquetane, sir 
 John d Escoumbouc, the lord de Gentus, sir John de Vilain, sir Ge- 
 rard de Marquellies, ;-md many others. Several new knights were 
 also made. The young seneschal of Hainault had died in his bed 
 some time before, from the bruise he had received at Aubiez, near 
 Mortaigiie, for he had been in that affair. 
 
 The earl formed his army in five battalions, and in each there 
 were about five thousand men, eager for the attack : the lord de 
 Lieureghien bore that day the earl's banner. In this manner they 
 advanced on the enemy, five battalions to three ; but at the com- 
 mencement only three battalions of the earl's army engaged, the 
 other two were on the wings to support those who might be broken. 
 The earl was present, exhorting his men to behave well, and to re- 
 venge themselves on the madmen of Ghent who had given them so 
 much trouble : he said to the citizens from the chief towns, " Be 
 assured, should you fly, you would more certainly be put to death 
 than if you stood your ground ; for I will have you all beheaded 
 without mercy." The earl posted the men of Bruges in the first 
 battilion, those of the Franc in the second, those of Ypres and Cour- 
 tray in the third, and those of Poperingue, Cassel, Bergues and Bour- 
 bourg in the fourth battalion : he had retained those of Oudenarde, 
 Lille and Douay near his person. 
 
 The armies kept advancing toward each other. Rasse de Harzelle 
 ied the firtt battalion, for it was composed of the most determined 
 men of t'ne three, and because he was anxious to be the first to begin 
 the combat, and to gain honor if it vv-ere possible : he attacked that 
 of Bruges, which the lord de Guistelles and his brothers commanded. 
 There was great pushing and fighting at the commencement. In 
 another part, the other battalions engaged, when many were beat 
 down at the onset. The Ghent men behaved very gallantly ; but 
 the army of the earl was t-)o numerous for them. 
 
 The battle was sha,rp, and lasted some time, so that it was long 
 before it was seen which had the advantage. All the battalions 
 were intermixed ; and on one side they shouted out, " Flanders for 
 
 the Lion !" to cheer their men : on the other, they cried as loudly. 
 "Ghent, Ghent I" There was a moment when the earl was in dan- 
 ger of losing all ; and, if he had then given way, they would all 
 have been slain and defeated beyond a remedy: for Peter du Bois. 
 with full six thousand men, was in the plain, and clearly saw tho 
 combat, but ho could not give any assistance to his townsmen for the 
 extensive marshes that were between him and the armies : but, had 
 the earl lost the day, or his men fled through panic, he knew well 
 that Peter du Bois would have fallen upo)i thern, and none would 
 have escaped death, not even himself ; which would have been such 
 a loss as Flanders never would have recovered. 
 
 Rasse de Harzelle and John de Launoy bad not long the advantage 
 in this combat, for the earl had a number of valiant knights, besides 
 the men from Ypres, Courtray, Oudenarde, Damme, Sluys, the Franc 
 and Bruges, who, when assembled together, amounted to near twenty 
 thousand men, being four times the number of their enemies. The 
 Ghent men, unable to withstand thern, were thrown into disorder, 
 ?.iad retreated into the town. Upon this, the knights and squires 
 advanced, and, breaking their ra?iks, put them in confusion, and 
 killed them in heaps. The men of Ghent retired toward the church 
 of Nevele, which was strong; and, having collected themselves 
 there, a hard battle ensued, and great slaughter was made of them. 
 John de Launoy, like one distracted, rushed into the church, and 
 posted himself, and as many men as he could, in the large tower of 
 the steepir. Rasse de Harzelle remained behind, and, with his men, 
 performed many valorous deeds at the door of the church ; but at last 
 he was overpowered, and pierced with a spear, which instantly killed 
 him. Thus ended Rasse de Harzelle, who had been a great com- 
 mander of the Ghent men against the earl : he was much beloved 
 by his townsmen for his good sense and prowcKS ; but this was his 
 recompense at last for all his valor. 
 
 When the earl of Flandere arrived atlhe square before the church, 
 and saw that the Ghent men had retreated into it, he ordered the 
 church to be set on fire : his order wiia obeyed, and a fire was kin 
 died with great quantities of straw and faggots, which they placed 
 all round the church. The flames soon ascended to the roof, when 
 the Ghent men perished miserably ; for they were sure of being 
 burnt if they staid in the church, and if they sallied out they were 
 slain and cast back into the fire. John de Launoy, who was in the 
 steeple, perceiving himself at the point of death, and that he must 
 soon be burnt, for the steeple was beginning to take fire, cried out 
 to those below, " Ransom, ransom !" and ofiered his coat, which was 
 full of florins ; but they laughed at and mocked him, saying, John, 
 come and speak to us through these windows, and we will receive 
 you. Make a handsome leap, John, such as you have forced our 
 friends to take this year : you must make this leap." John de Lau- 
 noy, finding his situation desperate, and the fire so fast approaching 
 that he must be burnt, grew enraged, and preferred being slain to 
 being thus burnt. Both happened to him ; for he leaped out of the 
 windows in the midst of his enemies, who received him on their 
 spears ; and, after hacking him to pieces, he was flung into tha 
 flames. Thus finished John de Launoy. 
 
 CHAPTER LXVIII. 
 
 PETER DU BOIS WITH THE REMAINDER OF HIS ARMY RETIRES TO GTiTJfT^ 
 AFTER HAVING BEEN IN DANGER OF HIS LIFE, HE BESIEGES COURTRAY. 
 
 Of the six thousand men, of which the arm.y at least consisted, 
 that Rasse de Harzelle and John de Launoy had brought from Ghent 
 or that neighborhood, or who were serving the men of Ghent for pay 
 and had been marched thither, there did not escape more than three 
 hundred : the rest were slain in the field or in the town, or had been 
 burnt in the church. Peter du Bois, notwithstanding he had a fine 
 army, could not give them the smallest assistance, on account of the 
 marshes and stagnant waters which were between him and the earl's 
 army. He marched away with his men drawn up in order of battle, 
 saying to them, " Come, let us proceed slowly toward Ghent. Rasse 
 de Harzelle and John de Launoy have had very bad success : they 
 are defeated. I know not what may happen to us, if we should be 
 pursued and attacked by the earl's army : let us keep in a body and 
 combat boldly, as good men should do v/hen they fight for their 
 rights." Those who heard him answered, " "We will do so." They 
 then departed, taking the road toward Ghent, in a close well.forraed 
 battalion. 
 
 Some of the runaways who had escaped from the battle of Nevela 
 returned to Ghent, which they entered quits frightened, like defeated 
 men, and related how Rasse de Harzelle and John de Launoy had 
 been slain and their army lost. The citizens were much dejected 
 at this ill news, and sorry for the loss of Rasse, for they had found 
 him a good captain and true to their interests : he was much beloved, 
 and great confidence was placed in him, because he was of a noble 
 family, and had served them faithfully for their money. They asked 
 the runaways, " Tell us where was Peter l'.u Bois all the time of the 
 combat ?" They, who had neither seen nor heard any intelligence 
 of him replied, " We have not seen him, nor do we know anything 
 about him." Upon this, several began to murmur, saying, that Peler 
 du Bois had behaved very ill, for not having been present at this 
 
 . . £ . 
 
280 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, Sec. 
 
 battle, he who had six thousand men under his command completely 
 armed. 
 
 Those who governed Ghent therefore resolved, as soon as Peter 
 du Bois should return, to kill him, and then make peace with the earl 
 their lord, throwing themselves on his mercy. I believe that, if they 
 had done so, they would have acted well, and peace would easily 
 have been made. But they changed their resolution, for which 
 afterwards they paid severely, as did the whole country of Flanders. 
 Aifjirs at that time were not so bad as they afterwards became, nor 
 the great distress of Flanders at its height, as I shall hereafter relate. 
 
 After the defeat of Rasse de Harzelle and John de Launoy, the 
 earl of Flanders was informed that Peter du Bois with an army of 
 Ghent men were in the field, and on their march to that city. The 
 earl halted, and called a council, in which he demanded from his 
 knights whether he should not pursue them and offer battle : they 
 replied, that he had done enough that day ; that his men were tired, 
 and that it was proper they should have some rest; but that he would 
 do well to send off five or six hundred men-at-arms, to observe their 
 motions, for they might perhaps fix their quarters in siich a situation 
 that they could come up with them at their dislodging. The earl 
 approved of this advice, and followed it : those who were to be of 
 this detachment were directly ordered out, and the lord d'Anghien 
 was appointed to the command. About five hundred lances being 
 mounted, they marched off from Nevele, and followed by-roads, in 
 order to come up with the Ghent men : they proceeded so far that 
 they at last saw them descend a small hill ; they were in a compact 
 body, and in good order, marching at a good pace toward Ghent. 
 
 The lord d'Anghien and his detachment followed them some time 
 un their flank. Peter du Bois and his men saw them plainly, though 
 they made not any appearance of being discomposed by it. Peter 
 du Bois said, "Let us continue our road with a good step, without 
 breaking our ranks ; if they attack us, we will receive them, but I 
 do not believe they have any such intentions." Thus each party 
 marched on, without doing anything, as far as Ghent, when the lord 
 d'Anghien returned to the earl, and Peter du Bois with his men en- 
 tered the t3wn. Peter du Bois was very badly received, and on the 
 point of being killed, for not having exerted himself to assist Rasse 
 de Harzelle. Peter exculpated himself, saying truly, *' that he had 
 sent orders to Rasse not to engage with the earl on any account, 
 without being joined by him, for that the earl was in too great force ; 
 but thit R^sse had done quite the contrary : that if bad success had 
 attended him, lie could not by any means be blamed : that he was as 
 much grieved for the death of Rasse as any one, for the town of 
 Ghent had lost a valiant man and good captain. It will therefore be 
 necessary for you to choose another, one who has a good reputation 
 and will be feared ; who is bold, wise, and prudent : or otherwise 
 put yourselves under the obedience of the earl, who will destroy us 
 all, by wickedly and cruelly putting us to a shameful death. Now, 
 consider what you will do : either persevere in what you have begun 
 and carried on for so long a time, or throw yourselves on the mercy 
 of my lord the earl of Flanders.'' 
 
 None made any answer to this speech of Peter du Bois ; but, with 
 regard to ths event of the battle of Nevele and the death of Rasse, 
 he was acquitted. He was, however, much dissatisfied that no one 
 replied tJ his speech ; particularly with some of the principal and 
 richest citizens of Ghent then present, such as sir Guisebert Grote 
 and sir Simon Bete. He at the time did not show his resentment ; 
 but in the course of the year, they severely experienced its effects, 
 as you will hear related. The lord d'Anghien, the lord de Montigny, 
 and the Haze de Flanders, returned with their men to the earl, and 
 related all they had seen. The earl set off from Nevele, and went 
 to Bruges : he dismissed his army to their different towns, and sent 
 those of the Franc, with the lord d'Anghien and the banners, to 
 Oudenarde. 
 
 The men of Ghent, on hearing that the earl had disbanded his 
 army and retired to Bruges, began to be in motion, by the instiga. 
 tion of Peter du Bois, who said to them, "Come, let us take the 
 field, and not be cool in carrying on this war, but show we are men 
 of courage and enterprise." Upward of fifteen thousand marched 
 out of Ghent, and came before Courtray, to which they laid siege 
 during the time of the feast and procession at Bruges in the year 
 1331. They remained there for ten days, and burnt the suburbs of 
 Courtny, with all the surrounding country. When the earl heard of 
 this he remanded a'l his gentlemen, and the garrisons and com- 
 monalty of Ypres and the Franc, and marched from Bruges with 
 upv/ard of twenty-five thousand men, taking the road to Courtray, 
 with intentions of combating the Ghent army and raising the siege. 
 Peter du Bois, on receiving intelligence of the earl's march and 
 strength, thought it best not to continue the siege : he decamped, 
 and went to Deynse and Nevele, where his army quartered them- 
 selves, giving out they would there wait for the earl : at the same 
 time, they signified their situation to their townsmen, who ordered 
 out the reserve, that they might have a superior force of men-at-arms. 
 Fiftsen thousand more men therefore marched from Ghent to their 
 army quartered at Deynse and Nevele, where they encamped in the 
 plain. 
 
 When the earl arrived at Harlebecque, near Courtray, he heard 
 the Ghent men had retreated toward Ghent, and were quartered at 
 Deynse and Nevele. He did not think proper to pursue them at 
 
 that time, but dismissed great part of his army at Courtray, and sent 
 the lord d'Anghien and the Hainaulters, with his bastard son the 
 Haze, to Oudenarde in garrison. 
 
 CHAPTER LXIX. 
 
 ARNOUL LE CLERC, CAPTAIN OF SOME TROOPS OF WHITE HOODS, DEFEATS 
 SEVERAL OF THE EARL OF FLANDERS* NOBILITY. HE HIK'SELF IS 
 AFTERWARDS DEFEATED AND SLAIN. 
 
 When Peter du Bois and the Ghent army found that it was not 
 the earl's intention to advance against them, they departed from 
 Deynse and Nevele, and took a roundabout road toward Oudenarde, 
 on their return to Ghent. The day they passed Oudenarde, they 
 detached a body from the army, under the command of Arnoul le 
 Clerc, who advanced as far as the barriers of the town to skirmish. 
 The knights and squires within could not resist combating with them, 
 so that many were slain and wounded on both sides. But those 
 from Ghent did not continue the skirmish long : they returned to 
 Ghent with their men, when each retired to his own house. 
 
 Three days after, Arnoul le Clerc marched to Gavre with about 
 twelve hundred white hoods ; and the castle and castlewick were 
 garrisoned, to keep in check those in Oudenarde. Arnoul le Clerc 
 had not been there long before he was informed that some knighte 
 and squires had sallied out of Oudenarde in search of adventures, 
 namely, the lord de Cornais, the lord de Remselles, sir John de Vil. 
 laines, the lord d'Anghien, le Gallois de Mamines, the bastard de 
 Cornais, and sir Blanchard de Calemie. He therefore formed an 
 ambuscade, and as these knights were on their return to Oudenarde, 
 he fell upon them, when several were slain, for mercy was shown to 
 none. The horses of the knights v^^ere brought very opportunely, 
 when they made the best of their way to Oudenarde : on their arri- 
 val at the barriers, they dismounted and put themselves in a posture 
 of defence, waiting for their men and servants ; but, before they 
 could reenter the town, they had left upward of sixty dead on the 
 field. 
 
 Arnoul le Clerc, having performed this enterprise, marched that 
 day to a monastery near Berchem : he found that Pierre d'Estonne- 
 houx and Gallois de Mamines, with about a hundred of their com. 
 panions, had retreated into the town of Berchem : he therefore im- 
 mediately attacked the monastery whither they had retired. Gallois 
 de Mamines with difficulty escaped from the back part of it, and 
 having entered a boat, came by night to Oudenarde, when he ] elated 
 to the lord d'Anghien, the lord de Montigny, sir Daniel de Halluyn,and 
 the other nights who were there, how Arnoul le Clerc, with the 
 white hoods, had forced the monastery of Berchem, and slain their 
 companions : that he thought Pierre d'Estonnehoux was killed ; as 
 indeed he was, for Arnoul le Clerc and his men had made him leap 
 out of a window, when he was received on the points of their spears 
 and slain, which was a great loss. 
 
 The knights in Oudenande, on hearing that Arnoul le Clerc with 
 about twelve hundred white hoods were quartered in Berchem; that 
 their companions were slain and the monastery taken ; were very 
 indignant, and determined to send off in the night spies to observe 
 whither they would march on the morrow. The spies reported, that 
 the white hoods had fixed on Berchem for their quarters, which much 
 pleased these noblemen. The lords d'Anghien de Montigny, de 
 Bresueil, sir Michael de la Hamarde, with upward of six hundred 
 knights and squires from Hainault, immediately armed themselves ; 
 as did a like number from Flanders. Three hundred spears were in 
 Oudenarde, with upward of one thousand cross-bows and stout var- 
 lets. They marched to Berchem, and, when near that place, they 
 sent forward sir Oliver de Chem, with full one hundred lances, to 
 begin the attack, and to draw Arnoul le Clerc out of the monastery, 
 as well as to give time for the cross-bows and stout varlets, who were 
 on foot, to come up and be properly arranged. 
 
 Sir Daniel and sir Peter de Disquemac and the Haze de Flanders, 
 spurring their horses, entered the space before the monastery at full 
 gallop, crying out, " Flanders for the Lion 1 Flanders for the Bas- 
 tard !" The Ghent men, not expecting an ambuscade, for it was 
 early morn, were not dressed, so that before Arnoul le Clerc could 
 collect his men, the lord d'Anghien, the lord Lens, the lord de Bre- 
 sueil, the lord de Cornais, the lord de Montigny, entered the back 
 part of the town, with the army, crying out, "D'Anghien for the 
 lord !" and attacked the Ghent white hoods with so much vigor, that 
 they could not withstand them, but, breaking their ranks, were 
 thrown into disorder ; and, of the twelve hundred, eleven hundred 
 were slain in the monastery, in the town and fields. Arnoul le Clerc 
 was also killed, as he was running away, by two pikes being thrust 
 through him, which fastened him to a hedge. After this defeat, the 
 lord d'Anghien, with the other knights, returned to Oudenarde, es- 
 teeming this enterprise a deed of great prowess. The news of it 
 greatly pleased the earl of Flanders, who told the lord d'Anghien 
 that he was a handsome and good child, and in time would be a 
 most valiant man. To say the truth, the lord d'Anghien was the 
 glory of the earl of Flanders, who at that time resided at Bruges, and 
 who did not call him cousin, but fair son. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 CHAPTER LXX. 
 
 DUKIXa TKIS WAR, THE RfCH CITIZENS OF GHENT ARE SUBJUGATED BY 
 THEIR SOLDIERS. PHILIP VON ARTAVELD IS MADE GOVERNOR OF GHENT. 
 
 When the news was carried to Ghent that Arnoul le Clerc was 
 slain, and his n en defeated, many began to take alarm, and to say 
 among themselv; 3, " Our affairs go on very badly : by degrees, they 
 will kill our capt.iins and men : we have done ill to make this war 
 upon the earl our lord, for by little and little he will destroy us. The 
 hatreds of Gilbert Matthew and John Lyon are now falling upon us, 
 and we have too long followed the epinions of John Lyon and Peter 
 du Bois ; they have driven us into this war, and brought on us the 
 hatred of bur lord to such a de^ ree that we shall never be admitted 
 to mercy, nor obtain a peace. It will be better that twenty or thirty 
 should suffer than a whole city." 
 
 This was the conversation of several when together in private, 
 from the dread of the ill-intentioned who were of another way of 
 thinking, and were daily adding to their power, though at the begin- 
 ning they were but poor workmen scarcely worth a groat. They 
 had now plenty of gold and silver; for, when in want, they com- 
 plained to their leaders, who willingly listened to them, and gave 
 them advice by pointing out to them the richest men in the town, 
 and saying, " Go to such and such persons, and tell them we want 
 to Bpeak to them." They directly went, and those they sought were 
 afraid to refuse following them. On their arrival, they were told the 
 good town of Ghent was in want of money to pay their soldiers, who 
 were aiding to guard and preserve their rights and franchises, and 
 that it was nece; sary the workmen should live. They raised instantly 
 among themsel . es the sum. demanded ; for, had they refused, they 
 would have bee i put to death, on pretence of being traitors to the 
 good town of Ghent, and indifferent to its honor or profit. 
 
 Thus did these wicked people become masters of the town, and 
 continued so as long as the war lasted against their lord. In truth, if 
 the rich men and nobility of the town were beaten by such rods, one 
 can.iot pity, nor any way excuse them, for they were the primary 
 cause of all this mischief. When the earl of Flanders sent thither 
 his bailiff to do justice on some wicked persons, could they not have 
 remained steady and have assisted him in this act, seeing the rebels 
 were then in very small numbers ? But it appeared they were quite 
 indifferent whether the affiir turned out well or ill, or if they had war 
 or peace. They must have been sensible, that if they made war on 
 their lord, the ill-intentioned would be their masters and lords of the 
 town, and that they could not turn them out when they pleased. It 
 wou'd happsn tj them as tj John de la Faucille, who, by dissembling 
 and quilting the tDwn of Ghent to live in Hainault, imagined he 
 should be clear of all the wars in Flanders, as well as of those against 
 his lord by the town of Ghent, of which he was a native, and that 
 nothing would be required from him : but in this he was mistaken, 
 so that it caused his death; v/hich was a pity, for John de la Faucille 
 was in his time a wise and able man. But in those days none could 
 trim between the lords and the townsmen, for they were too clear- 
 sighted ; and though he knew how to advise others very well, yet in 
 regard to himself he managed things badly. I do not know, for a 
 tratla, if he were guilty of all the charges on which he was examined 
 by sir Sim^n Rain in the castle of Lille, but his judges, with his 
 adverse fortune, turned against him, so that he died : and thus it 
 happened to all the leaders in Ghent, and those who encouraged 
 them in their rebellion against their lord. Many others of Ghent 
 perished, who I hope were blameless. 
 
 When Peter da Bois saw Ghent thus weakened in her captains 
 and soldiers, and deserted by her allies ; that the principal inhabitants 
 began to tire ; he suspected they would readily give up the war, but 
 that, whatever peace or treaty they should enter into with the earl, 
 there would not be any possibility for him to save his life. He there- 
 fore called to his recollection John Lyon, who had been his master, 
 and wi'h what art he had worked ; he saw plainly he could not do 
 everything himself, not having sufficient weight nor knowledge to 
 govern the t^wn ; neither did he wish for the principal command, 
 being solely desirous of leading every mad enterprise : he, in con- 
 sequence, turned his thoughts to a man, of whom the city of Ghent 
 had not any suspicions, one of sufficient prudence, though his abilities 
 were unknown, for until that day they had not paid any attention to 
 him: his name was Philip von Artaveld,son of Jacob von Artaveld, 
 who had ruled over all Flanders for seven years. Peter du Bois had 
 heard it related by his master, John Lyon, and the old people of 
 Ghent, that the whole country was never so well governed, feared, 
 loved and honored as during the time of Jacob von Artaveld's reign, 
 which lasted for seven years : the inhabitants added, that if Jacob 
 von Artaveld were alive, things would not be in the state they are 
 now in : they should have a peace according to their wishes, and the 
 earl would be too happy to forgive them. 
 
 These words made an impression on Peter du Bois : he recollected 
 that Jacob von Artaveld had left a son called Philip, a handsome and 
 agreeable man, to whom the queen of England, when she was at 
 Ghent and during the time of the siege of Tournay, had stood god- 
 mother, and who, from respect to her, had been christened Philip. 
 Peter du Bois came one evening to Philip's house, who resided with 
 maintaining themselves honorably on their rents. Peter, 
 
 having arranged in his own mind what he should say, thus opened 
 the matter and the cause of his coming: If you will listen to me, 
 and follow my advice, I will make you the greatest man in Flan, 
 ders." " How will you do this?" replied Philip. " I will tell you 
 how," said Peter: " you shall have the sole government of Ghent: 
 for we are at this moment in the utmost want of a leader of a good 
 name and fair character : by this means we shall rouse the men of 
 Ghent, through remembrance of your father's fame ; for every om 
 says that Flanders was never so flourishing, nor so much feared, as 
 during his lifetime. I will easily place you, if you be vailing, in his 
 situation ; and, when there, you will govern according to my advice 
 until you shall hnd yourself master of the business, which you will 
 soon acquire." Philip, who v/as arrived at manhood, and naturally 
 wished to advance himself in honor and wealth more than he then 
 possessed, replied, " Peter, you offer me great things ; and, if I be 
 placed in the situation you say, I swear on my faith, that I will never 
 act without your advice." 
 
 Peter asked, " Can you be cruel and proud ? For a great man 
 among the commonalty, and in particular among such as we shall 
 have to do with, will not be thought anything worth if he be not 
 feared and dreaded, and at times renowned for his cruelty. It is 
 thus that the Flemings wish to be governed; and, among them, men's 
 lives should be no more valued, nor should they have more pity shown 
 to them, than swallows or larks, which are caught in the proper 
 season for the table." *' By my troth," answered Philip, " I know 
 v/ell how to act this part." "All then goes well," said Peter. "You 
 are just such a one as I want, and the chief I look for."- On saying 
 this, he took leave and departed to his own house. Night passed, 
 and day returned, when Peter du Bois went to a square where there 
 were upward of four thousand of his followers and others, assembled 
 to hear the news, to discuss how matters ought to be carried on, and 
 who should be governor of the town. 
 
 The lord de Harzelle was there, who chiefly conducted the affairs 
 of Ghent, but he would not undertake to do anything out of the town: 
 some named him for governor : others were also nominated. Peter, 
 who was listening attentively, having heard many names, raised his 
 voice and said, "Gentlemen, I have paid every attention to all you 
 have said, and firmly believe that you have been induced, through 
 your love and affection for the honor and wealth of the town of Ghent, 
 to propose such who are worthy to have a share in the government 
 of this city; but I know one who in no way is thinking of it, and if 
 he would undertake the government, there could not be any one found 
 of greater abilities, nor of a more propitious name." Peter du Bois 
 was called upon to name him, which he did by saying, "It was Philip 
 von Artaveld, who was christened at the font of St. Peter's in Ghent 
 by that noble queen of England, Philippa, who was his godmother 
 at the time when his father, Jacob von Artaveld, was at the siege of 
 Tournay with the king of England, the duke of Brabant, the duke 
 of Gueldres and the earl of Hainault ; which Jacob von Artaveld, his 
 father, governed the town of Ghent and the country of Flanders bet. 
 ter than has ever been done since, from all I hear from those inhab. 
 itants who have it strong in their memories: Flanders had been tor 
 some time lost, if through his sense and good fortune ho had not re- 
 gained it. Now, it behooves us to love the branches from such a 
 valiant man, in preference to any other person." No sooner had 
 Peter du Bois done speaking than the idea of Philip von Artaveld 
 filled every one's mind, and encouraged them so much that they 
 unanimously cried out, " Let him be sought for : we will not have 
 any one but him for our governor." " No, no," said Peter du Bois: 
 " we will not send for him : it will be much better we go to his house, 
 for we do not at present know how he will take it. We ought not 
 by any means to suffer him to excuse himself from accepting it." 
 
 At these words, those present took the road to Philip's house, fol- 
 lowed by many others who had been informed of their intentions. 
 When they arrived there, the lord de Harzelle, Peter du Bois, Peter 
 la Nuitee, and about ten or twelve of the principal tradesmen, ad- 
 dressed him, saying, " That the good town of Ghent was in the 
 greatest danger for want of a chief, with v/hom alliances might be 
 formed both at home and abroad, and that all ranks of people in 
 Ghent had given him their voices and chosen him to be their sove. 
 reign ; for the good remembrance of his name, and the love they 
 had borne to his father, made him more agreeable to thern than any 
 one else. For which reasons they entreated him affectionately to 
 take on him the government of the town, with the management of 
 their affairs both within and without, and they would swear to him 
 obedience and loyalty as completely as to their lord. They like, 
 wise engaged to bring every one, how great soever he might be, 
 under his obedience." 
 
 Philip, after hearing everything they had to say, made the follow, 
 ing prudent reply : " Gentlemen, you require great things from me ; 
 and I should imagine you have not weighed the matter so maturely 
 as it ought to have been, when you offer me the government of 
 Ghent. You say, the affection your ancestors had for my father 
 has been your great inducement : when he had performed for them 
 every service in his power, they murdered him. If 1 should accept 
 the government in the manner you request, and be afterwards mur. 
 dered, I shall gain but a miserable recompense." " Philip," said 
 Peter du Bois, who caught at these words which seemed to make 
 his choice doubtful, "what V^^J^^ cannot now be amended? 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &o. 
 
 you will act from the advice of your council, and by thus contin. 
 uing you will ever be so well advised that all mankind shall praise 
 you." Philip answered, " I should never wish to act otherwise." 
 They then elected him ; and, conducting him to the market-place, 
 he was there sworn intu ofBce ; the mayors, sheriff's and rulers of 
 companies were also sworn to obey him. 
 
 In this manner was Philip von Artaveld made sovereign of Ghent, 
 lie acquired great popularity at the commencement ; for he spoke 
 to every one who had any business with him politely and prudently, 
 so that he was beloved by all. He gave a part of the revenues 
 which the earl of Inlanders had in Ghent as his inheritance to the 
 lord de Harzelle, out of affection to him, and to enable him the bet- 
 ter to support his rank ; for he had lost everything he possessed 
 without the walls of the town. 
 
 We will now for a time leave these affairs of Flanders, and speak 
 of those of England and Portugal. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXI. 
 
 A WAR BETWEEN THE KINGS Of CASTILLE AND PORTUGAL. 
 
 You have before heard related the death of king Henry of Cas- 
 tille, and that his eldest son, don John, was crowned in his stead. 
 His queen also, who was daughter to king Peter of Arragon, was 
 crowned with him. A war broke out between king Ferdinand of 
 Portugal and the king of Castille on certain disputes between them ; 
 but principally on account of the two daughters of Peter king of 
 Castille, who were married in England ; the eldest, Constance, to 
 the duke of Lancaster, and Isabella to the earl of Cambridge. The 
 king of Portugal declared, that it was unjust and illegal in the king 
 of Castille to disinherit, without cause, his two cousins ; and that it 
 was not becominij tiiat two noble ladies of such high birth should 
 be disinherited from their rights : it was also improper that this 
 affair should become old and forgotten, so that these ladies would 
 never be able to regain their possessions : that for him, who was 
 one of the nearest relations they had, he would never consent to it, 
 both for the love of God and his desire to maintain justice, to which 
 every good Chri.-itian should incline. He sent therefore his defiance 
 to the king of Castille, whom all Spain had crowned ; and the king 
 of Portugal made war upon him for the reasons above mentioned. 
 Don John defended himself valiantly, and ordered to the frontiers 
 and to his garrisons numbers of men-at-arms, to oppose his enemies, 
 80 that he lost nothing at the breaking out of hostilities. He had 
 with him some of the ablest and most prudent of French chivalry, 
 who assisted him greatly by their arms and advice ; such as the 
 begue de Villaines, sir Peter his son, sir John de Bergettes, sir Wil- 
 liam de Ligiiac, sir W alter de Puissac, the lord de la Tande, sir 
 John and sir Tristram de Roye, and many more, who had gone to 
 Spain on the departure of the earl of Buckingham from Brittany; 
 for the king of France, who had great connections and of a long 
 Btanding with the king of Castille, had sent them thither. 
 
 The kiiig of Portugal, on finding this, thought it advisable to send 
 embassadors to E.igland t3 the king and his uncles, to request sue 
 cors from them, that he might be able to carry on a successful war 
 against the king of Castille. He called to him one of his knights, 
 ft valiant and prudent man, as well as a great lord, called John Fer- 
 rande, and told him his intentions in these words : " John, you will 
 carry these credential letters to England. I cannot send thither a 
 more able embassador than yourself, nor one who is better informed 
 of ail my aff'iira : you will therefore commend me to the king, on 
 presenting tiiese letters, and let him know that I am supporting the 
 rights K)f my cou?ins, his aunts, for their inheritance of Castille and 
 Spain ; and that I have already waged war against him, who, through 
 th'j influence of France, has taken possession of it ; but that I am 
 not sufficiently strong in myself, nor have I resources to oppose him, 
 nor to conquer such herit iges as Castille, Gallicia and Seville. For 
 which reason, I entreat him to send me his fair uncle the duke of 
 Lancaster, with hi^ wife and daughter, my cousins, and a number of 
 men-at-arms and archers. On their arrival hither, we will curry on 
 such a war, if it should please God, that we will recover their inher- 
 itances." " My lord," replied the knight, " with pleasure will I 
 carry your message." He was not long before he embarked on 
 board a strong vessel fit for the voyage, and sailed from the harbor 
 of Lisbon; when, having favorable winds, he arrived at Plymouth 
 the same day and same tide that the earl of Buckingham returned 
 thither, with part of his fleet, from Brittany. 
 
 The E.iglish had unfortunately lost at sea three of their ships, full 
 of men and stores, and had been so much separated by contrary 
 winds, that they arrived, not without great danger, in three different 
 ports of England. The earl of Buckingham was rejoiced at the 
 arrival of the Portuguese knight, whom he most graciously received. 
 On his inquiring after news, he told him enough, as well of Spain 
 as of Portugal. They continued their journey together until they 
 came to the good city of London, where the king was. On the 
 earl of Buckingham'^ arrival, the city of London entertained him 
 magnificently. He went to Westminster to wait on the king, who 
 was there with his two uncles, the duke of Lancaster and the earl of 
 Cambridge, and took the knight from Portugal with himi whom he 
 presented to the king and to his brothers. 
 
 When the king and the above-named lords were made acquaintftd 
 with the subject of his coming, they seemed to be much pleased, 
 and paid him great respect. He defivered his letters to the king, 
 who read them in the presence of his uncles ; for you must know 
 the king did nothing without the advice of these uncles, being at 
 that time very young. The knight was questioned, notwithstanding 
 the letters he had brought with him, on the subject of his coming 
 from Portugal : his answers were prudent and proper, according to 
 the propositions which have been mentioned before. When the 
 lords had fully heard all he had to say, they said, " Many thanks te 
 our fair cousin of Portugal, who, to serve us, has made war on our 
 adversary. What he requires is but reasonable, and he shall be 
 speedily succored. The king will consider in what manner he shall 
 arrange this business." No further conversation passed. The for- 
 eign knight, having brought such agreeable tidings to the duke of 
 Lancaster and earl of Cambridge, was much feasted, and dined 
 with the king. He remained about fifteen days, and until a week 
 before the feast of St. George, with the king and his uncles. Sir 
 Robert de Namur was also there, who had come to do homage to 
 the king for what he possessed in England. The parliament was 
 also summoned to meet at Westminster, as well on account of this 
 embassy from Portugal as upon the affairs of Scotland, the truce 
 between the two countries ending the first of June. 
 
 The prelates and barons of England held many councils to con- 
 sider this business : they were not for sending the duke of Lancaster 
 to Portugal, some saying it was a long sea voyage for him, and that 
 they might repent of his going, for the Scots were making great 
 preparations to invade England. It was at last determined that the 
 duke of Lancaster, who was well acquainted with Scotland and its 
 inhabitants, should go to the borders, and learn what were the inten- 
 tions of the Scots ; for of all the barons cf England he knew best 
 how to conduct a treaty, and the Scots would do more for him than 
 for any other person. They likewise resolved that the earl of Cam- 
 bridge should embark for Portugal with five hundred spears and as 
 many archers ; and if the duke of Lancaster could manage the Scots, 
 and, without dishonoring England, conclude a truce for three years, 
 he might go likewise, if the king approved of it in council, about 
 August or September, to Portugal to reinforce the army of his brother. 
 There was another reason why the duk-e of Lancaster ought to 
 remain in England : the king had sent embassadors, with the duke 
 of Saxony and the archbishop of Ravenna, to the emperor of Ger- 
 many, to demand his sister in marriage and to obtain his answer ; 
 for there had been great negotiations on the subject for upward of a 
 year. The bishop of St. David's and sir Simon Burley were the 
 embassadors, on the part of England, to assist and bring it to a 
 conclusion. 
 
 The king and his lords agreed to this determination, when the 
 parliament broke up. Lists were made out of those barons and 
 knighte who were to accompany the earl of Cambridge to Portugal 
 
 CHAPTER LXXII. 
 
 THE EARL OF CAMBRIDGE SAILS FOR PORTUGAL. THE DUKE OP LAN- 
 CASTER GOES TO THE BORDERS OF PCOTLAND, TO MAKE A TRUCK 
 WITH THE SCOTS. 
 
 The duke of Lancaster, having made his preparations, left the 
 king and his brothers. On taking leave of the earl of Cambridge, 
 he swore to him, by his faith, that on his return from Scotland, ho 
 would speedily follow him to Portugal, if no hindrance which he 
 could not then foresee happened in England to prevent him. On 
 this, the duke departed, taking the road to Scotland, and attended 
 only by those of his household. In this parliament, the earl of North- 
 umberland was appointed lieutenant of all Northumberland, the 
 bishopric of Durham, and as much of Wales as to the banks of the 
 Severn : he therefore left London for those parts, but it was about 
 fifteen days after the departure of the duke of Lancaster. 
 
 The earl of Cambridge took leave of the king and his brother tb« 
 earl of Buckingham, to complete the forces for the e.-.jjedition he had 
 undertaken to command. He made his rendezvous at Plymouth, 
 where he was the first who arrived, bringing with him his lady Isa. 
 bella and his eon John, whom he intended carrying with him to 
 Portugal. The earl of Cambridge was accompanied by many noble, 
 men, such as sir Matthew Gournay constable of the army, the canon 
 de Robesart, sir John Newcastle, sir William Beauchamp marshal 
 of the army, the souldich de I'Estrade, the lord Botreaux, the lord de 
 CharltDn, sir WiUiam Helmon, sir Thomas Symon, sir Nicholas 
 Windsor, sir John Carteret and several others. There were also 
 men-at-arms to'the amount of five hundred, and as many archers. 
 These lords and their men came to Plymouth, w^here they quartered 
 themselves and in the adjoining villages. They loaded their vessels 
 by little and little ; but no horses were to be embarked, as the voyage 
 was too long from England to Lisbon. The Portuguese knight wa» 
 with them, intending to accompany them to his country. They 
 remained upward of three weeks on the coast, getting ready their 
 provision and stores, and waiting for favorable weather. 
 
 The duke of Lancaster continued his journey toward Scotland 
 until he came to Berwick, which is the last town in that part of 
 England. When he ftxrived there, he halted, and sent a message to 
 
 <* 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN. &c. 
 
 283 
 
 Scotland to acquaint the barons he was come thither to ride the 
 borders, as had always been customary ; and, if they were desirous 
 of doing the same first, they had best inform him of it, otherwise he 
 well knew what he was to do. The duke's herald rode to Edin. 
 burgh, where king Robert of Scotland, the earl of Douglas, the earl 
 A' Mar, the earl c*f Moray and all the principal barons of Scodand 
 were assembled, They had heard the duke of.Lancaster was come 
 to treat with th m, and had thus assembled in the chief town of 
 Scotland, where the herald met them. 
 
 John Ball prkachino to the People.— From a MS. of the loth century 
 
 The herald punctually executed his message. He was favorably 
 hstened to, and had a friendly answer from the Scots barons, who 
 said, they would willingly hear what the duke had to propose. The 
 herald brought back with him passports for the duke and his people, 
 to last as long as they should remain on the borders and during the 
 parleys. The herald, having received these assurances, came back 
 to Berwick and related what he had done. Upon this, the duke 
 departed from Berwick, leaving aU his stores in that town, and took 
 the road to Roxburgh, where he lay. On the morrov/, he was lodged 
 in the abbey of Melrose on the Tweed, which divides the two king- 
 doms of Scotland and England. The duke and his attendants 
 remained there until the Scots were come to Lambir-law, three 
 short leagues off. On their arrival, they signified it to the duke, 
 when immediately negotiations were begun between the Scots and 
 English, and which lasted for upward of fifteen days. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXIII. 
 
 Tiro POPULACE OF D-NGLAND REBEL AGAINST THE NOBILITY, 
 
 While these conferences were going forward, there happened in 
 England great commotions among the lower ranks of the people, by 
 which England was near ruined without resource. Never was a 
 country in such jeopardy as this was at that period, and all through 
 the too great comfort of the commonalty. Rebellion was stirred up, 
 as it was formerly done in France by the Jacques Bons-hommes, 
 who did much evil, and sore troubled the kingdom of France. It is 
 marvellous from what a trifle this pestilence raged in England. In 
 order that it may serve as an example to mankind, I will speak of all 
 that was done, from the information I had at the time on the subject. 
 
 It is customary in England, as well as in several other countries, 
 for the nobility to have great privileges over the commonalty, whom 
 they keep in bondage ; that is to say, they are bound by law and 
 custom to plough the lands of gentlemen, to harvest the grain, to 
 carry it home to the barn, to thrash and winnow it: they are also 
 bound to harvest the hay and carry it home.* All these services 
 tliey are obliged to perform for their lords, and many more in Eng- 
 land than in other countries. The prelates and gentlemen are thus 
 served. In the counties of Kent, Essex, Sussex and Bedford, these 
 services are more oppressive than in all the rest of the kingdom. 
 
 The oviUdisposed in these districts began to rise, saying, they were 
 
 * And to hew their wood and bring it home.—LoRO Berners 
 
 too severely oppressed ; that at the beginning of the world there 
 were no slaves, and no one ought to be treated as such, unless he 
 had committed treason against his lord, as Lucifer had done again&t 
 God : but they had done no such thing, for they were neither angels 
 nor spirits, but men formed after the same likeness with their lords, 
 who treated them as beasts. This they would not longer bear, but 
 had determined to be free, and if they labored or did any other works 
 for their lords, they would be paid for it. 
 
 A crazy priest in the county of Kent, called John Ball, who, for 
 
 his absurd preaching, had 
 been thrice confined in the 
 prison of the archbishop of 
 Canterbury, was greatly in- 
 strumental in inflaming them 
 with those ideas. He was 
 accustomed, every Sunday 
 after mass, as the people were 
 coming out of the church, to 
 preach to them in the market 
 place and assemble a crowd 
 around him; to whcm he 
 wowld say: " My good friends, 
 things cannot go on well in 
 England, nor ever will until 
 everything shall be in ccm- 
 mon; when there shall neither 
 be vassal nor lord, and all 
 distinctions levelled ; when 
 the lords shall be no more 
 masters than ourselves. How 
 ill they have ur-ed us ! and 
 for what reason do they thus 
 hold us in bondage ? Are 
 we net all descended from 
 the same parents, Adam and 
 Eve ? and v/hat can they 
 show, or what reasons give, 
 •why they should be more the 
 masters than ourselves ? ex- 
 cept, perhaps, in making us 
 labor and work for them lo 
 epend. They are clothed in 
 
 velvets and rich stuffs,* or- 
 namented with ermine and 
 other furs,while we are forced 
 to wear poor cloth. They 
 have wines, spices, and fine Dread, when v^e have only rye and the 
 refuse of the straw ; and, if we drink, it must be water. They 
 have handsome seats and manors, when v. e must brave the wind 
 and rain in our labors in the field ; but it is from our labor they have 
 wherewith to support their pomp. We are called slaves ; and, if 
 we do not perform our services, we are beaten, and we have not 
 any sovereign to whom we can complain, or Vv'ho wishes to hear us 
 and do us justice. Let us go to the king, who is young, and remon- 
 strate with him on our servitude, teliing him v;e must have it other- 
 wise, or that we shall find a remedy for it curselves. Jr we wait on 
 him in a body, all those who come under the appellation of slaves, 
 ov are held in bondage, will follow us, in the hopes of being free. 
 When the king shall see us, we shall obtain a favorable answer, oz 
 we must then seek ourselves to amend our condition." ' 
 
 With such words as these did John Ball harangue the people, at 
 his village, every Sunday after mass, for which he was much beloved 
 by them. Some who wished no good declared it was very true, and 
 murmuring to each other, as they were going to the fields, on the 
 road from one village to another, or rt their different houses, said, 
 "John Ball preaches such and such thinrrs, and he speaks truth." 
 
 The archbishop of Canterbury, on beirg informed of this, had 
 John Ball arrested, and imprisoned for two or three mor.'ths by way 
 of punishment ; but it would have been better if he had been con. 
 fined duiing his life, or had been put to decth, than to have been 
 suffered thus to act. The archbishop set him at liberty, for he could 
 not for conscience sake have put him to death. The moment John 
 Ball wa«! out of prison, he returned to his former errors. Numbers 
 in the city of London having heard of his preaching, being envious 
 of the rich men and nobility, began to say among themsdves, th?.t 
 the kingdom was badly governed, and the nobility had seized on all 
 the gold and silver coin. These wicked Londoners, therefore, began 
 to assemble and to rebel : they sent to tell those in the adjoining 
 counties, they might come boldly to London, and bring t-heir com. 
 panions with them, for they would find the town open to them, and 
 the commonalty in the same way of thinking; that they would press 
 the king so much, there should no longer be a slave in England. 
 
 These promises stirred up tho-e in the counties of Kent, Essex, 
 Sussex and Bedford, and the adjoining country, so that they marched 
 toward London; and, when they arriv.ed near, they were upward 
 
 * Lord Bernevs says " ckamlet furred with prise,'' rhe skin of the weuzle or miirtin. 
 The word in Froissart is camocas, which D. Sauvage is at a loss to understand, and 
 proposes to alter to camelos, camlet ; thus confirming Lord Eerners' transiation.—Es 
 
884 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, F R A N C E , S P A I N , &c. 
 
 of sixty thousand. They had a leader called Wat Tyler, and with 
 him were Jack Straw and John Ball : these three were their com- 
 manders, but the principal was Wat Tyler. This Wat had been a 
 tiler of houses, a bad man, and a great enemy to the nobility. When 
 these wicked people fir^t began to rise, all London, except their 
 friends, were very much frightened. The mayor and rich citizens 
 assembled in council, on hearing they were coming to London, and 
 debated whether they should shut the gates and refuse to admit them ; 
 but haxing well considered, they determined not to do so, as they 
 should run the ri^k of having the suburbs burnt.* 
 
 The gates were therefore thrown open, when they entered in 
 troops of one or two hundred, by twenties or thirties, according to 
 the populousness of the towns they came from ; and as they came 
 into London they lodged themselves. But it is u truth, that full 
 two.thirds of these people knew not what they wanted, nor what 
 they sought for: they followed one another like sheep, or like the 
 shepherds of old, who said they were going to conquer the Holy 
 Land, and afterwards accomplished nothing. In such manner did 
 these poor fellows and vassals come to London from distances of a 
 hundred and sixty leagues,! but the greater part from those counties 
 I have mentioned, and on t<heir arrival they demanded to see the 
 king. The gentlemen of the country, the knights and the squires, 
 began to be alarmed when they saw the people thus rise ; and, it" 
 they were frightened, they had sufficient reason, for less causes create 
 fear. They began to collect together as well as they could. 
 
 The same day that these wicked men of Kent were on their road 
 toward London, the princess of Wales, mother to the king, was 
 returning from a pilgrimage to Canterbury. She ran great risks 
 from them ; for these scoundrels attacked her car, and caused much 
 confusion, which greatly frightened the good lady, lest they should 
 do some violence to her or to her ladies. God, however, preserved 
 her from this, and she came in one day from Canterbury to London, 
 without venturing to make any stop by the way. Her son Richard 
 was this day in the Tower of London : thither the princess came, 
 and found the king attended by the earl of Salisbury, the archbishop 
 of Canterbury, sir Robert de Namur, the lord de Gommegines, and 
 several more, who had kept near his person from suspicions of his 
 subjects who were thus assembling, without knowing what they 
 wanted. This rebellion was well known to be in agitation in the 
 king's palace, before it broke out and the country people had left 
 their homes; to which the king applied no remedy, to the great 
 astonishment of every one. In order that gentlemen and others may 
 talie example, and correct wicked rebels, I will mc-3t amply detail 
 how this business was conducted. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXIV. 
 
 THE PO?rLACE OF ENGLAND COMMIT MANY CRUELTIES ON THOSE IN OFFI- 
 CIAL SITUATIONS. THEY SEND A KNIGHT AS EMBASSADOR TO THE KING. 
 
 On Monday preceding the feast of the Holy Sacrament, in the 
 year 1381, did these people sally forth from their homes, to come to 
 London to remonstrate with the king, that all might be made free, for 
 ihey would not there should be any slaves in England. At Canter- 
 bury, they met John Ball (who thought he should find there the 
 archbishop, but he was at London,) Wat Tyler and Jack Straw. 
 On their entrance into Canterbury, they were much feasted by every 
 one, for the inhabitants were of their way of thinking ; and, having 
 held a council, they resolved to march to London, and also to send 
 emissaries across the Thames to Essex, Suffolk, Bedford, and other 
 counties, to press the people to m irch to London on that side, and 
 thus, as it were, to surround it, which the king would not be able to 
 prevent. It was their intention that all the different parties should 
 be collected together on the feast of the Holy Sacrament, or on the 
 following day. 
 
 Those who had come to Canterbury entered the church of St. 
 .Thomas, and did much damage : they pillaged the apartments of the 
 archbishop, saj-ing as they were carrying off different articles ; " This 
 chancellor of England has had this piece of furniture very cheap : 
 he must now give us an account of the revenues of England, and of 
 the large sums he has levied since the coronation of the king." 
 After they had defrauded the abbey of St. Vincent, they set off in the 
 morning, and all the populace of Canterbury with them, taking the 
 road toward Rochester. They collected the people from the vil. 
 lages to the right and left, and marched along like a tempest, de. 
 etroying every house of an attorney or king's proctor, or that belonged 
 to the archbishop, sparing none. 
 
 On their arrival at Rochester, they were much feasted, for the 
 .people were waiting for them, being of their party. They advanced 
 to the castle, and seizing a knight called sir John de Newtoun, who 
 was constable of it and captain of the town,t they told him that he 
 
 * According to Lord Bemers and D. Sauvnge they did at first shut the gates, but 
 •ftprwnrds being in tear for tJie suburbs they caused them to be reopened.— Ed. 
 
 T Lord Bemers exactly agrees with D. fc'auvage, and differs mnterially in the relation 
 of the distance the rebels travelled. Lord Reniers translates lieiies viifes, I apprehend 
 eoTrectly. "In lykewise tliese villains and poor people came to London a hundred 
 myie off. Ix myle, 1 myle, xl myle, and xx myle o/T, and fro' all countries about Lon- 
 don, but tJie nioost part came fro' the countries before-named."— Ed. 
 
 i ' JuKn de Newtoun was constable of this castle (Rocfaestcr) anno Skinf Richard." 
 •IUn'SD*8 £«7tt. vol. ii. p. 13. v -c^v . 
 
 must accompany them as their commander in chief, and do what, 
 ever they should wish. The knight endeavored to excuse himself, 
 and offered good reasons for it, if they had been listened to; but they 
 said to him, " Sir John, if you will not act as we shall order, you are 
 a dead man." The knight seeing this outrageous mob ready to kill 
 him complied with their request, and very unwillingly put himself at 
 their head. They had acted in a similar manner in the other coun- 
 ties of England, in Sussex, Suffolk, Cambridge, Bedford, Stafford, 
 Warwick and Lincoln, where they forced great lords and knights, 
 such as the lord Manley, a great baron, sir Stephen Hales, and sir 
 Thomas Cossington, to lead and march with them. Now, observe 
 how fortunately matters turned out, for had they succeeded in their 
 intentions they would have destroyed the whole nobility of England: 
 after this success, the people of other nations would have rebelled, 
 taking example from those of Ghent and Flanders, who were in act. 
 ual rebellion against their lord. In this same year the Parisians 
 acted a similar part, arming themselves with leaden maces.* They 
 were upward of twenty thousand, as I shall relate when I come to 
 that part of my history; but I will first go on with this rebellion in 
 England. 
 
 When those who had lodged at Rochester had done all they 
 wanted, they departed, and crossing the river, came to Dartford, but 
 always following their plan of destroying the houses of lawyers or 
 proctors on the right and left of their road. In their way, they cut 
 off several men's heads, and continued their march to Blackheath, 
 where they fixed their quarters: they said they were armed for the 
 king and commons of England. When the citizens of London found 
 they were quartered so near them, they closed the gates of London- 
 bridge: guards were placed there by orders of sir William Walworth, 
 mayor of London, and several rich citizens who Vv^ere not of their 
 party ; but there were in the city more than thirty thousand who fa. 
 vored them. 
 
 Those who were at Blackheath had information of this; they sent, 
 therefore, their knight to speak with the king, and to tell him, that 
 what they were doing was for his service, for the kingdom had been 
 for several years wretchedly governed, to the great dishonor of the 
 realm and to the oppression of the lower ranks of the people, by his 
 uncles, by the clergy, and in particular by the archbishop of Canter- 
 bury, his chancellor, from whom they would have an account of his 
 ministry. The knight dared not say nor do anything to the contrary, 
 but advancing to the Thames opposite the Tower, he took boat and 
 crossed over. While the king and those with him in the Tower 
 were in great suspense, and anxious to receive some intelligence, the 
 knight came on shore : way was made for him, and he was conducted 
 to the king, who was in an apartment with the princess his mother. 
 There were also with the king his two maternal brother?, the earl of 
 Kent and sir John Holland, the earls of Salisbury, Warwick, Suffolk, 
 the archbishop of Canterbury, the great prior of the Templars in Eng. 
 land, sir Robert de Namur, the lord de Vertain, the lord de Gomme. 
 gines, sir Henry de Sausselles, the mayor of London and several of 
 the principal citizens. 
 
 Sir John Newtoun, who was well known to them all, for he was 
 one of the king's officers, cast himself on his knees and said : " My 
 much redoubted lord, do not be displeased with me for the message 
 I am about to deliver to you ; for, my dear lord, through force I am 
 come hither." "By no means, sir John, tell us what you are charged 
 with : we hold you excused." " My very redoubted lord, the com- 
 mons of your realm send me to you to entreat you would come and 
 speak with them on Blackheath. They wish to have no one but 
 yourself; and you need not fear for your person, for they will not do 
 you the least harm : they always have respected and will respect you 
 as their king; but they will tell you many things, which, they say, it 
 is neces&ary you should hear; with which, however, they have not 
 empowered me to acquaint you. But, dear lord, have the goodness 
 to give me such an answer as may satisfy them, and that they may 
 be convinced I have really been in your presence ; for they have my 
 children as hostages for my return, whom they will assuredly put to 
 death, if I do not go back." 
 
 The king replied, " You shall speedily have an answer." Upon 
 this he called a council to consider what was to be done. The king 
 was advised to say, that if on Thursday they would come down to the 
 river Thames, he would without fail speak with them. Sir John 
 Newtoun, on receiving this answer, was well satisfied therewith^ 
 and, taking leave of the king and barons, departed : having entered 
 his boat, he recrossed the Thames, and returned to Blackheath, where 
 he had left upward of sixty thousand men. He told them from the 
 king, that if they would send on the morrow morning their leaders 
 to the Thames, the king would come and hear what they had to say. 
 This answer gave great pleasure, and they were contented with it: 
 they passed the night as well as they could; but you must know that 
 one-fourth of them fasted for want of provision, as they had not 
 brought any with them, at which they were much vexed, as may bo 
 supposed. 
 
 At this time, the earl of Buckingham was in Wales, where he pes 
 sessed great estates in right of his wife, who w^as daughter of the 
 earl of Hereford and Northampton ; bivt the common report about 
 London was, that he favored these people: some assured it for a 
 
 * Lord Bemers and D. Sauvage read iron, though the latter in .a oote says thatUw 
 Chronicles and Annali of France say ieai.— En. .' " ' ' ' 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 282 
 
 truth, as having seen him among them, because there was one 
 Thomas very much resembling him, from the county of Cambridge. 
 As for the English barons who were at Plymouth making prepara. 
 tions for their voyage, they had heard of this rebellion, and that the 
 people were rising in all parts of the kingdom. Fearful lest their 
 voyage should be prevented, or that the populace, as they had done 
 at Southampton, Winchelsea and Arundel, should attack them, they 
 heaved their anchors, and with some difficulty left the harbor, for the 
 wind was against them, and put to sea, where they cast anchor to 
 u ait for a wind. 
 
 Richard the Second and ths Rebels.— From a MS. of the iSth Century. 
 
 The duke of Lancaster was on the borders, between la Morlane,* 
 Roxburgh and Melrose, holding conferences with the Scots : he had 
 also received intelligence of this rebellion, and the danger his person 
 waa in, for he well knew he was unpopular with the common people 
 of England. Notwithstanding this, he managed his treaty very pru- 
 dently with the Scotch commissioners, the earl of Douglas, the earl 
 of Moray, the earl of Sutherland, the earl of Mar and Thomas de 
 Vesey. The Scotsmen who were conducting the treaty on the part 
 of the king and the country knew also of the rebellion in England, 
 and how the populace were rising everywhere against the nobility. 
 They said, that England was shaken and in great danger of being 
 ruined, for which in their treaties they bore the harder on the duke 
 of Lancaster and his council. 
 
 We will now return to the commonalty of England, and say how 
 they continued in their rebellion. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXV. 
 
 THE COMMONALTY OF EN&LAND ENTER LONDON, WHERE THEY COMMIT 
 MANY CRUELTIES AND OUTRAGES. THEY PUT TO DEATH THE ARCH- 
 BISHOP OF CANTERBURY AND SEVERAL OTHERS. 
 
 On Corpus Christi day king Richard heard mass, in the tower of 
 London, with all his lords, and afterwards entered his barge, attended 
 by the earls of Salisbury, Warwick and Suffjlk, with other knights. 
 He rowed down the Thames toward Rotherhithe, a manor belonging 
 to the crown, where were upward of ten thousand men, who had 
 come from Blackheath to see the king and to speak to him : when 
 they perceived his barge approach, they set up such shouts and cries 
 as if all the devils in hell had been in their company. They had 
 their knight, sir John Newtoun, with them ; for,in case the king had 
 not come and they found he had made a jest of them, they would, 
 as they had threatened, have cut him to pieces. 
 
 When the king and his lords saw this crowd of people, and the 
 wildness of their manner, there was not one among them so bold 
 and determined but felt alarmed : ihe king was advised by his barons 
 
 • " La-Morlaoe." Lambir-law.— MACPH«RiON'« Geog. ItlusU df Seotlam' 
 
 not to land, but to have his barge rowed up and down the river. 
 " What do ye wish for ?" demanded the king : " I am come hither 
 to hear what ycu have to say." Those near him cried out with one 
 voice, " We wish thee to land, when we will remonstrate with 
 thee, and tell thee more at our ease what our v-;ants are." The earl 
 of Salisbury then replied for the king, and said, " Gentlemen, you 
 are not properly dressed, nor in a fit condition for the king to talk 
 with you." 
 
 Nothing more was said ; for the king was desired to return to the 
 Tower of Lsndon, from whence he had set out. W^hen the people 
 
 saw they could obtain 
 nothing more, they 
 were inflamed with 
 passion, and went 
 back to Blackheath, 
 where the main body 
 was, to relate the an- 
 swer they had re- 
 ceived, and how the 
 king was returned to 
 the Tower. They all 
 then cried out, " Let 
 us march instantly to 
 London." They im- 
 mediately set off, and, 
 in their road thither, 
 they destroyed the 
 houses of lawyers, 
 courtiers, and monas- 
 teries. Advancing 
 into the suburbs of 
 London, which were 
 very handscmc and 
 extensive, they pulled 
 down many fine hou- 
 ses: in particular, they 
 demolished the prison 
 of the king called the 
 Marshalsea, and set at 
 liberty all those con- 
 fined within it. They 
 did much damage to 
 the suburbs, and men- 
 aced the Londoners at 
 the entrance of the 
 bridge for having shut 
 the gates of it, saying, 
 they would set fire to 
 the suburb?, take the 
 city by storm, and af- 
 terwards burn and de- 
 stroy it. 
 
 With respect to the common people of London, numbers were of 
 their opinions, and, on assembling together, said, " Why will you 
 refuse admittance to these honest men ? They are our friends, and 
 what they are doing is for our good." It v/as then found necessary 
 to open the gates, when crowds rushed in, and ran to those shops 
 which seemed well stored with provision : if they sought for meat 
 or drink, it v;as placed before them, and nothing refused, but all 
 manner of good cheer ofl'ered, in hopes of appeasing them. 
 
 Their leaders, John Ball, Jack Straw and Wat Tyler, then 
 marched through London, attended by more than twenty thousand 
 men, to the palace of the Savoy, which is a handsome building on 
 the road to Westminster, situated on the banks of the Thames, be- 
 longing to the duke of Lancaster; they immediately killed the por- 
 ters, pressed into the house and set it on fire. Not content with 
 committing this outrage, they went to the house of the knights- 
 hospitalers of Rhodes, dedicated to St. John of P^Tount Cannel, which 
 they burnt, together with their hospital and church. They after- 
 wards paraded the streets, and killed every Fleming they could find, 
 whether in house, church or hospital : not one escaped death. They 
 broke open several houses of the Lombards, taking whatever money 
 they could lay their hands on, none daring to oppose them.. They 
 murdered a rich citizen called Richard Lyon, to whom Wat Tyler 
 had been formerly servant in France ; but, having once beaten this 
 varlet, he had not forgotten it, and, having carried his men to his 
 house, ordered his head to be cut off", placed upon a pike, and car- 
 ried through the streets of London. Thus did these wicked people 
 act like madmen ; and, on this Thursday, they did much mischief 
 to the city of London. 
 
 Toward evening, they fixed their quarters in a square called St. 
 Catherine!s, before the Tower, declaring they would not depart 
 thence until they should obtain from the king everything they wanted, 
 and have all their desires satisfied ; and the chancellor of England 
 made to account with them, and show how the great sums which had 
 been raised were expended ; menacing, that if he did not render 
 such an account as was agreeable to them, it would be the worse for 
 him. Considering the various ills they had done to foreigners, they 
 . lodged" themsilvci before the Tower. You may easily suppose what 
 
fi86 CHRONICLESOFENGLA 
 
 a miserable situation the king was in, and those with him ; for at 
 times these rebellious fellows hooted as loud as if the devils were in 
 thorn. 
 
 About e\ening, a council was held in the presence of the king, 
 the barons who were in the Tower with him, sir William Walworth 
 the mayor, and some of the principal citizens, when it was proposed 
 to arm themselves, and during the night to fall upon these wretches 
 who were in the streets and amounted to sixty thousand, while they 
 were asleep and drunk, for then they might be killed like flies, and 
 not one in twenty amung them had arms. The citizens were very 
 capable of doing this, for they had secretly received into their houses 
 their friends and servants, properly prepared to act. Sir Robert 
 Knolles remained in his house, guarding his property, with more 
 than six score companions completely armed, and would have in- 
 stantly sallied forth. Sir Perducas d'Albreth was also in London at 
 that period, and would have been of great service ; so that they could 
 have mustered upward of eight thousand men, well armed. But 
 nothing was done ; for they were too much afraid of the commonalty 
 of London ; and the advisers of the king, the earl of Salisbury and 
 others, said to him, " Sir, if you can appease them by fair words, it 
 will be so much the better, and gocd-humoredly grant them what 
 they ask ; for, should we begin what we cannot go through, we shall 
 never be able to recover it : it will be all over with us and our heirs, 
 and England will be a desert." This council was followed, and the 
 mayor ordered to make no movement. He obeyed, as in reason he 
 ought. In the city of London, with the mayor, there are twelve 
 sherifFi,* of whom nine were for the king and three for these wicked 
 people, as it was afterwards discovered, and for which they then paid 
 dearly. 
 
 On Friday morning, those lodged in the square before St. Cathe- 
 rine's, near the Tower, began tj make themselves ready ; they 
 shouted much, and said, that if the king would not come out Id them, 
 they would attack the Tower, itorm it, and slay all in it. The king 
 was alarmed at these menaces, and resolved to speak with them ; 
 he therefore seat orders for them to retire to a handsome meadow at 
 Mile-end, where, in the summer, people go to amuse themselves, 
 and that there the king would grant them their demands. Procia- 
 mation was made in the king's name for all those who wished to 
 speak with hirn to go to the above-mentioned place, where he would 
 not fail t3 meet them. 
 
 The commonalty of the different villages began to march thither ; 
 but all did not go, nor had they the same objects in view, for the 
 greater part only wished for the riches and destruction of the nobles, 
 and the plunder of London. This was the principal cause of their 
 rebellion, as they very clearly showed ; for when the gates of the 
 Tower were thrown open, and the king, attended by his two bro- 
 thers, the earls of Salisbury, of Warwick, of Suffolk, sir Robert de 
 Namur, the lords de Vertain and de Gommegines, with several 
 others, had passed through them, Wat Tyler, Jack Straw and John 
 Ball, with upward of four hundred, rushed in by force, and, running 
 from chamber to chamber, found the archbishop of Canterbury, whose 
 name was Simon,t a valiant and wise man, and chancellor of Eng. 
 land, who had but just celebrated mass before the king : he was 
 seized by these rascals, and beheaded. The prior of St. John's suf- 
 fered the same fate, and likewise a Franciscan friar, a doctor of 
 physic, who was attached to the duke of Lancaster, out of spite to 
 his master, and also a serjeant-at-arms of the name of John Laige.J 
 They fixed these four heads on long pikes, and had them carried 
 before them through the streets of London : when they had suffi- 
 ciently played with them, they placed them on London Bridge, as if 
 they had been traitors to their king and country. 
 
 These scoundrels entered the apartment of the princess, and cut 
 her bed, which so much terrified her that she fainted, and in this 
 condition was by her servants and ladies carried to the river-side, 
 when she was put into a covered boat, and conveyed to the house 
 called The Wardrobe. § where she continued that day and night like 
 to a woman half dead, until she was comforted by the king her &on, 
 as you shall presently hear. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXVL 
 
 THE NOBLES OF ENGLAND ARE IN GREAT DANGER OF BEING DESTROYED. 
 THREE OF THE PRINCIPAL LEADERS OF THE REBELS ARE PUNISHED, 
 AND THE REST SENT BACK TO THEIR HOMES. 
 
 When the king was on his way to the place called Mile-end, 
 without London, his two brothers, the earl of Kent and sir John 
 Holland, stole off and galloped from, his company, as did also the 
 lord de Gommegines, not daring to show themselves to the populace 
 at Mile-end for fear of their lives. 1| 
 
 * " Twelve sherifFs."— Froissart is mistaken, as there are only two slieriffs and twenty- 
 •ix nldermen, incluiiing the mayor. 
 
 The uldermen werf originally chosen for one year: but, in 1354, "it wni^ ordained 
 that they should not be removed without some special cause."— Stowk's History of 
 London. 
 
 t '* Simon de Sudbury."— His name was Tibold ; but he took the name de Sudbury 
 Trom the plnce of his birth. 
 X " Laige"— Les.— HoLLiNGSHED. 
 
 % The Kinp's Wardrobe wis nt this time h Carter-lane, Barnard's Castle-^vnrd. For 
 further pnrticulars, see Stowe's History cf London. 
 
 II Lord Berners, who in this agrees with D. Sauvaee. says the king sent them nwny— 
 (•' put them out of his company.") I do not understand why Mr. Johne* bai repr»- 
 Mutsd them as running away privily.— £o. 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, «&c. 
 
 On the king's arrival, attended by the barons, he found upward 
 of sixty thousand men assembled from different villages and counties 
 of England : he instantly advanced into the midst of them, saying 
 in a pleasant manner, " My good people, I am your king and your 
 lord: what is it you want? and what do you wish to say to me?" 
 Those who heard him- answered, " We wish thou would.':! muke us 
 free for ever, us, our heirs and our lands, and that we should no 
 longer be called slaves, nor held in bondage." The king replied, 
 " I grant your wish : now, therefore, return to your homes and tne 
 places whence you came, leaving tv. o or three men from each viU 
 lage, to whom I will order letters to be given sealed with my seal, 
 which they shall carry back with every demand you have made fully 
 granted: and, in order that you may be the more satisfied, I will 
 direct that my banners shall be sent to every stewardship, casdewick 
 and corporation." These words greatly pleased the novices and 
 well-meaning ones who were there; and knew net what they wanted, 
 sayi.rg, " It is well said : we do not wish for more." The people 
 were thus quieted, and began to return toward London. 
 
 The king added a few words, which pleased them much : " You, 
 my good people of Kent, shall have one of my banners ; and you 
 also of Essex, Sussex, Bedford, Suffolk, Cambridge, Stafford, and 
 Lincoln, shall each of you have one ; and I pardon you all for what 
 you have hitherto done ; but you must follow my banners, and now 
 return home on the terms I have mentioned." They unanimously 
 replied they would. Thus did this great assembly break up, and 
 set out for London. The king instantly employed upv/aid of thirty 
 secretaries, who drew up the letters as fast as they could ; and, having 
 sealed and delivered them to these people, they departed, and returned 
 to their own counties. 
 
 The principal mischief remained behind : I mean Wat Tyler, Jack 
 Straw, and John Ball, who declared, that though the people were 
 satisfied, they would not thus depart ; and they had more than thirty 
 thousand who were of their mind. They continued in the city, 
 without any wish to have their letters, or the king's seal ; but did all 
 they could to throw the town into such confusion th;it the lords and 
 rich citizens might be murdered, and their house?' pillaged and de, 
 stroyed. The Londoners suspected this, and kept themselves at 
 home, with their friends and servants, well armed and prepared, 
 every one according to his abilities. 
 
 When the people had been appeased at Mile-erid Green, and were 
 setting off for their different towns as speedily as they could receive 
 the king's letters, king Richard went to the Wardrobe, where the 
 princess was in the greatest fear : he comforted her, as he was very 
 able to do, and passed there the night. 
 
 I must relate an adventure which happened to these clowns near 
 Norwich, and to their leader, called William Lister, who was from 
 the county of Stafford. On the same day, these wicked people burnt 
 the palace of the Savoy, the church and house of St. John, the hos. 
 pital of the Templars, pulled down the prison cf Newgate, and set 
 at liberty all the prisoners. There were collected numerous bodies 
 from Lincolnshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk, who proceeded on their 
 march toward London, according to the orders they had received, 
 under the direction of Lister. 
 
 In their road they stopped near Norwich, and forced every one to 
 join them, so that none of the commonalty remained behind. The 
 reason why they stopped near Norwich was, that the governor of the 
 town was a knight called sir Robett Salle : he was not by birth a 
 gentleman, but, having acquired great renown for his ability and 
 courage, king Edward had created him a knight : he was the hand- 
 somest and strongest man in England. Lister and his companions 
 took it into their heads they would make this knight their commander, 
 and carry him with them, in order to be the more feared. They sent 
 orders to him to come out into the fields to speak with them, or they 
 would attack and burn the city. The knight, considering it was 
 much better for him to go to them than that they should commit such 
 outrages, mounted his horse, and went out of the town alone, to hear 
 what they had to say. When they perceived him coming, they 
 showed him every mark of respect, and courteously entreated him 
 to dismount and talk with them. He did dismount, and ccmmitted 
 a great folly : for, when he had so done, having surrounded him, 
 they at first conversed in a friendly way, saying, " Robert, you are 
 a knight, and a man of great weight in this country, renowned for 
 your valor: yet, notwithstanding all this, we know who you are: 
 you are not a gentleman, but the son of a poor mason, just such as 
 ourselves. Do you come with us, as our commander, and we will 
 make so great a lord of, you that one quarter of England shall be 
 under your command." 
 
 The knight, on hearing them thus speak, was exceedingly angry; 
 he would never have consented to such a proposal ; and, eyeing 
 them with inflamed looks, answered, " Begone, wicked scoundrels 
 and false traitors as you are : would you have me desert my natural 
 lord for such a company of knaves as you ? would you have me dis. 
 honor myself? I would much rather you were all hanged, for that 
 must be your end." On saying this, he attempted to mount his 
 horse ; but, his foot slipping from the stirrup, his horse took fright. 
 They then shouted out, and cried, " Put him to death." When he 
 heard this, he let his horse go ; and, drawing a handsome Bordeaux 
 sword, he began to skirmish, and soon cleared the crowd from about 
 him, that it was a pleasure to see. Some attempted to close witii 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN. "&c. 
 
 S87 
 
 him ; but witli each stroke he gave, he cut off heads, arms, feet, or 
 legs. There were none so bold but were afraid ; and sir Robert 
 performed that day marvellous feats of arms. These wretches were 
 upward of forty thousand ; they shot and flung at him such thiiiga, 
 that had he been clothed in steel instead of being unarmed, he must 
 have been overpowered : however, he killed twelve of them, besides 
 many whom he wounded. At last, he was overthrown, when they 
 cut off his legs and arms, and rent his body in piecemeal. Thus 
 
 this sign, then step forward, and kill every one except the king; bu< 
 hurt him not, for he is young, and we can do whf t we please with 
 him ; for, by carrying him with us through England, we shall be 
 lords of it without any opposition." There was a doublet-maker of 
 London, called John Tide, who had brought ^ixty doublets, with 
 which some of the clowns had dressed themselves ; and on his ask- 
 ing who was to pay, for he must have for them thiity good marks, 
 Tyler replied, "Make thyself easy man ; thou shalt be well paid 
 
 ended sir Robert Salle, which was a great pity ; and, when the this day : look to me for it : thou hast sufficient security for them." 
 knights and squires in England heard of it, they were much enraged. I On saying this, he spurred the hirse on which he roo'e, and, leaving 
 
 his men, galloped up ij the 
 king, and came so near 
 that his horse's head touch- 
 
 -1:,..^^: . cd the crupper of that of 
 
 the king. The first Words 
 he said, when he addressed 
 the king, were, " King, 
 dost thou see all those men 
 there ?" " Yes," replied 
 the king : " why dosrt thou 
 ask?" "Because they are 
 all under my command, 
 and have sworn by their 
 faith and loyalty to do 
 whatever I shall order. 
 " Very well," said the 
 king : " I have no objec 
 tiona to it." Tyler, who 
 was only defirous of a riot, 
 answered, "And thinkeet 
 thou, kingjthat those pc ople 
 and as many more who are 
 in the city, also under my 
 command, ought to depart 
 without having had thy let- 
 ters ? Oh no, we will cany 
 them v,'ith us." " Why," 
 replied the king, "so it hss 
 been ordered, and they 
 will be delivered out one 
 after the other: but, friend, 
 return to thy companions, 
 and tell them to depart 
 from London : be peace- 
 able and careful of your- 
 selves, for it is our deter- 
 On the Saturday morning, the king left the Wardrobe, and went mination that you shall all of you have your letters by villages and 
 
 Dbath o? Wat Tyler.— From a MS. of the Fifteenth Century. 
 
 to Westminster, where he and all the lords heard mass in the abbey. 
 In this church, there is a statue of our Lady in a small chapel, that 
 has many virtues and performs great miracles, in which the kings of 
 England have much faith. The king, having paid his devotions and 
 made his offerings to this shrine, mounted his horse about nine 
 o'clock, as did the barons who were with him. They rode along 
 the causeway to return to London ; but, when they had gone a little 
 way, he turned to a road on the left to go from London. 
 
 This day, all the rabble were again assembled, under the conduct 
 of Wat Tyler, Jack Straw, and John Ball, to parley at a place called 
 Smithfield, where, every Friday, the horse-market is kept. They 
 amounted to upward of twenty thousand, all of the same sort. Many 
 more were in the city, breakfasting and drinking Rhenish, Malm- 
 sey and Madeira wines, in taverns and at the houses of the Lom- 
 bards, without paying for anything ; and happy was he who could 
 give them good cheer. Those who were collected in Smithfield had 
 king's banners, which had been given to them the preceding even- 
 ing ; and these reprobates wanted to pillage the city the same day, 
 their leaders saying, " that hitherto they had done nothing. The 
 pardons which the king has granted will not be of much use to us : 
 but, if we be of the same mind, we shall pillage this large, rich, and 
 powerful town of London, before those from Essex, Suffolk, Cam. 
 bridge, Bedford, Warwick, Reading, Lancashire, Arundel, Guilford, 
 Coventry, Lynne, Lincoln, York, and Durham shall arrive ; for they 
 are on the road, and we know for certain that Vaquier* and Lister 
 will conduct them hither. If wo now plunder the city of the wealth 
 that is in it, we shall have been beforehand, and shall not repent of 
 80 doing ; but, if we wait for their arrival, they will wrest it from 
 us." To this opinion all had agreed, when the king appeared in 
 sight, attended by sixty horse. He was not thinking of them, but 
 intended to have continued his ride without coming into London : 
 however, when he came before the abbey of St. Bartholomew, which 
 is in Smithfield, and saw the crowd of people, he stopped, and said 
 he would not proceed until he knew what they wanted ; and, if they 
 were troubled, he would appease them. 
 
 The lords who accompanied him stopped also, as was but right, 
 since the king had stopped ; when Wat Tyler, seeing the king, said 
 to his men, " Here is the king : I will go and speak with him : do 
 not you stir from hence until I give you a signal." He made a 
 motion with his hand, and added, "When you shall see me make 
 
 VaUuw"— probably Walktr. 
 
 towns, as it had been agreed on." 
 
 As the king finished speaking, Wat Tyler, casting his eyes around 
 him, spied a squire- attached to the king's person bearing his sword. 
 Tyler mortally hated this squire ; formerly they had had words to. 
 gether, when the squire ill-treated him. " What, art tho'ji here?" 
 cried Tyler ; "give me thy dogger," " I will not," said the squire : 
 "why should I give it thee?" The king, turning to him, said, 
 " Give it him, give it him ;" which he did, though much against his 
 will. When Tyler took it, he began to play with it and turn it about 
 in his hand, and, again addressing the squire, said, " Give me that 
 sword." " I will not," replied the squire ; " for it is the king's 
 sword, and thou art not worthy to bear it, who art but a mechanic ; 
 and, if only thou and I were together, thou wouldst not have dared 
 to say what thou hast for as large a heap of gold as this church," 
 " By my troth," answered Tyler, " I will not eat this day before I 
 have thy head." At these words, the mayor of London, with about 
 twelve more, rode forward, armed under their robes, and, pushing 
 through the crowd, saw Tyler's manner of behaving : upon which, 
 he said, " Scoundrel, how dare you thus behave in the presence of 
 the king, and utter such words ? It is too impudent for such as 
 thou." Tho king then began to be enraged, and said to the mayor, 
 " Lay hands on him." 
 
 While the king was giving this order, Tyler had addressed the 
 mayor, saying, " Hey, in God's name, what I have said, does it 
 concern thee ? what dost thou mean ?" " Truly," replied the mayor, 
 who found himself supported by the king, " dees it become such a 
 stinking rascal as thou art to use such speech in the presence of the 
 king, thy natural lord ? I will not live a day, if thou pay not for it." 
 Upon this, he drew a kind of cimeter* he wore, and struck Tyler 
 such a blow on the head as felled him to his horse's feet. When he 
 was down, he was surrounded on all sides, so that his m.en could 
 not see him ; and one of the king's squires, called John Standvvich,t 
 immediately leaped from his horse, and, drawing a handsome sword 
 which he bore, thrust it into his belly, and thus killed him. 
 
 His men advancing, saw their leader dead, when they cried out, 
 " They have killed our captain : let us march to them, and slay the 
 whole." On these words, they drew up in a sort of battle-array, 
 each man having his bent bow before him. The king certainly 
 
 * "Badelaire "—a short and broad backsword, being toward tlie point like a Tuikiih 
 cimeter.— CosoRAVE. 
 t " Standwittb." Lord Beroers call* him Staadyssbe ; Stow, Cavendish. 
 
288 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 hazarded much by this action, but it turned out fortunate : for, when 
 Tyler was on the ground, he left his attendants, ordering not one to 
 follow him. He rode up to these rebellious fellows, who were ad- 
 vancing to revenge their leader's death, and said to them, *' Gentle, 
 men, what are you about ? you shall have no other captain but me : 
 I am your king : remain peaceable." When the greater part of 
 them heard these words, they were quite ashamed, and those in- 
 clined to peace began to slip away." The riotous ones kept their 
 ground, and showed symptoms of mischief, and as if they were 
 resolved to do something. 
 
 The king returned to his lords, and asked them what should next 
 be done. He was advised to make for the fields ; for the mayor 
 said, " that to retreat or fly v/ould be of no avail. It is proper we 
 should act thus, for I reckon that we shall very soon receive assist, 
 ance from London, that is, from our good friends who arc prepared 
 and armed, with all their servants in their houses." While things 
 remained in this state, several ran to London, and cried out, " They 
 a/e killing the king ! they are killing the king and our mayor." 
 Upon this alarm, every man of the king's party sallied out toward 
 Smithfield, and to the fields v.-hither the king had retreated ; and 
 tl:ere wer^ instantly collected from seven to eight thousand men 
 in aj-ras. 
 
 Among the first, came sir Robert Knollcs and sir Perducas d'Al- 
 breth, well attended ;* and several of the aldermen, with upward of 
 six hundred inen-at-arms, and a powerful man of the city called 
 Nicholas Bramber, the king's draper, bringing with him a large 
 force, who, aa they came up, ranged themselves in order, on foot, on 
 each side of him. The rebels were drawn up opposite them : they 
 had the king's banners, and showed as if they intended to maintain 
 their ground by offering combat. The king created three knights ; 
 sir William Walworth, mayor of London, sir John Standwich, and 
 sir Nicholas Bramber. The lords began to converse among them, 
 selves, saying, " What shall we do ? We see our enemies, who 
 would willingly have murdered us if they had gained the upper 
 hand." Sir Robert Knolles advised immediately to fall on them, 
 and slay them ; but the king would not consent, saying, " I will not 
 have you act thus : you shall go and demand from them my banners : 
 we shall see how they will behave when you make this demand ; 
 for I will have them by fair or foul means." *' It is a good thought," 
 replied the earl of Salisbury. 
 
 The new knights were therefore sent, who, on approaching, made 
 signs for them not to shoot, as they wished to speak with them. 
 When they had come near enough to be heard, tliey said, " Now 
 attend : the king orders you to send back his banners, and we hope 
 he will have mercy on you." The banners were directly given up, 
 and brought to the king. It was then ordered, under pain of death, 
 that all those who had obtained the king's letters should deliver 
 them up. Some did so ; but not all. The king, on receiving them, 
 had them torn in their presence. You must know, that from the 
 instant when the king's banners were surrendered, these fellows 
 kept no order; but the greater part, throwing their bows to the 
 ground, took to their heels and returned to London. 
 
 Sir Robert Knolles was in a violent rage that they were not at- 
 tacked, and the whole of them slain ; but the king would not con. 
 sent to it, saying, he would have ample revenge on them, which in 
 truth he afterwards had. 
 
 Thus did these people disperse, and run away on all sides. The 
 king, the lords, and the army returned in good array to London, to 
 their great joy. The king immediately took the road to the Ward, 
 robe, to visit the piincess his mother, who had remained there two 
 days and two nights under the greatest fears, as indeed she had 
 cause. On seeing the king her son, she was mightily rejoiced, and 
 said, '* Ha, ha, fair son, what pain and anguish have I not suffered 
 for you this day !" *' Certainly, madam," leplied the king, I am 
 well assured of that ; but now rejoice and thank God, for it behooves 
 U8 to praise him, as I have this day regained my inheritance, and 
 the kingdom of England, which I had lost." 
 
 The king remained the whole day with his mother. The lords 
 retired to their own houses. A proclamation was made through all 
 the streets, that every person who was not an inhabitant of London, 
 and who had not resided there for a whole year, should instantly 
 depart ; for that, if there were any found of a contrary description 
 on Sunday morning at sunrise, they would be arrested as traitors to 
 the king, and have their heads cut off. After this proclamation had 
 been heard, no one dared to infringe it ; but all departed instantly 
 to their former homes, quite discomfited. John Ball and Jack Straw 
 were found hidden in an old ruin, thinking to steal away ; but this 
 they could not do, for they were betrayed by their own men. The 
 king and the lords were wqII pleased with their seizure : their heads 
 were cut off, as was that of Tyler, and fixed on London bridge, in 
 the place of those gallant men whom they beheaded on the Thurs- 
 
 *In one of my MSS. there is the fdllowing addition. 
 
 "Sir Robert de Nnniur, sir Robert Knolles, and sir Perducas d'Albreth were very 
 angry that these wicked people so easily escaped, for they liiid put the town into great 
 alarm for three days. Sir Henry de Sausselles, a young knight from Hainault who had 
 accompanied sir Robert de Nainur, askej why some revenge was not had for having 
 kept the town in su<'h alarm. Sir Robert, upon this, asked him if he had been frijjht- 
 •Qcd: * Yee, by God, was I, very much; why shouM I conceal it? And was not youl' 
 *Ko. bymy troth, I was not; but if the kias bad aot been bete with us, we should have 
 fun gieat riik."* 
 
 day.* The news of this was sent through the neighboring counliesi, 
 that those might hear «f it who were on their way to London, ac. 
 cording to the orders these rebels had sent them : upon which they 
 instantly returned to their homes, without daring to advance farther. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXVII. 
 
 A TRUCE BETWEEN THE ENGLISH AND SCOTS. THE DUKE OF LANCASTE* 
 REMAINS IN SCOTLAND DURING Tl E REBELLION IN ENGLAND. 
 
 We will now speak of the truce wl ich the duke of Lancaster, who 
 had remained on the borders of Scotland during the time of this re. 
 hellion in England, was negotiating with the earl of Douglas and 
 other barons on the part of Scotland. The Scots were as well in- 
 formed as the duke of the situation of England, though he did not 
 take any notice of it to them, but went on with the treaty as if Eng. 
 land were in perfect peace. The business was so ably conducted 
 by the commissioners on each side that a truce was made, for three 
 years, between the two kingdoms. 
 
 When this treaty was concluded, the lords of the two countrie*^ 
 visited each' other with much respect. The earl of Douglas said to 
 the duke of Lancaster, "My lord, we were well informed of the re- 
 bellion of the populace in England, and what peril the kingdom was 
 in from that event : we therefore look on you as a valiant and prudent 
 man, for having so frankly continued your negotiations without ever 
 taking the least notice of it ; and we offer you, should you think 
 them necessary, five or six hundred spears, which you will find 
 ready and at your service." " By my faith," replied the duke, "fair 
 gentlemen, I thank you much for your gallant ofifer, which I do not 
 refuse ; but I imagine his majesty must have been so advised that all 
 will turn out well. However, I wish to have passports from you, 
 for myself and people, to go to your country, and reside there, should 
 there be occasion, until all these troubles be appeased." The earls 
 of Douglas and Moray, who had full powers from the king, imme- 
 diately complied with his request. They then took their leave, and 
 each party separated: the Scots returned to Edinburgh, and the duke, 
 with his attendants, to Berwick, thinking to enter the town, where 
 he had left all his baggage ; but sir Matthew Redmayne, the gov. 
 ernor, refused him entrance, and closed the gates against him. He 
 told him he acted by orders from the earl of Northumberland, at that 
 time lord warden of the county of Northumberland and of all those 
 parts, who had forbidden him to open the gates, and that he could do 
 no otherwise. 
 
 The duke was much vexed on hearing these words, and thus an. 
 swered, " How, Matthew Redmayne, is there any one in Northum. 
 berland greater than I ? Who has thus denied my entrance where 
 I have left my baggage ? from whence come such orders ?" " By 
 my faith, my lord, my orders are from the king, and what I do is 
 very much against my will ; but do it I must ; and I entreat of you, 
 for God's sake, to excuse me, for I am strictly enjoined, on my honor 
 and life, not to suffer you, or any of your people, to enter this town." 
 You may suppose the duke of Lancaster was much astonished and 
 enraged at these orders ; not so much with the knight, but with those 
 who had given them ; for when he had been laboring for the good 
 of England, they were so suspicious of him that they had refused 
 him admittance into the first town of England, on his return from 
 Scotland. He supposed that great fault had been found with him: 
 however, he did not open his thoughts or intentions further, and no 
 longer pressed the knight. He saw no success could come from it, 
 for the knight would never have acted as he had done if he had not 
 had express commands : he therefore changed the subject of conver. 
 sation, and asked sir Matthflw if he had heard any news from Eng. 
 land. He answered, " None, except that the country was in confusion, 
 and that the king had written to the principal towns, barons and 
 knights of this country to be ready to come to him the moment he 
 should send for them, strictly forbidding, under pain of losing their 
 heads, all governors and captains of towns and castles in Northum- 
 berland to suffer any one whatever to enter their places ; and be 
 assured they will punctually obey. But, with regard to the common 
 people who are in rebellion about London, I know nothing I can 
 depend on to relate to you, except that the officers in Suffolk, Lin. 
 coin, Cambridge, Stafford, Bedford and Norfolk have sent information 
 that the commonalty under their command are very eager affairs 
 should turn out ill, and that there should be confusion in the king- 
 
 * From the forenientioned MS. 
 
 "Tiiis same week was J.imes Lister tak^n, who had murdered sir Robert Siiile. He 
 and twelve others were executed with him. Thus were these traitors punishetl. There 
 are some who say, that John Ball and his accomplices were strictly examined before 
 they wore put to death, and then owned that persons of the highest nink and power 
 had incited them to act as they had done. Tlie king kept this confewion secret in his 
 own mind, and returned thanks to God for his hiippy issue out of this dan^'er. Very 
 many were astonishod thnt the duke of Lancaster, dariiig all this rebellion, remained 
 out of the kingdom, settling general matters on the bordere of Scotland. 
 
 "The king sent orders to the earl of Northumberhmd. thnt if the duke of Lnncnster 
 should attempt to enter any fortified town or castle, the gHles siiould he >Um against 
 him. The king made the earl his lieutenant of all the borders toward Scotland. Many 
 noblemen and others were surprised at this, for it would seem as if the king sur'pected 
 the duke of being implicated with the rebels. But it was admitted, on all sidas that he 
 was inculpated without any jrrounds ; for the first thing the rebels did, on entering Lon- 
 don, was to march to the palace of the Savoy, and totnliy destroy and burn it. Now 
 this did not show that he wt^s Iriendly to theii cause. They also put to death MvenJ 
 whM were attached to bin." 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 dom." " And in our counties,'' said the duiie, " of Derby and 
 Leicester, there is not any commotion ?" " My lord," replied the 
 knight, " I have not heard they have behaved so outrageously as 
 those of Lmcoln and others." 
 
 The duke, having mused a little, took leave of the knight, and 
 returned by the road he had come to Roxburgh Castle, where he was 
 gladly received by the governor, whom he had placed there. The 
 duke now weighed all matters, not knowing how affairs were going 
 on in England, nor by whom he was beloved or hated, and whether 
 he should signify his situation to the barons of Scotland, and entreat 
 of them to send him an escort of men-at-arms, according to the pass- 
 port they had given. He followed this last plan, and sent to the earl 
 of Douglas at Dalkeith. The earl was greatly rejoiced at receiving 
 the duke's letter, and much feasted the messenger. He instantly 
 informed the earl of Moray and his brother the earl of Mar, of the 
 business, and directed that without fail they and their men should be 
 ready and mounted within three days at Lambii--law. These lords, 
 on receiving this intimation, summoned their people and nearest 
 friends, and came to Lambir-law, where they found the earl of 
 Douglas. They then rode on together, amounting, in the whole, to 
 full five hundred spears, to the abbey of Melrose, nine small leagues 
 from Roxburgh. The barons of Scotland met the duke of Lancaster 
 on their road, when they embraced each other, and showed every 
 token of being glad at meeting. They continued their journey to 
 Edinburgh in company, conversing all the way. This was the capital 
 of the kingdom, and where usually the king resided : it has a strong 
 castle and fair harbor ; but the king was at that time absent, being 
 in the Highlands on a hunting party. To pay greater honor to the 
 duke of Lancaster, the earl of Douglas and the Scots barans delivered 
 up to him the castle of Edinburgh, for which he was very thankful : 
 and he resided there until he had received intelligence from Eng- 
 land, which, however, was not so soon as he wished. 
 
 Now see how evil-minded persons and deceivers take on them to 
 prate without any knowledge of facts. It was commonly reported 
 through England, during the time of the rebellion, that the duke of 
 Lancaster had become a traitor to his lord and king, and had turned 
 to the Scots party. But this was soon known to be contrary to the 
 truth : however, these wicked people, in order to stir up the com- 
 monalty, and to create confusion in the realm, had spread abroad 
 such reports, which were acknowledged at their executions, by Wat 
 Tyler, Jack Straw, John Ball, Walker and Lister, who had been the 
 chief leaders of the rebels in England, and who had intended to have 
 had five parts of the kingdom under their command. They had a 
 particular hatred to the duke of Lancaster, as they showed on their 
 entrance into London ; for they instantly went and burnt the fine 
 palace of the Savoy, not leaving an utensil nor beam unburnt. In 
 addition to this, they had published all over England that he had 
 turned to the side of Scodand ; for which, in several parts, they had 
 reversed his arms, as if he had been a traitor. This was so severely 
 punished that those who had done such things lost their heads. 
 
 We will now relate what vengeance the king of England took on 
 his rebellious subjects during the time the duke of Lancaster was in 
 Scotland. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXVIII. 
 
 KING RICHARD JOURNEYS THROUGH ENGLAND FROM TOWN TO TOWN, PUN- 
 ISHING THOSE WHO HAD BEEN PRINCIPALS OR ACTIVE IN THE LATE 
 REBELLION. THE DUKE OF LANCASTER RETURNS FROM SCOTLAND TO 
 ENGLAND. 
 
 After the executions of Tyler, Jack Straw, John Ball, William 
 Lister, Walker and several others at London, the people being ap- 
 peased, the king resolved to visit his bailiwicks, castlewicks and 
 stewardships, in order to punish the wicked and to recover the let- 
 ters of pardon which had been forced from him, as well as to plate 
 the realm in its proper situation. The king issued a secret summons 
 for a certain nunsber of men-at-arms to assemble at a fixed place, on 
 a particular day, which was done. They amounted to five hundred 
 spears and as many archers. When they were thus assembled, the 
 king set out from London, attended only by his household, and took 
 the road to Kent, for in that quarter the rebellion had first broken out. 
 
 These men-at-arms followed the king, but did not accompany him. 
 The king entered the county of Kent, and came to a village called 
 Comprinke,* when he had the mayor and all the men of the village 
 called before him. On their being assembled in an open space, the 
 king ordered one of his council to remonstrate with them, how much 
 they had erred against him, and that they had nearly thrown Eng- 
 ■ land into desolation and ruin ; and because this mischief must have j 
 had some advisers who had encouraged them in their wickedness, 
 ; and it must be supposed that all were net equally guilty, it was bet- 
 ' *tcr that the ringleaders should suffer than the whole: his majesty 
 demanded that those should be pointed out who had been so culpa- 
 ble, under pcia of incurring his indignation for ever, and being con- 
 sidered as traitors. 
 
 When those present heard this harangue, and saw the innocent 
 might escape by pointing out the guilty, they looked at each other, 
 and then stiid : " My lord, here is one by whom, this town was first 
 
 • Comprinke." It u so in lord Bemew. U- if not Ospringe. See additions at the 
 vaA bf ibi« chaptsr. 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. m 
 
 put into confusion and excited to rise." He was immediately seized, 
 and hanged ; as were seven others. The letters patent which had 
 been granted were demanded back : when they were given up, the 
 king's officers tore them in pieces before their eyes, and cast ihem 
 away, and then said, " We command all ye who are here assembled, 
 in the king's name, and under pain of death, to depart, every one 
 peaceably to his own home ; and that you never rebel more against 
 the king, nor against his ministers. By the punishment which haa 
 been inflicted, your former evil deeds are pardoned." The people 
 cried out with one voice, " God bless the king and his good council." 
 They acted in the same manner at Propinke,* Canterbury, Sand, 
 wich, Germanie,t Conculle,t and in the different parts of England 
 where the people had rebelled ; so that upward of fifteen hundred 
 were beheaded or hanged. 
 
 The king was advised to send for his uncle the duke of Lancaster, 
 then in Scotland, as everything was now quieted. He sent thitlier 
 a knight of his household, called sir Nicholas Carnefelle. The knight 
 set off, and continued his journey until he came to Edinburgh, where 
 he found the duke and his attendants, who were very happy to see 
 him, and entertained him handsomely. He delivered his credential 
 letters from the king ; and the duke made preparations to obey 
 them, as was right, for he was very desirous to return to England 
 and to his estates. On setting out for Roxburgh, he took his leave 
 of the barons of Scotland, and thanked them for the honor and com- 
 fort they had given him, by maintaining him in their country the 
 time he had wished to stay there. The earls of Douglas and Moray, 
 with all the Scottish knights, escorted him as far as the abbey of 
 Melrose, but did not cross the Tweed. The duke went to Roxburgh, 
 from thence to Newcastle on Tyne, then to Durham and York ; and, 
 in all the towns and cities through which he passed, the inhabitants 
 were drawn up to receive him. 
 
 At this period a gallant knight of England departed this life, eir 
 Guiscard d'Angle, earl of Huntingdon and tutor to the king. He 
 was buried with great pomp in the church of the Augustin friars. 
 His funeral was attended by the king, the princess his mother, hia 
 two brothers, and by great numbers of prelates, barons and ladies of 
 England. In truth, the gallant knight was very deserving of it, for 
 he possessed all the virtues which a knight at that time ought to 
 have : he was gay, loyal, gallant, prudent, secret, generous, bold, 
 determined and enterprising. Thus died sir- Guiscard d'Angle. 
 
 ADDITIONS, from A MS. IN THE HAFORD LIBRARY 
 
 When these first examples had been made on the leaders of tho 
 rebellion in London, St. Alban's, Norwich, Suffolk and Gloucester, 
 the king determined to visit the whole of his kingdom, which he had 
 not done since his coronation. His officers of justice had collected 
 a body of evidence respecting the late rebellion from the confessions 
 of those who had been beheaded. The king, v. hen he set out, took 
 the road toward Canterbury, under a pretext of a pilgrimage to the 
 shrine of St. Thomas of Becket : he was attended by the earls of 
 Salisbury, Suffolk and Devonshire, and travelled in grand array. He 
 remained two days at Rochester; for Sir John Nevvtoun, whom 
 these wicked people had forced to be their captain, had, by the 
 king's command, made exact researches after the first instigators of 
 this mischief. He had found out some of the most culpable, who, 
 without form of law, had their heads cut off and placed on the gates 
 and bridge, and their quarters hung on the gibbet. The king de. 
 parted from Rochester and came to Ospringe, where four were 
 executed. He came thence to Canterbury ; but why should I make 
 a long story of it ? There were put to death, in the different tov.-ns 
 and bailiwicks, upward of five hundred rebels; for they ware eager 
 in accusing each other. 
 
 During this progress of the king, which he continued far info his 
 I'ealm, several of the great barons, such as the earls of Warwick and 
 Kent, sir John Holland, sir John Beauchamp, spoke to the kiiv^_ and 
 to the earl of Salisbury, in favor of the duke of Lancaster ; as did 
 also the Londoners. The king readily consented thai two knights 
 should be sent to the duke, for him to return into England and t j his 
 presence ; for that he would not listen to any compkir.ts against 
 him or his otV.er uncles. The earl of Northumberland was com- 
 manded to go himself in search of him. 
 
 The two knights journeyed on until they arrived at Newccfllson 
 Tyne, where they found the earl of Northumberland. He bad been 
 informed of their coming, and received them handsomely. They 
 produced their letters, when he took from the packet what was ad- 
 dressed to him ; and, having read it through, was much pleased with 
 the commission to seek the duke of Lancaster; for he had heard the 
 duke was very angry with him. He therefore wrote letters of ex- 
 cuse ; and, when these two barons met, peace was made between 
 them. They returned together to England, and found the kinj 
 arrived at his manor of Eltham, a few n Ves from London. At fh's 
 time also, the earl of Buckingham came back from Wales, and went 
 to Pleshy, where he resided as formerly. The king and his uncles 
 dissembled their sentiments of each other for some time ; but at last 
 it broke out, as you will hear in the continuance of this history. 
 
 * Q. If not RochMtar. t **G«rm8nie." tt. t "Conculie." U. 
 
S90 CHRONI-.LES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, <fe<i. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXIX. 
 
 TUB DUKE OF LANCASTER CONCEIVES ANGER AGAINST THE EARL OF NORTH- 
 UMBERLAND, FOR THE REFUSAL OF ADMITTANCE INTO BERWICK. 
 
 When the duke of Lancaster was returned from Scotland, and 
 ; 'id explained to the council the truce he had negotiated between 
 I 3 two kingdoms, he did not forget to mention how sir Matthew 
 Kcidmayne, governor of Berwick (though he blamed not that knight,) 
 had shut the gates of Berwick against him, by orders from the earl 
 of Northumberland. It was such an act, he said, as he never could 
 forgive ; and thus spoke of it, with the intent to see if the king his 
 nephew would ov/xi it. This the king did, but it seemed to the duke 
 as if it were faintly. The duke was appeased for that time ; but he 
 waited for the feast of our lady at mid-August, when the king was 
 to hold a solemn court at Westminster. There were at this court 
 great numbers of the nobles and barons of England ; the earls of 
 Northumberland and Nottingham, with many barons from the north. 
 The king created, this day, the young earl of Pembroke, sir Robert 
 Mowbray, sir Nicholas Twiford and sir Adam Fran9ois, knights. He 
 did so because he intended, after the feast, to march toward Read- 
 ing, Oxford, and through those parts of the country, to punish the rebels 
 in the souie manner as he had done in Kent and the other counties. 
 
 During this feast, and after the dinner, high words passed between 
 the duke of Lancaster and the earl of Northumberland. The duke 
 Sfiid, " Harry Percy, I did not think you was so great a man in 
 England, that you would dare to order any cities, towns or castles, 
 to be shut against the duke of Lancaster." The earl respectfully 
 answered, " My lord, I do not deny the knight's act at Berwick : 
 but I was ordered by strict commands of my lord the king, who sits 
 there,, on my honor and under pain of death, not to suffer any one, 
 lord or otherwise, to enter the cities, towns or castles of Northum- 
 berland, if he were not an inhabitant of those places ; and the king, 
 if he please, or the lords of his council, may make my excuses : for 
 they well knew you were in Scotland, and you ought to have been 
 excepted out of these orders," 
 
 " How, earl of Northumberland," replied the duke, " do you think 
 it was necessary there should have been a reservation in regard to 
 me ? who am uncle to the king, and who have my inheritance to 
 guard, which, next to the king's, is the greatest, and who for the 
 good of the realm have made this journey into Scotland ? Your 
 answer does not excuse you from having much wronged my honor, 
 in thus giving credit to the reports in circulation that I wished to 
 commit treason with the Scots, by shutting against me the king my 
 lord's towns, and in particular that in which my provision and stores 
 were. For which reasons I tell you, you have ill behaved ; and for 
 the blame you have thus cast on me, and to clear myself in the pres. 
 ence of my lord the king, I throw down my glove : lake it up if you 
 dare." Upon thi.-j, the king stepped forth and said, " Fair uncle of 
 Lancaster, whatever has been done I avow as my orders. Take up 
 your glove, and recal your words. I must excuse the earl of North- 
 umberland ; for strictly, and on his life, did we order him to keep 
 every town close shut that was on tlie borders of Scotland : and 
 know, that our kingdom was in such confusion and peril, when you 
 were in those parts, that it could not support itself. It must, there, 
 fore, have been through the fault of the secretary, or the neglect of 
 our council ; for, in truth, you ought to have been excepted. I there- 
 fore beg of you, and will, that you lay aside your ill-humor : I take 
 tl! on myself, and clear the earl of Northumberland." 
 
 The earls of Arundel, Salisbury, Suffolk, Stafford and Devonshire, 
 cast themselves on their knees to the duke, and said, " My lord, 
 you hear how amicably the king speaks to you : you ought to con- 
 descend to what he requests." The duke, who was much inflamed, 
 euid, " I will not say more about it." He was silent a short space, 
 when, raising the barons, and thanking them, he said : " Fair gen- 
 tlemen, there is not one of you, if such an affront had happened .to 
 him, who would not have been as much angered as I am ; but since 
 tlie king wishes otherwi-e, it is but right that I should comply." 
 
 Peace was made between the duke of Lancaster and the earl of 
 Northumberland by m.eans of the king and the barons, who inter- 
 ceded for it. On the second day, the king began to journey, as 
 before mentioned, attended by five hundred spears, and as many 
 archers, through different counties, where he executed justice on the 
 ill-intentioned and on those who had reijt41ed against him. 
 
 We will now leave the king of England, and speak of his uncle, 
 the earl of Cambiidge, and of his voyage to Portugal. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXX. 
 
 THE EARL OF CAMBRIDGE AND HIS ARMY ARRIVE AT LISBON. 
 
 You have before heard how the earl of Cambridge, with five 
 .<undred meu-at-jums and as many archers, were lying in the harbor 
 of Plymouth, waiting for a wind to carry them to Portugal. At last, 
 a favorable wind came, when they heaved their anchors, and the 
 v hole fleet made sail as straight as they could for Lisbon. They 
 coasted, the fintt two days, the shores of England : on the third, 
 they entered the Spanish main, when they had a very severe gale ; 
 i'is^much that the fleet v/as in great danger from the tempest, more 
 
 especially those vessels in which the Gascons were, such as sir John 
 de Chateauneuf, the souldich de I'Estrade, the lord de la Barde, wiih 
 about forty men-at-arms, knights and squires, who were driven out 
 of sight of the English fleet. 
 
 The earl of Cambridge, sir William Beauchamp, marshd of the 
 army, sir Matthew Gournay, constable, and the canon de Robesart, 
 with others, escaped through good fortune, the bad efiecis of the 
 storm, and, sailing by the stars, arrived in the harbor of Lisbon. 
 News of this was instantly carried to the king, who was daily ex- 
 pecting the English : he immediiitely sent his knights and ininisters 
 to welcome them, by whom they were most respectfully received, 
 and the earl of Cambridge, with the English and foreign knights, 
 conducted to the king. The king advanced out of his palace to 
 meet the earl, and received t-hem all most honorably, one after the 
 other : he led them to the palace, where wine and spices were set 
 before them. John of Cambridge, the earl's son, v/as with him, 
 which much pleased the king, who said, " He is my son, and shall 
 have my daughter." This was very proper, for they were of the 
 same age. The children were much pleased, and conversed with 
 each other arm in arm. 
 
 While the king of Portugal and his knights paid every attention 
 to the earl and his companions, and lodged them in the town, the 
 others, on disembarking, were also well-quartered ; for the city of 
 Lisbon is large, handsomely built, and well-furnished v;ith every, 
 thing: the stewards of the household of the king had also been 
 careful to provide it with all things necessary against the arrival of 
 the English. They found it, therefore, amply stored ; and the lords 
 were comfortable and in high spirits, though at times they were very 
 uneasy about the lord de Chateauneuf, the souldich de I'Estrade and 
 the lord de la Barde, and their men, whom they looked upon as lost, 
 or that the tempest had driven them among the Moors in the king- 
 doms of Granada or Benmarine : if it should have so happened, 
 they might as well have perished at sea. All this gave them great 
 concern, and they bitterly lamented them. In truth they were to be 
 pitied ; for they suffered so much in the tempest none ever endured 
 the like and survived it. They were driven through the straits of 
 the Moors, near to the kingdoms of Benmarine and Tremcgen, and 
 were in great danger of being taken by the Saracens ; so that they 
 considered themselves as dead men, never expecting to land nor to get 
 into any safe harbor, and they were forty days in this extreme peril. 
 
 At last, they had a wind which drove them back aguin into the 
 Spanish main, whether they would or not. When the wind became 
 calm, they anchored, and, by good fortune, fell in with two large 
 ships, going, as the crews said, to Lisbon, from Flanders, laden witii 
 merchandise and wines. These knights tacked about, and, having 
 hoisted their pennons, followed the Lisbon ships, who having only 
 merchants on board, were not perfectly easy on seeing this armed 
 vessel approach, with the banners of St. George displayed in vaiious 
 parts of it. However, when they came nearer, finding who they 
 were, they rejoiced to see them. These merchants put the knights 
 once more in great peril, and I will tell you how. 
 
 The knights inquired if they could give them any intelligence : 
 and they, in answer, said, that the king of Portugal and the English 
 were in Spain, and had besieged the king of Castille. They were 
 delighted with this news, and declared they would go thither, as they 
 were now near the shores of Seville. They then left the v.ine-mei^ 
 chants, and ordered their mariners to make sail for Seville, as their 
 friends were there at the siege. They answered, " In God's name, 
 will we obey you ;" and, having steered for Seville, came very near 
 the harbor. The sailors, who were prudent and washed not to run 
 their masters into any danger, ordered a boy to climb the mast, and 
 see if there wiis any appearance of a siege, either by land c^r water, 
 before Seville. The boy, who had a good sight, answered he saw 
 nothing like it. The sailors then, addressing their lords, said, "Lis. 
 ten, fair gentlemen : you have had false information, for certainly 
 there is not any siege before Seville, either by land or water : had 
 there been any appearance of it the harbor would have shown it. 
 We have no occasion to go thither, unless we wish to be made pria- 
 oners ; for the king of Castille is surely there, as it is a city in which 
 he delights to dwell preferably to any other." The sailors were 
 with difficulty believed : however, they were so at last, m hen, quit- 
 ting the coast of Seville, they entered the sea of Portugal, and 
 aiTived in the port of Lisbon precisely at the very hour when their 
 obsequies were performing in the church of St. Catherine at Lisbon. 
 The barons and knights were all clothed in black, for they con- 
 sidcrea them as having perished at sea. You may suppose the joy 
 was great when they learned their safe ariival, and that they had 
 escaped shipwreck. They enjoyed themselves much together, and 
 the Gascon knights soon forgot their misfortunes. i 
 
 We will leave the affairs of Portugal, as no deeds of arms wer< 
 done, and return to Flanders, and say what happened there at tbii 
 period. * ' 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXI. 
 
 THE EARL OF FLANDERS AGAIN LAYS SIEGE TO GHENT. 
 
 While the afflnrs you have heard were passing in England, there 
 was no intermis'sion in the wars which the earl of Flanders was 
 carrying on against Ghent, and which those citizens waged aga;uMt 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPATN, &c. 
 
 him. You know that Philip von Aitaveld was choten commander 
 in Ghunt, through the recommendation of Peter du Bois, who 
 advised him, when in ofRce, to become cruel and wicked to be the 
 more feared. Philip did not forget this doctrine, for he had not long 
 been governor of Ghent before he had twelve persons beheaded in 
 his presence : some said, thev were those who had been principally 
 concerned in the murder of his father, and thus he revenged himself 
 on them. 
 
 Philip von Artaveld began his reign with great power, and made 
 himself beloved and feared by many, more especially by those who 
 followed the profession of arms : for, to gain their favor, he refused 
 them nothing ; everything was abandoned to them. I may be 
 asked how the Ghent men were able to carry on this war ; and I 
 will answer to the best of my ability, according to the information 
 I received. They were firmly united among themselves, and main- 
 tained the poor, each according to his means • thus, by being so 
 firmly united, they were of great force : besiri^d, Ghent, taken all 
 together, is one of the strongest towns in th*. world, provided Bra. 
 bant, Zealand, and Holland, be not agair- tit; but, in case these 
 countries were leagued with Flanders, th. / would be shut up, sur- 
 rounded and starved. These three con. .cries, however, were never 
 their enemies ; so that their warfare -vith the earl of Flanders was 
 more strenuously carried on, and longer continued. At the com- 
 mencement of Philip von Artaveld's government, the deacon of the 
 weavei*s was accused of treason. He was arrested and committed 
 to prison. In order to know the truth of the accusation, his house 
 was searched, wherein was found some saltpetre in powder.* The 
 deacon was beheaded, and dragged through the town by the shoul- 
 ders, for a traitor, and to serve as an example to others. 
 
 The earl of Flanders resolved to lay siege again to Ghent ; he 
 therefore issued his summons to a number of knights and squires, 
 and to the inhabitants of the principal towns. He sent to Mechlin, 
 from whence he had many men. He wrote to his cousins, sir 
 Robert, and sir William de Kamur, at that time count d'Artois, 
 the countess, his mother, being lately dead, who brought a number 
 of knights from Artois. In this summons, the lord de Dampien-e 
 was not forgotten: he came to offer his services, with as many as 
 he could collect, and was handsomely attended by knights and 
 squires from Hainault. The earl advanced to invest Ghent, on the 
 side toward Bruges and Hainault. During the time it lasted, there 
 were many skirmishes; and the Ghent men made frequent sallies in 
 search of adventures, in which sometimes they were repulsed, at 
 others they conquered. But the person who gained the greatest 
 renown was the young lord d'Anghien : all the young knights 
 desirous of glory cheerfully followed his banners. 
 
 The lord d'Anghien marched with full four thousand m» n, well 
 mounted, vvithout counting those on foot, to besiege Grainmont, 
 which was attached to Ghent : he had before harassed them much, 
 but could not win it. This time, however, he came in greater force, 
 and, on a Sunday, had it stormed at upward of forty places : he 
 did not spare himself, but was one of the most active, and the first 
 who placed his banner on the walls. This attack was so sharp and 
 well fought that, about four in the afternoon, the town was taken, 
 and the troops of the lord d'Anghien entered it through the gates, 
 which had been destroyed. When the inhabitants saw their town 
 was lost without hope of recovery, all that could escape did so 
 through those gates where there were no enemies ; but few were so 
 fortunate. The slaughter was very great of men, women and chil- 
 dren, for to none was shown mercy. There were upward of five 
 hundred of the inhabitants killed, and numbers of old people and 
 women burnt in their beds, which was much to be lamented. The 
 town was set on fire at more than two hundred places, which 
 reduced the whole to ashes, churches and all : nothing remained 
 entire. 
 
 Thus did Grammont suffer, by fire and flame ; and the lord 
 d'Anghien, after this exploit, returned to the army before Ghent. 
 The earl of Flanders was much pleased when he heard it, and said, 
 "Fair son, you are a valiant man, and, if it please God, will be a 
 gallant knight, for you have made a handsome commencement.". 
 During this destruction of Grammont, which happened on a Sunday 
 in the month of June, the siege of Ghent still continued. The lord 
 d'Anghien, whose name was Walter, was there, but never rested 
 long in his quarters : he was every day out in search of adventures, 
 at times well accompanied, at others so thinly that he was unable 
 to prosecute his plans. Some adventures, however, daily befel him 
 or the Haze of Flanders. 
 
 • One Thursday morning the lord d'Anghien left his quarters, in 
 company with the lord de Montigny, sir Michael de la Hameide his 
 cousin, his brother the bastard d'Anghien, Julien de Toisson, Hutin 
 Donay, and several more of his household, in order to skirmish 
 before Ghent as they had formerly done : they this time advanced 
 so far that they suffered for it, for those of Ghent had placed in 
 ambuscade more than two hundred men beyond the walls of the 
 
 * TiOrd Berners, who agrees with D. Sauvage, here adds, ''wherewith heliaddone 
 iw kelp to the town at siege vor otherwise of all the hole year pasted^ This explains 
 his crime, tor the mere possession of saltpetre could not he treason. It is prohable that 
 this powder of saltpetre, ns Lord Berners has it, (not saltpetre in powder) was f,-tiii- 
 powder, which the cunning deacon had concealed to make the greater profit when the 
 •upply of that scarce coiamgdity should run short.— Eo. 
 
 291 
 
 1 town. They were armed with long pikes. Some suid, this ambus. 
 
 I cade was formed of the greater part of those who had fled fruin 
 Grammont, in the hope of surrounding and making prisoner the 
 lord d'Anghien, in revenge for the mischief he had done them. 
 They knew him to be young, courageous and apt to venture himself 
 foolishly, which gave them hopes of the success they had. It was 
 unfortunate for him, as well as for those who accompanied him. 
 The lord d'Anghien and his company were quite off their guard, 
 when they found themselves Surrounded by the Ghent men, who 
 advanced boldly up, crying out, " Surrender, or you are all dead 
 men :" the lord d'Anghien, perceiving his situation, asked advice 
 from the lord de Montigny, who was beside him. : he replied, " Sir, 
 it is too late : let us defend ourselves, and sell our lives as dearly as 
 we can : there is nothing else to do, and we have not a moment for 
 delay." 
 
 The knights then made the sign of the cross, and recommending 
 themselves to God and St. George, dashed among their enemies ; 
 for they could noways retreat, being in the midst of their ambuscade. 
 They behaved very gallantly, and did everything that could be done 
 in arms; but they were out-numbered by their opponents, who, 
 having long pikes, gave such strokes as were but too mortal, as the 
 event showed. The lord d'Anghien was slain ; as were the bastard 
 d'Anghie'. his brother, and Julien de Toisson by his side. Other 
 valiant .nights from Hainault, such as the lords de Montigny and 
 de St Jhristopher, suffered similar fates. Sir Michael de la Ha. 
 meid' was severely wounded, and would certainly have lost his life, 
 if F atin Donay had not saved him by dint of arms and prudence : 
 he aad great difficulty in doing it. 
 
 While the Flemings were employed in pillaging and disarming 
 these knights, to convey them into Ghent, where it was known they 
 had slain the lord d'Anghien, which gave them great joy, Hutia 
 Donay, seeing no hopes of succor, carried sir Michael de la Ha. 
 meide out of the crowd and danger. Such was the end of this 
 unfortunate day to the lord d'Anghien. Yeu may well suppose the 
 earl of Flanders was much grieved at it : indeed, he showed it 
 plainly ; for, out of his affection to him, he raised the siege of Ghent. 
 The earl could not forget him, but regretted his loys ; saying, " Ah, 
 Walter, Walter, my fair son, how unfortunate hast thou been, to be 
 thus cut off in thy youth. I wish every one to know, that the 
 Ghent men shall never have peace with me until I have greatly 
 revenged myself." Things remained in this situation, when he sent 
 to demand the body of the lord d'Anghien, which they had carried 
 into Ghent to please the town ; but they refused to deliver it up 
 until they should be paid a thousand francs in hard cash. They 
 divided this booty between them, when the body was conveyed to the 
 army, and from thence to Anghien, of which town he was the lord. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXII. 
 
 THE EARL OF FLANDERS RAISES THE SIEGE OF GFENT. TWO RICH CITI. 
 ZENS, DESIROUS OF NEGOTIATING A PEACE FETWEEN THE EARL AND 
 THE TOWN, ARE PUT TO DEATH BY PETlA DU BOIS AND PHILIP VON 
 ARTAVELD. 
 
 Out of affection o the lord d'Ang.'tien, the siege of Ghent was 
 raised, and the ear returned to Bruges. He then dismissed his 
 army, ordering it to the different garrisons in Flanders, and to the 
 castles of Gavre, Oudenarde, Pendremonde, Courtray, and every 
 place near to Ghent. The ea'^i requested the Liegeois not to con. 
 tinue sending stores and profusion to Ghent as they had done. The 
 men of Liege returned a hiughty answer to the messengers, saying 
 they would consult with those of St. Tron, Huy, and Dinant, how 
 to act. The earl sent fo his cousins the duke of Brabant and duke 
 Albert, and to the baii-'iffsof Hainault, Holland, and Zealand, special 
 embassadors, chosen from among his principal counsellor?, to remon- 
 strate with them touching the conduct of the town of Ghent, which 
 still continued i-'i its rebellion, chiefly owing to the provision and 
 stores which U received from their countries, and to request that a 
 stop might be put to it. 
 
 These two lords would have been very sorry to do anything 
 which mib^ht displease the earl : they excused themselves hand- 
 somely, raying, that until that moment they were ignorant of it. but 
 that henceforward they would issue such orders that it should be 
 discontinued. This answer was agreeable to the earl of Flanders. 
 Di:ke Albert, who at that time resided in Holland, wrote to his bai- 
 liff in Hainault, sir Simon de Lalain, inclosing him a copy cf the 
 letter from the earl of Flanders, adding his positive commands 
 against any provision or stores being furnished Ghent from Hainault, 
 or any other thing to be done which might displease his cousin the 
 earl, under pain of his highest displeasure. The bailiff issued a 
 proclamation through Hainault, forbidding any provisions to be car. 
 ried to Ghent. A similar proclamation was made in Brabant : so 
 that none dared to go to Ghent but privately, which much surprised 
 the inhabitants ; for provision began to be very scarce, and there 
 would have been a famine, if the Hollanders had not assisted them : 
 an act of friendship which they would not be restrained from doing 
 by any injunctions that duke Albert could lay on them. 
 
 About this period, through the means of the counsels of Brabant 
 Hainault, and Liege, there was a great assembly appointed t€ he 
 
293 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAI^TD, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 kclden at Harlebecque, near Courtray : the men of Ghent sent 
 ihither twelve of their principal inhabitants, who had in general 
 -.hown themselves desirous of peace, whatever it might cost them 
 -rom the populace that sought only confusion. All the magistrates 
 of the chief towns in Flanders were at Harlebecque, even the earl 
 nimself ; and there were some also from Liege, Hainault, and Bra- 
 h^nt. Matters were so ably conducted, that the deputies from Ghent 
 leturned home with propositions for a peace. It happened that those 
 inhabitants who wished for an end^of 
 the war, namely, the prudent and quiet 
 ones, went to the houses of the depu- 
 ties who had been at this conference, 
 and who were two of the richest and 
 most peaceable citizens, such as sir 
 Guisebert Gente and sir Symon Bete, ' 
 and asked them what news they had 
 brought. They discovered themselves 
 too soon ; for they replied, " Good 
 people, we shall have, if it please God, 
 an excellent peace for those who are 
 well inclined and wish for quiet ; and 
 some of the wicked ones in the town 
 will be punished." 
 
 It is commonly said, if there be 
 those who talk, there are iko93 who 
 act. Peter du Bois, not thinking his 
 life in safety, had spies everywhere to 
 give him intelligence. Some of them 
 brought him the reports of the town, 
 respecting a peace, and assured him 
 the words came from sir Guisebert 
 Gente and sir Symon Bete. Peter, on 
 hearing this, was like a madman, and, 
 applying them to himself, said, " If 
 any are to be punished for this war, I 
 shall not be one of the last; but it 
 shall not go thus. Our gentlemen who 
 have been at the conference may think 
 what they will, but I have no desire 
 to die yet. The war has not lasted 
 half so long as I intend it shall ; and 
 my good masters John Lyon and Wil- 
 liam Craffort, have not hitherto been 
 flufficiently avenged. If the affairs 
 be now in confusion, I will trouble 
 them still more." 
 
 Peter du Bois was as good as his 
 word, and 1 will show how. That 
 
 same evening, t\\e morrow of which the council were to meet in 
 the council chamber, to hear the report of the deputies, he came 
 to the house of PmUp von Artaveld, and found him musi:-ig and 
 thoughtful, leaning against a window of his apartment. The first 
 word he uttered was, " Pi\ilip, have you heard any news ?" " None," 
 replied Philip, " except that our deputies are returned from the con- 
 ference at Harlebecque, and that to-morrow we are to hear in the 
 council-chamber what they haxe done." " That is true," answered 
 Peter ; " but I know what they have done, and the terms of the 
 treaty; for they have opened themselves ' to some of my friends. 
 Be assured, Philip, that our heads wiji pay for all the treaties they 
 make, or have made ; for there will n<)t be any peace between my 
 lord and the town, but that you, the lord de Harzelles, myself, and 
 all the captains our allies ia this waj-, wi^ be first put to death, and 
 the rich citizens p;:rdoned. They wish to ^-ee themselves by deliv. 
 ering us up ; and this was the opinion of ^hn Lyon, my master. 
 Besides, the earl, our lord, has his base flattert^-s always with him ; 
 euch as Gilbert Matthew and his brothers, thd provost of Harle. 
 becque, who is their relation, and the deacon of thfe. small crafts who 
 fled away with them, It therefore behooves us to tQnsider awhile 
 on this business." 
 
 " How shall we act ?" asked Philip. " I will tell y^u," replied 
 Peter: " we must send orders to all our leaders and captains, to be 
 ready armed, and in the market-place to-morrow, and to k<jep near 
 us : when we will enter the council-chamber, with a hundred of 
 our men, to hear the treaty read. Leave me to manage the rest ; 
 but only avow what I shall say ; for whoever wishes to preserve his 
 life and power witli the commonalty, if he do not make himself 
 feared, does notliing." Philip willingly assented ; and then Peter 
 du Bois, taking his leave, departed. He instantly sent his servants 
 and scouts to the different captains under him, to order them and 
 their men to be in the market-place on the neit day, well armed, to 
 hear the news. They all obe»ed, for none dared to refuse, and 
 wert resdy for any mischief.* 
 
 * Lord Remers relarps this conversntion a liule differently. According to his version, 
 the plan of action was arranged by Philip von Artaveld, not by Peter du Bois. " The 
 Eiiinc v)i()per euenyns that tiiecounsfiyleshuide iiaue ben the next day intheconnsayle- 
 hn'l there to henr reported thetreatie that wastnketi at Harlequebecqiie, Peter de Boy»e 
 cu uetlie same euenyng to Philyppe Dartuel's house, and found him in his cliamhre ly- 
 cn. eL". a wytuiowe mnsynge anU stndyeng. And the first worde he spake, he Siiyd, 
 •P ilyppe D^utnel, here yon any tidynges?' 'Nay. trulye,' quoth he, ' but that I here 
 ta) our men are ritumeJ tVo the counsayle at Uarlequebecque, andtu-morruw wevhaU 
 
 The ensuing morning, at nine o'clock, the mayor, sheriffs, and 
 rich men of the city, came to the market-place and entered the town- 
 hall : then came those who had been at the conferences at Harle. 
 becque ; and last came Peter du Bois and Philip von Artaveld, well 
 attended by those of their party. When they were all assembled 
 and seated, for every one who chose it sat down, they found the 
 lord de Harzelles was not present: they sent to him, but he excused 
 himself by saying he could not come, for he was unwell : " Proceed," 
 
 CiTizxNS OP Ghent begging a Peace of the Eari of Flanders.— From a MS. Froissart of the Fifteenth Century. 
 
 cried mt Peter du Bois ; *' I will answer for him, and we are fuH 
 enough: let us hear what these gentlemen have brought from the 
 confetences at Harlebecque." 
 
 Upon this, Guisebert Gente and Simon Bete rose up, as being the 
 principal deputies ; when one of them spoke thus : " Gentlemen of 
 Ghent, we have attended the conferences at Harlebecqiie ; and we 
 have had much labor and difficulty, in conjunction with the good 
 men of Brabant, Liege, and Hainault, in making up our disputes 
 with the earl our lord. However, at the entreaty cf the duke and 
 duchess of Brabant, who had sent thither their council, as well as 
 duke Albert, the good town of Ghent is at peace with the earl, on 
 condition that two hundred men-at-arms, whose names he will send 
 within fifteen days in writing, shall surrender themselves to his prison 
 in the castle of Lille, to his pure v.'ill : he is so noble and generous 
 that he will show them mercy and pardon." At these words, Peter 
 du Bois advanced, and said, " Guisebert, how have you dared te 
 enter into any treaty that should put two hundred men-at-arms into 
 any of the enemy's prisons ? Ghent would be indeed disgraced, and 
 better would it be for it, if completely overturned, than to be re- 
 proached for having so scandalously concluded the war. We know 
 well among ourselves, and understand that neither you nor Simon 
 Bete will be of the two hundred. You have made your ov/n choice ; 
 but we shall carve and cut out for ourselves. Advance, Philip, on 
 these traitors, who want. to betray and dishonor the town of Ghent." 
 
 here in the hall what tidynges they hniie brought.' ' That Is true,' quoth Peter, * but 1 
 knowe alheady what wnyes they haue taken and purpose to take. For suche as haue 
 been there hath shewed it to some of my frendes. Certaynely, Philyppe, tlie trentie thit 
 they haue made, and wolde ma ke, lyeth on the ienpardy of our beet's, for if there be peace 
 taken lietwene the erle and this towne, knowe for trourhe that you and I, and the lor«I 
 of Harsel's. and all such captains as haue ayded us in this warre. shall be the first that 
 shall dye. and the rich men shall go quite. They will bring us into daunger and pee 
 themselfe free; and this was euer the opinion of Johan Lyon my maitter. Alwayes 
 the erle hnth these mariiwscttes about him. as Gylbeit Mayhew and his bretherne, and 
 the prouost of Harlequebecque, mAo is of the li/vn^e of the alii-rman of the mrnn 
 craftcs who fled away with them. We ought wysely to loke on tiiis mater nnd to see 
 what were best to do.' Philyppe, answered and sayd, "Peter,! shall >hewe you my 
 mynde. Let us f-ine knowledgeof thisto all ouraldernien and cp.pitaynosthr.t they be 
 to mor<.«eall redy apaialled in the mnrkef-plf.re ; and then let ns twoentre i^tolhe 
 hall with a hundred with us to here the content of the treatie, nnd then let nie alone, so 
 ye wyl! auowe mr dede and abyde pni?rantly by me, for wnhotit we be feared among 
 the cotninons it is nothing.' And so they agreed. Th.en Peter de Boyse departed and 
 sendeto all the rulei-sand capitaynes under hym, rommauuding tJiem nnd all their men 
 t(i be rerfy in the mornynge in the market-place to here tidynges. They all obeyed, ihef 
 durstedo none oUierwisa ; and also ihey were euer reedy to do yuell."— £» 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 293 
 
 On saying this, Peter du Bois drew his dagger, and, coming up to 
 Guisfcbert, struck him into the belly, so that he fell down dead. 
 Philip drew also his dagger, and with it struck Symon Bete and slew 
 him. They then began to cry out " Treason, treason !" They had 
 their partisans all round about them, so that many of the richest and 
 greatest men in the town dissembled, to save their lives. At that 
 time only those two were killed ; but to satisfy the people, and to 
 turn the affair to their advantage, they sent their scouts to cry 
 through the town, that Guisebert and sir Symon Bete, like false 
 traitors, wanted to betray the good town of Ghent. Thus the mat- 
 ter ended : the dead were dead ; and no one was called to any 
 account for it, nor any penalty exacted. When the earl of Flanders, 
 who was at Bruges, heard of this, he was sorely enraged, and said, 
 " At the entreaties of my cousins of Brabant and Hainault, I too 
 easily acceded to their wishes of making peace with Ghent, and 
 more than once have they, in return, thus acted : but I will have 
 them know, they shall never have peace, until I have had given up 
 to me such a number of the inhabitants as will satisfy me." 
 
 In this manner were slain two valiant and rich men in the town of 
 Ghent, for having acted according to the intentions of many of their 
 fellow-citiicens. Each of them had for his patrimony two thousand 
 francs of yearly revenue. They were much pitied in secret; but 
 no one dared to do so publicly, unless he wished to lose his life. 
 Things remained in this state, and the war was more bitter than 
 before. The garrisons round Ghent were night and day in the field, 
 so that no provision could enter the town. The Brabanters and 
 Hainaulters were afraid of venturing themselves ; for, whenever 
 they were rriet by the earl's men, the best that could befal them was 
 the slaughter of their horses, sending them prisoners to Dendre- 
 monde or to Oudenarde, or making them pay ransom. By these 
 means, tlie victuallers were afraid to risk bringing supplies to the 
 town. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXIII. 
 
 AN INSURRECTION IN PARIS, ON ACCOUNT OF THE INTENDED TAXES. THE 
 LORD DE COUCV APPEASES IT. THE DUKE OF ANJOU MAKES PREPARA- 
 TIONS FOR HIS JOURNEV TO NAPLES. 
 
 At this period, the Parisians rose up in rebellion against the king 
 and his council, because they wanted to introduce generally through 
 the kingdom those taxes, impositions, and excises which had been 
 raised during the reign of king Charles, father of the present king. 
 The Parisians opposed them, by saying, the king of happy memory 
 had acquitted them from these payments during his lifetime, and 
 that the present king had confirmed this grant at his coronation at 
 Rheims. The young king and his council quitted Paris, and went 
 to reside at Meaux in Brie. No sooner had the king left Paris than 
 the inhabitants rose, and, having armed themselves, slew all who had 
 been assisting in proposing or collecting these taxes. They broke 
 into the prisons and different houses in the town, taking whatever 
 they could find. They went to the palace of the bishop of Paris, 
 and, having broken open his prisons, set at liberty Hugh Aubriot,* 
 who had been governor-general of the police during king Charles's 
 reign, and had been condemned to the dungeons for several bad 
 actions which he had done or consented to, many of which were 
 deserving the stake : to this man the mob gave liberty, which he 
 owed solely to their insurrection. Pie immediately set out from 
 Paris, for fear of being retiken, and went into Burgundv, whence he 
 came, and related to his friends his adventures. 
 
 The Parisians, during their rebellion, committed many outrages ; 
 but fortunately it was not general : had it been so, affairs would have 
 been bad indeed. The king resided all this time at Meaux, attended 
 by his uncles of Anjou, Berry and Burgundy, who were much 
 alarmed and vexed at this rebellion. They resolved to send the 
 lord de Coucy, who was a prudent knight, to treat with and en- 
 deavor to appease them ; for he knew better how to manage them 
 than any other. The lord de Coucy, whose name was Enguerrand, 
 came to Paris simply attended by his household. He dismounted 
 at his h6tel, and sent for those who had been the most active, and 
 remonstrated with them wisely and prudently on the wickedness of 
 their conduct in killing the ofHcers and ministers of the king, in 
 breaking open his prisons, and setting those who were confined in 
 them at liberty ; for all which, if the king willed it, they would 
 dearly piy. But this he vv^as not desirous of doing ; for the king 
 much loved the town of Paris, because he had been born in it, and 
 also from its being the capital of his kingdom : he was therefore 
 unwilling to destroy its well-intentioned inhabitants. 
 
 He told them, his reasons for coming to Paris were to endeavor 
 ^ to nake up matters betv/een them, and that he would entreat the 
 king, and his uncles mercifully to pardon them their evil deeds. 
 They answered, that they wished not any harm to the king their 
 lord, nor t^ make war against him, but that these taxes should be 
 repealed as far as related to Paris: and that, when exempted from 
 such, they would assist the king in any other manner. "In what 
 
 *"Hii!rli Auliiiot:" had tlie management of the finances under Charles V. He 
 biuhtlie Biisiille, as a fort afjamst the English. He owed his dis-race and imprison- 
 ment to tiie clertry. who accused him of iieresy. &c.: lie was shut up hetween four 
 walls: hi)t t'le Orleans party hated Jiun, because, being a Burguadian, he was attached 
 to UM duke of Burgundy. 
 
 I manner ?" demanded the lord de Coucy. " \V e will pay certain 
 sums into the hands of a proper receiver every week, to assist wita 
 the other cities and towns in France in the payment of the soldieis 
 and men-at-arms." " And what sum are you willing to pay weekly ?" 
 "Such a sum," replied the Parisians, "as we shall agree upon." 
 The lord de Coucy managed them so well, by handsome speeches, 
 that they consented to tax themselves, and pay weekly into the 
 hands of a receiver whom they would appoint ten thousand florins. 
 Upon this, the lord de Coucy left them and returned to Meaux in 
 Brie, to lay before the king and his uncles the propositions they had 
 made. 
 
 The king was advised to accept this offer of the Parisians, as the 
 best thing he could do ; for from this beginning, though small, all 
 the other towns would follow the example, and when times should 
 alter they might then change their measures. The lord de Coucy 
 returned to Paris, and brought with him the king's pardon to the 
 Parisians, on condition of their observing the propositions they had 
 made. This they promised, and appointed a receiver, to whom was 
 paid, every week, the fixed sum in florins ; but it was not to be car- 
 ried from Paris, except for the payment of those men-at-arms who 
 should be in actual service, and neither the king nor his uncles were 
 to have any concern with it, nor was it to be otherwise employed. 
 Affairs remained thus for some little time, and the Parisians were 
 quiet : but the king did not return to Paris, which much displeased 
 the inhabitants. 
 
 Rouen likewise was in a state of rebellion, and from the same 
 cause : the populace rose, killed the king's governor and all those 
 who had any concern in the collecting or valuiiig tiiese taxes. The 
 king, on hearing this, during his residence at Meaux, was much 
 angered, and his council were doubtful if all the other towns would 
 not follow this example. The king was advised to march to Rouen, 
 which he did, and appeased the commonalty, vvho were very riot- 
 ous. He also pardoned the death of the governor, and whatever 
 else they had done. They appointed a receiver from among them- 
 selves, to whom they were to pay a certain sum in florins, every 
 week ; and, on this being settled, they continued quiet. Now re- 
 mark the great evils that were beginning to disturb France : all took 
 rise from the conduct of the men of Ghent; for the common people 
 said everywhere publicly, they were good men, who so valiantly 
 maintained their liberties, and for which they ought to be loved and 
 honored by the whole world. 
 
 We will return to the duke of Anjou, vvho had a great desire to 
 visit the kingdom of Naples, of which he signed himself king, as 
 w-ell as of Sicily, and duke of la Puglia and Calabria ; for pope 
 Clement had invested him with them, by virtue of the deed which 
 the queen of Naples had given to him. The duke of Anjou was 
 prudent, of a warm imagination, bold and enterprising: he plainly 
 pei'ceived, that according to the establishment he had supported 
 hitherto, and which he would have been sorry to have lessened, he 
 would be a poor lord in France, unless he should conquer such rich 
 and noble heritages as the two kingdoms of Naples and Sicily, and 
 the duchies of la Puglia, and Calabria, as weil as the county of 
 Provence. They would come to him very opportunely ; for those 
 countries of which he called himself lord, by virtue of the gift made 
 him, abounded in all sorts of wealth. He was therefore occupied 
 day and night in devising means to perform this journey ; he well 
 knew he could never accomplish it without a large sum of money 
 and a numerous body of men-at-arms to resist those who might wisi 
 to oppose him. The duke, in consequence, amassed so great a quan» 
 tity of money, under pretence of this journey, that it was marvellous 
 to behold ; and he kept the Parisians in as good humor as he could, 
 for he knew there were in Paris large deposits of cash, of which he 
 got the greater part, and sent it to the earl of Savoy, in whom he had 
 great confidence ; adding, that on his lirrival in Savoy, he would 
 make arrangements by which there should be regular payment for a 
 thousand spears or more, for one whole year. The earl of Savoy 
 was much pleased at this intelligence, for he greatly loved arms : he 
 therefore replied to the messengers, that he would willingly serve 
 the duke on the terms proposed. This answer 'vas highly agreeable 
 to the duke, as he had an affection for the company of the earl of 
 Savoy. 
 
 The duke retained men in all parts, so that he had collected full 
 nine thousand men-at-arms, ready prepared and under his obedience. 
 He ordered the most sumptuous equipages to be made for him and 
 his household at Paris that any lord had ever commanded, such as 
 tents, pavilions and other things suitable for a king when about to 
 make a long journey. We will now leave the duke of Anjou, and 
 speak of the earl of Cambridge and his men, who were in Portugal 
 near the king's person. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXIV. 
 
 THE ENGLISH MAKE AN EXPEDITION AGAINST THE SPANIARDS, CONTRA Rl 
 TO THE ORDERS OF THE KING OF PORTUGAL. THE CASTLE OF FIGHIERE* 
 IS TAKEN. 
 
 The earl of Cambridge and his army remained for a considerable 
 time with the king of Portugal at Lisbon ; during which the Eng. 
 
 * This must probably mean Figueiro dos /inhes, a town in Estreinadura for Figuera 
 is in Catalonia. 
 
294 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 lish and Gascons reconnoitered the country, for they had never be- 
 fore been there. It seems to me, that about this time a marriage 
 was agreed on between the daughter of the king of Portugal who 
 was ten years old, and the son of the earl of Cambridge of the same 
 age. He was a fine child, and his name was John ; and the lady's 
 name Beatrice, There were great feasts at the betrothing of these 
 two children, and much joy ; all the barons and prelates of the realm 
 were present ; and, young as the married coup-le were, they were 
 both laid in the same bed. This marriage and the consequent feasts 
 being over, which lasted for eight days, the council of Portugal 
 ordered ihs men-at-arms who were in Lisbon to march to other quar- 
 ters on the frontiers. The earl of Cambridge and a part of his army 
 were sent into quarters at a very handsome town in Portugal, called 
 Estremoure,* and the remainder of the English and Gascons to Be- 
 siouse.t John of Cambridge remained with the king. 
 
 When the canon de Robersac, and the English and Gascon knights, 
 took leave of the king, he said to them, " My friends, I order you 
 not to make any attacks on the enemy without my knowledge ; for, 
 if you do, I shall be much angered." They swore, *' they would not, 
 by God, and, whenever they had such an inclination, would send to 
 inform him, and have his permission." They then departed and 
 marched toward Besiouse, which is situated in the upper part of the 
 country, two days' journey from Lisbon and as many from Seville, 
 where the king of Spain resided. 
 
 The king of Spain had been early informed of the arrival of the 
 English under the command of the earl of Cambridge, and had sent 
 intelligence of it to those knights in France on whose services he de- 
 pended. On hearing this, and that there v/ere expectations of war 
 in Spain, they were much rejoiced : many who vv^ished to advance 
 their fame made ready, and took the road thither. The canon de 
 Robersacjt who was with his English and Gascon companions in 
 Besouise, one day said : " My dear gentlemen, I think we remain 
 here not much to our honor, when we have never as yet made any 
 attempt on our enemies ; they will not think the better of us for it. 
 if you will take my advice, let us send to entreat the king to allow 
 us to attack them." They all replied, " We are perfectly willing to 
 do so." Sir John Canbouich^ was ordered to carry this message, 
 which he cheerfully undertook. He came to the king at Lisbon, 
 where he punctually delivered his message. The king replied, he 
 was unwilling for them to undertake any expedition ; and whatever 
 the knight might urge he could never make him change his opinion. 
 He returned, therefore, to his friends, telling them the king would 
 not comply with their request. They were much enraged at it, and 
 said among themselves, that it was not becoming men-at-arms to 
 conilnue so lung in garrison- without attempting some feats of arms: 
 thoy mutually agreed to make an excursion. In consequence, they 
 took the field with full four hundred men-at-arms and as many arch- 
 ers. They resolved to attack a large town which belonged to the 
 commander of St. James; but, on their march they found a nearer 
 way to arrive at the castle of Fighiere, in which were about sixty 
 Spanish men-at-arms in garrison, under the command of Peter 
 Gousses and his brother. 
 
 The canon de Robersac, being very proud of this expedition, as it 
 bad been by his means undertaken, rode forward in front. There 
 were sir Oliver Beauchamp, sir Matthew Gournay, Miles Windsor, 
 the lord Talbot, sir Adam Symon, sir John Sounder, bastard brother 
 to the king of England, the souldich de I'Estrade, the lord de Cha,t- 
 eauneuf, the lord de la Barde, Raymond de Masson, and several 
 more. They arrived at the castle of Fighiere, which they surrounded, 
 and drew up in order of assault, making all preparations necessary 
 for it. When the garrison saw they were to be attacked, they also 
 made ready for their defence. About four o'clock in the morning, 
 a very vigorous attack commenced, and the English entered the 
 ditch, which being dry, they advanced close to the walls, bracing 
 their targets over their heads, to guard themselves from the stones 
 which might be thrown on them from the walls, and there made 
 good use of their pick-axes and iron crows ; while thus employed, 
 the garrison threw on them beams and bars of iron, that wounded 
 many. 
 
 The canon de Robersac was present : he had the courage of a 
 knight, and performed that day many gallant deeds ; as did also Es- 
 perons his valet. The archers of England, who were drawn up on 
 the ditches, shot so well and rapidly that scarcely any dared to show 
 themselves on the battlements ; and one half of the garrison were 
 either slain or wounded. The brother of Peter Gousfees, the gov. 
 em r of the c^ stle, was there slain by an arrow ; he was called Bar- 
 tholomew, and was an able and expert man-at-arms; but, through 
 his own imprudence and rashness, he lost his life. The assault con- 
 tinued from four o'clock until high noon ; and I must say that the 
 English and Gascon knights did not spare themselves, but fought 
 with courage and a thorough good will, because they had undertaken 
 tliis expeditijn without the consent of the king of Portugal: they 
 
 * " E>tramoure." Q,. if not Estremoz. 
 
 t " Besiouse." Q,. it" not Villa Viciosa, a town near Estremoz; for D. Suvage, in a 
 margiiiAl no e, ia.y> la Snlle cmIIs it Vesiouse, which seems a curruption of Viciosa, and 
 •'•onfirms me it must be Villa Viciosa. 
 
 t Tiie CMn(m tie Robersac's name was Theodore. He was governor of Ardres in tlie 
 45ih lif Edward 111. and. in the 3pd of Richard II. was employed by the king to treat 
 with the duke of Juliers concerning his homnge.— dries Holies Francois. 
 
 % " Canbouich," Q,. Lord Berners spells the name ChaudonicL 
 
 were, therefore, determined to conquer this castle, that the farnc of 
 it might reach Lisbon, and show what success they had met with on 
 their first attempt. 
 
 The canon de Robersac said ; " Ha, ha, my gentlemen, wc shall 
 this day win the castle ; but if so many gallant men-at-arms as we 
 are, take as much time "to conquer all the other towns in Spain and 
 in Gallicia, we shall never be masters of them." The knights and 
 squires, on hearing this speech, began to exert themselves the more i 
 the canon de Robersac, although covered by his shield, received such 
 a blow that he was much wounded. There was present a young 
 knight from Hainault called Froissart Meulier, who very gallantly 
 behaved himself at this assault, as indeed did the others. 
 
 The garrison artillery, as well as the machines for casting of stones 
 and iron bars, began to tire and grow weaker in the castle. Con- 
 sidering that of twenty-five men* (the force within the place,) there 
 were not three unhurt, and some dangerously wounded, they could 
 not prevent it from being taken by storm. The brother of their cap- 
 tain lay dead, from whom no further help could come. They re- 
 solved to give themselves a little respite, and during that time treat 
 for a peace. They made a signal to parley with the English. The 
 assault was stopped, and those who were in the ditches employed 
 against the walls were ordered out : it was high time, for there were 
 many who had been wounded, iv.vS others much fatigued. Sir 
 Matthew Gournay, constable, and sir William Windsor, marshal of 
 the army, advanced, and demanded what they wanted. The gov. 
 ernor, Peter Gousses, addressed them in these words; "You are re- 
 solved not to leave this place without conquering it : you wound our 
 men, and we do the same to yours. We have therefore consulted 
 together; and I, as governor, speak their sentiments, which are, that 
 we will surrender to you the fort, our lives and fortunes being spared. 
 •Accept, therefore, these terms, which are just : you are at present the 
 strongest, so that we must submit." 
 
 The English knights replied, they would advise upon it, which they 
 did. When they had held a council, they sent for answer to the 
 garrison, that those within the castle might retire whither they 
 pleased ; but tlie stores must be left behind, and they were not to 
 carry away anything with them. When Peter Gousses saw he could 
 not obtain better terms, he consented, but it was much against his 
 will. Thus was the castle of Fighiere surrendered to the English. 
 The Spaniards marched away, under a safe-conduct,t to Esteria, 
 where the commander of St. James usually resided. They, how. 
 ever, did not find him there; for, having learnt that the enemy had 
 taken the field, he had done the same with full four hundred men-at- 
 arms, Spaniards and Castillians, in hopes, if he could meet with the 
 English in a favorable situation, to combat them to his honor. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXV. 
 
 AFTER THE CONQUEST OF THE CASTLE OF FIGHIERE, THE CANON DE ROBER 
 SAC, RETURNING TO HIS GARRISON, IS IN GREAT DANGER. SUCCORS 
 COME FROM FRANCE TO CASTILLE. 
 
 When the knights of England and the canon had got possession 
 of the castle of Fighiere, they were much rejoiced. They had it re- 
 paired in every part; and leaving forty men-at-arms as a garrison, 
 they stored it well with provisions and other necessaries, and also 
 with a sufficient body of archers. Having placed a good captain as 
 governor, they held a council, when they resolved to return to their 
 quarters. The English and Gascons, on their departure, divided 
 themselves into three bodies ; the last of which remained in the plain, 
 under the command of the canon. Some English, Gascun-s, and 
 Germans, desirous of feats of arms, had continued with him : in all 
 about sixty spears and as many archers : they marched one whole 
 day with the canon's company on their return to Besiouse. 
 
 On the second day, early in the morniiig, they discovered some 
 ambuscades, t and marched on in good array. They were then be- 
 tween a large town in Portugal, Huenca^ and the castle of Concrelet.|| 
 On the outskirts of a wood nearer to the castle of Concrelet than to 
 Huenca, was the grand-master of St. JamesIT posted, with full four 
 hundred men-at-arms. The English no sooner perceived them than 
 they closed their ranks, showed no signs of fear, and marched on at 
 a good pace. The Spaniards, notwithstanding their numbers, made 
 not any appearance of quitting their ambuscade ; for they imagined 
 the English had near at hand their large battalion, and for that rea- 
 son were afraid to attack them; had they been better informed, there 
 would have been a combat. They thus separated from each other 
 without anything being done. 
 
 The Spaniards returned that evening to Esteris, and the canon to 
 
 * In the preceding column, it is said the garrison consisted of about siztj/ men-at-arms, 
 t Lord Berners says without any safe-conduct.— Ed- 
 
 t heiirede prime que les emhusches se decouvrenV (the text, ar cord ins to D. 
 Sauva-re.) should rather lie translated "<2« tite hour of prime, as soon a* ambuscades 
 can be discovered,"' that is to say, at early dawn, than, as Mr. Johnes has rendeaed it. 
 " they discovered some ambuscades and marched on in good arraij,"" which appeura 
 absurd. He probably understood it as referring to the adventure about to b»related, but 
 on that occasion only one ambuscade was discovered.— Ep. 
 
 § a. "Huenca." H Q- "Concrelet." 
 
 IT I suspect it must have been the prand-mnslerof the order of Alcantra, and notof St, 
 James, and that there must have been a costle of Fighiere in the province of Jistrema- 
 dura: for it is not possible, from the sbortn«ss of their march they could hove gona to 
 Catalonia. See 14 uie, p. 1^93. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 295 
 
 Bcsiouse, when he related to his companions how he had seen the 
 Spaniards in ambuscade between Huenca and Concrelet, adding, 
 " If we had been all together, we could have fought with them." The 
 knights, therefore, much repented that they had not kept all in one 
 body. Thus ended this excursion of the English and Gascons ; and 
 when news was brought of it to the king of Portugal, he pretended 
 to be much enraged, because they had done it without his consent. 
 The English and Gascons remained the whole winter in their garri- 
 sons, without performing anything worth mentioning, which wearied 
 them much : it was not their fault no deeds of arms were done. 
 Don John of Castille, however, was not idle in making his prepa- 
 
 full of Normans, on the sea between Calais and Holland, that seizer 
 and pillaged all that fell into their hands, and it v/as indifferent tr 
 them who they were. The report -was current, that they cruised iii 
 those seas waiting for the coming of this lady; and that the king of 
 France and his council were desirous of carrying her off, in order t < 
 break the match, for they were very uneasy at this alliance of the 
 Germans with the English. When it was said to be dishonorable 
 to carry off ladies in the wars of men, they replied : " How, have 
 you not seen the prince of Wales, father to the present king of Eng. 
 land, consent to a similar action in the person of the duchess of 
 Bourbon, mother to the queen of France, when she was made 
 
 prisoner by the soldiers of the prince, shut 
 up in the castle of Belleperche, and after- 
 wards conducted into Guyenne and ransom- 
 ed ? If, therefore, to revenge themselves, 
 the French should commit such an act on 
 the intended queen of England, they ought 
 not to be blamed for it." On account of 
 these suspicions and fears, the young lady 
 remained in Brussels one whole month. 
 The duke of Brabant, by advice of his 
 council, sent to France the lords de Rousse- 
 lans and de Bousquehoir, to remonstrate on 
 this subject with the king and his uncles, 
 who were also his nephews, being his sis. 
 ter's sons. 
 
 The knights of Brabant managed so well 
 with the king and his council that their re- 
 quest was complied with, and passports 
 granted for the lady and her attendants to 
 travel through any parts of France she might 
 choose, as far as Calais. The Normans 
 were remanded into port. This answer the 
 t;> Brabant to the duke and 
 king and his uncles wrote 
 they had granted this favor to their 
 the lady Anne, at their solicitation 
 
 knights carried 
 duchess. The 
 to say, 
 cousin 
 
 Good Qoeen Anns.— Tomb in Westminster Abber. 
 
 rations. He had sent to the king of France, and to his uncles for 
 succor, and had informed fhem of the arrival of the earl of Cambridge 
 in Portugal. Ho also said, that it was universally reported through- 
 out Castille and Portugal that the king of England, the duke of Lan- 
 canter, and the earl of Buckingham, with a powerful force, were to 
 reinforce them the ensuing summer. For which reasons, he required 
 from the king, in conformity with the treaties between France and 
 Spain, and their mutual affection, that sufficient forces should be sent 
 to him in the course of the spring and summer, to enable him to op- 
 pose his enemies with effect. The king's council assented to this, 
 for they cle^arly saw the king of Spain had a right to demand it. Per- 
 mission was granted to all knights and squires desirous of advancing 
 themselves to join don John: and the king of France lent them where- 
 with to perform their journey. It seems to me, that sir Oliver du 
 Guesclin, brother to the late constable of France, made preparations 
 to go thitlier in the spring. Many knights and squires from Brit- 
 tany, Beauce, Picardy, Anjou, Berry, Blois and Maine did so like- 
 wise, and went thither in companies to perform the journey more 
 comfortably. A passpge was open to them through Arragon, and all 
 kinds of provision were prepared for them, for r»ady money. But 
 you must know they did not pay for all they took in the low coun- 
 tries, which made the poor inhabitants suffer great losses. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXVI. 
 
 THE EMPEROR WINCESLAUS SENDS HIS SISTER ANNE TO KlNff RICHARD OF 
 ENGLAND, WHO MAKES HER HIS QUEEN. 
 
 You have heard how king Richard of England had for upward of 
 n year been in treaty with Winceslaus king of Bohemia, who at this 
 pc'-iod had taken the title of emperor of Rome, to obtain his sister 
 the lady Anne in marriage ; and how one of his knights, sir Simon 
 Burl -y, had much labored in this business ; and also that the duke 
 of S ixony had been in E;igland to confirm the marriage. This 
 p.ffair had been so well conducted that the emperor sent his sister to 
 England, attended by the duke of Saxony and great numbers of 
 knights and damsels, with a suitable state becoming such a lady. 
 They cam^through Brabant to Brussels, where the duke and duchess 
 received the young queen and her company very grandly ; for the 
 duke was her uiicle, she being the daughter of the emperor Charles 
 his brother. The lady Anne of Bohemia remained with her uncle 
 and aunt at Brussels upward of a month. She was afraid of moving, 
 for she had been informed there were twelve large armed vessels, 
 
 alone, and for no other reason whatever. 
 Such information was very pleasing to the 
 duke and duchess of Brabant, as well as to 
 those who were to cross the sea. Prepara- 
 tions were immediately made for their de- 
 parture from Brussels ; and the young lady 
 took leave of her uncle, her aunt, and the 
 ladies and damsels of the country who had 
 accompanied her. 
 The duke had her escorted with one hundred spears. She passed 
 through Ghent, where she reposed herself for a day, and the citizens 
 did everything in their power to show her honor. She then cam.e 
 to Bruges, where the earl of Flanders received her very magnifi- 
 cently, and stopped for three days. She continued her journey until 
 she came to Gravelines, where the earls of Salist)ury and Devonshire 
 were waiting for her, with five hundred spears and as many archers 
 They conducted her to Calais, when the Brabanters returned, aftei 
 they had delivered her to the barons of England. The young lady 
 made no stay at Calais but until the wind became favorable. She 
 embarked on a Wednesday morning when the vessels were manned, 
 and the same day arrived at Dover, where she halted to repose her- 
 self two days : on the third, she set out for Canterbury, where the 
 earl of Buckingham received her very grandly. The lady pursued 
 her journey unto London, and was most honorably received by the 
 citizens, the ladies and damsels of the town and country, who were 
 all assembled to meet her. She was married to the king, in the 
 chapel of the palace of Westminster, the twentieth day after Christ, 
 mas. On the wedding-day, there were great feastings. That gal- 
 lant and noble knight sir Robert de Namur had always accompanied 
 her, from the time she quitted Germany until she v/as married, for 
 which the emperor and king of England held themselves much 
 obliged. 
 
 The king carried his queen to Windsor, where he kept an open 
 and noble house. They were very happy together. She was ac- 
 companied by the princess of Wales and the duchess of Brittany, 
 aunt to the king, who at that time was separated from the duke her 
 husband ; for the bnrons and council of England would not consent 
 to her return int3 Brittany, because he had changed to the French 
 interest. The barons and knights were accustomed to say, "Since 
 the duke of Brittany has so ill and so treacherously acquitted him. 
 self to the earl of Buckingham, and to our men, the last time they 
 were in France, whenever he shall demand back his duchess, let us 
 not consent to it, but send him two enemies, John and Guy of Brit, 
 tany, children to St. Charles de Blois, and who have a better right 
 to the duchy than himself : he is duke through our power, and an 
 ungrateful return does he make for what he has had from us : we 
 ought therefore to act in like manner to hi an, for his disgraceful con- 
 duct." True it is, that these two lords, John and Guy de Bretaigne, 
 sons of St. Charles of Blois, who were prisoners in England, and 
 confined in a strong castle, under the guard of sir Peter d'Arnbrcti. 
 court, were sent for, and brought before the council of the king of 
 England ; when they were informed, that if they would hold the 
 
293 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLa 
 
 ••ar 
 
 it^NCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 du«Miy of Britiany from En<,'land, and acknowledge it by doi:ig hom- 
 age ti> the king, their inlieriiance should be recovered for them, and 
 John should have the lady Philippa of Lancaster to wife. Bat they 
 replied, they would not have anything to do with it, and would pre- 
 fer remaining in prison until death to acting otherwise than as gjod 
 Frenchmen." Affairs continued on this footing, and they were never 
 afterwards in any way spoken to on the subject, since they had 
 shown the firmness of their intentions. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXVII. 
 
 T9E KING OF FRANCE CANNOT OBTAIN MONEY FROM THE RECEIVER AT 
 PARIS. THE DUKE OF ANJOU MARCHES INTO ITALY WITH A NOBLE 
 ATTENDANCE OF KNIGHTS. 
 
 You have before heard how Paris had made its peace v^^ith the j 
 
 king, on its agreement of paying a certain sum of florins. The flo. ' 
 
 rins were paid weekly 
 
 to a receiver whom 
 
 they had appointed, 
 
 but none came to the 
 
 coffers of the king, nor 
 
 were any of them sent 
 
 out ot Paris. It hap. 
 
 pened that the king 
 
 was in great want of 
 
 money to pay the men- 
 
 at-arms he was send- 
 ing to Castille, which 
 
 by treaty he was bound 
 
 to do. He ordered 
 
 the receiver at Paris 
 
 to prepare a sum of 
 
 one hundred thousand 
 
 francs ; for he was 
 
 anxious to assist, in 
 
 his necessity, don .Tohn 
 
 of Castille, and clearly 
 
 showed for v/hat use 
 
 he intended this mo- 
 ney. The receiver re- 
 plied to the letters from 
 
 the king, and to tliose 
 
 who had brought them, 
 
 in a very civil manner. 
 
 saying, that in truth 
 
 he had money suffi- 
 cient, but that he could 
 
 not pay any of it with- 
 out the consent and 
 
 permission of the town 
 
 of Paris. These words 
 
 did not please the 
 king, who declared he 
 would remedy this as 
 
 soon as he should be able. He found the money elsewhere, through 
 
 the assistance of the principal towns in Picardy. This caused a 
 
 great coolness between the king and the Parisians. He never came 
 to Paris, but resided at Meaux, Senlis, Compiegne, and in those parts, 
 to the great displeasure of the Parisians. The greatest resource 
 they had was in the duke of Anjou for their safety : he had already 
 signed himself king of Sicily and Jerusalem, and had borne the arms. 
 
 The duke commonly resided at Paris, because there was much 
 money kept there ; and to prevent the king from receiving any of it, 
 that he might be the better supplied for his projected enterprise in 
 Italy, he was collecting money from all parts, and it was said the 
 sum he had at Roquemaur,* near Avignon, was not less than two 
 millions of florins. He treated with the Parisians, and used such 
 fine language, having Vv^ords at command, and besides being from 
 his birth the regent of the kingdom., as the eldest of the king's un- 
 cles, that he obt^iined one hundred thousand florins, when the king 
 and his two uncles of Berry and Burgundy could not procure one 
 penny from them. The duke of Anjou, having now finished his 
 preparations and collected all his stores, began his march early in 
 spring, and the magnitude of his array surprised every one. He 
 passed through France to Avignon, where he was much feasted by 
 the pope and cardinals. The barons and principal lords of Provence 
 came thither to wait on him as their lord, did him homage, and put 
 themselves under his obedience. 
 
 The gallant earl of Savoy, his cousin, came to meet him, attended 
 by barons and knights, who were also well received by the f )pe 
 and cardinals. During his stay at Avignon, he arranged and settled 
 the pay and stores for the Savoyards, who were in considerable num- 
 bers, and delivered the money to the earl of Savoy. This being 
 done, the duke of Anjou and the earl of Savoy took their leave of 
 the pope, and set off from Avignon, following the road to Savoy and 
 Piedmont. The earl was the duke's conductor, and paid him the 
 
 utmost respect in all the great towns through which they passed. 
 Men-at.arms were continually advancing, or fallowed in their rear, 
 so that Ljmbardy was quite open and ready to receive them. On 
 the duke's entrance into Lombardy, he was most honorably received 
 in all the principal towns, more especially in Milan, where sir Gal. 
 eas and sir Bernabo Visconti loaded him with honors : he received 
 from them such rich presents and jewels as would astonish, if re- 
 lated. The duke of Anjou kept a kingly state : he had his mint 
 with him, where he coined florins and white money, with which he 
 made his payments all through Lombardy and Tuscany. 
 
 When they began to approach Rome, they marched in a more 
 compact body than they had hitherto done ; for the Romans, being 
 informed of the duke's march, had thrown up strong fortifications 
 to oppose him. They had for commander a valiant English knight, 
 called sir John Hawkwood,* who had resided a long time in that 
 part of Italy : he was well acquainted with the frontiers, and had 
 under him a large body of men-at-arms, of Germans, English, and 
 other nations in the pay of the Romans, for the def°.nce of Urbap, 
 
 Castel del Ovo, Naples.— From an Old Print in the King's Library. B. Museum. 
 
 ♦ • 
 
 * Boqucmaur," two leasun from AviKoon. 
 
 at that time called pope, and who resided at Rome. This popo 
 was not alarmed at the arrival of the duke of Anjou. When they 
 told him he was on his march, attended by the earl of Savoy and 
 count of Geneva, with full nine thousand lances of good men-at- 
 arms, and that it was uncertain if he would not come to Rome to 
 dethrone him, for they were all Clementines, he replied by saying, 
 " Christus protegat nos." That was all the alarm they gave him, 
 and the only answer he made to those who spoke to him on the 
 subject. 
 
 The duke of Anjou, who styled himself king of Naples, Sicily 
 and Jerusalem, duke of Calabria and la Puglia, accompanied by the 
 eari of Savoy, continued the march of his army through Tuscany, 
 the territory of Ancona, and the patrimony of St. Peter, but did not 
 enter Rome ; for the duke wished not to make war on Rome, nor 
 on the Romans, but solely aimed to accomplish his enterprise on the 
 terms according to which he had left France. He kept up kingly 
 state wherever he passed, and all men-at-arms praised him for the 
 punctuality of his payments. 
 
 At this period his adversary, the lord Charles de Durazzo, resided 
 in the city of Naples. He also signed himself king of Naples, 
 Sicily and Jerusalem, duke of la Puglia and Calabria, and C(=)nsid. 
 ered himself as the lawful king, since the queen of Naples was dead 
 without leaving any heire by marriage. He looked on the gift 
 which the queen had made to the pope a<s null, and maintained this 
 opinion by two argument? : the first was, that besides being sup. 
 ported and obeyed by the Neapolitans and Sicilians, the queen of 
 Naples could not resign the inheritance of another : secondly, that 
 supposing this resignation to have been good and the gitt^ force to 
 the court of Rome, and that the popes were entitled to it, she had 
 not legally done it, for those kingdoms considered Urban as the true 
 pope, and not Clement. , 
 
 This is the question which they disputed, and the defence Chariea 
 
 • "air John Hawkwocd." S«t his IJe in Nichol's Bib. Top. Brit. 
 
CHRONICLES C ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 20T 
 
 dc Duraz;;j mad<:. He also at the beginning took very wise pre. 
 cautions, for he amply provided with stores the castel del Ovo, which 
 is one of the strongest castles ia the world, and stands by enchant, 
 ment in the sea, so that if is impossible to take it but by necromancy 
 or by the help of the devil.* 
 
 When he had provided this castle a sufficiency to last three or 
 four years, he collected a body of men.at-arms and threw himself 
 into it, having ir.ide all the entrances very secure, leaving the duke 
 of Anjou to act a^, ho pleased. He well knew the Neapolitans would 
 never desert him, and that, if la Puglia and Calabria should be lost 
 for two or three years, they could easily regain it. He expected the 
 duke of Aujt u would soon find himself at the end of his resources in 
 m;iintai!iing such a large army as he had brought, and which it was 
 impossible for him to continue t > support. They would be in want 
 of provision or pay, which wouU' tire them out in the course of two 
 or three years; and, when they should be well worn down, he might 
 combat them to his advantage. Charles de Durazzo was full of these 
 ideas, some of which were afterwards realized. In truth, no prince 
 in Christendom, except the kings of France or England, would have 
 kept up such an immense force as the duke of Anjou did, without 
 hurting his finances ; for they reported he had brought over the 
 mountams thirty thousand combatants : and the undertaking such an 
 enterprise required much thought and consideration. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXVIII. 
 
 THE EARL OF SAVOY, WHO HAD ACCOMPANIED THE DUKE OF ANJOU TO 
 NAPLES, ORDFRS A MAN TO BE BEHEADED, WHO HAD BOASTED THAT 
 HE WOULD Gl /E THEM POSSESSION OF THE CASTEL DEL OVO BY EN. 
 CHANTMENT. 
 
 When the duke of Anjou and his army entered la Puglia and 
 Calabria, the whole country was their own, and the people testified 
 that they wished not for any other lord than him : in a short time, 
 all the barons, principal towns and others, put themselves under his 
 obedience. Those who have been in these countries, which are the 
 richest in the world, report, that from the great abundance of every, 
 thing, the people are perfectly indolent, and do no manner of labor. 
 The men.at-arms, on entering so rich a country, felt themselves very 
 comfortable ; but the duke of Anjou, the earl of Savoy, the count 
 of Vendome, the count of Geneva,t and all the knighthood of France, 
 Savoy, and Brittany, marched on into the territories of Naples. 
 
 The citizens of Naples, not fearing these men.at.arms, deigned not 
 to shut their gates, but kept them always open, as they never imagined 
 the duke of Anjou could reside there longer than it was agreeable to 
 them ; for the moment they should be inclosed in the town, whatever 
 num'oers they might be, they would be lost, as the houses were not 
 easy to be taken, having before their doors planks which may be 
 removed, and the sea underneath, on which they would not perhaps 
 like to adventure themselves. 
 
 An enchanter, master of necromancy, who had resided for some 
 time in the Neapolitan territory, came to the duke of Anjou, and 
 said, " My lord, if you will, I can cause the castel del Ovu and its 
 garrison to surrender to you." " How can that be ?" replied the 
 duke. " My lord, I will tell you," answered the enchanter : " I can 
 by enchantment, make the air so thick over the sea, that those in the 
 castle shall think it a large bridge, on which ten men may march in 
 front : and, when they shall see this bridge, they will be so fright- 
 ened they will sun-ender themselves to you, lest, if you attack them, 
 they may be taken by storm." The duke, much astonished at what 
 he had heard, called his knights, the count de Vend6me, the count 
 de Geneve, sir .lohn and sir Peter de Beuil, sir Morice de Maumi, 
 and others, to whom he related what the enchanter had just told 
 him. They were very much surprised, but seemed willing to give him 
 faith for it. The duke then asked, *' Fair master, can our people 
 march on this bridge of which you speak, as far as the castle, and 
 attack it?" " My lord," replied the magician, " of this I dare not 
 assure you ; for if any one of them, while on this bridge, should make 
 the sign of the cross, all would disappear, and those on it would fall 
 into the sea." The duke, upon this, began to laugh, and some of the 
 young kaights present said, " Ha, my lord, for God's sake, let him do 
 it ; we will not make any sign of the cross, and by this means we shall 
 easily capture our enemies." The duke said he would consider of it. 
 
 The earl of Savoy w?.s not present at this conversation, but came 
 soon afterwards. When the earl entered the duke's tent, the ma. 
 gician had just left it; but the duke told him all that had passed, 
 and what offers he had made. The earl, having mused a while, 
 said, " Send him to my quarters, and I will examine him. He is that 
 master magician by whose means the queen of Naples and sir Otho 
 de Brunswick were taken in the castel del Ovo, for he caused the 
 sea to swell so high that it seemed as if it would swallow the castle : 
 those within it were so much frightened they looked on themselves 
 as dead. One ought never to put too great confidence in such 
 people ; for you see the wickedness of the wretches in this country: 
 in or'ier to please you, and to obtain your benefactions, he will be. 
 tray Charles de Durazzo, to whom he formerly gave up the queen of 
 
 * Denys S iuvuirendtls n miir','iiml note, that " if the good man Froiscart believes this, 
 bis mind must lye very simple." 
 t ■ ' Couat ol Geneva." Giannone says li» was brotlier to pop* Clemeni 
 
 Naples and her husband." " Well," replied the duke, " I will send 
 him to you." The conversation took another turn, and, after hey 
 had well considered their situation, the earl returned to his quarters. 
 
 On the morrow morning, when the hvds were risen, the magician 
 waited on the duke, bowing most lowly. As soon as the duke per- 
 ceived him, he ordered a valet to conduct him to the earl of Savoy. 
 The valet, taking his hand, said, " Master, my lord's vAW is, that 
 you go to the earl of Savoy." He answered, " God's will be done." 
 When arrived at the tent of the earl, the valet said, " My lord, here 
 is the doctor whom my lord sends to you." The earl was much 
 pleased on seeing him, and said, " Doctor, do you assure us for a 
 certainty, that you will gain us the castel del Ovo at so cheap a 
 rate ?" " Yes, by my troth, my lord," replied the enchanter, " for 
 by a similar trick I got it for him who is now within, it, namely, the 
 lord Charles de Durazzo, from the queen of Naples, her daughter and 
 husband, sir Robert d'Artois* and sir Otho dc Brunswick. I am the 
 man in the world of whom the lord Charles has the greatest dread." 
 
 " By my faith," replied the eari, " you speak well ; but I wish the 
 lord Charles to know, that he is in the wrong to fear you so much, 
 for I will make him easy on that head : you shall not henceforward 
 perform an enchantment to deceive him or any one else. I will not 
 have it reproached to us in times to come, that such knights and 
 squires and valiant men-at-arms here assembled should have been 
 obliged for our success to magic, nor do we desire to conquer our 
 enemies by such means." He then ordered a servant to call the 
 headsman, and have his head strack off. The earl's commands 
 were instantly obeyed, and his head was cut off on the outside of the 
 tent. Such was the end of this enchanter, and such his recompense. 
 
 We will now leave the duke of Anjou, his army, and his marches, 
 and return to the affairs of Portugal, and relate how the English and 
 Gascons prospered. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXIX, 
 
 THE CANON DE ROBERSAC MAKES ANOTHER EXCURSION CONTRARY TO THB 
 WILL OF THE KING OF PORTU&AL, AND TAKES SEVERAL PLACES ADJOIN- 
 ING- TO SEVILLE. 
 
 The knights in garrison at Besiouse, and who had been there for 
 so considerable a time, having made but one excursion, when they 
 took the castle of Fighiere, resolved, about the middle of April, to 
 make another : for they were very much surprised at the conduct of 
 the king of Portugal and earl of Cambridge, who had let them re- 
 main idle the nine months they had now been in Portugal, without 
 having formed any expedition but the one for which they had been 
 blamed. They determined to send to and remonstrate with the earl 
 of Cambridge on this subject : I believe the envoy was the souldich 
 de la Trane. He came to Estremoz, where the earl was quartered, 
 and said to him, " My lord, my companions send me to you, to know 
 what you would wish them to do ; for they much wonder why they 
 have been brou^^ht to this country, to rem.ain so long in indolence, 
 which displeases them much. You will let me know what you would 
 have them do, for they are very desirous of making an excursion." 
 
 " Souldich," rephed the eari, " you know, that when I left Eng- 
 land, my lord and brother the duke of Lancaster promised m.e, on his 
 faith, that on his return from Scotland, v^^hither he was then going, 
 he would join us with men.at-arms, to the amount of three thousand, 
 and as many archers. Upon this engagement, I came merely to 
 reconnoitre the country. In a short time we shall have intelligence 
 from him ; for it is equally unpleasant to me to have remained so 
 long in this country. You will therefore salute your companions in 
 my name, and tell them what I have just said to you. I cannot wish 
 to prevent them frorn making an excursion, since they have such an 
 inclination for it ; but you know the king of Portugal gives us our 
 pay, and therefore we ought to conform to his orders." 
 
 " By my faitn, my lord," answered the souldich, " he pays b-.diy, 
 and our companions complain much cf it ; he owes us now six 
 months' pay." " He will pay you well," replied the eari : " money 
 never comes disagreeably." On this, the souldich left the eari, and 
 returned to his companions, to whom he related what you have 
 heard. "Gentlemen," said the canon, "I will not desist from 
 making an excursion, nctwithstanding what has been said, for I see 
 clearly they wish to put cff all such attempts. They do not desire 
 we should commit hostilities, that we may not have cause to demand 
 our pay : but my opinion is, that we take the field." They selected 
 those who should form this expedition, and resolved to undertake it 
 on the morrow, having their arms quite ready. 
 
 The lord John de Ferrande, one of the knights of the king of 
 Portugal, who had learnt they were desirous of performing some 
 enterprise, came to them, and brought letters to the canon de 
 Robersac. He read them, and found that the king of Portugal for- 
 bid him to quit his quarters; adding, that he was well informed it 
 was through his means all these expeditions were thought cf. The"; 
 canon was much enraged at thia order, and said to the knight, 
 
 * " Robert d'Artois." Denys Sauvase, in his 24th annotation, snys, "The history of 
 Naples often speaks oftliis Robertd'Artois, makiiighim the husband of Marj'. daughter 
 of Joan queen of Naples ; but no mention is m;ide of these enchantments. They seem 
 to come from the romances of Morgante and Ur?anda ; so that I am siirprisod Fzott' 
 •art could sulfer himself to be thus deceived, and wish to deceive posterity." 
 
298 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 " John, I see plainly the king will not permit me to make any excur- 
 Blon. Now, suppose I remain in my house, do you think that the 
 others, who are better knights and more valiant than I, will also 
 stay at home and give up their enterprise ? Oh no, by my troth, as 
 you will see to-morrow ; tor they are determined and prepared to 
 take the field." " My lord," replied Ferrande, "command them, 
 in the king's name, not to do so." " By my faith," said the canon, 
 " I will do no such thing : do you, who belong to the king, order 
 them yourself." 
 
 Things remained in this state all night. In the morning, the 
 trumpets sounded, when the knights and squires, being armed and 
 mounted, came before the canon's house, who had not put on his 
 armor. On the English and Gascon knights drawing up, he came 
 to the window, and told them the king of Portugal would not allow 
 him, nor any of his party, to make an excursion. " By my faith," 
 answered they, " we will have a ride, since we are so well inclined 
 to it : and so shall you too, for it shall never be reproached you, that 
 when we had taken the field, you staid at home." The canon was 
 then obliged to arm himself, and mount his horse. The PorUiguese 
 knight, the lord Ferrande, was obliged to do the same ; so much 
 was he pressed by the others, but it occasioned him to stand in the 
 ill graces of the king, and he was 'very near being hanged. They 
 marched out of Besiouse to the amourxt of about four hundred spears 
 and as many archers; and, taking the Seville road tovt^ard a castle 
 and town called Ban,* continued their march until they arrived, and 
 surrounded the part which seeraed most easy to be taken. They dis- 
 mounted, formed themselves in order of attack, entered the ditches, 
 which were dry, and began the assault vigorously. 
 
 At this time, there were no Fiien-at-arms in the town of Ban. 
 The inhabitants, though badly armed, mounted the walls and de- 
 fended themselves as weil as they vv^ere able with lances and 
 javelins, but this could not last long. They therefore began to treat 
 with the assailants, and at length suirendered, on having their lives 
 and fortunes spared, declaring they would put themselves under the 
 obedience of don Fernando, king of Portugal. They were well 
 received m the town, which they entered to refresh themselves ; 
 when the}'^ began to examine by what means they could gain the 
 castle. They saw it might be taken ; and that same evening, some 
 of the army began to skirmish. On the morrow, a more regular 
 attack commenced. 
 
 The governor of the castle Vv^as a gentleman of the country, 
 called Peter Jagouses, but he was not an able man-at-arms, as he 
 showed ; for as soon as he saw himself thus attacked, and so many 
 men-at-arms advancing, he took fright, entered into terms, and sur- 
 rendered the castle on his and the garrison's lives being spared. 
 They sti-engthened it with good men-at-arms and archers, and then 
 departed toward another castle, seven leagues distant, called la 
 Courtisse.t On their arrival, they instantly began the attack very 
 sharply ; but thooe within defended themselves to the utmost of 
 their power, and disdained to surrender. At the first attack, which 
 was severe, the governor of the castle, called Radulph, was slain. 
 He was an expert and valiant man-at-arms, but, having adventured 
 himself loo rashly on the bulwarks, was killed by an arrow. On 
 his death the others lost courage ; the castle was taken, and the greater 
 part of the garrison put to the sword. Thus did the canon and his 
 companions gain the castle of la Courtisse. They, strengthened it 
 with a new garrison ; and, having well supplied it with everything, 
 they marched toward the city of Seville the grand. 
 
 CHAPTER XC. 
 
 IKE CANON AND HIS COMPANIONS GAIN MUCH BOOTY FROM THE KINO OF 
 CASTILLE. THEY MUTINY AGAINST THE K\S'i OF PORTUGAL, WHO 
 ORDERS THEIR PAY TO BE INSTANTLY DELIVEREP THEM. 
 
 These English and Gascon men-at-arms continueu "arching 
 until they came to .TaflTre, ten leagues from Seville. It is a oadly 
 inclosed town ; but there i? a very f:tr:;ng monastery which those of 
 the town and country had fortified, and they had retreated thither 
 trusting to its strength. On their arrival, the town of .laffre was 
 immediately tiken and burnt. They soon attacked the monastery ; 
 but it was an hour before it was taken, when those who first entered 
 it gained great pilhge: many were there slain Having received 
 intelligence that there v.-crc in some marshy grounds, in an adjoining 
 valley, upward of twenty thousand head of cattle, pigs, cows, and 
 sheep, they pushed forward ; and, having entered the marsh, ordered 
 their infantry to drive out the cattle. They then resolved to return 
 to their quarters in Besiouse,and set out accordingly. They arrived 
 there on the overling of the ensuing day with all their booty; by 
 which they had provisions ia abundance, and for a long time. 
 
 Thus ended this expedition. When the lord Ferrande returned 
 to Lisbon to the king, and reported to him what they had done 
 against their enemies, and the great booty they had made, he 
 imagined the king would have been well pleased ; but no, for he 
 Baid to him, " How, thou stinking rascal, hast thou dared, after the 
 positive denial I sent them, to consent to their making an excursion, 
 and to accompany them thyself? By St. .Tacob, I will have thee 
 
 •"lS«n." a f CourtiaBe." O. 
 
 I hanged." The knight, on this, cast himself on hio knees, and said, 
 " My lord, their captain acquitted himself dutifully and loyally ; but 
 the others by force made him go with them, as well as myself, to 
 show them the country. When the expedition has so well sue. 
 ceeded, you ought to pardon it." Notwithstanding this speech, the 
 king ordered him to prison, where he remained until the earl of 
 Cambridge delivered him vv^hefi he came to Lisbon on the business 
 of which you shall hear. 
 
 After the English and Gascons were returned to the town of 
 Besiouse, and had remained there some time, they resolved to send 
 to the king of Portugal to demtmd their pay. They chose unani- 
 mously the lord Talbot, a baron from Wales, as their embassador. 
 When the lord Talbot was come to Lisbon, and had remonstrated 
 with the king on the subject of his mission, the king only made 
 for answer, " that they had twice made excursions contrary to his 
 orders, which had much displeased him, and had been the cause of 
 the delay in their payment." As he could not obtain any other 
 answer, lord Talbot returned to his companions, and related what 
 the king had said, which much angered them. 
 
 This same week, the earl of Cambridge quitted Estrernoz and 
 came to Besiouse, where he took up his lodgings, in a monastery of 
 monks on the outside of the town. The knights in garrison were 
 rejoiced on healing this ; for there were aiiiiong them some who 
 were unable to wait so long for their pay from the king, and said 
 among ihemselve;?, " We are marvellously well taken care of: we 
 have been in this country almost a year, and have never received 
 any money. It is impossible but our corama2:ider must have had 
 some, for he would never have borne it for so great a length of time." 
 These murmurings increased so much that they declared they would 
 not longer suffer such treatment, and fixed a day to debate the matter 
 among themselves. The place of conference v:vjs appcinted in a 
 handsome church situated without the town of Besiouse, and oppo. 
 site to the Cordeliers, where the earl of Cambridge had his residence. 
 The canon of Robersac promised to attend : indeed, it was well he 
 did, for otherwise it would have turned out badly. 
 
 About eight o'clock, they were all assembled, except the canon, 
 such as sir William Beauchamp, sir Matthev/ Gournay his uncle, 
 the lord Talbot, sir William Hermon ; * and, of Gascons, the 
 souldich de la Trane, the lord de la Barde, the lord de Cha,teauneuf, 
 and several more, who began to speak and make their complaints 
 known to each other. There was among them a knight, basl-^rd 
 brother to the king of Ekigland, called sir John Sounder,t who was 
 louder than all the rest, and said, "The carl of Cambridge has 
 brought us hither: every day we venture our lives, and are willing 
 so to do, for his service, and yet he keeps our pay. I therefore 
 advise, that we form a strict union among ourselves, and unani. 
 mously agree to display the pennon of St. George, declaring our- 
 selves friends to God, and enemies to all the world ; for if we do 
 not make ourselves feared, we shall not have anything." "By my 
 faith," replied William Helmon, " you say well, and we will do it." 
 All agreed to the proposal, and considered whom they should choose 
 for their leader : they thought they could not have a better than 
 Sounder, for he would have more leisure to do mischief, and had 
 greater courage for it than the others. They hoisted the pennon of 
 St. George, and cried out, "A Sounder, a Sounder, tijat valiant 
 bastard ! Friends to God, and enemies to all mankind." They 
 were then well inclined to attack the town of Besiouse, and declare 
 war against the king of Portugal. 
 
 Sir Matthew (ioumay and sir William Beauchamp had long argued 
 against attacking Besiouse, but had been little attended to. At the 
 moment they had displayed the pennon of St. Geoige, and were 
 quitting the church, the canon arrived, and, pushing through the 
 crowd, got up to the head altar, when he cried aloud, " My fair sirs, 
 what are you going to do ? Be orderly and temperate, I conjure 
 you ; for I see you are much disturbed." Sir John Sounder and sir 
 William Helmon then advanced to him, and related what they had 
 done and what were their intentions. The canon, by fair language, 
 restrained them : " Consider, gentlemen, what you are about: that 
 which you intend is folly and madness. We cannot destroy our- 
 selves more efiectually. If we make war on this country, our ene. 
 mies will hear of it, and will gain courage when they see we cannot 
 oppose them. We shall thus ruin ourselves two ways ; for our ene. 
 mies will be rejoiced and assured of what at present they may only 
 suspect, and we shall forfeit our loyalty to the earl of Cambridge." 
 
 "And what would you have us do, canon?" said Sounder: "we 
 have expended much more than our pay, and since our arrival in 
 Portugal we have not had any loan or any payment whatever. If 
 you have been paid, we have not, and your comploints will be vain.'* 
 " By my faith, Sounder," replied the c?^non, "I have not received more 
 than you have, nor will I receive anything without your knowledge.'* 
 
 Some of the knights present answered, " We firmly believe you : 
 but all things must have an end. Show us how we may get clear 
 of this business with honor, and that as speedily as may be ; for if 
 we be not well paid, and in a short time, matters will go ill." Tlie 
 canon de Robersac then replied, " Fair sirs, I would advise first of 
 all, in the situation we are in, that we wait on the earl of Cambridge, 
 
 * "Hermon." Q,. Froiesartcnlls him aftervv.ards Helmon. 
 t Tn chap. 85, this knieht is callwl by Froissart Messiro Jakan Fi:<dxee, and Bcm 
 MtKire JtboD Soultier.— £!>• 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 299 
 
 and remonstrate with him on these matters of which he ought to he 
 ijifonned." "And who is there among us," said one, "who will 
 remonstrate with him ?" " I will," replied Sounder ; " but yon must 
 all avow what I shall say." The whole company promised to do so. 
 Tiiey then departed with the pennon of St. George, which they had 
 that day displaj ed, carried before them, and came to the Cordeliers, 
 ivhere the earl f Cambridge was lodged. 
 
 Just as he wa ; going to dinner, these companions, to the amount 
 of about seven hundred, entered the court, and demanded the earl, 
 who, having quitted his chamber, came into the hall to speak with 
 them. The knights had adv::nced with Sounder at their head, and 
 remonstrated in an agreeable manner and speech, saying, " My lord, 
 it WHS you who assembled u;j in England ; and we came hither 
 according to your entreaties, as veil as others who are now without ; 
 we have left our country to oblig you. You are therefore our chief, 
 and we must look to you for our pay, of which hitherto we have not 
 received anything: for, as to the king of Portugal, we should never 
 have come to his country nor entered his service, if you had not been 
 our paymaster. However, if you say the war concerns only the king 
 of Portugal, and that you are not interested in it, we will soon pay 
 ourselves our subsidy, for we will overrun the country, let the con- 
 sequences be what they may." " Sounder," replied the earl, " i do 
 not say that you ought not to be paid ; but, that if you overrun this 
 country, you will throw great blame on me, as well as on the king 
 of England, who is so strictly allied to the king of Portugal." 
 
 " And what would you have us do ?" asked Sounder. " I will," 
 replied the earl, " that you choose three of our knights, an English- 
 man, a Gascon, and a German, and that these three set out for 
 Lisbon, to expl ain to the king this business, and the length of time 
 he has delayed oayment to our companions. When you shall thus 
 have summoned him, you will have a better right to follow your ov/n 
 inclinations." " By my faith," said the canon de Robersac, "my 
 lord of Cambridge says well, and speaks wisely and boldly." They 
 all agreed to this last proposal ; but, notwithstanding, they would not 
 'take down the pennon of St. George, saying, that since they had 
 unanimously raised it in Portugal, they would not lower it so long as 
 they should remain there. They then selected those who were to 
 wait on the king of Portugal : sir William Helmon was chosen by 
 the English, sir Thomas Simon by the Germans, the lord de Chat- 
 eauneuf by the Gascons. 
 
 These three knights set out, and continued their journey until they 
 came to Lisbon, where they found the king, who received them 
 handsomely, asked from them the news, and what their companions 
 were doing? " My lord," they replied, " they are all in very good 
 health, and would willingly make some excursions, and employ this 
 season otherwise than they do ; for long idleness is not agreeable to 
 them." " Well," said the king, " they shall very shortly make an 
 excursion, and I will accompany them, and you v/ill let them know 
 this from me." " My lord," answered sir William, " we are sent 
 hither by their orders, to tell you, that since their arrival in this 
 country, they have neither had loan nor payment from you, and that 
 they are not satisfied ; for whoever wishes to obtain the love and 
 service of men-at-arms must pay them better than you have hitherto 
 done, the neglect of which they have for some time taken to heart; 
 for they know not on wjiom they depend, and have thrown the 
 blame on our captains, so that the affjir was on the point of taking 
 a very disagreeable turn. Our chiefs excused themselves, as it was 
 known they had not received anything. Now, know for a truth, 
 they will be paid their full pay, if you wish their services ; and il" 
 you will not pay them, they assure you by us, that they will pay 
 themselves from your country. Therefore consider well this busi- 
 ness, and give us such an answer as we may carry back ; for they 
 are only waiting our return." The king mused a little, and then 
 said, " Sir William, it is but just they should be paid : but they have 
 much vexed me, by disobeying my orders, in making two excursions, 
 which if they had not done, they should long ago have been fully 
 satisfied in every respect." " Sire," replied sir William, " if they 
 have made any excursions, they have turned out to your advantage : 
 they have tiken towns, castles, and overrun the territories of your 
 enemy, even as far as Seville : all this has been gallantly performed. 
 They ought not to lose this season, which, indeed, they are deter- 
 mined not to do ; for they declare, on our return, they will pay them- 
 ;;elves, unless they shall receive by us a more gracious answer, than 
 as yet tney have obtained from you." " Well," said the king, " in- 
 form them, that within fifteen days at the latest, I will give orders 
 for their pay t3 be delivered to them, to the utmost farthing; but tell 
 the earl of Cambridg* that I wish to speak with him." "Sire," 
 replied sir William, " I will do so, and you say well." 
 
 As he finished these words, dinner was served, when they dined 
 together, and the king made the three sit at his table, and feasted 
 them much. Thus passed the day, and on the morrow they returned 
 > to their friends. As soon as their arrival was known, the knights 
 crowded about them, to learn what they had done : they related to 
 them the answer, and the king's promise, with which they were all 
 well satisfied. " Now see," said Sounder, " if riot be not some- 
 times of use : we have advanced the delivery of our pay, by having 
 been a Httle riotous : he fares well who is feared." 
 
 The three knights waited on the earl of Cambridge, and reported 
 to him what they had done, and that the king wanted to speak with 
 
 him. He set out from the town in the morning, and rode to Lisbon, 
 where he was joyfully received by his son and daughter-in-law. The 
 king had a long conference with hhn, when they determintd on cei. 
 tain expeditions. The king, in consequence, issued his summons 
 throughout the realm, for every one to be prepared for the field by 
 the seventh of June, and to assemble between the towns of Badajos 
 and Clemence. This summons was published throughout the king- 
 dom of Portugal, when all descriptions of men armed themselves in 
 the best manner they were able, to be at the rendezvous on foot, by 
 the appointed day. 
 
 On the arrival of the earl of Cambridge at Lisbon, don Fcrrande 
 obtained his liberty, with whom the king had been much angered, 
 on account of those before-mentioned excursions. The earl took 
 his leave, returned to his companions in high spirits, and ordered 
 them to be in readiness by the day which had been fixed on. Soon 
 after money arrived for the pay of the troops, the captains first, so 
 that every one was contented ; but the pennon of St. George was 
 still displayed. 
 
 CHAPTER XCI. 
 
 THE KINGS OF CASTILLE AND PORTUGAL ASSEMBLE THEIR FORCES. 
 PEACE MADE BETWEEN THEM AGAINST THE WILL OF THE ENGLISH. 
 
 Don John of Castille was not idle in collecting numbers of men- 
 at-arms. Two thousand spears, knights and squires, and four thou- 
 sand infantry, had com.e to him from France : he had, besides, in 
 his own country, ten thousand horse, and as many foot. As he 
 resided at Seville, he was not ignorant ot the summons which the 
 king of Portugal had issued : he therefore, finding himself the 
 strongest, thought he should act more honorably in this war, if he 
 sent to the king of Portugal, to ask him to fix on any .spot in his 
 dominions, where the two armies could meet, and fight it out ; and 
 that, if he would not, he would offer a place in Spain for the com- 
 bat. He therefore sent a herald with this message, who rode on 
 until he came to Lisbon, v/here he delivered it to the king, v/ord for 
 word. The king replied to the herald, that he would maturely con. 
 sider the option given to him, and would send to the kmg of Spain 
 his final answer. The herald, having executed his commission, took 
 leave of the king, and returned to Seville. 
 
 He found there the king and his barons, as well as those who had 
 come from France, Arragon and Galicia, to whom he reported all 
 he had heard or seen. No long time passed, before the king of 
 Portugal was advised by the councils of the English to offer a place 
 in his own country, for the two armies to combat. Sir Thomas 
 Simon and the souldich de la Trane were ordered, on the part of the 
 king, to seek for a proper situation : they chose a spot between 
 Elvas and Badajos, where there was room sufficient for the battle. 
 As they were going to execute this order, the tv/o knights and their 
 men skiJTnished with some advanced forces of the king of Castille : 
 the engagement was severe, and several were slain and wounded 
 on both sides. They, however, returned to the king of Portugal, 
 and related where they had chosen a fit situation, and also the name 
 of the place. 
 
 A German knight, called sir John Coustedor, was ordered to 
 carry this iatimn-tion, attended by a herald, to the king of Spain. 
 The knight set out, and rode to Seville, where he found the king, 
 and related what the king of Portugal had instructed him to say, 
 that he accepted his offer of combat, and had fixed on a place for the 
 field of battle, between Elvas and Badajos ; and that within five 
 days after his return from Seville, he would there find the king of 
 Portugal with his whole army, who desired nothing better than to 
 give him batde. The Spaniards were much pleased with this news, 
 as were also the French. Sir Tristan de Roye, sir John de Ver- 
 nettes, sir Peter de Villaraes, and others, taking with them the knight 
 from Portugal, entertained him magnificently for one whole day in 
 Seville, and showed him as niuch respect as possible. They escorted 
 him as far as JafTre, when they retur;iea ; and the knight continued 
 his journey to the king of Portugal and his knights, and told them 
 how he had delivered his message, and the answer he had received, 
 which gave them great satisfaction. 
 
 It was not long before the king of Portugal came and encamped 
 where his army was, between Elvas and Badajos. It was a hand- 
 some plain below some olive trees ; and he had brought thither the 
 greater part of his subjects from whom he could expect assistance : 
 thiy might amount to about fifteen thousand men. On the fourth 
 day afterwards, the earl of Cambridge arrived with the English, in 
 handsome array: they were about six hundred men-at-arms and as 
 many archers : they encamped themselves together, separate from 
 the king's army. 
 
 When the king of Spain heard that the king of Portugal was 
 encamped on the field where the battle was to be fought, he seemed 
 delighted, and said : " Come, let us make haste : our enemies are 
 waiting: it is time for us to set.out. We have offered them battle, 
 which they have accepted, and are ready by the day rppcinted, so 
 that an engagement must ensue : let us therefore march thither." 
 The men-at-arms were lihen ordered to advance with their men, for 
 the king was setting out. All the knights, squires and men-at-arms, 
 in consequence, broke up their quarters, both Spaniards and French, 
 and followed the banners of don John of Castillo, who eucaupcd 
 
330 
 
 CHRONICLES Of ENGLAND, FKANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 twj sh )i t leagues trom B.idajos, in the plains of Elvas. The king 
 of Sp .i i had i.i his army upward of thirty thousand fighting men, 
 includi.jg those mounted" on genets : they were in the whole sixty 
 thousand. In this situation, the two armies remained opposite to 
 each other. There was only between them the mountain of Bada. 
 jos, which is a large town belonging to the king of Spain, and where 
 his men went whenever they were in want of provision. The city 
 of Elvas was on the opposite side, and belonged to the king of Por- 
 tugal. 
 
 On the plain there were daily skirmishes : for the young bachelors 
 who were desirous to advance themselves went thither, when some 
 gallant feats were continually performed : they then returned to 
 their quarters. Things renuiined in this state for upward of fifteen 
 days; and it was not any fault in the king of Spain that the combat 
 did not take place, for it depended solely on the king of Portugal, 
 who, not being in sufficient force to meet the Spaniards, was afraid 
 of the event. He well knew, that if he were defeated, his kingdom 
 would be lost, and that whole season he had been expecting the 
 du-ke of Lancaster, with the great aid he was to bring him from 
 England, of four thousand men-at-arms and the same number of 
 archers. The earl of Cambridge had assured the king of Portugal, 
 that he might depend on this, and thought nothing could prevent it ; 
 for the duke of Lancaster, when he was setting out for Scotland, had 
 sworn to him by his faith, that on his return, he would think of no- 
 thing else, and would instantly come to Portugal with such an army 
 as should enable him to engage with the king of Castille. True it 
 is, that the duke of Lancaster did everything in his power to prevail 
 on the king and his council to listen to this business : but on account 
 of the internal troubles which had happened this year, and some 
 events which had fallen out in Flanders, the king and his council 
 would not consent to this expedition to Portugal, so that all the men- 
 at-arms were detained in England. 
 
 When the king of Portugal heard this, and found that he must not 
 expect any succors from England, he began to open a treaty : the 
 grand-master of Calatrava, don Pedro de Modesque, the bishop of 
 Burgos and the bishop of Lisbon, entered into negotiations for peace 
 between Portugal and Spain. These were carried on so success- 
 fully, that peace was made, without any notice being taken of the 
 English. The earl of Cambridge was very melancholy on learning 
 this news, and would willingly have made war on the king of Portu- 
 gal, if he had been strong enough in the country ; but he was not : 
 he was therefore obliged to endure this peace whether he would or 
 not. The English complained that the king of Portugal had behaved 
 ill to them, Torn the beginning to the end, and that he had always 
 dissembled with the Spaniards, for he had never had any inclination 
 to fight with them. The king excused himself, by throwing all the 
 blame on the duke of Lancaster, and the English, for not coming 
 acconding to their promises, and assured them that at that moment he 
 could not act otherwise. 
 
 CHAPTER XCII. 
 
 A JOrST BETWEEN A FRENCH KNIGHT AND AN ENGLISH SQUIRE. THE 
 EARL OF CAMBRIDGE LEADS BACK HIS ARMY TO ENGLAND, WITH HIS 
 SON, WHOSE BETROTHED WIFE, THE INFANTA OF PORTUGAL, IS AFTER- 
 WARDS MARRIED TO THE KING OF CASTILLE. 
 
 In the army of the king of Castille was a young knight from 
 France, called sir Tristan de Roye, who was desirous of displaying 
 his courage. When he saw, that as peace was concluded, there 
 would not be any engagement, he determined not to quit Spain, 
 without doing something to be talked of. He sent a herald to the 
 English army, requesting, that since peace had put an end to the com- 
 bat, some one would have the kindness to tilt with him three courses 
 with the lance before the city of Badajos. When this request was 
 brought to the army, they consulted together, and said it ought not 
 to be refused. A young English squire then stepped forth, cal'ed 
 Miles Windsor, who wished honorably to be created knight, and 
 eaid to the herald, " Friend, return to thy masters and tell sir Tristan 
 de Roye, that to-morrow he shall be delivered from his vow, by 
 Miles Windsor, l)efore the city of Badajos, according to his request." 
 
 The herald returned, and related the answer to his masters, and 
 sir Tristan de Roye, who was highly pleased. On the m orrow morn- 
 ing, Miles Windsor left the army of the earl of Cambridge and went 
 toward Badajos, which was hard by, as there was only the moun- 
 tain to cross, well accompanied by his friends; such as sir Matthew 
 Goumay. sir William Beauchamp, sir Thomas Simon, the souldich 
 de la Trane, the lord de ChAteauneuf, the lord de la Barde, and sev- 
 eral more; there were upward of one hundred knights on the spot, 
 where the tournament was to be performed. Sir Tristan de Roye 
 was already there, accompanied by French and Bretons. 
 
 Miles was created a knight by the souldich de la Trane, as being 
 the most accomplished knight there, and the person who had been 
 in the greatest number of brilliant actions. When the combatants 
 were completely armed, with lances in their rests, and mounted, they 
 SF»::>3d their horses, and, lowering their spears, met each other with 
 such force that their lances were twice broken against their breast- 
 plates, but no other hurt ensued. They then took their third lance, 
 and the shock was so great that the heads of Bordeaux steel pierced 
 their ehields, and through all their other armor even to the akin, but 
 
 did not wound them : the spears were shattered, and the broken 
 pieces flew over their helmets. This combat was much praised by 
 all the knights of each side who were present. They then took 
 leave of each other with much respect, and returned to their different 
 quarters, for no other deeds of arms were performed. 
 
 Peace being now restored, both Spaniards and Portuguese returned 
 to their own homes. In such manner was this great assembly of 
 Spaniards, English and Portuguese broken up. 
 
 At this time, news was brought to the anny of the king of Spain, 
 that the king of Granada had declared waa- against the kings of Bar- 
 bary and Tremegpn, and that all men-at-arms who might wish to go 
 thither would be received into pay. The king of Granada had ■'ent 
 passports, and ordered his messengers to say, that to those who ar- 
 rived in Granada, he would advance a quarter's pay. Several French 
 knights who wished to advance themselves, as sir Tristan de Roye, 
 sir Geoffry de Chargny, sir Peter de Clermont, took leave of don 
 John of Castille, and went to those parte in search of deeds of arms. 
 Some English went thither also, but they were few in number; for 
 the earl of Cambridge conducted them to England, carrying his son 
 with him. He showed how much dissatisfied he was with the king 
 by not leaving his son behind, who had been betrothed to the infanta 
 of Portugal. The earl said the air of Portugal did not agree with 
 his son's health ; and in spite of everything the king could urge, he 
 would not permit him to stay, adding that he was too young to remain 
 in Portugal, from which the following consequences ensued. 
 
 About a year after the conclusion of this peace, when the English 
 were returned home with the earl of Cambridge, the queen of don 
 John of Castille died : she was daughter to the king of Arragon. 
 The king being thus a widower, it was considered by the barons 
 and prelates of Spain and Portugal, that the properest alliance which 
 could be made with the lady Beatrice of Portugal was the king of 
 Spain, who could not more nobly connect himself than with the in- 
 fanta. In order to confirm the peace between the two kingdoms, 
 the king of Portugal consented, and broke off the match with the 
 son of the earl of Cambridge, by a dispensation from the pope, who 
 confirmed this new alliance. Thus became the infanta of Portugal 
 queen of Spain, Gallicia, and Castile ; and she brought the king a. 
 son the first year of her marriage, to his great joy. 
 
 The king of Portugal died soon after this event : but the Portu- 
 guese were unwilling to submit themselves to the dominion of the 
 Spaniards, and gave the crown to a bastard brother of the king, who 
 was grand-master of the order of Avis,* and called the bastard of 
 Portugal. He was a valiant man, had always borne arms, and much 
 beloved by the Portuguese, as they showed ; for they crowned him 
 king, and chose him lord for his valor. This transaction was the 
 cause of great war between the kingdoms of Spain and Portugal, as 
 you shall hear related in the course of this history. 
 
 When the earl of Cambridge, the canon de Robersac, and the 
 English knights were returned from Portugal, and had waited on 
 the king and duke of Lancaster, they were very graciously enter- 
 tained, as was right, and then they were asked for news : they told 
 them a sufficiency, and the history of their whole campaign. The 
 duke of Lancaster, whom this business touched more essentially than 
 any other, on account of the claim he had made to Castille, in right 
 of his wife, the lady Constance, eldest daughter to don Pedro, inquired 
 of his brother every particular, and how they had conducted them- 
 selves in Portugal. The earl told him, that the armies remained 
 upward of fifteen days opposite to each other : " and because, my fair 
 brother, there came no intelligence of you, the king of Portugal has- 
 tily made peace, and, in spite of everything we could say, he would 
 not consent to a battle : our men were much concerned thereat, for 
 they would willingly have hazarded it. Seeing, therefore, that affairs 
 were not on a very sure foundation, I have brought home my son, 
 although he has been betrotiied to the infanta." I believe you were 
 in the right," replied the duke ; "but perhaps they may break this 
 marriage, if they shall find a more agreeable alliance." " By my 
 faith," said the earl, " happen what may, I have done nothing that I 
 repent of." Thus ended this conversation between the duke of Lan. 
 caster and earl of Cambridge, when they entered on other matters. 
 
 We vv^ill now leave them, and the wars of Spain and Portugal, to 
 return to those of Ghent, the earl and country of Flanders, which 
 were very destructive. 
 
 CHAPTER XCIII. 
 
 GHENT IS IN GREAT DISTRESS FOR PROVISIONS ; TITKY ARE SUCCORED B7 
 THE INHABITANTS OF LIEGE. 
 
 Ever since the burning of Grammont, and the breaking up the 
 siege of Ghent, through the grief of the earl of Flanders for the death 
 of his cousin, the young lord d'Anghien, as you have before heard, 
 the war was earned on solely by the garrisons in the different towns. 
 The whole country was for the earl, except the Quatre Metiers, 
 whence provisions were sent into Ghent, as well as from the coun- 
 try of Alost. But the earl of Flanders, on hearing that cheese, but- 
 ter and other things were sent to Ghent from Alost and the adjacent 
 villages, soon put a stop to it, by ordering the garrison of Dendremond 
 
 * "Avis." Froissart calls him master Deoys. Fof particulars of the oxder of th» Bip' 
 aee Um Hittori* de« Ordrw de Cb«velerie< 
 
CHRONICLES pF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 301 
 
 to burn and destroy the whole of that flat country : which orders 
 being obeyed, the poor people who lived on the produce of their 
 cattle were forced tj fly into Brabant and Hainault, and the greater 
 pan tv) beg their bread. There stiil, however, remained a country 
 dependearon the Quatre Metiers, whence Ghent drew all its provis- 
 ions, which their enemies could not prevent. 
 
 This whole winter of 1382, the earl and country of Flanders had 
 so much constrained Ghent that nothing could enter the place by 
 land or water : he had persuaded the duke Brabant and duke Albert 
 to shut up their countries so effectually, that _no provisions could be 
 exported thence, but secretly, and with a great risk to those who 
 attempted it. It was thought by the most intelligent, that it could 
 not be loi k before they perished through famine, for all the store- 
 houses of t^orn were empty, and the people could not obtain bread 
 for money : when the bakers had baked any, it was necessary to 
 guard their shops, for the populace who were starving would have 
 broken them open. It was melancholy tJ hear these poor people 
 (for men women and children, of good substance were in this miser- 
 able plight) make their daily complaints and cries to Philip von Ar- 
 taveld, their comniauder-ia-chief. He took great compassion on 
 them, and made several very good regulations, for which he was 
 much praised. He ordered the granaries of the monasteries and rich 
 men to be opened, and divided the corn among the poor at a fixed 
 },nce. By such means he gave comfort to the town of Ghent, and 
 governed it well. Sometimes there came to them in casks flour and 
 Daked bread from Holland and Zealand, which were of great assist, 
 ance ; for, had they not been thus succored by those countries, they 
 would have been much sooner defeated. 
 
 The duke of Brabant had forbidden any of his subjects to carry 
 provisions to the inhabitants of Ghent, under pain of death ; but, if 
 they would run the risk of coming to seek them, they might sell or 
 give. V/hen Lent came, they were in the greatest distress ; for they 
 had not any provisions suitable to that time : insomuch that a body 
 of soldiers and other persons, to the amount of twelve thousand, 
 driven desperate by faminre, left the town and went to Brussels. On 
 their arrival, the gates were closed, for they were doubtful of their 
 intentions, not knowing what to think of them. When they were 
 near to Brussels, they sent a party unarmed to the gates, /u search 
 of provision, begging, for the love of God, they would have pity on 
 them, and let them have victuals for their money, as they were dying 
 of hunger, and would not do any harm to the country. The good 
 people of Brussels had compassion on them, and carried them food 
 sufficient to satisfy their hunger. They remained there to recruit 
 tliemse'vps about three weeks, but did not enter any of the principal 
 towns • they advanced as far as Louvain, the people of vv'hich place 
 also took pity on them, and gave them many things. The leader 
 and conductor of these men of Ghent was Francis Atremen, who 
 advised them how to act, and also made for them their agreements 
 with the different towns. During the time they were refreshing 
 themselves in the country round Louvain, he went to Liege, accom- 
 panied by twelve others, where he remonstrated so eflfectually with 
 the magistrates that they consented, with the approbation of their 
 bishop, the loid Arnold d'Erele, to send to the earl of Flanders, and 
 use their utmost endeavors to make a peace between them : adding, 
 that if Liege had been as near to them as Brabant and Hainault, they 
 would have more effectually assisted them in their rights, and in de- 
 ending their privileges. However, they said, " We will now do 
 everything we can for you, and, as you are merchants, and merchan. 
 dise ought to pass freely everywhere, we have determined that you 
 may contract at this moment for five or six hundred cart loads of 
 corn and flour, which we will allow you to have, provided the good 
 people from whom this provision comes can be satisfied. Our com- 
 merce will be suffered to pass through Brabant, for that country is in 
 friendship with us ; and, notwithstanding Brussels is shut against 
 you, we know it is more through fear than inclination. The Brus- 
 selers have great compassion on your sufferings ; but the duke and 
 duchess of Brabant, at the solicitations of the earl of Flanders, are 
 more his friends than yours, as it is natural that great lords should 
 support each other." 
 
 The men of Ghent were much pleased with the affectionate offers 
 the Liegeois made them ; they warmly thanked them, and said, that 
 with such allies and friends, the town of Ghent might do much. 
 Francis and the citizens of Ghent who had accompanied him into 
 Liege, having finished their business, took leave of the magistrates, 
 who ordered certain persons to attend them through the country to 
 collect carts and horses. In two days they had six hundred loaded 
 with corn and flour, for such stores were then more necessary to 
 them than any others. They set out on their return, passing between 
 Louvain and Brussels. When Francis Atremen was returned to his 
 men whom he had 'eft in the neighborhood of Louvain, he related to 
 them the love and courtesy v^hich those of Liege had shown, and the 
 offer they had made of their friendship. He added, that they would 
 go to Brussels to speak with the duchess of Brabant, and beg and 
 entreat of her, on the part of the good town of Ghent, to condescend 
 to mediate between them and the earl their lord, so that they might 
 obtain peace. They replied, " God's will be done," and marched to 
 Brussels. 
 
 The duke of Brabant, at this time, was at Luxembourg on his af. 
 iairs * and Francis, by permiasion of the duchcas, who was desirous 
 
 to see him, entered the town, attended only by two ether persona 
 They waited on her at her hotel at Colleberge, where the duchess 
 had assembled part of her council ; and, throwing themselves on 
 their knees, Francis, who spoke for all, said, "JVIuch honored and 
 dear Lady, may it please you, out of your great humility, to have 
 compassion on the inhabitants of Ghent, who are not able, by any 
 means hitherto employed, to obtain the pardon of their lord ; but if 
 you, very dear lady, would mediate between our lord and us, so that 
 he would hear but reason and have mercy on his vassals, you would 
 do a most charitable act, and our good friends and neighbors of Liege 
 would unite to assist you at any time and in any manner you shall 
 please." 
 
 The duchess replied with much gentleness, " that she had long 
 been sorry for the dissensions which had arisen between her brother* 
 the earl and them, and would vs'illingly have put an end to them for 
 some time past, had she been able or had she known how tD do it: 
 but you so often oppose him, and are so obstinate in your opinions, 
 that it keeps up his anger and hatred against you. Notwithstanding 
 all this, for love of God and through compassion, I will cheerfully 
 undertake this business, and se-nd to request he will have the good- 
 ness to come to Tournay, where I will order my privy council. You 
 will also exert yourselves to gain the council of Hainault, to accom- 
 pany that of Liege, which you say is ready to serve you." " Yes, 
 madam, for they have so promised us." " Well," said the duchess, 
 " I will do sometinng that you shall hear of." They replied, " God 
 preserve, madam, your soul and body." At these words they took 
 leave of the duchess and her council, departed from Brussels, and 
 returned to their men and carriages, which were waiting for lliem, 
 and then continued their road to Ghent. 
 
 When the news arrived that their people were returning, and 
 bringing w.ith them six hundred cart-loads of provision, of which they 
 were in such great want, they were higldy delighted : these provis- 
 ions, however, from Liege were not sufficient to maintain the town 
 fifteen days ; but to those who are comfortless a little thing gives 
 hope. They made a numerous procession to meet this convoy, and, 
 by way of humbling themselves, they fell on their knees when they 
 met it, and with uplifted hands, said to the merchants and drivers, 
 " Ah, good people, you do an act of great charity : you bring comfort 
 to the lower classes in Ghent, who would not have had wherewithal 
 to eat, if you had not come. Let us first give our thanks and praises 
 to God, and then to you." In this manner were the provisions at. 
 tended to the market-place, and there unloaded : they were then 
 delivered out in small proportions to those v/ho were in the greater^t 
 want ; and five thousand men were ordered to arm themselves, and 
 to escort back these carts as far as Brabant, and out of all danger. 
 
 The earl of Flanders, who resided at Bruges, had information of 
 all this, and how Ghent was so much straitened that it could not holu 
 out for any length of time. You may imagine he was not very '.nuch 
 vexed at their poverty, any more than those of his council, who 
 would, with pleasure, have seen the town of Ghent destroyed. Gil. 
 bert Matthew and his brothers, the deacon of small trades of Ghent 
 and the provost of Harlebecque, were in nigh spirits at what they 
 heard. All these events happened in Lent, during the months of 
 March and April 1382.t The earl of Flanders determined to lay 
 siege to Ghent once more, but with a much superior army to what 
 he had hitherto brought against it; for he declared he would invade 
 the Quatre Metiers, and burn and destroy them, as they had been 
 too active in assisting Ghent. The earl therefore signified his inten- 
 tions to all the principal towns in Flanders, that they might be ready 
 in time. Immediately after the procession at Bruges, he was to 
 march from hence, to lay siege to Ghent and destroy it. He wrote 
 also to those knights and squires who were dependent on him ia 
 Hainault, to meet him at Bruges at the appointed day, or even eight 
 days before. 
 
 CHAPTER XCIV. 
 
 THE EARL Of FLANDERS SENDS A HARSH ANSWER TO THOSE WHO WISHED 
 TO MEDIATE A PEACE BETWEEN HIM AND GHENT. THE POPULACE, 
 UNDER THE NAME OF MAILLOTINS, RISE AGAIN AT PARIS. 
 
 Notwithstanding all these summons, levies and orders, which 
 the earl of Flanders was issuing, the duchess of Brabant, duke Albert 
 and the bishop of Liege, exerted themselves so much, that a meet, 
 ing of their councils, to consider of the means of establishing a peace, 
 was ordered to be held in the city of Tournay. The earl of Flan- 
 ders, at the request of these lords, and the duchess of Brabant, 
 although he intended to act contrary, gave his terms of accommoda- 
 tion ; and these conferences were fixed for the end of Easter, at 
 Tournay, in the year 1382. 
 
 Twelve deputies came from the bishopric of Liege and the chief 
 towns, with sir Lambert de Perney, a very discreet knight. The 
 duchess of Brabant sent her council thither, and some of the princi- 
 pal inhabitants from the great towns. Duke Albert met likewise 
 his council from Hainault, his bailiff", sir Simon de Lalain, with 
 others. All these came to Tournay in Ea^ter-week ; and Ghent 
 sent also twelve deputies, of whom Philip von Artaveld was the 
 head. The inhab itants^ of Ghent had resolved to accede to what. 
 
 * Her brother, tie hud murried one of her sisiers. 
 
 t *' 1382." TJaat «, begioning the year ut January, otheywise 1S81. 
 
302 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 ever terms their deputies should agree on, with the exception that 
 no one was to be put tj death ; but that if it pleased the earl, their 
 lord, he might banish from Ghent, and the country of Flanders, all 
 those who were disagreeable to him, and whom he might wish to 
 punish, without anv possibility of their return. This resolution they 
 had determined to abide by ; and Philip von Artaveld was willing, 
 if he should have angered the earl ever so little, during the lime he 
 was governor of Ghent, to be one of the banished men, for life, out 
 of the regard he had for the lower ranks of people. Certain it is, 
 that wiien he set out from Ghent for Tournay, men, women and 
 children cast themselves before him on their knees, and with uplifted 
 hands, besought him, that at whatever cost it might be, he would 
 bring them back peace ; and, from the pity he felt for them, he had 
 agreed tJ act as I have just related. 
 
 When tl'ie deputies from Liege, Brabant and Hainault, who had 
 been sent to Tournay as medutors, had resided there three days 
 expecting the carl, who neither came nor sent ; they were much 
 surprised, and, consulting together, resolved to send to him at Bruges. 
 In consequence, they dispatched thither sir Lambert de Perney, the 
 lord de Compellant from Brabant, sir William de Hermen* from 
 Hainault, and six citizens from the three countries. The earl of 
 Flanders entertained them handsomely, as was right, but told them, 
 " that at that moment, it was not agreeable to him to come to Tour- 
 nay ; yet, in consideration for the cause which had brought them 
 thither, and the trouble they had taken to come to Bruges, as well 
 as out of respect to their lords, the duchess of Brabant his sister, 
 duke Albert his cousin and the bishop of Liege, he would instantly 
 send hia council to Tournay with his final declaration, and what 
 were his future intentions." They therefore returned to Tournay, 
 and related what the earl had said. 
 
 Six days afterwards, arrived at Tournay, by orders of the earl, the 
 lord de Raseflez, the lord de Gontris, sir John Villame and the pro- 
 vost of Harlebecque, who made excuses from the earl why he came 
 not in person. They then delivered the earl's determination, that 
 the inhabitants of Ghent were not to expect peace from him, unless 
 all persons, from the age of fifteen to sixty, submitted to come out 
 of that city, bare-headed in their shirts, with halters about their 
 necks, on the road between Ghent and Bruges, where the earl would 
 wait for them, and grant them pardon or put them to death, accord- 
 ing to his pleasure When this answer was carried by the deputies 
 of the three countries to those of Ghent, they were more confounded 
 than ever. The bailiflf of Hainault, then addressing them, said : 
 '* My good gentlemen, you are in great peril, as you may each of 
 you judge, and we can assure you of it : now, if you accept these 
 terms, he will net put all to death that shall present themselves be- 
 fore him, but only some who have angered him more than the rest ; 
 and means may be found to mollify him, and excite his compassion ; 
 so that those who may think themselves certain of death will be 
 pardoned : accept, therefore, these ofTers, or at least consider well 
 before you refuse them ; for I believe you will never have such 
 made to you again." 
 
 Philip von Artaveld replied : " We are not commissioned to treat 
 on such terms by our townsmen, nor will they ever accept them ; 
 but if the citizens in Ghent, upon our return, after having informed 
 them of the answer from the earl, shall be willing to submit them- 
 selves, it shall not be our fault that peace is not made. We give 
 you our best and warmest thanks for the great trouble and pains you 
 have taken in this business." They then took leave of those well- 
 intentioned persons, and the other deputies from the principal towns 
 of the three countries, and showed plainly that they would not ac- 
 cept of the offered terms for peace. Philip von Artaveld and his 
 companions went to their hotels, discharged their bills, and returned 
 through Brabant to Ghent. 
 
 Thw3 was this conference broken up, which had been assembled 
 with the best intentions, in the town of Tournay, and each man 
 returned to his home. The earl of Flanders never made an inquiry 
 what was the answer of the Ghent deputies, so very cheap did he 
 hold them. He wished not for any treaty of peace , for he well 
 knew he had punished them so hard they could not hold out against 
 him much longer, and that the end must be honorable to him : he 
 was also desirous to reduce Ghent to such a situation that all other 
 towns might take warning from it. 
 
 About this period the Parisians again rose, because the king did 
 not reside among them. They were afraid lest he should order his 
 men-at-arms to force the gates of the city in the night-time, overrun 
 it, and put to death whomsoever he pleased. To avoid this danger, 
 which they dreaded, they kept guards in all the streets and squares 
 every night, and barricaded the streets with chains, to prevent any 
 cavalry from passing ; nor would they suflfer any one on foot to pass : 
 and those found in the streets after nine o'clock, who were not ac- 
 knowledged by them or their partisans, were put to death. There 
 were in the city of Paris upward of thirty thousand rich and power- 
 ful men, armed from head to foot, and so handsomely arrayed that 
 few knights could aflford to rival them. They had, in like manner, 
 armed their servants, who had mallets of iron and lead for the bruis- 
 ing of helmet?. They said in Paris, when they were mustering 
 their men, that they were sufficient in number and strength to fight 
 
 ♦"Herro«n." Q. Helmon. sw p. 29d.— £d. 
 
 their own battles, without the aid of the greatest lord on earth. 
 These people were called the army of mallets. 
 
 CHAPTER XCV. 
 
 THE CITIZENS OF GHENT, AFTER HAVING HEARD FROM PHILIP VON AR. 
 TAVELD THE TERMS OF PEACE WHICH HE HAD BROUGHT FROM THE 
 CONFERENCES AT TOURNAY, MARCH OUT, TO THE NUMBER OF FIVE 
 THOUSAND, TO ATTACK THE EARL OJ FLANDERS IN BRUGES. 
 
 When Philip Von Artaveld and his companions returned to Ghent, 
 great crowds of the common people, who only wished for peace, 
 were much rejoiced on his arrival, and hoped to hear from him good 
 news. They went out to meet him, saying, "Ali, dear Philip von 
 Artaveld, make us happy : tell us what you have done, and how you 
 have succeeded." Philip made no answer to these questions, but 
 rode on, holding down his head : the more silent he was, the more 
 they followed him, and were the more clamorous. Once or twice, 
 as he was advancing to his house, he said, " Get you to your homes, 
 and may God preserve you from harm ; to-nioiTow morning be in 
 the market-place by nine o'clock, and there you shall hear every- 
 thing." As they could not obtain any other answer, the people 
 were exceedingly alarmed. 
 
 When Philip Von Artaveld had dismounted at his door, and his 
 companions were returned to their homes, Peter du Bois, anxious to 
 learn what had been done, came in the evening to Philip, and, hav- 
 ing shut himself in a chamber with him, asked what success he had 
 met with. Philip, who wished to hide nothing from him, replied : 
 " By my faith, Peter, from the answer which my lord of Flanders 
 has given by those of his council whom he sent to Tournay, he will 
 not pardon a soul in Ghent ; no not one." " By my troth," said 
 Peter du Bois, " he is in the right, and has been wisely advised to 
 send such an answer ; for we are all equally implicated one as much 
 as another. I have succeeded in my expectation ; for the town of 
 Ghent is in such confusion that it cannot well be appeased. Wo 
 must become desperate, and it shall be seen if there be not prudent 
 and valiant men in Ghent. In a few days, the town of Ghent will 
 be the most respected in Christendom, or the most humbled. How. 
 ever, if we do perish in this quarrel, we shall not die alone. You 
 must now, Philip, consider how you will relate the conferences of 
 Touraay to-morrow, so that every one may be satisfied with your 
 conduct. You are at this moment in high favor with the people, for 
 two reasons ; one, on account of the name you bear, for Jacob von 
 Artaveld, your father, was formerly much beloved in this town ; the 
 other, from the gentle and friendly manner with which you address 
 them, which they publicly praise : they will therefore firmly believe 
 everything you shall tell them ; and, toward the end, you shall add, 
 ' If I were to advise, I would do so and so :' but it is necessary you 
 consider this well, so that you stand on sure grounds and gain honor 
 by it." " Peter," said Philip von Artaveld, " you speak truth ; and 
 I think I shall be able to explain and harangue in such a manner on 
 the affairs of Ghent that, between ourselves, we who are the gov. 
 ernors and leaders in Ghent shall live and die with honor." Nothing 
 more was said or done at that time, for they separated : Peter du 
 Bois returned to his house, and Philip remained where he was. 
 
 You may easily imagine, when the day so eagerly expected was 
 come, in which Philip was to report what had passed in the confer- 
 ences at Tournay, that all the inhabitants of Ghent were early in 
 the market-place. It was on a Wednesday morning, and the time 
 of meeting nine o'clock. Philip von Artaveld, Peter du Bois, Peter 
 le Nuitre, Francis Atremen, and the other chiefs came there ; and, 
 having entered the town-hall, they ascended the staircase, when 
 Philip, showing himself from the windows, thus spoke : '* My good 
 friends, it is true, that through the entreaties of the very noble lady 
 the duchess of Brabant, the most puissant and noble prince duke 
 Albert, regent of Hainault, Holland and Zealand, and of my lord 
 the bishop of Liege, a conference was appointed to be holden at 
 Tournay these last days, which the earl of Flanders was personally 
 to attend, and which he had promised to the noble persons just men 
 tioned, who have indeed most handsomely acquitted themselves. 
 They sent thither their most able counsellors, and the principal in. 
 habitants from the greatest towns, who waited several days in expec 
 tation of the earl of Flanders ; but he came not, nor indeed sent 
 any excuses. When they perceived this, they resolved to choose 
 three knights from the three countries, and six citizens, and send 
 them to him. Out of aflection to us they undertook the business, 
 and went to Bruges, where they found my lord of Flanders, who 
 entertained them well, as they said, and willingly listened to them : 
 he then declared, that out of respect to their lord, and to his sister- 
 in-law, madame de Brabant, he would send his ^council to Tour 
 nay in the course of five or six days, so well instructed, that they 
 would clearly explain his determined intention, which when they 
 should hear, they would know how to act : not obtaining any other 
 answer, they returned on the day appointed. In consequence of 
 this, the lord de Raseflez, the lord de Gontris, sir John Villames, 
 and the provost of Harlebecque, came to Tournay, where they very 
 graciously informed us of the will of the earl, and the only means 
 of putting an end to this war. They declared his final terms for 
 peace betweea him and the inhabitants of Ghent were, that every 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND. FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 303 
 
 male j y'if y.nrit, excepting priests and monks, from the age of six- 
 teen O tnut of sixty, should march out of the town in their shirts, 
 wi»h bare h^ads and feei, and halters about their necks, and should 
 thus go two leagues or more to the plains of Burlesquans, where 
 rhtjy would meet the earl of Flanders, attended by such whom he 
 may choose to bring with him ; and that, when he should see us in 
 this situation, with joined hands, crying out for mercy, he would, if 
 he pleased, take compassion on us. But I could not learn from his 
 council, that there was the least plea of justice to put to death such 
 numbers of people as would be there that day.* Now, consider if 
 you will have peace on these terms ?" 
 
 When Philip had done speaking, it was a melancholy sight to be- 
 hold men, women, and children, bewailing, with tears, their hus- 
 bands, lathers, brothers, and neighbors. After this tumult and noise 
 had lasted some time, Philip again addressed them, and cried out, 
 ''Silence, sil^nco!" when, on bis beginning to speak, they ceased 
 'amenting, " Worthy inhabitants of Ghent, you who are here assem- 
 bled, are the majority of its citizens, and you have heard all I had 
 ♦o report to you : I see no moans of remedy but a determined con- 
 duct. Y ou know how very much we are straitened for all sorts of 
 provisirn, and that there are thirty thousand persons in this town, 
 who have not eaten breaf^. for fifteen days. In my opinion, we have 
 but '.he choice of three things ; the first, that we close all our gates, 
 and then, after having confessed ourselves, most fully, retire into the 
 ehurches and monasteries, and there die confessed and repentant, 
 like martyrs, to whom no mercy has been shown. In this state God 
 will have pity on us, and on our souls ; and wherever this shall be 
 told or heard, thoy will say that we died nobly, like loyal men-at- 
 arms. Or, let ns resolve to march out, men, women, and children, 
 vrith halters about our necks, bareheaded, and with naked feet, and 
 implore the mercy of my lord the earl : he is not so hard-hearted, 
 nor so obet'inte, bat when he shall see us in such a humiliating con- 
 dition, he will be softened, and take pity on his subjects ; and I will 
 bo the first to offer him my head, in order to assuage his hatred, and 
 sacrifice myself for the city of Ghent. Or, let us choose from five 
 to six thousand of the most determined men in the town, and in- 
 stantly march to attack the earl in Bruges ; we will give him com- 
 bat ; and if we should be slain in the attempt, at least we shall die 
 with honor, and God will have mercy upon us ; and the world will 
 say, that we have gallantly and valorously maintained our quarrel, 
 if however, in this battle we be victorious, and our Lord God, who 
 in ancient times delegated his power into the hands of Judas Mac 
 cabeus, the chief of his Jewish people, so that the Syrians were 
 defeated and slain, would be indulgent enough to grant us this kind- 
 ness, we should be everwhere the most honored people since the 
 time of the Romans. Now consider which of these three proposi. 
 tions you will make choice of, for one of them must be adopted." 
 
 Those who were near him, and had most distinctly heard what he 
 had said, replied, " Ah, dear lord, we put our whole confidence in 
 you : what w^ould you advise us ? for we will do whatever you think 
 will be most for our advantage." " By my faith, then," said Philip, 
 " I would advise that we all march in arms against my lord. We 
 shall find him at Bruges ; and, when he hears of our coming, he will 
 sally forth and fight with us ; for the pride of those in Bruges and 
 about his person, who excite him day and night agamst us, will urcre 
 him to the combat. If God shall, through his mercy, grant that we 
 gain the field, and defeat our enemies, our affairs will be instantly 
 retrieved, and we shall be the most respected people in the universe, 
 if we be defeated, we shall die honorably, and God will have pity on 
 U3 ; and thus the remainder of the inhabitants of Ghent will escape 
 and be pardoned by the earl our lord." 
 
 At these words, they all shouted out, " We will follow this plan, 
 and no other !" Philip then said, " My good gentlemen, since you are 
 thus resolved, return home and get ready your arms ; for in the 
 course of to-morrow, I am determined to march for Bruges : the 
 remaining longer here will not be to our advantage. Within five 
 days .we shall know if we be to die, or to live with honor. I will order 
 the constables of the different parishes to go from house to house, 
 and choose the best armed and those most fit for the service." 
 
 Immediately after the meeting broke up, and every one returned 
 home to make ready, each according to his abilities ; they kept the 
 gates of the town so closely shut that no person whatever was suf- 
 fered to come in or go out before Thursday afternoon, when those 
 who were to march on the expedition were prepared : in all about 
 five thousand men, and not more. They loaded about two hundred 
 carts with cannon and artillery, and only seven with provisions ; 
 that is, five with bread and two with wine, for there were but two 
 tuns of wine in the town. You may judge from this to what straits 
 they had been reduced. 
 
 It was a miserable spectacle to see those who went and those who 
 remained. These last said to them, " Good friends, you see what 
 you leave behind ; but never think of returning unless you can do 
 
 * " Mais je ne puis veoir, n'entendre, par la relation de son conseil, qu'il ne convienne 
 mourir honteusement pnr punition de justice et de prison, la greigneur partie du peuple 
 qtii li sera en ce jour," are the words of Froissart, according to D. feauvage, whicli 
 are well rendered by Lord Berners : " But, sirs, I cannat knowe hy the relacion of any 
 of his counsayle, Imt that by shannefuU punycion of iustyce, and by imprisonment, 
 there shall suffre dethe the moost part of the people that appere there that day." Mr. 
 Johnes nppears to have followed another copy, but the version which h« ha* adopted 
 ioM out svpeax very intelligible —Ed 
 
 so with honor, for you will not find anything here. The moment 
 we hear of your defeat or dea'.h, we will set fire to the town, and 
 perish in the flames, like men in despair." Those who were march- 
 ing ou., replied, by way of comforting them, *' What you say is very 
 just, fray God for us ; for we plac«; our hopes in him, and trust he 
 will assist you, as well as us, before our return." 
 
 Thus did these five thousand men of Ghent march oflf with their 
 slender stores, and encamped about a league from Ghent, but touched 
 not their provision, taking up wi'.h what they could find in t\iQ 
 country. On Friday, they marched the whole day, and then med« 
 died not with their store? : but their scouts picked up some few 
 things n the country, wiih which ihey made shift, and fixed their 
 quarters that evenmg a long league from Bruges. They halted 
 there, ».onsidering it a proper place to wait for their enemies, for 
 there \\ere in front two exiensive marshes, which were a good de. 
 fence on one side ; and they foriified themselves on the others with 
 the carnages, and thus passed the night. 
 
 CHAPTER XCVI. 
 
 THE ORDER OF BATTLE OF THE GHENT MEN. THEV DEFEAT THE EARL 
 OF FLANDERS AND THE MEN OF BRUGES. THE MEANS BY WHICH THIS 
 WAS BROUGHT ABOUT. 
 
 The Saturday* was a fine bright day, and, being the feast of ,the 
 Holy Cross, the inhabitants of Bruges, according to custom, made 
 their usual processions. News was soon brought to Bruges, that 
 the Ghent army was near at hand ; so that every one began to mur- 
 mur until the earl heard it, as well as those about his person. He 
 was much surprised, and said, " See how the wickedness of these 
 mad and foolish people of Ghent leads them to their destruction : 
 indeed it is time this war should be put an end to." His knights, 
 and others, instantly waited on him, whom he very graciously 
 received, and said, " We will go and fight these wicked people ; 
 however, they show courage in preferring death by the sword rather 
 than famine." They determined to send out three men-at-arms to 
 examine the force and situation of the enemy. The marshal of 
 Flanders ordered three valiant squires on this service, whose names 
 were Lambert de Lambres, Uamas de Buffy, and John de Beart : 
 they set out, mounted '^n the finest horses in the town, and advanced 
 toward the Ghent army. While this was going forward, every per- 
 son in Bruges made himself ready, and showed the most eager desire 
 to sally forth and combat the men of Ghent ; of whom I v«'ill now 
 say a word, and of the manner in which they had drawn themselves 
 up. 
 
 On the Saturday morning, Philip von Artaveld ordered his whole 
 army to pay their devotions to God, and masses to be said in different 
 places ; (for there were with them several monks) that every man 
 should confess himself, and make other becoming preparation.?, and 
 that they should pray to God with that truth, as people looking Tc 
 him alone for mercy. All this was done, and mass celebrated in 
 seven different places. After each mass was a sermon, which lasted 
 an hour and a half : the monks and priests endeavored, by their dis- 
 courses, to show the great similitude bervveen them and the people 
 of Israel, whom Pharaoh king of Egypt detained so long in slavery, 
 and who, through God's grace, were delivered, and conducted by 
 Moses and Aaron into the land of promise, v^'hile Pharaoh and the 
 Egyptians were drowned. " In like manner, my good people," 
 preached the monks, " have you been kept in bondage by your 
 lord, the earl of Flanders, and by your neighbors of Bruges, whom 
 you are now to meet, and by whom you will, without doubt, be com- 
 bated, for your enemies are in great numbers, and have little fear of 
 your force ; but do not you mind this ; for God, who can do all 
 things and is acquainted with your situation, will have mercy on 
 you: therefore, think of nothing butv/hatyou have left behind ; for 
 you well know, that everything is lost, if you be defeated. Sell 
 yourselves well and valiantly ; and if you must die, die with honor. 
 Do not be alarmed if great numbers issue forth from Bruges against 
 you, for victory is not to the multitude, but whither God shall please 
 to send it ; and, by his grace, it has been often seen, as well by the 
 Maccabees as the Romans, that those who fought manfully, and con- 
 fided in God, discomfited the greater number. Besides, you have 
 justice and reason on your side in this quarrel, which ought to make 
 you feel yourselves bold and better comforted." In such words as 
 these the priests had been ordered to preach to the army, and with 
 these discourses they were well pleased. Three parts of them com- 
 municated, and all showed great devotion and much fear in God. 
 
 After the sermons, the whole army assembled round a small hill, 
 on which Philip von Artaveld placed him.self, in order to be the bet. 
 ter heard, and harangued them very ably, explaining to them every 
 point in which they were justified in this war; and how Ghent had 
 frequently sought pardon from the earl, and never could obtain it, 
 without submitting to conditions too hard for the town and its inhab- 
 itants : that now they had advanced so far they could not retreat; 
 and that, if they would consider, they would see nothing could be 
 gained were they to return, for all they had left behind were in sor- 
 row and misery. They ought not, therefore, to think of Ghent, 
 their wives and children who were in it, but to act in such manner 
 
 * " The 3rd of May."— S€©<'w3rf de Verifier lea Dates. 
 
S04 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND. FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 as was becoming their honor. Philip von Artaveld addressed many 
 more fine speeches to them : for he was very eloquent, and had 
 words at command, which was fortunate for him, and toward the end 
 he added, " My good friends, you see here all your provision : divide 
 it among you fairly, like brethren, without any disturbance; for 
 when it is gone, you must conquer more, if you wish to live." 
 
 At these words they drew up very regularly, and unloaded the 
 carts, when the bags of bread were given out, to be divided by con- 
 :stablewicks, and the two tuns of wine placed on their bottoms ; and 
 there they moderately breakfasted, each man having a sufficiency at 
 that time ; after which breakfast they found themselves more deter- 
 mined and active on their feel than if they had eaten more. This 
 repast being over, they put themselves in order, and retired within 
 their ril)audeau3. These ribaudeaus are tall stakes, with points shod 
 with iio.ij which they were always accustomed to carry with them. 
 They fixed them in front of their army, and inclosed themselves 
 within. 
 
 The three knights who had been sent by the earl to reconnoitre, 
 found them in this situation : they approached the entrances of these 
 ribaudeaus ; but the Ghent men never moved, and rather seemed 
 rejoiced to see them. They returned to Bruges, where they found 
 the earl in his palace, surrounded by many knights, waiting for them, 
 to hear what intelligence they had brought back. They pushed 
 through the crowd, and came near the earl, when they spoke aloud, 
 for the earl wished all present to hear, and said, " they had advanced 
 so 'close to the Ghent army, that they might have shot at them, if 
 they had so chosen, but they left them in peace ; and that they had 
 seen their banners, and the army inclosed within their ribaudeaus." 
 ' And what are their numbers, think ye ?" said the earl. They 
 answered, " that as near as they could guess, they might be from five 
 to six thousand." " Well," said the earl, " now let every one in- 
 itantly get ready ; for I will give them batde, and this day shall not 
 pass without a combat." At these words the trumpet sounded in 
 Bruges, when every one armed himself, and made for the market- 
 place. As they came, they drew up under their proper banners, as 
 tliey had usually done, in bands and constablewicks. 
 
 Many barons, knights, and men-at-arms, drew up before the pal- 
 ace of ilie earl. When all was ready, and the earl armed, he came 
 lo the m.arket.place, and was much pleased to see such numbers in 
 battle-array. They then marched off, for none dared disobey his 
 commands ; and, in order of battle, made for the plain : the men-at- 
 arms afterwards issued forth from Bruges. It was a handsome sight, 
 for there were upward of forty thousand armed heads ; and thus 
 horse and foot advanced in proper order, near to the place where the 
 •Ghent men were, and then halted. It was late in the afternoon when 
 the earl and his army arrived, and the sun going down. One of the 
 knights said to the earl, " My lord, you now see your enemies : they 
 are but a handful of men in comparison with your army, and as they 
 cannot escape, do not engage them this day ; but wait for to-morrow, 
 when you will have the day before you : you will, besides, have more 
 light to see what you are about, and they will be weaker, for they 
 have net anything to eat." 
 
 The earl approved much this advice, and would willingly have 
 followed it ; but the men of Bruges, impatient to begin the fight, 
 would not wait, saying, they would soon defeat them and return back 
 to their town. Notwithstanding the orders of the men-at-arms, for 
 the earl had not less than eight hundred lances, knights, and squires, 
 the Bruges men began to shoot and to fire cannons. 
 
 The Ghent men, being collected in a body on an eminence, fired 
 at once three hundred cannon ; after which they turned the marsh, 
 and placed the Bruges men with the sun in their eyes, which much 
 distressed them, and then fell upon them, shouting out, " Ghent !" 
 The moment the men of Bruges heard the cannon and the cry of 
 Ghent, and saw them marching to attack them in front, they, like 
 cowards, opened their ranks, and letting the Ghent men pass without 
 iTiaking any defence, flung down their staves and ran away. The 
 Ghent men were in close order, and, perceiving their enemies were 
 defeated, began tj knock down and kill on all sides. They advanced 
 (vith a quick step, shouting, " Ghent !" and saying, " Let U3 pursue 
 briikly our enemies, who are defeated, and enter the town with 
 them : God eyes us this day with looks of pity." 
 
 Tney followed those of Bruges with so much courage, that when- 
 ever they knocked down or killed any one, they marched on without 
 halting or quitting the pursuit, while the men cf Bruges fled with the 
 haste of a defeated army. I must say, that at this place there were 
 multitudes cf shin, wounded, and thrown down ; for they made no 
 defence, and never v>'ere such cowardly wretches as those of Bruges, 
 or who more weakly or recreantly behaved themselves, after their 
 insolence when they firet t:)ok the field. Some may wish to excuse 
 them by supposing there might have been treason, which caused this 
 defeat. This was not so ; but such poor and weak conduct fell on 
 their own heads. 
 
 CHAPTER XCVII. 
 
 BRUGES IS TAKEN BY THE GHENT ARMY. THE EARL OF FLANDERS 
 SAVES HIMSELF IN THE HOUSE OF A POOR WOMAN. 
 
 When the earl of Flanders and the men-at.arms saw that, by the 
 miserable defence of the men of Bruges, they had caused their own 
 
 defeat, and that there was not any remedy for it, for every man waa 
 running away as fast as he could, they were much surprised, and 
 began to be alarmed for themselves, and to make ofi' in difl'erent 
 directions. It is true, that had they seen any probability of recover, 
 ing the loss which the Bruges men were suffering, they would have 
 done some deeds of arms, by which they might have rallied them a 
 little : but they saw it was hopeless, for they were flying to Bruges 
 in all directions, and neither the son waited for the father nor the 
 father for his child. 
 
 The men-at-arms, therefore, bega:; to break their ranks. Few 
 had any desire to return to Bruges, for the crowd was so great on 
 the road thither, that it was painful to see and hear the complaints 
 of the wounded and hurt. The men of Ghent were close at their 
 heels, shouting out, " Ghent, Ghent I" knocking down all that ob- 
 structed them. The greater part of the men-at-arms had never 
 before been in such peril : even the earl was advised to make for 
 Bruges, and to have the gates closed and guai-ded, so that the Ghent 
 men should not be able to force them and become masters of the 
 town. The earl of Flanders saw no help for his men, who were 
 flying on all sides, and, as it was now dark night, followed this ad- 
 vice and took the road to Bruges, his banner displayed before him. 
 He entered the gates one of the first, with about forty others, for no 
 more had followed him. He ordered the guards to defend the gates 
 if the Ghent men should come hither, and then rode to his palace, 
 from whence he issued a proclamation, that every person, under pain 
 of death, should assemble in the market-place. The intention of 
 the earl was to save the town by this means : but it did not succeed, 
 as you shall hear. 
 
 While the earl was in his palace, and had sent the clerks of the 
 different trades from street to street, to hasten the inhabitants to the 
 market-place, in order to preserve the city, the men of Ghent, having 
 closely pursued their enemies, entered the town with them, and in- 
 stantly made for the market-place, without turning to the right or left, 
 where they drew themselves up in array. Sir Robert Mareschaut, 
 one of the earl's knights, had been sent to the gates to see they were 
 guarded : but, while the earl was planning means for defending the 
 town, sir Robert found a gate flung off" its hinges, and the Ghent 
 men masters of it. Some of the citizens said to him, " Robert, 
 Robert, return and save yourself, if you can, for the Ghent men have 
 taken the town." The knight returned as speedily as he could to 
 the earl, whom he met coming out of bis palace on horseback, with 
 a number of torches. The knight told him what he had heard ; but, 
 notwithstanding this, the earl, anxious to defend the town, advanced 
 toward the market-place, and, as he was entering it with a number 
 of torches, shouting, " Flanders for the Lyon I Flanders for the Earl 1" 
 those near his horse and about his person, seeing the place full of 
 Ghent men, said, " My lord, return ; for if you advance further you 
 will be slain, or at the best made prisoner by your enemies, as they 
 are drawn up in the square and are waiting for you." 
 
 They told him truth ; for the Ghent men, seeing the great blaze 
 of torches in the street, said, " Here comes my lord, here comes the 
 earl : how he falls into our hands !" Philip von Artaveld had given 
 orders to his men, that if the earl should come, every care was to be 
 taken to preserve him from harm, i-n order that he might be carried 
 alive and in good health to Ghent, when they should be able to 
 obtain what peace they chose. The earl had entered the square, 
 near where the Ghent men were drawn up, when several people came 
 to him and said, "My lord, do not come further ; for the Ghent men 
 are masters of the market-place and of the town, and if you advance, 
 you will run a risk of being taken. Numbers of them are now 
 searching for their enemies from street to street, and many of the 
 men of Bruges have joined them, who conduct them from hdtel to 
 hdtel to seek those whom they want. You cannot pass any of the 
 gates without danger of being killed, for they are in their possession , 
 nor can you return to your palace, for a large rout of Ghent men 
 have marched thither." 
 
 When the earl heard this speech, which was heart-breaking as 
 you may guess, he began to be much alarmed, and to see the peril 
 he was in. He resolved to follow the advice of not going further, 
 and to save himself if he could, which was confirmed by his own 
 judgment. He ordered the torches to he extinguished, and said to 
 those about him, " I see clearly that aff'airs are without remedy : I 
 therefore give permission for every one to depart and save himself in 
 the best manner he can." His orders were obeyed. The torches 
 were put out and thrown in the streets ; and all who were in com. 
 pany with the earl separated and went away. He himself went to 
 a by-street, where he was disarmed by his servant, and. throwing 
 down his clothes, put on his servant's, saying, " Go about thy bus:, 
 ness, and save thyself if thou canst ; but be silent if thou fall into 
 the hands of my enemies ; and if they ask anything about me, do 
 not give them any information." " My lord," replied the valet, »I 
 will sooner die." 
 
 The earl of Flanders thus remained alone, and it may be truly 
 said he was in the greatest danger; for it was over with him if he 
 had at that hour, by any accident, fallen into the hands of the mob, 
 who were going up and down the streets, searching every house for 
 the friends of the earl ; and whomsoever they found they carried 
 before Philip von Artaveld and the other captains m the market, 
 place, when they were instantly put to death. It was God alono 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 305 
 
 who watched over him, and delivered him from this peril : for no 
 one had ever before been in such imminent danger, as I shall pres. 
 eni'y relate. The earl inwardly bewailed his situation from street 
 to street at this late hour, for it was a little past midnight, and he 
 dared not enter any house, lest he should be seized by the mobs of 
 Ghent and Bruges. Thus, as he was rambling through the streets, 
 he at last entered the house of a poor woman, a very unfit habitation 
 for such a lord, as there were neither halls nor apartments, but a 
 small house, dirty and smoky, and as black as jet ; there was only in 
 this place one poor chamber, over which was a sort of garret that 
 was entered by means of a ladder of seven steps, where, on a mis- 
 erable bed, the children of this woman lay. 
 
 The earl entered this house with fear and trembling, and said to 
 the woman, who was also much frightened, "Woman, save me: I 
 am thy lord, the earl of Flanders ; but at this moment I must hide 
 myself, for my enemies are in pursuit of me ; and I will handsomely 
 reward thee for the favor thou showest me." The poor woman knew 
 him well, for she had frequently received alms at his door ; and had 
 often seen him pass and repass, when he was going to some amuse- 
 ment, or hunting. She was ready with her answers, in which God 
 assisted the earl : for had she delayed it ever so little, they would 
 have found him in conversation with her by the fireside. "My lord, 
 mount this ladder, and got under the bed in which my children sleep." 
 This he did, while she employed herself by the fireside, with another 
 child in a cradle. 
 
 The earl of Flanders mounted the ladder as quickly as he could, 
 and, getting between the straw and the coverlid, hid himself, and 
 contracted his body into as little space as possible. He had scarcely 
 done so, when some of the mob of Ghent entered the house ; for one 
 of them had said, he had seen a man go in there. They found this 
 woman sitting by the fire, nursing her child, of whom they demanded, 
 " Woman, where is the man we saw enter this house, and shut the 
 door after him ?" " By my troth," replied she, " I have not seen 
 any one enter here this night; but I have just been at the door to 
 .throw out some water, which I then shut after me ; besides, I have 
 not any place to hide him in, for you see the whole of this house 
 here is my bed, and my children sleep overhead." Upon this one of 
 them took a candle, and mounted the ladder, and, thrusting his head 
 into the place, saw nothing but the wretched bed in which the chil- 
 dren were asleep. He looked all about him, above and below, and 
 then said to his companions, " Come, come, let us go : we only lose 
 our time here : the poor woman speaks truth : there is not a soul but 
 herself and her children." On saying this, they left the house and 
 went into another quarter ; and no one afterwards entered it, who 
 had bad intentions. 
 
 The earl of Flanders, hearing all this conversation as he lay hid, 
 you may easily imagine, was in the greatest fear of his life. In the 
 morning he could have said he was one of the most powerful princes 
 in Christendom, and that same night he felt himself one of the small- 
 est. One may truly say, that the fortunes of this world are not stable. 
 It was fortunate for him to save his life ; and this miraculous escape 
 ought to be to him a remembrance his whole lifetime. 
 
 We will now leave the earl of Flanders, and speak of Bruges, and 
 how the Ghent men prospered. 
 
 CHAPTER XCVIII. 
 
 THE GHENT MEN SPARE THE FOREIGN MERCHANTS AT BRUGES. THE EARL 
 OF FLANDERS QUITS BRUGES, AND RETURNS TO LILLE, WHITHER SOME 
 OF HIS PEOPLE HAD ALREADY RETREATED. 
 
 Francis Atremen was one of the principal leaders of the mob. 
 He was ordered by Philip von Artaveld and Peter du Bois, to search 
 the town of Bruges, and guard the market-place, until they should 
 find themselves complete masters of the town. He was particularly 
 commanded to suffer no harm to be done to foreign merchants, or 
 other strangers then at Bruges, for they had nothing to do with their 
 quarrels. This order was very well observed, and neither Francis 
 nor any of his company did the smallest hurt to a foreigner. The 
 search of the Ghent men was especially directed to the four trades, 
 of jerkin-makers, glassmen, butchers, and fishermen ; for they had 
 resolved to put to death all whom they should find of these different 
 trades, because they had been partisans of the earl of Flanders at 
 Oudenarde, and other places. They sought for them everywhere, 
 and when they found any, they were killed without mercy. There 
 were upward of twelve hundred, one with the other, slain this night; 
 and many murders and robberies committed, which were never 
 known : several houses robbed, and women and girls violated ; cof- 
 fers broken open, and a variety of wicked deeds done ; insomuch, 
 that the poorest of the Ghent army became very rich. 
 
 On thp Monday morning, the happy news of the defeat of the earl 
 and his army, was brought to Ghent; that their men had not only 
 conquered them, but also the town of Bruges, of which they were 
 now masters. You may guess the joy the people folt, who had been 
 so lately in the greatest tribulation : they made many processions to 
 the church to return thanksgivings to God for the mercy he had 
 shown them, and for the victory he had given to their army. Every 
 day there came good news, which so much delighted them, they 
 hardly knew what they were about. I mention this ; for had the 
 
 lord de Harzelles, who had remained in Ghent, marched that Sunday, 
 or the Monday morning, with three or four thousand men to Oude- 
 narde, he would instantly have conquered i»: they were in such con. 
 sternation at the success of the Ghent men, that they were on the 
 point of quitting the town, to save themselves in Hainault, oi e.'se. 
 where, and had made preparations for so doing. But when tlicy 
 perceived the Ghent people did not come, nor had any i.-itclligence 
 respecting them, they recovered their courage. The knights who 
 were there, such as sir John Bcrnage, sir Thierry du Ban, end sir 
 Fleuriant de Hcurlee, guarded and comforted them until the arrival 
 of sir Damos de Haluin, who was sent thither by the earl, as I ehall 
 relate when I come to that period. 
 
 No people ever behaved themselves better toward their enemies 
 than the men of Ghent did to those of Bruges, nor conducted them, 
 selves more graciously to a conquered town : they did no harm to 
 any of the small tradesmen unless there were very strong accusations 
 against them. When Philip von Artaveld, Peter du Bois and the 
 other captains saw they were completely masters of the place, they 
 issued out a proclamation in their name for all persons to retire to 
 their houses, and that no one should break open or pillage any house, 
 nor be any way instrumental in raising of riot.;, under pain of death! 
 
 They then inquired what had become of tlio earl: some said, ha 
 had left the town on Saturday night: others that he was yet at Bruges, 
 but so closely hid that he could not be found. The captains of the 
 Ghent army paid no great attention to him ; for they were so rejoiced 
 at their victory that they thought nothing of any earl, baron or knight 
 in Flanders, and looked on themselves as po mighty that all the world 
 must obey them. Philip von Artaveld and Peter du Bois considered, 
 that when they had quitted Ghent th^y had left it destitute of all pro. 
 vision, for there was neither corn nor wine in the town : they instantly 
 detached a large party to Damme and Sluys to gain those towns, and 
 the provisions which were in them, in order to supply their fellow, 
 citizens in Ghent. On the detachment arriving at Damme, the gates 
 were thrown open, and the town with all in it surrendered. They 
 ordered out of the fine cellars the wines of Poitou, Gascony, and la 
 Rochelle, and from other distant countries, to the amount of six thou 
 sand tuns, which they loaded on carriages and sent by land to Ghent, 
 and also by boats on the river Lis. 
 
 They then marched on to Sluys, which instantly submitted to them 
 and opened its gates. They found there great quantities of casks of 
 corn and flour, in ships and in the storehouses of foreign merchants, 
 and having paid for the whole, sent it by land and water to Ghent. 
 Thus was Ghent delivered from famine, through the mercy of God 
 It could not have happened otherwise, and well ought the Ghent men 
 to remember it ; for that God assisted them is very clear, when five 
 thousand famished men defeated forty thousand, even before their 
 own doors. They and their leaders ought to have humbled tlieni. 
 selves ; however they did not, but rather increased their pride, inso- 
 much that God was angered with them, and punished their folly before 
 the year was expired, as shall be related in the course of this history, 
 for an example to the rest of the world. 
 
 I was informed, and believe my authority good, that on the Sunday 
 evening, when it was dark, the earl of Flanders escaped from Bruges. 
 I am ignorant how he accomplished it, or if he had any assistance, 
 but some I believe he must have had. He got out of the town on 
 foot, clad in a miserable jerkin, and when in the fields was quite joy. 
 ous, as he might then say he had escaped from the utmost peril. He 
 wandered about at first, and came to a thorn bush, to consider whither 
 he should go: for he was unacquainted with the roads or country, 
 having never before travelled on foot. As he lay thus hid under the 
 bush, he heard some one talk, who by accident was one of his 
 knights, that had married a bastard daughter of his : his name was 
 sir Robert Mareschaut. The earl, hearing him talk as he was pas- 
 sing, said to him, "Robert, art thou there?" The knight, who well 
 knew his voice, replied, " My lord, you have this day given me great 
 uneasiness in seeking for you all round Bruges: how were you able 
 to escape ?" " Come, come, Robert," said the earl : " this is net a 
 time to tell one's adventures : endeavor to get me a horse, for I am 
 tired with Vv'alking, and take the road to Lille, if thou knowe?t it." 
 " My lord," answered the knight, " I know it well." They then 
 travelled all night and the morrow till early morn, before they could 
 procure a horse. The first beast they could find was a mare, belong- 
 ing to a poor man in a village. The earl mounted the mare, without 
 saddle or bridle, and travelling all Monday, came, tjward evening, 
 to the castle of Lille, whither a great part of his ki}ight3 who had 
 escaped from the battle of Bruges had retired. They had got off' as 
 well as they could ; some on foot, others on horseback, but all dii 
 not follow this road : some went by water to Holland and Zealand 
 where they remained until they received better news. 
 
 Sir Guy de Guistelles was fortunate in getting into a good dtua 
 tion ; for he found the count Guy de Blois in one of his towns ii 
 Zealand, who handsomely entertained him, and gave him where 
 withal to remount and equip himself again, retaining him with bin 
 as long as he chose tn stay. In a similar manner were the discom 
 fited knights remounted by those lords to whom they had fled ; the; 
 took great compassion on them, which was but justice, for nobb 
 and gentlemen ought to be assisted and comforted by ? ach other. 
 
306 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, d^c. 
 
 CHAPTER XCIX. 
 
 THE CONDUCT OF THE GHENT MEN AT BRUGES. ALL THE TOWNS IN 
 FLANDERS SURRENDER TO THEM EXCEPT OUDENARDE. 
 
 News was spread through all countries of the defeat which the 
 '•arl of Flanders and the city of Bruges had suffered from Ghent. 
 Many v;ere rejoiced at it, more particularly the common people. 
 Those in the principal towns of Brabant and the bishopric of Liege 
 were so much connected with them that they were the more pleased, 
 as it was partly their own concern. Those of Paris and Rouen were 
 equally delighted, though they dared not show it openly. When 
 pope Clement heard the news, he mused awhile and then said, that 
 this was a rod i'vom God, to make the earl take warning, and that 
 he had sent him this affliction, because he had rebelled against him. 
 Several great lords in France and other countries said, the earl was 
 not much to be pitied if he suffered a little ; for his presumption 
 was such, that he never valued nor loved any neighboring lord, how. 
 ever great, neither king of France nor other, if not agreeable to him ; 
 on which account they felt the less for his distresses. Thus it falls 
 out ; and as the proverb says, " On him to whom misfortune happens, 
 every one turns his back." 
 
 The town of Louvain, in particular, showed great joy at the vie- 
 tory of Ghent, and the misfortunes of the earl ; for they were quar- 
 relling with the duke of Brabant, their lord, who was inclined to 
 make war on them, and pull down their gates ; but they thought he 
 would do better to remain quiet. They publicly said in the town 
 of Louvain, that if Ghent were as near to them as Brussels, they 
 would be closely imited. All these speeches were carried to the 
 duke and duchess of Brabant ; but it behooved them to shut their 
 eyes and ears, for it was not the moment to notice them. 
 
 The Ghent men, during their residence at Bruges, made many 
 innovations. They resolved to level two gates and the walls, and 
 to fill up the ditches with them, that the inhabitants might be dis- 
 abled from rebelling. They also determined, when they marched 
 away, to take with them five hundred of the principal citizens to 
 Ghent, to keep the town in greater fear and subjection. While the 
 leaders were thus employed in destroying the gates and walls, and 
 filling up the ditches, they sent detachments to Ypres, Courtray, 
 Bergues, Cassel, Poperingue, Bourbourg, and to all the towns and 
 castles in Flanders, on the sea-coast, and dependent on Bruges, to 
 place them under their obedience, and to bring or send the keys of 
 tiie castles and towns, as a token of their submission. All obeyed ; 
 for none dared to oppose them : and, according to the summons, 
 they waited on Philip von Artaveld and Peter du Bois at Bruges. 
 These two styled themselves commanders-in-chief in their procla- 
 mations ; but particularly Philip von Artaveld, who took the lead in 
 the government of Flanders, and, during his residence at Bruges, 
 kept the state of a prince. He had his minstrels daily to play before 
 hijn at his dinners and suppers ; and was served on plate, as if he 
 had been earl of Flanders. Indeed, he might well live in this mag- 
 nificent manner, for he had possessed himself of all the plate, both 
 gold and silver, that belonged to the earl, as well as the jewels and 
 furniture of his apartments, found in his palace at Bruges, whence 
 nothing had been saved. , 
 
 A detachment of the Ghent men was sent to Marie, a handsome 
 house belonging to the earl, situated half a league from Bruges, where 
 thfjy committed all sorts of outrages. They destroyed the house, and 
 broke the font at which the earl had been baptized ; and, having 
 laden on carts everything that was precious, of gold, silver or jewels, 
 sent them to Ghent. During a whole fortnight, there were upward 
 of two hundred carts daily going and returning from Bruges to Ghent 
 with the immense pillage which Philip von Artaveld and the Ghent 
 men had made by this conquest of Bruges ; the value of which was 
 80 great, that it was difficult to estimate its worth. 
 
 When the Ghent men had done everything they willed to the city 
 of Bruges, they sent to Ghent five hundred of its principal citizens, 
 to remain there as hostages. Francis Atremen and Peter ie Nuitre 
 escorted them with a thousand of their men. Peter du Bois remained 
 governor of Bruges, until the walls, gates and ditches were completely 
 levelled. Then Philip von Artaveld departed, taking the road toward 
 Ypres ; where, on his arrival, he was met by all manner of persons, 
 and received as much honor as if he were their natural lord, who 
 had come, for the first time, to view his inheritance. All submitted 
 to his obedience. He renewed the powers of the mayor and sheriffs, 
 gnd established new laws. Then came those of the castlewicks, 
 :)eyond Ypres, Cassel, Bergues, Bourbourg, Furnes, Poperingue, who 
 submitted to him, and swore allegiance and homage, as to their lord 
 the earl of Flanders. 
 
 When he had fully assured himself of their submission, and had 
 remained eight days at Ypres, he departed, and went to Courtray, 
 where he was received with great joy. lie continued there five 
 days, and sent his summons to the town of Oudenarde, ordering the 
 citizens to come and submit themselves to him ; for they risked much, 
 seeing the whole country had turned to Ghent, while they alone re- 
 m^iined behind. The messengers also told them plainly, that if they 
 did not do as the others had done, they might depend on having the 
 ;own instantly besieged ; and that the siege would not be broken up 
 mtil it were conquered, and all put to the sword. When this sum- 
 
 mons was brought to Oudenarde, the governor, sir Danios de Haluin, 
 was absent, and only the three knights before mentioned in the place 
 They replied, with warmth, " That they were not to be frightened 
 by the menaces of the son of a brewer of metheglin ; and that they 
 would not, and could not, surrender, or any way diminish, the in- 
 heritance of their lord, the earl of Flanders, but would guard and 
 defend it with their lives." This was the answer the messengers 
 carried back to Courtray. 
 
 CHAPTER C. 
 
 PHILIP VON ARTAVELD, ON HIS RETURN TO GHENT, LIVES IN GREAT POMP. 
 THE EARL OF FLANDERS RESIDES AT LILLE. 
 
 When Philip heard from the garrison of Oudenarde, that they 
 neither cared for him nor his menaces, he svvore, that whatever it 
 might cost the country of Flanders, he would not attend to anything 
 until he had taken and razed to the ground the town of Oudenarde 
 He was greatly enraged, and thought he might easily accomplish his 
 threats; for all Flanders was inclined to serve him. After a residence 
 of six days at Courtray, where he renewed the laws, and received the 
 homage and allegiance of every one, just as if he had been earl of 
 Flanders, he returned to Ghent. There came out a grand procession 
 to meet him, and with such joy, that the earl, their lord, was never 
 received so honorably. The people adored him as if he had been 
 their god, because, through his advice, their town enjoyed such power 
 and wealth. It is impossible to tell the vast quantities of valuables 
 which came hither by land and water from Bruges, Damme and Sluys 
 The bread, which three weeks before was sold for an old groat, was 
 now not worth more than four farthings. The wine which was at 
 twenty.four groats, was now sold for two. All things were much 
 cheaper at Ghent than at Tournay or Valenciennes. 
 
 Philip von Artaveld, like a great prince, kept a rnagi>ificent estab. 
 lishment of horses, and was as grand in his h6tel as the earl of Flan, 
 ders was at Lille. He had his officers throughout Flanders, such as 
 bailiffs, governors, receivers and Serjeants, who every week brought 
 considerable sums to Ghent, where he kept his state, and was clothed 
 in scarlet robes lined with furs, like the duke of Brabant or earl of 
 Hainault. He had also his exchequer-chamber, where the money 
 was paid, like to the earl ; and he gave dinners and suppers to the 
 ladies and damsels of Ghent, as the earl used to do ; and, like him 
 was not more sparing of his money where his pleasures were con- 
 cerned. When he wrote, he signed himself Philip von Artaveld 
 regent of Flanders.* 
 
 During this time, the earl of Flanders, who resided at Lille, had 
 reason to be thoughtful, seeing that his country was more than ever 
 in rebellion against him, and that from himself alone he had not any 
 hopes of recovering it ; for all the towns were so much connected 
 with each other that they could never be separated but by a very 
 superior force. The whole country no more spoke of him, nor ac- 
 knowledged him for their lord, than if he had never existed. He 
 now remembered his connection with the duke of Burgundy, who 
 had married the lady Margaret his daughter, by whom he had two 
 fine children. He said he was happy king Charles was dead, and 
 that there was a young king in France under the guardianship of his 
 uncle the duke of Burgundy, who would manage and govern him 
 according to his inclinations. " It will be therefore natural for the 
 king of France, as I should suppose, to be enraged against my rebel, 
 lious subjects ; for he has good incli-nations, and is desirous of sig. 
 nalizing himself in arms. The duke of Burgundy will easily induce 
 him to do so, when he explains to him their insolent pride, and that 
 he is bound to assist his vassals when their subjects rebel," 
 
 But some imagine the king would not have interfered in the mat. 
 ter, if it had not been for the intrigues of the duke of Burgundy ; 
 for, if nothing had been done, he would have annexed Flanders to 
 the crown of France by some means or other ; for the earl of Flan- 
 ders was not enough in his favor to induce him to exert himself in 
 his aid. We will, however, drop at present this subject until the 
 proper time come, and speak of the earl of Flanders' conduct in Lille 
 After his late great discomfiture before Bruges, he learnt that sir 
 Thierri du Ban, sir Fleuriant de Heurlde and sir John Bernage, had 
 entered Oudenarde, and kept possession of it during all the events 
 which had followed the defeat at Bruges. He well knew that these 
 knights were not in sufficient strength to oppose the force of Flan- 
 ders, if they should lay siege to it, as it was expected they would 
 instantly do. In order to reinforce and victual it, he called to him 
 a knight, named sir Daniel de Haluyn,t and said to him, " Daniel, 
 you will go to the town of Oudenarde : I appoint you its governor, 
 and you shall take with you one hundred and fifty lances, good men. 
 at-arms, one hundred cross-bows, and two hundred luity varlets with 
 pikes and shields. You will be careful of the garrison, for I give it 
 loyally into your charge; and hasten to victual it with' corn, oats, 
 
 * " Regent of Flanders." In the orijrinal this stand?, " Regard de Flandres," which 
 D. Sauvage, on tlie authority of the fragment he distinguislies by the name of Sala, 
 proposes to aherto Regent. Lord Berners' transhition. "the overlotker of Flanders.' 
 is probably a more correct interpretation of the title than regent, which is only appli- 
 cable to a governor acting as a deputy, reigning for another, whereas Von Artaveld 
 now admitted no superior.— Ed. „t^ j 
 
 t " Daniel de Haluyn." This must b» the person whom he before calls Damoa, *ai 
 Damau-Y de Haluin. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND. FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 csalted meats, and wines from our good friends and neighbors in the 
 town of Tournay, who I trust will not fail us in this urgent neces- 
 sity." " My lord," replied the knight, " your orders shall be obeyed ; 
 and I accept the guard of the town of Oudenarde, since it pleases 
 you to command me. No accident shall happen to it through any 
 fault of mine." " Daniel," said the earl, " you comfort me much 
 by what you say." 
 
 Upon this, sir Daniel de Haluyn took leave of the earl and went 
 to Oudenarde, which he reinforced with good men-at-arms, victualed 
 it again, and made every other necessary preparation. 
 
 CHAPTER CI. 
 
 PHILIP VON ARTAVELD AND THE GHENT MEN LAY SIEGE TO OUDENARDE. 
 
 Philip, who resided in. Ghent, hearing that the garrison of Oude- 
 narde had been reinforced with men-at-arms, said he would provide 
 a remedy, for such things were not to be suffered : it was a disgrace 
 to all Flandei-s that the town should continue thus disobedient. He 
 declared he would lay siege to it, and never march away until he 
 had destroyed it, and put to death all who should be found w^*hin, 
 knights and others. He issued his summons through Flanders, 
 every one to be ready prepared before Oudenarde on the 9th day oi 
 June. None dared disobey this summons : those in the principal 
 towns of Flanders, of the Franconate and of Bruges, made themselves 
 ready, and came before Oudenarde, where they extended themselves 
 in the fields, meadows and marshes thereabouts. Philip, by v/hose 
 orders everything was done, lived in gi-eat state before Oudenarde. 
 During this time, he laid a tax throughout Flanders of four groats on 
 every tire, which were to be paid weekly, by all persons indiscrimi- 
 nately. Philip gained large sums by this tax, for no one was ex- 
 empted. He had his sergeants in all parts of the country, who made 
 both rich and poor pay it, whether they would or not. 
 
 It was said there were upward of a hundred thousand men at this 
 siege of Oudenarde. The Flemings drove into the river Scheld 
 large stakes, so that no vessels could come from Tournay to Oude- 
 narde, while they had in their army plenty of everything necessary. 
 They had halls for cloth, furs and merceries : every Saturday was 
 the market, to which were brought from the adjacent villages all 
 sorts of groceries, fruits, butter, milk, cheese, poultry, and other 
 things. In their army there were taverns as plenty as at Brussels, 
 where Rhenish wines, and those of France, Galrigaches,* Malmseys 
 and other foreign wines were sold cheap. Every one might go 
 thither, and pass and repass, without peril ; that is to say, those of 
 Brabant, Hainault, Germany and of Liege, but not tllDse of France. 
 
 When sir Daniel de Haluyn entered Oudenarde, he laid in all his 
 preparations of stores and provision, which were equally divided 
 among 4he garrison, each according to a fixed ration. All the horses 
 were sent away, and the houses near the walls pulled down, and 
 covered with earth, to guard against the cannon, of which the enemy 
 had abundance. The women and children who remained (for many 
 were sent away) were lodged in the churches and monasteries. No 
 dog was left in the town, but all were killed and thrown into the 
 river. The garrison made many gallant sallies, both mornings and 
 evening?, doing great execution to the army. There were among 
 others two squires from Artois, brothers, called Lambert and Tristan 
 de Lumbres, who frequently performed very gallant deeds of arms, 
 bringing back with them provisions from the enemy, whether they 
 would or not, and even prisoners. 
 
 Thus they remained the whole summer. It was the intention of 
 Philip and his council to continue until they should starve them out ; 
 for it would cost them too many men were they to attempt to carry 
 it by storm. They with much labor placed on the hill of Oudenarde 
 a prodigiously great engine, twenty feet wide and forty long, which 
 they called a Mutton, to cast heavy stones and beams of timber into 
 the town, an-l crush everything they should fall on. They had also, 
 the more to alcrm the ganison, fired a bombard of a very great size, 
 which was fifty foet in length, and shot stones of an immense weight. 
 When they fired o.T this bombard, it might be heard five leagues oflf 
 in the day-time, an-J ten at night. The report of it was so loud, 
 that it seemed as if aU the devils in hell had broken loose. 
 
 The Ghent men made likewise another engine, which they pointed 
 against the town, to casi large bars of hot copper. With such 
 machines, as cannons, bombards, sows and muttons, did the Ghent 
 army labor to annoy the garrison of Oudenarde. They, however, 
 comforted each other as well as they could, and defended themselves 
 against these attacks. They made sallies three or four times a week, 
 in which they gained more honor than disgrace, and also more profit 
 than loss. 
 
 CHAPTER CII. 
 
 A DETACmiENT OF THE GHENT ARMY FROM BEFORE OUDENARDE, IN OVER- 
 RUNNING THE LANDS OF THEIR LORD, BURN SOME VILLAGES ON THE 
 FRONTIERS OF FRANCE, WHICH CAUSES A WAR BETWEEN THE KING OF 
 FRANCE AND THEM. 
 
 While the siege of Oudenarde was going forward, eleven hundred 
 men left the army, with a determination to scour the country, and 
 
 * *• Galrifiaches "—a wrt of strong wliite wiue, or liquaux. 
 
 307 
 
 to ruin and destroy the houses of those knights who, navmg quitted 
 Flanders, had established themselves, v/ith their wives and families 
 in Hainault, Brabant, and in Artois. They accomplished their pur' 
 pose ; for this detachment committed great damage throughout 
 Flanders, not leaving any house of a gentleman unburnt, or stand- 
 ing. They then came again to Marie, the house nf the earl, and 
 completely destroyed it. They found there the craole in whic'h ho 
 had been nursed, and the bathing tub in which he had becL washed 
 both of which they entirely demolished. They pulled down the 
 chapel, carrying away with them the bell to Bruges, where they met 
 Peter du Bois, and Peter le Nuitre, who entertained them well, a.id 
 told them they had performed good services. When these men iiad 
 refreshed themselves, they took the road to the bridge of AVarne^ton, 
 crosGcd the river Lis, and came before Lille, where they destroyed 
 some windmills and set fire to other villages of Flanders. Upward 
 of four thousand of the inhabitants of Lille armed themselves, and 
 sallied out on horseback and on foot, after these marauders, whom 
 they soon overtook, slew many and seized others, who had after, 
 wards their heads struck off in Lisle ; but, had they been well pur. 
 sued, not one of them would have escaped. Notwithstanding this 
 check, the detachment from the Ghent army entered the country of 
 Tournay, where they did much mischief, and burnt the town of 
 Sechlin, and some of the adjacent villages which belong to the king, 
 dom of France. They then returned with a very considerable booty, 
 to the siege of Oudenarde. ' 
 
 News was carried to the duke of Burgundy, at Bapaume in Artois 
 how the Ghent men had pillaged and burnt some villages in France! 
 He instantly wrote an account of it to his sovereign, who at that 
 time was 'at Compiegne, as well as to his brother the duKe cf Berry, 
 to the duke of Bourbon, and to the king's council, that they mip-ht 
 consider cf it. The duke of Burgundy wished not the Flemings' to 
 have acted otherwise ; for he though it would be now necessary to 
 call on the king for aid, otherwise his father-in-law, the earl of 
 Flanders, would never regain his inheritance ; besides, on every 
 account, this war exasperated him most exceedingly, for he was, in 
 right of his wife, the heir of Flandere. 
 
 The earl of Flanders resided at this moment at Hedin. He there 
 learnt that the Ghent men had destroyed his house at Marie, through 
 spite to him, even the chamber wherein he was born, and had broken 
 the font wherein he had been baptized, with the cradle of his child- 
 hood, which was of silver. The bathing tub wherein he had been 
 washed was beaten to pieces and carried away. All this vexed him 
 exceedingly. While at Hedin he thought of different plans : for he 
 saw his country had turned against him, except Dendremonde and 
 Oudenarde, and no succor to be looked for, but from France. Hav- 
 ing weighed well all circumstances, he resolved to visit his son the 
 duke of Burgundy, who lived at Bapaume, and explain to him his 
 situation. He departed from Hedin and went to Arras, where he 
 reposed himself two days. On the morrow he came to Bapaume, 
 and dismounted at the hdtel of the counts of Artois, which was new 
 his own ; for, by the death of his lady-mother, he was count of 
 Artois. The duke of Burgundy took much compassion on him, and 
 comforted him kindly, when he had heard his complaint?, saying, 
 " My lord, by the faith I owe to you, and to the king, I will not 
 attend to anything but the recovery of your country. You shall be 
 repossessed, or we will lose the remainder; for it is not to besutiered 
 that such a set of scoundrels as are now in Flanders should o-overn 
 that country, as in that case all knighthood and gentility m.ay bo 
 destroyed and pulled do\»^n, and consequently all Christianity." 
 
 The earl of Flanders was much consoled by the duke engaging 
 to assist him. He cook leave of him, and went to the city of Airas, 
 At this time, he iieid in prison upward of two hundred persons from 
 the chief towns in Flanders, who had only bread and water for fcod ; 
 and every day they were threatened to lose their heads. When the 
 earl returned to Arras, he gave them all their liberties, in honor of 
 God and the Virgin ; for he found, from what had passed in Flan, 
 ders after their imprisonment, that they were not any way to blame. 
 He made them all swear to be true and loyal to him, and then gave 
 them money to carry them to Lille or Douay, or wherever else they 
 pleased. The earl gained much popularity by this measure. Ho 
 then left Arras, and returned to Hedin. 
 
 CHAPTER CIII. 
 
 THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY INSTIGATES HIS NEPHEW KING CHARLES TO 
 MAKE WAR ON GHENT AND ITS ALLIES, AS WELL IN REVENGE FOR THE 
 BURNT VILLAGES AS TO ASSIST IN THE RECOVERY OF FLANEERS FOR 
 THE EARL, WHO WAS HIS VASSAL. 
 
 The duke of Burgundy was not forgetful of the engagements he 
 had entered into with his lord and father the earl of Flanders. He 
 set out from Bapaume attended by sir Guy de la Trimouille and sir 
 John de Vienne, admiral of France, who were very desirous the 
 earl should be assisted. These two were the principal persons of 
 his council. They continued their journey until they arrived at 
 Senlis, where the king was with his two uncles of Berry and Bour. 
 bon. He was received with joy, and then was asked what was the 
 news in Flanders, and how the siege of Oudenarde was goino- on. 
 The duke of Burgundy made very prudent replies to these°first 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE. SPAIN, 
 
 'luestions of the king and his uncles; but when he found an oppor- 
 tunity, he drew his brother the duke of Berry aside, and explained 
 tD him how the Ghent men, in the insolence of their pride, were 
 endeavoring to be masters everywhere, and to destroy all gentlemen ; 
 that they had already burnt and pillaged part of the kingdom of 
 France, which was much tj the prejudice and dishonor of the realm, 
 Lnd ought not to be patiently borne. 
 
 " Fair brother," said tlie duke of Berry, " we will talk to the 
 kino" on this subject : you and I are the principal of his council. 
 The king being made a party, no one will attempt to thwart our 
 inclinations in fomenting a war between France and Flanders, which 
 have hitherto been at peace with each other : it will be proper we 
 give some good reasons for it, and that the barons of France be c*" 
 our opinion ; otherwise we may be blamed, and the fault thrown on 
 us ; for the king is young, and every one knows that he will do 
 whatever we shall tell him or advise him. If it turn out successful, 
 it will be passed .over; but, should it be otherwise, we shall be 
 charged with it, and much more blamed, and with reason, than any 
 of the other counsellors. Every one will say, ' See how badly the 
 king's uncles, the dukes of Berry and Burgundy, have advised the 
 king; they have engaged the nation in a war in which it had nothing 
 to do.' I therefore say, my fair lord, that we must assemble the 
 greater part of the prelates and nobles of the kingdom of France, 
 and by before them, in the presence of the king, who is personally 
 interested in this business, all the events which bear any relation to 
 the inheritance of Flanders : we shall then soon see what is the 
 general wish of France." 
 
 The duke of Burgundy replied, " You say well, my fair brother, 
 and what you have advised shall be done." At these words, the 
 king entered the apartments where his uncles were, with a falcon 
 on his wrist : he was struck with the duke's last words, and said 
 with much good humor, " What were you speaking of, my fair 
 uncles, at this moment with so much earnestness ? I should like to 
 hear it, if it be proper for me to know." " Yes, my lord," an- 
 swered the duke of Berry ; " for what we were discussing personally 
 concerns you. Your uncle, my brother of Burgundy, has just been 
 complaining to me of the Flemings : those villains of Flanders have 
 driven the earl their lord out of his country, and all the gentlemen. 
 They are now, to the amount of a hundred thousand men, besieging 
 Oadenarde, under a captain called Philip von Artaveld, an English, 
 man for courage, who has sworn he will never break up the siege 
 until he has had his will on those of the town, unless you shall force 
 him to it. This reservation he has made. Now, what do you say 
 to this ? will you assist your cousin of Flanders to regain his inher- 
 itance, of which peasants, in their pride and cruelty, have deprived 
 him ?" " By my faith, my dear uncles," replied the king, " I have 
 a very great inclination so to do, and in God's name let us march 
 thither. I wish for nothing more than to try my strength in arms, 
 for never hitherto have I had armor on. It is necessary, therefore, if 
 I wi-h to reign with honor and glory, that I learn the art of war." 
 
 The two dukes, looking at each other, were much delighted with 
 what the king had said ; and the duke of Berry added, " My lord, 
 you have very properly spoken, and you are bound to do what you 
 say ; for the country of Flanders is a dependence on the domain of 
 France ; and you have sworn, and we also for you, that you will 
 mpport in their rights your vassals and liege men : the earl is also 
 ^our cousin ; you therefore owe him atfection. Now, since you are 
 in such good inclinations, do not change them, but say the same 
 lO all who shall speak to you on this subject; for we will assemble 
 in haste the prelates and barons of your realm, and in your presence 
 lay before them this business. Do you speak your mind then, as 
 jlearly and as loudly as you have done to us, and they all will say 
 we have an enterprising and well-intentioned king." " On my 
 aith, my fair uncle, I wish everything were ready for us to march 
 thither to-morrow ; for, from henceforward, the greatest pleasure I 
 shall have will be to abase the pride of these Flemings." The two 
 dukes were well pleased at hearing the king thus speak out. The 
 duke of Bourbon now came, having been sent for by them; and 
 they related to him all you have heard, and how eager the king was 
 to march to Flanders, with which he was much pleased 
 
 Things remained in this state. The king and his uncles wrote 
 letters to all the lords of the council, ordering them to come to Com- 
 piegiie on a certaiii day, when there would be a council bald on the 
 affiirs of the realm. Every one obeyed, as was right; but the 
 king was so much rejoiced at what he had heard, and so muchoccu- 
 pied was his mind with this subject, that nothing could put it out of 
 his head. He frequently said, " The council would be too tedious 
 to accomplish the business well ;" adding, that " when any one 
 wishes to perform an enterprise successfully, deliberations should not 
 be too loig ; for at last the enemy gains information of it." He also 
 said, when they laid before him the dangers that might happen, " Yes, 
 yes ; nothing venture, nothing gain." In this manner did the young 
 king of France converse with the knights and squires of his chamber. 
 I will now relate to you a dream which he had at this time at Senlis ; 
 and from which he took a flying hart for his emblem, as I was then 
 iiiformcd 
 
 CHAPTER CIV. 
 
 CHARLES THE SIXTH, KING OF FRANCE, FROM A DREAM, CHOOSES A FLY. 
 ING HART FOR HIS nEVICE. 
 
 It happened that during the residence of the young king Charles 
 at Senlis, as he was sleeping in his bed, a vision appeared to him. 
 He thought he was in the city of Arras, where, until then, he had 
 never been, attended by all the flower of knighthood of his kingdom : 
 that the earl of Flanders came there to him, and placed on his wrist 
 a most beautiful and elegant filgrim-falcon, saying, " My lord, in 
 God's name, I give this falcon to you, for the best that was ever seen, 
 the most indefatigable hunter, and the most excellent striker of 
 Voirds." The king was much pleased with the present, and said, 
 " Fair cousin, I give you my thanks." He then thought he turned 
 to the constable of France who was near him, and said, *' Sir Oliver^ 
 let you and I go to the plains, and try this elegant falcon which my 
 cousin of Flanders has given me." When the constable answered, 
 "Well, let us go." Then each mounted their horses, and went into 
 the fields, taking the falcon with them, where they found plenty of 
 herons to fly him at. The king said, " Constable, cast of}" the falcon, 
 and we shall see how he will hunt." The constable let him fly, and 
 the falcon mounted so high in the air, they could scarcely see him : 
 he took the direction toward P'landers. " Let us ride after my bird," 
 said the king to the constable : " for I will not lose him." The 
 constable assented, and they rode on, as it appeared to the king, 
 through a large marsh, when they came to a wood, on which the 
 king cried out, " Dismount, dismount : we cannot pass this wood on 
 horseback." They then dismounted, when some servar,ts came and 
 took their horses. The king and the constable entered the wood 
 with much difficulty, and walked on until they came to an extensive 
 heath, where they saw a falcon chasing herons, and striking them 
 down ; but they resisted, and there was a battle between them. It 
 seemed to the king that his falcon performed gallantly, and drove the 
 birds before him so far, that he lost sight of him. This much vexed 
 the king, as well as the impossibility of follovv'ing him ; and he said 
 to the constable, " I shall lose my falcon, which I shall very much 
 regret ; for I have neither lure, nor anything else to call him back." 
 While the king was in this anxiety, he thought a beautiful hart, with 
 two wings, appeared to issue out of the wood, and come to this heath 
 and bend himself down before the king, who said to the constable, 
 as he regarded this wonder with delight, " Constable, do you remain 
 here, and I will mount this hart that offers himself to me, and follow 
 my bird." The constable agreed to it, and the young king joyfully 
 mounted the hart, and went seeking the falcon. The hart, like one 
 well tutored to obey the king's pleasure, carried him over the tops 
 of the highest trees, when he saw his falcon striking down such 
 numbers of birds, that he marvelled how he could do it. It seemed 
 to the king that when the falcon had sufficiently flown, and struck 
 down enough of the herons, he called him back, and instantly ; as if 
 well taught, he perched on the king's wrist, when it seemed to him, 
 that after he had taken the falcon by its lure, and given him his reward, 
 the hart flew back again over the wood, and replaced the king on 
 the same heath whence he had carried him, and where the constable 
 was waiting, who was much rejoiced at his return. On his arrival 
 he dismounted : the hart returned to the wood, and was no more 
 seen. The king then, as he imagined, related to the constable how 
 well the hart had carried him : and that he had never rode so easy 
 before in his life; and also the goodness of his falcon, who had 
 struck down such numbers of birds : to all which the constable vviU 
 lingly listened. The servants then seemed to come after them with 
 their horses, which, having mounted, they followed a magnificent 
 road that brought them back to Arras. The king at this part awak. 
 ened, much astonished at the vision he had seen, which was so im- 
 printed on his memory, that he told it to some of his attendants who 
 were waiting in his chamber. The figure of this hart was so agree- 
 able to him, that he could not put it out of his imagination ; and 
 this was the cause why, on this expedition to Flanders against the 
 Flemings, he took a flying hart for his device. 
 
 CHAPTER CV. 
 
 DURING THE SIEGE OF OUDENARDE, THE REBELS ENTREAT KING CHARLES 
 TO MAKE PEACE BETWEEN THEM AND THE EARL OF FLANDERS. THE 
 KING ANSWERS THEM WITH CONTEMPT. THEV THEN ENDEAVOR TO 
 DRAW THE ENGL:SH INTO AN ALLIANCE WITH THEM. 
 
 Philip von Artaveld, although he had been very successful at the 
 battle of Bruges, and though fortune had smiled on him at his de- 
 feat of the earl and citizens of Bruges, possessed not any abilities for 
 war or sieges. When young he had not been educated for it, but in 
 fishing with a rod in the rivers Scheld and Lis ; and he clearly proved 
 his incapacity during the siege of Oudenarde. He knew not how 
 to take the town, and, through pride and presumption, thought that 
 it must be his, and that the inhabitants ought to come and surrender 
 it to him. They had no such inclination ; but behaved themselves 
 like valorous men, skirmishing frequently with these Flemings at the 
 barriers, in which they slew many and wounded more; a.id then 
 retired without loss into their town. In these sallies, Lambeil d9 
 
CHRONICLES OF E N M ii A 
 
 , FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 30D 
 
 Lainbios, Tristan his brother, and the lord de Lunelhein, gained 
 great renown. 
 
 The Flemings, observing that the ditches of Oudenarde were wide 
 and full of water, and that they could not approach the place but 
 with great peril, resolved in council to collect quantities oi faggots 
 and straw tJ fill them up, to enable them to come near the walls and 
 engage hand to hand. As it had been ordered, so it was executed ; 
 but the garrison held what they were about cheap, and said, that if 
 th-ere was no treason between them and the townspeople, they were 
 not alarmed for the event of the eiege. However, sir Daniel de 
 Haluyn, the governor, to prevent any misconduct, had kept the citi- 
 zens so much under command, that they had not any power what- 
 ever: and he had strictly ordered, that none of the inhabitants should 
 dare to ascend the walls, day or night, without being accompanied 
 by some of the men-at-arms; otherwise, if found, they would risk 
 the loss of their lives. In this manner was the siege continued. The 
 Flemings had plenty of provision in their army, which was brought 
 to them by sea and land, as well as down the rivers, for they were 
 lords of the whole of Flanders. They were also near the countries 
 of Holland, Zealand, Brabant, and a part of Hainault, the inhabitants 
 of which, through avarice of gain, privately brought their army pro. 
 vision in quantities. 
 
 This Philip von Artaveld had a courage more like English than 
 French. He would have been glad if they had adhered more to the 
 former, and made an alliance with England ; for, should the king of 
 France, or duke of Burgundy, march an army against them to re- 
 cover the country, they would have been assisted. Philip had al- 
 ready ia his army two hundred English archers, who had stolen 
 away from their garrison at Calais, and were paid every week. 
 
 Philip, to put a better color on his actions, and to know what they 
 said of him in France, resolved to send letters from himself and from 
 the country of Flanders, to the king of France, humbly entreating 
 the king to take the trouble of bringing about a sound reconciliation 
 between them and the earl their lord. He had no sooner mentioned 
 this idea than it was executed : he wrote amicable letters to the king 
 of France and to his council, which he ordered a messenger to carry 
 to France and deliver to the king. The messenger said he would 
 willingly obey, and rode on with the letters until he came to Senlis, 
 where the king was, to whom and to his uncles he gave the letters. 
 The king took them, and had them read in the presence of his 
 uncles and council. After they had been read and comprehended, 
 the auditors burst out into laughter. The messenger, because he 
 had come into the king's presence without a passport, was ordered 
 to be arrested, and put into prison, where he remained for upward 
 of three weeks. 
 
 Wken Philip heard of this, he was very indignant; and, having 
 summoned the captains of the army to him, he said, " You see what 
 honor the king of France pays to us, after we have so amicably 
 written to him, for which he detains our messenger. We certainly 
 make too "Tiany difficulties in connecting ourselves with the English, 
 and may suffer for it. The duke of Burgundy is now in France and 
 governs the king just as he pleases, for he is but a child. Do you 
 think that he will leave things in their present situation ? Certainiy 
 not. Take for example our messenger, whom he has detained. It 
 will therefore be prudent in us to send to England, as well for the 
 general good of Flanders, as to secure ourselves and alarm our en- 
 emies. I am desirous," said Philip, " that we send thither ten or 
 twelve of our principal men, that the knowledge of it may be carried 
 to France, and that the king and his council may think we intend to 
 unite ourselves with his adversary, the king of England. But I do 
 not wish such alliances to be made in a hurry, nor at all if we were 
 not thus circumstanced ; but I would that our embassadors should 
 demand privately of the king of England and his council the sum of 
 two hundred thousand old crowns, which we have a just right to, 
 and which Jacob von Artaveld, my father, and the states of Flanders, 
 lent to the king of England when before Tournay, to pay his troops. 
 Let them also tell the king of England, his uncles and his counsel- 
 lors, t'.iat the states of Flanders in general, and the chief towns who 
 made this loan, demand the payment of it ; and that when this shall 
 have been done, which the king of England is obliged to perform, he 
 and his subjects shall have free entry into Flanders for the time to 
 com?. " It is much better," added Philip, " that we make use of 
 what is our own, than that foreigners should do so ; and we never 
 can have a better opp ortunity than now to get it back again, for 
 the king and realm of England will not hesitate to gain the entry, 
 love, and alliance of such a country as Flanders now is : besides, the 
 English have not in the whole coast from Bordeaux to Sluys any 
 irjit, except Cilais, Cherbourg, and Brest, to gain entrance into 
 France. Flanders, therefore, will open her ports to them very op- 
 portunel}- ; for Brittany, excepting Brest, is quite shut against them, 
 and the duke of Brittany, has sworn to be a true Frenchman, which, 
 if he were not, he would so become, through love to his coiisin-ger- 
 man the earl of Flanders." 
 
 All who heard him, answered, that he had well and wisely spoken, 
 and what he had proposed should be followed ; and that whoevei was 
 of the contrary opiaion, was not a wellwisher to the prosperity of 
 Flan.ders. Philip did not delay executing it ; he wrote on this sub- 
 ject to Peter 4u Bois and Peter le Nuitre, governors of Bruges, and 
 also to those of Ypres and Courtray, who agreed to hiz propufaal. 
 
 One or two citizens were chosen from the principal towns, but from 
 Ghent six. Among the first were Francis Atremen, Rasee de hi 
 Verdelle, Louis de Vaux, sir John Stotelare, Martin Blondel-Vatre, 
 Jacob Bernare, and a clerk who had been nominated bishop of Ghent 
 by pope Urban. Master John d'Albert, who had been dean of ti e 
 church of our Lady at Tournay, had proposed to make a bishopric 
 of the town of Ghent, which should enjoy the profits the bishop of 
 Tournay ought to have. 
 
 When the twelve citizens had received their full instructions, aa 
 to what they were to say and do, they took leave of their friends, 
 departed from the siege of Oudenarde, and continued their journey 
 until they arrived at Calais. Sir John d'Albrenes,* the governor, re. 
 ceived them very politely ; when he understood they wanted to go to 
 England, he provided them with ships and passage-boats. They re 
 mained there only three days, when they embarked, landed at Dover, 
 and pursued their road to London. 
 
 At the time this embassy from Flanders arrived at London, the 
 king of England with his council, sir John Montague, sir John Bur. 
 ley, and sir William Beauchamp. were at Westminster, occupied in 
 the investing sir Perducas d'Albreth, with the whole barony of Chau. 
 mont in Gascony, which had reverted to the king, for hirn to do with 
 it as he pleased ; and I will tell you how this happened. King Ed 
 ward, in former times, had given it to sir John Chandos, who had 
 held it as long as he lived : after his death, he had given it to sir 
 Thomas Felton. Now sir Thomas was lately d-^ad, and the barony 
 had revertr'd to the king of England. It was improper it should long 
 remain wit!iout a lord who would reside on the 5-pot ; for it joined 
 the lands of the lord d'Albreth, who at that period v, as a loyal French- 
 man. The king's council considered that sir Perducas d'Albreth, 
 having faithl'ully served the kings of England, Edward, Richard, and 
 the prince, as well as the country of the Bourdelois for upward of 
 thirty years, was well deserving to have this estate, which he would 
 defend against any one. 
 
 Sir Perducas d'Albreth, on receiving tl\e investiture of the lands of 
 Chaumont from the hands of the king, in the presence of the nobles 
 of England, thus addressed his majesty : " Sire, I take and receive 
 this inheritance for myself and for rny heirs, on condition that I and 
 my heirs faithfully serve you against all mankind, except against the 
 house of Albreth ; for against that whence I am sprung, I will never 
 make war as long as my inheritance is left in peace." The king 
 and his council replied, " In God's name be it so ;" and on these 
 terms he was invested. 
 
 I will now relate what befel this sir Perducas d'Albreth. V/hen 
 he was returning to Gascony to take possession of his estate, and the 
 seneschal of Bordeaux had given him seisin of the barony, the lord 
 d'Albreth was much rejoiced ; for he knew his cousin would not 
 make war upon him, and that the lands of Albreth and of Chaumunt 
 would remain in quiet. The lord d'Albreth shov/ed much aflfection 
 to his cousin, for he expected that after his decease he would be put 
 in possession of such of his castles as were in tlie barony of Chau- 
 mont. But Perducas had not v.ny such intentiors. It chanced that 
 he fell sick; and, when he was lying on his death-bed and saw there 
 were no hopes of recovery, he summoned all his vassals, and calling 
 to him a young squire and good man-at-arms, named Perduch,t said 
 to him, " I transfer to thee, in the presence of my vassals, ray whole 
 estate of Chaumont. Be, therefore, a true Englishman, and loyal to 
 th 3 king of England. But I will not, that against the house of Albreth, 
 whence we are sprung, thou shouldest ever make war, unless they 
 commit outrages against thee." The squire cheerf ully answered, " Sir, 
 I willingly accept it on these terms." Thus was Perduch d'Albreth 
 lord of Chaumont in Gascony. Sir Perducas died soon after, which 
 is all I know about it. 
 
 CHAPTER CVI. 
 
 THE EMBASSADORS FROM GHENT FAIL IN FORMING AN ALLIANCE WITH 
 
 ENGLAND. 
 
 Wren these •Ghent men were come to London, their arri'-il was 
 soon known, and information of it carried to the king and his coun- 
 cil, who sent to them to know what they wanted. They came in a 
 body to the palace of Westminster, where they were met first by the 
 duke of Lancaster, the earl of Buckingham, the earl of Salisbury, 
 and the greater part of the council; but tlie king was not present at 
 this first interview. These embassadors having made their obei- 
 sances to the English lords, the bishop elect of Ghent spoke for them 
 all, saying, " My lords, we are come hither by orders from the town 
 of Ghent, and from all Flanders, to request counsel, comfort, and as. 
 sistance from the king of England, on account of certain articles, and 
 for reason of ancient alliances which subsisted between England and 
 Flanders. We wish to renew them, as the country of Flanders now 
 stands in need of assistance, being at this nicrnent v.ithout a lord. 
 The principal towns and the country have chosen a regent,t named 
 Philip von Artaveld, who recommends himself particularl} to the 
 king, and to you all who are of his council. He entreats y-.u to re. 
 ceive this commendation in good part; for if the king shall wish ro 
 come into Flanders he w ill find all its ports open, and the coun 
 
 I t Sala calls him " Verduret de la Bretli his nephew." t " Regard." See p. 206 
 
310 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 well disposed toward him, where he may repose and refresh him. 
 self and people as long a time as he shall please ; and he may call 
 upon Flanders for one hundred thousaiid men, all armed. We are 
 also ordered to request from you the two hundred thousand old crowns* 
 which Jacob von Artaveld, and the chief towns of Flanders, formerly 
 lent to king Edward, of good memory, at the sieges of Tournay and 
 of Calais, and which they now desire may be paid back. It is the 
 intention of the principal towns in Flanders, that before anything 
 further be done in a treaty of alliance this sum be paid down, by 
 which means the king of England, and all his subjects, may say they 
 are friends to the Flemings ; and they shall have free entrance, at 
 their pleasure, into Flanders." 
 
 When the lords had heard this speech and demand, they looked 
 at each other, and some began to smile. The duke of Lancaster, 
 addressing them, said, " My fair lords of Flanders, what you have 
 said requires counsel. Go and return to London, and the king will 
 consider your requests, and send you such answers as you shall be 
 contented with." The Ghent men replied, " God will it be so." 
 They then quitted the council chamber, leaving the lords of the 
 council behind, who began to laugh among themselves, and say, 
 " Did you notice these Flemings, and hear the request they made ? 
 They ask assistance, saying, they are in very great want of it, and, 
 besides, demand our money. It is by no means reasonable that we 
 should pay, and assist them into the bargain." They looked on the 
 Flemings as proud and presumptuous, in thus demanding a debt of 
 two hundred thousand old crowns of so very ancient a date as forty 
 years. 
 
 Nothing could have happened more opportunely for the king of 
 France, who was eager to invade Flanders ; for if the Flemings had 
 been silent, respecting these crowns, and had only requested assist- 
 ance from the king of England, he would have gone in person to 
 Flanders, or would have sent thither such a powerful force, that the 
 Flemings who were in the field might have resisted the greatest 
 power on earth. But it fell out otherwise, as you will hear related 
 in this history. 
 
 CHAPTER CVII. 
 
 THE MESSENGER WHICH THE GHENT MEN HAD SENT TO KING CHARLES 
 OF FRANCE IS DELIVERED FROM PRISON. SOME PRISONERS FROM 
 TOURNAY AND COURTRAY ARE EXCHANGED FOR EACH OTHER. 
 
 Intelligence was carried to the king's council in France, that 
 Philip von Artaveld, and the country of Flanders, had sent embas- 
 sadors *o England to form an alliance. And it was commonly report, 
 ed, chac ho king of England, with a large army, was about to come 
 this season to Flanders, and that he would fix his quarters at Ghent. 
 This news was very probable, for it was to be supposed the Flemings 
 would strengthen themselves by some means or other. It was then 
 thought proper to liberate the messenger of Philip. Indeed, to say 
 the truth, they had not any right to imprison him. He was there- 
 fore set at liberty, and sent to Oudenarde, where the army lay. 
 
 At this lime, the citizens of Bruges had seized and imprisoned 
 some from Tournay. The Flemings showed by this that they were 
 indifferent as to war or peace with the French. Those of Tournay, 
 in reiurn, captured some citizens of Courtray, whom they carried 
 away prisoners to their town. Thus was the hatred increased be- 
 tween the men of Tournay and the Flemings. The lords of Tour- 
 nay, however, who wished not to make war on the Flemings, their 
 neighbors, on their own account, without receiving orders from the 
 king of France, resolved to send two of their citizens to Philip von 
 Artaveld, to make up matters between them, so that they might 
 recover their townsmen who were prisoners, and render back, in 
 exchange those whom they had taken. John Bon Enfant and John 
 Picard were chosen to go on this business. They went to the siege 
 before Oudenarde, and spoke with Philip, who, in honor of the city 
 of Tournay, and not out of any respect to the king of France, as he 
 told them, received them very amicably : for the king had not used him 
 nor the country of Flanders well, when he had imprisoned a mes- 
 senger whom he had sent to him on friendly terms. * 
 
 " Sir," replied the two citizens, " you have received back your 
 messenger." " That is true," said Philip ; " but it was more through 
 fear than otherwiie. Now tell me," added Philip, " what business 
 has brought you hither ?" " Sir," answered the citizens, " it is to 
 have back our townsmen who are imprisoned at Bruges." " Ha," 
 replied Philip ; " if they are detained, you have, also, imprisoned 
 some from Courtray. You must not lose anything for this journey, 
 so do you return ou men, and you shall have yours." The men 
 from Tournay answered, " You say well, and we will cheerfully 
 consent to it." The agreement was instantly made, and Philip von 
 Artaveld wrote to Peter du Bois and to Petre le Nuitre, who resided 
 in Brnge?, to deliver up the citizens of Tournay whom they had 
 thrown into prison; and that they would have in exchange those 
 who had been detained from Courtray ; for he declared the city of 
 Tournay had written to request it. 
 
 When they took their leave, Philip thus spoke to them : " Gen- 
 tlemen, mind my words : I do not wish to betray you ; you are from 
 the town of Tournay, which is a dependence on the king of France, 
 with Vv'hom we will not enter into any treaty, until Dcndremonde 
 
 * "Old crowns:" each worth seven shillings and twopeoce.'-CoTORAvs. 
 
 and Oudenarde shall be surrendered to us. Do not therefore come 
 hither again, for those who do will be detaiLtd. Advise yourcoun. 
 trymen and merchants not to pass through Flanders ; for we well 
 know, that the king of France, your lord, will make war on us, for 
 which we are prepared." 
 
 These citizens of Tournay, after having heard this speech, re. 
 turned to Tournay to relate all that had passed. A proclamation 
 was made, that no one should have any intercourse with the Fiem. 
 ings, without incurring the indignation of the king. The citizens 
 of Tournay, who had been imprisoned at Bruges, returned ; and 
 those from Courtray were sent back. They dared not deal openly 
 with the Flemings; but, when they wanted any merchandise from 
 Flanders, they applied to Valenciennes ; for those of Brabant, Hoi- 
 land, Hainault, Zealand, and Liege, might travel and carry on their 
 commerce through all Flanders with perfect security. 
 
 The siege of Oudenarde still went on in the same manner. Philip 
 and his Ghent men were encamped on the hill of Oudenarde, on 
 the side of Hainault, where they had planted bombards, cannons, 
 and large machines, which made such a noise when fired that they 
 could be heard upward of six leagues. Near them, but below, on 
 the banks of the Scheld, were encamped those from Bruges, as you 
 ascend the river by the gate of Bruges. Those of Poperingue, 
 Ypres, Cassel, and the Franconate, were quartered near them, so 
 that they surrounded the town completely. 
 
 Oudenarde being thus sunjpunded, the Flemings thought they 
 should starve those within it ; but the garrison made frequent sal. 
 lies, in which sometimes they gained the advantage, and at others 
 lost it, as in such cases must happen. Hov.'sver, there were not 
 any attempts made to storm it. Philip would not rashly risk the 
 lives of his men, an:; .^aid he would have it otherwise than by storm ; 
 and that it could not hold out much longer, since there was not a 
 possibility of its bel.jg reinforced. A bird could scarcely fly into 
 Oudenarde without being seen by the besieging army, so com.pletely 
 was it invested on all sides. 
 
 CHAPTER CVIII. 
 
 king CHARLES ORDERS COMMISSIONERS TO ENTER INTO CERTAIN TREA.. 
 TIES WITH THE FLEMINGS. THEIR MESSENGERS ARE IMPRISONED AT 
 THE MOMENT THEY DEMANDED PASSPORTS. 
 
 We will now return to the king of France. His uncles and coun- 
 cil thought it prudent to send to Tournay some knights and prelates 
 of the realm to treat with the Flemings, and to learn more clearly 
 their intentions. They therefore ordered sir Milles de Dormans, 
 bishop of Beauvais, the bishop of Auxerre, the bishop of Laon, sir 
 Guy de Harcourt, and sir Tristan du Bois, to Tournay as commis 
 sioners from the king of France, where they found John Bon En 
 fant and John Picard, just returned from the siege of Oudenarde 
 They told these commissioners that Philip von Artaveld had de 
 dared to them on taking leave, that the Flemings would never enter 
 into any treaty until Oudenarde and Dendremonde were in their 
 power. "Well," replied the commissioners, "Philip, with all his 
 pride and presumption, of which he has enough, is not master of all 
 the great tov/ns in Flanders. We will therefore write to Ghent, 
 Bruges, and Ypres, and send to each town letters by a messenger. 
 We must enter on this business by some means or other." 
 
 The commissioners wrote letters to the three principal towns in 
 Flanders, and directed them to Philip von Artaveld as the chief 
 leader. These letters contained as. follows : " To Philip von Arta- 
 veld and his companions, and to the good people of the three towns 
 of Flanders and the Franconate of Bruges. May it please you to 
 know, that the king of France has sent us hither with the good inten- 
 tions of establishing a peace, as lord paramount, between the noble 
 lord of Flanders, his cousin, and the commonalty of Flanders. Pub 
 lie report says, that you seek to form an alliance with the king of 
 England and the English ; which will be unreasonable, and prejudi- 
 cial to the kingdom of France, and which the king declares he will 
 not suffer. We therefore entreat you, in t-ie king's name, to send us 
 passports, that we may endeavor to bring this peace to a good and 
 solid conclusion, for which the king will thank y(m. You will write 
 us word what are your intentions, and may the Lord keep you 
 Written at Tournav the sixteenth day of the month of October" ' 
 (1382.) 
 
 When these three letters, which contained the same words, were 
 written and sealed, they gave them to three men, to carry to Ghent, 
 to Bruges, and to Ypres, and to bring back the answers. They re 
 plied, they would bring back an answer, if they could get one, and 
 then departed, each following the road to the tov.n he was sent to. 
 
 By accident, Philip happened to be at Ghent the day the messenger 
 arrived with his letter ; for otherwise those of Ghent would not have 
 opened it in his absence. When he had read it, he did nothinfr but 
 laugh, and set out soon after from Ghent, on his return to Oudenarde, 
 carrying the letter with him ; but the messenger remained in prison 
 in Ghent. When arrived at Oudenarde, he called to him the lord de 
 Harzelles and others of his companions : having read to them ihe 
 letters from the commissioners, he said, " I think these French peo- 
 ple wish to make i mockery of me and the country of Flanders. I 
 told the citizens of Tournay when they were here the day before yes. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &-c. 
 
 31! 
 
 terday, tkat I would not listen to any proposals from France, nor enter 
 into any treaty which they might offer, until Oudenarde and Dendre- 
 monde were suiTcndered to us." At these words, news came from 
 the governors of Bruges and Ypres, that they had also received let- 
 ters, and that the messengers who had brought these letters were 
 detained and lodged in the town prisons. " This is well done," 
 continued Philip. He then examined the letters for a while, and 
 said he would write himself to the French commissioners. He did 
 so, m consequence, and addressed them, " To the very noble and 
 discreet lords the commissioners from France." 
 
 CHAPTER CIX. 
 
 THE ANSWER OF PHILIP VON ARTAVELD TO THE FRENCH COMMISSIONERS 
 WHICH HE SENT BY A PRISONER OF WAR FROM OUDENARDE. 
 
 " Very dear and potent lords, may it please you, in your noble 
 discretion, to know that we have received very amicably the letters 
 sent to us by the most excellent lord Charles, king of France, inform- 
 ing u?, that your very noble lordships are come by his orders into 
 these parts, to negotiate a peace between us and the most noble [ 
 p.rince mv lord of Flandere and the country of Flanders, and that the 
 king aforesaid and his council have authority to bring it to a conclu- 
 sion, as the citizens of Tournay, our dear and good friends, testify to 
 us by letters patent which we hav^ seen. Now, since the king 
 writes to «s that he is much displeased that these discords have so 
 long continued and still exist, we are much surprised that he should 
 treat them so lightly ; as in former times, when the town of Ghent had 
 besieged that of Oudenarde, we, by the unanimous consent of the 
 three great towns of Flanders, wrote to him, as to our sovereign lord, 
 to request that he would make peace with us ; but at that time he did 
 not seem so willing to do what at this moment he is so desirous of. 
 
 " We have also received letters patent to say, that twice you have 
 v/ritten ty us, and that you have come twice hither commissioned by 
 the king aforesaid, as is declared in these letters patent. But it seems 
 to us, that in our answers, which we have sent, we have clearly 
 explained our intention respecting a treaty, Miiiich is, that we are 
 resolved no treaty shall be entered into by us and the country of 
 Flanders, until those towns and fortresses which are shut against the 
 towns and country of Flanders, and particularly and expressly 
 ygainst the good town of Ghent, of which we are regent, sha.ll be 
 thrown open to the will of us the regent, and the good town of 
 Ghent ; and, if this be not done as a preliminary, we shall not treat 
 in the manner you request. For it seems to us, that the king, 
 according to you, means to assemble a large army to assist his cousin 
 our lord. We know and feel that there are double dealings going 
 forward at this time, as was the case foimerly. Our intention 
 therefore is, to be on sure ground and prepared for our defence ; for, 
 if it should fall out as we expect, he will find our army ready to de- 
 fend us against our enemies ; and we hope, through God's assist- 
 ance, to be as foi-tunate as formerly in gaining a victory. 
 
 "With regard to what you say of public rumor, that we, or some 
 of our countrymen, have sought an alliance with the king of Eng- 
 land, and that we are to be aided from thence ; it is a truth that we 
 are subjects of the crown of France, and that the king is our lord 
 paramount, to whom we are bounden in allegiance. This we ever 
 have performed. And even in these last days we sent him our let. 
 ters, as to our sovereign lord, to entreat he would conclude a peace, 
 to which he not only made no reply, but detained and imprisoned 
 our messenger. This seems to us a blameable conduct in such a 
 lord, and still greater in him, for we wrote to him as to our lord 
 paramount, and he never condescended to send any answer. 
 Since therefore he has thus acted, we thought ourselves justified in 
 seeking advantage for the country of Flanders from whatever persons 
 we pleased, which has been the cause of the embassy to England, 
 but nothing hitherto has been concluded. The king may not there- 
 fore be too late, provided all the strong places shall be laid open to 
 us. Notwithstanding, we had forbidden those of Tournay, the last 
 time they came to our army, in future to dare to carry any letters or 
 verbal message, withciut proper passports ; yet letters and messages 
 have been carried to Bruges and Ghent ; for which reason we have 
 imprisoned the messengers, and we will teach them not to carry 
 such letters, that others may take warning from their example. We 
 know well that you are seeking to sow dissensions among us, and 
 (\<pecic:riy :;g"i;^'-'t nie, Philip von Artaveld (whom God guard and 
 prcservp,) rind thot you v/ish to stir up treason where at this moment 
 there 2-^ peace. We therefore warn you not to continue such prac- 
 'ir,e;--, w.iii] the before. mentioned towns be opened unto us, which, 
 v. jt'i G::.i]'s help, they t-hall shortly be, and to whose protection we 
 commend yi-u. 
 
 "Written before Ouden-:irde the 20th day of October, in the year 
 Vi'^^, Philip von Artaveld regent of Flanders." 
 
 V/hen Philip had written the above, in the presence of his coun- 
 oil, they thought it could not be ;i;nended, and sealed it. They then 
 conddered to whom they should give it to carry. Philip asked, 
 " Have we no prisoners from Oudenarde ?" " Yes," they replied, 
 «' wo have a varlet who was taken yesterday in a skirmish, who is 
 from Artois." " Send for him hither." On his coming, Philip said, 
 •* Thou art my prisoner, and I may, if I choose, j)ut thee iustantly to 
 
 death, but thou hast had a narrow escape ; for since thou art her^ 
 thou shalt have thy liberty, on condition that thou pledge thy trotlj 
 to carry these letters to Tournay, and deliver them into the handi 
 of the king's counsellors whom thou wilt find there." The varh t 
 was never so happy in his life as when he was promised his liberty, 
 for he considered his death as certain, and replied, " I swear niy 
 lord, on my troth, that I will carry them whithersoever you please, 
 were it to hell." PhiUp, bursting out into laughter, said, "Thou 
 hast well spoken." He ordered two crowns to be given to hun, 
 and had him escorted out of the camp, and put in the road to 
 Tournay. , 
 When he arrived at Tournay they showed him the h6tel of the 
 bishop of Laon, whither he went, and fulling on his knees, punc. 
 tually delivered his message to the bishop. They asked him news of 
 Oudenarde and of the besieging army, when he told them all he 
 knew. He was invited to dinner, and was, during dinner-time, 
 closely questioned by the attendants of the bishop. The bishop of 
 Laon went away, being imwilling to open the letters without his 
 companions. When the three bishops and the knights were assem- 
 bled they opened the letters, read them attentively, and considered 
 them maturely. They then delivered their sentiments, saying, 
 " This Philip von Artaveld seemeth full of pride and presumption, 
 and little loves the royal majesty of France." Having consulted 
 together, they added, " The provosts, jurats and council of Tournay 
 know that we have sent to Philip and the towns of Flanders : it is 
 just they should learn the answer Philip has sent us." They sent 
 for the provost, had the town-hall opened, and sounded the bell 
 which called the council together. When they v;ere all assembled, 
 they read to them the letters they had received. The wisest were 
 astonished at the presumptuous expressions they contained. It was 
 resolved that copies of these letters should remoiu at Tournay. The 
 council then broke up, and every man returned to his home. 
 
 CHAPTER ex. 
 
 PHILIP VON ARTAVELD WRITES AFFECTEDLY " CIVIL LETTERS TO XOUR. 
 NAY. THE FRENCH COMMISSIONERS KLTURN TO THE KING. 
 
 Philip continued with the army before Oudenarde, as you have 
 before heard. Pie did not repent having sent such harsh and pointed 
 answers to the commii^sioners of tlie king of France, but was sorry « 
 he had not written cisjoling letters of civiiify to the provost and jurat* 
 of Tournay, pretending to show liiern Isonor, though he had verj 
 little respect for them ; for he was not willing to increase the hatrer 
 and ill will they bore him. 
 
 Philip therefore wrote in manner and ibrm following : the super 
 scription was, " To our honorable, v/ise and good IHends, the provost* 
 and jurats of the good town of Tournay. "Very dear and good 
 friends, may it please you to knx)W that we have received your 
 letters, v/hercin mention is made of the tvvo citizens of your town, 
 ill intentioned carriers of lettrrs to Ghent and Bruges, from the 
 commissioners of the king of France, who have been arrested and 
 detained by us, and whom you entreat to be set ai liberty ; by which 
 means the love and affection (which, through God's grace, subsists 
 between us) may be continued uninterrupted between you and the 
 country of Flanders. This love, very dear friends, does not appear 
 to be very great : for we have received information that the king of 
 France, the dukes of Burgundy and Brittany, are assembling their 
 forces to come to the assistance of my lord, tlio earl, against the 
 country of Flanders, to regain that country, and to fight with us, 
 notwithstanding the letters which they have sent ns to treat of peace 
 and concord, which to us does not seem to be conduct becoming 
 such persons ; and for which reason we are upon our guard, and 
 shall continue so henceforth day and night. With respect to the 
 prisoners, your townsmen, we shall detain them until we knov,- for 
 a certainty the truth of this assembling of forces, and until it shall 
 please us to set them at liberty. You know, thot when your citizens 
 were lately in Flanders seeking peace, it was then ordered that no 
 person whatever should bring messages ur lew v.-ithout a proper 
 passport. This however is what the lords commissioners, being 
 with you, have done, in order to excite discord and dissensions in 
 the country. We therefore entreat of you, dear iriends, th at you 
 will not in future send any of your citizens or townsmen to Flanders 
 by order of these commissioners. But if there should be anything 
 that we can do, affecting your town or its citizens, we will attend 
 to it in the same manner as we should v/ish cur affairs might be 
 attended to by you, in whom we have the greatest confidence, such 
 as good neighbors ought to have for one another. And it is the 
 general intention of all Flanders, that merchants and merchandise 
 pass safely from country to country, without suffering the smallest ' 
 injury. May God take you into his holy keeping I 
 
 " Written at our army the 22nd day of October, in the year 1382, 
 Philip von Artaveld regent of Flanders." 
 
 Three days after the first letter had beeii sent to the commds-ioners 
 from France, and while these lords were assembled in council in 
 the hall, this second letter was brought by a varlet from Douay, who 
 said, that those who were before Oudenarde had sent it to them. 
 It was carried to the hall where the commissioners were, and read 
 and considered at leisure. At length the commissioners replied to 
 
312 
 
 CriRCNICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 inose oi' Tournay, who requested their advice on the occasion : 
 " Gentlemen, we would advise you not to have any acquaintmce 
 or Dealings with the Flemings, for you will not be thanked for it in 
 France. Neither receive nor open any letters which may come 
 from them ; for, if it should be known in the king's council that you 
 tlo so, you will be blamed, and suffer for it. Affai-rs will not long 
 remain in the state they are now in." Those of Tournay answered, 
 *' They would follow this advice, and, if it pleased God, they would 
 ntver do anything to deserve a reprimand." 
 
 The French commissioners staid but three days longer at Tournay, 
 \then they sc4t out on their return to the king, whom they found at 
 Peronne, and his three uncles, the dukes of Berry, Burgundy and 
 Bourbon, with him. 
 
 CHAPTER CXI. 
 
 KING CHARLES, AFTER HEARING THE REPORT OF HIS COMMISSIONERS, AT 
 THE INSTIGATION OF THE EARL OF FLANDERS WHO WAS PRESENT, 
 ASSEMBLES HIS ARMY IN ARTOIS, AGAINST THE FLEMINGS. PHILIP 
 VC-N ASITAVELD GUARDS THE PASSES INTO FLANDERS. 
 
 The day before the return of the commissioners, the earl of Flan- 
 ders arrived at Peronne, to lay his affairs before the king and council, 
 and to do homage for the county of Artois, which he was bounden 
 to do and had not performed since the decease of his mother, who 
 had died this year. On the arrival of the commissioners, the council 
 was assembled in the. presence of the young king, when the letters 
 before mentioned were read ; that of Philip to them, and the one he 
 had sent to Tournay. They considered them in an unfavorable 
 light, and declared that such pride and presumption in Flanders 
 ought not t3 be suffered. The earl of Flanders was not, as may be 
 supposed, displeased on hearing this : he therefore laid his griev- 
 ances before the king and council very opportunely, when they 
 were heard and attended to with pleasure. The king was advised 
 to make the following answer: "Earl of Flanders, you will return 
 to Artois ; and in a short time we will ourself be at Arras, vv^here 
 you will perform your duty in the presence of the peers of France. 
 I cannot better shov/ you that I make the quarrel my own, than by 
 my intention to march against our enemies." 
 
 The earl was satisfied with this answer. Three days afterwards, 
 he left Peronne, and, returning toward Artois, came to Hedin. But 
 the king of France, like one who was desirous of marching to 
 Flanders to abase the pride of the Flemings, as his predecessors had 
 formerly done, set his secretaries a-t work, and sent his letters and 
 Bummons by messengers to all parts of his kingdom, ordering every 
 one to hasten to Arras without delay, accoutred each, according to 
 his rank, in the best manner he was able ; for, if it were God''s 
 pleasure, he was determined to fight the Flemings in their own 
 country. 
 
 No lord of his realm disobeyed, but all sent orders to their vassals, 
 and marched from the most distant countries, such as Auverg-nc, 
 Rouergue, Toulousain, Gascony, Poitou, Limousin, Saintongc and 
 Brittany : others came from the Bourbonois, Forets, Burgundy, 
 Dauphind, Savoy, Bar and Lorrain, and from all parts of France 
 and its dependencies, to Arras. The assemblage of such numbers 
 of meii-at-aims was a wonderful beautiful sight. The earl of Flan- 
 ders resided at Hedin, and heard daily, from the king of France and 
 t'he duke of Burgundy, of the great levies which were making, and 
 in consequence issued a proclamation throughout Artors, forbidding 
 any one, under pain of losing his life and fortune, to withdraw any- 
 thing whatever from house, fortress or town ; for he was desifous 
 that the me i-at-arms who were marching to Artois should have the 
 advantage of being served wit-h whatever was in the low countries. 
 
 The king of France came into Artois, where he remained. Men- 
 at-arms came to him from all quarters, and so handsomely equipped 
 it was a fine sight to see : they quartered themselves as they arrived 
 in the plains, and found all the b^rns quite full and well furnished. 
 The earl of Flanders came to Arras, which greatly pleased the king 
 and his lords: he performed his homage in the presence of those 
 peers who were there, for the county of Artois, and the king ac- 
 cepted him as his vassal. His majesty then addressed him, saying, 
 " Fair cous^in, if it please God and St. Denis, wc v/ill restore you to 
 your inheritmce of Flanders, and will abate the pride of Philip von 
 Artaveld and the Flemings so effectually, that they shall never again 
 have it in their power to rebel." " My lord," replied the earl, " I j 
 have full confidence in it; and you will acquire such honor and 
 glory that as long as the world lasts you will be praised, for certainly 
 the pride of the Flemings is very great." 
 
 Philip, while at the siege of Oudenarde, was informed of every- 
 thing, and that the king of France was marching a large army against 
 him, though he pretended not to believe it; and said to his people, 
 *' By what means does this young king think to enter Flanders ? He 
 is as yet too young by a year to imagine he can frighten us by his 
 assembling an army. I will have the entrances so well guarded that 
 it shall nut be in their power for this year to cross the river Lis." 
 Ho sent to Ghent for the lord de Harzelles. On his arrival, he said 
 to him : " Lord de Harzelles, you hear how the king of France is 
 making preparatio-ns to destroy us. We must have a council on 
 Jiis subject. You shall remain here, and I will go to Bruges to learn 
 
 surer intelligence, and to encourage the citizens oi' the principal 
 towns. I will go to establish such garrisons on the river Lis, a-nd at 
 the chief passes, that the French shall not be able to advance ♦hrough 
 them." 
 
 The lord de Harzelles having assented to this, Philip left tne siege, 
 and took the road toward Bruges. He travelled like a lord, having 
 his displayed pennon before him, blazoned with his arms : which 
 were three hats argent on a field sable. On his arrival at Bruges, 
 he found Peter du Bois and Peter le Nuitre, the governors of Bru. 
 ges ; and having informed them, that the king of France was march- 
 ing toward Flanders with a large army, and that it was necessary to 
 provide a remedy by guarding the passes, he added : " You, Peter 
 du Bois, must go to the pass ot Uommines, lu guard t!ie river; and you, 
 Peter le Nuitre, will defend the bridge of Warneton ; you will break 
 down all the bridges on the river as far as La Gerge, Haselles, Meu. 
 reville and Courtray, by which means the French will not be able to 
 pass. I will myself go to Ypres, to encourage them, and to remon. 
 strate with them, that as we are all uni-ted in one common cause, 
 none should fail or hesitate to perform what we have sworn to do. 
 It is not in the power of the king of France, no.r these Frenchmen, 
 to cross the river Lis and enter Flanders provided the passes be well 
 guarded, for they must follow the course of the river to seek for a 
 passage." i 
 
 The two Peters replied, *' Philip, you speak well, and we will obey 
 what you have ordered. But h^ve you had any news from our peo- 
 ple in England ?" " No, by my troth," said Philip, " which I won. 
 der at. The parliament is sitting at London, and very shortly v/e 
 must receive intelligence from them. The king of France cannot 
 make such haste, but we shall have received succors from England, 
 before they could do us much harm. I hope that the king of Eng. 
 land has issued his summons, and that the English will arrive here 
 some night before ws are aware." Thus did these companions dis- 
 course together, who held all Flanders under their obedience, except 
 Dendremonde and Oudenarde. 
 
 CHAPTER CXII. 
 
 several KNIGHTS OF THE PARTY OF THE EARL OF FLANDERS, IIAVIKa 
 PASSED PONT-AMENIN, ARE DEFEATED AND EILLED ON THEIR ATTEMPT 
 TO REPASS IT, THE FLEMINGS HAVING BROKEN DOV\'N THE BRIDGE. 
 PHILIP, HEARING THIS NEWS WHEN AT YPRES, MAKES USE OF IT TO 
 ENCOURAGE THE INHABITANTS. 
 
 While these preparations were going forward, and during the 
 residen.ce of the king of France a-t Arras, great bodies of men-at. 
 arms were assembling in the Tourneois, Artois, and castlewick of 
 Lille and its neighborhood. Some knights and squires, who resided 
 at Lille and thereabout, resolved to perform feats of arms that should 
 gain them renown, chiefly through the exhortations of the Haze de 
 Flanders. They collected about six score knights and squires, and 
 crossed t-he river Lis at Pont-Amenin, which was not then broken 
 down, two leagues from Lille. They rode for the town of Harle, 
 which they surprised ; and, after slaying many in the town and envi- 
 rons, they drove '.he remainder out of the town. Their cries were 
 heard in the neighboring villages; the inhabitants of which sounded 
 their alarm bells, and marched toward Harle and Pont-Amenin, 
 whence the cries seemed to come. 
 
 When the Haze, sir John Jumont, the constable de Vuillon, sir 
 Henry Duffle, and the other knights and squires had sufficiently 
 alarmed the country, they thought it was time for them to retreat, 
 and set out on their return, intending to repass the bridge, but they 
 found it sn-ongly occupied by Flemings, who were busily employed 
 in destroying it; and, when they had broken down any parts they 
 covered them with straw, that the mischief might not be perceived. 
 The knights and squires at this moment arrived, mounted on the 
 best of horses, and found upward of two thousand peasants drawn 
 up in a body without the town, prepared to advance upon them. 
 The gentlemen, on seeing this, formed, and having fixed thei-r ian-ies 
 on their rests, those best mounted instantly charged this body of peas- 
 ants, with loud shout?. The Flemings opened their ranks through 
 fear, but others say through malice ; for they well knew the bridge 
 would not bear them; and they said among themselves, " Let us 
 make way for them, and we shall soon see fine sport." 
 
 The Haze de Flanders and his companions, desirous to get away, 
 for any further stay would be against them, galloped for the bridge, 
 which was now too weak to bear any great weight : however, the 
 Haze, and some others, had the courage and good luck to pass 
 over : they might be about thirty : but, as others were following, the 
 bridge broke down under them. Horses and riders were overthrown, 
 and both perished together. Those behind, seeing this misfortune, 
 were thunderstruck, and knew not whither to fly to save themselves. 
 Some leaped into the river, intending to swim, but they were not 
 able thus to escape. Great slaughter ensued ; for the Flemings fell 
 upon them and killed them easily, and without pity. They made 
 ?.everal leap into the water, and they were drowned. Sir .lohii de 
 Jumont narrowly escaped, for the bridge broke under h"ii, but, by 
 great agility of body he saved himself: he was, however, badly 
 wounded on the head and body by arrows, and it was six weeks be. 
 fore be recovered. At this unfortunate action were killedi the con* 
 
CflRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 813 
 
 fitablus de Vuillun, de Bjuchars, de St. Hilaire, and more druwned : 
 sir IJenry Duffle was slain. Including drowned and killed, there 
 were upward of (^ixty ; and very fortunate were those who escaped. 
 Great nunibprs returned wounded from this enterprise. News was 
 carried t^ the lords of France at Arras, of their countrymen having 
 lost the day: and that the Haze de Flanders had conducted this fool, 
 ish expedition. He was pitied by some, but by others not. Those 
 who had been r; ost accustomed to arms said, they had acted ill, to 
 cross a river that was not fordable, attack a large town and enter an 
 enemy's country, and return the way they had come, without having 
 established gULirds on the bridge. It was not an enterprise planned 
 by prudent men-at-arms, who were desirous cf success; but, since 
 they planned their enterprise with so much self-sufficiency, they had 
 suffered fr>m the consequence. 
 
 This affiir passed off, and w s soon forgotten. Phihp departed 
 from Bruires and came to Ypres, where he was most joyfully received. 
 Peter da'Bois went t3 Commines, where all the inhabitants of the 
 flat country were assembled, and instantly began his preparations for 
 defence, loosening the planks of the bridge, so that, if there should be 
 occasion, it could immediately be pulled down : but he was unwil- 
 ling totally to destroy the bridge, lest the inhabitants of the adjacent 
 flat country might suffer, who daily crossed it with their catde in 
 droves, to place them in greater security on that side of the Lis. The 
 whole country was so much covered with them it was marvellous 
 to see. 
 
 The day Philip von Artaveld came to Ypres, news arrived of the 
 defeat of the French at Pont-Amenin, and that the Haze had been 
 nearly taken. Philip was mightily rejoiced at this, and said with a 
 Bniile, to encourage those near, " By the grace of God, and the just 
 cause we are eng iged in, it wi'l all end so ; and never shall this king, 
 if he should be Jo foolishly advised to cross the Lis, return again to 
 France." 
 
 Philip was five days in Ypres, and harangued the people in the 
 open market-place, to encourage them and to keep them steady to 
 their engagements, telling them that the king of France was coming 
 to destroy them without the least shadow of right. " Good people," 
 said Philip, "do not be alarmed if he should march against us; for 
 he will never be able to cross the river Lis, as I have had all the 
 passes well guarded, and have ordered Peter du Bois to Commines 
 with a large body of men : he is a loyal man, and one who loves the 
 honor of Flanders ; and Peter le Nuitre I have sent to Warneton; a'l 
 the other bridges on the Lis are broken down, and there is neither 
 pass nor ford which they can cross but at these two towns. I have 
 also heard from our friends whom we sent to England. In a short 
 time we shall receive considerable succors from thence, as we ha.ve 
 made a strong alliance with them. Keep up, therefore, valiandy 
 your hopes, for our honor shall be unsullied ; and observe punctually 
 what you have promised and sworn to us in the good town of Gnent, 
 which has had such trouble and difficulty to maintain the rights and 
 franchises of Flinders. Now, let all those who are determined to 
 remain steady to the cause, according to the oath they took, gallantly 
 lift up their hands to heaven as a token of loyalty." 
 
 At these words, all who were in the market-place, and who had 
 heard the speech, held up their hands as a sign of their loyalty. 
 After this, Philip descended from the scaffold on which he had ha- 
 rangued, and returned to his house, where he remained the whole 
 day. On the morrow, he and his attendants mounted their horses 
 and went toward Oudenarde, v/here the piege was still going on, 
 notwithstanding the news of the French ; but on passing through 
 Courtray, he rested two days. 
 
 CHAPTER CXIII. 
 
 THE ORDER OF THF, FRENCH ARMY IN ITS MARCH TO FLANDERS, AFTER 
 THEY HAD HEARD THE BRIDGES WERE BROKEN AND GUARDED. 
 
 We will for a while leave Philip von Artaveld, and speak of the 
 young king of France, who resided at Arras, and who, as he showed, 
 had a great desire to enter Flanders, to lower the pride of the Flem- 
 ings ; and was daily increasing his army, by the arrival of men-at- 
 arms from all quarters. After the king had tarried eight days at 
 Arras, he went to Lens, in Artois,* where he staid two days. On 
 the third day of November he departed and came to Seclin,t where 
 he halted. A council was held, in the presence of the constable of 
 France, the marshals of France, Burgundy and Flanders, to consider 
 how they should proceed ; for the common report in the army was 
 the impossibility to enter Flanders in case the passes of the river 
 should be strongly gu^irded. It rained, besides, at this time contin- 
 ually, and was so exceedingly cold that they could not advance. 
 Some of the wisest said it was wrong to undertake such an expedi- 
 tion at this season of the year, and to bring the king so far into such 
 a country. They ought not to have united before the summer to 
 carry the war into Flanders, for the king had never been so far in 
 his life. 
 
 T.^is river Lis is so difficult to cross, that, except at certain places, 
 it cannot be passed. There are no fords, and the couMtry it runs 
 through is so very marshy, horses cannot approach it. The con. 
 
 ♦ " Lens"— a town in Artois on tlie Souchets, four leagues Irom Bethune. 
 f ** SecUa "—an ancient town in Tlanders, neai Lillc. 
 
 stable, on hearing this, asked, " Where does it rise ?" He v^as an. 
 swered, that it came from near Aire and St. Omer. "Since it has 
 a spring," replied the constable, " we will easily pass it. Order our 
 men to march toward St. Omer, where we can cress this river at 
 our eape, and enter Flanders. Thcee Flemings are so proud and 
 self-sufficient, they will march to attack us, either before Ypr<8 or at 
 some other place." 
 
 The marshals agreed to the proposition of the constable, and every- 
 thing remained in this state the whole day and night, vt'hen, -^n the 
 morrow, the lord d'Albreth, the lord de Coucy, sir Aimemon de 
 Pommiers, sir John de Vienne, admiral of France, sir Williai. ie 
 Poitiers, the bastard de Langres, the btgue de Villaines, sir Raoul 
 de Coucy, the count de Conversant, the vi?count d'Acy, sir Raoul 
 de Raineval, the lord de St. .Iur:=t, sir Arthur de Hedin, sir Anthony 
 d'Archies. the lord de Saimpi, sir William des Bourdes, the lord de 
 Longueville, the lord de Sulli, sir Tristan de I'Estouet, sir Oliver du 
 Guesc'in, sir Maurice du Tres-iquidy, ^ir Guy le Baveux, sir Lucas 
 de I'Estrughen, sir Nicholas Pamel, the two marshals of France, sir 
 Louis de Sancerre, and sir Louis de Blainville, the marshals of Bur- 
 gundy and Flanders, sir Enguerrant de Haluyn, entered the chamber 
 of the constable, to receive orders, how, and in what direction, they 
 were to advance : whether they should march through Lille to Com- 
 mines and Warneton, where the passes were guarded, or make for 
 the upper countries of Venoye and St. Venant,* and there cross the 
 Lis. There were many debates among these lords on this subject ; 
 and those who knew the country said : " Certainly, at such a seasoi. 
 as this, it will not be right to advance into that country, nor can we 
 go into the territories of Cassel, Surnes, or Verthes." " And what 
 road shall we then take ?" cried the constable. Upon which, the 
 lord de Coucy said, " I would propose that we march to Tournay and 
 there cross the Scheld. and take the road toward Oudenarde. This 
 road is very easy, and we shall engage with our enemies. After 
 passing the Scheld, we shall not have anything to stop us before 
 Tournay. We may thus arrive before Oudenarde, and punish Philip 
 von Artaveld. We can have daily refreshments of provisions come 
 to us from Hainault, and follow us down the river from Tournay." 
 This speech of the lord dc Coucy was well attended to, and supported 
 by several for some time : but the constable and marshals were Inore 
 inclined to follow the course of the Lis, to seek a shorter passage, 
 than to march to the right or left, by a longer road ; and they urged 
 strong reasons for it, saying, " If we look for any other road but the 
 straight one, we do not show ourselves good men-at-arms; at least 
 it is our duty to examine if we cannot gass the river above or below 
 this pass of Commines, which is guarded. Besides, if we retreat, 
 our enemies will rejoice and be encouraged : their forces will in. 
 crease, and they will say that we fly from them. There is also 
 another point which ought to be considered : we are ignorant what 
 has been the success of the embassadors they sent to England ; for 
 if, by any treaty, assistance should come to them from that quarter, 
 they will give us much trouble. It is therefore better that we get 
 rid of this business in Flanders as speedily as possible, than be thus 
 long in determining upon it. Let us instantly, and with courage, 
 march toward Commines, and God will assist us. We have so tiften 
 crossed and recrossed larger rivers than this Li--, that it cannot long 
 prevent us from passing it. Happen what may, when we are on its 
 banks we can then form our opinions ; and when those of our com- 
 pany in the vanguard (who have for the?e twenty or thirty years 
 seen many more dangerous passes than thi=) have crossed this river, 
 and gained the other side, our enemies will be a hundred times more 
 frightened than if we had marched at our ease, seeking a passage 
 on the right or left, out of our direct road : we may then consider 
 ourselves as lords of Flanders." 
 
 This plan was unanimously adopted. During the time these lords 
 were assemble-d, they considered how they should form their battaU 
 ions ; and selected thos-e who were to march on foct with the con- 
 stable in the vanguard, in order to clear the roads for the army to 
 pass and march in a line, and to act as scouts to observe and find 
 out their enemies. They also chose those who were to be in the 
 king's battalion, regulated the arms with which they should serve, 
 and appointed proper persons to carry the oriflamme of France and 
 to guard it; and likewise determined of what numbers the wings 
 were to be composed, and how many were to be in the rear-guard. 
 All these things they debated and arranged. When these points had 
 been setded, and they could not think of anything more that was 
 necessary to be dene, the council broke up, and every one retired to 
 his lodgings. Those lords and barons who had net been present 
 were informed of the regulations, and the manner in which they 
 were to act from heitceforward. Ii was this day ordered, that the 
 king should on the morrow dislodge from Seclin, march through 
 Lille without halting, and take up his quarters at Margnette I'Ah. 
 bayee ; and that the vanguard should pass on to Commines and 
 Warneton, and do the most they could in the course of the day. 
 This being settled, the master of the cross-bows, in conjunction with 
 the constable and marshals, unanimously appointed sir .losse de Ha. 
 luyn and the lord de Rambures to the command cf the infantry, who 
 were to clear the roads by cutting down hedges and forests, filling 
 up valleys, and everything else that might be necessary : tbeir num 
 bers amounted to seventeen hundred and sixty. 
 
 * A town in Artois on the Lk. four leagues from £etbuae. 
 
314 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 In the vanguard were the marshals of Flanders, France and Bur- 
 gundy, who had under their command seventeen hundred men.at. 
 arms and seven hundred cross-bows, besides four thousand infantry 
 whom the earl had given to them, armed with large shields and other 
 weapons. It was also ordered that the earl of Flanders, and his 
 battalion, consisting of about sixteen hundred men-at-arms, knights, 
 squires and infantry, should march on the wings of the vanguard to 
 reinforce it, should it be necessary. It was likewise ordered that 
 the king's battalion should m.arch between the vanguard and the 
 battalion of the earl of Flanders, and that the king's three uncles, 
 Berry, Burgundy and Bourbon should be in it ; and also the count 
 de la Marche, sir James de Bourbon, his brothers, the count de Cler- 
 mont, the dauphin d'Auvergne, the count de Dampmartin, the count 
 de Sancerre, sir John de Boulogne, to the amount of six thousand 
 '".cn-at-arms, two thousand Genoese cross-bows and others. 
 
 The rear-guard was to consist of two thousand men-at-arms and 
 two hundred archers; the commanders of which were the lord John 
 d'Artois count d'Eu, the lord Guy count de Blois, sir Waleran count 
 de St. Pol, sir William count de Harcourt, the lord de Cha,tillon and 
 the lord de Sere. 
 
 Sir Peter do Villiers was 
 appointed to bear the Ori- 
 flamme, attended by four 
 knights, whose names were 
 sir Robert le Baveux, sir 
 Morice de Sancourt, sir Guy 
 de Tre=iquidi and Brandon 
 de la Heuse : le borgne de 
 Ruetand le borgne de Mont- 
 doulcet were named to guard 
 the banner. 
 
 It is proper to be known, 
 that the lords who had plan- 
 ned this expedition had de- 
 termined they would never 
 return to France until they 
 had engaged Philip von Art- 
 aveld and his forces, and it 
 was for this reason they had 
 drawn up their battalions as 
 ready for the combat on the 
 morrow. The lords d'Al- 
 breth, de Coucy, and sir 
 Hugh de Hanlon were or- 
 dered to form the battalions 
 and place them in array. 
 Sir William de Bannes and 
 the lord de Champreny were 
 appointed marshals to attend 
 to the Quarters of the king 
 and his battalion. 
 
 It was also ordered, thai 
 on the day of battle, net onf: 
 but the king and eight v;'i 
 iant men appointed to attei^d 
 his person, should be oi.s 
 horseback. The naniet; '..f 
 these eight men were as foU 
 lows : the lord de Ruineval, 
 
 le b^gue de Vi'laines, sir Aymemon de Pommiers, sir Enguerrant 
 de Haluyn, the viscount d'Acy, ; Guy le Baveux, sir Nicholas de 
 Pcnne) and sir Willi?.ni cles i3uurdes. The lord de Raineval and 
 sir Enguerrant de Haluyn were to t ike post in front of the king : le 
 b^gue de Villaines and the viscount d'Acy (who is called in several 
 places hereafter the viscount d'Aunoy) were to place themselves on 
 each side ; and sir Ayniemon de Pommiers, sir Nicholas de Pennel, 
 sir Guy le Baveux and sir William des Bourdes, were to take post in 
 the rear. It was likewise ordered, that on the day of battle, sir Oliver 
 de Clisson, constable of France, and sir William de Poitiers, bastard 
 de Langres, should advance on horseback, to reconnoitre and observe 
 the appearance of the enemy. 
 
 against all who might wish to attack them : they were upward of 
 nine thousand, under the command of Peter du Bois and others, who 
 showed good inclinations to repulse any attempt. Peter du Bois had 
 placed himself on the causeway, at the end of the bridge, with a 
 battle-axe in his hand ; and the Flemings were drawn up on each 
 side. 
 
 The constable of France and the lords with him, having con- 
 sidered the situation, thought it impossible to pass the river at that 
 place unless the bridge were rebuilt ; they ordered their servants to 
 follow the course of the river, and examine its banks for about a 
 league up and down. When they returned, they informed their mas. 
 ters, who were waiting for them, they bad not been able to find any 
 place where the cavalry could pass. Upon hearing this, the con- 
 stable was much vexed, and said, "We have been badly advised to 
 take this road : better would it have been for w- to have gone to St. 
 Omer than remain in this danger, or to have crossed the Scheld at 
 Tournay, as the lord de Coucy advised, and to have marched straight 
 to Oudenarde and fought our enemies, since it is both our duty and 
 inclination to combat them ; and they are so presumptuous they 
 would have waited for us at their siege." The lord Louis Sancerre 
 
 CHAPTER CXIV. 
 
 ; and the 
 of battle to- 
 
 «OME FEW OF THE FRENCH, NOT BEING ABLE TO 
 
 BRIDGE OF COMMINES, FIND MEANS OF DOING SO, BY BOATS 
 CRAFT, UNKNOWN TO THE FLEMINGS. 
 
 The orders above mentioned were punctually obeyed 
 vanguard dislodged on the morrow, marching in order 
 ward Commines. They found the roads well made, for the lord de 
 Fransures* and sir Josse de Haluyn had paid great attention to them: 
 tnis was on the Monday. When the constable and marshals of 
 France, with the vanguard, arrived at the bridge of Commines, they 
 were forced to halt ; for it was so completely destroyed, that it was 
 wa» not in the power of man to repair it, if any opposition should be 
 made \^en they were attempting it, as the Flemings were in great 
 force on the opposite side of the river, and ready to defend the pass 
 
 * " Fransures." He before calls bim Rambuies. 
 
 A Fkkrcb KmoHT unfcrlimo the Oriflamme.— Designed from contemporary authorities. 
 
 then said, " I am of opinion that we fix our quarters here for this 
 day, and lodge our army, should it arrive, as well as we are able ; 
 and that we send to Lille to seek for boats and hurdles, that may 
 come down the river, with which to-morrow we can throw a bridge 
 from these fine meads and cross over ; for we have no other alterna- 
 tive." Upon this, sir Josse de Haluyn said, " My lord, we have 
 been informed that there will be great difficulties between this and 
 Lille; for the river Menyn, on which all boats must pass to come 
 hither, has been obstructed by large beams thrown across it by the 
 Flemings who are in those parts : they have totally destroyed the 
 bridge, and we learn it is impossible for any vessels or boats to pass." 
 " I know not then," added the constable, •* what we can now do. 
 It will be better for us to take the road to Aire, and cross the Lis at 
 that place, since we are unable to do so here." 
 
 During the time the constable and marshals of France and Bur- 
 gundy where in this dilemma at the bridge of Commines, several 
 knights and squires silently withdrew, with the intent to hazard some 
 gallant deeds of arms and attempt to cross the river, whatever it 
 might cost them. They meant likewise to combat the Flemings in 
 their intrenchments, and open a passage, as I shall novy relate. 
 While the vanguard was on its march from Lille to Commines, the 
 lord de St. Py, and some other knights from Hainault, Flanders, Ar- 
 tois, and even France, had held a council without the knowledge of 
 the constable or marshals. They said, " We will procure two or 
 three boats, which we will launch into the river Lis, at a sheltered 
 place below Commines, and will fix posts on each side of the river 
 where it is not wide, to fasten cords to. We shall by this means 
 soon convey over a large body of men, and by marching on the rear 
 of our enemies we may attack them, and, if victorious, we shall gain 
 the reputation of vacant men-at-arms." After they had thus deter 
 
 CROSS THE LIS AT THE 
 AND OTHER 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 316 
 
 mined in council, the lord de St. Py exerted himself so much that 
 he procured from Lille a boat and cords, with every other necessary 
 article. On the other hand, sir Herbeaux de Belleperche and sir 
 John de Roye, who were companions in this expedition, had also i 
 caused a boat to be brought. Sir Henry de Manny, sir John de 
 Malatrait and fir John Chauderon, Bretons, who had been of this 
 council, had li. ewise provided one, and followed the preceding 
 companies, 
 
 Tne lord de S:. Py was the first who arrived at the river with his 
 boat, cords and fastenings. They fixed a strong stake to which 
 they tied the cord : three varlets then crossed over, and the boat, 
 with the cords, being launched, they fixed on the opposite side 
 another ylrong post, to which they fastened the other end of the 
 cord : and, this being done, they returned with the boat to their 
 ma&ter. It happened that the constable and marshals of France 
 were at that lime at the bridge of Commines, pondering how they 
 could discover a passage. They were then informed of the inten- 
 tions of the lord de St. Py and the other knights. Upon which the 
 con-Jable, addressing himself tj the lord Louis de Sancerre, said, 
 •* Marshal, go and see what they are doing, and if it be possible to 
 cross the river in the manner they propose, add some of our men to 
 theirs." 
 
 Jur^ as these knights were preparing to embark, the marshal of 
 France came thither, attended by a large company of knights and 
 tiquirea. They m-ide way for him, as was right. He stopped on the 
 bank, and with pleasure saw the arrangement of the boats. The 
 lord de St. Py, addressing him, said, " My lord, is it agreeable to 
 you that we sljould cross here ?" "I am very well pleased with it," 
 replied the mi. --shal ; " but you are running great risks ; for if our 
 enemiers, who i re at Commines, should know your intentions, they 
 would do you g eat mischief." " My lord," answered the lord de 
 Saint Py, " nothing venture nothing win : in the name of God and 
 St. George, we will cross over, and, before to-morrovv evening, will 
 fall suddenly on our enemies and attack them." The lord de Saint 
 Py then placed his pennon in the boat, and was the first who stepped 
 into it : he was followed by nine others, who were as many as the 
 boat could hold : and instantly, by means of the cord they held, 
 crossed over. When disembarked, in order to prevent themselves 
 from being discovered, they entered a small alder grove, where they 
 lay hidden. Those on the bank, by means of the cord, drew the 
 boat back. The count de Conversant, lord d'Anghien, embarked 
 with his banner, v/ith the lord de Vertain his brother, and seven 
 others. These nine then passed, and the third time others followed 
 them. 
 
 The two other boats now arrived that belonged to sir Herbaut de 
 Belleperche, sir John de Roye and the Bretons, which were launched 
 in the same manner the first had been. These knights then crossed, 
 and none but determined men-at-arms did the same. It was a pleas- 
 ure to see with what eagerness they embarked : at times a great 
 crowd was pushing who should cross first, so that if the marshal of 
 France had not been thei-e, who kept them in proper order, accidents 
 would have happened from their overloading the boats. 
 
 News was brought to the constable and the lords of France at the 
 bridge of Commines, how their people were crossing the river, when 
 he said to the seneschal de Rieux, " Go and examine this passage, 
 I beg of you, and see if our people be passing as they tell us." The 
 lord de Rieux was never happier than when he had this commision, 
 and, clapping spurs to his horse, hastened thither with his whole 
 company, to the amount of full forty men-at-arms. When he arrived 
 at the passage where one hundred and fifty of his countrymen had 
 already crossed, he immediately dismounted, and said he would also 
 pass the river. The marshal of France would not refuse him ; and 
 intelligence was sent to the constable, that his cousin the lord de 
 Rieux had crossed. The constable mused a little, and then said, 
 " Make the cross-bows shoot, and skirmish with the Flemings who 
 are on the other side of the bridge, to occupy their attention, and 
 prevent them from observing our people ; for, if they should have 
 any notion what they are about, they will fall upon them, destroy 
 the passage, and kill all those who have crossed : and I would much 
 rather die than that should happen." 
 
 Upon this, the cross-brows and infantry advanced. There were 
 among them some who flung hand-grenades,* which bursting, cast 
 
 * I cai! bombards, i ana-grenades: to my mind, it explains tiiis passage more easily. 
 Lord Berners totally omits it. 
 
 [The original is as follows : "Et yen avoit aucun autres qui gettoyent bombardes 
 portatives et qui gettoyent gios caneaux empennez de fer, et les faisoient voler outre 
 le pont, jusques a la ville de Commines ;" literally, "and they had there some others 
 who threw portable bombards, and which (or who) threw large quarrels {cross-bow 
 bolts) pointed with iron, and made them fly beyond the bridge as far as the town of 
 Commines." The constrjctinn of the original sentence is such as to render it obscure ; 
 it is not clear wheti'.er the soldiers, or the bombards, threw the quarrels into the town. 
 It does not appear that the town was near enough for the soldiers to throw grenades 
 into it, over the river, and it is difficult to believe that the explosion of a hand-grenade 
 could do damage at any considerable distance. Most of the cannons made about the 
 time, when they began to be in general use, were of small dimensions, and were fitted 
 with rings at the sides, by which they were carried ; to such, the term " portable bom- 
 bards" may be justly applied, but grenades adapted to be thrown by the hand would, 
 in all probability, have open more particularly distinguished. If we read, " They had 
 tliere some others who cai-ried portable bombards which threw," &c., we shall proba- 
 bly restore the tme text, r-.nd t .e seatence becomes at once perfectly clear. Those who 
 ureal all acquainted with the nature of the errors which creep into and are continued 
 in repeated MS. transcripts, will readily perceive the caas«, in this ixiBtunce, where the 
 
 out bolts of iron beyond the bridge, even as far as the town of Com. 
 mines. The skirmish now began to be very sharp, and the van- 
 guard, by their movements, seemed determined to cross the bridge 
 if they could. The Flemings, being shielded up to their nuses, 
 made a good appearance, and defended themselves well. Thus 
 passed this day, which was a Monday, in skirmishing ; and it was 
 soon dark, foi'at that season the days are very short. The boats, 
 however, continued to carry over men-at-arms in great numbers, 
 who, on their landing, hid themselves in the alder wood, waiting 
 for more. 
 
 You may easily guess what perils they were in ; for, had those in 
 Commines gained the least intelligence of them, they must have had 
 them at their mercy, and conquered the greater part, besides taking 
 the boats ; but God favored the other party, and consented that the 
 pride of the Flemings should be humbled. 
 
 CHAPTER CXV. 
 
 A SMALL BODY OF FRENCH, HAVING CROSSED THE LIS, DEAW VT tH 
 BATTLE ARRAY BEFORE THE FLE.IIINGS. 
 
 I MAINTAIN, that all men of understanding must hold this enter- 
 prise of the boats, and passage of men-at-arms, as a deed of superioi 
 valor and enterprise. Toward evening, the knights and squires of 
 the vanguard were eager to cross with their companions ; and th« 
 lord de Laval, the viscount de Rohan, the lord de la Belliere, the 
 lord de Combort, sir Oliver du Guesclin, le Barrois des Barres, the 
 lord de Collet, sir Reginald de Thenars, the lord de Pousanges, sii 
 William de Lignac, sir Walter de Passat, le sire de Thouars, sir 
 Louis de Consaule, sir Tristan de la Jaille, the viscount de Meaux, 
 the lord de Mailly, passed over, and Bretons, Flemings, Poitevins, 
 French, Berruyers, Burgundians, Artois-men, Troyens, and Hain- 
 aulters, in numbers, so that late in this Monday evening there were, 
 on the Flanders side of the river, about four hundred men-at-arms, 
 all the flower of knighthood : for no varlet was sulfered to cross. 
 
 The lord Louis de Sancerre, seeing so many gallant men (?ixty 
 banners and thirty pennons,) said, he shculd think himself to blame, 
 if he remained behind. He then entered the boats, with his knights 
 and squires ; and the lord de Hangest, &i\ crossed at the same time. 
 When they were all assembled, they said, " It is time to march 
 toward Commines, to look at our enemi is, and see if we cannot 
 make our quarters good in the tov/n." Upon this, they tightened 
 their arms, buckled their helmets on their heads in a proper manner, 
 and advancing through the marshes whirh are contiguour to the 
 river, marched in order of battle, with banne.-s and pennons displayed, 
 as if they were immediately to engage. The lord de Saint Py was 
 the principal conductor and commander-in-chief, because he knew 
 the country better than any of the others. 
 
 As they were thus marching in clo^e order, in their way toward 
 the town, Peter du Bois and the Flemings were dravvn up on the 
 causeway ; when, casting their eyes toward the meads, they saw 
 this body of men-at-arms approaching. They were exceedingly 
 astonished, and demanded from Peter du Bois, " by what devil of a 
 road have these men-at-arms come ? and hov/ have they crossed the 
 Lis?" He replied, "They must have crossed in boats, and wc 
 have knov/n nothing of the matter; for there is neither bridge nor 
 passable ford over the Lis between this and Courtray." "What 
 shall we do ?" said some of them to Peter du Bois : " shall we offer 
 them battle?" "By no means," replied Peter: "let them advance : 
 but we will remain in our strength and in our place : we are on high 
 ground, and they on low, so that we have great advantage over 
 them ; and, if we descend to meet them in the plain, we shall lose 
 it. Let us wait until the night become more obscure, and then we 
 will consider how we had best act. They are not of force sufficient 
 to withstand us in battle : and, besides, we are acquainted with all 
 the roads of the country, of which they must be ignorant." This 
 advice was followed ; for the Flemings never budged from their 
 post, but remained steady at the foot of the bridge, drawn up in 
 order of batde on the causeway, in silence, and, by their appearance, 
 seemed as if they had not noticed what was passing. Those who 
 had crossed the river continued advancing slowly through the marshes, 
 following the course of it as they approached Commines. 
 
 The constable of France, on the opposite side of the water, saw his 
 men-at-arms, with banners and pennons fluttering in the wind, drawn 
 up in a handsome small battalion, and marching toward Commines, 
 On seeing this, hi-s blood began to run cold from the great dread he 
 had of their being defeated ; for he knew the Flemings were in great 
 force on that side of the water. In the excess of rage, he cried out, 
 "Ah, St. Ives I ha, St. George ! ha, our Lady! what do I see there? 
 I see in part the flower of our army, who are most unequally matched. 
 I would rather have died than have witnessed this. Ah! sir Louis 
 de Sancerre, I thought you more temperate and better taught than I 
 
 improper repetition of the word " gettoyent" has rendered a passage, at first perfectly 
 plain, inelegant, and unintelligible. Mr. Johnes having once taken up the idea of the 
 hand-grenade (which, according to all received accounts, was not invented til.) long 
 afte- the events narrated in the text,) has spoken of their bursting, a circumstance not 
 alluded to by Fioissart. Lord Berners, who, though he docs not speak^)f grenades, 
 does not omit the bombards, says. "Then the cross-bovves and men a-fo>e, and guif 
 ners, shote over the bridge into the towne."--ED.j 
 
S16 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGL A 
 
 ND. FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 8ce you now are ; how coulJ you have hazarded so many noble 
 knights and squires, and inen-at-;irnis, against ten or twelve thousand 
 men, who are proud, presumptuous, and well prepared, and who will 
 show them no mercy, while we are unable, if there should be a neces. 
 sity, to aid them? Ah, Rohan I ah, Lavall ah, Rieuxl ah, Beauma. 
 noir I ah, Longueville I ah, Rochfortl ah, Manny I ^ah, Malutrait! 
 ah, Conversant 1 ah, such a one a id such a one, how afflicted am I 
 for you all I when, without consulting me, you have run into such 
 imminent danger. Why am I constable of France? for, if you be 
 Bonquered, I shall iacur all the blame, and they will say I ordered 
 you on this mad enterprise." The constable, before he heard that 
 such numbers of valiant men had crossed, had forbidden any of those 
 near him to pass the river ; but, when he saw the appearance of 
 those wh J had passed, he said aloud, " I give free liberty for all who 
 wish it to cross, if they be able." 
 
 At these words, the knights and squires stepped forth, seeking 
 means to cross the bridge ; but it was soon night, and they were 
 forced to leave off their attempt, though they had begun to lay planks 
 on the beams, and even some had placed their targets to make a 
 road ; so that the Flemings who were in Commines had enough to do 
 to watch them, and were puzzled how to act, for on the one hand 
 they saw below the bridge, in the marshes, a large body of men-at- 
 arms, who had halted with their lances advanced before them, and to 
 whom great reinforcements were coming, and on the other, those of 
 the vanguard on the opposite side of the bridge, were constantly 
 skirmishing with them and exerting themselves lustily to repair the 
 bridge. 
 
 In this situation were the French who had that evening crossed 
 over in boats. They had halted on the marshes, in mud and filth, 
 up to their ancles. Now consider what must have been their courage 
 and difficulties, when in these long v/iater nights they thus remained 
 a whole night with their arms and helmets on, with their feet in the 
 mire, and without any sort of refreshments. Certainly, I say, they 
 are worthy of great renown, for they v/ere but a handful of men in 
 comparison with the Flemings in Commines and in that neighbor- 
 hood. They dared not, therefore, advance to attack them, and for 
 this reason had halted, saying among themselves, " Let us stop here 
 until it be daylight, when we shall have a sight of these Flemings 
 who quit not the advantage of their intrenchments ; but at last they 
 vi^ill not fail to come to us, and when near we will shout our war 
 cries with a loud voice, each his own cry, or the cry of his lord, not- 
 withstanding all our lords may not have joined us : by this means we 
 shall frighten them, when we will fall on them with a thorough good 
 will. It is in the power of God, and within the compass of our own 
 ability, to defeat them, for they are badly armed, while our spears 
 and swords are of well-tempered steel from Bordeaux ; and the hau. 
 bergeons* they wear will be a poor defence, and cannot prevent our 
 blows from penetrating through them." With such hopes as these 
 did those who had passed the river comfort themselves, and remain 
 in silence during the night. 
 
 The constable of France, who was on the other side of the river, 
 toward Lilie, had gre it anguish at heart on their account, and wished 
 himself and army in the town of Co-mmines with t.hemi The marshals 
 of Burgundy and Flanderr;, and those knights who were near his 
 person, in order t) comfort him. said: " My lord do not be cast down ; 
 for all mast own that those who have crossed the river are truly val- 
 iant, as well as prudent knight?, and we must believe they will not 
 do anything but what shall be dictated by good sense and valor. 
 They will not engage in combat this day, and you have given per- 
 mission for all to pass the river as they can. To-morrow, as soon as 
 daybreak shill appear, let us exert ourselves to cross the bridge. 
 We have this day made more provision of planks and timber than 
 will be necessary, so that we may be soon over to reinforce them, 
 should they have need of it, and these wicked people will be pre- 
 vented from overpowering them." 
 
 Thus was the constable of France consoled by the valiant men in 
 his company. 
 
 CHAPTER CXVI. 
 
 THE FKENCH WHO HAD CROSSED THE LIS DEFEAT, WITH GHEAT SLAUGHTER, 
 PETER DU BOIS AND THE FLEMINGS. THE VANGUARD OF THE FRENCH 
 ARMY REPAIR AND PASS OVER THE BRIDGE OF COMMINES. 
 
 Peter du Bois, knowing these men-at-arms were in the marshes 
 joining Commines, was not perfectly at his ease, for he was uncertain 
 what might be the event. He, had, however, under his command, 
 six or seven thousand men, to whom, during the night, he had thus 
 spoken : " The men-at-arms who have crossed the river to fight with 
 us are neither of iron nor steel. They have labored hard this whole 
 daj', and have been all night standing in these marshes, so that it is 
 po?gih e, that toward daybreak, they will be overpowered with sleep. 
 WliLd they are in this situation, we will come slily to attack them : 
 our numbers are sufficient to surround them : but when we have so 
 done, let no one dare to rush upon them, but remain silent ; for when 
 il shall be proper time for you to act, I will inform you." To this 
 command of Peter they all promised obedience. On the other hand, 
 the barons, knights and squires, who had remained in the marshes so 
 
 * " llaubergeoDs^—small coats of mail. 
 
 near the enemy, were far from being comfortable : some of them were 
 up to their ancles in mud, and others half way up their legs. But their 
 eagerness and joy, on gaining this pass with so much hontT (for very 
 gallant deeds of arms were likely to ensue.) made them forget all their 
 pains and difficulties. If it had been in summer-time, inttead of the 
 seventh day of November, they would have enjoyed it ; but now the 
 ground was cold, muddy and dirty, and the nights weie long. At 
 times also it rained heavily on their heads, but it ran off, as they had 
 their helmets on and everything prepared for the combat, and were 
 only waiting for the enemy to come and attack them. The great 
 attention they paid to be in readiness kept up their spirits, and made 
 them almost forget their situation. 
 
 The lord de Saint Py full loyally acquitted himself in this expe- 
 dition, as a scout and observer of what the Flemings were doing, 
 though he was the commander-in-chief. He was continually on the 
 look-out, and went privily to reconnoitre their motions. On his 
 return, he said to his companions in a low voice, " Now up : our 
 enemies are very quiet : perhaps they will advance on us at day- 
 break : therefore be on your guard, and prepare to act." He would 
 then return again, to see if anything were going forward, and then 
 come back to tell what he had observed. This he continued to do, 
 until the hour which the Flemings had fixed upon to attack them. It 
 was on the point of day when they began their march in close order, 
 without uttering a word. The lord de Saint Py, who was on the 
 watch, no sooner saw this manoeuvre than he found they were in 
 earnest, and hastening to his companions, said to them, "Now, my 
 lords, be alert, we have but to do our utmost, for our enemy is on his 
 march, and will be instantly here. These barons of new da\e are 
 advancing slowly, and think to catch and surprise us : show your- 
 selves true men-at-arms, for we shall have a battle," As the lord de 
 Saint Py uttered these words, the knights and squires, with great 
 courage, seized their long Bordeaux spears, and having grasped them 
 with a hasty will, placed themselves in as good order as any knights 
 or squires could devise. 
 
 When the lords who had crossed the river, and, as I have before 
 said, found themselves obliged to halt in the marshes, saw that the 
 Flemings waited their opportunity to attack them, they said among 
 themselves, " Since we are not in sufficient force to begin the com- 
 bat, when the Flemings advance upon us they will not know what 
 numbers we are : let us each set up one cry, or that of the lord to 
 whom we may belong whether he be present or not : and, by thus 
 shouting loudly, we shall so much alarm them that they may be de- 
 feated. In addition to this, we will receive them on the points of 
 our spears." In this manner did it fall out : for, when the Flemings 
 advanced to the combat, the knights and squires began to utlcr theit 
 war cries, insomuch that the constable and vanffuarc, who had not 
 yet crossed the bridge, heard them, and said, " Our friends are en 
 gaged : may God help them ! for at this moment we ai-e unable to 
 give them any assistance." Peter du Bois marched in front, and was 
 followed by his Flemings: but, when they approached the French, 
 they were received on the sharp points of their long Bordeaux spears, 
 to which their coats of mail made not more resistance than if they 
 had been of cloth thrice doubled ; so that they passed through theii 
 bodies, heads and stomachs. 
 
 When the Flemings felt these sharp spears which impaled them 
 they fell back, and the French advancing gained ground upon them , 
 for there were none so hardy but that feared their strokes. Peter du 
 Bois was one of the first who was wounded and run through by a 
 lance. It came quite out at his shoulder : he was also wounded on 
 the head, and would have been instantly slain if it had not been for 
 the body-guard he had formed, of thirty stout varlets, who taking him 
 in their arms> carried him as quickly as they could out of the crowd 
 The mud from the causeway to Commines was so deep that all these 
 people sunk in it up to the middle of their legs. The men-at-arms, 
 who had bten long accustomed to their profession, drove down and 
 slew the Flemings without let or hindrance : they shouted, " St. Py 
 forever !" " Laval, Sancerre, Anghien !" and the war-cries of others 
 who were theje. The Flemings were panic-struck, and began to 
 give way, when they saw these knights attack them so vigorously 
 and pierce them through with their spears. They retreated, and 
 falling back on each other, were followed by the French who marched 
 through them or around them, always attacking the thickest bodies. 
 They no more spared killing them than if they had been so many 
 dogs ; and they were in the right, for, had the Flemings conquered, 
 they would have served them the same. 
 
 The Flemings, finding themselves thus driven back, and that the 
 men-at-arms had won the causeway and bridge, counselled together, 
 to set fire to the town, in hopes it would cause the French to retreat, 
 or enable them to collect their people. This was executed, and fire 
 set to several houses, which were instantly in flames ; but they were 
 disappointed in thinking by this to frighten the French, for they pur- 
 sued them as valiantly as before, fighting and slaying them on the 
 ground, or in the houses whither they had retreated. Upon this the 
 Flemings made for the open plain, where they collected in a body. 
 They sent to Vertain, Poperingue, Bergues, Rollers, Mesieres, Warne- 
 ton and the other neighboring towns, to urge them to com'> to their 
 assistance at Commines. Those who fled, and the inhabitants of the 
 villages near Commines, began to set their bells a-ringing, which 
 clearly showed there was aa engagement going forward. Som>9 of 
 
CHI^ONIGLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, Sec. 
 
 317 
 
 them, however, began to slacken, and others to occupy themselves in 
 saving what they could of their goods, and to carry them to Ypres or 
 Courtray. Women ond children ran thither, leaving their houses full 
 of furniture, cattle and grain. Others again marched in haste toward 
 Commines, to help their countrymen who were fighting. 
 
 While tliis was passing, and those valiant knights who had crossed 
 the Lis in boats were so gallantly engaged, the constable and van- 
 guard were busily employed in attempting to repair the bridge and 
 cross it. There was a very great throng, for the constable had given 
 permission for all to pass it who could. There was much danger for 
 those who crossed it hrst ; and the lords who did so were obliged to 
 step on targets thrown on the beams of the bridge. When they had 
 crossed, they began to strengthen the bridge, for they found the 
 planks lying on the ground, which they put in their proper places. 
 During the night two wagon-loads of hurdles were brought, which 
 were of great use to them, so that shortly it was made as strong as 
 ever. On Tuesday the whole vanguard passed, took possession of 
 the place, and, as they crossed, fixed their quarters in the town. 
 
 The earl of Flanders, hearing that the vanguard was engaged at 
 the pass of Commines, sent thither six thousand infantry to their as- 
 sistance ; but when they arrived, the business was over and the 
 bridge rebuilt. The constable sent them to Warneton to rebuild 
 that bridge, that the baggage might pass it this Tuesday without 
 delay. News was brought on Tuesday morning to the king of 
 France at the abbey of Marquette, that the pass at Commines was 
 won, and the vanguard on the other side, which was very agreeable 
 to the king and his uncles. It was instantly determined that the 
 king should cross the river ; and, the king having heard mass with 
 his lords and drank a cup, they mounted their horses and took the 
 road to Commines. Those of the vanguard who were in Commines 
 drove out the Flemings. There were slain of them in the streets 
 and fields about four thousand, not including those killed in the pur- 
 Buit, in wind-mills, and in monasteries, whither they had fled for 
 ehelter ; for, as soon as the Bretons had crossed, they mounted their 
 horses and began a chase after the Flemings, and overran the coun- 
 try, which was then rich and plentiful. 
 
 The lords de Rieux, de Laval, de Malatrait, the viscount de la 
 Belliere and the lord de Combort, with their men, rode on until they 
 came to Vertain, which is a large town : it was taken and burnt, 
 and those found in it were put to death. The Bretons had great 
 profit from their pillage, as well as the others who had spread abroad 
 over the country. They found the houses full of draperies, furs, with 
 cloths of gold and silver : for, trusting to the strength of the passage 
 over the river Lis, the Flemings had not carried away anything from 
 their houses to their strong towns. 
 
 The first Bretons, Normans and Burgundians V'/ho entered Flan- 
 ders by the pass at Commines, paid no attention to pieces of cloth, 
 furs or jewels, but to the gold and silver which they found. How- 
 ever, those who followed cleared the whole country, for everything 
 was acceptable to them. 
 
 CHAPTER CXVII. 
 
 PHILIP VON ARTAVELD TAKES MEASURES TO RESIST THE FORCE OF THE 
 KING- OF FRANCE. HE RECEIVES AN ANSWER FROM HIS EMBASSADORS 
 IN ENGLAND. 
 
 Bad news soon flies abroad. On Tuesday morning Philip von 
 Artaveld heard, while he lay before Oudenarde, that the French had 
 crossed the Lis on the Monday in boats, and had advanced as far as 
 Commines, having conquered the Flemings posted there and in the 
 adjacent parts : that about six thousand Flemings had been slain, and 
 that Peter du Bois was supposed to be dead. Philip was thunder- 
 struck at this intelligence ; and he asked the lord de Harzelles, who 
 was present, " what was to be done." The lord de Harzelles replied, 
 " You must go to Ghent, and collect as many people as you can in 
 the town, and return with them hither : you must then march your 
 whole army to Courtray ; for when the king of France learns that 
 you are marching in full force against him, he will consider well be- 
 fore he advances further into the country. We ought in a short time 
 to receive news from our embassadors in England. It may be that 
 the king of England and his uncles will cross the sea with a large 
 army, or perhaps they have already done so, which will be fortunate 
 for us." 
 
 "lam surprised," answered Philip, " how the English can so 
 long delay it, when they know they are to have free entrance into 
 this country ; and I marvel what they are thinking of, as well as our 
 people who are there. Notwithstanding, I will not hesitate going to 
 Ghent to draw out the arriere-ban, with which I will return and offer 
 b;itde to the king of France, whatever be the consequences. I am 
 informed by Peter du Bois, that the king of France has full twenty 
 thousand men-at-arms, which constitute sixty thousand fighting men. 
 1 will draw up in battle array as many to meet him ; and if God, out 
 of kis grace, and the just cause we have, should enable me to de- 
 feat him, I shall be the most respected lord in the world ; if 1 be dis- 
 comfited, better fortune will befal a greater lord than myself." 
 
 As Philip von Artaveld and the lord de Harzelles were thus con. 
 versing, some soldiers arrived who had been at the battle of Com. 
 miaer, who confiriaed the first iateUigence. Philip said, "And 
 
 Peter du Bois, is he dead, or a prisoner ?" They answerc'd, "Neither; 
 but he has been severely wounded in the battle, and has retired to 
 Bruges." At these words, Philip mounted his horse and ordered 
 thirty of his men to do the same, when he set out for Bruges. He 
 quitted, however, the direct road, to vi-ew some of the gairison of 
 Oudenarde who had made a sally the preceding night, but had been 
 overpowered and slain: they were tvcelve in number who had been 
 put to death. As he was thus examining the dead, he saw, coming 
 toward him from Ghent, a herald attached to the kino^ of England, 
 whose name was Chandos, though called Ireland king-at-arms Philip 
 was much pleased at the arrival of this herald, and a^ked " what 
 news he had brought." " My lord," replied the herald, " five of 
 your embassadors returned to Ghent, accompanied by a knight cal'ed 
 sir William Frenenton,* v/ho, by orders from the king and council, 
 bring letters (as we learnt from them at Dover) addressed to you as 
 regent of Flanders. When you ki\bw the contents of these letters, 
 and approve of the great alliance offered to you, large reinforcements 
 will be instantly sent to you on the return of the knight and his'com- 
 panions to England." Philip said, "I arn not well satisfied with 
 such an arrangement : the succors will come too late. Go to my 
 quarters." He ordered him to be conducted to the lodgings of the 
 lord de Harzelles, that he might hear the news ; while he took the 
 road to Ghent, but in so melancholy a temper of mind that nothing 
 could be got from him, nor could he be persuaded to enter into any 
 agreeable conversation. 
 
 CHAPTER CXVIIL 
 
 THE KING OF FRANCE CROSSES THE LIS AT THE BRIDGE OF COXMINES. 
 THE TOWN OF YPRES SURRENDERS TO Hl.M. 
 
 We will now return to the king of France, and say how he went 
 on. When intelligence was brought him of Ccramines being con- 
 quered, that the Flemings were dispersed, and the biiJge rebuilt, he 
 set out from the abbey of Marquette, where he had lodged, and 
 marched with his whole army in battle-array, as was befitting him 
 to do, toward Commines. The king and his uncles arrived at Com. 
 mines on Tuesday, and took up their lodgings in the town ; from 
 whence the vanguard had marched for the hill of Ypres, where they 
 had fixed their quarters. On the Wednesday morning the king ad. 
 vanced to the hill of Ypres, where he remained until the baggage 
 and the remainder of his army should cross the river at Commines 
 or at Warneton, for there were very numerous trains, and multitudes 
 of houses. 
 
 On Wednesday, the king's rear-guard passed the bridge of C: ;;k 
 mines. It consisted of two thousand men-at-arms and two thousand 
 cross-bows, under the command of the count d'Eu, the count de 
 Clois, the count de St. Pol, the count de Harcourt, the lords de 
 Cha.tillon and de la Fere. These lords with their men, lodged this 
 Wednesday at Commines. 
 
 When the night came, and these lords thought of reposing them, 
 selves after their march, they heard the cry, " To arms !" They 
 thought certainly they should have a battle, and that the Flemings 
 from Ypres, Cassel, Bergues, and their dependencies, were collected 
 and on their march to attack them. The lords armed themselves, 
 put on their helmets, displayed their banners before their lodgings: 
 and, having lighted torches, each lord advanced to the causeway 
 under his banner or pennon : as their men came, they drew up and 
 arranged themselves under their proper banners ; and thus they re 
 mained, half way up their legs in mud, almost the whole night. 
 You may imagine if these lords had the best of it, such as the count 
 de Blois and the others, who had not been accustomed to suffer such 
 cold and comfortless nights as these a month before Christmas ; but, 
 when their honor was at stake, they minded it not, for they thought 
 they should be attacked every moment : however, it was net so, for 
 this was a false alarm caused by a scuffle among the varlets. Their 
 lords, however, suffered for it, which they bore as well as they could. 
 
 On Thursday morning, the rear-guard dislodged from Commines, 
 and marched, in good order, toward their main army, which was 
 encamped on the hill of Ypres, the vanguard, the battalion of the 
 king and all. The principal commanders held a council, to consider 
 whether they should march to Ypres, Courtray, or Bruges. While 
 they remained there, the French foragers overran the country, where 
 they found a marvellous quantity of beasts, grain, and all other pro- 
 visions ; for since they had gained the passpge at Commines, tiiey 
 were never in want. The inhabitants of Ypres, finding the king 
 so near with his whole army, and the passage gained, were not 
 much at their ease, and considered how they should act. The town- 
 council assembled. The lichest and chief inhabitants, who had 
 been of the moderate party, but who had not dared to show it, pro- 
 posed throwing themselves on the king's mercy, and sending to him 
 the keys of the town. The governor, wno was from Ghent, ap. 
 pointed by Philip von Artaveld, would not listen to a surrender, but 
 said, " Our town is sufficientiy sfong, and we are well provided 
 with everything. We will stand our ground ; during which time 
 Philip will assemble his forces, to combat tlie king and raise the 
 siege." Others replied, " That he was not assured that this would so 
 happen : that it was not in the power of Philip von Artaveld, nor o* 
 
 • jsig w. Freneuton." Q. If &ot FuriinKtun. 
 
318 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 the whole country, to defeat the king of France, unless they had the 
 assistance of the English, of which there was not any appearance ; 
 and that, in short, the best thing they could do would be to surren- 
 der themselves to the king of France." High words ensued, which 
 ended in a riot, in which the chief inhabitants were masters. The 
 governor, named Peter Vauclaire, was slain. When this was over, 
 they called to them two preaching friars, whom they sent to the 
 king and his uncles on the hill of Ypres, to know if it were agree- 
 able to them to enter into an amicable treaty with the town. 
 
 The king was advised to grant passports to twelve of the citizens 
 and an abbot (who being at Ypres had interfered in this business,) 
 to come to the camp, and explain more fully what their intentions 
 were. The friars returned to the town, when the twelve citizens 
 elected by the council and inhabitants, and the abbot, went to mount 
 Ypres, where, casting themselves on their knees, they offered to 
 place the town under the king's obedience for ever, and without any 
 terms of reservation. The ki-ng of France, following the good ad- 
 vice which was given him, to gain the country by gentle means, 
 and not wishing to show any ill will or cruelty, received them 
 kindly, and accepted their offer ; on condition that the town would 
 pay forty thousand francs, to defray the smaller expenses which this 
 expedition had hitherto cost. 
 
 The inhabitants of Ypres were much rejoiced at this event, and 
 never afterwards rebelled. Thus were the citizens pardoned. They 
 entreated the king and his uncles would be pleased to partake of 
 some refreshments in their town, which would give great joy to the 
 inhabitants. A promise was in truth made them, that the king 
 should come thither, when he should be further advanced in Flan- 
 ders. Upon this the deputation returned to the town, mightily 
 pleased to find themselves at peace with the king of France. The 
 forty thousand francs were instantly raised among themselves, and 
 paid to the king, or his commissioners, before he made his entry 
 into Ypres. 
 
 CHAPTER CXIX. 
 
 THE KINS OF FRANCE RECEIVES INFORMATION OF A RIOT AMONG THE 
 PARISIANS. SEVERAL PLACES IN FLANDERS SURRENDER TO HIM. 
 
 During the time the king of France was on the hill of Ypres, 
 news was brought that the Parisians were in rebellion : and that 
 they had resolved, as it was then reported, to pull down the castle of 
 Beaut^, which is situated in the wood of Vincennes, and the castle 
 of the Louvre, as well as other castellated houses in the neighbor- 
 hood of Paris, to prevent being oppressed in future by tiieir tneans-. 
 One of their leaders made a speech to excite to mischief, but which,, 
 however, as it appeared afterwards, turned out quite the contrary : 
 " My fair sirs, let us abstain from doing this until we see how the 
 king's affairs turn out in Flanders. If the Ghent men succeed, as I 
 truly hope they will, then will be the time to destroy all these cas- 
 tles. Let us not begin anything which we may repent of after- 
 wards.-' It was Nicholas le Flamand who by this speech made the 
 Parisians give up their intentions of committing outrages. They 
 kept within the walls of Paris, which they had amply supplied with 
 everything ; and had as rich and handsome armor as if they had 
 been great lords. There were upward of thirty thousand armed 
 from head to foot, like true men-at-arms, and more than thirty thou- 
 sand armed with mallets. They worked day and night in forging 
 helmets, and purchased armor wherever it was to be sold. 
 
 Now, consider what a sad devilment it would have been, if the 
 king of France, and the gallant chivalry with which he was accom- 
 panied, had been defeated in Flanders. It may readily be supposed, 
 that then all the nobility would have been destroyed in France, as 
 well as in other places ; for the Jacquerie were never so ferocious as 
 they would at such a time have been. In liko manner the peasants 
 began to rebel at Rheims, at Chalons in Champagne, and down the 
 river Marne, and to menace those gentlemen, ladies and children, 
 who had remained at home. At Orleans, Blois, Rouen, and in the 
 Beauvoisis, the devil had entered their heads to prompt them to mur- 
 der every one, if God had not provided a remedy, as you will soon 
 have related. 
 
 When those of the castlewickg oC Cassel, Bergues, Bourbourg, 
 Gravelines, Furnes, Dunkerque, Pope ingue, Tourrout, Vaillant, and 
 Malines, had heard that the men of Ypres had surrendered and put 
 themselves under the obedience of the king of France, who had 
 graciously pardoned them, they began to be much alarmed. After 
 these towns had well considered the business, the inhabitants seized 
 their governors, whom Philip von Artaveld had put over them, and 
 having bound them strongly, so that they could not escape, led them 
 to the king on mount Ypres, in order to please him and to appease 
 his anger. On their arrival, they cast themselves on their knees and 
 said, " Noble king, we put our lives, towns, and fortunes, under your 
 obedience, and wish so to remain. In order to show that we regard 
 you as our true lord, here are the governors whom Philip von Arta- 
 veld had set over us ; for by fosce, and not otherwise, has he made 
 us obey him : you may do your pleasure with them, for they have 
 governed us according to their wills." The king was advised by his 
 lords to grant his pardon to all these towns : on condition, however, 
 that they should pay him, as part of his expenses in this war, sixty 
 thousand francs. AU the provisions were to be given up, and what. 
 
 ever cattle might be found in the fields ; but they were assured that 
 their towns should neither be burned nor pillaged. This was very 
 satisfactory to them, and they greatly thanked the king and his 
 courw^il. They were much rejoiced on finding they had escaped so 
 well ; but the governors of Philip von Artaveld, who had been car- 
 ried thither, were beheaded on the bridge of Ypres. 
 
 No mention whatever was made in these treaties and submissions 
 of the earl of Flanders: nor was h- , or any one of his court, ever 
 summoned to the councils of the kin^;. If he was displeased at this 
 I am ignorant, but during the whole expedition he was treated in 
 the same manner. None of his people were permitted to quit the 
 army, or the battalion which was posted by orders of the master of 
 these cross-bows, on the wings, although they were Flemings. It was 
 also ordered by the king, under pain of death, that no one in the 
 army should speak Flemish, nor carry any stick bound with iron • 
 
 CHAPTER CXX. 
 
 THE KINa OF FRANCE LODGES IN YPRES. PETER DU BOIS PREVENTS 
 BRUGES FROM SURRENDERING TO THE KING. PHILIP VON ARTAVELD 
 ASSEMBLES HIS FORCES TO COMBAT THE FRENCH, 
 
 While the king and his whole army were on mount Ypres, many 
 markets were there held, and plenty of pillage was sold to those of 
 Lille, Douay, and Tournay ; indeed to all who wished to buy. A 
 piece of cloth of Vexin, Malines, Poperingue or Commines, was sold 
 for one franc. People were clothed there too cheaply. Some Bre- 
 tons and other pillagers, determined on gain, went in large bodies, 
 and loaded carts and horses with their booty of cloths, linen, knives, 
 money in gold and silver, dishes and plates of silver wherever they 
 found them, which they sent, well packed up, to a place of safety on 
 the other side of the Lis, or by their servants into France. 
 
 The king and all the lords came to Ypres, where they quartered 
 themselves as well as they could, and in as great numbers as the 
 town would hold. They remained there to refresh themselves four 
 or five days. The inhabitants of Bruges had received information 
 of the conduct of the king, that he was at Ypres, and how the whole 
 country, as far as Gravelines, had submitted to him. They were 
 doubtful whether to negotiate with the king, or let it alone : how. 
 ever, for the present they did nothing. The principal cause which 
 withheld them from surrendering, was the great number of men-at- 
 arms which Philip von Artaveld had with him from their town : for 
 there were at least seven thousand at the siege of Oudenarde ; and 
 their principal citizens were at Ghent as hostages, in order that Peter 
 du Bois might more easily govern the place. 
 
 Besides, Peter du Bois and Peter le Nuitre were in the town, who 
 comforted them, saying, " My good gentlemen, do not be alarmed if 
 the king of France is come to Ypres : you know that formerly the 
 whole power of France was sent by king Philip to Courtray,! and 
 could not withstand the courage of our fathers, for his whole array 
 was slain and defeated. Know then, that this army shall in like 
 manner be destroyed ; for Philip von Artaveld, with an immense 
 force, will not leave things thus without combating the king. It may 
 very well happen, that from the good cause we are engaged in, and 
 the good fortune that follows Ghent, Philip may defeat the king, so 
 that not one shall escape or recross the river, but the whole country 
 which has submitted will instantly be reconquered. Thus will you 
 remain like true and loyal men in your franchises, and in the grace 
 of Philip and of us Ghent men." With such speeches as this, Peter 
 du Bois and Peter le Nuitre daily harangued the men of Bruges, 
 and restrained them from entering into any treaty with the king of 
 France. 
 
 While these things were going on, the citizens of Ghent, with sit 
 William Fermitoii,! arrived at Calais, from England, to conclude and 
 seal those treaties and agreements which the English wished to enter 
 into with the Flemings. Sir John Devereux, governor of Calais, 
 sent for them, and told them, " that they could not continue their 
 journey at that time, for the king of France was at Ypres, and that 
 all the country, from Calais to Ypres, had surrendered to him. We 
 shall shortly have more news : for it is reported that Philip von 
 Artaveld is assembling his forces to combat the king of France, and 
 we shall see who will have tV.e best of it. Should the Flemings be 
 beaten, you have nothing to do in Flanders; and if the king of 
 France b? defeated, it is all our own. This," said the English 
 knight, "you may depend upon as truth." The intelligence detained 
 the citizens of Ghent and sir William Fermiton. 
 
 We will now return to Philip, and say what he was doing. Being 
 eager to combat the king of France, as he plainly showed, he or- 
 dered, on his arrival at Ghent, every man capable of bearing arms, 
 after leaving a sufficient garrison in the town, to follow him. All 
 obeyed ; for he gave them to understand, that by the grace of God, 
 
 * Boston a virolle, literally, " a stick witn a ferule."— [Ed. 
 t ••Courtray." Tlie battle 1302. 
 
 % "Fermiton." Froissart before calls him Fremeton. I should have supposed thi 
 person was sir William Farendon, or Frampton. if, in the Rolles Fran^oii -he names 
 of those sent by Richnrd had not heen particularly named, as may be seen anderneoth 
 
 Ann. Dom. 1382-1383. Membrana 4. 
 
 •• De potestate data Johauni Devereux, Briano de Stapilton. Willielmo Ermyn, «t 
 Johanni de Burley, ad tractandum cum comiti Flandriae et ge^tibus ibidem de dsbatil, 
 et de fttteinptatu refonnandi*."— Data apud Westminster, 16tb May. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 319 
 
 they would defeat the French, be lords of Ghent, and rank as sove- 
 j-eigns among other nations. Philip von Artaveld carried with him 
 about ten thousand men as the arriere-ban : he had before sent to 
 Bruges, Damme, Ardembourg, Sluys, to the sea-coasts, the Quatre 
 Mestiers, and constablevvicks of Grammont, Dendrenionde, and 
 Alost, and had raised from those places about thirty thousand more. 
 He and his whole army were quartered one night before Oudenarde : 
 on the morrow they marched away, and came before Courtray : he 
 had with him about fifty thousand men. The king of France re- 
 ceived intelligence, that Philip von Artaveld was approaching, and, 
 as it was said, with full sixty thousand men. Upon this, the van- 
 guard set oiF from Ypres, under the command of the constable and 
 marshals of France, and encamped a league and a half from Ypres, 
 between Rollers and Rosebecque : on the morrovv^, the king and all 
 the lords, v/ith the main battalion and rear-guard, quartered them- 
 selves there also. I must s:iy that these lords, while they were in 
 the field, suffered greatly ; for it was in the heart of winter, the be- 
 ginning of December, and it rained every day. They slept on the 
 roads every night, for they were in daily and hourly expectation of 
 a batde : it was commonly said in the army, " They will come to- 
 moiTow ;" which they believed, from the news the foragers brought 
 when they returned from their excursions. 
 
 The king was quartered in the midst of his army. The lords of 
 Fr&tice were much vexed at Philip for delaying, for they were very 
 impatient of being out in such bad weather. It should be known, 
 that with the king were all the flower of French knighthood : it was 
 therefore highly presumptuous in Philip von Artaveld and the Flem- 
 ings to think of fighting vnth them ; for if they had been satisfied 
 with continuing their siege of Oudenarde, and had slightly intrenched 
 themselves, the French, considering the wetness of the season, would 
 sjever have marched to seek them ; and, if they had done so, they 
 would have combated them under the greatest disadvantages. But 
 Philip was so vain of the good fortune he had met with at Bruges, 
 that he thought nothing could withstand him, and he hoped he should 
 be lord of the world. No other thoughts had he, and was nothing 
 afraid of the king of France nor his army ; for, if he had entertained 
 any fears, he would not have done that which he did, as you shall 
 hear related. « 
 
 CHAPTER CXXI. 
 
 !?SILI*? T'ON ARTAVELD, HAVING- ENTERTAINED HIS CAPTAINS AT SUPPER, 
 GIVES T5IEM INSTRUCTIONS HOW THEY ARE TO ACT ON THE MORROW 
 AT THE BATTLE OF ROSEBECQUE. WONDERFUL APPEARANCES IN THE 
 HEAVENS ARE SEEN DURING THIS NIGHT. 
 
 Philip von Artaveld, with his whole army, on the Wednesday 
 evening preceding the battle, was encamped in a handsome position, 
 tolerably strong, between a ditch and grove, and with so good a 
 hedge in fi-ont that they could not easily be attacked. It was be- 
 tween the hill and town of Rosebecque where the king was quartered. 
 That same evening, Philip gave a magnificent supper to his captains 
 at his quarters ; for he had wherewithal to do so, as his provisions 
 followed him. Vv'^hen the supper was over, he addressed them in 
 ihese words : *' My fair gentlemen, you are my companions in this 
 «xpedition, and I hope to-morrow we shall have sonjething to do ; 
 for the king of France, who is impatient to meet and fight with us, 
 is quartered at Rosebecque. I therefore beg of you to be loyai, and 
 jiot alarmed at anything you shall see or hear ; for we are combating 
 in a just cause, to preserve the franchises of Flanders, and for our 
 right. Admonish your men to behave well, and draw them up in 
 such manner that, by this means and our courage, we may obtain 
 the victory. To-morrow, through God's grace, we shall not find 
 any lord to combat with us, or any who will dare take the field, 
 unless he mean to remain there, and we shall gain greater honor 
 than if we could have depended on the support of the English ; for, 
 if they had been v/ith us, they alone would have gained all the repu- 
 tation. The flower of the French nobility is with the king, for he 
 has not left one behind : order, therefore, your men not to grant 
 quarter to any one, but to kill all who fall in their way. By this 
 means we shall re«iain in peace ; for I will and command, under 
 pain of death, that no prisoners be made, except it be the king of 
 France. With regard to the king, I wish to support him, as he is 
 but a cliild and ought to be forgiven ; for he knows not what he 
 does, and acts according as he is instructed : we will carry him to 
 Ghent and teach him Flemish ; but as for dukes, earls, and other 
 men-at-arm.s, kill them all. The common people of France will 
 never be angry v/ith u-. for so doing ; for they wish, as I am well ' 
 assured, that not one should ever return to France, and it shall 
 
 .'l>e 80." 
 
 Uis companions who were present at this discourse, and who were 
 ,lroi?i the different towns in Flanders and the country of Bruges, 
 'agreed to this proposal, which they thought a proper one, and with 
 one voice replied to Philip, " You say well, and thus shall it be." 
 They then took leave of Philip, an'! 'jach man returned to his quar- 
 ters, to order his men how they were to act conformably to the 
 linstructions they had just had. Thus passed the night in the army 
 of Philip : but about midnight, as I have been informed, there hap- 
 vpened a most wonderful event, and such that I have never heard 
 anything equal to it related. When the Flemish captains had 
 
 retired, and all gone to their quarters to repose, the night being far 
 advanced, those upon guard fancied they heard a great noise toward 
 the Mont d'Or. Some of them were sent to see what it could be, 
 and if the French were making any preparations to attack them in 
 the night. On their return, they reported, that they had been as far 
 as the place whence the noise came, but that they had discovered 
 nothing. This noise, however, was still heard, and it seemed to 
 some of them that their enemies were on the muuiit about a league 
 distant: this was also the opinion of a damsel from Ghent whom 
 Philip von Artaveld had carried with him, on this expedition, as his 
 sweetheart. 
 
 While Philip was sleeping under his tent on a coverlid near the 
 coal-fire, this damsel went out of the tent about midnight, to examine 
 the sky, and see what sort of weather it was and the time of night, 
 for she was unable to sleep. She looked toward Rosebecque, and 
 saw, in divers parts of the sky, smoke and sparks of fire flying about, 
 caused by the fires the French were making under hedges and 
 bushes. This woman listened attentively, and thought she heard a 
 great noise between their army and that of the French, and also the 
 cry of Montjoye and several other cries ; and it seemed to her that 
 they came from the Mont d'Or, between the cainp and Rosebecque. 
 She was exceedingly frightened, returned to the tent, awakened 
 Philip, and said to him, " Sir, rise instantly, and arm yourself; for I 
 have heard a great noise on the Mont d'Or, v.-hich 1 believe to be 
 made by the French who are coming to attack you." 
 
 Phihp at these words arose, and wrapping himself in a gown, took 
 a battle-axe and went out'of his tent to listen to this noise. In like 
 manner as she had heard it, Philip did the same ; and it seemed to 
 him as if there were a great tournament. He directly returned to 
 his tent, and ordered his trumpet to be sounded to avv'aken the army. 
 As soon as the sound of the trumpet was heard, it v/as known to be 
 his. Those of the guard in front of the camp armed themselves, and 
 sent some of their companions to Philip to know what he wished to 
 have done, as he was thus early arming himself. On their arrival, 
 he wanted to send them to the part Vvhence the noise had come, to 
 find out what it could be ; but they reported that that had already 
 been done, and that there was no cause found for it. Philip was 
 much astonished ; and they were greatly blamed, that having heard 
 a noise toward the enemy's quarters, they had remained quiet. 
 
 Ha," said they to Philip, " in truth we did hear a noise toward 
 the Mont d'Or, and we sent to know what it could be ; but those 
 who had been ordered thither, reported that there was nothing to be 
 found or seen. Not having seen any positive appearance of a 
 movement of the enemy, we were unwilling to alarm the army ls3} 
 we should be blamed for it." This speech of the guard somewhul 
 appeased Philip ; but in his own mind he marvelled much what it 
 could be. Some said it was the devils of hell running and dancirc 
 about the place where the battle was to be, for the abundance c~i 
 prey they expected. 
 
 Neither Philip von Artaveld nor the Flemings v/ere quite at their 
 ease after this alarm. They were suspicious of havir£r l>c;cn be- 
 trayed and surprised. They armed themselves leisurely v>iih v/hat 
 ever they had, made large fires in their quarters, and breakfasted 
 comfortably, for they had victuals in abundance. About an hour 
 before day, Philip said, " I think it right that we march inio the 
 plain and draw up our men ; because, should the French advance to 
 attack us, we ought not to be unprepared, nor in disorder, but pro- 
 perly drawn up like men, knowing well what we are to do." All 
 obeyed this order, and, quitting their quarters, marched to the heath 
 beyond the grove. There was in front a wide ditch newly made, 
 and in their rear quantities of brambles, junipers, and shrubs. They 
 drew up at their leisure in this strong position, and formed one hvgs 
 battalion, thick and strong. By the reports from the constables, 
 they were about fifty thousand, all chosen men, who vslued not 
 their lives. Among them were about sixty English archers, who, 
 having stolen away from their companions at Calais, to gain greater 
 pay from Philip, had left behind them their armor in their quarters. 
 
 Everything being arranged, each man took to his arms. The 
 horses, baggage, women, and varlets, were dismissed : but Philip 
 von Artaveld had his page mounted on a superb courser, worth five 
 hundred florins, which he had ordered to attend him, to display his 
 state, and to mount if a pursuit of the French should happen, in 
 order that he might enforce the commands which he had given to 
 kill all. It was with this intention that Philip had posted him by 
 his side. Philip had likewise from the town of Ghent about nine 
 thousand men, well armed, whom he placed near his person ; for he 
 had greater confidence in them than any of the others : they there- 
 fore, with Philip at their head with banners displayed, were in front; 
 and those from Alost and Grammont were next; then the men from 
 Courtray, Bruges. T^amme, Sluys, and the Franconate, They were 
 armed, for the greater part, with bludgeons, iron caps, jerkins, and 
 with gloves de fer de baleine. Each man had a staff" with an iron 
 point, and bound round with iron. The different townsmen wore 
 liveries and arms, to distinguish them from one another. Some had 
 jackets of blue and yellow, others wore a welt of black on a red 
 jacket, others chevroned with white on a blue coat, others green 
 and blue, others lozenged with black and white, others quartered 
 red and white, others all blue. Each carried the banners of their 
 trades. They had also large knives hanging down from their 
 
320 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 girdles. In this state they remained, quietly waiting for day, which 
 soon came. 
 
 I will now relate to you the proceedings of the French as fully as 
 I have done those of the Flemings. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXII. 
 
 KIK& CHARLES EKTERTAINS AT SUPPER HIS UNCLES AND SOME OTHERS OF 
 HIS PRINCIPAL BARONS ON THE EVE OF THE BATTLE OF ROSEBECQUE. 
 THE CONSTABLE DE CLISSON IS EXCUSED FROM ATTENDING THE KING'S 
 PERSON DURING THE BATTLE, 
 
 The king of France, and the lords with him, knew well that the 
 Flemings were advancing, and that a battle must be the consequence ; 
 for no proposals for peace were offered, and all seemed to have made 
 up their minds for an engagement. It had been proclaimed on the 
 Wednesday morning in the town of Ypres, thcrt the men-at-arms 
 should follow the king into the field, and past themselves according 
 to the instructions they had received. Every one obeyed this order, 
 and no man-at-arms, or even lusty varlet, remained in Ypres, except 
 those appointed to guard the horses, which had been conducted to 
 Ypres when their loi'ds dismounted. However, the vanguard had 
 many wnh ihem for the use of their light troops, and to reconnoitre 
 the battalions of the enemy ; for to them they were of more service 
 than to the others. 
 
 The French on this Wednesday remained in the plain pretty near 
 to Rosebecque, where the lords and captains were busy in arranging 
 their plans. In the evening the king gave a supper to his three 
 uncles, the constable of France, the lord de Coucy, and to some 
 other foreign lords from Brabant, Hainault, Holland, Zealand, Ger- 
 many, Lorraine, and Savoy, who had come thither to serve him. 
 He, as well as his uncles, thanked them much for the good services 
 they had done and were willing to do for them. The earl of Flan- 
 ders tiiis evening commanded the guard of the king's battalion, and 
 had under him six hundred lances, and twelve hundred other men. 
 
 After the supper which the king had given on the Wednesday to 
 these lords, and when they had retired, the constable of France 
 remained to converse with the king and his uncles. It had been 
 arranged in the council with the king, that the constable, sir Oliver 
 de Clisson, should resign his constableship for the morrow (as they 
 fully expected a battle,) and that, for the day only, the lord de Coucy 
 was to take his place, and sir Oliver remain near the king's person : 
 BO that when the constable was taking his leave, the king said to 
 him, as he had been instructed, in a courteous and agreeable man- 
 ner, Constable, we will that you resign to us, for to-morrow only, 
 your office; for we have appointed another, and you shall remain 
 near our person." These words, which were new to the gallant 
 constable, surprised him so much, that he replied, " Most dear 
 lord, I well know that I can never be more highly honored than in 
 guarding your person; but, dear lord, it will give great displeasure 
 to my companions, and those of the vanguard, if they do not see 
 me with them: and we may lose more than we can gain by it. I 
 do not pretend that I am so valiant, that the business will be done 
 by me alone ; but I declare, dear lord, under the correction of your 
 n 3 council, that for these last fifteen days, I have been solely oc- 
 ci icd how I could add to your honor, to that of your army, and to 
 my own office. I have instructed the army in the manner in which 
 they were to be drawn up : and if to-morrow, under the guidance of 
 God, we engage, and they do not see me ; or, if I fail in giving them 
 tdvice and support, I who have always been accus'omed in such 
 cases so to do, they will be thunderstruck ; some may say I am a 
 hypocrite, and have done this slily, in order to escape from the first 
 blows. 1 therefore entreat of you, most dear lord, that you would 
 not interfere in what has been arranged and ordered for the best, for 
 I must say you will gain the more by it." 
 
 The king did not know what answer to make to this speech, any 
 more than those present who had heard it. At last the king said, 
 very properly, " Constable, I do not mean to say that it has been 
 any way thought you have not, on every occasion, most fully acquit- 
 ted yourself, and will still do so; but my late lord and father loved 
 you more than any other person, and had the greatest confidence in 
 you : it is from this love and confidence which he reposed in you 
 that I should wish to have you on this occasion near to me, and in 
 my company." " Very dear lord," replied the constable, " you will 
 be so well attended by such valiant men, all having been settled 
 with the greatest deliberation, that it cannot any way be amended, 
 80 that you and your council ought to be satisfied with if. I there- 
 fore beg of you, for the love of God, most dear lord, that you will 
 permit me to execute my office : and to-morrow your success shall 
 be such that your friends will be rejoiced, and your enemies enraged." 
 
 To this the king only answered, "Constable, I will it be so: in 
 God's name, and in the name of St. Denis, act as becomes your 
 office. I will not say one word more to you on the subject ; for you 
 see clearer in this business than I do, or those who first proposed it. 
 Be to-morrow at mass." " Willingly, sir," replied the constable. 
 He\ook leave of the king, who saluted him, and returned to his 
 quarters, with his attendants and companions. 
 
 CHAPTER CXX.II. 
 
 PHILIP VON ARTAVELD AND HIS FLEMINGS QUIT THE STRONG POSITION 
 THEY HAD TAKEN IN THE MORNING, TO ENCAMP ON MONT D'OR, NEAB 
 TO VPRES. THE CONSTABLE AND ADMIRAL OF FRANCE, WITH THE 
 BASTARD OF LANGRES, SET OUT TO RECONNOITRE THEIR SITUATION. 
 
 On the Thursday morning all the men-at-arms of the army, the van- 
 guard, the rear-guard, and the king's battalion, armed themselves 
 completely, except their helmets, as if they were about to engage: 
 for the lords well knew the day could not pass without a battle, from 
 the reports of the foragers on the Wednesday evening, who had seen 
 the Flemings on their march demanding a battle. The king of 
 France heard mass, as did the other lords, who all devoutly prayed 
 to God, that the day might turn out to their honor. In the morning 
 there was a thick mist, which continued so long that no one could 
 see the distance of an acre : the lords were much vexed at this, but 
 they could not remedy it. 
 
 After the king's mass, which had been attended by the constable 
 and other great lords, it was ordered that those valiant knights sir 
 Oliver de Clisson, constable of France, sir John de Vienne, admiral 
 of France, and sir William de Poitiers, bastard of Langres, who 
 had been long used to arms, should reconnoitre the position of the 
 Flemings, and report to the king and his uncles the truth of it: du. 
 ring which time, the lord d'Albreth and sir Hugh de Chatillon were 
 employed in forming the battalions. These three knights, leaving 
 the king, set off on the flower of their steeds, and rode toward that 
 part where they thought they should find the Flemings, and toward 
 the spot where they had encamped the preceding night. 
 
 You must know that on the Thursday morning, when the thick 
 mist came on, the Flemings having, as you have before heard, 
 marched, before daybreak, to this strong position, had there remained 
 until about eight o'clock, when, not seeing nor hearing anything of 
 the French, their numbers excited in them pride and self-sufficiency : 
 and their captains, as well as others, began thus to talk among them, 
 selves : " What are we about, thus standing still, and almost frozen 
 with cold ? Why do we not advance with courage, since such is 
 our inclination, and seek our enemies to combat them ? We remain 
 here to no purpose, for the French will never come to look for us. 
 Let us at least march to Mont d'Or, and take advantage of the 
 mountain." Many such speeches were made, and they all consented 
 to march to Mount d'Or, which was between them and the French. 
 In order to avoid the ditch in their front, they turned the grove and 
 entered the plain. While they were thus on their march round the 
 grove, the three knights came so opportunely that they reconnoitered 
 them at their ease, and rode by the side of their battalions, which 
 were again formed within a bow-shot from them. When they had 
 considered them on the left, they did the same on the right, and thus 
 carefully and fully examined them. The Flemings saw them plainly, 
 but paid not any attention to them ; nor did any one quit his ranks. 
 The three knights were well mounted, and so much used to this 
 business that they cared not for them. Philip said to his captains, 
 " Our enemies are near at hand : let us draw up here in battle-array 
 for the combat. I have seen strong appearances of their intentions : 
 for these three horsemen who pass and repass have reconnoitred us, 
 and are still doing so." 
 
 Upon this, the Flemings halted on the Mont d'Or, and formed in 
 one thick and strong battalion ; when Philip said aloud, " Gentle, 
 men, when the attack begins, remember our enemies were defeated 
 and broken at the battle of Bruges by our keeping in a compact 
 body. Be careful not to open your ranks, but let every man 
 strengthen himself as much as possible and bear his staff right before 
 him. You will intermix your arms, so that no one may break you, 
 and march straight forward with a good step, without turning to the 
 right or left ; and act together, so that, when the conflict begins, you 
 may throw your bombards and shoot with your cross-bows in such 
 manner that our enemies may be thunderttruck with surprise." 
 
 When Philip had formed his men in battle-array, and told them 
 how to act, he went to the wing of his army in which he had the 
 greatest confidence. Near him was his page on the courser, to 
 whom he said, " Go, wait forme at that bush out of bow-shct ; and, 
 when thou shall see the discomfiture of the French and the pursuit 
 begin, bring me my horse and shout my cry ; they will make way 
 for thee to come to me, for I wish to be the first in the pursuit." 
 The page, on these words, left his master and did as he had ordered 
 him. Philip placed near him, on the side of this wing, forty Erglish 
 archers whom he had in his pay. Now, if it be considered how 
 wel'l Philip had arranged this business, I am of opinion, and in this 
 I am joined by several others, that he well knew the art of war : but 
 in one instance, which I will relate, he acted wrong. It was in 
 quitting the first strong position he had taken in the morning; for 
 they would never have sought to fight him there, as it would have 
 been too much to their disadvantage ; but he wished to show that 
 his people were men of courage, and Lad little fear of their enemies. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN. &c. 
 
 321 
 
 CHAPTER CXXIV. 
 
 THE BATTLE OF ROSEBECQUE, BETWEEN THE FRENCH AND FLEMINGS. 
 PHILIP VON ARTAVELD IS SLAIN, AND HIS WHOLE ARMY DEFEATED. 
 
 The three knights returned to the king of France and to his bat- 
 talions, which had already been formed and were marching slowly 
 in order of battle : for there were many prudent and brave men, 
 who had been long accustomed to arms, in the vanguard, in the 
 king's battalion, and in the rear-guard, who knew well what they 
 were to do, for they were the flower of chivalry in Christendom. 
 Way was made for them ; and the lord de Clisson spoke first, bow. 
 ing to the king from his horse, and taking off the beaver he wore, 
 saying, " Sire, rejoice : these people are our own, and our lusty var- 
 lets will fight well with them." "Constable," replied the king, 
 " God assist you ! now advance, in the name of God aad St. Den- 
 is." The knights, before mentioned as the king's body-guard, now 
 drew up in good order. The king created many new knights, as 
 did different lords in their battalions, so that several new banners 
 were displayed. 
 
 Battle of Roskbecque.— Designed from various authorities in the Harleian MSB., 4374. 
 
 It was ordered, that when the engagement was about to commence, 
 the battalion of the king, with the oriflamme of France, should march 
 to the front of the army, that the van and rear-guards should form 
 the two wings as speedily as possible, and by this means inclose and 
 straiten the Flemings, who were drawn up in the closest order, and 
 gain a great advantage over them. Notice of this intended move- 
 ment was sent to the rear-guard, of which the count d'Eu, the count 
 de Blois, the count de St. Pol, the count de Harcourt, the count de 
 Cha.tillon, and the lord de la Gere were commanders. The young 
 lord de Haurel displayed his banner this day before the count de 
 Blois, who also knighted sir Thomas d'Tstre, and the bastard sir 
 James de Hameth. According to the report of the heralds, there 
 were this day created four hundred and sixty-seven knights. 
 
 The lord de Clisson, sir John de Vienne, and sir William de Lan- 
 gi'ea, having made their report to the king, left him and went to their 
 post in the vanguard. Shortly afterwards, the oriflamme was dis- 
 played by sir Peter de Villiers, who bore it. Some say (as they find 
 it written) that it was never before displayed against Christians, and 
 that it was a matter of great doubt during the march whether it should 
 be d splayed or not. However, the matter having been fully con- 
 sidei ed, they resolved to display it, because the Flemings followed 
 opin'ions contrary to that of pope Clement, and called themselves Ur- 
 banitts; for which the French said they were isbellious and out of 
 the pale of the church. This was the principal cause why it had 
 bepu brought and displayed in Flanders. 
 
 'I'he oriflamme* was a most excellent banner, and had been sent 
 
 * The oriflamme was a sacred banner, carefully preserved, of a red color, and had 
 the name of St. Dionysius on it. This was never en lied out but on tiie most urgent 
 occasions, when th« king himsell was present, and to be displayed solely against 
 hsntict 
 
 from heaven with great mystery : it is a sort of ganfanon,* and m oi 
 much comfort in the day of battle to those who see it. Proof was 
 made of its virtues at this time ; for all the morning there was so 
 thick a fog, that with difficulty could they see each other, but the 
 moment the knight had displayed it, and raised his lance in the air, 
 this fog instantly dispersed, and the sky was as clear as it had bien 
 during the whole year. The lords of France were much rejoicad 
 when they saw this clear day, and the sun shine, so that they could 
 look about them on all sides. , 
 
 It was a fine sight to view these banners, helmets, and beautiful 
 emblazoned arms: the army kept a dead silence, not uttering a 
 sound, but eyed a large battalion of Flemings before them, who 
 were marching in a compact body, with their staves advanced in the 
 air, which looked like spears ; and, so great were their numbers, 
 they had the appearance of a wood. The lord d'Estonnenort told 
 me, that he saw (as well as several others) when the oriflamme was 
 displayed, and the fog had dispersed, a white dove fly many times 
 round the king's battalion. When it had made several circles, and 
 the engagement was about to begin, it perched on one of the king's 
 banners : this was considered as a fortunate omen. 
 
 The Flemings advanced 
 so near, that they com. 
 menced a cannonade with 
 bars of iron, and quarrels 
 headed with brass. Thus 
 was the battle begun by 
 Philip and his men against 
 the king's battalion,which 
 at the outset was very 
 sharp ; for the Flemings, 
 inflamed with pride and 
 courage, came on wit|j 
 vigor, and, pushing with 
 shoulders and breasts like 
 enraged wild boars, they 
 were strongly interlaced, 
 one with the other, that 
 they could not be broken, 
 nor their ranks forced. By 
 this attack, of cannons 
 and bombards, the lordd'. 
 Albaruin, banneret, Mor- 
 let de Haruin, and James 
 Dore, on the side of the 
 French, were first slain, 
 and the king's battalion 
 obliged to fall back. But 
 the van and rear-guards 
 pushed forward, and, by 
 inclosing the Flemings, 
 straightened them much. 
 Upon the two wings 
 these men-at-arms made 
 their attack : and, with 
 their well-tempered lan- 
 ces of Bordeaux, pierced 
 throu£;h their coats of 
 mail to the flesh. All who 
 were assailed by them drew back to avoid the blows, for never would 
 those that escaped return to the combat : by this means, the Flem. 
 ings were so straitened that they could not use their staves to de- 
 fend themselves. They lost both strength and breath, and, falling 
 upon one another, were stifled to death without striking a blow. 
 
 Philip von Artaveld was surrounded, wounded by spears, and 
 beaten down, with numbers of the Ghent men, who were his guards. 
 When Philip's page saw the ill success of his countrymen, being 
 well mounted on his courser, he set oft', and left his master, for he 
 could not give him any assistance, and returned toward Courtray, 
 on his way to Ghent. When the Flemings found themselves in 
 closed on two sides, there was an end to the business, for they could 
 not assist each other. The king's battalion, which had been some, 
 what disordered at the beginning, now recovered. The men-at- 
 arms knocked down the Flemings with all their might. They had 
 well sharpened battle-axes, with which they cut through helmets 
 and disbrained heads : others gave such blows with leaden maces 
 that nothing could withstand them. Sarcely v>'ere the Flemings 
 overthrown before the pillagers advanced, who, mixing with t!ie 
 men-at-arihs, made use of the long knives they carried, and finished 
 slaying whoever fell into their hands, without more mercy than if 
 they had been so many dogs. The clattering on the helmets, by the 
 axes and leaden maces, was so loud, that nothing else could be heard 
 for the noise. I was told, that if all the armorers of Paris and Brux- 
 elles had been there working at their trade, they could not have made 
 a greater noise than these combatants did on the helmets of their 
 enemies ; for they struck with all their force, and set to their work 
 with the greatest good-will. Some, indeed, pressed too forward ivM 
 
 * Gonfanon was a square pennon fixed to the end of a lance, such a« aie nx»w 
 in Italy * and tlie bearer was called Gonfanonier. or Uonfaloniers. 
 
322 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 (he crowd, and were surrounded and slain : in particular, sir Louis 
 .ie Gousalz, a knight from Berry, and sir Fleton de Reniel. There 
 were several more, which was a great pity ; but in such a battle as this, 
 Nvhere such numbers are engaged, it is not possible for victory to be 
 obtained without being dearly bought ; for young knights and squires, 
 oager to gain renown, willingly run into perils in hopes of honor. 
 
 The crowd was now so great, and so dangerous for those inclosed 
 1 it, that the men-at-arme, if not instantly assisted, could not raise 
 ihcmselves when once down. By this were several of the French 
 killed and smothered ; but they were not many, for, when in danger, 
 they helped each other. There was a large and high mount of the 
 Flemings who were slain ; and never was there seen so little blood 
 spilt at so great a battle, where such numbers were killed. When 
 those in the rear saw the front fail, and that they were defeated, they 
 were greatly astonished, and began to throw away their staves and 
 armor, to disband and fly toward Courtray and other places, not 
 having any care but to save themselves, if possible. The Bretons 
 and French pursued them into ditches, alder groves, and heaths, 
 where they fought with and slew them. Numbers were killed in the 
 pursuit, between the field of battle and Courtray, whither they were 
 flying in their way to Ghent. 
 
 This battle on Mont d'Or took place the 27th day of November, 
 on the Thursday before Advent, in the year of grace 1382 ; and at 
 that time the king of France was fourteen years of age. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXV. 
 
 THE NUMBER OF SLAIN AT THE BATTLE OF HOSEBECQUE AND PURSUIT 
 AFTERWARDS. PHILIP VON ARTAVELD IS HANGED AFTER HE WAS DEAD. 
 THE SIEGE OF OUDENARDE IS RAISED. PETER DU BOIS RETREATS TO 
 GHENT. THE KING OF FRANCE FCCES HIS QUARTERS IN THE TOWN OF 
 COURTRAY. 
 
 Tht;s were the Flemings defeated on Mont d'Or, their pride hum- 
 bled, and Philip von Artaveld slain ; and with him nine thousand 
 men from Ghent and its dependencies (according to the report of 
 the heralds) on the spot, not including those killed in the pursuit, 
 which amounted to tv^^enty.five thousand more. This battle, from 
 the beginning to the defeat did not last more than half an hour. The 
 event was very honorable to all Christendom, as well as to the no- 
 bility and gentry ; for had those low-bred peasants succeeded, 
 there w'ould have been unheard of cruelties practiced, to the Jestruc. 
 tion of all gentlemen, by flie common people, who had everyv^'here 
 risen in rebellion. Now, let us think of the Parisians : what they 
 will say, when they hear the news of the defeat of the Flemings at 
 Rosebecque, and the death of Philip von Artaveld, their leader ? 
 They will not be much rejoiced more than several other large towns. 
 
 When this batt'e was completely finished, they allowed time for 
 the pursuers to collect together, and sounded the trumpets of retreat, 
 for each to retire to his quarters, as was proper. The vanguard 
 halted beyond the king's battalion, where the Flemings were quar- 
 tered on the Wednesday, and made themselves very comfortable ; 
 for there was a sufficiency of provision in the king's army, besides 
 the purveyances v^'hich came from Ypres. They made, the ensuing 
 night, brilliant fires in different places, of the staves of the Flemings : 
 whoever v^^ished for any could collect sufficient to load his back. 
 
 V/hen the king of France arrived at his camp, where his magni- 
 ficent pavilion of rod silk had been pitched, and when he had been 
 disarmed, hia uncles, and many barons of France, came, as was 
 right, to attend him. Philip von Artaveld then came into his mind, 
 and he said : " If Philip is dead or alive, I should like to see him." 
 They replied, " th(\y would have a search made for him." It was 
 proclaimed through the army, that whoever should discover the body 
 of Philip von Artiveld, should receive one hundred francs. Upon 
 this the vavlets examined the dead, who were all stripped, or nearly 
 BO, and Philip through avnvice was so strictly sought after, that he 
 was found by a varlct, w]:o had formerly served him some time, and 
 who knew him perfectly. He was dragged before the king's pa- 
 vilion. The king looked at him for some time, as did the other 
 lords. He war- turned over and over to see if he had died of wounds, 
 but they found none that could have caused his death. He had 
 been squeezed in the crowd, and falling into a ditch, numbers of 
 Ghent men fell r.pon him, who died in hi?' company. When they 
 had s.ifficiently viewed him, he was taken from thence and hanged 
 on a tr^e. Such was the end of Philip von Artaveld. 
 
 Sir Daniel de Hahiin, who, with his knights and squires, had held 
 out Oudenanle po highly to his honor, knowing well the king of 
 France was in Flanders, and that there would be a battle with the 
 Flemings, lighted, late at night on the Wednesday preceding the 
 jotlle, four torches, which he hoisted above the walls, as a signal 
 !f:ni the siege would be raised. About midnight, on the Thursday, 
 news was brought t;) the lord of Harzelles and the others, that their 
 trrny had been ompletely routed, and Philip von Artaveld slain. 
 Upon this they instantly broke up the siege, and marched away for 
 Ghr ,-t, lefiving behind them the greater part of then' stores, each 
 runt ing as fast as he could to Ghent. The garrison of Oudenarde 
 was igiiorant of this retreat, and remained so until the morrow morn- 
 mg. On being informed of it, they sallied out, and carried into 
 Oudenr rde great pillage of knives, carriages and stores, which they 
 £ound hid. 
 
 On Thursday evening, intelligence arrived at Bruges of the defeat 
 of the army, and of everythmg being lost. They were more aston- 
 ished than ever, and said among themselves, " Our destruction is now 
 come upon us : if the Bretons should advance hither and enter our 
 town, we shall be pillaged and murdered, for they will spare none." 
 Upon this, the townspeople of both sexes, collected their jewels and 
 most precious eflfects, and began to embark in vessels, to save therrf. 
 selves by sea, in Holland or Zealand, or wherever fortune should 
 carry them. In this manner were they employed four days : and 
 you would not have found in all the h6tels of Bruges one silver 
 spoon. Everything was packed up for fear of the Bretons. 
 
 When Peter du Bois. who Vv-as confined to his bed from the 
 wounds he had received at Commines, heard of the defeat of the 
 army, and death of Philip von Artaveld, and how much the inhabit, 
 ants of Bruges were alarmed, he did not think himself very safe, and 
 therefore declared he would set out from Bruges and return to Ghent; 
 for he thought that Ghent v/ould be much frightened : he therefore 
 ordered a litter for himself, as he could not ride. You must know, 
 that when the news arrived at Ghent of the great loss of their men, 
 the death of PhiHp von Artaveld, and the destruction of their army, 
 they were so much cast down, that if the French on the day of the 
 battle, or even on the Friday or Saturday, had advanced to Ghent 
 before Peter du Bois arrived there, they would have opened the gates 
 to them, without any opposition, and submitted to their mercy. But 
 the French did not attend to this, thinking themselves perfectly mas- 
 ters since Philip was dead : and that the Ghent men would, of their 
 own accord, surrender themselves to the king's mercy. This meas. 
 ure, however, they did not adopt. On the contrary, they alone car- 
 ried on the war with greater vigor and bitterness than before, as you 
 will hear related in the continuance of this history. 
 
 On the Friday the king dislodged from Rosebecque, on account 
 of the stench of the dead : he was advised to advance to Courtray to 
 refresh himself. The halze* and some knights and squires who well 
 knew the country, mounting their horses, entered the town of Cour- 
 tray full gallop ; for there was not any opposition made. The women, 
 both rich and poor, and many men also, ran into cellars and churches 
 to save themselves, so that it was a pitiful sight. Those who first 
 entered Courtray gained considerably by the pillage. The French 
 and Bretons next came there, and lodged themselves as they entered. 
 The king of France made his entry the first day of December. 
 
 A strict search was now made over the town for the Flemings 
 who had hid themselves, and no man was admitted to mercy, for the 
 French hated them as much as they were hated by the townspeople, 
 on account of a battle which had formerly been fought before Cour- 
 tray, when the count Robert d'Artois and all the flower of the French 
 nobility were slain. The king had heard that there was in a chapel 
 of the Virgin in Courtray five hundred gilt spurs, which had belonged 
 to the knights of France who had perished at the battle of Courtray 
 in the year 1302, and that the inhabitants every year kept a grand 
 solemnity, by way of triumph, for the success of this battle. He 
 declared he would make them pay for it : and, on his departure, 
 would give up the town to fire and flame ; so that they should remera- 
 ber, in times to come, that the king of France had been there. 
 
 Soon after the arrival of the king and his lords at Courtray, sir 
 Daniel de Haluin, with fifty lances from the garrison of Ouf-enarde, 
 came thither to pay their respects to the king. They v.ere very 
 graciously received by him and his lords ; and, after staying there 
 one day, they returned to their companions in Oudenarde. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXVI. 
 
 BRUGES SUBMITS TO THE KING'S MERCY. THE COUNT DE BLOIS GUARDS 
 THE COUNTRY OF HAINAULT FROM BEING PILLAGED. THE INHABITANTS 
 OF GHENT GAIN COURAGE FROM PETER DU BOIS. 
 
 The Bretons and the vanguard showed very plainly the great desire 
 they had to march to Bruges and to divide the spoil among themselves, 
 for they were quartered between Tourout and Bruges. The earl of 
 Flanders, who had an affection for the town of Bruges, and who 
 would have been sorry for its destruction, had strong suspicions of 
 their designs. He had received intelligence of what was going for- 
 ward in Bruges, and how very much they were frightened. He there, 
 fore took compassion on them, and spoke to his son, the duke of 
 Burgundy, remonstrating with him, that if the town of Bruges should 
 throw itself on the king's mercy, it ought not to be refused ; for, if 
 the Bretons or others were permitted to enter it, it would be irrevo. 
 cably ruined. The duke agreed to this. Now it happened that, 
 during the king's residence at Courtray, the inhabitants of Bruges, 
 who were in great alarms and knew not whether to quit their town 
 or wait the event, de termined to send two friars to the king, to solicit 
 a passport for twelve of the principal inhabitants lo wait on his majesty 
 and lay their cases before him. 
 
 The monks came to Courtray and spoke with the king and his 
 
 *This name has puzzled me very much : 1 cnnnot find it in any dictionary. It it 
 called, both in MSS. and print. H.ise. Hnze, Ha/.;ile and Hnhe —[Hasc was a title 
 conferred on the Rastnrd of Flanders and Brabant, but it U difficult to account fur it» 
 origin ; the meanins; of the word, according to (. 'otgr.-i ve's Dictionary, is " an old female 
 cnnie or hiire," and in siib>equent parts of the work the same pereon is called "L» 
 Lievre de Brabant." the A^77-e of Brabant. Some accidental circumstttnce prubably 
 gav« occusion fur Uiis somewhat strange appellatiun.— Eo.] 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 323 
 
 council, and the earl of Flanders, who softened the business as much ; 
 as he could. The king granted the passport for the twelve citizens 
 to come and return, and said he would willingly hear them. On the 
 return of the monks to Bruges, twelve deputies set out, under the 
 passport they had brought, and came to the king at Courtray, where 
 they found him accompanied by his uncles. They cast themselves 
 on their knees, and entreated him to accept them for his subjects ; 
 that they were his men, and the town was at his mercy ; but begged 
 him, for the love of God, to have mercy on them and not suffer the 
 town to be destroyed or pillaged ; for, if it were, too many persons 
 would be ruined. With regard to having opposed their lord, they 
 had been forced to it by Philip von Artaveld and the Ghent men ; 
 for they had always loyally acquitted themselves to the earl. The. 
 king heard this speech through the interpretation of the earl of Flan- 
 ders, v/ho was present, and who on his knees entreated for them. 
 
 It was explained to the citizens of Bruges, that it would be neces- 
 sary to satisfy the Bretons and men-at-arms who were encamped 
 between Touront and Bruges, and that there was no other means of 
 doing so but with money. Upon this, negotiations were entered 
 upon as to the sum : at first, two hundred thousand francs were de- 
 manded ; but it was reduced at last to six score thousand francs, 
 sixty thousand of which they were to pay down, and the remainder 
 at Candlemas ; for which the king assured them peace ; but they 
 surrendered themselves simply as liege men to the king of France 
 by faith and homage. By this means was the good town of Bruges 
 prevented from beinar nillaffed. The Bretons were much vexed at 
 it, for they thought to have had their share ; and some of them said, 
 when they heard peace had been made, that this war in Flanders 
 was not worth anything ; that they had gained too little pillage, and 
 that it did not end well for them ; adding, " But when we return 
 home, it shall be through the country of Hainault ; and duke Albert, 
 who governs it, has not assisted his cousin the earl of Flanders, but 
 has acted in a double manner. It will be right that we pay him a 
 visit : for Hainault is a rich and plentiful country : besides, we shall 
 not find any one to obstruct our passage, and we may there make 
 amends for our losses and ill-paid wages." 
 
 There was a time when those of this opinion amounted to twelve 
 hundred spears, Bretons, Burgundians, Savoyards and others. You 
 ^may suppose the charming country of Hainault was in jeopardy. 
 The gallant count de Blois, who v/as one of the greatest lords of the 
 rear-guard, and of the king's council, heard of this intended march, 
 and that the Bretons, Burgundians and others, who only looked for 
 pilkge, menaced the fair country of Hainault ; he took immediate 
 steps to prevent it, saying, it was not to be suffered that so fine a 
 country should be overrun and pillaged. He summoned to his lodg- 
 ings his cousins, the count de la Marche, the count de St. Pol, the 
 lord de Coucy, the lord d'Anghien and several more, all holding lands 
 in Hainault, and who had come thither to serve the king, and remon- 
 strated with them, that they ought not by any means to suffer the 
 good country of Hainault, whence they had sprung, and where they 
 had estates, to be pillaged in any way whatever ; for, with regard to 
 the war, Hainault had|pot been in the least wanting, but had most 
 loyally assisted the king in this expedition with its barons, and, before 
 the king came into Flanders, it had aided the earl of Flanders with 
 its knights and squires, who had shut themselves in Oudenarde and 
 Dendremonde, at the risk of their lives and fortunes. 
 
 The count de Blois exerted himself so much, and gained so many 
 partisans, that all those measures were broken, and Hainault remained 
 in peace. This gallant lord performed another noble service. There 
 was in Flanders a knight called the lord d'Esquemine, who from 
 affection to a relation of his, called Daniel Buse, killed in Valen- 
 ciennes by his own fault, had declared he would make war on and 
 harass that town. He had done so, and threatened to insult it still 
 more, being seconded by many friends inclined to evil ; for it was 
 reported that he had collected full five hundred spears-, who would 
 follow him into Hainault to attack the town of Valenciennes, in which 
 they said he was justified. But when the count de Blois heard of 
 it, he went to him nobly accompanied, and ordered the knight not 
 to dare enter Hainault, nor to conduct any men-at-arms into the 
 countries of his cousin duke Albert, otherwise he should pay dearly 
 for it. This gallant count went further, and made the knight his 
 particular friend, and obsequious to himself and the lord de Coucy ; 
 and thus was that town kept in peace. Such services did the count 
 de Blois to Hainault and Valenciennes, for which he gained great 
 love and affection, but particularly from Valenciennes. 
 
 The lords and the men-at-arms still remained in and about Cour- 
 tray, for they knew not whether the king would march to Ghent or 
 not. The French imagined, that when Bruges had surrendered itself 
 to the king's mercy, Ghent would do the same, since it had lost its 
 leader, and such numbers of men at the battle of Rosebecque. In 
 truth, for three days, the inhabitants were well inclined so to do, 
 and knew not how to act: to quit the town and leave everything, 
 or to send the keys to the king, and surrender themselves to his 
 mercy. They were so completely cast down that there was neither 
 union nor steadiness among them. The lord de Harzelles, though 
 in the town, was incapable of giving them comfort. 
 
 When Peter du Bois arrived, he found the gates open without any 
 guards, which much surprised him ; and he asked, why they did not 
 better guard the town. Those who came to him, and who were 
 
 much rejoiced at his arrival, replied : " Ah, sir, what can we do ? 
 You know we have had our good captain slain ; and, by an exact 
 account, the town of Ghent has lost, without counting strangers, full 
 nine thousand men. This loss touches us so nearly that we have no 
 hopes left." " Ye foolish people," answered Peter du Bois, " are ye 
 thus thunderstruck when the war is not near- over, nor the town of 
 Ghent so famous as she shall be ? If Philip is dead, it has been by 
 his own violence. Close your gates, and think of preparing to de. 
 fend yourselves. Ye do not suppose that the king of France v/ill 
 come here this winter-time ; and before the proper season shall arrive, 
 we shall have gained reinforcements froiTi our friends in Holland, 
 Zealand, Guelderland, Brabant and other places. We can have 
 men enough for our money. Francis Atremen, who is now in Eng. 
 land, will soon return, and he and I will be your captains. The war 
 has never been so serious, or so well conducted, as we will have it. 
 We are much better alone than joined by all Flanders ; for while 
 we had the country with us, we knew not how to make war. Let 
 us now attend to the business ourselves, and we shall perform greater 
 exploits than have hitherto been done." 
 
 By such speeches as this did Peter du Bois rally the cast-down 
 inhabitants of Ghent, who would, without doubt, have surrendered 
 themselves unconditionally to the king of France, if Peter du Bois 
 had not been there. So much depends upon the courage and ability 
 of a single man. When the Ghent men saw five or six days pass 
 over without any attempt being made on their town, nor any ap. 
 pearance of a siege, they recovered their courage, and became more 
 presumptuous than before. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXVII. 
 
 THE TREATY BETWEEN THE ENGLISH AND FLEMINGS IS BROKEN. TH» 
 KING OF FRANCE DEPARTS FROM FLANDERS. 
 
 You have before heard how sir William Fremiton, having been 
 sent by the king of England and his council with letters to the prin. 
 cipal towns in Flanders on the subject of the intended treaties be- 
 tween them, had remained at Calais, and with him Francis Atremen 
 and the six citizens of Ghent. When the Flemings heard of the 
 defeat at Rosebecque, they were so much astonished, that the Eng. 
 lish knight saw he had no occasion to proceed further, for there was 
 an end of the treaty. He therefore took his letters without having 
 sealed them, and returned to England as speedily as he could, to 
 relate the particulars of this event. 
 
 The nobles of England were not sorry on hearing it ; for they 
 said, that if the commonalty of Flanders had been victorious over 
 the king of France, and his nobility had been slain, the pride of the 
 common people would have been so great that all gentlemen would 
 have had cause to lament it, for appearances of insurrections had 
 been shown in England. The Flemings, who had been sent to 
 London with Francis Atremen, were much cast down, and, hastily 
 embarking at Calais, sailed to Middlebourg in Zealand. The depu. 
 ties returned to their different towns, and Francis Atremen and hia 
 companions got to Ghent as well as they were able, through Zea 
 land, but not until the king of France had left Flanders. 
 
 During the residence of the king of France in Courtray, many 
 councils were held, to determine whether they should lay siege to 
 Ghent or not. The king was well inclined for so doing, as were the 
 Bretons and Burgundians. But the lords of the council, as it waa 
 now the heart of winter, considered, that no effectual war could be 
 carried on, and that the knights were much weakened and harassed 
 by the cold ; that, as the rivers round Ghent were wide and deep, it 
 would be time thrown away to attempt the siege : besides, the chiefs 
 were also worn down by the rains, the cold, and lying on the ground, 
 so that, everything considered, the king was advised to return to 
 Tournay, where he might recruit himself and keep his Christmas 
 Those from the more distant parts, such as Auvergne, Dauphiny, 
 Savoy and Burgundy, were to march quietly into their own coun- 
 tries. But the king and his council wished the Breton?, Normana 
 and French to remain with him and the constable ; for, as he could 
 depend on them, he intended employing them against the Parisians, 
 who had been so busy in forging armor, to make them behave better 
 than they had hitherto done, since the coronation oi the king. 
 
 When the king of France departed from Courtray, he was not for. 
 getful, any more than his lords, of the gilt spurs which had been hung 
 up in a church at Courtray, and which had belonged to the French 
 nobility who had fallen with Robert d'Artois at the battle of Cour. 
 tray. The king therefore ordered the town to be burnt and destroyed. 
 The earl of Flanders, on hearing of this, went to the king, in hopes 
 of remedying it, and flung himself on his knees, begging of him to 
 recal his orders ; but the king answered, he would do no such thing. 
 The earl dared not renew his request, but went away to lodgings 
 before they were set on fire. The duke of Burgundy had taken 
 down a curious clock which struck the hours, the handsomest that 
 was to be seen on either side of the sea, which he had caused to be 
 packed up, and placed on carts with its bell, and carried to Dijon, 
 where it was placed, and there strikes the hours day and night. 
 
 After the king had quitted the town, it was harshly treated ; for 
 it was burnt and destroyed without mercy: and many knights, 
 squires, men-at-arms, fine children, both boys and girls, were carried 
 
324 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 nwny as slaves, to be ransomed. The king rode on to Tournay, 
 where he was shown every respect due to him, and fixed his quar- 
 ters at the abbey of Saint Martin. The inhabitants were all dressed 
 ia while with three green bars on one side : and proper houses were 
 tUloted to the lords. The king was at Saint Martin's: and his at- 
 i.^ndants occupied one quarter of the town. The duke de Berry 
 \^as lodged in the palace of the bishop ; the duke de Bourbon at the 
 Crown ; the duke of Burgundy at the Golden Head ; the constable 
 at St. James's Head. 
 
 Proclamatioii was made for none to do any damage to the good 
 people of Tournay, under pain of death, nor take anything without 
 paying for it, nor to enter the country of Hainault with intent of 
 doing mischief.- All these orders were obsejved. The lords re- 
 freshed themselves there with their men : but those from the distant 
 parts returned to their homes through Lille, Douay and Valenci- 
 ennes. The count de Blois took leave of the king and his uncles, and 
 of his companion the count d'Eu, and retired to his inheritance in 
 Hainault. He stopped one day and night at Valenciennes, where 
 he was magnificently entertained ; for he had gained the affection 
 of the inhabitants, as well in gratitude for the services he had ren- 
 dered by preventing the Bretons, Burgundians and Savoyards, from 
 putting their intentions into execution of overrunning the country, 
 as in regard to sir Thierry d'Esquemine, who had long kept them in 
 alarm, and who, by having put himself under the obedience of the 
 count and the lord de Coucy, had given them peace. The count de 
 Blois left Valenciennes and went to Landrecies, where he passed 
 some time, with the lady Mary his wife and his son Louis, in recov- 
 ering himself from his fatigues. The following summer he went to 
 Blois ; but the countess and her son continued in Hainault, and lived 
 the greater part of the time at Beaumont. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXVIII. 
 
 VAIN ATTEMPTS MADE FOR PEACE BETWEEN THE KING OF FRANCE AND 
 GHENT. THE KINa, ON HIS RETURN TO PARIS, ORDERS THE CHAINS 
 TO BE TAKEN AWAY THAT BARRICADED THE STREETS. HE SEVERELY 
 PUNISHES THE PARISIANS. 
 
 The count de la Marche and sir James de Bourbon, his brother, 
 left Tournay to refresh themselves at their castle of Hainault. The 
 lord Guy de Laval, a Breton, went to Cheure in Hainault, which is 
 divided betvveen sir Robert de Namur and himself. The lord de 
 Coucy stopped at Mortagne on the Scheld, where he rested himself 
 and his men : but the greater part of the time he was with the king 
 at Tournay. The count de St. Pol was commissioned to correct the 
 Urbanists of the town, which was reported to contain many. Several 
 were discovered, and wherever found, even in the church of Ndtre 
 Dame, they were arrested, cast into prison, and paid dearly for their 
 liberty. By this means the count de St. Pol amassed in a very few 
 days seven thousand francs : for none obtained their liberty without 
 paying, or giving very good security. 
 
 During the king's residence at Tournay, the men of Ghent had a 
 passport granted them to come thither and return. There were 
 hopes that they would have been pardoned ; but, during the confer- 
 ences which were holden, they were as proud and hardened as if they 
 had been the conquerors at the battle of Rosebecque. They declared, 
 indeed, that they would willingly put themselves under the obedience 
 of the king, and would form part of the domain of France, under the 
 jurisdiction of Paris ; but that they would never acknowledge for their 
 lord earl Louis, because they could never love him for the great mis- 
 chiefs he had done them. Several attempts were made to obtain a 
 peace between the king and his council with these deputies ; but, 
 notwithstanding the interference of some wise prelates, they could 
 not get from them any other answer. They declared to the prelates, 
 that if they were to live in such peril as would turn the town upside 
 down for three or four years, they would never alter their minds. 
 They were told they might return when they pleased : upon which, 
 they departed from Tournay to Ghent, and things remained in a 
 state of war. 
 
 The king of France and his lords took great pains that all Flan- 
 ders should become Clementists, and obey pope Clement : but the 
 principal towns were as strongly inclined to Urban as the earl, that 
 they could not be moved. They replied, through the earl's council, 
 that they would consider of it, and give a determined answer before 
 Easter : the business, therefore, was held over till then. The king 
 of France kept his Christmas at Tournay : and, when he departed, 
 he appointed the noble lord de Guistelles governor of Bruges, the lord 
 de St. Py governor of Yprcs, the lord de Guistelles chief regent* of 
 Flanders, and sir John de .lumont governor of Courtray, whither the 
 king sent two hundred Bretons and other men-at-arms, and to gar- 
 rison Ardembourg. Sir William de Laumeghien was nominated to 
 Oudennrde, with about one hundred lances for his garrison. Thus 
 were all the strong places in Flanders provided with men-at-arms and 
 stores, t ) enable them to carry on the war during the winter upon 
 the r-;ierny'3 garrisons. 
 
 These things being arranged, the king set out from Tournay for 
 Arras, attended by his uncles and the earl of Flanders. During the 
 roeidencc of the king at Arras, th e city ran a great risk of being 
 
 * " RcgwreL" 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 .- ■ ■ ' ■— i 
 
 pillaged by the Bretons, to whom large sums were due for their pay 
 and who had fought hard in this campaign : they were much dis 
 coijtented with the king, and it was with some difficulty they were 
 restrained. The constable and marshals of France appeased them, 
 by promising that their whole pay should be completely paid them at 
 Paris ; and, with the lord Louis de Sancerre and the lord de Blain- 
 ville, pledged themselves for their performance. 
 
 Upon this the king departed, following the road to Peronne. The 
 earl of Flanders took his leave of the king, and returned to Lille, 
 where he resided. The king continued his route through Peronne, 
 Noyon, Compiegne, to Senlis, where he stopped. The army took 
 up their quarters in the villages betvveen Senlis and Meaux in Brie, 
 and upon the river Marne and round St. Denis, so that the whole 
 country was filled with men-at-arms. The king having left Senlis 
 for Paris, ordered his officers to make ready the Louvre, where he 
 intended to dismount. His three uncles did the same, sending their 
 servants to prepare their hotels, as did other lords. This they were 
 advised to, by way of precaution ; for the king and his lords had 
 been counselled not to enter Paris suddenly, as the Parisians were not 
 to be depended on, but to observe what countenance they would 
 show, and what preparations they had made against the king's return. 
 The king's officers, and the servants of the other lords, were ordered, 
 if any questions were asked about the king, and if he were coming, 
 to reply, " Yes, truly : he will be here instantly." 
 
 The Parisians, on learning this, resolved to arm themselves, and 
 show the king, on his entrance into Paris, the force that was in the 
 city armed from head to foot, ready for him, if he pleased, to dispose 
 of. It would have been better for them to have remai.ned quiet in 
 theii houses, for this display cost them dearly. They said they had 
 done it with good intentions, but it was taken in an opposite sense. 
 The king lodged at Louvres,* and from thence went to Bourget :t 
 it was immediately reported in Paris, that the king would be in- 
 stantly there : upon which, upward of twenty thousand Parisians 
 armed themselves and took the field, and drew up in a handsome 
 battalion between St. Ladre and Paris, on the side of Montmartre. 
 Their cross-bowmen had large shields and mallets, and all were pre- 
 pared as for instant combat. The king was still at Bourget, with his 
 lords, when this news was brought them, and an account of the state 
 of Paris. " See," said the lords, " the pride and presumption of this 
 mob ! what are they now making this display for ? if they had thus 
 come to serve the king when he set out for Flanders, they would 
 have done well ; but their heads were only stuffed with prayers to 
 God, that none of us might return." To these words some, who 
 would have been glad to have gone further, and attacked the Paris, 
 ians, added, "if the king be well advised, he will not put himself 
 into the hands of such people, who meet him fully armed when they 
 ought to come in all humility, with a procession, ringing the bells of 
 Paris, and returning thanks to God for the grand victory he has been 
 pleased to give us in Flanders." 
 
 The lords were somewhat puzzled how to act : at last, it was de- 
 termined that the constable of France, the lord d'Albreth, the lord 
 de Coucy, Sir Guy de la Trimouille and Sir^ohn de Vienne, should 
 go to speak with them, and demand the reason why they had come 
 out of Paris in such a body, armed from head to foot, to meet their 
 king ; for that such a proceeding had never before been known in 
 France. These lords were prepared to answer, whatever might be 
 their reply to this question ; for they were fully capable to manage a 
 business, had it been of ten times the im.portance. They set oui 
 from the king unarmed, and, to give a pretext to their mission, they 
 took with them three or four heralds, whom they ordered to ride for 
 ward, saying, " Go to those people and demand from them a passpor' 
 for our coming to them and our return, as we are ordered to parlej 
 with them, and tell them the king's commands." The heralds, stick 
 ing spurs into their horses, soon came up to the Parisians. Wher 
 the Parisians saw them coming, they never thought they were or 
 dered to speak with them, but that they were going to Paris, like 
 men who wished to get there beforehand. 
 
 The heralds, who had their emblazoned tabards on, asked, with a 
 loud voice, " Where are the chiefs ? where are the chiefs ? Who 
 among you are captains ? because it is to them our lords have sent 
 us." These words made some of the Parisians perceive they had 
 acted wrong, and, bowing their heads, replied, " There are no chiefs 
 here : we are but one, and under the command of our lord the king. 
 Speak, in the name of God, what you have to say." " My lords," 
 answered the heralds, " our lords (naming them) have sent us hither ; 
 for they cannot perceive what are your intentions ; and to require 
 that they may peaceably and without peril come hither and speak 
 with you, and return to the king with such an answer as you shall 
 give them ; for otherwise they are afraid to come." " By my troth," 
 replied those to whom this speech was addressed, "there was no 
 need to say this to us, unless it came from their noble minds ; but 
 we think you are laughing at us." " We have told you nothing but 
 the truth," said the heralds. " Well then," replied the Parisians, 
 " go and tell them they may come here in pei-fcct safety ; for the) 
 shall have no harm from us, who are ready to obey their commands." 
 
 The heralds returned to their lords and related what you have just 
 read. The four barons then advanced, attended by the heralds, to 
 
 * "Lcuvres"— a town in the Isle of France, five leagues from Senlis, six from Punk 
 t " Buurget"— a small towa in the Isle of IVoace, about a league from Foxi*. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN. &c. 
 
 32S 
 
 the Parisians, whom they found drawn up in very handsome battle- 
 array. They were upward of twenty thousand. As these lords rode 
 by them, examining and praising, in their own minds, their hand. 
 I some appearance, the Parisians bowed as they passed. When they 
 were arrived in the centre, they stopped ; and the constable address, 
 ing them, said with a loud voice, " You people of Paris, what can 
 have induced you thus to quit your town in such array ? It would 
 seem that, thus drawn up, you were desirous of combating the king, 
 your lord, you who are his subjects." " My lord," replied those 
 who heard him, " under your favor we have no such intentions, nor 
 ever had. We have come out in this manner, since you please to 
 know it, to display to our lord the king, the force of the Parisians, 
 for he is very young and has never seen it; and, if he should not be 
 made acquainted with it, he can never know what service he may 
 draw from us should there be occasion." " Well, gentlemen," 
 answered the constable, " you speak fairly : but we tell you from 
 the king, that at this time he does not wish to see it, and what you 
 have done has been sufficient for him. Return, therefore, instantly 
 to Paris, each man to his own house, and lay aside your arms, if you 
 wish the king should come thither." " My lord," replied the Paris- 
 ians, " we will cheerfully obey your orders." * 
 
 The Parisians upon this marched back to Paris, and each went to 
 his house to disarm himself. The four barons returned to the king, 
 and reported to him and his council the words you have heard It 
 was then ordered that the king and his uncles, with the principal 
 lords, should enter Paris with some men-at-arms, but that the main 
 body should remain near the city, to keep the Parisians in awe. The 
 lord de Coucy and the marshal de Sancerre were ordered to take the 
 gates off the hiiiges from the principal gates of St. Denis and St. 
 Marcel immediately on the king's entrance into Paris, so that the 
 gates might be open day and night for the men-at-arms to enter the 
 more easily, and master the Parisians should there be any necessity 
 for it. They also commanded the chains which were thrown across 
 the streets to be taken away, that the cavalry might pass through the 
 streets without danger or opposition. These orders were punctually 
 obeyed. 
 
 The king made his entrance into Paris and lodged at the Louvre, 
 and his uncles with him : the other lords went to their own hotels, 
 at least those who possessed any. The gates were taken off their 
 hinges, and the beams which had been laid under the tower of the 
 gates, with the chains from the streets, were carried to the palace. 
 The Parisians, seeing this, were in great alarm, and so fearful of be. 
 ing punished that none dared to venture out of doors, nor to open a 
 window ; they remained in this situation for three days ; in great 
 fright lest they should receive more harm than they had done. It 
 cost them several large sums ; for those whom they wished to mark, 
 were sent for one at a time, to the council chamber, where they were 
 fined ; some six thousand, others three, others one ; so that they 
 exacted from the city of Paris, to the profit of the king, his uncles 
 and ministers, the sum of four hundred thousand francs. They 
 never asked any but the principal persons as to their means of pay- 
 ment, who thought themselves happy to escape with only a fine. 
 They were ordered to carry their armor in bags, each man his own, 
 to the castle of Beaute, which is now called the castle of Vincennes, 
 where- they were thrown into the great tower, with the mallets. 
 
 In this manner were the Parisians punished, as an example to the 
 other towns of the kingdom of France. In addition, they were taxed 
 with subsidies, aides, gabelles, fouages, with the twelfth and thir- 
 teenth penny, and many other vexations. The flat country was also 
 completely ransacked. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXIX. 
 
 SEVERAL OF THE PRINCIPAL CITIZENS OF PARIS ARE BEHEADED, WITH 
 JOHN DES MARETS, AND MANY OTHERS IN THE DIFFERENT TOWNS ANJ) 
 CITIES IN FRANCE. 
 
 The king and his council arrested and threw into prison whatever 
 persons they pleased, Many were drowned ; but, in order to calm 
 the fears of the others, proclamation was made in the king's name in 
 all the streets and squares of Paris, that no one, under pain of death, 
 should hart the inhabitants, nor pillage their houses. This procla- 
 mation greatly appeased the Parisians. There were, however, car- 
 ried to execution several of the inhabitants who had been condemned 
 to death for having stirred up the people : but it was with great as- 
 toniihment .lohn des Marets* was seen among the number; he was 
 considered as a wise and upright man ; and some say he was con- 
 demned unjustly, for he was always known to have acted with the 
 utmost prudence, and was above all one of the greatest and wisest 
 members of the courts of law. He had served king Philio, king 
 •Tuhn and king Charles, with so much credit, that no fault was found 
 in him: nevertheless, he was condemned to be beheaded, with twelve 
 others ill his company. As they were conducting him to his execu. 
 tion, seated ia a cart high above the others, he called out, " Where 
 Tire those who have condemned riic ? Let them come forth, and jus. 
 tify, if they can, the cause and reason why and wherefore 'hey have 
 
 * ".John des Mar^t.?"— wiis an upright man, a distinguished mngistrate, and avocat- 
 gin6ral. He suffered from the hatred of the dukes of Beny and Burfirundv. v/hich was 
 moEt inveterate toward him. 
 
 judged me guilty of death." He then harangued the people, and 
 those who were to suffer with him, which made all pity him, but they 
 dared not speak out. 
 
 He was carried to the market.place in front of the town-houf.e, 
 where all who accompanied him were beheaded before his eyes : in 
 the number was Nicholas Flamand, a draper, for whose life forty 
 thousand francs had been offered in vain. When the executioner 
 came to behead John des Marets, he said to him, " Master John, 
 beg for mercy of the king, that he may pardon you your crimcB." 
 Upon which he turned, and said, " I have served his great-grand, 
 father king Philip, king John, and king Charles his father, faithfully 
 and loyally : and never did these three kings find fault with me, nor 
 would this king have done so, if he had arrived at the wisdom and 
 age of manhood. I firmly believe that, in my condemnation, he is 
 not any ways culpable. I have not, therefore, any cause to beg his 
 mercy ; but from God alone shall I beg it, and that he would forgive 
 all my sins." Upon this he took leave of all the people, who, for the 
 greater part, were in tears ; and thus died Master John des Marets. 
 
 In like manner were several executed in the city of Rouen, and 
 many fined, in order to intimidate the people. At Rheims, Chalons, 
 Troyes, Sens and Orleans, similar scenes passed. The towns were 
 heavily fined because they had been disobedient at the commence, 
 ment of this reign. Immense sums were thus raised throughout the 
 kingdom, and all went to the dukes of Berry and Burgundy, for the 
 king was under their management. However, to say the truth, the 
 constable and marshals had great part of it to pay the men-at.arms 
 who had served in the expedition to Flanders. The lords and great 
 barons of France, such as the count de Blois, the c(iunt de la Marche, 
 the count d'Eu, the count de St. Pol, the count de Harcourt, the 
 count dauphin of Auvergne, the lord de Coucy and others, had 
 granted to them assignments on the royal domain, to raise as much 
 as the king owed them for their services in Flanders, and to pay their 
 men. I know not how these lords were paid their assignments, for 
 very shortly new taxes were imposed on these lands by orders from 
 the king. Most commonly the king's tax was insisted on being paid 
 first, and the lords were obliged to wait for their arrears. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXX. 
 
 THE ftHENT MEN RENEW THE WAR. THE EARL OF FLANDERS BEC0ME3 
 AN OBJECT OF HATRED TO THE ENGLISH. 
 
 You know that when the king of France departed from Courtray, 
 the town of Ghent was still in a state of war. The governors of it 
 at this time were Peter du Bois, Peter do Nuitre and Francis Atre. 
 men, who reinforced their army with soldiers who came from different 
 countries, and were not in the least dismayed with their situation, 
 but as fresh and vigorous as ever. These captains heard that there 
 was a garrison of Bretons and Burgundians in the tov/n of Ardem- 
 bourg, and therefore determined to pay them a visit. Accordingly, 
 Francis Atremen marched from Ghent with three thousand men, and 
 arrived at Ardembourg, where tliere was a severe skirmish. In fact, 
 the Ghent men won the town ; but it cost them a number of men, 
 as there were full two hundred of their soldiers killed. The town 
 was stormed, pillaged, and die greater part of it burnt. They then 
 marched back to Ghent with their booty, where they were received 
 with great joy. Shortly after this they advanced to Dendremonde, 
 Alost, and as far as Oudenarde, plundering the whole country. 
 
 The earl of Flanders, who resided at Lille, heard how the Ghent 
 men were ravaging the country, and marching to different parts to 
 plunder it. He was much enraged thereat, not supposing they would 
 have had either the courage or power so to do, since they had lost 
 Philip von Artaveld. Those present answered, " My lord, you have 
 always heard how very artful the men of Ghent are : they have shown 
 it to you, and will now do so the more since their embassadoi-s are 
 returned from England, especially Francis Atremen, who was the 
 intimate friend of Philip: and as long as he lives, you wiU never be 
 free from war. We also know for a truth thai he has concluded a 
 treaty between Ghent and the king of England ; for he is secretly, 
 in spite of appearance, attached to England, a:^;! receives daily from 
 thence one franc as wages. John Saplcmon, v. ho lives at Bruges, 
 and has resided there under you for tv/enty-four years, pays him 
 monthly. To corroborate the truth of hif^ connections with England, 
 Rasse de Voirie, Louis de Voz and John Sercolat, who are from 
 Ghent, and the clerk who solicits the bishopric, have remained be- 
 hind in England to complete the treaties. In the m.onth of May, 
 you will hear more of all this than we now have told you." The 
 earl of Flanders pondered on what he had heard, and believed the 
 fact was so. He turned his attention to John Saplemon and the 
 English at Bruges, and ordered his Serjeants to summon them to 
 appear on a certain day before him. The Serjeants ordered John 
 Saplemon and several other rich Englishmen, who were quite unpre. 
 pared for such a proceeding, to appear that day fortnight before the 
 earl, at the castle of Lille. 
 
 The English were much astonished at the summons, and consulted 
 ! together. They could not imagine for what cause the earl had thus 
 I summoned them. Having weighed every circumstance, they began 
 • to have their suspicions, for they knew the earl was very hasty in his 
 ' angrer. They said among thepiselves, " He who is not careful of his 
 
326 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN. &c. 
 
 own person, is careful of nothing. I suspect the earl has had some 
 intelligence concerning us; forwith Francis Atremen, who has a 
 pension from our king, there are two citizens of this town in England, 
 who, having turned to his party, may perhaps have given information 
 against us, and placed us in his ill graces." This idea struck them 
 all, and made them afraid to wait the day of summons, and to appear 
 at Lille. They set out from Bruges for Sluys, where, by great ex- 
 ertions, they purchased a vessel that was ready to sail, and having 
 embarked, weighed anchor, and arrived at the quays of London. 
 Wlv. a the earl of Flanders heard of this, and saw that the English 
 did not come according to his summons, he was much vexed. He 
 found, from appearances, that what he had been told was the truth. 
 He instantly sent his Serjeants to Bruges, and caused to be seized 
 whatever could be found belonging to those English who had fied, 
 selling the articles collected ; and John Saplemon of London and his 
 companions were banished Flanders for one hundred years and a day. 
 Those who had been arrested were thrown into the dungeon of the 
 prison, which cost some of them their lives, while others recovered 
 all they had lost. 
 
 There is a common and true saying, that envy never dies. This 
 comes to my remembrance, because the English are too envious of 
 another's good fortune, and have always been so. You must know, 
 that the king of England, his uncles, and the nobility, were much 
 vexed at the good success and great honor which the king of France 
 and his nobles had gained at the battle of Rosebecque. When the 
 English knights conversed together on the subject, they said : " Ha, 
 by holy Mary I how proud will the French be now, for the heap of 
 peasants they have slain. I wish to God, Philip von Artaveld had 
 had two thousand of our lances and six thousand archers : not one 
 Frenchman would have escaped death or imprisonment. By God, 
 they shall not long keep this honor, for we have now a fine opportu. 
 nily of entering Flanders. That country has been conquered by the 
 king of France, and we will conquer it for the king of England. 
 The earl of Flanders shows at this moment how completely he is 
 subject to France, and how much he wishes, in every respect, to 
 please her, by banishing from Bruges and Flanders our English mer- 
 chants, who have resided there upward of thirty years. The time 
 has been when he would not have done so for any consideration, but 
 at present he dares not act otherwise for fear of the French." 
 
 This, and such like speeches, were common in England ; and it 
 was publicly said, that things should not remain as they were : now, 
 one may fairly suppose, that envy was the original cause of it. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXXI. 
 
 fOPE I7JIBAN SENDS BULLS INTO ENGLAND FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF THE 
 CLEM5NTISTS. THE BISHOP OF NORWICH APPOINTED COMMANDER-IN- 
 CHIS? ^(JAINST THEM. 
 
 About this period, he who signed himself pope Urban the sixth, 
 came from Rome to Genoa by sea, where he was grandly received, 
 and he fixed his seat there. You have heard how all England was 
 obedient to him; both church and commonalty, and now more tha^Ti 
 ever. Because the king of France and that country were Clemen t- 
 ists. Urban (whom the English and several other countries obeyed,) 
 during his residence at Genoa, sought how he could obtain succors 
 from England to annoy the king of France ; and I will tell you by 
 what means. He was to send his bulls to the archbishops and bishops 
 of the country, to proclaim that he absolved, and would absolve, from 
 all crime and fault, every one who would assist in the destruction of 
 the Clementists. He had heard that his adversary Clement had re- 
 sorted to this means in France, and was daily doing so ; and that the 
 French called the Urbanists, as to matters of faith, dogs, which those 
 retorted back on the Clementists, whom Urban was very desirous of 
 condemning to the utmost of his power, and he knew that he had 
 no other means of hurting them but through the English. It was 
 necessary, however, that he should have a considerable sum of ready 
 money, if he wished to put his plans into execution ; for it was well 
 known that the nobles of England would not, for all the absolutions 
 in the world, undertake any expedition, unless such were preceded 
 by offers of money. Men-at-arms cannot live on pardons, nor do 
 they pay much attention to them except at the point of c^eath. He 
 therefore determined, that with the bulls he sent to England for the 
 prelates to preach upon, he would order a full tenth to be raised by 
 the church, and to be paid by them to the nobility, without affecting 
 the king's treasury, nor oppressing the common people. This, he 
 imagined, would be agreeable to the knights and barons of England. 
 
 He instantly hastened the writing and engrossing his bulls, as well 
 to the king as to his uncles and the prelates of England, with his 
 pardons and absolutions from all crimes ; he granted, besides, to the 
 king and his uncles, a full tenth to be by them raised and levied 
 throughout the kingdom, on which he enlarged very much. And 
 because all these sums were to come from the church, he would have 
 a churchman command the expedition. The lord Henry Spenser, 
 bishop of Norwich, was appointed, that the commonalty and churches 
 of England might have greater faith in it. In addition to this, be- 
 cause he knew that the king of Spain was contrary to his interest, 
 and much allied with the king of France, he declared, that with the 
 money that should be thus raised in England, the duke of Lancaster, 
 
 who, in right of his wife, called himself king of Castille, should set 
 out fur that country to raise a similar army there ; and, if the duke 
 of Lancaster would undertake this expedition with a powerful force 
 of men-af-arms, he would grant to the king of Portugal (who had 
 just commenced a war against don John king of Castille) a full tenth 
 on the whole kingdom of Portugal. 
 
 In this manner was Urban active in his own concerns. He sent 
 upward of thirty bulls to England, where they were received with 
 much joy. The prelates preached up in their dioceses this expe. 
 dition in the manner of a croisade ; and the people of England, who 
 were credulous enough, believed it too readily, so that none of either 
 sex thought they should end the year happily, nor have any chance 
 of entering paradise, if they did not give handsomely to the expedi- 
 tion as pure alms. At London, and in that diocese, there was col- 
 lected a large Gascony tun full of money, and he who gave the most, 
 according to the pope's bull, gained the greatest number of pardons. 
 All who should die at this timC;, and who had given their money, 
 were absolved from every f ault ; and, by the tenor of the bull, happy 
 were they who would now die, in order to obtain so noble an abso- 
 lution. They collected during the winter and ensuing Lent, throug'ii- 
 out England, as well by alms as by the tenth from the church, for 
 everything was received, and they so cheerfully taxed themselves, 
 that the sum of twenty-five hundred thousand francs was amassed. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXXII. 
 
 the bishop of NORWICH, COMMANDER OF THE ENGLISH IN THE CROISADE 
 OF URBAN AGAINST THE CLEMENTISTS, DISEMBARKS AT CALAIS WITH 
 HIS ARMY OF URBANISTS. 
 
 When the king of England, his uncles, and council, were informed 
 of the amount of the above sum, they were greatly rejoiced, and said 
 they had money sufficient to carry on a war against the two king- 
 doms of France and Spain. Thomas, bishop of London, and bro. 
 ther to the earl of Devonshire, was nominated to accompany the 
 duke of Lancaster to Spain, in the name of the pope and prelates of 
 England. They were to have two thousand lances and four thou- 
 sand archers, and one half of the money which had been raised ; but 
 they were not to leave England so soon as the army under the com. 
 mand of the bishop of Norwich, because this last was to march to 
 Calais and enter France. They were uncertain how far in that 
 country they could advance, and whether the king of France would 
 meet them in force to give them battle. 
 
 There was another circumstance adverse to the duke of Lancas- 
 ter, who had great expectations from his intended expedition : the 
 common people of England inclined in general to follow the bishop 
 of Norwich in preference to him : for a considerable time he had 
 not been popular with them : besides, France was much nearer than 
 Spain. Some said privately, that the duke of Lancaster, more through 
 avarice and a desire to partake of the large sums which had been col- 
 lected from the church and from the alms of good men than through 
 devotion, had planned this expedition ; but that the bishop of Nor- 
 .wich represented the pope, and had been appointed by him to the 
 command, for which reason the greater part of the people, as well as 
 the king, had greater faith in him. 
 
 There were in the pay of the church, and under the command of 
 this bishop of Norwich, several good knights of England and Gas- 
 cony, such as the lord de Beaumont, sir Hugh Calverley, sir Thomas 
 Trivet, sir William Helmon, sir John Ferrers, sir Hugh Spenser, 
 nephew of the bishop, being his brother's son, sir William Fenniton, 
 sir Matthew Redman, governor of Berwick, the Lord de Ch&,teauneuf, 
 and his brother sir John de Cha,teauneuf, Raymond I\Ias3on, William 
 de Pan, Gariot Vighier, John de Cachitan, with many others : in the 
 whole, about five hundred lances and fifteen hundred other men ; but 
 there were multitudes of priests, because it was an affair of the 
 church, and had been set on foot by the pope. The men-at-arms 
 were punctual in laying in their stores, and the king gave them a 
 passage from Dover and Sandwich. Their purveyances were at 
 those places about Easter; and all who were deeirous of going on 
 this expedition, which was a sort of a croisade, marched thither in 
 small bodies. Before the bishop and the captains embarked, bu". 
 particularly sir Hugh Calverley, sir Thomas Trivet, and sir WiUiam 
 Helmon, they were summoned to attend the king's council, where 
 they solemnly swore, in the presence of the king, to fulfil the objec; 
 of the expedition, and that they would never make war on, or harass 
 any country or men who acknowledged pope Urban, but only those 
 who were under the obedience of Clement. 
 
 After they had taken this oath, the king, by advice of his council, 
 addressed them, saying, " Bishop, and you, Tlioraas and William, 
 when you shall have arrived at Calais, you will remain there for r. 
 month or thereabouts, in which time I will send you a good marshal 
 and valiant man, sir William Beauchamp : for I have dispatched 
 messengers to him on the borders of Scotland, where he at present is 
 holding conferences on our part with the Scots, for the truce between 
 us and Scotland will expire on St. John's day. On his return, you 
 shall have him without fail in your company : therefore wait for iiim; 
 for he will be of great use to you by his good sense ?.nd advice.' 
 The bishop of Norwich and the above-named knights assented to 
 this proposal, and quitted the king : they went to Dover, where they 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN. &c. 
 
 327 
 
 <»mbarked, and arrived at Calais the 23rd of April, 1383. Sir John 
 Pelvernes was at that time governor of Calais, who received the 
 bishop and his companions with muchx pleasure. They disembarked 
 a few at a time, with their horses and armor; and those vi^ho had 
 the opportunity of doing so, lodged themselves in the town; the rest 
 abided in huts which they erected in the neighborhood, and con- 
 tinned thus until the 4th day of May, expecting their marshal, sir 
 William Beauchanip, who, however, did not arrive. 
 
 The bishop of Norwich, young and eager, and wishing to bear 
 arms, having never done so but in Lombardy with his brother, find- 
 ing himself at Calais, and at the head of so fine a body of men-at- 
 arms, said to his companions, " For what purpose, my good sirs, are 
 we thus waiting here so long ? Sir William Beauchamp v>^ill never 
 arrive, and the king and his uncles have totally forgotten us. Let 
 us perform some deeds of arms, since we have been ordered so to do, 
 and loyally employ the money of the church, since Vv'e are living upon 
 it, and make conquest on our enemies." It is well spoken," re- 
 plied those who heard him. " Give notice to our men, that in three 
 days we shall make an excursion, and let us determine to what part 
 we shall march. We cannot issue out of the gates of Calais without 
 entering an enemy's country : for France surrounds us on all sides, 
 as well toward Flanders as toward Boulogne and St. Omer : Flan- 
 ders is now a conquered country, by the power of the king of France. 
 Considering all things, we cannot do a more honorable thing than to 
 reconquer it; for the earl of Flanders has done great injustice to our 
 countrymen, whom, without any apparent reason, he has banished 
 from Bruges and Flanders. Two years ago, he would not willing!}'' 
 have done so ; but at this moment he must obey the orders and good 
 pleasure of the king of France." " On which account," said the 
 bishop of Norwich, " if If I may be believed, the first expedition we 
 undertake should be to Flanders." " You shall be believed heartily,' 
 replied sir Thomas Trivet and sir William Helnion : "give orders 
 for this, and let us march thither in three days, for it will be on ene- 
 my's ground." This was adopted by all the council, and they gave 
 notice of it to the rest of the army. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXXIII. 
 
 THE BISHOP OF NOKWICII, COMMANDER OF THE rRBANISTS, ENTERS FLAN- 
 DERS CONTRARY TO THE OPINION OF SIR HUGH CALVKRLEY. THE EARL 
 OF FLANDERS SENDS EMBASSADORS TO THE BISHOP, WHO RETURNS A 
 HARSH ANSWER. 
 
 Sir Hugh Galverley was not present at this council, having gone 
 to see a cousin called sir John Droicton,* who was governor of Gu- 
 ines, and had remained there all that day, intending to return on the 
 following, which he did. The bishop sent for him to the castle, 
 where he was lodged, as were the others, because sir Hugh had been 
 longer accustomed to arms, and had seen more than they had done. 
 The knights had told the bishop, that they wished to have sir 
 Hugh's opinion before they undertook anything. The bishop related 
 to sir Hugh, in their presence, the conversation which had passed, 
 
 * " Proicton." Q.. Dmyton, 
 
 and demanded his advice on it. Sir Hugh thus replied to the bisnop: 
 "Sir, you know on what terms we have left England : our expeci- 
 tion has nothing to do with what concerns the wars of kings tut is 
 solely pointed against the Clementists. W e are the soldiers rf pope 
 Urban, who has given us absolution from all faults if we destroy tlio 
 Clementists. Should we march into Flanders, notwithstanding that 
 country may now appertain to the king of France and the duke of 
 Burgundy, we shall forfeit our engagement ; for, I understand, that 
 
 the earl of Flanders and 
 all the Flemings are as 
 good Urbanists as oir- 
 selves ; besides, we have 
 not a sufficient army to 
 enter Flanders, for they 
 are prepared and accus- 
 tomed to war, having had 
 nothing else to do for these 
 last four years. They are 
 a numerous people, and 
 it will be difficult to march 
 through so strong a coun- 
 try. But if you are deter, 
 mined on an expedition, 
 let us march into France, 
 there we shall find our 
 enemies. The king, our 
 lord, is now at open war 
 with them, and the French 
 are ail Clementists, hold, 
 ing a contrary faith to us 
 and to our pope. We 
 ought to wait for our mar. 
 aha], tir WiUiam Beau, 
 champ, who cannot fail 
 to arrive eoon with large 
 reinforcements ; and the 
 last word the king said to 
 us was. that he would send 
 him. I therefore advise, 
 since you are resolved on 
 an expedition, that we 
 march toward Aire or 
 Montreuil : none will ven- 
 ture, as yet, to oppose us, 
 and we shall add to our numbers by the Flemings, who, having lost 
 their all, will come and join us in the hopes of gain. They have still 
 rankling in their minds the misfortunes the French brought on them 
 by the slaughter of their fathers, sons, and friends, in their wars." 
 
 Scarcely had sir Hugh done speaking, when the bishop, in a rage, 
 hot and impetuous as he was, replied, " Yet, yes, sir Hugh : you 
 have learnt so long to fight in France, that you know not how to 
 fight elsevv'here. Now, can wc anywhere make an excursion with 
 more advantage to ourselves than toward the sea, by Bourbourg, 
 Dunkirk, Nieuport, and thence to the dependencies of Cassel, Ber- 
 gues, Ypres, and Poperingue ? In the country I have named, ac- 
 cording to the informations I have received from citizens of Ghent 
 who are with us, they have never been harassed by the war; we 
 will therefore go thither to refresh ourselves, and wait for the arrival 
 of sir William Beauchamp, if he intend cominf-:, but as yet we have 
 not had any intelligence of him." 
 
 Sir Hugh Calverley, seeing himself thus rcbitlTcd by the bishop, 
 who was of high birth and his commander, notv>'ithstanding he was 
 a valiant knight, made no reply, and the rather, because he had not 
 any support from sir Thomas Trivet, nor from sir William Helnion : 
 he therefore left the place, saying, " By God, sir, if you make an 
 excursion, sir Hugh Calverley will accompany you, and you shall 
 take neither road nor march but he will be of the party." " I wil- 
 lingly believe," said the bishop, " that you have a great desire for an 
 excursion: therefore make yourself ready, for ■ .e shall march in the 
 morning." In this resolution they agreed, and then separated. 
 Orders were sent to all the quarters in and round Calais, that every 
 one might be prepared for the expedition in the morning. W^hen 
 morning came, the trumpet sounded, and all marched off", taking the 
 road toward Gravelines. They were, according to a muster made, 
 three thousand armed heaxis. They continued their march until 
 they came to the port of Gravelines ; but it was at the time of ebb ; 
 they therefore passed by the port, and attacked and pillaged a men- 
 astery which the tov/nsmen had fortified. The town could^not hold 
 out long, for it was only inclosed by palisadoes, and the inh ibitants 
 were seamen. If there had been any gentlemen in the tow-: it 
 would have held out longer than it did. Neither had the country 
 any notice of this war, nor did they any way suspect the Er:glish of 
 thus attacking them. The English there :'ore conquered the town of 
 Gravehnes by storm, and, having ended it, advanced toward the 
 monastery, v/hither these good people had retreated, carrying with 
 them their wives, children, and fortunes, v/hich they placed therein, 
 depending on the strength of the walls. They had made deep 
 ditches all round this strong place, so that the English could not 
 immediately win it, but remained two days in the town before the^ 
 
338 
 
 'chronicles of ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 took it. In the end, they conquered, and slew those who defended 
 it, doin? with the remainder according to their pleasure. Thus 
 were they lords and masters of Gravelines, where the whole army 
 was quartered, and found plenty of provisions. The country began 
 to take alarm on hearing the English were in possession of Grave, 
 lines; and those of the low countries sheltered themselves in the 
 fortresses, sending their wives and children to Bergues, Bourbou-rg, 
 and St. Omer. 
 
 The earl of Flanders heard at Lille, where he resided, that the 
 English had made war on his country, and had taken Gravelines. 
 He began to have suspicions of them, as well as of Bruges and its 
 dependencies. Summoning his council, he said to them, "I am 
 very much astonished that the English should overrun my country, 
 and take my towns without giving me any notice of it ; and that, 
 without sending me any defiance, they should have entered my 
 territories." *' Indeed, my lord," some of them replied, " you have 
 cause to wonder ; but one may suppose they consider Flanders as 
 belonging to France, since the king had advanced so far into it, that 
 the country surrendered to him." " Well, what had we best do ?" 
 asked the earl. " It will be right," replied his council, " that sir 
 John de Villain and sir John du Moulin, who are here, and have 
 pensions from the king of England, should go in your name to Eng- 
 land to speak with the king, and report to him a detail of this affair, 
 and demand, in your name, for what purpose he thus makes war on 
 you. I believe, that when he shall have heard your embassadors, 
 he will be angered at those who have thus harassed your country, 
 and recal them thence with much blame." " This is very well," 
 said the earl, " but during the time our knights are going to England, 
 those at Gravelines (and who will stop them ?) may do great damage 
 to the inhabitants of the Franconate." The earl was thus answered : 
 " It is necessary some parley should be held with them, as well to 
 obtain passports for Calais and England as to know what it is they 
 ' want ; and sir John Villain and sir John du Moulin are such discreet 
 persons, that they will manage to restore peace to the country." " I 
 consent to this," replied the earl. 
 
 The two knights received their instructions from the earl and his 
 council, in regard to the parley with the bishop of Norwich, as well 
 as respecting their mission, and what they were to say to the king 
 of England and his uncles. While these knights were preparing to 
 set out for Gravelines to the bishop of Norwich, all the country rose 
 in the environs of Bourbourg, Bergues, Cassel, Poperingue, Furnes, 
 Nieuport, and other towns, and advancing to Dunkirk, entered that 
 town, declaring that tS'ey would in a short time march out to guard 
 the frontiers and fight the English. These Flemings had for leader 
 a knight called sir John Sporequin, who was governor or regent of 
 the territories of madame de Bar, which are situated on this frontier 
 and extend to the gates of Ypres. Sir John Sporequin was ignorant 
 of the earl's intentions of sending to England : the haze de Flanders 
 had come to him with thirty lances, and said that the earl was at 
 Lille ; but that he knew nothing more ; and that he was about to 
 marry his sister there with the lord Delbauurin. These two knights 
 took great pains to stir up the country, and to collect all men of 
 courage : they amounted at last to twelve thousand men, armed 
 with pikes, staves, coats of mail, jackets,* iron caps and helmets, 
 and all of them- were, for the greater part, as I was informed, vassals 
 of madame de Bar, residing between Gravelines and Dunkirk. 
 
 Three leagues off, and near the road, is Mardyke, a large village 
 quite open on the sea-shore, whither the English advanced ; and at 
 times there were skirmishes. Sir John Villain and sir John du 
 Moulin arrived at Gravelines with a passport, for which they had 
 waited at Bourbourg, where one of their heralds brought it. On 
 their arrival at Gravelines, and soon after they had dismounted, 
 they waited on the bishop of Norwich, who outwardly gave them a 
 handsome reception and good entertainment. He had that day at 
 • dinner all the barons of his army ; for he well knew that the knights 
 of the earl of Flanders were coming, and therefore wished they 
 might meet with them altogether. The knights opened their busi- 
 ness, and said to the bishop, " Sir, we are sent hither by my lord of 
 Flanders." " What lord ?" said the bishop. " The earl of Flan- 
 ders, sir : Flanders has no other lord." " By my God," replied the 
 bishop, " we consider it as belonging to the king of France or to the 
 duke of Burgundy, our enemies, for by force of arms have they just 
 conquered it." "Under respect to your grace," answered the 
 knights, " the territory was loyally remitted at Tournay into the 
 hands and government of my lord the earl of Flanders, who has sent 
 us hither to entreat of you to grant us, who are attached by faith 
 and pension to the king of England your lord, passports to go to Eng. 
 land, to the king, to know his reasons for making war on my lord 
 the earl of Flanders and his country, without sending him any defi. 
 ante." The bishop replied he would consider of it, and they should 
 huve his answer to-morrow morning. They could not obtain more 
 at this moment, and retired to their houses, leaving the English in 
 council, who resolved as I shall tell you. 
 
 Having fully weighed every circumstance, and the enterprise they 
 had undertaken, they resolved not to grant passports to the two 
 knights to go to England, for the journey was long, and while they 
 ■were going and returning, the whole country would be secured and 
 
 * " HocTuttons,^' a quilted garment generally worn beneath steel aimor, but occa- 
 lioDallv used as the sole ormor of licht troops.—Eo. 
 
 greatly strengthened ; for the earl, who was a subtle character, might 
 inform the king of F ranee and duke of Burgundy of his situation, 
 by whose means so large a force might in a few days come upon 
 them, that they v/ould be unable to resist it. Having formed this 
 resolution as to the answer they would give in the morning to the 
 knights from Flanders, sir Hugh Calveriey was called upon for his 
 opinion, who said to the bishop, " Sir, you are our commander : 
 you will tell them that we are on the territories of the duchess of 
 Bar, who is a Clementist ; that you make war for Urban and no one 
 else ; and that if the people of this country, with the churches and 
 monasteries, will be good Urbanists, and march with you through 
 the country, your men shall peaceably pass, paying for whatever 
 they may want : but in respect to granting them passports to go to 
 England, you will do no such thing ; for our war does not regard 
 either the king of France or the king of England, but solely pope 
 Urban, whose soldiers we are. It seems to me that such an answer 
 ought to satisfy them." All present assented to it, and particularly 
 the bishop, who had no other care, whatever might be said or done, 
 but to fight and carry on the war. Thus was this business arranged 
 for the night. On the morrow after mass-', the two knights, desirous 
 of having their answer, went to the lodgings of the bishop, and 
 waited until he came out to hear mass, when they placed themselves 
 before him. Outwardly he seemed ^'lad to see them, and conversed 
 with them on different topics to delay the time, until his knights 
 should come. On their arrival the bishop said, " My fair gentlemen, 
 you are come for an answer, and you shall have one. With regard 
 to the request you made to us from the earl of Flanders, I inform you, 
 you may return when you please to the earl ; but as to Calais or 
 England, you will go at your perils, for I will not give you any pass, 
 port. I am not king of England, nor commissioned to do so. I am 
 the soldier of pope Urban, and all those who are with me are so 
 likewise, having taken his money to serve him. We are at this 
 moment on the territories of the duchess of Bar, who is a Clemen- 
 tist. If the people of this country hold that opinion, we make war 
 on them. If they will follow us, they shall have their share of the 
 absolutions ; for Urban, vvho is our pope, and for whom we march, 
 absolves from all crimes those who shall aid in the destruction of the 
 Clementists." 
 
 When the two knights heard this speech, sir John Villain said, 
 " Sir, with respect to what concerns the pope, I believe you have 
 never heard but that my lord of Flanders is a good Urbanist; you 
 have therefore been badly advised if you make war on him or on his 
 country : and I do not believe that the king of England has given 
 you such extensive orders ; for if such had been his intentions, he 
 is so noble and considerate, he would first have sent him a defiance." 
 This answer enrcged the bishop, who said, " Go and tell your earl 
 he shall not have any other answer. And if he wishes to send you 
 or any others to England, to learn more particularly the king's inten- 
 tions, let him look to it ; for those he sends must take another road 
 than this, and they shall not cross at Calais." When the laiights 
 found they could not have any other answer, they took their leave 
 and departed. They returned to their lodgings to dinner ; and then, 
 mounting their horses, went that day to St. Omer. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXXIV. 
 
 THE BISHOP OF NORWICH MARCHES TOWARD DUNKIRK. HE DEFEATS 
 TWELVE THOUSAND FLEMINGS AND TAKES THE TOWN. 
 
 The same day that the knights of Flanders had departed, news 
 was brought to the bishop and the English, that there were at Dun- 
 kirk and in its neighborhood, upward of tvv'elve thousand men armed, 
 and that the bastard of Flanders commanded them, but that there 
 were other knights and squires who also advised them. That they 
 had skirmished with their men at Mardyke, and had repulsed and 
 killed one hundred. The bishop said, " Now observe the conduct 
 of the earl of Flanders : he affects to do nothing, and yet he is at the 
 bottom of all : he wants to negotiate sword in hand. I am resolved 
 to march to-morrow toward Dunkirk, and see what sort of men these 
 are." This proposal met universal approbati.on, and notice was sent 
 of it through Gravelines. This day two knights joined the army, 
 one from Calais, the other from Guines, w ith about thirty lances and 
 sixty archers. These knights were called sir Nicholas Cliton* and 
 sir John Dracton,t governor of Guines. 
 
 On the ensuing morning, every one was ready for the march. 
 They took the field, amounting in number to more than six hundred 
 lances and fifteen hundred archers. They advanced toward Mar 
 dyke and Dunkirk ; and the bishop of Norwich had the arms of the 
 church borne before him, the banner of St. Peter, gules with two 
 
 ! keys en sautoir, as being gonfalonnier of pope Urban. His pennon 
 had his own arms, which were argent quartered with azure, with a 
 fret or, on a field azure, and a baton gules on a field argent ; and, be 
 
 j cause he was a younger brother of the Dispensers, his arms were 
 
 ' charged with a bordure gules. Sir Hugh Dispenser, his nephew, 
 was there with his pennon, and the lord de Beaumont, sir Thomas 
 
 , Trivet, sir William Helmon and sir Hugh Calveriey, had both banner 
 and pennon. Sir William Drayton, sir John Drayton, his brotlier, 
 
 ♦"Cliton." ft. if not Clinton. f'Dracton." ft. if not Drarton. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 sir Matthew Redman, sir John Ferrers, sir William Frenenton,* and 
 sir John de Neufchastel, Gascon, had only pennons. These men- 
 at-arms came to Mardyke, where they refreshed themselves, and, 
 having drank a cup, continued their march toward Dunkirk. The 
 Flemings, who were in the town, heard that the English v/ere 
 marching in o: der of battle to combat them. Upon this, they re- 
 solved tJ takp ' le field, and draw up in battle-array to defend theni- 
 selves if there s lould be any occasion, for it would not be for their 
 advantage to shi t themselves up in the town. They instantly exe- 
 cuted this resolution, and all who were in Dunkirk armed and 
 marched into the fields, whei e they drew up in good array on a hill, 
 and mustered upward of twelve thousand men. 
 
 The English were now advanced near to Dunkirk, when, on look- 
 ing toward the rising grounds ca the right, in the direction of Bour- 
 bourg, and near the sea-shore, i :ey saw the Flemings formed in a 
 large and well-arranged battalion. On this they halted, for they 
 thought, from the manner in which the Flemings had drawn them, 
 selves up, that they had an intention of fighting. The principal 
 captains assembled to consider how they should now act, and many 
 words passed, for some, and especially the bishop, wished to march 
 instantly to the combat ; but others, such as the lord de Beaumont 
 and sir Hugh Calverley, were of a contrary opinion, and assigned as 
 their reason, that the Flemings had never done them any wrong ; 
 and that, in truth, they had never sent any declaration of war to the 
 earl of Flanders, though they had entered his country. " We do not 
 make war in a gallant manner, but like a mob, that whoever can, 
 may pillage. The whole country where we are is Urbanist, and fol- 
 lows the same opinion as ourselves : now, consider what just cause 
 have we for att .eking them." The bishop ans.wered, " How do we 
 know whether . hey are Urbanists or not ?" " In God's name," said 
 sir Hugh Calver sy, " let us send a herald to them to know why thty 
 are thus drawn up in battle-array, and what they want ; and let 
 them be asked which pope they obey. If they answer pope Urban, 
 you will require of them, by virtue of the bull we have with us, that 
 they accompany us to St. Omer, Aire, Arras, or whithersoever we 
 may wish to lead them. When they shall have had these questions 
 put to them, we shall know their intentions, and may then call a 
 council." This proposal was adopted, and a herald called, whose 
 name was Montfort, and attached to the duke of Brittany. He was 
 ordered by these lords to ride to the Flemings, and told what he was 
 to say, and how to act when among them. He obeyed their com- 
 mands, and, clothed in his proper coat of arms, without suspecting 
 any accident, made for the Flemings, who were drawn up in hand- 
 some order of battle. He wished to address himself to some knights ; 
 but he could not, for as soon as the Flemings saw him, without ever 
 asking what was his business, or making any inquiries, they sur- 
 rounded him and slew him, like ignorant people, nor could those gen- 
 tlemen who were there save him. The Enghsh, on seeing this action, 
 for they kept their eyes on them, were mad : as were also the citizens 
 of Ghent who accompanied them, and were eager to urge them on; 
 hoping that, by these means, new troubles would fall on Flanders. 
 
 The English said, " This mob has murdered out herald : they 
 shall pay dearly for it, or we will all die on the spot.''' The archers 
 were ordered to advance on the Flemings. A ci'tizen of Bruges or 
 Ghent was made a knight, and shortly the battle began briskly ; for, 
 to say the truth, the Flemings defended themselves very well, but 
 the archers wounded or beat down many, when the men-at-arms 
 broke through them, and with their pointed spears killed multitudes 
 on their first charge. In short, the English won the day, and the 
 Flemings were defeated. They thought to keep together in a body 
 and enter Dunkirk ; but the English followed them closely and kept 
 up the engagement so warmly that they entered the town with them. 
 Numbers v/ere slain in the streets or on the shore, though they there 
 gained some advantage, for the English lost four hundred at least. 
 As the English pursued, the Flemings retired : many detached par- 
 ties fought, in which several knights and squires from Flanders 
 were slain ; scarcely any escaped death or captivity. Thus did this 
 alfair end : there were full nine thousand Flemings killed at this 
 battle of Dunkirk. 
 
 The day the battle had taken place, sir John Villain and sir John 
 du Moulin had returned to vne earl of Flanders at Lille, and had 
 repeated to the earl all they had seen and heard from the English. 
 The earl %vas very melancholy on the subject, not knowing how to 
 act : he was still more so, and with greater reason, when he heard 
 the news of the slaughter and defeat of his men at Dunkirk. He 
 bore it with tolerable patience, and comforted himself as well as he 
 could, by saying, " Well, if we have lost at this time, at another, 
 please God, we shall win." He instantly dispatched a messenger to 
 the duke of Burgundy, who was with the king of France, with pri- 
 vate letters, to give him information of this event, and for him to 
 consider of it; for he concluded that since the English had thus en- 
 tered Flanders and killed his subjects, they would not rest there, but 
 would advance further into the country and do more mischief. The 
 duke of Burgundy, on receiving this intelligence, sent knights and 
 squires to garrison St. Omer, Aire, St. Venant, Bailleul, Bergues, 
 Cassel, and all the strong places on the frontiers of Flanders, and to 
 guard the entrance of Artois. 
 
 We will return to the Engli sh, and say how they prospered. 
 
 * "FreueatoD.** Q. Famngdon, oi Framptono 
 
 CHAPTER CXXXV. 
 
 THE ENGLISH, TNCER THE COMMAND OF THE BISHOP OF NORWICH, HAV- 
 ING CONQUERED ALL THE COAST FROM GRAVELINES TO SLUYS, LAT 
 SIEGE TO YPRES. 
 
 After the defeat near Dunkirk and the conquest of that town 
 the English were swollen with pride, and thought all Flanders was 
 their own. To say the truth, had they marched directly to Bruges, 
 many who were well acquainted with the state of that town, say it 
 would have surrendered to them : but they acted otherwise ; for ihcy 
 had determined to march to Bourbourg, to take that town, and then 
 to advance to Aire and Cassel, conquering the whole country so as 
 to leave no enemy in their rear, and then to lay siege to Ypres. 
 They imagined the town of Ypres would surrender on seeing that 
 the country was conquered. They left Dunkirk, after having done 
 their pleasure with it, and marched for Bourbourg : the inhabitants 
 of which place, being much alarmed, no sooner saw them coming 
 than they instantly surrendered, on having their lives and fortunes 
 spared. The English entered the place with great joy ; for they 
 said they would there establish a handsome garrison, to make war 
 on St. Omer and the adjacent frontiers. • 
 
 After this, they gained the castle of Dixmude : but it vvas three 
 days before they took it by storm, and the garrison of two hundred 
 men were slain. The English repaired it, and declared they would 
 keep it to the utmost of their power, garrisoning it again with fresh 
 men-at-arms. They continued their march to Cassel, which they 
 took, where they made a great booty, and peopled it again with 
 their own men. They still continued their march, saying that they 
 would have a look at Aire ; but many, well acquainted with its sit- 
 uation, knew it was not easy to be taken, and would cost too much : 
 however, the bishop of Norwich said, he would have a near view 
 of it. 
 
 At this time, the governor of Aire was a gallant knight from 
 Picardy, called sir Robert de Bethune, viscount de Meaux : there 
 were also with him sir John de Roye, the lord de Clary, sir John de 
 Bethune his brother, the lord de Montigny, sir Perducas de Pont 
 Saint, sir John de Chaugny and sir Florens his son, with several 
 more ; so that there were about six score lances of good men-at- 
 arms, knights and squires. When the bishop of Norwich, sir Hugh 
 Calverley, sir Henry de Beaumont, sir Thomas Trivet, sir William 
 Helmon, sir Matthew Redman and the rest were advanced to a 
 place near Aire, called the New Ditch, they formed themselves in 
 battle-array, and thus marched on in close order with banners and 
 pennons fluttering in the wind ; for they knew not what intenftona 
 the viscount and his companions might have. 
 
 The viscount with his knights and squires were handsomely drawn 
 up on the causeway before the bankers of Aire, and plainly saw the 
 English march beside them, on the road to St. Venant ; but as they 
 were not in numbers sufficient to bar that passage, they remained 
 quiet at their post to defend themselves if attacked. The English 
 marched by, and took up their quarters two leagues from St. Venant ; 
 the governor of that place was a knight of Picardy called sir Wil- 
 liam de Melle, who had fortified the church of the town to serve as 
 a place of retreat should it be necessary : he found it so, for the 
 town was only inclosed by small palisadoes and ditches. The at- 
 tack did not last long before the English entered it, when the French 
 retreated, some to the castle, others to the church. Those in the 
 castle were not attacked ; for it was marvellously strong, and could 
 not be approached for the deep and wide ditches which surrounded 
 it : but the church was instantly assaulted by the English on their 
 entrance into the town, for they had heard that the men-at-arms had 
 retreated thither. Sir William de Melle was a good and gallant 
 knight, and would have defended the church of St. Venant valiantly ; 
 but the English archers had surrounded it, and shot so rapidly and 
 with such good aim that scarcely any d:\rod ahow- themselves in 
 its defence. Those who were on the battlements were provided 
 with stones, pieces of wood and artillery, which they used with such 
 success as to wound many ; but the attack was continued with so 
 great earnestness by the English, that the church was taken by 
 storm and sir William in it, who had fought valiantly. The others 
 did the same ; and had they entertained any hopes of being sup. 
 ported, they would have held out longer, which was the cause that 
 they were thus easily taken. Sir William de Melle was made a 
 prisoner : he agreed for his ransom, and returned to France with the 
 consent of his captor, to whom he had given his word according to 
 the manner in which all French and English gentlemen behave to 
 one another in similar cases; but not so the Germans, who, when- 
 ever they take a prisoner throw him into durance vile, loaded with 
 irons, in order to gain a more considerable ransom. 
 
 The bishop of Norwich and his army, on their departure from St. 
 Venant, quartered themselves in the forest of Niepe, which was not 
 far distant, and near to Bailleul. They entered the castlewick of 
 Poperingue, and took all the inclosed towns, wherein they found 
 much money and great booty, which they sent to Bergues or Bour- 
 bourg. When they had thus laid the whole country under their sub- 
 jection, BO that none came to oppose them, and when they wero 
 masters of the coast from Gravelines to Sluys, having possessed 
 themselves of Dunkirk, Nieuport, Fumes and Blanquenbergue. the? 
 
S30 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 advanced to lay s'uige to Ypres. There the bishop, sir Hugh Cal- 
 verley and the Eiiijlidh halted, and then sent messengers to Ghent. 
 I have good reason to suppose that Francis Atremen went to them, 
 and was at all their battle? and conquests, and had served as con- 
 ductor of the English from town to town, and from village to village. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXXVI. 
 
 THE MEN OF GHENT ASSIST THE ENGLISH IN THEIR SIEGE OF YFRES. THE 
 LORD DE ST. LEGER GOING TO REINFORCE THE GARRISON OF COURTRAV, 
 BY ORDERS OF THE KING OF FRANCE, IS DEFEATED BY A PARTV OF 
 ENGLISH NEAR COMMINES. 
 
 When Peter du Bois, Peter le Nuitre, and the captains in Ghent 
 heard that the English demanded their assistance, and were lying be- 
 fore Ypres, they were much pleased, and prepared themselves to 
 march thither as speedily as possible. They set out from Ghent on 
 the Saturday morning after the octave of St. Peter and St. Paul, to 
 the amount of n-ear twenty thousand, with a very considerable train 
 of carts, and in g>od array. They marched by Gourtray, and came 
 before Ypres. The English were rejoiced at their coming, and made 
 gr»at cheer for them, saying they wuuld take Ypres, and then con- 
 quer Bruges, Damme and Slays, making no doubt that, before Sep- 
 tember, they would have conquered all Flanders. Thus did they 
 boast of their good fortune. 
 
 The governor of Ypres at that time was the lord de Saint Pi, a 
 very prudent and valiant knight, who had thrown himself into the 
 place, where everything was done according V> his plans and orders. 
 The men-at-arms who had accompanied this knight thither by order 
 of the duke of Burgundy and earl of Flanders, were sir John Bou- 
 graigne, castellan of Ypres, sir Baldwin de Delbedene his son, the 
 lord Disseghien, the lord de Stades, sir John Blanchart, sir John de 
 Merfelede, sir Hamel, sir Nicholas Belle, lord de Harlequebecque, 
 the lord de RoUeghen, sir John Ahoutre, John de Saint Pi, nephew 
 to the governor, Fran9oi3 Belle, sir George Belle, and many more. 
 They bari great difficulty to withstand the English, who attacked 
 them openly and covertly. They were likewise under alarm lest 
 there snould be some understanding between the townsmen and 
 those from Ghent ; and lest the place should, by treason, fall into 
 their hands. 
 
 A gallant knight of Hainault, called sir John de Jumont, was at 
 this time in Gourtray as its governor, having accepted it at the earnest 
 entreaties of the duke of Burgundy and earl of Flanders. At that 
 time no knight of Flanders darfd to undertake it, so dangerous 
 did the kfence of it appear; for when the king of France had 
 marcheo away it was dismantled and burnt, on which account very 
 tew resided there , and it was so mach destroyed, that they could 
 scarcely find a place to put their^hoi-Ses in. Sir Johnde Jumont un- 
 dertook the grand enterprise of defending it. He speedily repaired 
 it, and behaved so gallantly, through God's mercy and grace, that 
 there was not any damage done it ; on the contrary, much honor 
 accrued to him. 
 
 The duke of Burgundy, who carefully attended to the affairs of 
 Flanders, as they so nearly concerned him, sent from France sixty 
 Breton lances to Gourtray, to reinforce and encourage sir John de 
 Jumont. These men-at-arms marched to Lille, under command of 
 the duke ; from thence they set out on a Friday morning to Com- 
 mines, where they arrived, under the command of the lord de St. 
 Leger and Yvonnet de Cantemat. By the break of day, full two 
 hundred lances had come to the town of Commines, to collect forage 
 from the flat countries, and carry it to the army before Ypres. These 
 Bretons had not any expectation of their coming, and fell into their 
 hands. There was a sharp engagement at the foot of the bridge of 
 Commines, where the Bretons defended themselves marvelously well, 
 and if they had been supported by as many again as themselves, they 
 would have escaped without loss. As it was, they were constrained 
 to fly, for they were too few to oppose such numbers. The greater 
 part were slain or taken as they were escaping toward Lille. The 
 lord de St. Leger was desperately wounded, and left for dead on the 
 field. Fortunate were those who escaped from this engagement : and 
 the pursuit of the English after the Bretons, lasted to within half a 
 league of the town of Lille. The lord de St. Leger, although mor- 
 tally wounded, was carried to that town with great difliculty, where 
 he died five days afterwards. Five of his squires died also, and thus 
 ended this adventure. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXXVII. 
 
 THE BISHOP OF LIEGE, NOT BEING ABLE TO BRING ABOUT A PEACE BE- 
 TVT:EN UiE BISHOP OF NORWICH AND THE EARL OF FLANDERS, RETURNS 
 
 T/iE Biege of Ypres continued with great activity on the part of 
 the English and Flemings, who made many assaults, which much 
 frightened those in tiie town. The earl of Flanders was not very 
 well assured but that Ypres must fall ; for the English are very subtle, 
 and they could receive great reinforcements from England, by way 
 of Calais, without his knowledge, or opposition, having garrisons in 
 »11 the towns on the road. They might, if they had chosen, have had 
 
 reinforcements from England ; but they did not think much was to 
 be dreaded at the commencement, either from the earl or the power 
 of France, for several great English barons were prepared and readfy 
 to cross the sea at Calais, to assist their countrymen from the envi- 
 rons of Dover, Sandwich, and Lewes, had they been so required ; 
 they amounted to a thousand lances, and two thousand archers in 
 the parts above mentioned. Sir William Beauchamp and sir William 
 Windsor, marshals of England, were appointed by the king and 
 council to command these men-at-arms, by whicli the duke of Lan 
 caster lost this opportunity of making his expedition to Portugal. 
 All England, as I have before said, were more inclined to serve in 
 the army of the bishop of Norwich than in that of the duke of Lan 
 caster. 
 
 The earl of Flanders was informed of all these events which were 
 passing in England, as well as of what was going forward before 
 Ypres. He therefore resolved to provide, as much as was in his 
 power, a remedy for them ; for he supposed the duke of Burgundy 
 would excite the barons of France to exert themselves to drive the 
 English out of Flanders, and from the countries which they had re- 
 cently conquered. But as he knew that France was very extensive, 
 that several barons bound to serve the king were at a great distance, 
 and that many things might happen before they could arrive, he re- 
 solved to send sir Arnoul de Sorge, bishop of Liege, who was a 
 stanch Urbanist, to request he would come to Ypres and negotiate 
 with the English to decamp and march clsev/here ; for he had been 
 much astonished at their proceedings, since it v/as well known to the 
 world that both himself and country were good Urbanists. 
 
 The earl managed so well that the bisl< p of Liege came to Hain 
 ault, and from thence to Valenciennes, Douuy and Lille, where he 
 had a conference with the earl, who informed him of what he wished 
 him to do. After this, the bisiiop left Liege and came to the camp 
 before Ypres, where the English and Ghent men received him very 
 politely, and attentively listened to all he had to say. I was told at 
 the time, that the earl of Flanders, through the means of the bishop 
 of Liege, offered to the bishop of Norwich and the English, if they 
 would break up their siege, and carry their war against the countriee 
 of the Clementists, to send them five hundred lances to serve under 
 their orders for three months, and at his own expense. 
 
 The bishop of Norwich replied, he would attentively consider and 
 discuss this proposal. Many words passed ; ior the Ghent men ad- 
 vised him not to put any trust in what the earl had said, for there 
 was no dependence on his promises, and told him that if he could ho 
 would deceive him. Having therefore maturely considered every^ 
 thing, he gave notice to the bishop of Liege, that he might return 
 when he pleased, for he would not pay any attention to his offers ; 
 and, as for the siege, he would never depart thence until he had re- 
 duced the town of Ypres to his obedience. The bishop, finding he 
 could obtain nothing more, took his leave and returned to Lille, and 
 gave the earl of Flanders the answer he had received. When the 
 earl saw that he could not obtain any terms, he was more pensive 
 than before ; for he clearly perceived, that unless the force of France 
 raised the siege, he should lose his good town of Ypres. He there- 
 fore wrote other letters, giving a detail of what answers he had re- 
 ceived, and what was going forward, which he sent by one of his 
 own knights to his son and daughter of Burgundy, who resided at 
 Compiegne. The bishop of Liege left the earl, and returned through 
 Douay and Valenciennes to his own country. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXXVIII. 
 
 THE KING OF FRANCE ISSUES A GRAND SUMMONS, WITH THE INTENTION 
 OF RAISING THE i;iEGZ OF YPRES. SOME OF THE EARL OF FLA.NDERS' 
 MEN / RE DEFEATED BY THE ENGLISH BEFORE THE CHURCH OF EMENIN. 
 
 Phe duke of Burgundy, being convinced that things would end 
 badly if the king of France with an army did not provide a remedy, 
 exerted himself for a parliament to be holden at Compiegne of all 
 the great barons and princes of the realm of France. To this par- 
 liament all who were summoned came, and the duke of Brittany 
 personally attended. It was there discussed, whether or not the king 
 of France, with his uncles the dukes of Berry, Burgundy and Bour- 
 bon, should march to Flanders with a greater force than he had com- 
 manded at Rosebecque, to raise the siege of Ypres, and ofier combat 
 to the English and Flemings, if they should think proper to wait for 
 him. It was resolved in the affirmative ; and the king of France 
 issued his summons throughout the kingdom of France for every man 
 to be at Arras, or in that neighborhood, by the 15th day of August, 
 provided with all things suitable to his rank. The king wrote also 
 to those at a distance, such as the counts d'Armagnac and Savoy, 
 and to duke Frederick of Bavaria. This duke was in upper Ger- 
 many, and the son of one of the brothers of the reigning duke : ho 
 was very desirous of visiting the court of France and bearing aiins 
 for it, as he was fond of every sort of honor ; and they had told him, 
 which he believed as fact, that all honors in the world were to be 
 had in France. Duke Frederick, being at such a distance, was the 
 first sent for :• he made his preparations on receiving the summons, 
 and said he would come through Hainault, to visit his uncle and his 
 cousins, the count de Blois and others. 
 
 During the time thes^ warlike preparatioiis were making, the siege 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 331 
 
 «f Ypres continued with great vigor. There were many attacks and 
 skirmishes, in which several were killed or wounded : but the gov. 
 ernor, sir John de Saint Pi, made so good a defence, that no essential 
 damage was done. During this siege, the earl of Flanders was in- 
 formed that the church of Emenin was strong, and fortified ; for, 
 should the English come thither, they would easily take it, as it had 
 no garrison, anc they would from thence much harrass the country. 
 The earl resolve to take possession of it;* and, sending for sir John 
 du Moulin, he sa;d to him, " Sir John, collect a body of men from 
 this town, and with cross-bows go to Emenin, and gain the church, 
 lest the English fortify it ; f u, if they win it, they will harass all 
 the surrounding country." Sir John replied, he. would willingly do 
 so, and immediately made preparations for the excursion. On the 
 morrow morning, he mounted i is horse, accompanied by a young 
 knight, a bastard son of the earl of Flanders, called sir John Sans- 
 terre, and about sixty lances, with the same number of archers. On 
 their leaving Lille, they took the road to Emenin, but found only a 
 few men-at-arms there, who, in their own free will, were guarding 
 the church. 
 
 This same day, about two hundred English and Gascon lances 
 made also an excursion, and learning from the foragers that there 
 were some men-at-arms and cross-bows at Emenin, they stuck spurs 
 into their horses, and never halted until they arrived at the town, 
 when, dismounting in the square before the church, they grasped 
 their spears and shouted their cries. Sir John du Moulin and the 
 bastard of Flanders, seeing from this body of men that a combat was 
 unavoidable, formed in battle array in the square, and ordered their 
 cross-bov»?s to f hoot : they at first wounded several of the English, 
 who soon brok3 through them; but for a small body they made a 
 good fight, thourrh many were struck down, wounded, and killed. 
 
 The English \^ere so superior in numbers, that the Flemings were 
 defeated, and the two knights made prisoners, who behaved gallantly 
 in defending them-selves. Of the remainder, many were taken ; and 
 very few returned to Lille, being mostly slain or captured. Thus 
 ended this expedition to Emenin, which greatly vexed the earl of 
 Flanders, but at that time he could not help it. The Gascons and 
 English carried their prisoners with them, and made much of them; 
 but it was not long before they ransomed themselves. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXXIX. 
 
 THE ENGLISH ANO GHMNT ME.V y. A SHARP ATTACK ON YPRES ; BUT, 
 LEARNING THAT THE KING OF FRANCE HAD MARCHED AN ARMY INTO 
 ARTOIS, THEY INSTANTLY 3REAK UP THE SIEGE. 
 
 It always happens, that in war there are gains and losses : very 
 extraordinary are the chances, as those know well who follow the 
 profession. The siege of Ypres was pushed on with unwearied 
 force ; and it was fully the intention of the bishop of Norwich, the 
 English, and Peter du Bois, to conquer Ypres by storm or otherwise, 
 as the vigor of their attacks showed. Among the many assaults, 
 there was one much severer than the rest ; for it lasted from morning 
 until almost night. Many valiant actions were done by several on 
 both sides, and the English and Flemings made vast exertions to con- 
 quer it. The besieged created that day four knights ; John de St. 
 Pi, nephew to the governor, Fan9ois Belle, George Belle, and John 
 Belle, who showed themselves good knights in this first display of 
 their knighthood. An English squire, called Lewis Lin, was killedt 
 at this attack, which was very sharp : and numbers were wounded 
 on each side, who too rashly exposed themselves. 
 
 The English archers, posted on the ditches of the town, shot so 
 expertly and rapidly that scarcely any dared to appear on the battle, 
 ments to defend the place. There were collected that day in Ypres 
 two tonst of artillery, especially arrows, which were shot into the 
 town, so that none ventured to pass through those streets near the 
 walls where the attack was made, for fear of being killed, if not well 
 armed and shielded. This attack lasted until night, when the Eng- 
 lish and Flemings, who had fought the whole day in two batalions, 
 returned to the camp quite tired, as were likewise those in the town. 
 
 The English and Flemings, finding they could not take the town 
 by storm, and having expended much of their artillery, resolved !o 
 have quantities of faggots made and collected, with which and earth 
 they could fill up the ditches, so that they might advance to fight 
 hand to hand with the garrison. Undermine the walls, and, by throw- 
 ing them down, win the place. Workmen were instantly employed 
 to procure and cut down' as much wood as possible in the neighbor- 
 hood of Ypres, which was to be placed withinside of the ditches, and 
 covered with earth : but this was not so soon done, nor could they 
 accomplish their intentions ; for the king of France, having a great 
 desire to raise the siege and fight with the English at all events, 
 hastened his preparations, set out from Cornpiegne, and marched to 
 Arras. 
 
 The constable of France, with many barons who formed the van 
 of the army, had already arrived, and were quartered in Artois. The 
 duke of Brittany came with two thousand lances, as he was anxious 
 to assist his cousin the earl of Flanders on this occasion. Indeed he 
 was much bounden so to do, for he had found him, in former times, 
 eager to befriend him in his distress. All the lords, both from far 
 and near, were on their march and at hand. The count of Savoy 
 and the count of Geneva, came with seven hundred honest Savoy, 
 ards. Duke Frederick of Bavaria was hastening with a strong body 
 of men-at-arms, and had arrived at Ilainault. He resided at Ques- 
 noy with his uncle duke Albert, his aunt, the duchess Margaret, and' 
 with his cousins. 
 
 The dukes of Lorraine and Bar arrived with a large body in Ar- 
 tois. Sir William de Namur, not having attended the former war, 
 as the earl had excused him, came with two hundred good lances to 
 serve the king of France and duke of Burgundy. He had passed 
 through Hainault, and fixed his quarters in the country round Tour- 
 nay. It was wonderful to see what bodies of men different lords 
 brought to serve the king of France. The count Guy de Plois lay 
 ill at Landrecy* during the whole time these warlike prepara ions 
 were making, and neither himself nor his people knew if he would 
 be able to bear the fatigues of this campaign vvith the king. He was 
 carried in a litter to Beaumont in Hainault, and was somewhat better, 
 for that air was more agreeable to him than that of Landrecy. Not- 
 withstanding he was very unwell and feeble, he made ample prepa- 
 lations, as did his dependents in the country of Blois, such as the 
 lord de Montigny, the lord de Vresin, sir Vilhennes de St. Martin, 
 sir Waleran deDoustienne governor of Rcmorentin, and other knights 
 and squires who came to serve under the young king of France 
 
 News was brought to the bishop of Norwich, sir Hugh Calveriey 
 and the English besieging Ypres, that the king of France was hasten- 
 ing by forced marches, with an army of upward of twenty thousand 
 men-at-arms, knights and squires, and sixty thousand other men. 
 This intelligence was repeated from so many quarters, that at last it 
 was thought to be true, for at first they wonld not believe it. They 
 heard for. certain that it was so, and that if they remained where they 
 were, they would have to fight with them. They also learnt that 
 the duke of Brittany was vv'ith the king of 
 against them, which astonished them much. 
 
 on this information, to consider what line of conduct to pursue. 
 Having weighed every circumstance, and not finding themselves in 
 sufficient strength to wait for the whole force of the king, they judged 
 it to be more prudent for Peter du Bois, Peter le Nuitre and the Ghent 
 men to return to their town, and the English to retreat toward Ber- 
 gues and Bourbourg, which they were to garrison : and if any force 
 should come from England, or if king Richard or his uncles should 
 cross the sea, they would send them advice of it. This resolution 
 was adopted, and they broke up their camp. The Ghent men set 
 out on their return home, where they arrived. The English retired 
 to Bergues and Bourbourg, and entered the forts which they had 
 conquered. 
 
 The day that the English began their retreat, Thomas lord Percy, 
 son to the earl of Northumberland, arrived. He came from Prussia, 
 and hearing on his road that the kings of France and England were 
 to engage in the plains of Flanders or Artois, each at the head of 
 his army, the knight was so much rejoiced, and had so great a desire 
 to be present at the battle, that the journey, vvhich at a moderate rate 
 of travelling would have taken forty days, he performed in fourteen, 
 leaving his equipage and servants behind, and frequently changing 
 horses. He afterwards learnt that his baggage had arrived in less 
 than twenty days in the town of Ghent. Such good will and gallantry 
 deserve much praise. 
 
 France, and coming 
 They called a council 
 
 * Mr. Johnes seems to have misunderstood the text. Thn earl determined to desem- 
 parcr (to demolish) tlie church, not to keep possession of if, and the original subse 
 quently states that, " the two knights (when they arrived ut the church or minster as 
 Froissart teims it) beijan to pull down, and demolish the minster." This passage is 
 omitted by Mr. Johnes. 
 
 t " D'un traict dti canon ;" by a cannon ball, according to D. Sauvage.— Ed. 
 
 J "La valeurde deux tonneaux pleins d'artillerie ;" as much as two tun^ full, not 
 two tons weight, of artillery .—Ed. 
 
 CHAPTER CXL. 
 
 DUKE FREDERICK OF BAVARIA ARRIVES AT THE ARMY OF THE KINff OF 
 FRANCE. COUNT GUY DE BLOIS, NOTWITHSTANDING HIS ILL HEALTH, 
 COMES TO ARRAS ATTENDED BY HIS MEN-AT-ARMS. 
 
 Intelligence was brought to the king of France, in the city of 
 Arras, and to the lords with him, that the English and Ghent men 
 had raised the siege and decamped from before Ypres. The king 
 was eager to hurry matters and pursue them, so that they f-ijould not 
 escape. He set out from Arras, and came to Mont St. Eloy, a very 
 handsome abbey, where he remained four days waiting for the arri- 
 val of the duke of Berry. The army was continually increased by 
 those who came to it from all parts, and it was known, through the 
 constable, the marshals and sir Gaiscard count dauphin, master of 
 the cross-bows, that the king had with him upward of one hundred 
 thousand men. 
 
 The king departed from Mont St. Eloy, following the road to St. 
 Omer, and came to Aire, of which place the viscount de Meaux was 
 governor. He tarried there two days, the army still increasing. The 
 constable with the van were advanced, and quartered in the town of 
 Cassel. The king went to St. Omer, where he stopped for the ar- 
 rival of his people, who were coming to him from every quarter 
 When duke Frederick of Bavaria arrived at the army, the great 
 barons of France, in order to do him honor, went out to meet him, 
 
 • "Laadrecy," a sUong town in Hainault, diocese of CourtrayT 
 
332 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, St,c. 
 
 as he had come from such a distant country to serve the king, who 
 entertained him handsomely, and was thankful for his arrival. He 
 caused him t j be quartered as near to himself as possible during the 
 whole expedition, as was but just. 
 
 In the army were full three hundred thousand horses : and it was 
 wonderful where provisions cauld come from, or be found to supply 
 6uch an army. At times, indeed, there was a scarcity ; at others, 
 they had abundance. The count Guy de Blois, who resided at Beau. 
 mo"nt in Plainault, notwithstanding he was not yet recovered from the 
 long illness he had been visited with during the summer, thought it 
 would not be for his honor to remain idle, when so many great and 
 powerful princes and lords were in the field ; besides, inquiries had 
 been made after him, as he was one of the leaders of the rear-ward. 
 It was therefore better for him to join them, trusting to the will of 
 God, than to remain behind under a supposition of dissembling. 
 
 This gallant lord began his journey; but as he was unable to ride, 
 he ordered his litter, and took leave of the lady his wife, and of his 
 son Lewis. Several of his council, on account of the great heat and 
 closeness of the weather, looked on this journey as a wrong measure, 
 while others who heard of it thought it a great proof of his courage. 
 He was accompanied from Hainault by the lord de Sanzest, the lord 
 de Hanzelles, sir Gerard de Wurrieres, sir Thomas de Distre, the lord 
 de Doustrenent, John de Ghisnelle, who was created a knight on the 
 road, and several more. He passed through Cambray, and came to 
 Arras, and the longer he travelled the better was his health. His 
 vassals from Blois, hearing of his journey, went to meet him. On 
 his arrival at Arras, his people collected together, to the amount of 
 more than four hundred lances, and always followed him. He had 
 his provisions from Hainault, and in this respect was most abundantly 
 supplied. Let us return to the king of France. 
 
 CHAPTER CXLI. 
 
 THE VAN OF THE FRENCH ARMY TAKES CASSEL AND TRUGHEN. THE ENG. 
 LISH ABANDON BERGUES, AND RETIRE TO BOURBOURG, WHEREIN THE 
 KING OF FRANCE BESIEGES THEM. 
 
 The king of France continued his march to St. Omer, where he 
 halted and refreshed himself. The van, with the constable and mar- 
 shals, advanced to Cassel, which was in the hands of the English. 
 The town was attacked, taken by storm, and all in it put to the 
 sword. Those who could escape retreated to Bergues, where was sir 
 Hugh Calverley with full three thousand English. The bishop of 
 Norwich was not there, having retired to Gravelines, to be the sooner 
 at Calais should there be occasion. The English had burnt and pil- 
 laged all the country near to Cassel. The king of France, on his 
 arrival at St. Omer, was lodged at an abbey out of the town, on the 
 road to Bergues, called Ranombergues, where he remained. He came 
 there on a Friday, and on the following day the constable, the mar- 
 shals, with the lord de Coucy and a great number of good men-at- 
 arms, took the field and came before the castle of Trughen, wherein 
 were about three hundred men-at-arms, who had formed a garrison 
 of this place the whole season. 
 
 They made a vigorous attack on the castle, and exerted themselves 
 very much: indeed, they were forced to do so if they wished for con- 
 quest, as the English within defended themselves so valiantly that it 
 was marvellous to think of their prowess. However, by continued 
 attacks, and gallant deeds of arms, the castle was taken, and all within 
 put to death, for the constable would not show mercy to any one. In 
 the lower court was found the most beautiful white horse that had 
 been seen for years, which was presented to the constable, who in- 
 Btandy sent it to the king of France. The king willingly accepted 
 the horse, and was sp pleased with it that he rode it all Sunday. 
 
 The count de Blois, at this period, arrived at the army with his 
 company. He was appointed to the rear division, as he had been 
 last year at the battle of Rosebecque, in company with the count 
 d'Eu, the count de Harcourt, the lord de Chatillon and the lord de 
 la Fere. Men-at-arms were constantly coming in from all parts. It 
 was a fine dry summer, otherwise it would have been bad for the 
 horses near the sea-shore and impossible for them to have advanced 
 into the country. All the English except the bishop, who, quite 
 thunderstruck, was gone to Gravelines, had retired into the town of 
 Bergues, which was only inclosed by a palisade and ditches: he 
 sorely repented having undertaken this expedition, for he saw that all 
 he had done would now be turned with shame a.gainst him, and W9.s 
 still more sorry for the words he had uttered which had been repeated 
 through France. He had boasted during the time he was besieging 
 Ypres, that he would there wait for the king of France and his army, 
 and offer them combat. He now felt how suddenly he had been 
 forced to raise the siege and fly, for his army could not resist that of 
 the king. 
 
 The English at Calais found great fault with him. saying he had 
 very ill employed the pope's money. In truth, the duke of Lancaster, 
 who had been prevented by this expedition of the bishop frs>m carry- 
 ing his own into execution, did not wish it would turn out otherwise. 
 The principal barons of England were of the same sentiment; for 
 when sir William Windsor, their marshal, sent to tell them, while 
 before Ypres, that if they wished for reinforcements, they should have 
 very numerous ones, the bishop answered, as did sir Thomas Trivet 
 
 and sir William Helmon,* that they had strength enough, and more 
 than they wished, to combat the king of France and the army he 
 could bring against them. But sir Hugh Calverley, who had seen 
 more service than any of the others, had always held a different Ian. 
 guage, and said during the siege of Ypres, when he heard of the offer 
 from the barons in England ; " Gentlemen, you seem to have great 
 confidence in your strength : why should we refuse the assistance of 
 our countrymen, when they offer to come to us and the country con. 
 sents to it ? A day may come, perhaps, when we shall repent of our 
 refusal." But these words were not attended to, as they said they 
 had men sufficient. Things, therefore, continued as they were, and 
 in the end they lost more than they gained by it. 
 
 Sir Hugh Calverley, on his arrival at Bergues, quartered himself 
 and his men in the different hotels and houses of the town : they 
 were in the whole, including archers, more than four thousand men. 
 Sir Hugh said, " I am determined to keep this town ; it is of good 
 strength, and we are enough to defend it. I expect we shall have, in 
 five or six days, reinforcements from England ; for they will learn our 
 situation, and also the force of our enemies." All replied, " God assist 
 us !" Upon this he made very prudent regulations : on dividing his 
 men under pennons and into companies, to mount the walls and guard 
 the gates, he found he had numbers sufficient. He ordered all the 
 ladies and women, children and lower classes of inhabitants, to retire 
 into a church, whence they were not to stir. 
 
 The king of France was at the abbey of Ranombergues, and learnt 
 that the English had retreated to Bergues. A council was held on 
 the occasion, when it was ordered that the van, with the constable 
 and marshals, should advance beyond the town and encamp on one 
 of its sides ; and the king of France, with the dukes of Berry, Bur- 
 gundy and Bourbon, would follow with the main army ; that the count 
 de Blois and the count d'Eu, with the rear division, should lodge 
 themselves on the other side of the town, and thus surround the Eng- 
 lish. This plan was executed ; and the king set out from Ranom- 
 bergues, attended by his whole army. It was a beautiful sight to 
 behold these banners, peanons and helmets ghttering in the sun, and 
 such numbers of men-at-arms that the eye could not compass them : 
 they seemed like a moving forest, so upright did they hold their 
 lances. Thus they marched in four divisions toward Bergues, to 
 inclose the English in that town. 
 
 About eight o'clock in the morning, an English herald entered the 
 town, who, by the courtesy of the lords of France, had passed through 
 their army : he waited on sir Hugh Calverley in his hotel, and spoke 
 so loud that every one heard him. " Herald, whence dost thou come?" 
 " My lord," replied the herald, "I come from the French army, where 
 I have seen the finest men-at-arms. r>r:cl 'in such vast numbers, that 
 there is not at this day another kmg who can show the like." "And 
 these fine men-at-arms which thou art speaking of," said sir Hugh, 
 "what number are they?" "By my faith, my lord, they are full 
 twenty-six thousand men-at-arms : handsomer nor better armed were 
 never seen." " Ha, ha !" replied sir Hugh, who was much provoked 
 at the latter part of his speech, " thou art a fine fellow to come and 
 mock us with this pompous tale. I know well thou hast lied ; for 
 many a time have I seen the armies of France, but they never 
 amounted to twenty-six thousand ; no, not even to six thousand 
 men-at-arms." 
 
 As he said this, the watch of the town, who was at his post, 
 sounded, his trumpet, for the van of the enemy was about passing 
 near the walls. Sir Hugh then, addressing the knights and squires 
 present, said ; " Confie, come : let us go and see these twenty-six 
 thousand men-at-arms march by, for our watch blows his horn." 
 They went on' the walls of the place, and, leaning on them, observed 
 the march of the van, which might have consisted of about fifteen 
 hundred lances, with the constable, the marshals, the master of the 
 cross-bows and the lord de Coucy. Next came the duke of Brit- 
 tany, the earl of Flanders and the count de St. Pol, who had under 
 their command about fifteen hundred lances more. Sir Hugh Cal- 
 verley, who thought he had seen the whole anny, said, " Now see 
 if I did not say the truth : where are these twenty-six thousand 
 men ? Why, if they be three thousand men-at-arms, they are ten 
 thousand. Let us go to our dinner, for I do not yet see such a force 
 as should oblige us to surrender the town. This herald would 
 frighten us well, if we were to believe him." 
 
 The herald was much ashamed, but he said, " My lord, you have 
 as yet only seen the vanguard : the king and his uncleB are behind 
 with the mam army, and there is besides a rear division, which con. 
 sists of more than two thousand lances. You will see the whole in 
 four hours if you remain here." Sir Hugh paid not any attention 
 to him, but returned to his house, saying he had seen everj'thing, 
 and seated himself at table. He had scarcely done so, than the 
 watch again blew his horn, and so loud as if he would burst it. 
 Sir Hugh rose from the table, saying he would see what was the 
 cause of this, and mounted the battlements. At this moment, the 
 king of France marched by, attended by his uncles, the duke Fred- 
 erick, the duke of Lorraine, the count of Savoy, the dauphin of 
 Auvergne, the count de la Marche and their troops : in this battalion 
 were full sixteen thousand lances. Sir Hugh felt himself much dis- 
 appointed, and said to the herald, v;ho was by his side, " I have 
 been in the wrong to blame you : come, come : let us mount our 
 * " Sir Wiliiam Helmon." Eimham. according to Cait*. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, PRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 «33 
 
 horses and save ourselves, for it will do us no good to remain here. 
 I no longer know tlie state of France : I have never seen such num. 
 bers collected togeiner by three-fourths as I now see and have seen 
 in the van : besides, the rear division is still to come." Upon this, 
 sir Hugh Calverley left the walls and returned to his house. All the 
 horses^being ready saddled and loaded, they mounted, and, having 
 ordered the gates to be opened which lead to Bourbourg, they set off 
 without any noise, carrying with them all their pillage. Had the 
 French suspected this, they could easily have stopped them ; but 
 they were ignorant of it for a long time, so that they were nearly 
 arrived at Bourbourg before they heard of it. 
 
 Sir Hugh Calverley halted in the plain to wait for his rear and 
 baggage. He was very melancholy, and said to sir Thomas Trivet 
 and others who had come to meet him ; " By my faith, gentlemen, 
 we have this time made a most shameful expedition : never was so 
 pitiful or wretched a one made from England. You would have 
 your wills, and placed your confidence in this bishop of Norwich, 
 who wanted to fly before he had wings : now see the honorable end 
 you have brought it to. There is Bourbourg ! if you choose it, re- 
 tire thither ; but for my part I shall march to Gravelines and Calais, 
 because I find we are not of sufficient strength to cope with the 
 king of France." The English knights, conscious they had been 
 to blame in several things, replied ; " God help us ! we shall return 
 to Bourbourg and wait the event, such as God may please to ordain." 
 Sir Hugh on this left them ; and they threw themselves into Bour- 
 bourg. 
 
 The king of France heard that the English had marched from 
 Bergues and retreated to Bourbourg, leaving Bergues quite empty ; 
 the gates of which were opened to him, when the king entered 
 with all who wished it. The first who did so found enough to pil- 
 lage, for the English had not been able to carry away everything. 
 The women were saved and sent to St. Omer, but almost all the 
 men were put to death and the town set on fire. The king marched 
 on to lodge at a village, on account of the greatness of the fire. 
 This happened on a Friday ; and the lords encamped themselves 
 separately in the fields as well as they could. It was fortunate for 
 them that it was dry weather, for it could not be a finer season ; had 
 it been cold and rainy, they could not have foraged. Indeed it was 
 wonderful where they found forage for such numbers of horses, as 
 well as provision for so large an army. But on the day on which 
 they came before Bourbourg great quantities of stores arrived, of 
 which the lords of France were duly informed. They resolved to 
 surround the town and attack it. The Bretons were, from avarice, 
 eager to take it, on account of the great booty they expected to find 
 there. 
 
 On the S.iturday morning it was clear weather, and the army 
 made itself ready to march to Bourbourg. The vanguard, the duke 
 of Brittany, the earl of Flanders, the count de St. Pol, the constable 
 of France, with about three thousand lances, marched on the out- 
 side of the walls, and halted opposite to the king's division, which 
 consisCed of the finest men-at-arms that could be seen or imagined. 
 They advanced to a large plain before Bourbourg, where the differ- 
 ent lords drew up their men ; and it was for a long time their inten- 
 tion to storm the place. Banners and pennons were flying in the 
 wind, and each lord under his own banner. The lord^ of France 
 made a splendid show, and had not been sparing of any expense in 
 exhibiting appearances suitable to their rank. The lord de Coucy 
 and his state were particularly noticed, for he had led coursers 
 richly caparisoned, and ornamented with housings with the ancient 
 anns of Coucy mixed with those he now bore. He himself was mount- 
 ed on a beautiful horse, on which he rode from side to side in a most 
 graceful manner, to the delight of those who saw him ; all praised 
 him for the agreeable manner with which he addressed every one. 
 The other great lords kept up a state suitable to their dignity. More 
 than four hundred knights were this day created. The heralds mus- 
 tered the knights who were before Bourbourg with the king, and 
 they amounted to from seven to nine thousand. In the army were 
 upward of twenty-five thousand men-at-arms and squires. 
 
 The English were at their posts in the town of Bourbourg, and 
 seeing this immense force of the king of France before them, ex- 
 pected an assault: they were pleased at the thought; but when they 
 found themselves shut up in a town which was only defended by 
 palisadoes, they were not so well satisfied : however, like men of 
 <!Ourage, they had posted themselves in companies round the town. 
 The lord Beaumont* (who is an earl in England, and his name 
 Henry,) commanded one hundred men-at-arms and three hundred 
 archers, to guard one part of the town : sir William Elmham, with 
 as many men, guarded another part. Sir John de Chateauneuf, 
 with the Gascons, had another quarter to defend as far as the tower, 
 opposite to the quarters of the constable. The lord Ferrers, an 
 Englishman, was with forty men-at-arms and as many archers at 
 another part, so that the whole place was well guarded with men-at- 
 aims and archers. Sir William Farrendon, sir Matthew Redman, 
 and sir Nicholas Traclon,t with two hundred men and as many 
 archers, were posted in the square before the church. They had 
 appointed a body of men to watch and extinguish any fires that 
 
 * " Lord Rcauniont." Frinssart mistakes : h9 wa* a barga, aad his name wo* John : 
 bia ton's name was Henry.— See Dugdale 
 t U. if out JUrajitQU. uc Treshatn. 
 
 might happen ; for the English were much afraid of the town being 
 burnt, as the houses were only covered with thatch. 
 
 In this situation were the English. I must now relate the gallant 
 action which Francis Atremen performed this same Friday in the 
 evening, when the king of France, after having taken Berguei, con. 
 tinned his march. 
 
 CHAPTER CXLII. 
 
 FRANCIS ATREMEN SURPRISES OUDENARDE IN THE KiaHT-TIME. 
 
 Francis Atremen, Peter du Bois, Peter le Nuitre and the other 
 captains, after their return to Ghent from the siege of Ypres, were 
 daily and nightly imagining how they could am oy vhe^i" enemies. 
 Francis Atremen found out, that the governor 3f "udeiiarde, sir 
 Gilbert de Lieneghen and the men-at-arms, had left Oudenarde, by 
 orders from the earl of Flanders, and were with the army of the king 
 of France before Bergues and Bourbourg. He also learnt that the 
 town was carelessly guarded, and that the ditches in the meadows 
 on the road to Hamme were dry, as they had t^mptied them of water 
 to get the fish, so that the walls of the town might be approached on 
 foot, and might be entered with ladders. Such was the intelligence 
 the spies of Francis Atremen had brought to Ghent, who, at their 
 leisure, had examined the town ; for the guards held the Ghent men 
 very cheap, and, as it were, had forgotten, or were quite indifferent 
 concerning them. 
 
 When Francis Atremen had heard all this from his spies, he went 
 and related it to Peter du Bois, and said : " Peter, such is the situa- 
 tion of Oudenarde : I am resolved to risk the chance of taking it 
 with scaling ladders : there never can be so good an opportunity as 
 the present, for neither the governor nor the men-at-arms are in it, 
 but with the king of France near St. Omer, and they have not the 
 least fear or suspicions of any one." Peter du Bois instantly assented 
 to the proposal, and said : " Francis, if you succeed in this expedi- 
 tion,.no man will ever have behaved better, and every one will praise 
 you for so gallant an action." " I do not know," replied he, " how- 
 it may turn out, but my courage does not fail me, and my heart tells 
 me that this night I shall gain Oudenarde." 
 
 Francis Atremen then chose four hundred men in whom he had 
 the greatest confidence, and, toward night.fall, set out on bis road 
 to Oudenarde. It was in the month of September, when the nights 
 are tolerably long, and such beautiful weather that it was a pleasure 
 to be out in it. About midnight they arrived in the meads of Oude- 
 narde, having ladders with them. As they were traversing the 
 marshes, there was a poor woman gathering grass for her cows, who, 
 hiding herself, heard their conversation, and knew from it that they 
 were Ghent men going to surprise the town, for she saw them carry- 
 ing ladders. She was at first much frightened, but recovering cour- 
 age, said to herself, that she would hasten to the 'own and inform 
 the guard of what she had heard and seen. She maae for the town 
 by a short path she was acquainted with, and arrived a the ditches 
 before the Ghent men, when she began to moan and complain, so 
 that one of the night-guard going his rounds heard her, and asked 
 who she was ; she said she was a poor woman v> ho had come to tell 
 them that a body of Ghent men were close at hand, and that she 
 had seen them carrying many ladders to surprise Oudenarde ; but 
 now she had given this information she must get away, for should 
 they meet her she would be a dead v/oman. The poor woman de- 
 parted, and the watch remained perfectly astonished. He determined 
 to keep quiet where he was, to see if this woman had told truth. 
 The Ghent men, without horn or trumpet, v/ere silently advancing 
 to begin their enterprise : they made not any noise except by talking. 
 Francis Atremen sent forward four of his men, ordering them to 
 reconnoitre without making the least noise by coughing or otherwise, 
 and report to him, should they observe anything. 
 
 They obeyed their orders, and Francis Atremen remained hid in 
 the marshes with his men, very near this poor woman, who heard 
 and saw them distinctly; but they did not notice her. The four men 
 advancing up to the ditches, neither saw nor heard anything. It was 
 very unlucky ; for, if they had but seen a lighted candle, they would 
 have thought there had been a good watch kept. They returned to 
 Francis telling him they had not seen anything, nor heard the least 
 noise. " I believe the watch has gone his rounds," said Francis, 
 " and is now retired to bed : come, let us take this upper road which 
 leads to the gates, and enter the ditches." The good woman heard 
 these words ; and what did she do ? Why, she instantly returned 
 by the same way as before, and came to the man who was listening 
 on the walls and told him all she had heard, begging of him, for 
 God's sake, to be on his guard, and go to the Ghent gate to see if his 
 companions were in a proper state, for very shortly the Ghent men 
 would be at their post. "I must now return," said the woman, "as 
 I dare not stay longer, but I have told you all I have seen and heard: 
 pay proper attention to it, for I shall not again come to you this night." 
 On saying which, she departed. The man now remained alone, but 
 did not treat the information he had received with indifference. He 
 went to the gate leading to Ghent, where he found the guard plaving 
 at dice. "Gentlemen," said he, "have you well fastened your gates 
 and your barriers? for a woman came to me this night, and gave me 
 i notice of her having sei^n a body of Ghent men marching hither." 
 
334 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 " Yes," replied they : "our gates are fast enough : but may a scurvy 
 night befal this woman, who has thus alarmed you at such an hour. 
 There probably were cows and calves that had got untied, and these 
 she fancied tj have been Ghent men coming hither : they have not 
 any such intentions." 
 
 Wiiile this conversation waa passing between the constable of the 
 watch and the guard at the gate, Francis Atrcmen and his compan- 
 ions were executing their plan : they had got into the ditches, which 
 were dry, as they had fished them this week, and had broken down 
 a little of the palisudoes near the wall, against which they had placed 
 their ladders and had entered the town. They marched to the mar- 
 ket-place without any noise, and continued so until they were all 
 collected, when they met a knight, ca led sir Florens de Halle, lieu- 
 tenant-governor, who was there on guard with about thirty men-at- 
 amis of the town. The Ghent men began to shout " Ghent, Ghent!" 
 and to attack the guard, whom they slew, as well as sir Florens de 
 Halle. Thus was Oudenarde taken. You may suppose that the 
 inhabitants, who were sleeping in their beds, were exceedingly aston- 
 ished when they heard these shouts and saw the town taken by 
 scalado without having any remedy for it. Their houses were forced 
 open, and those within slain ; for they were so suddenly surprised, 
 there was not any help for it. Those who could escape did, leaving 
 their houses in a state of nakedness, and leaping over the walls, saved 
 themselves by the ponds and ditches of the town. None of the rich 
 men could carry any part of their wealth with them, but were happy 
 if they saved their lives. This night great numbers were killed, or 
 drowned in the ponds ; and thus ended this expedition. 
 
 In the morning, when the Ghent men saw themselves masters of 
 the town, they sent our. of it all the women and children in their 
 shifts, or in the meanest dress they had. In this plight those who 
 had escaped got to Mons, Arras, Cond^, Valenciennes, or Tournay, 
 in the best manner they could. News was spread everywhere of the 
 capture of Oudenarde. The inhabitants of Ghent were greatly re- 
 joiced at it, and said that Francis Atremen deserved to be highly 
 prized for his valor. Francis Atremen remained governor of Oude- 
 narde, where he gained great riches, with all sorts of stores, which 
 was a fortunate circumstance for the captors, such as corn and wines 
 of all sorts. Everything fell into their hands, and all the wealth 
 which was there from France, Flanders, and Tournay ; but what- 
 ever belonged to Hainault was saved, nor was any part of that taken 
 but what was duly paid for. 
 
 CHAPTER CXLIII. 
 
 AYMEEIGOT MARCEL, AN ENGLISH CAPTAIN ON THE BORDERS OF AUVERGNE, 
 TAKES BY STRATAGEM THE CASTLE OF MARQUEL. THE COUNTESS 
 DAUPHINE RANSOMS IT FOR FIVE THOUSAND FRANCS. 
 
 In the same week an almost similar adventure happened in Au- 
 vergne, where the English held several castles bordering on the ter- 
 ritories of the count dauphin, and on those of the bishops of St. Fleur 
 and of Clermont. The English garrisons knew the country of Au. 
 vergne had been drained of men-at-arms, for the greater part of them 
 were with the king of France in Flanders : they, in consequence, 
 began to lay plans for surprising some of the strong places of Auvergne. 
 Aymerigot Marcel, governor of Aloise, a handsome castle situated a 
 league distant from St. Fleur,* set off from his castle at daybreak, 
 attended only by thirty picked men. He marched silently for the 
 lands of the count dauphin, having formed his plan to take by scalado 
 the castle of Marquel (which the count dauphin bears for his arms,) 
 and rode through woods and a close country. Aymerigot and his 
 men took up their lodgings early in a small wood near the castle, 
 where they remained until sunset, and the garrison had retired into 
 the castle : while the governor, whose name was Girardon Buissel, 
 was at supper, the English, who knew well what they were to do, 
 affixed their ladders and entered the casde at their ease. 
 
 Those passing through the court saw them climbing over the 
 walls, and instantly cried out, " Treason, treason !" On Girardon 
 hearing this, he had not any hopes of saving himself but through a 
 private passage which led from his apartment to the great tower, 
 and which served as the dungeon of the castle. Thither he instantly 
 retired, taking with him the keys of the gates, and shut himself in, 
 while Aymerigot and his companions were otherwise employed. 
 When they discovered that the governor had escaped into the great 
 tower, which they w^re unable to take, they said they had done no- 
 thing, and repented greatly having thus inclosed themselves ; for, the 
 gates being fastened, they could not get out. Aymerigot having 
 mused a little, came to the tower, and, addressing the governor, said, 
 "Girafdon, give us the keys of the castle-gate, and I promise you 
 we will leave it without doing any mischief to the castle." " In- 
 deed," replied Girardon, " but you will carry off all my cattle : how 
 {.an I believe you?" "Give me thy hand," said Aymerigot to him, 
 " and I swear to thee, on my faith, that thou shalt not suffer the 
 smallest loss." Upon this, he, like a fool, came to a small window 
 in the tower, and offered his hand for him to pledge his faith on ; but 
 the moment Aymerigot got hold of it he pulled it to him, squeezing 
 it very hard, and called for his dagger, swearing he would stick his 
 hand to the wall unless he gave up all his keys. 
 
 • " St. Fl«ur "-a city of AuverRne, situated ou a mountain, generality qS Riom. 
 
 When Girardon saw himself thus caught, he was stupefied, as in. 
 deed he had reason ; for Aymerigot would not give up his hand with, 
 out nailing it to the wall, unless he received the keys. With hia 
 other hand, therefore, he gave the keys, for he had them near him. 
 " Now, see," said Aymerigot to his companions, when he had got 
 the keys, " if I have not well cheated the fool : I am equal to many 
 such feats as this." They opened the tower gate, and, being the 
 masters, put out of the castle the g overnor and all who were in it, 
 without doing them any other harri. News was carried to the 
 countess dauphine, who resided at a strong castle in the good town 
 of Zaides, a league distant, how the E;!glish had won Marquel. The 
 lady was much surprised, and because her lord, the dauphin, was not 
 in the country, she immediately sent to all oi' the knights and squires 
 who were at home, to request they would assist her in recovering 
 possession of her castle. Knights and squires, on hearing this, in- 
 stantly waited on the lady and laid siege to the castle ; but the Eng- 
 lish were not alarmed, and held the place for fifteen days. During 
 this time the lady entered into a treaty, and Aymerigot received five 
 thousand francs in hard money, for which he and his men surren, 
 dered it and returned to his garrison. 
 
 In another part those of Caluisel, of which Perrot le Brenoi^ 
 was captain, harassed much the countries of Auvergne and Limou- 
 sin. The English had at that time upward of sixty strong castles on 
 the borders of Auvergne, Limousin, and Quercy, and they could 
 march from fort to fort, even unto Bordeaux. But the castle which 
 harassed the country most was Ventadour,* one of the strongest cas- 
 ties in the world : the captain of it was a Breton, called Geoffry T^te. 
 noir. This Geoffry was a wicked man, showed mercy to none, and 
 would just as soon put to death a knight or squire as a peasant : he 
 held all men so cheap, and was so much feared by his soldiers, that 
 they dared not anger him. He maintained in this castie full four 
 hundred men, whom he paid regularly every month ; and the whole 
 country was under such subjection and awe of him, that none dared 
 to ride over his lands. His castle of Ventadour was more largely sup. 
 plied with every sort of store than that of any lord. There were ware- 
 houses of Brussels and Normandy cloths, of furs, merceries, and other 
 articles, which he sold to his people, deducting the prices from their 
 pay. He had stores of steel, iron, wax, spices, and every necessary, 
 in as great plenty as at Paris. Sometimes he made war on the 
 English as well as on the French, in order to be the more dreaded : 
 and his castle of Ventadour was always well provided for a siege of 
 seven years. We will now return to the affairs of Flanderi. 
 
 CHAPTER CXLIV. 
 
 THE KING OF FRANCE ORDERS BOURBOURG TO BE ATTACKED. IT IS STTR. 
 EENDERED TO HIM BY CAPITULATION, WHEN THE ENGLISH QUIT FLAN- 
 DERS. HE THEN DISBANDS HIS ARMY. 
 
 When the king of France came before Bourbourg there were never 
 seen such fine men-at-arms, nor such numbers as he had with him. 
 The lords and their men were all drawn up, and eager for the attack. 
 Those who reconnoitered the place said, it could not hold out long; 
 but that it would cost dearly in men : and several wondered why the 
 attack was delayed. Some said, that the duke of Brittany and the 
 earl of Flanders, who were on the other side of the town, were ti*eat- 
 ing with the English to surrender without waiting for the assault. 
 On this the Bretons, Burgundians, Normans, Germans, and others, 
 who knew there was much wealth in the place, which, if taken by 
 storm, would probably fall to their share, were much exasperated at 
 the thoughts of a capitulation, and began to skirmish with the infan. 
 try at the barriers, without waiting for orders from the constable or 
 marshals of the army : indeed, they were not forbidden to assault it. 
 This skirmish increased so much that the French set fire to the town 
 by means of fire-arrows and cannons, so that such a flame and smoke 
 came from the houses of Bourbourg as might have been seen forty 
 leagues off. The attack then began with shouts; and sir William 
 de Namur, who with his men, was in the front ranks, fought val- 
 iantly. Many gallant deeds were done, and the assailants leaped 
 cheerfully into the mud of the ditches above the knees, when they 
 engaged with the English at the palisades and barriers. 
 
 The gan-ison defended themselves handsomely : iiideed they had 
 need of their exertions, for they knew not on which side to turn 
 themselves. They were attacked on all parts : and the houses of 
 the town were blazing with fire, which more confounded the English 
 than anything else. This, however, did not throw them off their 
 guard, nor cause them to quit their posts. Sir Matthew Redman 
 and sir Nicholas Drayton, with their men, in the centre of the town, 
 endeavored to check the progress of the fire ; but it was such a dry 
 season, that the smalleet spark set the houses in flames. It is cer- 
 tain, that if the attack had began earlier, or had not the night come 
 on so soon, the town must have been taken by storm ; but the approach 
 of night put an end to it. Sir William de Namur's division had 
 thirty-six killed and wounded ; and the army lost, according to the 
 report of the heralds, upward of five hundred. On the attack ceaa 
 ing, the French retired to their quarters, to attend the sick and bury 
 the dead. They said, that on the moiTow they would renew the at. 
 
 * " Ventadour"—a caitle in the diocese of Limoges, near Tuliee. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 33S 
 
 tack, and it should be irresistible. The English, all this Saturday 
 night were employed in repairing the palisadoes which had been 
 broken, in putting all things in a good state, and in extinguishing the 
 i^res in the town. They were in a most perilous situation, being 
 surrounded on all sides, without means of escaping by flight. 
 
 On the Sunday murning when the king had heard mass, it was 
 proclaimed through the army, that whosoever should bring a faggot 
 to the king's tent should receive a halfpenny, and as many faggots 
 so many halfpence. These faggots were intended to be thrown into 
 tiie ditches, so that they might resolutely pa3s over them, and engage 
 with the English on the Monday morning at the palisadoes. Upon 
 'Ms all the lower ranks, and the servants, began to make faggots and 
 cairy them to the king's tent, insomuch that a very large heap of them 
 was made theie. Sunday passed without any attack. Some say 
 that on this day, and appearances confirmed it, the duke of Brittany, 
 who was on the opposite side of the town to the king, entered into 
 negotiations with the English, aware of the peril they were in. He 
 advised them to surrender the town, on their lives and fortunes being 
 ispared. This they were very willing to do, and they entreated the 
 date, through love of God, and in honor of his gentility, to under- 
 take the bu dness. 
 
 The duke sent information of what he had done to the king, his 
 uncles, the constable of France, the count de St. Pol, and to the 
 council. Having considered how advisable it was to gain all the 
 fltrong places in Flanders, in whatever manner they were offered to 
 be surrendered, and that to win Borbourg they must renew the attack, 
 which would cost them probably numbers of lives ; besides, they 
 should at last only conquer a handful of men, who would defend 
 themselves until they dropped ; the king of France and his uncles 
 replied, that, in God's name, they would willingly agree to a treaty, 
 if the duke of Brittany and the constable of France would undertake 
 it. In this manner Sunday passed without anything being done. I 
 heard that, in the evening, on a promise of safety, John de Cha.teau- 
 neuf, a Gascon, and Remonnet de St. Marc, came to the tent of the 
 .lord Guy de la Tremouille to play and amuse themselves, where they 
 staid all night. On the Monday morning they returned to Bour- 
 boui'g; and at their departure the lord Guy said to them, "John and 
 ELemonnet, ye shall both be my prisoners this evening." They re- 
 plied, they would prefer being his, than belonging to any other knight. 
 
 Intelligence arrived tiiis Sunday of the capture of Oudenarde, 
 which much vexed sir Gilbert de Lieneghien the governor, as it had 
 • been lost through his absence; but he was exculpated from all blame 
 by his lord the earl of Flanders, who had sent for him. The count 
 de Blois commanded the king's guard this Sunday, and every one 
 thought the attack would be renewed on Monday : but in the morn- 
 ing it was proclaimed through the army, that the king forbade any 
 attack until further orders. This proclamation made every one 
 quiet ; and several lords guessed that the English would escape by 
 iszeans of a treaty, as the attack was forbidden. After dinner, those 
 wl\.o were to negotiate came out of the town, such as sir William 
 Elmaiam, sir Thomas Trivet, sir Nicholas Drayton, sir Matthew 
 Kedman, and others, to the number of fourteen knights and rquire^, 
 whom the duke of Brittany, the constable of France, and the count 
 de St. Pulp conducted to the tent of the king. The king was muoh 
 pleased thereat, as he had scarcely seen any English except sir Peter 
 Courtenay, who had come to Paris to fight with the lord Guy de la 
 Tremouille, but the king and his council had made up the quarrel. 
 Now, as the fcingljsh had been much renowned for gallantry and 
 deed.'? of arms, the young king of France wished to see them : and 
 their treaty was much the better for it. 
 
 On the Monday this negotiation was carried on in the king's tent, 
 and in his presence. There were also present the dukes of Berry, 
 Burgundy, Bourbon, Brittany, the earl of Flanders, the constable of 
 France, and no more. The duke of Brittany was very active in this 
 business : and it was settled, that the English should depart from 
 Bourbourg and Gravelines, and carry away with them as much of 
 their wealth as they could. Several of the Bretons, French, Nor- 
 mans, and Burgundians were much vexed at this treaty, for they 
 thought af partakii>g of the spoils ; but the king and his council had 
 ordered it otherwise. 
 
 Ai^ter the treaty had been signed, the English took leave of the 
 king of France, his uncles, the duke of Brittany and the constable, 
 and went with the count de St. Pol, who carried them to supper at 
 his house, where he entertained them as handsomely as he could in 
 such a situation. After supper he had them conducted to the gates 
 of Bourbourg, for which they testified to him their thanks. The 
 whole of Tuesday they employed in shoeing their horses, and in 
 packing up all their wealth, of which they had much, and in making 
 preparations for their departure. On the Wednesday morning they 
 loaded their baggage-horses and began their march, passing through 
 .the army w'th passports from the king. The Bretons were much 
 .exasperated when they saw them so loaded ; and they treated very 
 indifferently a few who tarried behind. Thus the English marched 
 !to Gravelines, where they halted. On the Thursday morning, when 
 •they left it, they set fire to the place, burned it to the ground, and ar- 
 rived at Calais with all their pillage. They stopped there to refresh 
 .themselves, and to wait for a favorable wind to return to England. 
 
 The king of France, and ell the lords of his army, with their 
 iktt«adaiit3y entered Bourbourg o» the Thursday worning, when the 
 
 [ Bretons began to plunder it, without excepting even the church of 
 St. John : in which church, a pillager having mounted on an altar, 
 with the intent of forcing out a precious stone that w as in the crown 
 of an image made to represent the person of our 1 ady, the image 
 turned about, and the pillager in his fright fell from the altar and 
 was instantly struck dead. This is a certain truth, for many person! 
 were witnesses of it. Shortly afterwards, another pillager came 
 with a similar intent of robbing the image ; but all the bells begaa 
 a peal without any one touching them, for no one could have ruag 
 them, the bell-ropes being drawn up and fastened. On avcount of 
 these miracles, the church was visited by crowd.s. The king made 
 a handsome present to it, as did all the lords, so that the amount of 
 their gifts was upward of three thousand francs. 
 
 On Tuesday, the army began to decamp, and the king and con 
 stable gave permission to several of his men-at-arms to return home. 
 The king thanked those who had come from distant parts, and in 
 a particular manner the duke of Bavaria and the count of Savoy, 
 who had come from such a distance to serve him. Each lord now 
 returned home, and the king went to France ; but the duke of Bur- 
 gundy staid a short time with his father-in-lav/ the earl of Flanders, 
 to regulate his affairs, and resided at St. Omer. The lord de Coucy, 
 with many knights and squires from Ponthieu, Vimeu and Picardy, 
 entered Gravelines when the English had left it, repaired and greatly 
 strengthened it, and made it a garrison as a frontier to Calais. 
 
 The countries of Fumes, Dunkirk, Dixmude, and Nieuport were 
 by degrees repeopled. They had lost everything by this war, but 
 they now began somewhat to recover themselves. 
 
 CHAPTER CXLV. 
 
 THE BISHOP OF NORWICH AND THOSE WHO ACCOMPANIED HIM IN HtS 
 EXPEDITION ARE BADLY RECEIVED ON THEIR RETURN TO ENGLAND. 
 CERTAIN GREAT PERSONAGES ARE DEPUTED TO NEGOTIATE A PEACE 
 OR TRUCE BETWEEN THE KINGS OF FRANCE AND ENGLAND. THE 
 DUKE OF BAVARIA DIES. 
 
 You must know that the duke of Lancaster was not very sorry 
 this expedition of the bishop of Norwich had failed, for by it his 
 intended voyage to Spain and Portugal had been frustrated. When 
 these knights returned to England, they were attacked by the com- 
 mon people, who told them they had behaved very badly in their 
 expedition, for, from the prosperity they had been blessed with at 
 the beginning, they ought to have conquered all Flanders. Sir 
 Thomas Trivet and sir William Elmham were more blamed than 
 the rest ; but sir Hugh Calverley was not any way found fault v.-it!), 
 either by the king's council or the populace, for they well knew, 
 that if they had paid attention to what he had advised, the event 
 would have been more to their honor. They laid to their charge, 
 that they had sold Bourbourg and Gravelines to the king of France, 
 which exasperated the people to a great degree, and they were at 
 one time in danger of their lives. The king ordered these two 
 knights to be confined in the Tower of London, and during the time 
 of their imprisonment the country was quieted : on their liberation, 
 they threw themselves on the king's mercy.* 
 
 At this time, negotiations were set on foot to conclude a truce 
 between England and France, in which the Ghent men were in- 
 eluded, to the great displeasure of the earl of Flanders ; but he 
 could not help it. When the army decamped from Bourbourg, the 
 duke of Brittany remained with his cousin the earl of Flanders at 
 St. Omer, and was desirous that a long peace or truce should be 
 established between his lawful lord, the king of France, and the 
 king of England. In order to make a beginning to such business, 
 he had mentioned the subject to some of the English knights, on 
 the Monday, when they were in the king's tent before Bourbourg ; 
 which knights had promised, on their arrival in England, to propose 
 it to the king, his uncles, and his council. However, to show that 
 this matter was quite agreeable to him, and that he was anxious 
 about it, he sent two of his knights to England under good passports. 
 These knights, the lord de la Houssaye and the lord de Mailly, 
 managed matters so well, that the duke of Lancaster, the earl of 
 Buckingham, the bishop of Hereford, the lord John Holland, brothei 
 to the king, the lord Thomas Percy, and others of the king's council, 
 were ordered to Calais, having full powers from the king of England 
 to conclude a peace or truce, according to their pleasure. On the 
 other hand, there came to Boulogne the duke of Berry, the duke of 
 Burgundy, the bishop of Laon. and the chancellor of France, having 
 also full powers from the king of France and his council to conclude 
 either a peace or truce. 
 
 When assembled at Calais and Boulogne, they were delayed a 
 short time by the non-arrival of the deputies from Spain ; for the 
 French would not enter into any treaty that did not at the same 
 time include the Spaniards. At last, a bishop, a dean, and two 
 knights arrived on the part of the king of Spain. As they were not 
 
 * Writs were issued to the sJieriffs of London. Somerset. Dorset, Essex, Norfoli?, and 
 Suffolk, to levy on the goods of sir W. Elmlinm, for 3080 golden frfincs— sir W. de 
 Fariidon, 1400 ditto— sir Thomas Trivet, 1400 ditto— sir Henry de Ferrers, fc*080 ditto— 
 Robert Fitzrnuf, 300 ditto. They were also tiiJien into custody ; hut no mention a 
 made of tlie Tower of London. Robert de Foulmer, clerk, treasurer to the bishop of 
 Norwich, was also imprisoned, and iOOO golden francs levied on his good*. Dat«d thb 
 March— pardootd 14th Aia/.— fi¥MBR, aoc. 1384. aaa. 7 Rig. H. 
 
 « 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, & 
 
 empowered on either side to grant passports, thit the negotiators 
 Irom France might come to Calais, or the English go to Boulogne, 
 it was settled between them, that the conference should be trans, 
 ferred to a village that had a church, half way between these two 
 towns*, above Buissem,* called Bo- 
 lignes.t Thither all the parties went, 
 and the lords, with their council, were 
 together for many days. The duke 
 of Brittany and the earl of Flanders 
 were present, and the great tent of 
 Bruges was pitched, wherein the earl 
 entertained at dinner the duke of Lan- 
 caster, the earl of Buckingham, and 
 the other English lords. Each nego- 
 tiator kept up a grand state ; but, not- 
 withstanding there were many confer- 
 ences hoIden,yet they could not agree 
 upon a peace, for the French wanted 
 the English to give up Calais, Guines, 
 and all the fortresses which they pos- 
 sessed in Normandy, Brittany, Poitou, 
 Saintonge, and La Rochelle, as far as 
 the river Garonne. But the English 
 would not any way listen to such a 
 proposal ; nor would they ever consent 
 to give back such places as Calais, 
 Guines, Cherbourg, or Brest. These 
 conferences lasted three weeks, in 
 which they or their councils discussed 
 these matters daily. 
 
 At this period, the gallant duke Win- 
 ceslaus of Bohemia departed this life 
 in the town of Luxembourg : he was 
 in his time magnificent, blithe, pru- 
 dent, amorous and polite \t and, when 
 he died, it was said that the prince of 
 the highest birth, of the most noble 
 blood, and most numerously and hon- 
 orably connected, was gone. God have mercy on his soul ! He 
 lies buried in the abbey of Vaucler, near Luxembourg. The lady 
 Jane, his duchess, remained a widow, and never had any inclination 
 to marry again. All who loved the duke were exceedingly con- 
 cerned at his death. 
 
 .ougo 
 
 for their safely, in going to and returning from Scotland t 
 England. 
 
 On the part of the English were included all their Ti\h^ and 
 adherents, wheresoever they might be. Ghent was express^ men. 
 
 Funeral or THB Earl of Flanders.— Bearing the body into the Church, with an array of Prie&thood, &(•, 
 
 tioned in all their deeds, to the great displeasure of the earl of Flan 
 ders. This truce was to last until the Michaelmas of the year 1384 
 and these commissioners were to see that the articles v/ere duly ob 
 served, having full powers to enforce them. Public acts were made 
 of each different article for the better observance of them ; and the 
 lords present swore they should all be loyally kept, and in no way 
 
 ♦ CHAPTER CXLVI. 
 
 nURINff THESE CONFERENCES THE GHENT MEN INSULT TOURNAY. A TRUCE 
 IS CONCLUDED BETWEEN THE KINGS OF FRANCE AND ENGLAND AND 
 THEIR ALLIES. 
 
 We will now return to the conferences which were holding be- 
 tween the lords of France and England, half-way between Calais and 
 Boulogne, at the before-mentioned village. Neither side seemed 
 willing to accommodate the other. Some said it was owing solely 
 to the earl of Flanders, at the instigation of the town of Bruges, who 
 would not consent that the Ghent men should be included in the 
 treaty. This the English resented, and of course the treaty was 
 stopped; for they had formed so strong a connection with Ghent, 
 that they would not conclude a peace unless that place were included. 
 They had sworn to observe this during the time they were together 
 at Calais, and this compact frequently interrupted the negotiations. 
 
 Since there seemed no probability of a solid peace being made, 
 they proposed a truce, and on this ground the conferences were con- 
 tinued. The earl of Flanders would willingly have had Ghent ex- 
 cluded, and remain in a state of war, but the English absolutely 
 refused to consent, so that a truce was made to comprehend Ghent, 
 and everything was to remain in its present situation, without any 
 surrender of forts : Oudenarde and Gravelines therefore belonged to 
 Ghent. Notwithstanding the conferences, the Ghent men in garri- 
 son at Oudenarde marched to Tournay, burnt the suburbs, and re- 
 turned back in safety with their pillage. About Christmas the Ghent 
 men went and received the rents of the lord d'Estournay in his own 
 town, which made him very melancholy ; and he swore to God, that 
 if he would be pleased to assist him, whatever treaty or agreement 
 should be made between the country of Flanders and these men, he 
 would never pay any attention to it, but would continue the war 
 against them to the utmost of his power, for they had robbed him of 
 his inheritance. He was ignorant how he should live, if his friends 
 in Brabant did not assist him, so completely had they plundered him. 
 
 With some difficulty, the lords who had held so many conferences 
 At Bolinges concluded a truce between the kings of France and Eng. 
 iani and their allies. On the part of France was included all Spain, 
 as well as Scotland. The king of France bound himself to send no- 
 tice of this truce to the king and barons of Scotland as speedily as 
 possible ; and the bearers of this information were to have passports 
 
 infringed. 
 
 • Probably what is now Haut Buisson. 
 
 ^Q. If not BnlhnBhem, now n vilhiRe, near Boulojfne. 
 
 t Noble, joii, frisque. sag*, armtret 9i amoureux— noble, bandsoms, livsly, wiie. vol- 
 iaUt and araorgiu — £d 
 
 CHAPTER CXLVII 
 
 THE EARL OF FLANDERS DIES. THE CEREMONY OF HIS FUNERAL. 
 
 On the conference breaking up, the French lords returned to France 
 and the English lords to Calais. The duke of Brittany went back 
 to his duchy, and the earl of Flanders to St. Omer. Shortly after, he 
 was taken so ill that he died.* It was ordered that he should be 
 buried in the church of St. Peter in Lille. The earl departed this 
 life on the 20th day of January, in the year 1363, and his body was 
 carried to Los, an abbey near to Lille. The body of the countess 
 his lady, who had died five years before in the county of Rethel, was 
 also brought thither, and from thence to Lille, where they were in- 
 terred together in the church of St. Peter.t 
 
 I will now relate the arrangement of this ceremony, and the man- 
 ner in which it was conducted, and describe the order of procession 
 at the funeral of the earl and countess of Flanders, whose bodies had 
 been carried to Los, an abbey near Lille. When they were about 
 to enter Lille, a great number of lords from France, Flanders, Hain- 
 ault and Brabant, who had arrived there the eve of the funeral, were 
 to meet the body at the gate of the Invalids, and to carry it through 
 the town to the church of St. Peter. They were to be armed as for 
 war, as well as their squires who supported them. 
 
 Sir John Haluin was nearest the bodj', supported by Enguerrand 
 de Volemie, and Roger de I'Espierre : then the lord de la Marque, 
 supported by John de I'Espierre, and the lord Sausee de Fretin; the 
 lord de Mauvis, supported by Godfrey de Noille, and Henry de la 
 Vacquerie. The names of those appointed to the convoy were, sir 
 Peter de Bailleuf, near the body, supported by Guyot de Lompr6, and 
 John Louis lord of Lamberticouit: sir Sohier de Gand advanced be- 
 fore sir Peter de Bailleuf, supported by Hugart de Quinghen, and by 
 Michael de la Quarrie: sir John du Moulin advanced before sir So- 
 hier de Gand, supported by John de Quinghen and Haubequin le 
 mareschal. Next followed the banners of the bier; first, sir Francis 
 de Hasurquerque and sir Goussain le Sauvage in front; sir Lancelot 
 de la Personne before sir Goussain, and sir John de la Helle before 
 sir Lancelot de la Personne. Those who bore the banners of the 
 
 * Some authorities state that he was stabbed by the duke of Berri, because he insisted 
 on receiving the homage of the latter for the earldom of Boulogne, held by himself in 
 right of his wife.— Ed. , • 
 
 t The earl of Flanders left only one legitimate child, Margaret of Flanders, his sole 
 heiress ; but he had eleven illegitimate children, the eldest of whom was Louis, before- 
 mentioned, called the Haae. AngUce JUare of Flanders. The origin of this Utle i* im- 
 certain.^JEo 
 
 ■ 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, & 
 
 53^ 
 
 bier and convoy came next, sir Matthew de Hunieres, and before him 
 sir John de Helles lord des Aveaux, and sir Cierchelart de la Barre 
 before the above-named lord des Aveaux ; and sir John de Paris be- 
 fore Cierchelart. The names of those barons who assisted to carry 
 the corpse of the earl from the gate of the Invalids, in procession 
 
 Placins the body before the Altar. 
 
 ttirough the town of Lille, to the church of St, Peter : first, sir John 
 de Vienne, admiral of France, on the right, and the lord de Guis. 
 telles on the left; sir Valeran de Ravenal on the right, the castellan 
 de Disquenieu on the left; the lord d'Estom-nay on the right, and sir 
 Ansel de Salins on the left. 
 
 Those barons who assisted in bearing the corpse of the countess 
 of Flanders from the gate of St. Ladre to the church of St. Peter 
 were, the lord de Sully on the right, 
 and the lord de Chatillon on the left 
 side of the body ; sir Guy de PontaU 
 liers, marshal of Burgundy, on the 
 right, sir Guy de Guistelles on the left; 
 then sir Henry du Going on the right, 
 and the castellan of Furnes on the left. 
 
 I shall now mention the regulations 
 on the day of the obsequies, which 
 were performed in the church of St. 
 Peter, the names of those present, as 
 well as of the squires who supported 
 the shields during the whole mass, 
 until the offertory : first, the duke of 
 Burgundy by himself, and the firs, 
 shield was borne before him, which 
 shield was supported by the lord de 
 Ravenal, by the lord de la Gouneuse, 
 by Labequini de la Coutre, and by 
 John de Pontalliers, brother to the 
 marshal of Burgundy. 
 
 The second shield was borne before 
 my lord John of Artois, count d'Eu, 
 and the lord Philip de Bar, by Valeran 
 de la Sale and Lesclaus d'Annequin. 
 Next followed the count de la Marche 
 and the lord Philip d'Artois; the shield 
 Was borne by Gillon de Labert and 
 Robin de Florigny. Then came sir 
 Robert de Namur, and with him his 
 nephew sir William de Namur ; the 
 shield was borne by Chaux Bernard 
 and Girard de Sternaille. 
 
 The shields of the convoy: the lord 
 d'Anghien, and with him sir John de 
 by Aillart de Ponthees and Henry de 
 
 Esne de Ch&,tillon, and the lord de Fere ; the shield supported by 
 John de Heluin and Edward de Castron ; then the lord d'Ancoing 
 and the lord de Guistelles : the shield-bearers were Tristan de Lan- 
 dresand John du Beart ; then the lord de Moriennes and the lord 
 de Silly : the shield borne by Fresingue and by Damas de Bucy. 
 
 Then came those who were to make offerings of the war-horses 
 «f the earl : first my lord de thatillon and sir Simon de Lalain, 
 
 bailiff of Hainault. These lords were on foot, and the horse wa« 
 armed and caparisoned ; with the second horse were sir Valeran de 
 Ravenal and the castellan de Dixmude : with the third, cir Hugh do 
 Melun and the lord d'Aucy : the lord de Burnel and the lord de Bnmieii 
 were with the fourth horse. Then came those who were to off{;r 
 
 the steeds of the convoy : first, sir Henry 
 d'Ancoing and sir Gerard de G uistelles ; 
 with the second, the lord de Moniigny 
 and the lord de Rasenghien ; the lord de 
 la Haurade and the castellan de Furnes 
 were with the third ; and the fourth had 
 the lord de Saugmelles and sir Rowland 
 de la Clicque. 
 
 Next came those who were to offer the 
 earl's swords of war ; my lord admiral of 
 France bore the first, the lord de Rary 
 the second, the marshal of Burgundy the 
 third, the lord de Saint Py the fourth. 
 The names of those who offered the 
 swords of the convoy : sir William de 
 Ponthieu bore the first, sir William de la 
 Trimouille the second, the castellan of 
 Ypres the third, and sir Guy de Han- 
 court the fourth. Then came those who 
 offered the war-helmets of the earl ; the 
 lord de Manly bore the first ; the second 
 was borne by sir William de Homes and 
 sir Ansel de Salins : sir John Doppem 
 and the castellan of St. Omer had the 
 third ; and sir Guy Guistelles and le Ga- 
 lois d'Aunoy the fourth. 
 
 The helmets of the convoy were borne 
 and offered as follows : the first by sir 
 Josse de Hallain and sir Oliver de Guffy ; 
 the second by the lord d'Ysebobecque 
 and the lord de Lalain ;* the fourth by 
 sir Tristan du Bois and sir John de Ju. 
 mont. Then came those who offered 
 the banners of war : the lord de Listre- 
 naille offered the first, sir Leoncel d'Airainnies the second, sir Giles 
 de la Gouneuse the third, and sir John de Luisolom the fourth. 
 The banners of the envoy were next offered : the first by sir Orengoia 
 do Rely, the third t by sir John de Disquenieu, and the fourth hy 
 sir Vilaines de la Clicque. 
 
 Those who, after the obsequies were ended, laid the body of the 
 earl of Flanders in the earth were, sir John de Vienne, admiral oi 
 
 Namur ; the shield carried 
 Moucy. Next followed sir 
 
 Placing the body in the Tomb. 
 
 France, the lord de Guistelle, sir Valeran de Ravenal, the castehan 
 de Dixmude, the lord de Ray and Sir Ansel de Salins. Those who 
 interred the body of the countess, consort to the earl, were, sir Guy 
 de la Trirnouille, the lord de Chatillon, the seneschal of Burgundy, 
 the lord Gerard de Guistelles, sir Henry d'Antoing, and the castellan 
 of Furnes. 
 
 It should be observed, that all who off icially had entered the 
 
 * The third is not mentioned in any of my editions, 
 t The second is forgottea. 
 
338 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 rhurch of St. Peter at Lille, with the corpse in the evening, remained 
 there until the mass of the morrow, as well those knights who 
 were armed as those who bore the banners, and the squires who led 
 f le horses. There were about four hundred men, clothed in black, 
 tippointed to carry the body of the earl and countess of Flanders, 
 I irough Lille, to the church of St. Peter, and each of them bore a 
 t rch in his hand. These four hundred men held their torches on 
 ti e morrow in the church during mass, and they were all of them 
 olHcers in the principal towns or of the earl's household. 
 
 The archbishop of Rheims celebrated the mass, assisted by the 
 bishops of Paris, Tournay, Cambray and Arras, and likewise by five 
 abbots. There were in the church, during the obsequies, seven hun- 
 dred candles or thereabouts, and each candle weighed one pound. 
 On the catafalque were five banners ; in the centre, the banner of 
 Flanders ; on the right, that of Artois ; on the left, lower down, that 
 of Boulogne ; the fourth of Nevers, and the fifth of Rethel. The 
 catafalque was emblazoned on the right side with the scutcheons of 
 Flanders, and on the left with those of Flanders and Brabant. Down 
 the church were twelve hundred and twenty-six candles, similar to 
 those around the bodies. There was not any lady or damsel present 
 on the part of the duke or duchess of Burgundy except the lady of 
 the governor of Lille. 
 
 A magnificent dinner was provided, and every knight and squire 
 were gratuitously entertained the day and night of the obsequies ; 
 and all the black cloth they had worn was given to them. After this 
 ceremony they all returned to their homes. 
 
 The duke of Burgundy placed in the garrisons and towns in Flan- 
 ders, knights and squires, notwithstanding the truce which had been 
 made between France and England, and between their allies, for 
 every one was on his guard. The duke of Burgundy then returned 
 to France, but the lady-duchess remained a considerable time in 
 Artois. 
 
 CHAPTER CXLVIII. 
 
 THE EARLS OF NORTHUMBERLAND AND NOTTINGHAM RAISE A BODY OF 
 ENGLISH TO MAKE AN EXCURSION INTO SCOTLAND. EMBASSADORS ARE 
 SENT FROM FRANCE TO SCOTLAND, TO NOTIFY THE TRUCES WHICH HAD 
 BEEN MADE BETWEEN FRANCE AND ENGLAND. 
 
 Yoti hnve before heard how the lords of France who had attended 
 the conferences in Bolinge had engaged on their departure to notify 
 the truces that had been made between them and the English, to the 
 Scots and to the king of Scotland, so that any misunderstanding 
 should be prevented between the two countries. The council of 
 France, however, to say the truth, did not use all the diligence they 
 should have done; for they were to have sent instant information of 
 this truce, which they did not do. I know not how this happened, 
 except it were owing to the duke of Burgundy being so much en- 
 gaged by the death of his father-in-law the earl of Flanders, and 
 taken up with the business of his obsequies, as you have heard re- 
 lated. He likewise did not imagine the English would have acted 
 as they did ; for, soon after Easter, the earls of Northumberland and 
 Nottingham, and the barons of Northumberland, collected a body of 
 about two thousand lances and six thousand archers, with which they 
 marched by Berwick and Roxburgh, and entered Scotland. 
 
 They burnt all the lands of the earl of Douglas and of the lord 
 Lindsay, and left nothing unmolested as far as Edinburgh. The 
 barons of Scotland were not apprised of this invasion, and took the 
 affjir much to heart, saying they would revenge it to the utmost of 
 their power. They added, that the English ought to have been at 
 peace with them according to what had been reported of the truce ; 
 but they knew not this for certain, as in fact it had not at that time 
 been notified to them ; and they well knew that they had not entered 
 into any treaty with the English. The war was thus begun ; and 
 they h:id suffered in the first instance from it, which greatly dis- 
 pleased them. Intelligence soon spreads abroad ; it was known in 
 Fianders, particularly at Sluys, from some meichants who had sailed 
 from Scotland, that the English had invaded that country, and that 
 king Robert and his barons were collecting a numerous force to en- 
 gage the English. It was also known in France that the English 
 had taken the field, and they said among themselves that a battle 
 must be the consequence. 
 
 The dukes of Berry and Burgundy, and the king's council, hearing 
 this news, said it was foolishly done not to have notified the truce to 
 Scotland, according to their promise. It was then ordered by the 
 king, his uncles and his council, that sir Hemart de Mass^, a very 
 prudent knight, should go to Scotland, properly authorized, and with 
 him sir Peter de Flamel ; and a serjeant-at-'irms of the king, who was 
 of the Scot3 nation, and called Janequin Champenois, was likewise 
 ordered to attend them, because he was acquainted with the country 
 and understo )d the language. While these embassadors were ma- 
 king their p;cparations, and the EngUsh overrunning Scotland, the 
 news of which was spoken of everywhfcre, several men-at-arms from 
 Frmce who had fixed their residence atS;uys, not knowing where to 
 ofi'jr their services, as a truce was now established between France 
 and England, resolved to go to Scotland. They heard the news of 
 .thi3 war between Scotland and England ; and it was confidently 
 «aid at Sluys, th;it an engagement must very soon take place. These 
 men-at-arms, such as sir treofiry da Charny, sir John de Plaissy, sir 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 I ■ . -.m^ t, 
 
 Hugh de Boulon, sir Sainge de Villiers, sir Garnier de Libourne, sir 
 Gamier de Gussangin, sir Odin de Motin, sir Robert de Gampignen, 
 James de Montfort, John de Heluin, John de Mellez, Michael de la 
 Barre, William Gobart, heard this information with pleasure : they 
 might amount to about thirty men-at-arms, knights and squires. 
 
 In order to advance their renown, they had determined among 
 themselves, since they knew not v/here to offer their arms, to hire a 
 vessel and seek for adventures with the Scots. This resolution they 
 followed, and having embarked all their arms and baggage, they 
 themselves went on board, and set sail from Sluys as soon as the 
 wind became favorable. They left their horses behind, on account 
 of the dangers of the sea and the length of the voyage : besides, the 
 mariners who conducted them knew they could not land at Edin- 
 burgh, Dunbar, nor any of the adjoining ports, on account of the 
 English fleet, with the purveyances which followed the army, being 
 masters of all the havens. 
 
 About this time the embassadors from France arrived in England, 
 and waited on the king and his uncles, who entertained them hand, 
 somely. They dissembled a little the first day, because they knew 
 a war was carrying on in Scotland ; but, on hearing their people had 
 finished the business, they hastened the messengers from France, sii 
 Hemart de Masse and the others, and, for their greater security, 
 ordered some of the king's heralds to attend them through England, 
 and to have all towns and castles opened to receive them. This 
 being arranged, they sgt out on their embassy. The French knights 
 who had sailed from Sluys, by coasting the shores of Holland and 
 England, and carefully avoiding the English fleets, arrived safely at 
 a small sea-port in Scotland, called Monstres.* The Scots who 
 lived in the town, hearing that the passengers were Frenchmen; 
 come hither to seek for deeds of arms, showed them great kindness, 
 and supplied them with every necessary to the utmost of their power. 
 When these knights and squires had refreshed themselves for two 
 days, and had gained sufficient intelligence, they set out mounted 
 on hackneys, and rode to Dundee, from whence, continuing their 
 journey as well as they could, they came to Perth, a handsome town. 
 The river Tay runs by it; there is a good sea-port, from whence one 
 may sail to any part of the world. On their arrival at Perth, they 
 learnt that the English had retired, and that the king and all the 
 nobility of Scotland were assembled in parliament at Edinburgh. 
 Upon this they resolved to send sir Garnier de Cuissangin and 
 Michael de la Barre, to Edinburgh, to have a conference with tlie 
 king and the nobles, to know if they could be employed, and to 
 testify their good will, at least, in coming from Flanders to Scotland : 
 sir Geoffiy de Charny and the rest were to remain at Perth, until 
 they heard how they had been received. 
 
 As they had resolved, so was it executed : the embassadors set 
 out from Perth and came to Edinburgh, where the king was. The 
 earl of Douglas was there, whose name was James, for sir William, 
 the present earl's father, was lately dead : there were present also 
 the earls of Moray and Orkney, the lords de Versi, Sutherland, 
 Lindsay and his six brothers, who were all of them knights. These 
 Scots lords entertained very handsomely the knights of France. 
 Sir Garnier explained to the king and his barons the intentions of 
 his companions, and their reasons for coming to Edinburgh. The 
 embassadors trom France, sir Hemart de Mass6, sir Peter de Flamel 
 and Janequin Champenois, arrived with copies of the truces entered 
 into between the kings of France and England ; but the Scots 
 having no inclination to accept them, dissembled, by saying that 
 they had come too late, and that they should not now pay any atten- 
 tion to them, for the English had just made a grevious war on the 
 country. King Robert did everything he could for their being 
 accepted, saying, that in truth, since they had been notified to them, 
 they had not any pretence for a refusal : this caused a difference 
 between the king and the knights of his country. 
 
 The earl of Douglas, the earl of Moray, the children of Lindsay, 
 and such knights and squires of Scotland who wished for war, held 
 a secret meeting in the church of St. Giles at Edinburgh, where the 
 French knights, sir Garnier and Michael de la Barre, were desired 
 to attend. The Scots barons said they would enter into a treaty 
 with their companions, and they should soon hear good news from 
 them, but it must be kept secret. Upon this they returned tj Perth, 
 and related all they had seen and heard. 
 
 CHAPTER CXLIX. 
 
 THE BARONS ANH KNIGHTS OF SCOTLAND, IN CONJUNCTION Vv'ITH SOME 
 FRENCH KNIGHT , UNDERTAKE AN EXPKDITION INTO ENGLAND WITH- 
 OUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE KING OF SCOTLAND, WHO SENI S A 
 HERALD TO MAKE HIS EXCUSES TO THE KING OF ENGLAND. 
 
 Sir GeofTry de Charny and the other knights and squires were 
 much pleased at this intelligence. Leaving Perth, they continued 
 their march until they arrived at Edinburgh. They gave not the 
 smallest hint of their expectations, and had not remained there 
 twelve days when the earl of Douglas gave them a secret invitation 
 
 * *' M"nstress." RIf. D. M'Pherson, in his excellent Gergrnpliical [llustrations of 
 Scottish History, translates it Melrose: but F ihijik it must I.e a mistake, as Frois- 
 sjirt calls it, *'un petit port." From what ^>llo»vs it mu>t be some tmuU port nwU 
 i A; OundM ; and i ihuuld suppusc it to m«uo MuoUuse. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND. FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 to come to him, and at the same time sent horses to conduct them 
 to his castle of Dalkeith. On the morrow after their arrival, he 
 carried them to where the barons and knights of Scotland were 
 mustering their men. In three days' time they amounted to upward 
 of fifteen thousand on horseback, all armed according to the usual 
 manner of the country. When ihe whole were collected, they said 
 they would make an inroad, and revenge themselves on the English 
 Cor the mischiefs they had done. 
 
 They began their march through the woods and forests of their 
 ;ountry, and entered Northumberland, on the lands of the lord Percy, 
 *vhich they pillaged and burnt. They advanced still further, and 
 then returned through the estates of the earl of Nottingham and the 
 lord Mowbray, to whose lands they did much damage. They passed 
 by Roxburgh : for they had a very large booty with them, as well 
 in men as in cattle, and returned to their own country without any 
 loss ; for the English had been some time disbanded, and could not 
 be reassembled in time to oppose them: they were, therefore, 
 obliged to suffer this insult, as they had before given a similar one 
 to the Scots. The king of Scotland could easily excuse himself for 
 this inroad, as he had been kept entirely ignorant of their assembling 
 and march. Since the country was so inclined, it was not material 
 that he should know anything about it ; but supposing he had known 
 it, and there had been no other treaties than those which existed 
 between the two countries, they would not have acted otherwise for 
 him. 
 
 Notwithstanding the barons of Scotland, with the French knights, 
 had thus invaded England, sir Hemart de Masse and sir Peter de 
 Flamel continued ta reside at Edinburgh, near king Robert : they 
 allowed the Scots to act as they pleased, that it might not be said, 
 nor the English suppose, that it was through their fault, or those of 
 their country who had come with them, that the treaties had been 
 infringed which had been concluded at Bolinghen by the nobles and 
 council of France, England and Castillo. The king of Scotland and 
 the embassadors sent each a herald to England fully instructed what 
 they were to say. When the heralds arrived in England, they 
 found the whole country in motion, and eager to renew the war, by 
 marching into Scotland. The duke of Lancaster and the earl of 
 Cambridge were, however, anxious to go to Portugal and Castille in 
 the course of tlae year, with a large body of men-at-arms and 
 archers, under the power of one or both of them ; for they considered 
 themselves as heirs by their ladies to all Castille, and they wished to 
 renew the war between the king of Portugal and the king of Castille. 
 King Fernando was dead, and the Portuguese had crowned his 
 bastard brother don John, a valiant man who wished for a war with 
 the Spaniards, but not without having succors from England. Of 
 this the duke of Lancaster was well informed, but dissembled his 
 knowledge as well as he could, and endeavored through his friends 
 to prevent any forces being collected to carry on a war with Scot, 
 land. It was asserted, that the king of Scotland had refused to 
 authorize the war which the French and Scots knights wished for, 
 and that the late expedition had been made without his knowledge. 
 
 The S|2ots herald on his appearance before the king of England 
 and his uncles, well knowing his duty, threw himself on his knees, 
 and requested that, as herald from the king of Scotland, he might 
 deliver his message. The king and the nobles granted his request: 
 he then declared why he had been particularly sent by the king and 
 the embassadors from France, and excused them, by saying, that the 
 king of Scotland had graciously received the embassy from France, 
 and having assented to the treaties which the king of France had 
 made, should conform to the truce : that he had ordered, as strongly 
 as lay in him, his vassals to do the same ; but that the borderers of 
 Scotland, on the lands of the lord Percy and the earl of Nottingham, 
 such as the earl of Douglas, the earl of Mar his uncle, sir Archibald, 
 sir Rame, sir Peter, sir William and sir Thomas Douglas, all the 
 brothers of Lindsay and Ramsay, with sir William Seton, would 
 not attend the parliament in which this treaty was agreed to, nor 
 would they accept it ; for they said there had been such damage 
 * done to their lands as was disagreeable to themselves and friends, 
 which they would revenge the very first opportunity. These lords, 
 whom I have just named, collected their forces to invade England, 
 but they never mentioned it to the king, nor to any of his household, 
 for they well knew he would not have consented to it. " They say, 
 however, in Scotland, that England began hostilities; that, my lords, 
 you knew well a truce had been concluded beyond sea ; and that on 
 your return from Calais, it ought to have been signified to us. They 
 say likewise, that the embassadors from France, when they passed 
 through this country, were detained from coming to us as they were 
 bound to do, and that you kept them too long here with your enter- 
 tainments : on which accounts, this misunderstanding has happened 
 between Scotland and England, urged on by those who had long 
 meditated it, and under shadow of dissimulation the greater part of 
 it has been effected. But my most redoubted and sovereign lord, 
 the king of Scotland, and the embassadors from the king of France, 
 who reside at present with him, exculpate themselves from any 
 knowledge of the last expedition which the barons and knights of 
 Scotland made into England, having been completely ignorant of it. 
 Therefore, to ledress all complaints and place things on a proper 
 footing, I am oidered to say, that if you will conform to the treaties 
 concluded beyond sea through the discretion and wisdom of the 
 
 m 
 
 counsellors of the king of France and your own, and will agree that 
 the truces last the time such truces have been agreed to with my 
 very redoubted and sovereign lord the king of Scotland, he and his 
 council will confirm them, and swear to keep and maintain them, 
 out of respect to the king of France and his council, as well by 
 himself as by his vassal ; and upon this subject you will be pleased 
 to give me your answer." 
 
 The king of England and his uncles paid attention to the herald 
 while he was speaking, and willingly heard h:m. The duke of 
 Lancaster told him, that indeed he should have an answer. They 
 ordered him to remain in London, where he had had his audience, 
 to wait the answer from the king of England. 
 
 CHAPTER CL. 
 
 THE TRUCES WHICH HAD BEEN MADE BETWEEN THE FRENCH, THE ENGLISH 
 AND THEIR ALLIES, ARE PROCLAIMED IN SCOTLAND. THE FRENCH 
 KNIGHTS, ON THEIR RETURN FROM SCOTLAND, ARE IN GREAT DANGER 
 FROM THE ZEALANDERS. 
 
 At the end of two days, the council agreed on an aswer. Sir 
 Simon Burley, chamberlain to the king, drew it up : and by these 
 means all disputes were settled. To say the truth, the lords of Eng. 
 land who had been at the conferences at Bolin-o-hen had not acted 
 very honorably when they had consented to order their men to march 
 to Scotland and burn the country, knowing that a truce would speed- 
 ily be concluded : and the best excuse they could make was, that 
 it was the French, and not they who were to signify such truce to 
 the Scots. The herald was told, that in God's name he was wel- 
 come, and that it Vv^as the intention of the king of England, his uncles 
 and council, to keep and maintain what they had sealed and sworn 
 to, and that they would no ways infringe it, but, on the contrary, 
 would preserve it, for those who had been most active had lost the 
 most. The herald demanded all this to be put in writing, that he 
 might the more readily be believed. They made him rich presents, 
 and in such quantity that he was well contented, and gready thanked 
 the king and his nobles. Having left London, he continued his jour, 
 ney until he arrived in Scotland, where the embassadors from France 
 were waiting to know his answer, for they wei* anxious to learn 
 how the English would conduct themselves. When they saw the 
 answers from the king and his uncles, in the sealed letters which 
 were delivered to them, they were well satisfied and much rejoiced 
 thereat. Thus was the truce continued for this year between Eng- 
 land and Scotland, and for greater security it was proclaimed through, 
 out the two kingdoms. 
 
 The French embassadors returned to their own country, through 
 England, without any accident, and related to the king of France 
 and his uncles what they had done, and the opposition they had 
 met with: in short, they recounted everything you have just heard. 
 When sir Geoffry de Charny and the French knights in his company 
 found that the truce was to be established be vveen Scotland and 
 England, they took their leave of the barons of Scotland, more eape. 
 cially of the earls of Douglas and Moray, who had shown them 
 much kindness. These barons of Scotland, as wel! as some other 
 knights, said to them, joking, "Gentlemen, you have seen the con. 
 dition and manner of our country, but you have not seen its whole 
 strength and power. Know that Scotland is the country of the 
 world most dreaded by the English ; for we can, as you have seen, 
 enter England at our pleasure, without any danger from the sea : if 
 we were in greater numbers, we should do them more mischief than 
 we are now able to do. Be so good, therefore, when you are in 
 France, to tell this to your knights and squires, who shall be eager 
 for renown, to excite them to come hither in search of deeds of arms. 
 We can assure you, that if we had a thousand lances from France, 
 with the good people here, we would give such a considerable blow 
 to England that it should be visible for forty years to come. Have 
 the goodness to remember this when you shall be on the other side 
 of the water." 
 
 The French knights replied they would not fail to do so, for it 
 was not a thing to be forgotten. Upon this they embarked on board 
 a vessel they had engaged to carry them to Sluys ; but they had con. 
 trary winds when at sea, which obliged them to run for a port in 
 Zealand called la Virille.* When they had landed there, they thought 
 they were in a place of safety, but were disappointed, for the Nor. 
 mans had lately visited the coast, and had done, as it was said, much 
 mischief to the Zealanders. These knights and squires were in 
 great danger; for, while a different language was held in the town, 
 their vessel was seized, thoir trunks broken open, and their arms 
 taken away, and they themselves in risk of losing their lives. 
 
 At that time there was in the town a squire of the count de Blois, 
 whose name was Jacob, an agreeable man, who assisted them in all 
 things. He talked with the principal peoph^ of the town, and with 
 such good effect that a part of their baggage was restored to them. 
 In order to save them from their peril, for he knew the people were 
 much enraged against them, and had intentions of attacking them 
 on the sea, as they had sent notice of their plans to the neighboring 
 town?, and were in sufficient force to do so, he showed them much 
 courtesy, and out of affection to them, explained how greatl y the 
 * La VirUle." U. if not la Bulk, 
 
340 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND. FRANCE, SPAIN. &c. 
 
 country was exasperated against them, but that, out of regard to his 
 lord and the realm of France, he would counteract it. They warmly 
 thanked him for his kind intentions. Well, what did Jacob do ? 
 He went to a mariner and hired a vessel to carry him wherever he 
 p leased, saying his intentions were to go to Dordrecht. The mari- 
 i.ers having agreed to this proposal, he and his company embarked 
 c:i board the vessel, and at first made for Dordrecht; but, when 
 J icob saw it was time to alter their course, he said to the sailors, 
 " Now, mind what I am going to say : I have hired with my money 
 this vessel to carry me whithersoever I shall please : turn, therefore, 
 the helm for Strueghene,* as I want to go thither." The sailors re- 
 fu-sed to do so, saying they had been only engaged to sail to Dor- 
 drecht. "Attend to me," replied Jacob: " do what I have ordered 
 you, if you do not wish to be put to death." The sailors dared not 
 make any reply, for they were not the strongest ; so they at once 
 turned the helm and set the sails, and made for the town of Estri- 
 mohee,t where they arrived without fear of danger, for it belonged 
 to the count de Blois. After they had refreshed themselves, they 
 d-eparted and returned through Brabant and Hainault to their own 
 country, thanking Jacob for the kindness he had done them. 
 
 When sir Geoffry de Charny, sir John de Plaissy and the other 
 knights and squires who had been in Scotland, returned to France, 
 tliey were interrogated as to news from that country. They related' 
 all they had seen and heard from the barons and knights of Scot, 
 land. Sir John de Vienne, admiral of France, conversed on the 
 subject with sir Geoffry de Charny, who was surprised, as well as 
 other barons of France, to hear that the French, through Scotland, 
 could gain an easy entrance into England. Sir Hemart de Mass^ 
 continued the conversation, and added, the Scots could not any way 
 love the English ; and he had been directed to say this by order of 
 the Scots council, that the king of France and his uncles might have 
 information of it. The French instantly determined, as soon as the 
 truces should be expired, to send a powerful army to Scotland to lay 
 waste England. This was planned by the dukes of Berry and Bur- 
 gundy, who at that time governed the realm at their pleasure, and 
 the constable of France ; but the whole was kept very secret. 
 
 • CHAPTER CLI. 
 
 THE LORD DESTOtlRNAY ASSEMBLES FORCES TO RETAKE OUDENARDE. 
 ItE CONQUERS IT BY STRATAGEM. 
 
 You have before heard how Francis Atremen took by scalado the 
 town of Oadenarde, while the treaties for a truce were negotiating 
 before Bergues and Bourbourg, to the great surprise of Tournay and 
 the adjacent towns. The garrison of Oudenarde, during this time, 
 had overrun the country : and done much mischief to the territories 
 of Tournay : the whole estate of the lord Destournay was under 
 their subjection. They had at the feast of Christmas collected his 
 rents and duty-fowls, from the towns belonging to him, for their own 
 use, which displeased him and his friends exceedingly. He there- 
 fofe declared, that whatever truce or respite there might be between 
 the kings of France and England with the Flemings, he should not 
 pay any attention to it, but would exert himself in doing them as 
 much damage as he was able, for they had so grievously oppressed 
 him that he was become a poor man. 
 
 The lord Destournay turned his whole attention to retake Oude- 
 narde, and succeeded through the friendship of some knights and 
 squires from France, Flanders, and Hainault, who assisted him in it. 
 When he sent to these friends, several were ignorant of his inten- 
 tions. The expedition was undertaken on the 17th day of May, 
 1384 ; for the lord Destournay learned by his spies, that Francis 
 Atremen was gone to Ghent, trusting to the truce which had been 
 made with the French : by so doing he committed a fault, and was 
 no longer attentive to guard Oudenarde, as I shall relate. The lord 
 Destournay formed a considerable ambuscade of four hundred 
 knights, squires and good men-at-arms, whom he had entreated to 
 assist him. These he posted in the wood of Lart, near to the gate 
 of Oudenarde. There were among them sir John du Moulin, sir 
 James de la Trimouille, sir Gilbert and sir John Cacquelan, sir Roland 
 de I'Espierre, sir Blanchart de Calonne, and the lord d'Estripouille, 
 who was created a knight. 
 
 I will now relate their stratagem, and how those of Oudenarde 
 were deceived by it. They filled two carts with provision, which 
 they put under the charge of four hardy and determined men dressed 
 as carters, clothed in gray frocks, but armed underneath. These 
 carters drove the carts to Oudenarde, and gave the guards to under- 
 stand that they had brought provision from Hainault to victual the 
 place. The guards not thinking but all was right, drew up the port 
 culUs, and allowed them to advance on the bridge. The carters 
 knocked out the pins which held the traces of the horses, and flung 
 them into the ditch. Upon this the guards cried out to them, " Why 
 do not you drive on ?" and taking hold of the horses, drove them 
 before them, and thus left the carts standing, for, as I said, they 
 were unharnessed. The guavds then found out that they had been 
 deceived and betrayed, and began to strike the carters, who defended 
 themselves ably : for they were well-armed under their frocks, and 
 v.'en^ men of tried courage. Having killed two of the guards, they 
 
 * "SiruL'Uena " Q. Gsrtruydenberg. t " Eitriinohe." Q. 
 
 were instantly reinforced ; for the lord Destournay followed them so 
 close with his men, that the guards fled into the town, crying out, 
 " Treason, treason !" but before the townsmen could be awakened, 
 the men-at-arms had entered it, and killed ail who put themselves 
 on their defence, shouting out as they came to the square, " Victory !" 
 Thus was Oudenarde won. Of the Ghent men, full three hundred 
 were killed or drowned. A large sum was found in the town, 
 belonging to Francis Atremen, which I heard amounted to fifteen 
 thousand francs. 
 
 News was soon spread abroad, that Oudenarde had been taken 
 during the truce, which angered the Ghenters much, as was natural, 
 for it nearly affected them. They held a meeting on this subject, 
 and resolved to send to the duke of Burgundy to remonstrate with 
 him on the capture of Oudenarde during the truce, and to say, that 
 if it were not delivered back to them they should consider the truce 
 as broken. But the duke excused himself, declaring he had not in- 
 terfered any way in the business, and that as God might help him, 
 he was entirely ignorant of this expedition of the lord Destournay : 
 he added, that he would willingly write to him, which he did, and 
 order him to give back Oudenarde, for it was neither honorable nor 
 agreeable to the duke to capture any towns, castles, or forts during 
 a truce. 
 
 The lord Destournay acknowledged the letters from the duke, artd 
 in answer said, that the garrison of Oudenarde had always made 
 war on his lands, whether truce or no truce, and had seized on his 
 inheritance, and that he had never consented to any truce with 
 them ; that he had conquered Oudenarde in fair war, and that he 
 would keep possession of it as his own proper inheritance until 
 Flanders and Ghent should be completely reunited, for his other 
 property had been ruined by the war. Things remained in this state, 
 for nothing better could be done. 
 
 Francis Atremen was very much blamed for not having better 
 guarded the place, and especially by the lord de Harzelles, insomuch 
 that Francis was wroth with the knight, and high words ensued, 
 adding, whatever he might have done in regard to Oudenarde, he 
 had always acquitted himself loyally towai-d Ghent. This provoked 
 answers, and the lie was given on both sides. Shortly after, the 
 lord de Harzelles was killed ; and some say that Francis Atremen 
 and Peter du Bois were the authors of it. About this time, the 
 Ghent men requested the king of England to send them a valiant 
 man for governor, and one who was connected with the crown by 
 blood. In consequence, the king sent to Ghent one of his knights, 
 a gallant man of sufficient prudence to govern the town : his name 
 was sir John Bourchier,* who remained governor of Ghent upward 
 of a year and a half. 
 
 CHAPTER CLII. 
 
 THE DUKE OF ANJOU DIES AT A CASTLE NEAR NAPLES. HIS WIDOW U 
 ADVISED TO SOLICIT THE POPE FOR THE POSSESSION OF PROVENCE. 
 
 You have before heard how the duke of Anjou, who styled him- 
 self king of Sicily and Jerusalem, had marched into la Puglia and 
 Calabria, and had conquered the whole country as far as Naples : 
 but the Neapolitans would never turn to his party, and continued the 
 support they had always given to the lord Charles Durazzo. The 
 duke of Anjou remained on this expedition three whole years ; you 
 may suppose, therefore, that his expenses were very great, for there 
 is no treasury, however rich, but men-at-arms will drain it : whoever 
 is desirous of their services must pay them well, if they expect any 
 advantage from them. It must certainly have cost the duke immense 
 sums of money ; but those who sunk his treasury the deepest wer% 
 the earl of Savoy and the Savoyards. That earl, however, and a 
 great many of his knights, died on this expedition, which weakened 
 the duke of Anjou in men. It was on this account that he sent to 
 France to implore the assistance of his brothers the dukes of Berry 
 and Burgundy, who did not fail him in his necessities, but replied 
 that they would support him with men and money. These two 
 dukes considered who would be the proper persons to send on this 
 expedition. After having maturely weighed everything, they thought 
 they could not fix better than on the gallant lord de Coucy and the 
 lord d'Anghien, count de Conversano,t whose earldom is situated 
 in la Puglia. 
 
 These two lords, having been solicited to undertake the business 
 by the king of France and his uncles, cheerfully complied, for it was 
 highly honorable to them. They instantly began their preparations, 
 and set off as speedily as possible with a handsome company of men- 
 at-arms : but when they arrived at Avignon, and were busily emph-yed 
 in forwarding their troops and other business, certain intelligence 
 was brought them of the death of the duke of Anjou at a castle near 
 Naples.! The lord de Coucy, on hearing this, advanced no further, 
 seeing that the expedition was at an end ; but the lord de Conversano 
 continued his march, for he had many things to settle in his own 
 
 * •' Sir John Bourchier." Lord Bourchier of Essex.-See Di gdals . 
 t Conversano is a town in tlie Neapolitan dominions, near Ban : its bishopric it 
 suftragan to Bnri. . 
 t He died at Biselia, near Bari. the 20th or 21st September, l2Si.-AH (U Ferijier '.e» 
 
 ^Tl^ au'hors of the Kouveau Dictionnair* UiatoriqM, by mistok«, hav* placed iiJi 
 death at Pdrii, but with the tame date. 
 
^CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND. FRANCE. SPAIN, &c 
 
 341 
 
 couniry, in la Puglia and in Convert=^^o. This intelligence was soon 
 known in France to the king and his uncle., vvho supported the death 
 of the king of Sicily as well as they could. 
 
 When madame d'Anjou, who resided at Angers, heara ti^g death 
 of her lord, you may imagine she was greatly afflicted. Tl\e cou... 
 Guy de Blois, her cousiii-german, who lived at Blois, on receiving 
 the news, set out v;ith all his equipage to visit her at Angers, where 
 he remained a considerable time comforting and advising her to the 
 best (.if his abilities. From thence the queen came to France (for 
 she styled herself queen of Naples, Sicily, la Puglia, Calabria, and 
 Jerusalem,) to wait on the king and the dukes of Berry and Burgundy, 
 to have their advice and comfort : she was accompanied by her two 
 sons, L-^uis and Charles. The lady was advised by the nobles of 
 her blood to go to Avignon, and entreat of the pope that she might 
 have possession of Provence, which is a territory dependent on Sicily. 
 The queen approved the advice, and made preparations for her jour- 
 ney, carrying with her her eldest son Louis, who was everywhere on 
 the road called king, from being heir to the king his father ; but these 
 affairs were not so speedily terminated as I have pointed thera out. 
 
 CHAPTER CLIII. 
 
 rREPARATIONS ARE MADE IN FRANCE FOR THE RENEWAL OF THE WAR 
 WITH ENGLAND. THE DUCHESS OF BRABANT SUCCEEDS IN FORMING A 
 MARRIAGE BETWEEN THE CHILDREN OF BURGUNDY AND THOSE OF 
 HAINAULT. 
 
 During the winter, the French were busily employed in prepara. 
 lions to send forces to Scotland ; but the truces were prolonged be- 
 tween the French and English, and their allies, from Michaelmas to 
 the ensuing first day of May. They, however, continued their pre- 
 paraiions by sea and land, for it was the intention of the council of 
 France to carry on the war with vigor in the course of the next 
 summer; and the admiral of France was to sail for Scotland with 
 ten thousand spears, knights and squires. On the other hand, the 
 duke of Bourbon and the count de la Marche were ordered into 
 Languedoc, Limousin, and Auvergne, with two thousand men, to 
 recover certain castles which the English and pillagers held, and 
 which did much mischief to the country. Great numbers of battle- 
 axes were ordered to be made in Picardy and Hainault for the ex- 
 pedition into Scotland ; and in Artois, Lille, Douay, and Tournay, 
 much biscuit was made, and various other stores got ready along the 
 coast from Harfleur to Sluys, which was the principal harbor whence 
 this armament was intended to be embarked. 
 
 The duchess of Brabant, widow of Winceslaus duke of Bohemia, 
 by whose death she had lost a companion and much comfort, which 
 had caused her great grief, resided with her attendants at Brussels. 
 She was much hurt at the troubles which existed in Flanders, and, 
 if she had possessed the means, would most cheerfully have put an 
 end to them ; for she was daily hearing how the Ghent men were 
 strengthening themselves by an alliance with the English, who prom- 
 ised them great support. She also saw that her nephew and niece 
 of Burgundy, who were in truth her heirs, and among the greatest 
 princes of the world, as weH by their own heritages as by what they 
 had in reversions, were very uneasy at these disturbances in Ghent. 
 She knew that duke Albert, regent of Hainault, had two fine sons 
 and two handsome daughters, neither of whom were yet married ; 
 but she had heard that the duke of Lancaster was very desirous to 
 accomplish the marriage of his daughter Philippa, who had been 
 borne to him by the lady Blanche his first wife, with the eldest son 
 of duke Albert, who, by his own right, was heir to the countries of 
 Hainault, Holland, and Zealand. 
 
 Thi-s lady foresaw, that if such an alliance should take place be- 
 tween Hainault and England, the French would be much hurt, and 
 the fair country of Hainault harassed either secretly or openly, by 
 all those who should pass and repass from France to Flanders. In 
 addition to this, the Hollanders and Zealanders who bordered on the 
 sea assisted the Ghent men in various ways, of which the duke of 
 Burgundy and his council had been informed. He did not love duke 
 Albert the better for this ; not, however, that he was any way to be 
 blamed for it; for with regard to the Hollanders and Zealanders, as 
 the war in Flanders no way ccncerned them, he could not, neither 
 ought he to have, forbidden the free course of commerce. 
 
 The good lady having considered all these things, and the dan- 
 gerous consequences which might ensue, resolved to bring the duke 
 of Burgundy and duke Albert to a good understanding, and offered 
 herself as guaranty of all the treaties. She was determined also to 
 prevail on the duke of Burgundy to receive the men of Ghent into 
 'iis mercy. Clerks and messengers were immediately set to work : 
 -nd she managed so well, that a conference was fixed to meet at 
 Cambray on the part of the two dukes. They both assented to it, 
 as v/ell as their council, though neither of them knew the subjects 
 this conference was to treat of. To this conference, which they had 
 under their seals appointed to be held at Cam.bray, on the twelfth 
 day in the ensuing January, the two dukes came, attended by their 
 councils. The duchess of Brabant came thither also, who was the 
 mover in the business. She first addressed the duke of Burgundy, 
 saying, " He was the greatest prince on earth, and had very fine 
 children : she. however, would be more haopy if they were placed 
 
 in a different sipn)*;-" : ^ •,- • , • , 
 
 would \nnrcQ.Be tllcir worth; and, for the present, she could neitncr 
 
 see nor point out any better place than Hainault, Holland, and Zea- 
 land, which would unite the whole country together, and give great-r 
 , foor Qi-.fl oiarm to its enemies ; for, * fair nephew,' added she to t.^e 
 duke of Burgundy, ' I know for a truth, that the duke of Lancaster, 
 who is so powerful in England, is extremely anxious for his daughter 
 to espouse my nephew, William of Hainault, and I certainly wish 
 such good fortune may fall to your children rather than to the Eng 
 lish.' " " My good aunt," replied the duke of Burgundy, " I return 
 you my thanks, and, as a proof that I believe you, I shall allow you 
 to unite my daughter Margaret with the youth of Hainault." Upon 
 such good success, she instantly began to treat of this marriage. 
 Duke Albert, to whom the proposition was quite new, replied very 
 courteously, but said, he had not with him those whom he wished to 
 consult on the subject. *' And what advice do you want?" answered 
 the duchess, " when it is a question to act properly, and keep your 
 country in peace." " My wife," replied the duke ; " for without her 
 I shall do nothing : she is as much interested in my children as I 
 am ; and, besides, fair aunt, it will be proper that the nobility of the 
 country be apprised of it." The duchess answered, " Well, God's 
 will be done." She thought the best she could now do was to let 
 them separate in good humor with each other, and desire they would 
 permit her to call them again together in the same city during Lent, 
 and that they would bring the duchess of Burgundy and madame de 
 Hainault, with their councils, along with them. 
 
 The lady acted in all this so secretly, that very few persons knew 
 anything of the matter, nor why this conference had been holden. 
 In this state the two dukes left Cambray : the duke of Burgundy 
 went to the city of Arras, where his lady was, and duke Albert re. 
 turned to his duchess in Holland. The duchess of Brabant returned 
 to her own country, and continually wrote to each parly, but secretly. 
 She had great difficulty to bring them and their ladies to Cambray, 
 and labored hard at it ; for she was very eager this marriage should 
 take place, to confirm the union and friendship of Flander?, Brabant, 
 and Hainault. The duchess managed so well that the different par- 
 ties and their councils met her and her council at Cambray, where 
 was a grand display of pomp, for each was anxious to do honor to 
 the other. The duchess Margaret of Burgundy and the duchess 
 Margaret of Hainault were present, and the last very active in this 
 business. She said, that if they wished to marry their son vv^ith 
 Margaret of Burgundy, John of Burgundy must marry her daughter, 
 by which the ties of affection would be the more strengthened. 
 
 It was much against the inclination of the duke of Burgundy to 
 marry his children at once and to the same family. He thought it 
 sufficient for his daughter to marry the heir of Hainault, and excused 
 himself for not agreeing to the marriage of his son John, on account 
 of his youth. The duke's intention was to marry him to Catharine 
 of France, sister to his nephew the king of France. These treaties 
 and conferences were, therefore, on the point of being broken ; for 
 the duchess of Bavaria declared, a marriage should never take place 
 with her children, unless they were both married at the same time; 
 and this resolution she kept, notwithstanding ,',ll they could say to 
 make her alter it. The duchess of Brak'int took great pains in going 
 from one to the other, and in preventing the treaties from being 
 broken off : she at last succeeded, by reasoning properly with the 
 duke and duchess of Burgundy, to bring the affair again under con- 
 sideration ; and it was then agreed that the marriages should take 
 place between the children of the duke of Burgundy and those of 
 duke Albert. 
 
 This business had been delayed four or five days by an obstacle 
 which had arisen from the council of the duke of Burgundy, who 
 stated that duke Albert had only a reversionary interest in Hainault, 
 for his eider brother William was then alive, though dangerously ill 
 at Quesnoy, and he might survive his brother, and if that should 
 happen, it was clear his other brothers would have the government 
 of Hainault, and the children of duke Albert be driven from thence. 
 This obstacle delayed the marriages a short rime, which was em- 
 ployed in proving that duke Albert had no other brother but William, 
 and that the country of Hainault must descend to him and to his 
 children. When all this was cleared up, there was not any longer 
 delay, but the marriages were concluded and sworn to for William 
 of Hainault to have for his wife Margaret of Burgimdy, and John 
 of Burgundy to espouse Margaret of Hainault. They were all to 
 returi^ to Cambray the octave of Easter, in the year of grace 1385, 
 to perform the ceremonies of the marriages. 
 
 CHAPTER CLIV. 
 
 THE KING AND THE NOBLES OF FRANCE AND HAIXAu'LT LAY fiREAT 
 PROVISION OF STORES AT CAMBRAY. THE DUKE OF LANCASTER SENDS 
 EMBASSADORS TO THE EARL OF HALVAUL THE MARRIAGES OF THE 
 CHILDREN OF BURGUNDY AND HAINAULT ARE CONCLUDED. 
 
 Things were in this state when they all left Cambray. The duke 
 of Burgundy returned to the king in France ; the duchess to Arras. 
 Duke Albert and his duchess went to Quesnoy i;i Hainault; and 
 the duchess of Brabant to her own country. Carpenters and masons, 
 and all sorts of workmen, were instantly 6«at to prepare hdteis in 
 
84!> 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 Th'\.fjUv' ttf Cajiikrav. and Durvevors were also ordered thilher to lay 
 iM va^'^ »|WaM'Niyi'tor jy/iHiSii^ii , 11 v,tio piwv-.t.4...^u, everv Store 
 
 wa-; It) l)L' delivered into the city the week before the octave ot fcjaster 
 When the king of France heard of this, he eaid that he would be 
 present at the marriage of his cousins ; and commanded his maitres 
 d'hotel t3 lay in there such provisions as was befitting him. i ne' 
 palace of the bishop had been retained for the duke of Burgundy, 
 and was already preparing for him ; but it was necessary to give it 
 up to the king, and workmen were set to embellish it in a royal 
 manner, as it appears at this day : for never was there a feast in the 
 memory of man,, nor for these last two hundred years, that had such 
 grand preparations made for it. The nobility, in order to appear 
 with the most pomp and magnificence, were no more sparing of their 
 money than if it had rained gold on them ; and each endeavored to 
 outshine the other. 
 
 Inteiiigence of these marriages was earned to England, and how 
 the dukes of Burgundy and Albert intended uniting their children 
 together. The duke of Lancaster (who had nourished the hope that 
 William of Ilainault would choose his daughter, at least he had so 
 been given to understand) was pensive and melancholy at this news; 
 in order to be better assured of it, he determined to send, as embas. 
 sadors, knights and squires of his household to Ghent, with instruc- 
 tions tu talk with duke Albert on the subject. When they arrived 
 at Ghent, they found there the lord Bourchier, Francis Atremen and 
 Peter du Bois, who entertained them handsomely for two or three 
 days. They then departed and went to Mons in Hainault ; from 
 thence to Quesnoy where duke Albert resided, and waited on him. 
 The duke, the duchess, and their children, in honor of the duke of 
 Lancaster received the English very politely, and the duke enter- 
 tained them well, as did the lord de Gouvingen. 
 
 The master of the wool-staple of all England, being one of the 
 envoys, delivered his credential letters, and spoke first. He strongly 
 recommended the duke of Lancaster to his cousin duke Albert, and 
 then began on the subjects with which he had been charged. Among 
 other topics, as I have been informed, he asked the duke if it were 
 his intention to persevere in the proposed union of his children with 
 those of the duke pf Burgundy. This speech moved a little the 
 duke's choler, who replied, *' Yes, sir, by my faith do I : why do 
 you ask ?" " My lord," said he, " I mention it because rny lord of 
 Lancaster has hitherto had hopes that the lady Philippa, his daughter, 
 would have been the wife of my lord William your son." Upon 
 this, duke Albert said, " My friends, tell my cousin, that when he 
 marries any of his children, I shall never interfere: he therefore need 
 not trouble himself about mine, nor how I marry them, nor with 
 %vhi»ni, nor when." This was the only answer the English had from 
 duke Albert. The master of the staple and his companions took 
 leave of the duke after dinner and went to Valenciennes, where they 
 lay that night : on the morrow they returned to Ghent. More of 
 them I know not, but I believe they returned to England. 
 
 Easter was the time fixed for the king of France, the dukes of 
 Burgundy, of Bourbon, the duke Albert with the duchess his lady, 
 the duchesses of Burgundy and of Brabant, sir William and sir John 
 de Namur, to be at Courtray. The king resided in the bishop's 
 palace, and each lord and lady at their own hdtels. You may easily 
 imagine, that where the king of France was and so many of his 
 nobles, there would also be the flower of his knighthood. The king 
 arrived at Cambray on the Monday by dinner-time. All the nobles 
 and ladies, having preceded him, went to meet him out of his city ; 
 into which he was escorted, and conducted to the palace, to the 
 sound of numerous trumpets and minstrels. On Monday, the con- 
 tracts of marriage were signed in the presence of the king and his 
 nobles. The lord William was to possess from thenceforward the 
 county of Ostrevant,* and the lady Margaret his wife was to have 
 the whole territory and castlewick of Arquet in Brabant: the duke 
 of Burgundy gave besides to his daughter one hundred thousand 
 francs. Thus were the portions settled. 
 
 On Tuesday, at the hour of high mass, they were married, in the 
 cathedral chureh of our Lady in Cambray, with great solemnity, by 
 the bishop of Qambray, whose name was John, and a native of 
 Brussels. There was a very magnificent dinner at the palace, to 
 which were in^^lted many of the great nobles. The king of France 
 had the bridegfooms with their brides seated at his table. Several 
 of the principal lords served the king and his guests, mounted on 
 large war-horses. The constable and the admiral of France were 
 seated at table. Sir Guy de la Trimouille and sir William de Namur 
 served, with many other great barons of France. There had not 
 been, for five hundred years, so magnificent or renowned a solem- 
 nity seen in Cambray as was that of which I am now speaking. 
 
 After this noble and grand dinner, great numbers of lords and 
 knights armed and made themselves ready for the tournament. It 
 was held in the market-place, and there were forty knights. The 
 king of France tilted with a knight from Hainault called sir Nicholas 
 d'Espinoit. This tournament was very handsome : the tilts were 
 well performed and lasted a considerable time ; a young knight, 
 called sir John Destrenne, from near Beaumont in Hainault, won the 
 prize. This knight tilted to the satisfaction of the lords and ladies, 
 
 *Ostrevanf, or island of St. Amand. This was formerly a part of tlie country of 
 \ alencienncs. It lies on the borders of Fluuders and Artois.— Baudrand. 
 IQ. il'uot Ath. 
 
 and received .-.a the prize a dasn -'•precious stones, whi^n '.n' Jnchesa 
 of Bur^'undy took from b" "reast ; and the admiral o. France and 
 sir Guv de la Trim^^i'^'' presented it to him. These feasts and 
 amusement' -""''""^d until Friday, when they took leave of the 
 k\r^ crrer dinner; and the king, the lords and the ladies, departed 
 from Courtray. The duchess of Burgundy carried with her, to Arras, 
 Margaret of Hainault, her daughter-in-law: and madame de Hain. 
 ault carried madame Margaret of Burgundy to Quesnoy. Thua 
 ended all this business. 
 
 CHAPTER CLV. 
 
 THE DUICE OF BEnRY BETROTHES HIS DAUGHTER TO THE SON OP THB 
 COUNT DE BLOIS. THE DUKE OF BOURBON AND THE COUNT DK LA 
 MARCHE ISSUE THEIR SUMMONS TO INVADE LIMOUSIN. 
 
 About this time there was a treaty of marriage between Louis de 
 Blois, son of the count Guy de Blois, and the lady Mary de Berry, 
 daughter of the duke of Berry. The count de Blois carried his 
 countess and his son Louis, well attended by lords and ladies, to 
 Bourges in Berry, where the duke and duchess were waiting for 
 them, who received them and their company most magnificently. 
 Everything was there settled respecting this marriage, and the arch, 
 bishop of Bourges betrothed them in the presence of a large company 
 of nobility of both sexes. The marriage was not solemnized at that 
 time, because both were very young ; but all the contracts and en. 
 gagements were signed, as to its future completion, in the presence 
 of several great barons and knights. There were, at this betrothing, 
 great feasts of dinners, suppers, dancings and carollings ; after which, 
 the count and countess returned with their son to Blois. The young 
 lady remained with the duchess her mother, at a handsome castle in 
 Berry called Mehun sur Yevre.* 
 
 At this time, the duke of Berry set out for Auvergne, Languedoc 
 and Avignon, to visit pope Clement. It had been before determined 
 that the duke de Bourbon and the count de la Marche should enter 
 Limousin, with two thousand men-at-arms, to free the countiy from 
 the English thieves, who were pillaging it ; for there were still some 
 castles in Poitou and Saintonge whose garrisons did much mischief; 
 and, complaints of them having been made, the duke of Berry was 
 desirous of providing a remedy for them. He had therefore entreated 
 his cousin the duke de Bourbon to undertake it, and not to quit 
 Limousin or Saintonge until he should have conquered the castle of 
 Vertueil : for it was from that garrison the country had suffered the 
 most. The duke de Bourbon accepted the command, and issued 
 his summons for the assembling of his vassals in Moulins in the Bour- 
 bonnois, the first day of June. From thence they iparched toward 
 Limoges, and were met by several bodies of men-at-arms. The duke 
 de Bourbon had at that time for his squire an amiable gentleman 
 called John Bonne Lance,t master and captain of his men-at- ' • 
 Of all the flower of his knights and squires, certainly this squii 
 well worthy of such a command. 
 
 The count de la Marche was to accompany the duke de Bourbon 
 in this expedition, and made his preparations in the town of Tours. 
 
 CHAPTER CLVI. 
 
 SIR JOHN DE VIENNE, ADMIRAL OF FRANCE, SAILS TO SCOTLAND TO CARRY 
 ON THE WAR AGAINST THE ENGLISH AT THE EXPIRATION OF THE TROCE. 
 
 At this period, the men-at-arms who had been fixed on to accom- 
 pany sir John de Vienne, admiral of France, to Scotland, arrived at 
 Sluys in Flanders. He was to have under his command a thousand 
 lances, knights and squires, and, I believe they were all there : for 
 such was the ardor of those who wished to advance themselves, that 
 several went with the admiral though they had not been summoned. 
 
 The fleet was ready prepared at Sluys, and the stores in great 
 abundance and good. They embarked arms sufficient for twelve 
 hundred men from head to foot. These they had brought from the 
 castle of Beautd, near Paris, and they were the arms of the Pari- 
 sians, which had been ordered to be deposited there. With the 
 admiral were plenty of excellent men-at-arms, of the flower of knight- 
 hood. It was the intention of the admiral to give these arms to the 
 knights and squires of Scotland, the better to succeed in their enter- 
 prise ; for sir Geoffry de Charny and the others had told the king, 
 on their return home last year, that the Scots were very poorly armed. 
 
 I will now name some of those lords of France who went into Scot- 
 land. First, Sir John de Vienne, admiral of France, the count de 
 Grand-pr6, the lords de Verdenay, de Sainte Croix, the lord de 
 Montbury, sir Geoffry de Charny, sir William de Vienne, sir James 
 de Vienne, lord d'Espaigny, sir Girard de Bourbonne, the lord de 
 Hetz, sir Florimont de Quissy, the lord de Marnel, sir Valeran de 
 Rayneval, the lord de Beausang, the lord de Wainbrain, the lord de 
 RinoUe, baron d'Yury, the lord de Coucy, sir Perceval d'Ameual, 
 the lord de Ferrieres, the lord de Fontaines, sir Bracquet de Braque- 
 mont, tlie lord de Grandcourt, the lord de Landon, a Breton, sir Guy 
 la Personne, sir William de Courroux, sir John de Hangiers, sir 
 
 * " Mehun sur Yevre "— fjur leagues from Bourses. 
 
 t " Bonne Lunce." I suspect tiiis is a nom de guerre, for no mention is made of him 
 under this name in Uie life of the dake^ 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 343 
 
 Bery do Vinselin, coiisia to the grand master of Prussia, and many 
 other g:)od kiijfrhts whom I cannot name : there were a thousand 
 lances, knights and squires, without reckoning the cross-bows and 
 sturdy varlets. 
 
 They had favorable winds and a good voyage ; for the weather 
 was very fine, as it usually is in the month of May. The truces had 
 expired between the French and English, the Ghent men and the 
 Flemings, and all other parts. War was sought for, as it seemed, in 
 every quarter ; and these knights and squires who went to Scotland 
 gallantly wished for it, as they said, with the assistance of the Scots 
 they would make a good campaign, and carry on a successful war 
 against England. However, the English, who had received intelli. 
 gence of this expedition, very much suspected whither it was bound. 
 
 CHAPTER CLVII. 
 
 TBE PILLAGERS OF GHENT, SURNAMED PORKERS, COMMIT MUCH MISCHIEF. 
 FRA^'CIS ATREMEN DEFEATS SuME FRENCH TROOPS NEAR ARDEMBOURG. 
 
 The lord Bourchier, who had the government of Ghent by order 
 of the kiiig of England and the captains of the commonalty, Francis 
 Atremen, Peter du Bois and Peter le Nuitre, had made every pre- 
 paration, knowing the war was to be renewed. They had been 
 very busily employed during the truce, in strengthening and victual, 
 ing the town of Ghent, as well as the castle of Gauvre and all other 
 places under their obedience. 
 
 At this period, there were a set of vagabonds who had taken 
 refuge in the wood of Respaille, and had fortified themselves in a 
 house so strongly that it could not be taken. They had been driven 
 out of Alost, Grammont and other towns in Flanders : having wasted 
 their all, and not knowing how to live otherwise than by plunder, 
 they robbed and pillaged any one who fell in their way. The sub- 
 ject of universal conversation was these Porkers of la Respaille, which 
 wood is situated between Regnais, Grammont, Anghien, and Lys- 
 ines. They did much mischief in the castlewick of Ath, and on the 
 lands of Floberge, Lysines and Anghien ; and these pjllagers were 
 supported by Ghent. Under their countenance they committed 
 many murders and robberies : they entered Hainault, from whence 
 they dragged people out of their beds, and carried them to their 
 fort, when they ransomed them, and thus made war on all mankind. 
 The lord de Baudrius and de la Morte, castellan of Ath, watched 
 them several times, but he could never catch them, for they were 
 too well acquainted with the means of escaping. They were so 
 much dreaded on the borders of Hainault and Brabant that none 
 dared to travel those roads, nor through that part of the country. 
 
 The duke of Burgundy, in consequence of the renewal of the 
 war, had reinforced the garrisons of his towns and castles in Flan, 
 ders with men and stores. The lord de Guistelles was commander 
 in Bruges, and sir John de Jumont in Courtray : for sir William de 
 Namur was' at that time lord of Sluys : sir Roger de Guistelle gov. 
 erned Damme, and sir Peter de la Sieple Ypres. Men.at-arms were 
 stationed in all the frontier towns of Flanders by order of the duke 
 of Burgundy. Sir Guy de Pontarlier, marshal of Burgundy, re- 
 mained in garrison in the town of Ardembourg, with sir Rafflart de 
 Flandtes, sir John de Jumont, sir Henry du Going, the lord de Mon- 
 tigny in Ostrevant, the lord de Longueval, sir John de Bernecte, sir 
 Peter de Bailleul, Belle-Fourriere, Phelippot Ganey, RaouUin de la 
 Folic, and several more, to the amount of two hundred combatants. 
 They determined among themselves to make an excursion into the 
 Quatrc Mesteirs and ravage that country, for much provision was 
 carried from thence into Ghent. They, therefore, having fixed on 
 a day for this enterprise, armed themselves and marched thither. 
 
 The same day that the French had fixed on their expedition, about 
 two thousand determined men had sailed out of Ghent under the 
 command of Francis Atremen : accidentally they found themselves 
 in a village in the midst of the French. When they had reconnoi. 
 tred each other, they saw a battle was unavoidable. The French 
 instantly dismounted, and, grasping their lances, advanced on the 
 enemy : the Ghent men, who were as numerous, did the same. The 
 combat began sharply ; but the Ghent men advanced into a pass 
 which was much to their loss, where the battle was more severe : 
 many gallant deeds were done, and many beat down. Sir Rafflart 
 de Flandres in that place showed the greatest courage ; and the 
 knights and squires engaged the Ghent men with determined valor, 
 as indeed it behooved them to do, for quarter was given to none. At 
 last the Ghent men, by having superior numbers, gained the field, 
 ;ind the French were obliged to mount their horses or they would 
 have been slain, for their opponents much outnumbered them. In 
 this encounter were killed sir John de Bernecte, sir Peter de Bail 
 Icul, Belle-Fourriere, Phe'ippot de Ganey, RaouUin de la Folie, and 
 many others : the more the pity. The rest were obliged to fly and 
 reenter Ardembourg, or they must inevitably have been killed. 
 
 After this event, the viscount de Meaux was sent with all his 
 men-at-amis to garrison Ardembourg, which he repaired and strength- 
 ened. He had with him several knights and squires who were good 
 determined soldiei-s. At this time sir John de Jumont was great j 
 bailiff" of Flanders, and had been so for the two preceding years. | 
 He was much feared through all the country for his great prowess, j 
 and the deeds he had performed. Whenever he got hold of any I 
 
 Ghent men he put them to death, or had their eyes thrust out, .-r 
 their hands, ears or feet cut off", and in this state sent them away to 
 serve as an example to their fellow-citizens. He was so renowned 
 throughout all Flanders for his pitiless justice in thus cruelly punish 
 ing the Ghent men, that no one was talked of but him in the whole 
 country. 
 
 CHAPTER CLVIII. 
 
 the duchess of ANJOU urges HER CLAIM TO THE POSSESSION OF PRO. 
 VENCE. GALEAS VISCONTI, COUNT DE VERTUS, ORDERS UIS UNCLE BER. 
 NABO VISCONTI TO BE IMPRISONED. 
 
 Thus was there confusion in all parts of the world, as well between 
 the kings of France and England as between John king of Castille 
 and the king of Portugal, for the war there had been renewed. 
 
 Madame d'Anjou, who retained the title of queen of Naples and 
 Jerusalem, went to Avignon, where the pope resided, and there kept 
 her state with her son Lewis, who styled himself king of Sicily, 
 which his father had conquered. The queen had intentions to make 
 war on the Provcngals, if they did not acknowledge her as their 
 sovereign lady and put themselves under her obedience. Sir Ber- 
 nard de la Salle had already entered Provence and declared war in 
 her name. At this time, the jord de Coucy was also at Avignon ; 
 for he had been confined to his bed for fifteen weeks from a bruise 
 he had received on his leg during an excursion on horseback. On 
 his recovery, he often visited the queen, and comforted her much, as 
 he was well able to do. She was expecting the duke of Berry, who 
 was on his road to Avignon to hold a conference with the pope, to 
 assist her. 
 
 The king of France and his uncles had sent the lord Louis de 
 Sancen-e, marshal of France, to Provence, with five hundred men-at- 
 arm.s, to make war on the Proven9als, if they did not submit to the 
 queen. Some had done so, but not all : however, the city of P.Iar. 
 seilles and the greater part had surrendered themselves to her ; but 
 the cities of Aix and Trascon, and some knights of the country, re. 
 fused to admit her claim to the county of Provence, until she had 
 been peaceably acknowledged as queen, c.ud her son as king, of la 
 Puglia, Calabria, Naples and Sicily ; and they said, that when she 
 should be in quiet possession of the above, all Provence, as was just, 
 would obey her. The count de Conversano and his son sir John de 
 Luxembourg made war for her in those distant parts, against the 
 lord Charles Durazzo. Sir John de Bueil remained with the queen, 
 at Avignon, as her counsellor. 
 
 At this period, another marvellous event happened at Lombardy, 
 which was the subject of genera! conversation. The count de Ver. 
 tus, whose name was John Galeas Visconti,* and his uncle were the 
 greatest personages in all Lombardy. Sir Galeas and sir Bernabo 
 were brothers, and had peaceably reigned and fToverned that country. 
 One of these lords possessed nine cities, and the other ten ; the city 
 of Milan was under their government alternately, one year each. 
 When sir Galeas, the father of the count de V< rtus, died, the affec 
 tions of the uncle for his nephew were much weakened ; and sir 
 Galeas suspected, that now his father was dead, his uncle Bernabo 
 would seize his lordships, in like manner as sir Galeas, his father, 
 and uncle Bernabo had done to their brother sir Matthew, whom they 
 had put to death. The count de Vertus was very supicious, and 
 plainly showed that he had his fears of this event taking place. How- 
 ever, by his actions and the capture he made, he proved himself the 
 more subtle of the two. I will relate the circumstance. 
 
 Sir Bernabo heavily oppressed that part of Lombardy of which he 
 was lord, and taxed his vassals, two or three times a-year, a half or 
 a third of their wealth ; but none dared to murmur against him. Sir 
 Galeas, count de Vertus, to acquire popularity and praise, did not 
 levy any taxes on his possessions, but simply lived on his rents. This 
 mode he had followed for five years, ever since the death of his father, 
 which gained him so much the love of the Lombards, that they all 
 praised him, and lived happily under him ; while, on the contrary, 
 they abused underhand sir Bernabo, who would not'leave them any. 
 thing. The count de Vertus (who had formtd his plan, and was 
 acting accordingly, from the suspicions he had of his uncle, and, as 
 some said, from appearances having been manifested, that confirmed 
 them) issued a secret summons to those in whom he confided the 
 most : to some of whom he revealed his? plan, but not to all, lest i% 
 should be made public. A day had been appointed by sir Bernabo 
 to make an excursion of pleasure from one of his castles to another. 
 Upon this, his nephew placed three ambuscades on the road sir Ber. 
 nabo was to take ; so that it was not pos; ible but he must fall into 
 one of them. He had ordered that he should be made prisoner, and 
 on no account killed, unless he made too obstinate a defence. 
 
 Thus as sir Bernabo was riding from one town to another, r.iis- 
 trusting no evil, nor any way thinking of his nephew, but consider- 
 ing himself as perfectly safe, he entered one of the ambuscades, when 
 the men planted in ambush instantly advanced to him full speed and 
 with lances in their rests. Sir Bernabo iiad a German knight with 
 him, who cried out, " My lord, save yourself! for I see people of a 
 bad mien coming toward you, and I know them to be persons be. 
 j longing to your nephew sir Galeas." Sir Bernabo replied, that " he 
 
 1 * John Galeas Visconti, count of Vertus. succeeded his father Galeas in theeovero 
 ' meat of one-half of Lombardy in 1378.'->£s. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 was not acquainted with any place where he could save himself, if 
 they had any evil inientioiis againot him, and that he was uncon. 
 Ecioiis of having done anything against his nephew that should make 
 him fly." Those who had been placed in ambuscade continued a-:, 
 vancing toward sir Bernabo. When the German, who was a man of 
 honor and knight of the 
 body to sir Bernabo, saw 
 them thus approaching 
 his lord, having the 
 Bwoid of his master be- 
 fore him, he instantly 
 drew it out of its scab, 
 bard and placed it in the 
 hands of sir Bernabo 
 (which was seen by 
 those who were press, 
 ing forward ;) and then 
 the knight drew his own 
 Bword, like a valiant 
 man, and put himself 
 on his defence. This, 
 however, did not avail, 
 for he as well as sir Bar- 
 nabo were instantly sur. 
 rounded, and the knight 
 was slain, under pre- 
 tence that at the com- 
 mencement he meant 
 to defend himself; for 
 whose death sir Galeas 
 was afterwards sorely 
 vexed. 
 
 Sir Bernabo was 
 made prisoner without 
 any defence made by 
 him or his attendants, 
 and carried to a castle 
 vs^here his nepl»? w was, 
 who was much rej'j?ced 
 on his arrival. Th-at 
 same day his wife, and 
 children that were mar- 
 riageable were also ar- 
 rested, and confined by 
 
 the lord of Milan, who took possession of all the lordships, castles, 
 towns, and cities which sir Bernabo held in Lombardy. His uncle 
 died shortly after ; but I know not by what means, though I believe it 
 was from being bled in the neck, for in Lombardy they are accus- 
 tomed to make such bleedings when they wish to hasten the death 
 of any one.* News of this was soon spread abroad : some were^ 
 pleased at it, others vexed ; for sir Bernabo had in his time done 
 30 many acts of cruelty, and without reason, that few pitied him, 
 eaying, he had well deserved it. This was the end of sir Bernabo Vis- 
 conti, who had reigned most powerfully in Lombardy. 
 
 On the duke's arrival at Niort, he found plenty of men-at-arms 
 imp-itient for his arrival. His cousin the count de la Marche, witJi 
 a large body, the viscount de Tonnerre, sir Uemy de Thouars, 
 seneschal of Limousin, the lords de Pon?, de Partenay, de Tours, de 
 Poueanges, and many other barons of Poitou and Saintonge were 
 
 fxCNOSSB CnOiB-SOWMKN attacking the Bridge of Taillebourf?. The Archers taken from contemporary niuminalion, andfrom Speelment 
 of their Costumes and Weapons, in Sir Samuel Meyrick's Collection, Goodrich Court. 
 
 CHAPTER CLIX. 
 
 miLlAM DE LIGNAC, SENESCHAL OF SAINTONGE FOR THE KING OF FRANCE, 
 CONQUERS FROM THE ENGLISH THE CASTLE OF AIGLE. THE ARMY OF 
 THE DUKE OF BOURBON TAKES MONTLIEU AND THE BRIDGE OF TAILLE- 
 BOURG, WHILE BESIEGING THAT PLACE. 
 
 We will now return to the arniy which the duke of Bourbon and 
 the count de la Marche conducted into Poitou and Limousin. The 
 duke left Moulins in the Bourbonnois, and marched with a handsome 
 company of knights and squires to accomplish his expedition, at- 
 tended by John de Harcourt his nephew. The duke of Bourbon had 
 issued his special summons for those of Berry, Auvergne, Poitou, 
 Rouergue, Saintonge, and Limousin, to assemble at Niort, twelve 
 leagues from Poitiers. While this army was assembling, sir William 
 de Lignac, a valiant knight and seneschal for the king of France of 
 Saintonge, and governor of Millau,t resided in that country. He 
 advanced into the Angoumois with all his men-at-arms, to the amount 
 of two hundred combatants, and halted before the castle of Aigle, 
 which the English possessed, and from this place during the winter and 
 the preceding summer, they had exceedingly harassed the country. 
 
 Sir William, on his arrival at the castle, dismounted, and ordered 
 his men to do the same, when they instantly began the attack. It 
 was very severe and of long continuance, for those within it fought 
 for their lives. Sir William performed such gallant deeds as proved 
 him worthy of being their leader. He did not spare himself, and 
 showed how they ought to attack it. The place was at last taken 
 by storm, and the French, entering it by ladders, made prisoners of 
 nJl that were found there, or put them to the sword. This first con. 
 quest this season was made by sir William de Lignac, as he was 
 waiting for the duke of Bourbon and his army. 
 
 * Bernai)o was seized by his nephew on the 6th of May and died on the 18th of De- 
 tember. 1385.— Ed. 
 t " Millau." Q, if not Millac : which is iu tbOM parts. 
 
 there. Sir William de Lignac came thither to wail on the duke, 
 having conquered the castle de I'Aigle, for which the duke felt him- 
 self obliged to him. When all these men-at-arms were mustered, 
 they amounted to full seven hundred lances, not including the Ge- 
 noese and the lusty varlets : in the whole, two thousand combatants. 
 They then held a council whither they should turn their arms ; to 
 Bertueil, Taillebourg,* or Montlieu.t After having well considered 
 each situation, they determined to march to Montlieu, because it was 
 a strong castle near the moors of Bordeaux ; and, if they should suc- 
 ceed in taking it, the others would be weakened, and none able to 
 quit Bordeaux without their knowledge. 
 
 They marched through the Angoumois, and on arriving at Mont, 
 lieu, prepared for the siege. Sir James Poussart and John Bonne- 
 lance were the leaders of the duke of Bourbon's men-at-arms, and 
 of the whole army. They were not long besieging Montlieu before 
 they made ready their ladders and other things, necessary for an 
 attack. They surrounded the castle and began the assault, but 
 those within defended themselves vigorously. The combat was 
 sharp, long continued, and many gallant deeds were done ; for the 
 French mounted their ladders with rapidity, and fought hand to hand 
 on the battlements with their daggers : in short, they exerted them, 
 selves so much that the castle was fairly won by storm, and most 
 within perished. 
 
 When the lords of France had got possession of Montlieu, they 
 reinforced it with a new gaiTison and stores, and then took the road 
 to Taillebourg on the Charente. Dinandon de la Perate, a Gascon, 
 was governor of this fortress, an able man-at-arms, who held the 
 French cheap. When they came from Taillebourg, the duke of 
 Bourbon and his company took two small forts which had much ha- 
 rassed the borders of Poitou and Limousin, la Froncette, and Archac : 
 the garrisons were slain, and the castles given up to those of the ad- 
 jacent countries, who instantly razed them to the ground. 
 
 The siege of Taillebourg was now formed, and four block-houses 
 were erected before it. Near Taillebourg was a bridge, the Cha- 
 rente, which the English and Gascons had fortified, so that no vessel 
 from la Rochelle or Saintonge could pass without great danger, un- 
 less by paying toll. The French lords determined to gain this 
 bridge, to facilitate their other attacks, and to be in greater security 
 in their block-houses. They ordered vessels ready prepared and 
 armed to ascend the Charente from la Rochelle, in which they had 
 placed large bodies of cross-bows and Genoese, to skirmish with 
 those at the bridge. The attack was severe, for the English and 
 Gascons had well fortified the bridge, and they defended it with 
 
 * " Taillebourg," a town in Saintonge on ihr Charente, three leagues fromSaiotfli. 
 t " Montlieu." a village in Saintonge, electioa of Saiates. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND. FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 m 
 
 spirit, as it behooved them to do, for they were vigorously attacked 
 by land and water. The eldest son of the count de Harcourt, named 
 John, was made a knight at this assault, by his uncle the duke of 
 Bourbon, and displayed his banner. 
 
 This attack on the bridge of Taillebourg was long continued : 
 many gallant actions were performed; but the cross-bows and Ge- 
 noese in the vecsels shot so ably, that those on the bridge scarcely 
 dared to appear t nd det'end themselves. Why should I make a long 
 tale of this ? The bridge was carried by storm, and all found there 
 slain or drowned : not one escaped. Thus did the French gain the 
 bridge of Taillebourg. Their siege was carried on more eagerly for 
 this. Taillebourg is situated three leagues from St. Jean d'Angely, 
 anid two from S.-iintes, in the finest country in the world. 
 
 Dinandon, and those in the castle, were much astonished and 
 vexed at the capture of the brieve ; and they had reason, for they 
 lost by it the passage of the river. However, they would not sur- 
 render ; for they felt themselves in a strong place, and expected 
 succors from Bordeaux, as it had been currently reported on the 
 borders of the Bordelois, and confirmed by all the English and Gas- 
 con garrisons, that the duke of Lancaster or the earl of Buckingham, 
 was to arrive at Bordeaux with two thousand men-at-arms and four 
 thousand archers, t'j combat the French and to oblige them to raise 
 all their sieges : in this they placed great hopes, but it turned out 
 otherwise, as I shall tell you. 
 
 In truth, before the army under the command of the admiral of 
 France was prepared to sail for Scotland, it had been ordered in 
 England that the duke of Lancaster, sir John Holland, brother to the 
 king, sir Thomas Percy, sir Thomas Trivet, the lord Fitzwalter, sir 
 William Wind; or, sir John Silbain, and other barons and knights to 
 the amount of a thousand lances and three thousand archers, should 
 Bail for Bordeau.:, and remain there the whole summer, to reinforce 
 Mortaigne, Bouteville, and those castles which held out for them in 
 Gascony and Languedoc : they were to fight with the French, should 
 they find them in the country ; and, after having remained there a 
 season, they were to march to Castille by way of Bayonne and Na. 
 varre, for there was a treaty between them and the king of Navarre, 
 All this had been settled in the imaginations of the English, but 
 it proved a disappointment ; for, when they learned for a truth that 
 the admiral of France with a thousand lances of chosen knights and 
 squires were preparing to sail for Scotland, their counsels were 
 changed, and none dared to think of quitting their country, nor of 
 weakening their forces: for they much dreaded the consequences of 
 this junction of the French with the Scots. There was also a report 
 at this time, that England was to be attacked in three different parts 
 by the French. One expedition was from Brittany, as it was said 
 that the duke of Brittany was become a good Frenchman ; another 
 from Normandy, where the constable of France was making his pre- 
 parations at Harfleur, Dieppe, and all along the coast as far as St. 
 Valery and Crotoy ; the third from Scotland. From fear of this, the 
 ■government of England would not allow any knights or squires to 
 quit the country, but attended to the fortifying of their harbors. At 
 this season Richard, earl of Arundel, admiral of the English sea, 
 was cruising with sixty or fourscore large vessels, armed and fitted 
 with men-at-arms and archers: he had, besides, nine light vessels 
 off" Normandy to gain intelligence. 
 
 We will leave for a while the duke of Bourbon and the siege of 
 Taillebourg, which lasted upward of nine weeks, and relate how the 
 admiral of France, with the army under his command, landed in 
 Scotland, and what a handsome reception, in appearance, they met 
 with from the country. 
 
 CHAPTEJl CLX. 
 
 SIR JOHN DE VIENNE, ADMIRAL OF FRANCE, ARRIVES IN SCOTLAND WITH 
 HIS ARMY. HE MEETS WITH BAD TREATMENT THERE. 
 
 The French army that was bound for Scotland had very favorable 
 winds, for it was in the month of May, when the weather is temper, 
 ate and agreeable. They coasted Flanders, Holland, Zealand, and 
 Friseland, and advanced until they approached so near Scotland as 
 to see it ; but before they arrived there an unfortunate accident befel 
 a knight of France and an expert man-at-arms, named sir Aubert 
 d'Angers. The knight was young and active, and to show his agil. 
 ity he mounted aloft by the ropes of his ship completely armed ; but, 
 his feet slipping, he fell into the sea, and the weight of his armor, 
 which sunk him instantly, deprived him of any assistance, for the 
 ship was soon at a distance from the place where he had fallen. All 
 the barons were much vexed at this misfortune, but they were forced 
 to endure it, as they could not any way remedy it. 
 
 They continued their voyage until they arrived at Edinburgh, the 
 capital of Scotland, where the king chiefly resides when he is in that 
 part of the country. The earls of Douglas and Moray, from the in- 
 formation they had received, were waiting for them in Edinburgh ; 
 and as soon as they were come, hastened to meet them at the harbor, 
 and received them most amicably, bidding them welcome to their 
 country. The Scots barons instantly recognized sir Geoffry de 
 Charny, for he had resided full two months with them last summer 
 in Scotland. Sir Geoffry made them acquainted, as he verv well 
 knew how, with the admiral and the barons of France A't that' 
 
 time the king was not in Edinburgh, but in the Highlands* of Scot- 
 land : his sons received them handsomely, telling them the king 
 would shordy be there. 
 
 They were satisfied with this information, and the lords and their 
 men lodged themselves as well as they could in Edinburgh, and 
 those who could not lodge there were quartered in the different vil. 
 lages thereabout. Edinburgh, notwithstanding it is the residence of 
 the king, and is the Paris of Scotland, is not such a town as Tournay 
 or Valenciennes; for there are not in the whole town four thousand 
 houses. Several of the French lords were therefore obliged to take 
 up their lodgings in the neighboring villages, and at Dunfermline, 
 KeIson,t Dunbar, Dalkeith, and in othsr villages. 
 
 News was soon spread through Scotland, that a large body of 
 men-at-arms from France were arrived in the country. Some began 
 to murmur and say, " What devil has brought them here ? or whp 
 has sent for them ? Cannot we carry on our wars with England 
 without their assistance ? We shall never do any effectual good as 
 long as they are with us. Let them be told to return again, for we 
 are sufficiently numerous in Scotland to fight our own quarrels, and 
 do not want their company. We neither understand their language 
 nor they ours, and we cannot converse together. They will very 
 soon eat up and destroy all we have in this country, and will do us 
 more harm, if we allow them to remain among us, than the English 
 could in battle. If the English do burn our houses, what conse- 
 quence is it to us ? we can rebuild them cheap enough, for we only 
 require three days to do so, provided we have five or &ix poles and 
 boughs to cover them." Such was the conversation of the Scots on 
 the arrival of the French : they did not esteem them, but hated them 
 in their hearts, and abused them with their tongues as much as they 
 could, like rude and worthless people as they are. 
 
 I must, however, say that, considering all things, it was not right 
 for so many of the nobility to have come at this season to Scotland: 
 it would have been better to have sent twenty or thirty knights from 
 France, than so large a body as five hundred or a thousand. The 
 reason is clear. In Scotland you will never find a man of worth : 
 ihey are like ravages, who wish not to be acquainted with any one, 
 and are too envious of the good fortune of others, and suspicious of 
 losing anything themselves, for their country is very poor. When 
 the English n'.ake inroads thither, as they have very frequently done, 
 they order their provisions, if they wish to live, to follow close at 
 their backs ; for nothing is to be had in that country without great 
 difficulty. There is neither iron to shoe horses, nor leather to make 
 harness, saddles or bridles : all these things come ready made from 
 Flanders by sea ; and, should these fail, there is none to be had in 
 the country. 
 
 When these barons and knights of France, who had been used to 
 handsome hotels, ornamented apartments, and castles with the good 
 soft beds to repose on, saw themselves in such poverty, they began 
 to laugh, and to say before the admiral, " What could have brought 
 us hither ? We have never known till now what was meant by * 
 poverty and hard living. We now have found the truth of what our 
 fathers and mothers were used to tell us, when they said, ' Go, go, 
 thou shalt have in thy time, shouldst thou live long enough, hard beds 
 and poor lodgings ;' all this is now come to pass." They said also 
 among themlelves, " Let us hasten the object of our voyage, by ad- 
 vancing toward England : a long stay in Scotland will be neither 
 honorable nor profitable." The knights made remonstrances re- 
 specting all these circumstances to sir John de Vienne, who appeased 
 them as well as he could, saying, "My fair sirs, it becomes us to 
 wait patiently, and to speak fair, since we are got into such difficul- 
 ties. We have a long way yet to go, and we cannot return through 
 England. Take in good humor whatever you can get. You cannot 
 always be at Paris, Dijon, Beaune or Cha,lons : it is necessary for 
 those who wish to live with honor in this world to endure good and 
 evil." 
 
 By such words as these, and others which I do not remember, did 
 sir John de Vienne pacify his army in Scotland. He made as much 
 acquaintance as he could with the Scottish barons and knights : but 
 he was visited by so very few it is not worth speaking of; for, as I 
 have said before, there is not much honor there, and they are people 
 difficult to be acquainted with. The carls of Douglas and Moray 
 were the principal visitants to the lords of France. These two lords 
 paid them more attention than all the rest of Scotland. But tins was 
 not the worst, for the French were hardly dealt with in their pur- 
 chases; and whenever they wanted to buy horses, they were asked, 
 for what was worth only ten florins, sixty and a hundred : with difla- 
 culty could they be found at that price. When the horse had been 
 bought there was no furniture nor any housings to be met with, un- 
 less the respective articles had been brought with them from Flan, 
 ders. In this situation were the French : besides, whenever tlicir 
 servants went out to forage, they were indeed permitted to load their 
 horses with as much as they could pack up and carry, but they were 
 way-laid on their return, and villainously beaten, robbed, and same, 
 times slain, insomuch that no varlet dared go out foraging for fear of 
 death. In one month the French lost upward of a hundred varlets* 
 for when three or four went out foraging not gne returned, in such a 
 hideous manner were they treated. 
 
 " * £71 la sauvage Esco3»e." 
 
 1 " Kelson"— U. Kelso would have been too for (UstanU 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &o. 
 
 346 
 
 Willi all this the k\n^ required many entreaties before he would 
 come forward : the knights and squires of Scotland were the cause 
 of this, for they declared, they would not at this season wage war 
 with England, that the French might pay more dearly for their com- 
 ing. Before the king would come tj Edinburgh, it was necessary 
 to pay iiim a large sum of money for himself and his courtiers. Sir 
 John de Vionne engaged, under his seal, that he would never quit 
 Scotland until the king and his people were perfectly satisfied : for, 
 had he not done so, he would not have had any assistance from the 
 Scots. He was obliged to make this bargain or a worse ; but how. 
 ever advantngeous it was for them, and whatever affection he gained 
 by it, they made the war solely profitable for themselves, as I shall 
 relate in this history. At present I wish to return to what was pass- 
 ing in Flander?, and to speak of the marriage of the young king of 
 France, which happened at this period. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXI. 
 
 rax TOWN OF AKDEMBOURG* NARROWLY ESCAPES BEING TAKEN BY SUR- 
 PRISE BY FRANCIS ATREMEN AND HIS GHENT MEN. 
 
 After the defeat of the detachment of sir Rafilart de Flandres, 
 jvhich he'had led into the Quatre Mestiers, sir Robert de Bethune, 
 discount de Meaux, came to Ardembourg, whither he had been sent 
 to garrison it. He found there sir John de Jumont and his compan- 
 ions: he had also brought with him rbout forty knights, who were 
 eager to meet with adventures. On the vitcount's arrival, he began 
 to repair and strengthen the fortifications of the town. Francis 
 Atremen and those of Ghent were constantly devising plans to annoy 
 their enemies, and do them mischief. Their attention was particu- 
 larly directed to places in their neighborhood, such as Oudenarde, 
 Dendremonde, Ardembourg, Damme, Bruges and Sluys. It behooved 
 those towns to keep a strict guard and watch well ; for in regard to 
 storming and scaling towns, and such like subtleties, these Ghent 
 men were very skilful and alert. 
 
 About the end of May, Francis Atremen, with seven thousand 
 armed men, sallied out of Ghent, with the intent to take Ardembourg 
 by surprise, and to make all the knights and squires there in garrison 
 prisoners. They were more desirous to take the governor, sir John 
 de Jumont, than all the rest ; for he had done them much mischief, 
 by slaying and taking their people, thrusting out their eyes, cutting 
 off their hands or ears, so that they could not love him. For this 
 purpose, they came on Wednesday at daybreak to Ardembourg, 
 having with them their ladders ready prepared. Now observe what 
 great peril they were in: the viscount de Meaux, sir John de Jumont, 
 sir Rafflart de Flandres, the lord de Daymart, sir Tiercelot de Mon- 
 tigny, sir Ferducas de Port St. Marc, the lord de Longueval and sir 
 John his son, sir Hugh Desnel, the lord de Lalain, sir Reginald de 
 Lommie and several more, were sleeping quietly in their beds, trust- 
 ing to the watchfulness of the guard : but the guards of the night 
 were almoet all retired, and the watchman was mounting his post, 
 when Francis Atremen and his Ghent men, with their ladders on 
 their shoulders, had crossed the ditches and fixed their ladders to the 
 walls, which the foremost had begun to mount. 
 
 By accident, the lord de St. Aubin and a squire from Picardy, 
 called Enguerrand Zendequin, were at this moment parading the 
 town close by the walls : they had with them three picards armed 
 with pikes. I believe they had been on guard this night, and were 
 then retiring. To say the truth, if they had not been where they 
 were, Ardembourg must infallibly have been taken, and all the 
 knights in their beds. When the lord de St. Aubin and Enguerrand 
 Zendequin perceived the Ghent men mounting by ladders to the 
 battlements, and lhat one of them was actually putting his leg over 
 the wall to enter the town, they were very much alarmed, but not so 
 much as to prevent them defending the place : they saw clearly, that 
 if they fled, the town must be conquered ; for the Ghent men had 
 arrived there so opportunely, that they were entering it just between 
 the time of the dismissal of the night-guard and the watchman 
 mounting his post. 
 
 "Forward, forward!" cried sir Enguerrand to the pikemen : " here 
 are our enemies: let us defend ourselves and our town, or it is taken." 
 They then advanced to the place where they had fixed their ladders 
 and intended entering. The pikemen attacked him who was about 
 to enter so vigorously vvith their pikes, tliat he tumbled into the ditch. 
 At this time, the watch was at his post, who, noticing the large bat- 
 talion in the ditches and thereabouts, sounded his horn, crying out, 
 ** Treason, treason !" The town was in motion, and the knights 
 heard in their beds the noise and confusion, and also how the Ghent 
 men wanted to surprise their town. They were very much aston- 
 ished, and having armed themselves as speedily as they could, sallied 
 forth against them. Notwithstanding they were discovered, the 
 Ghent men labored hard to enter the town ; but those five men held 
 out valiantly against them for upward of half an hour, and performed 
 wonders in arms, for which they were highly praised. 
 
 The lords now advanced in handsome array ; the viscount de 
 Meaux with his bann* before him, sir John de Jumont with his 
 pennon, sir Rafflart de Flandres and all the others, shouting their 
 
 *Ardenibours, tea milts £. from firus«t. 
 
 war-cries, and found the knight and squire, with the three pikemen, 
 defending the walls most gallantly. When Francis Atremen and the 
 Ghent men found their scheme had failed, they called back their 
 men and retreated in a handsome manner into the Quatre Mestiers. 
 
 The garrison were more attentive in guarding their town for the 
 future, and in posting their sentinels. They honored greatly their 
 five defenders ; for, if they had not been there, Ardembourg had been 
 lost, and all their throats cut. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXII. 
 
 lewis of FRANCE, BROTHER TO KING CHARLES VI. IS MARRIED BY PRO. 
 CTTRATION TO MARGARET OF HUNGARY. MADAME DE BRABANT CAUSP.S 
 THE DAUGHTER OF DUKE STEPHEN OF BAVAEIA TO COME TO FRANCE TO 
 MARRY KING CHARLES. 
 
 You have before heard how the duke of Anjou, who styled him- 
 self king of Naples, Sicily, and Jerusalem, had canied on a war for 
 three years in la Puglia, Calabria and Naples, against Charles de 
 Durazzo, and that during the last war he had died.* His opponent 
 was dead also. It was said he was killed in Hungary with the con. 
 sent of the queen ; for, after the death of the king of Hungary, being 
 the son of his brother, he wished to maintain that the kingdom had 
 devolved on him, as the king of Hungary had left no male issue. 
 The queen, suspecting his intentions to disinherit her daughter, had 
 him put to death.t This event caused much wonder everywhere ; 
 and the war of the queen of Naples and her son Lewis, who resided 
 in Avignon, was more strenuously carried on in Provence. 
 
 During the lifetime of the late king of Hungary, the great barons 
 and prelates had advised that the eldest of his daughters, the lady 
 Margaretjt who was very handsome, and was likewise heiress to the 
 kingdom, should be given to Lewis count de Valois, brother to the 
 king of France, because they thought he would reside in Hungary, 
 and the king, had he lived, would have followed this advice. 
 
 After the decease of the king of Hungary, embassadors were sent 
 to France, to the king and his uncles, to notify the wish of the queen 
 of Hungary to unite the count de Valois with his eldest daughter. 
 This seemed to the king and the barons of France as if it was very 
 desirable, except that it would separate and place at too great a dis- 
 tance the count de Valois from his family and the powerful kingdom 
 of France. On the other hand, they considered it was a grand as 
 well as a profitable offer for the count de Valois to be king of Hun- 
 gary, which is one of the greatest realms in Christendom. The 
 Hungarians sent by the queen were magnificently received, and large 
 presents were made to them. The bishop de Maillerets and John 
 de Personne, returned with them as embassadors from France, who, 
 on their arrival in Hungary, espoused by procuration, in the name of 
 the count de Valois, the princess Margaret. John de la Personne 
 courteously lay on a bed beside hers. They then came back to 
 France, and showed their letters patent and other public instruments, 
 which gave great satisfaction to all France ; and the count de Valois 
 signed himself king of Hungary for a long time. 
 
 You have before heard how the duke of Burgundy and duke 
 Albert of Bavaria, lord of Hainault, Holland, Zealand, and Frise- 
 land, had intermarried their children in the city of Cambray, at which 
 marriage the king of France had assisted with great magnificence. 
 Some seemed to say, as I was then informed, that the same week 
 the king and all his nobles were at this marriage, there was a secret 
 negotiation for a marriage between the young king of France and 
 the lady Isabella, daughter of duke Stephen of Bavaria, chiefly 
 through the means of the duchess of Brabant. The late king of 
 France had on his dying-bed ordered, that his son should be married, 
 if possible, to a princess of Germany, to strengthen the union of 
 France with that country ; for he had seen that the king of England, 
 by marrying the sister of the emperor of Germany, had gained by it. 
 The duchess of Brabant was a lady of a very active mind ; she con- 
 versed with the king's uncles and his council, while in the city of 
 Cambray, on this subject, explaining to them, that as this young lady 
 was the daughter of a great lord in Germany, and the most powerful 
 in Bavaria, through him great alliances might be made in that coun- 
 try ; that duke Stephen was so potent, he could well break the pur- 
 poses of the great lords of the empire ; for he was as powerful, if 
 not more so, than the emperor. TMs object made the council of 
 France listen more readily to the proposal : it was, however, carried 
 on with the utmost secrecy, and very few knew anything of it until 
 it was settled. The reason for this you shall hear. It is customary 
 
 *At the castle of Biseglia, near Bari. 
 
 tThe Hungarian noblee, tired of the government of two women (Elirabetli the wife 
 of Louis, and Mary his daughter) and their favorites, secretly called in Charles of Du- 
 razzo, who. in spite of the entreaties of his wife Margaret, whom he appi.ioied rcffent of 
 the kingdom of Naples, set sail on the 4th September, 1385. for Signa in Sclavonia, and 
 was proclaimed Ume bv the nobles unanimously, in a diet held at Alba-Royal. He 
 was, however, in February. 12?'^ old style, or 1386 new style, set on by assassins em 
 ployed by t'le queen's favorites, and broush* the ground by a sabre cut on the head : 
 all his attendants were mafsacred. Cbarles snr\ifed his wounds, but he was imprisoned 
 at Visgradi, and on the 3rd of June. l3Sb". poison completed the work left unfini>ihed by 
 the sword.— SlsMONDiV Italian Repub—Ev. 
 
 t This is a mistake : the lady's name was Ma.rj/. not IMarcraret ; Froiwart appeal to 
 have been also misinformed regarding the proposed alliance between her and the count 
 de Valois, for she liad already been betrothed to Sigismond, marquis of Brundenburj, 
 whom she &fUrwuds niam«l* aad no mention is made of it bjr other hutoiians.— £n 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 347 
 
 in France, for the hsdy destined to be married to the king, however 
 high may be her birth, tj be examined quite naked by ladies, whether 
 she be well made, and have no apparent hindrance to her bearing 
 children. As this lady was to come froiTj so distant a country as 
 Bavaria, they were ignorant if she would be agreeable to the king, 
 '"or otherwise everything would be broken off. These were the rea. 
 eons why this ;'ffair was kept so secret. About Whitsuntide the 
 young hidy was in-ought to the duchess in Brabant, who received her 
 cordially, and accustomed her to the usages in France. She was 
 accompanied by duke Fredenck of Bavaria, her uncle, by whom, in 
 truth, this marriage was first moved, for the causes which I will ex- 
 plain to you. 
 
 When dake Frederick was before Bourbonrg, in the service of 
 the king, he was much feasted by the king's uncles, and the other no- 
 bles, for having come two hundred leagues to serve France. They 
 considered his services as very great ; and he always quartered near 
 the king, out of affection to him, and had the greatest respect paid 
 him. When he left Bavaria, he thought thit there must be a pitched 
 •battle, between the kings of France and of England, either in France 
 or Flanders, for such had been the current report in Germany. The 
 king of France and his uncles were very thankful for his coming. 
 It happened, that during the expedition to Bergues and Bdurbourg, 
 the king's uncles and other nobles, in amicable conversation, had 
 asked him if he had no daughters to marry ? for they wanted a wife 
 for the king of France ; and they would prefer marrying him to 
 Bavaria than elsewhere, Bavaria having formerly been in the coun- 
 cils of France. Duke Frederick, in reply to this speech, said he had 
 none himself, but that his brother, duke Stephen of Bavaria, had a 
 very handsome one. *' And how old is she ?" demanded the king's 
 unc les. " Between thirteen and fourteen," replied the duke. Then, 
 said the uncles, " This is what we want. Do you, on your return to 
 Bavaria, talk with your brother, and conduct your niece, as if in pil- 
 grimage, to St. .John at Amiens, and the king shall be placed beside 
 her. Should he find her handsome, we hope he will be desirous of 
 her, for he loves beauty ; and if he appear eager for her, she shall 
 be queen of France." This was the beginning of the business, and 
 neither more nor less was said on the subject. The king of France 
 was ignorant that anything had been mentioned respecting his 
 mam age. 
 
 Duke Frederick, on his return to Bavaria, repeated these words to 
 his brother, who pondered some time on them, and thus answered, 
 " Fair brother, I believe such speeches have been made to you, and 
 that my daughter would be very fortunate if such a high honor as to 
 become the queen of France should fall to her lot ; but the distance 
 is great from hence, and it is a matter of great consideration to at- 
 tempt the making a queen. I should be exceedingly vexed if, after 
 having carried my daughter to France, she should be returned to me : 
 and I would rather marry her at my leisure, nearer home." Such 
 was the answer duke Stephen gave his brother, with which he was 
 contented : and he wrote the substance of it to the uncles of the king, 
 to his own uncle, duke Albert, and madame de Brabant, to whom 
 he had communicated the business on his return home. They thought 
 he had been too indifferent about it, and had made overtures else- 
 where, on the subject of the king's marriage. A match was shortly 
 after proposed between the king and the daughter of the duke of 
 Lorraine : she was a very handsome lady, and nearly of his own age : 
 of high birth, being of the family of Blois. The duke of Lancas- 
 ter's daughter, afterwards queen of Portugal, was also talked of, but 
 this could not be brought about on account of the war : the affair was 
 therefore at a stand. 
 
 The duchess of Brabant, when at these marriages at Cambray, and 
 the king and his court present, brought this subject again on the 
 carpet, saying, that a union with Bavaria was the most desirable for 
 the king, on account of the alliances that might be formed with the 
 Germans. " It is so, indeed, lady," replied the king's uncles ; " but 
 we now hear nothing of it." " Be you silent," answered the duchess, 
 " and I vvill make such advances that you shall, without fail, have 
 certain intelligence of it in the course of the summer." The pro- 
 raises of the duchess were verified ; for she managed so well, that 
 duke Stephen allowed his brother, duke Frederick, to conduct his 
 niece, as you have before heard : and it was given out on the road, 
 that they were going on a pilgrimage to St. John at Amiens. Every 
 body believed it ; for the Germans are fond of performing pilgrimages, 
 and it is one of their customs. After duke Frederick and his niece, 
 the lady Isabella of Bavsria, had been three days at Brussels, they 
 took leave of the duchess : it was, however, her intention to be at 
 Amiens as soon, if not sooner, than they were. 
 
 They went through Hiinault to Quesnoy, where they found the 
 duke and duchess, and William count of Ostrevant and his wife ; 
 by all of whom they were most graciously received, for duke Albert 
 was his uncle. They were much surprised at their coming, and in. 
 quired the reasons of it. " Certainly," said duke Frederick ; " I 
 have had much difficulty to persuade my brother ; but, as you see, I 
 have at last brought him to consent that I should conduct his daughter 
 hither. On taking leave, he called me aside and said, ' Now, Frcde- 
 rick, my fair brother, you are carrying away Isabella, and upon no 
 certain conditions; for if the king of France refuse her, she wil' be 
 for ever ruined : therefore, consider well this business, for should you 
 bring her back, you will never have a more bitter enemy than me 
 
 I and you see, my good uncle, the dangerous situation I cini in." " Doar 
 I nephew, do net be alarmed ; for, if ;'t pieate God, she ehall be queen 
 of France, and you stand acquited (.f blame, and retain the affections 
 of your brother." They remained at Quesnoy f(jr thre e weeks, during 
 Vv^hich time the duchess, who was very able, tutored the young lady 
 of Bavaria, as to her manners and appearance ; and did net allow 
 her to keep the clcthes she then wore, as being too plain and simple 
 for the French fashions, but had her dressed up and adorned as if 
 she had been her own child. When all had been properly prepared, 
 the duchess and her daughter, the future duchess of Burgundy, fet 
 out in great magnificence for Amiens, with the young lady, where 
 the duchess of Brabant was already arrived, as were the king, the 
 duke and duchess of Burgundy, and the council. 
 
 The lord de la Riviere, sir Guy de Trimouille, with many barons 
 and knights, went out of the city of Amiens to meet the company 
 from Hainault, whom they escorted into town with many honors, and 
 they visited each ether cu' of love and affection. But the king could 
 hardly close his eyes that night from the deeire of seeing her who 
 was afterwards his spouse. He asked the lord de la Riviere when 
 he should see her. This quef?tion much amused the ladies. And 
 on the Friday when the young lady was dressed for the occasion, 
 the three duchesses presented her to the king. She ins tantly kneeled 
 down very low, but the king directly raised her up by the hand, and 
 continually kept his eyes upon her : so that from that time love and 
 pleasure pierced his heart. 
 
 The constable, observing what passed, said to the lord de Coucy, 
 "By my faith, this lady will remain with us: the king cannot take 
 his eyes off her." When the ladies had remained some litde time 
 with the king, they took leave of him, and carried back the damsel 
 But as the intentions of the king were not known, the duke of Bur- 
 gundy charged the lord de la Riviere to sound him when he retired 
 to his closet, which he diligently did, by saying, " Sire, how do you 
 like this young lady ? will she remain with us ?" " Yes, by my 
 troth, will she," replied the king ; " for she pleases us, and you will 
 tell my good uncle of Burgundy to hasten the business." 
 
 When the lord de la Riviere heard these words, he repeated them 
 to the duke of Burgundy, who announced them to the ladies ; and 
 they were so well pleased thereat, they began carrolling. The 
 whole court were joyous on the occasion ; and it was intended by 
 the king's uncles to celebrate the feast at Arras, but it did not please 
 the king to go further. He entreated his uncle to make every haste, 
 for he assured him that he wished no delay, but was anxious to 
 have the business completed in the good city of Amiens. " Very 
 well, my lord," replied the duke, "it shall be done as you order." 
 
 The duke of Burgundy, in company with the constable, sir Guy 
 de la Trimouille nnd several others, waited on madame de Hainault, 
 and found her niece seated beside her. The duke related all that 
 had passed, adding that the king had made him alter his intention 
 as to the place where the marriage ceremony was to be performed ; 
 for he was so dppply smitten, that he had ov/ned he could neither 
 sleep nor take and repose on account of her whom he wished for 
 his wife, but on the morrow they would cure all his ailings. The 
 duchess went ou* m a fit of laughter, and they separated from each 
 other with much joy and satisfaction. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXIII. 
 
 FRANCIS ATREMEN TAKES DAMME. THOSE OF BRUGES ATTEMM TO 
 
 RETAKE IT. 
 
 On- a Saturday night, Francis Atremen marched v/ith seven thou, 
 sand^men from the Quatre Mestiers, whither he had retreated after 
 the failure of his attempt on Ardembourg : he had promised his 
 townsmen, on his departure, that he would never return until he had 
 taken some good town. The Ghent men were desirous of finding 
 the French employment, so that they should be unable to send more 
 men to the admiral in Scotland, to make war on the English; for it 
 was currently reported, that the constable, together with a large body 
 of men-at-arms and cross-bows, was about to embark to reinforce 
 those sent to Scotland. 
 
 Francis Atremen, being an expert man-at-arms, sallied out one 
 Saturday evening from the country called Quatre Mestiers, and when 
 it was dark, advanced to the Vv'alls of Bruges, in hopes of t.ildng it, 
 but could not. When he found he could do nothing, he marched 
 tovv'ard Damme, and m-et his spies whom he had sent thither and 
 round that neighborhood : they told him he would do well to advance 
 to Damme, for sir Roger Guistelles had left it, and only women 
 were there. This was true ! for he had gone to Bruges, thinking 
 the inhabitants were able to defend themselves, but in this he was 
 disappointed. V/hen Francis Atremen heard that sir Roger de 
 Guistelles was not in Damme, he divided his men into two divis. 
 ions, and, taking the smallest, said to the other, " You will advance 
 to that gate, and make no attack until you hear our trumpets sound : 
 then attempt the barriers, and cut down and destroy all, and on the 
 side we will break down the gate, for we shall never enter the town 
 by ladders." ' 
 
 His orders were punctually obeyed. He advanced with tho 
 smaller division, leaving the other behind him : the foremost 
 marched with ladders through the ditches, where they mel with no 
 
348 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE. SPAIN, &c. 
 
 resistance, and, having passed the mud, fixed their ladders to the 
 walls: on' entering the town, they sounded their trumpets and 
 made for the gales without opposiiion, for they were masters of the 
 place, the good people being still in their beds. It was the 17th 
 day of July when Diimme was thus surprised. They advanced to 
 the gate, and broke all the bars of it with strong axes : those without 
 destroyed the barriers, and thus all sorts of people entered the town. 
 
 The inhabitants began to be in motion; but it was too late, for 
 they were made prisoners in their houses, and those whom they 
 found armed were slain without mercy. Thus was the good town 
 of Damme taken, wherein they found much wealth : in particular, 
 cellars full of Malmsey and other wines. I heard also that those of 
 Bruges had brought thither great riches for fear of a rebellion of the 
 populace whom they suspected. Francis Atremen was much re- 
 joiced on being master of Damme, and said, " Now I have well 
 kept my promise to Ghent: this place will enable us to conquer 
 Bruges, Sluys, and Ardembourg." He instantly issued a proclama- 
 tion, that not the smallest harm or insult should be offered to the 
 noble ladies in the town ; for there were seven ladies, the wives of 
 knights, who had come thither to visit madame de Guistelles, who 
 was with child and near lying-in. After having pillaged the town 
 and put to death those who would not join their party, they began to 
 repair it. 
 
 When those in Bruges heard of this, they were much enraged, 
 and not without cause : they instantly armed and marched to 
 Damme, and began to skirmish and attack it: but it was of no avail, 
 for they lost more than they gained: they therefore marched back 
 to Bruges. You may suppose, when this news reached Ghent, they 
 were much pleased, and considered it as a valiant enterprise, and 
 also looked on Francis Atremen as a gallant soldier. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXIV. 
 
 KING CHARLES ESPOUSES THE LADY ISABELLA OF BAVARIA. HE BE- 
 SIEGES DAMME. 
 
 We will return to the marriage of king Charles of France, and 
 relate how it was concluded. The duchess Margaret of Hainault, 
 who had the young queen under her care, on the morning of the 
 wedding dressed her out handsomely, as she knew well how to do, 
 when the duchesses of Brabant and Burgundy came thither grandly 
 attended by ladies and damsels. These three ladies conducted the 
 iady Isabella of Bavaria in the richest covered cars ever seen, with a 
 crown on her head, that was worth all the wealth of the country, and 
 which the king had sent to her a little before. The bishop of 
 Amiens performed the marriage ceremony in the presence of the 
 lords and ladies before-mentioned.* After the mass and other cere- 
 monies thereto appertaining, the king, with the lords, ladies, and 
 damsels went to dinner, which was very sumptuous and magnificent, 
 and that day the counts and barons served at it in grand array. 
 After dinner, they amused themselves in different manners, which 
 continued with great enjoyment until evening, when the king re. 
 tired with his bride. 
 
 The feasts were continued until the Tuesday following, when 
 news was brought to the king and to his council that Francis Atre. 
 men had taken the town of Damme. A herald arrived at the same 
 time from the duke of Bourbon, who brought letters that Taille- 
 bourg, with its castle and bridge, had been subdued, and that the 
 duke, with his army, was on full march to besiege Verteuil, having 
 already conquered back again in Poitou and Limousin, six fortresses. 
 This news rejoiced somewhat the court, and made them indifferent 
 as to the loss of Damme : but it was determined the king should not 
 undertake anything until he had marched to Flanders and retaken 
 Damme. He declared he would enter the Quatre Mestiere, from 
 whence this mischief had sprung, and would not leave any house 
 nndestroyed. Messengers were immediately sent over the kingdom 
 with summons for every man-at-arms to be in Picardy by the first of 
 August, to march to Damme. This was soon spread through 
 France, and all knights and squires made their preparations for 
 waiting on the king as they had been commanded. This same day, 
 duke Frederick of Bavaria, duke Albert, and the other barons took 
 leave of the king and departed for their homes, leaving behind the 
 lady Isabella of Bavaria, now queen of France as you have heard. 
 The king of France, who had sent his summons through the realm, 
 declared he would not return to Paris before he had been at Damme. 
 On the twentieth day of July he set out from Amiens, with the con- 
 stable and many lords, and came to Arras, where he slept one night. 
 On the morrow he went to Lens,t in Artois : men-at-arms were 
 doily coming to him from all quarters. He continued his march un- 
 til he arrived at Ypres, so that by the first of August he was before 
 Damme, and quartered himself so near the town that the arrows 
 flew over his head. 
 
 Three days afterwards arrived William of Hainault, who was very 
 welcome to the king, and to my lord of Burgundy. The siege was 
 laid to Damme in a handsome manner, and Francis Atremen was 
 inclosed within it. He behaved very gallantly, for every day there 
 
 • The maniage took place on the 18th July. 1389.->£d. 
 t A4i»"-foui leaguM from Axna. 
 
 I were attacks and skirmishes, unless prevented by short truce?. 
 The lord de Clary, master of the ordnance to the lord de Coucy, ww 
 hit by an arrow* from the town, which caused his death : it was a 
 pity, for he was a gallant knight. Those of Bruges and Ypres came 
 to this siege ; and there were present upward of one hundred thou. 
 3and men. The king was quartered between Damme and Ghent. 
 The lord de St. Py and the lord de Guistelles were the commanders 
 of the Flemings : they had about twenty-five lances, and quartered 
 themselves among them for fear of dissensions. 
 
 An attack was made on Damme at which all the lords were pres- 
 ent. William of Hainault was made a knight by the king's hand, 
 and that day he displayed his banner : during the course of the siege 
 he showed himself an excellent knight. The French, by this assault, 
 lost m.ore than they won, for Francis Atremen had with him some 
 English archers who sorely galled the assailants : he had also many 
 pieces of artillery, for the town, before it was surprised, was well 
 provided ; and Francis had ordered more thitlier from Ghent when 
 he knew it was to be besieged. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXV. 
 
 SOME CITIZENS AT SLUYS ARE BEHEADED TOR TREASON TO THE FRENCH. 
 THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY ACQUIRES SLUYS FROM SIR WILLIAM DE NAMUR, 
 BY AN EXCHANGE FOR THE LANDS OF BETHUNE. 
 
 During the siege of Damme, some of the principal citizens of 
 Sluys who governed it, were accused of high treason against the 
 king of France : they wanted to deliver the town to his enemies, to 
 murder the governor and all his garrison in their beds, and to set 
 fire to the numerous fleet of France, which was then at anchor in 
 their port, well filled with all sorts of stores. Before the expedition 
 to Damme, the king of France had intended to follow his admiral 
 to Scotland. These wicked people of Sluys also meant to destroy 
 the dikes of the sea, and drown ail or the greater part of ine army. 
 This had been bargained for by those of Ghent, and it was all to 
 have been done in one night : it would have been executed if one 
 of the inhabitants of the town had not overheard the malice they 
 were devising. He directly went to the governor and told him what 
 was intended, and named the greater part of the conspirators. The 
 knight was much astonished when he heard of this, and taking with 
 him his garrison, which consisted of about sixty lances, went to the 
 houses of the different conspirators, whom he arrested, and sent to 
 separate prisons under a strong guard. He then mounted his horse 
 and hastened to the king's tent, before Damme, where the duke of 
 Burgundy at that time chanced to be. He related to them all that 
 he had heard and done : how near the town was being lost, and his 
 army drowned. The king and his nobles were much surprised ; and 
 the governor was ordered to return to Sluys, and to keep liis prison- 
 ers no longer confined, but instantly to put them to death, that others 
 might from them take example. The governor, on his return, had 
 them beheaded, and thus ended the business. 
 
 The same week, the duke of Burgundy, by the advice of sir Guy 
 de la Trimouille, who had last summer resided at Sluys with a con- 
 siderable force, resolved to open a negotiation with his cousin, sir 
 William de Namur, to obtain that town by exchange for other 
 lands, to add it to the country of Flanders, which lands were equally 
 profitable as to revenue. Sir Wlliam de Namur was much displeased 
 when he first heard this proposal for an exchange ; for the town of 
 Sluys, with its dependencies and sea-rights, was a noble and profita- 
 ble inheritance ; it had also devolved to him from lus ancestors, 
 which made him like it the more. Notwithstanding this, since the 
 duke of Burgundy was desirous of it, he found it necessary to com- 
 ply. It was the intention of the duke, when in pf>ssession of it, to 
 erect there a handsome and strong castle, like to Calais and other 
 places, which should command the harbor of Sluys, and garrison ii 
 with men-at-arms and archers, so that none could approach his ter. 
 ritories without danger from them. He said he would build it high 
 enough to see from it twenty leagues at sea. In short, sir William 
 was so hard pressed by the duke and his council, that he consented to 
 the exchange of Sluys for the whole territory of Bethune, which is 
 one of the fairest inheritances of the whole country. It was given 
 to him and to his heirs. Immediately afterwards, the duke set work- 
 men on tne castle he intended to build at Sluys. We will now 
 return to the siege of Damme, and say how it prospered. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXVJ. 
 
 FRANCIS ATREMEN AND HIS MEN ABANDON DAMME. THE TOWN IS DE- 
 STROYED BY THE FRENCH: THEY ALSO RUIN THE COUNTRY OF THB 
 QUATRE MESTIERS. 
 
 There were several skirmishes almost daily at the barriers of 
 Damme, where many were wounded and slain. The walls could 
 not be approached, because the ditches were filled with mud and 
 filth : and, if it had been rainy weather, the army would have had 
 
 * D. Sauvage's edition says, that the lord de Clary, \vhf?e approaching the town to 
 view the guns on th* walls was struck by a quarrel from one of them, not by an «• 
 
CHRONICLES CP ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 34> 
 
 jj l T I I 11 ■ - I • i| ■ I ■ ■ I II ■ ' li' ■ ' ' — _______ 
 
 enough to do, and must have decamped whether they would or not: 
 but for the space of one month, during which this siege lasted, there 
 never fell one drop of rain. They had provision in great abundance ; 
 but the stench of the beasts killed by the army and the dead horses 
 corrupted the air, and caused many knights and squires to be so ill 
 and low spirited that they retired to Bruges or elsewhere : the king 
 was wont to lodge at Marie, notwithstanding his tents were left 
 standing in the camp. It was the intention of Francis Atremen to 
 hold out this siege, till the reinforcements which he expected from 
 England should arrive to raise it : for it is certain that Francis, and 
 the men of Ghent, had sent to England for assistance. The uncles 
 of the king of England would undoubtedly have carried over a suf- 
 ficency of men-at-arms and archers, if the admiral of France had not 
 at that time been in Scotland with so large a force. It was confi- 
 dently said, that the constable was to reinforce the admiral with 
 a greater body: by which means the Flemings were not assisted, 
 and those of Damme were forced to make a bad bargain of it ; for 
 on the 27th day of August, 1385, was the town of Damme conquered 
 back again. 
 
 When Francis Atremen found, after the king of France had be- 
 fiieged him for a month, that he was not to expect any succor, and 
 that his artilleiy began to fail, he was much cast down, and said to 
 those of his council, " I wi 1, that all of us from Ghent return home: 
 but let it be made known to them secretly, so that none of the town be 
 informed of our intended departure, and attempt to save themselves 
 with their wives and children, by sacrificing us. They would obtain 
 peace, and we should be slain : but I must take good care to prevent 
 this ; t^or we will keep in a body, and go round the town to visit the 
 guard. We will secure all the inhabitants, not having arms, in the 
 churches, and give them to understand, we do so because we expect 
 a grand attack to be made to-morrow, and do not wish them to suf- 
 fer from it. We must tell the guard of the night that we intend to 
 beat up the enemy's quarters, and the moment we are in the plain 
 we will spur for the fastest to Ghent." His council replied, that he 
 had well spoken. Every man made his preparation accordingly, and 
 in the evening packed up their all, and put the women, children and 
 lower sort of people in the churches : they even ordered thither the 
 ladies of the knights who were prisoners, telling them, that on the 
 morrow there was to be a grand attack, and they wished them not 
 to be frightened : all this was thought very proper. 
 
 The first hour of the night the Ghent men went their rounds : there 
 were none of their townsmen on the walls, but only those of Damme. 
 Francis Atremen said to them, " Keep up a strict watch about mid- 
 night ; and on no account, whatever you may see or hear, quit the 
 battlements, for in the morning we shall be attacked ; but I am re- 
 Bolved this night to beat up their quarters." His words were believed, 
 for they thought he was speaking the truth. After Francis Atremen 
 had arranged all his business, he ordered the gate to be opened, and 
 sallied forth with those his townsmen from Ghent. They were not 
 half a league from the town when day appeared, and the inhabitants 
 discovered that Francis and his companions were gone off: they 
 were much disheartened : but their leaders began to negotiate with 
 those belonging to the king, and said they had killed Francis Atre- 
 men the preceding evening. 
 
 Several of the town, understanding that Francis Atremen was 
 gone away, and the gate still open, set out from the town as fast as 
 they were able. When this news arrived at the camp, the Bretons 
 and Burgundians, who were eager for pillage, mounted their horses, 
 and pursued them within two leagues of Ghent : several were slain, 
 and upward of five hundred made prisoners ; they were not from 
 Ghent, but the inhabitants of Damme who were running away. 
 While they were pursuing them on all sides, the town, now defence- 
 less, was attacked : the French entered it at different parts by lad- 
 ders, which they carried over the ditches with much difficulty. When 
 they entered, they imagined they should roll in riches; but they found 
 nothing, except poor people, women and children, and great quanti- 
 ties of good wines. In spite, therefore, they set fire to the town and 
 burnt almost the whole of it. The king, and duke of Burgundy 
 were much vexed at this, but they could not prevent it. The noble 
 ladies were, however, saved, but with some difficulty, from having 
 any harm done to their persons. 
 
 After Damme had been thus regained by France, the king was 
 advised to decamp, and to fix his own quarters at a small town two 
 leagues from Ghent called Artavelle, and that, during the time he 
 should be there, the men-at-arms should scour the country of the 
 Quatre Mestiers, and completely destroy it; because, in former 
 limes, all sorts of provision were sent from thence to Ghent, and 
 more assistance given to that town from those countries than from 
 any others. The king of France and his army marched from before 
 Damme : he took up his quarters at Arravelle ; during which time 
 the men-at-arms destroyed the country, burning all houses, monaste- 
 ries and forts which had held out for them. They left not any house 
 whole, and killed or drove into the woods all the women and chil- 
 dren. When the French had completed this destruction, they were 
 ordered to march and lay siege to the castle of Gaure, and after- 
 Wards to d9 Um laame to Ghent. But all this eoded ia nothing. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXVII 
 
 THE KING OP FRANCE LEAVES FLANDERS, AND DISBANDS HIS ARMY. DU. 
 RING THE TIME HE IS AT PARIS, TREATING WITH EMBASSADORS FROM 
 HUNGARY, NEWS ARRIVES THAT THE MARQUIS DE BLANCQUEFORT* 
 HAD FORCIBLY MARRIED THE HEIRESS OF HUNGARY. 
 
 Intelligence was brought to the king, while at Artavelle, that tlie 
 queen of Hungary had sent the bishop of Vassereul, attended by 
 several knights and squires as her embassadors, who had brought 
 credential letters to say that they were come to seek for the lord 
 Lewis of France, count de Valois, and who signed himself king of 
 Hungary, whom John de la Personne,a French knight, had espoused 
 by procuration for the said Lewis count de Valois. This news 
 pleased greatly the king and his council, who, being desirous of pro. 
 perly equipping the young count de Valois, resolved to return to 
 France, saying they had done enough for this season. The king 
 set out from Artavelle the 12th day of September, and disbanded all 
 his men-at-arms, when each returned to his home. The men of 
 Ghent were much delighted at this event. 
 
 The king went to Cray,t where the queen resided ; for, when he 
 left Amiens to go to Flanders, she was sent thitherto hold her court. 
 I know not how many days he staid there with her ; but, when they 
 left it, the king came to Paris, and the queen v/ent to Vincennes, 
 where she resided a while, for they were busily employed in the 
 equipment of the young count, as they were anxious he should have 
 furniture and attendants suitable to his rank as king of Hungary; 
 but things in a short time turned out differently in Hungary, as you 
 shall hear.t True it is, that the queen-mother of Hungary took 
 great delight in the idea of Lewis of France being king of Hungary 
 and considered her daughter as married to him. She wished notfoi 
 any other but him for her son-in-law ; and with this intent she had 
 sent the bishop of Vassereul, with many knights and squires, to con- 
 duct him to his queen. 
 
 It happened, that while these embassadors were on their road to 
 France, the emperor of Germany, who styled himself king of the 
 Romans, had a brother younger than himself, called Henry de Blanc- 
 quefort.§ The king of the Romans had been informed of the state 
 of Hungary, of the treaties which had been entered into with the 
 count Louis de Valois, and that the before-named embassador was 
 gone to conduct him to Hungary. The king of the Romans loved 
 his brother's interest more than his cousin's, had long considered 
 this business, and had already arranged it in his mind to bring it 
 cautiously and secretly about according to his own plan ; for, had the 
 queen of Hungary had the slightest intimation of his intent, she 
 would have guarded effectually against it : but it was clear she had 
 not. 
 
 It was known to the council in Germany, that the queen of Hun- 
 gary and her daughter were gone to a castle near the borders of 
 Germany, to amuse themselves : upon which, the marquis de Blanc- 
 quefort set off* with a large body of men-at-arms, ten thousand at 
 least, to lay siege to this castle and inclose the ladies within it. The 
 queen, on perceiving her situation, was thunderstruck, and sent to 
 know from the marquis why he thus kept her confined, and what he 
 wanted. The marquis sent for answer, " it was done solely because 
 she intended marrying her daughter to the brother of the king of 
 France, who was a stranger, and from whom she never could have 
 any comfort ;" adding, that " it would be better and more advan. 
 tageous for the kingdom of Hungary, if he, who was her neighbor, 
 should marry her, than another, who came from such a di=tant country 
 as Louis de Valois." The queen answered, that she had never be- 
 fore heard one word of his pretensions, and for that reason had con- 
 sented to her daughter's union with the brother of the king of France: 
 besides, the king of Hungary, during his lifetime, had ordered her so 
 to do." To this the marquis replied, that " he paid little attention 
 to what she said ; that he had the consent and good will of the 
 
 * This, I suppose, should be Brandenburgh. 
 
 t " Cray." (i. If not Craonne, which is a town in Picardy. 
 
 I There must be some mistake, or perhaps Froissart was misinformed, for I cannot 
 find any mention of the crown of Hungary ijeing otfered ti» the count de Valois. Under 
 neath is all that is said of the matter in ihe "Art de Veiitier les Dtites." 
 
 Mary, surriamed King Mari/.—Mnry, daugiiter of Charles the Great, wns crowned 
 in Allie Royale, or Stul Weissembourg, in the year 1382, under the name of King Mary. 
 As she was too young to govern the kingdom, the regency was jriven to her mother 
 queen Elizabeth. Nicholas deGara having gained tlie contidence of the iwu princesses, 
 ruled despotically in their names, insomuch that it excited great murmurs among the 
 Hungarians. In the vear 1385, Charles le Petit, king of Naples, at the solicitatinns ot 
 the discontented party, arrives at Buda, seizesthegovernment, and caused himself to be 
 crowned king of Hungary in Albe Royaie the oUih of September, in the same year. On 
 the 5th of February following, he is assassinated in Bnda, by order, and in the presence 
 of Elizabeth. On the 1st of May, 1283, John Horwarli, ban of Croatia, surprises the 
 two queens, attended by Nicholas de Gara, while on a journey . he massacres the last 
 before their eyes, drowns Elizabeth the ensuing night, and carries off Mary prisoner to 
 Croatia. Sigismond, marquis of Brandenburg, files, o n hearmg this, to deliver Mary, 
 to whom he was betrothed. He joins her at Alhe Royale, whither she had been sent, 
 marries her at that town, and is crowned king of Hungary on the 10th of June, Whit 
 Sunday, being only twenty years old. The ban of Croatia was this same year arrested 
 by his order, and expiated his crimes by tortures. Mary died at Buda, 13ij2. Her body 
 was buried at Peter- Waradin. 
 
 § This should be Sigismoitd marquis of Brandenburg ; he was a son of the emperor 
 Charles IV. and brother of the emperor Wenceslaus, and had been betrothed to Mary 
 in his infancy. The whole story conceruing tiie cuunl de Vaiuis is very apucrypbai ; ao 
 i^Hbm IwMriao atRUeB«it.-<-£P» 
 
S50 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, (fee. 
 
 greater part of the Hungarian nation, and that he would, by fair 
 mtans or otherwise, have her, now she was in his power." The 
 lady was much cast down at these words, but, notwithstanding, held 
 out as well as she could ; and, though she sent to her subjects to 
 come to her assistance, none obeyed, nor did they make the least 
 movement against the marquis, which plainly showed the Hunga. 
 rians preferred the Germans to the French. 
 
 When the queen 
 found she was not 
 to expect any as- 
 sistance from her 
 subjects, she be- 
 gan to listen to 
 reason ; for the 
 marquis threaten, 
 ed her, that if she 
 suffered the castle 
 to be taken by 
 storm he would 
 confine her in a 
 tower, where she 
 would have only 
 bread and water, 
 as long as she 
 lived. These me. 
 naces frightened 
 her, for the place 
 was weak, and she 
 had come thither 
 without enough of 
 men or provision. 
 She therefore en. 
 tered into a treaty 
 with the marquis; 
 and in this situa- 
 tion she gave him 
 her daughter, who 
 was direcUy mar- 
 ried, and he in- 
 stantly went to 
 bed to her. 
 
 Thu3 did sir 
 Henry of Bohe- 
 mia, marquis de 
 Blancquefortjgain 
 the inheritance of 
 
 Hungary, of which he was king rather through force than love, v/ith 
 regard to the consent of the queen=dowager ; but she was obliged to 
 abide by this bargain, or worse might have happened. News of this 
 was soon published, and it was sent to the bishop and knights of Han- 
 gary who were on their return from France ; for the count de Valois, 
 having completed his airangements, had proceeded as far on his jour, 
 ney as Troyes. He was much enraged when this event was told 
 him ; but he could not any way remedy it. The Hungarians departed 
 very angry, as indeed they had reason ; and the young count de Valois 
 returned to his brother and uncles at Paris, who, having never de- 
 pended much on this marriage, said, " the count de Valois was for. 
 tunate in having his wife taken from him, for Hungary was a dis. 
 tant country, and out of reach of the French, from whence they could 
 never have had any assistance." These considerations made them 
 indifferent about it, and induced them to think of another connection 
 for him. This was the duke of Milan's daughter, heiress of Lorn- 
 bardy, which territory is more valuable than all Hungary, and nearer 
 at hand to the French. 
 
 We will leave these marriages,'and speak of the duke of Bourbon, 
 who, having taken Taillebourg, was in Poitou besieging Verteuil ; 
 ai.d return to the admiral of France in Scotland, and say how he 
 went on. 
 
 strength, and showing his people how to bank it, a stone, shot from 
 a dondaine* by the besiegers, wounded him mortally, and caused his 
 instant death. This Bertrand had escaped from sixteen very dan. 
 gerous sieges. His companions lamented much his death ; but, as 
 that was now irretrievable, Andrew remained sole governor. Fifteen 
 days afterwards, negotiations were opened, and a treaty concluded, 
 that the garrison should surrender tlie castle, with all its provisions 
 
 Kino Robert of Scotlakd and his Nine Sons who loved arms. Designed from Contemporary Illustrations. 
 
 on being conducted in safety to Bonteville, of which place Durandon 
 de la Perede was governor. Thus did the French gain the castle of 
 Verteuil, which they afterwards repaired and reinforced with stores, 
 artillery and men-at-arms. They then marched to an adjoining town 
 called Cares, and when they departed thence, came to Limoges, 
 where the duke of Bourbon remained full eight days. He was ad. 
 vised to return to Paris, which he did, and found the king with his 
 nephew the count de Valois, who received him witli great joy. 
 
 We will now return to the affairs in Scotland, and speak of ths 
 admiral of France. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXIX. 
 
 THE SCOTTISH ARMY WITH THAT OF THE ADMIRAL OF TRAIfCE ENTEH 
 NORTHUMBERLAND — BUT THE ENGLISH, BEING ON THEIR MARCH TO 
 MEET THEM, THEY RETREAT WITHIN THE BORDERS. 
 
 You have before heard how the admiral of France, with a large 
 body of men.at-arms, had landed at the port of Edinburgh, and that 
 they found it a very different country from what they had expected 
 from the accounts of the barons of Scotland. The king's council 
 and other barons had told those knights who had been in Scotland 
 last year, particularly sir Geoffry de Charny and sir Amyard de 
 Marse, that if the e^neschal, the constable or the admiral of France 
 would cross the sea to Scotland, with a thousand good lances and five 
 hundred cross-bows, with armor for a thousand Scotsmen and pro- 
 per equipments for the leaders, with their assistance the rest of Scot- 
 land would make such a fatal irruption into England, it v/ould never 
 recover the blow. With this expectation had the French crossed the 
 sea, but had not found these promises realized. In the first place, 
 they met with savage people, bad friends and a poor country ; and 
 the knights and squires knew not where to send their varlets to for. 
 age, for they dared not do so except in very large parties for fear of 
 the wicked people of the country, who lay in wait for them, attacked 
 and killed them. 
 
 At last, king Robert of Scotland arrived, with red bleared eyes, of 
 the color of sandal wood, which dearly showed he was no valiant 
 man, but who would rather remain at home than march to the field : 
 he had, however, nine sons who loved arms. On the king's arrival 
 at Edinburgh, the barons of France waited on him u pay their 
 respects, as they well knew how to do : the earls of Douglas, Moray, 
 Mar, Sutherland, and several more, were at this interview. Ths 
 admiral requested the king to fulfil the terms on whi ch they had 
 
 * " Dundaiae"-'a lari;e niaciune to throw (tonw Irum. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXVtll. 
 
 THl CUKE OF BOURBON TAKES VERTEUIL IN POITOU, AND RETURNS TO THE 
 KING OF FRANCE AT PARIS. 
 
 During the time the king wn-s before Damme, the duke of Bour- 
 bon, with a handsome body of men-at-arms, made an excursion into 
 Poitou and Limousin, where he took many English castles and forts, 
 such as Archeac, Garnate, Montlieu, eight leagues from Bordeaux, 
 and Taillebourg on the Charente ; he then hid siege to Verteuil, a 
 strong ca.stle in Poitou, on the borders of Limousin and Saintonge. 
 Andrew Prior, an Englishman, and Bertrand de Montrinet, a Gas- 
 con, were governors of Verteuil, and had with them numbers of stout 
 companions. There were skirmishe-s, therefore, almost daily at the 
 barriers, and many gallant deeds of arms done, in which several 
 were slain or wounded. The duke declared he would not move 
 from thence until he was master of the castle, for to this effect had 
 he given his promise the last time he had conversed with the duke of 
 Berry. 
 
 It happened that while Bertrand de Montrinet, one of, the govern- 
 orSf vras planning a ditch to be made within the castle to add to its 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 1 11 i -I ■ I I I 
 
 come to Scotland ; for that on his part he was determined to enter 
 England. Those barons of Scotland who were eager to advance 
 themselves were rejoiced at hearing this, and replied, that if it pleased 
 Gods they would make such an inroad as would be both profitable 
 and honorable. 
 
 The king issued his summons for a very large armament : on the 
 day fixed for their assembling at Edinburgh, there were thirty thou, 
 sand men on horseback, who, as they arrived, took up their quarters 
 after the manner of the country, but they had not everything com- 
 fortable. Sir John de Vienne was very impatient to make an excur- 
 sion, and to affjrd his men opportunities of peiforming gallant deeds 
 of anus in England ; he no sooner saw the arrival of the Scottish 
 men-at-arms, than he said it was time to march, for they had remained 
 idle too long. The departure was then proclaimed, and they took 
 their march toward Roxburgh. The king was not with the army, but 
 remained at Edinburgh : however, all his children accompanied it. 
 The thousand* complete suits of armor brought from France, were 
 delivered to the Scottish knights who were badly armed, and those 
 who had them were much delighted. They began their march to. 
 ward Northumberland, which they continued until they came to the 
 abbey of Melrose, where they quartered themselves on each side of 
 the river Tweed : on the morrow, they advanced to Lambir Law, and 
 ihen eame before Roxburgh. 
 
 The governor of the castle of Roxburgh for the lord Mountague, 
 to whom it belonged as well as all the circumjacent lands, was a 
 knight called sir Edward Clifford. The admiral of France, with his 
 whole army, aa well as the Scots, halted before it, and, having re. 
 connoitred it, thought they should gain nothing by the attack, as the 
 castle was huge, fair, and well provided with artillery. They there- 
 fore continued their march down the river, toward Berwick and the 
 sea, until they came to two square towers, tolerably strong ; in which 
 were two knights, father and son, of the name of Strande. A good 
 farm of fine fields of grass, with a country-house, was hard by, which 
 was instantly burnt and the towers attacked. Several feats of arms 
 were performed, and many of the Scots wounded by arrows and 
 atones ; but the towers were at length taken by stonn, and the knights 
 within them, who had valiantly defended themselves as long as they 
 had been able. 
 
 After the conquest of these two towers, the Scots and French 
 came before a very strong castle in another part of the country, 
 which is called Werley ;t it belonged to sir John Mountague. Sir 
 John Lusseb'ourne was the governor for him, and had in it his wife, 
 children, and all his family ; for he had been informed that the Scots 
 ad the French were advancing that way. He had in consequence, 
 ally provided the place with men-at.arms and artillery, to the utmost 
 jf his power, in expectation of the attack. The army soon came and 
 isncamped before Werley, situated on a handsome river which runs 
 4Rto the Tweed below it. There was one grand assault on this castle, 
 where the French behaved much more valiantly than the Scots ; for 
 ihey crossed the ditches, though with much difficulty ; and, having 
 lixed their ladders, many gallant deeds were done, for the French 
 ascended to the battlements, and there fought hand to hand and 
 dagger to dagger with the garrison. Sir John Luseebourne showed 
 himself a good knight and powerful in arms, by engaging the French 
 knights as they mounted the ladders. At this attack a German 
 knight, called sir Alberis Gastelain, was slain, which was a pity ; 
 many others were killed and wounded. The enemy, however, were 
 so numerous, and the attack so often renewed, that the castle was 
 Jaken, and the knight, his wife, and children, who were within it. 
 The French who first entered made upward of forty prisoners ; the 
 castle was then burnt and destroyed, for they saw they could not keep 
 aor guard it, being so far advanced in England. 
 
 After the capture of this castle, and of sir John Lussebourne, the 
 admiral and barons of France and Scotland marched toward Amith,t 
 the estate of the lord Percy, and quartered themselves all around it. 
 They destroyed several villages, and marched as far as Boul.§ a 
 handsome and strong castle on the sea-coast, belonging to the earl of 
 Northumberland : they did not attack it, for they knew they should 
 lose their labor, but continued their march to half-way between Ber- 
 wick and Newcastle-on-Tyne, where they learnt that the duke of 
 Lancaster, the earls of Northumberland and Nottingham, the lord 
 Neville, with the barons of the counties of Northumberland, York, 
 and Durham, were hastening with a large force to meet them.jl The 
 admiral and barons of France were much delighted at this intelli- 
 gence, for they were desirous of an engagement; but the Scots were 
 of a contrary opinion, and advised a retreat toward Scotland, on ac- 
 count of their stores, and to have their own country in their rear and 
 wait for the enemy on their own borders. Sir John de Vienne wished 
 not to net in contradiction to their wishes, and followed what they 
 had advised; they did net therefore advance further into Northumber- 
 land, but made for Berwick, of which place sir Thomas Redman was 
 governor, and had with him a great number of men-at-arms. The 
 French and Scots came before it, but made no attack, and continued 
 .their road to Roxburgh, on their return to their own country. 
 
 • III. lUier editions the number ia ttuted as two hundred, which appenrs more proba- 
 •XIc-Ud. t " Weily." Q. if not War . 
 
 t**Ainiih." Q.Alnwick. § " Bou!." Q. if not Cornhill. 
 
 II Mr. Redi)a^it, in his Bordei Hi«U»fr, gives a very short account indeed of thisexpedi- 
 .lioM. luid of iJiese places; he addi— "It M »aid, tbejr took &ad dwtroywi th« castte of 
 ^Vaxk Corohill. and Fv;dL," 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 851 
 
 News was spread all over P^ngland, how the French and Scots 
 had entered Northumberland, and were burning and destroying it. 
 You must, however, know, that before this, the arrival of the admiral 
 and the French in Scotland was krlowh. All the lords were there, 
 fore prepared, and the king had issued his summons : as they as- 
 sembled, they took the road to Scotland, threatening much the Scots. 
 The English at this time had made greater preparations than ever 
 for their expedition to Scotland, as well by land as by sea ; for they 
 had freighted six score vessels, laden with stores and provision, which 
 followed their march along the coast. The king took the field, a*:, 
 companied by his uncles, the earls of Cambridge and Buckingham, 
 his brothers sir Thomas and sir John Holland. There were also the 
 earls of Salisbury and Arundel, the young earl of Pembroke, the 
 young lord de Spencer, the earl of Staff"ord, the earl of Devonshire, 
 and so many barons and knights, that they amounted to full forty 
 thousand lances, without counting those of the duke of Lancaster, 
 the earl of Northumberland, the earl of Nottingham, ?he lord Lucy, 
 the lord Neville, and other barons of the marches, who were in pur- 
 suit of the French and Scots, to the number of two thousand lances 
 and fifteen hundred archers. The king, and the lords who attended 
 him, had full fifty thousand archers, without including the varlete. 
 He hastened so much the march of his army after the duke oF Lan 
 caster, that he arrived in the country about York ; for he had had 
 intelligence on the road that there was to be an engagement between 
 his men and the Scots in Northumberland ; and for this reason he 
 had made as much haste as possible. The king lodged at St. John 
 de Beverley, beyond the city of York, in the county of Durham, v/here 
 news was brought him that the Scots had returned to their own 
 country. The army therefore quartered themselves in the county of 
 Northumberland. I will relate an accident that happened in the 
 English army, which caused a mortal hatred between different lords 
 
 CHAPTER CLXX. 
 
 SIR JOHN HOLLAND KILLS LORD RALPH STAFFORD. THE EARL OF STAF- 
 FORD DEMANDS JUSTICE FRO]\I 'J"HE KING. 
 
 The king of England was quartered in the country round Beverley, 
 in the diocese of York, with numbers of earls, barons, and knights 
 of his realm ; for every one tried to be lodged as near him as possi. 
 ble, more especially his two uncles. Sir Thomas Holland, earl of 
 Kent, and sir John Holland, earl of Huntington, his brothers, were 
 also there with a handsome company of men-at-arms. 
 
 With the king was a knight from Bohemia, who had come to pay 
 a visit to the queen ; and, out of aflfection to her, the king and baron.i 
 showed him every attention. This knight was gay and handsome 
 in the German style, and his name was sir Meles. It happened one 
 afternoon, that two squires attached to sir John Holland quarrelled in 
 the fields of a village near Beverley, for the lodgings of sir Meles, and 
 followed him, to his great displeasure, with nmch abuse. At this 
 moment two archers belonging to lord Ralph Stafford came thither, 
 who took up the quarrel of sir Meles, because he was a stranger : 
 they blamed the squires for their language, and added : " You have 
 used this knight very ill by thus quarrelling with him, for you know 
 he is attached to the queen and from her country : you would have 
 done better to have assisted him than to act thus." "Indeed !" re. 
 plied one of the squires to the archer who had first spoken, " thou 
 villainous knave, thou wantest to intermeddle : what is it to thee if 
 I laugh at his follies ?" " What is it to me I" answered the archer, 
 " it concerns me enough, for he is the companion of my master ; and 
 I will never remain quiet to see or hear him abused." «' If I thought, 
 knave," said the squire, " thou wouldst aid him against me, I would 
 thrust my sword through thy body." As he uttered these words, he 
 made an attempt to strike him : the archer drew back, and having 
 his bow ready bent, with a good arrow, let fly, and shot him through 
 the body and heart, so that he fell down dead. The other squire, 
 when he saw his companion fall, ran away. Sir Meles had before 
 returned to his lodgings, and the two archers returned to their lord 
 and related to him what had happened. Lord Ralph, when he had 
 heard the whole, said, " You have behaved very ill." " By my 
 troth," replied the archer, " I could net have acted otherwise, if I 
 had not wished to have been killed myself, and I had much rather 
 he should die than that I should." " Well," said lord Ralph, "go 
 and get out of sight, that thou mayest not be found : I will negotiate 
 thy pardon with sir John Holland, either through my lord and father, 
 or by some other means." The archer replied, " he would cheer, 
 fully obey him." 
 
 News was carried to sir John Holland, that one of sir Ralph Staf 
 ford's archers had murdered his favorite squire ; and that it had 
 happened through the fault of the foreign knight, sir Meles. Sii 
 John, on hearing it, was like a madman, and said he would neithet 
 eat nor drink until he had revenged it. He instantly mounted hia 
 horse, ordering his men to do the same, though it was now very late, 
 and, having gained the fields, he inquired for the lodgings of sir 
 Meles: he was told that he was lodged at the rear-guard with the 
 earl of Devonshire and the earl of Stafford, and with their people. 
 Sir John Holland took that road, riding up and down to find sir Me- 
 les. As he was thus riding along a very narrow lane, he met the 
 lord Raii>h Stafford : but, being night, they could not distinguisli 
 
853 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 each other. He called out, " Who comes here ?" He was answered, 
 I am Stafford " And I am Holland." Then sir John added, 
 " Stafford, I was inquiring after you. Thy servants have murdered 
 my squire, whom I loved so much." On saying this, he drew his 
 sword and struck lord Ralph such a blow as felled him dead, which 
 was a great pity. Sir John continued his road, but knew not then 
 that he had killed him, though he was well aware he had stricken 
 him down. The servants of the lord Ralph were exceedingly wroth, 
 as was natural, on seeing their master dead : they began to cry out, 
 " Holland, you have murdered the son of the earl of Stafford : heavy 
 will this news be to the father when he shall know it." 
 
 Some of the attendants of sir John Holland, hearing these words, 
 said to their master, " My lord, you have slain the lord Ralph Staf- 
 ford." " Be it so," replied sir John. " I had rather have put him 
 to death than one of less rank ; for by this I have the better revenged 
 the loss of my squire." sir John hastened to Beverley, to take ad- 
 vantage of the sanctuary of St. John's church, whither he went, and 
 did not quit the sanctuary ; for he well knew he should have much 
 trouble in the army from the affection it bore to lord Ralph, and he 
 was uncertain what his brother the king of England would say to it. 
 To avoid, therefore, all these perils, he shut himself up in the sane 
 tuary. 
 
 News was carried to the earl of Stafford, that his son had been 
 unfortunately killed. The earl asked who had done it. They told 
 him, " Sir John Holland, the king's brother," and related why, and 
 wherefore. You may suppose, that the father, having only one be- 
 loved son, who was a young, handsome, and accomplished knight, 
 was beyond measure enraged. He sent for all his friends, to have 
 their advice how he ought to act to revenge this loss. The wisest 
 and most temperate did all they could to calm him, adding, th"t on 
 the morrow the fact should be laid before the king, and he should be 
 required to see law and justice put in force. 
 
 Thus passed the night. In the morning, the lord Ralph Stafford 
 was buried in the church of a village near the spot where he fell : he 
 was attended by all the barons, knights, and squires related to him 
 that were in the army. After the funeral, the earl of Stafford, with 
 full sixty of his own relations, and others connected with his son, 
 mounted their horses, and went to the king, who had already re- 
 ceived information of this unfortunate event. They found the king 
 attended by his uncles and many knights. When the earl ap. 
 proached, he cast himself on his knees, and thus spoke with tears 
 and anguish of heart : " Thou art king of all England, and hast 
 solemnly sworn to maintain the realm in its rights, and to do justice. 
 Thou art well acquainted how thy brother, without the slightest 
 reason, has murdered my son and heir. I therefore come and de- 
 mand justice : otherwise thou wilt not have a worse enemy than me. 
 I must likewise inform thee, my son's death affects me so bitterly, 
 that if I were not fearful of breaking up this expedition by the trouble 
 and confusion I should make in the army, and the defections it would 
 cause, by my honor, it should be revenged in so severe a manner 
 that it should be talked of in England a hundred years to come. For 
 the present, however, and during this expedition to Scotland, I shall 
 not think of it; for I like not the Scots be rejoiced at the misery of 
 the earl of Stafford."* The king replied, " Be assured, I myself 
 will do justice, and punish the crime more severely than the barons 
 would venture to do; and never for any brother will I act other- 
 wise." The earl of Stafford and his relations answered, " Sir, you 
 have well spoken, and we thank you." Thus were the relations of 
 lord Ralph Stafford appeased. He performed the expedition to 
 Scotland, as I shall relate to you ; and, during that whole time, the 
 earl ot Stafford seemed to have forgotten the death of his son, in 
 which conduct all the barons thought he showed great wisdom. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXXI. 
 
 THE KING OP EN&LAND DESTROYS THE ABBEY OF MELROSE IN SCOTLAND. 
 THE BARONS OF FRANCE AND SCOTLAND INVADE CUMBERLAND. 
 
 The army of the king of England, which consisted of seven thou- 
 sand men-at-arms and sixty thousand archers, kept advancing: none 
 had remained behind, for it had been confidently reported through 
 England that sir John de Vienne would give them battle. Indeed, 
 such irere his intentions, and he had in a manner told this to the 
 barons of Scotland, when he said, " My lords, make your army as 
 C(»nsiderable as you can ; for, if the English come as far as Scotland, 
 I will offer them combat." The Scots replied, " God assist us !" but 
 they afterwards changed their mind. 
 
 The king and his army advanced beyond Durham, Newcastle-on- 
 Tyne, and through Northumberland to Berwick, of which sir Mat. 
 thew Redmond was governor. He received him with all due respect ; 
 but tlie king did not stay there long ; he continued his march, and 
 the v»hole army crossed the river Tweed, which comes from Rox- 
 burgh and the mountains in Northumberland, and took up his quar- 
 ters in the abbey of Melrose. This monastery, in all the preceding 
 wars «;f Englajid and Scotland, had been spared, but it was now 
 burnt and destroyed ; for it had been determined by the English to 
 
 • The eurl «:f' Stafford. inthc9tli Ric. II., mndea pilerimn^e to Jeriisalom, probably 
 A Um km liu too, uod UmU th« ousuiug ywt, on hit return, Rl Kliodes. 
 
 ruin everything in Scotland before they returned home, because ihe 
 Scots had allied themselves with the French. 
 
 The admiral of France, on learning that the king of England and 
 his army had crossed the Tyne and Tweed, and were now at Lam. 
 bir Law, said to the Scottish barons, " Why d-o we remain here, and 
 not reconnoitre our enemies to fight them? You told us, before we 
 came into this country, that if you had a thousand, or thereabouts, 
 of good men-at-arms from France, you would be sufficiently strong 
 to combat the English. I will warrant you have now a thousand, if 
 not more, and five hundred cross-bo v.-, ; and I must tell you, that the 
 knights and squires who have accom.)anied me are determined men- 
 at-arms, the flower of knighthood, who will not fly, but abide the 
 event, such as God may please to order it." The barons of Scot, 
 land, who well knew the strength of the English army, and had not 
 any desire of meeting it, answered, " Faith, my lord, we are con- 
 vinced that you and your companions are men of valor, and to be 
 depended on; but we understand that all England is on its march to 
 Scotland, and the English were never in such force as at present. 
 We will conduct you to a place from whence you may view and 
 consider them : and if, after this, you should advise a battle, we will 
 not refuse it, for what you have repeated as having been said by ua 
 is true." " By God, then," said the admiral, " I will have a battle.'- 
 
 Not long afterwards, the earl of Douglas and the other Scots baronsj 
 carried the admiral of France to a high mountain, at the bottom of 
 which was a pass through which the English would be forced to 
 march with their baggage. From this mountain, where the admiral 
 was stationed, with many of the French knights, they clearly saw the 
 English army, and estimated it, as nearly as they could, at six thou, 
 sand men-at-arms, sixty thousand archers and stout varlets. They 
 allowed they were not in sufficient force to meet them in battle, for 
 the Scots were not more than one thousand lances, with about thirty 
 thousand others badly armed. The admiral said to the earls of 
 Douglas and Moray, " Yon were in the right in not wishing to fight 
 the English ; but let us consider what must be done, for they are 
 numerous enough to overrun your whole country and ruin it. Since 
 we are not able to combat them, I request you will lead us by un. 
 frequented roads into England, and let us cany the war into their 
 own country, as they have done here, if such an enterprise may be 
 practicable." The barons told him, it was very practicable. 
 
 Sir John de Vienne and the Scots barons resolved in council, to 
 quit that part of the country and suffer the English to act as they 
 pleased in it, and to make an inroad on Cumberland, near Carlisle, 
 where they should find a plentiful country, and amply revenge them- 
 selves. This resolution was adopted. They marched their men in 
 an opposite direction to the English, through forests and over moun. 
 tains, and laid waste the whole country on their line, burning towns, 
 villages and houses. The inhabitants of Scotland carried their pro- 
 visions to their retreats in the forests, where they knew the English 
 would never seek for them. The Scots barons marched hastily 
 through their own country ; and the king, not being well enough in 
 health to accompany them, retired into the highlands, where he re. 
 mained during the war, and left his subjects to act as well as they 
 could. The French and Scots passed the mountains which divide 
 Cumberland from Scotland, and entered England, when they began 
 to burn the country and villages, and to commit great devastations^ 
 on the lands of Mowbray, belonging to the earl of Nottingham, on 
 those of the earl of Stafford, as well as on the lands of the baron o( 
 Grisop* and of the lord Musgrave, and then continued their marcl- 
 to Carlisle. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXXH. 
 
 THS KING or ENGLAND DESTROYS EDINBURGi, AND GREAT PART OF 
 SCOTLAND. THE FRENCH AND SCOTS DO THE SABIE ON THE BORDERS 
 AND IN NORTHUMBERLAND 
 
 While the admiral of France and those with him, such as the 
 count de Grand ?i6, the lord de Sainte Croix, bir Geoffry de Charny, 
 sir William de Breune, sir James de Boenne, the lords de Peigny, de 
 Hees, de Marnel, sir Valeran de Rayneval, the baron d'lvry, the 
 baron de Fontaines, the lord de Croy, sir Braque de Bracquemont, 
 the lord de Lendury, amounting to a thousand lances at least, of 
 barons and knights of France, with the lords of Scotland and their 
 army, were thus overrunning the northern parts of England, burning 
 and destroying the towns, houses and country ; the king of England, 
 with his uncles, barons and knights, had entered Scotland, wasting 
 the country as they advanced. The English had quartered them, 
 selves at Edinburgh, where the king remained for five days. On 
 their departure, everything was completely burned to the ground 
 except the castle, which was very strongly guarded. 
 
 During the residence of king Richai^ at Edinburgh, the English 
 overran the whole country in the neighborhood, and did great mis. 
 chief; but they found none of the inhabitants, for they had retreated 
 into forts and thick forests, whither they had driven all their cattle. 
 In the king's army there were upward of one hundred thousand 
 men, and as many horses : of course, gi-eat quantities of provision 
 were wanted ; but, as they found none in Scotland, many stores fol. 
 lowed them from England by sea and land When the king and his 
 lords left Edinb urgh they went to Dunft rmline, a tolerably handsome 
 •"driwp." U« Greysiocke. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 353 
 
 town, where is a large and fair abbey of black monks, in which the 
 kings of Scotland have been accustomed to be buried. The king 
 was lodged in the abbey, but after his departure the army seized it, 
 and burnt both that and the town. They marched toward Stirling 
 and crossed the river Tay,* which runs b'y Perth. They made a 
 grand attack on the castle of Stirling, but did not conquer it, and 
 had a number of their men killed and wounded : they then marched 
 away, burning the town and the lands of the lord de Versy. 
 
 The intention of the' duke of Lancaster and of his brothers, as 
 well as of several knights and squires, was to lay waste all Scotland, 
 and then pursue the French and Scots (for they had information of their 
 inarch to Carlisle,) and by this means inclose them between England 
 "and Scotland, so that they should have such advantage over them, 
 not oie would return, but all should be slain, or made prisoners. In 
 the mean time, their army overran the country at their pleasure, for 
 none ventured to oppose them, the kingdom being void of defence, 
 as the men-at-arms had all followed the admiral of France. The 
 English burnt the town of Perth, which is on the banks of the Tay, 
 and has a good harbor, from whence vessels may sail to all parts of 
 the world. They afterwards burnt Dundee; and the English spared 
 neither monasteries nor churches, but put all to fire and flame. The 
 light troops of the English, and the vanguard, advanced as far as the 
 city of Bredane,t which is situated on the sea, at the entrance into 
 the highlands, but they did no harm to it, though the inhabitants 
 were exceedingly alarmed, supposing they should be attacked, and 
 that the king of England was coming. 
 
 Just in the same manner as the English conducted themselves in 
 Scotland, did the French and Scots in Cumberland, and on the 
 borders of England, where they burnt and destroyed large tracts of 
 country. They entered Westmoreland, passing through the lands 
 of Greystock, and of the baron Clifford, and burnt on their march 
 several villages where no men-at-arms had before been. They met 
 with no opposition, as the country was drained, for all men-at-arms 
 were with the king in his expedition. They came at length before 
 Carlisle, which is well inclosed with walls, towers, gates and ditches : 
 king Arthur formerly resided here more than elsewhere, on account 
 of the fine woods which surround it, and for the grand adventures 
 of arms which had happened near it.t 
 
 There were in the city of Carlisle, sir Lewis Clifford, brother to 
 sir William Neville, sir Thomas Musgrave and his son, David HoU- 
 grave, the earl of Angus, and several others from the neighborhood ; 
 for Carlisle is the capital of that part of the country, and it was for- 
 tunate to have such men to defend it. When the admiral of France 
 and his army arrived, he made a very severe attack with ordnance, 
 which lasted some time, but there were within those capable of 
 making a good defence, so that many handsome feats of arms were 
 performed before Carlisle. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXXIII. 
 
 THE EARL OF SUFFOLK PREVENTS THE KING OF ENGLAND FROM PUR- 
 SUING THE FRENCH AND SCOTS WHO HAD INVADED ENGLAND. THE 
 ENGLISH ARMY RETURN HOME THE SAME WAY THEY HAD ENTERED 
 SCOTLAND. THE FRENCH AND SCOTS RETURN IN A SIMILAR MANNER. 
 
 The king's uncles and the other lords supposed the admiral of 
 France and the Scots would continue their march, and that they 
 would do as much mischief as they could on the borders and in 
 Cumberland. They therefore thought they could not do better, 
 when their stores were all arrived, than to follow their line of march 
 until they should overtake and fight them ; for, as they could not any 
 way escape, they must be attacked to a disadvantage. Of this opin- 
 ion was the duke of Lancaster, his brothers, several of the nobles of 
 the realm, and the greater part of the army. Their stores were now 
 all arrived by sea or land, and the king had, in the presence of his 
 unc'es, ordered this plan to be adopted. But in one night, Michael 
 de la Pole, earl of Suffolk, who at that time was the heart and sole 
 council of the king, and in whom he placed his whole confidence, 
 undid the whole business. I know not what his intentions were for 
 so doing ; but I heard afterwards, he should say to the king, " Ah, 
 ah, my lord, what are you thinking of? You intend tlien to follow 
 the plan your uncles have devised. Know, that if you do so, you 
 will never return, for the duke of Lancaster wishes for nothing more 
 earnestly than your death, that he may be king. How could he dare 
 advise your entering such a country in the winter? I would recom- 
 mend you not to cross the Cumberland mountains, where are thirty 
 passes so narrow, that if once you be inclosed within them, you will 
 run into the greatest danger from the Scots. Never engage in such 
 a perilous expedition, whatever they may say to you ; and if the 
 duke of Lancaster be so desirous to go thither, let him, with that 
 division under his command : for never, with my consent, shall you 
 undertake it. You have done enough for one time: neither your 
 father, nor your grandfather Edward, have been so far in Scotland as 
 you have now been. This, I say, should satisfy you. Take care 
 of your own person, you are young and promising ; and there are 
 those who profess much, but who little love you." 
 
 • There is a misliike in geography here, for liie Tay does not run neiir the roucl to 
 Curling. 1 should suppose he must ineiin the Forth. T " Ureduae." U. Aberdeeo. 
 t iWuiiul mislaUea this place, probably, lur Curluun 
 
 These words made so strong an impression on the king, he could 
 never get them out of his head, as I shall hereafter relate. On the 
 morrow morning, when the lords of England were preparing for their 
 march toward Carlisle, in search of the French, nnd to fight with 
 them, as had been resolved in council the preceding night, the duke 
 of Lancaster waited on the king, ignorant of what had passed 
 between his nephew and lord Suffolk. When the king saw him, 
 being peevish and choleric from the preceding conversation, he said, 
 harshly, " Uncle, uncle of Lancaster, you shall not yet succeed in 
 your plans. Do you think that, for your fine speeches, we v.'ill 
 madly ruin ourselves ? I will no longer put my faith in you nor in 
 your councils, for I see in them more loss than profit, both in regard 
 to your own honor and to that of our people : therefore, if you be 
 desirous of undertaking this march, which you have advised, do so, 
 but I will not, for I shall return to England, and all those who love 
 me will follow me." " And I will follow you," replied the duke of 
 Lancaster : " for there is not a man in your company who loves you , 
 so well as I do, and my brothers also. Should any other person, 
 excepting yourself, dare say the contrary, or that I wish otherwise 
 than well to you and to your people, I will throw him my glove." 
 No answer was made by any one. The king was silent on the 
 subject. He only spoke to those who served him, on different mat. 
 ters, and then gave orders for returning to England by the way they 
 had come. The duke left the king quite melancholy, and went to 
 make other preparations ; for he had concluded they were to pursuo 
 the French and Scots, who had already advanced beyond the bor. 
 ders; but, as this was altered, they took the direct road to England. 
 
 Thus did the earl of Suffolk, who governed the king, break up 
 this expedition. Some lords said, the king had been badly advised, 
 not to pursue the Scots, as they had all their stores with them, and 
 it was still in their way home. Others, afraid of the diflriculties, said 
 that, concerning all things, as well the quantity of provisions neces. 
 sary for so large an army, as the hardships they would be exposed 
 to in the winter season, when crossing the Cumberland mountains, 
 they might lose more than they could gain. Thus were affairs 
 managed. The English army returned, with the king and barons, 
 by the way they had entered Scotland, but not before they had des. 
 troyed the greater part of that country. 
 
 News was brought to the admiral of France that the English were 
 retreating homeward. They called a council to determine hov» they 
 were to act, when it was resolved that, as their provision began to fail, 
 they would return to Scotland, for they were now in a poor country, 
 having ruined all round Carlisle, and the lands of lord Clifford, lord 
 Mowbray and the bishop of Carlisle ; but the city of Carlisle they 
 could not conquer. The French said among themselves, they had 
 burnt in the bishopricks of Durham and Carlisle more than the value 
 of all the towns in the kmgdom of Scotland. The French and Scots 
 marched back the way they had come. When arrived in the low, 
 lands, they found the whole country ruined ; but the people of the 
 country made light of it, saying, that with six or eight stakes they 
 would soon have new houses, and find cattle enow for provision: 
 for the Scots had driven them for security to the forests. You must, 
 however, know, that whatever the French wanted to buy, they were 
 made to pay very dear for ; and it was fortunate the French and 
 Scots did not quarrel with each other seriously, as there were frequent 
 riots on accoun' of provision. The Scots said, the French had done 
 them more mischief than the English : and when asked, " In what 
 manner?" they replied, " by riding through their corn, oats and bar- 
 ley, on their march, which they trod under foot, not condescending 
 to follow the roads, for which damages they would have a recom. 
 pense before they left Scotland; and they should neither find ve^sei 
 nor mariner who would dare to put to sea without their permission.' 
 Many knights and squires complained of the timber they had cuf 
 down, and of the waste they had committed to lodge themselves. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXXIV. 
 
 THE SCOTS TREAT THE ADMIRAL OF FRANCE AND HIS MEN VERY HARSHLY- 
 THEY RETURN TO FRANCE. 
 
 When the admiral, with his barons, knights and sq'iires, were re. 
 turned to the neighborhood of Endinburgh, they suffered much from 
 famine, as they could scarcely procure provisions for their money. 
 They had but little wine, beer, barley, bread, or oats: their horses, 
 therefore, perished from hunger, or were ruined through fatigue; and, 
 when thev wished to dispose of them, they could not find a purchaser 
 who would give them a groat either for their horses or h.'usings 
 These lords remonstrated with their commander on the manner in 
 which they were treated, a circumstance well known to himself. 
 They said, " they could not long endure such difficulties, for Scot- 
 land was not a country to encamp in during the winter; and that, if 
 they were to remain the ensuing summer, they should soon die of 
 poverty. If they were to spread themselves over the country, to bet- 
 ter their condition, they were doubtful if the Scots, who had so viU 
 lainously treated their foragers, would not murder them in their beds, 
 when they should be divided." 
 
 The admiral, having fully weighed what they said, sav/ clearly 
 they were justified in thus remonstrating ; notwithstanding, iie had 
 intentions of wintering there, and of sending an account of his ssitii- 
 
 / 
 
354 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &e. 
 
 afion to the king of France and duke of Burgundy, who, as the admi. 
 ral imagined, would hasten to him reinforcements of stores, provision 
 and money, with which, in the course of the summer, he would be 
 enabled to carry on an advantageous war against the English. But 
 having considered how ill intentioned the Scots were, and the dan- 
 gi r his men were in, as well as himself, he gave permission for all 
 who chose to depart. But how to depart was the difficulty, for the 
 barons could not obtain any vessels for themselves and men. The 
 Scots were willing that a few poor knights who had no great com- 
 mand should leave tlie country, that they might the easier govern 
 the rest. They told the barons of France " that their dependents, 
 when they pleased, might depart, but that they themselves should 
 not quit the country until they had made satisfaction for the sums 
 that had been expended for the use of their army." 
 
 This declaration was very disagreeable to sir John Vienne and 
 the other French barons. The earls of Douglas and Moray, who 
 pretended to be exasperated at the harsh conduct of their country- 
 men, remonstrated with them, that they did not act becoming men- 
 at-arms, nor as friends to the kingdom of France, by this behavior 
 to its knights : and that henceforward no Scots knight would dare 
 to set his foot in France. These two earls, who were friendly enough 
 to the French barons, pointed out the probable effect their conduct 
 would have on their vassals ; but some replied, " Do dissemble with 
 them, for you have lost as much as we." They therefore told the 
 admiral, they could not do anything for him : and, if they were so 
 anxious about quitting Scotland, they must consent to make good 
 their damages. The admiral seeing nothing better could be done, 
 and unwilling to lose all, for he found himself very uncomfortable, 
 Burounded by the sea, and the Scots of a savage disposition, acceded 
 to their proposals,' and had proclaimed through the realm, that all 
 those whom his people had injured, and who could show just cause 
 for amends being made them, should bring them their demands to 
 the admiral of France, when they would be fully paid. This proc- 
 lamation softened the minds of the people ; and the admiral took 
 every debt on himself, declaring he would never leave the country 
 until everything were completely paid and satisfied. 
 
 Upon this many knights and squires obtained a passage to France, 
 and returned through Flanders, or wherever they could land, farn- 
 ished, and without arms or horses, cursing Scotland, and the hour 
 they had set foot there. They said they had never suffered so much 
 in any expedition, and wished the king of France would make a 
 truce with the English for two or three years, and then march to 
 Scotland and utterly destroy it: for never had they seen such wicked 
 people, nor such ignorant hypocrites and traitors. The admiral 
 wrote to the king of France and duke of Burgundy, by those who 
 first returned, a full state of his situation, and how the Scots acted 
 toward him : that if they wished to have him back, they must send 
 him the full amount he had engaged to pay the Scots, and for which 
 he had bounden himself to the knights and squires of Scotland : for 
 the Scots had declared, that they had at this time made war for the 
 king of France and not for themselves ; and that the damages which 
 the French had committed must be satisfied before they would be 
 allowed to return, which he had promised and sworn to perform to 
 the barons of Scotland. 
 
 It was incumbent on the king of France, the duke of Burgundy 
 end their councils, to redeem the admiral, for they had sent him 
 thither. They had the money instantly raised, and deposited in the 
 town of Bruges, so that the whole demand of the Scots was paid to 
 their satisfaction. The admiral left Scotland when he had thus 
 amicably settled m.itters, for othervvi:ie he could not have done it ; 
 and taking leave of the king, who was in the highlands, and of the 
 earls of D.)uglas and Moray, was attended by them to the sea-shore. 
 He embarked at Edinburgh, and having a favorable wind, landed at 
 Sluys in Flanders. Some of his knights and squires did not follow 
 the same road, as they were desirous of seeing other countries besides 
 Scotland, and went into different parts; but the greater number re- 
 turned to France, and were so poor that they knew not how to 
 remount themselves: esprcially those from Burgundy, Champagne, 
 Bar, and Lorrain, who seized the laboring horses wherever they found 
 them in the fifdds. 
 
 The young king of France, and the duke of Burgundy, feasted 
 the admiral splendidly on his return, as was but just. They made 
 many iaquiiies respecting the situation of the king and barons of 
 Scotland. He told them " the Scots would naturally incline to the 
 English, for they were jealous of foreigners ; and added, that as 
 God may help him, he would rather be count of Savoy or of Artois, 
 or so'ne such country, than king of Scotland : that he had seen the 
 whole force of that country assembled together, as the Scots had 
 assured him, but there were never more than five hundred knights 
 and squires together, and about thirty thousand other men, who 
 ■wu id be unable to withstand tiie English archers, or a thousand 
 men-at-arms." The admiral was asked, " if he had seen the Eng. 
 lisli army," He replied he had; " for when I saw the manner in 
 which the Scots fled from the English, I requested tli^y would lead 
 me tu a place whence I might see and consider them. They did so, 
 and I saw them pass through a defile, to the amount of sixty thou- 
 sand archers, and six or seven thousand men-at-arms. The Scots 
 said, ' that this was the whole strength of England, for none had 
 remained behind.' " The company pavised a little, and said, " Sixty 
 
 thousand archers and six or seven thousand men-at-arms is a great 
 force." " They may be as many as that," said the constable of 
 France ;* " but I would rather combat the whole of them in their 
 own country than one-half on this side the water, for this was the 
 doctrine my master taught me in my youth." " By my faith, con- 
 stable," replied sir John.de Vienne, " if you had been there with a 
 good command of men-at-arms and Genoese, as I proposed, and as 
 it was agreed on when I undertook this expedition, we would have 
 engaged them when in Scotland, or destroyed them from want of 
 provision." 
 
 In this manner did the constable and admiral converse, which 
 excited a great desire in the duke of Burgundy to make a powerful 
 invasion of England. We will now for a while leave them, and 
 return to the afl'airs of Flanders. 
 
 / CHAPTER CLXXV. 
 
 THE STATE OF FLANDERS. TWO HONEST BURGESLES OF RHENT NEGOTIATE 
 SECRETLY A PEACE WITH THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY, WITH THE ASSENT 
 OF FRANCIS ATREJMEN. 
 
 In truth, the duke of Burgundy had a strong desire to undertake 
 a grand expedition against England in the ensuing summer of 1386, 
 and did all he could to urge the king of France to consent to it. On 
 the other hand, the constable of France, Vy/ho in his youth had been 
 educated in England, and was a knight of gallant enterprise and 
 much beloved in France, advised it strongly, as did sir Guy de la 
 Trimouille and the admiral of France. The duke of Berry was at 
 this time in Poitou, and in the upper parts of Limousin, ignorant of 
 these councils and this intended expedition. The duke of Burgundy 
 was the greatest personage in France, next the king : he had many 
 designs, and knew that, as long as the war continued in Flanders, 
 the invasion of England could not take place : he was therefore 
 much softened, and more inclined to enter into a treaty with the town 
 of Ghent; for they had allied themselves with the king of England, 
 who had sent thither a knight, called the lord Bourchier, to advise 
 and govern them. The citizens of Ghent v. ere also desirous of 
 peace ; for they had suffered so much from the vt-ar that the richest 
 and principal persons of the town were no longer masters of their 
 property : it was at the command of a few wicked soldiers, who 
 governed them at their pleasure : the wisec-t foresaw that this could 
 not last long without their being entirely ruined. When they were 
 talking over their affairs among themselves, some wondered they had 
 been thus long kept together in unity ; but others knew that unity to 
 have been the effect of force, and more through fear than love, for 
 Peter du Bois would not desist from his wickedness, and none dared 
 before him to speak of peace or of treating : the moment he heard 
 of any one thus talking, he was instantly arrested, however respecta- 
 ble he might be, and put to death. 
 
 This war, which Ghent had carried on against its lord the earl 
 Lewis of Flanders and the duke of Burgundy, had lasted near seven 
 years ; and it would be melancholy to relate all the various unfortu- 
 nate events which it had caused. Tuiks, Saracens and Pagans 
 would have been sorrowful on hearing them, for all commerce by 
 sea was ruined. The sea-coasts frcm east to west, and all the north, 
 suffered from it ; for in truth the riches and merchandise of seven, 
 teen kingdoms were sent to Sluys, and the whole was unshipped at 
 Damme or Bruges. Now consider, that if these distant countries 
 suffered, still more bitterly must those nearer have felt it. No means 
 of peace could be imagined. It was first thought on by the grace 
 of God and divine inspiration, and by the prayers of devout people 
 to the Lord, who, at their request, opened his ears, and took pity on 
 the poor people of Flanders. 
 
 I will detail how a peace was made between them and the duke 
 of Burgundy, as minutely as I have before'relntcd the cause of the 
 war, which originated in the hatreds of Gilbert Mathew, John Lynn, 
 and their accomplices, and I shall beg you will have the goodness to 
 attend to me. At the time I am now speaking of, the lord Bourchier 
 governed the city of Ghent for the king of England, and Peter du 
 Bois assisted him in maintaining his authority, and retaining the 
 affections of the wicked. There were several prudent men that 
 were disgusted with such dissensions, and v.'ho had suffered much 
 from them : they dared not open themselves to each other but in 
 secret, for if Peter du Bois heard that any person was desirous of 
 peace, he was put to death without mercy, in like manner as he and 
 Philip von Artaveld had slain sir Symon Bete and sir Gilbert Gente, 
 and latterly, in order to frighten the town of Ghent, they had de- 
 stroyed many of the inhabitants. 
 
 When Francis Atremen had been driven from the town of Damme 
 by the king of France, who, having totally burnt and destroyed the 
 Quatre Mestiers, was returned to France, as it has been before re- 
 lated, the principal persons of Ghent supposed the king would, the 
 ensuing summer, return before that town with a very powerful army. 
 Peter du Bois and those of his party were unwilling to believe it, 
 adding, they should be very glad to see the king come thither, for 
 they had formed such strong alliances with the king of England as 
 to be certain of assistance. At this time, there were in Ghent two 
 valiant men, of good life and conversation, of moderate birth and 
 
 * Olivex de Cliwon. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 355 
 
 fortune, neitlier of the hii^hest nor of the richest, who were very 
 much vexed at this war against its natural lord the duke of Burgundy, 
 but were afraid openly to declare their sentiments, from the exam- 
 pies which had been made by Peter du Bois. One of them was a 
 mariner ; the other the most considerable butcher in the market, 
 called James d'Ardembonrg. By these two men was the business 
 first brought about. In addition to them, I must include a worthy 
 knight of Flanders, named sir John d'Elle, a prudent intelligent man, 
 who interested himself much in this affair; but, if it had not been 
 through the means of the two aforementioned persons, he would not 
 have interfered in it so happily; nor, as it may easily be believed, 
 cou'd all the knights of Flanders have succeeded. 
 
 This sir John d'Elle was much beloved by many in the town of 
 Ghent, and he went in and out at his pleasure, without being sus- 
 pected by any one. At the beginning he was afraid of talking either 
 about war or peace ; nor would he ever have done so, if it had not 
 been previously mentioned by Roger de Cremin and Jame-3 d'Ardem. 
 bourg, and I will teil you how it happened. These two were much 
 displeased at the continued troubles in Flanders, insomuch that they 
 conversed together on the subject, when Roger said to James, 
 " Whoever could interfere between this our native town of Ghent, 
 which is so much oppressed, and the duke of Burgundy our natural 
 lord, would do a deed of great charity, and acquire by it grace from 
 God and praise from men ; for the differences and confusion which 
 are so unbecoming would by this means be put an end to," 
 
 " You speak truly, Roger," replied James ; but it will be a dif- 
 ficult and dangerous thing to do, on account of Peter du Bois : no 
 one dares talk of peace from fear of him, for if he knew of it, those 
 who had meddled in the business would instantly be put to death." 
 •* What I" said Roger, " shall things then remain always as they are ? 
 There must be an end to it." " Tell me how," answered James, 
 " and I will cheerfully listen to you." Roger replied, " You are the 
 principal butcher in the market, the richest and most respected : you 
 can talk secretly and boldly with your most confidential friends and 
 brethren in trade ; and when you shall find they understand you, by 
 degrees you can draw them more forward. I, on the other hand, 
 who am a mariner, and well beloved by all such sor of people, 
 whose courage I know, and who hate the war, for they have lost 
 much by it, will remonstrate with some of them on the subject, and 
 they will induce others to incline the same way : when we shall have 
 gained over these two trades, which are numerous and powerful, the 
 other trades, and honest people who wish for peace, will join us." 
 " Very well," said James ; " I will sound my people : do you the 
 same by yours." 
 
 Each of them performed his promise ; and they discoursed so pru- 
 dently with their friends on the subject that, through the grace of 
 the Holy Spirit, James d'Ardembourg found all his brother butchers 
 well inclined to his way of thinking. Roger, on the other hand, 
 with his eloquence, brought the mariners, who were anxious to re- 
 gain the pilotage they had been so long deprived of, to the same 
 opinion. When these two honest men were conversing on the busi- 
 ness, and had shown how desirous they had found their people to 
 obtain peace, they said, " We want a proper person to represent our 
 situation tj the duke of Burgundy," and instantly thought of sir 
 John d'Elle, on whom they determined to call, as he was then in the 
 town. This they did, and loyally told him their whole secret, say- 
 ing, " Sir John, we have so eflfectually worked on our brethren of 
 the trade, they are all eager for peace ; but on condition that my lord 
 of Burgundy will engage to pardon every one, and keep to us our 
 ancient privileges, for which we can show sealed charters." Sir 
 John replied, " You say well, and I will cheerfully negotiate the 
 matter between you," 
 
 The knight waited on the duke of Burgundy, who at the time was 
 in France with the king, and related to him all he had heard. He 
 demonstrated so well the advantages of the business, that the duke 
 willingly listened to his proposals. In truth, he was desirous of 
 peace with Ghent, on account of the intended expedition which he 
 wished the king to make against England. His own council advised 
 it, as did sir Guy de la Trimouille, sir John de Vienne, and also the 
 constable of France and the lord de Coucy. He therefore told the 
 knight he would assent to the terms proposed, and that he might re- 
 turn with his answer to those who had sent him. The duke inquired 
 if Fr incis Atremen had been present when this matter was brought 
 forward : he said, '* No, my lord : he is governor of the castle of 
 Gaure ; and I know not if those who have sent me would like he 
 should be made acquainted with the business." " Tell them," an- 
 swered the duke, " to speak to him boldly on the subject : he will 
 not do anything in opposition, for I understand he most earnestly 
 wishes to make his peace with me." The knight returned to Ghent 
 with this good news, with which they were well pleased. He then 
 went to the castle of Gaure to Francis Atremen, when he opened 
 the whole matter to him, but under secrecy. Francis, having 
 raused a little, replied gayly, " Since my lord of Burgundy is will- 
 ing to pardon everything, and to secure tj the town of Ghent its 
 privileges, I will no longer be a rebel, but endeavor by all means to 
 obtain my peace." 
 
 The knight left Francis Atremen in Gaure, and returned to the 
 duke of Burgundy in France with the account how matters stood. 
 The duke heard him with pleasure, and wrote very amicable letters 
 
 to those of Ghent, sealed with his seal, and on this issue of tiie treatj 
 the knight went back to Flanders and to Ghent, but he did not carry 
 thither his letters : he, however, gave such assurances to Roger 
 Cremin and James d'Ardembourg that he had them to produce, as 
 to lead them to consider the aftair as good as conciudc i. I\ow, 
 consider what great peril these men and the kniglit were in ; for, if 
 the lord Bourchier or Peter du Bois had knov\u cf it, their lives 
 would have paid the forfeit. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXXVI. 
 
 THE TWO CITiraNS FIX ON A DAY TO ASSEMBLE THEIR FRIENDS, TO AC- 
 COMPLISH THEIR FLAX. ALL GHENT ARE UNANIMOUS FOR PEACE, 
 NOTWITHSTANDING THE ATTEMPTS TO PREVENT IT UY THE GOVERNOR 
 FOR THE KING OF ENGLAND AND PETER DU UOIS. 
 
 Roger Crejviin and James d'Ardembourg, by whom the whole 
 business was managed, said to sir John d'Elle : " Come /lither on 
 Thursday morning exactly at nine o'clock, and bring ny lord of 
 Burgundy's letters with you ; we will show them, if wt, succeed in 
 our intentions, to the commonalty of Ghent, and have them publicly 
 read ; by which means they will put greater confidence in thein, for, 
 at the time we mention, we shall be masters of the tov/n, or dead 
 men." Sir John replied, he would do as they had said ; vv^hen their 
 council broke up, and sir John left the town to consider how he was 
 to act. These two citizens were very active to complete their plans, 
 and constantly busy with their principal i-upporters, the deans of 
 guilds. By their assiduity,- they had gsiued over the greater number 
 of the populace ; and it was ordered, at eight o'clock on Thursday, 
 they should quit their houses, the banner of Flanders displayed be. 
 fore them, and shout, " Flanders for the Lion I the lord of the coun. 
 try grants peace to the good town of Ghent, and pardon to all evil, 
 minded persons." 
 
 This business could not be carried on so secretly but that Pctet du 
 Bois knew of it : the moment he had the information, he went to the 
 lord Bourchier, who was governor-in-chief for the king of England, 
 and said to him : " My lord, Roger Cremin and James d'Ardem. 
 bourg intend assembling the inhabitants to-morrow morning, at eight 
 o'clock, in the market-place, with the banner of Flanders in their 
 hands, and are to shout out through the streets, ' Flanders for the 
 Lion ! the lord of the country grants peace arid pardon to the good 
 town of Ghent for all misdemeanors.' V/hat are we now to do? 
 The king of England will no longer be obeyed in this town, if we 
 be not beforehand with them, and diive them out of our territories," 
 " How shall we do this?" replied the lord Bourchier. Peter said, 
 *' We must assemble all our people to-morrow morning in the town- 
 house, when, after we have armed them, we will march through the 
 town, crying out also, ' Flanders for the Lion 1 the king of England 
 for the country, and lord of the town of Ghent.' When we have got 
 to the market-place, those who are our friends will join us, and then 
 we will kill all traitors and rebels." "Be it so," answered lord 
 Bourchier : " you have well imagined it, and it shall be done." 
 
 God was wondrous kind to these two honest citizens ; for they 
 had intelligence given them of the arrangement just mentioned. On 
 hearing it, they v/ere not dismayed, but in the evening visited their 
 friends the deacons, and said to them, " We had fixed to be in the 
 market-place to-morrow at eight, but we now must change it to sever; 
 o'clock." This they did to break the measures of Peter du Bcis, 
 who was on the watch with forty ethers, and all agreed to change 
 the hour. On Thursday morning, the lord Bourchier, with sixty of-, 
 his men, went to the town- house. Peter du Bois came thither with 
 his forty, when they all armed and put themselves in good array, 
 
 Roger Cremin and James d'Ardembourg assembled their friends 
 at the place they had fi.\ed on, when the greater part of those who 
 had been deans of guilds joined them. They then displayed the 
 banner of the earl, began iheir march through the to\vn, shouting 
 the cry before-mentioned. Those that heard it, and savv the dea. 
 cons of their trades and the banner of the earl, mixed witli their com- 
 panions and followed the banner as fast as possible. They arrived 
 at the market-plp«^e on the point of seven o'clock, where having 
 halted, and placed the banner of the earl before them, they were 
 continually jt'iHed by crowds of people, who drew up among them 
 
 News wds carried to lord Bourchier and Peter du Bois, who were 
 in the town-house nmsteiing their men, that Roger Cremin and 
 James d'Ardembourg had taken possession of the market-place. 
 On hearing this, they marched out with the banner of England dis. 
 played ; and, as they advanced, they shouted their cry. In this 
 manner they arrived in the market-place, and drew up opposite to 
 the others, waiting for more to join them ; but veiy few did so, for 
 they went to those who had the earl's banner, insomuch that Roger 
 and James had eighty from every hundred men w^ho came thither. 
 The market-place was full of men-at-arm.s, who kept silent, eyeing 
 each other. Peter du Bois was thunderstnick when he perceived 
 that the deans of guilds, with their men, had united with Roger 
 Cremin and James d'Ardembourg, and began to fear for his life ; for 
 he saw that those who had been used to follow liim now avoided 
 him. He therefore quietly got out of the crowd, and went to hide 
 himself for fear of being killed. 
 Rotter Cremin and James d'Ardembourg finding, from appearances^ 
 
356 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN. &c, 
 
 ihat aliuost all the inhabitants had put themselves under their banner, 
 were much rejoiced, and with reason, for they then well knew things 
 were in a good train, and that the people would keep peace with 
 ■:heir lord. They advanced, with a large detachment of their men, 
 leaving the main body behind, with the banner of Flanders carried 
 ..•cfore tJiem, toward the lord Bourchier and the English, who did not 
 t'link their lives very secure. Roger halted opposite to lord Bourchier, 
 i-ad said, " What have you done with Peter du Bois? We wish lo 
 i. now your intentions, and whether you are friends or enemies?" 
 'Vhe knight replied, that he imagined Peter du Bois was there ; but, 
 when he found he was gone, said, " I know not what is become of 
 him : I thought he had been with me : for my part, I shall be steady 
 to the king of England, who is my right natural lord, and who has 
 sent me hither at your own entreaties, if you will be pleased to re- 
 member it." " That is true," they answered ; " for if the good town 
 of Ghent had not sent for you, we would have put you to death ; but 
 in honor to the king of England, who has ordered you hither at our 
 request, neither you nor your men shall run the smallest risk. We 
 will save you from all danger, and conduct you, or have you con. 
 ducted, as far as the town of Calais. Retire now, therefore, peace- 
 ably to your houses, without stirring thence for anything you may 
 see cj hear, as we are determined to have for our lord the duke of 
 Burgundy, and no longer to carry on the war." The knight was 
 much pleased with this speech, and said, My fair sirs and good 
 friends, since it may not be otherwise, God assist you ! and I thank 
 you for the offers you make me." 
 
 CHAPTER CLXXVII. 
 sm. JOHN d'elle bkings letters patent of peace and pardon to the 
 
 MEN OF GHENT, FROM THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY. THIS PEACE IS CON- 
 - FIRMED AT TOURNAY BY OTHER LETTERS PATENT ON EACH SIDE. 
 
 The lord Bourchier and his men quietly left the market-place, and 
 those of Ghent who had been with him, slily slipt away to hide them- 
 selves, or mixed with the others, under their banner. Shortly after- 
 wards, sir John d'Elle entered the town and rode to the market-place, 
 bringing with him letters patent, couched in fair language, and prop- 
 erly sealed, from the duke of Burgundy to the town of Ghent, which 
 were publicly read and shown to all, and gave universal satisfaction. 
 Francis Atremen was ^ow sent for from the castle of Gaure, who 
 instantly came, and agreed to the whole of the treaty, saying, " It 
 was well done." 
 
 Sir John d'Elle now returned to the duke of Burgundy, who was 
 with his duchess at Arras : he related to him all that had passed at 
 Ghent ; that Peter du Bois had lost all power there, and would prob- 
 ably have been killed had he been found ; that Francis Atremen had 
 behaved gallantly and loyally in respect to the peace. The duke 
 was much pleased with ail this, and signed a truce to last until the 
 first day of January ; and ordered a day to be fixed on, in the mean 
 tinie, for conferences to be holden at Tournay, to confirm the peace. 
 With these papers properly sealed and signed, the knight returned 
 to Ghent ; which gave such joy to every one, as plainly showed 
 peace was the unanimous wish. 
 
 ^ The lord Bourchier, the English, and Peter du Bois, still remained 
 in Ghent, but nothing was done against them. Peter du Bois con- 
 tinued in peace, because h« had sworn he would never more inter- 
 fere in any war with the good people of Ghent against their lord the 
 duke of Burgundy. He was, however, much assisted in this peril 
 by Francis Atremen, who had spoken handsomely for him to the in- 
 habitants ; and for this reason Peter remained unmolested : besides, 
 they knew that Peter had only held similar opinions to their own, 
 and that he was a good and loyal captain. During the truce which 
 had been made between the duke of Burgundy and the town of 
 Ghent, they elected those who were to attend the conference at 
 Tournay. Francis Atremen was chosen as principal, because he 
 was well mannered, of good dispositions, and acquainted with the 
 lords he was to treat with : Roger Cremin and James d'Aidembourg 
 were elected with him. They arrived at Tournay during the octave 
 of St. Andrew, escorted by fifty horse, and lodged altogether at the 
 Salmon Inn, in the street of St. Brice. 
 
 The duke and duchess of Burgundy, with madame de Nevers, 
 their daughter, came thither on the fifth day of December, and en- 
 tered Tournay by the gate of Lille. The Ghent men instantly rode 
 out to meet them on handsome horses : they did not dismount, but, 
 bareheaded, saluted the duke and the ladies. The duke passed 
 hastily through the town, to meet the duchess of Brabant, who came 
 that same day, and entered it by the Mechlin gate : she was lodged 
 at the bishop's palace. The conferences now began, relative to the 
 treaty which the duke had granted to Ghent. Sir John d'Elle at- 
 tnnded them, as he had, with much difficulty, brought this business 
 to an end between the two parties. At last, at the entreaties of the 
 du( hess of Burgundy and madame de Nevers, the duke pardoned 
 everything ; and peace was proclaimed, after it had been drawn out 
 and sealed by both parties, in manner following. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXXVIII. 
 
 THE TREATY OF PEACE BETWEEN DUKE PHILIP OF BLTIGUNDT, EARf, OP 
 FLANDERS, IN RIGHT OF HIS WIFE, AND THE TOWN OF GHENT AND ITS 
 ALLIES. 
 
 Philip of France, duke of Burgundy, earl of Flanders and Ar. 
 tois, palatine of Burgundy, lord of Salins, count of Rethel, and lord 
 of Mechlin, with Margaret, duchess and countess of the countriee 
 aforesaid, to all to whom these presents shall come, greeting : be it 
 known, that our well-beloved subjects, the sheriffs, deacons, council 
 and commonalty, of our good town of Ghent, having humbly suppli- 
 cated our lord, the king, and us, to have mercy upon them, and that 
 our said lord, together with us, having had compassion on them, by 
 other letters than these present, and lor the reasons contained in 
 them, have pardoned and forgiven all misdemeanors and offences 
 committed by them, our subjects of Ghent; and have fully confirmed 
 all the said customs, privileges, and franchises, provided they place 
 themselves wholly under the obedience of our said lord and us. 
 Which grace and pardon the aforesaid subjects of Ghent and their 
 allies have very humbly received from our said lord and us, by their 
 letters and embassadors, which they have sent to our said lord and 
 us, being at Tournay, and have renounced all wars nnd disputes, 
 being returned most heartily to their obedience to the said lord and 
 us, promising henceforward to be good friends and loyal subjects to 
 our said lord the king, as to their sovereign lord, and to us as their 
 natural lord, in right of Margaret, our wife, being their natural lady 
 and heiress. For which cause, our said lord and ourselves have re- 
 ceived our said subjects of Ghent and their allies into our favor, and 
 have granted them letters of remission for all offences, singly and 
 absolutely, with the restitution of all their franchises and privileges, 
 as will be more fully apparent in these our letters. After v.^hich 
 grace and remission, our said subjects of our good town of Ghent, 
 having made several supplications which we have received, and have 
 had maturely considered by our council, and they, according with 
 the common good of the country, in order to put a final end to all 
 dissensions, from our love and favor to our good subjects, have or- 
 dered as follows, in regard to these said supplications : 
 
 First, with regard to their request, that we would confirm the privi- 
 leges of Courtray, Oudenarde, Grammont, Meule, Dendremonde, 
 Russelmonde, Alost, Ath, Breuilles, Deynse, and the jurisdictions 
 of these towns in the low countries. We order the inhabitants of 
 these said towns to wait on us with their said privileges ; and, after 
 examination of them by our council, we will so act, that our subjects 
 of Ghent, and the other good towns, shall be satisfied therewith : and 
 should any of the said privileges be lost or accidentally destroyed, 
 after strict inquiry made on the subject, we will provide accordingly 
 as it has been before mentioned. 
 
 Item — as to their request concerning commerce, we consent that 
 it have free course through our country of Flanders, on paying the 
 usual duties. 
 
 Item — should any of their friends or allies be hereafter arrested 
 in any foreign country, on account of the late disturbances, we will 
 have them sent home in safety. We likewise consent, that if any 
 of them be thus arrested, we will assist and defend them to the utmost 
 of our power, as good lords should do to loyal subject?. 
 
 Item — we are willing that all prisoners of their party, supposing 
 them to have agreed for their ransom, shall have their liberty, on 
 paying the stipulated sum and other reasonable expenses ; provided, 
 however, that if any of the said prisoners, their relations or friends, 
 hold any fortresses against us, such be first given up : and on like 
 terms shall those attached to us, and confined by our subjects cf 
 ' Ghent or their allies, be set at liberty. 
 
 i Item — out of our abundant goodness we have ordered, and by 
 these presents do order, that all those who may have been banished 
 from our good towns of Bruges, Ypres, or other places, on account 
 of these dissensions, as well as those who may have been banished 
 by law and justice from our good town of Ghent, or who may have 
 voluntarily absented themselves, be restored, so that they may return 
 to the said towns and reside ; provided, those who have held for the 
 party of Ghent be in like manner restored to their different towns or 
 country, and when they reenter the towns to which they are restored, 
 they make oath before our officers in the town of Ghent, and swear 
 to keep the peace in such towns, and not commit any damage either 
 in a public or private manner on any of the inhabitants. In the like 
 manner will those swear who reenter Ghent. 
 
 Item — all those who may return to our town of Ghent, with their 
 allies and other inhabitants, will be obedient to our said lord and to 
 Us, and will promptly put themselves under our obedience. With 
 regard to those who may now be absent, they shall be restored, in 
 time hereafter to be specified, to their fiefs, houses, lands, and inher- 
 itances, in whatever place they may be, notwitlistanding any mischiefs 
 they may have done during, and on account of these disturbances, 
 in as full a manner as they enjoyed them previous to that period. 
 
 Item — should any of the inhabitants of the said town of Ghent, or 
 their allies, be in Brabant, Hainault, Holland, Zealand, Cambresis, 
 or in the bishopric of Liege, and should they, within two months 
 after the publication of this peace, put themselves under the obedi. 
 ence of our said lord and us, and furthermore, take such oaths aa 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, & c 
 
 357 
 
 shall be hereafter declared before us, or before those whom we may 
 appoint to receive them, they shall fully enjoy all the before-men- 
 tinned pardons and graces. And those who may be in England, 
 Frizeland, or Germany, should they, within four months as aforesaid, 
 pAit themselves under our obedience, they shall enjoy the like privi- 
 iv^es. If such as may be beyond sea at Rome, or at St. Jago de 
 C<^mpostella, should, within one year from the publication of the 
 peace, without fraud, take the oaths aforesaid, they shall enjoy the 
 same privileges, and in like manner all those banished by judgment 
 6f law, or such persons as may have voluntarily absented themselves 
 on account of the dissensions, shall be restored to their fiefs, houses, 
 lands, and inheritances, according to their several claims. 
 
 Ghent.— The old Mansion de Ville. From an Original Drawing. 
 
 Item — if any one act contrary to these our orders, and injure thotc 
 of Ghent, under pretence of taking our part, for what may have 
 passed during the late disturbances, such offence shall be brought 
 before the lord, and the courts to which it may belong ; and eu.-Ii 
 criminal act shall be punished by corporal punishment and confis; a- 
 lion of goods, as shall in like manner the offences of their accom 
 plices, abettors, and those who may attempt to conceal them, after 
 having been convicted of infringing the peace, as well by the justice 
 of our officers or of other lords, as by the laws of the country to 
 whose jurisdiction it may more immediately appertain : a reasonatile 
 satisfaction shall be made to the injured party, from the criminal's 
 effects, and the surplus shall be paid to us, or to whatever lord lias 
 
 the right to it, saving the 
 privileges of the towns. 
 
 Item — should any of the 
 citizens of our said towfi of 
 Ghent be banished from the 
 said town for fraction of the 
 peace ; and supposing that 
 prior to this peace, by the 
 privileges of the town, their 
 effects could not be confis. 
 cated ; nevertheless, for the 
 better preserving this peace, 
 they shall, for such cause, be 
 confiscated, and from such 
 effects shall reparation be 
 made to the party injured, 
 as has been before stated, 
 and the residue revert to their 
 legal heirs, just as if such 
 persons were deceased, sav- 
 ing in all other respects the 
 pjivileges of our good town 
 of Ghent: and if such wicked 
 persons cannot be arrested, 
 so as to suffer corporal pun. 
 ishment, their effects shall be 
 confiscated as aforesaid. 
 
 Item — if any abusive lan- 
 guage shall be uttered, and 
 come to the ears of any of 
 our civil officers, against this 
 our order, we will that the 
 person uttering such be pun. 
 ishcd by arbitrary fine, bo as 
 to serve for an example to 
 others, by the legal judges 
 of such places before whom 
 
 Item — with regard to moveable property, which may have been ' he or they shall have been brought, saving the franchises and privi. 
 
 taken on both sides, no restitutions be made, but each party remain 
 acquitted to each other; unless, indeed, restitutions be made to dis. 
 charge the consciences of those who may have taken such things. 
 
 Item — those now in possession of the houses which are to be re- 
 stored, as well on one side as on the other, shall not carry away any 
 fixture whatever; and such houses shall be restored with all "their 
 appurtenances and rents which may then be due ; and henceforward 
 all rents and profits shall be ccUected peaceably by those to whom 
 they legally belong. 
 
 Item — it having been reported to us, that some of our subjects of 
 Ghent or their allies, have done homage for fiefs which they hold to 
 other Lrds than those to whum they legally appertain, and by such 
 means have forfeited their fiefs, notwithstanding which, we will, out 
 of our grace, that such fiefs remain to them, on performing homage 
 to us, for what had been ours, and of our vassals holding from us ; 
 and we acknowledge, out of our especial favor, any leases or recog. 
 nizances as legal between the present parties. 
 
 Item— our said subjects of Ghent, the sheriff-', deacons, council, 
 commonalty, and their allies, by our orders, and their own free will, 
 having renounced all alliances, oaths, obligations, act?, and homages, 
 which they, or any of them, may have done to the king of England, 
 to his commissioners, deputies, or officers, or to others who may not 
 be in the good pleasure of our said lord or of us, do now make oath 
 that from heceforward they will be good and loyal subjects to our 
 said lord, and to his succes.sors, the kings of France, as well as to 
 us ; and will perform such services to us and to our successors, as 
 good and loyal subjects are bounden to do to their lord or lady, to 
 deiend their persons, honor, inheritances, and rights, and prevent all 
 who may endeavor to invade them, by giving direct information to 
 our officer?, saving always their own rights and privileges. 
 
 Item — that our subjects of our good town of Ghent may remain 
 always in peace, and under the obedience of our said lord the king 
 and us, as well as of our heirs, the earls of Flanders our successors, 
 and that all disturbances which may in future arise be prevented, 
 we will that all these aforesaid articles be strictly maintained without 
 any infringement. And we forbid our subjects, however ill they 
 may have acted toward us in the late dissensions, to venture in any 
 way, either directly or indirectly, by word or deed, to offer any injury, 
 by reproaches or insults, to the aforesaid men of Ghent. 
 
 eges of those places. 
 
 Item — if any churchman be guilty of any acts against the said 
 peace, let him be transferred to his ordinary, to be punished as an 
 infringer of the peace, according as the case may require. 
 
 Item — this same peace shall be publicly proclaimed and published 
 in the said town of Ghent, and in all our other towns in Flanders. 
 
 Item — should any doubts or obscurity appear on the face of the said 
 articles of peace, we declare, and will order our council to declare, 
 that such doubts and obscurities, should any such arise, shall be in- 
 terpreted and explained in such manner as shall give satisfaction to 
 the complainant?. 
 
 And we, the deans and commonalty of the town of Ghent, do by 
 these presents accept for ourselves and for our allies these acts of 
 clemency, pardon and grace done to ut, by king Charles, our lord 
 paramount, and by the aforesaid duke and duchess, earl and countess 
 of Flanders, our lawful and natural lords : and we tliank them, from 
 the bottom of our hearts, for these said graces and pardons. We also 
 swear obedience, as good and loyal subjects should do, to them.- and 
 will guard, to the utmost of our power, their persons and honor. 
 
 In testimony of which, we the duke and duchess aforesaid have 
 had our seals put to these letters ; and we the ?heriff£, deacons and 
 commonalty of the town of Ghent have also affixed the seal of the 
 town. 
 
 In addition to which, we the duke and duchess aforesaid have 
 entreated and do entreat our very dear and well-beloved aunt the 
 duchess of Luxembourg and Brabant, and our very dear and well, 
 beloved brother duke Albert of Bavaria. And we also, the sheriffs, 
 deacons, and commonalty of Ghent, entreat the very powerful and 
 puissant princess the lady duchess of Luxembourg and Brabant, and 
 the high and puissant prince duke Albert aforesaid. And also v. t 
 the duke and duchess of Burgundy, and we the sheriffs, council, and 
 commonalty of Ghent, entreat the barons and nobles of the country 
 of Flanders, hereafter named, from the good towns of Bruge?, Ypres, 
 the Franconate, Mechlin, and Antwerp, fjr the security of the peace, 
 and assurance of the truth of the above-mentioned articles, to affix 
 their own seals, and the seals of the different towns, to these presents. 
 
 And we Jane, by the grace of God duchess of Luxembourg, Bra. 
 bant, and Limbourg; and we duke Albert of Bavaria, bailiff, regent, 
 and heir to the countries of Hainault, Holland, Zealand, and lordsUp 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 358 
 
 of Fi izeland: we William, eldest son to the eurl of Nainur and lord 
 of Sliiys ; Hugh, lord d'Antoing and warden of Ghentj John, lord de 
 Giii; idles and do ilarucs, Henry de Bruges, lord de Dixmude and 
 de Havre, John, lord de Gonuseberge and de la Jentoise, Arnold de 
 Jouae, lord d'Est;)i:niay, Philip, lord d'Axalle, Louis de la Hasle, has. 
 t;irJ of Flanderc, Girard de Rasenhen, lord de Baserode, Walter, lord 
 Ap Hnlun, Philip de Hamur, lord d'Eque, John Villain, lord de St. Jean 
 d'Otitrr, warden of Ypres, Lewi?, lord de Lambres knight: and we 
 the burgomasters, with the sheriffs of the towns of Bruges and Ypres: 
 wo Philip do Redehen and de Montferrant, sheriffs : Montfranc de 
 Montamnr Imight, sheriff of the Franconate, in the name of that ter- 
 rifory, which has no common seal : and we, the council of the towns 
 of Mechlin and Antwerp — have at the aforesaid request, for the good 
 of the peace, and for the greater security and truth of all the fore- 
 mentuned articles, and every one of them, caused to be affixed our 
 seals and the seals of the aforesaid towns to these presents. Ex- 
 ccuted at Tournay the 18th day of December, in the year of grace 
 1385. 
 
 CHAPTER CLXXIX. 
 
 PETER DU BOIS, AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE PEACE, RETIRES T6 ENG. 
 LAND WITH THE LORD BOURCHIER, GOVERNOR OF GHENT. 
 
 When ail these ordinances and treaties of peace had been en- 
 grossed and sealed, they were published before the parties : the duke 
 of Burgundy had one part, and the deputies from Ghent the other. 
 Frajicis Atremen and the deputation with him most humbly took 
 leave of the du'.e and duchess of Burgundy, and of the duchess of 
 Brabant, thanking them repeatedly, and offering their services to 
 them for ever The good lady of Brabant returned their thanks, and 
 kindly entr*:ated them firmly to maintain the peace, and induce oth- 
 ers to do the same, and desired them never to rebel against their 
 lord and iady, for they had seen with how much difficulty peace had 
 now been brought about. They thanked her heartily, and the con- 
 ference broke up, and each retired to his home. 
 
 The duke and duchess of Burgundy went to Lille, where they staid 
 some time, and the deputation returned to Ghent. When Peter du 
 Bois saw peace so firmly established that there was not a possibility 
 of any future disturbance or rebellion, he was greatly cast down : he 
 doubted whether tJ remain in Ghent, considering that now every- 
 thing had been pardoned under the seal of the duke, so that none 
 were afraid, or whether to accompany the lord Bourchier and the 
 English to England. Having paid due attention to all circumstan- 
 ces, he did nut think he could venture to trust himself in Ghent. 
 Tiue it is, that Francis Atremen, when he mentioned his intentions 
 of quitting Ghent, said, "Peter, everything is pardoned; and you 
 know, by the treaties made and sealed with my lord of Burgundy, 
 that no one can suffer for what has passed." " Francis," replied 
 Peter, " real pardons do not always lie in letters patent: one may 
 pardon by word of mouth, and give letters to the same effect, but 
 hatred may still lie in the heart. I am but a man of low birth, and 
 little consequence in the town of Ghent, and yet have done ail in my 
 power lo maintain iis rights and privileges. Do you think, that in 
 two or ihree years hence, the people will remember it ? There are 
 persons of high birth in the town ; Gilbert Matthew and his brethren, 
 who were enemies to my master John Lyon, will return, and will 
 never view me but with evil eyes ; as will also the relations of sir 
 Gilbert Gente and sir Symon Beie, who were slain by me: never 
 can I trust myself safely in this town. And will you venture to re- 
 main among such traitors, who have broken their faith with tlie king 
 of England ? I swear, that you yourself will in the end suffer." "I 
 know not what may happen," answered Francis; "but I have such 
 faith in the treaty, and in the promises of my lord and lady of Bur- 
 gundy, that I shall certainly stay here."* 
 
 Peter du Bois made a supplication to the sheriffs, deacons, coun- 
 cil, and governors of Ghent, saying, "My fair gentlemen, I have 
 served the good town of Ghent to the very utmost of my power : 
 many times iiave I hazarded my life for it : and for all these services 
 the only reward I ask is, that you would have me and mine; my wife 
 and children, escorted in safety with the lord Bourchier, whom you 
 have ordered to England." Those present unanimously complied 
 with his wish; and I must say, that Roger Cremin and James d'Ar- 
 dembourg, by whom the peace had been made, were more glad than 
 sorry at his departure ; as were likewise the principal persons in 
 Ghent, who wished peace and love to all. Peter du Bois made his 
 preparation.'?, and left Ghent in company with lord Bourchier and the 
 English, carrying with him his whole fortune ; for, in truth, he was 
 well provided with gold, silver, and jewels. Sir John d'Elle escorted 
 them, under a passport from the duke of Burgundy, as far as the town 
 of Calais, and then returned to Ghent. The lord Bourchier and Pe- 
 ter du Bois made f.s much haste as possible to England, where he 
 was presented to the king and his uncles, to whom he related every- 
 thing which had happened in the affairs of Ghent, and the means by 
 which peace had been concluded with the duke of Burgundy. The 
 king, the duke of Lancaster, and his brothers entertained him hand- 
 Bomely, and were well pleased that he had come to them. The king 
 retained him in his service, and instantly gave him one hundred 
 
 * Atiemeo was afterwards ossoainatcd. 
 
 marcs yearly revenue, assigned on the wool.staple of London. Thuj 
 did Peter du Bois remain in England, and the good town of Ghent 
 in peace. Roger Cremin was appointed deacon of the pilots of 
 Ghent, which is a most profitable office when commerce is uninter 
 ruptcd; and James d'Ardembourg was made deacon of the small 
 crafts, which is likewise an office of great trust in the town of Ghent. 
 
 Although the present edition is rtivided into two volumes only, such beiii^ the moet 
 convenient iiirant'ement of tlie wcirk in its present form, yet the importance of retaining 
 the original divisrions of" tlie Author has not been lost sight of, and they hiive rircordingly 
 been preserved. Froissart produced eacli of iiis volumes at some considerable int.ervij 
 from the preceding. " When," says M. de St. Palaye in his life of our author, "our 
 liistorinn tinislied one of tJip parts of his History, he brought it down to the time when 
 he was writin;; ; and towtird the end he related the events jis they were passing ; from 
 when(5e it huppens, as it seems to me, that there is much coTifusion, often oniisi-ions and 
 mistakes, which he has been obliged to correct or alter in the following parts." This 
 is exemplitied in tlie third volume, which was not begun until 1290, two ye.irs after Uie 
 completion of the second ; in it he returns to events which had happened since loS2, and 
 gives a fuller account of them from the more correct i/iformation he had subsequently 
 chtuined. It would cause still greater confusion if the separate accounts were com- 
 Dined in an undistinguished train of chapters, and the cause of such repetitions was 
 thus left witliout explanation. The third volume, which was finished in tiie year 
 J392, was written by the order and at the expense of the celebrated Gaston PJicebus 
 Count de Blois, at whose court Sir John Froissart was then resident.— Ed. 
 
 end of the second VOLUME OF THE CHRONICLES OF SIR JOHN FROISSART- 
 
 THIRD VOLUME 
 
 OF THE 
 
 CHRONICLES OF SIR JOHN FROISSART- 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 FROISSART GIVES HIS REASONS FOR VISITING THE COUNT DF. FOIX. 
 
 I HAVE been a considerable time without speaking of the affairs 
 of distant countries. Those nearer home were at the moment so 
 fresh in my memory, and so much more agreeable, that I have de- 
 layed mentioning others. Such valiant men, however, as were 
 desirous of advancing themselves, whether in Castille, Portugal, 
 Gascony, Rouergue, Quercy, Limousin, or in Bigorre, did not re- 
 main idle, but employed themselves underhand against each other, 
 in the wish to perform deeds of arms that might surprise and con. 
 quer towns, castles, or fortresses. And for this reason, I, sir John 
 Froissart, having undertaken to indite and chronicle this history at 
 the request and pleasure of that high and renowned prince, Guy de 
 Chatillon, count of Blois, lord of Avesnes, Beauvois, Estonnehonne, 
 de la Geude, my good and sovereign master and lord, considered in 
 myself that grand deeds of arms would not fall out for a long space 
 of time in the marches of Picardy and the country of Flanders, 
 since there was peace in those parts ; and it was very tiresome to nie 
 to be idle, for I well know, that when the time shall come, when \ 
 shall be dead and rotten, this grand and noble history will be in much 
 fashion, and all noble and valiant persons will take pleasuie in it, and 
 gain from it augmentation of profit. And moreover, since I had, God 
 be thanked, sense and memory, and a good collection of all past 
 things, with a clear tmderstinding to conceive all the facts of which 
 I should be informed, touching my principal matters, and since I was 
 of an age and constitution of body well fit to encounter difficulties, 
 I determined not to delay pursuing my subject. And in order to 
 know the truth of distant transactions, without sending upon the 
 inquiry any other in place of myself, I took an opportunity of visiting 
 that high and redoubted prince Gaston Phoebus, count de Fcix and 
 de Beam ; for I well knew, that if 1 were so fortunate as to be 
 admitted into his household, and to remain there in quiet, I could 
 not choose a situation more proper to learn the truth of every event, 
 as numbers of foreign knights and squires assembled there from all 
 countries, attracted by his high birth and gentility. It fell out just 
 as I had imagined. 
 
 I told this my intention to my very renowned lord the count de 
 Blois, and also the journey I wished to undertake, who gave me let- 
 ters of recommendation to the count de Foix. I began my journey, 
 inquiring on all sides for news, and, through the grace of God, con- 
 tinued it, without peril or hurt, until I arrived v.X the count's resi. 
 dence, at Orthes in Beam, on St. Catherine's day in the year of grace 
 1388. The count de Foix, as soon as he saw me, gave me a hearty 
 welcome, adding, with a smile and in good French, that he was 
 well acquainted with me, though he had never seen me before, but 
 he had frequently heard me spoken of. He retained me in his 
 household, and by means of the letters which I had brought, gave 
 me full liberty to act as I pleased as long as I should wish to remain 
 with him. I there learnt the greater part of those events wiiich hau 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 359 
 
 happened in the kingdoms of Castille, Portugal, Navarre, Arragon, 
 even in England, in the Bourbonnois, and everything concerning the 
 whole of Gascony : he himself, when I put any question to him, 
 answered it inost readi'y, saying, that the history I was employed on 
 would in times to come be more sought after than any other ; " be- 
 cause," added he, " my fair sir, more gallant deeds of arms have 
 been performed within these last fifty years, and more wonderful 
 tilings have happened, than for three hundred years before." 
 
 Feoissart at the Court of the Count dk Foix.— From a MS. Froisiart of the 15th Century. 
 
 1 was thus received by the count de Foix in his hotel, and enter- 
 tained according to my pleasure. My wish was to inquire after news 
 relative to my history, and I had at my option, barons, knights, and 
 squires, who gave me information, as well as the gallant count de 
 Foix himself. I will therefore illustrate, in good language, all I there 
 learnt, to add to my materials, and to give examples to those wor- 
 thies who wish to advance themselves in renown. If I have hereto, 
 fore dwelt on gallant deeds, attacks and captures, of castles, towns, 
 and forts, on hard-fought battles and skirmishes, many more will now 
 ensue ; all of which, by God's grace, I will truly narrate. 
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 ▲ SHOUT REPETITION OF WHAT IS CONTAINED IN SOME OF THE PRECEDING 
 CHAPTERS, FOR THE BETTER UNDERSTANDING THE HISTORY OF THE WAR 
 BETWEEN KING JOHN OF CASTILLE AND THE BASTARD OF PORTUGAL, 
 BROTHER TO THE LATE KING DON FERNANDO. 
 
 You have before seen in this history,* that Edmund earl of Cam- 
 bridge, son of the late king of England, had departed from Portugal, 
 and embarked with his army at Lisbon, notwithstanding he had be- 
 trothed his son .Tohn to the lady Beatrice, daughter of don Fernando 
 king of Portugal. The earl was discontented with Fernando, because 
 he had remained for fifteen days encamped with his army before 
 king John of Castille, without any engagement, and had entered into 
 a treaty with the Castillians agaiast his opinion. This had greatly 
 displeased him ; and, when the treaty was negotiating, he thus spoke : 
 *' Sir king, tike good heed what you do ; for we are not come into 
 this country to eat, drink, and to rob, but to make war on this son of 
 a bastard who calls himself king of Castille and count of Transta- 
 mare, Vj conquer our lawful inheritance, which this John de Trans- 
 tamare holds and possesses. You well know, that by marriage with 
 t'.ie heiresses of the kingdom of Castille, daughters of don Pedro, who 
 vv-a:s your cousin-german, my brother and myself have the claims of 
 right ; and you have offered to assist in the recovery of this kingdom 
 (for every good lord ought to lean to the lawful right, and not to its 
 opposite,) by your knight who here stands, and whom you sent to 
 England to say, that if we would bring into this country two thou- 
 sand lances, and from two to three thousand archers, with the aid 
 you would give us, you had great hopes that we might regain our in- 
 • heritance. I am therefore come hither, not indeed with as many in 
 number as you wrote for ; but those I have are well inclined, and 
 
 »ee p.m 
 
 bold enough to abide the event of a battle, if joined by your army, 
 against the force which the count de Transtamare has at this mo- 
 ment : and we shall be much dissatisfied with your conduct if a battle 
 do not take place." Such were the words spoken by the earl of 
 Cambridge to the king of Portugal, before his departure, who dis- 
 tinctly heard them ; but, nevertheless, he dared not to ofier battle to 
 the Castillians, although they were within sight of each other. There 
 were nono of his council who did not say, " Sir, the army of the 
 
 king of Castille is at this moment 
 too powerful ; and if, by accident, 
 you lose the day, you will lose your 
 crown, without a chance of recover- 
 ing it : you had better, therefore, en. 
 dure much, than do anything where- 
 in is such great peril and risk." 
 The earl of Cambridge, finding he 
 could not gain anything, returned to 
 Lisbon, ordered his vessels to be 
 made ready, and took leave of the 
 king of Portugal. When he em. 
 barked, he would not leave his son 
 John with the king and the damsel 
 that was to be his wife, l)ut sailed 
 for England, leaving none behind. 
 Such Was the end of the Portuguese 
 armament at this season. 
 
 The earl of Cambridge, on his ar. 
 rival in England, represented to his 
 brother, the duke of Lancaster, how 
 the king of Portugal had acted, alM 
 the state of the country. The duke 
 became very thoughtful, for he saw 
 the conquest of Castille was very 
 distant and doubtful : besides, his 
 nephew king Richard, had in his 
 council those who were unfriendly 
 to him, more especially the earl of 
 Oxford, who had the sole manage- 
 ment of the king. This lord did 
 everything in his power to make a 
 breach between the king and hi? 
 uncles. He said to him, " Sir, ir 
 you wish to support your two uncles, 
 my lords of Lancaster and of Cam- 
 bridge, in their war with Spain, it 
 will cost you the whole revenue of England, and they will not at last 
 gain anything. It will be more prudent to keep at home men and 
 money, than that they should be scattered abroad without any profit 
 to yourself: you had better guard and defend your own inheritance, 
 which is invaded on all sides from France and Scotland, than employ 
 your men elsewhere." The young king was well inclined to follow 
 this advice of the earl, for he loved him with liis whole heart, they 
 having been brought up together. The earl of Oxford was connected 
 with several English knights, and never acted without the advice of 
 sir Simon Burley, sir Robert Tresilian, sir Nicholas Bramber, sir 
 John Beauchamp, sir John Salisbury and sir Michael de la Pole : 
 sir I'homas Trivet and sir William Elmham were also named among 
 his advisers. From these differences between the king and his 
 uncles, and the nobles with the commonalty, many serious ills befel 
 England, as I shall hereafter relate in the course of this history. 
 
 Not long after the departure of the earl of Cambridge from Per. 
 tugal, king Fernando fell ill. His disorder, after oppressing him with 
 languor for a year, caused his death. He had no other children but 
 the queen of Spain. The king of Castille received information that 
 the realm of Portugal was now fallen to him, as the rightful successor 
 to the deceased king. Many councils were holden on this occasion ; 
 but, when they spoke to him on the subject, he replied, *' The Portu- 
 guese are an obstinate race : I shall never gain them but by conquest." 
 
 The Portuguese, finding themselves without a king, took counsel 
 together, and resolved to send a deputation to a bastard-brother of 
 king Fernando, a valiant and wise man called Denis ;* but he v/as a 
 monk, and master of the order of Avis. They declared they had 
 much rather be under the government of this valiant man, than of 
 the king of Casdlle ; for, in the eyes of God, he who acted well was 
 no bastard. The grand-master was exceedingly rejoiced on hearing 
 the universal good will the four principal cities in Portugal bore him ; 
 and that the affection of Lisbon and the others was so strong, they 
 were desirous of crowning him their king. He secretly wrote to his 
 friends, and went to Lisbon, which is the principal town in Portugal. 
 The townsmen received him joyfully, and demanded, should they 
 
 * Froissart mistakes one brother for another. Peter the Severe had three children by 
 Ines de Custro : Denis, the eldest, was confined at this time in the prisons of Spain. 
 Jolin. the person meant in the text, w as the son oi' Peter by f heresa Laurezzo, and 
 surnamed the Father of his Country. He was grand-master of the order of Avis; and, 
 after the death of his brother Ferdinand, was chosen king, to the prejudice of Beatrice, 
 only child of Ferninand. Pope (Irban. by dispensiition, freed him from his religious 
 vows in 1387. He married Philippa, daughter of John of Gaunt duke of Lancaster, by 
 Blanche of Castille, by whom h^ had several children.—JloRBRi— j3ri de ViriJierUs 
 Dates. 
 
969 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 crown him king, would he be good and loyal, and preserve the 
 country in its privileges? He answered, that he would, and be 
 the best king they ever had. Upon this, the citizens of Lisbon 
 wrote t;) those of Coimbra, Oporto and Ourique, which are the 
 Jteys of the realm, that for their mutual advantage, they were de- 
 (■irons to crown king the grand-master Denis, who was wise and 
 valiant, of good conduct, and brother to king Fernando ; for that the 
 kingdom ol Pos tugal could no longer remain without a head, as well for 
 fear of :he Castillians, as of the infidels at Granada and Bugia, who 
 bordered on. the country. These four principal towns, and the land 
 proprietors of Portugal, excepting a few great barons and knights, 
 were inclined to favor his election ; but some barons said, it was not 
 right a bastard should be crowned king, if he were not of the best 
 dispositions. The towns replied, that he was so qualified, and that it 
 was a case of necessity, for they had no other choice ; that he was a 
 man of sense and of courage in arms ; and there was a precedent in 
 Henry of Transtamare, who had been crowned king of all Castille, 
 by the choice of the country, for its common advantages, even during 
 the lifetime of don Pedro. 
 
 The election, whether the nobles would or not, took place : and 
 Denis was crowned king in the cathedral church of Coimbra, with 
 the unanimous consent of the commonalty of Portugal. He swore 
 to administer justice honestly, to maintain the people in all the rights 
 and privileges which they had enjoyed from former times, and which 
 they were entitled to have preserved to them. This gave great satis- 
 faction to all. When news of this was carried to the king of Cas- 
 tille, he was wroth for two reasons : one, because his queen was the 
 legal heiress of Portugal ; the other, that the people had crowned a 
 king of Portugal by election. He therefore made this a pretext for 
 vAlt, and demanded from the town of Lisbon two hundred thousand 
 florins, which king Fernando had promised him when he espoused 
 his daughter. He sent as embassadors to Portugal the count de 
 Tierme and de Rebede, and the bishop of Burgos, with a grand suite 
 of a'tendants. When arrived at Santarem, the last town of Castille 
 toward Lisbon, they sent a herald to the king and citizens of Lisbon, 
 to demand passports for the security of their coming and returning. 
 Those were instantly granted. The council of the town were as- 
 Eemhled to hear explained the cause of their embassy ; at the end 
 of their harangue they said : "You Lisboners should properly under- 
 Btand this matter, and not be surprised if our king, in his anger, de. 
 mands so large a sum from you, which you are bound to pay him, 
 since you have thought proper to give the noble crown of Portugal 
 to a clerk, a monk, and a bastard. This act is not to be suffered : 
 for, by rightful election, it belongs to our king, as the natural lord 
 and true heir : besides, you have acted contrary to the opinion of the 
 nobility of the kingdom : therefore, he now declares by us, that you 
 have been guilty of a high misdemeanor, and if you do not hasten to 
 make every reparation, he is resolved to make war upon you." Don 
 Ferdinand Gailopes de Villasons, a noble citizen and of great weight 
 in Lisbon, thus answered : " My lords, you greatly reproach us for 
 our election, but your own is in the same predicament, for you have 
 crowned in Castille a bastard, the son of a Jewess. The fact is 
 universally known. With regard to the justice of your election, 
 there is none ; for your king has no right to the crown of Castille : 
 it belongs to the daughters of don Pedro, Constance and Isabella, 
 who are married to the duke of Lancaster and the earl of Cambridge, 
 to their children, and to their husbands for them. You may, there- 
 fore, depart when you please, and tell him that sent you, that our 
 election is good, and shall be upholden ; for that we will not have 
 any other king as long as the present one shall choose to be so. 
 With regard tj the sum of money you demand from us, we say that 
 \vc are no wry obliged to pay it : you must therefore call upon those 
 who bound themselves to the payment, and who had all the advan- 
 tage of it." The king of Portugal was not present at this assembly, 
 though he well knew what answer his people were to make. The 
 embassadors from the king of Castille, perceiving they should gain 
 nothing from the Portuguese, took leave, as was becoming them, set 
 out and returned to Seville, where they had left the king and his 
 council. Having related all that you have just heard to the king, he 
 summoned a council to deliberate on what was to be done. It was 
 determined tJ send defiances to the king of Portugal and his parti- 
 Ban?, and that the king of Castille had just reasons for declaring war 
 against them. After these defiances had been sent to Portugal, the 
 king of Castille issued a special summons for raising an army, de- 
 claring he would lay siege to Lisbon, and not depart thence until he 
 hal gained it, for the insolent replies that had been made to his 
 embassadors, so that they should pay dearly if they were o\iliged to 
 sue for mercy. The king of Castille advanced to Santarem with his 
 whole force, that being the place of rendezvous. About this period, 
 a knight of Castille, of the name of Navaret, was expelled that court; 
 and. Tf the king in his anger had caught him, he would have had 
 him boheaded. The knight, however, had timely notice, for he had 
 friends on the watch, and, quitting the kingdom of Castille, came to 
 Lisbon to the king of Portugal, who was much pleased at his arrival, 
 retained him in his service, and made him captain of his knights. 
 He afterwards did much harm to the Castillians. 
 
 The king of Castille marched from Santarem with his whole army, 
 to Lisbon, which he besieged, inclosing within it the king. This 
 siege lasted upward of a year. The count de Longuevilie was con. 
 
 stable of the army, and sir Reginald de Limousin marshal of it. This 
 sir Reginald was a Limousin knight, whom sir Bertrand du Guesclin 
 had carried into Castille during the wars of king Henry ; he had 
 conducted himself so faithfully that the king had given him a fair 
 estate and a handsome lady to his wife, by whom he had two sons, 
 Reginald and Henry : he was much esteemed throughout Castill-e 
 for his prowess. With the king of Castille, at this siege, were Dag- 
 henes Mandat, sir Digho Per9ement, don Peter Ro^erment and don 
 Marich de Versaux,* Portuguese, who had turned to the Castillians. 
 The grand-master of Calatrava, with his brother, a young knight 
 called don Dighemeres,t Peter Goussart de Seville, John Radigo de 
 Hoyex, and the grand-master of St. Jago. The army before Lisbon 
 amounted to upward of thirty thousand men : many were the skir- 
 mishes and gallant deeds of arms performed on each side. 
 
 The Castillians knew well the king of Portugal would not be sup. 
 ported by the nobles, for the commonalty had elected him against 
 their vv^ill ; for which reason there were great dissensions between 
 them ;t and the king's intentions were to conquer Lisbon and the 
 whole country before he returned, for no assistance, except from 
 England, could come to them. This only he feared ; but, having 
 ccnsidered that the English were at a great distance, and that the 
 king of England and his uncles were not on good terms with each 
 other, he carried on the siege with security. The army was so 
 plentifully supplied with every sort of provision, there was not a 
 town or market in all Castille where was more abundance. § The 
 king of Portugal remained with his people in Lisbon, much at his 
 ease, for they could not be deprived of the advantage of the sea. 
 His council advised him to send able embassadors to England, 'o 
 the king and duke oi" Lancaster, to renew the alliance which had 
 subsisted between the king of England and his brother Ferdinand ; 
 to charge the embassadors to ask his daughter Philippa from the 
 duke of Lancaster, who would willingly give her to him for his 
 queen ; to offer, under the strongest terms, a perpetual alliance be- 
 tween the two countries, and to declare he would exert himself so 
 effectually, if the duke would rome thither with two or three thou- 
 sand combatants, and as mf.iy archers, that he should recover the 
 kingdom of Castille, which was his lawful inheritance. Two knights 
 of his household, sir Jol:»n Rodriguez and sir John Testedor, with a 
 clerk of laws called Marche de la Figgiere, archdeacon of Lisbon, 
 were nominated to go as embassadors to England. Having provided 
 themsselves with all things necesbary, they embarked with a favorable 
 wind, and left the harbor of Lisbon, steering for the coasts of England. 
 
 On the other hand, the king of Castille, during his siege of Lisbon, 
 was advised to write to France and to Gascony, for assistance of 
 knights and squires, as the Spaniards naturally imagined that the 
 king of Portugal would apply to England, for succors to raise the 
 siege : he was not willing, therefore, to be unprepared, nor that his 
 army should not be in sufficient strength to resi&t the united forces 
 of the Portuguese and English. The king, in consequence of this 
 advice, sent letters and messengers to many knights who were anx- 
 ious to display their courage, more particularly to those of Eearn 
 and the county of Foix: for in these countries were many good 
 knights, who wished for opportunities of showing their love of arms, 
 but could not find them, as the count de Foix at this period was at 
 peace with the count d'Armagnac. These looked-for allies of the 
 kings of Spain and Portugal were net so soon ready, nor near at hand. 
 Hostilities still continued to be carried on in Auvergne, the Tculou- 
 sain, Rouergue, and in the country of Bigorre. We will now leave 
 the aflfairs of Portugal, and speak of others. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE COUNT BE FOIX, AT THE ENTREATY OF THE PRINCESS OF WALES, RE- 
 MITS THE COUNT D'aRMAGNAC SIXTY THOUSAND FRANCS OUT OF HIS 
 RANSOM OF TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND. THE ENGLISH GAR- 
 RISON AT LOURDEII governs THE ADJOINING COUNTRY. 
 
 Between the county of Foix and Bdarn lies the county of Bigorre, 
 which belongs to France, and is bounded on the one side by the 
 Toulousain, and on the other by Comminges, and Bearne. In this 
 country of Bigorre is situated the strong castle of Lourdo, which 
 has always been regarded as English since the countiy was given up 
 to the king of Englaixl and the prince, as part of the ransom tor kmg 
 John of France, according to the treaty of peace made at Bretigny 
 near Chartres, and afterwards ratified at Calais, as it has already been 
 mentioned in the former part of this history. When the prmce of 
 Wales left England to take possession of the duchy of Aquitame, 
 (which the king his father had given him to hold as a fief and inher- 
 itance under him, in which were two archbishopncks and twenty- 
 two bishopricks,) accompanied by the princess of Wales, they resiaed 
 at Bordeaux about a year. They were entreated by John count 
 d'Armagnac to come to the handsome city of Tarbes, in the county 
 of Bigorre, to see and visit t hat part of the country, which the prmce 
 
 *ll;ese names are probably very much disfigured, but 1 am unable to rect ify tl.em. 
 [Diego Alendozn. Diego Perez Sarmiento. Don Peter Ruu Sarmiento. Mant.quei 
 D'Aversaula.]-ED.^ , . ^ ^^^^^^ commonalty. 
 
 ItZ plug'ue broke out in the army, and obliged them to abandon tl>e .ieee.-Ep. 
 
 II •' Lourde/' capital of the valley uf Lavjdan. in Gascony. diocese of Taibes. r 
 fiugoeres. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, & 
 
 361 
 
 had never yet done. The count d'Annagnac imagined, that the 
 count de f'oix would pay his respects to the prince and princess du- 
 ring the time they were in Bigorre ; and, as he was indebted to him 
 two hundred and fifty thousand francs for his ransom, he thought he 
 would try to prevail on them to request the count de Foix to release 
 him from a pa : t, if not the whole of it. The count d'Armagnac 
 managed so we'l, that the prince and princess of Wales came with 
 their court, whic i at that time was very numerous and splendid, into 
 Bigorre, and fixeJ their residence at Tarbes. Tarbes is a handsome 
 town, situated in a champaign country, among rich vineyards : there 
 is a town, a city, and a castle, all separated from each other, and in- 
 closed with gates, walls, and towers : the beautiful river Lisse, which 
 rises in the mountains of B6arn and Catalonia, and is as clear as 
 rock.water, rans through and divides the town. Five leagues from 
 thence is situated the town of Morlans, in the county of Foix, at 
 the entrance into Bearn and under a mountain. Six leagues dis- 
 tant from Tarbes is the town of Pau, which belongs also to the count 
 de Foix. During the time the prince and princess were at Tarbes, the 
 count was in his town of Pau, erecting a handsome castle adjoining 
 to the outskirts of the town, and on the river Gave.* 
 
 As soon as he was informed of the arrival of the prince and prin- 
 cess at Tarbes, he made his preparations and visited them in great 
 state, accompanied by upward of six hundred h ^rse and sixty knights. 
 They were much pleased at his visit, and e, Pertained him hand- 
 somely, as he was well deserving of it, and th? princess paid him 
 the most engaging attentions. The count d'Amagnac and the lord 
 d'Albreth was present, and the prince was entreated to request the 
 count de Foix ;o release the count from all, or pi rt of what he was 
 indebted to him for his ransom. The prince bein? a prudent as well 
 as a valiant ma;;, having considered a while, said, he would not do 
 so, and added : "Count d'Armagnac, you were made prisoner by 
 fair deeds of arms, and in open battle : you put oui cousin the count 
 de Foix, his person and his men, to the hazard of t'le fight; and, if 
 fortune has been favorable to him and adverse to you, he ought not 
 to fare the worse for it. Neither my lord and father nor myself 
 would have thanked you, if you had entreated us to give back what 
 we had honorably and fortunately won at the battle of Poitiers, for 
 which we return thanks to the Lord God." The count d'Armagnac, 
 on hearing this, was quite thunderstruck : and, notwithstanding he 
 had failed in his expectations, he made a similar request to the prin- 
 cess, who cheerfully entreated the count de Foix to grant her a boon. 
 " Madam," replied the count, " I am but a small gentleman, and an 
 insignificant bachelor; therefore, I cannot make large gifts: but, if 
 the boon you request do not exceed sixty thousand francs, I grant it." 
 The princess was anxious to gain the whole; but the count, being 
 a wary man, paid much attention to all his personal affairs: besides, 
 he suspected this boon regarded the ransom of the count d'Armag. 
 nac: he therefore continued, " Madam, for a knight like me, who 
 am building towns and castles, the gift I offer yon ought to suffice." 
 When the princess found she could not g:,m more, she said, " Count 
 de Foix, I request and entreat you would forgive the count d'Armag- 
 nac." " Madam," answered the count, " I ought to comply with 
 your request. I have said, that if the boon you solicited did not ex- 
 ceed sixty thousand francs, I would grant it ; the count d'Armagnac 
 owes me two hundred and fifty thousand, and at your entreaty I give 
 you sixty thousand of them," Thus ended the matter; and the count 
 d'Armagnac, by the princess's entreaty, gai;ied sixty thousand francs. 
 The count de Foix, shortly afterwards, returned to his own country. 
 
 I, sir .lohn Froissart, make mention of all these things, because 
 when I vidted Foix and B^arn, I 
 
 made inquiry after all that had passed, and what I had not heard 
 before. I there learnt that the prince of Wales, during his residence 
 at Tarbes, had a great desire to see the castle of Lourde, three leagues 
 distant, among the nKJuntains. When he had fully examined that cas- 
 tie and country, he was much pleased, as well with the strength of the 
 plice, as its situation on the frontiers of several countries; for those 
 of Lourde can overrun the kingdom of Arragon to a great extent, and 
 as far as Barcelona in Catalonia. The prince called to him a knight 
 of his household, named sir Peter Arnaut, of the country of Bdarn, 
 who had loyally served him, and in whom he had great confidence : 
 he was an expert man-at-arms, and cousin to the count de Foix. 
 " Sir Peter," said the prince, " I nominate and appoint you governor 
 and captiin of Lourde, and regent of the country of Bigorre : now, 
 guard well this castle, so as tj give a good account of it to my lord 
 and father, and to myself." " My lord," replied the knight, " that I 
 will cheerfully do ;" and he instantly did homage and pledged his 
 faith, when the prince put him in possession of it. 
 
 Now, you must know, that when the war was renewed between 
 the kings of France and England, as had been before re!ated,t the 
 coun;, Guyde St. Pol, and sir Hugh de Chastillon, master of the cross- 
 bows in France, besieged and took the town of -\bbeville, and the 
 whole country of Ponthieu : about the same time, two great barons 
 of Bigorre, whose names were sir Marnaut Barbasan and the lord 
 d'Anchin, turned to the French interest, and seized the town and 
 cast e of Tarbes, for they were weakly guarded. The castle of 
 Lourde was under the command of sir Peter Arnaut, of Bearn, who 
 would not surrender on any terms, but carried on a sharp contest 
 
 against France. He sent to Upjier Gascony, and Bearn, for some 
 knight adventurers to assist him in the war ; and many able men 
 came to him. He had six captains, each of whom had fifty lances 
 or more under his command : his brother, John de Bdarn, a gallant 
 squire, Peter d'Anchin de Bigorre, brother-german to the lordd'Aii. 
 chin, who would never turn to the French, Ernauton de Sainte Co. 
 lombe, Ernauton de Montagu, de Sainte Basile, and le hourff de 
 Carnela. These captains made many excursions into Bigorre, the 
 Toulousain, the Carcassonois, and on the Albigeois; for the moment 
 they left Lourde they were on enemy's ground, which they oveiTan 
 to a great extent, sometimes thirty leagues from their cattle. In 
 their march they touched nothing, but on their return all things were 
 seized, and sometimes they brought with them so many prisoners, 
 and such quantities of cattle, they knew not how to dispose of, nor 
 lodge them. They laid under contribution the whole country except 
 the territory of the count de Foix ; but there they dared not take a 
 fowl without paying for it, nor hurt any man belonging to the count, 
 or even any who had his passport; for it would have enraged him 
 so much that they must have been ruined. 
 
 These companions in Lourde had the satisfaction of overrunning 
 the whole country wherever they pleased. Tarbes, which is situated, 
 as I have said, hard by, v/as kept in great fear, and was obliged to 
 enter into a composition with them. Between Tarbes and their 
 castle is a large village, with a handsome abbey, called Guyors, to 
 which they did much mischief, but they also compounded with them. 
 On the other side of the river Lisse is a goodly inclosed town called 
 Bagneres,the inhabitants of which had a hard time of it; for they were 
 much harassed by those of Malvoisin, which is situated on a moun- 
 tain, the river Lisse running at the foot of it, in its course toward 
 Tournay, an inclosed town. This town of Tournay was the common 
 pass for those of Lourde and Malvoisin, to which they did no harm, 
 because they had a free passage, and the townspeople had good bar- 
 gains of their pillage : they were, therefore, fmced to dissem.ble with 
 them, if they were desirous of living, for they did not receive aid or 
 succor from any one. The governor of Malvoisin was a Gascon, 
 called Raymonet de I'Espde, an able man-at-arms. Those of Lourde 
 and Malvoisin, put under contribution the merchants of Arragon and 
 Catalonia equally with those of France. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 SIR JOHN rROISSART, IN HIS JOURNEY TOWARD BEARN, IS ACCOMPANTEt) 
 
 BY A KNIGHT ATTACHED TO THE COUNT DE FOIX, WHO RELATES TO 
 HIM HOW THE GARRISON OF LOURDE TOOK ORTINGAS AND LE PALLIER, 
 ON THE RENEWAL OF THE WAR IN GUYENNE, AFTER THE RUPTURE 
 OF THE PEACE OF BRETIGNY. 
 
 * '• Gave," in tlie patoLs of the country liumties a river, and that at Pau is thus called, 
 ' Le Gave de Puu."— Ed. t In W^Ed. 
 
 At the time I undertook my journey to visit the count de Foix, 
 reflecting on the diversity of countries I had never seen, I set out 
 from Carcassone, leaving the road to Toulouse on the right hand, 
 and came to Monteroral, then to Tonges, then to Belle, then to the 
 first town in the county of Foix ; from thence to Maisiere?, to the 
 castle of Sauredun, then to the handsome city of Pamiers,* which 
 belongs to the count de Foix, where I halted, ti wait for company 
 that were going to Bdarn, where the count resided. I remained in 
 the city of Pamiers three days : it is a very delightful place, seated 
 among fine vineyards, and surrounded by a clear and broad river, 
 called the Liege. Accidentally, a knight attached to the count de 
 Foix, called sir Espaign du Lyon, came thither, on his return from 
 travelled through Bigorre, and ^Avignon : he was a prudent and valiant knight, handsome in person, 
 
 and about fifty years of age. I introduced myself to his company, 
 as he had a great desire to know what was doing in France. Wo 
 were six days on the road travelling to Orthez. As we journeyed, 
 the knight, after saying his orisons, conversed the greater part of the 
 day with me, asking for news; and when I put any questions to 
 him, he very willingly answered them. On our departure from 
 Pamiers we crossed the mountain of Cesse, which is difficult of as. 
 cent, and passed near the tDwn and castle of Ortingas, which belongs 
 to the king of France, but diJ not enter it. We went to dine at a 
 castle of the count de Foix, half a league farther, called Carlat, 
 seated on a high mountain. After dinner, the knight said : "Let us 
 ride gendy, we have but two leagues of this country (which are 
 equal ti three of France) to our lodging." "Willingly," answered 
 I. " Now," said the knight, " we have this day passed the castle of 
 Ortingas, the garrison of which did great mischief to all this part of 
 the country. Peter d'Anchin had possession of it: he took it by 
 surprise, and has gained sixty thousand francs from F'^ance." "How 
 did he get so much ?" said I. " I will tell you," replied the knight. 
 " On the feast of our lady, the middle of August, a fair is holden, 
 where all the country assemble, and there is much merchandise 
 brought thither during that time. Peter d'Anchin and his compan. 
 ions of the garrison of Lourde, had long wanted to gain this town 
 and castle, but could not devise the means. They had, however, in 
 the beginning of May, sent two of their men, of very simple out. 
 ward appearance, to seek for service in the town : they soon found 
 masters, who were so well satisfied with them, that they went in and 
 out of the town whenever they pleased, v/ithout any one having tho 
 sm.'.llest suspicion of them. 
 
 * **f amiers"^k>taiet! leagues from Foix. eighteeu from TuolwuM. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 " Whrti miii-Angust ai-rived, t!ie town was filled with foreign 
 merchants from Foix, Bearn, and France : and, you know, when 
 morchant3 meet, after any consideral)le absence, they are accustomed 
 to drink plentifully together t.) renew their acquaintance, so that the 
 houses of the masters of the two servants were quite filled, where 
 they drank largely, and their landlords with them. At midnight 
 Peter d'Anchin and his company advanced toward Ortingas, ar^d hid 
 theraselvetj and horses in tlie wood through which we passed. He 
 sent six varlets with two ladders to the town, who, having crossed 
 the ditches where they had been told was the shallowest place, fixed 
 their ladders against the walls : the two pretended servants, who 
 were in wairing, asc-isted them (while their masters were seated at 
 table) t.) mount the walls. They were no sooner up, than one of the 
 Bervaiit-j conducted their companions toward the gate where only two 
 men gunrded the keys : he then said to them, ' Do you remain here, 
 and not stir until you shall hear me whistle; then sally forth and 
 slay the guards. I am well acquainted with the keys, having more 
 than seven times guarded the gate with my master.' 
 
 As he had planned so did they execute, ajid hid themselves well. 
 He then advanced t3 the g ite, and having listened, found the watch 
 drinking: he called them by their names, for he was acquainted 
 with them, and said, ' Open the door : I bring you the best wine you 
 ever t.isted, which my master sends you that you may watch the 
 better.' Tnose wlio knew the varlet imagined he was speaking the 
 truth, and opsned the door of the guard-room : upon this, he whistled, 
 and his companijns sallied forth and pushed between the door, so 
 that they could not shut it again. The guards were thus caught cun. 
 ningly, and so quietly slain that no one knew anything of it. They 
 then took the keys and went to the gate, which they opened, and lei 
 down the drawbridge so gently it was not heard. This done, they 
 sounded a horn witii one blast oaly, which those in ambuscade hear- 
 ing, they mounted their horses and came full gallop over the bridge 
 into the town, where they took all its inhabitants either at table or 
 in their beds. Thus was Ortingas taken by Peter d'Anchin of 
 Bigorre and his companions in Lourde." 
 
 I then asked the knight, "But how did they gain the castle?" 
 " I will tell you," said sir Espaign du Lyon. " At the time the town 
 was taken, by ill-luck the governor was absent, supping with seme 
 merchants from Gareassone, so that he was made prisoner, and on 
 the morrow Peter d'Anchin had him brought before the castle, 
 wherein were his wife and children, whom he frightened by declaring 
 he would order the governor's head to be struck off, if they did not 
 enter into a treaty to deliver up the castle. It was concluded, that 
 if his lady would surrender, the governor should be given up to her, 
 Milh permission to march unmolested away with everything that be- 
 longul to them. The lady, who found herself in such a critical 
 eltuati jn, through love to him who could not now defend her, in order 
 to recover her husbmd and to avoid greater dangers, surrendered the 
 castle, when the governor, his wife and children, set out with all that 
 belonged to them, and went to Pamiers. By this means Peter 
 d'Anchin captured the town and castle of Ortingas ; and, when they 
 entered the place, he and his companions gained thirty thousand 
 francs, as well in merchandise which they found there, as in good 
 Fi^ench prisoners. All those who were from the county of Foix or 
 Bdarn received their liberty, with their goods untouched. 
 
 " Peter d'Anchin held Ortingas for full five years ; and he and his 
 garrison made frequent excursions as far as the gates of Gareassone, 
 which is sixteen long leagues distant, greatly ruining the country, as 
 well by the ransoms of towns which compounded, as by the pillnge v 
 they made. During the time Peter d'Anchin garrisoned Ortingas, [a 
 some of his companions made a sally, being desirous of gain, and 
 came to a castle a good league off, called le Paillier, of which Ray- 
 mond du Paillier, a French knight, was the lord. They this time 
 accomplished their enterprise, having before attempted it in vain ; 
 and, by means of a scalado, they took the castle, the knight and his 
 lady in bed. They kept possession of it, allowing the lady and 
 the children to depart, but detained the knight four months in his 
 own castle, until he had paid four thousand francs for his ransom. 
 In short, after they had sufficiently harassed the country, they sold 
 these two castles, Ortingas and le Paillier, for eight thousand francs, 
 and then retired t.i Lourde, their principal garrison. Such feats of 
 arms and adventures were these companions daily practicing. 
 
 " It happened likewise at this time, that a very able man-at-arms, 
 one of the garrison of Lourde, a Gascon, called le Mengeant de 
 Sainte Basi'e, set out from Lourde with twenty-nine others, and rode 
 toward the Toulousain and the Albigeois, seeking adventures. His 
 wishes were to surprise the castle of Penne in the Albigeois, which 
 he was nearly doing, but failed. When he found he was disap- 
 pointed, he rode up to the gate, where he skinnished, and sev- 
 eral gallant deeds were done. At this same hour, the eastellan of 
 Toulouse, sir Hugh de Froide-ville, had also made an excursion 
 with sixty lances, and by accident arrived at Penne while this skir- 
 mish wqs go: ng forward. He and his men instantly dismounted, and 
 advanced t j the barriers. Le Mengeant would have rnade off; but, 
 as that was impossible, he fought valiantly hand to hand with the 
 knight : he behaved gallantly, and wounded his adversary in two or 
 three places, but at last was made prisoner; for he was not the 
 •trongest; and of his men few escaped being killed or taken. Le 
 Mengeant was carried to Toulouse ; and the seneschal had great 
 
 difficulty to save him from the populace, who wanted to put him to 
 death when they saw him in the hands of their own officer, so much 
 was he hated at Toulouse. 
 
 " Fortunately for him, the duke of Berry chanced to come to that 
 city, and he had such good friends that the duke gave him his lib. 
 erty, in consideration of a thousand francs being paid the seneschal 
 for his ransom. Le Mengeant, on gaining his liberty, returned to 
 Lourde, where he ceased not from his usual enterprioee. One time 
 he set out with others, without arms, di^^gui^:ed as an abbot attended 
 by four monks ; for he and his companions had shaven the crowns 
 of their heads, and no one would have imagined who saw them but 
 that they were real monks, for they had every appearance in dress 
 and look. In this manner he came to Montpelier, and alighted at 
 the hotel of the AngeJ, saying he was an abbot from Upper Gas- 
 cony going to Paris on business. He made acquaintance with a rich 
 njan of Montpelier, called sir Beranger, who was likewise bound for 
 Paris on his afTdrs. On the abbot telling him he- would carry him 
 thither free from all expense, he was delighted that the journey 
 would cost him nothing, and set out with le Mengeant attended only 
 by a servant. They had not left Montpelier three leagues when le 
 Mengeant made him his prisoner, and conducted him through 
 crooked and bye-roads to his garrison of Lourde, whence he after, 
 wards ransomed him for five thousand francs." " Holy Mary I" 
 cried I, " thisle Mengeant must have been a clever fellow." "Ay, 
 that he was indeed," replied he ; " and he died in his armor at a 
 place we shall pass in three days, called Lane in Bigorre, below a 
 town called Archinacu." " I will remind yon of it," said I, " when 
 we shall arrive at the spot." 
 
 Chapter v. 
 
 Sm JOHN FROISSAKT AND THE KNfGHT OF FOIX ARRIVE AT CASSERES, 
 WHERE THE ENIGHT RELATES TO KIM THE CAPTURE OF THE TOW» 
 BY THE ARMAGNACS, AND ALS>i THE RE-CAPTCRE OF IT BY THE COUNT 
 DE FO'^ • AND, AS THEY JOURNEY, THEY CoJN VERSE ON DIFFERENT 
 FEATS On- ARMS BETWEEN THE ARMAGNACS AND FOIXIENS. 
 
 Thus rode v/e on to Montesquieu, a good inclosed town belong, 
 ing to the count de Foix, which the Armagnacs and Labiissiens* 
 took by surprise, but held it only three days ; in the morning wc left 
 Montesquieu, and rode toward Palaminich, another inclosed town, 
 situated on the Garonne, and belonging to the count de Foix. When 
 we were close to it, and thought of entering it by the bridge over 
 the Garonne, we found it impossible ; for the preceding day it had 
 rained so heavily in the mountains of Catalonia and Arragon, that 
 a river, called the Saluz, which rises among them, and falls into the 
 Garonne with great rapidity, was so much swollen as to carry away 
 one of the arches of the bridge, which was of wood. We were 
 therefore forced to return to Montesquieu to dinner, and remain there 
 the whole day. 
 
 On the morrow, the knight was advised to cross the Garonne, 
 opposite the town of Casseres, in a boat ; we therefore rode thither, 
 and by our exertions the horses passed, and we ourselves afterwards 
 with some difficulty and danger ; for the boat was so small that only 
 two horses and their men could cross at a time with those who man- 
 aged the boat. When we had crossed, we made for Casseres, where 
 we staid the whole day. While our servants were preparing the 
 supper, sir Espaign du Lyon said, " Sir John, let us go and see the 
 own." " Come then," replied I. We walked through the town to 
 a gate which opens to Palaminich, and, having passed it, went near 
 the ditches. The knight, pointing to the walls, said, " Do you ob- 
 serve that part of the walls?" " Yes, sir: why do you ask ?" " I 
 will tell you: because it is newer than the rest." " That is true," 
 answered I. *' I will relate to you how this happened ten years ago. 
 You have heard of the wars between the count d'Armagnac and the 
 count de Foix, which took place in the country of Beam, that apper- 
 tains to the count de Foix : the count d'Armagnac overran it, though 
 at present he is quiet on account of the truces made between them. 
 I must say, the Armagnacs and Labrissiens gained nothing, but had 
 often great losses. On the night of the feast of St. Nicholas, in the 
 winter of the year 1362, the count de Foix made prisoners, near to 
 Montmarsen, the count d'Armagnac and his nephew the lord d'Al- 
 breth, and many nobles with them, whom he carried to Orthez, and 
 confined them in the tower of the castle ; by which capture he re- 
 ceived ten times told one hundred thousand francs. 
 
 " It happened afterwards that the count d'Armagnac, father of the 
 present, called Sir John d'Armagnac, set on foot an armament, with 
 which he came and took Casseres by scalado : they were full two 
 hundred men-at-arms, who seemed resolved to keep the place by 
 force. News was brought to the count de Foix, at Pau, that th» 
 Armagnacs and Labrissiens had taken his town of Casseres. He» 
 who was a prudent and valiant knight, and prepared for all events, 
 called to him two bastard brothers whom he had among his knights, 
 sir Arnault Guillaume and Sir Peter de B^arn, and ordered them to 
 march instantly to Casseres, telling them he would send men from 
 all parts, and in three days would be there in person. " Be careful, 
 therefore," added he, " that none get out of the town without bcinff 
 
 * " Labristitoi," tboM attached to tiM faouly of Labretb, which w« call AJbnth.— 
 D. S. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND. FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 3f53 
 
 fought witli, as you will have strength enough ; and on your arrival 
 at Casseres, make the country people bring you plenty of large pieces 
 of wood, which you will fix etrongly round the gates, and com. 
 pletely bar them up ; for I am resolved that those now in the town 
 shall bo so shut up in it, thut they never pass through the gates : I 
 will make then; take another road." 
 
 "The two k:iight3 obeyed his orders, and marched to Palami- 
 nich, accompan-ed and followed by a 1 the men.at-arms in B6arn. 
 They encamped before the town of Casseres ; but those within paid 
 no attention to them, nor observed that they were so completely shut 
 in, they could not pass through the gates. On the third day, the 
 count de Foix came with five hundred men-at-arms, and on his arri- 
 val had the town encompassed with fortifications of wood, as well 
 as by his army, that no sally might be made from it in the night. In 
 this state, without making any ti tack, he blockaded them until their j 
 provisions began to fail ; for though they had wine in plenty, they 
 had nothing to eat, and could not escape by fording the river, which 
 was then too deep. They therefore thought it better to surrender 
 themselves as prisoners, than shamefully perish with hunger. The 
 count dc Foix listened to their offers. He had them informed, that 
 as they could not pass through any of the town-gates, he would make 
 a hole in the wail through which the garrison, one by one, must 
 pass, without arms, in their common dress. They were forced to 
 accrpt of these terms, otherwise the business was at an end : and, 
 if tne count de Foix had not been thus appeased, all within were 
 de£ci men. He had a hole made in the wall, which was not too 
 lar„fe, through which they ca.me out one by one. The count was 
 thti'e, with his forces drawn up in battle array ; and as they came 
 ouv of the towi: they were brought before him, and sent to different 
 casdca and towas as prisojiers. He took there his couein, air John 
 d'Armagnac, sij- Bertrand d'Albreth, sir Manaut de Barbasan, sir 
 Raymond de Benach.sir Benedict de la Corneille, and about twenty 
 of the most respectable, whom he carried with him to Orthez, and 
 received from them, before they gained their liberty, one hundred 
 thousand francs, twice told. For this, my fair sir, was this wall 
 broken down, as a passage for those of Armagnac and Albreth : 
 afterwards it was rebuilt and repaired." When he had finished his 
 hiitary we returned to our lodgings, and found the supper ready. 
 
 On the morrow we m:)unted our horses, and riding up the side of 
 the Garonne, passed through Palaminich, and entered the lands of 
 the counts de Gomminges and d'Armagnac. On the opposite side, 
 fronting us, was the Garonne, and the territories of the count de 
 Foix. As we rode on, the knight pointed out to me a town, which 
 appeared tolerably strong, called Marteras le Toussac, which belongs 
 to the oonnt de Commiiiges ; and on the other side of the river, two 
 castles of the count de Fuix, seated on a mountain, called Montaural 
 and Monclare. As v/e were riding among these towns and castles, 
 in a beautiful meadow by the side of the Garonne, the knight said : 
 *• Sir John, I have v/itnessed here many excellent skirmishes and 
 combats between the Armagnacs and the Foixiens ; for there was 
 neither town nor castle that was not well garrisoned with men-at- 
 arms, who engaged with and pursued each other. Do you see yon- 
 der those ruins? They are the remains of a fort which the Armag. 
 nacs raised against these two castles, and which they filled with 
 men-at-arms, v/ho did much damage to the lands of the count de 
 Fuix, on the other side of the river; but I will telKyou how they 
 paid for it. The count de Foix one night sent his brother, sir Peter 
 de B6arn, with two hundred lances and four hundred peasants, laden 
 with faggots, and as much wood as they could cut from the hedges, 
 which they piled around this fort and set on fire, so that the fort was 
 burnt vv/ith all in it, for none received quarter; and since that time 
 no one has dared to rebuild it." 
 
 With such conversation did we daily travel, travelling toward the 
 source of the river Garonne, on each side of which were handsome 
 castles and forts. All on the left hand belonged to the count de 
 Foix, and on the other to the count d'Armagnac. We passed Mont- 
 peeac, a fine strong castle, seated on the top of a rock, below which 
 is the road and the town. On the outside of it, at the distance of a 
 cross-bow, there is a pass called la Garde, with a tower between the 
 rock and the river, and an iron gate : six men could defend this pass 
 against all the world, for only two persons abreast can advance be- 
 tvveen the rock and river. Upon seeing this, I said to the knight, 
 " Sir, this is a strong pass, and a difficult country." " It is, indeed," 
 answered the knight ; " but, strong as it is, the count de Foix and his 
 men once forced it, and advanced to Palaminich, Montesquieu, and 
 even to Pamiers. The p iss was very strong, but the English archers 
 greatly assisted him in this conquest. Come and ride by my side, 
 and I will tell you all about it." I then rode by the side of sir Espaing 
 du Lyon, who thus continued his narration : 
 
 The count d'Armagnac and the lord d'Albreth invaded the 
 country of Fcix, with upward of five hundred men, and advanced 
 into those parts near Pamiers. It was in the beginning of August, 
 when the corn was harvesting and the grapes ripe : in that year there 
 was great abundance of both. Sir John d'Armagnac and his people 
 were encamped before the town and castle of Sauredun, a short 
 league distant from Pamiers. They made an attack on it, and sent 
 word to Pamiers, that if they did not pay a composition for their 
 norn and wines, they would burn and destroy all. Those of Pamiers 
 were afraid of wailing the event, as their lord was at too great a dis. 
 
 tance, being then in Bdarn, so that they thought it more prudent to 
 pay the ransom, which was settled at five thousand francs; but tiiey 
 demanded a delay of fi'teen days, which was granted to them. The 
 count de Foix heard of all this, and, by great hanv and sending to 
 all 'parts for aid, he got into Pamiers through this difiicult p jss. As- 
 sistance came to him from several quarters, so that he found himself 
 at the head of twelve hundred lances: he would have given battle, 
 without fail, to sir John d'Armagnac, if he had waited for it; but 
 they retreatt'd into the country of Comminges, leaving behind the 
 money from Pamiers, as they had no time to fctay for it. The count 
 de Foix, however, did not hold them quit, but claimed the ransom, 
 as he said he had deserved it; for he had come to their assistance, 
 and to drive his enemies out of the country. He p^iJ with it hi? 
 men-at-arms, and remained there until the good people had harvested 
 their corn, finished their vintage, and put all their effects in safety." 
 " By my faith," said I to the knight, " I have heard you with pleas- 
 ure." Thus discouring, we passed near a castle called la Bretite, 
 and then another castle called Bacelles, all in the county of Com- 
 minges. 
 
 As I rode on, I saw on the other side of the river a very handsome 
 and large castle, with a town of goodly appearance. I asked the 
 knight the name of this castle. He told me it was called Montes. 
 plai.i,* and belonged to a cousin of the count de Foix, who bears the 
 cows in his arms, named sir Roger d'Espaign. He is a great baron 
 and land proprietor in this country and in the Toulousain, and at this 
 moment is td ieschal of Carcassone. Upon whic;h I asked, " What 
 relation was this sir Roger d'Espaign to sir Charles d'Espaign, con. 
 stable of France ?" " He is not of that family," replied the°knight; 
 
 for sir Lewis and sir Charles d'Espaign, of whom you are speaking, 
 came originally from Spain, and were of Spanish extraction ; but by 
 their mothers are of French also, and coufins-german to king Al- 
 fonso of Spain. I served in my youth under sir Lewis d'Espaign, in 
 the wars of Brittany : for he was always of the side of St. Charles 
 de Blois against the count de Montfort." 
 
 Here ended our conversation on this subject. We came that day 
 to Gouffers, a good town belonging to the count de Foix, and on the 
 morrow to dinner at Moncuil, a strong town also, which belongs to 
 the king of France and is held by sir Roger d'Espaign. After din. 
 ner, we mounted and took the road toward Lourde and Malvoism, 
 and rode over heaths that extend fifteen leagues: they are called 
 Lane-bourg, and are well calculated for those who are evil-inclined. 
 Amid the heaths of Lane-bourg is situated the castle de la Mesere, 
 belonging to the count de Foix, a good league above the town of 
 Tournay and below Malvoisin, which castle the knight showed me, 
 saying, "See, yonder is Malvoisin: have you not inserted in your 
 history (of which you have been speaking to me) how the duke of 
 Anjou, when he was in this country, advanced to Lourde, besieged 
 and conquered it, as well as the castle of Trigalet on the river before 
 us, and which belongs to the lord de la Barde ?" 
 
 I considered a little, and replied : " I believe I have not mentioned 
 it, nor have I ever been informed of such an event. I therefore pray 
 you relate the business, to which I shall attentively listen ; but tell 
 me, lest 1 forget it, what is become of the river Garonne ? for I can 
 no longer see it." " You say truly," answered the knight; " it loses 
 itself between these two mountains. !■ rises from a spring three 
 leagues off, on the road to Catalonia, below a castle called St. Beart, 
 the last castle of France on the frontiers of Arragon. The governor 
 of it and the surrounding count y at this time is a squire named Er- 
 nauton, who is called the bastard of Spain, and cousin-german to 
 sir Roger d'Espaign. The moment you see him you will say, he is 
 formed for a downright man-at-arms. This bastard of Spain has 
 done more mischief to the garrison of Lourde than all the knights 
 and squires of this country put together; and I must say, the count 
 de Foix loves him well, for he is his brother in arms. I will not say 
 more of him, for, at the ensuing Christmas, you will see him yourself 
 at the hotel of the count ; but I will teli you what the duke of Anjou 
 did when he was in this country." 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 FROISSAKT CONTINUES HIS JOURNEY WITH THE KNIGHT OF FOIX, WHO BS. 
 LATES TO KIM SEVERAL PARTICULARS RELATIVE TO THE SIEGES OP 
 BREST AND DERVAL, AND HOW THE DUKE OF ANJOU RECOVERED MAL- 
 VOISIN AND TRIGALET FROM THE ENGLISH. 
 
 We then rode gently, and he began his narration as follows : " At 
 the first renewal of the war, the French conquered back again from 
 the English all their possessions in Aquitaine, and sir Oliver de Clis- 
 son, having turned to the French interest, conducted the duke of 
 Anjou, as you know, into Brittany to the estates of sir Robert KnoUes 
 and to the siege of Derval ; all which, I dare say, you have in your 
 history, as well as thi treaty made by sir Hugh Broc, cousin to sir 
 Robert, to surrender the castle, for which he had given hostages, 
 imagining the duke of Anjou to be in such strength that the siege 
 could not b3 raised ; and you probably relate how sir Robert Knol'es, 
 having entered the car-tie of Derval, refused to abide by this treaty." 
 " Truly, sir, I have heard all you have just related." " And have 
 
 " Montes plain "^Montespon. in the diocese of Uoauaiages. 
 
864 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 f ou noticed the skirmish which took place before the castle, when 
 wr Oliver de Clisson was wounded ?" " I cannot say," replied I, 
 " that I have any remembrance of it. Tell me, then, what passed at 
 this skirmish and at the siege ; perhaps you may know more partic- 
 ulars than I do ; and you can return afterwards to the history of 
 Lourde and Malvoisin." 
 
 " That is true," said the knight : " I must tell you, however, that 
 sir Gar!?;s du Chatel, a very valiant knight of this country and a good 
 Frenchman, had gone to seek the duke, to conduct him before Mal- 
 voisin, when the duke had issued his summons to march to Derval : 
 he made sir Garsis marshal of his aimy for his valor. It is a truth, 
 as I was informed afterwards, that when sir Garsis found sir Robert 
 determined not to keep the treaty, and the castle of Derval not likely 
 to surrender, he came to the duke and asked, ' My lord, what shall 
 we do witJi these hostages ? It is no fault nor crime in them if the 
 castle be not surrendered ; and it will be a great sin if you put them 
 to death, for they are gentlemen, undeserving such punishment.' 
 The duke replied, ' Is it right, then, that they should have their lib- 
 erty ?' ' Yes, by my faith,' said the knight, who had much com- 
 passion for them. ' Go,' replied the duke, ' and do with them what 
 you please.' At these words, as sir Garsis told me, he went to de- 
 liver them, but in his road met sir Oliver de Clisson, who asked him 
 whence he came, and whither he was going. * I come from my 
 lord of Anjou, and am going to set at liberty the hostages.' * To 
 set them at liberty ?' said sir Oliver : * stop a little, and come with | 
 me to the duke.' On his return, he found the duke very pensive. { 
 Sir Oliver saluted him, and then said, ' My lord, what are your in- 1 
 tentions ? shall not these hostages be put to death ? By my faith 
 shall they, in spite of sir Robert Knolles and sir Hugh Broc, who 
 have belied their faith : and I would have you know, if they do not 
 suffer death, I will net, for a year to come, put on a helmet to serve 
 you ; they will come off too cheaply, if they be thus acquitted. This 
 siege has cost you sixty thousand francs, and you wish to pardon 
 your enemies who keep no faith with you.' At these words, the 
 duke of Anjou grevv' wroth, and said, ' Sir Oliver, do with them as 
 you list.' ' I will, then, that they die ; for there is cause for it, since 
 they keep not their faith.' He then left the duke and went to the 
 square before the castle ; but sir Garsis never dared to say one word 
 in their favor, for it would have been lost labor, since sir Oliver was 
 determined upon it. He called to him Jocelin, who was the heads- 
 roan, and ordered him to behead two knights and two squires, which 
 caused such grief that upward of two hundred of the army wept. 
 
 " Sir Robert Knolles in&tandy opened a postern-gate of the castle, 
 and had, in revenge, nil his prisoners beheaded, without sparing one. 
 The great gate was then opened, and the drawbridge let down, when 
 the garrison made a sally beyond the barriers t.") skirmish with the 
 French, which, according to sir Garsis, was a severe business : the 
 first arrow wounded sir Oliver de Clisson, who retired to his quarters. 
 Among the wounded were two squires from B6arn, who behaved 
 themselves well : their names were Bertrand de Barege and Ernau. 
 ton du Pin. Oa the morrow they decamped. The duke marched 
 with his men-at.arms from Derval to Toulouse, and from thence to 
 this country, with intent tJ destroy Lourde, for the Toulousains made 
 great complaints of it. What happened there I will tell you. The 
 duke lost no time in marching his army to the castle of Malvoisin, 
 which we see before us, and laying tiege to it. He had in his army 
 full eight thousand combatants, without reckoning the Genoese and 
 the commonalty from the principal towns in that country. 
 
 A Gascon squire and able man-at-aims, named Raymonet de 
 I'Ep^e, was at that time governor of Malvoisin. There were daily 
 iskirmishes at the barriers, where many gallant feats were done by 
 those who wished tj advance themselves. The duke and his army 
 were encamped in these handsome meadows between the town of 
 Tournay and the castle, on the banks of the Lisse. During this 
 siege, sir Garsis du Chatel, who was marshal of the army, marched 
 with five hundred men-at-arms, two hundred archers and cross-bows, 
 and full two thousand common men, to lay siege to the castle of 
 Trigalet, which we have left behind us. A squire of Gascony had 
 the command of it, for his cousin the lord de la Barde, and was 
 called le Bastot de Mauleon : he had about forty companions with 
 him, who were lords of Lane-bourg ; for no one could march through 
 those parts except a pilgrim to the shrine of St. Jago, without being 
 made a prisoner, and, if not ransomed, put to death. There was 
 another strong place, near to le Mesen, of which thieves and robbers 
 from all countries made a garrison, called le Nemilleux : it is very 
 etrong, but always in dispute between the count d'Armagnac and 
 the count de Foix ; and for this reason the nobles paid not any atten- 
 tioi. to it when the duke of Anjou came into the country. 
 
 " Sir Garsis, on arriving at Trigalet, had it surrounded on all sides 
 but that t,)ward the river, which they could not approach, and a sharp 
 attack commenced, in which many of each party were wounded. 
 Sir Garsis was five days there, and on every one of them were skir- 
 mishes ; insomuch that the garrison had expended all their ammuni- 
 tion, and had nothing left to shoot with, which was soon perceived 
 by the French. Upon this, ziv Garsis, out of true gallantry, sent a 
 passport to the governor to come and speak with him. When he 
 •aw him, he said, ' Bastot, I well know your situation ; that your 
 garrison have no ammunition, nor anything but lances to defend 
 
 themselves with when attacked. Now, if ycu be taken by storm, it 
 
 will be impossible for me to save yours or your companions' lives, 
 from the fury of the common people, for which I should be very 
 sorry, as you are my cousin. I therefore advise you to surrender 
 the place, and even entreat you so to do: you cannot be blamed by 
 any one for it, and seeking fortune elsewhere, for you have held out 
 long enough.' 
 
 " * My lord,' replied the squire, • anywhere but here I would freely 
 do what you advise, for in truth I am your cousin : in this instance, 
 I cannot act from myself, for those who are with me have an equal 
 command, though they affect to consider me as their captain. I 
 will return, and tell them what you have said : if they agree to sur- 
 render, I shall consent ; if they be resolved to hold out, whatever may 
 be my fate, I must, with them, abide the event.' ' This is well said,' 
 answered sir Garsis : ' you may depart whenever you please, since 
 I know your intention.' 
 
 " The Bastot de Mauleon returned to the castle, and assembled 
 all his companions in the court-yard, to whom ho related what sir 
 Garsis had said, and then demanded their opinions, and what they 
 would do. They debated for a long time: some said they were 
 strong enough to wait the event : ethers wished to withdraw, say. 
 ing it was full time for it, as they had no longer any ammunition, 
 and the duke of Anjou was -severe, and the whole country of Tou- 
 louse and Carcassonne enraged against them for the mischiefs they 
 had done. Everything having been considered, they agreed to sur. 
 render the ca^tle, but on condition they should be escorted, them- 
 selves and baggage, to chiiteuu CuUie,* which their friends were in 
 possession of, on the Toulousain frontier. Upon this, Bastot do 
 Maul6un returned to sir Garsis, who granted their demand ; for he 
 saw the 'jaatle was not easy to win by storm, and it would probably 
 have coi':t him many lives. They made their preparations to depart, 
 packing up everything they could. Of pillage they had enough, and 
 carried av, ay the best part of it, leaving the rest behind them. Sir 
 Garsis had them safely escorted as far as chateau CuUie. By this 
 means did the French gain the castle of Trigalet, which sir Garsis 
 gave to the commonalty of the country who had accompanied him, 
 to do with it what they chose. They determined to destroy and 
 raze it, in, the maiujer you have seen, which was so completely done, 
 that no one since has ever thought of rebuilding it. 
 
 " Sir Garsis would have marched from thence to castle Nautil- 
 leux,t which is situated on the moors near the castle of Lamen,t to 
 free it from those companions who had possession of it; but on the 
 road they told him, ' My lord, you have no need to advance further, 
 for you will not find any one in castle Nautilleux : those who were 
 there are fled, some one way, some another, we know not whither.' 
 Sir Garsis, on hearing this, halted in the plain to consider what was 
 best to be done. The sdneschal de Nobesen happened to be pres- 
 ent, who said, ' Sir, this castle is within my jurisdiction, and should 
 be held from the count de Foix: give it me, I beg of you, and I will 
 have it so well guarded at my costs, that no person who wishes ill to 
 the country shall ever enter it.' 'My lord,' added those from Tou- 
 louse who were by, 'he speaks well : the seneschal is a valiant and 
 prudent man, and it is better he should have it than another.' 'I 
 consent to it,' said sir Garsis. Thus was the castle of Nautilleux 
 given to the sdneschal de Nobesen, who rode thither, and, having 
 found it empty, had repaired what had been destroyed. He appointed 
 governor a squire of the country named Fortifie de St. Pol, and then 
 returned to the siege of Malvoisin where the duke was. Sir Garsia 
 and his men had already related to the duke their successful exploits. 
 The castle of Malvoisin held out about six weeks ; there were, d^ily, 
 skirmishes between the two armies at the barriers, and the place 
 would have made a longer resistance, for the castle was so strong it 
 could have held a long siege ; but, the well that supplied the castle 
 with water being without the walls, they cut off the communication: 
 the weather was very hot, and the cisterns within quite dry, for it had 
 not rained one drop for six weeks ; and the beseigers were at their 
 ease on the banks of this clear and fine river, which they made use 
 of for themselves and horses. 
 
 " The garrison of Malvoisin were alarmed at their situation, tor 
 they could not hold out longer: they had a sufficiency of wine, but 
 not one drop of sweet water. They determined to open a treaty , 
 and Raymonet de l'Ep6e requested a passport to wait on the duke, 
 which having easily obtained, he said, ' My lord, if you will act 
 courteously to me and my companions, I will surrender the castle ot 
 Malvoisin.' ' What courtesy is it you ask ?' repUed the duke of 
 Anjou : ' get about your business, each of you to your own countries, 
 without entering any fort that holds out against us ; for if you do so, 
 and I get hold of you, I will deliver you up to Jocelin, who will 
 shave you without a razor.' ' My lord,' answered Raymonet, ' if we 
 thus depart, we must carry away what belongs to us, and what wo 
 have gained by arms and with great risks.' The duke paused a while, 
 and then said, ' I consent that you take with you whatever you can 
 carry before you in trunks and on sumpter-horses, but not otherwise ; 
 and, if you have any prisoners, they must be given up to us.' • I 
 agree,' said Raymonet. Such was the treaty, as you hear me relate 
 it ; and all who were in the castle departed, after surrendering it to 
 
 * A castle in Auvergne. 
 
 t *' Nautilleux." J"Lainen." Henys Sauvnge adds a marginal note" * Ji 
 whether these two places may not be what he before caita ^iemilleu* aoa Meien." 
 Froiuart calls it fiatUleuz and KantUkuZc 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 365 
 
 the duke of Anjou, and carrying all they could with them. They re. 
 turned to their own country, or elsewhere, in search of adventures : 
 but Raymonet TEp^e turned to the French: he served the duke of 
 Anjou a long ti.ne, passed ijito Italy with him, and was killed in a 
 skirmish before the city of Naples. 
 
 " Thus, my fair sirj did the duke of Anjou at that time conduct 
 himself, and win the castle of Malvoisin, which gave him great joy. 
 fie made governor of it a knight of Bigorre, called sir Ciquart de 
 Luperiere, and afterwards gave it to the count de Foix, who still 
 holds it, and will do so as long as he lives ; for it is well guarded by 
 a knight of Bigorre, a relation of his, called sir Raymond de Lane. 
 The duke of Anjou having gained possession of Malvoisin, and freed 
 the countrj', and all Lane-bourg, of the English and other pillagers, 
 laid siege to the town and castle of Lourde. The count de Foix, 
 seeing him so near his territories, began to be very doubtful what his 
 intentions might be. He therefore issued his summons to his knights 
 and squires, and sent them into different garrisons. He placed his 
 brother, sir Arnaut William, with two hundred lances, in Morlens ; 
 his other brother, sir Peter de B^arn, with the same number of lances, 
 in Pau ; sir Peter de Cabesten, with the like number, in the city of 
 I'Estrade ; sir Mouvant de Novalles in the town of Hertillet, with one 
 hundred lances ; sir Crual Geberel m Montgerbiel with the like num. 
 ber; sir Fouquart d'Orterey in the town of Sauveterre,* with the 
 same ; and I, Espaing du Lyon, was sent to Mont.de-marsen with 
 two hundred lances. There was not a castle in all B^arn that was 
 not well provided with men-at-arms : he himself remained to guard 
 his floiins in the castle of Orthez." 
 
 " Sir," said I to the knight, " has he a great quantity of them ?" 
 ** By my faith," replied he, " the count de Foix has at this moment 
 a hundred thousand thirty times told ; and there is not a year but he 
 gives away sixty thousand ; for a more liberal lord, in ipaking pres. 
 ents, does not exist." Upon this I asked, " To whom does he make 
 tliese gifts ?" He answered, " To strangers, to knights and squires 
 who travel through his country, to heralds, minstrels, to all who con- 
 verse with him : none leave him without a present, for he would be 
 angered should any one refuse it." " Ha, ha, holy Mary I" cried I, 
 " to what purpoes does he keep so large a sum ? where does it come 
 from ? Are his revenues so great to supply him with it ? I should 
 like to know this, if you please." " Yes, you shall know it," an. 
 swered the knight, " but you have asked two questions : if you wish 
 them answered, I must begin with the first. You ask, for what pur- 
 pose he keeps so large a sum of money : I must tell you, that the 
 count de Foix is doubtful ofg^var between him and the count d'Ar- 
 magnac, and of the manoeuvres of his neighbors the kings of France 
 and of England, neither of whom he would willingly anger ; and 
 hitherto he has not taken any part in their wars, for he has never 
 ^ borne arms on either side, and is on good terms with both. I tell 
 you (and you yourself will agree with me when you have made ac 
 quaintance with him, and have conversed together, and seen the es. 
 tablishments of his household,) that he is the most prudent prince 
 living, and one whom neither the king of France nor king of Eng- 
 land would willingly make an enemy. With regard to his other 
 neighbors, the kings of Arragon and Navarre, he thinks but little of 
 them, for he could instantly raise more men-at-arms (so many friends 
 has he made by his gifts, and such power has his money,) than these 
 kings could ever do. 1 have heard him say, that when the king of 
 Cyprus was in B6arn and explained to him the intended expedition 
 to the holy sepulchre, he was so anxious to make that valuable con- 
 quest, that if the kings of France and England had gone thither, he 
 would have been the most considerable lord after them, and have led 
 the largest army. He has not yet given up this idea, and it is for this 
 reason also he has amassed such wealth. The prince of Wales, like- 
 wise, when he reigned in Aquitaine, and resided at Bordeaux, in- 
 duced him to collect large sums ; for the prince menaced him in 
 regard to his country of B^arn, and said he would force him to hold 
 it from him : but the count de Foix declared he would not, for B6arn 
 was free land, and owed no homage to any lord whatever. The 
 prince, who was then very powerful and much feared, said he would 
 make him humble himself; for the count d'Armagnac and the lord 
 d'Albreth, who hated the count de Foix for the victories he had 
 gained over them, poisoned the prince's mind. The expedition of 
 the prince into Spain prevented hostilities ; and sir John Chandos, 
 who was the principal adviser and much beloved by the prince, 
 stren'wusly opposed this intended war. The count de Foix and sir 
 Johr- Chandos loved each other for their gallant deeds. 
 
 " 1 he count, however, was suspicious of the prince, whom he knew 
 to be powerful and warlike, and began to amass large sums to aid 
 and defend himself should he be attacked. He imposed heavy'taxes 
 on the country and on all the towns, which now exist, and will do so 
 as long as he lives : each hearth pays two francs per annum, one with 
 the other ; and in this he has found and finds a mine of wealth, for 
 it is marvellous how cheerfully his subjects pay it. With this, there 
 is not any Englishman, Frenchman, nor pillager, who rob his people 
 of a single farthing : his whole country is protected and justice well 
 administered, for in matters of justice he is the most severe and up- 
 right lord that exists." With these words we found ourselves in the 
 town of Tournay, where our lodgings were prepared : the knight, 
 therefore, ceased speaking ; and I made no further inquiries, for I 
 
 * Situated on the Gave of Oleion. tevta leagues ftom Fau. 
 
 had well remarked where he had left otf, and could again remind him 
 of it, as we had yet to travel together. We were comfortably lodged 
 at the hotel of the Star. When supper was served, the governor of 
 Malvoison, sir Raymond de Lane, came to see us, and supped with 
 us : he brought with him four flagons of excellent wine, as good as 
 any I drank on the road. These two knights conversed lor-g to- 
 gether, and it was late when sir Raymond departed and returned to 
 his castle of Malvoisin. 
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 FROISSART CONTINUES HIS JOURNEY : IN TRAVELLIN& FROM TOUPNAY TO 
 TARBES, THE KNIGHT RELATES TO HIM HOW THE GARRISON OF LOURDE 
 HAD A SHARP RENCOUNTER V.'ITH THE FRENCH FROM THE ADJACENl 
 GARRISONS — WITH SEVERAL PARTICULARS TOUCHING THE SIEGE 01 
 LOURDE, AND THE DEATH OF THE GOVERNOR, WHO WOULD NOT SUE 
 BENDER IT TO HIS RELATION THE COUNT DE FOIX. 
 
 In the morning, we mounted our horses, set out from Tournay, 
 passed the river Lisse at a ford ; and, riding tovvnrd the city of Tar- 
 bes, entered Bigorre, leaving on our left the road to Lourde, Bagn6rcs, 
 and the castle of Montgaillard. We made for a village called in the 
 counti-y Terra Cimitat, and skirted a wood, which we aftervv^ards en, 
 tered, on the lands of the lord de Barbasan ; when the knight said, 
 " Sir John, this is the pass of Larre : look about you." I did so, and 
 thought it a very strange country, and should have imagined myself 
 in great danger if I had not had the company of the knight. 
 
 I recollected what he had said some days before respecting the 
 country of Larre and Mengeant de Lourde, and, reminding him of 
 them, said, " My lord, you promised that vv^hen we came to the coun- 
 try of Larre, you would tell me more of Mengeant de Lourde, and 
 the manner of his death." " It is true," replied the knight : " come 
 and ride by my side, and I will tell it you." I then pushed forward 
 to hear him the better, when he began as follows : 
 
 " During the time Peter d'Anchin held the castle and garrison of 
 Ortingas, as I have before related, those of Lourde made frequent 
 excursions at a distance from their fort, when they had not always 
 the advantage. You see those two castles of Barbasan and Marteraa, 
 which had always considerable garrisons : the towns of Bsgn^res, 
 Tournay, Montgaillard, Salenges, Benach, Gone, and Tarbes, were 
 also full of French troops. When they heard that those of Lourde 
 had made any excursion toward Toulouse cr Carcassonne, they col- 
 lected themselves and formed an ambuscade, to f.lay them and carry 
 off what pillage they should have collected : sometimes several on 
 each side were killed, at others those of Lourde passed unmolested. 
 It happened once, that Ernauton de Sainte Colombe, le Mengeant 
 de Sainte Corneille, with six score lances, good men-at-amis, set 
 out from Lourde, and advanced round the mountains bctv/een the 
 two rivers Lisse and Lesse, as far as Toulouse. On their return, 
 they found in the meadows great quantities of cnttle, pigs, and &heep, 
 which they seized, as well as some substantial men from the flat 
 countries, and drove them all before them. 
 
 " It was told to the governor of Tarbes, a squire of Gascony, 
 called Ernauton Bifiete, how those of Lourde were overrunning and 
 harassing the country, and he sent information of this to the lord de 
 Benach and to Enguerros de Lane, son of sir Raymond, and also to 
 the lord de Baibasan, adding, he was determi.ied to attack them. 
 These knights and squires of Bigorre, having agreed to join him, 
 assembled their men in the town of Tournay, through which the 
 garrison of Lourde generally returned. The bourg d'Espaign had 
 come thither from his garrison of St. Beart, and they were in the 
 whole two hundred lances. They had sent spies into the country to 
 see what appearance their enemies made on their return. On the 
 other hand, those from Lourde had likewise spies on the v.-atch, to 
 observe if there were any men-at-arms out to intercept them: both 
 parties were so active, that each knew the force of the other. When 
 those of Lourde heard that the French garrisons were waiting for 
 them at Tournay, they began to be alarmed, and called a council to 
 determine how to conduct their pillage in safety. It was resolved 
 to divide themselves into two parties : one, consisting of servants and 
 pillagers, was to drive the booty, and take bye-roads to Lane-bourg, 
 crossing the bridge of Tournay, and the river Lesse between Tournay 
 and Malvoisin ; the other division was to march in order of battle on 
 the high grounds, and to make an appearance as if they meant to 
 return by the pass of Larre below Marteras, hut to fall back between 
 Barbasan and Montgaillard, in order that the baggage might cross 
 the river in safety. They were to meet all together at Montgaillard, 
 from whence they would soon be at Lourde. This plan they executed : 
 and the bastard de Carnillac, Guillonet de Harnes, Perot Boursier, 
 John Calemin de Basselle, and le Rouge Ecuyer, collected forty 
 lances, with all the servants and pillagers, and said to them : ' You 
 will conduct our plunder and prisoners by the road to Lane-bourg, 
 and then descend between Tournay and Malvoisin, where you will 
 cross the river at the bridge : follow then the bye-road between Cim. 
 itat and Montgaillard : we will go the other road by Marteras and 
 Barbasan, so as to meet all together at Montgaillard.' On this they 
 departed ; and there remained with the principal division Ernauton 
 de Resten, Ernauton de Sainte Colombe, le Mengeant de Sainte 
 Corneille, and full eighty companions, all men-at-arms : there wera 
 not ten varieta among them. They tightened their armori Exetl 
 
366 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 their helmets, and, graspinij their lances, marched in close order as 
 if they were instantly tu engage : they indeed expected nothing else, 
 for they knew their enemies were in the field. 
 
 The French, in like manner as those of Lourde, had called a 
 council respecting their mode of acting. Sir Monant de Barbasan 
 and Ernauton Biscete* said : ' Since we know the men of Lourde 
 are bringing home great plunder and many prisoners, we shall be 
 much vexed if they escape us : let us, therefore, form two ambus, 
 cades, for we are enow for both.' Upon this it was ordered, that le 
 bourg d'Espaign, sir Raymond de Benach, and Enguerros de Lane, 
 with one hundred spears, should guard the passage at Tournay, for 
 the cattle and prisoners must necessarily cross the river ; and the lord 
 de Barbasan and Ernauton Biscete, with the other hundred lances, 
 should reconnoitre, if perchance they could come up with them. 
 They separated from each other, and the lord de Benach, and le 
 bourg d'Espaign, placed themselves in ambuscade at the bridge be- 
 tween Tournay and Malvoisin. The other division rode to the spot 
 where we now are, which is called the Larre, and there the two 
 parties met. They instantly dismounted, and leaving their horses to 
 pasture, with pointed lances advanced, for a combat was unavoidable, 
 shouting their crieo, ' St. George for Lourde !' ' Our lady for Bigorre I' 
 
 " They charged each other, thrusting their spears with all their 
 strength, and, to add greater force, urged them forward with their 
 breasts. The combat was very equal ; and for some time none were 
 struck down, as I heard from those present. When they had suffi. 
 ciently used their spears, they threw them down, and with battle, 
 axes began to deal out terrible blows on both sides. This action 
 lasted for three hours, and it was marvellous to see how well they 
 fought and defended themselves. When any were so worsted or out 
 of breath, that they could not longer support the fight, they seated 
 themselves near a large ditch full of water in the middle of the plain, 
 when having taken off their helmets, they refreshed themselves: this 
 done, they replaced their helmets and returned to the combat. I do 
 not believe there ever was so well fought or so severe a battle, as 
 this of Marteras in Bigorre, since the famous combat of thirty Eng. 
 lish against thirty French knights ia Brittany.t 
 
 " They fought hand to hand, and Ernauton de Sainte Colombe, an 
 excellent man-at-arms, was on the point of being killed by a squire 
 of the country called Guillonet de Salenges, who had pushed him so 
 hard that he was quite out of breath, when I will tell you what hap. 
 pened : Ernauton do Sainte Colombe had a servant who WiS a spec 
 tator of the batde, neither attacking nor attacked by any one ; but, 
 seeing his master thus distressed, he ran to him, and, wresting the 
 battle-axe from his hands, said, ' Ernauton, go and sit down: recover 
 yourself: you cannot longer continue the battle.' With this battle, 
 axe he advanced upon the squire, and gave him such a blow on the 
 helmet as made him stog-ger and a'most fall down. Guillonet, smart- 
 ing from the blow, was very wroth, and made for the servant to 
 strike him with his axe on the head; but the varlet avoided it, and 
 grappling with the squire, who was much fatigued, turned him round, 
 and flung him to the ground under him, when he said, ' I. will put 
 you to death, if you do not surrender yourself to my master.' ' And 
 who is thy master V ' Ernautjn de Sainte Colombe, with whom you 
 have been so long engaged.' The squire, finding he had not the 
 advantage, being under the servant, w^ho had his dagger ready to 
 strike, surrendered on condition to deliver himself prisoner, within 
 fifteen days, at thcf castle of Lourde, whether rescued or not. Of 
 such service wa3 this servant to his master ; and. I must say, sir John, 
 that there was a superabundance of feats of arms that day performed, 
 and many companions were sworn to surrender themselves at Tarbes 
 and at Lourde. Ernauton Biscete and le Mengeant de Sainte Basile 
 fought hand to hand, without sparing themselves, and performed 
 many gallant deeds, while all the others were fully employed : how. 
 ever, they fought so vigorously that they exhausted their strength, 
 and both were slain on the spot. Thus fell Ernauton Biscete and le 
 Mengeant de Sainte Basile. 
 
 " Upon this, the combat ceased by mutual consent, for they were 
 ?o worn down tliat they could not longer wield their axes : some 
 disarmed themselves, to recruit their strength, and left there their 
 irms. Those of Lourde carried with them the dead body of le Men- 
 feant, as the French did that of Ernauton to Tarbes ; and, in order 
 lhat the memory of this battle should be preserved, they erected a 
 cross of stone on the place where these two knights had fought and 
 died. See, there it is : I point to it." On this, we turned to the 
 right, and made for the cross, when each said an Ave Maria and a 
 Pater.noster for the souls of the deceased. " By my faiih," said I 
 to the knight, "I have listened to you with pleasure ; and in truth it 
 was a very &3vere affiir for so small a number ; but what became of 
 those who conducted the pillage ?" " I will tell you," replied he. 
 "At the bridge of Tournay, below Malvoisin, where they intended 
 to cross, they found the bourg d'Espaign in ambuscade, who, on 
 their arrival, sallied out upon them, being in sufficient force. Those 
 of Lourde could not retreat, and were obliged to abide the event. 
 I must truly say, that the combat was as severe and as long, if not 
 
 * •' Biscete"— before Bi/Tete. 
 
 tThis celebrated comhat took place between thirty English under the command of 
 Bsmbro [whu seems inconsiderately to hiive engiiRed in it) and tiiirty French under 
 Beaumanoir, at the cuk half way between Pluermel and Josseiin. in the year 13jl.<-* 
 9%9 note, pagt 92. 
 
 longer than that at Marteras. The bourg d'Espaign performed won. 
 ders : he wielded a batie.axe, and never hit a man with it but he 
 struck him to the ground. He was well formed for this, being of a 
 large size, strongly made, and not too much loaded with flesh. H« 
 took with his own hand the two captains, the bourg de Cornilhic* 
 and Perot Palatin de Beam. A squire of Navarre was there slain, 
 called Ferdinand de Miranda, an expert man-at-arms. Some who 
 wore present say the bourg d'Espaign killed him, others that he was 
 stifled through the heat of his armor. In short, the pillage was res- 
 cued, and all who conducted it slain or aade prisoners ; for not three 
 escaped excepting varlets, who ran away and crossed the river Lease 
 by swimming. Thus ended this business, and the garrison of Lourde 
 never had such a loss as it suffered that day. The prisoners were 
 courteously ransomed, or mutually exchanged ; for those who had 
 been engaged in this combat had made several prisoners on each 
 side, so that it behooved them to treat each other handsomely." 
 
 " Holy Mary !*' said I to the knight, " this bourg d'Espaign, is he 
 so strong a man as you tell me ?" " Yes, that he is, by my troth," 
 said he, " and you will not find his equal in all Gascony for' vigor of 
 body : it is for this the count de Foix esteems him as his brother in 
 arms. Three years ago, I saw him play a ridiculous trick, which I 
 will relate to you. On Christmas-day, when the count de Foix was 
 celebrating the feast with numbers of knights and squires, as is cus- 
 tomary, the weather was piercing cold, and the count had dined, 
 with many lords, in the hall. After dinner he rose and went into a 
 gallery, which has a large staircase of twenty-four steps : ia this 
 gallery is a chimney where is a fire kept when the count inhabits it, 
 otherwise not ; and the fire is never great, for he does not like it : 
 it is not for want of blocks of wood, for B6arn is covered vvith wood 
 in plenty to warm him if he had chosen it, but he has accustomed 
 himself to a small fire. When in the gallery he thought the fire too 
 small, for it was freezing and the weather very sharp, and said ta 
 the knights around him, ' Here is but a small fire for this weather.' 
 Ernauton d'Espaign instantly ran down stairs; for from the windows 
 of the gallery, which looked int3 the 'court, he had seen a number of 
 asses with billets of wood for the use of the house, and seizing tho 
 largest of these asses, with his load, threw him over his shoulders, 
 and carried him up stairs, pushing through the crowd of knights and 
 squires who were around the chimney, and flung ass and load, with 
 his feet upward, on the dogs of the hearth, to the delight of the count, 
 and the astonishment of all, at the strength of the squire, who had 
 carried, with such ease, so great a load up so many steps." 
 
 This feat of strength did I hear ; and all the histories cf sir Espaign 
 du Lyon gave me such satisfaction and delight, I thought the road 
 was much too short. While this was relating, we crossed the pass 
 of Larre, and leaving the castle of Marteras, where the battle was 
 fought, passed very near the castle of Barbasan, which is handsome 
 and strong, a league distant from Tarbes. We saw it before us, and 
 had a good road, easy to be travelled, following the course of the 
 river Leschez, which rises in the mountains. We rode at our leisure, 
 not tj fatigi>3 our horses ; and he pointed out to me, on the other 
 side of the river, the castle and town of Montgaillard, and the road 
 which goes straight to Lourde. It then came into my mind to ask 
 the knight about the duke of Anjou, when the castle of Malvoisin 
 had surrendered to him, and how he had actad on his march to 
 Lourde. He very cheerfully told me as follows : 
 
 " When the duke of Anjou marched his army from before Mai. 
 voisin, he crossed the river Leschez by the bridge of Tournay, and 
 lodged at Bagnferes (where there is a handsome river which runs by 
 Tarbes : for that of Tournay takes a different course, and falls into 
 the Garonne, below Montmillion) in his way to lay siege to Lourde. 
 Sir Peter Arnaut de Bdarn, with his brother John, Peter d'Anchin, 
 Ernauton de Restin, Ernauton de Sainte Colombe, and le Mengeant, 
 who was then alive, Ferdinand de Miranda, Oliver Barbe, le bourg 
 de Cornillac, le bourg Camus, and the other companions within 
 Lourde, had good information of his arrival, and had much strength, 
 ened the place, in all respects, against his coming. Lourde held 
 out, in spite of all the attacks they could make on it, for sixteen days 
 consecutively. Many gallant deeds were done, and much mischief 
 to the town by the machines which the duke brought to bear against 
 it, so that at length it was conquered ; but the garrison suffered 
 nothing, nor lost man, woman, nor child, for they had all retreated 
 to the castle, as they knew well the town could not always hold out, 
 being only fortified vvith palisadoes. 
 
 When the French had won the town of Lourde they were much 
 pleased, and, having fixed their quarters in it, they surrounded the 
 castle,, which was impregnable but by a long siege, 'i'he duke was 
 there upward of six weeks, and lost more than he gained ; for the 
 besiegers could not hurt those wifhin the castle, as it is situated on 
 a perpendicular rock, and can only be approached by ladders, or by 
 one pass. There were at the barriers several handsome skirmishes 
 and deeds of arms, when many squires of France were killed and 
 wounded from having advanced too near. The duke of -A.njou, see. 
 ing he could not gain the castle of Lourtle by force, opened a nego. 
 tiation with the governor, offering him large sums of money if he 
 would surrender his garrison. The knight was a man of honor, and 
 excused himself by saying, ' the garrison was not his ; and that he 
 could neither sell, give, nor alienate the inheritance of the king of 
 * * Befure Uaroiliau 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 England, unless he were a traitor, which he scorned to be, and would 
 remain loyal to his natural lord. When the fort was intrusted to 
 him, it was on condition that he swore solemnly on his faith, in the 
 hands of the prince of Wales, to guard and defend the castle of 
 Lourde until death, against every man whatever, unless he were sent 
 to him from the king of England.' No other answer could be had 
 from him, in reply to all the offers and promises they made ; so that, 
 when the duke and his council saw they could not gain anything, 
 they broke up the siege of the castle of Lourde ; but, on their de- 
 camping, they burnt t;ie town to the ground. 
 
 " The duke retreated with his army along the frontiers of Bdarn 
 toward Montmarsen : he had heard that the count de Foix had rein- 
 forced all his garrisons with men-at-arms. This did not displease 
 him so much as that the B(^arn men should hold out Lourde against 
 him ; but he could never obtain anything satisfactory on this head. 
 The count de Foix, as I have mentioned before., was very suspicious 
 of the intentions of the duke, who did him no harm, though the count 
 d'Armagnac and the lord d'Albreth wished him to act otherwise ; 
 but he was not so inclined. While he was encamped between 
 Montmarsen and the high lands of Albreth, he sent sir Peter de 
 Beuil to Orthds, v/here on his arrival he was handsomely received by 
 the count de Foix and lodged in the castle. He entertained him 
 splendidly, and presented him with fine horses and mules, and to his 
 people gave other gifts : he sent by him to the duke of Anjou four 
 beautiful horses and two Spanish grayhounds, so handsome and good 
 there were none like them. Some secret negotiations passed be- 
 tween the count and sir Peter de Beuil, of which we knew nothing 
 for a long time ; but, from circumstances which shortly happened, 
 we su<5pected what I will now tell you, and by that time we shall 
 anive at Tarbcs. 
 
 " Soon after the duke of Anjou had ended his expedition and was 
 TBturned to Toulouse, the count de Foix sent letters by a trusty mes- 
 senger to his cousin sir Peter Arnaut de B^arn at Lourde, for him to 
 come to Orth5s. The knisrht on mnpivir.^ these letters and noticing 
 the bearer, who was a man of high rank, became very thoughtful 
 and doubtful whether to go or not : however, on full consideration, 
 he said he would go, for he was unwilling to offend the count de 
 Foix. When on the point of departure, he called his brother, John 
 de B^arn, and said to him, in presence of the garrison : ' My lord, 
 the count de Foix has sent for me ; on what account I know not, 
 but since he is desirous I should come to him, I will go. I suspect 
 very much that I shall be required to surrender this castle ; for the 
 duke of Anjou has marched along the frontiers of his country with- 
 out entering it, and the count de Foix has long wished for the castle 
 of Malvoisin, in order to be master of Lane-bourg and the frontiers 
 of Bigorre and Comminges. I am ignorant if any treaties have been 
 made between him and the duke of Anjou ; but I declare, that as 
 lonp" as I live, I will never surrender the castle of Lourde but to my 
 natural lord the king of England. I therefore order you, brother 
 John, should I appoint you to the command of it, that you swear to 
 me, upon your faith and gentility, you will hold it in the same man. 
 ner as I do, and that you v/ill never fail in so doing for life or death.' 
 John took the oath as his brother required, who then set out for 
 Orthfes, where on his arrival he dismounted at the hotel of the Moon. 
 
 " When he thought it was decent time to wait on the count, he 
 went to him at the castle, who received him most amicably, made 
 him sit at his table, and showed him every mark of attention. Din- 
 ncr being over, the count said, ♦ Peter, I have many things to talk 
 with you upon : therefore, you must not go away without my leave.' 
 The knight answered, ' My lord, I will cheerfully stay until I have 
 your permission to depart.' The third day the count addressed him, 
 in the presence of the viscount de Gousserant, his brother, the lord 
 d'Anchin in Bigorre, and several knights and squires, and so loud 
 that all heard him : ' Peter, I have sent for you, to acquaint you, that 
 my lord of Anjou is very angry with me, on account of the garrison 
 of Lourde which you command. Through the good offices of some 
 fri«nds I have in his army, my territories have narrowly escaped 
 being overrun ; and it is his opinion, and others in his company who 
 hate me, that I support yoi\, because you are of B^arn. Now I do 
 not wish to incur the anger of so powerful a prince as the duke of 
 Anjou : I therefore command you, under pain of my displeasure, 
 and by the faith and homage you owe me, to give up the castle of 
 Lourde to me.' 
 
 " The knight was thunderstruck on hearing this speech, and 
 thought awhile what answer to make ; for he perceived the count 
 had spoken in a determined manner. Having considered, he said, 
 * My lord, in truth I owe you faith and homage, for I am a poor 
 knight of your blood and country ; but, as for the castle of Lourde, I 
 will never surrender it to you. You have sent for me, and you may 
 therefore do with me as you please. I hold the castle of Lourde 
 from the king of England, who has placed me there ; and to no 
 other person but to him will I ever surrender it.* The count de 
 Foix, on hearing this answer, was exceedingly wroth, and said, as 
 lie drew his dagger, ' Ho, ho ! dost thou then say so ? By this head, 
 thou hast not said it for nothing.' And, as he uttered these words, 
 he strack him foully with the dagger, so that he wounded him 
 severely in five places, and none of the barons or knights dared to 
 interfere. The knight repUed, ♦ Ha, ha, my lord, this is not gentle 
 treatment- you have sent for me hither, and are murdering me.' 
 
 Having received these five strokes from the dagger, the count ordered 
 him to be cast into the dungeon, which was done ; and there he died, 
 for he was ill cured of his wounds. 
 
 " Ha, holy Mary," said I to the knight, ' was not thb r great act 
 of cruelty ?" " Whatever it was," said he, " so it happt-ued, and ill 
 betide him who angers the count, for then he pardo' none. He 
 kept his cousin-gennan, the viscount Chiiteaubon, e^ en though he is 
 his heir, eight months prisoner in the castle of the lov/cr of Orthe.'j, 
 and then ransomed him for forty thousand francs." " Wjiai, sir," 
 said I, " has not the count de Foix any children ?" " Eh, in God's 
 name, not in lawful marriage ; but he has two young knights, has- 
 tards, sir Jenuain and sir Gracien, whom you will sec> and whom 
 he loves as well as himself." " And was he/iever married ?" " Yes, 
 and is so still, but madame de Foix does not live with liim." " Where 
 does she reside?" "She lives in Navarre, for the king of Navarre 
 is her brother: she was daughter of king Louis of Navarre."* 
 "The count de Foix, had he never any children by her?" "Yes; 
 a very fine son, who wa? the delight of his father and of the coim- 
 try : through him the country of Bearn, which is in dispute;, would 
 have been settled, for his v>'ife was the sister of the count d'Ar- 
 magnac." " And pray, sir, may I ask what became of tliis son ?" 
 " Yes," replied he ; " but the story is too long at present, for v\'e are, 
 as you see, arrived at the town." 
 
 At these words I left the knight quiet ; and we soon after entered 
 Tarbes, where we were very comfortable at the hotel of the Star. 
 We remained there the whole of that day, for it was a commodious 
 place, to refresh ourselves and horses, having good hay, good oats, 
 and a handsome river. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 DURING THE JOURNEY FROM TARBES TO WORLENS, THE KiV:GHT OF FOIX 
 RELATES TO FROISSART THE QUARREL AND RECONCILIATION BETWEEN 
 THE DUKE OF BERRY AND THE COUNT DE FOIX — AND ALSO THE CAUSE 
 OF THE WAR BETWEEN HIM AND THE COUNT d'aR.MAGNAC. 
 
 On the morrow, after mass, having mounted our horses and lefl 
 Tarbes, we came to Jorre, a town which has always gallantly de. 
 fended itself against the garrison of Lourde. We passed by it, and 
 entered Bearn, when the knighi stopped in the plain and said, "We 
 are now in Bearn." There were two roads that crossed each other, 
 and we knew not which to take, whether that to Morlens or to Pau : 
 at last we followed that to Morlens. 
 
 In riding over the heaths of Bearn, whicli are tolerably level, 1 
 asked, in order to renew our conversation, " Is the town of Pau near 
 us ? " Yes," said he, " I will show you the steeple ; but it is much 
 further off than it appears, and the roads are very bad to travel on 
 account of the deep clays, t and it would be folly for any one to 
 attempt going through them that is not well acquainted v/ith the 
 country. Below are seated the town and castle of Lourde." "And 
 who is governor of it now ?" " John de Be irn, brother to sir Peter 
 de Bdarn that was murdered, and he styles himself seneshcal of Bi- 
 gorre for the king of England." " Indeed I" said I, " and does 
 this John ever visit the count de Foix ?" " Never since the death 
 of his brother; but his other companions, such as Peter d'Anchin, 
 Ernauton de Resiin, Ernauton de Sainte Colombe, and others, go 
 thither, whenever they have occasion." " Has the count de Foix 
 made any amends for the murder of the knight ? or has he ever 
 again been in such passions?" "Yes, very often,"' replied the 
 knight ; " but as for .amends, he has never made any, except indeed 
 by secret penances, masses, and prayei-s ; he has with him a son of 
 John de Bdarn, a young and courteous squire, whom he greatly 
 loves." 
 
 "Holy Mary I" exclaimed I, "since the duke of Anjou was so 
 desirous to gain Lourde, he ought to be well pleased with the count 
 de Foix, who could murder a knight and his cousin, to accotnplish 
 the duke's wishes." "By my faith, he was so ; for soon after thu 
 event of his nephew coming to the crown of France, he sent sir 
 Roger d'Espaign and a president of the parliament of Paris, with 
 fair letters patent engrossed and sealed, of the king's declaration that 
 he gave him the county of Bigorre during his life, but that it was 
 necessary he should become liege man and hold it of the crown of 
 France. The count de Foix was very thankful to the king for thia 
 mark of his affection, and for the gift of Bigorre, which was unso- 
 licited on his part ; but, for anything Roger d'Espaign could say or 
 do, he would never accept it. He only retained the castle of Mai. 
 voisin, because it was free land, and the castle and its dependencies 
 held of none but God, and formerly had been part of his patrimony. 
 The king of France, to please the duke of Anjou, gave it to the 
 count de-Foix; but the count swore he would only hold it on con- 
 dition never to admit into it any one ill inclined to France ; and in 
 truth he had it well guarded. The garr^on of Malvoisin would 
 have been as much afraid of the English as any other French or 
 Gascon garrison, but they dared not invade the territories of Foix." 
 
 I was much pleaised with this history of sir Espaign du Lyon, 
 which I have well remembered ; for as soon as we dismounted at our 
 
 * Inea or Agnee, wife of Guslon Pha-biis, count de Foix, was daughter of Joan of 
 Navane and Philip VI. king of France.— Ed. 
 
 t Les KravQi.-~Place« situated on the banks of rivers, and covered with movioi 
 and*.— £p. 
 
368 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 inns, I wrote all down, whether it was late or early, that posterity 
 might have the advantage of it, for there is nothing like writing for 
 the preservation of events. 
 
 We rode this morning tj Morlens; but, before we arrived, I again 
 begin tbi conversation by saying, " My lord, I have forgotten to ask 
 you. when 'ou were telling nie the history of Foix and Armagnac, 
 Low rne coui.t de Foix was able to dissemble with the duke of Berry, 
 who had married a daughter and sister to the counts d'Armagnac ? 
 and if the duke ol Berry made war on him, how he behaved ?" " How 
 he behaved ?" snid the knight: " I will tell you : in former times, 
 the duke hated him mortally ; but at this moment, by means which 
 you will hear, when at Orthfes, they are very good friends." " My 
 lord, was there any reason for the duke's hatred ?" " Father of 
 God I no," replied the knight: "I will tell you the cause of it. 
 When Charles king of France, father to the present king, died, the 
 kingdom was divided into two parties respecting its government. My 
 lord of Anjou, who was impatient to go to Italy, and indeed this he 
 afterwards did, took possession of it, and set aside his two brothers 
 the dukes of Berry and Burgundy. The duke of Berry had the 
 government of those parts within the Lingue d'Oc, and the duke of 
 Burgundy of the Langue d'Ouy and all Picardy.* 
 
 " When the inhabitants of Languedoc heard that my lord of Berry 
 was to govern them, they were much alarmed, especially those of 
 Toulouse and its dependencies ; for they knew the duke to be a 
 spendthiift, who would get money any way he could, without caring 
 how he oppressed the people. Some Bretons still remained in the 
 Toulousain, Carcassonnois and Rouergue, whom the duke of Anjou 
 had left, and they pillaged the whole country : it was reported the 
 duke of Berry sup.ported them, in order to be master of the principal 
 towns. The duke himself was not at the time I am speaking of in 
 Languedoc, but attending the king in the wars in Flanders. The 
 citizens of Toulouse, who are a powerful body, perceiving how young 
 the king was and how much occupied with the affairs of his uncle 
 the duke of Burgundy in Flanders, and that they were perpetually 
 plundered by Bretons and other pillagers, so that they knew net how 
 to prevent it, sent to the count de Foix offers of paying him a certain 
 sum monthly, if he would undertake the government and defence of 
 their city and the other neighboring towns. They entreated him very 
 earnestly to comply with their request, because they knew him to be 
 an upright man, a great lover of justice, fortunate in his affairs, and 
 much feared by his enemies. The inhabitants of Toulouse have 
 always borne him great afiection, for he has ever been a good neigh- 
 bor to them. 
 
 " He undertook the charge o'' their government, and swore to hold 
 and defend the country in its right against all who were ill inclined, 
 with the reservation of the rights of the king of France. He instantly 
 ordered considerable detachments of men-at-arms on the different 
 roads the pillagers used to take ; and one day he had hanged or 
 drowned upward o^* four hundred of them, at Robesten in the Tou- 
 lousain, which gamed him so much the love of those of Toulouse, 
 Carcassonne, Beziers, Montpelier and the other towns, that it was 
 reported Languedoc had revolted and chosen for its lord the count 
 de Foix. The duke of Berry, who had the government of it, was ill 
 pleased at this intelligence, and conceived a great hatred to the count 
 de Foix, for interfering so much in the affairs of France, and for his 
 supporting the people of Toulouse in their revolt. He ordered men- 
 at-arms into that country, but they were severely repulsed by the 
 partisans of the count de Foix, and were forced to retreat, or ihey 
 would have suffered for it. This angered the duke still more; he 
 said the count de Foix was the proudest and most presumptuous man 
 in the world ; and he would not suffer his name to be mentioned with 
 praise in his presence ; but he did not make war against him, for 
 the count had all his towns and castles so well garrisoned, none dared 
 to invade his territories. 
 
 " When the duke of Berry entered Languedoc, the count resigned 
 the government, and would not any way meddle, in prejudice to the 
 duke ; but his dislike still continued as great as ever. I will now 
 say a word of the means that established peace between them. About 
 ten years ago,t Eleanor de Comminges (at present countess of Bou- 
 logne, a near relation to the count de Foix, and lawful heiress to the 
 county of Comminges, notwithstanding tie count d'Armagnac was 
 in possession) came to the count de Foix at Orthfes, bringing with 
 her a young girl, three years old. The count entertained her hand- 
 somely, inquired her business, whence she came, and whither going ? 
 ' My lord,' said she, ' I am going to my uncle and aunt-in-law, the 
 count and countess de Durgueil,in Arragon, there to remain ; for 1 have 
 
 * " It is very probable these two denominations had been in use before tlie ordinance 
 of Phihp le Bel in 1204 and 1 J05. It is in another ordinance of Charles VI. 1394, which 
 states the crown of France to be divided into Langue d'Oc, and Langue d'Oil. The 
 word Langue was employed anciently for nation or province: in the order of Malta, 
 the term is preserved at present. Guillaume de Nangis, in his chronicle, points out the 
 •nvirons of Paris by the name ot Langue d'Oil, in the year 1344, where an epidemical 
 I isorder began to desolate the country toward the end of August. In la Salade, by 
 Anthony do la Salle, about 14 10, he speaks of an unknown knight, whom he supposes 
 from Languedoc, ' because he and the greater part of his attendants used in theirspeech 
 Oc, the language wiiich is spoken at Saint-Jago of Compostella.' 
 
 " All these general distinctions ceased from the time of Francis I. There is not any 
 mention after that period, in the treasury receipts, of the Langue d'Oc nor of the Lan- 
 gue d'Oil. The Langue d'Oc was considered as the coiwitry south of tlie Loire, and the 
 Langue d'Oil, or Picarde, to the north of it."— St. Pai.ayk, JViJii. de C Jicadimie, 
 f gL uiv. t Tim tooJi place ia 1382.-£o. 
 
 much displeasure in living with my husband, sir John de Boulogne, 
 son of the count de Boulogne. I expected he would have recovered 
 for me mine inheritance of Comminges from the count d'Armagnac 
 who no only keeps it, but has confined my sister in prison ; but my 
 husband is too soft a knight, whose sole delight is eating and drink 
 ing, and enjoying his pleasures ; and the moment his father dies, h*» 
 will sell the greater part of his estates to multiply his luxuries : it is 
 for these reasons I cannot live with him. I have also brought my 
 daughter with me, whom I deliver np to your charge, and appoin* 
 you her guardian, to instruct and dei 'nd her; for I well know that, 
 from our relationship, you will not disappoint me; and I have the 
 greatest confidence in the care you will take of my daughter Joan. It 
 was with much difficulty I could get her from her father's hands, 
 and out of the country ; but as I know the Armagnacs, your adver« 
 saries as well as mine, are capable of carrying her off, being the true 
 heiress of Comminges, I deliver her to you ; therefore do not fail me 
 in the business, I entreat of you ; for I firmly believe, that when my 
 husband shall know I left her under your care, he will be pleased, 
 having frequently said, that this girl would give him much trouble.' 
 
 " The count de Foix was delighted to hear his cousin, the lady 
 Eleanor, thus talk, and thought in his own mind (for he has a very 
 fertile imagination,) that this girl was brought to him very oppor- 
 tunely, as by her means he could make a stable })eace with his ene- 
 mies, or marry her so nobly they would fear him. He answered, 
 ' Madame and cousin, I will most cheerfully comply with your re. 
 quest : I am bounden to do it by our relationship. With regard to 
 your daughter, I will defend, and be as careful of her as if she were 
 my own child.' ♦ A thousand thanks, my lord,' said the lady. Thus 
 did the young lady of Boulogne remain with the count at his house 
 in Orthfes, which she has never since quitted, and the lady her mother 
 pursued her journey to Arragon. She has returned to see her two 
 or three times, but has never asked to have her back ; for the count 
 acquits himself toward her as if she were indeed his own child. But 
 I must tell you the means by which, if formerly he was in the ill 
 graces of the duke de Berry, he is now on good terms. The duke 
 at this moment is very desirous to marry her ; and from what I heard 
 at Avignon from the pope, who spoke to me on the subject, and who 
 is cousin-german to her father, the duke will employ him to ask for 
 him, as he is determined to make her his wife." 
 
 " By holy Mary, "said I to the knight, " your history has givenme 
 much pleasure and done me service : you shall not lose a word you 
 have said, for they shall all be chronicled with everything I say and 
 do, if God grant me health to return again to Valenciennes, of which 
 place I am a native ; but I am very angry at one thing." Whatia 
 that?" said the knight. " On my faith, it is, that so noble and val- 
 iant a prince as the count de Foix should not have any legal heirs 
 by his wife." " Please God he had," replied the knight ; " for if his 
 child were now alive, he would be the happiest lord in the world, 
 and his vassals be equally rejoiced." " What !" said 1, " will his 
 estates be without an heir ?" " Oh, no : the viscount de Chateau, 
 bon, his cousin-german, is his heir." " Is he a valiant man-at-arms ?" 
 " God help him ! no ; and for that reason the count de Foix cannot 
 bear him. He will make his two bastard-sons, who are young and 
 handsome knights, his heirs, and intends to connect them very highly 
 by marfiage ; for he has money enough, which will find them wives 
 to uphold and assist them." " Sir," said I, " all this is very well ; 
 but I do not think it just nor decent that bastards should inherit 
 lands." " Why not ?" added he, " if proper heirs be wanting. Do 
 not you see how the Spaniards crowned for king the bastard don 
 Henry ? and the Portuguese have done the same thing. It has fre- 
 quently happened, that bastards have gained possession of several 
 kingdoms by force. Was not William the Conqueror bastard-son of 
 a duke of Normandy ! He won all England, as well as the king's 
 daughter who then governed, and was himself king, and from him 
 all the kings of England are descended." 
 
 *' Well, sir," said I, " all this may be well, for there is nothing 
 but what may happen. Surely those of the Armagnac party are too 
 strong, and this country must always be at war. Tell me, my dear 
 sir, the first origin of the wars between Foix and Armagnac, and 
 which had the fairest cause." " That I will, by my faith," answered 
 the knight : " It has, however, been a vonderful war, for each 
 thinks he has justice on his side. You must know, that formerly, 
 I imagine about one hundred years from this time, there was a lord 
 of B^arn called Gaston,* a most gallant man-at-arms : he was buried 
 with great solemnity in the church of the Fr^res Mineurs, at Orth^s, 
 where you will find him and may see of what a size he was in body 
 and limbs, for during his lifetime he had a handsome resemblance 
 made of him, in brass. This Gaston had two daughters ;t the eld. 
 est of whom he married to the count d'Armagnac of that period, 
 and the youngest to the count de Foix, nephew to the king of Arra. 
 gon. The counts de Foix still bear those arms (for they are de- 
 scended from the kings of Arragon,) which are paly or and gules ; 
 and this, I believe, you know. It happened that the lord of Beam 
 
 j * Gaston V tl. of the house of Moncada. He began to reign in 1232, and died, April 
 22, 1290. He built the castle of Orthes".— Ed. 
 
 t Gaston Vll. had /owr daugliters and no heir male. These four daughters were 
 Constance, the eldest, who married the infant of Arr;igv)n ; Margaret, who married R»- 
 ger Bernard, count de Foix ; Aniata, who married tlie couflt of AriuaSBa*; UuiGui) 
 
 I lemette, married after the d«»ii» of failier.— £o. 
 
CIIRONTCLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 369 
 
 nad a severe and long war with the king of Castille of that lime,* 
 who, marching through Biscay with a numerous army, entered Bdurn. 
 Sir Gaston de Beam, having intelligence of his march, collected 
 poople from all quarters, and had written tJ his two sons-in-law, the 
 counts d'Armagnac and de Foix, to come with all quickness with 
 their forces, tj assist him in the defence and preservation of his 
 inheritance. 
 
 " On *hv arrival of these letters, the count de Foix assembled his 
 vassals as speedily as possible, and sent fcr assistance to all his 
 ^riends. He exerted himself so effectually, that he collected five 
 hundred knighti and squires and two thousand footmen armed with 
 javelins, darts and shields : accompanied by these, he marched into 
 B^arn to assist the lord his father, who was much delighted there- 
 with. This army crossed the river Bane by the bridge of Orth^s, 
 and took up their quarters between Sauveterre and I'Hopital. The 
 king of Castille, with full twenty thousand men, was encamped not 
 far from them. Sir Gaston de Bearn and the count de Foix, expect, 
 ing the count d'Armagnac, waited for him three days : on the fourth 
 a herald arrived from the count d'Armagnac with letters to sir Gas. 
 ton, to say he could not come, and that it was not agreeable to him 
 to arm in behalf of the country of Bearn, for at present he had not 
 any interest in it. Sir Gaston, perceiving he was not to have any 
 assistance from the count d'Armagnac, was much astonished, and 
 asked the count de Foix and the barons of Bearn, how he should 
 act: ' My lord,' replied the count de Foix, ' since we are assembled, 
 we will offer battle to your enemies.' This advice was followed, 
 and instantly they all armed : they might be about twelve hundred 
 men with helmets, and six thousand on foot. 
 
 " The count de Foix, with the van division, charged the king of 
 Castille and his army in their quarters. The battle was very severe 
 and bloody : upward of two thousand Castillians w.ere slain. The 
 count de Foix made prisoners the son and brother of the king of 
 Castille, whom he sent to sir Gaston de B^arn, who commanded the 
 rear division. The Castillians were completely defeated. The 
 count de Foix pursued them as far as the gates of St. Andero in 
 Biscay, where the king took refuge in an abbey, and put on a monk's 
 frock, otherwise he would have been taken : those saved themselves 
 who could, on board of vessels. The count de Foix on his return 
 to sir Gaston de Bearn, was received by him with much joy, as in. 
 deed he had reason, for he had saved his honor and secured the 
 country, which otherwise would have been lost. This battle and 
 defeat of the Castillians, and the capture of the son and brother of 
 the king, induced him to accede to a peace with the lord de Beam 
 on such terms as he dictated. 
 
 " Sir Gaston de Bearn, on his return to Orth^s, in the presence of 
 all the knights of Bearn and Foix, took the count de Foix by the hand 
 and said : ' Fair son, you are indeed my son, my loyal son, and have 
 secured for ever my honor and the honor of my country. The count 
 d'Armagnac, who married my eldest daughter, has excused himself 
 from assisting in the defence of my inheritance, in which he was so 
 much interested. I therefore declare, that he has forfeited and shall 
 lose whatever share he may have expected from it in behalf of my 
 daughter. You, count de Foix, shall inherit the whole of my territory 
 of B^idrn after my decease, you and your heirs for ever. I entreat and 
 command all my subjects to agree with me, and to seal this gift, which 
 I present to you, my fair son of Foix.' All present answered, ' My 
 lord, we will most cheerfully do so.' Thus did the former counts de 
 Foix become lords of Beam : they bear the arms and the name, and 
 have the war-cry and profit. However, the Armagnacs have not the 
 less urged their claims, to those rights they say they are entitled 
 to ; and this is the cause of the quarrel and war between Armag- 
 nac, Foix and Bearn." 
 
 "By my faith," said I to the knight, " you have perfectly well 
 explained the matter. I never before heard anything of it, but, 
 since I now do, I will perpetuate it, if God grant that I return to 
 my own country. But there is one thing more I could wish to 
 know : what caused the death of the son of the count de Foix ?" 
 The knight became pensive, and said, " It is too melancholy a sub- 
 ject: I therefore wish not to speak of it; but when you are at Or- 
 th6s, if you ask, you will find many there who will tell you the 
 whole history." I was obliged to content myself with this answer; 
 so we continued our journey until we arrived at Morlens. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 SIR JOHN FROISSART ARRIVES AT ORTHES. AN OLD SQUIRE RELATES TO 
 HIM THE CRUEL DEATH OF THE ONLY SON OF THE COUNT DE FOIX, AND 
 HOW STRUNGE DREAMS AFFECTED SIR PETER DE BEARN BASTARD-BRO. 
 THER TO THE COUNT. 
 
 On the morrow we set out, and dined at Montgerbal, when hav. 
 ing remounted, and drank a cup at Ercie, we arrived by sunset at 
 Orth^s. The knight dismounted at his own house : and I did the 
 same at the h6tel of the Moon, kept by a squire of the count, called 
 Ernauton du Pin, who received me with much pleasure on account 
 of my being a Frenchman. Sir Espaign du Lyon, who had accom- 
 panied me, went to the castle, to speak with the count on his aft'airs : 
 
 he found him in his gallery, fur a little before that hour he had dined, 
 It was a custom with the count, which he had followed fi-om his in. 
 tancy, to rise at noon* and sup at midnight. 
 
 The knight informed him of my arrival, and I was instantly sent 
 for ; for he is a lord above all others who delights to see strangers, 
 in order to hear news. On my entering, he received me handsomely 
 and retained me of his household, where I staid upward of twelve 
 weeks well entertained, as were my horses. Our acquaiutincc was 
 strengthened by my having brought with me a book which I had 
 made at the desire of Winceslaus of Bohemia, duke of Luxembourg 
 and Brabant. In this book, called le Meliador, are contained all the 
 songs, ballads, roundelays and virelays, which that gentle duke had 
 composed, and of them I had made this collection. Every night af- 
 ter supper I read out to him parts: during which time neither he 
 nor any one else spoke, for he was desirous I should be well heard, 
 and tjok much delight in it. When any passages were nc<t per- 
 fectly clear, he himself discussed them vnih me, uot in his Gascon 
 language, but in very good French. 
 
 I shall relate to you several things respecting him and his house, 
 hold, for I tarried there as long as I could gain any information. 
 Count Gaston Phoebus de Foix, of whom I am now speaking, was 
 at that time fifty-nine years old ; and I must say, that although I 
 have seen very many knights, kings, princes and others, I have never 
 seen any so handsome, either in the form of his limbs and shape, or 
 in countenance, which was fair and ruddy, with gray and amorous 
 eyes, that gave delight whenever he chose to express affection. He 
 was so perfectly formed, one could not praise him too much. He 
 loved earnestly the things he ought to love, and hated those which 
 it was becoming him so to hate. He was a prudent knight, full of 
 enterprise and wisdom. He had never any men of abandoned 
 character with him, reigned prudently, and was constant in his devo- 
 lions. There were regular nocturnals from the Psalter, prayera 
 from the rituals to the Virgin, to the Holy Ghost, and from the burial 
 service. He had every ray distributed as alms, at his gate, five 
 florins in small coin, to al comers. He was liberal and courteous 
 in his gifts ; and well kne ' how to take when it was proper, and to 
 give back where he had confidence. He mightily loved dogs above 
 all other animals ; and during the summer and winter amused him. 
 self much with hunting. He never liked any foolish works nor 
 ridiculous extravagancies ; and would know every month the amcumt 
 of his expenditure. He chose from his own subjects twelve of the 
 most able to receive and administer his finances : two of them had 
 the managemeri for two months, when they were changed for two 
 others ; and trom them he selected one as comptroller, in whom he 
 placed his greatest confidence, and to whom all others rendered their 
 accounts. This comptroller accounted by rolls or written books, 
 which were laid before the count. He had certain coffers in his 
 apartment, from whence he took money to give to different knights, 
 squires or gentlemen, when they came to wait on him, for none ever 
 left him without a gift ; and these sums he continually increased, in 
 order to be prepared for any event that might happen. He was 
 easy of access to all, and entered very freely into discourse, though 
 laconic in his advice and in his answers. He employed four secre- 
 taries to write and copy his letters; and these secretaries svere obliged 
 to be in readiness the moment he came out from his closet. He 
 called them neither John, Walter, nor William, but his good-for- 
 nothings, to whom he gave his letters after he had read them, either 
 to copy, or to do anything else he might command. 
 
 In such manner did the count de Foix hve. When he quitted his 
 chamber at midnight for supper, twelve sei-vants bore each a lighted 
 torch before him, which were placed near his table, and gave a bril- 
 liant light to the apartment. The hall was full of knights and squires ; 
 and there were plenty of tables laid out for any person v/ho chose to 
 sup. No one spoke to him at his table, unless he first began o C(m- 
 versation. He commonly ate heartily of poultry, but only the wings 
 and thighs ; for in the day-time, he neither ate nor drank much. He 
 had great pleasure in hearing minstrels, as he himself was a profi. 
 cient in the science, and made his secretaries sing songs, ballads and 
 roundelays. He remained at table about two hours ; and was pleased 
 when fanciful dishes were served up to him, which having seen, he 
 immediately sent them to the tables of his knights and squires. 
 
 In short, everything considered, though I had before been in several 
 courts of kings, dukes, princes, counts, and noble ladies, I was never 
 at one that pleased me more, nor was I ever more delighted with 
 feats of arms, than at this of the count de Foix. There were knights 
 and squires to be seen in every chamber, hall and court, going back, 
 wards and forwards, and conversing on arms and amours. Every- 
 thing honorable was there to be found. All intelligence from distant 
 countries was there to be learnt; for the gallantry of the count had 
 brought visitors from all parts of the world. It was there I was in- 
 formed of the greater part of those events which had happened in 
 Spain, Portugal, Arragon, Navarre, England, Scotland, and on the 
 borders of Languedoc ; for I saw, during my residence, kr.ights and 
 squires arrive from every nation. I therefore made inquiries frum 
 them, or from the count himself, who cheeifully conversed witli me. 
 
 I was very anxious to know, seeing the hotel of the count so spa- 
 cious and so amply supplied, what was become of his son Gaston, 
 
 • Tlii* wa» probably about ihe y«ar 13&3.-Ei>. 
 
 * " Uue il se couclioit fit l«vuit k haul* iiuune;" tiiulii to say, h« luuk iiis oiuiuinit 
 me&J al liiai hour.— £0. 
 
370 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND. FRANCE, SPAIN. &c. 
 
 and by what accident he had died, for sir Espaign du Lyon would 
 never satisfy my curiosity. I had made so many inquiries, that at 
 last an old and intelligent squire informed me. He tnus began his 
 sale •. 
 
 " It is well known that the count and countess de Foix are not on 
 .Tood terms with each other, nor have they been so for a long time. 
 This dissension arose from the king of Navarre, who is the lady's 
 (■rother. The king of Navarre had offered to pledge himself for the 
 lord d'Albreth, whom the count de Foix held iii prison, in the smn 
 of fifty thousand francs. The count de Foix, knowing the king of 
 Navarre to be crafty and faithless, would not accept his security, 
 which piqued the countess, and raised her indignation against her 
 husband : she said, ' My lord, you show but little confidence in the 
 honor of my brother, the king of Navarre, when you will not trust 
 him for fifty thousand francs ; if you never gain more from the 
 Armagnacs and Labrissiens than you have done, you ought to be 
 contented: you know that you are to assign over my dower, which 
 amounts to fifty thousand francs, into the hands of my brother : 
 therefore you cannot run any risk for repayment.' ' Lady, you say 
 truly,' replied the count; 'but if I thought the king of Navarre 
 would stop the payment for that cause, the lord d'Albreth should 
 never leave Orth^s until he had paid me the utmost farthing. Since, 
 however, you entreat it, it shall be done, not out of love to you, but 
 out of affection to my son.' Upon this, and from the assurance of 
 the king of Navarre, who acknowledged himself debtor to the count 
 de Foix, the lord d'Albreth recovered his liberty : he turned to the 
 French interest, and married a sister of the duke of Bourbon. He 
 paid, at his convenience, to the king of Navarre the sum of filty 
 thousand francs, according to his obligation ; but that king never 
 repaid them to the count de Foix. 
 
 " The count on this said to his wife, ' Lady, you must go to your 
 brother in Navarre, and tell him that I am very ill-satisfied with him 
 for withholding from me the sum he has eceived on my account.' 
 The lady replied, she would cheerfully g« thither, and set out from 
 Ortheis with her attendants. On her arriva at Pampeluna, her brother 
 the king of Navarre received her with m.ich joy. The lady punc 
 tually delivered her message, which when the king of Navarre heard, 
 ho replied, ' My fair sister, the money is yours, as your dower from 
 the count de Foix ; and, since I have possession of it, it shall never 
 go out of the kingdom of Navarre.' * Ah, my lord,' replied the lady, 
 ' you will by this create a great hatred between the count de Foix 
 and me ; and, if you persist in this resolution, I shall never dare 
 return, for my lord will put me to death for having deceived him.' 
 * I cannot say,' answered the king, who was unwilling to let such a 
 sum go out of his hands, 'how you should act, whether to remain or 
 return ; but as I have possession of the money, and it is my right to 
 keep it for you, it shall never leave Navarre.' 
 
 " The countess de Foix, not being able to obtain any other answer, 
 remained in Navarre, not daring to return home. The count de 
 Foix, perceiving the malice of the king of Navarre, began to detest 
 his wife, though she was no way to blame, for not returning after she 
 had delivered his message. In truth, she was afraid ; for she knew 
 her husband to be cruel when displeased with any '^'^e. Thus things 
 remained. Gaston, the son of my lord, grew up, and became a fine 
 young gentleman. He v/as married to the daughter of the count 
 d'Armagnac, sister to the present count and to sir Bernard d'Ar- 
 magnac ; and by this union peace was insured between Foix and 
 Armagnac. The youth might be about fifteen or sixteen years old : 
 he was a very handsome figure, and the exact resemblance of his 
 father in his whole form. 
 
 " He took it into his head to make a journey into Navarre, to visit 
 his mother and uncle ; but it was an unfortunate journey for him and 
 for this country. On his arrival at Navarre, he was splendidly enter- 
 tained : and he staid some time with his mother. On taking leave, 
 he could not prevail on her, notwithstanding his rerr.onstrances and 
 entreaties, to accompany him back ; for, the lady having asked if the 
 count de Foix, his father, had ordered him to bring her back, he re- 
 plied, that when he set out, no such orders had been given, which 
 caused her to fear trusting herself with him. She therefore remained, 
 and the heir of Foix went to Pampeluna to take leave of his uncle. 
 The king entertained him well, and detained him upward of ten 
 days : on his departure, he made him handsome presents, and did the 
 same by his attendants. The last gift the king gave him was the 
 cause of his death, and I will tell you how it happened. As the 
 youth was on the point of setting out, the king took him privately 
 into his chamber, and gave him a bag full of powder, which was of 
 such pernicious quality as would cause the death of any one that ate 
 of it. 'Gaston, my fair nephew,' said the king, 'will you do *vnat I 
 am about to tell you? You see how unjustly the count de Foix 
 hates your mother, who being my sister, it displeases me as much as 
 it should you. If you wish to reconcile your father to your mother, 
 you must take a small pinch of this powder, and when you see a 
 proper opportunity, strew it over the meat destined for your father's 
 table ; but take care no one sees you. The instant he shall have 
 tasted it, he will be impatient for his wife, your mother, to return to 
 him ; and they will love each other henceforward so strongly they 
 will never again be separated. You ought to be anxious to see this 
 accomplished. Do not tell it to any one : for, if you do, it will lose 
 lis cflect.' The youth, who believed everything his uncle the king 
 
 of Navarre had tuld him, replied, he would cheerfully do as he had 
 said ; and on this he departed from Pampeluna, on his return to 
 Orth6s. His father the count de Foix received him with pleasure, 
 and asked what was the news in Navai-re, and v.'hat presents nnd 
 jewels had been given him ; he replied, 'Very handsome ones,' and 
 showed them all, except the bag which contained the powder. 
 
 " It was customary, in the hotel de Foix, for Gaston and his bastard 
 brother Evan to sleep in the same chamber: they mutually loved 
 each other and were drefsed alike, for tliey were nearly of the same 
 size and age. It fell out, that tJieir clothes were once mixed together; 
 and, the coat of Gaston being on the bed, Evan, who was malicious 
 enough, noticing the powder in the bag, said to Gaston, ' What is 
 this that you wear every day on your breast?' Gaston wac not pleased 
 at the question, and replied, ' Give me back my coat, Evan: you have 
 nothing to do with it.' Evan flung him his coat, which Gaston put 
 on, but was very pensive the whole day. Three days after, as if God 
 was desirous of saving the life of the count de Foix, Gaston quarrelled 
 with Evan at tennis, and gave him a box on the ear. The boy was 
 vexed at this, and ran crying to the apartment of the count, who had 
 just heard mass. The count, on seeing him in tears, asked what was 
 the matter. 'In God's name, my lord, replied Evan, 'Gaston has 
 beaten me, but he deserves beating much more than I do.' 'For 
 what reason ?' said the count, who began to have some puspicions. 
 'On my faith,' said Evan, 'ever since his return from Navarre, he 
 wears on his breast a bag of powder: I know not what use it can be 
 of, nor what he intends to do with it ; except that he has once or 
 twice told me, his mother would soon return hither, and be more in 
 your good grac-es than ever she was.' 'Ho,' said the count, 'hold 
 thy tongue, and be sure thou do not mention what thou hast jui-1 told 
 me to any man breathing.' ' My lord,' replied the youth, ♦ I will 
 obey you.' The count de Foix was very thoughtful cm this subject, 
 and remained alone until dinner-time, when he rose up, and seated 
 himself as usual at his table in the hall. His son Gaston always 
 placed the dishes before him, and tasted the meats. As soon as he 
 had served the first dish, and done what was usual, the count cast hia 
 eyes on him, having formed his plan, and sav\^ the 5:trings of the bag 
 hanging from his pourpoint. This sight made his blood boil, and he 
 said, 'Gaston, come hither: I want to whimper you something.' The 
 youth advanced to the table, when the count, opening his bosom, 
 undid his pourpoint, and with his knife cut away the bag. The 
 young man was thunderstruck, and said not a word, but turned pale 
 with fear, and began to tremble exceedingly, for he was conscious he 
 had done wrong. The count opened the bag, took some of the pow. 
 der, which he strewed over a slice of bread, and, calling a dog to him, 
 gave it him to eat. The instant the dog had eaten a morse! his eyes 
 rolled round in his head, and he died. The count on this was very 
 wroth, and indeed had reason: rising from table, he Vv^ould have 
 struck his son with a knife ; but the knights and squires rushed in 
 between them, saying, ' For God's sake, my lord, do not be too ha^ty, 
 but make further inquiries before you do any ill to your son.' The 
 first words the count uttered were in Gascon ; ' Ho, Gaston, thou 
 traitor! for thee, and to increase thy inheritance which would have 
 come to thee, have I made war, and incurred the hatred of the kings 
 of France, England, Spain, Navarre, and Arragon, and have borne 
 myself gallantly against them, and thou vvishest to murder me I Thy 
 disposition must be infamously bad : know therefore thou shall die 
 with this blow.' And leaping over the table with a knife in his 
 hand, he would have slain him: but the knights and squires again 
 interfered, and on their knees said to him with tears, 'Ah, ah! my 
 lord, for Heaven's sake, do not kill Gaston : you have no ether child. 
 Let him be confined and inquire further into the business. Perhaps 
 he was ignorant what was in the bag, and may therefore be blame- 
 less.' ' Wei',' replied the count, ' let him be confined in the dungeon, 
 but so safely guarded that he may be forthcoming.' The youth was 
 therefore confined in this tower. The count had many of ihoee who 
 served his son arrested, but not all; for several escaped out of the 
 country: in particular, the bishop of Lescar,* v»ho was much sus- 
 pected, as were several others. He put to death not less than fifteen, 
 after they had suffered the torture; and the reason he gave was, that 
 it was impossible but they must have been acquainted with the 
 secrets of his son, and they ought to have informed liim by saying, 
 ' My lord, Gaston wears constantly on his breast a bag of such and 
 such a form.' This they did not do, and suffered a terrible death for 
 it; which was a pity, for there were not in all Gascony such hand- 
 some or well-appointed squires. The household of the comat de Fcix 
 was always splendidly established. 
 
 "This business went to the heart of the count, as he pbinly 
 showed ; for he assembled at Orth^s all the nobles and prelates of 
 Foix and B^arn, and others the principal persons of the country. 
 When they were met, he informed them of the cause of his calling 
 them together, and told them how culpable he had foi;:\d Gaston ; 
 insomuch that it was his intention he should be put to death, as he 
 thought him deservin-g of it. They unanimously replied to this 
 speech : ' My lord, saving your grace's favor, we will not that Gaston 
 be put to death: he is your heir and you have none other.' When 
 the count thus heard his subjects declare their sentiments in favor of 
 his son, he hesitated, and thought he might sufficiently chastise him 
 by two or three months' confinement, when he would send hi; n oa 
 * " Lescor"— a city iu Beam, abuut une l«fieue irvm Tau. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN 
 
 371 
 
 his travels for a few years, until liis ill conduct shoulJ be forgotten, 
 and he feel grateful for the lenity of his punishment. He therefore 
 dissolved the meeting; but those of Foix would not qi ii Urth6s until 
 the count had assured them Gaston should not be put t.) death, so 
 great was their affection to him. He complied with their request, 
 but said he would keep him some time in prison. On this promise, 
 those ^ho had been assembled departed, and Gaston remained a 
 prisoner in Orth&B. News of this was spread far and near, and 
 reached pope Gregory XI. who resided at Avignon : he sent instantly 
 the cardinal of Amiens, and his legate, to Beam, to accommodate 
 this affair; but he had scarcely travelled as far as Beziers, when he 
 heard he had no need to continue his journey, for that Gaeton the son 
 of the count de Foix was dead. I will tell you the cause of his 
 death, since I have said so much on the subject. The count de Foix 
 had caused him to be confined in a room of the dungeon where was 
 little light: there he remained for ten days. He scarcely ate or drank 
 anything of the food which was regularly brought to him, but threw 
 it aside. It is said, that after his death, all the meat was found un. 
 touched, so that it is marvellous how he could have lived bo long. 
 The count would not permit any one to remain in the chamber to 
 advise or comfort him : he therefore never put off the clothes he had 
 on when he entered his prison. This made him melancholy and 
 vexed him, for he did not expect so much harshness: he therefore 
 cursed the hour he was born, and lamented that he should come to 
 such an end. On the day of his death, those who brought him food 
 said, 'Gaston, here is meat for you.' He paid not any attention to 
 it, but said, 'Put it down.' The person who served him, looking 
 about, saw all the meat untouched that he had brought thither the 
 last days: then, shutting the door, he went to the count and said, 
 * My lord, for God's sake, look to your son: he is starving himself in 
 his prison. I do not believe he has eaten anything since his confine- 
 ment; for I see all that 1 have carried to him lying on one side un- 
 touched.' On hearing this, the count was enraged, and, without 
 saying a word, left his apartment and went to the prison of his son. 
 In an evil hour, he had in his hand a knife, with which he had been 
 paring and cleaning his nails; he held it by the blade so closely that 
 scarcely the thickness of a groat appeared of the point, when, pushing 
 aside the tapestry that covered the entrance of the prison, through ill 
 luck, he hit his son on a vein of his throat, as he uttered, ' Ha, trai'or, 
 why dost thou not eat?' and instantly left the room, without saying 
 or doiiig anything more. The youth was much frightened at his 
 father's arrival, and withal exceedingly weak from fasting. The point 
 of the knife, small as it was, cut a vein, which as soon as he felt he 
 turned himself on one side and died. The count had barely got 
 back again to his apartment when the attendants of his son came and 
 said, ' My lord, Gaston is dead.' ' Dead 1' cried the count. ' Yes, 
 God held me ! indeed he is, my lord.' The count would not believe 
 it, and sent one of his knights to see. The knight, on his return, 
 confirmed the news. The count was now bitterly affected, and cried 
 out, ' Ha, ha, Gaston ! what a sorry business has this turned out for 
 -thee and me ! In an evil hour didst thou go to visit thy mother in 
 Navarre. Never shall I again enjoy the happiness I had formerly.' 
 He then ordered his barber to be sent for, and was shaven quite 
 bare : he clothed himself, as well as his whole household, in black. 
 The body of the youth was borne, with tears and lamentations, to 
 the church of the Augustin friars at Orth^s, where it was buried. 
 Thus have I related to you the death of Gaston de Foix : his father 
 killed him indeed, but the king of Navarre was the cause of this sad 
 event." 
 
 My heart was much affected at this recital of the squire of B^arn 
 relative to the death of Gaston ; and I was truly sorry for the count 
 his father, whom I found a magnificent, generous, and courteous lord, 
 and also for the country that was discontented for want of an heir. 1 
 then took leave of the squire, after having thanked him for the 
 pleasure his narration had given me. I saw him frequently after- 
 wards in the hAtel de Foix, when we had always some conversation. 
 I once asked him about sir Peter de Beam, bastard-brother to the 
 count, who seemed to me a knight of great valor, and if he were rich 
 or married. " Married indeed he is," replied he, " but neither hh 
 wife nor children live with him." "For what reason ?" said I. " I 
 will tell you," replied the squire. 
 
 Sir Peter de Beam has a custom, when asleep in the night-lime, 
 to rise, arm himself, draw his sword, and to begin fighting as if he 
 were in actual combat. The chamberlains and valets who sleep in 
 his chamber to watch him, on hearing him rise, go p him, and inform 
 him what he is doing: of all which, he tells them, he is quite ignorant, 
 and that they lie. Sometimes they leave neither arms nor sword in 
 his chamber, when he makes such a noise and clatter as if all the 
 devils iii-hell were there. They therefore think it best to replace the 
 arms, and sometimes he forgets them, and remains quietly in his bed." 
 I again asked, if he had a large fortune with his wife. " Yes, in 
 God's name had he," says the squire ; " but the lady keep? posses- 
 sion of it, and enjoys the profits, except a fourth part, which sir Peter 
 has." " And where does his lady reside ?" " She lives with her 
 cousin the king of Castille : her father was count of Biscay and 
 cousin-german to don Pedro, who put him to death. He wanted also 
 to lay hands on this lady, to confine her. He seized her lands, and 
 OS Ijng as he lived she received nothing from them. It was told her, 
 when, by the death of her father, she became countess of Biscay ; 
 
 ' Lady save yourself; for if don Pedro lay hands on you, he will put 
 you to death, or at least imprison you, for he is much enrnged th-at 
 you should say he strangled his queen, sister to the duke ol' Bourbon 
 and the queen of France, in her bed ; and your evidence is more 
 readily believed than any other, for you were of the bed-chamber.' 
 For this reason, the countess Florence de Biscaye quitted the conn, 
 try with few attendants, as one naturally wishes to fly from death, 
 passed through Biscay and came hither, when she told my lord her 
 history. 
 
 " The count, who is kind and affectionate to all ladies and damsels, 
 had compassion on her, detained her at his court, and placed her 
 with the lady de la Karasse, a great baroness of this country, and 
 provided her with all things suitable to her rank. Sir Peter de B6arn, 
 his brother, was at that time a young knight, and had net then this 
 custom of fighting in his sleep, but was much in the good graces of 
 the count, who concluded a marriage for him vv'ith this lady, and re- 
 covered her lands from don Pedro. She has a son and daughter by 
 sir Peter, but they are young, and with her in Castille, for she would 
 not leave them with their father ; and she has the right of enjoying 
 the greater part of her own lands." 
 
 " Holy Mary !" said I to the squire, " how came the knight to 
 have such fancies, that he cannot sleep quietly in bed, but must rise 
 and skirmish about the house ! this is very strange." " By my faith," 
 answered the squire, " they have frequently asked him, but he knows 
 nothing about it. The first time it happened, vv as on the night follow, 
 ing a day when he had hunted a wonderfully large bear in the woods 
 of Beam. This bear had killed four of his dogs and wounded many 
 more, so that the others were afraid of him ; upon which sir Peter 
 drew his sword of Bordeaux steel, and advanced on the bear with 
 great rage, on account of the loss of his dogs : he combated him 
 a long time with much bodily danger, and with great difficulty 
 slew him, when he returned to his castle of of Languedudon, in Bis. 
 cay, and had the bear car'-ied with hiin. Every one %vas astonished 
 at the enormous size of the beast, and the courage, of the knight who 
 had attacked and slain it. When the countess of Biscay, his wife, 
 saw the bear, she instantly fainted, and was carried to her chamber, 
 where she continued very disconsolate all that and the following day, 
 and would not say what ailed her. On the third day she told^hor 
 husband, 'she should never recover her health until she had made a 
 pilgrimage to St. James's shrine at Compostella. Give mc leave, 
 therefore, to go thither, and to carry my son Peter and my daughter 
 Adrienne with me : I request it of you.' Sir Peter too easily com. 
 plied : she had packed up all her jewels and plate unobserved by any 
 one ; for she had' resolved never to return again, 
 
 " The lady set out on her pilgrimage, and took that opportuni'y of 
 visiting her cousins the king and queen of Castille, who entertained 
 her handsomely. She is still with them, and will neither return her- 
 self nor send her children. The same night he had hunted and killed 
 the bear, this custom of walking in his sleep seized him. It is ru. 
 mored, the lady was afraid of something unfortunate happening, the 
 moment she saw the bear, and this caused her fainting ; for that her 
 father once hunted this bear, and during the chase, a voice cried out, 
 though he saw nobody, ' Thou huntest me : yet I wish thee no ill ; 
 but thou shalt die a miserable death.' The lady remembered this 
 when she saw the bear, as well that her father had been beheaded 
 by don Pedro without any cause ; and she maintains that something 
 unfortunate will happen to her husband ; and that what passes now 
 is nothing to what will come to pass. I have told you the story of 
 sir Peter de Bdarn," said the squire, " in compliance with your 
 wishes : it is a well-known fact ; and what do you think of it ?" 
 
 I was pensive at the wonderful things I had heard, and replied, 
 " I do believe everything you have said : we find in ancient authors 
 how gods and goddesses formerly changed men into beast?, accord, 
 ing to their pleasure, and women also into birds. This bear, therefore, 
 might have been a knight, hunting in the forest of Biscay, when he, 
 perchance, angered some god or goddess, who changed him into a 
 bear, to do penance, as Acteon was transformed into a stag." "Ac 
 teon !" cried the squire: "my good sir, do relate it, for I shall be 
 very happy to listen to you." "According t) ancient authors, we 
 read that Acteon was a handsome and accomplished knight \vho 
 loved dogs and the chase above all things. He was once hunting a 
 sta.Tf of a prodigious size : the chase lasted the whole day, when he 
 lost^his men and his hounds ; but, eager in pursuing the stag, he came 
 to a large meadow, surrounded by hiiih trees, in which was a foun. 
 tain, where the goddess of Chasti y and her nymphs were bnthiiig 
 themselves. The knight came upon them so suddenly that they 
 were not aware of him, and he had advanced so far he could not rc. 
 treat. The nymphs, in their fright, ran to cover their mi.lress, whose 
 modesty was wounded at thus being seen naked. She viewed the 
 knight over the heads of her attendant-, and said, ' Actoon, who. 
 ever has sent thee hither has no great love for thee : I will not, that 
 when thou shalt go hence, thou brag of having seen me naked, as 
 well as my nymphs ; and for the outrage thou hast committed, tho".: 
 shalt perform a penance. I change thee, therefore, into the form of 
 the stag thou hast this day hunted.' He was instant'y transformed 
 intD a stag, who naturally loves water Thus it may have happened 
 with regard to the bear whose history you have told me, and the 
 countess may have had some knowledge or some fears which nt me 
 moment she would not discover : she therefore ought to be excused 
 
373 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &,6, 
 
 for whnt she has done." The squire answered, " It may perchance 
 be 80 and thus ended our conversation. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 «BE COUNT T)E FOIX HOLDS SOLEMN FESTIVALS ON THiS FEAST OF ST. 
 
 NI- HOF.AS AND AT CHRISTM/S; DURING WHICH TROISSART BECOMES 
 ACQUAINTED WITH BASTOT DE ."MAULEON, WHO RELATES TO HIM, AMONG 
 OTHER THINGS, HOW SEVERAL OF THE CAPTAINS OF THE FREE COM- 
 PANIES WERE DEFEATED BEFORE THE TOWN OF SANCERRE. HOW HE 
 SURPRISED THE TOWN OF THURIE IN THE ALBIGEOIS, AND HOW ONE OF 
 THE NAME OF LIMOUSIN REVENGED AN OUTRAGE COMMITTED AGAINST 
 UIM BY LOUIS RAIMBAUT. 
 
 Among the solemnities which the count de Foix observes on high 
 festivals, he most magnificently keeps the feast of St. Nicholas, as I 
 learnt from a squire of his household the third day after my arrival 
 at Orthfes. He holds this feast more splendidly than that of Easter, 
 ond has a most magnTncent court, as I myself noticed, being present 
 on that day. The whole clergy of the town of Orthfes, with all its 
 inhabitants, walk in procession to seek the count at the castle, who 
 on foot returns with them to the church of St. Nicholas, where is sung 
 the p3alm "Benedictus Dominus, Deus mens, qui docet manus meas 
 ad prcslium, et digitos meos ad bellum," from the Psalter of David, 
 which, when finished, recommences, as is done in the chapels of the 
 pope or king of France, on Christmas or Easter days, for there were 
 plenty of choristers. The Bishop of 
 Pamiers sang the mass for the day ; 
 and I there heard organs play as me. 
 lodiuusly as I have ever heard in any 
 place. To speak briefly and truly, 
 the count de Foix was perfect in per. 
 son and in mind ; and no contempo. 
 rary prince could be compared with 
 him for sense, honor, or liberality. 
 At the feasts of Christmas, which he 
 kept with great solemnity, crowds of 
 knights and squires from Gascony 
 waited on him, to all of whom he gave 
 splendid entertainments. I saw there 
 the bourg d'Espaign, of whose sur- 
 prising strength sir Espaign du Lyon 
 had told me, which made me more 
 desirous to see him, and the count 
 showed him many civilities. I saw 
 also knights from Arragon and Eng- 
 land ; which last were of the house, 
 hold of the duke of Lancaster, who 
 at that time resided at Bordeaux, 
 whom the count received very gra. 
 ciously, and presented with hand. 
 8ome gifts. 
 
 I made acquaintance with these 
 knights, and by them was informed 
 of several things which had happened 
 in Castille, Navarre, and Portugal, 
 which I shall clearly detail in proper 
 time and place. I saw there also a 
 Gascon squire, called le Bastot de 
 Maul^on, an expert man-at-arms, and 
 about hfty years old, according to his 
 appearance. He arrived at the h6tel 
 of the Moon, where I lodged with 
 
 Ernauton du Pin, in grand array, having led horses with him like to 
 a gi-eat baron, and he and his attendants were served on plate of 
 gold and silver. When I heard his name, and -saw how much re- 
 spect the count de Foix vnd all the others paid him, I asked sir Es- 
 paign du Lyon, "Is not this the squire who quitted the castle of 
 Trigalet, when the duke of Anjou lay before Mauvoisin?" " Yes," 
 replied he ; " and he is as able a captain and as good a nian-at-arms 
 as any existing." Upon this I besought his acquaintance, as he was 
 lodged in the same hotel as myself, v.dth a cousin of his, a Gascon, 
 called Arnauton, governor of Carlat in Auvergne, whom I well 
 knew, and who assisted me in it, as did also the bourg de Copaire.* 
 One night, as we were sitting round the fire chatting and waiting 
 for midnight, which was the hour the count supped, his cousin be- 
 gan a conversation relative to his former life, and asked him to tell 
 his adventures and success in arms, without concealing loss or profit, 
 as he knew he could well remember them. Upon this he said, 
 " Sir John, have you in your chronicle what I am going to speak 
 of?" " I do not know," replied I : " but begin your story, which I 
 shall be happy to hear; for I cannot recollect every particular of my 
 history, nor can 1 have been perfectly informed of every event." 
 " That is true," added the squire, and then began his history in 
 thise woras : 
 
 The first time I bore arms was under the captal de Buch, at the 
 battle of Poitiers : by good luck I made that day three prisoners, a 
 knigh t and two squires, who paid me, on e with the other. fo\ir thou- 
 
 i. 9,0.9 aaiiitcd him. 
 
 sand francs. The following year I was in Prussia with the count 
 de Foix, and his cousin the captal, under whose command I was. 
 On our return, we found the duchess of Normandy, the duchess of 
 Orleans, and a great number of ladies and damsels, shut up in 
 Meaux in Brie. The peasants had confined them in the market, 
 place of Meaux, and would have violated them, if God had not sent 
 us thither : for they were completely in their power, as they 
 amounted to more than ten thousand, and the ladies were alone. 
 Upward of six thousand Jacks were killed on the spot, and they 
 never afterwards rebelled. 
 
 *' At this time there was a truce between the kings of France and 
 England, but the king of Navarre continued the war on his own per. 
 sonal quarrel with the regent of France. The count de Foix re- 
 turned to his own country, but my master and self remained with 
 the king of Navarre and in his pay. We made, with the help of 
 others, a severe war on France ; particularly in Picardy, where wc 
 took many towns and castles in the bishoprics of Beauvcis and 
 Amiens : we weie masters of the country and rivers, and gained 
 very large sums of money. When the truce expired between 
 France and England, the king of Navarre discontinued his war, as 
 peace had been made between him and the regent. The king of 
 England crossed the sea with a large army, and laid siege to Rhtims, 
 whither he sent for the captal, who at that time was at Clermont in 
 Beauvoisis, carrying on the war on his own account. We joined 
 the king of England and his children. But," said the squire, " I 
 fancy you must have written all this, and how the king of England 
 
 J3i3HOh or PAailKM singing the Mass at the Festival of St. Nicholas, held by the Count de Foix. The Organ drawn firois 
 Harl. MS. 3469, and the Costume from a MS. Froissart of Fifteenth Century. 
 
 broke up his siege through famine, and how he came before Char- 
 tres^ and how peace was made between the two kings." " That is 
 true," replied I : "I have all this, as well as the treaties which were 
 then concluded." Upon this Bastot de Mauleon thtis continued his 
 narration : 
 
 " This treaty of peace being concluded, it was necessary for all 
 men-at-arms and free companies, according to the words of the 
 treaty, to evacuate the fortresses or castles they held. Great num. 
 bers collected together, with many poor companions who had learnt 
 the art of war under difl^erent commanders, to hold councils as to 
 what quarters they should march, and they said among themselves, 
 that though the kings had made peace with each other, it was ne- 
 cessary for them to live. They marched into Burgundy, where 
 they had captains of all nations, Germans, Scots, and people from 
 every country. I was there also as a captain. ^ Our numbers in 
 Burgundy, above the river Loire, were upward of twelve thousand, 
 including all sorts : but I must say, that in this number, theie were 
 three or four thousand good men-at-arms, as able and understanding 
 in war as any could be found, whether to plan an engagement, to 
 seize a proper moment to fight, or to surprise and scale towns and 
 castles, and well inured to war; which indeed we showed at the 
 battle of Brignai?, where we overpowered the constable of France, 
 the count de Fortits, with full two thousand lances, knights, and 
 squires. This battle was of great advantage to the companions, for 
 they were poor, and they then enriched themselves by good prison, 
 ers, and by the towns and castles which they tcok :n the aichbish. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 373 
 
 opric of Lyons on the river Rhone. They carried on their warfare 
 until they had gained the Pont du St. Esprit : and the pope and car- 
 dinals would not have been freed from them until they had destroyed 
 everything, if they had not thought of a good expedient, by sending 
 to Lombardy for the marquis de Montferrat, who was a gallant 
 knijiht, and at that time at war with the lord of Milan. On his arri- 
 val at Avignon, the pope and cardinals had a conference with him : 
 and he negotiated with the English, Gascon, and German troops for 
 thoir services, for sixty thousand francs, which the pope and cardi- 
 nals paid to different leaders of these companies : such as sir John 
 Hawkwood, a valiant English knight, sir Robert Bricquet, Carsuelle, 
 Is'audon le Bagerant, le bourg Camus, and many more. They 
 marched into Lombardy, having surrendered the Pont du St. Esprit, 
 and carried with them six parts of the companies ; but sir Sequin de 
 B:itefol, sir John Jewel, sir James Planchin, sir John Amery, le 
 bourg de Perigord, Espiote, Louis Raimbaut, Limousin, James Trit- 
 lel, and myself, with several others, remained behind. We had pos. 
 session of Ance, St. Clement, la Barrelle, la Terrare, Brignais, le 
 Pont St. Denis, I'Hbpita! d'Ortifart, and upward of sixty castles in 
 the Maconnois, Foret?, Velay, and in Lower Burgundy on the Loire. 
 We ransomed the whole country, and they could only be freed from 
 us by well paying. We took, by a night-attack, la Charitd, which 
 we held for a year and a half. Everything was ours from la Charite 
 to Puy in Auvergne (for sir Sequin de Batefol had left Ance, and re- 
 sided at Brioude in Auvergne, where he made great profit, and 
 gained there and in the adjacent country upward of one hundred 
 thousand francs,) and below Loire as far as Orleans, with the com- 
 mand of the whole river Ailier. The archpriest, who was then a 
 good Frenchman, and governor of Nevers, could not remedy this ; 
 but, being our old acquaintance, we sometimes complied with his 
 entreaties to spare the country. The archpriest did great good to 
 the Nivernois, by fortifying the city of Nevers, which otherwise 
 would ha> e been ruined several times: for we had in the environs 
 upward ot twenty-six strong places, as well towns as castles, and no 
 knight, squire, nor rich man, dared to quit his home unless he had 
 compounded with us ; and this war we carried on under the name 
 and pretext of the king of Navarre. At this time happened the bat- 
 tle of Cocherel,* where the captal de Buch commanded for the king 
 of Navarre, and many knights and squires went from us to assist 
 him: sir James Planchin and sir John .Jewel carried with them two 
 Itundrcd lances. [ held at this period a castle called le Bee d'AUier, 
 pretty near t ) la Charite, on the road to the Bourbonnois, and had un- 
 der me forty lances, where I made great profit from the country near 
 Maulins, and about St. Pour9aint and St. Pierret le Moustier. 
 When news was brought me that the captal, my master, was in Con- 
 st intin, collecting men from all parts, having a great desire to see 
 him, I left my castle with twelve lances, with whom I joined sir 
 James Planchin and sir John Jewel, and without accident or adven- 
 ture we came to the captal. I believe you must have all this in 
 your history, as well as the event of the battle." " Yes, I have," 
 said I: how the captal was made prisoner, and sir James Plan, 
 chin and sir John Jewel killed." " That i^ right," added he : "I 
 also was made prisoner; but good luck befell me, for it was to my 
 cousin: he was cousin to my cousin now by my tide the bourg de 
 Cofaire: and his name was Bernard de Turide : he was killed in 
 Portug il, at the aflfair of Aljubarroti. Bernard, then under the com- 
 mand of sir Aymemon de Pommiers, ransomed me in the field for a 
 thousand francs, and gave me a passport tj return to my fort of Bee 
 d'Alliers. Instantly on my arrival, I counted out tJ one of my ser- 
 vant=! a thousand francs, which I chirgeJ him to carry to Pari?, and 
 to bri ig me back letters of acquittance for the p'vment, which he 
 diJ. At this same season, sir Jjhn Aymery, an English knight, and 
 the greatest csptain we had, made an excursion down the L ire to- 
 ward la Charit6: he fell into an ambuscade of the lords de Rouge- 
 ment and de Vendelay, with the men of the archpriest. Tiiey were 
 the st-oagest, and overpowered him: h» was mide prisoner, and 
 ransomed for thirty thousand francs, which he instantly paid down. 
 He was, however, so much vexed at being captured, and with hi'j 
 loss, that he swore he would never reenter his fort until he had had 
 his revenge. He collected, therefore, a large body of companions, 
 and came to la Charit^ on the Loire, and entreated the captuins, 
 such a3 Limit, Carsuelle, le bourg de Perigord, and myself (who 
 were come thither for our amu^^ement,) to accompany him in an ex- 
 jieditiin. We aeked him, 'Whither?' 'By my faith,' replied he, 
 ' we will cross the Loire at port St. Thibaut, and scale the town and 
 castle of Sancerre.§ I have made a vow, that I will never reenter 
 my own castle until I shall have seen the boys of Sancerre ; and if 
 •ve coulJ conquer that garrison, with the earl's children within it, 
 John, Loui^, and Robert, we should be made men, and masters of 
 the whole country. We may easily succeed in our attempt, for they 
 pay no attenti 051 to u?!, and our remaining longer here is not of any 
 Jidvant^ge.' ' That is true,' we answered, and promised to accom- 
 pany him, and went away to make ourselves ready. 
 
 It happened," continued le Bast >t.de Mauleon, " that our plot was 
 
 * Biiule of ('.M;herCl364. 
 
 ttit. Pi.iirfi.iiii de Melcheres and St. PomoRin sar Vesbre, villages of Bourbonnois, 
 near Mnulinn. 
 
 t " St. herre l« Moufier"— a town of Nivernois, seven lesigues from Moulins. 
 
 4 " Sttuc«ne"~ac j^n^sipcviowo »n Umy, Mfar tlw J-oire, eight leuguet fxom BoursM. 
 
 discovered, and known to the town of Sancerre. A valiant squire 
 from the lower part of Burgundy, called Guichart d'Albigon, was at 
 the time governor of the town, who took great pains to guard it well. 
 The earl's children, who were all three knights, were with him. 
 This Guichart had a brother, a monk in the abbey of St. Thibaut, 
 near Sancerre, who was sent by the governor to la Chajitd, with the 
 composition-money that some of the towns in the upper districts 
 owed. They were careless about him, and he discovered, I know 
 not how, our intentions and what our numbers were, as well as the 
 names of the captains of the different forts near la Charite, with the 
 strength of their garrisons, and also at what hour and in what man. 
 ner we were to cross the river at Port St. Thibaut. Having gained 
 this information, he hastened to disclose it to his brother and the 
 young knights of Sancerre. They made instant preparations for 
 their defence, and sent notice of the intended attack to the knights 
 and squires of Berry and the Bourbonnois, and to the captains of the 
 different garrisons in the neighborhood, so that they were four hun. 
 dred good lances. They placed a strong ambuscade, of two hua 
 dred spears, in a wood near the town. 
 
 " We set out at sunset from la Charitd, and rode on bnskly, in 
 good order, until we came to Prully, where we had collected a num- 
 ber of boats, to pass us and our horses over the river. We crossed 
 the Loire, as we had intended, and were all over about midnight : 
 our horses crossed, also, without accident ; but, as daybreak was near, 
 we ordered a hundred of our men to remain behind to guard the 
 horses and boats ; and the rest advanced with a good pace, passing 
 by the ambuscade, which took no notice of us. AVhen we had gone 
 about a quarter of a league, they sallied forth upon those at the rival 
 side, whom they instantly conquered, for all wore slain or made pris 
 oners ; the horses were captured, and the passage of the river se. 
 cured, when, mounting our horses, they stuck spurs into them, 
 and arrived at the town as quick as we did. They shouted on al; 
 sides, * Our lady for Sancerre !' for the count himself was in the 
 town with his men, and sir Louis and sir Pcobert had formed the am. 
 buscade. We were thus completely surrounded, and knew not 
 which way to turn ourselves : the shock of lancts was great ; foi 
 those on horseback instantly dismounted on their arrival, and attacked 
 us fiercely ; but what hurt us the most, was the impossibility of ex- 
 tending our front, for we were inclosed in a narrow road, with 
 hedges and vineyards on each side, with our enemies before and be. 
 hind us. They knew well the country, and had posted a body of 
 their men and servants in the vineyards, v/ho cast stones and flinta 
 thai bruised us much : we could not retreat, and had also great diffi- 
 culty to approach the town, which is situated on a hill. 
 
 " We had very hard work : sir John Aymery, our captain, who 
 had led us thither, was dangerously wounded by Guichart d'Albigon, 
 who, exerting himself to save him, pushed him into a house in the 
 town, and threw him on a bed, telling the master to take great care 
 of his prisoner, and make haste to have his wounds dressed, for his 
 rank was such, that if his life were saved, he would pay twenty thou, 
 sand francs. On saying this, Guichart left his prisoner and relumed 
 to the battle, where he showed himself a good man-at-arms. 
 
 " Among others, the young kr ights of Sancerre had come to de. 
 fend the country, with sir Guichart Dauphin, the lord de Marnay, sir 
 Gerard and sir William de Bourbon, the lords de Cousant, de la 
 Pierre, de la Palice, de Neutey, de la Croise, de la Sicete, and many 
 more : I must say it was a very hard-fought and murderous battle 
 we kept our ground as long as we were able, inscmuch that several 
 were sLin and wounded on both sides. By their actions they seemed 
 more desirous to take us alive than to kill us : at last they made 
 prisoners of Carsuelle, Lamit, Naudon, le bourg ds Perigord, Ic bourg 
 de I'Esparre, Angerot, Lamontgis, Phillip du Roc, Pierre de Ccrlhon, 
 le Pesat de Pamiers, le bourg d'Armesen ; in short, all our ccmpan. 
 ions who were i.n that neighborhood. We were conducted to the 
 caftle of Sancerre in great triumph : and the free companies never 
 suffered such loss in France as they did that day. Guichart d'Albi- 
 gon, however, lost his prisoner through negligence, for he bled so 
 much that he died : such was the end of John Aymery. By this de- 
 feat, which happened under the walls of Sar_cerre, la Charite sur 
 Loire surrendered to the French, as well as the garrisons thereabout, 
 by which means we obtained our liberties, and had passports given 
 us to quit the kingdom of France, and go whithersoever we pltased. 
 Fortunately for us, fir Bertrand du Guetclin, the lord de Beaujeu, 
 sir Arnold ^'Andreghen, and the count de la Marche, at this momeni 
 undertook an expedition into Spain, to assist the bastard Henry 
 against don Pedro. Before that time, I was in Brittany at the bat 
 tie of Auraye, where I served under sir Hugh Calverley, and recov. 
 ered my affairs ; for the day was ours, and I made tuch good 
 prisoners, they paid me two thousand francs. I accompanied sit 
 Hugh Calveriey with ten lances into Spain, when we drove from 
 thence don Pedro ; but when treaties were afterwards made between 
 don Pedro and the prince of Wales, who wished to enter Caetille, I 
 was there, in company with sir Hugh Calverley, and returued to 
 Aquit.iine with him. 
 
 *' The war was now renewed between the king of France and the 
 prince : we had enough to do, for it was vigorously canied on ; and 
 great numbers of English and Gascon commanders lost their lives: 
 however, thanks to God, I am still alive. Sir Robert Briquet was 
 slain at a place called Olivet, in the Ode annoifi} situated Lstwee& 
 
374 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 territories of the duke of Orleans and the country of Bloi?, where a 
 E'juirc from Hninalt, a gallant man-at.arnis, and good captain, called 
 Aliirs do D>jii;tienncs, surnamed de Barbazan, for he was of tluit 
 fan)ily, met him, and conquered both him and his company. This 
 Alars was at thai time governor of Bluis and its dependencies, for the 
 lords Lpwi;s John, and Guy dc Bloia ; and it chanced that he met 
 Bir Robert Briquet and sir Robert Cheney at Olivet, when both were 
 sli'.in on the ppotjand all their men, for none were ransomed. After- 
 ward?, at the battle of Niort, Carsuelle was killed by sir Bertrand du 
 (iuesclin, and seven hundred English perished that day. Richard 
 E'lis and Richard Heline, two English captains, were also killed at 
 St. Severe : I know but few, except myself who have escaped death. 
 1 havo guarded the frontiers, and supported the king of England ; for 
 my estate is in the Bordeiois ; and I have at times been so miserably 
 poor that I had not a horse to mount; at other times rich enough, 
 ju=t as good fortune befell me. Raymonet de I'Espee and I were 
 Bonif time companions : we held the castles of Mauvoisin, Trigalet, 
 and Nantilleux, in the Toulousain, on the borders of Bigorre, which 
 were very profitable to us. When the duke of Anjou came to 
 attack them with his army, Raymonet turned to the French ; but 1 
 remained steady to the English, and shall do so as long as I live. 
 In truth, when I lost the castle of Trigalet, and was escorted to 
 castle Cuillet, after the retreat of the duke of Anjou into France, I 
 resolved to do something which should either make me or ruin me. 
 I therwfore sent spies to reconnoitre the town and castle of Thurie 
 in the Albigeois, which castle has since been worth to me, as well 
 by compositions as by good luck, one hundred thousand francs. 1 
 will tell you by what means I conquered it. On the outside of the 
 town and castle, there is a beautiful spring of water, where every 
 morning the women of the town come to fill their pails or other 
 vessels ; which having done, they carry them back on their heads. 
 Upon this, I formed my plan ; and, taking with me fifty men from 
 the castle of Cuillet, we rode all day over heaths and through woods, 
 and about midnight I placed an ambuscade near Thurie. Myself, 
 with only six others, disguised as women, with pails in our hands, 
 entered the meadow very near the town, and hid ourselves in a heap 
 of hay ; for it was about St. .lohn's day, and the meadows were 
 mown and making into hay. When the usual hour of opening the 
 gates arrived, and the women were coming to the fountain, each of 
 us then took his pail, and having filled it placed it on his head, and 
 made for the town, our t"aces covered with handkerchiefs so that no 
 one could have known us. The women that met us, said, ' Holy 
 Mary, how early must you have risen this morning!' We replied 
 in feigned voices, and passed on to the gate, where we found no 
 other guard but a cobbler, who was mending shoes. One of us 
 Bounded hi.« liorn, as a notice for the ambuscade to advance. The 
 cobbler, who iiad not paid any attention to us, hearing the horn, cried 
 out, ' Hola 1 who is it that has blown the horn?' We answered, 
 *It is a priest who is going into the country*: I know not whether 
 he be the curate or chaplain of the town.' ' That is true,' replied 
 In; : ' it is sir Francis, our priest, who likes to go early to the fields 
 iii search of hares.' Our companions soon joined us, when we 
 entered the town and found no one prepared to defend it. Thus did 
 I gain the town and castle of Thurie, which has been to me of 
 greater pnjfit and more annual revenue than this castle and all its 
 dependencies are worth. At this moment, I know not how to act : 
 for 1 am in treaty with the count d'Armagnac and the dauphin 
 ri'Auvergne, who have been expressly commissioned by the king of 
 P'rauce t > buy all towns and castles from the captains of the free 
 companies, wherever they may be, in Auvergne, Rouergue, Limou. 
 Ei!i, Agen, Quercy, Perigord, Albigeois, and from all those who have 
 made war under the name of the king of England. Several have 
 BoUl their forts, and gone away ; and I am doubtful whether or not 
 to sell mine." Upon this, the bourg de Copaire said, Cousin, 
 what you say is true ; for I also have had intelligence since my 
 arrival at Oithes, from Carlet, which I hold in Auvergne, that the 
 lord Louis de Sancerre, marshal of France, will soon be here : he is 
 now incognitj at Tarbes, as I have heard from those who have seen 
 him." 
 
 They now called for wine, of which when brought we all drank, 
 and Baftk.'t de Mauleon said to me, " Well, sir .John, what do you 
 fiay ? H ive I well told you my life? I have had many more ad- 
 ventures, but of which I neither can nor will speak." *' Yes, that 
 you have, by my faith," added I : and, wishing him to continue his 
 conver8:ition, I asked what was become of a gallant squire, called 
 Louis Ruimbau', whom I had met once at Avignon. '* I will tell 
 you." replied he. " At the time when sir Sequin de Batefol, who 
 had possession of Brioude in Vdiay, ten leagues from Puy in Au- 
 vergne, after having carried on the war in that country with much 
 success, was returning to Gascony, he gave to Louis Raimbaut and 
 lo a companion of his, called Limousin, Brioude and Ance on the 
 Sacne, The country at that time was so desolated and harassed, 
 tind so full of free companies in every part, that none dared to ven. 
 turo out of their houses. I must inform j'ou, that between Brioude 
 and Ance, the country is mountainous, aad the distance from one of 
 those towns to the other twenty.six leagues. However, when Louis 
 Uaiujbaut was pleased to ride from one of these places to the other 
 he made nothing of it ; for he had several forts in Forets and else' 
 \vhcrc, to hull and refresh himself. The gentlemen of Auvergne* 
 
 Forius, and Vdlay, had been so oppressed by ransom to regain their 
 liberty, they dreaded to take up arms again ; and there were no 
 great lords in PVance who raised any men. The king of France 
 was young, and had too much to do in various parts of his kingdom ; 
 for the free companies had quartered themselves everywhere, and he 
 could not get rid of them. Many of the great lords of France were 
 hostages in England ; during which time their property and vassals 
 were pdlaged, and there was not any remedy for this mischief, as their 
 men were too dispirited even to defend themselves. Louis Raim- 
 baut and Limousin, who had been brothers in arms, at length quar. 
 relied, and I will tell you why. Louis Raimbaut had at i rioude a 
 very handsome woman for his mistress, of whom he was passionately 
 fond ; and, when he made any excursions from Brioude to Ance, ha 
 intrusted her to the care of Limousin. Limousin was his brvther in 
 arms, and in him did he put his whole confidence ; but he took such 
 good care of the fair lady that he obtained every favor from her, and 
 Louis Raimbaut had information of it. This enranged Louis Raim- 
 baut against his companion ; and, in order to insult him as much as 
 possible, he ordered him to be seized by his servants and marched 
 naked, all but his drawers, through the town, and then flogged with 
 rods : at every corner of a street, trumpets sounded before him, and 
 his action was proclaimed : he was then, in this state, and with only 
 a plain coat on, thrust out of the town, and banished as a traitor. 
 Louis Raimbaut thus insulted Limousin ; but he was so much hurt 
 at it, he vowed revenge whenever he should have an opportunity, 
 which he afterwards found. 
 
 " Limousin, during the time he was in command at Briosde, had 
 always spared the lands of the lord de la Voulte. situated on the 
 Rhone, in his different excursions to Ance, and in the country of 
 Vdlay, for he had been kind to him in his youth. He therefore 
 resolved to go to him, entreat his mercy, and beg he would make 
 his peace with France, for that he would henceforward be a loyal 
 Frenchman. He went therefore to Voulte, being well acquainted 
 with the roads, and entered a house, for he was on foot : after he 
 had inquired what hour it was, he went to the castle to wait on its 
 lord. The porter would not at first allow him to enter the gate ; 
 but, after many fair words, he was permitted to come into the gate- 
 way, and ordered not to stir further without permission, which he 
 cheerfully promised. The lord de la Voulte, in the afternoon, came 
 into the court to amuse himself, and advanced to the gate : Limou. 
 sin instantly cast himself on his knees, and said, ' My lord, do yott 
 not know me ?' ' Not I, by my faith,' replied the lord, who never 
 imagined it was Limousin ; but, having looked at him some time, 
 added: 'Thou resemblest very much Limousin, who was formerly 
 my page.' * On my troth, my lord, Limousin I am, and your servant 
 also.' He then begged his pardon for what had passed, and told 
 him exactly everything that had happened to him, and how Louis 
 Raimbaut had treated him. The lord de la Voulte said, ' Limousin, 
 if what thou hast told me be true, and if I may rely on thy assurance 
 that thou wilt become a good Frenchman, I will make thy peace.' 
 ' By my faith, my lord, I have never done so much harm to France 
 as I will henceforward do it service.' ' I shall see,' replied the lord 
 de la Voulte. From that time he retained him in his castle, and did 
 not allow him to depart until he had made his peace everywhere. 
 When Limousin could with honor bear arms, the lord de la Voulte 
 mounted and armed him, and conducted him to the seneschal de 
 Vclay, at Puy, to make them acquainted with each other. He was 
 there examined as to the strength and situation of Brioude, and also 
 respecting Louis Raimbaut; at what times he made excursions, and 
 whither he generally directed them. ' I know by heart the roads he 
 takes, for with him and without him I have too often traversed them; 
 and, if you will collect a body of men-at-arms for an expedition, I 
 will forfeit my head if you do not take him within a fortnight.' The 
 lords agreed to his proposal, and spies were sent abroad to observe 
 when Louis Raimbaut should leave Brioude for Ance in the Lyonois. 
 When Limousin was certain he had left Brioude, he told the lord de 
 la Voulte to assemble his men, for that Raimbaut was at Ance and 
 would soon return, and that he would conduct them to a defile 
 through which he must pass. The lord de la Voulte collected his 
 men, and made him the leader of the expedition, having sent off to 
 the baliff of Velav, the lord de Montclare, sir Guerrct de SaHeres, 
 and his son, sir Plouserat de Vernet, the lord de Villeneuve, and to 
 all the men-at-arms thereabout: they were in the whole full three 
 hundred spears; and when assembled at Nonnay, by the advice of 
 Limousin, they formed two ambuscades. The viscount de Polignar 
 and the lord de Chalen^on commanded one, and the lords de la 
 Voulte, de Montclare, de Salieres, an'^ sir Louis de Tournon, the 
 ether. They had equally civided their men ; and the viscount de 
 Polignac and his party were posted near St. Rambut in Forets, at a 
 pass where Louis Raimbaut would be forced to cross the river Loire 
 at the bridge, or higher up at a ford above Puy. 
 
 When Louis Raimbaut had finished his business at Ance, he set 
 out with his forty lances, not expecting to meet with any one, nor 
 suspecting anything from Limousin, as he was the farthest from his 
 thoughts. J rnust tell you, that he was accustomed never to go and 
 : return by the same road : he had come by St. Rambut. On his re. 
 I turn, he went over the hills above Lyons, and Vienne, and below 
 j the village of Argent-il,* and then Ftrnig ht toward le Monastier , 
 ' ♦ "Areeuuil," a villu«« ui Fer6ts, lioccM of Vieon*. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 375 
 
 three short leagues from Pay ; and after pas&ing between the castles 
 of Mene^trol and Montfaucon, he made a circuit toward a village 
 called le Batterie, between Nonnay and St. Julien. There is a pass 
 in the wood there that cannot be avoided by any of those who take 
 this road, unless they go through Nonnay; and there was posted the 
 ambuscade of the lord de la Voulte, with about two hundred spears. 
 Louis Raimbnut, suspecting nothing, was surprised ; and the lord de 
 ta Voulte and his men kiu)wing what they were to do, lowered their 
 lances and shouting their ciy of ' La Voulte !' instantly charged him 
 and his companions, who were riding much at their ease. On the 
 first shock, the greater part were unhorsed : and Louis Raimbaut was 
 struck to th*^ ground by a squire of Auvergne, called Amblardon, 
 who, advancing on him, made him his prisoner; the remainder were 
 either killed or taken ; not one«escaped ; and they found in a private 
 trunk xh'i sum of three thousand francs, which he had received at 
 Ance as the composition of the villagers near, which gave much 
 pleasure to the captors, for each had a share. 
 
 " When Limousin saw Louis Raimbaut thus caught, he showed 
 himself, and said reproachfully, ' Louis, Louis I you should have been 
 better accompanied. Do you remember the insult and shame you 
 made me undergo at Bdoude, on account of your mistress? I did 
 not think that for a woman you would have made me suffer what you 
 did ; for, if it had happened to me, I should not have been so angry. 
 To two brothers in arms, such as we were then, one woman might 
 Jsave occasionally served.' The lords laughed at this speech, but 
 Louis had no such inclination. By the capture of Louis Raimbaut, 
 those of Brioude surendered to the seneschal of Auvergne ; for, after 
 the loss of their leader and the flower of their men, they could not 
 keep it. The garrisons at Ance and in the other forts in V^lay and 
 Forots did the same, and were glad to escape with their lives. 
 
 " Louis Raimbaut was carried to Nonnay and imprisoned ; infor- 
 mation was sent the king of France of "be event, who was much 
 rejoiced thereat ; and soon after, as I have heard, orders carne for 
 him to be beheaded at Villeneuve, near Avignon. Thus died Louis 
 Raimbaut : may God receive his soul I Now, my fair sir," said Bas- 
 tot de Mauleon, " have not I well chatted away the nigjfct? and yet 
 all I have said is true." " Indeed you have," answered I, " and 
 many thanks for it : I have had great pleasure in listening to you, 
 and it shiill not be lost; for, if God permit me to return to my own 
 country, all I have heard you say, and all I shall have seen worthy 
 to be mentioned, in the noble and grand history which the gallant 
 count de Bluis has employed me on, shall be chronicled, through 
 God's grace, that memory of such events may be perpetuated." 
 
 On saying this, the bourg de Copnire, whose name was Ejrnauton, 
 began to s^crk, and, I could perceive, would willingly have related 
 the life and adventures of himself and his brother, the bourg Ang. 
 lois; and ho w they had borne arms in Auvergne and elsewhere,- but 
 there was no time ; for the watch of the castle had sounded his horn, 
 to assemble those in the town of Orthfes, who were engaged to sup 
 with the count de Fuix. The two squires then mad*^ themselves 
 ready, and having lighted torches, we left the inn together, taking 
 the road to the castle, as did all the knights and squires who lodged 
 in tlie town. 
 
 Too much praise cannot be given ta the state and magnificence of 
 the count de Foix, nor can it be too much recommended ; for, du. 
 ring my st^y there, I found him such, as far to exceed all that 1 can 
 say of him, and I saw many things which gave me great pleasure. 
 
 0.1 Chriitmrir-day were seated at his table four bishops of his own 
 country, two Clementists and two Urbanists. The bishops of Pam- 
 iers and Lescar, Clemeutists, were seated at top, and next to them 
 the bishops of Aire and Ron, on the borders of the Bordelois and 
 Bayonne, Urbanitts: the count de Foix sat next, then the viscount 
 de Roquebertin, a Gascon, the viscount de Bruniquel, the viscount 
 de G jusserant, then an English knight called sir William Willoughby, 
 whom the duke of Lancaster, at that time residing at Bordeaux, had 
 eent thither. At another table were five abbots and two Arragonian 
 kiiigh's, called sir Raymond de Montflorentin and sir Martin de 
 Ruane. At another table were seated knights and squires from Gas. 
 cony and Bigorre : firt^t, the lord d'Anchin, then sir Gaillard de la 
 Motte, fir Raymond de Cha,teauneuf, the lord de Chaumont, Gas. 
 cons, the lords de Cnpaire, de la Lanne, de Montferrat, sir William 
 Bernard, tir Peter Courton, the k>rd de Valenchin, and sir Aingale, 
 Hurnamed le Easele. At other tables were many knights from B6arn. 
 Sir Espfiign du Lyon, sir Siquart du Buis Verdun, tir Nouvans de 
 Nouvaillcs, and sir Peter de Vaux, in B^arn, were chief stewards 
 of the iiall. The count's bastard-brothers, sir Ernaut Guillaume 
 and sir Peter de B<;arne, waited ; and his two bastard.sons, sir Evan 
 de i'Eschelle placed the dishes, and sir Gracien served him with wine. 
 There were very many minstrels in the hall, as well those belonging 
 to the count, as to the .':trangers, who, at their leisure, played away 
 their mi;i;tielsy. This day the count gave to the minstrels and he. 
 raids fiye hundred francs among them ; and he clcth'^jd the minstrels 
 of the duke de Touraiae, who were there, with cloth of g'Ad trimmed 
 with ermine, which dresses v/ere valued at two hundred francs. The 
 dinner las ted Uiitil four o'clock in the afternoon. I willingly like to 
 talk of the handsome ef tablishment of the gallant count de Fcix, for 
 1 was twelve weeks cf his household, and generously treated, in all 
 respects. During my residence at Orthfes, it was my own fault if I 
 did not collect inlomiation from every country, for the gentle knight, 
 
 sir Espaign du Lyon, with whom I had entered the country, and to 
 whom I told all my wants, made me acquainted with such knights anc 
 squires as were well able to inform me justly cf all the things I waa 
 desirous of knowing. I there learnt much concerning Portugal and 
 Castills : how their affairs were going on, and the battles which thef o 
 two kings and their allies had fought, of which I will give a true 
 account. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 A STCORT RECAPITtJI.ATION OF WHAT HAS BEEN BEFORE SAID, OF THE WAR 
 BETWEEN KING JOHN OF CASTILLE AND JOHN OF PORTUGAI.. THIS 
 SUBJECT CONTINUED. 
 
 You may remember, that I have before related, how don John of 
 
 Castille had besieged the master of Avis, whom the principal towns 
 had crowned king for his valor, though in truth he was a bastard, in 
 the city of Lisbon. You have also heard how this king had sent 
 special embassadors to the duke of Lancaster and earl of Cambridge 
 for succor, as they had married his cousin?;. The embassadors were 
 two knights, sir John Radinghos and sir John Testa-d'oro, with a 
 professor of law, who was also archdeacon of Lisbon : they continued 
 tiieir voyage with a favorable wind, and arrived at Southampton, 
 where they disembarked, and staid a day to recover themselves : 
 they then hired horses, for they had not brought any with them, and 
 took the great road to London. It was in the month of August, when 
 the king vv as in Wales hunting and taking his pleasure. The duke 
 of Lancaster and the earls of Cambridge and Buckingham were also 
 at their seats in the country. This gave the embassadors the more 
 pain ; but they went first to the duke of Lancaster, who resided at 
 Hertford, tvv-enty miles from London. The duke graciously received 
 them : he opened their credential letters, and read them over three 
 times, the better to comprehend them, and then said : You are 
 welcome to this country : but you could not have come at a more 
 unfortunate season in the whole year to obtain speedy assistance, for 
 the king and my brothers are all scattered abroad in different parts, 
 so that you cannot have any answer before Michaelmas, when the 
 parliament will assemble at London, and the king return to West 
 minster. But as this business more particularly affects my brcthcr 
 and myself, I will write to him ; and we will shortly be in London, 
 and then consider with you how it will be best for us to act in this 
 affair. You will return to London, and I will let you know when 
 my brother and myself are there." The embassadors from Portugal 
 were well satisfied with this answer, and leaving the duke of Lan- 
 caster, returned to London, where they lodged themselves and re- 
 mained at their ease. 
 
 The duke of Lancaster was not forgetful of his promise, and in- 
 stantly wrote private letters to the earl of Cambridge, containing an 
 account of what you have heard. When the earl had perused them 
 attentively, it was not long before he set ofi'for Hertford, near Ware, 
 where the duke of Lancaster resided. After consulting on this busi. 
 ness three days together, they came to London, according to the 
 duke's promise to the Portuguese, where on their arrival they dis- 
 mounted at their houses. These two lords had many and long con- 
 sultations with the Portuguese embassadors; for the earl of Cambridge 
 was very ill-pleased with the conduct of don Ferdinand, the late king 
 of Portugal, saying he had carried on the war in too cowardly a 
 manner, and had made peace with the Spaniards contrary to the will 
 of the English. The earl, therefore, very much doubted if, in the 
 ensuing parliament, the king's council would assent to an expedition 
 to Portugal ; for the one that had been sent iBither hod cost the 
 nation a large sum, not less than one hundred thousand francs, and 
 had nothing done. 
 
 The Portuguese embassadors readily comprehended what the earl 
 said, and replied, " My lord, those times are passed, and it is now 
 otherwise. Our late king, God pardon his soul I was marvellously 
 afraid of the chances of war ; but the presont king is full of enter 
 prise and valor, for were he to meet his enemies in the field three 
 times more in number than himself, he would combat them, whaU 
 ever might be the consequences ; and we can most loyally assurt 
 you, that this is fact. My lords, it is very clear that you are inte 
 rested in this quarrel ; for it is your business to make war on Cas 
 tille, and conquer it, as by right it belongs to you as the heritage of 
 your wives. Now, to obtain this conquest, you cannot have any 
 entrance into Castille like that through Portugal ; for you will have 
 all that country for your friends. Therefore, exert your infiuence, 
 that one of you may go thither with such a powerful force, that joined 
 to those you will find there, you will be enabled to keep the field 1" 
 
 The-'duke of Lancaster replied, '* It does not depend on us, but 
 on the king and the nation, and you may be assured we will do 
 everything we possibly can." Thus ended these conferences. The 
 Portuguese remained in London waiting for the meeting of parlia- 
 ment, and the duke of Lancaster and earl of Cambridge went to 
 their estates in the north of England. 
 
 About Michaelmas, when the parliament was to meet vt WesU 
 minster, the king was on his return toward London, and had arrived 
 at Windsor ; from thence he came to Chertsey and to Richmond. 
 He was accompanied wherever he went by the queen, his whole 
 court, and the earl of Suffolk, for his favor was such, nothing was 
 done without his approbation. At the period I am now speaking 
 
37(5 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE. SPAIN. &c. 
 
 of, the \vir3 in Flanders were going on between the duke of Bur- 
 gundy and tlie Glient men. The bishop of Norwich, sir Hugh Gal- 
 verley, sir William Elniham, sir Thomas Trivet and the others, were 
 jupt come back t;) England, whom the king of France had surrounded 
 at Bourbourg, as has ah-eady been related in this history. 
 
 Tnices had been concluded between the Flemings, French, Eng. 
 lish, and Sects, to last until Michaelmas in 1384 : notwithstanding 
 which, the English had so much on their hands that they knew not 
 which way to turn ; for, besides the business of Portugal, the coun- 
 cil cf Ghent was in London, to request as governor, to assist and 
 direct them, one of the king's brothers, or the earl of Salisbury. 
 There were in this parliament many debates, as well respecting the 
 Flemings as the Portuguese and the Scots ; for the war still contin- 
 ued in those parts by the truce not having been proclaimed. The 
 duke of Lancaster, in particular, labored hard to obtain the command 
 of a large body of men-at-arms and archers to carry to Portugal, and 
 cxplai:ied to the prelates, barons, and commoners of the realm, how 
 they were bound to assist him and his brother in the recovery of their 
 inheritance, which they had sworn and engaged to do when their 
 nephew the king was crowned, as was apparent by deeds then sealed. 
 The duke complained bitterly of the wrongs that had been done him 
 and his brother by delaying the matter ; and that in truth, when the 
 earl of Cambridge had gone thither on the faith of their promising 
 him everything necessary for such an expedition, they had meanly 
 fulfilled their engagements : he was to have had two thousand lances 
 and as many archers sent to him, but they never were ordered, which 
 had caused the settlement of the dispute for their just rights and in- 
 heritances to be so much the longer delayed. 
 
 This speech of the duke of Lancaster was attentively heard, and 
 some of the most able in the council declared he was in the right ; 
 but, the necessities of the kingdom being more pressing, they must 
 be first attended to. Some were for instantly agreeing to his request : 
 others remonstrated by saying, it would be wrong to weaken the 
 kingdom by sending two thousand men-at-arms and four thousand 
 archers to such a distance as Portugal. Besides, so long a voyage 
 was dangerous; and the climate of Portugal hot and unhealthy ; and, 
 if such a considerable force were sent, the kingdom might suffer an 
 irrecoverable loss. Notwithstanding these arguments and doubts of 
 what might be the consequences, it was settled that the duke of 
 Lancaster should cross the sea in the summer with seven hundred 
 men-at-arms and four thousand archers, and that they should all re- 
 ceive pay for one quarter of a year in advance : it was, however, 
 reserved, that should anything in the mean time fall out inimical 
 from France or Scotland, the expedition to Portugal was to be de- 
 ferred. The duke of Lancaster assented to this, for he could not 
 gain more. 
 
 You have before seen in this history, that after the duke of Lan- 
 caster had collectsd his men and stores at Southampton, ready to 
 embark for Portugal, and though the embassadors had returned 
 thither with information of the speedy arrival of the duke and the 
 number of his forces, which gave the Portuguese much pleasure, an 
 event was found to have happened in England that forced him to 
 retard it for some time. The admiral of France, sir John de Vienne, 
 with a thousand good men-at-arms, had embarked at Sluys, and 
 landed in Scotland ; from whence he had made war on England, 
 which obliged the whole force of that kingdom to march against 
 him, as has been before related. I do not wish, therefore, to men- 
 tion it twice, but return to the siege of Lisbon and the king of Spain, 
 that I may narrate all I have heard. While the king of Spain was 
 before Lisbon, news was brought him, by some Spanish merchants 
 returned from Flanders and Bruges, of the large armament the duke 
 of Lancaster was collecting to raise the siege of Lisbon. The intel- 
 ligence was believed ; for the Spaniards well knew how anxious the 
 duke was to renew the war with Castille, as he claimed a share of 
 it. Notwithstanding this information, the king continued the siege, 
 and sent letters and messengers to France for assistance : he had in 
 particular written to B6irn ; so that from the territories of Foix and 
 Bdarn there came to him, in less than four days, upward of three 
 hundred lances, the flower of the chivalry of that country. Sir John 
 du Ru, a Burgundian, and sir Geoffry de Partenay, had already 
 passed through Oi thfes from France, in their way to Castille, to serve 
 the king ; each of whom had his own company. 
 
 I will nam the principal knights of Bdarn who prepared for this 
 expedition : first, a great baron, companion to the count de Foix, the 
 lord de Lingnach, eir Peter Lier, sir John de Lepres, the lord des 
 Bordes, sir Bertrand de Barege, the lord de Marciage, sir Raymond 
 d'Aussac, sir John de Sallegre, sir Mouvant de Sarmen, sir Peter de 
 la Robiere, sir Stephen de Valentin, sir Raymond de Rarasse, sir 
 Pt ter de Hanefane, sir Ogcrot de Domesson, and many others. Sir 
 E?paignolet d'Espaign, eldest son of sir Roger d'Espaign, cousin to 
 the coun: de Foix, joined this company of Bdarn men. These barons 
 and knights fixed their rendezvous at Orthds and in that neighbor, 
 liojd ; and I heard, from those who saw them march away, they were 
 handsomest and best equipped knights who had for a long time 
 left Brum. 
 
 When the count de Foix found that they really intended to go to 
 Castille, he was greatly vexed and pensive, though at the first he had 
 consente j they should receive pay from the king of Castille, for he 
 Was afraiJ his country would be too much weakened by their depart. 
 
 ure. He sent, theref(-re, to the barons and knights above-mentioned, 
 two knights of his household, sir Espaign du Lyon and the lord de 
 Cabestan, to request they would come to the castle, for he was de. 
 sirous to give them a dinner, by way of wishing them a good journey. 
 The knights, as was natural, accepted the invitation, and the count 
 de Foix received them most graciously. After mass, he led them 
 into his cabinet, and thus addressed them : " My fair sirs, are you 
 indeed resolved to leave my country and assist the king of Castille 
 in his wars, while I have on hand my dispute with the count d'Ar- 
 magnac ? Your departure makes me very uneasy." "My lord," 
 replied they, " it is really so ; for we are obliged to it, as we have 
 received pay from the king of Castille ; but this war between Spain 
 and Portugal will be soon ended, when we hope, if n pieaMt Goo, to 
 return in good health to you." " Soon ended !" exclaimed the count : 
 " not so soon, for it is now but beginning. There is a new king in 
 Portugal, and they have sent to England for support. This dispute 
 in which you are about to engage is of a nature to last a long time, 
 and keep you in the field ; for you will not be fought wiihal until the 
 arrival of the duke of Lancaster and his reinforcements, so that your 
 pay will cost you dear enough." " My lord," they answered, " since 
 we have gone so far, we must conclude the business." " God help 
 you," said the count ; " but come, let us go now to dinner, for it is 
 time." 
 
 The count, with his barons and knights, entered the hall where the 
 tables were laid, and dined magnificently and at their leisure, for 
 they were served with all things becoming such a day. The count, 
 after dinner, conducted his knights into his galleries, where he was 
 used to solace himself in the afternoons, and, again addressing them, 
 said : *' Lndeed, my good gentlemen, I am much vexed that you leave 
 my country ; not that I am sorry for your advancement and honor, for 
 on every occasion I would attend to it and exalt it; but I am sorry 
 on your own account, for you are the flower of chivalry of Beam, 
 and are going into a foreign land. I will advise you, and have be- 
 fore said so, to give up this expedition and leave the kings of Spain 
 and Portugafco fight their own batdes, for you are by no means in- 
 terested about them." " My lord," replied they, " under favor of 
 your grace, we cannot thus act, and you know it better than you say : 
 if you would be pleased to consider, that as we have received pay 
 from the king of Castille, we must in consequence do something for 
 it." " Well," answered the count, *' that is true enough, but I will 
 tell you what will happen to you in this expedition : you will either 
 return so very poor and naked the lice will eat you up and grow be- 
 tween your nails (showing them by his gestures of rubbing the two 
 palms of his hands together what he meant,) or you will be slain or 
 made prisoners." 
 
 The knights burst out into laughter, and said, " My lord, we must 
 indeed try our fortunes." The count then quitted this subject, and, 
 conversing with them on the manners of the Spaniards, said they 
 were nasty and lousy, and envious of the good fortune of others, ad. 
 vising them to be on their guard. After some other conversation, 
 he called for apices and wine, of which all drank who were present. 
 He then took his leave of them shaking each by the hand, recom- 
 mending them to the care of God, and entered his closet. The 
 knights mounted their horses at the gate of the castle, as their men 
 and the equipages had already set out for Sauvetere,* where they 
 lodged that night. On the morrow they departed, entering Biscay ; 
 and following the road to Pampeluna, they passed everywhere in 
 safety, for they regularly paid for whatever they had occasion for. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE INHABITANTS SANTAREMt REBEL AGAINST SOME OF THE MEN-AT. 
 ARMS OF CASTILLE. THE KING OF CASTILLE HAVING RAISED THE SIEGE 
 OF LISBON, MARCHES TOWARD THAT TOWN, WHEN IT MAKES ITS PEACE. 
 
 During the time the king of Castille lay before Lisbon (and ho 
 had been there about a year,) the town of Santarem rebelled against 
 him and closed its gates, declaring, that neither Frenchmen nor 
 Spaniards should enter it, for the great oppressions it had suffered. 
 S )me say it was the fault of the pirty under the command of sir 
 Geoffry Ricon and sir Geoffry de Partenay, composed of Bretons, 
 who took or destroyed everything they could lay hands on, paying no 
 attention to friends or foes. The citizens therefore possessed them- 
 selves of the town and the two castles, declaring they would defend 
 them against all who wished to harass them. On the day they re- 
 belled, thev killed upward of sixty Bretons, who were pillaging; and 
 would have slain sir Geoffry de Partenay, but he escaped over the 
 wall which joined his house. Upon this the French and Bretons 
 there quartered fought one whole day with those of Santarem, ana 
 made a grand attack on the place, but they lost more than they gained, 
 without damaging the town. 
 
 Intelligence was brought to the king of Castille that Santarem had 
 turned to the Portuguese, and was ready to surrender its town and 
 castles, which the citizens had gotten possession of, to the king of 
 Portugal. The king, on hearing this, was very melancholy, and, 
 calling his marshal, sir Reginald de Limousin, said: " Take one or 
 
 * Sauvetere"— seven leagues from Pau. 
 
 t *• Santarem"— ohandioine towu ou ilia Togui, Uiirty-Cve IvaguM from Lisbon. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 377 
 
 two hundred spears, and see what they are doing at Santarem : why 
 the iiihabitanis of that town have rebelled; and what could have 
 caused them tj act as they have done." Sir Reginald replied, " he 
 would punctually obey." He took under his command two hundred 
 lance?, and, following the road to Santarem, arrived there, but sent 
 bt:fore him a herald, to announce his coming, who parleyed with the 
 inhabitants at i le barriers, and delivered his message. They an- 
 swered, " We k low well sir Reginald de Limousin for a gentleman 
 and a valiant kn.ght, and that he is marshal to the king: he is per- 
 fectly wr''ome hither, and may enter the town, but unarmed." 
 This was the ansv/er the herald brought back to sir Reginald, who 
 Eaid, he was not come thither to do them any harm, but solely to 
 know what their intentions were. It is indifferent to me whether I 
 enter armed or disarmed, providod I speak with them and learn their 
 will. He quitted the place where he then was, and rode on unarmed, 
 with five others only, and dismounted at the barriers, leaving his 
 men behind. When those on guard saw the manner in which he 
 had arrived, they opened the barriers, and received him handsomely. 
 The inhabitants we^-e assembled in a square of the town, when he 
 thus addressed them: "Ye men of Santarem, listen to what I am 
 about to say : I am sent hither with orders to demand from you the 
 reasons why you have rebelled, have shut your gates, and slain the 
 king's allies who were coming to assist him. Know that the king is 
 violently enraged against you ; for he has been informed you have 
 taken possession of the two castles of the town, which are his in- 
 heritance, and are willing to surrender them to his enemies of For- 
 tugal." " May it please you;- grace, sir Reginald, we wish not to 
 BUi render them, nor deliver them up into any other hands than those 
 of the king of Castille, from whom we hold them, but let him govern 
 us in peace and with justice. What we have done has been caused 
 by these pillagia:^ Bretons who were quartered in the town, and from 
 their outrages; i'or, had we been Saracens, or worse people, they 
 could not have more wickedly behaved, in forcing our wives and 
 daughters, breaking open our coflfers, destroying our casks of wine, 
 and ill-treating and wounding us whenever we complained of their 
 conduct. You ought not, therefore to be surprised, when we suf- 
 fered such outragtes ourselves, and witnessed the same on those 
 whom we were bound to defend, that we were much enraged, for 
 emaller things will cause that. You may, therefore, if you please, 
 tell the king thi?, and that we have unanimously resolved, whatever 
 may be the event, never to acknowledge nor receive any Frenchman 
 nor Bretjn, nor any ether than the king's person himself, or such as 
 he may depute hither to treat us kindly." 
 
 Whea sir Reginald heard these words, he was well satisfied, and 
 did not thi.ik they had been so much to blame in driving their ene- 
 mies out of the town. He thus replied : " My good people, I have 
 now heard what you had to say ; and you shall remain quiet, for I 
 will return to the king and tell it to him, and in good truth 1 will do 
 everything I can to serve you." " We thank you, my lord, most 
 heartily ; and we trust, that whatever wrong information concerning 
 us may have been given the king, you will rectify it." On this sir 
 Reginild mounted his horse, and departed to his men, who were 
 waiting fjr him in the plain, and then rode for Lisbon. After dis- 
 mounting at his quarters, he waited on the king, and told him all he 
 had seen and heard at Santarem. The king, on learning the truth 
 of what had passed, said, "By my faith, they have acted like wise 
 men, since they couU not trust these pillagers." Sir GeofTry Ricon, 
 sir GeofTry de Partenay, and their companions, finding they could 
 have no redress from Santarem, and that the king was dissembling 
 with them, were much angered, and said among themselves, " We 
 are well used for having left France to come to this country, to serve 
 the king of Spain, when we are thus debased before a set of low 
 fellows, against whom we cannot obtain justice. There will shortly 
 come a large body of knights from Gascony : we will not notice thi- 
 until their arrival, when we will inform them of what has passed, 
 and they will help us to revenge ourselves for those companions 
 who have been killed." Information was carried to the king and 
 his council, that the Bretjns threatened much those of Santa- 
 rem, boasting that, when tlie Gascons should arrive, they would 
 make them pay dearly for what they had done. The king was ad- 
 vised to break up the siege of Lisbon, and march to Santarem, to 
 recruit himself, and put everything on a proper foofl'ng, and wait 
 there for the Gascons, who were on their march, to the amount of 
 about four hundred spears, good men-at-arms. He did not wish 
 they should find the kingdom in confusion, when such numbers were 
 to be provided for. 
 
 Orders were given by the king to break up the siege and march 
 to Santarem, which was instantly obeyed. When the town of San- 
 tarem learnt the king was coming thither, they deputed twelve of 
 the principal inhabitants on horseback, to meet the king and to 
 know his pleasure. Th-ey rode on until they met the army about 
 two leagues from Santarem, and learnt that the king was dismounted 
 and had retired from the great heat under the shade of some o'ive- 
 trees. Sir Reginald de Limousin, marshal of the army, was with 
 the king and had had information of their arrival, who, when they 
 were come near, «:a£t themselves on their knees and said, " Most 
 renowned lord and noble king of Castille, we are deputed hither by 
 the poor commonalty of your unhappy town and castlewicks of San. 
 tarem, who have been given lo understand that you are much an. 
 
 gered with them ; and should this be true, most renowned lord, the 
 fault has not been with them, but in the injuries and oppressions 
 they have suffered from the Bretons when they were in your and 
 our town. Now, as all their evil deeds could net be known, we do 
 not blame their knights, squires and captains, but only such as have 
 committed them ; and it would be incredible, were all the infamous 
 acts of these Breton pillagers told. They kept for a long time the 
 town and castlewicks of Santarem under their subjection, of which 
 many complaints were made to us; but, in spite of this they broke 
 open our coffers with their hatchets, took our money, and violated 
 our wives and daughters before our eyes ; which when we com- 
 plained of, we were beaten, wounded, and some murdered. In this 
 miserable condition were we for upward of two months ; for which 
 reason, most redoubted lord and noble king, we supplicate, that if 
 we have angered you for this or any other cause, you would be 
 pleased to do us justice, and take such loyal information concerning 
 us, that we may be judged legally, as you promised and swore to u» 
 when you first entered Santarem as king, and the possession of it 
 and its dependencies devolved and rested on you. You will do an 
 act of charity ; and, since you are coming thither, we have that 
 confidence in you and in your council, that you will find the gates 
 open. Your poor people, vv^ho are crying for redress for the injuries 
 they have sustained, beg your royal majesty will grant them mercy 
 and remission of all offences." 
 
 The king remained for a while silent, when sir R.eginald de Li- 
 mousin, kneeling before the king, said : " Most dear lord, you have 
 heard the complaints your subjects of Santarem, who have laid be- 
 fore you all they have suffered ; condescend to give them an answer." 
 " Reginald," said the king, " we see they have had just cause for 
 what they did : go, and tell them to lise, and return to Santarem to 
 make ready everything proper for us, as we shall sleep there this 
 night, and let them know they shall be carefully defended in their 
 rights." Sir Reginald de Limousin arose and went to the deputies 
 from Santarem, bidding them arise : "The king, our lord, has favor- 
 ably heard all you have said ; and, understanding you only desire 
 justice, he will see that it be done to you. Now go, and make 
 ready the town for his reception ; and let it be so well done that he 
 may be pleased, for everything will turn out as you wish, by the 
 good assistance of the friends you have." " My lord" replied they, 
 " we give you our best thanks," They then took leave, returned 
 to Santarem, and related all that had passed with the king, and the 
 answer sir Reginald had made them from their sovereign. They 
 were exceedingly rejoiced at this intelligence, and richly deco- 
 rated their town against the king's arrival, strewing the streets 
 with fresh herbs. The king made his entry at vespers : he was 
 lodged in the castle called the Lion, and his men in the town ; that 
 is to say, as many as could, but the greater part were quartered ic 
 the fields and in the adjacent villages. 
 
 The king remained there a month ; and things were in that state 
 that those who expected to gain by confusion, were greatly disap. 
 pjinted, 
 
 CHAPTER XIIL 
 
 THE SPANIARDS AKE JEALOUS OF THE FRENCH AND BEARNOTS. FIVI 
 HUNDRED ENGLISH ARRIVE TO SERVE THE KING OF PORTUGAL. 
 
 During the residence of the king of Spain at Santarem, there 
 arrived a handsome company of men-at-arms from Beam. Sir Re- 
 ginald de Limousin rode out to meet them, and received them very 
 politely, as he knew how to do, and conducted them to the king, 
 who was much pleased at their coming, and commanded sir Regi- 
 nald to see that ttiey were well lodged, and at their ease, for such 
 were his wishes. Sir Reginald acted in a manner to satisfy them. 
 The state of the king's affairs continued the sam.e during the time 
 he remained at Santarem, and while his army was in and near to 
 that town, which consisted of four thousand men-at-arms and thirty 
 thousand others. He called the barons of France to his coimcil, to 
 consider of the best means to carry on the war ; for he had lain a 
 long time, and with great expenses, before Lisbon, and had done 
 nothing. It was imagined, if the Gascons had not by their arrival 
 encouraged the king tJ proceed, he would have retreated from ^an 
 tarem to Burgos, or into Galicia, for his men were weary with being 
 so long in the field. 
 
 When the kniirhts of France and Beirn were admitted to the 
 council, the king thus addressed them : " My fair sirs, you are Intel, 
 ligent and active in war : I therefore wish to have your advi.-e how 
 I may most advantageously continue my war against the Portugueso 
 and Lisboners : they have maintained their ground against me up 
 ward of a year, and I have done nothing. I was in hopes to havo 
 drawn them out of Lisbon, and have fought them, but they would 
 not accept my challenge. My friends have advised me to dismiss 
 my army, and permit every man to return to his home. I therefore 
 wish tj know what your opinions may be on this subject." The 
 knights from France and Beam, being just arrived at the army, wero 
 eager for battle ; for, though they had as yet been idle, they were 
 desirous of deserving the piy they had received ; and replied, " Sir, 
 you are a great and powerful prince, and it little matters to you tj 
 pay the expenses of your army, especially when it is in it3 own 
 country. We will not say, but that, if it had b(vn in a foreign land 
 
3179 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN. &c. 
 
 and depr'ved of provisijns, the advice whicli has been given you 
 would ixave been good : we see, however, that it is as comfortably 
 situated here as if every man were at his own home. We there, 
 fore say (n t indeed as a resolution of council, for your wisdom and 
 prudence will ejiahle you U choose the best opinion) you ought to 
 keep the field, which may easily be done until Michaelmas, when 
 perhaps your enemies will march out to meet you when you least 
 expect them, and thus they may be combated. We are very anxious 
 for conquest, for our equipment has cost us very considerable, and 
 \\c hnve had many difficulties before we could come hither: we 
 therefjre never shall be of the opinion of your counsellors, for we 
 wish t J see the enemy." " By my head,*' said the king, *' you speak 
 well and loyally, and iii this and on other occasions I will hencefor- 
 ward take your advice, for my late lord and father as well as myselt 
 have always found your opinions fair and honorable. May God 
 have pity on the soul of sir Bertrand du Guesclin I he was a good 
 and loyuJ knight, and through his means we gained many important 
 victories." 
 
 This conversation between the king of Castille and the foreign 
 knights, as well as the advice they had given, was soon known tj 
 the Spanish barons : they were much vexed for two reasons ; one, 
 because they imagined the king had greater contidence in these 
 strangers than in his own liege subjects who had crowned him ; and 
 because the French knights had advised the king to keep his ground, 
 while they were tired of the war. They therefore privately caballed 
 together, and said, " The king knows not how to carry on a war but 
 by the French, as his father did before him." They now conceived 
 a hatred to the French, which their servants and foragers soon made 
 manifest. They had quartered all the French together, but when 
 they sent out parties for forage, the Spaniards being more numerous, 
 took their forage from them, and beat and wounded several, inso- 
 much that comp aints were made to the king. The king much 
 blamed sir Regmald de Limousin, his marshal, for not having pre- 
 vented this. The marshal excused himself, by saying, " As God 
 might help him, he knew nothing about it; but that lie would in- 
 Btanily provide a remedy, by ordering men-at-arms into the field, to 
 attend carefully that the French collected their forage in security." 
 He also issued a proc'amation for all who had provisions, or otner 
 necessaries, tJ bring them to the army at Santarem, when a reason- 
 able price would be given for them. The foreigners were amply 
 supplied, for, by the king's orders, they were to be served before any 
 otaers, which iiicreased the hatred tf the Spaniards. 
 
 It happened, that the same week ihe king of Castille broke up the 
 biege of Lisbon, three large ships having on board English men-at- 
 arms and archers, entered the pjr .: they might amount, in the whole, 
 to about five hundred; but larr e parts of them were adventurers, 
 under no command and withor ; pay, from Calais, Cherbourg, Brest, 
 and Moutiigae in Poitou, whe, hearing of the war between Castille 
 and Portugai, had assembk- 1 at Bordeaux, and said, "Let us go 
 Boek adventures in Portugal we shall there find some one to receive 
 and employ us." Sir John Hurpedane, who at that time was senes- 
 chal of Bordearix, had s*r>ngly advised them so to do; for he was 
 not willing tha'. they sh'M'',d remain in arms in the Bordelois, as they 
 might dv mjte harm ih.'-.n good, being adventurers who had nothing 
 to lose. 
 
 Of .-.11 who :^.llf r.rjwed at Lisbon I heard of no knights, only three 
 English squircF, v ho were their leaders : one was called Northberry, 
 the other Morberr/, and the third Huguelin de Hartiel ; and not one 
 of them was more than fitly years old, good men-at-arms, and well 
 accustomed to war. The Liiboners and the king of Portugal were 
 much rejoiced at the arrival of the English. As he wished to see 
 them, they were conducted to the palace, and received handsomely 
 by the king, who asked if' the duke of Lancaster had sent them. 
 *' By my faith, sir," replied Nortnberry, " it is a lo.ng time since he 
 has known anything of us, or we of him : we are people from differ- 
 ent countries, who come to seek the chance of arms and adventures: 
 there are some of us who have even come from the town of Calais 
 to perve you." " On my troth," said the king, " you and they are 
 very welcome : your arrival gives us much joy ; and know, that we 
 ehall very shortly employ you. We have been, for a time, shut up 
 here, which has tired us much ; but we will take the advantage of 
 th^ field, as the Spaniards have done." " We desire nothing bet- 
 ter," answered the captai.is ; " and entreat we may speedily see our 
 eaemies." 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 THE KlNff OF PORTUGAL ISSUES HIS ORDERS FOR HIS ARMY TO MARCH 
 TOWARD <?iNTAREM. TH2 KIN& .OF CASTILLE QUITS THAT PLACE TO 
 MEET niAl. 
 
 The king of Portugal had these new-comers to dine in the palace 
 of Lisbon, and ordered them to be well lodged in the city, and their 
 pay tJ be advanced them for three months. The king made his 
 secretaries draw up letters, which he sent throughout the realm, 
 commanding all persons, capable of bearing arms, to come instantly 
 to Lisbon, under ;3ain of his displeasure. Few paid any obedience 
 t» these letteis, anvl too many remained at home ; for three parts of 
 tiie iuogdum v/ei» on bs^d terms with the Lisboners, because they 
 
 had crowned a bastard for king, and abused them much behind their 
 backs. The king of Castille and his coundl, knowing of this diifer 
 ence of opinion in Portugal, had thus advanced, with the intent of 
 conquering it; for they said it would be the affair of only one battle, 
 when, if the Lisboners were conquered, the rest of the country would 
 be rejoiced, and the grand-master of Avis would be overthrown and 
 slain, so that the kingdom would fall to Spain, for the queen was the 
 right heiress to it. King John of Castille, however, woulil willingly 
 have avoided this war ; but his subjects would not permit it, as they 
 said he had just cause for it, and thus emboldened him. 
 
 When the king of Portugal found his summons so little attended 
 to, and disobeyed by those on whose services he had counted, he 
 was very pensive. He assembled the principal persons of Lisbon, 
 and the knights of his household who had been most active in 
 crowning him, and who had served under king Ferdinand ; such as 
 sir John Radi^hos, sir John Testa d'Oro, the lord de la Figuire, sir 
 Gomme de Tarbeston, Ambrose Condrich, Peter Condrich his bro. 
 ther, sir Monges de* Navaret, a knight of Castille whom, having 
 been banished thence by the king, the king of Portugal had made 
 captain of his knight?. At this council the king explained several 
 things, and said, " My fair sirs who are here assembled, I know I 
 may depend on your friendships, for you have made me king ; but 
 you must perceive that great numbers of my subjects refuse me their 
 as-:ist?.ac?; in this time of need, and will not take the field. I must 
 own I should have been truly happy to have seen them as well dis. 
 posed as myself to meet our enemies ; but alas I it is otherwise, for 
 they draw back and dissemble. I solicit your advice on this business, 
 how I had best act, and beg of you to give me your opinions." Sir 
 Gomme de Tarbeston, a Portuguese knight, then spoke : " Sir, I ad- 
 vise, for yom- own honor, that you instantly t ike the field, with as 
 many men as you can collect, and hazard the event: we will assist 
 you until death, for we hold you king and lord of this town; and if 
 there be any rebels or discontented persons in Portugal, it is, I say 
 (and in this I am joined by many in the town,) because you have 
 never yet a tacked nor showed yourst If to your enemies. You have 
 had hitherto the renown of being a valiant man-at-arms, but on this 
 occasion you have not acted like one. This has encouraged yom' 
 enemies, and checked the ardor of your subjecfrj ; for, wiien once 
 you show courage and resolution, they will fear yea, as well as your 
 enemies." "By my head," said the king, "sir Gomme, you speak 
 well : and now order our men to be made ready, and every other 
 preparation to hasten our march, for we will meet our enemies, and 
 gain all or lose all." 
 
 " My lord," replied the knight, " it shall be done : if God send you 
 good success, and the day is ours, you will reign king of Portugal, 
 and be prized and honored in all countries wherever you shall be 
 known. You can only have the complete government cf this king, 
 dom by a battle ; and I give you as an example king don Henr)', 
 your cousin, the father of don John of Castille. He gained all his 
 inheritances by the sword, and would never otherwise have sue. 
 ceeded ; for you know how the power of the prince of Wales re- 
 placed don Pedro on the throne, when afterwards by the event of the 
 battle before Montiel, he forfeited his life, and don Henry regained 
 possession of the kingdom. He in that day risked his own person 
 as well as that of his friends ; and you mus' do the same if you wish 
 to live with honor." " By my head," said the king, " you say well ; 
 and I will not ask other advice, but follow thi?, which is much to 
 my advantage." The council now broke up ; and orders were given 
 for the army to march in three days' time, to choose a proper po ition 
 to wait for the enemy. The gates of Lisbon vrere k pt so closely 
 shut, that no person whatever was allowed to quit the town ; fur the 
 king and the inhabitants would not that the Spaniards should know 
 their intention nor their numbers. 
 
 The English were much pleased when they learnt they were to 
 march toward Santarem, where the king and his army lay. Every 
 one now prepared his arms ; the archers their bows and arrows each 
 according to his rank. On a Thursday, in the afternoon, the king 
 with his army marched out of Lisbon, and encamped that day on the 
 banks c-f a small river two leagues from the town, with their front 
 toward Santarem : they said they would never return before they 
 had seen their enemies, and that it was much better they should offer 
 battle than fcr the enemy to come to them. They had remarked 
 the difference between those v;ho sought and those who waited for 
 a battle, and that inferior numbers had frequently gained the day : 
 for in almost all the victories the English had obtained over the 
 French, they had been the first to offer battle ; and they observed, 
 that an attacking army is naturally more courageous than one on the 
 defence. This was the opinion of the inhabitants of Lisbon when 
 they marched out of the town, and they thus continued their conver- 
 sation : " Some of us were with the men of Ghent when they marched 
 to Bruges and oflfered battle to the count of Flanders and his army 
 in that town ; and we well know, that Phi'ip Von Artaveld, Peter 
 du Bois, John Cliqueriel, Frangois Atremen and Peter le Nuitre, the 
 leaders of the Ghent-men, had not under them more than seven thou, 
 sand men ; but they fought the battle, and defeated eleven thousand. 
 This is a known fact, for there was not any treachery : fortune was 
 favorable to Ghent on the day of battle, which was fought on a Sat. 
 urday, a long league distant from Bruges, as we were informed on 
 the morrow when they had conquered that city." They comforted 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, fee. 
 
 379 
 
 themselves thai there was as good a chance tJ win as to lose, and 
 that, it' they wished to succeed in arms they must act boldly. Such 
 were the conversations of the Lisboners among themselves on the 
 Thursday,, as they continued their march. When the king heard 
 how resolutely they discoursed, he was much pleased. 
 
 V/hen the t umpets of the king's army sounded on the Friday 
 morning, all made themselves ready, and marched on the right, fol- 
 lowing the liver and the fl it c juntry, on account of the baggage and 
 provision which iollowed them, and advanced four leagues. News 
 was brought, on this Friday, to the king ofCastille at Sant irem, that 
 the Pi)rtaguese, under the command of the master of Avis, whom 
 the Liib^ners had crowned king, were advancing to meet him. This 
 intelligence was soon spread through the army; and it gave the 
 Spaniard.-, French, and Gascon.! much joy ; they said, " These Lis. 
 boners are valiant fellows, thus ■ 3 come and fight with us : let us 
 hasten to the field, and surround them if we can, that we may pre- 
 vent their return : for, if we can help it, not one of them shall see 
 Lisbon again." It was proclaimed through the army, by sound of 
 trumpet, for every one to be ready, both horse and foot, on Saturday 
 morning, as on that day the king would march to combat his ene- 
 mies. Every one was prepared and showed great joy at the orders, 
 and at the event likely tj happen. 
 
 On the Saturday morning, all the trumpets in the Castille army sound- 
 cd. The king heard mass in the castle, then drank a cup, as did his 
 attendants, and mounting their horses, they marched into the plain in 
 handsome order : sir Reginald de Limousin, marshal of the army, 
 led the van. Scouts were ordered to examine the appearance of the 
 enemy, where ihey were, and what might be their numbers. Two 
 squires were oi lered on this duty by the French ; one a Burgundian, 
 and the other ii Gascon. The Burgundian was called William de 
 Montigny, and of the company of sir John de Rue : the Gascon came 
 from B(5arn, and his name was Bertrand de Barege. They were buth 
 on that day made knight-, and with them a lord of Castille, an able 
 man.at-arm', called sir Pedro Fernando de Medina ; he was mounted 
 on a light genet that had wonderful speed. While these three knights 
 were exploring the country on all sides, in search of the Portuguese, 
 their main army, which consisted of full two thousand lances, knights, 
 and squires, Gascons, Burgundians, French, Picards and Bretons, as 
 well equipped and mounted as men-at-arms cou d be, and twenty 
 thousand Spaniards, all on horseback, marched at a foot's pace, and 
 had not advanced the distance of a bow-shut when they halted. The 
 king of Portugal had also sent three sc JUts to observe the countenance 
 and order of the Spaniards, two of whom were English squires and 
 expert men-at-arms, whose names were James d'Hartleberry and 
 Philip Brade?tjn, and with them a Portuguese called Fernando de 
 la (Jresse. They were all well mounted, and rode so far, that from 
 an eminence where they were hid by the leaves of the trees, thev 
 examined carefully the whole Spanish army. They then returned 
 to the king of Portugal and his army, which they found drawn up in 
 the plain, and related what they had seen. Sire, we have advanced 
 so far as to have fully reconnoitred your enemies : they are very 
 numerous, thirty thousand horse at least : therefore consider well the 
 business." The king asked, " Do they march in one body ?" " No, 
 Bir : they are in two battalions." The king turned about, and said 
 aloud, " Now all of you attend to what 1 say, for here must be no 
 cowardice : we shall soon engage our enemies, who are on their 
 march and eager tJ meet us : this they will do, for we can neither 
 fly nor return ta Lisbon. We have left that town : therefore act well 
 and sell your lives dearly. You have made ine your king : this day 
 I shall see whether the crown is to be peaceably mine; for be assured 
 I will nearer fly, but abide the event." They replied, " God assist 
 us ! we will all stand by you." 
 
 Northberry and Hartael were then called, with others the most 
 experienced in arms, and men who had seen the greatest number of 
 battles, when they were asked their opinion, as to the best mode of 
 acting, to wait the event of a battle ; for they were likely to be forced 
 to fight, as the enemy was advancing fast, and in such numbers that 
 thc-y were at least four to one. The Englishmen said, " Since we 
 must have a battle, and they are superior to us in numbers, it is an 
 unequal chance, and we cannot conquer them but by taking advan- 
 tag-3 of the hedges and bushes : let us therefore fortify ourselves in 
 Buch manner and you will see they will not so easily break us as if 
 we were in the plain. The king replied, " You speak whely, and 
 it shall be done as you recommend." 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 THE PnUTUGTJESE FORTIFY THE\'SELVES, NEAR THE CHURCH OF AUUBA. 
 ROTA,* BV THE ADVICE OF THE ENGLISH. KING JOHN OK CASTILLE, 
 THROUGH THE COUNSEL OF THE FRENCH AND BEARNOIS, RESOLVES TO 
 FIGHT THEM. THE HATRED AND JEALOUSIES OF THli CASTILLIANS 
 STILL CONTINUE AGAINST THE FOREIGNERS. 
 
 The Portuguese and Lisboners approved the advice of the Eng- 
 lish, and gave their opinion whither they should march. They were 
 then near Aljubarota, a large village, to which place they had sent 
 
 * " Aljubarutu," a village in £streiuadoura in PurtUKul. fjur l«ai{U«i! x'rom die town 
 of Leiiitt. 
 
 their stores, sumpter-horses and baggage, as the situation in which 
 they had intended lodging that night, battle or not. About a quarter 
 of a league without the village is a considerable monastery, whither 
 the inhabitants go to hear mass. The church is on a smali eminence, 
 a little beside the road, surrounded by large trees, hedges, and bushes, 
 which, with some little assistance, might be made a strong post. 
 This was then t,)ld the king and his council : but he would have tho 
 English called, for, though they were very few in number, he wished 
 to fallow their advice. They said: "Sire, we know not any spot 
 near, more. favorable than the monastery of Aljubarota, situated as 
 it is among trees : it is now a strong position, but may be much 
 strengthened by art." Those who knew the country agreeing to the 
 truth of this, the king said, Lei us march thither, and form our. 
 selves in such a manner as good men-at-arms should do ; so that our 
 enemies, when they advance, may not find us unprepared." This 
 was instantly done : they marched slowly to Aljubarota, and came 
 to the square before the church, when the English and sir Monges de 
 Navaret, with other valiant Portuguese and Lisboners, attentively ex- 
 amined the place and the environs. The English said, " This spot 
 can be made sufficiently strong, and we may Bccurely wait here the 
 event." They cut down the trees fronting the plain, and laid them 
 across, so that the cavalry could not pass them, leaving one entry not 
 too wide, on the wings of which they posted all their archers and 
 cross-bows. The men-at-arms were on foo', drawn up beside the 
 church, where the king was : and they had already displayed the 
 king's standard and banners. 
 
 When they saw themselves thus drawn up they were much con. 
 tented, saying, if it pleased God, they were in a situation lo hold out 
 for a long time and to gain the advantage by it. The king addressed 
 them : " My fair gentlemen, show your valor this day, and think not 
 of flight; for that will be (if no avail, as you are too distant from 
 Lisbon ; and besides, there is no safety in flight, for three good men 
 will overpower and slay twelve runaways. Prove that you are men 
 of courage and oflfer yourselves vigorously to your opponents: con. 
 sider, should the day be ours, which it will be, if it please God, how 
 much we shall be honored and praised in the dilieient countries 
 where news of it shall be carried ; for the victors are always exalted, 
 and the conquered abased. Consider also, you have made me your 
 king, which should strengthen your courage ; for be assured, that as 
 long as this battle-axe in my hand shall hold, I will continue the 
 fight : and should it break or fail me, I will get another, and show 
 I am determined to guard and defend the crown of Portugal for 
 myself, and for the right I have to the succession of my lord and bro. 
 ther, in which, on my soul, I declare and say they oppose me wrong, 
 fully, and that the quarrel is personal." 
 
 Those of his countrymen who had heard him, replied : " My lord 
 and king, you have graciously admonished and greatly advised us to 
 be men of valor, and to snppart you in defe.nding what we have given 
 to vou and the same time acknowledged to be your own. Know, then, 
 that we will remain with you steadily, and never leave the field alive, 
 until we gain the battle, or be carried away. Have it proclaimed to 
 your men, for they have not all heard you, that none dare, on his 
 life, think of flying ; and if there should be any whose courage fails, 
 so that he fear tj await the battle, let him come forward, and he shall 
 have leave to depart (for one faint heart discourages a dozen of good 
 men-at-arms,) or have his head struck oflf as an example to others." 
 The king said it should be done, and two knights wore ordered by 
 hini tJ examine the army and admonish it, and see if any sj'inptoms 
 appeared among them of fear. The knights, on their return, n-pcrted 
 to the king, that wherever they had visited, and they had examined 
 all the different companies, they had found every one resolute and 
 determined to await the event of the battle. " So much the better,'' 
 said the king. He issued orders to the army, if any persons were 
 detirous of knighthood, to come forward, and he wcuid (onffr on 
 them the order of kniglsthood in the name of God aiui St. Ge argo 
 From the information I had, it seems that sixty new knights were 
 created, which pleased the king much ; and placing them in front 
 of the army, he said, " My fair sirs, the order cf chivalry is more 
 exalted and noble than imagination can suppose; and no knight 
 ought to suffer himself to be debased by cowardice or any villainous 
 or dii ty action ; but when his helmet is on bis head, he should be bold 
 and fierce as a lion when he sees his prey ; and because I uis<I you 
 to show your courage this day when it will be needful, I order you 
 to the front of the battalion, where you must exeil yourselves, that 
 we may both obtain honor, otherwise your spurs will not become 
 you." Each :;ew knight answered in his turn, as he marched by, 
 " Sire, we wiL. with God's grace, do so, that we shall gain your love 
 and approbation." In this manner vvere the Portuguese drawn up, 
 and fortified near the church of Aljubarota. None of the English 
 were desirous to be knighted this day: they were requested by the 
 king tJ be so, but excused themselves for that time. 
 
 We will now return to the king of Castille, and to the knights, 
 squires and men-at-arms from Fiance and Gascony with him, and 
 speak of the appearance of the Spaniards, and how they were drawn 
 up. The knights they had sent out to reconnoitre, had returned, artd 
 said : " Sir king, and you barons and knights present, we have leis. 
 urely examined our enemies : we do not believe their whole amount 
 is more than ten thousand men : they have marched to the abbey of 
 AJjubaruta» where thev have halted, and are drawn up in otdtts of 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENOLAKD, FRANCE, BPAIN, &c. 
 
 battle ; and tlieie they may be louad by whoever chooses to seek 
 for them." Upon this the king summoned a council, to which, in 
 particular, the barons and knights of France were invited : they were 
 asked, wh^t was best to be done, when they instantly replied, " Sir, 
 it is proper they should be fought with : we see nothing else to be 
 done; ; for, from the report of our scout-, they are alarmed for the 
 event, as they find themselves distant from any fortress whither they 
 may retreat, and Lisbon is six leagues off ; they cannot, therefore, 
 easily run thither, even if they should take advantage of the night, 
 without being overtaken on the road. We therefore, sir, advise, 
 since we know where they are, that we be drawn up in battle array, 
 and march to combat them, while your men are in a good disposition 
 to behave well." 
 
 The king then asked his countrymen their opinions, such as Don 
 Gonzales Nunez de Gusman, don Diego de Mendoza, Peter Gonza. 
 les de Mendoza, Peter Lopez d'Ayala, and the grand-master of CaL 
 atrava, who replied : " My lord, we have well heard the French 
 knights advise you to march instantly against your enemies; but we 
 wish you and them to know, that before we can arrive thither it will 
 be night, for the sun is now on the decline, and we have not yet 
 arranged our order of battle. It would be better to wait until morn- 
 ing, and approach them so near that we may discover by our scouts, 
 whom we can spread over the plain, in what manner they have posted 
 themselves ; and if they should incline to march away during the 
 night, we might also decamp, when they cannot escape, for the coun- 
 try is quite open, and there is not any strong place except Lisbon, 
 80 they must fall an easy prey to us. This is the advice we give." 
 
 The king, on hearing this, was silent, and looked first on the ground 
 and then on the foreigners; when sir Reginald de Limousin, mar- 
 shal of the army, thus spake (in order to please the French) in Span- 
 ish, that he might be heard and understood by all, for he spoke that 
 language fluently, so long had he resided among them, addressing 
 himself to the Spaniards who were near the king, and who had given 
 him the last advice : " How can you, my lords, (calling each of them 
 by name, fur he was well acquainted with them all) pretend to have 
 more knowledge of battles or more experience in war than the valiant 
 knights and squires here present ? how can you imagine you can 
 devise any plan superior to theirs, or even that could be of any value? 
 For their whole life has been employed in travelling from one king- 
 dom to another, in search of adventures. How can you dare ofier 
 any other opinion, or thus detract from what they have so nobly said 
 in the defence of the honor ol" the king and country ; in which you 
 are more interested than they are. for you have therein your proper- 
 ties a3 well as your persons, while they have only their persons. 
 They have offored a proof of their attachment, by requesting of the 
 kin^ to be posted in front of the battalions, which his majesty has 
 disappr wed. C nsider how die-interested they must be, when they 
 made tl is offer. It would appear to some persons as if you were 
 envious, and wished not that any honor or profit might accrue to 
 them, o..- that the king should gain the victory over his enemies. 
 Honoralile men-nt-urms, who seek perfection, should be above low 
 jeblousics and such base pissions, and always be of one and the same 
 way of thinking. Besides, through your advice, has the king been 
 thus long and expensively kept at the siege of Lisbon, without hav- 
 ing an opportunity of a battle, until now when the master of Avis 
 (who feigns himself king of Portugal, though he can have no such 
 rigl.t, being a bastard) has tiken the field. He is at Aljubarota at 
 this monieot wit i all the force he can muster, but it is not any way 
 great: if it should therefore h.ippen that he make his escape from us, 
 and avoid a battle, you will ruo the risk of the people rising and slay, 
 ing you; or the kiiig, contiJeriiig you as traitors, will have you be- 
 headed, and your est.ites confiscated. I therefore see no better means 
 for you than being silent, and agreeing with those who have been 
 actors in more matters of this sort than you ever have been engaged 
 in, or ever will be." 
 
 As sir Reginald ended this speech, the king raised his eyes from 
 the ground, and seemed highly pleased with what he had heard : the 
 Spaniards on the contrary, were thunderstruck, and thought, at the 
 moment, they had done worse than they really had ; for, notwith- 
 standing the marshal had thus opposed and reproved them, they had 
 wisely and prudently adviied the king, for he could not have had 
 better counsel ; but his valor and frankness made him speak as fol. 
 lows in compliance with the French and the strangers present, who 
 were eager f^r battle. Every one was silent, when the king said : 
 " In the name of God and my lord St. .Tames, I will that we combat 
 our enemies, and tiat those who desire knighthood, may advance, 
 and receive the order of chivalry in honor of God and St. George." 
 Many squires of P'rance and Bdarn came forward, and were knighted 
 by the king's hand ; such as sir Roger d'Espuign, and his son FJd- 
 mund : from the county of Foix, sir Bertrand de Barege, sir Peter 
 dc Salbie»e, sir Petiu* de Valentin, tir William de Quer, sir Angiers 
 de Sollcnaire, sir Peter de Vaud, sir William de Mondigy, with many 
 mure; in all, one hunJred and foity, who willingly accepted the order 
 of knighthood. Soine barons of Bdarn first displayed their banners 
 with several of Castille and sir .John de Rue 
 
 You might have seen these young knights, full of vigor and gal. I 
 lanirv, carrying themselves so handsomely that it was a pleasant j 
 ipcctacle to see ; and ihey were, as 1 have said, a large battalion of | 
 tb§2xu£lves. Th? lufd Liugnash ;h^n appfgached tiie kiii£, ac | 
 
 companied by all those who had come from different countries, and 
 whom the Castillians called indiscriminately Frenchmen, completely 
 armed except their helmets, and said : My lord king, we arc come 
 from distant countries with the best disposition to serve you : grant us, 
 we beg of you, that we may form the van battalion." " I grant it," 
 replied the king, " in the name of God, St. James, and my lord St. 
 George, and may they be with you!" Upon this, the Spaniards 
 whispered one to another, " See, for God's sake ! see how our king 
 confides wholly in these foreigners : he has not any trust in others. 
 They have obtained the honor of the van, and hold us so cheap they 
 will not invite us to make a part. They are now drawing themselves 
 up separately. Well, we will do the same on our part, and, by God, 
 let them combat and fight by themselves. Have they not already 
 boasted they are sufficient to vanquish the Portuguese ? Be it so, 
 then : we are contented ; but it will be right we ask the king if he 
 choose to remain with us or go with the Frenchmen." They were 
 murmuring a long time, whether they should put such a question to 
 the king or not, for they were much afraid of the reprimands of sir 
 Reginald de Limousin. Having fully considered, they thought there 
 would not be any harm in asking the question. Six therefore of the 
 principal nobles, employed about his person, advanced, and, with 
 many obeisances, thus spoke : " Most noble king, we perceive plainly 
 that this day there will be an engagement with your enemies. God 
 grant you may have the victory and honor I as we sincerely wish it; 
 but we are anxious to know your pleasure, whether you will remain 
 with us or march with the Frenchmen ?" " By no means," replied 
 the king : " my fair sirs, if I have determined on batde, in conso- 
 quence of the advice of the knights and squires from France who 
 have come to serve me, and who are men of great valor and abilities, 
 I do not renounce you, but will remain among you, and you will 
 therefore help in defending me." The Castillians were delighted 
 with this answer; und said, "That, my lord, will we do, and never 
 fail you as long as we live ; for we have sworn to do so, and pledged 
 our faith on the day you were crowned : we had besides so great 
 an affection for the good king your father, that nothing shall ever 
 make us desert you." The king of Castille remained with the Gas. 
 tillians, who amounted to full twenty thousand horse all covered with 
 armor. Sir Reginald de Limousin was in the first battalion, that 
 post being his right as marshal. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 THE BATTLE OF ALJUBAROTA, IN WHICH THE FRENCH AND BEARNOIS, IN 
 THE INTEREST OF CASTILLE, ARE DEFEATED AND SLAIN BY THE PORTU- 
 GUESE, FROM NOT BEING PROPERLY SUPPORTED BY THE CASTILLIANS, 
 WHO WERE JEALOUS OF THEM. THEY AFTERWARDS MEET THE SAWfi 
 FATE. 
 
 This Saturday had been a fine clear day, but the sun was now 
 declining, and it was about the hour of vespers, when the first bat- 
 talion of the Castillian army came before Aljubarcta, where the king 
 of Portugal and his men were drawn up in battle array. The French 
 knights amounted to two thousand, as gallant lances as could be 
 seen. The moment they perceived the enemy they formed in close 
 order, like men of resolution who knew their business, and advanced 
 within bow-shot. This attack was very sharp ; for tnose who were 
 eager after glory, and to perform feats of arms, assaulted the place 
 which the English had fortified. The entrance having been made 
 narrow caused a great pressure of the assailants against each other, 
 and much mischief was done by the English archers, who shct so 
 vigorously and quick that the horses were larded, as it were, with 
 arrows, and fell one on the other. The few English men-at-arms and 
 the Liiboners now came forward, shouting their cry of " Our Lady 
 for Lisbon !" They were armed with well steeled Bordeaux lances, 
 with which they pierCed through everything, and wounded knights 
 and squires. The lord de Lingnach of B6arn was unhorsed, his 
 banner taken, and himself made prisoner, and numbers of his men 
 slain or taken. On the other hand, sir John de B.ue, sir Gecffry 
 Ricon, sir Geoffry de Partenay, with difficulty, had entered the fort 
 with their men ; but their horses were so wounded by the archers, 
 they fell down under them. The men-at-arms on their side were ia 
 great danger, for one could not assist the other, nor could they gain 
 room to exert themselves, while the Portuguese, seeing the ill success 
 which had attended the first assailants, were as fresh and as active as 
 ever for the combat. The king of Portugal was m.ounted on a tall 
 courser decorated all over with the arms of Portugal, and his banner 
 set up before him ; he was much pleased at seeing the defeat of hia 
 enemies, and to encourage his men, and for his own pleasure he 
 laughed aloud, crying out ; " Go on, my good fellows : defend your- 
 selves wel', for, if there be no more than what I see, we shall net 
 make much of them ; and if I have any knowledge of war, these 
 men must remain with us." 
 
 Thus did the king of Portugal encourage his men, who fought 
 valiantly, and, having inclosed the first comers within their fort, they 
 were putting numbers of them to death. True it is, that this first 
 battalion of which I am speaking, under the command of knights 
 from France and B^arn, expected to have been more quickly and 
 better supported by the Castillians than they were ; for if the king of 
 CastiUe with the mail) armyi which consisted at i«ast of twenty 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN. &c. 
 
 thousand men, had advanced t) check the Portuguese in another 
 quarter, the day must have been theirs ; but they did nothing, for 
 which they suffered much loss and blame. It is also true, that the 
 battle begun tjo soon ; but they did so to acquire greater honor, and 
 to make their words good which they had said in the presence of the 
 king. On the other hand, as I have heard, the Castillians made no 
 gf^ht haste to advance, fur the French were not in good favor with 
 them, and they had said ; " Let them begin the fight, and tire them- 
 selves: they will find enough to do. These Frenchmen are too great 
 boasters, and too vainglorious, and our king has not any perfect con. 
 fidence but in them. Since he wishes that they should have the 
 honor of the day, it shall be so ; for we will have it our own way, or 
 not at all." Conformably to this resolution, the Spaniards kept in a 
 large body, twenty thousand at least, in the plain, and would not ad- 
 Vance, which vexed the king much ; but he could not help it, for they 
 said ; " My lord, it is all over, (though none had returned from the 
 battle :) these French knights have defeated your enemies : the 
 honor and victory of the day are theirs." " God grant it may be so!" 
 replied the king ; " but let us advance a Httle." They advanced 
 about a bow-shot, and halted again. It was truly a fine sight to view 
 their appearance, so well and handsomely were they arm^'d and 
 mounted. Duriag all this time the French were fighting; and those 
 Jknights and squires who had been r^bie Xd dismount performed many 
 gallant deeds, for, when their lances were broken, they used their 
 battle-axes, and with them gave such desperate blows on the helmets 
 of all who opposed them, that wounds, if not death, were the conse. 
 quences. Whoever is engaged in such-like combats as this at Alju- 
 barota must abide the event, if safety be not sought in flight: but in 
 flight there is more danger than in the heat of the battle, for, when 
 any one flies a pursuit is made, and, if overtaken, he is slain : when 
 in a battle, if the chance turn unfortunate, he surrenders, and is well 
 taken care of as a captive. 
 
 It cannot be denied but that the knights and squires from France, 
 Brittany, Burgundy and B6arn, fought valiantly: they were over- 
 powered at the first onset, from the advice the English had given to 
 fortify the place : besides, in this attack, the Portuguese were supe- 
 rior in numbers. They therefore were at their mercy, and all were 
 glain or taken, for few escaped. At this beginning they made a [ 
 thousand knights and squires prisoners, which gave them much joy. 
 They did not expect any further battle that day, and entertained their 
 prisoners handsomely, saying to them ; " Do not be cast down : you 
 have valiantly fought and have been conquered fairly : we will be. 
 have to you as generously as we should wish to be dealt with our- 
 selves, were we in your situation. You must come and recruit 
 yourselves in the good city of Lisbon, where you shall have every 
 comfort." Those to whom such speeches were made, replied by 
 returning thanks. Some were ransomed on the spot, and others said 
 they v/ould v/ait the event, for they did not imagine things would 
 remain as they then were, but that the king of Spain would come 
 with the main army and deliver them. 
 
 As the king of Castille and his people were drawing near to Alju- 
 barota, news of what had happened speedily came to them from the 
 runaways (for unfortunate indeed is the battle whence no one es- 
 capes,) who cried aloud and with much fear ; " Sir king, advance ; 
 for your whole van battalion are either slain or made prisoners, and 
 there is no hope of deliverance but from you." When the king heard 
 this he was much enraged, and with reason, for it too nearly con- 
 cerned him : he instantly gave orders to march, saying, "March, 
 banners, in the name of God and St. George : let us hasten to the 
 rescue of our friends who have been captured, for they have need of 
 tis." The Castillians began to quicken their march in close order : 
 it was now past vespers, and the sun was setting, when some of them 
 said, it would be better to wait for the morning, as it would soon be 
 night, when they would be unable to perform any good deeds of 
 arms. But the king was determined to advance, and was in the 
 right ; for he said, " How can we think of thus deserting our friends, 
 who are fatigued and in distress ? whoever gives such advice neither 
 loves me nor regards my honor." They continued therefore to ad- 
 vancc, with trumpets sounding and drums beating, and making a 
 great noise to frighten their enemies. 
 
 I will now relate how the king of Portugal and his army had em- 
 ployed themselves. As soon as they had defeated the van division 
 and taken care of their prisoners, as has been before said, they did 
 not confide in this first victory, though they saw not any appearance 
 of reinforcements, but ordered six men-at-arms, the best mounted, to 
 reconnoitre, and bring them intelligence, if they were to expect an- 
 other batde. Those who had been sent on this expedition, saw and 
 heard the army of the king of Castille, which was at least twenty 
 thousand men on horseback, and approaching very near to Aljuba. 
 rota: they returned full gallop tJ their friends, and said tload, "My 
 brds, take care of yourselves, for hitherto we have done nothing: 
 the king of Castille is advancing with his whole army, of twenty 
 thousand horse, for not one has remained behind." On hearing this 
 they held a short council, as the necessity of the case obliged them, 
 and came to a pitiless resolution ; for it was commanded, under pain 
 of death, that whoever had taken a prisoner should instantly kill 
 him, and that neither noble, nor rich, nor simple, should be exempted. 
 Those barons, knights and squires, who had been captured, were in 
 « melancholy situation, for entreaties would have been of no avail. 
 
 They were scattered about disarmed in diflt'reiit p.iits, consideiinjj 
 themselves in eafcty, for their lives at least ; but it was net so, which 
 was a great pity. Each man kilUd his pri-^oner, and those svho re. 
 fused, had him slain before their eyes: for the Portuguese and E)ng. 
 lish, who had given this advice, said, " It was better U kill tlian to 
 be killed ; and if we do net put them to death they will liberate 
 themselves while we are fighting, and then shiy us, for no one ought 
 to put confidence in his prisoner." By this order were killed the Icid 
 de Lingnach, sir Peter de Salbiere, the lords de Le^pre, de Beam, 
 des Bordes, sir Bertrand de Barege, the lord de Mori;tne, sir Raymond 
 Donzack, sir John Afolege, tir Manaut de Saremen, fir Peter de Sali- 
 bieres, sir Stephen de Valentin, sir Rayniond de Coinasse, .-ir Pt^ter 
 de Hausane, with full three hundred squires from Euarn. Of French, 
 men, there were sir John de Rue, dr Geoffry Ricon, sir GeoflTi-y de 
 Partenay, and many more. This was a very unfortunate event to the 
 prisoners, as well as to the Portuguese ; for they put to de-^-.th, this 
 Saturday, as many good prisoners as would have been worth to them, 
 taking one with another, four hundred thousand francs. When they 
 had thus cleared the place, by putting every one t.> decth (for none 
 escaped but those who had been carried to the village of Aljubarota, 
 where the baggage and stores were,) they again formed themselves 
 in the same position and place as when the van battalion commenced 
 their attack. 
 
 The sun was now setting, when the king of Castille advanced in 
 puissant array, with banners displayed, and on barbed horses, shout, 
 ing out "Castille I" and entered the fortified pas?. They were 
 received with lances and battle-axes, and the first flight of arrows 
 grievously wounded their horses, threw tliem into confu^ijn, and 
 many were wounded or slain. The king of Castille, ignorant of the 
 unfortunate fate of the van, imagining they were only prisoners, was 
 anxious to deliver them, as you have heard. The battle rnged with 
 violence: many were thrown 'to the ground, and the Portuguese had 
 not the advantage : they were forced to fi^ht most valiantly, or they 
 would have been overpowered : they owed their safety tj the impos- 
 sibility of being attacked but in one place. The king of Portugal 
 dismounted, and, taking his battle-axe, placed himself at the pass, 
 where he performed vvonders, knocking down three or four of the 
 stoutest of the enemy, insomuch that none dared to approach him. 
 I must not omit to notice the manner in which the Spaniards gene- 
 rally act in war. It is true they make a handsome figure on horse, 
 back, spur off to advantage, and fight well at the first onset ; but as 
 soon as they have thrown two or three dart.?, and given a stroke with 
 their spears, without disconcerting the enemy, t;iey take alarm, turn 
 their horses' head" «»r»d save themselves by flight as well as they can : 
 this game they played at Aljubarota ; for they found their enemic-? 
 obstinate, and as fresh as if they had not had an engagement, which 
 astonished them much ; and their surprise was increased by not 
 hearing anything of the van battalion. 
 
 The Spaniards had a hard afternoon's work, and the fortune of 
 war was greatly against them : all who through courage, or a wish 
 to distinguish themselves, had entered the fort of the Lisboners, were 
 cut to pieces ; for they could not ransom any, whether poor or noble, 
 (such had been their orders) nor encumber themselves with prisoners. 
 Very many of the nobles of Castille were there slain : am.ong the 
 greatest barons who suffered, were sir Dangommes Neudrich, sir 
 Diego Parsament, don Pedro de Rourmont, sir Marc de Versaux, the 
 grand-master of Calatrava, and his brother, wlio was that day created 
 a knight, and called sir Diego Moro, sir Peter Goussart dc Modesque, 
 don Pedro Goussart de Seville, don John Roderigo de la Rousselle, 
 with upward of sixty barons and knights of Spain. There were not 
 even at the battle of Najara, when the prince of Wales defeated the 
 king, don Henry, so many nobles of Castille killed, as at this battle 
 of Aljubarota, which was on a Saturday, the feast of our Lady, 
 August, 1.385. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 TfiE KING OF CASTILLE, AFTER HIS DEFEAT AT AIJUBABOTA, KETREAT3 
 TO SANTAREM. THE KING OF FORTUGAL RETURNS TO LISBON. ▲ 
 TRUCE IS CONCLUDED BETWEEN TIIEM. 
 
 When king Henry perceived that his army was defeated, the van 
 battalion having been totally destroyed, that sir Reginald de Limou. 
 sin, his marshal, was slain, and that the flower of his own chivalry, 
 as well as that of France, which had come so willingly to serve him, 
 were dead or disabled, he was mightily cast down, and knew not 
 how to act. He saw his men flying in all directions, and heard them 
 crying to him, " My lord, march away : it is time for you : the batde 
 is over: you alone cannot conquer your enemies, nor repair your 
 losses: your men are running away on all sides, for every one now 
 looks to himself : you know, also, it will be prudent, at this moment, 
 to follow their example, and if fortune is now against you, another 
 time she may be more favorable." The king of Castille followed 
 this advice : he changed his horse, and mounted a fresh one that had 
 not been rode that day, and which had great speed. The king stuck 
 spurs into him, turned his back to his enemies, and made for Santa- 
 rem, whither all the runaways, who wished to save themselves, 
 followed. 
 
 The king of Castille had that day ordered a knight of his house 
 
383 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND. FRANCE 
 
 SPAIN 
 
 & c. 
 
 hold, called sir Ptter Harem, to bear his helmet Tliis helmet was 
 encircled with guld, and might be worth twenty thousand francs. 
 The king intended wearing it at the battle, and had so ordered it the 
 nioruing lie marclu-d tri'iii Santarem, but did not do so ; for, when 
 the army was I'urming, there was so great a crowd round the king, 
 the knight could nul come near, :ind, nut hearing liimselt" called, he 
 ceased U uttciupt it. Slioitly afterwards, he heard thai the Portu- 
 guese had gained the day, and saw his own army (lyijig in all direc- 
 li JUS : fearful of Ijsiiig so rich a jewel as the king's helmet, that was 
 valued so highly, he put it on his own head, net to lose it nor have 
 it tt..len from liim by meetiiTj the enemy, and fled : he did not follow 
 t!te road to Sau'.areni, but tjok another, like t ) peopVi thunderstruck 
 and discomfited ; but the greater part made for Santarem, where the 
 king arrived in tlie evening, confounded and cast down. 
 
 Alter the defeat of the Spaniards at Aljubarota. the Portuguese 
 and Liiboncro kept the field of battle : the slaughter was great, and 
 would have been more if they had pursued the enemy ; for the Eng- 
 lish seeing the enemy turn their backs, called aloud to the king of 
 Portug. 1, " Sir king^ let lis mount our horses, and set out on the 
 pursuit, and all these runaways shall be dead men." " I will not," 
 re|)licd the king : " what we have done ought to satisfy us. Our 
 men are fatigued, and have fought hard this evening : it is now so dark 
 we shall not know whither we are going, nor how many are flying. 
 Their army was very numerous, and perhaps this may be a stratagem 
 to draw u-i out of our fort, and the more easily conquer us. We will 
 this day guard the dead, and tj-morrow call a council and consider 
 how we shall next act."' " By my faith," replied Hartsel, an Eng. 
 lishman, " the dead are easily guarded : they will do us no harm, nor 
 shall we have any profit from them, for we have slain our rich pris- 
 oners. We are strangers, come from a distance to serve you, and 
 would willingly gain something from these calves that are flying 
 without wings, and who drive their banners before them." "Fair 
 brother," said the king, "all covet, all lose : it is much better that 
 wc reniajn on our guard, since the honor and victory are ours, through 
 God's grace, than run any risk where there is no necessity for it. 
 Thanks to God, we have enough to make you all rich." Nothing 
 more was said on the subject. Thus, as I have related, happened the. 
 battle of Aijubaroi;i, wlilcii ihe king of Portugal completely gained. 
 There were slain about five hundred knights, and full as many, if not 
 more, squires, which was a great pity, and six or seven thousand 
 other men : God have mercy on their poor souls ! 
 
 The king of Portugal and his men remained all night utider arms, 
 at their post without stirring, until about six o'clock on Sunday morn- 
 ing. They ate a morsel standing or sitting, and quaflfed a cup or so 
 of wine, which was brought to them from the village of Aljubarota. 
 At sunrise, the king of Portugal ordered twelve knights to mount 
 their horses, and scour the country, to see if there were any bodies 
 of men assembled together. When they had rode far and near, on 
 their return, they said they had seen nothing but dead men. " Of 
 them we have no fear," said the king, who gave orders for the army 
 to march to the village of Aljubarota, where they were to halt the 
 rest of the day and that night until Monday morning. Upon this they 
 decamped, leaving the church of Aljubarota, and quartered them- 
 selves in the village the whole of Sunday and the following night. 
 
 On Monday morning, it was ordered in council that they ohould 
 return to Lisbon, and the trumpets sounded to decamp. They then 
 foi-med themselves in handsome array, and took the road to Lisbon. 
 On the Tuesday, the king entered the city, amid an immense con- 
 course of people, with great glory and triumph, and was conducted 
 by a numerous company of minstrels, and a long procession of 
 churchmen, who had come out to meet him as far as the palace. As 
 he rode through the streets, all the people, and even the children, paid 
 him the greatest respect and reverence, shouting out, " Long live 
 the noble king of Portugal ! to whoni God has been gracious in giv- 
 ing victory over the potent king of Castille, the gain of the field and 
 discomfiture of his enemies." By this fortunate victory which the 
 king of Portugal had over don John of Castille, as I have just related, 
 l.e won so much the affections of all Portugal, that tho.st^, who before 
 this battle had dissembled their sentiments, now carno to Lisbon, 
 took the oaths, and paid their homagp to hmi, sajing, he was worthy 
 to live, and God must love him when gave 1dm the victoiT over a 
 king more powerful than himselr, and that h<'. desarved to wear a 
 crown. Thus did the king acqun-e lue love of his subjects, more es- 
 pecially of the whole comnionalty of thf kingdom. 
 
 We will now say something ui the king of Castille, who, after his 
 defeat, retreated to Simtarem, regrt;tting and bewailing t\e loss of 
 his men, and cursing the hard fate he had had, when such numbers 
 of noble knight^ of his kingdom, as well as thosp from France, lay 
 dead on the field. At the time he entered the tuwn of Santarem, he 
 knew not the greatness of Ins loss, but was made acquainted with it 
 on the Sunday, when he sent his heralds to examine the field of bat. 
 t.e, having imagined the greater part of those barons and knights 
 whom they found lying dead, had been prisoners to the Portuguese, 
 lie was so much cm-aged when the heralds returned, on learning the 
 names of those who had fallen, and the certainty of their deaths, that 
 he could not be appeased or comforted. He declared with an oath, 
 he should never again taste joy, for the loss of so many noble knights, 
 who hud .perished thr(>"<ih his fault. 
 
 Ai tlic end of the th->w 4ays the king had passed at Santarem, his 
 
 Knight, sir Martin Harene,* came into the town, bnngmg with him 
 his majesty's helmet, which was estimated at twenty thousand francs, 
 on account of the rich jewel? with which it was ornamented. Much 
 had been said on this subject in the king's housohcld, and some had 
 declared he had fraudulently carried it off, and would never moro 
 return. When the knight came before the king, he cast himself on 
 his knees, and made such fair excuses that the king and council held 
 him blameless. Things remained in this state, and the king of Gas. 
 tille returned to Burgos, the twenty. fi:th day after his arrival at San 
 tarem, having dismissed his whole a; my. Negotiations were now 
 entered on between the kings of Castille and Portugal, and a truce 
 was made between them and their allies, as well on land as at sea, 
 from Michaelmas until the first day of May. The bodies of the 
 barons and knights who had been slain at Aljubarotri, were buried 
 in that and in the neighboring churches : the bones of many were 
 carried by their servants to their own coimtries. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 THE COUNT DE FOIX IS KAPIDLV, AND IN A SECRET MANNETl, INFOKMED OP 
 WHAT HAD tlAPPENED AT AUCBAROTA. FROISSART, f.M CONSEQUENCE 
 OF THIS, RELATES A STORY WHICH HAD BEEN TOLD HIM OF A FAMILIAR 
 SPIRIT, CALLED ORTHON, WHO SERVED THE LORD DE CORASSE IN THE 
 LIKE MANNER. 
 
 A FACT I am about to r-late will astonish my readers, if they con- 
 sider and pay any attention to it. It was told me in the hotel of the 
 count de Foix, at Orth6s, and by the same person who had informed 
 me of the battle of Aljubarota, and the event of that day. I will 
 therefore narrate it; for, ever since the squire related it to me, I have 
 much thought on it, and shall do so as long as I live. It is a fact, as 
 the squire assui-ed me, that the count de Foix was informed, the day 
 after the battle of Aljubarota, of everything that had there happened, 
 the same as I have re'ated it, which surprised me exceedingly how 
 this could possibly have been. 
 
 The whole days of Sunday, Monday, and the following Tuesday, 
 he was in his castle of Orthfes, and made such poor and melancholy 
 meals that not one word could be drawn from him ; nor would he, 
 during that time, quit his chamber, nor speak to knight or squire, 
 however nearly they were related by blood, unless he had sent for 
 him ; and it also happened, that he even sent for some, to whom he 
 never opened his lips during these three days. On the Tuesday, iii 
 the evening, he called his bi'other Arnold William, and said to him 
 in a low voice, " Our people have had a desperate battle, which has 
 vexed me very much, for it has happened to them just as I had fore, 
 told at their departure." Arnold William, who was a wise man and 
 a prudent knight, well acquainted with the temper of his brother, 
 was silent. The count, anxious to cheer up his courage, for he had 
 too long nurtured in his breast this sad news, added, " By God, sir 
 Arnold, it is just as I have told you; and very soon we shall have 
 news of it. Never has the country of B<Sarn suffered so severely for 
 these hundred years past, as it has now at this battle in Portugal." 
 Many knights and squires who were present, and heard the woi'ds of 
 the count, were afraid to speak, but commented within them.selves 
 on them. 
 
 Within ten days, the truth was known from those who had been in 
 the battle, and they first told the count, and all who wished to hear 
 them, everything relative to their disputes with the Castiliiaus and 
 the event of the battle at Aljubarota. This renewed the grief of the 
 count, and of those persons belonging to the country, who had lost 
 bi-others, relations, children, or friends. " Holy Mary I" said I to the 
 squire, "how was it possible for the count to know, or even to guess 
 at it, on the morrow after it had happened ?" " By my faith," re- 
 plied he, " he knew it well enough, as it appeared afterwards." "Is 
 he a wizard, then," said I, " or has he messengers who ride on the 
 winds ? for he must have some secret art." Upon this, the squire 
 began to laugh, and said, " In truth, he must have known it by means 
 of necromancy. We indeed are ignorant in this couritry, how he 
 manages, but w. have our suspicions.*' Upon this, I said to the 
 squire, " Now do have the goodness to tell me what your suspicions 
 ai'e, and I shall be very much obliged to you. If it be necessary to 
 keep it secret, I will be silent, and never open my mouth on the sub- 
 ject as long as I live or remain in this country." " I must entreat 
 that of you," replied the squire, " for I would not have it known that 
 I had told it to you ; for we only speak of it secre tly when among 
 our friends." Upon this, he di-ew me aside to a corner of the vault 
 of the chapel of Orth6s, and thus began his tale : 
 
 " About twenty years ago, there lived a baron in this country, 
 called Raymond, lord of Corasse. You must undei-siand, that Co. 
 rasse is a town seven leagues distant from Orthiiis. This lord of 
 Corasse had a suit at Avignon, before the pope, for the tithes gf his 
 church, against a priest of Catalonia : this priest was very learned 
 who claimed these tithes, which were worth a hundred florins a 
 year. He proved his right so clearly that pope Urban V. in full con- 
 sistory, gave a definitive judgment in favor of the priest, condemning 
 the knight to costs of suit. The priest obtained a copy of this sen. 
 tence, and hastened to Beam, where showing it, and his bulls from 
 
 * His iiutne is not mentiuntd io tli« priutvU cupie* until uuw, but he it walietl iu iny 
 MSS. r«t«f Uarvtu. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAtN, &c. 
 
 the i>i'pe, he obtained possession of thf- tithei?. Thf. lord de Co- I 
 rasso, b^ing doubifiil of the priest and of iiii designs, went to hiin 
 and s;iiil . ' Mcster Pcmv, or muster Martin (according as he was 
 called,) do you think I will lose my inheritanoe through the papers 
 you have brought hitiier I do not believe you will be bold enough 
 to coilfict anything belonging to me ; for if you do, your life shall 
 pay for it. Go elsewhere and seek for benefices, for you shall not 
 have anythiUvCT from my estatr«s; and, (ince for a'!, I forbid you to 
 take any Ohp.s.' Th^ ci.-ik wh-; fr;rirful of th<. knight, as he knew 
 him to be a o;ii-J m.i'n, and dared not persevere, but resolved to re- 
 t;n-n to Avignon, which he did. Before he set out, he came again 
 lo the lord de Corasse, and said to him : * By force, and not by jus, 
 lice, you deprive me of the right? of my church, for which, in con- 
 science, you behave exceedingly ill. I am not so powerful in this 
 country as you are ; but know, that as soon as I possibly can, I will 
 send you a champion that you will be more afraid of than you have 
 hitherto been of me.' The lord de Corasse, not alarmed at his men- 
 aces, replied : ' Go, in God's name go : do what thou canst : I fear 
 thee neither dead nor alive ; and for thy speeches I will not lose my 
 property.' The clerk then departed, and went I know not whether 
 to Catalonia or to Avignon, but did not forget what he had told the 
 lord de Corasse on leaving iiim ; for, about three months after, when 
 the knight least thought of it, and was sleeping in his bed with his 
 lady, in his castle of Corasse, there came invisible messengers, who 
 made such a noise, knocking about everything they met with in the 
 castle, as if they were determined to destroy all within it : and they 
 gave such loud raps at the door of the chamber of the knight, that 
 the lady was exceedingly frightened. The knight heard it all, but 
 did not say a v/ord, as he would not have it appear that he was 
 alarmed, for he v/as a man of sufficient courage for any adventure. 
 These noises and tumults continued, in d'ifferent parts of the castle, 
 for a considerable time, and then ceased. On the morrow, all the 
 servants of the household assembled, and went to their lord, and 
 said: * My lord, dij you not hear what we all heard this night?' 
 The lord de Corasse dissembled, and replied, ' What is it you have 
 heard V They then related to him all the noises and rioting they 
 had heard, and that the plates in the kitchen had been broken. He 
 began to laugh, and said, 'it was nothing: that they had dreamed 
 it, or that it had been the wind.' * In the name of God,' added the 
 lady, ' I well heard it.' 
 
 " On the following night, the noises and rioting were renewed, but 
 much louder than before ; and there were such blows struck against 
 the door and windows of the chamber of the knight, that it seemed 
 they would break them down. The knight could no longer desist 
 from leaping out of his bed, and calling out, ' Who is it that at this 
 hour thus knocks at my chamber door V He was instantly answered, 
 • It is L' ' And who sends thee hither V asked the kxiight. ' The 
 clerk of Catalonia, whom thou hast much wronged : for thou hast 
 deprived him of the rights of his benefice : I will, therefore, never 
 leave thee quiet, until thou hast rendered him a just account, with 
 which he shall be contented.' * What art thou called,' said the 
 knight, 'who art so good a messenger?' ' My name is Orthon.' 
 ' Orthon,' said the knight, ' serving a clerk will not be of much ad- 
 vantage to thee ; for, if thou believest him, he will give thee great 
 trouble : 1 beg thou wilt therefore leave him and serve me, and I 
 shall think myself obliged to thee.' Orthon was ready with his an- 
 swer, for he had taken a liking to the knight, and said, ' do you 
 wish it?' ' Yes,' replied the knight ; ' but no harm must be done to 
 any one within these walls.' 'Oh no,' answered Orthon: ' I have 
 no power to do ill to any one, only to awaken thee and disturb thy 
 rest, or that of other persons.' ' Do what I tell thee,' added the 
 knight : ' we shall well agree ; and leave this wicked priest, for he 
 is a worthless fellow, and serve me.' ' Well,' replied Orthon, 'since 
 thou wilt have it so, I consent.' 
 
 " Orthon took such an affecti:>n to the lord de Corasse, that he 
 came often to see him in the night-time ; and, when he found him 
 sleeping, he pulled hi=i pillow from under his head, or made great 
 noises at the door or windows ; so that, when the knight was 
 awakened, he said, ' Orthon, let me sleep.' ' I will not,' replied 
 he, ' until I have told thee some news.' The knight's lady was so 
 much frightened, the hairs of her head stood on end, and she hid her- 
 self under the bedclothes. ' Well,' said the knight, ' and what 
 news hast t!iou brought me ?' Orthon replied, ' I am come from 
 E.ighnd, Hungary, or some other place, which I 'eft yesterday, and 
 such and such things have happened.' Thus did the lord de Co- 
 rasse know by means of Orthon all things that were passing in dif. 
 ferent parts of the world ; and this connection continued for five 
 years ; but he could not keep it to himself, and discovered it to the 
 count de Foix, in the manner I will tell you. The first year, the 
 lord de Corasse cims i) the count de Foix at Orthfes, or elsewhere, 
 and tjld him, ' My lord, such an event has happened in England, in 
 Scotland, Germany, or som.e other country ;' and the count de Foix, 
 whe fjund all this intelligence prove true, marvelled greatly how he 
 could have acquired such early information, and entreated him so 
 earnestly, that the lord de Corasse told him the means by which he 
 had acquired his intelligence, and the manner of its communication. 
 When the count de Foix heard this, he was much pleased, and said, 
 • Lord de Corasse, nourish the love of your intelligencer : I wish I 
 had such a messenger : he costs you nothing, and you are truly in. 
 
 ^3 
 
 formed of everything that pussts in the world.' ' My lord,' rrplipcl 
 the knight, ♦ I will do so.' The lord dc- Corn.-ise was .-crvcd by Or. 
 thon for a long time. I am ignorant if Orthon had uwrv than unc 
 master: but two or three times every we(;k lu: visitud ihi; knight, 
 and told him all the news of the countries he had frcqucnti-d, wliicii 
 he wrote immediately to the count de F»jix, who was much delighted 
 therewith, as there is not a lord iu the world more enirfr alii r nvwa 
 from fort-ign parts than he is. Once, whffj the lord d<: Curasao was 
 in conversation on this subject v.ith the count de F(,ix, ilu: count 
 said, ' Lord de Corasse, have you never yet seen your nirrss^enger V 
 ' No, by my faith, never ; nor have I ever pressed him on tlii>. mat. 
 ter.' ' I wonder at that,' replied the cou:il : ' for had ho been so 
 much attached to me, I should have begg(>d of him to have shown 
 himself in his own proper fomi ; and I entreat you will do so, that 
 you may tell how he is made, and what hp is like. You have said, 
 that he speaks Gascon as well as you or I do.' ' By my faith,' said 
 the lord de Corasse, ' he converses just as well and as properly ; and, 
 since you request it, I will do all I can to see him.' 
 
 " It fell out, when the lord de Corasse, as upuai, was in bed with 
 his lady (who was now accustomed to hear Orthon wiiliout being 
 frightened,) Orthon arrived, and shook the pillow o' the knight, 
 who was asleep. On waking, he asked who was there? Orthon 
 replied, 'It is L' 'And where dott thou come from?' 'I come 
 from Prague in Bohemia.' ' How far is it hence?' ' Sixty days' 
 journey,' replied Orthon. ' And hast thou returned thence in so 
 short a time ?' ' Yes, as may God help me : I travel as fast as the 
 wind, or faster.' ' What, hast thou got wings V ' Oh, no.' ' How, 
 then canst thou fly so fast?' ' That is no business of your?.' ' No I' 
 said the knight. ' I should like exceedingly to see what form thou 
 hast, and how thou art made.' ' Thjit does not concern you to 
 know,' replied Orthon ; ' be satisfied that you hear me, and that I 
 bring you intelligence you may depend on.' ' By God,' said the 
 lord de Corasse, ' I should love thee better if I had seen thee.' 
 ' Well,' replied Orthon, ' since you have such a desire, the first 
 thing you shall see to-morrow morning, in quittiag your bed, shall 
 be myself.' 'lam satisfied,' said the knight; 'you may now de- 
 part : I give thee thy liberty for this night.' 
 
 " When morning came, the knight arose, but his lady was so much 
 frightened she pretended to be sick, and said she would not leave 
 her bed the whole day. The lord de Corasse willed it otherwise. 
 ' Sir,' said she, ' if I do get up, I shall see Orthon ; and, if it please 
 God, I would neither see nor meet him.' 'Well,' replied the 
 knight, ' I am determined to see him ;' and, leaping out of his bed, 
 he seated himself on the bedstead, thinking he should see Orthon in 
 his own shape ; but he saw nothing that could induce him to say he 
 had seen him. When the ensuing night arrived, and the lord de 
 Corasse was in bed, Orthon came and began to t ilk in his usual 
 manner. 'Go,' said the knight; 'thou art a liar: thou oughteft to 
 have shown thyself to me this morning, and hast not done so,' ' No 1' 
 replied Orthon; ' but I have.' ' I say, no.' ' And did you see no. 
 thing at all when you leaped out of bed ?' The lord de Corasse was 
 silent, and, having considered awhile, said, 'Yes; when sitting on 
 my bedside, and thinking of thee, I saw two straws which were 
 turning and playing together on the floor.' 'That was myself,' re. 
 plied Orthon, ' for I had taken that form.' The lord de Corasse 
 said, ' That will not satisfy me ; I beg of thee to assume some other 
 shape, so that I may see thee and know thee.' Orthon answered, 
 ' You ask so much that you will ruin me and force ine away from 
 you, for your requests are too great.' ' You shall not quit me,' said 
 the lord de Corasse ; ' if I had once seen thee, I should not again 
 wish it.' 'Well,' replied Orthon, 'you shall see me to-morrow, if 
 you pay attention to the first thing you observe when you leave 
 your chamber.' ' I am contented,' said the knight ; ' now go thy 
 ways, for I want to sleep.' Orthon departed. On the morrow, 
 about the hour of eight, the knight had risen and was dressed ; on 
 leaving his apartment . he went to a window which Ijoked i iio the 
 court of the castle. Casting liis eyes about, the firit thing he ob. 
 served was an immensely large sow ; but she was so poor, she 
 seemed only skin and bone, with long hanging ears all spotted, and 
 a sharp-pointed lean snout. The lord de Corasse was disgusted at 
 such u sight, and, calling to his servants, said, 'Let the dogs loose 
 quickly, for I will have that sow killed and devoured.' The servants 
 hastened to open the kennel, and to set the hounds on the sow, who 
 uttered a loud cry and looked up at the lord de Corasse, leaning on 
 the balcony of his window, and was never seen afterwards ; for she 
 vanished, and no one ever knew what became of her. 
 
 "The knight returned quite pensive to his chamber, for he then 
 recollected what Orthon had told him, and said, ' I believe I have 
 seen my messenger Orthon, and repent having set my hounds on 
 him, for perhaps I may never see him more : he frequenily tuld me, 
 that if I ever angered him, I should lose him.' He kei t his word, 
 for never did he return to the hotel de Corasse, and the knight died 
 the following year. Thus have I related to you the hi?t.)ry of 0; thon, 
 and how for a time he supplied the lord de Coras>^e with ijitolliguiice." 
 " That is true," said I to the squire ; " but, with what intent have 
 you told it ? Does the count de Foix make use of such a me.••^enger ?'* 
 " In good truth, that is the real opinion of several of the inhabitanta 
 of B6arn ; fJr there is nothing done in this country or elsewhere but 
 what he instantly knows, when he sets his heart on it, even when it 
 
3S4 
 
 CHRONICLES Of ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 is the least suspected. Thus it was respecting the intelligence he 
 told us of our good knights and squires, who had fallen in Portugal. 
 The repuntion and belief of his possessing this knowledge is of great 
 tervice to him, for there would not be lost a gold or silver spoon, or 
 anything of less value, in this country, without his instantly knowing 
 nf it." I then tjok my leave of the squire, and joined other com. 
 pany, with whom I chatted and amused myself. However, I kept 
 in my memory every particular of the tile he had told me, as is now 
 apparent. I will leave for a while the affairs of Spain and Portugal, 
 ond speak of those of Brittany, Languedoc, and France. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 flEtJE IS LAID TO BREST. ST. FORGET A.VD SEVERAL OTHEIt ENGLISH 
 GARRISONS IN THE ENVIRONS OF TOULOUSE ARE RECOVERED THE 
 FRENCH. 
 
 Dl'RINQ the time these matters were passing in Castille and in 
 distant countiies, sir Oliver de Clisson, constable of France, ordered 
 a blockhouse t ) be built before the castle of Brest in Brittany, which 
 the English held, and had done so for a considerable time, and would 
 not quit it, neither for the king of France nor for the duke of Brit, 
 tany, t ) whom it belonged. The dukes of Berry and Burgundy, and 
 the king's council, had frequently written on this subject to the duke 
 of Brittany ; for at that time, as you know, the young king of France 
 was under the government of his uncles. They had entreated the 
 duke of Brittany to exert himself to conquer the castle of Brest, 
 which being held by the English was much to his discredit. The 
 duke, in compliance with their entreaties, as well as knowing him- 
 self to be the lord of Brest, had once besieged it, but had not pushed 
 it forward : when he marched away, he said nothing could be done : 
 at which several knights and squires of Brittany murmuied behind 
 his back, saying that he feigned and dissembled, as those who held 
 it were his great friends, and that he would not on any account wish 
 it even in his own possession, nor in that of the king of France ; for, 
 if the French had it, he would not be the master, but be much weak- 
 ened by it ; and, as long as the English held it, the French would 
 not dare to anger him. 
 
 The constable of France, having considered the whole business, 
 thought that, if the duke of Brittany were indifferent as to the recov- 
 ering the town and castle of Brest from the hands of the enemies of 
 France, it would be dishonorable to him and to the nobles of Brit- 
 tany. He therefore ordered it to be besieged, and sent thither great 
 numbers of knights and squires, under the command of the lord de 
 Malestroit, the viscount de la Belliere, Morfonace, and the lord de 
 Rochederrien. These four valiant men laid their siege as near to 
 Brest as was possible, and erected a large and fair blockhouse of 
 wood, surrounding also the place with palisadoes and walls, so that 
 the garrison was shut up from all communication but by sea : on that 
 side it was not possible for them to surround them. There were 
 frequent skirmishes before Brest ; for those companions who were 
 fond of arms advanced gayly to the barriers, where they called out 
 the garrison and fought with them until some were killed or wounded, 
 and then they retired : scarcely a day passed without some warlike 
 deeds being done. 
 
 At this period there was in the Toulousain a valiant knight from 
 France, called sir Walter de Passac : he was an expert captain and 
 excellent man-at-arms, and born in Berry, on the borders of Limou. 
 sin. Before his arrival, sir Hugh de Froideville, seneschal of Tou- 
 louse, and sir Roger d'Espaign, s6neschal of Carcassonne, had written 
 to the king and council of the state of Toulouse and Rabastens ;* 
 that several gallant companions from the garrisons of Lourde and 
 cha.tel Cuillet had m de war successfully for the English ; and hav. 
 ing possession of Saint Forget, la Bassere,t le Mesnil, Pomperon, 
 Convalle, Rochefort, .Iullians,t NavurOt, and some other forts, they 
 had surrounded the good city of Toulouse, sr that the inhabitants 
 could not quit it, nor the farmers labor their vineyards or gardens 
 but with great risk, for there was neither truce nor any composition 
 entered into between them. They were commanded by an able 
 man from Biscay, called Espaignolet, who performed wonders and 
 took by scalado the castle of Ermaille, while its master, sir Raymond, 
 was absent at Toulouse, and kept possession for upward of one year. 
 During this time, he dug a mine that, after passing under the apart- 
 ments, opened to the fields, which, when finished, was so well cov- 
 ered, that no one would imagine there was a subterraneous passage 
 under the castle. When about this, the lord of Ermaille was treat, 
 ing with Espaignolet respecting the sum for which he would surrender 
 to him his castle ; and, on the mine being completed, he yielded the 
 castle to sir Raymond for two thousand francs, who, having a^ain 
 possession, had it repaired and strengthened. Not fifteen days passed 
 before Espaignolet advanced with his men to the mouth of this mine, 
 which they entered about midnight, gained the castle, and took the 
 knight i-n his bed, whom he again ransomed for two thousand francs, 
 and then allowed him to depart : but Espaignolet kept possession of 
 the castle, which he strongly garrisoned, and much harassed the 
 country from thence with others of his companions. 
 
 tho^e and cmtl, liko c^iiisps was sir Walter de Pas?nc sent into 
 
 •^^ Uabiisteiis"— ;i town DtHpiier h!iii);u«doc. nine leajrues rroiii TuuUnisc. 
 
 Languedoc, with full powers over all the troops in tliat district, and 
 to free the country from these pillagers and robbers. Having tent 
 letters to sir Roger d'Espaign and sir Hugh de Fn^ideville, and other 
 leaders, they came to serve under him with all their men. Sir Roger 
 brought si.xty lances and one hundred men with shields ; and the 
 £6.ieschal of Rouergue, with sir Hugh de Froideville, joined him 
 with as many, if not more. When they were all aseeniblcd, they 
 amounted to four hundred spears, and upward of one thousand armed 
 with shields, including lusty varlets. The son of the lord d'Esterach 
 was there, with a handsome company ; and also the lord de Barba. 
 san, sir Benedict de Faignolles, and sir William Conderoni, a Br<;ton, 
 with his rout. They marched from Toulouse straight tj St. Forget, 
 where they halted. It was then commanded by a E6arnois, called 
 le bourg de Taillesac, a grand marauder. When these lords had 
 drawn up their troops, the attack commenced, and the cross-bowmen 
 shot so briskly, scarcely any of the garrison dared to show themselves 
 in its defence for fear of the arrows ; but the French did not gain it 
 at this first assault. In the evening they retired to repose and refresh 
 themselves, as they had brought plenty of everything with them. 
 
 On the morrow, the trumpets sounded for a renewal of the attack, 
 when the lords, with their men, gallantly marched to the foot of the 
 ditches. Whoever had seen them thus advancing, their heads cov. 
 ered with shields, with their lances measuring the depth of the water 
 in the ditches, would have had much pleasure. When the first 
 ranks had passed through, the others did not delay following, or they 
 would have been greatly blamed for remaining behind. This second 
 party carried pick-axes and iron crows to batter the walls ; and, in 
 so doing, they fastened their shields on their heads, to ward off the 
 stones and other things that were thrown at them from the battle, 
 ments : but they suffered little from this, as the cross-bows posted 
 on the banks, by their alertness in shooting prevented many from 
 appearing. They shot so well, as hardly ever to miss what they 
 aimed at ; and several on the walls were mortally struck on their 
 heads by the small bolts, which caused many in the garrison to 
 dread their blows. The attack was do long and successfully contin. 
 ued that a large breach was made in the wall. This alarmed those 
 within, who offered to surrender on having their lives spared ; but 
 they were not listened to, and fell into such good hands that every 
 one was put to death, for sir Walter had ordered no quarter to bo 
 given. Thus did the barons and knights of France regain the cas. 
 tie of St. Forget, which sir Walter gave up to its proper owner, who 
 had lost it last year from neglect of well guarding it, ns s^vpral 
 other castles in France had been formerly lest in like manner. When 
 the knight was repossessed of his castle, he had it repaired where 
 wanted ; for the French had done much damage by their attack. 
 
 The French then marched to the castle of la Basserc, of which 
 Ernauton de Batefol was caf tain. He had strongly fortified it, in 
 expectation of the visit the French intended him. On their arrival, 
 they reconnoitred it on all sides, to see where they could better make 
 their attack, and with the least loss to their men : having carefully 
 examined it, they posted themselves opposite the weakest part. The 
 cross.bowmen were ordered to advance before those intended for the 
 assault, and they did their duty so well that few dared to appear on 
 the battlements. Ernauton de Batefol was at the gate where the 
 attack was the sharpest, performing such wonders in arms that the 
 French knights cried out, " Here is a squire of great valor, who be- 
 comes his arms well, and makes excellent use of them ; it would not 
 be amiss to treat with him to surrender the castle, and seek his for- 
 tune elsewhere : let him be informed, that if sir Walter de Passac 
 conquer it by storm, no power on earth can save him ; for he has 
 sworn to put to death, or have hanged, all whom he may find in 
 any castle or fort." The seneschal de Toulouse then charged a 
 squire from Gascony, named William Aliedel, who was well ac- 
 quainted with Ernauton, they having formerly borne arms together, 
 to talk with him on the subject. He willingly undertook it ; for he 
 would have been very sorry if Ernauton had suffered loss of honor 
 or death, as other things could be remedied. 
 
 William stepped forward, and made signs to Ernauton that he 
 wanted to speak to him on what nearly concerned him, to which his 
 friend assented; and the assault was at that place discontinued, though 
 not elsewhere. " Ernauton," said William, " you are risking too 
 much : our leaders have compassion on you, and send me to tell 
 you, that should you be taken, sir Walter de Passac has strictly or. 
 dered you to be instantly put to death, as he has done to those who 
 were in St. Forget. It is, therefore, much better for you to surren. 
 der the place, as I would advise, than to wait the event ; for I can 
 assure you, we shall net depart before we be masters of it." "I 
 know very well," replied Ernauton, " that, although you now bear 
 arms against me, you would never advise anything disgraceful to my 
 honor; but if I do surrender, all who are with me must be saved 
 likewise ; and we must carry away with us as much as we can, ex- 
 cepting the provisions, and be conducted in safety to the castle of 
 Lourde." " I am not commissioned," answered William, " to go so 
 far, but I will cheerfully mention it to my commanders." On this, 
 he returned t? the seneschal of Toulouse, and related what you have 
 heard. Sir Hugh de Froideville said, "Let us go and speak with 
 sir Walter; for I know not what his intentions may be, although I 
 have advanced so far in the treaty ; but I fancy we shall make iiim 
 agree to it." 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 3S5 
 
 When they came to sir Walter, they found him engaged in as- 
 saulting another part of the castle ; the sdneschal addressed him, 
 " Sir Waiter, I have opened a treaty with the captain of the castle, 
 <vno is willing to surrender the place as it is, on condition that him. 
 «elf and garrison be spared and escorted to Lourde, and that they 
 carry away everything but the provision : now, what do you say to 
 this ? We should lose more, if any of our knights or squires were 
 killed by arrows or stones : and you would have more sorrow than 
 profit, even should you win it and put all to death ; but that is not 
 yet done ; it will cost us many lives ; for it will not be so easily con- 
 quered as St. Forget." " That is true," added the seneschal of 
 Carcassonne, who was present : " it is impossible but in such attacks 
 there must be many killed and wounded." Sir Walter dc Passac 
 then said, " I am willing to consent : order the attacks to cease. 
 We have still farther to march ; and, by little and little, we shall gain 
 all these castles from the pillagers ; if they escape from us cheaply 
 at this moment, they will i^all into our hands again some time hence, 
 when they shall pay for all. Ill deeds bring the doers to an ill end. 
 I have hanged and drowned in my time more than five hundred such 
 scoundrels, and these will at last come to the same fate." 
 
 William Aliedel and others then returned to the gate, where Er- 
 nauton was waiting for them, to conclude the treaty. " By my 
 troth, Ernauton," said William, "you and your companions ought 
 to give many thanks to God and to sir Hugh de Froideville, for he 
 has obtained for you your own terms of surrender. You and yom* 
 garrison may depart hence, taking with you all you are able to carry, | 
 and will be escorted to Lourde." " 1 am satisfied," replied Er. [ 
 nauton, " since it cannot be otherwise ; but know, William, I am 
 very sorry to quit my castle, which has been of infinite service to 
 me since my capture at the bridge of Tournay, below Mauvoisin, 
 by the bourg d'Espaign, who made me pay two thousand francs for 
 my ransom ; indeed, to say the truth, I have more than repaid my- 
 self the loss since I have been here. I have been so long in this 
 part of the country that I like it well ; and whenever I wished to 
 make an excursion, I always was fortunate in meeting with prey, 
 that fell into my hands, from some merchant from Rabastens, Tou. 
 louse, or Rodais." "Ernauton," answered William, "I readily 
 believe you ; but if you will turn to the French, I will obtain your 
 pardon, and put a thousand francs into your purse besides : and will 
 pledge my honor that you be steady to the French interest, when 
 once you have sworn so to do." " Many thanks," said Ernauton ; 
 " but I like not your party, and will remain firm to the Eng'ish ; for, 
 us God may help me, I do not think I can ever be a good French, 
 man. Return now to your army, and say that we shall employ this 
 day in packing up ; but we will surrender the place to-morrow and 
 depart : you will therefore order an escort to conduct us to Lourde." 
 
 The attacks on la Bassere had ceased, and the French retired to 
 their quarters, where they refreshed themselves at their ease, for they 
 had wherewithal so to do. On the morrow, by eight o'clock, the 
 army was drawn out, and those who were to escort the garrison 
 selected. Sir Walter then sent the seneschal of Toulouse to take 
 possession of the castle, where he found Ernauton with his com- 
 panions and their baggage packed, and all ready to set out. He 
 ordered a knight of Lourde, called Sir Mouvant de Salenges, to es. 
 corl them, which he undertook to do safely ; and I believe kept his 
 word. This castle was given to Bertrand de Montesquieu, a squire 
 of that country to guard, as well as the territory adjacent. The 
 army then marched away, and came before a castle called Pulpiron ; 
 it was in the possession of marauders, under the command of Ange. 
 rot and le petit Meschin, who had done much damage to the country 
 round about. 
 
 Sir Walter de Passac had s-wom by the soul of his father, that in 
 return for the mischief they had done, he would never grant them 
 mercy, but hang them the moment he could lay hands on them. 
 The army laid siege to this castle, which is seated on a rock, whence 
 the view is extensive and pleasant. On forming the siege, sir W^al. 
 ter again swore he would never depart until he had gained it, and 
 taken all within, who should not be allowed to surrender and go 
 away, if they even wished it. P*Iany attacks were made : but the 
 French failed in all, as it was ably defended. " I know not," said 
 sir Walter, " how things may turn out ; the king of France is rich 
 enough to keep up the siege, and if I remain here a whole year, I will 
 not leave it until I be the master." What he had said was attended 
 to, and all things necessary for a long siege were done. 
 
 The two captains in the castle, seeing the French were determined 
 not to depart without having gained it, cost what it would, began to 
 feel alarmed, and thought it advisable to leave it, whether their ene- 
 mies would or not. They could easily do so at their pleasure, for there 
 was a subterraneous passage, that had an outlet half a league from 
 the castle, of which the French had not any suspicion. When An- 
 gerot noticed how the besiegers had posted themselves, and seemed 
 resolved to have them by famine or otherwise, he said to his com- 
 panions, " Gentlemen, I find the lord de Passac hates us mortally, 
 and that by a blockade he will starve us. He may easily do it, if he 
 erect a small fort and garrison it with only one hundred lances ; for 
 we shall then be prevented quitting the castle. I therefore propose, 
 that we this night pack up all we can carry, and sally through the 
 mine, which is wide enough and opens into a small wood hard by. 
 We shall thus be out of all danger before any one knows what is 
 
 become of us ; for there is not one man in the army that is acquainted 
 with this mine." His proposal was agreed to : and that same 
 night, having packed up their all, they entered the subterranean 
 passage with lighted torches, and issued out in a wood half a league 
 from the castle. There were those with them able to conduct them 
 through by-roads to other fortresses in Limousin and Rouergi e. 
 Some, however, the moment they were out of danger, departed dif. 
 ferent ways, saying, they would not carry on the war longer. An- 
 gerot, with four others, went to a castle in Perigord, called Mont 
 Royal, where the lord of it received them handsomely ; for ht and 
 his dependents were entirely English, and would never turn French 
 when others did so, and many were of his way of ih'inking. Thus 
 did the garrison of Pulpiron escape, not leaving a single variet be. 
 hind ; and, before it was known to the army, they had arrived at the 
 difl^erent places whither ihey intended going. 
 
 On the third day after the garrison were gone away, the command. • 
 ers of the army ordered an assault. They had made a large machine, 
 four stories high, and each story would hold twenty cross-bows. 
 When this machine was completed, which they called a Passavant, 
 it was moved to what they thought the weakest place of the walls, 
 and Genoese cross-bowmen were posted in it. The cross-bows 
 began shooting, but as no one appeared on the battlements, they 
 imagined the castle was empty, and ceased to shoot, for they were 
 unwilling to lose their bolts and arrows. They left the machine, and 
 surprised their captains by their sudden return. They said : " My 
 lords, the garrison have certainly quitted the castle ; for there is not 
 a man within it." " How can you know this ?" replied sir Walter. 
 " We know, that notwithstanding our shooting, not one showed him- 
 self." Ladders were upon this ordered to be affixed to the walls, and 
 lusty varlets, proper for the business, to ascend them. They mounted 
 without opposition, for the castle was empty ; and having passed the 
 walls and ascended into the court, they found near the gate a large 
 bunch of keys, among which was that of the gate. They, with 
 some difficulty, opened it and the barriers. 
 
 The lords were much surprised ; but more especially sir Walter de 
 Passac, who thought it must have been by enchantment they had been 
 able thus to escape, and asked his knights how it could have been 
 done. The seneschal of Toulouse replied : " That if they were 
 gone, it must have been through some subterraneous passage." The 
 castle was searched, and this passage discovered in the cellars, with 
 the door wide open. The lords would examine it ; and sir Waiter 
 said to the seneschal of Toulouse : " Did net you know of this pas. 
 sage, sir Hugh ?" " By my faith," he replied, " I certainly have 
 heard that such a thing was in this castle ; but I forgot it, and never 
 imagined they would have made use of it." "But in God's name 
 they have done so," answered sir Walter, "as is very clear. Have 
 all the castles in this country similar mines and passages ?" " Sir," 
 said sir Hugh, " there are many castles which have been built in the 
 same manner, particularly all those that belonged to Reginald de 
 Montauban ; for when he waged war against king Charlemagne of 
 France, he had them so well built, by the advice of Maugis his cousin, 
 that when the king was besieging them with his whole power, and 
 resistance would have been vain, they made use of their tunnels, and 
 departed without taking leave." " By my troth," said sir Walter, 
 " I admire the thought. I kngw not if any king, duke, or neighbor 
 I have, will make war upon me ; but on my return home I will have" 
 instantly built, at my castle of Passac, just such a passage." Here 
 ended this conversation. They took possession of the castle, and, 
 having placed a good garrison therein to guard it, they began their 
 march toward the town and castle of Convalie,* in which were 
 Espaignolet de Papercau, a Biscayan, and a number of pillagers. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 THR CASTLE OF CONVALLE IS STORMED BY THE FRENCH. SOME OTHES 
 FORTRESSES TURN TO THE FRENCH INTEREST. 
 
 Sir Walter de Passac, with his army, came before Convalie, and 
 surrounded it on all sides. Having called to him the seneschal of 
 Toulouse, he said : " Was this one of sir Reginald de Montauban's 
 castles?" He answered, that it was. " Then it has a subterraneous 
 passage like his others." " Ay, in God's name truly there is one.; 
 for by means of this passage did Espaignolet take the castle a second 
 time and the lord within it." "Order the knight to whom it belongs, 
 and who is with us, to come hither; for it will be proper," added sii 
 Walter, " that we first get information from him." On sir Raymond 
 de Convalie appearing, he was asked concerning the strength of the 
 place, and if there were a subterraneous passage like that of la Bas 
 sere. He replied, that it was by such means he had been captured 
 that he had long ago stopped it up as useless ; " but these robbnn 
 who keep possession of my castle have repaired it, and entered iho 
 castle through it." " And do you know its issue ?" " Y es, my lord 
 it opens into a wood not far hence." " It is well, by God," said sii 
 Walter, and was then silent. At the end of four days, sir Waitei 
 was conducted by sir Raymond to the opening of the mine in the 
 wood, accompanied by two hundred of the country peasants well 
 
 ♦This place is called before "Ermaille." Sala calij it " ^limntilc."— Marginal 
 note, D. Saw AOS' 
 
386 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 {?rmed. When arrived at the entrance, he had all the earth and 
 thorns cleared away from before it, and a number of torches lighted, 
 and said to those with him : " Enter this passage, which will lead 
 you to the hail of the castle : when you come to the door, break it 
 { pen, for you are sufficiently strong to do it, and to combat all you 
 siiall find in the cattle." They replied, they would cheerfully obey. 
 
 Having entered the pass:ige, they came to the steps that lead to the 
 door of the hall, and began to make use of their axes and hammers 
 in battering the door. As it was about night-fall, the garrison kept 
 a good watch, and heard them working in the mine to enter the cas- 
 tie. They instantly informed Espaiguolet of it ; he was going to bed, 
 but he advised them to place benches, stones, and other things in the 
 doorway, to embarrass it so much that they might not enter. This 
 was instantly done, and no better defence could have been made ; 
 for' although their opponents had cut the door into a thousand pieces, 
 they found their difficulties so increase upon them, they gave it up, 
 and returned about midnight to tell their lords, how the gaiTison, 
 having heard them, had blocked up the passage, making it impossi- 
 ble to gain entry by that way. Upon this the passavant was ordered 
 from la Bassere, which beirig taken to pieces, was brought on carts 
 to Convalle, and remounted on its wheels, fit for immediate service. 
 When all was ready, sir Walter de Passac, impatient to win this 
 castle, ordered his ti'umpets to sound, and the host to arm and ad- 
 vance in proper array. The seneschal of Toulouse was on one side, 
 with all his sencechalship ; on the opposite sir Roger d'Espaign, in 
 like manner, with his men from Carcassonne ; there were the lord 
 de Barbazan, sir Benedict de Faignolles, the lord de Benoch, the son 
 of the count d'Estarac, sir Raymond de I'Isle, and the knights and 
 squires of the country, each with his company, drawn up in good 
 array. The attack and defence now seriously commenced : the gar- 
 rison defended themselves valiantly ; indeed it behooved them so to 
 do, for they found themselves hard pressed ; and knowing that sir 
 Walter would show them no mercy, if taken, were resolved to sell 
 their lives as dearly as possible. The Genoese cross-bows behaved 
 Avell, and shot so truly with their bolts, that the boldest was afraid of 
 them ; for whomsoever they struck on the head, it was over with 
 him. 
 
 Sir Walter de Passac was in the front acting wonders in arms, 
 and crying out : " How, my lords ! shall such a stinking crew keep 
 us here all the day ? If they were good men-at-arms, I should not 
 wonder ; for in them is much more vigor than in such fellows as we 
 are attacking; it is my intention to dine in the castle, and it will 
 depend on you that I accomplish my purpose." Those who were 
 desirous to obtain his favor advanced eagerly to the attack, and fixed 
 several ladders to the walls, near where the large machine was placed, 
 which they mounted under protection of the cross-bows, who pre- 
 -vented the garrison from showing themselves. The French thus 
 entered the castle of Convalle sword in hand ; they pursued their 
 enemies, killing great numbei-s, and the remainder they made pris- 
 oners. Sir Walter, having entered by the gates, was asked what he 
 wou'd have done with the prisoners. " By St. George, I will they 
 be all hanged." His orders were instantly obeyed, and Espaignolet 
 Buffered the first. The lords dined in the castle, and the men-at-arms 
 in the town, where they remained the whole day. Sir Walter gave 
 to the lord de Convalle his town and castle, and then made prepara- 
 tions to continue his march. 
 
 After the conquest of Convare, the army marched for a fort, called 
 Mastulle, which, with the others, had done much mischief to the 
 country. On their arrival, they began an attack, which was bravely 
 resisted at first ; but it lasted not long, for the place was taken by 
 storm, and all within slain or hanged. When those of Roix, Roche- 
 fort, and other caetles in possession of these pillagers, heard that sir 
 Walter de Passac was on his march, and that, whatever places he 
 took, he had hanged the garrisons, they were doubtful whether they 
 might not come to the same end, and in consequence, left their forts 
 in the night time, by subterranean passages or otherwise ; for Roix 
 and Rochefort have mines, having formerly belonged to sir Reginald 
 de Montauban, so that when the French arrived they found them 
 both empty. Having taken possession, they re-garrisoned and re- 
 victualled them, and then mai-ched toward Toulouse to enter Bigorre, 
 for there were in that country two castles on the borders of Tarbes, 
 called Jullians and Nazareth,* held by these marauders, who much 
 harassed Tarbes and its neighborhood, as well as the territory of the 
 lord d'Anchin. 
 
 Sir Walter de Passac and his anny, having refreshed themselves in 
 Toulouse, took the road toward Bigorre, and seated themselves be- 
 fore Jullians, saying they would never depart until they had delivered 
 the country from its oppressors. Sir Walter was joined by the 
 seneschal of Donnezan,t who represented the count de Foix, accord- 
 ing to the summons of sir Walter to come to hi* aid in driving the 
 pillagers out of the country ; for they made, when opportunity offered, 
 as free with the country of Donnezan as tliey did else were. It was 
 for th's reason the seneschal had come, and with the approbation of 
 the CO ijit, otherwise he would not have dared to have done it. 
 
 Thvy were fifteen days before they could gain the castle of Jul- 
 lians, for it was strong, and the captain a Gascon squire, called Bruyer 
 
 * " Nazareth "—a small town in the Condomis, diocese i)f Condom, 
 t " Donnezan "—a small country in the government of Foix, conU^fUVUl to Catalo- 
 nia, about three miles square. Qu«rigut u tb9 chief plac«> 
 
 de Brunemote, of great skill and valor. He had quitted la Bassere in 
 the manner before mentioned ; and at last, finding they could not 
 take it by storm, they consented to a capitulation, agreeing to spare 
 the lives of the garrison and to conduct them to Lourde. A squire, 
 called Bertrand de Montdighen, escorted them thither. When the 
 French had possession of the castle of Jullians, they debated whether 
 to keep or to raze it ; at last they determined to demolish it on ac. 
 cont of its vicinity to Lourde, for that garrison, the men being trai- 
 tors, might, after they had left it, regain possession by stratagem or 
 open force. It was therefore razed ; and the stones to this day remain 
 in heaps, without the expectation of its being rebuilt. 
 
 The army then came before Nazareth, a strong place, of which 
 some adventurous companions had kept possession for more than a 
 year. When they heard that those of Jullians had retreated, they also 
 withdrew, having obtained a passport, and went to Lourde, where 
 they knew they would not seek them, unless they wished to lose 
 their labor, for Lourde is so strong it is impossible to be conquered. 
 The French, finding Nazareth empty, razed it to the ground, to the 
 great joy of the inhabitants of Tarbes, as they had received many 
 injuries from it. They then marched to the castle of Auch, in Bi- 
 gorre, situated among the mountains on the borders of Beam. They 
 remained there about fifteen days, but only conquered the lower 
 court with all the horses within it, though very many attacks were 
 made : the great tower, being seated on a high rock, they could not 
 win, for it is impregnable. The lords seeing they were laboring in 
 vain, and that William Morenton, the captain, would neither sur- 
 render nor listen to any treaty whatever, marched away, and returned 
 to Tarbes. Sir Walter de Passac then disbanded his army, with 
 liberty for them to return to their homes. Those who had served in 
 this army received their pay in money or in promissory notes, at 
 their option : he himself retired to recruit himself at Carcassonne, 
 and in that neighborhood. 
 
 During his residence at Carcassonne, he received orders from the 
 King of France to go to Bouteville in Saintonge, on the borders of 
 Poitou and the Bordelois, which was under the command of a Gas- 
 con called Sainte-Foy, as it had been reported that sir John Harpe- 
 dane, sdneschal of Bordeaux, was collecting a large force at Libourne 
 on the Dordogne, to march thither and attack such forts as the Poite- 
 vins and saintongei-s had raised before it. Sir Walter, as was natural, 
 obeyed the king's orders, and took with him sixty lances and one 
 hundred Genoese cross-bows. On leaving Carcassonne, he marched 
 through Rouergue and Agen, skirted Perigord, and arrived at Boute- 
 ville, where he found the seneschals of la Rochelle, Poitou, Perigord, 
 and Agen, with numbers of men-at-arms. 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 A SHORT DIGRESSION ON THE MANNERS OF THE ENGLISH AND GASCONS IN 
 THE TIME OF FROISSART. 
 
 FoHEiGN countries may well wonder at the noble realm of France, 
 how finely it is situated, and what numbers of cities, towns, and 
 castles it possesses, as well in the distant parts as in the heart of the 
 country. There are, in travelling from Toulouse to Bordeaux, the 
 underneath rich towns, situated on the Garonne, called Giionde at 
 Bordeaux: Grenade, Verdun, St. Nicholas, Auvillas, Valence, Leirac, 
 Agen, Porte St. Maria, Aguillon, Tonneins, Marmande, St. Basile, 
 la Reole, St. Macaire, Langon, Cadillac, Rions, Castres. Then as- 
 cending the Dordogne, which falls into the Garonne, are the follow, 
 ing castles : St. Andr^, Libourne, Castillon, St. Foy, Bergerac, la 
 Linde, Limeul, St. Cyprian, Dommes, Soulliac. Some of these being 
 English and others French, carried on a war against each other: 
 they would have it so ; for the Gascons were never, for thirty years 
 running, steadily attached to any one lord. True it is, that the whole 
 of Gascony submitted to king Edward and to his son the prince of 
 Wales, but the country afterwards, as has been clearly shown in this 
 history, revolted from those English masters. King' Charles, son to 
 king John of France, gained by his wisdom, prudence, kind treat- 
 ment, and great gifts, the affections of their principal barons, such 
 as the count d'Armagnac, the lord d'Albreth, and others, whom the 
 prince of Wales lost through his pride, 
 
 I, the author of this history, was at Bordeaux when the prince ot 
 Wales marched to Spain, and witnessed the great haughtiness of the 
 English, who are affable to no other nation than their ow^n ; nor could 
 any of the gentlemen of Gascony or Aquitaine, though they had 
 ruined themselves by their wars, obtain office or appointment in their 
 own country; for the English said they were neither on a level with 
 them nor worthy of their society, which made the Gascons very in- 
 dignant, as they showed on the first opportunity that presented itself 
 It was on account of the harshness of the prince's manners that the 
 count d'Armagnac and the lord d'Albreth, with other knights and 
 squires, turned to the French interest. King Philip of France, and 
 the good John his son, had lost Gascony by their overbearing pride ; 
 and in like manner did the prince. But king Charles, of happy 
 memory, regained them by good humor, liberality, and humility. In 
 this manner the Gascons love to be governed. King Charles, the 
 more firmly to strengthen the connection, married his sister, the lady 
 Isabella de Bourbon, to the lord d'Albreth ; by whom he had two 
 fine children, which causes love to endure the longer. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 387 
 
 True it is, that when I lived among these lords at Paris, I once 
 heard the lord d'Albreth use an expression that I noted down. I 
 believe it may have been said in joke : however, it contained, in my 
 opinion, much truth and good sense. A knight from Brittany, who 
 had borne arms for him, inquired after his health, and how he man- 
 aged to remain steady to the French : when he thus answered ; 
 " Thank God, my health is very good ; but I had more money at 
 command, as well as my people, when I made war for the king of 
 England, than I have now ; for, whenever we took any excursions 
 in search of adventures, we never failed meeting some rich merchants 
 
 EwQUSH AND Gascon Lords at Bordeaux.— From an old Black Letter History of Bvrtrand du Guesclin. 
 
 from Toulouse, Condom, la R6ole, or Bergerac, whom we squeezed, 
 which made us gay and debonair ; but now all that is at an end." 
 The knight, on hearing this, burst into laughter and replied, " In 
 truth, that is the life Gascons love : they willingly hurt their neigh- 
 bor." On hearing this, I concluded that the lord d'Albreth heartily 
 repented his having turned to the French, in the same manner as the 
 lord de Mucident, who, when made prisoner at Yurac, swore to the 
 duke of Anjou, he v/ould set out for Paris and become ever after a 
 good Frenchman. He did go to Paris, where the king handsomely 
 received him ; but he was not treated to his satisfaction, so that he 
 slunk away from the king, and left Paris without taking leave, to re- 
 turn to his own country, where he again became an Englishman, and 
 broke all his engagements with the duke of Anjou. The lords de 
 Rosem, de Duras, and de Langurant, did the same. 
 
 Such are the Gascons : they are very unsteady, but they love the 
 English in preference to the French, for the war against France is 
 the most profitable ; and this is the cause of their preference. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 THE ARRIVAL OF LEON, KING OF ARMENIA, IN FRANCE ; ON WHICH OCCA- 
 SION FR0IS3ART DESCRIBES THE STATE OF GENOA IN HIS TIME, AND 
 RELATES THE DEATH OF THE KING OF CYPRUS. 
 
 About this period L^on, king of Armenia,* arrived in France ; not 
 indeed with a king-like state, but as one driven from his throne and 
 kingdom, which had all been conquere>d from him by the Turks, ex- 
 cept a castle, situated on the sea-shore, called Courth.t This castle 
 is the key or entrance into Alexandria and the territories of the sul- 
 tan. The Genoese carry their commerce everywhere, by means of 
 the duties they pay, even to the farther India, and the realm of Pres- 
 ter John :t they arc universally well received on account of the gold, 
 silver, and rich merchandise they bring from Alexandria, Cairo, Da- 
 mascus, or from the Saracens. It is thus the world is supplied, for what 
 is not in one country is in another : but all this is well known. The 
 
 * In torn. vii. p. 494, of the Foedra, we find Richard II. had settled a. pension of 10001. 
 yearly on Leon, theCliristian king of Armenia, who had been driven from his kingdom 
 by the Turks.' In former reigns, there had been frequent collections made in England, 
 as well as elsewhere, for supporting those Christinn kings againsst the Turkish power, 
 wliicli, however, at length swallowed them up.— Anderson's Hist, of Commerce, &c. 
 voL i. p. 213. The Grandes Chroniques de France place the arrival of the king of Ar- 
 menia in 1835. 
 
 t " W ha' ever maybe the name of this castle, and wherever.situated, I have no 
 doubt l)Ut those who are actiuainted with the two Armenias, will think what our author 
 hereafter says very strange, [t is not for me to gainsay him : I am satisfied, if he be 
 consistent with himself."— Mnrffinal note by D. Sauvagk. 
 
 t The Dalai Lamas was formerly denominated Prester John ; and Thibet was the 
 cottotry of Prestei John. 
 
 Genoese are the most adventurous navigators, and are much superior 
 to the Venetians as lords of the sea, being more feared by the Sara, 
 cens than any others, and are excellent and determined seamen, and 
 one Genoese galley would attack and probably conquer four galleys 
 of the Saracens. 
 
 If the Turks and Tartars have frequently hurt Christendom, the 
 Genoese felt it not ; for, being masters of the sea, they could attack 
 the infidels, and had always fifty galleys and large ships guarding the 
 islands of Rhodes, Cyprus, and Candia, and the shores of Greece, aa 
 far as Turkey, where they possess the handsome town and castle ot 
 
 Pera, situated on the sea-shore opposite 
 ' to Constantinople, which is garrisoned at 
 
 their expense, and supplied with provis- 
 ion and stores three or four timts a year. 
 The Turks and Tartars have often at- 
 tempted to win it, but have always failed, 
 and have lost more than they have gain, 
 ed ; for Pera is seated on a rock, with 
 only one entrance, and this the Genoese 
 have well fortified. The Genoese have 
 also Jaffa, which is a strong place, pro. 
 fitable both to them and to all Christen, 
 dom ; for did they not possess Jaffa, and 
 Rhodes, the infidels would invade Na. 
 pies, and attack Gaietta and Rome : but 
 the strong garrisons of men-at-arms in 
 these two places and their galleys on the 
 sea, hold them in check. 
 
 These reasons prevented the infidels 
 making any excursions, except from 
 Constantinople, toward Hungary; but if 
 that noble king of Cyprus, Peter de Lu. 
 signan, had longer lived, he would have 
 found the Sultans and Turks more em- 
 ployment than they had met with fince 
 the days of Godfrey of Boulogne. Hav. 
 ing conquered the cities of Alexandria 
 and Satalia, the infidels, knowing his 
 prowess and enterprise, and fearful of 
 further losses from him, bargained with 
 his brother Jacquet to have him put to 
 death ; who himself slew the gallant king 
 in hia bed.* It was an infamous act thus 
 to assassinate the valiant king of Cyprus, whose thoughts were solely 
 occupied, day and night, on the means of conquering the holy land, 
 and driving out of it the infidels. 
 
 Philip de Mesieres,t being chancellor to the king of Cyprus, had 
 engraven on a monument he erected to him,t in the chapter-house ol 
 the Celestins at Paris, as follows : " Peter of Lusignan, fifteenth Latin 
 king of Jerusalem, since Godfrey of Boulogne, and king of Cyprus, 
 by his magnanimous prowess and enterprise, conquered in battle, 
 with an army supported at his own cost, the cities of Alexandria in 
 Egypt, Tripoli in Syria, Layas in Armenia, Satalia in Turkey, with 
 several other cities and towns, from the enemies of the faith of Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 " Anima ejus requiescat in pace.^^ 
 
 When the Genoese, who were much attached to him, and with 
 reason, heard of his melancholy end, they armed seven galleys, and 
 sent them to Famagousta, which they took by storm and Jacquet in 
 it. They overran the greater part of the island, and would have de. 
 stroyed the whole had they not feared the consequences ; but, the 
 towns being strong and on the frontiers of Turkey, they left them in 
 the hands of the natives. They kept possession of Famngousta, 
 where they amassed great wealth from its plunder, which they car- 
 ried to Genoa, and also Jacquet, who had m.urdered his brother, that 
 that the state might determine on his destiny. The late king ef Cy- 
 prus had a son, whose marriage the Genoese procured, after which 
 they crowned him king.§ Jacquet, though suffered to live, was 
 closely confined in prison. They did not yield up Famagousta ; but 
 I am ignorant if they have it at this day. The king of Cyprus died 
 in his bed, and without heirs, to the great grief of the Genoese. I 
 
 * He was assassinated by two lords of his country whom he had offended. I'ctcr tar- 
 nished, by his debauciieries and cruelty, the last yenrs of his life, and even the glory he 
 had acquired by his former exploits.— de Verifier les Dates. 
 
 t For further particuhirs respecting Philip de Mesiere*, see a memoir on this subject by 
 M. le Bneuf, in the 17th vol. of les Memoires de I'Academie des Inscriptions, &c., and 
 also the first vol. pp. 460, 461, of les Antiquit6s de Paris, par M. Sauval. 
 
 t i- e. The king of Cyprus. In the original it stands, first ccrite du dit Roy dc Cipre 
 sur sa tombe qui est au chapitre des Celestins, &c. 
 
 § Peter II. or Petrin, ascended the throne in 1372, when twelve years of age. under the 
 regency of his uncles James and John, to the exclusion of his mother. The day of his 
 coronation, there arose a dispute between the bailiffs of Venice and the consuls of Ge- 
 noa for precedency; and, the court having declared in favor of the Venetians, the 
 Genoese revenged themselves for this affront, in 1373, by conquering the whole island. 
 Only two places made any resistance, Famagousta and Cherines. The rst surrendered 
 the 10th October, and was pillaged during three days; the second submitted about the 
 middle of March following. The king was made prisoner, but recovered liis liberty by 
 the cession of Famagousta, and the promise of one million ofducntsto the Genoese. 
 
 In the year 1375, at the solicitation of his mother, he caused his uncle John to be as- 
 sassinated in his presence, to revenge the death of his father, in which this [irince had 
 been a principal actor. Peter died on the 17th of October, 1E82, aied twenty-six, without 
 leaving any children by his queen, Valentine, daughter of Bernabo Visconti. 
 
388 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 know not who now reigns there ; but the year I was in B€arn the 
 lord de Valenchin, a knight of that country, told me the Genoese had 
 a great share in its government, being masters of Famagousta, and 
 that they had crowned Jacquet* king, in default of heirs. I know 
 not how the devil he escaped from prison, nor out of the hands of 
 the Genoese. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 THE KIN& OF ARMENIA RELATES MANY STORIES OP THE TtTRKS ANP 
 
 TARTARS. 
 
 The king of Armenia, on his first aiTival in France, was well en- 
 tcrtaine(j by the king and his lords, as was proper, for he had come 
 from a far country. They gained from him information respegting 
 Greece and Constantinople ; for he was well questioned concerning 
 the power of the Turks and Tartars, who had driven him out of his 
 kingdom. To their questions he answered, that the cham of Tartary 
 had always made war upon him, and had at last overpowered him. 
 "And this cham of Tartary, is he so powerful ?" " That he is in- 
 deed ; for he has, with the assistance of the sultan, conquered the 
 emperor of Constantinople." The lords then asked if Constantinople 
 were under the law of the Tartars. " Oh no," replied the king : 
 " the cham and sultan having continued the war on Constantinople 
 for a long time, it was at length agreed (for otherwise the emperor 
 would not have had peace) that the emperor of Constantinople, who 
 was son of Hugh de Lusignan and Mary of Bourbon, should give his 
 son in marriage to the cham ; but notwithstanding this union, he 
 was to enjoy his laws and privilegcs.t He was then asked what the 
 count Verd de Savoye had done with his gallant company of knights, 
 squires, and men-at-arms. He replied : " That when the count de 
 Savoye had come to Hungary, he had canied his war as far as he 
 could into Turkey, but had made no great progress into the country ; 
 but by his prowess he had conquered the large town of Gallipoli 
 and Limonia :t in the last, he left a sufficiency of men to guard it, 
 and, during the life of the king of Cyprus, he had always kept pos- 
 session of it. The moment the sultan and cham of Tartary heard 
 of the king's death, they were no longer afraid of the emperor of 
 Constantinople, but raised an army of one hundred thousand men, 
 which they marched to Constantinople, and from thence laid siege 
 to Gallipoli, took it by storm, and slew all the Christians within it. 
 They made so deadly a war on the emperor, that he would have lost 
 everything, if it had not been for the attachment the son of the cham 
 had for his daughter, whom he afterwards married. This is a melan- 
 choly prospect for the time to come, for the officers of the cham are 
 already in Constantinople, and the Greeks only live there as it were 
 by sufferance from them; if therefore, the princes of the west do not 
 apply a speedy rem.edy, the Turks will conquer all Greece, and bend 
 it to their faith and laws. They already boast that they will do so ; 
 and only laugh at the two popes, one at Rome and the other at Avig- 
 non, saying, ' The two gods of Christendom are waging war against 
 each other, by which their government is weakened and easier to be 
 destroyed :' adding, ' that those who ought to attend to this, act with 
 such indifference as to leave it to its own ruin.' " 
 
 The king of Armenia was next asked if the sultan of Babylon and 
 the cham of Tartary were the most powerful princes among the infi- 
 dels, known to the Greeks, on the other side of the mountains. 
 "By no means," he replied ; "for the Turks have always been looked 
 to as the most wise and potent in war, as long as they are under an 
 able chief; and this they have had for these last hundred years: 
 although the cham completely governs the emperor of Constantino- 
 ple, the Turkish chief keeps him also under subjection. The name 
 of their present leader is Amurat, a prudent and able man both in 
 arms and council, of whom, to say the truth, I have not any cause of 
 complaint, for he has never injured me, having carried his war against 
 the lung of Hungary." " This Amurat, of whom you speak, is he 
 then of such consequence and pov/ex, and so much renowned and 
 feared ?" " Yes," replied the king of Armenia ; " and even more 
 than I say ; for, if the emperor of Constantinople and the king of 
 Hungaxy ai*e afraid of him, the caliph of Babylon and the cham of 
 Tartary equally dread him. It was supposed, indeed I have heard 
 it from the Taj tars, that the cham would have been more hard on 
 the emperor of Constantinople and that country, had he not been 
 afraid of Amurat. He is well acquainted with his jealous temper ; 
 and that, the instant he finds any one more powerful than himself, 
 he never rests until he shall have lowered him, and brought him 
 uiider his subjection. It was the knowledge of this that prevented 
 
 * James I. constable of Cyprus, was a hostage at Genoa when hi« nephew Peter II. died. 
 He was sent home at tlie demand of his countrymen, who crowned him king. He died 
 in 1398, aged sixty-four, leaving children by Agnes of , Bavaria, his queen, John, his 
 successor to the throne of Cyorus ; Hugh, cardinal ar '-hbishop of Nicosia ; Pliilip, con- 
 Blabie ci"Cyprus ; Henry, i)rince of Galilee ; Mary, icr.riied to Ladislaus king of Naples ; 
 Isabella, married to Fetor of Cyprus ; Civa died unmarried, 12i)3.—Jlrt. dc Vi:rifier les 
 Dates. 
 
 + Froissnrt must have been misinformed ; for I see by Anderson's Royal Genealogies, 
 that John Paleologus must have been emperor of Constantinople at t is time. He was 
 routed by Cantacuzenus, and re.-tored by the Genoese, to whom he gave Lesbos. He 
 afbrwards made peace with Cantacuzenus, made him his colleague, and married his 
 daughter. He died lo83, having reigned forty-six years. 
 
 X Litnonia is a small Ulaad in the Axchipelago, a«ar Rhode*, b«tw0en that itland and 
 Stapalia. 
 
 the cham from doing ail he could have done against the emperor of 
 the east." 
 
 " Does Amurat keep on foot a large army ?" " Yes ; he was not 
 thirty years of age before he had an army of one hundred thousand 
 horse, which he always kept in the field, never quarteiing himself 
 in any large town : besides, he had ten thousand Turks to servo and 
 defend his person. Wherever he marches, he carries his father with 
 him." " How old is he ?" " He is full .^ixty years old, and his father 
 is ninety. Amurat loves the French language, and those who come 
 from France : he says he would rather see the king of France and 
 his state than all the other potentates of the eaith. He is greatly 
 pleased when any one talks to him on this subject, and in favor of 
 the lords of that country." " Why does Amurat remain on terms 
 with the cham, since he is so great a conqueror?" "Because the 
 cham is afraid of him, and dares not malce war : there are, also, cer- 
 tain ports and towns in Tartary which pay Amurat heavy duties : 
 they are both of the same faith, and will not destroy their law. It 
 has been a great matter of wonder to him that Cliristians should 
 make war on each other ; and he ha« frequently had an inclination 
 to enter Christendom and conquer all before him. It wouU have 
 been to my advantage if he had conquered me, rather than the cham 
 of Tartary." They asked the king of Armenia, why it would have 
 been to his advantage, who replied : "Amurat is a man of noble 
 birth ; and, were he thirty yeare younger, is formed to make con- 
 quests wherever he should please to march his army. When he 
 conquers any country or town, he only insists on the payment of a 
 tax, leaving every one to follow his own religion ; and he has never 
 taken any man's inheritance from him, only requiring the supreme 
 government of the country. It is for these reasons, I say, that if he 
 had conquered Armenia, instead of the Tartars, he would have left 
 me my kingdom and religion, and remained in peace, on my acknow- 
 ledging him as lord paramount, like other great barons on his fron. 
 tiers, Greeks and Thracians, who thus acknowledge him, to free 
 themselves from all danger from the caliph of Babylon and the grand 
 cham." " What are the names of these barons ?" " I will tell you," 
 answered the king : " first, there is the lord de Satalia, the lord de 
 la Palice, and the lord de Haute-loge : these lords and their terri. 
 tories, by means of the tax they pay to Amurat, remain in peace, and 
 there is neither Turk nor Tartar that dares injure them."* They 
 then asked the king, if Armenia was so totally lost that there were 
 no means of recovering it. " Yes, indeed," he replied, " unless a 
 force superior to the Turks and Tartars cross the mountains and 
 conquer Greece ; for excepting the town of Courth, Vv'hich is the 
 entrance to my kingdom, and as yet remains to Christendom, the 
 infidels have possession of all the rest : and, where the churches used 
 to be, they have placed their idols and their mahomets." "And this 
 town of Courth, is it strong ? "Ay, in God's name is it," said the 
 king of Armenia : " it is not to be taken unless by treachery or a 
 very long siege ; for it is situated in a dry spot on the sea-shore, and 
 between two rocks that cannot be approached. Should the Turks 
 or Tartars gain it, and another good town not far distant, called 
 Adelphe,t all Greece must inevitably be lost, and Hungary besides 
 in a short time afterwards." The king of Armenia was asked if 
 Hungary were on the frontiers of the Turks and Tartars. He said 
 it was ; but nearer to the Turks and the territories of Amurat than 
 to any other potentate. " It is very extraordinary," they replied, 
 " that Amurat, who is so valorous, and such a conqueror, should leave 
 so near a neighbor in peace." " In God's name." answered the 
 king, " he has not for some time even preienaea to Keep peace witti 
 Hungary, but made such exertions, to the injury of that kingdom, 
 that if an unfortunate accident had not befallen him, he would at this 
 moment have been far advanced in that country." "And what was 
 that accident ?" " I will tell you," replied the king. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV.t 
 
 CONTINUATION OF THE INTELLIGENCE WHICH THE KING OF ARMENIA BE- 
 LATES TO THE BARONS OF FRANCE. 
 
 " When Amurat saw that all the adjoining princes feared him, 
 and that the shores of the sea as far as Hungary bounded his domin. 
 ion, he determined, as the kingdom of Hungary ha'd, by king Fred, 
 crick's death, devolved on the queen, to declare war and conquer it. 
 He therefore issued a particular summons to his vassals throughout 
 Turkey, which being obeyed, he began his march and encamped in 
 the plains of Satalia, between la Palice and Hauteloge, to strike 
 more fear into his enemies. It was his intention to enter the king- 
 dom of Hungary, notwithstanding it is a country inclosed with high 
 rocks and mountains which make it so much the stronger. He sent 
 before him embassadors and heralds, with a mule laden with a grain 
 called millet, telUng them, 'Go you into Hungary, to the c*unt de 
 
 * Sauvage, in a marginal note, says he would willingly tell where those territories are, 
 but he has not been able to find them out, and thinks there must have been some mis- 
 takes in their names. 
 
 f'Adelphe." Q. If not mennt for Delphos. 
 
 t Denys Sauvage complain* that l>e cannot understand this chapter, nor the accounts 
 from the Levant. There was not any king of Hungary at that period of the name of 
 Frederick. Lewis the Great reigned in 1342, aJid his daughter Mary succflodoii bin 
 13Si. I £iad mytolf thersfure obligsd. Iiik0 Sauvage, to Isave it as X find it. 
 
^CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 389 
 
 Laziran,* whose territories lie among the mountains of Meleabre and j 
 Rohde, through which we mean our army to pass, and tell him we i 
 order and command, if he wish for him?elf and country to remain at 
 peace, tliat ho come and render us obedience, as he knows the lords 
 de Satalia, de ia Palice and de Haute-loge have done, and lay open 
 his country for us t > pass through. If he should refuse to obey and 
 appear rebellious, tell him from us, that we will pour into his territo- 
 ries, to destroy them, as many heads as you will show you have 
 grains of millet in your bags.' The embassadors instantly departed 
 on receiving these instructions, and arrived in the territory of the 
 comt de Lazaran in Hungary : they found him at one of his castles 
 called Archiforme. He received the embassadors from Amurat 
 kindly, and handsomely entertained them, but was much surprised 
 when he saw the mule enter his court laden with he knew not what. 
 He at first imagined it might be gold or precious stones, which Amu- 
 rat had sent to seduce him to his party, and to bribe him to allow a 
 passage for his army through his country ; but he had resolved, that 
 he wou'd never submit to be corrupted by any presents whatever. 
 
 " When the embassadors had their audience, they spoke as fol- 
 lows : • Lord de Lazaran, we are sent hither by that high and mighty 
 prince, our redoubted sovereign, Amurat, lord of Turkey and of all 
 its dependencies : and we tell you from him, that he orders you to 
 place yourself under his obedience in the same form and manner as 
 you know the lords de Satalia, de la Palice and de Haute-loge have 
 done, and that you delay not coming to perform your homage to him, 
 in like manner as your neighbors have done. You will open your 
 country to his army, if you wish to have peace, and by so doing you 
 will greatly enjoy his good favor: but, should you refuse and prove 
 rebellious, we are commanded to say, that our sovereign lord, Amu- 
 rat, will pour more heads into your country, to destroy it, than there 
 are grains of millet in this bag.' Having said this, he opened the 
 bag to show him its contents. The lord de Lazaran was advised to 
 return a temperate answer, and not discover his thoughts at once. 
 He replied, ' Tie up your bag; I see what is within it, and I have 
 heard from you what Amurat's intentions are : within three days 
 you shall have an answer, for these demands require deliberation.' 
 They replied, ' You say well ;' and, in confidence of having an 
 answer, they tarried three days. I will now tell you what the count 
 de Lazaran did during these three days : he got collected and brought 
 to his castle ten thousand head of poultry of all sorts, which he caused 
 to be shut up without any food whatever. On the day appointed 
 for the embassadors to receive their answer, he conducted them to a 
 gallery which overlooked a court, bidding them lean over the rail, 
 and, before he gave them his answer, he would show them some- 
 ihing new : they, not thinking what he was about, did as he ordered. 
 Two doors were instantly opened, when all his poultry who had 
 been starving for two days rushed out ; and the millet bag being 
 opened, and its contents scattered about, the whole was devoured in 
 less thin half an hour, and more would have been eaten if they could 
 have h id it. The count de Lazaran then, turning toward the em- 
 bassadors, said : ' My fair sirs, you have seen how the millet you 
 have brought hither, from your master, with many menaces, has 
 been de=!troyed bv this poultry, who would have destroyed more had 
 they h^.d it?' ' Yes,' replied they, 'but wherefore do you mention 
 it ?' ' Because you have your answer in what you have witnessed 
 and in the fact you have seen. Amurat threatens that, unless I 
 obey hiin, he will pour into my country men-at-arms without num- 
 ber, to dcf^troy it: tell him from me, I wait for him, and that with 
 whatever force he come, he shall be destroyed in the same manner 
 09 the fowls have destroyed your millet.' The embassadors, on re- 
 ceiving this answer, became quite pensive. They took leave of 
 the count, and travelled by short days' journeys, until they came to 
 where Amurat and his army lay. They related to him all that the 
 count da Lazaran had done and said, and that he seemed to hold 
 his menaces very cheap. Amurat was very wroth on hearing this 
 answer, and swore that things should not remain as they were ; but 
 that he w )uli enter the territories of the count whether he would or 
 not, and hy waste all his lands, in revenge for his insolent answer. 
 
 " I will now tell you what the count de Lazaran did, since war 
 had been d'J iounced against him, which he knew would be speedily 
 followed otherwise than by words. He instantly made preparations 
 of stores and provision, and sent expresses to inform his knights 
 and squires, and all those cipable of bearing arms, that Amurat was 
 about to invade Hungary, and to order them to guard valiantly all 
 the passes into the cou!itry, and join him as speedily as may be, for 
 there was no time for delay. Amurat remained with his army on 
 the plains of Haute-loge. As it was to defend Christendom, all the 
 knirrhts to whom the count had written obeyed his orders and came 
 to him, a=! did many more to whom he had not sent, but who had 
 it accidentally, to support the faith and destroy the infidels. 
 The count had the forests cut down and thrown across the roads 
 
 ♦Snyvngre snys in n note. " Accordinfr to PaiilJovius and father Anthony Geoffrai, 
 Ins proi e - name ^vas Lazarus, despot or Und of Servia, formerly called by the Romans 
 IMi<si>5 Inferior." 
 
 'j'"iiis pro!);iblv kthc person called by Frriissart the lord de Lazaran. 
 
 " Sei-vji) nmde fvrnierly part of Wmsin, lllyria and Pannonia. At the fall of the Ro- 
 rn'-ivi em; i e, it i)elonFed to the Servians, who had come thither fr<inn Sarmatia in Asia, 
 [f afiervvirds its own despots, some of whom depended on the kings of Hungary. 
 Tlie iasi had the misfortune to be captured in battle, and his army cut to pieces by 
 Amurat I. in the 14th century." 
 
 See Servie, in the Encyciopedie rar Ordre dei Matiem 
 
 Amurat was to pass, which he expected would have a great cllect 
 in checking the Turks on their march. The count, accompanied by 
 ten thousand Hungarians and as many cross-bows, intrenched him 
 self and men on each side of a pass through which he knew Amurat 
 must march. He had also with him two thousand peasants, armec' 
 with axes and wedges, to fell the timber and block up the road on a 
 signal given. When everything was prepared, the count said : 
 ' Without doubt Amurat will come hither, for he has sent me word 
 he would do so ; be therefore steady and valiant in defending this 
 pass, for, should it be won by the Turks, all Hungary is in danger 
 of being conquered. We are strongly posted, and one man here is 
 equal to four. It will be more for our honor to perish in the field, 
 defending the faith of Jesus Christ, than to live in bondage under 
 these dogs of infidels, notwithstanding the courage and ability of 
 Amurat.' * Sir,' replied they unanimously, ' we will with you abide 
 the event : let the Turks come when they will, we are ready to re- 
 ceive them.' The Turks were quite ignorant of all this ; for the 
 count, fearful lest his plans should be discovered by Amurat's spies, 
 and revealed to him, had posted some of his most confidential friends 
 between him and the enemy, to prevent any communication what, 
 ever between the two armies. 
 
 " Amurat was not forgetful of his menace, but declared he would 
 visit the territories of the count de Lazaran, in such a manner that he 
 should remember it ; for he was unwilling to be thought a liar in 
 breaking his promise. Having selected sixty th(.usand men, for he 
 had two hundred thousand men in his camp, he gave the command of 
 them to four captains attached to his household and ' ith ; their names 
 were, the duke Mansion of Mecca, the governor or J >an)ietta, Alpha, 
 lory de Samarie, andthe prince de Corde, surname'.! iJrachin, to whom 
 he said, on their leaving him, *' You will march these men, whom I put 
 under your command, a number sufficient to open a passage into 
 Hungary, to the lands of the lord de Lazaran, which you will com- 
 pletely destroy by fire and sword. As soon as I shall be informed of 
 your arrival there, I will follow with the remainder of my army ; for 
 I am resolved to have Hungary under my obedience, and afterwards 
 the empire of Germany. The wizards of my country, and the divi- 
 ners of Egypt, have pronounced that I am destined to be kirg of ail 
 the world ; but the place that I would most willingly vieit is Rome : 
 for, in ancient times, it formed part of our inheritiu ce : and our pre- 
 decessors have conquered and governed it several times. I vvill lead 
 with me le Galifre de Baudas, the cham cf Tartan , and the sultan of 
 Babylon, who shall there crown me.' The captains, who were on 
 their knees, replied, they would cheerfully obey his command?, and 
 then marched off with the sixty thousand men. Among them were 
 twenty thousand of the most able and best armed men of the Turkish 
 army, who formed the van battalion. When they came to the moun- 
 tains on the frontiers of Lazaran, the van, finding no one to oppose 
 them, entered them, under the command of the duke of Mecca, and 
 the governor of Damietta, and passed the ambui;cade of the count de 
 Lazaran. As soon as the count and the Hungarians saw they had en- 
 trapped their foe, they began to work, by cutting down the forest trees 
 and laying them across the road, so that it was quite impossible for the 
 Turks to retreat or advance, for the passage was er.tirely blocked up. 
 
 " Thus were twenty thousand Turks inclosed, who were so vigor- 
 ously attacked by the Hungarians from each sid'= of the forest, and 
 with such good effect, that ail were slain. Not one escaped death, not 
 even the two commanders. Some attempted to fly, but were pursued 
 through the wood and killed. The rear division, unable to advance 
 through the fallen forest, returned to Amurat, arid related the unfor- 
 tunate event which had happened to his army. He was very pensive 
 on hearing >t, and summoned his council to consider what was to be 
 done, as he had lost the flower of his army." The king of Armenia, 
 having thus finished his history of the dei'eat of the Turks, resumed 
 the account of his own melancholy situation, to the king of France 
 and his uncles. They took compassion on him, because he had come 
 from such a distant part of the world as Greece to seek aid and com- 
 fort; and being a king driven out of his realm, without any means 
 o{ keeping up his state, or even supporting himself, as his complaints 
 evidently showed. The king of France, you- g as he was, said: 
 " We will, that the king of Armenia, who has c jme to us in hopes of 
 assistance, have allowed him wherewithal to maintain his dignity, 
 suitable to his rank, as he is a king like omsclf ; and when we are 
 able, he shall have men-at-arms to aid iiim in the recovery of his 
 kingdom ; for we have a very good inclination to do so, being bound 
 to support the Christian faith." 
 
 The speech of the king was applauded by all. His uncles and 
 council were willing to fulfil these commands ; and a proper allow, 
 ance was ordered to be paid to the king of Armenia monthly, from 
 the chamber of accounts, to keep up his state. The sum allowed 
 was six thousand francs yeariy ; and he had five thousand presented 
 him, to provide himself with plate and other smaller necessaries. 
 The palace of St. Ouen, near St. Denis, was likewise given to him 
 for his residence. Such assistance did the king of Armenia receive on 
 his first arrival in France, which was con: tantly increasing. He was 
 at times much with the king, particulariy at all the grand festivals.* 
 
 * Sauval. in his Antiquities of Paris, copies Frnissarl in the account of the reception of 
 the king of Armenia \>y the court of Charles \l. ; but adds, from Juvenal des Ursiiis, 
 that this prince was not so wretched in his fortune, having saved many jewels, and even 
 someof bit treasure, when i)« fied from the Tartars. iJe was a fruitless negotiator of 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 PURING THESE WARS OF THE TURKS, DISSENSIONS CONTINUE BETWEEN 
 THE TWO POPES, URBAN VI. AND CLEMENT VII. FRIAR JOHN DE LA 
 ROCHE.TAILLARD DELIVERS A GOOD APOLOGUE, RESPECTING THE PAPACY, 
 TO THE CARDINALS. 
 
 About this period, Otho of Brunswick came to pope Clement at 
 Avii;non, to receive his pay for the war he had carried on for the 
 pope and church against the Romans and Bartholomew Prignano, 
 wiio styled himself pope Urban VI. as you have before seen in this 
 history. He remonstrated with the pope and cardinals on various 
 topics, to which they attentively listened ; but, as for his pay, he 
 could not obtain one penny, the treasury being so empty that the car- 
 dinals were unable to get what was their due. Sir Otho, therefore, 
 left them much discontented ; but, before he set out for Avignon, 
 they gave him one thousand francs, which he held cheap, and the 
 war of the pope was greatly weakened, for sir Otho would not hence- 
 forward concern himself about it. Besides, Margaret de Duras, 
 duchess of Anjou,* who resided at Gaietta, sent for his assistance 
 against the Neapolitans. Sir Otho balanced for a time, not knowing 
 which side to take ; some of the council advising him to aid Marga- 
 ret in the defence of her realm, and take her to wife, as she had not 
 any objection and was of noble birth, and by this means they told 
 him that he might become king of the country : but others advised 
 the contrary, lest it might have an unfavorable issue ; for her children 
 by the duke of Anjou, who had been crowned king in Bari, were 
 yaung, and had many relations and friends, especially in the king of 
 Fiance their cousin-german, who would certainly support their 
 claims, as v/eil as the lady Jane, duchess dowager of Anjou, who 
 would have great weight. Sir Otho was so long doubtful between 
 the two parties that at length neither had him. 
 
 About this time, the forces subsidized by pope Clement, under the 
 command of the lord de Moetroye, a right valiant knight from the 
 country of Geneva and Savoy, sir Talebert, a knight of Rhodes, and 
 sir Bernard de la Salle, had shut up pope Urban in the city of Peru- 
 gia. He was much straitened, and on the point of being made cap- 
 tive. I was told it depended only on the payment of twenty thousand 
 crowns; for count Conrad, a leader of a large body of Germans, 
 would have delivered him up to pope Clement for that sum. Sir 
 Bernard de la Salle was sent to Avignon to inform the pope, and to 
 remonstrate with him and the cardinals on the subject, but in vain 
 w?th regard to the money, for the court was so poor that he could not 
 obtain anythi;ig, and returned, very discontented, to the siege of Pe- 
 rugia. The siege was slackened on both sides, and Urban escaped 
 from this danger to Rome, where he remained. 
 
 I know that in times to come, these things will be wondered at, 
 and it will be a matter of astonishment how the church could fall 
 into such troubles, and those of so long a duration. It was a punish- 
 ment sent by God, to make the clergy feel and consider the great 
 pomp and superfluities they possessed : but many paid no attention 
 to it, being so swollen with pride and arrogance, that each would 
 imitate his superiors, and thus was religion little regarded ; and if 
 the Holy Spirit, who enlightens the hearts of the devout, had not 
 kept them steady, and in unison, it v/ould have been severely shaken, 
 if not lost. The great proprietors of land, who at the first were such 
 noble benefactors to the church, now make a joke of it, even at the 
 tin\e I was writing and chronicling this history, in the year of grace 
 1390 ; at which the commonalty were much surprised, and wondered 
 why such great lords as the kings of France and Germany, and the 
 other gretit princes of Christendom, did not provide a remedy for it. 
 But, to satisfy the people and excuse the great barons, I must say, 
 that as there cannot be a yolk of an egg without its white, nor a 
 white without the yolk, so neither the clergy nor the lords can exist 
 
 peace between Englnnd and France, and was sent to Boulogne, with otiiers on this sub- 
 ject. He (lied in 1393, in the palace of Tournelles, situated in the street of St. Ant liony, 
 opposite the royal hotel of St. Pol, where the kings of France usually resided. He was 
 buried in the church of St. Celestins, after the manner of his own country, his fiiends 
 clothed in white, carrying torches of white wax : his body, dressed in royal robes of tlie 
 the same color, wiis laid upon a white bed of state, and his head encircled with a crown 
 of gold. Ai this funeral ceremony, many of the princes and great lords assisted, and 
 crowds of common people.— ^nti quite. t de Paris, vol. ii. p. 251. 
 
 Holingshed says, Leo, king of Armenia, came to England and received a pension of 
 jElOOO from Richard II. ; the object of liis visit was to make peace between the two 
 countries of France and England. 
 
 * 'J'he text which Mr. Johnes here follows is essentially different from that of D. Sau- 
 vage and more recent French editions, and lord Berners, and is moreover not consonant 
 to .he truth. Margaret of Duras was not duchess of Anjou, but widow of Charles Duras, 
 king of Niiples. the competitor of Louis, duke of Anjou, for that kingdom. Acco-ding 
 lo D. Sauvnge, &c., the passage should run as follows: " Besides Margaret of Duras, 
 vrKo resided at Gaietta and was opposed to theo.ueen of Naples, widow of kins Louis 
 duke of Af)j:iu, begged his assistance to make war on the Neapolitans. Sir Otho bal- 
 anced for a time, not knowing which side to take. Some of his council advised him to 
 take part with Margart nf Duras, who was heiress of Naples and Sicily, and assist her 
 to defend and keep her heritage, and to take her to wife, as she was very willing to hav 
 h.m f ira husband, be being of noble and high lineage; and he would thus become king 
 find lord of the countries which she claimed. Others advised him to the contrary ; for 
 the children ( f king Louis, who hud been crowned in the city of Bari, were youns and 
 had numer:)us friends and relations, especially the king of France, who were willing to 
 assist ihem: and their lady mother, queen Joan, duchess of Anjou and Maine, was a 
 woiniin of great intrigue. All these doubts were laid before him by his council. Sir 
 Othn held ba.rk and hesitated so long that ho lost both parties." We should here ob- 
 lerve. that Mnrgaret of Duras was not heiress of the kingdom of Naples, but regent da 
 rinc the muiority uf her son Ladislas ->£o. 
 
 independently of each other; for the lords, not being ruled by tho 
 clergy, would degenerate into beasts. 
 
 I will say, that in my time I have for certain seen much of man 
 kind ; whether for my own amusement, or in travelling to learn the 
 history of what passes in the world relative to deeds and adventures 
 in arms, which are described in this book ; but I have never met 
 with any lord, except the count de Foix, who had not his minions, 
 pages, and jesters, most honorably entertained. The count de Foix 
 had none such ; for he was naturally grave, and of great good sense, 
 which was of more value than anything they could have afforded 
 him. I do not say, that those lords who are attended by minions* 
 are mad ; they are worse than mad, for they are blind having two 
 eyes. 
 
 When information of this disputed choice was first brought to king 
 Charles of France, of happy memory, he paused, and left it to his 
 clergy ; who, having considered the matter, resolved that pope Cle- 
 ment had been truly elected. To this opinion the kings of France, 
 Castillo, and Scotland assented ; and, notwithstanding the schism 
 which was caused in the church, these three kings, being allied to- 
 gether, remained steady to Clement; but the kings of England and 
 Portugal were of a contrary way of thinking. The earl of Flandera 
 had formed his creed as you have heard in this history ; for he would 
 acknowledge pope Clement, because he had, at the first conclave, 
 voted for the cardinal of Bari, and because, while cardinal of Ge. 
 neva, he had written to the earl to say Urban had been legally elected 
 pope, for which reason the earl of Flanders considered his as the true 
 one as long as he lived. The emperor and all Germany, with the 
 king of Hungary, acknowledged Urban. 
 
 While writing of these dissensions that happened in my time both 
 in the state and in the church (which was 3omev»?hat shaken thereby,) 
 and it is to be understood that the great landed proprietors were act- 
 ing like hypocrites, it comes to my remembrance how in my young 
 days, during the reign of pope Innocent, at Avignon, there was con- 
 fined in prison a learned clerk, called Friar John de la Roche-taillade. 
 This friar, as I have been told by several privately, for it was never 
 talked of in public, foretold, while in prison, many of the great events 
 which would happen shortly in the world, more especially those that 
 related to France. He prophesied the capture of king John of France, 
 and the misfortunes that were to befal the church from the piide and 
 arrogance of those who governed it. It was said, that during his 
 imprisonment he was brought to the pope's palace, when the cardinal 
 of Ostia, commonly called cardinal of Arras, and the cardinal of 
 Auxerre, disputed with him on these subjects. Friar John gave 
 them for answer the following apologue : " In former days a bird 
 was hatched without any feathers. When the other birds heard of 
 this, they went to see him, for he was fair and pleasant to look on. 
 Having considered, that without feathers he could not fly, nor v.'ith- 
 out flying live — which, however, they were determined to assist nim 
 in, for he was a prodigiously handsome bird — they resolved that every 
 bird should give him some of his feathers. The best feathered gave 
 most, so that he was soon enabled to fly. The other birds took much 
 pleasure in seeing him. When this bird saw himself thus in feather, 
 and that all the birds paid him great honor, he grew proud, and not 
 only held those cheap who had made him so, but pecked and drove 
 them from him. The birds held an assembly to consider how they 
 should act, in consequence of the treatment they received from this 
 bird whom they had clothed, and who now despised them. The 
 peacock said, 'He is too finely dressed in my feathers: I will take 
 them from him.' ' In God's name,' said the falcon, ' so will I mine.' 
 The other birds said they would do the same, and immediately be- 
 gan to unfeather him. The bird, on seeing this, humbled himself 
 greatly, and acknowledged the honors and wealth he had received ; 
 and that his fine feathers were not his own, for he had come into the 
 world naked and featherles; and those who had feathered him might, 
 if they chose, retake them. He cried out for mercy, and promised, 
 henceforward, never to risk, by pride or presumption, the loss of his 
 feathers. The gallant birds who had plucked him, seeing him thus 
 humbled in his deportment, restored his feathers ; but said, on giving 
 them back, ' We will gladly see thee fly among us, as long as thou 
 shalt bear thyself meekly, for so it bec-ometh thee ; but if ever thou 
 shalt act arrogantly, we will pluck thee bare, and leave thee in the 
 naked state we found thee.' Thus, my fair sirs," said friar John to 
 the cardinals, " will it happen to you. The emperors, kings, and 
 princes of the earth, have given you wealth, and power, and posses- 
 sions, that you may serve God ; but you expend it in pomp, luxury, 
 and all extravagances. Why do you not read the life of St. Silves- 
 ter,* the first pope who succeeded St. Peter, and \yeigh well the 
 conditions on which the emperor Constantine gave the tithes to tho 
 church ? St. Silvester did not travel with two or three hundred at- 
 tendants on horseback, but lived simply and retired at Rome, solely 
 with his churchmen, when the angel, through God's grace, appeared 
 to announce that the emperor Constantine. then an infidel and unbe- 
 liever, had sent for him. It had likewise been revealed to the em- 
 peror, by the angel of the lord, that Silvester would put him in the way 
 of being cured of his leprosy ; for he was so ill cf that disorder, his 
 limbs were rotting. On his arrival, he pointed out to him his cure, 
 
 t Silvester wus the thirty second pope, reckoning St. Peter as the first.-.4rf dc v6n 
 Jier les Dates. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 391 
 
 by means of baptism. He was baptized and cured, which so strongly 
 impressed his m'-.d with the goodness of God, that he believed, and 
 made his empire believe also. He gave to Silvester and to the 
 church all tithes, which he had before held himself, with many other 
 rich gifts and territories, for the augmentation of our faith and church. 
 It was his intention that these should be prudently and properly gov. 
 erned, and not with pomp and pride as is now done ; for which the 
 Lord is wroth, and his anger will be much increased against you in 
 tim»3.s to come. Should the nobles excuse themselves from giving 
 support to the church, and grow cold in their devotions, and perhaps 
 retake what they have given, it must speedily be destroyed." 
 
 Thus spuke friar John to the cardinals, who were much astonished 
 thereat, and would have put him to death, but they could not find 
 out any just cause for it. They suffered him to live, but confined 
 him a close prisoner ; for he proposed such deep questions, and ex- 
 amined so closely the Scriptures, that he might perhaps, had he been 
 at liberty, have led the world astray. However, many things were 
 seen to happen, which he had foretold in prison, and which he proved 
 from the apocalypse. His proofs saved him sometimes from being 
 burnt, and some of the cardinals took compassion on him, and did 
 not oppress him as they might have done. 
 
 We will now leave these narrations and return to the principal 
 matters of this history, the affairs of Spain, Portugal, France, and 
 England, and say what events were passing there worthy of being 
 recorded. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. • 
 
 THE REASONS WHY THE PORTUGUESE PREFER THE GRAND MASTER OF 
 AVIS FOR THEIR KING TO DON JOHN, KING OF CASTILLE, WHO HAD 
 MARRIED BEATRICE, DAUGHTER OF DON FERDINAND, LATE KING OF 
 PORTUGAL. 
 
 You have before heard how don John, son of don Pedro, king of 
 Portugal, and bastard brother to the late king, had gained possession 
 of the crown, through the boldness of four of the principal towns in 
 Portugal ; for the nobles and knights ought not to be inculpated in 
 the matter, as they had ever borne themselves loyally to don John 
 of Castille, who had married Beatrice, the daughter and heiress of 
 don Ferdinand. Many, however, were of opinion she was a bas- 
 tardj being the daughter of a Portuguese lady, whose husband, a 
 knight of Portugal, was still living.* The king of Portugal having 
 seized his wife, married her ; and the knight left the country and 
 resided Vv^ith the king of Castille : he never returned to Portugal, 
 notwit'.istanding his noble birth, through fear of the king. 
 
 This opi iion of her being a bastard was the more extraordinary, 
 as don Ferdinand considered her as legitimate, having received dis- 
 pehsations from pDpe Urban VI. to that purpose. When peace was 
 concluded between the kings of Castille and Portugal, don John 
 Ferdinand Audere, who ruled the Portuguese council, proposed a 
 marriage between the daughter of his king, and don John, king of 
 Castille, who was at that time a widowir. The council of Castille, 
 when this union was proposed, had mentioned their doubts of the 
 legitiinacy of the lady's birth ; and to satisfy the king of Castille, 
 don Ferdinand made his principal barons and nobles of Portugal 
 swear, that after his decease, they would consider her as their queen, 
 and would unite their kingdom to Castille. He had also forced the 
 princip'al tjwns to promise the same, and to acknowledge the king 
 of Castille as their ki.ig, under a penalty of two hundred thousand 
 francs. The Lisbonere, having put to death don Ferdinand Audere, 
 because he had interfered in this business, and exerted himself, at 
 the ki ig of Portugal's death, have it confirmed, elected the master 
 of Avis, and wjuld have no other king. They said, that were Por- 
 tugal to be turned topsy-turvy, they w<)uld never submit to Castille, 
 nor to the Cas'illians, so greatly did they hate each other. The Lis- 
 boners were the great instigators of this dispute ; they said the lady 
 Beatrice could njt be their queen, for she was a bastard, a thorough 
 bastard ; and, during the life-time of don Ferdinand, and now when 
 he is dead, Lorenzo d'Acunha, the husband of her mother, still exists. 
 For this reason, the four cities of Lisbon, Coimbra, Ourique, and 
 Oport ), elected don John, and crowned him king of Portugal. They 
 would have a king from among themselves, and noticed the great 
 affection the commonalty had for the master of Avis. 
 
 O.ie of the chief causes for this hatred of the Portuguese to the 
 Castillians, v/as, that after the marriage had been concluded between 
 the kiag of Castille with don Ferdinand's daughter, and it had been 
 agreed thi-.t Portugal should, after the death of don Ferdinand, revert 
 t.) Castille ; wherever the Castillians met the Portuguese, they mocked 
 them, and said, they should return under their obedience whether 
 they wouKl or not; that they would keep them in subjection and 
 slavery, and tc?xh them, like Jews and slaves, to obey their wills. 
 The Portuguese replied, they would never be under theirs nor the 
 subjection of any men in the world. Owing to such reproaches, 
 they elected the grand-master of Avis king, who was bastard son to 
 don Pedro, king of Portugal. Don Ferdinand, during his reign, paid 
 no attention to his brother, nor ever imagined the Portuguese would, 
 after his decease, choose him their king, to the disparagement of his 
 
 * Feidiniind, nt the conclusion of the war between him and Henry de Transtamare, 
 ■ing of Cnslille, engaged to miirry Henry's daughter. This he did not perform, but 
 najrried Leonora Tellez. the wife of ijorenzo d'Acunha. 
 
 daughter ; but so they did ; and don Ferdinand Audere was in the 
 right, when he advised the king to have him put to death, for the 
 people had too great an affection for him. The king would nevei 
 consent to this, saying that the people had no power over the nobility 
 of the realm ; and that his son-in-law, the king of Castille, wa?- 
 powerful enough to punish any rebellion that might break out ; that 
 he had no just cause to imprison him nor put him to death ; and 
 besides, his brother was of a religious order, and possessed great 
 wealth, without thinking of the crown of Portugal. These were the 
 reasons why he escaped death. 
 
 All these are well-known facts ; for I, the author of this history, 
 was told them by the nobles of Portugal. It was certainly strange 
 they should choose a bastard for their king: but they tvmrd none 
 nearer in blood to the crown ; for they declared that the queen of 
 Castille, daughter of the lady Leonora d'Acunha, being a bastard, 
 should never possess the crown of Portugal, nor should any of her 
 descendants. The count de Foix was of a similar opinion, as he 
 told the knights when he gave them an entertainment on leaving his 
 country for Portugal ; for he is perfectly well informed, though he 
 resides at Orthes, of everything that passes in Castille or Portugal. 
 When his knights departed, he said : " Gentlemen, you have not any 
 business to interfere in the disputes between Castille and Portugal ; 
 for the queen of Castille, daughter of don Ferdinand king of Per- 
 tugal, has no claim to that crown. This war is begun foohshly, and 
 with much bitterness : you may therefore, as well as those who first 
 stirred it up, heartily repent when it is too late." They replied, 
 " that having received earnest of pay from so great a lord as don 
 John of Castille, they were bound to serve him." He then suffered 
 them to go : but, as I have before related, the greater part never 
 returned home again. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 FROISSART TRAVELS TO MIDDLEBURGH IN ZEALAND, TO MAKE INQUIRIES 
 FROM A KNIGHT, WHO IS GOING TO PRUSSIA, OF THE AFFAIRS OF 
 PORTUGAL, 
 
 We will not yet quit the affairs of Portugal, as they ought not to 
 be forgotten ; but the grand feats of arms which took place there 
 should be chronicled, that those who come after our time may find 
 them related and written down. It would be pity they were anni. 
 hilated : and it was by means of clerks of former days, who enre. 
 gistered histories, that facts are now known, for there is no memory 
 equal to writing. In truth, I must say, and I wish those who in after 
 times shall come may know the fact, that I have taken infinite pains 
 to seek out the truth of what was passing in my day, and have trav- 
 elled through many a kingdom and over many countries for this pur- 
 pose. I have been personally acquainted with many valiant men, as 
 well in France, Eqgland, Castille, Portugal, as in the duchies and 
 countries adjoining, and with their companions in war, from whom I 
 have never failed asking many questions for my information ; and I 
 have never willingly neglected, after having heard any fact, making 
 every possible inquiry to know the truth of it. 
 
 During the time I resided with the gallant count Gaston de Foix at 
 Bearn, I heard many of the transactions which happened in Portugal ; 
 but on my rerturn home to Valenciennes in Haiijault, having rested 
 myself a while, my passion for the history I had' begun wasrenewedf 
 and I bethought myself that I could not impartially continue it, 
 having only heard that side of the question which related to the king 
 of Castille. It was proper therefore, if I wished to avoid partiality, 
 to hear v/hat the Portuguese had to say, as I had listened to the Gas- 
 cons and Spaniards in the castle of Foix, and upon the road in going 
 thither and in returning. Indifferent as to bodily fatigue, I set out 
 for Bruges, expecting to meet some Portuguese and Lisboners, a'3 
 many of that nation are generally there : I was most fortunate in my 
 journey, for it was told me, and I since found it true, that if I had 
 considered for seven years, I could not have come more opportunely 
 to Bruges than at that moment. I had only to go to Middleburgh in 
 Zealand, where I should find a valiant knight of Portugal, and of the 
 king's council, called don Juan de Portelet, wh • would give me a 
 true account of the events that had passed in Portugal, having been 
 a party concerned in all of them : he was but lately arrived, intend- 
 ing to embark for Prussia, whither his valor had led him. This in- 
 telligence rejoiced me much, and I set out from Bruges in company 
 with a Portuguese well acquainted with tiie knight. On our arrival 
 at Sluys, we embarked, and, thanks to God, arrived safely at Middle, 
 burgh. I made myself acquainted, through my companion, with the 
 knight, whom I found prudent, honorable, gracious and pleasant. I 
 remained with him about six days, and might have done so longer 
 had I pleased, when the knight told me all that had happened in the 
 wars between Castille and Portugal, from the death of king Ferdi- 
 nand, until the time he had left that country. He related it so clearly 
 and fully that I had great delight in hearing him, and writing down 
 what he had said. 
 
 When I had learnt all I had wanted, and found the wind to be 
 favorable, I took leave of the knight : he accompanied me to the 
 vessel, as did several rich merchants of his country who had come 
 from. Brusres hither to see him, as well as other good people cf Mid- 
 dleburgh." In his company was th e son of the count de Novaire,* in 
 
 * NuSs Alvarez Pereiia.— £& 
 
302 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FKANCE, SPAIN. &c. 
 
 Portugal, and other knights and squires from those parts : but greater 
 rejpect was paid to don Juan than to any of the others : and car. 
 tainly I'rorn what I saw, he was very deserving of it, for he was a 
 handsome well-made man, formed for vigorous exploits. I returned 
 thence, through Bruges, home, where I chronich d ail I had heard 
 from don Juan Ft^rnando de Portelet, relative to what had passed in 
 the realms of Portugal and Castille until the year of our Lord 1390. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 THE PORTUGUESE, AFTER THE BATTLE OF ALJUBAROTA, SEND EMBAS- 
 SADORS TO ENGLAND, TO INFORM THE KING AND HIS NOBLES OF THAT 
 EVENT. 
 
 After don John had defeated the Spaniards at the battle of Alju- 
 barota, which took place, as we have heard, near the monastery of 
 Alcoba9ar, whereat were slain such numbers of knights and squires 
 from France, Gascony, and Castille, he returned triumphant to Lis. 
 bon, his^ head crowned with laurel, like the Roman conquerors of 
 old. The Portuguese highly honored him for his courage and vic- 
 tory ; and, after many grand festivals, a parliament was held by the 
 barons, knights, and magistrates from the principal towns, on the 
 state of the kingdom, and on the means by which they could best 
 persevere in what they had been bo fortunate in commencing. The 
 wisest among them said, 
 now was the time to 
 strengthen themselves, so 
 that they might be ena- 
 bled to withstand the 
 power of the king of Caa- 
 tille,and enjoy with honor 
 to themselves the fruits of 
 their victory. This con- 
 ference was holden in the 
 cathedral church of St. 
 Dominick, at . Lisbon, 
 where many proposals 
 were made, but not such 
 as were worth recording. 
 It was at last determined 
 to send to the duke of 
 Lancaster, who claimed 
 the crown of Castille, in 
 right of the lady Con- 
 stance, his duchess, eldest 
 daughter to don Pedro 
 the Crue., and indite let- 
 ters to him in such words 
 as these : That if ever he 
 wished to claim the king, 
 dom of Castille, and not 
 surrender his right, which 
 hnd been some time in 
 suspense and nearly lost, 
 novv^ was the time for fiim 
 to hasten to Portugal, well 
 accompanied by men-at- 
 arms and archers. 
 
 The count de Novaire,* 
 constable of Portugal, thus 
 spoke at the conference: 
 "Since we have deter- 
 mined to send to the duke 
 
 of Lancaster, frcr whom we hope to have counsel and assistance, and 
 it is the wisest measure we can take to make us feared by our ene- 
 mies, let us select the best informed and properest persons to carry our 
 message to England, so that the duke may be induced to come hither 
 with such a force as may enable him, with what he receives from 
 us, to oppose and conquer his enemy. We may well suppose the 
 king of Castille will call for aid from the king of France, and the 
 French, as they know not where to seek adventures, for there is 
 truce between France and England until St. John the Baptist's day, 
 and peace is now established between France and the Flemings, who 
 have found them full employment for several years past." 
 
 This speech of the constable was much applauded, and his advice 
 followed. It was then ordered that the grand-master of the order of 
 St. James, in the kingdom of Portugal, and Lawrence Fongasse, an 
 able and prudent squire, and who understood and spoke the French 
 language well, should set out for England ; for, according to the 
 opinion of the king's council, there could not be found abler men to 
 execute this business. Letters were drawn up in French and Latin, 
 addressed to the king of England, the duke of Lancaster, and his 
 nneles of Cambridge and Buckingham. When they had been fairly 
 engrossed, they were read to the king and his council, who, finding 
 them properly done, had them sealed and delivered to the envoys, 
 the grand.master of St. James and Lawrence Fongasse, who engaged 
 
 * NnoD Alvarez Pereira. He wrs created constable of Portugal by the master of 
 Avis, to wliom he rendf>red essential services, in aiding bim to obtain the crown. NuSo 
 Alvurez is celebrated in Portuguese history as the hero of bis time.— Ed. 
 
 to carry them to England, if God permitted, and if they should escape 
 from enemies and robbers ; for there are as manv. if not more, ontne 
 sea than on land. 
 
 Having freighted a vessel called a lin, which keeps nearer the wind 
 than any other, they took leave of the king, the bishop of Coimbra. 
 and the council of Portugal, and embarked for England. The wind 
 was favorable, and they were three days without seeing anything but 
 sky and water; on the fourth they discovered the land of Cornwall. 
 By God's aid, and favorable winds, from which their mariners knew 
 how to profit, they arrived in safety at Southampton, where they 
 anchored. When they disembarked, to refresh themselves in the 
 town, they were summoned before the bailiflT, who demanded whence 
 they came and whither they were going. On answering that they 
 were from Portugal, and sent by the king and his council, they were 
 made very welcome. After they had allowed themselves some rest, 
 they were provided with horses for their own use and that of their 
 attendants, and with guides to conduct them to London, for they were 
 quite ignorant of the country and roads. On leaving Southampton, 
 they continued their journey until they arrived in London, where 
 they dismounted in Gracechurch, at the hotel of the Falcon, kept by 
 Thomelin de Winchester, and then sent back their horses and guides 
 to Southampton 
 
 Fortunately for them, the king and his court were at the time at 
 Westminster, which rejoiced them much. Being arrived at London, 
 
 Embassadors or Portugal (the Grand Master of St. James and Lawrence Fongasse) presented to Richard II. by the Duke of LaacUtor. 
 
 Designed from contemporary sculptures and illuminations. 
 
 about nine o'clock they sat down to dinner ; when that was over, 
 having selected their letters for the duke and duchess of Lancaster, 
 they waited on them. The duke and duchess were desirous to see 
 them, as they were anxious for news from Portugal. They had in- 
 deed heard some rumors from that quarter, but had not believed 
 them, as they had not received any letters which tended to confirm 
 the report. The grand-master of St. James and Lawrence Fongasse, 
 were conducted into their presence, and the latter, on account of his 
 facility in the French language, was the spokesman. After his sa- 
 lutations, he gave the duke the letters he had brought from Porfugai, 
 who, opening them, gave the duchess that which was addressed to 
 her. Having each read them, the duke said, " You are welcome, 
 gentlemen, to this country : we will to-morrow attend the king, and 
 you shall have assistance, as it is but reasonable you should." The 
 duchess, takii;g Lawrence apart, asked the news of Castille and Por- 
 tugal, and what was going on in those parts. Lawrence, having 
 made exact answers to all the lady's questions, the duke ordered 
 wine and spices, of which the envoys partook, and then returned to 
 their hotel. On the morrow, by six o'clock, they again waited on 
 the duke, who had heard mass, and entering a large barge, rowed 
 up the Thames to Westminster, where the king and the greater part 
 of his council resided. 
 
 The duke of Lancaster made them enter the council-chamber; 
 and addressing the king, said, " My lord, here is the grand-mastcl 
 of St. James in Portugal, who brings you letters : will you please to 
 see them ?" " Willingly," replied tlie king. Upon whicld, the two 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN. «fec. 
 
 393 
 
 embassadors, kneeling, presented the letters, which the king having 
 taken, he made them rise, and then opened a\id read them. They 
 also gave letters to the earls of Cambridge and Buckingham. 
 
 The king replied very graciously to the embassadors, saying, 
 " Yon are welcome to this country, and your coming has given us 
 much pleasure. You will not immediately return, nor without hav- 
 ing letters to your satisfaction. Make my fair uncles acquainted 
 with your busii ess, who will attend to it, and not allow it to slip 
 their memories." They answered on their knees, " Very dear lord, 
 we will cheerfully so do." They then quitted the council-chamber, 
 and amused themselves in th^ palace, waiting for the duke of Lan- 
 caster, who remained in confe'-ence until high noon. When the 
 parliament rose, the duke carried his two brothers, with the embas- 
 sadors, in his barge to dine with him. The earl of Cambridge was 
 well acquainted with the grand-; laster and Lawrence Fongasse, as 
 be had known them in Portugal. After dinner he began a conver- 
 sation with them in the presence of his brothers, and asked about 
 the marriage of the lady Beatrice, who was to have been his daugh. 
 ter-in-law, and how she went on. The embassadors gave such 
 answers as satisfied the company. 
 
 Before the arrival of these embassadors, the duke of Lancaster 
 and carl of Cambridge had held frequent conferences respecting 
 Castillo ; for the earl, as you have heard, was greatly displeased with 
 the late king of Portugal, for having remained fifteen days with his 
 army in sight of that of Castillo without coming to an engagement. 
 The earl had pointedly remarked this fault, by saying, " I have only 
 with me, sir king, one hundred lances and a thousand archers; but 
 I would have rou and your barons know that we have unanimously 
 resolved to ris:: a batie with our enemies, and abide whatever be 
 the event God may please to ordain." King Ferdinand replied, 
 that neither hirrr^elf nor council thought it advisable to offer battle. 
 Upon this, the earl of Cambridge left the country, carrying his son 
 John with him to England.* When he was departed, the king of 
 Portugal offdred his daughter to the king of Castille, to strengthen 
 the peace, by the advice of don Fernando Audfere, in whom alone 
 he put confidence. The king of Portugal asked his daughter whom 
 she would prefer for her husband, the king of Castille or John of 
 Cambridge : she answered, " The last." The king demanded. 
 Why ?" " Because he is a handsome youth, of her own age, and 
 because she wished to avoid being united to the king of Castille," 
 who, she plainly said, was not to her liking. The king, notwith- 
 standing, to preserve peace, as their kingdoms adjoined each other, 
 married her to the king of Castille. 
 
 The earl of Cambridge was also much dissatisfied with don Fer- 
 nando Audere, who hud taken great pains to conclude a peace on 
 the grounds of this match. He had told his brother that he much 
 suspected the Portuguese would rebel against the lady Beatrice, 
 after her father's death ; for the majority of the people, although the 
 king had espoused the lady Eleanora d'Acunha, considered her as a 
 bastard; and, when he was there, great were the murmurs about it, 
 and this is one reason why he had so hastily brought his son thence. 
 The duke of Lancaster, whom these circumstances affected more 
 nearly, having married the old heiress of the late king of Castille, 
 by whom he had a daughter called Constance, was anxious to learn 
 as much as possible respecting the afLirs of Castille, and not suffer 
 his claim to remain longer in a state of suspense. He perceived 
 that he never could have a more convenient entrance into that country 
 than, through Portugal: more especially as king John was so desi- 
 rous tor hmi to come thither, and the king of England and his coun- 
 cil had consented thereto. He looked on don John as valiant and 
 wise, and honored him much for the victory he had won over the 
 Castillians. That he might gain more information as to the real 
 etate of Portugal, together with the claims the lady Beatrice had on 
 that crown, and the reasons why the commonalty had elected the 
 grand-master of Avis their king, he invited the embassadors to a 
 private dinner ; when it was over, he ordered all the attendants out 
 of his apartment, and called the grand-master of St. James and 
 Lawrence Fongasse most kindly to him, and began to converse on 
 the affairs of Portugal ; but, as Lawrence spoke French so fluently, 
 he addressed himself to him, saying, " Lawrence, I entreat you will 
 relate to me everything that has happened in Portugal since my 
 brother left it; for the king of Portugal writes me word, that no one 
 can give me such exact information as yourself ; and by so doing 
 you will very much oblige me." " My lord^" replied the squire, 
 " your pleasure shall be obeyed ;" and he immediately began to this 
 cfiect 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 LAWRENCE FONGASSE, ONE OF THE EMBASSADORS FROM PORTUGAL TO 
 ENGLAND, RELATES TO THE DUKE OF LANCASTER THE EVENTS WHICH 
 HAD HAPPXNED IN PORTUGAL SINCE THE EARL OF CAMBRIDGE HAD LEFT 
 IT. 
 
 " The kingdom of Portugal has been in great trouble since the 
 departure of the earl of Cambridge ; but, thanks to God, all has 
 turned out well, and affairs are now on a steady footing. If the Lord 
 had not interfered, matters must have ended badly, and all from the 
 
 fault ff don Fernando our last king, as was generally reported, and 
 believed by the more sensible part of the nation. King Fernando 
 fell desperately in love with the wife of one of his knights, called 
 Lorenzo d'Acunha, and was so much enan)ored he would have her 
 by force: the lady made the best defence she could, but at length 
 he succeeded, and told her he would make her queen of Portugal, 
 for that, if he was smitten with her charms, it was not to U)\ver her, 
 but on the contrary to exalt and marry her. ' Aig my lord 1' replied 
 the lady, with tears and on her knees, ' I beg your grace's pardon : 
 I can never have the honor of being queen of Portugal ; for you 
 know, as well as all the world, that I have a husband, to whom I 
 have been married these five years.' ' Leonora,' said the king, 
 ' that shall not prevent it ; for I will never have any other woman to 
 wife since I have enjoyed you ; but I will have you divorced from 
 your husband before I make you my bride.' The lady could not 
 obtain any other answer, and related all that had passed to her bus- 
 band. The knight on hearing it was very melancholy, and bethought 
 himself what was to be done ; he resolved at first never to quit his 
 wife ; but, suspecting the king's designs, he set out from Portugal 
 toward Castille, where he was well received by king Henry and ap- 
 pointed of his household, which appointment he held during his 
 life, and was continued in the same by his successor don John. 
 
 " The king of Portugal, to gratify his foolish passion, sent for the 
 lady and her husband ; but the knight was gone. He then sent for 
 the bishop of Coimbra, who was chancellor of the kingdom and of 
 his council, and told him of his intention of marrying Leonora 
 d'Acunha. The bishop was silent through fear, knowing the vio- 
 lence of the king's haughty temper ; but sir Fernando Auo^re, who 
 was the king's bosom fricjiid and counsellor, in order to please the 
 king, said, ' Bishop, you may very well do it, and my lord will make 
 atonement once for all.' The bishop united them, and they lived 
 together. This lady was crowned queen of Portugal, with as much 
 pomp and magnificence as ever queen of Portugal v/as ; and the 
 king begot on her the lady Beatrice, now queen of Spain. True it 
 is that king Fernando, in his lifetime (it was oefore the earl of Cam. 
 bridge came with his army to Portugal,) summoned ail the nobles, 
 prelates, principal citizens of his realm to Lisbon, and made them 
 all swear obedience to his daughter Beatrice, then only five yeara 
 old ; and pledge themselves that they would acknowledge her as 
 heiress of the kingdom after his decease. He made them take this 
 oath, as he had ordered, whether they would or not. The greater 
 part knew well his daughter was a bastard, and born in adultery; 
 for the husband of her mother, don Lorenzo d'Acunha, resided in 
 Castille, and has outlived the king of Portugal. 1 believe, my lord, 
 that, had this child been a boy, the commonalty would have oeen 
 mjre inclined toward him ; for they declare they would rather die 
 than live under subjection to Castille : Portugal and Castille can 
 never be thoroughly united, for the natives of both countries hate 
 each other, and carry on their wars with as much bitterness as the 
 English and Scots." 
 
 7'he duke of Lancaster was much delighted with this conversa. 
 tion, and with Lawrence Fongassc's manner. He said, " Lawrence, 
 at the time you were talking of, where was don John, the present 
 king ?" " By my faith, my lord," answered the squire, '* he was in 
 Portugal, at the head of a noble establishment of gentlemen, who 
 bear an order of chivalry from beyond sea. There are full tvvohun- 
 dred knights of this order, who are dressed in white mantles with a 
 red cross on them ; he is the chief, and called the mastei of Avis. 
 The king gave him this appointment, but thought nothing more 
 about him ; nor, indeed, did he any way concern himself, or inter- 
 meddle with the affairs of Portugal, nor ever form any intrigues for 
 the crown. Certainly, had the king guessed that he could have been 
 what he is now, the love he bore lady Lenora and her daughter would 
 have made him put him privately to death : but, seeing him live 
 quietly with his brother knights, without interfering in anything else, 
 he suffered him to go on without interruption. 
 
 *' With regard to the quarrel between the Castillians and Portu. 
 guese, if I say the truth, I must own the Castiiiians have alone been 
 to blame." *' How so ?" asked the duke. " I will tell you," replied 
 the squire. " When they saw the king of Portugal give his c^aughter 
 in marriage to the king of Castille, it seemed to them as if he had 
 done so by way of buying a peace for them, and that we were afraid 
 of them. Upon this they grew proud and arrogant, and made use 
 of such speeches as follow, which the Portuguese were forced to 
 hear : ' Oh now, ye Portuguese, who are as savage as beasts, the 
 time is coming when we shall have a good bargain of ye, for ye are 
 our slaves. We will treat you like Jews, who only exist by our hav. 
 ing granted them a truce, and ye shall be like them subjected to us. 
 This ye cannot deny, since our king of Castille will become yours 
 also.' With such like speeches did the Castillians show their rancor, 
 whenever any of the two nations met, during the reign of don Fer. 
 nando ; and this caused so great a hatred of the Portuguese to the 
 Castillians, that when our king lay at the point of death, the citizens 
 of the principal towns murmured much, and said, ' It were better to 
 suffer anything than be under the subjection '/f Castille.' 
 
 " After the death of Fernando,* who was buried in the church of 
 St. Francis, by the religious of that order in Lisbon, the chief towns 
 and castles had closed their gates. The Lisboners, being acquainted 
 
 * In October, 1383 —Ed. 
 
 * i]e died 22ud Oct. 1283.-£s. 
 
394 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &e. 
 
 with the intentions of the other three towns, Coimbra, Oporto, and 
 Ourique, sent for don John, the present king, and said to him, ' Mas. 
 ler of Avis, we will make you our king, although you be a bastard : 
 we think the lady Beatrice, your niece, and queen of Castille, is more 
 of a bastard than you ; for the first husband of the lady Leonora is 
 now living. Since the crown is fallen between two bastards, we 
 will choose the one who will be to our greatest advantage : the more 
 sensible part of the nation is inclined to you ; for never shall a wo. 
 man bear the crown of Portugal, nor will we ever be under the obe. 
 dience of Castille. We had rather give up all to you, that you may 
 defend us, than have the Castillians our masters. Accept, therefore, 
 this crown as our gift, for we will have it so.' The master of Avis did 
 not, however, accept it at this, nor at a second offer ; but replied, 
 
 * My good people, I know well your affection for me : you offer me 
 the crown and realm of Portugal — a noble offer — by declaring T have 
 a better right to it than my niece Beatrice the queen of Castille; in 
 truth she is a bastard, the mother's first husband being now in Cas- 
 tille ; but there is one point you have forgotten, which is, that you 
 alone cannot act in this matter : it is necessary that the nobles of the 
 kingdom join you.' ' Ha,' said the Lisboners, ' we are sure of them : 
 for several have opened to us their n.inds on this subject, as well in 
 this city, as in those of Coimbra, Oporto, and Ourique.' Don John 
 replied, ' Well, be it so, then ; I am willing to comply with your de- 
 sires. You know that the lady Leonora, who styles herself queen ot 
 this country, is in the town, and with her grand adviser, don Fer- 
 nando Audere, who will want to preserve the crown for the queen of 
 Castille and her descendants ; for he broke off the mamage with the 
 Bon of the earl of Cambridge, to give her to the king of Castille, and 
 patch up a peace. He will send, or perhaps has already done so, to 
 the king of Castille, to hasten hither with a sufficient force to over- 
 power us. I know that don Fernando has in part acted as I say, 
 and he will still more exert himself on the day of the obsequies ol 
 my late king and brother, which will shortly be performed in this 
 town, when all the nobility of the kingdom, unless they send excuses, 
 must be assembled.' Those present answered, that he did not sur 
 prise them by what he had said, for they well knew it was so ; but, 
 Bhould they hear don Fernando say anything contrary to his interest, 
 they would that day provide a remedy against it. Upon this the 
 meeting broke up. 
 
 " Not long after, the obsequies of the late king were performed in 
 the church of the Franciscans at Lisbon, where he lies, and the cere, 
 mony was attended by great numbers of the nobility, according to 
 the invitations they had received from the queen, and don Fernando 
 Audere who governed her. The grand-master of Avis was present, 
 and many from the towns of Coimbra, Oporto, and Ourique, who 
 had assented to what had been proposed at Lisbon. When the cere, 
 mony was over, don Fernando Audere entreated the nobility, who 
 had assisted in behalf of the queen, not to leave Lisbon for a day or 
 two, that he might have a conference with them, on the means he 
 should use to send to king John of Castille, as his queen was now 
 become his legal heiress of Portugal. Many of the nobles paid no 
 attention to what he said ; for they were afraid of the people then 
 present, as they had heard them declare they would only have the 
 master of Avis for their monamh ; and this likewise was heard by 
 don Fernando. He begged the nobles to support him steadily in his 
 allcmpts to bring the people to his way of thinking ; but they all left 
 him. \s soon as the funeral was ended and the queen had returned 
 to her palace, they called for their horses, which the majority mounted, 
 and set out from Lisbon. Some few attached to the grand-master 
 might remain, but they retired to their houses, and kept within, ex. 
 pectiiig the event to happen which I am about to relate. 
 
 " The citizens of Lisbon, Coimbra, Ourique, and Oporto, after the 
 funeral, went to the cathedral, which is dedicated to St. Donjinick, 
 instead of going to their homes, and the grand-master with them, 
 where they held a short conference. ' My good people,' said don 
 John, • If you wish to have me for your king, which I think my just 
 right, and are resolved to persevere in it, you must now bestir your- 
 selves, and begin by acting to show your strength. You have seen 
 how Fernando Audere is working on (he nobles to send for the king 
 of Castille, to whom he says the crown of Portugal now belongs in 
 right of my niece ; but I maintain that it shall, if you assist me, be 
 mine ; for J have a much better claim to it in every way. I am a 
 man, and the son of the good don Pedro who so gallantly reigned 
 over you. My niece, the queen of Castille, it is true, is daughter to 
 don Ferdinand, but not in legal marriage.' The Lisboners replied, 
 ' What you say is true : we will have you for our king ; no one else ; 
 and we will make you such, let who will urge us to the contrary. 
 Now, swear before us that yon will be good and merciful, and main- 
 tain strict justice, without flattering the strong more than the weak ; 
 and that you will defend, wilh heart and hand, in conjunction with 
 OUT aid, the rights and privileges of Portugal.' The king replied, 
 
 * My good people, I now heartily swear to follow what you have 
 said ; but let us hasten to the mint, where John Fernando Audere 
 resides with Leonora d'Acunha; for I must have him put to death, 
 as he has acted contrary to our interests, in supporting the claims of 
 others than those you wish well to.' ' We will do so,' they answered ; 
 
 * for in truth he has behaved to you like a rebel, and shall die for it, 
 that those who are your enemies may take example.' 
 
 " On Baying this, the Lisboners left the church of St. Dominick, 
 
 in the whole about fifteen hundred, headed by their new king, and 
 marched through the town toward the mint, where the queen and 
 Fernando Audere, with their attendants, lived. On their arrival, 
 they broke open the doors, and entered the lady's apartment by force 
 Leonora, much alarmed on seeing this crowd enter her chamber, 
 threw herself on her knees before don John, and with uplifted hands 
 begged his mercy for that she was not guilty of any misdeeds ; and, as 
 for the crown oi inheritance of Portugal, she had never made any 
 claim to them, as many present knew, if they would be pleased to 
 remember. ' 1 entreat, therefore, you and all the company to recol. 
 lect, that it was contrary to my will and wish that don Ferdinand 
 exalted me to be his wife and queen of Portugal.' ' Lady,' replied 
 don John, ' fear nothing, for not the least harm shall be done you : 
 we are not come hither with such intent, but to seek that traitor John 
 Fernando Audere, and put him to death ; and then the king of Cas 
 tille may revenge it if he can, for he has been his advocate too long 
 in this country.' Those who had been ordered to do so sought the 
 knight, whom they discovered and slew : after this, no person was 
 injuied; but they all returned peaceably to their homes, and the kin^ 
 retired to the palace. 
 
 "After the death of Fernando, the lady Leonora, who had been 
 queen of Portugal, was desirous of quilting Lisbon and retiring to 
 her daughter in Castille ; for she had been so much alarmed by the 
 murder of Fernando, that she had almost died through fear. She 
 would not therefore remain longer in Lisbon, where she had neither 
 peace nor respect, but sent to ask leave of the king to depart, who 
 readily granted her request, adding, she vv^as in the right to go away. 
 The lady set off with her attendants, and continued her journey until 
 she came to Seville, where the king and queen of Spain resided. 
 She found almost all the nobility of Spain assembled there in Parlia. 
 ment, on the subject of Portugal : for king John declared that king- 
 dom was now fallen to him by the death of don Ferdinand, who had 
 so settled it when he married the lady Beatrice ; and, the slates of 
 the country having likewise agreed to it, he wanted their advice how 
 to act. 
 
 " The lady Leonora was received with joy by the king and her 
 daughter, and many inquiries were made relative to what was pass, 
 ing in Portugal. She t«>ld theni truly everything she knew, and 
 added, that the people would assuredly crown the master of Avis 
 king, if not prevented ; for that, don Fernando Audere having been 
 always a zealous friend to the rights of Castille, they had murdered 
 him. They readily believed what she said, as every appearance 
 testified its truth. *^onie knights and barons of Portugal, from affec. 
 tion to the daughter of their late king, and to keep the solemn en 
 gagements they had entered into at her marriage, quitted their country, 
 and joined the king of Castille at Seville, leaving behind their wealth 
 and properties. Among them were, don Pedro Alvarez Pereyra, 
 grand prior of St. John, don Henriquez Manuel, count of Cintra, Juan 
 Texeda, chancellor to the queen, and about twenty more, which 
 emigration at this time greatly weakened Portugal, and much pleased 
 the king of Spain, who was strengthened thereby. 
 
 " The king of Spain issued a special summons throughout his realm 
 for all persons capable of bearing arms, from the ages of fifteen to 
 sixty, to hasten to Seville , for he was determined to enter Portugal 
 with a force sufficient to conquer it and make it his own. His c^m- 
 mands were obeyed ; and there were assembled before Seville up. 
 ward of sixty thousand men of every description. Lorenzo d'Acunha, 
 on hearing that his wife, whom the late king of Portugal had ravished 
 from him and made his queen, was arrived in Castille, waited on some 
 of the king's council by whom he was beloved, and asked their ad. 
 vice in the following terms : ' My lords and assured friends, have I 
 any means to obtain possession of my wife, who has left Portugal 
 and is now in Seville ? I know that Ferdinand took her by force, 
 and against her inclinations. He is, as you know, dead ; and in 
 justice, therefore, I ought to have back my wife ; tell me, then, how 
 I should act.' They replied, 'Lorenzo, there is not any chance of 
 your ever having her again ; for you would risk too much, and debase 
 the honor of the lady, as well as that of the queen of Castille, and 
 establish her bastardy. You see that our king is determined to con- 
 quer Portugal, and add it to his crown, as appertaining to him in 
 right of his queen. Take care not to muddle more by your claims 
 what is already troubled enough, for you will be put to death it you 
 persevere. You may judge yourself what may be expected, if you 
 prove the queen a bastard, which we maintain in this country to be 
 false, and that she was born in legal marriage by a dispensation in 
 due form from the pope.' ' What had I best do, then ?' said Lorenzo. 
 ' The best way for you to act is to set out ip'--tantly for your estate in 
 Portugal, and leave the lady Leonora with her daughter; we see no 
 other means of safety for you.' * On my troth, I believe you advise 
 me like real friends,' answered Lorenzo. He only staid three days 
 after this conversation in Castille, and having secretly packed up all 
 his things, rode off in. haste to Portugal, where he waited on the 
 master of Avis, saying he was coming to serve under him, for he 
 acknowledged him his king. Don John was rejoiced at this, made 
 him governor of Lisbon, and restored to him all his property. Thus, 
 as I have related to you, my lord, was the fortune of Lorenzo d'Acunha 
 
 restored to him." 
 
 The duke of Lancaster took great pleasure in this conversation 
 with Lawrence Fongass©n for he spoke French well, and the matter 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPATN, fee. 
 
 S95 
 
 concerned him nearly. He was anxious to learn as much as possi- 
 ble, and, with great kindness, said : " Lawrence, speak out boldly : 
 I have not these two years heard any foreigner so explicit, and all 
 you say appears truth itself. Continue, therefore, I beg of you ; for 
 the king of Portugal writes me word, you are the only person who 
 can give me tha fullest information of what has happened in that 
 country." " M/ lord," returned the squire, " there have been few 
 deeds of arms d.;ne in Castille and Portugal, but on occasions when 
 I have been an t ctjr in them ; and, since it pleases you that I con- 
 linue my narration, I will do so. 
 
 " King John of Castille assembled his forces as speedily as he 
 could, and marched with a great power before Lisbon, prior to the 
 coronation of the king, in order to alarm the inhabitants and make 
 good his claim to the kingdom. He advanced to Santarem, which 
 is on the borders, and halted t;;ere two days. The garrison and 
 townsmen, alarmed at his numbers, opened their gates, and surren- 
 dered themselves to him. When he had taken possession and re- 
 garrisoned the place, he marched to Leyria,* which is a very strong 
 town, and surrounded it. Leyria was attached to the Spanish inte- 
 rest, for the town formed part of queen Leonora's dower; and, at 
 the first attack of the king of Castille, it instantly surrendered. 
 Having left there a strong body of men-at-arms, he advanced to Va- 
 lenza d'Alcantara, and laid siege to it. He sent to tell the townsmen 
 to humble themselves before him and receive him as their lord. The 
 citizsas replied, by advising him to march away to Lisbon, adding, 
 that as soon as they should know he had gained that town by affec- 
 tion or force, they would send him the keys of Valenza. This answer 
 being agreeable to the king of Spain, he marched away. Another 
 town called Se. pa, which the king wished to gain, made a similar 
 answer. Other towns did the same, so that he took the road to Lis- 
 bon ; for he imajined, if he could conquer that city, he would soon 
 master the remainder of the country. Wherever the king marched, 
 he carried his queen with him, to show the Portuguese that it was 
 in her right he claimed the crown, and that he had a just cause for 
 so doing. Don John of Castille arrived with his whole army before 
 Lisbon, and by his manner of forming the siege plainly showed he 
 would not break it up until he had it in his power. He menaced 
 the master of Avis, who was within the town, that if he could take 
 him, he would put him and all the other rebels to an ignominious 
 death. 
 
 " The army of don John was very numerous; and the Castillians 
 and the French, who had come to his assistance, had so closely sur- 
 rounded Lisbon, that no one could come out or go in without danger 
 of being taken. When any Portuguese were made prisoners by the 
 Castilli:ins in a skirmish or otherwise, their eyes were torn out, their 
 legs, arms, or other members were cut off. and in such maimed state 
 they were sent back to Lisbon, and bid tell their townsfolk that they 
 had been so treated in despite of the Lisboners and their master of 
 Avis, whom they were so eager to crown king ; and that they would 
 keep the siege until they had vv^on the town by storm or famine, 
 when they would show mercy to none, but put all to death, and give 
 up the city to fire and flame. The Lisboners, however, did not re- 
 venge them-v-'lves so cruelly ; for, whenever they made any prisoners, 
 their king affjrded them every comfort, and did not send them back 
 with hurt of any sort. They made many of the army say, he was a 
 gallant fellow thus to return good for evil. 
 
 During this siege of Lisbon, which lasted upward of a year, there j 
 were every week two or more skirmishes, in which many were killed | 
 and wounded on both sides. The t^wn was besieged by sea as well 
 as by land; and the besiegers had plenty of all things, for provisions 
 came to them from different parts of Spain. The Spaniards made 
 one course up tj the very gates of Lisbon ; when Lorenzo d'Acunha 
 Ballied forth out of the barriers with his pennon, having the arms of 
 Acunha borne before him, accompanied by many gallant friends, and 
 excellent deeds of arms were then done with lance and dart." } 
 " By my faith, Lawrence," said the duke of Lancaster, •« of all 
 the arms the Castillians and your countrymen use, I love the dart the i 
 oest, and like to see it used : they are very expert at it ; and I must 
 eay, that whoever they hit with it, unless strongly armed, he will be 
 pierced through." " Indeed, my lord, you say truly : for I saw more 
 bodies transfixed at these assaults than I ever witnessed before in my [ 
 life. We lost one whom we much regretted. Lorenzo d'Acunha 
 was struck with a dart that passed through his plates, his coat of 
 mail, and jacket, though stuffed with silk, and his whole body, so 
 that he was felled to the ground. The skirmish ceased on account 
 of the dead knight ; and thus was the lady Leonora made a widow, 
 in one year, of both her husbands. Lorenzo d'Acunha was much 
 lamented, my lord, for he was valiant in arms, and prudent in coun- 
 cil. After his death, his cousin, called la Pouvasse d'Acunha, was 
 appointed governor of Lisbon. He made three or four sallies on the 
 Spaniards, in which he was victorious. 
 
 " The siege of Lisbon was continued to the great dismay of the 
 inhabitants ; for no succor seemed to come to them from any quarter. 
 
 * *' Leyria." Froissart calls it Tiiy ; but Tuy is a town of Spain, on the opposite side 
 of the river Minho to Valencia. There must be some mistakes ; for the king of Spain, 
 on le;ivi\;r Seville, marclies to besiesre Lisbon. He comes to Santarem ; so far is well ; 
 but from thence he turns off to Leyria and Vulenza d'Alcantara ; and, when the battle 
 of iMjubarota takes place, the Portuguese march fronj Guimareans to combat the 
 Syiuiiards. 
 
 When their hopes began to fail of help from England, the king was 
 advised to embark for that country, as their embassadors had brought 
 intelligence thence that assistance would be sent; and that youi 
 grace would bring reinforcements." " In God's name, that is very 
 true," replied the duke of Lancaster; "for I was on the point of 
 sailing, having everything prepared, when the war in P'landers broke 
 out. The men of Ghent called on England f;ir aid ; and they had 
 given to them all, or at least the greater part, of those troops which 
 I was to have led into Portugal. The bishop of Norwich carried 
 them with him beyond sea, and thus retarded the expedition to Por- 
 tugal." " I vow to God, my lord," said the squire, " we in Lisbon 
 thought that there had something happened in England to prevent 
 your coming to us. We managed, however, as well as we could, 
 and bore up against the power of the king of Castille, which was 
 not small ; for he has upward of sixty thousand men on sea and land, 
 and menaced daily to destroy us without mercy, and burn Lisbon to 
 the ground. During this siege of Lisbon, a lord of our country, 
 called d'Acosta, did us a noble piece of service, and gained by it 
 great renown. He freighted and armed twenty galleys at Oporto 
 with good men-at-arms and provision, with which he put to sea, and 
 by the grace of God, having a favorable wind to second their exer- 
 tions, passed through the Spanish fleet, consisting of one hundred 
 great vessels, that were lying at anchor before Lisbon, so opportunely 
 that, whether they would or not, he arrived in the port with all his 
 galleys unhurt, carrying with him four of the enemy's vessels which 
 he had conquered. The inhabitants were very much rcjciced at the 
 success and the arrival of the lord d'Acosta." 
 
 " By my faith," said the duke, " this lord d'Acosta did you indeed 
 a great service. Now, Lawrence, relate to me how this siege was 
 raised, for I am well satisfied with your conversation." " My lord," 
 replied the squire, " the siege lasted, as I have said, upv/crd of a 
 year, for the king of Castille had sworn he would never break it up 
 until Lisbon were under his obedience, or until some more powerful 
 prince should force him to it. Considering whr.t happened, the king 
 of Castille religiously kept his vow of not breaking up the siege, un- 
 less forced to it by a more powerful lord, as I will explain. A most 
 destructive pestilence burst out in his army, so that persons died sud- 
 denly while in conversation with each ether. Upward of twenty 
 thousand were carried off by this plague ; which so much alarmed 
 the king, that he was advised to break up the siege, and retire to 
 Santarem or elsewhere, and disband his army until the disorder should 
 be checked. He consented to this very unwillingly; for he had 
 solemnly sworn he would never leave the place until he had won it 
 by fair or foul means ; but he was forced to it by the principal lords 
 in his army, who pressed him to march to Santarem. 
 
 " My lord, we Portuguese have always thought, and have publicly 
 said, that the Almighty, to affjrd us assistance, had, out of his grace, 
 sent this pestilence among our enemies ; for those in the city wherein 
 we were inclosed never felt the smallest attack from any such sick- 
 ness, nor did we lose a man. Our king, when he saw the Castillians 
 marching away, made the townsmen and garrison of Lisbon arm, 
 and sallying out on horseback, fell on the rear of those who were 
 not in good array, broke their ranks, killed and wounded great num- 
 bers, and captured many of their stores. He rlso issued a proclama- 
 tion, that no one, under pain of death, should touch or carry into 
 Lisbon any of the provisions the Spaniards had left in their camp, but 
 that everything should be burnt, that the t nvn might not be infected. 
 All the provisions and stores were given up to the flames; but, I be. 
 lieve, wherever any money and plate were found, better care was 
 taken of them. 
 
 " The king of Castille, on his arrival at Santarem, which is on the 
 borders of his realm, remained there for some time. He made the 
 most earnest sfJicitations to France for succor, but mere particularly 
 to Gascony, B6arn, and the county of Foix, whither he sent three 
 horses laden with nobles of Castille and flo'ins, as an advance to 
 knights and squires, for he well knew he could not by any other 
 means induce them to quit their castles or country. The courage of 
 the barons and knights of Portugal wa3 much exalted when they 
 found the king of Castille had retired from Lisbon, which he had be- 
 sieged for upward of a year,* but more especially the commonalties 
 of Oporto, Ourique, and Coimbra. They took counsel together, and 
 instantly determined to crown the master of Avis king ; for they had, 
 through their love and good pleasure, already raised him to that honor, 
 saying it was the common wish of the country, and that God v/ould 
 that he should be crowned, for he had displayed his virtues to the Cas. 
 tiUians. It was proclaimed throughout the country, that all interested 
 should be at Coimbra on a certain day, when the master of Avis 
 would be solemnly crowned king of Portugal. All those of his party, 
 and, considering the size of the country, it was a numerous body, 
 attended the coronation, which was performed by the bisheps and 
 prelates with great pomp, in the cathedral church of Coimbra, dedi. 
 cated to St. Mary, on Trinity-day, in the year of grace 1384.t The 
 king on that day created sixty knights, as well of his own as from 
 foreign countries. There were magnificent festivals at Coimbra, 
 which lasted for two or three days. The barons, counts, knights, 
 and squires, who held fiefs«l)f the crown, renewed their homage ; 
 
 * It (lid not continue more than nine months. It was raised in the month of Moven 
 ber of the same year in which it was begun.— Ed. 
 t6th AprU,1385.-ED. 
 
S9G 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND. FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 and the king swore to g-overn the realm with justice, and to maintain | 
 all iht «• rights. The people swore to obey faithfully the king and ■ 
 his heirs after him, whether male or female, and never to desert him 
 until death. Thus passed the coronation of the king of Portugal. 
 
 " The ki/ig of Custille, on hearing that the Portuguese, and par- 
 ticularly the commons, had crowned the master of Avis king, and 
 had sworn to him homage and fidelity, was more pensive than be. 
 foro ; for he did not imagine they would have been in such haste to 
 crown him, as he had in his army so many of the nobles of Portugal. 
 He said to those near him, 'I see cle irly that by fair or foul means I 
 must conquer what is my own, if I wish to possess it; for there never 
 will be any peace between Castille and Portugal until the Portuguese 
 have made amends for what they have done.' 
 
 *' After the coronation, the king went to Lisbon, where he re- 
 mained, and attended diligently to the affairs of the kingdom, at the 
 same time endeavoring to acquire the affeotion of his subjects. He 
 «ent knights and squires to all his garrisons on the frontiers of Spain, 
 for the king of Castille was now returned to Seville. The king of 
 Portugal ordered sir John Ferdinand Portelet, an able and valiant 
 knight, full of enterprise, to Treutouse*, and with him two excellent 
 knights, sir Vasco Martin d'Acunha, and his brother, sir Gil Vasco 
 d'Acunha, and two hundred good men at-arms well mounted. Sir 
 John de Pereira was sent with fifty lances to the castle of Leyria, 
 near Aljubarota ; sir John Gomez da Silva, to Valen9a, which is op- 
 posite to the town of Tuy ; this place had turned to the Spaniards 
 when they marched to Lisbon, and it was a numerous garrison of 
 Castillians and French. Sir Mondech Radigo was ordered to Serpa 
 with fifty spears : to Oporto, Coimbra, and Ourique, the king sent 
 none, for he knew the loyalty and attachment of those cities to his 
 cause. Thus, as I tell you, were all the strong places garrisoned, 
 and there were frequent skirmishes with one or the other; in which, 
 as must happen, sometimes one side gained, sometimes another. 
 There was, in particular, one celebrated skirmish between the gar- 
 rison of Trancoso and the Castillians." 
 
 " -Akh, Lawrence," interrupted the duke, "do not pass this over 
 !«lightly, but tell me all the particulars ; for my greatest delight is the 
 hearing of gallant deeds of arms." " My lord," replied the squire, 
 "it is but right I should do so; for I well remember everything that 
 happened, as I was banner-bearer on that day to John I'erdinand de 
 Portelet, governor of Trancoso, who began the skirmish. 
 
 " You must know, my lord, that the king of Castille had placed 
 good garrisons in all his towns on the frontier, who, by collecting at 
 times together in one body, overran and nmch harassed the country. 
 It happened that seven Spanish captains, of high birth and valor, as- 
 sembled a body of three hundred lances, well mounted, with which 
 they entered Portugal, and made a great booty of pillage and prisoners. 
 They might have returned into Castille had they pleased, but their 
 pride and presumption urged them to boast they would see what the 
 garrison of Treutouse was made of. The who'e country fled before 
 them, so that the governor was apprised of the invasion. He called 
 for his arms, on hearing the enemy were in the plain, and had his 
 trumpet sounded to alarm the knights in the town. All armed in 
 haste, and, mounting their steeds, sallied out of their place, when, on 
 mustering themselve^!, they amounted to full two hundred spears. 
 They drew up in good array, and showed plainly they were in earnest 
 to nioct their enemies. Oa demanding from the runaways, who were 
 hastening to save themselves in Trancoso, where the Castillians might 
 be found, they answered, not far off ; as they were only marching at 
 a foot's pace, on account of the quantity of booty they had with them. 
 Sir John Ferdinand Portelet was rejoiced on hearing this, and said 
 to his companijns, the brothers d'Acunha; ' My lords, let us advance, 
 I beg of you ; for I will never enter town or castle until I have seen i 
 our enemies, to offer them battle ; and by every means attempt to 
 recover the pillage and the prisoners they are carrying away.' He 
 then added, 'Lawrence, display my banner; for we shall speedily 
 come up with the enemy.' I instantly obeyed this order; and, as 
 we rode on at a good pace, we soon saw the dust the Castillians 
 made. We took advantage of the sun being in our back, and over- 
 took them. 
 
 " The enemy, perceiving us, halted and drew up in good array, 
 placing their prisoners and plunder on one side. We were so near 
 each other, that we could speak to them, and noticed three banners 
 and four pennons ; and we judged they were full three hundred, all 
 well mounted. I vvill tell you the names of the captains: there were 
 Bir Juan Rodriguez, de Castmheda, a baron of Castille, sir Alvaro 
 Garcia de Albornoz, sir Adiantado de Toledo, Pedro Soaiez de 
 Toledo, Adiantado de Cagorla, Juan Rodriguez Pereira, and Diego 
 Eanes de Tavora. 
 
 " When we were thus near to each other, both parties dismounted, 
 and the horses were given to the pages and varlets ; but before any 
 blow was struck, there was a parley held by the leaders of each troop; 
 and, being present, I heard everything that was said. Sir John 
 Portelet began by asking them why they had thus invaded Portugal? 
 Sir Adiantado de Toledo replied, that they had a right to invade any 
 country they chose, to chastise rebels ; Jjpr they had been commanded 
 by their lord, the king of Castille, who was the true lord of Portugal, 
 to enter that country, and plunder it; and, the inhabitants being 
 
 *" Treutouse." It hihua in all my copies. MS. and printed; but I cannot correct the 
 aikUke otbtrwiie than bjr supposing it to mean £sUrea>oF< 
 
 reb*il3, they were carrying them away as prisoners. ' You shall not 
 carry them away nor their property neitlier,' said sir John Portelet ; 
 * for we will take them from you, as you have not any right thus to 
 act. Do you not know that we have a king of our own, who has 
 sworn to govern justly, and punish all thieves and robbers ? I there- 
 fore order you in his name, to lay down all that you have pillaged in 
 Portugal, or else we shall fight with you, having justice on our side.' 
 Sir Adiantado de Toledo answered; 'As for our prisoners, we will 
 not for certain yield them up ; but in regard to other matters, we will 
 consider of it.' 
 
 " The Castillian chiefs then withdrew to hold a consultation, and 
 plainly showed, by what followed, that, although they had thus vaunt- 
 ingly advanced to Trancoso, they readily would have been excused 
 a battle. After a short delay, they said that in regard to the cattle, 
 they had determined to give them up, as well as the horses, and other 
 things which would embarrass them on their return, but that they 
 would keep the prisoners. 'Oh, but,' replied the Portuguese, 'it 
 shall not be so : for you must give up all, or fight.' The battle upon 
 this, commenced very sharpiv, for neither party spared itself : they 
 were both active, and the field of battle was extensive. Javelins 
 were thrown with such force, that whoever they struck, unless well 
 armed, was knocked down. Many gallant deeds were done ; and sir 
 John Fernando Portelet made good use of his battle-axe, as did the 
 two brothers d'Acunha mak^^ great havoc with theirs. The Castil. 
 lians, on their part, behaved admirably ; and their fighting and push, 
 ing lasted upward of three hours, without either side being shaken. 
 It was wonderful how they could remain so long a time under arms, 
 but their anxiety to leave the field with honor supported them; and 
 I must say, that both nations are hardy in fight, more particularly 
 when they feel the necessity of it. They were so long and so equally 
 engaged, that any one who had seen them would not have known 
 which side would b."" victor. However, thanks to God, no banner 
 nor pennon was damaged in our army ; but those of our adversaries 
 began to give way, which greatly encouraged our men, who were 
 n.ow as fresh as ever, and, shouting out ' St. George for Portugal !• 
 broke through the ranks of the Castillians, and began to knock down 
 on all sides. Such deadly strokes were given with battle-axes and 
 leaden mallets, that they were completely defeated. The pages, 
 seeing the discomfiture of their masters, took advantage of their horses 
 and galloped oflT. Of the seven capt dns only one escaped, and he 
 was indebted for it to his good pnge, who, perceiving him hard 
 pressed, brought him a horse, and, having mounted him, led him out 
 of the battle, so that Adiantado de Ca^orla that day received a most 
 essential service from his page. All the rest were put to death, for 
 quarter was shown to none. Thus were the Castillians defeated by 
 sir John Fernando Portelet, though there were at least two to one 
 more in numbers, on a Wednesday, in the month of October, near the 
 town of Trancoso, in the year of our Lord 1384. 
 
 " When all was over, and the field clear, our men niounted their 
 horses, and gave liberty to all whom the Castillians had captured ; 
 they also allowed them to carry away as much of the plunder as they 
 pleased ; but the cattle, which amounted to more than eight hundred, 
 were driven to the town, as a supply for the garrison. On reenter- 
 ing Trancosa we were received with so much joy, thnt the inhabit- 
 ants could not make too much of us, for having freed the country of 
 its enemies. All who had heard of this battle praised us most highly 
 for our valor. 
 
 " We had another successful engagement in the plains of Seville : 
 but I will first relate the most brillinnt success that has for these two 
 hundred years ever happened to a king of Portugal, and which our 
 king had about four months ago, when the enemy were upward of 
 four to one, all of them excellent men-at-arms and of high renown, 
 which makes our victory the more glorious. But I fancy, my lord, 
 you have heard enough of this battle before ; and, being now suffi. 
 ciently tired I had better end the conversation." " Oh, by no means," 
 replied the duke : " continue your narrative, for I shall cheerfully 
 listen to you. In truth, I have in my household a herald called Derby, 
 who was, as he says, present at this battle, and tells us that our 
 countrymen performed wonders ; but I doubt it much, for I cannot 
 conceive that any numbers couM have been there, as my brotljer 
 Cambridge, when he left Portugal, brought back all the English and 
 Gascons which had accompanied him. There are many heralds 
 such liars, they exaggerate or depreciate according to their affections 
 or dislikes ; and, since these boasted exploit> cannot have been for. 
 gotten, I shall thank you to be particular about them, whenever you 
 speak of that part of the battle." " On m} trnth." answered Law. 
 rence, ** there were not with our king, at the battlr' of Aljubarota, 
 more than two hundred foreigners, including English, Gascons, and 
 Germans. The ablest captains among them Mere two Gascons and 
 a German from the Duchy of Gueldres, whose names were, sit Wil. 
 liam de Montferrand, and Bernardon, Gascons, and Albert the Ger- 
 man. There were a few English archers : but I never heard any 
 name of note except of two squires, Northbury and Hartsel, wh'* 
 assisted at the council whenever the king had it assembled." 
 
 " Now relate to me how this famous battle was fought," said the 
 duke. "Willingly," replied the squire, "for it was for this I was 
 sent hither. I have already told you, that before the coronation of 
 our king at Coimbra, the king of Castille had raised the siege of Lis. 
 bon, on account of the great mortality in his army, and had rctirc4 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 N D, FRANCE, SPAIN, & c. 
 
 39? 
 
 to Santarein. He was greatly mortified when he heard of the coro- 
 nati )n of king John, in opposition to his claim on Portugal in right 
 of his queen, and was advised to send everywhere for men-at-arms, 
 especially to France, as the French had before been their allies in 
 the wars of his father the late king. His council said ; My lord, you 
 only want one successful battle over the Portuguese to have them 
 under your subjection ; for that kingdom is, as you know, much 
 divided in regard to the person to whom the crown belongs. You 
 have now with you its principal nobles, who have acknowledged 
 your right, which is assuredly of great importance to your war. If 
 you march to combat this bustard of Portugal, whom the commonalty 
 have crowned king, before he be reinforced by the English you will 
 conquer him, and t»ie country be your own ; for it is not of that ex- 
 tent but we can soon overrun it. The king of Castille sent envoys 
 to France, Poitou, Brittany, Normandy and many other places where 
 he thought it probable men-at-arms would come to serve him, but 
 more particularly into Bearn, whence indeed numbers of gallant 
 knights and squires did come. From that country there were more 
 than from any other; and the army amounted, when at Santarem, to 
 upward of seven hundred lances and thirty thousand Spaniards, all 
 well mounted, and eager to do us mischief. 
 
 " News was soon carried to Portugal of the great power the king 
 of Castille had collected, and that he intended to renew again the 
 siege of Lisbon. The king held a council to consider how he should 
 act, Vv'hen the nobles declared for marching to meet their enemies, 
 and not shutting themselves up in any town of the kingdom ; for if 
 they were inclosed, they must remain so, and the Castillians in the 
 mean time would overrun the country at their ease, and in the end 
 starve them into submission. But if they marched, and posted them, 
 selves advantageously to wait the enemy, it would be most advi- 
 lable ; ' for,' added they, ' we know, my lord, that you will never 
 enjoy peaceably the crown we have placed on your head before you 
 have had a battle, and have once or twice defeated your adversary, 
 the king of Castille, and all the force he can bring against you. If 
 we gain the victory, the kingdom is yours ; and, should we be over- 
 thrown, it will still remain in suspense. It is by far more honorable 
 to seek our enemies than wait to be sought for: and many are the 
 instances where the first have had the advantage over the latter. 
 We therefore advise you to send to all from whom we expect assist, 
 ance.' ' You say well,' replied the king, ' and I will follow what you 
 recommend.' He issued his summons for his subjects to meet him 
 at Oporto on a fixed day. But you must know that those to whom 
 he had thus written neither obeyed nor paid any attention to his or- 
 ders ; for the country were not unanimous in their choice of a king, 
 and thus dissembled to see which of the two kings would be victo- 
 rious. Indeed, some of the nobility had even joined the king of 
 Castille, thinking his the juster cause. Notwithstanding this, the king 
 of Portugal assembled all the forces he could muster, at Coimbra. 
 To say the truth, those of the highest birth and of the greatest weight 
 in Portugal were attached to him through personal affection ; he had 
 full five f'f"' f'^veiity aundred knig'''t3 and squires, and about twelve 
 thousand infantry. He appointed the count de Novaire constable, 
 and sir Aleyne Pereira* marshal of the army, both of them able and 
 valiant knights, who knew well how to lead an army to battle. 
 
 "They left Coimbra, and took the road toward Aljubarota at a 
 gentle pace, on account of their heavy baggage following them. 
 They sent forward their scouts, to observe the disposition of the 
 enemy's army. Sir John Fernando de Portelet had not joined the 
 king, but remained in the castle of Ourem, five leagues from Alju- 
 barota, not knowing, I believe, that an engagement was so near at 
 hand. I can readily suppose the king of Castille had early notice 
 of our march, which gave him and his army, as they showed, much 
 pleasure. He v/as advised to hasten to meet us and give us battle, 
 especially by the Gascons, who were eager for it, and requested to 
 lead the van, which they obtained. Sir William de Montferrand, 
 who was on our side with forty lances, had told us truly when he 
 said, ' Be assured you will soon have a battle, since you have Gas- 
 cons opposed to you ; for they like nothing better.' The king lodged 
 on the morrow with his whole army at Leyria, two leagues from 
 Aljubarota, where, on the next day, we came and fixed our quarters. 
 The Castillians followed us and encamped on the spot we had left ; 
 for they well knew by their scouts our line of march. 
 
 " My lord, the Portuguese have always had great confidence in 
 God, and in the good fortune that would attend them at Aljubarota ; 
 and it was for this reason they had now there encamped themselves." 
 " Ay," said the duke, " pray tell me why." " Willingly," answered 
 the squire. " In former days, Charlemagne, who was king of France, 
 and emperor of Germany and Rome, and a great conqueror, over- 
 threw, at Aljubarota, seven infidel kings, slaying upward of one 
 hundred thousand of tnese unbelievers, as it is fully related in all our 
 old chronicles.t By this defeat, he won the city of Coimbra and all 
 Portugal, which he turned to the Christian faith : and in honor of 
 this victory over the infidels, he erected and endowed a large mon- 
 astery for black monks, the revenues of which they were to receive 
 as long as they should reside in Portugal. 
 
 * Sir Alvaro Pereira. brother to the Constable Nuno Alvares Pereira.— Ed. 
 
 t This is a mistake. Charlemagne never approached Aljubarota. The exploit of 
 Alphotisn Henriquez, the founder of the Portuguese monarchy, who defeated five 
 lloeruli Kiogf at the battle of Ouriqua, u probably the oiigiit ef th» ator/.— Ss. 
 
 " There was also another celebrated battle at this place, abou* 
 two hundred years ago, which vv^as won by the brother of a king of 
 Castille, called the count of Portugal :* for at that time there were 
 no kings of Portugal. There ^ell out a deadly hatred between these 
 two brothers, caused by a dispute in the division of the countries ; 
 so that there was not any chance of peace without the event of a 
 battle being first tried. The Portuguese were as vv^arm in the matter 
 as the count, and declared they would rather be put to death than 
 become subject to Castille. They therefore marched, in battle- 
 array, to meet the king at Aljubarota. The king of Castille came 
 thither in such force that his army amounted to more than ten times 
 the Portuguese, whom he held in the utmost contempt. The battle 
 took place on the plains of Aljubarota, and was very bloody; but, 
 in the end, the Portuguese gained the day, defeating the enemy and 
 making their king prisoner. By this capture, the cunt of Portugal 
 obtained what terms of peace he desired, and the boundaries of the 
 two kingdoms were firmly established. The Portuguese, sensible 
 that their victory was owing to God's mercy, in enabling a few to 
 overcome such numbers, were desirous to illustrate thtir country, 
 and had their count crowned king by the nobles and prelates, in the 
 city of Coimbra. They carried him ia triumph throughout the king, 
 dom, with a crown of laursl on his head, as a token of victory, like 
 to that which kings were used to wear in former times ; and ever 
 since that day Portugal has had its king : and know, my lord, that 
 the Portuguese, sooner than be under the subjection of the Castillians, 
 would look for the most distant relation o^ any of their kings who 
 had died without issue. 
 
 " When king John of Portugal was arrived at Aljubarota, all these 
 old stories were told hira. While the constable and marshal were 
 arranging their men, sir John Fernando de Portelet arrived with his 
 forty lancemen, having left the castle of Ourem that morning. His 
 coming gave pleasure to all ; and he was posted in the division near 
 the king's person. When our army was drawn up in proper array, 
 and we were waiting for our enemies, whose numbers and stt.te the 
 scouts had been sen: to observe, the king advanced to the centse, 
 and, having ordered silence, said : ' Ge-ntlenien, you have crowned 
 me your king : now show your loyalty ; for, since I am on the plains 
 of Aljubarota, I will never retreat until I have combated, our ene- 
 mies.' The army unanimously answered, ' My lord, we will remain 
 steady to you, and, oe assured, will never turn our backs.' The 
 two armies approached, for the Castillians were desirous of battle, 
 as they plainly showed. Our scouts vv^ere ordered to examine them 
 narrowly, as to number and order, that we might take measures 
 accordingly. They were more than three hours returning ; and we 
 began to fear we had lost them. At last, they came back with par. 
 ticular accounts of the enemy's strength. They said there were in 
 the van battalion at least seven thousand men, armed from head to 
 foot, in the handsomest manner possible ; in that of the king, thirty 
 thousand horse, and all well armed. When our men and their leaders 
 heard the nuffibers of the enemy, and how they were marching, the 
 van battalion being two leagues in advance of the main body with 
 the king — for the Gascons and foreigners were not on good terms 
 with the Castillians — they resolved lu keep in a compact body within 
 their intrenchraents, and to form two vvuigs with the men-at-arms, 
 who amouiited to about twenty-five hundred, in the rear of the wings. 
 You would there, my lord, have witnessed a fine order of battle, and 
 men showing great courage. The king commanded, under pain of 
 death, that no one should be ransomed, if the day were ours, but that 
 all should be put to death. This was wisely done ; for our lords said, 
 that if we occupied ourselves in making prisoners, we should think 
 of nothing else, and risk the loss of the day : it will be much better 
 to combat vigorously, than to attend to the dictates of avarice by 
 making prisoners, and sell ourselves like men whose all is at stake. 
 
 " Our enemies now were advancing in as close order as possible 
 just before us. They dismounted, and, driving their horses away, 
 laced their plates and helmets very neatly, and, with vizors down 
 and presented lances, marched to us very boldly : in good truth, 
 there were the flower of chivalry and squireship, as was very appa- 
 rent. Between us was a ditch, not so wide but a knight could leap 
 over it, which was of some advantage to us ; for our wings lanched 
 very sharp darts as the enemy attempted to pass it, which wounded 
 several so sorely, they were checked in the attempt. When they 
 had all crossed it, the battle raged ; for they imagined the king of 
 Castille, with the main body, were close behind them ; but it was 
 not so, and they were all slain before his arrival. The manner of 
 this happening was as follows : 
 
 " They were surrounded, as it were, by those called the common 
 alty of our country, who, coming on their rear, attacked them sharply 
 with axes ; while our men-at-arms, that were quite fresh, charged 
 them in front, and drove them back into the ditch they had crossed. 
 In less than half an hour the business was over, and all this body, 
 of four thousand good men-at-arms, were put to death : none were 
 ransomed ; for whenever any of ours wished to show quarter to his 
 prisoner, he was slain while in his hands. Thus did this slaughter 
 befal the van battalion : not one escaped. Shortly after, the king 
 of Castille and his army, consisting of thirty thousand men, well 
 mounted, came up: but it was now night, and they were ignorant 
 
 * Count Henry of Bureundy manisd Thei«0«, naturaJ daughter of Alphonm VI. 
 June of Cuitill« and Lton. 
 
^98 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 of the loss of their van. They were desirous of displaying their 
 horsemanship, and, by way of gallantry, more than five hundred 
 leaped over the ditch ; but, my lord, not one of them ever returned 
 back again. Among them that were thus slain were some of the 
 highest rank, the most anxious for deeds of arms, and several of 
 those noblemen who had left Portugal to serve under the king of 
 Gasiille. Our men, on seeing the enemy thus defeated, advanced, 
 and crossed the ditch, now nearly filled with water, from the number 
 of bodies which had choked up the current ; they then mounted 
 their horses and pursued the enemy, who had taken flight ; but it 
 lasted not long, for it was soon so dark they were afraid of fuUowing 
 thetn rashly, lest they might fall into some ambuscades: besides, 
 they were not so well mounted as the Castillians. Had it been 
 otherwise, they would have suffered more, and their king been either 
 slain or made prisoner ; but the obscurity ol the niglit, and the bad- 
 ness of our horses, saved them. 
 
 *' I will now mention those who fell in this battle : and, to begin 
 with the Portuguese who had changed sides, don John Alphonso 
 Tello, the grand prior of St. John in Portugal, don Alvarez his 
 brother, with several more. Of Spaniards, don Pedro of Arragon, 
 son to the constable ; don Juan, son to don Tello, and don Fer- 
 nando, son to don Sancho, both brothers-in-law to the queen ; Die- 
 go M.tnriqne, president of Castille ; the marshal Carillo ; the admiral 
 Juan de Fuvar, PeJro Alvarez Pereira. grand-master of Calatrava ; 
 the grand-master of St. James, witla ethers. Of French, sir John 
 de Ris ; sir Geoffry de Ricon ; sir Geoffry de Partenay ; sir Espaign- 
 olet d'Espaign ; sir Reginald de Soulierj surnamed Limousin, mar- 
 shal of the king of Castille's army. From Gascony and Beam lay 
 dead, the lord de Bearn ; the lord de Mortan; the lord de Brig, 
 nolles ; sir Raymond d'Eurach ; sir Berchand de Varuge ; sir John 
 Asolme ; sir Raymond de Valentin ; sir Adam de Mourasse ; sir 
 Meuvent de Sariment ; sir Peter de Sarembifere, and many more, to 
 the amount, in all, of upward of twelve hundred gentlemen, knights, 1 
 and squires. I will now name the most conspicuous of our party : 
 first, the count de Novaire, constable of Portugal; Galopes Portelet ; 
 Peter Portelet, and Agalip Fernando Portelet his brother, who was 
 by the king's side, at his bridle ; le Pouuasse d'Acunha ; Egeas 
 Toille de Podich d'Assue ; Vasco Martin de MdIx ; his son Vasco 
 Martin, who was killed that day by a dart passing through his body. 
 There were also among the dead, Gousselenas de Merlo ; Alve Po- 
 rie, marshal of the army, an excellent knight; Radighos Pereira; 
 John James de Salve; John Radigos, cousin to ttie king ; Daminon- 
 desque ; Radigo ; Radiges de Valeronceaux, and Mendignes de 
 Valconsiaux." 
 
 He was here interrupted by a burst of laughter from the duke ; 
 and Lawrence asked, " My lord, what makes you Uugh so heartily ?" 
 " Why, have I not sufficient cau?e ? for I never in my life heard 
 such a catalogue of strange names as you are repeating," " On my 
 faith," replied the squire, " these are all proper names in my coun- 
 try ; and we have some you would think more strange." " I be- 
 lieve it," said the duke ; " but, Lawrence, what became of the king 
 of Castille after this defeat ? Did he never attempt to raliy his men ? 
 Did he shut himself up in any of his towns? Did not the king of 
 Portugal pursue him ?" " No, my lord, we remained that night on 
 the field of battle, and until noon the next day, when we nriarched to 
 Leyria, and from thence to Coimbra. The king of Castihe fled to 
 Santarem, where he entered a barge, and, followed by fourteen oth- 
 ers, embarked on board a large vessel, and went by sea to Seville, 
 where the queen was. His army was dispersed in all directions, so 
 that it was impossible to rally them, for their loss had been great. 
 They will be long before they recover it : indeed they never will, 
 unless succored by the king of France.* It is to counterbalance 
 Chis alliance that the king of Portugal and his council have sent us 
 hither, to renew and strengthen our connection with the king of 
 England and your lordship." The duke said, " Lawrence, you 
 shall not leave this country without having satisfactory answers to 
 carry back ; but tell me about the engagement you hinted a1, which 
 the Portuguese had with the Spaniards near Seville ; for I love to 
 hear of feats of arms, though I am no great knight myself." 
 
 " After the glorious victory which king John had gained at Aljuba- 
 
 * Don John, in commemoration of tiiis event, founded the beautiful monastery and 
 church of Batalha. It has been magniticently described by Mr. Murphy ; and 1 copy 
 a note from his pubHcation, page 28. 
 
 "The following account is given of this batUe by Emanuel de Faria, in his hi>tory 
 of Portugal : ' The king of Portugal, understanding the approach of the Castillians, 
 drew together his forces from Coimbra, Oporto, and other places, and marched out of 
 Guimaraens to give them battle. On the morning of the 14th August, 1385, he entered 
 the plains of Aljubarota, where he knighted several gentlemen. 7'he Castillians at 
 first intended to march directly to Lisbon ; yet, after some consultation, they resolved 
 to engage. The forces on both sides were very unequal : the Castillians are reported 
 to have been thirty thousand strong, and the Portuguese but six thousand five hundred, 
 besides having some local disadvantages. The sun was setting wiien these two une(|ual 
 armies engaged. The Castillians, at the first charge, broke the vansruard of the Por- 
 tuguese; but the king coming up, his voice and example so reanimated his men, that 
 in less than an hour the multitudinous army were put to the rout. The king of Cas- 
 tille. who headed his troops, being troubled with an ague, was forced to take horse to 
 save himself. Most of the Portuguese who sided with Castille, and who were in front 
 of the army, were put to the sword, for no quarter was given them. The royal stand- 
 ard of Castille was taken : but many pretending to the honor, it could not he decided 
 by whom. The number of the slain is not exactly known, though very great on the 
 part of the Castillians. Of their cavalry, three thousand are supposed to have perished, 
 •nd many persons of distinction. This is the famous battle «f A^jubaruta, so called, 
 kmui« i; wu fought oear a village of that name.' " 
 
 rota, he returned in triumph to Lisbon, not hearing of the Castillians 
 or French collecting in any bodies to continue the war. The king 
 of Castille, with his queen, left Seville, and went to Burgos, and the 
 remains of his army shut themselves up in different castles and 
 towns. The garrisons of both sides frequently made war on each 
 other. It chanced that the count de Novaire,* constable of Portu. 
 gal, entered Castille, not far from Seville, having with him about 
 forty spears : he intended riding to Valverde, having heard there 
 were in that town two hundred men- t-arms. When arrived at the 
 barriers, he made a display of hisstrei Lfth,as a signal that he wished 
 for battle; but those within remained still, and seemed to pay no 
 attention to him, though they were secretly arming and preparing 
 themselves. 
 
 " Our people having paraded before the place some time in vain, 
 turned about and began their retreat homeward at a foot's pace. 
 They had not marched a country league before they saw the whole 
 garrison of Valverde following them full gallop. They were led by 
 a gallant man-al-arms, Diego de Padi'la, grand-master of the order 
 of St. Jago, who brought them handsomely to the charge. The con- 
 stable and his men instantly dismounted, and gave their horses to 
 the pages and varlets : having grasped their spears, they drew up in 
 a line. The Castillians, who were very numerous, wanted to cap. 
 ture their horses and varlets, saying, ' Let us seize their horses: we 
 cannot more effectually distress them than to make them return on 
 foot ;' but the grand-master would not consent. ' We will not do 
 so,' said he : 'if we have the horses, we will have their masters 
 also ; for we will fight them ; and therefore dismount ; they cannot 
 withstand our numbers.' While the Castillians were thus consult- 
 ing, our men, without paying any attention to their horses, seeing a 
 small brook in their rear, crossed it quietly, and posted themselves 
 on its bank. The enemy, having observed this, repented not having 
 instantly made the attack ; but, thinking they could soon defeat 
 them, they began the combat by lanching darts, and whatever else 
 they could lay hands on, so that it lasted from noon to evening. 
 The constable, seeing the enemy had expended all their artillery, 
 and had not wherewithal to fight, crossed the rivulet, with his ban. 
 ner displayed, and attacked them with lances. They were soon 
 broken and in disorder; for, being tired by the weight of their 
 arjiior, they could not withstand our charge, nor, from weakness, 
 assist each other. They were speedily vanquished : the grand-mas- 
 ter, with sixty more, were left dead on the field, and the rest took to 
 flight. We recovered our horses, and many others which the Cas- 
 tillians had rode thither. What is your opinion, my lord ? did not 
 our men behave gallantly ?" " That they did, by my faith," replied 
 the duke. " By such feats of arms and conquests have the Portu 
 guese entered the career of glory, since the accession of don John 
 to the crown of Portugal. They say God is with them, and is their 
 help in maintaining their rights. Indeed, my lord, they never fail 
 declaring that God is on their side; for, ever since the death of 
 king Ferdinand, in all matters of arms they have been concerned in, 
 whether of consequence or not, victory has been for them. The 
 count de Foix, who at this day is one of the most potent and wise 
 lords, says, as we have been told by those from his country, that for. 
 tune sides with Portugal ; and that, if his knights would have listened 
 to him, they would never have left Bearn to fight against the king 
 of Portugal. 
 
 " My lord, our king is wise and prudent ; he fears and loves God, 
 and has an affection for the church, which he exalts as much as is 
 in his power. He is frequently on his knees in his oratory and hear 
 ing divine service, and is very strict in never being disturbed while 
 at prayer, whatever may be the business. He is a learned man and 
 understands some little of astronomy ; but above all, he will have 
 justice administered impartially in his dominions, and the poor main, 
 tained in their rights. I have now, my lord, told you everything, 
 according to your request, relative to our king and country, as I was 
 charged to do when I left it; and you will give me such answers as 
 may be agreeable to you." " Lawrence, I before told you, and I 
 now repeat it, that your coming hither and your conversation have 
 given me great pleasure. You shall not depart without having every 
 point of your demands fully answered." "I thank you, my lord," 
 replied the squire. Upon this, the doors of the apartment were 
 thrown open, and wines and spices were brought in, of which tlie 
 embassadors having partook, they departed to their hotel of the Fal- 
 con to repose themselves. 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 THE EMBASSADORS FROM PORTUGAL RETURN WITH SATISFACTORY AN- 
 SWERS. THE DUKE OF LANCASTER EMBARKS ON AN EXPEDITION TO 
 RECOVER CASTILLE. 
 
 Not long after this conversation, the duke of Lancaster had a con- 
 ference with his brother, the earl of Cambridge, on the affairs of 
 Castille and Portugal. The earl, who had been in the latter coun- 
 try upward of a year, said, that during the reign of don Ferdinand, 
 when he was in Portugal, the canon de Robersac, and sir William 
 Windsor and other knights whom he had led thither, had told him 
 
 * Nunez Alvarez Pereira, who was only tweatf-fout year* of age when he woa the 
 battle of iujubareta.— £p. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 S99 
 
 of the murmurs of the common people relative to the succession, and 
 on this account had pressed him tc» carry away his son. " In God's 
 name," replied the duke, " the Portuguese squire has informed me 
 most circumstantially of all this matter; and we cannot gain a more 
 convenient entrance to Castillo than through Portugal. Arragon is 
 too distant, and, besides, the king of Arragon has always been more 
 aUached to France than to us. It is not right, since Portugal asks 
 from us assistance, it should be refused." 
 
 A parliament was held at Westminster on this subject, when it 
 was determined that the duke of Lancaster should have, at the pub- 
 lic expense, a thousand or twelve hundred lances, all chosen men, 
 two thousand archers, and one thousand lusty varlets, and that they 
 should receive half a year's pay in advance. The king's uncles were 
 well satisfied with this grant : in particular, the duke of Lancaster, 
 to whom, as the matter more nearly concerned him, the command of 
 this army was given. To expedite the embassadors' return to Por- 
 tugal, who were impatient to set out, the king of England wrote very 
 affectionate letters to the king of Portugal, declaring the strict union 
 and intelligence he wished to subsist between the subjects of each 
 kingdom. He made also magnificent presents to the grand-master 
 of St. James and Lawrence Fongasse, who were continually with 
 the duke of Lancaster and earl of Cambridge. The day on which 
 they took leave of the king and his council, they dined with the duke 
 of Lancaster and his brother, and had liberty to depart. I believe 
 the duke mentioned in his letters to the king of Portugal, as well as 
 to his embassadors, his wish that seven galleys, and from eighteen 
 to twenty large vessels, might be sent from Portugal to the port of 
 Bristol, on the confines of Wales, where the duke and his army would 
 embark. 
 
 The embassadors, having promised this should be performed, took 
 leave and set out for Southampton, where their vessel was waiting for 
 them. Having embarked, they put to sea with a favorable wind, and, 
 crossing the Spanish main, arrived in five days at Oporto, where fortu- 
 nately the king was, and much rejoiced at their return. They re- 
 lated to the king all they had seen and heard in England regarding 
 king Richard and his uncles, and, in confirmation, delivered letters 
 from them. The king of Portugal, impatient for the aid of the Eng- 
 lish to retaliate on the Spaniards, did not delay calling his council, 
 when it was resolved, that don Alphonso Vietat, high admiral of Por- 
 tugal, should get ready seven galleys and eighteen ships, to sail to 
 Fjngland, and bring back the duke of Lancaster and his army. Don 
 Alphonso was soon ready, and, setting sail from Oporto with favor- 
 able winds, arrived in six days at Bristol, where he anchored. 
 
 The duke was much rejoiced on hearing of his arrival, for he was 
 at the time in Wales, where the king and all his court were: he hast- 
 ened his preparations, as his knights, squires and archers were near 
 Bristol ; he having provided at Bristol two hundred vessels to trans- 
 port them, under convoy of the Portuguese fleet, to the continent. 
 It was intended by the duke that his duchess and daughters should 
 accompany him to Castille and Poitugal, where he proposed nobly 
 marrying them ; for he wished not to return very soon, and with 
 reason, as he perceived affairs in England were badly managed, and 
 the young king governed by wicked counsellors. This made him the 
 more desirous of quitting the country. Before his embarkation, and 
 in the presence of his brothers, he appointed his son, Henry early of 
 Derby, his lieutenant for whatever concerned him during his absence, 
 and chose for him a set of able advisers. This Henry was a young 
 and handsome knight, son of the lady Blanche, first duchess of Lan- 
 caster. I never saw two such noble dames, so good, liberal, and 
 courteous, as this lady and the late queen of England, nor ever shall, 
 were I to live a thousand years, which is impossible. 
 
 When the duke of Lancaster had arranged his affairs in England, 
 and had taken leave of the king and his brothers, he came to Bris- 
 tol where he tarried fifteen days, until his horses, to the amount of 
 more than two thousand, and his stores, were safely embarked, with 
 ample provision of hay, straw, oats, and fresh water. The duke 
 then entered a handsome galley, having, beside it, a large vessel for 
 his household and the duchess, who had consented, with great cour- 
 age, to accompany him on this expedition ; for she expected, on her 
 arrival in her native country, or at least before her return, to be queen 
 of Castille. She had with her her own daughter Catherine, and two 
 other daughters of the duke by his former marriage, called Isabella 
 and Philippa. Isabella* was married to sir John Holland, constable 
 of the army. The marshal of the host, sir Thomas Moreaux, was 
 also married to another daughter of the duke of Lancaster ; but she 
 was a bastard, and mother to the lady Morielle, Demoiselle Marie de 
 St. Hilaire de Hauman.t The lord Percy was admiral of the fleet. 
 
 Among the knights who followed the duke of Lancaster were sir 
 Evan Fitzwarren, the lord Lucy, sir Henry Beaumont, the lord de 
 Pommiers, sir Richard Burley, the lord Talbot, the lorff^Basset, sir 
 William Windsor, sir Thomas Tresham, sir Hugh Despenser, the 
 
 * Her name was Elizabeth. Sir John Holland was created earl of Huntingdon and 
 duke of ^xeter. Shp was, after his death, married to sir John Cornwall, lord Fanhope, 
 but had no issue by him. By sir John Holland she had a son (John) who succeeded his 
 father. 
 
 1 1 cannot explain who this lady is: nor can I find anywhere, but in Froissart, men 
 tion made of this natural daughter of John of Gaunt, nor of the marriage with sir Tho 
 mas Moreaux. 
 
 Stowe says, sir Richard Burghley wa» G»nrt»bl0 of tht dakt'* aimy, aod aflw him 
 ■it Thgnuis d« h. Moimeaux. 
 
 lord Willoughby, the lord Bradestan, sii William Farringtpn, sir John 
 d'Ambreticourt, sir Hugh Hastings, sir Thomas Worcester, sir Mau- 
 brun de Linieres, air Lewis Rochester, sir John Sounder, sir Philip 
 Tickel, sir Robert Clinton, sir Hugh Calverley, David Holgrave, 
 Thomas Allery, Hobcquin Beaucester, and many others with pen. 
 nons, without including the banners. There were moie than one 
 thousand lances of knights, squires and good men-at-arms ; two 
 thousand archers, and one thousand stout varlets. It was the month 
 of May when they embarked; and they had the usual fine weather 
 of that pleasant season. They coasted the isles cf Wight and Guern- 
 sey, so that they were distinctly seen from the Norman shores ; and 
 a fine sight it was, for there were upward of two hundred sail. It was 
 delightful to observe the galleys, which had men-at-arms on board, 
 coast the shores in search of adventures, as they had heard the 
 French fleet was at sea. In truth, they were out before they showed 
 themselves on the coast of Carentan ; but, when they perceived them 
 approaching, they retired into the port of Havre. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 MANY FRENCH KNIGHTS AND SQUIRES OFFER THEIR SERVICES TO THE 
 
 KING OF CASTILLE. 
 
 Nothing happens but what is known, more particularly if relating 
 to deeds of arms ; for knights and squires willingly converse on such 
 topics. The news of the defeat of the king of Castille at Aljuba. 
 rota was soon spread abroad, and was known in France ; for those 
 who had lost their friends or relations loudly lamented them. Cas 
 tille alone oflfered a field for deeds of arms, as it was rumored the 
 duke of Lancaster, to support his claim on that crov.'n, had assem- 
 bled a large army, and would march thither or to Portugal, and with- 
 out doubt there would be many battles. Some knights and squires, 
 of the interior part of France, consulted together on this, and which 
 was the best road to Castille. Several were of opinion, to march by 
 land, to avoid the dangers of the sea, and of falling into the hands 
 of the English fleet; but others said, the road by land was long, and 
 the intentions of the king of Navarre were not quite clear ; for he 
 was not much attached to France : that nation, he said, had robbed 
 him of his lands in Normandy ; but I know not if his complaints 
 were just. They were doubtful what road to take ; for, should they 
 go round by Arragon, they would never arrive ot their journey's end. 
 At length they resolved to embark from la Rochelle, where the} 
 freighted eighteen vessels, with their baggage and stores, but did not 
 take many horses with them. 
 
 When all was ready, and the v.dnd favorable, they put to sea, and 
 made for the coast of Bayonnc ; for that was their line of direction. 
 They were three hundred knights and squires who had volunteered 
 on this expedition. Among them were the lord de Coursy, sir John 
 Handoye, the viscount de la Verlirre, sir Peter de Veliamines, sir 
 Guy le Baveux, sir John de Chatelmorant, the lord de St. Litjer, sir 
 James de Fougeres, the lord de Bellanes, sir Tristan de Langurant, 
 the lord Barrois des Barres, with many more. They arrived without 
 accident, in the port of St. Andero, in Biscay, on the 4th day of May, 
 1386, where they rested themselves two days, and had their horses 
 and baggage disembarked. When they had laden their horses, they 
 inquired where they could find the king of Castille, and were told 
 that he was then at Burgos, holding a parliament on the affairs of the 
 nation. On leaving St. Andero, they followed the road to Burgos, 
 and waited on the king, who was truly glad to see them, and asked 
 the news from France, and which way they had come. They re- 
 plied, " By sea from la Rochelle," and that it was rumored in France 
 the duke of Lancaster had raised a very large force of men-eit-arms 
 and archers, to lead into Castille or Portugal ; that it was not known 
 where he intended to land, but that the king of Portugal had sent 
 to him many ships and galleys. 
 
 The king, on hearing this, became pensive, although it was what 
 he expected, and did not at this meeting display his courage ; for he 
 perceived, from every appearance, he should have a severe war made 
 on him. However, he entertained the knights very handsomely, and 
 thanked them much for coming. Addressing himself to sir Robert 
 de Braquemont, and his brother, sir John de Braquemont, he said, " I 
 desired you both, when you left me last year, that, on your return, 
 you would bring me from f aris some tennis balls, that we might 
 amuse ourselves at that game ; but I believe it would have been 
 better I had desired you to bring good helmets and armor ; for I 
 fancy we shall soon have much need of them." " Sire," replied the 
 lord de Braquemont, " we have brought both ; for we can neither 
 fight nor play continually." In truth, the king of Castille showed 
 great attention to these knights, feasted them well, and liberally sup. 
 plied them with everything they wanted. Some of them having 
 vows to perform, wished to make a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. 
 James at Saint Jago, since they were in the country; and all of them 
 set out in company, having armed themselves as if they were going 
 to battle : it was fortunate for them they had done so ; and whoever 
 had advised them showed prudence, as you will see hereafter : but I 
 must now return to to the duke of Lancaster, and his fleet, whom 
 we left coasting Normandy. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 400 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 tHE DUKE OF LANCASTER, IN HIS VOYAGE TO CASTILI.E, ATTACKS THE 
 FRENCH BEFORE BREST, AND FORCES THEM TO RAISE THE BI-OCKADE. 
 
 Just as pilgrim falcons, who have long rested hungry on their 
 perch, are desirous of flight in search of prey, (if I may use the com- 
 parison,) were those English knights and squires impatient to try 
 their arms in the field. As they coasted Normandy, they said to 
 each other, " Why do we not disembark in some of these Norman 
 port?, where we shall meet with knights ready to offer us combat?" At 
 last, these speeches reached the ears of the duke, who knew well, 
 before he left England, that sir John de Malestroit, the lord de Mal- 
 estroit, the lord de Cambor, Morfonace, with a number of other 
 knights and squires from Brittany, had blockaded Brest, under the 
 command of the constable ; so that when he learnt the eagerness 
 his knights expressed for some deeds of arms, he ordered his admiral, 
 the brd Tnomas Percy, and his constable, lord John Holland, to steer 
 the fleet toward Brittany, for he wished to visit the castle of Brest, 
 and his cjiintrymen who were within it. This order gave great joy 
 to the English ; and don Alphonso Vietat, who was admiral-in-chief, 
 and well acquainted with these dangerous seas, took the lead, for the 
 rest of the fleet to follow him. The weather was now delightful, 
 and the sea so calm, it was a pleasure to be on it : the fleet advanced 
 with an easy sail, and arrived at the mouth of Brest harbor, where, 
 waiting for the tide they entered it in safety. The clarions and trum- 
 pets sounded sweetly from the barges and the castle. Sir John de 
 Malestroit and his companions were seated at table when the news 
 was brought them of the arrival of the English fleet: they instantly 
 leaped up and armed themselves. They knew that, as soon as the 
 duke of Lancaster had landed, they should have an engagement ; for 
 the English were come to raise the blockade. 
 
 They were not long in making themselves ready, and amounted 
 to about three hundred men-at-arms, knights, and squires. The 
 English were rejoiced at finding themselves in Brest harbor, and that 
 the Bretons were still guarding their blockhouse ; for they were 
 aware an engagement must ensue, and they were thirsty for battle. 
 The duke of Lancaster and his men landed as near as possible to 
 the cattle, but left their horses and stores on board their ships. The 
 ladi-v. siowever, went on shore to repose themselves. The first day 
 they made no attack, only marched out of their quarters, when some 
 of the lords fixed their tents and pavilions on the harbor side and 
 near the castle, where they remained that day and the following 
 night. On the morrow, the constable and marshal's trumpets sounded 
 for the army to make ready for an assault. When all were armed, 
 they marched in good array toward the castle and blockhouse which 
 had been raised in front of it. This was so solidly built, it would 
 have tasted nine or ten years ; for it was surrounded with ditches, 
 and had walls, towers and gates of strong timber. 
 
 The English knights, on their arrival, began to skirmish gallantly 
 at the barriers of the blockhouse, and attempted to win them. The 
 knights and squires within, and there were numbers of good ones, 
 vigorously defended themselves ; and in order to gain more room, 
 they took away the palisades, which was foolish enough, but they 
 trusted to their skill and valor. Many were the fine deeds of arms 
 and much pushing with lances, and those fared the best who coula 
 the longest hold their wind. The English, being so numerous, gave 
 the Bretons full employment, and, by dint of courage, won the bar- 
 riers : within the court of the blockhouse were upward of one hun- 
 dred, so that the Bretons were on the point of losing everything. 
 Sir John de Malestroit and the viscount de Cambor, seeing this, 
 shouted their cry, and said, " How, gentlemen, shall we be thus over- 
 come ? Advance, advance, and push with vigor, for there must be 
 no sham-fighting here : we have only the choice of death or victory." 
 Upon this they rallied, and, placing the ends of their lances in the 
 ground, made an obstinate resistance to those who had driven them 
 within the barriers. Hard blows were given on each side ; but the 
 English, whether they would or not, were forced to retire, and were 
 beaten back out of the court, so that during the day they could not 
 regain it. 
 
 On the other side of the blockhouse was a stone tower situated on 
 a rock, which the Bretons had garrisoged. A severe attack was 
 made on it by the English ; for, while the fight was going on at the 
 barriers, they had crossed a narrow ditch, and, with pick-axes, ad- 
 vanced up to the walls, where they had began to work and force out 
 the stones. Those within defended themselves well with what they 
 could lay hands on ; but the archers shot so sharply that none dared 
 show themselves unless strongly shielded. The pick-axe men con- 
 tinued their work, until the tower, which leaned much on that side 
 (for they had undermined the foundation) opened in two parts. The 
 garrison saved themselves in the ruins of what remained, for one-half 
 fell to the ground. On this, the English set up a grand shouting; 
 but, it being now late, the trumpets sounded the retreat, as they im- 
 agined they had done enough for one day. When they marched 
 away, they said to the Bretons, " Gentlemen, keep a good wa'tch to 
 night, and stay where you are, for to-morrow we will visit you again : 
 you see well what situation you are in, and that you have nothing to 
 ibclter you from us." 
 
 It was fully the intention of the English to return the next day and 
 conquer the blockhouse with its garrison, for it was in their power; 
 and in this idea they passed the night comfortably, as they had where, 
 withal so to do. There is an old saying, that " John is as wise as 
 his mas-ter," which I repeat, because, if the English are subtle in war, 
 the Bretons match them ; for they were equally clear-sighted as to 
 what was to their advantage, and what not. They saw, if they 
 wished to avoid death or captivity, there was no time to be lost in 
 packing up their baggage and leavi/ig the blockhouse. They in- 
 stantly made themselves ready, anc. mounting their horses, rode 
 toward Hennebon, which was four leagues distant. They acted 
 wisely ; for they were not afraid of a pursuit, as the English had not 
 disembarked any of their horses. 
 
 Sir John de Malestroit and his companions arrived safely in Hen 
 nebon, the gates of which they found open, without any suspicion of 
 the English being so near. On the morrow, the trumpets sounded 
 for a renewal of the attack, and they were anxious to make up for 
 their forced retreat of the preceding day ; but the news was brought 
 that the Bretons had evacuated the blockhouse. The English re- 
 pented sorely not having laid an ambush, to have prevented the loss 
 of their prey. The lords sent varl6ts to destroy the blockhouse, and 
 set it on fire. Thus was the siege of Brest raised by the duke of 
 Lancaster. The duke, sir John Holland, and some of the other 
 knights, went to the castle of Brest, carrying the ladies with them, 
 where they had refreshments, and then returned to their quarters. 
 On the morrow, being the third day, they had their vessels watered ; 
 and on the ensuing day they embarked and continued their voyage. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 the duke of LANCASTER ARRIVES AT CORUNA IN GALICIA. THE FRENCH, 
 IN THE SERVICE OF SPAIN, ENTER THE CASTLE TO OPPOSE HIM. THEY 
 SHORTLY AFTER DEFEAT A PARTY OF HIS FOKAGERS. 
 
 Before the duke sailed from Brest, he held a council to determine 
 whether they should steer for Lisbon, Oporto, or Coruiia. To this 
 council the Portuguese admiral and his captains were called, and it 
 lasted some time. Don Alphonso Vietat said, that he had been or. 
 dered to England for their service by the king of Portugal, by whom 
 they would be made heartily welcome, should they land in his coun- 
 try ; for he was expecting them, and would be much gratified by their 
 coming. Upon this, they determined to make for Opo/to, which is 
 but thirty leagues from Lisbon ; but they altered their mind, saying 
 it would be more honorable to land on the enemy's coast, and that 
 by so doing they sljpuld the more alarm them. They then steered 
 for Coruiia, and, having a favorable wind, were not more than five 
 days sailing thither from Brest : they cast anchor in the road, to wait 
 for the tide, as it was too low water when they arrived to approach 
 near the shore. 
 
 I will now speak of the French knights, sir Barrels des Barres, sir 
 John de Chatelmorant, the brothers de Braquemont, and the rest, 
 who had been sent out on a pilgrimage to St. Jago de Compostella. 
 After they had made their offerings and prayers to the shrine of St 
 James, and were sitting at their inn, news was brought by those who 
 were guarding the coasts, that the English fleet was in sight, and 
 showed a disposition to land at Coruiia. Before their baggage was 
 unloaded, or the saddles had been taken from their horses, they 
 mounted again, saying, they must hasten back to Coruna, to defend 
 the port ; for, should the English unfortunately gain the castle and 
 town, they would be masters of the whole country. Some of the 
 knights borrowed horses at St. Jago, and made such dispatch as to 
 arrive at Coruiia that night, though it was fourteen country leagues 
 distant, and a difficult road to find. They got there very opportunely, 
 just as the English fleet was entering the harbor. The garrisons in 
 town and castle were well pleased at the coming of the French 
 knights, whose baggage and armor followed in the course of the 
 night. It was a fine sight, on the morrow, to view all the ships and 
 galleys enter the port laden with men-at-arms and purveyances, with 
 trumpets and clarions sounding ; and those signals were answered, by 
 way of defiance, by the trumpets and clarions of the castle. The 
 English from this knew there were good garrisons in both town and 
 castle, and that the French had possession of the castle. 
 
 The lords and their men landed on the shore, but did not approach 
 the town, as it was too well fortified, and seemed filled with men-at- 
 arms. They, however, took up their lodgings in some huts of fisher, 
 men and seafaring men on the outside of the walls. They were 
 forced to build other huts, as they were so numerous ; and the four 
 first days after their landing they were thus employed, as well as in 
 clearing tlgi vessels of their stores and purveyances, which were in 
 great quan.ities, and in disembarking their horses. They had been 
 fifteen days on board ; and though they were plentifully supplied with 
 hay, oats, and fresh water, yet the rolling of the sea had as much 
 affected them as it had done their masters, which made it needful to 
 walk them about and take every care of them. When the ships had 
 been entirely cleared, the duke was asked his pleasure concerning 
 them. He replied, " Let all the sailors be well paid, and take the 
 ships for their pains : I shall dismiss them, for I wish all the world 
 i to know that I shall never recross the sea to England until I be mas < 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 401 
 
 ter of Castille or die in the attempt." These orders were obeyed ; 
 and the sailors being paid to their satisfaction, made sail, some to 
 Portugal, Lisbon, Bayonne, Brittany, or England, as they pleased, but 
 none remained behind. The duke of Lancaster and his army were 
 lodged in huts covered with leaves, or in such houses as they met 
 with, and remained before Coruna upward of a month amusing them- 
 selves ; for the chief lords had brought hounds for their pastime, and 
 hawks for the ladies. They had also mills to grind their corn, and 
 ovens to bake; for they never willingly go to war in foreign coun- 
 tries without carrying things of that description with them. 
 
 The foragers went daily in search of what forage they could find ; 
 for, as they were in a poor deserted country, it was not very plenti- 
 ful, which forced them to seek it at a distance. The French knights 
 at Coruila were eager to meet their enemies ; and having learnt how 
 foolishly unguarded the foragers were, said, they would some day or 
 other catch them, and make them pay, once for all, for what they 
 had pilluged. They armed themselves, to the number of about two 
 hundred, and, mounting their horses, were conducted by guides, at 
 night.fall, through woods, and over mountains, until they came to a 
 mountain, called in that country Espinete, by break of day, where 
 they halted ; for they had learnt that the English foragers were out 
 in that part. The foragers had been absent from their army two 
 days, collecting as much as they could carry, and were on their re- 
 turn to Coruna : but their only road lay over this mountain of Es. 
 pinete. The instant they came there, the French knights rushed 
 upon them, shouting out, " Les Barres for the Barrois!" The fora- 
 gers were thunderstruck ; for the greater part were unarmed : there 
 might be six score archers, who gallantly drew themselves up m ar- 
 ray, and wounded, with their arrows, both horses and riders. When 
 they had expended their arrows, they flung down their bows, and de- 
 fended themselves as well as they could with the other arms they 
 had : some fled and hid themselves, in hopes of escaping. Why 
 should I make a long story? Of the three hundred foragers, full two 
 hundred were slain ; the rest saved themselves!, as well as they could, 
 among bushes and racks, where no horse could venture. The runa 
 ways fled to Coruna and related their misfortune, and how sir Bar 
 rois des Barres and his company had discomfited them. 
 
 The army was much surprised at this ; and sir Thomas Moreaux, 
 the marshal, had five hundred, or more, instantly armed and mounted, 
 when, taking the pennon of St. George, he galloped off* with them 
 toward the mountain of Espinete, to meet the French. When there 
 arrived, he only perceived the slaughtered foragers ; for the French 
 had returned by the road they had come ; but had they not had good 
 guides, they would never have found it through the inclosures. The 
 English, on their return, when within half a league of their army, 
 saw the French reenter the castle of Coruna, which vexed thenj 
 much: but help it they could not. The army blamed the marslial 
 for having suffered the foragers to go without an escort of men-at- 
 arms, when the enemy was so near, and in such numbers. The 
 constable and duke of Lancaster were so sharp with him, he was 
 quite ashamed : he said, that they had been caught, to be sure, this 
 once, though they had foraged ten times before without any inter- 
 ruption. " Sir Thomas," said the duke, " be more cautious in future ; 
 for such things may fall out in one day or hour as way not happen 
 again in a century." 
 
 CHAPTER XXXir. 
 
 THE DUKE Of LANCASTER, AFTER REMAINING SEFORE CORUNA UPWARD 
 OF A MONTH, MARCHES HIS ARMY TO SAINT JAGG, WHICH SURRENDERS 
 ON CAPITULATI-ON. 
 
 When the duke of Lancaster had remained before Coruna upv^ard 
 of a month, as I have before said, and when his men and horses were 
 quite recovered, he was advised to march toward St. .Tago, where 
 there was a richer and more open country for his cavalry. The army 
 dislodged from before Coruna, and marched in three battalions. The 
 marshal led the van, of three hundred lances and six hundred archers; 
 then marched the duke with four hundred spears, accompanied by 
 all the ladies. The rear was composed of four hundred lances and 
 seven hundred archers, accompanied by the constable sir John Hol- 
 land. They marched very slowly, and were three days in going 
 from Coruna to St. Jago. You must know, that the province of 
 Galicia was much alarmed at the arrival of the duke of Lancaster; 
 for they remembered his power well. When the marshal and the 
 van came before the town of Sr. Jago de Compostella, where the 
 body of St. James reposes, and which many make such long journeys 
 to visit, he found the gates shut, as might have been supposed. There 
 was no other garrison but its inhabitants ; for the French knights re- 
 fused taking upon them the defence of it, to the last extremity, as it 
 was not strong enough to withstand the force under the duke of 
 Lancaster. The marshal sent forward a herald, to hear what the 
 townsmen would say. The herald found at the barriers the captain 
 of the guard, called don Alphonso Sene, and said to him, " A few 
 paces hence is the marshal of my lord of Lancaster's army, who 
 would wish to speak with you.'* " I am very agreeable to it ; let 
 him advance, and I will parley with him." The herald returned to 
 the marshal with this answer. 
 The marshal left his army, with only twenty lances, and rode to 
 
 the barriers, where he found the captain and some ol the towiu-men 
 waiting. The marshal dismounted, with twelve others, among w honi 
 were the lord Basset and sir Wi liam Farringdon, and addreseed him 
 as follows: "Captain, and you men of St. Jago, the duke, and 
 duchess of Lancaster your queen, (she being the eldest daughter of 
 Don Pedro, your late king,) send me to know how you mean to act: 
 to open your gates and receive them as your legal sovereigns, as good 
 subjects ought to do ; or force me to assault your wall?, and take 
 your town by storm. But know, that if you suffer the p ace to be 
 stormed, all within shall be put to the sword, that others may tjko 
 warning." The captain replied ; " We wish to follow the dictates 
 of reason, and acquit ourselves loyally toward those to whoHi we owo 
 obedience. We know well that the duchess of Lancaster is daughter 
 to don Pedro of Castille ; and if that king bed reigned peaceably in 
 Castille, she was heiress to his crown ; but thiiigs are altered ; for 
 the whole kingdom turned to the obedience of his brother, king 
 Henry, by the success of the batde of Monteil : we all swore fidelity 
 to him ; and he was acknowledged king as long as he lived : efter 
 his decease we all swore obedience to don John, his son, who reigns 
 at this moment. Tell us how those of Corufia acted ; for it is im. 
 possible but that, during the month you lay before that place, some 
 negotiations and treaties were concluded." Sir Thomas Moreaux 
 answered ; " You speak truly : we have had indeed negotiations 
 with those of Corufia, otherwise we should not have marched hither, 
 though that town is double the strength of yours. I will tell you 
 what they have done : they have entered into a composition with us, 
 by declaring they will act in the same manner as you do ; but, if you 
 force us to the assault, they will not follow that example. If Galicia 
 surrender to my lord duke and his lady, they will surrender also ; for 
 which they have given us such pledges as are satisfactory." 
 
 " Well," replied the captain, " we will agree to this : there are 
 many large towns and cities in the realm : ride on, therefore, and 
 leave us in peace ; for we will act as they shall, and give you good 
 security for our performing it." " Oh, this will never do," said the 
 marshal: "such a treaty will by no means please the duke and 
 duchess ; for they are resolved to reside in this town, and keep their 
 state as monarchs should in their own kingdoms. Answer me 
 briefly what you mean to do : surrender, or have yourselves and 
 town destroyed ?" " My lord," said the captain, " allow us a little 
 time to consult together, and you shall be speedily answered." " I 
 conseri," said the marshal. The captain then withdrew into the 
 town, and assembled the inhabitants at the usual place where public 
 meetings were held, and related to them the conversation that had 
 passed between him and the marshal. I believe the townsmen at 
 last consented to receive the duke and duchess as their monarchs, 
 and to entertain them as such in their town as long as they might 
 please to reside there, if don John, king of Castille, did not, with his 
 power, attack them. But if it should happen that after they had 
 made St. Jago their residence for a year, or a longer time, according 
 to their pleasure, and should depart from the country, for England, 
 Bordeaux or Bayonne, or wherever else they may prefer, the duke 
 must engage to leave behind a sufficient force of men-at-arms to de- 
 fend them against their enemies, otherwise they would surrender the 
 town to don John of Castille, and hold themselves acquitted of alle. 
 giance to the duke. Sir Thomas Moreaux cheerfully accepted these 
 terms, and told them they had well spoken, and to the purpose, and 
 that the duke and duchess wished for nothing better. The marshal 
 returned to his division, and to the duke and duchess, who were 
 waiting for him on the plain ; to whom he related all that had paseed, 
 and the treaty he had concluded, to which they assented, saying it 
 was well done. 
 
 The army was advancing gayly in battle array toward the town of 
 St. Jago : when about two French leagues from the place, they were 
 met by a long procession of the clergy, bearing relics, crosses and 
 streamers, and crowds of men, women and children, and the principal 
 inhabitants, carrying the keys of the town, which they presented on 
 their knees, with much seeming good-will, to the duke and duchess 
 (but whether it was feigned or not, I cannot say,) and acknowledged 
 them for their king and queen. Thus they entered the town of St. 
 Jago, and rode directly to the church of St. James, where the duke, 
 duchess, their children and attendants, kneeling, offered up their 
 prayers to the holy body of St. James, and made rich gifta at the 
 altar. It was told me that the duke, duchess, and the ladies, 
 Constance and Philippa, were lodged in the Abbey, and there held 
 their court. Sir John Holland and sir Thomas Moreaux, wit i ii.cir 
 ladies, were lodged in the town : the other barons and knighi? as 
 they could, and the men-at-arms on the plains round the town. Those 
 who could not find houses, built themselves huts covered with boughs, 
 of which there were plenty in the country, and made thcnuelvcs 
 comfortable with what they could get. Meat and strong wines were 
 in abundance ; of which the archers drank so much that they were 
 for the greater part of their time in bed drunk ; and very often, by 
 drinking too much new wine, they had fevers, and in the morning 
 such headaches as to prevent them from doing anything the remain, 
 der of the day ; for it was now the vintage. 
 
402 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 THE FRENCH KNIGHTS LEAVE CORUNA AND JOtN THE KINO OF CASTXLLE. 
 THEY ACqriRE MUCH WHALTH BY PLUNDERING THE COUNTRY, IN OR- 
 DER TO FRUSTRATE THE ENGLISH. 
 
 Sm John de Chatelmorant, le Barrois des Barres, and the other 
 French knights who had guarded Coruna, hearing that the duke of 
 Lancaster had been peaceably received in St. Jago, held a council 
 on what they should do, saying, " It does not signify for us to re. 
 main here any longer, since we shall meet with no fortunate adven- 
 tures : let us march to Burgos, where the king is, and learn from 
 him what his intentions are : perhaps he may be going to meet the 
 English ; for, if he allow them quietly to establish themselves, by 
 degrees they will be lords of Castille. It will be more for our honor 
 to go to him than to stay here." They accordingly made prepara- 
 tions, and leaving the castle, procured guides to conduct them to 
 Burgos ; otherwise they would probably have fallen in with their 
 enemies. They rode through Biscay, and skirted Galicia to Leon, 
 where the king and queen at that time resided. When these knights 
 waited on the king, he received them very kindly, and inquired from 
 them the news, although he knew enough. They told him of their 
 opportune arrival at Coruila, as the English fleet was entering the 
 harbor, wherein they found seven galleys and ships of Biscay, laden 
 with wine, of which the English took advantage ; for the merchants 
 were soon eased of the whole. " It is thus in war," replied the 
 king : " they were unwise, when they heard the English fleet were 
 at sea, not to run somewhere else for safety." " In God's name, 
 sir," returned the knights, " they had come thither for security : they 
 said, their cargoes of wine were for Flanders, and having heard from 
 the sailors of Saint Andero that the English were in the Bay of Bis. 
 cny, and that the king of Portugal had sent them large ships and gal. 
 leys, it was natural to conclude they would have steered for Portu. 
 gal ; but they did the contrary, as it appears, and landing at Coruna, 
 have entered Galicia." Upon this the king said, " Now, you knights 
 from France, who are so well acquainted with arms, and know more 
 about warlike matters than my subjects, from being so long trained 
 to them, what are your opinions of the English ? how do you think 
 they will act this season ?" " By my faith," said some, (for all 
 gave their opinions) "we can but ill judge what they will do, for the 
 English are very reserved ; and we can only guess how t^ey will 
 act, or whither they will march. We must suppose that the Jake of 
 Lancaster will remain all the ensuing winter in St. Jago, and his 
 army thereabouts ; whence he will overrun Galicia, conquer some 
 email forts, and lay in stores of provision, until the return of summer, 
 when treaties will be formed between him and the king of Portugal, 
 for them to act in concert. Perhaps a family-alliance may i;ike 
 place ; for you will observe that the duke has brought with him his 
 daughters, those that are married as well as the others : now, as there 
 are two unmarried, we imagine the king of Pctugal, your adversary, 
 will have one of them." '* What would you advise me to do ?" said 
 the king. " We will tell you sire," replied the knights ; " order all 
 your strongest castles on the borders of Galicia to be well guarded, 
 and destroy the smaller ones. We learn that it is the custom jf this 
 country to fortify churches and tov/ers, whereto the inhabitants of 
 the flat countries carry their wealth and stock. This will turn out 
 to their destruction and the confusion of your kingdom ; for when 
 the English take the field, these churches and towers will prove no 
 obstacle to them : on the contrary, they will be recruited from the 
 victual they will there find, and continue the war with more vigor, 
 and conquer the remainder. We therefore advise you to destroy all 
 such like forts, while you have time so to do, and to give up all, that 
 is not secured in large and strong towns, by Michaelmas, or at the 
 latest by Andrew's day, to your men-at-arms ; for it is better they 
 should have the advantage and profit than your enemy. We advise 
 you, in particular, to send some well-informed embassadors to the 
 king of France, and to hi'^ uncles of Berry and Burgundy, that they 
 may be made acquainted with the real state of your country, and 
 that by the return of summer, or sooner if the season permit us to 
 take the field, you may wage such a war as was never before made 
 in Castille. Write pressing letters to the king and his uncles, that 
 they may assist you in this necessity with such numbers of men-at- 
 arms that you may resist your enemies and preserve your kingdom. 
 There is a strong connection between you and the king of France, 
 which was first made by your predecessor and father ; and you may 
 be assured, that in your distress neither the king nor realm of France, 
 which can do no more than England and Portugal united, will desert 
 you. Believe us, that as soon as the king and his council shall learn 
 your situation, they will take such steps as will prevent you from 
 receiving any loss in this war ; for know, that those French knights 
 and squires, who are desirous of glory, will, at the slightest word, 
 hasten hither to seek it; for at this moment they know not where to 
 employ their arms. We mention this, because there is now a peace 
 between theFieach and the Flemings, and a truce with the English 
 and Fr-nch on the other side the Loire until St. John the Baptist's 
 day ensuing. You will therefore see men-at-arms, knights and 
 squires, fly hither from France, as well to advance their own honor 
 as to see this country and meet the English. But, sire, we particu- 
 iaily recommend the destruction of these small forts, if you wish to 
 prewrvti your country." 
 
 The king replied, " You have advised me loyally, and I shall in. 
 stantiy follow your counsel, and order, without further consultation, 
 all such forts to be demolished as are not tenable, g>nd make you a 
 present of whatever may be found in them." The knights said, he 
 had well spoken, that they would attend to that business, and assist 
 him in defending and preserving his realm. This gift of the king of 
 Castille to the knights from France and those about his person, was 
 worth to them two hundred thousand francs, especially to those first- 
 comers, who had thrown themselves into Coruna when the duke of 
 Lancaster had arrived, and pursued his march to Sr. Jago. 
 
 All the small forts, churches, and towers, which had been embat. 
 tied in Castille, were abandoned and destroyed, and the poor pea. 
 sants disappointed in their expectations of having therein deposited 
 their wealth and stock in safety ; for the knights and squires went 
 thither with their men, and seized on all the wines, corn, and cattle, 
 and drove them to their quarters ; but the gold and silver which 
 they found, and the sums they made the peasants pay for their ran- 
 soms, or to have their stock back again, went into their own purseo, 
 unknown to any one but themselves. Some of the poorer squires, 
 more bold and cunning than the rest (for there are always some of 
 that sort,) who had left their homes miserably mounted or on foot, 
 were so adive that they had now fine coursers and genets for plea- 
 sure, with five or six silver girdles, and purses with a thousand or 
 two of francs in them. Thus did these companions, who first en- 
 tered Castille, make fortunes which the flat countries paid ; for every 
 place was rifled and devoured even by their own countrymen, who 
 would not that their enemies should be any gainers by their inva. 
 sion. When it was told in France how poor knights and squires 
 were enriching themselves in Castille, where they spared neither the 
 lands of friends nor those of their foes, their companions were more 
 eager than ever to leave France, in the hopes of being sharera with 
 them. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 
 GREAT PREPARATIONS ARE MADE THROUGHOUT FRANCE FOR THE INVASION 
 OF ENGLAND. THE DEATH OF FRANCIS ATREMEN. 
 
 The king of France, his uncles, and council, had been well in. 
 formed of the intended expedition of the duke of Lancaster before 
 he had sailed from England (for fame spreads all things abroad,) 
 and that it was meant against Castille. It was for this reason the 
 duke of Burgundy had concluded so easily a peace with the Flemings, 
 and in order that the king of Castille might have assistance ; for the 
 king of France was bound to aid him, as he had always succored 
 France, when called upon, with men and ships. Add to this the 
 great desire the young king of France had ever shown to invade 
 tLngland with a powerful army and navy. In this he was joined 
 by til the chivalry of the realm, but especially by the duke of Bur- 
 gundy, the constable of France, and the count de St. Pol, although he 
 had married king Richard's sister, as well as by the lord de Courcy. 
 
 These lords said, " Why should not we, for once, make a visit to 
 England i<) see the country and its inhabitants, and learn the way 
 thither, as t>>e English have done in France ? This year, therefore, 
 1386, we will go thither, as well to break up the expedition of the 
 duke of Lancaster, and force him to return home, as to give alarm 
 to die English, and see how they will behave." Greater tiPiaments 
 were made in Fran<;e than had hitherto been done. Iiea\der taxes 
 were imposed on ail the towns and country than for one hundred 
 years, and such sums Vad never been raised, nor were ever greater 
 preparations made by se\ and land. The whole summer, until Sep. 
 tember, was employed in grinding flour, and making biscuit in Ar. 
 ras, Bethune, Lille, Douay, Amiens, St, Omer, and in all the towns 
 near to Sluys; for it was th\j plan of the king to embark at Sluys, 
 sail for England, and destroy the whole country. Many of the rich 
 men of France were forced to pay a third or fourth of their property, 
 in order to build vessels of a &ufiicient size ; and the poorer sort 
 were taxed as much as they were worth, to pay the men-at-anns. 
 There was not a vessel of any size from the port of Seville to Prus. 
 sia, that the French could lay their hands on, but was seized, by fair 
 or foul means, for the king of France. Provisions arrived from all 
 quarters. Very great quantities of wine, salted meats, oats, trusses 
 of hay, onions, verjuice, biscuit, flour, butter, the yolks of eggs in 
 powder, and rammed in barrels, and every other necessary, were 
 sent from Flanders ; so that, in future times, those who have not 
 been eye-witnesses will never believe the accounts. 
 
 Lords and knights, at great distances, were written to, to request 
 they would accompany the king of France in this expedition ; even 
 as far as Germany, Savoy, and the lands of the count d'Armagnac. 
 The earl of Savoy was retained with five hundred lances; as were 
 also the count d'Armagnac and the dauphin of Auvergne ; and, be. 
 cause these lords were so distant, they sent before them vast provision 
 of stores : and it was wonderful to see the quantity of costly articles 
 that came to Flanders, by land and sea, through Damme, Bruges and 
 Sluys. 
 
 When St. John's day was come, all the great vessels in Holland, 
 Zealand, Middleburgh, Dordrecht, Schoenhoven, Leyden, the Brille, 
 and other places near the sea, were sought for, tj carry this army 
 from Sluys ; but the Hollanders and the rest said, that if they wanted 
 their veisels or their services, they must pay them down the suof 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCS, SPAIN, &. c. 
 
 agreed on, otherwise they would not stir. They were wise in so 
 doing ; for they were instantly paid, before they would leave their 
 houses or harbors. Never, since God created the world, were there 
 seen such numbers of large ships as filled tiie harbors of Sluys and 
 Blanckenburgh : for, when they were counted, in the month of Sep- 
 tember, this same year, they wero twelve hundred and eighty-seven 
 ships. Their masts, on coming from sea, appeared like a thick 
 forest. 
 
 The constable's ship was building at Treguier, in Brittany ; and 
 the constable had there constructed a town of frame-vvork, of large 
 timber, which was to be put together, on their landing in England, 
 for the lords to retreat to as a pUfceof safety, and to be lodged therein, 
 to prevent any danger that might arise from nightly attacks. This 
 town was so constructed, that, when they dislodged, it could be taken 
 to pieces, roofs and all ; and many carpenters and other workmen, 
 who had been employed on it, were engaged, at very high wages, to 
 attend the properly taking it to pieces and erecting it again. I never 
 heard the name of the duke of Brittany, nor had he laid up in Flan- 
 ders stores of any kind, nor of the duke of Touraine, the king's 
 youngest brother, nor of the count de B'ois, as among the number of 
 those who were to accompany the king on this occasion. But all 
 could not go : it was necessary some should remain behind in France, 
 to guard the realm. 
 
 Whoever had been at Damme, Bruges or Sluys, at this lime, and 
 had seen how busily all were employed in loading the vessels with 
 hay in trusses, garlic, onions, biscuit in sacks, pease, beans, cheese, 
 bowls, barley, oats, rye, wheat, wax-candles, housings, shoes, boots, 
 helmets, spurs, knives, hatchets, wedges, pick-axes, hooks, wooden 
 pegs, boxes filled with ointments, tow, bandages, coverlids for sleep, 
 ing on, horseshoe nails, bottles of verjuice and vinegar, iron, stone- 
 ware, pewter and wooden pots and dishes, candlesticks, basins, 
 vases, fat pigs, hasters, kitchen furniture, utensils for the buttery, and 
 for the other offices, and every article necessary for man or beast, 
 would have been struck with astonishment. The eagerness and 
 pleasure were so great in the beholding it, that, had any one had a 
 fever or a toothache, he would have got rid of them by running from 
 one place to another. The conversations which were overheard be- 
 tween the French showed they considered England would be ruined 
 and destroyed beyond resource, the men put to death, and the wo. 
 men and children carried in slavery to France. 
 
 The king of England and his council were duly informed of these 
 grand preparations ; and it was confidently affirmed and believed 
 that the French would not fail to invade the country, as they had 
 sworn they would do so. It is not strange that such formidable pre- 
 parations should require the utmost attention, nor would it be matter 
 of mucii surprise if the English were at first much alarmed ; for, 
 immense as these armaments were, they were greatly magnified ; 
 and it was not certain whether they were meant to invade England 
 or attack Calais by sea and land ; for the English knew well there 
 was not a town the French were more desirous of regaining than 
 Calais. On this account, great stores of corn and other grain, salted 
 meat and fish, wines, and brandies, were sent from England to Ca- 
 lais. Sir Thomas Holland, earl of Kent, sir Hugh Calverley, sir 
 William Elmham, the earl of Angus, eir Walter Warren, sir Walter 
 Paul, sir William Touchet, sir Lewis de Montalban, sir Colarsd'Am- 
 breticourt, were ordered thither to defend it, and with them five 
 hundred men-at-arms and as many archers. The earl of Arundel 
 and lord Henry Despenser put to sea with forty large ships, having 
 on board three hundred men-at-arms' and six hundred archers com- 
 pletely armed. 
 
 It was, on the other hand, reported in several places in France, 
 Hainault, and Picardy, that this armament was not destined for either 
 England or Calais, but that, when it was completed, it would invest 
 the town of Ghent. I was told, the men of Ghent were seriously 
 alarmed ; but they were to blame if they shov/ed any fear ; for the 
 duke of Burgundy, their lord, wished them nothing but prosperity, 
 although Francis Atremen, shortly after the peace, was slain at Ghent. 
 The duke was no way implicated in his death, for he bore him no 
 hatred, although, during the war of Ghent, he had performed many 
 gallant deeds in the service of his townsmen, as have been truly re- 
 lated in this history. If Francis Atremen came to such an end, he 
 has nobody to blame but himself; for, had he believed Peter du Bais, 
 this misfortune would not have befallen him. Peter du Bois gave 
 him notice what he might expect at the conclusion of the peace be- 
 tween the duke of Burgundy and Ghent, on their return to Ghent 
 from Tournay. When Peter was making his preparations to accom- 
 pany the lord Bourchier to England, he said, " Francis, what do you 
 say? will you not go to England with us? for now is the time." 
 " No," replied he, " I will remai-.i in Ghent." " And how," said 
 Peter, " can you suppose you will live there in quiet ? for there are 
 many who mortally hate both you and me. I would not remain 
 there for any sum of money ; for there is no dependence on the pop- 
 ulace. Have you never heard how they murdered Jacob von Arta- 
 veld, who had done them much service, and given them such good 
 advice, and had on all occasions assisted them ? and yet, from the 
 speeches of a linen-weaver they slew him, without any of the prin- 
 cipal inhabitants interfering in his behalf. On the contrary, they 
 dissembled, and in their hearts were rejoiced at his death. Now, 
 Francis, just so it will happen to you, and to me, if I stay ; but that 
 
 I will not, so I bid you adieu." " It will not so happen," replied 
 Francis, " for my lord of Burgundy has pardoned all, and ofiers me, 
 if 1 choose to reside with him, to be equerry of his stables with ffjur 
 horses at my command, and shows me, as well as the lord Guy de 
 la Trcmouille and the other knights of his household, every mark of 
 affection." " In God's name," said Peter, " I do not speak of niy 
 lord of Burgundy, nor of his knights, for they arc well inclined to 
 keep peace, but of the Ghent men. There are some to v/hom \ou 
 have not always behaved well : have you forgotten the lord do iLir- 
 zelles, whom you caused to be assassinated, and such and such 
 others ? Know, that the revenge of their relations will fall on you 
 within a short time, if you remain : take my advice : rather than 
 live here, accept the duke's offer." " I v.ill conf ider of this," an- 
 swered Francis ; " but I am determined not to go to England." 
 Thus the conversation ended. Francis Atremen staid in Flanders, 
 and Peter du Bois, as you have before heard, v/ent with lord Bour 
 chier to England. What followed youehall hear. Soon after peace 
 had been declared throughout Flanders, an edict was published in all 
 towns dependent on the duke of Burgundy, forbidding any one 
 whatever to wear armor or swords, or to have arms carried by their 
 followers. 
 
 Francis Atremen, during the war of Ghent, had been one of its 
 principal rulers, and one who had the most attention paid him. 
 Whenever he walked the streets, he was follov.-cd by thirty or forty 
 varlets, who were well pleased at any orders he chose to give them. 
 He had kept this state so long, that he war. loth to give it up, and 
 was desirous of being followed by three or four armed with swords 
 or defensive staves. When this procl-nnation of the duke of Bur- 
 gundy was made, he never imagined it in any way concerned him, 
 so much did he fancy himself in favor with the duke and the town : , 
 but he was mistaken ; for seven or eight days after the publication 
 of the edict, the duke's bailiff came to him and said, " Francis, you 
 seem suspicious and afraid of our lord's officers, or why do you now 
 go armed through the town of Ghent, followed by your vailet?, armed 
 also with swords as in times of war ? We are much displeased 
 thereat, and command you, in the name of the duke and duchess of 
 Burgundy, that you lay them aside." Francis, who in fact meant no 
 ill, but kept up this state through pomp, replied, " Bailiff, I shall 
 willingly obey your orders, as is right ; for, thank God, I beer no 
 malice nor wish evil to any one; but I thought I was so well con. 
 sidered in the town, that I might have had ray sword and armor 
 borne after me without its being objected to." " You are mistaken," 
 said the bailiff : " it is the townsmen, to whom you have done so 
 many services, who have interfered, and tell me they are surprised 
 how I suffer it ; for it seems to them you want to renew a war, for 
 which they have no inclination. I therefore beg of you, Francis, 
 that you will so act, as that I may hear no more of it, for if you do 
 not observe the edict, I shall look on you as an enemy to the duko 
 and duchess of Burgundy." 
 
 The bailiff of Ghent departed. Francis Atremen returned to hia 
 house, find ordered his varlets to lay aside their arms. He became 
 melancholy ; and, for the greater part of the times he went abroad, 
 it was alone, or having one varlet or a boy attending him. Net long 
 after this conversation with the bailiff, a festival was kept at the 
 monastery of St. Peter, without Ghent, whither Francis went alone, 
 or only attended by a single varlet, neither having swords nor arms. 
 He was watched, and followed by a bastard of the lat? lord de Har. 
 zcUes, anxious to revenge his death, in which common fame reported 
 Francis Atremen to have been guilty. The bastard, haxing provided 
 himself with an-^is, followed him out of the town, and when at a 
 proper distance, and no one near, he called out to him, " Francis, 
 you are a dead man: you put to death my father, and I v.-ill do the 
 like to you." As Francis turned round, the bastard, who was a stout 
 fellow, struck him so violent a blow on the head, that it split his 
 skull to the neck and felled him dead. The bastard walked quietly 
 awav, for none pursued him, and no more was said. Francis Atre- 
 men came by his death for not following the advice of Peter du 
 Bois. When news of this reached England, and cnme to the know, 
 ledge of Peter du Bois, he but slightly pitied him, saying, " Before I 
 left Ghent, I truly told him what would happen ; but he would not 
 mind what I said, and has suffered for it. See if any one v. ill med- 
 dle in the matter: certainly none of those who, during the war, 
 seemed such warm friends to him, and honored him so much. It 
 was for fear of such events that I followed the advice cf lord Bour- 
 chier, and came with him to England." 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII. 
 
 THE FRENCH PUT THEMSELVES TO USELESS EXPENSE ON THEIR JUKINE. 
 THE ENGLISH MAKE JUDICIOUS PREPARATIONS TO OPPOSE THEM. " 
 
 We will return to the preparations going forward at Damme and 
 Sluys, which were so formidable, thai the like was never remem. 
 bered in the memory of man, nor is there any written account of 
 such. Money was no more spared than if it rained gold, or was 
 pumped up from the sea. The great barons of France had sent theii 
 servants to Sluys to embark everything they might have occasion for 
 in this expedition; for all were impatient to cross over; and the 
 king, young as he was, showed greater impatience than any, Eaclj 
 
404 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, <fec. 
 
 ■ .-rd strove to have his vessel the best supplied, and the most orna. 
 mented with painting and gilding, with their arms emblazoned on 
 xhcm and on the flags. Painters made a good harvest, for they were 
 paid whatevf f they asked, and even with this there were not a suffi- 
 ••iency. The masts were painted from top to bottom ; and some, by 
 vtxy of magnificence, were even covered with sheets of fine gold, 
 -bove which were emljlazoned the arms of the diflTerent lords to whom 
 t.ie vessels belonged. It was told me, particularly, that sir Guy de 
 L\ Tremouille expended such sums in ornamenting and painting his 
 own ship, that they amounted to upward of two thousand francs. 
 Their banners, pennons, and standards, were so very grand, as to 
 surprise all who saw them. No ornament or decoration could be 
 imagined but these lords employed it on their vessels. The poor of 
 France paid for all : the taxes were so grievous in that country, that 
 the rich complained, and the poorer sorts ran away. 
 
 All that was going forward in France, Flanders, Bruges, Damme, 
 and Sluys, was known in England, and with many additions to the 
 real truth. The people in seVeral places were exceedingly alarmed, 
 and generally the priests made processions in many towns three times 
 a week ; where, with much devotion, they offered up their prayer to 
 God, to avert this peril from them. There were upward of one hun- 
 dred thousand who were desirous the French should come to Eng- 
 land, saying, to comfort the weak-hearted, " Let them come : by 
 God ! not a soul shall return back to tell their story." Such as were 
 in debt, and had not any intention of paying, nor wherewithal to do 
 80, were delighted, and said to their creditors, " Hold your tongues : 
 they are coining florins in France, and we will pay you with them :" 
 and thus they lived extravagantly, and expended largely, for credit 
 was not refused them. Whenever they were asked to pay, they re- 
 plied, " How can you ask for money ? is it not better that we spend 
 it, than that Frenchmen should find it and carry it away ?" Thus 
 were many thousand pounds sterling foolishly spent in England. 
 
 The king of England was during this time in Wales with the earl 
 of Oxford, who governed England, for without his consent nothing 
 was done. The king's privy council consisted of sir Simon Burley, 
 sir Nicholas Bramber, sir Robert Tresilian, sir Robert Beauchamp, 
 sir John Salisbury, sir Michael de la Fole, and also the bishop of 
 Norwich and sir William Neville, brother to the lord Neville. These 
 counsellors did with the king as they pleased, and carried him whither- 
 soever they liked ; for neither had his uncles of Cambridge and 
 Buckingham been able to retain any influence, nor could they act, 
 without knowing whether it were agreeable to the above-named 
 counsellors. All these discords were the topic of conversation in 
 France, and incited them to hasten their preparations. They wished 
 to force the duke of Lancaster to return from Castille, but would not 
 on that account have given up their invasion. The lords, prelates, 
 and citizens of the principal towns in England, having obtained exact 
 information that the French were nearly ready to put to sea, held an 
 assembly, in whicli they debated what was proper to be done. The 
 king was written to by his uncles to return to London, as the whole 
 country was much dissatisfied with him and his advisers. The king 
 and his council, not daring to refuse, left Wales, where he and his 
 queen had resided a considerable time. On his arrival at Windsor, 
 he staid some days, and, there leaving his queen, came to his palace 
 of Westminster. Those who had any business to transact went 
 thither to the king; and before the parliament was holden, a council 
 was called to consider how they might appease the great discontents 
 which appeared in the country. In this parliament, which was at- 
 tended by the king, his uncles, and all the nobles and prelates of the 
 realm, the earl of Salisbury, a prudent and valiaat man, spoke as 
 follows : " Your majesty, and my lords present, need not be surprised 
 if our adversary, the king of France, proposes to invade us ; for since 
 the death of the most potent and sagacious prince, Edward of happy 
 memory, our sovereign lard, this realm has incurred several risks of 
 being destroyed by its own subjects and the commotions of peasants. 
 It is also perfectly well known in France that we disagree among 
 ourselves, and are torn by faction, which makes them imagine their 
 enterprise cannot fail of success. The danger is indeed great, for 
 he must be weak who fears not his enemy. While we remained 
 united, the king with the people, and the people with the king, we 
 were victorious and powerful, and there were none able to do us any 
 essential injury. It is therefore necessary (and never was anything 
 in England more pressing) for us to act in unity, and reform what 
 may be wrong, if we wish to preser\'e our honor, as well as for us to 
 inquire into the state of our ports, that such defence may be made 
 that the kingdom be not any way hurt, nor we accused of neglect by 
 the country. This realm has been long in its flower ; and you know 
 that what is in flower has greater need of attention than if in fruit. 
 We must therefore act as if it was in flower ; for, since these last 
 sixty years, those knights and squires who have gone out of it have 
 acqui.ed more renown than any others of what nation soever. Let 
 us exert ourselves, that our honor be preserved untarnished as long 
 as we live." 
 
 This speech of the earl of Salisbury was attentively listened to ; 
 and the lords said, it would be right to follow his advice. I will not 
 longer dwell on what was debated at this meeting, for I do not pre- 
 tend to know everything; but I do know, that after proper care had 
 been taken, as I have already noticed, for the defence of Calais, all 
 the coast of England, where it was thought the French would land, 
 
 was well guarded The earl of Salisbury, because his estate wsa 
 in the Isle of Wight, which lies opposite to the country of Caux in 
 Normandy, was ordered thither to guard and defend it with the men. 
 at-arms and archers of that country. The earl of Devonshire was 
 sent to Southampton with two hundred men-at-arms and six hundred 
 "archers, to guard that haven. The earl of Northumberland to the 
 port of Rye, with the same number of men-at-arms and archers. 
 The earl of Cambridge was sent to Dover with five hundred men-at- 
 arms and twelve hundred archers. His brother, the earl of Bucking, 
 ham, to Sandwich, with six hundred men-at-arms and twelve hundred 
 archers. The earls of Stafford and Pembroke to Orwell, with five 
 hundred men-at-arms and twelve hundred archers. Sir Henry and 
 sir Faulx Percy to Yarmouth, with three hundred men-at-arms and 
 six hundred archers. Sir Simon Burley was appointed governor of 
 Dover castle only. 
 
 Every port and harbor from the Humber to Cornwall was well 
 provided with men-at-arms and archers, and watchmen were posted 
 on all the hills near the sea-coasts opposite to France and Flanders. 
 The manner of posting the watches was as follows : they had large 
 Gascony casks filled with sand, which they placed one on the other, 
 rising like columns ; on these were planks, where the watchmen 
 remained night and day on the look-out. They were ordered, the 
 moment they should observe the fleet of France steering toward land, 
 to light torches and make great fires on the hills to alarm the coun, 
 try, and the forces within sight of these fires were to hasten thither. 
 It had been resolved to allow the king of France to land, and even 
 to remain unmolested for three or four days : they were first to attack 
 the fleet, and destroy it and all their stores, and then to advance on 
 the king of France, not to combat him immediately, but to harass 
 his army, so that they might be disabled and afraid to forage ; for the 
 corn countries were all to be burnt, and England at best is a difficult 
 foraging country ; by which plan they would be starved and easily 
 destroyed. Such was the plan laid down by the council of England. 
 Rochester bridge was ordered to be broken down, for a deep river 
 runs under it, which flows through Sussex and Kent, and falls into 
 the Thames, opposite the island of Sheppy. The Londoners would 
 pull this bridge down, for the greater security of their town. 
 
 If the taxes were burdensome on towns and persons in France, I 
 must say they were not much lighter in England, and the country 
 suffered from them a long time afterwards ; but they were paid cheer- 
 fully, that they might be more effectually guarded.* There were at 
 this time ten thousand men-at-arms and one hundred thousand arch- 
 ers in England, although the duke of Lancaster had led so large a 
 force to Castille. I will now speak a litde of this duke, and of the 
 interview between him and the king of Portugal, and then return to 
 England, for the matter presses, and I wish to speak of each and of 
 their respective transactions. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
 
 THE KING OF PORTUGAL, WHEN INFORMED OF THE DUKE OF LANCASTER'S 
 ARRIVAL AT SAINT JAGO, WRITES HIM FRIENDLY LETTERS. THE KiNQ 
 OF CASTILLE DEMANDS SUCCORS FROM FRANCE. THE TOWN OF ROUEL. 
 LES IN GALICIA TAKEN BY THE ENGLISH. 
 
 You have before heard of the arrival of the duke of Lancaster 
 with a large army at Coruna ; how that city, but not the castle, had 
 surrendered to him on terms similar to those which were imposed on 
 the other towns in Castille, by which means me cny was neitner 
 attacked nor hurt ; you ha^^e also heard how he and his family had 
 taken possession of Saint .Tago de Compostella, where he intended to 
 reside, until he should have some intelligence from the king of Por 
 tugal. Don John, as soon as he knew the duke to be at St. Jago, 
 was much rejoiced, thinking that, when united, they could carry on 
 an advantageous war against Castille. He ordered the most friendly 
 letter? to be written to the duke and duchess, and to be forwarded 
 instantly by special messengers. The receipt of such letters gave 
 much pleasure to the duke and duchess ; for they had great depend, 
 ence on the king of Portugal, and knew that, without his aid, they 
 would never be enabled to do anything effectual against Castille. 
 They, therefore, made rich presents to the messengers, and returned 
 the warmest answers. The duke, in his answer, gave the king to 
 understand, that he should have much pleasure if an interview took 
 place between them, as he wanted to have some conferences with 
 him. 
 
 While all these marks of afl'ection were reciprocally tendered and re. 
 ceived between the king of Portugal and the duke of Lancaster, the 
 king of Castille was strengthening himself by every means in his power. 
 He frequently stated his situation to the court of France, and was 
 urgent in his demands for assistance to defend his realm ; for he ex 
 pected, when the season would allow, that there would be a vigorous 
 war made on him, as the king of Portugal and the duke of Lancaster 
 would then form a junction, and would be in such force as would 
 
 * The dissensions between the king and his parliament ran iiigh at liiis period: th« 
 parliament refui-ed to grant snpphes, and the king declared tliat if tiiey were denied h« 
 would apply to the king of France, to whom he would sooner be oblifred tlian his sub- 
 jects. An accommodation was at length effected. Richard consented to banish hii 
 favorite, the earl of Suffolk, and supplies were voted to maintain the war agninttth« 
 king of France ; theii admioistratioa wo* however coofided to a body of Uiiitr eMQ* 
 masioQtrs.— £jt>. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 405 
 
 overrun all Castillc, unless he could raise an army to oppose them. 
 The king of France and his council, in their answer, desired the 
 king of" Castillo not to be uneasy ; for, before the month of January 
 was passed, they would give the English so much to do at home, as 
 to prevent them from knowing which way to turn themselves; that 
 when England should be completely destroyed, they would come to 
 his aid by sea, through Galicia or Portugal ; and if their enemies 
 still remained in that country, they would drive them out of it in a 
 handsome manner, and within the year put an end to all these wars. 
 The king of Castille contented himself with this answer as well as 
 he could : indeed, he could not help himself ; for none came to him 
 from France, excepting those who had defended the castle of Coruiia. 
 All knights and squires, however great their distance in the kingdom, 
 h:!St;ined to Paris, Lille, and Douay : and the whole of that country, 
 to tiie extent of fourteen leagues, was filled with men-at-arms and 
 their followers. The multitudes were so great, that those who su- 
 pfci.-.-r-'nded the shipping, notwithstanding the number of vessels, 
 declared they could not be all transported at once, by at least forty 
 thousand men. 
 
 It was ordered that no one was to be received on board the trans- 
 ports but true men-at-arms; and no knight was to have more than 
 one variet, nor any great baron more than two squires. No horses 
 were to be embarked but those of the principal lords ; and this was 
 so strictly observed at Sluys that the names of none were written 
 down for the passage, nor received on board, but good men-at-arms. 
 There was such a rascally crew in Flanders, in the country of Tour- 
 nay, and in the castlewicks of Lille, Douay, and Artois, that they 
 devoured and plundered everything, to the great loss of the poor in- 
 habitants, on whom they lived, though they dared not complain for 
 fear of their lives. They were more destructive than the English 
 would have been if quartered in that country. The king of France 
 and his lords had many fears ; for, should they leave these scoun- 
 drels behind, they would unite and master the country ; and this 
 would have happened, had the invasion taken place, and been un- 
 successful. 
 
 During the residence of the duke and duchess of Lancaster at St. 
 .Tago, several of their knights and squires made excursions into the 
 country, and supported themselves in the best manner in which they 
 were able, on whatever they could find. It fell out that sir Thomas 
 M-.reaux, marshal of the army, in company with sir Maubrun de 
 Linieres, sir John d'Ambreticourt, Thierry, and William de Soumain, 
 and about two hundred spears and five hundred archers, when in 
 Galicia, came before the town of Rouelles, seven leagues from Saint 
 Jago. He had heard that the townsmen would not acknowledge the 
 duke of Lancaster for king ; and had slain his foragers, who, on their 
 return, had passed by iheir barriers. They had ruined their roads 
 so much, that the only tolerable one was close to the town ; and, 
 when they found a good opportunity, they rushed out, and, like 
 thieves as they were, murdered all passers, whether foragers or not. 
 Complaints had been made of their conduct to the marshal, who was 
 determined to apply a remedy, that being a part of his official duty. 
 Pie and his companions dismounted, when near the town. The 
 watch had before sounded his horn, which had prepared the inhab- 
 itants, and they had closed the gates and mounted the battlements ; 
 for it would not have fared well to any one who had remained with- 
 out the Wall. The marshal, seeing from their appearance it must 
 be assaulted, and having mused a while, said to sir John d'Ambreti- 
 court and Thierry de Soumain, " Mount your horses, and ride round 
 the town tj see where we may the best make our assault, and with 
 the least loss of our men." Having mounted their horses, they soon 
 rode round the place, for it was of no great circuit, and carefully 
 examined every part of it. On their return to the marshal, who was 
 waiting for them, they said, " Sir, this town has but two gates : you 
 are at one, and the other is directly opposite : these are the two pla- 
 ces which seem t ) us easiest of attack ; for the ditches round the 
 town are deep, difficult of descent and ascent, on account of thorns 
 and brambles." " I believe you are right," replied the marshal : "I 
 will remain here with a part of our men, and you Maubrun, shall 
 take the other and commence the attack. I know not what may be 
 the event, but I with joy see those fellows, who, from their battle- 
 ments, observe all we are doing. Look at them, they are as sulky, 
 boding as monkeys eating pears, which children want to take from 
 them." His companions burst out a laughing at this expression, and 
 casting up their eyes tJ see the villains (which they had not before 
 thought of,) vi'ent av;ay with Maubrun and his pennon. They were 
 about one hundred lances and three hundred archers, who advanced 
 slowly tD the opposite gate and halted. 
 
 Attacks were made on both gates with great gallantry ; but the 
 men of Rouelles, from their battlements, defended themselves with 
 titones and dartrs, so that the archers and cross-bowmen were unable 
 to act with success, and many were severely wounded. However, 
 as the barriers were defenceless, for all had retired within the walls, 
 the English destroyed the pidisades and advanced up to the gates. 
 They battered them so as to make them shake again ; but the in- 
 habitants, aware of the mischief Nvhich might ensue from their gates 
 being forced, came down from the battlements, and placed against 
 them faggots and large beams of wood. Women and otheiti brought 
 earth and Btones, with which they filled casks, and these they ar- 
 ranged against \he gates, closing up the whole of the entrances. 
 
 While this was going on, others on the battlement: , over the gate- 
 ways, threw down large stones and bars oi iron, so that none dared 
 venture too near for fear of these things, which kiiied whomever 
 they hit. Thus did these peasants hold out their town against the 
 English, who suffered indeed no loss until night ; but they were 
 forced to retreat to a deserted village, a long league distant, to seek 
 for lodgings, where they rem.ained until the morrow. The spies 
 sent after them brought back word that they had taken up their 
 quarters at the village of Lyrias, but it seemed as if they would, on 
 the next day, renew the attack. The townsmen, on hearing this, 
 said among themselves, " The shortest follies arc the best: we can 
 never be blamed for surrendering to the duke of Lancaster, or to his 
 marshal, having, ourselves, held out one whole day against them, 
 without advice or assistance from any gentleman whatever. This 
 we cannot long persist in, and, having begun the attack, the enemy 
 will, of course, renew it, since they knov/ the way. It will, there- 
 fore, be better to surrender before they be,'^in an a^;sault ; for, if we 
 bo taken by storm, we shall lose our lives as well as our money." 
 
 All agreed to this : and it was deterrnin'id that, if the English re. 
 turned on the morrow, they would go out to meet them, and surren- 
 der the town on having their lives and properties spared. In truth, 
 the English made their appearance shortly after sunrise, fresh and 
 eager to renew the attack. When they were observed, four of the 
 principal townsmen were sent out to conclude a treaty. As the 
 marshal advanced under his pennon, casting his eyes around, he 
 perceived I'lese four men, and said, "I believe there are some from 
 Rouelles, wiio want to parley with us : make thcrji come forward." 
 This was done ; and when they were near the marshal, they cast 
 themselves on their knees, and said, " My lord, the inhabitants of 
 Rouelles have sent us to parley with you ; will you hear us ?" 
 "Yes," replied the marshal ; " what have you to say ?" " My lord, 
 we come to offer the surrender of our town, if you will lake us and 
 ad we possess under your protection ; and we will acknowledge the 
 duke and duchess of Lancaster for our sovereigns, in like manner 
 as those of Coruiia and Saint Jago have done." '* I will take you, 
 and all that belongs to you, under niy protection," answered the 
 marshal ; " but I will not insure your provisions, for men-at-arms 
 must live." The deputies said, " That was reasonable; and the 
 country abounded in provisions of all sorts ; but wait here a moment, 
 that we may return to the town and relate wiiat you have said, for 
 we will keep the agreement, and we trust you will do the same." 
 "Yes, on my faith will I," replied sir Thomas; "but make haste 
 back." Upon this the four men returned to the town, to relate how 
 sir Thomas had agreed to accept their terms, except in the article of 
 provisions. They said, "God grant it may be so ; for you have suc- 
 ceeded better than we expected." They then disencumbered the 
 gate of the casks, beams, and faggots, and opening it wide, advan- 
 ced to the barriers with the keys in their hands. When the mar- 
 shal approached, he and his companions dismounted ; and the towns- 
 men on their knees, presenting the keys, said, " My lord, you are 
 sent hither, we learn, by the duke and duchess of Lancaster: wo 
 therefore offer you the keys, and surrender our town, as agreed on 
 between you and our men." " Upon these terms J accept the keys," 
 replied the marshal ; and he and his men entered the town, where 
 they quartered themselves here and there in the best manner they 
 could. Sir Thomas Moreaux remained there the whole day. On 
 the morrow, before his departure, he said to sir Thomas Maubrun 
 de Linieres, " I give this town up to you and your men : you will 
 make a good garrison of it." " By St. George, and so I will," re- 
 plied sir Maubrun ; " for I like it well." 
 
 Sir Maubrun de Linieres remained in garrison in Rouelles, having 
 under him sixty spears and one hundred archers. Sir Thorhas Mo. 
 reaux returned to the duke and duchess at Saint Jago. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX. 
 
 THE MARSHAL OF THE DUKE OF LANCASTER'S ARMY ATTACKS AND 
 GAINS BY TREATY THE TOWN OF VILLECLOPK IN GALICIA. THE 
 DL'KE SENDS E.MBASSADORS TO THE KING OF P02.TUGAI. TO ARRANGE 
 AN INTERVIEW BETWEEN THEM. 
 
 Shortly after the marshal's return from RoueHes, he assembled 
 a body of about three hundred spears and six hundred archers, and, 
 thus accompanied, advanced into Galicia a long day's journey from 
 Saint Jago, and came before a town called Villeclope, which was 
 only defended by the common people of the place. The marshf.1 
 not only examined it himself, but made his companions do 30, and 
 then asked if they thought it might be taken by storm. After some 
 consideration, they said it could. Upon this they all dismounted, 
 and gave their horses to the servant? to be led to the rear. They 
 divided themselves into three divisions, and gave their orders like 
 able men-at-arms. Sir Thomas Moreaux had the first : he gave the 
 second to sir Evan Fitzwarren, and the third to sir John d'Ambreti. 
 court. Each had under his command eighty spears, and seven score 
 archers, which was thought sufficient for the attack of such a place. 
 
 They approached the town, entered the ditch, and gallantly made 
 themselves masters of it, for it was dry, and ascended to the walla 
 well shielded :* the archers were posted on the banks of the ditch, 
 
 * Bien tarc^i ct ptvisi^s. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 anil shut so ably that scarcely any dared to show theiuselvts iii its 
 defeiico. Notwiihstiindi.ig tnis, tne townsmen fought valiantly, and 
 they were very nunu-irous ; some lanched darts, ofaers stones, and 
 used long poles shod with iror., which gave such blows that on 
 whomsoever they lell, unless well armed, he was severely wounded 
 or bldin. The kni^jhts and squires, eager for renown, were busily 
 employed iij loosening the wall with pick-axes and crowbars, which 
 thyy had brought with them, and continued their work in spite of 
 liic stunrs and lime-pots thrown down on their pavisses and basnets. 
 M:my gallant deeds were done; and in particular by two squires 
 trom Hainault, Thierry and William de Soumain. They, with their 
 iisnsLuit.^, made a breach in the wall, and fought hand to hand with 
 those within. These two brothers gained seven lances, which were 
 pushed at them through the breach, by wresting them out of the ene- 
 my's hands. They were under the pennon of sir Evan Fitzwarren. 
 
 Sir John d'Ambreticourt made no boy's-play, but showed himself 
 a true knight: he posted himself at the foot of the walls, and his 
 pennon, with his arms of two hamets gules on a field ermine, fixed 
 in the ground before him : he had a pick-axe in his hand, laboring 
 with ail his might to batter the wall. One may be surprised the 
 townsmen were not frightened when they saw themselves thus 
 attacked on all sides : but it lasted not long, t^or there were too many 
 able men employed, and, perceiving what must happen, they re- 
 solved t J surrender. The bailiff of the town, through whose means 
 the place had held out for the king, came forth, and, having de- 
 manied who was the commander, said : " My lord, order a cessa- 
 tion of arms, for the inhabitants wish to enter into a treaty with you.*' 
 The marshal replied, he would cheerfully do so, and sent a herald 
 round the ditches, who thus spoke to the English: " Cease assaulting 
 until you shall hear the trumpet of the marshal, for there is a treaty 
 going ibrward with the townsmen." On this speech of the herald, 
 the attack was suspended, and the assailants reposed themselves: 
 indeed, many had need of it, for they had labored hard and were 
 much fatigued. The townsmen, by their bailiff, said they were 
 willing to yield the town on having their lives and fortunes spared, 
 as tlie other towns in Galicia had done " Indeed !" said the mar- 
 Bha!, " but you will not come off so cheaply ; for you have given us 
 much trouble, and wounded our men. You see plainly you cannot 
 hold out longer, and you must purchase your peace from us, or we 
 return to the attack, and take your town by storm." " And what is 
 the sum you expect for our ransom ?" " In God's name," said the 
 marshal, ten thousand francs." " You ask too much," replied 
 the bailiff : " I offer you two thousand, for the town is poor, and has 
 been heavily taxed." "I will not accept your offer," said the mar- 
 shal ; *' but take time to consider of it, and do not let the place be 
 lost for three or four thousand I'rancs, for all must be ours. I am 
 already blamed by my companions for having entered into any 
 treaty with you : therefore make haste, and either pay a handsome 
 ransom or take the consequences." The bailiff returned to the 
 tov/n, and, caiii ng the inhabitants together, said, What will you 
 do ? If you suffer the English to renew the attack, they will storm 
 the town, put us all to death, and plunder our wealth. They de- 
 mand ten thousand francs, and I have offered two, which I know is 
 too litde, and they will never take them : we must increase our offer 
 two or thiee thousand more." Some, who were much alarmed for 
 their lives and fortunes, said : " Bailiff, do not fail making a bargain 
 with them ; for, sooner than they shall renew the assault, we will 
 give four thousand francs." " It is well said," answered the bailiff, 
 " and 1 will again treat with them." 
 
 On this, the bailiff came again to the marshal, who was waiting 
 for him ; and a ransom was agreed on, which, if I recollect, was six 
 thousand francs. The gates were thrown open to the army, who 
 quartered themselves in the town, and refreshed themselves there 
 two days. The marshal gave the place as a garrison to sir Evan 
 Fitzwarren, who had under him two hundred men-at-arms and four 
 hundred archers ; he held the place upward of eight months : but 
 the ransom-money went to the duke of Lancaster, the marshal 
 retaining one thousand francs. 
 
 After this surrender of Villeclope, the marshal returned to St. 
 Jago, which v/as his head-quarters, for the duke was desirous of 
 having him near his person. At times, he marched to the borders 
 of Castille, to alarm the French : but in general the English did not 
 quit Galicia, whither the king of Castille sent none to oppose them ; 
 for he was advised not to attack them with a large army, but to ha- 
 rass them from his garrisons, and to wait for succors from France. 
 The duke's counsellors said to him as follows: " My lord, it is ne- 
 cessary that you and the king of Portugal should have an interview 
 to confer together. You write to each other, but that is not enough ; 
 for the French are a subtle race, and see farther into affairs than 
 most other nations. Should they, underhand, make a peace between 
 the king of Portugal and the king of Castille, who has at his court, 
 as we have been informed, several of the great barons of Portugal, 
 either by a njarriage or otherwise, so as to prevent you from having 
 any astistance from him, what would become of you ? You would 
 be in a much worse condition than ever in this country, and the 
 Castillians would not care anything for us, for you know they are 
 the f ilsest and most gloomy people in the world. Do you imagine 
 tht kii\g of Portugal has not thoroughly examined everything that 
 concerns him ? and if the king of Castille would agree to a peace, 
 
 allov.-ing him for hia life t > reign in Portugal, and himself to be un 
 molested in Castille, we doubt not but he would turn his back on 
 you, notwithstanding he h.as been so pressing lo bring you hither. 
 Thus will you be completely ruined. You are well acquainted with 
 the present state of England, thai it has enough to do to make head 
 against its old enemietj the French and Scots. Make the most, 
 therefore, of the men you now have, and push on the war vigoroufly; 
 for, if you expect any reinforcements from England, you will be dia. 
 appointed. You were two years in obtaining what you now have, 
 and the king, your nephew, does not feel for the interests which 
 made you quit the country. He is young, and confides in young 
 counsellors, which has thrown England into much peril. Have an 
 interview, therefore, with the king of Portugal as speedily as may 
 be, and talk to him yourself; for you will gain more in one conver. 
 sation than by four months' writing." 
 
 The duke of Lancaster treasured up these words ; for he knew 
 they were the truth, and that they had loyally advised him. He 
 answered, " What would you have me do?" " We wi^h you would 
 send five or six of your knights lo the king of Portugal, and we ad- 
 vise that a baron, at least, be of the number, to remonstrate with 
 him on public affairs; and let it be suggested that you are very anx- 
 ious to have 'some personal conferences with him. Those whom 
 you send will, of course, act with inadence ; but, by all means, let 
 them press for an immediate interview." The duke consented to 
 this proposal ; and the lord Pcinings, a great baron in England, sir 
 John Bancel,* sir John d'Ambreticourt, and sir John Sounder, bas. 
 tard brother to the constable of the army, were ordered to go to For. 
 tugal. These lords made themselves ready to set out from Saint 
 Jago, with one hundred spears and two hundred archers ; but just as 
 they were on the point of departure, having received their credential 
 letters, there arrived from Portugal a knight and squire, attended by 
 twelve lances. The knight's name was Vasco Martin d'Acunha, 
 and the squire Fernando Martin de Merlo : they were both of the 
 king's household, and the nearest about his person. They were 
 comfortably lodged in Saint Jago, and presented to the duke and 
 duchess, by each of whom they were mcst graciomly received- 
 They delivered their letters to their graces, which being read, they 
 found, that in addition to the strong expressions of friendship ano 
 affection, the king of Portugal had sent two handsome ambling vvhite 
 mules, which gave them much pleasure. The English embassy was 
 not for this laid aside ; it was only retarded four days. On the fifth 
 day they set out, accompanied by the Portuguese ; and the duke, as 
 a token of friendship, sent the king of Portugal two such beautiful 
 pilgrim-falcons as had never been seen, and six English grayhounds, 
 excellently trained for hunting all sorts of beasts. 
 
 The English and Portuguese continued their journey through 
 Galicia, without fear of the Castillians, for they were at too great a 
 distance. On the road sir John d'Ambreticourt and Ferdinand de 
 Merlo commenced an acquaintance; for the squire had. in former 
 times, served with sir Eustace d'Ambreticourt, sir John's uncle, and 
 had even been with him when he died in Carentan. They continued 
 in conversation until they arrived at the gale of Coimbra, where the 
 king of Portugal resided. As they were riding gently together, be. 
 hind the rest of their company, they met a herald and his servunt 
 from Coimbra, on the road to the duke and his lords at Saint Jago 
 He was attached to the king of Portugal, who, at the time of his 
 coronation, had given him the name of Coimbra. The herald had 
 already conversed with the lords who were advanced ; and when 
 don Ferdinand saw him, he said : " Here comes the king's herald, 
 who has not been long in this country : I will inquire some news 
 from him." When they met, the squire said, "Where have you 
 been for this year past, that I have not seen you ?" " In God's 
 name," replied the herald, " I have been in England to the king 
 and his uncles, who have made me very rich. I went thence by 
 sea to Brittany, and was present at the marriage of the duke, and at 
 the grand feasts he gave two months in the town of Nantes on his 
 union with the lady Jane of Navarre.t From thence 1 returned to 
 Guerrande, and by sea to Portugal." 
 
 While he was thus speaking, the squire kept his eyes fixed on an 
 enamelled scutcheon that hung on the herald's breast, on whicfi w^ere 
 emblazoned the arms of the king of Portugal and other knights of 
 Portugal. Pointing with his finger to a coat of arms, he said : "Ah, 
 here are the arms of a gallant knight of Portugal, sir John Portelei, 
 which I am happy to see ; for he is a valiant knight, and was once 
 of great service to me, which I ought always to remember." When, 
 taking out of his purse four florins, he gave them to the herald, who 
 returned him thanks. Sir John d'Ambreticourt also examines! the 
 scutcheon, and remembering the arms, told me some time afterward, 
 that the arms were two chaudidres sables on a field argent, with an 
 endenture gules. 
 
 When the herald had taken his leave and departed, the squire thus 
 spoke : " Sir John, you noticed those sable chaudi^res, which the 
 knight, to whom I am so much indebted, bore in his arms ?" " Yes, 
 I did," replied sir John ; " but tell me the cause why you praise him 
 so much : I shall willingly listen to you ; for, as we ride on, we shall 
 
 • Q,. if not lord Burnel. In Uie latest French edition it is Buvrele ; anglicci Beveriy^ 
 
 fon the decease of Uie duk» of Brittany, she was queen of £ngland, by bar marriaffe 
 with Henry IV. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 407 
 
 be at a loss for conversation." " That 1 will do," replied he ; " for' 
 such a knight is worth talking of. A little before the battle of Alju. 
 barota, as the king of Portugal was marching through the country 
 from Coimbra, he sent me to seek some of his knights, that they 
 might be present at the engagement. I therefore rode off, attended 
 only by a single page. In my way, I fell in with twenty Gascon 
 lances, and I was suddenly in the midst before I perceived them, 
 when I was made prisoner, and asked whither I was going. I said, 
 
 • To the castle du Rout.'* ' What to do there ?' ' To seek sir John 
 Fernando Portelet; for the king wishes for his company at Aljuba. 
 rota.' 'What I is not don Fernando governor of Ront, with your 
 king of Portugal V ' No,' I replied, ' he is not ; but he will hasten 
 thither the moment he hears my message.' ' In God's name,' said 
 they, ' he shall hear it ; for we will ride thither.' On saying this, 
 they turned about, and took the road to Ront. When they were 
 within sight, the watch on the battlements sounded his horn, as a 
 signal for the appearance of an enemy. 
 
 Don Fernando asked from what quarter they were coming. 
 ' From the side of Oporto,' replied the watch. ' Ah, ah,' said he, 
 
 • they must be Castitlians seeking adventures, and on their road to 
 Santarem. 1 will go and look at them ; for they may possibly tell 
 me some news, and where the king is.' Having ordered his horse 
 to be saddled, and his pennon to be unfurled, he set off on a gallop, 
 with only nineteen more, to meet the enemy, who had formed an 
 ambuscade. The Ca&tillian party had sent one of their men to scour 
 over the plain, mounted on a genet, which being perceived by don 
 Fernando, he said to a squire, ' Gallop thy genet, and see who that 
 fellow is prancing on the plain.' The squire, sticking spurs into his 
 horse, soon came up with the horseman, who suffered himself nearly 
 to be overtaken : for his orders were to return instantly to the am- 
 buscade, if followed by any one. When they were hard by, the 
 whole party sallied forth and pursued the squire, who, being well 
 mounted, had turtsed back. In the c'sase, they shouted ' Castillo 1' 
 which convinced don Fernando, who had halted under his pennon, 
 to wait for his squire, whom they were closely pursuing, that they 
 were enemies ; and he said, ' I am now sure they mu^t be Castillians: 
 let us shout " Portugal !" for I am resolved to meet them.' At these 
 words he grasped his spear, and came on full speed up to them. 
 The first whom he met he struck to the ground, and the second shared 
 the same fate. Of the tvv^enty-five spears, ten were already lying on 
 the ground ; the remainder took to flight ; and of them several were 
 likewise slain or wounded. All this I witnessed with great pleas- 
 ure ; for I saw in it my deliverance, and in a few minutes was left 
 alone. I then advanced toward don Fernando, who, on seeing me, 
 recollected me ; for I had been formerly acquainted with him, and 
 asked from whence I came,- and what I was doing there : I then re- 
 lated tj him my adventure, and how the Spaniards had taken me. 
 'And where is the king? Do you know nothing about him ?' ' On 
 my troth, sir, to-morrow he will give battle to the king of Castille ; 
 and I was sent to tell this to such knights as were ignorant of it,' 
 
 • To-morrow 1' said don Fernando. ' Yes, on my faith ; and, if you 
 doubt me, ask these Castillians whom you have t;;ken.' 
 
 " He went to his prisoners, and inquired from them if there were 
 certainly to be a battle on the morrow. They said, that in truth 
 there would be a general engagement on the morrow between Cas. 
 tille and Portugal, and that each side was making every exertion. 
 The knight was well pleased at this intelligence, insomuch that he 
 said to them, ' For the good news you have told me, I give you all 
 your liberties, but surrender to m.e my countryman.' Thus did I re- 
 gain my freedom ; and, don Fernando having taken leave of those 
 who captured me, they went their way. We returned to Ourem, 
 where the knight made himself ready, and we set off together about 
 midnight. The distance from Ourem to Aljubarota may be about 
 six leagues ; but, to avoid the Castillians and their parties, we length- 
 ened our road. We heard, long before we saw the armies drawn 
 up, that there was to be a batde ; and, when we approached, we saw 
 the king of Portugal in array, and bhe king of Castille opposite to 
 him. At first, the knight could not distinguish the Portuguese from 
 the Ca-lillians, but said, ' I should imagine the largest army must be 
 that of Castille.' We rode so near that we plainly distinguished Hip 
 enemy drawn up in battle array: some put themselves i:2 motion, 
 in pursuit of us ; but I fancy they were foreigners, from Gascony. 
 Don Fernando, observing them, said, ' Here are our enemies : let 
 us hasten av/ay.' The enemy advanced full gallop, shouting, ' Cas. 
 tille, Castille i' but our men, seeing our situation, came to our assist- 
 ance: the main body, however, did not take any step in consequeice. 
 The king received don Fernando with great joy, and he was jTOSted 
 at the bridle of the king's horse, for he was one of our bravest 
 knight;. I feel myself under the greatest obligation to him for hav- 
 ing delivered rae from the hands of mine enemies; ptherwise I 
 should not iiuve been present at this famous battle of Aljubarota. 
 Now, did he not do me a great service ?" " On my fait/i, that he did," 
 replisd' sir John; " and, from what you have said, he must be well 
 acquairitiid with his busine&s." " Ay, that he i?," answered the 
 squire. Upon ihis, they rode on :i little faster to overtake their com- 
 panions ; and they all arrived that night at Coimbra. 
 
 * " Castle di^ Ront,"— Q, if not Ourem. 
 
 CHAPTER XL. 
 
 THE T5UKE OF LANCASTER HAS AN INTERVIEW WITH THE KINCJ OF FORTU 
 GAL. A MARRIAGE IS AGREED UPON BETWEEN THE KING AND THE 
 LADY PHILIPPA, DAUGHTER OF THE DUKE. 
 
 The king of Portugal was well pleased at the arrival of the Eng. 
 lish knights, and commanded that they should be comfortably lodged 
 When they were ready, don Martin d'Acunha ar.d don Fernandc 
 Martin de Merlo, who were acquainted with the king's habits, intro. 
 duced them to him. He received thern very graciously ; and after 
 some conversation, which they knew well liow to keep up, they pre. 
 sented the falcons and grayhounds. The king cheerfully scc( pled 
 them, as he was fond of the chase. They returned the king thanks, 
 on the part of the duke and duchess of Lancafeter, I'or the handsoms 
 mules he had given them. The king replied, thccc were trifles, 
 merely tokens of affection, such as lords desirous of maintaining love 
 and friendship ought to make to each other ; but he should soon offer 
 more splendid presents. Wine and spices were now brought, of 
 which the English knights having partake n, they took leave of the 
 king and returned to their lodgings, where they supped. On the 
 morrow, they dined at the palace, and the lord Poinings and sir John 
 Bancel were seated at the king's table. Sir John d'Ambreticourt 
 and sir John Sounder were at another table with the great barons of 
 the kingdom, among whom was Lawrence Fongasse, squire of honor 
 to the kinjj, who was well known to these knights, having been ac 
 quainted with them in England ; on which account he made them 
 the best cheer in his power, and this he knew well how to do. 
 
 The dinner the king of Portugal gave to these knights was very 
 handsome and v/ell served : when over, they adjourned to the coun- 
 cil-chamber, and the knights, addressing themselves to the king, the 
 count d'Acunha and the count de Novaire spoke as follows : " Sire, 
 with all the compliments the duke of Lancaster has charged us to 
 pay you, he ordered us to say that he is very desirous of having a 
 personal interview with you." The king replied, he was equally 
 anxious for it, and added, " I beg of you to hasten everything as 
 much as possible, that we may have a conference together." " That 
 will be very proper," said the barons of Portugal ; " for until you 
 meet you will never understand each other. You may then confer 
 on the most effectual means of carrying on the war against the king 
 of Castille." " That is true," answered the knights. " Be speedy 
 about it, then," eaid the king: "for, if the duke wishes to see me, I 
 wish also to see him." They then entered on other conversation ; 
 ior the council was to detennine when and where this meeting should 
 take place, and inform the English knights of it. This was done 
 It was agreed the king of Portugal should f>:o to Oporto, and the duke 
 of Lancaster advance along the borders of Galicia ; and somewhere 
 between them and Oporto the meeting was to be held. When the 
 English knights had remained three days at Coimbra, they departed 
 and followed the same road back to Saint Jago, where they related 
 to the duke and duchess all that had passed. They were, with 
 reason, well satisfied with it, for their affairs seemed now likely to 
 be at'ended to. 
 
 When the day of meeting approached, the duke of Lancaster left 
 his army, under the command of his marshal, at Saint Jago, and at- 
 tended by three hundred spears and six hundred archers, and sir 
 John Holland, (who had married his eldest daughter,) with manj 
 knights, rode toward the frontiers of Portugal. The king of Por- 
 tugal, hearing that the duke was set out from Saint Jago, left Oporto 
 with six hundred spears, and went to a town callt d in that country 
 Mon5ao, the last town of Portugal on that side. The duke cam: 
 to a town on the frontiej^ called Mclgago. Between Mon^ao an<* 
 Melgago runs a small river through meadows and fields, over whic/' 
 is a bridge called Pont de More.* 
 
 On a Thursday morning, the kiag of Portugal and the duke ri 
 Lancaster had their first interview at this bridge, attended by thei • 
 escorts, when they made acquaintance with each other. On thi 
 king of Por-*tigal's side had been built a bower, covered with leave? 
 in which duke was entertained at dinner by the king. It was } 
 handsoeie one ; and the bishop of Coimbra, th j bishop of Oporto 
 as alf*> the archbishop of Brag^anza, were seated at the king's table 
 wit-li the duke, and a little below him were sir John Holland and sii 
 I7enry Beaumont. There were many minstrels, and this entertain- 
 ment lasted until night. The king of Portugal was that day clothed 
 in white lined with arimson, with a red cross of St. George, being 
 the dresa of the order of Avis, of which he was grand-master.t 
 When the people had elected him their king, he declared he vv-ould 
 always wear that dress in honor of God and St. George, and his at. 
 tendants were all dressed in v.-hite and crimson. When it became 
 late, they took leave of each other, with the engagement of meeting 
 again on the morrow. The king went to Mon^ao, and the duke t? 
 Melga90, which places were only separated by the river and mead, 
 ows. On the Friday, after hearing the mass, they mounted their 
 horses, and rode over the Pont de More, to the spot where they rad 
 met the preceding day. The house whici. had been erected for thia 
 occasion was the fairest and greatest that had been ever seen there. 
 The king and duke had each their apartments hung with cloth aud 
 
 * "Pontde More."-G. 
 I t Froiswirt ojisiakee the color of the cross : it was greep, q^d bpnjs 0»i Ui8 •♦li i^i^ 
 
408 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &,c. 
 
 covered with carpeii, an convenient as if the king had been at Lis. 
 bon or the duke in London. 
 
 Before dinner they had a conference on tho state of their affairs, 
 how they should carry on the vi'ar, and when .hey should commence 
 it. They resolved to order their marshals to continue their attacks 
 during the winter, which the king was to pass in Portugal, and the 
 duke at Saiat Jago ; and it was settled that, early in March, they 
 would unite their forces, and march to combat the king of Castille, 
 wherever he might be, and v/hoever he might have with him ; for 
 the Eiiglish and Portuguese, when united, would be full thirty thou- 
 sand men. When this had been determined, the king's council in- 
 troduced the subject of a maniage with their king; for the country 
 was very desirous he would marry, as it was now time ; and by it 
 they would be much strengthened ; and they thought he could not 
 make a better choice for himself, nor one more agreeable to them, 
 than by intermarrying with the house of Lancaster. The duke, 
 who saw the attachment the king and the Portuguese had for him, 
 and that he had need of their assistance, as he was come from Eng. 
 land to Portugal to regain his kingdom of Castille, replied with a 
 smile, addressing the king : " Sir King, I have at Saint Jago two 
 girls, and I will give you the choice to take which of them shall 
 please you best. Send thither your council, and I will return her 
 with them." " Many thanks," said the king : "you offer me more 
 than I ask. I will leave my cousin Catherine, of Castille; but I 
 demand your daughter Philippa, in marriage, whom I will espouse 
 and make my queen." At these words the conference broke up, as 
 it was dianer-time. They were seated as on the preceding day, and 
 most sumptuously and plentifully served, according to the custom of 
 that country. After dinner, the king and duke returned to their 
 lodgings. 
 
 On the Saturday after mass, they again mounted their horses, and 
 returned to Pont de More in grand array. The duke this day en- 
 tertained at dinner the king and his attendants. His apartments 
 were decorated with the richest tapestry, with his arms emblazoned 
 on it, and as splendidly ornamented as if he had been at Hertford, 
 Leicester, or at any of his mansions in England, which very much 
 astonished the Portuguese. Three bishops and one archbishop were 
 seated at the upper table ; the bishops of Lisbon, of Oporto, of Coim- 
 bra, and the archbishop of Braganza. The king of Portugal was 
 placed at the middle, and the duke somewhat below him : a little 
 lower than the duke, the count d'Acunha and the count de Novaire. 
 At the head of the second table was the deputy grand-master of Avis: 
 then the grand-master of St. James, in Portugal,* and the grand, 
 master of St. John, Diego Lopez Pacheco, Joao Fernandez Pacheco 
 his son, Lopo Vasquez d'Acunha, Vasco Martin d'Acunha, Lopo 
 Diaz d'Azevedo, Vasco Martin de Merlo, Gonzalves de Merlo, all 
 great barons. The abbot of Aljubarota, the abbot of St. Mary, in 
 Estremadoura, sir Alvarez Pereira, marshal of Portugal, Joao Rod. 
 riguez Perf ira, Joao Gomez de Silva, Joao Rodriguez de Sa, and 
 many other Portuguese knights, were there seated ; for not one Eng. 
 lishman was at the table that day, but served their guests. There 
 were numbers of minstrels, who played th-eir parts well ; and the 
 duke gave them and the heralds one hundred nobles each. 
 
 When this festival was ended, they took a most frieirlly leave of 
 each other, until they should meet again. The king returned to , 
 Oporlo, and the duke to Melga^p, from whence he journeyed toward 
 Saint Jago. The count de Novnire escorted him with one hundred 
 Portuguese lances, until he was o^t of all danger, when he took 
 leave and returned to Portugal. Tha duchess was veryMmpatient 
 for the duke's return, to hear how the conferences had passed ; of 
 course, you may suppose, she received hiwi with joy. She asked 
 what he thought of the king of Portugal. "Qa my faith," replied 
 the duke, " he is an agi-eeable man, and has the appearance of being 
 a valiant one, and I think he will reign powerfully; for he is much 
 ^eloved by his subjects, who say that they have not been so fortunate 
 in a king for these hundred y6ars. He is but twent;.six years old, 
 and, like the Portuguese, strong, and well formed in hlg limbs and 
 body to go through much labor and pain." " Well, ant what was 
 done in regard to the marriage ?" said the duchess. " I have given 
 him one of my daughters." "Which?" asked the duchess. "I 
 offered him the choice of Catherine or Philippa ; for whici. he 
 thanked me much, and has fixed on Philippa." "He is in the righi" 
 Baid the duchess ; " for my daughter Catherine is too young foi 
 him." 
 
 The duke and duchess passed the time as well as they could : 
 winter was approaching, though in Galicia the severity of that sea. 
 Bon is scarcely felt ; for it is always there warm, that some fruits 
 are eatable, even in March, and beans, peas, and grass, are high and 
 flourishing in February. Their hay-harvcst is over before Midsum. 
 mer-dny ; and, by that time their corn is, in several places, com. 
 pletely ripe. 
 
 CHAPTER XLL 
 
 THE DTIKE OF LANCASTER'S iMARSHAL GAINS FOR HIM SEVERAL PLACES IN 
 GAl ICIA. THE CONDUCT OF THE KING OF CASTILLE. 
 
 Notwithstanding the duke of Lancaster lived quietly at St. Jago 
 ^ith h is duchet^s and children, it was not so with his anny ; for the 
 
 * Rodriguex de Vuscouceilos. 
 
 commanders m-'de frequent excursions over the country, conquering 
 towns and castles, of which, for a time they held possession. 1 will 
 faithfully narrate the manner in which they did this, and the names 
 of the towns they gained ; for I was told all the particulars of the 
 campaign by those English knights who had been actors in these 
 conquests ; but more particularly by that gallant knight of Portugal 
 whom I have before mentioned, who, in the most friendly manner, 
 entered into all the details at Middleburgh, in Zealand, where he 
 was, on his way to Prussia. I have already told his name, but I will 
 repeat it: he was called John Fernando Portelet, who informed me 
 as fo'lows : 
 
 " When the duke of Lancaster was returned to Saint Jago, from 
 the frontiers of Portugal, Sir Thomas Moreaux, the marshal of his 
 army, said to him, that he was unwilling to remain in idleness ; and 
 that, since they were in an enemy's country, he would make some 
 excursions to conquer towns or castles, and employ the army who 
 were very anxious for it. He gave his orders accordingly, and de- 
 clared he would penetrate into Galicia farther than he had hitherto 
 been, and would not leave town nor ca3tle behind him without tl:ieir 
 submitting to the duke. He began his march from Saint Jago, with 
 six hundred lances and twelve hundred archers, and took the road 
 to Pontevedra, a good town of Galicia, which held out for the king 
 of Castille. The townsmen were well aware of the intended attack; 
 for all the inhabitants of the flat countries fled before the English, to 
 different tovv'ns, to save themselves and fortunes. When the marshal 
 came before the place, the inhabitants were in deep consultation, 
 whether to surrender, or to defend themselves; but they were not 
 unanimous. The lower sort of inhabitants wanted to surrender in. 
 stantly : the bailiff (who had been ordered thither by the king to guard 
 and defend it,) with those who were the richest, wished to hold out ; 
 for they said that an instant surrender would not redound to their 
 honor nor profit. They were still in debate, when the Vv atch sounded 
 his horn to announce the arrival of the English. This broke up the 
 assembly ; and every one ran to the battlements, armed with stonee, 
 darts, and javelins, with a full determination to defend the place, 
 and not to surrender it until pushed to extremities. 
 
 " When the marshal and his companions arrived at Pontevedra, 
 they dismounted and gave their horses to their servants. They drew 
 up their men for instantly attacking it. The archers were ranged 
 roupd the walls with bows bent for shooting ; and men-at-arms, well 
 armed and shielded, descended into the ditch. On the marshal's 
 trumpet sounding, the assault commenced ; and those who were in 
 the ditch scrambled up to the walls, with pick.axes and iron crows to 
 undermine them. The townsmen showered down on them stones 
 and flints to their great annoyance : they would have done more, if 
 the archers had not made good use of their bows : few, after some 
 time, dared to show themselves on the bulwarks, for they killed and 
 wounded many. The bailiff of the town was so severely struck by 
 an arrow, which pierced his helmet and head, that he was forced to 
 be carried to his house. The ill-intentioned in the place were not 
 sorry at this, because he would not consent to a surrender. This 
 accident, however, did not cause the defence to be weakened ; on 
 the contrary, they were the more active ; and the attack continued 
 until night, when the enemy sounded a retreat. Many were wounded 
 on each side. The English returned to their quarters, fully deter- 
 mined to renew the attack on the morrow, and to gain the place by 
 capitulation or storm. 
 
 " During the night, the inhabitants held a meeting and said : ' We 
 are mad, thus to suffer ourselves to be killed and wounded for noth. 
 ing. Why do not we act like the other towns which have surren- 
 dered ? They have yielded themselves to the duke of Lancaster 
 and the lady Constance, daughter to king don Pedro, on condition 
 that, if the rest of the towns in Spain acknowledge him for king, 
 they will do the same : in which they have acted wisely, for they 
 have rem-ained unmolested.' ' In God's name,' said others, ' we 
 wanted to do so, but our bailiff persuaded us to the contrary, for 
 which he has paid severely; for there is a great chance if he will 
 ever recover from the wound in his head.' ' Let us go,' said some, 
 'and speak with him, and ask how we had best act now; for the 
 English will certainly return to-morrow, and conquer us by fair or 
 foul means.' This proposition was adopted, and twelve of the prin- 
 cipal townsmen went to the bailiff's house, whose name was, I be- 
 lieve, Diantale de L^on. They found him lying on a couch, his 
 wound having been just dressed ; and, as it had so lately happened, 
 ht did not suffer much from it, and made good cheer to those among 
 then whom he knew, and had come to see him. He inquired how 
 the attack had been carried on, and if they had well defended them- 
 selves. They said, 'Tolerably well; and, thanks to God, no one, 
 excepting himself, of any consequence, had been hurt ; but to-morrow 
 will be the day, for we are assured we shall be very hard pushed ; 
 and such ignorant and simple persons as ourselves will never be able 
 to withstand t\ieir attacks. We therefore come to you for advice 
 how to act. The English menace us greatly ; and should they win 
 tJie place by storm, they will put all to the sword, and plunder the 
 town.' 
 
 " ' In the name of God,' replied Diantale dc Ldon, 'you can never 
 be blamed for surrendering; but treat prudently, and manage by all 
 means to avoid being taken by storm. Offer to put yourselves under 
 the obedience of the duke and duchess of Lancaster, on- the same 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &.c. 
 
 409 
 
 tcnns with those of Coruun, for no Englishman ever entered that 
 town. Tiiey sent out ti them provisions for money; and, if you 
 will fallow my advice, you will do the same. I believe they will be 
 gl id t:) accept your submission, for there are many other towns in 
 Galicia to conquer, and they will nut hold out for trifles.' ' You say 
 well,' replied the townsmen, ' and we will do as you advise.' They 
 tlTen'left him, a id passed the night as well as they could. By sun. 
 rise, on the mor ow, they had properly instructed seven of the prin- 
 cipal inhabitant-^, whom they sent out of the town to treat with sir 
 Thomas Moreaus : they met hira on his march to renew the attack. 
 
 Attack on the Fortificatioks of Pontevedra. Composed from Harleian MS., 4425, and MS. Froissart of the 15th 
 
 century. ' 
 
 They cast thdmselves on their knees, and, having saluted him, said, 
 ' My lord, we are sent hither by the inhabitants of Pontevedra, who 
 offer to place ihomselves under the obedience of the duke and duchess 
 of Lancaster, on the same terms which those of Coruna have ob- 
 tained. This' they have ordered us to tell you, and also that you may 
 have provision in plenty on paying a fair price. It is the wish of 
 those who have sent us, that you push them no farther, and that 
 neither yourself nor any from you enter the place armed and by 
 force ; but that if you or any others be desirous of courteously enter- 
 ing the town, they shall be welcome.' The marshal had with him 
 one who understDod perfectly the Galician tongue, who repeated to 
 him in English all that had been said. The marshal replied, * Return 
 quickly to your town, and let those who have sent you come to the 
 harriers. I will grant them respite until t.)-morrow at sunrise, should 
 we not make a satisfactory agreement.' They promised to comply 
 with his command, and departed. When arrived at the barriers, 
 they found there the greater part of the townsmen waiting, to whom 
 they told all that had passed between them and the marshal ; add- 
 ing, ' The marshal will soon be here himself : therefore, if you do 
 not think yourselves of sufficient consequence to parley with him, 
 hasten those hither whom you may wish for.' 
 
 " As the principal inhabitants were at the barriers, they saw sir 
 Thomas Moreaux, with about forty lances, advancing, who on his 
 arrival dismounted, and his companions likewise. He addressed 
 them as follows : ' You, the inhabitants of Pontevedra, have sent to 
 us seven of your brother townsmen, and persons in whom I am sat- 
 isfied you have confidence : they have told us that you are willing to 
 submit yourselves to the duke and duchess of Lancaster, on the same 
 terms which those of Coruna have obtained, but that you wish to 
 have no other governors but yourselves. Now tell me, I beg of you, 
 what sovereignty my lord would have if he had not his own officers 
 in the town ? When you pleased you would acknowledge him for 
 your king, and when you pleased disavow him. Know, that it is 
 my intention, as well as that of those around me, to give you a wise, 
 valiant and prudent governor, who will defend you and do ample 
 justice to all alike, and I mean to thrust out the officers of the king 
 of Castille : let me hear, therefore, if you consent to these terms, for 
 such are our fixed resolutions.' They requested leave to consult 
 together, and having done so, replied : ' My lord, we have the fullest 
 confidence in you, but we are afraid of pillagers; for we have for- 
 merly been so ill treated by persons of that description, when sir 
 Bertrand du Guesclin and the Bretons first came hither : they left 
 us not a rag, and we are in dread of the like happeningagain.' • You 
 need not,' said sir Thomas, ' for no pillager shall ever enter your 
 ^ town. You bhali lose nothing by us : all we want is your obedi- 
 
 ence.' This speech settled the business, and sir Thomas and his 
 company entered the town, his army taking up their quarters in tents 
 without the walls. The inhabitants sent them tweiity-fuur horse- 
 loads of wine, as much bread, and poultry in abundance for the 
 principal officers. 
 
 " The marshal remained the vv^hole day in Pontevedra, to arrange 
 a government for the duke of Lancaster. He appointed an honest 
 Galician governor, who had followed the duchess to England, with 
 whom the inhabitants were satisfied. On the morrow, he returned 
 to his army, and in a council he determined to march against another 
 
 town that was rebellious, called Vigo, 
 six leagues distant from Pontevedra. 
 They instantly began their march ; and, 
 when within two leagues of the place, 
 they sent forward to know if they would 
 surrender, as Pontevedra and other 
 towns had done, which, if they refused, 
 they might rest assured they should be 
 attacked in the morning. The inhabit- 
 ants paid no attention to this menace, 
 and said, that they had often had as- 
 saults, but had never been the worse for 
 them. When this answer was carried 
 to the marshal, he swore by St. George 
 they should be attacked in earnest. 
 • What ! are the scoundrels so proud to 
 send me such an answer ?' They passed 
 the night comfortably with what they 
 brought with them, and on the morrow 
 by sunrise were on their march to Vigo. 
 It was near ten o'clock when they 
 came before the town, and each party 
 made preparations for the attack and 
 defence. Vigo, though not a large 
 town, is sufficiently strong; and had 
 there been within it some knights and 
 squires, who understood their profession, 
 I do not believe the English Vvould have 
 gained it so easily as they did ; for the 
 moment the inhabitants felt the arrows 
 of the English and saw many killed and 
 wounded by them, fur they were badly 
 armed, they were panic-struck, and 
 said, ' Why do we let ourselves be killed 
 and wounded for the king of Castil'e ? Wc may as well have the 
 duke of Lancaster, who married the daughter of don Pedro, for our 
 king, as the son of don Henry of Transtamaie. We must know, that 
 if we be taken by storm, our lives will be forfeited and our town 
 plundered, and there does not seem succor coming to us from any 
 quarter. A month ago, we sent a remonstrance to the king cf Castille 
 at Burgos on our situation, and the peril we should be in, if the English 
 marched hither, as we heard they intended doing. The king indeed 
 spoke to the French knights who are with him on the matter, but no 
 orders were given for any men-at-arms to be sent hither as a garrison, 
 any more than to other parts of Galicio, which plainly shewed it was 
 indifferent to the king whether v.e were won or not. He told our 
 envoys to return and do as well as they could. This proves he does 
 not wish us to be slain, nor the place taken by storm.' 
 
 " On saying this, some of the townsmen mounted over the gate, 
 way, and from a window made signs they wished for a parley, to 
 treat of peace. They were observed ; and the marshal, going thither, 
 asked what they wanted. They said ; ' Marshal, order your men to 
 retire : we will submit ourselves to the duke and duchess of Lan- 
 caster, on the same terms as those of Coruria and ether towns have 
 obtained ; and if you want provisions, you shall courteously have 
 them from us; but we will not suffer any one to enter the town by 
 force of arms. This is our proposal, and by tl:is we mean to abide.' 
 The marshal was advised to answer, ' I agree to your terms; but I 
 must appoint an able governor, to counsel and defend you, should 
 there be any need of it.' They answered, they would also admit of 
 this. Thus was the treaty concluded ; and, on the assault ceasing, 
 the army retreated from before it into the plain. The marshal, sir 
 Evan Fitzwarren, sir John Abuurelle,* the lord de Pummiers, and 
 sir John d'Ambreticourt, entered the town to refresh themselves, 
 where they remained the whole day. Those without the walls re. 
 ceived bread, wine, and other provision from the town in abundance. 
 
 "After the conquest of Vigo, where the lords had availed them, 
 selves of the opportunity to refresh themselves at their ease, for it is 
 situated in a rich country, and had nominated as governor an Eng. 
 lish squire called Thomas Albery, a prudent and valiant man, to 
 whom they gave twelve archers for his defence, they marched from 
 thence, skirting the mountains and borders of Castille, toward the 
 large town of Bayona. When they had advanced within two leagues 
 of the place, they halted and took up their quarters for the night. 
 On the morrow, they dislodged and marched in battle-array lo Bay. 
 ona. When near, they formed themselves into two divisions, and 
 sent forward a herald to learn the intentions of the inhabitants, 
 whether they would surrender without being assaulted. The herald 
 
 * 1 imaffine thit must ba inundsd fur sir Hush lurd Buruel. See Dugiialu 
 
410 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 had not far u go ; and, when arrived at the barriers, he found plenty 
 of comniJii people there, though badly armed, to whom he delivered 
 his message ; for hs well understood their language, being a Porta- 
 gueso. Hi3 name was Cuimbra, and attached to the king of Por- 
 tugal. * You men of the tjvvn,' said he, * what are your intentions ? 
 Will you suffer yourselves to be attacked, or will you surrender 
 quietly to your sovereigns, the duke and duchess of Lancaster ? My 
 lord marshal and his campanions send me hither to know what you 
 mean tj dj.' Upo.i t'lis they collected tagether and began to talk 
 aloud, saying, • Wli it shall we do ? Shall we defend ourselves, or 
 surrender ?' An old man who had learnt experience, from having 
 seen mare than they had, addressed them : ' My good sirs, in our 
 situatian we must not hold long councils; and the English are very 
 courteous in thus allowing U3 time to deliberate. You are aware 
 that we have not any hopes of succor ; for the king of Castille, who 
 tnows our situation well, and has done so since the arrival of the 
 duke anJ duch.iss at Coruna, has not provided any resources for us, 
 nor does he seem inclined so to do. If we, therefore, allow our- 
 eelves to be att icked, the town is so large and ill fortified, we can- 
 not guard the whole ; and the Eaglish are subtle in war : they will 
 exert themselves to conquer us, in hopes of plunder; for they are, 
 like all men-at-arms, eagjr tj enrich themselves; and this town is 
 supposed to be more rich than in fact it is. I therefore think it most 
 advisable that we quietly submit to the duke and duchess of Lancaster, 
 and, by not foolishly resisting, lose mare, but obtxin peace on ad- 
 vantigoDus terai3. Tnis ii tne advice I give you.' They replied, 
 they would I'jUow it ; and as he was a man of consideration in Bay- 
 ona, they requested hiin ta answer the herald. * I will cheerfully 
 do so ; but we muu give him some money, which will bind him to 
 our iatere.sti, and induce him to m ike a favorable repjrt ta his lords.' 
 On this he advanced to the herald, and said: ' You will return to 
 your lordi, and assure them we are willing to put ourselves under 
 the obedience of the duke and duchess of Lancaster, in the same 
 manner other t awns i i Galicii have done, or may do. Now, go and 
 do our business well, and we will give you twenty florins.' The 
 herald was delighted on hearing this speech, and the promise of 
 twenty florins; and said, ' Where are the fljrins?' They were in- 
 stantly paid down, and he set off, gayly, to rejoin the English army. 
 
 *' Tiie marshal and his compa lions, on seeing him return, asked 
 what news he had brought. ' Do the townsmen mean to surrender 
 or wait the attick ?' ' By my faith, my lords,' replied the herald, 
 ' they have no such intentims. They desire me to inform you, they 
 are willing to submit thamselves to the duke and duchess, on simi- 
 lar terms to those wnich other towns have obtained ; and if you will 
 go thither, tiaey will gladly receive you.' ' Well,' said the marshal, ' it 
 is better we thus g.ii i the place than by assault ; t'or our men, at 
 least, will neither be wounded nor slain.' The marshal and his 
 army marched at a foot's-pace to the town, where he dismounted, 
 and went to the barrier and gate. There were numbers of people 
 assembled, but their whole armors were not worth ten francs, to see 
 the English ; and the person who had given the answer to the he- 
 rald was there also, to conclude a treaty. The moment the herald 
 perceived him, he said t) the marshal, ' My lord, speak to that el- 
 derly man who is bowing to you, for he has the greatest weight in 
 the place.' The marshal advanced, and said, ' Now, what have you 
 to say ? Will you surrender yourselves to my lord, the duke of 
 Lancaster, and to his duchess, as to your legal sovereigns V ' Yes,' 
 my lord,' '-eplied the old man: 'we surrender ourselves to you, and 
 acknowledge them for our lords, as other towns in Galicia have 
 done ; anH, if you and your companions please to enter the town, 
 you are welcome ; but on condition that, should you want provision, 
 you do not seize it, but loyally pay for whatever you may take.' ' I 
 agree to this,' said the marshal ; ' for we only desire the love and obe- 
 dience of the country ; but you must swear, that should the king of 
 Castille come in person, or send hither any troops, you will defend 
 yourselves boldly against him and all his allies.' * We willingly 
 swear this ; and should he come himself, or send any troops, we will 
 remain steady to your interest; for you will never find any deceit in 
 us.' • I am satisfied,' answered the marshal, * and do not require 
 more. Before the expiration of the year, the dispute will be de- 
 cided ; and the crown of Castille, Cordova, Galicia, and Seville, 
 will fall to the strongest; for, by the end of August, there will be 
 Buch numbers of men-at-arms in Castille as have not been seen for 
 these hundred years.' ' Well, my lord,' answered the elder, ' let 
 happen what may, and the right fall where it ought, we of Galicia 
 venture to wait the event.' 
 
 " Upon this, the holy sacrament was brought, and those who gov- 
 erned the town swore upon it to behave loyally and faithfully, Uke 
 good subjects, ta the duke and duchess of Lancaster, and to acknow- 
 ledge them as their sovereigns, in the same manner as other towns 
 had done. The marshal, in the name of the duke of Lancaster re. 
 cci/ed them as his subjects, and swore to defend and govern them 
 in peace and justice. Wnen all this had been done, the barriers 
 and gates were thrown open, when all entered who chose, and lodged 
 themselves where they could. They remained there four days, to 
 recruit themselves and horses, and also to wait for fair weather ; for, 
 during these four days, it rained incessantly, and the rivers were 
 much swelled. There are, in Galicia, many rivers which are so 
 pvaily increased by the mouatain«torreatS| that they aro very daa. 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 gerous to pass. While waiting for a change in the weather, they 
 held a council, whether they should march for Betancos or Ribada. 
 via, which is a strong town, inhabited by the most insolent and treach. 
 erous people in all Galicia. On the fifth day, the English dislodged 
 from Bayona, and took the field. The weather was now temperate, 
 and the rivers, to their great joy, reduced to their usual size. They 
 rode toward Ribadavia without any opposition ; and, as no one 
 came out against them, they thought themselves lords of Galicia. 
 They arrived near the town, with a large train of baggage, horses 
 and victuallers, and encamped in a grove of olive trees on a hand- 
 some plain, about half a league from the place. They resolved to 
 send a herald to parley with the townsmen, before they made any 
 preparations for the attack; for the marshal well knew they were 
 the falsest and worst people in all Castille, extensive as it jb ; and 
 that they paid no regard to the king, nor to any one but themselves, 
 depending on the strength of their town. 
 
 " The herald, before he set out, was charged to learn their inten 
 tions ; but, when he came to the barriers, he found them and the 
 gate closed. He shouted and called, but received no answer what, 
 ever. He saw, indeed, several pass backward and forward on the 
 battlements ; but for all he could do, not one would come and speak 
 with him, though he remained an hour tnus bawling to them. Find, 
 ing he could not obtain a hearing, he said to himself, ' I fancy these 
 men of Ribadavia have had some communicafion with those of Bay. 
 ona, who are vexed they should have given me twenty florins for 
 so little trouble, and want to make me here pay for it. By holy 
 Mary ! I believe they wish to keep me until it be late, and then 
 seize and hang me.' On saying this, he remounted his horse, and 
 returned to the marshal and his army. On his arrival, he was asked 
 what news, and whether the inhabitants of Ribadavia would surren. 
 der as the other towns had done, or force them to tie attack ?' ' By 
 my troth,' replied the herald, ' I know not what they mean to do ; for 
 they are so proud, that though 1 bawled to them for en hour, they 
 never deigned to give me any answer.' Sir .John Burnel then said, 
 ' Hast thou seen no one ? Perhaps they are fled, and have left their 
 town for fear of us.' ' Fled !' replied the herald : ' begging your par. 
 don, my lord, they disdain to do such a thing as fly ; aad before you 
 conquer them, they will give you more plague than all the other 
 towns in Galicia together. Know that there are plenty of men 
 within it ; for I saw them when I called out, " Listen to me, listen 
 to me I I am a herald, whom my lord marshal has sent hither to par- 
 ley and treat with you ;" but they gave me no answer, only staring 
 at me, and bursting out in laughter.' ' Ah, the insolent scoundrels !' 
 said the marshal : ' by St. George, they shall be we'l punished for 
 this ; and, unless my lord of Lancaster shall order otherwise, never 
 will I quit this place until I have reduced it under his obedience. 
 Let us now eat and drink to refresh ourselves, and then march to 
 the assault ; for I will see this town nearer, and what is its strength, 
 that makes the scoundrels thus insolent, and induces them to hold us 
 so cheap.' 
 
 " When they had finished their repast, they mounted their horses, 
 and, with trumpets sounding, rode gently on, for the weather was as 
 sweet as in the month of May. On coming before the place, some 
 knights and squires, to make a display, galloped up to the barriers, 
 where they found a large body of cross-bowmen drawn up in front 
 of the gate, who, by their shooting, killed and wounded many horses. 
 The archers then advanced, and, posting themselves on tne bank of 
 the ditch, and at the barriers, attacked the cross-bowmen. The as- 
 sault was severe, and lasted a considerable time ; fcr the town was 
 tolerably strong, and diflUcult to be conquered. One side is situated 
 on a perpendicular rock, impossible to be mounted : the other, in- 
 deed, is on the plain, but surrounded by wide ditches, which, though 
 not filled with water, cannot easily be crossed. The knights and 
 squires, however, did cross them, and ascended the banks to the walls, 
 with targets on their heads, to defend themselves from the arrows, 
 or whatever might be thrown down from the battlements. The arch- 
 ers shot so well, that scarcely any dared show themselves; and this 
 attack was long continued, many on each side being killed or 
 wounded. Toward evening, it ceased, on the trumpets sounding the 
 retreat ; and the English returned to their camp, where they made 
 themselves comfortable, and attended to their wounded. Thierry do 
 Soumain was so badly wounded in the ami at the barriers, by a bolt 
 from a cross-bow, that it was necessary to have it forced through the 
 arm ; he was upward of a month unable to use it, and obliged to 
 bear it in a scarf. 
 
 " While the marshal of the duke of Lancaster's army was thus 
 overrunning and turning Galicia to his interest, the duke and duchess, 
 with their children, resided quietly at St. Jago. They heard fro- 
 quently from the king of Portugal, as a continual intercourse was 
 kept up between them on their mutual aff*airs. King John of Cas. 
 tille held his court at Valladolid, attended by the French knights, 
 whom he frequently consulted on the state of his kingdom ; for he 
 was perfectly acquainted with everything that was passing around 
 him. He said to them, • My fair sirs, I greatly marvel that r.o sue. 
 cor comes to me from France, to assist me in my distress ; for my 
 country will be lost, if no reinforcements arrive to prevent it. The 
 English keep the field ; and I know for truth, that the duke of Lan. 
 caster and king of Portugal have had an interview, and that the last 
 is to marry one of the duke's daitghters, for has been betrothed 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 411 
 
 to him ; and, as soon as this marriage shall have uiien place, you 
 will see them unite together and enter my kingdom, and, when 
 united, they will prove too much for me.' The French knights, to 
 comfort him, replied, ' Do not be uneasy : if the English gain on 
 one side they lose on another. We have certain intelligence, that 
 the king of France, with upward of an hundred thousand armed 
 men, has at this moment invaded England to conquer and destroy 
 that whole coun ry. When that shall be accomplished, and Eng. 
 bud reduced to a state of subjection from whence it can never rise, 
 the king of France and his army will embark on board their navy, 
 which is so considerable, and disembark during the course of the 
 summer v,\ Coruiia. He will reconquer in one month more than 
 you have lost during the year, and surround the duke of Lancaster 
 in such a manner that you will ^ee him fly to Portugal. Thus will 
 you be revenged of your enem/es ; for be assured, that if France 
 vvere;nt>t at this moment occupied with the conquest of England, 
 you would have had, some time since, three or four thousand lances 
 from therxe. The king of France, his uncles and council, have a 
 great affection for you, and are very anxious to put an end to your 
 war. Never mind if the English keep the field, and borrow from 
 you a little of your 'kingdom: before St. John's day shall come, 
 they will be forced to restore the whole of it back to you.' 
 
 Such were the conversations that frequently passed at Valladolid 
 between the king of Gastille and his council, with the French knights. 
 The king, having such an opinion of them, believed all they said, 
 end took comfort. They indeed thought what they had said was 
 truth ; for they concluded the king of France had invaded England, 
 according to tho rumors spread throughout Gastille. You must know 
 that the duke c^' Lancaster did not hear from his people one quarter 
 of what was tol i them by pilgrims and merchants from Flanders; 
 and, though the :cing of Portugal wrote frequently to inquire after the 
 duke's health, those rumors prevented him from hastening his pre. 
 parations, and from demanding the lady Philippa for his queen. His 
 council said, that as all the intelligence from France and Flanders 
 agreed England to be in a most perilous state of being destroyed, 
 neither the alliance nor marriage with the duke of Lancaster or his 
 daughter would be of any advantage to him, and that he should dis- 
 Bcmble his thou«i-.ti, but still preserve an outward appearance of ;^eat 
 affection to the duke and duchess, by letters and otherwise, until he 
 should see what turn aflfairs would take." 
 
 We will now for a while leave speaking of Spain and Portugal, 
 and return to France. 
 
 CHAPTER XLII. 
 
 THE KING OF FRANCE GOES TO LILLE, WITH THE INTENT TO INVADE ENG. 
 LAND. SIR SIMON BHRLEY ADVISES THE REMOVAL OF THE SHRINE OF 
 ST. THOMAS A BECKET FROM CANTERBURY TO DOVER CASTLE, FOR FEAR 
 
 OF THE FRENCH. 
 
 At this period, (1386,) the number of ships, galleys, and vessels of 
 every description, which had been collected to carry over to England 
 the king of France and his army, were so great, that the oldest man 
 then living had never seen nor heard of the like. Knights and squires 
 were arming on all sides, and, when they quitted their homes, they 
 said ; " We will invade these cursed English, who have done such 
 mischief to France, and now avenge ourselves for the losses they 
 have caused us by the death of our fathers, brothers, or friends." It 
 was twelve weeks before all the purveyances of the different lords 
 were ready and embarked, so grandly had they provided themselves. 
 The report was kept up for some time in Flanders, that the king 
 would be there on the morrow, to hasten them. Men were con. 
 tinually arriving from Gascony, Armagnac, the Toulousain, Bigorre, 
 Comminges, Auvergne, Berry, Limousin, Poitou, Anjou, Maine, Brit, 
 tany, Touraine, Blois, Orleans, Beauce, Normandy, Picardy, and 
 from every province in France, who quartered themselves in Flanders 
 and Artois. 
 
 When the middle of August came, which was the time fixed on 
 for the invasion taking place, in order the more to hasten those from 
 the distant parts of the realm ; and, to show that the king was in 
 earnest to embark, he took leave of queen Blanche, the duchess of 
 Orleans, and the other piincesses. He heard a solemn mass in the 
 church of N6tre Dame at Paris, and it was his intention, when he 
 iihould quit Paris, never to reenter it until he had landed in England; 
 and of this all the principal cities and towns were persuaded. The 
 king of France went to Senlis, whither he was accompanied by his 
 queen : the duke of Berry was in Berry, though his purveyances were 
 collecting in Flanders and at Sluys, like the others. The duke of 
 Burgundy was also in his own country, but he bade adieu to his 
 duchess end children, and set off for Flanders, meaning to take leave 
 of his aunt, the duchess of Brabant, in his way thither. On his de. 
 parture from Burgundy, he travelled in great pomp and magnificence, 
 attended by the admiral of France and the lord Guy de la Trimouille, 
 unto Brussels, where the duchess and her ladies received him a-nd 
 his company with £rreat joy. He tarried there two days, and then 
 went to Mons in Hainault, where he found his daughter madame 
 d'Ostrevant, duke Albert, and his son the lord William of Hainault, 
 count d'Ostrevant, who entertained them handsomely, and conducted 
 the duke to Valenciennes, where he was lodged in the apartments of 
 the count, and duke Albert at the h5tel of Vicongncras, The duke 
 
 of Burgundy, on leaving Valenciennes, went to Douay and Arras, 
 where the duchess was waiting for him. From Senhs the king ot 
 France came to Compiegne, Noyon, Peronne, Bapaunie and Arras • 
 and there were such numbers of men-at-aims pouiing into those 
 countries from all quarters, that everything was destroyed or devoured 
 without a fariiiing being paid for anything. The poor farmers, who 
 had filled their barns with grain, had only the sti-av;, and, if they 
 complained, were beaten or killed. The fiah-ponds were drained of 
 fish, and the houses pulled down for firing, so that if tie English had 
 been there, they could net have committed greater waste than this 
 French army did. They said, " We have n(it at present any money, 
 but shall have enough on our return, when we will pay for all." The 
 farmers, not daring to speak out, cursed them inwarcly, on seeing 
 them seize what was intended for their families ; and said, " Go, go 
 to England, and may never a soul of you come back." 
 
 The king of P>ance arrived at Lille, with his tv.'o uncles of Bur- 
 gundy and Bourbon ; but the duke of Berry ttill remained behind, in 
 his own country, arranging his affairs. With the king were the duke 
 of Bar, the duke of Lorraine, the count d'Armsgnac, the count de 
 Savoye, the count dauphin d'Auvergne, the count de Geneve, the 
 count de St. Pol, the count d'Eu, the count dc Longueville, the lord 
 de Coucy, sir William de Namur, and so many of the great lords of 
 France that I can never name them. It was said taai twenty thou- 
 sand knights and squires were to embark for England, which was 
 mdeed a goodly company, with about the same num.ber of cross-bows, 
 including the (^enoese, and twenty thousand stout varlets. 
 
 Sir Oliver de Clisson was still in Brittany making his preparations, 
 and equipping his fleet at the port of Treguier, from whence he in. 
 tended to embark his wooden town, that was to be put together, and 
 erected on his landing in England, as you have befcre heard. The 
 flov/er of Breton chivalry was to accompany the conaabie, such as 
 the viscount de Rohan, the lords de Rays, de Beaumanoir, de Laval, 
 de Rochefort, de Malestroit, the viscount de Combor, sir John de 
 Malestroit, the lord de Dinant, the lord d'Ancenis, anc five hundred 
 spears, all picked men. The constable had always declared, that no 
 one ought to be employed on this exvecition if he were not a good 
 man-at-arms end such as could be depended on. He ha'i said to the 
 admiral ; " Be carefiil net to suffer any boys or servants to embark 
 on board the fleet, for they will do us more harm than good." And 
 the knights, unless they were of high rank, or had hired vessels for 
 themselves, were not allowed to tjke with them more than one horse 
 and one servant. To say the truth, their arrange merits were very 
 well made : and it was the opinion of many, that if the army could 
 have been landed tojjether at the place they had fixed on in Orwell 
 bay, the whole country would have been thrown into ccnfu?ion. In- 
 deed, I believe there was little doubt of it; for the great lords, such 
 as prelates, abbots, and rich citizens, were panic-<^truck, but the com- 
 monalty and poorer sort held it very cher.p. Such km'ghts and squires 
 as were not rich, but eager for renown, were delighteti, and said to 
 each other, " Lord, what fine times are coming, tince the king oi 
 France intends to visit us I He is a valiant king and of great enter- 
 prise : there has not been such a one in France these three hundred 
 years. He will make his people good men-at-arms ; and blessed may 
 he be for thinking to invade us ; for certainly we sha'l be all slain 
 or made powerfully rich : one or the other must happen." 
 
 If the preparations for this invasion were great in France, those in 
 England, for its defence, were not less so, as I have before mentioned, 
 and will therefore slightly return to it. The taxes in England were 
 equally heavy with those in France ; but though they were very op- 
 pressive, the common people said they ought not to complain, for 
 they were raised for the defence of the country, and paid to knights 
 and squires to guard their lands, and they were their laborers, who 
 provided them with food, and the sheep from whom they took the 
 wool; but, if England should be conquered, they would be the 
 greatest losers. No one was exempted from the payment of these 
 taxes ; so that two millions of florins were raised for the defence of 
 the country, and paid into the hands of the archbishop of York, 
 the earl of Oxford, sir Nicholas Bramber, sir Michael de la Pole, sir 
 Simon Burley, sir Peter Gouloufre, sir Robert Tresilian, sir John 
 Beauchamp, sir John Salisbury, and others of the king's privy council, 
 who were appointed receivers and paymasters of the above sum, for 
 the king's uncles were not consulted in the business. They would 
 not interfere, nor by so doing throw the kingdom into trcuble, but 
 exerted themselves to the utmost in putting all the coast in a good 
 state ot^defence ; for they most assuredly thought the king of France 
 would attempt to land his army in England during the course of the 
 summer. The before-named receivers did in the king's name as 
 they thought proper in respect to this tax ; but the earl of Oxford 
 was the most active, and made the greatest advantage of it. Every, 
 thing was done by him, and without his consent nothing ; for which, 
 when this alarm was over, the people were much di&sati'^fied, and 
 wanted to know what had become of the large sums th&t had been 
 raised ; and the principal cities and towns, urged on by the king's 
 uncles, would have an account how they had been disbursed, as I 
 will relate in proper time and place, for I wish not that anything 
 should be forgotten in thi'? history. 
 
 Sir Simon Burley was governor of Dover castle, and, from hia 
 situation, received frequent intelligence from Frnnce by the fishermen 
 of the town, who related to him what they heard from the Jfrench 
 
413 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 fishermen, as thoy were often obliged tj adventure as far as Wissan 
 or Boulogne ro obtain good tish. When the fishermen from France 
 met them at ^a, they told them enough, and more than they knew ; 
 or, though there were wars between France and England, they were 
 never interrupted in tiieir pursuits, nor attacked each other, but, on 
 the contrary, gave mutual assistance, and bought and sold, according 
 as either had more fish than they were in want of; for, if they were 
 to meddle in 'the national quarrels, there would be no fishing, and 
 none would attempt it unless supported by 
 men-at-arms. Sir Simon learnt from the 
 fishermen that the king of France was ab- 
 solutely determined on the invasion ; that 
 he intended to land one division at or near 
 Dover, and another at Sandwich, and that 
 his forces were immense. He, as well as 
 the rest of England, believed all this was 
 true ; and one day he set out for Canterbury 
 to visit the abbey, which is very large and 
 handsome ; nbar it is Christ-church, which 
 is also rich and powerful. 
 
 The abbot inquired, " What news ?" and 
 sir Simon told him all he knew, adding, 
 ** that the shrine of St. Thomas, so respect, 
 able and rich, was not safe in Canterbury, 
 for the town 'was not strong;* and if the 
 French should come, some of the pillagers, 
 through avarice, would make for Canter, 
 bury, which ithey would plunder, as well 
 as your abbfey, and make particular in- 
 quiries after the shrine, and will take it 
 away, to your great loss. I would there- 
 fore advise, that you have it carried to 
 Dover castle, where it will be perfectly safe, 
 though all England were lost." The abbot 
 and all the convent were so angered at 
 this speech, though meant well, that they 
 replied, " Hov/ I sir Simon, would you 
 wish to despail this church of its jewel? 
 If you are dfraid yourself, gain courage, 
 and shut yourself up in your castle of Do- 
 ver, for the French will not be bold enough, 
 
 nor in sufficient force, to adventure themselves so far." This was 
 the only answer he had ; but sir Simon persisted so long in his pro. 
 position, that the common people grew discontented, and held him 
 for an ill-inclined person, which, as I shall relate, they afterwards 
 showed more plainly. Sir Simon made but a short stay and returned 
 to Dover. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIII. 
 
 THE KING OF iFRANCE VISITS HIS FLEET AT SLUVS. THE KING OF ARME- 
 NIA CROSSES TO ENGLAND, TO ATTEMPT A RECONCILIATION BETWEEN 
 THE TWO KINGS. THE ANSWER HE RECEIVES. 
 
 The king of France, to show his impatience for the invasion and 
 his dislike of being at too great a distance, came to Sluys. The 
 report was now daily current in Flanders and Artois, " The king will 
 embark Saturday, Tuesday, or Thursday." Every day of the week 
 they said, " He will embark ta-morrow, or the day after." The duke 
 of Touraine,t the king's brother, the bishop of Beauvais, chancellor, 
 and other great lords, had taken leave of the king at Lille, and re. 
 turned to Paris. I believe, indeed it was assured me for fact, that 
 the duke was appointed regent during the king's absence, in con. 
 junction with the count de Blois and other principal barons, who had 
 not been ordered on the invasion. The duke of Berry was still be- 
 hind, though he was advancing slowly, for he had no great desire to 
 go to England. The king of France and duke of Burgundy were 
 much vexed at his delay, and wished his arrival : however, the em- 
 barkation of stores continued at a vast expense to the great lords : 
 for what was worth only one franc they were made to pay four : and 
 those who were hoping speedily to cross overvalued not the .r money 
 in making preparations, but seemed desirous to rival each othnr in 
 expense. 
 
 If the principal lords were well paid, those of inferior rank sufTered 
 for it, as there was a month's pay due to them, for which the pay- 
 master of the forces was unwilling to account ; and he and tf^e clerks 
 of the treasury io\d them to wait another week, and they should be 
 satisfied. Thus were they put off from week to week ; and when 
 they made them any payments, it was only for eight days, when 
 eight weeks were due. Some, who were so treated, became melan- 
 choly, and said the expedition would never succeed ; and foreseeing 
 what would happen, whenever they could amass any money, like 
 wise men, set out on their return home. The poor knights and 
 equires, who were not retainers on the great lords, had expended 
 
 their all ; for everything v/as so dear in Flanders, they had difficulty 
 in procuring bread or \frine. If they wished to pawn their wages or 
 arms, they could not obtain a fartaing for what, when new, had cost 
 them large sums. There were such crowds at Bruges, Damme, Ar- 
 dembourg, and particularly at Sluys, when the king arrived, that it 
 was difficult t3 find any lodgings. 
 
 The lords de St. Pol, de Coucy, d'Antoing, and the dauphin of 
 Auvergne, with other barons from France, remained at Bruges, to 
 
 GsNtRAL View of Sluys.— From an old plan, in Flandria Illustrata. b> Ant. ffandenu 
 
 be more at their ease, and every now and then rode over to Sluys, 
 to inquire from the king when they were to embark. They were 
 told, within three or four days ; or when the duke of Berry should 
 arrive, or when the wind was favorable. There was always some 
 delay ; but the time passed, and the days became shorter and cold, 
 with bad weather. Many of the lords were discontented they were 
 so long in embarking, for their provision would be spoiled. 
 
 While they were waiting for the duke of Berry and the constable, 
 the king of Armenia, who resided in France, on a pension from the 
 king of six thousand francs, desirous to make a journey to England, 
 in hopes of bringing about a peace, or at least a truce between the 
 two kings, left his hdtel of St. Quen, near St. Denis, and, Avith few 
 attendants, travel'^d to Boulogne, where he hired a vessel, and, hav- 
 ing a favorable wind, landed at Dover. He found there the earls of 
 Cambridge and Buckingham, with a hundred men-at-arms and tv.'o 
 thousand archers to guard the place ; for the rumor ran, that the 
 French intended landing there, or at Sandwich. At this last place 
 were the earls of Arundel and Northumberland. At Orwell, the 
 earls of Oxford, Pembroke, and Nottingham, and sir Reginald Cob- 
 ham, with three thousand infantry- The king and part of his coun- 
 cil remained in London where he had intelligence daily from the 
 diflferent ports. The king of Armenia, on his arrival at Dover, was 
 very well received, and conducted by some knights to the uncles of 
 the king, who entertained him handsomely, as they knew well how 
 to do. At a proper opportunity they asked him whither he came, 
 and what were the reasons of his visiting England. To these ques. 
 tions he answered, that, in hopes of doing good, he had come to 
 wait on the king of England and his council, to see if, by any means, 
 he could negotiate a peace between him and the king of France. 
 " For this war," added the king of Armenia, "is not very becoming 
 between them : the long continuance of it has greatly emboldened 
 and raised the pride of the Turks and Saracens. No one now makes 
 any opposition to them ; and this has been the cause why I have 
 lost my crown and kingdom ; nor have I any chance of recovering 
 them, until a firm peace be established in Christendom. I would 
 willingly explain this matter, which so nearly touches every true 
 Christian, to the king of England, as I have done to the king of 
 France." 
 
 The English lords asked him, " if the king of France had sent 
 him ?" He said, " No one had sent him : that he had come of his 
 own accord, and solely with a view to do good, to see the king of 
 England and his council, and to try if they -would listen to terms of 
 peace." They then asked "where the king of France was." " I 
 believe he is now at Sluys; but I have not seen him since I took 
 my leave of hirn at Senlis." '* How can you then think of forming 
 a treaty, when you have not been so charged by him ? Should you 
 
 * The walls of Canteriiury were miicli out of repair ; and there is an order now ex 
 Wing for their reparation, from the court of Chancery, in the 19th year of Richard II.- 
 
 t Lonis. count of Valois, the king's brother, did not enjoy the title ofdukeofTou ^ ^^^a^j, ^ - , 
 
 OrJiM-ED^""'^" of ihis fruitless expediUon. H« was at\trwwa$ cre*t^ diik* of J ^^^^ ^'^^ ^^^^ ^j^jj tjjg ]^^^ nephew, and his council, and 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN. &c. 
 
 413 
 
 the king of Fiance, in the mean time, sail from Sluys, and disembark 
 his large army in England, you would be much blamed, and your 
 person run great risks from the people." The king of Armenia re- 
 plied, " I have the greatest confidence in the king of France, to 
 whom I have sent messengers to entreat he would neither embark 
 nor put to sea until I be returned to Sluys ; and I am convinced he 
 is so noble and considerate, that he will comply with my request. I 
 therefore beg of you, through pity and love of goodness, to procure 
 me an interview with the king of England, that I may speak to him, 
 for I desire to see him ; or if you, who are his uncles, and the most 
 powerful of his subjects, be authorized to give me answers to my 
 demands, I hope that you will instantly do so." Thomas, earl of 
 Buckingham, said, "King of Armenia, we are solely ordered here 
 by the ki.ig and his council, to guard and defend the frontiers, and 
 we do not any way concern ourselves with the government of the 
 realm, unless we be specially commanded by him. Since motives 
 of goodness, or the appearance of them, have brought you hither, 
 you are v/elcome ; but you must not expect to receive from us any 
 definitive answers to such demands as you may make ; and, though 
 we are not now of the king's council, we will have you conducted to 
 London without danger or expense." The king of Armenia replied, 
 " That he gready thanked them, and wished for nothing more than 
 to see and converse with the king of England." 
 
 After having refreshed himself for one day at Dover, and held 
 many conversations with the king's uncles, he set off, well escorted, 
 to protect him on the road. He continued his journey until he ar- 
 rived at London, where he was much stared at by the Londoners : 
 the better sort, however, showed him every honor and respect. Hav- 
 ing fixed on his lodgings, at a proper time and hour he waited on 
 the king, who resided in a private manner at the wardrobe ; but his 
 council were in London, each at his own house ; for the Londoners 
 were so panic-struck, they thought of nothing but how to fortify their 
 town. When the arrival of the king of Armenia was publicly known, 
 the king's council assembled at the wardrobe to learn the news, and 
 what could have brought that king, at this time of trouble and alarm, 
 to England. The king of Armenia entered the presence-chamber, 
 and the two kings having mutually saluted each other, the king of 
 Armenia began his speech, by declaring, the causes for his coming 
 were principally to see the king of England, which he had never 
 before done ; that he was much gratified in being in his presence, 
 from which he flattered himself good would arise ; and also to at- 
 tempt to avert the great pestilence that was ready to befal England: 
 not that either the king of France or his council had sent him thither, 
 for he was come of his own free will, to endeavor to make a peace or 
 a truce between the two crowns. He paid many compliments both 
 to the king and tj his council. He was briefly answered as follows : 
 " Sir king, you are welcome to this country, for our king and selves 
 are gliid to see you. We must inform you, that the king has not all 
 his council at this moment with him, but they will shortly assemble, 
 as he had summoned them, and you shall then have an answer." 
 
 The king of Armenia was contented with this, took his leave, and 
 returned to the house where he was lodged. Within four days, the 
 king was advised what answer to make : I believe he consulted his 
 uncles on the subject, but they were not present when it was given. 
 The king went to Westminster, where his council was assembled, 
 and thither the king of Armenia was invited. When in the presence, 
 the king of England was seated, according to custom, then the king 
 of Armenia and the prelates and lords of the council. The king of 
 Armenia was desired to repeat what he had before told the king and 
 ^ part of his council. He did so in an elegant harangue, showing 
 Qow Christendom was loo much weakened by the destmctive wars 
 af France and England, and that the knights and squires of the two 
 'jountries thought of nothing but joining one party or other : by which 
 ihe empire of Constantinople would be destroyed, where formerly 
 ♦.he gentlemen of France and England used to take pleasure in seek- 
 ing deeds of arms, and that his own kingdom was already lost. He 
 therefore entreated, through the love of God, they would listen to 
 ■tome terms of peace between the two kings. The archbishop of 
 Canterbury, who had beforehand been ordered by the king and coun- 
 cil to deliver the answer, replied : " King of Armenia, it is not usual, 
 aor has it ever been admitted, that in such weighty matters as are 
 QOW in dispute between the king of England and his adversary of 
 France, the king of England should have requests made him, with 
 in army ready to invade his country. I will therefore declare our 
 opinion, that you return to the French army, and prevail on them 
 to retreat to France ; and, when we shall be fully assured that every 
 man has retired to his home, do you return hither, and we will then 
 pay attention to any treaty you shall propose." 
 
 This was the answer the king of Armenia received. He dined 
 .hat day with the king, who paid him every possible honor, and of. 
 Fered hipi handsome presents of gold and silver ; but he refused them 
 all, though he had need of them, and would only accept a single ring, 
 worth one hundred francs. After the dinner, which was splendid 
 and good, he returned to his lodgings, for he had received his an- 
 swer, and on the morrow set out for Dover, making two days' jour- 
 ney of it. He there took leave of the English lords, and embarked 
 on board a paseage-boat to Calais, whence he went to Sluys. He 
 related to the king of France and his uncles the journey he had made 
 to England, and what answer he had tc&eived : but the king and his 
 
 lords paid no attention to it, and sent him to France ; for they were 
 resolved to sail the first fair wind for England, after the arrival of 
 the duke of Berry and the constable. Hitherto the wind had been 
 unfavorable : it would never have served them to land in those parta 
 they intended to attempt, but was very fair to carry them to Scotland. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIV. 
 
 THE DUKE OF BEIHIY LEAVES PARTS FOR SLUYS. THE CON'STAELE, AFTER 
 SUFFERING MANY DELAYS FROM CONTRARY WINDS, AT LENCiTH JOIN* 
 THE KIN& OF FRANCE. 
 
 The duke of Berry arrived at Paris, and, after hearing mass at the 
 church of NOtre Dame, took his leave, making it to be understood 
 that he would never return until he had been in England, although 
 his intentions were quite the contrary ; for, as the seafion was so far 
 advanced, he had no desire to undertake it. On his road, he daily 
 received letters and messengers from the king and the duke of Bur- 
 gundy, to hasten him, and to say they were only waiting for his 
 coming to embark. The duke of Berry continued his march, though 
 by short days' journeys. The constable of France embarked at Tre. 
 guier, a town on the sea-coast of Brittany, with a fine body of men-aU 
 arms, and ample purveyances on board seventy-two large vessels. 
 Some of them were freighted with the wooden town that was to be 
 erected on their landing in England. The constable had a favorable 
 wind when he left the harbor: but, when he approached the English 
 coast, it became contrary, and the farther they advanced the mora 
 violent it blew. When opposite to Margate at the mouth of the 
 Thames, the storm was so violent, it dispersed the flee:, whether the 
 mariners would or not, and there were not twenty sail together. Some 
 were blown into the Thames, where they were captured by the Eng. 
 lish ; and among them was one that had two or three parts of the 
 wooden town on board, and the workmen who were to erect it. 
 They and the town were sent to London, which much pleased the 
 king and the citizens. Seven other vessels of the fleet, laden wich 
 stores and provision, were driven on the coast of Zeahuid, and seized; 
 but the constable and his lords, with much difficulty, arrived at Sluys, 
 where they were joyfully received by the king and his barons. The 
 moment the king saw the constable, he said ; " Constable, what say 
 you ? when shall we sail ? I have for certain a great desire to see 
 England. I therefore pray you to hasten the business, and that we 
 embark as speedily as possible. My uncle Berry will be here in- 
 stantly, for he is now at Lille." "Sire," replied the constable, "v*'e 
 cannot sail until the wind be favorable. This south wind, which is 
 completely against us, has blown so long, that the Pidlors say they 
 have never seen it so constant in one point as it has been for these 
 two months." 
 
 " Constable," said the king, " on ray faith, I have been on board 
 my ship. I like the sea much, and I believe I shall be a good sailor, 
 for I was not in the least sick." " In the name of God," answered 
 the constable, " it was not so with me, for we were iti great danger 
 in our voyage from Brittany hither." The king would know how, 
 and in what manner, which the constable related to him, adding, "By 
 ill fortune and the storm which blew from the English coast, we have 
 lost our men and vessels, for which I am exceedingly sorry : and if 
 I could make up their loss I would, but at this moment it is not 
 possible." 
 
 CHAPTER XLV. 
 
 THE LORD DE GUISTELLES APPEASES AN INSURRECTION OF THE WE!f Of 
 BRUGES AGAINST THE FRENCH. THE INVASION OF E.WLAND IS GIVEN 
 UP, ON ACCOUNT OF CONTRARY WINDS, THE NEAR APPROACH OF WINTER, 
 AND IN CONFORMITY WITH THE ADVICE OF THE DUKE OF BERRY, WHICH 
 CAUSES GREAT REJOICINGS IN ENGLAND. 
 
 While the king of France and his constable were thus conversing 
 and arranging different matters, winter was begun, and the lords and 
 army lay exposed to the cold, and to some danger; for the Flemings 
 wished them away, more especially the lower sorts. They said, when 
 among themselves, " Why the devii does not the king free us from 
 them, by passing over to England ? Are we not sufficiehtly poor 
 without these Frenchmen adding to it?" Others answered, " You 
 will not see them cross over this year. They think they shall in. 
 stantly conquer England ; but it wi:l n-)t be so : it is not so easy a 
 matter, for the English are made of other stuff than the French. What 
 can they do to England ? When the English invaded France, they 
 shut themselves up in their castles and strong towns, and fled before 
 them like larks before a sparrow-hawk." 
 
 It was more particularly in Bruges, where the greater resort of the 
 French was, that the discontents were the highest ; and the smallest 
 trifle was sufficient to set them by the ears. At length it became 
 serious, and was begun by a few French varlets, who had beaten and 
 wounded some of the Flemings : the artificers then rose, and, having 
 armed themselves, assembled in the market, pbce. Not one French 
 knight or squire would have escaped death ; for many of the Flem- 
 ings had not forgotten the battle of Rosebecque, and were eager to 
 revenge themselves for their fathers, brothers, or friends who had 
 been there slain ; but God, providentially for the French, sent thither 
 the lord de Guistelleis. JWhen he leurnt that th? common people 
 
4M 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 were arming themselves, and thai others were running to their houses 
 to do the same, he saw the tuwn would be infallibly ruined : he there- 
 fore mounted his horse, attended by no more than four or five others, 
 and roJe up and down the streets; and, whenever he met any of the 
 townsmen armed going toward the market-place, he said to them ; 
 " My good people, what are you about ? whither are you going ? 
 Would you ruin yourselves ? have you not had enough of war ? are 
 you not every day prevented from following your trades ? You may 
 so act as tj cause the complete destruction of Bruges ; for do you not 
 know that the king of France is now in the neighborhood with his 
 whole army?" Thus did the lord de Guistelles by his kind speeches 
 calm them, and make them return to their homes ; but this would 
 not have been so easily done, had he not fortunately been in Bruges. 
 The barons and knights of France were so much alarmed, they had 
 shut themselves up in their quarters to wait the event. 
 
 On the arrival of the duke of Berry at Sluys, the king said to him, 
 " Ha, ha, fair uncle, though I was so anxious to see you, you have 
 been long in coming: why have you made such delay, when we 
 ought to have been at this moment in England, where we should 
 have combated our enemies?" The duke laughed and made his 
 excuses for the delay, but did not at first deliver his real sentiments: 
 he wished to examine the state of the purveyances and the fleet, 
 which made so beautiful a show in the road that it was delightful to 
 see it. He had been at Sluys for more than seven days, and it was 
 daily rumored they were to sail on the morrow ; but in truth the wind 
 was quite contrary to sailing for England. As it was now St. An- 
 drew's tide, the weather was hazy ; and you may judge if this were 
 a fit season for so many noble persons to put to sea as were now 
 waiting to embark at Sluys, whose stores and provision were on 
 board. Some of the young princes of the blood-royal, with a desire 
 to display their courage, had indeed made a few cruises near the har- 
 bor, saying, that they would be the first to land in England, should 
 n^)ne others venture thither. In this number were sir Robert and sir 
 Philip d'Aitois, sir Henry de Bar, sir Peter de Navarre, sir Peter 
 d'Albreth, sir Bernard d'Armagnac, with many more. These young 
 lords, having once begun, were so impatient to sail in earnest, that 
 a council was held, in the presence of the king, to determine how 
 they should proceed. The duke of Berry broke up the whole ; and 
 gave such well-grounded reasons, that the greater part of those who 
 were the most forw ard to embark were discouraged ; and said it 
 would be folly and madness to advise the king, who was then but a 
 child, to put to sea in such weather, and to make war on a people 
 and country, whose roads no one was acquainted with, and a country 
 w hich was likewise disadvantageous for warlike exploits. "Now, 
 suppose," Sl id the duke of Berry, " we were all landed in England, 
 we cannct fi;?ht the English unless they like it, and we dare not leave 
 our purveyances behind, for whoever should do so would lose the 
 whole. But if any one wished to make this voyage, though of no 
 great length, he would do it in the middle of summer, and not in the 
 heart of winter. Summon all the sailors who are here, and they will 
 tell you that what I say is true ; and that, notwithstanding the very 
 numerous fleet we have collected, should we put to sea, of the fifteen 
 hundred sail, there would never be three hundred together, or within 
 sight. Now, consider what risks we may run ; but I do not say this 
 out of any desire to be excused from being of the party myself, but 
 solely as I believe it sound sense, and that the council, and the ma- 
 jority of France, are of my way of thinking. I am willing, brother 
 of Burgundy, that you and I undertake this expedition, but I will 
 never advise the king to do so ; for, should any accident happen to 
 him, the whole blume would be laid on us for having consented to 
 it." " In God's name," replied the king of France, " I am resolved 
 I.) gD, should no one follow me." The lords laughed, and said the 
 kmg has a strong inclination to embark. 
 
 It was determined in this council, that the invasion should be de- 
 ferred until April or May ; and that what stores could be preserved, 
 auch as biscuit, salted meat, and wine, should be put in warehouses: 
 and regulations were made for the men-at-arms to return to Sluys in 
 the month of March. All this was soon known ; and thus was the 
 grand expedition broken up, which had cost France one hundred 
 thousand francs, thirty times told. The council had ordered that the 
 king should return to France, and the different lords to their homes ; 
 that all things should remain on the same footing on which they then 
 rested until the spring, when every one should be prepared to.obey 
 tho king's summons, and commence their voyage under more for- 
 tunate auspices than at this moment. It would have surprised any 
 one to have seen the rage of the knights and squires on hearing these 
 orders : more especially those who had come from distant parts, and 
 had spent all their money, in the hope of amply repaying themselves 
 in England. Among them were the count de Savoye, the count 
 d'Armagnac, the count dauphin d'Auvergnc, and a hundred great 
 barons, who departed much discontented at not having seen England. 
 The king was equally vexed, but he could not amend it. The army 
 now separated, some pleased, and others angry; but the servants of 
 the principal lords staid behind, for the benefit of their masters, and 
 to sell off their stores: in this, great losses accrued ; for w-hat had 
 cost one hundred francs was disposed of for ten, and even under. 
 The count dauphin d'Auvergne assured me on his faith, that for his 
 storee, which had cost him ten thousand francs, he did not receive 
 one thousand when resold ; his servants, like those of others, suffered 
 •vtrything to go to ruin. 
 
 When the nevv-s of this reached England, those who were afraid of 
 the French coming were greatly rejoiced ; while other^i were sorry, 
 for they expected to have made themselves rich from them. A grand 
 feast was given in the city of London to all those who had been ap. 
 pointed to guard the different harbors. The king kept his Christmas 
 in a solemn manner, at Westminster, and there created three dukes ; 
 first, the earl of Cambridge, duke of York ; his brother, the earl of 
 Buckingham, duke of Gloucesrter ; ti,e earl of Oxford, duke of Ire. 
 land.* These feasts were long ano magnificently continued, and 
 ihe people of England thought they h d escaped from great danger ; 
 but others, who had not the same al irms, said, that the army and 
 navy, which had been so pompously collected at Sluys, were only to 
 frighten England, and force the duke of Lancaster to return from Ga- 
 licia, where he was conquering towns and castles at his pleasure. 
 
 CHAPTER XLVI. 
 
 TWO CHAMFIONS TILT AT PARIS, FOR LIFE OR DEATH. 
 
 About this period, there was much conversation in France respect, 
 ing a duel which was to be fought, for life or death, at Paris. It had 
 been thus ordered by the parliament of Paris, where the cause, which 
 had lasted a year, had been tried, between a squire called James le 
 Gris and John de Carogne, both of them of the household of Peter, 
 count d'Alen9on, and esteemed by him ; but more particularly James 
 le Gris, whom he loved above all others, and placed his whole con. 
 fidence in him. As this duel made a great noise, many from distant 
 parts, on hearing of it, came to Paris to be spectators. I will relate 
 the cause as I was then informed. 
 
 It chanced that sir John de Carogne took it into his head he should 
 gain glory if he undertook a voyage to the Holy Land, having lo.ng 
 had an inclination to go thither. He took leave of his lord, the count 
 d'Alen^on, and of his wife, who was then a young and handsome 
 lady, and left her in his castle, called Argenteil, on the borders of 
 Perche, and began his journey toward the sea-side. The lady re. 
 mained, with her household, in this castle, living in the most decent 
 manner. Now it happened (this is the matter of quarrel) that the 
 devil, by divers and perverse temptations, entered the body of James 
 le Gris, and induced him to commit a crime, for which he afterwards 
 paid. He cast his thoughts on the lady of sir John de Carogne, 
 whom he knew to be residing with her attendants, at the castle of 
 Argenteil. One day, therefore, he set out, mounted on the finest horse 
 of the count, and arrived, full gallop, at Argenteil, Where he dis- 
 mounted. The servants made a handsome entertainment for him, 
 because they knew he was a particular friend, and attached to the 
 same lord as their master ; and the lady, thinking no ill, received 
 him with pleasure, led him to her apartment, and showed him many 
 of her works. James, fully intent to accomplish his wickedness, 
 begged of her to conduct him to the dungeon, for that his visit was 
 partly to examine it. The lady instantly complied, and led him 
 thither ; fi)r, as she had the utmost confidence in his honor, she was 
 not accompanied by valet or chambermaid. As soon as they had en. 
 tered the dungeon, James le Gris fastened the door unnoticed by the 
 lady, who was before him, thinking it might have been the wind, as 
 he gave her to understand. 
 
 When they were thus alone, James embraced her, and discovered 
 what his intentions were ; the lady was much astonished, and would 
 willingly have escaped had she been able, but the door was fastened ; 
 and James, who was a strong man, held her tight in his arms, and 
 flung her down on the floor, and had his will uf her. Immediately 
 afterwards, he opened the door of the dungeon, and made himself 
 ready to depart. The lady, exasperated with rage at what had 
 passed, remained silent, in tears ; but, on his departure, she said ta 
 him ; " James, James, you have not done well in thus deflowering 
 me : the blame, however, shall not be mine, but the whole be laid 
 on you, if it please God my husband ever return." James mounted 
 his horse, and, quitting the castle, hastened back to his lord, the 
 count d'Alen9on, in time to attend his rising at nine o'clock ; he had 
 been seen in the h6tel of the count at four o'clock that morning. I 
 am thus particular, because all these circumstances were inquired 
 into, and examined by the commissioners of the parHament, when 
 the cause was before them. 
 
 The lady de Carogne, on the day this unfortunate event befel her, 
 remained in her castle, and passed it off as well as she could, with, 
 out mentioning one word of it to either chambermaid or valet, for 
 she thought by making it public she would have more shame than 
 honor ; but she retained in her memory the day and hour James le 
 Gris had come to the castle. The lord de Carogne returned from his 
 voyage, and was joyfully received by his lady and household, who 
 feasted him well. When night came, sir John went to bed, but his 
 lady excused herself ; and, on his kindly pressing her to come to 
 him, she walked very pensively up and down the chamber. At last, 
 when the household were in bed, she flung herself on her knees at 
 his bedside, and bitterly bewailed the insult she had suffered. Tho 
 knight would not believe it could have happened ; but at length, she 
 urged it so strongly, he did befieve her, and said, " Certainly, lady, 
 if the matter has passed as you say, I forgive you, but the squire shall 
 
 * Uobe-t de Vere, euxl of Oxford, wa* created marauu ot Dubliu ia and duJM of 
 Ireland ialS86.-£9. 
 
CHRONrCLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 4: ft 
 
 die ; and I shall consult 3'our and my relations on the subject ; should 
 you have tulJ me a falsehood, never more shall you live with me." 
 The lady again and again assured him, that what she h.id said was 
 the pure truth. 
 
 On the marrow, the knight sent special messenfrcrii with leters to 
 his friends and nearest relations of his wife, depiring them to come 
 instantly to Ara;enteil, so that in a few days they were all at his cas. 
 tie. VVhen ihey were assembled, he led them into an apartment, and 
 t'.ild them the reason of his sending for them, and made his iady re- 
 late m.'St minutely everything that had passed during his absence. 
 When tliey had recovered their astonishment, he asked their ad- 
 vice h;jw to act : lo.ey said, he should wait on his lord, the count 
 d'Alemjon, ana tell him the fact. This he did; but the count, who 
 much loved James le Gris, diabelioved it, and appointed a day for 
 the parties to come before him, and desired the iady might attend to 
 give her evidence against the man whom she thus accused. She at. 
 tended as de^nred, accompanied by a great number of her relations ; 
 arid the examinations and pleadings were carried on before the count 
 to a great length. James le Gris boldly denied the charge, declared 
 it was false, and Vt'ondered much how he could have incurred such 
 mortal hatred from the lady. He proved by the household of the 
 count, that he had been seen in the castle at four o'clock in the 
 morning : tb.e count said that he was in his bed-chamber at nine 
 o'clock, and that it was quite impossible for any one to have ridden 
 three-and-tvventy leagues and back again, and do v/hat ho was 
 charged witi!, in four hours and a half. The count told the lady he 
 would suppjrt his squire, and that she must have dreamed it. He 
 commanded, that henceforward all should be buried in oblivion, and, 
 under pain of incurring his displeasure, nothing farther done in the 
 business. The knight, being a man of courage, and believing what 
 hi^! wife h-.v! told him, would not submit to this, but went to Paris 
 and appe:d'v'd to the parliament. The parliament summoned James 
 le Gri5;, v/[i;> i-cplied, and gave pledges to obey whatever judgment 
 the pjrUament should give. The cause lasti'd upv/ard of a year, 
 and tlu\v could not any way compromise it, for the knight was posi- 
 tive, i'rom his v.'ife's information, of the fact, and declared, that since 
 it was nov/ so public, he would pursue it until death. The count 
 d'AIcn^on, for this, conceived a great dislike against the knight, and 
 would have h,!.d him put to death, had he not placed liimself under 
 the safeguard of the parliamePit. It was long pleaded, and the par. 
 liarnent at l;u^t, because they could not produce other evidetice than 
 horfclf o..g dn.st James le Gris, judged it should be decided ia the tilt, 
 yard, by a duel lor life or death. The knight, the squiiT, and the 
 lady, were iti-taudy put under arrest until the day of this mortal 
 combat, v.?hich, by order of parliament, was fixed for tlje ensuing 
 Monday, in the year 1837 ; at which time the king of France and 
 his barons v.'ere at Sluys, intending to invade England. 
 
 The king, on hearing of this duel, declared lie v/ould be present 
 at it. The dukes of Berry, Burgundy, Bourbon, and the constable 
 of France, being also desirous of seeing it, agreed it was proper he 
 should be t'leri;. Th<? king, in consequence, sent orders to Paris to 
 prolong the day of the duel, for that he would be present. This order 
 was puiictu:d!y (;beyed, and the king and his lords departed for France. 
 The king kept the feast of the Calends at Arras, and the duke of 
 Burgundy at Lille. In the mean time, the men-at-arms made for 
 their diftc;rent homca, as had been ordered by the marshals ; but the 
 principal chiefs went to Paris to witness the combat. When the 
 king of Fr.iuce was returned to Paris, lists were made for the cham- 
 pions in the place of St. Catherine, behind the Temple ; and the 
 lords had erected on one side scaiFolds, the better to see the sight. 
 The crowd of people was wonderful. The two champions entered 
 the lists armed at all point-, and each was seated in a chair opposite 
 the other ; the count de St. Pol directed sir John de Carogne, and 
 the retainers of the count d'Alen^on James le Gris. On the knight 
 entering the field, he went to his lady, who was covered with black 
 and seated on a chidr, and said, " Lady, from your accusation, and 
 in your quarrel, am I thus venturing my life to combat James le 
 Gris: you know whether my cause be loyal and true." " My lord," 
 she replied " it is so ; and you may fight securely, for your cause is 
 good." 
 
 yhe lady remained seated, making fervent prayers to God and 
 the Virgin, entreating humbly, that through her grace and interces- 
 sion, she might gain the victory according to her right. Her afflic- 
 tion was great, for her life depended on the event ; and should her 
 husband lose the victory, she would have been burnt, and he would 
 have been hanged. I am ignorant, for I never had any conversation 
 with her or the knight, whether she had not frequently repented of 
 having pushed matters so far as to place herself and husband in 
 such peril ; but it v.;as nov»' loo late and she must abide the event. 
 The two champions were then advanced and placed opposite to each 
 other; when they mounted their horses, and made a handsome ap- 
 pearance, for they were both expert men-at-arms. They ran their j 
 first course without hurt to either. After the tilting, they dismounted, 
 and made ready to continue the fight. They behaved with courage: 
 but sir John de Carogne was, at the first onset, wounded in the 
 thigh, which alarmed all his friends: notwithstanding this, he foujht 
 80 desperately that he struck down his adversary, and, thrusting his 
 ■word through the body, caused instant death ; when he demanded of 
 th§ ipectators if he had don^ his duty ; they replied that h« had. The 
 
 body of James le Gris was delivered I) the hangman, who dragged 
 it tj Montfaucon, and there hanged it. Sir John de Carogne ajv, 
 proached the king and fell on hi.-> knees: the king made him rise, 
 and ordered one thousand francs to be paid hiin tliat very day : he 
 also retained him of his household, with a penr.-ion of tWD hundred 
 livres a-year, which he received bs long as he lived. Sir John, after 
 thanking the king and his lord«, went to his lady and kissed h.er : 
 they went together to make their ofliering in the church oi' Ndtro 
 Dame, and then returned to their home.* 
 
 Sir John de Carogne did not remain long after in France, but set 
 off, in company with the lord Boucicaut, tir John dea Borde;<, and 
 sir Lewis Grat, to visit the holy pcpulchre, and the sultan ol' the 
 Turks, whose fame was much talked of in France. Sir Robinet 
 de Boulogne was also with him : he was squire of honor to the king 
 of France, and had travelled much over the world. 
 
 CHAPTER XLVII. 
 
 THE DEATH OF PETER, KING OF ARRAGON. HIS SUCCESSOR, KI.VG JOHN, 
 DETAINS PRISONER THE ARCHBISHOP OF BORDEAUX, WliO WAS NEGO- 
 TIATING, FOR THE DUKE OF LANCASTER, THE PAYMENT OF CERTA^ 
 SUMS WHICH HE CLAIMED AS DUE TO HIM FROM ARRAGON. 
 
 About Candlemas of this year, (1386,) king Peter of Arragon lay 
 on his death-bed. Whe'i he found there were no hopes of hisrecov. 
 ery, he sent for his two sons, John and Martin, t to Vvdiom he said, 
 " My fair children, I leave you well established, and the affairs of 
 my kingdom properly arranged. Live peaceably and lovingly and 
 you will gain honor and renown. With regard t ) ecclesiastical mat- 
 ters, for my conscience's sake and greater safety, I have always 
 been neuter : do you do the same, until the knov/ledge, which pope 
 is the true one, shall be more apparent." 
 
 His two sons dutifully replied, that they would do so, and punc. 
 tually obey whatever he should order. The king died soon after,! 
 He was a valiant man in his time, and had bly added to 
 
 the crown of Arragon by the conquest of ?/Isjorca, which he kept. 
 He was buried in the city of Barcelona, and there lies. Whe,: the 
 death of the king of Arragon was known at^Avignon, the pope and 
 cardinals instantly sent off letters to the king of France, his uncles, 
 and to the duke and duchess of Bar, v/ho were his aupportera and 
 parents to the young queen of Arragon, the lady Jolante,§ and to the 
 queen hereelf, and were so busy, that the v/ho!e court of Arragon 
 acknowledged him as pope. The duke and duchess of Bar wrotr^ 
 pressing letters to their daughter, as did the !;ing of France, the dukes 
 of Berry and Burgundy, wlio sent a cardinal as embassador, to in. 
 struct the new king, his brother, and subjects. The cardinal, with 
 the assistance of the queen, v^-ho paid too much attention to what 
 her relations had urged, gained over the king, v.dio had before deter, 
 mined to follow the example of his father in preserving a neutrality, 
 and the whole kingdom to the obedience of pope Clement. 
 
 At the time of the late king of Arragon's death, the srchbishop of 
 Bordeaux was at Barcelona. He had been sent thither by the duke 
 of Lnncaster, and I will explain the cause of his journey. The lato 
 prince of Wales (who, though only duke of Aquit-une, was much 
 feaj-ed by his neighbors, the kings of France, Arragon, Castille and 
 Navarre, and even by the king of the Saracens, who had heard of 
 his great prowess and renovv^n,) had entered into a treaty with the 
 king of Arragon, which had been sworn tj, and sealed by each party, 
 as well as by the king of England, that neither the prince nor the 
 king of England, nor their successors, would ever wnge war against 
 Arragon, so long p.s the king of Arragon and hif: heirs should serve 
 the lord of Aquitaine with five hundred spears, against any enemy 
 with whom he was at war ; and thai, if he chose not to send his men, 
 he bound himself to pay a certain sum of money. Ten years of 
 arrears were now due from Arragon : fur the king had never paid 
 anythinj?, nor done any service to the king of England nor to his 
 deputies. When the duke of Lancaster left England, he brought 
 with him letters.patent, sealed with the great seal of the realm, in 
 the presence of the king and his council, appointing him lieutenant, 
 for the king, over all the countries of Bordeaux, Bayonne, and Aqui. 
 taine, giving him legal power to demand whatever nnght be owing 
 from Arragon, and from all other parts dependent or allied to Eng- 
 land. They also gave the duke power to retain, for his own use, 
 whatever sums might be due, and to give i-eceipts, which would be 
 acknowledged as legal. 
 
 While the duke was at Saint Jago, he bethought himself of the 
 king of Arragon, and that he vvas i/)debted to him a very large sum 
 of arrears, by virtue of his commission, and that it would come now, 
 
 * This was the last judicial comhnt which Uwk place in Fr.ince under the award of 
 parliament. The combat was claimed in Dijiland as late as 1819, by one Thornton. 
 This man was tried for murder, and acquitted. The brother of the person mur lered ta 
 young girl) brought an appeal, ;Lnfi Thornton offered to jusrify him-eli' by single corn- 
 bat. The a ppellant, however, wi: hdresv his appeal, and an act was Liiimadiatelv passed 
 to abolish the wager of battle. — Ed. 
 
 t Martin was king of Sicily, and on the death of John, kiJIed by a fall from hw horse 
 in pursuing an enormous wolf, succeede'l to the crown of Artasroii, .lohn did not fol- 
 low his father's counsels with respect toUie disputed tiara, but acknowledged (Jlemeat 
 VII.— j3rf de Virifier les Dnt£-: X The Sih January, 15o7.— Ed. 
 
 § The lady .Toiiinte wfts his Mcond \vif«. He wa> first munled to.Jaae, daugbtsr Ot 
 John, count d'Anaagnac 
 
416 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 with other aiis^ very upportunely, tj carry on his war against Cas. 
 tille. During hia resiJence at Suiat Jugo, he sent some ot" his coun- 
 cil to Bordeaux, to the archbishop, and sir John Harpedon, the &6. 
 neschal, ordering one or both of them to set out for Arragon, and 
 remonstrate strongly with the king, on the large sums he had long 
 owed the king of England, as duke of Aquit.iine. The archbishop 
 and s^.ieechal, having weighed the orders from the duke, thought it 
 best for the ^d.ieschal to rem:\in at Bordeaux, and the archbishop to 
 undertake the emb-assy. He therefore set out, but amved in Arra- 
 gon, unluckily, when the king was on his death-bed. When he 
 was deceased, the archbishop followed the princes and council of 
 Arragon to the interment at B:ircebna, and then remonstrated so 
 strongly, asir seemed t) the council, that he was ordered to prison : 
 though not closely confined, he was forbidden to leave the city of 
 Barcelona. 
 
 CHAPTER XLVIII. 
 
 THE DUEE OF LANCASTER MAKES WAR ON ARRAGOfT. THE ARCHBISHOP 
 OF BORDEAUX IS REF^EASED. THE VISCOUNTESS OF CASTELBON, SUS- 
 PCCTED OF H." VINO ADMITTED THE ENG-LISH INTO HER CASTLE, APPEASES 
 THE KIVG OF ARr'aSON, THROUGH THE INTERFERENCE OF THE COUNT 
 DE FOIX. 
 
 When news was brought to Bordeaux of the imprisofiment of the 
 archbishop, the E^aeschal said, " I am not surpiised at it : the arch, 
 bishop is loo hot-headed. I believe it would have been better had 
 I gone thither: I should have spoken more calmly; and there is a 
 method of urging claims suited to different persons." The sdneschal 
 sent inform ition of what had happened t) the duke of Lancaster, 
 who was very wroth with the king of Arragon and his council, for 
 having imp;is>ned such a person as the archbishop of Bordeaux 
 when neg./ti iting his business. The duke wrote ordere for the gar- 
 rison of Lourde instantly to iiivade Arragon, and attack Barcelona, 
 where the archbishop was confined. The governor, John de Bdarn, 
 who styled himself seneschal of Bigorre, Peter d'Anchin, Ernaulton 
 de Restsn, Ernaulton de S iinte Colombe, and the whole garrison, 
 were much delighted with these orders, and overran the kingdom of 
 Arragon, as far as Barcelona, so that no merchants 'dared venture 
 without its walls. In addition to this mischief, the principal towns of 
 Arragon would not consent to the king's wishes of being crowned, 
 unless he would first promi se and solemnly swear that no taxes, pay 
 for soldiers, or other impositions, should be raised in the country ; 
 and unless he would engage for a compliance with other demands, 
 which the king and his council thought very unreasonable and un- 
 just. He threatened t:> m -ks war upon them, more particularly on 
 those of Barcelona, who he said were too rich and presumptuous. 
 
 There was at this period, in Languedoc, on the borders of Rou- 
 ergue and Auvergne, toward Pesenas and Us6s, a band of arme J men, 
 who called themselves Routes, that were daily multiplying to do evil. 
 Four men-at-arms were their leaders, v/ho made war on every man 
 they met on horseback, caring not whom. Their names were, Peter 
 de Montfaucon, Geoffry Chastelier, Hainge de Sorge, and le Goulet. 
 These had under them full four hundred combatants, who ruined all 
 the counUy wherever they haunted. They were mightily rejoiced 
 when they heard of the archbishop of Bordeaux's imprisonment, of 
 the duke of Lancaster's making war on the Arragonians, and that 
 the king of Arragon was dissatisfied with his subjects in the princi- 
 pal towns ; for such people always love mischief in preference to 
 good. They therefore resolved to march toward the frontiers of Ar- 
 ragon, and surprise some fort, which the king or principal towns 
 would negotiate with them to regain. They set out, and made for 
 the castle of Daren,* which they had planned to surprise. This cas- 
 tle is in th3 archbishopric of Narbonne, between France and Arra- 
 gon, and situated precisely on the limits of the two kingdoms. They 
 arrived there by night-fall undiscovered, and, finding it weakly 
 guarded, socn conquered it, to the great dismay of all the country, 
 especially of Perpignan, which is but four leagues distant from this 
 oastle. 
 
 The garrison from Lourde, this same week, captured likewise a 
 castle in Arragon, four leagues from Barcelona, called the old castle 
 of Rolbai?, belonging to the viscountess of Castelbon, cou^in-ger- 
 man to the count de Foix. The lady was much surprised at this 
 event, and went to her cousin, the count de Foix, to beg, for God's 
 sake, he would get her castle restored to her ; for those who had won 
 it were from his country of B(5arn. The count, in his answer, de- 
 sired her not to btj alarmed ; for that her castle had been taken 
 solely to harass Barcelona from thence, as the archbishop of Bor- 
 deaux was in confinement there for a trifling cause, and that she 
 should have it again undamaged. The lady was satisfied with this 
 answer but kept it secret, and went to reside at another castle, near 
 Roquebertin. Those of Duren, Rolbais, and the garrison from 
 Lourde kept up a severe warfare on the borders of Arragon. The 
 king, indeed, winked at this, that the towns might be punished, but 
 their discontents increased ; for those of Barcelona, Perpignan, and 
 other towns, could not carry on their commerce without being made 
 prisoners, and ransomed. They determined to set the archbishop of 
 Bordeaux at liberty, but, as was right, to consult the king on the 
 •ubject. They, in consequence, negotiated privately with don Mar- 
 
 '""Duraa." Q. if not Duibaa, 
 
 tin, the king's brother, who was very popular in the country, that he 
 would interfere betwen them and the king, and obtain peace. wi*,h 
 those of Lourde and Rolbais. In order to encourage their loyalty, 
 he engaged to do what they desired, and prevailed on his brother to 
 give the archbishop his liberty, and send him back to the Bordel ois. 
 
 Shortly afterwards, by the count de Foix's exertions, the viscount, 
 ess recovered her castle, and those who had ca.ptured it departed, in 
 return for the service the count had done to the duke of Lancaster 
 in the course of this year. The ki. of Arrs-gon, seeing the vis. 
 countess so quick regain her casth. . sent for her, and when in his 
 presence, charged her with having £ Imitted the English into her 
 castle to make war on him, for which she had been very criminal. 
 The lady clearly exculpated herself, saying, "My lord, as God may 
 help me and mine, and by the faith I owe you, when I heard of my 
 casde being taken, I had never any connection, nor entered into 
 any featy with the English. I instantly informed my cousin, the 
 count de Foix of it, and begged of him, for God's sake, to aid me 
 to recover n>y casde, as it had been taken by the garrison from 
 Lourde, who are his subjects, and from B^crn. The count sent me 
 word not to alarm myself, for that those who had conquered it had 
 only borrowed it to make a more effectual warfare on Barcelona." 
 The king replied, " If you can prove this answer from the count de 
 Foix, I will restore your castle." " That I can easily do," answered 
 the lady. She informed the count, who at that time resided at Or. 
 th^s, in Bdarn, of this conversation, and entreated he would satisfy 
 the king of Arragon. The count sent letters to the king of Arra. 
 gon by one of his knights, called sir Cicart de Saurelin, to request 
 he would hold his cousin excused, and allow her to possess her lands 
 in peace, otherwise it would displease him. The king of Arragon 
 acceded to this request, and having well entertained the knight, said 
 to him, "The viscountes-o has acted prudently, in thus having her 
 cousin the count de Foix make excuses for her." 
 
 CHAPTER XLIX. 
 
 THOSE COMPANIONS WHO HAD CONQUERED DUREN ARE DEFEATED AND 
 SLAIN BY A STRATAGEM OF RAYMOND DE BACHEZ, COUSIN TO THE KINO- 
 OF ARRAGON. 
 
 Thus affairs remained : the viscountess de Castelbon had quiet 
 poasossioi] of her casde ; but the merchants were not the les.3 ha 
 rassed by the garrison who had come from Lourde. Those of Bar. 
 celona and it? neighborhood were frequently pillaged and made 
 prisoners by them, unless they had entered into a treaty and paid 
 composition-money for their safety. These compositions extended 
 over many parts of Catalonia and Arragon ; and the garrison of Du. 
 ren was desirous of adopting the same planjVi^hich they would have 
 executed or perhaps wor^e, had they not been checked. They had 
 done more mischief to the country than those of Lourde; for they 
 were poorer, and made no distinction whom they attacked, whether 
 officers of the king and queen, or merchants. The king at length 
 assembled his council on this business ; for the great town.s mur- 
 mured, and said, *hat the king, who ought t^ have destroyed such 
 wretches, supported them. These and such description of speeches, 
 when told to the young king, gave him much uneasines-s, and he 
 was vexed that his subjects should thus talk of him respecting Du. 
 ren. because the crown of his father, who had been so greatly be. 
 loved, was but just fallen to him. He called to him a great baron of 
 AiTagon and his cousin, named sir Raymond de Bachez, and said, 
 " Sir Raymond, ride toward Duren, and learn from those who have 
 surprised it what rhey want in my country, and make some treaty 
 .vith them, that you may get them out of it, by fair or foul means." 
 The knight obeyed, and sent a herald to the garrison of Duren, to 
 say he wished to negotiate a treaty with them. When Montfaucon 
 and the other captains learnt that sir Raymond de Bachez wanted 
 to treat with them, they th()U':;ht they should obtain a laige sum to 
 deliver up the place, and said to the herald, " Friend, tell your mas- 
 ter, sir Raymond, from us, that he may safely come here, for we will 
 not do him any injury." The herald returned uith this answer to 
 sir Raymond at Perpignan, who instantly left the place, and on his 
 arrival at Daren held a parley with them. He asked why they re. 
 mained so long on the borders of Arragon; they replied t!iey were 
 waiting to join the army from France that was comiiig to the sup- 
 port of the king of Castille. " Ha, my gentlemen," said sir Ray. 
 mond, " if you wait for thai, you will stay here too long ; for the 
 king of Arragon will not allow you thus to plunder his country and 
 its inhabitants." They replied, " that since the king would not suf- 
 fer them to support themselves, he mu=t prevent it, for live they 
 would. If he would ransom the countiy, they would march away, 
 but not otherwise." "And what do you ask ?" said sir Riymond 
 "Sixty thousand francs : we are four of us, and each must have fif. 
 teen thousand for his share." " In God's name," said sir Raymond, 
 " that is money enough ; but I will report it to the king : it is better 
 for him to pay yon this sum, for the good of the country, th^n to al. 
 low you further pillaging.'' He added this to keep them in good 
 humor, but thought the contrary to what he had said. On taking 
 leave, sir Raymond told them they might expect the sum they had 
 asked, and perhaps more. He then returned to Perpignan, where 
 the kin£^ was* and .related to him all that hod passed. The kin; 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &,c. 
 
 417 
 
 said, " You must at all events free the country from them, and pay 
 the thieves ; if I could get hold of them, I would hang them all, 
 which is the only payment they deserve : but the place is so strong, 
 it will be difficult to draw them out of it." 
 
 " Sir," replied sir Raymond, " I will manage it ; only do not in. 
 terfere. " Well," said tae king, "do so: I will not meddle further 
 in the business ; but see that the country be delivered from them." 
 Sir Raymond collected a body of men-at-arms, to the amount of five 
 hundred speai-3, which he placed in ambush, and gave the command 
 of them to a squire of Gascony, called Naudon Seighin, who was 
 valiant and expert in arms. The ambuscade was about a short league 
 from Duren, and sir Raymond ordered, that as soon as the garrison 
 should have passed by, they should fall on them, and, if possible, put 
 all to death. Sir Raymond wrote to the garrison, to desire they 
 would mount their horses and advance to Perpignan, making a show 
 of att icking the place, to alarm the inhabitants, otherwise he should 
 never be able to raise their quota of the money he was to pay them. 
 They were much pleased to receive such intelligence, believing it 
 true, and, mounting their horses the same day the ambush was posted, 
 rode for Perpigaun, galloping up to the barriers. When they had 
 done this, they began their retreat, thinking to return quietly home ; 
 but they had scarcely gone half-way before they met Naudon Seighin 
 and his troops, who instantly charged them. They now perceived 
 they had been tricked, and prepared to defend themselves: they fought 
 W2ll, during the time the combat lasted; but that was not long, for 
 there were among them numbers of pillagers badly armed, who were 
 soon defeated. Among the s.lain were, Geoffry Chastelier, Haii^ige 
 de S jrge, Guyot Moresque, .John le Geu'ant, and many more. Peter 
 de Montfaucon, Amhlardan de St, Just, and forty others, were made 
 prisoners, and carried to Perpignan, where, as they passed the streets, 
 the inhabitants came out of their hou es, and hooted at them, as 
 they W5uld have done at a wolf. Le Geulant and Peter de Mont- 
 faucon were put in the pillory, and the rest thrown into a dungeon. 
 
 The duke of Berry, about this time, arrived at Carcassone, from 
 a visit to pope Clement at Avignon. Having there heard that Duren 
 was regained, and the garrison slain or made prisoners, he instantly 
 wrote to the king of Arragon, and to his cousin Jolante de Bar, to 
 beg they would give up to him Peter de Montfaucon and his com- 
 panions. His request was immediately complied with, and they 
 were sent to the duke of Berry. They were indebted to him, or 
 they would infallibly have all been put to death. 
 
 CHAPTER L. 
 
 AN ACHIEVEMENT OF ARMS, PERFORMED BEFORE THE SENESCHAL OF BOR- 
 DEAUX, BETWEEN A KNIGHT ATTACHED TO FRANCE AND ONE ATTACHED 
 TO ENGLAND. 
 
 At this period there was an achievement of arms performed by 
 two knights at Bordeaux, in the presence of the seneschal, sir John 
 Harpedon, and other noblemen. These knights were the lord de 
 ia Rochefoucault, son to the sister of the captal de Buch, and sir 
 William de Montferrant, attached to the English interest. As this 
 tilt was to be made before all the lords and ladies of Bordeaux, the 
 count de Foix sent tkither some knights of his household to advise 
 and direct the lord de la Rochefoucault, who was the son of his 
 cousin, and likewise different sorts of armor, daggers, battle-axes, 
 and swords well tempered, although he had before properly provided 
 himself with all things necessary. These knights armed themselves 
 on the appointed day, and were attended by a numerous body of 
 chivalry. The lord de la Rochefoucault was accompanied by two 
 hundred knights and squires, all connected with him by blood ; and 
 sir William de Montferrant by as many, if not more. Among the 
 number were the lords de Rohan, de I'Esparre, de Duras, de Muci- 
 dent, de Landuras, de Curton, de Languran, de la Barde, de Tarbe, 
 de Mont-croyat in Perigord, who had come from distant parts be- 
 cause he was their relation, and to be spectators of the feats of arms 
 of two such valiant knights. 
 
 When they were mounted, and had their helmets laced on, their 
 spears and shields were given them. They instantly stuck spurs 
 into their horses, and met each other full gallop, with such force that 
 the laces of the helmets burst asunder, and their helmets were 
 knocked off, so that they passed each other bare-headed, excepting 
 the caps which were under the helmets. " On my faith," the spec- 
 tators said, " they have gallantly performed their first course." The 
 knights now had their armor set to rights, and their helmets laced 
 again, when they performed their second and third courses with 
 equal ability. In short, they behaved, in every attack, most gallantly, 
 and to the satisfaction of all present. The seneschal, sir John Harpe- 
 don, entertained at supper, that evening, all the lords and ladies in 
 Bordeaux ; and on the morrow the company departed, and went to 
 their different homes. The lord de la Rochefoucault made prepara- 
 tions for his journey to Castille ; for king John had sent to him, and 
 the time was drawing nigh for him to set out. Sir William de 
 Montferrant, when returned home, made also his preparations to cross 
 the sea to Portugal; for that king had, in like manner, written to him. 
 
 CHAPTER LI. 
 
 SIR OLIVER DE CLISSON DELIVERS JOHN OF BLOIS, SON OF THE LATE LORD 
 CHAKLES OF BLOIS, FROM HIS LONG IMPRISONMENT IN ENGLAND, AND 
 GIVES HIM HIS DAITGHTER IN MARRIAGE, TO THE GREAT DISPLEASURE 
 OF THE DUKE OF BRITTANY, 
 
 In such a grand and noble history as this, of which I, sir John 
 Froissart, am the author and continuator until this present moment, 
 through the grace of God, and that perseverance he has endowed 
 me with, as well as in length of years, wliich have enabled n".c 
 to witness abundance of the things that have p;issed, it is not 
 right that I forget anything. During the war of Brittany, the tv/o 
 sons of the lord Charles de Blois (who, for a long time ayled hirr?. 
 self duke of Brittany, in right of his lady, Jane of Brittajiy, who 
 was descended in a direct line from the dukes of Brittany, as has 
 been mentioned in this history,*) were sent to Englimd'as hottiiges for 
 their father, where they still remain in prison ; for I have net as yet 
 delivered them from it, nor from the power of the king of England, 
 wherein the lord Charles had put them. 
 
 You have before seent how king Edward (A Em^hmd, to strengthen 
 himself in his war with France, had formed an alliance with the earl 
 of Montfort, whom he had assisted, v/ith advice and force?, to the 
 utmost of his ability, insomuch, that the eatl had rucceedcd to his 
 wishes, and was duke of Brittany. Had he not been thus supported, 
 the lord Charles de Blois would have posse?r r-d seven parts of Brit, 
 tany and the earl only five. You have i^'s;\ how, in the year 1347, 
 there was a grand battle before la Rocb^-:;enien, betv/een the forces 
 of the countess of Montfort, and of sir Thomas Hartwcdl and the lord 
 Charles de Bluis, in which the lord Charles was defeated, and carried 
 prisoner to England, He was handsomely entertained there ; for 
 that noble queen of England, the good Philippa, (who, in my youth, 
 was my lady and mistress,) was, in a direct line, his cousin-germ an. 
 She did everything in her power to obtain his freedom, which the 
 council were not willing to grant. Duke Henry of Lancaster, and 
 the other barons of England, declared, that he ought net to have his 
 liberty ; for he had too mighty connections, and that Philip, vvho 
 called himself king of France, was his uncle: that as long as they de 
 tained him prisoner, their war in Brittany would be the better for it. 
 Notwithstanding these remonstrances, king Edward, through the per- 
 suasion of that noble and good lady, his queen, agreed to his ransom 
 for two hundred thousand nobles : and his two sons were to be given 
 as hostages for the payment of this sum, which was very considerable 
 to the lord Charles, but would not now be so to a duke of Brittany. 
 The lords of those days were differendy situated from what they aro 
 at present, when greater resources are found, and they can tax theii 
 people at their pleasure. It was not so then, for they were forced 
 to content themselves with the amount of their landed estates ; but 
 now, the duchy of Brittany would easily p^y for the aid cf its lord 
 two hundred thousand nobles within the year, or within two years at 
 the farthest. 
 
 Thus were the two young sons of the lord Charles de Blois given 
 up as hostages for the payment of his ransom. He had, afterwards, 
 in the prosecutioil of his war in Brittany, so much to p^.y his soldiers, 
 and support his rank and state, that he could never, during his life- 
 time, redeem them. He was slain in the battle at Aurf.y.f de- 
 fending his right, by the English allies of the earl of Montfort, and 
 by none others. His death, however, did not put an end to the war; 
 but, king Charles of France, ever fearing the effects cf chance, 
 when he savv the earl of Montfort was conquering all Brittany, sus- 
 pected, should he wholly succeed, that he v,^ou!d hold the duchy in- 
 dependent of paying him homage for it ; for he had already held it 
 from the king of Kngland, who had So strenuously assisted him in the 
 war. He therefore negotiated with the earl, which, having been 
 already mentioned, § I shall pass over here : but the earl remained 
 duke of Brittany, on condition that his homage should be paid to his 
 own right lord, the king of France. The duke was also bound, by 
 the articles of the treaty, to assist in the deliverance of his two cousins, 
 sons of the lord Charles de Blois, who were prisoners to the king of 
 England. In this, however, he never stirred ; for he doubted, if 
 they should return, whether they v/ould not give him some trouble, 
 and whether Brittany, v.'hich was more inclined tov;ard thera than 
 to him, would not acknowledge them as its lord. 
 
 For this reason he neglected them, and they remained sq long 
 prisoners in England, under the guard, at one time, of sir Roger 
 Beauchamp, a gallant and valiant knight, and his lady Sybilla, at 
 another under Sir Thomas d'Ambreticourt, that the youngest brother, 
 Guy of Brittany, died. John of Brittany was now alone ^prisoner 
 and frequently bewailed his situation with wonder; for he v»';i3 sprung 
 from the noblest blood in the world, the advantages of which he had 
 been long deprived ; for he had been thirty-five years in the powei 
 of his enemies, and, as he perceived no appearance of help coming 
 to him from any quarter, he would rather have died than thus have 
 existed. His relations and friends kept at a distance, and the sum 
 he was pledged for was so great, that he could never have pro»'ured 
 It, without a miracle ; for the duke of Anjou, in all his prosperity, 
 
 * Vol. i, chnp. 74, 
 1 Vol. i. citap. <S7. 
 
 t In chap. 78, and the loilowing, vol. i. 
 i Vol, i. chap.m 
 
418 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 though the person who had manied his sister-german, by whom he j 
 had two tine sons, Lewis and Charleys never once thought of him. 
 
 I will now relate how John of Brittany obtained his liberty. You 
 have before read of the earl of Buckingham's expedition, through 
 France, tj Brittany, whither the duke had sent for him, because the 
 country would not acknowledge him for ite lord. The earl and his 
 irmy remained the ensuing winter, in great distress, before Nantes 
 •.md \ annes, until the month of May,* when he returned to England. 
 During tiic time the earl of Buckingham was at Vannes, you may re. 
 member, there were some tilts between knights and squires of France 
 and those of England, and that the constable of France was present. 
 There was much conversation kept up by him and the English 
 knights ; for he was acquainted with them all, from his childhood, 
 having been educated in England. He behaved very politely to 
 many of them, as men-at-;u'ms usually do, and the French and Eng- 
 lish in particujar, to each other ; but, at this moment, he was more 
 attentive, as he had an object inview, which occupied all his thoughts, 
 and which he had only disclosed to a single person, who was squire 
 of honor in his household, and had served the lord Charles de Blois 
 in the same capacity. If the constable had made it more public, he 
 would not have succeeded as he did, through the mercy of God, and 
 his own pRrseverance. 
 
 The constable and duke of Brittany had for a long time hated each 
 other, whatever outv/ard appearances they might put on. The con. 
 stable was much hurt at the length of the imprisonment of John of 
 Brittany, and at a time when he was rather on better terms with the 
 duke, said to him, "My lord, why do not you exert yourself to de- 
 liver your cousin from bis imprisonment in England ? You are 
 bound to do so by treaty ; for when the nobles of Brittany, the pre. 
 lates and tiie principal towns, with the archbishop of Rheims, sir 
 John de Craon, au'l sir Boucicaul, at that time marshal of France, 
 negotiated with you for peace before Quimper Corentin, you swore 
 you would do your utmost to liberate your cousins John and Guy, 
 and as yet you have never done anything ; know, therefore, that the 
 country does not love you the more for it." The duke dissembled, 
 and said, " Hold your tongue, sir Oliver : where shall I find the three 
 or four hundred thousand francs which are demanded for their lib. 
 erty ?" " My lord," replied the constable, " if Brittany saw you were 
 really in earnest to procure their freedom, they would not murmur at 
 any tax or hearth-money that should be raised to deliver these prison- 
 ers, vvho will die in prison unless God assist them." " Sir Oliver," 
 said the duke, " my country of Brittany shall never be oppressed by 
 such taxes. My cousins have great princes for their relations ; and 
 Ihe king of France or duke of Anjou ought to aid them, for they have 
 always supported them against me. When I swore, indeed, to aid 
 them in their deliverance, it was always my intention that the king 
 of France and tiieir other relations should find the money, and that 
 I would join my entreaties." The constable could never obtain more 
 from the duke. 
 
 The constable, therefore, when at these tournaments at Vannes, 
 saw clearly that the earl of Buckingham and the English barons and 
 squires were greatly dissatisfied with the duke of Brittany, for not 
 having opened his towns to them, as he had promised, when they 
 left England. The English near Hennebon and Vannes v/ere in such 
 distress, that they frequently had not wherewithal to feed themselves, 
 and their horses wove dying through famine : they were forced to 
 gather thistles, bruise them in a mortar, and make a paste which they 
 cooked. While they were thus surfpring, they said ; " This duke of 
 Brittany does not i.cquit himself loyally of his promises to us, who 
 have put him in possession of his duchy ; and, if v/e may be believed, 
 we can as easily take it from him as we have given it to him, by set- 
 ting at liberty his enemy, John of Brittany, whom the country love 
 in preference. We cannot any way revenge ourselves better, !v.)r 
 sooner make Mm lose the country. The constable was well informed 
 of all these murmurs and discontents, which were no way displeasing 
 to him : on the contrary, for one murmur he wished there had been 
 twelve ; but he took no notice of it, and only spoke of what he had 
 heard to this squire, who<e name, I thinic, was John RoUand. 
 
 It happened that sir John Charlton, governor of Cherbourg, 
 came to chateau Josselin, where the constable resided, who enter- 
 tained him and his company most splendidly ; and to obtain their 
 friendship, out of his special favor, escorted them himself until they 
 were in safety. During the time of dinner, the before-mentioned 
 squire addressed sir John Chariton, saying, " Sir John, you can, if 
 you please, do me a very great favor, which will cost you nothing." 
 " From friendship to the constable," replied sir John, " I wish it may 
 cost me something : what is it you wish me to do ?" *' Sir," replied 
 he, " that I may have yorr passport to go to England, to my master 
 John of Brittany, whom I am more anxious to see than anything in 
 the worid." " By my faith," said sir John, *' it shall not be my fault 
 if you do not. On my return to Cherbourg, I shall cross over to 
 England : come with me, therefore, and you shall accompany me, 
 and I will have you conducted to him, for your request cannot be re. 
 fused." " A thousand thanks ; my lord, I shall ever remember your 
 goodness." The squire returned, with sir John Charlton, to Cher- 
 bourg ; when, having arranged his affairs, he embarked, and made 
 straight for London, attended by John RoUand, whom he had con- 
 ducted to the castle where John of Brittan y was confined. John of 
 
 * la 1381. 
 
 Brittany did not, at first, recollect him ; but he soon made himseli 
 known, and they had a long conversation, in which he told him, that 
 if he would exert himself to procure his freedom, the cont table would 
 make the greatest efibrts to second him. John of Brittany, desiring 
 nothing more eagerly, asked, " By what means?" " I wiU tell you, 
 my lord : the constable has a handsome daughter whom he wishes 
 to marry, and if you will promise and sv/ear, that on your return to 
 Brittany you will marry her, he will olst-iin your liberty, as he has 
 discovered the means of doing it." John of Brittany replied, " he 
 would truly do so ;" adding, " When you return to the constable, 
 assure him from me, that there is nothing I am not ready to do for 
 my liberty, and that I accept of his daughter and will cheerfully many 
 her." They had several other conversations together before the 
 squire left England and embarked for Brittany, v/here he related to 
 the constable all that had passed. The constable, eager to advance 
 himself and marry his daughter so nobly, was not dilatory in search- 
 ing out means to obtain his end. He considered to whom he should 
 address himself in England ; and, had he not made choice of the earl 
 of Oxford, he would never have succeeded ; but, notwithstanding 
 this nobleman had the complete govei-nm.ent of the king, matters 
 were not instantly brought about ; for as long as the duke of Lancas- 
 ter remained in England, he never mentioned anything concerning 
 it to the king. The earl of Buckingham, on his return from Brittany, 
 irritated the king and his brothers so much against the duke that it 
 Vv'as publicly said, the duke had acted treacherously toward him and 
 his army ; and they were so greatly angered, that John of Brittany 
 was summoned before the king and council, v.dien he was addressed 
 as follows : " John, if you will be willing to hold the duchy of Brit- 
 tany from the king of England, you sh?»ll have possession of it, and 
 be married in this country as nobly as the present duke has been ;" 
 (for the duke of Lancaster was desirous of giving him his daughter 
 Philippa, who was afterwards queen of Portugal.) John of Brittany 
 replied, " that he would never consent to such a treaty, nor be an 
 enemy to the crown of France : he would willingly accept of the 
 daughter of the duke of Lancaster, but he must first have his liberty." 
 On this, he was remanded to prison. 
 
 When the carl of Oxford, who now bears the title of the duke of 
 Ireland, found the duke of Lancaster was landed in Castille, and all 
 expectation of the connection with John of Brittany broken off by 
 his carrying his daughter with him, he resolved to solicit the king to 
 give up to him John of Brittany, as a remuneration for past sei-vices, 
 or for those he might perform. If he succeeded, he could then treat 
 v/ith the constable of France, who had offered him, as the price of 
 his ransom, six score thousand francs, to be made in two payments 
 of sixty thousand each : the first to be paid at Boulogne on the ar- 
 rival of John of Brittany in that town, and the second in Paris, 
 which was the place he had fixed on himself. The duke of Ireland 
 coveted the money, and was so pressing with the king that he gave 
 up John of Brittany absolutely to his disposal ; which surprised all 
 England, and caused much talking, but there it ended. The duke 
 of Ireland had John of Brittany conducted to Boulogne, where ho 
 found equipages ready, which the constable had caused to be pre. 
 pared for him. He set out directly for Paris, where he was kindly 
 received by the king and his other relations. The constable was 
 there waiting for him, and carried him to Brittany, where he p^poused 
 his daughter in conformity to their agreement. 
 
 When the duke of Brittany learnt that John of Brittany had ob- 
 tained his liberty, and was returned to France, through the aid of the 
 constable, he conceived a greater hatred against sir Oliver de Clisson, 
 and said, " Indeed ! does sir Oliver think to thrust me out of my 
 duchy ? He shows some signs of it by ransoming John of Brittany, 
 and marrying him to his daughter. Such things are very dispieasfng 
 to me ; and, by God, I will tell him so some day v/hen he little 
 thinks of it." This, in truth, he did ; for before the end of the year, 
 he spoke to him very sharply on this subject, as you will hear in the 
 course of this history. But we must now say something respecting 
 the affairs of Castille and Portugal, and of an expedition which the 
 English made against Sluys. 
 
 CHAPTER LII 
 
 FRANCE MAKES PREPARATIONS TO ASSIST KING^ JOHN OF CASTILLt. 
 THE DUKE OF BOURBON IS APPOINTED COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE 
 FRENCH ARMY. ' • 
 
 You have heard how the grand armament of the king of France 
 at Sluys was broken up, not indeed through the will of the king, 
 who was eager to the last to pass over to England, and when he saw 
 it could not be, w^as the most vexed of any. The whole blame was 
 laid on the duke of Berry : perhaps he saw more cleariy into this 
 matter than others, and his advice of not attempting the invasion of 
 England was for the honor and advantage of France ; for, before 
 anything of this sort be undertaken, the end of it should be con. 
 sidered ; and the duke of Berry had remnined so long in England as 
 an hostage for king John, and had conversed so much with English, 
 men, he probably foresaw the event would be unfortunate : but the 
 principal reason for putting it off" was the season of the year. It 
 was, however, said, that the constable in the course of the summer, 
 ghould lead thither six thousand men-at-arms and as many cross- 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, S P A 1 >i , o: 
 
 bows, which he and the council thought would be fully sufficient to 
 combat the English. The constable was supposed to know this from 
 his having been educated in England. 
 
 On the return of the lords to France, it was considered who should 
 be sent t ) the aid of king John of Casfille, against the king of For- 
 tuga. and duke of Lancaster: for it was clear there would be deeds 
 of arms, as the English kept the field. None could be sent thither 
 without much cost ; for ilie distance was great, and there was not 
 any money in tlie exchequer, nor in the hands of the receivers : the 
 immense sums which had been raised from the people were all dis- 
 sipated. Recourse was, therefore, had to a tax that should be in- 
 stantly levied, and published for the assistance of the king of Castille, 
 and the expulsion of the English from that country. Thi^ tax having 
 been prjclaimad, the king's commissioners came to the diff^jrent 
 towns, and said to the principal inhabitant^!, " Sirs, this city, or this 
 town, is taxed at such a sum, which must be instantly paid." 
 
 Very well," they replied, " we will collect it, and send the whole 
 amount to Paris." " That will not do," said the commissioners : 
 " we cannot wait so long, and shall act more expeditiously." On 
 saying this, they ordered, in the king's name, which protected them 
 from harm, ten or twelve of the richest inhabitants to prison, unless 
 they should find the money. These, being afraid of the king's dis- 
 pleasure, soon brought the sum required, which, they afterwards col. 
 lected from the townsmen. The taxes were so frequent, that one 
 was scarcely paid before another was called for. Thus was the 
 noble kingdom of France governed, and the poor oppressed ; which 
 causod numbers to sell their houses and lands, and retire toHaiuault, 
 or tU'3 uisuopiic w i'lcgc, wnorc im such ia.xeis existed. 
 
 T.5e leaders of the troops destined to Castille were next thought 
 of. The gallant duke of Bourbon was chosen commander-in-chief; 
 but, before he left France, it was resolved to appoint two other corn- 
 man Jers, to attend t> the men-at-arms, and instruct those who had 
 never been in Castille. The duke was to have two thousand lance^:, 
 of k lights and squires, for his rear-ward, of as good men as could 
 be fjund. The two knights appointed to lead the van, and t) corn- 
 man 1 the first division, were sir William de Lignac and sir Walter 
 de Passac ; and, on receiving their orders, they made every prepa. 
 rati )n suitable to their rank. Knights and squires were summoned, 
 throughout Franco, to go on this expedition : and all the pisses into 
 Castille were thrown open, as well through Arragon as through 
 Navai-re. Many, therefore, came from all the different provinces of 
 the kingdom, and took the road to Castille. Sir William de Lignac 
 and sir Waltar de Passac had the command of them, and set out in 
 grand array. 
 
 CHAPTER LIII. 
 
 THE ENGLISH FLEET DEFEATS THAT OF SIR JOHN DE BUCQ, ADMIRAL OF 
 FLANDERS FOR THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY. THE ENGLISH, AFTEK DOING 
 MUCH MISCHIEF TO SLUYS, AND THAT PART OF THE COUNTS i^, RETURN 
 TO LONDON. 
 
 While these knights and squires of France were making them- 
 selves ready to march for Castille, and each, as soon as prepared, set 
 ofT, more especially from the distant parts, as the journey was long; 
 the English fleet was at sea, between the coasts of England and 
 Flanders. The earl of Arundel was admiral of it; but he had un-- 
 der him the earl of Devonshire, the earl of Nottingham, and the. 
 bishop of Norwich, with five hundred men-at-arms and one thousand 
 archers, and they were cruising about in search of their enemies. 
 They received supplies of provisions from the English coast, the 
 islands of Cornwall, Brittany, and Normandy; but were much vexed 
 th it the Flemish fleet had escaped into La Rochelle, and still more, 
 that the constable of France should have passed Calais, from Tre- 
 guier to Sluys, without their having mtt him. They were desirous 
 of engaging him., though he had as many vessels as themselves ; but 
 he sailed through them in the night, with a favorable wind and tide. 
 
 The fleet, after this, anchored in Margate-roads, at the mouth of 
 the Thames, to wait for the return of the Flemings from La Rochelle, 
 which they knew would soon happen. The merckants from Flan- 
 ders, Hainault, and several other parts, v/ho had sailed in a body for 
 fear of the English, having loaded their vessels again with wines, 
 set sail from the port of La Rochelle, with a favorable wind, for 
 Flanders and Sluys, from whence they had come. They had passed 
 the Ras-St-Matthieu,* in Brittany, and coasted the shores of Nor- 
 mandy and England, until they came to the mouth of the Thames, 
 where the English fleet were lying at anchor. The Flemings des- 
 cried their masts, and those aloft said, " Gentlemen, prepare your- 
 selves, for we shall meet the English fleet: they have seen us, and 
 will take advantage of the wind and tide to give us battle before 
 night." This intelligence was not very agreeable to several of the 
 merchants. from Hainauli and other countries, who having their goods 
 on boajrd, would have wished to have sheered off". However, as a 
 combat was now unavoidable, they made preparations for it ; they 
 had, of cross-bows and other armed men, upward of seven hund.' ed, 
 under the command of a noble and valiant knight of Flanders, called 
 sir John de Bucq, who v/as admiral of the Flemish seas for the c uke 
 of Burgundy, and who had done much mischief to the English at | 
 
 * Ras-St. Matthieu, I suppose, mast, mean Ras-de-Blanqujet. wliicli a nanov; strait j 
 «f the Ma b«tween Aldemey and Caps la Hogue. ! 
 
 sea. Sir John de Bucq, having ably and prud."; ?;/ diawn up his 
 vessels, said to their crews, " My fair iti, do not be aiunned, f-r we 
 are enow to combat the English, should the wind be in cur favor; 
 but remember to make a running fight of it, and mnke for Shiys; if 
 we can draw them on the Flemish coa-st, we shi II have the bust of 
 the day." Some were comforted by these words, others nor ; but 
 they continued their preparations for battle, and the gunners made 
 ready their bows and cannons. 
 
 The two fleets now approached each other. The English iuid 
 some light galleys, in which they had embarked archers ; and these 
 galleys advancing, by dint of oai-s, began the combat with a shower 
 of arrows, which were lost; for the Flemings sheltered themselvefj 
 in their vessels, and were unhurt, while they sailed on before the 
 wind. Some of the cro8s.bov>s, out of urrovv'-shot, let fly bolt-i, which 
 wounded many, and prevented those in the galleys from being of any 
 service. The large ships, under lord Amnde!, the bishop of Nor- 
 wich, and others, now advanced, and ran in among those of Flaui 
 ders, but they had not any advantage ; for the cross-bowmen de- 
 fended themselves gallantly, as their commander, sir John de Bucq, 
 had advised them. He and his company were v;ell armed, in a ship 
 equal to any he might meet, and had their cannons on board, which 
 shot balls of such a weight that gieat mischief was done. The 
 Flemings, diu-ing the engagement, made much sail os they could 
 for Flanders ; indeed, some of the merchant-ships had already gained 
 the coast, and had run into shoal water, vv'herc the large ships could 
 not follow them for fear of the sand-ban!i. This battle was very 
 long and obstinate, for it continued ihrcc: four hours, and many 
 of the vessels were sunk by the large horn of iron, sharply pointed, 
 that were cast down from the tops, and drove holes through fiem. 
 When night came on, they separated and cast anchor, to repair their 
 damages and take care of the wounded ; but, on the return of the 
 tide, they set their sails and renewed the combat. Peter du Bois 
 commanded a body of archers and sailors, and gave the Flemings 
 enough to do ; for, having been a sailor himself, he knew how to act, 
 and was enraged at the Flemings for having held out so lung. The 
 English continually gained on the F'emings, and, having got between 
 them and Blanquenberg and Sluys, drove them to Cadsand, where 
 the defeat was completed. They received no succor, for at this time 
 there were neither men-at-arms nor vessels at Sluys fit for sea. 
 
 Indeed, a squire of Sluys, called Arnold le MuirCj-^when he heard 
 of the engagement, embarked on board a handsome sloop of his ov/n, 
 taking with him some Serjeants, and about twenty cross-bows, and 
 made sail for the fleet; but it was toward the end of the defeat, for 
 the English had taken the greater p.'irt of the enemy's ships, v, ith 
 their admiral, sir John de Bucq, and all on board. Arncld le Maiie, 
 perceiving it was over, made his cross-bows shoot thrice, and then 
 made off : he was chased as far as the harbor of Sluys, and there 
 escaped, from the large vessels being unable to follow him, through 
 the shoals and low water. 
 
 The inhabitants of Sluys were terrified when it wns known that 
 theij- fleet from La Rochelle had been conquered by the Erigliah, and 
 eveiy moment expected to be attacked. The ix-ihahitants knev»' not 
 how to act, whether to fly or embark on bo;;rd their laid-up vessels, 
 t ) wait the event and defend themselves. Had the English suspected 
 the state of Sluys, they might have been lords of that tov/n and castle, 
 or had they followed the advice of Peter du Bois, who strongly re- 
 commended, when they were masters of the fleet, to make for Sluys, 
 which they would be sure to gain. The EnglL^ih, however, thought 
 they had done sufficient; and some said, "We shall commit a great 
 folly if v/e enter Sluys ; for those of Bruges, Damme, and Ardem. 
 bourg, will shut u.i up in it, and we shalJ thus lose all we iiave won. 
 It is much better that we keep our prizes, and make war with pru- 
 dence." The English, therefore, did not disem.bark, but contented 
 themselves with attempting to burn the vessels that w^ve in the har- 
 bor. They selected the lightest vessels from those they had con. 
 quered, and filling and bedaubing them with pitch, til, and other 
 combustibles, let them float with the tide into the harbor of Sluys. 
 These vessels burnt so clear and well, that the English hoped tliey 
 would set fire to some large ships from Castille and ether countries, 
 indifferent to them which ; but they did not the smallest damage to 
 any. The English, by this victory, gained great wealth, esp8ci':illy 
 in wine, as they captured more than nine thousand tuns, which 
 caused wine to be as dear in Flanders and Hainault alJ that year as 
 it was of course cheap in England. Thus it happens, one man's 
 gain is another's loss. The English, however, did not sail from 
 Sluys, but remained at anchor, and from the galleys and barges 
 landed on the opposite side of the river to Sluys, at Tremue, which 
 they burnt, with the monastery, and some other towns on the coast, 
 whither they went along the sea-shore, or on the dikes, called Turn- 
 hout and Moerdyck. They made many of the countrymen pris- 
 oners, and lay thus at anchor upward of ten days ; duri:;g wbi>:h time 
 they formed several ambuscades between Damme and Sluys, and on 
 the road to Coxye. Sir John de Launay, a man-at-arms from Tour- 
 nay, was there made a prisoner, who, in company with the lord 
 d'Estrinay and sir Blanquart de Coulonge, had set out full gallop, 
 with forty lances, for Sluys, on hearing the English were on the coast. 
 
 It fortunately happened, that sir Robert Marchand, who had mar- 
 ried one of the late earl's bastards, was at the time in Bruges : he 
 instantly hastened to Sluys, and flung himself into the castle, which 
 
420 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 he found weakly •guarded, and unprovided. But if the English had 
 landed, and enteictl Sluys with the same earnestness they had done 
 at Treiniie on the other side of the river, they must have gained the 
 castle ; for so great was the alarm in the town, that no one paid at- 
 tention to any things nor thought of defending themselves. Sir Robert 
 Marchand encouraged them by saying, " You men of Sluys, what 
 ire you thinking of ? ' It would seem from your appearance that you 
 ire defeated without striking a blow. Men of valor ought to show 
 a good countenance as long as possible ; and, should they be taken 
 or slain in their own defence, they will have the grace of God and 
 praise of the world." Thus did sir Robert harangue those of Sluys ; 
 notwithstanding which, the whole country, as far as Bruges, was 
 under the utmost alarm, as long as the English remained on the 
 coast ; for they now daily disembarked and foraged far in the country. 
 Not having horses, they were always on foot: when their expeditions 
 were ended, they slept on board, and on the morrow renewed their 
 excursions to the east and west, without opposition. They burnt 
 the town of Coxye, and another large village on the road from the 
 coast to Ardembourg, called Ilosebourg : they would have done 
 more if they had known the st itc of the country. After staying as 
 long as they pleased, and finding no attempt made to regain what 
 they had won on sea and land, they set sail with a favorable wind 
 for England, carrying with them more than two hundred thousand 
 francs of wealth. Having entered the Thames, they landed at Lon- 
 don, where they were joyfully received for the fine wines of Poitou 
 and Saintonge they had on board, which were intended to have been 
 drunk in Flanders, Brabant, Hainault, Liege, and other places. 
 They were dispersed throughout England, and the prices so much 
 depressed from the quantity, a gallon was sold for fourpence. The 
 English who resided on the frontiers of Flanders, Holland, and Zea- 
 land, were too enterprising in their voyages to Dordrecht, Zuric-zee, 
 Middlebourg, and the Brielle in Holland. Some of the merchants 
 of Zuric-zee had, on board the fleet that was captured, much wine 
 from La Rochelle, which was restored to them. The English were 
 right in thus courteously treating them ; for Zuric-zee would never 
 ioin the French in their invasion of England, nor permit them to 
 have any vessels or boats from thence, and this conduct acquired 
 them the love of the English. 
 
 Sir John de Bucq was a prisoner at London, on his word : he was 
 permitted to go anywhere about the town, but at sunset he was to 
 return to his lodginj ; nor would the English ever listen to any ran- 
 som for him, though the duke of Burgundy would willingly have 
 given in exchange a bastard brother of the king of Portugal, who 
 had been taken at sea in coming from Middlebourg : had he been 
 within the limits of Zealand, he would have escaped. I believe sir 
 John de Bucq remained a prisoner in London for three years, and 
 there died. 
 
 CHAPTER LIV. 
 
 THE KING OF FORTrGAL SENDS EMBASSADORS TO THE DUKE OF LAN- 
 CASTER TO CONCLUDE HIS MARRIAGE WITH THE LADY PHILIPPA. 
 SIR BARROIS DES BARRES IS ORDERED BV THE KING OF CASTILLE 
 TO THE CASTLE OF NOYA.* 
 
 It is time for us now to return to the affairs of Castillo and Portu- 
 gal, and to speak of the duke of Lancaster, as to the prosperity of 
 his undertakings, for his concerns were not trifling ; and likewise to 
 mention the aid France sent king John of Castillo, for otherwise his 
 fortunes would have made a small figure : he would have lost this 
 year his whole kingdom, if it had nor, been for the friendship of the 
 king of France. Intelligence is soon spread abroad, and the king of 
 Portugal was as quickly informed of what was doing in France^ rela- 
 tive to the great armament that was to invade England, by his mer- 
 chants on their return home, as the duke of Lancaster ; for the king 
 resided, at that season, at Oporto, which is one of the largest cities 
 and the most frequented port of hiij realm. He was rejoiced to hear 
 it was at an end, for he had been told England would be ruined ; 
 and this had made him hesitate as to the conclusion of his mairiage, 
 amusing the duke and duchess with fine words and compliments. 
 When he learnt for certiiin, that the king of France and his nobles 
 were returned home, he summoned his council, and said : " My fair 
 sirs, you knov/ that the duke and duchess of Lancaster are in Galicia : 
 you also know, a great affection subsists between us, and that v/e 
 have had several conferences ; in one of which it has been proposed 
 by our councils, that t should take the lady Philippa to wife. I 
 mean to persevere in this business, and to make an honorable de- 
 mand of her, as is becoming two such princes as the duke of Lan- 
 caster and rnyself ; for I will have her for my queen." " Sir," 
 replied those to whom he addressed himself, '* you are in the right, 
 for so you have solemnly promised and sworn. Now, whom shall 
 we send to conduct the lady hither ?" The archbishop of Braganza 
 and sir Joao Rodriguez de Sk were named ; and as they were not 
 present, they were sent for, and informed how they were to act. 
 They undertook the business with pleasure, and were escorted going 
 and returning by two hundred spears. 
 
 V/ e will now speak of sir Thomas Moreaux's siege of Ribadavia, 
 and relate wliat happened there. I believe the inhabitants expected 
 
 succors from the king of Castille and the French knights at Valla., 
 dolid, otherwise they would not have held out ; and 1 know not how 
 such peasants, who had none but themselves to advise with, could 
 so vigorously have opposed the flower of the English army, and how 
 it happened that they were not frightened, for every day there were 
 skirmishes and assaults. The bravest captains of the army said to 
 sir Thomas: " Let us leave this town, and may lightniiig destroy it, 
 and advance further into the country, toward Maraez,* Noya, or 
 Betances :t we can at any time return hidier." " By my faith," 
 replied sir Thomas, " such peasants shall never have it to say they 
 have defeated me, were I to remain here these two months, unless 
 the duke shall otherwise order." The marshal was thus obstinate 
 in continuing the siege. 
 
 King John received frequent intelligence, at Valladolid, how the 
 men at Ribadavia were defending themselves valiandy, and would 
 not surrender. " In God's name," said Barrois des Barres, " I am 
 much vexed I had not sent thither some Frenchmen, who would 
 have greatly encouraged the inhabitants, and still more that I did 
 not go myself, for I should then have acquired all the honor which 
 these peasants will now have ; and, if they had reoUy told me it was 
 a town of such strength, and that it required such a garrison, I would, 
 without doubt, have reinforced it, and have personally risked the 
 command ; and God would have given me grace to guard and de. 
 fend it, as he has done to these peasants." Such were the conver- 
 sations that frequently passed between the king of Castille and the 
 French knight.^, who were eager to be employed. They said to the 
 king : " It will be right, sir, that you send one hundred spears to the 
 castles of Noya and Corufia, and they will defend those parts of 
 Galicia situated between those two castles." " And whom can we 
 send thither ?" Several knights instantly offered their services, such 
 as sir Tristan de Roye, sir Reginald and sir Lambert de Braque- 
 mont, sir Tristan de la Jaille, sir John de Cha.lelmorant, and sir Bar. 
 rois des Barres, whom the king heard with pleasure, and said ; " My 
 fair sirs, I give you many thanks for your willingness ; but you can. 
 not all go : some must remain with me in case of accidents ; and 
 for the present, I shall entreat sir Barrois des Barres, if he please to 
 undertake this business." The Barrois was much delighted on 
 hearing this, for he had too long remained idle, and replied ; " Sir 
 king, 1 thank you : I will defend them to the utmost of my power ; 
 and, when I am once within them, I will never depart vvithout your 
 special order." " By God," said ihe king, " I believe we shall soon 
 have news from France." The knights were ignorant of the de- 
 campment from Sluys, though the king knew it; for the duke of 
 Bourbon had written to him the whole account, and what was going 
 forward in France ; how he was to come to Castille with three thou- 
 eand spears; but that sir William de Lignac and sir Walter de Pas- 
 sac were first to clear the passes, with an equal number of lances. 
 He asked the knights if they wished to hear news. " Ah, sire, tell 
 us some from France, for we are very anxious to hear from thence." 
 " Willingly," replied the king. He then told them that the duke of 
 Bourbon was appointed by the king of France and his council, com- 
 mander-in-chief of all the forces sent to Castille, which amounted to 
 six thousand spear| ; that sir William de Lignac and sir Walter de 
 Passac were to lead the van, of three thousand knights and squires, 
 and -."ere then on their march ; that the invasion of England was de- 
 . ferred until May, when the constable of France, the count de St. 
 Pol, and the lord de Coucy, should there land, with four thousand 
 lances. " What do you say to this ?*' asked the king. " What do 
 we say, sire ?" replied the knights, who were rejoiced : " we say 
 that it is delightful news, and we cannot have better ; and, in the 
 course of the summer, many gallant deeds will be done in your 
 country ; for, if they have ordered six thousand, nine thousand will 
 come. We shall certainly combat the English, who now keep the 
 field ; and, before St. John's day, we will shut them up." " On my 
 faith," said each of the knights, '•' the three you have named are 
 gallant men, especially the duke of Bourbon: and the other two are 
 well qualified to command men-at-arms. 
 
 The news of this army coming from France was soon known in 
 Valladolid, and throughout Castille ; and that it had been ordered to 
 arrive by the first of May, to the great comfort of all, and joy of the 
 knights and squires. 
 
 CHAPTER LV. 
 
 THE DUKE OF LANCASTER SENDS A REINFORCEMENT TO THE SIEGE OF 
 RIBADAVIA. ON THAT TOWN BEING TAKEN BY STORM, MAURES X IN- 
 STANTLY SURRENDERS. 
 
 Sir Barrois des Bnrres left the king of Castille in Valladolid, and 
 accompanied by oiiiy fifty spears, rode toward the town of Noya. 
 News was brought to sir Thomas Moreaux's army, but I know not 
 by whom, that the French were on their march, to the amount of 
 five hundred lances, to raise the siege of Ribadavia. Sir Thomas 
 too easily believed this intelligence ; for those who told it affirmed it 
 for truth, and that they had seen them on their march, on this side 
 the river Duoro, and encamped at Villalpando. The marshal was 
 advised to let the duke of Lancaster have information of this, which 
 
 Noya is an ancient town in Galicia, five or tlx leagues to the westward of Saint 
 Jaso. 
 
 * ** Maniez." Q, AJuros. 
 |**Maure«." Q. Murai, 
 
 T "Betances." d. Be^(os« or Entangu 
 
C H R 0 N i C L 1:: S 0¥ E i\ G L A 
 
 he did, by sending to him sir John d'Auibreticourt, and a herald well 
 acquainted with the roads in Galicia. He himself was always on 
 his guard, lest he should be surprised in the night, and one half of 
 his army was on duty, while the other half slept. When the arrival 
 of sir John and the herald at Saint Jago, v>^here the duke and duchess 
 resided, was known, the duke said, " They have brought some intel- 
 ligence," and, sending for them, asked the news. " Good news, my 
 lord : the marshal sends me hither to know how you would wish him 
 to act ; for he has learnt for certain, that the French have assembled 
 a strong body in Castille, and are on their march to cross the river, 
 ind engage with our men before Ribadavia. This is the news I have 
 brought." " In God's name," replied he, " it is news enough, but 
 we will soon provide a remedy." He looked at sir John Holland and 
 sir Thomas Percy, his constable and admirable, and said to them : 
 " Take three hundred spears and five hundred archers, and join our 
 companions before Ribadavia, who are looking for the French coming 
 to attack them." They replied, they would cheerfully obey, and, 
 making themselves ready, set out with the above-mentioned force, 
 and arrived before Ribadavia, to the great joy of their countrymen. 
 
 Sir John Holland said to the marshal ; " What do these fellows of 
 Ribadavia mean ? will they not surrender?" No, by my faith," re- 
 plied sir Thomas, " they are so presumptuous : notwithstanding they 
 have seen all the neighboring towns do so, they obstinately follow 
 their own inclination!. They are but peasants ; for not one gentle, 
 man is in the town." " Say no more," answered sir John : " before 
 four days we will put them in such plight, that they will gladly sur- 
 render to any who will show them mercy ; but tell the admiral and 
 me, are the French abroad ?" " I was so informed," said sir Thomas, 
 " and was assured there were upward of five hundred in one body. 
 This is very probable : for men-at-arms are continually coming from 
 France to Castille. I afterwards heard, that only sir Barrois des 
 Barres had entered the castle of Noya with fifty lances, and I know 
 nothing more of them." The conversation now ceased ; and the 
 new comers were lodged among them as well as circumstances would 
 admit, and were well served from the provision vvhich had followed 
 them. Four days after the arrival of sir John Holland and sir Thonuis 
 Percy, great preparations were made for a general assault ; and a large 
 machine of timber was built, and mounted on wheels, which could 
 be pushed anyv.'here. It would contain, with ease, one hundred 
 men-at-arms, and the same number of archers ; but, for this attack, 
 ii was filled with archers only, and the ditches were levelled where 
 it v/as intended to pass. 
 
 When the attack commenced, this machine was wheeled up to the 
 walls by main force ; and the archers, being well provided with ar- 
 rows, shot vigorously on their enemies, who returned it by throwing 
 darts and such other missile weapons, as was wonderful to behold. 
 The roof of this machine was covered with strong ox-hides to shelter 
 them from the eifects of the stones and the darts : underneath were 
 men-at-arms well shielded, that with pick-axes worked hard, and with 
 success against the walls ; for the townsmen could not prevent them 
 for fear of the archers, who gave them full employment. At length 
 a large breach was made in the wall, and a considerable part thrown 
 into the ditch ; which when the Galicians perceived, they were so 
 dismayed, that they cried loudly, " We surrender, we surrender 1" 
 No one made any answer ; but the English laughed at them, and said, 
 " These peasants have done us much mischief, and mock us by now 
 offering to surrender, for the town is ours." Some of the English 
 replied, " If you wish to say anything to us, it must be in good French 
 or English, for we do not understand Castilian,'' and kept advancing 
 and slaying those who were flying before them. They killed them 
 in heaps ; and that day there were fifteen hundred put to death, in- 
 cluding Jews, many of whom were resident in the town. Thus was 
 Ribadavia taken by storm ; those who first entered it gained great 
 pillage, especially from the houses of the Jews, wherein they found 
 more wealth in money than elsewhere. After the town had been 
 plundered, the marshal was asked what he intended doing with it, 
 and if they shoidd set it on fire. " Oh, no," replied he, " we will 
 keep it, and make it as strong as any town in Galicia." 
 
 After they had consulted whither to go next, they determined to 
 iBarch to Muros, anothe; tolerably good town in Galicia. The gar- 
 rison of Ribadavia, consistijig of twenty spears and sixty archers, was 
 put under the command of sir Peter Clinton, a valiant knight and 
 expert man-at-nnns. T'le army carried away much provision from 
 [he tov/n, which was svell stored, particularly in pork and wines : 
 these last wery :-o strong and fiery, they could scarcely drink them ; 
 rui'd wheii anv of the EiLi^^^lisii drank too much, they were disabled for 
 !.v/o day.'. Oil their departure from Ribadavia, they took the road 
 toward Muros, and had their large machine taken to pieces and 
 brought after them, for they found it had caused great alarm to many 
 ■•tiier tov^'ns. 
 
 When the inhabitant' of Muros heard that the English were on 
 their march to attack them, that Ribadavia had been stormed and 
 numbers put to death, and that they had with them a devil of a ma- 
 chine, so great and wonderful it could not be destroyed, they were 
 much frightened thereat, and were apprehensive what the English 
 might do to them. They held a council, whether they should defend 
 the town or not, and thought it would be more for their advantage to 
 surrender ; for, should the town be stormed, they would lose their 
 lives and fortunesj and they saw no hopes of aid from any quarter. 
 
 N D , F R A N C E , S P A I N , & c . * 42' 
 
 " Consider," said some of the m.ost prudent, " what lias been the con^ 
 sequence of the defence of Ribadavia, whicii was much stronger than 
 our town ; they held out for near a month, but no reinforcements 
 were sent them. The king of Castille, as we understand, looks on 
 all Galicia, as far as the river Duoro, as lost, and you will never, thi$ 
 year, see any of the French enter it. Let us, therefore, handsomely 
 surrender, without making any opposition, in the like manner thi 
 other towns of Castille have done." " It is well said," the hearers 
 replied, and they unanimously agreed to adopt this opinion. "But 
 how shall we manage it?" said some of thcrn. " In God's name," 
 replied those who proposed the surrender, we will go out to meet 
 the English, and present them the keys of our tov/n ; for they are a 
 civil people, and will not hurt us : if we receive them kindly, we 
 shall have their thanks." 
 
 Having determined on this plan, fifty of the principal inhabitants 
 went out of the town as soon as they heard the English were ap- 
 proaching, and waited on the road, about ;i quarter of a league ofi'. 
 News was brought to the English army, that those of Muros had 
 come out of their town, not in hostile array, but with the intention of 
 surrendering and otfering the keys of the place, which they had 
 brought with them. Some of the lords rode forward to know the 
 truth of it, but ordered the army to halt until their return. As they 
 were advancing, tlie townsmen v>^ere told, " Here come three of the 
 principal lords of England, sent by the duke of Lancaster to conquer 
 the count: V : speak to them." On which, they cast themselves on 
 their kneet, and said ; *' My lords, behold th: ^.^-or inhabitants of 
 Muros, who are desirous to put themselves u ij;; . the obedience of 
 the duke and duchess of Lancaster: we thereff'-: entreat you to re- 
 ceive us in your favor, for all we have is yours." The three lords, 
 having consulted together, replied; "Good people, we will returii 
 with you to your town, and enter it with part of our army, but not 
 all, and there you shall take such oaths as good subjects ought to their 
 lord and lady." They answered, they wuuld cheerfully do so. "Now, 
 then," said the lords, " go back, and open your gates, for your sur- 
 render is accepted." They flung open the gates and barriers for the 
 constable and other lords, who might amount to four hundred lances, 
 but not more ; the rest remained without the walls, but had much 
 provision from the town, wherein the leaders were lodged, and where 
 they made the townsmen take the usual oaths of obedience. 
 
 CHAPTER LVI. 
 
 THE LADY PHILIPPA OF LANCASTER IS MARRIED, BT PROCtmATION, TO THE 
 KING OF PORTU&AL. THE CEREMONT IS AGAIN PERFORMED WITH GREAT 
 MAG-NIFICENCE AND FEASTINGS AT OPORTO. 
 
 On the morrow, after the surrender of Muros. when the knights 
 were preparing for their march toward Betan90s, a messenger from 
 the duke of Lancaster arrived with letters, ordering them to return 
 instantly, whatever might be their situation ; for he was daily expect- 
 ing the archbishop of Braganza and sir Joao Rodriguez de S^, em- 
 bassadors from, the king of Portugal, who were to marry his daughter 
 by procuration, and conduct her to that king at Oporto, where he was 
 waiting for her. Sir John Holland, the marshal and admiral, on 
 learning this, altered their plans, and said it was proper that their 
 lord the duke, when he received embassadors from the king of Por- 
 tugal, should have all his council with him. Having placed suflncient 
 garrisons in the towns they had won, they said they would not at- 
 tempt more until the mouth of May, and retunicd to Saint Jago, 
 whither the duke had sent for them. Three days after their arrival, 
 came the archbishop of Braganza and sir Joao Rodriguez de Sk, who 
 entered the town of Saint Jago with two hundred horse, where they 
 were all lodged, everything having been prepared for them. 
 
 When the archbishop, with the knights and lords in his company, 
 had refreshed themselves, they waited on the duke and duchess ot 
 Lancaster in grand array, who received them most graciously. They 
 then declared the motive of the embassy, which the duke heard with 
 pleasure ; for he was rejoiced at the exaltation of his daughter, and 
 the connection with the king of Portugal, which was very opportune, 
 if he persevered in his intention of conquering Castille. The arch- 
 bishop explained, to the satisfaction of the duke and his council, that 
 by power of the king's procuration, he was authorized to espouse 
 personally the lady Philippa of Lancaster, in the name of don John, 
 king of Por ugal. During the residence of these embassadors at 
 Saint Jago, the ceremony was peformed by virtue of the above-men- 
 tiuned procuration ; and the archbishop of Braganza and the lady 
 Philippa were courteously laid beside each other, on a bed, as married 
 persons should be. This being done, on the morrow the lady and 
 her attendants were ready to depart; and, having bidden adieu to her 
 father and mother, she mounted her palfrey, as did her damsels, and 
 her bastard sister, the wife of the marshal, who accompanied her to 
 Portugal. Sir John Holland, sir Thomas Percy, and sir John d'Am- 
 breticourt, were ordered to escort her, with one hundred spears and 
 two himdred archers. They followed the road to Oporto, and, when 
 near, were met by the king and his court, with all the prelates at that 
 time in Oporto, to do her honor ; such as the bishops of Lisbon, 
 Evora, Coimbra, and Oporto : among the barons were, the counts 
 d'Angouse, de Novaire, de I'Escalle, Guadalupe Ferrant Pacheco, 
 Vasco Martin de Merlo, with upward of forty knights, and great 
 
CflRONICLBS OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 crou'ds of "iadies and otiior jxn-^ons, and the whole of the clergy in ' 
 their holiday dres.-os. Thus was the lady Philippa conducted to the 
 king's palace at Opcrto, where she dismounted. The king took her 
 by the hand and kissed her, performing the same ceremony to all 
 the ladies who r.ccompanied her, and then led her to her apartments, 
 where he t:>ck leave of her and her companions. 
 
 The English lords and their men were lodged in the town, which 
 i.5 of cbnpiderabie fiize j and this night they kept the vigil of the feast i 
 by caroling, dancing, and other amusements, until the morrow's 
 d • vv!. On Tuer>day morning,* the king of Portugal, the prelates and 
 lords of his country, were dressed by eight o'clock, and, mounting 
 their horses nt the p.slace gate, rode to the cathedral called St. Mary's 
 church, where they waited for the queen. She followed shortly after, 
 attended by her ladies and damsels; and, though the embassadors 
 liad before c^^poused her in the king's name, the ceremony was 
 again performed ; which done, they returned to the palace, where 
 were grand and solemn feastings. In the afternoon were tilts and 
 tournaments before the king and queen ; and in the evening the 
 prizes were di^itributed. Sir John Holland gained the one destined 
 for strangers ; and that for the natives was won by a knight attached to 
 the king, sir John Testad'oro. The day and night passed thus jovially 
 in varijus amusements. That night the king lay with the queen ; 
 and it vvas reported by those who were near his person, that he had 
 hit!iert3 been perfectly chaste, and had never known woman. 
 
 On the morrow the feastings and joustings were renewed, when 
 cir Vasco Martin de Merlo gained one prize, and sir John d'Ambre- 
 ticourt the other. The night v^as spent as before, in carolings, 
 dancing, and other sports ; and while the English st dd at Oporto, 
 there were tournaments every day. With such rejoicings was the 
 queen of Portugal received on her arrival at Oporto. They lasted 
 upward of ten days ; and the king made all the strangers, on their 
 departure, such gifts as satisfied them. The English lords, having 
 taken leave of the king and queen of Portugal, returned to Saint 
 Jag.?. The duke and duchess of Lancaster made great iriquiries, 
 and were told all that had passed ; that the king saluted them, and 
 that the queen recommended herself to their love. Sir John Holland 
 and sir Thomas Percy added, " My lord, the last words the king said 
 to us were, that you might take the field when you pleased, for that 
 that he would join you and enter Castille." " That is good news, 
 indeed," replied the duke. 
 
 About fifteen days after the return of the lords from Portugal, the 
 duke of Lancaster ordered them to prepare for conquering the remain- 
 ing towns in Galicia, for there were several he was not master of. It 
 was settled by the council of the duke, that %vhen he should depart 
 from Saint Jago, the duchess and her daughter Cathenne should visit 
 tliv^- king and queen of Portugal, at Oporto. The town of Saint Jago 
 wai' pi iced under the command of an English knight, called sir 
 Lv^'svis Clifford, with thirty spears, and one hundred archers, for his 
 gai.2.son. 
 
 CHAPTER LVII. 
 
 TEE CUKE OF LANCASTER MARCHES HIS ARMY TO ENTENCA. THE INHABT- 
 TAiJrS SEND, WITH THE CONSENT OF THE DUKE, TO THE ^CING OF CAS- 
 TII.LE FOR SUCCOR. 
 
 WiiEN the duke of Lancaster marched from Saint Jago, he left no 
 more )n garrison than those already mentioned. He rode on, in com- 
 pany with his duchess, toward the city of Entencja, which is a good 
 town in one of the extremities of Galicia, and the last on the bor- 
 ders of Portugal, in the direct road from Saint Jago to Oporto and 
 Coimbra. They had taken this line of march, because the duchess 
 and her daughter v/ere to visit Portugal. The inhabitants of Entan9a, 
 hearing that the duke and his army were advancing against them, 
 held a council to consider what conduct they should pursue. After 
 many debates, it was at length agreed that they should send six of 
 iheir principal men to the duke and duchess, to entreat they might 
 not be attacked for eight days only, when they would let the king of 
 Castille know their situation, and if he sent them no aid they would 
 surrender unconditionally. The six citizens, on leaving the town, 
 took the road the English were coming, and first met the vanguard 
 under the command of the marshal, by whom they were instantly 
 arrested. They said they were deputed by the inhabitants of En- 
 lenca to parley with the duke. Upon which the marshal said to sir 
 John Sounder, who was by his side, "Conduct these men to my 
 lord ; for it will be necessary to escort them, or they may be slain by 
 our archers." The knight replied, he would take care of them ; and 
 then the marshal said, " Go, go, this knight will conduct you." They 
 all departed, and rode together until they came up with the duke 
 and duchess, who had dismounted, and were sitting under some fine 
 olive trees.. Attended by sir John Holland, sir Thomas Percy, and 
 others. Ovj seeing sir John Sounder approach, they eyed him well ; 
 and sir John Holland said, "Fair brother, Sounder, are these pris- 
 oners thine " " They are not prisoners, sir, but men from En- 
 ten^a whoir, the marshal has ordered me to conduct to my lord ; and 
 from what I can learn, they wish to treat with him." The duke 
 and duchess heard all this; and sir John Sounder continued, "Come 
 forward, my good people : you see your lord and lady." 
 
 Upon this the six men advanced, and, casting themselves on their 
 
 * The lltli of February. 1387. the day of tlie Purification. The kine was twenty-nine 
 rears uf age. llie queen twenty-eisht.->£o. 
 
 ' knees, thus spoke : " Our most redoubted lord and lady, the com 
 monalty of the town of Enten9a, hearing you were marching your 
 army ygaine t them, have sent us hither to entreat you wou'd delay 
 advancing further for eight or nine days only, in which time they 
 will send to the king of Castille, in Valladolid, an account of the 
 great peril they are in ; and if, during those nine days, they be not 
 reinforced sufl^iciently to offer you combat, they will put themselves 
 I fully under your obedience. In the mean time, should you or your 
 army be in want of provision or stores, those of the town will cheer 
 fully serve you with both for your money." The duke made no re. 
 ply, leaving it to the duchess, as she was from that country. She 
 loolced at the duke, and said, "Well, my lord, what do you say ?" 
 " Lady, what do you say ? you are the heiress of this country, and, 
 as the inheritance comes through you, you must reply." " It will 
 be right then, my lord, that their offer be accepted ; for I do not be- 
 lieve that the king of Castille has any desire to combat you so soon." 
 " I do not know that," answered the duke ; " God grant it may hap. 
 pen otherwise : we shall the sooner put an end to the business ; and 
 I wish it were to take place within six days ; but, since you are 
 desirous their offer be accepted, I consent." The duchess then ad- 
 dressed the deputies, saying, " You may return, for your offer is 
 accepted ; but you must deliver up to the marshal twelve of your 
 principal citizens, as pledges for the due performance of the treaty." 
 They replied they would do so, and, rising up. were given to the 
 care of sir John Sounder, who conducted them back to the marshal, 
 and told him what had passed, which gave him satisfaction. The 
 deputies returned to their town and related the success of their mis- 
 sion. Twelve of the principal inhabitants were sent to the marshal, 
 and the place was unmolested, on the terms mentioned. In another 
 council they resolved to send the same six men, and no others, to 
 inform the king of Castille of their situation. They rode to Valla- 
 dolid, where the king resided, Vvith part of his council, and, their ar- 
 rival being notified to him, he was eager to see them, to learn the 
 news and talk with them; for he was ignorant of the treaty they had 
 entered into, and that the English were before Enten5a. 
 
 CHAPTER LVIII. 
 
 THE DUCHESS OF LANCASTER AND HER DAUGHTER VISIT THE KTXa AND 
 QUEEN OF PORTUGAl,. THE INHABITANTS OF ENTENCA RECEIVING 
 NEITHER ANSWER NOR SUCCOR FROM THE KING OF CASTILLE, SURKEN- 
 DER TO THE DUICE OF LANCASTER, ACCORDING TO THE TERMS OF THEiR 
 TREATY. 
 
 While these six deputies were journeying toward Valladolid, the 
 duke of Lancaster gave directions for the departure of his duchess 
 and daughter, the lady Catherine, to visit the king and queen of Por. 
 tugal. On their setting out, the duke said, " Constance, you will 
 salute from me the king my son, my daughter, and the barons of 
 Portugal, and give them all the intelligence you can; how Enten^a 
 has entered iiUo a treaty with me ; but that I doubt if John de 
 Transtam jre, your adversary, will allow them to keep it, or whether 
 he will offer me battle; for well I know that great reinforcements 
 are to come to him from France, and those who are eager for renown 
 will hasten to Castille as speedily as p;)ssible. It will be necessary 
 for me to be daily on my guard, in expectation of an engagement, 
 which you will tell the king and his barons ; and that, if I shall learn 
 anything for certain of a combat being likely to take place, I will 
 instantly signify it to the king of Portugal. Desire him from me, to 
 be well prepared to come to our assistance, in the defence of our 
 right, as he has solemnly sworn to do in the treaties concluded be- 
 tween us. ' You will return to me ; but leave our daughter Catherine 
 with her sister, the queen of Portugal, for she cannot be better 
 placed, nor more in safety." " My lord," replied the duchess, "all 
 this I will cheerfully perform." 
 
 The duchess, her daughter, and the ladies and damsels who ac- 
 companied them, took their leave and departed. They were escorted 
 to Oporto by the admiral, sir Thomas Percy, sir Evan r'itzvvarren, 
 the lord Talbot, sir John d'Ambreticourt and sir Maubrun de Lin- 
 ieres, with one hundred spears and two hundred archers. The king 
 of Portugal, hearing the duchess of Lancaster and her daughter were 
 on the road, vvas much pleased, and sent some of his principal ccur- 
 tiers to meet them, such as the counts d'Angouses, de Novaire, sir 
 Joao Rodriguez de Sa, sir Joao Ferrant Pacheco, sir Vasco Martin 
 de Merlo, sir Egeas Colle, and twenty other knights. They rode 
 two long leagues before they met the ladies, who received them gra- 
 cious'y and gayly. The duchess politely made acquaintance with the 
 different knights, and, as they rode together, she conversed with 
 much affability among them all. Thus did they arrive at Oporto, 
 when the duchess and her ladies were conducted to the palace. The 
 king was the first who waited on them, and kissed them all round ; 
 then came the queen, attended by her ladies, and received her lady- 
 mother and sister most kindly and honorably. The whole palace 
 was rejoiced at the arrival of these ladies ; but I will not pretend to 
 speak very particularly of what passed, for I was not there : all I 
 know was from that gallant knight, sir Joao Ferrant Pacheco, who 
 was present. The duchess took a proper opportunity to deliver the 
 duke's message to the king of Portugal, who replied with prudence 
 and friendship, " Lady and cousin, I ara prepared, should the king 
 
433 
 
 of Castille take the field, with three tho'asand laricc.!, v/iiu arc • i::- 
 tioned on the borders of Castille, whom I can collect iu tlu-ee days, , 
 and 1 shall also bring with me full twenty thousand men from the | 
 commonalty of the country, who are not to be despised, for they 
 were of the greatest service to me at the battle of Aljubarota." 
 "Sir," said the duchess, " you say well, and I am greatly thankful to 
 you ; and if my lord gain any further intelligence, he will instantly 
 let you know." Such was the conversation that passed between the 
 1 kini>' of Portugal and the duchess of Lancaster. 
 
 We will now return to Eaten9a, and say what success their depu. 
 ties had at Valladolid. On their being introduced to the king of 
 Castille, they cast themselves on their knees, and said, " Most re- 
 doubted lord, if you will condescend to listen to us, we have hehn 
 sent hither by your town of Entenga, which has been forced to enter 
 into a treaty with the duke and duchess of Lancaster. The terms 
 of which are, that the English will abstain from any attack for nine 
 days ; and if, within that time, you shall come in sufficient force to 
 offer them combat and resist the duke, the town will remain yours: 
 but, if not, the town has given up hostages to surrender it to them. 
 You will be pleased, most redoubted lord, to say what you will do." 
 The king replied, that " he would advise upon it, and they should 
 have an answer." He then left them, and retired to his chamber. 
 I am ignorant if he summoned his council or not, or how the matter 
 was managed ; but these six men were there for eight days without 
 obtaining any answer, nor did they again see the king. The day 
 came for the surrender of the town before any of the deputies re. 
 turned. The duke, therefore, sent his marshal to Enten9a, on the 
 tenth day, to say, that if the town were not surrendered, according 
 to the terms of the treaty, he would instantly cut olf the heads of the 
 hostages. Themarahal, on arriving at the barriers, whither he sum- 
 moned the inhabitants, thus addressed them : " My good people, the 
 duke of Lancaster sends me to know why you have not brought him 
 the keys of the town, and put yourselves under his obedience, as you 
 were in duty bound ? The nine days expired, as you know, yester- 
 day. If you do not instantly comply, he will order the heads of the 
 nostages to be struck off, and then march hither to storm the town, 
 when you will all be slain, without mercy, like to those of Ribadavia." 
 
 The men of Enten9a, hearing this, were much afraid, not only for 
 themselves, but also for their friends who were pledged for the ob- 
 servance of the treaty, and replied, " In good truth, my lord marshal, 
 the duke has reason for saying what you tell us; but we know not 
 what is become of the deputies we sent to the king of Castille, nor 
 what can have kept them at Valladolid." " Sirs, they may perhaps 
 be confined," said the marshal ; " for the news they carried could 
 not be very pleasant to the king, and my lord will not longer wait. 
 Consider well what answer you make, for, if it be not agreeable, I 
 am ordered to commence the attack." They answered ; " My lord, 
 only allow us time to collect all the inhabitants together, that We 
 may know their determination." " I consent to it," said he. They 
 entered the town once more, and, by sound of trumpet in every 
 street, the inhabitants were summoned to the market-place, where, 
 when assembled, the chief citizens told them all that had passed be- 
 tween them and the marshal. Having agreed to surrender the town, 
 for the release of their hostages from prison, v/hom they were un- 
 willing to lo>e, they returned to the marshal and said, " Marshal, 
 your demand«?.i"^re reasonable, and we are ready to receive, as sove- 
 reigns, the duke and duchess of Lancaster in our town, of which 
 here are the keys. We will accompany you to the duke's quarters, 
 if you will have the goodness to escort us." " I will willingly do 
 that," said the marshal. There came out of Enten§a upward of 
 sixty persons, carrying with them the keys of the gates : the marshal ' 
 conducted them to the duke, and obtained for them an audience, 
 where they were well received, and had their hostages given up. 
 The duke entered Enten9a the same day, where he was lodged, and 
 as many of his people as could be accommodated. 
 
 Four days after the surrender of Enten9a, the six deputies returned 
 from Valladolid. They were asked why they had stayed so long; 
 which they answered, by saying they could not help it. They had 
 indeed seen and spoken to the king, who replied that he had heard 
 them, and would advi?e on what answer to give ; " but, though we 
 waited eight days for it, we are come back without any, for no fur. 
 ther notice was taken of us." They had heard in Valladolid, that 
 the king was expecting great succors from France ; that numbers of 
 men-at-arms were already arrived, and quartered up and down the 
 coufitiy; but tint their commanders, sir William de Lignac and sir 
 V/;iltcr de Pas3ac, were i-till behind: that the main body of the 
 army, with the knights and squires, were on their march for Castille, 
 but that those who had been retained to serve under the duke of 
 Oourbon were stiil at their homes. 
 
 CHAPTER LI X. 
 
 THE COUNT DE FOiX PERMITS THE FKEXCH CAPTAINS TO PASS THROtJGH 
 HIS TERR-.TOKIES, ON CONDITION THEV SHOUED PAY FOR WHATEVER 
 THEY TAKE. THEY ARRIVE AT ST. JEAN PIED DE PORT, AT THE EN. 
 TRANCE OF NAVARRE. 
 
 Sir William de Ligjiac and sir Walter de Passac passing through i 
 France, assembled their men in the Toulousain, Narbonnois and } 
 
 Carcas'-sone, where, as they arrived, they quiuterea themselves in the 
 richest parts, and many never paid any tin ng (ov what they took. 
 New3 was brought to the count de Foix at Orthes, where he resided, 
 that the French men-at-arms were advancing near his country, with 
 the intent of marching through it in their way to Castille. Those 
 v/ho told him thi:i, added, " But, my lord, the rnis;chief is, that they 
 pay for nothing they take, and the people fly before them as if they 
 were English. The captains are still at Carcassone, and their men 
 overrun from thence all the adjacent countries. They cross the 
 Garonne at Toulouse, and enter Bigorre, frt)m v»'henco they will soon 
 be in your territories ; and, if they do there what tiicy have done on 
 their march, they will greatly injure your domains of Beam. Con- 
 sider, therefore, how you will act." The ';ount dv Foix, who had 
 instandy formed his resolution, replied, " i will, tiiat all my castles, 
 as well in Foix as in Beam, be well garrisoned with men-at-arms, 
 and that all the country be put on its guard, as if immediate bat- 
 tle were to take place ; for I will not r;uficr from t;;e wars in Cas- 
 tille. My lands are free ; and, if the Fre::ch wa;;t to pass through 
 them, they shall truly pay for whatever they may want, or they shall 
 be shut against them. This I order yon, sir'Wiiliam and Peter 
 de Bearn, to see obeyed." These two knights v/en; bastard-brothers, 
 valiant in arms, and able to support the count's orders. They re. 
 plied, they would undertake the charge willingly. 
 
 Proclamation was made, throughout the territories of the count, 
 for every one to provide himself with proper ar-ns, and to be pre- 
 pared to m irch on instant notice, wherever sent for. Numbers came 
 to Foix, Be irn, and the stewartry of Toulouse, jir. oared for battle. 
 Messire Espaing de Lyon, with a hundred good lances and men-at- 
 arms, was sent to tlie city of Pamiers ; messire Ricai t de Saint Leger, 
 to Savredun ; Peter dc Bearn held Mazeres witli a hundred hmces ; 
 messire Pierre Cabestan was at Beilepuich at the entrance into the 
 county of Foix ; messire Pierre ?«'Ienaut de Noailles with fifty lances, 
 at Saint Shibaut, on the Garonne ; messire Pierre de la Roche at 
 Palaminich ; the bastard d'Espaigne, at the casde of Lamesen ; mes- 
 sire Arnault Guillaume, with, in all, a huiidred lances, at Morlans ; 
 messire Guy de hi Pvlotte, at Pau; messire Raymond de ChasteU 
 Neuf, at Monr-dcMarsan ; messire Evan do Foix, bastard son to the 
 count, at Sauvcterre ; messire Berdruc de JNcbosem, at Montesquieu; 
 messire Jean de Saint Marcille, at Aire ; messire Hector de la Garde, 
 at Oron ; John de Chastel-Neuf, at Montgorviel ; Jean de Morlans, 
 at Erciel. Messire Raymond I'Aisne, who hid the command of the 
 castle of Malvoisin, was ordered to be very attentive to the whole of 
 that frontier, and sent his cousin, sir Arnaulton d'Espaign, to St. 
 Gaudens. In short, there was not a town or castle in Foix and 
 B^aru unprovided with men-at-arms, which tlia count said were suf. 
 ficient to oppose double their number3 ; for they amounted, in the 
 whole, to twenty thousand picked nien-at-unns. 
 
 It was told to sir William de Lignac, who resided at Toulouse, 
 and sir Walter de Passac, at Carcassone, how the count de Foix had 
 summoned his men-at-arms and reinforced ail his garrisons ; and that 
 it was reported he would not s:iffer their army to pass through his 
 country. The two knights, on hearing this, though captains of the 
 others, v/ere much astonished, and appointed a day to meet and 
 confer on the subject. They met at the castle of Aury, half way 
 between Toulouse and Carcassone, when the following converyation 
 passed on the means of gaining permission from the count de Foix 
 to march through his territories ; 
 
 " I wonder," said sir William, " very nmch, tliat neither tlie king 
 of France nor his council have written to him, ;o obtain liberty for 
 us to march quietly tlirough Foix and B^arn. Y<ya must go to him, 
 sir Walter, and amicably explain how we are seat by the king of 
 France to continue our march peaceably, and to pay for whatever 
 we may want; for you must know, that the count de Foix is so 
 powerful, that he can, if he please, shut up the passage, and force 
 us to go round by Arragon, which would be too long, and much 
 against us. In truth, I know not of whom he is suspicious, nor why 
 he has thus strengthened his towns and castles, nor if he h-d\ e formed 
 any connection with the duke of Lancaster ; bi'.t I beg of you to go 
 thither, and learn the truth of what we liave h rird." " I will v. il. 
 lingly do so," replied sir Walter; and the two knights, having dined 
 together, took leave of each other, and departed different ways : sir 
 William de Lignac returned to Toulouse; and tir Vv^alter de Passac, 
 attended by only forty horse, crossed the Garoiine at St. Tliibaut, 
 where he met sir Menaut de Noailles, who entertained hira hand, 
 somely. Sir Walter asked, where he could find the count de Foix. 
 He replied, "At Orthes." The two knights having paosed some 
 little time together, conversing on different matters, separated ; and 
 sir Walter went to St. Gaudene, where he. made good cheer. On 
 the moiTOW he came to St. John de Riviere, and, riding through 
 Lane-bourg, skirted Malvoisin, and lay at Tournay, an inclosed town 
 of France. The next day he dined at Tarb&i?, and stayed the whole 
 day : having met the lord d'Anchiii, and sir Menaut de B:irbasan, 
 two great barons of Bdarn, they had much conversation together ; 
 but, as the lord de Barbasan was an Ar nagnac, he would not say 
 anything favorable of the count de Foix. Sir Widter, on the mor- 
 row, left Tarbes, and dined at Morlas in Bearn, wherp he found sir 
 Reginald William, bastard brother to the count, whe received him 
 kindly, and said, " Sir Walter, you will meet my lord of Foix at 
 Orthes, who, you mav be assured, v/ill be glad to see you.'- " God 
 
434 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, "FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 grant it may be uo," aaswercd sir Waller ; " for I am come pur. 
 pjsely to wait on him.'" They diacd together, and sir Walter went 
 afterwards to Moiiigf;rbciI where he lay. On the ensuing day he ar. 
 rived at Orthes, about eight o'clock in the morning, but could not 
 see the <;ount until the aiternoon, when he usually left his chamber. 
 The count de Foix, hearing of the arrival of sir Walter de Passac, 
 hastened to leave his apartment sooner than common ; and sir WaU 
 ter, seeing him come out of his chamber, advanced to meet him, and 
 s.-'Juted him very respectfully. The count, who was perfectly polite, 
 returned the salute ; and, taking him by the hand, said, " Sir Wal- 
 ter, you are v/eU^ome : what business has brought you to B^arn ?" 
 *' My loi i,'-' replied the knight, " sir William de Liguac and myself, 
 whom ti 3 king of" France has appointed commanders of the force 
 which; you must Iiave heard, he is sending to assist the king of Cas- 
 tille, iiave been ^iven to understand that you intend to prevent us, 
 by shutting your country of Bearn against us and our men." The 
 count replied, " Sir Walter, under favor, I never mean to close my 
 country against you, nor any person who may travel peaceably 
 through it, and pay honestly and fairly for whatever they may want, 
 to the sa.tisfaction of my people ; for 1 have sworn to defend and 
 protect them in their rights, as good landholders ought to do, for 
 upon these terms do they possess them. But I have heard that you 
 have a set of Bretons, Barrois, Lorainers and Burgundians, who never 
 think of paying. It is against such I shall close my country ; for 1 
 vv'ili not have ray people harassed nor oppressed." 
 
 V It is the intention of my brother-commaader and myself," re. 
 plied cif V/ alter, " that no one pass through your lands without pay- 
 ing for ail things peaceably and to the contentment of your people, 
 otherv/ise let him he arrested and punished according to your laws, 
 and make restitution for the damage he may have done, or we will 
 make satisfaction fur him, on having him given up to us; and, if no 
 gentlernaa, -.va yAll inflict such exemplary justice on him, in the 
 pre s J rice of your jieople, that all may take warning. Should the 
 ciT^nder be a gentleman, we will make ample restitution tor vv'hat he 
 rnay have done, should he be unable so to do himself. This order 
 shall be proclaimcJ by sound of trumpet, in all our quarters; and 
 we will have it repeated when on the point of entering your territo- 
 ries, so that no oae may excuse himself, by pleading ignorance, and 
 in conseqacnce act otherwise than honestly. Tell me, if this be 
 satisfactory to you." " Yes, sir Walter," replied the count, " I am 
 contented wiih what you say ; and you are welcome to this country, 
 for I see you with pleasure : but come, let us go to dinner, it is now 
 time, and we can have some further conversation. Accursed be 
 this war of Portugal, sir ¥/alter; for I never suffered so much as I 
 did in one battle between the kings of Castille and Pyrtugni, when 
 I lost the flower of my men-at-arms from B^arn, who were there 
 shin. When they took leave of me, I forewarned them to act with 
 caution, foi the Portuguese were a hardy race, who, ■^vlienever they 
 lia J the upper hand, showed mercy to none. I advice you, therefore, 
 that wiien you and sir William de Lignac, who aro thfi commanders 
 of the mea-at...arm3 that have passed, and of thosv^ iiiat are to follow, 
 are arrived in Castille, and the king asks courieiel of you, you be not 
 too histy in recommending a battle with tne duke of Lancaster and 
 the kiag of Portugal, without evident advantage, nor v/ith the Eng. 
 lish and Portuguese ; for they are a hungry race, and the English 
 are, for two leasons, eager to fight. They have not gained anything 
 for some tinio, but rather lost, consequently are poor : they therefore 
 wish to hazard an engagement, in hopes of gain ; and those v/ho are 
 bold, and anviou? t) obtain the property of others, fi^ht valiantly, 
 and are commonly fortunate. The other reason is, that the duke of 
 L incaster sees clearly he can never succeed in winning the crown 
 of Castille, v.'hich he claims in right of his wife, but by a battle ; 
 and that, if the day should be his, and the king defeated, the whole 
 of Cistille would surrender, and tremble before him. For this he 
 has landed i.i Galicia, and given one of his daughters in marriage to 
 tile king of Portugal, who is to assist him with ail his might iti his 
 claim. I mention this; because, should matters turn out unfortu. 
 nate, you and sir William de Lignac would be more blamed than 
 any others." 
 
 " ?vly lord," answered sir Walter, " I return you many thanks for 
 the advice you give me. 1 ought t5 follow v^^hat you say; for you 
 arc, at this day, the widest of Christian princes, and the most fortu- 
 n.ite i;i your affairs. But my companion and myself are under the 
 duke of Bourbon, who is our commander-in-chief; and, until he be 
 arrived in Castille, we shall not hasten our m^rch, and will not, for 
 what any parson may say, press the engaging with our enemies." 
 Other conversation now took place, until the count de Foix called 
 for wine. When it was brought, sir Walter and all present drank 
 of it, and took leave of the count, who reentered his chamber. Sir 
 Walter returned to his lodging, accompanied by the knights of the 
 count's household ; and, at the usual hour, he again went to the 
 ca-^ilc and supped with the count. On the morrow, after dinner, sir 
 Walter tor 'c leave of the count, who, among other gifts, presented 
 birr: on hAa doarture with a handsome horse and mule. Sir Walter, 
 having returned him his thnnk", and his attendants being ready, 
 mounted his horse and quitted Orthes for Erciel, where he lay that 
 night. He arrived at Tarbes the iVllowing day, for he had ridden 
 hard to finish this day's journey, where he hailed, that he might 
 wme to Sir William de Lignac respecting the success of his visit to 
 
 the count de Foix. He told him he might order the army to advance, 
 as they would find the country of B^arn and the towns open to 
 them, by paying for whatever they might want, but not otherwise. 
 The messenger delivered this letter to sir William de Lignac at Tou. 
 louse, who, having read it, communicated the contents to the leaders 
 of the men-at arms, and gave them orders to begin the march, and 
 to pay for whatever they might want in Bearn, or they would be 
 called upon to make due restitution. This order was proclaimea, 
 by sound of trumpet, in all their quarters ; and, shortly after, the 
 men-at-arms began their march from Toulouse, Carcassonc, and other 
 places, toward Bigorre. Sir William de Lignac left Toulouse, and, 
 on his arrival at Tarbes, found his brother-commander, sir Walter 
 de Passac. They mutually entertained each other with good cheer, 
 as was natural, while their men-at-arms were continually passing 
 toward Bigorre, where they were to assemble and traverse Foix and 
 Beam, in a body, to cross the Gave at Orthfes. 
 
 The instant you leave B6arn you enter the country of the Basques,* 
 where the king of England has large possessions in the archbish- 
 opric of Bordeaux and bishopric of Bayonne. The inhabitants of 
 fourscore villages with churches, attached to England, on hearing of 
 this march of the French, were greatly alarmed lest their country 
 would be overrun and spoiled ; for at that time there were not any 
 men-at-arms to defend it. Thojic. '.herefore, counselled together 
 who were of tiie most influence and of the largest properties, and 
 determined to negotiate with the French for the ransom of their 
 country. They, in consequence, sent four deputies to Orthe?, em- 
 powered to treat for peace. They related to Ernauton du Pin, a 
 squire of the count de Foix, an agreeable and discreet man, the cause 
 of their coming, and e;itreatcd him, when, in two days' time, sir 
 Williim and sir Walter should corns to Orthes, to assist them in 
 their treaty. This Ernauton readily promised ; and as they lodged 
 with him, he aided them so much that they were well satisfied to 
 pay two thousand francs to save their country from ruin. The count 
 de Foix again entertiined the commanders at dinner, and gave sir 
 William de Lignac a beau'iful horse. On the morrow, they marched 
 to Sauveterre, and entered the country of the Basques : and though 
 it had been ransomed, they seized provision wherever they found 
 any, but continued their march, without doing further mischief, to 
 St. Jean Pied de Port, at the entrance of Navarre. 
 
 CHAPTER LX. 
 
 SIR JOHN HOLLAND AND SIR REGINALD DE ROYE PERFORM A TILT IN 
 THE TOWN OF ENTEN^A, BEFORE THE KING AND QUEEN OF PORTUGAL 
 AND THE DUKE OF LANCASTER. 
 
 You have before heard hov%' the town of Entcnga surrendered to 
 the duke of Lancaster, for the king of Castille sent thither no assist- 
 ance ; and how the duchess of Lancaster and her daughter visited 
 the king and queen of Portugal at Oporto, when the king and his 
 court, as was right, received them most honorably. During the stay 
 of the duke of Lancaster in Entcnca, a herald arrived from Valla- 
 dolid, who demanded where sir .Tohn Holland was lodged. On being 
 j shown thither, he found sir .John within ; and, bending his knee, 
 I presented him a letter, saying, " Sir, I am a herald-at-arm?. v.'hom 
 sir Reginald de Roye sends hither: he salutes you by me, and you 
 will be pleased to read this letter." Sir John answered, he would 
 willing'y do so. Having opened it, he read that sir Reginald de 
 Roye entreaied him, for ihe love of his mistress, that he would de. 
 liver him from his vow, by tilting with him three courses wiin the 
 lance, three attacks with the sword, three with the battle-axe, and 
 three with the dagger ; and that, if he cho'-se to come to Valladolid, 
 he had provided him an escort of sixty sprars ; but, if it were more 
 agreeable him to remain in Entenga, he desired he would obtain 
 from the duke of Lancaster a passport for himself and thirty com- 
 panions. 
 
 When sir John Holland had perr.sed the letter, he smiled, and 
 looking at the herald, said, "Friend, thou art welcome ; for thou hast 
 brought mc what pleases me much, and 1 accept the challenge. 
 Thou wilt remain in my lodging with my people, and in the course 
 of to-morrow, thou shalt have my ansv.-er, whether the tilts are to 
 be in Galicia or Castille." The herald replied, *' God grant it." He 
 remained in sir John's lodgings, where he was made comfortable; 
 and sir John went to the duke of Lancaster, whom he found in con- 
 versation with the marshal, and- showed the letter the herald had 
 brought. "Well," said the duke, "and have you accepted it?" 
 "Yes, by my faith, have I: and why not? I love nothing better 
 than fighting, and the knight entreats nie to indulge him : consider, 
 therefore, where you would choose it should take place." The duke 
 mused awhile, arid then said : " It shall be performed in this town : 
 have a passport made out in what terms you please, and I will seal 
 it." " It is well said," replied sir John ; " and I will, in God's name, 
 soon make out the pairsport." The passport was fairly written and 
 sealed, for thirtv knights and squires to come and return ; and sir 
 John Holland, when "he delivered it to the herald, presented him 
 with a handsome mantle lined with a minever, and twelve nobles. 
 
 * Basques, a small country near the Pyrenees, bounded by Spain, the sea. the river 
 Adour, and B6am. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 42? 
 
 The hera'd took loave and returned to Valladolid, v/here he related 
 what had pa?sed, and showed his presents. 
 
 News of this tournament was carried to Oporto, where the king 
 of Portugal kept his court. "In the name of God," said the king, 
 " I will be present at it, and so shall my queen and the ladies.'' 
 " Many thanks/' replied the duchess; " for I shall be accompanied by 
 the king and q: een when I return." It was not long after this con- 
 versation, that t e king of Portugal, the queen, the duchess, with her 
 daughter, and th ^ ladies of the court, set out for Enten9a, in grand 
 
 fiii.'rTLE-AXE Fight betwken Sir John Holland and Sia Reginald dk Roye. From cotemporary MSS., assisted 
 
 by several cuts in Reiser's Maximilian. 
 
 array. The duke of Lancaster, when they were near at hand, mounted 
 his horse ; and, attended by a numerous company, went to meet them. 
 When the king and duke met, they embraced each other most kindly, 
 and entered the town together, where their lodgings were as well 
 prepared as they could be in such a place, though they were not so 
 magnififCi^t as if they had been at I'aris. Three days after the ar- 
 rival of the king of Portugal, came siv Reginald de Roye, handsomely 
 accompanied by knights and squires, to the amount of six score horse. 
 They were aii properly lodged ; for the duke had given his officers 
 strict orders they should be weil taken care of. On the morrow, sir 
 John Hulland and c-ir Regiaala de Roye armed themselves, and rode 
 into a spacious close in Enten^a, well sanded, where the tilts were to 
 be performed. ScafFv)!'.!^ were erected for the ladies, the king, the 
 duke, and the many English lords who had come to witness the com- 
 bat ; for none had stayed at home. 
 
 The two knights who were to perform this deed of arms, entered 
 the lists so well armed and equipped that nothing was wanting. Their 
 spear?, b.itde-axes arid swords, were brought them ; and each, being 
 mounted on the best of horses, placed himself about a bow-shot distant 
 fi'um the other, but, at tiujos, they both pranced about on their horses 
 most gallantly, for they knew every eye tj be upon them. All being 
 now arranged for their combat, which was to include everything, ex- 
 cept pushing it to extremity, though no one could see what mischief 
 might happen, nor how it vvould end ; for they were to tilt with 
 pointed lances, then with swords, which were so sharp that scarcely 
 a helmet could resist their strokes ; and these were succeeded by 
 battle-axes and daggers, each f;o well tempered that nothing could 
 withstand them. Now, consider the perils those run who engfige in 
 such combats to exalt their honor ; for one unlucky stroke puts an 
 end to the business. 
 
 Having braced their targets and examined each other through the 
 visors of their helmet?, they spp.rrcd on their horses, spear in hand. 
 Though they allowed their horses to gallop as they pleased, they ad- 
 vanced on as straight a line as if it had been drawn with a cord, and 
 hit each ether on the visors, with such force that sir Reginald's lance 
 was shivered into four pieces, which fiew to a greater height than 
 they could have been thrown. All present allowed this to be gal- 
 lantly done. Sir .Tohn Holland struck sir Reginald likewise on the 
 vijor, but not with the same success, and I will tell you why : sir 
 Reginald had but slightly laced on his helmet, so that it was held by 
 
 another lance given to him: sir John grasped his own, which was 
 not worsted. When ready, they set off full gallop, for they had ex 
 cellent horses under them, which they well knew how to manage, 
 and again struck each other on the helmets, so that sparks of fire 
 came from them, but chiefly from sir John Holland's. He received 
 a very severe blow, for this time the lance did not break ; neither , 
 did sir John's, which hit the visor of his adversary without much 
 effect, passing through and leaving it on the cruper of the horse, and 
 sir Reginald was once more bare-headed. "Ha," cried the English 
 
 to the French, " he docs not fight fair; 
 why is not his helmet as well buckled on 
 as sir John Holland's ? We say he is 
 playing tricks : tell him to put himself 
 on an equal footing with his adversary." 
 "Hold your tongues," said the duke, 
 " and let them alone : in anns every 
 one takes what advantage he can : if sir 
 John think there is any advantage in 
 thus fastening on his helmet, he may do 
 the same. But, for my part, v/ere I in 
 their situations, I would lace my helmet 
 as tight as possible ; and if one hundred 
 were asked their opinions, there would 
 be fourscore of my way of thinking." 
 The English, on this, were silent, and 
 never again interfered. The ladies de- 
 clared they had nobly justed ; and they 
 were much praised by the king of Por- 
 tugal, who said to sir John Fernando, 
 "In our country they do not tilt so v/cU, 
 nor so gallantly: what say you, sir John?'* 
 " By my faith, sir," replied he, " they 
 do tilt well ; and formerly I saw as good 
 justs before your brother, when Vv^e were 
 at Elvas to oppose the king or" Caslille, 
 between this Frenchman and sir WiU 
 liam Windsor ; but I never heard that 
 his helmet was tighter laced then than 
 it is now." The king on this turned 
 from sir John to observe the knights, 
 who were about to begin their third 
 course. Sir John and sir Reginald eyed 
 each other, to see if any advantage were 
 to be gained, for their horses were so 
 excellent that they could manage them as they pleased, and sticking 
 spurs into them, hit their helmets so sharply that their eyes struck 
 fire, and the shafts of their lances were broken. Sir Reginald was 
 again unheifr.ed, for he could never avoid this happening, and they 
 passed each oVnvx without falling. All now declared, they had well 
 justed ; thougl'. the English, excepting the duke of Lancaster, blamed 
 greatly sir Regnmld : but he said, " he considered that man as wise 
 who in combat krows how to seize his vantage. Know," added 
 he, addressing himst t\ to gjc Thomas Percy and sir Thom.as Moreaux, 
 that f-ir Reginald d»j Roye is not now to be taught how to tilt : he 
 is better skilled than sir John Holland, though he has borne himself 
 well." 
 
 After the courses of the lance, they fought three rounds with swords, 
 battle-axes, and daggers, without either of tlieni being wounded. The 
 French carried off" sir Reginald to his lodging, and the English did 
 the same to sir John Hulland. The duke of Lancaster entertained 
 this day at dinner all the French knights and squires : the duchess 
 was seated beside him, and sir Reginald de Roye next to her. After 
 dinner, they entered the presence-chamber; and the duchess, taking 
 sir Reginald by the hand, led him thither : and they were followed 
 by the other knights, who conversed on arms and on other subjects a 
 long time, almost until wine was brought. The duchess then drew 
 nearer to the French knights, and thus spoke: "I wonder greatly 
 how you knights of France can think of supporting the claims of a 
 bastard; for it is well known to the whole world, that Henry who 
 called himself king of Capfille, vras a bastdrJ. .i;id how can you 
 thus, with your arms and counsel, disinherit the right heir of Castille 
 and deprive him of the crown ? for this I know, that myself and sister 
 are the legal daughters of the late king, don Pedro ; and God, who is 
 Truth itself, knows that our claim on Caslille is just." The lady, 
 when speaking of her father, don Pedro, could not refrain from tears, 
 as she doated on him. Sir Reginald de Roye bowed to her, and 
 thus replied : " Madam, we know that what you have said is true ; but 
 our lord, the king of France, holds a different opinion from yours ; 
 and, as we are his subjects, we must make war for him, and go 
 whithersoever he may send us, for we cannot cisob him." At 
 these words, sir John Holland and sir Thomas Perc y handed ^he 
 Ifidy to her chamber, and the wines and spices- were brought. Ths 
 duke and his company drank of them, and the French knights toolt 
 
 their leave ; the horses being ready at their lodgings, they mounted 
 one thong only, which broke at the blow, and the helmet flew over ! and left Enten^a. They rode that day to Nova, v/hich was attached 
 his head, leaving sir Reginald bare-headed. Each passed the other, i to the king of Castille, where they reposed themselves, and thea con- 
 
 and sir John Holland bore his lance without halting. The specta. 
 tors cri^d out that it was a handsome course. The knights returned 
 to their station, when sir Reginald's helmet was fitted on again, and 
 
 tinued their journey to Valladolid. 
 
426 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 CHAPTER LXI. 
 
 THE KIXG OF PORTUGAI- PROx-VIISES TO ENTER CASTILLE WHILE THE DUKE 
 OF LANCASTER riNISIJES THE CONQUEST OF GALICIA, AND THEN TO 
 UNITE THEIR FORCES. 
 
 The kinfj of Portugal and the duke of Lancaster had a long con- 
 ferenre together the day after this tournament, when, I believe, their 
 plans of operation were settled. The king of Portugal having as. 
 semblsd his army ready to take the field, it was determined that he 
 should enter Cafti'le, whilo the duke remained in Gali-cia, to conquer 
 such towns and castles as had not acknowledged him for king ; and 
 it was likewise resolved, that if king John of (Jastille made any 
 movements which showed an inclination for battle, they were to join 
 their forces. It was judged, that if the two armies were always 
 united, there would be difficulty in procuring forage for such num. 
 bers. Other evils might arise also respecting forage and quarters ; 
 for the English are hasty and proud, and the Portuguese hot and im- 
 petuous, easily angered, and not soon pacified. But in the expecta- 
 tion of a battle, they would agree as well together as Gascons. 
 
 Having determined as above, the king of Portugal addressed the 
 duke of Lancaster, " Sir, when I shall learn that you have taken the 
 field, I svill do the like ; for my men are ready and eager for battle." 
 The duke replied, " I will nut long continue idle ; but as I have 
 heard there are some towns in Galicia still in rebellion, and that the 
 people will not acknowledge me, I must first conquer them, and then 
 march where I miv the soonest meet my enemies." Upon this, the 
 king and queen of Portugal took leave of the duke and duchess, as did 
 the lady Catheri le their daughter ; forit had been settled, that during 
 the war she should live with her sister in Portugal, as the place of 
 greatest security for her, and the duchess was to return to Saint 
 Jago. Thus were these matters arranged, and the king of Portugal 
 and his court set out for Oport >, and the duchess for Saint Jago, each 
 party well escorted by knights and squires ; but the duke remained 
 with his army at Eniang^, or in the neighborhood. They were very 
 eager to commence the camp-iign, for it was now the pleasant month 
 of April, when the grass is ripe in the meads, the corn in ear, and 
 the flowers in seed ; for it is so hot in that country, that the harvest 
 is over in June : they therefore wished to perform some exploits in 
 arms while the weather was fine, for it was a pleasure at such a sea- 
 son tj be out in the fields. 
 
 We must now speak of the arrangements of the French, and of 
 the king of Castille, as fully as we have done of the English. 
 
 CHAPTER LXII. 
 
 SIR WILLIAM DE LIGNAC AND SIR WALTER DE PASSAC TRAVERSE THE 
 KINGDOM O!' NAVARRE Vv'TH THEIR ARMY, AND ARRIVE AT BURGOS, 
 WHERE THEY MEET THE KING OF CASTILLE. 
 
 You have heard how sir Walter de Passac obtained permission 
 from the count de Fuix for the French army, intended for Castille, to 
 pass through Bcarn. The count likewise gave, of his own free will, 
 (for he was no way bouiiden U) do so,) very rich presents to such 
 knights and squires as waited on him at the castle of Orthfes, to pay 
 their respects, and tell him what was passing in the way of news. 
 1^0 some he gave two hundred, to others one hundred, fifty or forty, 
 florins, according to their ranks; and, as the treasurer assured me, 
 the passage of this first division cost the count de Foix one thousand 
 francs, without including the presents he made of coursers and 
 hackneys. Now show me the prince who does such things, or who 
 has the inclination tj do them. In good truth, so desirous am I of 
 speaking to his advant ige, it is a pity that such a one should ever 
 grow old and die ; for he is not surrounded by base minions, who 
 tell him, " Take this, give that; tike on all sides." No; he never 
 had, nor will have, any such about his person : he does all himself; 
 for he has, by nature, abilities to know to whom he should give, and 
 from whom he should take, when required. True it is, that the large 
 presents he makes oppresses his people ; for his revenue is not equal 
 to giving every year at least sixty thousand francs, and keeping up 
 his establishmer.ts, which are unequalled by any one, and to the 
 amassing a treasure to serve him in case of accidents. He has been, 
 for the last thirty years, laying by large sums ; and they say there is 
 in the tower of Orthes one hundix^d thousand francs, thirty times 
 told. His subjects only pray to God that he may have long life, and 
 never complain of anything he does ; and I have heard ihem say, 
 that on the day he shall die, there will be ten thousand persons in 
 Orthes, who would wish to die also. Consider that this must be the 
 effect of their affection ; and, if they have such great love for him, 
 they have reason for it, as he maintains strict justice, and his sub- 
 jects enjoy their lands free and in peace, like to a terrestrial paradise. 
 Let it not be thought that I thus speak through flattery, or my love 
 to him, or for the presents he has made me ; for I can readily prove 
 all I have said of the gallant count de Foix, and still more, by a 
 thousand knights and squires, if called upon. Let us return to sir 
 Wilham de Lignac and sir Walter de Passac, the commanders of 
 the men-at-arms destined for Castille. 
 
 Having crossed Basques, and the pass of Roncesvalles, which 
 took them three days, (for, though it was in the month of April, the 
 
 snows and cold were so deep and severe, that they had much difli- 
 culty in the passage with their men and horses,) they arrived at 
 Pampeluna, the kingdom of Navarre being open to them. The 
 king of Navarre was unwilling to displease the king of Castille, as 
 his son Charles de Navarre had married his sister ; and when the 
 last treaties were concluded, during the reign of the late don Henry, 
 they were so strong as bound the king of Navarre to peace. Indeed, 
 he can never withstand the king of Castille, unless he have the 
 kings of Arragon and England for his allies. The king of Navarre 
 very amicably received, at Pampeluna, the leaders of this force,* 
 and had them, with some other knights that accompanied them, to 
 dine with him in his palace. After dinner, he led them into his 
 council-chamber, and began conversations on different subjects, (for 
 he was a wondrous subtle and eloquent man,) and at last turned the 
 discourse on France, and harangued on the v/rongs the king of 
 France and his council had unjustly done him, by depriving him of 
 his lands in Normandy, which had descended to him from his pre. 
 decessors the kings of France and Navarre. This injury he should 
 never forget ; for he had lost, by the seizure of lands in Normandy, 
 Languedoc, and in the barony of Montpensier, about sixty thousand 
 francs of yearly rent, and in respect of this grievance he knew not 
 to whom, except to God, to apply for redress. "I do not say this, 
 my lords," added he, " that you should any way interfere in the bu. 
 siness ; for I know you have not the power, nor would anything you 
 could say be listened to. You are not of the king's council, but 
 knights-errant and soldiers, who are obliged to march wheresoever 
 the king or his council may order you. This is fact ; but I say it to 
 you, because I know not to whom I can complain, except to ail who 
 shall come from France through this country." 
 
 Sir Walter de Passac replied : " Sir, what you say is true : noth. 
 ing will be done by any recommendation of ours ; for, in truth, we 
 are not of the king's council. We go whither we are sent ; and my 
 lord of Bourbon, uncle to the king, is our commander, and, as you 
 know, is to follow us this road : you may lay your complaints before 
 him, either when coming or on his return ; for he has Uiuch influ- 
 ence, and your wrongs may be redressed. May God assist you, for 
 the honor you have done us I When returned to France, we shall 
 praise your attentions, to the king, as well as to the duke of Bourbon, 
 our commander, whom wo shall see first." Wine was now brought, 
 of which they partook, and then left the king, who parted from them 
 kindl}', and sent *o each, at their lodgings, a handsome war.horse, to 
 their great joy. The men-at-arms thus passed Navarre, and arrived 
 at Logrono, where they inquired after the king of Castille. They 
 were told he had resided for some time at Valladolid, but that he 
 was then at Burgos, making great preparations of stores and pro- 
 vision. They then followed the road toward Burgos, leaving thai 
 into Galicia, which country was not secure, for the English had 
 mirched far into it. News was brought to the king of Castille that 
 great succors were on their march, to the amount of two thousand 
 lances, from France. This delighted him greatly, and he set out 
 from Valladolid, accompanied by ten thousand horse, for Burgos, 
 where the French, on their coming, were qu-artered over the country. 
 They were daily joined by others from France. 
 
 CHAPTER LXIII. 
 
 MANY PLANS ARE OFFERED TO THE KING OF CASTILLE FOR CARRYING 
 ON THE WAR : HE IS DETERMINED BY THE COBIMANDERS OF THE 
 FRENCH FORCE TO DELAY AN ENGAGEMENT UNTIL THE ARRIVAL OF 
 THE DUKE OF BOURBON, AND TO MAKE EXCURSIONS FROM THE DIF- 
 FERENT GARRISONS. 
 
 Sir V/illiam de Lignac and sir Walter de Passac, on their arrival 
 at Burgos, waited on the king, at his palace, who received them 
 kindly, and thanked them for the trouble and pains they had taken, 
 out of affection to him, and for coming to assist him. The knights 
 bowed, and said : " that if they could do anything essential for his 
 service, their pains and trouble would soon be forgotten." Many 
 councils were holden, to consider whether to march against the 
 enemy, or carry on the war by excursions from the garrisons, until 
 the duke of Bourbon arrived. The two knights said, " Send for sir 
 Oliver du Guesclin, sir Peter de Villaines, sir Barrois des Barres, 
 Chatelmorant, and the other companions, who are better acquainted 
 with this country than ourselves, for they have come iiither beiore 
 us, and we will then confer together ; and if it please God, your 
 kingdom shall, from our counsels, acquire both profit and renown." 
 The king said, they had spoken openly and loyally, and he was wiU 
 ling their advice should be followed. Secretaries were instantly em. 
 ployed in writing pressing letters to the diffluent knights and others 
 whom they wished to see, which were sent off" by messengers to the 
 different parts where they resided. When it was known to them that 
 sir William de Lignac and sir Walter de Passac were come, and 
 had sent for them, they were much pleased. They left the towns 
 and castles in which they were garrisoned, under the command of 
 such as they could depend on, and hastened to Burgos, where, in a 
 short time, good part of the chiyalry of France were collected. 
 
 * This was in 138S. The French knights returned from this expedition before the ex- 
 piration of the year. The king of Navarre died January 1, 1387 —Ed. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 42? 
 
 Tlie k:ng of Castille held a grand council with the barons and 
 kniglrs oi' France, on the manner of commencing the campaign, for 
 Ihcy knfiv/ the enemy had taken the field. He was desirous of act. 
 ing in a manner becoming the honor of a king, and for the benefit 
 of his ca-xntvy. Many were the debates, and the amount of the force 
 in Castiile was c stiniated. It was said, that the king could summon 
 into the field thi 'y thousand horse, with their riders armed, according 
 to the custom of he country, with darts an i javelins, and thirty thou- 
 sapd iniaiitry, if not more, with slings. The French kniglits con- 
 sidered all this, and said it was certninly a great number of people, 
 but it was useless as an arniv ; for they had formerly acted in so 
 cowardly a manner that no confidence could be placed in them. 
 Through their cowardice, the prince of Wales had won the batde of 
 Najarra ; and the Cattillians ha I been completely defeated by the 
 Portuguese at Aljubarota. The cmnt de Lerma took up this speech, 
 and supported the Castillians. Ly way of excuse, he said : " With 
 regard to the battle of Najarra, I must beg leave to speak to that. 
 It is true that many noble knights from France were present with 
 sir Bertrand du Guesclin, \vho fought valiantlv, for they were all 
 slain or captured ; but you must also know that the flower of knight, 
 hood of the whole world was under the command of the prince of 
 Wales, whose good sense, courage, and prudence, were unrivalled. 
 Such is not now the case with the duke of Lancaster. The prince 
 had, at the battle of Najarra, full ten thousand spears, and six thou. 
 Band archers : and among the chivalry were three thousand equal to 
 the Rolands and Olivers; such as sir .John Chandos, sir Thomas Fel. 
 ton, sir Oliver dc Clisson, sir Hugh Calverley, sir Richard de Pont- 
 chardon, sir G:'r3i3 du Chatel, the lord de Raix, the lord de Rieux, 
 sir Louis de h ircourt, sir Guiscard d'Angle, and hundreds more 
 whom I could lame, vi^ho were then present, but who are either 
 dead, or have tar led tj our side. These are not now opposed to us, 
 nor is the event lo doubtful as it was in former times : so that who- 
 ever has confidence in me, will join my opinion for an instant com- 
 bat ; and that we march to cross the river Duoro, which will redound 
 to our honor.*' 
 
 This speech of the count de Lerma was attentively listened to by 
 the council, and many were of his mind. Sir Oliver du Guesclia 
 n; xt spjke : '* Count de Lerma, we know that what you have uttered 
 proceeds from the good sen-se and courage you possess ; and, suppose 
 we were tj march and offer combat t) the duke of Lancaster, had 
 we no other enemy, we should do well ; but you have forgotten the 
 king of Portugal, whom we shall have on our rear, and whose forces 
 cond t, as we have been informed, of iwenty.five hundred lances, 
 and thirty thousand other men. It Vv^as the dependence on the king 
 of Portugal that made the duke land in Galicia ; and we know that 
 their alliance is very much strengthened by the marriage of the king 
 with the ciuke'a daughter. Now, let us hear what you can say to 
 this." " la Gjd's name," replied the count de Lerma, " the French 
 being four tnousand lances, are more than a match to combat the 
 duke of Linca^ter ; and the king, with his Castillians to the amount 
 of twenty thousand lior-^e, and thirty thousand foot, as they say, may 
 surely withst ind the king of Portugal : it appears to me so clear, 
 that I will ri^k the event v/ith them." 
 
 The knights from France, seeing themselves thus rebu.Ted by the 
 count de Lerma, said : " By God, you are in the right, and we in the 
 wrong ; for we ought first tJ have weighed what you have said : it 
 shall be so, since you will it, and no one seems to oppose it." " My 
 lords," said the king, " I beg of you to consider well the advice you 
 give me, not through haste or p.iJe, but with all attention, that the 
 best plan may be adopted. I do not look on what has-been said as 
 decisive, nor approve of ii: I will that we meet again in this same 
 apartment to-morrow, and particularly that you, sir William de Lig. 
 nac, and you, sir Walter de Passac, who have been sent hither by 
 the king of France and the duke of Bourbon, as the commanders-i.i- 
 chief, do confer together, and examine carefully what will be the 
 most honorable and profitable for my kingdom ; for you shall deter- 
 mine whether we march to oflfer combat to our enemies or not." 
 
 They bowed to the king, and said they would cheerfully attend to 
 his orders. The conference then broke up, and each retired to his 
 lodging. The Fre ich knights had this day after dinner, and in the 
 evening, much conversation on the subject. Some said : "We can- I 
 not in honor offer battle until the arrival of the duke of Bourbon ; for 
 bow do v/e know what will be his intentions, to fight or not ? Should 
 we engage and be victorious, the duke will be highly indignant 
 against the captains frum France : should we be defeated, we not 
 only ruin ourselves, but Ca-jtiile also ; for if we be slain, there can be 
 no hopes of recovery to the Castillians, and the king will lose his 
 crown. We shall be blamed, should this happen, more than any 
 others ; for it will be said, that we proposed the battle, and were 
 ignorant advisers. Besides, we know not if the countiy be unan- 
 imous in their affection to the king, or whether they may not have 
 Bcnl underhand, for the duke of Lancaster and his lady, as the legal 
 heiress of Castille, for she is the daughter of don Pedro, as is well 
 known to all. Now, should the Castillians say, on seeing the duke 
 and the English in the field, that his is the justest cause, for that king 
 John is a bastard, they may turn about toward the latter end of the 
 day, as they did at Najarra, and leave us to be slain on the spot. 
 Thus there is a double danger for the king and for us. They must 
 be mad or foolish who advise a battle ; and why have not thoae who 
 
 ought to have spoken, such as sir William de Lignac and sir Walter 
 de Passac, delivered their sentiments?" " Because," replied others, 
 " they wished to know our opinions first ; for it is not possible but 
 that, when they left the council of France and t'le duke cf Bourbon, 
 they were well instructed how to act. We shall lAl know to-morrow." 
 There was much disputing this evening between the knights from 
 France, as well as among those of Castille. The we ll-wishers to the 
 king would not advise him to offer battle, f r the reason thct, if 
 they should be defeated, the kingdom was infallibly lost. The king 
 himself was of this opinion : he dreaded the chances of war ; for he 
 was ignorant of the support he should have, and whether he was be- 
 loved by all his subjects or not. The matter thus remained until 
 the morrow, when they wore again assembled in the presence of the 
 king. 
 
 In this conference there were many speakers, for all were- desirous 
 to offer the king advice to the best of their abi'ities. It was visible 
 the king was against the plan of the preceding day ; for he had not 
 forgotten the unfortunate event of the battle of Aljubarota, wh^re he 
 was defeated by the king of Portugal v/ith such loss, that another 
 similar to it would lose him his realm. When all had delivered their 
 opinions, sir William de Lignac and sir Walter de Passac were asked 
 theirs ; for, as they were the commandfirs-in-chief, everything should 
 be ordered and executed by them. The two knights, looking at 
 each other, sir William said, " Do you speak, sir Walter." " Not 
 I," replied sir Walter : " do you, for you have been longer used to 
 arms than myself." Sir William having paused a while, thus spoke : 
 " Sir king, you ought, methinks, to return many thanks to this noble 
 chivalry of France, who have come so far to serve you in your dis- 
 tress, and who have shown you so much affection as to decline shut- 
 ting themselves up in any of your castles or t.)\vns, but are eager to 
 take the field and combat your enemies wherever they m;:y find them: 
 which, however, saving your grace and the good will you show, can- 
 not be done at present for many reasons ; the principal of Vv'hich is, 
 the absence of my lord the duke of Bourbon, who v.'ill soon arrive 
 with a considerable reinforcement of men-at-arms. There are also 
 many of our knights and squires who have never before been in this 
 country, and are ignorant of the roads, to which they must attend ; 
 and things which are hastily concluded never end well. Instead, 
 therefore, of attempting a general engagement, we shall carry on the 
 v/ar for two or three months, or as long as may be necessary, from 
 different garrisons, and let the English and Portuguese overrun Gali. 
 cia, or other parts, if they can. If they conquer a few towns, it will 
 be no great loss : we will regain them before we quit the cunn*ry, 
 for they shall only borrow thtm for a time. To conclude : in war- 
 fare there are many unforeseen events, and the English during the 
 hot season may, in their various excursions through Galicia, meet 
 with such difficulties, and suffer such disorders, as may make them 
 repent ever having undertaken the business ; for they will not find 
 the climate like that of France, nor the wines so good, nor the v/^.ter 
 so pure as in our country ; but the rivers muddy and cold trom the 
 melting of the snows on the mountains, which will chill them and 
 their horses after the burning heat of the sun in the day time, and be 
 the destruction of them both. They are not of iron or steel, and 
 must in the end suffer from the heats of Castille, but like to ourselves; 
 and we cannot any way more easily defeat them than by avoiding a 
 combat, and allowing them tJ go whithersoever they please. They 
 will find nothing to pillage in the low countries, nor anything to com- 
 fort themselves; for, I am informed, that has been all destroyed by 
 our people, for which I praise them greatly; and, were it nov.^ un- 
 done, I would have given them such orders. Now if any person can 
 give better advice, let him do so; for sir Walter and myself will 
 cheerfully listen to him." 
 
 The council unanimously replied : " We approve of what sir Wil. 
 liani has oflTered, and cannot but think it the best advice for the king 
 and kingdom of Castille." It v/as then determined to wait for the 
 duke of Bourbon and the stores before they made preparations for 
 taking the field, but to garrison strongly the; frontier, and suffer the 
 English and Portuguese to overrun Cactille at their pleasure ; for, 
 when they returned from their excursions, they could not carry away 
 the land with them. The conference ended, all left the chamber ; 
 and this day the king entertained at dinner, in his palace at Burgos, 
 the barons and knights of France ; it was magnificently grand, ac- 
 cording to the custom in Spain. On the morrow, before noon, all the 
 men-at-arms were sent off to their different garrisons, with iastruc- 
 tions from their leaders how to act. Sir Oliver du Guesclin, count 
 de Longueville, was ordered, with a thousand spears, to a tolerably 
 strong town on the borders of Galicia, called Ville-saincte ;* sir Re- 
 ginald and sir Tristan de Roye to another town, ten leagues further, 
 but on the frontier of Galicia, called Ville-d'Agil!are-de.Champ,t with 
 three hundred lances ; sir Peter de Belesme, with t wo hundred lances, 
 to Benevenle ; the count de Lerma to the town of Zamora ; sir .John 
 des Barres, with three hundred, to the castle of Noya; sir John de 
 Chatelmorant and sir Tristan de la Jaille, with others, to the city of 
 Valencia; the viscount de Besliere to the town of Ribesda, with sir 
 John and sir Robert de Braquemont. In such manner were the men. 
 at-arms divided : sir Oliver du Guesclin was nominated constable, 
 having the largest body under his command ; and sir William de 
 
 * " Ville-saincte." Vilalpando. t '* Viile-d'Agillare-de-Champ." Q. Avila. 
 
428 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN 
 
 Lignac and sir Walter de Passac remained near the king at Burgos 
 and attended him wherever he went. 
 
 Thus were affairs managed in Ca?tille, waiting for the duke of 
 Bourbon, who was still in France making his preparations. But we 
 will leave the armies of Castille and of the duke of Lancaster, for a 
 short time, and return to them again when necessary, to speak of 
 such events as happened in France and England ; many of which 
 were strange enough, and dangerous to both kingdoms, but particu- 
 laily displeasing to the king of England and his council. 
 
 CHAPTER LXIV. 
 
 THE CONSTABLE DE CLISSON MAKES GREAT PREPARATIONS *ro INVATIE 
 ENGLAND. MUCH MUR. MURING AND DISCONTENT IN ENGLAND AGAINST 
 KIN& RICHARD AND HIS COUNCIL. 
 
 I HAVE before related at length, how the grand expedition, which 
 was preparing at Sluys to invade England, was broken up ; but to 
 show how much the French were in earnest, and that it might not be 
 said they had given it over through 
 cowardice, but were still eager to land 
 in England, it was ordered that the ccm- 
 stable should sail thither in fhe month of 
 May, when the weather ^vas fine, and 
 the sea calm. His force was to consist 
 of four thousand men a*-arms and two 
 thousand cross-bows, who were to as- 
 semble in a town ^f Brittany called 
 Tr^guier,* situated the sea. coast, and 
 opposite to Cornwa'l His preparations, 
 which were very considerable, were all 
 made there, and 'he horses were to em- 
 bark at that port, the more easily to over- 
 run England ; for without horses no war 
 on land can be carried on with effect. 
 In this harbor were numbers of vessek 
 of all desc'iptions, which were laden 
 with wine?3, salted meats, biscuits, and 
 other things, in such quantities, as might 
 serve them four or five months, without 
 requiring anything from the country ; for 
 the constable knew, that when the Eng. 
 lish should hear of his landing, they 
 would destroy all the lowlands, to pre. 
 vent him from having any support ; and 
 it was for this reason he had provided 
 such immense stores. Another large 
 fleet, to invade England, was likewise 
 prepared at Harfleur, by the lord de 
 Coucy, the lord de St. Pol, and the ad- 
 miral of France, who were to embark 
 on board of it with two thousand spears ; 
 
 but it was said that this was solely intended to force the duke of Lan. 
 caster to withdraw himself and his army from Castille. The duke of 
 Bourbon was still at Paris ; for he knew the duke of Lancaster must 
 return to England, and it would be unnecessary for him to take so long 
 a journey to Castille. The army of the constable consisted of Bretons, 
 Angevins, Manceaux, Saintongers, and knights and squires from the 
 adjoining countries. That of the count de St. Pol and the lord de 
 Coucy was composed from the Isle of France, Normandy, and Picardy. 
 The duke of Bourbon had two thousand spears from Berry, Auvergne, 
 Limousin, and lower Burgundy. Such was the distribution of the 
 forces in F'rance ; and every man knew how he was to be employed, 
 whether in England or Castille. 
 
 England was, at this period, in greater danger than when the peas, 
 flnts, under Jack Straw, rose in rebellion, and marched to London ; 
 and I will tell you the cause. The nobles and gentlemen were unani. 
 mous, at that time, in their support of the king, but now there were 
 many serious differences between them. The king quarrelled with 
 his uncles of York and Gloucester, and they were equally displeased 
 with him, caused, as it was said, by the intrigues of the duke of Ire- 
 land, the sole confidant of the king. The community, in many 
 towns and cites, had noticed tht«e quarrels, and the wisest dreaded 
 the consequences that might ensue ; but the giddy laughed at them, 
 and said, they were owing to the jealousy of the king's uncles, and 
 because the crown was not on their heads. But others said ; " The 
 king is young, and puts his confidence in youngsters : it would be to 
 his advantage if he consulted his uncles more, who can only wish the 
 piosperity of the country, than that puppy, the duke of Ireland, who 
 is ignorant of all things, and who never saw a battle." Thus were 
 the English divided ; and great disasters seemed to be at hand, which 
 was perfectly known all over France, and caused them to hasten their 
 preparations for invading the country and adding to its miseries. The 
 prelates of England were also quarrelling ; the archbishop of Canter- 
 bury with that of York, who was of the houFC of Neville. They hated 
 each other mortally, because the lord Neville had been appointed 
 lieutenant of Northumberland, in preference to the sons of the earl of 
 
 ♦ "Treguier"— ten leagues northwest of St. Bneux.and twenty-three northeast of 
 Bmt 
 
 Northumberland, sir Henry and sir Ralph Percy, which the arch, 
 bishop, who was one of the king's council, had obtained for his 
 brother, through the duke of Ireland, 
 
 As soon as the English learnt that the camps near Sluys were 
 broken up, and the invasion given over, great murmurings were 
 general throughout England. Those who wished mischief said ; 
 " What is now become of our grand enterprises and our valiant cap. 
 tains ? Would that our gallant king Edward and his son, the prince 
 of Wales, were now alive ! We used to invade France and rebuff 
 our enemies, so that they were afraid to show themselves, or venture 
 to engage us; and, when they did so, they were defeated. What a 
 glorious expedition did our king J^dward, of happy memory, make, 
 when he landed in Normandy, and marched throu;:rh France I After 
 many battles and other fine exploits, he defeated king Philip and the 
 whole power of the French at Crecy, and took Calais before he re. 
 turned home. Where are the knights and princes of England who 
 can now do such things ? Did not likewise the prince of Wales, son 
 of this gallant king, make prisoner the king of France, and defeat his 
 army at Poitiers, with the small force he had, compared with that of 
 
 City of Burgos.— From La Borde's Voyage I'ittoresque en Espagne. 
 
 king .lohn ? In those days we were feared, and our renown was 
 spread abroad, wherever chivalry was esteemed ; but at this moment 
 we must be silent, for they know not how to make war, except on 
 our pockets : for this they are ready enough. Only a child reigns 
 now in France, and yet he has given us more alarms than any of his 
 predecessors, and shows good courage and inclination to invade us. 
 It was not his fault, but that of his advisers, that he did not attempt 
 it. We have seen the time when, if such a fleet had been known to 
 have been collected at Sluys, the good king and his sons would ha\e 
 hastened to attack it; but now-a.days the nobles are delighted to have 
 nothing to do, and remain in peace ; but they will not suffer us to 
 live in quiet, as long as we have anything in our purses. We have 
 seen the time when conquests were made by us in France, and no 
 taxes demanded ; but every one was made rich from the great wealth 
 which abounded in France. What is become of the immense sums 
 which have been raised, as well by taxes as by the current revenue? 
 They must have been wasted or purloined. We must know how the 
 country is governed, and who are the advisers of the king : it is not 
 right that such things be longer unattended to ; ^or this country is 
 not so rich, nor able to bear the burdens France does, which abounds 
 in all things. It seems, also, that we are weakened in understanding 
 and activity as well as in courage ; for we used to know v.-hat was 
 intended by France, and what were its plans, some months before 
 they could execute them, by which we were prepared to resist them. 
 Now, we are not only ignorant of what is going forward in France ; 
 but they are well informed of all that passes, though under the seal 
 of secrecy, in our councils, and we know not whom to blame. But 
 a day must come when all this will be public ; for there are secret 
 traitors in the council, and the sooner this is inquired into the better: 
 we may delay it so long that it will be too late to provide a remedy." 
 Such conversations were very common, not only with knights and 
 squires, but among the inhabitants of many of the towns, which placed 
 the realm in much danger. 
 
 The knights and squires who had been summoned to the defence 
 of the kingdom, now demanded their pay ; and other large sums 
 were called for, to defray the great expenses the king and his council 
 had been at in guarding the country against the invasion from France. 
 
439 
 
 A parliament was therefore assembled in London, of tlie nobles, pre. 
 lates, and commonalty, to consider of laying a general tax throughout 
 the country to answer all these demands. The parliament adjourned 
 from London to, Westminster, when ttiose summoned attended, and 
 indeed many others, who came to hear the news. The king and his 
 two uncles of York and Gloucester were present ; and the parliament 
 was harangued on the subject of the finances, and assured that there 
 was not in the royal treasury more than sufficient to support, even 
 with economy, the usual expenses of the lung. The council said, 
 there was no other means than laying a general tax on all the country, 
 if they were desirous of paying the great sums the defence of the 
 kingdom had cost. Those from the archbishopric of Canterbury, 
 the bishoprics of Norwich and Warwick, the counties of Devonshire, 
 Hampshire, and Wiltshire, readily assented; because they knew bet- 
 ter what had been done, and were more alarmed than those at a 
 greater distance, in Wales, Bristol, and Cornwall, who were rebellious, 
 and said ; "We have never seen any enemies come into this country : 
 why therefore should we be thus heavily taxed, and nothing done ?" 
 " Yes, yes," replied the others : " let them call on the king's council, 
 the archbishop of York and the duke of Ireland, who received sixty 
 thousand francs, for the ransom of John of Brittany, from the con- 
 stable of France, which ought to have gone to the general profit of 
 the kingdom. Let them call on sir Simon Burley, sir William Elm- 
 ham, sir Thomas Brand, sir Robert Tresilian, and sir .Tohn Beau- 
 champ, who have governed the king. If they gave a true account 
 of the sums raised in England, or were forced so to do, there would 
 he more than money enough to pay all expenses, and poor people 
 might remain in quiet." 
 
 The king's uncles were much pleased when these speeches were 
 told thern; for those they had named were unfriendly to their interests, 
 and opposed their obtaining any favors from the court. They en- 
 'couraged such discourses ; and, to gain popularity, said ; " The good 
 people who hold such language are well advised in wishing to have 
 an account of the management of the finances, and in refusing to pay 
 their taxes ; for, in good truth, there is cash enough either in the 
 purses of the king or of those who govern him." By degrees this 
 discontent was much increased among the people, who declared 
 against any tax being laid on, and who grew bolder in their language 
 when they saw^ that the king's uncles, the archbishop of Canterbury, 
 the earls of Salisbury and Northumberland, with many other great 
 barons, supported them. The ministers, therefore, withdrew the tax, 
 and said nothing should be done in the matter until Michaelmas, 
 when the parliament would again meet. 
 
 Those knights and squires who were expecting their pay, were 
 much angered against the king and his council for their disappoint- 
 ment, and the ministers appeased them in the best manner they 
 could. When the parliament broke up, and the members went dif- 
 ferent ways, the king lid not take leave of his uncles, nor they of 
 him. The king was advised to retire into Wales for a time until 
 more favorable circumstances, which he agreed to, and left London 
 without taking leave of any one. He carried with him all his coun- 
 cil, except the archbishop of York, who returned into his diocese. 
 It was fortunate for him he did so, otherwise it would have happened 
 to him as to the other counsellors of the king, as I shall presently 
 narrate. But I must speak as much of France as of England, when 
 the matter reguirea it. 
 
 CHAPTER LXV. 
 
 THE CONSTABLE OF FRANCE WITH SEVERAL OTHERS MAKE PREPARATIONS 
 TO INVADE ENGLAND. THE DUKE OF BRITTANY PRACTICES TO PREVENT 
 THIS EXPEDITION. 
 
 When the sweet season of summer and the delightful month of 
 May were come, in the year of our Lord 1387, while the duke of 
 Lancaster was making conquests in Galicia, and, in conjunction with 
 the king of Portugal, overrunning Castillo without opposition ; there 
 were, as I before said, great preparations making in France for the 
 invasion of England, by the constable, at Tr^guier in Brittany; and 
 by the count de St. Pol, the lord de Coucy, and the admiral of 
 France, at Harfleur. They had under their command six thousand 
 men-at-arms, two thousand cross-bows, and six thousand lusty varlets. 
 whom they intended to land at Dover and Orwell. It was ordered, 
 that no one was to embark unless he were provided with suitable 
 armor and provision for three months. They were the flower of 
 chivalry, and had plenty of oats and hay for their horses. Their 
 leaders had appointed a day for sailing, which was now almost ar- 
 rived ; and their servants were as busily employed as at Sluys, in 
 laying in all stores and other necessaries at the two parts of Tr^guier 
 and Harfleur. The men-at-arms, under the count de St. Pol and the 
 admiral, were paid fifteen days in advance ; but they were still on 
 sh ore, and those in the more distant parts were daily arriving. All 
 things were now in such forwardness, no one could have imagined 
 it would not take place. It was not, however, broken up by the cap. 
 tains, but by a most extraordinary event which happened in Brittany. 
 The king of France and his council were sorely vexed thereat ; but, 
 ^8 they could not amend it, they were forced to endure it as well as 
 they could, and act prudently, for this was not the moment of re. 
 veuge. Other news was brought to the king from Germany, at the 
 
 same time, which I will relate in proper time and place ; but I will 
 mention that of Brittany first, as it so occurred in point of time, and 
 was the most unfortunate, though the events in Germany were cause 
 of greater expense. 
 
 If I were merely to say, such and such things happened at such 
 times, without entering fully into the matter, which was grandly 
 horrible and disastrous, it would be a chronicle, but no history. I 
 might, to be sure, pass it by, if I had chosen it: that I will not do; 
 but relate fully the fact, if God grant me life, abilities, and leisure, to 
 chronicle and historify the matter at length. You have before seen, 
 in different parts of this history, how sir John de Montfort, called 
 duke of Brittany, (who indeed was so by conquest, though not by 
 direct descent,) had always supported the English to the utmost of 
 his power against France. He had reason to attach himself to them ; 
 for they had made war for him, and without their as.sistance he would 
 never have conquered before yA.uray nor elsewhere. You know also, 
 from this history, that the duke of Brittany had no power over the 
 greater part of his nobles nor the princip:d towns ; more especially 
 sir Bertrand de Guesclin, as long as he lived, sir Oliver de Clisson 
 constable of France, the lords de Beaumanoir, de Laval, de Raix, de 
 Dinant, the viscount de Rohan, and the lord de Rochefort, refused 
 him obedience ; and whichever way these lords incline, the whole 
 duchy follow their example. They were willing, indeed, to support 
 him against any power but France ; and truly I must say, that the 
 Bretons have ever gallantly defended the honor of France, as will be 
 apparent to any person who shall read this history. But let it not be 
 said, that I have been corrupted by the favor of count Guy de Blois, 
 (who has induced me to undertake, and has paid me for this history 
 to my satisfaction,) because he was nephew to the rightful duke of 
 Brittany ; for count Lewis of Blois was cousin-german to St. Charles, 
 who as long as he lived was the true duke. It is not so ; for I v. ill 
 speak the truth, and go straight forward; v.-ithout coloring one side 
 more than another, and that gallant prince who patronized this history 
 never wished me in any way to act otherwise. 
 
 To return to my subject. You have rer.d how the duke of Brit 
 tany, when he found he could not manage Ins subjects, became sus 
 picious of them, and fearful lest they should arrest him and confine 
 him in one of the king of France's prisons. He left Brittany for 
 England, with his household and the lady Jane his duchess, daughter 
 of that good knight sir Thomas Holland. After staying there some 
 time, he went to Flanders, where he resided, v/ith his cousin-german 
 count Lewis, upward of a year and a half, when his country, being 
 more favorable, sent for him back. Some of the towns, however, on 
 his return, continued their rebellion, especially Nantes; but all tl^e 
 barons, knights, and prelates, submitted to him, except those whoii; 
 I have before named. In order to put them under his obedience, by 
 means of some of the principal cities which assented to his plans, and 
 for the purpose of giving alarm to the king of France and his council, 
 who were desirous of laying taxes on Brittany similar to those of 
 France and Picardy, which he and the country would never suflTer, 
 he demanded aid from the king of England of men-at-arms and 
 archers, assuring the council of England, that if the king or one of 
 his uncles would come to Brittany, in sufficient force, the whole 
 country would be open, and ready to receive them. 
 
 King Richard and his council were greatly pleased on receiving 
 this intelligence, which seemed to them so good, that they could not 
 do better than accept the offer, since Brittany was so well inclined to 
 receive them. They ordered thither the earl of Buckingham, with 
 four thousand spears and eight thousand archers, who, having landed 
 at Calais, marched through the kingdom of France without meeting 
 any opposition, although they frequently offered battle, as you have 
 before read. When they came to Brittany, they expected to find all 
 ready to receive them, as they had indeed sustained a long march : 
 but everything was contrary to what had been promised ; for the 
 duke's advisers had managed with so much prudence, that they had 
 made his peace with the young king of France : had Charles V. 
 been alive, it could not have been done, for he hated him too much. 
 The duke of Burgundy, who was, at that time, at the head of the 
 government of France, was greatly instrumental in bringing this ac- 
 commodation about through the entreaties of his duchess, who_ was 
 very nearly related to the duke of Brittany. He was, in consequence, 
 forced to break all the engagements he had made with the English, 
 from the impossibility of his keeping them ; for Bretons will never 
 firmly join the English in making war on France. They never had, 
 nor ever will have, such inclinations. The English were obliged to 
 lodge themselves in Vannes and its neighborhood, and to suffer the 
 greatest distress and poverty, which destroyed many of their men, 
 and all their horses. When they left Brittany, they were greatly dis- 
 contented with the duke, more particularly the earl of Buckingham, 
 who, on his return to England, made such heavy complaints agains* 
 him to the king, the duke of Lancaster and the council, that it was 
 resolved by them to give John of Brittany his liberty, and carry him 
 to Brittany, to wage war against the duke under his name. It was 
 there said ; " Sir John de Montfort knows well that he owes his 
 duchy solely to us, for without our aid he never could have gained it 
 and a pretty return he has made us, by v/earing our army down with 
 fatigue and famine, and fruitlessly expending our treasure. We 
 must make him feel for his ingratitude ; and we cannot better revenge 
 ourselves than by setting his rival at libeity, and landing him in that 
 
430 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 country, where the towns and castles will open their gates to him, 
 and expel the other who has thus deceived us." 
 
 This resolution was unanimously adopted. John of Brittany was 
 brought before the council, and told they would give him his liberty, 
 regain for him the duchy of Brittany, and marry him to the lady 
 Philippa of Lancaster, on condition that Brittany should be held 
 as a fief from England, and that he would do the king homage for it. 
 He refused Dmpliance with these terms. He would, indeed, have 
 accepted the lady, but peremptorily refused to enter into any engage- 
 ments iLiimical to Frunce, were he to remain prisoner all his days. 
 The council, hearing this, grew cool in their offers of freedom, and 
 replaced him under the guard of sir Thomas d'Ambreticourt. This 
 i have already relatedj but I now retur;! to it on account of the event 
 which happened in Brittany, as being the consequence ; for the duke, 
 well aware he vvas in disgrace with all England, was greatly alarmed 
 at the dangers that might ensue, from the treatment the earl of Buck- 
 ingham and his army were forced to put up with, from the breach of 
 all his engagements. Neither the king of England nor his uncles 
 longer wrote him such friendly letters as they were used to do before 
 the earl of Buckingham's expedition. His alarms were much in- 
 creased when he heard that John of Brittany was returned from Eng- 
 land," and said, the English had given him his liberty in revenge for 
 his late conduct. 
 
 The duke upon this determined, by one bold stroke, to recover 
 the favor of England, and do it so secretly and opportunely that the 
 English should thank him. He knew there was not a man on earth 
 whom they more hated and dreaded than sir Oliver de Clisson, con- 
 stable of France ; for, in truth, his thoughts were daily and nightly 
 employed on the means to injure England. He was the proposer of 
 the late great armament at Sluys, and the chief dictator of those car- 
 ried on at Trdguier and Harfleur. The duke, therefore, to please 
 the English, and t3 show he had not much dependence on nor love 
 for the French, resolved to prevent the intended invasion of England 
 taking effect : not, indeed, by forbidding his subjects to join in this 
 attack on England, under pain of forfeiting their lands, for that would 
 have too clearly discovered the side to which he leaned. He went 
 to work more secretly, and thought he could not act more tj his ad- 
 vantage than to arrest the constable, and put him to death, for which 
 the English would thank him, as they hated him much. He was not 
 afraid of his family, as it was not powerful enough to make war 
 against him ; for he had but two daughters, one married to John of 
 Brittany, and the other to the viscount de Rohan. He could easily 
 withstand them ; and, as there would be but one baron slain, when 
 dead, none would make war for him. 
 
 CHAPTER LXVI. 
 
 THE DUKE OF BRITTANY SUMMONS HIS BARONS AND KNIGHTS TO A COUN- 
 CIL AT VANNES. SIR OLIVER DE CLISSON AND THE LORD DE BEAUMA- 
 KOIR ARE MADE PRISONERS IN THE CASTLE OF ERMINE, AND IN GREAT 
 DANGER OF THEIR LIVES. 
 
 The duke of Brittmy, ta accomplish his plan, appointed a great 
 parliament to be holden at Vannes, and sent very affectionate letters 
 to his barons and knights, to entreat they would be present ; but he 
 wus particularly pressing with the constable of France, adding, that 
 he vvas more anxious to see him than all the rest. The constable 
 never thought of excusing himself, for the duke was now his acknow. 
 ledged lord, and he wished to be in his favor : he came therefore to 
 Vannes, as did great numbers of other barons. The assembly was 
 numerous, and lasted some time ; and many things were discussed 
 which concerned the duke and the country, but the intended inva- 
 sion of England was never touched on, for the duke pretended to 
 know nothing about it, and kept a strict silence. The parliament 
 was held in the castle de la Motte at Vannes, where the duke gave 
 a grand dinner to the barons of Brittany, and kept them in enjoy- 
 ment and affectionate conversation until night, when they returned 
 to their lodgings in the suburbs without the town. At this dinner 
 were the greater part of the barons of Brittany, toward the end of 
 whish the duke showed them the most friendly attention ; but he 
 had other thoughts in his heart, unknown to all excepting those to 
 whom he had confidenially opened himself. The constable of France, 
 to please the knights of Brittmy, and because he thought his office 
 required it, invited all who had dined with the duke to dine with 
 him on the morrow. Some came, but others went home to take 
 leave of their wives and families ; for it was the intention of the 
 constable, on leaving Vannes to make for Tr6guier and embark on 
 board his fleet, which was ready for him. All this the duke knew, 
 but never said one word ; for he wished to have it believed that he 
 was ignorant of it. When the duke entered the hotel of the consta- 
 ble, and was announced, all rose up, as was right, and kindly re- 
 crived him in the manner in which their lord should be accosted. 
 He behaved in the most friendly manner, and, seating himself among 
 them, eat and drank, and showed them stronger marks of affection 
 than he had ever before done. He said, " My fair sirs, friends and 
 companions, God send that you may ever come and go from me with 
 equal pleasure, and that you may perform such deeds of arms as may 
 satisfy you and gam you profit and renown." " May God," they 
 replied, " render you the same, and we most humbly thank you that 
 jrou ftre thus kindly come to seo us before we depart.'* 
 
 You must know, that in these days, the duke of Britta'.\i/ w*,^ 
 building a very handsome and strong castle near Vannes, call-.d vue 
 castle of Ermine, vv'hich was almost completed. Beinor nfii.tt to 
 catch the constable, he said to him, the lord de Beauraannii, and 
 other barons, " My dear sirs, I entreat, that before you vjiit this 
 country, you will come and see my castle of Ermine, that you may 
 view what I have done, and the plans I intend executifi^;." They 
 all accepted his invitation, for his b havior had been so kind and 
 open, that they never thought he w; s imagining mischJ-jf. They 
 accompanied the duke on horseback to this castle ; and, when ar- 
 rived, the duke, the constable, the lor :s de Laval and de Beauma- 
 noir, dismounted and entered within its apartments. Thn duke led 
 the constable by the hand from chamber to chamber, and lo all parts, 
 even to the cellars, where wine was offered. When he had carried 
 them all over it, they came to the keep ; and, stopping at the entrance, 
 the duke said, "Sir Oliver, there is not a man on this side of the sea 
 v;ho understands masonry like you: enter, therefore, I beg of you, 
 and examine the walls well ; and if you say it is properly built, it 
 shall remain, otherwise it shall be altered." The constable, who 
 thought nothing ill was intended, replied, he would cheerfully do so, 
 and desired the duke to go first. " No," said the duke ; " go by your, 
 self, while I talk a little here with the lord de Laval." The consta. 
 ble, desirous to acquit himself, entered the tower and ascended the 
 staircase. When he had passed the first floor, some armed men, 
 who had been there posted in ambush, knowing how they were to 
 act, shut the door below them, and advanced on the constable, whom 
 they seized, and dragged into an apartment, and loaded him v.ith 
 three pairs of fetters. As they were putting them on, they said, 
 " My lord, forgive \vhat we are doing, for V'/e are obliged to it by the 
 strict orders we have had from the duke of Brittany."* If the con- 
 stable was ahu-med, it is no wonder ; but he ought not to have been, 
 surprised, for, since the quarrel which he had had with the duke, he 
 would never come near him, though many invitations and pas^sports 
 were sent. He was fearful of trusting himself with the duke, in 
 which he was justified ; for, when he did come, you see the conse. 
 quences of the duke's hatred, which now buret out. 
 
 When the lord de Laval, who was at the entrance of the tower, 
 heard and saw the door shut with violence, he was afraid of some 
 plot against his brother-in-law ; and, turning to the duke, who looked 
 as pale as death, was confirmed something was wrong. He said, 
 "Ah, my lord, for God's sake what are they doing? Do not use 
 any violence against the constable." " Lord de Lava^, mount your 
 horse, and go hence, for you may depart when you please ; I know 
 well what I am about." " My lord," replied the lord dc Laval, " I 
 will never depart without my brother-in-law, the constable." At 
 these words, the lord de Beaumanoir (whom the duke greatly hated) 
 came and asked where the constable was. The duke, drawing his 
 dagger, advanced to him and said, " Beaumanoir, dost thou wish to 
 be like thy master?' " My lord," replied Beaumanoir, " I believe 
 my master cannot be in a good plight." " I ask thee again, if thou 
 wouldst wish to be like him." " Yes, my lord," said de Beauma. 
 noir. The duke then taking his dagger by the pjint, said, " Well, 
 then, Beaumanoir, since thou wouldst be like him, thou must thrust 
 one of thy eyes out."t The lord de Beaumanoir, seeing, from the 
 duke's countenance, things were taking a bad turn, cast himself on 
 his knee, and said, " My lord, I have that opinion of y^r honor and 
 nobleness of mind, that, if it please God, you will never act other, 
 wise than right, We are at your mercy, and are come hither solely 
 to accompany you, and at your own request; do not therefore dis. 
 honor yourself, by executing any wild scheme, if such be in your 
 thoughts, for you may hereafter repent of it." " Go, go," replied 
 the duke ; " thou shalt have neither better nor worse than" him." 
 He vvas then arrested by those who had previously received their 
 orders, dragged into a room, and fettered with three pairs of irons. 
 He was much alarmed, as you may suppose, for he knew the duke 
 loved him as little as he did the constable, but he could not then 
 help iL 
 
 News was soon spread through the castle and town, that the con- 
 stable and the lord Beaumanoir had been arrested and confined ; 
 but it surprised many that the lord de Laval was not confined with 
 them ; and that the duke had allowed him to depart when he pleased. 
 The constable's imprisonment astonished all who heard it, and not 
 without cause ; for it was said the duke's hatred was so strong, that 
 he would have him and his companion put to death. The duke 
 vvas exceedinffly blamed by all knights and squires who heard of 
 this ; they said', " That no prince had ever dishonored himself so 
 much as the duke of Brittany. He invites the constable to dine 
 with him, who accepts the invitation, goes to his palace, and drinks 
 of his wine. He is then requested to view his buildings, wherein 
 he is arrested : never was the like heard of. What does the duke 
 think to do with him ? He has rendered himself infamous, for never 
 was there a more disgraceful act; and, henceforward, no one will 
 have confidence in princes, since the duke has thus played the traitor, 
 
 * These excuses were afterwa-ds of no avnil : f .r the constahle punished them acccrd- 
 injr to their deserts. He only pardoned a squire, named Bernard, who nad ilie hum;muy 
 to give him hi* cloak, to preserve him from tl.e dampness ol tlie phce.-Htst. de Bri- 
 
 'TAliudin? to the constable bavin? but one eye. He lost it at the battle of Auroy ! 
 notwithstandinfi wUicb, he never Quitted the field of lattle. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 anc!, by treacherous means, enticed these gallant men into his castle, 
 wherein he imprisons them. What will the king of France say to 
 this ? and especially as the consequence must be, that he must give 
 up the intended invasion of England. Never was such wickedness 
 thought of. At present he has discovered what was rankling in his 
 heart. Did any one in Brittany, or elsewhere, ever hear of the like? 
 If a poor knifi;ht had done so, he would have been for ever disgraced. 
 In whom cai' any man place confidence but in his lord, who is 
 bounden to act uprightly, and redress such wrongs as his vassals 
 may complain of? Who can take upon him to punish this deed, or 
 who' is capable of it, but the king of France? The duke now 
 openly shows his attachment to the English, and that he means to 
 assist them, by thus preventing the expedition against them taking 
 effect. What ought the knights and squires of Brittany at this mo- 
 ment to do? Why, they should instantly leave their homes, and 
 hasten to lay siege to the castle of Ermine, and inclose the duke 
 within it, and never depart until they have taken him, dead or alive, 
 and carried him, like a false and disloyal prince, to the king of 
 France, for him to punish him according to his deserts." Thus did 
 those knights speak who had been at the parliament, and who had 
 not left Vannes and that part of the country; but they were much 
 afraid lest the duke should put them to death. Others said, " The 
 lord de Laval is still with the duke, and will prevent it ; for he is so 
 wise and prudent, he will check the duke's rage." In effect, he did 
 so ; for, had he not exerted himself to the utmost, there is not a doubt 
 but that the constable would have been murdered that night, had he 
 had a thousand lives. 
 
 CHAPTER LXVII. 
 
 THE CONSTABLE DE CLISSON, THROUGH THE EXERTIONS OF THE LORD DE 
 LAVAL, OBTAINS HIS LIBERTY, BY PAYING- A LARGE SUM OF MONEY, 
 AND DELIVERING UP TO THE DUKE OF BRITTANY SOME OF HIS CASTLES. 
 
 It may be readily believed, that the constable was not at his ease, 
 when he found himself thus entrapped and ironed. He was guarded 
 by thirty men, who were unable to comfort him, for they could only 
 obey their lord's orders. In his own mind, he considered himself as 
 a dead man ; for he had not the most distant hope of any assistance 
 coming to him. He had his fetters taken thrice from him, and was 
 stretched on the floor; for the duke, at one time, would have him 
 beheaded, at another drowned ; and one or other of these deaths he 
 would cerrainly have suffered, if it had not been for the lord de La. 
 val. When he heard the duke give orders for the constable's death, 
 he flung himself on his knees, and, wi'h uplifted hands and tears, 
 said, " Ah, my lord, for God's mercy, think better of this matter ; do 
 not act so cruelly against my brother-in-law the constable. He 
 cannot have deserved death. Through kindness, tell me what it is 
 that has so mightily angered you against him. 1 swear, that what- 
 ever may be his crime, he shall make such amends, in body and 
 estate, or I for him, or both of us together, as shall surpass anything 
 you may imagine, or condemn him to, excepting death or imprison- 
 ment. Remember, for God's sake, my lord, how you were educated 
 together, in the same hotel with the duke of Lancaster, who is so 
 'oyal and gallant a prince, none ever was, nor will be his equal. 
 For God's mercy, remember, my lord, how, in former times, before 
 he had made his peace with France, he had always served you loy- 
 ally ; he assisted you in the recovery of your duchy; and you ever 
 found him ready to support you in the field and in council. If you 
 have not any very just cause indeed, that moves your passion, he 
 cannot be deserving death," " Lord de Laval," replied the duke, 
 "allow^e to act as I please. Clisson has so frequently angered 
 me, that it is now necessary I make him feel it. Go your ways, I 
 want nothing with you : let me show my cruelty ; for I am resolved 
 he shall die." " Ah, my lord," replied the lord de Laval, " moderate 
 your rage, and hear reason. If you thus put him to death, no prince 
 will ever so completely disgrace himself ; and there will not be a 
 , knight, squire, nor honest man in all Brittany, who will not mortally 
 hate you, and do everything they can to drive you out of your duchy. 
 Neither the king of Englasid nor his council will thank you ; and 
 would you thus disgrace yourself for the life of one man ? For the 
 love of God, change your intention, as the one you want to carry 
 into effect is not only good for nothing, but dishonorable. It would 
 be infamous thus to put to death so great a baron and so gallant a 
 knight as the lord de Clisson ; and should you do so, it will be con- 
 sidered as traitorous, and a reproach to you before God and by all 
 « the world. You invited him to dine with you : he came. You then 
 seek for him, in the most friendly manner, and desire him to accom- 
 pany you to see your buildings : he does so : he obeys your every 
 command, and drinks of your wine ; and is all this affection you 
 show him but a veil to cover your treachery, and the means to rob 
 him of his life ? Should you do so, no lord will be ever so disgraced : 
 all the world will detest you, reproach you for it, and make war upon 
 you. But, since your hatred is so violent against the constable, I will 
 tell you how you shall act : you shall give him his liberty for a large 
 sum of florins. This you may compound for ; and, should he hold 
 any castle' that you may claim as yours, he shall deliver it up ; and I 
 will be his security for the due performance of whatever you may 
 agree to." 
 
 When the duke of Brittany heard the lord de Laval tl us address 
 him, and never for one moment quit his presence, for l.c followed 
 him the whole night, he paused awhile, and, being somewhat cooled, 
 said, " Lord de Laval, you have been of the greatest service to your 
 brother-in-law ; for know, that he is the man v.'hcm I hate the most 
 in the world, and, if you had not been here, he shtyuld not have been 
 alive to-morrow morning : but your eloquence has saved him. Go 
 to him, and ask if he be willing to pay down one hundred thousand 
 francs ; for I will have no other security but the money ; aiid sur. 
 render to me three castles and one town, such as Chateau Broc, 
 Chateau Josselin, Lamballc, and the town of Jugon. When he shall 
 pay his ransom, and put mo, or those I may send tluther, in posses- 
 sion of these places, I will give him his liberty."* " My lord," re- 
 plied the lord de Laval, I give you a thousand thanks for liavingso 
 graciously listened to my entreaties : be assured that all you ask shall 
 be granted: the town and c<istles shall be given up, and the money 
 paid, before he leave this place." The lord de Laval was rejoiced 
 beyond measure when he found his brotlier thus freed from prison 
 and death. He had the gate of the tov.'er opened, which could not 
 be done but by the duke's order, and, mounting the staircase, found 
 the constable much alarmed, (for he was expecting every moment to 
 be put to death,) and chained down with three pairs of fetters ; but 
 when he saw the lord de Laval, his heart revived, for he imagined 
 some treaty had been entered into. The lord do Laval said to the 
 guards, " Unfetter my brother Clisson, and then I shall talk with 
 him ;" and addressing himself to the constab'e, " Dear brother, will 
 you consent to whatever I may have done ?" " Yes, brother," re- 
 plied the constable. At these words, his irons were taken off. The 
 lord de Laval took him aside, and said, " Brother, I have, with much 
 difficulty, saved your life ; but it is on condition, that you pay dov.'n, 
 before you leave this place, one hundred thousand francs, and sur- 
 render to the duke three castles and your town of .Tugon, otherwise 
 you will not have your liberty." " I agree to all this," replied the 
 constable. " You are in the right, brother," said the lord de Laval. 
 " But," said the constable, " who will go to Clisson and elsewhere 
 to collect the money ? I believe, fair bn.iher de Laval, you must 
 undertake this." " No," rephed the lord de Laval : " I will never 
 quit this castle until I have you with me ; for I too well knov/ tiie 
 duke's cruel disposition ; and he may repent of his bargain when I 
 am gone, by some foolish conversation he may hear concerning you, 
 and the whole be broken ofi"." " And whom then can we send 
 thither?" asked the constable. " The lord de Beaumanoir," replied 
 his brother-in-law : " we will send him, for he is a prisoner like your, 
 self, and he shall undertake to collect the whole." "Well," said 
 the constable, "go down stairs, and order whatever you shall think 
 for the best." 
 
 CHAPTER LXVIII. 
 
 THE LORD DE BEAUMANOIR IS SET AT LIBERTY BY THE DUKE OP BRITTANY, 
 THAT HE MAY COLLECT THE RANSOM FOR THE CONSTABLE, WHO OB. 
 TAINS HIS FREEDOM ON SURRENDERING THE PLACES AGREED ON. THE 
 IMPRISONMENT OF THE CONSTABLE IS KNOWN AT THE COURT OF FRANCE. 
 
 The lord de Laval lost no time in going to the chansber (if the 
 duke, who was undressing himself for bed, as he had not s-lept the 
 whole night. On his entrance he bov/ed, and said, ^'My lord, you 
 must set at liberty the lord de Beamanoir, that brother Clisson may 
 talk with him ; for it is he who must go for the money, and give your 
 people possession of the castles and town." " Well," replied the 
 duke, " let his irons be taken off, and put them in an apartment to- 
 gether : I shall look to you for the performance of the treaty, as I do 
 not wish to see them ; and, when I shall have slept a little, ioturn to 
 me again, and we will talk more on the subject." " Very v\ ell, my 
 lord," said the lord de Laval, and quitted the chamber, accompanied 
 by two knights, who conducted him to the place where the lord de 
 Beaumanoir was confined. He was in hourly expectation of being 
 put to death • and, when the door opened (as he owned afterwards,) 
 he thought they were come to lead him to execution. On seeing the 
 lord de Laval, his spirits were raised, and still more when he said, 
 " Lord de Beaumanoir, rejoice : your liberty is granted." On this 
 his fetters were taken off, and he was led into an apartment, whither 
 the constable was also conducted, and placed between them. Wine 
 and plenty of provision were brought, and the whole of the household 
 were much pleased when they heard how matters were going on, 
 and that all would end well. They had very unwillingly witnessed 
 what had been done to the constable and the lord de Beaumanoir ; 
 but they could not help it, bound as they were to obey their lord's 
 orders, right or wrong. From the time the drawbridge had been 
 raised, and the gates shut, no person whatever had entered the castle 
 (for the keys were in the duke's chamber,) until he was awakened, 
 which was not sooner than nine o'clock, when he arose. This 
 alarmed those squires and varltts who were waiting without, and 
 they knew not what to think of it. News of what had passed was 
 already carried to Tr^guier, where they said, " Do you know what 
 
 * The historian of Brittany, dom Morice, mentions the following castles and places 
 wh ch the dui<e insisted on having, with the hundred tliousand francs, for the ransom 
 of the constahle: Jossehn, Lamballe, Broon, Jugon, Blein, Guingamp, La Kocheder- 
 rien, Chasteilaudren, Chsson, and Chateau-gui, which were strong places, some b©' 
 longing to the constable, and others to John of Bmtany, count de Penthievre. 
 
433 
 
 C li hi i > y i > 1. S OF ENGLAND, F K A N C E , SPAIN, & c. 
 
 has happened ? The duke of Biittany iias imprisoned, in his castle 
 of Ermine, the constable of France, the lord de Laval, and the lord 
 de Beaumanoir, and, it is supposed, will murder them, if he has not 
 already done it." Knights and squires were astonished, and deplored 
 the event, saying, " Our expedition is at an end, for we shall lose the 
 fine weather. Ah, constable ! how unfortunate you have been to 
 suffer weak counsel to deceive you. The parliament held at Vannes 
 was purposely to entrap you. Your opinion formerly of the duke 
 was such that you said, if he were to send you five hundred assu- 
 rances of safety, you would never trust yourself with him, so strong 
 were your suspicions then ; but now you simply accompany him alone, 
 and are miserably paid for it !" 
 
 The whole duchy of Brittany bewailed the 
 treatment of the constable, and knew not 
 how to act. The knights and squires of the 
 fleet said, " Why do we stay here ? why do 
 we not go and invest the duke in his castle 
 of Ermine? and, if he should have put the 
 constable to death, confine him : if he detain 
 him in prison, why do we not remain there 
 until we have set him free; for Brittany has 
 never suffered such a loss as now, by the 
 capture of the constable." Such were the 
 different conversations that passed ; but no 
 one moved, as they were waiting for further 
 mtelligence ; and all were running to differ, 
 ent quarters in search of it. Within two 
 days, the king of "France and his uncles were 
 informed of what had happened to the con- 
 stable, to their great astonishment. The 
 duke of Bourbon had then left the court and 
 was at Avignon, on his way to Castille, as 
 he was desirous of first seeing the Pope. He, 
 however, heard of it when at Lyon with the 
 coimt Savoye. The count de St. Pol, the 
 lord de Coucy, and the admiral of France, 
 were on the point of embarking at Harfleur, 
 when they learnt how the duke of Brittany 
 had, by a trick, imprisoned the constable and 
 the lord de Beaumanoir; and that it was cur- 
 rently believed in Brittany he had put them 
 to death, for he hated them mortally. These 
 lords were so astonished at the intelligence, 
 that they said, " Our expedition is at an 
 end: let us disband our men-at-arms, and 
 make for Paris, where we shall know from 
 the king what he would have us do." "It is 
 
 well that we should go to Paris," replied the admiral ; " but there is 
 not any necessity for dismissing all our men-at-arms. Perhaps they 
 may be wanted elsewhere, in Castille, whither the duke of Bourbon 
 is gone, or in Brittany against this duke. Do you imagine the king of 
 France will quietly suffer what he has done ? No, by God : he will 
 never escape without losing two hundred thousand florins at least, for 
 the indignity he has shown a constable of France ; and he will be 
 lucky if he come off so well. Was ever anything heard or seen like 
 this conduct, which has ruined the king's expedition, and prevented 
 him from annoying his enemies ? Let us stay where we are for two 
 or three days, when we shall hear something more from Brittany 
 or Paris." 
 
 CHAPTER LXIX. 
 
 THE DUKE OF BRITTANY DICTATES THE TERBtS OF THE TREATIES, FOR TIK 
 SURRENDER OF DIFFERENT PLACES BY THE CONSTABLE. THE EXPEDI- 
 TIONS FROM TREGUIER AND HARFLEUR ARE BROKEN UP. THE CON- 
 STABLE, ON HIS DELIVERANCE, MAKES HIS COMPLAINT TO THE KING OF 
 FRANCE, AND RESIGNS TO HIM HIS OFFICE OF CONSTABLE. 
 
 I WILL now return to the duke of Brittany. When he had reposed 
 a little, he arose, dressed himself, and sent for the lord de Laval to 
 his chamber, with whom he held a long conversation. A treaty was 
 then written down, as the duke dictated, to bind the constable to the 
 complete surrender of the places before mentioned, and to settle them 
 on the duke and his heirs, absolutely and without appeal, which 
 treaty was to be sealed by the constable. 
 
 The lord de Beaumanoir was ordered by the constable to go to 
 his castles and town, to dismiss all his officers, and give possession 
 to those whom the duke might send thither. With the surrender of 
 all these places, it was necessary, likewise, to pay down one hundred 
 thousand francs. On the gates being opened, the lord de Beauma. 
 noir departed, accompanied by some of the duke's people, to fulfil 
 the orders of the constable, who entreated him to make all speed for 
 his deliverance. By them Vannes and the country, which was be- 
 ginning to be in motion, learnt that the constable was not in danger 
 of his life, having been ransomed. All those attached to him were 
 greatly rejoiced ; and such knights and squires as had taken it up the 
 most warmly remained quiet ; but, had mattei-s been otherwise, they 
 ■were determined to surround the castle of Ermine and inclose the 
 duke within it, and would never have done anything with more wil- 
 lingness. News is soon spread abroad, on wings more speedy than 
 
 »the wind. The three barons of Haiflcur were informed tha^ the 
 constable was out of danger of being murdered, but that he had very 
 narrowly escaped ; and was obliged, to save his life, to surrender 
 three of his castles and a town, be&ides paying down as a ransom 
 one hundred thousand francs. In their conversation, they said, 
 " Things now go well, since his life is safe : as for his castles and 
 ransom, the constable will soon regain them ; and the king has 
 enough for him, should he want any money. It is over : our expe. 
 dition is put an end to ; and we may now disband cur people and go 
 to Paris, to learn from the king wh t is to be done ; for we know 
 that all the armaments at Truguier a e countermanded, which is a 
 sure sign that nothing will be attempted this season, and with rea. 
 
 Lord Beaumanoir PAYING the Ransom of the Constable de Clisson. 
 
 MS. Froissart of the 15th century. 
 
 -Designed from HarJ. MS. S469 and a 
 
 son; for the constable will be. solely occupied to revenge himself for 
 the insult the duke of Brittany has put upon him." These three 
 lords, having dismissed all the men-at-arms and cross-bows that were 
 in and about Harfleur, took the road for Paris, where the king re. 
 sided. The lord de Beaumanoir was so active, that, within four 
 days, he put the duke's officers in the possession of the three castles 
 and the town of .Tugon, to the satisfaction of the duke. He after- 
 wards collected the amount of the ransom, and paid it according to 
 the duke's pleasure. When this was all done, the lord de Laval said 
 to the duke, " My lord, you have now received the whole of your 
 demands : the three castles and Jugon, and one hundred thousand 
 francs, deliver up to me, therefore, my brother-in-law, the constable." 
 " Willingly," replied the duke: " let him depart: I give him his 
 liberty." The constable was then given up, and instantly set out, 
 with the lord de Laval, from the castle of Ermine.* # 
 
 When they were at liberty, the constable m.ade no long stay in 
 Brittany, but, mounting a good courser, and attended solely by a 
 page, made such haste, as to arrive at Paris in two days. He die. 
 mounted at his own hdtel, and instantly waited on the king and his 
 uncles at the Louvre. His servants and equipage followed him in 
 handsome array. The court had already been informed of his de- 
 liverance, but they knew not that he was so near. The doors of 
 the king's apartments were, according to orders, opened to him ; and, 
 when in the presence of the king, he cast himself on his knees, and 
 said, " Most redoubted lord, your father (may God pardon his sins) 
 appointed me constable of France, which office 1 have truly executed 
 
 * This conduct of the duke of Brittany is differently related by dom Morice, the his- 
 torian of Brittany, hy which it appears that the constable very narrowly escaped death. 
 
 The duke called to him sir John de Bazvalen. in whom he had the greatest confidence, ( 
 and ordered him to put the constable to death, at midiiiglit, as privately as possible. 
 Bazvalen represented in vain the consequences that would ensue, for the duke said he 
 hnd resolved on it. and would have it done. Durin? the night, his passion being calmer, 
 he repented having given such orders, and, at daybreak, sent for Bazvalen, and asked 
 if his orders had been obeyed. On being answered in the athrmative, the duke cried out, 
 " How, is Clisson dead?" " Yes, my lord: he was drowned tJiis night, and his body 
 is buried in a garden." "Alas!" replied the duke, "this is a most pitiful good-morrow. 
 Would to God, sir John, I had believed what you urjied against it. I see that from 
 henceforward all comf .rt is lost to me. Quit my presence, and never agani let me se« 
 your face." After the knight had allowed him to suffer for some time the pains of his 
 remorse, he returned and said. " My lord, as I know the cause of your misery. I believe 
 I can provide a remedy ; for there is a cure for all thmes." •' Not for death," replied 
 the duke. Bazvalen then told him, that foreseeing the consequences and the remorse be 
 would feel if his ordere, then given from passion, were obeyed, he had not executed his 
 commands, and that the constable was alive. The lord de Lavai tkn «atered ood tb» 
 remaiuder is nearly as Froissart relates it 
 
CHRONICLES O F E. N G L 
 
 to the best of my abilities, and there never has been any complaint 
 made against me. If any one, excepting yourself and my lords your 
 uncles, shall say to the contrary, or that I have acted otherwise than 
 most loyally toward you and the crown of France, I will throw him 
 my glove for him to prove it." Neither the king nor any other person 
 made reply to this speech. Upon v/hich the constable added, " Most 
 noble lord and king, it has happened in Brittany, that while I was 
 executing the duties of your office, the duke had me arrested and 
 cmfmed in his castle of Ermine ; and would have pat me to death, 
 without any other cause than his own outrageous will, if God, and 
 brother de Laval, had not assisted me. To deliver myself from liis 
 hands, I was constrained to surrender to him three strong castles and 
 a handsome town, besides one hundred thousand francs paid down. 
 The insult and loss, which the duke of Brittany has put on me, most 
 , nearly concerns your royal majesty ; for the invasion of England, 
 which I and my companions were eager to attempt, is now put an 
 end to. I therefore resign into your hands the office of co-nstable, 
 for you to make such provision in the matter as you may please : I 
 will not longer hold what I cannot gain any honor by." 
 
 " Constable," replied the king, " we have before heard the great 
 insult you have suffered, which has been very much to our prejudice 
 as well as that of the country. We shall summon our peers of France, 
 and consider how we should act in such a case. Do not you trouble 
 yourself about the matter; for you shall have ample justice done by 
 us, whatever may be the consequence." He then took the constable 
 by the hand, and made him rise, saying, " Constable, we will not 
 that you thus resign your office, but that you continue to exercise its 
 functions until we order otherwise." The constable again flung him- 
 self on his knees and said, " Dear sir, the insult and disgrace I have 
 suffered from the duke of Brittany oppresses my mind so much, that 
 I am unfit to hold the office, which is so considerable, that it requires 
 the utmost attention. I am, besides, obliged to give answers, and 
 converse with all manner of persons who come to me on business ; 
 and, indeed, at this moment, I am not capable of giving the orders 
 I ought : I beg of you, therefore, to accept it, and appoint another 
 for a time ; for I shall be always ready and willing to obey your com- 
 mands." " Well, sir," said the duke of Burgundy, " he offers very 
 handsomely : you will consider of it." " That I will," replied the 
 king, who again made him rise. 
 
 The constable advanced respectfully toward the dukes of Berry 
 and Burgundy, to converse with them on public affairs, and to inform 
 them more particularly of what had passed in Brittany ; for they were 
 much interested in it, as they had the government of the kingdom. 
 In the course of his conversation, the constable found they were 
 more indifferent about the matter, than the king's answer made him 
 believe ; for they greatly blamed him for haviiog gone to Vannes. 
 He replied, he could not offer any excuses for it. The duke of Bur- 
 gundy added, " How could you think of going thither, when your 
 fleet, and the knights and squires, were ready, and waiting for you 
 at Tr^guier ? Besides, when you were at Vannes, and had dined 
 vv'ith him, why did you not return ? for you had no business to re- 
 main their longer ; and what could have induced you to attend him 
 to his castle of Ermine?" " My lord," replied the constable, " he 
 showed me so many attentions that I could not refuse it." " Con- 
 stable," said the duke of Burgundy, " such attentions are always de- 
 ceitful : I thought you had been more cunning. You may now go : 
 the business shall have a favorable end ; and we will, at our leisure, 
 attend to it." The constable next addressed himself particularly to 
 the duke of Berry, but soon discovered that these lords were more 
 indifferent about him than the king, for not having acted according 
 to their expectations : he therefore left the Louvre, and returned to 
 his hotel. Many great lords of the parliament and council came 
 thither to visit and comfort him : among the number were, the count 
 de St. Pol, the lord de Coucy and the admiral of France, who said, 
 " Constable, be not cast down : you shall be amply revenged on the 
 duke of Brittany, for he has now committed himself so strongly by 
 the insult offered France that he may pay for it by the loss of his 
 duchy. Go, and amuse yourself at your estate of Montlehery,* 
 while we act for you here : the peers of France are summoned, 
 and things shall not remain as they are." The constable followed 
 their advice, and went to Montlehery, having for a time surrendered 
 his office. It was said, that the lord Guy de la Tremouille was to 
 succeed him ; but it was not so : he was too prudent and wise ever 
 to have accepted it over the head of sir Oliver de Clisson. 
 
 CHAPTER LXX. 
 
 THE DtJKE OP GUELDRES SENDS A CHALLENGE TO FRANCE IN FAVOR OF 
 
 ENGLAND. 
 
 The same week in which the news came to Paris of the consta. 
 ble's imprisonment, there was intelligence from Germany highly dis- 
 pleasing to the king, his uncles, and the council. The duke of 
 Gueldres, son to the duke of Juliers, had entered into an alliance 
 with England, to make war on France, and had accepted of a sub- 
 sidy of four thousand francs yearly. This pension his father, the 
 duke of Juliers, formerly possessed, but had renounced it ; and the 
 
 ♦Montlehery, a town in the isle of France, seven leagues from Pans. 
 
 AND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 433 
 
 son, who was young, had taken it, at the solicitations of the king of 
 England and his council, on condition ho should send his challenge 
 to the king of France, and carry on a war against him to the utmost 
 of his power. He was the more inclined to support the English be 
 cause he was already at war with the duchess and country of Bra. 
 bant, which country was favorable to France, for the reversion of it 
 would fall to the duke of Burgundy and to his children. The duke 
 of Gueldres, to show he was in earnest and determined to act against 
 France, sent, during the time the news of the constable'.-; misfortune 
 was fresh, to defy the king of France, by letters sealed with his seal, 
 that were very bitter and wrathful. They were not accepted with 
 pleasure by the king nor hi.s uncles, as l' shall explain hereafter in 
 the course of this history, when I speak nu)re fully of the wars ui 
 Brittany and Gueldres. 
 
 The king, however, showed no outward signs of dissatisfacti(ni, 
 but handsomely entertained tlie squire who had brought this chal- 
 lenge. He had been very much terrified at Tournay ; for, having 
 shown the challenge to the provost and principal inhabitants, he 
 wanted not to gd further, saying, that it was fully sufficient to have 
 delivered his commission at so grand a city as Tournay. This did 
 not satisfy the provost, though Tournay belonged to France, and hi 
 arrested the squire and had him closely confined : he then wrote to 
 the duke of Burgundy, to say what he had done, and to know hia 
 further commands on the subject. The duke ordered the provost to 
 conduct the squire to Paris, who certainly thought that now he could 
 not escape death. It fell out otherwise, for the king, his uncles, 
 and the court, graciously received him ; and the king of France 
 gave him a silver goblet weighing four marcs, with fifty francs within 
 it. He was well entertained, and, when he returned, had a good 
 passport given to him. The king and the whole court were much 
 troubled on this matter, when the constable arrived to make his com. 
 plaints against the duke of Brittany ; and this increased it, for, it 
 was now apparent, difficulties were arising on all sides, and much 
 prudence and good sense would be necessary to meet them. The 
 king and his council, notwithstanding this vexation from Gueldres. 
 were unwilling that the constable, who had so faithfully served tho 
 king in Flanders and elsewhere, should not have redress for th« 
 wrongs he had suffered from the duke of Brittany, by confining hi? 
 person and seizing his castles and towns, without a shadow of right. 
 The lord de Coucy and the admiral were particularly active in thif 
 business. 
 
 We will return to the duke of Lancaster and the king of Portu- 
 gal, who were carrying on a prosperous war in Galicia, and speak 
 of their operations. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXI. 
 
 TWO BRETON CAPTAINS, HAVING VALIANTLY DEFENDED THE TOWN OF 
 ORENSE against THE DUKE OF LANCASTER, CAPITULATE ON TER31S OF- 
 FERED By THE ENGLISH. . 
 
 You have heard that the king and queen of Portugal were present 
 at the tilt between sir John Holland and sir Reginald de Roye, at 
 Enten§a. The king, before he departed, told the duke of Lancaster, 
 that on his return to Oporto, he would, within six days, take the 
 field, for that his men were now quite ready. The duke ordered the 
 lady Constance, his duchess, to remain at Saint Jago, under the 
 guard of the lord Fitzwalter, a powerful English baron, with one 
 hundred men-at-arms and two hundred archers, saying, on his quit- 
 ting Enten^a, " Lady, you will retire to the city of Compostella, 
 while the king of Portugal, myself, and army, seek our enemies in 
 Castille, and combat them wherever we may find them ; and we 
 shall then know if ever we be to possess any part of Castille." The 
 lady replied, " God's will be done." They then separated for the 
 present. The duchess was escorted out of danger by sir Thom.as 
 Percy and sir Evan Fitzwarren, with two hundred spears, who then 
 returned to the duke. He had left Enten9a, and was marching to- 
 ward a city in Galicia, called Orense, which would not acknow- 
 ledge his claim to the crown. The place was strong, and had a 
 garrison of Bretons, who had undertaken the defence at their own 
 risk ; and, as they expected the duke and his Enghsh would come 
 thither, they had greatly added to its strength. The marshal of the 
 army had received frequent information, that those of Orense had 
 refused obedience to the duke, and were daily increasing the fcrtifi. 
 cations of the place : he therefore, in conjunction with tlie consta- 
 ble, sir John Holland, advised the duke to march thither. 
 
 When the army was tolerably near, it was halted and quartered 
 thereabout. The first night was very fine, and so wondrous hot (for 
 it was about Ascension day,) that the lords had their tents and pavil- 
 ions pitched in the plain, under the beautiful olive-trees which were 
 there. They remained within them all the night and following day, 
 thinking the town would instantly surrender, without waiting to be 
 assaulted. The townsmen would willingly have done so, if they had 
 been the masters, but som.e adventurous Bretons governed it. Two 
 gallant captains from lower Brittany, one called the bastard d'Aul- 
 roy, the other Pennefort, were the commanders. They v,'ere go jd 
 men-at-arms, as it appeared, when they undertook to defend the 
 town of Orense, without other assistance, against the army of the 
 duke of Lancaster. On the third day, the English having well ex. 
 amiaed the place, to choose the weakest parts for their attacks, the 
 
434 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 constable, the marshal, and the admiral, ordered their trumpets to 
 .>ound for the assault. The army then armed itself and assembled 
 ■ ■n the plain, when it was formed in four divisions, to make as many 
 different attacks. They marched slowly and in handsome array, 
 >vith trumpets sounding before them, as far as the ditches, and 
 i alted. There was not any water in them ; but there was a strong 
 i^alisade in front of the walls, and so many thorns and brambles, 
 liiat no man-at-arms could pass through. The a"ttack, however, com. 
 inenced at four places ; and men-at-arms and lusty varlcts crossed the 
 ditches with hatchets on their wrists, with which they cleared away 
 the thorns, to the utmost of their power. The Galicians annoyed 
 them with lanching darts ; and, had they not been well shielded, num- 
 bers must have been killed or wounded ; but those men-at-arms, who 
 entered the ditch, were defended by their servants, bearing shields 
 before them. The English archers made such good use of their bows, 
 from the top of the ditch, that scarcely any dared to appear on the 
 bulwarks. 
 
 The duke of Lancaster came to view the attack, mounted on a 
 very tall horse, which the king of Portugal had given him, and to 
 notice those who behaved well, and was so delighted, that he stayed 
 upward of three hours. All the thorns and brambles were cleared 
 away by this first attack, so that the palisades might be approached. 
 The retreat was sounded ; for the duke said to the marshal, " Our 
 men, sir Thomas, have done enough for to-day : let them" retire, for 
 they must be fatigued." " My lord, I am willing it should be so," 
 replied the marshal, and ordered the retreat. The army returned to 
 its quarters, carrying with them the dead and wounded, and there 
 passed the night. They had plenty of wine, but it was so hot they 
 could scarcely drink it; and, unless mixed with a great deal of 
 water, those who made too free with it were rendered unfit for any- 
 thing the ensuing day. On the morrow, they determined, in council, 
 that, on account of the excessive heat, the fatigues the army had suf. 
 fered, and the consequences of their having drank too much of this 
 wine, there should not be any attack made the whole day ; but that, 
 on the next day, they would renew the assault before sunrise, in the 
 cool of the morning, until eight o'clock. Orders were issued for the 
 army to remain quietly in camp, and no one to arm until the trumpet 
 o( the marshal sounded. 
 
 The duke of Lancaster received this day intelligence from the king 
 of Portugal. He had left Oporto, and was on his march toward San- 
 tarem ; for he intended to enter Castille by that frontier, and the 
 armies to join on the river Duoro, and besiege Benevente or Vilal- 
 pando. Such was the plan of the king of Portugal, if, indeed, the 
 king of Castille and his French allies, who were daily increasing, 
 did not march fo oppose him. Should they make no opposition, nor 
 show any signs of offering battle, it was necessary the junction of 
 the two armies be made as soon as possible. The duke was so well 
 pleased with this news as to give the bearer of it ten nobles. On 
 the appointed day for the renewal of the attack, the marshal's trum- 
 pet sounded at the first dawn of the morning. Knights and squires 
 made instantly ready, and posted themselves under their banners 
 and pennons ; but it was upward of an hour before they were all 
 drawn up. The duke remained in his pavilion, and did not rise 
 thus early, for there was not any need of it. The marshal advanced 
 into the plain, knowing well the duties of his office ; and those 
 ordered for the attack placed themselves under his pennon. News 
 was spread through Orense, that the English were marching to the 
 assault : for the Bretons on guard had discovered it from the sound- 
 ing of the marshal's trumpet. The men and women of the town 
 were on the alert ; and the Bretons cried to them : " Hasten to the 
 bulwarks : be men of courage, and not frightened at what you may 
 see ; we are not frightened ; for we know the place is very strong, 
 and we have plenty of darts, and well-tempered lances, to repulse 
 our enemies, besides stones and flints to cast down on them : we 
 know, aho, that should we be hard pushed, they will receive us 
 favorably; and that is the worst we can suffer." "By God," said 
 the captains who were present, " we have been in many weaker 
 places than this, and were never the worse for it." The Galicians, 
 whether they would or not, took courage from the exhortations of 
 the Bretons. This would not have been the case if the Bretons had 
 not been in the town ; for they would have surrendered on the first 
 summons. To say the truth, the common people of Castille and 
 Galicia are good for nothing in war ; they are badly armed, and of 
 poor courage. The nobles, who call themselves gentlemen, are tol- 
 erably well ; but they like better to prance about, spurring their hor- 
 ses, than to be engaged in more serious matters. 
 
 The English arrived about sunrise before Orense, and, having 
 entered the ditch, which, though dry, was deep enough, advanced to 
 the palisades, with hatchets and iron bars, and began to break down 
 and level them. When this was done, they had still another ditch 
 to cross, before they could approach the wall, which was as wide as 
 the other, and many parts full of mud ; but they were indifferent to 
 this, and rushing into it, came to the walls. Those on the battlements 
 Were not dismayed at what they saw, but defended themselves 
 valiantly. They lanched darts at the enemy, the stroke of which is 
 very deadly; and it required strong armor to resist their blows. 
 The English, having prepared ladders the preceding day, had them 
 brought and fixed to different parts of the walls ; and you would 
 have seen knights and squires, eager for i«nown, ascend them with | 
 
 targets on their heads, and fight, sword in hand, with tlie Bretons* 
 who, in truth, deiended themselves gallantly ; for I h<ild such ccxi- 
 duct valorous, in allowing themselves to be so ol ten attacked, know- 
 ing well they should not have assistance from any quarter. The 
 king of Castille and the French knights had deternnned to permit 
 the English to overrun Galicia, or any other parts, if they could, 
 without offering them the chance of a general combat, and with Hiia 
 the Bretons had been made acquainted. 
 
 Some of the English said : " Ah, if all the towns in Castille givr 
 us as much trouble as this, we shall never have done." Others rn 
 plied: "There is much to b? pillaged within it, that has been 
 brought thither from all parts ; and it is this which induces them to 
 make so obstinate a resistance, that they may surrender on terms, 
 and preserve their wealth and merchandise from being plundered." 
 Some asked : " Who are the captains ?" " They arc two bastard 
 Bretons, good men-at-arms, who know what sieges and assaults are, 
 for they have been at many. Their names are the bastard de Pen 
 nefort and the bastard d'Aulroy," " Whoever they may be, thev 
 are valiant fellows thus to hold out, without any appearance of succo** 
 coming to them." Those who mounted the ladders were sometimes 
 repulsed so severely, as to be tumbled to the ground, which caused 
 much shouting among the Castillians. When the duke of Lancaster 
 was risen and had heard mass, he said he would go and view th^ 
 attack. He mounted a courser, but unarmed, and had his pennon, 
 that was emblazoned with the arms of Castille, England, and France, 
 borne before him, which fluttered in the wind, so that the extremities 
 touched the ground. On the duke's arrival, the besiegers exerted 
 themselves the more, in order to be noticed and praised. The 
 enemy, observing the pennon, knew the duke was come, and they 
 also gained courage to continue the defence. Thus were both par- 
 ties employed until it was eiglit o'clock; and there did not seem any 
 probahility that Orense would speedily be won by such attacks. 
 The duke asked who were the captains of the garrison. On their 
 heing named, he said : " Tell the marshal to treat with them ; c 
 send some one to know if they be willing to enter into a negotiation 
 for surrendering the town, and placing it under our obedience. I 
 do not believe that question has been put to them. Go," added he, 
 to one of his knights, " sir William, and bring the marshal to speak 
 with me." 
 
 The knight left the duke, rode to the marshal, and said : " Sir 
 Thomas, my lord wishes to speak with you." The marshal went to 
 him ; and, when in his presence, the duke said : " P»Iarshal, do j'ou 
 know whether these Bretons, who hold the place agai)ist us, would 
 be willing to put themselves under our obedience ? We are fa- 
 tiguing and wounding our men, and wasting our ammunition, when 
 we know not how soon we may be in greater want of it. I there- 
 fore beg you will go, and inform them you are willing to treat." 
 " My lord," replied sir Thomas, " I will cheerfully do so ; and since 
 you wish to show them mercy, it is just they should be heard." 
 The marshal then returned to the assault, and, calling to him a he- 
 rald, said : " Go, and manage to speak with the besieged ; our men 
 will make way for thee ; and tell them I am willing to enter into a 
 treaty." The herald said he would do so, and entered tlic ditch 
 clothed in a coat of arms which had belonged to the duke of Lan- 
 caster, saying, " Open your ranks, and make way for me : I am sent 
 by the marshal to parley with these Bretons." As he said this, they 
 made room for him to pass. The bastard d'Aulroy, seeing him push 
 through the crowd, for he had observed from, the ramparts what had 
 passed between him and the marshal, advanced on the battlements, 
 and, showing himself, said : " Herald, what is it you want ? I am 
 one of the captains in this town, with whom I fancy you come to 
 speak." " It is so," jeplied the herald, whose name was Percy : 
 "my lord marshal bids you come to the barriers, for he is desirous to 
 parley and treat with you." " I will do so," said the bastard, " if 
 he will order the attack to cease and his men to retire, otherwise not." 
 " I believe you," answered the herald, and returned to relate his 
 answer to the marshal. The marshal called his trumpet, and said : 
 " Sound the retreat ;" which was done, and the assault ceased on 
 all sides. Upon this, the captains in the town passed the gates, and 
 came to the barriers, where they met the constable, sir John Hoi- 
 land, the marshal, and many others of the English. "How, my fair 
 sirs," said the marshal, " can you think of thus holding out and suf. 
 fering yourselves to be taken by storm, by which you may probably 
 be slain, and for certain will lose all. We know well that the towns, 
 men are very willing to surrender to our lord and lady, and would 
 long ago have done so, if you had not been with them. You may 
 repent of it; for, let happen what will, we shall never'dcpart hence 
 until the place be ours by fair means or foul. Consult together, and 
 then come with your answer, for I have full powers to treat with 
 you." 
 
 "^ir," replied the bastard Aulroy, " we have already consulted 
 and formed our resolution. If you will consent that we, and what 
 belongs to us, be conducted in safety to Vilalpando, or whereverelse 
 we may please to go, we will surrender the town ; but the inhabit- 
 ants of both sexes, who may choose to remain in it, shall be per- 
 mitted so to do, without any risk or molestation, provided they sub- 
 mit themselves to the duke and duchess of Lancaster, as other towns 
 in Galicia have done. We know that you are the marshal of the 
 anny, part <»f whose oflice is to enter into treaties with an enemy, 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 N D , FRANCE, S F A i iN , Sec. 
 
 435 
 
 and likewise that the duke will ratify whatever engagements you 
 may enter into." "That is true," ansvv^ered sir Thomas: "now 
 suppose I consent to all you have asked, I will not that the town be 
 pillaged, under pretence of it3 wealth having been gained from the 
 adjacent country, for that would cause riots between your men and 
 ours." "Oh, no," said the bastard: "we will only carry away 
 what is cur own : but, if any of our men shall have taken or bought 
 anything without paying, v/e will not enter int.) any dispute on that 
 account. With regard to provisions, I do not believe our men have 
 paid one penny since they have been here in garrison." " As for 
 that," replied the marshal, "it is nothing: it is an advantage our 
 men will take as well as yours : but I speak of moveables." " Sir," 
 answered the bastard d'Aulroy, " we have not our men under such 
 command but that some will transgress." Sir John Holland now 
 interfered, and said : " Let them pass: what they have got belongs 
 to them : we shall not be so strict as to search their trunks." " Be 
 it so, then," said the marshal. 
 
 Everything was now settled, and they were to march away on the 
 morrow. The English returned to their quarters to disarm, and re. 
 fresh themselves with what they had brought. The Bretons em- 
 „ployed the whole day in packing up the great plunder they had made, 
 even from CastiUe, for the king had abandoned the Vv^hole country to 
 them, which enriched prodigiously the first comers. While thus 
 employed, they seized from the inhabitants of Orense whatever they 
 could conveniently lay their hands on, such as furs, cloth, and jewels ; 
 and when the poor people said : " Gentlemen, this belongs to us ; 
 you did not bring it hither they answered, " Hold your tongues, 
 ye wicked people : we have a commission from the king of Castillc 
 to pay ourselves. We have served you faithfully and valiantly : you 
 are therefore bound to increase our pay, and it is thus wc take it." 
 The next morning the marshal mounted his horse, and, actended by 
 about sixty lances, rode to the barriers of Orense, where he waited 
 awhile for the Bretons. When they came, he asked, " Are you all 
 ready ?" "Yes," they replied: "give us our passport and escort." 
 " Whither do you wish to go ?" " To Vilalpando.'" ■" It is well," 
 replied the marshal : " here is your escort :" and, calling to him an 
 English knight whose narne was Stephen Eastbury> said, " Take 
 ten of our lances, to escort these Bretons, and return to-morrow." 
 He obeyed the marshal's orders, and the Bre'oas marched awny well 
 packed and heavily laden. 
 
 When they were all gone, the marshal and his men entered the 
 town, where he was received with the greatest respect ; for they took 
 him for the duke of Lancaster, which was the reason of their humility. 
 He asked some of the townsmen, These Bretons, who are gone 
 away so heavily laden, have they carried off any of your properties ?" 
 " Of ours, my lord I yes, by God, a great deal." " And vv'hy did you 
 not complain to me ? I would have made tliem restore it." " My 
 lord, we were afraid ; for they threatened to murder us, if we said 
 one word : they are a cursed race, for there is not one but is a thief ; 
 and how can we complain when they rob one another?" The mar- 
 shal laughed, and, having paused, demanded the principal persons of 
 the town. When they arrived, he made them swear to preserve the 
 town of Orense in obedience to the duke and duchess of Lancaster, 
 in like manner to other towns in Galicia : which being done, he re- 
 newed the officers of the town, who took similar oaths. All being 
 finished, he and his com.pany drank some wine, and returned to the 
 duke of Lancaster, who was reposing under the shads of the olive- 
 trees ; for it was so very hot, neither man nor horse could withstand 
 the heat of the sun, and after eight o'clock it was impossible to go 
 abroad and forage. The greatest pleasure the duke could have re- 
 ceived would have been the information, that the king of CastiUe 
 was on his march to offer him batde ; for he was well aware he could 
 never otherwise succeed in his claim on that kingdom. He was 
 continually making inquiries hovv' the king of CastiUe was employed, 
 ani he was answered : " My lord, we learn from the pilgrinis who 
 come to Saint .Tago, that he is not making any preparations to take 
 the field, but has shut himself and his men up in garrisons. The 
 duke of Bourbon is not yet arrived, nor is there any intelligence re- 
 ceived of his comung." The duke was advised to remain but five 
 days in Orense, and then march to Zamora, and endeavor to force a 
 passage over the Duoro by the bridge. The knight, on his return 
 from escorting the Bretons to Vilalpando, was asked what vv'ere 
 the numbers in garrison; he said, "He had heard sir Oliver du 
 Guesclin was there, with one thousand spears, French and Bretons. ' 
 " It will be a good thing, my lord," said the constable and sir Thomas 
 Percy, " if we go thither and skirmish with them. Perhaps they may 
 come out, and accept our challenge, for some of them are very im- 
 patient to signalize themselves." " I agree to it," replied the duke ; 
 " let us dis'lodgc and march hence, for we can gain nothing by stay, 
 ing longer here." Orders for decampment on the morrow were 
 issued, and for the army to march toward Vilalpando, and then to 
 Zamora. 
 
 We will now say something of the king of Portugal, and what befel 
 him on his entrance into CastiUe to form a junction with the duke 
 of Lancaster 
 
 CHAPTER LXXII. 
 
 THE KINQ- OF PORTUGAL, BEING REPULSED IN IIIS ATTEMPTS TO STORM 
 THE CASTLES OF SANTAREM, BURNS THE TOWN. HE MARCHES TO PER- 
 ROL IN GALICIA. 
 
 The king of Portugal, on his departure from Oporto, left his queen, 
 his sister-in-law, and the city, under the guard of the count de No- 
 vaire, with one hundred lances, of Portuguese and Gascons who had 
 come to serve him. When the king took the field, he halted the first 
 day at the'distance of only three leagues from Oporto. On the mor 
 row, he dislodged, and marched in three battalions ; but, on account 
 of the infantry, which consisted of twelve thousand men, and the 
 baggage, he could but advance at a foot's pace. The main battalion 
 with the king followed, which was a thousand good spears, and in it 
 were don Galois, Fernando Portelet, John Fernando Portelet, Gaada- 
 loupe Fernando Portelet, and Pounass d'Acunha, sir Vasco Martin 
 d'Acunha, who bore the king's banner, John Radighos, Peter John 
 Gomez de Salnes, Joao Rodriguez de Sa,, and the mas-tcr of Avis, 
 Fernando Rodriguez de Sequeira, all great barons. The constable 
 of Portugal commanded the rear battalion, consisting of five hundred 
 spears; with him were the count d'Angouse, the count de I'Escalle, 
 le petit Danede, Mondest Radighos, Roderigo de Valconsiaux, Ange 
 Salvese de Geneve, John Ansale de Popelan, all barons and knights. 
 
 In this manner did the Portuguese continue their march toward 
 Santarem. They advanced by short marches, and halted every third 
 day : they also lay by the greater part of the day. They arrived at 
 Aljubarota, where they halted for two days, and took as many in 
 going from thence to Ourem. At last they came to Santarem, and 
 quartered themselves therein ; for they found the town had been 
 abandoned since the battle of Aljubarota, for fear of th'i Portuguese, 
 and the inhabitants had retired with their effects into CastiUe. The 
 castles, however, were well garrisoned with Bretons and Poitevins, 
 who had been sent thither for their defence. The king of Portugal 
 v/as advised to attack these castles, which were situated at each ena 
 of the town ; for he could not, in honor, pass by without attempting 
 some deeds of arms : besides, as the Castillians had conquered this 
 place from the Portuguese, they wished to try if they could recover 
 them. They had brought machines of war from Oporto, for thry 
 knew they should have need of them on their march. The king and 
 his army were quartered in and about Santarem, which is situated at 
 the entrance of CastiUe, on the Tagus. By means of this river, they 
 could have all their provision and stores conveyed to them from Ids. 
 bon or Oporto, of which they took the advantage ; for they were up- 
 ward of thirty thousand men. 
 
 The constable, with his division and one half of the commonalty 
 of Portugal, posted himself opposite the eastern castle, called la Per. 
 rade. The marshal with his battalion, and the other half of the com. 
 monalty, did the same at the opposite casde, called Callidon. Morice 
 Fonchans, an able man.at-arms, and a knight from Brittany, pom- 
 manded in la Perrade ; and sir James de Mont-merle, a knight from 
 Poitou, in Callidon. They might each have with In'm fifty lances. 
 Fifteen days passed without anything being done : their machines 
 were, indeed, pointed against the walls, and cast heavy stones ten or 
 twelve times a day, but did little damage, except to the roofs of the 
 towers, which they ruined ; but the garrisons paid no attention to this, 
 for their lodgings were v/ell arched : and no engine nor springall 
 could hurt them with any stones n'jey could throw. When the Por. 
 tuguese saw they had no hopes of success, they grew tired, and re. 
 solved to decamp and enter Galicia, to join the duke of Lancaster, 
 which would increase their strength, and the king and duke might 
 then advise together, whither to march. When they departed from 
 Santarem, they so completely burnt the town, that there did not re- 
 main a shed to put a horse in. The garrisons, seeing them depart, 
 were so much rejoiced, that they sounded their trumpets, and, with 
 other signs of joy, continued playing until the whole were out of 
 hearing. The army marched that day for Pontferrant, in Galicia, in 
 their route to Val-Sainte-Catharine, and arrived at Ferrol, which is a 
 t;>lerably strong town, and in the interest of the king of CastiUe, and 
 they halted before it. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXIII. 
 
 THE KING OF PORTUGAL, NOT BEIN!.? ABLE TO TAKE FERROL BY STORM, 
 GAINS IT BY AN AMBUSCADE, AND PUTS IT UNDER THE OBEDIE.VCE Of 
 THE DUKE OF LANCASTER. 
 
 The king of Portugal and his army found a plentiful country ni 
 Ferrol, which they surrounded ; and the constable and marshal taid, 
 they would storm it, as it was to be taken. They were two days, 
 however, without making any attempt, for they expected that it 
 would surrender without an assault, but they wore mi-.-t:iken; for 
 there were in it some Bretons and Burgundians, who said they Wduld 
 defend it to the last. The machines were brought forth on the third 
 day, and the marshal's trumpets sounded for the atcack, when all 
 made themselves ready, and advanced to the walls. The men-at- 
 arms in Ferrol hearing the trumpets, knew that they shoidd be stormed, 
 and made preparations accordingly. They armed themselves, and 
 all men capable of defence, and ordered the women to gather and 
 bring to them stones, to throw down on the enemy. You ra,ust know, 
 
436 
 
 C H M O N I C L E S OF EN G L A 
 
 N D , FRANCE, SPAIN, & c . 
 
 that the women in Galicia and Castillo are of good courage to de- 
 tend themselves, ajul equally useful as the men. The Portuguese 
 marched in handsome array to the ditches, which, though deep, were 
 dry, and merrily entered them. They began to ascend the opposite 
 !>ank with much courage, but were sorely treated, unless well shielded, 
 -y those of the town, who, from the walls, cast down on them stones 
 :nd other things, that wounded and killed several, and forced them 
 t > retreat whether they would or not. There was much throwing 
 of darts on both sides ; and thus lasted the attack until eight o'clock, 
 when the day became exceedingly hot, without the least wind or 
 breeze, insomuch that those in the ditches thought they should be 
 burnt : this heat was so excessive, that the attack was put an end to, 
 though the machines cast stones into the town merely for the chance 
 of success. The Portuguese retired to refresh themselves, and attend 
 to the wounded. The marshal resolved not to renew the attack but 
 by his machines, for otherwise it would cost too many lives ; and to 
 skirmish at the barriers, to amuse the young knights, and enure them 
 to deeds of arms. This being settled, there were, almost daily, skir- 
 mishes at the barriers ; and these within the town were accustomed 
 to post themselves without the gates, between them and the barriers, 
 the better to engage their enemies. 
 
 Sir Alvarez Pereira, the marshal of Portugal, who was subtle, and 
 h id been long used to arms, observing this conduct, planned upon it 
 fill ambuscade. Opening himself to don .Tuan Fernando, he said, 
 " I see these soldiers, when skirmishing, sometimes venture beyond 
 the gates : I have formed a plan, which, if you will assist me to exe. 
 cute, I think we may discomfit them. I propose that we form an 
 ambuscade, as near the barriers as possible, of five or six hundred 
 men, well mounted, and then commence a skirmish, as usual, but in 
 no great number ; and retreat by degrees, the moment they seem 
 willing to pass their barriers, which I think mo' fivarice and eager- 
 ness will induce them to do. We must then turn •••out and attack 
 them lustily, and the ambuscade will gallop between them and the 
 gates. The garrison will now be alarmed, and hasten to order the 
 ^ates to be opened, and whether they will or not, we shall enter the 
 place with them. But should the townsmen refuse to open the gates, 
 all those who are without must be our prisoners." " It is well im- 
 agined," replied don Juan. " Well," said the marshal, " do you 
 command one party, and I will take the other. You, sir Martin de 
 Mello, and Pounass d'Acunha, shall have the ambuscade, and I 
 will skirmish, as that is part of my office." This plan was adopted, 
 and five hundred men, well armed and mounted, were chosen to form 
 the ambuscade. 
 
 For three days there had not been any skirmishing, to the surprise 
 of the garrison, who said to the inhabitants : " See, wicked people 
 as ye are, ye wanted to auirender to the king of Portugal without 
 striking a blow, and would have done so, if we had not been here 
 to defend the honor of your town ; this we have so successfully done, 
 that the king of Portugal is on the eve of his departure, without hav- 
 ing effected anything." 
 
 On the fourth day, according to what had been laid down, the 
 marshal advanced to the skirmish with but few followers : the great 
 ambuscade remained behind. The Bretons, eager to make rich 
 prisoners, having already captured six, seeing the Portuguese at the 
 barrierg, had the gales opened, which they left unfastened, in case of 
 failure (for they had no greax dependence on the townsmen,) and the 
 wicket wide open, and sallied forth to skirmish with darts and lances, 
 as is usual in such combats. The marshal, when he saw the time 
 was come, made his men wheel, and act as if they were tired, re. 
 treating by degrees. Those within ^he place, observing this, and 
 thinking they should make prisoners of them all, opened the whole 
 of the barriers, sallied forth, and, falling on the Portuguese, captured 
 five-and-twenty. In the struggle and pursuit, the Bretons never 
 thought of closing the barriers ; and the marshal now made his sig- 
 nal for the ambuscade to advance, which it did full gallop, and, by 
 getting between the Bretons and the place, made themselves masters 
 of the barriers. The French and Bretons now hastened to reenter 
 the gates, but it was of no avail, for the Portuguese entered with them ; 
 and thus was the town won. Very few were slain, and the soldiers 
 in garrison were made prisoners, except ten or twelve, who escaped 
 by a postern gate, and went to Vilalpando, where sir Oliver du Gues- 
 clin was in garrison, with one thousand French lances at least, and 
 these runaways related to him how Ferrol had been lost. In this 
 manner was the town won by the Portuguese, and put under the 
 obedience of the duke of Lancaster, for whom they made war. 
 The king of Portugal was much pleased at the success of his men, 
 and instantly sent intelligence of it to the duke, adding, he had greatly 
 increased his inheritance by the capture of a town ; and that he and 
 his army were desirous and active to conquer the rest. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXIV. 
 
 THE ARMY OP THE DUKE OF LANCASTER COMES BEFORE NOYA IN GALICIA. 
 THE ENGLISH ARE RECEIVED, AT THE BARRIERS, BY BARROIS DES BARRES 
 AND HIS COMPANIONS. 
 
 The duke of Lancaster was much rejoiced at the news from the 
 king of Portugal : he had left Orense, and was on his march toward 
 Noya, where le Barrois des Barres, sir John de Chiltelmorant, sir 
 
 Tristan de la Jaille, sir Reginald de Roye, rir William dc Montigny, 
 and many other knights and squires were in garrison. When the 
 duke came within sight of the castle, the marshal said, " There is 
 Noya : if Coruna be one of the keys of Galicia toward the sea, the 
 c;istle of Noya is another toward Castille ; and whoever wishes to be 
 lord of Castille must be master nf those two places. ' Let us inarch 
 thither, for they tell me that Barrois des Barres, one of the ablest cap. 
 tains of France, is within it, and let us have some skirmiphing with 
 the garrison at the end of the bridge." " We are willing t;> do so," 
 said sir Maubrun de Linieres and sir John d'Ambreticourt, who were 
 riding by his side. The van battalion now advanced, consisting of 
 five hundred men-at-arms, for the dr.kc was dcaircus of muking a 
 good appearance to those within the castle ; and ho knew also that 
 his marshals would offer to skirmish, should they find any to accept 
 their challenge. The watch on the castle, seeing the van of the 
 English approach, began to sound his horn so agreeably, it was a 
 pleasure to hear him. 
 
 Le Barrois and his companions, to the amount of one hundred men- 
 at-arms, hearing that the English were at hand, armed themselves, 
 and, in good array, advanced to the barriers, where they drew up 
 under twelve pennons. Sir John des Barres, being the most re- 
 nowned, was the commander-in-chief, and next to him, ?ir John de 
 Cha.telmorant. When sir Thomas Moreaux, the marshal of the army, 
 found himself near the place, he halted, and, having dismounted as 
 well as his companions, they gave their horses to the pages and. ser- 
 vants, and marched in a compact body, each knight and squire with 
 his spear in hand, toward the barriers : every six paces they halted, 
 to dress themselves without opening their ranks. To say the truth, 
 it was a beautiful sight. When they were come as far as they 
 wished, they halted for a short time, and then advanced their front 
 to begin the action. They were gallantly received ; and, I believe, 
 had the two parties been in the plain, many more bold actions would 
 have taken place than it was possible to find an opportunity for where 
 they were ; for the barriers being closely chut, prevented them from 
 touching each other. The marshal hit sir John de ChS,telmorant with 
 his lance, as did sir John the marshal ; for each was eager to hurt 
 the other, but from the strength of their armor, they could not. Sir 
 Thomas Percy attacked Barrois des Barres ; Maubrun de Linieres, 
 sir William de Montigny ; sir John d'Ambreticourt, sir Reginald de 
 Roye ; the lord Talbot, sir Tristan de la Jaille ; so every man had 
 his match : and when they were fatigued or heated they retired, and 
 other fresh knights and squires renewed the skirmi-^ii. This was 
 continued until past eight o'clock : indeed, it was twelve before it 
 was entirely over. The archers next came to the barriern ; but the 
 knights withdrew, for fear of the arrows, and ordered their cross-bows 
 and Castillians to oppose them, which they did until noon, when the 
 lusty varlets continued the skirmish until sunset, and the knights then 
 returned fresh and vigorous to renew it. 
 
 Thus was the day employed until night, when the English retired 
 to their quarters, and the knights into the castle, where they kept a 
 good guard. The English were quartered about half a league Jrom 
 Noya, on the banks of the river, which was very welcome to them 
 and their horses, for they had great difficulty in procuring water on 
 their march. They intended to remain there five or six days, and 
 then march to Vilalpando, and look at the constable of Cartille and 
 the French there in garrison. They had also heard from the king 
 of Portugal, who was encamped in the plains of Ferrol, and intended 
 marching for the town of Padron,* in Galicia, which was in the line of 
 march of the English ; and I believe the king and duke were to 
 meet in this town, to confer together on the state of affliirs, and de- 
 termine on a plan for carrying on the war. They had already been 
 one month in the enemy's country, and had conquered all Galicia, 
 except one or two places, without having any intelligence of the king 
 of Castille or the French, which greatly surprised them ; for they 
 had heard that the king of Castille had issued his summons from 
 Burgos, where he resided, to all parts of Castille, Seville, Cordova, 
 Toledo, Leon, Valladolid, Soria, and had collected sixty thousand 
 men, not including six thousand men-at-arms from France. The 
 duke of Bourbon was likewise daily expected, for he had quitted 
 Paris. 
 
 It was for this reason the English and Portugivese wanted to unite 
 their armies, to be in greater force, and better enabled to meet the 
 enemy ; for they believed all that had been told them respecting the 
 French and Castillians as true, and outwardly showed much joy 
 thereat. They would willingly have encountered theii- enemies, for 
 they were convinced they could never bring their dispute to any 
 decision without a battle. 
 
 Sir William de Lignac and sir Walter de Massac were always about 
 the king's person, and accompanied him wherever he went ; for they 
 had two or three times a week intelligence from France of what was 
 going on, and likewise from the duke of Bourbon. They were 
 waiting for him, as he had begun his journey by way of Avignon, to 
 visit the pope and cardinals ; and would not therefore offer combat 
 during his absence, nor would it have been becoming them so to do. 
 Among the news they had from France, the most surprising was the 
 account of the duke of Brittany's arrest and confinement of the con- 
 stable in the castle of Ermine, until he ransomed hnnsolf, by paying 
 
 * Ptidron Is situated on the river Ulla, four leagues to the souih\rKrd of Saint J&go ' 
 it was formerly a bishopric, but is now transfened to Saint Joft. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 437 
 
 -iown one hundred thousand francs and the surrender of three castles 
 and 'a town, by which the intended invasion of England was pre- 
 vented. They were greatly astonished, and could not imagine what 
 the duke of Brittany meant by it : they however supposed that he 
 must have been instigated thereto by the council of England. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXV. 
 
 THE KING OF FRANCE SENDS SOME OF HIS NOBLES TO DEMAND FROM THE 
 PUKE OF BRITTANY THE REASON OF THE INSULT OFFERED HIM IN THE 
 PERSON OF HIS CONSTABLE. 
 
 The court of France, more particularly the king's uncles, and the 
 principal lords, were much distressed by the defiance that was sent 
 by the duke of Gueldres ; for it was outrageous and rude, and not 
 in the common style of such challenges, as I shall explain when I 
 mention the particulars. They were likewise much vexed at the late 
 conduct of the duke of Brittany, which had broken up the expedi- 
 tion to England by the imprisonment of its leader. This had been 
 greatly prejudicial to the king, nor could they discover any cause he 
 liad to assign for such conduct. The king did not pay such attention 
 to these matters, which, considering his youth, was not to be won- 
 dered at, as if he liad been of more advanced years ; for some of the 
 lords, wl]o remembered former times, said, "That by a similar act 
 the kingdom had been much agitated, when the king of Navarre as- 
 sassinated sir Charles d'Espaign, who at the time was constable of 
 France, ior wliich king John could never afterwards bear the king 
 of Navarre, and had deprived him, as far as he was able, of all his 
 possessions in Normandy." "Do you suppose," said others, "that 
 if king Charles, the father of our king, were now alive, who loved 
 so much the constable, he would not have made the duke pay dearly 
 for this insult ? By my faith would he, and instantly have declared 
 war against him, and, cost what it would, have driven him out of his 
 duchy," Thus was the matter discussed through France, where all 
 agreed thai he had acted very ill. The king and his uncles, to pacify 
 the people, vvho were much dissatisfied, and to inquire into the 
 I grounds of this business, resolved to send a prelate, and three able 
 and prudent barons, to hear the duke's reasons, and to summon him 
 to Paris, or wherever else the king might please, to make proper 
 excuses for his conduct. Sir Milon de Dormans, bishop of Beauvais, 
 was nominated as principal : he was a most able man, of great elo- 
 quence, and was to be accompanied by sir John de Vienne, sir John 
 de Bueil, and the lord de la Riviere, who had received full instruc- 
 tions what they were to say ; but to be the more particularly in- 
 formed of what had passed, the bishop of Beauvais went to Montle- 
 hery, the residence of the constable, to learn from him the most 
 minute details. This town and castle, with its dependencies, had 
 been given to him and to his heirs by king Charles. The bishop, during 
 this visit, was seized with an illness that forced him to keep his bed, 
 and after fifteen days' struggle against the fever, it carried him off, 
 so very severe was the attack. The bishop of Langres was nomi- 
 nated in the place of tlie bishop of Beauvais, who set out, with the 
 before-mentioned barons, for Brittany. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXVI. 
 
 FROISSART MENTIONS THE PERSON FROM WHOM HE LEARNT THE ARREST 
 OF THE CONSTABLE DE CLISSON ; WHO LIKEWISE INFORMS HIM THAT 
 SIR BERTRAND DU GUESCLIN OUGHT TO BE CALLED DU GLAY-AQUIN. 
 
 I MAY, perhaps, be asked, how I became acquainted with the 
 events in this history, to speak so circumstantially about them. I 
 reply to those who shall do so, that I have, with great attention and 
 diligence, sought in divers kingdoms and countries for the facts which 
 have been, or may hereafter be, mentioned in it : for God has given 
 me grace and opportunities to see, and make acquaintance with the 
 greater part of the principal lords of France and England. It should 
 !)e known, that in the year 1390, 1 had labored at this history thirty- 
 seven years, and at thnt time I was fifty-seven years old : a man 
 may, therefore, learn much in such a period, when he is in his vigor, 
 and well-received by all parties. During my youth, I was five years 
 attached to the king and queen of England, and kindly entertained 
 in the household of king John of France and king Charles his son. 
 1 was, in consequence, enabled to hear much during those times ; 
 and, for certain, the greate^^t pleasure I have ever had, was to make 
 every possible inquiry, in regard to what was passing in the world, 
 and then to write down all that I had learnt. 
 
 I will now say from whence I heard of the arrest of the constable, 
 and the consequences that followed. I was riding about the time 
 this passed, or perhaps a year after, from Angers to Tours, and had 
 slept at Beaufort en Vallee.* On the morrow I overtook a knight 
 from Brittany, called sir William d'Ancenis, who was going to visit 
 madame de Maille in Touraine, who was his cousin, as she had lately 
 become a widow. I made acquaintance with the knight, for he was 
 courteous and obliging in speech, and inquired the news from him ; 
 more particulaidy about the imprisonment of the constable, the truth 
 of which I was eager to know. He gave me the information I 
 
 * Beaufort en Vallee— or Beaufort la Ville, a town of Anjou, on the river Authion, 
 dx leagues from Angers, sixteen from Tours. 
 
 ] wanted; for he said he had been at the parliament at Vannes, with 
 his cousin the lord d'Ancenis, a powerful baron in Brittany. In the 
 same manner as sir Espaign du Lyon told me all that passed in Foix, 
 B6arn, and Gascony, and as don Juan Ferimndo Portelet the events 
 in Castille and Portugal, did the gallant knight converse with me,anc' 
 would have continued it longer, had I rode farther in his company. 
 We had advanced four long leagues between Montlihargne and 
 Preuilly, riding at a gentle pace, when he told me many things on 
 the road respecting Brittany, which I treasured up in my memory. 
 As we were thus riding, we entered a meadow near to Preuilly, when 
 he dismounted, and said ; " Ah, may God keep the soul of the good 
 constable of France ; for he had, on this spot, a most honorable com- 
 bat, and greatly profitable to the country ; but he was not then con. 
 stable, and served under the banner of sir Juhn de Bueil, on his return 
 from the expedition into Spain." " Pray have the goodness to relate 
 it to me." " I will," said he ; " but let us remount our horses." We 
 did so, and, continuing our journey, he thus began : 
 
 "In the time I am. speaking of, this country was quite filled with 
 English, and thieves from. Gascony, Brittuny, Germany : adventu- 
 rers from all nations had fixed their quarters on both sides of the Loire, 
 for the war between England and France was renewed. A party of 
 them had fortified themselves in the castle of Beaufort en Valine ; 
 whicli you have seen, and supported themselves by plundering the 
 country all round it. But to come to the immediate object of my 
 story: sorjie English and Gascons had possessed themselves of Preu- 
 illy, and strengthened it so much, that none attempted to dislodge 
 them : they had also some other smaller forts near ; and when they 
 made any excursions, they could assem.ble between eight hundred 
 and a thousand combatants. 
 
 "The constable, sir Bertrand du Guesclin, sir John de Bueil, the 
 lord de Mailiy, and other knights, determined to deliver the country 
 from these people, and collected about five hundred spears. They 
 learnt that the English intended marching toward Saumer ; that all 
 the captains of the different forts were to unite their forces ; and that 
 the place of meeting was Preuilly, which you see before us. Our 
 men, having crossed the river, placed themselves in ambuscade, in 
 the wood below us, on the right hand. The enemy left Preuilly at 
 sunrise, to the amount of nine hundred fighting men : and when our 
 party in ambush saw them advancing, they knew a combat to be in- 
 evitable. They held a council on what should be their cry, and 
 were desirous it should be 'Sir Bertrand!' but he would not consent, 
 and declared he would not display either banner or pennon, but be 
 under that of sir John de Bueil. Our enemies entered the mead, 
 where we just now dismounted, and they had scarcely done so before 
 our men sallied out of their ambush to meet them. On seeing us, 
 being of good courage, they drew themselves up in handsome order. 
 We did the same, and both parties advanced to the combat, which 
 instantly commenced with such thrusting of lances, that many were 
 thrown down on each side. It lasted a considerable time M'ithout 
 either giving way ; but, to say the truth, we were all picked men, 
 and with the enemy were numbers badly armed and plunderers. 
 They gave us, however, full employment ; but sir Morice Trisequedy, 
 sir Geoffiy Ricon, sir Geoffiy Kerimel, and Mortbnace, joining sir 
 Bertrand du Guesclin, full gallop, reinforced us with sixty good spears, 
 whom they brought with them, and, attacking the English on horse- 
 back, threw them into a confusion they never could recover. The 
 leaders of these pillagers, perceiving the event was likely to turn out 
 unfavorable to them, mounted their horses, but not all ; for seven lay 
 dead on the field, with three hundred of their men. The pursuit 
 lasted as far as St. Maur, where sir Robert Cheney, Robert Hervey, 
 Richard Giles, and James Clerk, got into a boat, and saved them- 
 selves by crossing the Loire. They made for four castles the English 
 had on that side the river, wherein they did not long remain, but 
 hastened for Auvergne and Limousin, as they fancied the constable 
 was still at their heels. 
 
 "By this defeat, my good master, was all this country delivered 
 from pillagers, and never since that time have any Enghsh or others 
 established themselves here. I therefore say, that constable Bertrand 
 was a gallant man, and of great honor and adva itage to France, for 
 he regained large tracts of territory from her enemies." " By my 
 faith, sir, you say truly : he was indeed a very valiant man, and so 
 is sir Oliver du Guesclin." On my nammg him du Guesclin, the 
 knight laughed ; and I said, " Sir, what do you laugh at ?" "Because 
 you call him du Guesclin, which is not his proper name, nor ever was, 
 although he is generally so called, even b)' us who come from Brit- 
 tany. Sir Bertrand was during his lifetime desirous to alter this, but 
 could not ; for this word is more naturally pronounced than the one 
 he wished to substitute for it." " Pray, sir," said I, " have the kind- 
 ness to tell me if there be any great difference between them." " No, 
 God help me : the only difference is Glay-aquin instead of Glcsquin, 
 or Guesclin. I will tell you whence this surname is derived, accord, 
 ing to what I have heard the old people in Brittany say, and it is 
 certainly true, for you may find it written in the old chronicles of 
 Brittany." This speech gave me great pleasure, and I replied ; " Sir, 
 I shall think myself much obliged by your so doing ; and what you 
 say shall not be forgotten, for sir Bertrand du Guesclin was so re- 
 nowned a knight, that his reputation ought to be augmented by every 
 possible means." " That is true," said the knight, and thus began : 
 
 " In the reign of Charlemagne, that great conqueror, who added 
 
438 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENOLAiND, FRANCE, SPAIN, Sec. 
 
 so iiiiicl) to Christendom and France; for he was the emperor of 
 Rome as well as king of France and Germany ; and whose body lies 
 now lit Aix-la-Chapel'e ; this king Charles, as is seen in the ancient 
 chronicles (tor you know that all the knowledge we possess in this 
 world we owe to writing, and upon no other foundation can we depend 
 for truth but on wh:»t is contained in approved books,) was several 
 t.mis in Spain, where he once remained for nine years without re- 
 turning tv) France, but conquering all before him. At this time there 
 was a piigan king, called Aquin, who reigned over Bugia and Bar- 
 bary, that lie ojipjsite to Spain. The kingdom of Spain was very 
 considerable, if you follow its coasts from St. .lean du Pied des Ports, 
 for it then contained all Arragon, Navarre, Biscay, Oporto, Coimbra, 
 Lisbon, Seville, Cordova, Toledo, and Leon, and these formerly were 
 con ujred by this great king. During his long residence in Spain, 
 Aquin, king of Bugia and Barbary, assembled an army and embarked 
 lor Brittaiiy, where he landed at the port of Vannes. He brought his 
 wife and children with him, and, having established himself and his 
 army in the country, proceeded to make further conquests. King 
 Charles was duly informed of what was passing in Brittany ; but he 
 would not let it interfere with his present undertaking, saying ; * Let 
 him establish himself in Brittany : it will not be difficult for us to free 
 the country from him and his people ; but we will first complete the 
 conquest of this country, and submit it to the Christian faith. This 
 king, Aquin, built a handsome tower on the sea-shore near to Vannes, 
 called the Glay, wherein he took pleasure to reside. When Charle- 
 magne had accomplished his expedition to Spain by the delivery of 
 Galicia and other provinces from the Saracens, whose kings he had 
 slain, and, by driving out the infidels, had brought the whole kingdom 
 under the Christian faith ; he sailed for Brittany, and gave battle to 
 king Aquin and his adherents, with such success that the greater part 
 of the infidels were killed, and king Aquin forced to fly, in a vessel 
 that by ready prepared for him at the foot of the tower of Glay. He 
 was so hard pressed by the French, he could only embark himself, 
 his wife, and some of his family, and in the hurry forgot a young 
 child, of about a year old, that was asleep in the tower. The king 
 ha'^ing escaped, this child was brought to Charlemagne, who was 
 much pleased with him, and had him baptized. Roland and Oliver 
 were his godfathers at the font, and the emperor gave him handsome 
 presents and the lands his father had won in Brittany. This child, 
 when grown up, was a valiant knight, and called Oliver du Glay. 
 aquin, because he had been found in the tower of Glay, and was the 
 son of king Aquin. 
 
 "Such was the foundation of the family of sirBertrand du Gues- 
 clin, which, as you see, ought to be called du Glay-aquin. Sir Ber- 
 trand was used to say, that when he should have expelled don Pedro 
 from Spain and crowned don Henry de Transtarnare, he would go to 
 Biigia, as he should have only the sea to cross, and demand his in- 
 herit-ance : and would undoubtedly have executed it; for don Henry 
 would gladly have supplied him with men and ships ; but the prince 
 of Wales, by bringing back and replacing don Pedro on the throne 
 of Castille, put an end to it. Sir Berirand was made prisoner by sir 
 John Chandos, at the famous battle of Najarra, and ransomed for one 
 hundred thousand francs. He had been before ransomed by the 
 same knight, and for the like sum, at the battle of Auray. The re. 
 newal of the war between England and France put an effectual stop 
 to this African expedition, and gave him so much employment that 
 h-e could not attend to anything else. He was, nevertheless, the direct 
 issue from king Aquin, who reigned over Bugia and Barbary. Thus 
 have I traced to you the descent of sir Bertrand du Guesclin." " That 
 is true," replied I, '* and I am very thankful to you for it, which I 
 will not forget." As I said this, we arrived at Preuilly.* 
 
 CHAPTER LXXVII. 
 
 EMBASSADORS FROM THE KING OF FRANCE WAIT ON THE DUKE OF BRIT- 
 TANY RESPECTING THE ARREST OF HIS CONSTABLE. THE DUKE, HAVING 
 HEARD THEM, GIVES THEM HIS ANSWER. 
 
 If I could have been as long with sir William d'Ancenis as I was 
 with sir Espaign du Lyon, when we travelled together from Pamiers 
 lo Orthes in Beam, or with sir .Tuan' Fernando Portelet, he would 
 have tjld me many interesting things : but it could not be ; for, soon 
 after dinner, we came to two roads ; one leading to Tours, whither 
 I was bound, and the other to Mailly, which he was to follow. Here 
 then we took leave of each other, and separated ; but on our road 
 from Preuilly, before our separation, he told me many things about 
 the bishop of Langres, who had succeeded the bishop of Beauvais 
 in the embassy to the duke of Brittany with sir John de Beuil, and 
 the answer they received from the duke. Upon the authority of 
 whnt the knight said, I have written as follows : 
 
 The embassadors, having taken leave of the king and council, 
 
 * The liigli reputntion of Bertrand du Guesclin gave rise to many false reports of his 
 origiii : tlw above is one. To detect this, it is only necessary to state. 1st, There never 
 was a prince in Drittany of the name of Aquin. 2ndly, Charlemagne conquered that 
 province hy his lieutenants, and wis never there in person. 3rdly, That the original 
 name of the house of du Guesclin was not Glay-aquin, but Guarplic, a compound of 
 two Breton words, Gwar and Plic. which signifies a creek, and describes the sftuation of 
 the old (rustle du Guarplic. that was built on a creek, or gulf, in Concale bay, in the 
 parish of Siiint (Joulomb, (Mocese of Pol. 
 
 For further particulars, see I'Histoire de la Bretagne. 
 
 I continued their journey until they came to Nantes, where they in. 
 quired the residence of the duke. They were told, that he chiefly 
 I resided at or near Vannes in preference to any other place. They 
 [ left Nantes, and did not stop until they arrived at Vannes, as it is 
 only twenty leagues distant, and dismounted in the town, for the 
 duke lived in the castle called La Motte. When they had equipped 
 themselves in a manner becoming their rank, they waited on him, 
 who received them outwardly with much affection. The bishop of 
 Langres, being a prelate, was the spokesman, and harangued in a 
 handsome manner, in the presence of his two companions, sir John 
 de Vienne and sir John de Beuil, saying, " Lord duke, we are sent 
 hither by the king our sovereign, and by my lords his uncles, the 
 dukes of Berry and Burgundy, to say they are wondrously surprised 
 you should have prevented the invasion of England from taking place, 
 when on the point of sailing, and have ransomed the constable of 
 France for such an immense sum, besides seizing three of his castles 
 in Brittany and the town of Jugon,* which, should they turn against 
 the country, may seriously injure it. We are, therefore, charged to 
 order you, on the part of our sovereign lord the king, and of our 
 lords his uncles, to restore sir Oliver de Clisson, constable of France, 
 those parts of his inheritance you now withhold from him, and give 
 him peaceable possession thereof, according to justice, in the same 
 condition they were in before they v. c re surrendered up to you through 
 constraint, and not according to any just claim you had upon them, 
 and also the surn of money you have received, wholly and fully, 
 vi^herever he shall be pleased to have it paid. The king and his 
 council likewise summon you to appear at Pari?, or v-'herevcr else 
 they may direct, to excuse yourself for what you Irave done. The 
 king is so good-tempered and forbearing, that, frorn ties of blood, he 
 will readily listen to your excuses. Should they not be quite sutis. 
 factory, our lords, the dukes of Berry and Burgundy, will so fashion 
 them to tb.e utmost of their abilities, and by entreaties or otherv/ise 
 manage the matter so that you shall remain frieijd and cousi;-! to the 
 king, as it is reasonable you should be." 
 
 The bishop, turning to sir John de Vienne, said, " Do you agree 
 in my sentiinonts ?" " Yes, sir," he replied. Sir John de Bcniil 
 made a similar answer : when this passed, there were but these four 
 in the apartment. The Juke, having herird the bishop, was very 
 thoughtful, and not without reason, for the words vverc so clear t'ley 
 required no expounding. At length he s'did, "Sir, I have well heard 
 what you had to say : it was proper I should do so, as you come from 
 my sovereign lord the king of France, and my lords his uncles. I 
 arn therefore bouaden to pay you, as coming from them, every honor 
 and respect, and am willing to do so. What you have said, how. 
 ever, demands consideration ; aiid I shall take the advice of my 
 counci!, thnt I rnay give you such an answer as m.oy please you, for 
 I would not act otherwise. " You say well," replied the embassa- 
 dors, " and we are satisfied." They then took leave, and returned 
 to their hotel. Toward evening, they received an invitation from 
 the duke to dine with him on the morrow, which they accepted. 
 The next day they went to the castle, where they found the duke 
 and his knights, v^^ho received them magnificently. Shortly after 
 their arrival, basins and ewers were brought, for them to wash before 
 they sat down to table. The bishop of Langres, in respect to his 
 prelacy, was seated above all the company : next to him was the 
 duke, then sir John de Vienne and sir John de Beuil. The dinner 
 was very splendid, sumptuous, and well served : when it was over, 
 they entered into the presence-chamber, where they conversed on 
 different subjects, and amused themselves in hearing the minstrels. 
 
 The lords from France thought they should have then received 
 their answer, but were disappointed. Wine and spices were brought, 
 which having partaken of, they retired to their hotels, and remained 
 the whole evening comfortably at home. On the ensuing morning, 
 it was signified to them that the duke wished to see them at the 
 castle, whither they went ; and, being introduced to the apartment 
 where the duke was, he received them kindly, and thus spoke: 
 " My fair sirs, I know you are anxious for an answer to what you 
 have been charged to tell me from my sovereign and other lords, 
 that you may report it to them : I therefore declare, that I have done 
 nothing to sir Oliver de Clisson that I repent of, except that he has 
 escaped too cheaply and with his life : this I spared solely on account 
 of his office, and not in any manner out of personal regard ; for he 
 has behaved so very ill to me, in several instances, that I hate him 
 mortally ; and, begging my sovereign's and their graces' pardon, I 
 have not prevented the expedition to England taking place by the 
 arrest of the constable. Of this I am willing and able to exculpate 
 myself ; for the day I had him arrested, I was thinking no harm 
 against it :t it is proper to take advantage of an enemy wherever it 
 mav be found. If he had been slain, I believe the kingdom of 
 France would not have been the worse governed for having lost the 
 supposed benefit of his counsel. With regard to the castles he sur- 
 rendered to me, and of which I am in possession, I shall keep Them 
 until the king by force di-^possesses rne of them. As to the money, 
 I reply, that from the hatred of sir Oliver de Clisson, I have incurred 
 
 * Jugon must, have been a place of considerable consequence, for I believe theie is an 
 old proverb „ ^ g^g,jjgpe g^ns Jugon 
 
 A un chappe sans chaperon." 
 t The original runs, " nul mal je n'y pensoya." 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 439 
 
 debts in this and other countries, and have from this sum repaid those 
 to whom I was indebted." Such was the answer the duke of Brit, 
 tany gave to the embassadors from the king of France. Many de- 
 bates ensued, to induce the duke to send a more moderate answer ; 
 but his replies were always to the same effect as what he had before 
 spoken. When they found they could not obtain anything more, 
 they desired to take their leave, which being granted, they prepared 
 for their departure, and journeyed until they arrived at Paris ; thence 
 they went to the castle of Beaut^, near Vincennes, where the king 
 and queen resided. The dukes of Berry and Burgundy soon followed 
 thorn, as they were impatient to hear the duke of Brittany's answer, 
 which as you have heard I will not repeat. But as those sent into 
 Brittany had not succeeded in any one point, the king and council 
 were greatly displeased with the duke, and said he was the proudest 
 and must presumptuous man alive, and that matters should not re. 
 main as they were ; for the consequences would be too prejudicial 
 and disgraceful to the crown of France. It was fully the intention 
 of the king and his council to make war on the duke of Brittany. 
 
 The duke expected nothing less : for he knew he had angered the 
 king of France as well as those of his council ; but his hatred against 
 the constable was so deep, it deprived him of the use of his reason ; 
 and he sorely repented that, when in his power, he had not put him 
 
 death. Things remained in this state a considerable time. The 
 duke resided at Vannes, but seldom went abroad for fear of ambus, 
 cades : he paid great court to the principal cities and towns in the 
 duchy, and made secret treaties with the English : he also garrisoned 
 his strong places tiie same as in times of war. His opinion continu. 
 ally varied, as to what had passed : sometimes he said, he wished he 
 had not arrested the constable ; at others, to excuse himself, he de. 
 dared that Clisson had so grievously insulted him, he had good rea. 
 son for what he had done. This conduct had caused him to be 
 feared in the country ; for the lord hath small authority who is not 
 feared by his subjects ;* for whenever he pleases he may be at peace 
 with them. 
 
 We wil! now leave the duke of Brittany, and return to the affairs 
 of Engl Hid, which, at this moment, were in a troubled and danger- 
 ous state, 
 
 CHAPTER LXXVIII. 
 
 TtlE DUIIE3 OF VORK AND GLOUCESTER, UNCLES TO THE KING, CONFEDE- 
 KATE, WITH OTHEPv BARONS, AGAINST HIM AND HIS COUNCIL. THE PEO- 
 TLE ARE UISCONTENTEl) WITH THE DUKE OF IRELAND. THE LONDONERS, 
 TOROUCtII T!iE MEANS OF THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER AND IMS FRIENDS, 
 OBTAIN FROM THE KING, THAT A DAY SHOULD BE FIXED FOR THOSE 
 WHO HAD MANAGED THE FINANCES TO RENDER AN ACCOUNT OF THEM. 
 
 You htive before heard, that the dukes of York and Gloucester had 
 confederated with the earl of Salisbury, the earl of Arundel, the earl 
 of Northumberland, the earl of Nottingham, and the archbishop of 
 Canterbury, against the king and his council, with whom they were 
 very much dissatisfied. They said, " This duke of Ireland doth with 
 the king and the realm as he pleases : the king has only base knaves 
 about Jiis person, v/ithout any regard to noblemen ; and as long as 
 he attends to no other advice than that of those now near him, things 
 cannot go on well ; for no kingdom can prosper when governed by 
 wicked men. It is well known, that when a poor person is exalted 
 and supported by his lord, he corrupts the people, and destroys the 
 country : for what can a base.born man feel of honor? his sole wish 
 is to enrich himself: just like the otter, who, on entering a pond, de- 
 vours all the fish therein. Whence comes it that this duke of Ireland 
 hath such power over the king, (we know his origin) and goveineth 
 sil England at his pleasure, while the king's uncles are disregarded ? 
 Such conduct is no longer to be suffered. We are not ignorant who 
 the earl of Oxford was, and that in this country he had not one good 
 quality, either of sense, honor or gentility allowed him." "Sir John 
 Chan.das," added a knight, " made him feel this very sharply once, 
 at the palace of the prince of Wales, at St. Andrews, in Bordeaux." 
 " How so ?" demanded another, who wished to know the particulars. 
 " I will tell you," replied the knight, " for I was present. Wine 
 was serving round to the prince of Wales and a large party of Eng. 
 lish lords, in an apartment of his palace ; and, when the prince had 
 drunk, the cup was carried to sir John Chandos, as constable of 
 Aquitaine, who took it and drank, without paying any attention to 
 he earl of Oxford, father to this duke of Ireland, or desiring him to 
 drink fir.^t. After sir John Chandos had drunk, one of his squires pre- 
 sented t!ie wine to the earl of Oxford ; but, indignant that Chandos 
 had drunk before him, he refused it, and said, by way of mockery, to 
 the squire who was holding the cup, ' Go, carry it to thy master, 
 Chandos: let him drink.' 'Why should I go to him? for he has 
 drunk. Drink yourself, since it is offered you : for, by St. George, if 
 you do not, I will throw it in your face.' The earl, afraid lest the 
 squire should execute what he had said, for he was bold enough to 
 do so. took the cup and put it to his mouth and drank, or at least pre. 
 tended to drink. Sir John Chandos was not far off, and heard and 
 saw the whole, and his squire, vvhile the prince was in conversation 
 with others, came and told him what had passed. Sir John Chan- 
 dos took no notice of it until the prince had retired, when, stepping 
 
 * C»t petite seigiif da »9iBn(?wr n'(>it; omint ft (Jo«ht6 d« sfs eons, 
 
 j up t> the earl of Oxford, he said, ' What, tir Aubrey,* are you dis- 
 j pleased that 1 draiik first, who am the constable of tiiis country ? I 
 { may well drink and take precedence before you, tince my moet re. 
 nowncd sovereign, the king of England, and my lords, the princes, 
 assent to it. True it is, that you were at the battle of Poitiers ; bu* 
 all now present do not know the cause of it so well as I do : I wiij 
 declare it, that they may remember it. When my lord, the prince, 
 had finished his journey to Languedoc, Carcassone and Narbonnc, 
 and was returned to this city of Bordeaux, you took it into your head 
 that you would return to England ; but what did the king say to you ? 
 I know it well, though I was not present. He asked, if you had ac- 
 complished your service ; and, afterwards, what you had done with 
 his son. You replied, " Sir, I left him in good health at Bordeaux." 
 " What !" said the kisig, " and have you been bold enough to come 
 hither without him ? Did I not strictly enjoin you, and the others 
 who accompanied him, never to return without him, imder the for- 
 feiture of your lands ? and yet you have dared to disobey my com- 
 raands. I now positively order you to quit my kingdom within four 
 days and return to the prince ; for if you l.e found on the fifth day» 
 you shall lose your life and estates." You were afraid to hazard dis. 
 obedience, as was natural, and left England. You were so fortunate, 
 that you joined the prince four days before the battle of Poitiers, and 
 had, that day, the command of forty lances, while I had sixty. Now, 
 consider if I, who am constable of Aquitaine, have not the right tt) 
 ta4ve precedence, and drink before you do.' The earl of Oxford 
 was much ashamed, and would have willingly been anywhere but 
 there. He vvas forced, however, to bear with whut i-ir John Chandos 
 said, who spoke aloud that afl might hear him." "After this," said 
 another knight, " we ought not to be surprised that the duke of Ire- 
 land, who is the son of this earl of Oxford, is not more considerate, 
 and does not keep in his memory what may be told him of his father, 
 instead of ruling the whole kingdom of England, and setting himself 
 above the king's uncles." " And why should he not do so," replied 
 others, " since the king wills it?" 
 
 There were great murmurings throughout England against the duke 
 of Ireland ; but what injured him the most was his conduct to his 
 duchess, the lady Philippa, daughter of the lord de Coucy, earl of 
 Bedford, who was a handsome and noble lady, and of the highest e.x- 
 traction. He fell in love with a German lady, one of the attendants 
 of the present queen ; and, by his solicitations at the court of Rome, 
 pope Urban VI. granted him a divorce from the lady Philippa, with- 
 out any title of justice, but through presumption and indifference. 
 When he married this lady, king Richard consented thereto; for he 
 was so blinded by the duke of Ireland that, if he had declared that 
 black was white, the king would not have said to the contrary. The 
 mother of the duke was mightily enraged with him for this conduct, 
 and took the lord de Coucy's daughter to her home and made her her 
 own companion. The duke certainly acted ill, and evil befel him 
 for it, as this was one of the principal causes of the hatred all England 
 bore him.t It is but just that v.'hat is conceived in evil should have 
 an unfortunate end ; and this duke confided so inuch in the affection 
 of the king, he thought no one would dare to injure him. 
 
 It was reported through England, that a new tax was to be levied 
 on every fire, and that each was to pay a noble, the rich making up 
 for the deficiencies of the poor. The king's uncles knew this would 
 be difficult to bring about ; and they had caused it to be spread in the 
 principal towns how greatly the inhabitants would be oppressed by 
 such taxes, and that, as there must remain great sums in the treasury, 
 the people ought to insist on having an account of their expenditure 
 from those who had the management, such as the archbishop of York, 
 the duke of Ireland, sir Simon Burley, sir Michael de la Pole, sir 
 Nicholas Bramber, sir Robert Tresilian, sir Peter Gouloufre, sir John 
 Salisbury, sir John Beauchamp, and the master of the wool-staple ; 
 and, if these would render an honest account, there would be found 
 money enough for the present demands of the kingdom. It is a well 
 known maxim, that no one pays willingly, or takes money from his 
 purse, if he can avoid it. These rumors were soon spread through, 
 out England, and especially in London, which is the chief key of the 
 realm, so that the people rose in rebellion, to inquire into the govern- 
 ment of the country, for that there had not for some time been any- 
 thing known concerning it. 
 
 The Londoners first addressed themselves to Thomas of Wood- 
 stock, duke of Gloucester, though he was younger than the duke of 
 York ; for he was much beloved for his valor, prudence, and steadi- 
 ness in business. When they were in his presence, they said, " My 
 lord, the good city of London recommends itself to your care ; and 
 its citizens, as well as all England, entreat you would take upon you 
 
 * This earl of Oxf ni'.-; n;i me was Thomas. Sir Alberic de V*tie was his brother. He 
 was employed in different negotiations by Richard II, 
 
 Robert was tlie son and heir of Thomas, the last earl of Oxfott. and created duke of 
 Ireland. 
 
 See Dugdale's Baronace. 
 
 t Walsingham, speaking of this transaction says: " Accidit hisd*»*>!"«, ut Rohertua 
 Vere, elatus de honoribus quos rex impendebateidem jiigiter, suam repuC'aret uxorem 
 juvenculam, nobilem, atque pulcliram, genitam de iliiistris Edwardi retris fi)"> ls:ibelia, 
 et aliam duceret, quce cum regina Anna venerat de Boemia (ut fertur) cujus'''uii Cel- 
 larii filiam, ignobilem prorsus atque fedam : ob ■♦luam eausam magna surrepsif^^casio 
 scandalorum (ciijus nomen erat in vuigaria idiomate Lancecrona.) Favebjitsibi n his 
 omnibus ipse rex, nolens ipsum in aliquo contristare, vel potius {prout dicitur) non vn'«>as 
 suisvotis aliquaiiterobviare.qui maleficiis cujusdam fri^tfisCqui cuni dictu Roberto fuU) 
 
440 
 
 CHIiONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN. &c. 
 
 the government of tlje realm, and learn Irom those who have pos. 
 sesied themselves of the kingdom how it has been hitherto governed; 
 for the comniiHi people make bitter complaints, that taxes upon taxes 
 are continually imposed, and that the kingdom, since the coronation 
 of the king, has been more grievousl}^ oppressed by these and other 
 extraordinary aids, than for fifty years preceding it. No one knows 
 how these sums have been expended, nor what is become of them. 
 You will be pleased to inquire into this, and provide a remedy, or 
 things will turn out ill, for the discontents of the people are very 
 strong." The duke of Gloucester replied, " My good sirs, I have 
 attentively listened to what you have said ; but I alone can do noth. 
 ing. 1 know you have well-founded cause of complaint, as well as 
 the rest of England ; but notwithstanding I am son to a king of Eng. 
 land, and uncle to the present king, if I were to interfere by speak- 
 ing to him, he would not attend to me ; for my nephew has counsel- 
 lors near his person in whom he confides more than in himself, and 
 these counsellors lead him as they please. If you wish to succeed 
 in having your grievances redressed, you should enter into a confed- 
 eracy with the principal towns, and with some of the nobles and 
 prelates, and come before the king, where my brother and myself 
 will cheerfully meet you, and say to the king, " Most dear lord, you 
 have been crowned when very young, and have hitherto been very 
 badly advised, nor have you attended to the affairs of your kingdom, 
 from the mean and weak counsellors you have chosen. This has 
 caused the mismanagement of affairs, as you must have seen ; and 
 if God, out of his mercy, had not stretched forth his hand, the coun- 
 try must inevitably have been ruined. For which, most redoubted 
 lord, we supplicate you, in the presence of your uncles, as good sub- 
 jects should entreat their lord, that you attend to these matters, that 
 the noble kingdom and crown of England, which has descended to 
 you from the most powerful and gallant king this country ever pos- 
 sessed, may be supported in prosperity and honor, and the common 
 people, who now complain, be maintained in their just rights and privi- 
 leges. This you swore to perform on the day of your coronation. 
 We also entreat, that you would assemble the three estates of the 
 realm, that they may examine into the late manner of your govern- 
 ment. Should it have been managed in a manner becoming a per- 
 son of your rank, those who have governed will acquire profit and 
 honor, and shall remain as long as they choose, and while it may be 
 your good pleasure, in their offices. But if those who may be ap- 
 pointed to examine into these matters find anything contrary to good 
 government, they will provide a remedy by quietly dismissing from 
 your person those who have so acted, and replacing them by others 
 better qualified ; but with your consent first had, then that of your 
 uncles and of the prelates and barons of the realm, who will pay at- 
 tention in the choice to your honor and to that of your kingdom." 
 
 " When you shall have made this rem.onstrance to the king," said 
 the duke of Gloucester to the Londoners, " he will give you an an- 
 swer. If he should say, ' We will consider of it,' cut the matter 
 short, and declare you will not have any delay ; and press it the more 
 to alarm him, as well as his minioiia. Say, boldly, that the country 
 will not longer suffer it ; and it is wonderful they have borne it so 
 long. My brother and myself will be with the king, and also the 
 archbishop of Canterbury, the earls of Arundel, Salisbury and North- 
 umberland ; but say nothing should we not be present ; for we are 
 the principal personages in England, and will second you in your re- 
 monstrance, by adding, that what you require is but reasonable and 
 just. When he shall hear us thus speak, he will not contradict us, 
 unless he be very ill advised indeed, and will appoint a day accord, 
 ingly. This is the advice and the remedy I offer you." The London, 
 ers replied, " My lord, you have loyally spoken; but it will be difficult 
 far us to find the king and as many lords as you have named, at one 
 time in his presence." " Not at all," said the duke : " St. George's 
 day will be within ten days, and the king will then be at Windsor ; 
 you may be sure the duke of Ireland and sir Simon Burley will be 
 there also. There will be many others. My brother, myself, and 
 the earl of Salisbury, will be there. Do you come, and you will act 
 according to circumstances." 
 
 The Londoners promised to be at Windsor on St. George's day, 
 and left the duke of Gloucester, well pleased with their reception. 
 When that day came, the king of England held a grand festival, as 
 his predecessors had done before him, and, accompanied by his queen 
 and court, went to Windsor. On the morrow, the Londoners came 
 thither with sixty horse, and those from York and other principal 
 towns in like numbers, and lodged themselves in the town. The 
 king was desirous of leaving the place for another three leagues off, 
 when he heard of the arrival of the commons of England, and still 
 more so, when told they wanted to speak to him ; for he dreaded 
 greatly their remonstrances, and would not have heard them : but his 
 uncles and the earl of Salisbury said, " My lord, you cannot depart, 
 for they are deputed hither by all your principal towns. It is proper 
 you hear what they have to say : you will then give them your an. 
 swer, or take time to consider of it." He remained, therefore, but 
 sore against his will! 
 
 The commons were introduced to the presence, in the lower hall, 
 without the new building, where the palace stood in former times. 
 The king was attended by his two uncles, the archbishop of Canter, 
 bury, the bishop of Winchester, lord chancellor, the earl of Salis. 
 bury, the earl of Northumberland, and several others of the nobility. 
 
 [ The commons made their harangue to the king, by their spokesman, 
 a citizen of London, called Simon de Sudbury, a man of sense and 
 oratory. He formed his speech from, what the duke of Gloucester 
 had said to them ; and, as you have heard that, I need not take more 
 notice of it. The king, having heard it, replied : " Ye commons of 
 England, your requests are great and important, and cannot be im- 
 mediately attended to ; for we shall not long remain here, nor are all 
 our council v/ith us : indeed the greater part are absent. I therefore 
 bid each of you return quietly to your homes, and there peaceably 
 remain, unless sent for, until Michaelmas, when the parliament shall 
 be assembled at Westminster. Come thither and lay your requests 
 before us, which we will submit to our council. What we approve 
 shall be granted, and what we think improper refused. For think 
 not we are to be ruled by our people. That has never been ; and 
 we can perceive nothing but what is right and just in our govern- 
 ment, and in those who govern under us." Upward of seven in. 
 stantly replied to the king, and said, " Most redoubted lord, under 
 your grace's favor, your justice is weak, indeed, in the realm, and 
 you know not what behooveth you to know : for you neither make 
 inquiry, nor examine in-to what is passing ; and those who are your 
 advisers will never tell you, for the great wealth they are amassing. 
 It is not justice, sir king, to cut off heads, wrists, or feet, or any way 
 to punish ; but justice consists in the maintaining the subject in his 
 right, and in taking care he live in peace, v.'ithout having any cause 
 of complaint. We must also say that you have appointed too long 
 a day by referring us to Michaelmas. No time can be better than 
 the present : we, therefore, unanimously declare, that we will have 
 an account, and very shortly too, from those who have governed your 
 kingdom since your coronation, and know what is become of the 
 great sums that have been raised in England for these last nine years, 
 and whither they have passed. If those who have been your treas- 
 urers shall give a just account, or nearly so, we shall be much re- 
 joiced, and leave them in their offices. Those who shall not produce 
 honest acquittances for their expenditure shall be treated accordingly, 
 by the commissioners that are to be nominated by you, and our lords 
 your uncles." 
 
 The king, on this, looked at his uncles to see if they would say 
 anything, when the duke of Gloucester said, " That he saw nothing 
 but what was just and reasonable in the demands they had made : 
 what do you say, fair brother of York ?" " As God may help me, 
 it is all true," he replied, as did the other barons who were present; 
 but the king wished them to give their opinions separately. " Sir," 
 added the duke of Gloucester, " it is but fair that you know how 
 your money has been expended." The king, perceiving they were 
 all united, and that his minions dared not utter one word, for they 
 were overawed by the presence of the nobles, said, *' Well, I consent 
 to it : let them be sent away ; for summer is now approaching, and 
 the time for my amusement in hunting." Then, addressing the Lon- 
 doners, he added, " Would you have the matter instantly dispatched ?" 
 " Yes, we entreat it of you, noble king : we shall likewise beg of 
 these lords to take part, more particularly our lords your uncles." 
 The dukes replied, they would willingly undertake it, as well on the 
 part of their lord and king, as for the country. The commons then 
 said ; "We also wish that the reverend fathers, the lord archbishop 
 of Canterbury, and the bishops of Lincoln and Winchester, be par- 
 ties." They said, they would cheerfully do so. When this was 
 agreed to, they nominated the lords present, such as the earls of Sal- 
 isbury and Northumberland, sir Reginald Cobham, sir Guy de Bryan, 
 sir Thomas Felton, sir Mathew Gournay, and said there should be 
 from two to four of the principal persons from each city or large 
 town, who would represent the commons of England. All this was 
 assented to, and the time for their meeting fixed for the week after 
 St. George's day, to be holden at Westminster ; and all the king's 
 ministers and treasurers were ordered to attend, and give an account 
 of their administrations to the before-named lords. The king con- 
 sented to the whole, not through force, but at the solicitations and 
 prayers of his uncles, the other lords, and commons of England. It, 
 indeed, concerned them to k .lOw how affairs had been managed, 
 both in former times and in those of the present day. All having 
 been amicably settled, the assembly broke up, and the lords, on leav- 
 ing Windsor, returned to London, whither were summoned all col. 
 lectors and receivers, from the different counties, with their receipts 
 and acquittances, under pain of corporal punishment and confisca- 
 tion of goods. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXIX. 
 
 THE COMMISSIONERS OF ACCOUNTii CONDEMN SIR SIMON BURLEY TO BE LM- 
 PRISONED IN THE TOWER OF LONDON. SIR THOMAS TRIVET IS KILLED 
 BY A FALL FROM HIS HORSE. SIR WILLIAM ELMHAM IS ACQUITTED OF 
 HAVING TAKEN MONEY FOR THE SURRENDER OF BOURBOUR& AND 
 GRAVELINES. 
 
 The assembly of the commissioners of accounts was held at West- 
 minster, consisting of the king's uncles, the prelates, barons, and de- 
 puties from the principal towns of England. It lasted upward of a 
 month. Some of those who appeared before it, not producing fair 
 or honorable accounts, were punished corporally, and by confiscation 
 of whatever they possessed. 
 
 Sir Simon Burley was charged with defalcations to the amount of 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 441 
 
 two hundred and fifty thousand francs, notwithstanding he had been 
 tutor to the king, and had assisted him in the government from his 
 ■ earliest youth. When called upon to account for what had become 
 of it, he cast the blame on the archbishop of York and sir William 
 Neville, saying he had never acted but with them and by their advice, 
 and in conjunction with the king's chamberlains, sir Robert Tresilian, 
 sir Robert Bea: champ, sir John Salisbury, sir Nicholas Bramber, 
 and others; bu; those, when examined, excused themselves, and 
 flung the whole / lult on him. The duke of Ireland said to Simon 
 privately ; " I understand you are to be arrested and sent to prison 
 until you shall pay the sum j ou are charged with. Do not dispute 
 the matter, but go'whither thty may order : I will make your peace 
 with the king, though they had nil sworn to the contrary. You know 
 the constable of France owes lae forty thousand francs for the ran- 
 som of John of Blois, and this ^ he will shortly pay : I will offer 
 the amount to the commissioners, which, for the moment, will satisfy 
 them : but the king is sovereign ; he will pardon you all, for the bal- 
 ances must be paid to him and to none other." " If I did not depend," 
 replied sir Sirtion Burley, " that you would strongly support me with 
 the king, and assist me personally in this matter, I would cross the 
 sea and go to the king of Bohemia. I should be well received there, 
 and remain for a time until all this bustle were blown over." " I will 
 never forsake you," said the duke of Ireland : " are we not compan- 
 ions, and equally implicated ? You must ask time for payment. I 
 know well that "you can pay when you please, in ready money, one 
 hundred thousand francs. Do not fear death, for they will never 
 push matters so far as that ; and before Michaelmas, things shall have 
 a different turn from what these lords think : let me only once have 
 the king in my power, and I will have him, for all that he now does-' 
 he is forced to. We must satisfy these cursed Londoners, and put 
 an end to all tlis discontent they have raised against us and our 
 friends." 
 
 Sir Simon Burley put a little too much confidence in these words 
 of the duke of Ireland, and presented himself before the commis- 
 sioners, when called upon. They said ; " Sir Simon, you have been 
 a knight who has done honor to our country, and were greatly beloved 
 by our lord the late prince of Wales. You and the duke of Ireland 
 have been the principal ministers of the king. We have carefully 
 examined all your accounts that have been laid before us, and must 
 tell you, they are neither fair nor honorable, which has displeased us 
 for the love we bear you. We have therefore unanimously resolved 
 that you be sent to the Tower of London, there to be confined until 
 you shall have repaid, in this chamber, according to our orders, the 
 sum you have received for the king and realm, and for which, from 
 the examination of the treasurer, you have never accounted : the sum 
 amounts to two hundred and fifty thousand francs. Now, have you 
 anything to say in your defence ?" Sir Simon was much disconcerted, 
 and said ; " My lords, I shall willingly obey, as it is proper I should, 
 your commands, and go whither you may please to send me. But I 
 entreat that I may have a secretary allowed me to draw out an account 
 of the great expenses I have formerly been at in Germany and Bohe. 
 mia, when negotiating the marriage of our king and lord. If I should 
 have received too much, grant me, through the king's grace and 
 yours, that I may have a reasonable time for repayment." " To this 
 we agree," replied the lords ; and sir Simon Burley was then con- 
 ducted to the Tower. 
 
 The accounts of sir Thomas Trivet and sir William Elmham were 
 next examined. They were not popular with any of the barons of 
 England, nor with the people, on account of their conduct in Flan- 
 ders: for it v^^as said no Englishman had ever made so shameful an 
 expedition. The bishop of Norwich and the governor of Calais, who 
 at that time was sir Hugh Calverley, had cleared themselves from any 
 blame : but the charge laid to the two knights, of taking money for 
 the surrender of Bourbourg and Gravelines, prevented them doing the 
 same : and some in England wanted to have their conduct (which 
 has been before related) construed into treason ; and the knights had 
 given security for their appearance, when called upon, to the king, 
 his uncles, and the council. This charge was now renewed, and 
 they were summoned before the commissioners. Sir William Elm. 
 ham appeared ; but sir Thomas Trivet did not come, and I will tell 
 you the cause. The same week the summons from the commissioners 
 was brought to his house, in the north, he had mounted a young 
 norse, to try him in the fields. His horse ran away with him over 
 hedge and through bushes, and at length fell into a ditch and broke 
 the knight's neck. It was a pity, and his loss was much bewailed 
 by the good people of Engbnd. Notwithstanding this, his heirs were 
 forced to pay a large sum of florins to what was called the king's 
 council ; but the whole management was well known to rest with 
 the uncles of the king, and the commissioners they had nominated. 
 For, although the duke of Gloucester was the youngest of the king's 
 uncles, he was the most active in business that concerned the country; 
 and the better part of the prelates, nobles, and commons, looked up 
 to him. 
 
 When the composition-money of the late sir Thomas Trivet, who 
 was killed as you have heard, was paid, the blame cast on sir Wil- 
 liam Elmham was much lightened. His former deeds in the Borde- 
 lois, Guienne, and Picardy, where he had displayed much valor in 
 support of England, pleaded for him, having behaved like a gaUant 
 knight, so that nothing could be laid to his charge but having taken 
 
 money for Bourbourg and Gravelines. But he excused himself by 
 saying ; " My lords, when any one is placed as we were, in respect 
 to these two towns, it appears to me (from what I have heard sir John 
 Chandos and sir Walter Manny, who had abundance of good sense 
 and valor say,) that when two or three means offer, the one most 
 profitable to ourselves, and that which can hurt our enemies the most, 
 ought ever to be adopted. Sir Thomas Trivet and myself, finding 
 ourselves surrounded, so that succor could no way come to us, and 
 that we should not be able long to withstand their assaults, (for they 
 were such knights and squires as few in England ever saw, and in 
 such numbers, from the account of our herald, as to amount to six- 
 teen thousand men-at-arms, and forty thousand others, while we were 
 scarcely three hundred lances, and as many archers; our town was 
 also so extensive we could not attend to all parts of it, which we soon 
 felt to our cost, for, while we were defending one side, it was set on 
 fire on another,) we became very much confused, which the enemy 
 perceived. And, in truth, the king of France and his council acted 
 handsomely by granting us a truce, for if they had on the morrow re- 
 newed their attack, in the situation we were in, they must have had 
 us at their mercy. They honorably treated with us, through the duke 
 of Brittany, who took much trouble on the occasion. We ought to 
 have paid for this, but they gave us money ; and instead of being 
 worsted by our enemies, we despoiled them. We certainly over- 
 reached them, when they paid us, and suffered us to depart safe and 
 well, carrying away whatever we had gained by this expedition in 
 Flanders. Besides," added sir William, " to purge myself from all 
 blame, should there be in England, or out of England, any knight or 
 squire, except the persons of my lord the dukes of York and of Glou. 
 cester, who shall dare to say that I have acted disloyally toward my 
 natural lord the king, or have been any way guilty of treason, 1 am 
 ready to throw down my glove, and with my body try the event by 
 deeds of arms, such as the judges may assign me." 
 
 ThiH speech, and the known valor of the knight, exculpated him, 
 and freed him from all fear of death, which he was in danger of at 
 the beginning. He returned to his estate, and w.as afterwards a re- 
 nowned knight, much advanced, and of the king's council. Sir Si- 
 mon Burley was still confined in the Tower, for he was mortally hated 
 by the king's uncles and the commons of England. The king did 
 everything in his power to deliver him from prison, during the time 
 he resided at Sheene but the commissioners, being determined to 
 oppress him, dissembled, and said they could not as yet set him at 
 liberty, for his accounts were not closed. The king, accompanied 
 by the duke of Irreland, journeyed toward Wales, by way of Bristol ; 
 and wheresoever he went he was followed by the queen, and all the 
 ladies and damsels of her court. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXX. 
 
 THE KIKG OF ENGLAND HAVING LEFT LONDON, SIR SIMON BUlVLEV IS BE- 
 HEADED, TO THE GREAT DISPLEASURE OF THE KING AND QUEEN. A 
 CHANGE OF THE IVIINISTRY. 
 
 Althoitgh the king of England had left London, his uncles there 
 remained with their advisers. You have often heard, that when any 
 disorder is in the head, all the other members of the body are affected 
 by it, and that this sickness must be purged away by some means or 
 other. I say this, because the duke of Ireland was in such favor 
 with the king, that he managed him as he pleased, and governed 
 him at will. Sir Simon Burley was also one of the principal advi- 
 sers ; and between them both they ruled, for a long time, king and 
 kingdom. They were suspected of having amassed very large sums 
 of money, and it was rumored they had sent great part of it for 
 safety to Germany. It had also come to the knovvledge of the king, 
 his uncles, and the rulers of the principal towns in England, tliat 
 great cases and trunks had been secretly embarked from Dover castle 
 in the night-time, which were said to contain this money sent fraud- 
 ulently abroad by them to foreign countries, in consequence of which 
 the kingdom was greatly impoverished of cuiii. Pflany grieved much 
 at this, saying, that gold and silver were become so scarce as to oc- 
 casion trade to languish. Such speeches increased the hatred to sir 
 Simon Burley, and the commissioners declared they thought he de 
 served death. In short, they, on finishing his accounts, condemned 
 him to suffer this punishment, instigated thereto by a desire to please 
 the country, and by the archbishop of Canterbury, who relatea to the 
 lords that sir Simon wanted to remove the shrine of St. Thomas from 
 Canterbury to Dover castle, as he said, for greater security, at the 
 time the French invasion was expectjd; but it was commonly be- 
 heved that he meant to seize it, and carry it out of England. Many, 
 I now he was in prison, came forward against him ; and the knight 
 j was so overpowered, that nothing he could say in his defence availed 
 ' him ; so that he was carried forth out of the Tower, and beheaded, 
 as a traitor, in the square before it. God have mercy on his mis. 
 i deeds ! Notwithstanding I thus relate his disgraceful deatii, which 
 I am forced to by my determination to insert nothing but truth in this 
 history, I was exceedingly vexed thereat, and personally much 
 grieved ; for in my youth I had found him a gentle knight, and, ac- 
 cording to my understanding, of great good sense. Such was the 
 I unfortunate en d of sir Simon Burley. 
 
 ! * Riehmond ' 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 His nephew and heir, sir Richard Burley, was with the duke of 
 Lancaster in (Jalicia, when tliis nusfortune bcfel his uncle, and one 
 of the mo5t renowned ia his army, after the constable ; for he had 
 once the chief command of the whole army, and instructed sir 
 Thomas Moreaux, ia his olHce of marshal; he was likewise of the 
 duke's council, and his principal adviser. You may suppose that, 
 when he heard of the di-graceful death his uncle had suffered, he 
 was mightily enraged ; but, alas I this gallant knight died in his bed, 
 n Castille, of sickness, with very many more, as I shall fully relate 
 v.hen arrived at that part of my history. 
 
 When king Richard, who was amusing himself in Wales, heard 
 of the death of sir Simon Burley, he was very wroth ; for he had 
 been one of his tutors and had educated him ; and he swore it should 
 not remain unrevenged, for he had been cruel'y put to death, and 
 without the smallest plea of justice. The queen also bewailed his 
 loss ; for he had been the principal promoter of her marriage, and 
 had conducted her from Germany .to England. The king's council 
 began now t) be seriously alarmed, such as the duke of Ireland, sir 
 Nicholas Bramber, sir Robert Tresilian, sir .John Beauchamp, sir 
 John Salisbury, and sir Michael de la Pole, The archbishop of 
 York, whose name was William Neville, brother to the lord Neville 
 of Norliiumberland, was dismissed from his office of lord treasurer, 
 which he had held a considerable time, and forbidden, by the duke 
 of Gloucester, if he valued his life, ever again to intermeddle with 
 the affairs of England ; but he might retire to his bishopric of York, 
 or to any other part of his diocese, for that of late he had been by far 
 too busy. He was told that, from consideration of his dignity and 
 birth, many things had been overlooked that were highly disgraceful 
 to him ; and that the greater part of t!ie deputies from the cities and 
 towns were fo'- having him degraded from the priesthood, and pun- 
 ished in like manner to sir Simon Burley. He soon left London, and 
 went to reside oi? his bishopric in the north, which was worth to him 
 about forty thousand francs a year. His whole family was much 
 enraged, and thought his di^-'griice had been caused by Henry of 
 Northumberland, thcugh he was his relation and neighbor. 
 
 The archbishop of Canterbury, who was valiant and learned, and 
 much in favor of the king's uncles, succeeded to the treasurership : 
 iie was of the family of the Montagues and the earl of Salisbury was 
 his uncle.* The commissioners appointed the earl of Salisbury, the 
 earl of Arundel, the earl of Northumberland, the earl of Devonshire, 
 the earl of Nottingham, and the bishop of Norwich, who was called 
 sir Henry de Spencer, the king's council ; but the bishop of Win- 
 chester ret-.iaed his office of chancellor, and continued near the per- 
 sm of the king's uncles. The most renowned of the council, after 
 tlie duke of Gl.yucesier, was sir Thomas Montague, archbishop of 
 Canterbury ; and well was he deserving of it, for the great pains he 
 took to reform the abuses of government, and withdraw the king 
 from the management of his minions. He spoke very frequently on 
 this subject to the duke of York, who replied, " Archbishop, matters 
 vrill, by degrees, turn out differently from what my nephew and the 
 duke of Ireland imagine. But we must wait for a favorable oppor- 
 tunity, and not be too pressing ; for what is done in haste is never 
 well done. I agree svith you, that if we had not in time taken up 
 this business, the king would have been so governed, that the king, 
 dom must have been ruiaed. The king of France and his council 
 were well acquainted with om* state ; and for this did they make 
 such immense preparations, to take the advantage to invade us." 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXI. 
 
 WHILE THE COtJNCIL, ON THE STATE OF THE NATION, IS SITTING AT LON- 
 DON, KING EICHARD, BY THE ADVICE OF THE DUKE OF IRELAND, DETER. 
 MINES TO WAGE WAR AGAINST HIS UNCLES AND THE PRINCIPAL TOWNS. 
 
 In like manner as the king's uncles and the new council of state 
 were devising at Westminster on the means of reforming abuses in 
 the government, and of having the king and realm under their power, 
 the duke of Ireland and his council were plotting day and night how 
 they could keep their places, and destroy the uncles of the king, by 
 means which I will now explain. 
 
 When king Richard, accompanied by his queen,t arrived at Bris. 
 tol, which is a handsome and strong town, he fixed his residence in 
 the castle. Those in Wales, and at a distance, thought he had done 
 so to favor the duke of Ireland, who had caused it to be reported 
 that he intended going thence to Ireland, and to assist him with 
 money to increase his followers, for that had been agreed on by the 
 parliament. It had been ordered that the duke, on setting out for 
 Ireland, where he was to remain three years, should have the com. 
 mand of five hundred men-at-arms and fifteen hundred archers, paid 
 by England, and that money for this purpose should be punctually 
 remitted to him.t But the duke had no inclination to go thither ; 
 
 * Tiiismnst. be a mistaite. [ii 1381 William Courtney was archbishop of Canterbury, 
 and in 1391 Thomas Fitzalian, son of the earl of Arundel, 
 t So says Jean Petit, "et la raync aveques lui." 
 
 X There is a viiriatio < i : the copies of tlic oiisinai, as Jean Petit runs thus : "When 
 he departed irom the king and his uncles, it was agieed with him, that in case he should 
 CO on this voyage, he should have, at the charge of England, five hundred men-at-arms 
 iind fifteen hundred arche s. It was ordered that he should abide there three years, and 
 (bat he should be always well paid." This reading appears to be simpler than that of 
 Um text. Sflo Jean Petit's edition, vol. III. p. 46. 
 
 for, as the king was so young, he managed him as he pleased, and, 
 should he leave him, he was afraid the king's affection would be 
 cooled. Add to this, he was so greatly enamored with one of the 
 queen's damsels, called the landgravine, that he could never quit 
 her. She was a tolerably handsome pleasant lady, whom the queen 
 had brought with her from Bohemia. The duke of Ireland loved 
 her with such ardor, that he was desirous of making her, if possible, 
 his duchess by marriage. He took great pains to obtain a divorce 
 from his present duchess, the daughter of the earl of Bedford, from 
 Urban VL, vv^hom the English and Germans acknowledged as pope. 
 All the good people of England were much astonished and shocked 
 at this ; for the duchess was grand-daughter of the gallant king Ed. 
 ward and the excellent queen Philippa, being the daughter of the 
 princess Isabella. Her uncles, the dukes of York and Gloucester, 
 were very wroth at this insult; but, notwithstanding their hatred, 
 which he held cheap, the duke of Ireland was so smitten and blinded 
 by his love, he was using every means to obtain a divorce, and had 
 promised the lady he would make her his wife, if he had the king 
 and queen's consent, and a dispensation from Rome, which the pope 
 would not dare refuse him ; for his present lady was a Clementist, 
 and the lord de Coucy, her father, had made war in Italy for Cle. 
 ment, against Urban, which inclined the latter not to be over-fond 
 of him, and induced him to listen too readily to the proposals for a 
 divorce. Thus was he urging on matters, according to his promise 
 to the landgravine of Bohemia, and would not have any connection 
 with his wife by legal marriage. But this duke of Ireland had a 
 mother living, the countess dov/oger of Oxford, who, so far from ap. 
 proving her son's conduct, greatly blamed him for his follies, saying 
 that he v/ould by them anger Heaven, vv ho would one day punish 
 him severely, when it would be too late to repent. She had the 
 duchess home with her, and gave her as handsome an establishment 
 as she could, so tlir.t ail who loved the young lady were pleased with 
 this conduct. 
 
 In such a situation was the kingdom of England ; but, to biingf 
 tlie history to a conclusion, I will continue the subject from the in- 
 formation I then received. You have heard that the duke of Ireland 
 kept close to the king during his residence at Bristol and in Wales, 
 solely occupied night and day with the means of succeeding in his 
 plans. He was assiduous in his attentions to the king and queen, 
 and to all knights and squires who waited on them at Bristol and at 
 the hunts in that neighborhood, to draw them over to his faction; 
 for the king suffered him to act as he pleased. 
 
 The duke, during this period, took infinite pains in visiting all the 
 gentlemen near to Bristol, and went frequently into Wales, where 
 he complained to all who would listen to him, that the king's uncles, 
 from their ambition to obtain the government, had driven from the 
 council the most noble and wisest members, such as the nrchbishop 
 of York, the bishop of Durham, the bishop of London, sir Michael 
 de la Pole, sir Nicholas Bramber, sir John Salisbury, sir Robert Tre- 
 silian, sir John Beauchamp, and himself ; that they had put to death, 
 without any justice whatever, that valiant knight sir Simon Burley ; 
 and, if they continued to govern as they had begun, they would soon 
 destroy all England. He repeated this so often, and with such suc- 
 cess, that the greater part of the knights and squires of Wales and 
 the adjoining countries believed him. They came to Bristol, and 
 demanded from the king, if what the duke had told them had his 
 approbation. The king replied it had, and begged of them, from 
 their affection to him, to put every confidence in the duke, for that 
 he would avow whatever he should do ; adding, that in truth his 
 uncles were too ambitious, and that he had his fears they intended 
 to deprive him of his crown. Those from Wales, who had always 
 loved the prince of Wales, father to the king, having heard of the 
 transactions in London, were firmly persuaded that the king and the 
 duke of Ireland had been wronged, and demanded from the king 
 how he wished them to act. The king ansv/ered, "He would gladly 
 see the Londoners, who had been the chief movers in this business, 
 punished and brought to their senses, as well as his uncles." The 
 Welchmen said they were bounden to obey his commands, for he 
 was their king and sovereign lord, to whom, and to none else, they 
 owed faith and homage. They were therefore willing to go whither- 
 soever he would order them. The king and the duke of Ireland 
 were well satisfied with this answer ; and the latter, seeing the king 
 take up the matter as personal to himself, was extravagant in bis joy, 
 and said to the council, "they could not act better than retu7n to 
 London to show their force, and, by fair or other means, bring the 
 citizens back to their obedience ; and he also said, and always repre- 
 sented to the king, that whenever there were so many rulers in a 
 kingdom, it must be its ruin." The king said, "that his opinion 
 was the same, and that, if hitherto he had suffered things to be so. 
 carried, he would not any longer, but bring forward such a remedy 
 that other countries should take example from it." 
 
 Now, consider in your own mind if I had not good cause to sayy, 
 that England was, at this period, in the greatest peril of being ruined 
 past recovery. It certainly was, from the causes you have heard ; 
 for the king was exasperated against his uncles and the principal 
 nobility of the kingdom, and they were so likewise against him and 
 many nobles of his party. The cities and towns were quarrelling- 
 with each other, and the prelates in mutual hatred, so that no remedy 
 for all these evila could be looked for but from God alone Th« 
 
C K Pc 0 N 
 
 OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, & c 
 
 443 
 
 duke of Ireland, when he perceived Im hail gained t::c king, and the 
 greater number of those in Brintoi, Wales, and the adjoining parts, 
 proceeded to say to the king, " My iord, if you will appoint me your 
 lieutenant, I v/ill lead twelve or fifteen thousand men to London, or 
 to Oxford, which is your and my city, and show my strength to these 
 Londoners and your uncles, who have treated you with such indig- 
 nity, and have ] :it some of your council to death, and, by fair words 
 or otherwise, rec ace them to obedience." The king replied, he was 
 satisfied ; adding, I now nominate you lieutenant-general of my 
 kingdom, to asseuible men wherever you can raise them, and to lead 
 them whithersoever yo-u shall think it most for the advantage of our 
 realm, that all may see the whole of it to be our inheritance and 
 right. I order you to be.ar our banner, guidon, standard, and other 
 our proper habiliments of war, v. 'lich we ourselves should have done, 
 had we taken the field. I shoulc imagine, that all conditions of men, 
 on perceiving my banners, wouM flock to enrol themselves under 
 them, and would be fearful of incurring, by a contrary conduct, my 
 displeasure." This speech greatly rejoiced the duke of Ireland 
 
 Richard 11. at Bristol. Designed from Illuminations in the Metrical History of Richard II.— Harleian MS. 1319, 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXII 
 
 THE KING OF ENGLAND ISSUES KIS ORDERS FOR ALL CAPABLE OF BEARING 
 ARMS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF BRISTOL TO MARCH TO LONDON. SIR 
 ROBERT TRESILIAN, SENT THITHER AS A SPY, IS DISCOVERED, AND BE- 
 HEADED HY COMMAND OF THE KING's UNCLES. 
 
 The king of England issued his summons to many great baron;?, 
 knight', and squires in Wales, in the coun" ry round Bristol, and on 
 the Severn.side. Some excused themselves by sending satisfactory 
 reasons; but others came and placed themselves under the obe- 
 dience of tl e king, notwithstanding their conviction that it was im- 
 pospihlc to jiUgur anything gocd from the enterprise. 
 
 While this army was collecting, the king and the duke, in a secret 
 conference, determined to send one of their confidential friends to 
 London to observe what was going forward, and, if the king's uncles 
 etill remained there, to discover what they were doing. After some 
 consideration, they could not think on a proper person to send on 
 this errand ; when a knight, who was cousin to the duke, and of the 
 king's as well as of his council, called sir Robert Tresilian, stepped 
 forth, and said to the duke, " I see the difiiculty you have to find a 
 trusty person to send to London : I will, from my love to you, risk 
 the adventure." The kins; and the duke, well pleased with the of- 
 fer, thanked him for it. Tresilian left Bristol disguised like a poor 
 tradesman, mounted on a wretched hackney : he continued his road 
 to London, and lodged at an inn where he was unknown ; for no 
 one could have ever imagined that one of the king's counsellors 
 and chamberlains would have appeared in so miserable a dress. 
 
 When in London, he picked up all the news that was public, for 
 he could not do'more, respecting the king's uncles and the citizens. 
 Having heard there was to be a meeting of the dukes and their 
 council at Westminster, he determined to go thither to learn secretly 
 all he could of their proceedings. This he executed, and fixed his 
 quarters at an ale-house right opposite the palace-gate : he chose a 
 chamber whose window looked into the palace-yard, where he posted 
 himself to observe all who should come to this parliament. The 
 
 greater part he knew, but was not, from his di?guiso knovvn to them, 
 lie, however, remained there, at different times, so long, that i 
 squire of the duke of Gloucester, saw and knew him, for ho had 
 been many times in his company. Sir Robert instantly recollected 
 him, and withdrew from the window ; but the squire having his sus. 
 picions, said, " Surely that mutt be Tresilian ;" and to ho certain ot 
 it, he entered the ale-house, and said to the landlady, " Dome, tell 
 me, on your troth, who is he drinking above : is he alone or in com- 
 pany ?" " On my troth, sir," she replied, " I cannot tell you his 
 name ; but he has been here sonvj time." At these words, the squire 
 went up stairs to know the truth, r;nd having saluted fir Robert, found 
 he was right, though he dissembled by saying, "G<id preserve you, 
 master I I hope you will not take my coming amiss, for I thought you 
 had been one of my farmers from Essex, as you are so very like 
 him." " By no means," said &ir Robert : " I am from Kent, and 
 hold lands of sir Tohn Holland, and wish to lay my complaints be- 
 fore the council against the tenants of the archbishop of Canterbury, 
 who encroach much on my farm." " If ycu will come into the hall," 
 
 said the squire, " I will have v/ay made 
 for you to lay your grievances before 
 the lords." " Many thanks," replied 
 sir Robert : " net at this moment, but 
 I ehall not renounce ycur astistance." 
 At these words, the squire ordered a 
 quart of ale, which having paid for, he 
 Eaid, " God be with ycu 1" and left the 
 ale-house. He 'ost no time in hasten, 
 ing to the ccuncil-chamber, and called 
 to the usher to open the door. The 
 usher, knowing him, ^;{^ked his busi- 
 ness : he said, " he must instantly speak 
 with the duke of Gloucester, on mat- 
 ters that nearly concerned him and 
 the council." The usher, on this, bade 
 him enter, v/hich he did, and made 
 up to the duke cf Gloucester, saying, 
 " My lord, I bring you great news." 
 « Of what ?" replied the duke. " My 
 lord, I will tell it aloud ; for it concerns 
 not only you but all the lords present. 
 I have seen sir Robert Tresilian, dis. 
 guised like a peasant, in an ale-house 
 close by the palace gate." " Tresil. 
 ian !" said the duke. " On my faith, 
 my lord, it is true ; and you shall have 
 him to dine with you, if you please." 
 " I should like it much," replied the 
 duke ; " for he will ttll us seme news 
 of his master, the duke of Ireland. 
 Go, and secure him ; but with power 
 enough not to be in danger of failing.'' 
 The squire, on these orders, left the 
 ccuncil-chamber. and, having chosen 
 four bailiffs, said to them, " Follow 
 me at a distance ; and, as soon as you 
 shall perceive me make you a sign to arrest a man I am in search 
 of, lay hands on him, and take care he do not, on any account, es. 
 cape from you." The squire made for the ale-house where he 
 had left sir Robert, and, mounting the staircase to the rocm where 
 he was, said, on entering, " Tresilian, you are net come to this 
 country for any good, as I imagine: my lord of Gloucester sends 
 for you, and you must come and speak with him." The knight 
 turned a deaf ear, and would have been excured, if he could, by say. 
 ing, " I am not Tresilian, but a tenant of Sir John Holland." 
 " That is not true," replied the squire ; " your body is Tresilian's, 
 though not your dress." And, making the signal to the bailiffs, who 
 were at the door, they entered the hou>-e and arrested him, and, 
 whether he would or not, carried him to the palace. You may be. 
 lieve there was a great crowd to see him ; for he was well known in 
 London, and in many parts of England. The duke of Gloucester 
 was much pleased, and would see him. When in his presence, the 
 duke said ; "Tresilian, what has brought you hither? How fares 
 my sovereign? Where does he now reside ?" Tresilian, finding he 
 was discovered, and that no excuses would avail, replied, "On my 
 faith, my lord, the king has sent me hither to learn the news : he i? 
 at Bristol, and on the banks of the Severn, where he hunts and 
 amuses himself." " How !" said the duke, " you do not come 
 dressed like an honest man, but like a spy. If you had been desi- 
 rous to learn what was passing, your appearance should have been 
 hke that of a knight or a discreet person." " My lord," answered 
 Tresilian, " if I have done wrong, I hope you will excuse me ; for 
 I have only done what I was ordered." " And where is your master, 
 the duke of Ireland ?" " My lord," said Tresilian, " he is with the 
 king our lord." The duke then added, " We have been informed 
 that he is collecting a large body of men, and that the king haa 
 issued his summons to that effect : whither does he mean to lead 
 them ?" " My lord, they are intended for Ireland." " For Ireland !" 
 said the duke. *' Yes, indeed, as God may help me," answered 
 Tresilian. 
 
 The duke mused awhile, and then epoke : " Tresilian, Tresilian, 
 
144 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 your actions are neither fair nor honest ; and you have committed a 
 great piece of folly in coming to these parts, where you are far from 
 being loved, as will be shortly shown to you. You, and others of 
 your faction, have done what has greatly displeased my brother and 
 myself, and have ill-counselled the king, whom you have made to 
 quarrel with his chief nobility. In addition, you have excited the 
 principal towns against us. The day of retribution is therefore 
 come, when you shall receive payment ; for whoever acts justly re. 
 ceives hh reward : look, to your aflairs, for I will neither eat nor 
 drink until you be no more." This speech greatly terrified sir Rob- 
 ert, (for no one likes to hear of his end,) by the manner in which it 
 was uttered. He was desirous to obtain pardon, by various excuses, 
 and the most abject humiliation, but in vain ; for the duke had re- 
 ceived information of what was going on at Bristol, and his excuses 
 were fruitless. Why should I make a long story? Sir Robert was 
 delivered to the hangman, who led him out of the palace to the place 
 of execution, where he was beheaded, and then hung by the arms to 
 a gibbet. Thus ended sir Robert Tresilian. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXIII. 
 
 WHEN THE NEWS OF THE DEATH OF SIR ROBERT TRESILIAN IS BROUGHT 
 TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF YORK AND SIR NICHOLAS BRAMBER, THEY 
 CONFIRM THE KIN& IN HIS INTENTION OF MAKING WAR ON HIS UN- 
 CLES. THE DUKE OF IRELAND, AS -LIEUTENANT-GENERAL, LEADS 
 THE ARMY TO OXFORD. 
 
 Intelligence was hastily carried to king Richard at Bristol, that 
 sir Robert Tresilian had been put to a shameful death. He took it 
 sorely to heart, and swore things should not remain in the state they 
 were ; for that his uncles were conducting themselves ill, and putting 
 to death, without the least plea of justice, his knights and servants, 
 who had loyally served h^m and the prince his father, plainly show- 
 ing their intentions were to deprive him of his crown, and that such 
 conduct touched him too nearly not to resent it. The archbishop of 
 York had been the chief of his council for a considerable time, and, 
 being then with the king, said : " My lord, you ask counsel, and I 
 will give it you. Your uncles behave shamefully, and want to make 
 the world believe you have only traitors near your person, and that 
 you take counsel from none but them. Great danger now hangs 
 over the country ; for if the commons rise, and the nobility be uni- 
 ted, much mischief will ensue. I therefore advise, that you settle 
 all these things by force : you are now in a very populous country : 
 issue your summons for all capable of bearing arms, gentlemen aud 
 others, to join you here ; and, when they be assembled, march them 
 under the orders of the duke of Ireland, who will gladly take the 
 t( inmdnd, toward London ; and let there be no other banners but 
 those with your own arms, to show more distinctly the business is 
 your own. The whole country, on their line of march, will join 
 them, and perhaps the Londoners also, who have no personal hatred 
 to you, who have never done them any injury. All the mischief that 
 could have been done you has already been effected by your uncles. 
 Here is sir Nicholas Bramber, who has been frequently mayor of Lon- 
 don, and whom you created a knight for the gallant service he per- 
 formed in former times ;* consult him, for he ought to be well 
 acquainted with the Londoners, being a fellow-citizen, and must, 
 likewise, have some steady friends among them.. You run a risk of 
 losing your kingdom from those tumultuous and disloyal proceedings. 
 
 The king, on this, turned to sir Nicholas Bramber, and desired 
 him to speak. " My lord,'" said sir Nicholas, " since you command 
 me, I will speak my sentiments before these lords, according to the 
 best of my judgment. In the first place, I do not believe, nor ever 
 shall, that the majority of the Londoners are wanting in affection to 
 our lord who is present. They greatly loved my lord, the prince his 
 father, of happy memory ; and they gave proofs of their loyalty, 
 when the rabble of peasants rose in rebellion : for, to say the truth, 
 had they been inclined to have joined them, there would have been 
 an end of the king and monarchy. The uncles of the king have it 
 now all before them, and laugh at the citizens, whom they make be- 
 Heve whatever they please ; for there is no one to contradict them, 
 »r to show what falsehoods they daily publish. They have put aside 
 .ill the king's officers, myself in the number, and replaced them with 
 ithers of their way of thinking. They have sent the king to a corner 
 of his kingdom ; and one cannot suppose any good will follow, for 
 we are perfectly ignorant what their ultimate intentions may be. If 
 matters continue in this state much longer, the king will be driven 
 out of his kingdom ; for they act by force, and the king by kindness. 
 H-Jve they not already put to death that gallant knight sir Simon 
 Birley, who had performed such meritorious services beyond sea? 
 and have they not, publicly, imputed to him the greatest falsehoods, 
 which they knew to be untrue, such as, that he intended to deliver 
 to the French the town and castle of Dover, and that, for that pur- 
 pose, he had caused them to assemble at Sluys and other parts of 
 Flanders ? Have they not, also, in despite to the king, disgracefully 
 slain his knight sir Robert Tresilian ? and they will treat the rest in 
 the same manner the very instant they can lay hands on them : I 
 therefore advise, that the king use rigorous measures. It is well 
 
 known throughout England that he is king ; that he was educated 
 by our late valiant and good king Edward, at Westminster, who 
 made all his subjects, great and small, swear obedience to him as 
 their king, after his decease, which oath the king's uncles also took. 
 It appears to many, if they dare speak out, that he is not now con. 
 sidered as king, nor does he keep the state or manner of a king ; for 
 he is not suffered to act as he pleases : they have only allowed him 
 and his queen a pension, and plainly show them, that they have not 
 sense to govern the realm, and that their whole council is made nr» 
 of traitors and evil-designing men. I say, therefore, that such con- 
 duct is not longer to be borne ; and I would rather die than remain 
 in such a state of danger, and see the king thus treated, and ruled as 
 he is by his uncles." The king interrupted him by saying : " What 
 is now doing does not please us ; and I tell you, that the advice you 
 have given seems to me both honorable and good for us and for our 
 realm." The conference now broke up ; but not before the duke of 
 Ireland was ordered, as king's lieutenant, to march, with all the 
 force he could collect, toward London, to try the courage of the citi- 
 zens, and see if, by negotiation and the greatest promises on the part 
 of the king, he could not turn them to his faction. It was not long 
 before the duke, with fifteen thousand men, left Bristol on his march 
 to Oxford, where they quartered themselves, and in the country round 
 about. They bore banners and pennons with only the arms of Eng- 
 land, for the king would have it known it was his personal quarrel. 
 
 News was carried to the dukes of York and Gloucester, that the 
 duke of Ireland was on his march to London with fifteen thousand 
 men ; that they were already at Oxford, and that he bore the king's 
 own banners. It was time for them to consider how to act : they 
 summoned all the principal leaders in I^ondon for wealth or power 
 to a conference at Westminster, wherein they toM them how the 
 duke of Ireland was marching against them with a large force. The 
 citizens, like persons prepared to obey the will of the king's uncles, 
 for they were in truth all so inclined, replied : " Be it so, in God's 
 name : if the duke of Ireland demand battle from us, he shall have 
 it. We will not shut a gate for his fifteen thousand men : no, nor 
 for twenty thousand, if he had them." The dukes were much con- 
 tented with this answer, and instantly employed numbers of persons 
 to assemble knights and squires from all parts, and archers from the 
 principal towns. Those whom the dukes had summoned obeyed, as 
 was just, for they had sworn so to do. Men came from the counties 
 of Norwich, Kent, Southampton, from Arund:^!, Salisbury, and the 
 country round London. Many knights and squires came thither also, 
 without knowing whither they were to be sent or conducted. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXIV. 
 
 THE DUKE OF IRELAND SENDS THREE KNIGHTS TO LONDON TO LEARN IN. 
 TELLIGENCE. THE DUKES OF YORK AND GLOUCESTER TAKE THE FIELD 
 AGAINST THE DUKE OF IRELAND AND HIS ARMY. 
 
 I WILL now say something of the duke of Ireland, who had fixed 
 his quarters at Oxford. He had indeed fifteen thousand men, but 
 the greater part had joined him more through constraint than good- 
 will. The duke, to sound the Londoners, resolved to send thither 
 sir Nicholas Bramber, sir Peter Gouloufre, and sir Michael de la 
 Pole : they were to enter the town by the Thames, and to hoist the 
 king's flag, and observe how the citizens, on seeing it, would act. 
 These three knights, in compliance with the duke's orders, left Ox. 
 ford with only thirty horse, and rode secretly to Windsor, where they 
 lay that night. On the morrow, they crossed the Thames at the 
 bridge of Staines, and dined in the king's palace at Sheene,* where 
 they remained until late in the evening, when they departed and 
 rode for another of the king's palaces at Kensington, nearer London, 
 three leagues distant, where they left their horses, and, having entered 
 boats, took advantage of the tide, and passed through London-bridge 
 unobserved, for the watch had not any suspicions of their arrival. 
 They entered the Tower of London, and found the governor whom 
 the king had appointed. From him they learnt many things relative 
 to the king's uncl«s, and what was passing in London. He told 
 them, they had run great risks in coming to him. " How so ?" said 
 they. *' We are knights attached to the king's person, and may 
 surely lodge ourselves in any of his castles." " You will not find 
 things so," answered the governor ; " for though this town and all 
 within it are willing to submit themselves to the obedience ot the 
 king, they will only do so as long as he will allow himself to be gov. 
 erned by his uncles, and no longer. What I tell you is for' your 
 welfare ; and I am bound to advise you, as far as my abilities and 
 understanding will enable me ; for I suspect that when day shall 
 return to-morrow, if it please God, and news get abroad that there 
 are arrived in the Tower persons on the part of the king, you will 
 see this castle besieged by the citizens on all sides, who will not de- 
 part until' they have gained admittance and have seen who are here 
 lodged. Should they find you, they will carry you to the king's 
 uncles, and you may guess what will be the result. I am satisfied 
 they are so much enraged against the duke of Ireland, and the other 
 advisers of the king, that if once they lay hold of you, you will never 
 escape with life. Consider well what I have said, for it is all true." 
 
 * Alluding to his conduct at the time Wat Tyler intiUted the kiof in Smithfieid. 
 
 * Richmond. 
 
C H R 0 i: L i: b OT E N G L A 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 445 
 
 The three knights, who thought they sliould do wonders, were in 
 despair at what they heard : they held a council, and determined to 
 remain where they were until the morrow, but i)i so secret a manner 
 that none should know of their arrival. The governor loyuUy prom- 
 ised to assist them to the utmost of his power, and, in their presence, 
 took possession of all the keys that gave admittance. When day 
 came, the three knights held another council, on their future pro- 
 ceedings ; and, having well considered their situation, they were 
 afraid of waiting until it should be known they were in the Tower, 
 for they were convinced they would be shut up in it ; so that when 
 it was dark, and the tide flowing, they embarked in a large boat, 
 and left the Tower, without having dared to display the king's ban- 
 ners. They slept that night at Kensington, and on the morrow, at 
 daybreak, mounted their horses and rode by Chertsey to Windsor, 
 where they dined and lay. The next day they arrived at Oxford, 
 where was the duke of Ireland and his army : they told all that had 
 passed, which you have heard ; and that, although they were received 
 into the Tower of London, they dared not abide there. The duke 
 was mightily cast down on hearing this, and knew not what to say, 
 nor how to act ; for he was already sensible that the force he had 
 assembled were not all of the same way of thinking, nor well aflfected 
 to his cause : not knowing whether to stay where he was or return 
 to the king, he called a council of his knights. The council deter- 
 mined, that since the king had appointed him lieutenant-general, to 
 punish all who were in rebellion, he must keep the field ; for, should 
 he act otherwise, he would be greatly blamed, incur the indignation 
 of the king, and prove clearly that he did not think the cause just or 
 good : and that it would be better to risk the event, and die with 
 honor, than show any want of courage. He was advised to inform 
 the king of his situation, and to be thankful he was able to keep his 
 ground without any opposition, for none had hitherto advanced to 
 meet him. The duke sent messengers from Oxford to the king, to 
 signify his situation, and to entreat he would send him more men, 
 which he did. 
 
 When the dukes of York and Gloucester heard at London, that 
 the duke of Ireland was at Oxford with a powerful army, they called 
 a council to consider how to act. All the chief lords of their party 
 were present, such as the archbishop of Canterbury, the earls of 
 Arundel, SalisbL;ry, Northumberland, and many other great barons, 
 with the whole magistracy of London. It was there resolved (for 
 the duke of Gloucester would have it so,) instantly to prepare and 
 take the field, and that the mayor of London should arm by consta- 
 blcMdcks, all such as he might think capable of assisting them ; for 
 he declared he wou-'^ march to meet the duke of Ireland, and fight 
 with him wherever I ; =hould find him. The mayor of London was 
 himself a soldier, and he only selected his men from those between 
 twenty and forty years of age ; and the lords above mentioned had 
 at least one thousand men-at-arms retainers on them. This army 
 marched from London, and lodged at Brentford and the adjoining 
 villages ; on the next day at Colebrooiv, .r-^ir force increasing all the 
 way. They followed the road to Reading *o gain a passage over 
 the Thames ; for the bridges of Staines and Windsor had, by com- 
 mand of the duke of Ireland, been broken down, by which they had 
 a better and more level country for their march. The duke of Ire. 
 land, hearing they were fast approaching Oxford, was much alarmed, 
 and demanded counsel. He was advised to draw up his army in 
 battle-array, with the king's banners displayed in front ; and if it 
 pleased God, the day would be his, for he had a good cause. This 
 plan was foUovved : the trumpets sounded to arm, and march out of 
 Oxford, which was done, and the army drawn up with the king's 
 banners displayed. The day was delightful, and the weather clear 
 and pleasant. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXV. 
 
 THE king's uncles GAIN A VICTORY OVER THE DUKE OF IRELAND, WHO 
 SAVES HIMSELF BY FLIGHT WITH OTHERS OF HIS ARMY. 
 
 News was brought to the duke of Gloucester, who was encamped 
 in a handsome mead along a river that falls into the Thames, three 
 leagues from Oxford, that the duke of Ireland had taken the field, 
 and had drawn up his force in order of battle. The duke was well 
 pleased with this intelligence, and said he would offer him combat, 
 but they must cross the Thames. The trumpets sounded to dislodge, 
 and the army was formed as if for immediate battle. They were 
 within two leagues of the enemy, lying in ambush, until they could 
 cross the river. The duke of Gloucester sent scouts to have the 
 fords examined, who brought word the river had not, for thirty years, 
 been so low as it then was. The scouts after this easily crossed, 
 and advanced to observe the position and countenance of the enemy. 
 
 On their return, they said to the duke, " My lord, God and the 
 river are for you : it is so low, it does not reach the bellies of our 
 horses. We have seen the army of the duke of Ireland, which is 
 well and handsomely drawn up. We know not if the king be there 
 in person, but his banners are ; and we could not perceive any other 
 banner than those of the king, emblazoned with the arms of England 
 and France." The duke replied, " God assist us ! my brother and 
 self have a right to those arms. Let us advance, in the name of God 
 and St. George ; for I will have a D/}arer look at them." His men 
 began iheir march, and in higher spirits, on knowing the river was so 
 
 easy to be crossed. The horse passed first, and then the main body. 
 When the duke of Ireland was told that the king's uncles had passed 
 the Thames with their army, and that shordy there must be a battle, he 
 was much frightened ; for he well knew, that if he were taken by the 
 duke of Gloucester, he would not accept of any sum for his ransom, but 
 put him instantly to a disgraceful death. He called, therefore, sir Peter 
 Gouloufre and sir Michael de la Pole, and said to them, " My cour- 
 age entirely faileth me this day ; for 1 dare not abide the event of a 
 battle with the king's uncles, who, if they take me, will put rne to a 
 shameful death. How the devil could they have crossed the Tiiamcs ? 
 This is a bad omen for us." " What do you intend to do ?" askt;d 
 the two knights. " I mean to save myself : do you the same," added 
 the duke, " aiul the whole army, if it can." " Well," replied the 
 knights, " let us keep on one of the wingi-, and we shall have two 
 cords to our bow. We shall see how our men behave : if they do 
 well, we will remain, for the honor of the king who has sent us hither: 
 if they be defeated, we can make off, and have the advantage of 
 going whithersoever we like." 
 
 This plan was adopted ; and the duke changed his horse for a very 
 active one, as did also the knights. They rode round the army, 
 showing a good countenance, and telling the men to behave v.'ell : 
 that they should have the day, if it pleased God and St. George, for 
 they had the right ; and the quarrel was the king's, which was to 
 their advantage. Thus dissembling, they got out of the crowd, and, 
 making for a corner of the army, formed part of a wing. They had 
 scarcely done so, v^hen the dukes of York and Gloucester, and the 
 other lords, were seen advancing, with banners displayed, and trum- 
 pets sounding. The king's army no sooner perceived their array 
 than they were panic-struck, quitted their ranks, and turned their 
 backs ; for it was the general report that the duke of Ireland and his 
 friends had fled. All was now in disorder, every one running away 
 for the fastest, without making the smallest ilefence. The duke and 
 his knights were soon at a distance, for they were not desirous of 
 returning to Oxford. 
 
 The duke of Gloucester, on seeing the condition of tiie king's 
 army, felt compassion, and would not do the ill he might; for he 
 knew the greater part Yad been assembled through fear, or by the 
 excitement of the duke of Ireland. He therefore said to his men, 
 " Sirs, the day is ours ; but I forbid, under pain of death, that any 
 of our enemies be slain, unless he make a defence. If you fin^^' 
 knights or squires, take them, and bring them to me." This orde" 
 was obeyed : few were killed, except in their flight, by riding ove 
 or against each other. Sir John, called tlic Little Beauchamp, and 
 sir John Salisbury, were made prisoners in the pursuit, and brougi:'. 
 to the duke of Gloucester, to his great pleasure. The lords maic'. ■ i 
 to Oxford, where they found the gates open ; and those who <;oi.:U. 
 do so lodged themselves there, though much straitened. When the 
 duke of Gloucester inquired if the duke of Ireland were takeii, he 
 was told that he had escaped. The duke remained two days at 
 Oxford, when he gave liberty for the men-at-arms to rt turn to their 
 homes, after having thanked them for their services. He told the 
 mayor of London and the leaders of the bands, that they might now 
 return to London, which they cheerfully did ; and thus the e;ipedi- 
 tion ended. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXVI. 
 
 THE DUKE OF IRELAND, WITH SOME OF HIS COMPANIONS, ESCAPES INTO 
 HOLLAND. THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY IS SENT i; V THE !r K]:>; 
 OF YORK AND GLOUCESTER TO TREAT WITH THE KING. HE CONDUCTS 
 HIM WITH HONOR TO LONDON. 
 
 I WILL now say what became of the duke of Ireland, sir Fetet 
 Gouloufre, and sir Michael de la Pole, on the day on which they had, 
 like their army, saved themselves by flight. In truth, thh was wisel> 
 done ; for, had they been taken, they would have been put to death 
 without mercy. I do not believe they fled to the king at Bristol : if 
 they did, they made no long stay, but hastened out of En^fe^land as 
 quickly as they could. I heard that they rode through Carlisle to 
 Edinburgh, where they embarked on board a vessel bound for Hoi- 
 land and the Texel, and landed at Dordrecht. They were much 
 rejoiced at thus being in a place of safety ; and it was told me, thai 
 the duke of Ireland had, for a long time before, made large deposits 
 of money at Bruges, by means of the Lombards, to be prepared foi 
 every event ; for, though he knew his power over the king of Eng. 
 land, he was much afraid of the nobles and the people. During his 
 prosperity he had made very ample provision of money in Flanders 
 and in other places, where he thought he might need it. I heard, 
 also, that the first payment of sixty thousand francs, for the ransom 
 of John of Brittany, was waiting his orders, and the time was nearly 
 elapsed for the receipt of the otker sixty thousand francs. He had, 
 therefore, provided himself with money for a long time. 
 
 When the duke Albert of Bavaria, who was regent of Hairault, 
 Holland, and Zealand, for his brother, :,ount William, then alive was 
 informed that the duke of Ireland had fled from England, and had 
 taken up his residence at Dordrecht, he mused awhile, and thought 
 it improper he should make any long stay there. He had quitted 
 England as a fugitive, and was in the ill-favor of his cousins-german, 
 the dukes of York and Gloucester, to whom he owed love and afTec- 
 tion : he had, besides, behaved shamefully to his duchess, who was the 
 
44G 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 daughter of his cousin, the princess Isabella of England. In con- 
 sequence, he sent to tell tlie duke, that since he had displeased his 
 fair cousins of England, and had broken his marriage to connect 
 himself with another woman, he must instantly leave his country 
 and seek other quarters ; for he would never suffer the duke of Ire. 
 land to inhabit any town of his. When he received this order, he 
 was much alarmed lest he should be arrested and given up to his 
 enemies, and humbled himself exceedingly to those who brought the 
 order, saying he would cheerfully obey the duke's commands. He 
 instantly directed all his accounts to be settled and paid, and em- 
 barked on board a vessel, with attendants, for Utrecht, which is a 
 town solely dependent on its bishop, where he arrived, and tarried 
 there until other intelligence was brought him. We will now leave 
 him, and return to the affairs of England. 
 
 When the army of barons had been disbanded at Oxford, I know 
 not if the dukes of York and Gloucester, and the archbishop of Can- 
 terbury, did not remain there some days longer ; during which time 
 the two knights, sir .lohn Salisbury and the little Beauchamp, were 
 beheaded. After this execution they returned to London, where they 
 stayed some time, expecting to hear from the king ; but all they learnt 
 was that he continued in Bristol. It was determined in council at 
 Westminster, through the advice of the archbishop of Canterbury, 
 to send a deputation from the chief barons to the king, to remon- 
 strate with him, in an amicable manner, on his opposition to the 
 principal persons of his kingdom, who were naturally bound to guard 
 his honor, and for having placed his confidence in a set of minion^ ; 
 which conduct had nearly lost him his crown. While this was going 
 forward in the council, sir Nicholas Bramber had been taken in 
 Wales, and brought to London. The king's uncles were rejoiced at 
 this, and said they should not wait long, but that he should suffer a 
 similar death to his friends. Sir Nicholas, unable to offer anything 
 to prevent his execution, was led to the usual place, without tne town, 
 and there beheaded. He was lamented by some of the citizens, for 
 he had, in former times, been their mayor, and had, during that time, 
 well and honestly governed the city. He had also been of essential 
 service to the king at the time of the peasants' rebellion, by slaying, 
 with his own hand. Lister ; which dismayed the insurgents greatly, 
 and put them to flight ; and for this the king had created him a knight. 
 He was beheaded like the others, for having too readily put his faith 
 in the duke of Ireland. 
 
 The king's uncles, seeing that now all those of the king's council 
 whom they hated, were either dead or had quitted the country, 
 thought it time to put *he government on a stable footing ; for, not. 
 withstanding they had put to death, or banished, all who were ob- 
 noxious to them, they never intended to deprive the king of his crown, 
 but only to reform and regulate his government more to his own and 
 country's honor. They therefere said to the archbishop of Canter, 
 bury, " You will go vv^ith your state to Bristol, where you will find 
 the king, and remonstrate with him on the affairs of his realm, and 
 the condition they are now in : recommend us to him, and say, that 
 we entreat he will not put any belief in what he may hear to our 
 discredit : for he has too long done so, against his own honor and 
 profit, as well as to the hurt of the kingdom. You will likewise 
 say, that we and the good city of London beg he will return hither, 
 where he will be received with the utmost joy ; and we will agree to 
 his having the nomination of his council in any way most agreeable 
 to him. We charge you, however, archbishop, on no account to re. 
 turn without him, for those who are now attached to him will be 
 made discontented. Tell him, also, not to be angered for such 
 traitors as were near his person, who may have been slain or driven 
 out of the kingdom, for by them his crown was in danger of being 
 lost." 
 
 The archbishop promised to accomplish the matter as well as he 
 was able, and, having soon made his preparations, set out for Bristol 
 in grand array, such as became so reverend a prelate, and fixed his 
 lodgings in the town. The king lived very privately, for all those 
 who used to be with him were either dead or banished, as you have 
 heard. The archbishop was one whole day and two nights in the 
 town before the king would see him, so sorely vexed was he with his 
 uncles for having driven away the duke of Ireland, whom he loved 
 above all mankind, and for having put to death his chamberlains and 
 knights. At length, he was so well advised that he admitted the 
 archbishop to his presence. On his entrance, he humbled himself 
 much before the king, and then addressed him warmly on the sub. 
 jects the dukes of York and Gloucester had charged him with. He 
 gave him to understand, if he did not return to London, according 
 to the entreaties of his unclos, iho citizens of London, and the /Tealer 
 part of his subjects, he would make them very discontented ; and he 
 remonstrated, that without the r.id of his uncles, barons, prelates, 
 knights, and commons, from the chief towns, he would be unable to 
 act, or to have any compliance given to his will. This he had been 
 charged to tell him, and likewise that he could not more rejoice Lis 
 enemies, nor more effectually hurt his country, than by making war 
 on his friends. The young king was inclined to listen to the argu- 
 ments of the archbishop ; but the insult that had been offered him, 
 by beheading those of his council in whom he had no fault to find, 
 was too fresh in his memory for him instantly to comply. Many 
 plans were proposed to him ; at last, by the good advice of the queen, 
 tnd of the most prudent of his counsellorsi who had remained With 
 
 him, such as sir Richard Stenor and others, he restrained his choler, 
 and said to the archbishop, that he would cheerfully accompany him 
 to London. My lord of Canterbury was highly pleased on hearing 
 this ; and he gained much honor by having brought matters to so 
 happy a conclusion. The king did not remain at Bristol long after 
 this, but leaving there his queen, set out with his retinue tov/ard Lon. 
 don, the archbishop accompanying hini. On his arrival at Windsor, 
 he stopped three whole days. 
 
 When news was brought to London that the archbishop of Canter- 
 bury had so far succeeded in his mis; on, that the king was on his 
 return to the city, the whole town was ; ?ioiced ; and they determined 
 to go out to meet and conduct him, in the most honorable manner, 
 to his palace. The day on which he left Windsor, the whole road 
 from London to Brentford was covered with people on foot and horse- 
 back. The dukes of York and Gloucester, and prince John of York, 
 the earls of Arundel, Salisbury, Northumberland, and many barons 
 and prelates, went, in great state, to conduct the king. They met 
 him within two miles from Brentford, and received him most affec- 
 tionately, as good subjects should their lord. The king, vv^ho had 
 their late proceedings still rankling in his heart, scarcely stopped 
 when he met them, nor cast his eyes toward them. The person he 
 talked the most to on his road was the bishop of London. On their 
 arrival in Westminster, the king dismounted at his palace, which had 
 been prepared for him. He there partook of wines and spices, as did 
 his uncles, the barons, prelates, and knights, who were entitled to tha 
 honor. Several of them now took leave, and those who resided in 
 London went home, but the king's uncles, the archbishop of Canter- 
 bury, and the whole of the council, remained to keep him company, 
 to be on better terms together, and to consult on the affairs of the 
 nation, for they had formed their plans, and were lodged, some in the 
 palace, and others in the abbey. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXVII 
 
 THE KIN&, BY THE ADVICE OF HIS UNCLES AND COUNCIL, SUMMONS THB 
 NOBILITY AND COMMONERS OF THE REALM TO A PARLIAMENT AT 
 WESTMINSTER, AND TO RENEW THEIR HOMAGE TO HIM. 
 
 A SPECIAL parliament being ordered to meet at Westminster, all the 
 barons, prelates, knights, and chief citizens from the principal towns, 
 were summoned to attend, and all who held fiefs from the king. 
 The reason for this parliament being made so general, was, that the 
 archbishop of Canterbury had remonstrated in the council, and to the 
 king's uncles, that when they had crowned king Richard, though all 
 who held fiefs under him had made their homage, and held their lands 
 accordingly, he was not of a proper age legally to receive their oaths. 
 A king by right must be twenty-one years of age before he can justly 
 govern the kingdom, and, until that time, should be under the tutelage 
 of his uncles, if he have any, or under those of his subjects the nearest 
 related to him. The archbishop added, that as now the king was of 
 the proper age, he advised, for greater security, all who held any 
 lands under him should renew their homage, and acknowledge him 
 for their lord. This opinion of the archbishop was acceded to by 
 the king's uncles, and was the cause of so general a summons being 
 sent abroad for all persons to attend this parliament. Every one 
 having obeyed, London knd Westminster were much crowded. 
 
 On the day appointed, the king heard mass royally clothed, with 
 the crown on his head, in the chapel of the palace,* which is very 
 handsome and richly decorated. The archbishop of Canterbury said 
 mass, and performed divine service. He was attentively heard, for 
 he was an excellent preacher. When the service was over, the king's 
 uncles kissed him, in sign of homage, and swore faith and duty to 
 him for ever. Then came the barons, prelates, and all who held any- 
 thing under him, and with joined hands, as was becoming vassals, 
 swore faith and loyalty, and kissed him on the mouth. It was vii-ible 
 that the king kissed some heartily, others not ; for though he checked 
 himself as much as possible, all were not in his good graces ; but he 
 dissembled, for he wished not to act contrary to his uncles. If he 
 had possessed the povver, he would not have behaved thus, but have 
 wreaked a cruel revenge on those who had, as he thought, so unde 
 servedly put to death sir Simon Burley and his other knights. 
 
 The archbishop of York was summoned by the council to attend, 
 to do his homage, and purge himself from the things that had been 
 laid to his charge ; for he had always been a partisan of the duke of 
 Ii-eland, and in opposition to the king's uncles. When he received 
 this summons, knowing he was not beloved by the dukes of York or 
 GlouC(;sier, he was feai-ful of the event, and therefore sent his nephew, 
 the son of lord Neville, to make his excuses. He instantly set out 
 for London, and, on his arrival waited on the king first, to whom he 
 made excuses for his uncle, and performed, as proxy, the homage of 
 the archbishop. The king received his excuses, for he loved this 
 archbishop more than that of Canterbury, and bore him out before 
 the council, otherwise he would have been heavily fined : through 
 attention to the king the council admitted his excuses, and he was 
 suffered to remain in his diocese. For a long time, however, he was 
 
 * This chapel was afterwards converted into the house of commons, and continued 
 to be used as such till its destruction by tire in 18^, When it was cnlarjfeH <'or the ad- 
 mission of the members from Ireland on the union, many of the paintings and othtf 
 ornament* were discovered, and have been engraven and publi»lied. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 447 
 
 afraid to reside at York, but lived at Newcastle on Tyne, near the 
 castles of his brother Neville and cousins. Thus were affairs in 
 England ; but the king had not for some time the command of his 
 council, which was under the control of his uncles, and the barons 
 and prelates before named. We will now return to what was going 
 forward in Castille and Poi-tugal. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXVIII. 
 
 THE KING OF PORTUGAL AND DUKE OF LANCASTER UNITE THEIR FORCES. 
 WIIEN DISTRESSED TO CROSS THE RIVER DUORO, A GALICIAN SQUIRE, 
 PRISONER OF WAR, DIRECTS THEM TO A FORD. 
 
 It is right, since the matter requires it, that I now say something 
 of the expedition of the duke of Lancaster, and how he persevered 
 in it this season in Galicia. I will continue it from where I left off, 
 as I have a great desire to complete its history. 
 
 When the duke and his army had conquered the town and castle 
 of Orense, they halted there four days to refresh themselves, as there 
 were plenty of provisions. On the fifth day, they departed, taking 
 the road to Noya. They quartered themselves, for four days, in a 
 large meadow along the river-side ; but the ground was already burnt 
 up by the great heat of the sun, and the water was so bad that the 
 horses would scarcely drink it : many that did so died. Orders were 
 given to dislodge and return to Orense : for the marshals, sir Thomas 
 Moreaux and sir Richard Burley, had declared the castle of Noya to 
 be impregnable but by a long siege, with great expense of money, 
 and many assaults. The duke of Lancaster, likewise, when there, 
 received intelligence of the approach of the king of Portugal and his 
 army, consisting of three thousand spears and ten thousand service, 
 able men : so that, when the two armies should be united, something 
 essential might be done ; for the duke had with him fifteen hundred 
 knights and squires, and six thousand archers. This intelligence 
 * greatly pleased the duke ; he decamped from before Noya, where he 
 had done nothing, and returned to Orense. He sent for his duchess 
 and ladies, declaring he would there wait the arrival of the king of 
 Portugal. 
 
 The king of Portugal and his marshals, having taken possession 
 of Ferrol, marched for Orense to meet the duke of Lancaster. On 
 their road, they came to Ville-de-Padron, which at first showed symp- 
 toms of rebellion, but, when the araiy appeared, they submitted. The 
 king and his army remained in the town and adjoining country fif- 
 teen days, and greatly wasted its provisions, notwithstanding a suffi. 
 ciency came to them from Portugal. Galicia was ruined by these 
 two armies; and the weather was now become so exceedingly hot, 
 that none could venture abroad, after eight o'clock in the morning, 
 without risk of death. While the duke and duchess of Lancaster 
 remained in Orense, their men and horses were suffering greatly for 
 want of forage and water : there were neither fresh grass nor green 
 food, for the ground was too parched for any seeds to spring. The 
 whole country was burnt up ; and the English were forced to send 
 their foragers twelve, sixteen, nay twenty leagues, for food for them- 
 selves and horses. Consider what their difficulties must have been. 
 The knights and squires of England found the wines so strong and 
 ardent, that they affected their heads, stomachs, and bowels, and 
 they had not any remedy ; for there was a great scarcity of good 
 water, to temper them with, or to cool them. Their food was con- 
 trary to what they had always been accustomed to ; for in their own 
 country they live at their ease, while now they were burnt with ex- 
 ternal and internal heat. The greatest lords were in the utmost 
 poverty and distress ; and such effects as were natural, followed, 
 which I shall relate to you. 
 
 The English knights and squires, seeing their difficulties increase, 
 from the scarcity of forage and the extreme heat of the weather, be- 
 gan to murmur and say, " Our expedition seems drawing to a poor 
 ond ; for we remain too long in one place."' " That is true," replied 
 others : " and we have another thing much against us ; we have 
 brought women, who only wish to remain quiet ; and for one day 
 that they are inclined to travel, they will repose fifteen. It is this 
 which has checked us, and will be our destruction ; for if, on our 
 landing at Coruiia, we had advanced into the country, we should 
 have succeeded in putting it under our obedience, for none would 
 have dared to oppose us ; but these long residences have encouraged 
 our enemies, who have strengthened their strong places, and rein, 
 forced their towns and castles with men-at-anns from France ; and 
 have also posted them in the narrow passes, and along the rivers, to 
 guard and defend them. They will defeat us without a batde ; for 
 they know it would be more to their advantage to decline it. This 
 kingdom of Castille is not so pleasant a countiy to make war in as 
 France, where there are plenty of large villages, a fair country, fine 
 rivers, ponds, rich pastures, and agreeable and substantial wines Yor 
 men-at-arms to refresh themselves with, and a sun and climate finely 
 temperate ; but here everything is the reverse." " What the deuce," 
 said others, " what business had the duke to bring his wife and 
 daughters with him, since he came hither for conquest ? It was quite 
 unreasonable, for they have been a great hindrance to him. It is 
 well known throughout all Castille, that he and his brother are the 
 lawful heirs of the crown, in right of their wives, who were daughters 
 cf don P«dro ; but, with regard to the conquest or the surrender of 
 
 any towns, ladies can do but litde." This was the language held in 
 different parts of the English army, by many knighti and squires when 
 among themselves. They were much rejoiced on learning that the 
 king of Portugal was near at hand ; and when he was within two 
 miles of the town, the duke of Lancaster and his knights mounted 
 their horses, and went forth to meet him. There was much apparent 
 joy, and the king and the duke, as well as the English and Portu. 
 guese knights, testified great pleasure at meeting. The army of 
 Portugal was behind, under the command of six great barons of that 
 country, namely, Pounasse d'Acunha, Vasco Martin de Merlo, the 
 posdich Dosnedegousse, Salvase de Merlo, sir Alleyne Pcreira, mar- 
 shal, and Joao Rodriguez de Sa.. Several barons were with the king, 
 whose escort was but three hundred spears. On their arhval at 
 Orense, the king was lodged becoming his state, and much at his 
 ease, ai]d the place was full of horses. The king, duke, and lords, 
 were five days in council, and determined to make an excursion, 
 with the united armies, toward Medina del Campo and Vilalpando, 
 where sir Oliver du Guesclin, constable of Castille, and the largest 
 garrison of Frenchmen, were stationed. They were puzzled how 
 to cross the Duoro, which at times is dangerous, and more so in the 
 summer, from the melting of the snows on the mountains, than in 
 the winter, when it is frozen, like all other streams. Notwithstand. 
 ing this difficulty, they resolved to march to Campo, in the hopes of 
 finding a ford ; and orders were issued to the armies to this effect. 
 They were well pleased to receive them, for they had suffered very 
 severely at Orense, and in those parts ; and many had been carried 
 off by sickness. 
 
 The king of Portugal and the duke of Lancaster left Orense to- 
 gether; but their armies were separated, because ihey were not ac- 
 quainted, nor understood each other's language, and likewise to pre- 
 vent any disputes or riots that might fall out between thom ; for the 
 Portuguese are passionate, overbearing, and not easily pacified, and 
 the English are spiteful and proud. The constables and marshals of 
 each army, when they sent out parties to forage, ordered them to 
 take separate routes. These armies, which were sufficient to com- 
 bat what force the king of Castil'e and his allies could bring to the 
 field, continued their march until they came to the river Duoro. This 
 was not easy to pass ; for it is deep, with high banks, and fiiil of 
 broken rocks, except at certain bridges, which had either been de- 
 stroyed, or so strongly fortified and guarded, it was not possible to 
 attempt them with hopes of success. While they were considering 
 how they could cross it, it chanced that sir John HolLind, the con- 
 stable, sir Thomas Moreaux and sir Richard Burley, the marshals, 
 or their foragers, during an excursion, fell in with a squire of Galicia, 
 called Domingo Vargas, who was riding through the country, having 
 passed the river : he knew that all the bridges were broken down, 
 but he was acquainted with a ford that could easily be passed on 
 horseback or on foot ; and when he saw the enemy, he had turned 
 back, and was riding for this ford. He was made prisoner, and 
 brought to these lords, who examined him as to a ford ; and the con- 
 stable told him, that if he would show them a safe one, for he had heard 
 there were such, he would not only give him his liberty, but make 
 him a handsome present besides. The squire was not well advised, 
 and too eager to gain his liberty and the constable's gift; he there- 
 fore said, that he would show them a place where the whole army 
 might cross in safety. The constable and marshals were so joyful 
 on hearing this, that they sent to acquaint the duke with the good 
 news. The armies followed the vanguard of the constable, which had 
 arrived at the ford. The squire entered the river as their guide ; and 
 when they saw there was not any danger, all passed in the best man- 
 ner they could. 
 
 The van, having crossed, halted on the bank to guide the main 
 army over. Sir John Holland kept his promise with the Galician 
 squire, by giving him his liberty and a present ; and he instaiitly set 
 off for Medina del Campo, where the king of Castille then was. It 
 is a handsome and strong city in that country. The duke of Lan- 
 caster and the king of Portugal rode in company, and came to this 
 ford, which is called Place-ferrade, where the gravel is sound and 
 firm. They crossed without difficulty, as did their armies ; the rear 
 division crossed on the morrow, and they all encamped themselves 
 on its banks. News was soon carried to Roales Castroreris, Medina 
 del Campo, Vilalpando, Saliagan, and to the other towns and castles 
 in Castille, that the English had passed the Duoro, having discovered a 
 ford. They were much surprised, and said they must have been 
 shown it through treachery ; for, if it had not been made known by 
 some of the natives, they would never have found it out. There is 
 nothing but what sooner or later is discovered, by servants or other- 
 wise. The lords attached to the king of Castille learnt that Do- 
 mingo Vargas had pointed out to them this ford : he was instantly ar. 
 rested, and having acknowledged what he had done, was condemned 
 to death. He was carried to Vilalpando, and there beheaded. 
 
448 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXIX. 
 
 Sm WALTER DE PASSAC AND SIR WILLIAM DE LIGNAC ADVISE THE KING 
 OF CASTILLE NOT TO RISK A BATTLE BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF THE 
 DUKE OF BOURBON. A PARTY OF THE ENGLISH SKIRMISH WITH THE 
 GARRISON OF VILALPANDO. THE DUKE OF LANCASTER IS DISPIRITED 
 BY HIS OWN ILL HEALTH AND THE GREAT SICKNESS OF HIS ARMY. 
 
 The king of Castille, on hearing that the king of Portugal and the 
 duke of Lancaster were fast approaching with so gi-eat a force, was 
 much alarmed, and sent for sir Walter de Passac and sir William de 
 Lignac, to whom he said, " I am exceedingly surprised that the duke 
 of Bourbon is not arrived. Our enemies have taken the field, and, if 
 no one oppose them, will destroy my whole country. My subjects 
 are very discontented that we do not offer them combat. Tell me, 
 my fair sirs, how I had best act." The two lords, who from great 
 experience, knew more of arms than the king, and for this had they 
 been sent from France to Castille, replied, " Sir king, depend upon 
 it, the duke of Bourbon will come. On his arrival, we will consider 
 what is to be done; but, until then, do not make any preparations 
 to meet your enemies. Let them make what excursions they please : 
 they keep the field, and we the towns and castles, which are well pro- 
 vided with everything, and garrisoned by good men-at-arms. They 
 are suffering from the heat of the sun and weather, while we enjoy 
 the shade and refreshing breezes. They have found the country 
 wasted, and the further they advance they will have so much the 
 greater scarcity of forage. It was for the chance of their entering 
 your country, that all the small forts have been demolished, wherein 
 the farmers intended placing their wealth. This was, sir king, wisely 
 done ; for they would by their means have been enabled to keep pos- 
 session of those parts where they now are ; but at present they can 
 find nothing but what they have brought with them, except the great 
 heat of a burning sun, which you may be assured must soon destroy 
 them. Though all your towns and castles are well provided and 
 garrisoned, we can believe that some may be attacked and won, for 
 that is the delight of men-at-arms. In such way they love to pass 
 their time, and for this do they seek adventures through the world. 
 Do not, therefore, be any way cast down ; for in this business, we 
 engage, you shall not suffer any great loss." This speech greatly 
 comforted the king of Castille, and he was well pleased with them, 
 for he felt that what they had said was the truth. 
 
 We will return to the duke of Lancaster and the king of Portugal, 
 who, though they kept the field, would have willingly gained some 
 town to refresh themselves ; for the foragers could not find anything, 
 and were forced to unite in large bodies for fear of ambuscades. 
 They were so hard pressed, that when, in their excursions, they saw 
 It a distance a large village, they were rejoiced, and cried out, "Come 
 quick : let us hasten to that village, where we shall find enough 
 to forage and enrich ourselves." They hastened their march ; but 
 when they arrived, they found only the bare walls : there was neither 
 inhabitants, nor even a dog, nor fowl, so completely had the French 
 ruined this part of the country. They thus lost their time and ex- 
 pectations, and returned to their lords empty-handed. Their horses 
 were in sorry condition from the want of proper food, and they were 
 fortunate whenever they could meet with any green pastures. Some 
 were so feeble they could not advance, and dropt dead on the road, 
 through famine and heat. Their masters were not in a much better 
 condition, from fevers caused by the oppressive heat of the day, and 
 the chill of the nights, without having anything proper to refresh or 
 recover themselves. Thus was it in the duke's army ; for the Eng. 
 lish have a weaker constitution than the Portuguese, who bore all 
 these difficulties without hurt, being hardy and accustomed to the 
 climate of Castille. In this melancholy state were the English : 
 many died of their disorders, more especially such as were not well 
 attended, and had not wherewithal to provide proper remedies. 
 
 Sir Richard Burley, sir Thomas Percy, the lord Fitzwalter, sir 
 Maubrun de Linieres, sir .Tohn d'Ambreticourt, Thierry and William 
 de Soumain, with two hundred lances of such as were desirous to seek 
 renown, mounted the best horses in the army, with the intent to sur- 
 prise the French garrison in Vilalpando. They had heard that sir 
 Oliver du Guesclin, constable of Castille, had with him there, in gar- 
 risen, some of the ablest knights of France. They left the army one 
 morning, after drinking a cup, equipped like foragers, and came to 
 a small brook that runs below Vilalpando, which they crossed by 
 spurring their horses over. The alarm was soon spread through the 
 town, that the English were at the barriers. You would have seen, 
 had you been there when this was known, knights arming themselves 
 hastily, and advancing toward the lodgings of the constable, servants 
 saddling horses and hurrying with them to their masters. Sir Oliver 
 du Guesclin would have restrained his companions from sallying 
 forth to meet the English, had he been able ; but their courage was 
 too impetuous, so out they sallied, gallantly mounted on horses that 
 had been inactive and well fed. Among the first were, sir John 
 des Barres, the viscount de Besliere, sir Robert and sir John de Bra- 
 quemont, sir Peter de Villaines, sir Tristan de la Jaille. 
 
 When the English had made their course before the town, they 
 repassed the brook in the same manner as before, and retreated to a 
 large sand bank, when they drew up in handsome array, about three 
 bow.shota distant from the brook. The French knights advanced, 
 
 shouting their cries, with their spears in their rests ; and, when near, 
 the English being prepared, stuck spurs into their horses to meet 
 them. The shock was very great ; and several of each side were 
 unhorsed on the sand. This would not have ended so speedily, and 
 other weapons would have been resorted to when the lances failed ; 
 but the dust from the movements of the horses, was so great and 
 disagreeable, they could not know each other ; their horses were 
 covered with dust as well as themselves ; and it was in such clouds 
 that they could not breathe without swallowing large mouthfuls. 
 This caused the attack to cease, and the French and English to 
 withdraw from the combat : the first returned to Vilalpando. There 
 was not any slain, nor much hurt on either side. The English knights 
 went not more than one league beyond Vilalpando before they re. 
 turned to their army, when they disarmed themselves ; for they were 
 seized with fevers and other disorders, which brought them to death's 
 door. 
 
 The duke of Lancaster was greatly dispirited, and knew not how 
 to act; for he saw his army daily wasting away, and was grieved to 
 find that the greater and better part were confined to their beds. He 
 himself was so unwell, that if he had not been afraid to dishearten 
 his men, he would gladly have kept his chamber. He addressed 
 himself to the king of Portugal, and desired him to say what, in the 
 present circumstances, should be done ; for he was much alarmed at 
 this mortality in his army. The king replied ; " That, from appear- 
 ances, it did not seem probable the Castillians would offer them com- 
 bat at this season : for they showed more inclination that they should 
 waste themselves and their provision." " How then would you ad- 
 vise me to act ?" asked the duke. " I will tell you," answered the 
 king : " as the weather is now so exceedingly hot, I would advise 
 that you march your- army into Galicia, and give your men permis. 
 sion to recruit themselves wherever they please ; but to return pre- 
 pared to recommence the campaign in March or April. Endeavor 
 to procure large reinforcements from England, under the command of 
 one of your brothers, and provision in plenty for the winter season. 
 A kingdom is not soon conquered, nor a climate instantly rendered 
 agreeable to the constitution of strangers. Your army will be quar- 
 tered in the different towns now under your obedience, and will pass 
 their time as they can." 
 
 " This may be right," said the duke ; " but the consequence will 
 be, that as soon as our enemis shall know we have separated, and 
 are acquainted that you are retired to Portugal with your army, and 
 I with mine to St. Jago or Coruiia, they will take the field ; for I 
 have heard that the king of Castille has four thousand lances, French 
 and Bretons, and he will collect as many or more, in his own coun- 
 try. Add to this, that the duke of Bourbon is on his march with two 
 thousand men-at-arms, and will be eager to signalize himself on his 
 arrival. Now, consider, should all this force enter Galicia, what is 
 there to oppose it? Before we can collect our men and form a junc. 
 tion, they will have done us considerable damage." " Well, then," 
 replied the king of Portugal, " in the name of God, let us keep the 
 field : my men are fresh and unhurt,.and equally willing with myself 
 to abide the event." The conference now broke up ; and it was 
 resolved they would wait the arrival of the duke of Bourbon, to see 
 if, when he had joined the Castillians, they would offer them battle. 
 The English and Portuguese desired nothing more eagerly ; for the 
 season was passing, and the heat increasing : it was about St John's 
 day, when the sun is at its height, and intolerably hot, especially in 
 Castille, Granada, and countries far to the south. There had noi 
 fallen any rain or dew since the beginning of April, so that the whole 
 country was burnt up. The English ate plentifully of grapes wher- 
 ever they found them ; and, to quench their thirst, drank of the strong 
 wines of Castille and Portugal : but the more tbey drank the more 
 they were heated ; for this new beverage inflamed their livers, lungs, 
 and bowels, and was in its effect totally different from their usual 
 liquors. The English, when at home, feed on fresh meats and good 
 rich ale, which is a diet to keep their bodies wholesome ; but now 
 they were forced to drink hard and hot wines, of which they were 
 not sparing, to drown their cares. The early part of the night is 
 warm, from the great heat of the day, but toward sunrise, it is very 
 cold, which afflicted them sorely ; for they slept without covering, 
 and quite naked, from the heat of the weather, and the wine, so that 
 when morning came they were chilled by the change of the air, 
 which checked all perspiration, and flung them into fevers and fluxes, 
 so as to carry them off instantly to their graves. Thus died very many 
 of the barons and knights, as well as of the lower ranks ; for these 
 disorders spared none. 
 
 CHAPTER XC. 
 
 THE DUKE OF LANCASTER DISBANDS HIS ARMT. THREE ENGLISH KNIGHTS, 
 HAVING OBTAINED PASSPORTS, WAIT ON THE KING OF CASTILLE, TO NB- 
 GOTIATE A RETREAT FOR THE MEN-AT-ARMS THROUGH HIS KINGDOM. 
 
 Good or evil fortune depends upon a trifle. You may readily be- 
 lieve that the duke of Lancaster, having gained a footing in Castille, 
 would never have lost, by any defeat in battle, such numbers as he 
 was now daily doing by sickness. He himself was almost dead of 
 the pestilence I have mentioned. Sir John Holland, constable of the 
 army, saw. with great concern, the miserable situation it was i.a from 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &.c. 
 
 449 
 
 this disorder, from which scarcely one escaped ; and was forced daily 
 to hear the complaints of high and low, in such terms as these ; " Aii, 
 my lord of Lancaster, why have you brought us to Castille ? Ac- 
 cursed be the expedition. He does not, probably, wish that any 
 Engiishjnan should ever again quit his country to serve hini. He 
 stems resolved to kick against tl:o pricks. He will have his men 
 guard the country he has conquered ; but when they shall all be 
 dead, who will then guard it ? He shows but poor knowledge of 
 war; for, when he saw that no one came to oppose him, why did he 
 not make an opportune retreat into Portugal or elsewhere, to avoid 
 the losses he inuit now surier ? for we shall all die of the confounded 
 diiorder, and v/ithout having struck a blow." Sir .John Hu-lland was 
 much hurt on hearing such linguage, for the honor of the duke, 
 whose daughtjr he had married ; and, as it was increasing, he deter- 
 mined to remonstrate with him on their situation, which he could, 
 from his connection, more freely do than any other. He therefore 
 addressed him ; " My lord, you nmst immediately alter your plans, 
 for your army is wholly laid up witli sickness. If any attack should 
 be now made on you, you could not draw any service from it; for 
 the men are all worn down and discontented, and their hordes dead. 
 But hijh and low are so discouraged by this disorder, that I repeat, 
 you must not expect any service from them." " What can I do ?" 
 replied the duke : '* I wish to have such advice as is reasonable." 
 " My lord," said sir John Holland, " I think you had bett give per- 
 mission for your men to retire whithersoever they please ; and 1 would 
 advise that you yourself go to Portugal, or return to Galicij, for you 
 are not in a state to undergo hardships." " That is well considered," 
 answered the duke: " I consent to what you propose ; and you may 
 give our men notice, that I permit them t.) go iaio Custille, France, 
 or wherever else they may choo&e, so they enter not into any treity 
 wit!] our enemies ; for I clearly see this campaign is over. Let them 
 be fully p iid for their services as far as our treasury can gi, and abo 
 for the expenses of their journey, and then make our chancelbr de- 
 liver ther'3 their discharge." 
 
 The constable replied, that he would see this done. He ordered 
 the intentions of the duke to be signified throughout the army by 
 sound of tiumpet, and gave notice to tie captains to come to him 
 with their accounts, when they would be settled and paid, to their 
 satisfaction. This order was agreeable to all, particularly to those 
 who hoped change of air would restore them to health. The barons 
 and knights held a council how they were to return to England : by 
 sea it w.is impossible, for they had no vessels, and were at a distance 
 from any seaport. They were, bedJee, so emaciated and weak, 
 from the fevers and fluxes, that they would have been unable to bear 
 a sea voyage. Plaving considered the matter we'l, they found they 
 had no other choice than through France ; but some said : " How 
 can we go thither ? we have enemic'S in all the countiies we must 
 pass. First, there is Castille : we are now carrying on a destructive 
 war against it : then Navarre and Arragon. Theee two kingdoms 
 are allied, the one to Castille, and the other t j France. Arragon has 
 already showed ita spite, for the seneschal of Bordeaux inform? us, 
 that since our arrival in this country, he has thrown the archbishop 
 of Bordeaux intj prison at Barcelona, who had gone thitherto demand 
 from the king the arrears that are due to England. Should we send 
 to ask passports from France, the journey would take up too much 
 time ; and, when our messenger should be arrived, we have little 
 hopes that the king, who is young, or his council, woyld grant them; 
 for the constable of France, sir Oliver de Clisson, hufjs us mortally, 
 and tills is increased by his imagining his enemy, the duke of Brit- 
 tany, intends turning to England. Others, who were farther sighted, 
 and of more sense, said ; " Let all doubts be laid aside. The best 
 thing we can do is to try the king of Castille, who may perhapr, not 
 only allow us to pass peaceably through his country, but also obtain 
 for us the same permission from Arragon, France, and Navarre." 
 
 This measure was adopted, and a herald, called Derby, sent for, 
 to whom were given letters addressed to the king of Castille. The 
 herald set off, and followed the road to Medina dsl Campo, where 
 the king then resided. When in his presence, he cast himself on his 
 knees and presented his letters, which were written in French. 
 When the king had read them, and understood their meaning, he 
 Bmiled, and, turning to a knight who was the steward of his house- 
 hold, said ; " Take care cf this herald : he shall have his answer to- 
 night, that he may return early to-morrow morning." The king 
 entered his closet, and sent for sir Walter de Passac and sir William 
 de Lignac, to whom he showed the letters, and asked what answer 
 he should send. The substance of these letters was, in a few words, 
 as follows. Sir John Holland, constable of the English army, desired 
 the king of Castille to send passports for three knights to come to him 
 and return, that they might have a conference with him. The two 
 knit^hts replied ; " It will, my lord, be right that yon grant these pass- 
 poets, for then you will know what it is they want." " I agree to it," 
 saj'i the king, and instantly ordered a passport to he drawn out for 
 the coming and return of six knights, if it were agreeable to t ie con- 
 stable, with their attendants. When this was sealed with the great 
 seal, and with the king's signet, it was given to the herald, and 
 twenty francs with it : having received the whole, he returned to the 
 duke of Lancaster and the constable at Orense. 
 
 The herald gave the constable the passport, who appointed sir 
 -JAaubrun de Liaieres, sir Thpmas More^ux, and sir John d'Ambre. 
 
 ticourt, embassadors to the king of Castille. Tiicy set off as soon as 
 possible, for there was nmch want of phj'siclans and medicines, as 
 well as of fresh meat for the numerous sick who were scanered hi 
 dilferent parts. These embassadors passed through Vilalpando, 
 where sir Oliver du Guesclin received them handsomely, and entiT. 
 tained them at supper. On the morrow, one of the knights called 
 Tiutemach, a Breton, was their conductor, to secure them agiiinst 
 the numerous parties of Bretons which were abroad. They arrived 
 safely at Medina del Campo, where they found the king inipaiioni to 
 know what had brought them thither. When they had refreshed and 
 dressed themselves at a hotel that had been prepared for ihem. t'aey 
 were conducted by some knights of the household to the presence of 
 the king, who apparently received them with pleasure. They pre. 
 sented him letters from the constable, but from none else ; for the 
 duke of Lancaster excused himself, and would act at this t/me, nor 
 on such a subject, write to him. 
 
 The knights and squires of France were not present at this inter- 
 view, although they were of the king's privy council, and nothing 
 was done respecting the war without their consent. The enibassa. 
 dors addressed the king, saying: " Sir king, we are come hither on 
 the part of the constable of the army the duke of L'lncaster hag 
 brought from England. But unfortunately very great sickness and 
 mort dity have befallen it : the constable therefore entreat', thtt you 
 would have the goodness to open your country and towns to such as 
 may desire to try change of air for the recovery of their health, if it 
 may be recovered, and to enter your towns to recruit their streiigtli ; 
 and if some should wish to return to England by land, he begs you 
 would interest yourself with the kings of France and Navarre, that 
 they may, at their own costs, freely pass through their territories, in 
 their way home. This is the sole object of our mission, and the re. 
 quest we have to make you." The king very graciausly replied ; 
 " We will consider what will be proper for us to do, and f^lvc you 
 our answer." The knights replied, they were satisfied. 
 
 CHAPTER XCI. 
 
 THE ENGLISH EMBASSADORS OBTAIN PASSPORTS FROM TH^ I^I^•0 Fr*? Tlirm 
 SICK TO PASS IN SAFEfY THROfGH CASTIM-E, OR TO RF.MAf.V Tfil al-l TJ 
 RKCOVER THEIR HEALTH. MANY KNIGHTS AND SQl IRES LIE IN CAS. 
 TILLE. THE DUKE OF LANCASTER DANGEROUSLY ILL AT bT. JAG3. 
 
 The English knights, on taking leave of the king, went to their 
 lodginys, where they remained until the third day, when they re. 
 turned to the pilace. The king of <Iastille was much rejuictd at 
 their request ; for he saw there would be an end to the war for a 
 long time, vvhen his enemies solicited leave to march peaceably 
 thj-ough his kingdom. He vv".s determined what answer to mr.ke, 
 though hi.3 council had advised otherwise ; and, wishi-ig to pay duo 
 honor to the French knights, he sent for sir Walter de Pa'^^ac and 
 sir William de Lignac. Having' explained tJ them the object of the 
 English knights' embassy, and the request of the constable, lie de. 
 mandcd from them how he should act ; and desired sir Walter to 
 give him his opinion. Sir Walter was unwilling to spef.k before the 
 members of the council ; but, as the king would have it eo, he said- 
 " Sir, matters are come to the conclusion we always foretold, thai 
 your enemies would be worn down and destroyed, without ftiikinf 
 a blow. Since their sick so humbly ask assistance and ccmf^rt il 
 your country, you should grant their request ; but on condition that 
 if they recover, they do not return to the duke of Lancaster or tc 
 the king of Portugal, but continue their road ftraight homeward, 
 and that they engage not to bear arms against y )u, ru)r the realm of 
 Castille, for the term of six years. We also h-^pe you may be suc- 
 cessful in obtaining leave for them to pass with safety through Na- 
 varre and France." The king was well contented with this advice, 
 for it was what he was inclined to ; and he was indifferent what 
 terrhs were made, so that he got rid of the English. He replied to 
 sir Walter, " You have loyally counselled me, and I thank you : it 
 shall be done as you propose." 
 
 The English knights were sent for, and conducted into the presence- 
 chamber, where v.'ere the king and his whole council. The bishop 
 of Burgos, as chancellor, and a g.-eat orator, thus addressed them : 
 "Ye knights of England, attached to the duke of Lancaster, who 
 have been sent hither by his constable, listen to the answer the king 
 gives to your requests. Out of his great pity and goodness he is de. 
 sirous of doing to his enemies all the kindnes-s in his pjwer. On 
 your return to the constable, you will tell him from the king of Cas- 
 tille, that he may publish, by sound cf trumpet, throughout hh army, 
 that this country is opm and ready to receive, sick or well, all 
 knights, squires, and their attendants, who may be desirous cf coming 
 hither, on condition that, at the gates of whatever city or town they 
 may wish to enter, they there lay aside their armor and arms, when 
 they will be conducted, by those ordered for the purpose, tD hotels 
 prepared for them. They will tben have their n^me: written down 
 and delivered to the governor, in order that those who may have 
 re ided in any towns may not, on any pretext whatever, return to 
 Galicia or Portugal, but quit the country as soon as may be. . In ad- 
 dition, the king of Castille engages to obtain a safe pas5-nge for ?ach 
 as may intend to go to Calais, or any other seaport they may choose, 
 in Brittany, Saintonge, Normandy, or Picardy, through the kingdoms 
 
450 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND. FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 v( France and Navarre. It is the king's command, that those 
 knights and squires, of whatever nation they be, who shall under- 
 take this journey, do not bear arms against the kingdom of Castille, 
 jmder any pretence, for the space of six years : this they will sol- 
 tmnly swear to observe at the time the passports are delivered to 
 t lem. You will carry with you all these conditions, fairly written, 
 • the constable, and to your companions, who have sent you hither." 
 
 The knights thanked the king and his council for the answer they 
 had received, but added, "They would nut say that all the condi- 
 tions should be accepted : if they were not, they would send back 
 their herald ; and should he not return, they might conclude the 
 whole were accepted." "We are satisfied," replied the council. 
 The king withdrew to his closet ; but sir Walter de Fassac and sir 
 William de Lignac remained with the knights, and conducted them 
 to a handsome apartment where a dinner was provided for them. 
 They all dined together : when the dinner was over, they partook of 
 wines and spices in the king's closet, and then took their leave, as 
 their passes were ready for them. On their return to their hotel, 
 they instantly mounted their horses ; for the king's harbingers had 
 supplied them with all things at his expense, and, leaving Medina, 
 they rode to Vilalpando, and lay at Noya, The next day they came 
 to Orense, where they found the constable. During the time they 
 had been on this embassy, the lord Fitzwaltcr,* one of the greatest 
 barons in the duke's army, had died : he was a valiant knight, and 
 much lamented ; but none can strive against death. His obsequies 
 were very honorably performed, and the king of Portugal and the 
 duke of Lancaster attended them. 
 
 The three knights waited on the duke, to show him their papers, 
 and relate what they had seen and heard. Some said the conditions 
 were hard ; but others denied it, and said they were courteous 
 enough, considering the situation and danger they were in. It was 
 known in the army, that the duke would discharge all who desired 
 it, and that they might enter Castille with safety. Those who felt ill 
 or feeble, and wished to change the air, took leave of the duke and 
 constable, and left the army as soon as they were able ; but, before 
 their departure, many received their whole pay is liard money, others 
 had sufficient security for it, so that they were all well contented. 
 Some went to Vilalpando, others to Ruelles, to Noya, to Medina 
 del Campo, to Caleforis, or to St". Phagon. They were everywhere 
 well received, and had lodgings found them, and had their names 
 written down and given to the different governors in the manner I 
 have mentioned. The greater part of the nobility went to Vilal- 
 pando, because it was garrisoned by foreigners, Bretons, French, 
 Normans, and Poitevins, under the command of sir Oliver du Gues- 
 clin. The English had more confidence in those I have named, and 
 with reason, than in the Castillians. 
 
 Thus was the expedition of the duke of Lancaster put an end to, 
 and every one sought the best he could for himself. You may sup- 
 pose that this was a bitter disappointment to the duke, for he saw all 
 his ambitious expectations annihilated : he bore, however, his mis- 
 fortunes like a gallant prince as he was, for he perceived he could 
 not any way amend it. The king of Portugal, finding the business 
 was over, dismissed his army, retaining only three hundred spears, 
 and left Orense, with the duke of Lancaster, who returned with his 
 duchess to Saint Jago de Compostella. The king remained there 
 with them four days : on the fifth he departed, with all who had 
 accompanied him, lor Oporto, where his queen resided. 
 
 I must now relate what befcl many of those knights and squires 
 who, on leaving .the duke, had retire d into Castille, and were lodged 
 in different towns. Those who had been afflicted with the disorder, 
 notwithstanding they had changed the air and medicines, could never 
 recover, and several died in Vilalpiindo. Many barons and knights 
 of England died in their beds to the great loss of their country, wliile 
 the king of Castille was obtaining them passports to travel through 
 Navarre and France ; but the distance, and other obstacles delayed 
 the accomplishment. Three great and powerful barons died at Vil- 
 alpando ; sir Richard Biirley, who had been chief marshal of the 
 army, the lord Poinings,t and sir Henry Percy, cousin-german to the 
 earl of Northumberland. Sir Maubrun de Linieres died at Noya : 
 he was a valiant and able knight from Poitou. Lord Talbot,! a great 
 baron in Wales, died at Ruelles : and of this pestilence there died, 
 different places, twelve potent barons, full eighty knights, and two 
 hundred squires, all gentlemen. Consider what an unfortunate loss 
 this was, and to be sustained without having a battle or striking a 
 blow. Of archers and other men, upward of five hundred died ; 
 and I was told by an English knight with whom I conversed, on his 
 return through France, whose name was sir Thomas Queensbury, 
 that of fifteen hundred men-at-arms and about four thousand archers 
 whom the duke of Lancaster had brought with him from England, 
 not one-half ever returned home. 
 
 The duke of Lancaster fell dangerously sick, and became very 
 low-spirited, at Saint Jago. He was so ill, that it was frequently 
 
 * " Lord Fitzwnlter." See Dugdale, who mentions his gallantry in the attack on the 
 block-house before Brest, but omits taking notice of his death in Spain. Indeed, he only 
 •ays.tliat, "he departed this life the year ensuing (10th Richard II.) on a Wednesday 
 pieceding the feast of St. Michael. This does not tally with the season of tlie year 
 when the heats are so great in Spia n. t " Lord Poinings."— See Dugdale. 
 
 I This must be a mistake, for Lord Talbot d^d not dieuotil the LOtli Richatdll.— 
 
 DV«DALK. 
 
 reported through Castille and France that he was dead : indeed, he 
 very narrowly escaped. Thierry de Soumain, who was of great 
 valor, and squire of the body to the duke, was attacked by this dis. 
 order, and died at Betancos. He was born in Hainault, and his death 
 was much bewailed. His brother William continually attended him 
 during his illness, by which he ran great risk of his life. You must 
 know, that there were none so bold, so rich or so fair, but were 
 afraid, and were daily expecting death. The disorder solely attacked 
 the duke's army, for the French were no way affected. 
 
 This caused great murmurings among them and the Castillians 
 they said : " The king allows these English to recruit themselves in 
 his towns, which may cost us dear by their bringing the disorder 
 among us." But others replied : " They are Christians like our- 
 selves, and we ought to have compassion on each other." True it 
 is, that at this period a French knight died in Castille, who was 
 greatly lamented : for he was courteous, gallant, and bold in arms : 
 his name was sir John de Roye, and he was brother-german to sir 
 Tristan, sir Reginald, and .sir Lancelot de Roye. I will relate the 
 cause of his death. While in garrison in a town of Castille, called 
 Segbonne, he had an imposthume in his body. Being young and 
 lusty, he paid no attention to it, and one day mounting his courser, 
 in galloping him over the plains, this imposthume broke. On his re- 
 turn, he was laid on the bed, and all seemed well, but on the fourth 
 day he died. There were very great lamentations made after him by 
 all his friends : he was deserving of them for his amiable chai-acter 
 and gallantry in arms. 
 
 CHAPTER XCII. 
 
 SIR JOHN HOLLAND TAKES LEAVE OF THE DUKE OF LANCASTER, AND 
 RETURNS WITH HIS LADY, THROUGH CASTILLE, NAVARRE, AND BAY- 
 ONNE, TO BORDEAUX. SIR JOHN D'aMBRETICOURT GOES TO PARIS, 
 TO ACCOMPLISH A DEED OF ARMS WITH THE LORD BOUCICAUT. 
 
 Notwithstanding this disorder was so very infectious that the 
 greater part of the English fled from it, sir John Holland and several 
 knights and squires remained with the duke. The knights, seeing 
 there was an end to the war, were impatient to change the air, and 
 said to the constable : " Sir, permit us to set out on our return to 
 Bayonne or Bordeaux, to escape the effect of this pestilence, for our 
 lord of Lancaster desires it.. When he shall wish to have our servi- 
 ces, he can easily so do by writing his commands ; and we shall 
 serve him more effectually when we have recovered our health, than 
 in the state of languor we now fatally experience." They repeated 
 this so often, that sir John Holland told the duke of their discontents. 
 The duke answered : " Sir John, I am willing that you and such 
 knights as choose, set out on your return home, and that you take all 
 our people with you. Recommend me to my lord the king, and 
 salute from me my brothers, and such and such persons," whom he 
 named. " I will cheerfully do so," replied the constable ; " but 
 my lord, are you aware, that though the council of Castille has hand- 
 somely allowed our sick to enter any towns they may please for the 
 recovery of their health, they must not, when well, return to you in 
 Galicia, nor in Portugal ? And if we pass through France, in our 
 road to Calais, the French knights of the council of Castille have 
 conditioned that we do not arm against France for the space of six 
 years, unless the king of England command in person." 
 
 "Sir John," said the duke, "you must know that the French, 
 whenever they have an opportunity, will take every advantage over 
 us. But I will tell you how you shall act. You will pass through 
 Castille in a courteous manner, and, when you shall be on the fron. 
 tiers of Navarre, send to the king : he is our cousin : formerly we 
 were strongly united, and the connection is not broken; for, ever 
 since we bore arms for him in his war against our adversary of Cas, 
 tille, we have constantly kept up a mutual correspondence, like 
 cousins and friends. We have never had any quarrel, nor have we, 
 like the French, made war upon him. For these reasons, he will 
 readily grant permission for you and your men to pass through his 
 country. On your arrival at St. Jean du Pied des Ports, take tlie 
 road through Biscay to Bayonne : that is our inheritance : and 
 thence you may go to Bordeaux without any danger from the French, 
 to refresh yourselves. When recovered, you may there embark, 
 traverse the deep, and land in Cornwall, or Southampton, as the wind 
 may be favorable." Sir John replied, he would punctually follow 
 the plan he had laid down, and began to make his preparations 
 accordingly. It was not long after this that the constable, with all 
 the men-at-arms and others, took their departure ; and the duke and 
 duchess remained at Saint Jago, attended by their household only. 
 Sir John Holland carried his lady with him, and arrived at the city 
 of Zamora, which is large and handsome, where he met the king of 
 Castille, sir Walter de Passac and sir William de Lignac. They 
 politely received him and his company, as lords do when they meet. 
 In truth,, the king was more rejoiced at the departure of the English 
 than at their arrival ; for it seemed clear to him that the war was 
 completely at an end, and that the duke of Lancaster wotdd never be 
 able to bring again so large a force to Castille from England, for he 
 was well informed how much that countiy was disunited within 
 itself. 
 
 When the English, who had retired to the towns in Castille for 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 451 
 
 the recovery of their healths, heard that sir John Holland was on his 
 march with the remnant of the army homeward, they were greatly 
 rejoiced, and made instant preparations to join him. Among the 
 number were, the lord de Chameaux,* sir Thomas Percy, the lord 
 de Lehiyton,t and the lord Bradestan, with many more, to the amount 
 of a thousand horse. Those that v/ere sick looked on themselves as 
 half recovered the moment their hopes were raised of returning to 
 England, so much had they of late suffered. 
 
 When sir John Holland took leave of the king of Castille, he 
 showed to him and his barons much affection, and gallantly pre- 
 sented them with handsome mulee; he likewise ordered all the ex- 
 penses of their journey to be defrayed. On their departure, they 
 took the road to St. Phagon, where they rested three days : they 
 were well received in all places they passed ; for they were accom- 
 panied by some knights of the king's household, who paid for what- 
 ever they wanted or wished. They continued their route until they 
 were out of Castille, and arrived at Najarra, where the famous battle 
 had been fought, then they proceeded to Pamierst and Logi-ono, 
 where they halted : for they were uncertain if the king of Navarre 
 would allow them to pass through his kingdom. 
 
 They deputed to him two knights, whose names were sir Peter 
 Bisset and sir William Norwich, who found the king at Tudela. 
 They had an interview with him, and managed so well, they ob- 
 tained permission to pass, on paying for whatever they should want. 
 When the knights returned, they left Logrono for Pampeluna, and 
 passed the Pyrenees at Roncesvalles : they then quitted the road for 
 B^arn, and took that through Biscay, for Bayonne, where they arrived. 
 Sir John Holland and his countess remained there a considerable 
 time, but several of his countrymen continued their route to Bor- 
 deaux. Thus ended this expedition of the duke of Lancaster. 
 
 It happened, during the most active part of the campaign in Cas- 
 "tille, when knights and squires were eager after adventures and deeds 
 of arms, that the lovd Boueicaut had taken the field, and had sent a 
 herald to demand from sir John d'Ambreticourt three courses with 
 spears on horseback. Sir John had agreed to meet him, with the 
 addition of three courses with daggers, and the same with battle- 
 axes, all on horseback. Sir John, having so readily assented, sought 
 for him everyv\^here ; })ut I know not for what reason he had not 
 advanced to that part of the country. I do not, however, say, nor 
 mean to say, that the lord Boueicaut was not equal to such a chal- 
 lenge, nor even to one of more hardy adventure. When sir John 
 d'Ambreticourt was at Bayonne, with sir John Holland, he thought 
 much on this challenge, which, having accepted, he considered him- 
 self bound to accomplish ; and that he could not honorably leave 
 France without doing so, lest the French might say he had returned 
 to England dishonorably. He consulted his companions, but espe- 
 cially sir John Holland, how to act. He was advised to pass through 
 France, as he had a good passport, which the duke of Bourbon had 
 obtained for him, and go to Paris in search of the lord Boueicaut : he 
 might hear of him on his road, or at Paris, and the matter would be 
 settled to his honor. This advice being agreeable to him, he de- 
 parted, and took the road through the country of the Basques, and 
 came to Orth^s in B6arn, where he found the count de Foix. The 
 count received him handsomely, detained him some short time, and, 
 on his going away, presented him with two hundred florins and a 
 very fine horse. Sir John d'Ambreticourt continued his road through 
 Bearn, Bigorre, the Toulousain, and Carcassonnois. He was ac- 
 companied by William de Soumain and other squires from Hainault, 
 who were returning to their own country. On their arrival at Paris, 
 he learnt that the king was at that moment in Normandy, and the 
 lord Boueicaut, as they said, in Arragon. Sir John, to acquit him- 
 self honorably, waited on the principal barons of France that were 
 then at Paris, and having staid there eight days to amuse himself, he 
 continued his journey to Calais, and those from Hainault went home. 
 Thus were the different captains of the army of Castille separated. 
 
 CHAPTER XCIII. 
 
 THE DUKE OF BOURBON, ON LEAVING AVIGNON, CONTINUES HIS MARCH 
 TO BUR(JOS, WHERE HE MEETS THE KING OF CASTILLE. THE DUKE OF 
 LANCASTER, BEING INFORMED OF THIS, ADDRESSES HIMSELF TO THE 
 KING OF PORTUGAL. THE DUKE OF BOURBON, AFTER A SHORT STAY, 
 TAKES LEAVE OF THE KING OF CASTILLE, AND RETURNS TO FRANCE. 
 
 The duke of Bourbon, who had been nominated commander-in- 
 •chief of the French in Castille, was duly informed of everything that 
 was passing ; but, had he imagined the king of Castille had been so 
 much pressed, he would have hastened his march : for he had taken 
 a long time on his journey, and, besides, had followed a round-about 
 ifoad. He first went to Avignon, to visit the person who styled him- 
 self pope Clement, where he staid some time, then to Montpelier, 
 where he halted five days, and as many at Bezieres and Carcassonne ; 
 from thence he went to Narbonne and Perpignan, and entered Arra- 
 gon ; for he was desirous of seeing the young king of Arragon and 
 his cousin, the lady Jolante de Bar. The duke continued his journey 
 to Barcelona, where he met the king and queen of Arragon, with a 
 Tiumerous body of earls and barons of the country, who had come 
 
 * " Lord de Chameaux." Q.. Chymwell. 
 
 t ' Lord de Leluyton." CI. Some copies read Helmson. t " Patniers." Q. 
 
 thither to receive and feast him. When he had been thus enter, 
 tained for the space of six days, he departed, and went to Valencia. 
 It was there he first heard that the English army had retreated, and 
 that sir John Holland had led the greater part into Navarre ; that 
 there had been a great mortality among the English ; and tliat his 
 cousin, the duke of Lancaster, lay dangerously ill at Saint .Tago : the 
 report was, that he was actually dead. Notwithstanding this intelli. 
 gence, which rendered his march useless, he continued advancing, 
 and informed the king of Castille of his anival, v/ho was much re- 
 joiced thereat, and appointed Burgos for their place of meeting. The 
 king ordered all things to be properly prepared in that city for his 
 reception, and went thither ; for many of the French, who were with 
 him, were anxious to see the duke of Bourbon. The duke, having 
 passed Valencia and Saragossa, entered Castille and came to Burgos. 
 He was most kindly received by the king, barons and prelates of the 
 realm. Sir Oliver da Gueeclin, constable of Castille, sir William de 
 Lignac, sir Walter de Passac, sir John des Banes, sir John and sir 
 Reginald de Roye, and several knights of France, were present, 
 who had left their garrisons to meet the duke of Bourbon. They 
 had no longer any fears of the English or Portuguese, for they had 
 all retreated, and the English had already given up those towns they 
 had conquered in Galicia ; for they knew that, as their army had left 
 the country, they could not withstand the power of France. 
 
 The news was carried to Galicia, that the diikn of Bourbon was 
 arrived in Castille, with a large body of men-i.t-arms from France ; 
 and, as it was spoken of, this force was multiplied to more than 
 double its number. The country, at first, v.'as alai-med lest the duke 
 of Bourbon should march thither to reconquer such towns as had 
 surrendered ; and though the duke of Lancaster was with them, and 
 comforted them as much as he could, they could not get rid of their 
 fears. When the duke of Lancaster heard his cousin, the duke of 
 Bourbon, was with the king of Castille at Burgos, he instantly sent 
 to the king of Portugal, to entreat he would not disband his army ; 
 for he knew not what the French might intend, now the country 
 was in so defenceless a state. The king of Portugal, having dis- 
 missed his army, was desirous to oblige the duke, from the connec- 
 tion between them, and left Lisbon for Coimbra, whence he issued 
 a summons for all men-at-arms instantly to prepare themselves and 
 march to Oporto, to the assistance of the duke of Lancaster, whose 
 illness would not suffer him to take the field in person, although he 
 was daily recovering his health. 
 
 The duke of Bourbon remained with the king of Castille at Bur- 
 gos, where he received the greatest honors from the king, the barons 
 and lords of the realm. Many councils were held, as to what they 
 should now do : whether to enter Galicia or return to France. The 
 king and his ministers saw very clearly which was most to their ad- 
 vantage, and said, when together, " Our country is wasted and ruined 
 by the French ; and although they have defended it against the Eng. 
 lish, we have paid dear enough. It will be just we thank the duke 
 of Bourbon for the trouble he has had in coming thither, and entreat 
 him, through affection to us, to v/ithdraw his men, for there was not 
 now any appearance of war to detain them ; that as for Galicia, they 
 could invade and conquer that province themselves, whenever they 
 pleased, as it was a trifling matter." The king's ministers added: 
 " If we keep these men, they will expect pay, and, if that be not 
 given to them, they will rob and plunder the country. There are, 
 already, many discontents on this s-ubject ; and it behooves us to dis- 
 miss them in a handsome manner." This measure was adopted; 
 for the king knew well that his kingdom could rfot be hurt, without 
 his suffering from it. The archbishop of Burgos therefore, in the 
 presence of the king and many knights from France, proposed the 
 matter to the duke of Bourbon. The duke, as well as his knights, 
 instantly agreed to it ; for they most certainly preferred returning to 
 France, which is a different country in all respects from Castille, and 
 gave their orders accordingly. The duke of Bourbon, though he 
 came the last, was the first to return, and declared his intentions 
 were, to pass through Navarre, that his people might make prepara- 
 tions for so doing. On taking his leave of the king, very rich pres 
 ents were made him : he might have had more, had he chosen it 
 but he refused several that were pressed on him, and accepted only 
 mules, horses, and dogs called Allans* in Castille. 
 
 Proclamation was made for all persons to leave Castille and return 
 to France, according to the orders which had been given by the 
 commander-in-chief; but sir Oliver du Guesclin and tJie marshal, 
 with about three hundred lances, Bretons, Poitevins and Saintongers, 
 were to remain behind. The duke of Bourbon, having taken leave 
 of the king, queen, and barons, was escorted as far as Logrono, 
 when he entered Navarre. Wherever he passed, he was most 
 honorably received, for the duke was courteous, gallant, and much 
 renowned. The king of Navarre entertained him very kindly, and 
 showed not any appearance of the hatred he bore to the king of 
 France for having seized his inheritance of the county d'Evreux in 
 Normandy. He knew that the present king, who was so nearly re- 
 lated to the duke of Bourbon, was no way to blame, for at the time 
 he was an infant. He mentioned his complaints in an amicable 
 
 * "Allan— a kind of big, thick-headed and short-snouted dog; the breed whereol 
 came first out of Albanui, old Epirus." 
 
 " Allan de boucherie. Like a mastifi— Allan gentil, somewhat Uke a grayhound— At 
 Ian saulre, a cur to bait wolves," &c.— Cotsravk's Dictionary. 
 
459 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 manner to the duke, and entreated him to mediate between him and 
 his cousin of France, for which he should hold himself much obliged. 
 The duke promised to use his endeavors; and on this they parted, 
 and the duke continued his journey with his men-at-arms peaceably 
 through NavaiTe, and, having crossed the mountains at Roncesvalles 
 and traversed the countiy of the Basques, entered B^arn at Sauve- 
 terre. 
 
 CHAPTER XCIV. 
 
 THE COUNT DE FOIX RECEIVES THE DUKE OF BOURBON MOST MAGNIFI- 
 CENTLY, AND MAKES HIM HANDSOME PRESENTS. THE MEN-AT-ARMS 
 WHO WERE UNDER SIR WALTER DE PASSAC AND SIR WILLIAM DE LIGNAC 
 SACK THE TOWN OF ST. PHAGON, ON THEIR DEPARTURE FROM CASTILLE. 
 THE KING IS VERY WROTH FOR THIS AGAINST THE TWO CAPTAINS WHO 
 HAD REMAINED V/ITH HIM. 
 
 Count Gaston de Fois was well pleased, on hearing the duke of 
 Bourbon was at Sauveteire. He summoned at Orth^s, where he re- 
 sided, a gallant company of chivalry, and set out with a grand array 
 of five hundred knights and squires excellency mounted. They had 
 advanced two leagues before they met the duke, who was likewise 
 attended by a large company of knights and squires. On their meet, 
 ing, they embraced and showed every token of friendship, such as 
 well-educated princes know how to do. After they had conversed 
 together a short space, as I was informed when at Orthte, the count 
 de Foix withdrew with his company into the plain, but the duke re- 
 mained where they had met. Then three knights, sir Espaign de 
 Lyon, sir Peter Campestaa and sir Menault de Nouailles, advanced 
 to the duke and said, " My lord, we come to offer you a present from 
 the count de Foix on your return from Castille, as he knows you 
 have been at a heavy expense. He first welcomes you to his coun- 
 try of B^arn, and presents you with eight thousand florins, this mule, 
 two coursers and two palfreys." " My fair sirs," replied the duke, 
 " I am very much obliged to the count de Foix. With regard to the 
 florins, we cannot receive them; but as for the rest we accept them 
 with great pleasure." The florins were therefore returned, and the 
 horses and mule kept. Shortly afterwards, the count placed himself 
 beside the duke, and conducted him, under his pennon, to Orth^s, 
 when he was lodged in the cnstle, and his attendants in the town. 
 
 The duke of Bourbon remained for three days at Orth6s, magnifi- 
 cently entertained with dinners and suppers. The count de Foix 
 Bhowed him good part of his state, which would recommend him to 
 Buch a person as the duke of Bourbon. On the fourth day he took 
 his leUve and departed. The count made many presents to the 
 knights and squires attached to the duke, and to such an extent that 
 I was told this visit of the duke of Bourbon cost him ten thousand 
 francs. The duke took his road to France by Montpelier, the city 
 of Puy, and courity of Fcrets, of which he was lord in right of his 
 duchess. Thougli the duke of Bourbon had thus left Castille, the 
 men-at-arms under sir William de Lignac and sir Walter de Passac 
 were not impatient to do so. They were upward of three thousand 
 Bpears and six thousand others, who in small parties were daily quit, 
 ting the country. Many of them, having expended their pay, and 
 being weary of the war, set out on their return ill mounted and in 
 Tags, so that the meeting them w'as unfortunate, for they dismounted 
 such as were on horseback, and made war on ail pas-sengers and on 
 whoever had remained in the open country, whether churchmen or 
 not, and plundered them, under the pretext that the king of Castille 
 had not given tlicm their pay, and that they had been ruined by the 
 war. They said they would pay tlieniselves, and all towns- not well 
 inclosed were under great alarms. Every place shut its gates against 
 ihem, for whatever they could find v:^.3 seized on unless well fou;i;ht 
 for. Such knight3 and squires as returned through Foix, and waited 
 on the count, were well received by him, and received magnificent 
 presents. I was told that this expedition, including the going to 
 Castille and return, cost the count de Foix, by his liberalities, upward 
 of forty thousand francs. 
 
 After the departure of the duke of Bourbon, an accident befel the 
 town of St. Phagon, that I am about to relate, which caused tho 
 deaths of five hundred men. You must know, that when sir Wil- 
 liam de Lignac and sir Walter de PaS'Sac first came into Castille, 
 their force, which v/as very considerable, quartered themselves over 
 the country near St. Phagon, which is rich, and abundant in all sorts 
 of provision. ' Among these n^en-at-arms were many Bretons, Poi- 
 tevins, Saintongcrs, who, riding first to St. Phagon, entered the town 
 in parties of six, ten, fifteen and twenty, so that at last they amounted 
 to more than five hundred, including servants. As they entered, ; 
 they lodged themselves^ and began to pillage and pack up every val- 
 uable thoy could find. The inhabitants, noticing their conduct, se- 
 cretly closed their gates, tliat no more should enter ; and, when these 
 strangers thought to repose themselves, the townsmen cried " To 
 armsl" and entering the chambers where they lay, slew them with- 
 out pity or mercy : happy were they who could escape, for they mur- 
 dered upward of five hundred. News of this was brought, in the 
 mcining, to the French lords quartered near the town, and they held 
 a council to consider how they should act. They thought it improper 
 at the moment to retaliate on them for this conduct, for if they should 
 begin by burning towns and villages, the whole country would rise 
 agaii)fit them, to the great joy of their enemies ; but they determined 
 
 I that, when the expedition should be ended, and they on the'r return 
 they would then talk to them, and make them pay severely. 
 
 When this army was on its return to France, which included all 
 except those who remained with sir Oliver du Guesclin, they said 
 among themselves : " Our arrival at St. Phagon cost us dear, but 
 they shall fully repay us on our return." They were all of this mind, 
 and, having assembled about one thousand, they entered the town, 
 as there was neither guard nor watch ; for the townsmen had forgot, 
 ten what had passed, and hoped the French had done so likewise, 
 and that no more quarrels would happen between them. It was not 
 so, to their great loss ; for, when they thought themselves secure, the 
 cry of " To arms I" resounded from more than one hundred places, 
 accompanied with voices shouting, " Let us kill and destroy all the 
 scoundrels of this town, and plunder what they may have, in revenge 
 for their murders of our countiymen." The Bretons instantly began 
 to put these threats into execution, and to enter every house where 
 they expected pillages, killing the inhabitants, breaking open desks 
 and trunks, and doing every mischief in their power. There were, 
 this day, more than four hundred slaughtered, the town robbed and 
 half burned, which was a great pity. Such was the revenge the 
 companions took on St. Phagon, and then marched away. 
 
 Intelligence was sent to the king of Castille that the men.at-arms, 
 who had been under sir William de Lignac and sir Walter de Pas- 
 sac, had, on their return, pillaged the good town of St. Phagon, 
 murdered upward of four hundred of its inhabitants, and set the 
 town on fire. They added, that if the English had taken it even by 
 storm, they would not have treated it so cruelly. At the time this 
 was told the king, the two above-named knights were with him, and 
 were severely reprimanded by him and his council. They excused 
 themselves, saying, " That as God may help them, ihey were igno. 
 rant of the intentions of their men: they had, indeed, hear4 they 
 were much displeased with the inhabitants of St. Phagon, who, on 
 their coming to Castille, had murdered many of their companions, 
 for which revenge had lurked in their hearts ; but that, in truth, they 
 thought it had been forgotten." The king of Castille was forced to 
 pass it over, as it might have cost him more had he thought of pun- 
 ishing it ; but he was very ill pleased with these two commanders, 
 which he showed, when they took leave of him tp return to France. 
 Had he been contented with them, it may be supposed they would 
 have had more magnificent presents. The duke of Bourbon, his 
 knights and squires, having quitted the king to his satisfaction, and 
 left the country first, had carried off the flower of the presents. 
 
 The French marched out of Castille in various directions, some 
 thrdugh Biscay, others through Arragon. Many knights and squires, 
 who had lived on their pay, disdaining to plunder, returned poor and 
 sorrily mounted ; while others, who had seized on whatever they 
 could meet with, were well furnished with gold and silver, and heavy 
 trunks. Thus it happens, in these adventures, some gain and others 
 lose. The king of Castille was very much rejoiced when he found 
 himself and kingdom freed from such men. 
 
 CHAPTER XCV. 
 
 THE DUKE OF LANCASTER LEAVES SAINT JAGO, FOR COI»IBRA, AND THEWCB 
 
 GOES TO BAYONNE. 
 
 We will return to the duke of Lancaster, whom we left ill in bed 
 at Saint Jago, where he resided with his duchess and daughter Cath- 
 erine. You may suppose, the duke felt many mortifications, from 
 the complete failure of his hopes of the crown of Castille, and the 
 great loss of his chivalry, whom he daily and nightly lamented, and 
 whom he had brought with such difiiculty from England. He had 
 now no expectation of making a treaty of peace that should allow 
 the duchess any right to the crown, or yield up, by way of compo. 
 sition, to her any part of the kingdom ; for he had heard from pil- 
 grims, to Saint Jago, from Brabant, Hainault and other countries, 
 v.'ho had passed through the French army in Castille, that the Cas- 
 tillians and French made their jokes on him, saying to the pilgrims, 
 " Ye are going to Saint Jago, are ye ? Ye will find there the duke 
 of Lancaster, who, for fear of the sun, keeps his chamber. Give our 
 compliments to him, and ask him, on his faith, if we French know 
 how to make war, and if we have not fought him fairly, and if he 
 be contented with us. The English used to say, that we knew bet- 
 ter how to dance and sing than to fight; but the tables are now 
 turned : it is they who repose and sing, and we keep the field and 
 guard our frontiers, so that wo have not lost anything." 
 
 The duke of Lancaster, like a wise man, bore all this patiently, 
 for he could not do otherwise ; and, when he was able to ride, he 
 departed from Saint Jago with his duchess and family. The king 
 of Portugal had sent his constable, the count de Novaire, and sir 
 John Fernando Portelet, with five hundred lances, to escort him. 
 Among these knights were the Pounasse d'Acunha, Egeas Colle, 
 Vasco Martin de Merlo, Galopes Fernando, sir Alvarez Perez, John 
 Radighos de Sar, Gaynes de Falnes, all barons. W^idi this escort, 
 the duke and his family left Compostella, and continued their march 
 to Oporto, where the king and queen of Portugal were waiting for 
 them, and entertained them handsomely. Soon after the arrival of 
 the duke, the king and queen left Oporto, and went to Coimbra, 
 which is but one day's journey distant. The duke of Lancaster re* 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 453 
 
 mained there for two months and attended to his affairs, and to the 
 making of preparations for his departure By the king's orders, the 
 high admiral of Portugal, don Alphonso Brecart, had equipped some 
 galleys for his reception ; on board of which, when the weather and 
 wmd were favorable, they embarked, and, weighing anchor, took to 
 the deep, and in one day and a half were at Bayonne, which is up- 
 ward of seventy-two leagues. On their arrival, they were disap. • 
 pointed in not meeting sir John Holland and the other English ; but 
 they had left it for Bordeaux, where they had embarked, and had 
 landed in England. 
 
 The duke of Lancaster made a long residence at Bayonne, and 
 enforced the payments of arrears, and other dues from the duchy of 
 Aquitaine, and such parts as were under the obedience of king Rich, 
 ard ; for he had a commission to impose and receive all taxes to his 
 own use, and he styled himself duke and governor of Aquitaine. 
 We will now leave the duke and the English, until it shall be proper 
 to return to them, and speak of other matters. 
 
 SATOKMXt u it appeared ia the seventeenth centurf . From an old French prist 
 
 CHAPTER XCVI 
 
 THE COtTNT D'aRMASNAC TAKIiS GREAT PAINS TO PREVAIL ON THE FREE 
 COMPANIES TO GIVE UP THEIR FORTS FOR A SUM OF MONEY. THE 
 COUNT DE FOIX, UNDERHAND, PREVENTS HIS SUCCESS. 
 
 The count d'Armagnac, at this period, resided in Auvergne, and 
 was negotiating with such free companies as held forts in Auvergne, 
 Quercy and Limousin. The count took great pains, from his attach, 
 ment to France, to make the leaders of these garrison';, who did 
 great mischief to the country, surrender them up, and depart to other 
 places. All the captains, except Geoffry Tete. noire, who held Ven. 
 tadour, seemed willing to accept his terms, and receive, in one sum, 
 two hundred and fifty thousand francs. On payment of this sum, 
 they were all to quit the country, which would gladly have seen them 
 depart ; for the iiihabit:ints could not till the earth, nor carry on 
 trade, for fear of these pillagers, unless they had entered into com. 
 position with them, according to their v/ealth and rank ; and these 
 compositions amounted, in the year, to as much as v/as now de- 
 manded for the evacuation of the forts. Although these garrisons 
 made war under pretext of being English, there were very few of 
 that nation ; but the greater part Gascons, Germans and Foixiens, 
 
 and from dirfereat countries, who had united together to do mischief 
 When this treaty had been fully concluded with all the captains, 
 except Geoffry Tete.noire,. the count d'Armagnac entreated the 
 count dauphin d'Auvergae, who was a great baron and able nego- 
 tiator, to join him in this treaty, and from his affection to him, to 
 undertake a journey to Pari?', to the king and the dukes of Berry and 
 Burgundy, who at that time governed the kingdom, to explain what 
 he. had done in regard to these free companions, and to have their 
 consent ; for without their orders the sum of money to pay them 
 could no: be raised in the country. The count dauphin complied 
 with this request, and rode to Paris; but the king M^as gone to Rouen, 
 whither the count followed him. He there explained to the king 
 and his council the state of the country, and the treaty the count 
 d'Armagnac had made with the companions. He did not soon ac- 
 complish the object of hi.-s coming ; for the lords of the council know, 
 ing well what sort of people these free companion? were, had no 
 faith in their professions, and dreaded they woidd not abide by any 
 treaty. They said to him, " Count dauphin, we know that you and 
 the count d'Armagnac are anxious to promote -everything for the 
 honor and advantage of the kingdom ; for both of you have rich und 
 
 extensive inheritances within it : but we very much s-^uspect that these 
 Gascons and Bearnois, when they shall have received the sums agreed 
 for, and the country shall be weakened, v/ill, in the course of three 
 or four months, return, regain possession of their castles, and commir 
 greater waste than they have hitherto done." The count dauphih 
 replied to the council, " My lords, it is our intention, that when thin 
 sum be raised, it shall be deposited at Clermont or Riom, and there 
 remain until we have certificates of these companies having quilted 
 the country." 
 
 "That is v/ell said," answered the dukes of Berry and Burgundy: 
 " we are willing the money be raised and put in a place of safety ; 
 for at all events, should they refuse to conform to the treaty, it will 
 serve to collect forces to make war upon them, and drive them out 
 of their forts. This sum shall be under the direction of you, the 
 count d'Armagnac, and the bishops of Clermont and Puy : you will 
 take care that it be honorably disposed of, and for the advantage of 
 1 the realm." Having declared he would do so, he took leave of the 
 
 king, his uncles, and council, and de- 
 parting from Rouen, continued his road 
 until he came to Clermont, where he 
 found the count d'Armagnac, his 
 brother, and numbers of lords, waiting 
 his aiTival. He related to them that 
 the king and his council had their 
 doubts of the captains of the free com. 
 panies, and the manner this money 
 was raised, and deposited in a place of 
 security until the intentions of these 
 captains, who by force kept possession 
 of forts and castles in the realm, should 
 be known. They replied, " that such 
 was their wishes ; and, since it is agree, 
 able to the king, we will finish the busi. 
 ness ; but we must first conclude a 
 peace or truce with the leaders, that the 
 country may be assured the tax we are 
 about to raise will be properly applied 
 for their security." Commissaries were 
 sent by the count d'Armagnac to parley 
 with Perrot le Bearnois, and Amerigot 
 Marcel, who were the principal chiefs 
 of the forts on this side the Dordogne, 
 in conjunction with the bourg de Com- 
 pane, Bernard dcs Isles, Olim Barbe, 
 Abton Seghin, the lord de I'Exem. 
 plaire, and many more. These cap- 
 tains could never agree as to terms, for 
 what one party acceded to in one week, 
 the next it was refused : the reason was, that being from different 
 countries, they had various opinions. Those from Armagnac, who 
 were a sort of retainers to the count, readily assented to what he 
 offered ; but the greater part, and most determined pillagers, were 
 from B^arn and Foix. 
 
 I do not mean to say that the count de Foix ever wished anything 
 but what was honorable and advantageous to France ; but when he 
 first heard of these negotiations with the captains of strong places in 
 Auvergne, Quercy, and Rouergue, he was desirous to know upon 
 what terms they were made, and the cause why the count d'Armag- 
 nac was so busy in the matter, and would be informed, when these 
 places should be evacuated by the companions, what road they in- 
 teiided to take, and where they meant to fix themselves. He was 
 answered : " My lord, it is the intention of the count d'Armagnac to 
 engage these men.at.arms, when they shall have surrendered the forts, 
 to lead them into Lombardy, where his brother-in-law (who, you 
 know, married his sister, the widow of your son Gaston,) has great 
 difficulty in defending his inheritance, for there seems every proba. 
 biiity of a war in Lombardy." The count de Foix made no answer 
 to this, seeming not to have heard it, but turned about to those pres. 
 ent, and conversed with them. He was not, however, the less 
 thoughtful about what had been said, and deiermined secretly to 
 prevent any of these treaties being concluded : at least, from the ae. 
 quel it so appears. 
 
 The count d'Armagnac could never succeed, notwithstanding his 
 repeated attempts, toward inducing any of the captains who were 
 from Beam, or Foix, to yield up their fort^-, or accept of any engage- 
 ment, to serve the count or his brother Bernard. The count de Foix, 
 who was prudence itself, considering that these two lords, his cousins, 
 and those of Albreth, were very powerful, and acquiring friends on 
 all sides, was unwilling to add to their strength by those v.ho were 
 his retainers : he therefore determined what line he would follow, as 
 was told me, when at Orthfes, by sir Espaign de Lycm, the bourg da 
 Compane, captain of Cariat in Auvergne, and the bourg Angloia. 
 The count de Foix v/as at war with the Armagnacs, though at this 
 moment there was a truce, which was usually renewed five or six 
 times every year ; and, should t!io Armagnacs and Albreth? obtain 
 the assistance of these captains of free companies, who were so hardy 
 and cunning in war, they would be enabled to bring a large force 
 into the field, and do the count de Foix '-"J-'^i 
 the princina' cause v/hv the captains wno 
 
 pnncipai cause v/ny tne captains 
 v/ould never accept terms from the count d'^nuagHsic 
 
 rnischiei. This was 
 were dependent him 
 
454 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ii:N GLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 They indeed gave him hopes of agreeing with him ; but although 
 many appointments were made for a meeting, they kept none, but 
 ran over the country, and pillaged it at their pleasure, just the same 
 as before any treaty was talked of. The count was daily expecting 
 lo conclude one ; and the captain he was most anxious to gain over 
 was Perrot le B^arnois, who held the strong cEistle of Chalu9et, and 
 was the principal commander in Auvergne and Limousin, for his 
 compositions extended as far as La Rochelle. The others were, Wil. 
 liam de S-ainte Foix, who held Bouteville ; Amerigot Marcel, who 
 resided at Loyse, near St. Flour in Auvergne ; the bourg de Compane 
 and the bourg Anglois, who held Carlat. He said, he could at any 
 time have Amerigot Marcel ; but he was desirous of gaining over 
 Perrot le Bearnois, and Geoffry Tete-noire, who held Ventadour, and 
 was the chief of them all. They only laughed, and made their jokes 
 of the count, disdaining to enter into any treaty with him or any one 
 else. Geoffry knew his castle was impregnable, and provided with 
 stores and a sufficient garrison for seven or eight years ; and it was 
 not in the power of any lord to shut him up, so that he could not be 
 prevented from making sallies whenever he chose. Geoffry began 
 all his passports and treaties of composition with, " Geoffry Tete-noire, 
 duke of Ventadour, count of Limousin, sovereign lord and commander 
 of all the captains in Auvergne, Rouergue, and Limousin." I will 
 now leave these matters, and speak of what was passing in my own 
 country, from the peace which was granted to the Ghent men, on the 
 conclusion of their war, by the duke and duchess of Burgundy, who 
 signed and sealed it in the noble city of Tournay. To add strength 
 to my history, I must speak of what was passing in Gueldres and Bra- 
 bant ; for the king of France and duke of Burgundy were much af- 
 fected by the events that happened in those countries, and took great 
 part in the war that ensued. 
 
 CHAPTER XCVII. 
 
 A DIGRESSION ON THE QUARREL BETWEEN THE HOUSES OF BRABANT AND 
 GUELDRES. THE LIFE OF COUNT REGINALD OF GUELDRES AND HIS SUC- 
 CESSORS, UNTIL THE REIGN OF CHARLES VI. OF FRANCE. THE DUKE OF 
 GUELDRES, BEING AN ALLY OF ENGLAND, SENDS HIS CHALLENGE TO 
 FRANCE. THE CAUSE OF THIS CHALLENGE. 
 
 There had been, for some time, a hatred between the houses of 
 Brabant and Gueldres : their countries border on each other ; but the 
 origin of this hatred of the Brabantcrs was on account of the town of 
 Grave, which the dukes of Gueldres had taken possession of, and 
 kept by force. This the Brabanters complained of, as it is situated 
 on their side of the river Meuse ; and, though many conferences were 
 held on the subject, their hatred was not abated. Those of Gueldres 
 complained, that the duke of Brabant had, in revenge, seized on 
 three castles on their side of the Meuse, and at the entrance of their 
 country, called Gambet, Buct, and Mille.* These quarrels between 
 the two dukes were frequently embittered ; but it was the opinion of 
 many able knights and. squires in arms, that if the lord Edward of 
 Gueldres, (who was unfortunately slain by an arrow from an archer 
 of the dukes of Luxembourg or Brabant, at the battle of Juliers,t) had 
 survived and gained the victory, he was so valiant, he would have 
 reconquered these three castles. 
 
 I will now relate, according to my promise, how these castles came 
 into the possession of Brabant, that I may embellish my history ; and 
 I will begin with speaking of the dukes of Gueldres.t It was not 
 long before I began to indite this work, that there lived a count of 
 Gueldres, called Reginald. Gueldres is not so rich, nor so extensive 
 a country as Brabant: notwithstanding this, count Reginald, coming 
 to his property when a young man, had every inclination for expense, 
 and cared not what his pleasures cost him. He attended all tilts and 
 tournaments in the greatest magnificence, and expended, yearly, four 
 times more than his usual revenue. He was generous and liberal, 
 and made extravagant presents, so that he borrowed from the Lom- 
 bards on all sides, and was soon so indebted he knew not whither to 
 mrn himself. His relations were greatly angered by such conduct, 
 and blamed him exceedingly ; but in particular the archbishop of 
 Cologne, who was his uncle by his mother's side. One day, when 
 he had him in his closet, he said ; " Reginald, my fair nephew, you 
 have managed your affairs so well, that you will soon find yourself 
 a poor man ; for your lands are mortgaged all round. In this world, 
 poor lords are not valued. Do you imagine that those to whom you 
 have made such great gifts will return them to you ? No, as God 
 may help me ; they will fly from you when they know you have 
 nothing more to give, and will laugh at and mock you for your foolish 
 expenses, and you will not find' one friend to assist you. Do not de. 
 pend on me; for though I am archbishop of Cologne, I will not 
 curtail my establishment to repair your fortune, nor give you the 
 patrimony of the church : no, I vow to God, my conscience forbids 
 it, and neither the pope nor cardinals will consent to it. The count 
 of Hainault, who has not kept the state you have, has married his 
 eldest daughter, Margaret, to Lewis of Bavaria, emperor of Gemany. 
 He has three more whom he will also marry very nobly. Had you 
 lived as was becoming you, and had you not mortgaged your lands, 
 
 * a. Goch, Beeck, and Megen. T 1372. 
 
 t They were first created duht* Qf Quel^res by the emperor, Lewis of Bavaria. 1339, 
 at Frankfort. 
 
 towns, or castles, you were a proper person for such an alliance; but, 
 situated as you now are, you will never obtain one of them. You 
 have nothing to dower a wife with, if you had one : not even one 
 poor lordship." 
 
 The earl of Gueldres was thunderstruck at this reprimand of his 
 uncle, for he felt the truth of it. He requested, out of love to him, 
 he would give him advice. " Advice I" replied the archbishop : " It 
 is now, my fair nephew, too late : you wish to shut the stable-door 
 when the steed is stolen. I see but one remedy for your distress." 
 " And what is that ?" said the count. " I will tell you," answered 
 the archbishop. " You are much indebted to Bertaldo of Mechlin, 
 who is at present the richest merchant in the world, from the great 
 commerce he carries on with all parts of it by sea and land. His 
 galleys and vessels sail as far as Alexandria, Cairo, and Damascus, 
 with cargoes of the value of one hundred thousand florins : he also 
 has a mortgage on the greater part of your lands. Bertaldo has one 
 daughter now of an age to marry, and no other children. Several 
 great barons of Germany and other countries have demanded her in 
 marriage, but, I know not why, unsuccessfully : he may perhaps fear 
 some as being too high, and others he may hold cheap : I therefore 
 advise you to treat with Bertaldo, who may liaiten to you, and give 
 you his daughter, that you may clear yourself of all your debts, and 
 regain possession of your lands; for I should suppose, from your birth 
 and. in consideration of your having your possessions, between the 
 Meuse and the Rhine, so well filled with populous towns, he will com- 
 ply with your request." " By my faith, uncle," replied the count, 
 " you advise me well, and I will follow what you have said." 
 
 Count Reginald, shortly after, summoned those of his friends in 
 whom he had the greatest confidence and affection, and declared to 
 them his intentions of marrying the daughter of Bertaldo of Mechlin. 
 He requested them to go thither and demand her, and he would make 
 her countess of Gueldres, on such conditions as the archbishop of 
 Cologne should be agreeable to. His friends complied cheerfully, 
 and made instant preparations for their journey to Mechlin, where 
 they waited on Bertaldo, and told him the object of their coming. 
 Bertaldo received these knights and clerks from the count de GueU 
 dres very graciously, entertained them well, and said he would con- 
 sider of their demand. Being so very rich, for he was worth at least 
 five or six millions of florins, he was anxious for the advancement of 
 his daughter, and, thinking he could no way ally her more nobly than 
 to the count de Gueldres, had partly in his own mind assented to it. 
 Before he declared it, he had many doubts, and said to himself, " If 
 I give Mary to the count, he will wish to be my master, and I shall 
 no longer have a will of my own. Besides, should she have children 
 and die, which may happen, he, who will be enriched by my wealth 
 and repossessed of all his lands in the country of Gueldres, may marry 
 again, and as nobly as he pleases, and have children by his second 
 wife, who, from, the high blood of their mother, may hold my daugh- 
 ter's children in contempt, and perhaps disinherit them. I must have 
 all these doubts cleared up before I give my consent. I will, how. 
 ever, mention all this to the friends of the count, and make them such 
 an answer as this : That their coming has pleased me much, and that 
 my daughter would be very happy to be so nobly married as to the 
 count de Gueldres : but at this moment it was well known the 
 affairs of the count were in the utmost disorder ; that all his lands 
 between the Meuse and the Rhine were under mortgage, and that, 
 to clear ofl^'his incumbrances, he has demanded my daughter in mar. 
 riage. Before I consent to this union, I wish to know how he means 
 to settle his estates, and that my daughter's children, should she have 
 sons or daughters, may succeed to the inheritance of Gueldres, not- 
 withstanding any other marriage take place in case of her death. On 
 this point I am determined, and I must likewise have this succession 
 assured by himself, his relations, and all who may have any claims 
 thereto, as well as by the nobility and principal towns in the coun- 
 try." Thus did Bertaldo form the answer he was to give to the com- 
 missioners from the count de Gueldres. 
 
 On the morrow, at a proper hour, Bertaldo signified to the count's 
 friends he was prepared with his answer. They were well pleased 
 on hearing this, and repaired to the h6tel of Bertaldo, where every- 
 thing displayed his riches. He met them in the hall, and, after some 
 agreeable conversation, conducted them to an apartment fitted up in 
 a manner becoming a king, where some of his friends were assem- 
 bled. When the door was closed, Bertaldo desired them to declare 
 the cause of their visit to him, and he would give them his answer. 
 Upon this, the dean of Cologne, cousin to the count de Gueldres, and 
 a valiant clerk, explained so eloquently the object of their embassy, 
 it was a pleasure to hear him. Of his speech I need not make any 
 further mention, for the subject of it has been told, and it related 
 solely to the advantages of this alliance, and its conveniency to both 
 parties. 
 
 Bertaldo, who, the preceding day, had formed his plan, answered 
 as follows : " My fair sirs, I and my daughter shall hold ourselves 
 much honored by so noble an alliance as the one you have proposed ; 
 and when such matters are brought forward, the less delay afterwards 
 the better. I say this, because an alliance by marriage, between so 
 powerful and renowned a lord as count Reginald de Gueldres, with 
 Mary, my daughter, pleases me right well. You require that his es- 
 tate, which is now much entangled, by his debts to Lombards and 
 others, should be cleared by this marriage, and every incumbrance 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN. &c. 
 
 465 
 
 done away. Thanks to God, I have the ability as well as inclination | 
 so to do ; but I must first see the following settlements fairly en- 
 grossed and sealed, so that, hereafter, no contention ensue between 
 any of the parties : first, my daughter's children shall inherit the 
 country of Gueldres, comprehended within its present limits; and, it 
 my- lord Reginald should die before her, without having any heirs 
 from her body, she shall peaceably retain the possession of that coun- 
 try during her life, and then it may revert to the next lawful heir. If 
 it should happen that my daughter have an heir or heirs by my much 
 lioaorcd prince, count Reginald, and she die before him, the count 
 do Gueldres shall not, on account of any secondary marriage, disin- 
 herit, or otherwise deprive the heir or heirs of my daughter of the 
 succession of Gueldres. J consent, however, that if it shall be his 
 good pleasure in such case to marry again, he may dower the lady 
 with those acquired lands on the other side of the Meuse, bordering 
 on ihe bishopric of Liege and duchy of Brabant, but without charging 
 any part of the country of Gueldres. When the relations and friends 
 of the honorable prince, count Reginald, and all those who may, 
 from their family connections, have any claims on the duchy of Guel- 
 dres, and the chief towns, shall have signed and scaled settlements 
 drawn up in the manner I have mentioned, I give my consent to the 
 marriage. You may now, therefore, make any reply you have been 
 charged with." 
 
 The knights from Gueldres, after some short conversation together, 
 said : " Sir, we have well heard your terms ; but, not being commis- 
 sioned to say anything in confirmation, or otherwise, on the subject, 
 we must be silent. We will return to our lord, and relate punctu- 
 ally to him and his council what you ofifer, and very shortly you shall 
 have from him his answer." " God grant it may be favorable," re- 
 plied Bertaldo ; " for I wish it." On this they all left the apartment 
 and went away. As you have heard everything that passed on this 
 subject, I shall not dilate on it more. When the commissioners were 
 returned home, matters seemed likely to be soon brought to a con- 
 clusion ; for the- count thought, in his present situation, he could not 
 do better than marry the daughter of Bertaldo, who was powerfully 
 rich. For greater security, all the settlements were drawn up, and 
 engrossed in his house : when they were finished, the count signed 
 and sealed them, as did all his relations whose names were men- 
 tioned therein, and the nobility and magistrates of the principal 
 towns. 
 
 Bertaldo being now satisfied, the marriage was consummated, the 
 debts of the count were paid, and all his lands freed from every in- 
 cumbrance. Thus was the count de Gueldres made rich : he took a 
 new hotel, and formed a different establishment. If, formerly, he 
 had been thought to keep a magnificent one, this was superior ; for 
 he had now wherewithal to support it, as he never wanted for any 
 money Bertaldo could give him. The count behaved right honora- 
 bly to his lady, who was very handsome, good, prudent, and devout. 
 At the end of four years, the lady died, leaving a daughter of the name 
 of Isabella. The count, being a young man when he became a 
 widower, married again very nobly ; for king Edward of England, 
 father of that king Edward who besieged Tourmy and conquered 
 Calais, gave him his daughter Isabella.* By this lady he had three 
 children, two sons and a daughter, sir Reginald, sir Edward, and 
 Joan, who was afterwards duchess of Juliers.t 
 
 When king Edward III., who was uncle to these children of Guel- 
 dres, came first into Germany to visit the emperor, and had been ap- 
 pointed by him vicar-general of the empire,! as is contained in the 
 first volume of this history, the county of Gueldres was made a duchy, 
 and the marquisate of Juliers a county, to elevate those families in 
 dignity. But to come nearer to our time, and connect this with our 
 history, it happened that, after the decease of this count Reginald 
 we have been speaking of, his son, also called Reginald, nephew to 
 the kinsf of England, died without heirs.§ Sir Edward of Gueldres 
 succeeded to both : he was married to the eldest daughter of duke 
 Albert of Hainault ; || but she was so young, that sir Edward never 
 carnally knew her, and he died also without heirs ; for, like a valiant 
 knight, he was slain in battle, in a war against duke Winceslaus of 
 Brabant, before .Tuliers.ll 
 
 Sir Edward's sister-gcrman was married to count William of Jul. 
 iers, and her brother dying without issue, she claimed Gueldres as 
 her inheritance, and brought forward her pretensions. Her elder 
 sister, by the first marriage,** made a similar claim, and said, since 
 
 * There seetns some mistake here, but I cannot make it out, nor find in any of the 
 genealogical accounts of the counts of Gueldres, notice of this marriage with the daugh- 
 ter of tJtc vicrchavt Bertaldo of Mechlin. 
 
 "Reginald II., the 9th count of Gueldres, married, in 13^, Sophia, countess of Mcch- 
 Im, and 1350, Eleanora of England."— Anderson's Royal Genealogies. 
 
 t William, the sixth marquis, and afterwards duke of Juliers, married Mary, a daugh- 
 ter of the count do Gueldres, hut by his first wife, Sophia of Mechlin. Two children 
 only, Reginald and Edward, are ascribed to the second jnarriage in IJ'Art de verifier 
 les Datet —Ev. t In 1338.— Ed. 
 
 § Reginald III. died in 1371, leaving no children by his wife Mary, daughter of John 
 duke of Brabant.— Ed. 
 
 II He married Catherine, daughter of Albert, regent of Holland, on the 16th May, 1371 
 -Ed. 
 
 IT He died on the 24th August, 1371, from the effects of a wound received at the battle 
 of Battweiler, two days before. He was only thirty-six years old.— Ed. 
 
 ** Froissart's account of the genealogy of this family is not correct. The dispute was 
 between Mary, countess of Juliers, the half-sister of Edward and Reginald, and Wil- 
 liam, her grandson, on the one part, afld Matilda, Mary's elder sister, widow oi John, 
 
 no male heirs remained from the second marriage, the duchy became 
 her right, according to the settlements tliat had been made and 
 signed. As this dispute ran high between the two sisters, the 
 elder was advised to unite herself, by marriage, with some person 
 well allied, that would defend her rights. She followed this advice, 
 and desired the archbishop of Cologne, at that time with the loru 
 John de Blois,* whose brother, count Lewis, was still alive, to open 
 the matter to him. and, if he were agreeable, she would make him 
 duke of Gueldres ; for, by the death of her two brothers, widiout 
 male issue, the duchy had become her inheritance, and none other had 
 any legal claim to it. The lord John de Blois, who had been brought 
 up in Holland and Zealand, having fair inheritances there, and speak- 
 ing the language, willingly listened to the proposal ; for he would 
 never marry in France, thinking he should acquire a large tract of 
 country in the parts he liked best. The knights of his council, in 
 Holland, advised him to accept of the lady. He consented to this ; 
 but, before he made it public, he rode to Hainault, to consult his 
 cousin, duke Albert, and hear what he would say to it. 
 
 Duke Albert, in truth, knew not what advice to give him, or, if he 
 did, he kept it to himself, and delayed so long, before he could make 
 up his mind, that lord John de Blois was tired of waiting, and, mount- 
 ing his horse, rode to Gueldres* married the lady I have mentioned, 
 and took possession of the duchy. He was not, however, acknow- 
 ledged iJuke by the whole country, nor were her claims universally 
 allowed ; the majority of knights, squires, and chief towns, inclined 
 more to the lady of Juliers, who, having a handsome family of chil- 
 dren, had gained their hearts. The lord John, therefore, had with 
 his wife a war, which cost him much. By the dcfith of his brother, 
 count Lewis, he became count of Blois, lord of Avesnes in Hain- 
 ault ; and the rich inheritances of Holland and Zealand fell likewise 
 to him. Notwithstanding this, his council advised him t-o pursue 
 the claim of his lady on Gueldreland. He did so, to the utmost of » 
 his power ; but Germans are a covetous people, and they only con- 
 tinued the war as long as they were duly paid. The dispute cost 
 lord John very large sums, and was never of any service to him. 
 This gallant count, lord John de Blois, died in the castle of the good 
 town of Schoonhoven, in the month of June, of the year of grace 
 1381, and was carried to the church of the Cordeliers and Valenci- 
 ennes, and buried beside his grandfather, ^ir John of Hainault.t 
 
 The lord Guy de Blois succeeded his brothers in all their posses- 
 sions in France, Picardy, Hainault, Holland, and Zealand, as well as 
 in the country of Blois. I know not how many years the lady of 
 lord John survived him, but, on her decease, her sister, the countess 
 of Juliers, remained peaceable possessor of the duchy of Gueldres. 
 It v/as, however, settled, at the request of the nobility and inhabit- 
 ants of the duchy, that lord William de Juliers, eldest son of the 
 count of juliers, should be duke of Gueldres; for it had reverted to 
 him in direct succession from his uncles, and, on this account, duke 
 Albert and his duchess had given him their daughter in marriage, 
 who had been betrothed to the duke Edward, as before mentioned. 
 Thus was this lady still duchess of Gueldres, and this last marriage 
 was more suitable, for they were both nearly of the same age. The 
 duke resided constantly in his own country ; but the more he in- 
 creased in ago the greater was his love for tilts, tournaments, and 
 such amusements, and he was more attached to the English than to 
 the French, which he showed as long as he lived. He had always 
 rankling in his breast a similar hatred to what had subsisted between 
 his ancestors and the dukes of Brabant, and was evef seeking for 
 occasion of quarrel with them for two reasons : one, because he was 
 the ally of king Richard 11. ; the other, because Winceslaus of Bo. 
 hernia, duke of Luxembourg, had purchased from the count de 
 Mours, a great baron in Germany, those three castles I have before 
 mentioned, but will now mention again, to make the matter clearer, 
 Goch, Beeck, and Megen ; they are situated beyond the Meuse, on 
 the territory of Fauquemont. The dukes of Gueldresthad in former 
 times been lords of these castles, and the present duke was much 
 vexed that he could not add them to his inheritance ; but as long as 
 duke Winceslaus lived he kept all this to liimself. 
 
 CHAPTER XCVIII. 
 
 FROISSART RETURNS TO THE QUARREL BETWEEN THE HOUSES OF BRABANT 
 AND GUELDRES, WHICH HE HAD LEFT UNFINISHED IN THE PRECEDING 
 CHAPTER, AND CONTINUES THE HISTORY OF THE DUKES OF GUELDRES TO 
 DUKE WILLIAM, WHO SENDS HIS CHALLENGE TO CHARLES VI. KING OF 
 FRANCE. 
 
 DuKE Reginald of Gueldres, cousin-gcrman to the prince of Wales, 
 had mortgaged the three above-mentioned castles for a sum of florins 
 to a great baron of Germany, called the count de Mours. He kept 
 possession of them for a time ; but, when no intention was shown 
 
 first count of Cleves, on the other part. Whether Mary and Matilda were both the 
 daughters of Sophia of Mechlin, or whether Reginald the second married thrice, and 
 had Matilda by a prior wife to Sophia, is uncertain ; but no mention of a tJiird marriage 
 is to be met with in any )«rords of the time.— Ed. 
 
 * John de Chatillon, count of Blois, married JMatilda in 1372.— Ed. 
 
 t The lords Ijewis, John and Guy, were sons of the count Guy de Blois, brother to 
 Charles de Blois, duke of Brittany, by a daughter of sir John of Hainault, who con- 
 ducted queen Isabella of France England, with Jier son JSdward IIJ, Annotation 
 
4jC 
 
 CHRONICLES OF HN'^LAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 of p'lyi ig bnck tiio money he had lent on their security, he grew niel. 
 nnch.'ly, niul ?ent lc<;:il summons for payment to duke Reginald. 
 But he iniide light cf thi=, as he hnd not any money to acqri't him- 
 feir of the dol>t, which frequently happens to many great lords when 
 they are c.illeci upon for paymetit. When the count de Mours per. 
 ccivrd thi.^, he made advances to the duke of Brabant, and offered 
 him liic&e castles for the money for «-hich they were mortgaged. The 
 duke eagerly accepted the proposal, for they were on the confines of 
 liu; territory of Fauqucmont, of which he was lord. The duke was 
 dcf irons u increase his inheritince., for he thought surely lo survive 
 his present duchess, the lady Johanna.* 
 
 He took possession of these 
 castles, and placed in them, as 
 governor, the lord de Kile. 
 When, upon the death of duke 
 Reginald, the lord Edward suc- 
 ceeded lo the duchy of Gucldres, 
 
 lie sent embassadors to the duke 
 
 of Brabant, to request he might 
 
 have his castles for the money he 
 
 had paid them. The duke, not 
 
 having purchased them for this 
 
 end, returned a positive refusal. 
 
 The duke of Gueldres was highly 
 
 indignant at this answer, and in 
 
 consequence was hard on his 
 
 si ter in-law, the widow of the 
 
 lord Reginald, and younger sister 
 
 to the duchess of Brabant, by pre. 
 
 venting her from receiving her 
 
 dower. The lady went to Bra. 
 
 bant, and laid her complaints of 
 
 the vexations which the duke of 
 
 Gueldres was occasioning her, 
 
 before the duke and duchess. 
 
 On account of the long-subsisting 
 
 hatred between the Brabanlers 
 
 and those of Gueldres, for the 
 
 seizure of Grave, the .first were 
 
 well inclined t) aid the lady by 
 
 force of arms. A large body of 
 
 men-ni-arms were indeed once 
 
 collected in Brabant, and ad. 
 
 vanced t ) Blois le-Duc, to the 
 
 amount of twelve hundred spears. 
 
 The duke of Gueldres had like 
 
 wUe assembled his forces, and 
 
 it was generally thought a battle would have been the consequence ; 
 but dnke Albert, the count de Mours, and the count of Juliers this time 
 inlnrfered, and they separated without coming to blows. 
 
 This same year duke Winces! aus was victorious over some free 
 companies, who had overrun and despoiled his lands in Luxembourg : 
 lie banished many, and put to death their leader, called the Little 
 Mesclin, in the tjwer of the castle of Luxembourg. In this year also, 
 the l.jrtl Charles of Bohemia, emperor of Germany, appointed the 
 duke of Brabant chief of an institution called in Germany Langue- 
 fride, which signifies an association for the repairs and security of 
 the public roads, so that persons may travel from one part to another 
 without danger. The emperor gave him also great posses-si^ns in 
 Alsace on both sides of the Rhine, that he might guard the country 
 again-t the Linfars, who are a most wicked people, robbing all with- 
 out msrcy. He gave him likewise the sovereignty of the large city 
 of Strasburg, and, to add to his dignity, created him a prince of the 
 H 'ly Roman Empire. He certainly could not give him too much, 
 for thi.' duke Winceslaus was generous, amiable, courteous to all, 
 and galhnt in arms. Great things must have been expected from 
 liini, had he been granted longer life, but he died in the flower of 
 his age ; on account of which I, the author of this history, greatly 
 grieve, and wish he had enjoyed a course of eighty years or more, 
 for he would hive done much good to mankind. The schi?m in the 
 church nfl^icted him greatly, as he often expre?!Eed himself to me, 
 who lived \Vith him on the most intimate and friendly fo;.ting. And 
 nof.vithnanding that 1 have seen and personally known upward of 
 two hundred pjwerful princes in ray various travel?, I have never 
 found any more courteous and amiabb than this duke of Brabant, 
 and my very good lord the count Guy de Blois, who commanded me 
 to indite this Chronicle. Those were the two princes, of my time, 
 of the greatest liberality, humility, and goodness, who lived mignifi. 
 cenlly on their revenues, without malice or any way oppressing their 
 Eubject3 by taxes, and issuing any hurtful edicts through their terri- 
 tcries. But I will now return to the principal subject of this chapter. 
 
 When the dukes of Juliers and Gueldres, who were brothers by 
 man-iage, ar>d whose hearts were too much attached to the English 
 (for ihey had long been the allies of the kings of England, and 
 
 strongly united to each other,) heard of the dignities conferred by the 
 emperor on the duke of Brubint, they were much exasperated ; not 
 from any wish to do good or correct the wicked, but that such honors 
 should be conferred on their enemy: more particularly that he should 
 have the appointment of Languefride, and execute the ofiice with 
 severity, for it affected their lands. This institution had been first 
 formed for the security of those merchants of Hninault, Brabant, 
 France, Flanders, and Liege, who travelled thence to Cologne, Treves, 
 Lucca, Constmce, and other cities and fairs in Germany. Mer. 
 chants could not enter those countries without risk, throush the states 
 of Juliers or Gueldres. It happened there were some robberies com. 
 
 The Emperor constituting the Duke or Brabant LANoi ErnirE, or Keeper of the Public Koads. Ctsigned from 
 
 MSS. llluiniuatioiis cl" tlie i ifieeullj Century-. 
 
 mitted on the highways by these Linfar.«, who had escaped into the 
 territory of the duke of Julier.-: ; and it was told me, that the duko 
 had even lent them horses and the use of his castles. Heavy com. 
 plaints were made of this to duke Winceslaus, who at that time was 
 resident in Brussels, and that the Languefride was held in contempt; 
 that the persons who had violated it were retired into the duchy of 
 Juliers, where they lived unmolested. 
 
 The duke of Brabant, at that time young and chivalrous, high in 
 birth and rich in fortune, was greatly piqued at this conduct, and hurt 
 by the complaints of those who had been robbed ; he declared he 
 would speedily provide a remedy, and, being nominated chief of the 
 Languefride, would not that any blame should fall on him for negli. 
 gence in the due support of it. To be assured of the fact, and through 
 tne advice of his friends, he sent to the duke of Juliers some of the 
 first men in his country, such as the lord d'Urquon, the lord Bour. 
 gueval, sir Scelar archdeacon of Hainault, Geoffry de la Tour grand, 
 routier of Brabant, and several more, to remonstrate with him in an 
 amicable manner on the impropriety of his conduct, and that proper 
 excuses must be made for the offence, as it affected too strongly the 
 duke of Brabant as chief of the Languefride. 
 
 The duke of Juliers paid but little attention to their remonstrances, 
 for he seemed riither to prefer war to peace, which displeased so 
 much the envoys from the duke cf Brabant, that they tock leave of 
 him, and returned t.-> relate all that had passed. The duke of Bra- 
 bant, having heard them, asked their advice how to act. "Sir," 
 they replied, " you know it full well yourself : speak your will." 
 " Well, then," said the duke, " it is not my intention to let :his matter 
 s'eep, nor shall it be said, through cowardice oi weakness of heart I 
 have suffered any robberies to be committed within my jurisdiction 
 with impunity, as I will make my cousin, the duke of Juliers, and his 
 adherent?, very soon feel, and that the business is personal to mc." 
 The duke was not idle,. but instantly set clerks to work in writing 
 letters to all from whom he expected any assistance : some he en. 
 treated, others he commanded, and gave sufficient notice to the duke 
 of Juliers and his allies of his intentions. Each of these lords pro. 
 vided themselves as ably as they could : but the duke of Juliers would 
 have made an indifferent figure without his brother-in-law the duke 
 of Gueldres, who greatly reinforced him with men-at-arms and friends. 
 These two lords collected men secretly from Germany ; and as the 
 Germans were avaricious, and had not for some time had any oppor. 
 tunity of gain, they accepted iheir pay, and came in greater numbers 
 
 * Winceslmis wns the second husband of Johannn, heiress of Bralxint and Liniboiire. 
 She was married to him, ISi't. After tlie death of Winccflaus.thcSth Deccmhrr, 1384, 
 nnd his son, she eonstitutfid Anthony, second son of the dnke of Burgundy, her heir. 
 I'iOl. Her first Imshand, W illinm, count of UoUood, died, 1345, without issue. Jo- 
 hanuaiiie«I liJU.— ANOE..so:<'ii B. G. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 457 
 
 OS rhey were igaorant they were to be employed against the duke of 
 Srabant. 
 
 The duke of Brabant left Brussels in grand array, and went to 
 Louvui:i, thence to Mie.^tricht, where he founJ upward of one thou, 
 sand good spears waiting fur him : other forces were coming to his 
 aid from France, Flanders, Hainault, Namur, Lorrain, Bar, and dif- 
 feront part?, so that his army amounted to full two thousand five 
 hundrtjd lances. Four hundred ppears, under the lord of Geant, 
 were on their urarch to join him from Burgundy ; but they arrived 
 too lute, from not knowing when an' engagement would take place, 
 and were much vexed when they heard that it was over without their 
 being present. While the duke of Brabant remained at Maestricht, 
 he could not obtain any intelligence of his enemies : he therefore 
 d t^rmiacd to advance and e.iter their lands, which he did on a 
 Wednesday, and there encampe i. He halted that day and the next, 
 and learni from his scouts that tLe enemy had taken the field. He 
 commanded the army tj advance into the territory of .luliers and 
 barn it. This Thursday ho halted at an early hour. The van was 
 comm inded by Guy de Ligny, count de St. Paul, and the lord Wal- 
 eran his son, who though very young, being no more than sixteen 
 years old, was then made a knight. The Brabanters encamped very 
 close together, and, as ir appeared, the Germans were better informed 
 of their state than the Brabanters wdre concerning them : for, on the 
 Friday morning, as the duke had heard mass, and all were on the 
 plain, not thinking a battle would soon take place, the dukes of 
 Julicr^ and GuleJres made their appearance, with a large and well- 
 mounted body of jnen-at-arms. The duke of Brabant was told : 
 " Sir, here are your enemies : put on your helmets quickly, in the 
 name of God md St. George." He v/as well pleased on hearing 
 this; and that d y he had near his person four squires, well informed, 
 and of courage :o save such a prince, having been engaged in many 
 deeds of arms aiid pitched battles : their names were John de Valcon, 
 Baldwin de Be .iujtt, Gerard de Bles, and Orlando de Cologne. 
 
 The men of Brussels surrounded the duke : some were mounted 
 wita their servants behind them, who carried flagons of wine, and 
 salmouj trout, and eel.pie«, neatly packed in handsome towels at- 
 tached to taeir saddles. These people, with their horses, filled up 
 the pi ice so much, that no proper orders could be given. At length, 
 Gerard de Bles said to the^duke, "Sir, order all these horse away 
 that surround us : they are greatly in our way, and prevent us from 
 knowi.ig what has become of the van and rear division, under your 
 marsh il sir Robert de Namur.'' " I consent," replied the duke, and 
 gave his orders. Upon this, Gerard and his companions, sword in 
 hind, begin tj lay about them, on helmets and horses, so that the 
 place wa3 instantly cleared ; for no one would willingly have his 
 horse wounded or killed. To make an end of the business, the 
 dukf s of Juliers and Gucldrcs advanced full gallop on the van, under 
 the command of the count de St. Paul and his son, which they broke 
 and defeated, and many were slain and made prisoners. Tnis divis- 
 ion nude the greatcjt rcsi-tance, and the count de St. Paul and his 
 son were among the dead. Fortune was unkind to the duke of 
 Brabant and h'n allies; for this battle was so severe, few men of 
 honor escaped de ith or captivity. 
 
 The duke of Brabant, tir Robert do Namur, sir Lewis, his brother, 
 Bir William de Namur, son to the count de Namur, were made 
 prisoners, snJ such numbers of others, that their enemies were 
 fully occupied when they surrendered to them. There were many 
 slain on the siJe of the duke of .luliers: but you know it is a gen- 
 cral observation, a defeated army always suffers the most. The 
 Brab mters, however, had one s stisfaction in their great loss, in the 
 death of duke Edward of Gueldres; for it was the opinion of all, 
 that had he survived, he would have overrun the country, and con- 
 quered the whole, as well as Brussels, without meeting any opposi- 
 tion ; for he was a mo^t outrageously bold knight, and detested the 
 Brabanters, on account of the three castles they held from him. 
 The duke of .Tuliers g lined this victory on a Friday of August, the 
 eve of St. Bartholomew's day, in the year of our Lord, 1371. 
 
 The duchess of Brabant, in her distress, had recourse to king 
 Charles V. of France, who was nephew to the duke. The king 
 advised her to apply in person to the emperor of Germany, as being 
 brother to the duke of Brabant, and because he had suflered in sup- 
 port of the emperor's rights. The lady did so, and went to Coblentz, 
 where she found the emperor, to whom she made her complaints. 
 The emperor heard her with attention, and was bound by several 
 reasons t a grant her relief and comfort ; first, because the duke was 
 his brother, and because he had appointed him his vicar of the em- 
 pire, and chief of the Languefride. He consoled the duchess, and 
 t Id her, that before the ensuing summer were passed, he would pro- 
 vide an ample remedy for what had happened. The duchess returned 
 to Brabant greatly comforted. The emperor, lord Charles of Bohe- 
 mia, was not inactive ; for as soon as the winter was passed, he went 
 to the noble city of Cologne, where he made such vast provision of 
 stores, as if he were about to march to the conquest of a kingdom. 
 He wrote to all counts and dukes who held lands under him, to meet 
 him the third day of June,* at Aix-la-Chapelle, each accompanied 
 by fifty horse, under pain of forfeiture of his lands for disobedience. 
 He particularly summoned duke Albert, earl of Hainault, to Aix, 
 with fi ty horse, who obeyed. 
 
 * 1372.-iSp. 
 
 When all the lords who had been summoned were arrived at Aix. 
 la-Chapelle, the place was much crowded, and the empeior then de- 
 clared he would instantly enter the duchy of Juliers to dei troy it, on 
 account of the great outrage that had been offered him, by the duke 
 of Juliers taking up arms against his vicar and brother; f)rsuch had 
 been the sentence adjudged in the courts of the empire. The arch- 
 bishop of Treves, the archbishop of Cologne, the bishop of Mentz, 
 the bishop of Liege, duke Albert of Bavaria,* his brother, and many 
 great barons of Germany, relations of the duke of Juliers, having 
 consulted together, thought that to destroy the Vv'hole of the territo. 
 ries of so valiant a knight, was a punishment too severe. They 
 therefore proposed that the duke of Juliers should be summoned, and 
 brought to acknowledge his error. This being agreed to, all parties 
 labored to bring about a reconciliation. 
 
 Duke Albert and his brother went to Juliers, where they found the 
 duke so much dismayed at this large armament of the emperor, that 
 he knew not how to act, nor what counsel to follow, for he had heard 
 it was intended against him, unless his friends exerted themselves to 
 avert it. The duke of Juliers was much rejoiced and comforted by 
 the arrival of two such lords as duke Albert of Bavaria and the duke 
 Otho, his brother, besides being his relations; for he knew they 
 would not allow him to suffer any disgrace, but would give him the 
 best advice for his conduct. They counselled him as fellows: To 
 send some of his principal knights for his cou.^in the duke of Brabant, 
 whom he had detained a prisoner at large in the town and castle of 
 Judeque.t When he was brought to them, these lords paid him 
 every reepect that was his due. They then all left Juliers together, 
 and rode to Aix, where they dismounted at the hotels which had 
 been prepared for them. Duke Albert, his brother, and the before, 
 mentioned prelates, who had been mediators in this business, went 
 to the emperor and his council, and told them, that the duke Juliers 
 was, of his own free will, come to wait on him, and was v/illing to 
 put himself, without reservation, in his power, as he acknowledged 
 him for his sovereign and liege lord. These humble words greatly 
 wftened the anger of the emperor, and he replied, "Let the duke of 
 Juliers come hither." 
 
 When the duke of Juliers was in the presence of the emperor, he 
 cast himself on his knees, and said, "Most redoubted and sovereign 
 lord, I understand you are much displeased with me for having de. 
 tained so long in prison your brother of Brabant. I am willing to 
 refer the whole matter to your noble self, and v/ill conform to what- 
 ever may be your judgment and that of your council." The emperor 
 made no answer to this speech ; but his son, the king of Bohemia, 
 replied, "Duke of Juliers, you have behaved very outrageously, in 
 keeping so long our cousin of Brabant prisoner; and had it not been 
 for your well-beloved cousins, the dukes of Bavaria and Austria, 
 who have so warmly interceded for you, this mnltcr would have 
 turned out very disagreeably to you, and you would have well deserved 
 that it should do so. Continue your harangue, and manage that we 
 be satisfied with you, and that we have never again any cause to com. 
 plain of your conduct; for another time it will cost you very dear." 
 
 The duke of .luliers was still on his knees before the emperor, 
 seated on his imperial throne, and thus spoke : " My very redoubted 
 and sovereign lord, 1 acknowledge that I have been guilty of con* 
 tempt to your imperial dignity, by raising an army, and engaging 
 with it my cousin, your brother, the vicar of the holy empire. If the 
 fortune of war gave me the day, and your brother was t iken prisoner, 
 I now restore him to you free of all ransom ; and, if you please, 
 t'lere shall never again be ill-will or revenge thought of between us." 
 The prelates and princes, standing round, said, " Most renowned lord, 
 accept the excuses and offers which your cousin the duke of Juliers 
 makes you, and let them satisfy you." " We are willing to do sq," 
 said the emperor ; and, as it was told me, in further confirmation he 
 took the duke of Juliers by the hand, as he roi-e, and kissed him on 
 the mouth. The king of Bohemia and duke of Brabant did the same. 
 
 Thus was Winceslaus of Bohemia, duke of Luxembourg and Bra. 
 bant, delivered from prison, by the power of the emperor, without 
 ransom, as were all that had been made prisoners by the duke of 
 Juliers, and who had not paid their ransoms, by the treaties that were 
 drawn up in consequence of this reconciliation. When this matter 
 had been concluded, the assembly broke up, and all returned ta their 
 homes. The emperor went to Prague, the duke of Brabant to Brus. 
 sels. When the duke of Brabant had there arrived, he imposed a 
 very heavy tax on the country, to make restitution to the knights and 
 squires for some part of the losses they had suffered. 
 
 CHAPTER XCI. 
 
 A rONTINUATTON OF THE HISTORY OF THE QUAKRET- BETWEEN BRABANT 
 AND UUELDRES. OX THE DEATH OF DUKE WIiVCESI.AUS, THE YOU.Va 
 WILLIAM OF JULIERS, DUKE OF GUELDRES, EXDEAVORS BY EVERY 
 MEANS TO REGAIN THE THREE CASTLES. HE ALLIES HIMSELF TO THE 
 KING OF ENGLAND, BECAUSE FRANCE SUPPORTS THE RIGHTS OF THE 
 WIDOW.DUCHESS OF BRABANT. 
 
 I HAVE taken much pains to detail all the particulars of this matter 
 in my history, to bring it to the point I aim at, which is to explain 
 
 * Otho v.. surnamed " le faineant, " margrave of Brandenburg.— £d. 
 t " Jududue." il' not Jiiiich. Juiieis. 
 
458 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 why king Charles of France led a powerful army into Germany. I 
 might indeed have passed it more briefly over, if I had chosen ; but 
 the dates of all these circumstances ought to be inserted in this his- 
 tory. In truth, I liave my own manner of relating things, which, 
 though pleasing to me,i;; indifferent enough. When I leamt that the 
 kings of France and Eaghiad were about to interfere in this business, 
 I exerted myself to examine more deeply into the subject than I had 
 iiitherto done, and shall continue it as follows. 
 
 On the return of duke Winceslaus to Brabant, freed from all dangers 
 of prison, as you have heard, he was desirous of visiting his states and 
 castles, as well in the duchy of Luxembourg as elsewhere. He took 
 therefore his road toward Alsace and the city of Strasburg, through the 
 territory of Fauquemont. He visited those three castles which had 
 caused the hatred of theduke of Gueldres,and found them strong, hand- 
 some, and well situated. If he liked them before, he was now still 
 more pleased with them, and ordered the tenants around to assist in 
 strengthening their fortihcations. He employed masons, carpenters 
 and ditchers, to repair and ornament them ; and before his departure, 
 he appointed a prudent and valiant knight called sir John Grosset, as 
 governor in chief, with orders to guard and defend them at his peril. 
 The duke continued his journey through his states, stopping at vari- 
 ous places, according to his pleasure, and then returned to Brabant, 
 which was his fixed place of residence. 
 
 Sir John de Blois had at this period married the duchess-dowager 
 of Gueldres, to whom that duchy had fallen by the death of lord Ed- 
 ward, slain, as you have heard, at the battle of Juliers : but the duchess 
 of Juliers opposed her claim on Gueldres, and was supported by the 
 majority of the nobility and principal towns ; for she was more pop- 
 ular with them than her eldest sister because she had a fine son, of 
 an age to defend them in war, and neither her sister nor her husband, 
 sir John de Blois, had ever peaceable possessio-n of the duchy. The 
 war to support the claim of the duchess, in which he was forced to 
 engage, cost him upward of one hundred thousand francs; and after 
 all William de Juliers, son to the duke of Juliers, (who had early 
 shown in his youth that chivalry and love of arms had descended to 
 him by blood on both sides,) remained duke of Gueldres. A union 
 was concluded between him and the eldest daughter of duke Albert, 
 who was married to the lord Edward of Gueldres, but the marriage, 
 on account of her extreme youth, had never been consummated. By 
 this union with lord William, she remained duchess of Gueldres. 
 
 Time and seasons pass and change ; and this young duke increased 
 in honor, strength, and understanding, with a great desire for deeds 
 of arms, and a strong inclination to add to his sister states. His heart 
 was more English than French, and he had declared in his younger 
 years that he would always aid the kings of England in their wars ; 
 for, being more nearly connected by blood with them than with the 
 kings of France, he bore them greater affection. When his council 
 gave him to understand that the Brabanters did him much injury by 
 the detention of the three castles which the duke and duchess held 
 from him, he replied, " Be it so : wait a while : everything has its 
 turn. It is not yet time for me to exert myself, for our cousin of 
 Brabant has too many powerful friends ; but a time may come, when 
 I will rouse myself in earnest." Things remained in this state, until 
 God was pleased to call to him duke Winceslaus, who died duke of 
 Brabant and Luxembourg, as has been already related in this history. 
 The duchess and the states suffered a great loss by the death of this 
 gallant duke. 
 
 The young duke of Gueldres, who was now of an age to maintain 
 his pretensions by arms against his enemies, began to take measures 
 for the regaining these three castles, which had created such hatred 
 between Brabant and his uncle, the lord Edward of Gueldres. He 
 Bent persons properly authorized to treat with the duchess of Brabant 
 for the surrender of the castles, on payment of the sum they had been 
 mortgaged for : but the lady replied that, as they were now legally 
 in her possession, she would keep them for herself and her heir, as 
 her lawful inheritance ; and that if the duke were in earnest in his 
 professions of friendship to Brabant, he would prove it by yielding 
 up the town of Grave, which he unjustly detained. The duke of 
 Gueldres on hearing this answer, which was not very agreeable to 
 him, was much piqued, but did not the less adhere to his plans. He 
 now attempted to gain over to his interest the governor of those cas- 
 tles, sir John Grosset, by purchase or otherwise. The knight was 
 prudent and steady : he told those who had been sent secretly to treat 
 with him, never again to mention the subject, for, were he to die for 
 it, he would never act dishonorably, nor be guilty of treason to his 
 lawful sovereign. When the duke found he had not any hopes of 
 succeeding with the governor, he (as I was informed) addressed 
 himself to sir Reginald d'Esconvenort, and excited such a hatred 
 between him and sir John Grosset, for a very trifling cause, that the 
 knight wa^ shortly after murdered in the plains, either by sir Reginald, 
 or by his people, or through an ambuscade, to the great vexation of 
 the duchess of Brabant and that country. The three castles were 
 put under another governor by order of the duchess and her council. 
 Affairs remained some years in this state ; but their mutual hatred 
 was privately kept up, as well for these castles as for the town of 
 Grave. Those of Gueldres that bordered on Brabant did as much 
 mischief as they could to their neighbors, more particularly the inhab. 
 itants of Grave, which is but four leagues distant from Bois-le-Duc, 
 and a fine open country to ride over ; they therefore harassed greatly 
 the Brabantera near that part. 
 
 During the time these things were passing, the duke of Gueldres 
 crossed the sea to England, to visit his cousin king Richard, and his 
 relatives the dukes of Lancaster, York, and Gloucester, who were 
 then at home, and the great barons of England. They made him 
 good cheer, for they were desirous to see and make acquaintance 
 with him, having before heard how much the duke was attached to 
 England. In this journey he entered into an alliance with the king 
 of England ; and although he had not hitherto received anything 
 from the king to induce him to become his liegeman, he now accepted 
 a pension of one thousand marcs on the king of England's treasury, 
 which, according to the value of the coin, was equal to four thousand 
 francs ready money.* He was advised to renew his claims on Bra- 
 bant, and was promised to be eflfectually assisted by England, that 
 no loss should accrue to him. In return for which, he swore to be 
 for ever loyal in his services to England : all this he too readily en- 
 tered into. When this treaty had been concluded, he took leave of 
 the king and his barons, and returned to Gueldres, when he told the 
 duke of Juliers what he had done, and how he had strengthened him- 
 self by his alliance with England. 
 
 The duke of Juliers, who, from age, had more experience than his 
 son, was not much rejoiced on hearing it, and said, " William, what 
 you have done may be the cause that both you and I shall dearly pay 
 for your visit to England. Are you ignorant of the power of the 
 duke of Burgundy, and that he has not his equal in this respect ? He 
 is the next heir to the duchy of Brabant, and how can you tliink of 
 succeeding in any opposition to him, or of resisting so potent a 
 prince ?" " How I" replied the duke of Gueldres, " the more rich 
 and powerful he is, the better to make war on. I had rather have 
 for my enemy a rich man, who has large possessions, than a little 
 baron from whom nothing can be gained : for one blow I receive, I 
 wish to give vsix ; besides, the emperor of Germany is so much con- 
 nected with England, that I may look- for assistance from him should 
 there be occasion." " By my faith, fair son William, you are mad ; 
 and more of your schemes will fall to the ground than will be accom- 
 plished." 
 
 I will explain why the duke of Juliers thus checked his son, and 
 doubted of the success of his enterprises. The late king of France 
 exerted himself much to gain friends in different parts : and, though 
 he could not prevail on many to join him in his wars, yet, by gifts 
 and other compliments, he kept them quiet, and by such means 
 acquired several friends in the empire and elsewhere. When the 
 emperor had forgiven the duke of Juliers' conduct to the duke of 
 Brabant, and the last, by obtaining his liberty, was reconciled to the 
 duke of Juliers, he, at the desire of the king of France, waited on 
 him at Paris, where he was most kindly received. The king gave 
 to him and hisknights very rich presents of jewels, to the great satis- 
 faction of the duke. In this visit the duke was presented with Vier- 
 sont and its lordships, which he held as a fief from the king, to whom 
 he swore he would never bear arms against France. Vierson was 
 originally dependent on the counts de Blois, is situated between Blois 
 and Berry, and may be worth about five hundred francs a year. 
 During the reign of Charles V., he truly kept his oath, and, as long 
 as the king lived, neither bore arms himself, nor entered into any 
 treaty with the enemies of France. When Charles VI. began his 
 reign, he was so much embroiled with the wars with Flanders and 
 England, that he could not attend to everything. The duke of Juliers, 
 not being summoned, did not renew his homage for Vierson ; and the 
 duke of Berry, noticing this, seized the lands, which he said were 
 dependent on him, and thus deprived the counts of Blois of their 
 rights. This, however, caused no quarrel between the families, for 
 I saw them frequently together, and, indeed, from their connection 
 it was right they should be good friends ; for Lewis, son of the duke 
 of Berry, was married to the lady Mary, daughter of the count de 
 Blois. The duke of Juliers had thoughts of claiming the lands of 
 Vierson, until he found his son had so hastily, and, as he thought, 
 imprudently allied himself with England, which he imagined would 
 never turn out to his advantage. He had therefore spoken to him in 
 the manner I have related, when the duke of Gueldres returned from 
 England ; but he paid not any attention to it, and, as he was young 
 and rash, replied to his father, that he would not do otherwise than 
 he had said ; and that he preferred war to peace, and war against 
 the king of France to a contest with a poorer person. 
 
 CHAPTER C. 
 
 THE DUCHESS OF BRABANT SENDS EMBASSADORS TO FRANCE FOR ASSIST- 
 ANCE AGAINST THE DUKE OF GUELDRES. THEV ARRIVE AT THE SAME 
 TIME THE duke's CHALLENGE IS BROUGHT, AND RECEIVE FAVORABLE 
 ANSWERS. 
 
 The duchess of Brabant, who resided at Brussels, was well in- 
 formed of everything that was passing, and that the duke of Guel- 
 dres menaced the Brabanters with war. She was fearful that he 
 would put his threats in execution, and said: "Ah, may God gra- 
 ciously pardon my deceased lord ; for, had he been alive, the duke 
 
 * See the Foedera, an. 10 Ricardi II. where the treaty is at lengtli, The pension was 
 for life, of one thousand pounds sterling. 
 
 t " Vierson,"— a city of ^erry, on the Cher, diocese Qf Bourges, tv^enty-two leagues. 
 fi-omOrleani. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 459 
 
 of Gueldres would not have dared to use the expressions I hear he | 
 htts done ; but, because I am a woman, and old, he wants to attack 
 and make war on me." The duchess assembled her council on the 
 occasion ; for she knew her opponent was of a hasty temper, and 
 that action would soon follow his words. At the time this council 
 was held, the duke of Gueldres had sent his defiance to the kiner of 
 France, which i ad caused great slander in all countries where it had 
 been told ; for ihe duke was but a petty prince in comparison with 
 others ; and the tenor of this challenge was, as I heard, written in 
 such imperious and coarse language as astonished all who saw it. 
 This challenge was spoken of variously, according as the different 
 persons to whom it was told were attached. 
 
 The council of the duchess, in answer to her when she demanded 
 their advice, said, " In the namo of God, lady, what you ask may be 
 speedily given. We advise, thht you send embassadors to the king 
 of France and to the duke of Burgundy. You have a good oppor- 
 tunity ; for the duke of Gueldres has sent his defiance to the king 
 of France and all his allies. Should he carry his threats into execu- 
 tion, and, as it is reported, make war on that kingdom, in conjunc- 
 tion with the English and Germans, he cannot gain a more convenient 
 entrance into it,~than through your duchy. It is right, therefore, the 
 king and the duke of Burgundy be prepared, and that all your castles 
 on the frontiers be well supplied with men-at-arms ; for there is no 
 enemy so contemptible, but that he should be feared. We do not 
 mean to say that against him alone, nor for what the Gueldrians may 
 be able to do against us, we should seek for assistance or allies : oh, 
 no ; but on account of the connections he may have formed with 
 foreign countries, especially with the English, in whose cause he is 
 now arming, vnd the Germans, who are avaricious, and eager to 
 make war on F /ance for the wealth they hope to find there." The 
 duchess replied, " Your advice is good, and I v/ill that attention be 
 paid to it." The envoys to France were chosen from among the 
 privy counsellors of Brabant, and were the lord de Bourgueval mas- 
 ter of the household, sir John Opem, a most amiable knight, sir 
 Nicholas de la Monnoye, and John de Grave, a clerk. When their 
 credential letters were drawn out and sealed, they left Brussels and 
 took the road to Paris. At that time, however, the king and the 
 duke of Burgundy were at Rouen, whither the embassadors went. 
 
 On their arrival at Rouen, they waited first on the duke of Bur- 
 gundy, who entertained them handsomely, as he knew well, and 
 showed him their credential letters. The duke having perused them, 
 at the proper hour led them to the king, who received them graciously, 
 from his regard to their duchess. The king, after reading their pa- 
 pers, said : " What you request, demands consideration : keep near 
 our fair uncle of Burgundy, and your business shall be attended to, 
 and concluded as speedily as may be." This answer was satisfac- 
 tory to them, and, having taken leave of the king and the duke of 
 Burgundy, they returned to their lodgings. The king of France, his 
 uncles and the lords of his council, had, at this moment, full employ- 
 ment, and were daily in council respecting different matters which 
 required it. The challenge of the duke of Gueldres was not very 
 agreeable ; and they knew not the intentions of the duke of Brittany, 
 from his strange conduct in regard to the constable of France. They 
 had likewise heard he was busy in providing all his towns and cas- 
 ties with stores and men-at-arms ; and that his correspondence was 
 now more frequent than ever with the king of England and his two 
 uncles : for the duke of Lancaster was still in Galicia. The council 
 of France had, therefore, enough to do, to weigh well these matters ; 
 and were so much occupied on them, that the Brabanters waited 
 some time for their answer. At length the duke of Burgundy gave 
 it them as follows : " You will return to our fan- aunt, and salute her 
 many times in my name. Give her these letters from the king and 
 from me ; and tell her, that we consider her affairs as our own, and 
 desire her not to be alarmed at anything, for she will have speedy 
 aid ; and tell her that the country of Brabant shall not, in any way, 
 be hurt or damaged." This answer was very agreeable to the em- 
 bassadors, who instantly returned to Paris, and thence to Brussels, 
 and gave the duchess a detailed account of what had passed, and of 
 the answer they had received, so that she was perfectly contented. 
 
 CHAPTER CI. 
 
 CONCERNING THE RTJMORS OF THE SIGNS OF SANCTITY WHICH WERE MAN- 
 IFESTED BY THE CARDINAL DE LUXEMBOURG AFTER HIS DEATH.. THE 
 EXTRAORDINARY END OF THE KING OF NAVARRE. 
 
 About this period, there were many rumors, that the body of Saint 
 Peter de Luxembourg, who had been a cardinal, showed miraculous 
 powers in the city of Avignon. This holy cardinal was the son of 
 the lord Guy de Saint Paul, slain at the battle of Juliers. I must 
 say, that the cardinal led a most holy and devout life, doing works 
 agreeable- to G(k1 ; for he whs courteous, modest, chaste, and a great 
 almsgiver. He kept from his church preferments merely sufficient 
 for his maintenance, and gave all the rest to the poor. He was the 
 greater part of the day and night in prayer, and shunned all worldly 
 vanities. His life was so devout that it pleased God to call him in 
 his youth ; and, instantly after his death, his body, which he had 
 ordered to be buried in the common sepulchre with the poor, per- 
 formed miracles, for his whole life was full of humility, but it was 
 
 interred in the chapel of St. Michael. When the pope and cardinals 
 perceived that miracles increased from this holy body, they sent an 
 account of them to the king of France, and to the elder brother of 
 the saint, count Waleran de St. Paul, inviting him to come to Avig- 
 non. Tlie count could not refuse, and, when he went thither, pre- 
 sented those fine silver lamps which are now before his altar. It 
 was wonderful the great faith that was in this saint, and the num- 
 bers v/ho came thither when I was at Avignon ; for by that city I 
 returned from Foix, to witness this. His miracles and votaries daily 
 multiplied, and it was said he v/ould be canonized but I never 
 heard more about it. 
 
 Since I have related the death <»f this holy cardinal, I will men- 
 tion that of a different person, for I have not yet spoken of the death 
 of a king who has supplied ample materials for many a part of this 
 history. His actions, however, were the reverse from those of the 
 preceding personage, for by them the realm of France was nearly 
 destroyed. You will readily guess I mean the king of Navarre. It 
 is a truth well known, that nothing is more certain than death. I 
 repeat it because the king of Navarre, when he died, did not think 
 his end so near. Had he supposed it, he probably would have taken 
 more care of himself. He resided in the city of Pampeluna, and 
 took it into his head that he would raise two hundred thousand flo- 
 rins by a tax on his country. His council dared not contradict him, 
 for he was a cruel man to all who did so. The principal inhabitants 
 of the great towns were summoned, and, fearful of disobeying, they 
 came. When all were assembled in the palace, the king himself, 
 who was a subtle and eloquent man, explained to them the reasons 
 why he wanted money ; and that two hundred thousand florins must 
 be raised from the country, in such wise that the rich should pay 
 ten francs each, the middling ranks five, and die poor, one franc. 
 This demand much astonished his audience ; for the preceding year 
 there had been a battle in Navarre, which had caused a tax to be 
 laid for one hundred thousand florins : he had, besides, in the same 
 year married his daughter the lady Jane to the duke of Brittany, and 
 there were large arrears of the tax of her dower yet unpaid. 
 
 The king having demanded their answer, they requested some 
 time to consult together; he allowed them fifteen days, when they 
 were all to meet again in the same place, that is to say, those who 
 had come from the cities and towns : on which they departed. 
 When the news of this heavy tax was known, the whole country 
 was in consternation. At the end of the fifteen days, they assem- 
 bled again at Pampeluna, and the deputies from the principal towns 
 amounted to about sixty persons. The king would hear their answer 
 in person, and he ordered them to make it in a large orchard, which 
 was distant from the palace, and inclosed with high walls. In giving 
 their answer, they explained how impossible it was for the country 
 to pay this new tax, from the poverty of the kingdom, and from the 
 arrears of former taxes being still unpaid. They were unanimous 
 in this declaration, and begged of him, for God's sake, to have pity 
 on them, for the country could not in truth bear any additional tax. 
 
 When the king of Navarre found he had not any hopes of sue 
 cess, he was silent and discontented : on leaving them he said, 
 "You have been badly advised: consult together again:" and then 
 went away, followed by his council. The deputies were shut up in 
 this orchard, with orders for no one to be suffered to go out of it, 
 and very little meat or drink to be given them. They remained thus 
 in great fear of their lives, and none dared open their lips. It may 
 be supposed he succeeded at last in his plan ; for he beheaded three 
 of the most deitermined in their opposition, to frighten the others to 
 his will. At this moment an extraordinary event happened at Pam- 
 peluna, which seemed a judgment from God. I will relate it, as 
 several persons from Pampeluna told it me at Foix, which is but 
 three days' journey off. 
 
 It was reported, that the king of Navarre was fond of women, 
 and had at this time a very handsome lady for his mistress, with 
 whom he occasionally amused himself, for he had been long a wid- 
 ower. Having passed a night with her, he returned to his own 
 chamber, shivering with cold, and said to one of his valets, "Pre- 
 pare my bed, for I want to lie down and repose myself a little." 
 When ready, he undressed himself and went to bed ; but he was 
 no sooner laid down than he began to shake, and could not get warm 
 He was of a great age, about sixty, and accustomed to have his bed 
 well warmed with heated air to make him sweat ; and this practice 
 he had long continued without any visible harm. He ordered his 
 servants to warm the bed as usual ; but this time, either by the will 
 of God or the devil, it turned out very unfortunate, for the flames 
 somehow set fire to the sheets, and it could not be extinguished be- 
 fore they were destroyed, and the king, who was wrapped up in 
 them, horribly burnt as far as his navel. He did not instantly die, 
 but lingered on, in great pain and misery, fifteen days ; for neither 
 surgeon nor physician could apply any remedies to prevent his death. 
 Such was the end of the king of Navarre, which, however, freed 
 his poor subjects from the tax he would have laid on them. His son 
 Charles was a young, handsome, and gallant knight ; he was ac- 
 knowledged king of Navarre by all his subjects, and soon after the 
 obsequies of his father was crowned in the city of Pampeluna.* 
 
 * " Charles king of Navarre died in 1387, aged 55 years. His death was vorthy of his 
 life. He was wrapped up in cloths that had been dipped in spirits of wine and sulphur 
 to reanimate the chill in his limbs, caused by his debaucheries, and to cure his leprosy 
 
460 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, PRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 CHAPTER CII. 
 
 THE DUKE OF BERRY BESIEGES VENTADOUR.* 
 
 You have before read of the treaties the count d'Armagnac and 
 the dauphin of x\uvergne attempted to make with the captains of 
 the free companies who held castles and forts in Auvergne, the Ge- 
 vaudan, and Limousin, and were at -war with their neighbors. 
 Many of them were inclined to accept the. terms offered, for they 
 thought ihey had suHiciently plundered France, and wished to do 
 die same elsewhere. Tne count d'Armagnac promised to lead them 
 into Lomhardy : but the count de Foix, whom it was not easy to de. 
 ceive, imagined tiiat was not hisintentijn and made secret inquiries 
 as to the progress of the business, and whither the men-at-arms were 
 to march on quitting their strongholds. The common report was, 
 that they still continued their courses, for the men of the country so 
 related it to hini. Upon hearing this, he shook his head, and said, 
 " Such men-at-arms will not be trifled with. The count d'Armag. 
 nac and his brother Bernard are young, and I know they neither 
 love me nor my country : these men-at-arms, therefore, may per. 
 chance fall on me, unless I shall take proper order to guard against 
 them. The proverb says, ' Lang provision beforehand maketh sure 
 possession.' " 
 
 The count de Foix was not, in truth, wrong in his conjectures, as 
 appearances at one time showed, which I shall relate, if I carry my 
 history to that length. You have heard how that Breton, Geoff'ry 
 Tete-noire, had long held the castle of Veniadour, on the borders of 
 Auvergne and Bourbonnois, and had refused to surrender for any 
 money that had been offered him. He considered this castle as his 
 own inheritance, and had forced all the surrounding country to enter 
 into composition with him to avoid being plundered. By this means 
 every one could labor the ground at their pleasure, and he was en- 
 abled to keep the stats of a great baron. He was a cruel man, and 
 very ferocious in his anger, minding no more killing a man than a 
 beast. You must know, that when the tax for the redemption of 
 these castles was first raised, those in Auvergne, imagining that 
 Ventadour would be surrendered to the duke of Berry, and the coun- 
 try delivered from the oppressions of the garrison, very cheerfully 
 paid their quota-. But when they saw, that of those garrisons who 
 continued their inroads, that of Ventadour was the most daring, they 
 were very disconsolate and considered the tnx that had been raised 
 as thrown away. They declared, that until the garrison of Venta- 
 dour was prevented from overrunning the country, they v/ould never 
 pay one farthing of any future tax. This was carried to the duke of 
 Berry, who waa lieutenant of Limousin, Gevaudan, and Auvergne, 
 and he declared to his council, that those who had made such decla- 
 ration were i.i the right, and that the promises that had been held out 
 were badly kept, by their not having so closely besieged the place, 
 as to prevent t.ie garrison sallying forth. The duke then ordered 
 that four hundred spears should be collected, and paid by the coun- 
 try, and placed under the command of sir William de Lignac and 
 fiir John de Bonne-lance, a courteous and valiant knight from the 
 Bourbonnois, for them to invest Ventadour completely on all sides 
 with block. houses. 
 
 These knights and men-at-arms laid their siege as closely as they 
 could to the castle, and erected four block-houses : they also had 
 large trenches cut by the peasants, and every obstruction thrown across 
 the roads they used t > take, so that the garrison was completely shut 
 in. Geoffry, however, was indifferent to this ; for he knew he had pro. 
 vision and stores to last for seven years, and that his castle was 
 ^Q strongly placed upon a rock that it could not be taken by storm ; 
 and, notwithstanding these block-houses, and this supposed complete 
 blockade, he, at times, with somi of t.is companions, made sallies 
 through a postern that opened bcto, l en wo hidden rocks, and over- 
 ran the country in search o^' we althy prisoners. They never brought 
 anything besides with them to the castle, on account of the difficulty 
 of the passes. This opening could not be closed, and, to the sur- 
 prise of the country, they were found abroad seven leagues d stant : 
 if they were by accident pursued, and bad once regained thtir moun- 
 tains, though the chase lasted for three leagues, they c risidered 
 thems elves as secure as if in their fort. This manner of harassing 
 the cojntry was long continued ; and the siege of the castle in the 
 mann3r I have relat -d, lastcjd for more than a year : by it the country 
 was 8 sved the large sums they used to pay as composition-money. 
 
 By *ome accident, they caufjlit (ire, astliey were sewing them about him, and burnt the 
 fle>ih otf liis bones. It i.s thns tliat ahnosl all the French historians relate the death of 
 Cljurles; but m the letter of the bishop of D;ix, his principal minister, to queen Blanche, 
 the sister of this prince, and widow ol Philip de Valois, there is not one word said of 
 thU hornd accident, but only of the great puins he suffered in his last illness, and the 
 iwrgnation with wliich he bore them. Voltaire pretends that Charles was not worse 
 tl .in many other princes. Ferreras had said bef re him, that the French surnamed him 
 Charles the Had, on account of the troubles he had fomented in the kingdom ; but that, 
 a niiaclions wercex imined he would bo f)nnd notsufficiently wicked to deserve such 
 a surnauic. It is, however, precisely his actions that have caused it. He was, says 
 father Daniel, treacherous, r^ vengeful, cruel, and the sola en use of the ruin of France. 
 Father Daniel spenks exactly like Mariana, who has painted with energy his cruelties, 
 his inf imous debaucheries, and his treasons. Our best historians have dene the same. 
 But it is one of the follies of our ajre to attempt the reestahlishment of the most worth- 
 less characters, and to cry down those reputations that have been the most exalted.*'— 
 JVoueeau Dictionniire Historiquc. 
 Pot more of Charles de \avarre, see les MAmoires de rAcad6miet 
 Vsntadgur " a cuUa la Uie.Uioces8 gf.Limogn 
 
 We will, for the present, leave Ventadour, and, by way of variety 
 speak of other matters. 
 
 CHAPTER cm. * 
 
 THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY SENDS FOUR HUNDRED SPEARS TO THE DUCHESS 
 OF BRAB/NT. THEY SURPRISE AND BURN THE TOWN OF SEAULLB IN 
 GUELDRES. 
 
 The duke of Burgundy was not forgetful of his promise to his aunt, 
 the duchess of Brabant. Ho assembled a body of four hundred good 
 men-at-arms, from Burgundy and other parts, and appointed two 
 knights for their commanders : the one was sir William de la Tr6- 
 mouille, a Burgundian ; the other, sir Gervais de Merande, a German ' 
 and said to them, " You will conduct these men-at-arms to that par 
 of the frontiers of Brabant and Gueldres our fair aunt and her coun 
 cil have fixed on, and make a severe war on her enemy, for such are 
 our commands." The knights replied, they were ready and willing 
 to obey his orders. When all their stores and men were assembled, 
 they set out for Brabant, and having entered the duchy of Lexembourg, 
 sent to inform the duchess of their coming. The marshal of Brabant 
 went to meet and conduct them, and, by the directions of the coun- 
 cil, quartered them in the three castles the duke of Gueldres claimed, 
 of which they now formed the garrison, and, being on the enemy's 
 land, went forth daily in hopes to meet them. I'he duke of Guel- 
 dres, perceiving that hostilities were begun, reinforced all his towns 
 and castles, and made every preparation to withstand his opponents. 
 Sir William de la Tremouille, desirous to gain renown, and to do 
 some act that should make it known he was in the country, cast his 
 eyes on a town of Gueldres, about four leagues from the castle wherein 
 he was, in hopes to gain it: it was called SeauUe. Having secretly 
 opened his mind to sir Gervais de Merande, and explained his inten 
 tions, he agreed to accompany him ; for he was equally anxious foi 
 deeds of arms. Having collected men from the different garrisons, 
 they marched off at midnight, at a brisk trot, under the care of able 
 guides, who brought them to Seauiie near the point of day. They 
 then halted, and formed another disposition, which, as it was told 
 me, was as follows : sir Gervais, with only thirty lances, v/as to leave 
 the main body, and, if possible, to gain and keep the gate, until sir 
 William should arrive with the remainder; for if the whole had ad- 
 vanced, an alarm might have been given, but so few would possibly 
 be taken for a party whom the duke of Gueldres had sent to rein- 
 force the place, or some of his men who were riding from one town 
 to another. 
 
 As they had planned, so was it executed : sir Gervais left the army 
 with thirty German spears, and rode toward the town. He passed 
 indeed many people on his road thither; for it was market-day, and, 
 as he passed, saluted them in German, which made them all suppose 
 they were their countrymen, attached to the duke of Gueldres, and 
 going to the garrison. Sir Gervais rode on until he came to the 
 gate, which he found wide open ar>d slightly guarded : indeed it was 
 so early, that few were out of bed. They there halted, and were 
 scarcely masters of the gate when sir William de la Trdmouille, with 
 the main body, came up full gallop, and entered the town, shouting 
 their cry. Thus was the town won without any defence being made : 
 the garrison never imagined the French would have been so enter- 
 prising, and the greater part were still in bed. It was on the Martin, 
 mas eve this deed was done. Three days before, an English knight 
 had entered the town with ten spears and thirty archers, whom the 
 king of England had sent thither. The knight's name was sir Wil. 
 liam Fikaoul ;* and, at the moment of the first noise and bustle, he 
 was getting out of his bed. Hearing the town v^as taken, he asked 
 by whom; he v/as told by Bretons. "Hal" said lie, "Bretons are 
 wicked fellows : they will pillage and burn the town, and then leav^ 
 it: whose cry have they?" " Li the name of God," cried a knight, 
 " they cry Tremouille 1" 
 
 Sir William Fikaoul, upon this, armed himself, and made his men 
 do the same, and barricade his house, to see if any would come to 
 his rescue, but in vain ; for every one was so frightened, they were 
 flying in all directions, some for the church, others to escape by an 
 opposite gate to that the enemy hod entered, abandoning all they 
 possessed The French set fire to the town to alarm others at a dis- 
 tance, but there were many houses of stone and brick which could 
 not be affected by it : however, the greater part was burnt down and 
 pillaged, for nothing worth taking was left; and they carried av.'ay 
 some of the richest inhabitants prisoners. 
 
 The English knight was taken doing his duty. When he saw nil 
 was lost, he ordered his house to be cleared of the barricades ; for 
 he was fearful of fire, as his hall was full of smoke, and placing him. 
 self and men in front, fought very valiantly, but at length was made 
 prisoner by sir William de la Tremouille : his men were likewise 
 taken, for few were slain. When the French had done all they listed 
 at SeauUe, in Gueldres, and their servants had packed up the plun- 
 der, they departed, for it would have been folly to have remained 
 longer, and marched to their different garrisons. Such was the suc- 
 cess of this first blow the duke of Gueldres received : he was much 
 vexed when he heard of his loss, and hastened thither with a large 
 body of men-at-arms, hoping to find the French still there. He 
 
 * " Fikaoul." Ferard has Vilzraoul. and my MS. Fiu-Paul. Lord Berners hoi the 
 Bam* as ia Um text. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 4G1 
 
 strengthened and repaired the town, and*placed therein a garrison, 
 who were more diligent in guarding it than the preceding one had 
 been. Thus it happens in war ; sometimes one side loses, and 
 sometimes another. 
 
 The duchess of Brabant was highly pleased with the success of 
 ■ir William de la Tr^inouille and sir Gervais de Merande, and they 
 acquired much renown for it throughout the country. It was the 
 , ^common talk in Brabant, that in the course of the ensuing summer, 
 they would renew the attack, and keep possession of it, for they 
 should then have a sufficient force. The duke of Burgundy was well 
 pleased to hear such satisfactory accounts of the good conduct of 
 those he had sent to Brabant; and, to encourage them to persevere, 
 he frequently wrote to his knight, sir William de la Tremouille. They 
 guarded so well the castles on the frontier, that no loss happened ; 
 and the enemy was more careful in regard to their towns than they 
 had been before the capture of SeauUe. I will now relate an ex- 
 ploit of Perrot le B^arnois in Auvergne, and detail the whole history 
 of it at length. 
 
 CHAPTER CIV. 
 
 6ER0NNET DE MAUDURANT, ONE OF THE CAPTAINS OF rERROT LE BEAR- 
 NOIS, HAVING BEEN MADE PRISONER BY JOHN BONNE-LANCE, AT MONT- 
 FERRANT IN AUVERGNE, FINDS MEANS, AFTER HIS RANSOM V/AS PAID, 
 TO PUT LE BEARNOIS IN POSSESSION OF MONTFERRANT. 
 
 This same year, about the middle of May, forty bold companions 
 set out from Chalucet,* in the possession of Perrot le B^arnois, in 
 Limousin, to seek adventures in Auvergne, under the command of 
 a squire from Gascony, called Geronnet de Maudurant, an able man- 
 at-arrfts. On account of the dread tnis country and the borders of 
 the Bourbonnois had of these people, the duke of Bourbon had ap- 
 pointed, for hi defence, one of his knights, a valiant man-at-arms, 
 called sir John Bonne-lance, who was courteous, amorous, and eager 
 to display his courage. When he heard these companions were 
 abroad, he asked how many they might be : and when they said, 
 '•About forty," he replied, "As for forty lances, we do not fear that 
 number: I will take as many to meet them." He then departed 
 from the place where he had heard of this excursion, but his greater 
 force was before Ventadour, and collected about forty or fifty of his 
 men-at-arms that were dispersed on the borders of Limousin, Au- 
 vergne, and the Bourbonnois, for he was very desirous to perform 
 some deed of arms. He had with him sir Lewis d'Ambiere, sir 
 Lewis d'Abton, and the lord de St. Obise. They took the field with- 
 out following any particular road, for they were well acquainted with 
 the counti-y, and came to a pass through which they imagined the 
 enemy must cross, and nowhere else, on account of the mountains, 
 and a river which is wide and deep from the melting of the snow. 
 They had not been there half an hour when the enemy appeared, no 
 way suspecting this meeting. Bonne-lance and his party, with their 
 spears in their rests, charged them, shouting their cry as they were 
 descending the mountain on foot. When they found they must fight, 
 they put a good countenance on it, and prepared for their defence : 
 Geronnet, who was a stout squire, set them the example. Many 
 were, at the first onset, beaten down on both sides ; but, to say the 
 truth, the French were by far better men-at-arms than these adven- 
 turers, which they showed, for not one turned his back but the ser- 
 vants, who by flight saved themselves while their masters were fight- 
 ing. Two-and-tvventy were made prisoners, and sixteen left dead 
 on the field : their leader surrendered himself prisoner to Bonne lance. 
 
 The victorious party set out on their return, carrying their prisoners 
 with them. On the road, Bonne-lance recollected that, about a 
 month ago, when at Montferrant in Auvergne, he had been well 
 received by the ladies and damsels, and that, as they were amusing 
 themselves, they said to him, " Fair brother Bonne-lance, you are 
 often in the field, and must at times meet your enemies." A lady, 
 who was much in his good graces, added, " I am sure you have fre- 
 quent engagements with them, and I say so because I should like to 
 see an Englishmari. I have often heard, from a squire of this country 
 with whom you are well acquainted, of the name of Gourdines, 
 that they are determined men-at-arms, and as expert as any in this 
 country. Indeed, they prove it by their gallantry, and by taking 
 from us towns and castles, and keeping possession of them." " By 
 God, fair lady," replied Bonne-lance, " if I have the good fortune 
 to make one of them my prisoner, you shall see him." "Many 
 thanks," answered the lady. When Bonne-lance remembered this, 
 he had taken the road to Clermont in Auvergne, as the engagement 
 had been hard by ; but he quitted it, and followed that to Montfer- 
 rant, which lay about one league off on the left hand. The inhabit- 
 ants of Montferrant were in high spirits at the success of Bonne- 
 lance over these adventurers, and gave him a hearty welcome. 
 
 When he and his people had dismounted at the h6tel, they disarmed 
 and took their ease. The ladies and damsels assembled to entertain 
 and feast Bonne-lance, whom they came twenty times to see. He 
 gallantly received them, for he was a prudent knight, and addressing 
 himself to the lady who was so anxious to see an Englishman, said, 
 " Lady, I am come to acquit myself of the promise I made you about 
 a month ago, that if I should, by good fortune, take an Englishman 
 
 * ** Cbalu9«t," electioa of Limoges, ceuf Fieixe^bufiiera. 
 
 prisoner, I would show him to you. Through the grace of God, I 
 have this day fallen in with a party of very valiant ones ; but, although 
 they gave us enough to do, the field is ours. They were not indeed 
 real Englishmen, but Gascons who wage war under that name, and 
 come from B^arn and upper Gascony. You may view them at your 
 leisure ; for out of my love to you, I shall leave them in this town 
 until they have paid me their ransom." The ladies htughed, turned 
 the matter into merriment, and said they were obliged to him. 
 When they departed, he accompanied them, and remained in Mont- 
 ferrant for three days, amusing himself with the ladies and damsels. 
 Bonne-lance, during his stay, gave good entertainment to Maudurant 
 and his companions, as he saw they were poor, but bold fclh^ws in 
 the field ; it vv'ould have been better for the town had he killed or 
 drowned them than to have left them there. 
 
 When he was going away, he said ta Geronnet, " You will remain 
 here as hostage for your companions, who are to seek your ransom ; 
 and, when you shall be prepared to pay, I have ordered a person to 
 receive it for me ; and, the moment you have acquitted yourself to 
 me, you may depart, for I have left instrucf'-^'JS that you may meet 
 with no impediment. Remember, Ger::.iiiet, thai I have treated you 
 handsomely; and, if any of our men fall iiito your hands, do you 
 treat them in like manner." "On my faith," replied Geronnet, "my 
 fair lord and master, that I will cheerfully do, for we are bounden to 
 it by your generous conduct." Bonne-lance returned to the siege 
 of Ventadour, and twelve of his prisoners remained in Montferrant. 
 The ten others, according to agreement, returned to Chalucet, to 
 seek from Perrot le Bearnois two-and-twenty hundred francs ; for 
 this was the sum their ransoms had been fixed at. The twelve in 
 Montferrant were lodged in a handsome house, and lived at much 
 expense. They were not strictly watched ; and, during the fifteen 
 days they staid, they went about the town to amuse themselves, and 
 made such observations on the state of it as cost it afterwards on« 
 hundred thousand francs. 
 
 When the captain of Chaluget heard of the ill success of Geronnet 
 de Maudurant, and that he and his companions had been defeated 
 by sir John Bonne-lance, he was very indiffdrent about it, and said 
 to those who had brought him the news, You are come hither to 
 seek for money to pay his and your ransoms : are you not ?" " Yes," 
 they replied, " for gain is not always to be looked for." "I know 
 nothing of gain or loss," answered the captain; " but thia I know, 
 you will get nothing from me. I did not send you on this excursion: 
 it was your own free election to seek an adventure. Send to, or tell 
 your companions when you see them, that adventure must deliver 
 them. Do you suppose that I will thus spend my money ? No, my 
 friends, that I will not, by my faith ! I can always have men enough, 
 who will make more prudent excursions than ye have done. I will 
 not, therefore, ransom any man belonging to me, who is not taken 
 when in my company." This was all the answer they could get 
 respecting Geronnet's ransom. They consulted together, and thought 
 it would be right to send three of them to give Geronnet information 
 of this, that he might consider the matter. The three who were 
 sent, passing without the walls of Clermont, gave their horses water 
 at the mill brook, which runs hard by. They remained some time 
 in the brook observing the walls of Clermont, and noticing they were 
 not too high to be scaled. " By the head of St. Anthony," said they 
 among themselves, "this town may be easily taken : if we come hero 
 some night, we may have it, provided the guard is not very strong." 
 They then added, in their Gascon dialect, " We vvill bargain for it 
 now, and another time buy it : one cannot bargain and buy in the 
 same day." They then passed on, and arrived at Montferrant, wher» 
 they found Geronnet and his companions. Thry related to them, 
 word for word, all that had passed between them and Perrot le Bear- 
 nois, which, as they knew not where else to seek for money to pay 
 their ransoms, vexed them exceedingly, and for a day and night they 
 were outrageous at his conduct. 
 
 Geronnet having calmly considered the matter, said to those who 
 had come from Chalu9et, " Brother-soldiers, return to our captain, 
 and tell him from me, that ever since I have been under his com. 
 mand, I have loyally and faithfully served him, and, if he pleases, 
 will continue to do so; and let him know, that if I shall be forced 
 to turn to the French to obtain my liberty, he will net gain by it. I 
 shall, however, delay doing this as long as I can ; and it will bo 
 always against my own inclinations. Tell him also, that if he will 
 pay our ransoms, I will, within one month after our deliverance, 
 conduct him to such a place, that it vvill be his own fault if he does 
 not gain one hundred thousand francs from it." The three com. 
 panions returned to Perrot, and punctually gave him the message 
 that Geronnet had charged them with. On hearing it, he mused a 
 while, and said, " It may be so : I will speedily give him his liberty." 
 He ordered a large coffer to be opened, that contained upward of 
 forty thousand francs, money acquired by pillage, you must under, 
 stand, and not from the rents of his estate in Be irn ; for the town 
 wherein he was born, and always resided before he left \36jrn, has 
 but twelve houses, and belongs to the count de Foix. The name 
 of it is Dadam, three leagues from Orthfes. Pern t le Bearnois had 
 counted out before him two-and-twenty hundred francs, and one 
 hundred for their expenses, which he put into a purse, and calling 
 to him the three companions who had returned from Montferrant, 
 said, "I give you tiiree.aad.twenty hundred francs : a friend iu aeed 
 
462 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 is a friend indeed : I shall risk them for Geronnet's freedom : he is 
 able to regain for me, if he pleases, as much again, if not more." 
 
 The companions took the money and set out again for Montfer- 
 rant, which was fourteen long leagues distant; but they had very 
 good passports, which permitted them to pass and repass. Geronnet, 
 on learning that they had returned with the money, was much pleased : 
 he sont for those to whom sir John Bonne-lance had directed him to 
 pay and said to them, " Count it : you will find the purse contains 
 two thousand two hundred francs, which is all we are to give you." 
 After this, he paid liberally, and to the satisfaction of all, the expen- 
 ses they had been at. When this was done, Geronnet borrowed and 
 hired horses and men to conduct them to Chalu9et, sir John Bonne- 
 lance having received a certificate of the ransom being paid. I am 
 ignorant whether sir John Bonne-lance sent for this money or left it 
 in Montferrant, trusting to the strength of the place ; for sir Peter de 
 Giac, at that time chancellor of France, had there deposited his 
 wealth, of which he lost the whole, ov at least as much as could be 
 discovered, according to what you will hear told. 
 
 When Geronnet de Maudurant returned to 
 Chalu9et, his companions gladly received him, 
 and made him good cheer. After three or 
 four days, Perrot le B^arnois called him, and 
 said, " Geronnet, you are obliged to the fair 
 offers you sent me, for your freedom, and to 
 them alone ; for you know, I was not any 
 way bound to pay your ransom when taken 
 in excursions made without my orders : now, 
 keep your word, and prove the truth of your 
 offer ; otherwise we shall be on bad terms, and 
 you will incur my serious anger : for know 
 that I have not learnt to lose, but to win." 
 
 Captain," replied Geronnet, " you have rea- 
 son to say so ; and I now offer to put you in 
 possession of Montferrant within fifteen days, 
 if you be willing to undertake it. In this 
 town there is great wealth and wherewithal 
 to plunder ; for, besides its riches in silk and 
 merchandise, many of the inhabitants have 
 much money. Sir Peter de Giac, chancellor 
 of France, who knows well where to seek for 
 money, has deposited, as I have been informed, 
 a very large sum in this town of Montferrant ; 
 and I must say, it is the weakest and worst 
 guarded town in the realm ; this is the offer 
 I sent to you, and the promise I entered into." 
 " In God's name," answered Perrot, " it is 
 well said, and I accept it : I will secretly make 
 preparations : you know all the outlets of the 
 town: but will it require many men?" 
 " Three or four hundred spears," said Geron- 
 net, " will do the business ; for they do not seem people likely to 
 make any great resistance." " Well, by God," replied Perrot, " I 
 will undiertake it, and make it known to the captains of the forts 
 that are near us, and when we be all assembled, will march thither." 
 
 In consequence, Perrot le Bearnois got himself in readiness, and 
 sent information of his intentions to the captains of the forts in the 
 neighborhood, and fixed their rendezvous at the castle of Donzac,* 
 in the bishopric of Clermont, that was not far distant from Montfer- 
 rant : Olim Barbe, a Gascon, and famous pillager, was the captain 
 of it. The companions from seven forts attached to the English 
 met, on the appointed day, at Donzac, and were upward of four 
 hundred lances, well mounted, whence they had only six leagues to 
 ride to Montferrant. The first captain who arrived was Perrot le 
 Bearnois, to show he was the chief of the expedition, and to consult 
 with the other leaders before the whole came thither, and lay their 
 plans according to the information which had been given by Geron- 
 net de Maudurant, and as to the time he had fixed for their coming 
 to the town. 
 
 Geronnet, with eleven companions, dressed themselves in coats of 
 friese, like to traders, and each leading a horse well'laden, according 
 to the custom of the country, set out from Donzac before day, con- 
 ducting their horses on the road, as carriers : they arrived about noon 
 in the town of Montferrant. No one made any inquiries who they 
 were, never suspecting them to be otherwise than traders or carriers, 
 as their dresses showed, and supposing that they were come to pur- 
 chase draperies and linens at the fair; for they had travelled, they 
 said, from beyond Montpelier for this purpose ; and already much 
 merchandise had arrived from the neighboring towns. Geronnet 
 carried his company to the Crown Inn, where, having put their horses 
 in a stable, they chose a handsome apartment for themselves, where 
 they remained in quiet, not venturing abroad, in the town, lest their 
 plan might be discovered, but thought only of enjoying themselves, 
 as they intended others should pay their reckoning. Toward even- 
 ing, they took a great deal of care of their horses, and gave the host, 
 hostess, and servants to understand, as they had come afar off, it was 
 necessary they should be well attended to. They called so loudly for 
 candles, they could not satisfy them ; and would not go to bed, but 
 kept drinking and roaring in their chamber. The host and hostess, 
 
 * ' Donzac," a village in Armagnac. diocese and generality of Auch. 
 
 noticing the merry life they led, and not having the smallest suspicion 
 of them, went to bed. 
 
 I will now return to Perrot le Bearnois and his companions. This"* 
 same day, toward evening, they left Donzac, under the command of 
 seven captains. Perrot le Bearnois was the chief, then the bourg de 
 Copane, whose name was Arnaudon, the bourg Anglois, le bourg 
 Carlat, Apton Seighin, Olim Barbe, and Bernadon des Isles : there 
 was also with them a grand pillager hom B^arn, called the lord de 
 Lance-plaine. It was from him and the bourg de Copane I learnt 
 all this business, and the manner of it ; being undertaken, after Can- 
 dlemas, when the nights are long and cold. The weather this night 
 was so severe, with wind and rain, that the captain of the guard 
 would not leave his house, but sent his son, a boy about sixteen, 
 years old, to examine the state of the guard. On his arrival, between 
 the outward and inward gate, he found four old men, almost frozen 
 with cold, who said to him, " Take from each of us a halfpenny^ 
 and allow us to go and warm ourselves." The youth was eager for 
 the money, which he took, and suffered the guard to go home. Ge- 
 
 Perrot lk Bkarnois and a Company of PiLtAGKRS.— Designed ftom a MS. Illumination of the ISth Century. 
 
 ronnet or some of his people were constantly on the watch at the gate 
 of the Crown, for the relief of the guard. Observing the youth re- 
 turn, and the guard with him, they said, " Things go well : it will 
 be a good night for us : there are none in the town but those who 
 are now in bed, and, as the guard is dismissed, we have nothing to- 
 fear." 
 
 Perrot and his companions were making all the haste they could " 
 but they were obliged to pass under the walls of Clermont. Whert. 
 within one league of that place, they met Amerigot Marcel, gov 
 ernor of Aloise, near St. Flour, with about one hundred spears. 
 When they were known to each other, there was much joy ; and 
 they mutually asked whither they were going in such bad weather, 
 and what were the objects of their being abroad. Amerigot Marcel 
 said, " I come from my castle of Aloise, and am going to Carlat." 
 " In God's name," replied the two captains of Carlat, the bourg An- 
 glois, and the bourg de Copane, " here we are, if you have anything 
 to say to us. Do you want anything ?" " Yes," said he : " you have 
 some prisoners who belong to the dauphin d'Auvergne, and you know 
 he is in treaty with us through the count d'Armagnac. I wish, there- 
 fore, to have those prisoners in exchange for some others who are in 
 my fort, as I have been earnestly requested to get them by the lady 
 dauphin, and she is so good a lady, one cannot refuse her anything." 
 The bourg de Copane repUed, " Amerigot, you are indeed bounden 
 to oblige this lady, for you had from her, three years ago, five thou- 
 sand francs of her money for the ransom of the castle of Mercier. 
 Where is now the lord dauphin ?" " They tell me," says Amerigot, 
 " that he is at Paris, negotiating the treaties you know we have en- 
 gaged in with him and the count d'Armagnac." " Come with us," 
 said Perrot le Bearnois, " and leave all these things : you will gain 
 by it, for you shall have a share of our booty." " Whither are you 
 going?" asked Amerigot. "By my faith, brother-soldier, we are 
 going straight to Montferrant, as that town is to be delivered to me 
 this night." Amerigot replied, " Perrot, what you are about is very 
 wrong ; for you know we have entered into a treaty with the count 
 d'Armagnac and this country, which, on that account, thinks itself 
 in a perfect state of security. You will act indeed very ill, if you 
 execute what you have said, and by it break off all our treaties." 
 " On my troth, companion, I will never keep any treaty," said Perrot, 
 " as long as I am master of the field, for we must live. Come with 
 US, for you have nothing to do at Carlat, as the captains are here, and 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 463 
 
 those they have left behind will never give you admittance into the 
 fort." 
 
 "With you," replied Amerigot, " I will not go, but, since things 
 are thus, return to my own castle." The parties then separated, and 
 PeiTot continued his road toward Clermont and Montferrant. When 
 they were below Clermont, they suddenly halted, for a new thought 
 had struck some of them from what the Gascons told who had been 
 backward and forward to Chalu9et from Mcntferrant. They said 
 to the captains who were collected together : " This city of Clermont 
 is large and rich, and as easy to be taken as Montferrant : since we 
 have ladders with us, let us scale the walls ; we shall gain more than 
 at Montferrant." On hearing this, they had almost resolved to put it 
 into execution ; but their captains, having considered it, said : 
 " Clermont is a strong town, populous, and well provided with arms : 
 if once we alarm them, they will collect together and defend them- 
 selves. There is not a doubt of our having the worst of it; and if we 
 be repulsed, and our horses taken or lost, we shall be disabled from 
 advanciiig any farther. We are at a distance from our castles : the 
 country will rise against us : we shall be pursued, and run the great- 
 est hazard of loss of life or liberty. It will be more advisable to con. 
 tinue our road, and finish what had been first fixed on, than to 
 attempt any new exploit that may cost us too dear." This advice 
 was followed, and not one word more said on the subject. They 
 passed Clermont as quietly and quickly as they could, and, on the 
 poSit of eleven o'clock, came before Montferrant. They suddenly 
 hailed, when they perceived the town about two bow-shots off, and 
 Perrot said : " We are now at Montferrant : our people must be 
 within it. Do you wait here, and I will go by these ditches to see 
 if I can learn anything of Geronnet, who has brought us hither; and 
 do not you stir until I return." " Go," replied his companions : 
 " we will wait for you." 
 
 On this, Perrot le B^arnois, with three others, went away ; but it 
 was so very dark, they could not see the length of an acre, and it 
 rained, snowed and blew, most unmercifully. Geronnet was at this 
 hour on the walls, impatiently listening to hear of the arrival of his 
 friends. He looked down, and saw, as he thought, the shadows of 
 men entering the ditches: on this he began to whistle. He was 
 heard by Perrot, who advanced more into the ditch, for there was no 
 water in it on that side ; and Geronnet Risked, " Who is there ?" 
 Perrot knew him from his Gascon pronunciation, and said, " I am 
 Perrot le Bearnois : is it thou, Geronnet ?" " Yes," replied he : 
 " if you will make yourself ready, and advance your men, you shall 
 enter the town at this place : we cannot fail of rsuccess, for the in- 
 habitants are all in bed." " At this place !" said Perrot, " God for- 
 bid : I will never enter that way; and, if I do nt all, it shall be 
 through the gate." " Then you will not ent^r at all," replied Ge- 
 ronnet, in a passion. " On my troth, Perrot, it is not in my power: 
 come hither with your rope-ladders, and none will attempt to oppose 
 your entrance." "Listen to me, Geronflft," said Perrot: "thou 
 hast promised to give me entrance into this town ; and, according to 
 thy engagement, I will enter it in no other way than by the gate." 
 " I cannot help it," said Geronnet, " for it is impossible to enter by 
 the gate, as it is closed and guarded, although the men may be 
 asleep." 
 
 While they were thus disputing, some of Perrot's men came near 
 the ditch to hear if anybody were stirring. Near to where they were, 
 was a small insulated house, adjoining the walls, in which lived a 
 poor tailor, who, having been hard at work until that hour, was going 
 to bed. As the wind carried the sounds of their voices, and as per- 
 sons hear better in the night than in the day-time, he fancied he heard 
 some loud talking on the bulwarks. He left his house, and, advan- 
 cing on the walls, saw Perrot's men walking about ; on which he 
 cried out, " Treason !" when one of Geronnet's companions seizing 
 him by the throat, said : " If thou utterest another word, thou art a 
 dead man." On this, fearing to be murdered, he was silent, and Ge- 
 ronnet, turning toward them, said : " Do not kill the fellow, for he 
 comes so opportunely, it must be through the mercy of God that he is 
 sent, since by his means we shall completely succeed in our enter- 
 prise." Then addressing himself to Perrot, he added : " Do you re- 
 turn to your men ; and, when you shall hear the inner gate open, do 
 you attack the outward one with axes to gain admittance." He then 
 told him the use he meant to make of the tailor. Perrot went to his 
 men, and related to them all you have heard. When he was gone, 
 Geronnet said to the tailor, " If thou dost not promise to do all I 
 shall order thee, thou art instantly a dead man." " And what do 
 you want me to do ?" " I want thee to go with me to the gate of 
 the town, and awaken the porters, and tell them the governor has 
 sent thee thither to order them to open the gates, or to let thee open 
 them, to some merchants from Montpelier, who are without, heavy 
 laden with merchandise for the fair." " I do not fhink they will be- 
 lieve me," said the man. " Yes, they will if thou tell them, as a 
 token of being sent by the governor, that he could not come himself 
 to relieve the guard, but sent his son in his stead. If thou dost not 
 well perform all I have now told thee, or should we fail in our ex- 
 pk)it, I will slay thee with this dagger." 
 
 The poor man, seeing himself menaced with death, for the Gas- 
 cons are ready enough at this business, promised to do everything 
 according to the orders given to the utmost of his power. They 
 went to the gate, and after knocking at it for some time, awakened 
 
 the porters : they asked : " Who are ye that awaken us at such an 
 hour ?" " I am such a one," naming himself, " who have this night 
 carried home some v/ork to the governor's house; and as I was com- 
 ing this way, news was brought that some merchants 'from Mont, 
 pelier were without the gate, quite jaded and wet with their journey 
 and loads. He has therefore sent me to tell you to open the gates, 
 or to give me the keys to do so ; and, as a proof I am sent by him, I 
 was to say he did not relieve the guard this evening, but sent his 
 son." " That is true," replied they: "thou shalt have the keys : 
 only wait a moment." One of thom arose, and taking the keys, that 
 were hanging on a peg, opened a small window, and gave them to 
 him. The moment after, Geronnet snatched them from him, and 
 went to the bars of the gate. The first key he put into the lock 
 luckily opened it : and he then went to the outward gate, thinking 
 to do the same there, but in vain. 
 
 Perrot and his companions were on the outside, waiting its open- 
 ing ; but, as Geronnet's endeavors were fruitless, he said to them, 
 " My fair sirs, give some assistance ; for I cannot any way open this 
 gate." Then those who were provided with axes and wedges, be- 
 gan to use them like carpenters. As soon as they had made a hole, 
 Geronnet gave them hatchets and saws to cut the bars. Several of 
 the inhabitants, on hearing the noise, quitted their beds, wondering 
 what it could be ; for they never imagined the English were come to 
 awaken them at such an hour. The porters at the gate, who had so 
 badly guarded it, hearing the clattering of armor and the neighing of 
 horses, knew they had been deceived and surprised. They went to 
 the windows over the gate, and bawled out, " Treason ! treason I" 
 which alarmed the whole town : many rose and fled to save them- 
 selves and fortune in the castle, but few were allowed to enter it : for, 
 when the governor heard the English had surprised the town, for fear 
 of consequences he would not lower the drawbridge. He received, 
 indeed, some of his friends at the first moment, by means of a plank ; 
 but when he heard the cries of the women and children, he withdrew 
 the plank, and would never replace it, but made his preparations for 
 defence, in case the castle should be attacked. 
 
 I have said how the first gate was opened : the second was cut 
 down with axes, and the captains, with their companions, marched 
 into the town without any opposition. They did not, at first, enter 
 a house, for they knew not if any bodies of men were collecting to 
 resist them, but went through the town to be assured of it They 
 only found a few, who were attempting to enter the castle, that made 
 any resistance, but they were soon either slain or made prisoners. 
 Why should I make a long story of it? The town of Montferranl 
 was thus surprised, on a Thursday night, the thirteenth day of Feb- 
 ruary, by Perrot le Bearnois and his accomplices. When they saw 
 themselves masters of the place, they took up their lodgings at difl^er- 
 ent hotels, without doing violence to any one ; for Perrot had ordered, 
 under pain of death, that neither woman nor damsel should be vio- 
 lated, that no houses should be burnt, nor any prisoners made without 
 his knowledge ; and that no one, under the same penalty, should 
 hurt church or churchman, nor take away anything from thence. 
 These were the orders Perrot le Bearnois always gave ; and he had 
 made them strictly observed ever since he had entered France, to 
 carry on a war against its towns and castles. 
 
 Such was not the conduct of Geoffiy Tete-noire : it was indiflferent 
 to him whether churches were plundered or not, so that he gained by 
 it. When news was brought to Clermont, which is but a short 
 league distant, of the capture of Montferrant by the English, the in- 
 habitants were greatly alarmed, and not without cause, for their en- 
 emies were too near. They knew not well how to act ; but they 
 made preparations for the defence of the town. This intelligence 
 was also carried to Chateau-neuf, on the Allier, Thionne, Vic, 
 Yssoire, Riom, Aigue-perse, and the strong castle of Montpensier : 
 all, or the greater part, of these places belonged to the duke of Berry. 
 Those who heard it, or were any way affected by it, were exceed- 
 ingly surprised : and the neighboring parts of Auvergne, Bourbonnois, 
 Forets, and even as far as Berry, trembled. When the news came 
 to Paris, the king and his uncles were, as was natural, very wroth. 
 The count-dauphin of Auvergne was at this time in Paris, on the 
 affairs of his country, and greatly hurt when told of the surprise of 
 Montferrant ; for, as he was with the count d'Armagnac, lieutenant 
 for the king over these countries, he was afraid blame would be im- 
 puted to him for being absent from his government. But his excuse 
 was, that he was at Paris for the completion of the treaties that had 
 been entered into with the captains of the free companies, and that, 
 on the faith of them, the country had thought itself in perfect security. 
 The dauphin, however, set out from Paris, for Auvergne, the moment 
 he heard of it, leaving his state behind, and, only attended by one 
 page, took the road for Moulins, in the Bourbonnois, changing horses 
 daily. In this haste, he came to St. Pierre le Moustier,* where he 
 learnt other intelligence, which I will relate to you. 
 
 * " St. Pieire le Moustiar"— a town kt the Nivernois, seven leagues from MouBni. 
 
464 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 CHAPTER CV, 
 
 PERITOT LE BEARNOIS AND HIS COMPAMO.VS DETERMINE NOT TO KEEP 
 POSSESS.'ON OF MONTFERR'NT. THEV WAKE A SAI.f.Y ON SOME TROOPS 
 FROM CLERMONT, WHO HAD ADVANCED TO THE BARRIERS OF THE CAP. 
 ILRED TOWN, AND INSTANTLY DEFEAT THEM. 
 
 On the Friday morning these captains, being complete lords of 
 Montferrant, and having had all the inhabitants tied together, so that 
 they could nut any way oppose them, searched their houses, and 
 packed up whatever they thought would be profitable to them, in 
 draperies, cloths, furs, dresses, and other articles. When at break- 
 fa3t they had a bng consultation, whether to keep the town or not: 
 some were for keeping and fortifying it ; but the majority were of a 
 contrary opinion, and said it would be madness to do so, for they 
 would be at too great a distance from their own castles, and be in- 
 closed within it. Should they be besieged, they were not in force to 
 hold out, and too far from any assistance. They would be starved 
 into a surrender ; for there were numbers of gentlemen in the towns 
 and cities about; and the duke of Berry, as soon as he should hear 
 what they had done, would order thither the marshal of France, the 
 lord Lewis de Sincerre. The count d'Armagnac and the dauphin 
 would advance to the siege with a great force, without waiting to be 
 Bent to ; for ihey had under them the following great barons : the 
 lords de la Tour, d'Apton, d'Aptiel, de Renel, de la Palisse, and 
 Beveral more ; but, above all, sir John Bonne.lancc would come 
 hither, with a large body of friends; for it had been said the town 
 was lost by his imprudence and neglect. 
 
 Such were the arguments urged against keeping the tov/n, partic 
 ularly by Perrot le Bcjrnois and Glim Barbe. Many other reasons 
 were added ; for, should tney be taken, thsy would lose all they had, 
 be punished fur what they had done, and their forts would be taken 
 from them. They therefore resolved to march away that evening, 
 and carry away their booty and prisoners, of whom they had more 
 than tvvo hundred. To prevent any hindrance to this plan, they 
 posted sti-ong guards at all the gates, so that no one could leave the 
 town. 
 
 I will now relate a skirmish that passed between them and some 
 from Clermont. When news first came to Clermont that Montfer- 
 rant wai taken by the English, they were much alarmed at having 
 such neighbors, and held many consultations on the subject. There 
 was, on the road from Clermont to Montferrant, the handsomest, 
 strongest, and best built church, belonging to the mendicant friars, in 
 France. It had large inclosures, surrounded by high walls, within 
 which were very productive vineyards; for, one year with another, 
 ihrse friars made from one hundred to six score hogsheads of wine. 
 In these consultation?, some advised the deslmction of this nionas. 
 tery ; as they said it waa so near the town, that it was not unlikely 
 to be its ruin, if in the hands of these pillagers. The pulling it down 
 had been in agitation formerly, and they were now eager to efiect it. 
 But others said, it would be a pity to destroy such handsome build- 
 ings; and that it would be better to march to Montferrant, end 
 skirmish with the conquerors, at the barriers, and, if possible, invent 
 the place, to prevent the enemy leaving it ; for, within four days, the 
 knights and squires of the Bourbonnois and Forets would be collected 
 and lay siege to it. While these conversations were going forward 
 in the city of Clermont, about sixty men-at-arms, well mounted, were 
 ready to march toward Montferrant, and skirmish at the banitf, and 
 then return home again. No one checked their ardor : for there 
 were among them some of the noblest in the town, who seemed eager 
 to perform deeds of valor. Being all equipped, they set off' for Mont- 
 ferrant, taking with them thirty cross-bows. Upward of two hundred 
 volunteers left Clermont and followed them on foot. 
 
 It was told to the companions in Montferrant, that a party from 
 Clermont, were at the barriers. This news pleased them much : 
 upward of one hundred of the mo=t expert havi;ig armed themselves, 
 and mounted their horses, ordered the gates to be thrown open, and 
 fell upon those from Clermont, shouting, " Saint George I" When 
 the party saw themselves thus vigorously attacked, they were panic- 
 Ftrnck and instantly defeated, wit'iout making the smallest defence, 
 but flying in all directions. The best mounted, on leaving Clermont, 
 took the lead, and said on the r md they would be the first to attack 
 these pillagers ; but shortly they were the first to return to their town, 
 and the Gascons at their heels. Had the last had as good horses, all 
 or the greater part would have remained with them : they, however, 
 chased them until they met the volunteers on foot, who, when they 
 perceived the defeat of their townsmen, kept no longpr any order, 
 but ran away for the fasteft, leaping from hedge to hedge, and from 
 ditch to ditch, to save themselves. The cross-bows from Clermont 
 kept in better array when the others fled, and drew themselves up in 
 a vineyard with presented bows, making a show of defence. They 
 tliere lemained until the English had returned to Montferrant, for 
 they ni:ver thought of going after them. The Clermoniois lost twenty 
 of their men, six killed and fourteen made piisoners. 
 
 CHAPTER C VI. 
 
 PERROT LE BKARNOIS AND HIS COMPANIONS, HAVING PLTrXDF.RED MONT. 
 FERRANT, RETR.:AT TO THEIR FORTS. HIS ANSWER TO THE DAUPIUN 
 OF AUVERUNE, WHO COMPLAINS OF HIS HAVINU ^fRPRISEl) THIS TOW'S 
 DURING THE TIME TREATIES WERE IN AGITATION FOR HIS LEAVINU THE 
 COUNTRY. 
 
 When this business was over, the;/ were busily employed unlii 
 near night in packing up their plundei. Gn the point of sijt o'clock, 
 having couipleted it, they were on foot, except about sixty on horse, 
 back, and conducted down the street^ more than four hundred horses 
 laden with cLths, fur?, and whatever they had seized. They had 
 found in the houses of the rich, caskets full, but had L-ft them empty. 
 Having bound all the inhabitants, two and two, they had the gates 
 opened after nightfall and departed, not having staid at Montferrant 
 more than eighteen hours. They sent their baggage and prisoners 
 before, with those on foot ; and the captains followed close after on 
 horseback. It was dark night ; and, as the country did nut suspect 
 their stay would have been so short, they were not pursued. About 
 midnight they came to Donzac, which they had left two days before, 
 and there unpacked and examined their plunder. 1 heard, when in 
 that country, that they gained by this expedition upward of one hun. 
 dred thousand francs, besides prisoners ; for sir Peter de Giac, chan- 
 cellor of France, alone lost more than thirty thousand francs in gold. 
 
 The companions had wisely resolved to leave Montferrant as |jpey 
 did : had they staid two days longer, they could net have titteniptcd 
 it without great danger of their lives. The whole surrounding coun. 
 try were collecting, and advancing in great bodies to lay siege to 
 them, under the command of the lords de la Tour, de Moiit;:gu(?, 
 d'Aptheir, d'Apthon, sir Guiscard Dauphin, the marquis of Gaiulhat, 
 sir Lewis d'Ambiere, the lord de la Puli-se, sir Ploustrac de Chastc- 
 lux, and the seneschal de Montaigne. None remained at home, and 
 the count dauphin was very active in the matter. He would have 
 been there within two days, had he not heard that the Gascons had 
 retreated to their forts: at the same time, he received an account of 
 all the mischief which they had committed. When he was assured 
 this intelligence was true, he travelled more slowly to Saint Pour. 
 9ain, and thence to Moulins in the Bourbonnois, where he met his 
 daughter, the duchess of B»aurbon, who had been very much alarmed, 
 but was rejoiced on hearing the enemy had retreated, though those 
 of Montferrant had suflfered severely by their visit, as her country 
 was now freed from such near and troublesome neighbors. "On my 
 faith," said the count-dauphin, *' though it were to cost me a very 
 large sum of money, I wish these pillagers had remained at Mont, 
 ferrant, for it should have ended badly with them. We i.i Auvergne 
 could never have had so fair an opportunity of punishing them, and 
 gaining their forts. They prove their abilities in war by having so 
 expeditiously finished the matter. They have now reentered their 
 fort?, and their plunder is in safety." Thus did the count-dauphin 
 of Auvergne and his daughter, the duchess of Bourbon, convtrst; 
 together. 
 
 Perrot le D^arnois, Olim Barbe, le bourg de Copane, le bourg An. 
 glois, Apthon Seighin, and the other captains of the free companies, 
 on their arrival at Donzac, made a division of their pillage and pris. 
 oners ; some thev ransomed, others were carried with them to their 
 different forts, when they separated at Donzac for Carlat, Chalu9ct, 
 and their other garrisons. The country of Auvergne was now better 
 guarded than ever. The count d'Armagnac anrf the count.dauphin 
 sent, however, to tell Perrot le Bcarnois, that he had treacherously 
 and wickedly surprised and plundered Montferrant, during the time 
 when treaties were negotiating between them, and that, as he had 
 assented to such treaties, they expected he would make reparation 
 for the mischief that had been done. Perrot replied to this message 
 by saying, that " under their graces' favor, neither he nor any of the 
 seven captains, who had plundered Montferrant, had ever entered 
 into any treaty with them : thai they had not taken the town treach. 
 erously nor byscalado, but had fairly entered by the gite, which had 
 been opened to them on their arrival : that if they had assented ta a 
 treaty, legally sworn and sealed, they would, on their part, religiously 
 and loyally laave adhered to it ; but that was not the fact, nur had 
 they any intentions of ever entering into any treaty with him." 
 Things remnined in this state, nor could these lords gain anything 
 more. Sir Peter de Giac was much vexed at his loss, and the towns, 
 men of Montferrant recovered themselves as well as they could from 
 such an unfortunate adventure. 
 
 CHAPTER CVII. 
 
 the LORD LEWIS OF BLOIS MARRIES THE LADY MARY OF BERRV, AND 
 THE LORD JOHN OF BERRY THE PRINCESS MARY OF FRANCE, WHO DIE3 
 shortly AFTER. THE DEATH OF THE LADY JANE OF ARMAGNAC, 
 DUCHESS OF BERRY. 
 
 Count Guy de Blois, in company with his countess and a hand, 
 some attendance of knight?, squires, and ladies, set out in the month 
 of August, in the year of our Lord 1336,* in grand array, from his 
 
 * Denis Sauvage, in a miircinai note, says, tinl Froissart hnvinn omitted tn notic* 
 these inarrinKQs at Ui«u prui>er lime, i)rel«» tnentiouug Uiem liere rutlier xima emit 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 casiie of lilois, for Berry. They carried with them their youn^ son, 
 who, ihe preceding year, had been hctrothed t) the lady Mary, 
 daughter of the duke of Berry ; and it was the intention of all par. 
 ties, that on their arrival at Bourges the marriage should be consum- 
 mated. When the contracts had been signed, the marriage ceremony 
 was performed in the cathedral church of St. Stephen, at Bourges, 
 by a valiant prelate, the cardinal of Avignon. The chancellor ot 
 Berry and the bishop of Poitiers had betrothed them to each other 
 the year before. There were many grand feasts and entertaiumenta 
 at this wedding of lord Lewis of Blois with the lady Mary of Berry, 
 and the tilts and tournaments of the knights and squires lasted for 
 eight days. The count and countess of Blois, vi^hen all was over, 
 took leave of the duke of Berry and returned to Blois, accompanied 
 by their daughter-in-law. 
 
 This same year, John of Berry, son of the duke of Berry, and 
 styled count de Montpensier, was married to lady Mary of France, 
 sister to king Charles. The duchess of Berry, with her son and the 
 lady Mary of France, paid a visit to the count and countess of Blois 
 during the Lent of the ensuing year. They and their attendants 
 were grandly received in the castle of Blois, as the count understood 
 these matters well. I was present at the time of this visit. When 
 the duchess and her children had staid three days, they departed for 
 Poitiers ; but they vent by water down the Loire as far as Amboi.se, 
 and from thence travelled in cars and on horseback to Poitou. The 
 duchess and her children resided for the most part in the fair castle 
 of a handsome town called Chinon.* 
 
 In this year died the lady Mary of France, the young bride of the 
 count de Montpensier. Soon after died also, the lady Jane d'Ar- 
 magnac, duchess of Berry. Thus the duke and his son were left 
 widowers : they, however, married again, but not immediately. I 
 sh-all speak of these second marriages, more especially of that of the 
 duke, at a proper time, as our history claims that mention be made 
 of it. 
 
 CHAPTER CVIII. 
 
 WHILE THE COUNCIL OF FRANCE IS IN DELIBERATION WHETHER OR NOT 
 TO MARCH AN ARMY AGAINST THE DUKE OF GUELDRES, THE DUKE OF 
 BERRY SENDS THE COUNT D'ESTAMPES TO THE DUKE OF BRITTANY, TO 
 ENDEAVOR TO WIN HI3I OVER TO THE PARTY OF FRANCE, AFTER HAVING 
 ALIENATED HIMSELF FROM IT BY THE ARREST OF THE CONSTABLE. 
 
 I HAVE before mentioned the challenge which had been sent by 
 the duke of Gueldres to the king of France. It was much talked of 
 everywhere, from the uncourteous and indeed rude language it was 
 said to contain. I was in truth shown some rough drafts, which were 
 said to be exact copies of this challenge ; but as I never saw the 
 original, nor any certified copy, I did not give much credit to what 
 so nearly concerned a lirtle prince, like the duke of Gueldres, and a 
 king of France. It was evident that this conduct had greatly angered 
 the king of France, who seemed determined tj have reparation, and 
 expected excuses to be made for it by the duke of Gueldres. The 
 king's council had resolved it should not remain quiet : for the great 
 barons had declared, that if the king did not show his resentment, 
 whatever sums it might cost' France, they would be alone to blame : 
 for the king had proved, when in Flanders, his willingness tJ pursue 
 his enemies. The kmg was young, indeed, but of good courage ; 
 and if he suffered such insults with p itience, foreign countries would 
 hold the nobility of France very cheap, as they were the king's ad- 
 visers, and had sworn to guard his honor. The lord de Coucy took 
 great pains in the council, that no blame might fall on him ; and 
 showed clearly he personally felt the insult. He was better acquainted 
 with the character of the Germans than many others, from his dis- 
 putes with the duke of Austria, and from different transactions in 
 which he had been engaged with them. 
 
 The king's ministers saw that the greater part of the nobles of the 
 realm were for war against Gueldres, and, in particular the duke of 
 Burgundy, on account of the warfare the duke was carrying on against 
 his aunt, the duchess, and the country of Brabant. This duchy re- 
 verted to him after the decease of his aunt and her sister,t who were 
 both old ladies. The duke of Burgundy would very gladly have 
 seen the duke of Gueldres, who was chivalrous enough, checked by 
 fair or foul means. It was necessary, however, the kingdom should 
 be unanimous in this disposition ; for it was a great distance the 
 king of France would have to march into Germany, to make con- 
 quests and put lords under his obedience ; and he must carry with 
 him the whole force of the kingdom ; for, as the Germans were so 
 avaricious, it was uncertain if they would not all unite in the support 
 
 *" Chinon," an ancient town of France, election of Tours. It is remarkable for the 
 death of Henry II of England, and the residence of Charles VII. of France. Rabelais 
 was born very near to it. 
 t In the 12th annotation of Denis Sauvare, he makes, the following observations : 
 " Sister." " 1 should suppose this sister to be Jane, widow of the late Wj^iam count 
 of Hainault, according to the 29th and 117th chapters of the first volume, if the 257t,h of 
 the same volume, and the 209th of the second, did not nicline me to believe, that this 
 widow was the .lane of Brabant married again to Winceslaiis, last duke of Brabant, 
 who acquired, by his union with her, that duchv. The countess of Fl inders, who was 
 sister to this duchess, died five years before her husband, count Lewis of Flanders, who 
 deceased in the month of January. 1384 ; so that 1 suspect the reading siiould be. * after 
 the dsceuK of his aunt who wa« now very old fur I cannot say who this sister was." 
 
 of the duke of Gueldres. In addition, the duke of Burgundy and the 
 other nobles were aware of the consequences the conduct cf the 
 Duke of Brittany might lead to ; for he showed his preference of 
 war to peace with France ; and the lords of the council knew he 
 was laying provision of stares and artillery in all his strong towns 
 and castles for their defence, in case of being besieged. Besides 
 this, he was constantly sending over letters and messengers to 
 England, to the king and his council, in the most affectionate terms, 
 offering henceforth the strongest friendship, so thai the English might ' 
 continue the war with the most flattering hopes of success. 
 
 The council were unwilling to decide on any bold measures, until 
 this cloud, which hung over Brittany, was removed by some means 
 or Other, so that the kingdom might not have any fear frcm that 
 quarter; for, should the king march into Germany, the country 
 would be left defenceless, and they knew not well how to bring 
 about an accommodation. Those who had been sent into Biittany, 
 the bishop of Langres, sir John de Vienne, and sir John de Bueil, 
 were returned, and had told the king and his uncles of their ill suc- 
 cess. Upon this the duke of Berry resolved to send thither his 
 cousin, the count d'Estampes, who was a valiant man and able nego- 
 tiator. He therefore addressed him in such words as these : " Fair 
 cousin, I entreat you would go to Brittany : it is absolutely necessary 
 you should do so, to negotiate with our cousin, the duke of Brittany ; 
 and should you find him hot and imperious in speech, do not mind 
 it, nor put yourself in any passion. Treat him gently, and with the 
 greatest attention, and endeavor to make liiiu listen to reason : tell 
 him that the king, myself, and brother of Burgundy, wish him every- 
 thing good, and bear him the strongest affection; and that, if ho 
 would come and live with us, he would find us always ready to serve 
 him. In respect to the castles which he holds from the constable, 
 say, jokingly, that, to be sure, he had seized them unjustly, and that, 
 if he would be pleased to render them back it would redound greatly 
 to his honor, and the king would give him as rich and as strong ores 
 in any part of the kingdom he may choose. Exert yourself, dear 
 cousin, to bring us back good news ; and do not quit him, however 
 you may be delayed, without bringing- matters to some sort of a con 
 elusion, taking care to remember all the duke's answers, and to ex- 
 amine well the state of the duchy." The count d'Estampes assured 
 the duke he would cheerfully undertake it ; and he made no long 
 delay, from the time of his conversation, in his preparations for the 
 journey. When ready, he set out for Brittany, taking his road 
 through Chartres and Mans, and the rich country of Maine to An. 
 gers, where he met the queen of Naples, widow of the duke of Arjou, 
 who had styled himself king of Naples, Sicily and Jerusalem, diskc 
 of La Puglia, and count de Provence. Her two sons, the lords Lewit 
 and Charles, were with her. 
 
 The queen received her cousin, the count d'Estampes, handsome- 
 ly, and becoming her situation ; and they had many conversation? 
 together, such as lords and ladies are accustomed to have. Johr 
 of Brittany was likewise there, who was net in the good grace? ol 
 the duke of Brittany, whither the count was going: but he carried i 
 off as well as he could ; for, not having any forces to support his pre 
 tensions, he was obliged so to do. The count remained at Angers 
 a day and night, and then took his leave, and departed for Chanto 
 ceaux,* where he arrived that day, and then continued his journey 
 to Nantes, where he refreshed himself, and inquired after the duke 
 of Brittany. He was told that he was at Vannes, or in that part of 
 the country, which was his usual place of residence. He took tho 
 road for Vannes, where, on his arrival, he waited on the duke, who 
 received him very kindly, for they were nearly connected by blood. 
 The count d'Estampes, knowing well how to conduct himself with 
 great princes and dames, for he had been brought up and educated 
 with them, acquitted himself with much prudence when in the pres. 
 ence of the duke, and, dissembling vAth him, did not, for some days, 
 discover the object of his coming. When he found a proper oppor- 
 tunity, he began upon it with great caution and humility, to gain the 
 duke's affection, in manner something like the following : " My lord 
 and very dear cousin, you must not be surprised if I am come to see 
 you from such a great distance, for I was very desirous of so doing." 
 He then continued to inform him, word for word, what the duke of 
 Berry had charged him to say. The duke of Brittany did net seem 
 to pay any great attention to what he said, but, when he had done, 
 replied to the count d'Estampes, " We have in truth heard before 
 what you now tell us, and will consider of it, for we have net as yet 
 done so. You will remain with us as long as you please, for your 
 coming has given us much pleasure." • 
 
 The count could not, for the present, obtain any other answer : 
 but he continued with the duke, and was lodged within his castle. 
 He staid about fifteen days with the duke of Brittany in Vannes and 
 thereabouts, who treated him with much affection. He show cd him 
 his fair castle of Ermine, which he had had newly repaired and 
 beautified, as he there enjoyed himself the most. The count, one 
 day finding him in good humor, again remonstrated with him on his 
 late conduct, and repeated the cause of his coming; but, though tho 
 duke's answers were fair, there was no dependence to be placed on 
 his restitution of the hundred thousand francs and the castles to the 
 constable. He did at length restore them ; but it was of his own 
 free-will, without any request being made, and when it was the leas« 
 
 * '* Chantoceaux,"— a small town, diocese of Wantes. 
 
m 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 • spected, as I will relate iii the course of this history, according to 
 (he information I received. The count d'Estampes, finding that a 
 onger stay in Brittany would be useless, determined to take his leave 
 cf the duite, and return to France, to the duke 
 
 - f Berry, who had sent him thither. The duke 
 
 * f Brittany parted with him very affectionately, 
 !'nd presented him with a handsome white pai- 
 iiey, saddled and equipped as if for a king, and 
 a ring with a rich stone, wliich had cost at least 
 one thousand francs. 
 
 The count, on leaving Brittany, went to An. 
 gars, where he waited on the queen of Naples 
 and John of Brittany, who were anxious to hear 
 what had passed. They said, " Fair cousin you 
 must have been well employed, for you have 
 made a long stay in Brittany." He related to 
 them partly what he had done, but the conclu- 
 sion was, that he had been unsuccessful. When 
 he had remained with them one day, he departed 
 for Tours, and continued his jouviu.y into Berry, 
 and found the duke of Berry at Mehun-sur- 
 Yevre,* where he had lately built a very fine 
 castle, and was daily adding to it. The duke ^^^^^^ 
 of Berry entertained the count well, and inquired 
 what had passed in Brittany. The count told 
 him, word for v/ord, the conversation between 
 him and the duke, and that it had been impos- 
 sible to turn him from his purposes, whatever 
 they might be. The duke of Berry, seeing no- 
 thing better could be done, made light of it, and, 
 shortly after, returned to the king and duke of 
 Burgundy, to relate to them the ill success of the 
 journey the c®unt d'Estampes had undertaken, 
 at his request, to Brittany. As they saw they 
 coidd not do more, affairs remained in this state 
 
 tugal had held such language to induce his father-in-law to take co«r. 
 age, the duke wcis not ignorant that England was in a very troubled 
 state, that the council had many weighty things to attend to, as well 
 
 CHAPTER CIX 
 
 THE CASTILLIANS AND FRENCH, AFTER THE DEPARTURE OF THE DUKE OF 
 LANCASTER FROM GALICIA, RECONQUER, IN A VERY SHORT TIME, ALL 
 THE TOWNS AND CASTLES HE HAD WON. THE ENGLISH ABUSE CASTILLE, 
 WHEN IN THEIR OVv'N COUNTRY. THE KING- OF FRANCE AND HIS COUN- 
 CIL INVITE THE DUKE OF IRELAND, WHO HAD FLED FROM ENGLAND, TO 
 PARIS. 
 
 You have before heard how the English, who had come with the 
 duke of Lancaster to Galicia, had departed, and how the duke and 
 duchess had retired to Oporto, where they had resided some time 
 with king John of Portugal, who liad married the duke's daughter. 
 The duke of Lancaster was very disconsolate that his affairs had 
 taken so ruinous a turn, and that his best knights and squires had 
 fallen victims to disease. The whole country of Galicia v/as now 
 returned to its allegiance to the king of Castille ; for the moment 
 the Castillians, and the French knights under sir Oliver du Guesclin, 
 heard of the duke of Lancnster's departure for Portugal, and that few 
 English had remained beldnd, they sallied forth to conquer Galicia 
 back again, which v/as soon done. The inhabitants of cities and 
 towns were more attached to the king of Castille than to the duke 
 of Lancaster, provided, however, he v. as able to keep the field ; for 
 the Castillians and Gaiiciai n resemble a good deal the Lombards and 
 Italians, who are always 0:1 the side of the strongest, and shout out, 
 " The conqueror f. r ever I-' 
 
 All which the duke of Lancaster had been able to win before the 
 beginning of .luly v/as regained, and the places garrisoned again by 
 French and others under the obedience of the king of Castille. The 
 English, who thought to pnss the winter quietly there, were driven 
 out by fair or foul mean?, for such as made resistance v/ere put to 
 death. Others, seeing affairs go badly, surrendered on having pass, 
 ports given them to return through Castille to Gascony by Bayonne 
 and Bordeaux. The duke of Lancaster was duly informed of all 
 this when at Oporto, and not being able anj" way to provide a remedy, 
 it gave him great unquictness of heart. This may be readily be- 
 lieved, for the higher the spirit and expectations are, the more bitter 
 are disappointments when things turn out contrary. He, however, 
 kept up his courage tolerably well, and said at times that if he had 
 been unsuccessful this year, through the grace of God he would do 
 better another : for the fortunes of this world are so changeable, they 
 cannot remain always the same. The king of Portugal comforted 
 him as much as it was in his power, sa}ang, " Sir, you will keep your 
 state in this country, while you write to your brothers and friends in 
 England the melancholy event of your expedition, though they now 
 be fully informed of all, and press them to send you, early in March 
 next, five or six hundred spears and two thousand archers. I will 
 reassemble my forces, for my subjects are well inclined to fight the 
 Castillians, and we will make an effectual war against them. A 
 kingdom may be won and lost in one campaign." 
 
 The duke, on hearing the king thus discourse, was much pleased 
 and returned him his thanks. But, notwithstanding the king of Por- 
 
 ■* *' Mehun-sm Yvre," a town in Beiry, on the Yvie, four leasucs from Bourses 
 
 Duke of Brittany presenting Count d'Estampes with *' a handsome white palfrey, saddled and equipped u 
 if for a king." Designed from a MS. Illumination of the 15th century. 
 
 respecting the affairs of the borders of Scotland, which gave them 
 much uneasiness, as concerning the duke of Brittany, who was ne- 
 gotiating important treaties with them. He remembered also, th&* 
 he had many difficulties to obtain the force he had brought with him 
 to Galicia, and that, knowing his countrymen well, he had never had 
 any intention of seeking a reinforcement, for he was aware the 
 country at present was as heavily pressed as it was able fo bear ; that 
 those who had gone home from Castille would never rt'turn thither, 
 and he was fearful they would discourage any others from coming to 
 his aid. Although he knew all this, he did not behave weW to the 
 king and barons of Portugal in hiding it from them. After residing 
 some time at Oporto, he told the king, that many reasons urged him 
 to return to Bayonne and the Bordelois ; for that Portugal, though he 
 was so agreeably received there by all, was not his own inheritance. 
 He added, that as there were so many strong places and castles in 
 the archbishopric of Bordeaux, on the borders of Foix, Armagnac, 
 beyond the Garonne and Dordogne, in Quercy, Perigord, Limousin, 
 Auvergne, and other parts, which were still attached to the English, 
 and whose garrisons were carrying on a war under his n^-ine : it 
 therefore was his duty to go thither, and give them aid and advice, 
 should there be occasion. He was besides, when in Portugal, too 
 remote to hear news from England ; for the English dread the voyage 
 to Portugal, for its length and danger of meeting Castillian, Galician, 
 or Seville vessels, which cover that sea, either in going to, or retuni- 
 ing from Flanders, v/ith merchandise. 
 
 For these and other reasons, the duke of Lancaster made his pre- 
 parations for departure ; and when the galleys, which the king of 
 Portugal had provided for him, under the command of his principal 
 admiral Alphonso Bretat, were ready, and the weather favorable, he 
 and his duchess took leave of the king, their daughter, and the ba- 
 rons of Portugal, and embarked and put to sea. They coasted the 
 shores, and, having wind and weather fair, arrived safely at Bayonne 
 in a few days. The inhabitants of Bayonne and the adjacent parts 
 were much rejoiced at their amval, for they desired greatly their 
 coming, and waited on them to pay their respects. Nev.'s of the 
 duke and duchess being at Bayonne with their daughter, was spread 
 far and near, and gave much pleasure to Bordeaux and the Bordelois. 
 
 Sir . John Harpedon, sdneschal of Bordeaux, and the seneschal des 
 Landes, with other gentlemen of the country, such as the lord de 
 Mucident, the lords de Duras, de Rosem, de Landuras, de Chau. 
 mont, de I'Esparrc, de Copane, and several more of the principal 
 barons and knights, paid their compliments to the duke. He received 
 them kindly as they came, for they anived separately. All offered 
 him such services and affection as are due to a lord. The duke re- 
 sided this season at Bayonne. He frequently wrote to the king of 
 England and to his brothers ; but, for whatever he could urge, he 
 had not any reinforcement of men-at-arms or archers ; and, as things 
 were then situated, the duke of Lancaster and his concerns were 
 totally disregarded. Those who had returned to Castille gave such 
 accounts as discouraged others from going thither. They said, 
 *' The voyage was so long, a war with France would be far more 
 advantageous. France has a rich country and temperate climate, 
 with fine rivers ; but Castille has nothing but rocks and high moun- 
 tains, a sharp air, muddy rivers, bad meat, and wines so hot and 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND. FRANCE, SPAIN. &c. 
 
 harsh there is no drinking them. The inhabitants are poor and 
 filthy, badly clothed and lodged, and quite diifareritin their minners 
 to U3, so that it would be folly t.) gj thither. When you enter a 
 large city or tjwn, you expect to find everyt'iing, bat you will meet 
 with nothing but wines, lard, and empty cotDrs. It is quite the con. 
 trary in France ; for there we hive many a time found, in the cities 
 and towns, when the fortune of war delivered them into our hands, 
 such wealth and riches as astonished us. It is such a war as this 
 wo ought to attend to, and boldly hazard our lives, for it is very pro- 
 fitable, and not ia a war with Castille or Portugal, where there is 
 nothing but poverty and loss to be suffered." 
 
 Suca were the conversations of the E iglish who had returned from 
 Castillo, so that the rniniitsrs who ruled the country, perceived that 
 any expedition thither would be very unpopular. The cou.itry was 
 not m yet recjvered from the lata troubles, which the executions of 
 sir Robert Tresilian and others, and the flight of the duke of Ireland, 
 had t irow:! it into. Tnc ki;ig had also new co^iiiseilors, with whom 
 he was n >t, at that time, well reconciled. All these things prevented 
 any att9ntion being paid to whit related t) the duke of Lmcaster, 
 who still resided at i3ayonae. The situation of E.igiand, with respect 
 to in intar.ial divisions, the desperate state of the affxirs of the duke 
 of Lancaster, and ail tiaat related t^ the duke of Ireland and his par- 
 tisans, were perfectly known to the king of France and his council. 
 To gain mjre information on these subjects, the king, by the advice 
 of his uncles, resolved to invite the duke of Ireland into Franco, and 
 to send tj him at Utrecht, where he resided, proper passportj for his 
 coming thither, and for remaining as long as it should be the king's 
 pleasure, and to return whenever the duke should please. It was 
 necessary to send special messengers, and that his passp ^rt should be 
 particularly made out, otherwise the duke would not quit Utrecht ; for 
 he knew he was in the ill graces of the lord de Coucy, (who was a 
 great baron, and of high birth in France,) and not without cause, for. 
 to say the truth, he had very scandalously treated his duchess, the 
 daughter of the lord de Coucy. This certainly was the principal 
 reason that had blasted his character in France and elsewhere ; for 
 he was there as much hated and despised as in England. When this 
 was discussed in the council of France, the lord de Coucy strongly 
 opposed it ; but they gave so many reasons for the advantages that 
 might be reaped from the duke's coming, as to induce him to yield ; 
 indeed as the king willed it, he could not say more. 
 
 The king, being young, was desirous to see the duke of Ireland, 
 because he had been told he was a gallant knight, and that the king 
 of England's love for him had been unbounded. A knight and clerk, 
 who was one of the king's notaries, were sent to seek him. The duke 
 of Ireland was very much astonished when he first heard the king of 
 France wished to see him, and had many ideas what could be the 
 cause of it. Having considered the passp :>rt, he found he might 
 safely go to the king of France, and return tJ Utrecht when he pleased. 
 He therefore left Utrecht, in company with those who had been scmt 
 for him, and continued his journey until he arrived al Paris, for the 
 king then resided at the castle of the Louvre. The duke was well 
 received by the king and his uncles ; and the king was desirous he 
 would fix his residence in France, and had a hotel appointed for 
 him to live and keep his state. He had wherev/ithal tJ do so hand- 
 somely, for he had brought immense sums of nuney with him from 
 England, and the constable of France was still much indebted to him 
 for the ransom of John* of Brittany, as the whole had not been p iid. 
 The duke of Ireland made frequent visits tj the king, who enter, 
 tained him well ; and he was invitechto all the feasts, tilto and tour, 
 naments. 
 
 CHAPTER ex. 
 
 THE COUNCfL OF FRANCE DISAGRiCE, AS TO THE KINo's GOING INTO GEU- 
 MANVj ON ACCOUNT OF THE STATE OF THE REATJVI. THE DUKE OF BRIT- 
 TANY STRENGTHENS HIS GARRISONS, AND FOR^iS AI.MANCES WITH 
 ENGLAND AND THE KING OF NAVARRE. THE ENGLISH RAISE A LARGE 
 ARMV. 
 
 Yov have before heard how the count d'Estampes was sent by the 
 duke of Berry into Brittany, in the hopes of concili :ting the duke of 
 Brittany, and had returned unsuccessful, n the great vexation of the 
 duke of Berry, but more particularly to the king's council ; for they 
 knew the eagerness of the king to march ta Germany, t J revenge 
 himself for the rude and outrageous challenge the duke of Gueldres 
 had sent him. The wisest of the council, foreseeing what might 
 happen, thought it would be t)o dangerous for the king, at tliis mo- 
 ment, to leave the realm. They now clearly saw the duke of Brit- 
 tany would not listen to terms of acconimadation, and f"lt his con- 
 duct, in arresting, confining, and ransoming the constable for one 
 hundied thousand francs, three castles and a t nvn, highly offensive 
 to the honor of France. They heard also, that the duke had entered 
 into a strong alliance with the king of England, and was laying up 
 stores of all kinds in his different t.)wns and castles. He was seek- 
 Ing Iriends on all sides, so that his barons and knights knew rot ho.v 
 to act, (or at least the greater part,) whether to go to France, or re- 
 main with the duke and abide the event ; but they would never have 
 taken arms against France, for the knights and squires of Brittany 
 are too loyal Frenchmen to be induced to be guilty of such conduct. 
 The council were fearful, and with reason, should the king march to 
 
 4r)7 
 
 Germany with a large fcvce, and he coul 1 not do otiierwi ^c, t iat tnc 
 duke of Brittany would introduce the English into his country, by 
 Saint Malo, Saint Matthien, Kemper, Treguier, Guerrande, V'anncs, 
 or on some other parts of the coast, for they could not gain a better 
 entrance into France. They were, therefore, much puzzled, how 
 they could, without compromising the king's honor and mat of the 
 realm, bring about a reconciliation with the duke. But some of the 
 council said, " that it would be very blameable in the king t) put off 
 his expeditian for this duke of Brittany, who was not master of his 
 own country; and he might be assured that the knights and barons 
 of Brittany would never side with him against ihe kiiig of France. 
 Let the king, in God's name, undertake the expedition, and the con. 
 stable, with his Breto-ns, may stay at home tj guard the country." 
 This opinion was ably supported in the council ; but others opp )scd 
 it, saying, " It cannot be done, for the king will never undertake it 
 without the constable, as he knows more of war than any other 
 knight." Some argued, saying, " Let the king then remain, and send 
 thither one of his uncles, for instance my lord of Burgu idy, with two 
 th jusand lances and seven thousand lustv varlets ; for, as the war 
 principally affects him, he is bound to go tliither, from his connectioa 
 with Brabant, which is the seat of war; and he will be joined, when 
 in. that country, by seven hundred spears, and from twenty to thirty 
 thousand of the common people." " What you say is to no purpose," 
 others replied, " for the king is determined to go, iis comm mder.iri. 
 chief: he says, since he has been challenged, ho will not refuse it. 
 It is proper he should therefore go; and, as he is yonng, the oftener 
 he bears arms, the more wil' he like theni." " All thisls well " said 
 some, "but who will be bold enough to advise the king to march so 
 far into Germany, and among such proud and crafty people ? The 
 entrance may be easy enough, but not so the return ; for, when they 
 know that the king of France and his nobles are in the heart of their 
 country, they will collect together at some of the passes they are ac 
 quainted with, and of which we are ignorant, and completely destroy 
 us. They are the m.ost avaricious of mankind, and the most cruel to 
 their prisoners ; for, when they take any in war, they throw them 
 into close dungeons, loaded with fetters, and such.like prison furni. 
 ture : they are cunning enough in these matters, in ordiy: to obtain a 
 larger ransom for them. They are in the highest spirits when they 
 make captive a nobleman or man of rank, and carry him with them 
 into Bohemia, Austria, or Saxony, and confine him in some uninhab- 
 ited castle, where you must seek for him. Such people are worM 
 than Pagans or Saracens, for their extreme covetousness robs them 
 of all ideas of honor. Now, if you conduct the king tj such a coun- 
 try, and any melancholy event happen, and who can foresee wliul 
 unfortunate accidents may not occur? it will be said ihat we have 
 advised him, like traitors, tj his ruin, and not for the welfare of liiui 
 or the kingdom. But, should the king persist in this expedition (God 
 defend the realm from harm!) whom will he take with him, and 
 what nobles are to attend him? for he must be properly accomp uiied, 
 and the country, being left empty of defenders, is in risk of t.;tal de- 
 struction. Who will now advise the king to undertake this matter 
 in person ?" " What can be done then ?" said other-, in reply. 
 " Why," answered those who had more maturely considered the nut. 
 ter, and weighed all the difficulties attending it, " let the king tldnk 
 no more of it, nor send any considerable force thither. The duke 
 of Gueldres is young and hot-headed, and puffed up with having 
 challenged a king of France. It has not proceeded from any solid 
 understanding, but from the self-sufficiency of a young man, who 
 wants to fly before he has wings. Since he has sent his defiance, 
 let him follow it up : the kingdom of France is large, and the mo. 
 ment he shall enter it, whatever part it may be, the king will be 
 informed of it, and have just cause for calling on his subjects for sup- 
 port, and for marching to repel the invader, should he have remained 
 in France, or for pursuing him into Germany. The king will, by 
 such conduct, acquire honor for himself and his kingdom, at a much 
 cheaper rata than by marching into Gueldres. We have been in- 
 formed, by those well acquainted with the country, that there are four 
 large rivers to cross before you arrive at the duke's territories, and 
 that the smallest is as wide as the Loire at Nemours or Lx Charitc, 
 and the country was covered with heath and offered no place fit ibr 
 encampment. Nov/, those who please may advise the king to r.n. 
 dert ike his expedition through such a country." 
 
 Thus, as I have said, was the council divided respecting this ex. 
 pedition ta Gueldres, which the king was very anxious to accomi..ish. 
 Indeed, more progress would have been made taward it, if they had 
 not been afraid of the mischief that might come from Brittany ; and 
 this delayed it much. There was cause for their fears ; for the duke, 
 who had received information of the challenge of the duke of Guel- 
 dres, and of the king's eagerness ta march against him, was oiily 
 waiting until the king had quitted the kingdom, to introduce the 
 English, with whom he had formed an alliance, into his duchy. The 
 duke had by his subtle arts gained over the principal t nvns t ; his in- 
 terest, such as Nantes, Vannes, Rennes, Treguier, Guerrande, Lam. 
 balle, St. Malo, and St. Matthieu de Fine-Poterne, but had fai ed in 
 his attempts to gain the nobles He hoped, indeed, they would 
 accompany the constable into Germany and give him freer scope for 
 his war. He filled his towns and castles with all sorts of ?.t.jres, ar- 
 tillery and provisions, plainly showing he preferred war to peace. 
 He had likewise formed a strict alliance with his brother-in-law, the 
 
468 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 young king of Navarre, and iiad promised him, that if he succeeded 
 in his attempt to bring over a body of English men-at-arms and arch- 
 ers, he would lead them instantly to Normandy, and recover for him 
 all those towns and places the late king of France had won from his 
 iather by himself, or the lord de Coucy and others. The king of 
 -s^avarre indulged in these hopes, and paid every respectful compli- 
 ment to the duke of Lancaster at Bayonne, with whom he entered 
 iato an alliance. 
 
 On the 7th day of April, in the year of grace 1388, it was deter- 
 mined in the council of the king of England, by the dukes of York 
 xnd Gloucester, that Richard earl of Arundel should be appointed 
 commander in chief of a naval expedition. He was to have under 
 him one thousand men-at-arms and three thousand archers, who were 
 to assemble at Southampton, the 15th of May, when the fleet would 
 be ready prepared to receive them, and it was fixed that those who 
 were to accompany him were immediately to begin their march to 
 Southampton. The king of England kept a grand feast on St. 
 George's day, this year, at Windsor, which was attended by a num- 
 ber of the lords, who were to accompany the earl of Arundel, and 
 who there took leave of the kin^;-, the queen, his uncles and ladies. 
 The whole of this armament were at Southampton or in those parts, 
 on the appointed day, and embarked on board the fleet the twentietii 
 day of May, when the weather was fine and clear. Witli the earl of 
 Arundel were, the earls of Nottingham and Devonshire, the lord 
 Thomas Percy, the lord Cliflbrd, sir John de Warwick, sir William 
 Leslie, the lord Camois, sir Stephen de Liberie, sir William Helmon, 
 sir Thomas Moreaux, sir .John dMmbreticourt, sir Robert Scot, sir 
 Peter de Montbcrry, sir Lewis Clanborough, sir Thomas Cook, sir 
 William Paulet, and several more : in the whole, there were one 
 thousand good men-at-arms and about three thousand archers. They 
 embarked no horses with them ; for they hoped, if successful, to find 
 horses in plenty in Brittany. The day they weighed anchor the sea 
 was so calm and serene, tiiat it w;is beautiful to behold. They made 
 for the shores of Brittany or Normandy, with a determination to land 
 nowhere else, unless other intelligence should be sent them. They 
 had in their fleet some light vessels (called Balniers Coursiers) which 
 drew but little water, and these were sent in advance, to seek adven- 
 tures ; in the same manner as knights and squires, mounted on the 
 fleetest horses,, are ordered to scour in front of an army, to see if 
 there are any ambuscades. We will, however, leave this* army, and 
 speak of the aff;iirs of Gueldres, Brabant, and of the siege of Grave. 
 
 CHAPTER CXI. 
 
 THE BRABANTERS LAY SIEGE TO THE TOWN OF GRAVE. THE CONSTABLE 
 OF FRANCE GAINS THE TOWNS OF SAINT MALO AND SAINT MATTHIEU 
 DE FINE-POTERNE, AND GARRISONS THEM WITH HIS MEN. 
 
 I HAVE before given an account of the ancient dukes of Gueldres, 
 and how the eldest son of the first duke married Bertaldo of Mech- 
 iin's daughter, in order to redeem his inheritance, and had mortgaged 
 three of his castles to the count de Mours, who, unable to regain the 
 money he had lent, iiad sold them to Winceslaus, duke of Brabant, 
 for the same sum, and all the subsequent events to the time of duke 
 William of Gueldres, son of the duke of Juliers. The duke of Guel- 
 dres, finding he could no v/ay succeed in recovering his before-men- 
 tioned three castles on the Meuse, which had been part of his 
 patrimonial inheritance, resolved to secure himself the possession of 
 Grave from the Brabanters. He had married his bastard-daughter to 
 the young lord of Bruk, v/ho claimed the town of Grave as lord par- 
 amount. There was an amicable treaty made between them, such 
 as should be made when fathers and children are concerned : and the 
 young lord of Bruk yielded to the duke all his claims on Grave, and 
 the territories thereto belonging, in the presence of the knights of 
 Gueldres and Juliera. The duke of Gueldres gave him, in return, 
 the town and territory of Breda, situated on the river Merck, in the 
 duchy of Gueldres, bordering on Holland, below Brabant. It had a 
 handsome castle : the town was extensive and of much trade, but 
 Grave was more valuable. The duke had made this exchange to 
 streno'then himself against the claim of the Brabanters ; but the 
 duchess and her subjects said, that the lord of Bruk was only mort- 
 gagee in possession, and that she or her heirs might redeem it when- 
 ever they pleased. The duke of Gueldres denied this, and hence 
 arose their mutual hatreds and wars. 
 
 The Brabanters this year, in the month of May, came with a pow- 
 erful force of barons, knights, and squires, to lay siege to the town 
 of Grave. They brought with them springalls, and various other 
 machines of attack, and they amounted altogether to forty thousand 
 men. There were almost daily skirmishes at the barriers. The 
 town of Grave is situated on the Brabant side of the Meuse, over 
 which there is a bridge that connects it with Gueldres. This siege 
 was a bold enterprise : but great plenty was in the army of Brabant, 
 and everything was to be had there for money, and as cheap as at 
 Brussels. In these continual skirmishes at the barriers, where the 
 cross-bows sometimes ventured, the success was variable, as must 
 abA^ays happen when the parties are nearly equal. 
 
 The duke of Gueldres was regularly informed of everything that 
 -passed at *he siege, for he had fixed his residence only four leagues 
 ©flf at Nimeguen. He wrote frequently to England for assistance, 
 
 and was in hopes the armament at sea, under the earl of Arundel, 
 should the winds prove favorable, would come to raise this siege 
 He knew the town of Grave was strong, and that it was amply sup. 
 plied with stores and provisions, and could not be won by storm. 
 As it could only be gained by capitulation, he felt assured on that 
 head, as he depended on the fidelity of the inhabitants, that they 
 would never desert him. This siege, therefore, lasted a very con- 
 siderable time. The earl of Arundel's fleet was still at sea, and 
 though no landing had been attempted, it hovered along the coasts 
 of Brittany and Normandy, so that the Normans from St. Michael's 
 Mount along the shore to Dieppe, Saint Valery, and even Crotoy in 
 Ponthieu, were much alarmed, and uncertain at what place they 
 would disembark. All these seaport towns were well provided with 
 men-at-arms, by orders from the king of France, to oppose any in. 
 vasion. 
 
 The marshal de Blainville, who commanded on the coast, sent the 
 lord de Coucy and the lord de Hambre, two great Norman barons, 
 to the town of Carentan, which is situated on the sea-shore, and 
 formerly belonged to Charles king of Navarre. The constable of 
 France took possession of the towns of Saint Malo and Saint Mat- 
 tliieu de Fine-P6terne ; and, as soon as he learnt the English were 
 at sea, he placed sufficient garrisons in both, in the name of the king 
 of France. It was thought in France that war would be declared 
 against the duke of Brittany. The knights and squires said, that 
 this appearance of the English fleet was another instance of the 
 duke's perfidy ; for, by their continued hovering along his coasts, it 
 was clear that he had invited them thither. They never quitted their 
 stations, unless forced by stress of weather, and, when favorable, 
 returned to them again. 
 
 CHAPTER CXII. 
 
 THE DUKE OF LANCASTER HAS THOUGHTS OF MARRYING HIS DAUGHTER TO 
 THE DUKE DE LA TOURAINE, BROTHER TO THE KING OF FRANCE. THE 
 DUKE OF BERRY PROPOSES HIMSELF FOR HER HUSBAND. THE DUKE OP 
 LANCASTER IS MUCH SATISFIED THEREAT. 
 
 I HAVE before said that the duke of Lancaster had quitted Castille 
 and Portugal. His thoughts on the unfortunate event of his expedi- 
 tion, were not very agreeable ; for he saw his hopes annihilated, and 
 that fortune, as very often happens in worldly affairs, had suddenly 
 turned against him, at a time when it was the least expected : for 
 he had left England well accompanied with men-at-arms, and with 
 every expectation of finishing his campaign in a different manner. 
 It was told him, that his adversary had regained within fifteen days 
 after he left the country, all his conquests, which had occupied him 
 six weeks. His army had been wasted away by sickness, and he 
 despaired of any assistance from home ; for the English were tired 
 of this war, as it was at such a distance, and the accounts they had 
 heard of the country disgusted them : besides, the duke knew that 
 England was much troubled within itself. He foresaw little hope 
 of amendment in his affairs ; and though he said not much m this 
 subject, he thought a great deal. At times, he compared himself 
 and his expedition to the duke of Anjou and his march to Naples ; 
 for, when he set out from France, he was so magnificently equipped, 
 nothing was ever seen like to it, and attended by multitudes of 
 knights, squires, and men-at-arms; but the end had been, that all 
 were either killed or ruined. 
 
 It was not surprising that the duke, considering his hopes were 
 totally destroyed, should be sdmetimes melancholy ; for the count 
 de Foix, who was one of the wisest princes, in conversation with 
 his knights, had declared the duke of Lancaster's expectations, in 
 regard to the crown of Castille, were completely at an end. The 
 duke was, however, of a high spirit, and sought consolation in the 
 prospect of the elevation of his children. He had with him a hand- 
 some daughter, by the lady Constance, daughter of don Pedro, in 
 whose right he made war on Castille : he, therefore, musing on this 
 subject, said, " If fortune is now unfavorable to me, it may be other- 
 wise to my daughter, who is young and handsome, and by her grand- 
 father and mother the true heiress of Castille. Some gallant prince 
 of France may seek her in marriage, either for the above right or 
 her high birth ; for she may boast that she springs from the best 
 blood in Christendom." He would gladly have had some overtures 
 made him from France on this subject ; for he knew the king had a 
 younger brother, in the duke of Touraine : " and," added the duke, 
 " we might, through this means, recover our inheritance of Castille ; 
 for it has been solely through the aid of France that our adversary 
 has kept his crown : should that power turn against him, which 
 would be the case if a marriage took place with the duke of Tou- 
 raine, he must speedily surrender his throne to my daughter." Such 
 v/ere the expectations the duke of Lancaster flattered himself with, 
 and his imaginations were in a way to be realized ; not, indeed, by 
 the king of France's brother, but by one who was well qualified to 
 change the face of aff'airs in Castille, and who had the complete gov- 
 ernment of France, for without his consent nothing was done : I 
 mean the duke of Berry. 
 
 You have before heard how he and his son were made widowers 
 nearly at the same time. What I am about to relate, I know from 
 my own knowledge ; for I, the author of this book, was at the time 
 in the country of Blois, on the borders of Foitou and Berry, with 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 469 
 
 my very dear and honored lord, the count Guy de Blois, by whose 
 desire and encouragement this history was undertaken. The duke 
 of Berry had, among his other thouglits and plans, a desire to marry 
 again. He frequently said to those near his person, that a lord was 
 nothing without a lady, nor a man without a wife. Those in whom 
 he had the greatest confidence replied, " Very well, my lord, marry 
 then your son John : your house will be more pleasant, and better 
 managed." Ah," said the duke, " he is too young." " That is 
 nothing, my lord : do not you see the count de Blois has married his 
 son, who is of the same age, with your daughter Mary ?" " That is 
 true," answered the duke : " well, name then a lady for him." " We 
 name the daughter of the duke of Lancaster." The duke mused a 
 while, and was some time before he made any reply, when, address- 
 ing himself to them, he said, " You propose marrying my son John 
 with my cousin, the daughter of the duke of Lancaster : by St. Deni:3, 
 you have made me imagine that she will be an excellent match for 
 myself, and I will shortly write to the duke on the subject. He re- 
 sides, as I hear, at Bayonne ; and I will signify to him that some of 
 my council shall very speedily wait on him to treat of this marriage 
 with me. I say : not for my son John, whom I will marry elsewhere." 
 Those to whom he had spoken, on hearing the above, burst out into 
 laughter. " What do you laugh at ?" said the duke. "We laugh, 
 my lord, because it seems that you prefer to have a good thing your- 
 self, rather than give it your son." " By my faith, I am in the right ; 
 for my fair cousin of Lancaster will not so readily give his daughter 
 to my son as he will to me." 
 
 Letters were instantly written and sent to the duke of Lancaster. 
 The messengers, on their arrival at Bayonne, presented the letters to 
 the duke, who, having opened them and perused their contents, was 
 highly delighted, and made those who had brought them good cheer, 
 giving them to understand that their intelligence was very agreeable 
 to him. The duke returned such answers by the messengers as 
 showed the proposal was very satisfactory, and had given him much 
 joy. The messengers, on their return, found the duke of Berry in 
 Poitou, but preparing to return to Paris ; for the king and the duke 
 of Burgundy had expressly sent for him, to consider of the state of 
 Brittany. Having read the answer from the duke , of Lancaster, 
 which afforded him much pleasure, he determined to persevere in 
 the business, although he could not defer his journey to Paris. He 
 resolved, however, to proceed in it by the shortest mode, and sent 
 letters to one of his knights, called sir Helion de Lignac, who at that 
 time was seneschal of La Rochelle, ordering him to place the town 
 under the government of those he could depend upon, and then, 
 vdthout fail, to hasten to him at Paris. Sir Helion, on receiving the 
 duke's orders, sealed with his seal, and noticing the haste in which 
 he was summoned to follovv^ him, lost no time in putting La Rochelle 
 and its dependencies under the command of two vuliant knights of 
 Beauce, called sir Peter de Jouy and the lord Peter Taillepie. When 
 this was done, he took the shortest road he could to join the duke, who 
 he knew, from the tenor of his letter, would be impatient to see him. 
 
 We will now return to the duke of Lancaster at Bayonne, and 
 say what were his thoughts on the proposal from the duke of Berry. 
 He was not willing it should be kept secret : on the contrary, he 
 published it everywhere, that his enemies might be alarmed, and the 
 matter known in the court of his adversary of Castille. The duke, 
 in consequence, wrote several letters, detailing the whole business, 
 with copies of the duke of Berry's proposals, and his ansv/ers of con- 
 sent, to the count de Foix ; because he knew there was a continual 
 intercourse of knights and squires from all countries at Orthfes, going 
 or returning to Castille, or on pilgrimage to or from Saint Jago. He 
 did the same thing to the king of Navarre, who had married the 
 kmg of Castille's sister, and by whom he had a numerous family, 
 that the intelligence of this marriage might be more readily believed 
 in Castille than if told by common report. He wrote also on the 
 fiame subject to the king of Portugal, but was silent respecting it in 
 his letters to the king and his brothers in England, for he knew the 
 English would not be pleased at it : indeed, they gave proofs of their 
 dislike to this marriage, as soon as they heard of it, as I shall relate 
 when I come to that part of my history ; but I must now return to 
 the duke of Brittany, as that matter presses. 
 
 CHAPTER CXIII. 
 
 THE LORD DE COXJCY AND OTHER BARONS OF FRANCE ARE SENT TO 
 THE DUKE OF BRITTANY. BEFORE THEIR ARRIVAL, HE HAD RE- 
 STORED TO THE OFFICERS OF THE CONSTABLE THE PLACES HE HAD 
 TAKEN FROM HIM. 
 
 On the duke of Berry's arrival at Paris, many councils were held 
 by those most in the confidence of the king and his uncles, such as 
 the . bishop of Langres and Laon, the lord de Coucy and other privy 
 counsellors, as well on the aflfairs of Gueldres, whither the king was 
 still very desirous of going, as of Brittany ; for the duke would not 
 accept of the advances that had been made him toward a reconcilia- 
 tion with France. They knew not whom they could send to make I 
 another attempt, since the former negotiators had failed. The coun- | 
 cil were much troubled on this account, for they had learnt that the 
 duke of Brittany had been busily employed during the winter in vict- 
 ualling again and reinforcing all his towns and castles, which plainly \ 
 
 indicated his wish to have been for war. The wisest of the council 
 said : " You talk of going to Germany : you should rather go to Brit, 
 tany, and destroy that insolent duke, who holds in contempt tin- 
 crown of France and refuses to obey its orders. You will not obtain 
 anything from him by treaty : ai:d his presumption is so great, ho 
 must be taught his duty: he neither loves nor esteems any one but 
 himself. It is clear, that if the king go to Germany, and leave the 
 realm unprotected by men-at-arms, (and unless he be handsomely 
 attended, he need not think of it,) this duke will introduce the Eng. 
 lish into hia country, and give them an entrance to France. The ap- 
 pearances are now very strong that he will do so ; for there is a large 
 English fieet on his coasts, which never leaves them but when forced 
 to it by stress of weather, and when fair it returns ; so that I see no 
 alternative ; you must have open war or peace." " It wo.uld be 
 well," replied others, " that we again send to him the bishop of 
 Langres and the count de St. Pol, for this last is, by marriage, his 
 brother-in-law."* " Oh, no, no," interrupted sir Yves d'Orient : 
 "if you will send to him again, you cannot send one more agreeable 
 ty him, nor of greater weight, than the lord de Coucy : for they are 
 connected by marriage, and have always had a great affection for 
 each other ; and to the lord de Coucy add whomsoever you please." 
 " Since you have made this proposal, sir Yves," said the duke of 
 Burgundy, " name those whom you think should accompany the lord 
 de Coucy." " Willingly," replied sir Yves : " if you please, then, 
 sir John (!e Vienne and the lord de la Riviere shall go with him. 
 They are three very intelligent lords ; and, if any can make him 
 listen to reason, they will." " We agree to this," said the dukes of 
 Berry and Burgundy. 
 
 Although the three loids were instructed what they were to say, 
 and how to act, and to use every amicable means to settle the busi- 
 ness, they did not quit Paris immediately. The duke of Brittany 
 heard, before these noblemen left France, of their mission, but those 
 who had informed him knew not the particulars they were charged 
 with. He was confident, however, it related to matters of great 
 importance, by the lord de Coucy's appointment. He frequendy 
 meditated on the subject, and opened his thoughts to some of the 
 most confidential of his council, for them to give him advice how to 
 act. " It was commonly reported," he said, " that the duke of 
 Lancaster was about marrying his daughter in France to the duke 
 of Berry, and that matters had gone so far that sir Helion de I^gnac 
 was on his road to Bayonne to conclude the business with the duke 
 who was well inclined to it. Such a report surprised him exceed- 
 ingly ; for the duke of Lancaster, who was his brother-in-law, had 
 never written to him on the subject, and all he knew was from public 
 rumor. This silence had not been usual to him formerly, for when- 
 ever any of his affairs had a connection with France, he regularly 
 had informed him of them." His council replied : " Sir, you mufst 
 alter your plans, whatever they may be, or you may be too great a 
 loser, and bring destruction on your country. This you sho^ild 
 dread ; for what occasion have you to go to war tince you are now at 
 peace, and they are begging you to remain so ? Your lady is far 
 gone with child, and you should pay attention that in her situation 
 she be not alarmed. The king of Navarre can give you but little 
 support, for he has enough to do himself. The duke of Lancaster is 
 a valiant and wise prince ; but he marries, as they say, his daughter 
 to the duke of Berry. This will be the foundation for a long peace 
 between France and England, and various treaties will be formed in 
 consequence. You will see shortly the king of Castille driven from 
 his throne ; for, as the French seated him on it, they can as easily 
 dethrone him : indeed, more easily, for they will have the aid of the 
 duke of Lancaster and the English. We have in truth heard, that 
 the lord de Coucy, the admiral of France, and the lord de la Riviere, 
 are coming hither, and you may suppose it must be on affairs of the 
 greatest consequence to the king and kingdom, or on the matter of 
 the constable of France, whose cause the king has warmly espoused. 
 They are probably ordered to know positively what are your inten- 
 tions, and if you persist in your former opinions. Should this last be 
 the case, we suppose (for one may judge tolerably well from appear- 
 ances) that the immense force, now rumored to be destined against 
 Gueldres, will be turned against ycfu. Now consider from whom 
 you may expect assistance, should war be declared by France, as it 
 most certainly will be, unless you consent to a reconciliation, should 
 the duke of Lancaster marry his daughter to the duke of Berry ; 
 and this he will do, for where can he ally himself better in regard to 
 the recovery of his inheritance ? The majority of prelates, barons, 
 knights, and principal towns of the duchy, are in opposition to you. 
 We therefore say, since you ask our advice, that it is at this moment 
 more than ever requisite for you to consider well your situation, and 
 to avoid risking the loss of your country, which has cost you so much 
 labor and blood to gain. We know how great your hatred is to sir 
 Oliver de Clisson, and that you have mutually shown your dislikes to 
 each other ; but you must soften it some little, at least in appearance, 
 for since the king of France, his uncles and barons have taken up 
 his quarrel, they will support him : he is find will continue their con- 
 I stable. Had the late king been alive, who loved him so much, and 
 I you had acted the same, we know it Vv^ould have cost the king half 
 his kingdom, but he would have made you suffer for the injury done 
 
 *The duke of Brittany and the coijut de St, Pol married two daughters of sir Jolii< 
 I Holland, earl of Kent. 
 
47D 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 hiin. Tlic present king, his son, is yoiiiig, and does noi pay ihal 
 luteniijii art'iirs which may be expected from him, if he live, ten 
 yuiirs hence: ho is coniiiii,' on the stage, and you are going ofi" 
 "Slioiild yuii, therefore, engage in a new war with France, after all 
 we have suiJ, it will be contrary to our opinions, and to those of 
 every nia.i who has any attachment to you. You must dissemble at 
 lir{ st nt what your real iijclinations may be. What is it to you the 
 iKihiing these castles from sir Oliver de Clisson, which form part of 
 liis inheritance, considering the manner in which you gained them V 
 an>!, whether you have peace or war, they will cost you more to 
 ginrJ for t!iree years than ever you will gain from them in twelve. 
 Give tliem back, therefore, handsomely ; and when the rumor shall 
 be spread abroad, for there is no tire without smoke, that you have 
 so do;)e of your own free-will, you will pacify the anger of many, and 
 g;e;iily please the duke of Burgundy, who has never interfered so 
 much in this business as he might, had he so pleased, through the 
 gjod offices of your cousin the duchess of Burgundy: this we know 
 I'jr fact. She has a numerous family, who are now your nearest re- 
 laiions : recollect, therefore, whence your origin, and who are your 
 c j!!necti:>ns, and do not estrange yourself from those with whom you 
 ought to be more strongly united : it will be madness if you do, and 
 you will be undeserving pity for what consequences may ensue. 
 fL.ve no connection with England: the English have sufficient em- 
 pi jyment at home. They will make you great protestations of 
 fjitmdship, in order to take their advantage of it, and nothing more : 
 t.iii you know, for you were in your youth brought up among them." 
 
 Tne duke was much struck on hearing such very forcible reason- 
 ing, and remai.ied some time leaning over a window that opened into 
 a court, without making any reply. His council were standing be- 
 lli. id him; ami, after some musing, he turned round and said: "I 
 perceive clearly that you have well and honestly advised me. I 
 want nothi !g but good counsel, and yet how can I pretend to cher- 
 ish love where I only feel hate ? How can I ever love sir Oliver de 
 Clisson, who has given me such repeated causes for haired ? and the 
 thing I most repent of in this world is, the not having put him to 
 death when I had him in my castle of Ermine." " In the name of 
 God, sir," replied those near him, " had you put him to death, you 
 could never have possessed yourself of his estates, for there is an 
 appeal from this dnchy to the parliament of Paris. John of Britt;my 
 and fifee son of the viscount de Rohan are his heirs by marriage witii 
 his two daughters, and would of right have succeeded to his estates ; 
 and you are much blamed for what you have already done respect- 
 ing the three castles, by their friends in France. The constable has 
 made his complaints tD the chamber of parliament at Paris, where 
 sentence will be given against you, for you have no one there to 
 make any defence for what he may accuse you of. When you shall 
 have lost this cause, sir Oliver de Clisson and his heirs will be enti- 
 tied tj follow up the judgment by f )rce of arms ; and, should the 
 kiag and cimntiy t:;ke part in eriforcing them, you must have a 
 greater p jwer than we know you have at this moment to make any 
 resi.-tance. It will therefore be more to your advantage, if, while 
 this muter is pending, you surrender up these castles, and be thanked 
 fjr so doing, rather than wait until judgment be given against you, 
 with heavy damages. You will also regain the good will of your 
 subjects, which is certainly worth having, and live in peace v/ith 
 those v/hose aff'ections you should wish to preserve ; I mean the 
 king of France, who is your sovereign and natural lord, and my lord 
 of Burgundy and his children your cousins. You have seen an ex- 
 ranple in your own time in the late earl of Flanders, your cousin- 
 gnrnnn, who, t lough a valiant and wise prince, was, through extra- 
 ordinary events, at the latter end of his days, nearly driven out of his 
 inheritance ; but, by humbling himself to the king of France and his 
 uncle?, they assisted him in the recovery of his country." " Well," 
 replied the L'uke, " I see, since I have asked your advice, it will be 
 proper for me to follow what you have said." 
 
 I believe everything went on well afterwards; at least, such were 
 the appearances ; for the duke of Brittany, who had hitherto kept 
 possession of the constible's castles, now remanded his men from 
 ihem, and g ive up their possession to the officers of sir Oliver de 
 Clisson. This was the ffrst act of moderation on his part : but i did 
 not satisfy the king nor council of France, who insisted on the res- 
 titution of t'le money that had been paid as part of the ransom, and 
 that the duke should come to Paris, and personally make excuses for 
 his conduct to tlie king, in the presence of the peers of France, and 
 submit to such punishment as the king and his peers might, after 
 great deliberation, adjudge him. The three envoys to Brittany vv'ere 
 well pleased when they heard of the restitution of the constable's 
 castles, and the lord de Coucy said, " Now, gentlemen, we have one 
 obstacle the less to surinount, and I suppose the duke will listen to 
 what we may have to say to him." 
 
 1 was told, that before these three barons left Paris, the dukes of 
 Bci y and Burgundy held several private consultations with them, 
 and recommended them to use every gentle method to bring matters 
 to a favorable conclusion, in preference to harsh ones ; and to pre- 
 vail on the duke to come to Paris, or at least half way to the town 
 of Bl jis, where they would meet him and hold a conference together. 
 The three barons, who were prudent and had received their full 
 inslrnciious, said, they would use their utmost endeavors to comply 
 with their wishes, i Oil leaving Paris, they continued their Journey 
 
 until they came to the city of Rennes in Brittany, where, ri, -jui ug 
 for the duke, they learnt he was at Vannes, whither t'lt;^ ^cuU 
 Their coming was already known in the household of th< <iuke, for 
 they had sent forward servants to prepare their lodgings. The diiko 
 had assembled his council and the principal barons of //Nttany near 
 his person, to show them the iTiore honor. They were M-ell leceived 
 on their entering Vannes, by the knights and others of the duke's 
 household, who had gone forth to meet them, and in particular by 
 the lord de Laval, who resiided there. 
 
 They dismounted at their lodgings, and, having dressed and ro» 
 freshed themselves with what they there found, remounted their 
 horses, and rode to the castle de la Mctte, the residence of the duke, 
 who niet and received them with much joy, telling them they were 
 welcome, for that he was very happy in seeing thern. He took the 
 lord de Coucy by the hand, and showed him much kindness, saying, 
 "Fair broth-i!r, you are welcome : I rejoice to see you in Brittany: 
 before you leave me, I will give you hue sport with hunting stngs, 
 and in hawking." " Dear brother and lord," replied the lord de 
 Coucy, " I thank you : and I and my companions w ill cheerfui'iy 
 partake of them.'^ The duke showed them every attention, and 
 conducted them, laughing and joking, to his apartments, where they 
 amused themselves with much cheerfulness, as great lords are accus- 
 tomed to do who have net seen each i.lher for some time. All four 
 knew how to keep up a brilliant conversation as well, if not better, 
 than any lords I ever saw, not excepting the duke of Brabant, the 
 count de Foix, nor the count de Savoy; and, in particular the lord 
 de Coucy shone above all others, as was acknowledged by all lords 
 and ladiep, in whatever country he had visited, whether France, 
 England, Germany, Lomba»Jy, or any ether places. He had seen 
 much of the world, and had travelled to various parts, to which he 
 was naturally inclined. 
 
 During the time these lords were in conversation, spices were 
 brought in handsome silver comfit boxes, and fine wines in gold and 
 silver cans. The lords partook cf both, and shortly after took leave 
 and returned to their lodgings. Thus passsed the first day, without 
 one word being said of the cause of their coming. 
 
 CHAPTER CXIV. 
 
 WHILE HEUON DE LIGNAC, EMBASSADOR FR0."VI THE DUKE OF BERRY TO 
 THE DUKE OF LANCASTER, IS NEGOTIATING THE MARRIAGE WITH HIS 
 DAUGHTER, THE KING OF CASTILLE SENDS EMBASSADORS PRIVATELY TO 
 BREAK IT OFF, AND TO DEMAND THE LADY IN MARRIAGE FOR HIS SON. 
 HELION DE L:GNAC IS SENT AWAY, THE DAY OF THEIR ARRIVAX., WITH 
 SOME TRUCES RESPECTING THE FRONTIERS OF AQUITAINE. 
 
 We will now return to sir Helion de Lignac, who had been sent 
 by the duke of Berry to the duke of Lancaster. The knight arrived 
 safely at Bayonne, and, having dismounted at his inn, made himself 
 ready to wait on the duke, who had already been informed of his 
 arrival, and, as a mark of honor, had sent two of his knights visit 
 him at his hotel, and to conduct him to him. Sir Helion, o>: being 
 introduced to the duke, saluted him very profoundly, as was proper, 
 and he knew well how to acquit himself. The duke received him 
 most honorably, raised him up in his arms, and took him by the hand 
 to lead him into an apartment, for they had met in the hall. Sir 
 Helion then gave him the letters he had been charged with from the 
 duke of Berry. The duke, having opened and '•ead them, advanced 
 toward sir Helion, who declared the business he had been sent on. 
 The duke very courteously re{)lied, and said to sir Helion, he was 
 welcome ; that the matter he was come to treat on was of such im- 
 portance, it was necessary he should deliberate with his council 
 thereon, and that he could net instantly give him a decided answer. 
 
 Sir Helion de Lignac remained at Bayonne with the duke of Lan- 
 caster and his knights upward of a month, and was treated most 
 kindly by words and otherwise, and made to understand that the 
 duke was not unwilling to accept of the duke of Berry's proposals; 
 but this was not the fact, for all these fine speeches and delays were 
 fictions, and solely used to give more publicity to what was gc.ing 
 forward, more especially that it should be known in the kingdom of 
 Castille, for there his affections were placed. The duke of Lancas- 
 ter said to sir Helion, that if his cousin of Berry married his daughter, 
 he must unite all his force with him to wage war on his adversary 
 of Castille, that his daughter's inheritance might be recovered. Sir 
 Helion, in reply, said, " My lord, I am not charged to say anything 
 respecting this matter: you will, before my departure, write down 
 what you expect, and I will carry it to the duke of Berry, whose af- 
 fection is, I know, so strong toward you, that he will enter into all 
 reasonable alliances you may propose." "We vvish for nothing 
 more," said the duke. Things remained in this state during the time 
 of sir Helion's residence at Bayonne, where he was gayly entertained 
 according to the orders the duke had given. 
 
 In the meanwhile, news of this intended marriage was everywhere 
 spread abroad ; and, in particular, it was carried to the court of king 
 .John of Castille by those who said, " Do you know what is going 
 forward ? There are important treaties negotiating with the dukes 
 of Berry and Lancaster, for a match between the duke of Berry and 
 the lady Catherine ; and, if this be concluded, as there seems every 
 probability, it will not be done without strong alliances being mado 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, & c. 
 
 47! 
 
 bt'tween them. The duke of Berry has at this moment great power : 
 he is the elder uncle of the king of France, and takes the lead iu the j 
 government of that country. He will succeed in whatever he\nny 
 propose, as to peace or long truces with England : and, on the other I 
 hand, the duke of Lancaster stands in the same relation to the king 
 of England, is wise, and of great power ; and, as it should seem, the 
 English are tired of war. If, therefore, by means of this connection 
 with France, a firm peace should be established with England, wo 
 shall have the war to support alone ; for the duke of Lancaster will 
 not give up tarnely his claims on Castille, but, on the contrary, insist 
 on establishing tijem, as his daughter's lawful inheritance and dower. 
 We slial! thu^ have war with France and England." Those most in 
 the confidence of the king of Castille said to him, " Sire, have you 
 heard the rumors that are abroad ? You had never such need of 
 good advice as at this moment. The dangers from the duke of 
 Lancaster are thicker than ever, and the blast comes from France," 
 " Hov*' !" replied the king : " what do you mean ?" " In the name 
 of God, sir, the report is everywhere current, that the duke of Berry 
 is to marry the duke of Lancaster's daughter, and you may suppot-? 
 this will not he done without great aiiiunces being made between 
 them ; and you may in future suffer as much from the French as you 
 have lately gained by them." The king, on hearing this, v/as very 
 pensive, for he knew what they had said was true. He demanded 
 advice from those who had ever been attached to him, how, in scsch 
 a circumstance, he ought to act, and they gave him loyal and good 
 counsel, as I will relate. 
 
 You have before heard, in this history, how king Henry of Castille 
 had made his peace with the king of Arragon, on condition that his 
 son John, the present king of Castillo, married his daughter. This 
 marriage brought peace t > the two countries. King .Tohn had one son 
 by this lady, who shortly after died ; and then, by the advice of his 
 council, he married again with the lady Beatrice, daughter to the king 
 of Portugal. The son, by the princess of Arragon, was a promising 
 youth, though very young. The council of Castille, in reply to the 
 king's demand, said ; " Sire, we can only see one remedy to avert 
 the evils that may be consequent to this marriage with the duke of 
 Berry." " What is it ?" asked the king. " It is the infant don Henry 
 your son, who is alone capable of preventing this match ; for we are 
 persuaded, that if the duke and duchess of Lancaster were informed 
 you were willing to unite him with the lady Catherine, they would 
 prefer him to the duke of Berry." " In God's namcj" answered the 
 king, " you say well, and 1 will instantly set about it ; for our sub- 
 jects will be quite satisfied, that by such a marriage they will have 
 peace with England on sea and land. Now, consider of the most 
 proper persons to send to treat with the duke of Lancaster." 
 
 " Sire, it is necessary you should, in this matter, employ those of 
 the greatest prudence and sagacity, and that it be treated with the 
 utmost secrecy, lest you incur the hatred of the king of France. Great 
 jealousies are now abroad, and persons are more eager to report 
 scandal than good actions, for evil reports are sooner made public 
 than others. When it shall be told to the court of France that you 
 are in treaty with the duke ef Lancaster, they will wish to know the 
 subject and the particulars, lest it may prejudice the strong alliance 
 the late king, your father of worthy memory, entered intu with them, 
 and on which account the French have assisted you in your wars. 
 You must, therefore, send to the duke of Lancaster wise and discreet 
 persons, that the matter may be secretly treated, and kept private 
 until all things be completely settled." ".What you have said is riglit," 
 replied the king : '" now name those whom you think capable of ac- 
 complishing the matter." " Sire," said they, " we will send your 
 confessor, father Fernando de Torre, and the bishop of Geghene,* 
 who was confessor to the late king, and Peter Gardelempos, vv'ho is 
 a great orator." " Be it so, then," answered the king: "I consent; let 
 them be sent for, and instructed what they are to say, and how to act; 
 for formerly, when there was a treaty of peace in agitation, they were 
 not listened to by the duke of Lancaster, who insisted, as a prelimi- 
 nary, that I should lay down my crown, and this I will never do." 
 
 The three above-mentioned persons were summoned to Burgos, 
 where the king resided, and told from him on what object they were 
 to be sent to Bayonne, to treat with the duke of Lancaster. They 
 professed themselves willing to undertake it to the best of their abili- 
 ties, and set out on their journey with few attendants, not like to 
 embassadors going to form alliances, for they were not certain what 
 success they should have. On entering Navarre, they made for 
 Pampeluna, the residence of the king, who had married the king 
 of Castiile's sister. She entertained them kindly, but they did not 
 discover to her, nor the king the object of their journey. They passed 
 over the mountains of Pampeluna and Roncesvalles, through the 
 country of the Basques, and arrived at the good town of Bayonne. 
 At the time of their arrival, sir Helion de Lignac was still there, but 
 made no long stay afterwards ; for father Fernando, the king of Cas- 
 tiile's confessor, waited priv'ately on the duke of Lancaster, as better 
 acquainted with him than the others, and gave him to understand the 
 cause of their coming, and by whom they were sent. 
 
 The duke, on hearing this, opened his ears, for the intelligence 
 was highly agreeable to him, and bade father Fernando a hearty v.'el- 
 come. This same day he gave sir Helion de Lignac leave to depart; 
 and it seems to me that the duke consented to a truce for those who 
 
 * "Gegljeaa." Q,, 
 
 ■ were carrying on the v/ar under his name in the seneschalships of 
 ' Aquitaine, Bigorre, Toulouse, and other places, comprehending ail 
 within the river Loire, but not beyond it, to last until the first day oi 
 ' May 13b9. This truce had 'been requested by the duke of Berry, 
 that his people might pass and repass from him to the duke of Lan- 
 caster with greater security ; for those of Mortagne-sur-mer, Boute- 
 ville, and the garrisons in Quercy, Perigcrd, and on the Garonne, 
 were very cruel, sparing lione, and acknowledging no lord. It was 
 to kef.'p these people in better order that the duke of Berry had so- 
 licited a truce, Vv-hich was well observed. Sir Helion de Lignac left 
 the duke of Lancaster on terms of the strongest affection, and he 
 seemed sensible things were in the train he wished them, for the duke 
 seemed very well satisfied with what the duke of Berry had ofiered, , 
 He had indeed declared, that he never could marry his daughter in 
 France without the consent of his nephew the king of England and 
 the English council ; but matters v/ere now so far advanced, he 
 seemed to think there would not be any great difficulty to obtain 
 thern. On these assurances, sir Helion returned to France, delivered 
 letters from the duke of Lancaster to the duke of Berry, and related 
 to him all that had passed ; with which he was much satisfied. 
 
 We v/ill nov/ speak of the embassadors Irom Castille. These were 
 in.deed cordially lisijned to by the duke and duchess, for their hearts 
 were '-/rapped up in the hopes of regaining the crovv'n for themselves 
 or th; ir child. They were very kindly received on their introduction 
 lit the cii^tle by the duke and duchess, to whom they delivered their 
 credential letters, and explained the object of their mission. They 
 first propo^^ed a treaty of peace with Castille, which the father-con- 
 fessor discoursed much on, in the apartment of the duke where only 
 the duchess Vv'as present, who interpreted to the duke what he did 
 not undei-stand, as she had in her youth been educated in Castille 
 and understood the language perfectly well. The duke of Lancaster, 
 at this first iiiterview, did not discover his real sentiments, although 
 he entertained them well, but said it v/ould be difficult to exchange 
 such hatred for peace, and to establish it with one whom they wanted 
 to disinherit, and that it v.'as not his intention to relinquish his claim 
 to the crown of Castille. The friar and bishop replied ; " that there 
 was one means of reconciling his right and the right of their lord and 
 king; and, my lord, we have found it." "What is it?" said the 
 duke. " Sir, you have by your lady a beautiful daughter, of an age 
 to marry, and our lord of Castille has a handsomie and young son: if 
 a union between those two could be brought about, the kingdom of 
 Castille would have peace for ever; for what you claim will fall where 
 it ought, to your own heir, who is the lineal descendant from our 
 kings of Castille; and all the fatigues you have undergone in this war 
 must have been for the ultimate succession of this young lady." 
 
 " That is true," replied the duke ; " but I must have my expenses 
 reimbursed, for I would have you know that my expedition to Castille 
 has cost England and me upv/ard of five hundred, thousand francs, 
 I should like, therefore, to hear what you say of repayment." " My 
 lord," said the confessor, " if what we have proposed shall be agree, 
 able to you, Vv^e vv'ill manage all other things to your perfect satis^c- 
 tion." "Your coming hither,'' replied the duke, "has given ua 
 pleasure ; and I shall certainly marry my daughter, before I return 
 to England, to Castille or France, as I have had proposals from thence ; 
 but matters like these are of such importance, that an answer cannot 
 be given at the first overture. With regard to my daughter, whom I 
 consider as the rightful heiress of Castille, I would be well acquainted 
 %vith him who should marry her." " That is but reasonable, my lord,'' 
 said the confessor. Thus as I have related, were the proposals of 
 marriage made from France and Castille, to the duke of Lancaster, 
 for the marriage of his daughter. They were both well received, re 
 fusals made to neither, and the embassadors well entertained. The 
 marriage, however, with Castille was more agreeable to the duke and 
 duchess, because their daughter would in due time become queen of 
 Castille. 
 
 We will now leave the duke of Lancaster, and return to the afFoirs 
 of Brittany. 
 
 CHAPTER CXV. 
 
 THE DUKES OF BERRY AND BURGUNDY LEAVE PARIS FOR BLOIS, TO HOLD A 
 CONFERENCE WITH THE DUKE OF BRITTANY, WHO MEETS TnE:M THERE. 
 THEY PERSUADE HIM, AGAINST HIS INCLINATION, TO COME TO PARIS. 
 
 The duke of Brittany, as I have said, received the French knights 
 with much kindness, more particularly the lord de Coucy, vrhom he 
 had been desirous to see. I v.-as informed at the time, the lord de 
 Coucy was the most instrumental in making the duke change his 
 mind : not but that sir John de Vienne and the lord de la Riviera 
 exerted themselves to the same purpose, but all princes, when tb^y 
 are entreated, will naturally incline to some persons more thin oth- 
 ers. The duke of Brittany consented, with great difficulty, to meet 
 the dukes of Berry and Burgundy at Blois : after many fair speeches, 
 he said he would go thither, but not one step farther. The lord de 
 Coucy replied, that they asked nothing more, unless it should be 
 perfectly agreeable to him. These three lords stayed with the duke 
 of Brittany I know not how many days, and then returned to the 
 dukes of Berry and Burgundy to tell them their success. 
 
 Upon this, the two dukes made preparations for going to meet the 
 duke of Briitany Bioia, ^nd sq^ l^efore all p'Jrvey?-as9S sujlfebl& 
 
472 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 to their raaik. The duke of Berry arrived first at the castle, where 
 he was kindly received by the countess of Blois, his son, and her 
 daughter, as v/as becoming him and them. Count Guy de Blois was 
 not at this time in the country, but at Chatel Rcgnaud, and, as the 
 countess and h.er children were at home, he paid no attention to the 
 arrival of the duke of Berry. The duke of Burgundy came in a grand 
 style, accompanied by his son-in-law, lord William of Hainault, count 
 d'Ostrevant, and his son John of Burgundy, called count de Nevers. 
 The duke was also lodged in the castle, and held there his court. 
 
 The duke of Brittany came last, but with no great array, attended 
 only by those of his household, in number about three hundred 
 'iorse ; for it was his intention to return to his own country as soon 
 as these conferences should be over. Such, however, were not the 
 intentions of the other dukes; for they said, whether he would or 
 not 'hey would force him to come to Paris. The duke of Brittany 
 was lodged at the house ef a canon of St. Sauveur, within the cas- 
 tle ; but his attendants, with those of the other lords, were quartered 
 in the town. These princes kept their state in the castle, which is 
 large, and one of the handsomest in the kingdom of France. 
 
 Conferences were held between the three dukes ; and those of 
 France gave handsome entertainments to the duke of Brittany, 
 shov.'ing him much afi'ection, and repeatedly thanking him for com- 
 ing to Blois. The duke dissembled as well as he could, and said, that 
 indeed it was from his love to them he had undertaken such a jour- 
 ney, for that he was very unwell. In the course of their conversations 
 they told the duke of Biittany, that since he had come so far, he 
 would have done nothing if he did not continue his journey to Paris, 
 for the king was very anxious to see him. The duke made every ex- 
 cuse for not complying with this proposal, saying his health was too 
 bad to go so far; that he had not brought any attendants with him, 
 but simply those of his household, meaning to return home directly. 
 They kindly answered, that, begging his pardon, it would not be 
 decorous to visit his lord paramount with too large a company ; that 
 if he vi^ere too ill to ride, they were provided with litters and cars 
 that should be at his service ; and that he was bound to pay his horn- 
 age to the king, which he had never yet done. 
 
 The duke of Brittany, in excuse, said, that when the king should 
 be of age, and take the reins of government, he would come to Pa- 
 lis, or to any other place whither he might order him, to perform his 
 homage, for he was bounden so to do. The dukes of Berry and 
 Burgundy replied, that he was of sufficient age and understanding 
 to receive homage ; and that every lord of France, and alJ who held 
 fiefs under the crown, excepting himself, had done their homage, for 
 the king was now in his twenty-first year. The duke of Brittany, 
 fin<!ing his excuses of no avail, said, "Should I go to Paris, it will 
 be much against my inclination, and very prejudicial to my interests ; 
 for, when there, I shall meet sir Oliver de Clisson, whom I hate, and 
 we can never cordially love each other after what has passed : he 
 will make me bitter and injurious reproaches, and consider what 
 ma^ be the consequences." " Oh no," answered the two dukes, 
 but in particular the duke of Burgundy, " fair cousin, have no fear 
 from that quarter; for we solemnly swear to you, that neither tV.e 
 constable nor John of Brittany, unless you wish it, shall see or speak 
 with you : of this be assured : but you shall see the king, who is 
 anxious for it, and the barons and knights of France, who will make 
 you good cheer; and when you have completed the object of your 
 journey, you shall return home without hindra-nce or hurt." 
 
 Why should I make a long story ? The duke of Brittany was so 
 sweetly entreated, that he consented to go to Paris ; but he insisted 
 that he should never see the constable of France nor John of Brit- 
 tany, and that they should never be in the same company with him. 
 The two dukes solemnly pledged themselves to all his requests ; and 
 on their faith he engaged to set out for Paris. They remained five 
 or six days in the castle of Blois, and alternately gave grand enter- 
 tainments to each other, the countess, and her children. Everything 
 having been so setded, the two dukes took leave of the duke ol 
 Brittany and returned to Paris ; but the lord William of Hainault 
 did not accompany his father-in-law the duke of Burgundy. He at- 
 tended the countes5 of Blois and her family to Chatel Regnaud, to 
 visit count Guy de Blois, where he was kindly received and enter- 
 tained fjr three days, when he took leave of them and went to Pa- 
 ris, by way of Chateaudun* and Bonneval.t 
 
 CHAPTER CXVI. 
 
 LEWTS OF ANJOU, SON TO THE LATE DUKE OF ANJOU, UNCLE TO KING 
 CHARLES VI., MAKES HIS PUBLIC KNTRY INTO PARIS AS KING OF SICILY. 
 THE DUKE OF BRITTANY COMES THERE SHOP.TLY AFTER. THOMAS HA- 
 PURGAN, AN ENGLISHMAN, AND JOHN DES BARRES, A FRENl'HMAN, PER- 
 FORM A DEED OF ARMS BEFORE THE KING OF FRANCE AT MONTEREAU- 
 SUR-YONNE.t 
 
 > 
 
 The duke of Brittany went 19 Beaugency, on the Loire, where he 
 mnde his preparntions for going to Paris. But before he came 
 thither, there arrived the queen of Sicily and Jerusalem, widow of 
 
 * " Chate.iu-diin," iin nrcient town in Beauoe, diocese of Blcis, twelve leagues from 
 ClmriTes, tliirty-foiir from P^iris. 
 
 ^ " Hotiiieval," n town in Peaiice, four leagues from Chiitenu-dun. 
 
 t " M ^n«ore:m-sur-Yonne,'* a towa in Brie, seven leitgue« from yi2\\i:\ twsaty and a 
 .alf from Paris. 
 
 I tiie l:u.c duke of Anjou, who had borne the title of king of those 
 j cou;i;#ics,as well as cf Naples. She had brought with her her young 
 
 j son Lowis, who throughout France w;is acknowledged as king of 
 Naples, and was likewise accompanied by her brother, John of 
 Brittany. Before she entered Paris, she signified to her brothers, 
 the dukes of Berry and Burgundy,* her amval, with her son Lewis, 
 their nephew, and desired to know whether he should make his en. 
 try as king, or simply as duke of Anjou. The tv»-o dukes, having 
 considered the matter, sent for answer, that they desired he would 
 make his entry as king of Naples, Sicily, and Jerusalem, although 
 he was not as yet in possession of these kingdoms ; for they would 
 assist him, and prevail on the king of France to do the same, so ef- 
 fectually, that he should recover those territories, and peaceably pos. 
 sess them as his right, and what they had most sacredly promised to 
 perform to their late brother the king of Naples. The lady, upon 
 this, made preparations accordingly ; and, having entered Paris, her 
 son passed in grand cavalcade, through the street of St, James, to 
 his hotel in the GrOve, with kingly state, accompanied by numbers 
 of dukes, counts, and prelates. The queen and her son, having es. 
 tablished themselves there, waited on the king, who resided at the 
 castle of the Louvre expecting the duke of Brittany. 
 
 The duke of Brittany, on his approach to Pari.", stopped one night 
 at Bourg la Reiue, previous t j his ei.'try, which he made on the mor. 
 row. This was great news for the Parisian?, on account of the late 
 events of the arrest and imprisonment of the constable, and the 
 fruidess embassies that had been seiit to summon him :t his late 
 conduct, and his coming now as it were of his own free will, were 
 variously spoken of. It wos on a Sunday, the vigil of St. John Bap- 
 tist's feast, in the year L3 -8, at ten o'clock in the morning. The 
 duke of Brittany entered Paris by the gate de l'Enfer,t and passing 
 the whole len^rth of the rue de la Harpe, crossed the pent de St. 
 Michel, and came in front of the palace. He was handsomely ac- 
 companied by numbers of barons and knights ; among whom was 
 the lord William of Hainault, count d'Ostrevant: his brother-in-luvv 
 John of Burgundy, and the lord Willi im de Namur rode before him. 
 When he arrived at the castle of the Louvre, he dismounted, and, 
 as he passed through Paris, was much stared at by the common 
 people. 
 
 The duke entered the gate of the Louvre well prepared what to say, 
 and how to act. He was preceded by the lord de-Coucy, the count 
 de Savoye, sir John de Vienne, sir Guy de la Tremonille, sir John de 
 Beuil, the count de Meaux, sir Reginald de Roye and sir John des 
 Barres : nearer to him, on each side, were the lord William de Na- 
 mur, John of Burgundy, and the count d'Ostrevant: behind him were, 
 the lord de Montfort in Brittany, and the lord de Malestroit, his re- 
 lation and minister. There was a great crowd in the apartment, 
 which was not only small, but the table was spread in it for the 
 king's dinner, who was standing before it with his three uncles. Berry, 
 Burgundy, and Bourbon. The moment the duke of Britanny entered 
 the room, way was made for him, and an opening formed to the king, 
 by the lords falling on each side. When in the presence, he dropped 
 on one knee, but speedily arose, and advanced about ten or tvvclve 
 paces, when he again kneeled : on rising, he came close to the king, 
 keeled the third time, and saluted him bare-headed, saying, " My 
 lord, I am come to see you : may God preserve you !" " Many 
 thanks,'' replied the king. " I was anxious for your coming : we will 
 see and converse with you at our leisure." On which he took hirn 
 by the hand, and raised him up. When the duke had risen, he bowed 
 to all the princes present, one after the other, and then stood opposite 
 t3 the king without saying a word ; but the king never took his eyes 
 off him. 
 
 A signal was made to the masters of the household to bring water, 
 when the king washed, and the duke of Brittany held the basrin and 
 towel. When the king was seated, the duke took leave of him and 
 his uncles. The lord de Coucy, the lord de Saint Pol, and other 
 great barons conducted him to the court where his horses waited, 
 and, having mounted, he returned with his attendants the way they 
 had come, through the street de la Harpe, and dismounted at his 
 h6tel. None of those who had attended him remained, excepting 
 such as had accompanied him from Brittany to Paris. The duke 
 of Brittany had frequent conferences with the king of France and 
 his uncles to their mutual satisfaction; and they religiously kept the 
 promise they had made him, for he never saw,^during his stay Rt 
 Paris, John of Brittany nor the constable of France. When affairs 
 were in so good a train that they had not reason to be suspicious of 
 the duke of Biittany, (for if he had not consented to everything the 
 king and his council wished, they would never have suffered him to 
 escape from their hands, as they now had him in Paris,) they thought 
 it time to prepare for the expedition to Gueldres for which the king 
 was impntient to punish the duke of Gueldres, for the insolent and 
 rude challenge he had sent him ; which, the more it was considered, 
 was the less to be borne. 
 
 The lord de Coucy was therefore ordered into the country, near 
 Rheims and Chalons' in Champagne, to mark out the line of march 
 
 *Her br()tliprs-in-l;iw. own l)r()tlie's to her (lecen«'(l husband l^onisof Anjou.— Ed. 
 
 tHelmd bfHjn snmmonefl several limps, und the kinj: h;id e.xpected his appearance 
 ever since t.!)e month of May.— El). 
 
 t " De TEnfer." It is now tlie gnte of Saint JVlicliel. For more particulars, s«eSau- 
 vol. AiitiQuiies de Paris, torn. i. p. 26. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, <fcc. 
 
 473 
 
 for tlie king and his army, and to excite the knights and squires of 
 Bar and Lunaine to joiji him. He was in no way to introduce the 
 king's name, but to engage them for himself, as if preparing for an 
 expedition into Austria. Upon this, the lord de Coucy left Paris, 
 and went to Chalons, where he resided about one month, and re. 
 tained knights and squires from all parts in Bar, Lorraine, Cham- 
 pague, and in the Retholois. The king of France, after several 
 conferences with, the duke of Brittany, left Paris, though the duke's 
 pleadings in his courts were not near concluded; for their proceed, 
 ing?, when they choose, are very tedious, and they make the suitors 
 spend much money without any great advances in their suits. 
 
 Palacs or TBE LouvRB as it appeared in the 16tb century. Prom a print in Clia<tiIlon*s Topographie Francoite. 
 
 The king went to Montereau-sur-Yonne, on the borders of Brie 
 nnd the Gatinois, where he held his court, and frequently amused 
 himself with hunting stags and other animals in the adjacent forests. 
 During the residence of the king at Montereau, a deed of arms was 
 there performed by an English knight attached to the duke of Ireland, 
 called sir Thomas Hapurgan, nnd sir John des Barres. This duel 
 had made a great noise throughout France, and in other countries ; 
 and it was to be fought with five courses of the lance on horseback, 
 five thrusts with swords, the same number of strokes with daggers 
 and battle-axes; and, should their armor fail, they were to be sup- 
 plied anew, until it were perfect. 
 
 The knights being well armed, mounted their coursers to perform 
 their duel, in the presence of the kin^, his barons and knights, and 
 a great concourse of people. They tilted on horseback four courses 
 very stiffly, and kept their seats well. It was then the custom, I be. 
 lieve, to lace on the helmets with a slight thong, that they might not 
 make too great resistance to the blow of the lance. At the fifth 
 course, .John des Bnrres struck his opponent so violent a blow on the 
 shield, that he knocked him over the crupper of his horse to the ground. 
 Sir Thomas was stupefied by the fall, and it was with diffrc Ity he 
 could be raised : however, he recovered well enough to perform his 
 other courses with the different arms, to the satisfaction of the king 
 and his lords. 
 
 CHAPTER CXVII. 
 
 PERROT LK BEAUNOIS TAKES THE FIELD BY COMMAND OF THE EARL OF 
 ARUNDEL, WHO LANDS HIS FORCES AT MARANS,* NEAR LA ROCHELLE. 
 
 I HA7E been some time silent respecting the expedition that was at 
 sea under the command of the earl of Ai''-Jndel : it is now necessary 
 that I should sp-^ak of it. You have before heard the cause of its 
 being sent from England, and the treaties that were made between 
 the king and the duke of Brittany. This fleet had remained the 
 whole season on the coasts of Brittany and Normandy, except when 
 driven off by storms, but it always returned to its station. There 
 were in this fleet some light vessels called B dleniers, which are much 
 used by corsairs; for, as they draw little water, they can the easier 
 approach the shores. This fleet had lain at anchor upward of a 
 month off the island of Brehnt, wUence it had S 't pro\i?ion. As it 
 was not far from la Roche-derrien, they heard t'int the di:ke of Brit- 
 tany was gone to Blois, to meet the dukes of Berry and Burgundy, 
 who had held such fair language as persuaded him to go to Paris, 
 where he had been so well received by the king, as to prevent him 
 from leaving that place until everything had been satisfactorily settled. 
 
 * "Murans," a town in Aunis» fuui leagues frum la Eoclielle. 
 
 The earl of Arundel was much cast down when he heard the 
 above, and called a council of his principal officers, to consider how 
 they were to employ their force during the remainder of the season. 
 In this council they resolved to sail for la Rochelle and make war on 
 that country ; for, though they had not any castles in those parts, yet 
 they were m sufficient numbers to withstand the force Saintonge or 
 Poitou could send against them. They intended likewise to make 
 their situation known to their friends in LimouHin and Auvergne,by 
 some person in their fleet that was acquainted with the country, 
 whom they would land on the coast of Brittany. The truces whick 
 sir Helion de Lignac had obtained from the duke of Lancaster had 
 
 not yet taken effect. They were to 
 commence on the first of August, and 
 the knight was at this time going or re. 
 turning, I know not which, to or from 
 the duke of Lancaster at Bayonne. 
 
 It fell out jus^tas the earl of Arundel 
 and the English barons wished ; for they 
 found out a man from lower Brittany, 
 who served under sir William Helmon, 
 then on beard, who came from near 
 Vannes, and understood four languages 
 perfectly well, that of lower Brittany, 
 English, Spanish, and French. Before 
 they landed him on the sand, they gave 
 him the following orders : " Thou wilt 
 go by all the bye.roads in this country, 
 which thou sayest thou art acquainted 
 with, until thou shalt come to Chalu. 
 get.* Thou wilt salute Perrot le Bear, 
 nois, from us, and tell him, that we de- 
 sire he will take the field, with as many 
 other garrisons of our party as he can, 
 and make war on France under our 
 commission. Thou shalt not carry any 
 letters for fear thou mightest be stopped 
 and searched. Say, if thou findest thy. 
 self in danger, that thou belongcst to a 
 wine.merchant of la Rochelle, who had 
 sent thee with some commissions, and 
 thou wilt pass everywhere. Tell Per. 
 rot to give instant alarm to Berry, Au- 
 vergne, and Limousin, by taking the 
 field ; for we will disembark near la 
 Rochelle, and make such a war that he shall soon hear of us." 
 
 The Breton said, he would faithfully deliver the message, unless 
 he was stopped on the road. On being landed, as he knew well the 
 country of Brittany, he avoided all great towns, and, passing safely 
 through Poitou and Limousin, arrived at Chalu^et, of \\ kich Perrot 
 le Bearnois was governor. On coming to the barriers, having m^de 
 acquaintance with the garrison, they allowed him to enter, after ex- 
 amining him at the gates, and led him- to Perrct, to whom he punc 
 tually delivered the message, to the great joy of the governor, who 
 had been long impatient to hear some news of the fleet, and now he 
 had it quite fresh. He said to the Breton, " Thou art welcome : my 
 companions and myself are very eager to take the field, which we 
 will now speedily do, and then act as wc are ordered." Perrot le 
 Bearnois instantly sent to the governors of Carlat, the bourgde Com- 
 pane, to Olim Barbe, captain of Ouzach, to Amerigot Marcel, cap. 
 tain of Aloise, near Saint Flour, and to the captains of the other 
 forts in Auvergne and Limousin, to say he was about to take the 
 field, as the season was now favorable, and desiring they would join 
 him, after having left garrisons in their forts strong enough to prevent 
 any accident during their absence. These companions had as great 
 a desire to take the field as Perrot le Bearnois ; for they could only 
 enrich themselves by the losses of others, and, making their prepara- 
 tions in haste, came to Chaluget, where the general assembly had been 
 fixed. They amounted to full four hundred bnces, and thought 
 themselves in sufficient strength for any gallant enterprise, and that 
 there was not a lord in the country able to withstand them ; for sir 
 William de Lignac and Bonne-lance would not, on their account, 
 break up the siege of Ventadour. 
 
 Being masters of the country, they began their march through Au. 
 vergne, toward Berry, because they knew the duke was with the 
 king at Montereau-sur-Yonne. We will, for a while leave Perrot le 
 Bearnois, and speak of the earl of Arundel and his fleet, and what 
 they did on quitting the coast of Brittany. When they weighed 
 anchor, the weather was so fine and beautiful, they hoisted every 
 sail, and advanced as it pleased God. It was a magnificent sight to 
 view this fleet of six score vessels, whose streamers, emblazoned 
 with the arms of the different lords, were glittering in the sun, and 
 fluttering with (he wind. They floated, as it were, on a sea that 
 seemed proud to bear them, and which might be compared to a 
 vigorous courser, who, after being long confined in the stable, ffains 
 its liberty to bound over the plains: for thus did the sea, gently ruf. 
 fled by the wind, swell on with a burden it was lustily bearing, and, • 
 fieuratively speaking, it may be supposed to say, " I delight in carry- 
 ing you, and will do so without danger, until you be arrived in a safe 
 harbor." 
 
 '*■ *' Chuiufet," a town iu Limousin, near Fierre-buffiere. 
 
474 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 The fleet coasted Saituonge and Foitou, and cast anchor off Ma- 
 rans, near la Rochelle. Some of the mott adventurous, to the amount 
 of two hundred, observing the tide was flowing, entered their barges, 
 and sailed up the river to t'le town of Marans. The watch on the 
 castle had noticed the English fleet anchoring, and the barges as. 
 cending the river with the tide, and had sounded his horn frequently, 
 to alarm the townsmen, that they might save all they could of their 
 property. The inhabitants, of both sexes, carried their most valu- 
 able things to the castle for safety ; and it was well they did so, or 
 ihey would have been lost. While the English were landing, they 
 discontinued saving their property, to take care of their lives. The 
 English, on entering the town, began to pillage it, for this had been 
 the object of their coming, but they only found empty coffers : their 
 contents iiad been carried to the castle. They discovered, however, 
 plenty of corn, wine, and salted provisions : for there were upward 
 of four hundred tuns of wine in the town. They resolved to remain 
 to guard this provision, which came very opportunely to them ; for, 
 should they depart, they imagined the greater part would be carried 
 away by the French, up the river, to Fontenay le Comte. They re- 
 mained this night in the place, having arrived there only about ves- 
 pers, and gave themselves full liberty, sending, however, to inform 
 their companions of their situation, and the reason why they did not 
 return. 
 
 The earl of Arundel and the other lords were satisfied, and said 
 they had acted right. On the morrow, when the tide began to flow, 
 the smaller vessels weighed anchor, and in them were embarked the 
 armor and other necessaries from the large ships, that, fi'om their 
 size, could not enter the river. There were left in them one hun- 
 dred men-at-arms and two hundred archers to guard them, as they 
 lay at anchor off the mouth of the river. When this had been done, 
 they sailed for Marans, and landed at their leisure, for none came to 
 oppose them, and fixed their quarters between Marans and la Ro- 
 chelle, which is but four short leagues distant. The alarm was soon 
 spread over the country that the English had landed at Marans, to 
 the amount of four hundred combatants, including archers. The 
 towns and castles in the low country were much frightened, and the 
 villagers instantly fled to the neighboring forests for protection. 
 
 CHAPTER CXVIII. 
 
 THE ROCHELLERS SKIRMISH WITH THE ENGLISH NEAR MARANS. THE 
 ENGLISH, AFTER PILLAGING THE COUNTRY ROUND, RETIRE WITH THEIR 
 BOOTY TO THEIR FLEET. PERROT LE BSARNOIS DOES THE SAME TO 
 HIS FORT, VVITH A GREAT DEAL OF PLUNDER. 
 
 If the English had had horses, they would have much harassed 
 the country round la Rochelle ; for it was void of men-at-arms, at 
 least such as could iiave npoocea them successfully. True it is, that 
 the lords de Partenay, de Pons, de Linieres, de Tannaybouton, sir 
 Geoffrey d'Argenton, the lord de Montendre, sir Aimery de Roche- 
 chouart, the viscount de Thouars, and many other knights and squires 
 of Poitou and Saintongo, were in the country, but each was in his 
 own castle ; for they had not any suspicions of the English coming 
 to invade them. Had they been so fortunate as to obtain notice of 
 their intentions, they would have been prepared to receive them, but 
 it wns not so ; and the surprise was so great, that all were frightened, 
 and impatient to save what they could. The farmers began to has- 
 ten their harvest of corn, for it was the beginning of August. Add 
 to this, there was not then in the country any person to take the lead. 
 The lieutenant of Poitou, the duke of Berry, was at Montereau : the 
 seneschal of Poitou was just gone to Paris : the seneschal of Saint- 
 onge was from home: the se ieschal of la Rochelle, sir Helion de 
 Lignac, was at B;iyonne, oa the business of the duke of Berry, by 
 which the country was left defenceless ; for, from want of heads, 
 their courage failed, and without that nothing effectual can be done. 
 The country was much alarmed for two causes : they had the Eng. 
 lish army and fleet on one side, and rumor had already informed 
 them that Perrotle Bearnois was on his march, with more than fif- 
 teen hundred combatants, and had already entered Berry. They 
 knew not what measures to adopt, except that of placing their wealth 
 in safety ; for it was said these two armies were to form a junction 
 in Saintongc or Poitou, as was the intention of many. 
 
 There were, indeed, at the time the English landed at Marans, two 
 gallant knights from Beauce in the town of la Rochelle, sir Peter de 
 Jouy and the lordjraillepie, whom sir Helion de Lignac had placed 
 there for its defence, when he set out to meet the duke of Berry at 
 Paris. They had acquitted themselves ably; and on hearing that 
 the armament under the earl of Arundel, which had been much talked 
 of all the summer, had disembarked at Marens, they told the mayor 
 and the principal citizens, for it is a populous place, that it would be 
 right to beat up the English quarters; and added, " We hear they 
 have A=^tablished themselves at Marans, and lay the surrounding 
 country under contribution : we two are determined to bid them wel- 
 come, and they shall pay us, or we will repay them, for what they 
 have done, Great blame and reproaches will fall on us, to whom 
 has been committed the government of this town and country, if we 
 BufFer them quietly to fix their quarters there. There is one thing 
 much in our favor : they have not any horses, and are for the most 
 pait sailors, while we are all well mounted. We will send our cross. 
 
 bows before us to awaken them with a shower of arrows ; and, when 
 they have made their attack, they will return homeward : the English 
 will soon be on foot, and we will then charge them, and, being on 
 horseback, may do them great mischief." 
 
 Those who heard this speech approved of it, and instantly assem- 
 bled a body of twelve hundred cross-bows and varlets, including all 
 sorts. At the first dawn of day, they were all prepared, and set out 
 from la Rochelle at a good pace, to beat up the quartera of the Eng- 
 lish. During this, the horse got ready, and they were about three 
 hundred ; for many knights and squires had hastened to la Rochelle 
 on the first intelligence of the English having landed at Marans. 
 They left the town under the command of the two knights before 
 named. Had the English fortunately had any suspicion of this attack 
 from the Rochellers, and had formed an ambuscade of two hundred 
 archers and one hundred men-at-arms, not one would ever have re- 
 turned to la Rochelle. 
 
 When the cross-bowmen arrived at the English quarters, it was 
 very early morn ; and lucky it was for them that the guard, who had 
 watched all night, v/as retired at sunrise. The cross.bov.-m_en began 
 to shoot their bolts and arrows, which passed through the huts made 
 of boughs and leaves, to the great surprise of the English v/ho were 
 asleep within-side on straw. Many were wounded before they dis- 
 covered they were attacked by the French. When they had made 
 each about six shots, they retreated, according to their orders, and 
 the men-at-arms advanced on horseback amid the English huts. 
 Knights and squires speedily left their lodgings, and drew up together ; 
 and the French captains, seeing they were preparing themselves in 
 earnest to take the field, made after their cross-bows and infantry, 
 who were hastening homeward, for they were much afraid of the 
 English arrows. Thus hurrying, and in dismay, were the Rochellers 
 pursued, though the horse guarded the rear, to the tov/n of la Rochelle. 
 The earl of Arundel with upward of four hundred men-at-arms was 
 closely following, each man with his lance in his hand or on his shoul. 
 der. There was much crowding and difficulty to pass the gates; and sir 
 Peter de .louy and the lord Taillepie fought like valiant heroes in de- 
 fending their men, keeping still on their rear, until they were come to 
 the barriers. They were so hard pressed by the English, who were at 
 their heels, they ran a great hazard of being slain or made prisoners ; 
 for the attack was the more vigorous against them as it was visible 
 they were the commanders. Sir Peter de Jouy had his courser killed 
 under him, and was with great difficulty dragged v»^ithin the barriers. 
 Sir Peter Taillepid was pierced through the thigh with a lance, and 
 hit by an arrow on the helmet, which entered his head, and his good 
 horse fell dead under him at the gate. There was much slaughter 
 made on the Rochellers reentering the town : upward of forty dead 
 and wounded lay at the gates. The inhabitants had mounted the 
 battlements, and fired so many cannons and bombards that the Eng- 
 lish dared not approach nearer. 
 
 Thus ended this skirmish between the English and Rochellers. As 
 it was near noon, the earl of Arundel had sounded the retreat, when 
 the men-at-arms and archers retired in handsome array to their 
 quarters, where they disarmed and refreshed themselves. They had 
 wherewithal, having been amply provided with wines and meat{rom 
 the surrounding country. The English lords remained at Marans for 
 fifteen days, waiting for deeds of arms and adventures ; but the 
 Rochellers never ventured again to come near them, for they had 
 found, to their cost, how valiantly they had defended themselves. 
 Their two commanders were also wounded, v.'hich induced the others 
 to wish for peace. The earl of Arundel, indeed, had sent four times 
 parties to overrun the country round la Rochelle, and as far as 
 Thouars, who did much mischief and terrified the inhabitants. They 
 would have done more had they had horses ; but only a few were 
 mounted on what they could find in the country, and tliese were 
 scarce, for no sooner v^/as the invasion known than all the inhabitants 
 of the flat (;ountry fled with their stock and wealth to the great towns, 
 and there shut themselves up. 
 
 When the t]nglish had remained near la Rochelle for fifteen days, 
 without seeing any attempt made to oppose them, and the wind be- 
 came fair, they embarked a great quantity of wine and fresh meat 
 they had taken, and, having weighed anchor, put to sea. This same 
 day, they met twelve ships from Bayonne, on their voyage to Eng- 
 land with Gascony wines and other merchandise. They sailed tJgether 
 for some time, being much rejoiced at this meeting, for they were 
 well acquainted, and the Bayonnois gave tiie earl cf Arundsl two 
 pipes of wine for the love they bore him. The Bayonnois then sepa- 
 rated to continue their voyage, and the fleet kept cruising about in 
 search of adventures. 
 
 While this armament was lying before Marans, Perrotle Bearnois 
 and his companioas had taken the field, and, having passed Limousin, 
 had entered Berry. He had with him four hundred spears and as 
 many pillagers, and carried off in one day all the merchandise that 
 was in the town of le Blanc* in Berry, and gained great wealth and 
 many prisoners, for it was fair-day. He then marched to Selles.t 
 which he plundered. Thus did Perrot le Bearnois maintain himself. 
 He advanced far into the interior of the country, doing great mis- 
 chief wherever he went, for none ventured to oppose him ; and all 
 
 * " Le Blanc," in the generality of Bourges, seventeen leagues from Poitiers, nioft 
 from Argenton. ^ « . . 
 
 t " Selles." ox Celles, thiee leagues from St. Aignan, ten from Blou. 
 
 / 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 475 
 
 parts were atarmed, even as far as the county of Blois and the Tou- 
 raine, for they were uncertain whither these two armies would march 
 next. Some imagined they v/ould unite ; but it was not so, for the 
 earl of Arundel hud embarked again, as I have mentioned, and Per- 
 rot with his companions returned t.) their strongholds. When they 
 had completely plundered the country, they thought it would be more 
 safe for them t v retire to their castles and secure their gains. They 
 took, in consequ ence, the roads through Limousin and Auvergne to 
 their forts ; and nothing more was done, as to deeds of arms, in these 
 two provinces the rem ainder of the season, for the truce that had 
 been agreed to last until the ensuing month of May, now took 
 place. The siege of Ventadoar by sir William de Lignac, sir John 
 Bonne-lmce, and sir John le Bouteiller, still continued; for GeofFry 
 Tete-noire was so presumptuouj; as to pay not the least attention 
 to the truce, nor tj the besieger depending on the strength of his 
 castle. 
 
 We will now, for variety, return to the affairs of Brabant and 
 Gueldres. 
 
 CHAPTER CXIX. 
 
 TPE BTwABANTEKS PRESS GRAVE HARD BY THEIR SIEGE. THE GUELDRIANS 
 BURN A BRIDGE THE BRABANTERS HAD THROWN OVER THE MEUSE, TO 
 EJJTER GUELDRES. 
 
 J HAVE already discoursed of and explained the situation of the 
 dukes of Gueldres. Plow the ancestor of the duke of Gueldres of 
 whom I now treat, married the daughter of Bertaldo of Mechlin, to 
 rescue and rep :ir his heange which wa? very much embarrassed and 
 dilapidated ; au J how the duke of Gueldres, son of the duke of Ju. 
 liers, to maintain the city of Grave against the Brabanters, for which 
 he had good cat -:e and t'itle, determined, since he could not recover 
 the three before. nientioned castles seated on the river Meuse, Gcch, 
 Buch, and Mille, which had once been his fiefs, that he would attach 
 the city of Grave to his heritage in perpetuity. This duke had a 
 bastard daughter bestowed upon and married to the damosel* of Kuck, 
 which sire de Kuck was the heir of the citf of Grave. So he ap. 
 plied himself t ) him so amiably that b^th father and son had nothing 
 else left for it; and the damosel de Kuck gave him the city and 
 lordship of Grave, and assured him the inheritance in the presence 
 of the kiiights and barons of Juliers and Gueldres ; end on this account 
 the duke uf Juliers recompensed him with the land and lordship of 
 B^is-le-Duc, situa*ed on the river Ligne, in the duchy of Gueldre- 
 land, A very handsoniG castle belongs to this city of Bois-le-Duc, 
 which is a good larj^-e town and of good profit, but Grave is worth 
 more. The duke of Gueldres made this bargain, to the intent that 
 he might have a good ground of quarrel to take Grave from the Bra. 
 banters; for the duchess of Brabant and her council said that an. 
 cieatly the lords of Kuck had held it in mortgage, but that she or her 
 heirs might redeem it whenever they pleased, and that the duke of 
 Gueldres had no right to keep it except as a pledge. The duke 
 of Gueldres maintained an opposite opinion, and said that it was his 
 good inheritance and he would hold it to the last. This was the 
 cause of the war and ill-will that arose between those of Brabant and 
 Gueldreland : and, in the month of May, the Brabanters came to lay 
 siege to the city of Grave ; knights, squires, and the commonalty of 
 the good towns; and they brought and carried engines, springalls, 
 trebus, and all other such machines for the assault. And there were 
 full forty thousand men one with another, who were encamped be- 
 fore Grave, over aguinst the valley of the river Meuse. And their 
 host vv^as well furnished, for they had their own country behind and 
 on all sides of them, from whence they received plentiful supplies. 
 And thi-i is the delight of the Brabanters, for, wherever they may be 
 or go, they will be stuffed to the neck with wine, meat, and delica- 
 cies:, or they will return to their own houses. 
 
 You have before heard how anxious the duchess of Brabant was to 
 make war on the duke of Gueldres, and to besiege Grave. There 
 was a great force of knights and squires from the principal towns 
 before it, who declared their intentions were not t) depirt until they 
 had gained possession of it ; and the duchess, t ) show how inte rested 
 she was in the matter, hid come to reside at BM-.le.Duc, four le igues 
 distant from it. Tlie besieging army was plentifully supplied with 
 all things that came thither by sea, or down the Meuse, from the rich 
 country of Brabant, so that the siege was long continued ; and the 
 Brabanters had many l.irge machines which threw into the town 
 stones of such weight as to do much damage wherever they fell. In 
 addition, they flung into the town all the dead carrion of the army 
 to empoison the inhabitants by the stink. This was sorely felt by 
 them, for the weather was hot, and the air too calm to Carry off these 
 villainous smells. 
 
 At times, many of the knights and squires of Brabant came to 
 ekirmish with the garrison at the barriers ; for the duke of Gueldres 
 had placed within the town some gallant companions, who were not 
 ehy of showing their courage when occasions called for it, and the 
 enemy advanced so near as the barriers. The siege lasted a long 
 time; and the duke of Gueldres had fixed hi? quarters at Nimeguen ; 
 but he could neither raise the siege, nor offer combat ij the Brabant, 
 ers, for want of sufficient force. He had sent to England an account 
 of his situation, and expected for certain he should have a reinforce. 
 
 * A title bestowed indiifereutly on voung nobles of both sexes.— £)x>> 
 
 ment from thence, but he was disappointed ; for England at that 
 time was in a very unsettled state, and new ministers had been forced 
 on the king by his uncles and the archbishop of Canterbury. A 
 parliament was indeed holden, about St. John Baptist's day, at the 
 duke's request, to consider whether a body of men-at arms and arch, 
 ers should be sent to assist the duke of Gueldres, according to treaty. 
 Having considered the matter fully, they would not agree to it; for 
 it was strongly rumored, that the king of France was assembling a 
 large army, and it was doubtful whither he would march it, and the 
 English imagined it was intended to attack Calais. They were also 
 uneasy respecting the Scuts on the borders, and were fearful of send, 
 ing more forces out of the kingdom, as a large body of men.at-arms 
 and archers were at sea, under the earl of Arundel, lest the country 
 might be defenceless. When the council was considering the affairs 
 of Gueldres, some of the lords said, " Let the duke of Gueldres take 
 care of himself: he is valorous enough, and in his own country, and 
 will withstand all the Brabanters can do against him : if anything 
 worse befal him, he shall have assistance. He has again the Ger- 
 mans, his neighbors, on his side, who formerly joined him against 
 France." Such was the state of affairs in England ; but those in 
 Grave suffered much from the siege. During the time it lasted, the 
 Brabanters resolved to throw a wooden bridge over the Meuse, that 
 they might have an entrance into Gueldreland, overrun that country, 
 and, by investing the town of Grave on all sides, prevent any pro- 
 vision from entering it ; for they were numerous enough to surround 
 it, could they gain a passage over the river. As they finished the 
 different parts of this bridge, they joined and placed them in their 
 proper situations, and had made such advances, that it was within 
 the length of a lance of the opposite shire. You may suppose that 
 the duke was no way ignorant uf what they were about, but he gave 
 not any interruption to their building the bridge, until it was nearly 
 completed. Hq then advanced with cannons and other artillery, 
 and attacked it so roughly, that it was set on fire and destroyed. 
 Thus did the Brabanters, to their great vexation, lose all the effect 
 of their labor. They, upon this, called a council to determine how 
 to act. 
 
 CHAPTER CXX.' 
 
 THE BRABANTERS HAVING PASSED THROUGH HAVENSTEIN,* ENTER GFEL- 
 DREI.AND, AND ARE DEFEATED BY THE DUKE OF GUELDRES. THE SIEGE 
 OF GRAVE IS RAISED IN CONSEQUENCE. 
 
 Three short leagues from Grave lies the town of Ravenstein, be. 
 longing to the lord de Bourne, who is a vassal to Brabant. At the 
 council I mentioned, the lord de Bourne was solicited by the minis, 
 ters of the duchess of Brabant, and by the knights and squires, to 
 open his town of Ravenstein for them to gain an entrance into Guel- 
 dreland, and, with part of their army, overrun it : he complied with 
 their request. The duke of Gueldres, I know not whether by spies 
 or otherwise, gained information that the Brabanters intended enter- 
 ing his territories by the bridge of Ravensteia, through the compli. 
 ance of the lord de Bourne. He was much cast down when he learnt 
 this, as his force was not near sufficient to meet that of Brabant, 
 which consisted of more than forty thousand men. He formed vari- 
 ous plans how to act, and at last determined that, if the Brabanters 
 entered his country, he would retaliate by the bridge of Grave, for 
 he was resolved not to be shut up in- any tovv^n. He consulted the 
 lord de Ghesme, a great baron in Gueldreland, and his principal ad. 
 viser, who would not at first agree to his taking the field, on account 
 of the smallness of his numbers. "And what must I do then ?" said 
 tke duke, " Would you have me shut myself up in one of my towns, 
 while they are plundering and burning my country ? This would 
 be too great a loss. I vow to God and our Lidy," added the duke, 
 " that I wV'l take the field to meet my enemies, and follow the best 
 measures I can devise that the event may be favoralde." 
 
 This plan he executed ; and, on the morrow, after he had paid his 
 devotions in the church, and made hi.-^ oiTering at the altar of the 
 Virgin, he drank some wine, aiid, laounfing his horse, set out for 
 Nimeguen. He was accompanied by only three hundred spears, or 
 indeed less, and they made straight for the place where they sup. 
 posed they should find their enemies. You may from this judge of 
 the duke'd courage, although some blamed him. When they were 
 without the town of Nimeguen, like a valiant knight, he shouted out, 
 " Forward, forward I let us, in the name of God and St. George, 
 hasten to meet our enemy ; for I had rdther perish with honor in the 
 field than die dishonorably shut up in a town." With him were the 
 lord de Ghesme, who commanded the expedition, and a valiant and 
 prudent knight, called the heir of Hanseberth, the lord de Huckelem, 
 sir Ostez, lord of Naspre, and several other knights and squires of 
 good courage. 
 
 The same day on which the duke of Gueldres had taken the field, 
 the seneschal of Brabant had done the same at a very early hour of 
 the morning, with a large body of knights and squires from Brabant, 
 who were eager to enter Gueldreland, and gain there both honor and 
 
 *" Ravens' ein "—a town of the Netherlands in Dutch Brabant, and capi^nl of a 
 county of the same name, with an nncient and sirons castle. It belongs to the elector 
 Palatine; but the Dutch have a right to put a ifarrisou there. It is situated on the 
 Meuse, on the confines of Guekireknd, ten niiles southwest of Is^iineguen,— BaooKia't 
 Oatetteer. 
 
47G 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN. &c. 
 
 profit. Upward of ten thousuid men crossed the bridge of Raven- 
 stein ; and the f^iieschal, the lo -(i de Ligiiiere, the lord de Bourgueval, 
 the lord de Gence, and the rest, were mucli pleased at having crossed 
 the Meuse, and said among themselves, they would that day ride 
 as far as Nimeguen, and burn ita mills, suburbs, and the villages that 
 were round about ; but they had shortly other- news brought them 
 by their scouts, whom they had sent forward to examine the country. 
 The duke of Gueldres was informed, that his enemies, to the amount 
 of ten thousand, were abroad, and had passed the Meuse at the 
 bridge at Ravenstein. The duke halted, on hearing this, to consider 
 again the best mode of proceeding, for some of his companions were 
 alarmed at the smallne^s of their numbers in comparison with the 
 enemy, who^vere at least thirty or forty to one. They said, " How 
 is it possible for three or four hundred lances to oppose ten or twelve 
 thousand ? it is not in our power to overthrow them, but they may 
 very easily slaj^ us." Several assembled round the duke, and advised 
 him to retreat to Grave ; but he^ replied, " he would never do so, nor 
 confine himself in any town, but march to meet his enemies, for his 
 counige told him he should defeat them ; and he preferred dying 
 with honor lo living in disgrace. We will overthrow," said he, 
 
 our enemies, and gain this day infinite honor and wealth." He 
 then, after a short pause, added in a loud voice, "Forward, forward I 
 those who love me will foUuv*' ine." This speech of the duke greatly 
 encouraged his men, more especially those who had heard the whole ; 
 and they all showed a great earnestness to combat their enemies, 
 who were fast approaching. They tightened their armors, lowered 
 the visors of their helmets, and regirthed their saddles, and marched 
 slowly in handsome array, that their horses might be fresh for the 
 charge. Some few knights were made, and they marched in this 
 order toward Ravenstein. 
 
 The Brabanters, \vh\i great numbers of common people, had al- 
 ready crossed the river, when news was brought to the seneschal and 
 his knights that the duke of Gueldres had taken the field, and was 
 80 near that they mn^t speedily see him. They were much surprised 
 at this intelligence, and concluded that the duke must at least have 
 had with him six times more men than he had. They instantly 
 halted, and would have drawn themselves up in array, but had not 
 time ; for the duke of Gueldres appeared with his company full gal- 
 lop, with spears in their rests, and shouting their cry, " Our Lady for 
 Gueldres !" A squire of Gueldreland, called Hermaut de Morbec, 
 deserves particular attention, from the great desire he had to exalt 
 his name. He left the ranks of the battalion, and, spurring his horse, 
 was the first to assault the enemy, and at this gallant tilt, unhorsed 
 the man he struck. I know not if he were raised from the ground. 
 For the crowd was so great, that when any were dismounted, unless 
 instantly relieved, they ran great risk of being crushed to death. 
 More than six score Brabanters were unhorsed at this first charge. 
 Great cojifusion and dismay, with but a poor defence, reigned among 
 them. They were so suddenly attacked, (which is the way enemies 
 should be by those who wish to conquer them,) that although they 
 were so numerous, and had many great lords, they were dispersed : 
 they could never form any array, nor could the lords rally their men, 
 nor these last join their lords. Those in the rear, hearing the noise, 
 and seeing the clouds of dust, thought their men must have been dis- 
 comfited, and that the enemy were coming to them, so that they be- 
 came panic-struck, and, turning about, fled for Ravenstein or the 
 Meuse. Their fright was so great, they rushed into the river, whether 
 on horseback or on foot, without sounding the bottom or knowing if 
 it were fovdable, for they imagined the enemy was at their heels. 
 By this Sf.lf-defeat, upward of twelve hundred perished in the river 
 Meuse ; for they leaped one on the other, without any distinction, 
 like will beasts. Many great lords and barons of Brabant (whose 
 names / shall not disclose, to save them and their heirs from the dis- 
 grace 'hat would attach to them) most shamefully fled from the field, 
 and srught their safety, not by the river, nor by Ravenstein, but by 
 other roads that carried them to a distance from their enemies. 
 
 T'lis unfortunate event to the chivalry of Brabant happened be- 
 tween Grave and Ravenstein. Great numbers were slain. All who 
 could sunender did so instantly ; and the Germans took them at 
 ransom very readily, for the great profit they expected to make from 
 them. Those who had fled to Grave gave the alarm to the besieging 
 army ; for they arrived out of breath, and so harassed that they could 
 scarcely say to them, " Retire as fast as you can, for we have been 
 totally defeated, and nothing can save you." When those in camp 
 eaw their appearance and heard their report, they were so frightened 
 that they would not stay to pack up anything, nor even take down 
 their tents and pavilions, but set off without bidding adieu, and left 
 everything behind them. They were seized with such a panic as 
 neither to take victual nor carriage ; but such as had horses leaped 
 on them, and fled for safety to Bois-le-Duc, Houdan, Mont St. Ger- 
 vais, Gertmydenberg, or Dordrecht. Their only care was to save 
 themselves, and fly from their enemies. Had the garrison of Grave 
 known of this defeat of the Brabanters, they would have greatly 
 gained by it, and killed or brought back many of the runaways. 
 They were not made acquainted with it until late, when they sallied 
 forth, and ti»ok possession of tents, pavilions, and warlike engines 
 the Brabanters in their fright had left behind, which they brought at 
 
 their leisure into Grave, for there were none to oppose them. Thus 
 
 was the siege of GLrave broken up, to the great loss of the Brabanters. 
 
 News was spread far and near, how a handful of men had overthrown 
 forty thousand and raised the siege of Grave. The lord de Bour- 
 gueval and the lord de Linieres were made prisoners, with others to 
 the amount of seventeen banners. These and the pennons you will 
 find hung up before the image of our Lady at Nimeguen, that the 
 perpetual remembrance of this victory may be kept up. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXI. 
 
 THE DUKE OF &UELDRES, AFTER THE DEFEAT OF THE BRABANTERS, RE. 
 TURNS TO NIMEGUEN. ON THE NEWS OF THIS VICTORY, THE KING AND 
 COUNCIL OF FRANCE SEND EMBASSADORS TO THE EMPEROR OF GERMANY, 
 THE MORE SECURELY TO CARRY ON THEIR WAR AGAINST GUELDRELAND. 
 
 Scarcely can I for shame perpetuate the disgraceful defeat of the 
 Brabanters ; but, as I have promised at the commencement of this 
 history to insert nothing but what was stricdy true, I must detail the 
 unfortunate consequences of this battle. The young dnl;e of Guel- 
 dres gained this renowned victory about Magdalen-tide, in the month 
 of July 1388. When the defeat and pursuit were over, which took 
 up about two hours' time, and the field cleared, the Gueldrians col- 
 lected together, and greatly rejoiced, as indeed they had cause, at the 
 fortunate success of the day, for they had many more prisoners than 
 they were in number themselves. The heralds were ordered by them 
 to examine the dead, and report who had been slain. Among them 
 was the young and handsome son of the count de Namur, (who was 
 styled the Vaissier de Celles, lord de Balastre,) which, when told to 
 the duke, greatly afflicted him ; and he bitterly lamented his loss, for 
 he was of a most amiable character, and bad been the preceding year 
 his companion at arms in Prussia. 
 
 A council was held in the field, whether or not to retire to Grave 
 and carry their prisoners thither; but the duke opposed it, saying: 
 " I made a vow to our Lady of Nimeguen when I le^ft that town, and 
 which I again renewed before we began the combat : in obedience 
 to which, I order, that we gayly return to Nimeguen, and offer our 
 thanksgivings to the Holy Virgin, who has assisted us in our victory." 
 This command was obeyed ; for, as the duke had given it, no one 
 made any objection ; and they set out, on their return toward Nime- 
 guen, full gallop. It was two long leagues from the field of battle, 
 but they were soon there. 
 
 On this fortunate news being told in that town, great rejoicings 
 were made by both sexes ; and the clergy went out in procession to 
 meet the duke, and received him with acclamations. The duke did 
 not turn to the right nor left, but rode with his knights straight to the 
 church where the image of our Lady was, and in which he had great 
 faith. When he had entered her chapel, he disarmed himself of every, 
 thing to his doublet, and offered up his armor to the altar, in honor 
 of our Lady, returning thanksgivings for the victory he had gained 
 over his enemies. The banners and pennons of the enemy were all 
 hung up in this chapel, but I know not if they be still there :* the 
 duke retired to his hotel, and his knights to their homes, to pay at- 
 tention to themselves and their prisoners, from whom they expected 
 great ransoms. When the report of this victory over the Brabanters 
 was made public, the duke of Gueldres was more feared and honored 
 than before. 
 
 The duchess of Brabant, who had resided at Bois-le-Duc, was 
 much vexed, as indeed she had reason, at this unfortunate turn in her 
 affairs, and that the siege of Grave was raised. She ordered a strong 
 garrison into Bois-le-Duc to guard the frontiers, and then returned 
 through Champagne to Bmssels. She wrote frequently to the duke 
 of Burgundy the state of things, and eagerly pressed him to assist her 
 in the recovery of her losses ; for all her hopes were in him. You 
 may suppose, the nevv's of this victory was instantly known in France, 
 particularly at the court of the king ; but they were little surprised 
 at it, rather holding it cheap, imagining, when the king marched 
 thither, they should make themselves ample amends. Orders were 
 sent to sir William de la Tremouille and to sir Gervais de Merande, 
 who had been placed by the duke of Burgundy in the three castles 
 on the Meuse, to guard well that frontier, and to make no sallies 
 where there should be any risk of loss ; for that they would shortly 
 hear from the king, who was preparing to visit this duke of Gueldres 
 and his country in person. Sir William had been greatly hurt at the 
 late defeat of his friends, but the intelligence from France raised his 
 spirits, and he acted conformably to the orders he had received. 
 
 Let us return to what was passing in France. The king's ardor for 
 the invasion of Gueldreland was no way abated : he was anxious to 
 undertake it at all evente, for the challenge of the duke had mightily 
 enraged him ; and he declared that, cost what it would, he would 
 have ample reparation, or his territories, with those of bis father, the 
 duke of Juliers, should be despoiled and burnt. Summonses were 
 sent to all the dukes, counts, knights, barons and men-at-arms, of 
 France, to provide themselves with sufficient purveyances for a long 
 journey ; and one of the marshals of France, sir Louis de Sancerre, 
 was ordered to remain to guard the kingdom, from beyond the river 
 Dordogne to the sea ; for in Languedoc, and in the country between 
 the Garonne and the Loire, the truce had been accepted ; and the 
 other marshal, the lord de Blainville, was to accompany the king. 
 
 * In the last paragraph of the preceding chapter, it is intimated that they were rtill 
 ieiQ&iaiQ£.*~£]>. 
 
CHRONICLES OF EN 
 
 GLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 477 
 
 The different lords made such immense provision of stores of all 
 kinds, it was wonderful to think of, more especially in wines. All 
 those in Champagne were bespoken for the king, the dukes of Berry, 
 Burgundy, Touraine, and Bourbon ; carriages also, of every descrip- 
 tion, in those parts, were likewise retained for them : indeed, the 
 preparations for this expedition were pfodigious. 
 
 The duke of Brittany was still at Paris, and could not obtain any 
 decision respecting his affairs, for the king resided chiefly at Mon- 
 tereau-sur-Yonne. He was, however, well entertained with feasts 
 and fair words. The nobles begged of him to have patience, for he 
 would very shortly have his business finished ; but that the king was 
 so impatient to begin his march to Germany, he attended to nothing 
 else. The duke was forced to make the best he could of it, per- 
 ceiving he could not amend it, and, since he had come to Paris, was 
 resolved not to depart but with the good-will of the king, although 
 his stay was attended with vast expenses. When it was known for 
 certain that the expedition to Gueldreland was to take place, and that 
 a tax had been ordered throughout France, for the payment of the 
 knights and men-at-arms, many of the wisest in the country, whether 
 of the council or not, said that it was ill advised to encourage a king 
 of France to march such a distance in search of his enemies, and 
 that the Idngdom might suffer from it, (for the king was young, and 
 very popuhir with his subjects,) and that it would have been fully 
 sufficient for one of the king's uncles, or both of them, with the con- 
 stable of France, to have gone with six or seven thousand lances, 
 without carrying the person of the king thither. 
 
 The king's uncles were of a similar opinion : they most prudently 
 remonstrated with him on the impropriety of his marching with 
 his army, and were urging many strong reasons against it, when 
 he flew into a rage, and shortly inteiTupted them, by saying, " If 
 you go thither vvithout me, it will be contrary to my will and 
 pleasure ; but I can assure you, you shall not receive one penny, 
 for otherwise I cannot restrain you.'' When the dukes of Berry and 
 Burgundy heard this answer, they saw he was determined upon go- 
 ing, and replied, " God be with you : you shall go then ; and we will 
 no more think of undertaking it without your company." These 
 lords and the council deliberated on an affair of some consequence 
 to this intended war. There had been a treaty for a long time in 
 force, between the king of France and the emperor of Germany, 
 which stipulated, that neither of them were to enter the territories 
 of the other with an armed force ; that is to say, that the king of 
 France and the emperor could not make war on each other without 
 incurring a heavy penalty, and the sentence of the pope, who had 
 solemnly sworn, at his coronation, to maintain these two kingdoms 
 in peace. It was therefore resolved, in case the king persisted in 
 his intention of invading Gueldreland, which was a dependence on 
 the empire, to make the emperor fully acquainted with the duke of 
 Gueldres' rash conduct, and lay before him the insolent challenge he 
 had sent the king of France, who, to make him sensible of his folly, 
 was preparing to march an army into Germany, not any way hostile 
 to the emperor or his tenitories, but solely against this duke of Guel- 
 dres, and to attack him wherever he should find him. 
 
 Sir Guy de Honcourt, a valiant knight, and sir Yves d'Orient, one 
 of the judges in parliament, were appointed embassadors to carry 
 this message to the emperor. When they had received their instruc- 
 tions and made their preparations, they took leave of the king and 
 his uncles, and rode for Chalons in Champagne, with an attendance 
 suitable to their rank, and the purpose they were going on. They 
 met the lord de Coucy at Cha,lons, retaining knights and men-at-arms 
 from Bar, Lorraine, and Champagne, for this expedition, of which he 
 was to command the vanguard. He entertained the embassadors 
 one day splendidly at dinner, and on the morrow they continued the 
 road to Sainte Menehould, and thence toward Luxembourg, to gain 
 intelligence where the emperor was. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXII. 
 
 THE KING OF FRANCE AND HIS COUNCIL PERMIT THE DUKE OF BRITTANY 
 TO RETURN HOME. THE STATES OF BRABANT SEND EXCUSES TO THE 
 KING OF FRANCE, FOR NOT ALLOWING HIS ARMY TO PASS THROUGH 
 THEIR COUNTRY. THE SUCCESS OF THE EMBASSADORS WITH THE 
 EMPEROR. 
 
 Although embassadors had been sent to the emperor, the French 
 did no way relax their warlike preparations. It was signified to all 
 to assemble in readiness for the field in or near the country of Cham- 
 pagne, by the middle of the ensuing August ; since the king had 
 then determined to begin his march, whether or not he should receive 
 answers, through sir Guy de Honcourt and master Yves d'Orient, 
 from the emperor of Germany. The king and his uncles thinking 
 it was now time to dismiss the duke of Brittany, he was summoned 
 to Montereau, where the king most kindly received him, as did the 
 dukes of Burgundy and Touraine. The duke of Berry was at the 
 time in Berry making his preparations and levies of men-at-arms, 
 having fixed on Poitou for the place of assembly, before they began 
 their march. The king and duke of Burgundy, as I have said, 
 treated the duke of Brittany in the most friendly manner. He had 
 before surrendered the castles and town of Jugon to the officers of 
 the constable, but tnade great difficulty to pay back the hundred 
 
 thousand francs, which had been expended in the provisioning his 
 castles, and in retaining nicn-at-arms the whole of last winter, think- 
 ing a war would be declared against him ; but he was so fairly 
 spoken to, that he promised the king and the duke of Burgundy to 
 repay this sum, of one hundred thousand francs, in the course of five 
 years, by yearly payments of twenty thousand francs. The duke, 
 after this, took leave of the king, who made him very handsome 
 presents of jewels, and went back to Paris. The duke of Burgundy, 
 before his departure, gave to him and his knights a magnificent en- 
 tertainment in his hotel, called the hotel d'Artois, when they separa- 
 ted on the most friendly terms 
 
 The duke of Brittany made no longer stay after this at Paris; but 
 having arranged his affairs, and had his expenses paid by his officers, 
 he set out, taking the road to Estampes, travelled tlwough Beauce to 
 Beaugency on the Loire, with a numerous body of attendants riding 
 before him. From Beaugency his attendants continued their road 
 through the country of Blois, Touraine, Maine, and -A-ujou ; but the 
 duke had his vessels waiting for him at Beaugency, and embarking 
 on board a handsome yacht, with the lords de Montfort and de 
 Malestroit, sailed down the Loire, passing under the bridge at Blois, 
 and not stopping until he came to Nantes, \vhc;i he was in his own 
 country. I will now leave the duke of Brittany, who strictly kept 
 the engagements he had entered into with the king of France and 
 his uncles, and has never done anything since worthy of being re- 
 membered in this history, nor do I know if he ever will. If he 
 should. I will relate it, according to the manner it shall be told me. 
 
 The king of France was busily employed in making his prepara- 
 tions to invade Gueldreland. The lord de Coucy, on his return to 
 Montereau, informed the king and his uncles, that all the chivalry 
 of Bar, Lorraine, Burgundy, and as far as the Rhine, were ready and 
 willing to attend them, in their expedition to Germany. The king 
 was much pleased on hearing this, and said, that " if it pleased God, 
 he would this year pay a visit to his cousins of Gueldres and Juliers." 
 A council was held on the most convenient line of march, when 
 some said, that the shortest way would be through Tierache,* along 
 the borders of Hainault and Liege, and passing through Brabant into 
 Gueldres ; but others proposed crossing the Meuse at or near Utrecht, 
 and, having passed that river, to enter Juliers, and march thence into 
 Gueldreland. Upon this, the king and council wrote to the duchess 
 and states of Brabant, to signify that the king and his army intended 
 marching through their country. The duchess would have readily 
 consented ; but the states refused the passage, saying the country 
 would suffer too much from it. The principal towns and nobles , 
 were of this opinion, and told the duchess, that if she allowed the 
 French to enter their country, they would never bear arms for her 
 against Gueldres, but would shut themselves up in their castles, and 
 defend all the entrances to the country, for they should have more 
 damage done to themselves and lands by such passengers than if 
 their enemy were in the country. The duchess, finding so strong 
 an opposition to allowing a passage to the French, dissembled her 
 real thoughts, and calling to her sir John Opem, master John Grave, 
 and master Nicholas de la Monnoye, charged them to set out in- 
 stantly for France, and make excuses for the states of Brabant, to 
 the king and the duke of Burgundy, for their refusal to allow the 
 French army to pass through Brabant, fearful lest the country would 
 be too severely oppressed ; and to entreat them, for the love of God, 
 not to be dissatisfied with her, as she had done everything in her 
 power to obtain their consent. 
 
 These envoys left Brussels, and arrived at Montereau-sur-Yonne, 
 where they found the king and his uncles, whose whole conversation, 
 day and night, was on the expedition to Gueldreland. They first 
 waited on the duke of Burgundy, to whom they gave their letters, 
 and explained so well the reason of the states' refusal that he was 
 contented, and, at the prayer of his aunt, promised to mediate be- 
 tween them and the king. The lord de Coucy was likewise of very 
 gieat service to them, so that the first plan of passing through Bra. 
 bant was given up, and the excuses from the duchess and her states 
 were accepted. It was then determined, as more honorable for the 
 king and his allies, to march straight through his kingdom. A 
 council was held on the choice of those who were to form the van- 
 guard ; and two thousand five hundred pioneers were appointed to 
 clear away all trees and hedge-rows, and to make smooth the roads. 
 The army had by their means a most excellent road through Franco 
 to the forest of Ardennes ; but there it failed them, for rocks, forests, 
 and various obstacles opposed their passage. The lord de Coucy, 
 who had the command of the vanguard, consisting of one thousand 
 lances, sent forward persons to examine which would be the safest 
 road for the king and baggage to march, (for there were upward of 
 twelve thousand carriages, without counting baggage horses,) to lay 
 open the forest, and make roads where no traveller had ever before 
 passed. Every one was eager to be thus employed, more particularly 
 those who were near the king's person ; for he was never so popular 
 at any time as he was now in Flanders, nor were his subjects ever 
 so united to assist him as in this expedition against Gueldres. While 
 this was passing, the king sent the lord de Coucy to Avignon, to the 
 person who styled himself pope Clement, I know not on what busi- 
 
 • "Ti6rache "—a fertile country in Picardy, watered by Xli9 Oise and Soiae, to tii« 
 weft of Champa«ae aod the loutii of Haiaault. 
 
478 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 ness ; and the viscouiii de Meaux, sir John de Roye, and the lord de 
 la Bonne, commanded in his absence. 
 
 We will now say something of the embassadors who had been 
 sent to the emperor of Germany. They continued their journey 
 until they came to Convalence,* where the emperor resided. After 
 dismounting at their hdtel, they made themselves ready to wait on 
 him, who had before heard of their coming, and was very impatient 
 to know the cause of it. Having assembled his council, the enjbas- 
 sadors were introduced to the presence of the emperor, whom they 
 saluted most reverently, and gave him their credential letters from 
 the king of France. After he had attentively perused them, he eyed 
 sir Guy de Honcourt, and said, " Guy, tell us, in God's name, what 
 you are charged with." The knight spoke long and ably in explain, 
 ing to the emperor and his council the reasons why the king of 
 France was about ty enter the German territory with a large army, 
 not v.-ith the smallest intent to injure that or any other part of the 
 territories belonging to the emperor, but against a personal enemy. 
 He then named him, and added, " The duke of Gueldres has thought 
 proper ta send the king of France a most insolent challenge, couched 
 in outrageous language, not usual in such cases, for which the king 
 and his council have determined to punish him. The king, there- 
 fore, entreats you, dear sire, from your connections with him by 
 blood, not to abet this duke in his presumptuous conduct, but keep 
 those treaties of alliance which have formerly been made between 
 you and France, as he on his part is resolved to al)ide by them." 
 The emperor, in reply, said, " Sir Guy, we have some time been 
 informed, that our cousin, the king of France, has been collecting a 
 large body of men-at-arms, at a va; t expense, when it was unneces- 
 sary for him to give himself so much trouble for so small an object ; 
 for, had he made his complaints to me, I would have forced the duke 
 of Gueldres to hear reason without the great expense he has been 
 at." " Sire," answered sir Guy, " you are very kind in thus express, 
 ing yourself ; but our lord, the king of France, values neither ex. 
 pense nor trouble wherever his honor is concerned ; and his council 
 are solely anxious that you should not be dissatisfied with him, for 
 he is determined in no way to infringe the treaties that exist between 
 France and Germany : on the contraiy, to strengthen them as much 
 as possible, and for this have sir Yves d'Orient and myself been sent 
 hither." ." We are by no means," said the emperor, " dissatisfied 
 with what is doing in France, and thank my cousin for the informa- 
 tion he sends me : let him come, in God's name, for I do not intend 
 to move." 
 
 The embassadors were well pleased with this reply, and considered 
 the matter as concluded to iheir wish. They requested answers to 
 the letters they had brought, which were cheerfully promised. They 
 dined that day at the emperor's palace, and by his orders were well 
 feasted. I:i the evening they retired to their lodgings, and managed 
 things so well, that the business was finished t j their satisfaction. 
 Having received their letters in reply to those they had brought, they 
 took leave of the emperor, and returned by the way they had come 
 to the king of France ; of whom we will now speak. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXIII. 
 
 THE COUNT OF BLOIS SENDS TWO HUNDRED LANCES TO SERVE THE KING IN 
 BIS EXPEDITION TO GUELDRES. THE EHIBASSADORS BRING FAVORABLE 
 ANSWERS FROM THE EMPEROR OF GERMANY. THE KING OF FRANCE 
 CONTINUES HIS MARCH TOWARD THE FOREST OF ARDENNES. SIR HE- 
 LION DE LIGNAC MAKES HIS REPORT TO THE DUKE OF BERRY, TOUCHING 
 HIS MARRIAGE WITH THE DAUGHTER OF THE DUKE OF LANCASTER. 
 
 The great lords and barons of France were busily employed in 
 making their preparations for the expedition to Gueldres; and those 
 from the more distant parts of the kins:dom, in Auvergne, Limousin, 
 Quercy, Rouergue, and other provinces, had already begun their 
 march toward Champagne. The greater numbers came from Pi- 
 cardy. Burgundy, Champagne, Bar, and Lorraine, because they were 
 nearer the place of assembly. The villages in France were not so 
 harshly treated as usual ; for the king had forbidden, under pain of 
 death, that anything should be taken from them without payment. 
 Notwithstanding this order was made very public, the men-at-arms 
 on their march diJ much mischief; for, though the punishment was 
 bo heavy, they could not abstain from what they had been accus- 
 tomed to. They were indeed very badly paid, and consequently 
 thought they had a right to provide for themselves. This was the 
 excuse they made whenever they were reprimanded by their captains 
 or marshals. The count de Blois was sununoned, and he returned 
 for answer, he would send two hundred chosen lances well equipped 
 and paid. I know not how he was dedt withal, but he sent two 
 hundred knights and squires to serve the king, from his county of 
 Blois, under the command of the lord de Vienne, sir William de 
 Saint Martin, sir William de Chaumont, and the lord de Montigny, 
 who marched at their leisure toward Champagne, whither they had 
 been ordered. 
 
 The king of France left Montereau-sur-Yonne, and took the road 
 for Chalons in Champagne, without the duke of Berry joining him. 
 He was still in Berry, waiting the return of sir Helion de Lignac, 
 with answe rs from the duke of Lancas ter, respecting his marriage 
 
 * " Couvaltace." U. Coiutance. 
 
 with his daughter. He, however, received none; for the duke o{ 
 Lancaster detained him at Bayonne, dissembling his opmiun between 
 him and the embassadors from Castille ; but he was more inclined 
 as well as the duchess, to close with the last ; yet, before them, ho 
 showed the utmost attentions to sir Helion, to make them the more 
 eager to finish the business. The Castillian embassadors labored 
 hard to bring the marriage to a conclusion. They were four in num. 
 ber; don Fernando de Leon, doctor i;i divinity and confessor to the 
 king, the bishop of Segovia, don Pe<iro Gadelope, and don Diego 
 Loup, who were continually gwing or ;eturning from one paity to the 
 other. The duke, however, gave theia to understand that he would 
 prefer a union with Castille to one with France, provided they would 
 agree to his terms. He demanded payment of six hundred thc^usand 
 francs, within three years, twelve thousand annually for his and the 
 duchess's lives, and two thousand more for the duchess's household 
 yearly.* 
 
 When it was known that the king had left Montereau for Chalons, 
 all those who had remained at home hastened their march to join 
 him. Thither came the duke of Berry, whose quarters were at Es- 
 pinay, and the duke of Sourbon, ine count de la Marche, the dau. 
 phin d'Auvergne, the count de St. Pol, the count de Toanerre. Near 
 the king's person were the duke of Burgundy, the duke of Lorraine, 
 the dukc! Lii Touraiae, the constable of France, sir John de Vienne, 
 sir Gay de la Tremouille, sir Barrois des Barres, and sir John de 
 Bueil. The whole country round Rheims and Chalons, to the extent 
 of twelve leagues, was destroyed by these men-at-arms, who were 
 dispersed over it, from Sainte Menehould to Monstier in Bar, to 
 Chaumont in Bas£igni,t to Vitry en Pertcis.l and the whole of iho 
 bishoprics of Troyes and Langres. The Lord de Coucy was not yet 
 returned from his journey to Avignon. 
 
 About this time sir Guy de Honcourt and sir Yves d'Orient cam® 
 back from their embassy to the emperor, and met the king at Cha. 
 ions. The king and his nobles were rejoiced at their arrival, and 
 inquired the news. They told them all that passed ; that the em. 
 peror had very kindly received them, and handsomely entertained 
 them ; and sir Guy added, " Sire, and you my lords, when the em. 
 peror and his council had read your letters and the copy of the duke 
 of Gueldres' challenge, they were very indignant at his presumption, 
 and are desirous, from what we could learn, that he should be pun. 
 ished for his insolence : nor will the emperor make any opposition 
 to your intended war, which he seems indeed much to approve of, 
 but keep strictly to all the articles entered into between him and 
 France, so that all your doubts concerning his conduct may be dissi. 
 pated." The king of France and his council were well satisfied on 
 
 * According to Lopez de Ayala, tlie messengers sent by tlie king of Castille to tlie 
 duUe ot Lancusier at hayonne were, ferraiid de lile<cas, a monk ct' tiie uiderof tit. 
 i^'rancii, cunt&>sor to tne kinfi, Pero iSancliez del CastilKi and Alvar *Martiiiez de Viila- 
 real, butii royal auditors. Bel'oie their depurtuse tor bayonne, the king of Castille as- 
 seiiilded the jzenerul cortes at Briviesca, in order to rai>e the sLtni& demanded Liy tlie dnke, 
 and lo relieve both hini^b'.f and the kint^duni from a competitor who was so dangerous 
 an enemy. Ayala detai>s all the conditions of the treaty : tne fullowiiii; are tiie prmci 
 pal articles: 
 
 Don Henry, eldest son of don John of Castille, aged nine years, was, within two 
 ' niijiiths from the signature of the treaty, to marry Cailierine. da ughtenJ' the duke of Lan- 
 caster, aged fourteen years, if the nilimt Henry should die l.eture he attained the age 
 of fouiteen years, or without consummating the marriage, Catherine was to marry his 
 next brother, (bin Ferrand. Don Henry was, immediately upon tiie inaniage, t(j leceive 
 ihe title of prince of the Ast urias. and Catherine that of pi incest of the Asiurius. 
 
 The kiiiK <if Castille was to assign to don Henry and Catherine the city of iSoria and 
 the towns of Ainazan, Atien/.a, Soria. tnd Moiin.i, fur the support of their hou.«eb<jlfl, 
 being the same which king Henry of Castille had gianted to Beitrand du Gueicliii, uid 
 which he had afterwards redeemed. 
 
 Within two months next after the treaty, the king don John bound himself lo ac- 
 knuwledi^e don Henry and Catherine as his sucte^sors. 
 
 The king di^n John was to pay down ^00,000 French francs to the duke and duchen 
 of Lancaster, as the price ot their renuncintion of all chum upon the crown ol' Castille. 
 
 Tlie king don John further engaged t^r himself and iiis heir^.to pay the further ammal 
 sum of 40,(XX) francs to the dnke and duchess, uiiiil the death of the survivor. 
 
 Hustiiges from the kingdonis of Castille and Leon were to be given to the duke of 
 Lancaster, as pledges for the puyinent of the UCO,(X)0 francs. Tlie.>e hcstajjes were doii 
 Fiidrique, duke of lienevenio, and brother to kin^' John of Castille: Pero Ponce de 
 Leon, lord of iVlarciiemi ; Joiin gc Velasco, son of I'ero Ferr.andezde Veiasco; Carlos 
 de Ariel.vno, John de Padilio, Rodrieo neRojis, Lupe O.tiz de Lstuniga, John Uodri- 
 Kuez de Cisneros, Uuihitio de Casie:ied:i, and several oilier citizens of various large 
 lowns; in all .-ixty-six persons. (The sate-conduct granted to tneni by Richard H. oil 
 Uie 2Utli .August, 1388, is given in Rymer.) 
 
 Free p iidon vv.is to be granted to all who had taken part with the duke of Lancaster, 
 
 The duke and duchess of Lancaster, on their parts, renounced all pretension to the 
 kini^doms of Ca>tille, Leon, 'I'oledo, Calcia, Seville, Cindo\a, Murcui, Jaen, the Al- 
 giirves, Algesiras, the lordships of Lam and liiscay, and that of Molina ; and :liey ac- 
 knowledjred don John as king, and afier him don Henry ; and, in case of his cieath 
 without childieii. then don Ferrand and all other lawful descendants i-f the king don 
 John, who should ascend tiie tnrone in deliiult of any other legitimate lieir. 'I'liey Inr- 
 tlier engaged never to procure from the pope a dispensation from tlieir taih, either 
 openly or in secret. 
 
 Constance, duchess of Lancaster was further to be put in possession of the towns of 
 Guadai jara, Medina del Campo, md Olmedo, t\>r her life, sue engiigimr that they 
 >honld, at her death, be delivered back, and that the government should be intrusted to 
 none but Castiliians. 
 
 Notwithstandinsr his new alliances with England, the king, don John, stipulated for 
 the preservation «if hi^ ancient alliance wiih France. 
 
 To pay the sums agreed upcm with the dnke of Lancsister atid ratified by the <rort«, 
 the kin" raised a sort of loan throughout the kingdom, as Ins father had done when he 
 redeemed the lands granted to Bertrand du Gnesclin. All the ciiizens. witli the cxcep- 
 t on of bishops, piiests, and nobles, contribnt*J to an impost, which wasafLerwards re- 
 paid to them by successive drawbacks on the ordinary taxes.-Eo. 
 
 T '• Bassigni." a small country on the conrines ot Champagne and Lorraine: CJiaur 
 niont is the capital. ,r- , r> . 
 
 X " Vitry ea f ertcis." a smalltown m Caampaene, near Vitry le Tranpow 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 473 
 
 hearing this, although many said, that whether the emperor would or | 
 not, they were in sufficient numbers to go whither they pleased with- ' 
 out fearing any one. 
 
 The king gave orders for the march of the army, and he left Cha.- 
 iona for Grand Pie,* where he remained for three days. He could 
 not make any long marches, from the great concourse of men that 
 were in his front, in his rear, and on all sides ; and he was forced to 
 move gently on account of his great train of baggage and purvey, 
 ances, which occupied a length of fourteen country leagues, and was 
 daily increasing. The count de Grand Pre received the king in his 
 town with every respect, and ordered all things so much to the king's 
 pleasure, that he expressed hi? satisfaction to the count, who was at- 
 tached to the van division. The duke of Lorraine and sir Henry de 
 Bar here joined the king with a handsome company of men-at-arms. 
 The duke of Lorraine was ordered to the division of his son-in-law, 
 the lord de Coucy, but sir Henry de Bar remained near the king. 
 
 The pioneers had been continually employed in clearing the for- 
 est of Ardennes, by felling of timber, and making roads where none 
 had ever been before. They had much difficulty in the filling up of 
 vallej^s, and forming a tolerable road for the carriages to pass, and 
 there were upward of three thousand v/orkrnen who labored at noth- 
 ing else, from Vierton to Neufchatel in the Ardeimes. The duchess 
 of Brabant v/as exceedingly pleased when she heard for certain that 
 the king of Franch was on his march through the Ardennes, and 
 concluded she should now have her revenge on the duke of Guel- 
 dres, and that the king of France would make both him and his fa- 
 ther, the duke of Juliers, repent of their conduct, which had given 
 her many mortifications. She set out in handsome array from Brus- 
 sels, accompanied by the lord de Samines, in the Ardennes, the lord 
 de Bocelars, the lord de Broquehort, and several others, for Luxem- 
 bourg, to receive the king, and have some conversation with him. 
 She crossed the Meuse by the bridge at Huy,t and went to Bastoigne, 
 where she halted ; for the king was to pass there, or very near it, 
 which he did. When he set out from Grand Pre, he crossed the 
 Meuse at Morsay,t with his whole army ; but his marches were very 
 fihort, for the reasons I have before given. 
 
 News was brought to the dukes of Juliers and Gueldres, for such 
 intelligence is soon spread abroad, that the king of France was on 
 his march to visit them, with an army of one hundred thousand men ; 
 and that he had never collected so large a body, except when he 
 marched to Bourbourg, imagining the English to be in greater force 
 than he found them. The duke of .Tuliers began to be greatly 
 alarmed ; but his son, the duke of Gueldres, made light of it, say- 
 ing, " Let them come : the greater the number, the sooner will they 
 be worn down, their baggage destroyed, and their purveyances ruined. 
 Winter is coming on, and my country is a strong one : they will not 
 easily enter it, and, when they make the attempt, shall be driven 
 back with other sounds than trumpets. They must always keep to- 
 gether, which will be impossible, if they mean to invade my terri- 
 tory ;,and, if they separate, my people will take them whether they 
 will or no. However, our cousin of France shows good courage ; 
 and I give him credit for doing what I would attempt if in his place." 
 Such were the conversations the duke of Gueldres held with his 
 knights on this subject ; but the duke of Juliers was, on the con- 
 trary, quite disconsolate ; for he saw, if the French were determined 
 on it, his country must be ruined and burnt. He sent for his brother, 
 the archbishop of Cologne, and his cousin, sir Arnold de Homes, 
 bishop of Liege, to consult with them on the occasion, and see if 
 there were any probable remedy to prevent his lands being despoiled. 
 These two prelates gave him the best advice in their power, and re- 
 commended him to humble himself before the king of France and 
 his uncles, and submit to their v;ill. The duke having answered, 
 that he would most cheerfully do so, the bishop of Utrecht, who was 
 likewise present, with the assent of the archbishop, advised the 
 bishop of Liege to set out with his array to meet the king of France, 
 and treat with him on this subject. 
 
 The king of France continued his march, but only two, three, or 
 four leagues a day, and sometimes not one, from the great baggage, 
 which was too large by far, that accompanied him. Sir William de 
 Lignac, and his brother sir Helion, joined the king between Mouzon 
 and Ndtre Dame d'Amot,§ where the duke of Berry, with his body 
 of five hundred spears, was quartered. Sir William had come from 
 the siege of Ventadour, by order of the duke of Berry, as had sir 
 John Bonne-lance by similar ones from the duke of Bourbon. They 
 had left their army under the command of Sir John Bouteiller and 
 sir Lewis d'Ambiere, as they were desirous of attending the king in 
 this expedition. Sir Helion had come from Bayonne, where he had 
 been treating, as you have heard, with the duke of Lancaster, for the 
 marriage of his daughter with the duke of Berry. The duke of 
 Berry made him good cheer, and inquired after his success. Sir 
 Helion related everything that had passed, and told him the king of 
 Castillo was earnestly negotiating a peace with the duke of Lancas- 
 ter by the union of his son, the prince of Galicia, with his daughter. 
 The duke was very pensive on hearing this, and, after a pause, said ; 
 " Sir Hefion, you will return to France ; and I will send you once 
 
 * "Grand Pr6," a town in Champagne, election of Sainte Men'^hould. 
 t '* Huy," a town in the bisb'ipric of Liege, capital of the Condrotz, on the oonflu- 
 •nce of the small river Huy and tho Mettsv. 
 f'MonaF." Q. Mouzon. , $ '* Amot." Q. Arlon. 
 
 more, accompanied by the bishop of Poitiers, for the duke of Lan- 
 caster's decisive answer ; but at this moment we have enough on 
 our hands." This same week, the lord de Coucy returned from 
 Avignon to the king in the Ardennes, to the great joy of the whole 
 army. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXIV. 
 
 THE PRINCIPAT, BARONS OF SCOTLAND ASSEMBLE IN ARMS TO Mi K 6 
 WAR ON ENGLAND. THFA' LEARN I'RO.M A SPY WHOM PilEY I«UE 
 PRISONER THAT THE ENGLISH ARE ACQUAINTED WITH lilEIR 11!' 
 TENTIONS 
 
 I HAVE before related in this history the troubles king Richard of 
 England had suffered from his quarrels with his uncles, urged on by 
 the wicked counsel of the duke of Ireland, which had caused several 
 knights to lose their heads, nnd the archbishop of York nearly to be 
 deprived of his benefice. By the advice of the archbishoj. of Can- 
 terbury and the king's new council, the lord Neville, who had com- 
 manded the defence of the I'rontiers of Northumberland for five 
 years against the Scots, v/as dismissed : for this service hf had been 
 paid by the counties of Noriluimberland and Durham, xhe sum of 
 sixteen thousand francs annually. Sir Hcnry Percy being appointed 
 in his stead to this command, with a salary of eleven tliousand 
 francs yearly, was a circumstance which created munh animosity 
 and hatred between the Percics and Nevilles, who were neighbors 
 and had been friends. The barons and knights of Scotland, know, 
 ing of this, determined on an inroad to England, as the opportunity 
 was favorable, now the English were quarrelling among themselves, 
 to make some return for the many insults they had sufi'ered from 
 them. 
 
 In order that their intentions might not be known, they appointed 
 a feast to be holden at Aberdeen, on the borders of the Highlands. 
 The greater part of the barons attended ; and it was then resolved, 
 that in the middle of August of the year 1388, they would assemble 
 all their forces at a castle called Jedworth, situated amid deep for- 
 ests and on the borders of Cumberland. Having arranged every- 
 thing concerning this business, they separated, but never mentioned 
 one word of their intentions to the king ; for they said among them, 
 selves, he knew nothing about war. On the appointed day, earl 
 James Douglas first arrived at Jedworth : then came John earl of 
 Moray, the earl of March and Dunbar, William, earl of Fife, John 
 earl of Sutherland, Stephen earl of Menteith,* William earl of Mar, 
 sir Archibald Douglas, sir Robert Erskine, sir Malcolm Druinrnond» 
 sir William and sir James Lindsay, sir Thomas Berry, sir Alexander 
 Lindsay, sir John Swinton of Swinton, sir John de Sandelans, flir 
 Patrick Dunbar, sir John Sinclair, sir Walter Sinclair, sir Patrick 
 Hepburn, sir John Montgomery, sir John his son, and his two sons ; 
 sir John Maxwell, sir Adam Glendinning, sir William do Redurin,t 
 sir William Stuart, sir John Halliburton, sir John de Ludie, and sir 
 Robert Lauder, sir Stephen Frazer, sir Alexander and sir John Ram. 
 say, sir William of North Berwick, sir Robert Hart, sir William 
 Wardlaw, sir John Armstrong, David Fleming, Robert Campbell, 
 with numbers of other knights and squires of Scotland. 
 
 There had not been seen, for sixty years, so numerous an assem 
 bly : they amounted to twelve hundred spears, and forty thousand 
 other men and archers. With the use of the bow the Scots are little 
 acquainted ; but they sling their axes over their shoulders, and, when 
 engaged in battle, give deadly blows with them. These lords were 
 well pleased on meeting each other, and declared they would never 
 return to their homes without having made an inroad on England, 
 and to such an effect that it should be remembered for twenty years 
 to come. The more completely to combine their plans, they fixed 
 another meeting to be held at a church in the forest of Jedworth, 
 called Zedon.t before they began their march to England. 
 
 Intelligence was carried to the earl of Northumberland, (for every, 
 thing is known to those who are diligent in their inquiries,) to his 
 children, cO the seneschal of York, and to sir Matthew Redman, 
 governor of Berwick, of the great feast that was to be kept at Aber- 
 deen. To learn what was done at it, these lords sent thither heralds 
 and minstrels. The Scots barons could not transact their business 
 so secretly but it was known to these minstrels, that there was to be 
 a grand assembly of men-at-arms in the forest of Jedworth. They 
 observed also, much agitation through the country, and, on their re. 
 turn to Newcastle, gave a faithful report of all they had seen or heard 
 to their lords. The barons and knights of Northumberland in con- 
 sequence made their preparations, but very secretly, that the Scots 
 might not know it, and put off" tlmn intended inroad, and had retired 
 to their castles ready to sally forth on the first notice of the arrival of 
 the enemy. They said: "If the Scots enter the country through 
 Cumberland by Carlisle, we will ride into Scotland, and do them 
 
 * " Earl of Menleith." "At the time of this battle (of OUerbouriie,} the earldom of 
 Menteith was possessed by Robert Stewart, earl of Fi!e, third stjn (,f king Robert II. 
 ' who, according to Buchanan, commanded the Scots that entered by Carlisle. But our 
 I minstrel hivd probably an eye to the fmnily of Graham, who had this earldom wliea the 
 ballad was written." -BfltQues of .indent English Foetrjj. 
 f'Redurin." a 
 
 t " Zedon. The monastery of Zedon. at which the Scottish leaders are said to have 
 held their meeting previous to er tering England, is, I shouid suppose, the modern Kirk- 
 Yetholm, exactly upon the Bo ders, and near the foot of Cheviot: the name is pro- 
 nounced Yetto'm, which comeft very near Yedon."— W. S. 
 
480 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 more damage than they can do to us; for theirs is an open country, 
 which may be entered anywhere, but ours is the contrary, with strong 
 and well fortified towns and castles." 
 
 To be more sure of their intentions, they resolved to send an Eng. 
 lish gentleman, well acquainted with the country, to this meeting in 
 the forest of Jedworth. The English squire journeyed without in- 
 terruption imtil he came to the church of Yetholm, where the Scots 
 barons were assembled, and entered it, as a servant following his mas. 
 ter, and heard the greater part of their plans. When the meeting 
 was near breaking up, he left the church on his return and went to 
 a tree, thinking to find his horse which 
 he had tied there by the bridle, but he 
 was gone ; for a Scotsman (they are all 
 thieves) had stolen him. He was fearful 
 of making a noise about it, and set off on 
 foot, though booted and spurred. He had- 
 not gone two bow-shots from the church 
 before he was noticed by two Scots knighta 
 who were in conversation. The first who 
 saw him said : " I have witnessed many 
 wonderful things, but what I now see is 
 equal to any : that man yonder has, I be- 
 lieve, lost his horse, and yet makes no in. 
 quiries after it. On my troth, I doubt 
 much if he belongs to us ; let us go after 
 him, and see whether I am right or not." 
 The two knights soon overtook him. On 
 their approach he was alarmed, and wished 
 himself anywhere else. They asked hira 
 whither he was going, whence he had 
 come, and what he had done with his 
 horse. As he contradicted himself in his 
 answers, they laid hands on hii?i, and said 
 he must come before their captains, and 
 he was brought back to the church of 
 Yetholm, to the earl of Douglas and the 
 other lords. They examined him closely, 
 for they knew him for an Englishman, as 
 to the reasons he had come thither, and 
 assured him, if he did not truly answer all 
 their questions, his head should be struck 
 off ; but, if he told the truth, no harm 
 
 should happen to him. Very unwillingly he obeyed, for the love of 
 life prevailed ; and the Scots barons learnt that he had been sent 
 by the earl of Northumberland to discover the number of their forces, 
 and whither they were to march. This intelligence gave them the 
 greatest pleasure, and they would not on any account but have taken 
 this spy. 
 
 He was asked where the barons of Northumberland were ? if they 
 had any intentions of making an excursion ? and what road to Scot- 
 land they would take ; along the sea.shore from Berwick to Dunbar, 
 or by the mount:iins through the country of Menteith to Stirling ? 
 He replied, *' Since you will force me to tell the truth, when I left 
 Newcastle, there were not any signs of an excursion being mada ; 
 but the barons are all ready to set out at a moment's warning, as 
 soon as they shall hear you have entered England. They will not 
 oppose you, for they are not in sufficient numbers to meet so large a 
 body as you are reported to them to consist of." " And what do they 
 estimate our numbers at in Northumberland ?" said lord Moray. 
 *' They say, my lord," replied the squire, " that you have full forty 
 thousand men, and twelve thousand spears ; and by way of counter, 
 acting your career, should you march to Cumberland, they will take 
 the road through Berwick to Dunbar, Dalkeith, and Edinburgh : if 
 you follow the other road, they will then march to Carlisle, and enter 
 your country by these mountains." The Scottish lords, on hearing 
 this, were silent, but looked at each other. The English squire was 
 delivered to the governor of the castle of Jedworth, with orders to 
 have particular guard over him ; when they conferred together in the 
 church of Yeth'^lra, and formed other plans. 
 
 sand etjut infantry and archers, all well mounted, should make for 
 Newcastle.on.Tyne, cross the river, and enter Durham, spoiling and 
 burning the country. They will have committed gre^t waste m 
 England before our enemies can have any information of their being 
 there : if we find they come in pursuit of us, which they certainly 
 wi'll, we will then unite together, and fix on a proper place to offer 
 them batde, as we all seem to have that desire, and to gain honor ; 
 for it is time to repay them some of the mischief they have done to 
 us." This plan was adopted, and sir Archibald Douglas, the earl of 
 Fife, the earl of Sutherland, the earl ol Menteith, the earl of Mar, liio 
 
 CHAPTER CXXV. 
 
 THB SCOTS FORM THEIR ARMY INTO TWO DIVISIONS ; ONi:. TTNDER THE 
 COMMAND OF SIR ARCHIBALD DOUGLAS, MARCHES TO CARLISLE, AND THE 
 OTHER TO NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE, COMMANDED BY THE EARL OF DOUG- 
 LAS ; AT THE BARRIERS OF WHICH PLACE, HE CONQUERS THE PENNON 
 OF SIR HENRY PERCY. # 
 
 The barons of Scotland were in high spirits at this intelligence, 
 and considered their success as certain, now they knew the disposi- 
 tion of the enemy. They held a council, as to their mode of pro. 
 ceeding, and the wisest and most accustomed to arms, such as sir 
 Archibald Douglas, the earl of Fife, sir Alexander Ramsay, sir .Tohn 
 Sinclair, and sir .Tames Lindsay, were the speakers: they said, " That 
 to avoid any chance of failing in their attempt, they would advise the 
 army to be divided, and two expeditions to be made, so that the ene- 
 my might be puzzled whither to march their forces. The largest 
 division, with the baggage, should goto Carlisle in Cumberland : and 
 tb« Other, consisting of three or four baadred spears, and two thou. 
 
 JsswoRTB. (Jedburgh.) From an Original Drawing 
 
 earl of Stratheme, sir Stephen Frazer, sir George Dunbar, with six 
 teen other great barons of Scodand, were ordered to the command 
 of the largest division, that was to march to Carlisle. The earl ol 
 Douglas, the earl of March and Dunbar, and the earl of Moray, were 
 appointed leaders of the three hundred picked lances and two thou- 
 sand infantry, who were t^ advance to Newcastle.on.Tyne and in- 
 vade Northumberland. When these two divisions separated, the 
 lords took a very affectionate leave of each other, promising that if 
 the English took the field against them, they would not fight unti' 
 they were all united, which would give them such a superiority ol 
 force as must insure victory. They then left the forest ot .^edvvortb^ 
 one party marching to the right and the other to the left. The barons 
 of Northumberland net finding their squire return, nor hearing any- 
 thing of the Scot?, began to suspect the accident which had happened. 
 They therefore ordered every one to be prepared to march at a mo. 
 ment's notice, or when they should hear of the Scots having entered 
 the country, for they considered their squire as lost. 
 
 Let us return to the expedition under the earl of Douglas and his 
 companions, for they had more to do than the division that went to 
 Carlisle, and were eager to perform some deeds of arms. When the 
 earls of Douglas, Moray, and March were separated froin the main 
 body, they determined to cross the Tyne and enter the bishopric of 
 Durham, and, after they had despoiled and burnt that country as far 
 as the city of Durham, to return by Newcastle, and quarter them, 
 selves there in spite of the English. This they executed, and riding 
 at a good pace, through bye-roads, without attacking town, castle, or 
 house, arrived on the lands of the lord Percy, and crossed the river 
 Tyne, without any opposition, at the place they had fixed on, about 
 three leagues above Newcastle, near to Brancepeth,* where they en. 
 tered the rich country of Durham, and instantly began their war, by 
 burning towns and slaying the inhabitants. 
 
 Neither the earl of Northumberland nor the barons and knights of 
 the country had heard anything of their invasion : but when intelli- 
 gence came to Durham and Newcastle that the Scots were abroad, 
 which was indeed visible enough from the smoke that was every, 
 where seen, the earl of Northumberland sent his two sons to New. 
 castle ; but he himself remained at Alnwick, and issued orders for 
 every one to repair thither also. Before his sons left him, he said: 
 " You will hasten to Newcastle, where the whole country will join 
 you : I will remain here, for it is the road they may return by ; if we 
 can surround them, we shall do well; but I know not for certain 
 where they now are." Sir Henry and sir Ralph Percy obeyed their 
 father's orders, and made for Newcastle accompanied by the gentle- 
 men and others fit to bear arms. In the mean time, the Scots con. 
 tinned destroying and burning all before them, so that the smoke was 
 
 * " Brancepeth*'— four miles from Durliam. A ruin ofa fine old CiUUe remauUi wbicb 
 1 beli«r8 iioji be«a lately fitted up and repaired fur a residence. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 461 
 
 visible at Newcastle. They came to the gates of Durham, where 
 they skirmished, but made no long stay, and set out on their return, 
 as they had planned at the beginning of the expedition, driving and 
 carrying away all the booty they thought worth their pains. The 
 country is very rich between Durham and Newcastle, which is but 
 tvcelve English miles distant: there was not a town in all this dis- 
 trict, unless well inclosed, tliat was not burnt. The Scots recrossed 
 the Tyne at the same place, and came before Newcastle, where they 
 hailed. All the knights and squires of the country were collected at 
 
 £RANC£p£Ta Castle. From an On'ginal Drawing. 
 
 Newcastle, and thither came the s6neschal of York, sir Ralph Lang- 
 ley, sir M itthew Redman, governor of Berwick, sir Robert Ogle, sir 
 Thomas Grey, sir Thomas Halton, sir John Felton, sir John Lilburne, 
 sir William Walsingham, sir Thomas Abiagton, the baron of Halton, 
 sir John Copeland, and so many others, the town was filled with 
 more than it couid lodge. 
 
 The three Scots lords, having completed the object of their expe- 
 dition into Durham, lay before Newcastle three days, where there 
 was an almost continual skirmish. The sons of the earl of North- 
 umberland, from their great courage, were always the first at the 
 baniers, when many valiant deeds were done with lances hand to 
 hand. The earl of Douglas had a long conflict with sir Henry Percy, 
 and in it, by gallantry of arms, won his pennon, to the great vexation 
 of sir Henry and the other English. The earl of Douglas said, " I 
 will carry this uken of your prowess with me to Scotland, and place 
 it on the tower of my castle at Dalkeith, that it may be seen from 
 far." " By God, earl of Douglas," replied sir Henry, " you shall not 
 even bear it out of Northumberland : be assured you shall never have 
 this pennon to brag of." " You must come then," answered earl 
 Douglas, " this night and seek for it. I will fix your pennon before 
 my tent, and shall see if you will venture to take it away." 
 
 As ic was now too late, the skirmish ended, and each party returned 
 to ^heir quarters, to disarm and comfort themselves. They had plenty 
 of everything, particularly flesh meat. The Scots kept up a very 
 strict watch, concluding from the words of sir Henry Percy, they 
 should have their quarters beaten up this night : they were disap- 
 pointed, for sir Henry was advised to defer it. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXVI. 
 
 THE EARL OF DOUGLAS, WHEN ENCAMPED BEFORE OTTERBOURNE, IS AT- 
 TACKED BY SIR HENRY PERCY,*TO RECONCJUER HIS PENNON, AND A GEN- 
 ERAL BATTLE ENSUES. 
 
 On the morrow, the Scots dislodged from before Newcastle ; and, 
 taking the road to their own country, they came to a town and castle 
 called Ponclau.* of which sir Raymond de Laval, a very valiant 
 knight of Northumberland, was the lord. Thoy halted there about 
 four o'clock in the morning, as they learnt the knight to be within it, 
 and made preparations for the assault. This was done with such cour- 
 age, that the place was won, and the knight made prisoner. After they 
 had burnt the town and castle, they marched away for Otterbourne,t 
 which was eight English leagues from Newcastle, and there en- 
 camped themselves. 
 
 This day they made no attack ; but, veiy early on the morrow, 
 
 * " Ponclau." Pontland, a village on tlie Blythe, about five miles from jXewcastle. 
 
 t Otter bouTne"— is so well known from this celebrated battle, and the old balhids, 
 that U is almost needless to tay it is situated in the parish of Elsdon. Nurthumberland. 
 
 their trumpets sounded, and they made ready for the assault, advan. 
 cing toward the castle, which was tolerably strong, and i:ituatod among 
 marshes. They attacked it so long and so unsuccessfully, that they 
 were fatigued, and therefore sounded a retreat. When they had re- 
 tired to their quarters, the chiefs held a council how to act; and the 
 greater part was for decamping on the rnnrrow, without attempting 
 more against the casde, to join their countrymen in the neighborhood 
 of Carlisle. But the earl of Douglas overruled this, by saying : " In 
 despite of sir Henry Percy, who the day before ycf-.terday declared 
 
 he would take from me his pennon, that I 
 conquered by fair deeds of arms before the 
 gates of Newcastle, I will not depart hence 
 for two or three days ; and we will renew 
 our attack on the castle, for it is to be taken : 
 r^iT^ we shall thus gain double honor, and see if 
 
 within that time he will come for his pen- 
 non : if he do, il shall be well defended." 
 Every one agreed to what earl Douglas had 
 said ; for it was not only honorable, but he 
 was the principal commander ; and from af- 
 fection to him, they quietly returned to their 
 quarters. They made huts of trees and 
 branches, and strongly fortified themselves. 
 They placed their baggage and servants at 
 the entrance of the marsh on the road to 
 Newcastle, and the cattle they drove into 
 the marsh lands. 
 
 I will return to sir Henry and sir Ralph 
 Percy, who were greatly mortified that the 
 earl of Douglas should have conquered their 
 pennon in the skirmish before Newcastle. 
 They felt the more for this disgrace, because 
 sir Henry had not kept his word ; for he had 
 told the earl, that he should never carry Iris 
 pennon out of England, and this he had ex. 
 plained to the knights who were with him 
 in Newcastle. The English imagined the 
 army under the earl of Douglns to be only 
 the van of the Scots, and that the main body 
 was behind ; for which reason those who had 
 the most experience in arms, and were the best acquainted with war- 
 like affaiis, strongly opposed the proposal of sir Henry Percy to purs.ie 
 them. They said, " Sir, many losses happen in war : if the earl of 
 Douglas has won your pennon, he has bought il dear enough : for he 
 has come to the gates to seek it, and has been well fought with. 
 Another time, you will gain from him as much if not more. We 
 say so, because you know, as well as we do, that the whole power 
 of Scotland has taken the field. We are not sufficiently strong to 
 offer them battle ; and perhaps this skirmish may have been onlv a 
 trick to draw us out of the town ; and if they be, as reported, forty 
 thousand strong, they will surround as, and have us at their mercy, 
 It is much better to lose a pennon than two or three hundred knights 
 and squires, and leave our country in a defenceless state." 
 
 This speech checked the eagerness of the two brothers Percy, for 
 they would not act contrary to the opinion of the council ; when other 
 news was brought them by some knights and squires who had fol. 
 lowed and observed the Scots, their numbers, dispositions, and where 
 they had halted. This was all fully related by knights who had 
 traversed the whole extent of country the Scots had passed through, 
 that they might carry to their lords the most exact information. They 
 thus spoke : "Sir Henry and sir Ralph Percy, we come to tell you 
 that we have followed the Scottish army, and cboerved all the coun- 
 try where they now are. They first halted at Pontland, and tcok 
 sir Raymond de Laval in his castle: thence they went to Otterbournc, 
 and took up their quarters for the night. We are ignorant of what 
 they did on the morrow, but they seemed to have taken measures 
 tor a long stay. We know for certain that their army does net con- 
 sist of more than three thousand men, including all sorts." Sir 
 Henry Percy, on hearing this, was greatly rejoiced, and cried out, 
 " To horse ! to horse ! for by the faith I owe my God, and to my 
 lord and father, I will seek to recover my pennon, and to heat up 
 their quarters this night." Such knights and squires in Newcastle 
 as learnt this were willing to be of the party, and made themselves 
 ready. 
 
 The bishop of Durham was expected daily at the town ' fjr \\e had 
 heard of the irruption of the Scots, and that they we'.c Lt-'"ore if, 
 in which were the sons of the earl of Northumberlanc' i-f .pa-ing u 
 offer them combat. The bishop had collected a num'.<' . of men, and 
 was hastening to their assistance, but sir Henry J ^.cy would not 
 wait ; for he was accompanied by six hundred spea? i, of knignts and 
 squires, and upward of eight thousand infantri , which, he said, 
 would be more than enough to fight the Scots, w;..o were but three 
 hundred lances and two thousand others. When they were ail as- 
 sembled, they left Newcastle after dinner, and toi k the field in good 
 array, following the road the Scots had taken, making for Otter- 
 bourne, which was eight short leagues distant ; but they cor.ld not 
 advance very fast, that their infantry might keep up with them. 
 
 As the Scots were supping, some indeed were gone to sleep, for 
 they had labored hard during the day, at the attack of the castle, aad 
 
482 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 intended renewing it in the cool of the morning, the English arrived, 
 and mistook, at their entrance, the huts of the servants for those of 
 their masters. They forced their way into the camp, which was, 
 however, tolerably strong, shouting out, " Percy ! Percy !" In such 
 cases, you may suppose an alarm is soon given, and it was fi>rtunate 
 lor the Scots the English had made their first attack on their servants' 
 quarters, which checked them some little. The Scots, expecting 
 the English, had prepared accordingly ; for, while the lords were arm- 
 ing themselves, they ordered a body of their infantry to join their 
 servants and keep up the skirmish. As their men were armed, they 
 formed themselves under the pennons of the three principal barons, 
 who each had his particular appointment. In the mean time, the 
 night advanced, but it was sufficiently light ; for the moon shone, 
 and it was the month of August, when the weather is temperate and 
 serene. 
 
 When the Scots were quite ready and properly arrayed, they left 
 their camp in silence, but did not march to meet the English. They 
 skirled the side of a mountain which was hard by ; for during the 
 preceding day, they had well examined the country around, and said 
 among themselves, "Should the E/iglish co-me to beat up our quar- 
 ters, we will do so and so :" and thus setded their plans befjrehand, 
 which was the saving of them ; for it is of the greatest advantage tj 
 men-at-arms, when attacked in the night, to have previously arranged 
 the mode of defence, and well to have weighed the chance of victory 
 or defeat. The English had soon overpowered the servants ; but, as 
 tncy advanced into the camp, they found fresh bodies ready to oppose 
 them, and to continue the fight. The Scots, in the mean time, 
 marched along the mountain side, and fell on the enemy's flank quite 
 unexpectedly, shouting their cries. This was a great surprise to the 
 English, who, hov/ever, formed themselves in better order, and rein- 
 forced that part of their army. The cries of Percy and Douglas 
 resounded on each side. 
 
 The battle now raged : great was the pushing of lances, and very 
 many of each party were struck down at the first onset. The Eng- 
 lish being more numerous, and very anxious to defeat the enemy, 
 kept in a compact body, and forced the Scots to retire, who were on 
 the point of being discomfited. The earl of Douglas being young, 
 and impatient to gain renown in arms, ordered his banner to advance, 
 shouting, "Douglas! Douglas!" Sir Henry and sir Ralph Percy, 
 indignant for the affi-ont the earl of Douglas had put on them, by 
 conquering their pennon, and desirous of meeting him, hastened to 
 the place from which the sounds came, calling out "Percy! Percy!" 
 The two banners met, and many gallant deeds of arms ensued. The 
 English were in superior strength, and fought so lustily they drove 
 back the Scots. Sir Patrick Hepburne, and his son of the same 
 name, did honor to their knighthood and country, by their gallantry, 
 under the banner of Douglas, which would have been conquered but 
 for the vigorous defence they made ; and this circumstance not only 
 contributed to their personal credit, but the memory of it is continued 
 with honor to their descendants. 
 
 I was made acquainted with all the particulars of this battle, 
 by knights and squires who had been actors in it on each side. 
 There were also, with the English, two valiant knights from the 
 county of Foix, whom I had the good fortune to meet at Orth^s the 
 year after this battle had been fought. Their names were sir .Tohn 
 de Chateauneuf and John de Cautiron. On my return from Foix, I 
 met likewise at Avignon a knight and two squires of Scotland, of the 
 party of earl Douglas. They knew me again from the recollections 
 I brought to their minds of their own country ; for in my youth, I, the 
 author of this history, travelled all through Scotland, and was full 
 fifteen days resident with William earl of Douglas, father of eari 
 James, of whom v. e are now speaking, at his castle of Dalkeith, five 
 miles distant from Edinburgh. Earl James was then very young, 
 but a promising youth, and he had a sister called Blanche.* I had 
 my information, therefore, from both parties, who agree that it was 
 the hardest and most obstinate battle that ever was fought. This I 
 readily believed, for the English and Scots are excellent men-at-arms, 
 and whenever they meet in battle they do not spare each other ; nor 
 is there any check to their courage so long as their weapons endure. 
 When they have well beaten each other, and one party is victorious, 
 they are so proud of their conquest, that they ransom their prisoners 
 instantly, and in such courteous manner to those who have been 
 taken, that on their departure they return them their thanks. How- 
 ever, when in battle, there is no boy's play between them, nor do 
 they shrink from the combat ; and you will see, in the further detail 
 of Xhia battle, as excellent deeds performed as were ever witnessed. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXVII. 
 
 TllB EAltL or DOUGLAS, IN RALLYING HIS MEN WHO \VERE LETRBATINC?, 
 IS MORTALLY WOUNDED. SIR RALPH PERCY, BADLY WOUNDED, SUR- 
 RENDERS TO SIR JOHN MAXWELL, WHO PUTS HIM IN THE HANDS OF THE 
 EARL OF MORAY. 
 
 The knights and squires of either party were anxious to continue 
 the combat with vigor, as long as their spears might be capable of 
 holding. Cowardice was there unkno wn, and the most splendid 
 
 * " Blanche." Earl William Douglas was firei married to Margaret, daughter of tlie 
 «arl of Alar. By her he had two childifln, James, who succeeded him ia his honon, and 
 IsaUl. 
 
 courage was everywhere exhibited by the gallant youths of England 
 and Scotland : they were so closely intermixed, that the archers' 
 bows were useless, and they fought hand to band without either bat- 
 talion giving wu^y.* The Scots behaved most valiantly, for the Eng. 
 lish were three to one. I do not mean to say the English did not 
 acquit themselves well , for they would sooner be slain or made pris- 
 oners in battle, than reproached with flight. As I before mentioned, 
 the two banners of Douglas and Percy met, and the man-at-arms, 
 under each, exerted themselves by every means, to gain the victory; 
 but the English at this attack, were so much the stronger, that the 
 Scots were driven back. The earl of Douglas, who was of a high 
 spirit, seeing his men repulsed, seized a battle-axe with both his 
 hands, like a gallant knight, and, to rally his men, dashed into the 
 midst of his enemies, and gave such blows on all around him, that 
 no one could withstand them, but all made way for him on every 
 side ; for there were none so well armed with helmets or plates but 
 that they suffered from his battle-axe. Thus he advanced, like 
 another Hector, thinking to recover and conquer the field, from his 
 own prowess, until he was met by three spears that v^'ere pointed at 
 him : one struck him on the shoulder, another on the stomach, near 
 the belly, and the third entered his thigh. He could never disen- 
 i^age himself from these spears, but was borne to the ground fight- 
 ing desperately. From that moment he never rose agnin. S:)me of 
 his knights and squires had followed him, but not all ; for though the 
 moon shone it was rather dark. The three English lances knew 
 they had struck down some person of considerable rank, but never 
 thought it was eaul Douglas: had they knowii it, they would have 
 been so rejoiced that their courage would have been redoubled, and 
 the fortune of the day had consequently been determined to their 
 side. The Scots were also ignorant of their loss until the battle 
 was over, otherwise they would cfirtainly, from despair, have been 
 discomfited. 
 
 I will relate v/hat befel the earl afterwards. As soon as he fell, his 
 head was cleaved with a battle-axe, the spera* thrust through his 
 thigh, and the main body of the English marched over him without 
 paying any attention, not supposing him their principal enemy. In 
 another part of the field, the earl of March and Dunbar combated 
 valiantly ; and the English gave the Scots full employment who had 
 followed the earl of Douglas, and had engaged with the two Percies. 
 The earl of Moray behaved so gallantly in pursuing the English, that 
 they knew not how to resist him. Of all the battles that have been 
 described in this history, great and small, this of v.Tiich I am now 
 speaking was the best fought, and the most severe ; lor there was 
 not a man, knight or squire, who did not acquit himself gallantl.v, 
 hand to hand with his enemy. It resembled sometiiing that of Cocli- 4 
 erel, which was as long and as hardily disputed. The sons of the * 
 earl of Northumberland, sir Henry and sir Ralph Percy, who were 
 leaders of this expedition, behaved themselves like good knights in 
 the combat. Almost a similar accident befel sir Ralph as that which 
 happened to the earl of Douglas; for, having advanced too far, he 
 was surrounded by the enemy and severely wounded, and, being out 
 of breath, surrendered himself to a Scots knight, called sir John 
 Maxwell, who was under the command, and of the household of the 
 earl of Moray. 
 
 When made prisoner, the knight asked him who he was ; for it 
 was dark, and he knew him not. Sir Ralph v/as so v/eakened by 
 loss of blood, which was flowing from his wound, that he could 
 scarcely avow himself to be sir Ralph Percy. " Well," replied the 
 knight, "sir Ralph, rescued or not, you are my prisoner: my name 
 is Maxwell." " I agree to it," said sir Ralph ; " but pay some at 
 tention to me ; for 1 am so desperately wounded that my drawers 
 and greaves are full of blood." Upon this, the Scots knight was 
 very attentive to him ; when suddenly hearing the cry of Moray hard 
 
 * Lord Bcrners is always best when battles occur. His spirit arisas, and liis v/ords 
 sound like the nei^h of tiie war-horse. We can give here bis version of the combat at 
 Otterbourne. 
 
 " KniKhtes and squyers were of good courage on bothe parties to fyghte valyaimtly, 
 cowardes there had no place, but hanlynesse rayned with goodly fe;ites of arme^, for 
 knyghtes and squires were so joined togyder at hande strokes, tliat archers had no placo 
 of nether party. There the Scotte? shewed great hardynesse and tiiutrht nieryly, wiih 
 treat desyre of honour; the Englysshmen were tliree to one. Howboit I say nnt but 
 Engiysshmen dyd nobly acquyte theinselfe, for ever the Englyssinnen had rather ben 
 slayiie or taken in the place than flye. Thus as I have sayd the baners of Dout'las and 
 Percy and their niun were mei eache against other, envyous who sJiulde wynne tha 
 honour of that journey. At the begynnynge the Englysslnnen were so stroni;e, that 
 they reculed bncke their enemyes. Than the erle Diiglass, who was of great haite and 
 hyeh enterprise, seeyinge his men recule backe, than to recover the pLice and shewe 
 knyghtly vulure, he toke his axe in bothe his handes and entered so into the prease that 
 he made hymselfe waye in such wyse that none durste aproche nere hym, and he was so 
 well armed that he bare well of such strokes as he recy ned. 1'luis he wenie ever furwarde 
 lyka hardy Hector, wyllynge ah)ne to conquere tiie field, and todisconifyte his enemyes. 
 But at laste he was encountred with threspeares all at ones, the one ^trake hym on 
 the shoulder, the other on the breste, and the st7-okc pleiitcd doione to his bcly, and the 
 thyrd sfrake him in the liiye, and sore hurt wish all three strokes so tiiat he was borne 
 pertbrce to theerthe, and after that he culdenat again bereleved. Some of his knyghtes 
 and squyres folowed hym, but nat all, for it was nyght, and no lyght but by the shynynge | 
 of the mone. The Englysshmen knew well they had borne one down to the ertli. but |l 
 they wyst nat who it was, for if they had knowen that it had bene the erle of Duglasfl, i| 
 they had bene thereof so jo\ful and so prowde that the vyctorye had bene theirs. Nor 
 also the Scottes knew nat of that adventure tyll theende of the batayle. for if they had 
 knowen it they sliould have bene so sore dyspayred and dyscoraged that thpy wolde 
 have fledde awaye. Thus as the erle Duglass was feUod ta the erth. he was stricken 
 into the heed with an axe, and another stroke throughe tiie thye. The Englysshmen I 
 pas.'-ed forthe and tooke no hede of hym ; they thought* nona otherwis* but that thif | 
 , hadde slayne a maD-at-armw."'-'£l>. j 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 483 
 
 by, and perceiving the earl's banner advancing to him, sir John ad- 
 dressed himself to the earl of Moray, and said, " My lord, I present 
 you with sir Ralph Percy, as a prisoner ; but let good care be taken 
 of him, for he is very badly wounded." The earl was much pleased 
 at this, and replied, " Maxwell, thou hast well earned thy spurs this 
 day." He then ordered his men to take every care of sir Ralph, 
 who bound up and stanched his wounds. The battle still continued 
 to rage, and no one could say at that moment which side would be 
 the conqueror, for there were many captures and rescues thai never 
 came to my knowledge. 
 
 Death of Douglas. Designed from MSS. Illuminations of the loth cenlurr. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXVIII. 
 
 ME EARL OF DOUGLAS, THOUGH MORTALLY WOUNDED, ORDERS HIS BAN- 
 NER TO RE RAISED, AS THE BEARER HAD BEEN SLAIN, AND FORBIDS HIS 
 LAMENTABLE STATE TO BE MADE KNOWN TO HIS MEN, URGING THEM 
 ON TO THE COMBAT, BY WHICH THEY DEFEAT THEIR ENEMIES AND 
 MAKE SIR HENRY P.:RCY WITh MANY MORE PR SONERS. 
 
 The young earl of Douglas had this night performed wonders in 
 arms. When he v/as struck down, there was a great crowd round 
 him ; and he could not raise himself, for the blow on his head was 
 moitaJ. His men had followed him as closely as they were able ; 
 and there came lo him his cousins, sir James Lindsay, sir John and 
 sir Walter Sinclair, with other knights and squires. They found by 
 his side a gallant knight that had constantly attended him, who was 
 ihis chaplain, and had at this time exchanged his profession for that 
 of a valiant man-at-arms. The whole night he had followed the earl 
 with his battle-axe in hand, and had by his exertions more than once 
 repulsed the English. This conduct gained the thanks of his coun- 
 trymen, and turned out to his advantage, for in the same year he 
 I was promoted to the archdeaconry and made canon of Aberdeen. 
 !His name was sir William of North Berwick. To say the truth, he 
 was well formed in all his limbs to shine in battle, and was severely 
 wounded at this combat. When these knights came to the earl of 
 , Douglas, they found him in a melancholy state, as well as one of his 
 » knighu, sir Robert Hart, who had fought by his side the whole of the 
 i^ night, and now lay beside him, covered with fifteen wounds from 
 j'lances and other weapons. 
 
 Sir John Sinclair asked the earl, " Cousin, how fares it with you ?" 
 5 " But so so," replied he. " Thanks to God, there are but few of my 
 .Ancestors who have died in chambers or in their beds. I bid you, 
 5 therefore, revenge my death, for I have but little hope of living, as 
 IWmy heart becomes every minute more faint. Do you Walter an^sir 
 ■'Mohn Sinclair raise up my banner, for certainly it is on the ground, 
 [from the death of David Campbell, that valiant squire,, who bore it, 
 Land who refused knighthood from my hands this day, though he was 
 pequal to the most eminent knights for courage or loyalty ; and con- 
 p4i»tt€uto-shout 'Douglas but do not tell friend or foe whether I am 
 l;in your company or not ; for, should the enemy know the truth, they 
 
 will be greatly rejoiced." The two brothers Siachir, and sir John 
 Lindsay, obeyed his orders. The banner vv'as rai ^od and " Douglas V 
 shouted. Their men, who had remained behind, hearing the shout3 
 of " Douglas I" so often repeated, ascended a sm;Ul eminence, and 
 pushed their lances with such courage that the English were repulsed, 
 and many killed or struck to the ground. The Scots, by thus val. 
 iantly driving the enemy beyond the spot where the earl of Douglas 
 lay dead, for he had expired on giving his last orders, arrived at his 
 banner, which was borne by sir John Sinclair. Numbers were con. 
 tinually increasing, from the repealed shouts of " Douglas 1" and 
 
 the greater part of the Scots 
 knights and squires were now 
 there. The earls of Moray 
 and March, with their ban. 
 -. .^^ ners and men, came hither 
 
 also. When they were all 
 thus collected, perceiving the 
 English retreat, they renewed 
 ^ the battle with greater vigor 
 than before. 
 
 To say the truth, the Eng- 
 lish had harder work than 
 the Scots, for they had come 
 by a forced march that even, 
 ing from Newcat^tle on Tyne, 
 which v/as eight English 
 leagues distant, to meet the 
 Scots, by which means the 
 greater part were exceeding, 
 ly fatigued before the combat 
 began. The Scut-, on the 
 contrary, had repos d them, 
 selves, which was to them of 
 the utmost advantage, as was 
 apparent from the event of 
 the battle. In this last attack, 
 they so completely repulsed 
 the English, that the latter 
 could never rally again, and 
 the former drove them far be. 
 yond where the earl of Doufi. 
 las lay on the ground. Sir 
 Henry Percy, during ihiii at- 
 tack, had the misfortune to 
 fall into the hands of the lord 
 Montgomery, a very valiant 
 knight of Scotland. They 
 had long fought ha!id to hand 
 with much valor, and without 
 hindrance from any one ; for 
 there was neither kr.ight nor 
 squire of either party who did 
 not find there his equal to fight with, and all v.'ere fully engr^ed. 
 In the end, sir Henry was made prisoner by the lord Mont --omery. 
 
 You would have seen, in this engagement, such knights and squires 
 as sir Malcolm Drummond, fir Thomas of Eiskine, sir William, sir 
 James and sir Alexander Lindsay, the lord Saltoun, sir John Sandi. 
 lands, sir Patrick Dunbar, sir John and sir Walter Sinclair, sir Patrick 
 Hcpburne and his two sons, the lord Montgomery, ?ir John Maxwell, 
 sir Adam Gl^ndinning, sir William Redouu,* sir William Stuart, sir 
 John Haliburton, sir John Limdic, sir Robert Lauder, sir Alexander 
 Rrim?ay, sir Alexander Frazer, sir John Edmon^tone, sir Wil'iam 
 Wardlsw, David Flem.ing, Robert Campbell and his two S'ons, John 
 and Robert, who were that day knighted, and a hundred other knights 
 and squires, whose names J cannot remember; but there was not one 
 who did not most gallantly perform his part in this engagement. 
 
 On the side of the English, there were fir Ralph de Langley, sir 
 Matthew Redman, sir Robert of Ogle, sir Thomas Grahr.ni, s-ir 
 Thomas Haltoun, sir John Felton, sir Thomas Ahington, fir John de 
 Lilburn, sir William Walsingham, the baron de Haltoun, sir John de 
 Copeland, seneschal of York, and many m.ore, who on foot main- 
 t dned the fight vigorously, both before and after the capture cf sir 
 Henry Percy .t The battle wa^ severely fought on each side ; but 
 such is the fickleness cf fortune, that though the English were a more 
 numerous body of able men-at-arms, and at the first onset had re- 
 .pulsed the Scots, they in the end lost the field ; and all the above, 
 named knights, except sir Mattnew Redman, governor of Berwick, 
 were made prisoners. But he, !=t!t-ing they were defeated without 
 hopes of recovery, and the English flying in all directions, while his 
 brother knights were surrendering themselves to the Scots, mounted 
 his horse, and rode off. 
 
 Just as the defeat took place, and wnile the combat was continued 
 in different parts, an English squire, whose name was Thon)as Fcl. 
 ton, and attached to the household of lord Percy, was surrounded by 
 a body of Scots. He was a handsome man, and as he showed, val. 
 
 * Rutlierford or Ruthven.— Ed. 
 
 t Tlie names of the parties on l)oth sides were rectified !)/ Mr. Johnes, nssisted by sit 
 Walters ott, and liuve been further corrected from tiie recent Frencii edition of M 
 Buchon, wlio ha» cleared up many difficulties by reterence to the MSS. to which lie has 
 had accc«s.~£i>. 
 
484 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 i mt in arms. He had that and the preceding night been employed 
 ia collecting the best arms, and would neither surrender nor deign 
 to fly. It was toid me, that he had made a vow to that purpose, and 
 Iiad declared at some feast in Northumberland, that at the very first 
 jueetingof the Scots and English, he would acquit himself so loyally 
 t^iat, for having stood his ground, he should be renowned as the best 
 rambatant of both parties. I also heard, for I never saw him, that I 
 know of, that his body and limbs were of a strength befitting a vigor- 
 ous combatant ; and he performed such deeds of valor, when engaged 
 with the banner of the earl of Moray, as astonished the Scots, but he 
 was slain while thus valiantly fighting. They would willingly have 
 made him a prisoner for his courage ; and several knights proposed 
 it to him, but in vain, for he thought he should be assisted by his 
 friends. Thus died Thomas Felton, while engaged with a cousin of 
 the king of Scotland, called Simon Glendinning, much lamented by 
 his party. 
 
 According to what I heard, this battle was very bloody from its 
 commencement to the defeat : but when the Scots saw the English 
 were discomfited and surrendering on all sides, they behaved cour- 
 teously to them, saying, " Sit dosvn and disarm yourselves, for I am 
 your master;" but never insulted them more than if they had been 
 brothers. The pursuit lasted a long time, and to the length of five 
 English miles. Had the Scots been in sufficient numbers, none 
 would have escaped death or captivity ; and if sir Archibald Doug, 
 las, the earl of Fife, the earl of Sutherland, with the division that 
 had marched for Carlisle, had been there, they would have taken 
 the bishop of Durham and the town of Newcastle on Tyne, as I 
 ehall explain to you.* 
 
 CHAPTER CXXIX. 
 
 THE BISHOP or DURHAM IS ANXIOUS TO SUCCOR THE ENGLISH AND RESCUE 
 MR HENRY PERCY, BUT IS SO BADLY SUPPORTED BY HIS MEN, THAT HE 
 IS FORCED TO RETREAT. HE MAKES SIR JAMES LINDSAY PRISONER, 
 WHO HAD TAKEN SIR MATTHEW REDMAN. 
 
 The same evening that sir Henry and sir Ralph Percy had left 
 Newcastle, the bishop of Durham, with the remainder of the forces 
 of that district, had arrived there and supped. While seated at table, 
 lie considered that he should not act very honorably if he remained 
 in the town while his countrymen had taken the field. In conse- 
 quence, he rose from table, ordered his horses to be saddled, and his 
 trumpets to sound for those who had horses to make themselves 
 ready, and the infantry to be drawn out in array for quitting the 
 place. When they had all left it, they amounted to seven thousand 
 men ; that is, two thousand on horseback and five thousand on foot. 
 Although it was now night, they took the road toward Otterbourne ; 
 but they had not advanced a league from Newcastle before intelli- 
 gence was brought that the English were engaged with the Scots. 
 On this, the bishop halted his men ; and several more joined them, 
 out of breath from the combat. They were asked how the affair 
 went : they replied, " Badly, and unfortunately : we are defeated, and 
 here are the Scots close to our heels." This second intelligence, 
 being worse than the first, gave the alarm to several, who broke from 
 their ranks ; and when, shortly after, crowds came to them flying 
 like men defeated, they were panic-struck, and so frightened with 
 the bad news, that the bishop of Durham could not retain five hun- 
 dred of his men together. 
 
 Now, supposing a large body had come upon the^n and followed 
 them ia their flight (with the addition of its being night,) to regain 
 
 * Through the kindness of my friends at Edinbursjh, particularly Dr. Robert Anderson 
 and Walter Sc(;U. Esq. to whom the public are indebted for many instiuctive and 
 amusins performances, I am enabled to clear up, in some measure, my Kistorian's 
 blunder's in the names of the heroes at this celebrated battle, and to add a few mme par 
 ticulars concernin^^ it. 
 
 ** The present mansion of Ol tcrbourne, belonging to Mr. Ellis of Newcastle, is founded 
 upon the ancient cnftle or tower which Douglas was besieging when attacked by Percy, 
 The field of battle is still called Battlc-crofts. Tiiere is a cross erected on the spot 
 where Douglas fell." 
 
 See the two ballads on this battle, published by Dr. Percy in his Reliques of Ancient 
 English Poetry, and by Walter Scott, Esq. ia his Border Minstrelsy : from the Scots 
 ballad I extract as follov.s. 
 
 " Douglas was armed with an iron mace, which few but he could wield, and rushed 
 into the combat, followed only by his chaplain and his two squires. Before his followers 
 could come up, their brave leader lay stretched on tiio ground, with three mortal wounds, 
 and his two squires dead by his side: the priest alone, armed with a lance, was pro- 
 tecting his master from further injury. *! die like my forefathers,' said the expiring 
 hero. ' in a field of battle, and not on a be.l of »icki ess. Conceal my death, defend my 
 standard, and aven^'O my fill. It is an old proverb, that a dead man shall gain a field, 
 and I hope it will be accomplished this night.' 
 
 *• The two squires of the body to Douglas were Robert Hart and Simon Glendinning : 
 the chaplain, Richard Lundie, afterwards archdeacon of Aberdeen. 
 
 "The banner of Douglas was bor e by his natural son, Archibald Douglas, ancestor 
 of the family of ('avers hereditary sheriffs of Tiviotdale, among wliose archieves this 
 glorious relic is still preserved. The earl, at the onset, is said to have charged his son 
 to defend it to the last drop of his l)lood. 
 
 "Hotspur, for i.is ransom to the lord Montgomery, built the Castle of Penoon, in 
 Ayrshire, belonging to the fiimily of Montgomery, now earls of Eglintoun." 
 
 In thisjballad, Douglas is said to iiave been murdered by one of his own men ; and, 
 in the introductory discourse, there seems to have been a traditionary foundation for it, 
 and the very person is named that was supposed to have done the deed ; but Mr. Scott 
 rejects this as totally untrue, and arising from the common desire of assigning some re- 
 m te and extraordinary cause for the death of a great man. 
 
 Dr. Percy says in a note, that '* Otterbourne is near the old WatUng-street road, in the 
 Paris!) of Elsdon. The Scots were encamped on a gras.^y plain near the river Aead. 
 Th« place wher« the Scott and Eoslisb fought ii stiU called Battle-iiget." 
 
 the town, would not there have been much mischief? for those ac. 
 quainted with arms imagine the alarm would have been so great, 
 that the Scots would have forced their way intj the place with ti^eni. 
 When the bishop of Durham, who was eager to reinforce the Eng- 
 lish, saw his own men thus join the runaways in their flight, he de. 
 manded from sir William de Lussy,* sir Thomas Clifford and other 
 knights of his company, what they were now to do ? These knights 
 could not, or would not advise him : for to return without having 
 done anything would be dishonorable, and to advance seemed at- 
 tended with danger, they therefore remained silent ; but the longer 
 they waited, the more their men decreased in numbers. The bishop 
 at length said, " Gentlemen, everything considered, there is no honor 
 in fool-hardiness, nor is it requisite that to one misfortune we add 
 another: we hear and see that our men are defeated : this we can. 
 not remedy; for, should we attempt to reinforce them, v/e scarcely 
 know whither we should go, nor what numbers the enemy consist 
 of. We will return this night to Newcastle, and to-morrow reas. 
 semble and march to find our enemies." They replied, " God atsisl 
 us in it I" Upon this they marched back to Newcastle. Observe 
 the consequences of this alarm ; for had they remained steady in a 
 body, as they had left Newcastle, and forced the runaways to return 
 with them, they must have^ defeated the Scots, which was the opin- 
 ion of many. But it was not to be so, and the Scots remained vie. 
 torious. 
 
 1 will say something of sir Matthew Redman, who had mounted 
 his horse to escape from the battle, as he alone could not recover the 
 day. On his departure, he was noticed by sir .Tames Lindsay, a 
 valiant Scots knight, who was near him, and, through courage and 
 the hope of gain, was desirous of pursuing him. His horse was 
 ready, and leaping on him with his battle-axe hung at his neck, and 
 spear in hand, galloped after him, leaving his men and the battle, 
 and came so close to him, that he might, had he chosen, have hit 
 him with his lance ; but he said, " Ha, s-ir knight, turn about : it is 
 disgraceful thus to fly; I am .Tames Lindsay; and, if you do net 
 turn, I will drive my spear into your back." Sir Matthew made no 
 reply, but stuck spurs harder into his horse than before. Li this 
 state did the chase last for three miles, when sir Matthew's horse 
 stumbling under him, he leaped off, drew his sv/ord from the scab, 
 bard, and put himself in a posture of defence. The Scots knight 
 made a thrust at him with his lance, thinking to strike him on the 
 breast ; but sir Matthew, by writhing his body, escaped the blow, 
 and the point of the lance was buried in the ground, and there re. 
 mained fixed. Sir Matthew now stepped forward, and with his 
 sword cut the spear in two. 
 
 Sir James Lindsay, finding he had lost his lance, flung the shaft 
 on the ground, and, dismounting, grasped his battle-axe, which was 
 slung across his shoulder, and handled it with one hand very dex- 
 terously, for the Scots are accustomed thus to use it, attacking the 
 knight with renewed courage, who defended himself with much art. 
 They pursued each other for a long time, one with the battle-axe 
 and the other with the sword, for there was no one to prevent them; 
 but, at last, sir James laid about him such heavy blows, that sir 
 Matthew was quite out of breath, which made him surrender ; and 
 he said, "Lindsay, I yield myself to you." " Indeed I" replied the 
 Scots knight, " rescued or not." "I consent," said sir M.uthew : 
 " you will take good care of me." "That 1 will," ansvv-ered sir 
 James. Sir Matthew on this put his sword in the scabbard, and 
 said, " Now, what do you require of me, for I am your prisoner by 
 fair conquest ?" "And what is it you would wish me to do ?" re. 
 plied sir James. " 1 should like," answered sir Ma* the w, " to return 
 to Newcastle ; and, within fifteen days, 1 will come to you in any 
 part of Scotland you shall appoint." " I agree," said sir James, " on 
 your pledging yourself, that within three weeks you be in Edinburgh; 
 und whereve; you may go, you acknowledge yourself as my pris- 
 oner." Sir Matthew having sworn to observe these conditions, each 
 sought his horse, that was pasturing hard by, and, having mounted, 
 ^ook leave and departed, sir James by the way he had come, to joia 
 his countrymen, and sir Matthew to Newcastle. 
 
 Sir James, from the darkness of the night, as the moon did not 
 shine very clear, mistook his road, and had not advanced half a 
 league before he fell in with the bishop of Durham and more than 
 five hundred English : he might have escaped this danger had he • 
 chosen it, but he thought they were his friends in pursuit of the 
 enemy. When in the midst of them, those nearest asked who he 
 was. He replied, " I am sir James Lindsay." Upon this, the bishop, 
 who was within hearing, pushed forward and said, " Lindsay, you 
 are taken : surrender yourself to me." "And who are you ?" said 
 Lindsay. " I am the bishop of Durham." " And where do you como 
 from ?" added Lindsay. " By my faith, friend, I intended being at 
 the battle, but unfortunately was too late ; and in despair I am re- 
 turning to Newcastle, whither you will accompany me." " If you 
 insist on it I must comply," answered sir James; "but I have made 
 a prisoner, and am now one myself : such is the chance of war." 
 " Whom have you taken ?" asked the bishop. " I have captured 
 and ransomed, after a long pursuit, sir Matthew Redman." "And 
 where is he ?" said the bishop. " On my faith," replied sir Jam«s, 
 " he is returned to Newcastle : he entreated I would allow him three 
 
 weeks' liberty, which I complied with." " Well, well," said the 
 
 1 - — . ■ ■ -. I..- ■ ■ jfj ■ I — 
 
 •••DeLuwy." U. tucy. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN. &c. 
 
 485 
 
 bishop, " let us go on to Newcastle, where you shall converse with 
 hiin." Thus they returned to Newcastle, sir James Lindsay as pris- 
 oner to the bishop of Durham. Under the banner of the earl of 
 March, a squire of Gascony, John de Chateauneuf, was made pris. 
 oner, as was his companion, John de Cauteron, under the banner of 
 tlie carl ot Moray. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXX. 
 
 THE BISHOP OF DURHAM MARCHES ON THE MORROW OF THE BATTLE TO 
 THE SCOTS CAMP, BUT RETIRES WITHOUT DARING TO ATTACK IT. THE 
 SCOTS RETURN TO THEIR OWN COUNTRY. 
 
 Before the dawn of day, the field was clear of combatants. The 
 Scots had retired within their camp, and had sent scouts and parties 
 of light-horse toward Newcastle and on the adjacent roads, to ob. 
 serve whether the English were collecting in any large bodies, that 
 they might not a second time be surprised. This was wisely done: 
 for when the bishop of Durham was returned to Newcastle, and had 
 disarmed himself at his lodgings, he was very melancholy at the un- 
 fortunate news he had heard that his cousins, the sons of the earl of 
 Northuniberlaud, and all the knights who had followed them, were 
 cither tiken or slain. He sent for all knights and squires at the 
 time in Newcast'e, and demanded if they would sufTer things to re- 
 main in their present state, for that they would be disgraced should 
 they return without ever seeing their enemies. They held a coun- 
 oil, and determi ned to arm themselves by sunrise, and to march horse 
 and foot after the Scots to Otterbourne and offer them battle. This 
 resolution was published throughout the town, and the trumpets 
 sounded at the appointed hour. 
 
 The whole army made themselves ready, and were drawn up be. 
 fore the bridge. About sunrise they left Newcastle, through the 
 gate leading to Berwick, and followed the road to Otterbourne. 
 They amounted in the whole, including horse and foot, to ten thou- 
 Band men. They had not advanced two leagues bef tre it was sig. 
 nified to the Scots, that the bishop of Durham had rallied his troops 
 and was on his march to give them battle. This was likewise con- 
 firmed by thtir fcout-, who brought the same intelligence. 
 
 Sir M tthev,' Redman, on his return to Newcastle, told the event 
 of tivr; battle, and of his bei ig made prisoner by sir James Lindsay, 
 and learnt, t > his surprise, from the bishop, or from some of his peo- 
 ple, ti t sir Jam.es had ii hii turn been taken by the bishop. As 
 so »n, t lerefore, ss the bishop had quitted Newc istle, sir Matthew 
 went t> his lodgings in search of his master, vv^hom he found very 
 jnehincholy, looking out of a window. " What his brought you 
 here, sir James ?'' vva.s the first salute of sir Matthew. Sir .lames, 
 interrupting his melancholy thoughts, advanced to meet him, bade 
 him good day, and replied, " By my faith, Redman, ill luck ; for I 
 had no sooner p irted with you, and wa.s returning home, than I fell 
 in with the bishijp of D.irham, to whom I am prisoner, in like man- 
 ner as yim are to me. I believe there will be no need of your com- 
 ing to Edinburgh to obtain your ransom, for we miy finish the busi- 
 ness here if my ma'^ter consent to it." '* We shall soon agree as to 
 that," leplied Redman : *' but you must come and dine with me ; 
 for the bish >p and his men have marched to attack your countrymen. 
 I know not what sue ;ess they will have, nor shall we be informed 
 till their return." " I accept your invitation," answered Lindsay. 
 In such manner did these two enjoy each other's company in New- 
 castle. 
 
 The barons and knights of Scotland, on being informed of th^ 
 bishop of Durham's approach with ten thousand men, held a council, 
 whether t) march away or to abide the event. On mature conside- 
 ration, they resolved on the latter, from the difficulty of finding so 
 strong a position to defend themselves and guard their prisoners, of 
 whom they had many. These they could not carry away with them, 
 on account of the wounded, nor were they willing to leave them be- 
 hind. They formed themselves in a strong body, and had fortified 
 their camp in such a manner that it could be entered by only one 
 pass. Tliey then made their prisoners swear, that rescued or not 
 they would acknowledge themselves prisoners. When this was all 
 done, they ordered their minstrels to play as merrily as they could. 
 The Scots have a custom, when assembled in arms, for those who 
 are or, foot t ) be well dressed, each having a large horn slung rouiid 
 his neck, in the manner of hunters, and when they blow all together, 
 the horns being of different sizes, the noise is so great it may be 
 heard four mile? off, to the great dismay of their enemies and their 
 own delight. The Scots commanders ordered this sort of music now 
 to be played. 
 
 The bishop of Durham with his banner, under which were at least 
 ten thousand men, had scarcely approached within a league of the 
 Scots, when they beg ui to play such a concert, that it seemed as if 
 all the devil? in hell had come thither to join in the noise, so that 
 those of the English who had never before heard such, were much 
 frightened. This concert lasted a considerable time, and then ceased. 
 After a pause, when they thought the English were within half a 
 longuc, they recommenced it, continuing it as long as before, when 
 it again ceased. The bishop, however, kept advancing with his 
 men in battle-array until they came within sight of the enemy, two 
 bow-shots off: the Scots then began to play louder than before, and 
 for a longer time, during which the bishop examined with surprise 
 
 how well they had chosen their encampment, and strengthened it to 
 their advantage. Some knights held a council how they should act, 
 and it seemed that, after much deliberation, they thought it not ad 
 visable to risk an attack, for there were greater chances of loss than 
 gain, but determined to return again to Newcastle. 
 
 The Scots, perceiving the English were retreating, and that there 
 was no appearance of any battle, retired within their camp to refresh 
 themselves with meat and liquor. They then made preparations for 
 departure : but because sir Ralph Percy had been dangerously 
 wounded, he begged of his master to allow him to return to New. 
 castle, or wherever else in Northumberland he migh have his vv^ounda 
 better attended to, and remain there until cured ; and in case this 
 favor was granted him, as soon as he should be able to mount a 
 horse, he pledged to surrender himself at Edinburgh, or in any other 
 part of Scotland. The earl of Moray, under whose banner he had 
 been taken, readily assented to this request, and hod a litter prepared 
 for him. In a similar manner, several knights and squires obtained 
 their liberty, fixing on a time to return in person to those who had 
 captured them, or to send the amount of their ransoms.* 
 
 I was told by thoae who were of the victorious party, that at this 
 battle, which was fought in the year of grace 1388, between New- 
 castle and Otterburne, on the 19th day of August, there were taken 
 or left dead on the field, on the side of the English, one thousand 
 and forty men of all descriptions; in the pursuit eight hundred and 
 forty, and more than one thousand wounded. Of the Scots, there 
 were only about one hundred slain, and two hundred made prisoners. 
 As the English were flying, they at times rallied, and returned to 
 combat those who were pursuing them, v/henever they thought they 
 had a favorable opportunity, and it was thus their loss vfas so con. 
 siderable in the pursuit. You may judge, from the number of killed 
 and prisoners on each side, if this battle was not hardily fought. 
 
 When everything had been arranged, and the dead bodies of the 
 earl of Douglas, sir Robert Hart and sir Simon Glendinning were 
 inclosed within coffins, and placed on cars, they began their march, 
 carryiag with them sir Henry Percy and upward of forty English 
 knights. They took the road to Melrose on the Tweed, and on 
 their departure they set fire to their huts. They lodged this night in 
 England without any opposition, and on the morrow decamped very 
 early and arrived at Melrose, which is an abbey cf black monks, 
 situated on the borders of the two kingdoms. They there halted, 
 and gave directions to the friars for the burial of the earl of Douglas^ 
 whose obsequies were very reverently performed on the second day 
 after their arrival. His body was placed in a tomb of stone, with 
 the banner of Douglas suspended over it. Of this earl of Douglas, 
 God save his soul I there was no issue, nor do I know who succeeded 
 to the estate of Douglas ; for when I, the authority of this history, 
 wa6 in Scotland, at his castle of Dalkeith, during the lifetime of 
 earl William, there were only two children, a boy and a girl. There 
 were enow of the name of Douglas ; for I knew five ha.ndsome bro. 
 thers, squires, of this name, at the court of king David of Scoilan.d, 
 who were the children of a knight calle() sir James Douglas. t The 
 earl's arms, of three oreilles gules on a field or, descended to them ; 
 but 1 am ignorant to whom fell the land.t You must know, that the 
 sister of Archibald Douglas whom I have often mentioned as a gal- 
 lant knight, and c^e much feared by the English, was a bastard. 
 
 When they had finished the business which had brought them to 
 Melrose, they departed, each to his own country ; and those who had 
 prisoners carried them with thern, or ransomed them before they left 
 Melrose, In this manner the English found the Scots very courteous 
 and accommodating, which pleased them much, as I learnt at the 
 castle of the count deFoix from John de Chateauneuf, wh'ohad been 
 made prisoner under the banner of the earl of March and Dunbar: 
 he praised the earl exceedingly for his generosity in allowing him to 
 fix his ransom at his pleasure. Thus did these men-at-arms separate, 
 having very soon and handsomely settled the amount of the ransoms 
 for their prisoners, who by degrees returned to their homes. It vv'as 
 told me, and I believe it, that the Scots gained two hundred thou- 
 sand francs from the ransoms ; and that never since the battle of 
 Bannockburn, when the Bruce, sir Willirim Douglas, sir Robert de 
 Versy and sir Simon Frazer pursued the English for three days, have 
 they had so complete nor so gainful a victory. 
 
 When the news of it was brouglit to sir Archibald Douglas, the 
 
 * The ransoms were estimated at 200,000 francs. Robert III. granted to Henry Pres- 
 ton, for the redemption of Ralph Percy, the lands and i)nroni&fi of Frondin. Aberdeen- 
 shire, the town of Fyvie, and place thereof, the town of Meikle Gaddies. the five mark 
 land of Park hill. Scots Cal. f.l04. Froissart apparently err.s in the nn me of his captor; 
 yet Mar had 201. a year for a third of it, the whole of it exceeding 600/.— Pinkerton's 
 Hist, of Scotland, vol. ii. p 41. note. 
 
 t Earl James Douglas married the lady Isabella Stuart,, daughter of king Robert II,. 
 and dying without lawful issue, was succeeded by his brother, Archibald lord Gall )v,'ny, 
 called Archib lid tJie Grim. This last was the issue of earl William's second mnrringe 
 with Margi>tet, daughter of Patrick earl of March.— Crawford's Peerage oj S^^i- 
 land. 
 
 I These a..iis. according to Crawford, must be wrons ; for. in his Peerage, the arms 
 are described as "Four coats quarterly; 1. Azure, a lion rampant, crowned with an 
 imperial crown, or ; 2. A lion rampant gules, surmounted of a ribbon sable : 3. Or, a 
 fessc cheque, azure and argent, surmounted of a bend sable, charged with five buckles, 
 or; 4. Ar-rent, three pyles trules, over all, ia a shielil of pretence argent, a heart, gules, 
 ensigned with an imperial crown, or, on a chief azure, three mollets of the first, sup- 
 ported on the dexter wivh a savage, wreatiied about the loins with laurel, and on the 
 sinister by a stag proper: crest a salamander vomiting fire : motto, Jamais arriere, all 
 within a compartment of stakes impaled " 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN. &c. 
 
 48G 
 
 carls of Fii'e and Sutheriaiid, before Carlisle, where they were with 
 ihe larger divii^ion of the army, they were greatly rejoiced, but at the 
 emiie time vexed that they had not been present. They held a 
 council and determined tJ retreat into Scotland, since their compan. 
 ions had already marched thither. In consequence, they broke up 
 their camp and reentered Scotland. 
 
 We will now leave the English and Scots, and speak of the young 
 Kin^ of Fra:ice, and the large army he marched into Germany to re. 
 veiiijc himself on the duke of Gueldres. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXXI. 
 
 THE KINS OF FRANCE ENTESS THE BUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG, ©N HIS MARCH 
 TO GUKLDRES. THK DUKE OF JULIERS, FATHER OF THE DUKE OF GUEL- 
 DRES, MAKES EXCIJSES FOR HIS SON TO THE KING OF FRANCE. HE IS 
 GRACDUSLV RECEIVED, AND HAS THE TERRITORY OF VIERSON RESTORED 
 TO HIM, FOR WHICH HE PAYS HOMAGE TO THE KING. 
 
 When the king of France and his army had crossed the Meuse at 
 the bri.lge of Morsay,* they took the road to the Ardennes and 
 bisliopric; of Luxembourg, and had always in advance a large body 
 of pioneers to clear the bushes and level the roads. The king's 
 army was very numerous, and well appointed. The duke of Juliers 
 and his !?ubject3 much dreaded their approach, for they knew they 
 should be first attacked ; and the country of Juliers is so level that 
 the men-?.t-arms would in one day despoil the whole, excepting a 
 few castles and towns which would perhaps make some little resist- 
 ance, but they could not hold out long. The king of France entered 
 Luxembourg, and was lodged for two days at the monastery where 
 duke Winceslaus of Brabant had been buried. At his departure, 
 he took the road to Bast()gne,t and encamped at the distance of a 
 league from where the duchess of Brabant was lodged. The duch. 
 ess had notified to the duke of Burgundy her arrival at Bastogne, 
 who waited on her, and conducted her to the king's tent. The king 
 received her very kindly ; and, after they had conversed some time 
 together, she returned to Bastogne, escorted by sir John de Vienne 
 and sir Guy de h Tremouille. On the morrow the king continued 
 his march until he arrived on the borders of Germany, ready to en. 
 ter Juliers. But, before he had advanced so far, Arnold bishop of 
 Liege had waited on him, and had exerted himself much to excul. 
 pats the duke of Juliers, and to soften the anger the king of France 
 bore him, as father to the duke of Gueldres ; and had said to the 
 king and his uacieFi, that with regard to the imprudent and outrage, 
 oils challenge the duke of Gueldres had sent to Franco, he had never 
 co;!suited his father on the subject, nor informed him of it until it 
 was done, and therefore his territories ought not to suffer for it. 
 
 These excuses, however, were not agreeable to the king nor to his 
 uncles; and it was their intention, that unless the duke of Juliers 
 come in person, and made a more satisfactory apology, putting him. 
 self totally in the king's mercy, he and his country should be the 
 first tJ p iy for it. The bishop of Liege, the barons of Hasbain,t 
 and the m igistrates from the principal towns, who had accompanied 
 the bishop, now offered the king and his uncles a free entrance for 
 their army into their country, to pass and repass, and refresh them, 
 selves with provision on paying for it, and to remain there if they so 
 pleased. 
 
 The kiag and his uncles thanked them for their offer, which they 
 did not refuse, as they were ignorant how affairs would turn out. 
 The biihop returned to the duke of Juliers and archbishop of Co. 
 bgne, and tjld them all that had passed, that they might consider 
 of it. The duke of Juliers was very much alarmed lest his country 
 should be rained, and sent for all those knights that were depend- 
 ent on him, to have their advice, for the French were daily ap- 
 pro iching. The lord de Coucy commanded the vanguard, of one 
 thousand spears; and with him were the duke of Lorraine and the 
 visc'uit de Mctux, with about two hundred lances more. 
 
 When the French were near the borders of Germany, they 
 marched in a more compact body, and took great precautions in their 
 encamp nents ; for a body of tfjree hundred Linfars,§ from the op- 
 pofite £ide of the Rhine, had collected together on their line of 
 march. These are the greatest robbers and plunderers in the world; 
 and they hovered alongside the French army, to take advantage of 
 any negligence on their part. The French were suspicious of them, 
 and dared not attempt foraging but in large bodies. I believe the 
 lord Boucicaut, the elder, and sir Lewis de Grach, were made pris. 
 oners by t'.iem, and carried to Nimeguen. These Germans rode 
 through by-ways, and, like birds of prey, night and morning fell upon 
 the French wherever they found a favorable opportunity ; and this 
 had made them more careful. 
 
 AVhen the king of France was come to the confines of Juliers, 
 and the vanguard and foragers had already entered it, the duke, un- 
 willing that his country should be destroyed, listened to the advice 
 of the archbishop of Cologne and bishop of loiege, and consented 
 
 * " iMorsay." Q. M )us »n, or Mezieres. 
 
 t ** Bastogne," or IJ istignack, is a smnll town in the duchy of Luxembourg : it was 
 formerly iriDie considerable, and called tlieP;iris of the Ardennes. 
 
 t " Hnshain." n sir.iill territory in the circle of WestphaUa; it forms the principal part 
 of the lisliopric of Liege. 
 
 S Lciciiiferiic— vagabonds, fireebootcrs.— Eo, 
 
 they should negotiate with the king and his uncles, and entreat that 
 his country should remain in peace, on such terms as 1 shall men 
 tion. These tv/o prelates, having laid the foundation for a pear^e, 
 conducted the duke of Juliers into the king's presence, who was 
 attended by his uncles, the duke of Lorraine, and other great barons 
 of France of the blood royal, and his council. On the dulr^'s ap. 
 proaching the king, he cast himself on his knees, and made very 
 handsome excuses for the challenge his son had sent to France. Ho 
 told the king that his son was a madman ; that he had never con. 
 suited him respecting this challenge, nor indeed in anything else, but 
 always acted for himself. He offered his services to the king, and 
 said, " My lord, with your permission, T will go to bins, and sharply 
 remonstrate with him on his follies, and order him to come and 
 make his apology to you and to your council. If lie refuse to follow 
 my advice, and continue to act from his own headstrong will, I offer 
 to give you possession of all my inclosed towns and castles, for you 
 to garrison with men-at.arms, and carry on the wcr against him until 
 he shall submit himself to your mercy." The king, on this, louked 
 at his brother, his uncles, and council, as it seemed to him, and to 
 many who vv^ere present, a very fair offer. He made the duke rise, 
 who had hitherto continued on his knees, and said, " We will con- 
 sider what you have offered, and the promises you make us." The 
 duke, having risen, remained with tl.ie tvv^o prelates who had brought 
 him thither ; and the king retired with his uncles and privy counsel, 
 lors, t;> discuss the proposal that had been made them. 
 
 This council lasted some time, and various propositions were 
 made, each pressing his different plan. The duke of Burgundy was 
 the most active, as indeed the matter more essentially affected him, 
 on account of his being heir, in right of his duchess, to the succes- 
 sion of the duchess of Brabant, and it was in truth owing to him 
 that the king had undertaken this expedition. He was therefore 
 very anxious that the quarrel should be amicably terminated, and a 
 sohd peace established between all parties, that there might not be 
 any necessity for renewing the ^ar; for the distance was great for 
 the king and lords, besides being very expensive, and heavy on the 
 kingdom. After several had given their opinions, he addressed him. 
 self to the king, to the duke of Berry, and to all present, saying; 
 " My lord, and you brother of Berry, and gendemen cf the council, 
 whatever is rashly or inconsiderately begun, generally ends badly. 
 We have heard our cousin, the duke of Juliers, excuse himself hand, 
 somely, and we have heard the offer he has made, that his son shall 
 do so likewise : he is of that gallantry and birth, being connected 
 with me by blood, that we ought to believe what he has said. Hft 
 offers to the king iiis person, his country, his towns, and cnstles, in 
 case his son shall continue obstinate, and refuse to make any apology 
 for his rash chidlenge. If we have the duke of Juliers on our side, 
 the duke of Gueldres, whom we want to punish, will be sn much 
 the more weakened, that he will I'le more diead us, and the sooner 
 bend to cur will. I therefore advise that the excuses of the duke of 
 Juliers and his offer be accepted, for he has greatly humbled him. 
 self; and the archhi-hop of Cologne, the bishop cf Liege, with ether 
 potent barons, entreat likewise that this may be done." 
 
 No one making any reply, it was unanimously agreed to ; and the 
 archbishop and bishop, who had opened the negotiation, were called 
 in. They were told very minutely every act the duke of Juliers 
 was to swear to perform, if he were desirous that his country shoidd 
 remain in peace. First, that he should go himself, or send to hia 
 son, the duke of Gueldres, to remonstrate with him on his folly and 
 impertinence, in sending so unusual and rude a challenge to so pow. 
 erful a prince as the king of France, and oblige him to come per. 
 sonally and submit himself to the mercy of the king, if he did not 
 satisfactorily excuse himself. Should the duke of Gueldres refuse 
 compliance, through pride and weakness of understanding, and per. 
 sist in his Gpiin:^. then the duke of Juliers was to engage, on his 
 oath, not ti aff )rd him the least support, but, on the contrary, to 
 unite himself with hi? enemies, and to assist the army of the king, 
 which during the ensuing winter would be quartered throughout the 
 country of Juliers, in order to be ready to carry on the war against 
 the duke of Gueldres ; and all towns and castles, belonging to the 
 duke of Juliers, shall receive, on the most friendly footing, the men. 
 at-arms of France. 
 
 These two prelates, who had been solely called to the council to 
 remonstrate touching these matters with the duke of Juliers, repeated 
 to him what they had heard, adding such weighty reasons, that the 
 duke assented to the terms : "indeed, he saw he must do so, if he 
 wished to preserve his country from ruin. He therefrre solemnly 
 swore to observe faithfully all the articles of the treaty, and tj remain 
 a firm friend to the king and to his uncles, for which his duchy was 
 saved from being despoiled : but forage, of which there was enough, 
 was completely given up to the French. Thus did the duke of Ju- 
 liers become lieire man to the king of France, and paid homage for 
 the territory of Vierson, situated between Blois and Berry. He sup. 
 ped that night with the king : it was on a Thursday ; and there were 
 seated at the king's table, first, the bishop of Liege, the archbishop of 
 Cologne, the king, the duke of Burgundy, the duke of Touraiae, the 
 duke of Juliers, and the duke of Bourbosi, 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, <fec.. 
 
 487 
 
 CHAPTER CXXXII. 
 
 KING CHARr.P.S VI. QUARTERS HIS ARMY, ON A FRIENDLY FOOTING, IN THE 
 DUCHY Of JULIERS. A SQUIRE OF AUVERGNE IS MURDERED BY A WOOD- 
 CUTTER WHOM HE IS LEADING AWAY AS HIS PRISONER. 
 
 Sucn was the conclusion of the treaties between the king of France 
 and the duke of .luliers, by Vv'hich the last enjoyed peace, although 
 the king quartered himself and his army in his duchy, which he found 
 a rich country, and full of every kind of provision. The duke of 
 Juliers went t3 his son, but not immediately, and in the interval some 
 gallant feats cf arms were done ; for the Germans were so eager of 
 gai:^, t'lut they frequently, during the night or at very early morn, 
 beat up the quarters of the French : sometimes they got the advan- 
 tage, at other times they were made prisoners; but for one German 
 that was tjkea, they made four Frenchmen prisoners in return. In 
 consequence, the constable of France, the lord de Coucy, the duke of 
 Lorraine, the marshal de BUiinville, sir John de Vienne, and the lord 
 de la Tremouiile, assembled their men, to the amount of about four 
 thousand men-at.arms, and marched toward a town in Gueldres 
 called Reinogtie,* and drew up in handsome array befure it. At this 
 time the duke of Gueldres was within it, and thought highly of their 
 appearance ; but he made no sally against them, for his force was 
 not equal to attempt it, which vexed him much. The French men- 
 at-arms remained four hours drav^n up in order of battle before the 
 place ; but when they saw that none came out to oppose them, they 
 retreated to their quarters. 
 
 It happened that this same evening several knights and squires as. 
 sembled at the lodgings of the duke of Berry, with the intent of 
 making an excursion on the morrow into the enenjy's country in 
 search of adventures. They each, to the amount of about one hun- 
 dred lances, pledged themselves to this ; but, when the morning came, 
 the project was broken off. A squire from Auvergne, called Gourdi- 
 nois, a valiint m;in.3t-arm«, and serving under the banner of the lord 
 d'Aldgre, findiag this exnrsion laid aside, v/as much vexed thereat ; 
 and, speaking of it to some of his companions of as good courage as 
 himself, they collected about thirty spears, and rode out that morning, 
 but met with no adventure. Gourdinois was so desirous of feats of 
 arms, that he felt sorely the disappointment of returning without 
 having struck a blow, and said to his companions; "Do you ride on 
 gently, while I vnd my page will skirt this wood, to see if there be 
 any ambuscades, or any persons within it, and wait for me at the 
 foot of yonder hill." Having assented to this, G.)iirdiaois and his 
 page left them, and rnde alongside the wood. They had not ad- 
 vanced far, wlum he heard some one whistle : he instantly stuck 
 spurs int.) his horse, and came to a hollow road, where he found a 
 Gueldrel.inder squaring timber. Gourdinois seized his spear, and 
 charged the mm full gallop, to his great astmishment, and made 
 signs tJ him to f.illow him; for he snd tj himself, "At least, I shall 
 show t ) my co npaai m-^, that I have done something by making this 
 man my p isoner, and he may be of some use to us i.i our quarters." 
 
 He now sn out on hi=i return, riding on a small h ickney, followed 
 by the wjodm ui on foot, with a large axe on his shoulder with which 
 he had been working. The p ige of Gourdinois was behind mounted 
 on his courser, beariiig his helmet and dragging his lance, half asleep 
 from having left his bed tjo early. The German, who knew not 
 whit'her he was gAng, nor what might be done to him, thought he 
 might as well attempt to escape: he therefore advanced close to 
 Gourdinoi?, and with his uplifted axe smote him such a blow on the 
 head as pp'it his ?ku!l to the teeth, and 1 dd him dead on the ground. 
 The pige, from hi-3 di-tance and sleepiness, neither saw nor heard 
 anythi ig of the imtter; and the peasant ran to hide himself in the 
 wood, from which he was not far off. Those who heard of this un- 
 fortunate acci ieiit were much di-tressed ; for Gourdinois was well 
 beloved by all who knew him, particularly by his countrymen in 
 Auvergne, for he wris the man-at-arms most dreaded by the English, 
 and the person who had done them most mischief. He would never 
 have been suffered t ) remain a prisoner, though twenty thousand 
 francs had been asked for his ransom. 
 
 We will now return to the duke of Juliers. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXXIII. 
 
 VHE DUKE OF JULIEHS AND ARCHBISHOP OF COLORNE LEAVE THE KING OF 
 FRAN'CE, AMD GO TO THE DUKE OF GUELDRES AT NIMEGUEN. BY THEIR 
 REMONSTRANCES AND NEGOTIATIONS, HE OBTAINS PEACE WITH THE KING 
 OF FRANCE AND DUCHESS OF BRABANT. 
 
 You have before heard how the duke of Juliers made his peace 
 jvilh the kins of France, through the mediation of the two prelates 
 already mentio led and the duke of Lorraine his cousin, who had taken 
 great pain<= in the business, and had gone to seek him in the town 
 of Atdeke,t whence he had brought him, with the archbishop of 
 Cologne, to a conference with the king of France and his uncles. 
 The duke had then promised to oblige his son, the duke of Gueldres, 
 to f=uhmit himself to the king, otherwise he was to unite with the 
 king in his wn- again=:t him. These terms he was forced to comply 
 with, or his duchy would have been destroyed. 
 
 The duke of Juliers, having made his preparations, set out w:tl> 
 the archbishop of Cologne for Gueldres, and having crossed the river 
 Waal, arrived at Nimeguen, where the duke of Gueldres then resided. 
 He received them most affectionately, as was but right, for what tio 
 is nearer than that of father or mother? He had before heard that 
 the duke of Juliers had made his peace with the king of France, 
 which was not very pleasing to him, but he had no occasion to show 
 his dislike to it. The duke of Juliers and the archbishop remon- 
 strated with him for some time on the situation he and his country 
 were in. At first he paid no attention ; for he had so strongly con- 
 nected himself with the king of England, he could not immediately 
 break it off, nor had he any inclination so to do, for his heart was 
 devoted to the English. He argued the matter v/ith them obstinately, 
 declaring he would abide the event; and if, from the arrival of the 
 king of France with an army, he should suller any loss, he was young 
 and might at other times revenge himself on France or on the Bra. 
 banters their allies ; adding, that in war the chances are uncertain, 
 and no prince can undertake one without expecting loss as well as 
 gain. 
 
 This language greatly enraged the duke of Juliers, who said, 
 "William, how will you carry on the war? and from whom do you 
 expect compensation for your losses ?" " The king of England and 
 his power," replied he ; " and I am very much astonished I have had 
 no intelligence of their fleet; for if they had kept their engagement, 
 by which they were to come hither, I would more than once have 
 beaten up ilie French quarters." " Do you wait for them, William ?" 
 asked the uuke of Juliers. " " The English have no much on their 
 hands at this moment, they cannot give you any assistance. There 
 is our cousin, the duke of Lancaster, at Bayonne, who has left Cas- 
 tillo with the shattered remains of his army, having lost the greater 
 part by sickness, and by that the season for making war. He is so- 
 liciting reinforcements of men-at-arms and archers from England, but 
 will n«t obtain twenty spears. On the other hand, the English have 
 lately experienced a severe overthrow in battle with the Sects near 
 Newcastle-on-Tyne, in Northumberland, in which all the chivalry of 
 the north have been made prisoners or slain. England, besides, is 
 not unanimous in their affection to the king ; you will therefore act 
 wisely not to depend on the English at this moment, for you will not 
 have assistance from them, nor from any other quarter. I would 
 therefore advise that you suffer us to manage for you, t;nd we will 
 pacify the king of France, and make up this quarrel without your 
 being dishonored or a loser from it." " My lord," answered the 
 duke of Gueldres, "how can I with honor accommodate my differ, 
 ence wifh the king of France ? were I to have my country ruined, 
 and be forced to go and live elsewhere, I would not do it: I ain 
 strongly bound to the king of England ; and for him I have defied 
 the king of France. Do you think," added he, " that for his menaces 
 I will recall my word or break my engagement ? You only wish my 
 disgrace. I entreat you, therefore, to leave me to myself ; I will 
 make head against the French, for their threats do not alarm me. 
 The rain, wind, and cold weather will make war for me ; and before 
 the month of January be arrived, they will be so worn down, that 
 the boldest among them will wish to be at home." 
 
 Neither the duke of Juliers nor the archbishop of Cologne could, 
 at this fir.^t interview, prevail on the duke of Gueldres to change his 
 resolution, though they were six days laboring at it, and daily in 
 council. At length the duke of Juliers, finding his arguments of no 
 avail, was so angry, as to say to him, " tliat if he did not pay more 
 attention to his advice, he would displease him greatly, insomuch 
 that he should never inherit one foot of his duchy of Juliers, wiiich 
 he would dispose of to another, who should be powerful enough to 
 defend it against him ;" adding, " that none but a fool refused coun- 
 sel." The duke of Gueldres, seeing his father inflamed with pas- 
 sion, replied by way of softening matters: " Advi.=e me, then, ho\r 
 with honor I may act; and since you desire it, from my love to you, 
 I will pay attention to it ; for I assuredly owe you all obedience, and 
 shall never in that be wanting." " Now," said the duke of Juliers, 
 " you speak well and to the purpose ; and we will consider the 
 matter." 
 
 It was then determined, after many and long consultations, that 
 the duke of Gueldres should wait on the king of France, and pay 
 him the honor and respect befitting so great a prince, and should ex. 
 cuse himself for having sent him such a challenge, in similar words 
 to these : "My lord, it is very true that a letter, sealed with my sig. 
 net, was sent into France and delivered to you, in wiiich was con- 
 tained a challenge drawn up in very outrageous terms, and contrary 
 to such as are generally used in the like cases, when princes or lords 
 defy each other ; but this I disavow, as never having been uttered 
 from my mouth, nor written by my commands, as I would be far 
 from defaming your name or rank. For the confirmation of what I 
 now say, and to remove all doubts, I must inform you, that at the de. 
 sire of my much-redoubted lord, the king of England, and his couti- 
 cil, with whom I have entered into very close alliance, I sent to 
 England four of my knights to whom I intrusted my signet, for them 
 to seal whatever might be required of them. They were to write 
 and seal, and not I : so that I never knew the contents of the letter 
 sent to France until it had been sealed. Be pleased, therefore, to 
 accept of this as my apology, for it is the truth. With regard to my 
 o^th of allegiaiice to my redoubted lord, the king of England, I am 
 
488 
 
 CHRONICLES, OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 resoived ta adhere to it, and to obey, as far as in me lies, whatever 
 he may command, whether to challenge you, and assemble my for. 
 ces, wherever he may please, to oppose you or any other prince, ex- 
 cept my natural lord, the emperor of Germany: for to him I have 
 personally sworn my homage in the fullest manner. But out of re- 
 spert and honor to you, and as some recompense for the trouble and 
 charges you have had, in coming to this distance to learn the tiuth 
 of this challenge, I am willing to swear, and that oath I will punctu. 
 ally keep, that, henceforward, I will never make any war upon you 
 nor your kingdom without having first given you one year's notice 
 of my intention ; and, my lord I hope you will think this sufficient." 
 The duke of Gueldres replied, that all this he would willingly say : 
 for it (lid not seem to him to convey anything blameable or dishon- 
 orable. 
 
 Upon this being settled, the duke of Juliers and the archbishop 
 departed and returned to Juliers, and thence to Endesker.* At a 
 proper pcason they waited on the king of France, and related to him 
 and his uncles every particular which had passed between them and 
 the duke of Gueldres ; and, that the matter might be immediately 
 considered, they added, there could not anything more be obtained 
 from hi? son. The king of France was so desirous to see his cousin 
 the duke of Gueldres, who had given him such trouble, that he as. 
 sented to the terms of the treaty. The duke of Burgundy was also 
 anxious that the territories of the duchess of Brabant should remain 
 in peace, and took p lins that this treaty should be agreed to, and 
 tint the duke of Gueldres, on the strength of it, should come to them. 
 There was also another reason for their consenting to it: winter was 
 iipproaching, and the nights were already cold and long. The 
 French lords were told that Gueldres was a miserable country to 
 winter i:j, and they daily received information of losses of knights, 
 squire?-, and horses, that had been captured by the ambushes of 
 these Linfars. 
 
 From all these reasons, matters were so far concluded that the 
 duke of Gueldres came to the French camp, and was introduced by 
 the duke of Juliers his father, the duke of Lorraine his cousin, and 
 the archbishop of Cologne, to the king's tent. There were present, 
 at this i.iterview, the king's uncles, his brother the duke of Touraine, 
 the duke of Bar, the count de la Marche, the count de St. Pol, the 
 count dauphin d'Auvergne, the lord de Coucy and the constable of 
 France. On his entrance the duke of Gueldres cast himself on his 
 knees before the king; but I heard that the king made him rise, (in 
 this matter, however, I know nothing but what I learnt from others,) 
 and that he boldly excused himself for the challenge, in the terms 
 you have before heard. The king accepted his apology: and he 
 then declared, on his oath, that if he were ever again to challenge 
 or make war on France, he would send notice of it one year before, 
 hand. Thus did Gueldres and Brabant remain in a secure state, 
 and those who had expected the most were the greatest losers. 
 
 Everything being now setded, the duke of Gueldres supped with 
 the king of France at his table : and I must say he was much looked 
 at, for the great plague he had given them. These treaties were 
 fairly written and sealed ; and, when all was done, the lords took 
 leave of each other : but, before the duke of Gueldres departed, he 
 requested th?it the prisoners the French had made in this war might 
 bo given up, which was agreed to in the manner he desired. The 
 king of France demanded that all prisoners made from him should 
 likewise be set at liberty ; but the duke of Gueldres excused himself, 
 saying : " My lord, that cannot be done : I am a poor man, and 
 when I heard of your march hither, I strengthened myself as much 
 as possible with knights from the other side of the Rhine and else- 
 where, agreeing with them that everything they might take should 
 be their own property. It is not possible for nie, therefore, to de- 
 spail them of what I have given, nor have I the power so to do ; 
 and, should I attempt it, they would make war upon me. Be pleased, 
 therefore, to let this matter remain as it is, for I cannot remedy it." 
 The king, perceiving he could not obtain anything more, bo-re it as 
 well as he could, without adding a word ia reply, and comforted 
 himself on the greatness of his power that could enrich so many poor 
 persons. They took leave of each other mutually satisfied, and or- 
 ders were given for the army to march back fo France. It was said, 
 the king would hold the feast of All.saints in the city of Rheiras. 
 
 I will now say a word of the English fleet. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXXIV. 
 
 THE KAKL OF AKUNDEL AND HIS FLEET ARE DRIVEN BY STORMS TO LA 
 PALICE, NEAR LA ROCHELLE. THE LORD LEWIS DE SANCERRE, HAVING 
 HAD INFORMATION OF THIS, CHASES TI^M AT SEA, Bl^T IN VAIN. THE 
 DUKE OF LANCASTER MARRIES HIS DAUGHTER TO THE HEIR OF CASTILLE. 
 
 Before the king of France went to Gueldres, and during the time 
 he was there, the English fleet under the command of the earl of 
 Arundel kept hovering along his coasts, just as the wind drove them, 
 in search of adventures. You must know, that generally from the 
 first of Octol)er ta All.saints day the weather is stormy ; but this year 
 it was unusually so, which shattered the English fleet, and there was 
 no seaman on board, however bold he might be, but was frightened 
 at its violence, which forced the ships to run to any port lest worse 
 
 * " Endesker " a. 
 
 might befal them. The earl of Arundel, with twenty-^even otiicr 
 vessel?, made for the harbor of la Falice, two leagues disfmt from In 
 Rocholle, where he anchored : indeed, he was forced so to do, for 
 the wind was contrary and he could not leave it. When news was 
 brought of this to la Rochelle, the townsmen were much alarmed, 
 thinking the English intended attacking the place : they closed their 
 gates, and remained guarding thena for a day and a half. Intelligence 
 came from la Falice, that the force of the English amounted to no 
 more than twenty-two vessels, driven thither by stress of weather, 
 and desirous only of putting to sea again ; that, however, the earl of 
 Arundel, sir Henry Beaumont, sir William Elmham, and upward of 
 thirty English knights, were there. The Rochellers, on this con- 
 sulted how to act ; and, having well considered the matter, they said 
 they should not do their duty if they did not march to skirmish with 
 the enemy. 
 
 At this period, the lord Lewis de Sancerrc, marshal of France, waa 
 arrayed and marshalled before the castle of Bouteville. with a large 
 body of the chivalry of Foitou, Saintonge and other parts, and had 
 there inclosed William de Sainte Foix, a Gascon ; for all men-at-arms 
 had not accompanied the king of Fr^^mce, and the lord de Sancerre 
 was lieutenant of the country from Montpellier to la Rochelle, during 
 the absence of the lord de Coucy with the army in Germany. The 
 Rochellers determined to send information of the arrival of the Eng- 
 lish to the lord de Sancerre, who on hearing it was much rejoiced. 
 He ordered the townsmen to arm six or eight galleys, and to embark 
 on board, for he was on his march to combat the English. This they 
 did ; and sir Lewis broke up his siege and marched away, thinking 
 it would be more to his honor and profit to engage the earl of Arun. 
 del and the English knights lying at anchor, than to continue the 
 siege, for he could again return to this at his pleasure. 
 
 He came to la Rochelle, followed by a large body of knights and 
 squires. I know not by what means, but the earl of Arundel had 
 information at la Falice, that the marshal of France with a powerful 
 company of knights and squires was marching to attack him. The 
 news was not very agreeable to him ; but fortunately the weather had 
 become calm, and he instantly gave orders to weigh anchor and put 
 to sea. This was speedily eflfected : had they waited longer they 
 vvoulJ have been surrounded within the haven, and every one of his 
 vessels must necessarily have been taken, for not one could have 
 escaped. The galleys from la Rochelle, fully armed with cannons 
 and other artillery, appeared in sight, steering for la Falice, as the 
 English were under sail. They chased them two leagues, saluting 
 them with their cannon, but dared not follow them further, for fear 
 of the dangers of the sea. They therefore returned to la Rochelle ; 
 but the m.irshal of France was much angered against them, for hav. 
 ing been so tirdy to inform him of the arrival of the enemy. 
 
 The earl of Arundel sailed for the mouth of the Garonne, to repaii 
 to Bordeaux ; and the siege of Bouteville was put an end to, for Wil 
 liam de Sainte Foix, during the time the marshal had gone, as he 
 thought, to fight the English, had provided his castle with all things 
 necessary for a long defence. 
 
 We will now return to the duke of Lancaster, and speak of his 
 negotiations with the king of Castille and duke of Berry respecting 
 the marriage of his daughter. The king of Gastille was desirous ol 
 having her for his son, as the means of peace with England. Thi 
 duke of Lancaster was wise and prudent: he saw that the most ad 
 var.tTgeous alliance for himself and for his country was Castille, it 
 preference to the duke of Berry ; for by it he should recover the in 
 heritance of Castille for his daughter, in times to come. If he gavf 
 her to the duke of Berry, and he should die before her, she would bf 
 poor in comparison with other ladies ; for the duke had children bj 
 his first marriage, who would be entitled to all his landed propertj 
 The duchess of Lancaster was likewise more inclined to the connec 
 tion with Castille, so that when sir Helion de Lignac had left th/ 
 duke, on his return to the duke of Berry in Germany, the commis 
 siuners from the king of Castille came forward, and pushed the mat 
 tor so warmly, that the marriage was agreed and sworn to, betwee.' 
 the lady Catherine and the son of the king of Castille. Proper con 
 tracts were drawn up and sealed, with covenants to ju-event an/ 
 danger of breaking off the match ; and the duchess consented, whc; 
 the whole should be concluded, to conduct her daughter into Castille 
 
 CHAPTER CXXXV. 
 
 THE KING OF FRANCE, WHILE ON THE FRONTIERS OF JTTLIERS, HAS TAT 
 OF HIS CAMP SURPRISED, AND SEVERAL PRISONERS MADE, BV SOME GER 
 MAN PILLAGERS. THE KING, BEING TWENTV-ONE YEARS OF AGE, TAKl 
 ON HIMSELF THE GOVERNMENT OF HIS KINGDOM. HE SENDS TO Tf t 
 KING OF CASTILLE. ON HEARING OF THE MARRIAGE OF HIS SON WITi 
 THE DAUGHTER OF THE DUKE OF LANCASTER, TO REMONSTRATE WITH 
 HIM NOT TO ENTER INTO ANY TREATIES THAT MAY BE PREJUDICIAL TCj 
 HIM OR TO HIS KINGDOM. 
 
 The king of France was still on the borders of Juliers, (for you 
 have heard on what grounds peace had been made between him and 
 the dukes of Juliers and Gueldres,) though on his march with the 
 army back to France, when, one clear moonlight night, as they were 
 encamped on the confines of Germany, some German robbers. tYho 
 would never accept of any terms of peace, made, about midnight^ an 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 489 
 
 attack on the French. These men were under the lord de Blanque- 
 nenien and sir Peter de Arember^, and came well mounted, to ob. 
 serve where they could make the severest attack on the camp. They 
 passed the quarters of the vi3count de Meaux, but found him and his 
 men on their guard ; and, having gone backward and forward with- 
 out saving a wrrJ, they returned, to give an account to their leaders, 
 at their ambusi - xde, of what they had seen. Shortly after, a large 
 body of these Gt -mans made an irruption on the French camp, over- 
 throwing 1 know not how many, and making fourteen men-at-arms 
 prisoners. The lord de h Vieville and the lord de Montkarel were 
 among the number, in consequence of great neglect in not having 
 placed sufficient guards. When it was known, on the morrow, that 
 these two lords vv^ere made prisoners, the army were much vexed at 
 it, and ever afterwards were more attentive to their guards. 
 
 When the king left .luliers, noi:e of the garrisons remained behind : 
 sir William de la Tremouille and sir Gervais de Merande joined him, 
 and the Brabunters retired to their own homes. While on the march, 
 and immediately on the king's return to France, it was determined, 
 by great deliberation of the council, that the king, who had since the 
 death of his father been under the management of his uncles, should 
 now take on himself the government of the kingdom, which his 
 uncles must resign into his hands, as they had enough to do else, 
 where, and the king had now entered his twenty-first year. When 
 this was made public, it gave universal satisfaction. 
 
 J believe the king, with his uncles and brother, kept the feast of 
 All-saiot3 at Rheims; and that there they first heard of peace being 
 made between the king of Castille and duke of L mcaster, and of ihe 
 miirri !ge of the lady Catherine with the infant. The king of France 
 laughed and joiied much vvith his uncle, the duke of Berry, saying ; 
 " Fair uncle, ycj have failed in your intended marriage, for another 
 has seized the Ldy you meant for your bride. What do you say to 
 this ? How does your courage stand ?" The duke good-humoredly 
 replied ; " My lord, if I have been disappointed in this, I will address 
 myself elsewhere." 
 
 Those present began to murmur about this marriage, and to say, it 
 hsd not been concluded without some treaties of alliance having been 
 formed which might be very prejudicial hereafter to France ; " for," 
 added some, who seemed to be fully aware of the consequences, 
 "should England, Castille, and Portugal unite, and make war upon 
 us, they would be enabled to do us very serious mischief by sea and 
 land. It will be right for the king of France to send some discreet 
 person to prevent this wicked king, who has thus connected himself 
 with a dead ni in, (for the duke of Lancaster has neither money n.)r 
 men,) from entering into any treaties without the consent of the coun- 
 cil of France ; otherwise to s;iy, the king would reduce him to the 
 St >te of the lowest varlct, with the same ease with which he had 
 raised him to his present state ; for at this moment he has no ally 
 strong enough to supp )rt him. A war with Castille would now come 
 very opportunely ; and, after dethroning this wicked king, the son of 
 a bastard, the king might bestow the crown on his brother, the duke 
 of Tuuraine, who i-j not over rich : he would govern it wi.^ely, and 
 defend it va'iantly. How could this king of Castille think of enter- 
 ing into any treaty whatever with the duke of Lancaster, unknown 
 to our king, who has so generously assisted him in his distress ; and 
 had it not been for the blood of France, he must have lost his realm. 
 He birgaiiis well, and has now done so ; but let it be as we say, and 
 he will be deserted and disgraced ; and, in God's name, let such an 
 envoy be sent thither as will be attended to, and make him feel how 
 very ill he has behaved." 
 
 These murttniriog? increased so much that the king, his uncles, 
 find council, deliberated whom they should send to remonstrate with 
 the king of Castille, that he enter not, at his peril, into treaties vvith 
 the duke of Lancaster and the English any way detrimental to the 
 crown of France. If he had done so, or intended it, he was to be 
 told, that the power of France would debase him as much, if not 
 more, than it had exalted him; and that the king and his country 
 would not attend to any other thing before they had completed his 
 destruction. It was long debated who would be the properest per- 
 son to send thither ; for it was agreed it should be some one of courage 
 and well spoken, as it would be fruitless sending simple persons on 
 such a message. There were named : the lord de Coucy, sir John 
 de Vienne, admiral of France, and sir Guy de la Tremouille, and 
 either of these three would be fully qualified to go to Castille. Hav. 
 ing considered all things, they chose sir John de Vienne ;* and it was 
 told him, on the part of the king and his council : " Admiral,'make 
 your preparations for a journey to Castille; you will have no other 
 than credential letters, for it is enough that you are master of the sub- 
 ject on which you are sent. Tell the king of Castille to read or 
 have read to him all the treaties of alliance, and promises of friend- 
 ship, which have been formed and sworn to between the two crowns ; 
 and remember well all the answers you may receive from him or his 
 ministers on this subject, that we may regulate our conduct accord- 
 ingly." All this, the admiral said, he would studiously attend to. 
 The admiral was not long m niaRing preparations for his journey, 
 and, having taken leave of the king and his uncles, left Paris, taking 
 the road toward Burgundy ; for he was desirous of visiting the pope 
 and his brother at Avignon, which he did. 
 
 * .-VccordiriK to Liopoz d'Ayala, Moler (le Mauny, tlic king's chamberlain, was jciucd 
 i» «v>"""j$.iion with si; Juho ds Vietuic.«»£o. 
 
 We will now for a while leave him, and say something of Geofiry 
 Tete-noire and the siege of Ventadour, in which he was inclosed ; 
 but we must first speak of the duke of Berry, whose isnpatiencc to 
 marry again was shown v.'ithin the year, when he took to hijusclf a 
 wife of whom 1 shall speak, and say who she was, and where he 
 was married. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXXVI. 
 
 THE DUKE OF BERRY, BEING DPSAPPOINTED IN HIS MARRTAQE WITTI TUB 
 DAL'GHTER OF THE DUKE OF LAVCASTER, SENDS TO THE COUNT DE FOIX 
 TO DEMAND THE DAUGHTER OF THE COUNT DE BOULOGNE, WUO.M HE HAD 
 IN WARDSHIP. 
 
 The duke of Berry, having been disappointed in marrying the daugh. 
 ter of the duke of Lancaster, was told that the count de Boulogne 
 had a beautiful daughter called Jane, by the lady Eleanor de Com- 
 minges; that she was not with her father nor mother, but in the 
 country of B6arn with his good friend and cousin the count de Foix ; 
 that she had been educated by the count, in his cast e of Orthfes, for 
 the space of nine years, and he had the wardship of al) her property; 
 and that her father and mother had not any way interfered since she 
 had been under the care of the count, nor had the young lady cost 
 them anything; that she had been often demanded in marriage, but 
 the count de Foix had turned a deaf ear, saying, she was yet too 
 young ; and in particular by sir Bernard, brother to the count d'Arm- 
 agnac, who had repeatedly pressed the matter, promising, on the 
 acconiplishment of this marriage, to put an end to his war on Bdarn 
 and his claims on that country. Notwithstanding these fair promises, 
 the count would not listen to him, but said thit his cousin was too 
 young. He gave, however, other reasons to his confidential friends, 
 and said to sir E?paign du Lyon, " These Armagnacs must think me 
 a great fool, when they ask me to consent to my destruciion. If I 
 give them my cousin, I shall add to their strength and weaken my. 
 self. They already withhold from her by force her inheritance, in 
 right of her mother, of Comminges; for the count de Boulogne is aa 
 nobody to oppuse them." 
 
 When the count d'Armagnac and his brother, sir Bernard, found 
 they could not succeed, they spoke to the duke of Berry, during the 
 life of their aunt, his first duchess, that it would be a good match for 
 his son John of Berry. The duke, in consequence, had sent properly 
 qualified persons to the count de Foix in Bearn, to entreat that all 
 former animosities might be forgiven and forgi-tten, and that he 
 would consent to the marriage of his cousin and ward with his son 
 John ; for that the count de Boulogne, her father, was very well 
 satisfied that it should tike place. 
 
 The count entertained the envoys handsomely, but excused him- 
 self for not complying with 'heir demand, as the lady was too young; 
 and because he had most solenr-ly promised and sworn to the coun- 
 tess her mother, when she delivered her into his hands, that he would 
 never betroth her to any person whatever without her knowledge. 
 He would therefore keep his oath, and no one ought to attempt to 
 make him break it. These were the excuses the count made ; for 
 he knew well that his cousin, the countess of Comminges, who re. 
 sided with her brother the count d'Urgucl, in Arragon, would never 
 consent to her daughter's marriage vvith any one connected with the 
 Armagnacs. 
 
 The embassadors from the duke of Berry returned, therefore, un. 
 successfully ; and m their absence the count de Foix said, [as 1 learnt 
 from sii- E-paign du Lyon) — " The duke of Berry and h\s advisers 
 must think me very weak and ignorant, when they propose that I 
 should reinforce my enemies. John of Berry is cousin to my adver. 
 saries, the Armagnacs : this match I will never consent to, and hod 
 much rather marry her in England ; and I have already had proposals 
 from Henry of Lancaster, son to the duke of Lancaster. If 1 were 
 not afraid of too much angering the king of France, no one else 
 should have my cousin. At this moment i know not how to act ; but 
 I will marry her to my own satisfaction, t,> prevent any of the Armag. 
 nacs having her asrainst my will : for, as the whole depends on my 
 determination, I have no occasion to be melancholy, or to be very 
 anxious on this subject." 
 
 When the duke of Berry knew for certain that the duke of Lan- 
 caster intended marrying his daughter with the infant of Castille, and 
 that there were no hopes of breaking it off, he was so pensive and 
 melancholy for five or six days, that those of his nearest relations in- 
 quired the cause of it. Having opened his mind to them, and com- 
 plained of his disappointment, his council replied : " Sir, if you have 
 failed with the lady Catherine of Lancaster, you may be more suc- 
 cessful in another quarter, with the daughter of a great lord, and who, 
 in due time, will be a considerable heiress, though at this moment 
 she is a little too young for your time of life ; and I know not if the 
 count de Foix will not on this account refuse his consent." " Is she 
 the daughter of the count de Boulogne ?" asked the duke. " Yes, my 
 lord." " In God's name," replied the duke, "let us make the trial." 
 
 t was not long after this before he wrote to the count de Foix, to 
 signify to him, in the most friendly manner, that he would send to 
 him four knights of high quality, such as the count de Sancerre, the 
 lord de la Riviere, sir Guy de la Tremouille, and the viscouiit 
 d'Assy, to treat with him for his ward, the daughter of the count do 
 
490 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 Bou'ogne, ii marriage; and these lords were of suc!i inip(jrtance, as 
 1.) ju-*tify him in puttiiig implicit faith in them ; but he begged of 
 him to send him a speedy answer tJ his letter, that these knights 
 miirht not undertake a commission that would be unsuccessful. I'he 
 count de Foix received handsomely the messengers who brought this 
 letter, and wrote b;\ck by them to the duke of Berry, that he was 
 very hnjjpy in the propisals he had made, and was ready to receive 
 the f )ur knights eiilier in Foix or in Bearn ; but that the consent of 
 the count and countess de B;)ulugne must first be had. 
 
 The duke of Berry was well pleased on receiving such an answer, 
 and ni'gjtiated with one and another, during the winter, that his 
 marriage might tike place in the course of the summer. The busi. 
 ness, however, was not so soon accomplished ; for the duke of Berry 
 knew well that the count dc Foix was not a per.^on to act hastily, 
 and that there woidd be many questions and replies before the matter 
 could be expected t > be brought to a conclusion. He therefore pru- 
 dently carried on the treaty, by sending special messengers to pope 
 Clement, who was nearly related to the young lady. Tiie pope was 
 rejoice 1 at hearing his cousin would be so highly connected as with 
 the duke of Berry, uncle to the king of France; and he wrote, in 
 consequence, to the count de Foix, to notify him in an honorable 
 manner, that he would not on any account this proposal should be 
 rejected, for their families would be made by it. The count de Foix 
 received letters from all quarters ; for he could, on such occasions, 
 well dissemble his real se-itiment?, and yet retain the affections of 
 all, the pope as well as the duke of Berry; but there were none so 
 wise among them, that knew what were the count's real thoughts. 
 
 We will now leave tais matter, and return to the siege of Venta. 
 dour. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXX VII. 
 
 GEOFFRV TETE-NOIRE IS WOUNDED IN THE HEAD, AT A SKIRMISH, AND 
 COMMITS EXCESSES WHICH CAUSE HIS DEATH. HE MAKES A WILL, AND 
 SUBSTITUTES TWO GOVERNORS OF VENTADOUR IN HIS ROOM. 
 
 You have b^efore heard how sir William de Lignac and sir John 
 Bonne. lance, with' many knights and squires from Auvergne and 
 Limou-in, had besieged the castle of Ventadour, and GeofTry Tete- 
 noir within it. It vyas so strong, that it coula nol be taken by storm ; 
 and he had laid in such stores of all things, as to secure a sufficiency 
 for sever, or eight years, without anvthing new being added. The 
 besiegers, who had surrounded it with blockhouses, came at times 
 to skirmish at the bariiers; and it happened that, at one of these. 
 Geoffry Tate-noire advanced so fir that he was struck on the head 
 by a bolt from a cross-bow, which p issed through the helmet and 
 cap underneath, and wounded him so severely as to occasion him t) 
 be carried t) his bed. His companions were much vexed at thi-, 
 and, duriog the time he was in thi' st ite, all skirmishing ceased. 
 H \6 he taken proper care of himself, he would have soon been c-ired 
 of this wound; but he indulged him=elf in many excesses, particularly 
 in fornication, for which he p ad dearly enough by his death. He 
 was warned of the consequences f>f this conduct, and told that he 
 was in so dangerous a condition, (the wound having become an im- 
 posthame,) th it it was necessary he should settle his affairs. He 
 did, and made his will in the way I shall relate. 
 
 He ordered the principal persons in his garrison, and those who 
 had been the most used to arms, iito his presence ; and when they 
 were come, he saiJ to them, sittiog up in his bed, " My fair sirs, and 
 companions i i arm.s, I know I am in great danger of death : we have 
 been a long time together, and I have been a loyal captain to you all. 
 to the utmost of my power; I should wish, therefore, to see, before 
 I quit this world, mv successor appiinted, who would gallantly be- 
 have himself t )ward you and defend this castle, which I shall leave 
 plentifully sDcked with all necessary things, such as wines, provis. 
 ions, and artillery. I therefore beg you will t.41 tne if you have 
 taken any steps, or have thought of electing any one able to govern 
 and lead you as men-at-arms ought to be governed and led, for such 
 has been my manner of carrying on the war; and in truth I cared 
 not against whom. I did indeed make it under shadow of the king 
 of England's name, in preference to any other; but I have always 
 looked for gain and conquest, wherever they may be had ; and such 
 should be the conduct of adventurous companions, who are for deeds 
 of arms and to advance themselves. This country is very fertile : 
 many good compositions have been made with it, though the French 
 now check them by their war; but this cannot always last, for their 
 blockhouses and siege must have an end. Now, tell me truly, have 
 any of you thought of the person who is to succeed me ?" 
 
 The companions remaining silent, he again addressed them with 
 the utmost good-humor, saying, " I can easily believe you have had 
 Bome conversations together on what I have mentioned ; and I also, 
 during the time I have been forced to keep my bed, have thought 
 cn this matter for you." " Sir," replied they, " we refer the matter 
 to you ; and it will be more agreeable if it came from you than from 
 us : you will therefore be pleased to inform us of your will." " Yes," 
 Bald Geoffry, " I will tell you, and name those I wish to succeed me. 
 Here is Alleyn Roux and his brother Peter, my cousins, who are 
 good men-at-arms and of my blood : I entreat you, therefore, to ac- 
 cept of Alleyn as your governor, and that you will swear to him, in 
 my presence, loyalty and obedience, as well as to his brother ; but 1 
 
 mean that Alleyn should have the sovereign command." "Sir,** 
 answered they, " we wiH cheerfully do so, for you have well chosen." 
 All the companions then took oaths of obedience to Alleyn Roux, 
 and to his brother Peter. When this was done, Geoffry T^te-noire 
 again addressed them : " Well, my friends, you have complied with 
 my request, and I thank you for it. Because I wish you should par- 
 take of what you have helped me to conquer, I must inform you, 
 that in that chest which you see yonder, (pointing to it with his 
 finger,) there is a sum of thirty thousand francs. I would acquit my 
 conscience and myself toward thv)ge who have faithfully served me : 
 say, therefore, if you will truly fulfil the articles of my v/ill." Having 
 said they would, he continued : " In the first place, I leave the chapel 
 of St. George, within our walls, the sum of fifteen hundred francs for 
 repairs and additional buildings. 1 give to my mistress, who has 
 been faithfully attached to me, two thousand five hundred francs — 
 To Alleyn Roux, your governor, two thousand francs — To my valets- 
 de-chambre, five hundred francs — To my officers, fifteen hundred 
 francs. The surplus I thus dispose of : you are about thirty com- 
 panions, all engaged in the same enterprise, and you should behavo 
 like brothers to each other, without envy, riut, or strife. The sum 
 I have mentioned you will find in the chest: divide it, therefore, 
 among you fairly and honorably ; but should the devil get among 
 you, and you cannot agree, here is a v/ell-tempered sharp axe, cut 
 open the chest, and let those who can seize the contents." To this 
 speech, they unanimously replied, "Lord and master, we will not 
 disagree. We have so much loved and feared you, we will never 
 break the chest, nor disobey any of the orders you have given us." 
 
 Such as I have related was the will of Geoffry Tete-noire, who 
 only lived two days more, and was buried in the chapel of Saint 
 George in Ventadour. All his legacies were paid, and the overplus 
 divided among them according to his orders, and Alleyn Roux with 
 his brother Peter were obeyed as governors of the castle. The 
 blockade, however, was not for this raised, nor were the skirmishes 
 less frequent. The French knights and squires of Auvergne and 
 Limousin were rejoiced at the death of Geoffry-Tete-noire, and were 
 not so much afraid of those he had left behind, for he had been a 
 most active and successful captain in war and in forming garrisons. 
 
 We will now return to the duke of GuelJres for a short time, and 
 say what befel him at this season ; having already mentioned the 
 trouble he had given to the king of France and his uncles, by forcing 
 them t) march to the borders of his country, and then to return 
 without doing him any considerable damage. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXXVIII. 
 
 THE DUKE OF GUELDRES IS MADE PRISONER IN PRUSSIA ; AND, THOUGn 
 DELIVERED BV THE KNIGHTS OF THE TEUTONIC ORDER, HE RETURNS TO 
 KEEP HIS FAITH TO THE PERSON WHO HAD TAKEN HIM. 
 
 When the duke of Gueldres perceived that the whole army of 
 France had retreated, and that peace was established with the 
 duchess of Brabant and his other enemies by means of the frenties, 
 the particulars of which you have heard related — )ne of the articles 
 being understood to have been the surrender of the town of Grave 
 within the year, on such conditions as had been agreed on between 
 him, the duke of Burgundy and the duchess of Brabant — and when 
 he found he had now nothing t > do at home, under these circum- 
 stances, I say, he resolved t ) make an excursion into Prussia. He 
 made preparations accordingly, and, accompanied by many knights 
 and squires of his own and other countries, beg in his journey thither 
 about the oct ive of Saint Martin, taking his road through Germany. 
 Wherever he passed, he was handsomely received, and arrived on 
 the territory of Pruss-ia. I know not how it happened, but he and 
 his company were waylaid in the plains, and attacked by a body of 
 men-at-arms, of whom they had no suspicion, and for that reason 
 they were overpowered. They lost their arms, horses, gold and 
 silver plate, and were carried prisoners to a town hard by, where all 
 who could ransom themselves did so : particularly the duke of Guel- 
 dres pledged himself to a squire called Arurant ; his surname I am 
 ignorant of; and then the duke of Gueldres and his company were 
 led to a strong town of the duke de Stulpen, not that the duke was 
 there in person. 
 
 When the grand-master and knights of the Teutonic order heard 
 that the duke of Gu.eldres had been attacked and made prisoner on 
 his road to Prussia, they were exceedingly enraged, and said it should 
 not remain unpunished, otherwise they would be greatly blamed. 
 They instantly issued their summons for the attendance of their vas. 
 sals, and marched with a large force of men-at-arms from Commis. 
 berg* to the town wherein the duke of Gueldres was detained 
 prisoner. The squire who had made the duke prisoner, having 
 heard of this expedition, was alarmed for the consequences, and do. 
 termined to leave the castle, as ill might befal him should he bo 
 taken ; but before he departed he waited on the duke of GucldretJ, 
 and thus spoke : " Duke of Gueldres, you are my prisoner, and I am 
 your master. You, as a gentleman, have pledged your faith and 
 oath, that wherever I should please to go, thither you would follow 
 me. I know not if you have sent for the grand-master of the Teutonic 
 
 * " Commubcre." Q. Konincsbent. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 491 
 
 order, but he is marching hither in such force that I do not think it 
 prudent to wait for hini. Do you remain, if you please, but I shall 
 carry away your faith with me." To this the duke of Gueldres 
 making no reply, the squire departed, and, having mounted his 
 horse, rode off to -a castle of greatev strength; but, on his going 
 away, he added, " You will find me at such a place," and named 
 to him the casrle, which was very strong, and far from all roads. 
 He was no soon ^r gone than the grand-master arrived, with a con. 
 Biderable force : no one issued forth to oppose him : and, had he 
 found the squire within, he woy.ld infallibly have put him to death. 
 He therefore returned to Koningsberg, carrying the duke of Guel- 
 dres with him. 
 
 I will relate what was the end of this event ; for in whatever 
 country ii was told, and espc'dally in Germany, it was variously 
 Bpoken of, to the great aitjni hmcnt of al! lords who heard it. 
 When the duke of Gueldres arrived at Koningsberg, having obtained 
 hi3 liberty in the manner I have said, he considered that he had 
 pledged his faith to return t ) the squire who had made him prisoner : 
 likewise remembering what the squire hud said on his departure, he 
 was much c;ist down, and thought himself bou:iden in honor to ac- 
 quit himself loyally toward him. He therefore told the grand-master 
 he could not longer remain with him, nor for any di-pensation or 
 absolu'ion would give up his intention of surrendering himself to his 
 master, in the castle where he had been appointed to do so ; which 
 every one considered as an act of great honor. When this came to 
 the ears of his relations and subjects in Gueldres, they treated for 
 his liberty, which they obt fined through the means of the duke of 
 Stolpen, who tjok much pains in the business; but, before the duke 
 would consent to his enlargement, he made the duke of Gueldres 
 Bwear, that neiiher himself, his heirs, nor any person attached to 
 him, would ever seek open or privjite revenge for the insult he had 
 received. Thus was the duke of Gueldres set at liberty ; but in the 
 year 1388 did this misfortune befal him. Let us return to sir .Tohn 
 de Vienne, admiral of France, and relate what he said from the king 
 of France to the king of Castille. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXXIX. 
 
 SIR JOHN DE VIENN-E, HAVING RECEIVED HIS ANSWER FROM THE KING 
 OF CASTILLE, RETURNS TO FRANCE. THE DUKE OF LANCASTER PRO- 
 CEEPS L\ THE MARRIAGE OF HIS DAUGHTER TO THE INFANT OF CAS- 
 TILf.E. THE EARL OF ARUNDEL, HAVING MADE SOME CRUISES ON 
 THE COASTS OF NORMANDY, RETURNS WITH HIS FLEET TO ENGLAND. 
 
 The admiral of France continued his journey until he arrived in 
 Castille, when he inquired where the king resided. He was an- 
 swered, " Most commonly at Burgo?," whither ho then rode. Hav- 
 ing dismounted at his inn, he made himself ready to go the palace ; 
 but as soon as the king's household heard of his arrival, he was vis- 
 ited by them, most honorably, according t ) the custom of the coun- 
 try, from ff^eir attacliment to the king of France, to whom they held 
 themselves much indebted, and he was conducted to the king's 
 apartment. Sir .fohn was kindly greeted by the king, tj whom he 
 gave his letters. The king took them, and called his council aside, 
 when, having read and considered them, they found he had full 
 powers given him, and fir John was called and bade to explain the 
 cause of his coming. ' He, who was ready prepared, thus spoke, in 
 handsome language: " Sir king, and you gent'emen of his council, 
 the king of France sends me hither, on account of the marriage 
 which he has heard is about to take place between your son and the 
 daughter of the duke of Lancaster, who is, as you know, his enemy. 
 The king of France and his mini ters are greatly at a loss to conceive 
 how you could think of entering into any treaty of marriage or other 
 engagement, without their being made acquainted with it; for they 
 Bay truly, that no union can be formed between children without 
 great intimacy and aifect-ion of the parents being the conseque-nces. 
 They therefore tell you by my mouth, to be careful not to enter into 
 rny treaties that may be prejudicial to the king of France ; and that 
 those, so solemnly sworn to be observed by the late king Henry, your 
 father, the prel-tes, nobles and cities of the realm, be no way in. 
 fringed, otherwise you will incur the pain of excommunication from 
 the pope, and the indignation of the king and barons of France, 
 whom you will find, to your disgrace, your most bitter enemies. 
 This is what 1 am ordered to say to you from the king of France 
 and his council." 
 
 When the king of Cnstille, and those present, heard such a re- 
 proachful message from the king of France, they were so much 
 astonished, that they looked at each other, but not one attempted to 
 make any reply. A bishop, however, who happened to he there, 
 made the following answer: "Sir John, you are newly arrived in 
 this country, and the king aiid ourselves are glad to see you, and bid 
 you welcome. Fair sir, the king has perfectly heard and understood 
 your message, and you shall shortly, within a day or two, have such 
 an answer as will give you satisfaction." "It is enough," replied 
 pir .Tohn de Vienne, who then took leave of the king and council 
 and returned to his lodgings. It was reported to me, that he re- 
 mained seven days without having any answer ; that there was very 
 great dissembUng on this occasion, and he became quite melancholy, 
 for he never saw the king, but remained in his apartment, scarcely 
 
 visited by any one. Sir .John de Vienne, noticing this delay, spoke 
 of it to some of the council, whom he sometimes saw, declariniJ: he 
 would return without the answer. T\wy suspected he would keep 
 his word and do as he said, fur in truth such was his intention'. 
 
 He was therefore invited to the palace, and such answers made 
 him, that, on his return, he told the king of France, and thope wh.«) 
 had sent him, not to be under any uneasiness ref-pecting the king of 
 Castillo or his council, for they would never enter into any treaties 
 with England that should, in the smallest degree, be detrimental to 
 those which had been formed between France and Castille. If the 
 king of Castille married his son to the duughter of the duke of Lan- 
 caster, according to the unanimous wish of his country, as the means 
 of obtaining peace, and extinguishing all claims on his crown, it 
 ought not to have given umbrage to the king of France nor to that 
 nation ; for the king of Castille and his subjects were firmly resolved 
 to adhere to every point of the treaties existing between them and 
 France. 
 
 Such was the purport of the answer sir .Tohn de Vienne had 
 brought from Castille. The king of Castille and the duke of Lan- 
 caster proceeded in the marriage, and a treaty of peace was amicably 
 agreed on between them, by the before.mentioned commissioners, 
 for the duke still resided in the Bordelois. He had come with his 
 duchess and daughter from Bayonne to Bordeaux, where he was 
 joyfully received, as they were desirous of his living among them, 
 and thence had gone to Libourne.* 
 
 When it was known for certain, in the castle of the count de Foix, 
 that the king of Castille had made peace with the duke of Lancas. 
 ter, and had put an end to all his claims, by the marriage of his son 
 with the lady Catherine of Lancaster, to whom he had given exten- 
 sive territories in Castille, besides a large sum to the duke, amount, 
 ing to two hundred thousand nobles, the count was greatly aston- 
 ished, (for I was then present.) and said : " This king of Ca&tille is a 
 poor creature, to make peace with a dead man ; for 1 arn sure the 
 duke of Lancaster was in so bad a way he knew not where to turn 
 himself. On my faith," continued the count, " the duke is a man 
 of ability, and has prudently managed this matter." 
 
 It was about Christmas that the fleet of the earl of Arundel, which 
 had been hovering the whole year along the coasts of Brittdny, la 
 Rochelle, Saintonge, and the Bordelois, came to the shores of Nor- 
 mandy, and sailed by Carentan. It had indeed befjre landed at 
 Cherbourg, and the earl seemed inclined to make war on that part 
 of the country. The town of Carentan and its dependencies were 
 under the command of the lord de Hambre and the lord de Torci, 
 who had with them a considerable number of knights and squires of 
 Normandy. The earl of Arundel learning how strongly it was gar- 
 risoned, passed by, thinki.ig he might lose more than he could gain 
 were he to attack it, and fell on another town, called Torigny,t 
 which he took by storm, and gained great wealth by plundering it. 
 They carried away many prisoners, and marched to the barriers of 
 Bayeux, but only made a slight ski.rriish. The English passed the 
 fords of St. Clement, and did great damage to those parts ; for they 
 stayed there fifteen days without any one corning to oppose them. 
 
 The marshal de Blainville was indeed in Normandy; but he had 
 no information of what was passing, or he vvould have provided a 
 remedy. The English having finished their expedition, and done 
 one hundred thousand francs cf mischief to Ncrmandy, made a pru- 
 dent retreat, and recrossing the f)rds, returned to Cherbourg, where 
 they embarked their pillage safely on board the fleet : having weighed 
 anchor, they took to the deep, and lande;-'. at Southampton. Such 
 were the deeds done by this fleet, under the command of the earl 
 of Arundel. 
 
 CHAPTER CXL. 
 
 THE LORD LEWIS DE SANCERRE VISITS THE COUNT DE FOIX AT ORTHES. 
 A DEED OF ARMS IS PERFORMED, BEFORE THE DUKE OF LANCASTER AT 
 BORDEAUX, BETWEEN FIVE FRENCH AND FIVE ENGLISH MEN. 
 
 The lord Lewis de Sancerre, marshal of France, at this time resided 
 at Toulouse or Carcassonne in Languedoc, and was well informed 
 of the treaties that were in agitation between the duke of Berry and 
 the count de Foix, for the marriage of the daughter of the count de 
 Boulogne, whom the duke wished to have, although the lady was 
 very young. The marshal had a desire to visit the count de Fi.ix at 
 Orthfes, and I believe (from the information I had from his people 
 who found me there i t Christmas,) the king of France had ordered 
 him thither, and I will relate on what errand. 
 
 The king of France was at this period very young, though anxious 
 to manage his government well. He had never visited Languedoc, 
 which is an extensive province filled whh towns and castles, that had 
 been almost ruined by the oppressions of the duke of Berry. Heavy 
 complaints of this had been made to the king when he took the 
 government into his own hands ; and he said he would travel into 
 Languedoc, and visit the pope, whom he had never yet seen ; and 
 he was likewise desirous of seeing the count de Foix, of whose 
 largesses and valor he had heard so much. 
 
 * " Lil)oiirne," n town on the confluence of the Dordogne and Garonne, five leaguet 
 northe;ist from Bordeaux, 
 t " Turigny/' z town in Normandy, tlirce leagues from St. Lo. eight from Cuutaucei. 
 
493 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 The marshal de Sancerre lut't Toulouse with full five hundred 
 horse, rode to Tarbes in Bigorre, and thence to Orthos in B6arn. 
 The count de Foix, having hud animation of his coming, ordered 
 the stewards of his household to have the town of Orthos properly 
 prepared for his reception, as his visit gave him great pleasure. 
 These orders were punctually obeyed, and lodgings were marked out 
 in the town for the marshal's attendants, but he himself dismounted 
 at the castle. The count de Foix went out of the town to meet him, 
 attended by more than three hundred horse, and received him most 
 kindly. The lord Lewis de Sancerre remained at Orthds about six 
 days; and he then acquainted the count of the king's intended jour, 
 ney iiitc Languedoc, and his desire tj see him. " In good faith," 
 replied the count de Foix, " he will be welcome there, and I will 
 with pleasure wait on hiin.'* " Indeed, my lord," answered the 
 marshal, " but it is the king's wish to know on his arrival in Lan- 
 guedoc, plainly and openly, whether you mean to attach yourself to 
 the Frencih or to the English ; for in these wars you have dissembled 
 your real sentiments, and have never borne arras either from sum. 
 mons or entreaties." 
 
 "Ah, lord Lewis," said the count de Foix, " I give you many 
 thanks for having spoken to me on this subject. If I have excused 
 myself from bearing arms for either side, I have, as I think, good 
 reasons for it : the wars between England and France no way con- 
 cern me, for I hold my country of Beam from God, my sword, and 
 by inheritance. I have not, therefore, any cause to enter into the 
 service, or incur the hatred of either of these kings. I know well, 
 that my enemies, the Armagnacs, have done all in their power to put 
 me in the ill graces of both nionarchs ; for before the prince of Wales 
 inarched into Spain, at the instigation of the count d'Armagnac, he 
 would have maiie war on ma, having a strong inclination for it, if sir 
 John Chandos had not preve.Jiid him. Thanks, however, to God, I 
 have always kept myself on my guard in as courteous a manner as 
 possible, and shall c onti.iue to do so as long as I live : after my 
 death, matters mu-t take the tu n that is natural for them." Thus 
 did the count de Fuix anJ the marshal de Sancerre converse as long 
 as he stayed. On his departure, the count presented him with a 
 handsome courser, a fine mule and good hackney, all uf them richly 
 caparisoned. He gave also t.) sir Robert Ghallies, to sir Richard 
 Dauphin, and tj the knights of the marshal, two hundred francs 
 each, and to five of his squires fifty francs. 
 
 When the marshal took his leave, to return to Toulouse, I wanted 
 to accompany him ; but the count de Foix would not allow me, and 
 bade me stay longer with him. This I was forced to comply with, 
 and w it his will. The lord Lewis on leaving 0/thesi took the road 
 to Tarbes, whit'ier he was escorted by the lord dauphin of Bigorre, 
 and sir Peter Cabjstan, one of the count de Foix's household. 
 
 Abjut this time, of the year L389, there was a deed of arms per. 
 formed at Bordeaux, before the duke of Lancaster, between five 
 Englishmen and the same number of French, of whom some were 
 of the household of the marshal of France. The combatants were 
 sir Petit.m de Pellagie, a Gascon Englishman ; against sir Morice 
 Mauviiiet, a Frciichman ; f-ir Raymand of Arragon, English, ag dnst 
 the bastard de Ch mvigny, French ; sir Lewis Malapers, governor 
 of Aigues. Vlortes, E iglish, against .lannequin Gorne de Cerf, French ; 
 Archibald de Vil iers, French, ag ■i.^^t the son of the lord de Chau- 
 mont, Gascon. English. Many knights and squires from Beam, and 
 of the household of the count de Fuix, being desirous of seeing these 
 combats, went thither : I accompanied them ; for it is but twenty, 
 four leagues from Orthes t ) Bordeaux, and we were spectators of 
 these duels, which were fought in the square before St. Andrew's, in 
 the presence of the duke and duchess of Lancaster, tiieir daughter, 
 and the ladies and damsels of the country. They did not combat 
 all together, but e ich party separately ; and were to perform three 
 courses with spears, three with swords, the same number with baltle- 
 nxes, and three with daggers, all on horseback. The tiltings occu. 
 pied three days, and were gallantly performed without any of the 
 ten being wounded. Sir Raymond killed the horse of the bastard 
 de Chauvigny, which greatly angered the duke of Lancaster; he 
 blamed the knight much for having pointed his spear too low, and 
 presented the bastard with one of his own horses. 
 
 Such was the end of this deed of arms, which being finished, 
 every one returned to his own home. 
 
 CHAPTER CXLI. 
 
 THE DUCHESS OF LANCASTER CARRIES HER DAUGHTER TO CASTILLE, TO 
 MARRY HER TO THE INFANT. HAVING FOUND THE BONES OF HER 
 FATHER, SHE MAS THEM CONVEYED TO SEVILLE, AND BURIED WITH 
 REGAL 0BSEQUI2S. 
 
 Shortly after these deeds of arms, the duchess of Lancaster made 
 preparations for her journey into Castille, whither she was to carry 
 her daughter, to solemnize her marriage with the son of the king of 
 Castille. It was her intention, when in Castille, to visit the field of 
 battle of Monteil, where her father, don Pedro, had lost his life, and 
 make strict inquiries where his body had at that time been buried, 
 wliicli, when found, was to be taken up, and conveyed to the city of 
 Seville, and magnificently interred there, in a manner becoming a 
 king. When, in the month of March 1389, the sun began to have 
 
 some force, and the days to lengthen, the duchess, having her array 
 ready, set out from Bordeaux, and went to B.iyonne, where s-he parted 
 from the duke, who returned to Bordeaux. She and her ladies con. 
 tinued their journey to the city of Dax, where they were joyfully 
 received, as that town belonged to England. They there reposed 
 themselves for two days, and then pursued their road through the 
 country of the Basques, the pass of Roncesvalles, and entered Navarre. 
 At Pampeluna, they found the king and queen of Navarre, who re. 
 ceived them kindly : for the queen was sister to the king of Castille.* 
 
 The duchess of Lancaster and her daughter were upward of a 
 month traversing Navarre, for they resided at difl^erent parts with the 
 king and queen ; and wherever they went all their expenses were 
 defrayed. On their entrance into Castille, they were most respect- 
 fully treated by those of the king's household who had been sent to 
 meet them : there were also deputies from different parts of the 
 realm. All the kingdoms of Spain, Castille and Galicia, Seville and 
 Toledo, and Cordova, were rejoiced at the arrival of these ladies, 
 since the younger was about to marry the son of, king John their 
 lord. And it seemed to them all that profound peace w(juld ensue, 
 for they should be freed from all fear of the English ; and as tu the 
 Portuguese, they should, as they said, make head against them very 
 easily. Thus the ladies proceeded to meet king .John of Castille at 
 Burgos, who gave them a splendid and affectionate reception ; the 
 prelates and barons of the country M'ere there also, who received 
 them in a similar manner. So they were entertained in such a man. 
 ner as was due to them ; and the agreements before entered into, 
 written and sealed, between John king of Castille and John duke of 
 Lancaster, were then confirmed. The duke of Lancaster, and his 
 wife, were to receive a yearly revenue of fifty thousand francs, for 
 which four cities and the whole country of Medina de! Campo were 
 pledged ; and further, the duchess of Lancaster was to receive for 
 tne support of her household six'een thousand francs ; and her daugh. 
 ter and the son of the king were, during the lifetime of the kijig, to 
 be put in possession of the whole country of Galicia, and the young 
 prince was to have the title of prince of Galicia.t 
 
 The marriage h-aving been solemnized, and all contracts signed, 
 the duchess left her daughter with the king and her young husband, 
 who was then but eight years old. She tack leave of the king to go 
 to Monteil, as she had proposed, who had her attended by the gieat- 
 est personages of his court. On her arrival at Monteil, fiuch re. 
 searches were made, that she discovered where her f ather was buried, 
 and had his bones taken up, washed and embalmed, and carried in 
 a coffin to Seville, where the cavalcade was met by large processions 
 from that town. The bones were conveyed to the catliedral, and 
 there most reverently buried, with very solemn o'osequies, which 
 were attended by kiiig John of Castille, his son, the young prince of 
 Galicia, and the greater part of the prelates and barons of the realm. 
 After the obsequies, each person returned home : the king of Cas- 
 tille, accompanied by his son and daughter.in.law, went to Val di 
 Soria ; but the duchess of Li^^caster went to Medina del Campo, a 
 handsome and large town, which now belonged to her by the late 
 treaties of peace, and remained there some lime. 
 
 We will leave speaking of her and Castille, and relate the mar- 
 riage of the duke of Berry, and other events which ensued. 
 
 CHAPTER CXLI I. 
 
 the DUKE OF BERRY NEGOTIATES SO SUCCESSFULLY WITH THE COUNT DK 
 FOIX, THAT HE SENDS TO HIM HIS COUSIN OF BOLLOGNE, WHO.M HE 
 INSTANTLY MARRIES. 
 
 The duke of Berry, whose first duchess, the lady Joan of Armag. 
 nac, had departed this life, was very impatient to marry again ; for 
 no sooner was he assured of having failed in his proposals to the 
 duke of Lancaster, than he set clerks to work, and, with proper mes- 
 sengers, sent to negotiate with the count de Foix for the daughter 
 of the count de Boulogne, whom he had had in wardship for nine 
 years. Because the duke of Berry had no prospect of success but 
 through the count de Foix, (who was of such a character that he 
 would do nothing that was disagreeable to himself for either father, 
 mother, pope, or any friend the young lady had,) he opened himself 
 to his nephew the king of France, and to his brother of Burgundy, 
 entreating them earnestly to interfere in the business. The king 
 laughed most heartily at his uncle of Berry, who was now of a cer- 
 tain age, and said : " My good uncle, what will you do with a young 
 girl of only twelve years old, and you are sixty ? On my faith, it is 
 great folly in you to think of such things. Propose my fair cousin 
 John, your son, to her, who is of a proper age, and a more suitable 
 match." " My lord," replied the duke, " this has been proposed, 
 but the count de Foix would not listen to it, because my son descends 
 by the mother from the Armagnacs, and they are now and have been 
 some time at war. If the girl is too young, I will spare her awhile, 
 until she be a perfect woman." " Indeed I" said the king, " but. 
 my bonny uncle, she will not spare you." He then laughingly added : 
 " However, since we see your love for her is so strong, we will cheei. 
 fully assist you in the matter." 
 
 * Chnrles II. king of Navarre married, in 1361, Leonora, daughter of llenry II. and 
 sister of John, king of Castille.— Ed. 
 t tiis title was Prince of the Asturios.— Es. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 493 
 
 Not long after this, the king ordered the lord de la Riviere, his 
 first knight, steward of his household and chamberlain, to undertake 
 a journey to Bearn, and with him the viscount d'Assy. The duke 
 of Burgundy named, as envoys on his part, the bishop of Autun, and 
 sir William de la Tremouille. The duke of Berry entreated a pru- 
 dent anfl valiant knight, called John de Sancerre, to go thither on 
 his part These five knights, who were appointed to demand this 
 young lady in marriage, for the duke of Berry from the count de 
 Foix, leh their homes, and were all to meet at Avignon. They staid 
 / vviih p )pe Clement, who was cousin-german to the father of the lady, 
 full fifteen days, and about Candlemas departed, taking the road 
 through Nismes and Montpellier to Toulouse. 
 
 They travelled, with great state and short journeys, unto Beziers 
 and Carcassonne, where they found the marshal de S'lncerre, who 
 received them very magnificently, as was right. He conversed with 
 them concerning the count de Foix, of his affairs and establishments, 
 for it was not more than two months since he had returned from 
 thence. From Carcassonne they went to Toulouse, and there re- 
 mained while they sent messengers to the count de Foix, at Orth6s. 
 They opened their proposals of marriage, but distantly, for at the 
 beginning the count was very cold, on account of the duke of Lan- 
 caster, who at the time resided at Bordeaux or Libourne, having 
 made offers ot his son, the earl of Derby, for the young lady of Bou- 
 lognt ; and it was thought, from the long time these lords remained 
 at Toulouse, the marriage would not take effect. They regularly 
 sent daily and weekly accounts of their progress, and what answers 
 they received from the count de Foix, to the duke of Berry, who re- 
 sided at La Nonnette* in Auvergne, and the duke, whose only anx- 
 iety was to bring the matter to a conclusion, repeatedly wrote back 
 to press them not to desist until they had completed the business. 
 
 The count de Foix, who was wise and subtle, seeing the ardor of 
 the duke, treated very coldly, and managed the matter so well, that, 
 with the consent, and indeed at the entreaty of all parties, he received 
 thirty thousand francs for the time the young lady had been under 
 his care and wardship. He might have had a larger sum, had he 
 demanded it ; but he wished to show moderation, that he might have 
 their thanks, and also that the duke of Berry should feel himself un- 
 der obligations to him. When everything was concluded, the count 
 de Foix sent the young lady of Boulogne to Morlans, escorted by five 
 hundred lances, under the command of sir Espaign du Lyon, sir 
 Reginald William, sir Peter de Cabestan, sir Adam de Cacasse, sir 
 Manaut Nouilles, and sir Peter de Kes. She was there delivered, 
 in the name of the duke of Berry, to the embassadors from France, who 
 were escorted by the marshal of France with five hundred spears, 
 and there the two parties separated. Those from Foix returned 
 home, and the French carried with them the lady. 
 
 The duke of Berry had sent to her his array of cars and horses, 
 with every sort of dress and ornament for her head, as if she had 
 been queen of France. I, .John Froissart, the author of this history, 
 took my departure from Orthfes at the same time with her; for the 
 count de Foix had told me, I need not be in a hurry to leave him, 
 for he vvuuld take care I should return in good company. The 
 duchess of Berry, for such I shall henceforth call her, continued her 
 journey until she came to Avignon, when she dismounted at lodg- 
 ings provided ' for her by the pope at Villeneuve, without Avignon. 
 On the morrow, between eight and nine o'clock in the morning, all 
 the cardinals waited on her ; when, having mounted a white palfrey 
 the pope had giv^n her, she crossed the bridge over the Rh6ne in 
 great state, and waited on the pope at his palace at Avignon, who 
 was seated in consistory on his papal throne to receive her. He 
 kissed her on the mouth, on account of their relationship ; and the 
 duchess, with her company, then went to dinner at the hdtel of the 
 cardinal of Turin, below the pope's palace, and there met a great 
 company of cardinals. This was on a Tuesday : the following day 
 the pope entertained her and her attendants at dinner; and this visit 
 of the duchess, as I have heard say, cost the pope ten thousand francs. 
 
 On the Friday she supped at the palace, and took leave of the 
 pope. On the Saturday she departed, and dined and lay at Orange. 
 She continued her journey on horseback, or in a carriage, through 
 Valence and Vienne, to Lyon, where she reposed herself for two 
 whole days. On her departure she went to La Bresle, then passing 
 through the country of Forfits, came to La Palisse, in Burgundy, 
 then to Quissy, to Hanche-sur-Allier, and to Riom, in Auvergne, 
 where she likewise remained two days, before the duke of Berry 
 arrived. He came thither in great state, the night of Whitsunday, 
 and on that day, at two o'clock in the morning, he was married to 
 her. The marriage was very magnificent, and there were present 
 the count de Boulogne, the count d'Estampes, and the count dau- 
 phin d'Auvtrgne. The feastings and tournaments lasted four days, 
 and I, the writer of this book, was a partaker of them all. 
 
 CHAPTER CXLIII. 
 
 CERTAIIt PRUDENT MEN NEGOTIATE A TRUCE, FOR THREE YEARS, BETWEEN 
 THE FRENCH AND ENRI.ISH, AND ALL THEIR ALLIES. 
 
 YotT have heard that a truce had been concluded with all the Eng. 
 lish garrisons, from the Loire to the country beyond the Garonne 
 
 * * La Moao«tt«." a tgwo in Auvsrga*, el«cti«n «f Iwoirt. 
 
 and Gironde, to last until Saint .John the Baptist's day, 1389. Du. 
 ring this time, some wise and great lords opened a negotiation for a 
 general truce between France and England, on si'a and land, for 
 three years. It was the intention of these persons that all the allies 
 of either side should be included in it, such as the kings of Castille 
 and Scotland, the king of Portugal and many barons of Upper Gas- 
 cony. They had much trouble before they could accomplish this ; 
 for the Scots would no way listen to it, though, when the proposal 
 was first made by the king of France to the king of Scotlu.id, he 
 himself had readily assented, for he wished not for war. He sum- 
 moned, therefore, the prelates and burons of his realm, to lay the 
 matter before them, as he could not agree to this truce for the king, 
 dom without their consent ; and, if he had, they would not have 
 abided by it. The letters which had been received from the king 
 of France were read in their presence, containing his wish that 
 they would agree with him for a tincc of three years. This intelli- 
 gence was very disagreeable to them, and they said, " The king of 
 France seems to propose a truce, when it is the moment to continue 
 the war: we have completely defeated the English at Otterbourne ; 
 and the season is not so far advanced, but that we may do it again 
 and again." Many debates enrued, for they were very unwilling to 
 accept of a truce. It was at Jength resolved to send a bishop and 
 three knights to the king of France and his council, to prevent the 
 treaty from being further advanced, and to ofier tht-, friendship of the 
 realm of Scotland. 
 
 The bishop of St. Andrews, sir Archibald Douglas, sir William 
 Lindsay, and sir John Sinclair, were appointed to this embassy. 
 They departed as speedily as they could, and, having landed at 
 Sluys, rode on to Paris. They laid their credential letters, from the 
 prelates and barons of Scotland, before the king of France and his 
 council, and were readily listened to, from the great desire they had 
 to prosecute the war against the English. But, notwithstanding this, 
 the treaty was now so far advanced, that they could not retract: the 
 Scots, therefore, had very civil answers given them ; but the treaty 
 was, of necessity, completed. 
 
 The truce was concluded, through the means of commissioners of 
 high rank on both sides, who held their conferences at Lculinghem, 
 between Boulogne and Calais. In it were included all the allies of 
 France and England, who agreed to preserve the peace inviolate, by 
 every means, public or private, for the space of three years. The 
 commissioners from the king of France were the bishop of Bayeux, 
 count Waleran de St. Pol, sir William de Melun, &ir Nichi)las 
 Bracque, and sir John le Mercier, who resided at Boulogne. On 
 the part of the king of England were the bishop of Durnam, the 
 earl of Salisbury, sir William Beaucharnp, governor of Calai.-^, Joiin 
 Lanon, Nicholas de Gaberth, and Richard Roelle, clerk and doctor of 
 laws, who remained at Calais. The place of conference, where they 
 mutually assembled, was Leulinghem, between Boulogne and Calais. 
 
 At this period, there was much bustle in France and elsewhere, 
 on account of the splendid feasts king Charles intended holding in 
 Paris, on the entry of his queen Isabella, who had never as yet vis- 
 ited that city. Knights, squires, ladies and damsels made the rich- 
 est dresses for the occasion ; of all which I will give an exact account, 
 before I say more of the truce that was fairly written out, and sealed 
 by all the parties. 
 
 END OF THE THIRD VOLUME OF THE CHRONICLES OF SIR JOHN FROISSART- 
 
 FOURTH VOLUME 
 
 OF THE 
 
 CHRONICLES OF SIR JOHN FROISSART. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 FROISSART RELATES HIS TRAVELS AFTER HE HAD LEFT ORTHES. 
 
 You who take delight in this history must know, that on my leav- 
 ing the castle of the noble count Gaston de Foix, I returned through 
 Auvergne and France, in company with the gallant lord de la Riviere 
 and sir William de la Tremouille, who had conducted the lady Jane 
 of Roulogne to the duke of Berry m the town of Riom, where he 
 had married her, as has been related; for, having been present at all 
 these feasts, I may well speak of them. I went thence to Paris, 
 where I met the noble lord de Coucy, one of my patrons, who had 
 lately married a daughter to the duke of Lorraine. 
 
 The lord de Coucy entertained me kindly, and asked many ques- 
 tions about Foix, Beam, pope Clement, and Avignon, as vvell as con- 
 cerning the nuptials of the duke of Berry, and of a particular friend 
 of his, and likewise one of my patrons, the lord Berald, dauphin of 
 Auvergne. To all his questions I satisfied him as to what I knew. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 or had seen, insomuch .that he was well pleased; and said, "You 
 shall come with me into Cambresis, for I am going to a castle the 
 king has given me, called CrevecoBur: it is two leagues from Cam- 
 bray, and nine from Valenciennes." "The distances are very right, 
 my lord," replied I, and accepted his offer. On the road, he told me, 
 that the bishop of Bayeux, the count de St. Pol, sir William de 
 Melwn, and sir John le Mercier, were at Boulogne, by orders from 
 the ki.ig of France ; and that there were at Calais, on the part of 
 king Richisni of England, the bishop of Durham, the earl of Salis- 
 bury, sir William Beauchanip, governor of Calais, sir .Tohn Clambon, 
 sir Nicholas Grandbourg, knights and chamberlains to the king of 
 England, and sir Richard Rocharle,* doctor of laws; who had re- 
 mained at Bjulogne ana Calais upward of a month, waiting for com. 
 mis-ioners from Scotland, " who were not arrived six days ago, as 
 my c -usin S i.it Pul writes me word. The king of France has 
 therefore written to ki ig Robert of Scotland, to p-ress him to accept 
 of the truce, for the English will not consent to it unless the Scots 
 be included." 
 
 Thus continuing our journey, we came to Crevecoeur, where I re- 
 mai.ied with him three days to repose and refresh myself, when I 
 took leave, and went to Valenciennes. After staying there a fort- 
 night, I we it to HjlLind, to visit my gallant patron and lord, the 
 count de Blois, whom I found at Schoenhoven. He made me good 
 cheer, and inquired after nev;s. 1 told him enough of all I had seen 
 or heard, and was with him upward of a month, as well at Gouda 
 as Schoenhoven, and then took leave to return to France, to learn 
 the particuhirs of the conferences that were holding at Leulinghem, 
 between the French and English, and likewise to be present at the 
 magnificent feasts that were to be given at queen Isabella's public 
 entry into Paris, where as yet she had never been.t 
 
 To learn the most I could, I travelled through Brabant, and man- 
 aged t) arrive at Paris eight days before the commencement of the 
 feasts. I had so much forethought, respecting the French and Scots 
 lords who had been at the conferences at Leulinghem, that I made 
 acquuiiitance with tir William de Melun, who related to me all their 
 transactions, and that the count de St. Pol had passed over to Eng- 
 land, to vi-it his brother-in-law, king Richard, and to have the truce 
 confirmed, which was to last for three years; but he said he would 
 be here at all events t ) p irt.ike of the feasts. I asked sir William, 
 " what lords the Scots had sent to the conference ; for that in my 
 younger d '.ys I had been in Scotland, as far as the Highlands, and 
 as at that time I was at the court of king David, I was acquainted 
 with the »;.-eater part of the nobility of that country." He told me, 
 " that the bishop of Aberdeen, sir James and sir David Lindsay, and 
 sir Walter Sin«.'lair, were the commissioners for Scotland."t All 
 this I carefully remembered, that I might enregister it in my Chron- 
 icle, with all I should see or hear at this grand feast of Isabella's 
 entry, the arrangement of which was as follows. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 QUEEN ISABELLA OF FRANCE MAKES HER PUBLIC ENTRY INTO THE CIIY 
 
 OF PARIS. 
 
 On Sunday the 20th day of June,^ in the year of our Lord 1399, 
 there were such crowds of people in Paris, it was marvellous to see 
 them; and on this Sunday, the noble ladies of France who were to 
 accompany the queen, assembled in the afternoon at Saint Deni^, 
 with such of the nobility as were appointed to lead the litters of the 
 queen and her attendants. The citizens of Paris, to the amount of 
 twelve hundred, were mounted c-n horseback, dressed in uniforms of 
 green and crimson, and lined each side of the road. Queen Joan 
 and her daughter,|l the duchess of Orleans, entered Paris first, about 
 an hour after noon, in a covered litter, and passing through the great 
 street of Saint Denis, went to the palace, where the king was wait- 
 ing for them, and this day they went no farther. The queen of 
 France, attended by the duchess of Berry, the duchess of Burgundy, 
 
 * "Clambon, Grandbourg, Rocharle." These names are different in almost all the 
 Copic«, MS. or printed. Tiiey are called Lanon, L'asnon— Gaberth, Giinboch— Rooile 
 and Rohale. Lord Rcrners retains them as in the preceding chapter, but totally omits 
 them in this. The treaty, which is at length in Rymer, has the names as follows. Those 
 from France are also dilferent tVom Froissnrt. 
 
 The bishop of Durlmm, sir Willi im Beaucliamp, governor of Calais, sir .Tohn Deve- 
 reux, steward oftiie king's household, sir .John Ciunvow, sir Nicholas Daggeworth, 
 kniuhts of the king's chamber. 
 
 t Underneath is the fr.msl iiion of a note, vol. iii. p. 85. of M. Levesque's history of 
 the five first kings of the race of Vali.'is. 
 
 " One would be tempted to believe, fr m the recitals qf our historians, lhattlie queen, 
 who had now been married four years, made tliis her first entry into Pan's. It is a mis- 
 take. Sl'.e was there m ISSo, when Charles wrote to her, the 28th April, from Montdi- 
 dier, to send to Amiens the amount of tlie taxes, and to hasten all men-at-iirms ami for- 
 eifijners that were intended for the i nvasion of Gngland from Poris. He orders her at 
 the same time to pmcl lim war against the Flemings nnd their allies. One may conjec- 
 ture, from this letter, thnt be h;id intrusted her with the refiency." 
 
 J The Scots commissinnors a re evidently wrong. The finest MS. in the British Museum 
 has sir Archibnid and sir William Lindsay, and sir John Sinchiir But in Rymer, there 
 u mention only made ( f the archbishop of Glasgow and bishop of Dnnkeld. 
 S ■' Jiivr." My MPS. and that ui the B. Museum have the 20th of August. 
 11 " Queen Juan, and her drughter." I .-^.ispect there must be some mistnke, although 
 this piiriigruph is in all the editions I know of, printed and MS.; but I cannot discover 
 who these i>ersoiiiigcs we-e. lor all the queens of that name were dend, the Inst of them 
 tlie precedinu' year, and the dnko of Touraine. the king's brother, succeeded to the title 
 of duke of Orleans on the death of Philip, in 1391 : he had been lately mar-ied to Val- 
 •Btiaa, of MUuii. who is nitntioned afterwards lu funuinK part of the prutessiod. 
 
 the duchess of Touraine, the duchess of Lorraine, the countess o( 
 Nevers, the lady of Coucy, with a crowd of other ladies, began the 
 procession in open litters, most richly ornamented. The duchess «.'! 
 Touraine was not in a litter, but to di-play herself the more, was 
 mounted on a palfrey, magnificently caparisoned. 
 
 The litter of the queen was led by the dukes of Touraine and 
 Bourbon at the head; the dukes of Berry and Burgundy were at the 
 centre, and the lord Peter de Navarri; and the count d'Ostievant be. 
 hind the litter, which was open and beautifully ornamented. The 
 duchess of Touraine followed, on he r palfrey, led by the count de 
 la Marche and the count de Nevers, l :e whole advancing slowly, at 
 a foot's pace. After her came the duchess of Burgundy and her 
 daughter, the lady Margaret of Hainault, in an open litter, led by 
 the lord Henry de Bar, and sir William, the young count de Naniur. 
 Then came the duchess of Berry, and the daughter of the lord do 
 Cou^^^i an open and ornamented litter, led by sir James de Bour. 
 bon, and sir Philip d'Artois. Then the duchess of Bar and her 
 daughter, led by sir Charles d'Albret and the lord de Coucy. 'J'here 
 was no particular mention made of the other ladies and damsels who 
 followed in covered chariot?, or on palfreys, led by their knights. 
 Serjeants, and others of the king's officers, had full employment, in 
 making way for the processions, and keeping off the crowd ; for 
 there were such numbers assembled, it seemed as if all the world 
 had come thither. 
 
 At the gate of St. Denis, that opens into Paris, was the represent- 
 ation of a starry firmament, and within it were children dressed as 
 angels, whose singing and chanting was melodiously sweet. There 
 was also an image of the Virgin holding in her arms a child, who at 
 times amused himself with a windmill, made of a large walnut. The 
 upper part of this firmament was richly adorned with the arms of 
 France and Bavaria, with a brilliant sun dispersing its rays through 
 the heavens ; and this sun was the king's device at the ensuing tour, 
 naments.* The queen of France and the ladies took delight in view, 
 ing this as they passed, as indeed did all who saw it. The queen 
 then advanced slowly to the fountain, in the street of Saint Denis, 
 which was covered and decorated with fine blue cloth, besprinkled 
 over with golden flowers-de-luce. The pillars that surrounded the 
 fountain were ornamented with the arms of the chief barons of France; 
 and, instead of water, it ran in great streams of Clui;6 t and excel, 
 lent Piement.t Around this fountain were young girls handsomely 
 dressed, having on their heads caps of solid gold, who sang so sweetly, 
 it was a pleasure to hear them ; and they held in their hands cups of 
 gold, offering their liquors to all who chose to drink. The queen 
 stopped there to hear and look at them, as did the ladies as they 
 passed by. 
 
 Below the monastery of the Trinity there was a scaffold erected in 
 the street, and on this scaffold a castle, with a representation of the 
 battle with king Saladin, performed by living actors ; the Christians 
 on the one side and the Saracens on the other. All the lords of re- 
 nown, who had been present, were represented with their blazoned 
 war-coats, such as were worn in those times. A little above was the 
 person of the king of France, surrounded by his twelve peers in their 
 proper arms : and when the queen came opposite the scaff-.ld, king 
 Richard was seen to leave his companions, and advance to the king 
 of France, to request permission to fight the Saracens, which having 
 obtained, he returned to his army, who instantly began the attack on 
 Saladin and the Saracens. This battle lasted for a considerable time, 
 and was seen with much pleasure. 
 
 The procession then passed on, and came to the second gate of 
 St. Denis,§ where, like to the first, there had been made a represent* 
 ation of a richly starred firmament, with the Holy Trinity seated in 
 great majesty, and within the heaven little children as angels singing 
 very melodiously. As the queen passed under the gate, two angels 
 descended from above, holding an extraordinarily rich gjlden crown, 
 ornamented with precious stones, which they gently placed on the 
 head of the queen, sweetly singing the following verses : 
 
 " Dame enclose entre fleurs de Lys, 
 Reine etes vous de Paiis, 
 De France, et de tout le pais. 
 Nous en r'allons en parudis." 
 
 When they came opposite to the chapel of St. James, they found a 
 scafTuld erected on the right hand, richly ornamented with tapestry, 
 surrounded with curtains, in the manner of a chamber : within which 
 were men who played finely on organs. The whole street of Saint 
 Denis was covered with a canopy of rich camlet and silk cloths, as 
 if they had had the cloths for nothing, or were at Alexandria or Da- 
 mascus. I, the writer of this account, was present, and astonished 
 whence such quantities of rich stuflfs and ornaments could have come ; 
 for all the houses on each side the great street of Saint Denis, as far 
 as the Chatelet, or indeed to the great bridge, || were hung with tap. 
 estries representing various scenes and histories to the great delight 
 of all beholders. 
 
 The queen and her ladies, conducted by great lords in their litters, 
 
 * Louis XIV. took the same device, with the motto of "Nec pluribus impar." 
 t " Claire," or clairel— light red wine.— Ed. 
 
 X " Piement"— is n liquor made of honey, wine, and different spices.— Dy Canoc, 
 § Denys Sauvtige, in a marginal note, says, "that he thinks this g;ite vas culled la 
 
 Porte aux Peintres," and was pulled down ii the reign of Francis I. It was calledrort* 
 
 uux Pgintres, because many painters resided ne;ir it.— Sauval. 
 II Deoys Sauvoge «ayst lueou* by the great bridjte -ihe-kridee of Notr9-ram» 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 495 
 
 arnvod at leiigth at the gate oi" the Chatelet, where they stopped to 
 see other splendid pageants that had been prepared for them. At 
 the gate of the Ch^telet was erected a castle of wood, with towers 
 strong enough tj last forty years. At each of the battlements was a 
 knight completely armed from head to foot; and in the castle was a 
 superb bed, as finely decorated with curtains and everything else, as 
 if for the chamber of the king, and this bed was called the bed of 
 justice, in which lay a person to represent St. Anne. On the espla- 
 
 Triumphal Entry of Q.ueen Isabella into Taris. From a MS. Froissait of the 15th century. 
 
 nade, before tne castie, (which comprehended a tolerably large space,) 
 was a warren and much brush-wood, within which were plenty of 
 hares, rabbits and young birds, that fled out and in again for fear of 
 the populace. From this wood, on the side near the queen, there 
 issued a large white hart, that made for the bed of justice ; from an- 
 other part came forth a lion and eagle, well represented, and proudly 
 advanced toward the stag. Then twelve young maidrns, richly 
 dressed, with chaplets of gold on their heads, came out of the wood, 
 holding naked swords in their hands, and placed themselves between 
 the hart, the lion, and eagle ; showing, that with their swords they 
 were determined to defend the kart and the bed of justice. 
 
 The queen, the ladies and lords, having seen this pageant with 
 pleasure, passed on to the bridge of Notre-Dame, which was deco- 
 rated so handsom.eiy, it could not be amended : it was covered with 
 a starry canopy of green and crimson, and the streets were all hung 
 with tapestry *s far as the church of Notre-Dame. When the queen 
 and her ladies had passed the bridge, and were near the church, it 
 was late ia the evening ; for the procession, ever since it had set out 
 from St. Denis, had advanced but a foot's pace. The great bridge 
 of Paris was hung all its length with green and white sarcenet ; but 
 before the queen and her company entered Notre-Dame, she was 
 presented with other pageants that delighted her and her ladies very 
 much : I will describe them. 
 
 A full month before the queen's entry to Paris, a master engineer 
 from Geneva had fastened a cord to the highest tower of Notre- 
 Dame, which, passing high above the streets, was fixed to the most 
 elevated house on the bridge of S lint Michael. As the queen was 
 pa.ssing down the street of Notre-Dame, this man left the tower, and, 
 sealing himself on the cord, descended, singing, with two lighted 
 torches in his hand, for it was now dark, to the great astonishment 
 of all who saw him how he could do it. He kept the lighted torches 
 in his hands that he might be seen by all Paris, and even two or 
 three leagues off. He played many tricks on the rope, and his agility 
 '<vas highly praised. 
 
 The bishop of Paris and his numerous clergy, clothed in their 
 robes, were without the church of Notre-Dame, waiting for the queen, 
 who was helped out of her litter by the four dukes, of Berry, Bur- 
 gundy, Touraine and Bourbon. When the other ladies had left their 
 litters and dismounted from their palfreys, they all entered the church 
 la grand procession, preceded by the bishop and priests, singing 
 
 aloud to the praise of God and the Virgiii Mary. The queen was 
 conducted through the nave and choir to the great altar, where, on 
 her knees, she made her prayers according as she thought good, and 
 presented, as her offering, four cloths of g-ld, and the handsome 
 crown which the angels had put on her he;;d at the gate of Paris, aa 
 has been related. The lord John de la Riviere and iir John le Mer. 
 cier instantly brought one more rich with which they crowned her. 
 This being done, the queen and her ladies returned to their litters, 
 
 wherein they were seated 
 as before ; and, as it was 
 late, there were upward 
 of five hundred lighted ta- 
 pers attending the proces. 
 .sion. In such array were 
 they conducted to the pal- 
 ace, where the king, queen 
 Joan, and the duchess ol 
 Orleans, were waiting for 
 them.* The ladies here 
 quitted their litters, and 
 were conducted to differ- 
 ent apartments; atid the 
 lords, after the dancing, re- 
 turned to their hotels.t 
 
 On the morrow, which 
 was Monday, the king gave 
 a grand dinner to a nu- 
 merous company of ladies ; 
 and, at the hour of high 
 mass, the queen of France 
 was led by the before-men- 
 tioned dukes to the Holy 
 Chapel, where she was an. 
 (iinted and sanctified as 
 queens of France usually 
 are. Sir Willijm de Viare, 
 archbishop of Rouen, said 
 mass. After mass, which 
 Vv'as well and solemnly 
 eung, the king and queen 
 returned to their apart- 
 men!:?, as did the fetho! 
 ladies to theirs who lodged 
 in the Palace. Shortly 
 after the :.Tiass, the king, 
 queen, and all the ladies 
 entered the hall. You 
 mr-.st know, that the great 
 table of marble, t v. hich is 
 in the hall, and is never removed, was covered v;itii an oaken plank, 
 four inches thick, and the royal dinner placed t!;ereon. Near the 
 table, and against one of the pillars, was the king's buffet, magnifi. 
 cently decked out with gold and silver plate, and much envied by 
 many who saw it. Before the king's table, and at some distance, 
 were wooden bars with three entrances, at which v.ere serjeants-at- 
 arms, ushers, and archers, to prevent any from passiiig them but those 
 who served the table ; for in truth the crowd was so very great, that 
 there was no moving but with much difficulty. There v/ere plenty 
 of minstrels, vv'ho played away tJ the best of their abilities. 
 
 The ki:'g3, prelates, and ladies, having wtij^hed and seated them, 
 selves at table, their places were as follows: the bishop of Noyen 
 was seated at the head of the king's table, then the bishop of Langres, 
 and then the archbishop of Rouen, by the side of the king of France, 
 who was that day clothed in a crimson surcost, lined v.ith ermine, 
 and »Jie royal crown upon his head. A little above the king v\-a3 the 
 
 * Denys Sauvage, in a marginal note, says that tliis queen Jonn was the widow of 
 Charles le Bel, ami her daughter Blanche married to Philip duke of Orleans, brother to 
 the late king John. 
 
 Froissart has mentioned them before ; but the widow of Charles le Bel died, according 
 to I'x^rtde Verifier les Dates, at Brie-comte Robert, 13/0, and queen Isabella's entry was 
 in IS^a. 
 
 T Froissart having omitted a curious circumstance that hnppered at tliis entry of tht 
 queen, I shall translate it from Les Gr.indes Chroniqiies de St. Denys. 
 
 "The kmg having heard what tine piigeams were pieparint'. siiid to Savoisi, who 
 was one of his valets-de-chamhre, 'S.ivoisi, I be^ that thou wouldst mount my good 
 horse, and I will get up behind thee : and we will disguise ourselves so that no one shall 
 know us, and go and see the entry of my \Tife.' Savoisi did all lie could to dissuade tite 
 king from this, but the kins: would be obeyed. They theiefoie disguised fliemselves, and 
 the king rode behind Savoisi to different parts of Paris. 'J'hey came to tlie Chatelet aa 
 the queen was passing, and the crowd w,is so preat, that Siivuisi jrot in*o tlie midst. 
 Bailiffs, armed with staves, had been stationed there to prevent any harm being done to 
 the pageant, who laid about them most lustily, to keep off the crowd. Savoisi and 
 tbe king, still pushing f.mvnrd, the bailiffs, who knew not the king, gave to each several 
 shiirp blows on their shoulders. In the evening, tbe king ti ld the ladies what had hay 
 pened to him at the Cliatelet, and there was much laughing ana jokiii? on the occoiion 
 among them. 
 
 X "At one end of the hall of the Palace was pinced a marble table that filled upahnojt 
 the whole breadth of it, and was of such a size for length, breadth and thickness, that 
 it was supposed to be the greatest slab of marble existing. 
 
 " It served, fir two or three hundred years, very different purposes: at one time fora 
 thearje, on which the attorneys' clerks acted their mummeries, and at another for the 
 royal feasts, where only emperors, kiiiL's, and princes of the blood were admitted, with 
 their la'Jes : the otiier great lords dined at separate tables. It was consumed by firs in 
 1618 "^AVAL. Antiquites de Paris. 
 
496 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 queen, crowned also very riclily. Next the queen was placed the 
 king of Armenia, then the duchess of Berry, the duchess of Burgundy, 
 the duchess of Touraine, tnadanie de Nevers, mademoiselle Bonue 
 de Bar, madame de Coucy, and mademoiselle Marie de Harcourt. 
 There were none others at the king's table, except at the very lower 
 end, the lady de Sully, wife of sir Guy de la Tremouille. There 
 were two other tables in the hall, at which were seated upward of 
 five hundred ladies and damsels; but the crowd was so very great, 
 it was with difficulty they could be served with their dinner, which 
 was plentiful and sumptuous. Of this it is not worth the trouble to 
 give any particulars; but I must speak of some devices which were 
 curiously arranged, and would have given the king much amusement, 
 had those who had undert aken it been able to act their parts. 
 
 In the middle of the hall was erected a castle of wood, forty feet high, 
 twenty feet long, and as many wide, with towers at each corner, and 
 one larger in the middle. Tiiis castle was to represent the city of 
 Troy the great, and the tower in the middle the palace of Ilion, from 
 which were displayed the banners of the Trojans, such as king 
 Priam, Hector, his other sons, and of those shut up in the place with 
 them. The castle being on wheels, was very easily moved about. 
 There was a pavilijn likewise on wheels, on which were placed the 
 banners of the Grecian kings, that was moved, as it were, by invisi- 
 ble being?, to the attick of Troy. There was also, by way of rein- 
 forcement, a large ship, well built, and able to contain one hundred 
 men-at-arms, that, like the two fjrmer, was ingeniously moved by 
 invisible whet;l3. Those in the ship and pavilion made a sharp attack 
 on the castle, which was g illantly defended ; but from the very great 
 crowd, this amusement could not last long. There were so many 
 people on all sides, several were stifled by the heat; and one table 
 near the door of the chamber of parliament, at which a numerous 
 company of ladies and damsels were seated, was thrown down, and 
 the company forced tJ make off as well as they could. 
 
 The queen of France was near fainting, from the excessive heat, 
 and one of the doors was forced to be tnrown open to admit air. 
 The lady of Coucy was in the same situation. The king, noticing 
 thii, ordered an end to be put tJ the feast, when the tables were re- 
 moved, fjr the ladies to have more room. Wine and spices were 
 served around, and every one retired v/hen the king and queen went 
 to their apartments. Those ladies who did not lodge in the Palace 
 returned to their hotels, tj recover themselves of their sufferings from 
 tlie heat and crowd. The lady of Coucy remained in her hotel until 
 it was lati? ; but the queen, about five o'clock, left the Palace, attended 
 by the duchesses before named, and, mounting an open litter, pro- 
 ceeded through the streets of Paris, followed by the ladies in litters, 
 or on horseback, to the residence of the king, at the hdtel de St. Pol. 
 She was attended by upward of one thousand horse. The king took 
 boat at the Palace, and vvas rowed to his hotel, which, though it was 
 sufficiently large, there had been errected in the court, at the en- 
 trance leading to the Seine, an immense hall, covered with undressed 
 cloths of Normandy, that had been sent from divers places : the sides 
 were hung with t ipestry, that represented strange histories, and gave 
 delight to all who saw them. In this hall the king entertained the 
 ladies at a banquet: but the queen remained in her chamber, where 
 she supped and did not again appear that night. The king, lords, 
 and ladies, danced and amused themselves until daybreak, when 
 the amusements ceased, and every one retired to his home, each of 
 them to sleep and repose themselves, as it was full time. 
 
 1 will now speak of the presents the Parisians nude to the king, 
 queen, and duchess of Touraine, who was but lately arrived in France 
 from Lor.'hardy : she was called Valentine, and was daughter to the 
 duke of Milan. She had this year been married to the duke of 
 Touraine, and had never been in Paris before this public entry of 
 the queen : the citizens, therefore, w^re bound to bid her welcome. 
 About twelve o'clock, forty of the princip d citizens of Paris, all uni- 
 formly dressed, waited on the king at his hdtel of Saint Pol, bring- 
 ing a present they had displayed through the streets of the town. 
 Their gift was in a very richly worked litter, borne by two strong 
 men, dre-sed as savages. This litter was covered with a transparent 
 crape of silk, through which might be seen the magnificent things it 
 contained. 
 
 On their arrival, they advanced to the king's chamber, (which was 
 open and ready prepared to receive tliem, as their coming was known, 
 and welcome is always made to those who bring gilts;) and, having 
 placed the litter on vessels, in the midst of the apartment, they cast 
 themselves on their knees, and thus spoke: " Most beloved lord and 
 king, your citizens of your good town of Paris present to you the plate 
 that is contained in this litter, as tokens of their joy that you have 
 taken the government of the kingdom in your own hands." "Many 
 thanks, my good people," replied the king: ''they are fair and rich." 
 The citizens then rose up, and having taken leave of the king with- 
 drew. When they had gone, the king said to sir William des Bordes, 
 and to Montaigu.* who were then present, " Let us go nearer, and 
 
 * M. Levesque says, that Charles owed his popularity to tiie wise choice he hail made 
 of the under-mentioned ministers. La Rivierre. who had deserved tiie frieiuUhip otthe 
 wisest of kin?s: Noviant, ch irged with the superintendence of the finances, was of tiie 
 order of nojjility, though without fortune, and Montaigu, horn in ofiscuritv. raised liim- 
 •elf liy his fiilents ; but, ahove all, the duke of Bourbon, who had preserved his iiitegrity . 
 though he had been joined in llie regency with tlie dukes of Berry and Burgundy. 
 
 'This John de iMonUii^u, grand-master of the h(»nseho!u, and superintendent of the 
 Saaicet tu Chailes YI. was uccuaed of huviug rubbed the June, and was cuodeinoed to 
 
 examine what their gifts are." They approached, and looked into 
 the litter. 1 will now mention what presents it contained. First, 
 there were four pots of gold, four saucers to match, four golden sulta, 
 twelve cups of the s.ame, twelve porringers, and six dishes of gold 
 also : the whole weighed one hundred and fifty marcs. 
 
 Another party of citizens, very handsomely equipped in uniforms 
 of cloth, waited on the queen, and presented her with a litter borne 
 by two men dressed, one as a bear, the other as a unicorn, which 
 they placed in her chamber, and the ci izens recommended their town 
 and inhabitants to her protection. This present consisted of the 
 model of a ship in gold, two large flagi,ons of gold, two comfit boxes, 
 two salts, six cups, and as many saucers, all of gold : twelve lamps 
 of silver, two silver basins, two dozen of silver porringers, the same 
 number of silver cups : the whole weight of gold and silver bein" 
 three hundred marcs. 
 
 The third present was carried, in like manner, to the chamber of 
 the duchess of Touraine, by t-t/o men representing Moors, having 
 their faces blackened, and richly dressed with white turbans, as if 
 they had been Saracens or Tartars. This litter was ornamented and 
 covered, like the others, with gauze, and accompanied by twelve 
 citizens in uniforms, who presented the duchess with a ship in gold, 
 a large flaggon of gold, two comfit boxes, two large dishes, and two 
 salts, all of gold : six jugs of silver, and two dozen cups and saucers 
 of the same: the whole weighing two hundred marcs. The duchess 
 of Touraine was exceedingly pleased with this present, as she had 
 reason, for it was very magnificent, and returned handsomely her 
 thanks to those who had brought it, and to the good city of Paris that 
 had given it to her. 
 
 Such were the gifts made this Tuesday to the kins; and queen of 
 France, and to the duchess of Touraine. You may judge from them 
 the liberality and riches of the Parisians ; for it vvas assured me, the 
 author of this history, that all these presents, which I saw, had cost 
 upward of sixty thousand golden crowns. When these ceremonies 
 were concluded, the hour for dinner arrived ; but this day the king 
 and his court dined in private at their different hotels, for at three 
 o'clock the tournament was to take place in the square of Saint 
 Catherine, where scaffolds had been erected for the accommodation of 
 the queen and the ladies. 
 
 I will name the knights of this grand tournament, who were styled 
 the knights of the Golden Sun, which, although it was that day the 
 king of France's device, was borne by others, who tilted in hopes of 
 gaining the prize. These knights were thirty, including the king : 
 first, the duke of Berry, the duks of Burgundy, the duke of Bourbon, 
 the count de la March", sir James de Bourbon his brother, sir Wil- 
 liam de Namur, sir Olive.'* de Clisson constable of France, sir John 
 de Vienne, sir James de Vi.^nne, lord d'Espaigny, sir Guy de la Tre- 
 mouille, sir William de la Tremouille his brother, sir Philip de Bar, 
 the lord de Rochfort a Breton, the lord de Rais, the lord de Beauma- 
 noir, sir John de Barben9on called the Ardenois, the halze of Flan- 
 ders, the lord de Torcy a Norman, sir John des Barres, the lord de 
 Nantouillet, the lord de la Rochefoucault, the lord de Garenciercs, 
 sir John de Harpedant, the baron d'Ury, sir William Marciel, sir 
 Reginald de Roye, sir GeofTry de Carin, sir Charles de Changiet, and 
 sir William de Lignac. All these knights were sumptuously dressed, 
 and each had on his shield a splendid sun. At three o'clock, they 
 entered the square of St. Catherine, where the queen had already 
 arrived in a magnificent car, and the duchesses and other ladies in 
 great state, and taken their places on the seats prepared for them. 
 The king of France next made his appearance completely equipped 
 for tilting, of which amusement he was very fond. 
 
 The justs now began, and were carried on with vigor, for there 
 were many knights from foreign parts. Sir William de Hainault, 
 count de Ostrevant, tilted right well, as did those knights who had 
 accompanied him, such as the lord de Gommines, sir John d'Andre- 
 gines, the lord de Cantan, sir Ansel de Transsegines, and sirClinquart 
 de Herinno. Every one performed his part, in honoi^of the ladies ; 
 and the duke of Ireland tilted well : being then a resident at Paris, 
 the king had invited him to the tournament. A German k night from 
 beyond the Rhine, called sir Gervas de Mirande, gained great com- 
 mendation. The number of knights made it difficult to give a full 
 stroke, and the dust was so troublesome that it increased their diffi- 
 culties. The lord de Coucy shone with brilliancy. The tilts were 
 continued without relaxation until night, when the ladies were con. 
 ducted to their h6tels. 
 
 The queen of France and her attendants were led back to the 
 hdtel of St. Pol, where was the most magnificent banquet for the 
 ladies, ever heard of. The feast and dancing lasted until sunrise, 
 and the prize of the tournament was given, with the assent of the 
 ladies and heralds, to the king, as being the best tilter on the oppo- 
 nents' side, and the prize for the holders of the lists was given to the 
 
 be beheaded. This w;us done with.. ul the king's knowle<lge, at the instigation of the 
 duke of Burgundy and the king of Navarre. He was beheaded in" the market-place of 
 Paris, the 1 tli October. 140 ', and his remains were carried to the gibbet at Alontfaucon, 
 where they remained hanging for nearly three years, since his body wiis not taken down 
 until the 17th September, 1412, and carried to tlie convent of tJie Celestins of Marcoussi, 
 which he had founded. 
 
 " Although he was executed without the knowledge of the king, he did not the 1(>» 
 allow the confiscation of his property, to be given to Louis, duke de Guienne, dauphin. 
 
 " { was, however, informeti by M. Perron, who has carefully applied himself to leam 
 the particulars of the life uf this lord, thut bis property was restored tu his iieu>."*« 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 S i 7 | - . II . I ■ I ■ ■ ■■ ' ■ 
 
 halze de Flandres, bastard-brother to the duchess of Burgundy. On 
 account of the complaints the knights made of the dust, which had 
 prevented many from exerting themselves to the utmost at the late 
 tournament, the king ordered the lists to be watered. Two hundred 
 water-carriers were employed on the Wednesday to water the square, 
 but, notwithstanding their efforts, there was still a sufficiency of dust. 
 
 The count de St. Pol arrived this Wednesday straight from Eng- 
 land, having made haste to be present at these feasts, and had left 
 sir .Tohn de Chatel-Morant to follow with the treaty of the truce. The 
 count de St. Pol was kindly received by the king and his lords: his 
 countess, who had been near the person of the queen at these festi- 
 vals, was rejoiced at his arrival. In the afternoon of the Wednesday, 
 thirty squires, who had been in attendance the preceding day, ad- 
 vanced to the lists where the tournaments had been held, whither the 
 ladies also came, in the same state, and seated themselves as before. 
 The tilting was ably and vigorously kept up until night, when the 
 company returned to their homes. The banquet this evening at the 
 h6tel de St. Pol was as grand as the preceding one, and the prize 
 was adjudged by the ladies and heralds to a squire from Hainault, 
 who had accompanied the count d'Ostrevant, called John de Flaron, 
 as the most deserving of the opponents, and to a squire belonging to 
 the duke of Burgundy, called John de Poulceres, for the -best tenants 
 of the field. 
 
 The tournament was continued on the Thursday, when knights 
 and squires tilted promiscuously, and many gallant justs were done, 
 for every one took pains to excel. Night put an end to it, and there 
 was a grand entertainment again for the ladies, at the h6tel de St. 
 Pol, when the prize for the opponents was given to sir Charles des 
 Armoyes, and for the tenants, to a s^*[uire attached to the queen, called 
 Lons. 
 
 On the Friday, the king feasted the ladies and damsels at dinner, 
 which was very splendid and plentiful. Toward the end of it, as the 
 king was seated at table, with the duchess of Berry, the duchess of 
 Burgundy, the duchess of Touraine, the countess de Saint Pol, the 
 lady of Coucy, and many more, two knights, completely armed, en- 
 tered the hall, (which was very spacious, having been, as I have said, 
 erected for the occasion,) on barbed horses, with lances in their hands. 
 One was sir Reginald de Roye, the other sir Boucicaut the younger. 
 Having tilted bravely for some time, they were joined by sir William 
 de Namur, sir Charles des Armoyes, the lord de Garencieres, the 
 lord de Nantouillet, sir John de Barben9on, and several others, who 
 gallantly tilted for two hours before the king and ladies ; and when 
 they had sufficiently amused themselves, they returned to their hdtels. 
 
 The ladies and damsels took their leave, this Friday, of the king 
 and queen, as did such lords as pleased, and returned to their homes. 
 The king and queen thanked very graciously such as took leave, for 
 having come to this feast. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 SIR JOHN DE CHATEL-MORANT BRINGS FROM ENGLAND THE TRUCES FOR 
 THREE YEARS, SEALED BY KING RICHARD AND HIS ALLIES. LEWIS OF 
 ANJOU, KING OF SICILY, IS BETROTHED AND MARRIED TO A DAUGHTER 
 OF THE KING OF ARRAGON. 
 
 After this grand festival, and when the lords and ladies, who had 
 assisted at it, were returned to their castles, the lord de Cha,tel- 
 Morant, whom th€ lord de Saint-Pol had left in England, arrived at 
 Paris with the truces, signed by the king of England and his allies. 
 He delivered to the king and his ministers the charter of the truce 
 that was to last for three years, and read aloud its contents in the 
 presence of the lord de Coucy, who was lieutenant for the king, to 
 guard and defend all the country, from the Dordogne to the sea, in- 
 cluding Auvergne and Limousin. All who should infringe, or any 
 way break this treaty, or cause it to be broken, whatever were his 
 rank, would be considered as a traitor, and incur punishment of 
 death. The lord de Coucy had also a copy delivered to him, to show 
 if necessary, to those garrisons of Ventadour, Chalu9et, Orbesi,* 
 Donzach,t who were carrying on war under name of the English, 
 that they might not have any cause of excuse, and incur the penalty, 
 should they continue their warfare. The lord Lewis de Sancerre, 
 marshal of France, had it in like manner read to him, and a copy 
 given to him. This was very necessary ; for he was lieutenant over 
 all the country of Languedoc, from the river Rhdne and Avignon, 
 within which are many valuable estates and lordships, as far as the 
 Dordogne. His government contained the seneschalships of Beau- 
 caire, Carcassonne, Toulouse, Rouergue, Agen, Quercy, Bigorre, 
 Perigord and Limoges, where were many forts and castles that 
 minded not the truce, but continued to carry on the war, such as 
 ChJLtel-Cuillier, and the strong castle of Lourdes, on the frontiers of 
 B6arn, which kept the neighborhood under continual alarms. 
 
 About this time there was a treaty of marriage on foot, between 
 the lord Lewis d'Anjou, son to the late duke, who styled himself 
 king of Naples, Sicily, Jerusalem, and count of Provence, and the 
 daughter of the king of Arragon. The queen of Naples went to visit 
 the pope at Avignon, carrying with her the young lord Lewis, and 
 there met the lord de Coucy, who was much rejoiced at her arrival. 
 The queen was handsomely received by the pope and cardinals ; of 
 
 ♦"Orbesi"— Orbessan, a village in Armagnac. 
 t " Dgiizach"-ti village in Armagnac. 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 497 
 
 which she was indeed deserving, for she was an active bustling lady, 
 and one who did not sleep over her interests. She entreated the lord 
 de Coucy to escort her son to Arragon, and to remain with him until 
 he were married. He replied ; " Certainly, madam, there is not a 
 voyage that, for seven years past, I would more v. illingly have un. 
 dertaken than to Sicily and Naples, more particularly, in company 
 with my lord your son, if I have the consent of our lord and king." 
 " Many thanks, lord de Coucy," said the queen : " you show us your 
 good inclinations ; but, for the present, it will be sufficient if you 
 will accompany our son to Arragon. The queen of Arragon v/ill be 
 very happy to see you, for your daughter is married to her brother 
 sir Henry de Bar." 
 
 The lord de Coucy cheerfully agreed to undertake this journey , 
 and the king of Sicily, having made his preparations, took leave of 
 pope Clement, and of his mother, with many tears. Their hearts 
 were wrung, not indeed without cause, at this separation, for he was 
 going to a far country, and it was uncertain when they should meet 
 again. It had been settled, that instantly after the marriage had 
 taken place, the young king and queen were to embark at Barcelona, 
 and sail as expeditiously as they could for Naples or any other part 
 of that country. The young king of Sicily was handsomely attended, 
 and, having passed through Montpellier and Beziers, cam^e to Nar- 
 bonne, where he and his company were honorably received by the 
 viscount. Having refreshed their horses for one day, they continued 
 their route toward Perpignan, the first town of Arragon. News of 
 his arrival had reached the court of Arragon, and the queen had sent 
 proper persons to receive him and his attendants, and show them all 
 respect, so that, wherever they passed, they were well entertained, 
 and all their expenses paid. The viscount de Roquebertin and sir 
 Raymond de Baighes were their conductors. They continued their 
 journey until they arrived at Barcelona, where the king, queen, and 
 princess were expecting them. The young king Lewis was very 
 kindly received ; and the queen was particularly pleased on seeing 
 the lord de Coucy, and thanked her future son-in-law for having 
 brought him with him, adding, that everything would fare the better 
 for it. 
 
 The marriage was performed and consummated between these two 
 persons ; but as winter was approaching, the sea voyage was deferred, 
 because at such a time the sea is stormy and dangerous. They said 
 they would collect all the purveyances during the winter, and embark 
 in the beginning of the ensuing month of March. The lord de Coucy 
 was perfectly well received by the king and queen of Arragon ; but, 
 having had letters from the king of France, ordering him to return, he 
 took his leave of them, and of the young king and the queen of Sicily, 
 as well as of the lords of Arragon, and set out for France. If he had 
 had time, he would have returned by Avignon ; but he sent his ex. 
 cuses to the pope and queen of Naples, and went straight to Auvergne. 
 At the time of this marriage of the king of Sicily with the princess 
 of Arragon, many treaties were concluded between him and the Ar- 
 ragonians, who were to assist him with men and galleys in the recov- 
 ery of his kingdom. They were to convey him to Naples, with two 
 hundred spears, one thousand cross-bows, and the same number of 
 infantry armed with brigandines, who were to serve him at their own 
 charges, during' the war, until he should have full possession of Na. 
 pies, Sicily and its dependencies, la Puglia, Calabria and the city of 
 Gaieta, the residence of Margaret de Durazzo, who claimed all these 
 territories as her own. 
 
 When the sweet month of March was arrived, and the winds were 
 become calm and the waters smooth, and the trees once more clothed 
 in green, and all purveyances ready and embarked, as well as the 
 men-at-arms who were to be of this expedition, the young couple 
 took leave of the king and queen of Arragon. The queen with tears 
 saw them depart, and recommended them to the particular care of 
 the count de Roddes, a very valiant knight, and sir Raymond de 
 Baighes. They promised special obedience to the queen's wishes, 
 although the count d'Orghel and the count de la Lune were their 
 superiors and had the command of the convoy. 
 
 There were on board these galleys fifteen hundred spears, two 
 thousand cross-bows, and two thousand lusty varlets armed with 
 pikes and shields. They were in such force the better to resist their 
 enemies, and any adventurers they might encounter at sea ; for the 
 voyage from Barcelona to Naples is long, and Margaret de Durazzo, 
 their adversary, might have had intelligence of their motions, and 
 stationed a fleet accordingly : they therefore were desirous of having 
 strength enough to oppose any she could bring against them. 
 
 We will now leave the affairs of Sicily, and return to those of 
 France, which is our principal object, and to several other events. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE KING OF FRANCE IS DESIROUS OF VISITING THE DISTANT PARTS OF 
 HIS KINGDOM. AT THE REQUEST OF THE LORD DE COUCY, HE ORDERS 
 THE DLTCE OF IRELAND OUT OF FRANCE. 
 
 When the king of France saw that his kingdom was now at peace, 
 in consequence of the truce with England, he had a great desire to 
 visit the more distant parts of it, and particularly Languedoc. The 
 lord de la Riviere and sir John le Mercier, at that time his most inti. 
 mate advisers, urged him to visit the pope and cardinals at Avignon^ 
 
 I 
 
498 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 who were desirous of that honor, and thence go to Toulouse, saying 
 that a king when young, should visit his realm to acquaint himself 
 with its inhabitants and inquire how they have been governed, as it 
 would redound to his profit and glory, and cause himself to be more 
 aeloved by his subjects. 
 
 The king was so inclined, and willingly attended to all matters of 
 ? -overnment. The lord do la Riviere, who was but lately returned 
 from those parts, told him that bis subjects in the s^neschalships of 
 Toulouse, Carcassonne and Beaucaire, were impatient to see him ; 
 for that the duke of Berry, during his government of that country, 
 had sorely oppressed them with taxes and other impositions, through 
 the means of one of his familiars, called Betliisac,* who had pity on 
 none, and that they were quite ruined. On this account, therefore, 
 it would be proper for him to go thither, and he could then summon 
 the count de Foix, whom he was so anxious to see, to meet him at 
 Toulouse. 
 
 The king having assented to this proposal, ordered immense pur- 
 veyances to be provided for him on the road he was to travel. He 
 signified to his uncle and aunt, the duke and duchess of Burgundy, 
 that, as he passed through their lands, he should be glad to see their 
 children, his cousins ; and that he would bring with him his brother 
 of Touraine, and his uncle of Bourbon, This news of the king's 
 intended visit to Burgundy, was highly pleasing to the duke and 
 duchess. They had proclaimed a festival and tournament to be 
 holden at Dijon, and sent invitations to the knights and squires of 
 Savoy and the adjoining countries, who made their preparations ac- 
 cordingly. During the time all these different arrangements were 
 making for the king's journey to Avignon and Languedoc, other 
 events happened in France. 
 
 You have heard how the duke of Ireland, formerly earl of Oxford, 
 had been driven out and banished England, for his demerits, by the 
 power of the uncles of king Richard, but especially by the duke of 
 Gloucester, who had been more bitter against him than all the rest ; 
 and how he had fled to Holland, and had remained a short time at 
 Dordrecht, when he was forced thence by duke Albert, the lord of 
 Dordrecht and Holland, who refused him a residence on his lands, 
 from a wish not to act contrary to the will of his cousins in England, 
 notwithstanding king Richard had written to him in his favor. The 
 duke of Ireland, being forced to depart, went to Utrecht, where he 
 resided some time, and might have staid there as long as he pleased ; 
 for Utrecht is a free town to receive whoever lists, if they pay for 
 what they want, and this duke had a sufficiency of money ; for he 
 had received of the constable, sixty thousand francs, as the balance 
 of the ransom of John of Brittany. You have also heard how the king 
 of France had sent him passports to come to France, having invited 
 him thither, and where he had remained for more than a year, the 
 king showing him very great attention, because he vv'jqs a foreigner. 
 
 There is nothing but what one is tired of. True it is, that, not- 
 withstanding this duke was so well received by the king, the lord de 
 Coucy mortaliy hated him, and not without reason ; for although, in 
 other affairs, he showed great good sense, honor and liberality, he 
 had behaved infamously to the daughter of the lord de Coucy, whom 
 he had married, and without any reasons, except temptation and 
 deceit, he had divorced and taken another wife, who was from Bo- 
 hemia, and one of the ladies attached to the queen of England. 
 The king and queen had improperly and sinfully consented to this ; 
 and pope Urban had, at thoir entreaties, sent from Rome a dispensa- 
 tion for the marriage. This new mrirriage not only wounded the 
 reputation of the duke of Ireland, bM v/as the principal cause of his 
 ruin. 
 
 The lord de Coucy was one of the king of France's council, and 
 very deservedly in favor, from the services he 1-ad done, and was 
 willing to do, his country : he therefore, with the assistance of his 
 friends, sir Oliver de Clisson, the lord de la Riviere and sir .Tohn le 
 Mercier, prevailed on the king to dismiss the duke of Ifoland. Orders 
 were, in consequence, sent him from the king, to choose any other 
 residence but France, anr! that he should be safely conducted out of 
 that kingdom. The duke of Ireland perceived they were tired of 
 him, and that he ran daily risks, from the lord de Coucy and from 
 his relations. He therefore thought it would be best for him to leave 
 France as soon as possible, and retire to Brabant ; and begged of 
 the king to write to the duchess of Brabant, that he might live peace, 
 ably in her country. The king cheerfully complied with his request, 
 and wrote to hh aunt, the duchess, who at his desire assented to it. 
 
 The duke of Ireland was escorted by the king of France's officers 
 
 * " John Betliisnc \v;is one of the chief advisers of tlie duke of Berry, and was accused 
 with Tietac and de iSar, two otlier domestics of this prince, ol'having raised enormous 
 levies from the L;inguedocians, over whom the duke was governor, and, under his name 
 of having committed {^icnt plunder and much violence, and of iiaving put large sums 
 into their own pockets. This report gave rise to the following pasquinade, that is even 
 current in our times : 
 
 Tietac, de Bar, et Bcthisac, 
 
 Ont mis I'argent du roi au sac." 
 "Bethisac suffered llie punishment of his crimes, hut the duke cf Berry having 
 claimed him as his doniestic, those who had sv/orn his ruin persuaded him to own he 
 had erred in several articles of faith, which would cause him to he transfeired to the 
 bishop, and the duke could the easier save him. Crime ofteg stupefies. Bethisac was 
 simijte enougli to fall into their trap. The bishop of Beziers had him tried and given 
 over lo tlie secular arm as a heretic and sodomite. This wretch was burnt aJive, which 
 was, says M6zeray, a feu dejoie for the people wiiom he had horribly tormented. His- 
 tory does not say whence he sprung, but probably he was of low origin who wanted to 
 rise too nv'jAh ."'—Diclionnaire Historique. 
 
 as far as Louvain, where he fixed his residence : he went, indeed, 
 at times, to a castle near Louvain, which he had borrowed from a 
 knight of Brabant. The archbishop of York, who was of the house 
 of Neville, lived with the duke, as he had been banished England 
 for the same cause as himself. The archbishop's family were very 
 powerful in Northumberland, from their property and connections. 
 These two lords, as I have heard, remained at Louvain as long as 
 they lived, for they could never obtain favor with the uncles of the 
 king of England, and there died. I never heard more of them. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 KING CHARLES OF FRANCE VISITS HIS UNCLE THE DUKE ©F BURGUNDY, 
 AND POPE CLEMENT AT AVIGNON. 
 
 About Michaelmas 1399, the king of France set out from the 
 castle of Beaut^, near Paris, where he left the queen, and took the 
 road to Troyes in Champagne in his way to Burgundy. He was 
 accompanied by his uncle the duke of Bourbon, the duke of Tou- 
 raine, the lord de Coucy and many other knights, and continued his 
 journey until he arrived at Dijon. 
 
 The duke of Burgundy, and his son the count de Nevers, had 
 gone as far as Cha,tillon.sur-Seine to meet the king. On his arrival 
 at Dijon, he was received with every respect and affection by the 
 duchess of Burgundy, the countess of Nevers, and all v»'ho had come 
 thither to do him honor. From love to the king, many ladies and 
 damsels, whose company he preferred, were come to Dijon, such as 
 the lady of Sully, the ladies of Vergy and Pagny, and several others, 
 handsome and gay, and richly dressed. The dancings and carolings 
 instantly began : the ladies exerted their talents in singing and dan- 
 cing to amuse the king, the duke of Bourbon, the duke of Touraine 
 and the lord de Coucy. On the Mondtiy, Tuesday and Wednesday 
 were tilts gallantly performed, and prizes given to the most deserv- 
 ing. The king remained eight whole days at Dijon, thus amusing 
 himself : on the tenth, I believe he took leave of the duke and duch- 
 ess of Burgundy and their family. It was the intention of the duke 
 of Burgundy instantly to follow the king, and remain with him; and, 
 on this being settled, he departed from Dijon, having bidden adieu 
 to the ladies and damsels. 
 
 The king continued his journey until he came to Villeneuve, near 
 Avignon, where his palace had been prepared. Tlie cardinals of 
 Amiens,* Aisgrenel,t Saint Marcel,! Neufchastel,§ and upward of 
 thirteen others, went out to meet the king, as they were rejoiced at 
 his arrival. The duke of Berry was already at Avignon, and lodged 
 in the palace of the pope ; but he came to Villeneuve to meet his 
 nephew, and fixed his quarters at the h6tel of Arras, called Amon- 
 tais, on the road to Montpellier. The duke of Burgundy arrived the 
 day after the king, at Villeneuve, down the Rh6ne, for at Lyons he 
 had embarked on board a large barge. 
 
 These three dukes, being assembled, determined to accompany 
 the king in his visit to the pope in his palace. Having had every- 
 thing prepared accordingly, the king of France, attended by his 
 brother, his three uncles, and twelve cardinals, crossed the Rh6ne 
 at nine o'clock, and went to the palace, where pope Clement was 
 waiting for him in full consistory, seated in his robes, on his papal 
 chair. 
 
 When the king came into his presence, he bowed ; and, when 
 near to him, the pope rose up, and the king kissed his hands and 
 mouth. The pope then seated himself, and made the king sit by 
 him on a handsome seat prepared for the occasion. The four dukes, 
 after having kissed the pope's hands and mouth, seated themselves 
 also among the cardinals. When these ceremonies were over, it 
 was dinner-time : they therefore went into the other apartments of 
 the pope and the hall, where the tables were spread. When they 
 had washed, the pope took his place at a table alone, in much state. 
 The king was placed at another table below that of the pope, and 
 alone also. The cardinals and dukes seated themselves according 
 to their rank. The dinner was splendid, plentiful and long. When 
 over, wine and spices were brought ; and the king then retired to an 
 apartment that had been prepared for him in the palace, as did the 
 dukes to theirs, for all of them had chambers, properly ornamented, 
 provided for them, and which they inhabited as long as they staid at 
 Avignon. 
 
 On the fifth day after the arrival of the king of France at Avignon, 
 the young count de Savoye, cousin to the king, and nephew to the 
 duke of Bourbon, came thither. The king was pleased at his com- 
 ing, for he had seen him as he passed through Lyons, and had invited 
 him to Avignon. The king of France, the duke of Touraine and 
 the count de Savoye, being young and giddy, neither could nor would 
 refrain from dancing, caroling, and amusing themselves with the 
 ladies and damsels of Avignon, though they were in the pope's pal- 
 ace and among the cardinals ; and the count of Geneva, brother to 
 the pope, was their master of the revels. The king made such 
 magnificent presents to the ladies, that they all praised his liberality. 
 
 * John de la Grange was minister of stat» under Charles V. who procured him th» 
 purple. He was covetous and ambitious. 
 
 t Not in the list of cardinals. % Q. if not Marcellio. 
 
 % John de Neufchastel-^reated cardinal by pop* Clsuent. For further puticalai*, 
 tee Moreri, &.c 
 
Chronicles of England, France, spain, &c. 
 
 499 
 
 The pope and cardinals were much rejoiced at this visit of the 
 kiiig of France, as indeed they had good reason to be ; for without 
 his support tiiey would have been in little estimation. There were 
 no kings in Christendom who paid him obedience but such as were 
 allied to France. The kings of Castille and Scodand acknowledged 
 him for pope, as did the king of Arragon, through the intercession 
 of the queen Jolande de Bar, who was cousin-german to the king 
 of France, otherwise he would have remained neuter like his father. 
 You may, therefore, suppose the pope and his cardinals were happy 
 in receiving the king of France ; for all they had to depend on was 
 obtained through his favor. The king of France remained, I know 
 not how many days, with the pope and cardinals, revelling and 
 amusing himself. The pope, on this joyful occasion, gave pardons 
 to the clergy who were in his courts, and plenary indulgences to all 
 for one month to come. He likewise presented the king with the 
 nominations to all his cathedrals and other churches, and in each 
 church the reversion of two prebends, deferring all his former prom- 
 ises, that these now made might have the precedency, which was 
 fortunate for many of the French clergy, who were thus provided. 
 He gave also reversions to the dukes of Touraine, Berry, and Bur- 
 gundy, and the lord de Coucy, which threw back all those he had 
 formerly promised ; and the pope was so courteous and liberal on 
 this occasion, that none went av/ay discontented. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE KING or FRANCE SENDS THE DUKES OF BERRY AND BURGUNDY TO 
 THEIR HOMES, TO THEIR GREAT DISSATISFACTION, AND CONTINUES HIS 
 JOURNEY FROM AVIGNON TO LANGUEDOC. 
 
 The king of France resided with the pope about eight days, during 
 which time his holiness had fully discussed with him his situation, 
 and what trouble the other pope at Rome gave him, in depriving 
 him of his right, in the schism he caused in the church. The king 
 was willing to do everything in his power to relieve him, and said 
 that on his return to France, he would endeavor to provide a remedy, 
 and exert himself to unite the church. Upon this he took leave of 
 the pope, and went to Villencuve, as did his brother and his uncles 
 of Berry and Burgundy. The king entertained at dinner all the 
 cardinals and the count of Geneva, after which he took leave of 
 them, returning them his thanks for their attentions, saying, he 
 should, on the morrow, begin his journey to Montpellier. 
 
 The cardinals having left the king, it was determined in council, 
 that he should set out very early, in company with his brother and 
 the duke of Bourbon. He took leave, therefore, of his uncles of 
 Berry and Burgundy, bidding them return to their own estates, as 
 he had not then any further occasion for them, intending to go as far 
 as Toulouse, and summon thither the count de Foix to meet him. 
 His uncles were much disconcerted at this order ; but the king's 
 council was at that time so formed, that the dukes of Berry and Bur- 
 gundy had no voice in it, nor weight, but in trifles. The govern- 
 ment of Languedoc had been taken from the duke of Berry, and 
 divided into seneschalships, which was not only more profitable to 
 the king, but more agreeable to the country ; for the duke of Berry, 
 during his government, had grievously oppressed the inhabitants, 
 by heavy taxes, as I shall more fully relate, for it is deserving to be 
 detailed. 
 
 The dukes of Berry and Burgundy were very melancholy, when 
 they found the king was determined they should not accompany him 
 in his journey ; but they dissembled their thoughts from all but each 
 other, and thus conversed : " The king is going to Languedoc to 
 hold inquisition on thc^e who have governed it, and to treat with 
 the count de Foix, (who is the proudest person existing, and never 
 loved nor esteemed, though neighbors, the kings of France, England, 
 Castille, Arragon or Navarre,) and only takes with him la Riviere, 
 le Mercier, Montaigu and the b^gue de Villaines. What do you 
 say to this, brother?" added the duke of Berry. "Our nephew is 
 young, and if he follow young counsel he will be deceived, and the 
 end will not be prosperous, as you will see. For the present, we 
 must dissemble this affront ; but the time will come, v/hen those 
 who have advised it shall repent of it, as well as the king. Let 
 them go whither they please, in God's name : we will return to our 
 Jiomes ; and, so long as we are united, they cannot do us any injury, 
 for we are the greatest personages in France." Such was the lan- 
 guage of these two dukes. 
 
 The king of France left Villeneuve early in the morning, for 
 Nimesv where he arrived to dinner ; but his uncles and the lord de 
 Coucy staid with the pope, at Avignon, four days longer, when they 
 all separated, and each went different ways. The day the king 
 dined at Nimes, he lay at Lunel, and the next day dined at Mont- 
 pellier, which was but three short leagues distant. He was joyfully 
 received by the citizens, ladies, and damsels, who were desirous to 
 Bee him, and offered him magnificent and rich presents ; for Mont- 
 pellier is a powerful and wealthy town, full of merchandise, and was 
 much valued by the king, when he had considered its importance. 
 The citizens told him it had been infinitely richer than he now found 
 it, before the dukes of Anjou and Berry had plundered it, as they 
 had severally done in their turn. The king compassionated them 
 much for the losses they had sustained, and promised that he would 
 
 have every grievance reformed, and the government placed on a dif- 
 ferent footing. The citizens likewise addressed the king during his 
 stay at Montpellier, saying, " Sire, the poverty of this town is nothing 
 to what you will see the further you advance ; for this place has 
 many resources in its commerce, which its inhabitants carry on by 
 sea and land. In the seneschalships of Toulouse and Carcassonne, 
 and in that part of the country, where these dukes have laid their 
 hands, there is absolutely nothing ; for they have carried off every, 
 thing portable ; and you will find the inhabitants so poor, that those 
 who were in good circumstances have not wherewithal to'cultivate 
 their fields or vineyards. It is melancholy to see them, thejr wives 
 and children; for they had every year five or six taxes on their backs, 
 and they compounded for a third, a half, and sometimes all their 
 property was taken from them ; and no sooner was one tax paid 
 than another was demanded. These two lords, your uncles, since 
 they have had the government of Languedoc, have collected, as the 
 account will prove, upward of thirty thousand francs from the coun- 
 try, beginning with Villeneuve, near Avignon, to the Toulousain, as 
 far as the river Garonne, and turning back by the river Dordogne. 
 Since the departure of the duke of Anjou to Naples, this government 
 has been given to the duke of Berry, and he has more severely op- 
 pressed the country, which he found rich and plentiful : the duke of 
 Anjou made only the rich pay, who were well enabled to do so ; but 
 the duke of Berry spares neither poor nor rich : he swallows up 
 everything by means of one Bethisac, his counsellor and treasurer, 
 who is a native of Beziers, as you will hear from the complaints the 
 poor will make to you, in crying out for vengeance against him." 
 
 The king replied, "May God forsake my soul, if I will not cheer- 
 fully listen to their complaints, ajid, before I''return, provide a rem- 
 edy for them. I will punish the wicked, and have an inquisition 
 holden on the officers and servants of my uncles, who formerly had 
 this government ; and those who have behaved ill shall be treated 
 accordingly." 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 DURING THE TIME KING CHARLES OF FRANCE IS AT MONTPELLIER, TIIREE 
 OF HIS CHAMBERLAINS UNDERTAKE TO HOLD A TOURNAMENT NEAR TO 
 CALAIS, AGAINST ALL COMERS. 
 
 The king of France resided at Montpellier upward of twelve 
 days, because the respect and amusements he enjoyed there from the 
 citizens, ladies and damsels, pleased him greatly. Indeed, the king 
 was at this time young and giddy : he therefore danced and caroled 
 with these frisky ladies of Montpellier all night. He" entertained 
 them with handsome suppers and banquets, and presented to those 
 most in his favor rings and clasps of gold. He acquired so greatly 
 the love of the Montpellier ladies that some wished he had made a 
 longer stay, for it was one continued revel and pastime the whole 
 time he was there. You know, or must have heard it noticed, that the 
 intercourse of young gentlemen with the fair sex encourages sen- 
 timents of honor, and a love of fame. I mention this, because there 
 were with the king of France three gentlemen of great enterprise 
 and valor, which they were probably induced to display from that 
 intercourse, as I shall relate. 
 
 The names of these three knights were, sir Boucicaut the younger, 
 sir Reginald de Roye, and the lord de Saimpi. These knights were 
 chamberlains to the king, and were much esteemed by him for their 
 worth, for accoutering him so ably with his arms, and in other ser- 
 vices, such as good knights owe to their lord. While they were at 
 Montpellier amusing themselves with the ladies and damsels, they 
 were called upon to answer a challenge in the course of the ensuing 
 summer : the principal cause of this, as I was informed, was as follows. 
 
 During the reign of king Charles V. of happy memory, an Eng- 
 lishman of high birth and great renown, called sir Piers Courteney, 
 came from England to Paris to challenge sir Guy de la Tremouille, 
 in a combat before the king and lords of France, and whoever else 
 might wish to be spectators of it. Sir Guy de la Tremouille ac- 
 cepted the challenge ; and the king, with the duke of Burgundy and 
 many of the great barons, were present at this combat. I beheve 
 they only ran one course with the lance, for the king would not suffer 
 more to be done, to the great discontent of the English knight, who 
 seemed desirous of pushing the combat to extremities. He was, 
 however, appeased by fair speeches, saying he ought to be satisfied, 
 for he had done enough ; and he was presented with very rich gifts 
 by the king and the duke of Burgundy.* 
 
 Perceiving he could do nothing more, sir Piers Courteney set out 
 on his return to Calais ; and the lord de Clary, who at that time was 
 a gay and lively knight, was ordered to escort him. They rode on 
 until they came to Lucen,t where the countess de St. Pol, sister to 
 king Richard of England, resided. The countess was rejoiced to 
 see sir Piers Courteney ; for before her marriage with the coimt de 
 St. Pol, she had been united to his cousin the lord Courteney.t but he 
 
 * Sir Piers Courteney is mentioned by Dugdale, vol. i. p, 639, to have obtained licence, 
 in the 7th Ric. II to send various presents to the king and lords of France, in return lor 
 the honors they had paid him in his combat with a knight of that country. This knight 
 was probably sir Guy de la Tremouille. The Ucence U in the Foedera. 
 
 t " Lucen." Q.. Luzeuz, a town in the comte de St. PoL 
 
 t This person was Hugh Courteney, son of the carl of Devonshire ; but he died before 
 his father, and of course did rot inherit the earldom. His widow Maude, daughter of 
 sir Thomas Holland, married IValeran count de St. Pol— Duqdale. 
 
500 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &,c. 
 
 iiad died young, and the English called her lady Courteney rather 
 than countess of St. Pol. While there, the countess, in the course 
 nf conversation, asked sir Piers what he thought of the kingdom of 
 France : he replied, " Certainly, madam, France is very extensive, 
 rich and plentiful, and well guarded. In our country we do not form 
 a true estimate of it." " And are you pleased with the reception 
 i:ie lords of France have given you? have they not entertained you 
 handsomely ?" " To be sure, madam, I am perfectly contented as 
 to the reception I have had ; but, in regard to my having crossed the 
 sea, they have but shabbily acquitted themselves : and I must say, 
 that if the lord de Clary, who is a French knight, had come to Eng- 
 land, and challenged any one, however high his rank, it would have 
 been accepted, and the terms faithfully fulfilled to his utmost plea- 
 sure ; but this has been refused me. True it is, that sir Guy de 
 la Tremouille and myself were brought into the lists : but, when we 
 had run one course with the lance, I was stopped, and ordered from 
 the king to attempt nothing more, for that we had done e)iough. 
 I therefore say, madam, and shall say and maintain it wherever I go, 
 that I have not met any one able to oppose me in arms ; and that 
 it has not been my fault, but rests solely with the knights of France." 
 
 The lord de Clary who was present, marked this speech in his 
 memory, and with great difficulty held his tongue, on account of his 
 having the English knight under his care. The countess of St. Pol 
 replied ; " My lord, you will leave France with much honor, having 
 complied with the request of the king of France, not to proceed 
 further in your combat ; for you would have been unable to do more 
 contrary to his will. You cannot incur any blame ia this matter ; 
 and all those on each side of the sea that shall hear it told, will give 
 you more praise than blame : I therefore beg of you to rest satis- 
 fied." "Lady," said the knight, " that I will do, and not give my- 
 self any further care about it." 
 
 Here the conversation on this matter ended ; and other subjects 
 were discoursed on, during the day and night they remained. On 
 the morrow, sir Piers Courteney took leave of the countess de St. 
 Pol, who presented him with a handsome clasp of gold, and another 
 to the lord de Clary, as being his companion, and because the Eng. 
 lish knight was under his care and escort. They left Lucen early 
 in the morning, and took tlie road to Boulogne, v/here they lay that 
 night, and the next day rode through Marquise to Calais. Between 
 Boulogne and Calais there are but seven short leagues, and a good 
 road ; and at the distance of two leagues from Calais you enter on 
 the territory of Melle, Oye, and Guisnes, which then belonged to the 
 king of England. When they were near to Calais, sir Piers Courte- 
 ney said :• " Lord of Clary, we are now on the territories of the 
 king of England : you have handsomely acquitted yourself, in escort- 
 ing me ; and I give you many thanks for your company." 
 
 The lord de Clary had not forgotten the speech of sir Piers to the 
 countess de St. Pol, in the presence of many persons ; for it had made 
 him sulky and full of anger, wliich, although at the time he had not 
 noticed as he thought it deserved, he was unwilling that it should 
 pass off unanswered ; for he considered it as presumptuous, and dis- 
 honorable to the chivalry of France. Sir Piers had publicly de- 
 clared, that he had purposely left England to seek deeds of arms in 
 France, and had not found any one in that country willing to oppose 
 him. The lord de Clary had therefore determined, in his own mind, 
 that such expressions should not remain unnoticed. He therefore, 
 on taking leave, said : " Sir Piers, you are now on the lands of the 
 king of England, whither I have escorted you, by orders of my king 
 and my lord of Burgundy. You may recollect that, the day before 
 yesterday, when we were in the apartment of the countess de St. Pol, 
 who entertained us handsomely, you spoke with too great latitude as 
 it seemed to me, and too much to the blame and prejudice of the 
 French chivalry; for you said you had come to the court of the king 
 of France, and had found no one willing to oppose you in arms ; 
 and you seemed to have it understood, that there was not a knight 
 in France, who dared to tilt with you three courses with a lance. I 
 wish you therefore to know, that I (who am one of the smallest knights 
 of the realm,) offer myself, to maintain that France is not so devoid 
 of knights, but that you may find many willing to accept your chal- 
 lenge ; and if you will accept of me to this intent, either this day or 
 to-morrow, I will meet you without hatred or any ill-will. It is 
 solely with a view to defend our honor, and that you may not return 
 to Calais or England, and boast you have defeated the chivalry of 
 France without striking a blow : now, say whether you will accept 
 my challenge or not." Sir Piers Courteney was ready with his 
 answer, and said : Lord de Clary, you speak well : I accept your 
 challenge, and propose that you be at this place to-morrow, armed 
 as you please. I will be so likewise ; and we will tilt three courses 
 with the lance, by which you will recover the honor of France, and 
 give me much satisfaction." " Agreed," replied the lord de Clary : 
 
 I will be here at the hour you shall appoint." The two knights 
 then pledged their faith to each other for this tournament, and sepa- 
 rated : the lord de Clary went to Marquise, which was not far dis- 
 tant, >j'here he provided himself with armor, a shield, and lance. He 
 was not long in doing this ; for the knights on the frontier of Bou- 
 logne and Calais take care to have ample supplies. He did it all, 
 however, as secretly as he could ; for he was unwilling that too many 
 should know and speak of it. 
 
 In like mannCT, sir Piers Courteney, on his arrival at Calais, was 
 
 not unmindful of the engagement he had made. He had no occasion 
 to seek either for armor or arms, for he had brought with him from 
 England his own proper arms, which were good and strong. 
 
 At this time sir John Warnes* was governor of Calais, to whom 
 he told the engagement he had made with the lord de Clary. Sir 
 John replied, that he would accompany him, with some other knights 
 of Calais. On the ensuing morning, the two knights met at the 
 appointed place ; but the English knight was better accompanied 
 than the lord de Clary, for he had with him the governor of Calais. 
 On their meeting there was not much conversation, for each knew 
 what he was to do. 
 
 Both of them were strongly and completely armed, to abide the 
 event, such as the fortune of arms should decide, and they were well 
 mounted. They had their targets fast buckled on, and their lances 
 given them, which were of sharp, well-tempered Bordeaux steel. 
 Having taken their distance, they spurred their horses full gallop, 
 against each other, but missed their strokes, which seemed to vex 
 them greatly. On the second course, they met full ; and the lord de 
 Clary gave sir Piers so severe a blow with his stiff and well-tempered 
 lance, that it pierced the target, and, entering deeply into the shoul- 
 der, struck him off his horse. The lord de Clary, having so ably 
 tilted, passed on, and finished his career as an accomplished knight 
 should, and remained quiet ; but seeing the English knight was 
 unhorsed, suiTounded by his friends as he lay on the ground, and 
 thinking that he might have wounded him., for his lance with the 
 blow was shivered in pieces, rode toward him. The English ad- 
 vanced to meet him, saying he was not a courteous tilter., "Why 
 so?" replied the lord de Clary. " Because you have thrust your lance 
 into sir Piers's shoulder : you ought and could have tilted more libe- 
 rally." " It was not my part to be over courteous ; for I was ready 
 prepared to meet with such an accident, or perhaps a worse, if it had 
 so happened : but since he had such pleasure in justing, ask him, or 
 I will for you, if he be satisfied, or wish for more." Sir John Bernes, 
 upon this, said : "No, sir knight: you may depart, for you have 
 done enough." The lord de Clary went away with his company, 
 and the English carried sir Piers Courteney to Calais, that his wound 
 might be attended to and cured. The lord de Clary returned to 
 France, expecting to receive great praise for the goodly act he 
 thought he had done : but I will tell you how it turned out. 
 
 When it was made known to the king of France, the duke of 
 Burgundy, and their council, that the lord de Clary, in accompanying 
 sir Piers Courteney, had fought with, and so dangerously wounded 
 him, that he was in danger of his life, they were highly enraged 
 against him, and in particular sir Guy de la Tremouille. They de- 
 clared his conduct deserved at least confiscation of his lands, and 
 perpetual banishment from the kingdom of France. Others, who 
 were his enemies, said he had acted like an infamous traitor, in chal- 
 lenging and fighting a knight that had been placed under his guard 
 by the king and the duke of Burgundy ; that he was guilty of an un- 
 pardonable crime, and ought to suffer death. 
 
 The lord de Clary was summoned to appear, which summons he 
 obeyed, and when brought before the king, the duke of Burgundy, 
 and the council, was sharply reprimanded, for having dared to injure 
 a knight who had come from foreign countries to the court of France 
 to perform a deed of arms and gain renown, and had left that court 
 with perfect satisfaction to all, and under his safeguard ; notwith- 
 standing which, he had on his return, at the boundary of the two 
 kingdoms, challenged him to mortal combat, without having de- 
 manded permission of his sovereign, on whose territories he was : 
 that this was a crime deserving the severest punishment, by which 
 others might take example. The lord de Clary, on hearing this bit- 
 ter reproof, was thunderstruck, for he thought what he had done de- 
 served a. contrary treatment. Having paused awhile, he said : " My 
 lords, it is indeed true that you intrusted to my care sir Piers Court- 
 eney, with orders to escort him as far as Calais or to the borders of 
 the kingdom. Of this I have acquitted myself loyally and faithfully, 
 which, if necessary to prove, I can readily do so from himself. It is 
 also true, that on our road we visited the countess de St. Pol at Lu. 
 zieuz, who received us very kindly. While there, the following con- 
 versation passed : The lady asked sir Piers, if he were contented 
 with the lords of France, and what he thought of the country ? The 
 knight courteously replied, 'Madam, the state of France is rich, ex- 
 tensive, and plentiful. With respect to its lords, I am perfectly satis- 
 fied with the reception and entertainments I have had from them, ex- 
 cepting one thing. I have put myself to very great expense in my 
 preparations and journey to Paris, to perform a deed of arms, but, 
 when arrived there, found none willing to accept of my challenge.' 
 My lords, when I heard this speech before such a lady as the countess 
 of St. Pol, sister to the king of England, my blood boiled within me ; 
 but, with much difficulty I kept silence, because you had intrusted 
 him to my care and protection ; and I never gave him the least 
 cause to suspect I was any way hurt by what he had said, so long 
 as we continued together in France. But true it is, that when we 
 were about to separate on the borders of the country of Guisnes, I 
 reminded him of his expressions to the countess de St. Pol, which, 
 I said, were neither civil nor honorable, as he seemed to wish it to 
 
 * I cannot discover sir John Warnes, and must suppose it a misteike ; for sir William 
 Beauchamp was governor of Calais when th« truce was ligaed. Lord Semen cftlb 
 him sir John Beroes. 
 
m 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 be understood, that the chivalry of France was so much debased that 
 he could not meet with any one who dared to fight with him : that 
 I, as a knight of France, if such were his meaning, offered to prove 
 the conti-ary, being unwilling that, on his return to England, he 
 should have the power of renewing his boastings : that I was ready 
 and desirous to afford hirri the pleasure of tilting three courses with 
 a lance, either that or any future day. Certainly, my lords, I made 
 this offer for the honor of the kingdom of France and its chivalry, 
 who are here present : and it se^imed to me, that he accepted my 
 challenge with much joy, and fixed the meeting for the morrow, on 
 the spot where we were speaking. He then went to Calais, and I 
 returned to Marquise, where I provided myself with the necessary 
 arms, as he was to do at Calais. On the morrow, according to our 
 appointment, we met. He came well attended by some of the gar- 
 rison of Calais, and some of the knights and squires of the borders 
 came with me, such as the lord de Montcarel and sir John de Long- 
 villiers. When we met, we had but a short conversation, and then 
 tilted with spears of war, for we were both completely armed, to the 
 best of our abilities. The fortune of the combat fell to me, for at the 
 second course I drove my lance into him, and threw him on the 
 ground. I then went to see what situation he was in, and if he 
 wished to continue the combat. The governor of Calais told me that 
 what had been done was sufficient, and that I might depart. This 
 I did. You have ordered me hither, and here I am. I thought I 
 had acted properly in support of the honor of the king demand its 
 chivalry, and have related to you the exact truth. If I am to be pun- 
 ished for what I have done, I shall submit myself to the judgment of 
 , my lord the constable, and the marshals of France, and also to the 
 evidence of sir Piers Courteney himself, with whose consent I have 
 fought this duel, and to the discretion of all knights and squires of 
 honor in France or England, who may wish to attend to it." 
 
 The lord de Clary, having thus clearly exculpated himself, greatly 
 softened the anger of those who had sent for him : but this did not 
 prevent him from being committed to prison, where he remained a 
 considerable time in much danger. His lands were seized, and him- 
 self on the point of banishment from France, when the lord de Coucy 
 and the duke of Bourbon, who loved him, interfered, and with great 
 difficulty made his peace, by means of the countess de St. Pol, who 
 testified to the truth of what he had said, of the conversation that had 
 passed at her house. On obtaining his liberty, he was addressed ; 
 " Lord de Clary, when you challenged sir Piers Courteney to fight, 
 instead of acting, as you thought, very gallantly, you behaved in- 
 famously ; for he was under the protection of the king, and you had 
 orders to conduct him in safety to Calais. You committed a great 
 outrage, when you noticed, in the manner you have yourself declared, 
 the conversation he held in joke at the countess de St. Pol's. Before 
 you had proposed this combat, you ought to have returned hither to 
 my lords, and have told them, that sir Piers Courteney had held such 
 and such insolent language against the honor of the knights of France 
 in your presence. They would then have ordered you how to act. 
 Because, therefore, you have not done this, you have been thus pun- 
 ished. Be another time more discreet ; and return thanks for your 
 deliverance to my lord of Bourbon and the lord de Coucy : they have 
 exerted themselves much to serve you, as has the countess de St. 
 Pol ; for that good lady took great pains that you should be acquit- 
 ted." The lord de Clary replied: " Many thanks, my lords ;" ad- 
 ding, " I certainly thought I was deserving more praise than blame, 
 when I acted as I did." 
 
 During the stay of the king of France at Montpellier, he gave a 
 grand banquet to many ladies and damsels of that town ; during 
 which, all I have just related was talked over, and the cause was, 
 that jthe three knights, who were desirous of holding the lists against 
 all comers, wished to avoid falling under like blame to the lord de 
 Clary. 
 
 Sir Boucicaut the younger, sir Reginald de Roye, and the lord de 
 Saimpi, offered to hold a field of arms on the frontier of Calais, in the 
 course of the ensuing summer, against all foreign knights and squires, 
 for the space of thirty days, and to tilt with blunt lances or others. 
 The king of France, as well as those present, thinking this proposal 
 was rather presumptuous, remonstrated with them, and desired they 
 would put down their challenge on paper, that if any improper lan- 
 guage were made use of, it might be corrected ; for the king and his 
 ministers wished to examine it, being unwilling that any improper or 
 unusual terms should be used. The three knights agreed that this 
 would be right, and, in reply to the king, said they would instantly 
 obey his commands. They ordered a clerk, with pens, paper, and 
 ink, into another apartment, and dictated to him as follows : 
 
 " From the i^reat desire we have to become acquainted with the 
 nobles, gentlemen, knights, and squires bordering on the kingdom of 
 France, well as with those in the more distant countries, we pro- 
 pose being at St. Ingelvere* the twentieth day of May next ensuing, 
 and to remain there for thirty days complete ; and on each cf these 
 thirty days, excepting the Fridays, we will deliver from their vows 
 all knights, squires, and gentlemen, from whatever countries they 
 may come, with five courses with a sharp or blunt lance, according 
 to their pleasure, or with both lances if more agreeable. On the out- 
 side of our tents will be hung our shields, blazoned with our arms ; 
 , that is to say, with our targets of war and our shields of peace. Who. 
 
 * "St. Ingelvere"— a village in Pioardy, near Calais. 
 
 N D , FRANCE, SPAIN, Sec. 501 
 
 ever may choose to tilt with us has only to come, or send any one, the 
 preceding day, to touch with a rod either of these shields, according 
 to his courage. If he touch the target, he shall find an opponent ready 
 on the morrow to engage him in a mortal combat with three courset- 
 with a lance : if the shield, he shall be tilted with a blunted lance , 
 and if both shields are touched, he shall be accommodated with botli 
 sorts of combat. Every one who may come, or send to touch pur 
 shields, must give in his name to the persons who shall be appointed 
 to the care of them. And all such foreign knights and squires as shall 
 be desirous of tilting with us, shall bring with them some noble friend, 
 and we will do the same on our parts, who will order what may be 
 proper to be done on either side. We particularly entreat, such noble 
 knights or squires as may accept our challenge, to believe that we do 
 not make it through presumption, pride, or any ill-will, but solely with 
 a view of having their honorable company, ;md making acquaintance 
 with them, which we desire from the bottom of our hearts. None of 
 our targets shall be covered with steel or iron, any more than those 
 who may tilt with us; nor shall there be any fraud, deceit, or tiick 
 made use of, but what shall be deemed honorable by the judges of 
 the tournament. And that all gentlemen, knights and squires, to 
 whom these presents shall come, may depend on their authenticity, 
 WG have set to them our seals, with our arms, this twentieth day of 
 November, at Montpellier, in the year of grace 1389." Underneath 
 was signed, Reginald de Roye, Boucicaut, Saimpi. 
 
 The king of France was well pleased with this courageous chal- 
 lenge of his three knights, and declared it should have his consent, 
 if, on examination by his ministers, there was no fault found with the 
 terms it was couched in. It was objected to by some, that it waa 
 wrong to fix the place for this tournament so near to Calais, as the 
 English miglit think it was arrogantly and particularly aimed at 
 them ; and that all occasions of quarrel should be avoided, for a tmce 
 had been agreed to for three years between France and England. 
 The king's ministers were one whole day considering the matter, 
 without coming to any conclusion. Some of the most prudent said, 
 it ought not to be allowed, nor the whims of wild young knights to 
 be acceded to, for more evil than good might ensue from them. The 
 king, however, who was young himself, greatly inclined toward them, 
 and said ; " Let them perform their enterprise : they are young and 
 courageous, and, besides, have vowed to do so before the ladies of 
 Montpellier. We are desirous they should undertake it, and bring 
 it to the happiest end they can." 
 
 When the king had thus declared his mind to the council, no one 
 made further opposition, to the great joy of the knights. The chal- 
 lenge having been agreed to in the manner the knights had drawn 
 it out, the king called them into his closet, and said ; " Boucicaut, 
 Reginald, and Saimpi, be attentive to this your enterprise, to guard 
 well your own honor and that of our kingdom : let nothing be spared 
 in the state you keep ; for I will not fail to assist you as far as ten 
 thousand francs." The three knights cast themselves on their knees, 
 and returned the king their warmest thanks. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII, 
 
 DURING THE KING OF FRANCe's RESIDENCE AT BEZIERS, ACCUSATIONS ARE 
 MADE AGAINST BETHISAC, TREASURER TO THE DUKE OF BERRY. THINK- 
 ING TO BE SENT TO THE POPE AND ESCAPE PUNISHMENT, HE CONFESSES 
 HIMSELF A HERETIC AND SODOMITE, BUT IS TRANSFERRED OVER, BY THE 
 OFFICIAL AT BEZIERS, TO THE SECULAR POWER, AND BURNT. 
 
 When the king of France had, for fifteen days or more, taken his 
 amusements with the ladies and damsels of Montpellier, and his min- 
 isters, during that time, had attended to the state of the town, for that 
 had been the cause of his coming, and had made many reforms and 
 taken off several heavy taxes of which the inhabitants had complained, 
 he graciously took his leave of the ladies, and one morning very 
 early departed, following the road to Alipiam,* where he dined, and 
 lay that night at St. Thibery.t On the morrow, after his morniiig 
 draught, he setoff and came to Beziers, where he was received most 
 joyfully; for ihe good people of that town, and the adjoining ones of 
 Pezenas, Cibestan, and Narbonne,!: were anxious to see him, in order 
 to make cheir complaints against an officer of the duke ot Berry, 
 called Fethisac, who had impoverished the country all around, by 
 seizinj whatever he could lay his hands on. Tiiis Bethisac had at. 
 tend<^d the king's company ever since he had left Avignon ; but the 
 king's ministers, who sought his ruin, never told him, " Bethisac, look 
 to yourself, for very strict inquiries will be made into your manage, 
 ment ; there have already been made very heavy accusations against 
 you to the king." But, on the contrary, they made him good cheer, 
 joked and laughed with him, and promised him increased honors, in 
 which he was disappointed, as I shall shortly relate. 
 
 The king of France left St. Thibery at one o'clock in the after- 
 noon, and between three and four entered the town of Beziers. He 
 was met by the bishop and all the clergy in their robes, and the 
 citizens, ladies, and damsels in procession : they formed a lane, 
 through which he rode a foot's pace ; and, as he passed, they all fell 
 
 * " Alipiam." It is Olipiam in the MSS. and AU)i<tm in Verard. Q,. if not toteoded 
 for VilJe Airac, which is on the line from Mon'pcllier to St. Thibery. 
 t " St. Thibery"— a town in the diocese of Ad{;e, near.Poi^fenas. 
 i " Pezenas, Cabertan. aud Narbonne." towns iii Lower Languedoc« 
 
502 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, <S6C. 
 
 on their knees. In this manner was he conducted to the cathedral, 
 and dismounted at the portico, where had been erected a rich altar, 
 adorned with holy relics from the church. The king, having on his 
 knees very devoutly made his prayers at this altar, was conducted 
 into the church by the bishop of" Beziers and the duke of Bourbon, 
 followed by all the great lords. He remained in the church about 
 half an hour, and then went to the palace that was adjoining, where 
 he, his brother the duke of Touraine, and his uncle the duke of 
 Bourbon, were lodged. The other lords were lodged in the town, 
 which was of a sufficient size, for Beziers is a large city. 
 
 The king was for three days revelling 
 with the ladies and damsels of Beziers, 
 before any notice was taken of Bethisac ; 
 but the inquisitors who had been ap- 
 pointed to make inquiries concerning 
 him were not idle, but did their office * 
 secretly, and discovered many atrocious 
 acts deserving the severest punishment. 
 On the fourth day, Bethisac was sum- 
 moned before the council, and shut up 
 in a chamber for his examination. He 
 was ordered to make answer to the fol- 
 lowing accusations, and was shown at 
 the same time a number of complaints 
 and petitions that had been presented to 
 the king at Beziers, accusing him of 
 weak management and such great extor- 
 tions as made the whole country cry out . 
 against him. All these were read in his 
 presence. To some he gave satisfac- 
 tory answers, to others not, saying he 
 had no knowledge of them, and refer- 
 ring them to the seneschals of Beaucaire 
 and Carcassonne, and to the chancellor 
 of Berry. They concluded this exami- 
 nation by telling him, it was necessary 
 to commit him to prison until he should 
 clear himself from these heavy charges. 
 This he obeyed, for he could not help it ; 
 and, as soon as he was gone, the inquisi- 
 tors went to his house, and seized all his 
 papers and accounts of whatever things 
 he had been concerned in, carrying them 
 away to search into them more at leisure. 
 
 They discovered a variety of transactions and accounts of large sums 
 that he had extorted from these countries. He was asked, if these 
 accounts were just, and what had become of the large sums he had 
 received; he answered, "that the accounts were just; that the 
 whole amount had been paid to his lord of Berry, and had passed 
 through his hands, or these of other treasurers, for which he had re- 
 ceived legal acquittances, that were in such a place of his house." 
 Persons were sent thither, who laid them before the council : and 
 they were found, on comparing them, to tally tolerably well with the 
 accounts of receipt. 
 
 The inquisitors and the council were satisfied, and Bethisac was 
 no longer closely confined. The council conferred together, and 
 said, " Bethisac is clear from this accusation ; for it is apparent, that 
 all the sums the people complain of having been exacted from them 
 have been paid to the duke of Berry. How can we help it if these 
 sums have been extravagantly spent?" Bethisac's defence was 
 nothing but the truth ; for this duke of Berry was the most covetous 
 man alive, and if he could only get money ca^'ed not by what means; 
 and when he had it, he miserably expended it, like many of the pres- 
 ent and past times. 
 
 The king's ministers found nothing in the conduct of Bethisac 
 that was deserving death. All, however, were not ©f this opinion ; 
 for some of them said, " Bethisac has made such cruel levies, and 
 so impoverished the people, to gratify the passions of my lord of 
 Berry, that the blood of these poor creatures cries out i.oudly against 
 him ; for that he being the only one from those parts oi" the duke's 
 council, and knowing the poverty of the country, should have remon- 
 strated with the duke, and if he refused to listen to him, hv'^' should 
 have come and informed the king and council of the situation of the 
 country, and of the duke's intentions : proper measures w^juld then 
 have been taken, and himself exculpated for the large sums he \/as 
 now accused of having amassed." 
 
 In consequence, Bethisac was remanded before the council, and 
 again more closely examined, touching the expenditure of the great 
 sums that had been raised and paid to the duke of Berry, for they 
 had found the amount to be three millions of francs. He replied, 
 " My lords, I cannot make out any clearer account of this : the duke 
 has laid out large sums in the reparations of his castles and houses, 
 in the purchase of lands in the county d'Estampes, from the count 
 de Boulogne, and in jewels ; and you know he is very careless in 
 such purchases. His establishments, which were very great before, 
 have been much increased ; and he has made such presents to Thi- 
 baut and Morinot, and the valets about his person, that they are be- 
 come very rich." " And yooo, Bethisac," nshed the council, " have 
 
 you been well paid for the pains and services you have done him ? 
 one hundred thousand francs is a pretty tolerable recompense " 
 " My lords," saic Bethisac, "I am very well satisfied with what my 
 lord of Berry has given me ; for he wished all his people to be rich." 
 " Ha, Bethisac," replied the council, " you now talk like a fool : 
 riches, ill acquired, are neither honorable nor profitable. You must 
 return to prison, and we will consider what you have now told us, 
 and wait there the king's pleasure, to whom we will report every- 
 thing you have said in your defence." " My lords," replied B&thisac, 
 '* God assist me !" 
 
 Entry op Charles King of France to Beziers. Designed from Illustrations of" the period. 
 
 He remained in prison four days without being noticed by the 
 council. When it was known in the country that Bethisac had been 
 arrested and thrown into prison, and that an inquisition was holding 
 on his conduct; and that whoever had any complaints to make should 
 come forward; numbers hastened to Beziers, and presented petitions 
 and accusations of heavy charges against Bethisac at the king's 
 palace. Some complained that he had robbed them of their lands 
 without cause ; others of the violences he had committed on their 
 wives and daughters. In short, the complaints were so numerous, 
 that the king's council were tired of hearing them : they plainly 
 showed how much he was hated by the people, which arose from the 
 great exertions he had made to fill the purse of the duke of BeiTy. 
 
 The council were embarrassed to know how to act ; for the duke 
 of Berry had sent to Beziers two knights, the lord de Nantouillet 
 and sir Peter Mespin, with credential letters to the king. These 
 knights avowed, in the name of the dr.ke, all the acts Bethisac had 
 committed, as done by his command, ".nd claimed, at the same time, 
 the person of Bethisac, that they might con.duct him to his lord, the 
 duke of Berry. The king, from the many infamous stories he had 
 heard of Bethisac, hated him, and he and his brother were inclined 
 to have him put to death : but the council dared not condemn him, 
 as they too much feared the duke of Berry. They said to the king, 
 " In case my lord of Berry takes on himself all the acts of Bethisac, 
 whatever they may deserve, we do not see that, with any plea of 
 justice, we can put him to death. For at the time when he raised 
 all these vast sums, by harassing the people with taxes, levies, and 
 subsidies, the duke of Berry acted as if he were king, with the same 
 royal power you have at this moment. We can, however, do one 
 thing, as a punishment for his crimes : we may take possession of 
 all his goods, moveable and immoveable, and reduce him to the state 
 in which the duke of Berry found him, and distribute these among 
 such as have suffered the most from his wickedness." 
 
 Why should I make a longer story of it ? Bethisac was on the 
 ij^ioint of escaping with the loss indeed of his fortune, when other 
 e-v ents happened that I will relate. I know not, nor have ever been 
 able to learn but from his own confession, whether he was or was 
 not g uilty of the crimes he accused himself of. He declared he had 
 been ^ long time a heretic, and had done many horrid and wicked 
 deeds. According to the information I had, some persons visited 
 him by mi.'^lit in prison, and, to frighten him, said: " Bethisac, you 
 are in an un/ortunate situation ; for the king of France, his brother, 
 and the duke of Bourbon, are determined on your death ; and the.y 
 have had so mtv-^y accusations against your conduct, when you for- 
 merly governed j^ianguedoc, that they judge you deserving the gal- 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 503 
 
 lows, and you will not escape with the confiscation of your wealth. 
 This has been offered to the king ; but he hates you mortally, and 
 has refused it, saying, that both your property and your body too 
 was forfeited to him, and you should not long remain confined. We 
 tell you this, that you may consider and make the best of your time ; 
 for to-morrow you will be brought from prison, and, from the appear- 
 ances we have observed, we suppose you wilhbe condemned to death. 
 This speech greatly terrified Bethisac, who exclaimed, *'Ah, holy 
 Mary ! are there no means to avoid this ?" " Yes," replied they : 
 " say to-morrow that you wish to speak to the council : they will 
 either come or send for you. When in their presence, say, * My 
 lords, I fear I have greatly offended God, and for this offence am I 
 now suffering under these slanderous reports.' They will ask what 
 you mean. Reply, that you have for a long time erred from the faith, 
 and that you are a heretic. Keep steady to this declaration. The 
 bishop of Beziers, when he hears this, will claim you to be given np 
 to him. This will be instantly complied with, for such cases devolve 
 to the ecclesiastical jurisdiction. You will be sent to Avignon, where 
 no one will venture to accuse you in opposition to the duke of Berry, 
 whom the pope dare not anger. By thi.s raeaiis you will escape, 
 without lojs of life or fortune ; but, if you hesitate m taking advan- 
 f.'ige of the earliest oppprtunity, to-morrow you will be hanged : for 
 f!ie king hates you from the clamor of the people, with whom you 
 know how unpopular you are." 
 
 Bethisac unfortunately believed all this false information that had 
 been given to him, for those who are in peril of their lives are much 
 confused in rnind : he said, " You are my good friends who thus 
 kindly advise me, and may God reward you for it I The time may 
 perhaps come when I shall be enabled to thank you otherwise than 
 by words." Upon this, his visitors departed. When morning came, 
 Bethisac called the jailer, and said : " My friend, I beg of you to 
 go, or send, to such and such persons," whom he named, in the 
 number of his inquisitors. He leplied, he would do so; and they 
 were informed, that Bethisac wanted to speak with them in his prison. 
 They hastened thither, in the hope that they were already acquainted 
 with the purport of his sending for them. When arrived, they asked 
 what he wanted : he answered, " My fair sirs, I have had time to 
 examine the state of my conscience : and I fear I have greatly of- 
 fended God, by having for a long time erred in my faith ; for I do 
 not believe one word of the Trinity, nor that the son of God has ever 
 deigned to debase himself by descending from heaven, and putting 
 on the human form by being born of woman. I believe likewise, 
 that when we die, our soul dies with us." " By holy Mary, Bethi- 
 sac," replied the informers, " you do indeed err greatly against the 
 church : consider well what you have said, for your speech deserves 
 the flames." " I know not," answered Bethisac, " whether my speech 
 deserves fire or water; but such have been my opinions ever since I 
 came to understanding, and such will they continue as long as I live." 
 
 The inquisitors were so rejoiced at what he had said, that they 
 would not for the present listen to more ; but on their departure, strictly 
 charged the jailer not to admit to him man or woman, lest he should 
 retract his opinions, and hastened to lay before the council what they 
 had heard. They went to the king, in his chamber, and reported 
 what Bethisac had declared. He was greatly astonished, and said : 
 " We order him to be put to death : he is a wicked wretch, a heretic 
 and thief. We will, that he be burnt and hanged, that he may have 
 the reward he deserves ; nor for anything my uncle of Berry shall 
 say, will I pardon him." 
 
 News was soon spread through Beziers and other places, that Be- 
 thisac had of his own free will, without the least constraint, confessed 
 himself a heretic and had long followed the doctrines of the Bulga- 
 rians,* and that the king had condemned him to be burnt and hanged. 
 The inhabitants of Beziers were pleased at this, for he was much 
 hated by them. The two knights from the duke of Berry were 
 thunderstruck, and knew not how to act : at legth sir Peter Mespin, 
 addressing himself to the lord de Nantouillet, said : " I suspect that 
 Bethisac has been betrayed, ai-sd that some one, who has been to see 
 him in prison, has frightened him, and advised him to accuse him- 
 self ; and that, if he persist in owning himself guilty of these horrible 
 and infamous crimes, the church will claim him to be tried accord- 
 ing to its canons, and he will be delivered up to the pope at Avignon. 
 Ah, the blockhead will be deceived I for I have already heard the 
 king has declared he sliall be burnt and hanged. Come, let us hasten 
 to his prison, and remonstrate with him on his folly, and make him 
 retract all he ha:- said, for he has been betrayed by false friends." 
 
 The two kiiigbts immediately went from their lodgings to the 
 prison, and demanded from the jailer to speak with Bethisac. The 
 jailer excused himself, saying : "My lords, I am particularly ordered, 
 us well as these four sergeants-at-arms, who have been sent hither 
 by the king, 'iiar to suffer any one to converse with the prisoner, un. 
 der pain of ')ur lives; and this command of the king we dare not 
 disobey." The knights perceived all further attempt would be vain, 
 for it was over with Bethisac, and that he must die for the crimes of 
 which he had been wickedly induced to accuse himself. They then 
 
 * This name was given to the Maniclieiins. Tlieir doctrines had passed from Greece 
 into Bulgaria, from whence they had spread over Europe : hence the name of Boulgres 
 or Bulgarians was given to those whom the church of Rome called heresiarchs, The 
 Albigenies bad in tlie preceding cerjtqry t»?en disUnguishe^ this naine,— Ed. 
 
 returned to their inn, paid their expenses, mounted their horses, and 
 set out on their return to the duke of Berry. 
 
 The end of Bethisac was, that about tt n o'clock in the morning 
 ol the next day he was carried from prison to the palace of the bishop^ 
 where were assembled his judges and the official of the bishop'.'^ 
 court. The bailiff of Beziers, under whose care he had been com- 
 mitted prisoner, said to the officers of the bishop, " Here is Bethisac, 
 whom v/e deliver to you as a Bulgarian, a heretic, and one erring 
 greatly against the faith, who, had he not been a clerk, should have 
 been punished by us according to his deserts." The official de- 
 manded if he wore such a person as had been represented, and that 
 he would, in the hearing of the people, avow or deny it. Bethisac, 
 who expected to escape by confessing himself guilty, replied, that 
 the charges were true. He was thrice asked this question, and thrice 
 acknowledged it aloud. You may suppose how grossly he must 
 have been deceived : had he kept firm to the defence he had made 
 to the accusations brought against him, he would have been acquit- 
 ted ; for the duke of Berry had taken upon himself all the charges 
 of extortion, in raising the taxes in Languedoc. Fortune, one may 
 conclude, played hirn this trick ; and when he was seated, as he 
 thought, on the top of her wheel, she suddenly turned it round and 
 whirled him in the dirt, as she has done to thousands since the world 
 began. 
 
 Bethirjac was, by the official, given over to the bailiff of Beziers, 
 who, ill ti rnporal matters, governs for the king: without delay, he 
 led him tc '.he square before the palace, and made such haste, that 
 Bethisac had no time to make any defence, nor retract what he had 
 said ; for wiien he saw the fire, and that he was put into the hands 
 of the executioner, he was affrighted, and perceived that he had been 
 betrayed. He called aloud to be heard, but no attention whatever 
 was paid to him : he was told, " Bethisac, the order is given, and 
 you must die : your evil deeds have brought you to a disgraceful 
 end." Much haste was made, for the fire was lighted ; and they 
 had erected a gallows and a post, with a large collar and chain: they 
 opened the collar by a hinge, and closed it again, when round hi? 
 neck, and dragged him to the post, fastening him thereto with the 
 chain. He cried aloud, saying : " Duke of Berry, they wrongfull} 
 and treacherously are putting me to death." The moment he was 
 fastened to the stake, they covered him with dry faggots, to which 
 they set fire ; and thus was Bethisac burnt, and his bones hanged : 
 the square being in front of the palace, the king of France, if he 
 pleased, might have witnessed it from the windows of his apartments. 
 Such was the miserable end of Bethisac ; and the people revenged 
 on him the many great vexations and violences he had committed 
 during the time he governed Languedoc* 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 WHEN THE KING- OF FRANCE IS AT TOULOUSE, HE SUMMONS TIE COUNT DE 
 FOIX, AVHO, ON HIS ARRIVAL, PAYS HIM HOJJAGE FOR HIS COUNTY OF 
 FOIX. 
 
 The king of France did not remain long in Beziers after this severe 
 act of justice, but set out with his array, taking the road toward 
 Carcassonne. Since he had left Avignon, he had been always at- 
 tended by his marshal, sir Lewis de Sancerre. The king did not 
 follow the straight road, but visited different towns, such as Cabes. 
 tan,t Narbonne,t Lymoux,§ Monti*oyal,|I and Fougans, thence he re- 
 turned to Carcassonne, where he resided four days. On his departure 
 he passed through Ville-franche,ir Avignonet** arid Mont-giscard,tt 
 in his way to Toulouse. The inhabitants of this city, being anxious 
 to see him, went out in grand procession, hsndsomely dressed, and 
 escorted him with much pomp to the castle of Toulouse. The citi- 
 zens of the town, which is rich and important, made the king such 
 presents, on his arrival, as well pleased him. 
 
 When the king had refreshed himself for three days in Toulouse, he 
 was advised to summon the count de Foix, who had left Beam, and 
 fixed his residence at a town in Foix, called Mazeres, fourteen leagues 
 from Toulouse ; fo^'he had received information of the king's arrival 
 at Toulouse, and of his intention to summon hi ti. The marshal of 
 France and the lord de la Riviere, were ordered to wait on the count, 
 who, setting out on a Wednesday after diimer, arrived at a tolerably 
 good town in the Toulousain, called Ic'e .lourdain,tt and on the 
 morrow, by dinner-time, came to Mazeres. The count de Foix, on 
 learning their arrival, received them kindl frcm his affection to the 
 king, and from his former acquaintance widi them. 
 
 The marshal, addressing him, said : " My lord of Foix, our very 
 dear lord, the king of France, sends us to invite you to come to Tou- 
 
 *Don Vaissette, in his history of Languedoc, cives very satisfactory rensotis, tos'mw 
 that ' Froissart was mistaken as to the time of Bethisao's execntion, which took place 
 the 22nd December, 1389, at Toulouse, some months after tl.c king had leit Bezieiy. 
 For further particular, I refer to that history. 
 
 t "Cabastan"— a town in lower Languedoc, diocese ofNimes. 
 
 X " Narbonne"— a large city in lower Languedoc. 
 
 § " Lyniou.\"— a city in upper Languedoc, five leagues from Carcassonne, 
 il " Mont-royal." a. 
 
 IT " Viile-franche"— a town in upper Languedoc, diocc>-6 of Alby. 
 
 ** " Avicnonet"— a iovvn in upper Lnnguedcc, diocR-^e of St. Pnpoul. 
 
 tt " Mont-giscard"— a town in upper Languedoc, three ipasuos fioni Touloygft 
 
 jj " Jlsle of jQurdaia"— a tov/ii j,u Anritisnao, six Isasucb fn.'ni Toulouse. 
 
504 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 l(»use ; otherwise, so great is his desire to see you, that he will do his 
 utmost to visit you in your own country." The count replied, " Sir 
 Lewis, I will not give the king the trouble of coming to me : for it 
 is more becoming that I wait on him. You will tell him, therefore, 
 if you please, from me, that I will be in Toulouse within four days." 
 " It is well said," replied the knight: "we will return, and carry 
 him this your answer." " That you may 
 boldly do," said the count ; " but not to. 
 day ; for you shall now stay with me, as 
 I am heartily glad to see you both ; and in 
 the morning you shall set out on your 
 return." The two knights remained with 
 the' count, who was in the highest good 
 humor, that day and night, and they con- 
 versed on various subjects. The count 
 was a wise and prudent man, and had a 
 talent of drawing from any person with 
 whom he conversed, be his station what 
 
 it might, his most private thoughts. At 
 
 bed-time, they took leave of the count, 
 
 intending" to set out very early in the 
 
 morning for Toulouse, which they did, 
 
 and I believe performed the journey in 
 
 one day. On their return, they found the 
 
 king playing at chess with the duJie of 
 
 Bourbon, who, on seeing them, called out, 
 
 " Well, what news ? Will the count de 
 
 Foix come or not ?" " Yes, sire," replied 
 
 la Riviere : " he has a very earnest desire 
 
 to come to you, and will be here within 
 
 four days." " Well," said the king, " we 
 
 shall be very happy to see him." 
 
 The two knights then left the king to 
 
 continue his game, and went to sup and re- 
 fresh themselves, for they had rode a long 
 
 day's journey. The count de Foix, who 
 
 resided at Mazeres, was not forgetful of 
 
 the journey he was to make ; and his pre- 
 parations were soon ready, for he had 
 
 given orders on that head when he had 
 
 first heard of the king's coming to Toulouse. He sent forward to 
 Toulouse purveyances in abundance, suitable to his rank, and had 
 ordered two hundred knights and squires from Beam to attend him. 
 On the day the count had fixed for his arrival at Toulouse, he entered 
 the city with upward of six hundred horse, and well accompanied by 
 knights and squires of his vassalage. Among them were, sir Roger 
 d'Espaign his cousin, the lord de Corasse, the lord de Valentin, the 
 lord de Quer, the lord de Baruge, sir Espaing du Lyon, the lord de 
 Roquepaire, the lordde Lane, the lord de Besach, the lord de Perle,sir 
 Peter de Cabestan, sir Menaut de is'oailles, sir Richard de la Mothe, 
 sir Arnold de Saint Basile, with many others. He was also attended 
 by his two brothers, sir Peter and sir Arnold de Bearn, and his two 
 bastard sons, whom he affectionately loved, sir Evan and sir Gracien 
 de Foix. The count had intentions of settling on these two sons the 
 greater part of Bearn, which, being free land and dependent on no 
 one but God, he could dispose of as he pleased. 
 
 The count de Foix dismounted at the convent of the Friar Preach, 
 ers, where he and his household were lodged ; and his people quar- 
 tered themselves as near him as they could. The citizens of Tou. 
 louse showed much joy at the arrival of the count de Foix, for they 
 loved him from his being so kind a neighbor, and never suffering 
 any of his people to make war or commit violence on their country. 
 They presented him with the finest wines, and so many other things, 
 that he was well contented with them. He made his entry into 
 Toulouse rather late in the evening, and remained all that night in 
 his lodgings. On the morrow, about ten o'clock, he mounted his 
 horse, as did those who were to attend him to the king, consisting of 
 more than two hundred knights, all men of distinction ; and in this 
 state he paraded through the streets of Toulouse to the castle, where 
 the king resided. He dismounted in the court withiu the first square 
 of the #-astle, where servants took and held their horses. 
 
 The count and his company ascended the steps of the great hall, 
 whither the king had gone from his chamber to wait his arrival ; for 
 he was very anxious to see him for the gallant actions he had per- 
 formed, and on account of his fair reputation. The count de Foix, 
 who was very handsome in person and in countenance, entered the 
 hall bareheaded, (for he never wore a cap,) with his hair scattered 
 about : when he perceived the king, his brother, uncle, and the lords 
 of France, in the act of doing the king honor, and not till then, he 
 bended very low on one knee ; he afterwards rose up, advanced, and 
 knelt a second time close to the king, who raised him up with his 
 hand, and embraced him, saying, " Fair cousin of Foix, you are 
 welcome, for your visit has greatly rejoiced us." " My lord," replied 
 the count, " I thank you much for what you are pleased to say." 
 They had a long conversation together, until dinner-time arrived, but 
 I neither heard the words nor the subject. Water being brought, 
 they washed, and seated themselves at table. The archbishop of 
 Toulouse was ^seated at the head of the king's table, next to him the 
 king, then his uncle the duke of Bourbon, then the count de Foix, 
 
 the counts de la Marche and de Venddme, and none others. At the 
 second were seated, the lord Charles d'Albret, the count de Har 
 court, the lord Philip de Bar, and four other knights attached to the 
 count de Foix. At another table were placed the marshal de San- 
 cerre, sir Roger d'Espaign, and eight of the count's knights. This 
 dinner was magnificent and splendid in all respects. When they 
 
 Count de Harcourt presenting the Comfit-Box to the King. Designed from Royal MS. 14 E. 4. 
 
 had dined, the tables were removed ; and, grace being said, they 
 amused themselves in various ways. The king and the lords were 
 on their feet nearly two hours, in the presence chamber, listening to 
 the minstrels, for the count de Foix took delight in them. 
 
 After this, wine and spices were brought, and the comfit box was 
 presented solely to the king by the count de Harcourt. Sir Gerard 
 de la Pierre did the same to the duke of Bourbon, and sir Menaut 
 de Noailles to the count de Foix.* When this was done, it was 
 nearly four o'clock in the afternoon : the c unt de Foix took leave 
 of the king, the duke of Bourbon, and the other lords, and, leaving 
 the hall, went into the court, where he found his horses and attend- 
 ants waiting for him. The count and his company having mounted, 
 returned to his lodgings, much pleased with the reception and enter- 
 tainment the king of France had given him, and praised him ex- 
 ceedingly when conversing with his knights. During the time the 
 king of France and count Gaston de Foix were at Toulouse, many 
 tokens of affection passed between them, which was encouraged to 
 the utmost of their power by the marshal Sancerre and the lord de la 
 Riviere, because they saw the king, as well as the duke of Bourbon, 
 had conceived a friendship for the count de Foix. 
 
 The count de P^oix one day entertained at dinner the duke of 
 Touraine, the duke of Bourbon, the count de la Marche, and the 
 other French lords. The dinner was beyond measure grand and 
 plentiful, with numerous dishes and devices. Upward of two hun- 
 dred knights were seated at table, served by those of the count de 
 Foix ; and, just as the tables were on the point of removal, the king 
 of France, who had dined at the castle, made his appearance, at- 
 tended by the lord Charles d'Albret and the lord Philip de Bar, his 
 cousin-germans. He could not resist the pleasure of seeing this 
 company, and had come to the lodgings of the count attended by 
 only eleven others. The count de Foix and the whole company 
 were highly pleased at this condescension of the king in coming to 
 visit him. Various were the diversions on this occasion ; and the 
 Gascons and French tried their skill and strength in wrestling, 
 throwing the bar or javelin for the farthest or highest ; and it was 
 night before the king and the company separated. The count pre- 
 sented that day to the duke of Touraine, the duke of Bourbon, and 
 to the knights and squires attached to the king, more than sixty 
 coursers, palfreys, and ambling mules, all saddled and caparisoned 
 becoming their different ranks. He gave also to the minstrels of the 
 
 * "There was another custom at the tables of the king and sre;it barons, which was 
 not usual at the entertainments of private persons. Besides the spices which composed 
 the dessert, and were intended tor the guests in common, there were other more rare 
 spices, that were served in a box divided into compartments, which was of gold and 
 silver, or silver gilt, and called a ' drageoir' (comfit box.) h was commonly a squire 
 or some person of distinction who had the honor to present it to his lord alone, unless 
 he wished to have particular respect paid to any of his guests, to whom he sent it." 
 Froissart is then quoted as in the text, by M. le Grand d' Aussy, to whom I refer for 
 further particulars respecting this and other ancient customs, in his Vie pnvee des 
 Francois." 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 king, the duke of Tduraine, and the duke of Bourbon, two hun- 
 dred golden crowns, and to the heralds a like sum. All, therefore, 
 were loud in the praise of his generosity. 
 
 On the fourth day after this entertainment, the count de Foix, well 
 attended by the barons and knights of Bdarn and Foix, waited on 
 the king, at the castle, to perform what had been required of him ; 
 that is to say, hi ; homage for the county of Foix and its dependen. 
 cies, reserving t.' himself, as free land. Beam. There had been, be- 
 fore this, many tr eaties negotiated between the king and count de 
 Foix, through the king's ministers, the lord de la Riviere, sir John 
 le Mercier, and the bishop of Noyon, who had lately arrived from 
 Avignon ; but these treaties were kept very secret. It was said, 
 that the count de Foix required of the king that Evan de Foix should, 
 after his decease, inherit that co-mtry, in consideration of which the 
 king should receive, on the day of the count's death, one hundred 
 thousand francs ; that his other son, sir Gracien, should hold the 
 lands of Aire in Bearn, with the good towns of Aire and Mont- 
 niarsen ; and that all the lands the count then held in Bearn, should 
 revert to his heir, the viscount de ChtLteaubon. This distribution 
 had caused a difference between the count, his barons, and knights ; 
 aevcral of whom said, that this could not be legally done without 
 the pubUc consent of the vassals of Bearn and Foix. As an inter- 
 mediate step, homage was made of the county of Foix to the king 
 of France, who, by the advice of his coimcil, said to the count and 
 b;;r.>p..^ of Foix, " I now hold in my hand the homage for my county 
 of Foix ; and if the succession should happen to be vacated, by the 
 death of cur cousin, the count de Foix, in our lifetime, we will come 
 to such resolutions concerning it, through the advice of our council, 
 that Evan de Y 'ix, and all the vassals of that country, shall be per- 
 fectly satisfied i herewith."* 
 
 This speech \. as sufficient for the count and his barons then pres- 
 ent. When thi regulations had been properly written out and 
 sealed, the count de Foix took leave of the king, his brother, uncle, 
 and the French lords ; but that day he dined with the king, and in 
 the evening returned to his lodgings. On the morrow, after drinking 
 a cup, he departed from Toulouse, leaving his purveyors behind to 
 pay his expenses, and, having crossed the Garonne at the bridge of 
 Toulouse, returned to his own country by way of Montmarsen, and 
 arrived at Orthes, where he dismissed all who had accompanied him, 
 retaining only those necessary for his service. It was told me, and 
 I believe it, that this visit of the king of France to Languedoc and 
 Toulouse, cost the count de Foix more than forty thousand francs : 
 great, however, as this sum was, the count was so courteous and 
 liberal, that he very cheerfully paid it. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE KING OF FRANCE AND HIS BROTHER, THE DUKE OF TOURAINE, WAGEK 
 WHICH SHALL ARRIVE THE SOONEST AT PARIS, FROM MONTPELLIER, 
 EACH ATTENDED ONLY BY ONE KNIGHT. 
 
 I BELIEVE that the king of France, during his residence at Tou- 
 louse, attended much to the state of that part of his realm. He re- 
 moved seneschals and other officers, and made such reforms that he 
 was popular with all ranks of people. One day, in the presence of 
 his brother, his uncle, the duke of Bourbon, and numbers of lords 
 of France and Gascony, that it might be had in perpetual remem- 
 brance, he gave permission to his cousin-german, the lord Charles 
 d'Albret, to quarter the fleur-de-lis of France, alternately with his 
 own ; for the arms of Albret were simply gules without any distinc- 
 tion, but at present they are quartered with those of France. The 
 lord d'Albret considered this a most distinguished gift; and the day 
 the king had thus enriched the arms of Albret, the lord Charles gave 
 a dinner that cost him one thousand francs ; and presented the he- 
 ralds and minstrels who had attended it, with two hundred francs, 
 which circumstance caused them to proclaim his liberality. 
 
 Shortly afterwards, it was announced that the king would leave 
 Toulouse, on his return to Paris, and his attendants made prepara- 
 tions accordingly. As soon as it was known, the archbishop and 
 seneschal of Toulouse, with the citizens and ladies, came to take 
 their leave of the king, who received them all very kindly. He set 
 out from Toulouse after breakfast, and lay the first night at Chateau, 
 neuf d'Aulroy, and then continued his journey to Montpellier, where 
 he was joyfully received. He there remained for three days to amuse 
 himself ; for the town and the ladies affi)rded him much pleasure. 
 He was, however, very impatient to return to Paris, to see his queen. 
 One day, while at Montpellier, he said, jokingly, to the duke of Tou- 
 raine, " Fair brother, I wish we were at Paris, and our attendants 
 where they now are ; for I have as great a desire to see the queen, 
 I suppose you must have to see my sister-in-law." " My lord," 
 replied the duke, " we shall never get there by wishing it : the dis- 
 tance is too great." " That is true," answered the king ; " but I 
 think, if I pleased, I could very soon be there." " Then it must be 
 by dint of hard riding," said the duke of Touraine, " and not other- 
 
 * These precautions were vain. Matthieu de Foix, a descendant of Roger Bernard, 
 viscount de Castel-bon, lord of Moncade and youngest son of Gascon 1. count de Foix, 
 having liis pretensions supported by the nobility, seized the government, and had his 
 rigM acknowledged by the court of France, through some arrangements he made with 
 It.— ViLLARET. tome vi. 
 
 wise, and I also can do that ; but it would be through means of my 
 horse." " Come," said the king, " who wi-Jl be there first ? you or 
 I : let us wager on this." " With all my heart," answered the duke, 
 who would at all times exert himself to get money. A wager was, 
 in consequence, made between them, for five hundred francs, who 
 should the first arrive at Paris, setting out, on the morrow, at the 
 same hour, taking with them only one servant, or one knight, as 
 they pleased. No one attempted to prevent the race from taking 
 place, and they set out as they had settled it : the lord de Garencieres 
 accompanied the king, and the lord de Viefville the duke of Touraine. 
 Thus these four, who were young and active, rode on night and day, 
 frequently changing horses, or had themselves conveyed in carts, 
 when they wished to take any repose. 
 
 The duke of Bourbon returned by Puy in Auvergne to his own 
 country, and, on his road, visited his father-in-law, the dauphin of Au- 
 vergne, the dauphiness, and their children, who were eight in number, 
 brothers and sisters to the duohess of Bourbon by a second marriage. 
 
 The king of France and his brother continued their journey with 
 much exertion, to gain the wager. Consider what pains these two 
 young princes must have taken, for all their establishments were left 
 behind. The king took four days and a half to perform the journey 
 to Paris, and the duke of Touraine only four days and one third,* 
 so near were they to each other; but the duke won the wager, by 
 the king sleeping eight hours at Troyes in Champagne. The duke 
 embarked on the Seine, and went as far as P/[elun by water: there 
 he remounted and rode on to Paris, straight to the hotel de Saint 
 Pol, where the queen and the duchess resided, and inquired after the 
 king, (for he was ignorant whether he was arrived or not,) and was 
 rejoiced to learn that he was not come. He said to the queen, 
 " Madam, you will very shortly hear of him." This was true ; for 
 not long after the duke's arrival, the king made his appearance, and 
 the duke ran to him and said, "My lord, I have won the wager: 
 order me to be paid." " That is but just," replied the king, " and 
 it shall be done." They then related to the ladies their adventures 
 on the road, and how they had come in four days and a half from 
 Montpellier, a distance of one hundred and fifty leagues. The ladies 
 turned the whole into a joke, and laughed at it; but they were sen- 
 sible how greatly they must have been fatigued, and nothing but 
 their youth and courage could have borne them through it. You 
 must know, the duke of Touraine insisted on the wager being paid 
 in ready money. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 THE DEATH OF POPE URBAN AT ROME, CALLED THE ANTI-POPE. POPE 
 CLEMENT WRITES TO THE KING OF FRANCE, HIS UNCLES, AND THE UNI. 
 VERSITY OF PARIS, ON THE OCCASION. THE ELECTION OF POPE BONI- 
 FACE BY THE ROMAN CARDINALS. 
 
 About this period, pope Urban VI. died at Rome, to the sorrow 
 of the Romans, who loved him much.t He was buried, with great 
 solemnity, in the church of Saint Peter ; and, when this ceremony 
 was ended, the cardinals formed a conclave to elect another pope, 
 and hastened the matter that it might be done before any intelligence 
 of the death of Urban could be carried to Avignon. Pope Clement 
 and his cardinals did not hear of the decease of Urban until the tenth 
 day after it had happened. They immediately assembled at the pal- 
 ace, where many proposals were discussed ; and they had strong 
 hope that the schism of the church would be concluded, and a union 
 formed of the two parties ; for this error had lasted too long. They 
 imagined that the cardinals at Rome would not be in any hurry to 
 form a conclave, but would agree to acknowledge the pope of -4vig- 
 non, and were indulging in these flattering hopes, when other ac- 
 counts forced them to think diflferently. They signified to the king 
 of France the death of Urban, whom they called the anti-pope, and 
 entreated him to support the pretensions of Clement, by writing in 
 his favor to his cousins the emperor of Germany, the king of Hun- 
 gary, the count de Vertus, and to the duke cS Austria, who had ac- 
 knowledged the late pope Urban, and to request they would agree 
 to restore peace to the church ; for that there ought not to be any 
 variation in the faith, and, as there is but one God in Heaven, there 
 cannot, nor ought there to be, more than one viceger£nt on the earth. 
 
 When this information arrived at Paris, the duke of Burgundy, to 
 whom the pope and cardinals had likewise written to the same pur- 
 port, was with his nephew. The king appeared very much pleased 
 on hearing it, and said to the duke, " Good uncle, we had a great 
 desire to march a large army to Rome, and destroy these unbelievers; 
 but this is checked by the death of the anti-pope, for pope Clement 
 and his cardinals have assured us that Urban is dead. They suppose 
 that there will not be any conclave held at Rome to elect another, 
 but that the cardinals will submit themselves to the obedience of 
 pope Clement. He has likewise requested, that we would write to 
 our cousin the emperor of Germany, his brother the king of Hungary, 
 to the count de Vertus, and to the duke of Austria, to secure their 
 favor in his support. What would you advise us to do?" "My 
 lord," replied the duke of Burgundy, "it is very true that Urban is 
 dead ; but we know nothing of the state of the cardinals at Rome, 
 
 * The distance from Montpellier to Paris is 191 leagues.— GozeKm-. 
 t He died 18th Oct. 1389. But so far from being beloved, he was detested for hia vio- 
 lent and tyrannical conduct.— Ed. 
 
50C 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 nor of the Romtms ; nor whether those eurdinals mean to persist in 
 their opinion. It will be difficult for them to change, as the Romans 
 are their masters ; and as they formerly forced them to elect the 
 archbishop of Bari pope, whom they obeyed as long as he lived, they 
 may again force them tj elect aaolher :iccordii:ig to their pleasure. 
 You have therefore no occasion to be in any haste respecting this 
 matter, nor to write to those who will not do much for you in the 
 business, as they have already shown. Remain quiet, therefore, 
 until you shall have heard further on the subject; for it may happen 
 that the cardinals at Rome may be of one mind, and, though differ- 
 ing with each other, may dissemble with the Romans, and acknow. 
 ledge no other pope but Clement ; and, in order to keep the Romans 
 in good humor, promise them that Clement shall fix his residence at 
 Rome, which he will very readily 
 consent to, if the matter could be 
 brought to depend on that. Should 
 this appear probable, it will then be 
 time for you to write to those Chris- 
 tian kings and lords who hold con- 
 trary opinions in religion to you, to 
 entreat they would unite to put an 
 end to the schism, and to promote 
 the reestablishment of union in the 
 church. This is what you ought to 
 do ; for we are not yet assured what 
 turn the business may take, and it will 
 not be long before we have further 
 intelligence." When the duke had 
 ended this speech to the king and 
 council, no one made any reply ; for 
 ••>-iy thought his reasoning unan- 
 swerable. The king seemed con- 
 vinced by it, and said : " Good uncle, 
 we believe your reasons, for you see 
 farther into church affairg than we 
 do ; and we will not take any steps 
 in the matter without your advice 
 and approbation." The business 
 was here ended, and other matters 
 discussed. 
 
 The intelligence of the death of 
 Urban caused great disputes among 
 the students at the university. They 
 ceased following their usual studies, 
 and were employed in disputing how 
 
 the cardinals would act ; whether they would elect a pope in the room 
 of Urban, or acknowledge the pope of Avignon. They made it the 
 subject of aigument, and it was carried on with much heat and ani- 
 mosity. They knew that Clement had written to the king, to the 
 duke of Touraine, to the duke of Burgundy, and to the ministers, on 
 the state of his affairs ; and he had also written, in general terms, to 
 the university, that that body might do as much as was possible, and 
 with all diligence, fo-r his assistance. The students proposed several 
 subjects of argument, which were wai*mly discussed among them- 
 selves. Those interested for Clement said, " It is time for the king 
 and our lords in France to write to the chiefs in Christendom, such 
 as the emperor of Germany, the king of Hungary, the lord of Milan, 
 the duke of Austria, and all who hold contrary opinions respecting 
 the pope, and press them to return to the true faith ; for it would do 
 them infinite honor." Tluee times, in three several days, the prin- 
 cipal students of the university assembled, and went in a body to the 
 h6tel de Saint Pol, to entreat the king and his council to put an end 
 to the schism, and to comply with the solicitation of the pope, who 
 had written to them in such humble terms. They, however, were 
 not admitted, nor had any answer given to them, which made them 
 veiy discontented : however, the following news, which arrived a 
 few days after, appeased them. 
 
 The Roman cardinals had assembled in conclave, and elected the 
 cardinal of Naples, a pmdent and courageous clerk, to the papacy, 
 who took the name of Boniface.* The king of France and his lords, 
 on hearing this, were very melancholy, and thought the schism in 
 the church likely to continue for a long time. *' Now see," said the 
 duke of Blirgundy to the king, " of how little avail your letters 
 would have been, which they were urging you to write : it has hap- 
 pened just as I foresaw." " My good uncle," replied the king, "you 
 have indeed judged truly." Pardons were offered in abundance by 
 Boniface, and notified to all the clergy in the different kingdoms 
 under his obedience. Those who wished to gain them set out on 
 their journey to Rome ; but when they approached near Ancona and 
 Romagna, they ran great risks ; for sir Bernard de Salle, who guarded 
 this frontier, and made war on the Romans in the name of Clement, 
 had these pilgrims watched on the roads, and did them much evil, 
 several of whom were slain or lost. We will for the present leave 
 speaking of these popes, and introduce other events, 
 
 * Fietro ox f errin de Totpacelli, cardinal of Naples, pope Boniface IX. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE SURRENDER OF THE STRONG CASTLE OF VENTADOUR IN LIMOUSIN, 
 THAT HAD BEEN THE CHIEF RESIDENCE OF GEOFFRY TETE-NOIRE. 
 
 You have before heard how Gcoffry Tete-noire was master of the 
 castle of Ventadour, which he had held against all the force sent 
 against him as long as he lived ; that he had laid the country under 
 contributions upward of thirty leagues round ; and that, when he 
 died, he had on his death-bed named his two nephews, AUeyne and 
 Peter Roux, to succeed him in the command, to whom all the leaders 
 of that garrison had, in his presence, sworn obedience and fidelity. 
 After the decease of Geoffry T6te-noire, these two brothers governed 
 
 CoKONATiON OF PopK BoNiFACK. From a MS. Froissart of the Fifteenth Century. 
 
 successfully for some time, keeping the whole country under subjec. 
 tion. This castle belonged to the duke of Berry by purchase from 
 the count de Montpensier, and his son, John of Berry, bore its title ; 
 but, though the garrison gave him much vexation, he could not then 
 amend it. He had besieged it several times with block-houses, and 
 pressed it as much as he could, but in vain : the garrison held his 
 attempts cheap, and sallied out, whenever they pleased, to overrun 
 the country. The two brothers would not pay any attention to the 
 ti-uce that had been agreed on between France and England, saying 
 they were not bound to abide by it, but would make war when and 
 where they pleased. The two countries of Auvergne and Limousin 
 suffered greatly ; and to remedy it, a gallant knight of Auvergne, sir 
 William le Bouteiller, with sir .John Bonne-lance, sir Lewis d'Am- 
 biere, and other knights and squires from Limousin and Auvergne, 
 erected block-houses before "Ventadour, and had there remained the 
 whole of the season, at the charge of the country. 
 
 It was about this time, as I was told, that the governors laid a plot 
 to entrap sir William le Bouteiller and sir .Tohn Bonne-lance, who had 
 done them much mischief. They determined to have it told these 
 two knights in a secret way, that they were desirous of surrendering 
 the fort for a certain sum of florins ; for they were tired of remaining 
 there longer, and wished to return to their own country or elsewhere. 
 They imagined the knights would readily comply, for the duke of 
 Berry was eager to gain it on any terms ; and they resolved not to 
 ask a larger sum than what might be instantly procured. One bro- 
 ther asked the other, " What sum shall we fix on ?" Ten thousand 
 francs, for that will be enough, as we shall have besides the bodies 
 &i the two knights by an ambush we v/ill place in one of the towers." 
 
 Consider how foolish these two Bretons mufrt have been to imagine 
 they could deceive two such knights and keep their money. If evil 
 befel them, they are unworthy of regret or pity. Following their 
 plan, they sent one of their varlets out of the castlcj saying.. " Go as 
 far as the French block-houses : allow thyself to be taken, but de- 
 mand to be carried to sir William le Bouteiller or sir John Bonne-lance, 
 which of them thou pleasest ; give them thete letters, and require an 
 answer, as their contents are of consequence to them and to us." 
 The servant, who thought nothing evil, said he would obey their 
 commands, and advanced to the nearest block-house of the French. 
 On perceiving him, those within came out to meet him and demanded 
 i his business : he said, he wanted to speak to sir William le Bouteiller 
 or sir John Bonne-lance. He was conducted to them, for the two 
 knights happened to be then together. When in their presence, he 
 bowed, and took them aside to deliver his lettei-s, saying that sir Al- 
 leyne and sir Peter Roux had sent him to them. They were much 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 507 
 
 surprised on hearing this, and that the governors of Ventadour should 
 write to them. They took the letters, and read them ; but their con- 
 • tents were merely to say, that AUeyne and Peter Roux would wil. 
 lingly hold a parley with them on something to their advantage. 
 When they had perused the letters, they were more astonished than 
 before, and suspected some treachery. They, however, consulted 
 together on wh; i could be wanted with them, and returned a verbal 
 message, that ii the governors wished to meet them without the 
 castle, they woul ' promise them, and those who should accompany 
 them, perfect security for their persons until they had reentered the 
 place. Such was the answer the varlet brought back to his masters. 
 Sir Peter said to sir AUeyne, May we confide in such promises ?" 
 " Oh yes," replied his brother ; " for consider, their word is given, 
 and they are loyal knights incapable of breaking it. We will inform 
 them of our intended surrender, -vhich they will eagerly accept." 
 
 On the morrow, about eight o'clock, they ordered the vi'icket ad- 
 joining the gate to be opened, and the bridge to be lowered down, 
 and they leant on the chains until sir William le Bouteiller and sir 
 John Bonne-lance arrived, who dismounted before the bridge, and 
 ordered their attendants to retire. When the two Breton governors, 
 on the bridge, saw them, they asked, " May we come and converse 
 with you in safety ?" " Yes," replied the knights ; " but is there 
 no treachery on your side ?" " Oh no," answered the Bretons : " it 
 j.s now truce between us." " Well then, come with all security, and 
 {f'ii u~ what you have to say." Peter and AUeyne Roux then passed 
 the bridge, and went to tiie place where they were waiting for them.. 
 TIjo two knights said : " What is the subject of the treaty or parley 
 you wish to h.' ve with us? Are you i:iclined to surrender Venta- 
 dour?" "Yes; ' said they, " but on' conditions. We only ask ten 
 thousand francr for the stores ; for vv'e are tired of carrying on the 
 war longer, and vish to retire to Brittany or to whatever other coun- 
 try we may choc, e." The two knights were rejoiced at this propo- 
 sal, and replied : You offer terms we shall not refuse ; but at this 
 moment we have not such a sum. We will, however, instantly set 
 about providing it." Wei!," ansv/ered the governors, "when you 
 have got it, let us know, and Vv'e will keep to our offer : but let the 
 matter be most secret, for if the garrison should hear of it, they 
 would instantly murder us, and you would be disappointed in your 
 expectations of gaining the place." Sir William le Bouteiller re- 
 plied, " Never fear us : we will manage the business in such a man- 
 ner that you shall not incur any danger." On this, they separated : 
 the brothers reentered Ventadour, and the knights returned to their 
 quarters. 
 
 Sir William le Bouteiller and sir John Bonne-lance believing this 
 transaction was honorable, no way suspecting the Bretons meant to 
 deceive them and gain possession of their persons as well as money, 
 inscantly wrote as fair-languaged letters as they could to the duke of 
 Berry, who at that time was at Riom in Auvergne. They desired 
 one of their gentlemen, who had been well educated, called Guyon- 
 nel de Saint- Vydel; to carry the letter, and, having informed him of 
 the fact, desired he would forget nothing, in his conversation with 
 the duke of Berry, that might induce him to agree to the terms of 
 surrender : for they thought he would be well pleased, as he had 
 been for a long time very anxious to get possession of Ventadour. 
 The squire, having received the letter, and his instructions, what to 
 say and how to act, left the block-house, and, traversing Limousin 
 and Auvergne, rode on until he came to Riom, where I believe he 
 found the duke of Berry. 
 
 On entering his presence, he knelt and gave the duke the letters, 
 recommending to him the two knights, as he knew well how to do. 
 The duke took the letter and read it : when he had a short time con- 
 sidered its contents, he was so well pleased, that he ordered his 
 attendants to take particular care of the squire, which was done. 
 The duke called to him such of his council and treasurers as were 
 with him, and said : " Here is great news. Our knights, who are 
 blockading Ventadour, write us word they have opened a treaty with 
 AUeyne and Peter Roux, who are willing to surrender that place for 
 ten thousand francs. That is no large sum : it has cost Limousin 
 and Auvergne, yearly, sixty thousand francs, as composition money, 
 to be unmolested by the garrison. We wish to accept their offer, 
 and as speedUy as may be, lest they should repent of having made 
 it. Now, treasurers, find me instantly ten thousand francs. We 
 wiU make a loan of them, as is but just ; and when we are in pos. 
 session of this castle, wiU levy a tax on all the lands which have paid 
 contribution, that v.'ill doubly repay us." " My lord," replied the 
 treasurers, " we are prepared : only give us five or six days to col- 
 lect it." " You shall have them," said the duke. Thus was the 
 matter settled. The treasurers produced the sum in golden crowns, 
 and in francs of France, which were packed up in four smaU boxes. 
 
 The same day on which those who were to carry the money to 
 the Wo knights were on their departure, everything being ready for 
 their setting out, the dauphin of Auvergne and the lord Reneil arrived 
 at Riom, on business with the duke of Berry, such as was common 
 between great lords. They were made welcome by the duke, who 
 was so pleased at the thought of gaining Ventadour so cheaply, that 
 he could not refrain from making them acquainted with it, and show, 
 ing them the letters from sir WiUiam le Bouteiller and sir John 
 Bonne-lance. When they had perused them, they were silent, and 
 the duke noticing it, said ; Wh^^t are you considering ? Have you 
 
 any suspicions of deceit ? Tell me, before the money be sent off." 
 " My lord," replied the dauphin, " you know for how long a time 
 the count d'Armagnac and myself have been employed by the coun- 
 tries of Limousin, Cahorsin, Rouergue, and Auvergne, to gain pos- 
 session, by force or otherwise, of all the enemy's forts in these 
 sdneschalships. We have entered into several treaties with many 
 of them, but we never could any way make the least impression on 
 the garrison of Ventadour, to induce them to surrender ; and scarcely 
 would they deign to return us an answer when we sent to them. If, 
 therefore, they have agreed to tiie treaty you have shown us, it can. 
 not be from want of provision ; for, shoulc .10 purveyances enter the 
 fort for eight years, I know they have enough ; and it is this which 
 astonishes us, and makes us suspect treachery ; for such men-at-arms, 
 when shut up in fortresses, have a lively imagination, and, when it 
 twrns to wickedness, they know too well how to succeed ; therefore, 
 my lord, be cautious how you act." " In God's name," answered 
 the duke of Berry, you do not tell us anything extraordinary, but 
 have well spoken, when you thus advise us ; and I will take more 
 precautions than I at first intended." 
 
 He then called to him a knight, whose name v/as sir Peter Mespin, 
 and said : You will go with the ransom-money for Ventadour, to 
 the block-houses before that place, and tell sir William le Bouteiller 
 and sir John Bonne-lance, from us, to be* very cautious hov.' they act, 
 resr^fecting their treaty, and not to put too much confidence in these 
 Bretons of Ventadour ; for that we have had such intelligence con- 
 cerning them, of which they are ignorant, they must be very prudent 
 and observing." 
 
 The knight undertook the journey, and, being soon- ready, de- 
 parted with the money from Riom, and rode on until he arrived at 
 the block. houses, Vt^here he was kindly received by his companions. 
 The money was unpacked, and placed in security. Sir Peter Mes- 
 pin, after some general conversation, told his message as follows : 
 " My lord of Berry orders me to inform you, sir William and sir John, 
 that you must act with the greatest precaution in this treaty v/ith the 
 governors of Ventadour, that you may not lose your own persons and 
 the money he sends you by me, for that he has had accounts given 
 him, of the characters of these people, that displease him much, 
 which is the reason he is anxious for you to act with prudence to be 
 a match for them, as he suspects this offer is only made to betray you. 
 The countries of Auvergne and Limousin would many times have 
 given sixty thousand francs for the evacuation of Ventadour, which 
 the governors well knew, and now they offer it to you for ten thou- 
 sand : it is this which makes my lord suspect treachery." The two 
 knights were for a moment pensive, and then said : " Two heads are 
 better than one. You have well spoken, and we thank you for the 
 advice you have given. You will remain here to assist us, which 
 will be but right, for within two days we shall know how the matter 
 will turn out." Sir Peter Mespin replied, he would cheerfully stay 
 with them. 
 
 Shortly after this the two knights sent one of their servants to the 
 castle, for there was now a truce between them, to let the governors 
 know the ten thousand francs were come, and that they were ready 
 to complete the bargain. They replied, they would keep to their 
 agreement, that they might come when they pleased, or inform them 
 when they were to bring the money. AUeyne and Peter Roux, who 
 had no good inclinations, as was proved against them, had already 
 made their preparations for the capture of the two knights. They 
 had thus planned it. At the entrance of the castle of Ventadour, 
 and withinside, is a large tower, that commands the gate ; and, with, 
 out having first gained this tower, the castle cannot be won. It was 
 for this reason it was always kept well stored with artillery, provision, 
 and men, that in case the castle should be surprised, the garrison 
 might retire thither in safety. 
 
 The two Bretons, whose heads were full of malice, posted in this 
 tower thirty determined men, armed at all points ; who, when the 
 French should think themselves in secure possession of the castle, 
 toward late in the evening, were to sally forth and slay all without 
 mercy. Everything being now ready, tliey sent to sir WiUiam le 
 Bouteiller and sir John Bonne-lance that they might bring the money 
 in all security to the castle, the gates of which woiUd be thrown open 
 to them. The French knights were aU alive at this message, and 
 said to the servant who had brought it ; " Return to thy masters, and 
 tell them from us, that we will be with them to-morrow morning." 
 When the servant was gone, the two knights assembled a larger 
 council than ever they had before done, on account of the orders sir 
 Peter Mespin had brought from the duke of Berry. 
 
 It was resolved in this council to place an ambuscade near the 
 castle, and that the two knights should go thither accompanied by 
 thirty men armed secretly like themselves. On their entrance into 
 Ventadour, they were cautiously to examine every part of it : if they 
 should perceive anything that could induce them to suspect treach. 
 ery, they were to sound a horn and seize the draw-bridge. On hear- 
 ing this horn, the ambuscade was to advance full gaUop, dismount 
 at the bridge and gain the castle. In the manner in which they had 
 planned it the project was executed; and on the morrow morning, 
 all being prepared, they rode forward, and placed a large ambush of 
 six score lances, and then, with thirty companions, secretly armed, 
 went to Ventadour, carrying sir Peter Mespin to assist them with hia 
 advice. They did not forget the ransom-money, which was neatly 
 
508 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 packed up in three baskets, on the backs of two strong horses. They 
 found AUeyne and Peter Roux at the barriers, which were thrown 
 quite back on their approach : having passed them and entered the 
 gate, the brothers would have closed the barriers again ; but the 
 French knights said ; " Let theia remain : is it a fair bargain or not? 
 You know you have engaged to surrender the castle for ten thousand 
 francs in hard money : they arc ready, and on the two sumpter horses 
 you sec. If you act loyally to us, we will do the same to you." 
 They knew not what answer to make to this speech ; but to prevent 
 them having any suspicions, they said ; *' You say well ; and we are 
 willing to act as fairly as yourselves." 
 
 The French party passed on, and the barriers remained open. Plad 
 they been closed, the ambuscade would never have been able to ar- 
 rive in time to counteract the trick the Bretons intended playing 
 them, and their scheme would have succeeded. All having entered 
 the gate, Alleyne and Peter Roux went to shut it; but the French 
 said to Alleyne ; " Let it be open : we wish it, for we are ready to 
 pay you down the money as agreed upon between us.". "Be it so," 
 replied the Bretons : " let us see the cash." " That you shall," said 
 the French, and instantly spread on the ground a sheet, on which 
 they emptied the florins. While the two Bretons were examining 
 the money, which made a handsome heap, the knights were doing 
 the same to the castle ; and, in consequence, sir Peter Mespin Aid 
 to sir William le Bouteiller ; " Have that tower opened before you 
 count the money, for there may perchance be in it an ambush to 
 surprise us, and we may lose our lives as well as our money." 
 
 " On this, sir William said to Alleyne Roux, " Let that tower be 
 opened, for we will have that done before we proceed any farther." 
 Alleyne replied ; " that he would do no such thing, for the keys were 
 lost." The moment he had uttered this, the knights were more sus- 
 picious than before, and said : " Alleyne, it is impossible that the keys 
 of the principal tower should bo lost. Open it by fair means, or we 
 will have it forced ; for you have promised to surrender to us the 
 castle, as it is, without fraud or treachery, for the sum of ten thou- 
 sand francs, which you now see lying before you." Alleyne an- 
 swered ; " I will neither open it myself, nor suffer it to be done, until 
 I shall have received and placed in security the whole money • when 
 that is done, I will seek for the keys." The knights replied ; " We 
 will not wait so long ; and we tell you plainly, that we expect no 
 favor from your last speeches, which clearly indicate that you mean 
 to deceive us. Vv'^e therefore arrest you, Peter and Alleyne Roux, in 
 the names of the king, our lord, and the duke of Berry. The tower 
 shall be opened by force, though the doors of it be broken : and every 
 part of it, as well as of the castle, shall be minutely searched, to see 
 if you have not placed an ambush to surprise us, and regain the castle. 
 Should any such be found, you are lost, past redemption, as in justice 
 due to treason ; but if, on the contrary, the castle be in the situation 
 it ought loyally to be, from an honorable bargain, we will punctually 
 keep every article of our treaty, and you shall be safely conducted 
 whithersoever you may please ; even as far as the gates of Avignon, 
 should you desire it." 
 
 The two brothers were thunderstruck, and half dead, on being thus 
 arrested ; and, hearing this declaration of the knights, their courage 
 failed them, and they repented having gone so far, for they found 
 their intentions must now be discovered. The French knights saw 
 plainly they were guilty of what they had suspected, and that the 
 castle was not meant to be surrendered. They made a sign for him 
 who bore the horn to sound for their ambuscade to advance : which 
 having done, those in ambush stuck spurs to their horses, saying, 
 " Let us hasten to Ventadour, for we are wanted : our people have 
 not found things as they expected, and have been deceived by Al- 
 leyne and Peter Roux." They were soon at the castle, for it was 
 not far distant, and the barriers and gate being open, though well 
 guarded by the French, for the Bretons were no longer masters, they 
 entered the place, and found their captains in the court talking to the 
 garrison. The governors were more astonished than before, on seeing 
 themselves thus surrounded by their enemies ; for they knew they 
 had acted dishonorably. 
 
 Those within the great tower were ignorant of what was going 
 forward ; for the openings in the walls were too high for them to see 
 what passed. Some said ; "We hear in the court a great noise : our 
 people may perhaps be tricked, for the French are a cunning race. 
 We thought to deceive, but we may be deceived, and Alleyne, as 
 well as ourselves, may be entrapped and taken ; for we cannot get 
 out without permission." Tliey would willingly have been anywhere 
 else ; for their governors had brought them into a melancholy situa- 
 tion. Sir William le Bouteiller and sir .Tohn Bonne-lance, finding 
 themselves so superior in force, spoke out more boldly their senti- 
 ments, and ordered the cash, which was scattered over the sheet, to 
 be collected and replaced in the baskets, before the face of the two 
 brothers, who were surrounded by the French. They said ; " Alleyne 
 and Peter, give us the keys of the tower ; for it must and shall be 
 examined, to see if any one be within it;" but they answered, in the 
 hope of prolonging the time ; " Begin your search elsewhere, and 
 come here at the last." But the knights replied ; " Alleyne, you trifle 
 too much with us, for we will examine this tower first; and, if you 
 make any further resistance, we will put you to death with our dag- 
 gers." On hearing this, they feared they would put their threat into 
 execution ; for all avoid death as long as they can, thoucfh, in good 
 
 truth, it would have been more honorable for them had they been 
 slain, than carried away, and afterwards punished for this act, by a 
 disgraceful death, as you will speedily hear in this history. During 
 the dispute, Peter Roux thought of an expedient to excuse their con- 
 duct, but this was of no avail, and said ; " My lord William, and you 
 sir John, it is indeed true that there are in this tower thirty armed 
 men, whither my brother and self have with much diflnculty forced 
 them ; for we well knew they would not assent to our treaty with 
 you. It is for this reason that we have confined them in that tower 
 until you should be masters of the castle ; and we will, with your 
 permissions, leave them there, to be your prisoners. Give us the 
 money, the whole, or part of it, as you are bounden to do, and let us 
 go away." 
 
 The knights were tolerably satisfied on hearing this; but sirWiU 
 liam le Bouteiller, having considered a little, said ; " Whatever truth 
 may be in what you have told us, before we unpack the money again, 
 we nmst have all the keys of the castle delivered to us, and the dif- 
 ferent pa^jts pointed out to which they lead." Alleyne, seeing he 
 could no longer delay, sent for them to the room wherein they were 
 deposited. On their being brought to the court, the knights said ; 
 " Now, explain to us what gates they unlock, and vv'hither they lead." 
 Very much against their will, they pointed out the keys of the great 
 tower, for their destruction lay in it. When they had possession of 
 them, they opened its gates, and found the thirty companions com- 
 pletely armed, who had been therein hid. 
 
 Alleyne was much cast down, when he saw the French knights 
 draw themselves up in array before the gate, and heard sir William 
 le Bouteiller say : " You who are hidden within this tower, come forth 
 instantly and without fear, under pain of being all put to death. W e 
 shall make you our prisoners, and you need not fear any punishment 
 if you will tell us the truth." When they saw and heard the French 
 offer them pardon, taking them as prisoners only, they flung down 
 their staves and arms, and surrendered, for defence would not have 
 been of any avail. These men were then separated, and examined 
 one by one in the presence of Alleyne and Peter Roux, and acknow- 
 lodged the intended treason, which they now could no longer deny. 
 The French knights addressed them ; " It is very displeasing to us, 
 that you should have been guilty of so disgraceful a crime. We shall 
 not punish you for it : as it seems to us so heinous, we shall leave it 
 to my lord of Berry ; and, if he will show you mercy, we shall not 
 object. We rather hope he may be so inclined, from the great 
 pleasure the possession of this castle will give him, which was the 
 thing in the world he was most anxious to gain." This speech gave 
 some hopes to the two brothers, who found themselves fallen into a 
 similar trap to what they had laid for others. They were confined in 
 rooms well guarded, and the garrison in the towers and in other parts 
 of the castle. It was then thoroughly visited, and found full of stores 
 and provision ; all of which they left untouched, contenting them- 
 selves with the money and arms they discovered,, and which, as fair 
 plunder, was divided among them ; but the prisoners were given to 
 the knights. 
 
 Thus, as I have related, was the strong castle of Ventadour re- 
 gained by the French. Sir William le Bouteiller appointed a valiant 
 and prudent squire of Limousin, called Peter Madich, governor, with 
 thirty good lances for its defence. He ransomed such as were de- 
 serving of it ; but having discovered among the prisoners several 
 renegade Frenchmen, who had been cruel plunderers, he had their 
 heads cut off, or hung them on a new gallows that had been erected 
 in front of the casde. When all things had been settled, the two 
 knights resolved to ride to Riom, to v/ait on the duke of Berry, and 
 carry Alleyne and Peter Roux with them. News was soon spread 
 abroad that Ventadour was retaken, to the great joy of the inhabit- 
 ants of Auvergne and Limousin ; for the enemies of the realm had 
 kept possession of it fifteen years, and, during that time, had done 
 much mischief to the country, and had greatly impoverished it. 
 
 Sir William le Bouteiller had found in the castle of Ventadour a 
 young and handsome squire from Brittany, called le Monadich,* a 
 cousin to Geoffry Tete-noire, who had lately left a convent in Brit, 
 tany, and come thither to learn the art of war, for he. would not be 
 a monk. The French knights wanted to have him beheaded, or 
 hanged like the others ; but sir William took compassion on him, 
 and saved his life, for which he swore he would faithfully serve him, 
 and remain for the time to come a loyal Frenchman. They made 
 no long stay after this, but, having pulled down the block-houses, 
 went to the duke of Berry. The men-at-arms separated, each going 
 to his own home. The knights arrived at Riom, with the two 
 brothers prisoners. They were much cast down, and on the road 
 entreated sir William and sir John to interest themselves in their 
 behalf, that the duke might not be too severe on them. The duke 
 was with the duchess at Riom, and most kindly received the two 
 knights : he considered the gain of the casde of Ventadour as a very 
 gallant exploit, for which he made them handsome and rich gifts. 
 
 The knights asked him, what was his pleasure respecting the two 
 prisoners. He said, he would consider of it ; which having done, it 
 was thought by his council most advisable to send them to the king 
 at Paris. The seneschal of Auvergne was sent for, and to him were 
 delivered the Bretons. He carried them to Paris, where they were 
 
 • " The little monk."— Ed. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 509 
 
 confined in the castle of Saint Anthony,* under the guard of the 
 viscount d'Asci, who was at that time governor of it. They were 
 not kept long in prison, but delivered over to the provost of Paris, 
 who carried them to Cha,telet, where they were tried and judged 
 guilty of death, as traitors and robbers. They were then given up 
 to the hangman, who placed them bound in a cart, and carried them 
 through the streets, with sound of trumpet, to a place called Les 
 Halles, and put on the pillory, which was turned four times round, 
 that the populace might view them. Their actions were then read 
 aloud ; after which they were beheaded and quartered, and their 
 quarters fixed to the four principal gates of the town. Thus did 
 AUeyne and Peter Roux lose their castle of Ventadour, and forfeit 
 their own lives by a disgraceful death. 
 
 ToPRNAMKNT AT St, Inglkvere. From a MS. Froissartof the Fifteenth Century 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THREE FRENCH KNIGHTS HOLD A TOURNAMENT AT ST. INGLEVERE, NEAR 
 CALAIS, AND DEFEND THE LISTS, FOR THIRTY DAYS, AGAINST ALL 
 COMERS, FROM ENGLAND, AND ELSEWHERE. 
 
 At this season, the truce between England and France was punc- 
 tually observed on sea and land by both parties, excepting a few 
 pillagers in Auvergne, who continued a war against the peasants, 
 on each side the river Dordogne. Their principal leaders, who had 
 surrendered on capitulation, were not openly guilty of any breach 
 of, the truce, but secretly encouraged the mischiefs that were daily 
 committed in Auvergne. Such complaints were made of this to the 
 king of France, that he determined, with the advice of his council, 
 to remonstrate with the king of England on the conduct of these 
 pillagers, who, notwithstanding the truce, still carried on a war in 
 Auvergne and the adjoining country, which could not be suffered, 
 neither ought it to be. I believe the king of England excused him- 
 Belf, by saying that those who had committed the acts complained 
 of were lawless people, over whom he had no control. 
 
 During the time in which these things were passing, the three 
 knights before mentioned, who had undertaken to maintain the lists 
 against all comers, at St. Inglevere, near Calais, namely, sir Bouci- 
 eaut the younger, the lord Reginald de Roye and the lord de Saimpi, 
 ivere making preparations to fulfil their engagement. This tourna- 
 ment had been proclaimed in many countries, but especially in Eng- 
 land, where it had caused much surprise, and excited several knights 
 and squires, who were fond of adventures and deeds of arms, to 
 confer on the subject. Some said they would be blameworthy, if 
 they did not cross the sea, when the distance was so short to Calais, 
 pay a visit to these knights, and tilt with them. I will name those 
 who were most eager in these conversations. The first was sir John 
 Holland, earl of Huntingdon, sir John Courtenay,t sir John Traic- 
 ton,t sir John Goulouffi-e,§ sir John Roussel,|| sir Thomas Scora- 
 bonne,ir sir William Cliseton,** sir William Clinton, sir William 
 
 * Probably the Bastille, which was at the gate of St. Anthony before the revolution 
 in 1789. t My MSS. have sir Peter Courtenay. 
 
 t "Sir John Traicton." a. Drayton. The MSS. Peter. 
 § " Sir John Goulouffre." Q. Sir John Walworth. 
 11 "Sii John Roussel." Q.. Russel. 
 If "Sir Thomas Scorabonne. Q. Sherborne. 
 " Sir William Cliseton." Q. Cliftgn. 
 
 Taillebourg,* sir Godfrey de Seton, sir William de Haquenay,t 
 sii: John Bolton, sir John Arundel, sir John d'Ambreticourt, sir John 
 Beaumont and many more, to the amount of upward of one hundred 
 knights and squires, who said : " Let us prepare ourselves to attend 
 this tournament near Calais ; for these French knights only hold it 
 that they may have our company : it is well done, and shows they 
 do not want courage : let us not disappoint them." 
 
 This challenge was made so public in England, that many who 
 had no intention of taking part themselves, said, they would go thither 
 to witness the performance of others. Such knights and squires as 
 proposed being there, v/hen the appointed term was approaching, 
 sent beforehand their purveyances, and arms for tilting and for war, 
 to Calais. Sir John Holland, half-brother to the king of England, 
 was the first to cross the sea : more than sixty knights and squires 
 
 accompanied him, and took up their 
 quarters in Calais. 
 
 At the beginning of the charming 
 month of May, the three before-men- 
 : tioned young French knights were 
 
 fully prepared to maintain their chal- 
 lenge in the lists at Saint Inglevere. 
 They first came to Boulogne, whflre 
 I know not how many days they tar- 
 ried, and then went to the monastery 
 of Saint Inglevere. On their arrival, 
 they learnt that numbers of English 
 knights and squires were conic to (Ca- 
 lais. This gave them much pleasure ; 
 and to hasten the business, and t[iai 
 news should be carried to the English, 
 they ordered three rich vermilion-co- 
 lored pavilions to be pitched near ihe 
 appointed place for the lists, and le- 
 fore each were suspended two targets, 
 for peace or war, emblazoned with ;he 
 arms of each lord. It was ordejed, 
 that such as were desirous of perform- 
 ing any deed of arms should toi;ch, 
 or send to have touched, one or both 
 of these targets according to their 
 pleasure, and they would be tilted with 
 agreeably to their request. 
 
 On the 21st of the month of May, 
 as it had been proclaimed, the three 
 knights were properly armed and their 
 horses ready saddled according to the 
 laws or the tournament. On the same 
 day, those knights who were in Calais sallied forth, either as spec- 
 tators or tilters, and, being arrived at the spot, drew up on one side. 
 This placeof the tournament was smooth, and green with grass. 
 
 Sir John Holland was the first who sent his squire to touch the 
 war-target of sir Boucicaut, who instantly issued from his pavilion 
 completely armed. Having mounted his horse, and grasped his spear, 
 which was stiff" and well steeled, they took their distances. When 
 the two knights had for a short time eyed each other, they spurred 
 their horses and met full gallop with such force, that sir Boucicaut 
 pierced the shield of the earl of Huntingdon, and the point of his 
 lance slipped along his arm, but without wounding him. The two 
 knights, having passed, continued their gallop to the end of tne list. 
 This course was much praised. At the second course, they li:t each 
 other slightly, but no harm was done ; and their horses refused to 
 complete the third. The earl of Huntingdon, who wished to con- 
 tinue the tilt, and was heated, returned to his place, expecting that 
 sir Boucicaut would call for his lance ; but he did not, and showed 
 plainly he would not that day tilt more with the earl. Sir John 
 Holland, seeing this, sent his squire to touch the war-target of the 
 lord de Saimpi. This knight, who was waiting for the combat, sal- 
 lied out from his pavilion, and took his lance and shield. When 
 the earl saw he was ready, he violently spurred his horse, as did the 
 lord de Saimpi. They couched their lances, and pointed them at 
 each other. At the onset, their horses crossed ; notwithstanding 
 which, they met ; but by this crossing, which was blamed, the earl 
 was unhelmed. He returned to his people, who soon rehelmed 
 him ; and, having resumed their lances, they met full gallop, and hit 
 each other with such force in the middle of their shields, that they 
 would have been unhorsed had they not kept tight seats by the pres- 
 sure of their legs against the horses' sides. They went to the pro- 
 per places, where they refreshed themselves and took breath. Sir 
 John Holland, who had a great desire to shine at this tournament, 
 had his helmet braced, and grasped his spear again ; when the lord 
 de Saimpi, seeing him advance on a gallop, did not decline meet- 
 ing, but, spurring his horse on instantly, they gave blows on their 
 helmets, that were luckily of well-tempered steel, which made sparks 
 of fire fly from them. At this course, the lord de Saimpi lost his 
 helmet ; but the two knights continued their career, and returned 
 to their places. 
 
 * " Sir William Taillebourg." 
 t " Sir William de Haquenay," 
 
 a. Tallboys or Talbot. 
 Q. Hackney. 
 
510 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 This tilt was much praised ; and the English and French said, 
 that the earl of Huntingdon, sir Boucicaut, and the lord de Saimpi, 
 had excellently well justed, without sparing or doing themselves any 
 damage. The earl wished to break another lance in honor of his 
 lady, but it was refused him. He then quitted the lists, to make 
 room for others, for he had run his six lances with such ability and 
 courage as gained him praise from all sides. 
 
 A young and gallant knight of England next came forth, called 
 the earl-marshal,* who sent, according to the regulations, to touch 
 the war-target of sir Reginald de Rove. This being done, sir Re- 
 ginald came from his pavilion completely armed, and mounted his 
 horse that was ready for him ; having had his shield and helmet 
 buckled on, he seized his lance and took his distance. The two 
 knights spurred their horses, but, at this first course, failed in their 
 strokes, from their horses swerving out of the line, to their great 
 vexation. Sir Reginald was hit with the second lance, and had his 
 ovn broken. At the third course, they met with such force that the 
 fire sparkled from their helmets, and the earl was unhelmed. He 
 continued his career to his own place, but justed no more that day, 
 as he had done sufficiently. 
 
 The lord Cliflfordji' a valiant knight, and cousin-german to the 
 kte sir John Chandos, of famed renown, then advanced, and sent 
 tc have the war-shield of sir Boucicaut touched with a rod. Sir 
 Bjucicaut instantly appeared, and, having his armor laced, mounted 
 his horse : placing his lance in its rest, they met full gallop, and 
 made, by their blows, the fire fly from their helmets, but they neither 
 bioke their lances nor lost their stirrups : having passed, they re- 
 turned to their places, making ready for the second course. This 
 was done without any way sparing themselves : sir Boucicaut broke 
 his lance and was unhelmed, but did not for this fall to the ground. 
 Lord Clifford returned to his place, to prepare himself for another 
 course, but sir Boucicaut did not again put on his helmet. Lord 
 C ifford noticing this, resolved to perform a tilt with another knight, 
 and sent his squire to touch the shield of the Lord de Saimpi. The 
 lord de Saimpi being ready, sallied forth from his pavilion ; they 
 raa at each other with great force, met full, and lord Clifford broke 
 his lance into three pieces against the target of his adversary. In 
 return, the lord de Saimpi struck off his helmet, and both continued 
 their career to their places. The lord Clifford tilted no more that 
 day, for the spectators said he had honorably and valorously borne 
 himself. 
 
 Sir Henry Beaumontt then came forward, and sent to have the 
 target of sir Boucicaut touched, who was instantly ready to reply to 
 the call, having not dismounted from the tilts with lord Clifford. 
 The lord Beaumont did not manage his lance well, and hit Bouci- 
 caut on the side ; but sir Boucicaut struck him so full on the mid- 
 die of his shield that it drove him to the ground, and continued his 
 course. Lord Beaumont was raised up by his attendants and re- 
 mounted. The lord de Saimpi then presented himself, and they 
 tilted two courses very handsomely without hurt to either. 
 
 Sir Peter Courtenay, who was anxious to engage and to run six 
 lances, sent a squire to touch with a rod the three shields of war. 
 This caused a good deal of surprise, and he was asked what were 
 his intentions by so doing. He replied, that he wished to tilt with 
 each of the French knights two lances, if no misfortune befel him, 
 and he entreated they would comply with his request. They were 
 ready to consent to it, and sir Reginald de Roye first offered him- 
 self. Having made themselves ready, they spurred their horses, and 
 t(5ok good aim not to miss their stroke ; but, from the restiveness of 
 their horses, they failed. They were much vexed, and returned to 
 their places. On the second course they met full gallop ; and sir 
 Reginald de Roye, having unhelmed his adversary, returned gently 
 toward his pavilion, his two courses being completed. Sir Peter 
 Courtenay being armed once more, the lord de Saimpi advanced, 
 and their lances were broken at the first shock : they continued their 
 course, when new lances were given them. They advanced toward 
 each other furiously, and the lord de Saimpi hit sir Peter, whose 
 horse swerved a little ; but sir Peter struck of his helmet, and rode 
 on at a gentle pace to his post. Sir Boucicaut now came to com- 
 plete the two other courses ; and at their onset they struck each 
 other on the shield so rudely, that the two horses were suddenly 
 checked in their career : no other damage ensued. At the second 
 course, they were both unhelmed. When these six tilts were done, 
 sir Peter requested, as a favor, to run one more with any of the three 
 knights who pleased, but it was refused ; and he was told, that he 
 had done enough that day. 
 
 An English knight, called sir John Gouloufre, came forth, armed 
 from head to foot, and sent his squire to touch the war-shield of sir 
 Reginald de Roye. The knight obeyed the summons, and both ad- 
 vanced full gallop. They hit each other's helmets, but were neither 
 unhelmed nor had their lances broken. Their horses refused to run 
 the second course, to their great vexation. At the third tilt they 
 Btruck their shields and broke their lances. They were supplied 
 with others, and, from the swerving of their horses, passed their 
 fourth career without striking a blow. The fi fth lance was too well 
 
 * I suppose this must be Thomas Mowbray, earl of Nottingham and earl-marshal : 
 b* was afterwards created duke of Norfolk. See Dugdale, 
 
 tFroissart calls him sir Louis de CliflFord, but he was Thomas lord Clifford of Cumber- 
 land. See Dugdale. 
 
 } Lord Beaumont ^Dugdftlf. 
 
 employed, for they were both unhelmed, and then each rode to his 
 own party. 
 
 Sir John Rousseau,* an expert and valiant knight from England, 
 but well known for his prowess in various countries, ordered his 
 squire to touch the shield of the lord de Saimpi, who was already 
 armed and mounted. On receiving his lance, he spurred his horse 
 against the English knight, and the shock of their spears against the 
 targets instantly forced them to stop. Each returned to his post, and 
 it was not long before they commei ced their second course with 
 equal vigor: but when near, the hon3S swerved, which prevented 
 their stroke. To their sorrow, they were thus obliged to return again 
 to the end of the lists. They were more successful the third course ; 
 for they struck each other with such force, that the vizors of their 
 helmets were broken off: the knights continued their career, and the 
 Englishrnan tilted no more that day. 
 
 Sir Peter Shirborne, a young knight, but of good courage, sent his 
 squire to touch the war-shield of sir Boucicaut." The knight was 
 ready to answer him, for he was armed and on horseback, leaning 
 on his spear, to wait for an adventure. Perceiving himself called 
 upon, he raised his spear, and looked to see what his adversary was 
 about, and observing that he was handling his horse, did the same. 
 When they began their course, they couched their spears, thinking 
 to make sure blows ; but they were disappointed, to their great vex- 
 ation, by the swerving of their horses, which forced them to return 
 to their posts. They determined to manage them better at their sec- 
 ond tilt, and spurred them both so vigorously, they each struck the 
 other on the vizor. Sir Boucicaut broke his lance, but not so the 
 English knight ; for he employed it with such force, that he not only 
 unhelmed, but made the blood spout from his nose as he broke off 
 the helmet of sir Boucicaut, who then retired, to his pavilion : he- 
 tilted no more that day, for it was now nearly vespers. Sir Peter 
 Shirborne, however, would not desist until he had completed his 
 number of lances: he, in consequence, sent his squire to touch the 
 war-target of the lord de Saimpi, who was prepared to meet him. 
 The two knights spurred on violently against each other, and hit on 
 the top of their helmets ; but the lances slipt over, and they passed 
 each other without hurt. The spectators said, had their spears been 
 pointed lower, and the shields received the blows, one or both must 
 have suffered severely from the shock. The next course they struck 
 full on their targets, and broke their lances into three parts ; but the 
 blow of the lord de Saimpi was so strong, that the English knight 
 lost his seat and fell to the ground, from whence, however, he in- 
 stantly arose, and was led by his attendants from the lists. The lord 
 de Saimpi returned to his post, viewing the state of his adversary, 
 and showing his willingness to renew the tilt with him he had over- 
 thrown or with any other; but none came forward, as it was now 
 time to leave off for this day, and return to their h6tels. The Eng- 
 lish, and such as had accompanied them, set off full gallop for Calais, 
 where they remained that night enjoying themselves, and talking 
 over the feats of arms that had been performed. The French retired 
 to Saint Inglevere ; and, if the English talked much of what had 
 been done, you may readily suppose the French were not silent. 
 
 On Tuesday, after mass and drinking a cup, all those who intended 
 to tilt, and those who wished to see them, left Calais, and rode in an 
 orderly manner to where the lists had been held the preceding day. 
 The French were already there, as was right, and prepared to receive 
 them. The day was bright, clear, and sufficiendy warm. The Eng- 
 lish drew up on one side, and armed those who were to tilt. 
 
 Sir William Clifton, a very valiant and expert knight, was the first 
 who sent his squire to touch the shield of sir Boucicaut : the knight 
 instantly came forth, armed completely for the tournament, mounted 
 his horse, and grasped his lance. The two knights met full gallop, 
 hitting each on the target, but passed on without anything more. 
 The second course was very handsome : they met, and hit each on 
 the helmet, the lances crossing. The third course they struck again 
 their shields, and with such violence, that the horses were stop- 
 ped. The fourth course with lances was gallantlv performed, for 
 they hit each other so strongly on the vizors of their helmets, they 
 were driven off by the blow to different sides. The English knight 
 tilted no more that day, for he was told he had dene enough. 
 
 After this, sir Nicholas Clinton, a young English knight, sent to 
 touch the target of the lord de Saimpi, who immediately appeared 
 ready armed and mounted. The two knights spurred their horses, 
 bearing their spears in good array : when near, they struck their op- 
 ponent's target with such violence that the steel remained fixed ; and 
 it is wonderful no other harm ensued, for they were both young, of 
 good courage, and did not spare themselves. They neither fell nor 
 were wounded, but their lances were shivered to pieces. They then 
 passed on, each to his post. The second course was well tilted: 
 they struck each on the helmets, but, as it was on the top, they did 
 no damage, and passed on. At the third course with lances, the 
 horses swerved, to their sorrow ; and, at the fourth, the lord de 
 Saimpi unhelmed the English knight, who returned to his country, 
 men and tilted no more, for they assured him he had behaved most 
 valiantly, and that he must allow others to have their share. 
 
 When sir Nicholas Clinton was returned from the lists, a gallant 
 knight of England, nearly related to the earl of Huntingdon, called 
 
 * He » called before JKoussel. In the MIS- in the British MuKUtn. Rouswl. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 511 
 
 William Seimort,* left his tent, and sent to touch the target of sir 
 Reginald de Roye, who appeared to meet him. Each having taken 
 his post, they vigorously spurred their horses, and gave such blows 
 on their sliields, that it was surprising they were not unhorsed ; but 
 both kept their seats, as they rode well. They passed on to their 
 places ; but the English knight let fall his lance, and sir Reginald 
 bore his in handsome array. 
 
 The English knight having had his lance given to him, he placed 
 it in its rest, and spurring his horse, intended to have done wonders. 
 Indeed the blow would have been good if it had been straight, but, 
 by the swerving of his horse, it was very weak ; and I doubt if it 
 were not, in some measure, the fault of the knight. Sir Reginald 
 struck him such a blow on the shield, as made him bend backward, 
 but they passed on without further hurt. Being prepared for the 
 third course, they again spurred their horses and couched their lan- 
 ces, and hit each other so rudely on the helmets that the fire sparkled 
 from them. They passed on, but from this blow their lances fell to 
 the ground : persons were at hand to pick them up and give them to 
 the knights. Having replaced the lances in their rests, they renewed 
 the tilt, and, aiming well, struck each other on the vizors of their 
 helmets so severely, that sir William Seimort was unhelmed and 
 nearly thrown to the ground ; but, though he staggered, he kept his 
 seat. The English knight then went to his countrymen, and did 
 nothing more that day. 
 
 A squire called Lancaster now stepped forth, and sent to touch the j 
 shield of sir Boucicaut. He was ready mounted to answer the call, 
 and, having grasped his spear, they met most courageously : they 
 struck their helmets, so as to make the fire fly from them, and it was 
 astonishing they kept them on their heads. No harm being done, 
 each returned to his post, where they made no long stay before they 
 began their second course with great vigor, each hitting on his op- 
 ponent's target : the horses swerved, which prevented this from being 
 a handsome or effectual tilt ; but this they could not help. At the 
 third lance they met, and the blow was so well placed, that the Eng- 
 lishman was unhelmed, and passed on to his post bareheaded all but 
 the scull-cap, and would not that day tilt more. 
 
 A young knight, whose name was sir John Tallboys, next made 
 his appearance, completely armed, and sent to touch the war-target 
 of the lord de Saimpi. That knight was ready for the tilt, and, hav- 
 ing grasped his spear, stuck spurs into his horse : their first onset 
 was so rough, their lances were shivered. The two knights passed 
 each other without other damage, and were not long before they be- 
 gan their second course, having received new lances, of which there 
 was a provision ready, all of the same length. From the fault of 
 their horses, though they aimed well, they missed hitting ; but the 
 third course was well performed, for they unhelmed each other, and 
 then each retired to his own party, and the English knight did noth- 
 ing more that day. 
 
 Sir Godfrey de Seca next presented himself : he was a gallant 
 knight, and showed, by his manner of riding and bearing his lance, 
 that he was an able tilter, and desirous of renown. He sent his 
 squire to touch the war-target of sir Reginald de Roye. That knight 
 came forward instantly, as he was ready mounted, and, placing him- 
 self properly for the tilt, they both set off" full gallop, and gave such 
 blows on their targets, that though their spears, from their strength, 
 did not break, they remained fastened to the shields, and by dint of 
 hard pushing, the horses were checked : each knight returned to his 
 post without losing his lance, but bearing it handsomely before him. 
 Having placed them in their rests, they again spurred their horses, 
 which were strong and active, but by their swerving, they missed 
 their stroke and dropped their spears. Those near picked them up 
 and returned them, and again they renewed the tilt ; for they were 
 heated, and seemed unwilling to spare each other. The English 
 knight hit sir Reginald a severe blow on the top of his helmet, with- 
 out otherwise damaging him; but sir Reginald gave him so strong a 
 thrust on the target, (for at that time he was counted one of the stout- 
 est tilters in France, and was smitten with love for a young lady that 
 made all his affairs prosper,) it pierced through it as well as his left 
 arm ; the spear broke as it entered, the butt end falling to the ground, 
 the other sticking in the shield, and the steel in the arm. The knight, 
 however, did not for this fail to finish his course gallantly ; but his com- 
 panions came to him, and the broken spear and steel were extracted, 
 the blood stanched, and the arm tied up. Sir Reginald returned to his 
 friends, and there remained, leaning on another lance that had been 
 given him. Sir Reginald was much praised by the French and Eng- 
 lish for this tilt ; and no one said anything improper against him, on 
 account of the Englishman being wounded, for such are the events of 
 arms : to one they are fortunate, to another the reverse ; and, to say 
 the triith, they did not spare each other. 
 
 An English squire, called" Blaquet,t then sent to strike the war- 
 shield of the lord de Saimpi. When they were both ready, they 
 spurred their horses, and hit on the helmets hard blows, though the 
 points of their spears slipped ofi : on finishing their career, they lost 
 their lances. When they were restored to them., they began their 
 second course, but, by the fault of their horses, nothing was done. 
 At the third onset, Blaquet gave the lord de Saimpi a hard blow on 
 the helmet, but was struck by him much harder on the vizor, and 
 
 * Q. Seymour.-ED. t " Blaquet." Q. Blake. 
 
 unhelmed, with a force that broke the buckle which fastened it be 
 hind, and it fell on the ground. They finished their course, and the 
 English squire went among his countrymen, not intending to tilt more 
 that day. The lord de Saimpi remained gallantly on horseback, 
 leaning on his spear, to wait until he should be again called upon. 
 
 Sir John Bolton, a gallant knight from England, shortly after this 
 tilt was over, aent his squire to touch the shield of the lord de Saimpi, 
 who, being prepared, entered the lists, his target on his neck and 
 spear in hand. Each hit his adversary's shield, and it was surprising 
 they were not pierced, for their lances were strong, and their heads 
 well tempered ; but they passed without further loss than of their 
 spears, which fell to the ground. When they were picked up and 
 given them, they again spyrred their horses, and struck the helmets, 
 but without effect, and continued their career. At the third course 
 their horses crossed. The lord de Saimpi, at the fourth, unhelmed 
 sir John Bolton, by a hard blow, and then the two knights returned 
 to their friends. 
 
 Thomelin Messidon,* a young English knight, well and richly 
 armed, with a great desire to gain honor, sent to touch the shield of 
 sir Boucicaut. The knight instantly came forth, and, having grasped 
 his lance, both spurred their horses; and each made his stroke by 
 crossing under the helmet : they passed on without hurt or blame, 
 but were not long before they spurred on again. In this course, they 
 hit very roughly on the targets ; Thomelin Messidon shivered his 
 lance ; but sir Boucicaut's blow was so severe, it drove his opponent 
 over the crupper of his horse to the ground. Those of his party ran 
 to raise him up, and carried him off, for he tilted no more that day. 
 
 Another squire of England, called Navarton,t instantly stepped 
 forth, and sent to touch the war-shield of sir Boucicaut, saying he 
 would revenge his companion, whom he had struck to the ground in 
 his presence. Boucicaut was ready to answer him, being armed and 
 mounted, and leaning on his spear. They met full gallop, and hit 
 each other on the vizors of their helmets, but passed on without other 
 damage. Having had their helmets readjusted, and their lances given 
 them, they again met with great violence, and from the shock of the 
 blows on the targets, the horses were stopped, and the lances broken 
 into three pieces, but they completed their course v/ithout any hurt.' 
 They had new spears given them ; and at the third course sir Bou- 
 cicaut was hit hard on the target, but he gave Navarton a blow that 
 unhelmed him : he then withdrew to his countrymen, and tilted no 
 more that day ; for they said he had done sufficient, and had gained 
 great applause. 
 
 After this, another squire advanced, called Sequaqueton,t an able 
 man-at-arms and expert tilter. He sent to touch the shield of sir 
 Reginald de Roye, who replied that he was prepared and mounted. 
 They spurred their horses, and gave violent strokes on their targets, 
 without sparing each other. Sequaqueton bore himself handsomely 
 without falling, to the surprise of the spectators, for sir Reginald's 
 blow made him bend backward almost on the crupper of his horse ; 
 but he raised himself, and gallantly finished his career with the loss 
 only of his lance. Having received another, they ran the second tilt 
 with great courage, and struck such blows on their helmets as made 
 the fire fly from them. It was a handsome course, and no damage 
 done. They repaired to their posts, and spurred again for the third 
 time. In this tilt, Sequaqueton was severely unhelmed, and on the 
 point of falling, both himself and horse, for he staggered considera- 
 bly. The squire, when on his feet, returned to his companions and 
 tilted no more : indeed, there was an end to the whole for the day, 
 as it was now late. The English collected together and returned to 
 Calais, as did the French to St. Inglevere. 
 
 You must know% though I have not befcre made mention of it, 
 that king Charles of France was present at these justs. Being young, 
 and desirous of witnessing extraordinary sights, he would have been 
 much vexed if he had not seen these tournaments. He was there- 
 fore present at the early part and latter end of them, attended only 
 by the lord de Garencieres ; but both so disguised that nobody knew 
 of it; and they returned every evening to Marquise. § 
 
 The ensuing day, Wednesday, was as fine as the foregoing ; and 
 the English, who had crossed the sea to take part in or view this 
 tournament, mounted their horses, at the same hour as on the prece- 
 ding day, and rode to the place appointed for the lists, to the delight 
 of the French, who were rejoiced to see them. It was not long after 
 their arrival when an English squire, a good tilter, called John Sav- 
 age, squire of honor and of the body to the earl of Huntingdon, sent 
 to touch the shield of sir Reginald de Roye. The knight answered, 
 he was ready and willing to satisfy him. When he had mounted his 
 horse, and had his helmet buckled and lance given to him, they set 
 off full gailop, and gave such blows on the targets, that had the spears 
 not broken, one or both must have fallen to the ground. This was 
 handsome and dangerous ; but the knights received no hurt, though 
 the points of the lances passed through the targets, and slipped off 
 their side-armor. The spears were broken about a foot from the 
 shaft, the points remaining in the shields ; and they gallantly bore 
 the shafts before them, as they finished their career. The spectators 
 
 * " Thomelin Messidon." It is Messiden in the MSS. 
 
 t Warneston.— BucHON. 
 
 i " Sequaqueton." Q. Swinnerton, 
 
 S " Marquise"— a town in Picardy, five leagues firom Calai?, three ant! a half from 
 Boulogne. 
 
512 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 thought they must have been seriously wounded ; and the French and 
 English hastened each to their companion, whom, to their joy, they 
 found unhurt. They were told they had done enough for that day : 
 but John Savage was not satisfied, and said that he had not crossed 
 the sea for only one tilt with a lance. This was repeated to sir Re- 
 ginald, who replied : " He is in the right ; and it is but just that he 
 should be gratified, either by me or one of my companions." When 
 they had rested themselves a while, and received new lances, they 
 began their second course, each aiming well at the other ; but they 
 failed from the swerving of their horses, to their great vexation, and 
 returned to their posts. Their lances, which had been accidentally 
 dropped, were given to them, and they set off on their third course. 
 This time they hit on the vizors of their helmets ; and, by the force 
 and crossing of their lances, both were unhelmed as they passed. 
 The tilt was much applauded for its correctness and vigor. When 
 they returned to their posts, the English told John Savage, that he 
 had very honorably performed, and that it was now time for him to 
 make way for others to tilt as well as himself. He complied with 
 this, and, laying aside his lance and target, dismounted, and rode on 
 a hackney to witness the performances of others. 
 
 An English squire, named William Basquenay, cousin to the earl- 
 marshal, came forth fully armed for the occasion, and sent to have 
 the war-shield of sir Boucicaut stricken. The knight instantly made 
 his appearance at the end of the lists, and each galloped toward the 
 other as straight as they could. They struck their helmets gallantly; 
 and the blow was so effectual on the vizors that they were both un- 
 helmed, and continued their course without further hurt. Their 
 friends, who were near, readjusted their armor ; and, giving them 
 their spears, they commenced their second course by desperate strokes 
 on their targets ; but, the lances breaking, no harm was done, and 
 they continued their career. They were supplied with new lances, 
 that were stout and good ; but, from the fault of their horses, they 
 missed their strokes. At the fourth lance, they hit ; and William 
 Basquenay was unhelmed a second time, and then returned to his 
 companions, not tilting more that day. 
 
 A squire from England, whose name was John Scot, sent to have 
 the war-shield of the lord de Saimpi touched. He immediately ap- 
 peared, and at their onset they gave such blows on their targets as 
 stopped their horses ; but, their lances being strong, they neither broke 
 nor fell out of their hands. The second course was well performed : 
 the lord de Saimpi hit his adversary ; but Scot had more success in 
 unhelming him, for which he was much applauded by his countrymen. 
 The lord de Saimpi was soon rehelmed ; and, grasping his spear, 
 they spurred against each other with great violence. They placed 
 their blows on their targets, but with a force that drove John Scot 
 out of his saddl'e to the ground, and thus did the lord de Saimpi re- 
 venge himself. The squire was raised, and carried off by his com- 
 panions. 
 
 Bernard Stapleton, an English squire, sent to strike the lord de 
 Saimpi's shield, who was not dismounted from his last tilt. They 
 met, and hit each other on the helmets so forcibly as to make the 
 sparks fly from them ; but they passed on without hurt and returned 
 to their posts. Still grasping their spears, they couched them, and 
 at this second course, struck very severe blows on their targets ; 
 but kept their seats well, without falling or staggering, to the end of 
 their career. The third lance struck the helmets, and both were 
 unhelmed. The English squire retired from the lists, as his friends 
 told him he had acquitted himself with honor. 
 
 The next that presented himself, was a young gay knight from 
 England, who shone in tournaments, in dancing, and in singing, 
 called sir John Arundel. He sent his squire to touch the war-shield 
 of sir Reginald de Roye The knight replied, that he wished for 
 nothing more agreeable than to tilt with him. Having received their 
 spears, they galloped off" a- the same moment, and gave and received 
 hard blows on their shields ; but they kept their seats handsomely, 
 and continued their career. Their lances having fallen from their 
 hands, were restored to them by those appointed for that purpose ; 
 and they began their second course with blows on the helmets that 
 made the fire fly, but they passed on without further hurt. At the 
 third onset, the horses swerved ; and the knights in their attempt to 
 strike, lost their lances, and with difficulty recovered themselves. At 
 the fourth they struck the helmets, but without harm or unhelming. 
 At the fifth course, they hit each other on the target, and broke their 
 lances, without any other damage. Sir John Arundel completed his 
 career, and returned to his friends. 
 
 After this, Nicholas Stone, an English squire, sent to touch the 
 war-shield of sir Boucicaut. The knight seizing his lance, they 
 spurred against each other and hit on the helmets ; but the spears 
 slipped off*, and they passed unhurt. Holding still their lances in the 
 rests, they set oflf again, and hit so hard on the targets, that the horses 
 staggered with the shock, and the knights dropped their spears. When 
 they had received their lances, they again galloped off" full speed, 
 and their blows on the helmets were effectual : at least the English 
 squire lost his helmet and retired, for his friends said he had done 
 enough. 
 
 Another squire from England, called John Marshal, advanced to 
 the hsts, completely armed, and sent to touch the war-target of sir 
 Boucicaut, who replied, he was ready, and waiting to be called upon. 
 At their first course they hit each other on the targets, but the lances 
 
 fell to the ground, and they returned to their stations without othe! 
 damage. On their being restored, they continued their tilt, and struck 
 hard blows on the helmets without anything more, and pursued their 
 career, bearing their lances handsomely before them. When they 
 had rested a little, they considered how they could best annoy each 
 other, and, having aimed well, spurred on their horses. John Mar- 
 shal gave such a thrust on Boucicaut's shield that his lance was bro- 
 ken to the stump, and Boucicaut's bh vv unhelmed his opponent, and 
 drove him on the crupper of his horse. The squire, notwithstanding, 
 completed his course without falling, md then went to his compan- 
 ions, who said he ought now to be .'atisfied, for that he had well 
 performed. 
 
 When the squire had withdrawn, a young and frisky knight ad- 
 vanced, who was eager to gain renown. His name was sir John 
 Cliseton,* and he bore for arms a field argent, fretted azure, with a 
 mullet argent in chief. He sent his squire»to touch the war-shield 
 of sir Reginald de Roye, who was much pleased at the summons. 
 Having taken their stations and received their lances, they spurred 
 their horses and hit each other full on the helmets, but passed and 
 completed their career. They kept their lances in their rests, and 
 were not long before they commenced the second course, in which 
 they gave heavy thrusts on their shields, but without any loss, except 
 of their spears, which fell to the- ground. Having received their 
 lances, they hit each other, on the third course, such blows on the 
 tops of the helmets as made the fire fly. At the fourth course tlieir 
 horses swerved, to their great disappointment. The fifth was well 
 performed, for each broke his lance. The two knights grew warm, 
 and plainly showed they were desirous of trying each other's valor to 
 the utmost. When at their stations they had fresh lances given them, 
 that were stiff enough ; and, after a short delay, they again spurred 
 their horses, and laid in such blows on the helmets that both were 
 unhelmed. This course was greatly praised by all present, and when 
 they had completed their career, they retufned to their countrymen ; 
 for the English knight tilted no more that day. 
 
 When this was finished, a squire from England, called Roger Lamb, 
 whose arms were a cross gules, on a field argent and sable quartered, 
 came forward, handsomely equipped, and gayly sent to touch the war- 
 target of the lord de Saimpi. The knight instantly obeyed the call, 
 and by his alacrity showed he preferred tilting to remaining idle. "On 
 the first onset, they checked their horses, by the force of their blows 
 on their shields ; but the lances, being strong, did not break, and 
 they continued their course. On the second tilt, they hit the helmets 
 hard enough ; but, as the points of their lances grazed off", no harm 
 was done. Roger Lamb was unhelmed at the third course, and re- 
 turned to his countrymen without doing more that day. 
 
 After this, a gallant knight from that part of Hainault called Ostre 
 vant, a good man-at-arms and able tilter, offered himself. He had 
 been educated in England at the court of king Edward, and his name 
 was sir John d'Ambreticourt, and brother to that excellent knight, 
 sir Eustace d'Ambreticourt. He bore for his arms ermine two bars 
 humetty gules, each charged with three escallop shells argent. The 
 knight was well equipped for the tournament, and sent one of his 
 squires to touch the war-target of sir Reginald de Roye. Having 
 taken their stations, they eyed each other well, and spurring their 
 horses, gave such blows on the shields as made sparks of fire fly from 
 them, and the horses to bend under them. The tilt was handsome, 
 for no harm was done, and they continued the career. They were 
 not long before they ran their second course, and again hit on the 
 shields. It was wonderful that this was not attended with mischief, 
 for they were both strong and courageous tilters, fearless of death or 
 danger. The shock of this attack was so great that their horses were 
 forced on their haunches, and the two knights staggered. Nevertlie. 
 less, they continued their career, but with the loss of their lances. 
 Having received their lances, they ran their third course, and sir 
 John d'Ambreticourt unhelmed sir Reginald de Roye so as to injure 
 him very considerably, and to termxinate his career. Sir Reginald 
 went to his party, and plainly showed he would not tilt more that 
 day. When sir John d'Ambreticom-t perceived -this, as he had a 
 great delight in tilting, he sent to touch the war-shield of sir Bouci- 
 caut, who instantly advanced to the lists. Having had his target 
 buckled on, and placed his spear in the rest, they spurred against each 
 other, and gave such blows on the shields that it was surprising they 
 were not pierced through ; but this might be owing to the swerving 
 of the horses. When returned to their stations, they did not remain 
 long before they commenced their second course with vigor, and hit 
 each other hard on the helmets ; but the spears slipped off", and they 
 continued their career. The knights having lost their spears, they 
 were brought to them by their squires, and they renewed the tilt. 
 This time they were both very severely unhelmed, and gallantly 
 finished their course. 
 
 The English now collected together, as evening was approaching, 
 and returned to Calais, where they passed the night in talking over 
 the different feats of arms that had been that day performed. The 
 French amused themselves in like manner at Saint Ingle vere. On 
 Thursday morning, the fourth day of the tournament, the English 
 found that there were yet many knights and squires who had not 
 entered the lists, and who had purposely come from England ; they 
 therefore said, that all who had any intentions to tilt should do so, 
 
 • "Sir Jebn Cliseton." Q. Clifton, 
 
CH:^ONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN. & 
 
 513 
 
 otherwise they would not be handsomely treated. The lords of Eng. 
 land had agreed to return to Saint Ingle vere on the Thursday, for 
 those who pleased to perform their justs: in consequence, they left 
 Calais after mass, and, on arriving at the lists, found the three French 
 knights ready in their pavilions to answer all who might call on them, 
 attended by those that were to serve them and such as came to wit- 
 ness the deeds of arms. 
 
 An English knight, called sir Godfrey d'Estas,* was the first who 
 entered the hsts : he bore for arms a lion sable on a field or, with 
 three bars gules, and charged with a mullet or, on the dexter paw of 
 a lion, and was completely and gayly armed. He sent a squire to 
 touch the war-shield of sir Boucicaut, who instantly advanced from 
 his pavilion prepared to obe^ the summons. Having received their 
 spears and bucklers and eyed each other for a short time, they spurred 
 on their horses, and both struck violent blows on the helmets ; but, 
 as the points of their lances slipped off, they continued their course 
 to iheir stations. Keeping the lances in the rests, they recommenced 
 the tilt, and met with such force on their bucklers, that had not their 
 spears broken, much mischief might have ensued. When they had 
 rested a while and had new lances, they ran a third course with great 
 violence, and hit the vizors so fairly and well that both were un- 
 helmed ; they continued their career, and then retired to their own 
 people. The English knight did nothing more this day, for he was 
 told that he had performed well, and must give way to others. 
 
 Alain Bourch,t an able and expert Enghsh squire, sent to touch 
 the war-target of the lord de Saimpi, who came from his pavilion in 
 obedience to the call. They gave blows on their helmefs at the first 
 onset, that made the fire sparkle, but no other harm was done. At 
 the second tilt, their lances met on their bucklers with such force as 
 shivered them in pieces, but they continued their career unhurt. 
 They were quickly supplied with new lances ; and, spurring on the 
 thii'd time, they placed their thrusts so well and strong that they 
 were both unhelmed, and completed their course : the Englishman 
 retired to his countrymen, to allow others to show their skill and 
 valor. 
 
 An English squire, called John Storp,t sent to touch the target of 
 sir Boucicaut, who issued forth out of his pavilion, and his horse 
 being ready, mounted him and entered the lists. They failed in 
 their first course, from the fault of their horses. When they returned 
 to their stations, they were not long before they ran the second ; and, 
 although they gave each other severe blows on the helmet, no mis- 
 chief ensued. At the third course, .iohn Storp was forcibly struck 
 to the ground ; whence he was raised by his friends and did no more 
 that day. 
 
 A Bohemian knight now advanced, who was of the household of 
 the queen of England, called sir Herchauce. He was esteemed a 
 strong and expert tilter, and bore for his arms three griflans' feet sable 
 on a shield argent ongle with azure. When he entered the lists, he 
 was asked which of the three knights he wished to tilt with : he re- 
 plied, " With Boucicaut.'' On this an English squire was sent, ac- 
 cording to th6 regulations, to touch sir Boucicaut's war-target. The 
 knight, having kept himself prepared for any summons, left his 
 pavilion, and having fastened his buckler and grasped his lance, 
 entered the lists. His opponent was then ready to meet him; and 
 spurring their horses, they thought to give full strokes ; but it was not 
 so, from the ill conduct of the Bohemian knight, for which he was 
 greatly blamed. He had, out of the line of tilting, hit sir Bouci. 
 caut on the helmet, and continued his career : for this impropriety, 
 of which the English saw him guilty, he had forfeited his arms and 
 horse, should the French insist upon them. The French and Eng- 
 glish held a long conversation on this ill-placed stroke ; but at last 
 the French knights pardoned it, the better to please the English. 
 Herchauce begged, as a favor, that he might be permitted to run 
 only one course more. On being asked " With which of the three 
 knights?" he sent to touch the target of sir Reginald de Roye. That 
 knight was waiting in his pavilion, not having tilted that day, and 
 declared his willingness to accommodate sir Herchauce, since his 
 request had been granted. Sir Reginald mounted his horse, and hav- 
 ing had his buckler fastened, and his lance given him, he eyed his 
 opponent, that he might well point his stroke. Both spurred their 
 horses at the same moment, and hit on the shields ; but sir Reginald 
 (who was one of the firmest and best tilters in France,) thrust with 
 such force as made the Bohemian fly out of his saddle, and fall so 
 so severely on the ground that the spectators imagined that he was 
 killed. Sir Reginald continued his course to his own station. Sir 
 Herchauce was raised with much difficulty by his attendants, and 
 carried to the English, who were well pleased at what had happened 
 to him, for the uncourteous manner in which he had run his first 
 course. He had not any desire to tilt more that day. 
 
 The next who came forward was Robin Seorneborne,§ an able and 
 gay squire from England. He sent to touch the war-target of the 
 lord de Saimpi, who was ready mounted and prepared to answer 
 him. At their first course they hit their helmets, and continued their 
 career. At the next, they struck their bucklers, but unsuccessfully, 
 as before, excepting the loss of their lances. Having recovered them 
 
 * " Sir Godfrey d'Estas." Eustace. 
 
 T "Alain Bourch." Q. Bircli. Lord Earners calls him Aleyne Bprrowe. 
 
 X "John Storp." Lord Berners— Scrope. 
 
 [i " Robin Seomebome." Q.Sherbam, oiShirbun). 
 
 again, they, on the third onset, placed their thrusts so ably and forci- 
 bly on the visors, that both were unhelmed, and finished their course. 
 The English squire returned to his companions, and was idle during 
 the rest of the day. 
 
 Another English squire, called John Merlan, now advanced. He 
 bore for arms a bend sable on a field argent, charged with three 
 lion-heads sable, and sent to touch the war-target of sir Reginald 
 de Roye. The knight answered, he was at his service. Having 
 entered the hsts, they at the first onset gave violent blows on the 
 helmets, but without any eflfect, and, by firmly holding their lances, 
 returned to their stations without loss of any kind. The second 
 course, their spears met on their bucklers, and the horses were 
 checked ; having thrown down their knees, they continued their 
 career, each to his station, and made ready to tilt well the third lance. 
 When their spears had been given them, they set off" full gallop, and 
 sir Reginald hit sir John Merlan a blow on his buckler, which forced 
 him out of the saddle to the ground. He continued his course to 
 his station, and the Englishman was raised and carried to his coun- 
 trymen. 
 
 John Mouion, another squire from England, next offered himself. 
 He bore for arms a chevron sable on a field gules, three pierced mul- 
 lets or, with an indented bordure sable, and sent to strike the war- 
 shield of sir Boucicaut, who replied, he was always ready to tilt. 
 Their strokes met on their bucklers, but without damage. It was 
 not their fault, for the blows were well placed, and they gallantly 
 passed, bearing their lances before them, to their stations. They 
 were not long before they commenced their second tilt, and hit very 
 severely on the helmets, but without loss, excepting their lances, and 
 returned to their posts.' Those who were appointed to gather the 
 lances that fell, instantly presented them to the knights, who renewed 
 the tilt; but at the third course sir Boucicaut unhelmed John Mou- 
 ton, who retired to his companions. 
 
 A very handsome knight from England now came forth : he was 
 well armed at ail points, and kept an excellent position on his horse, 
 and was called sir Jaquemin Strop.* He sent to touch the war- 
 target of the lord de Saimpi, who being mounted and armed before his 
 pavilion, advanced to the lists. At their first course they missed their 
 stroke, from their horses' running out of the line, which vexed them 
 much. They were not long before they again set off" full gallop, and, 
 when they met, gave such blows on the helmets as made them strike 
 fire : they passed on without loss but of their spears. As soon as 
 thej'' were returned to their stations, their lances were brought them, 
 and after a short delay, they began their third course. They both 
 hit with great force on the bucklers : but sir James Scrope's lance 
 broke, while sir Reginald unhorsed his opponent and continued his 
 career. Sir James was raised from the ground by his attendants, 
 and did no more that day. 
 
 Another English knight, called sir William Masquelee, was ready 
 to enter the lists, and to engage with whoever pleased ; for he had 
 crossed the sea with the earl of Huntingdon in this view. He sent 
 to touch the war-target of sir Boucicaut, who had his buckler fast- 
 ened, and instantly advanced to meet his adversary. They both at 
 the same moment spurred their horses, which were fresh and eager 
 to begin the course ; for the very instant they felt the points, they 
 bounded forward. The two knights took good aim, and mutually 
 gave such strokes on their helmets that fire sparkled from them : and, 
 though the points of the lances slipped off", the tilt was much praised 
 by all present. They continued their career to their different sta- 
 tions, but did not make any long stay before they again spurred 
 their horses and couched their spears, for they did not drop them, 
 and met with such violence, that their lances must have pierced the 
 bucklers, if the horses had not swerved. They finished their course, 
 throwing down their lances, and completed their career like good 
 tilters, in excellent array to their posts. Having received their spears, 
 they set off" as fast as their horses could carry them, and, on their 
 meeting, hit the vizors of the helmets severely. The tilt was loudly 
 applauded, for they were both unhelmed, and bareheaded all but the 
 scull-caps : they finished their career, and then returned to their 
 friends, for they had excellently performed. 
 
 An English squire called Nicholas Lamb, well and elegantly armed, 
 advanced, having a great desire to try his skill in arms. He sent to 
 strike the war-target of the lord de Saimpi, who was already mounted 
 and armed, in front of his pavilion, with his buckler on his breast, 
 blazoned with his arms. He grasped his spear, and flew to the lists 
 with the eagerness of a hawk to seize his prey. The English squire 
 did the same, and, setting off" at full speed, they gave such blows on 
 their bucklers, that their lances were shivered : it was fortunate they 
 broke, or the knights must have been greatly hurt, or unhorsed, but 
 they kept their seats firmly. When returned to their stations, they 
 were supplied with new lances, and with them, at the second course, 
 made the fire fly from their helmets : no other damage was done, for 
 the spears had crossed, and they continued their career to their posts. 
 After a short rest, they commenced their third tilt, and had well ex- 
 amined where they could place their thrusts. This was gallantly 
 performed : for they hit, justly, the upper parts of the helmets, and 
 the points of the lances entered : both were so neatly unhelmed, 
 that the lacings burst, and the helmets flew over the cruppers of their 
 
 * " Six Jaquemin Strop. Q. Sir Jsunes Scrope. 
 
514 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &Cc 
 
 liorses on the field. The knights kept their seats and completed 
 their course in handsome array, and returned to their countrymen. 
 
 The tournament was now at an ena, for no more tilters appeared 
 on the part of the English. The earl of Huntingdon, the earl-mar- 
 Fhal, the lord Clifford, the lord Beaumont,* sir John Clifton, sir John 
 u'Ambreticourt, sir Peter Sherburne, and all those knights who had 
 t:lted the preceding days, then waited in a body on the French 
 knights, and thanked them warmly for the amusements they had 
 given them. They said, " All the knights who have accompanied 
 us having now tilted, we take our leave of you, and return to Calais 
 on our way to England. W e know well that whoever may wish to 
 try their skill in arms will fmd you here for thirty days, according to 
 your proclamation. On our return to England, we shall loudly speak 
 of your gallantry, and tell all those who may inquire of these deeds 
 of arms to come and witness them in person." " Many thanks," 
 replied the three knights : " they shall be made welcome, and de- 
 livered by deeds of arms as you have been ; and v/e desire you will 
 accept our best acknowledgments for the courtesy you have shown 
 us." 
 
 In such friendly manner did the English and French knights sep- 
 arate, in the plain of St. Inglevere : the first took the road to Calais, 
 but made no long stay ; for on the Saturday morning they embarked 
 on board passage-boats, and landed at Dover about mid-day, when 
 each retired to his inn. They stayed the whole of Saturday, and 
 Sunday until after mass, at Dover ; where having refreshed them- 
 selves and their horses, they continued their journey to Rochester, 
 and there lay that night : on the morrow they arrived at London, 
 when they separated, and each returned to his home. The three 
 French knights before named, kept their engagements valiantly at 
 St, Inglevere. When the English knights were gone, the king of 
 France and the lord de Garencieres, who had witnessed the tourna- 
 ment in disguise, returned to their inn at Marquise ; and on the morrow, 
 at break of day, they set out for Paris, and never ceased riding until 
 they came to Creilt on the river Oise, where at that time the queen 
 of France resided. Scarcely any one knew that the king was pres. 
 ent at these tilts, but his confidential valets-de-chambre. 
 
 From the time the English left Calais, I never heard that any others 
 came from England to Inglevere to try their skill in arms. The three 
 knights, however, remained there until the thirty days were fully ac- 
 complished, and then leisurely returned each to his home. When 
 they waited on the king of France, the duke of Touraine, and other 
 lords at Paris, they were most handsomely received. Indeed, they 
 were entitled to such reception, for they had gallantly behaved them- 
 selves, and well supported the honor of the king and of the realm of 
 France. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 THE DtTKE OF BOURBON IS APPOINTED CHIEF OF AN EXPEDITION TO 
 AFRICA, THAT IS UNDERTAKEN BY SEVERAL KNIGHTS OF FRANCE AND 
 ENGLAND AT THE SOLICITATION OF THE GENOESE. 
 
 I HAVE delayed, for a long time, speaking of a grand and noble 
 enterprise that was undertaken by some knights of France, England 
 and other countries, against the kingdom of Barbary. I wish not to 
 forget nor to defer it; but, as I had begun on the tilts at St. Ingle- 
 vere, I was desirous to complete that account. Since that is done, 
 I will return to other subjects, and refresh my memory accordingly ; 
 for such events as I have to relate are greatly amusing, and, if I had 
 not taken pleasure in inditing them, I should never have succeeded. 
 The text of the subject I mean to proceed on says, that about this 
 time the Genoese were reported throughout France and other coun- 
 tries, to be desirous of raising a large army to invade Barbary ; and 
 that all knights, squires or men-at-arms, who would engage in this 
 expedition, should be supplied with such purveyances as ijiscuit, fresh 
 water, vinegar, and vessels and galleys to transport them thither. 
 
 The cause of their forming this armament was, that the Africans 
 had attacked the country of Genoa, plundering the Islands belonging 
 to them, and carrying off r-uch from the coasts of Genoa as were not 
 on their guard, by which they were kept under continual alarms. 
 They possessed also a town, situated on the sea-shore of Barbary, 
 which is beyond measure strong, and called Africa, + surrounded with 
 high walls, gates and deep ditches. Like as the strong town of 
 Calais is the key to France and Flanders, and whoever is master of 
 it may at all times enter those countries, and from thence may be 
 sent a powerful force by sea, to do mischief to their neighbors ; just 
 so is the town of Africa the stronghold of the inhabitants of Barbary, 
 Bugia and Tunis, and other infidel countries. The Genoese, who are 
 rich merchants, bore great hatred to this town ; for its corsairs fre- 
 quently watched them at sea, and when strongest, fell on and plun- 
 dered their ships, carrying their spoils to this town of Africa, which 
 was, and is now, their place of deposit, and may be called their 
 warren. 
 
 The Genoese, to put an end to such conduct, and satisfy the com- 
 
 * " Lord Beaumont." Dugdale says his name was John, instead of Henry, as 
 Froissarl calls him. 
 
 t " Oreil," diocese of Senlis, ten leagues and a half from Paris. 
 
 X " Africa," a sea-poit town of Barbary. seventy miles distant from Tunis. It was 
 razed to Uie ground by Andrew Doria, by the command of the emperor Charle» V. and 
 ua* never been rebuilt. 
 
 plaints of their subjects, that were daily made to them from thQ 
 island of Albe,* Isja,t Guerse,t Buscan,§ Gorgennen,i| and from 
 the coast as far as the gulf of Lyons to the islands of Sardonne,T 
 Finesse,** and even from the island of Majorca,1t determined to 
 make their situation known to the court of France, and to offer to 
 such knights as would undertake an expedition against the infidels, 
 vessels of provision, with a passage thither and back free of all costs, 
 provided that one of the king's uncles, or his brother the duke of 
 Touraine (who, being young, ought to labor to gain renown,) would 
 take the chief command. They likewise offered the aid of pilgrims, 
 from foreign parts to assist them, twelve thousand select Genoese 
 cross-bows, and eight thousand infantry armed with spears and 
 shields, all at their expense. They imagined, that as now there was 
 a truce between France, England and their allies, their knights 
 would, from having nothing to do, be glad to join in this warfare, and 
 that they should have numbers of them from those kingdoms. 
 
 When this intelligence was first brought to the French knights, 
 they were much rejoiced, in hope ®f gaining honor ; and the embas- 
 sadors from Genoa were told they should not return without their 
 business being attended to, and succor afforded them, for their anx. 
 iety to extend the Christian faith was very praiseworthy. They 
 waited at Paris, while it was under deliberation of the council who 
 should be appointed commander-in-chief. The duke of Touraine 
 offered his services to the king and council ; but they, as well as the 
 dukes of Berry and Burgundy, remonstrated, that this command was 
 not fit for him. They considered, that as the Genoese insisted on 
 the king's brother, or one of his uncles, taking the command, the 
 duke of Bourbon would be the most proper person, and that he should 
 have for his second the lord de Coucy. The Genoese embassadors, 
 having received a favorable answer from the king, and certain assu- 
 rances of being assisted with knights and men-at-arms from France, 
 under the command of the duke of Bourbon, in the course of the 
 year, were greatly contented. They took leave of the king, and re- 
 turned to their own country, to relate the good news, and make pre. 
 parations accordingly. 
 
 Reports of an invasion of Barbary were soon spread throughout 
 France : to some knights and squires it was agreeable, to others the 
 contrary ; all who were desirous of going thither could not, as it 
 would have been at their own charges, for no lord paid for any but 
 those of his own household. It was also ordered, that no one from 
 France should make part of this expedition but such as had the king's 
 leave : for the council wished not the realm to be void of defence, 
 and the Genoese were expressly bound not to suffer any servants to 
 embark, but solely such as were gentlemen, and who could be de- 
 pended upon. It was, besides, meant as a compliment to the knights 
 and squires of other nations who might wish to join in the enterprise. 
 This regulation gave pleasure to all foreign knights who heard of it 
 The duke of Bourbon, having accepted the command, sent his serv- 
 ants to Genoa, where they were to embark, to make the necessary 
 preparations for him and his household. The gallant count d'Au. 
 vergne, who was likewise of the expedition, did the same. The 
 lord de Coucy, sir Guy de la Tremouille, sir Johsi de Vienne, and all 
 the great barons and knights of France who had obtained leave to 
 make part of this army, were not behind-hand in sending thither 
 purveyances suitable to their state. The lord Phihp d'Artois, count 
 d'Eu, sir Philip de Bar, the lord de Harcourt, sir Henry d'Antoing, 
 did so likewise. From Brittany and Normandy many great lords 
 made preparations for this expedition to Barbary, as well as from 
 Hainault : among the last, were the lord de Ligne and the lord 
 de Havreth. Several knights came from Flanders ; and the duke 
 of Lancaster had a bastard son, called Henry de Beaufort, whom, 
 through devotion, he sent thither. He had him well accompanied 
 by many knights and squires of rank in England. 
 
 The count de Foix was unwilling his bastard son, Evan of Foix, 
 should remain behind, and had him properly attended by knights 
 and squires, as he wished him to keep his state grandly. Every one 
 had taken care to send beforehand all he should want ; and those at 
 the greatest distance from Genoa, left their countries the middle of 
 May, but it was about a month before all were assembled. The 
 Genoese were well pleased on their arrival, and made handsome and 
 rich presents to the chiefs, the better to secure their affections. As 
 the knights arrived, they were posted adjoining each other, and, on 
 being mustered by the marshals, amounted to fourteen hundred 
 knights and squires. They were embarked on board of ships and 
 galleys, that had been properly equipped for the voyage, on Saint 
 John Baptist's day, in the year of grace 1390. 
 
 It was a beautiful sight to view this fleet, with the emblazoned 
 banners of the different lords glittering in the sun and fluttering in 
 the wind : and to hear the minstrels and other musicians sounding 
 their pipes, clarions and trumpets, whose sounds were reechoed back 
 by the sea. When all were embarked, they cast anchor, and re- 
 mained that night at the mouth of the harbor ; but the sei-vants and 
 horses were left behind on shore. A horse worth fifty francs was on 
 their embarkation sold for ten, as many of the knights and squires 
 were uncertain when, or if ever, they should return, and the keep of 
 
 *"Albe." a. Elba. t "lya." Q. Ischia. J "Guerse." Q. Conioo. 
 §"Buscan." Q. || "Gorgemien." Gorgona. 
 11 "Sardonne." Q.Sardinia. ** "Finesse." d. 
 
 tt " Majorco," &c. belonged to the king of Arragon. 
 
CttHONICLES OF ENGLAND. FRANCE, SPAIN, &, c 
 
 515 
 
 five horses at Genoa was upward of a franc a day: they therefore, 
 on departing, made of them what money they could, but it was little 
 enough. 
 
 There were about three hundred galleys to transport the men-at- 
 arms and archers, and upward of one hundred vessels for the pur- 
 veyances and other necessaries. On the morrow, at daybreak, they 
 weighed anchor, and rowed coastwise that and the succeeding night. 
 The third day, they made Port-fino, where they lay that night : at 
 
 £nqlish and French Knights under the Duke of Bourbon on their voyage to Africa. 
 
 a MS. Froissart of the Fifteenth century. 
 
 sunrise, they rowed to Porto-Venere, and again cast anchor. The en- 
 suing morning they weighed and took to the deep, putting themselves 
 under the protection of God and St. George. When they had passed 
 the island of Elba, they encountered a violent tempest, which drove 
 them back by Gorgona, Sardinia and Corsica, into the gulf of Lyons, 
 a position always dangerous ; but they could not avoid it, for the 
 tempest was so violent, that the ablest mariner could not do anything 
 to prevent their running the utmost risk of destruction : they waited 
 therefore the will of God. This storm lasted a day and night, and 
 dispersed the fleet. When the weather became calm and the sea 
 tranquil, the pilots, who were acquainted with those seas, steered as 
 directly as they could for the island of Commeres,*' vv^hich is but 
 thirty miles from the town of Africa, whither they bent their course. 
 The masters of the vessels had held a council before they entered the 
 gulf of LyonSj and determined, that should they part company, they 
 would rendezvous at the island of Commeres, and wait there until 
 they were all assembled. This plan was adopted ; and it was up- 
 ward of nine days before all were collected, so much had they been 
 scattered. 
 
 The island of Commeres, though not large, is very pleasant. The 
 lords there refreshed themselves, and praised God for having all met 
 again without essential loss or damage. When on the eve of de- 
 parture, the French lords, who took the lead, held a council on their 
 future proceedings, as they were now so near the port of Africa. 
 We will for a while leave this expedition, and speak of events that 
 happened in France, more particularly in Auvergne. 
 
 Prom 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 AYMERIGOT MARCEL, CAPTAIN OF THE PILLA&ING COMPANIES, HAVING 
 FORTIFIED LA ROCHE DE VENDAIS ON THE BORDERS OF LIMOUSIN AND 
 AUVERGNE, IS BESIEGED BY THE VISCOUNT DE MEAUX, BY COMMAND OF 
 THE KING OF FRANCE. 
 
 During the time of the assembly of this body of men-at-arms in 
 France, for the expedition to extend the Christian faith, and gain 
 renown, there were another sort of men-at-arms wholly given up to 
 plunder, in Limousin, Auvergne, and Rouergue, who, in spite of the 
 truce, were continually doing mischief to these countries, which 
 thought themselves in security. The king of France had caused 
 the truce to be- publicly notified to the captains of the freebooters, 
 particularly to Perrot le Bearnois, governor of Chalu9et, Aymerigot 
 Marcel, Olim Barbe. captain of Donzac in Auvergne, who were per- 
 sonally named in the act, and were assured, that if the truce were 
 
 * *' Commeres." This island is called Conimbres and Cominieres, in the printed and 
 MS. editions. I suppose it must mean Comino or Cumin, Cuminum, arid formerly He- 
 phestia, a small island in the Mediterranean, between Gozo and Malta, belonging to the 
 taught* of MaUa.<-fiACDiuif. 
 
 in the smallest degree infringed, those guilty of it .sut-uld be corpo. 
 rally punished, without hope of mercy. This was done, that there 
 might not be any excuses made from ignorance of the treaty. Some 
 of the captains, fearful of a disgraceful death, or of incurring the 
 king's indignation, kept the peace very well. Others did not, for 
 which they paid severely, as you will hear in the continuation of this 
 history. 
 
 You have before found it related in the course of these Chronicles, 
 
 indited and arranged by me, sir John Frois. 
 sart, treasurer and canon of Chimay, how 
 peace had been agreed on with many of the 
 captains of castles in Auvergne, Limousin, 
 Rouergue, and Cahorsin, by the mediation 
 of John count d'Armagnac, and Berald 
 dauphin of Auvergne, to whom they had 
 surrendered their castles for different sums 
 of money. The captains were also, by 
 these treaties, bound to renounce, during 
 the truce, the continuance of the warfare 
 in France, and to accompany the count 
 d'Armagnac to Lombardy, or whither else 
 he might lead them. He was desirous to 
 employ them in a war he was meditating 
 against the lord Galcas de Visconti, count 
 de Vertus, for having disinherited his cou- 
 slns-german, the sons of his late uncle the 
 lord Barnabo, as has been before men- 
 tioned. 
 
 The count d'Armagnac and the dauphin 
 of Auvergne had labored hard to gain over 
 these captains, that the country might be at 
 peace ; and for this end a large sum had 
 been raised in Auvergne, Gevaudan, Rou- 
 ergue, Cahorsin and Limousin, to the 
 amount of two hundred thousand francs. 
 This tax pressed so hard on rich and poor, 
 that many were forced to sell their inheri- 
 tance to obtain peace. They imagined, 
 that having paid such sums, they should 
 remain unmolested by these robbers ; but 
 it was not so in many places, more espe- 
 cially in those parts where Aymerigot Marcel had his garrison. Not- 
 withstanding the fact that he had surrendered, by capitulation, his 
 castle of Aloise, which is situated in the heart of Auvergne, to 
 the count d'Armagnac, he continued to do much mischief to the in- 
 habitants. Aymerigot was so rich as to be able to pay down, if 
 necessary, for his ransom, one hundred thousand francs, which he 
 had gained by plunder during ten years that he had carried on this 
 trade. The count d'Armagnac was anxious to have Aymerigot 
 gmong his followers to Lombardy for two reasons : one was, to have 
 his advice, as in everything relative to war he was subtle and enter 
 prising, and very able respecting the escalade of forts, and the mode 
 of war to be carried on : he therefore caused him to be told how de 
 sirous he was of his company, and that he would be a great gainer 
 if he would join him. The other reason of his wish was, that if 
 Aymerigot should remain behind, although he had sold Aloise, he 
 might still do great harm to that country. 
 
 Aymerigot dissembled in his negotiations with the count, and said 
 to those sent to him, " When I shall witness the departure of the 
 count d'Armagnac to Lombardy, and see for certain that he is in 
 earnest, I do not think, from the inclination I feel toward him, that 
 I shall remain behind." This was the only answer that could be 
 obtained from him. The count d'x'^rmagnac resided in Comminges 
 and in the Toulousain, making his preparations and collecting men- 
 at-arms. He would have hastened his expedition, if that to Africa 
 had not interfered ; but that delayed it for some little time, for many 
 knights and squires who were gone thither had proinised him their 
 assistance, as soon as he should begin his march. The suddenness 
 of the invasion of Barbary deranged his plans, and likewise induced 
 the more speedy capitulations with the captains of the free companies. 
 
 Aymerigot Marcel was much vexed that he had sold his castle of 
 Aloise, near St. Flour,* for his importance was lost, and he was less 
 feared. During the time he held it against the whole force of the 
 country, he was dreaded and respected by his companions in arms. 
 He kept it always in good repair, and well provisioned ; for his com- 
 positions with the country round amounted to twenty thousand florins 
 yearly. He was quite melancholy when he thought of his reduced 
 state, and would not diminish his treasure, which he had gained by 
 his robberies, now the means of increasing it were closed. He said 
 to himself, that he heartily repented what he had done, because in 
 his opinion the pillaging life he had led, taking all things into con- 
 sideration, was not to be despised. At times, he conversed on this 
 .subject with his former companions, and said, " There is no pleasure 
 nor glory in this world like what men-at-arms, such as ourselves, 
 enjoyed. How happy were we, when riding out in searcn of adven- 
 tures, we met a rich abbot, a merchant, or a string of mules, well 
 laden with draperies, furs, or spices, from Montpellier, Beziers, or 
 
 "Saint Flour "— a town in Auvergne, 2£i leagues from Clermont-fenraiid, 25 from 
 
516 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPATN, &c. 
 
 otiier places. All was our own, or at least ransomed according to 
 our will. Every day we gained money. The peasants of Auvergne 
 vind Limousin loved us, and provided our castle with corn, meal, 
 baked bread, litter for our horses, oats, hay, good wine, fat beeves, 
 '■heep, and all sorts of poultry : we lived like kings ; and when we 
 •.vent abroad, the country trembled : everything was ours, both in 
 t'oing and returning. How did I and the bourg Copane take Carlat? 
 and how did I and PeiTot le B^arnois win Chalu9et? How did we, 
 you and I, without other assistance, scale the strong castle of Mar- 
 que!, that belongs to the count dauphin ? I only kept it five days, 
 and was paid down on a table five thousand francs for it, of which 
 I gave back one thousand, from love to the count's children. By 
 my troth, this was a profitable and pleasant life, and I feel myself 
 much reduced by selling Aloise, which was strong enough to resist 
 any force that could be brought against it ; and was besides, at the 
 time of my surrendering, so plentifully stored v/ith provisions and 
 other necessaries, that it would not have 'needed anything for seven 
 years to come. I consider myself, therefore, as deceived by this 
 count d'Armagnac : indeed, Glim Barbe and Perrot le B^arnois fore, 
 warned me that I should repent when too late, and I now find their 
 words very true, for I most certainly do repent having parted with 
 this castle.-' 
 
 When his companions, who were now poor, thuH heard Aymerigot 
 complain, and perceived |;ie was in earnest, they replied, "Aymerigot, 
 we are ready to obey your commands. Let us renew the war, and 
 consider what strong place we may seize on in Auvergne or Limou- 
 sin, and fortify it. We shall soon recover our losses, and have full 
 scope for pillaging, as the count-dauphin and his brother Hugh are 
 now out of the country, with many other knights and squires, on the 
 expedition to Barbary ; and in particular the lord de Coney, who is 
 lieutenant for the king over all these parts, is now likewise absent 
 on this same expedition. We need not therefore fear him, nor the 
 duke of Berry, who is at Paris, and has been so some time amusing 
 himself." "I know not well how to act," said Aymerigot; "for 
 though I-am well inclined to follow what you advise, yet as I am 
 personally named in the treaties, I am particularly pointed at." 
 " Ah," answered his companions, " that heed not make any differ- 
 ence, if you be willing. You are no vassal to the king of France, 
 and therefore owe him neither homage nor obedience. You are the 
 king of England's man, and your inheritance, which is now destroyed, 
 was in Limousin. W e make war to obtain a livelihood, for we must 
 live, and the English will never be displeased with us for so doing. 
 All who wish for gain will join us ; and I think we may show a suf. 
 ficient cause for making war, by declaring we have not been paid 
 the compositions that are due to us from Auvergne. Let us send, 
 therefore, to the peasants of different villages (taking care, however, 
 to be strong enough to enforce our orders,) and tell them, that unless 
 they compound wiih us, Vfe will make war on them." " Well, be it 
 so," replied Aymerigot ; " but where can we at this moment fix our 
 place of residence ?" Some of them said, " We know of a fort that 
 is dismantled, belonging to the lord de la Tour, which no one guards. 
 Let us go thither, and repair and strengthen it ; and, when this is 
 done, we will garrison it, and overrun at our pleasure Limousin and 
 Auvergne." " And where is this fort situated ?" asked Aymerigot. 
 " One league from la Tour," answered those who were acquainted 
 with it, and had well examined its situation : " it is called La Roche 
 de Vendais." " On my faith, you say well : it is the very place for 
 us," replied Aymerigot ; " and, althouf;h the lands are now separated 
 from its dependence, it is a mesne fief of Limoges. We will go 
 and look at it, and, if wortii while, take possession and fortify it." 
 
 Having determined on this, they all went to La Roche de Vendais, 
 examined its strength minutely, and were more pleased with it than 
 befoi'e : they instantly took possession, and by degrees fortified the 
 place before they made any excursions or did harm to the country. 
 When they had made, it sufficiently strong to withstand an attack or 
 siege, and the companions were all mounted, they began to overrun 
 the more immediate neighborhood, to make prisoners and rgjisom 
 them. They laid in store s of fiesh, meal, wax, wine, salt, iron, steel, 
 and other necessaries ; for nothing came amiss to them that was not 
 too hot or too heavy. 
 
 The inhabitants of the country were much astonished at this, for 
 they thought themselves in perfect security on account of the truce 
 between the two kings ; but these robbers seized whatever they 
 pleased in their houses, or in the fields, calling themselves the Ad- 
 venturers. The lord de la Tour had his town and castle well guarded, 
 for he was not well pleased to have such neighbors a league from 
 his residence. The dauphiness of Auvergne, a valiant lady and of 
 great prudence, who lived with her children in the strong castle of 
 the good town of Sardes, situated on the river Evoque, did not think 
 herself in safety when she heard that Aymerigot and his band had 
 fortified themselves within La Roche de Vendais. She instantly 
 ordered the garrisons of her castles of Marquel, Ondable, Chillac, and 
 Blere, to be reinforced with men-at-arms, to avoid their being sur- 
 prised ; for she much dreaded Aymerigot, ever since he had received 
 from her, in one payment, five thousand florins. 
 
 The countries of Auvergne and Limousin now took alarm ; and 
 the knights and squires, with the townsmen of Clermont, Montfer- 
 nt, and Riom, and the towns on the Allier, resolved to send notice 
 heir situation to the king of France. In this they were joined by 
 
 the dauphiness ; but, during this time, those in La Roche de Vendais 
 fortified themselves very strongly, and while about it they erected 
 huts covered with boughs for their horses. When it was known to 
 those who had been disbanded, and were now out of pay, that Ay. 
 merigot Marcel was continuing the war, they were much rejoiced : 
 many came to offer him their services, and he had very soon more 
 than he wished. None of them asked for pay, but solely to be re- 
 tained by him, for they knew well that those under him would gain 
 a sufficiency from the overplus of the plunder which he gave up to 
 his men. Sometimes he made excursions in the upper parts of the 
 district, and sometimes on the contrary side, for no one ventured as 
 yet to oppose him, so that his fame was spread far and near. Noth- 
 ing was talked of in Auvergne and Limousin but the robbers of La 
 Roche de Vendais, and greatly was the country frightened by them. 
 
 The garrison of Chalu9et, under the command of Ferrot le Bdar- 
 nois, adhered steadily to the truce ; and when he learnt that Aymeri- 
 got was thus harassing the countries where the inhabitants imagined 
 themselves to be at peace with every one, he was much angered, 
 and said he had behaved very ill. He also sent to tell him not to 
 expect any assistance, nor to be admitted into Chainlet nor into any 
 other place under his command. Aymerigot was indifierent as to 
 this, for he had plenty of places to retire to, in case of Jieed, besides 
 Chainlet, and men enough. There were besides, numbers that had 
 nothing to do, and wished for mischief, who daily offered to increase 
 his forces. Perrot le B6arnois forbade his men, under pain of death, 
 to make any sallies injurious to the country people, for he declared 
 he would most strictly and honorably abide by the letter of the truce. 
 Olim Barbe, however, captain of Donzac, dissembled in this business, 
 saying publicly he would adhere to the terms of the truce; but I was 
 told that his men sometimes made excursions privately, and, when 
 they had collected any considerable booty, he insisted on having the 
 advantage of it. 
 
 The deputies from Clermont, Montferrant, and Riom, arrived at 
 Paris, where they found the king, the duke of Berry, the duke of 
 Touraine, and sir Oliver de Clisson constable of France. They im- 
 mediately waited on the duke of Berry and his council, to state the 
 cause of their coming, and to inform them that Aymerigot Marcel 
 was pillaging Auvergne, and that evil-minded persons were daily 
 increasing. They entreated them for God's sake to provide a rem- 
 edy, for, if it were suffered to continue much longer, the whole of 
 Auvergne and Limousin would be completely destroyed. The king 
 and the duke of Berry were much astonished on hearing this intelli- 
 gence, for they thought the whole country was at peace, in conform- 
 ity to the truce. The deputies asked if the garrisons of Chainlet 
 and Donzac remained quiet ; they replied : " they had no complaints 
 to make against any one but Aymerigot Marcel and his companions, 
 who had fortified La Roche de Vendais." " Well," replied the king 
 and the duke of Berry, " now, good people, return home, and look 
 to us ; for we will speedily provide a remedy that shall be suffiiient: 
 make what haste you can back, and tell this as our answer, to those 
 who have sent you." The deputies were well pleased with this 
 speech, and, having reposed themselves for two days at Paris, they 
 set out on their return, having taken leave of the king and the duke 
 of Berry. 
 
 The king and his council did not delay attending to this business, 
 for the duke of Berry had large possessions in Auvergne, and urged 
 them on. They considered whom they should send thither, for the 
 lord de Coucy, the lieutenant of all the country, from La Rochelle to 
 Bordeaux, was now abroad in Barbary. He had, indeed, at his 
 departure, appointed his cousin, sir Robert de Buthune viscount de 
 Meaux, his deputy during his absence. The council did not forget 
 this, and thought he was best entitled to the command. Inquiries 
 were made where he was to be found, and they learnt that he was 
 at his residence at Conde sur Marne. Letters were written to him, 
 in the king's name, for him to come to Paris, and the messenger 
 hastening with them, found him and his lady at Conde. Having 
 delivered his letters, the viscount read their contents, and said he 
 would instantly obey the king's orders, as was but right. Having 
 made his preparations as speedily as he could, he left Cond^ and 
 rode on to Paris, where he waited on the king and council. On 
 entering the council-chamber he was told : " Viscount, make haste and 
 assemble all your retainers of men-at-arms, for you must immediately 
 set off for Auvergne. There are bands of pillagers, of whom Aymeri- 
 got Marcel, as we are informed, is the chief, who rob and imprison 
 the country people. Let them be driven thence ; and if you can any 
 way entrap Aymerigot and deliver him up to us, we shall have great 
 joy. Orders have been given for you to receive the pay of your 
 men-at-arms at Clermont in Auvergne ; and, with regard to your 
 expenses thither, speak to our treasurer of the army. He has been 
 charged to pay your smaller expenses, and to hurry you away, for 
 the lyisiness requires it." 
 
 The viscount replied he was quite ready, and, leaving the council, 
 returned to his inn, where he employed persons to write to such 
 knights and squires of the isle of France and in Picardy, who were 
 his acquaintance and dependents, desiring them instantly to set out 
 for Chartres, where they would find him prepared to muster them. 
 All to whom he had sent complied with his request ; for they loved 
 him, and looked to him as to an able captain. They were all at 
 Chartres on the appointed day, and amounted to two hundred lances^ 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 517 
 
 good men and to be depended on. After they had been mustered, 
 they left Chartres, and took the road toward Auvergne, through the 
 Bourbonnois. The news of this assistance coming thither was soon 
 spread abroad, to the great joy of the inhabitants of Auvergne. It 
 was fortunate so much haste had been made in forwarding this force ; 
 for, had it been delayed six days later, Aymerigot and his troops had 
 planned to ravage the country, between Clermont and Montferrant, 
 and down the river Allier, and also the surrounding country of Riom, 
 as far as Gannat.* Had they done so, they would have plundered 
 it of one hundred thousand francs at least; for the parts I have men. 
 tioned are the very richest in Auvergne. None could have opposed 
 them, for the whole country was void of men-at-arms ; and the reports 
 were, that Aymerigot's troops were more numerous than ever. 
 
 Aymerigot and his men were prepared for this excursion ; but 
 they learnt, I know not how, whether from pilgrims or spies, that a 
 large body of men-at-arms was marching against them, under the 
 command of the viscount de Meaux, to besiege and to drive ihem 
 out of their fortress of La Roche de Vendais. This intelligence made 
 them defer their intended excursion, and shut themselves within 
 their fort, for they foresaw they would be besieged. Aymerigot now 
 began to repent what he had done, for should he be taken, no ran- 
 som would be accepted for his life. He thus opened himself to 
 some of his companions : " I am completely disgraced, by having 
 followed bad advice, and avarice will be my ruin ; for I shall be de- 
 stroyed without hope of ransom." They replied : " Why are you 
 now so doubtful of yourself? We know you are the most powerful 
 man-at-arms in these countries, and you have a good garrison, well 
 provided with all things. We are men of determined resolution, as 
 eager to defend our lives, as you can be to defend your own. You 
 cannot be ruined without our suffering with you ; if, unfortunately, 
 you be made prisoner, you are so wealthy, you can easily tempt them 
 with your ransom ; but our poverty must prevent us from so doing, 
 and our heads pay the forfeit. We will therefore sell them as dearly 
 as we can, and guard them to the utmost of our abilities. Be not, 
 therefore, alarmed at anything you may see or hear : we need not 
 care for the siege, if we manage our defence with prudence." Thus 
 did the companions of Aymerigot Marcel comfort him. 
 
 The viscount de Meaux, with his men-at-arms, continued their 
 march through Moulins, in the Bourbonnois ; but the duchess of 
 Bourbon, daughter to the count dauphin, received there the viscount 
 and the knights very grandlyr and entertained them, at dinner. 
 That evening they lay at Saint Pourgain. Thence they marched to 
 Gannat, Aigue-perses,t and Riom, where they halted. They then 
 marched to Clermont, and were gladly received by tlie bishop and 
 the inhabitants. The men-at-arms received pay at Clermont, for a 
 tax had been levied to this effect, and it was there delivered to them. 
 They continued their march to Notre-Dame d'Orcinal,t four leagues 
 from La Roche de Vendais. The viscount de Meaux there fixed his 
 quarters, as the knights and squires from Auvergne and Limousin 
 had named this place for the point of assembly. When they were 
 all collected, they amounted to more than four hundred lances, and 
 one hundred Genoese cross-bows. There were with the viscount, 
 the lord de Montagu from the Vermandois, and his brother, the lord 
 de Dommart, sir Bernard de la Riviere, sir William le Bouteiller, the 
 lord de Domme, the lord de la Roche, the lord de la Tour, sir Lewis 
 d'Abiere,§ the lord de Saint-Ampisse, sir Robert Dauphin, with 
 many more. The captains of the Genoese were two valiant squnes, 
 callef Albert d'EspinoUe and Callinace. Sir Lewis I'Esglivesle, a 
 gallant squire, was at this time the viscount's master of the house- 
 hold. The Genoese, as well as the whole army, were completely 
 equipped with arm-s and other necessaries, or they would not have 
 passed the muster made by the viscount de Meaux. 
 
 The garrison under the command of Aymerigot Marcel and his 
 uncle Guyot du Sel, in La Roche de Vendais, hearing that so large a 
 force was now advanced to Notre Dame de Roquemadour, with the 
 intention of besieging them, called a general council, to consider 
 how they could the most effectually resist it. They first resolved, 
 iheyhad not any occasion for horses, since they would be prevented 
 from using them by the siege. Tolerably near to La Roche de Ven- 
 dais was another fort, ca-lled Saint Soupery, under the government of 
 Aymerigot, where his wife resided, and whither he had sent the 
 greater part of his wealth. He gave orders for the servants and hor. 
 ses to be received in this fort, until better times. La Roche de Ven- 
 dais was naturally strong, and the present garrison had fortified it 
 by every means in their power. The lord de la Tour was greatly 
 blamed by the country for his neglect of it, as they said it was from 
 this circumstance that they were now so harassed ; and, if he had 
 thought the expense of kccpmg a guard too great, why had he not 
 given it up to the inhabitants of the country, who vvould have dis- 
 mantled it, so that no one vvould have ever thought of repairing it ? 
 whereas now the walls had been left entire, and the mansion tolera- 
 bly good : ^ch was the state in which Aymerigot had found it. 
 
 La Roche de Vendais is separated from the high mountains that 
 surround it, and is seated on an insulated rock ; one sid^ of which 
 
 * "Gannat"— a town in the Bourbonnois, five leagues from Riom. 
 t" Aigue-perses' — a village in Limousin, diocese of Limoges. 
 t " Notre-Dame d'Orcinal"— is not in the Gazetteer, but Notre-Dame de Roriuema- 
 dour, which is the name in the MSS., is a celebrated pilgrimage in Quercy, near Figeac. 
 § In the MS. it is sir Louis iTAntibiere, 
 
 they had so strongly fortified that it could only be approached in front, 
 and attacked by skirmishes. The force, under the command of the 
 viscount de Meaux, left Notre-Dame de Roquemadour, and advanced 
 to La Roche dc Vendais, which they laid siege to, and by degrees, 
 improved their quarters. The countess-dauphine, on hearing that hv. 
 Roche de Vendais was besieged, with a sufficient force under the 
 viscount de Meaux, was greatly rejoiced ; and as she imagined, 
 from the haste in which he had left Paris, he might not have brought 
 tents or pavilions with him, she instantly ordered two handsome 
 tents belonging to her lord to be made ready, and sent to him as a 
 loan, for his better accommodation during the siege. The viscount 
 received very thankfully these tents, which came so opportunely, 
 and returned his best compliments to the countess for her attentions. 
 The lord de la Tour was at home, being but one league from his 
 castle, so that he had everything he could wish for. The other 
 knights and squires accommodated themselves as well as they could. 
 They had provision in abundance and cheap, for it was sent thither 
 from all quarters. As it was the middle of August, the weather 
 was warm and pleasant, and the knights were comfortably lodged 
 under huts made of green boughs. 
 
 Intelligence was brought to the army, that made them suspicious 
 lest the neighboring garrisons of Chalu9et and Donzac would unite 
 together, and one morning or evening, when they were off their 
 guard, come and attack them, to force them to raise their siege. 
 The viscount de Meaux and his knights held a council on this intel- 
 ligence, and resolved to send a herald to Perrot le Bearnois, governor 
 of Chalu^ef, and to Glim Barbe at Donzac, to know whether they 
 were at war or peace with these garrisons, and according to their 
 answer to prepare themselves. The herald, being instructed as to 
 what he v/as to say and how he was to act, departed, and, on his 
 arrival at Chalucet, accidentally found Perrot le Bearnois at the bar- 
 riers amusing himself with his companions in throwing the bar. He 
 dismounted, and asked for the governor. On his being pointed out, 
 he advanced toward him, and punctually delivered the message he 
 had been charged with. Perrot replied : " Herald, you will tell 
 your masters who have sent you hither, that we mean as loyally and 
 truly to keep the truce which has been concluded between France 
 and England, as Vv^e expect it will be kept with us. Should any of 
 our people infringe the smallest article of it, and we be made ac- 
 quainted therovvith, v/e will lay hands on them, if it should be in our 
 power, and inflict such punishment as they deserve and as we have 
 promised to execute on them. I wish you would also tell your mas- 
 ters, that what Aymerigot Marcel has done was without any advice 
 from us, to whom he never spoke on the subject We have forbidden 
 him or his people to seek refuge within our domain, and should they 
 •think of so doing it will ill befal them." 
 
 The herald was conducted within the fort, and entertained at din- 
 ner ; after which he took his leave, and Perrot, out of love to the 
 lords of France, presented him with ten francs. The herald received 
 them thankfully, and departed for Donzac, where he saw the gov- 
 ernor Olim Barbe, a Gascon. He addressed him as he had done 
 Perrot, and received for answer, that he would not on any account 
 infringe the truce, for by so doing he should be disgraced. The 
 herald dined at the castle of Donzac, and, on taking leave, had ten 
 francs given to him. He returned to La Roche de Vendais, where he 
 was surrounded by knights and squires anxious to hear the answers 
 he had brought. The herald minutely related everything that had 
 passed ; and the viscount de Meaux and his companions were more 
 easy respecting Perrot le Bearnois and Olim Barbe than before : 
 without fear from that quarter, they continued their siege with 
 greater vigor. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 AYMERIGOT MARCEL ENDEAVORS, BUT IN VAIN, TO RAISE THE SIE&E OF LA 
 ROCHE DE VENDAIS BY LETTERS AND MESSAGES TO THE KING OF ENG- 
 LAND, THE DUKE OF LANCASTER, THE VISCOUNT DE MEAUX, AND EVEN 
 TO THE DUKE OF BERRY. 
 
 During the siege of La Roche de Vendais, w iiich lasted for nine 
 weeks, there were constant skirmishes between the two parties, in 
 which many were wounded by the cross-bows, for the Genoese are 
 expert marksmen. The garrison had much the advantage of the 
 besiegers, and I will tell you how. They could sally forth when- 
 ever they pleased, for it would require six thousand men at least to 
 have completely surrounded the castle. When the siege first took 
 place, Aymerigot felt that he was acting wrong ; but to turn the 
 matter as much to his advantage as he could, and if possible pre- 
 serve La Roche de Vendais, he determined to send one of his men, 
 who was well spoken, to England, with credential letters to the king 
 and the duke of Lancaster. Aymerigot opened the matter to his 
 uncle, Guyot du Sel, who, though about sixty years of age, was v/eli 
 acquainted with arms and with mankind. Guyot approved of the 
 manner fh which his nephew intended acting, and said, that to send 
 a person well spoken, and well informed, to England, would not be 
 lostj)ains. They selected avarlet who had been educated by them, 
 and instructed him as follows : " We will conduct thee in safety out 
 of this fort ia spite of our enemies, and give thee money sufficient 
 for the journey thou art to perform, as well as for thy other wants. 
 Thou wilt carry to England these three letters ; one to the king, one 
 
518 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 to the duke of Lancaster, and the other to the king's council ; which 
 thou wilt punctually deliver. Thou wilt recommend me handsomely 
 to them ; and, as these are credential letters, they will ask, ' What 
 is the object of thy coming V thou wilt say that Aymerigot Marcel, 
 their little soldier and subject, who is firm in his obedience to their 
 will, is besieged in a small fort belonging to the king of England, 
 as one of the mesne fiefs of Limousin ; that those who are before it 
 exert themselves to their utmost to gain the place, and make him 
 and his companions prisoners ; that the besiegers are sent thither by 
 the king of France, under the command of a cousin to the lord de 
 Coucy, called sir Robert viscount de Meaux ; that the object of this 
 mission is to request the king of England, his council, and the duke 
 of Lancaster, as lieutenant for the king in the Bordelois, to write to the 
 riscountde Meaux to depart instantly from before La Roche de Ven- 
 dais with all his men. Be sure to have inserted in the letters for the 
 viscount, that he be careful not to infringe the truce signed at Leu- 
 linghea, or to dread the consequences, because I know not what ef- 
 fect these letters may have on the viscount, nor what answer he will 
 make, for he is a strange sort of man. Obtain, likewise, letters 
 from the king, the council, and the duke of Lancaster, to the duke 
 of Berry , for, if he please, the siege will be instantly raised. Man- 
 age to bring back with thee, for thy greater credit, one of the knights 
 of honor to the king or the duke of Lancaster, or Derby the herald. 
 Salute him from me, and say, if he will accompany thee, (for he is 
 an able negotiator, and well acquainted with the duke of Berry and 
 the lords of France,) I will give him one hundred francs. Keep 
 well in thy memory all I have said, and tell every one to whom thou 
 shalt speak, that this little fort, which I have garrisoned, will be very 
 convenient to the English on the renewal of the war ; for it is situ- 
 ated on the borders of Auvergne and Limousin, and those countries 
 may be made to contribute upward of two hundred thousand francs 
 in one season." 
 
 Aymerigot Marcel having, in the presence of his uncle, well tu- 
 tored his messenger, and given him his credential letters, and one 
 hundred francs for his expenses, he was escorted from the fort at mid- 
 night, on foot, to another fort belonging to Aymerigot, called Saint 
 Soupery. He there chose the best horse, as they were all at his dis- 
 posal, for he had a long journey to make, and passed through France 
 as a native of the province of Auvergne. On his amval at Calais, 
 he made acquaintance with sir John Beauchamp, the governor, to 
 whom he told a part of his business that he might be the sooner for- 
 warded on his journey. This succeeded ; for sir John ordered him 
 an immediate passage to Dover, whence, on having his horse put on 
 shore, he continued his road to London, and there arrived in a day 
 and a half. He was fortunate to find the king, his two uncles of 
 Lancaster and York, with the council, at the palace of Westminster, 
 considering the affairs of Northumberland, and what force they 
 should send thither, for the Scots no way observed the truce. The 
 messenger from Aymerigot having intrusted the subject of his com- 
 ing to the master of the inn where he put up, he conducted him to 
 Westminster, and procured him admission to the duke of Lancaster, 
 who had arrived before the other counsellors, and was in the pres- 
 ence-chamber. He presented the duke with the letter addressed to 
 him, who, having opened and read it, took the messenger aside to 
 learn the cause of his arrival. The varlet related to him every par- 
 ticular wherewith Aymerigot had charged him. The duke, having 
 heard him, asked if he had more letters. He replied, " One for the 
 king, and another for the council." "It is well," answered the 
 duke : I will obtain for you an audience," and gave orders to one of 
 his attendants to take care of him. 
 
 The duke entered the council-chamber, and when he saw a favor- 
 able opportunity, mentioned the arrival of Aymerigot's messenger : 
 by his motion, the varlet was introduced, and presented his letters 
 to the king and to the council. When they were read, he was de- 
 sired to explain the object of his mission. Being well tutored, and 
 not afraid of speaking, he was not abashed, otherwise he need not 
 have made the journey, and he explained so eloquently the reasons 
 of his coming, and the wishes of Aymerigot, that he was attentively 
 listened to. When he had told all he was charged with, he was in- 
 formed that they would consider the matter, and that he should have 
 an answer to his demands. He then quitted the council-chamber, 
 and waited for the answer to the letters. He was told that the king 
 would write to the viscount de Meaux, and to the duke of Berry, in 
 the manner Aymerigot had desired. The duke of Lancaster prom- 
 ised to do the same, and that these letters should be delivered by an 
 English squire attached to the duke ; and that Derby the herald 
 should cross the sea and accompany them when they gave their let- 
 ters, to aid their success ; for he was well known to many lords in 
 Auvergne, particularly to the duke of Berry. 
 
 Aymerigot's messenger was very happy to hear this, and followed 
 so closely the duke of Lancaster that in a few days the letters were 
 vmtten, and the gentleman, whose name I believe was Cherbury, 
 who was tc- carry them, received orders of departure. The herald 
 Derby most willingly went with him, for Aymerigot's varlet had told 
 him from hi< master, that if he would cross the sea, he should re- 
 ceive one hundred francs on his arrival at La Roche de Vendais. 
 The letters being sealed, these three took their leave of the duke of 
 Lancaster, and hastened to Dover : they crossed to Calais in a pas- 
 sage-boat where they lay that night, s^nd at low water disembarked 
 
 their horses, and on the morrow rode to Boulogne. They passed 
 through Picardy to Paris, but, making no stay there, continued their 
 journey to Auvergne. 4 
 
 When arrived at Limoges and the environs of La Roche de Ven- 
 dais, they cautiously advanced to enter the castle privately ; but, on 
 consideration, the squire and herald did not think it prudent to enter 
 La Roche de Vendais, but sent the messenger forward, saying they 
 could no,w find the way themselves, and that it would not have a 
 good appearance should they be seen with him, for it would look as 
 if he had been sent to bring them from England ; and that what they 
 had to say to the viscount de MeauJ would come with more weight 
 as from the king of England himself, than if any others had inter- 
 fered in it. The varlet agreed to their reasons, and, at nightfall, 
 returned to the fort, by a road he was acquainted with, without any 
 hindrance from the besiegers. He there found Aymerigot Marcel, 
 his uncle Guyot du Sel, and the other companions, who made him 
 good cheer, and were astonished that he could have returned from 
 England in so few days. He related everything that had passed, 
 and that a squire from the duke of Lancaster, and Derby the herald 
 had accompanied him with letters from the king and the duke to the 
 viscount de Meaux and to the duke of Berry, should there be occa- 
 sion. " And why did they not come with you hither ?" asked Ay- 
 merigot. " Through prudence, as they told me," replied the varlet, 
 " for they will undertake the commission and delivery of their let- 
 ters themselves, and think it better than that any appearance of col- 
 lusion should be seen between you and them." " They act wisely," 
 said Guyot du Sel, "and show by this, that the king of England 
 and the duke of Lancaster send them of their own accord, and that 
 they are interested in the matter." " Such are their intentions," an- 
 swered the messenger. 
 
 Aymerigot was delighted on hearing this, and told his varlet that 
 he had done justice to his commission, and he in a few^ days would 
 handsomely reward him for it. The English squire and Derby rode 
 on for La Roche de Vendais, to the place where the besiegers lay, and 
 inquired for the quarters of the viscount de Meaux. On being con- 
 ducted thither, they found the viscount amusing himself with seeing 
 the bar thrown. On their approach, they bowed, which civility he 
 returned, and asked, " whence they came ?" They replied, " from 
 England, and that they were sent by the kii:ig and the duke of 
 Lancaster." " You are welcome," said the viscount ; " but what 
 business can have brought you to this wild country ?" " My lord," 
 answered Derby, " this is a squire attached to the duke of Lancas- 
 ter, who brings you letters from the king of England and from his 
 lord, which, if you please, you will read. I have accompanied him, 
 because I am so well acquainted with this country, to serve him as 
 a guide." 
 
 The squire presented his letters, which the viscount, after exam- 
 ining the seals, knew to be authentic, and to come from England. 
 He called one of his men aside who could read, and had their con- 
 tents repeated over two or three times, until he was fully master of 
 them. He was a while pensive, for the king of England had written 
 to complain that he was day and night occupying a part of his terri- 
 tories with a large army, and doing acts to infringe the truce, whici. 
 he ought not to do, being directly contrary to the articles that had 
 been sworn and sealed between him and his adversary of France ; 
 and that as soon as he should have perused these letters, he must raise 
 the siege, march away his army, and leave Aymerigot Marcel in 
 peaceable possession of a castle which had cost him such large sums 
 to fortify. Such and many other expressions in favor of Aymefl|got, 
 did these letters contain. The letter from the duke of Lancaster was 
 nearly similar to those from the king and council ; for he was sove- 
 reign lord and duke of Aquitaine. 
 
 The viscount de Meaux, having consulted some of his friends, said 
 to the squire and the herald ; " My fair sirs, the intelligence you have 
 brought demands full consideration : I will advise upon it, and you 
 shall soon have my answer." They were then conducted to the vis- 
 count's tent, to partake of his wine. During this, a council was sum- 
 moned of the lord de la Tour, sir William le Bouteiller, sir Robert 
 Dauphin, sir Louis d'Abiere, the lord de Montagu, and sir Berald de 
 la Riviere, for this last was of the household of the viscount. When 
 they were assembled, the viscount explained to them the cause, and 
 laid before them the letters he had received. The knights were much 
 surprised how intelligence of their siege could have been carried to 
 England for such letters to be sent from thence, as their siege had not 
 lasted one month. " I will tell you what I imagine," said the vis- 
 count : " this Aymerigot is a cunning fellow ; and the moment he 
 perceived we intended besieging him, he sent a person to England to 
 request such letters might be written as are now before you, and 
 which I shall obey or not as I please. I inform )'ou that I shall in- 
 stantly answer them : but, in regard to the orders of the king of Eng- 
 land and the duke of Lancaster, I shall not pay any attention to them, 
 for I am no way bound to obey them, but solely the king of France, 
 my lord, who has intrusted me with this command, and sent me 
 hither. Let the herald and squire be introduced, and I will give 
 them my answer." They were sought for, and conducted to the as- 
 sembly of the viscount and his knights: when in their piesence, they 
 bowed their heads, and the viscount thus spoke : " You Derby, and 
 you Thomas Cherbury, for such I think are the names you are de- 
 signated by in the letters which you have brought from the king of 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SP AIN. &c 
 
 519 
 
 England and the duke of Lancaster. They have been informed, it 
 seems, (but I know not how, whether by a messenger from Aymeri- 
 got Marcel or some friend of his, Mgio has been in his name to Eng- 
 land ) that I am quartered with a large army on the lands of the king 
 of England, and order me instantly to raise the siege, march away my 
 men, and leave Aymerigot in peaceable possession of the ^^^f jovt 
 that has cost him so large a sum to repair and strengthen. 1 hey tell 
 me likewise that I am risking my own dishonor, by thus infringing a 
 truce, which has been agreed to for three years, between the kings 
 of France and England, and their aUies. I declare to you, my fair sirs, 
 that I will not, by any means, violate the smallest article of the truce, 
 nor shall it be infringed by any act of mine, during my residence here. 
 I am the king of France's subject, my liege lord, who has ordered me 
 hither as his marshal, for the present, from the complaints that have 
 been made him, by the nobles and other inhabitants of the countries 
 of Auvergne and Limousin, of the great damages they have suffered 
 from Aymerigot Marcel, who has seized a fort on the confines of 
 these two provinces that had been abandoned, and was never again 
 intended to be inhabited, which he has repaired and strengthened, 
 not as a mansion, or house for recreation, but as a castle and ren- 
 dezvous for robbers and marauders. I am therefore ordered hither 
 to defend and guard the country against such piUogers as may be 
 collected within this fort, called La Roche de Vendais, to prevent then- 
 increase in numbers and in wickedness, and to arrest all of them 1 
 may be able to lay hold of, that they may suffer the pumshment due 
 to their crimes. In consequence, my fair sirs, I shall strictly obey 
 the commands I have received, and loyally acquit myself of my duty 
 Of course, therefore, I shall not move from hence for any orders 1 
 may receive, until I shall have possession of this fort and the garrison 
 that now holds out against me and my companions. 
 
 " Should Aymerigot Marcel set up a plea, that I have any way 
 broken the truce, which is equivalent to a perfect peace for the time 
 let him come forth, and I will have him fought with by as good it 
 not a better man than himself, and prove that it is he alone who nas, 
 and continues to violate the articles of the truce. Now, my fair sirs, 
 having maturely weighed everything, I have given you my answer, 
 and you may return when you please ; but I beg that, on your return, 
 vou will neither add to nor diminish any part of what I have said to 
 you ; for reporters, by not relating the exact words in which any con- 
 versation has taken place, do not truly inform their lords of the matter. 
 " My lord," replied the squire, " Derby and myself are come hither 
 solely to hear what answer you shall be pleased to make us, and carry 
 it back, and since you have done so, we need not longer remain. 
 
 They took leave of the viscount, who ordered ten francs to be 
 given to the herald, out of affection to the king of England, who had 
 sent him, and regard for the duke of Lancaster, to whom he was at. 
 tached. When they were on the road to Clermont, for they said they 
 had come that way and would return by the same, and when they 
 had advanced about half a league, the following conversation passed 
 between them: "We have had ill success : we must wait on the 
 duke of Berry, who lives in Auvergne." " He is lord of this whole 
 countrv," said Derby, " and himself duke of Berry and Auvergne 
 If he will order the viscount de Meaux to decamp, he rnust do so, for 
 he dare not disobey him. As we have letters to him from the king 
 and the duke of Lancaster, it is but right he should see them, and 
 that we should know his intention on their subject.' Thus did they 
 converse until they arrived at Clermont. They were made weicome, 
 for the herald was well acquainted in these parts, having been there 
 before; and when any questions were asked, who and ^^^at they 
 were, they declared themselves messengers from the king of i^^ngland. 
 Having inquired where the duke resided, they were told at a hand- 
 some castle called La Nonnette. The herald knew it well, and, leav- 
 ing Clermont, thev rode to Issoire, and thence to La Nonnette, but 
 the mountain is very steep on which is situated the castle. On then- 
 arrival, thev found numbers of the duke's servants playmg in the 
 square before the castle-gate. The herald was known to many of 
 them, and conducted to the duke of Berry, who, in consideration of 
 his regard to the king of England and the duke of Lancaster, ordered 
 him and his companions to be well taken care of. 
 
 The squire, being the bearer of the letters from the king, presented 
 them to the duke, who, having read them twice slowly through. 
 Daubed a little, and then gave such courteous answers as both were 
 satisfied with; for he said, "from his affection to his cousm^^^^^^^ 
 would do all in his power to comply with their requests. The heiald 
 and squire concluded from this, that they should completely succeed 
 in their mission, and were in high spirits; but, as you shall he ai^ 
 thev were disappointed. The duke of Berry was not neglectful of 
 lehusZss, ami exerted himself to have the siege of La Roche de 
 Vendais raised, from his regard to the king of England and the. duke 
 of Lancaster, who entreated it ; and engaged that if Aymerigot Mar- 
 cel were left in the quiet possession of his fort, he should not heie- 
 lllXi the country, and that he should make any repaj^^^^^^^^ 
 the king of France for having offended him The du.ce of Berry 
 anxious to oblige the English who were in his castle, wrote letters 
 to this purport to the viscount de Meaux; and, before they were 
 eealed, had them read to his guests, who were cxceedmgly pleased 
 
 with their contents. , . r xi, j i 4^ tv^^ 
 
 The letters were dispatched by an able squire of the duke to the 
 visoount de Meaux. who, having learnt their contents, summoned his 
 
 principal knights, and had them again read in their presence, during 
 the time the squire who had brought them waS made welcome ; for, 
 out of love to the duke of Berry, they gave him good cheer. "Gen- 
 tlemen," said the viscount to his companions, " we shall never have 
 peace since the duke of Ben-y supports Aymerigot, who is the great- 
 est enemy Auvergne and its poor inhabitants have ever had, and foi 
 these last twelve "years has so sore oppressed them. I thought the 
 duke hated him ; but it seems I was mistaken, for he commands me 
 to break up the siege. I will not at this moment obey his orders, but 
 excuse myself from^so doing, by the commit^sion I have received from 
 the king our lord, who strictly enjoined me, on leaving Pans, not to 
 quit this place for any orders I might receive, except they came from 
 himself, until I had conquered the fort of La Roche de Vendais, and 
 taken Aymerigot by fair or foul means, 'i'he duke now commands 
 me to raise the siege, the instant I have read his letters ; but, by my 
 faith, I will do no such thing." " Sir," replied the knights and squires 
 of Auvergne, "you say loyally and well: we will keep steady to you. 
 We suppose that my lord of Berry is induced to write thus in favor 
 of his enemies, by similar letters from the king of England and the 
 duke of Lancaster to those you have received, which the herald and 
 English squire have carried to him." "I dare say you have guessed 
 right," said the viscount : " I will, if I can, find out the truth of it." 
 
 The squire was called in to receive his answer, and when in the 
 presence of the assembled knights, the viscount thus addressed him, 
 calling him by his name, for he knew him well: " Peter, I wish you 
 to understand that I owe, and am desirous of paying, all obedience 
 to my lord of Berry, for he is so noble, and so nearly related to the 
 king, that I should be sorry to do otherwise ; but myself and com- 
 panions, whom you see, have been for these five weeks before this 
 fort, to take it and the thieves who garrison it, by positive orders 
 from the king and council. We wonder, therefore, and not without 
 reason, how my lord of Berry can entreat us in favor of his enemies, 
 and desire us to raise the siege and march away. We all agree in 
 declaring that, if it Vv^ere done, we should give the greatest encourage- 
 ment to all thieves who in future may overrun the kingdom, and in- 
 duce them to commit the greatest outrages. Peter, you will tell the 
 duke of Berry from us all, and from me in particular, that we are 
 ready and willing to obey his commands, but that 1 have been so 
 positively ordered to continue this siege, with much vigor and 
 patience as possible, until I be master of the place and garrison, that 
 I dare not act contrary ; and say, that I shall not obey any other 
 commands but those of the king, whose subject I am, and who has 
 sent me hither. I beg of you, Peter, to tell me one thing, if it is not 
 an improper question for you to answer, how comes it that my lord 
 of Berrv sues in favor of Aymerigot Marcel, who has done such 
 mischief to Auvergne and Limousin, now that he is in a fair way of 
 being caught and punished for his wickedness and breach of faith 
 in the articles of the truce ?" , , , , , i 
 
 The squire replied, " Two Englishmen, a herald and another, have 
 come to the duke, with very pressing letters from the king of Eng. 
 land and the .duke of Lancaster in favor of Aymerigot. " I readily 
 believe you." said the viscount: '-it is Derby the herald, and a squire 
 called Cherbury, who likewise brought me the other day letters simi- 
 lar, I suppose, to those you mention. Say also from me, in addition 
 to what I have before spoken, that I beg my lord of Ben-y to con- 
 sider well this matter; that letters thus obtained irom lords on the 
 other side of the water deserve no attention from lords on this side, 
 who love the honor or advantage of the kingdom of France." " My 
 lord " answered the squire, " be assured that I will repeat every word 
 vou'have said to the duke of Berry, for Aymerigot is not so much in 
 my favor but I would rather see his punishment than his deliverance.' 
 On this, the squire took leave of the viscount and knights present, 
 mounted his horse, and rode to La Nonnette, where he related to the 
 duke of Berry, that the viscount de Meaux would not, for any other 
 commands but those directly from the king, break up his siege. 
 This answer was not very agreeable to the duke, who imagined he 
 was of that importance, his letters ought to have attention paid them 
 in France, or at least in Auvergne. When Derby and his companion 
 learnt the purport of the answer, they were much cast down, for 
 they saw they had labored in vain. They a.ued the duke, what 
 they were now to do. " Shall we leave you wmi unsatisfactory an- 
 swers to our king and the duke of Lancaster? who had the fullest 
 hope you would have had the siege of La Roche de Vendais raised, 
 foi it is within your territories." "A Utile patience' replied tlie 
 duke : " Aymerigot is in a very strong place, and unless some un 
 fortunate accident happen, cannot for a long time be taken. I must 
 shortly go to Paris ; and, when there, I will press the matter warmly 
 with the king and his council, since my good cousins of England are 
 so earnest in the matter. You both shall accompany me, and wit 
 ness the exertions I make." This speech contented the squire and 
 
 wftWn four davs afterwards, the duke set out from La Nonnette 
 leaving there the duchess and the greater part of his household, and 
 went fo Riom in Auvergne. He waited there eight days for the 
 count de Sancerre and the lord de Renel,* whom he had sent to 
 AvTnon on Ms private affairs. On their arrival, they set out together 
 thvol^h the Bourbonnois, and, by a short day's journey, came to 
 Bourses where thev tarried two days. On the third, the duke de. 
 
 * " The lo d de Renel." The AISS. have Revel. 
 
520 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN. &c. 
 
 parted, and came to Mehun-sur-Yevre * where he had one of the 
 handsomest castles in the world ; for the duke had expended upward 
 of three hundred thousand francs in building and ornamenting it. 
 He remained there a fortnight, to the great uneasiness of the two 
 Englishmen who were suitors for Aymerigot : but, as they could not 
 help it, they dissembled their thoughts. Indeed, the duke no longer 
 intended interfering about him, and I will explain why. The count 
 de Sancerre, the lord de Renel, and sir Peter Mespin, were his prin- 
 cipal advisers : they heavily charged Aymerigot with several crimes, 
 gently blaming the duke, and saying it was unbecoming him to in- 
 terfere in the a flairs of so notorious a pillager, whose whole life had 
 been infamous ; that he had committed such disgraceful acts in Au- 
 vergne and Limousin, it would be improper to speak in his favor, 
 and that he ought to be left for the king's justice to punish. This, 
 and speeches similar to it, had so cooled the duke as to prevent him 
 from thinking longer on the subject ; but the two Englishmen did 
 not neglect their duty in reminding the duke of it, who, dissembling 
 his real opinion, courteously answered, " Have patience : we shall 
 soon be at Paris." Notwithstanding this, he still remained at Me- 
 hun-sur-Yevre more than three weeks, planning new improvements 
 with his master of the works, Andrew Beau-neveu, in sculpture and 
 painting ; for in such arts he took great delight, and was well skilled 
 in them. There was not a more able man in this respect than mas- 
 ter Andrew Beau-neveu, in any country, as may be judged from the 
 many fine works he executed in France, Hainault, (his native coun- 
 try,) and England, where they now remain. 
 
 CHAPTER XVll. 
 
 AYMERIGOT MARCEL HAVING LEFT LA ROCHE DE VENDAIS, TO SEEK SUC- 
 COR FROM OTHER PILLAGERS, HIS LIEUTENANT, GUYOT DU SEL, IS 
 SURPRISED BY AN AMBUSCADE, AND THE FORT SURRENDERS ON CAPI- 
 TULATION. 
 
 I WILL now relate what happened to Aymerigot Marcel, and to his 
 fort of La Roche de Vendais. He had a quick imagination, and 
 concluded, from the continuance of the siege, that the letters from 
 the king of England and the duke of Lancaster had failed in the 
 effect he looked to from them. He therefore thought of another ex- 
 pedient, which was to leave his castle and ride night and day unto 
 the garrisons in Perigord and other places, to call upon Guyonnet 
 de Sainte Foix, Ernauton de Sainte Colombe, Ernauton de Rostem, 
 John de Morsen, Peter d'Anchin, Remonnet de Copane, with other 
 Gascon and Bearnois men-at-arms of the English party, and entice 
 them by fair speeches to enter Auvergne for the sake of plunder, 
 and then to advance to La Roche de Vendais, some morning or eve. 
 ning, and capture the knights and squires before it, which would 
 bring them morjs than one hundred thousand francs for their ransoms, 
 without counting smaller articles of pillage. He explained his whole 
 plan to his uncle, Guyot du Sel, and asked his opinion. He replied, 
 that he very much approved of it, for that he saw no other means of 
 being delivered from the French. " Well, uncle," said Aymerigot, 
 " since you approve, I Vv^ill undertake it ; but I must beg one thing 
 of you before I set out." " What is that?" replied Guyot. " It is, 
 that during my absence you never sally out of the castle, nor open 
 the barriers, whatever skirmishes the French may make, for you 
 may lose more than you can gain." " I will take care not to do it," 
 answered Guyot: " we will remain shut up here until your return, 
 or until we hear some news of you." " Indeed, my good uncle, I 
 beg it of you, for we cannot vex them more than by keeping within 
 our walls : as for their attacks and skirmishes, we do not value them." 
 Within three days after, Aymerigot left the castle attended only by 
 a page, and began his journey without fear of the French. His in- 
 tention was to bring back with him some bold companions, and raise 
 the siege. 
 
 Although Aymerigot had quitted La Roche de Vendais, it was un- 
 known to the besiegers ; for the garrison could go in and out with- 
 out danger from them. There were daily skirmishes before the 
 castle and at the barriers ; and, about five or six days after the de. 
 parture of Aymerigot, there was a grand assault made by the French, 
 who were divided into three parties, all of which were engaged. 
 Guyot du Sel was a good man-at-arms, and had long used them ; but 
 through arrogance, and neglecting to observe the orders of his nephew 
 not to open the barriers nor to sally forth on any account, he suffered 
 as you will hear. 
 
 Three squires, two from Auvergne and one from Brittany, dis- 
 played great courage, and were preeminent at this attack at the part 
 of the old walls very near the castle. The squires from Auvergne 
 were called Richard de la Violette and Lubinot de Rochefort ; the 
 Breton was le Monadic, who, when made prisoner, at the taking of 
 Ventadour, had attached himself to sir William le Bouteiller. This 
 assault lasted until night, and, though these squires gained renown, 
 the besiegers, in spite of their labor and pain, made no other profit. 
 The viscount de Meaux determined, that at the next skirmish he 
 would place an ambuscade of twelve men-at-arms in an old grotto 
 withoutside the fort ; and he told his men, " Advance to skirmish 
 
 * " Mehun-sur-Yevre." Charles VII. built a large castle, or probably repaired this 
 of the duke of Berry, wherein he died, 1461, having starved himself for fear of being 
 poiioned by his son, Louis XI. 
 
 at the barriers ; and if you shall perceive the garrison inclined to 
 make a sally, as is likely enough for such covetous persons to do, 
 retire gently on this side the ambush, when you will wheel round to 
 renew the attack, and they, being thus surrounded, will be made 
 prisoners or slain." 
 
 The viscount's plan was executed. Those named for vhe ambus- 
 cade were Lewis de la Glisvelle, Robert de Bethencourt, Vandelle, 
 William de la Saulsoye, Peter de Saint Vidal, Gionnet de Villerac- 
 que, Peter de Col, Andrew de la Roche, John Salmage, with three 
 others to make up the dozen of good men-at-arms, who posted them- 
 selves within the old grotto. Another party went to skirmish, under 
 the command of the three before-named squires : they were richly 
 armed at all points, the more to tempt the avarice of the garrison, 
 and were only twelve in number. When arrived at the barriers, 
 they purposely began the attack most awkwardly, so that Guyot du 
 Sel held them cheap, and said to his companions, " By saint Marcel, 
 we will make a sally ; for there are at the barriers a set of youngsters 
 who, from their manner, do not seem much accustomed to the use 
 of arms. We will teach them their use ; and they cannot avoid 
 being our prisoners." At these words, he had the barriers flung open, 
 and sallied forth, forgetful of his promise to Aymerigot. The great 
 desire he had to perform some deed of arms, and to gain a prize, 
 induced him to act thus. The French were much rejoiced to see 
 the garrison without the fort, and that Guyot du Sel was among the 
 first : they retreated, by little and little, until they had passed the 
 ambush, eagerly pursued by Guyot's party. When those in ambush 
 saw it was time, they quitted the grotto, and posted themselves on 
 the road to the fort, shouting out " Coucy for the viscount 1" and -thus 
 inclosed their front and rear. 
 
 Guyot du Sel, observing this, knew he had been in fault, and that 
 it would be difficult for him to save himself, or to return to the fort. 
 He began to retire toward the barriers, but was strongly opposed. 
 Why should I lengthen my story ? They were all made prisoners, 
 as it were in a trap, and led in triumph to the quarters of the viscount 
 and the other knights. When the viscount de Meaux saw Guyot 
 du Sel, he asked him " where was Aymerigot Marcel ?" for he thought 
 he was in the castle. Guyot replied, " he was ignorant where he 
 was, for he had left the fort twelve days ago." The knights, hearing 
 this, concluded lie was gone to seek for aid. Guyot du Sel and his 
 fellow-prisoners were then ordered away; and the viscount asked 
 the knights of Auvergne, " what should be done to these prisoners ?" 
 for he wished to act from their decision. Sir William le Bouteiller 
 answered, " Sir, I certainly believe that Aymerigot Marcel is gone 
 to persuade the garrisons of other forts to come to his assistance : he 
 will easily find, in spite of the truce, adventurers, who will join him 
 in his wickedness, and they may fall on us some morning or evening 
 when we are unprepared to resist them, and do us much damage : 
 Aymerigot is very cunning, and of great wealth. Let us therefore 
 tell Guyot du Sel to surrender La Roche de Vendais, and if he refuse 
 his consent, that his own head, and those of all his companions, shall 
 instantly be sacrificed." 
 
 " This is good advice," replied the viscount ; " for, in truth, to 
 obtain this fort are we come into the country. If we have not now 
 Aymerigot Marcel, another time we may be more successful." Upon 
 this, the viscount, the lord de la Tour, sir Robert Dauphin, sir Wil- 
 liam le Bouteiller and their companions, advanced as near to the fort 
 as they could, carrying with them Guyot du Sel and the other pris- 
 oners. The viscount, addressing himself to Guyot as the captain, 
 said, " Guyot, you, as well as your friends, who are now our prisoners, 
 must know that, unless you will sm-render to us the fort of La Roche 
 de Vendais, we shall instantly order your heads to be cut off ; but, 
 if you will yield it up, we will allow you freely to depart whither 
 you please. Now, consider which you prefer, death or liberty." 
 Guyot du Sel replied, " My lord, I will do all I can to accommodate 
 you:" and with this he advanced to the barriers to speak with those 
 within the fort. You must know, that the remaining garrison looked 
 on themselves as conquered ; for they knew not how to act, nor 
 whom to choose for their leader, since they had now lost their two 
 captains, the most able among them. Guyot du Sel had no sooner 
 explained his situation, than they agreed to surrender on the terms, 
 that they should carry away with them all they were able, and be 
 allowed one month to retire whither they pleased. This was in- 
 stantly agreed to, and written and signed. The French, by me for- 
 tunate issue of the skirmish, became masters of La Roche de Vendais: 
 so true is it, that good or ill fortune in arms is the lot of perseverance. 
 
 The whole country was much rejoiced on hearing of this surren- 
 der. The articles of the treaty with Guyot du Sel were punctually 
 observed, and when the garrison had packed up all they could carry, 
 they had permission to depart, and passports given them, to continue 
 for one month. The viscount de Meaux and his knights abandoned 
 La Roche de Vendais to the country people, who instantly set about 
 demolishing it, and never left it until there did not remain one stone 
 on another. The men-at-arms from Auvergne, who had joined the 
 viscount, now took leave of him, and returned to their homes. The 
 viscount permitted many of his own men to depart for Picardy : he 
 himself went for La Rochelle, but stopped at Saint Jean d'Angely, to 
 defend that part of Saintonge against pillagers, who, whenever they 
 found a good opportunity, overran it, for hjs orders were to oppose 
 them. ^ 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 531 
 
 CHAPTER XVIIL 
 
 THE MESSENGERS FROM ENGLAND, HEARING OF THE SURRENDER OF LA 
 ROCHE DE VENDAIS, TAKE LEAVE OF THE DUKE OF BERRY. AYMERIGOT 
 RETIRES TO THE HOUSE OF A RELATION, CALLED TOURNEMINE, WHO 
 BETRAYS HIM TO THE KING OF FRANCE. _HE IS CARRIED TO PARIS, AND 
 THERE BEHEAL ^.D AND HIS BODY QUARTERED. 
 
 You have heaid how La Roche de Vendais was won, to the con- 
 tentment of the surrounding country, for, had it been otherwise, it 
 would have suffered much from the garrison. News of this was car- 
 ried to the duke of Berry at Canteion, a manor of his situated between 
 Chartres and Montlehery, nine leagues from Paris ; but he was indif- 
 ferent about the matter, for he v/as become quite cool in regard to 
 soliciting the king in favor of Aj merigot Marcel. 
 
 Execution of Aymerigot Marcel at Paris. From a MS. Froissart of the Fifteenth century. 
 
 roads through Poitou, Normandy, and Picardy, that lead to the sea, 
 are well guarded. I have forfeited my life ; that is clear ; and, if I 
 am taken and sent to Paris, shall be punished accordingly, and lose 
 my all. My safest plan will be to make for Bordeaux, and to have 
 my wealth sent thither by Utile and little, and then to remain there as 
 long as the truce holds ; for I am in hopes that, after these truces, a 
 curse on them ! the war will be renewed with more vigor than ever 
 between France and England. The free companions will, by that 
 time, have spent their former gains, and be eager to replenish their 
 purses." Thus did Aymerigot Marcel converse with himself: he was 
 cast down and sorrowful, and knew not from whom to ask advice, 
 nor whether to return to Auvergne, or go to Bordeaux and send for 
 his wife, and have his fortune brought thither by little at a time. If 
 he had followed this plan, he would have done well ; but he acted 
 otherwise, and, as the event will show, sufFeredTor it. It is thus 
 
 Fortune treats her favorites ; 
 when she has raised them to 
 the highest point of her wheel, 
 she suddenly plunges them ij^ 
 the dirt : witness Aymerigot 
 Marcel. The foolish fellow 
 was worth, as was believed in 
 Auvergne, more than one hun- 
 dred thousand francs in money, 
 which he lost in one day, to- 
 gether with his life. 1 there- 
 fore say, that dame Fortune 
 played him one of her tricks, 
 which she had played to sev. 
 eral before, and she will do 
 the same to many after him. 
 
 Aymerigot, in his tribula- 
 tions, bethought himself of a 
 cousin-german he had in Au- 
 vergne, a squire called Tourne- 
 mine, to whom he resolved to 
 apply, and ask his advice. 
 This he did, and, only attended 
 by a page, entered the castle 
 of his cousin. He thought to 
 be well received there, on ac 
 count of his relationship, bu*. 
 was disappointed ; for this 
 squire was not in the good 
 graces of the duke of Beny, 
 who indeed hated him, as the 
 squire knew well. He was 
 afraid of the consequences, 
 and resolved, on seeing his 
 cousin Aymerigot enter his 
 castle, to arrest him and inform 
 the duke of Berry what he had 
 done, and offer, if he would 
 
 When Derby the herald heard of the surrender from the duke's 
 knights, he said to Cherbury, " I have lost one hundred francs, which 
 Aymerigot had promised me." " For what? and how have you lost 
 them ?" asked the squire. *' In God's name," said Derby, " La Roche 
 de Vendais has surrendered : the French have conquered it. Let us 
 take leave of the duke of Berry and return to England, for we have 
 nothing further to do here." " Since it is so," answered the squire, 
 " I agree to it." They demanded leave of the duke to depart, who 
 granted it, and gave them letters to the king of England and the 
 duke of Lancaster, in answer to those they had brought. On their 
 departure, he presented the herald with forty francs, and gave to the 
 squire a handsome hackney. On quitting the duke, they took the 
 shortest road to Calais, and, I believe, went straight to England. 
 
 News of the loss of this fort was carried to Aymerigot Marcel, as 
 he was raising troops to break up the siege. When he first heard it, 
 he would have all the particulars told him. On learning that it had 
 been occasioned by an imprudent sally Guyot du Sel had made on 
 the French, he exclaimed ; " Ah, the old traitor I by Saint Marcel, 
 if I had him here, I would slay him. He has disgraced me and all 
 my companions. On my departui-e, I had most positively ordered 
 him not to quit the fort, whatever attempts the French might make, 
 and*^he has done just the contrary. This loss can never be recovered ; 
 nor do I know whither to make my retreat. The garris.ons of Cha- 
 luget and Donzac are determined to abide by the truce, and my com. 
 panions are scattered abroad like disconr^ted persons ; but, if they 
 were with me, I know not whither I could lead them. Considering 
 all things, I am in a distressing situation : I have too greatly angered 
 the king of France, the duke of Berry, and the barons and common- 
 alty of Auvergne, to expect any favor ; for I have made war on them 
 during the truce, thinking to gain, but I am now more likely to lose 
 everything : I know not how to act ; I wish at this moment that my 
 wife, myself and fortune, were in England ; we there sliould be safe ; 
 but how the devil are we to get thither ? for I shall be robbed of my 
 wealth twenty times before I ca|i arrive at the sea-shore. All the 
 
 forgive him and be on good 
 terms for the future, to deliver 
 up Aymerigot Marcel, for him to do with him as he should please. 
 All this he executed ; for, when Aymerigot entered the castle, he 
 was shown into a chamber, when, having pulled off his sword and 
 cleaned himself, he asked the servants, "Where is my cousin Tourne- 
 mine ?" " He is in his chamber," replied the servants, who already 
 knew their master's design : " come and see him." " With all my 
 heart," said Aymerigot. Having put on a new dress, and laid aside 
 his coat of mail, which he usually wore, he said to the servants, 
 " Come, let us go to my cousin Tournemine, for it is a long time 
 since I have seen him." They conducted him straight to his 
 chamber, and, on entering it, Aymerigot saluted him, suspecting no 
 evil : but Tournemine said ; " How is this, Aymerigot ? Who has 
 sent for you ? and what has brought you hither ? You wish to dis- 
 honor me. I therefore arrest you as my prisoner ; for I should not 
 otherwise loyally acquit myself to the crown of France, nor to my 
 lord of Berry : you are a wicked traitor, who have broken the truce, 
 and shall suffer for it : it is on your account the duke of Berry hates 
 me mortally, but, through your means, I will make my peace ; for, 
 dead or alive, you shall be given up to him, and never, on any other 
 account, shall you leave this castle." This speech astonished Ay. 
 merigot, who replied ; " Why, Tournemine, I am your cousin. Are 
 you in earnest in what you say ? or do you do it to try me ? I came 
 hither, in full confidence, to see you and ask your advice, and I meet 
 with this cruel and harsh reception." " I know not what you pro. 
 posed for yourself," answered Tournemine, " but I shall certainly 
 execute what I have intimated to you," and then laid hands on him: 
 his servants, who knew what they were to do, advanced and seized 
 him. Thus was Aymerigot taken without a possibility of making 
 any defence ; for, as I have said, he had disarmed himself ; nor could 
 any entreaties prevent Tournemine from ordering him heavy fetters 
 on his legs, and causing him to be confined in a strong tower under 
 safeguards. 
 
 When this was done, he had the gates of the castle locked, taking 
 himself the keys, ordering his servants, under pain of death, not to 
 
522 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 go near the gates unless sent by him. He then wrote letters to the 
 duke of Berry, to say he had made Aymerigot Marcel his prisoner ; 
 and if he would forgive him and make a solid peace, he would give 
 him up to his pleasure. When the letters were finished and sealed, 
 he called to him his nicst cuafidential servant, and said ; " Set out 
 instantly for Paris, and deliver these letters to the duke of Berry : 
 recommend me to him, and be sure not to return without answers." 
 The varlet took the letters, mounted an active horse, and rode to 
 Paris, where the duke of Berry was. On being admitted, he pre. 
 sented the letters from his master, Tournemine. The duke, having 
 opened and read them, said smiling to his knights ; " Would you like 
 to hear news ? Aymerigot Marcel is caught : his cousin.german 
 Tournemine, as he writes me word, holds him in prison." The 
 knights replied ; "My lord, this is excellent news for Auvergne and 
 Limousin ; for they have had, for a long time, a bad neighbor in Ay- 
 merigot. He has done so much mischief that, if you please, he shall 
 make his end on a gibbet, for he deserves no favor nor pardon." " I 
 know not," said the duke, "what the king or his council may wish 
 to do with him : I shall talk with them on the subject." Not long 
 after this conversation, the duke took boat and crossed the Seine to 
 the Louvre, where the king and his council were. He related the 
 intelligence he had received, and gave them the letters of Tourne- 
 mine to read, which afforded satisfaction to all. The lords said, that 
 Buch pillagers always came to a disgraceful death, and that sooner or 
 later it awaited them. It was determined, that the duke of Berry 
 should undertake the management of this business, and order the 
 seneschal of Auvergne to fetch Aymerigot, and bring him to Paris, 
 where he should be confined in the Bastille, at the gate of St. An- 
 thony, and delivered over to the provost of the Chatelet, who would 
 take good care of him. It was also resolved, that on account of the 
 agreeable service Tournemine had now done to the crown of France, 
 all his former misdeeds should be forgiven, and a pardon granted by 
 letters patent, which Tournemine's servant brought back with him, 
 and by it pleased his master greatly, for in them he confided. 
 
 It was not long before the seneschal of Auvergne, by an order 
 from the duke of Berry, came to the castle of Tournemine, and had 
 Aymerigot Marcel delivered up to him : who was thunderstruck at 
 thus finding himself in the hands of his enemies. Why should I 
 make a long story of it ? The seneschal had him escorted by a 
 body of men-at-arms through the country, and crossed the Seine and 
 Marne at Charenton. Thence he conducted him to the castle of 
 the Bastille, and delivered him to the charge of the viscount d'Achy, 
 who was at that time governor of it. He was not long detained 
 there, but given up to the provost of the Cha,telet, who carried him 
 thither. True it is, that he offered sixty thousand francs for his 
 pardon, but no one would have anything to do with him : they told 
 him the king was rich enough, and wanted not his money. From 
 the time he was delivered to the provost, there was no delay in his 
 trial, when he was condemned to a shameful death, as a traitor to the 
 crown of France. 
 
 He was first carried in a cart to the pillory in the market-place, 
 and turned round within it several times. His diflferent crimes were 
 then read aloud, for which he was to receive death. Sir William le 
 Trun* was by his'side a long time, and talked much with him, on 
 the affairs of Auvergne, as it Vvas supposed, and to learn the truth 
 respecting several captains of forts, whether they had been associates 
 in his wickedness. This was certainly known to the lords, but I 
 never could gain information respecting it. Plis head was cut off, 
 and his four quarters affixed over four different gates of Paris. Such 
 was the end of Aymerigot Marcel ; but I know not what became of 
 his wife, or of his wealth. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 tHE CHRISTIAN LORDS WEIGH ANCHOR, AND LEAVE THE ISLAND OF 
 COMING, IN ORDER TO LAY SIEGE TO THE TOWN OF AFRICA. THE 
 MANNER IN WHICH TIIEY CONDUCT THEMSELVES. 
 
 I HAVE dwelt very long on the subject of Aymerigot Marcel, in 
 detailing his actions, that I might illustrate his life and death ; for in 
 such a history as this, both good and bad must be spoken of, that 
 they may serve as an excitement or warning in times to come. Had 
 Aymerigot turned his mind to virtue, he would have done much 
 good, for he was an able man-at-arms and of great courage; but, 
 having acted in a difTsrent manner, he came to a disgraceful death. 
 
 We will return to the noble enterprise the knights of France and 
 other countries had undertaken against Africa, and continue our 
 narrative from the place where we left off. It was, I believe, at the 
 island of Comino that the knights had assembled, after the great 
 etorm in the gulf of Lyons, to wait for those who had separated from 
 the fieet, as that island was but thirty miles from Africa, whither 
 they wez-e bound. They remained there nine days, and, when re- 
 covered from their fatigues, they addressed the masters of the galleys 
 as follows : " Gentlemen, we are now on the nearest land to the 
 strong town of Africa, whither, if it please God, we will go, and 
 beeiege it. We must therefore consult with you how we may enter 
 the harbor and disembark. We propose to send in advance our 
 
 * In tht MSB. it is sir William le Bouteiller, which I should think more probable. 
 
 smaller vessels, called brigandines, to amuse the enemy, while wo 
 remain at the mouth of the harbor : on the following day we will, 
 at our leisure, land, through God's grace, and encamp ourselves as 
 near the tov/n as possible, out of the reach of their bricolles :* the 
 Genoese cross-bows shall be drawn up, and ready for defence or at- 
 tack. We suppose that, on our debarkation, a multitude of your 
 young squires will demand to be knighted, for increase of honor and 
 advancement. Instruct them* gently how they ought to act, for you 
 are very capable of doing it ; and know, gentlemen, that we are well 
 inclined to acquit ourselves handsomely toward you ; and, to show 
 our eagerness to annoy the enemy, we shall take every possible 
 pains that this town of Africa may be won. It has done you too 
 great damage to be longer end'ured, and is, besides, the key to the 
 empire of Barbary and the surrounding kingdoms of Africa, Morocco 
 and Bugia. Should God, of his goodness, permit us to conquer it, 
 all the Saracens will tremble, as far as Nubia and Syria, and we 
 shall be everywhere talked of. With the assistance of the princes 
 of Christendom, who are the nearest to us, we may reinforce it with 
 men, and victual it again ; so that, if once we gain possession, it 
 will become a place for all knights and squires to adventure them- 
 selves in arms against the enemies of God, and conquer their lands." 
 " My lords," replied the masters of the vessels, " we shall never pre- 
 tend to teach you how to act, but give our opinions with all modesty 
 and humility ; for you are too noble, wise and valiant, for us to pre- 
 tend to lay down rules for your conduct." The lord de Coucy said, 
 " We should, however, wish to have your opinions, for we have 
 observed nothing but what is praiseworthy in you ; and, as it is you 
 who have brought us hither, to accomplish deeds of arms, we shall 
 never act without having your advice." Such were the conversa- 
 tions held in the island of Comino, in the presence of the duke of 
 Bourbon, the count d'Eu, and some of the great barons of France, 
 with the captains of the Genoese vessels, before they sailed for the 
 coast of Africa. 
 
 When all was ready, and the men-at-arms had reembarked on 
 board their galleys, with a good will to meet their enemies the Sara- 
 cens, the admiral gave orders for the trumpets to sound, and the fleet 
 to get under weigh. The sea was now calm, and the weather fine : 
 it was a pleasure to see the rowers force their vessels through its 
 smooth surface, which seemed to delight in bearing these Christians 
 to the shores of the infidels. Their fleet was numerous and well 
 ordered ; and it was a fine sight to view their various banners and 
 pennons, emblazoned with their arms, fluttering with the gentle 
 gales, and glittering in the sun. Late in the evening, the Christians 
 saw the towers of Africa, as pointed out to them by the sailors, 
 which, as they advanced, opened more to their view. Every one 
 was rejoiced at this sight, and not without cause, as they had in part 
 accomplished the object of their voyage. If the Christians, on thus 
 seeing Africa, conversed much concerning the war they v. ere about 
 to commence, the Saracens, who had so plainly observed them from 
 their tov/n, and were on the watch, did the same. They were as- 
 tonished at the great number of vessels, of all descriptions, and con- 
 cluded they had a very large army on board, to beeiege the town. 
 They were not cast down with this, for they knew the place was 
 strong, well fortified wi-th towers, and plentifully stored with artillery 
 and provisions. 
 
 On their first noticing the fleet, they sounded, according to custom, 
 a number of bells on the towers, to alarm and inform the country 
 that an enemy was on the coast. There were encamped near the 
 town a large body of barbarians and infidels, whom the kings of 
 Tunis and Bugia had sent thither to defend the coa?t, and prevent 
 the Christians from making any progress into the interior of the 
 country. The noise of the trumpets and drums announced the arrival 
 of the Christians ; and, in consequence, they formed their army 
 according to their manner, and sent some of the ablest captains to 
 the shore to observe the motions of the enemy, and the manner of 
 their debarkation. They also posted their most expert men-at-arms 
 on the towers and battlements of the town, that they might not be 
 taken by surprise ; for it was strong enough to resist everything but 
 a long siege, if they were on their guard. 
 
 As I, John Froissart, the author of these chronicles, was never in 
 Africa, I sought all the information I could from those knights and 
 squires who had been on this expedition, and made several journeys 
 to Calais to learn the truth of all thatpassed.t [Having inquired as 
 to the size and form of the town of Africa, some who had been there 
 figured it out to me, and said it was in the form of a bow, like to 
 Calais, extending its arms toward the sea. This town of Africa, at 
 the time the lords of France and other nations were before it, witli 
 an anxious desire to win it, was wonderfully strong, surrounded with 
 high walls at proper distances : the entrance of the harbor was 
 defended by a tower larger than the rest, on which was placed a 
 bricolle to cast large stones and quarrels, with which it was well 
 provided. 
 
 When the Christians approp.ched the harbor, the walls of the town 
 seemed to be hung with cloths or tapestry, somewhat similar in ap- 
 pearance to coverlids of bed.s. They cast anchor about one league 
 
 * " Bricolles," Machines to thrt jw stones : a sort of sling.— Du Cangk. 
 
 t All within these marks [ ] is additional matter, omitted by Sauvage and Verrard, 
 from MS. No. 4379. Bib. Harl. in thp Museum, and from a MS. in the Hifod Librarr., 
 which is precisely the same. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 533 
 
 distant from the port, where they remained until the morrow. The 
 night was clear and serene, for it was the month of July, about Mag- 
 dalen-tide ; and they made themselves comfortable, rejoicing that, 
 through God's pleasure, they had so far succeeded as to have the town 
 of Africa now before them. 
 
 The Saracen?, who were on the opposite shore watching the Chris, 
 tian fleet, held ti is night a council on their future mode of proceeding, 
 for they knew t! e town would be besieged. They thus conversed 
 among theniselvc s : " Our enemies are now arrived : they will, if 
 they can, land and lay siege to Africa, which is the key to the ad- 
 joining kingdoms. We must, therefore, consider well our plans for 
 opposing them ; otherwise we shall be greatly blamed, and especially 
 li' we should not at first dispute their landing." It was proposed by 
 a valiant Suracen, called Mandifer, to resist their landing, as being 
 the most honorable, and to oppL--e them instantly with their whole 
 force, or they would probably hi. ve fault found with them. This 
 was strongly supported by many, as it seemed the most courageous 
 plan ; when an ancient Saracen began to speak, who had great in- 
 fluence among them, as he showed. This lord came from a town- 
 HI Africa called Maldages, and his name was Bellius. He gave his 
 opinion quite contrary to that of Mandifer, and supported it with the 
 following reasons : " Gentlemen, we are sent hither to guard the 
 coast and defend this country : but we have no orders from the kings 
 of Tunis or of Bugia to attack our enemies without having maturely 
 i';;nsidered the consequences. What I have to propose, I will main- 
 loin by such reasons as these : First, you must suppose that this army 
 of Christians has been long in preparation, and is provided with all 
 things necessary. Their captains, you may also believe, are perfect 
 indii-::t-arms, a.v able in council as in the field, with the greatest ardor 
 to perform deeci of arms. If we meet them on the shore, they v^'ill 
 advance their Ge noese cross-bows, for you may be assured they have 
 brought numbers of them. It will be against them who have such 
 excellent cross-bows that we must support the first attack ; and we 
 are not armed nor have we shields to guard us against their arrows : 
 our men, finding themselves wounded, will draw back and refuse the 
 combat, so that these Genoese will make good their landing in spite 
 of us. Their men-at-arms, desirous of displaying their courage, will 
 leap fram their boats, and, observing our disorder, will attack us with 
 lances, and gain a victory : should this happen, the town of Africa 
 is irrecoverably lost for anything we can do to prevent it. Those 
 within will be so much discouraged by our defeat, that before our 
 men can be rallied, the place will be taken by storm or capitulation, 
 and be so well guarded that we shall have the greatest difficulty to 
 regain it. The French, and those with them, are very expert and 
 Bubtle in arms. I therefore maintain, that it will be more to our ad- 
 vantage that the enemy should be ignorant of our force at the onset; 
 for at this moment we have not a sufficiency to offer them battle, 
 though our strength is daily increasing. I advise, that we suffer them 
 to disembark at their ease ; for, as they have no horses to advance 
 into the country, they will remain where they land, suspicious of our 
 intentions.] The town of Africa is not afraid of them, nor of their 
 attacks, for it is tolerably strong, and well provided with everything. 
 The air is now warm, and will be hotter. They will be exposed to 
 the heat of the sun, while we shall be in the shade. Their provisions 
 will be destroyed, without hopes of having a supply, if they make 
 any long stay, and we shall have abundance from our own country : 
 we will frequently beat up their quarters ; and should they be unfor- 
 tunate in these skirmishes, they will be worn down. We must avoid 
 all general engagements, otherwise we cannot conquer them ; but 
 we shall do it by this plan, and trusting to the climate, which is con- 
 trary to the nature of their constitutions. [They will not have any 
 reinforcements, and we shall have many. The extreme heat of the 
 sun, and the fatigue they will undergo from being always armed in 
 fear of us, will very soon bring on disorders which will carry num- 
 bers to the grave, and thus shall we be revenged without striking a 
 blow.] Such is the plan I propose ; and, if I knew of any better, I 
 would lay it before you." 
 
 All those in the council who had been used to arms, adopted the 
 advice the old Saracen lord had given. It was in consequence for- 
 bidden, under pain of death, for the army to attack or skirmish with 
 the Christians on the sea-shore, but they were ordered to remain 
 quietly in their quarters, and suflfer them to land and encamp them- 
 selves without any opposition. None dared infringe these orders. 
 They sent a body of their archers into the town of Africa, to assist in 
 its defence, and never made any movement until the morrow, so that 
 the country seemed uninhabited. 
 
 The Christians having loin this night, as I have said, at anchor at 
 the mouth of the harbor, made themselves ready the next day, which 
 was a clear bright morning, for approaching the town, being very de- 
 sirous to land. Trumpets and clarions began to sound and make a 
 loud noise on board the different galleys and ships. When it was 
 about nine o'clock, and the Christians had drunk a cup, and partaken 
 of soup made of Grecian or Malmsey wines, with which they had 
 abimdantly provided themselves, to cheer their hearts and raise their 
 spirits, they began to execute the plan they had laid down while at 
 the island of Comino. They sent, as it seems to me, some light ves- 
 sels called brigandines, armed with bricoUes and cannons, first toward 
 the harbor. When they were properly drawn up in array, they en- 
 tered the haven, and saluted the town with arrows and stones ; but 
 
 the walls were hung with wet carpeting to deaden the blows. These 
 brigandines entered the port without damage, and were followed by 
 the galleys and other vessels in such handsome order as to make a 
 pleasant show. In turning into the harbor, there was a large castle 
 with towers, and on one larger than the rest was placed a bricolle, 
 for the defence of the place, which was not idle, bul threw quarrels 
 among the fleet. On each of the towers on the walls was a kicoUe 
 which shot well ; and, to say the truth, the Saracens had laid in stores 
 for a long time, from the expectation of a siege. 
 
 When the Christians entered the port of Africa, to disembark, the 
 weather was so beautiful, and their order so well preserved, that it 
 was delightful to see it. Their trumpets and clarions made the air 
 resound, and were echoed back by the waves. Many knights both 
 from France and from other countries now displayed their banners, 
 and several knights were created. The first of whom was John lord 
 de Ligny, in Hainault: he was knighted by his cousin, sir Henry 
 d'Antoing , and the lord de Ligny there first displayed his banner, 
 which was emblazoned with his arms on a field or, having a bend 
 gules. He was accomp<inied by his cousin-german, the lord d'Hav- 
 reth in Hainault. All the knights and squires disembarked in view 
 of the Saracens, on a Wednesday, the vigil of Magdalen-day,* in the 
 year of grace 1390, and as they landed, encamped according to or- 
 ders from the marshals. Thus they took possession of the land of 
 their enemies, who, noticing their camp, could not avoid highly prais- 
 ing the good order of it. Those in the larger galleys, that could not 
 lie near the shore, were put into boats and conveyed to land, under 
 the banner of our Lady. The Saracens, both within and without 
 the town, allowed them to land peaceably, for they were not in num- 
 bers sufficient to oppose them : and the French advanced with dis- 
 played banners, on which were emblazoned their arms, to places 
 marked out for their lodgings by the marshals. 
 
 The duke of Bourbon, as commander-in-chief, was lodged in the 
 centre of his army, with all honor, and powerfully guarded. The 
 device on his banner, powdered over with flowers-de-luce, was a 
 figure of the Virgin Mary in white, seated in the centre, and an es- 
 cutcheon of Bourbon at her feet. I will name those lords of rank 
 who were quartered on the right of the duke, looking toward the 
 town : first, sir William de la Tremouille and his brother with a pen- 
 non ; the lord de Bordenay, with a banner ; sir Helion de Lignac, 
 with a pennon ; the lord de Tours, the same. Then were placed the 
 Hainaulters, whose standard bore the device of the lord William of 
 Hainault, at that time count d'Ostrevant, eldest son of duke Albert of 
 Bavaria, count of Holland, Hainault and Zealand, which device was 
 a harrow or, on a field gules. There was the lord d'Havreth with 
 his banner ; the lord de Ligny, with his ; and then the lord Philip, 
 count d'Artois, with his banner ; the lord de Mathefelon, with his 
 banner ; the lord de Calan, with a pennon ; the seneschal d'Eu, with 
 the same ; the lord de Linieres, with a banner; the lord de Thim, 
 with the same ; the lord d'Ameval, with the same ; sir Walter de 
 Chastillon, with a pennon ; sir John de Chfiteaumorant, with a ban- 
 ner ; the brother to the marshal de Sancerre, with a pennon ; the 
 lord de Coucy, with his banner, and better supported than any, ex- 
 cept the duke of Bourbon ; the lord de Licques, with a pennon ; sir 
 Stephen de Sancerre, with the same ; and then the pennon of the 
 king of France, blazoned with his device ; beside it, was sir John le 
 Barrels, with his pennon ornamented with his arms ; sir William 
 Morles, with his banner ; the lord de Longueval, with a pennon ; sir 
 John de Roye, with a banner ; the lord dc Bours, with a pennon ; 
 the viscount d'Ausnay, with a banner ; and sir John de Vienne, ad- 
 miral of France, with his banner. 
 
 Those on the left hand of the duke of Bourbon were, the lord 
 d'Ausemont, with a banner ; sir John Beaufort, bastard to the duke 
 of Lancaster, a banner ; sir John le Bouteiller, an Englishman, a 
 pennon ; sir John de Crama, a banner ; the souldich de I'Estrade, a 
 pennon ; sir John de Harcourt, a banner ; the lord Berald, count 
 de Clermont, and dauphin of Auvergne, a banner, and with good 
 array ; sir Hugh Dauphin, his brother, a pennon ; the lord de Berth- 
 encourt, a pennon ; the lord de Pierre BuiTieic, a banner ; the lord 
 de Saint Semere, a banner; the lord de Louvart, marshal of the army, 
 a pennon ; the begue de Beaussc, a pennon ; the lord de Louvy, a 
 banner ; sir Gerard de Louvy, his brother, a pennon ; the lord de 
 Saint-Germain, a banner ; and then the pennon on a standard, with 
 the device of the duke of Bourbon ; the lord Philip de Bar, a banner; 
 sir Lewis de Poitiers, a pennon : sir Robert de Calobre, the same ; 
 the viscount de Les, a banner ; the lord de Nogent, the same ; the 
 lord de Villeneuve, a pennon ; sir William de Moulin, the same ; the 
 lord de Longwy, a pennon ; sir Angorget d'Amboise, the same ; sir 
 Alain de la Champaigne, a pennon. 
 
 All these banners and pennons that I have named were placed in 
 front of the camp, facing the town of Africa ; but there were many 
 knights and squires, of great courage and ability, who were quartered 
 in the fields, whom I cannot name, and, if I could, it would take up 
 too much space, for they were, in the whole, fourteen thousand, all 
 gentlemen. This was a handsome army, able to perform many gal. 
 lant deeds, and support a hard warfare, if the Saracens had ventured 
 an attack, which they did not, contenting themselves this day with 
 throwing large bolts, not meaning to act contrary to their plan. 
 — " ' J -J I, 
 
 *" Maedalen-day"— the 22nd July. 
 
624 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 When the Christians were encamped, it was necessary for them to 
 be careful of the provision they had brought, for they could not now 
 venture to forage in this country, nor collect wood nor boughs for 
 huts, as they would have run many risks, by foolishly venturing 
 themselves for such object^- 
 
 The knights were lodged under tents and pavilions of cloth, which 
 they had procured at Genoa. The Genoese cross-bows formed two 
 wings, inclosing within them the principal lords, and, from their 
 numbers, they occupied a great deal of ground, turning toward the 
 sea-shore. All their provision was on board the vessels, and there 
 were boats continually employed in bringing different articles from 
 them, as they were wanted. When the inhabitants of the neighbor- 
 ing islands, such as Sicily and others, as well as those in the king- 
 dom of Naples, la Puglia, and Calabria, heard the Christians were 
 laying siege to Africa, they exerted themselves to supply them with 
 every sort of provision : some from a desire of gain, others from af- 
 fection to the Genoese From Candia were brought good sweet 
 wine and grenaches,* to comfort and refresh them, without which 
 they could not long have supported their fatigues. They were a very 
 large body of men, who daily consumed much in eating and drink- 
 ing. However, these purveyances did not come regularly ; for at 
 times the supply was most abundant, at otheis, they were in great 
 distress from want. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 THE CONDUCT OF IHE SAKACENS DURING THE SIEGE OF THE TOWN OF 
 AFRICA. THEY SEND TO DEMAND FROM THE FRENCH THE CAUSE OF 
 THEIR MAKING WAR AGAINST THEM, 
 
 I WILL say something of the Saracens, for it is but just they should 
 be equally spoken of as the Christiims, that the truth may be more 
 apparent. You must know that these infidels had, for a long time, 
 been menaced by the Genoese, and were expecting the town of Africa 
 to be besieged, in v/hich tlicy were not disappointed. They had 
 made preparations for resistance, when they heard of the arrival of 
 the Christian fleet, an event that had been long looked for by the 
 neighboring nations ; for they are not prudent nor well advised, who 
 fear not their enemies, however small they may be The Saracens, 
 however, do not hold the Christians cheap : on the contrary, they 
 consider them as men of courage and enterprise, and much fear 
 them. The better to resist their enemies, they assembled the most 
 experienced warriors from the kingdoms of Bugia, Morocco, and 
 Tunis, in which last the town of Africa is situated, and encamped 
 on the downs near the sea-shore. They took advantage of a large 
 and thick wood in their rear, to avoid any danger from ambuscades 
 or skirmishes on that side. The Saracens showed much ability in 
 thus posting themselves. They amounted, according to the estimate 
 of able men-at-arms, to thirty thousand archers and ten thousand 
 horse. Others thought they were more ; but their exact numbers 
 were unknown, for the Christians supposed many v/ere lodged in the 
 wood. They v/ere very numerous, for they were in their own coun- 
 try, and could come and go from their army at their pleasure without 
 danger. They received continual supplies of fresh provision, which 
 was brought on the backs of camels. 
 
 The second day after the Christians had landed, the Saracens, 
 about dawn, came to attack the camp, sir Henry d'Antoing having 
 the command of the guard of two hundred men-at-arms and one 
 thousand Genoese cross-bows. The skirmish lasted more than two 
 hours, and many gallant deeds were done in shooting and thrusting 
 the lance, for there was not any engagement with the sword hand to 
 hand. The Saracens did not fool-hardily risk themselves, but fought 
 with valor and more prudence than the Christians. When they had 
 skirmished some time, the Saracens retreated ; for the army began 
 to be in motion, and some of the French barons had come to witness 
 the action, and observe the manner of their enemies' fighting, that 
 they might be prepared to meet them another time. The Saracens 
 retired to their camp, as did the Christians to theirs ; but, during the 
 whole time of this siege of Africa, the Christians were never left 
 quiet, for their camp was every night or morning attacked by the 
 enemy. 
 
 Among the Saracens was a young knight, called Agadinquor Oli- 
 ferne, excellently mounted on a beautiful courser, which he managed 
 as he willed, and which, when he galloped, seemed to fly with him. 
 From his gallantry, he showed he was a good man-at-arms ; and, 
 when he rode abroad, he had with him three javelins, well feathered 
 and pointed, which he dexterously flung, according to the custom of 
 his country. He was completely armed in black, and had a kind of 
 white napkin wrapped round his head. His seat on horseback was 
 graceful ; and, from the vigor and gallantry of his actions, the Chris, 
 tians judged he was excited thereto by his affection to a young lady 
 of the country. True it is, he most sincerely loved the daughter of 
 the king of Tunis, who, according to the report of some Genoese 
 merchants who had seen her, was very handsome, and the heiress of 
 his kingdom. This knight, called Agadinquor, was the son of duke 
 
 * " Grenaches"—" One of our ancient poets of the fourteenth century nnentions, under 
 the year 1315, Greek wine and wine de Grenache. This last, which, since Roussillon 
 has formed part of France, is become a national wine, was then esteemed a foreign 
 mne. It is probably that which Froissart calls Galvache, Gamache, or Galrigache.'* 
 —Ku Privee des Francois, vol, iii. 
 
 Oliferne ; but I know not if he ever married this lady, I heard that, 
 during the siege, he performed many handsome feats of arms, to tes. 
 tify his love, which the French knights saw with pleasure, and would 
 willingly have surrounded him ; but he rode so good a horse, and 
 had him so well in hand, that all their efforts were vain. The Chris- 
 tian lords were very anxiows to make some Saracens prisoners, to 
 learn from them the real state of their army ; but they could not suc- 
 ceed, and, having noticed their intent, the Saracen chiefs gave orders 
 accordingly. The Saracens were much afraid of the Genoese cross- 
 bows : they shielded themselves as well as they could against their 
 bolts, but they are not armed so strongly as the Christians ; for they 
 know not the art to forge armor like theirs, nor have they workmen 
 who could make such. Iron and steel are not common among them ; 
 and they wear light targets hanging on their necks, covered with 
 boiled leather from Cappadocia, that no spear can penetrate, if the 
 leather has not been overboiled. Their manner of fighting, accord- 
 ing to what I heard, was to ^vance on the Christians, and shoot a 
 volley of arrows at the Genoese the moment they made their appear, 
 ance, and then to fall down under shelter of their shields, by which 
 they avoided the bolts from the cross-bows, that went over them : 
 they then rose, and either shot more arrows, or lanched their javelins 
 with much dexterity. 
 
 Thus, for the space of nine weeks that the siege lasted, were con- 
 tinual skirmishes made ; and on both sides many were killed and 
 wounded, more especially such as ventured too rashly. The Chris- 
 tians imitated the Saracens by avoiding a close com.bat ; and the 
 lords from France and other countries took delight in their manner 
 of fighting, for, to say the truth, novelty is always pleasing. The 
 young lords of these infidels were greatly struck with the glittering 
 armor and emblazoned banners and pennons of their enemies, and, 
 when returned to their camp, they conversed much about them. 
 They were, however, astonished at one thing, which I will now re. 
 late. The Saracens within the town of Africa were anxious to 
 know on what pretence the Christians had come with so large an 
 army to make war on them ; and, to learn the reasons, they resolved, 
 as I was told, in council, to send a person that could speak Genoese, 
 and gave Mm the following orders : " Go and take the road to the 
 camp of the Christians, [and manage, before thou returnest, to speak 
 with some lords in their army,] and domand, in our name, why they 
 have brought so powerful a force against us, and taken possession of 
 the lands of the king of Africa, who has not done anything to offend 
 them. True it is that, in former times, we were at war with the 
 Genoese, but that should no way concern them ; for they come from 
 very distant countries, and the Genoese are our neighbors. Our cus- 
 torn has been, excepting in times of truce, to seize mutually all we 
 can from each other." 
 
 Having received these instructions, the messenger departed and 
 rode on to the camp. The first person he met was a Genoese, to 
 whom he said that he was sent by the Saracens to speak with some 
 baron from France. The Genoese, to whom he had addressed him- 
 self, was called Antonio Marchi, a centurion of cross-bows, who took 
 him under his care, to his great joy, and conducted him instantly to 
 the duke of Bourbon and the lord de Coucy. They both listened 
 very attentively, and what they did not understand the centurion in- 
 terpreted in very good French. When he had finished all he had 
 been ordered to say, he asked for an answer. The French lords 
 told him he should have one as soon as they had considered the pur. 
 port of his message. Twelve of the greatest barons of the army as- 
 sembled in the duke of Bourbon's tent, and the messenger and inter- 
 preter being called in, the last was ordered to tell him from the lords 
 present, " That in consequence of their ancestors having crucified 
 and put to death the son of God, called Jesus Ckrist, a true prophet, 
 without any cause or just reason, they were come to retaliate on them 
 for this infamous and unjust judgment. Secondly, they were un- 
 baptized, and infidels in the faith to the holy Virgin, mother of Jesus 
 Christ, and had no creed of their own. For these and other causes, 
 they held the Saracens and their whole sect as enemies, and were 
 come to revenge the injuries they had done to their God and faith, 
 and would to this effect daily exert themselves to the utmost of their 
 power." When the messenger had received this answer, he de. 
 parted from the army unmolested, and reiurned to report to his mas- 
 ters what you have just read. The Saracens laugiied heartily at 
 hearing it, and said, they made assertions without proofs, for it was 
 the Jews who had crucified Jesus Christ, and not they. Things 
 remained on the former footing : the siege was continued, and each 
 army on its guard. 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 SOME MIRACLES ARE SHOWN TO THE SARACENS, AS THEY ATTEMPT TO 
 ATTACK THE CAMP OF THE CHRISTIANS. SEVERAL SKIRMISHES DU- 
 RING THE SIEGE. THE CLIMATE BECOMES UNWHOLESOME, AND OTHER 
 ACCIDENTS BEFAL THE BESIEGERS. 
 
 Shortly after this message, the Saracens determined in council 
 to remain quiet for seven or eight days, and, during that time, neither 
 to skirmish nor any way to annoy the Christians, but, when they 
 should think themselves in perfect security, to fall on theiLcamp like 
 a deluge. This was adopted ; and the ninth evening, a little before 
 midnight, they secretly armed their men with their accustomed arms, 
 
CHRONICLES Of ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 525 
 
 and marched silently in a compiict body tovvHrd the Christian camp. 
 They had proposed making a severe attack on the opposite quarter 
 to the main guard, and would have succeeded in their mischievous 
 attempt, if God had not vi^atched over and preserved them by mira- 
 cles, as I will now relate. As the Saracens approached, they saw 
 before them a company of ladies dressed in white ; one of whom, 
 their leader, was incomparably more beautiful than the rest, and bore 
 in front a white flag, having a vermilion cross in the centre. The 
 Saracens were so greatly terrified at this vision, that they lost all 
 strength and inclination to proceed, and stood still, these ladies keep- 
 
 LHWCK ()!• TiiJ: T.) oV Aynicx, Fioin a MS. Froissait of the 15th century, 
 
 ing steadily before them. The Genoese cros?-bows had brought 
 with them a dog, as I heard, from beyond sea ; but whence no one 
 could tell, nor did he belong to any particular person. This dog had 
 been very useful to them ; for the Saracens never came to skirmish, 
 but by his noise he awakened the army, and as every one now knew 
 that whenever the dog barked the Saracens were come, or on their 
 road, they prepared themselves instantly : iii consequence of this, the 
 Genoese called him the dog of our Lady. This night, the dog was 
 not idle, but made a louder noise than usual, and ran first to the main 
 guard, which was under the command of the lord de Torcy, a Nor- 
 man, and sir Henry d'Antoing. As during the night all sounds are 
 more easily heard, the whole army was in motion, and properly pre- 
 pared to receive the Saracens, who they knew were approaching. 
 
 This was the fact ; but the Virgin Mary and her company, having 
 the Christians under their care, watched over them ; and this night 
 they received no harm, for the Saracens were afraid to advance, and 
 returned the way they had come. The Christians were more atten- 
 tive to their future guards. The Saracen knights and squires, within 
 the town, were much cast down at the sight they had seen, more 
 especially those who were advanced near this company of ladies. 
 While, on the other hand, the Christians were greatly exerting them- 
 Relves to win the place, which was courageously defended. At this 
 period the weather was exceedingly hot ; for it was the month of 
 August, when the sun is in its greatest force, and that country was 
 warmer than France, from being nearer the sun, and from the heat 
 of the sands. The wines the besiegers were supplied with from La 
 Puglia and Calabria were fiery, and hurtful to the constitutions of the 
 French, many of whom suffered severely by fevers, from the heating 
 quality of their liquors. T. know not how the Christians were enabled 
 to bear the fatigues in such a climate, where sweet water was diffi- 
 cult to be had. They, however, had much resource in the wells they 
 dug ; for there were upward of two hundred sunk, through the sands, 
 along the shore ; but, at times, even this water was muddy and heated. 
 They were frequently distressed for provision, for the supply was 
 irregular, from Sicily and the other islands : at times they had abund- 
 ance, at other times they were in want. The healthy comforted the 
 sick, and those who had provision shared it with such as had none ; 
 for in this campaign they were all as brothers. The lord de Coucy, 
 in particular, was beloved by every gentleman : he was kind to all, 
 and behaved himself by far more graciously, in all respects, than the 
 duke of Bourbon, who was proud and haughty, and never conversed 
 with the knights and squires from foreign countries in the same 
 agreeable manner the Lord de Coucy did. 
 
 The duke was accustomed to sit cross-legged the greater part of 
 the day before his pavilion ; and those who had anything to sav to 
 
 him were obliged to make many reverences, and address him through 
 the means of a third person. He was indifferent whether the poorer 
 knights and squires were well or ill at their ease : this the lord de 
 Coucy always inquired into, and by it gained great popularity. It 
 was told me, by some foreign knights who had been there, that had 
 the lord de Coucy been commander-in-chief, instead of the duke of 
 Bourbon, the success would have been very different ; for many at- 
 tacks on the town of Africa ware frustrated by the pride and fault of 
 the dyke of Bourbon : several thought it would have been taken, if 
 it had not been for him. 
 
 This siege lasted, by an exact ac- 
 count, sixty-one days ; during which, 
 many were the skirmishes before the 
 town and at the barriers : they were 
 well defended, for the flower of the 
 infidel chivalry was in the town. The 
 Christians said among themselves, 
 " Jf we could gain this place by storm 
 or otherwise, and strongly reinforce 
 and victual it during the winter, a 
 large body of our countrymen might 
 then come hither in the spring and 
 gain a footing in the kingdoms of Bar 
 bary and Tunis, which would encour 
 age the Christians to cress the sea an 
 nually and extend their conquests." 
 " Would to God it were so," others 
 replied ; " for the knights now here 
 would then be comfortably lodged, and 
 every day, if they pleased, they might 
 have deeds of arms." The besieged 
 were alarmed at the obstinacy of their 
 attacks, and redoubled their guards. 
 The great heat, however, did more for 
 them than all the rest, added to the 
 uncertainty of being attacked ; for the 
 policy of the Saracens was to keep 
 them in continual alarms. They were 
 almost burnt up when in armor ; and 
 it was wonderful that any escaped 
 death ; for, during the month of Au» 
 gust the air was suffocating. An ex. 
 traordinary accident happened, which 
 if it had lasted any time, must have 
 destroyed them all. During on e week, from the heat and corruption of 
 the air, there were such wonderful swarms of flies, the anny was cov- 
 ered with them. The men knew not how to rid themselves of these 
 troublesome guests, which multiplied daily, to their great astonish, 
 ment; but, through the grace of God and the Virgin Mary, to whom 
 they were devoted, a remedy was found, in a thunder and hail-storm, 
 that fell with great violence, and destroyed all the flies. The air, by 
 this storm, was much cooled, and the army got to be in better health 
 than it had been for some time. 
 
 Knights who are on such expeditions must cheerfully put up with 
 what weather may happen, for they cannot have it according to their 
 wishes ; and, when any one falls sick, he must be nursed to his 
 recovery or to his death. Although the knights from France had un- 
 dertaken this voyage with an eagerness and resolution that bore them 
 up under the pains they suflfered, they had not many luxuries to grat- 
 ify them ; for nothing was sent them from France, nor had any in 
 that kingdom more intelligence from them than if they were buried 
 under ground. Once, indeed, there came a galley from Barcelona, 
 laden more with oranges and small grain than with anything else. 
 The oranges were of the greatest service, by the refreshment they 
 afforded ; but, whatever vessel came to them, none returned, for fear 
 of meeting the Saracens at sea, and because they wished to wait the 
 event of the siege, and see whether the Christians would conquer the 
 town. 
 
 The young king Lewis of Sicily exerted himself, in order that his 
 subjects should carry a constant supply of provision to them, for he 
 was their nearest neighbor. It was fortunate the Saracens were not 
 strong enough at sea to prevent the vessels coming from the ports of 
 Sicily and Naples, or they would have conquered them without 
 striking a blow. They therefore contented themselves with keeping 
 the Christians under perpetual alarms on land. The Saracens have 
 not a large navy like the Genoese and Venetians ; and what they get 
 at sea is by thievery ; and they never dare wait the attack of the 
 Christians unless they be in very superior numbers, for a well-armed 
 galley with Christians will defeat four of such enemies. In truth, 
 the Turks are better men-at-arms by sea and land than any other 
 nation of unbelievers of our faith ; but they were at too great a dis- 
 tance from Africa, and the town could not receive any aid from them. 
 The Turks had heard that the town of Africa was besieged by the 
 Christians, and had often, but in vain, wished to have been there. 
 
926 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 A CHALLENGE IS SENT BY THE SARACENS TO OFFER COMBAT OF TEN AGAINST 
 TEN CHRISTIANS. THE SARACENS FAIL IN THEIR ENGAGEMENT. THE 
 TOWN OF AFRICA IS STORMED, BUT UNSUCCESSFULLY, AND WITH THE 
 LOSS OF MANY WORTHY MEN. 
 
 The besiegers and their enemies studied day and night how they 
 could most etiectually annoy each other. Agadinquor Oliferne, 
 Madifer de Tunis, Belins Maldages, and Brahadin de Bugia, and 
 some other Saracens, consulted together, and said ; " Here are our 
 enemies the Christians encamped before us, and we cannot defeat 
 them. They are so few in number when compared to us, that they 
 must be well advised by their able captains; for, in all our skirm- 
 ishes, we have never been able to make one knight prisoner. If we 
 could capture one or two of their leaders, we should acquire fame, . 
 and learn from them the state of their army and what are their inten- 
 tions. Let us now consider how we may accomplish this." Agadin- 
 quor replied, " Though I a,m the youngest, I wish to speak first." 
 " Wc agree to it," said the others. " By my faith," continued he, " I 
 am very desirous of engaging them ; and I think, if I were matched 
 in equal combat with one of my size, I should conquer him. If you 
 will therefore select ten valiant men, I will challenge the Christians 
 to send the same number to fight with us. We have justice on our 
 side in this war, for they have quarelled with us without reason ; and 
 this right and the courage I feel, induce me to believe that we shall 
 have the victory." Madifer de Tunis, who was a very valiant man, 
 said : " Agadinquor, what you have proposed is much to yovir honor. 
 To-morrow, if you please, you shall ride as our chief toward the 
 camp of the Christians, taking an interpreter with you, and make a 
 signal that you have something to say. If you be well received by 
 them, propose your combat of ten against ten. We shall then hear 
 what answer they give: and, though I believe the offer will be 
 accepted, we must take good counsel how we proceed against these 
 Christians, whom we consider as more valiant than ourselves." 
 
 This being determined on, they retired to rest. On the morrow, 
 as usual, they advanced to skirmish ; but Agadinquor rode on at some 
 distance in front with his interpreter. The day was bright and clear, 
 and a little after sunrise the Saracens were ready for battle. Sir 
 Guy and sir William de la Tremouille had commanded the guard of 
 the night, and were on the point of retiring, when the Saracens ap- 
 peared in sight about three bow-shots distant. Agadinquor and his 
 interpreter advanced toward one of the wings, and made signs to give 
 notice that he wanted to parley with some one ; by accident, he came 
 near the pennon of a good squire-at-arms called AfFrenal, who, no- 
 ticing his signs, rode forward a pace, and told his men to remain as 
 they were, " for that he would go and see what the Saracen wanted : 
 he has an interpreter with him, and is probably come to make some 
 proposition." His men remained steady, and he rode toward the 
 Saracen. 
 
 When they were near each other, the interpreter said, " Christian, 
 are you a gentleman, of name in arms, and ready to answer what 
 shall be asked of you?" " Yes," replied Afirenal, "lam: speak 
 what you please, it shall be answered." " Well," said the inter- 
 preter, " here is a noble man of our country who demands to combat 
 with you bodily ; and, if you would like to increase the number to 
 ten, he will bring as many of his friends to meet you. The cause 
 for the challenge is this : They maintain, that their faith is more per- 
 fect than yours ; for it has continued since the beginning of the world, 
 when it was written down ; and that your faith has been introduced 
 by a mortal, whom the Jews hung and crucified." " Ho," inter- 
 rupted Affrenal, " be silent on these matters, for it does not become 
 such as thee to dispute concerning them ; but tell the Saracen, who 
 has ordered thee to speak, to swear on his faith that such a combat 
 shall take place, and he shall be gratified within four hours. Let 
 him bring ten gentlemen, and of name in arms, on his side, and I will 
 bring as many to meet him." The interpreter related to the Saracen 
 the words that had passed, who seemed much rejoiced thereat, and 
 pledged himself for the combat. 
 
 This being done, each returned to his friends ; but the news had 
 already been carried to sir Guy and to sir William de la Tremouille, 
 who, meeting Affrenal, demanded how he had settled matters with 
 the Saracen. AfFrenal related what you have heard, and that he had 
 accepted the challenge. The two knights were well pleased, and 
 said, "Affrenal, go and speak to others, for we will be of your number 
 ten." He replied, " God assist us ! I fancy I shall find plenty ready 
 to fight the Saracens." Shortly after, Affrenal met the lord de Thim, 
 to whom he told what had passed, and asked if he would make one. 
 The lord de Thim willingly accepted the offer ; and of all those to 
 whom Affrenal related it, he might, if he pleased, have had a hundred 
 instead of ten. Sir Boucicaut, the younger, accepted it with great 
 courage, as did sir Helion de Lignac, sir John Russel, an English- 
 man, sir John Harpedone, Alain Boudet and Bouchet. When the 
 number of ten was completed, they retired to their lodgings, to pre- 
 pare and arm themselves. When the news of this combat was 
 spread through the army, and the names of the ten were told, the 
 knights and squires said, " they are lucky fellows, thus to have such 
 a gallant feat of arms fall to their lot." "Would to Heaven," added 
 mwy, " that we were of the ten." All the knights and squires seemed 
 
 to rejoice at this event, except the lord de Coucy. I believe the lord 
 de Thim was a dependent on, or of the company of, the lord de 
 Coucy: for, when he repaired to his tent to arm, he found him there, 
 and acknowledged him for his lord. He related to him the challenge 
 of the Saracen, and that* he had accepted being one of the ten. All 
 present were loud in praise of it, except the lord de Coucy, who said, 
 " Hold your tongues, you youngsters, who as yet know nothing of the 
 world, and who never consider con;^ equences, but always applaud 
 folly in preference to good. I see no advantage in this combat, for 
 many reasons : one is, that ten noble and distinguished gentlemen 
 are about to fight with ten Saracens. How do V'/e know if their op- 
 ponents are gentlemen? They may, if they choose, bring to the 
 combat ten varlets, or knaves, and, if they are defeated, what is the 
 gain ? We shall not the sooner win the town of Africa, but by it 
 risk very valuable lives. Perhaps they may form an ambuscade, 
 and, while our friends are on the plain waiting for their opponents, 
 surround them and carry them off, by which we shall be greatly 
 weakened. I therefore say, that Affrenal has not wisely managed 
 this matter ; and, when he first met the Saracen, he should have 
 otherwise answered, and said, ' I am not the commander-in-chief of 
 our army, but one of the least in it ; and you Saracen, who address 
 yourself to me and blame our faith, are not qualified to discuss such 
 matters, nor have you well addressed yourself. I will conduct you 
 to my lords, and assure you, on my life, that no harm befal you in 
 going or in returning, for my lords will cheerfully listen to you.' He 
 should then have led him to the duke of Bourbon and the council of 
 war, when his proposal would have been heard and discussed at 
 leisure, his intentions been known, and answers made according as 
 they should think the matter deserved. Such a combat should never 
 be undertaken but after great deliberation, especially with enemies 
 like to those we are engaged with. And when it had been agreed 
 on, and the names and qualities of each combatant should be de- 
 clared, we would then have selected proper persons to meet them,, 
 and proper securities would have been required from the Saracens 
 for the uninterrupted performance of the combat, and a due observ- 
 ance of the articles. If matters had been thus managed, lord of 
 Thim, I think it would have been better. It would be vv^ell if it 
 could be put on this footing ; and I will speak to the duke of Bour- 
 bon and the principal barons in the army, and hear what they shall 
 say on the subject." The lord de Coucy then departed for the tent 
 of the duke of Bourbon, where the barons were assembled, as they 
 had heard of this challenge, to consider what might be the probable 
 event of it. Although the lord de Coucy had intended his speech to 
 the lord de Thim as advice for his benefit, he did not the less arm 
 himself : when fully equipped, he went with his companions, who 
 were completely armed, and in good array, with sir Guy de la Tre- 
 mouille at their head, to meet the Saracens. 
 
 During this, there was conversation on the subject between the 
 lords in the tent of the duke of Bourbon : many thought the accept- 
 ing such a challenge improper, and supported the opinion of the lord 
 de Coucy, who said it ought to have been ordered otherwise. But 
 some, and in particular the lord Philip d'Artois, count d'Eu, and the 
 lord Philip de Bar, said, " Since the challenge has been accepted by 
 our knights, they would be disgraced were the combat now broken 
 off : and in the name of God and our Lady, let them accomplish it 
 the best manner they can." This was adopted ; for it was now too 
 far advanced to be stopped. It was therefore ordered to draw out 
 the whole army properly arrayed, that if the Saracens had formed 
 any bad designs, they might be prepared to meet them. Every one, 
 therefore, made himself ready : the whole were drawn up, as if for 
 instant combat ; the Genoese cross-bows on one side, and the knights 
 and squires on the other ; each lord under his own banner or pennon 
 emblazoned with his arms. It was a fine sight to view the army thus 
 displayed, and they showed great eagerness to attack the Saracens. 
 
 The ten knights and squires were advanced on the plain waiting 
 for their opponents, but they came not, nor showed any appearance 
 of so doing ; for, when they saw the Christian army so handsomely 
 drawn out in battle-array, they were afraid to advance though they 
 were thrice their numbers. At times they sent horsemen, well 
 mounted, to ride near their army, observe its disposition, and then 
 gallop back : which was solely done through malice, to annoy the 
 Christians. 
 
 This was the hottest day they felt, and it was so extremely op- 
 pressive that the most active among them were almost stifled in their 
 armor : they had never suffered so much before, and yet they re- 
 mained expecting the ten Saracens, but in vain, for they never heard 
 a word from them. The army was ordered to attack the town of 
 Africa, since they were prepared, and thus pass the day ; and the ten 
 champions, in regard to their honor, were to remain on their ground 
 to the evening. 
 
 The knights and squires advanced with great alacrity to the at- 
 tack of the town, but they were sorely oppressed with the heat ; and 
 had the Saracens known their situation, they might have done them 
 much damage ; probably they might even have raised the siege and 
 obtained a complete victory, for the Christians wer,i exceedingly 
 weakened and worn down. True it is, they gained by storm the 
 v/all of the first inclosure : but no one inhabited that part, and the 
 enemy retired within their second line of defence, skirmishing as 
 they retreated, and without any great loss. The Christians paid dear 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 52? 
 
 for an inconsiderable advantage : the heat of the sun and its reflec. 
 tion on the sands, added to the fatigue of fighting, which lasted until 
 evening, caused the death of several valiant knights and squires : the 
 more the pity. 
 
 I will mention the names of those who this day fell victims to the 
 heat and unhealthiness of the climate. First, sir William de Gacille, 
 sir Guiscard de la Garde, sir Lyon Scalet, sir Guy de la Salveste, sir 
 William d'Estapelle, sir William de Guiret, sir Raffroy de la Cha- 
 pelle, the lord de Pierre Buffiere, the lord de Bonnet, sir Robert de 
 Hanges, sir Stephen de Sancerre, sir Aubert de la Motte, sir Alain 
 de la Champaigne, sir Geoffry Sressiers, sir Raoul d'Econflan, the 
 lord de Bourg from Artois, sir John de Crie, bastard de la Mouleraye, 
 sir Tristan his brother, sir Avn6 de Consay, sir Arn6 de Donnay, sir 
 John de Compaignie,sir Fouke d'Escauffburs, sir John de Cathenais. 
 I will now add the names of squires who fell : Fouchans de Liege, 
 John des Isles, Blondelet d'Arenton, John de la Motte, Blomberis, 
 Floridas de Rocque, the lord de Bellefreres, William Frondrigay, 
 Walter de Canfours, John Morillon, Peter de Maulves, Guillot Vil- 
 lain, John de la Lande, John Purier, John le Moine, John de Lau- 
 nay and William du Pare. 
 
 Now consider how great was this loss ; and, had the advice of the 
 gallant lord de Coucy been followed, it would not have happened, for 
 the army would have remained quietly in its camp, as it had hitherto 
 done. The whole army was dismayed at it, and each bewailed the 
 loss of his friend. They retired late to their camp, and kept a stronger 
 guard than usual, during the night, for fear of the Saracens. It passed 
 however without further accident, and more prudent arrangements 
 were made. The Saracens were ignorant of what their enemies had 
 suffered ; had they known it, they would have had a great advantage 
 over them, but they were in dread of the Christians, and never ven- 
 tured to attack them but in skirmishes, retreating after one or two 
 charges. The person among them who had shown the most courage 
 was Agadinquor Oliferne. He was enamored with the daughter 
 of the king of Tunis, and in compliment to her, v/as eager to perform 
 brilliant actions. 
 
 Thus was the siege of Africa continued ; but the relations and 
 friends of the knights and squires who had gone thither, from France 
 and other countries, received no intelligence, nor knew more of them 
 than if they were dead. They were so much alarmed at not having 
 any news of them, that many processions were made in England, 
 France and Hainault, to the churches, to pray God that he would 
 bring them back, in safety, to their several homes. The intention 
 of the Christians was to remain before the town of Africa, until they 
 should have conquered it by storm, treaty or famine. The king of 
 Sicily, as well as the inhabitants of the adjacent islands, were anxious 
 it should be so, for the Africans had done them frequent damage ; 
 but the Genoese were particularly kind, in supplying the knights and 
 squires with everything they wanted, to prevent them from being 
 tired with the length of the campaign. 
 
 To say the truth, this was a very great enterprise, and the knights 
 and squires showed much courage and perseverance in continuing 
 the siege in so unhealthy a climate, after the great losses they had 
 suffered, without assistance from anyone ; and even when the Geno- 
 ese, who had first proposed the expedition, were dissembling with > 
 them, and as it was said, were in treaty with the Saracens, to leave 
 the Christian army unsupported and neglected, as I shall relate in due 
 lime, according to the reports that were made to me. 
 
 We will now leave the affairs of Africa, and speak of the hand- 
 some feasts that were at this time given at London. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 A GRAND TOURNAMENT IS HOLDEN AT LONDON. THE KING OF ENGLAND 
 GIVES SPLENDID ENTERTAINMENTS DURING THE SIEGE OF THE TOWN OF 
 AFRICA BY THE CHRISTIANS. THE COUNT D'OSTREVANT RECEIVES THE 
 ORDER OF THE GARTER, WHICH DISPLEASES THE KING OF FRANCE. 
 
 News of the splendid feasts and entertainments made for queen 
 Isabella's public entry into Paris was carried to many countries, and 
 very justly, for they were most honorably conducted. The king of 
 England and his three uncles had received the fullest information of 
 them : for some of his knights had been present, who had reported 
 all that had passed with the utmost fidelity. In imitation of this, the 
 king of England ordered grand tournaments and feasts to be holden 
 in the city of London, where sixty knights should be accompanied 
 by sixty noble ladies, richly ornamented and dressed. The sixty 
 knights were to tilt for two days ; that is to say, on the Sunday after 
 Michaelmas-day, and the Monday following, in the year of grace 
 1390. The sixty knights were to set out at two o'clock in the after- 
 noon from the Tower of London, with their ladies, and parade through 
 the streets, down Cheapside, to a large square called Smithfield. 
 There the knights were to wait, on the Sunday, the arrival of any 
 foreign knights who might be desirous of tilting ; and this feast of 
 the Sunday was called the challengers'. The same ceremonies were 
 to take place on the Monday, and the sixty knights to be prepared 
 for tilting courteously with blunted lances against all comers. The 
 prize for the best knight of the opponents was to be a rich crown of 
 gold ; that for the tenants of the lists a very rich golden clasp : they 
 were to be given to the most gallant tilter, according to the judgment 
 
 of the ladies, who would be present with the queen of England and 
 the great barons, as spectators. 
 
 On the Tuesday, the tournaments were to be continued by squires, 
 against others of the same rank who wished to oppose them. The 
 prize for the opponents was a courser saddled and bridled, and for 
 the tenants of the lists a falcon. The manner of" holding this feast 
 being settled, heralds were sent to proclaim it throughout England, 
 Scotland, Hainault, Germany, Flanders, and France. It was ordered 
 by the council to what parts each herald vvas to go ; and, having 
 time beforehand, they published it in most countries. 
 
 Many knights and squires from foreign lands made preparations to 
 attend it : some to see the manners of the English, others to take 
 part in the tournaments. On the feast being known in Hainault, 
 sir William de Hainault count d'Ostrcvant, who was at that time 
 young and gallant, and fond of tilting, determined, in his own mind 
 to be present, and to honor and make acquaintance with his cousin, 
 king Richard, and his uncles whom he had never seen. He there, 
 fore engaged many knights and squires to accompany him ; in par- 
 ticularthe lord de Gomegines, because he was well known in England, 
 having lived there some time. Sir William resolved, while his pre- 
 parations were making, to visit his father, the count of Hainault, 
 Holland, and Zealand, to speak with him on the subject, and to take 
 leave of him before he went to England. He therefore set out from 
 Quesnoy, in Hainault, and continued his journey to the Hague, a 
 good town in Holland, where his father then resided. During the 
 visit, he told his father his intentions to partake of the great feast in 
 England, to see his cousin and other English lords whom he was de- 
 sirous of knowing. " William," replied the count, " my good son, 
 you have nothing to do in England : you are now connected by mar- 
 riage with the blood-royal of France, and your sister is the wife of 
 the eldest son of our cousin the duke of Burgundy : you have no oc- 
 casion, therefore, to seek other connections." " My lord," answered 
 sir William, " I do not wish to gotito England to form any alliance, 
 but merely to tilt and enjoy this feast, which has been publicly pro- 
 claimed everywhere, and visit my cousins, whom I have never seen. 
 Should I not go thither, after the particular invitation I have had, for 
 a purpose messenger brought it me, my refusal will be considered as 
 the effect of pride and presumption. I feel myself bound therefore 
 in honor to go, and beg, father, that you will not refuse me your 
 consent." " William," replied the count, " you are your own mas- 
 ter ; act as you please ; but I should think, for the sake of peace, it 
 were better you did not go." 
 
 The count d'Ostrevant, perceiving this subject was disagreeable 
 to his father, turned the conversation to other matters ; but his reso 
 lution was fixed, and his purveyances were continued to be made ami 
 forwarded to Calais. His herald, Gomegines, was sent to England 
 to inform the king and his uncles, that he would come honorably at- 
 tended to his feast. They were much pleased at this intelligence, 
 and presented the herald with great gifts, which were very acceptable, 
 for he became blind toward the end of his days. I know not if he 
 had angered God, that he was afflicted with such a punishment ; but 
 this herald, when in power, had behaved with so much insolence, 
 that he was little pitied in his distress. The count d'Ostrevant took 
 leave of his father, and, on his departure from the Hague, returned 
 to his lady at Quesnoy. Many noble knights were busy in prepara- 
 tio-ns for this feast that had been so pompously proclaimed. 
 
 The count Waleran de Saint Pol, who had married the half-sister 
 to king Richard, assembled a handsome body of knights and squires, 
 and with them made for Calais, where passage-vessels Vv'ere waiting 
 to convey to Dover the lords and knights going to this tournament. 
 From Dover they continued their journey to London, where their 
 servants had previously secured their lodgings. 
 
 The count d'Ostrevant set out from Hainault with a numerous at. 
 tendance of knights and squires, and travelled through Artois to 
 Calais, where he met the count de St. Pol. When the wind was 
 favorable, and their attendants embarked, they crossed the channel ; 
 but it WQB told me, and I believe it, that the count de St. Pol arrived 
 first at London, where he found the king and his brother-in-law, sir 
 John Holland, who, with many other nobles, made him a hearty wel- 
 come, and inquired the news in France. The count d'Ostrevant 
 having crossed the sea, stopped at Canterbury, and on the Friday 
 morning, without breaking his fast, paid his devotions at the shrine 
 of Thomas k Becket, making at the same time a very rich offering 
 at that altar. He remained that whole day at Canterbury, and on 
 the following went to Rochester. On account of his numerous train, 
 he travelled but a short day's journey, to spare his horses that car- 
 ried the baggage. After mass he left Rochester and dined at Dart- 
 ford, whence he continued his journey to London, for it was on this 
 Sunday the tournaments were to begin. 
 
 This Sunday, according to proclamation, being the next to Mich- 
 elmas-day, was the beginning of the tiltings, and called the feast of 
 the challengers. About three o'clock, there paraded out f'-om the 
 Tower of London, which is situated in the square of Si. Catherine, 
 on the banks of the Thames, sixty barded coursers ornamented for 
 the tournament ; on each was mounted a squire of honor that advanced 
 only at a foot's pace ; then came sixty ladies of rank, mounted on 
 palfreys most elegantly and richly dressed, following each other, 
 every one leading a knight with a silver chain, completely armed for 
 tilting ; and in this procession they moved on through the streets of 
 
528 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN. &c. 
 
 London, attended by numbers of minstrels and trumpets, to Smith- 
 field. The queen of England, and her ladies and damsels, were 
 already arrived and placed in chambers handsomely decorated. The 
 king was with the queen. When the ladies who led the knights 
 arrived in the square, their servants were ready to assist them to 
 dismount from their palfreys, and to conduct them to the apartments 
 prepared for them. The knights remained until their squires of honor 
 had dismawnted, and brought them their coursers, which having 
 mounted, they had their helmets laced on, and prepared themselves 
 in all points for tire tilt. 
 
 The count de Saint Pol with his companions now advanced, hand- 
 somely armed for the occasion, and the tournament began. Every 
 foreign knight who pleased tilted, or had time for so doing, before 
 the evening set in. The tiitings were well and long continued, 
 until night forced them to break off. The lords and ladies then re- 
 tired where they had made appointments. The queen was lodged 
 in the bishop of London's palace near St, Paul's church, where the 
 banquet was held. 
 
 Toward evening, the count d'Ostrevant arrived, and was kindly 
 received by king Richard and his lords. The prize for the opponents 
 was adjudged to the count de St. Pol, as the best knight at this 
 tournament, and that for the tenants to the earl of Huntingdon. The 
 dancings were at the queen's residence, in the presence of the king, 
 his uncles, and the barons of England. The ladies and damsels con- 
 tinued their amusements, before and after supper, until it was time 
 to retire, when all went to their lodgings, except such as were at- 
 tached to the king or queen, who, during the tournament, lived at 
 the palace of the bishop of London. 
 
 You would have seen on the ensuing morning, Monday, squires and 
 varlets busily employed, in different parts of London, furbishing and 
 making ready armor and horses for their masters who were to engage 
 in the justs. In the afternoon, king Richard entered Smithfield mag- 
 nificently accompanied by dukes, lords, and knights, lor he was chief 
 of the tenants of the lists. The queen took her station as on the 
 preceding day, with her ladies, in the apartments that had been 
 prepared for her. The count d'Ostrevant came next, with a large 
 company of knights and squires fully armed for tilting; then the count 
 de Saint Pol and the knights from France. 
 
 The tournament now began, and every one exerted himself to the 
 utmost to excel : many were unhorsed, and more lost their helmets. 
 The justing continued with great courage and perseverance until 
 night put an end to it. The company now retired to their lodgings 
 or their homes ; and, when the hour for supper was near, the lords 
 and ladies attended it, which was splendid and well served. The 
 prize for the opponents at the tournament was adjudged, by the 
 ladies, lords, and heralds, to the count d'Ostrevant, who far eclipsed 
 all who had tilted that day ; that for the tenants was given to a gal- 
 lant knight of England called sir Hugh Spenser. 
 
 On the morrow, Tuesday, the tournament was renewed by the 
 squires, who tilted in the presence of the king, queen, and all the 
 nobles, until night, when all retired as on the preceding day. The 
 supper was as magnificent as before at the palace of the bishop, where 
 the king and queen lodged ; and the dancing lasted until daybreak, 
 when the company broke up. The tournament was continued on 
 the Wednesday by all knights and squires indiscriminately, who 
 were inclined to just ; it lasted until night, and the supper and dances 
 were as the preceding day. 
 
 On Thursday, the king entertained at supper all the foreign knights 
 and squires, and the queen their ladies and damsels. The duke of 
 Lancaster gave a grand dinner to them on the Friday. On Satur- 
 day, the king and his court left London for Windsor, whither the 
 count d'Ostrveant, the count de St. Pol, and the foreign knights who 
 had been present at the feasts, were invited. All accepted the invi- 
 tation, as was right, and went to Windsor, which has a handsome 
 castle, well built and richly ornamented, situated on the Thames 
 twenty miles from London. The entertainments were very mag- 
 nificent in the dinners and suppers king Richard made, for he thought 
 he could not pay honor enough to his cousin the count d'Ostrevant. 
 He was solicited by' the king and his uncles to be one of the com- 
 panions of the order of the blue Garter, as the chapel of St. George, 
 the patron, was at Windsor. In answer to their request, he said he 
 would consider of it, and instantly consulted the lord de Gomegines 
 and the bastard Fierabras de Vertain, who were far from discour- 
 aging him from accepting the order. He returned to the king, and was 
 admitted a knight companion of the Garter, to the great surprise of 
 the French knights then present. They murmured together, and then 
 said : " This count d'Ostrevant plainly shows that his heart is more 
 inclined to England than to France, when he thus accepts the order 
 of the Garter, which is the device of the kings of England. He is 
 purchasing the ill-will of the court of France and of my lord of Bur- 
 gundy, whose daughter he has married, and a time may come for 
 him to repent of it. However, to say the truth, he must know what 
 concerns him best : but he was well beloved by the king of France, 
 his brother the duke of Touraine, and all the royal family ; so that 
 when he came to them at Paris or elsewhere, they showed him more 
 kindness than to any other of their cousins." 
 
 Thus was the count d'Ostrevant blamed by the French, without 
 the smallest cause ; for what he had done was no way to injure the 
 ciown of Fimae, nor hits cousins and friends of that country. Noth- 
 
 ing was farther from his mind than any hostility to the king of France ; 
 but he had accepted the Garter to oblige his cousm in England, and 
 on occasion to be a mediator between the two countries. When he 
 took the oaths usual on the admission of knights to the order, it ought 
 to be known publicly that nothing was said or done prejudicial to 
 France, nor any treaties entered into with that intent. I mention 
 this, since it is impossible to prevent the envious from spreading 
 abroad their tales. When the entert;,inments at Windsor had lasted 
 a sufficient time, and the king had m: de handsome presents to the 
 knights and squires of France, particu arly to the young count d'Os- 
 trevant, the company took leave of t.ie king, the queen, and the 
 court, and departed for their different homes. 
 
 Rumor, which magnifies everything, carried to the king of France, 
 his brother and uncles, every particular that had passed at this feast 
 in England. Those who had been there confirmed it; nothing was 
 forgotten, but rather additions made with the intent of doing mis- 
 chief in preference to good. They related, that William of Hainault, 
 who called himself count d'Ostrevant, had taken great pains to honoi 
 this feast ; that he had the prize given him at the tournament in pref- 
 erence to many other foreign knights, and that he was loud in the 
 praise of the English, and was become the liege-man to the king of 
 England by taking the oaths and accepting the order of the blue 
 Garter, in the chapel of Saint George at Windsor, which order had 
 been established by king Edward and his son the prince of Wales; 
 that no one could be admitted a knight companion of that order, 
 without making oath never to bear arms against the crown of Eng- 
 land ; and this oath the count d'Ostrevant had taken without the 
 smallest reservation. 
 
 The king of France and his uncles, on hearing this, were much 
 troubled and vexed with the count d'Ostrevant, The king said : 
 " Only think, it is not a year ago since the count begged of me that 
 his brother might be bishop of Cambray ; but after what we have 
 heard, that would now be much to our prejudice. It will be better 
 that our cousin of St, Pol have Cambray than John of Haniault. The 
 Hainaulters were never our sincere friends, nor ever will be, for they 
 are too proud and presumptuous, and have always been more attached 
 to England than France ; but a time may come when they shall dearly 
 pay for it. We will," added the king, " that the count d'Ostrevant 
 be summoned to appear before us, and to do homage for the county 
 of Ostrevant, or we will dispossess him and attach it to our crown." 
 Such of the council as were present, replied, " Sir, you say well, and 
 what you order ought to be done." The duke of Burgundy, whose 
 daughter the count had married, was highly displeased at these re- 
 ports ; for he had always pushed his son-in-law as much as he could 
 into the good graces of the king and the royal family. This business 
 was not neglected ; for the king of France wrote very sharp letters 
 to the count d'Ostrevant, which he sent to him at Quesnoy, com- 
 manding him to come to Paris, and, in the presence of the peers of 
 France, do homage for the county of Ostrevant, or he would make 
 war upon him, and dispossess him of it. 
 
 The count d'Ostrevant, on perusing these letters, found that the 
 king and his council were much angered, and instantly assembled 
 his most confidential counsellors to consider of the answer. He 
 called to his aid the lord de Fontaines, the lord de Gomegines, sir 
 William de Heremies, the lord de Trassegnies, the bailiff of Hain- 
 ault, the lord de Sancelles, sir Race de Montigny, the abbot de Cres- 
 pin, John Semart, and James Barrier of Valenciennes, These 
 counsellors having some time debated, and turned the matter over 
 various ways, thought it most advisable to write to the king of France, 
 and answer generally to what he had urged, and demand an oppor- 
 tunity for so doing more particularly, by persons that were properly 
 qualified and not by letters. In the mean time, they recommended 
 sending a well-informed messenger, to duke Albert in Holland, to 
 acquaint him with what was passing, and have his advice. This 
 was done : they wrote such humble and discreet letters to the king 
 of France and his council as greatly pacified them ; and sent the 
 lord de Trassegnies, the lord de Sancelles, John Semart, and James 
 Barrier to Holland. On being admitted to the count of Holland they 
 laid before him the situation of Hainault, and the letters that had been 
 received from the king of France. 
 
 If the count of Holland was not surprised at what had happened, 
 it is not to be wondered at ; for he replied, " I was just thinking that 
 what you tell me would come to pass : my son William had no busi- 
 ness to go to England. I have given up to him the government of 
 Hainault : let him advise with the wisest and most prudent in that 
 country. Make interest with our fair cousin, the duke of Burgundy; 
 for he has the power to set to rights all this business. I cannot give 
 you better advice, nor recommend a more fit person to address your- 
 sevles to." On this the envoys returned to Hainault, and related all 
 that had passed, which gave satisfaction. The lord de Trassegnies, 
 sir William de Heremies, sir Race de Montigny, John Semart and 
 James Barrier, were ordered to wait on the king of France and the 
 duke of Burgundy. The detail of all that passed would be too long 
 for such a history as this, that embraces so many objects. The con- 
 clusion was, that notwithstanding the support of the duke of Burgundy, 
 the count d'Ostrevant was forced to go to Paris to perform his duty 
 and acknowledge his holding the county of Ostrevant from the crown 
 of France, otherwise he would have had war instantly carried into 
 Hainault. The lord de Coucy and sir Oliver de Clisson took mucb 
 
Chronicles of England, France, spain 
 
 & c 
 
 529 
 
 pains that a war should ensue ; but the lord de la Riviere and sir 
 John le Mercier counteracted them to the utmost of their power. As 
 we have dwelt too long on these matters, we will return to the barons 
 and knights of France, who were besieging the strong town of Africa 
 aifainst the Saracens. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 THE SIEGE OF AFRICA IS RAISED. THE CAUST: OF IT. THE KPTIGHTS AND 
 SQUIRES RETURN TO THEIR OWN COUNTRIES. 
 
 You have before heard, what pains the Christians took to conquer 
 the town of Africa ; for they thought, if they succeeded, they should 
 gain renown, and be able to withstand, during the winter, all the 
 forces the infidels could bring against them, until they should be 
 reinforced from Europe, especially by the king of France, who was 
 young and fond of arms, and there were still two years to run of the 
 truce witli England : the Christians had therefore laid siege to Africa, 
 as being the most convenient entrance into Barbary. The infidels, 
 suspicious of such being their intentions, well victualled the place, 
 and reinforced it with a new garrison, the better to guard it. 
 
 The siege still continued, although, after the before-mentioned loss 
 on the part of the Christians, little advantage was gained, and the 
 men-at-arms were greatly discouraged ; for they could not obtain any 
 opportunity of changing the tiresomeness of their situation, and of 
 revenging themselves on the enemy. Many, in consequence, began 
 to murmur and say, "We remain here in vain; for if we do nothing 
 more effectual than skirmishing, we shall never gain the town : if, 
 by accident we kill one infidel by our arrows, they supply his place 
 with ten more, as they are in their own country, and have provision 
 and stores in abundance, while ours are brought with much difficulty 
 and uncertainty. What will become of us, if we stay longer ? The 
 cold nights of winter freeze and benumb us to death. We shall be 
 in a most disagreeable state for many reasons : first, at that time of 
 the year the sea will be so tempestuous no one will venture on it. 
 We have now but eight days provision, and should the stormy weather 
 set in, and prevent any vessels arriving, we must inevitably perish. 
 Secondly, suppose wc have provision and stores in plenty, how can 
 the army support, for so long a time, the fatigue of a regular guard ? 
 The danger will be too great ; for the enemy is on his own ground, 
 and well acquainted with the country, and may attack us in the night- 
 season, as we have already seen, and do us infinite damage. Thirdly, 
 should we be infected with any disorder, from want of better air and 
 fresh provision, it may be contagious, and we shall drop off one after 
 another, for we have not any remedies to guard against such a mis. 
 ii^ntune. Besides, should the Genoese, who are a treacherous race, 
 wish to return without us, they might embark in the night-time, and, 
 when once on board their vessels, we could not prevent them, and 
 they would leave us here to pay the reckoning. It will be right that 
 we remonstrate with our lords, who are enjoying their ease, on these 
 our suspicions ; for the Genoese do not conceal their opinions of us. 
 Some of their talkers have said to our men, ' You Frenchmen are 
 odd men-at-arms : when we sailed from Genoa, we thought you 
 would have conquered this town of Africa within a week or a fort- 
 night after your landing ; but we have been here nearly two months, 
 and nothing has been done : by the assaults and skirmishes you 
 make, the town need not fear you these two years ; and at the rate 
 you go on, you will never conquer the kingdoms of Tunis or Africa.' " 
 The Genoese had so frequently held this language to the varlets 
 and others of the army, that it reached the ears of their lords, and 
 was repeated to the lord de Coucy, who was wise and prudent, and 
 to whom the whole army looked up. He considered a while, and 
 then said to himself, " The conversations of these Genoese are but 
 too well founded in truth : to put a stop to them, a full assembly of 
 the principal knights must be held, to consider how we are to proceed, 
 for winter is fast approaching." At this council, which was held in 
 the duke of Bourbon's tent, various plans were proposed ; but the 
 conclusion was, that they would, for this season, break up the siege, 
 and every person should return home the way he had come. The 
 chief lords secretly made preparations accordingly, and, calling to 
 them the masters of the galleys and other vessels, acquainted them 
 with their intentions. The captains were much surprised, and said, 
 " My lords, do not harbor any suspicions of us, for we are pledged 
 to you by our honor and oaths, and we will most loyally and honestly 
 acquit ourselves. Had we pleased, we might have accepted the 
 favorable offers that were made us by the Africans, but we refused 
 to enter into any treaty with them, from our attachments and engage, 
 ments to you." 
 
 " We have no doubts of you, gentlemen," replied the lord de 
 Coucy, " for we look on you as loyal and valiant men : but we have 
 considered our situation ; winter is at hand, and we have a scarcity 
 of provision. Should it be God's good pleasure that we return to 
 France, we will inform the king, who is young and fond of war, of 
 the state of this country. At this moment he knows not where to 
 employ his force, for he and the king of England are at peace. He 
 is unhappy when idle, and we shall advise him to undertake an ex- 
 pedition hither, as well to have the pleasure of meeting the king of 
 Sicily as to conquer this country from the Saracens. Prepare and 
 make ready your galleys, for we shall leave this coast in a very few 
 
 days." The Genoese were not well pleased with the French lords 
 for thus breaking up the siege of the town of Africa ; but, as they 
 could not amend it, they were forced to bear with it as well as they 
 could. 
 
 There was a rumor current in the Christian camp, that the Genoese 
 were treating with the Saracens to betray and deliver up to them the 
 remainder of the army. It was firmly believed by many, and they 
 said : " Our principal commanders, the duke of Bourbon, the dauphin 
 of Auvergne, the lord de Coucy, sir Guy de la Treinouille, sir Philip 
 de Bar and sir John de Vienne, are well acquainted with this plot ; 
 and for this reason they have determined suddenly to break up thk 
 siege." When it was proclaimed that every one was to embark on 
 board the galleys or other vessels, in an orderly manner, you would 
 have seen the varlets in the greatest bustle packing up the purvey- 
 ances of their different lords, and conveying them on board the ships 
 which lay at anchor off the shore. When all things were ijmbarked, 
 the knights entered the galleys that had brought them thither: many 
 had bargained with the captains to carry them to Naples, others to 
 Sicily, Cyprus or Rhodes, thejice to perform a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. 
 
 After having remained sixty-one days before the town of Africa, 
 they broke up the siege, and set sail from that country in sight of the 
 Saracens from the walls. This gave them such joy that they sounded 
 horns and beat drums, and made so great a noise by their shoutings, 
 as to be heard in the army of the Saracens. Soveral young knights 
 mounted their horses, and galloped to the place where the camp had 
 been, to see if they could find anything left behind. Agadinquor 
 d'Oliferne and Brahadin de Tunis were the first to arrive ; but the 
 Christians had so completely cleared tlie camp, that there was noth- 
 ing for them to carry away. The Saracens left their station to 
 examine the camp, and remained more than two hours noticing the 
 manner and form of it. They praised much their subtlety in sink- 
 ing wells for fresh water, and, having for some time viewed the 
 galleys under sail, they returned to visit their friends in the town of 
 Africa. Others went to their quarters, and rejoiced greatly that the 
 Christians had not dared to remain longer. They held their power 
 very cheap, and said, they should no longer fear, as they had done, 
 the French or Genoese. They spoke truly, as I shall explain. When 
 this siege was raised, the Saracens grew proud on the occasion, for 
 they saw the Genoese had exerted themselves to their utmost power 
 to annoy them : this expedition could not have been undertaken 
 without an enormous expense, and they had not gained anything. 
 But they did not know the great losses the Christians had suffered 
 until that day, and I will tell you by what accident it happened. In 
 the camp of the Christians was found, lying on the ground, a Genoese 
 varlet, who was too ill with a fever to be removed when the sailors 
 sought for their men to embark on board the barges. The Saracens 
 were delighted on finding this man, and ordered no harm to be done 
 him. They carried him to the principal commanders of their army, 
 and told them where they had found him. An interpreter was sent 
 for, to examine him ; but at first he would not make any answers, 
 considering himself as a dead man, and desiring they would put him 
 out of his pain. The chiefs of the army, such as Agadinquor d'Oliferne 
 and Brahadin de Tunis, thought they should gain nothing by his death ; 
 and to induce him to answer truly, without any equivocation, what 
 questions should be put to him, they promised to spare his life, and 
 send him safe and well to his own country on board of the first gal- 
 ley that should come thither from Genoa or Marseilles, with a present 
 of one hundred golden besants. The valet hearing this, was freed 
 from his fears of death and made easy; for he knew that these Sara- 
 cens never break their words ; and, as every one dies as late as he 
 can, he said to the interpreter, " Make them all swear on their faith 
 to keep what they have promised, and I will truly answer whatever 
 you -may ask." The interpreter repeated this to the lords, who hav. 
 ing consented to his demand, the varlet said, " Now ask what ques- 
 tions you please, and I will answer them." He was first asked who 
 he was, and his place of residence, and replied, "Portevances;* [that 
 his name was Simon Mollevin, and son to a captain of a galley at 
 Portevances :"] then as to the commanders of the Christian army. 
 He named several ; for, having kept company and drank with the 
 heralds, he had often heard their names mentioned and remembered 
 some of them. He was asked, if he knew the reasons why they had 
 so suddenly raised the siege and departed. To this he made a very 
 prudent reply, by saying, he was ignorant of it, as he was not present 
 at the council of war when it was determined on, and could only tell 
 them what was the common report in the army. It was said, that 
 the French suspected the Genoese of a design to betray them ; but 
 the Genoese declared this was false, and wrongfully imputed to them 
 by the French. They had left the coast because they were afraid to 
 winter in this country, and risk the loss of as many knights as they 
 had once done. " Ask him," said the lords to the interpreter, " to 
 explain this." He replied, " So great was the loss on the day the 
 combat was to have taken place between ten of your knights with 
 ten of ours, that upward of sixty knights and squires, men of renown, 
 died that day ; and it was solely on this account," as the Genoese 
 said, " the siege was raised." The Saracen chiefs seemed very 
 much pleased on hearing this, and made no further inquiries, but 
 punctually kept the promise they had made him. 
 
 * "Portevances." IntheMSS. Portenaucs. 
 of ilieres, off Provence 
 
 Q. if not Portocro^s, one of the UJand? 
 
 I 
 
530 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND. FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 On his return to Portevances and Genoa, he related all that had 
 passed and what answers he had made, for which he was no way 
 blamed. The Saracens said among themselves, " We have been very 
 negligent in not taking better measures against this union of the 
 French and Genoese ; for, though they have been this time unsue- 
 cessful against Africa, wo must henceforward put our coast in a bet- 
 ter state of defence, (which we may easily do ;) and we must, in 
 particular, guard the straits of Morocco so strongly that neither the 
 Genoese nor Venetians shall carry their merchandise to Flanders 
 through this strait, without paying so great a toll as to make all the 
 world wonder thereat, and even then it shall be considered as a mat. 
 ter of favor." 
 
 What these Africans had proposed they executed : and all the 
 kingdoms to the south, west and east, formed an alliance, such as 
 Africa, Tunis, Bugia, Morocco, Benmarin, Treme^en and Granada, 
 with a resolution of well guarding their coasts, and equipping such a 
 fleet of galleys as should make them masters of the sea, through 
 hatred to the French and Genoese for their late siege of Africa. They 
 interrupted so much the navigation of the Venetians and Genoese, 
 that merchandise from Alexandria, Cairo, Damascus, Venice, Naples 
 or Genoa, was difficult to be had in Flanders for money ; and, in 
 particular, every sort of spicery was enormously dear. 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 KING CHARLES OF FRANCE PROPOSES TO MARCH TO ITALY, TO FORM AN 
 UNION OF THE CHURCH BY FORCE, AND THENCE TO BARBARY. EMBAS- 
 SADORS FROM ENGLAND OFFER PROPOSALS FOR A PEACE BETWEEN HIM 
 AND KING RICHARD. THE DEATH OF JOHN KING OF CASTILLE. HE IS 
 SUCCEEDED BY HIS SON HENRY, WHO IS CROWNED KING, THOUGH BUT 
 NINE YEARS OF AGE. 
 
 When the Christian fleet sailed from Africa, all crossed the sea, 
 but did not disembark at the same port. Part met with heavy tem- 
 pests, that put them in great danger : the greater part, however, re. 
 turned to Genoa. Religions processions were making in France for 
 their safety, for they knew not what was become of them, not having 
 had any intelligence since their departure. The ladies of Coucy, of 
 Sully, and the dauphiness of Auvergne, were in great anxiety for 
 their lords, as long as the expedition lasted, and were much rejoiced 
 on hearing they v.'ere returned. The duke of Bourbon and the lord 
 de Coucy set off privately for Paris, leaving their attendants behind, 
 and arrived there about Martinmas-day. The king, as was natural, 
 was well pleased to see them, and asked many questions respecting 
 Barbary, and the success of the expedition. They related all they 
 had seen or heard, which was eagerly listened to by th<3 king and his 
 brother, the duke of Touraine. The king said, " If we can manage 
 to restore union to the church, and establish a sound peace between 
 us and England, we should very much like to lead a great army to 
 Barbary, to exalt the Christian faith, confound the infidels, and acquit 
 the souls of our predecessors, king Philip of happy memory, and king 
 John our grandfather ; for both of them put on the vermilion cross, 
 to pass the sea for the holy land ; and they would have done so, if 
 violent wars had not nearly overturned their kingdom. Now, if we 
 can restore union and peace to the church, and lengthen our truce 
 with the English to a proper term, we are resolved to undertake this 
 expedition." Such were the conversations Jjj^etween the kinff of 
 France and his uncle, the duke of fJourbon, and the lord de Coucy, 
 and thus did thing;; remain. By degrees, those who had been in 
 Africa returned home. The king lived at Paris the whole season, 
 residing sometimes at the Louvre, at others, with the queen, at the 
 h6tel de St. Pol. 
 
 About St. Andrew's day, when the knights were almost all returned 
 from Barbary, circumstances which served for a topic of conversation 
 with every one, another expedition was talked of, at the court of 
 France, but I cannot say who was the first promoter of it. The 
 king of France, who had a great love of arms, was thus addressed : 
 " Sire, your devotior^and inclination naturally lead you to wish to 
 carry an expedition against the infidels beyond sea, to conquer the 
 holy land." " That is very true," answered the king : " it consti- 
 tutes the occupation of my thoughts night and day." I believe the 
 proposal was made by the lord de la Riviere or sir John le IVJercier ; 
 for they were both, loo much attached to pope Clement, and so greatly 
 in the king's favor, that whatever they said was done. Others, who 
 were at the time ihi the king's company, said ; " Sire, you cannot, in 
 conscience, imdertake such an expedition, while the church is dis- 
 united : begin with the head, and your enterprise will end the better." 
 "How would you have me begin?" asked the king. "Sire," re- 
 plied they, " at this moment you have nothing on your hands. You 
 are at peace with the English ; and you may, during the truce, un- 
 dertake, if you please, an expedition : we do not see a more brilliant 
 one, than to march n large army to Rome and destroy this anti-pope, 
 whom the Romanfi, through error, have elected and placed on the 
 throne of St. Peter. This may be done, if you exert yourself : a 
 more meritorious or honorable service cannot be performed ; and the 
 instant the anti-pope and his cardinals shall learn you are advancing 
 against them with a large army, Vhey will surrender themselves to 
 your mercy. 
 
 The king listened attentively to this, and said he would consider 
 
 of it. In truth, he was warmly attached to pope Clement ; for the 
 preceding year, when at Avignon, he had received the greatest honors 
 and attentions from him, and he had given to him, his brother and 
 uncles, more than they had asked. This he thought was deserving 
 some return, and, on his taking leave, he had promised the pope, that 
 he would attend to his affairs in such wise that the effect of his in- 
 terference would soon be known. He considered himself bound, 
 therefore, to do something in his behalf. 
 
 At this time, the dukes of Berry and Burgundy were at Pans ; 
 and it was generally reported, that soon after March the king would 
 set out from Paris, for Savoy and Lombardy, and that the duke of 
 Savoy was to send his cousin-german with him. The king was to 
 have under his command the duke of Touraine and four thousand 
 spears ; the duke of Burgundy two thousand ; the duke of Berry the 
 same number ; the constable of France two thousand Bretons and 
 Saintongers, from the flat countries ; the duke of Burbon one thou, 
 sand spears : the count de St. Pol, and the lord de Coucy. one thou- 
 sand spears ; and all these men-at-arms were to be engaged and paid 
 for three months, and thus from time to time. The pope and cardi- 
 nals at Avignon were as much rejoiced, when intelligence of this 
 was carried to them, as if the expedition were already commenced. 
 It was proposed in the council that the king should invite the duke 
 of Brittany to form part of it, as they did not think it prudent to 
 leave him behind. The king in consequence wrote him a handsome 
 letter, to explain the plan and intention of the expeditioi, and to in- 
 vite him to make a part of it, which he sent by an honorable man, 
 one of his ushers-at-arms. 
 
 When the duke of Brittany had read the letter, he burst out into 
 laughter, and calling to him the lord de Montbouchier, said : " See 
 what my lord of France writes me. He has undertaken to set out 
 in the month of March next for Rome, and destroy by the power of 
 his arms, pope Boniface and his cardinals. As God is my help, he 
 will never succeed, but shortly have other flax to spin, Vv'hich will 
 force him to give up such foolish business. He desires me to accom- 
 pany him with two thousand lances. As I wish to pay him every 
 honor that is his due, I shall write a very civil answer back to please 
 him, and say that, if he persists in undertaking the expedition men- 
 tioned in his letter, he shall not go without me, since he is desirous 
 of my company ; but I tell you, lord de Montbouchier, that I shall! 
 not trouble any of my vassals on the occasion, for I repeat, it will enH 
 in words." The duke of Brittany sent very handsome letters by the 
 usher-at-arms, to the king at Paris, who was well satisfied with the 
 answer. No one attempted to discourage the king respecting this 
 expedition, for it was highly agreeable to the knights and squires, as 
 it made them of importance, and employed their time. All ranks 
 of persons made their preparations, even the clergy, and the prov- 
 inces were willing to tax themselves to send men-at-arms, at their 
 expense, to serve the king. 
 
 This expedition ended, however, as the duke of Brittany had fore- 
 told ; and I will relate what occasioned its being broken off. About 
 Candlemas, intelligence was brought to the king and his council, 
 which they had not thought of, nor foreseen. Part of the king of 
 England's cabinet-council were sent, in handsome state, to wait on 
 the king of France at Paris. At the head of this legation were, sir 
 Thomas Percy, sir Lewis Clifford, sir Robert Bricquet, and other 
 knights, whose names I never heard. The arrival of these knights 
 at Paris was a great surprise, though the king had been informed of 
 their coming ; for the king of England had written to him, to say he 
 should in a few days send some of his council to Paris, if he would 
 be there. The king of France was very anxious to learn why these 
 embassadors had been sent in such haste, and what they had to pro- 
 pose. The English knights dismounted at the sign of the Chateau 
 de Festu, in the street of la Croix du Tiroir, wiiere they had fixed 
 their lodgings. The king of France was at the Louvre, and the 
 duke of Touraine with him : his three uncles, and the constable of 
 France, were likewise at their different h6tels in Paris. The Eng- 
 lish arrived at Paris in the afternoon, and staid the remainder of that 
 day and the night at their inn : on the morrow, about nine o'clock, 
 they mounted their horses, which were handsomely decorated, and 
 went in state to the Louvre, where the king was waiting for them. 
 He was attended by his brother, his uncles, the count de St. Pol, the 
 lord de Coucy, sir Oliver de Clisson, constable of France, sir John 
 de Vienne, sir Guy de la Tremouille, and other great barons. 
 
 The embassadors dismounted in the square before the Louvre, and, 
 on entering the gate, were met by the lord de la Riviere, sir John le 
 Mercier, sir Helion de Lignac, sir Peter de Villiers, sir William de 
 la Tremouille, and sir William Marcel, who received them as knights 
 of the king of England's council, and conducted them most respect, 
 fully to a handsome apartment where the king of France was. On 
 their entrance they took of their hoods, and bowed very low. Sir 
 Thomas Percy was the bearer of their credential letters, which he 
 presented to the king, who, on receiving them, made the knights 
 rise. When they were risen, they retired some paces back. The 
 king of France, having perused the letters, called to him his brother 
 and uncles, and showed their contents. His uncles then said, " My 
 lord, call to you the knights from England, and demand the cause of 
 their coming hither." The king did so, and the knights were asked 
 the purport of their credential letters. Sir Thomas, in reply, said : 
 " Dear sire, it is the wish of our lord the king of England, that hia 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 aiost confidential counsellors, such as his uncles of Lancaster, York, 
 or Gloucester, or some prelates of England of whom that country has 
 the best opinion for sense and prudence, should meet others of like 
 character, of your council, that they might consider on the means of 
 forming a solid peace between you and him and your allies. This, 
 if it could be effected, would give him such great satisfaction, that 
 he would not complain of any trouble or pain his counsellors may 
 endure, whom he shall send across the sea to Amiens, or any other 
 appointed place, for the carrying on this negotiation ; and we are 
 come hither from oar lord to propose this matter, and to learn your 
 intentions upon it." The king replied, " Sir Thomas, you and your 
 companions are welcome, and your visit has given us very great plea, 
 sure. You will not leave Paris immediately : in the mean time, we 
 will assemble our council, and, before your departure, you shall have 
 such answer as shall be satisfactory to you." The English were 
 well pleased with this reply, and the king entered on other matters 
 of conversation. It was now dinner-time ; and the English knights 
 were detained to dine in tiie Louvre, and given in charge to the lord 
 de Coucy and the lord de la Riviere, who led them into a very richly 
 ornamented apartment, where a table was spread for them. They 
 dined well, and at their leisure, the lord de Coucy and the constable 
 keeping them company. When dinner was over, they went into 
 the king's apartment, and staid until wine and spices were brought 
 in splendid comfit boxes of gold and silver. After the knights had 
 partaken of these, they took leave of the king and his lords, and 
 descended into the court, where they mounted their horses and re- 
 turned to their lodgings. 
 
 The proposals sir Thomas Percy had brought from England were 
 exceedingly agreeable to the king of France, to his uncle the duke 
 of Burgundy, and to others of his council ; but not to all, especially 
 to those who were interested concerning the pope of Avignon. They 
 foresaw, that if negotiations were once begun between the two 
 crowns, it would require a long time to bring them to a conclusion, 
 and thus retard the expedition that was intended against Rome, to 
 reduce pope Boniface and his cardinals to the obedience of pope 
 Clement. The object of peace, however, was so welcome to all 
 parts of Christendom, and would be of such advantage to every 
 country, that no one dared to say anything against it. Besides, the 
 duke of Burgundy and his council, and the duke of Bourbon, were 
 unanimous in their opinion with the king. The king of France 
 showed much attention to sir Thomas Percy and his companions ; 
 but there was one knight among them, called sir Robert Bricquet, 
 whom he did not see with pleasure, for he was a Frenchman, had 
 always been of the party of England or Navarre, and was now a 
 knight of the king of England's chamber. The king prudently dis- 
 sembled his thoughts ; but, when he conversed with them, he always 
 addressed himself to sir Thomas Percy, sir Lewis Clifford, or to sir 
 John Clanvow. The king said, " We shall be happy to see a solid 
 peace established between our adversary of England and us, for the 
 war and quarrel has lasted too long a time ; and I wish you to un. 
 derstand that it shall be no way our fault if the negotiations be not 
 happily concluded." " Sire," replied the knights, " our lord the king 
 of England, who has sent us hither, has the same peaceable inclina- 
 tions, and said, on our departure, that it should not be to his blame 
 if these wars and dissentions were not put an end to, for they had 
 lasted too long ; and he was much surprised some prudent means 
 had not been sooner thought of for this purpose." " Well," replied 
 the king, " we shall see what good affection he bears us." 
 
 The English remained at Paris six days, and dined every day with 
 one or other of the dukes. In the mean time, the m.atter of their 
 coming had been debated in council, and it was settled that the king 
 of France, his uncles, and his cabinet-council, should be at Amiens 
 the middle of March, and wait there for the king of England, his 
 uncles and council, if they were willing to meet them. • The Eng- 
 lish knights engaged, that on their side there should not be any de- 
 lay, and that some of the king's uncles, if not all, would be at Amiens 
 on the appointed day. Thus was this business concluded ; and the 
 day before the embassadors were to take leave of the king and quit 
 Paris, he went to the palace, and magnificently entertained at dinner 
 these English lords : his brother and uncles were present : he made 
 sir Thomas Percy sit at his table, calljng him cousin, from his rela- 
 tionship with the earl of Northumberland. 
 
 ( During the dinner, sir Thomas Percy and his companions were 
 
 presented with rich and handsome jewels, all but sir Robert Bricquet : 
 he was passed unnoticed. The knight, who presented them in the 
 name of the king, (sir Peter Villiers, high steward of the household) 
 said to him : " When you shall have done service acceptable to the 
 king, he is rich enough to reward you for it ;" and then passed by. 
 S^ir Robert was melancholy on hearing this speech, and then first 
 learnt he was disagreeable to the king of France : he was therefore 
 forced to put up with the slight as well as he could. When dinner 
 
 ' was over, and they had washed and the tables were removed, grace 
 having been said, minstrels of song and others were called in, who 
 performed, as usual, before the king and his company. After this, 
 sir Thomas Percy advanced, and, casting himself on his knee, said : 
 " Very dear sire, I and my companions are much surprised at one 
 thing. You have most splendidly entertained us, and presented us 
 with rich gifts, for which we feel very thankful ; but sir Rober Bric- 
 
 I quet, who is a knight-at-arms, and chamberlain to our sovereign lord 
 
 531 
 
 the king of England, has been passed by, and we vv'ould willingly 
 know the reason of it." The king of France replied : " Sir Thomas, 
 the knight you have named, since you wish to know the cause of 
 his being overlooked, ought not to have taken part against us ; for, 
 had he been made prisoner in war, his ransom would have instantly 
 been paid by his death." On saying this, he raised up sir Thomas 
 Percy, and conversed on other matters. Shortly after, wine and 
 spices were brought, which having partaken of at their pleasure, the 
 embassadors took leave of the king, returned to their lodgings, and 
 paid the amount of their expenses. On the morrow, they departed 
 from Paris, and continued their journey to England, where they re- 
 lated to the king and his uncles everything that had passed, greatly 
 extolling the king of France's magnificent entertainments, and the 
 rich gifts he had made them. 
 
 We will, for a while leave speaking of England, and say what was 
 passing in Castillo. You have heard of the alliance between the king 
 of Castille and the duke of Lancaster, who had claimed that crown 
 in right of his duchess, the lady Constance, eldest daughter of the 
 late don Pedro, by whom he had a beautiful daughter, that was mar- 
 ried to don Henry, prince of Galicia, heir to the crown of Castille. 
 This marriage confirmed the peace between them. About two 
 years after the celebration of these nuptials, king John of Castille 
 departed this life, and was buried in the city of Burgos.* On this 
 event, the great barons and prelates of the realm assembled, and de- 
 clared their intentions to have for their king the young prince of 
 Galicia. This was done, and the prince wop crowned in the ninth 
 year of his age : his queen was six yours older. Thus was the 
 daughter of the duke of Lancaster, by the lady Constance, queen of 
 Castille, and of all the possessions of don Pedro, don Henr)', and don 
 John, excepting those parts which had been assigned to the duke and 
 duchess of Lancasterfor their joint lives. They had, besides, a pen- 
 sion of one hundred thousand florins, for which four of the most 
 opulent cities in Castille were pledged. The duke of Lancaster had 
 the pleasure of seeing his two daughters queens of Castille and 
 Portugal. 
 
 We will now speak of the expedition made by John count d'Ar- 
 magnac in Lombardy, for the matter requires it. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 OF THE EXPEDITION OF COUNT JOHN d'aRMAGNAC INTO LOMBARDY. HIS 
 DEATH, AT THE SIEGE OF ALEXANDRIA. 
 
 The intention of the count d'Armagnac to lead an army into Lom- 
 bardy has been already mentioned in this history. His object was 
 to assist his sister-german and her husband, sir Bernabo Visconti, 
 eldest son of that Bernabo whom the duke of Milan had unnaturally 
 put to death. This duke was Galeas Visconti, count de Vertus, 
 whose daughter the duke of Touraine had married. The lady of sir 
 Bernabo was daughter to sir John d'Armagnac, and, being in great 
 affliction, had recourse to her brothers, to whom she related the misery 
 of her situation, her poverty and necessity, and humbly prayed their 
 pity, and that they would defend her against that tyrant, the count 
 de Vertus, who had disinherited her without the smallest reason. 
 The count d'Armagnac promised his sister that he would comply 
 with her request, and had declared, that whatever it might cost him. 
 to recover her rights, he would exert himself in the attempt to the 
 utmost of his pov/er. What he had engaged to do, he performed ; 
 for I have before mentioned, that in conjunction with the dauphin 
 d'Auvcrgne, he had entered into trearties with many of the captains 
 of forts in Auvergne, Limousin, Quercy, or other parts, who, under 
 color of fighting for the king of England, had done the greatest mis- 
 chiefs tQ France. These garrisons of English, Gascons, and Bre- 
 tons, received different sums, and a pardon from France, on sunen- 
 dering their castles and quitting the kingdom. They readily, there- 
 fore, engaged to follow the count d'Armagnac into Lombardy, and 
 retired until the proper time toward the rivers Rh6ne and Saone. 
 The dukes of Berry and Burgundy permitted thefn to take vvhat pur- 
 veyances they pleased in their lordships, for they were very desirous 
 to be rid of them. The lieutenant of the king of France for Dau- 
 phiny was at that time sir Enguerrand Durdin, and the king had 
 written to him to permit all men-at-arms and their companions, who 
 should say they belonged to the count d'Armagnac, to pass freely 
 through Dauphiny, and to have whatever they might be in need of, 
 for their money. 
 
 The count de Foix, hearing at his residence at Orthfes of the large 
 armament the count d'Armagnac was raising, began to be alarmed, 
 for he was of a suspicious temper. He had indeed learnt, for com- 
 mon report flies everywhere, that it was intended for Lombardy 
 against the duke of Milan ; but as the ancestors of this count d'Ar- 
 magnac, and himself and his brother sir Bernard, had been at war 
 with him, he was doubtful if this expedition might not in the end 
 be directed against him. Not to be unprepared, therefore, he had 
 reinforced and revictualled all his castles, that if they should make 
 an attack, he might be enabled to meet them. But neither the count 
 d'Armagnac nor his brother had such thoughts : they were desirous 
 
 * King John died from the injuries recei%'ed in a fall from his horse, on the 24th Au- 
 gust, 1390, aged thirty -two. His son Henry, who succeeded him, was then eleven years 
 old.— Bd. 
 
532 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, Sec. 
 
 .strictly to observe ihe truce xiow established between them. Many 
 knights and squires from Gascony, England, and Brittany, who had 
 engaged tlieir services to the count d'Armagnac, had he declared war 
 against the count de Foix, would have left him and joined his adver- 
 •s-ary : so much was the count de Foix beloved by men-at-arms for 
 ■lis liberality and courage. 
 
 When the duchess of Touraine was informed that the count d'Ar- 
 niagnac was preparing to lead a large body of men-at-arms into Lom- 
 bardy to make war on her father the duke of Milan, and that the 
 dukes of Berry and Burgundy consented, from their desire to rid the 
 kingdom of so many pillagers which had of late so grievously ha- 
 rassed it, she did not remain idle, but instantly wrote letters to the 
 count de Vertus to give notice of it, that he might provide himself 
 accordingly. The duke of Milan was already informed of this in- 
 tention of the count d'Armagnac, and had collected men-at-arms 
 wherever he could find them, and reinforced his towns and castles 
 with men, stores, and provision, concluding he should have a war to 
 support against this count d'Armagnac. 
 
 About the middle of March, the greater part of the men-at-arms 
 were assembled in the country near Avignon : between that place 
 and Lyons, on the banks of the Rhone, were fifteen thousand horse. 
 They crossed that river where it was easiest to pass, and, entering 
 Dauphiny, took up their quarters in the villages or fields. Others 
 continued their route, the more speedily to clear the passes of the 
 mountains, which are dangerous for man and horse. The count 
 d'Armagnac, his brother, with other knights, visited pope Clement 
 and his cardinals at Avignon, and offered to serve them and the 
 church against the tyrant of Lombardy, for which they felt them- 
 selves obliged, and returned many thanks. They staid at Avignon 
 eight days, while their troops passed : they then took leave of the 
 pope and cardinals, and made ready to follow them. The two 
 brothers, sir John and sir Bernard d'Armagnac, here separated, and 
 thus -sir John addressed him : " Fair brother, you will now return 
 to Comminges and Armagnac, to guard our lands, for all the forts 
 are not yet free from the marauders. There is Lourde, which sir 
 Arnaute de Bearn holds in the name of the king of England ; and 
 Bouteville is garrisoned by Foixens under the command of sir John 
 de Greilly, son to the late captal de Buch. Notwithstanding there 
 is a truce between the count de Foix and us for the present, he is 
 80 bold and enterprising a knight, that we are never sure what his 
 intentions may be ; and for these reasons I wish you to return in- 
 stantly home. You shall hear very frequently from me during my 
 absence, and do you write constantly." Sir Bernard readily consent- 
 ed to what his brother had proposed, for he thought it prudent and 
 well advised : he had not, besides, any great inclination to cross the 
 mountains. Just on his departure, the count said : " Bernard, you 
 will go hence to our cousin Raymond de Touraine, who has married 
 my cousin the daughter of the prince of Orange, and is now engaged 
 in war with the comte Venaissain, that belongs to the pope : entreat 
 of him, for I have been so requested by the pope, that he make his 
 preparations to follow me in this expedition, and he shall be my com- 
 panion in all things : I will wait for him at Gap,* situated among the 
 mountains." Sir Bernard promised to convey this message, and the 
 brothers separated, never to see each other again. 
 
 The count d'Armagnac took the road leading to the town of Gap, 
 and sir Bernard that to the castle of Boulogne, where sir Raymond 
 de Touraine resided, who received him very kindly. Sir Bernard 
 eloquently delivered the message from his brother, to induce him the 
 more readily to comply with the request contained in it. Sir Raymond 
 replied, " Fair cousin, before your brother, the count d'Armagnac, 
 shall have advanced far into Lombardy, or laid siege to any town, it 
 is very possible that I follow him ; but it is full time as yet for me and 
 my people to begin our march. If my cousin therefore sends me in- 
 telligence about the middle of May, I will set out, for by that time I 
 hope to make an end of my war against my uncle, the pope at Avig- 
 non, and his cardinals, who not only refuse me justice, but detain 
 from me, by force, everything that my uncle, pope Gregory, disposed 
 of in my favor. They think to tire me out and excommunicate me, 
 but they shall be mistaken. They engage knights and squires to 
 make war on me, by granting them absolutions, but such have no 
 talents for war ; and I shall have more effective men-at-arms for a 
 thousand florins, than they can obtain by their absolutions for seven 
 years." " My good cousin," answered sir Bernard, " keep to your 
 resolutions : what you say is true ; and I would not, by any means, 
 (advise you to act otherwise than you do : just as you have spoken 
 will I write to my brother d'Armagnac." 
 
 They were one whole day together, in the castle of Boulogne. 
 On the morrow, sir Bernard d'Armagnac departed, and crossing the 
 Rhone at the Pont du Samt Esprit, rode over the mountains, through 
 Quercy, until he reached his destination, leaving his brother to man- 
 age for himself his war with the count de Vertus. Before, however, 
 tie left Pont du Saint Esprit, he wrote letters to the count d'Armag- 
 nac, to inform him of the answer he had received from sir Raymond 
 de Touraine, and had also letters from his brother, on his road to- 
 ward Gap. Having read their contents, he pursued his journey with- 
 out farther attending to them. 
 
 * " Gap"— an ancient city in Dauphiny, capital of the Gapen^ois, generality of GrC' 
 «oble 
 
 We will continue our history of the count John d'Armagnac* until 
 we bring it to a conclusion, without speaking of other events. It waa 
 his great love and affection for his sister and brother, who had been 
 fraudulently disinherited by the count de Vertus, who styled himself 
 lord of Milan, that had induced him thus gayly to march into the 
 plains of Piedmont and Lombardy. There were, likewise, two very 
 just reasons for this armament ; one ^vas, the carrying away such 
 numbers of pillagers, who had for so long a time oppressed and robbed 
 many of the provinces in France, for by this means the country was 
 cleared of them : the other to assist his sister and her husband, who 
 had unjustly been deprived of their inheritance, so that he had, on 
 every account, justice on his side. The companions were unanimous 
 to serve him, and exclaimed, " Let us cheerfully attack these Lom- 
 bards : we have a just quarrel and a good captain, which will assist 
 our cause, and we are going to the richest country in the world ; for 
 Lombardy receives the fat from other parts ; and, as the Lombards 
 are rich and cowards, we shall ga4n great profit. We, who are cap- 
 tains, shall return so enormously rich, that we need never more think 
 of war, nor carry on any future warfare." 
 
 Such were the conversations on their march ; and when they came 
 to a rich country they halted there for some time, to refresh them- 
 selves and their horses. At the time I am now speaking of, that gal- 
 lant English knight, sir John Hactonde,t was making war on the 
 Florentines for pope Boniface, and had fixed his quarters in the 
 neighborhood of Florence. That country as well as Perugia were 
 in rebellion against the pope. The count d'Armagnac thought if he 
 could gain the assistance of John Hawkwood, who was a most en- 
 terprising and courageous knight, he should be more successful in 
 his war. In consequence, during his residence in Grande,! at the 
 entrance into Piedmont, he wrote to him long letters, explanatory of 
 his situation, and the reasons which urged him to make war on the 
 duke of Milan. Having properly sealed these letters, he gave them 
 to a prudent messenger, who performed his duty well, in delivering 
 them to sir John Hawkwood : he was then near Florence, and had 
 under his command full two thousand combatants. He read the 
 letters, or had them read to him. On hearing their contents, he was 
 well pleased, and replied, " that as soon as he should have put an 
 end to the war he was then engaged in, he would not attend to any 
 other before he had joined the count d'Armagnac." The squire of 
 the count, who had brought these letters, was an honorable man, and 
 replied, *' Sir, you speak well and to the point : have the goodness 
 to put into writing what you say, that my lord, the count d'Armagnac, 
 may be the more assured of your intentions." " Very willingly," 
 said sir John Hawkwood ; " and it is but right, since my pleasure 
 and will are to meet him." In the course of two or three days, the 
 letters were written and given to the squire who had come from the 
 count d'Armagnac. He instantly set out on his return, and found 
 the count near to Pignerol.^ There were great negotiations going 
 forward between him and the marquis de Saluces, and the marquis 
 was to join him in his war against Milan. The news the squire brought 
 from sir John Hawkwood was highly agreeable to the count d'Ar- 
 magnac. He said, "that if it pleased God, he would this season 
 make so severe a war on the count de Vertus, that he should be glad 
 to accept of reasonable terms, or he would perish in the attempt." 
 
 From what you have heard, you may suppose the count d'Armag- 
 nac had a great desire to aid his sister, and it was compassion for her 
 that urged him to it. When his men-at-arms had passed the moun- 
 tains, and had gained the rich plains of Piedmont, near to Turin, they 
 were not long before they made excursions, and committed great 
 destruction on the surrounding villages, which could not any way 
 withstand them. The count d'Armagnac laid siege to Asti,|l intend- 
 ing to wait there for Sir John Hawkwood. Purveyances came from 
 all quarters ; and the companions ransomed small forts for provis- 
 ion, and, until their wants were supplied, they took everything away. 
 The country of Pignerol and the territories of the marquis of Mont- 
 ferrat were open to their foraging for themselves and horses. There 
 came likewise great quantities of provision to them from Dauphiny 
 and Savoy. Many leant to the count d'Armagnac from the justice 
 of his quarrel with the count de Vertus, who had wickedly put to 
 death his uncle Bernabo, to gain his inheritance ; and, although sev- 
 eral of the great lords of that country were silent on the subject, they 
 felt much compassion for those who had been thus disinherited. 
 
 During the siege of Asti, very agreeable news was brought to the 
 count d'Armagnac from sir John Hawkwood. He informed him, 
 that the Florentines and Venetians had submitted to the mercy of 
 the pope ; that he was to be paid sixty thousand florins, for himself 
 and his companions ; and that, the moment these were received, he 
 would march with five hundred men-at-arms and a thousand infan- 
 trylT toward the frontiers of Genoa, and, whether his enemies would 
 or not, he intended to force a passage to join him. The count d'Ar- 
 magnac and his army, were much pleased at the thoughts of being 
 
 * John III. of Armagnac. Hfe sister had married Charles Visconti, the son of Ber- 
 nabo.— Ed. 
 
 T " Sir John Hactonde." Sir John Hawkwood. 
 
 t " Grande"— in the ftlSS. Granido. Q,. Grenoble. The coui5 of Armagnac entered 
 Italy in July, 1391. 
 
 § " Pignerol"— an episcopal town of Piedmont, at the entrance of the valley of Perouaai, 
 ||"Asti,"— an ancient town of Piedmont, five leagues N. E, from Albi, eight 9. W 
 from Casal. 
 
 H Mille Brigands. A thousand soldiers armed with brigandines. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &.c. 
 
 533 
 
 assisted by so able a commander as John Hawkwood ; and he was 
 advised to break up the siege of Asti, and transfer it to a larger town 
 called Alexandria, situated at the entrance of Lombardy, and, after 
 they should have conquered it, to advance to Vercelli, which is also 
 a large and handsome city. The siege was, in consequence, trans- 
 ferred from Asti to Alexandria, which is a fine city, and seated in a 
 ricli plain on the frontiers of Piedmont and Lombardy, in the direct 
 road to Genoa. The men-at-arms had crossed the Tesino, and 
 lodged themselves at their ease in this plentiful country. 
 
 Sir Galeas, lord of Milan,* count de Vertus, resided in the city of 
 Pavia, and daily heard of his enemies establishing themselves in his 
 country : but his greatest surprise was, how the count d Armagnac 
 found money to satisfy the large body of men-at-arms he had brought 
 with him. His council, with whom he conversed on this subject, 
 replied, "Sir, these are free companions, and part of those pillagers 
 who have so long harassed France : they do not require pay, but to 
 seek adventures, and run the chance of gain from plundering the 
 country. Li order to deliver France from them, after the surrender 
 of their strongholds, the count d'Armagnac leads them hither. The 
 duke of Berry and the dauphin of Auvergne, whose lands they had 
 sorely oppressed, treated with them by means of the coup,t d'Armag- 
 nac, who offered the king of France and the above-mentioned lords 
 to engage them in his quarrel with you. By dint of money he pur- 
 chased their forts ; and the king of France granted them a free par- 
 don for all their past deeds, on condition they joined the count d'Ar- 
 magnac ; and whatever they could conquer in these countries was to 
 be their own. They, therefore, ask no pay ; and there are among 
 them men-at-arms that have five or six horses, who, if in their own 
 country, would be constrained to go on foot like absolute paupers. 
 They adventure themselves boldly, and it is hazardous to engage 
 with them, for they are all of determined courage. The best advice 
 we can give is, that you guard well your cities and principal towns< 
 which are strongly garrisoned and well provided with all things ; for 
 they have no artillery, nor any machines for carrying on a siege 
 worth thinking of. They will advance to the barriers of y^ur towns 
 to skirmish and do gallant deeds of arms ; but they will not gain any- 
 thing you may regret, if one may judge by what has passed, for they 
 have now been in this country more than two months, and have only 
 conquered a small and insignificant fort. Let them therefore come 
 and go, without offering them combat; for they will soon be tired of 
 the war, and will be defeated without a batde. When they have 
 destroyed all the low countries, they will be in want of provision, and 
 famine will force them to return, if no worse accidents befal them. 
 You must order your men-at-arms to keep in bodies near to each 
 other, that, in case of need, they may succor and give advice to 
 those of the garrisons who may want it. Reinforce with them all 
 your towns and castles ; for the rich citizens are not accustomed to 
 war, and will not defend themselves like knights or squires who 
 have been brought up to the profession. Send some of your chivalry 
 into Alexandria : you will gain doubly by it, for your city will be 
 more ably defended, and your subjects will love you with greater 
 affection when they see you are attentive to them in their distress. 
 You are besides bounden to do this, for they pay you taxes and other 
 levies, for your governing and taking care of them. Your enemies 
 cannot have a sufficient force to surround Alexandria on all sides, 
 and prevent the men-at-arms you shall send thither from entering the 
 *own ; and, when the inhabitants shall see them arrive, their cour;!ge 
 ■will be raised, their attachment to you increased, and any treaties 
 they might have thought of entering into with your enemies will be 
 put an end to." 
 
 The lord of Milan followed the advice that had been given him, 
 and without delay, sent thither a body of knights and men-at-arms 
 that were in his pay On being mustered, they amounted to five 
 hundred lances ; and an ancient knight, who had long been used 
 to arms, called sir James de la Berme,t was appointed their com- 
 mander. They rode through bye-ways until they arrived at Alexan- 
 dria in the evening, and entered ft, when their enemies had retired 
 fatigued to their quarters, from skirmishing at the barriers, for they 
 could not remain idle. The citizens were rejoiced at the arrival of 
 sir James de la Berme and his companions, and not without cause ; 
 for the count d'Armagnac, not having seen any men-at-arms during 
 the three days he laid before it, concluded none were in the town, 
 and had kept up a continual assault at the barriers ; but, small as the 
 defence was, it had done so well, that the Armagnacs had not gained 
 any advantage. Sir James de la Berme, on entering the town, re. 
 tired with his men to the lodgings which had been assigned them, 
 and, having taken some refreshment, they were waited on by the 
 principal inhabitants, to congratulate them on their arrival. He in- 
 quired into the state of the town, and the numbers and situation of 
 the enemy, in order that he might act accordingly. The most intel- 
 ligent replied, " that from the moment the count d'Armagnac had 
 come, there had never been any cessation of skirmishes and attacks 
 on the barriers," " Well," replied the knight, " to-morrow if it please 
 God, we will see how they bear themselves, and what they may be 
 inclined to do. They are ignorant of my arrival, and I will lay an 
 ambush for them, and make a private sally." " Ah, my lord," said 
 
 * He was created Duke of Miian 1395, by Winceslaus king of the Romans.— Z>ict. 
 Bist. 
 
 t Known also as Jaques del Venne. 
 
 those who had before spoken to him, "you must be very cautious 
 how you act, for thev are sixteen thousand horse a*, least and. should 
 they discover you in the open plain, they will surround and over 
 power you by dioir numbers, without striking a blow." The knight 
 answered, "We will consider more of it ; for, since we are come, wr 
 must attempt some deeds of arms." The conversation now ended 
 and every one returned to his home ; but the knight told his men, 
 secretly, he intended making a sally and placing an ambush, that al' 
 might be prepared against the morrow. 
 
 The next day, sir James de la Berme and his troops being armed, 
 made a sally through a private gate, on the opposite side of the town 
 to the place where the besiegers lay. He was accompanied, at the 
 distance of half a league, by about three hundred of the townsmen, 
 to a narrow valley where they could not do seen. He had left two 
 hundred without the barriers, with orders, if they were attacked to 
 defend themselves faintly, retreating toward this valley, where they 
 would be supported by the ambuscade. They promised punctual 
 obedience to these orders. The day was exceedingly hot ; but the 
 count d'Armagnac w'as youncr and enterpriging : having heard mass 
 in his pavillion and drank a cup, he demanded his arms, and, having 
 completely equipped himself, displayed only his pennon, and was 
 attended by no more than one hundred men ; for he did not expect 
 to meet with greater opposition than usual, and advanced at a slow 
 pace toward the barriers. True it is, that some few men-at-arms 
 followed him by degrees ; but others said, " What signifies arming ? 
 and why siKmld we give ourselves so much trouble, when we cannot 
 meet with any one at the barriers worth fighting with ?" They staid, 
 therefore, within their camp, eating and drinking. The count d'Ar- 
 magnac, on coming to the barriers, began to overthrow and beat down 
 many of those posted there to receive him, as good men-at-arms 
 know how to do ; but the townsmen did not wait long, before they 
 began to retreat slowly toward the ambuscade. 
 
 When sir James de la Berme saw it was time, he sallied forth out 
 of the ambush, and the Armagnacs were surrounded and attacked 
 on all sides. They valiantly defended themselves, and were rein- 
 forced by little and little with men from the camp. Many gallant 
 aeeds were done this day, which was the feast of St. James and St. 
 Christopher. It was so very hot, that those who bore arms thought 
 they were in an oven, for there was not any wind ; and the young 
 men-at-arms were overpowered by the heat, and unable to exert 
 themselves. Add to this, that the force of the lord de Milan was 
 three to one of the Armagnacs, The dust oppressed them so much, 
 they could not see each other ; but the Armagnacs, in this, suffered 
 the most. This was an unfortunate day for the count, who was so 
 overcome by the heat, and near fainting, that he withdrew from the 
 battle, without friend or foe knowing whither he was gone. He had 
 retreated to a small grove of alders, through which ran a little brook ; 
 and he no sooner felt his feet in the water, than he thought he was 
 in paradise, and seated himself by the side of the stream. He, with 
 some difficulty, took ofiMiis helmet, and remained covered only by 
 the linen scull-cap, and then plunged his face in the water, at the 
 same time, unfortunately, drinking large draughts : for he was thirsty 
 from the heat, a^ could not quench it. He drank so much, that his 
 blood was chilled, and a numbness of limbs seized him, with a strong 
 inclination to faint. He could not move, and lost the use of speech. 
 His attendants knew not what was become of him, and were the 
 more uneasy, because many prisoners had been made : they there 
 fore ceased fighting. 
 
 A short time after this, a squire belonging to the duke of Milan 
 perceived the count d'Armagnac, and wondered much, when he saw 
 him, who he could be ; for it was visible he must be some knight or 
 man of high rank : he called out, "Who are you? Surrender; for 
 you are my prisoner." The count heard him, but could not make 
 any answer, as he was unable to articulate, but held out his hand, 
 and made signs that he surrendered. Tlie squire then endeavored 
 to raise him, but, finding his attempts vain, seated himself beside 
 him, while the skirmish was still continued, and many gallant ac- 
 tions performed. 
 
 Sir James de la Berme, being a prudent and valorous knight, per- 
 ceiving the day was his own, and that many of the enemy were 
 killed and wounded, but that his men were growing weary, and the 
 Armagnacs increasing by fresh men from their camp, ordered a re- 
 treat to Alexandria, his men vigorously defending themselves as they 
 retired. The squire, who had fortunately found the count d'Armag- 
 nac in the state I have mentioned, unwilling to leave him behind, 
 for he thought him a person of distinction, called to some of his com- 
 panions to assist in carrying him to the town ; and declared, that 
 whatever he should receive for his ransom, he would handsomely 
 divide with them for the trouble they wouid have. They conipHed 
 with his request, and, with some difficulty, carried him to the squire's 
 lodgings in the city, where the count was disarmed, undressed, and 
 put to bed. By this time, sir James de la Berme had, with his men, 
 reentered the place, and barricaded the bars and gates, having man) 
 prisoners with them. They disarmed and refreshed themselves with 
 what they found at their quarters, as did likewise the Armagnacs, 
 who had been at this skirmish, on their return to the army. 
 
 When it was mentioned in the camp that no one knew what was 
 become of the count d'Armagnac, they were much alarmed, and 
 I some went to search the pljipes in the neighborhood where the akir 
 
534 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 mish had been fought ; but, to the great dismay of their companions, 
 they returned without having discovered any traces of him. The 
 squire, into whose hands he had fallen, desirous to know who he 
 was, addressed himself to a Gascon squire, a man of honor that had 
 been made prisoner, and begged of him to accompany him, with the 
 person who had captured him, to his lodgings. They went thither, 
 and the Lombardy squire led the Gascon to his chamber, where the 
 count d'Armagnac lay, bitterly bemoaning. He brought a candle 
 near his face, and said to the Gascon, " My friend, do you know 
 who this man is?" The Gascon, leaning down to examine his fea- 
 tures, instantly recognized him, and 
 replied, " Yes, I ought to know him 
 well ; for it is our commander, the 
 count d'Armagnac." The Lombardy 
 squire was rejoiced to hear his pris- 
 oner was of such distinction ; but the 
 count was so very ill he heard nothing 
 the^ asked of him. Upon which, his 
 master said ; " Come, come, let us 
 leave him quiet, that he may recover 
 himself ;" and they all quitted the 
 chamber. He died, however, that 
 same night. When, on the morrow, 
 it was known that the count d'Ar- 
 magnac had died in his bed at Alex- 
 andria, sir James de la Berme would 
 not that it should be made secret, but 
 sent information of the event by some 
 of the prisoners to the camp, to see 
 how they would act on the occasion. 
 
 The whole army were in dismay 
 on hearing their loss ; for they had 
 now no commander-in-chief to look 
 up to, as they were mostly all free 
 companions. They therefore said, 
 " Let us hasten back to our own coun- 
 tries, for we have lost all opportunities 
 of gjWning anything here." It was 
 soon~known in Alexandria that the 
 Armagnacs were in despair for the 
 death of the count : they therefore 
 made a sally from the town, advan- 
 cing full gallop to th^ camp, shouting 
 " Pavia for the lord of Milan!" Not 
 one of the Armagnacs made any de- 
 fence, but allowed themselves to be 
 
 slain, like wicked people as they were : the conquest was great, for 
 the army were so cast down, that they surrendered without striking 
 a blow, and throwing down their arms, made for Alexandria, whither 
 the Germans, and other soldiers in the pay of the lord of Milan, drove 
 them like a herd of cattle. This unexpected death of the count d'Ar- 
 magnac happened very unluckily for himself and hi5j.army. Had he 
 remained quiet but five days, sir John Hawkwood would have arrived 
 with five hundred horse and one thousand foot ; and many valiant 
 deeds would have been done by this knight and his men ; but an 
 end was now put to everything by this loss. 
 
 You may suppose the count do Vertus was in high spirits on hear- 
 ing his enemies, whom he greatly dreaded, were killed, made pris- 
 oners or put to flight, and that the count d'Armagnac was dead. He 
 more dearly prized his knight, sir James de la Berme, through 
 whose prudence and valor this good fortune had befallen him. He 
 appointed him commander-in-chief of his chivalry, and president of 
 his council. The lord of Milan considered how he should act to- 
 ward the prisoners ; and, as he was anxious to free his country of 
 them, he behaved in the most courteous manner, giving to every 
 gentleman a horse, and to the infantry one florin each, besides their 
 liberty, free of ransom ; but he made them all take an oath that they 
 would never more bear arms against him. 
 
 Thus did this army return defeated from Lombardy and Piedmont, 
 to Savoy and Dauphiny ; but they were in the utmost distress, for 
 the inclosed towns refused them admittance, and the gates of all cas- 
 tles were shut against them. They had soon spent their florins, and 
 it was necessary for them to work or starve. Some showed com- 
 passion, and gave them money ; but others, on the contrary, laughed 
 at and abused them, saying, " Go, go seek your count d'Armagnac, 
 who has burst himself by drinking at a fountain near Alexandria." 
 They were still worse off when they came to the rivers Rhone and 
 Saone, which they thought to cross without molestation ; but it was 
 otherwise, for the king had commanded all the bridges and fords to 
 be guarded against them. They fell now into the greatest poverty, 
 and were never after able to unite together. 
 
 Thus was the armament of count John d'Armagnac destroyed, and 
 his sister remained in the same distressful state as before. The lord 
 of Milan ordered the body of the count d'Armagnac to be embalmed, 
 put into a coflin, and escorted by a bishop of his country and such 
 of his relations as had remained to his brother sir Bernard d'Armag- 
 nac, who was much concerned at the melancholy event, but could 
 not any way remedy it. The count d'Armagnac was buried in the 
 cathedral church of Rodez, where he lies. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 THE KINti OF EN<JLAND IS ANXIOUS TO MAKE A PEACE WITH FRANCE. THE 
 DUKE OF GLOUCESTER THROWS OBSTACLES IN THE WAY. SIR PETER DE 
 CRAON, FORMERLY THE FAVORITE OF KING CHARLES AND HIS BROTHER 
 THE DUKE OF TOURAINE, INCURS THEIR HATRED, AND TAKBS REFUGE 
 WITH THE DUKE OF BRITTANY. 
 
 Sir Thomas Percy, as you have heard, was sent by the king of 
 England to propose a treaty of peace to the court of France, for king 
 
 Richard II. and his three Uncles the Dukes of Lancaster, York and Gloucester. From an illumination 
 at the head of a most beautiful MS. Epistle, written by an old Monk of the order of the Celestines at Pans on the subject 
 of the peace between France and England, and presented, (as shown by the drawing) by him to Richard. Royal MSfa. 
 20. B. VI. 
 
 Richard was very desirous to accomplish it. Two of his uncles, the 
 dukes of Lancaster and York, were of his opinion ; but his other 
 uncle, Thomas of Woodstock, duke of Gloucester, earl of Essex and 
 Buckingham, and constable of England, would no way listen to it ; 
 telling his friends secretly, that he would never agree to any peace 
 with France, whatever negotiations might be taken in hand on the 
 subject, if it were not an honorable one ; that all the towns, castles, 
 and lordships which were yielded to England, but had since been 
 fraudulently taken back, must be restored, and the sum of 1,400,000 
 francs, v/hich had remained unpaid by the French when they began 
 the war, must also be paid down. He declared, that as long as he 
 lived he should never change these sentiments ; in which he was 
 joined by many of the barons of England, particularly the earl of 
 Arundel, who privately said the duke of Gloucester was in the right, 
 though they dissembled their opinions in public from seeing how much 
 the king of England was bent upon peace. 
 
 The poorer knights and archers were of course for war, as their 
 sole live lihood depended upon it. When these things are considered, 
 and the claims of the French, it will be very clear nothing like peace 
 could be concluded. The French demanded to have Calais destroyed, 
 and possession given them of the lordships of Guines, Hames, Merle 
 and Oyc, with the lands of Fretun and the dependencies of Guines 
 as far as the river that runs by Gravelines. True it is, the king of 
 France and his commissioners were willing to give up to the king of 
 England and his heirs as many lands in Aquitaine, of equal or more 
 value as to revenue than those they demanded ; but the duke oi 
 Gloucester made too firm an opposition to this article, saying, " The 
 French wish to pay us back with our own lands ; for we have the 
 charter of king John, sealed by him and his children, which gives up 
 to us the whole of Aquitaine in fee simple. Whatever they have 
 taken from it since, has been a fraud and a robbery; and their whole 
 attempt, night and day, is to deceive us. Should Calais and the lands 
 they require be given up to them, they will be lords of th 
 attack our coasts. Never, therefore, so long as I live, \?ill 
 to peace with France on these terms." 
 
 At the time I am now speaking of, a knight of noble extraction, 
 from Anjou and Brittany, was greatly in favor with the king of t ranee, 
 as well as with his brother the duke of Touraine. His name was sir 
 Peter de Craon, and of such power that nothing was done but with 
 his advice. He had been favorite of the late duke of Anjou, king of 
 Sicily, and was immensely rich, which had given ri.^e to many scan- 
 dalous reports against him ; for it was currently said in trance, that 
 he had robl?ed the duke of Anjou, This caused him to avoid the 
 
 the sea and 
 I consent 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENCxLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &>c. 
 
 535 
 
 presence of the young king of Sicily and tlie queen his mother ; but 
 he had managed to acquire the aftections of the king of France and 
 the duke of Touraine. The constable sir Oliver de Clisson, was like, 
 wise in high favor with the king and his brother for the meritorious 
 services he had done them in arms, and his brilliant actions during 
 the reign of the late king. Sir Oliver's daughter was married, as you 
 have heard, to John of Brittany, brother to the queen-dowager of 
 Sicily ; and his marriage had sorely displeased the duke of Brittany, 
 who mortally hated the constable, considering both him and John of 
 Brittany as his secret enemies. He had often repented not having 
 put the constable to death when he had him in his castle of Ermine. 
 Sir Peter de Craon was a favorite with the duke of Brittany, being 
 also his cousin, and, during the reign of his power with the king of 
 France and the duke of Touraine, would willingly, had he been able, 
 have caused a quarrel betv/een them and the constable. Thus envies 
 and jealousies, which have always underhand ruled in France, con- 
 tinue to act until they bring their favorites to an unfortunate end. 
 
 The constable of France had been so loyal in his whole conduct 
 toward the crown, that he was beloved by all except the duke of 
 Burgundy ; and the hatred he bore him originated in the duchess, 
 who was :!. lady of a liigh spirit, and too nearly related to the duke 
 of Brittany to love the constable ; besides, she continued the affec- 
 :ion of her father to all whom he loved, and hated those he had hated ; 
 such was her temper. Sir Peter de Craon, who at this time resided 
 at the court of France with the duke of Touraine, kept up a frequent 
 correspondence with the duke of Brittany, they writing, in the most 
 friendly manner to each other, concerning the state of their affairs. 
 
 I am unable to describe the exact grounds of their correspondence ; 
 but I, John Froissart, author of this history, during the time of my 
 residence at Paris, (which was when sir Peter de Craon made the 
 daring attack, in the night-time, on the constable, who narrowly es- 
 caped death, as I shall relate,) seeing public affairs likely to be much 
 troubled and turn out unfortunate, made* many and frequent inquiries 
 why eir Peter de Craon had so very suddenly lost the affections and 
 favor of the king and the duke of Touraine. I had so often demanded 
 the cause from those who ought to be acquainted with it, that at last 
 I heard the truth of what was commonly believed to have occasioned 
 it. He was under the displeasure of the duke of Touraine, for having 
 revealed secrets intrusted to him by the duke, to the duchess ; and, 
 i-f he did so he behaved shamefully. The duke was so fond of sir 
 Peter de Craon that he made him his companion, dressed him in the 
 same clothes as himself, and carried him wherever he went, intrust- 
 ing him with all his most secret thoughts. The duke, at the time 
 young and amorous, much amused himself with the company of ladies 
 and damsels, and, as I heard, was particularly attached to a young 
 frisky damsel of Paris. His intrigue was known and his secrets be- 
 trayed, to the great vexation of the duke, who could not accuse any 
 other of having done it but sir Peter de Craon ; for to him alone the 
 duke had discovered it, and had led him with him when he visited 
 secretly this noble young lady. The duke was much smitten with 
 her, and had proffered her, if she would consent to his wishes, one 
 thousand golden crowns; but she had refused them, saying, "That 
 her love for him was not on account of his riches, but that his affec- 
 tion had won hers ; and that she scorned to sell her honor for gold." 
 The whole of this business was told the duchess, who sent for the 
 young lady to her chamber. On her entering, she called iicr by her 
 name, and, with much anger, said, " How is this ? do you sc<;k to 
 wrong me with my lord ?" The lady was thunderstruck, and, with 
 tears replied, " Oh no, madam : please God, I never will nor even 
 think of it." ' It is not so," said the duchess ; for I am well in- 
 formed, my lord and you love each other mutually ; and the matter 
 is so far advanced, that, at such a time and place, he offered you a 
 thousand golden crowns to possess you. You refused them, for 
 which you behaved well, and this time I forgive you ; but, I caution 
 you, if you value your life, not to have any further conversation with 
 my lord, but through your regard to me send him a dismissal." 
 
 The young lady, finding herself very justly accused and in some 
 danger, replied : " Madam, I will free myself from him as soon as 
 possible, and henceforth so act that you shall never again hear any- 
 thing disagreeable of me." On this, the duchess permitted her to 
 depart, and she returned home. The duke much in love, and igno- 
 rant of what had passed, went to the place where the lady resided ; 
 but, on seeing him, she fled, and acted contrary to her usual manner, 
 showing dislike rather than love ; for she was afraid to do otherwise, 
 from the promises she had* made to the duchess. The duke noticing 
 such a difference in his reception, was very melancholy, and would 
 know the cause of it. The young lady, with tears, said, " My lord, 
 you have revealed to the duchess the offer you once made me, or, if 
 not yourself, some one has done it for you : recollect yourself, for 
 you are discovered. Madame de Touraine told me of it herself, and 
 frightened me exceedingly ; but she has this time forgiven me, on 
 condition that I promised, on my oath, never again to give her cause 
 for jealousy by any further conversation with you." The duke was 
 much vexed at hearing this speech, and said : " Fair lady, I swear 
 on my faith, that I would rather have lost one hundred thousand 
 francs, than have betrayed you to the duchess. Since you have given 
 her a promise on oath, keep it ; but, cost what it may, I will find out 
 who has discovered our secrets." He then went away, and though 
 he dissembled his agitation, he did not think the less concerning the 
 
 cause. In the evening, he came to the duchess's apartments and 
 supped, showing her more affection than he had hitherto done, inso- 
 much that, by fair speeches and attentions, the duchess discovered 
 the author of her information concerning his intrigue to be sir Peter 
 de Craon. 
 
 The duke took no further notice of the matter, and, having passed 
 the night, on the morrow, at nine o'clock, mounted his horse, and 
 went from the hdtel de St. Pol to the Louvre. The king was going 
 to hear mass, and received his brother affectionately ; but perceiving 
 from his manner that he was angered, he said, " fair brother, what 
 ails you ? you seem nmch agitated." " My lord, if I am I have good 
 cause for it." " What is the matter ?" said the king, " we wish to 
 know it." The duke, unwilling to hide his grief, told him, word 
 for word, everything that had passed, complaining bitterly of sir Peter 
 de Craon, and added : " My lord, if it Avcrc nof for the love I bear 
 you, and for my own honor, I swear on the faith I owe you I would 
 have him slain." " Do no such thing," said the king ; " we will 
 order him, by our special counsellors, to quit instantly our palace, 
 for that we have no further need of his services ; and do you the same 
 on your part." " That I intended," replied the duke of Touraine, 
 who was satisfied M ith what the king had said. This same day, sir 
 Peter de Craon v/as told by the lord de la Riviere and sir John le 
 Mercier, from the king, that he must no longer reside in the palace, 
 and iust;mtly seek other lodgings. At the same time, sir John de 
 Bueil and lord d'Ervaux, seneschal of Touraine, delivered him a sim- 
 ilar messa^^e from the duke of Touraine. Sir Peter, seeing himself 
 thus dismis.icd, was much ashamed and greatly angered : he could 
 no way account for it, as the messenger had not declared to him the 
 cause of his disgrace. Being desirous of admittance to the presence 
 of the duke, to learn from him how he had angered him, he was told, 
 that neither the king nor the duke would hear anything he had to 
 say. When he found his disgrace was resolved on, he packed up all 
 he wanted, and set out much dejected, from Paris, for a castle of his 
 in Anjou, called Sable*. He remained there for «:ome time, but in 
 very low spirits, from being driven from the palaces of France, Tou- 
 raine and Sicily. He therefore determined, since their gates were 
 shut against him, that he would retire to the duke of Brittany, and 
 relate to him what had happened. 
 
 This he executed, and met the duke at Vannes, who received him 
 kindly. He had already heard what had befallen him, and sir Peter 
 again told him every particular that had passed, and that he was 
 banished the court of France. The duke of Brittany, having heard 
 his story, replied, " Good cousin, make yourself easy : it is the lord 
 de Clisson who has brewed this mischief for you." From this speech 
 a deadly hatred sprung, and greatly increased, as you will hear in 
 the course of this history. Sir Peter de Craon lived so long with the 
 duke of Brittany, that ke was forgotten in France ; for the constable 
 and the king's council never publicly mentioned his name. They 
 did not like the duke of Brittany more for having invited and retained 
 him; but the duke was indifferent to the king of France's anger or 
 love, and provided all his towns and castles plcntit"ully with stores 
 and provisions, plainly showing he cared not whether it was war or 
 peace between him and France. Every tiling he did was known to 
 the king and his council ; and those most in the king's favor thought 
 iiim presumptuous, and menaced him for his conduct. The duke 
 held their menaces cheap, and declared he would wage war on the 
 count de Penthievre in earnest, and On all his abettors, for he had 
 just cause of quarrel. He said, " This count de Penthievre, our 
 cousin, signs himself John of Brittany, as if he were our heir. We 
 h;ive no objection to his signing John, for that is his name, or count 
 de Penthievre ; but we are resolved he shall lay tlown the ermines, 
 and title himself John of Blois, or of Ch&,tillon, and bear none other 
 arms but those ; if he refuse, we will force him to do it, and take 
 from him his lands, which he holds in vassalage from us. With re- 
 gard to the duchy of Brittany, he need not think of that, for we have 
 a son and a daughter who are our heirs. Let him seek some other 
 inlreiltance, for he will be disappointed in ours." Such were the 
 conversations of the duke with sir Peter de Craon, who, far from con- 
 tradicting any of his future plans, rather urged him on, from hatred 
 to the constable and council of France. 
 
 We will now leave this subject, and speak of a more melancholy 
 one relative to the count Guy de Blois, whom I have before mentioned 
 in this history as my great patron and master. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 THE DEATH OF THE YOUNG COUNT LOUIS DE OHASTILLON, SON TO COUNT 
 GUY DE BLOIS. THE SUDDEN DEATH OF GASTON COUNT DE FOIX. 
 
 I HAVE already spoken of the marriage that took place between 
 Louis de Chastillon, son of the count de Blois, and the lady Mary, 
 daughter of the duke of Berry. In the settlements of this marriage, 
 the duke managed well for his daughter ; for she had a dower of six 
 thousand livres, French money, (which are well worth the same sum 
 of francs, reckoning them as florins) assigned her on the county of 
 Blois, so that if she survived her husband, the county of Blois would 
 be obliged to pay her this sum annually during her life. Now it fell 
 
 * The eastles of Craon and 8abl6 are in Anjou, two leagues distant from l&FUcha. 
 
536 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, otc. 
 
 out, that about St. John Baptist's day, in the year of our Lord 1391, 
 the boy whom I have called Louis de Blois, son to the count de Blois, 
 left his father at the chateau des Moutils,* situated in the county of 
 Blois, and set out for Hainault to visit his mother and vi^ife. Not 
 long after his arrival, he was seized with a fever, for he had rode very 
 hard and the weather was hot : he was also of a tender age, being 
 no more than fourteen years old, and, in spite of the physicians, he 
 died, for they could not check the fever. His parents, you may sup- 
 pose, were much grieved for the loss of their heir, as was the young 
 lady of Berry : she loved him most affectionately, and considered 
 herself as nobly married. The count de Blois was uneasy at the con. 
 sequences, for his affairs were rather in confusion, and he knew the 
 duke of Berry to be avaricious beyond measure, who, in order to 
 grasp at the dower, of his daughter, would take possession of the 
 county of Blois : he therefore awaited the event in silence. 
 
 Thus were the two daughters. Bona and Mary, widowed in the 
 same year. The eldest was married to Amadeus count of Savoy, 
 who died very suddenly, and so nmch was said on the subject, that 
 sir Otho Grandeson was near being arrested for the suspicions that 
 were laid to his charge, and forced to quit Savoy, France, and Ger- 
 many, to fix his residence in England. 
 
 In this year, died likewise suddenly, the noble and gallant count 
 de Foix. I will say how it happened.t True it is, that of all the 
 pleasures of this world he took most delight in the chase, and was 
 always well provided with hounds of all sorts, having never less than 
 sixteen hundred. The count de Foix was at this season hunting in 
 the forest of Savaterre, on the road to Pampeluna in Navarre, not 
 far distant from Orthfes in Beam. The day he died, he had all the 
 forenoon been hunting a bear, and it was late in the evening when he 
 was taken and cut up. His attendants asked where he pleased to 
 have his dinner prepared : he said, '* At the inn of Rion, where we 
 will dine, and in the cool of the evening ride to Orthes. His orders 
 were obeyed. The count with his companions rode a foot's pace 
 toward the village of Rion, and dismounted at the inn. The count 
 went to his chamber, which he found ready strewed with rushes and 
 green leaves ; the walls were hung with boughs newly cut, for per- 
 fume and coolness, as the weather was marvellously hot, even for 
 the month of August. He had no sooner entered this room, than he 
 said " These greens are very agreeable to me, for the day has been 
 desperately hot." When seated, he conversed with sir Espaign du 
 Lyon on the dogs that had best hunted ; during which conversation 
 his bastard-son sir Evan, and sir Peter Cabestan entered the apart- 
 ment, as the table had been there spread. He called for water to 
 wash, and two squires advanced, Raymonet de Lasne and Raymonet 
 de Copane : Ernaudon d'Espaign took the silver basin, and another 
 knight, called sir Thibaut, the napkin. The count rose from his 
 seat, and stretched out his hands to wash ; but no sooner had his fin- 
 gers, which w^ere handsome and long, touched the cold water, than 
 he changed color, from an oppression at his heart, and, his legs fail- 
 ing him, fell back on his seat, exclaiming, " I am a dead man : Lord 
 God, have mercy on me I" He never spoke after this, though he did 
 not immediately die, but suffered great pain. The knights present 
 and his son were much terrified : they carried him gently in their 
 arms to another chamber, and laid him on a bed, covering him well, 
 thinking he was only chilled- 
 
 The two squires who had brought water to wash in the basin, said, 
 to free themselves from any charge of having poisoned him, " Here 
 is the water : we have already drank of it, and will now again in your 
 presence," which they did, to the satisfaction of all. They put into 
 his mouth bread, water, and spices, with other comforting things, but 
 to no purpose, for in less than half an hour he was dead, having sur- 
 rendered his soul very quietly. God, out of his grace, was merciful 
 to him. 
 
 You may imagine all present were exceedingly afflicted at what 
 had happened : they fastened the door of the chamber, that his house- 
 hold might not instantly be made acquainted with his death. The 
 knights, seeing sir Evan lamenting and wringing his hands, said to 
 him, " E\an ', the business is over : you have lost your father and lord. 
 We know that he loved you in preference to all others. Take care 
 of yourself : mount your horse, ride and gain possession of the castle 
 of Orthfes, and the treasure within it, before any one know of your 
 lord's death." Sir Evan made them a low reverence, and replied : 
 " Gentlemen, I return you many thanks for the friendship you now 
 show me ; I trust I shall not forget it ; but tell me what are my lord's 
 tokens, or I shall not gain admittance into the castle." " You say 
 true," answered the knights : " take them." This he did. The 
 tokens were a small golden ring the count wore on his finger, and a 
 little knife with which he sometimes cut his meat at table. These 
 were the tokens the porter of the castle at Orthes was acquainted 
 with, and had he not seen them he would never have opened the gate. 
 
 * " Les Moutils,"— a village in the Blesois, diocese of Blois. 
 
 t Gaston de Foix was born in 1331, and died in 1391. His character is nowhere better 
 delineated than in the pages of Froissart : from them posterity have formed their judg- 
 ment. One accomplishment, however, he has left unrecorded : Gaston was a poet, or 
 at least a rhymer, for the verses he has left behind him do not display much of the poetic 
 fire ; but the accomplishment of versemaking was considered a necessary part of a Pro- 
 vencal gentleman's education, and accordingly we find that Phabics possessed it. This 
 surname, or rather sobriquet, is not well accounted for ; some say it was given from his 
 love for the chase, others from his fair complexion, and others hom his choice of the sun 
 as his armorial bearings,— Ed 
 
 Chapter xxix, 
 
 SIR EVAN DE FOIX, BASTARD-SON TO THE LATE COUNT, INTENDING TO 
 CARRY AWAY PRIVATELY THE TREASURE OF HIS FATHER, IS DISCOV- 
 ERED RY THE TOVVNSBIEN OF ORTHES, WHO, HOWEVER, PROMISE EVERY 
 ASSISTANCE TO HIM AND TO HIS BROTHER THAT IS NOT INCOMPATIBLE 
 WITH THE TRUE HEIR TO THE COUNT DE FOIX, THE VISCOUNT DE CHAS- 
 TELBON. 
 
 Sir Evan de Foix left the inn at Rion with only two servants, and 
 rode in haste to Orthes, where nothing was known of the count's 
 death. He passed through the streets without speaking to any one, 
 or his errand being suspected, until he came to the castle,, and called 
 to the porter. The porter said, " What does my lord Evan want ? 
 Where is my lord ?" " He is at Rion," answered the knight, "and 
 has sent me to seek for some things that are in his chamber, and to 
 return back to him. To convince you of what I say, look, here are 
 his tokens, his ring and knife. The porter, having eyed them through 
 a window, knew them well and opened the wicket, through which 
 sir Evan entered, and his servants led the horses to the stable. When 
 sir Evan had passed the gate, he told the porter to fasten it ; which 
 being done he seized the keys, and said to him, "Thou art a dead 
 man, if thou do not obey me." The jiorter was frightened, and asked 
 the cause. "My lord and father is dead," said the knight, " and I 
 wish to gain possession of his treasure before any one know of it." 
 The porter obeyed, as it was necessary for him to do ; but he would 
 indeed have preferred that sir Evan should have the treasure to all 
 other persons. Sir Evan knew well enough where it was deposited, 
 in the great tower, but he had three pair of strong doors to open, and 
 with separate keys, before he could gain admittance. These keys 
 he was unable for some time to find, as they were in a small long 
 box of fine steel, locked with a little steel key, which the count de 
 Foix carried with him when he rode abroad : and it was found hang- 
 ing to a piece of silk which he wore over his shirt. The knights, 
 who were watching the body of the count at Rion, noticing this key, 
 could not imagine the use of it ; but the chaplain of the count, sir 
 Nicholas de I'Escalle, being present, knew it well. He had been 
 much loved by the count, who intrusted him with all his secrets, and, 
 when he had visited his treasure, had never taken any one but his 
 chaplain with him. On seeing the key, he said, " Sir Evan will lose 
 his pains, for without this key he can never enter the treasury : this 
 opens a small steel casket in which the other keys are." The knights 
 were vexed at hearing this, and said, " Carry it to him, sir Nicholas: 
 you will act well by so doing, for it is better sir Evan should gain 
 the treasure than any other : he is a good knight, and our late lord 
 loved him exceedingly." The chaplain answered, " Since you ad- 
 vise me, I will cheerfully do it ;" and, instantly mounting his horse, 
 he hastened with the key to the castle of Orthes, where sir Evan was 
 very melancholy at not finding the keys, and at the impossibility of 
 forcing the locks of the doors, as they were very strong, and he had 
 not any instruments for the purpose. While he was in this distress, 
 and sir Nicholas on the road to assist him, it was known fn Orthes 
 (I know not whether by inspiration, or from women and servants 
 returning from Rion) that the count de Foix, their lord, was no more. 
 
 This was very afflicting news, for the count was greatly beloved 
 by all ranks. The whole town was in motion, and met in the pub- 
 lic square, where they conversed together on the subject. Some who 
 had noticed sir Evan ride up the town, said, " We saw sir Evan de 
 Foix gallop toward the castle, and he seemed much distressed." 
 Others replied, " Without doubt, what we have heard is true ; for it 
 is not usual for him to ride without his father." As the men of 
 Orthes were thus conversing and murmuring, the chaplain, sir Nicho. 
 las, fell into their hands. They surrounded him to inquire the news, 
 and said, " Sir Nicholas, how fares my lord ? they tell us he is dead: 
 is it true ? " No," replied the chaplain : " he is not dead, but most 
 dangerously ill ; and I am hastening to seek for some things that 
 may do him good, which I shall return with to him." On saying this, 
 he passed on to the castle. Having gained admittance, sir Evan 
 was rejoiced at his arrival, for without the small key he could never 
 have entered the tower. . 
 
 I will say how the townsmen behaved. They began to suspect 
 the death of the count had been hid from them, and said among them, 
 selves, " It is now night, and we hear nothing certain of our lord's 
 health, from his officers or secretaries. Sir Evan and his chaplain, 
 who was his confidential secretary, have entered the castle : let us 
 guard that place this night, and to-morrow we shall have certain 
 news. We will send privately to Rion to inquire how things are ; 
 for we know that the greater part of our lord's treasure is in the cas- 
 tle, and if he be robbed or defrauded of any part of it, we shall be 
 blamed. We must therefore be on our guard concerning what passes." 
 " That is true," replied others, who thought the advice good. They 
 instantly surrounded the castle, and placed sufficient guards at all 
 the gates of the town, so that no one could enter or go out without 
 permission ; and this strict watch they continued until the morrow. 
 The truth was now known of the count's death, and caused the 
 greatest tribulation among the inhabitants of all descriptions, for he 
 was much beloved by his subjects. The guards were now doubled, 
 and the principal townsmen drew up before the castle. 
 
 When sir Evan de Foix saw, from the castle pf Orthfes, the man. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENG 
 
 LAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 537 
 
 ner in which the townsiAen had drawn themselves up, and that the 
 death of the count was known to them, he said to the chaplain, "Sir 
 Nicholas, I tiave failed in my attempt : I can never go hence without 
 leave of the inhabitants, for they know my father is dead, and their 
 numbers are every moment augmenting. I must humble myself to 
 them, for force will be of no avail." " You say well," replied the 
 chaplain : " you will gain more by civil words than by harsh ones : 
 go, and speak to them, but act cautiously." Sir Evan went to a 
 tower near the ga ,e, which had a window looking over the bridge to 
 the square where the townsmen were assembled. It was in this 
 tower the lady Jane of Boulogne was brought up and educated, until 
 she became duchess of Berry, as has been already noticed in this 
 history. 
 
 Sir Evan opened the window cf the tower, and called to him some 
 of the principal inhabitants, who advanced on the bridge to hear what 
 he had to say. He thus -addressed them aloud : " Good people of Or- 
 thbs, I know but too well why you are thus assembled and sorrowful : 
 you have good cause for it. I therefore most earnestly entreat, for 
 the love you bore my late lord and father, that you will not be dis- 
 pleased nor angered, if I have hastened to take possession of this 
 castle and what is contained within it, for I mean nothing but what 
 is just. You know the great affection my lord and father had for me, 
 and that he would willingly have made me his heir. It has happened, 
 by the will of God, that he died without having completed any regu- 
 lations to that effect, which has thrown me upon you, with whom I 
 was brought up and educated, a poor knight, bastard to the count de 
 Foix. I therefore beg you would counsel me how to act, and assist 
 me in this time of distress. I pray God that you will have compas. 
 sion on me, as it will be an act of charity ; and I shall open the castle 
 for your free a Jmittance, as I never thought of closing its gates 
 against you.'' 
 
 The chiefs am tag the townsmen answered, " Sir Evan, you have 
 well spoken, and to the purpose, and we are satisfied. We therefore 
 gay, that you shall live among us : and it is our intention that you 
 keep this casde, and all that is within it, which we will aid you to 
 defend. Should the viscount de Cha.telbon, your cousin, who is heir 
 to the territory of B^arn, and the nearest relation to our late lord, 
 your father, claim anything belonging to this castle, we will strenu- 
 ously defend you, and your brother sir Gracien, in your rights. But 
 we suppose, that when the king of France was last at Toulouse, and 
 our lord, your father, waited on him, some regulations were made 
 respecting these matters ; and your cousin, sir Roger d'Espaign, ought 
 to know all the circumstances relative to them. We will write, to 
 inform him of the death of our lord, and to invite him hither, to give 
 us his advice, as well on the state of Bearn and Foix, which may fall 
 to ruin, as respecting the moveables and funeral of our lord. What 
 we have now said, we promise you most faithfully and loyally to 
 observe." 
 
 Sir Evan was well satisfied with this speech, and threw open the 
 gates of the castle for all to enter who pleased. Many did so, ex- 
 amined it well, and placed sufficient guards to defend it. 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 THE CORPSE OF THE COUNT DE FOIX IS BROUGHT FROM RION TO ORTHES. 
 THE KING OF FRANCE SENDS THE BISHOP OF NOYON AND THE LORD DE 
 LA RIVIERE INTO THE COUNTRY OF FOIX, TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS, AC- 
 CORDING TO THE DECREE OF THE COUNCIL. 
 
 This same day, the body of the count de Foix was put into a coffin, 
 and brought to Orthes. The inhabitants, men, women and children, 
 who went to meet it, wept most bitterly, remembering his valor, pru- 
 lence and generosity, and the happiness they had enjoyed during 
 jhe whole of his reign ; for there was neither Englishman nor French- 
 man who dared to anger him. They said, " Our neighbors will now 
 make war on us who have hitherto lived in peace, and we shall in- 
 liabit a land of misery and slavery. No one will now attend to or 
 defend our rights. Ah, Gaston! fair child, why didst thou anger thy 
 father ? If thou hadst remained to us, whose youth promised so 
 much, we should be comforted ; but we lost thee when too young, 
 and thy father has lived too short a time. He was but sixty-three 
 years old,* and that is no great age for such a handsome and healthy 
 prince, and one who had every comfort about him. Ah, desolated 
 and comfortless Bearn ! now thou hast lost thy prince, what will be- 
 come of thee ? Never shalt thou have an equal to the gallant and 
 noble Gaston." With such lamentations was the body of the noble 
 count carried through Orthes, attended by the following knights : first, 
 the viscount de Bruniquel and the lord de Copane, then sir Roger 
 d'Espaign and the lord de Laisne, sir Raymond de la Motte and the 
 lord de Besach, sir Menaut de Noailles and sir Richard de Saint 
 George. Sir Evan de Foix walked in the rear, attended by the lord 
 de Corasse, the lord de Barentin, the lord de Baruge, the lord de 
 Quer, and upward of sixty knights of B6arn, who had hastened to 
 Ricn on hearing the melancholy news of their lord's death. The 
 body of the count was borne, with his face uncovered, to the church 
 of the Cordeliers in Orthes, where it was opened, embalmed, and put 
 into a leaden coffin, and left in that state until the day of its inter- 
 ment. It was handsomely watched ; for there were continually burn- 
 
 * He died on the 12th of August 1391, and was born in 1331.-<-£d. 
 
 ing around it. night and day, twenty.four large wax tapers, which 
 were held by as many varlets ; twenty-four being employed on this 
 service during the day, and the like number of others during the night. 
 
 The death of the count de Foix was now public in various places, 
 and more were sorry than rejoiced ; for he had made, in his lifetime, 
 innumerable valuable gifts, and was beloved by all who were ac- 
 quainted with him. Even pope Clement showed much concern on 
 hearing it, notwithstanding the difficulties the count had, for a long 
 time, thrown in the way of the marriage of his cousin, the lady .lane 
 of Boulogne, now duchess of Berry. The bishop of Pamiers was at 
 this time resident at Avignon ; for he was afraid of living in his 
 diocese, from the hatred the count do Foix bore him.. Although they 
 were relations, and the count had made him a bishop, he incurred 
 the count's disgrace, from his attempts to extend his jurisdiction to 
 the prejudice of the count. The pope sent for him to the palace, and 
 said, " Bishop of Pamiers, your peace is made : the count de Foix ia 
 dead." The bishop was well pleased to hear it, and, in a few days, 
 set out from Avignon, for his bishopric in the county of Foix. 
 
 When intelligence of the count's death was carried to the court of 
 France, the king, his brother, and the duke of Bourbon were grieved 
 thereat, for his many good qualities. The council addressed the king: 
 " Sire, the county of Foix is now yours by lawt''ul succession ; for, 
 since the count has died, without leaving any heirs by marriage, no 
 one can dispute your claim. This is understood by the landholders 
 of Foix. There is also another circumstance which adds to your 
 claim, you have lent on mortgage of that county fifty thousand francs ; 
 send and take possession for payment, and hold it as your legal in- 
 heritance : those of the county desire nothing more eagerly than to 
 be under your government. It is a fair possession, and comes very 
 opportunely, for it borders on Catalonia and Arragon ; and if, in time 
 to come, you should be at war with the king of Arragon, the county 
 of Foix will be a good frontier; for it has many castles and forts which 
 may be very advantageously garrisoned with men-at-arms.'' The 
 king listened v<'ith pleasure to this speech, and, agreeing with his 
 council, said, " See whom we shall send thither." They resolved 
 on the lord de la Riviere, because he had formerly been there, and 
 determined that he should be accompanied by the bishop of Noyon. 
 These two lords on hearing of their embassy, made very handsome 
 preparations, but did not immediately set out. When they did, they 
 travelled slowly and at their leisure, taking the road to Avignon. 
 
 CHAPTERXXXI. 
 
 THE VISCOUNT DE CHATELBON, HEIR TO THE COUNT DE FOIX, ATTEJTDS HIS 
 FUNERAL AT ORTHES. HE IS ADVISED TO SEND TO THE BEFORE-NAiLED 
 COMMISSIONERS FROM FRANCE, TO DEMAND P0SSES5jI0N OF THE SUCCES- 
 SION WHICH HAD FALLEN TO HIM BY THE DEATH OF THE COUNT DE 
 FOIX : HE AFTERWARDS SENDS, TO THE SAME PURPORT, TO THE KING 
 OF FRANCE. 
 
 The death of the count de Foix was signified to the viscount de 
 Chatelbon in Arragon. He instantly set out for Bearn, and arrived 
 at Orthes ; but, though the inhabitants made him very welcome, they 
 did not acknowledge him for their lord. They said, "They were but 
 a part of the country ; and that it would be necessary for all the ba- 
 rons, prelates, and citizens of the principal towns to assemble, and 
 consider of the business ; that Bearn was an independent territory, 
 and those lords who resided in it would never consent that it should 
 pay homage to any one." It was now determined to perform the 
 obsequies of the count de Foix, and then to summon all the barons 
 of B^arn and Foix ; that all who pleased might attend and deliberate 
 how to act, on the present occasion, in the choice of a lord. The 
 barons, prelates and chief citizens of Bearn and Foix were invited 
 to the funeral of the count. Those from B6arn came ; but the Foix- 
 iens refused, sayng they should stay at home to guard and defend 
 their country until the matter of succession were determined, for 
 they had heard the king of France laid claim to it. The bishop of 
 Pamiers, notwithstanding this, being a relation and invited, went to 
 Orthfes in handsome state, becoming his rank. 
 
 Great were the numbers who attended the funeral of Gaston count 
 de Foix, the last of the name, in the church of the Cordelier friars of 
 Orthfes, on a Monday, the 12th day of October, in the year of our 
 Lord 1391. In addition to the barons and knights, there were three 
 bishops : first, the bishop ot Pamiers, who said mass and performed 
 the service ; then the bishops of Lcscar and Oleron. The church 
 was splendidly illuminated, and, during mass, four knights displayed, 
 in front of the altar, the emblazoned banners of Foix and Bdarn. 
 The first was supported by sir Raymond de Chatelneuf, the second 
 by sir Espaign du Lyon, the third by sir Peter de Quer, and the fourth 
 by sir Menaut de Noailles. Sir Roger d'Espaign made the offering 
 of his sword, supported by the bourg de Copane* and sir Peter An- 
 drew de B^arn, governor of Lourd^. The viscount de Bruniquel 
 offered the shield, supported by sir John de Cha,telneuf and John de 
 Chantiron. Tlie helmet was offered by the lord Valentin de Beam, 
 supported by sir Arnold de Rostem, and Arnold de Sainte-Colombe. 
 The war-horse was offered by the lord de Corasse, supported by sir 
 Arnauton d'Espaign and Raymonnet de Copane. 
 
 * The family of Copane is known at this day under the name of Caupenne. Th* 
 castle of Caupenne is near Bayonne.— JVbte by the Marquis de Sy. 
 
 r 
 
538 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 Every part of the obsequies was most honorably and magnificently 
 performed according to the custom of the country. Sir Evan and 
 sir Gracien de Foix, the two bastard-sons of the count, were present, 
 as were the viscount de ChS.telbon, all the barons from Beam, and 
 some from Foix ; but tlie last, as soon as the service was ended, 
 mounted their horses, and went to dine at Heritiel, two leagues dis- 
 tant from Orth^s. Very early on the morrow, the bishop of Famiers 
 took his departure, refusing to assist at the assembly of the barons of 
 B^arn, which was fixed for that day. As soon as the obsequies had 
 been performed, the body of the count de Foix was taken from the 
 leaden coffin, enwrapped with a new and handsome waxed cloth, 
 and buried in front of the grand altar in the choir of the church of the 
 Cordeliers. Of him there is an end : God pardon his sins ! 
 
 I will now say what was done at this great meeting of prelates, 
 barons, knights, and principal citizens of Bearn, at Orthes. I imag- 
 ine, from the information I received, the viscount de Chateaubon was 
 addressed nearly as follows : "My lord, we know well that, from your 
 relationship to our late much honored lord, whose soul God pardon ! 
 you are entitled to succeed to all his inheritances, as well in B^arn as 
 in Foix ; but at this moment we dare not acknowledge you as our 
 lord, lest we be guilty of great imprudence, and hazard this country 
 of B6arn in a dangerous war ; for we have heard that the king of 
 France, who is our good neighbor, and very powerful, has ordered 
 hither some of his council : we know not, nor shall we learn until 
 they arrive and tell us, on what cause they are sent. You are not 
 ignorant, any more than ourselves, that our late lord, whom God for- 
 give ! was last year with the king of France at Toulouse, when they 
 had many secret conferences ; and the object of these must be ex- 
 plained, for, should he have signed and sealed any transfer of Foix 
 and Bearn, the king of France will think him.self justified to possess 
 them by force. We therefore must know the terras of such treaties 
 if they exist, for we are otherwise situated than Foix. Ours is a free 
 country,* which owes neither homage nor servitude to any one ; 
 whereas the county of Foix is a tenure from the king of France, and 
 the Foixicns are so attached to France, that they will cheerfuly ac. 
 knowledge that king for its lord : indeed, they already say, that since 
 the count de Foix has deceased without heir-male by legal marriage, 
 that county naturally falls to the king of France, its lord paramount. 
 My lord, you know we shall maintain our rights, and that we will not 
 sui'render them to any lord, whether the king of France or you. 
 We recommend, therefore, that in this business you take the lead, by 
 treaty or otherwise." The viscount replied ; " And how would you 
 advise me to act? for I have declared my willingness to follow ev- 
 erything in reason that you shall counsel me." " My lord," said 
 they, we think you should desire your cousin sir Roger d'Espaign, 
 who is here present, to accompany you at your expense to the county 
 of Foix, to negotiate with the barons, prelates and principal inhabit- 
 ants. If you succeed in prevailing on them to accept you for lord, 
 or to keep secret their intentions until you shall have gained over the 
 king of France by means of a composition in money, that the inher- 
 itance may be yours, you will have done weil. Have an interview 
 with the commissioners sent by the king of France to Foix, and offer 
 one or even two hundred thousand francs ; you will find it cheaply 
 bought, and have more than enough to pay it from the treasure our 
 late lord (whose soul may God pardon!) has left behind him. But 
 we are resolved that his two bastard-sons shall have a handsome 
 share of his landed property, and of the ready money." 
 
 The viscount de Chateau-bon answered ; "Gentlemen, I consent to 
 all your wishes. Here is sir Roger d'Espaign, and in your presence 
 I entreat that he will accompany me on this journey." Sir Roger 
 said, he would cheerfully do so, as he might mediate between them ; 
 but if the king of France, his sovereign lord, or his commissioners, 
 should require him to be of their party, or wish him to retire, he 
 should then return. The viscount was satisfied with this answer, and 
 •said, " I will never act, cousin, but by your advice ; and when you 
 are by my side, I shall be more encouraged and the sooner accom- 
 plish my ends." On this, the meeting was on the point of being dis- 
 solved, when the viscount requested that he might have, by way of 
 loan, five or six thousand francs from the treasury, to carry on his 
 affairs. The two bastards likewise put in their claims, and desired 
 they might have a share of the money of their father which thp^men 
 of Orthes had now under their guard. The barons, prelates and citi- 
 zens, having considered these demands, agreed that the viscount 
 should have five thousand francs, on the terms he had proposed, and 
 the two bastards of Foix two thousand. Orders were accordingly 
 given for their delivery. This was complied with, and the treas- 
 urers summoned to pay it. Not one person who had any office under 
 the late count was dismissed ; but the guard of the castle of Orthes, 
 and all within it, was given to the inhabitants of the town. 
 
 The viscount de Cha,teau-bon, on his arrival at Orthes, set at lib- 
 erty all prisoners confined in the casile. They were very numerous ; 
 for the count de Foix was very cruel to any person who incurred his 
 indignation, never sparing them, however high their rank, but order- 
 ing them to be thrown over the walls, or confined on bread and water 
 during his pleasure ; and such as ventured to speak for their deliv- 
 erance ran risks of similar treatment. It is a well-known fact, that 
 he confined, in a deep dungeon, his cousin-german, this viscount de 
 Chftteau-'bon, during eight days ; and he would not give him his lib- 
 
 * The fiiamese had their own courts and customs which they long preserved.— Ed 
 
 erty until he had paid down forty thousand francs. Since that time 
 he bore him such a hatred, that he dared not appear before him ; and 
 had the count lived two years longer, the viscount de Cha,teau-bon 
 would never have inherited his posessions in Foix and Bdarn. Those 
 who had attended this meeting at Orthes now separated, to return to 
 their homes, leaving the viscount to the care of his own affairs. He 
 was not idle, but collected about his person those knights and squires 
 he thought attached to him, and left Orthes with an attendance of 
 two hundred horse.. He went to Morlaas, a good town and well 
 inclosed : it is the last in Bearn, on the side of Bigorre, four leagues 
 from Pau, and six from Tarbes. 
 
 On the morrow, as he was preparing to set out for Saint Gaudens, 
 another good town at the entrance of Foix, on the Garronne, news 
 was brought him that the bishop of Noyon and sir Berau de la Riviere 
 were arrived in great state at Toulouse. The viscount de Chateau- 
 bon asked sir Roger d'Espaign how he should act. Sir Roger replied, 
 " Since we have now heard of them, we will remain and observe 
 how they proceed. In a few days, they will make us acquainted 
 with their intentions." This advice of sir Roger was followed : in- 
 deed, it would have been useless to advance further into Foix, for all 
 the chief towns, castles, and passes over the river Garonne were shut 
 against them, such as Palaminich, Castres, Montesquieu, Carthas, 
 Ortingas, Sossa, the city of Pamiers, the castle of which was under 
 the guard ,of the townsmen, Savredun, Montant, Mazeres, Vespuis, 
 and all the castles on the frontier of Arragon. The inhabitants of 
 Foix declared that no foreign power, of men-at-arms, should enter 
 their country, until the right of succession was established : they, 
 however, showed a great inclination that France should have their 
 country, and that it should be governed by a seneschal, like Tou- 
 louse, Carcassonne and Beaucaire ; but it happened otherwise, as I 
 shall shortly relate. 
 
 When the commissioners from France arrived at Toulouse, they 
 sought intelligence from the archbishop, the seneschals of Foix and 
 Toulouse, who told them enough ; for the two last had, from the 
 great love they bore the count de Foix, with many of the principal 
 persons in Toulouse, attended his funeral at Orthfes. They had, when 
 there, inquired into the state and disposition of the country, from 
 such as they imagined could inform them. Upon hearing their re- 
 port, the bishop of Noyon and lord de la Riviere consulted together, 
 and determined to send for sir Roger d'Espaign, for he was liege- 
 man to the king of France, his officer, and seneschal of Carcassonne, 
 and keep him with them should there be occasion. According to 
 this plan. they sent off" an honorable squire, vvhh letters sealed to sir 
 Roger. He left Toulouse, thinking to meet sir Roger at Montreal 
 or at Saint Gaudens, with the viscount de Cha,teau-bon ; for he had 
 heard they had left Morlaas on their road to enter Foix. The squire 
 followed the road to Saint Gaudens, and soon arrived there, as the 
 distance was not more than twelve leagues. He presented the letters 
 to sir Roger, telling him at the same time from whom they came. 
 Sir Roger, having read them, said, " You shall stay here to-day: 
 to-morrow you shall return, and I hope have company with you." 
 The squire assented to this. 
 
 The viscount and sir Roger had a long conference on the subject 
 of these letters, and it was concluded that sir Roger should wait on 
 the commissioners at Toulouse, when he would hear what was the 
 object of their coming, and what their intentions. On the morrow, 
 the knight, in company with the squire who had brought the letters, 
 set out for Toulouse, and they continued their' journey until they 
 arrived there in the evening, when sir Roger retired to his lodgings, 
 and the squire to his masters. On learning that the knight was ar- 
 rived, the commissioners said, " Since sir Roger d'Espaign is come 
 in person, to-morrow we shall have some intelligence." The next 
 day, after mass, sir Roger waited on the bishop of Noyon and the 
 lord de la Riviere, who kindly received him. After some conver- 
 sation on different subjects, they told him the cause of their com- 
 ing, and showed the king's procuration, for them to take posses- 
 sion, in his name, of the county of Foix. Sir Roger observed their 
 papers and credential letters were properly drawn up, and, after a 
 short pause, he replied : " My lord of Noyon, and you my lord de la 
 Riviere, I am not such an intimate counsellor of the king as ye are, 
 for, if I were, I would (under your favor) advise him to take the 
 money, and indeed somewhat more than what he has, on mortgage 
 on this county, advanced to the late count, and to be repaid on his 
 death, and let the natural heir succeed to his inheritances. This 
 would be, in my mind, greatly to his honor and profit, and to the 
 salvation of his soul. I will give you other substantial reasons why 
 this should be done, if you will listen to mc. First, it is well known 
 that this mortgage was fraudulently made by the late count, for he 
 abounded in money ; and was in this matter actuated solely by his 
 hatred to the true heir, the viscount de Chateau-bon, whom he thought 
 he could never suflSciently injure. The king may therefore, if he 
 consent to it, be implicated in this disgraceful transaction. Secondly^ 
 by following my advice the king will be a gainer ; for the county of 
 Foix will cost liim full as much to guard and defend as his receiver^' 
 can collect from it, and he will, besides, lose the homage and service 
 of a powerful man. Thirdly, he will heavily load his conscience by 
 thus disinheriting another; for if he had meant to act jusffy in such 
 a bargain and sale, he ought to have called upon all the relations of 
 the late count, who had the remotest claims on his succession, to 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 539 
 
 oppose this act, if they should have thought it necessary, which was 
 not done. Consider, therefore, my lords, you who have so good un- 
 derstandings, and are come hither as those most looked up to in the 
 king's council, all that I have said, before you approve yourselves 
 abettors of frauds, which must affect the conscience of the king, for 
 on you will the whole blame be thrown, and, before it be too late, 
 apply a remedy. You have now time, for my cousin the viscount 
 de Chateau-bon, las sent me to remonstrate with you on this busi. 
 ness ; and he, as well as myself, beg you will pay attention to our 
 complaints ; for it is not just to seize all that strength and power may 
 enable you to do." When sir Roger had done speaking, the bishop 
 of Noyon and the lord de la Kiviere looked at each other; and the 
 bishop thu-3 replied : " Sir Roger, we are convinced the proposition 
 you have made us is caused by your love of justice ; but our commis- 
 sion does not extend to annihilate the bargains which may have been 
 made between the king of France and the count de Foix. However, 
 from consideration and love to you, and for the satisfaction of all 
 parties, we will not proceed further in the business, if you will un- 
 dertake a journey to Paris, and make to the king and council what 
 remonstrances you may please relative to it. If you can by your 
 eloquence prevail, that the succession of Foix devolve to the viscount 
 de Chateau-bon, who is indeed, as you say, the legal heir, we shall 
 be right glad, for we are no way inclined to disinherit him." " My 
 lords," replied sir Roger, " you make me very happy by what you 
 say : remain, therefore, and amuse yourselves in Toulouse during 
 my absence, for all your expenses shall be defrayed from the treasure 
 sa the castle of Orthes." 
 
 Thus did sir Roger d'Espaign manage the matter, during his stay 
 oi two days in Toulouse with the commissioners from France : a 
 better negotiator could not have been sent. On the third morning, 
 when taking lea e of them he said : " My lords, since I have begun 
 this business, I s e the necessity for my going to Paris, to bring it to 
 a conclusion ; but I know not in what disposition I shall find the king 
 and his court. Should I stay longer than I propose, I beg you will 
 not be uneasy, for it will be the fault of those with whom I must 
 treat, if I do not very speedily return : in the mean time you shall 
 constantly receive messages with letters from me." 
 
 " Go, in God's name," said the two lords : " we know it will not 
 be your fault if any delay happen." Thus satisfied with each other, 
 they separated. The commissioners remained at Toulouse, and sir 
 Roger returned to the viscount de Cha,teau-bon at St. Gaudens, to 
 tell him what had passed. The viscount was rejoiced on hearing it, 
 and said, " Sir Roger, my fair cousin, I put my whole confidence in 
 you, and the matter interests me gready ; for it is nothing less than 
 whether I am or not to have the property of my family, from whom 
 I am sprung, and whose arms I bear. I have none other but you to 
 send to France, nor any one on whom I can depend, to lay before 
 the king and council the hardship of my case, with a force of elo- 
 quence equal to the occasion. I therefore entreat, from your affec- 
 to me, and for the obligation I shall ever be under to you, that you 
 would undertake this journey." Sir Roger said, " I knew well that 
 you would charge me with this business, and, from my love to you 
 and our relationship, I will readily undertake it." He was not long 
 in making his preparations to go to Paris, and took the road through 
 Rodez, as being the shortest, for there was now a truce between 
 France and England. Had it not been so, this way would not have 
 been the most expedient ; for there were many forts on the borders 
 of Quercy, Rouergue and Limousin, in the hands of the En-glish. 
 
 We will now leave sir Roger to pursue his journey, and speak of 
 the king of France and the duke of Brittany. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 THE KING OF FRANCE AND THE DUKE OF BRITTANY ME6T AT TOURS, TO 
 SETTLE THEIR DIFFERENCES. EMBASSADORS FROM ENGLAND COME 
 THITHER ALSO TO NEGOTIATE A PEACE. 
 
 The great hatred which subisted between the duke of Brittany and 
 sir Oliver de Clisson, constable of France, has been repeatedly men- 
 tioned in this history. The duke, in addition to the ill-will he bore 
 him, was envious of the favor he was in with the king of France, 
 and the opinion he had of his advice : he would willingly have pre- 
 vented or troubled this, if he had the power, and was not fearful of 
 offending the king. This made him frequently repent that he had 
 not put him to death when in his castle of Ermine, for no one would 
 have revenged it, and the matter would soon have been forgotten. 
 The duke, on account of this hatred and envy of the constable, was 
 very backward in his duties to the crown of France, and, when he 
 could, absolutely refused paying them. He knew he was acting im- 
 propelly, but persisted iu this conduct, for he was too much inclined 
 to England, and provided his castles and towns with artillery and 
 stores, sending secretly to England for men-at-arms and archers, 
 whom he placed in his forts, giving it out that he was expecting war 
 to be made on him ; but his subjects could not guess from what 
 quarter. 
 
 News of all that he was doing was carried to the court of France, 
 and several spoke loudly against him. The duke, indeed, knew that 
 many of the French lords disliked him ; but he was indifferent as to 
 this, and continued to act as before, intrusting only the duchess of 
 
 Burgundy with the real state of his affairs and his intentions. He 
 was right so to do, for he was by her strongly supported. She had a 
 great affection for the duke of Brittany, not only because he was her 
 relation, but her father, the late earl of Flanders, had been much 
 attached to him, and comforted him in all his distresses. This 
 duchess of Burgundy was a determined lady, and the duke, her hus- 
 band, would not willingly have angered her, as was indeed natural ; 
 for he had gained by his marriage with her immense possessions, and 
 was the father of many fine children, which bound him, as well as 
 the whole royal family, the more to her. 
 
 These hatreds and jealousies were daily increasing; and although 
 the duke of Brittany went to Paris, and paid his homage to the king, 
 I will not pretend to say that it was done from the heart, for on his 
 return to Brittany, very little change was observed in his conduct. 
 He had also sworn obedience to the pope of Avignon, but acted con- 
 trary to his solemn pledge, for he disclaimed him by words, and 
 would not allow his bulls to have effect in his duchy. He was neuter 
 between the two popes in many things, and disposed of vacant bene- 
 fices according to his pleasure ; so that no foreign clerk, unless he 
 was perfectly agreeable to the duke, could obtain any benefice in 
 Brittany. And with regard to any writs, or law processes, which 
 were sent thither from the parliament of Paris, he held them very 
 cheap, and seemed to expect that his own officers should take the 
 precedence in all such proceedings. 
 
 The duke deprived even the prelates of Brittany of many of their 
 rights, who, though they made loud complaints of this to the par- 
 liament of Paris, could not obtain redress ; for when the duke was 
 summoned to defend himself against these charges in the courts of 
 justice, he never came nor sent any persons sufficiently authorized to 
 answer for him. When, by order of the parliament, the king's offi- 
 cers were sent into Brittany to serve the duke with writs of summons, 
 they never could speak with him nor obtain a sight of him, from dif- 
 ferent excuses Jie made ; but when they had left his country, and 
 were returned to Paris, he said : " Yes, to be sure I will go to Paris 
 to hear law I never will I do such a thing. Three years ago, I was 
 there for that purpose and to obtain justice ; but the last I never could 
 get. Our judges of the parliament turn it as they please; and they 
 must think me very young and ignorant, when they want thus to 
 manage me. I wish to let them know, that if all my subjects were 
 unanimous in the same opinions with me, I would find the king of 
 France so much employment that the most obstinate should listen to 
 reason. All who had loyally and faithfully served, should be re- 
 warded accordingly, and such as had acted on opposite principles 
 should be punished; and those who demanded justice should have 
 it." Such speeches, which were often repeated, were carried to the 
 French court ; and the king's most confidential ministers said, " This 
 duke of Brittany is so presumptuous and obstinate in his opinions, 
 that, if he be suffered to go on with such discourses, the kingdom 
 will be weakened, by other lords following his example, and the rights 
 of the crown by degrees may be lost." It was therefore resolved, to 
 obviate all difficulties, that the duke of Brittany should be civilly in- 
 vited to come to Tours, where the king of France, from the affection 
 he bore him, would endeavor to give him the meeting, attended only 
 by the dukes of Berry and Burgundy, and the bishops of Chartres 
 and Autun, members of his council, who were expressly named, as 
 more in favor with the duke of Brittany than any other lords in 
 France, except the lord de Coucy and the lord d'Estampes. 
 
 This plan being followed, the count d'Estampes and sir Yves d'- 
 Orient were sent into Brittany, where they had much difficulty to per- 
 suade the duke to meet the king of France and his uncles at Tours. 
 They discussed the matter so ably, he at length said, " that he would 
 go to Tours; but they need not press him to prolong his journey, for 
 further he would not go, neither would he see his enemy, sir Oliver 
 de Clisson, as he hated him mortally." These terms v/ere complied 
 with before he would consent to set out for Tours. The two envoys 
 returned to France to tell the king and his uncles their success with 
 the duke of Brittany. They appeared sr.tisficd therewith, since they 
 could not do better. The king and his lorcis began to make prepa- 
 rations for this journey to Tours on a large scale ; for they imagined 
 they should remain there two or three months, as the treaties and 
 negotiations which were to be proposed, would require much time 
 before they could be concluded. 
 
 The king of France, the duke of Touraine, the duke of Berry, the 
 duke of Burgundy, his son John of Burgundy, the duke of Bourbon, 
 the lord de Coucy, the count de la Marche, the count de Saint Pol, 
 and the whole of their councils, came to Tours, where lodgings had 
 been provided for them. The constable of France and his son-in- 
 law, John of Brittany, came thither from a different quarter, as in- 
 deed they were nearly concerned in the matters then going forward. 
 The duke of Brittany, after keeping them waiting a fortnight, at 
 last arrived. Some said, that notwithstanding he had made them 
 come there, he would not meet them ; for he had sent twice or thrice 
 to say he was too ill to ride ; but having considered the business, he 
 at length came. His purveyances were grand, and he and his people 
 were lodged at their ease. 
 
 [The negotiations instantly began on both sides ; but as the days 
 were new short, it being the winter season, there could not be any 
 long discussions before dinner, which were renewed afterwards until 
 the evening. During the time these treaties were going forward at 
 
540 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &, c . 
 
 Tours, between the king of France and the duke of Brittany, which 
 lasted good part of the winter, sir Roger d'Espaign and sir Espaign 
 du Lyon arrived there fron^ Toulouse on a Wednesday. The city 
 was so full of lords and other company, that it was with much diffi- 
 culty they could find lodgings. Having at last obtained them, they 
 waited on the king and his ministers, and explained, as eloquently 
 as they were able, the cause of their coming, and the case of the 
 viscount de Chatcau-bon, in regard to his claims on the county of 
 Foix, and the honor of Bearn.] The king and his council were so 
 fully occupied with the affairs of Brittany, which touched them more 
 nearly, that they could nut attend to other business. 
 
 Sir Roger d'Espaign was however well heard, though he had not 
 a speedy answer: he remained there upward of two months, and 
 was daily told his proposal should be considered, but the answer was 
 not given. There was another cause of delay, during the king's 
 residence at Tours, that increased the labors of his council ; for sir 
 John Clanvow, counsellor and chamberlain to the king of England, 
 • and Richard Rowhall, clerk, doctor of laws, and of the council of 
 England, arrived there from king Richard, on the subject of a peace 
 which had been first proposed by sir Thomas Percy and the lord de 
 Clifford, some time before at Paris, as you have heard. On their 
 arrival, all other business was laid aside, and they alone were at- 
 tended to. It was told nie, they had brought credential letters to 
 the king, and the dukes of Berry and Burgundy, who heard what they 
 had to say. Their mission was to know if the king of France and 
 his council were willing to hold conferences at Arniens, as had been 
 proposed, to endeavor to establish a lasting peace' between the two 
 kingdoms and their allies. The king of France, who, from every 
 appearance, seemed desirous of peace, answered in the affirmative, 
 and said, " that as soon as the business between him and the duke 
 of Brittany was finished, and he was returned from Tours, he would 
 not attend to anything until he arrived at Amiens, according to the 
 former propositions ; and that he would await there the arrival of the 
 commissioners from England, who should be made welcome with 
 the best cheer of the country." 
 
 The English were well pleased with this answer, and staid five 
 days at .Tours, passing their time with the king, the chief lords and 
 the chancellor of France. Having accomplished the object, of their 
 coming, they took leave of the king and court. The king made 
 them handsome presents, for which they returned thanks, and had 
 all their expenses, while at Tours, paid. During their stay, they 
 neither saw nor spoke with the duke of Brittany, for they were anx- 
 ious to avoid giving the French any cause of suspicion of under- 
 hand dealing. They returned through Paris and Picardy to Calais, 
 and, having a favorable passage, arrived at Dover, and thence jour- 
 neyed to London, where they found the king and council assembled 
 at Westminster, and related to them the answer they had received, 
 and what observations they had made. The king and council were 
 satisfied with what they heard, and gave orders respecting the con- 
 ferences to be holden at Amiens. 
 
 We will now return to the embassadors from Bearn and Foix. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII 
 
 SIR ROGER D'ESPAIGN AND SIR ESPAIGN DU LYON, EMBASSADORS FROM 
 THE VISCOUNT DE CHATEAUBON, PRACTICE SO SUCCESSFULLY WITH THE 
 COURT OF FRANCE, THAT HE IS DECLARED HEIR AND SUCCESSOR TO THE 
 COUNT DE FOIX BY LETTERS PATENT FROM THE KING OF FRANCE. 
 
 Sir Roger d'Espaign and sir Espaign du Lyon acquitted them- 
 selves handsomely and successfully, in regard to the aftairs of the 
 viscount de Chateaubon. They had many difficulties to overcome 
 with the king and court, more especially with the members of the 
 privy council, who had advised the king to annex the county of Foix 
 to the crown of France, since the inhabitants were desirous of it. 
 The king was likewise of this opinion, but the duke of Burgundy 
 more wisely opposed it, and recommended it to the king to do noth- 
 ing more than to receive back the money he had advanced, saying, 
 he had lands enough to guard without adding these, and disinheriting 
 the lawful heir. I believe the duke of Burgundy's advice would not 
 have been attended to, if the duke of Berry had not taken up the 
 matter. You have heard, that formerly he had sent to the count de 
 Foix the count de Sancerre, the viscount d'Assy, sir William de la 
 Tremouille, and the lord de la Riviere, to treat for his marriage with 
 the lady Jane of Boulogne, whom the count de Foix had in ward. 
 The count listened to the proposals, but told the envoys that the duke 
 of Berry should never have her for his wife, if he did not give him 
 thirty thousand francs for the expenses of her education ; and this 
 demand the duke paid, for he was determined to have the lady. 
 This he had not forgotten, and, sending for sir Roger d'Espaign and 
 sir Espaign du Lyon to his chamber at Tours, shut the door and con- 
 versed with them in private, saying, " You may, if you please, suc- 
 ceed in the object of your journey hither ; but you must first promise 
 me, that I shall be fully repaid the sum my treasurer gave the count 
 de Foix when I was married to my present duchess. I have always 
 determined, that if I survived the count, this money should be paid 
 me back." 
 
 The two knights, hearing the duke thus talk, looked at 6ach other, 
 but said not a word. The duke added, " My fair sirs, it was for this 
 
 I wished to speak with you by ourselves : consult together on what 
 I have told you ; for, be assured, whether you consent or not, I will 
 obtain repayment, and your treaty shall not succeed. I can depend 
 on my good brother of Burgundy acting as I please ; he is lieutenant 
 over all the countries of Oil, as I am over those of Oc, and none 
 will dare to controvert my orders, or oppose my will. This viscomit 
 de Cha,teaubon will find money enough for my demand, since the 
 late count has left more behind him than the king has in his treasury." 
 Sir Roger d'Espaign now answered, " My lord, suppose we were to 
 accede to your proposal, we have not any money with us." " Oh," 
 replied the duke, " sir Roger, that shall be no hindrance. You shall 
 take the debt on yourself, and give me your bond for it : I have that 
 opinion of your honor I will credit you for this, or a much larger 
 sum if it were necessary." "My lord," said sir Roger, "I thank 
 you: we will consult together, and you shall to-morrow have our 
 answer." " I am satisfied," answered the duke ; when the conver- 
 sation ended, and the doors were opened. 
 
 The two knights returned to their lodgings, and had many conver- 
 sations, whether or not they should agree to the duke's demand, and 
 accept of his mediation. Everything considered, they thought the 
 best they could do would be to consent ; for the matter had been 
 drawn out to a great length without any appearance of being de- 
 cided : but on condition that all the landed property was yielded to 
 the viscount de Chateaubon. On the morrow, they returned to the 
 duke of Berry, and engaged themselves for the payment of thirty 
 thousand francs, on condition he would influence the king and council 
 to allow the viscount de Cha,tcaubon to inherit Foix, on his paying 
 back the sum it had been mortgaged for. The duke replied, "Leave 
 that to me : I will have it done, otherwise I shall not expect you to 
 fulfil your engagements." From that day forward, the duke of Berry 
 was so anxious to receive his thirty thousand francs, and so able an 
 advocate for the viscount de Ch&,teaubon, that everything was ar- 
 ranged according to his wishes. The king and council desisted from 
 their first demands; and the two foreign knights had given them 
 letters of confirmation of the county of Foix to the viscount de Cha- 
 teaubon, addressed to the bishop of Noyon and the lord de la Riviere, 
 who had remained at Toulouse. 
 
 The substance of these letters, as I learnt from credible persons 
 who had been on this embassy, was as follows : " We Charles, by 
 the grace of God king of France, order and command our reverend 
 father in God the bishop of Noyon, and our knight and chamberlain 
 the lord de la Riviere, to allow the viscount de Cha,teaubon, heir of 
 Foix and B^arn, to have peaceable possession and enjoyment of the 
 same, and of all dependencies thereto belonging, on condition that 
 he first pay into your hands the sum of sixty thousand francs, which 
 you will receive in one payment in the city of Toulouse ; and we 
 will, after payment made, that the receipt, sealed by our seneschal 
 of Toulouse, to the viscount de Chateaubon, shall be a full and legal 
 acquittance to him, and to whomever else it m^y concern. In ad- 
 dition, we expect payment of twenty thousand francs, for the expenses 
 you have been at in your journeys to and from the county of Foix 
 on this occasion : you will for this money give acquittances from our 
 above-named office in Toulouse : saving and reserving that sir Evan 
 and sir Gracien de Foix, bastard-sons of the late Gaston count de 
 Foix, of happy memory, have a reasonable share of the moveable 
 property and inheritances of their deceased father, according to the 
 discretion and advice of sir Roger d'Espaign, the viscount de Bruni- 
 quel, sir Raymond de Chateauneuf, and the lord de Corasse, to whom 
 we will write, that they acquit themselves in the matter honorably 
 to the discharge of our conscience ; for, some time since, we made 
 such promise to thdr father. And should any demur arise, either 
 on the part of the four knights to whom we have intrusted this bus. 
 iness, or from obstinacy and rebellion on the part of the viscount de 
 Cha.teaubon, we annul and declare all treaties we may have entered 
 into void, and of no effect. In testimony whereof, we have given 
 these letters under our seal, in the city of Tours, this 15th day of 
 December, in the 12th year of our reign." 
 
 When these letters were finished to the satisfaction of the king, 
 council, and embassadors, the knights made preparations for their 
 departure ; and, having taken leave of the king and lords, and paid 
 their expenses, they set out from Tours on their return home. 
 
 You before heard that the lord Louis de Sancerre, marshal of 
 France, was resident in the neighborhood of Carcassonne, and had 
 been so a long time, as lieutenant for th'e king over all those coun 
 tries as far as the Dordogne. The bishop of Noyon and the lord de 
 la Riviere sent for him to Toulouse, and thus addressed him : " Mar- 
 shal, the viscount de Chateaubon, who declares himself heir, by the 
 death of Gaston count de Foix, to the county of Foix and its depend- 
 encies, save and except what may concern B^arn, is in treaty with 
 us. We have sent intelligence of it to the king and his council ; 
 but we know not, nor indeed can we as yet, how the king and his 
 ministers may please to act in the matter. Be you, therefore, pro- 
 vided with a sufficient body of men-at-arms, and garrison well the 
 frontiers of Foix. Sir Roger d'Espaign and sir Espaign du Lyon 
 are now in France ; and if we hear from them, or by messengers 
 from the king, that there is no probabiUty of any compromise taking 
 place, but that the king means to annex Foix to his crown, you will 
 instantly enter that county, and take possession of it, according to 
 the powers the king has intrusted to us in this affair." The lord 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 541 
 
 Louis said, that in regard to this he was well prepared, and was in- 
 creasing his strength daily, waiting for the answer from the king. 
 We will now return to the duke of Brittany. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 CURING THE RESIDENCE OF THE KING OF FRANCE AND DUKE OF BRITTANY 
 AT TOURS, THEIR DIFFERENCES ARE PARTLY ACCOMMODATED BY MEANS 
 THE MARRIAGES OF THE DUKE's SON WITH A PRINCESS OF FRANCE, 
 AKD A SON OF JOHN OF BRITTANY, SON TO THE LATE LORD CHARLES 
 DE BLOIS, WITH A DAUGHTER OF THE DUKE OF BRITTANY. 
 
 I HAVE mentioned that treaties were negotiating at Tours between 
 the king of France and the duke of Brittany. The duke gave the 
 king and his council a great deal of trouble, for he would not abate 
 any of his pretensions. When any propositions were made to him, 
 he refused them ; and in like manner was it returned, when he of- 
 fered any on his part ; so that there did not seem a probability of 
 their disputes being terminated. The duke declared himself willing 
 to serve the king according to the homage he had paid, and to the 
 duty he owed. " Why then," asked the king's council, " since you 
 acknowledge yourself vassal to the king, do you not obey him in all 
 things ?" " Wherein am I a rebel ?" demanded the duke. They 
 mentioned many instances, and first, his conduct toward the pope of 
 Avignon, whom the king, his lord, obeyed as the true pope, and with 
 regard to whom he was dissembling his opinion, and refused to obey 
 his commands, filling up all the vacant benefices in his duchy, with- 
 out paying attention to those who had provided themselves with bulls 
 from the pope. This, they said, was rebellious against the king in 
 thought and deed. The duke replied : " That no one had a right 
 to arraign or judge his conscience but God alone, who was its supreme 
 lord. With regard to the two rival popes, he had never made any 
 declaration ; that when Urban was elected, he was with his cousin, 
 the earl of Flanders, in the town of Ghent ; that the cardinal, Robert 
 de Geneve, sent to the earl letters patent, sealed with his seal, which 
 signified and certified to my cousin, that, by the grace of God and 
 the divine inspiration, the conclave had elected Urban pope. How 
 can an election be set aside that seems to be made in the most regu- 
 lar manner ? I wish not to say a word against the king or his crown, 
 for I am his cousin and vassal, and will faithfully serve him, when- 
 ever I am required, to the utmost limits of my duty ; but I shall 
 speak my mind as to those who do not advise him honorably.'' 
 " Tell us who they are, and we will provide a remedy." 
 
 " Oh," replied the duke, " you know them better than I do, for 
 you live more with them ; but, as to what you have said touching 
 the vacant beneficies, I am not so severe against suitors for them as 
 you say, for I permit the clergy of my duchy to provide themselves 
 with bulls from pope Clement ; but I object to strangers having the 
 same liberty, and will tell you why I refuse it. They want to carry 
 all the profit of the*benefices out of the country, without serving 
 them. This is so contrary to reason, conscience, and justice, that I 
 will never consent to it. You say my conduct was rebellious and 
 haughty, respecting the king's sergeants that came with writs into 
 my country of Brittany. I neither am rebellious nor wish to be so. 
 You ought to know, or, if you do not, you should le%rn, that the fief 
 of Brittany is so noble, no law proceedings can take effect unless the 
 duke, its natural lord, shall hold an open court of justice, to hear 
 causes, and the reasons why any appeals may be made thence, and 
 to see that the officers, who bring writs of appeal or summons, do 
 their duty regularly : should there be sergeants or other officers in 
 my duchy negligent, or against whom strangers have cause of com- 
 plaint, I would punish them severely, for a warning to others. In 
 addition to what I have said, that the king's council do many repre- 
 hensible things, they plainly discover their inclinations to encourage 
 the hatred of the king against me : the proof is clear, by their suffer- 
 ing my cousin, John of Blois, to act in two instances very injuriously 
 against me : the first is, the signing himself John of Brittany, as if, 
 by bearing this name, he could form a claim on the inheritance of 
 that duchy ; but he cannot have any right, because I have children, 
 a son and daughter, who will succeed to my possessions. Secondly, 
 he bears the ermines, which are the arms of Brittany, and he had 
 formerly renounced the name, arms, and all things thereto appertain- 
 ing. True it is, that sir Oliver de Clisson supports him in this con- 
 duct, to vex me ; and, as long as this shall continue, I will not listen 
 to any treaty of peace or friendship with the king. I shall not make 
 war against him, for he is my natural lord, but if, through envious or 
 malevolent informations, he make war on me, I will defend myself, 
 and shall be found ready on my own territories. All that I have 
 now said, I wish the king to be made acquainted with." 
 
 Such was the bitterness with which these negotiations were car- 
 ried on between the king of France and the duke pf Brittany. The 
 duke was master of his council, but the king was led by sir Oliver 
 de Clisson, the b^gue de Villaines, sir John le Mercier, and sir Wil- 
 liam de Montagu. The duke of Burgyndy, who saw more clearly 
 into this matter, was uneasy that the duke's reasons were made pub- 
 lic, though he supported them privately as much as he could, in 
 which he was assisted by the duke of Berry, who hated the confi- 
 dential advisers of the king. By their means, his treasurer, Bethisac, 
 had suffered an ignominious death at Beziers, which he was forced 
 to put up with, for it was not yet time to revenge himself. 
 
 In this state did they remain at Tours for upward of three months 
 without any progress being made in the treaties. They were on the 
 point of being broken off', for the king was impatient at the delays, 
 and wanted to return to Paris, whence he would issue a special 
 summons for the ensuing summer, and make war on the duke of 
 Brittany and his allies, leaving all others in peace. But the dukes 
 of Berry and Burgundy, the lord de Coucy, the count de Saint Pol, 
 sir Guy de la Tremouille, the chancellor of France, and many other 
 great barons and prelates, desirous that an end should be put to these 
 differences, held a conference, and said : " We, who are so nearly 
 connected with the king and the greatest barons of his realm, hav- 
 ing agreed to meet the English commi?sioners this Lent at Amiens, 
 to consider of a treaty of peace, must hasten to put an end to this ill 
 humor of the king and the duke of Brittany ; for should we separate 
 without doing so, the English would have the advantage in the busi- 
 ness at Amiens : they will expect the support of the duke of Brittany 
 and his country, for they are near neighbors, and we shall have a 
 war with Brittany and England, like what we had before, and it will 
 be too heavy for us." 
 
 These lords and their councils so often turned the matter over, 
 that they at length discovered a means of reconciliation between the 
 king and the duke of Brittany. I will mention it, for without this I 
 do not believe it would ever have taken place. It was proposed that 
 a marriage between the son of the duke of Brittany and a daughter 
 of the king of France should take place ; and, as John of Brittany 
 had a son, a similar connection should be formed with the daughter 
 of the duke of Brittany. These articles were agreed upon ; but, 
 notwithstanding this alliance, John of Brittany was obliged to lay 
 aside the arms of Brittany, and take those of Chatillon ; and, if he 
 were desirous of bearing anything relative to Brittany, as a descend- 
 ant of that house by his mother's side, he might bear on the arms of 
 Cha,tillon a bordure ermine, three sables or, and an escutcheon er- 
 mine in chief gules, and none others. Thus was the business brought 
 to a conclusion, and the duke restored to the friendship of the king 
 of France and his uncles. He dined with the king, in company with 
 John of Brittany, count de Penthievre ; and much affection was 
 mutually displayed by all parties, on account of the marriages which 
 had been agreed to be solemnized. 
 
 The duke of Brittany would never see sir Oliver de Clisson, for 
 the hatred he bore him ; but the constable was indifferent to this, as 
 the hatred was mutual. All things being now settled, and the lords 
 having sworn to see these marriages consummated when the chil- 
 dren should be of a proper age, and the different treaties having been 
 engrossed, they thought it time to quit Tours, for their stay had been 
 too long, and to return to Paris, as the time was approaching for the 
 conferences at Amiens. The king of France, his brother, uncles, 
 and council, had promised to be there to receive the king of England 
 and his council. The duke of Brittany took leave of the king, his 
 brother, and uncles, and of those most in his favor, and set out from 
 Tours for his own country ; as did the dukes of Berry and Burgundy, 
 with other lords ; but the king, the duke of Touraine, the duke of 
 Bourbon, and the lord de ^oucy, staid at Tours, and I will tell the 
 reason. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 THE COUNT DE BLOIS AND MARY OF NAMUR, HIS COUNTESS, SELL TO THE 
 DUKE OF TOURAINE THE COUNTY OF BLOIS WITH OTHER LANDS. THE 
 VISCOUNT DE CHATEAUBON TAKES POSSESSION OF THE INHERITANCES OF 
 THE LATE COUNT DE FOIX. 
 
 I HAVE before recorded in this history, that Louis de Blois, son to 
 the count de Blois, had died when young, at Beaumont in Hainault, 
 leaving the lady Mary, daughter of the duke of Berry, a widow, who 
 lost by the event many of the good things of this world : for her hus. 
 band was a rich heir, and would have been a powerful lord. I men- 
 tion this, because I wish it to be known in times to come how such 
 large properties have been disposed of or alienated. The count and 
 countess of Blois were not formed to have any more children ; for by 
 indulging themselves too much in the pleasures of the table, and eat 
 ing too many sweet dishes, they were become enormously fat. The 
 count could no longer mount his horse, but was always carried in a 
 car whenever he travelled from one place to another, or took the di- 
 versions of hunting or hawking. As this was well knov/n to the 
 lords of France, a thought struck the duke of Touraine, during his 
 residence at Tours, which he carried into effect. 
 
 The duke had a large sum of ready money, perhaps a million of 
 florins, lying idle, which h^ had received from the count de Vertus, 
 on his marriage with the lady Valentina of Milan. This money he 
 wanted to dispose of to advantage. He knew the great properties of 
 the count de Blois would be dispersed after his death. The county 
 of Blois would fall to John of Brittany, who was his cousin-german ; 
 the lands in Hainault to the duke of Juliers and duke of Lancaster, 
 excepting Chimay, which would go to Conflans in Champagne. The 
 county of Soissons had belonged fermerly to the counts of Blois, but 
 was alienated to the lord de Coucy, for the ransom of Guy de Blois, 
 from England. The lands of Argies and Nouvion went to other 
 heirs : Holland and Zealand fell to the count of Hainault. Thus 
 would this noble inheritance be dispersed piece-meal, for it was well 
 known it must happen on the death of the present possessor. The 
 
542 
 
 CHPONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 duke of Touraine cast his eyes on this property, as he had money 
 enough to purchase it, were it sold at a fair price, and determined to 
 desire the king, his brother, to treat with the count de Blois for the 
 county of Blois, which was a valuable property, and very convenient 
 to him by bordering on his duchy of Touraine. To this county are 
 also attached many considerable fiefs. The duke of Touraine, hav- 
 ing this scheme in his head, did not rest before he mentioned it, first 
 to the king, then to the duke of Bourbon, and to the lord de Coucy, 
 who was an able negotiator and much in favor with the count de 
 Blois, for he had married the daughter of his cousin-german the duke 
 of Lorraine. The duke of Touraine and the above-mentioned per- 
 sons were careful not to drop the least hint of this business to the 
 duke of Berry, because the lady Mary, his daughter, had her jointure 
 of six thousand francs a year settled on this county, and the duke of 
 Berry imagined that, for this sum and the charges that would accrue, 
 he should obtain the county of Blois ; for a person more covetous of 
 other people's property could not be found. The duke of Burgundy 
 » was also kept ignorant of this plan, because the lady Margaret, his 
 eldest daughter, was married to William of Hainault, son to the count 
 of Hainault ; arA he thought that by some incident, by purchase or 
 otherwise, the lands of Holland, Zealand and Hainault, might revert 
 to his son-in-law, the count d'Ostrevant, or to his son John of Bur- 
 gundy, who had married Margaret, eldest daughter of the count of 
 Hainault. The king and the three other lords proposed therefore, on 
 their departure from Tours, to visit their cousin the count Guy de 
 Blois, who resided at a handsome castle, eight leagues from Tours, 
 called Cha,teau-morant, and to open a treaty for the sale of the county 
 of Blois, with the count and the countess, who was very avaricious. 
 
 It chanced, by some accident I am unacquainted with, that the 
 bailiff of Blois, named sir Reginald de Sens, a knight of law and 
 arms, and of great prudence, heard of this intended visit and its pur- 
 poses. He was much concerned from the love he bore his lord, lest 
 he might dishonor himself and disinherit hisheirs by a sale, for which 
 he had no need, and severely wound his conscience. He deter- 
 mined therefore, if possible, to prevent it, and, setting out from Blois, 
 rode all night to Chateau-morant, where, being introduced to the 
 count, he said : "My lord, the king of France, the dukes of Tou- 
 raine and Bourbon, with the lord de Coucy, are coming hither." 
 " That is true," replied the count : " why do you mention it ?" " I 
 am come to tell it, because you will be pressed to sell your heritage. 
 Consider well the subject, as you have time beforehand." The count 
 de Blois was much surprised at hearing this, and said : " I cannot 
 prevent any one from speaking to me, or offering proposals ; but, be- 
 fore I consent to selling my inheritance, fraudulently disinheriting 
 my heirs and dishonoring myself, I must have neither plate nor por- 
 ringer of silver to pawn." " My lord," replied the knight, " remem- 
 ber this when the time comes, for you will see that all I have told 
 you is true." "Don't doubt it, bailiflf," said the count: "I am not 
 so young nor so foolish as to listen to such proposals." On this, the 
 bailiff returned to Blois, where he resided, for he did not wish the 
 company he had mentioned should find him there. Two days after, 
 the king and his company arrived at Chateau-morant, to the great 
 joy of the count and countess of Blois, at his visiting them, and they 
 entertained him splendidly. The king, to win the affections of the 
 count, and gain him over to his plan, said : " Fair cousin, I see you 
 are the lord in our kingdom the most endowed with honor and libe- 
 rality, and that in former times you must have had large expenses : to 
 assist and recompense you, we will grant you a tax on the county of 
 Blois that shall be worth twenty thousand francs." 
 
 The count returned his thanks and accepted the gift, which, how- 
 ever, was of no value to him, for he never received one penny from 
 it. After this, the matter of sale of the county of Blois was entered 
 on, first by the king, and second by the duke of Bourbon : but, find- 
 ing the count very cool and indiflferent about it, they addressed them- 
 selves to his lady ; and remonstrated with her, in specious terms, 
 respecting the hazard she incurred of being reduced to a poor estate 
 should she survive the count, as she had every appearance of doing; 
 and it would be for her advantage to have riches and jewels in plenty, 
 which she might easily secure, if she would persuade her lord to lis- 
 ten to the proposals they had made for the purchase of the county 
 of Blois. The countess, from her avaricious disposition and her 
 eagerness to receive the florins, assented, and procured everything 
 they wanted, with the assistance of another person, that is to say, 
 ' a valet-de-chambre of the count, called Sohier, who was the son 
 of a cloth-worker in the town of Mechlin. This Sohier so com- 
 pletely governed the count, that everything was done as he ordered, 
 and the count had given him upward of five hundred francs of yearly 
 revenue for ever. See the mischief of such cases, and how misera- 
 bly some lords are governed ; for Sohier had neither prudence nor 
 •ense worth mentioning, to deserve such rewards, except the foolish 
 pleasure of his lord, who had taken a friendship to him. 
 
 In like manner, the duke of Berry had a worthless fellow, called 
 James Thibaut, that governed him, to whom he had, at different 
 times, given two hundred thousand francs, which he might as well 
 have thrown into the river. If, therefore, Sohier would have wished to 
 have excused himself for this sale taking place, he could not, for, if he 
 had pleased, it would never have been done ; but to gratify the king, 
 the dukes of Touraine and Bourbon, and the lord de Coucy, as well 
 ai the countess of Blois, who, through avarice, had already consented 
 
 to everything, he urged on the count in private, and made him totally 
 forget everything he had promised his bailiff", and the reversion of the 
 county of Blois was sold for two hundred thousand francs, and the 
 duke of Touraine was to take on himself the payment of the countess 
 de Dunois's jointure of six thousand francs. Count Guy de Blois, 
 indeed, reserved in this last sale the consent of the count de Hain- 
 ault, the lord paramount of these lands, but who would never insist 
 on his homage for them. The king . .f France and the duke of Tou. 
 raine, however, took on them to ans^ver for the consequences, and 
 before they left the count they bounc him so completely in writings 
 sealed, that he could not in any way i atract, for he had none to ad- 
 vise him but Sohier, who was illiterate, having never had any edu. 
 cation, and he was already on their side. 
 
 In such a manner were these bargains concluded, which I have 
 detailed as fully as I was able, that in future times the whole truth 
 of the transaction may be made public, by means of these chron. 
 ides. In good truth, my lord and patron, count Guy de Blois, like 
 an ignorant and ill-advised person, pushed on by his countess and 
 his valet-de-chambre, made these miserable sales. When everything 
 was concluded relative to this business, to the satisfaction of the king, 
 the duke of Touraine and their counsellors, they took leave of the 
 count and returned to Paris. The news of these purchases made a 
 great noise in many countries, and astonished all who heard it. 
 
 We will speak of sir Roger d'Espaign and sir Espaign du Lyon, 
 and say how they prospered since they departed from Tours, on the 
 road to Toulouse, where the bishop of Noyon and the lord de la Riviere 
 were waiting for them. Their arrival at Toulouse gave great pleas- 
 ure, for they had been long expected : they instantly waited on the 
 commissioners from France, to show their papers, which they had 
 received from the king, and which fully explained the successful 
 issue of their journey. The bishop of Noyon and the lord de la 
 Riviere entertained them well, and showed they were much rejoiced 
 at the succession, with all its dependencies, of the count de Foix, 
 devolved on the viscount de Chateaubon, according to the tenure and 
 form whereby the count of Gaston had held them, and in the man- 
 ner detailed in the written documents. After considering the busi- 
 ness, they thought it advisable that sir Roger d'Espaign and sir 
 Espaign du Lyon, who had taken so much pains and incurred sc 
 much labor in it, should wait on the viscount de Chateaubon and the 
 councils of Foix and B6arn, to inform them what had been agreed 
 on, that all things might be regularly managed, to bring the whole 
 to a happy conclusion. 
 
 The knights consented to this proposal, and, having refreshed 
 themselves two days in Toulouse, set out for Saint Gaudens. The 
 viscount was not there, but at a beautiful castle, at the entrance of 
 B^arn, called Pau, where they found him. He was happy to see 
 them, having long wished it, but much more so when he learnt that 
 the king of France desisted from taking possession of the county of 
 Foix : he knew well where to find the money required for the repay- 
 ment of the mortgage, and that enough would remain after this was 
 done. 
 
 I believe my readers, as well as myself, will think I have said 
 enough respecting the affairs of Foix and B6arn : I will therefore 
 leave them, and enter on other matters ; for it would take up too 
 much time to pursue in detail everything that passed there on the 
 return of the two knights from France. To conclude, the viscount 
 de Chateaubon was acknowledged count de Foix and B6arn, on the 
 same terms on which count Gaston de Foix, of happy memory, had 
 held them,* and he received the homage of all who were his vassals. 
 He satisfied his two cousins, sir Evan and sir Gracien,t the bastards 
 of Foix, by the handsome allotment he gave them of the inheritances 
 and moveables of their father, and repaid to the commissioners from 
 France, the mortgage that was on Foix. Before all these things 
 were accomplished, summer was far advanced, and the bishop of 
 Noyon remained at Toulouse with the lord de la Riviere ; for they 
 would not depart until everything was completely setded, to the 
 honor and profit of the crown, according to the instructions they had 
 received from the king of France. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 
 A GRAND ASSEMBLY AT AMIENS, OF THE KING AND LORDS OF FRANCE 
 AND ENGLAND, TO TREAT OF A PEACE BETWEEN THE TWO KING- 
 DOMS. 
 
 We will now speak of the grand assembly of the lords of France 
 and England, which was held in the city of Amiens, to treat of a 
 final peace between the two countries, at Mid-lent, in the year of 
 grace 1391. Great preparations were made before the arrival of the 
 lords ; and in particular those made for the king, his three uncles, 
 and many of the ^reat barons and prelates, were very sumptuous. 
 Other lords were desirous to make a figure ; for it was currently re- 
 ported and believed, that king Richard of England intended being 
 there in person, to form an acquaintance with those he had never 
 
 * The viscount de Chateaubon was acknowledged as sovereign of B6am, by the 
 estates assembled at Orthes, 5th July, 1393. He was manied to the only daughter of 
 Don John king of Arragon.— Ed. 
 
 t Gracien married Isabella de la Cerda. a daughter of the king of CastUle, an4 
 heiress of the duchy of Medina Celi.— E». 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 yet seen, but he did not come. That he had intentions of being 
 there was certain, for he came as far as Dover with his three uncles 
 of Lancaster, York, and Gloucester, meaning to cross the sea with 
 them. Many councils were held at Dover, to debate whether the 
 king should proceed further or not ; and the council, having con- 
 sidered all things, decided he should remain in the castle of Dover, 
 and the duke of Gloucester with him. The dukes of Lancaster and 
 York, the earl of Huntingdon, the earl of Derby, sir Thomas Percy, 
 the bishop of Durham, the bishop of London, and others of the king's 
 council, prepared to cross the channel. They did not all pass over 
 
 ASSEMBI-Y OF THE FRENCH KiNG AND THE LoRDS OF FRANCE AND ENGLAND, TO TREAT OF A PeACE BETWEEN THE 
 
 TWO Kingdoms. From a MS. of Froissart of the Fifteenth Century. 
 
 instantly, but sent their purveyances forward, and then crossed them- 
 selves to Calais, where they were lodged. When the day approached 
 for the meeting at Amiens, these lords set out from Calais together : 
 they were more than two hundred horse, and it was a fine sight, for 
 they rode in handsome array. The king of France had given orders 
 that, during the time the conferences should last, all the expenses of 
 the English, in coming to and returning from Amiens to Calais, 
 should be defrayed by his treasury ; that is to say, their nourishment 
 as well as that of their horses. 
 
 In company with the dukes of Lancaster and York was their 
 niece, daughter of their sister and the lord de Coucy : she was styled 
 duchess of Ireland, having been married to that duke, as you have 
 heard. This young lady came to visit her father at Amiens ; for 
 hitherto she had seen but little of him, which naturally made her 
 more anxious to wait on him. She travelled in good state, but like 
 a widow who had enjoyed but little pleasure in her marriage. It 
 had been ordered by the king and council of France, that the Eng- 
 lish lords who were coming to Amiens to arrange a solid peace, 
 should be received with the greatest honors ; and that the four dukes 
 then at Amiens, namely, the dukes of Touraine, Berry, Burgundy 
 •and Bourbon, should ride without the town to meet and bid them 
 welcome. As soon, therefore, as the English were near Amiens, 
 these dukes, attended by all the great barons of France, rode forth 
 in grand array. The duke of Touraine took the lead, in great state, 
 and, when he met his cousins of England, they mutually saluted 
 each other, with every respect, as such lords know how to do. 
 When the duke of Touraine had conversed a short time with them, 
 he took his leave, returned to the town with his numerous attendants, 
 and dismounted at the palace of the bishop, where the king resided, 
 remaining with him in his chamber. 
 
 The other three dukes, after the departure of the duke of Tou- 
 raine, rode each with his array to meet the English lords ; and, on 
 their meeting, many old acquaintances were renewed with a satis- 
 faction such as was a pleasure to behold. When these dukes had 
 conversed a little, the gallant count-dauphin of Auvergne (who, 
 during the time he was a hostage in England, had lived much with 
 the duke of Lancaster, and bore him great affection) advanced his 
 horse, and saluted him : the duke of Lancaster no sooner recollected 
 him than he pressed him in his arms, and showed him every sign of 
 friendship ; their conversation was interrupted by the dukes of Berry 
 and Burgundy, who joined the duke of Lancaster. The duke of 
 Bourbon, the lord de Coucy and the count de St. Pol, rode with the 
 duke of York, the earl of Huntingdon and sir Thom.as Percy, con- 
 versing all the way as they approached Amiens. At the entrance 
 of the city, the honors paid the English were increased ; for the duke 
 
 of Lancaster rode between the dukes of Berry and Burgundy, and 
 when their horses moved it was but a foot's pace. Their horses' 
 heads were in a line, which they took care to keep ; and thus these 
 three passed the gates, riding very slowly and paying each other 
 mutual honors, to the palace of the bishop, where the king and the 
 duke of Touraine were. Having dismounted, they ascended the 
 steps ; and the dukes of Berry and Burgundy, taking the English 
 dukes by their hands, led them toward the king of France, the other 
 lords following. 
 
 When in the presence of the king, the three dukes who supported 
 
 the uncles of the king of England, 
 and the other French lords, cast 
 themselves on their knees; but the 
 two English dukes remained as they 
 were, inclining gently their heads 
 in honor of the king. The king 
 instantly advanced to them, took 
 their hands, and bade his uncles and 
 the other lords rise, and then en- 
 tered into a friendly conversation 
 with them, as did the barons of 
 France with those of England. Af 
 ter this first interview, the lords ot 
 England took their leave of the 
 king, his brother and uncles, and 
 were attended as far as the steps of 
 the palace, when they mounted their 
 horses, and were escorted to their 
 h6tels by the constable of France, the 
 lord de Coucy, the count de St. Pol, 
 sir John de Vienne, and the other 
 lords of France, who there took 
 leave, and went back to the king or 
 to their lodgings. The duchess of 
 Ireland was lodged, with her attend, 
 ants, at her father the lord de Cou- 
 cy's hdtel. 
 
 It had been forbidden by the king 
 and council, (and public proclama. 
 tion had been made before the arri- 
 val of the English, that no one might 
 plead ignorance,) that any outrages 
 whatever be committed during tne 
 holding of these conferences under 
 pain of death, or any quarrelling with the English, or riot, during theis 
 stay in the city of Amiens. All knights and squires were strictly com. 
 manded by the king, under pain of incurring his indignation, not to 
 talk of, or propose, any deeds of arms to any knight or squire from Eng. 
 land, but to treat them with the utmost civility and attention wherever 
 they should meet, in the fields, the palace, or in church : that no pages 
 nor varlets of any lords of France cause riot or quarrels in the inns, 
 under pain of losing their heads ; and that whatever the English 
 knights or squires might ask for should be immediately given them ; 
 that no innkeeper should demand payment for meat or drink, or 
 other common necessaries. It was also forbidden any knight or 
 squire of France to be out at night without a torch ; but the English 
 might do so, if they pleased ; and if any Englishman were found on 
 the roads, or in any other place, having lost his way, he should be 
 courteously conducted to where he lodged. 
 
 Four guards of one thousand men each, were stationed at the four 
 squares of Amiens; and, should there be a fire during the night in 
 any part of the town, these guards were not to move on any account 
 from their posts ; but, when the fire-bell rang, those appointed to 
 that duty were to hasten to extinguish it. It was likewise ordered, 
 that no knight or squire should advance from his place to speak with 
 the king, unless called or spoken to by his majesty ; and that, during 
 the time the English barons were in the king's presence, no knight 
 or squire converse together nor address the English. It was com- 
 manded, under heavy penalties, that no innkeeper, or others, steal or 
 put aside, through avarice, any of the bows or arrows of the English ; 
 but if, out of courtesy, the English thought proper to give any to 
 them, they might accept such presents. 
 
 You must know, that all these orders and regulations were formed 
 with great deliberation of council, to do the more honor to the Eng. 
 lish, who were come to negotiate a peace, and proclaimed several 
 times, that they might be strictly attended to ; for, if they were 
 infringed, those guilty of it were to have been punished without 
 mercy. 
 
 Every day, conferences were held with the English lords, with 
 scarcely any intermission, during the fortnight they stayed at Amiens, 
 without coming to any conclusion, for the difference was too great in 
 their demands. The French would have Calais razed to the ground, 
 so that it should never again be habitable. The English would not 
 listen to this, nor dared they consent to such an article in the treaty 
 for the commons of England love Calais more than any other town 
 in the world, saying, that as long as they are masters of Calais, they 
 carry the keys of France at their girdle. However great the differ 
 ence between the lords of England and France in these matters, ami 
 the length of time they were occupied on them, they separated mi 
 
544 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN. &c. 
 
 great good humor on both sides from the conference, saying, " We 
 will again meet to-morrow on this business ; and we hope, through 
 our diligence, to bring the matter at last to a happy conclusion." 
 The king of France entertained the lords of England three times 
 most magnificently at dinner in the episcopal palace. The duke of 
 Touraine, the duke of Berry, the duke of Burgundy, the duke of 
 Bourbon, the lord de Coucy, the count de Saint Pol, gave each a 
 dinner to the English commissioners. Whatever the English wanted 
 was delivered them, free of cost, by clerks who were appointed to 
 take an account of all things they had, which they referred to the 
 king's exchequer for payment. 
 
 You must know, that although the dukes of Lancaster and York 
 were at Amiens, they had received such instructions from the king 
 of England and his council, that they could not add to nor alter any 
 of the terms of the treaty they had been charged with. Many per- 
 sons will not readily believe what I am about to say, though it is 
 strictly true, which is, that the English are fonder of war than of 
 peace. During the reign of king Edward of happy memory, and in 
 the lifetime of his son, the prince of Wales, they made such grand 
 conquests in France, and by their victories and ransoms of towns, 
 castles and men, gained such wealth, that the poorest knights became 
 rich ; and those who were not gentlemen by birth, by gallantly haz. 
 arding themselves in these wars, were ennobled for their valor and 
 wealth. Those who came after them were desirous of following 
 the same road,, although sir Bertrand du Guesclin and many other 
 knights of France, as has been related in this history, by their valor 
 and prudence had greatly changed the face of the English possessions 
 in France since the times of king Edward and his son. Even the 
 duke of Gloucester, son of king Edward, inclined to the opinion of 
 the commons, as did many other knights and squires, who were de- 
 sirous of war to enable them to support their state. This caused 
 great difficulties in forming any treaty of final peace, notwithstanding 
 the king of England was earnest about it. By him and the duke of 
 Lancaster were these conferences holden, in the city Oi" Amiens ; 
 but they were fearful of angering the commons of England : they 
 indeed would have consented to a peace, if the French would have 
 , restored all that had been given them by the treaty of Bretigny, and 
 paid the arrears of fourteen hundred thousand francs, which were 
 unsettled when they recommenced the war. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII. 
 
 THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH LORDS, NOT BEING ABLE TO AGREE ON THE 
 TERMS OF PEACE, PROLONG THE TRUCE ONE YEAR. THE ENGLISH, ON 
 THEIR RETURN, ARE ACCOMPANIED BY THE LORD DE CHATEAU-MORANT, 
 TO BRING BACK THE KING OF ENGLAND'S FINAL ANSWER. 
 
 The conferences were held at Amiens, respecting a peace, with 
 great perseverance and attention on the part of the lords commission- 
 ers of each nation. It was wondered why the matter failed ; for 
 the duke of Burgundy and the duke of Lancaster were much in 
 earnest to bring it to a happy conclusion, reserving always what was 
 contained in their private instructions, which they dared not go be- 
 yond. The French, perceiving the English were obstinate in their 
 terms, in order to soften them oflfered, if they would consent to raze 
 Calais, the peaceable possession of what they then held in Aquitaine, 
 with nine bishoprics, independent of all other jurisdictions, and pay. 
 ment of the fourteen thousand franks within three years. The duke 
 of Lancaster and his council replied : " We have remained here a 
 long time without concluding anything, nor shall we able to finish 
 the business without returning to England, and reporting to the king 
 our lord, and the three estates of the realm, what you have now pro- 
 posed. Be assured, that my brother York and myself will use every 
 diligence, as well as our council who have attended us hither, in 
 ending the matter according to our and your wishes, with the excep- 
 tion of what you demand concerning Calais ; but that we dare not 
 mention, without incurring the hatred of the people. It will be 
 therefore better to remain silent, than to say what would bring blame 
 and hatred against us." The king of France was tolerably satisfied 
 with this answer, as were his uncles : they said, that if, when returned 
 to England, they would exert themselves to obtain peace, a trifle on 
 their part should not prevent it ; for the war had lasted too long, and 
 caused numberless misfortunes to both countries. 
 
 During the assembly at Amiens, the commissioners bethought 
 themselves, that as the truce between France and England would 
 expire on St. John Baptist's day, they might prolong it, for themselves 
 and their allies, without any blame, for one year longer, by sea and 
 land. With regard to the determination that might be given by the 
 parliament to their proposals, they desired to send two knights with 
 them to England, to bring back the final answer. To this the dukes 
 of Lancaster and York readily assented. 
 
 I was told and believe truly, from the appearances I observed, that 
 the king of France was very desirous of peace at almost any rate ; 
 for the^-e were reports current throughout France, that Amurat* had 
 invaded with a powerful army of Turks, the kingdom of Hungary. 
 The intelligence had been brought by the elder lord Boucicaut, mar- 
 thai of France, and sir John de Carouge, who were lately returned 
 from Greece and parts of Turkey^ 
 
 ♦ Amurat died the same year, and wa» Bucceeded by Bwazet.'-E». 
 
 The king of France, when younger, had an anxious wish to un- 
 dertake an expedition against Amurat, and recover Armenia, which 
 the Turks had seized from king L6on, who was then present at the 
 conferences at Amiens. He had stated his grievances to the dukes 
 of Lancaster and York, who knew him well, for he had been in 
 England to offer his mediation for peace between the two countries, 
 when the king of France was encamped near Sluys. The king of 
 France, weighing this invasion of \\v^ Turks in his mind, and his 
 former promises of support to the ki ig of Armenia, thus spoke to 
 the duke of Lancaster when he took hi leave : " Fair cousin, if peace 
 shall be established between us and the king of England, we may 
 undertake an expedition to Turkey, to assist the king of Armenia 
 and the emperor of Constantinople,* whom Amurat presses very hard, 
 and recover Armenia from the hands of the Turks. They tell us 
 that Amurat is a man of great valor and enterprise, but of a sect 
 contrary to our faith, which he daily oppresses : we ought, therefore, 
 to unite in its defence ; and I entreat, fair cousin, that you will con- 
 sider of it, and do everything you can to promote this expedition 
 when returned to England." The duke of Lancaster promised to 
 comply with his request, and to exert himself so strongly in the matter 
 that the effects would soon be apparent. Upon this they took leave 
 of each other. 
 
 The conferences at Amiens lasted fifteen days, and the lords from 
 England were the first to separate. They carried with them the out- 
 lines of a treaty, to lay before the king of England and his council. 
 The duchess of Ireland bade adieu to her father, the lord de Coucy, 
 and accompanied her uncles on their return. All the English, on 
 their road to and from Calais, and while at Amiens, need not to have 
 expended a farthing unless they chose it, for the king had ordered 
 their whole expenses to be defrayed by his officers. The duke of 
 Burgundy went to Arras, where he met his duchess, who, during 
 the time of the conferences, had visited Flanders. The dukes of 
 Touraine, Berry, and Bourbon remained with the king, whose inten. 
 tion it was to go to Beauvais and Gisors, to amuse himself, and re- 
 turn that way to Paris. 
 
 In company with the dukes of Lancaster and York, were the two 
 French knights who were sent to England by orders from the king of 
 France ; their names were sir John de Chiteaumorant and sir Taupin 
 de Cantemerle ; and they were to bring back the final answer of the 
 king and council of England respecting a general peace. The Eng- 
 lish dukes were escorted to Calais by sir Reginald de Roye, the lord 
 de Montaurel and the lord de la Vieville, who then took their leave 
 and returned. The English crossed the channel at their leisure, to 
 Dover, where they found the king and duke of Lancaster waiting for 
 them. A grand council was holden by the king and his lords on all 
 that had passed at Amiens ; the king was well pleased with what 
 his uncles had done there ; but the duke of Gloucester, who was 
 always against any treaty with France, declared, that not any propo- 
 sitions for peace could be determined on till they were laid before 
 the parliament, which ought instantly to be summoned ; and what- 
 ever measure the three estates of the realm should resolve on, that 
 ought to be adopted, and none other. 
 
 This proposal of the duke of Gloucester was agreed to : indeed 
 they dared not oppose him, for he was too popular with the commons 
 of England. The French knights were told that they must continue 
 their journey to London, otherwise they could not obtain any answer. 
 They were willing to consent to this, as was right, and set out with 
 the king and his lords, the greater part of whom went to London ; but 
 the king turned off at Dartford, and took the road to Eltham, where 
 he had a handsome palace. He there staid some little time with the 
 queen, and they came together to Shene,t and thence to Windsor, 
 where the French knights received an answer : but before I say what 
 that answer was, I must speak of the king of France. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIIL 
 
 the FIRST ILLNESS OF KING CHARLES. COUNT BERNARD D'aRMAGNAC 
 DOES HOMAGE TO THE KING. THE LORD DE CHATEAUMORANT RETURNS 
 FROM ENGLAND WITH AN ANSWER RESPECTING PEACE. 
 
 After the conferences at Amiens, the king of France, unfortunately, 
 and through his imprudence, was seized with a burning fever, for 
 which he was advised to change the air. He was put into a litter 
 and carried to Beauvais, where he remained in the bishop's palace 
 until cured. His brother, the duke of Touraine, and his uncles of 
 Berry and Bourbon, attended him constantly, and there kept their 
 Easter. When the king was perfectly recovered, and able to ride, 
 he went to Gisors, at the entrance of Normandy, for the pleasure of 
 hunting, as there are many large forests in the neighborhood. Du- 
 ring his residence at Gisors, sir Bernard d'Armagnac, brother to the 
 count who died in Itally, came thither in handsome state, accompa- 
 nied by the dauphin of Auvergne, whom he met at Paris. As he 
 held the counties of Armagnac and Rodez from the crown of France, 
 he paid the king homage for them, in the usual manner of vassals to 
 their lord paramount for the fiefs they hold. He became now the 
 king of France's man, and, having had the articles of homage properly 
 drawn out and engrossed, he and the dauphin took leave of the king^. 
 
 * Emanuel Paieologue.'-ISD. t Richmond. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, PRANCE, SPAIN. &c. 
 
 545 
 
 and returned to Auvcrgne and Languedoc. About Ascension-day, 
 the king came to Paris in perfect health, and fixed his residence at 
 the h6tel de Saint Pol, which had been prepared for him, the queen, 
 and the duchess of Touraine having arrived there before him. 
 
 The lord de Chateaumorant and sir Taupin de Cantemerle were 
 all this time waiting in England for an answer. They had attended 
 the feast of Saint George at Windsor, where was a brilliant com- 
 pany of barons, and the king's uncles. The lords who had been at 
 Amiens consulted together, on the promises they had made the king 
 of France, as well as in respect to an answer for the two knights, 
 who were very pressing to have one, and leave to return home. 
 After considering the matter, they thus addressed them : " You 
 Chateaumorant, and you Cantemerle, must know, that at this mo- 
 ment we cannot obtain any answer for you to carry to the king of 
 France. It will be a long time before the parliament will take up 
 the matter, for it does not meet before Michaelmas. But to acquit 
 ourselves, and to excuse you, we will write letters fully explanatory 
 of the delay ; and if you, or any others, will return hither during the 
 sitting of parliament, you shall receive such answer as the three 
 estates of the kingdom shall think proper to give." The French 
 knights hearing this, and seeing no probability of having any other 
 answer, replied, In the name of God, we are satisfied with what 
 you now say : write and seal your letters, and we will set out on our 
 retm-n."' This being done, they took leave of the king, and went to 
 London to make preparations for their departure. The king ordered 
 all their expenses to be paid, and had them conducted to Dover, 
 where the bailiff had provided a vessel for them and their horses ; 
 but they were detained at Dover five days waidng for a wind. On 
 the sixth it was favorable, and they landed at Boulogne. They 
 took their road through Amiens, and by short days' journeys arrived 
 at Paris, when they found the king and his lords, for it was Whit- 
 suntide. They delivered their letters, which were immediately read, 
 but I believe no great reliance was put on them ; and in a short 
 time, they had other affairs of greater consequence at home to at- 
 tend to. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX. 
 
 SIR PETER DE CRAON, THROUGH MALEVOLENCE, WAYLAYS SIR OLIVER DE 
 CLISSON, BEATS AND SEVERELY WOUNDS HIM. THE KING AND COUNCIL 
 ARE GREATLY ANGERED THEREAT. 
 
 You have before heard how sir Peter de Craon, a knight of high 
 birth and great wealth, was disgraced by the king of France and his 
 brother, as well as the reasons for it ; and that having retired to the 
 court of Brittany, the duke had assured him that sir Oliver de Clis- 
 son was at the bottom of this business. Some supposed the duke 
 had been instigated to say this from his hatred to the constable, 
 whom he wished to dishonor and destroy. While sir P^ter de Craon 
 was with the duke of Brittany, they had frequent conversations on 
 what means they would employ to put sir Oliver to death ; for they 
 said, that if he were but destroyed, no one would seek to revenge 
 his loss ; and the duke expressed his regret he had not put him to 
 death when in his castle of Ermine, adding, he would willingly give 
 one hundred thousand francs if he could once more have him in his 
 possession. Sir Peter de Craon, observing the mortal hatred of the 
 duke to Clisson, thought of an extraordinary expedient when medi- 
 tating alone on this subject, for it is from appearances we must judge. 
 He resolved, whatever might be the consequences, that he would 
 himself assassinate the constable, or have it done under his own 
 eyes, and not attend to anything until the deed were performed, 
 when he would afterwards treat for his pardon. He was no way 
 afraid of v/hat John of Blois or the viscount de Rohan, who had 
 married the constable's two daughters, could do against him : he 
 held them very cheap, for, with the assistance of the duke and his 
 family connections, he could withstand them both. The house of 
 Blois was much weakened, and the count Guy de Blois had just sold 
 the reversion of that county to the duke of Touraine, which by suc- 
 cession, ought to have descended to John of Brittany, who had in 
 this sale been very unkindly treated by the count de Blois. Now, 
 if the constable were slain, by degrees he would soon get the better 
 of the favorites of the king and the duke of Touraine, such as the 
 lord de la Riviere, sir John le Mercier, Montagu, le begue de Vil- 
 laines, sir John de Bueil, and others in the king's confidence who 
 were friends of the constable, and whom the dukes of Berry and 
 Burgundy detested, notwithstanding the outward marks of friend- 
 ship they showed them. 
 
 Sir Peter de Craon persevered in his abominable designs, urged 
 on by that enem-y who never sleeps, and who delights in the heart 
 of the wicked man that is inclined toward him. He regularly formed 
 his whole plan, in the manner I shall mention ; but, had he foreseen 
 the great evils and mischiefs that ensued from them, it is to be hoped 
 reason and temperance would have ruled in his heart to prevent 
 them from being put into execution. It is truly said, that a too 
 ^eat desire tb accomplish an object clouds the understanding, and 
 that vicious inclinations overrule virtue. Thus it happened to sir 
 Peter de Craon, whose eagerness to destroy the constable made him 
 listen to the counsels of folly and madness. He had secured a safe 
 retreat with the duke of Brittany, after the deed should be done and 
 the constable dead, without fear of any search being there made for 
 
 him, for the duke had promised him an asylum ; and, should the 
 king of France follow him with a powerful army to Brittany, in 
 one night he could embark and sail for Bayonne, Bordeaux, or Eng- 
 land, where he could not come after him. The English mortally 
 hated Clisson, from his great severity to them from the time he liad 
 turned to the French : before that period he was strongly connected 
 with them, and had done the crown essential services, as you havti 
 had it related in this history. 
 
 Sir Peter de Craon long brooded over this intended deed, without 
 mentioning it to any one : I know not if he even told it to the duke 
 of Brittany. Some think he must have disclosed it to him ; but 
 others thought the contrary : the first opinion, however, was strength- 
 ened, if not confirmed, by sir Peter and his accomplices returning 
 by the shortest road, and as expeditiously as possible, to Brittany, 
 instantly after the assassination, as to a place of refuge. In addition 
 to this, he sold all the castles and estates he held in Anjou-to the 
 duke of Brittany, and had renounced his allegiance to the king of 
 France, under pretence of taking a journey to the Holy Land. 1 
 shall not say more of these surmises, but relate the fact ; for I, the 
 author of this history, was at Paris when this misfortune happened 
 to sir Oliver de Clisson, and ought, therefore, to be well informed 
 from the inquiries I made concerning it. 
 
 You must know, that at this period sir Peter de Craon had a 
 very handsome house near the churchyard of Saint John at Paris,* 
 like other great lords, to receive him, when l;o came to that city. 
 This hdtel was, in his absence, under the care of a house-steward ; 
 and, during the last Lent season, he had sent varlets thither for his 
 service, with orders to lay in a large store of wines, and all sorts of 
 provision. He had likewise written to the steward to purchase for 
 him armor, such as coats of mail, gauntlets, steel helmets, and other 
 things sufficient for forty men, and to let him know when they were 
 provided, that he might send for them, but to observe the greatest 
 secrecy in th-e business. The steward, thinking no harm, obeyed 
 the orders, and provided the armor; during which time, sir Peter 
 resided at a handsome castle of his in Anjou, called Sable, from 
 whence he sent at different times four or more determined fellows, 
 in the most secret manner possible, to his h6tel in Paris. He said 
 to them nothing more when they left him, but, " When you arrive 
 at my house in Paris, make yourselves comfortable, and ask the 
 house-steward for whatever you may want, jvvho will instantly give 
 it to you ; but do not, on any account, pass the gates or show your- 
 selves. I will one day satisty you well for your obedience, and pay 
 you handsome wages." Upon this, they departed, and journeyed to 
 Paris, which they entered at their pleasure ; for in those days the 
 gates were never shut night or day. At length, they amounted to 
 forty courageous bravos, for such were what sir Peter wanted. 
 There were several among them who, had they known the business 
 they were engaged in, would not have come ; but sir Peter took good 
 care not to betray his secret. About the feasts of Whitsuntide, sir 
 Peter de Craon came to his h6tel in Paris, not in state, but as pri- 
 vately as his men had done. On his arrival, he asked for the porter, 
 and said : " I command thee, under pain of having thy eyes thrust 
 out, not to admit either man or woman into the h6tel, nor permit any 
 one to go out, without my special orders." The porter, as well as 
 the house-steward, promised obedience. He shut up in their cham- 
 bers the wife of the latter, her children and the chambermaid. He 
 was in the right to do this. Had these women or children gone into 
 the street, his arrival would have been known ; for young children 
 and women naturally tell all they see, and what is intended to be 
 concealed. Thus, as I have related, were the whole of his people 
 confined within the walls of the hotel, until the feast of the holy 
 sacrament. You may suppose, that sir Peter had his spies fully em- 
 ployed to bring him intelligence ; but it was not until the eve of this 
 feast he found a fit opportunity to execute his scheme, which had 
 vexed him much. 
 
 It happened that, on the feast of the holy sacrament, the king of 
 France kept an open court at the h6tel de St. Pol, where he enter- 
 tained all barons and lords who were in Paris. He was in high en- 
 joyment, as were the queen and the duchess of Touraine : to add to 
 their amusements, after the dinner, lists were prepared within the 
 courts of the hotel, and young knights and squires, ready armed and 
 mounted for tilting, came thither, and justed very gallantly. The 
 tiltings were well performed, to the delight of the king and queen, 
 ladies, and damsels, and lasted until the evening. The prize for the 
 best tilter was adjudged by the queen, the duchess of Touraine, and 
 the ladies and heralds appointed to the office, to sir William de Flan, 
 dree, count de Namur. The king entertained at supper, in the h6. 
 tel de St. Pol, every knight who wished to partake of it ; and, 
 afterwards, the dancings continued until one o'clock in the morning. 
 When these were over, every one retired to his home, without guard 
 and without suspicion. Sir Oliver de Clisson remained the last : 
 
 " The street of the Mauvais-garcons, in the rue des Boucheries, took its name from 
 a sign. With regard to the other rue des Mauvais-garcons, which leads fjom the rue 
 de la Verrcrie to that of la Tixerandcrie, it was formerly called rue de Chartron ; but 
 when the lords de Craon built a house there, whicli is now a churchyard, it was called 
 rue de Craon, to the time when Peter de Craon hid himself and accomplices within it, to 
 assassinate sir Oliver de Clisson. The street then changed its name, and was called la 
 rue des Mauvais-garcons. The hotel was, by orders from the king, razed to the ground, 
 and the spot given to the church-wardens of St. John, to enlarge their churchyard — 
 Sauval, Antiquites de Paris, 
 
546 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 end, when he had taken leave of the king, he returned to the apart- 
 ment of the duke of Touraine, and asked, " My lord, shall you stay 
 here to-ni^ht, or do you go to Poulain's?"' This Poulain was treas 
 i-rer to the duke of Touraine, and lived at the Croix du Tiroir, near 
 1 le Silver Lion. The dulce replied : " Constable, I am not deter- 
 Mined whether I shall stay or not ; but do you go, for it is high time 
 t retire." " My lord, God give you a good night !" said sir Oliver, 
 a. id went away. He found his servants and horses wailing for him 
 in the square before the hotel ; but they had not more than eight or 
 ten torches, which the varlets lighted. When the constable was 
 mounted, and the torches were borne before him, he rode down the 
 broad street of St. Catherine. 
 
 Sir Peter de Craon's spies had this day exerted themselves, and he 
 knew every particular relative to the constable : of his staying behind 
 the rest of the company, the exact number of his horses and attend- 
 ants. He had, in consequence, quitted his hotel with his men all 
 mounted and secretly armed ; but there were not six of them who 
 knew what his real intentions were. He had advanced to the cause- 
 way, near the place of St. Catherine, where he and his people lay 
 hid, waiting for the constable to pass. As soon as the constable had 
 left the street of St. Pol, and turned into the square of the great 
 street, advancing a foot's pace, with a torch on each side to light 
 him, he began a conversation with one of his squires, saying : " I am 
 to have at dinner, to-morrow, my lord of Touraine, the lord do 
 Coucy, sir John do Vienne, sir Charles d'Angers, the baron d'lvry, 
 and several more : be sure take care they have all things comforta- 
 ble, and let nothing be sparsd." As he said this, f=ir Peter de Craon 
 and his company advanced, and, without saying a word, fell on the 
 constable's attendants anci extinguished the torches. The constable, 
 hearing the clatter of the horses behind him, thought it was the duke 
 of Touraine who was playing him a trick, and cried out : " ?v:ly lord, 
 by my faith, this is very ill done ; but I excuse it, for you are so 
 young you make a joke of everything." At these words, sir Peter 
 de Craon, drawing his sword from tiio scabbard, said : " Death, 
 death ! Clisson, you }nust die." " Who art thou," said Clisson, " that 
 utterest such words ?" "lam Peter de Craon, thy enemy, whom 
 thou hast so often angered, and thou shalt now pay for it." Then, 
 calling to his people, he said : " Advance, advance I I have found 
 him I was in search of, and whom I have long wanted to seize." 
 He then struck him several blows, and his men, drawing their 
 swords, fell on him. iir Oliver was quite unarmed, having only a 
 short cutlass, not two feet long, which, however, he drew, and de- 
 fended himself with it as well as he could. His servants, being quite 
 defenceless, were soon dispersed. Some of sir Peter's men asked, 
 if they were to murder all ? " Yes," replied he, all who put 
 themselves in a posture of defence." They couid not resist the 
 attack, for they were but eight, and without armor. Sir Peter's men 
 fully intended to murder the constable, and their master wished noth- 
 ing more than to see it done ; but, as I heard from some of those 
 who had been in tins attack, the moment they learnt that the person 
 they were assassinating was the constable of France, their arms be- 
 came, as it were, nerveless through surprise, and their blows were 
 given weakly and through fear : for in perpetrating wickedness none 
 are bold. 
 
 The constable parried the blows tolerably well with his short cut- 
 lass ; but his defence would have been of no avail, if God's provi- 
 dence had not protected him. He kept steady on horseback some 
 time, until he was villainously struck on the back part of his head, 
 which knocked liim off his horse. In his fall, he hit against the 
 hatch of a baker's door, v. ho was already up to attend to his busi- 
 ness and bake his bread. Having heard the noise of horses on the 
 causeway and higii words, the baker had, fortunately for the con- 
 stable, half opened the hatch ; and sir Oliver, falling against it, burst 
 it quite open and rolled into the shop. Those on horseback could 
 not follow him, as the entrance was neither wide nor high enough, 
 and besides, they did their work like cowards. It must be owned for 
 tjuth, that God showed great favor to the constable : if he had not 
 •exactly fallen against tht- hatch, or if it liad been closed, he would 
 infallibly have Ibst his life, and have been trampled to death by the 
 horses, for they were afraid to dismount. Several of them imagined, 
 even sir Peter de Craon and the person who had hit him, that the 
 blow on his head which unhorsed him must cause his death : sir 
 Peter, therefore, said : " Come, let us away : we have done enough : 
 if he be not dead, he never can recover from the last blow, which 
 was given by a lusty arm." On saying this, they collected together 
 and left the place at a good trot, and were soon at the gate of Saint 
 Anthony, which they passed, and gained the fields; for since the 
 battle of Roscbccque, ten years ago, the gates were never shut. 
 The Parisians had then their mallets taken from them by the con. 
 stable, and many of the citizens punished and fined for their impru- 
 dent conduct, as I have fully narrated. 
 
 CHAPTER XL. 
 
 THE KING OF FRANCE SENDS HIS OWN PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS TO 
 VISIT THE CONSTABLE DURING THE NIGHT. HE ORDERS THE PRO- 
 VOST OF PARIS TO PURSUE SIR PETER DE CRAON, WHO HAD FLED 
 FOR REFUGE TO THE DUKE OF BRITTANY. SOME OF HIS MEN, HAV- 
 ING REMAINED AT PARIS, ARE EXECUTED. 
 
 Thus was sir Oliver de Clisson left ior dead at the baker's, who 
 was much frightened when he learnt it was the constable. Sir 
 Oliver's attendants, who had been little hurt, for sir Peter de Craon's 
 men were only bent on killing their master, collected together as 
 well as they could, and dismounting before the baker's door, entered 
 the shop, where they found their lord severely wounded on the head, 
 and his face covered with blood. They were, as may be supposed, 
 greatly affected, and with tears and groans bewailed his loss, for al 
 the first moment they thought he was a dead man. 
 
 News of this was carried to the king at the h6tel de Saint Pol, 
 just as he was going into bed. In much alarm, they said, "Ah, 
 sire I we dare not conceal from you a shocking event that has just 
 happened in Paris." " What event ?" asked the king. " Your 
 constable, sir Oliver de Clisson, is murdered." " Murdered 1" re- 
 peated the king. " How ? and who has done it ?" " Sire, that we 
 do not know ; but this misfortune has befallen him hard by, in the 
 great street of St. Catherine." " Come, quickly light torches, for I 
 will go and see him," replied the king. The torches being ready, 
 the varlets bore them before ; and the king threw only a cloak over 
 him, while the shoes were putting on his feet. The men-at-arms 
 and ushers of the guard of tlie palace escorted him. Those who 
 were gone to bed*, on hearing what had passed, instandy dressed 
 themselves to follow the king, who had left the h6tel de Saint Pol in 
 such haste, that sir Walter Martel and sir .Tohn de Lignac were the 
 only chamberlains that attended him, for he would not v/ait for oth. 
 ers, and thus he walked at a good pace with torches before and be- 
 hind him. In this manner he arrived at the baker's shop, which he 
 entered ; but the chamberlains, with many torches, staid without. 
 The king found Ijis constable nearly in the state he had heard him 
 to be in, except ihat he was not dead ; for his servants had stripped 
 him to see if he had received many wounds, and where they had 
 been given. The first words the king said, were, " Constable, how 
 fares it with you ?" " Dear sire,'' replied he, " but so so, and very 
 weak." " And who has put you in this state ?" " Sire, Peter de 
 Craon and his accomplices have traitorously, and without the small- 
 est suspicion, attacked me." " Constable," said the king, " noth- 
 ing shall ever be more severely punished than this crime, nor can any 
 sufferings make amends for it : run quickly," added the king, for 
 doctors and surgeons." These were before sent for; and they 
 arrived from all quarters, particularly those attached to the king's 
 person. On their arrival, the king was well pleased, and said, 
 " Attend well to my constable, and tell me what state he is in ; for 
 I am sorely grieved at his misfortune." The doctors, having declared 
 they would, examined him all over, the king being present, who 
 was greatly angered at this event: he asked, "If there were any 
 danger of death ?" The doctors unanimously replied, " Sire, cer- 
 tainly not ; and, within fifteen days, we will restore him well enough 
 to ride on horseback." This answer pleased the king, who said, 
 " God be praised, this is excellent news." Then addressing himself 
 to the constable, added : " Take care of yourself, and do not think 
 of this or other business ; no crime shall be more rigorously pun- 
 ished than that of these traitors : they shall pay for it as if it were 
 done to myself." The constable faintly answered, " May God repay 
 you all, and for your kindness in this visit." 
 
 On this, the king took leave and returned to his palace, and sent 
 for the provost of Paris, who made no long delay before he arrived, 
 for it was now quite day. When the provost entered, the king said; 
 " Take with you a body of armed men, and pursue that traitor, Peter 
 de Craon, who has treacherously assassinated, and nearly murdered, 
 our constable. You cannot do us a more agreeable service than to 
 take him and bring him before us." The provost replied : " Sire, I 
 will do everything in my power ; but what road do you suppose he 
 may have taken ?" " Inquire, and make good diligence," said the 
 king. At that time, the four principal gates of Paris were always 
 open night and day : this regulation had been observed from the 
 time the king returned from Flanders, after defeating the Flemings 
 at the battle of Rosebecque, and when the Parisians, showing symp- 
 toms of rebellion, had their mallets taken from them. In order the 
 more easily to chastise the Parisians, sir Oliver de Clisson had ad- 
 vised the chains to be taken from across the streets, and the gates 
 off* their hinges, which had been done ; and the gates had been, for 
 the last ten years:, lying against the walls, so that any one might 
 enter, or go out of Paris, at all hours. Now, observe how the sea- 
 sons repay, sir Oliver reaped what he had sown himself : had the 
 gates and chains remained, sir Peter de Craon would not have dared 
 to commit this outrage, for he could never have got out of Paris; but 
 knowing he could set off" at any hour, he was encouraged thus to 
 disgrace himself. When he left the constable, he concluded he was 
 dead, or at least that he would never recover ; but it was not so, as 
 you have heard, to his great mortification. He quitted Paris by St. 
 Anthony's gate, about one o'clock in the morning, and, as some say, 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, ^&c. 
 
 547 
 
 crossed the Seine at the bridge of Charenton, and continued his road 
 to Chartres ; but, according to others, after going out of Paris, he 
 returned by the gate of St. Honore, under Montmartre, and crossed 
 the Seine at Pon9on. Whichever way he passed the river, he ar- 
 rived at Chartres at eight o'clock in the morning, with some of the 
 best mounted of his accomplice?;. All did, not follow but took differ- 
 ent routes, and in small companies, to avoid being taken in the pur- 
 suit. On his way to Paris he had ordered twenty horses to be in 
 v/aiting for him, at the house of a canon, who was his friend and 
 hod served him ; but it would have been better for him never to 
 have known him, although the canon was ignorant of the crime he 
 had committed. Sir Peter de Craon, on his arrival at Chartres, drank 
 some wine and changed horses, and then instantly departed, taking 
 the road for Maine. He continued his journey, until he came to a 
 strong castle he still possessed, called Sable, where he stopped and 
 refreshed himself, and said he would not go further, but wait there 
 until he heard some intelligence of the constable. 
 
 On the Friday, the day following this assassination, it was all the 
 news of Paris, and every one greatly blamed sir Peter de Craon. 
 The lord de Coucy was no sooner informed of it, than he mounted 
 his horse, attended by only seven persons, and rode to the constable's 
 hotel behind the Temple, whither he had been carried; for they 
 mutually loved each other, styling themselves brothers and compan- 
 ions in arms. This interview with the lord de Coucy was of service 
 to the constable ; and he was visited by all the other lords of the 
 court. The duke of Touraine accompanied the king in his next 
 visit : the two brothers were very wroth, and said sir Peter de Craon 
 had committed this crime in spite of them ; and that it was a plot 
 formed by traitors to throw the kingdom into confusion. The duke 
 of *Berry, who was at the time in Paris, dissembled his sentiments, 
 and seemed to make light of what had passed. I, the author of this 
 history, was then informed, that if he had pleased, this accident would 
 not have happened, for it was in his power to have prevented it, and 
 I will tell you how. 
 
 The day of the feast of the holy sacrament, a clerk, who was one 
 of the familiars of sir Peter de Craon, came to the duke of Berry, 
 and said : " My lord, I would vv^illingly open my mmd to you, re- 
 specting some improper conduct that is going forward, which is ille- 
 gal, and may end unfortunately, for you are more able than any other 
 to put a stop to it." "What is it?" asked the duke. " My lord, I 
 must first insist that you promise my name shall never be brought 
 into question ; for, to prevent great mischief being done, and the 
 peril that may ensue in the matter, I am come to discover the whole 
 to you." " Speak out then, boldly," replied the duke : " I will bear 
 you through it." " My lord," said the clerk, " I very much suspect 
 that sir Peter de Craon intends murdering the constable ; for he has 
 collected within his hotel, in the churchyard of St. .Tohn, a number 
 of companions, whom he has secretly kept there, ever since Whit, 
 suntide. Should he accomplish his purpose, the king will be exceed- 
 ingly vexed, and confusion ensue to the kingdom. It is for this I 
 disclose it to you, my lord ; for, although I am secretary to my lord 
 of Craon, and have sworn fidelity to him, I cannot suffer such an 
 outrage to be committed. If you do not take measures to prevent 
 this none others will, at this moment, and I beg you will remember 
 what I have now told you, at a proper opportunity ; for, since I find 
 sir Peter de Craon is determined to persevere in this business, I must 
 fly, and never again return to his service." The duke of Berry per- 
 fectly well comprehended all the clerk had told. He said to him : 
 " Remain with me to-day, and to-morrow morning I will inform my 
 lord of this plot. It is now too late, and I wish not to trouble the 
 king on such a day as this, but, to-morrow, I will not fail doing it ; 
 and we will provide a remedy, since sir Peter de Craon is in the 
 town, which I was ignorant of." Thus, by the delay and negligence 
 of the duke of Berry, did the mischief happen, as I have related. 
 
 The provost of Paris, with upward of sixty horse, issued out at the 
 gate of St. Honore, on the traces of sir Peter de Craon. When he 
 came to Pon9on, to cross the Seine, he asked the bridge-keeper, if 
 any one had passed that morning? he answered : " Yes, my lord, a 
 company of about twelve horsemen ; but I did not see any knight or 
 person whom I knew." "And what road did they take?'' demanded 
 the provost. " That leading to Vannes," said the bridge-master. 
 "Ah," replied the provost, "it may very probably be they, who are 
 making for Cherbourg." He then quitted the road to Chartres, fol- 
 lowing that to Cherbourg, and thus lost all traces of them. When 
 they had rode on the road to Vannes till it was dinner-time, they 
 met a knight of that country hare-hunting ; and, making inquiry from 
 him, he said that he had seen in the morning about fifteen horsemen 
 riding over the fields, and he thought they were going to Chartres. 
 Upon this, the provost again changed his road, and, arriving in the 
 evening at Chartres, learnt that sir Peter de Craon had been at the 
 canon's house about eight o'clock, where he had disarmed himself 
 and changed horses. He now saw that all further pursuit would be 
 vain, as sir Peter had got so much before him, and returned to Paris 
 on the Saturday. 
 
 The king of France and the duke of Touraine were very anxious 
 to lay hands on sir Peter de Craon ; and, as it was uncertain what 
 iqad he had taken, they ordered sir John le Barrois, with sixty horse, 
 after him by the gate of Saint Anthony. Sir John crossed the Seine 
 and Marne at the bridge of Charenton, and scoured the whole coun. 
 
 try as far as Estamps. On Saturday he arrived to dinner at Char, 
 tres, where he heard the truth of his escape, and concluded it would 
 tie fruitless to follow him, as he must be at too great a distance. He 
 returned to Paris on the Sunday, and related to the king the country 
 he had been over, with the same ill success as the provost had be- 
 fore complained of. 
 
 On the Saturday morning, the officers of justice, who had been 
 searching all the villages round Paris, discovered in a hamlet seven 
 leagues from Paris, two men-at-arms, squires to sir Peter de Craon- 
 and his page, who had stopped in this village from inability or uii. 
 willingness to proceed further. They were arrested by the ofiicers, 
 brought back to Paris, and executed on the Monday following. They 
 were, however, first led to the place where the crime had been com- 
 mitted, and each had his hand cut off at the wrist : they were then 
 beheaded in the market-place, and their bodies hang on a gibbet. 
 On the Wednesday following, sir Peter's house-steward v/as exe- 
 cuted ; but many said this was unjustly done, while others replied, 
 that he suffered for not having revealed the arrival of sir Peter de 
 Craon at Paris. The canon of Chartres, at whose house sir Peter 
 had stopped to refresh himself and change horses, was arrested and 
 confined in the bishop's prison. Everything he possessed was con- 
 fiscated, and himself condemned to perpetual imprisonment on bread 
 and water : no excuses he could plead for his innocence in this mat- 
 ter were of the smallest avail, though he bore in Cliartres the charac- 
 ter of an honest prudent man.* 
 
 Sir Peter de Craon was exceedingly vexed, v/hen he heard for cer- 
 tain, at his castle of Sable, whither he had retired, that the constable 
 was not dead, and had not received any wounds that, in six weeks' 
 time, could prevent him mounting his horse. He considered that he 
 would not be safe in this casde when it should be known where he 
 was, and that he would be too closely surrounded to quit it when he 
 pleased. He, in consequence, gave the charge of it to some of his 
 people, and left it secretly, taking the road toward Brittany, where 
 he arrived without stopping and found the duke at Susmet.t The 
 duke, who had already heard the issue of the assassination, and that 
 the constable was not dead, said, on receiving sir Peter de Craon, 
 '* You are a poor creature, who cannot slay a man when you have 
 him in your power." "My lord," replied sir Peter, "it was a dam- 
 nable business. I believe all the devils in hell, to whom he belongs, 
 defended him, and preserved him from mine and my men's blows. 
 There were upward of sixty thrusts and cuts made at him with 
 swords and cutlasses ; and when he was knocked off his horse, in 
 good truth, I thought he was dead ; but his good fortune made him 
 fall against the hatch of a baker's shop that was half open, by which 
 means he rolled into the shop. Had he fallen in the street we would 
 have killed him, and trampled him under our horses' feet." " Well," 
 said the duke, " it cannot be otherwise at present. I am sure it will 
 not be long before I hear from the king of France, and shall incur 
 as much hatred as yourself. Keep quiet near me ; for I am convinced 
 things will not remain as they now are, but that the king and con- 
 stable will wage a serious war against me. However, since I prom- 
 ised you protection, I will keep my word." 
 
 CHAPTER XLI. 
 
 THE KING OF FRANCE SUMMONS THE DUKE OF BRITTANY TO DELIVER UP 
 SIR PETER DE CRAON. HIS ANSU'^ER NOT BEING SATISFACTORY, THE 
 KING DECLARES AVAR AGAINST HIM. THE KING's UNCLES MURMUR AT 
 THE GREAT RICHES OF THE CONSTABLE, WHICH WERE DISCLOSED BY HIS 
 WILL. 
 
 Intelligence was brought to the king of France, some days after 
 the assassination of the constable, that the duke of Brittany had re- 
 ceived sir Peter de Craon. His most confidential counsellors advised 
 him to send instantly to the duke of Brittany, and summon him, on 
 his faith and homage, should that false traitor to the crown of France, 
 sir Peter de Craon, be in any part of Brittany, to arrest him and send 
 him without delay to France. When these letters were written and 
 sealed, they were given to one of the king's messengers, who set out 
 for Brittany, and found the duke at his castle of Ermine, near Vannes. 
 The duke, having received and read the letters, told the messenger, 
 he would write an answer to the king. ' The substance of it was, 
 that he excused himself from knowing anything of sir Peter de Craon, 
 or where he was ; nor did he wish to know anything, for it was no 
 concern of his ; and that, as to sir Peter's hatred and quarrel with 
 sir Oliver de Clisson, it no way touched or regarded him, and he en- 
 treated the king to hold him excused. When this answer had been 
 properly drawn up and sealed, it was given to the messenger, who 
 returned with it to Paris. The king and his council were impatient 
 to receive the duke's answer; and, when the letters were delivered 
 to the king, he attentively read them, and turning to his brother, the 
 
 A process was instituted against Peter de Craon, who was condemned for contu- 
 macy. All his goods were confiscated, his houses taken possession of, his furniture 
 seized by the king and his lands given to the duke of Orleans and other courtiers. The 
 monk of St. Denis relates that Jean de Vienne, the admiral of France, who was charged 
 with taking possession of the estate of Ferte-Bernard, disgraced himself by infamously 
 outraging the modesty of Jeanne de Chastillon the wife of Peter de Craon, and her 
 daughter, a celebrated beauty of the time, and afterwards turning them out of doois iiv 
 their chemises.— Buchon. 
 t " Au Susmet." Q. Succinio. which was a residence of the duke of Brittaojr. 
 
548 
 
 C?rRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 duke of Touraine, and the council said, This is not satisfactory." 
 Others replied, that the duke of Brittany was at the bottom of the 
 whole mischief. The kin^ and the duke of Touraine declared that 
 f uch an outrage was too great to be lightly passed over, and was a 
 'Jirect attack on the royal majesty of France. 
 
 The duke of Berry was at this time in Paris, and, in his frequent 
 \ isits to the palace, the king talked much to him concerning the crime 
 of sir Peter de Craon. The duke replied : " My lord, he has certainly 
 committed a great outrage ; and if it were known where he was, I 
 would advise that he be arrested and punished for it." " Good uncle," 
 said the king, " he is now with the duke in Brittany, and nowhere 
 else : we are determined to march thither, and you shall accompany 
 us." The duke of Berry assented, though he was dissembling his 
 real sentiments, and added, " My lord, we must have our good 
 brother of Burgundy also with us." " We will have him," replied 
 the king, " for we will not go without him ; and our army shall be 
 of strength sufficient to conquer all our enemies. We now clearly 
 see, that this duke of Brittany neither loves nor esteems us. Good 
 . uncle, he is very proud and presumptuous ; and we will not attend 
 to any other affair until we have brought him to reason." Thus did 
 the king and the duke of Berry converse together: the duke assented 
 to everything his nephew proposed, though determined, in his own 
 mind, to act in opposition to it. The king of France was too earnest 
 in his desire to revenge the insult offered his constable, and was 
 daily pressing forward the preparations for his expedition to Brittany. 
 He was to march first into Anjou, to destroy all the castles and pos. 
 sessions held there by sir Peter de Craon, notwithstanding the duke 
 of Brittany claimed them for his own by purchase. The king and 
 his council answered, that he had never had possession given him of 
 them ; and that from having supported and protected sir Peter de 
 Craon, he had incurred personally the indignation of the crown of 
 France, although a marriage had this season been formed between 
 the son of the duke and a princess of France. 
 
 While these preparations were going forward, and the rumor of 
 the king's expedition against Brittany was everywhere talked of in 
 France, the bishop of Noyon and the lord de la Riviere returned to 
 Paris, having fulfilled their mission to Beam and Foix. They related 
 to the king and council what they had done, but the affairs of Brittany 
 occupied so entirely the time of the council, they could not attend to 
 anything else ; and the king was impatient for the constable to be 
 sufficiently recovered to mount his horse. 
 
 Before the king left Paris, he commanded the very handsome hotel 
 sir Peter de Craon had, near the churchyard of Saint John, to be 
 razed to the ground, and the spot given for an addition to the church, 
 yard. The king ordered large provision of stores to be made on the 
 roads to Anjou, Maine, Touraine, Brittany, and along the banks of 
 the Loire, ready for his intended expedition : for no one dared to 
 make any opposition to it. It was well known in Paris, and likewise 
 in different parts of the country, that sir Oliver de Clisson, constable 
 of France, had made his will, in order that, in case of death from his 
 wounds, his heirs might know where to seek' for his wealth. He had 
 but two children, both females, one married to John of Brittany, 
 count de Penthievre, whom he had ransomed from England for six 
 score thousand francs paid to the duke of Ireland, as has been related. 
 His other daughter was, or would be viscountess de Rohan, in right 
 of her husband. The whole of his money and moveable property, 
 without including any part of his heritage, amounted to seventeen 
 hundred thousand francs, to the great astonishment of all who heard 
 it, as to the means by which he had been able to amass so large a 
 sum. The dukes of Berry and Burgundy, in particular, were much 
 surprised, as v/ell as their councils, for the constable was not any way 
 in favor with them : so that, when among themselves they thus spoke 
 very freely on the subject : " How the devil can this constable have 
 collected such an immense sum of florins, and such splendid furni- 
 ture ? The king of France has nothing like it. We must suppose 
 that it has not been lawfully acquired." This passed off ; but those 
 who hated him did not think the less of it. 
 
 The king was still at Paris, though his preparations were ready ; 
 and all who had been summoned to accompany the expedition to 
 Brittany were assembling accordingly. The duke of Burgundy was, 
 however, much vexed at this war, saying that if was made without 
 reason, and would end badly ; for neither France nor Brittany, nor 
 their knights and squires, were any way concerned in the quarrel 
 between sir Oliver de Clisson and sir Peter de Craon ; nor had they 
 any business to make war on their account, but should let them fight 
 .it out themselves, without thus destroying and harassing the poor of 
 both countries. The duke of Berry was of the same opinion ; but 
 they could not be heard, for the king had other counsellors, to whom 
 he listened in preference. They knew not, therefore, how to prevent 
 the war from taking place, and when they saw the king was obsti- 
 nately bent upon it, they obeyed, but as slowly as they could. I 
 heard, and believe it true, that, through the intervention of the duke 
 ©f Burgundy, the count d'Ostrevant was summoned by the king of 
 France to attend him with three hundred lances : the count, who 
 loved arms, made his preparations, and summoned his vassals ; but, 
 when he had completed everything at a great expense, he received 
 counter-orders, not to stir. 
 
 CHAPTER XLII. ' 
 
 THE DUKE OF TOURAINE IS CREATED DUKE OF ORLEANS. THE CONSTABLE 
 OF FRANCE BEING RECOVERED, THE KING OF FRANCE ADVANCES TO 
 MANS, WITH THE INTENTION OF CONTINUING HIS MARCH, TO MAKE 
 WAR ON THE DUKE OF BRITTANY. 
 
 When all things were ready for the king's departure from Paris, 
 an exchange of lands was made between the king and the duke of 
 Touraine, but this exchange was greatly in favor of the duke ; for 
 he surrendered to his brother the duchy of Touraine and its depend, 
 encies, receiving in return the duchy of Orleans, which was of four 
 times the value, on the same terms and conditions that Philip duke 
 of Orleans had formerly held it. We shall henceforward call him 
 the duke of Orleans.* The king was so pleased when sir Oliver de 
 Clisson had recovered from his wounds sufficiently to ride, that he 
 said he would now set out from Paris to Brittany, to show he made 
 the quarrel his own. In consequence, he and the duke of Orleans 
 took leave of the queen, the duchess, and the other ladies and dam- 
 sels who were at the hotel de Saint Pol, and went that night to the 
 house of his minister, Montagu, where they supped and lay. The 
 duke of Bourbon, the count de Namur, and the lord de Coucy, went 
 with them. I know not if they all lay there, but the king did so, 
 and dined there on the morrow. In the afternoon he departed in 
 handsome array, and supped and lay at St. Germain-en-Laye, where 
 he remained several days. At this period, according to tiie report 
 of his physicians, the king's health was not good : but, he was so 
 impatient to carry on the war, he declared his health was better than 
 theirs. This he said to push forward the business ; for his two 
 uncles of Berry and Burgundy were still behind, and showed clearly 
 the expedition was contrary to their opinion, and that willingly they 
 would avoid going with him. They had, however, issujsd sum. 
 mouses to their vassals, for they were bound in honor to accompany 
 the king. 
 
 When the king had sojourned at St. Germain for fifteen days, and 
 the different lords were arrived, or on the road, he was advised to 
 depart. He did so, crossed the Seine, and marching for Chartres, 
 arrived at Auneau, a good town and handsome casde, that belonged 
 to the lord de la Riviere in right of his wife. In company with him 
 were the dukes of Orleans and Bourbon. The lord de la Riviere 
 received the king and these lords very magnificently, as he was able 
 to do, and they remained his guests for three days. On the fourth 
 day they departed, and went to Chartres, of which place the brother 
 of Montagu was bishop. The king, the duke of Orleans, and tha 
 duke of Bourbon, were lodged in the episcopal palace. On the 
 second day, the duke of Berry, and the count de la Marche, came 
 there ; but the duke of Burgundy was still behind. He had begun 
 his journey, and on the fourth day arrived, to the great joy of the 
 king. Men-at-arms were pouring in from all quarters ; and the king 
 said he never would return to Paris until he had made the duke of I 
 Brittany listen to reason, who had so often given him plague and ' 
 vexation. There were too many about the king, who urged him on ; 
 so that the dukes of Berry and Burgundy, who wished for more 
 moderate counsels, were not attended to. This created a disgust in 
 them and their advisers ; and they said among themselves, that public 
 affairs could not long remain in their present hazardous and unsettled 
 circumstances, and that the king was cutting out for himself and 
 kingdom work enough, when he rejected the advice of his uncles 
 and listened to others of little weight. After staying about seven 
 days in Chartres, he departed for Mans. He was followed by men- 
 at-arms from Artois, Beauvais, Vermandois and Picardy, and other d 
 distant countries. They said when together, "How comes this duke 1 
 of Brittany to give us so much trouble. He is full of pride, and has 
 never been truly affectionate to the crown of France. If it had not . 
 been for his cousin, the late earl of Flanders, who supported him, i 
 and the duchess of Burgundy, who does so at this moment, he would 
 long ago have been destroyed. He never could bear the lord de 
 Clisson from the moment he quitted the English party, and is greatly 
 to blame now in assisting sir Peter de Craon against the king and 
 the constable." Others replied, "Let the king alone ; for he has 
 taken this business so much to heart, he will make the duke repent 
 of it before he returns." " That he will," said others, "if there be 
 no treachery in his way. Do you suppose that all who now accom- 
 pany him are enemies to the duke of Brittany ? Certainly not ; for 
 whatever they may dare say, they show their intentions too openly 
 by their actions. They are plotting night and day how they may i 
 prevent the expedition, and they harass the king so much, it will be | 
 well if he keep his health." ' 
 
 Such were the conversations of the men-at-arms on their march, 
 following the king to Maine. The king, on his arrival at Mans, was 
 lodged in the castle, and his lords in the town, as well as the state 
 of its accommodations would allow. The army spread themselves 
 abroad in the plains, which were rich and good lodging for men-at- 
 arms. The king and his court remained at the city of Mans upward 
 of three weeks, for the king was in a very feverish state and unfit to i 
 ride. The physicians told the duke of Orleans and his uncles, that 
 the king was oppressed with too much business, and was not in a 
 situation to go through with it ; that rest and quiet were absolutely j 
 
 * He was created Duke of Orleans on the 4th of June, 1393.—Ed. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &,c. 
 
 549 
 
 necessary, for that ever since he had left Amiens after the confer 
 ences, his health had not been so good as it was formerly. The 
 king's uncles remonstrated on all this with the council, for the king 
 would not pay any attention to what the physicians said ; and he 
 was so impatient to carry the war into Brittany, he told his uncles, 
 that he was always better when on horseback, than when doing 
 nothing ; and added, " Whoever advises me to the contrary will highly 
 displease me, and show he has not any love for me." This was all 
 the answer he would give. Every day there was a council holden, 
 which lasted until noon, or beyond it ; and the king would always 
 be present, to check any delays being made to the expedition into 
 Brktany. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIIL 
 
 TUE KING OF FRANCE, DURING HIS STAY AT MANS, AGAIN SENDS SOME 
 NOBLE PERSONAGES TO THE DUKE OF BRITTANY, WITH ORDERS TO 
 DISMISS SIR PETER DE CRAON. THE KING IS INFORMED THAT SIR 
 PHTER IS ARRESTED AT i^RCELONA BY COMMAND OF THE QUEEN OF 
 ARRAGON. 
 
 The king was advised, during his stay at Mans, to which he as- 
 sented, out of affection for his uncles, to send four knights to Brittany. 
 They were to remonstrate strongly with the duke, on the part of the 
 king and council, how greatly he had misbehaved by affording an 
 asylum to an enemy of the king and realm; and that, if he were 
 desirous to acknowledge his fault, and make amends for it, he must 
 send sir Peter de Craon to Mans, when they would endeavor to 
 make his peace with the king, and prevent this expedition from doing 
 harm to him or to his country. According to what I heard, sir 
 Reginald de Roye, the lord de Garencieres, the lord de Chateau- 
 morant, and sir Taupin de Cantemelle, governor of Gisors, were or- 
 dered on this mission. They left the city of Mans with forty lances, 
 and, having passed through Angers, journeyed on to Nantes, when, 
 having entered the town, they found there the duke. He gave them 
 a good welcome, and entertained them with a splendid dinner ; but, 
 before this, they had fulfilled their commission, and had ably ex- 
 plained to him the object of th^ir coming, and what the king and 
 council had ordered them to say. The duke answered prudently 
 and nobly, " That he would be most happy to arrest and give up to 
 the king sir Peter de Craon, but, as God might help him, he neither 
 knew where he was, nor what he was about : he therefore entreated 
 these lords to make his peace, lor he had assured them of the truth ;" 
 adding, " he had heard, upward of a year ago, sir Peter de Craon 
 declare, that sir Oliver de Clisson hated him so mortally, he would 
 attack him the first favorable opportunity, with all the force he could 
 muster, let the event be what it would. When he told me this, I 
 asked him if he hud notified thiy;o sir Oliver : he said he had, and 
 had sent him his defiance ; addmg, th'at he would put him to death, 
 by day or night, the very first time he met him. I know nothing 
 further of the matter, and am surprised that my lord should think of 
 making war on me for this cause. Begging liis pardon, I do not feel 
 that I. am any way so blameable, either toward him or the kingdom 
 of France, that war should be declared against me ; for never %vill I 
 infringe, if it please God, the alliances that have been entered into 
 between us, as well in regard to the marriage of our children, as re- 
 specting other matters." This was the answer the -French knights 
 received from the duke of Brittany ; and, when they had dined with 
 him, and remained one day more at Nantes, they took leave, and set 
 out on their return the way they had come. 
 
 The king and council were impatient for their arrival, to hear the 
 duke's answer. What you have just heard, the knights repeated to 
 the king, and to those interested, from the duke of Brittany. The 
 dukes of Berry and Burgundy were well satisfied with it, and would 
 have persuaded others to be so likewise, saying, the answer was 
 proper and reasonable. But the king declared that, from the infor- 
 mation he had received, he was of a contrary opinion, and since he 
 was come so far, he would never return to Paris until he had hum- 
 bled the duke of Brittany. The dukes of Berry and Burgundy 
 v/ould v/illingiy have altered this declaration, had they known how, 
 but they were not attended to; and the king had taken such a hatred 
 to sir Peter de Craon, whom he said the duke of Brittany secreted 
 in his country, that no excuses were of avail. 
 
 There was a report at Mans, and in many other places of France, 
 that the lady Jolande de Bar, queen of Arragon, and cousin-german 
 to the king of France, had thrown into the prisons of Barcelona, a 
 knight who v/as unknovv'n to her or to her people ; and, from his re- 
 fusal to tell his name, he was thought to be sir Peter de Craon. The 
 queen of Arragon, wishing to please the king, wrote to him in the 
 !ii(;5t friendly terms, to say, " that on the fifth day of July a knight, 
 wish a handsome array, hnd come to Barcelona, with intent to cross 
 the std : that he had hired at a very dear rate, a vessel to carry him, 
 as he said, to Naples. Having had all our ports well guarded, so 
 that i;o stranger could leave them without permission, and this knight 
 refusing to say v^ho he was, we have detained him in prison. We 
 suppose, from the great anxiety he shows for his liberty, that he is 
 the knight you are seeking for, and on whose account you have writ, 
 ten to us. Have the goodness, therefore, to send hither, as speedily 
 as may be, some persons who are acquainted with sir Peter de Craon ; 
 for he whom we hold in prison shall not be set at liberty until we 
 
 have heard from you. We shall learn with pleasure that the intelli. 
 gence we have sent has been agreeable to you awd to your council. 
 May the Holy Spirit have you in his keeping I Written at Pcrpignan 
 the ninth day of July," and signed ".lolande de Bar, queen of Ar- 
 ragon and Majorca, lady of Sardinia." The superscription was, 
 " To our very redoubted lord the king of France." 
 
 This intelligence softened the hearts of many, and the expedition 
 was on the point of being broken off" ; but the friends of the consta. 
 ble thought this was an invented story, to prevent the king advancing 
 further ; and that sir Peter de Craon was in danger of no other prison 
 than what the duke of Brittany pleased, for he was safely in refuge 
 within his duchy. The king paid no attention to this letter, saying 
 it was all deceit; but the duke of Burgundy replied, "At least, my 
 lord, to satisfy my niece of Arragon, who has written to you, and to 
 deliver this knight, if he be guiltless, condescend to send some one 
 thither, that our cousin may not be displeased with you and with us." 
 " We are very willing to do so, good uncle," said the king, " for 1 
 wish not to vex you. Let some persons be sent to Barcelona ; but 
 I am firmly persuaded that the traitor, Peter de Craon, is not there, 
 nor in any prison but the duke of Brittany's palace ; and I swear, by 
 the faith I owe St. Denis, that one day he shall severely pay for it." 
 Nothing could alter the king's opinion that sir Peter de Craon was 
 in Brittany. The duke of Brittany received regular information of 
 what was passing, and, as the king was so much enraged against 
 him, was not well satisfied of his security ; for he saw that the dukes 
 of Berry and Burgundy had no weight in the council, and that the 
 party of his adversary, Clisson, led the king just as they pleased. 
 He had his castles and towns most strictly guarded ; but, unfortu- 
 nately for him, there were no towns or castles he dared trust his 
 person to, excepting Vannes. Carnpel, Dol, Quiniperle, Ermine, 
 Quimper-Corentin, and Suseniot. He had written to the knights 
 and barons of Brittany, from whom he looked for support and advice, 
 but they all dissembled with him, seeing the king, their lord para, 
 mount, so wroth against him, and from his so openly taking tiie part 
 of sir Peter de Craon against the king and the constable, which v»'as 
 very indecent. He almost repented what he had done ; but his spirit 
 was so lofty, he disdained to own it, and he said to himself, " If the 
 king, as he seems now inclined, enter Brittany with his army, I will 
 not, at the beginning, make any opposition, that I may see who are 
 my friends and enemies, nor will I hurry m.yself to retaliate ; but, 
 when he shall think himself in full securily, I will fall upon him, 
 since there is no other way of obtaining peace." 
 
 Thus did the duke counsel with himself, and at times with his 
 ministers ; for he concluded that a war with France was now inevi- 
 table. It was not so, however, for matters turned out otherwise than 
 he expected, to his great advantage^ The old proverb says, " He is 
 not poor who is lucky." The duke of Brittany was wondrous for- 
 tunate at this season, from an astonishing and pitiable accident that 
 befel the king of France. Nothing less could have withdrawn from 
 him the dangers he was surrounded by, and permitted him the enjoy, 
 ment of peace. 
 
 CHAPTER X LI V, 
 
 THE KING, HAVING LEFT MANS TO CARRY ON HIS WAR AGAINST BRITTANY, 
 IS ORDERED TO RETURN, BY AN UNKNOWN PERSON. THIS SAME DAY, 
 HIS MIND IS DERANGED, AND HE IS BROUGHT BACK TO MANS. ' 
 
 When the king of France had resided about three weeks in the 
 city of Mans, during which time councils were daily held, and when 
 the knights were returned with the duke of Brittany's answer, as 
 you have heard ; the king said, that since he knew what to depend 
 on, he would not longer stay at Mans, for it was displeasing and 
 hurtful to him, but advance toward the frontiers of Brittany, nearer 
 this duke, who was supporting the traitor, sir Peter de Craon. The 
 intention of the king was to deprive the duke of Brittany of his 
 duchy, and nominate a governor of it, until his children should be 
 of age to have it restored to them, but the present duke was to be 
 driven thence; and this determination was so firmly rooted in his 
 mind, nothing could make him change it. He set out from Mans 
 between nine and ten o'clock in the morning ; and the lords and 
 others who had been quartered there prepared to follow him, after 
 they had heard mass and drank a cup. He had, the evening before, 
 sent for the marshals of his army to his chamber, and ordered them 
 to have the men-at-arms ready by early morn to march to Angers ; 
 " for," he added, " we have determined never to return from Brittany, 
 until we shall have destroyed the traitors who give us so much 
 trouble." The marshals gave their orders for the army to march on 
 the morrow, and assured the captains that it was now determined 
 upon to pursue the road to Brittany. The day the king left Mans 
 was excessively hot, as was to be expected, for it was the middle of 
 August, when the sun is in its greatest force. 
 
 You must know, in order perhaps to account truly for what fol- 
 lowed, that the king, during his stay at Mans, labored hard and 
 assiduously in the council, where he had but little assistance, and 
 was besides not perfectly recovered in health. He had been the 
 whole suinmer feeble in body and mind, scarcely eating or drinking 
 anything, and almost daily attacked v/ith fever, to which he was 
 naturally inciint-d, and this ^vss increased by any contradiction or 
 
5^ 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 fatigue. He suffered much from the insult offered his constable, so 
 that his physicians and uncles noticed that at times his intellects 
 wore deranged ; but they could not do anything, for he would not 
 listen to what they prf)posed, nor would he consent, on any account, 
 to defer the expedition to Brittany. 
 
 I was told that a strange accident happened to him as he was 
 riding through the forest of Mans, for which he ought to have assem- 
 i>led his council, instead of pursuing his march farther. A man, bare- 
 headed, with naked feet, clothed in a jerkin of white russet,* that 
 sh (wcd he was more mad than otherwise, rushed out from among 
 the trees, and boldly seized the reins of the king's horse. Having 
 thus stopped him, he said, " King, ride no farther, but return, for 
 thou art betrayed." This speech made such an impression on the 
 king's mind, which was weak, that his understanding was shaken. 
 As the man finished his speech, the men-at-arms advanced and beat 
 him soundly on his hands, which made him drop the reins. They 
 suffered him to run off, without paying attention to what he had said, 
 thinkmg he was some madman, for which they were by many after- 
 wards greatly blamed and disgraced : they ought at least to have 
 arrested him, to have examined if he were really mad, and to learn 
 why he had uttered such words, and whence he had come. Nothing, 
 however, was done, and he made off by their rear, and was never 
 after seen by any who had the least knowledge of him. Those who 
 were near the king's person, heard very plainly the words he had 
 spoken. 
 
 The king and his army passed on ; and it might be about twelve 
 o'clock when they were clear of the forest. They now entered an 
 extensive sandy plain ; and the sun was so resplendent, and in such 
 force, that scarcely any could endure the heat : the horses, conse- 
 quently, suffered much. There were none so used to arms as not to 
 wmplain of the oppressive heat ; and the lords took different routes, 
 apart froin each other. The king rode by himself, to have less dust ; 
 and the dukes of Berry and Burgundy, conversing together, kept on 
 his lef"t hand, at about two acres' distance from him. The other 
 lords, such as the count de la Marche, sir James de Bourbon, sir 
 Charles d'Albret, sir Philip d'Artois, sir Henry and sir Philip de Bar, 
 sir Peter de Navarre, rode in different paths. The duke of Bourbon., 
 the lord de Coucy, sir Charles d'Angers, the baron d'lvry, were fol- 
 lowing at a gentle pace, talking together, and some distance from 
 the king, not suspecting the misfortune which was on the point of 
 befalling him. It was manifestly the work of God, whose punish- 
 ments are severe, to make his creatures tremble. Have we not seen 
 many similar examples, both in the Old and the New Testament, 
 especially in the instance of Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Assyrians? 
 He reigned over them with such power, that nothing was spoken of 
 but his magnificence and glory ; when suddenly, in the nridst of his 
 pomp, the Lord of kings, Gou, the Master of heaven and earth, and 
 Creator of all things, struck him in such wise that he lost his senses 
 and his kingdom He continued for seven years in this deplorable 
 state, living on acorns and wild fruits, having the taste of a wild boar 
 or hog. After this period of penitence, God restored to him his 
 senses and memory ; upon which he declared to Daniel, the servant 
 of the Lord, that there was none other God but the God of Israel. 
 To speak truly, God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, three 
 in name, but one in substance, was, is and ever will be, of as suffi- 
 cient power to declare his works as from the beginning, and one 
 ought not, therefore, to be surprised at whatever wonderful things 
 happen. 
 
 The reason why I thus speak is, that a great influence from Heaven 
 this day fell on the king of France, and, as some say, from his own 
 fault. "The physicians of his body, who ought to have known well 
 his constitution, declared, that considering the weak state of his 
 health, he should not have thus exposed himself to the heat of the 
 day, but have rode in the cool of the mornings or evenings. Those 
 who had advised otherwise were disgraced ; but he had been long 
 led by his ministers to act just as they pleased. The king rode over 
 this sandy plain, that reflected the heat, which was much greater 
 than had been ever before known or felt in that season : he was be- 
 sides dressed in a jacket of black velvet that added to the warmth, 
 and had only a single hood of crimson, ornamented with achaplet of 
 large beautiful pearls the queen had presented to him on his leaving 
 her. He was followed by one of his pages, who had a Montauban 
 cap of polished steel on his head that glittered in the sun, and behind 
 him another page rode on horseback, carrying a vermilion-colored 
 lance, enveloped with silk for the king, the head of which lance was 
 broad, sharp and bright. The lord de la Riviere had brought a dozen 
 such when he last came from Toulouse, and this was one ; for he had 
 presented the whole to the king, who had given three to the duke of 
 Orleans, and the same number to the duke of Burgundy. 
 
 As they were thus riding, the pages, who were but children, grew 
 negligent of themselves and their horses ; and the one who bore the 
 lance fell asleep, and, forgetful of what he had in his hand, let it fall 
 on the casque of the page before him, which made both the lance 
 and casque %ng loudly. The king, being so near, (the pages rode 
 almost on the heels of his horse,) was startled and shuddered ; for 
 he had in his mind the words the wise man or fool had spoken when 
 he seized his horse's reins in the forest of Mans, and fancied a host 
 of enemies were come to slay him. In this distraction of mind, he 
 
 * Burel blanc. 
 
 drew his sword, and advanced on the pages, (for his senses were 
 quite gone, and imagined himself surrounded by enemies,) giving 
 blows of his sword, indifferent on whom they fell, and bawled out, 
 " Advance ! advance on these traitors." The pages, seeing the king 
 thus wroth, took care of themselves, for they imagined they had 
 angered him by their negligence, and spurred their horses different 
 ways. The duke of Orleans was not far distant from the king, who 
 made up to him ^ith his drawn sword, for at that moment his frenzy 
 had deprived him of the means of knowing either his brother or 
 uncles. The duke of Orleans, seeing him apprroach with his naked 
 sword, grew alarmed, and, spurring his horse, made off and the king 
 after him. The duke of Burgundy, hearing the cries of the pages, 
 cast his eyes to that quarter, and seeing the king pursuing his brother 
 with his drawn sword, was thunderstruck, and not without reason : 
 he cried out for help, saying, " My lord has lost his senses : for God's 
 sake lay hands on him :" and then added, " Fly, fair nephew of Or- 
 leans : fly, or my lord will murder you." The duke ©f Orleans was 
 much frightened, and galloped as fast as his horse could go, followed 
 by knights and squires. There were now great shoutings, insomuch 
 that those at a distance thought that they were hunting a wolf or 
 hare, until they learnt it was the king, who was not himself. 
 
 The duke of Orleans, however, escaped by making several turns, 
 and was aided by knights, squires, and rnen-at-arms, who surrounded 
 the king, and allowed him to waste his strength on them ; for, of 
 course, the more he exerted himself, the weaker he grew. When 
 he made a blow at any one knight or squire, they fell before the 
 stroke, and I never heard that in this fit of madness any one was 
 killed.* Several were struck down by his blows, because no one 
 made any defence. At last, when he was quite jaded and running 
 down with sweat, and his horse in a lather from fatigue, a Norman 
 knight, who v/ns one of his chamberlains, and much beloved by him, 
 called sir William Martel, came behind, and caught him in his arms, 
 though he had his sword still in his hand. When he was thus held, 
 .all the other lords came up, and took the sword from him : he was 
 dismounted, and geiilly laid on the ground, that his jacket imght he 
 stripped from him, to give him more air and cool him. His three 
 uncles and brother approached ; but he had lost all knowledge of 
 them, showing no symptoms of acquaintance or affection, but rolled 
 his eyes round in his head without speaking to any one. The princes ^ 
 of the blood were in amazement, and knew not what to say nor h©v/ 
 to act. The dukes of Berry and Burgundy at length said, " We must 
 return to Mans, for the expedition is at an end for this season." 
 They did not then say all they thought ; but they made their inten- 
 tions very apparent to those who were not in their good graces, or 
 their return to Pari-j, as I shall relate in the course of this history. 
 It must be owned, that when all things are considered, it was a great 
 pity for a king of France, who is th^jiost noble and powerful prince 
 in the world, to be thus suddenly creprived of his senses. rThere 
 could not be any remedy applied, nor any amendment expected, 
 since God willed it should be so. 
 
 Having undressed and cooled him as gently as they could, they 
 laid him on a litter, and carried him slowly to Mans. The mai- 
 shals instantly sent orders for the van to return, and the whole 
 army was informed there was an end to the expedition. To some 
 the reasons were told why it was thus put an end to, to others not. 
 The evening the king was brought back to Mans, his physicians 
 were much occupied with him, and the princes of his blood in the 
 utmost trouble. The event was spoken of very differently ; some 
 said the king, to ruin the kingdom of France, had been poisoned, or 
 bewitched, the morning before he left Mans. These w^ords were so 
 often repeated, that they came to the ears of the duke of Orleans, and 
 others of the blood-royal. In conversation together, they said, "Do 
 you hear (for you must unless you shut your ears,) what murmurings 
 there are against the king's ministers ? It is reported and commonly 
 believed, that he has been poisoned or bewitched ; now, how can 
 we know whether this has been done or not?" Some made answer, 
 " From his physicians, for they must know his habit and constitu- 
 tion." The physicians v/ere sent for, and most strictly examined by 
 the duke of Burgundy. To this examination they replied, " that the 
 king had, for a long time, been suffering under this disorder; and, 
 knowing that this weakness of intellect oppressed him grievously, 
 it would make its appearance." The duke of Burgundy told the 
 physicians, " that in the whole of the matter they had honestly 
 acquitted themselves, but that the king, from his great anxiety to 
 undertake this war, v. ould not listen to any advice on the subject of 
 his health. Cursed be this expedition, and unhappy is it that ever it 
 was proposed, for it has been his destruction ; and it would have 
 been better that Clisson and his whole race had been murdered, than 
 that the king had been afflicted with such a disorder. News of it 
 will be carried everywhere, and, as he is now but a young man, we 
 who are his uncles, and his blood, who should have advised him, 
 shall be much blamed, though we have been no way in fault. Now 
 tell us," said the duke, addressing himself to the physicians, " were 
 you present yesterday morning at his dinner before he mounted his 
 horse ?" '* Yes, in God's name were we," said they. " And what 
 did he eat and drink ?" " So very little, that it is scarcely worth 
 
 * " Les Grandes Chroniques de France" say, that he killed four men, and the anony- 
 mous MSS. of St. Denys add a fifth, a knight of Guyenne called the Biistard of ^ 
 lignac— £d 
 
CHRONICLES 'OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, (S6c 
 
 551 
 
 mentioning ; for he sat musing the whole time.*' " And who was 
 the person that last served him with liquor ?" asked the duke. 
 " That we kiuow not," said the physicians ; " for as soon as the table 
 was removed, we went away to make ourselves ready for riding, but 
 you will learn it from his butlers or chamberlains." Robert Tulles, 
 a squire from Normandy, and head butler, was called. On his com. 
 ing, he wtis questioned who had served the king with wine. He 
 replifed,. "My lords, sir Robert de Lignac." The knight was then 
 sent for, and asked whence he had taken the wine to serve the king 
 ihe morning before he mounted his horse. " My lords," said he, 
 " here is Robert Tulles who gave it me, and tasted it, as well as 
 myself, in the king's presence." " That is true," added Robert 
 Tulles ; " and in this respect there shall not be the smallest ground 
 for suspicions ; for there is now some of the very same in bottles to 
 what the king drank, which we will open and drink before you." 
 
 The duke of Berry then said, "We are debating here about noth- 
 ing : the king is only poisoned or bewitched by bad advisers, but 
 it is not time at present to talk of these matters. Let us bear the 
 misfortune as well as we can for the moment." 
 
 CHAPTER XL V. 
 
 KJNfi CHARLES VI. OF FRANCE., CONTINUING DERANGED IN MIND, IS RE- 
 MOVED rRC^I MANS TO CREIL, ON THE OISE. THE REGENCY OF THE 
 KINGDOM IS GIVEN TO THE DUKES OF BERRY AND BURGUNDY BY THE 
 THREE ESTATES. 
 
 On the conclusion of the duke of Berry's speech, the lords retired 
 to their loclgings for the night; and the king's uncles ordered four 
 knights of noaor to sit up with the king, to attend him quietly, and 
 administer to ]mi wants. They were sir Reginald de Roye, sir 
 Reginald de Trie, the lord de Garencieres, and sir William Martel. 
 T^ lord de hi Riviere, sir John le Mercier, Montagu, the begue de 
 V^illaines, »ir William des Bordes, and sir Heliou de Lignac, were 
 ordered not to interfere in any manner of business until the king 
 should be perfectly recovered. On receiving this order, they de- 
 parted,^ind others took charge of the government. On the morrow 
 morning, the king's uncles visited him : they found him very weak, 
 and asked how he had slept? His chamberlains replied, "Very 
 little : he •'cannot rest." " This is sad news,'" said the duke of Bur- 
 gundy. All three then approached him ; and by this time the duke 
 of Orleans arrived, and asked him how he was? He made no an- 
 swer, but stared at them without recollecting who they were. These 
 lords were much shocked, and, conversing together, said, " We need 
 not stay longer, for he is extremely ill, and we do him more harm 
 than good by our presence. We have ordered his chamberlains and 
 physicians to take every care of him, which of course they will do. 
 Let us consider hov/ the kingdom is to be governed, for a government 
 must speedily be provided, or all things will go ill." '• Good brother," 
 said the duke of Burgundy to the dul4e of Berry, " it will be neces- 
 sary for us to go to Paris, and order the king to be brought hence 
 gently; for v/e can have him better attended when nearer to us than 
 here. We will assemble the whole council at Paris, and discuss 
 how the kingdom shall be governed, and whether our fair nephew 
 of Orleans be ^regent or vv-e." " It is well spoken," replied the duke 
 of Berry : "let us consider of the best place for the king to be removed 
 to for the recovery of his health." After some consultation, it was 
 determined he should be carried, with every precaution, to the castle 
 of Creil, which has a good air, and is in a rich country on the river 
 Oise.~ 
 
 When this was settled, the men-at-arms were disbanded, and or- 
 ders given by the marshals for them to retire peaceably to their homes, 
 vyithout committing any ravages on the country; and that, if such 
 jxcesses were indulged in, the leaders would be called upon to make 
 'eparation. The king's luicles and the chancellor of France sent off 
 varlets to the different cities and principal towns in Ficardy. to order 
 the inhabitants to be very attentive in the guard of them, for the rea- 
 son that the king was indisposed. These orders were obeyed. The 
 French nation was dismayed and concerned when it was publicly 
 known that the king l;ibored under a frenzy. They spoke much 
 against those who had iid vised him to this expedition to Brittany, 
 and said he had been betrayed by those who had urged him on 
 against the duke and sir Peter de Craon. People's tongues could 
 not be r-toppod, for it was r,o serious a misfortune, it was necessary 
 vent should he :-/,;!i;ehow given to the vexation it caused. 
 
 The ki.ig was carried to Creil, and put under the care of the be. 
 fore-named knights aiid^ his physicians. The men-at-arms were 
 disbanded, and marched home. It was strictly forbidden the queen's 
 liouseiioid and rl! others, under pain of being severely punished, to 
 mention tht^~ uiic^fortune to th? queen, who was far gone with child. 
 It was co!icc<i!ed from her for some time, during which the king was 
 under the care of the knights at Creil, and his physicians, who were 
 giving him various medicines, which, however, did him little good. 
 At this time, there was a most learned physician in France, who had 
 not his equal anywhere, a friend of the lord de Coucy, and born on 
 his lands. His name was master William de Harseley : he had fixed 
 his residence in the city of Laon, which he preferred to any other. 
 On first hearing of the king's illness and the cause of it, knowing, 
 «.s he thought, the king's constitution, he said, " This disorder of the 
 
 king proceeds from the alarm in the forest, and by inheriting loo 
 much of his mother's weak nerves." These words were carried to 
 the lord de Coucy, at that time in Paris -.vith the duke of Orleanr 
 and the king's uncles. The whole of the council, and the principal 
 barons and prelates of the realm, were there assembled, to consul', 
 on the government of the kingdom during the king's illness, and unt.c 
 he should be perfectly restored ; and whether the duke of Orleans, 
 or his uncles, or all three, sin jld have the regency. They were up. 
 ward of fifteen days before they could agree : at last, it was thought 
 advisable, from the youth of the duke of Orleans, which made him 
 unfit to bear so great a weight, that the two uncles of the king should 
 govern the kingdom ; but that the duke of Burgundy should be the 
 principal ; and that the duchess of Burgundy should remain with the 
 queen, and be respected as second to her in rank. 
 
 CHAPTER XL VI. 
 
 THE LORD DE COUCY INTRODUCES THE GREAT FHYSICIAN, MASTER WILLIAM 
 DE HARSELEY, TO CURE THE KING OF FRANCE. VARIOUS CAUSES AS- 
 SIGNED FOR THIS DISORDER. 
 
 The Lord de Coucy was not unmindful of what he had heard of 
 master William de Harseley. He spoke of him to the king's uncles, 
 and mentioned his learning and success, and that it would be proper 
 he should try his skill to recover the king. The dukes of Berry and 
 Burgundy listened to it, and sent for him. On his arrival at Paris, he 
 first waited on the lord de Coucy, with v/hom he was very intimate, 
 and he introduced him to the king's uncles, sayiiu;: " Here is master 
 William de liarseley, of whom 1 spoke to you," The two dukes 
 received him kindly, and made him welcome. They then ordered 
 him to visit tlie king at Creil, and remain with him until he should 
 have restored him to health. Master Vv^illiain, in consequence of 
 these orders from the duke, set out from Paris in good array, as was 
 becoming him, and arrived at Creil, where he established |;iimself 
 near the king's person, and took the lead over the other physicians, 
 undertaking to niake a cure; for he saw it was to be done, since the 
 disorder was caused by weakness of nerves, from the sudden alarm 
 of the appearance of the madman, and then by the noise from the 
 blow on the page's helmet; and he was very anxious to restore the 
 king to health. 
 
 News of the king of France's illness was carried far and near, and, 
 however others may have been grieved at it, you may suppose that 
 the duke of Brittany and sir Peter de Craon w^ere not much aftected : 
 they soon dried their tears, for he was i)ursuing them with bitter 
 hatred. Pope Boniface and his cardinals al Rome were rejoiced on 
 hearing it. They assembled in full consistory, and said the worst 
 of their enemies, meaning the king of France, was severely chastised, 
 when God had thus deprived him of his senses ; and that this pun- 
 ishment had been inflicted by Heaven, for iiaving ;-jo strenuously sup. 
 ported the anti-pope of 7\.vignon ; that this chastisement should make 
 him attend more to his own kingdom, and that their cause would 
 now be better. 
 
 The pope and cardinals at Avignon, considering the great support 
 the king had given them, had cause for alarm ; but they showed none 
 for the honor of the king and realm. They said among themselves, 
 that the king was young and willful, and had, by his ov»'n fault, 
 brought on him this disorder; and those about his person had allov/isd 
 him to act too much as he pleased ; :md that he had exerted himself 
 in different excesses, and by riding post night and day ; and had 
 labored unreasonably, in mind and body, on matters that should have 
 been done by his ministers and not by himself ; and that if he had 
 been properly and soberly educated by the advice of his uncles, this 
 unfortunate illness v,^ould never have happened. They added, that, 
 " when he was on his journey to Languedoc, he had promised, on 
 the word of a king, and swore likewise on his I'aith, that he would 
 raise a sufficient force to destroy the anti-pope and his cardinals at 
 Rome, and put an end to the schism and troubles of the church ; but 
 he had done nothing, and thus forfeited his o;itli and promise, by 
 which he has angered God, who, to correct bin;, punishes him widi 
 this rod of frenzy. It therefore behooves us, wixcn he shall have re- 
 covered his health, which may soon happen, to send properly instructed 
 legates to remonstrate with him on this breach of promise, in order 
 that, through our neglect, he may not be forgetful of it." Such was 
 the language at Avignon between the pope and cardinals, who 
 agreed that this disorder had been incurred by his own negligence 
 and fault ; but they greatly blamed those of his council and house, 
 hold for not having better attended to him. Many others, in France, 
 did the same. 
 
 In a church at Haspres, in Hainault, dependent on the abbey of 
 Saint Vast at Arras, lies the canonized body of Saint Aquaire, in 
 a rich shrine of silver. The saint is celebrated for the cures he has 
 performed on those afflicted with madness, and on that account is 
 much visited from all parts. To pay due respect to the saint, there 
 was a figure of wax resembling the king, which was sient thitlier with 
 a large wax taper, and offered, with much devotion, to the shrine of 
 the saint, that he might pray to God to alleviate this cruel affiiction 
 of the king. A similar offering was made to Saint Hermier in Rouais, 
 who has the reputation of curing madness, and wherever there were 
 saints that v.'ere supposed to have efficacy, by their prayers to God, 
 
552 
 
 CHRONICLES OF 
 
 N G L A N D , FRANCE, SPAIN, & c 
 
 in such disorders, thither were sent offerings from the king with much 
 ceremony and devotion. 
 
 When this event was known in Ezigland, the king and lords were 
 greatly concerned thereat. The duke of Lancaster especially testi- 
 fied his sorrow, and said to the knights near his person: " On my 
 faith, it is a great pity, for he showed himself a man of courage, with 
 a strong inclination to do good. When I took leave of him at Amiens, 
 he said : * Fair cousin of Lancaster, I earnestly entreat you will 
 exert yourself to the utmost of your power that there may be a solid 
 Deace between our kingdoms : we may then march a powerful army 
 against this Amurat, who has conquered the kingdom of Armenia 
 from its lawful monarch, and who intends to destroy all Christendom, 
 that we may exalt our faith, as we are bounden so to do.' Now," 
 added the duke, " there is an end to this, for he will never again 
 have that confidence he before enjoyed put in him." " That is true 
 enough," said those who heard him, " and the kingdom of France 
 seems likely to fall into much trouble." 
 
 lady, resided at Paris with the queen, and had the supreme govern, 
 ment of her and her household, so that no one was permitted to speak 
 with the queen but through her permission. This lady hated with 
 her whole heart sir Oliver de Clisson, on account of the duke of 
 Brittany, who was nearly related to her. She frequently remonstrated 
 with the duke of Burgundy, saying, that those who had supported 
 sir Oliver de Clisson against so potent a prince as his cousin the 
 duke of Brittany, were very blameworthy. The duke of Burgundy 
 was cool and prudent, and saw far into the state of aflfairs and their 
 consequences : he wished not to encourage any troubles in France, 
 but to keep every one in good humor as long as it should be possi. 
 ble, and on this account had never opposed any measures of his late 
 brother, Charles V. nor of his nephew, the present king. He there- 
 fore replied thus gently to his wife : " Lady, it is good at all times 
 to dissemble. The duke of Brittany, it is true^ is a great prince, and 
 an overmatch for the lord de Clisson. If I join the duke and make 
 myself openly one of his partisans, the kingdom would be dissatisfied, 
 
 Bbjiine of St. Aquaire. Presentation of the waxen figure of the King. Designed i^:om contemporary MSS. 
 
 CHAPTER XLVII. 
 
 THE DUKES OF BERRY AND BURUUjVDV RUIN THOSE WHO HAD BEEN THE 
 CONFIDENTIAL SERVANTS OF THE KING. THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY 
 TREATS RUDELY THE CONSTABLE DE CLISSON. 
 
 Such were the conversations of lords in different countries on hear- 
 ing of the king of France's illness, who remained confined in the 
 castle of Creil, under the care of the four knights, and master William 
 de Harseley, who had the sole management of him: none were 
 allowed to speak with the king, nor even enter the castle, but such 
 as had his permission, or were acting under his orders. At times, 
 the dukes of Orleans and Bourbon came to visit the king, and see 
 how he was going on, but the dukes of Berry and Burgundy never 
 left Paris. They had not as yet n^ade any changes in the govern- 
 ment, but they shortly intended doing so in regard to many who were 
 not in their good graces, from their behavior when in power, which 
 was, as they thought, contradictory and presumptuous. 
 
 The duke of Berry said, that Clisson, la Riviere, le Mercier, and 
 le beguede Villaines, had, during their attendance on the king in 
 Languedoc, caused his treasurer and faithful servant Bethisac to be 
 disgracefully punished with death, through envy and wickedness ; 
 and that in spite of anything he could say or do, he could never get 
 him out of their hands. Let them now beware of me, for the time 
 shall come when I will repay them with the same coin, and struck 
 from the same mint." The duke of Burgundy and those attached 
 to him loved no better the above-named persons, who had governed 
 the king ; for whenever they wanted anything at court, they were 
 repulsed sharply enough, and very little done for them, of which they 
 murmured and talked loudly behind their backs. 
 
 The duchess of Burgundy, who was a very unforgiving and haughty 
 
 and not without reason ; for the lord de Clisson would declare and 
 prove, that the whole hatred our cousin the duke bears him is for 
 having supported the interests of France, in which we have so large 
 a share, and it is so believed throughout the realm. Hitherto I have 
 no cause whatever to incline me to the duke against the lord de 
 Clisson. It therefore behooves me to dissemble my real sentiments, 
 if I wish to preserve the favor of the king and country to whom I am 
 bounden by every tie, which is not my case with regard to the duke 
 of Brittany. It has happened that my lord the king is indisposed, 
 and in an alarming state as you know : this is very much against 
 the lord de Clisson, and will be hurtful to all who advised him to 
 undertake this expedition, and on which he was so obstinately bent, 
 in spite of everything my brother and myself could urge against it. 
 The rod is already prepared with which they shall be punished, as 
 you shall shortly witness or hear of ; but have the goodness, at this 
 moment, to have a little patience. Lady, lady, there is no season 
 but what makes some return, nor any fortune stable, nor afflicted 
 heart but is at times rejoiced, nor angered minds but have their re- 
 venge. Clisson, la Riviere, Montagu, le Mercier, de Villaines, and 
 others who have acted improperly, will shortly be made to suffer for 
 it." With such conversations did the duke and duchess of Bur- 
 gundy amuse themselves; and not many days after this last, the dukes 
 of Berry and Burgundy had a private conference. They said, " it 
 was now time to punish those who had dishonored their nephew, the 
 king, and who had led him to act according to their pleasure. We 
 will begin first with the constable, for he is of the highest rank and 
 greatest wealth : when he made his will a short time ago, on being 
 wounded, he proved he had seventeen hundred thousand francs in 
 money and moveables. How the devil could he have amassed such 
 a sum ? For the marriage of his daughter, with our cousin, John of 
 Brittany, whom he ransomed from England, must have cost hira, in 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 553 
 
 tho whole, two hundred thousand francs I But how shall we manage 
 10 begin on him, with any reasonable pretext? for he is strongly 
 supported by our nephew, the duke of Orleans, and by many of the 
 great barons of France. However, if we can but once lay hands on 
 him, we will attack him by law, and the parliament at present is of 
 our party," " That is true," replied the duke of Burgundy ; " and 
 the first time ho comes to me, which he must do to-morrow on busi- 
 ness, I will con\ ince him by the reception I give him, that he is not 
 in my favor, anc do you, brother of Berry, do the same when he 
 comes to you." " That I will," answered the duke of Berry ; and 
 with these words the conference ended. 
 
 The lord de Clisson, vv^ho thought not but that he was moderately 
 well in favor with the dukes of Berry and Burgundy, waited on the 
 last, for business of his office. He had been much teased by many 
 knights and squires, who were of the late expedition, and wanted 
 money, for they had never received anything : the chancellor of 
 France and the treasurer had sent them to the constable to be paid. 
 He came therefore one afternoon to the hotel d'Artois, to remonstrate 
 with the duke of Burgundy on this business, and nothing else, for he 
 had already been dismissed from any share in the government. 
 When he arrived at the hotel d'Artois he entered the court with his 
 attendants, who were not numerous, and dismounted. The consta- 
 ble ascended the stairs attended by only one squire, the others wait- 
 ing for him in the court. He found two of the duke's knights in the 
 hall, and demanded from them if the duke was disengaged, and if he 
 could speak with him. " Sir, we know not," replied they, "but will 
 soon inform you if you will wait here." They entered the duke's 
 apartment, and found him unoccupied, chatting with a herald, re- 
 turned from a £ rand feast in Germany. The knights interrupted the 
 conversation, by saying, " My lord, sir Oliver de Clisson is in the 
 hall, and wishes to speak with you, if it be your pleasure." " In God's 
 name," replied tne duke, "let him come forward: we have at pres- 
 ent leisure to spe-ak with him, and hear what he has to say." One 
 of the knights left the apartment, and called the constable, saying : 
 " Sir, come on : my lord sends for you." The constable no sooner 
 entered the room, than the duke changed color, and repented having 
 sent for him, although he was anxious to tell him his mind. 
 
 The constable took off his hood, and, bowing to the duke, said : " I 
 am come, my lord, to know how to act respecting the payment of the 
 knights and squires who were of the late expedition, for my office 
 is perpetually besieged by them ; and, as you and my lord of Berry 
 at present govern the kingdom, have t-he goodness to inform me.'' 
 The duke of Burgundy angrily replied : " Clisson, Clisson, you need 
 not trouble yourself about the state of France ; for, without your office, 
 it will be perfectly well governed. In an evil hour have you inter- 
 fered in it. How the devil can you have amassed such a sum as 
 seventeen hundred thousand francs, which you declared yourself to 
 be possessed of by your will ? Neither my lord the king, my brother 
 of Berry, nor myself, with all our power, have been able to collect 
 such a sum. Quit my presence, and leave my house, and let me 
 never see you again ; for, if it were not from regard to my own honor, 
 I would have your other eye put out." At these words the duke of 
 Burgundy went away, leaving the lord de Clisson astonished. He 
 quitted the apartment, with his head sunk down, and quite melan- 
 choly, without being attended by any one. Having crossed the hall 
 he descended into the court, mounted his horse, and departed with 
 his people, taking a private way to his own hotel, without saying a 
 word. 
 
 CHAPTER XLVIII. 
 
 SIR OLIVER DE CLISSON, AFTER THE HARSH ANSWER ©F THE DUKE OF 
 BURGUNDY, RETIRES TO MONTLHERY. BEING PURSUED THITHER, HE 
 HAS TIME TO MAKE. HIS RETREAT TO CHATEAU-JOSSELIN. 
 
 When the lord de Clisson had entered his hotel, he formed various 
 plans in his own mind as to his future conduct: he foresaw that very 
 shortly public affairs would be badly managed, and had no one to 
 open his mind to on the subject, for the duke of Orleans was at Creil : 
 indeed, had he been at Paris, he had no power to save or defend him. 
 Suspecting, after what had passed, that the duke of Burgundy would 
 arrest him, and force his hotel, he determined not to wait the event, 
 but ordered his most confidential servants to pack up all he should 
 want, and, in the evening, set off from Paris, attended by only two 
 persons. He passed the gate of St. Anthony, and rode to Charenton, 
 where, crossing the Seine by the bridge, he continued his journey to 
 his castle of Montlhery, seven* leagues from Paris, where he re- 
 mained until he heard other news. 
 
 The same day the duke of Burgundy had rebuffed the constable, 
 he met the duke of Berry at the Louvre, on the affairs of the nation. 
 He told his brother of Berry how he had spoken to sir Oliver de Clis- 
 son, who answered, " You have well done. We must, by some 
 means or other, lay hold of him ; for in truth, Clisson, le Mercier, la 
 Riviere, and Montagu have plundered the kingdom ; but the time is 
 now come when they must make ample restitution, and their heads 
 ought to pay the forfeit also." I know not the particular reasons, but 
 it is a fact, that the day the constable left Paris, Montagu did the 
 same, and also by the gate of St. Anthony. He took the road for 
 Troyes in Champagne, but said he would not stop anywhere until 
 
 Montlhery is only six leagues from Paris.— Ed. 
 
 he was arrived at Avignon, whither he had already sent the greater 
 part of his wealth. He had left a sufficiency with his wife to main- 
 tain her state handsomely ; for he foresaw, since the king was de- 
 prived of his senses, public affairs would go ill under the government 
 of the dukes of Berry and Burgundy, who never spoke to him. 
 
 Sir John le Mercier would have been glad to have done the same, 
 had he been able ; but he had been put under an arrest, and nothing 
 could come in or go out of his house without the knowledge of his 
 guards. What he had before laid by in a place of security was of the 
 greatest service to him at a proper opportunity, for all that was known 
 to be his was claimed and seized by the two regents. He was after- 
 wards committed a prisoner to the castle of the Louvre, as was in like 
 manner le begue de Villaines, count de Ribadeo in Spain. They 
 sent to the hotel of Montagu, but found no one, nor could they learn 
 whither he was gone, and with this they were forced to be satisfied. 
 Inquiries were ma-de if sir Oliver de Clisson were in Paris, and orders 
 were sent to his hotel for him to surrender himself a prisoner in the 
 Louvre : but no person was at his hotel except the house-steward, 
 who could not give any intelligence concerning him. Two days 
 passed before it was known that he was in his castle of Montlhery. 
 The two dukes, impatient to lay hold on him, ordered instantly Bar- 
 rels des Barres, sir John de Chateaumorant, the lord de Coucy, and 
 sir Wifliam de lay Tremouille to collect three hundred lances, and 
 said to them ; " March with this force without delay to Montlhery, 
 invest the town and castle, and do not leave it until you shall bring 
 us Clisson dead or alive." 
 
 The knights obeyed, as was their duty, for the government of the 
 kingdom was now in the hands of these two dukes, and they left 
 Paris with three hundred lances, not all at once, but in five separate 
 bodies, that their departure might be the less noticed. God, how. 
 ever, assisted the constable ; and he had such good friends among 
 this armament, that he was punctually informed of its departure, and 
 the hour it would arrive, so that he had full leisure to take proper 
 measures not to suffer from it. Jie and his people left Montlhery, 
 and by travelling through b3'^-roads, over heaths, and avoiding all in- 
 closed towns or cities, arrived safely in Brittany, and entered his 
 castle, called Chateau-Josselin, which was well provided with all 
 things, where he remained to wait other intelligence. 
 
 Barrels des Barres and the other knights put their orders into execu- 
 tion, took possession of the town of Montlhery, and surrounded the 
 castle. They remained thus one night, imagining the constable was 
 within, but he was not, as you have heard. On the morrow, while 
 they were preparing for the assault, the servants in the castle came 
 out to know what they were about. The knights said they wanted 
 sir Oliver de Clisson, and that was the object of their coming. The 
 servants in guard of the castle replied, that the lord de Clisson had 
 left it four days ago ; and offered to open every part of it for them to 
 search. The knights and squires entered the castle armed from head 
 to foot, as if for instant combat, for fear of being surprised by treachery 
 or an ambuscade. They, however, found that the servants had told 
 them the truth ; for they minutely searched every part of it, without 
 discovering any traces of the lord de Clisson. After this, they marched 
 away on their return to Paris, when they related to those who had 
 sent them all they had done. 
 
 *CH AFTER XL IX. 
 
 the LORD DE LA RIVIERE, THE PRINCIPAL MINISTER OF THE KING OF 
 FRANCE BEFORE HIS ILLNESS, IS MADE PRISONER BY ORDERS OF THE 
 T5UKES OF BERRY AND BURGUNDY. THE DUCHESS OF BERRY INTERCEDES 
 FOR HIM WITH HER LORD. 
 
 The dukes of Berry and Burgundy, finding that the constable had 
 escaped, were much vexed ; while, on the contrary, the dukes of 
 Orleans and Bourbon rejoiced at it. " Now," said the duke of Bur- 
 gundy, " he shows by his ffight that he suspects us ; but, though he 
 has fled, he is not yet acquitted. We will force him hastily to return, 
 or he shall loose everything Vve can lay our iiands on. Even this 
 shall not free him from some heavy charged which only wait for trial, 
 to prove him guilty and deserving punishment. If the great, the 
 powerful, and the wicked be not chastised, justice will not be equally 
 dealt, and the lower ranks and the poor will in truth be discontented- 
 Justice ought to be dealt out without discrimination to all, that every 
 one may take example." Such was the discourse of the duke of 
 Burgundy; but the lord de Clisson was safe in his castle of Josselin, 
 in Brittany, well provided with everything to defend it, and to hold 
 out a long siege. 
 
 The day that Barrels des Barres returned to Paris, to tell his lords 
 that sir Oliver de Clisson was not at Montlhery, the two dukes said, 
 " Barrois, set out to-morrOw very early, and ride to Auneau. We 
 have heard the lord de la Riviere is there. Demand to see him from 
 us and from the council, and manage so that you give a good account 
 of him when we shall require it from you." Sir Barrois, having 
 promised obedience, rode the next morning with his men-at-arms 
 to Auneau, near to Chartres. It was a handsome castle, which the 
 lord de la Riviere received in marriage with his wife, the lady of 
 Auneau, and he had greatly improved both the castle and lands. 
 He was much beloved by his vassals, whom he treated with affec- 
 tionate care. The commissioners sent by the dukes, on their arrival 
 at Auneau, executed their orders on the lord de la Riviere, whom 
 
554 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 they found with his lady and children. He was expecting such a 
 message, for he had already learnt that sir John le Mercier and the 
 count de Ribadeo were in prison, and that the constable had fled 
 from Montlhery to a more distant and secure castle.^ Those who had 
 brought him this intelli^^cnce said: "Sir, save yourself; for the envi- 
 ous, who at this present time govern, are against you, and fortune 
 has turned with them." To this he had replied ; " Here and every- 
 where else I am in the power of God : if I fly or hide, I should 
 accuse myself as guilty of crimes of which I feel myself incapable 
 and innocent. God has given me all I possessed, and he may take 
 it from me whenever he pleases : to his will I submit. I have faith- 
 fully and loyally served the late king of happy memory, as well as 
 the present king. My services have been well known to both, and 
 they have royally rewarded them. I feel bold enough, from what 
 by their commands I have done for the good of the kingdom, to stand 
 the judgment of the parliament of Paris ; and, if they shall find in 
 my whole conduct anything worthy of blame, let me be punished." 
 
 Such was the declaration of the lord de la Riviere to his wife and 
 his friends, before the commissioners from the regents came to Au- 
 neau. On their arrival, his servants said ; " My lord, here are such 
 and such persons, with a large force, who want to enter the castle : 
 what do you say? shall we open the gates ?" " Why not?" he re- 
 plied : " they are very welcome." On saying this, he went to meet 
 them, and received every one most graciously ; and in conversing 
 together they all entered the hall of the castle of Auneau. After a 
 short pause, sir Barrois des Barre5j, a gallant and courteous knight, 
 with much vexation, arrested the lord de la Riviere, according to the 
 orders he had received, wb.ich he was bound to execute. The lord 
 de la Riviere held him excused, and immediately obeyed his sum- 
 mons ; for he neither could nor would otherwise act by disputing it; 
 and he remained a prisoner in his own castle of Auneau. You may 
 imagine his lady was in great anguish when she saw fortune thus 
 adverse to her lord, and she still more dreaded the conclusion. 
 
 The lord de la Riviere was not long a prisoner in his own castle, 
 before he was sent for by those who ruled the temporality and spiritu- 
 ality of France, (for the person who signed himself pope Clement 
 held all his power in that country through the good-will of these 
 dukes,) to Paris, where he was confined in the prison of the Louvre. 
 Many in France were aflflicted at this, but they dared only speak of 
 it in private. They were indifferent as to sir John le Mercier, but 
 the lord de la Riviere had been courteous, debonair, and patient in 
 hearing poor people, and such as were not of rank to attend his pub- 
 lic audiences. It was reported in Paris that they were to be be- 
 headed ; and it v/as whispered slanderously, to ruin their popularity, 
 that they had been traitors to the crown, and plundered the treasury 
 of great wealth ; with which they had kept up their state, and built 
 houses and fine castles, while poor knights and squires, who had ex- 
 posed their lives in arms for the service of the realm, and sold their 
 inheritances for subsistence, could not obtain any payment, for a long 
 time past, from sir Oliver de Clisson, the lord de la Riviere, sir John 
 le Mercier, or from Montagu, who had fled. Their numerous ene- 
 mies, who were in great strength, declared they deserved to die, which 
 put them in great risk. They urged as a crime against them, that 
 they had advised the king to go to Mans, and thence to Brittany, 
 and had, by poisoned liquors which they gave him to drink, brought 
 on this frenzy ; and it was currently reported, that the king's phy- 
 sicians, who had the care of his health, were not, in any way, per- 
 mitted to have their will, nor was their advice followed. 
 
 So much was said against these two, that the lord de la Riviere 
 and sir John le Mercier were removed from the Louvre and delivered 
 over to the provost of the Chatelet, and confined in the castle of St. 
 Anthony, under the guard of the viscount d'Achy, at that time the 
 governor. On this removal, though the common report ran that they 
 were to be put to death, in truth they were never condemned ; nor 
 could those by whom they had been examined, ever in their con- 
 sciences find them guilty of death. They were, however, daily at- 
 tacked by some, who said, " Take heed to your souls, for your bodies 
 are already disposed of : you are both condemned to have your heads 
 cut off"." In this distressing state they were kept for some time ; but 
 the bfegue de Villaines, a great knight and valiant man-at-arms, from 
 the country of Beauce, inculpated in the same accusations, had many 
 friends, who pleaded effectually in his favor, and he was freed from 
 prison with a fuH acquittal. On his leaving the prison, he was told 
 by his relations, sir Barrois des Barres and others, to prepare to set 
 out for Castille, where in future he must reside, on the handsome in- 
 heritance he gained by his marriage with the countess de Ribadeo. 
 He followed the advice that had been given him, and speedily packed 
 up all he wanted, and set out for Castille, leaving his two friends in 
 prison, and in daily peril of losing their lives. All the property, 
 moveable and immoveable, of sir John le Mercier, that was in France, 
 and could be laid hold of, was confiscated and given to others. His 
 fine house at Pont b. Louvion,* in the diocese of Loan, that had cost 
 him such immense sums, was seized and given to the lord de Coucy, 
 with all its estates, manors, and dependencies. I am ignorant if this 
 was done at his requec;t, but he possessed it, and his heirs afterwards. 
 
 The regents treated the lord de la Riviere very cruelly. They 
 confiscated all his estates, as well what had descended to him as 
 those he had purchased, and all his moveables wherever they could 
 
 * "Pont k Louvion." It is in the MSS. Pont-Aubumen, and Pont k Lonnion. Q,. if 
 DOt Pont k Nouvion. There are three villages of that name in the election of Laon. 
 
 be found. The lady, his wife, had, however, reserved to her use all 
 the domain of Auneau, and whatever else she had inherited from her 
 family, by father or mother. She had a young and genteel daughter, 
 of ten years old, who had been betrothed to James de Chastillon,son 
 and heir to sir Hugh de Chastillon, who had formerly been master 
 of the cross-bows o^ PVance ; he was already in possession of large 
 estates, and in the expectation of more. He had made several ex 
 cursions with his intended father-in-law, the lord de la Riviere ; but, 
 notwithstanding this, the regents would break oflT the intended mar- 
 riage in spite of the young man. This connectio/i was put an end to, 
 and he married eisewherf., according to the pleasure of the dukes of 
 Berry and Burgundy, and the lord de la Tremouille, who took the 
 managment of the business. 
 
 The lord de la Riviere had likewise a son, a squire, who was his 
 heir, married to the only daughter of the lord de Dampmartin, who 
 was not likely to have more children, and this daughter was his 
 heiress. The regents wanted likewise to break of this marriage, and 
 unite her more nobly ; but the count de Dampmartin, like an honor- 
 able mjin, stepped forv/ard, and said : " That as long as the son of 
 the lord de la Riviere lived, his daughter should have no other hus- 
 band ; and, if violence were used to shorten his days, his daughter 
 should remain a widow, and he should so strongly settle his property, 
 that those who might wish to gain it by fraud or otherwise would find 
 themselves disappointed." When they saw the firmness of the count 
 de Dampmartin, and that he would not give up his son-in-law, they 
 left him quiet, and the marriage remained good; but the first I men- 
 tioned was set aside by an absolution from pope Clement, who was 
 forced to give it whether he would (*r not ; for he had no power over 
 the realm of France but v/hat the two dukes were pleased to allow 
 him, so greatly was the church lowered and hurt by the disgraceful 
 schism, and by the conduct of those who ought to have ruled it better. 
 
 Many in France, and in other countries, acquitted the lord de la 
 Riviere from all blame, but their excusing him was of no avail ; for 
 although his innocence was as clear as the day, no one dared to 
 speak in his behalf, but that courageous young lady the duchess of 
 Berry. Too often had that good lady cast herself at her lord's feet, 
 saying, with uplifted han^s : "Ah, my lord, you allow yourself to be 
 swayed wrongly and sinfully, by the envious and disappointed, who 
 poison your mind with tales against this valiant knight, and virtuous 
 man, the lord de la Riviere. They accuse him unjuf-tly, and no one 
 dares to say a word in his defence. I wish you therefore to know, 
 that, if he shall be put to death, I shall never again taste happiness, 
 but remain all my days in sorrow and affliction. He is, whoever may 
 say the contrary, a most loyal and prudent knight. Ah, my lord, 
 you little remember the handsome services he has done you, nor the 
 pains and difficulty he had to encounter when he accomplished our 
 marriage. I do not say this as pretending to have been worth the 
 trouble, for I am but a poor lady in comparison to you ; but you, 
 who were so anxious to have me, had to deal with a hard and cun- 
 ning lord, the late count de Foix, in whose wardship I then was ; and, 
 if it had not been for the persuasive manners of the lord de la Riviere, 
 I should have never been your duchess, but settled in England ; for 
 the duke of Lancaster solicited me for the earl of Derby, and the 
 count de Foix inclined more to him than to you. Most dear sir, you 
 ought not to be forgetful of these things, for you know what I say is 
 true. I therefore most humbly entreat that you would have compas- 
 sion on that gallant knight who so courteously conducted your busi- 
 ness, in regard to me, that he suffer neither in life nor limb." 
 
 The duke of Berry, thus attacked by his young and handsome 
 wife, whom he doted upon, and feeling that all she had said Vvas true, 
 was much softened in his hatred to the lord de la Riviere ; and to 
 appease his lady, who he saw was in earnest, replied : " Lady, as 
 God may save my soul, I would rather have paid twenty thousand 
 francs, ihan that la Riviere should have misconducted himself toward 
 the crown of France. Before this indisposition of the king I loved 
 him well, and considered him a prudent and valiant knight. Since, 
 however, you thus anxiously interest yourself for him, I will abate 
 my anger ; and from your entreaties and solicitations he shall fare 
 the better. I will exert my power to the utmost, and do more for 
 your prayers than if all France united had petitioned me in his be- 
 half." " My lord," answered the lady, " please God, I shall see the 
 eflfects of it. You will do a good and charitable act ; for I believe 
 there is not one, besides myself, that has spoken in his favor." " You 
 say truly," replied the duke ; " but when you so warmly take up the 
 matter, it is fully suflacient." Thus was the duchess contented with 
 the answers of the duke; and when he and the duke of Burgundy, 
 with their councils, met on the business, there was much altercation. 
 There is not a doubt but, if this virtuous lady had not interfered, he 
 would have been put to death. From aflfection to her, it was other- 
 wise; and John le Mercier was fortunate in being the companion of 
 the lord de la Riviere, and implicated in the same charges, for they 
 could not in conscience have executed one without the other. 
 
 Notwithstanding this delay, they did not feel perfectly secure in 
 prison ; for they knew they had many enemies, who were now in 
 power, and angry (though they were forced to abide by it) that they 
 had not^ooner been punished. Sir John le Mercier, during his con. 
 finement in the Bastille, was in such continual grief and tears that he 
 nearly lost his sight. It was melancholy indeed to hear the bitter 
 ness of his lamentations. 
 
555 
 
 CHAPTER L. 
 
 AFTER MANY ADJOURNMEjNfTS AND DELAYS, THE CONSTABLE DE CLISSON 
 IS, BY JUDGMENT OF THE COURT OF PARLIAMENT OF PARIS, BANISHED 
 THE REALM OF FRA.NCE, CONDEMNED TO PAY A FINE OF ONE HUNDRED 
 THOUSAND FK - NCS, AND DECLARED INCAPABLE OF HOLDING- THE OFFICE 
 OF CONSTABLE OF FRANCE. 
 
 During the ccnfinement of the two knights in prison, where they 
 remained upward of a year, uncertain what the conclusion would be, 
 the lord de Clisson was att;:cked every way, to degrade his honor 
 and deprive him of his office. They were more desirous to lay hold 
 of him than any others of the late ministry, but he took good care to 
 prevent it. He was wise in so doing ; for if he had been arrested, 
 everything was prepared for his 'execution the moment he should be 
 condemned, without the smallest hope of mercy, to please his adver- 
 
 of France for a false and wicked traitor to the crown, condemned to 
 pay a fine of one hundred thousand marcs of silver, for the extortions 
 which he had fraudulently and wickedly committed in former times, 
 as well in the office of constable as in the exchequer and elsewhere, 
 and to be deprived for ever of the office of constable of France. The 
 duke of Orleans was invited by the court to be present when this 
 sentence was passed, but he would not, and excused himself. The 
 dukes of Berry and Burgundy were there, with a great many of the 
 barons of France. 
 
 Now observe the works of Fortune, how firm and steady they are, 
 when such a valiant and good knight who had labored so successfully 
 for the honor of France, was thus maliciously degraded in honor and 
 hurt in his fortune. He was lucky in not obeying any of the sum- 
 monses, for, had he come, they would have disgracefully put him to 
 death ; nor could the duke of Orleans have saved him, for, if he had 
 interceded for him, no attention would have been paid to it. You 
 
 Kino Charles and a Hawking Party. From an original design. 
 
 sary, the duke of Brittany, who had never done any good to France. 
 
 When the regents found he had escaped, they resolved to proceed 
 in a different manner. It v/as ordered, that he should be summoned 
 by the court of parliament of Paris to appear before it, and answer 
 such charges as should be made against him, under pain of being 
 dishonored and banished from France. Commissioners were sent 
 after him into Brittany, by the chamber of parliament, to summon and 
 arrest him. They acquitted themselves well, so far as going into 
 Brittany and demanding at all the towns and castles belonging to sir 
 Oliver de Clisson where he was to be found, saying, " We are sent 
 by the king and council to speak with my lord the constable : tell us 
 bow we can see him, that we may perform our message." The in- 
 habitants of the towns or castles dependent on the lord de Clisson 
 answered, as they had been tutored to do ; " Gentlemen, you are 
 very welcome : if we wanted to speak with our lord the constable, 
 we would go to such a place^^where we should find him without fail." 
 Thus were the commissioners sent from town to town, asking after 
 sir Oliver de Clisson, but without ever finding him, or having any 
 other answers. At length being tired, of the pursuit, they returned 
 to Paris, and related their ill success, and the tricks the constable's 
 vassals had played them. Those who had accused him, and wished 
 his condemnation, would not that he had acted otherwise, for now, 
 they said, they would have instant judgment, and he should be treated 
 according to his deserts. 
 
 They publicly summoned, by order of parliament, sir Oliver de 
 Clisson in all legal form, allowing the usual interval between each 
 summons, to prevent those attached to him from saying that hatred 
 or malice had outstripped justice. After every adjournment was 
 completed, without any intelligence received from him, and after he 
 had been summoned first at the door of the chamber of parliament, 
 then publicly at the gates and on the steps of the palace, with every 
 usual solemnity, without any answer being returned, a most cruel 
 centence was passed by the court. He was banished the kingdom 
 
 may suppose that the duke of Brittany and sir Peter de Craon, who 
 were strongly connected with each other, were much rejoiced at this ; 
 but they were vexed the constable had not borne company with the 
 lord de la Riviere and sir John le Mercier. This sentence made a 
 great noise in France and elsewhere. Some pitied him, and said in 
 secret that he had been unjustly treated : others opposed it, saying it 
 was fortunate he had not been laid hold of and hanged, for he was 
 deserving of it, *' Our regents," they added, " who are well ac- 
 quainted with his manner of life, have not been to blame in suffering 
 him to be thus treated. How the devil could he have laid by such 
 a sum as a million and a half of florins ? It eoii'.d not have been by 
 conquests in war, but from pillage and robbery, and from the pay of 
 poor knights and squires, as is well known at the chancery and 
 treasury, where it is all written down. In the expeditions to Flan- 
 ders, he raised and received large sums of money, as well as in that 
 which the king made into Germany. All the taxes for the war, and 
 the payment of the men-at-arms, passed through his hands. He paid 
 himself and others as he pleased, keeping the better part, without any 
 one daring to say a word against it." In such terms was sir Oliver 
 de Clisson accused behind his back; and the proverb says truly, that 
 " those whom necessity forces to sell have never a fair offer." 
 
 The duke of Brittany caused it to be rumored throughout his 
 country, that whenever the dukes of Berry and Burgundy should 
 please, he could easily reduce the lord de Clisson to the lowest state; 
 but at the moment he left him undisturbed, to see what turn affairs 
 would take, for he expected, from the measures then pursuing, the 
 lord de Clisson must be deprived of the constableship. The duke 
 of Brittany and sir Peter de Craon were thus suddenly relieved from 
 all anxiety by the favor of dame Fortune, who, ever in motion, exalts 
 those who least expect it, and tumbles others into the dirt from the 
 top of her wheel. 
 
 Sir Oliver de Clisson, the lord de la Riviere, and sir John le Mer 
 cier, were principally accused of being the authors of the king's ill 
 
556 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN. &c 
 
 ness ; apd it was commonly reported by those who hated them, and 
 wished their death, that they had poisoned the king. Now consider 
 how little there was in this charge, or how little probability of their 
 attempting such an act, who were sure of being prosecuted if any 
 accident happened to the king, and of course would have been the 
 most eager to have preserved him in health. But nothing was be- 
 lieved which they urged in their defence, as you already know. The 
 lord de la Riviere and sir John ie Mercier were for a long time im- 
 prisoned in the Bastille, and in great danger of being publicly be- 
 headed. It would undoubtedly have been done, if the king had not 
 very opportunely recovered his health, and had it not been for the 
 strong and repeated intercessions the duchess of Berry made for the 
 lord de la Riviere. The lord de Clisson resided in Brittany; and a 
 severe warfare was kept up between him and the duke, which cost 
 many lives, as will be related hereafter. 
 
 CHAPTER LI.. 
 
 KING CHARLES RECOVERS HIS SENSES THROUGH THE MERCY OF GOD, AND 
 THE DILIGENT ATTENTION OF HIS PHYSICIAN, MASTER WILLIAM DE 
 HARSELEY. 
 
 The disorder, which befel the king on his journey to Brittany, 
 greatly affected all his subjects, and they naturally felt for their king, 
 who, before his illness, was very popular with all ranks. Being the 
 chief, every part of the government suffered; for, in like manner, 
 when the head of a man is sick, his other members are not painless. 
 No one ventured to talk openly of his indisposition, which was con- 
 cealed as much as it could be. Indeed, it was perfectly unknown 
 to the queen until she was recovered from her lying-in ; and I believe 
 this time she was brought to bed of a daughter. Master William de 
 Harseley, who had the king under his care, resided quietly with him 
 at Creil, and was very attentive to him, which gained him honor and 
 profit, for by little and little he recovered for him his health. He 
 first got rid of the fever and great heat he complained of, and then 
 restored to him his appetite, sleep, and his recollection of things about 
 him. Until he vv'as strong enough to bear removal for change of air, 
 he allowed him to ride, hunt, and amuse himself with hawking. 
 
 On the news of the king's recovery being spread abroad, the whole 
 kingdom of France was rejoiced, and most heartily and sincerely 
 were thanksgivings offered up to God for having restored the king to 
 his senses and memory. During his residence atCreil, he demanded 
 to see the queen and his son : she came thither, and brought the 
 dauphin. The king received them very kindly; and thus by degrees, 
 through the mercy of God, was he restored to health. Master Wil. 
 liam de Harseley, seeing him in so fair a way, was in high spirits, 
 and not without reason ; for he had performed an astonishing cure. 
 He now gave him up to the care of his brother, the duke of Orleans, 
 and his uncles, the dukes of Berry, Burgundy, and Bourbon, saying 
 to them ; " Thanks to God, the king is now well : I deliver him up 
 to you ; bul henceforward., you must carefully avoid angering or vex- 
 ing him, for as yet his nerves have not quite recovered their strength, 
 though they will daily get better. Amusements and relaxations from 
 the fatigues of business will be of service to him, and above all, he 
 must not weary himself too much with his ministers or council ; for 
 his head will continue some time weak and delicate, as he has been 
 much pulled down and shattered by this indisposition." 
 
 Having consulted together, they resolved to retain master William 
 de Harseley at such an ample salary as should satisfy him ; for it is 
 the object of all medical men to gain large salaries, and as much 
 profit as possible, from the lords and ladies who call for their aid. It 
 was therefore proposed to hini to remain with the king ; but he ex- 
 cused himself, saying, " that ho w as old and weakly ; that the man- 
 ner of living at court would not ugree with his years, and that he 
 must immediately return to his nursling at home." When they saw 
 lie was determined in his refusal, they pressed him no further. They 
 yave him permission to depart, and, on his faking leave, presented 
 him with one thousand crowns of gold, and an order for four horses 
 on the postmasters whenever he should please to come to court. I 
 believe he never returned ; for he continued in the city of Laon, where 
 16 died very rich, possessed of thirty thousand francs. He was the 
 •nost niggardly man of his time : his whole pleasure was amassing 
 noney, and never spending a farthing at home, but eating and drink- 
 ng abroad wherever he could. With such rods are physicians cor- 
 seted. 
 
 CHAPTER LII> 
 
 THE TRUCE IS PROLONGED BETWEEN FRANCE AND ENGLAND. THE VIS- 
 COUNT DE CHASTELBON DOES HOMAGE FOR THE COUNTY OF FOIX TO THE 
 KING OF FRANCE. 
 
 To continue this noble and pleasant history, undertaken at the re- 
 luest and pleasure of that liberal and potent prince, my very dear lord 
 md patron, Guy de Chastillon, count de Blois, lord of Avesnes, Chi- 
 nay, Beaumont, Schocnhoven and Turgow ; I, John Froissart, priest 
 md chaplain to my very dear lord before named, and at the time 
 reasurer and canon of Chimay and Lille in Flanders, set myself to 
 vork at my forge, to produce new and notable matter relative to the 
 vars between France and England and their allies, as clearly appears 
 
 from the various treaties which are of this date, and which excellent 
 materials, through the grace of God, I shall work upon as long as I 
 live ; for the more I labor at it the more it delights me : just acs a 
 gallant knight or squire-at-arms, who loves his profession, the longer 
 he continues it so much the more delectable it appears. / 
 You have had it before related in these chronicles, that a truce had 
 been agreed on for three years at Leulinghen, between France and 
 England ; that embassadors from France, namely the count de Saint 
 Pol and the lord de Chateaumorant, had brought the papers signed 
 and sealed from England ; and that, since then, the lord de Chateau- 
 morant and sir Taupin de Cantemerle, had accompanied the dukes 
 of Lancaster and York from the conferences at Amiens to London 
 to learn the intentions of the 4iing and parliament of England, in re* 
 gard to the advances which had been made at Amiens toward a solid 
 peace between the two nations, subject, however, to the consent of 
 England, which had been reserved in the treaty by the dukes of Lan- 
 caster and York. The French knights had returned to France ; for 
 they were told nothing could be done in the matter until the meeting 
 of the parliament, which was appointed to be holden at Westminster 
 at Michaelmas : that then the affair would be discussed, and they 
 should have an answer. When it was known in England how 
 grievously the king of France was afflicted, the business was much 
 retarded. Nevertheless, the king and the duke of Lancaster were 
 desirous of peace between England and France, and, had it depended 
 on them, it would have been concluded ; but it was not so, for the 
 commons of England preferred war to peace, saying, "that war with 
 France was more beneficial to them than otherv/ise." This was also 
 the opinion of Thomas duke of Gloucester, constable of England, 
 who was very popular throughout the country. He inclined for war, 
 as did all the young men who were anxious to signalize themselves 
 in arms; but his brother, the duke of Lancaster, £is the oldest and 
 most powerful, took the lead, and said, " the war had lasted long 
 enough between France and England, and that a good peace, if pro- 
 perly attended to, would be very welcome to all parties, who had 
 suffered greatly from the long state of warfare." The duke added, 
 " that holy Christendom was in danger from Bajazet, who was in 
 great force on the frontiers of Hungary, sorely oppressing that country ; 
 and that was the proper time for all young bachelors who wished to 
 try their skill in arms." 
 
 Let us weigh well these words of the duke of Lancaster, which 
 were offered with the best intentions; for he had many times invaded 
 France and overrun that country with small gain. He had under- 
 gone great bodily fatigue ; and though he burnt and destroyed the 
 flat country, it was almost as soon recovered again from the damages 
 it had suffered. He said that this war led to no good end ; but, if 
 continued, must be pushed forward with vigor, and the slightest re. 
 verse might be attended with the worst consequences. He likewise 
 perceived the king was more desirous of peace than war. I, the au- 
 thor of this history, know not how to determine who was in the right, 
 or who in the wrong; but it was said the reason of the duke of Lan- 
 caster's conduct was, that he had married his two daughters in Castille 
 and Portugal, and therefore he was desirous of peace. His son-in- 
 law, the king of Castille, was young; and to prevent any troubles 
 from his grandees, and in order that he might reign quietly, it was 
 necessary there should be such a peace with France as the English 
 could not infringe. Should they do so, the French would instantly 
 fall on Castille ; for they had free entrances thither, through the 
 kingdom of Arragon, of which the lady Jolande de Bar, a French 
 woman, was queen, and who governed that kingdom as well as 
 Catalonia, or through the countries of Bearn and tne Basques ; for 
 the viscount de Chateaubon, the heir to the late count de Foix, had 
 sworn and sealed to grant this permission, when required by the king 
 of France. The French had therefore several entrances to Castille, 
 without danger of opposition from the king of Navarre, who would 
 not willingly anger his cousin-german the king of France. His 
 brother sir Peter de Navarre, was besides at the court of France, and 
 would instantly soften any disputes that should arise between the 
 king of France and his brother of Navarre ; for he was a good French- 
 man, and never acted but f(*r the mutual interest of the two kings 
 The duke of Lancaster was fully aware of all the consequences of 
 war, and frequently remonstrated on the subject with his son, Henry 
 earl of Derby, who though young, had an understanding and prudence 
 that seemed likely to produce perfection. This earl of Derby had 
 four fine sons, Henry, John, Humphrey and Thomas, and two daugh 
 ters, by Mary de Bohun, daughter to the earl of Hereford and North, 
 ampton, constable of England, and possessed in her right very large 
 estates. 
 
 The conclusion of the matter respecting peace, which was long 
 discussed in the parliament held at Westminster, of prelates, noble- 
 men, and citizens from the cities and principal towns, was, that a 
 truce should take place between England, France, and their respec- 
 tive allies, by sea and land, to last from Michaelmas to Saint John 
 Baptist's day, and one year longer. Those who ^ad been sent by 
 the king of France, carried back the ariioles of the truce properly 
 signed and sealed, and the agreement was observed by all parties. 
 
 The health of the king of France had been so exceedingly weak- 
 ened by his late illness, that his council knew not to whom to apply 
 for advice ; for the physician who had before attended, master Wil. 
 liam de Harseley, was dead. He had, however, given the king. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 557 
 
 before he left him, several good recipes which he had used, and had 
 returned to Paris in the winter v/ith very good health, to the great 
 joy of his family and the whole commonalty of France, with whom 
 he was very popular. The queen accompanied him from Creil to 
 Paris, where they resided at the hotel de Saint Pol. At times he 
 went to the Louvre, but for the most part staid at the hotel de Saint 
 Pol; and, during the long winter nights, there were carohngs, dan- 
 cings and other amusements, in the presence of the king, queen, 
 duchess of Beny, duchess of Orleans and other ladies, who thus 
 passed the winter nights. 
 
 There was in the king's household, a Norman squire, called Hu. 
 gonin de Gensay, a near relation of the bridegroom, who thought.pf 
 the following piece of pleasantry to amuse the king and ladies. This 
 marriage was on a Tuesday before Candlemas-day, and he had -in 
 the evening provided six coats of hnen covered with fine flax, the 
 color of hair. He dressed the king in one of them, the count de 
 Joigny, a young and gallant knight, in another, which became him 
 well ; sir Charles de Poitiers, son of the count Valentinois, had the 
 third ; sir Evan de Foix, the fourth ; the son of the lord de Nan 
 touillet, a young knight, had the fifth, and Hugonin dressed himself 
 
 The Masque at Paris, in which the King and others were in great danger. From a MS. of the 15th century. 
 
 At this season, the viscount de Chateaubon came to Paris, to do 
 homage to the king for the county of Foix, which he inherited as legal 
 heir to Gaston de Foix, and which was a fief dependent on France. 
 B^arn is an independent state, and the lords of it owe service to 
 none other lord but God, notwithstanding the claims the late prince 
 of Wales, of happy memory, urged against Gaston de Foix, the late 
 •lord of B6arn. The prince pretended it was dependent on Aqui- 
 taine, but the count de Foix denied the fact. To say the truth, all 
 these claims of the prince were instigated through the count John 
 d'Armagnac, as has been already told, so that I shall now pass the 
 matter over. When the viscount de Chflteaubon, whom henceforward 
 I shall call the count de Foix, came to Paris, he brought a cousin 
 with him, a bastard son of the late count, called Evan de Foix, a 
 handsome and accomplished knight ; whom his late father would 
 have willingly made his heir, with his brother Gracien, that was now 
 with the king of Navarre, but the barons of Beam would not con- 
 sent to it. The matter, therefore remained unsettled, for the count, 
 as you have seen, died suddenly. On sir Evan being introduced to 
 the king, he took a great liking to him, for he was wonderfully hand- 
 some and well made ; he was besides of the same age with the king ; 
 and the affairs of the viscount de Chateaubon were benefited by this 
 friendship, as they were the more speedily concluded. The viscount 
 returned home ; but sir Evan remained at court, and was named by 
 the king one of the knights of his bed-chamber, with twelve coursers 
 at the charge of the crown. 
 
 CHAPTER LIII. 
 
 THE KING OF FRAKCE IN GREAT DANGER OF HIS LIFE AT A MASKED DANCE 
 OF MEN DRESSED LIKO SAVAGES. POPE BONIFACE AND THE CARDINALS 
 AT ROME SEND A LEARNED FRIAR TO THE KING. 
 
 Not long after this, a marriage took place between a young squire 
 of Vermandois and a damsel of the queen, both of the royal house- 
 hold. The court were much pleased at it, and the king resolved to 
 keep their wedding-feast at his expense. It was held at the hotel of 
 Saint Pol, and great crowds of lords attended ; among whom were 
 the dukes of Orleans, Berry, Burgundy, and their duchesses. The 
 wedding-day* was passed in dancing and joy. The king entertained 
 at supper the queen in great state ; and every one exerted himself to 
 •dd to the gayety, seeing how much delighted the king appeared. 
 
 * The 29th of January 1392 old style, 1393 new style.-Bo. 
 
 in the sixth.* When they were all thus dressed, by having the coata 
 sewed round them, they appeared like savages, for they were covered 
 with hair from head to foot. This masquerade pleased the king 
 greatly, and he expressed his pleasure to the squire. It was so secret- 
 ly contrived that no one knew anything of the matter but the servants 
 who had attended on them. Sir Evan de Foix, who seemed to have 
 more foresight of what was to happen, said to the king, " Sire, 
 command strictly that no one come near us with torches ; for, if a 
 spark fall on the coats we are dressed in, the flax will instantly take 
 fire, and we inevitably be burnt : take care, therefore, of what I say." 
 " Evan," replied the king, "you speak well and wisely, and your 
 advice shall be attended to." " He then forbade his servants to fol- 
 low, and, sending for one of the serjeants-at-arms that waited at the 
 doors of the appartments, said to him, " Go to the room where tl^ 
 ladies are, and command, in the king's name, that all the torches be 
 placed on one side of it, and that no person come near six savage ' 
 men who are about to enter." 
 
 The Serjeant did as he had been ordered by the king, and the 
 torch-bearers withdrew on one side and no one approached the dan- 
 cers, so long as the savages staid in the room. The apartment was 
 now clear of all but ladies, damsels, and knights and squires, who" 
 were dancing with them. Soon after, the duke of Orleans entered, 
 attended by four knights, and six torches, ignorant of the orders that 
 had been given, and of the entrance of the savages. He first looked 
 at the dancing, and then took part himself, just as the king of France' 
 made his appearance, with five others dressed like savages, and 
 covered with flax, to represent hair from head to foot. Not one 
 person in the company knew them ; and they v/ere all fastened to- 
 gether, while the king led them dancing. On their entrance, every 
 one was so occupied in examining them, that the orders about the 
 torches were forgotten. The king, who was the leader, fortunately 
 for him, quitted them to show himself to the ladies, as was natura^, 
 to his youth; and passing by the queen, placed himself near the 
 duchess of Berry, who, though his aunt, was the youngest of tlie 
 company. The duchess amused herself in talking with him, and 
 endeavoring to find out who he was ; but the king, rising up from 
 his seat, would not discover himself. The duchess said, " You shall 
 not escape thus, for I will know your name." 
 
 At this moment, a most unfortunate accident befel the others, 
 
 * In the history of France, by Villaret, these masquers were— the king— Hugues d» 
 Guissai— le comte de Joigni— Aymard de Poitiers, son of the count de Valentinoi*— U 
 b&tard de Foix— Jean de Nantouillet. 
 
558 
 
 CEIRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 through the youthful gayety of the duke Orleans, who, if he had fore- 
 seen the mischief h 2 was about to cause, it is to be presumed would 
 not, for any consideration, have so acted. He was very inquisitive 
 in examining them, to find out who they were ; and, as the five were 
 dancing, he took one of the torches from his servants, and, holding 
 it loo near their dresses, set them on fire. Flax, you know, is instant- 
 ly in a blaze ; and the pitch, with which the cloth had been covered 
 to fasten the flax, added to the impossibility of extinguishing it. 
 They were likewise chained together, and there cries were dreadful; 
 for the fire was so strong, scarcely any dared approach. Some 
 knights indeed did their utmost to disengage them, but the pitch 
 burnt their hands very severely ; and they suffered a long time after- 
 wards from it. 
 
 One of the five, Nantouillet, recollected that the buttery was near, 
 broke the chain, and flying thither, flung himself into a tub of water 
 which was there for washing dishes and plates. This saved him, or 
 he would have been burnt to death like the others : but he was withal 
 some time very ill. When the queen heard the cause of the cries, 
 she was alarmed lest the king should be hurt, for he had told her he 
 would be one of the six, and in her fright fainted and fell down : her 
 ladies and knights hastened to her assistance ; and the confusion 
 was so great, no one knew what to do. The duchess of Berry saved 
 the king by throwing the train of her robe over him, and detaining 
 him, for he wanted to quit her. " Where are yen going ?'' said she : 
 " do you not see your companions are in a blaze ? who are you ? for 
 it is not now a time to keep it a secret." He then named himself, 
 saying, " I am the king." " Ah, my lord," replied the duchess, " put 
 on quickly another dress, and show yourself to the queen, for she is 
 very much distressed about you." 
 
 The king on this left the room, and, having thrown aside his 
 mummery, dressed himself as fast as he could, and returned to the 
 queen, who had been much comforted by the duchess of Berry. 
 When th.3 king had quitted her, she went to the queen and said, 
 " Madam, do not be alarmed for the king : you will shortly see him, 
 I for I have been talking with him." As she said this, the king ap- 
 1 peared, and the queen trembled for joy : she was carried by her 
 1 knights to her chamber, where the king attended and comforted her. 
 1 The bastard of Foix, when on fire, cried aloud, " Save the king ! save 
 1 the king!" who indeed was saved in the manner I have related. It 
 was the providence of God that inspired him to leave his companions 
 1 and converse with the ladies, for, had he remained with them, he 
 •"must inevitably have been burnt to death. 
 
 1 This terrible accident happened about twelve o'clock at night, in 
 tthe ball-room, at the hotel de Saint Pol, and it was a most melancholy 
 (spectacle. Of the four that were on fire, two died on the spot : the 
 tother two, the bastard of Foix and the count de Joigny, were carried 
 Ito their hotels, and died two days afterwards in great agonies. Thus 
 {unfortunately did the wedding- feast end, although the married couple 
 Icould no way be blamed. The duke of Orleans was alone in fault, 
 iwho certainly intended not any harm when he held the torch so near 
 Ithem. His giddiness caused it ; and, when he witnessed how unlucky 
 the had been, said aloud : " Listen to me all that can hear me. Let 
 ino one be blamed for this unfortunate accident but myself: what 
 thas been dose was through my fault : but wo is me that it has hap- 
 tpened ! and, had I foreseen the consequences, nothing on earth should 
 rhave induced me to do it." The duke then followed the king, and 
 Imade his excuses, which were accepted. This melancholy event 
 riappened on the Tuesday before Candlemas-eve, in the year of grace 
 1392 : it made a great noise in France and in other countries, 
 c The dukes of Berry and Burgundy were not present when the 
 tuaskers were set on fire, but were at their own hotels, having taken 
 peave of the king, queen, and ladies. When, on the morrow, it 
 V)ecame public in Paris, the people wondered greatly, and said that 
 Ciod had a second time shown his kind providence to the king, and 
 nhat he ought now to put aside these childish things, and occupy him- 
 nelf more seriously ; for that he had too long played the boy, which was 
 iinbecoming a king of France. The commonalty murmured among 
 giemselves, and said, " What a narrow escape the king has had ! if 
 he had been burnt like the others, which might easily have happened, 
 ohat would have become of his uncles ? They may be assured not 
 bne of them would have escaped death, nor any knight found in Paris. " 
 I'he dukes of Berry and Burgundy, hearing of this language, were 
 istonished and alarmed, and not without cause. They mounted 
 Heir horses, and rode to the hotel de Saint Pol to the king, and con- 
 i-atulated him on his escape. They found him still frightened, for 
 "e had not yet recovered the sense of the peril he had been in the 
 •eceding n>ght. He told them his fair aunt of Berry had saved 
 m from being burnt, but that he was exceedingly grieved for the 
 elancholy end of the count de Joigny, sir Evan de Foix, and sir 
 "^harles de Poitiers. His uncles consoled him, saying, " My lord, 
 hat is done cannot be recovered : you must forget their deaths, and 
 nder thanks to God for the miraculous escape you yourself have 
 id ; for this event might have been nearly the death of the kingdom 
 I well as your own. You may easily imagine what would have 
 *-ten the consequences, when the commons of Paris hold such lan- 
 iiage as has been reported to us ; and God knows, that if you had 
 irished, they would have murdered us all. Make yourself ready to 
 J> in royal state, suitable to your rank, and ride in pilgrimage to the 
 *urch of Notre-Dame and show yourself to your people ; we will ac. 
 
 company you, for the citizens of Paris are very desirous to see you." 
 The king replied, he would do as they advised ; and then entered 
 into conversation with his brother the duke of Orleans, whom he 
 much loved. His uncles received the duke kindly, blaming him a 
 little for the youthful trick he had played. It seemed he was noi 
 displeased at their lecture, and declared he never intended or siis 
 pected he was doing wrong. 
 
 On the point of nine o'clock, the k:ng and his attendants mounted 
 their horses, and rode through Paris >om the hotel de Saint Pol, to 
 the church of N6tre-Dame, to appease the people, who were in great 
 commotion, where he heard mass, and made his offerings. He then 
 returned to the hotel de Saint Pol with his lords, who dined there. 
 This accident was by degrees forgotten, and obsequies, prayers, and 
 alms were made for the dead. Ah, count Gaston de Foix ! hadst 
 thou been alive and heard of the cruel death of this thy favorite son, 
 thou wouldst have been sadly grieved, for thou didst love him much, 
 and I know not how thou wouldst have been consoled. All the 
 lords and ladies in France, when they heard of this accident, were 
 shocked and grieved. 
 
 But you must know, that pope Boniface and his cardinals at Rome 
 were well pleased when they learnt the news, because the king was 
 contrary to their interests. They said among themselves, in a con- 
 sistory, that it was a second' punishment sent by God, to make him 
 take warning, for having supported the anti-pope of Avignon, Robert 
 de Geneve, who was false, proud, and presumptuous, and had never 
 done one good act in his whole life, but had deceived the world. 
 The pope and cardinals resolved so send in secret manner and with- 
 out pomp, a learned fr-iar to the king of France, well instructed how 
 to spea-k and preach, to attempt to bring him and the French nation 
 back to the way of salvation. They maintained, that he was now 
 gone astray, and that being the greatest king in Christendom, the 
 church ought to be enlightened and supported by him more than by 
 any other. They selected a devout and sensible man, whom they 
 ordered to go into France ; but, before his departure, they instructed 
 him what to say and how to act. This was not so quickly done, nor 
 did the envoy soon arrive ; for the distance was great, and he had 
 many different states to pass through. It was besides necessary that 
 the friar, who was a Franciscan monk, should know if the king of 
 France were willing to see him before he set out. 
 
 CHAPTER LIV. 
 
 THE DUCHESS OF BERRY SUPPORTS THE LORD DE LA RIVIERE IN OPPOSITION 
 TO THE DUCHESS OF BURGUNDY. 
 
 We will return to the affairs of France, and say how they were 
 going on. Notwithstanding the king's recovery, the dukes of Berry 
 and Burgundy did not desist from their attempts to ruin that valiant 
 and prudent knight, the lord de la Riviere. He and sir John le Mer- 
 cier were still confined in the Bastille of Saint Anthony, under the 
 care of the viscount d'Achy ; and it was current through Paris, that 
 they would be put to death, insomuch that it was daily expected they 
 would be delivered over to the provost of the Chatelet ; and when . 
 once this was done, nothing could prevent them from being publicly 
 beheaded as traitors to the crown of France. From the information 
 I then had, I am convinced their execution would have taken place, 
 had not the grace of God been shown them, and the duchess of Berry 
 exerted herself so much. This good lady was incessant in her 
 entreaties for la Riviere — who had carried her to France and con- 
 cluded her marriage — but not without great difficulty, with the duke 
 of Berry. Sir John le Mercier was therefore fortunate in his situa- 
 tion to share the benefits of her exertions. She frequently, with tears, 
 addressed her lord, saying, "that he was instigated by the malicious 
 and envious insinuations of the enemies of la Riviere to keep him so 
 long in prison, and confiscate his inheritance. Ah, my lord, you 
 make him a very ungrateful return for all the pains he took in bring- 
 ing about our marriage, when j-ou thus consent to his destruction. 
 At least, if you take his property, spare his life ; for, if he be executed, 
 for the charges that are so unjustly made against him, I shall never 
 again enjoy happiness. My lord, I do not say this from any feigned 
 motive, but I really feel that it will weigh most heavily on my rnind, 
 I therefore pray God you will take proper measures for his deliver, 
 ance." The duke perceiving she was in earnest, and that her argu- 
 ments were good, abated greatly his hatred to the lord de la Riviere, 
 who would sooner have obtained his liberty ; but they were desirous 
 of putting to death sir John le Mercier, and they could not punish one> 
 without the other. Thi's sir John le Mercier had wept so long in 
 prison, that he had almost lost his eye-sight. 
 
 Had the duchess of Burgundy been listened to, they would haye 
 suffered a disgraceful and public death, without hopes of mercy ; for 
 she hated them because they had, with sir Oliver de Clisson, advised 
 the king of France to make the expedition into Brittany, to destroy 
 her cousin the duke. She said, that Clisson, le Mercier, and la 
 Riviere were the cause of the king's illness, which would never have 
 happened, had they not persuaded him to undertake the war against 
 Brittany. You must know, that although the king was now in a tol- 
 erably good state of mental and bodily health, the dukes of Berry and 
 Burgundy did not resign the government of the kingdom ; and, as 
 they had all the weight, they determined to have the profit also. Ta 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 559 
 
 this end, they placed only their creatures about the king's person, who 
 was buc a king in name, for the two dukes took on themselves to 
 manage whatever concerned the realm. The duchess of Orleans 
 was not pleased that the duchess of Burgundy should have rank sec- 
 ond to the queen. She loved honors, and said to those in her confi. 
 dence, "The duchess of Burgundy has no right to take precedence 
 of me : I am nearer the crown of France than she is, for my lord is 
 brother to the king. It may so happen that he shall be king ; and, 
 us I then must be queen, I know no reason why she is thus eager of 
 honors that are not belonging to her, and to place me behind her." 
 
 We will for a while leave these ladies, and speak of some changes 
 in France, and of sir Oliver de Clisson, and of the manner in which 
 ne was treated. 
 
 Marriagk of Philip d'Artois and Lady Mary de Berry. Designed frorn Monuments of the family ut the 
 
 Chateau d'Eu. 
 
 CHAPTER LV. 
 
 THE LORD DE COUCY REFUSES TO ACCEPT THE SWORD OF CONSTABLE IN 
 THE ROOM OF CLISSON. THE DUKES OF BERRY AND BURGUNDY INVEST 
 THE LORD PHILIP D'aRTOIS, COUNT D'EU, WITH IT, IN CONSIDERATION 
 OF HIS MARRIAGE WITH THi"; LADY MARY OF BERRY, WIDOW OF THE 
 LORD LOUIS DE BLOIS. 
 
 You have before heard that the constable was summoned publicly 
 by the parliament of Paris, after an adjournment of fifteen days be- 
 tween each summons, and how commissioners were sent in pursuit 
 of him to Brittany, but in vain, for he concealed himself from them. 
 Had they been able to have spoken to him, they would have served 
 him personally with the orders of the court, and laid hands on him, 
 according to the instructions they had received. When, on their re- 
 turn, they had given an account of their mission to the parliament, it 
 was determined by the court and lords of parliament, that sir Oliver 
 de Clissqn, constable of France, had forfeited the protection of the 
 court, and should be banished France, and deprived of all offices 
 and possessions he held within that kingdom ; for that he had con- 
 tumaciously refused obedience to the summons of the great chamber, 
 though sealed with their seal, and also had refused to send back his 
 sword of office. The dukes of Berry and Burgundy, with their 
 councils, who all hated the constable and wished his ruin, said they 
 would provide a remedy ; for the office of constable was so noble, 
 and of such weight, it could not long remain vacant, for fear of ac- 
 cidents that might happen. 
 
 The lord de Coucy was thought the most proper person to fill it ; 
 but he excused himself, and refused positively to accept of it though 
 he should be forced to leave France. When they saw he was de- 
 termined, they looked elsewhere. At this time, a treaty of marriage 
 was in agitation between the lord Phillip d'Artois and the young 
 countess de Dunois, the widow of the lord Louis de Blois, and the 
 king of France was well inclined that this marriage with his cousin 
 should take place, but the duke of Berry refused his consent ; for the 
 county of Eu is but of small value, in comparison of what she was 
 entitled to from her first union, and he looked to marry her more 
 nobly. To say the truth, the countess was, for beauty and goodness, 
 and everything belonging to a noble lady, worthy of the highest rank. 
 The duke of Berry, however, was unwilling to anger the king of 
 France, who knew well that he was solicited by many persons for 
 the hand of his daughter : among whom were the young duke of 
 Lorraine the count d'Arrnagnac, and the eldest son of the count de 
 
 Foix and de Bearn The king was averse to all these proposals, and 
 aaid to the duke of Berry, "Fair uncle of Berry, we are not willing 
 that our cousin your daughter should be settled at a distance from the 
 fleurs-de-lis. We will provide a marriage for her, that shall be suit- 
 able in all respects. We see her with pleasure near us ; and it 
 becometh her not to leave her mother-in-law, as they are nearly of 
 the same age." These words and others cooled the duke's intentions 
 of marrying his daughter otherwise than as it pleased the king, who 
 leant to his cousin the lord Philip d'Artois. He was a young and 
 gallant knight, and had acquired great renown in arms, in the dif . 
 ferent expeditions he had made, as well near home as beyond sea 
 and was also much in favor of the knights and squires of France. 
 The dukes of Berry and Burgundy agreed, that if the king would 
 
 give to their cousin of Artois the office of 
 constable of France, which was now va- 
 cant, from the sentence against sir Oliver 
 de Clisson, the marriage with the lady 
 Mary should take place ; for, in case he 
 .were constable, he would be wealthy 
 enough to keep a becoming state. They 
 resolved to speak to the king on this sub- 
 ject, which they did as follows : "My lord, 
 your council recommends that our cousin, 
 the lord Philip d'Artois, count d'Eu, be 
 invested with the office of constable of 
 France ; for Clisson, by the sentence of 
 your judges in parliament, has forfeited it, 
 and the office cannot longer be vacant with- 
 out great prejudice to the realm. You are 
 bounden, as well as ourselves, to assist our 
 cousin of Artois, for he is very nearly re- 
 lated to us by blood ; and, since such an 
 office is vacant, we cannot better fill it 
 than by sir Philip d'Artois, for he will 
 ably and loyally execute it, and is much 
 beloved by every knight and squire, being 
 without envy or avarice." This speech 
 was very agreeable to the king, who gayly 
 replied, that he would think of it ; and, if 
 the office was to be disposed of, he would 
 rather the count d'Eu had it than any other. 
 Things remained some time in this state ; 
 but the king was continually solicited by 
 his uncles, who were desirous of advancing 
 sir Philip d'Artois, and degrading sir Oli- 
 ver de Clisson ; for the duke of Beriy 
 hated him for the death of Bethisac, and the duke of Burgundy for h:s 
 opposition to the duke of Brittany ; but the duchess of Burgundy was 
 yet more inveterate against him than her lord. The king at length 
 gave his assent, on condition the duke of Berry gave him his daughter. 
 
 But, before matters had proceeded thus far, in order to avoid dis- 
 gusting the king, and to satisfy the duke of Orleans, who strongly 
 supported the lord de Clisson, sir William des Bordes, sir William 
 Martel, both knights of the king's chamber, and sir Philip de Savoisis, 
 knight to the duke of Berry, were again sent to Brittany, to speak 
 with sir Oliver de Clisson in the king's name. These knights, hav- 
 ing made their preparations, took their road through Angers, where 
 they met the queen of Jerusalem and John of Brittany, who hand- 
 somely entertained them, in honor of the king. They remained at 
 Angers two days, and inquired where they could find the lord de 
 Clisson, for they had a very courteous message to deliver to him from 
 the king alone, who had ordered them to speak with him. They 
 replied, that they had not any positive intelligence where he was ; 
 but they supposed he must be in one of his castles in Brittany : that 
 he did not constantly remain in any one, but moved from one to 
 another. At their departure the knights took leave of the queen, her 
 son Charles, prince of Tarentum, and John of Brittany, count de 
 Penthievre, and continued their journey to Rennes. The duke of 
 Brittany had shut himself up with his duchess in Vannes, without 
 making any e^^cursions abroad for fear of ambuscades, and meeting 
 his adversary Clisson, as they were carrying on a murderous war 
 against each other. When their parties met, mercy was shown by 
 neither, and the field was gained by the death of their opponents : if, 
 therefore, he felt alarmed, he had cause for it; for, although the duke 
 was sovereign of the country, there was not a knight or squire that 
 would bear arms against the lord de Clisson. They dissembled with 
 the duke, saying, the quarrel did not in any way concern them, and 
 staid at home without interfering. This the duke was forced to put 
 up with. 
 
 When the knights arrived at Rennes, they asked where they could 
 for certain find sir Oliver de Clisson, but no one could positively 
 answer them. They resolved to ride to Ch&teau-Josselin, and were 
 well received by the vassals of sir Oliver, out of respect to the king 
 of France. They inquired after their lord, and where they could see 
 him, for they were sent by the king and the duke of Orleans to speak 
 with him. They either would not, or could not, give them any satis- 
 factory account; but said, in excuse for themselves and sir Oliver: 
 " Certainly, my lords, not one of us knows where to find him : to-day 
 he is at one place, to-morrow at another. You may safely ride all 
 
560 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN. &c. 
 
 over Brittany, since you come from the king ; and all the castles and 
 houses of our lord will be thrown open to you." 
 
 Perceiving they could not obtain any further information they left 
 Chateau.Josselin, and rode to all the castles, both great and small, 
 of the lord de Clisson, but without learning anything more. They 
 then waited on the duke and duchess at Vannes, who gave them a 
 hearty welcome ; but they only staid half a day with them, without 
 discovering the object of their secret mission, nor was the duke very 
 inquisitive about their coming. They did not see sir Peter de Craon. 
 On taking leave of the duke and duchess, they set out on their return 
 to Paris to the king and lords, who were expecting them. They 
 gave an account to the king and the duke of Orleans, of having vis. 
 ited all the towns and castles of the lord de Clisson without seeing 
 or gaining any certain intelligence of him. The dukes of Berry and 
 Burgundy were pleased at hearing this, and would not have wished 
 it otherwise. 
 
 Shortly afterwards the marriage was consummated between the 
 lord Philip d'Artois and the lady Mary of Berry. He was appointed 
 constable of France, to enjoy all the privileges and emoluments of 
 that office, although sir Oliver de Clisson had not resigned it, nor 
 sent back his sword of office. He persisted that he was still consta- 
 ble, for that he had never done anything against the king or crown 
 of France that could deprive him of it. Things, therefore, remained 
 in this state. 
 
 CHAPTER LVI. 
 
 THE CONSTABLE DE CLISSON, DURING HIS ABSENCE FROM FRANCE, WAGES 
 WAR ON THE DUKE OF BRITTANY. 
 
 Sir Oliver de Clisson was soon informed that the count d'Eu was 
 nominated constable of France, and was to do the duty and receive 
 the profits from the date of his appointment, with the consent of the 
 king of France, and that he had married the daughter of the duke of 
 Berry, widow of lord Louis of Blois. To all this he was perfectly 
 indinerent, for he felt that his loyalty and honor were as firm as ever, 
 and that he had never done anything to forfeit either against the king 
 or crown of France ; but that all these proceedings originated in the 
 hatred and malice of the dukes of Berry and Burgundy, which were 
 so great that they could not conceal them. This determined the 
 lord de Clisson to continue his war with prudence and vigor against 
 the duke of Brittany. It was severe and bloody, for neither party, 
 when they met, made a sham of fighting, but killed each other with- 
 out mercy. The lord de Clisson rode frequently from one of his 
 castles to another, and laid more ambuscades than the duke, finding 
 himself superior in numbers to oppose him. None of the Breton 
 chivalry would interfere by bearing arms on either side ; but, when 
 the duke sent for them, they came to know what he wanted. He 
 demanded from them aid and advice to correct his vassal, sir Oliver 
 de Clisson, who had greatly misbehaved himself toward him. The 
 barons of Brittany, such as the viscount de Rohan, the lord de Di- 
 nant, sir Herman de Lyon, and many more, excused themselves, say- 
 ing, they were uninteres^ted in this quarrel, and would not therefore 
 bear arms against the lord de Clisson ; but that they would heartily 
 labor to mediate between the duke and him, if they knew how, or 
 saw any probability of establishing peace between them. 
 
 The duke, seeing he could no way prevail on them to join him, and 
 that in this warfare he was losing more men than the lord de Clisson, 
 consented to send the above-named baronfe to treat with him, and bring 
 him, under safe passports, to Vannes, that they might confer together. 
 They were to add, that he would find him courteous, and well-in- 
 clined to listen to any reasonable terms ; and, if he had treated 
 him with contempt, he would make such reparations as those he ad- 
 dressed should think proper. The knights willingly undertook the 
 mission, for the sake of doing good, and set out in search of sir Oliver 
 de Clisson, whom I believe they found at Chateau-Josselin. They 
 told the message they were charged with from the duke, and urged 
 him strongly to accept of peace ; for war between them was very 
 unbecoming, displeasing to the nobles, and highly oppressive to the 
 lower orders in Brittany. " Sir Oliver," said they, " we are thus 
 pressing, in the hope that you will be pleased to wait on our lord ; 
 and, for your safety and secure return, we pledge ourselves to remain 
 in your castle of Josselin, without ever stirring beyond the gates. 
 We imagine, that when our lord and you shall confer together, you 
 will very speedily settle your differences, for we left him with the 
 best intentions toward you." 
 
 To this speech, sir Oliver replied : " My good sirs, what advan- 
 tage can my death be to you ? Do you think I know not the duke 
 of Brittany ? Most certainly I do ; and he is too haughty and re- 
 vengeful, whatever he may have assured you relative to my security 
 and safe return, not to resolve, the moment I shall be in his presence 
 to have me put to death, in spite of his promises to you; and, if I be i 
 killed, your fate will be the same, for my people will of course retali- 
 ate on you. It is, therefore, much better we run not such risks. I 
 will guard myself well against him; and let him, if he please, do the 
 same." " Fair cousin," replied sir Charles de Dinant, " you may 
 Bay what you please ; we have not seen him show any wish to have 
 you killed, if he could converse with you in the manner we have 
 proposed, but, on the contrary, the strongest desire to accommodate all ; 
 matters of dispute. We therefore, for him and for ourselves, beg you 
 
 will consent to it." Sir Oliver answered: "J believe firmly, that 
 you wish me every good ; but, on the security he offers through you, 
 I will not advance one step. However, since you are all so earnest 
 in the business, for which it behooves me to thank you, I will mention 
 on what terms I will come to him ; and you shall, if they be agreea- 
 ble to you, carry them back as my final answer. On your return, 
 you will tell the duke, that I will not accept other pledge for my 
 safety than his only son, who is betrothed to a princess of France. 
 Let him send him hither to remain under the guard of my men, in 
 Chateau- Josselin, until I be returned, :md I will then set out to wait 
 on him. This mode is more agreeable to me than any other, and 
 also more reasonable ; for were you to remain here as hostages, as 
 you offer, who would there be to negotiate the treaty ? or who would 
 be the mediators between us ? and how, without your interference, 
 shall we ever come to an agreement ?" When the three barons saw 
 he was determined, they took leave of the lord de Clisson, and re- 
 turned to Vannes, to relate to the duke what sir Oliver had said. In 
 regard to sending his son to Chateau-Josselin, the duke absolutely 
 refused ; and the war continued on the same footing as before, so that 
 no merchants or others dared to travel through the country. All 
 commerce was at a stand in Brittany, which was severely felt in the 
 cities and large towns : even the laborers in husbandry were also in 
 a state of idleness. 
 
 The duchess of Burgundy assisted her cousin as much as she 
 could with men-at-arms from Burgundy and elsewhere, for the duke 
 could not prevail on his subjects to take part in the war, and the 
 knights and squires, excepting those of his household, dissembled 
 their opinions. On the other hand, the duke of Orleans, who 
 was attached to the constable, supported him underhand, and sent 
 him men-at-arms, and good coursers to re-mount his men. Sir 
 Oliver made more frequent excursions than the duke, and it hap- 
 pened that he met with two of the duke's squires who were going 
 on his business : one of them was called Bernard, and the other 
 Yvonnet : they could neither fly nor avoid falling into sir Oliver's 
 hands, who was rejoiced at it, for he was well acquainted with them. 
 One had in former times done him a service, the other the contrary, 
 which he then recollected. They were much frightened at being 
 thus caught, and sir Oliver addressed them : " Dost thou remember, 
 Yvonnet, how cruelly thou behavedst to me in the castle of Ermine, 
 near Vannes, when thou didst shut me up in a dungeon ? Thou, 
 Bernard, then hadst pity on me, and pulling off thy coat, because 1 
 was only in my doublet and lying on the pavement, gavest it to me, 
 to cover me from the cold. I will now return that friendship, by 
 sparing thy life ; but as for this wicked traitor, Yvonnet, who might 
 have avoided, if he pleased, the cruelty of his conduct, he shall suf- 
 fer. At these words, he drew his dagger, and slew him on the spot. 
 He then continued his course, without touching the servants. 
 
 Another time, sir Oliver de Clisson, with about three hundred 
 lances, was riding before the castle of Auray, in which were the duke 
 and duchess. He met about forty of the duke's varlets, who had 
 tied their horses to trees, for it was near midsummer, and having cut 
 some hay, were trussing it up to carrry, like foragers, to their lodg- 
 ings. Sir Oliver galloped among them, without other harm than the 
 fright he put them to, and said : " How dare you take the field, and 
 carry away the harvest of the farmers ? You have not sown this, 
 and are cutting it before it is ripe : you have begun your harvest too 
 soon. Come, take up your scythes, and mount your horses: for this 
 time I will do you no harm ; but go and tell the duke of Brittany, 
 who I know is in Auray, to come hither, or send his men to receive 
 me ; and that Clisson informs him he will remain here until sunset." 
 The varlets were happy in their escape, for they thought they should 
 all be killed ; therefore they picked up their scythes, mounted their 
 horses, and returned to the duke in Auray. I doubt not they punc- 
 tually delivered the message, but the duke neither sallied out him- 
 self, nor sent any of his men to meet sir Oliver de Clisson. Such 
 skirmishes passed often between them, but the principal inhabitants 
 never interfered. 
 
 We will now I'eave the affairs of Brittany, and return to those of 
 France and England. 
 
 CHAPTER LVII. 
 
 A TREATY OF PEACE IS CONCLUDED BETWEEN THE KINGS OF FRANCE AND 
 ENGLAND, THROUGH THE MEDIATION OF THEIR UNCLES. 
 
 You have before heard of the conferences that were held at Amiens 
 on a peace between France and England, and on what terms the 
 duke of Lancaster had gone back. The English were unwilling to 
 consent to a peace, notwithstanding the king, the dukes of Lancas- 
 ter and York, and all the commissioners who had been at Amiens, 
 strongly urged it ; for the majority of the commons were desirous of 
 war ; and two-thirds of the young knights and squires knew not how 
 to employ themselves : they had learnt idleness, and looked to war 
 as the means of support. However, they were forced to submit to 
 the opinions of the king, his uncles, and the more intelligent part of 
 the nation. The duke of Lancaster, considering the matter, as well 
 in regard to the welfare of his two daughters, the queens of Castille 
 and Portugal, as in respect to his nephew, the king of England, who 
 was greatly inclined to peace, took much pains to bring it about, be . 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 561 
 
 cause he thought it would likewise be for the honor and advantage 
 of England. 
 
 On the part of France, the duke of Burgundy greatly exerted him- 
 self, for he found the whole weight of the government rested on him ; 
 since his nephews, the king and the duke of Orleans, were weak in 
 body and mind. He was gf grczt power by his marriage with the 
 heiress of Flanders, and daily expecting to inherit Brabant also. If, 
 therefore, in times to come, these countries should quarrel with France, 
 and unite them.-5elves, as they had formerly done, with England, they 
 would be an overmatch for her. The duke of Burgundy was a long- 
 sighted politician, as I was told by those who ought to know; and he 
 and the duke of Lancaster effected that these conferences should be 
 renewed at Leulinghen, where they had before been held, and that 
 the commissioners should have full powers to conclude a peace. The 
 conferences were to be holden in the ensuing month of May, at Leu- 
 linghen, in the year of grace 1393. It had been thus agreed to by 
 both parties, and commissioners were appointed by each king. 
 
 On the part of the king of England, were his two uncles the dukes 
 of Lancaster and Gloucester : this last was very popular with the 
 commons of England, and all others who preferred war to peace. 
 From among the prelates were selected the archbishop of York, the 
 bishop of London, and other clerks learned in tke laws, to expound 
 the Latin letters. 
 
 These lords* repaired to Calais soon after St. George's day, which 
 is always celebrated at Windsor with great feastings by the knights 
 of the blue garter. The dukes of Berry and Burgundy made prepa- 
 rations for coming to Boulogne, that they might be near at hand to 
 the place of conference. The king of France showed great impa- 
 tience for peace, as the wars had lasted too long ; and he said to his 
 uncles, that he would fix his residence near to Leulinghen, to prove 
 how eager he was in the matter, and to be ready at hand if neces- 
 sary. It was proposed that he should be at Saint Omer, on the fron- 
 tiers of Calais, or at Therouenne, Montreuil, or Abbeville ; but the 
 last place was determined on for his residence, as it was large and 
 convenient, and the court could easily be lodged on the banks of the 
 beautiful river Somme. 
 
 When this was fixed, great preparatio-ns were made for the recep- 
 tion of the king in Abbeville ; and the abbey of Saint Peter, as being 
 a large and handsome edifice of the Benedictine monks, was chosen 
 for his lodgings. Thither came the king of France, accompanied 
 by his brother, the duke of Orleans, and sir Reginald de Corbiet 
 chancellor of France. The dukes of Berry and Burgundy, with the 
 other commissioners, were at Boulogne, and the duke of Lancaster 
 and his company at Calais. It was a handsome show to see the 
 state and array of the French and English commissioners, when they 
 opened the conferences at Leulinghen, between Boulogne and Calais. 
 There were tents and pavilions erected for them to take refresh, 
 ments, or sleep in on occasion ; and two or three days in the week 
 the comniissioners met, and were frequently nine hours discussing 
 the preliminaries for a peace, in a large and handsome pavilion that 
 had been pitched for their assembling in. 
 
 It was told me (for I, John Froissart, the writer of this history, was 
 at Abbeville, that I might learn the truth of what was passing,) by 
 those who were well informed, that after the procurations from the 
 two kings had been verified as to the commissioners' powers of con- 
 cluding a peace, the French proposed that Calais shouJd be so demol- 
 ished, as that it could never again be made habitable. The dukes of 
 Lancaster and Gloucester instantly answered, that they needed not 
 have Qiade this proposition, for that Calais should be the very last 
 town the crown of England would part with ; and that, if they in- 
 tended this as a basis for treating, there was an end to the business, 
 for they would not hear further on the subject. The dukes of Berry 
 and Burgundy, perceiving their cousins of England so determined, 
 dropped the matter, for they found it would be in vain to press it, 
 and discoursed on other topics. The English, for a long time, de- 
 manded restitution of everything that had been yielded to the late 
 king Edward, and, in addition to these territories, the balance of the 
 ransom that had been due when the war was renewed between 
 France and England. This was resisted strenuously by the French 
 dukes, who argued themselves, and by their learned clerks, on the 
 unreasonableness of the demand. The two dukes and the chancel- 
 lor of France replied with temper : " that with regard to the first de- 
 mand, that the whole of the territory that had been yielded to king 
 Edward should be restored, it was impossible ; for the inhabitants 
 of the towns, castles, and lands, which had been assigned to England 
 by the treaty of Bretigny, and afterwards confirmed at Calais, in the 
 year 1360, were too adverse to such restoration ; and the king of 
 France, to whom they had voluntarily surrendered themselves, had, 
 in consequence, accepted their homage, granted them protection, and 
 such other privileges, on his royal word, as could not be broken ; and 
 that, if they wished for peace, they must offer other preliminaries." 
 
 It was then resolved, between the four dukes, on whom it solely 
 depended whether there should be peace or war, that each party 
 
 * In the Fcederathe commissioners are,thedukeof Lancaster, the duke of Gloucester, 
 Walter bishop of Durham, Thomas earl Marshal governor of Calais, sir Thomas Percy, 
 sir Lewis Clifford, Richard Rouhall, doctor of laws. 
 
 1 1 imagine this must be a mistake, though the MSS. are the Same ; for Pierre de Giac 
 was chancellor after sir Miles des Dormans, and died 1407. Arnaud de Corbie succeeded 
 him, and died 1413.— Hknault. [Pierre de Giac died thelTtli of Aug., 1387, and Amaud 
 <1« Coibie succeeded him in thbt year, and not in 1407 .~Ep.] 
 
 should reduce to writing their different grounds of treating, and mu- 
 tually deliver them to each other, to consider of them at their leisure, 
 with their clerks, learned in the laws, who had accompanied them, 
 and determine on what parts they could agree to, and what would 
 not be accepted. This was assented to by all ; for the dukes were 
 before much fatigued in hearing the various papers read and dia- 
 cussed ; more especially the English commissioners ; for, as it was 
 carried on in French, they were not so well used to tlie finesse and 
 double meanings of that language as the natives, who turned and 
 twisted it to their own advantage at pleasure. The English opposed 
 this, for they wished everything to be made clear and intelligible to 
 every one. The French accused the English of having, at various 
 times, infringed the articles of the peace ; and ofiered to prove it by- 
 written documents, and the word of their king, as well as by the 
 judgment of the pope. This made the English more diligent to 
 have everything made out plain ; and, whenever they found anything 
 obscure in the proposals that had been given them from the French 
 commissioners, which they examined carefully and at leisure, they 
 made their clerks demand from the dukes of Berry and Burgundy 
 how they understood such expressions; for the English dukes would 
 not pass over an article that had the least tendency to a double mean- 
 ing ; and whatever they did not clearly understand, they had erased 
 in their presence, declaring they would not allow of anything that 
 could bear a misconstruction, for that the French, who had been 
 from their youth trained to such things, were uiore subde than the 
 English. 
 
 So many difficulties greatly lengthened the conferences ; and the 
 English held themselves obliged to demand restitution of all the lands 
 dependent on Aquitaine, and their profits since the commencement 
 of the war, as they had been charged to do by the parliament of 
 England. This the French would not agree to : they were willing, 
 indeed, to yield the countries of Tarbes, Bigorre, Agen, and the 
 Agenois, with Perigord, but declared they would never restore Cahors, 
 Rouergue, Quercy, and Limousin, nor give up any part of Ponthieu 
 or Guines more than the English possessed at the present moment. 
 On these grounds things remained : they stood out for upward of 
 fifteen days, and only came to the conclusion that it should be laid 
 before the two kings : to forward the business, the dukes of Berry 
 and Burgundy offered to set out for Abbeville, to inform the king 
 of France of all that had passed ; and, if he would acquiesce in the 
 English proposals, they would not oppose them. They entreated, 
 on the other hand, their cousins to write to king Richard, and ami- 
 cably let him know what they had done ; for he had, for two years 
 past, shown the most anxious desire for peace between England, 
 France, and all their allies. The two dukes promised compliance ; 
 but you must know, as I was well informed, the duke of Gloucester 
 was more difficult to persuade than his brother, and he had been 
 purposely chosen his colleague, by those who preferred war to peace, 
 because they knew he would not assent to anything that was in the 
 least dishonorable to his country. The four dukes then separated in 
 a most friendly manner, having been nine days in conference. The 
 English commissioners returned to Calais, and the French to Bou- 
 logne, whence they set out for Abbeville. They found there the 
 king of France, who was amusing himself, he having taken a liking 
 to the place. There is scarcely any city in France more pleasantly 
 situated ; and within it is a handsome inclosed garden, partly sur 
 rounded by the river Somme, in which the king spent much of his 
 time, and often supped there, telling his brother and council that the 
 air of Abbeville had done his health great good. 
 
 At this time, Leon king of Armenia was with the king of France : 
 he was just come from Greece and the frontiers of his own kingdom, 
 into which he dared not venture ; for the Turks had conquered, and 
 kept possession of it as well as other places, in defiance of the world, 
 excepting the strong town of Conich,* situated on the sea-shore, 
 which the Genoese had strongly garrisoned and guarded against the 
 Turks ; for, if they had possession of this place, they would grievously 
 harass by sea the Cypriotes, and other Christians of Rhodes and 
 Candia. The king of Armenia would gladly have seen a peace con- 
 cluded between France and England, that such knights and squires 
 as wished for deeds of arms might travel to Greece, and assist him 
 in the recovery of his kingdom. 
 
 The king received kindly his two uncles at Abbeville, and made 
 them good cheer. He asked how the treaty was going on, and how 
 they were themselves. They having related to him the true state of 
 affaiis, and how all had passed, he was well contented, and testified 
 his joy and wishes for peace. In like manner, the two English 
 dukes, on their arrival at Calais, had written to the king of England 
 the demands and answers made to them, which, being sealed, were 
 forwarded to him. In reply to which, the king had desired they 
 would proceed in the treaty, for the war had lasted long enough, to 
 the ruin of the country, and the slaughter of chivalry, and the great 
 weakening of Christendom. " This might," he added, " have serious 
 consequences ; for Bajazet with his Turks were advancing toward 
 the kingdom of Hungary, and were now in Wallachia, as letters to 
 France and England had brought information." 
 
 The time was now come for the return of the four dukes and 
 commissioners to the renewal of the conferences at Leulinghen, 
 With the French lords came the king of Armenia, to remonstrate 
 
 •"Conich." The MSS. bave Gourch. 
 
562 
 
 with the English on his distressing situation : he was well known 
 to the duke of Gloucester, when he had visited England during the 
 Threatened invasion from France, who had shown him many civili- 
 'ies, and carried him to a beautiful castle he had in Essex called 
 Pleshy. The dukes of Lancaster and Gloucester received him well, 
 jiarticularly the last, on account of former acquaintance. They pa- 
 tiently listened to all his grievances, and replied so graciously that 
 he was well contented with them. At these conferences many dif- 
 ferent proposals were made, and the cardinal de Luna,* in hopes of 
 being heard by the commissioners, had made a long stay at Abbe- 
 ville, whither he had been sent as legate by pope Clement for the 
 affairs of the church. He was lodged at the convent of the Corde- 
 liers, on the river Somme. The French wanted to Insert in their 
 preliminaries some articles relative to the church and to the support 
 of this Robert de Geneve, who styled himself pope : but when the 
 EngUsh dukes observed this, they stepped forward with courage, 
 saying to their cousins of France : " Take away this legate : we want 
 not to hear his speeches : it has not been without fully weighing their 
 merits that we have determined which of the popes to obey. We 
 desire, therefore, not to hear anything on this subject: and, should 
 he again come forward under your protection, we will break up the 
 conference and return home." From this time, nothing more was 
 said of the cardinal, who remained quiet in Abbeville. The lords 
 now pushed forward the treaty with such success that it was brought 
 to a happy conclusion, and to the satisfaction of all parties. 
 
 The four dukes saw their respective kings were anxious for peace, 
 more especially the king of France, who, when the duke of Lan- 
 caster had taken leave of him at Amiens during the former confer- 
 ences, had said : " Fair cousin, I beg you to exert yourself that there 
 may be a solid peace between my brother of England and me, that 
 we may assist our cousin the king of Hungary against Bajazet, who 
 is so powerful in Turkey." The duke of Lancaster had promised 
 the king to do his utmost; and indeed', it was through his remon- 
 strances with his nephew, king Richard, his brothers, and the parlia- 
 ment, that the conferences were renewed at Leulinghen, to establish 
 a peace, if possible, to the honor of England. The duke of Glou- 
 cester was much colder in the matter, and carefully noticed all the 
 contentious speeches of the French, saying, the French always 
 wished to fight with both hands. He made so strong an opposition, 
 that the adverse party perceiving it, sent a squire of honor, and of 
 the bedchamber and the council of the king of France, to the duke : 
 his name was Robert I'Hermite ; and this is what he said, for the 
 duke related to me the words at his castle of Fleshy. " My lord, for 
 the love of God do not oppose a peace. You see how diligent our 
 lords of France are in promoting it, and it will be charity in you to 
 join them, for the war has lasted too long ; and, when kings wish 
 for peace, their relations and subjects ought to obey." " Robert, 
 Robert," replied the duke of Gloucester, " I wish not to prevent a 
 peace ; but you Frenchmen use such specious words, beyond our 
 understanding, that, when you will, you may urge them as signifying 
 war or peace as you shall choose. In this manner has the business 
 hitherto been conducted, dissembling always until you have gained 
 your end. If my lord the king had believed me, and the majority of 
 those who are bound to serve him, there never would have been 
 peace with France, until you had restored to us all you have taken 
 through treacherous causes, as is known to God, and to all who will 
 search into the business. But, since my lord inclines to peace, you 
 are in the right to preSs it forward : it is just that we should also ap- 
 prove of it, and since peace is so much wished for are we here as- 
 sembled : let it, however, be well kept on your side, as it shall be on 
 ours." On saying this, the duke of Gloucester went away. Robert 
 I'Hermite, at the same time, took his leave, and returned to his coun- 
 trymen. I will not protract the subject longer, but come to the con- 
 clusion, as the matter requires it. 
 
 The four dukes, having full power from their respective monarchs, 
 to conclude a truce or peace, continued their conferences with such 
 success, that the report in Abbeville was current of a peace having 
 been made between France, England, and their allies. But I, the 
 author of this history, who at the time resided in Abbeville, to learn 
 news, could never understand that a peace had been concluded: only 
 the truce had been prolonged for four years, on sea and land, between 
 all the parties. It was imagined that before the expiration of this 
 term, all the territories and lordships in Languedoc, that were to re- 
 vert to the kings of England and their heirs for ever, would be sur- 
 rendered to king Richard, or to his commissioners. In return for the 
 giving up so many towns, castles, and lordships, which had been 
 agreed to by the commissioners for peace, the dukes of Lancaster 
 and Gloucester engaged that their captains, of whatever nation they 
 might be, who held possession of different forts in France, that were 
 to revert to the king of France, should evacuate them, and cease 
 from carrying on any war under the name and pretext of the king of 
 England or the English. All the articles of the truce were fairly 
 written out, signed and sealed by the different lords, and copies of 
 them sent to the two kings, before they parted, at Leulinghen. 
 
 The king of England was very impatient to hear of peace being 
 concluded, and his uncles, knowing this, determined to send him an 
 express with the news : they called to them a herald, named Marche, 
 
 * "The cardinal de Luna," an Arragonian, was anti-pope after the death of Clement, 
 -under the name of Benedict XIII. See more of his tuiijulent lite ia JVIuratori, &c. 
 
 who was king-at-arms in England, and wrote to the king by him the 
 whole detail of what had been agreed on, and signed by both parties. 
 The herald was rejoiced to receive these letters from the dukes, and, 
 leaving the English tents, rode to Calais, where he hired a fishing, 
 boat, and, by the grace of God, a favorable wind, and the exertions 
 of the fishermen, was speedily landed at Dover. He then continued 
 his journey until he came to London, where he found the king. On 
 his arrival, he was introduced into the king's chamber, because he 
 was come from Calais, where the king's uncles were negotiating a 
 peace. He presented his letters; and the king, having perused them, 
 was so well pleased with their contents, and the good news he had 
 brought, that he gave him very rich gifts, and a handsome annuity, 
 as the herald told me afterwards when riding through part of England. 
 
 CHAPTER LVIIL 
 
 THE TREATY OF PEACE IS NEARLY BROKEN OFF BY POPE BONIFACE, AND 
 BY THE KING OF FRANCE RELAPSING INTO HIS FORMER ILLNESS. 
 
 Let us return to the commissioners from France and England at 
 Leulinghen. When they pleased they lived in tents, which were 
 prepared for them in great numbers and magnificence. The Eng. 
 lish were very attentive to the verification of the different papers, that 
 nothing obscure or doubtful might remain. They examined every 
 paper, and had every expression made clear before they signed them. 
 From an event that happened, the negotiations which had taken up 
 so much time were near being broken off. I will say what it was ; 
 for in matters of history everything should be detailed, that the truth 
 may be more apparent. You have heard that the king of France 
 had made a long stay at Abbeville : he took pleasure in the place, 
 but his stay was prolonged on account of the treaty that was going 
 forward at Leulinghen. 
 
 Just at the conclusion of the treaty, the dukes of Lancaster and 
 Gloucester declared it was the intention of king Richard and the par- 
 liament, that pope Boniface, who was acknowledged for the true pope 
 by the Romans, Germans, Hungarians, Lombards, Venetians, Eng. 
 lish, and by all Christendom except France, should be received as 
 such, and the person who styled himself pope Clement be degraded 
 and condemned. This proposal, the two dukes said, they had been 
 specifically ordered to make by the three estates of England. When 
 the dukes of Berry and Burgundy heard this, to please their cousins 
 of England, and to prevent the treaty from being interrupted, they 
 desired, in a friendly way, to have a little time to consider what they 
 had proposed. It being granted, they consulted together ; and the 
 duke of Burgundy eloquently and prudently answered as follows, to 
 soften the matter to the English dukes : " It does not seem to us any 
 way proper that we should intermix with our negotiations the dispute 
 between the two popes. My brother of Berry and myself are some, 
 what surprised how you could have proposed it, for at the beginning 
 of the conferences you objected to the presence of the cardinal de 
 Luna, who is now at Abbeville as legate from the pope, and refused 
 to hear anything he had to say. We had before determined, that 
 when the cardinals elected Urban for pope, and on his deatli Boni- 
 face, the elections were null, for no one either from your country or 
 ours was summoned to them ; and the election of him who calls him- 
 self Clement and resides at Avignon is, from the same cause, in the 
 like predicament. We do not deny that it would be great charity in 
 those who could attend to it, to appease and put an end to this schism 
 in the church. But, in regard to ourselves, we must refer the matter 
 to the university of Paris ; and, when all our business here shall be 
 concluded by a solid peace, we will, in conjunction with the council 
 of our cousin the emperor of Germany, willingly attend to this matter, 
 as you may do on your side." 
 
 This reply of the duke of Burgundy was agreeable to the Eng- 
 lish dukes, for it seemed reasonable, and they answered, "You have 
 well spoken : let the matter now rest, and be as you say." The 
 negotiations were going on as well as befoi'e ; but there fell out, just 
 at the conclusion, a great hindrance, by the king of France relapsing 
 into the same frenzy by which he was afflicted in the preceding 
 year. He had remained at Abbeville until near midsummer, at the 
 abbey of Saint Peter, passing his time in a variety of amusements. 
 The first that noticed his relapse was a Norman knight, called sir 
 William Martel, who was employed the most about the king's person. 
 The dukes of Berry and Burgundy were at the time at Leulinghen 
 or Boulogne, bringing the conference to a close, or at least finisliing 
 all that could be done this year. The moment the duke of Orleans 
 perceived the state of the king's health, he sent information to his 
 uncles, by a favorite squire of his own, called Boniface, an agreeable 
 man. The two dukes, on hearing this unfortunate intelligence, set 
 out as speedily as they could ; for they had already taken leave of 
 their cousins of England, who were returned to Calais to wait for 
 information from the king of Navarre and the duke of Brittany. 
 
 It had been proposed at the conferences, that as the castle of Cher- 
 bourg in Normandy had been mortgaged to the king of England for 
 sixty thousand nobles, who in consequence had possession, it should 
 be restored to the king of Navarre, on the king of France repaying 
 the sixty thousand nobles ; and in like manner was the castle of Brest 
 to be surrendered to the duke of Brittany. The dukes of Berry and 
 Burgundy did not wait for the conclusion of these two articles, but 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 563 
 
 hastened to Abbeville, where, to their sorrow, they found the king in 
 a very poor state of health. The king's disorder was kept secret as 
 long as possible, but in such cases it is very soon publicly known. 
 The court at Abbeville was shortly dispersed, and every one retired 
 to. his home. Councils were holden as to the proper place the king 
 should be conveyed to, and in rc^poct to his management. The cas- 
 de of Creil was again fixed on for his residence, whither he was car- 
 ried in a litter. The weather was now so hot, that they rested the 
 day and only travelled the night season : the king was attended to 
 Creil by his brother and the duke of Berry. The duke of Burgundy 
 went to Artois, and thence visited Flanders, having met his duchess 
 at the castle of Hedin. 
 
 The lord de la Riviere and sir John le Mercier, seemed entirely 
 forgotten : no one spoke of them, nor interfered in their delivery 
 from prison. This relapse of the king had, however, gready excul- 
 pated them for the accusations of having been the cause of his first 
 illness, in the eyes of the public. The wisest in France had now 
 learnt, that from the weakness of his nerves he was naturally inclined 
 to this disorder, which had been brought forward with greater force 
 from the excesses he had indulged in. It was much regretted by 
 those who wished his recovery, that master William de Harsely was 
 no moi'e, for his relatives knew not where to seek a prudent physi- 
 cian that was acquainted with his disorder. It was, however, a matter 
 of necessity to make the best use of such as they had. 
 
 CHAPTER LIX. 
 
 THE DEATH OF POPE CLEMENT AT AVIGNON. THE ELECTION OF POPE BEN- 
 EDICT. A LEARNED CLERK, IN THE ARCHBISHOPRIC OF RHEIMS, SUP- 
 PORTS THE RIGHT OF THE SEE OF AVIG.NON, BY HIS SPEECHES AND 
 PREACHINGS. 
 
 In the month of September, of this year, Robert de Geneve, whom 
 we have called pope in our history, died at his palace in Avignon.* It 
 happened to him just as he had wished, that he might die pope. He 
 died, indeed, with the honor and state I have mentioned ; but whether 
 he enjoyed these wrongfully or not, I shali* not pretend to determine, 
 for such matters do not belong to me. The cardinals at Avignon 
 were much surprised at this event, and resolved to form a conclauve 
 in haste, and elect one from among themselves as his successor. 
 
 The health of the king of France was again beginning to return, to 
 the great joy of all who loved him, and his good queen, who had 
 been in great affliction. She was a valiant lady, whom God cor- 
 rected and loved ; she had made many processions, and given great 
 alms in hopes of his recovery, in several parts of France, but espe- 
 cially in Paris. 
 
 The college of cardinals at Avignon, as I was then informed, 
 elected pope the cardinal legate de Luna, To say the truth, he was 
 a devout man, and of a contemplative life ; but they had chosen him 
 subject to the approbation of the king of France and his council, oth- 
 erwise they would not have been able to maintain their election. 
 Consider, how much the church must have been degraded by this 
 schism, when those who were, or ought to have been free, thus sub- 
 jected themselves to the will of others, whom they should have com- 
 manded. All the solemnities required at the coronation of a pope 
 were paid to the cardinal de Luna, who took the name of Benedict. t 
 He offered a general pardon to all the clergy who should come to 
 Avignon ; and, by the advice of his cardinals, wrote letters to the 
 king of France, to announce his elevation to the papacy. I heard 
 thiit the king paid little attention to his letter ; for he was not yet 
 determined whether to acknowledge him for pope or no ; and, to 
 have the best advice on the occasion, he summoned before him the 
 most learned and prudent clerks of the university of Paris. 
 
 Master John Gigencourt and master Peter Playons,t who were 
 esteemed the most learned and acute in the university, told the king, 
 as did others, that the schism in the church corrupted the Christian 
 faith ; that the church ought not longer to be kept in this state, for 
 that all Christendom suffered from it, but more particularly church- 
 men ; and that it was unbecoming the university to send to pope Ben- 
 edict at Avignon, lists of those priests who had need of briefs. The 
 king, on hearing their opinions, thought them reasonable, and con- 
 sented that there should be a cessation of such lists as were usually 
 sent to the pope, until the disputes between the two popes were set- 
 tled : things therefore remained in this state. The duke of Berry, 
 however, strenuously supported the new pope ; and all the clergy 
 dependent on him acknowledged him for the true one ; and many of 
 his people were provided with pardons from this Benedict. The 
 duke and duchess of Burgundy, the duke of Orleans, with many 
 other great lords of France, dissembled their real opinions on the sub. 
 ject to the king. Some through favor acknowledged Benedict, who 
 was prodigal of his pardons, in order that the court of Avignon might 
 thrive the more. 
 
 * He died on the 16th September, 1394.— Ed. 
 
 t Peter of Luna, born of an illustrious family of Spain, was elected Pope on the 28th 
 September, 1394, and took the name of Benedict XIII. Before his election, he sub- 
 scribed an act by which all the cardinals promised on oath to use every effort for the re- 
 union of the church, and even to resign the pontificate if necessary for that purpose. He, 
 however, afterwards showed very little respect to this oath .—Ed. 
 
 t In the Museum MS. it is Gignicourt and Pierre de Lyons : in mine, the first as D. 
 Sauvage, and tko other Pierre de Palion» 
 
 The duke of Brittany readily enough followed the opinion of the 
 king of France ; for he had been in former times so scandalized by 
 the information the earl of Flanders, his cousin, had given him of the 
 rebellion in the church, that he would never allow of Clement being 
 the true pope, although his clergy paid him obedience and acknow- 
 ledged him. When any of the churches in France became vacant, 
 the king disposed of them to clergymen, without ever speaking of it 
 to pope Benedict, who, as well as his cardinals, was greatly surprised 
 at such conduct, and began to fear the king would deprive them of 
 the benefices they held in his realm. They resolved, therefore, to 
 send a well-instructed legate to France, to remonstrate with the king 
 and council on the state of the church, and to learn their intentions, 
 and likewise to assure them that the pope they had elected was only 
 conditionally chosen, in case of his proving agreeable to the king, but 
 that otherwise they would dethrone him, and exalt another more to 
 his pleasure. 
 
 About this period, the friar, whom I before mentioned to have been 
 sent by pope Boniface* to the king of France, but without the pomp 
 or state of a legate, arrived at Paris, with the consent of the king, 
 who listened to his arguments and sermons with pleasure. The 
 legate from Avignon, a subtle and eloquent clerk, was heard also by 
 the king and his court : those attached to the pope at Avignon took 
 good care to push him forward, and contrived that he should have 
 audiences often. It was the opinion of the council, but it was not 
 without great difficulty the university of Paris subscribed to this opin- 
 ion, that it would be a wise and prudent measure, if means could be 
 found to make the rival popes resign their tiignities, as well as all the 
 cardinals, and then select the most learned and prudent among the 
 clergy, from the empire of Germany, France, and other countries, 
 who should form a general council, and then, without favor or affec- 
 tion to any party, restore the church to its former unity, discipline, 
 and stability. They declared they saw no other way of destroying 
 the schism ; for the hearts of different lords were so swollen with 
 pride, each would support his own party. 
 
 This idea, which was proposed in the presence of the king, and 
 the dukes of Orleans and Burgundy, in council, was approved of ; 
 and the king, having agreed to it, said he would cheerfully write on 
 the subject to the kings of Germany, Bohemia, Hungary and Eng- 
 land ; that he thought he could depend on the kings of Castille, 
 Navarre, Arragon, Sicily, Naples, and Scotland, obeying whatever 
 pope he should acknowledge. In consequence of this proposition 
 being adopted, the king of France sent off special messengers v/ith 
 letters to the kings above mentioned, but answers were not returned 
 to them as soon as expected. During this interval, that learned 
 clerk, master John de Gigencourt, died at the Sorbonne. The king 
 of France, his court, and the university were very sorry for the loss, 
 as his equal was not at Paris, and he would have been of singular 
 service in reforming the church, and bringing about a union. 
 
 At this time, there was at Avignon a clerk well skilled in science, 
 doctor of laws, and auditor of the palace : he was a native of the 
 archbishopric of Rheims, and called sir John de Vaiennes. He was 
 much advanced in the church for the services he had rendered pope 
 Clement and others, and was on the point of being a bishop or car- 
 dinal. He had also been chaplain to a cardinal, called, at Avignon, 
 Saint Peter of Luxembourg. This John de Varennes, beneficed and 
 advanced as he was, resigned all, retaining only, for his subsistence, 
 the canonry of our Lady at Rheims, which is worth, by residence, 
 one hundred francs ; otherwise not more than thirty. He quitted 
 Avignon, returned to his native country, and fixed his abode at the 
 village of Saint Lye, near Rheims, where he led a devout life, preach- 
 ing the faith and works of our Lord, and praising the pope ot 
 Avignon. He declared he was the true pope, condemning, by his 
 speeches, that of Rome. He was much attended to, and followed 
 by the people, who came to see him from all countries, for the sober 
 and holy life he led, fasting daily, and for the fine sermons he preached. 
 Some, however, said, that the cardinals at Avignon had sent him 
 thither to support 'their cause, and to exhibit the holiness of his life, 
 which was devout enough to have entitled him to be raised to the 
 papacy. Master John de Varennes would not allow himself to be 
 called the holy man of Saint Lye, but simply the Auditor. He lived 
 with his mother, and every day said mass very devoutly. All that 
 was given him, for he asked for nothing, he distributed in alms to 
 the glory of God. 
 
 We will now leave him, and speak of other matters. 
 
 CHAPTER LX. 
 
 THE KING OF ENGLAND IS ADVISED TO MAKE A JOURNEY TO IRELAND, AND 
 TO SETTLE ON THE DUKE OF LANCASTER, AND HIS HEIRS FOR EVER, THE 
 DUCHY OF A'^UITAINE WITH ALL ITS DEPENDENCIES. 
 
 The truces that had been agreed to between the kings of France 
 and England, and their allies, were well observed on sea and land. 
 There were, however, some pillagers still in Languedoc, who came 
 from foreign countries, such as Gascony, Bearn, and Germany. Sir 
 John de Grailly, bastard-son to the late captal de Buch, a young and 
 expert knight, was governor of the strong castle of Bouteville. You 
 may suppose that the captains of such forts as Lourde in Bigorre, on 
 
 ^ Boniface IX. elected pope the 2nd Nov. 1389.— Ed. ™~ 
 
564 
 
 C H R O 1 C L E S OF E G L A N D , F R A N C , S P A I 
 
 the illumination was so great on the d;iy of the ceremony, that nothing 
 was ever seen like to it before, not at the burial of the good queen 
 Philippa nor of any other. The king would have it so, because 
 she was daughter to the king of Bohemia, emperor of Rome and 
 of Germany. He was inconsolable for her loss, as they mutually 
 loved each other, having been married young. This queen left no 
 issue, for she had never borne children. 
 
 Thus in the same year were the king, the duke of Lancaster, and 
 the earl of Derby made widowers. There was no talk of the king's 
 marrying again, for he would not hear of it. Although the expe^ 
 
 ine borders of Arragon, Bouteville on the frontiers of Saintonge, near 
 
 [•X Rochelle, and Mortaign, were sorely vexed they could no longer 
 
 overrun the country, and make their accustomed pillage from the 
 
 neighboring towns. They had been particularly forbidden to in- 
 
 ringe the articles of the truce, under pain of being severely punished. 
 At this period, an expedition against Ireland was proposed in the 
 
 '"English council ; for in the truces king Richard had agreed to with 
 
 i'Vance and her allies, young as he was, he had reserved Ireland from 
 
 being included, as his predecessors had always clairaed it as their 
 right ; and his grandfather, king Edward of happy memory had signed 
 himself king and lord of Ireland, and had 
 continued his wars against the natives, 
 notwithstanding his pressure from other 
 quarters. The young knights and squires 
 of England, eager to signalize them- 
 selves in arms, were rejoiced to learn 
 that king Richard intended leading a 
 large power of men-at-arms and arch- 
 ers into Ireland, and that he had de- 
 clared he would not return thence un- 
 til he should have finally settled every- 
 thing to his satisfaction. It was, at the 
 same council, ordered, that the duke of 
 Lancaster, who in his time had labored 
 hard, on sea and land, for the honor of 
 England, should make a journey to Aqui. 
 taine, with five hundred men-at-arms 
 and one thousand archers. He was to 
 embark at Plymouth or Southampton, as 
 he pleased, and sail for Guienne or Aqui- 
 taine. It was the intention of king Rich- 
 ard and his council, that the duke of 
 Lancaster should hold in perpetuity, for 
 himself and heirs the whole territory of 
 Aquitaine, with all its seneschalships 
 and domains, in such manner as king 
 Edward of England, his father, and the 
 former duke of Aquitaine, had held 
 them, and which king Richard held at 
 this moment, with the reserve of homage 
 to the kings of England. The duke of 
 Lancaster was to enjoy all other rights, 
 lordships, and rents, which stipulation was confirmed by the king, I ditions to Ireland and Aquitaine were delayed by the queen's death, 
 
 Richard II. on hib Voyage to Ireland. Metrical History of Richard II. Harleian MSS. 
 
 wholly and fully, under his seal 
 
 The duke of Lancaster was very thankful for this magnificent gift, 
 as he had reason to be ; for, in truth, the duchy of Aquitaine has 
 wherewithal to enable its lord to keep a grand state. The deed 
 which was to establish this gift, having been properly engrossed, was 
 carefully examined, and passed with great deliberation of council, in 
 the presence of the king, his uncles the dukes of York and Glouces- 
 ter, the earls of Salisbury, Arundel, and Derby (son to the duke of 
 Lancaster,) the earl marshal, the earl of Rosteilant,* the earls of North, 
 umberland and Nottingham, sir Thomas Percy, the lords Despen- 
 cer and Beamnont, sir William Arundel, the archbishops of Canter- 
 bury and York, the bishop of London, and of all those who were 
 entitled to be present, whether prelates or barons. The duke of 
 Lancaster thanked, in the first place, the king his nephew, then his 
 brothers, and the barons and prelates of the council. After which 
 he began to make most sumptuous preparations for crossing the sea, 
 and taking possession of t!ie duchy the king had invested him with. 
 Purveyors were likewise busy in preparing, on a large scale, for the 
 king's expedition to Ireland ; and those lords who were to acco-m- 
 pany him were ordered to make preparations of whatever things they 
 might think necessary. 
 
 CHAPTER LXI. • 
 
 THE DEATH OF THE LADY ANNE OF BOHEMIA, QUEEN OF ENGLAND. THE 
 DUKE OF LANCASTER LANDS IN AQUITAINE, AND THE KIN& OF ENGLAND 
 IN IRELAND. 
 
 The king of England and the duke of Lancaster were daily occu- 
 pied in their preparations for leaving England, and had sent their 
 men and purveyances to the different ports they were to embark from ; 
 the one to Ireland and the other to Aquitaine ; but their expedition 
 was delayed for about two months, by an event I will now relate. 
 At this period, the lady Anne, queen of England, fell sick, to the 
 great distress of the king and her household. Her disorder increased 
 so rapidly, that she departed this life on the feast of Whitsuntide, in 
 the year of grace, 1394. The king, and all who loved her were 
 greatly afflicted at her death. She was buried in the cathedral 
 church of London ;t but her obsequies were performed at leisure, 
 for the king would have them magnificently done. Abundance of 
 wax was sent for from Flanders to make flambeaux and torches, and 
 
 ' Rosiellant. U. Rutland. 
 
 I "On the 7th of June, queen Anne died at Shene in Surrey, and was buried at West 
 minster. The king took her death so lieavily that, besides cursing the place where slie 
 died, he did also for anger throw down the buildings, unto the which former kings, 
 being weary of the city, were wont for pleasure to resort."— Stowe's Chronicle 
 
 those lords who were named to go to Ireland did not fail continuing 
 their preparations ; and, as their purveyances were ready, they sent 
 them across the sea to Ireland from Brisco* and Lolighett in Wales; 
 and the conductors were ordered to carry them to a city on the coast 
 of Ireland, called Dimelin,t which had always been steadily attached 
 to England, and was an archbishopric : the archbishop of which place 
 was with the king. 
 
 Soon after Saint John Baptist's day, king Richard left London, 
 and took the road for Wales, amusing himself by hunting on the way, 
 to forget the loss of his queen. Those ordered to attend him began 
 their journey, sucli as his two uncles of York and Gloucester, with 
 grand array, as did the other lords : the earl of Kent, half-brother to 
 the king, sir Thomas Holland, his son, the earl of Rutland, son to 
 the duke of York, the earl marshal, the earls of Salisbury and Arun- 
 del, sir William Arundel, the earl of Northumberland, sir Thomas 
 Percy his brother, high steward of England, the earls of Devonshire 
 and Nottingham, with numbers of knights and squires. A consider- 
 able body remained at home to guard the borders of Scotland ; for 
 the Scots are a wicked race, and pay not any regard to truces or res- 
 pites, but as it suits their own convenience. 
 
 At the time the king of England undertook this expedition, he had 
 not the company of his other half-brother, sir John Holland earl of 
 Huntingdon, for he was on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and Saint 
 Catherine of Mount Sinai, and was to return through Hungary. Hav- 
 ing heard at Paris, as he passed through France, where he had been 
 handsomely treated by the king and his court, in respect to the king 
 of England, that the king of Hungary and Amurat^ were to have a 
 battle, he declared he would not fail being present. 
 
 The duke of Lancaster and his array arrived at Plymouth, where 
 transports waited to carry them across the sea. When his men and 
 purveyances were all on board, they weighed anchor, and steered 
 with a favorable wind for Bordeaux. 
 
 We will return to the king of England, who had with him full four 
 thousand men-at-arms and thirty thousand archers. They were ship- 
 ped at three different places, Bristol, Holyhead, and Herford,|| and 
 passed over daily ; but it was a month before the whole armament 
 and their horses landed in Ireland. On the other hand, there was in 
 Ireland a valiant English knight, called the earl of Ormond, who, like 
 his predecessors, held lands in that country, but they were disputed, 
 and he had made similar preparations to his ancestors. 
 
 The earl marshal had the command of the van, consisting of fifteen 
 
 * "Brisco." Q. Bristol. t "Loligbet." Q. Holyhead. 
 
 t " Dimehn." Q. Dublin. 
 
 § The person thus called was the sultan Bojazet I. who began his reign 1391. 
 !l From what follows, I suppose this must mean Haverford-west, in PembrokesiiiN,at 
 it is pronounced Harford. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 565 
 
 hundred lances and two thousand archers, who prudently and val 
 iantly conducted themselves. King Richard and his uncles em 
 barked at Haverford in Wales, many at Holyhead, and others at 
 Bristol, and the whole landed without any loss. As they disembarked, 
 by orders from the constable and marshals, they quartered themselves 
 on the country, occupying a large uninhabited tract, of about thirty 
 English miles, beside the city of Dublin. The army lodged them- 
 selves pnidently, for fear of the Irish : had they done otherwise, they 
 would have suffered for it. The king, his uncles, and prelates, were 
 quartered in Dublin and near it ; and I was told that, during the 
 whole campaign, they were well supplied with all sorts of provision ; 
 for the English are expert in war, and know how to forage and take 
 proper care of themselves and horses. I will relate the history of 
 this campaign of king Richard, and what befel him according to the 
 information I received. 
 
 CHAPTER LXII 
 
 SIR JOHN FROISSART ARRIVES IN ENGLAND, AND IS PRESENTED TO KING 
 RICHARD BY THE DUKE OF YORK, UNCLE TO THE KING. 
 
 In truth, I. sir .Tohn Froissart, treasurer and canon of Chimay, in 
 the county of Hainault, and diocese of Liege, had, during my stay at 
 Abbeville, a great desire to go and see the kingdom of England : 
 more especially since a truce had been concluded, for four years, on 
 sea and laud, between France, England, and their allies. Several 
 reasons urged me to make this journey; but principally, because in 
 my youth I had been educated at thfe court of king Edward, of happy 
 memory, and that good lady Philippa, his queen, with their children, 
 and others of the barons of those times, and was treated by them with 
 all honor, courtesy, and liberality. I was anxious, therefore, to visit 
 that country, for it ran in my imagination, that if I once saw it, I 
 should live the longer ; for twenty-seven years past I had intentions 
 of going thither, and if I should not meet with the lords whom I had 
 left there, I should at least see their heirs, who would likewise be of 
 great service to me in the verification of the many histories I have 
 related of 'them. 
 
 I mentioned my purpose to my very dear patrons, the lord duke 
 Albert of Bavaria, count of Hainault, Holland, and Zealand, and lord 
 of Frizeland ; to the lord William his son, styled count d'Ostrevant ; 
 to my dear and much honored lady Joan, duchess of Brabant and 
 Luxembourg ; and to my very much respected lord Enguerrand, lord 
 of Coucy ; as well as to that gallant knight, the lord de Gomegines. 
 We had both, during onr youth, arrived together at the English court, 
 where I saw also the lord de Coucy, and all the nobles of France, 
 who were hostages for the redemption of king John of France, which 
 has been before related in this history. The three lords above men- 
 tioned, as well as the lord de Gomegines, and madame de Brabant, 
 on my telling them "my intentions, encouraged me to persevere, and 
 they all gave me letters of introduction to the king andhis.uncles, with 
 the reserve of the lord de Coucy, who, from being now so much attach- 
 ed to France, could only write to his daughter, the duchess of Ireland. 
 
 I had taken care to form a collection of all the poetry on love and 
 morality that I had composed during the last twenty.four years, which 
 I had caused to be fairly written and illuminated. I was also incited 
 to go to England and see king Richard, son to the noble and valiant 
 prince of Wales and Aquitaine, whom I had not seen since the time 
 of his christening in the cathedral church of Bordeaux. I was then 
 present, and had intentions of accompanying the prince of Wales in 
 his expedition to Spain ; but, v/hen we came to the city of Dax, the 
 prince sent me back to the queen his mother in England. I was 
 desirous, therefore, to pay my respects to the king of England and 
 his uncles, and had provided Ayself with ray book of poesy finely 
 ornamented, bound in velvet, and decorated with silver-gilt clasps 
 and studs, as a present for the king. Having this intention, I spared 
 no pains ; and the cost and labor seem trifling to people, whenever 
 they undertake anything willingly. 
 
 Having provided myself with horses, I crossed from Calais to Dover 
 on the 12th day of July ; but found no one there whom I had been 
 acquainted v*^ith in my former journeys : the inns were all kept by 
 new people, and the children of my former acquaintance were be- 
 come men and women. I staid half a day and night to refresh my- 
 self and horses ; and on Wednesday, by nine o'clock, arrived at 
 Canterbury to visit the shrine to St. Thomas and the tomb of the 
 late prince of Wales, who had been buried there with great pomp. 
 I heard high mass, made my offering at the shrine, and returned to 
 my inn to dinner, when I heard the king was to come the following 
 day in pilgrimage to St Thomas of Becket. He was lately returned 
 from Ireland, where he had remained for nine months, or thereabouts, 
 and was anxious to pay his devotions in this church, on account of 
 the holy boily of the s;iint, and because his father was there buried. 
 I thought, therefore, it would be well to wait his arrival which I did ; 
 and, on the morrow, the king came in great state, accompanied by 
 lords and ladies, with whom I mixed ; but they were all new faces 
 to me, for I did not remember one of them. 
 
 Times and persons had greatly changed since I was last in Eng- 
 land, eight-and-twenty years past. The king had not either of his 
 uncles with him : the duke of Lancaster was in Aquitaine, and the 
 dukes of York and Gloucester in other parts. I was at first quite 
 astonished, and should have been comforted could I have seen an 
 
 ancient knight who had been of the bed-chamber to king Edward, 
 and was in the same capacity to the present king, as well as of hi.s 
 privy council, and could I have made myself known to him. The 
 name of this knight was sir Richard Starry. I asked if he were 
 alive : they said he was, but not then present, as he was at his resi- 
 dence in London. I then determined to address myself to sir Thomas 
 Percy, high steward of England. I found him gracious and of agree- 
 able manners, and he offered to i)resent me and my letters to the 
 king. I was rejoiced at this promise ; for it is necessary to have 
 friends to introduce one to so great a prince as the king of England. 
 He went to the king's apartments to see if it were a proper time, but 
 found the king had retired to repose : h<; therefore bade me return 
 to my inn. When I thought the king might be ri.scn, I went again 
 to the palace of the archbishop, where he lodged ; but sir Thomas 
 Percy and his people were preparing to set out for Ospringe, whence 
 he had come that morning. I asked sir Thomas's advice how to act: 
 "For the present," he said, "do not make further attempts to an- 
 nounce your arrival, but follow the king; and I will take care, when 
 he comes to his palace in this country, which he will do in two days, 
 that you shall be well lodged as long as the court tarries there." 
 
 The king was going to a beautiful palace in die county of Kent, 
 called Leeds castle, and I followed sir Thomas Percy's advice by 
 taking the road to Ospringe. I lodged at an inn where I found a 
 gallant knight of the king's chamber, but he had that morning staid 
 behind on account of a slight pain in his head that had seized him 
 the preceding night. This knight, whose name was sir William de 
 Lisle, seeing I was a foreigner and a Frencfiman, (for all who speak 
 the language of Oil* are by the English considered as Frenchmen, 
 whatever country they may come from,) made acquaintance with me, 
 and I with him, for the English are courteous to strangers. He asked 
 my situation and business in England, which I related to him at length, 
 as well as what sir Thomas Percy had advi:-jed me to do. He replied, 
 that I could not have better advice, for thf.t the king would on Friday 
 be at Leeds castle, and would find there his uncle the duke of York. 
 I was well pleased to hear this, for I had letters to the duke, and, 
 when young, was known to him while in the household of the late 
 king and queen. 
 
 I ^courted the acquaintance of sir William de Lisle, as a means of 
 gaining greater intimacy with the king's household. On the Friday, 
 v^e rode out together, and on the road I asked if he had accompanied 
 the king on his expedition to Ireland. He said he had. I then asked 
 if there were any foundation in truth for what was said of St. Patrick's 
 hole.* He replied there was ; and that he and another knight, du- 
 ring the king's stay at Dublin, had been there. They entered it at 
 sunset, remained there the whole night, and came out at sunrise the 
 next morning. I requested he would tell me whether he saw all the 
 marvellous things which are said to be seen there. He made me the 
 following answer: " When I and my companion had passed the en- 
 trance of the cave called the Purgatory of Saint Patrick, we descended 
 three or four steps (for you go down into it like a cellar,) but found 
 our heads so much affected by the heat, we seated ourselves on the 
 steps, which are of stone, and such a drowsiness came on, that we 
 slept there the whole night." I asked, if, when asleep, they knew 
 where they were, and what visions they had. He said, they had 
 
 * I/a Langue d'Oil, was the language spoken in the north of France, in centra-dis- 
 tinction to the Langue d'Oc, the dialect of the south, whence the name of the province 
 Languedoc. Oil and Oc, are now botli superseded by the modern " Oui."— £d. 
 
 * " Notiiing has rendered this county (Donegal,) so famous as the cave discovered by 
 the patron saint of Ireland, or his namesake, abbot of Nevers, about four liundred years 
 after, in wiiicii the holy monk obtained a constant exhibitioii of the torments of the 
 wicked, forthe edification of the Irish. But that it could not be Saint Patrick who first 
 invented it, is plain from his silence about it in his book ' de tribus habitaculis,' heaven, 
 earth, and hell. Henry or Hugh, monk of Saltrey, in Huntingdonshire, was the first 
 who wrote about it, and what one Owen or Tyndal, a soldier, had seen there. It was 
 about sixteen feet and a half long, by two feet one inch wide, built of freestone, covered 
 with broad flags, and green turf laid over them, and was so low and narrow that a tall 
 man cuuld hardly sit, much less stand in it. In the side was a window just wide enough 
 to admit a faint ray of light : in the floor a cavity capable of containing a man at his 
 length ; and, under a large stone at the end of the pavement, a deep pit, which had 
 opened at the prayers ofthe saint. The bottom of the cave was originally much below 
 the surface of the ground. It stood on the east side of the clmrch, in the church-yard, 
 encompassed with a wall, and surrounded by circles or celN, called the beds, scarcely 
 three leet high, denominated from several saints. TJie penitents who visited this island, 
 afl;er fasting on bread and water for nine days, and making processions round these holy 
 stations thrice a-day barefoot, for the first seven days, and six times on the eighth, wash- 
 ing their weary limbs each night m the adjoining l;ike, on the ninth enter the cave- 
 Here they observe a twenty-four hours' fast, tasting only a little water, and, upon quit- 
 ting it, bathe m the lake, and so conclude the solemnity. The original preparatory fast, 
 as we learn from Matthew Paris, was fifteen days, and as long after quittmg Uie cave 
 out of which all who entered did not return. 
 
 " Leave being first obtained ofthe bishop of the diocese, the prior represented to the 
 penitents all the horrors and difficulty of the undertaking, suggesting to them at the 
 same time an easier penance. If they persevered m their resolution, they %yere conducted 
 to the door with a procession from the convent, and, after twenty-four hour, confine- 
 ment, let out the next morning with the hke ceremony. In tJus recess, enligh' ened only 
 by a kind of twilight, which discovered a field and hall. Owen was first visited by fifteen 
 persons clothed in white, like religious, newly shorn, who encouraged hiin ngnui.i the 
 horrid scenes that were next to present themselves to his view. -They were succeeded 
 by troops of demons, who began with laying him on a burning pile, w iich he soon ex- 
 tinguished, by pronouncing the name of Christ. They then dragged Inm through the 
 several scenes of torment, where the wicked suffered .ill the variety of tortures of ancient 
 Tartarus • and standing proof against all these horrors, he was favored with a lull view 
 and description of paradise, by two venerable prelates, who refused to let him stay there. 
 He met with the same demons and monks as he west out of the cave, after which he 
 visited tiie holy sepulchre, and, at his return, taking upon him the habit, assisted in 
 fpunding Besmagovcisth Abbey,"— Gouoh's Mdition to Camden, p. 641, vol. 3. 
 
566 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &,c. 
 
 many very strange dreams, and they seemed, as they imagined, to 
 see more than they would have^done if they had been in their beds. 
 This they both were assured of. " When morning came, and we 
 were awake, the door of the cave was opened, for so we had ordered 
 it, and we came out, but instantly lost all recollection of everything 
 we had seen, and looked on the whole as a phantom." I did not 
 push the conversation further, although I should have much liked to 
 have heard what he would say of Ireland ; but other knights overtook 
 us, and conversed with him ; and thus we rode to Leeds castle, where 
 the king and his court arrived shortly after. The duke of York was 
 already there ; and I made myself known to him, by presenting him 
 letters from his cousins, the count of Hainault and the count d'Ostre. 
 vant. The duke recollected me, and made me a hearty welcome, 
 saying, " Sir John, keep with us and our people ; for we will show 
 you every courtesy and attention : we are bounden so to do, from 
 remembrance of past times, and affection to the memory of our lady- 
 mother, to whom you were attached. We have not forgotten these 
 times." I warmly thanked him, as was just, for his kind speech, and 
 was well noticed by him, sir Thomas Percy, and sir William de Lisle, 
 who carried me to the king's chamber, where I was introduced to 
 him by his uncle, the duke of York. 
 
 The king received me graciously and kindly ; he took all the letters 
 I presented to him, and having read them attentively, said I was wel- 
 come, and that since I had belonged to the household of the late king 
 and queen, his grandfather and grandmother, I must consider myself 
 still as of the royal household of England. This day I did not offer 
 him the book I had brought ; for sir Thomas Percy told me it was 
 not a fit opportunity, as he was much occupied with serious business. 
 The council was deeply engaged on two subjects ; first, in respect to 
 the negotiation with France, to treat of a marriage between the king 
 and the lady Isabella, eldest daughter to the king of France, who at 
 that time was about eight years old. The embassadors appointed to 
 make this proposal to France, were the earl of Rutland, cousin -ger- 
 man to the king, the earl marshal, the archbishop of Dublin, the 
 bishop of Lye, the lord Clifford, lord Beaumont, lord Hugh Spencer, 
 and several others.* 
 
 Secondly, the lord de la Barde, the lord de la Taride, the lord de 
 Pinterne, the lord de CheLteauneauf, the lords de Levesque and»de 
 Copane, the chief magistrate of Bordeaux, Bayonne, and Dax, were 
 come to England, and greatly persecuted the king, since his return 
 from Ireland, for an answer to their petitions and remonstrances on 
 the gift the king had made his uncle, the duke of Lancaster, of all 
 Aquitaine, with its lordships, baronies, and dependencies, which had 
 appertained to the king and crown of England. The above-men- 
 tioned lords and principal cities and towns in Aquitaine, maintained 
 that such a gift could not be made, and that it was null ; for that the 
 whole of Aquitaine was a fief depending solely on the crown of Eng- 
 land, and that they would never consent thus to be disjoined from 
 it. They had made several reasonable propositions for an accommo- 
 dation, which I will relate in proper time and place. In order that 
 these matters might be more fully considered, and indeed they re- 
 quired it, the king had summoned the principal barons and prelates 
 of the realm to meet him on Magdalen-day, at his palace of Eltham, 
 seven miles from London, and the same distance from Dartford. 
 On the fourth day after the king's arrival, when I learnt that he, his 
 council, and the duke of York, were about to quit Leeds castle and 
 go to Rochester, in their way to Eltham, I set out in their company. 
 
 CHAPTER LXIII. 
 
 THE INFORMATION FROISSAKT GAINS IN ENGLAND, TOUCHING THE OPPOSI- 
 TION OF THE INHABITANTS OF AQUITAINE TO THE GIFT THE KING OF 
 ENGLAND HAD MADE OF IT TO THE DUKE OF LANCASTER. THE COMMIS- 
 SIGNERS SENT TO REMONSTRATE ON THE MATTER WITH THE KING, CAN- 
 NOT OBTAIN A DECISIVE ANSWER RELATIVE THERETO. 
 
 On the road to Rochester, I asked sir William de Lisle and sir 
 John dc Grailly, governor of Bouteville, the cause of the king's jour- 
 ney to London, and why the parliament was to be assembled at 
 Eltham. They both answered me satisfactorily ; but sir John Grailly 
 particularly informed me why the lords of Gascony, and the deputies 
 from the chief towns were come to England. He was so well ac- 
 quainted with them, being as it were from the same country and fel- 
 low subjects to England, that they hid nothing from him. He said: 
 " That when the duke of Lancaster came last to Aquitaine, he was 
 provided with deeds sealed with the great seal of England, which 
 had been regularly agreed to in parliament and signed by the dukes 
 of York and Gloucester, to whom Aquitaine might possibly revert, 
 by succession, to king Richard of England, who had no children, and 
 these two dukes were brothets-german, by father and mother, to the 
 duke of Lancaster. The duke of Lancaster sent part of his council 
 to Bordeaux, to inform the mayor and magistrates of his coming and 
 the cause of it. They were greatly surprised on hearing it ; but, not- 
 withstanding, they well feasted the commissioners he had sent, in 
 
 * See the Foedera for full particulars. The embassadors were the archbishop of Dublin, 
 the bishop of Saint David's, the earl of Rutland, the earl marshal and sir William Scrope. 
 They were to propose also a marriage, between the earl of Rutland and the youngest 
 i»uphter of the king of France. The instructions to these embassadors are dated " Leeds 
 castie.Sthdayof July 1385" 
 
 honor to the king, to whom they owed service and obedience. They 
 desired time to consider of their answer, which being granted, they 
 replied, that the duke of Lancaster, as son to king Edward of happy 
 memory, who had been their lord, was welcome, but not in any other 
 capacity, as they had not yet sufficiently weighed the matter to de- 
 termine on receiving him as their lord ; for their sovereign, king 
 Richard, to whom they had sworn fealty, had not acquitted them of 
 their obediencie. The duke's commissioners replied, that as to this, 
 the duke would take upon himself to satisfy them they should never 
 have any trouble from his nephew the king of England. When 
 those of Bordeaux saw themselves thus hardly pressed, they made 
 another excuse by saying: "Gentlemen, the grant we perceive in 
 eludes not only us but the cities of Bayonne and Dax, and the pre 
 lates and barons of Gascony who are under the obedience of the 
 king of England. Go to them, and as they shall regulate we will do 
 the same." The commissioners, not being able to get any other 
 answer, left Bordeaux, and returned to the duke of Lancaster at 
 Libourne. When the duke heard the above answer, he becanie very 
 thoughtful, and foresaw that the business he was come upon would 
 not be so soon settled as he had at first imagined, or had been made 
 to understand. He sent, however, his commissioners to Bayonne 
 who were received by the Bayonnois in just the same manner as they 
 had been received at Bordeaux, nor could they obtain a difterent 
 answer. 
 
 At length, the prelates, barons, and deputies from all the towns of 
 Cascony under the obedience of England, assembled, and, having 
 debated the justice of the king df England's grant to the duke of 
 Lancaster, came to the following conclusion. They were very wil- 
 ling to receive in their castles, cities and towns, the duke of Lancas- 
 ter, as son to the noble king Edward of happy memory, and as uncle 
 to king Richard of England ; but on condition he would solemnly 
 swear, that himself and people would peaceably demean themselves 
 during their stay, and they would not take anything by force, but 
 pay ready money for whatever they might want; nor should he, the 
 duke of Lancaster, extend the powers of the crown to oppress any 
 one, nor do so by other means. The duke replied, that he" was not 
 come to hurt or oppress the people, but, on the contrary, to guard 
 and defend them as his own inheritance, and entreated that the will 
 of the king of England should be complied with. But the country, 
 with one voice, declared they would not be disjoined from the crown 
 of England, and that it was not in the power of the king of England 
 to turn them over to another. This matter was disputed for a long 
 time between the duke of Lancaster, and the Gascons ; and when he 
 saw he could not prevail on them to receive him as their lord, he re- 
 quested they would send sufficiently-authorized persons to the king 
 of England, as he would do on his part, and whatever the parliament 
 of England should determine, whether in his favor or not, he would 
 abide by. The Gascons, thinking this a very reasonable proposal from 
 the duke, agreed to it; and he then came with his attendants to reside 
 among them, at his former lodgings in the abbey of Saint Andrew. 
 The prelates and barons of Gascony as well as the cities of Bayonne 
 and Dax, selected proper commissioners to send to England. 
 
 When the king of France, his uncles, and ministers, heard for cer- 
 tain, that the duke of Lancaster had been peaceably received in 
 Bordeaux, and that he had there fixed his residence, they knew not 
 what to think of it, nor whether he would adhere to the truces that 
 had been made between France and England. This gave them so 
 much uneasiness, that they resolved to send embassadors to the duke 
 of Lancaster to learn his intentions. The lord de Boucicaut, marshal 
 of France, sir John de Chateaumorant and sir John Barrois des Barres, 
 were chosen for this purpose, and they were to have under their com- 
 mand one thousand well appointed %ien-at-arms. They left Paris, 
 and continued their march to Agen, where they quartered themselves 
 as well as in the surrounding country : they then sent heralds and 
 messengers to the duke of Lancaster, in the city of Bordeaux, to 
 notify their wishes to speak with him. The duke made the messen- 
 gers good cheer, heard what they had to say, and wrote back to their 
 lords, that since they were desirous to speak with him, he was anx- 
 ious to meet them ; and, in order to give them less trouble, would go 
 to Bergerac, where they would confer together. The messengers, 
 on their return to Agen, gave the letters from the duke of Lancaster, 
 which satisfied them as to their safety, and they made preparations 
 accordingly. As soon as they heard of the duke's arrival at Berge- 
 rac, they left the city of Agen, and marched thither, where they found 
 the gates open to receive them. The lords entered the town, and 
 went to the hotels which had been prepared for them ; but their men 
 lodged themselves in the suburbs and adjacent villages. The three 
 lords waited on the duke of Lancaster, who kindly received them, as 
 he knew well how to do; and in reply to what they urged, he said, 
 " that he wished always to be a good neighbor, and on friendly terms 
 with the king and realm of France, and to adhere to every article of 
 the truces that had been lately made between France, England, and 
 their allies. He had been very active in fonning these truces, and 
 of course would be unwilling any way to infringe them ; and of this 
 they might be perfectly assured." 
 
 The answer of the duke was highly gratifying to the French }ords, 
 who remained with him on the most friendly terms. He entertained 
 them grandly at dinner and supper in the castle of Bergerac, after 
 which they separated in a very amicable manner. The duke returned 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 567 
 
 to Bordeaux, and the French lords toward Paris ; but in their way 
 they met the duke of Berry in Poitiers, to whom they related all they 
 had done, and the duke of Lancaster's answer. The duke of Berry 
 thought it satisfactory and reasonable, as did the king of France and 
 the duke of Burgundy, when the three lords reported it to them, on 
 their amval at Paris. Things remained on this assurance quiet. 
 " What after happened I have told you," added sir John de Grailly ; 
 "for the duke of Lancaster sent hither some of the principal of his 
 council, such as sir William de la Perriere, sir Peter Cliqueton, and 
 ,wo doctors of laws, master John Huche and master John Richards 
 de Lincestre, to plead his cause before the king, his uncles and coun- 
 cil.* It is for this reason the king is now going to Eltham ; for as 
 Thursday next is Magdalen-day, the parliament will meet there. 
 What decision they will come to, I cannot say ; but this I know, that 
 the duke of Gloucester will be present, and be violent in his support 
 of the duke of Lancaster's claims ; for I have heard from some of 
 the English who ought to know, that he would cheerfully see his 
 brother firmly established in Guyenne, and never to return to Eng- 
 land, for he finds him his superior, and for this reason is desirous he 
 should gain the duchy of Aquitaine. The duke of Gloucester has a 
 good head, but is proud, and wonderfully overbearing in his man- 
 ners. Let him say or act as he pleases, he is always popular with 
 tlie commonalty, for they are mutually attached to each other. He 
 was the cause of the execution of that valiant knight sir Simon Bur- 
 ley. He it was, likewise, who caused the banishment of the duke 
 of Ireland, the archbishop of York, and other knights of the king's 
 council, who were either put to death on very slight grounds, or 
 forced into foreign countries, during the time the duke of Lancaster, 
 who is more feared than loved in this country, was in Castillo. 
 
 " Let us for the present," said sir John de Grailly, " quit this mat- 
 ter, and speak of the second object that occupies the council. It 
 seems to me, from what I have seen and heard, that the king of Eng- 
 land wishes to marry again, and has had researches made every- 
 where, but in vain, for a suitable lady. If the duke of Burgundy or 
 count of Haniault had daughters of a proper age, he would not be 
 averse to either; but they have none that are not already betrothed. 
 He has been told that the king of Navarre has sisters and daughters, 
 but he will not hear of them. The duke of Gloucester has likewise 
 a grown up girl and marriageable, and he would be well pleased if 
 his nephew would choose her ; but the king says, she is too nearly 
 related, being his cousin-german. King Richard's thoughts are so 
 bent on the eldest daughter of the king of France, he will not hear 
 of any other : it causes great wonder in this country that he should 
 be so eager to marry the daughter of his adversary, and he is not the 
 better beloved for it. This he seems indiflferent to, and plainly shows 
 that henceforward he will prefer war with any other country rather 
 than with France. It was known from experience how anxious he 
 was that a stable peace should be established between the two coun- 
 tries ; for he said the wars had lasted too long between him and his 
 predecessors with France, and that too many valiant men have been 
 slain on both sides, to the great weakening of the defenders of the Chris- 
 tian faith. To put this idea out of the king's mind, for it is no way 
 agreeable to the people of England, that he should connect himself 
 by marriage with France, they have told him the lady was by far 
 too young, and that for five or six years to come she would not be of 
 a proper age for a wife. He replied by saying, that every day she 
 would increase in age. In addition to this, he gave pleasantly his 
 reasons for his preferring her : that since she was young, he should 
 educate her, and bring her up to his own mind, and to the manners 
 of the English ; and that for himself, he was young enough to wait 
 until she should be of proper age for his wife. Nothing can make 
 him change his resolution, and before you leave this country, you 
 may perhaps witness many strange things. It is for this and the 
 other business I mentioned that he is journeying toward London." 
 
 With such conversation did sir John de Grailly entertain me while 
 travelling between Rochester and Dartford. He was the bastard-son 
 of that gallant knight the captal de Buch. I eagerly listened to all 
 he said, and treasured his words in my memory ; for I rode chiefly 
 in his company, and sir William de Lisle, the whole way from Leeds 
 castle to Eltham. 
 
 The king arrived at Eltham on a Tuesday. On the Wednesday, 
 the lords came from all parts. There was the duke of Gloucester, 
 the earls of Derby, Arundel, Northumberland, Kent, Rutland, the 
 earl marshal, the archbishops of Canterbury and of York, the bishops 
 of London and Winchester : in short, all who had been summoned 
 arrived at Eltliaui on the Thursday, by eight o'clock in the morning. 
 The pari-.ament was holden in the king's apartment, in the presence 
 of the k ng, his uncles, and council. The knights from Gascony 
 and the deputies from the cities and towns, as well as those sent by 
 the duke of Lancaster, were present. 
 
 I cannot say what passed at this parliament, for I was not admitted, 
 nor were any but the members of it. It sat for upward of four hours. 
 When it was over, I renewed my acquaintance after dinner with an 
 ancient knight whom in my youth I well knew, when he was of the 
 the chamber of king Edward. He was one of the principal advisers 
 of king Richard, and deserving of it: his name was sir Richard 
 Sturry. He immediately recollected me, though it was twenty-four 
 
 * HoUingshed calls them sir William Perreer, sir Peter Clifton, master John Huich, an4 
 master John Richards, a canon of Leicester, 
 
 years since we had seen each other; the last time was at CoUeberge,* 
 at Brussels, in the hotel of duke Winceslaus and the duchess Jane oi 
 Brabant. Sir Richard Sturry seemed very glad to see me, and madf 
 me a hearty welcome. He asked me many questions, which I an- 
 swered as well as I could. While we were walking near the king :s 
 apartment at Pjltham, I inquired if he could inform me what had bee i 
 the determination of the parliament : having mused awhile, he said 
 he would tell me, for it was not worth while to conceal what must 
 shortly bo made public. 
 
 " You know," continued the knight, " or have heard, that the duke 
 of Lancaster left England for Aquitaine, on receiving the magnificent 
 gift the king our lord made him. The king loves all who pretend 
 friendship for him, but particularly the duke of Lancaster ; and out 
 of gratitude, which he strongly feels, for the r^rcat services the duke has 
 done the crown, as well on this as on the other side of the sea, the king 
 has given to him and his heirs for ever the whole of the duchy of Aqui- 
 taine, with all its dependencies, excepting the homage, which is the 
 sole thing he has reserved for the crown of England in times to come. 
 This gilt has gone through every legal form, with the approbation and 
 consent of his other imcles and the English parliament. The king had 
 specially commanded all his subjects within the boundaries of Aqui- 
 taine, to obey punctually his well.beloved uncle the duke of Lancas- 
 ter, us their sovereign lord, and to pay hiu^ homage and service, in 
 the usual manner as they have done to their lords in former times. 
 Should any prove rebellious to these orders, the king gives the duke 
 of Lancaster full powers to punish such v.'ithin three days after their 
 disobedience, without any expectation of support from him. It has 
 happened, however, that notwithstanding these strict orders of the 
 king, the barons, knights, gentlemen, cities and towns of Gascony, 
 under the obedience of England, have united together in opposition 
 to the duke of Lancaster, and refuse to obey him, declaring and 
 maintaining that the gift the king made his uncle the duke of Lan. 
 caster is null and void. The duke, who is desirous of acting in this 
 business by fair means, has listened to their reasonings on the sub- 
 ject, and advised, to prevent further mischief, that they should send 
 hither properly-instructed persons to lay their complaints before the 
 king, and declare their reasons for having opposed his orders. 
 
 " They have certainly, this day, very ably explained the cause of 
 refusing their obedience to the duke of Lancaster, and have given 
 the king and his council enough to think upon. They will probably 
 succeed in their mission, and I will tell you my reasons for so think- 
 ing ; but you will keep them secret, until the matter shall become 
 more public." I replied, that he might depend on my doing it. He 
 then continued : " I believe it was the official of Bordeaux, who, for 
 his learning, was their spokesman ; he began by shovying their pro- 
 curations from the different towns, that greater faith might be given 
 to what he should say. He then declared, that ' the cities of Bor- 
 deax, Bayonne, Dax, and all the lordships dependent on them, or 
 within their limits and jurisdictions, are of such noble condition, that 
 no king of P]ngland, by any act of his, can disjoin them from the 
 domain of the crown of England, nor alienate or dispose of them to 
 any child, uncle or brother he may have, nor by any way of marriage- 
 settlement nor otherwise. The above-named tov/ns have received, 
 from diflferent kings of England, certain privileges, which their suc- 
 cessors have sworn to maintain v/ithout any infringement ; and the 
 moment a king of England comes into possession of the crown of 
 England and its dependencies, he swears on the missal in his hand, 
 to preserve inviolate all their privileges, which you, dear sire, have 
 also done, as these papers will prove.' He then produced charters, 
 fairly engrossed and sealed with the great seal of England, which 
 king Richard, who was then present, had given them, and read the 
 whole, clause by clause. The contents of the charters were well 
 understood, for they were in Latin and French ; and at the end he 
 named several great barons and prelates, to the number of eleven, 
 who had been nominated as sureties. 
 
 " When the papers were read, each lord looked at his neighbor and 
 to the king, but not one said a word in reply. The official, having 
 finished reading his deeds, thus spoke, addressing himself to the king : 
 ' Most beloved and renowned sovereign, and you, my dear lords, all 
 what you have just heard, am I charged by the deputies of the prin- 
 cipal towns and inhabitants of Gascony to lay before you, and to 
 maintain their dependence solely on the crown of England, as the 
 charters that have been shown plainly declare. Should the country 
 be inclined to receive the duke of Lancaster for its lord, and be freed 
 from the service and homage it owes you, the loss would be very 
 great to England ; for if, at this moment, the duke is attached to the 
 king, and attentive to preserve the privileges of the crown of Eng. 
 land, that love and affection will, in course of time, be much weak- 
 ened by his successive heirs, and by intermarriages that may take 
 place : it is necessary that marriages should be concluded between 
 great princes, for the more effectually preserving the love of their 
 subjects. Now it may happen, in times to come, that the heirs of the ' 
 duke of Lancaster shall unite themselves by marriage with the daugh- 
 ters of the kings of France, the dukes of Berry, Brittany, the counts 
 of Foix or of Armagnac, the kings of Navarre, the dukes of Anjou 
 
 * " CoUeberge." I do not understand this passage, for the town of Colberg is in the 
 duchy of Ponieraniii. It never could have been there they met. There is a full stop at 
 the end of Colteber^ ii? tlie printed and MS. copies, The MSS. io,y fourteen yem ins1«M 
 i of tw^nty-fouv. 
 
568 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN. &c. 
 
 or of Maine, and form alliances with their connections on the other 
 side of the sea, claiming the whole sovereignty of Guienne, and ruin- 
 ing the country, by putting it in opposition to England. The king of 
 England would probably, in such a case, have great difficulty in 
 recoveriiig the rights due to the crown. Condescend, therefore, most 
 noble king, and you, my dear lords, to consider well all the reasons 
 I have laid before you ; for the whole country is unanimous and deter- 
 mined to remain under the obedience of our much redoubted lord 
 and king, and in dependence on the crown of England.' The offi. 
 cial here ended his speech ; and the prelates and lords, looking to each 
 or.er, approached the king, conducted by his two uncles and the earls 
 of Derby and Arundel. 
 
 "It was then suggested to those who had come from Aquitaine, to 
 leave the chamber until called for, which they did, with the two 
 knights who had been sent by the duke of Lancaster. This being 
 done, the king demanded from the prelates and barons what answer 
 should be made. The prelates referred the answer to the two uncles 
 of the king, because the matter more nearly affected them. At first, 
 they excused themselves, saying, it was a public concern, and should 
 be deliberated on in common, and not treated as any matter of favor. 
 The business thus remained for some time ; but the duke of Glou- 
 cester being desired to give his opinion, he said, it would be a strong 
 measure to take from the king a gift that he had made with the 
 unanimous consent of his council, and that had been invested with 
 every legal form, because his subjects were rebellious ; that the king 
 was not lord of his inheritance if he could not dispose of it as he 
 pleased. Some commented on this speech, while others had the 
 courage to say the answer was not reasonable, though they dared not 
 contradict it ; for the duke of Gloucester was much feared. The 
 earl of Derby, son of the duke of Lancaster, added, ' Good uncle, you 
 have well spoken, and justly explained the matter, and I support 
 v/hat you have said.' The council on this began to separate, and to 
 murmur one to another ; but they did not call in the envoys from 
 Guyenne, nor those from the duke of Lancaster." 
 
 Here the old knight ended his conversation ; but I learnt from him 
 afterwards, that when the king heard this, he dissembled his opinion, 
 ^ith the intention of again summoning his council after dinner, to 
 know if any measures, more to the advantage of the crown, should 
 be adopted, or if anything further should be done in respect to Aqui- 
 taine. 
 
 The king made the archbishop of Canterbury speak on the busi- 
 ness of his marriage, as he had ordered him in the morning, and 
 who should be sent to France, for he was very earnest that this mat- 
 ter should be accomplished. It had before been in debate, and was 
 nearly agreed to, and those were named who were to cross the sea, 
 although their "instructions had not been given to them. In this 
 council it was ordered, that the archbishop of Dublin, the earl of 
 Rutland, the earl-marshal, the lord Beaumont, sir Hugh Spencer, sir 
 Lewis Cliflford, to the number of twenty knights and forty squires of 
 honor, should wait on the king of France, and propose a treaty of 
 marriage between the king of England and the lady Isabella, his 
 daughter, who might then be about eight years old. She had been 
 betrothed before to the duke of Brittany's son, as you have seen, 
 when the meeting took place, and peace was made between the king 
 of France and the duke of Brittany, at Tours. To break this would 
 be difficult, for the king of France and his uncles had put their seals 
 to the treaty. Notwithstanding this obstacle, the English embassa- 
 dors, having received their instructions, left London, and crossing the 
 sea at Dover, arrived in two or three days at Calais. They staid 
 there five days to refresh themselves and their horses, and then 
 departed, taking the road to Amiens, having sent before the Irish 
 herald March, who had brought them passports from the king of 
 France on his return to Calais. The lord de Monchourei* was 
 also sent as a guide, and to have all cities and towns opened to 
 them, as well as to provide for what they might want. We will 
 leave them for a little, and return to the matters we were before 
 speaking of. 
 
 As I have mentioned, the deputies from Gascony, and from ihe 
 chief towns in Aquitaine, were earnest in their solicitations to the 
 king and council that they might remain attached to the crown of 
 England, according to their ancient rights and privileges, which it 
 had been repeatedly sworn should be observed, in spite of every 
 cause, obstacle, or condition to the contrary. Three parts of the 
 council, and the unanimous voice of the people of England, were on 
 their side ; but Thomas of Woodstock, duke of Gloucester, youngest 
 son of the late king Edward, opposed them, and plainly showed he 
 wished his brother of Lancaster to be detained in Aquitaine, for he 
 felt he was too powerful when in England, and too nearly allied to 
 the king. As for his brother of York, he held him cheap, for he 
 interfered little in public affairs, and was without malice or guile, 
 w*«iing only to live in quiet : he had besides just married a young 
 anc leautiful wife, daughter to the earl of Kent, with whom he spent 
 most of his time which was not occupied with other amusements. 
 The duke of Gloucester was cunning and malicious* and continually 
 soliciting favors from his nephew king Richard, pleading poverty, 
 though he abounded in wealth; for he was constable of England, 
 duke of Gloucester, earl of Buckingham, Essex, and Northampton. 
 He had, besides, pensions on the king's exchequer, to the amount of 
 
 * Monchourel. In the MSS. Mont-cauiel. 
 
 four thousand nobles a year ; and he would not exert himself in any 
 way to serve his king or country, if he were not well paid for it. 
 He was violently adverse to those of Aquitaine in this business, and 
 did everything in his power that the duke of Lancaster might not 
 return to England, for then he would have everything his own way. 
 
 To show that he governed the king and was the greatest in the 
 council, as soon as he had delivered his opinion and saw that many 
 were murmuring at it, and that the prelates and lords were discus- 
 sing it in small parties, he quitted the king's chamber, followed by 
 the earl of Derby, and entered the hall at Eltham, v/here he ordered 
 a table to be spread, and they both sat down to dinner while the 
 others were debating the business. When the duke of York heard 
 they were at dinner, he joined them. After their dinner, which took 
 no long time, the duke of Gloucester, dissembling his thoughts, took 
 leave of the king as he was seated at table, mounted his horse, and 
 returned to London. The earl of Derby remained that and the en- 
 suing day, with the king and the lords, but those from Aquitaine 
 could not procure any answer to their petitions. 
 
 CHAPTER LXIV. 
 
 FROISSART PRESENTS HIS BOOK OF LO\ :: POEMS TO KING RICHARD OF EN(x- 
 LAND. HE RELATES WHAT HE HAD HEARD OF THE LAST EXPEDITION 
 OF THE ENGLISH TO IRELAND. 
 
 I HAVE taken much pleasure in detailing everything relative to the 
 dispute with Gascony and Aquitaine, that the truth of my history may 
 be apparent ; and because I, the author of it, could not be present in 
 these councils, that ancient and valiant knight sir Richard Sturry 
 told me everything, word for word, as I have transcribed. On the 
 Sunday, the whole council were gone to London, excepting the duke 
 of York, who remained with the king, and sir Richard Sturry : these 
 two, in conjunctioii with sir Thomas Percy, mentioned me again to 
 the king, who desired to see the book I had brought for him. I pre- 
 sented it to him in his chamber, for I had it with me, and laid it on 
 his bed. He opened and looked into it with much pleasure. He 
 ought to have been pleased, for it was handsomely written and illu- 
 minated, and bound in crimson velvet, with ten silver-gilt studs, and 
 roses of the same in the middle, with two large clasps of silver-gilt, 
 richly worked with roses in the centre. The king asked me what 
 the book treated of: I replied, "Of love I" He was pleased with 
 the answer, and dipped into several places, reading parts aloud, for 
 he read and spoke French perfectly well, and then gave it to one of 
 his knights, called hir Richard Credon, to carry to his oratory, and 
 made me many acknowledgments for it. 
 
 It happened this same Sunday, after the king had received my 
 book so handsomely, an English squire being in the king's chamber, 
 called Henry Castide,* a man of prudence and character, and who 
 spoke French well, made acquaintance with me, because he saw the 
 king and lords give me so hearty a reception, and had likewise no- 
 ticed the book I had presented to the king : he also imagined, from 
 his first conversation, that I was an historian ; indeed, he had been 
 told so by sir Richard Sturry. He thus addressed me : " Sir John, 
 have you as yet found any one to give you an account of the late 
 expedition to Ireland, and how four kings of that country submitted 
 themselves to the obedience of the king ?" I replied, that I had 
 not. " I will tell it you, then," said the squire, who might be about 
 fifty years old, '* in order that, when you are returned home, you may 
 at your leisure insert it in your history, to be had in perpetual remem- 
 brance." I was delighted to hear this, and offered him my warmest 
 thanks. 
 
 Henry Castide thus began : " It is not in the memory of man, that 
 any king of England ever led so large an armament of men-at-arms 
 and archerd to make war on the Irish, as the present king. He re- 
 mained upward of nine months in Ireland, at great expense, which, 
 however, was cheerfully defrayed by his kingdom ; for the principal 
 cities and towns of England tliought it was well laid out, when they 
 saw their king return home with honor. Only gentlemen and archers 
 had been employed on this expeditiui. ; and there were with the king 
 four thousand knights and squires a ad thirty thousand archers, all 
 regularly paid every week, and so well they were satisfied. Te tell 
 you the truth, Ireland is one ot the worst countries to make war in, 
 or to conquer ; for there are such impenetrable and extensive forests- 
 lakes, and bogs, there is no k^iowing how to pass them, and carry on 
 war advatjtageously : it is so thinly inhabited, that, whenever the 
 Irish please, they desert the towns, and take refuge in these forests, 
 and live in huts made of boughs, like wild beasts; and whenevei 
 they perceive any parties advancing with hostile dispositions, and 
 about to enter their country, they fly to such narrow passes, it is im- 
 possible to follow them. When they find a favorable opportunity 
 to attack their enemies to advantage, which frequently happens, from 
 their knowledge of the country, they fail not to seize it ; and no man- 
 at-arms, be he ever so well mounted, can overtake them, so light are 
 they of foot. Sometimes they leap from the ground behind a horse- 
 man, and embrace the rider (for they are very strong in their arms) 
 so tightly, that he can no way get rid of them. The Irish have pointed 
 
 * "Castide." The MSS. Cristeed. Stowe, Henry Cristall. Sauvage afterwards caU« 
 him Cristelle. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 569 
 
 knives, with broad blades, sharp on both sides Uke a dart-head, with 
 which they kill their enemies ; but they never consider them as dead 
 until they have cut their throats like sheep, opened their bellies and 
 taken out their hearts, which they carry off with them, and some say, 
 who are well acquainted with their manners, that they devour them as 
 delicious morsels. They never accept of ransom for their prisoners; 
 and when they find they have not the advantage in any skirmishes, 
 they instantly separate, and hide themselves in hedges, bushes, or 
 holes under the ^^-round, so that they seem to disappear, no one knows 
 whither. 
 
 Irish Chieftains making a Charge. Metrical History, Harleian MSS. 
 
 " Sir William Windsor, who has longer made war in Ireland than 
 any other English knight, has never been able during his residence 
 among them, to learn correctly their manners, nor the condition of 
 the Irish people. They are a very hardy race, of great subtlety, and 
 of various tempers, paying no attention to cleanliness, nor to any 
 gentleman, although their country is governed by kings, of whom 
 there are several, but seem desirous to remain in the savage state 
 they have been brought up in. True it is, that four of the most 
 potent kings in Ireland have submitted to the king of England, but 
 more through love and good-humor, than by battle or force. The 
 earl of Ormond, whose lands join their kingdoms, took great pains 
 to induce them to go to Dublin, where the king our lord resided, and 
 to submit themselves to him and to the crown of England. This 
 was considered by every one as a great acquisition, and the object 
 of the armament accomplished : for, during the whole of king Ed- 
 ward's reign of happy memory, he had never such success as king 
 Richard. The honor is great, but the advantage is little, for with 
 6uch savages nothing can be done. I will tell you an instance of 
 their savageness, that it may serve as an example to other nations. 
 You may depend on its truth ; for I was an eye-witness of what I 
 shall relate, as they were about a month under my care and govern- 
 ance at Dublin, to teach the usages of England, by orders of the 
 king and council, because I knew their language as well as I did 
 French and English, for in my youth I was educated among them ; 
 and earl Thomas, father of the present earl of Ormond, kept me with 
 him, out of affection, for my good horsemanship. 
 
 " It happened that the earl above mentioned was sent with three 
 hundred lances and one thousand archers to make war on the Irish ; 
 for the English had kept up a constant warfare against them in hopes 
 of bringing them under their subjection. The earl of Ormond, whose 
 lands bordered on his opponents, had that day mounted me on one 
 of his best horses, and I rode by bis side. The Irish having formed 
 an ambuscade to surprise the English, advanced from it ; but were 
 BO sharply attacked by the archers, whose arrows they could not 
 withstand, for they are not armed against them, that they soon re- 
 treated. The earl pursued them, and I, who was well mounted, kept 
 close by him : it chanced that in this pursuit my horse took fright, 
 and ran away with me, in spite of all my efforts, into the midst of the 
 enemy. My friends could never overtake me ; and, in passing through 
 the Iiish, one of them, by a great feat of agility, leaped on the back 
 of my horse, and held me tight, with both of his arms, but did me no 
 harm Wjth lance or knife. He pressed my horse forward for more 
 than tw o hours, and conducted him to a large bush, in a very retired 
 spot, where he found his companions who had run thither to escape 
 the English. He seemd much rejoiced to have made me his prisoner, 
 and carried me to his house, which was strong, and in a town sur- 
 
 rounded with wood, palisades, and stagnant water : the name of this 
 town was Herpelin.* The gentleman who had taken me was caAled 
 Brin Costeret,t a very handsome man. I have frequently made in- 
 quiries after him, and hear that he is still alive, but very old. This 
 Bryan Costeret kept me with him seven years, and gave me his 
 daughter in marriage, by whom I have two girls. I will tell you 
 how I obtained my liberty. It happened in the seventh year of my 
 captivity, that one of their kings, Arthur Macquemaire, king of Lein- 
 ster, raised an army against Lionel duke of Clarence, son to king 
 Edward of England, and both armies met very near the city of Lein. 
 
 ster. In the battle that followed, many 
 were slain and taken on both sides ; 
 but, the English gaining the day, the 
 Irish were forced to fly, and the king 
 of Leinster escaped. The father of my 
 wife was made prisoner, under the ban- 
 ner of the duke of Clarence ; and as 
 Bryan Costeret was mounted on my 
 horse, which was remembered to have 
 belonged to the earl of Ormond, it was 
 then first known that I was alive, and 
 that he had honorably entertained me 
 at his house in Herpelin, and given me 
 his daughter in marriage. The duke of 
 Clarence, sir William Windsor, and all 
 our party, were well pleased to hear this 
 news, and he was offered his liberty, on 
 condition that he gave me mine, and 
 sent me to the English army, with 
 my wife and children. He at first re- 
 fused these terms, from his love to me, 
 his daughter, and our children ; but, 
 when he found no other terms would 
 be accepted, he agreed to them, pro- 
 vided my eldest daughter remained with 
 him. I returned to England with my 
 wife and youngest daughter, and fixed 
 my residence at Bristol. My two chil. 
 dren are married : the one established 
 in Ireland has three boys and two girls, 
 and her sister four sons and two daugh- 
 ters. 
 
 " Because the Irish language is as fa- 
 miliar to me as English, for I have always spoken it in my family, 
 and introduce it among my grandchildren as much as I can, I have 
 been chosen by our lord and king to teach and accustom the four Irish 
 kings, who have sworn obedience for ever to England, to the manners 
 of the English. I must say, that these kings, who were under my 
 management, were of coarse manners and understandings ; and, in 
 spite of all that I could do to soften their language and nature, very 
 little progress has been made, for they would frequently return to 
 their former coarse behavior. 
 
 " I will more particularly relate the charge that was given me over 
 them, and how I managed it. The king of England intended these 
 four kings should adopt the manners, appearance, and dress of the 
 English, for he wanted to cre;ite them knights. He gave them first 
 a very handsome house in the city of Dublin for themselves and at- 
 tendants, where I was ordered to reside with them, and never to leave 
 the house without an absolute necessity. I lived with them three or 
 four days without any way interfering, that we might become accus- 
 tomed to e^ch other, and I allowed them to act just as they pleased. 
 I observed, that as they sat at table, they made grimaces, that did not 
 seem to me graceful nor becoming ; and I resolved in my mind to 
 make them drop that custom. When these kings were seated at 
 table, and the first dish was served, they would make their minstrels 
 and principal servants sit beside them, and eat from their plates and 
 drink from their cups. They told me, this v>'as a praiseworthy cus 
 torn of their country, where everything was in common but the bed. 
 I permitted this to be done for three days ; but on the fourth I ordered 
 the tables to be laid out and covered properly, placing the four kings 
 at an upper table, the minstrels at another below, and the servants 
 lower still. They looked at each other, and refused to eat, saying I 
 had deprived them of their old custom in which they had been brought 
 up. I replied with a smile, to appease them, that their custom was 
 not decent nor suitable to their rank, nor would it be honorable for 
 them to continue it ; for that now they should conform to the man. 
 ners of the English ; and to instruct them in these particulars was 
 the motive of my residence with them, having been so ordered by 
 the king of England and his council. When they heard this, they 
 made no further opposition to whatever I proposed, from having 
 placed themselves under the obedience of England, and continued 
 good-humoredly to persevere in it as long as I staid with them. 
 
 " They had another custom I knew to be common in the country, 
 which was the not wearing breeches. I had, in consequence, plenty 
 of breeches made of linen and cloth, which I gave to the kings and 
 their attendants, and accustomed them to wear them. I took away 
 many rude articles, as well in their dress as other things, and had 
 
 * " Herpelin." In MSS. Herpelepin. 
 r " Brin Costeret." Q. Bryan Costeret. 
 
570 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENG 
 
 LAI^D, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 great difficulty, at the first, to induce them to wear robes of silken 
 cloth, trimmed with squirrel-skin or minever, for the kings only 
 wrapped themselves up in an Irish cloak. In riding, they neither 
 used saddles nor stirrups, and I had some trouble to make them con- 
 form in this respect to the Englioh manners. 
 
 " I once made inquiry concerning their faith ; but they seemed so 
 much displeased, I was forced to silence: they said they believed in 
 God and the Trinity, without any difference from our creed. I asked 
 which pope they were inclined to : they replied, without hesitation, 
 * To that at Rome.' I inquired, if they would like to receive the 
 order of knighthood ? for the king would willingly create them such, 
 after the usual modes of France, England, and other countries. Yney 
 said they were knights already, which ought to satisfy them. I asked 
 when they were made ; they answered, at seven years old ; that in 
 Ireland a king makes his son a knight, and should the child have 
 lost his father, then the nearest relation ; and the young knight 
 begins to learn to tilt with a light lance against a shield fixed to a 
 post in a field, and the more lan:ces he breaks the more honor he ac- 
 quires. ' By this method,' added they, ' are our young knights trained, 
 more especially kings' sons.' Although I asked this, I was before 
 well acquainted with the manner of educating their children to arms. 
 I made no furthei- reply than by saying, this kind of childish knight- 
 hood would not satisfy the king of England, and that he would create 
 them in another mode. They asked, ' In what manner ?' ' In church, 
 with most solemn ceremonies ;' and I believe they paid attention to 
 what I said. 
 
 "About two days after, the king was desirous to create these kings 
 knights ; and the earl of Ormond, who understood and spoke Irish 
 well, as his lands joined the territories of the kings, was sent to wait 
 on them, that they might have more confidence in the message from 
 the king and council. On hi-s arrival, they showed him every res- 
 pect, which he returned, as he knew well how to do, and they seemed 
 happy at his coming. He began a most friendly conversation with 
 them, and inquired if they were satisfied with my conduct and be- 
 havior. They replied, ' Perfectly well : he has prudently and wisely 
 taught us the manners and usages of his country, for which we 
 ought to be obliged, and do thank him.' This answer was agreeable 
 to the earl of Ormond, for it showed sense ; and then, by degrees, 
 he began to talk of the order of knighthood they were to receive, 
 explaining to them every article and ceremony of it, and how great 
 a value should be set on it, and how those who were created knights 
 behaved. The whole of the earl's conversation was very pleasing to 
 the four kings, whom, however, as I have not named, I will now do: 
 first, Aneel the great, king of Mecte ;* secondly, Brund de Thomond, 
 king of Thomond and of Aire ;t the third, Arthur Macquemaire, king 
 of Leinster ; and the fourth, Contruo, king of Chenour and Erpe.t 
 They were made knights by the hand of the king of England, on the 
 feast of our Lady in March, which that year fell on a Thursday, in 
 the cathedral of Dublin, that was founded by Saint John the Baptist. 
 The four kings watched all the Wednesday-night in the cathedral ; 
 and on the morrow, after mass, they were created knights, with much 
 solemnity. There were knighted at the same time sir Thomas Or- 
 phem,§ sir Joathas Pado, and his cousin sir John Pado. The four 
 kings were very richly dressed, suitable to their rank, and that day 
 dined at the table of king Richard, where they were much stared at 
 by the lords and those present : not indeed without reason ; for they 
 were strange figures, and different countenanced to the English or 
 other nations. We are naturally inclined to gaze at anything strange, 
 and it was certainly, sir John, at that time, a great novelty to see 
 four Irish kings." 
 
 " Sir Henry, I readily believe you, and would have given a good 
 deal if I could have been there. Last year I had made arrangements 
 for coming to England, and should have done so, had I not heard of 
 the death of queen Anne, which made me postpone my journey. But 
 I wish to ask you one thing, which has much surprised me : I should 
 like to know how these four Irish kings have so readily submitted to 
 king Richard, when his valiant grandfather, who was so much re. 
 doubted everywhere, could never reduce them to obedience, and was 
 always at war with them. You have said it was brought about by 
 a treaty and the grace of God : the grace of God is good, and of in- 
 finite value to those who can obtain it ; but we see few now-a-days 
 augment their territories otherwise than by force. When I shall be 
 returned to my native country of Hainault, and speak of these mat- 
 ters, I shall be strictly examined concerning therni for our lord duke 
 Albert of Bavaria, earl of Holland, Hainault, and Zealand, and his 
 son William of Hainault, style themselves lords of Friesland, an ex- 
 tensive country, over which they claim the government, as their pre- 
 decessors have done before them ; but the Frieslanders refuse to 
 acknowledge their right, and will not by any means submit them- 
 selves to their obedience." 
 
 To this Henry Castide answered : " In truth, sir John, I cannot 
 more fully explain how it was brought about; but it is generally be- 
 lieved by most of our party, that the Irish were exceedingly fright, 
 ened at the great force the king landed in Ireland, where it remained 
 for nine months. Their coasts were so surrounded, that neither 
 
 * "Aneel the great, king of Mecte." Q.. O'Neale the great, king of Meath. 
 t " Thomond and Aire." Q,. Ulster. 
 
 t " Contruo, king of Chenour and Erpe." Q,, O'Connor, king of Connaught. 
 i " Sir Thomas Orphem," MSS. Ourghem and Gourghem, 
 
 provision nor merchandise could be landed ; but the inland natives 
 were indifferent to this, as they are unacquainted with commerce, 
 nor do they wish to know anything of it, but simply to live like wild 
 beasts. Those who reside on the coast opposite to England are bet. 
 ter informed, and accustomed to traffic. King Edward, of happy 
 memory, had in his reign so many wars to provide for, in France, 
 Brittany, Gascony, and Scotland, that his forces were dispersed in 
 different quarters, and he was unable to send any great armament to 
 Ireland. When the Irish found so large a force was now come 
 against them, they considered it most advisable to submit themselves 
 to the king of England. Formerly, when Saint Edward, who had 
 been canonized, and was worshipped with much solemnity by the 
 English, was their king, he thrice defeated the Danes on sea and 
 land. This Saint Edward, king of England, lord of Ireland and of 
 Aquitaine,* the Irish loved and feared more than any other king of 
 England before or since. It was for this reason, that when our king 
 went thither last year, he laid aside the leopards and flowers de luce, 
 and bore the arms of Saint Edward emblazoned on all his banners : 
 these were a cross patence or, on a field gules, with four doves ai- 
 gent on the shield or banner, as you please. This we heard was 
 very pleasing to the Irish, and inclined them more to submission, for 
 in truth the ancestors of these four kings had done homage and ser- 
 vice to Saint Edward ; they also considered king Richard as a pru- 
 dent and conscientious man, and have therefore paid their homage 
 in the like manner as was done to Saint Edward. 
 
 " Thus I have related to you how owr king accomplished the object 
 of his expedition to Ireland. Keep it in your memory, that when 
 returned home you may insert it in your chronicle with other histories 
 that are connected with it," " Henry," said I, " you have well 
 spoken, and it shall be done," Upon this we separated ; and meet- 
 ing soon after, the herald March, I said, " March, tell me what are 
 the arms of Henry Castide ; for I have found him very agreeable, and 
 he has kindly related to me the history of the king's expedition to 
 Ireland, and of the four Irish kings, who, as he says, were under his 
 governance upward of fifteen days." March replied, "He bears for 
 arms a chevron gules on a field argent, with three besants gules, two 
 above the chevron and one below." 
 
 All these things I retained in my memory, and put on paper, for 
 I wished not to forget them. 
 
 CHAPTER LXV. 
 
 THE DUKE OF LANCASTER IS ORDERED BACK FROM AQUITAINE, KINS 
 RICHARD RECEIVES A FRIENDLY ANSWER TO THE PROPOSALS HIS EMBAS- 
 SADORS HAD MADE TO THE KIN& OF FRANCE FOR A MARRIAGE BETWEEN 
 HIM AND THE LADY ISABELLA, PRINCESS OF FRANCE. 
 
 I REMAINED in the household of the king of England as long as I 
 pleased : but I was not always in the same place, for the king fre. 
 quently changed his abode. He went to Eltham, Leeds-castle, Kings, 
 ton, Shene, Chertsey, and Windsor; none very far from London. I 
 was told for truth, that the king and his council had written to the 
 duke of Lancaster to return to England, for those from Aquitaine had 
 boldly declared they would not submit to any other lord but the king 
 of England. This had been determined on by so large a majority 
 of the council, that the duke of Gloucester, anxious as he was to keep 
 his brother out of England, could not prevail that the gift the king 
 had made him should be persevered in. The whole council were 
 fearful of the consequences : they were perfectly aware of what the 
 deputies from Gascony had meant by their speeches ; for they de- 
 clared, that should the duchy of Aquitaine be alienated from the 
 crown of England, it would in times to come be very prejudicial to 
 its interests. They were unwilling, therefore, to risk such a loss, as 
 the towns of Bordeaux and Bayonne had always strongly supported 
 the cause of England. This was not forgotten to be urged in the 
 council during the absence of the duke of Gloucester ; but when he 
 was present none dared to declare their real sentiments. The affair, 
 therefore, was not further pressed. 
 
 I will now say sonjething of the earl of Rutland, the earl marshal, 
 and the other English embassadors, that had been sent to France to 
 treat of a marriage between king Richard and the young daughter 
 of the king of France, who was not then more than eight years old, 
 and tell how they prospered. These embassadors continued their 
 journey from Calais, through <Amiens, Clermont in Beauvoisis, to 
 Paris : wherever they passed, they were most honorably received, ac 
 ording to orders that had been given by the king of France and his 
 council. They were lodged at Paris near the Croix du Tiroir, and 
 their attendants and horses, to the amount of five hundred, in the 
 adjacent streets. The king of France resided at the Louvre, the 
 queen and her children at the hotel de Saint Pol, the duke of Berry 
 at the h6tel de Nesle, the duke of Burgundy at the hotel d'Artois : 
 the duke of Bourbon, the duke of Orleans, the count de Saint Pol, and 
 the lord de Coucy, were at their own hotels ; for the king had sum. 
 moned the whole of his council, that he might be the better advised 
 what answer to make to the English lords. He had ordered that two 
 hundred crowns of France should be paid during their stay in Paris, 
 for the expenses of them and their horses. 
 
 * This must be a mistake ; for Aquitaine was brought to the crown of England by 
 the maniage of Eieanoia, the divorced queen of Lqius le Jeune, king of Francf. wiUi 
 Henry n. 
 
HRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 571 
 
 The principal lords, such as the earl of Rutland and the earl mar- 
 shal, were frequently with the king, and staid dinner : the king, his 
 brother and uncles, showed them every attention, from respect to the 
 king of England. The embassadors demanded an answer to their 
 ■proposals, but were some time put off with excuses ; for it was mat- 
 ter of great surprise to every one that the English should be so forward 
 to offer such an alliance, after the bitter war that had been carried 
 on between the : wo nations, for such a length of time. Some in the 
 council said ; "How will it be possible for the king, our lord, to give 
 his daughter in marriage to his adversary the king of England? We 
 think, that beff;re such a me.isure can take place, there ought to be 
 a solid peace escabiished between France, England, and their allies.'' 
 This and many other points were agitated in the privy council ot 
 France. 
 
 There was at this period a vej v wise chancellor of France, called 
 sir Arnaud de Corbie : he saw far into events likely to happen, and 
 knew well the different interests that swayed the kingdom. He said 
 to the king and his uncles ; " My lords, we ought to go straight for- 
 ward in this business ; for king Richard of England shows plainly 
 that he wishes nothing but affection to France, since he is desirous 
 to ally himself with us by marriage. We have had two conferences 
 for peace at Amiens and at Leulinghen, but neither were brought to 
 any better conclusion than a prolongation of the truce. We know 
 for certain, that the duke of Gloucester is in opposition to the king 
 of England and his two brothers of Lancaster and of York, in every, 
 thing relative to a peace with France. Neither the king of England 
 nor any others who wish for peace can make him change his senti. 
 ments, but in the end he will not be able to withstand the king. Let 
 us therefore ma'^e the most of this overture, and give the embassadors 
 such an answer that they may return satisfied." The king of France 
 and his uncles agreed with the chancellor, more especially the duke 
 of Burgundy, wh ) was so tired of war that he was anxious for peace 
 on almost any terms. He was principally induced to this from his 
 territories of Flanders, which he held in right of his duchess, being 
 opposite to the shores of England ; and the hearts of the Flemings 
 were more inclined to the English than the French, from the com- 
 merce that was carried on between the two countries. It was de- 
 termined in the privy council, that the hearty welcome which had 
 been made to the English should be continued: the king particularly 
 willed it so : and it was advised (whether through dissimulation or 
 not) that the embassadors from England should receive kind answers, 
 and have hopes given them before their departure that the king of 
 England's proposal would be complied with. 
 
 The q-ueen of France resided at the hotel of St. Pol, on the banks 
 of the Seine ; and, the better to please the English lords, their request 
 was granted, to visit the queen and children, and especially the prin- 
 cess whom they were soliciting for their queen, as they were impa- 
 tient to see her. This had been at first refused, for the council 
 excused themselves, by saying that she was but a child ; and that, at 
 her age of eight years, nothing could be judged of what she might 
 turn out. She had, however, been well educated, as she showed 
 the English lords when they waited upon her ; for, when the lord 
 marshal had dropped on his knees, saying, " Madam, if it please 
 God, you shall be our lady queen," she replied instantly, and with- 
 out any one advising her,. " Sir, if it please God, and my lord and 
 father, that I be queen of England, I shall be well pleased thereat; for 
 I have been told I shall then be a great lady." She made the earl 
 marshal rise, and, taking him by the hand, led him to the queen, 
 who was much pleased at her answer, as were all who heard it. The 
 appearance and manners of this young princess were very agreeable 
 to the English embassadors ; and they thought among themselves 
 that she would be a lady of high honor and great worth. When they 
 had staid at Paris more than twenty days, having all their expenses 
 defrayed by the king of France, they received favorable answers to 
 their demands from the king and council, with great hopes that the 
 object of their mission would be accomplished, but not immediately ; 
 for the princess was very young, and had likewise been betrothed to 
 the son of the duke of Brittany. This obstacle they were told must 
 be first got over, before anything further could be done in the matter : 
 it must therefore remain in this state the ensuing winter : during 
 Lent, the king of France would send information of what had been 
 done to the king of England ; and, when the days should be length, 
 ened, the weather fine, and the sea calm, they might return, or any 
 others whom the king of England should prefer to send, and they 
 would be well received by the king and council of France. 
 
 This answer was satisfactory to the English embassadors. They 
 took leave of the queen, her daughter the lady Isabella, the brother 
 and uncles of the king, and of all whom it was necessary to take 
 leave, and left Paris, following the same road they had come from 
 Calais. The earl of Rutland and earl marshal, who were the princi- 
 pals in this embassy, hastened, before any of the attendants, to carry 
 the news of what they had done to the king of England. They 
 landed at Sandwich, and in less than a day and a half arrived at 
 Windsor, where the king then was. He was much rejoiced at their 
 arrival, and with the answers they had brought back. He did not 
 neglect this business ; for his mind was so much occupied with it, 
 that his whole thoughts were employed on the means of obtaining 
 the daughter of France for his queen. If the king of England was 
 thus busily employed, the king and his council of France were not 
 
 less so, in turning their thoughts how they could make the most of 
 this marriage t© the honor and advantage of their country. 
 
 Many spoke of it, saying, " If our advice were asked on the mat- 
 ter, and listened to, we would say, that the king of England should 
 never have a princess of France until a firm peace were made between 
 the two kingdoms and their allies. What good can be looked to 
 from this connection to either country? for the moment the truces ex- 
 pire, and they have but three years to run, the war will recommence 
 with as much inveteracy as before. These things ought to be well 
 considered." The dukes of Berry and Orleans, with many of the 
 great barons of France, were of this opinion, which was well known 
 to the king, the duke of Burgundy, and to the chancellor, who were 
 eager for any peace that should not be dishonorable to the crown of 
 France. 
 
 CHAPTER LXVI. 
 
 SQUIRE OF NORMANDY, CALLED ROBERT THE HERMIT, HAVIN& DECLARED 
 HE HAD SEEN A VISION, WHILE AT SEA, ORDERING HIM TO INTERFERE 
 IN MAKING A PEACE BETWEEN FRANCE AND ENGLAND, IS SENT TO KING 
 RICHARD AND HIS UNCLES TO THIS EFFECT. 
 
 it squire returned home to 
 
 At this period a valiant and prud 
 France : he had travelled much beyond sea, and his voyages and 
 travels had gained him great renown, both at home and abroad, 
 wherever they were known. This squire was from the country of 
 Caux in Normandy, and his name was Robert Menuot,* but he was 
 called Robert the Hermit. He was of a religious and holy life, of 
 fair speech, and might be about fifty years old. He had attended the 
 conferences at Leulinghen between the lords of France and England, 
 where his discourses had been well listened to. When Robert left 
 Syria to return home, he embarked at Baruth, but had when at sea a 
 furious tempest, so that, for two days and a night, he and his com- 
 panions were in such danger they thought they must be lost. Per- 
 sons in such peril are generally very repentant and contrite, and have 
 a greater fear of God. It happened, toward the end of the storm, 
 when the weather and sea became somewhat calmer, that a figure as 
 bright as crystal appeared to Robert, and said : " Robert, thou shalt 
 ■ escape from this peril, as well as thy companions for thy sake, for 
 God has favorably heard thy prayers. He orders thee by me, to re- 
 turn to France as speedily as thou canst, and instantly on thy arrival 
 to wait on the king, and relate what has befallen thee. Thou wilt 
 tell him to listen to peace with his adversary the king of England, 
 for their wars have lasted too long. Do thou interfere boldly, when 
 conferences shall be holden to treat of peace between king Charles 
 and king Richard, for thou shalt be heard ; and all those who shall 
 any way oppose or prevent peace from taking effect, shall dearly pay 
 for their wickedness in their lifetime." Upon this, the voice ceased 
 and the figure vanished, leaving Robert very pensive on what he had 
 heard. He, however, believed that what he had seen came from 
 Heaven : and from that moment they had wind and weather to their 
 wishes, which brought them to Genoa. 
 
 Robert, on landing, took leave of his fellow-passengers, and made 
 the best of his way to Avignon, where the first thing he did was to 
 pay his devotions in the church of St. Peter. Finding there the 
 grand penitentiary, he confessed himself duly and devoutly to him, 
 relating the vision you have just read, and asked his advice how he 
 should act on the occasion. The penitentiary strictly enjoined him, 
 not to mention the vision to any one before he had told it to the king 
 of France, according to the orders given him, and that whatever the 
 king should command he must do. Robert followed this advice, and 
 dressing himself in plain gray cloth, with very simple attendance, left 
 Avignon, and continued his journey to Paris, where he heard that 
 the king was at Abbeville, to be near the conference at Amiens be- 
 tween the French and English. He immediately went to the abbey 
 of St. Peter, where the king was lodged at Abbeville, and was intro- 
 dueed to the presence by a Norman knight, his nearest relation, called 
 sir William Martel, who was of the king's chamber. Robert minutely 
 related everything that had happened to hiui, Vv hich the king listened 
 to with great attention ; but as the duke of Burgundy and sir Arnauc 
 de Corbie, chancellor of France, the two most active commissioners 
 for France, were absent at the conference, he said to Robert ; " Ou; 
 council are at Leulinghen : you will remain until they shall return 
 when I will talk with my uncle of Burgundy and the chancellor, am 
 act according as they shall best advise." " God assist thein ;",an 
 swered Robert. 
 
 This same week, the commissioners returned to Abbeville fron 
 the conference, bringing with them a project for peace. The Englis' 
 had inserted articles of such importance as a preliminary, that the 
 had refused to admit them without knowing first the king's will o; 
 the subject ; and on their arrival, they laid them before his majestj 
 The king took his uncle of Burgundy and the chancellor aside, t 
 inform them of what Robert the hermit had told him, and to kno\ 
 if it ought to be believed and acted upon. They, having looked z 
 each other some time in silence, said they would examine this Robei 
 themselves, and then would give him their opinion. Robert wa 
 sent for, and being not far from where these secret councils wer 
 held, soon arrived. On his admission, he paid the king and th 
 duke of Burgundy much respect ; and the king said, "Repeat one 
 
 * "Menuot." MSS. Mennot. 
 
572 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN &c. 
 
 more, very minutely, all that you told me." "Willingly, sire, "replied 
 Robert. He then detailed all you have before heard of his adven- 
 tures and vision, to which they attentively listened ; and, when he 
 had done, they desired him to leave the chamber, these three only 
 remaining together. The king asked the duke of Burgundy what 
 he thought of it : " My lord," said he, " the chancellor and myself 
 will consider of it, and give you our answer to-morrow." "Very 
 well," answered tiie king. 
 
 The duke and the chancellor consulted a long time by themselves 
 on this matter, and on their mode of acting ; for they saw the king 
 believed the whole, and was desirous that Robert should be added 
 to them as a commissioner ; for he was so eloquent he converted the 
 hearts of all who heard him They at last resolved, that if Robert 
 should publicly declare the orders he had received in his vision, it 
 would be advisable for him to come to Leulinghen and explain it to 
 the lords of England, and all who wished to hear it ; that it was law- 
 ful so to act : and this was the answer they made to the king on the 
 ensuing day. When the duke of Burgundy and the chancellor re- 
 turned to the conference, they carried Robert the hermit with them, 
 who was ready enough to speak what you have heard. On the lords 
 of France and England being assembled, Robert came in the midst 
 of them, and eloquendy told the vision he had had at sea, and main- 
 tained, by a long harangue, that what it said was by divine inspira- 
 tion, and that God had sent it to him, because he willed it should be 
 60. Some of the English lords, such as the duke of Lancaster, the 
 earl of Salisbury, sir Thomas Percy, sir William Clanvow, the bish- 
 ops of Saint David's and London, v/ere inclined to credit what Robert 
 related ; but the duke of Gloucester and the earl of Arundel paid not 
 any regard to it, and, when at their lodgings, in the absence of *he 
 French lords, said it was only a cheat, and a story made up to laugh 
 at and deceive them. They unanimously resolved to write to king 
 Richard every particular of what Robert the hermit had said and 
 seen. This was done, and the letters given to a knight of the 
 king's chamber, caUed sir Richard Credon, who found the king at a 
 handsome place in Kent, called Leeds castle. He presented the 
 king letters from his commissioners at Leulinghen, which gave him 
 a full detail of everything relative to Robert the hermit. The king 
 took much delight in perusing these letters at his leisure, and, when 
 he came to the part that related to Robert the hermit, he said be 
 should be glad to see and hear this Robert ; for he was inclined to 
 believe that what he said had happened to him might be true. He 
 wrote back to the duke of Lancaster and the earl of Salisbury, to 
 press them to exert themselves, that a <irm peace should' be estab- 
 lished between him, the king of P'rance and his allies ; for as Robert 
 the hermit had said, the wars had lasted too long, and it was full 
 time to hit upon some means to procure peace. 
 
 I have before related the whole of this matter : and that as noth- 
 ing was concluded, in regard to a peace, a truce had been agreed on 
 by the commissioners on each side, before they separated, between 
 the two kingdoms and their allies, to last for four years, while, in the 
 mean time, they would study to promote a lasting peace. Such were 
 the intentions of the English commissioners, with the exception of 
 the duke of Gloucester; for he was resolved, on his return to England, 
 to oppose any peace with France ; but he dissembled then his real 
 sentiments, to please the king and his brother of Lancaster. Thus did 
 I become acquainted with what passed relative to Robert the hermit. 
 
 Shortly after the return of the earl of Rutland, the earl marshal, the 
 archbishop of Dublin, sir Hugh Despencer, sir Lewis Clifford, and 
 those who had been attached to the embassy to France bringing with 
 them friendly answers relative to the marriage, the parliament as- 
 eembled at Westminster. These parliaments last usually four days, 
 when all business relative to the country is settled. 
 
 At the meeting of this parliament the duke of Lancaster returned 
 from Bordeaux, whither he had been sent as duke of Aquitaine, for 
 the inhabitants had refused to receive hi-m in that quality. But I 
 have mentioned these things before, and shall therefore say no more 
 on the subject. The duke of Lancaster, on his return to England, 
 was well received by the king and lords, as was right, and they dis- 
 coursed on various business together. As soon as it was known in 
 1 France that the duke of Lancaster was in England, the king and his 
 \ council resolved to send thither Robert the hermit, with credential 
 letters to the king of England, who was desirous of seeing him ; and 
 that, when he should come back to France, the count de Saint Pol 
 would go thither. Robert the hermit would be well received by the 
 king and lords of England, who would cheerfully attend lo all he 
 ehould relate of the affairs of Syria, Tartary, of Bajazet and Turkey, 
 '. Iwhere he had resided a long time ; for of such matters the English 
 lords are very curious. Robert was ordered lo make his preparations 
 for going to England, which much pleased him, saying he would wil- 
 \ lingly go thither, as it was a country he had never seen. 
 
 Credential letters were given him from the king of France to king 
 
 Richard and to his uncles. Robert left Paris with his array of only 
 , seven horses, (but all his expenses, as was just, were to be paid bj^ 
 ! tbfi king of France,) and travelled to Boulogne, where he embarked 
 imnd crossed to Dover. He then went to Eltharo, a palace of the 
 I ting of England, seven miles from London, and met there the king, 
 . the duke of Lancaster, the earls of Salisbury and Huntingdon, and 
 , sir Thomas Percy, who showed him much attention, in honor to 
 
 tk« king of France, as did their sovereign, from his desire to see him. 
 
 ttU gave his letters to the king and the other lords, who perused them 
 
 with pleasure ; but the duke of Gloucester was, I believe, at this 
 time, at a castle of his called Pleshy, in Essex. When Robert had 
 remained at Eltham with the king and his court five days, he took 
 his leave, and departed to visit the duke of Gloucester. With this 
 intention he rode to London, and, on the next day, continued hia 
 journey, and lay at a town, fifteen miles from London, called Bre- 
 honde,* and on the morrow arrived at Pleshy, where he was hand- 
 somely received by the duke and duchess and their children. Rob- 
 ert delivered his letters from the king of France to the duke, who, 
 on finding that they were credential letters, took Robert aside and 
 demanded the causd of his coming. Robert replied, that he would 
 tell him at his leisure, for that he was not come to make a short visit. 
 "Well," said the duke, "you are very welcome." Robert the hermit 
 was well acquainted with the double character of the duke, and that 
 he was violent against a peace with France, and in strong opposition 
 to the king and his brother of Lancaster, who were well inclined to 
 put an end to the war. He knew not well how to begin on this bus- 
 iness, nor what means to urge to make him change his opinion ; for 
 he had witnessed his violence at Leulinghen, and knew that a war 
 with France was uppermost in his thoughts. This, however, did not 
 prevent Robert from talking to the duke of Gloucester, respecting a 
 peace ; but he found the duke cold and reserved in his answers. He 
 said, "that he had two elder brothers, of Lancaster and York, and 
 that it was to them such affairs ought to be addressed in prefe- 
 rence to him ; besides, supposing he was willing to agre^" to a peace, 
 perhaps the rest of the nation would not consent." 
 
 " My very dear lord," replied Robert, " for the love of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ do not oppose a peace : you can do a great deal toward 
 forming one ; and you know how much your king and nephew is 
 inclined to it, who, besides, is anxious to strengthen the love between 
 the two kingdoms, by a marriage with the daughter of the king of 
 France." To this the duke answered : " Robert, although you are 
 at this moment in high favor, and well listened to by the kings and 
 lords of both countries, the matter of peace is of so much consider- 
 ation, that persons of greater weight than you must interfere in it. I 
 repeat to you, what I have frequently said at different places and times, 
 that I shall never be against a peace that is honorable to my country. 
 All that in a former peace was agreed upon with the king my father, 
 and my brother the prince of Wales, and confirmed by the oath of 
 king John, for himself and successors, under penalty of excommuni- 
 cation by the pope, has not been kept, and their oaths are of no value. 
 The French have fraudulently broken the articles of this peace, and 
 have even taken possession, by treachery and force, of those lands, 
 castles and towns, that were given up at the peace to our late king 
 and father, and to his successors. Besides, of the three millions of 
 francs, which were to be paid as the ransom of king John, six hun- 
 dred thousand are yet unpaid. These matters, Robert, being so fresh 
 in our memory, trouble us greatly, and make us cautious ; and we 
 wonder (I speak not only of myself, but of others who have a right 
 to interfere in the government,) how our king should be so thought- 
 less, that he does not compare past times with the present ; and how 
 he can think of uniting himself with his enemies, and thereby disin- 
 heriting the crown of England of all future advantage." 
 
 " Dear lord," replied Robert, " our Lord Jesus Christ suffered on 
 the cross for us sinners ; but he forgave, at his death, those who cru- 
 cified him. It is necessary, therefore, that we in like manner forgive 
 our enemies, if we expect to be admitted to the glories of paradise. 
 All hatred, malice and ill will were put an end to, and mutually par- 
 doned, the day the peace was signed by your ancestor at Calais. War 
 was afterwards renewed with bitterness betweu the two countries, 
 through faults and deceptions on each side ; for, when the prince of 
 Wales returned from Castillo to Aquitaine, a set of people called 
 Companions, the greater part of whom were English, or Gascons 
 dependent on the king of England or the prince, collected together 
 and entered France, without the smallest title of reason, and carried 
 thither a more disastrous war than the preceding one. They called 
 the kingdom of France their manor, and were so determined on mis- 
 chief there was no resisting them : for this reason, when the realm 
 was so oppressed, and the evils daily multiplying, king Charles, son 
 to king John, was advised by his vassals to provide a remedy, and 
 oppose such conduct by open war or otherwise. Many great barons 
 of Gascony at this time allied themselves with the king of France, 
 whom the prince of Wales, who ought to have been their lord, wanted 
 to opprebs and bring more under his power, as they said and wanted 
 to prove by various facts, but which they would not longer suffer. 
 They made war on the prince, in conformity to their appeal to the 
 king of France, who, by the advice of his council, joined them in 
 order to rid himself of these free companies that ravaged France. 
 Many lords, towns and castles turned to the king of France, from the 
 oppressions they labored under from the prince or those employed by 
 him. Thus was the war renewed with more inveteracy than before, 
 to the destruction of the people and country, as well as of the weak- 
 ening of the faith of God. This last is so sensibly felt in Christendom 
 that the enemies of our faith, much emboldened, have already con. 
 quered great part of Greece, and the empire of Constantinople, through 
 fault of not resisting a Turk called Basant, surnamed Amorabaquin.t 
 
 * "Brehonde." Q,. Brentwood. Burntwood. 
 
 t This Amorabaquin, so much disfigured, was the sultan Bajazet, who ascended the 
 throne 1391. He was surnamed, like his father, I'Amurath Basquin, according to tti* 
 MSS. in the British Museum. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 573 
 
 He has conquered the whole kingdom of Armenia, with the excep- 
 tion of the single town of Courch, situated on the sejv-shore, like 
 Southampton or Bristol in this country. The Genoese and Venetians 
 hold this against the the Turks ; but they cannot long withstand the 
 power of Bajazet, emperor of Constantinople, who is of your blood, 
 for he is the son of Hugh de Lusignan, by the lady Mary de Bourbon, 
 cousin-german to the queen your mother. But should there be peace 
 (as there will, if it please God,) between France and England, all 
 knights and squires desirous of glory, and of exalting their names, 
 will hasten thither, and assist the king of Armenia to drive out the 
 Turks from his kingdom. The war has continued too long between 
 France and England, and all those who may any way oppose or de- 
 lay the blessings of peace, will severely be punished in this life for 
 so doing." 
 
 "How do you know that?" said the duke of Gloucester. " Dear 
 lord," answered Robert, " all comes from divine inspiration, and was 
 given to me in a vision, as I was returning by sea from Baruth in 
 Syria toward the island of Rhodes." He then related fully all he had 
 seen and heard in this vision, the more effectually to move the heart 
 of the duke of Gloucester to listen to terms of peace. But the heart 
 of the duke was hardened against peace, and he always returned to 
 his former opinions, holding in contempt, by his words, the French 
 in all things, notwithstanding what Robert had said to him : however, 
 as he was a foreigner, and seemed eager to do good, and knowing 
 besides that the king of England wanted to conclude a peace, he 
 dissembled his real sentiments as much as he could, and turned the 
 conversation to other subjects. 
 
 Robert the hermit staid two days and as many nights at Fleshy, 
 with the duke and duchess of Gloucester and their children, who, in 
 outward appearance, made him very welcome. On the third day he 
 took leave of them, and departed for London ; and went thence to 
 Windsor, where the king then resided. He was handsomely enter- 
 tained at Windsor, as well in honor of the king of France, who had 
 sent him, as on account of his eloquence and good manners. It may 
 be supposed, that the king of England inquired of him secretly how 
 he had succeeded with his uncle of Gloucester, and Robert told him 
 truly all that had passed. The king knew well that the duke of 
 Gloucester would never willingly agree to a peace with France, from 
 his preference to war: he therefore paid much greater court, and 
 showed more affection to his other uncles of Lancaster and York, 
 and to other prelates and barons of England, who he thought would 
 serve him. 
 
 Robert the hermit having been a month or more in England, began 
 to make preparations for his departure. When he took leave of the 
 king and lords, the king made him very rich presents, out of love to 
 the king of France, as did the duke of Lancaster and York, the earls 
 of Huntingdon and Salisbury, and sir Thomas Percy. The king had 
 him escorted as far as Dover, where he embarked, and landed at 
 Calais. He then journeyed on to Paris, where he found the king and 
 queen of France, and his uncles, to whom he faithfully related the 
 detail of his journey, and the good cheer the king of England had 
 made him. Messengers were almost daily passing from one king to 
 the other, with the most friendly letters from each. The king of 
 England was very impatient to succeed in his marriage with the 
 daughter of the king of France, who, on his side, had an affection for 
 it, as he did not see how he could more nobly marry her. 
 
 CHAPTER LXVII. 
 
 THE LOKD DE LA RIVIERE AND SIR JOHN LE MERCIER ARE DELIVERED OUT 
 
 OF PRISON. 
 
 The lord de la Riviere and sir John le Mercier, after having been 
 carried from prison to prison, and to different castles, were at last 
 given up to the provost of the Chatelet, and in daily expectation of 
 being put to death, through the hatred of the dukes of Berry and 
 Burgundy and their advisers. They had been in this melancholy 
 state for more than two years, without the king being able to assist 
 them. He, however, would not consent to their execution; and the 
 dukes of Berry and Burgundy perceived that the duke of Orleans 
 strongly befriended them. The duchess of Berry was incessant in 
 her entreaties with her lord in their favor, more particularly for the 
 lord de la Riviere ; but they could not condemn one without the 
 other, for they were both implicated in the same accusation. The 
 solicitations of many worthy persons, added to the justice of their 
 cause, were of much weight ; and several of the great barons of 
 France thought they had now sufficiently suffered, and should be set 
 at liberty ;* for that sir John le Mercier had wept so continually, 
 when in prison, his sight was weakened so that he could scarcely 
 see, and it was currently reported he was quite blind. 
 
 At length there was an end put to their sufferings ; for the king, 
 although he had consented to their imprisonment, for reasons which 
 had been given him, granted them his pardon, deferring further in- 
 quiry into what had been laid to their charge until a future opportu- 
 nity, and when he should be more fully informed. All his lands and 
 castles were restored to the lord de la Riviere, and in the first instance, 
 the beautiful castle of Auneau, near Chartres, on the borders of 
 Beauce ; but he was ordered thither, and never to recross the river 
 Seine, unless recalled by the king's own mouth. Sir John le Mercier 
 
 returned to his fine house of Noviant, of which he bore the title as 
 lord, in the Laonnois ; and he had similar orders not to repass the 
 rivers Seine, Marne and Oise, unless specially commanded by the 
 king. They also bound themselves to go to whatever prison they 
 might hereafter be ordered by the king or by his commissioners. The 
 two lords thankfully accepted this grace, and were rejoiced to be de- 
 livered from the Chatelet. On gaining their liberty, they thought 
 they should be allowed to see the king, and thank him for his mercy, 
 but it was not so : they were forced to quit Paris instantly, and set 
 out for their different estates. They, however, obtained their liberty, 
 to the great joy of all who were attached to them. 
 
 CHAPTER LXVIII. 
 
 THE DUKE OF BRITTANY AND SIR OLIVER DE CLISSON ARE RECONCILED 
 THE DOWAGER QUEEN OF SICILY INSTITUTES A LAW-SUIT IN THE COURT? 
 OF PARIS A&AINST SIR PETER DE CRAON. 
 
 You have often heard of the feuds between the duke of Brittany 
 and sir Oliver de Clisso/^; and that, whenever the two parties met, 
 a deadly engagement ensued, without either side showing mercy. 
 In this warfare, however, sir Oliver had the advantage, for two-third? 
 of the country were in his favor. The barons of Brittany dissembled 
 between both ; and the citizens of the chief towns told the duke, tha 
 this war no way concerned them, and they would not interfere in it 
 for that commerce was more essential to them than o war with tht* 
 lord de Clisson. Sir Oliver held them excused in regard to him, as 
 they would be mediators in a peace, which the viscount de Rohan, 
 the lord de Leon, and the lord de Dignan, were pressing on the dukt 
 of Brittany, who had declared to these three lords, that if he could 
 obtain a meeting with the lord de Clisson, he would comply with such 
 terms as they should think honorable to propose. 
 
 These barons went to the castle where sir Oliver resided, and told 
 him how far they had succeeded with the duke, who would at any 
 time grant him and his company passports for coming and going ; 
 and that they imagined, if once they could meet, all their quarrels 
 would be put an end to. The lord de Clisson replied : " You are all 
 my friends and relations, and I put my whole confidence in you: I 
 verily believe what you say from the duke, that he would willingly 
 have fine in his presence ; but, as God and my lord St. Yves may 
 help me, I will never on such words or promise quit my castle. Tell 
 him, since he has deputed you here, to send me his eldest son, who 
 shall remain as my pledge ; and, when he shall be arrived, I will wail 
 on him when and where he pleases. As my end shall be, so will be 
 that of his son ; if I return, he shall return ; but, if I be detained, so 
 shall he. Such are my conditions." The three barons, seeing they 
 could obtain no other answer, were satisfied with it, and, taking their 
 leave in a friendly manner, departed for Vannes, where the duke was 
 waiting for them, and related to him the proposal from sir Oliver de 
 Clisson. The duke could not obtain other terms ; and the lord de 
 Clisson had greatly the advantage in this war : the duke conquered 
 nothing from him, while sir Oliver won several places from the duke, 
 besides having twice captured all his gold and silver plate, with many 
 precious jewels, all of which he turned to his own profit. 
 
 The end, however, of this quarrel was as follows : the duke of 
 Brittany, as great a prince as he was, saw plainly he could no way 
 bend the lord de Clisson to his will, for he had too many friends in 
 Brittany. With the exception of the great barons in the duchy, all 
 the knights, squires, and inhabitants of the principal towns, inclined 
 to the lord de Clisson. The barons dissembled their sentiments, and 
 told the duke they would not interfere in the matter unless it should 
 be to mediate a peace, if any means could be found out for so doing. 
 The duke of Orleans, in particular, supported sir Oliver underhanded 
 in various ways, and he was well pleased whenever he received news 
 of the good success of his enterprises. The duke of Brittany, who was 
 of a subtle imagination, and had labored hard with many difficulties 
 in his time, weighed all these circumstances ; and also, that he was 
 not beloved by his subjects, who would show it if they dared, with- 
 out infringing their homage, as well as the children of sir Charles de 
 Blois slain at the battle of Auray ; namely, John of Brittany, count 
 de Penthievre and Limoges, married to the daughter of the lord de 
 Clisson ; sir Henry of Brittany* his brother, and their sister the queen 
 of Naples and Jerusalem. He felt, likewise, that he was growing 
 old, that his children were young, and except the duke and dischess 
 of Burgundy, he had not a friend in France who would take care of 
 them, in case of his decease ; for, by the mother's side, they came 
 from the branch of Navarre, which was not a family well beloved in 
 France, from the remembrance of the many wicked acts, in former 
 times, of king Charles of Navarre, the duchess of Brittany's father. 
 He was therefore afraid, should he die during the subsisting hatred 
 of sir Oliver de Clisson and the count de Penthievre, his children 
 would have too many enemies. He perceived also that the English, 
 who had certainly raised him to the honors he now possessed, were 
 
 * Denys Suvage says in a marginal note, that he never hpard of this personage before, 
 and supposes that at that period the count de Penthievre had not any brother. 
 
 In Anderson's Royal Genealogies, the lord Charles de BJois had issue Guido count de 
 Penthievre, died S. P.— John, married to Margaret de Clisson— N. N. married to Charles 
 of Spain, constable of France, murdered by the king of Navarre— Mary, wife of Louia 
 duke of Aojou. son of John king of France. 
 
574 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 becoming indifferent to his welfare, and wsuld probably increase in 
 coolness, if the information he had received of the approaching con- 
 nection between the kings of France and England were true. He 
 had learnt that the treaty of marriage was far advanced between the 
 king of England and the daughter of the king of France, who had 
 been promised to his eldest son. 
 
 All these things alarmed the duke, but especially what had been 
 last mentioned troubled him more than all the rest. Having fully 
 considered them, he resolved to throw aside all dissembling, and 
 openly and honestly make peace with sir Oliver de Clisson and John 
 of Brittany : leaving them to say what amends, if any, he should 
 make for the damages done them during the war, and for what had 
 happened in former times, reserving to himself the duchy of Brittany, 
 which was to descend after him to his children, according to the 
 treaty that had been signed, with the approbation of all parties, 
 by the children of sir Chai-les de Blois. This treaty he was not de- 
 sirous to have broken : on the contrary, he would that every article 
 should be observed, and that it should again be sworn to and loyally 
 maintained in its whole extent. Should John of Blois, count de Pen- 
 thievre, not be satisfied with his inheritance in Brittany, he would 
 fairly leave it to the viscount de Rohan, the lords de Dignan, de Laval, 
 de Leon, de Beaumont, and sir John de Harpedane, to settle the mat- 
 ter between them. The duke of Brittany, having maturely arranged 
 this in his own mind, without asking advice from any one of his 
 council, called a secretary, to whom, on entering his chamber, he gave 
 a large sheet of paper, and said, " Write down as I shall dictate." 
 The secretary being ready, the duke repeated to him every word he 
 was to write. The letter was indited in the most friendly terms to 
 sir Oliver de Clisson, desiring him to devise some means for them to 
 have an interview, when everything should be settled in the most 
 agreeable manner. 
 
 When the letter wa^ folded up, in the presence only of the duke 
 and his secretary, he sealed it with his signet, and, calling his most 
 trusty varlet into the chamber, said :, " Hasten to castle Josselin, and 
 say boldly that I have sent thee to speak with my cousin sir Oliver 
 de Clisson. Thou wilt be introduced to him : salute him from me : 
 if he return the salute, give him this letter, and bring me back his 
 answer ; but on thy life tell no man, woman, or child whither thou 
 art going, nor who has sent thee." The varlet, having promised 
 obedience, set out, and on his arrival at Cha,teau-Josselin, the guard 
 was greatly surprised when they heard that the duke of Brittany had 
 sent him to speak with their lord. Nevertheless, they informed sir 
 Oliver of his coming, who ordered him into his presence : on his en- 
 trance, he delivered his message and the letter. The lord de Clisson 
 examined the private signet of the duke, which he knew well, opened 
 the letter, and read it two or three times over, and was much aston- 
 ished, during the perusal, at the affectionate and friendly terms it was 
 written in. After musing some time, he told the varlet he would con- 
 sider his answer, and ordered him to be conducted to an apartment by 
 himself. 
 
 The attendants of the lord de Clisson were confounded at what 
 they saw and heard ; for never before had any one come from the 
 duke of Brittany who had not been instantly put to death, or confined 
 in the deepest dungeon. When sir Oliver had retired to his chamber, 
 his thoughts were occupied with the contents of the letter, and his 
 hatred to the duke was extinguished, from the submissive and affec- 
 tionate manner in which he had written to him : he said to himself, 
 that he would prove him, and see if he were really in earnest ; for 
 he could not venture to go to him merely on the faith of his letter, 
 and, if any accident happened to him he would be pitied by none. 
 He determined, therefore, that if the duke would send his son as an 
 hostage, he would come to him when and where he pleased, but not 
 otherwise. He wrote a very friendly answer, and the conclusion 
 was, that if he wished to see him, he must send his son as his pledge, 
 who would be taken the greatest care of until his return. This letter 
 was sealed and given to the varlet, who hastened back to the duke 
 at Vannes, where he was impatiently expecting him. On receiving 
 the letter from sir Oliver, he instantly read it ; having paused a 
 moment, he said, "I will do it; for, since I mean to treat amicably 
 with him, every cause of distrust must be removed." He wrote to 
 the viscount de Rohan, who resided at his castle of Cairo, in the 
 I neighborhood of Vannes, to come to him. The viscount, on the 
 receipt of the duke's letter, waited on him, and he then explained 
 his intentions, by saying, "Viscount, you and the lord de Monboucher 
 1 Bhall carry my son to Chateau-Josselin, and bring back with you the 
 lord de Clisson, for I am determined to make up our quarrel." The 
 ■ ' viscount repHed, that with joy he would obey him. 
 
 It was not many days after, that the viscount de Rohan, the lord 
 de Monboucher, and sir Yves de Tegre, carried the boy, who might 
 ' be about seven years old, to Ch^teau.Josselin, where they were hand- 
 1 somely and honorably received by sir Oliver de Clisson. When he 
 saw the boy, and this proof of confidence from the duke, he was 
 ^ much affected. The three knights also said, "You see, sir, how well 
 I 'inclined the duke is to you : he now bears you nothing but the sin- 
 1 'cerest affection." " I am at present convinced of it," replied sir Oli- 
 ' ver; "and, since he makes such advances,! will not be behindhand, 
 I Ibut put myself under his obedience. I know not if to you, who are 
 . Ipo nearly related to him, and in whom he has such trust as to confide 
 , ihia son and heir, to bring and leave here as an hostage until my return, 
 \\ 
 
 he has told the contents of the letter he sent me under his private sig- 
 net." " Sir," answered the knights, "he has assured us of the ear- 
 nest and sincere desire he has to make peace with you : and you 
 may believe us, for we are your relations." " I firmly do believe 
 you," said sir Oliver, as he went out to fetch the duke's letter. Hav- 
 ing read it to them, they replied, "He certainly has spoken to us in 
 the very same terms in which he has written to you, and in conse- 
 quence has sent us hither." "So much the better," answered sir 
 Oliver. 
 
 It was not long after the arrival of i le three knights, with the heir 
 of Brittany, before the lord de Clisson had made his preparations. 
 They all set out together from Cha,teau-Josselin, carrying the boy 
 with them ; for sir Oliver said he would give him back to his father, 
 as henceforward he should never distrust the duke, after the trial he 
 had made of him. Such generosity was shown on both sides, that 
 it was no wonder a firm peace was the consequence. 
 
 They continued their journey to Vannes, where, according to the 
 duke's orders, sir Oliver dismounted at a convent of the DominicanSj, 
 which is situated without the town, where the duke had fixed the 
 meeting to take place. When he heard that the lord de Clisson had 
 brought back his son, he was highly delighted with his generosity 
 and courtesy. The duke set out from his castle of la Motte, for the 
 convent, where he artd sir Oliver shut themselves up in a chamber : 
 having conversed some time, they went privately into the garden, 
 and thence to the banks of the river, and entered a small boat that 
 conveyed them to a large vessel that lay at anchor at the mouth of 
 the river, which they boarded, and, when at a distance from th-eir 
 people, continued for a long time in conference. I cannot pretend 
 to say what passed between them. But I will relate the conse- 
 quences. Their friends thought they were all the time in the con- 
 vent, when they were on ship-board, arranging all things on the foot- 
 ing they wished them to remain. They were upward of two hours 
 together, if not longer, according to what I heard, and made a firm 
 peace, which they mutually swore to obsei-ve most religiously^ 
 When they were about to return, they called their boatman, who 
 rowed them back to the place he had brought them from, and they 
 entered the church by a private door, through the garden and clois- 
 ters of the convent, whence they soon departed for the castle of la 
 Motte, the duke holding sir Oliver by the hand. All who thus saw 
 them were pleased : indeed, the whole of Brittany was very happy 
 when the news of this reconciliation was made public ; but greatly 
 were they surprised on hearing how it had been brought about. 
 
 John of Blois, count de Penthievre, was no loser by this peace : 
 on the contrary, his revenue was augmented twenty thousand ^Iden. 
 crowns of France, well and legally assigned to him and hiis heirs. 
 To confirm and strengthen this peace, a marriage was concluded 
 between the son of John of Blois, and a daughter of the duke of Brit 
 tany ; so that those who looked for a continuance of war were dis- 
 appointed. When intelligence of these transactioria reached Francs 
 and England, it caused very great surprise."* 
 
 You have before had it related how sir Peter de Craon incurred 
 the indignation of the king of France and the duke of Touraine, fox 
 his attempt to murder the constable of France, sir Oliver de Clisson, 
 as he was returning to his hdtel in the night time from the king's 
 palace ; and that, from the duke of Brittany having supported and 
 given him an asylum, the king of France had declared war against 
 him, which he would have carried into effect had he not been sud- 
 denly taken ill between Mans and Angers, when on his march to 
 Brittany : but this melancholy event caused the expedition to be put 
 an end to, the army disbanded, and every man to return to his own 
 home. You have also heard how the dukes of Berry and Burgundy 
 took up this business, and showed great hatred to those who had 
 advised the king to this expedition against Brittany, such as the lord 
 de Clisson, the lord de la Riviere, sir John le Mercier, Montagu, 
 and others, whom they made suffer severely for it ; for these twcv 
 dukes had the sovereign government of the kingdom during the ilt, 
 ness of the king. You have likewise heard of the inveterate war 
 that was carried on between the duke of Brittany and sir Oliver de 
 Clisson, and of their reconciliation ; as -well as of the deliverance of 
 the lord de la Riviere, sir John le Mercier, and Montagu, from their 
 confinements. Montagu had not so many difficulties to encounter 
 as the other two ; for, the instant the king recovered his health, he 
 would have Montagi:. near his person, and assisted to make his 
 excuses for several charges that had been laid against him. Yon 
 must know, however, that this disorder of the king, and many of the 
 like kind that follov/ed, (for he had several relapses, to the great sor- 
 
 * When the duke of Brittany and the lord de Clisson were reconciled, thej' named 
 commissioners to put their agreement into a legal form ; and, according to the historian 
 of Brittany often quoted, these lawyers met at Aucfer, near Redon, the 19th October. 
 1395. The principal articles of the treaty were, that the duke should assign over to the 
 count de Penthievre the lordships of Chateauneufdu Fose, Vhelgouet, Gtourien, Duault, 
 Chateaulin in Cornuaille, Lannion and Chateaulin sur Trieuc, for the yearly payment 
 of eight thousand livres ; that the duke might take back these lands when he pleased, 
 on giving others of like value in Brittany or France ; that the count should pay obe- 
 dience to the duke, notwithstanding tlie demolition of the castle of Tonguedoc, the 
 restoration of which he could never insist on ; that the lord de Clisson would acknow- 
 ledge the duke for his lord, but to have liberty, during four years, to appear personally 
 or by proxy ; that all lands that had been seized by each side during the war should be 
 restored to their respective owners. This treaty was sealed and sworn to by the lord de 
 Clisson, at Rieux, the 20th October. The count de Penthievre swore to it five days after 
 at Guingamp, in the presence of the viscount de Fou and Henri de Juck, chambeAAini 
 to the duke. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 57d 
 
 row and alarm of France,) greatly weakened his power ; and his will 
 was so little attended to, that the three above-named persons, or two 
 of them at least, very narrowly escaped death. 
 
 Sir Peter de Craon, hearing of the miserable state of the king and 
 kingdom of France, far from being sorry, was much rejoiced, and 
 made the strongest entreaties that he might be restored to the king's 
 favor, and allowed to return to the com't of France. His negotiators 
 were the duke of Burgundy and sir Guy de la Tr^mouille, who would 
 too easily have succeeded had not the duke of Orleans strenuously 
 opposed it. He prevented any treaty being made in favor of sir Peter 
 de Craon, as long as the war continued between the duke of Brittany 
 and the lord de Clisson ; but, when they were reconciled, his hatred 
 against sir Peter was much softened. At this period, the queen of 
 Naples and .Terusalem, widow of the late duke of Anjou, was prose- 
 cuting sir Peter de Craon, in the courts of justice at Paris, for the 
 restitution of one hundred thousand francs, a sum she claimed as 
 due to her late lord ; and for that reason, and to attend the more to 
 her affairs, she resided privately in Paris. Sir Peter found himself 
 very disagreeably situated : he was fearful of the decision of the par- 
 liament, for the lady was of great personal weight, and had proved 
 from whom, during the life of the duke of Anjou, he had received 
 this sum, and for which as she maintained, he had never accounted. 
 He was ill at ease on this account, and besides knew he had incurred 
 the disgrace of the king and the duke of Orleans. The duke and 
 duchess of Burgundy comforted him as well as they could ; and he 
 was allowed to come to Paris privately, where he remained, during 
 the greater part of his residence, at the h6tel d'Artois, under the pro- 
 taction of the duchess of Burgundy. 
 
 CHAPTER LXIX. 
 
 THE KING OF HUNGARY WRITES TO THE KING OF FRANCE HIS SITUATION 
 IN RESPECT TO THE SULTAN BAJAZET. JOHN OF BURGUNDY, ELDEST SON 
 TO THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY, MARCHES, AS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, AN 
 ARMY TO THE SUCCOR OF THE HUNGARIANS. 
 
 About this time, Sigismond king of Hungary wrote very affection- 
 ate letters to the king of France, which he sent by a bishop and two 
 of his knights. The contents of these letters related to the threats of 
 Bajazet, and his boastings to the king of Hungary, of canying the war 
 into the midst of his realm, and thence to Rome, where his horse 
 should eat his oats on the altar of Saint Peter. He said he would 
 establish that place for the seat of his imperial government, and be 
 attended by the emperor of Constantinople and all the principal 
 barons of Greece : each of whom should follow their own laws, for 
 that he would only reserve to himself his authority as their lord para- 
 mount. The king of Hungary entreated the king of France to listen 
 to his distress ; and make it public throughout France and other 
 countries, that all knights and squires might be moved to provide 
 themselves with every necessary for a journey to Hungary, to oppose 
 the sultan Bajazet, and prevent holy Christendom from being oppressed 
 or violated by him, and that his vain boastings might be annihilated. 
 Many affectionate expressions were contained in these letters, such 
 as kings and cousins are accustomed to write to each other in cases 
 of necessity. Those who brought them were men of rank and under- 
 standing, and acquitted themselves so well, that king Charles was 
 much inclined to their request; and the propositions from king Rich- 
 ard for the marriage of his daughter prospered the more, and were 
 sooner agreed to, than if this intelligence from Hungary had not ar- 
 rived in France; for, as king of France and eldest son of the church, 
 he was very desirous of providing a remedy for the evils that threat- 
 ened it. The subject of these letters was soon made public, both at 
 home and abroad, to move the hearts of gentlemen, knights, and 
 squires, who were desirous to travel in search of glory. 
 
 At the time this news came to Paris, there were with the king the 
 duke and duchess of Burgundy, their eldest son, John of Burgundy 
 count de Nevers, who w,as not then a knight, sir Guy, and sir Wil- 
 liam de la Tremouillc, sir John de Vienne, admiral of France, with 
 other great barons. It was proposed, therefore, at the hotel of the 
 duke of Burgundy, who was eager to send assistance to Hungary, 
 that his son, the count de Nevers, should undertake an expedition 
 thither, as commander-in-chief of the French and other chivalry. John 
 of Burgundy was a courteous and amiable youth of twenty-two years 
 old, greatly beloved by the knights and squires of Burgundy, and in- 
 deed by all who were acquainted with him. He had married a pru- 
 dent lady, the daughter of duke Albert of Bavaria, count of Hainaull, 
 Holland and Zealand, who had brought him two children, whom, in 
 due season, he looked to ally nobly. It was hinted to him, to know 
 what he would say, that perhaps the king of France might select him, 
 to lead a body of men-at-arms to the assistance of the king of Hun- 
 gary. He replied, "that if it were agreeable to his lord the king, 
 and his lord and father, he would cheerfully accept of this command, 
 which came very opportunely, as he had a great desire to gain re- 
 nown." " Sir," answered those to whom he had addressed himself, 
 " speak first to your father, and learn whether he be willing that you 
 go, and if he will talk to the king on the subject ; for without their 
 consent nothing could be done." 
 
 It was not long after this, that John of Burgundy spoke to the duke 
 his father, requesting humbly his consent to go on the expedition to 
 
 Hungary, as he had a strong wish for it. When he made this re- 
 quest, there were with the duke sir Guy and sir William de la Tr6. 
 mouille, sir James de Vergy, and other knights, who, taking part in 
 the conversation, said ; " My lord, what John of Burgundy asks is 
 very reasonable, for it is time he should receive the order of knight- 
 hood ; and he cannot more honorably receive it, than when march- 
 ing against the enemies of God and our faith. In case the king intend 
 to send assistance to Hungary, whom can he so properly appoint as 
 a leader, as his cousin-german, your son ? and you will see that 
 many knights will join his company to advance their name." The 
 duke replied ; " You speak to the purpose, and we have no inclina- 
 tion to check the ardor of our son; but we must first talk to the king, 
 and hear what he shall say." The subject then dropped ; but it was 
 not long before the duke mentioned it to the king, who instantly 
 complied, saying, he would do well to go thither ; and, if he was in 
 earnest, he not only gave his consent, but would appoint him com- 
 mander-in-chief of the expedition. 
 
 It was published in Paris and elsewhere, that John of Burgundy 
 was to lead a large body of men-at-arms into Hungary, to oppose the 
 force of Bajazet ;* that, when this was done, he was to advance to 
 Constantinople, cross the Hellespont, enter Syria, gain the Holy Land, 
 and deliver Jerusalem and the holy sepulchre from the hands of the 
 infidels, and the bondage of the sultan. Knights and squires began 
 now to collect together, with other gentlemen who were desirous of 
 renown. The duke of Burgundy, on the appointment of his son to 
 the chief command, paid greater attention than before to the Hun- 
 garian embassadors, who, perceiving the good-will of the king of 
 France and the nation, were well pleased, and took leave of the king, 
 the dukes of Orleans, Berry, Burgundy, the lord Philip d'Artois, count 
 d'Eu, and constable of France, the count de la Marche, and the other 
 barons, on their departure for their own country, where the king of 
 Hungary was greatly delighted with the news they brought. In 
 consequence of this, he gave orders for large stores of provision to be 
 provided against the arrival of the French : a*nd sent messengers to 
 his brother, the king of Germany, and his cousin, the duke of Austria, 
 for all the passes in their territories to be thrown open, as it would 
 be necessary for them to march that way : he likewise ordered plenty 
 of provision to be ready prepared, on the road they were to come. 
 He sent also information of the expected assistance from France to 
 the grand-master of the Teutonic order, and to the knights of Rhodes, 
 that they might be ready to meet John of Burgundy, who, in the 
 course of this summer, would lead a thousand knights and squires, 
 all men of valor, into Hungary, on their way to Turkey, to oppose the 
 menaces of the sultan Bajazet. 
 
 While the news of this expedition was the matter of conversation 
 everywhere, the lord de Coucy returned from the frontiers of Genoa, 
 where he had been upward of a year negotiating with the Genoese, 
 Some of the leading men in that city had informed the duke of Or 
 leans, that persons composing the government of Genoa were desi- 
 rous of having for their duke one of the blood-royal of France, and, 
 as he had married the daughter of the duke of Milan, it would be 
 very suitable for him. In consequence of this, the lord de Coucy had 
 passed through Savoy and Piedmont, with the consent of the coimt 
 de Savoye and the Savoyards, accompanied by three hundred lances 
 and five hundred cross-bows. Having obtained leave from the duke 
 of Milan, he continued his journey from Asti in Piedmont to a town 
 called Alexandria, and thence to the frontiers of Genoa, to enter into 
 negotiations with the Genoese, and learn more plainly their intentions. 
 By force he could do nothing, unless he were very superior to the 
 Genoese, which was not the case. When the lord de Coucy had 
 entered the territories of Genoa, which are not easy to conquer, if 
 the inhabitants have any disposition to defend them ; some of those 
 lords who had sent the information to the duke of Orleans, and had 
 been the cause of his coming, waited on him, and with many friendly 
 expressions welcomed him to their country, and offered him their 
 castles. But the lord de Coucy was as prudent as valiant, and being 
 well acquainted with the character of the Lombards and Genoese, 
 was unwilling to trust too much to their offers and promises. How. 
 ever, he received them kindly, and treated them fairly by words ; for 
 although there were many conferences between them, they were held 
 in the open fields, and not in any house or castle ; but the more he 
 negotiated the less he gained. The Genoese showed him every to- 
 ken of affection, and invited him repeatedly to come to Genoa, or to 
 Porto Venere, but the lord de Coucy would never put himself in their 
 power. The issue of his negotiation was unsuccessful ; and when it 
 was found he could not do anything, having regularly written to the 
 duke of Orleans respecting the state of affairs, he was remanded to 
 Paris, at the time when the expedition to Hungary was in agitation. 
 
 The duke and duchess of Burgundy were happy at his return, and, 
 sending for him to the hdtel d'Artois, addressed him in the most 
 amiable manner as follows : " Lord de Coucy, we have the highest 
 opinion of your understanding, valor, and pmdence ; and as we have 
 made John our son and heir undertake the command of an expedi- 
 tion, which we hope will turn out to the honor of God and Christen- 
 dom ; knowing that you, of all the knights of France, are the best 
 informed of warlike affairs, we beg and entreat most earnestly that 
 you would be the counsellor and companion of our son in this expedi 
 tion ; for which we shall be so greatly obliged, that we will return it 
 
 * The Turks were aJieady in possessign of some parts of Greece. 
 
576 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 by serving you or yours to the utmost of our power." The lord de 
 Coucy replied : " My lord, and you madam, what you request is to 
 me an order. I will surely be of this expedition, if it please God, for 
 two reasons : first from devotion, and to defend the faith of Jesus 
 Christ ; secondly, from the honor you do me, by giving me the 
 charge of advising my lord John your son. I shall therefore obey, 
 and acquit myself in all respects to the best of my abilities. But, 
 my dear lord, and you my very dear lady, you may readily excuse 
 me from this weight, and lay it on the lord Philip d'Artois, constable 
 of France, and on the count de la Marche ; for they are nearly re. 
 lated to him, and intend to forni a part of the expedition." The duke 
 answered, " Lord de Coucy, you have seen much more than either 
 of them, and know more of war than our cousins of Eu and de la 
 Marche ; and we entreat you to comply with our request." " My 
 lord," said the lord de Coucy, " your words are commands ; and I 
 will do as you require, since it is your pleasure, with the aid of sir 
 Guy de la Tr^mouille, his brother sir William, and sir John de Vienne 
 admiral of France." The duke and duchess were well pleased with 
 this answer. 
 
 The lords of France made vast preparations for their expedition to 
 Hungary, and solicited the company and service of different barons, 
 knights, and squires. Such as were not asked, and had a wish to go 
 thither, made application to the count d'Eu, constable of France, the 
 count de la Marche or the lord de Coucy, that they would take them 
 in their company. Some were accepted : but those who were not, 
 considering the great distance Hungary and Turkey were from 
 France, greatly cooled in their ardor ; for, as they were not retained, 
 they were not sufficiently wealthy to perform the journey with credit 
 to themselves. .Nothing was spared in the preparations for the young 
 John of Burgundy, with regard to horses, armor, emblazonments, 
 dresses, silver and gold plate, and the duke's officers were fully em- 
 ployed in the business. Large sums of florins were given to the ser- 
 vants of John of Burgundy, who paid them to the different workmen 
 as they finished and brought home their works. The barons, knights, 
 and squires, to do him honor, exerted themselves to make their equip, 
 ments as handsome as possible. 
 
 The lord Philip d'Artois, count d'Eu, made magnificent prepara- 
 tions ; for he was determined to march thither as constable of France ; 
 and the king, who' much loved him, assisted him with money, and 
 he acted in the same manner with respect to the lord Boucicaut, mar- 
 shal of France. The duke of Burgundy, considering that this expedi- 
 tion would cost him very large sums, and that the state of his wife, 
 himself, and his son Anthony, ought not to be any way diminished, 
 bethought himself of a tax he had in reserve, in order to find a supply 
 of money for these expenses. He had received from cities and towns 
 in Burgundy, as the usual tax on his eldest son receiving the order 
 of knighthood, six score thousand golden crowns: but his additional 
 tax was laid on all knights who held fiefs from him, to attend his son 
 into Hungary, or compound in money. Some were taxed at one 
 thousand livres, others at two thousand ; some at five hundred ; each 
 according to his wealth, or the value of the lands. Ladies and an- 
 cient knights, who were unfit or disabled to undertake such an ex- 
 pedition, paid compositions at the duke's pleasure. The young 
 knights and squires were exempted paying, for they were told, " My 
 lord does not want your money : you must accompany the lord John 
 at your own cost and charges." Of this last tax, the duke of Bur- 
 gundy received from the gentlemen of his duchy sixty thousand 
 crowns, for none were exempted. 
 
 CHAPTER LXX. 
 
 THE COUNT D'OSTREVANT, BROTHER-IN-LAAV TO JOHN OF BURGUNDY, BE- 
 ING DESIROUS TO MARCH TO HUNGARY, IS ADVISED BY HIS FATHER TO 
 ATTEMPT, IN PREFERENCE, THE RE-CONQUEST OF FRIESLAND, WHICH 
 BELONGED TO THEM. 
 
 News of this expedition to Hungary was spread far and near. On 
 its being announced in Hainault, knights and squires, eager for re- 
 nown, assembled together, and said ; " It would not be amiss if our 
 lord of Hainault, who is young and promising, were to accompany 
 his brother-in-law, the count de Nevers, in this expedition ; and, 
 should it take place, we must not fail to attend him." The count 
 d'Ostrevant resided in Quesnoy at the time such conversations were 
 held, and was informed what his knights and squires said. This 
 made him the more willing to accompany his brother-in-law, having 
 before had such intentions. Whenever the subject was mentioned 
 in his presence, he dissembled his real thoughts, by saying little about 
 it, meaning to consult his lord and father, duke Albert of Bavaria, 
 count of Hainault, how he would advise him to act. 
 
 It was not many days before he set out to visit the duke and 
 duchess of Bavaria at the Hague, where they lived. He addressed 
 his father : " My lord, it is currently reported that my brother-in-law 
 I of Nevers has undertaken an expedition to Hungary, and thence to 
 \ Turkey, against the sultan Bajazet. There must be grand deeds of 
 arms performed ; and at this moment I am perfectly idle, knowing 
 \ not whither to bear arms : I wish to learn your intentions, if it would 
 I be agreeable to you that I should accompany my brother-in-law on 
 1 this honorable expedition, with one hundred of our chivalry. My 
 j lord and lady of Burgundy will thank me for so doing; and there are 
 
 many knights and squires in Hainault who will eagerly go with me." 
 Duke Albert replied, like one who had well weighed the subject ; 
 " William, since thou hast so great a desire to travel, and to seek for 
 deeds of arms in Hungary and Turkey, against a people and country 
 who have never done us any wrong, it must be caused by vain-glory 
 alone, for thou hast not a shadow of reason to induce thee to go 
 thither. Let John of Burgundy and our cousins of France perform 
 their enterprise, and do thou undertake one that more nearly touches 
 us. March to Friesland, and conquer back that country, which was 
 our inheritance ; for the Frieslanders have, by rebellion, withdrawn 
 themselves from our obedience ; and, if thou undertake this, I will 
 assist thee." This speech from his father was very agreeable to the 
 count d'Ostrevant, and raised his spirit : he answered, " My lord, 
 you say well ; and, if it be your opinion I should undertake such an 
 expedition, I will do so heartily." By litde and little, the matter 
 was so long talked over between the father and son, that the invasion 
 of Friesland was agreed upon; and a circumstance I shall relate 
 greatly helped him in this matter. 
 
 The count d'Ostrevant had at that time, for his principal adviser, 
 a squire of Hainault, called Fier-i-bras, or the bastard of Vertain, 
 He was equal in prudence as in arms, so that when the count told him 
 what his father had said, he replied, " Sir, my lord your father gives 
 you excellent advice. It will be more for your honor to undertake 
 this expedition than to join that to Hungary ; and, when you begin 
 your preparations for it, you will find plenty of knights and squires 
 in Hainault and elsewhere, ready to accompany and assist you. But 
 if you really are in earnest to undertake it, I would recommend that 
 you first go to England, to make known your intentions to the knights 
 and squires of that country ; and to entreat the king of England, 
 your cousin, that he would permit you to retain knights, squires, and 
 archers, and allow them to accept of your pay, and to accompa-ny 
 you from England. The English are men of valor : if you succeed 
 in obtaining their assistance, you will go far to be successful ; and 
 if you can prevail on your cousin, the earl of Derby, to take part and 
 come with you, there will be still greater chances of success, and 
 your enterprise will gain more renown." The count d'Ostrevant in- 
 clined to the council of Fier-Ji-bras de Vertain, for he thought it 
 good ; and, when he spoke of it to the lord de Gomegines, he like, 
 wise agreed to it, as did all who were friends to the count. News 
 of this was whispered throughout Hainault, and a proclamation soon 
 after issued, to prohibit all l^nights and squires from quitting the 
 country, to form part of any expedition to Hungary or elsewhere, for 
 that the count d'Ostrevant needed their services, and would, this 
 summer, lead them against Friesland. 
 
 We will, for a while, leave this matter, and speak of others that 
 were in greater forwardness. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXI. 
 
 JOHN OF BURGUNDY, COUNT OF NEVERS, LEADS AN ARMY INTO HUNGARY 
 AGAINST THE TURKS. THE NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE MARRIAGE OF ZING 
 RICHARD OF ENGLAND WITH THE ELDEST PRINCESS OF FRANCE ARE CON- 
 TINUED. 
 
 The knights and squires in different countries were all alive at the 
 wars that seemed likely to take place in opposite quarters : some 
 made themselves ready for the expedition to Hungary; others for that 
 to Friesland : and whenever they met they conversed on these sub- 
 jects. The count de Nevers was prepared ; and all those knights 
 had been enrolled who were to be under his charges, and to accom- 
 pany him. The purveyances were very considerable and well ar- 
 ranged ; and, as the honor of the expedition was given to him, he made 
 handsome presents to his knights and squires, and gave them many 
 stores; for, as the journey was long and expensive, it was but proper 
 the men-at-arms should be aided to support them. In like manner did 
 other lords act ; such as the constable of France, the count de la 
 Marche, the lords Philip and Henry de Bar, the lord de Coucy, sir 
 Guy de la Tr^mouille, sir John de Vienne admiral of France, Bou- 
 cicaut marshal of France, sir Reginald de Roye, the lords de St. Pol, 
 de Montmorel, de Saint Py, the haze de Flanders, sir Louis de Brdzd, 
 his brother, and the borgne de Monquel, with many more ; for they 
 amounted to one thousand knights and as many squires, all men of 
 tried courage and enterprise. 
 
 They left their homes about the middle of March, and advanced 
 in good array by companies. They found all the roads open to them, 
 for the king of Germany had commanded that his country and Bohe- 
 mia should afford them every friendly assistance to supply their wants^ 
 and that the prices of provision should on no account be raised. Thus 
 did these lords of France march to the assistance of the king of Hun- 
 gary, whose army was to have a pitched batde against that of Bajazet, 
 on the 20th day of the ensuing month of May.* They passed Lor- 
 rain, the counties of Bar and Montbelliard, the duchy of Burgundy, 
 and entering Aussais,t traversed that whole country, and, having 
 crossed the Rhine in many places, marched through the county of 
 Ferrette and entered Austria. This is an extensive and wild country, 
 with difficult passes ; but they advanced with so good an inclination, 
 that they did not suffer from the labor and fatigue. The chief con- 
 
 * In the year 1396.-jEp. t AUace.-Ep. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN. &c 
 
 577 
 
 versation of the French lords was concerning the power of the Turks, 
 which they seemed to make very light of. 
 
 The duke of Austria gave the French lords a handsome reception ; 
 but he was particularly attentive to John of Burgundy, for the lord 
 Otho, eldest son to the duke, had espoused Mary of Burgundy, his 
 sister.* All these French lords were to assemble at a city called 
 Buda, in Hungary. Let us return to the affairs of France. 
 
 You have before heard that the king of England had sent as embassa- 
 dors to the king of France, to conclude a marriage between him and his 
 daughter Isabella, the archbishop of Dublin, the bishop of St. David's, 
 the earl marshal, the earl of Rutland, son to the duke of York, sir Henry 
 Clifford, the lord Beaumont, the lord Despencer, sir John de Robesart, 
 and several more. They had succeeded well in the business, and 
 the French king made them welcome, as did his uncles and council. 
 The embassadors returned to England in high spirits, and gave the 
 king great hopes that his wishes would be gratified. King Richard 
 was not idle in the business, but during the following winter, fre- 
 quently reminded the king and council of France of it, who were far 
 from being adverse, for they considered it as one of the surest means 
 to put an end to the wars which had lasted so long between France 
 and England. The treaty was carried on with eagerness and friend- 
 ship on both sides ; and the king of England promised, from the 
 power he had over his subjects, that there should be peace between 
 the two countries. To conclude the business, the earl of Rutland 
 and the earl marshal, were again sent to Paris. They were lodged 
 at the Croix du Tiroir, and, with their attendants, occupied the whole 
 of that street, and part of another : they were full six hundred horse,t 
 and remained in Paris upward of three weeks, supplied with every- 
 thing from the king of France. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXII. 
 
 THE QUEEN OF NAPLES, WIDOW TO THE LATE DUKE OF AN>OU, OBTAINS 
 JUDGMENT IN PARLIAMENT AGAINST SIR PETER DE CRAON. 
 
 During the time these embassadors were at Paris negotiating the 
 marriage of the king of England, the dowager queen of Naples was 
 also there, busily employed in her own concerns, for she was a lady of 
 great activity. Her business at that time was before the parliament, 
 where she was pleading two causes : one for the inheritance of the 
 county of Roussy against the count de Brianne ; for the late duke of An- 
 jou, her lord, had bought and paid for it to a lady who was countess de 
 Roussy, some time wife to sir Louis de Namur, from whom she was 
 divorced. The other was against sir Peter de Craon, from whom 
 she claimed the sum of one hundred thousand francs, and which she 
 proved he had received for and in the name of her late lord the 
 king of Naples, Sicily, and Jerusalem, on condition to pay the same 
 to him in la Puglia; but, when he was informed of the king of Naples' 
 death, he no longer continued his journey but returned to France, mak- 
 ing use of the above-mentioned sum to his own profit, without render- 
 ing any account of it to the queen of Naples, nor to her two children 
 Lewis and Charles, but dissipating it in folly and extravagance. This 
 was the cause, as the queen of Naples said, of the loss of that king- 
 dom, which was regained by Margaret Durazzo and the heirs of sir 
 Charles Durazzo ; for the soldiers of her late lord, who were aiding 
 her to continue the war in Calabria and la Puglia, deserted her for 
 want of pay : many had turned to the count de St. Severino and to" 
 Margaret Durazzo, and others had retired from the war. 
 
 All these matters were pleaded in the courts of the parliament at 
 Paris,forupwardof three years; although sirPeterde Craon was absent, 
 his advocates defended him well. They said, that in regard to the sum 
 of one hundred thousand francs which he was charged with having 
 received in the name of the king of Naples, that king was indebted 
 to him as much, if not more, for the great and noble services he had 
 rendered him. Notwithstanding the length of time this cause lasted, 
 it was impossible to put off for ever its conclusion ; and the lady was 
 very urgent that judgment should be given by the parliament. The 
 judges, having considered the matter well, declared they would give 
 no judgment until both parties were personally before them. This 
 was then difficult to accomplish, from the disgrace sir Peter de Craon 
 was in with the king and the duke of Orleans, for his attempt to 
 assassinate the constable. The lady, finding nothing would be done 
 until sir Peter was before the court, perfectly free from every other 
 charge except what she accused him of, and with full liberty to go 
 anywhere in France, exerted herself greatly to obtain this for him, 
 that an end might be put to her suit. Her solicitations with the king, 
 the duke of Orleans, the count de Penthievre, sir John Harpedane 
 and others, who had any complaints against him, were successful, 
 and he was acquitted of all other charges. I know not whether it 
 happened through dissimulation or otherwise, but he was shown 
 great attention and kindness by the nobles and ladies of France until 
 the time when judgment was to be given. He kept up as great state 
 at Paris as ever he had done, and was appointed to receive the Eng- 
 glish embassadors, and to introduce them to the king, his brother, 
 
 * There is a mistoke here. Leopold IV., duke of Austria, married Catherine, not 
 Mary, daughter of Philippe Je Hardi, and sister of Jean-sans-peur, the leader of this 
 expedition.— Ed. 
 
 t The monk of St. Denis says that their numbers were more than twelve hundred. Six 
 hundred horsemen, with their attendants on foot, (as was customary,) would aiuount 
 to that Durober.—fiD. 
 
 and uncles, for he was a knight perfectly well versed in all such cere, 
 monies. 
 
 The day was fixed for the parliament to decide on the queen of 
 Naples' complaints : the sentence had before been determined upon, 
 and waited solely for the appearance of all parties concerned. A 
 great number of the nobility attended, that it might have more au. 
 thenticity ; among whom were the queen of Sicily and Jerusalem, 
 duchess of Anjou and countess of Provence, her son Chares, prince 
 of Tarentum, and John of Blois, more commonly called John of Brit, 
 tany, count de Penthievre and Limoges, the dukes of Orleans, Berry, 
 Burgundy, and Bourbon, the count de Brianne and the bishop of Laon, 
 whom the queen had brought before the court on the subject of her 
 claim on the county of Roussy. Sir Peter de Craon was likewise 
 there, attended by many of his relations and friends. 
 
 The matter of the county of Roussy was first disposed of; and the 
 judgment of the court was solemnly pronounced, that the county 
 should belong to the count de Brianne, and to his heirs, who 
 was to have immediate possession given him ; but the queen of 
 Naples was to be repaid in money the full amount of what her late 
 lord, the duke of Anjou, had given to the countess of Roussy, lately 
 deceased. The heirs of the countess of Roussy, to whom the lands 
 belonged, thanked the court for the judgment they had given. The 
 president, who was to declare the sentence in th<3 second cause, now 
 rose, and said, "the parliament had determined that sir Peter de Craon 
 was indebted to the queen of Naples in the sura of one hundred thou- 
 sand francs, which he must pay to her, or Iju committed to prison 
 until it was done completely to her satisfaction." The queen thanked 
 the court for their judgment, and, instantly, on her request, sir Peter 
 de Craon was arrested, in the king's name, and carried to the prison 
 of the Louvre, where he was confined and well guarded. Upon this, 
 the parliament broke up, and every one returned to his home. Thus 
 were these two sentences given, through the activity of the duchess 
 of Anjou. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXIII. 
 
 THE MARRIAGE IS CONCLUDED BETWEEN KING RICHARD OF ENGLAND 
 AND THE LADY ISABELLA, ELDEST DAUGHTER TO CHARLES VI. KING OF 
 FRANCE. THE DUKE OF LANCASTER MARRIES AGAIN. SIR PETER DE 
 CRAON IS, AFTER SOME TIME, DELIVERED FROM PRISON, AT THE 
 ENTREATY OF THE YOUNG QUEEN OF ENGLAND. 
 
 The earl marshal, the earl of Rutland, and the English embassa- 
 dors remained for twenty-two days in Paris, where they were excel- 
 lently well entertained by the king and his court ; their negotiations 
 were successful, and the marriage between the king of England 
 and the princess Isabella was agreed on. She was betrothed and 
 espoused by the earl marshal, as proxy for the king of England, and 
 the lady, ever after, was styled queen of England. I was at the 
 time told it was pleasant to see that, young as she was, she knew 
 well how to act the queen. When this business was completed, and 
 the different treaties signed and sealed, the embassadors took their 
 leave of the king and his court, and departed from Paris to Calais, 
 on their return to England, where they were joyfully received by the 
 king, the duke of Lancaster, and the lords attached to the king's per- 
 son and pleasures. 
 
 However much others might be pleased, it was not so with the 
 duke of Gloucester ; for he saw plainly that by this marriage peace 
 would be established between the two kingdoms, which sorely dis- 
 pleased him, unless it should be such a peace as would redound tc 
 the honor of England, and everything were placed on the same foot- 
 ing as when the war broke out in Gascony. He frequently conversed 
 on this subject with his brother the duke of York, and, whenever the 
 occasion was favorable, endeavored to draw him over to his way of 
 thinking, for he was but of weak understanding. He dared not speak 
 so freely to his elder brother of Lancaster, who was of the king's 
 party, and well satisfied with this marriage, on account of his two 
 daughters the queens of Castille and Portugal. At this period, the 
 duke of Lancaster married his third wife, the daughter of a Hain- 
 ault knight, called sir Paon de Ruet : he had formerly been one of 
 the knights to the good and noble queen Philippa of England, who 
 much loved the Hainaulters, as she was herself of that country. 
 
 This lady whom the duke of Lancaster married was called Cath- 
 erine,* and in her youth had been of the household of the ducheas 
 Blanche of Lancaster. Before the lady Blanche's death, and even 
 when the duke was married to his second wife Constance, the 
 daughter of don Pedro, he cohabited with the lady Catherine de 
 Ruet who was then married to an English knight now dead.t 
 
 The duke of Lancaster had three childrenj by her, previous to his 
 marriage, two sons and a daughter : the eldest son was named John 
 lord Beaufort of Lancaster ; the other Thomas, whom the duke kept at 
 the schools in Oxford, and made a great churchman and civilian. He 
 was afterwards bishop of Lincoln, which is the richest bishopric in 
 the kingdom : from affection to these children, the duke married 
 their mother, to the great astonishment of France and England, fcr 
 
 * Catherine Swynford.— Ed. t Sir Hugh Swynford. 
 
 t Froissart mistakes in the number, and Thomas for Henry. According to Sandford, 
 he had four children by Cp^herine Swynford : John Beaufort, earl of Somerset— Henry 
 Beaufoit, bishop of Winchester and cardinal of Beaufort— Thomas Beaufort, ducke o 
 Exeter and earl of Dorset— Joan Beaufort, countess of Westmoreland. 
 
 'R'or further particulsrs, see Sandford and Dugdale. 
 
578 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &, c . 
 
 Catherine Swynford was of base extraction in comparison to his two 
 former duchesses Blanche and Constance. When this marriage was 
 announced to the ladies of high rank in England, such as the duchess 
 of Gloucester, the countess of Derby, the countess of Arundel, and 
 others connected with the royal family, they were greatly shocked, 
 and thought the duke much to blame. They said, " he had sadly dis- 
 .Traced himself by thus marrying his concubine;" and added, that, 
 *• since it was so, she would be the second lady in the kingdom, and 
 the queen would be -dishonorably accompanied by her; but that, for 
 their parts, they would leave her to do the honors alone, for they 
 would never enter any place where she was. They themselves 
 would be disgraced if they suffered such a base-born duchess, who 
 had been the duke's concubine a long time before and during his 
 marriages, to take precedence, and their hearts would burst with grief 
 were it to happen." Those who were the most outrageous on the 
 subject were the duke and duchess of Gloucester. They considered 
 the duke of Lancaster as a doating fool for thus marrying his concu. 
 bine, and declared they would never honor his lady by calling her 
 sister. The duke of York made light of the matter, for he lived 
 chiefly with the king and his brother of Lancaster. The duke of 
 Gloucester was of a different way of thinking : although the young- 
 est of the three brothers, he yielded to no man's opinion, was naturally 
 very proud and overbearing, and in opposition to the king's ministers, 
 unless he could turn them as he willed. Catherine Ruet, however, 
 remained duchess of Lancaster, and the second lady in England, as 
 long as she lived. She was a lady accustomed to honors, for she had 
 been brought up at court during her youth, and the duke fondly loved 
 the children he had by her, as he showed during his life and at his death. 
 
 I must mention, that when the sentence of the court of parliament 
 at Paris had been pronounced against sir Peter de Craon in favor of 
 the queen of Naples, he was confounded. Finding that he must 
 refund the one hundred thousand francs or remain his whole life in 
 prison, -he listened to the council that was given him from the duke 
 and duchess of Burgundy. They advised him to solicit the young 
 queen of England to intercede with the queen of Naples to obtain his 
 liberty for fifteen days only, that he might seek out his friends in 
 Paris to pay this money, or to become his sureties until he had pro- 
 cured it in Brittany or elsewhere, engaging to return with the sum 
 he was condemned to pay. The queen of Naples complied with the 
 request of the queen of England, but on condition that sir Peter de 
 Craon should every night sleep in his prison at the Louvre. Sir Peter 
 ought for aid among his relatives in vain ; for the sum was too great 
 or them to advance, and they refused being his sureties. At the 
 !nd of the fifteen days, he was forced to return to his prison, where 
 )e was strictly guarded day and night, and at his own proper costs. 
 
 We will now speak of what actions and enterprises the count de 
 ?fevers and the lords of France performed this summer in Hungary ; 
 md then say something of the expedition the earl of Hainault and 
 earl of Ostrevant made into Friesland. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXIV. 
 
 JOHN OF BURGUNDY, COUNT OF NEVERS, PASSES THE DANUBE WITH HIS 
 ARMY. AFTER THE CAPTURE OF SEVERAL PLACES, THE TOWN OF NICO- 
 POLI IS. BESIEGED.* " 
 
 On the arrival of the count de Nevers with his army, which was 
 composed of numbers of valiant men from France and other C9un. 
 tries, at Buda in Hungary, the king f.-ave them a most hearty recep- 
 tion, as indeed he ought, for to serve iiim they were come. It was 
 the intention of the king of Hungary, before he took the field, to 
 obtain some certain intelligence of the movements of Bajazet, who 
 had given him notice since last February to increase his forces, as ho 
 would in the course of the month of May lead an immense army to 
 cross the Danube and offer combat to the Hungarians, Many won- 
 dered how this could be done ; but others replied : " Nothing was 
 impossible to man ; that as Bajazet was of great valor and enterprise, 
 and had said he would do so, he would surely accomplish it ; but, if 
 he failed in his threat, and did not cross the Danube, we ought to 
 cross it, and enter his kingdom of Turkey. The king of Hungary 
 could lead thither one hundred thousand men, including foreigners, 
 which was sufficient to conquer all Turkey, and even to advance to 
 the kingdom of Persia. If we gain a victory over Bajazet, we shall 
 so far succeed that we may conquer Syria and the Holy Land, and 
 deliver Jerusalem out of the hands of the Sultan and the enemies of 
 our God. In the ensuing summer, the kings of France and England 
 will jointly raise a large force of men-at-arms and archers; and, when 
 ihey shall Ije united to us, nothing will be able to withstand so pow- 
 erful an army." 
 
 Such were the conversations of the French in Hungar}-. When 
 the month of May arrived, being disappointed in their expectations 
 of hearing of the march of Bajazet, the king of Hungary sent scouts 
 across the Danube to seek intelligence, and, at the same time, issued his 
 ummons for his power to assemble. The knights of Rhodes came 
 hitlier in numbers during the month of May, looking for the arrival 
 »f the Saracens, but no news was heard of them. The king of Hun. 
 
 ** " Nicopoli"— on the Danube, in Bulgaria, sixty leagues N. W. from Adrianople. It 
 ! famous for the battle, in 1393, between Sigismond, king of Hungary, aJid Bojazet. 
 ligismond lost the battle and twenty thousand men ; but it cost Bajazet sixty thousand, 
 who were left dead on the field. 
 
 gary, on this, sent some Hungarians who were used to arms, and 
 well acquainted with the country, beyond the Danube, but they 
 were as unsuccessful as his former scouts, in not meeting Bajazet; 
 they heard that he was still in Asia, at Damascus, Antioch> or Alex, 
 andria. The king, on receiving this information, called a council of 
 his lords, and those who were come from France, who were eagei 
 to signalize themselves, to consider how they should act in this emer, 
 gency. The king told them that he had sent some expert men.at- 
 arms to seek Bajazet, who had advanced far into Turkey ; and that 
 there was no appearance Bajazet would this summer put the menace 
 into execution, of crossing the Danube to offer him batde. The king 
 wished to have advice on this matter, more especially from the French 
 lords. The lord de Coucy having consulted with the other barons, 
 answered for them, that if Bajazet should have told lies, and deceived 
 them by not keeping his word, they ought not for that to remain idle, 
 but attempt some deeds of arms, since they were come thither to 
 that effect ; that all the French, Germans, and other foreigners, were 
 willing to meet the Turks; and if under the command of Bajazet so 
 much the better, as it would redound more to their honor. What 
 the lord de Coucy said was approved of by the French, Germans, 
 Bohemians, and others, as the most advantageous manner of employ- 
 ing the season. 
 
 Orders were, in consequence, issued by the king and marshals, 
 that every one be prepared by a certain day, which was appointed on 
 the octave of Saint John the Baptist, to march for Turkey. These 
 orders were punctually obeyed ; and you would have seen servants 
 busily employed in preparing all things for their masters' wants. The 
 lords of France were desirous of making a handsome figure, and ex- 
 amined well their armor and equipages, sparing no money to have 
 them as complete as possible. Their appearance was grandly mag- 
 nificent, when they took the field from Buda, the principal city of 
 Hungary. The constable of Hungary had the command of the: van 
 division, because he knew the country well, and led with him a large 
 body of Hungarians and Germans. Next to him marched the French 
 lords, the constable of France, the count de la Marche, the lord de 
 Coucy, the lords Henry and Philip de Bar, and many more. 
 
 With the king of Hungary rode the greatest barons of his realm, 
 as was proper, and by his side John of Burgundy, who often con- 
 versed with him. They were full sixty thousand horse : the infantry 
 were few in number, indeed none but the followers of the army. 
 The array of the Christians was noble and handsome ; and among 
 the Hungarians were many cross-bow men on horseback. This army 
 advanced until it came to the banks of the Danube, which it crossed 
 in barges, boats, and pontoons, prepared some time since for this 
 purpose. It was more than eight days before all had passed over ; 
 and as they landed on the opposite shore, they lodged themselves to 
 wait for their companions. The Danube divides the kingdoms of 
 Hungary and Turkey. When the whole army had crossed, they 
 were delighted to find themselves on Turkish ground, for they were 
 impatient to try the courage of the Turks. After a council they re- 
 solved to besiege a town in Turkey called Comecte,* and made pre. 
 parations to invest it on all sides. This could easily be done ; for 
 it is situated in an open plain, with a river deep enough to bear ves- 
 sels, called the Mecte,t which rises in Turkey, and falls into the 
 Danube near the sea. This river Danube is very wide, and has 
 more than four hundred leagues of course from its spring to the sea ; 
 it would be the most profitable of rivers to Hungary and the adjoin- 
 ing countries, if the vessels it carries could have a free passage to the 
 sea, but that is impossible ; for, right at its mouth, there is a moun- 
 tain which divides it into two parts, and chokes the passage : the 
 noise of the water is so tremendous, no vessel dares approach it, and 
 it may be heard seven leagues off. On both sides of the river Mecte 
 are fertile meads, to the great advantage of the inhabitants, and vine- 
 yards, which in favorable seasons produce good wines. The Turks 
 vintage them, and, when made, they are put into goat-skins, and 
 sold to the Christians, for, according to their religion, they are for- 
 bidden to taste wine under pain of death : at least when discovered 
 so doing, they are punished ; they make pleasant beverages of many 
 other excellent fruits and spices, and are accustomed to drink much 
 of goat's milk, during the hot weather, to refresh and cool them. 
 
 The king of Hungary encamped his army before this town with- 
 out opposition, for no one made any attempt to prevent the siege ; nor 
 was there any person or army in the place, from Bajazet, to guard or 
 defend it. On their arrival, they found the fruits ripe, which was a 
 great comfort to them. Many attacks were made on the town, but 
 they were valiantly opposed by the inhabitants, in the expectation of 
 daily receiving reinforcements from Bajazet, their lord, to raise the 
 siege. None, however, came, and the city was taken by storm, with 
 great slaughter of men, women, and children ; for the Christians on 
 entering it spared none. When Comecte had thus been destroyed, 
 the king of Hungary decamped with his army and advanced farther 
 into Turkey toward the large city of Nicopoli ; but, before he arrived 
 there, he came to a town called Laquaire, where he encamped fifteen 
 days, for it was so long before he could conquer it. This was also 
 taken by storm, and destroyed. They then marched to another town 
 and castle called Brehappe, governed by a Turkish knight, the lord 
 of the place, who had with him a strong garrison. 
 
 The king of Hungary encamped his Hungarians about a league 
 
 * "Comecte." Q. N»w. t "Mecte." ft. Moruv*. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 ^ - .- .- I..- — . — . 
 
 distant from it on account of water, for there was none nearer Bre- 
 happe ; but the counts de Nevers, d'Eu, de la Marche, and the lords 
 de Coucy, Boucicaut, de Saimpi, de Roye, Henry and Philip de Bar, 
 with more than a thousand French knights and squires, made their 
 approaches close to the town. The count de Nevers had been 
 created a knight by the king of Hungary, on his entering Turkey ; 
 and, the day he displayed his banner, upward of three hundred were 
 knighted. Those who had advanced to the town won it, within four 
 days, by assault ; but the castle was too strong, and resisted all their 
 attacks. The lord of Brehappe, whose name was, I believe, Corba. 
 
 57 
 
 into the town, to the joy of the inhabitants. Balachius remained it 
 the castle of Brehappe, and Ruffin took the first opportunity of set 
 ting out, passing the Christian army in the night, for he was wel 
 acquainted with the country, and crossed the Hellespont to learn in- 
 telligence where Bajazet was. 
 
 In truth, Bajazet was at Cairo with the sultan of Babylon, to solicit 
 his aid, and there the Turk found him. When Bajazet saw him, he 
 was much surprised, and imagined something extraordinary had hap. 
 pened. He called to him, and asked how things were going on in 
 Turkey. " My lord," replied he, " they are very anxious to see you 
 
 dasj a very valiant man, saved many of his people within the castle. 
 He had three brothers, called Maladius, Balachius, and Ruffin. 
 After the capture of the town, the Christians were seven days before 
 the castle, and attacked it many times, but they lost move than they 
 gained. These four brothers showed they were men of valor by the 
 defence they made. The French lords having well considered the 
 strength of the castle, and that they lost more than they won, saw 
 plainly their attempts would be vain, and decamped, for they had 
 heard the king of Hungary was desirous to lay siege to Nicopoli. 
 Thus was the siege of Brehappe Castle broken up, and the garrison 
 left in peace, but the town was burnt. The count de Nevers and the 
 lords of France joined the king of Hungary, who instantly prepared 
 to march to Nicopoli. 
 
 Corbadas de Brehappe was well pleased to observe the Christians 
 marching away, and said : " We shall now be undisturbed for some 
 time : if my town be burnt, it will be rebuilt and recover itself : but 
 I am surprised that we have no news from our sultan Bajazet ; for he 
 told me, the last time I spoke with him in the city of Nicopoli, that 
 h^. would return to this country the beginning of May. His inten- 
 tions were to cross the Hellespont, and Hungary. But this he has 
 not done ; and the Hungarians, greatly strengthened and emboldened 
 by succors from France, have crossed the Danube and entered Tur- 
 key, where they will destroy all the possessions of Bajazet, for we 
 have no force to oppose them. They Will now for certain besiege 
 Nicopoli, which, although sufficiently strong to hold out for some 
 time, must be well defended. We are four brothers, knights, and re- 
 lations to Bajazet : we ought, therefore, to attend to his concerns ; 
 and, in consequence, I propose the following plan : I and my brother 
 Maladius will go to Nicopoli to assist in its defence; Balachius shall 
 remain here to guard Brehappe, and Ruffin shall cross the sea and 
 hasten to find Bajazet, and inform him of everything that has hap- 
 pened, and the great army that has invaded Turkey, that he may 
 take instant measures to prevent the dishonorable loss of his posses- 
 sions, and march such a force against the Christians as may conquer 
 them ; otherwise he will not only lose Armenia that he has won, but 
 his own territories also ; for, according to appearances, the king of 
 Hungary and the Christians are determined to attempt his complete | 
 destruction." The three Turks approved of what their brother had 
 said, and promised obedience. They made preparations accordingly; 
 and, in the mean time, the siege was laid before Nicopoli by the 
 Oiiristian army, amounting to nearly one hundred thousand men. 
 Corbadas de Brehappe and his brother Maladius gained admittance 
 
 there, for the king of Hungary, with an immense force, has crossed 
 the Danube, and invaded the country. They have committed great 
 destruction, and burnt five or six of your inclosed towns : when I 
 left Brehappe, they were marching to Nicopoli. My brothers Cor- 
 badas and Maladius have thrown themselves, with some men-at-arms, 
 into the town to assist in the defence. You must know, that in this 
 army of the king of Hungary, there is a body of Frenchmen, the most 
 gallant and best appointed that can be seen. It behoves you, there- 
 fore, to summon your friends and vassals, and hasten to Turkey with 
 an army powerful enough to drive these Christians across the Danube ; 
 but if your force is not very considerable, you will not be able to 
 accomplish it." 
 
 " How many are they ?" asked Bajazet. " Upward of one hun- 
 dred thousand," said the Turk, "and all on horseback, armed in the 
 best possible manner." Bajazet made no reply to this, but entered 
 the chamber of the sultan of Babylon, leaving the Turk, who had 
 brought this intelligence, among his people. He related what you 
 have just heard ta the sultan of Babylon, who answered, " You must 
 provide yourself accordingly, and shall have men enough to oppose 
 them, for we must, by all means, defend our religion and possessions." 
 " That is true," replied Bajazet, " and my wishes are now accom- 
 plished ; for I v/as desirous that the king of Hungary would cross the 
 Danube with his army and enter Turkey. At present, I shall let him 
 have full scope, but in the end he shall repay me fully for what he 
 has done. It is four months since I heard of tins expedition, from 
 my good friend the duke of Milan, who at the same time sent me 
 twelve hawks and gerfalcons, the finest I ever saw. With these 
 presents, he wrote me the names and surnames of the barons of 
 France who were coming to carry the war into Turkey ; adding, that 
 if I could capture those named in his letter, their ransoms would be 
 worth to me more than a million of florins. Besides the barons he 
 mentioned, there ought to be with them from France, or the neigh- 
 boring countries, five hundred gallant squires. The duke of Milan 
 advised me, if we had a battle, (which will infallibly be the case, for I 
 shall march to meet them,) to draw up my men with prudence, and to 
 take every advantage in the combat; for they were all men of such 
 ability and resolution, that the meanest would not fly, to avoid death 
 They have undertaken this expedition, as the duke writes me, solely 
 through valor, to do some deeds of arms that may gain them renown- 
 For this I feel myself thankful to them ; and their desire for arms 
 shall be gratified within three m.onths from this time, when, perhaps, 
 they may have more than sufficient." 
 
580 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXV. 
 
 A DIGRESSION FROM THE PRINCIPAL HISTORY, TO EXPLAIN WHY JOHN 
 GALEAS OF MILAN WAS MOVED TO GIVE THE TURK INFORMATION OF THE 
 EXPEDITION INTENDED AGAINST HIM. 
 
 What Bajazet had told the sultan of Babylon respecting the in- 
 Ibnnation he had received from the lord of Milan must surprise every 
 one. It was supposed he had been baptized and was regenerated in 
 our faith, and yet he had sought the friendship and alliance of an in- 
 fidel king, an enemy to our religion, and had every year sent him 
 presents of hounds and hawks, or the finest linen cloth that could be 
 procured at Rheims, Cambray, or in Holland, which is very agree- 
 able to the Saracens, who have none but what comes from our coun- 
 try. Bajazet, in return, made him rich gifts of cloth of gold and 
 precious stones, of which they have abundance ; and we cannot obtain 
 them without great risk, unless by means of the Venetians or Genoese, 
 who traffic with those parts. With regard to the count de Vertus, 
 duke of Milan, and the lord Galeas, his father, who reigned over the 
 Milanese as tyrants, it is marvellous to think of their fortunes, and 
 how they first gained possession of that country. 
 
 There were three brothers of the house of Visconti, sir Matthew, 
 sir Galeas, and sir Bernabo. These three brothers had an uncle* 
 who was archbishop of Milan during the time the lord Charles de 
 Luxembourg, king of Bohemia and Germany, was elected emperor 
 in the room of Lewis of Bavaria, who had obtained that dignity by 
 force. He was never acknowledged emperor by the church, but, 
 on the contrary, was excommunicated by pope Innocent VI., Avho 
 then reigned. The cause of his excommunication was, that after 
 being crowned at Rome, by a pope and twelve cardinals of his 
 creation, he gave liberty to his German soldiers to plunder Rome, 
 to make them amends for the pay that was due. This was the 
 recompense the Romans received for the reception they gave him ; 
 and for this cause he died under sentence of excommunication. 
 The pope and cardinals whom he had made came of their free 
 will to Avignon, and submitted themselves to pope Innocent, vv'ho 
 absolved them of their error. 
 
 To return to the lords of Milan ; I will say how they first obtained 
 possession of the Milanese. This archbishop, their uncle, received 
 in Milan the new emperor on his return from Aix-la-Chapelle (where 
 he had performed the usual ceremonies for forty days) with so much 
 magnificence and splendor that, in return for his good cheer and for 
 a loan of one hundred thousand ducats, the emperor created him 
 viscount of Milan, and gave to him the territory of the Milanese, 
 and to his nephews after him, to hold during pleasure, and until the 
 hundred thousand ducats were repaid in one sum. When the arch- 
 bishop died, his nephew, sir Matthew, was acknowledged by the 
 emperor as viscount of Milan. His two brothers, sir Galeas and sir 
 Bernabo, who then were far from rich, took counsel together, and 
 determined to seize the government and rule over Lombardy : to 
 accomplish this, they resolved on their brother's death, by poison or 
 otherwise,t and then to unite themselves so strongly by marriage 
 that no one would dare to anger them. After the death of sir Mat- 
 thew, they reigned with great power, and were on the best terms 
 during their lives. They divided the country of Lombardy between 
 them : sir Galeas had ten towns, being the eldest brother, and sir 
 Bernabo nine ; and Milan was governed alternately by them for one 
 year. To maintain their government, and supply their expenses, 
 they laid heavy taxes and gabelles on the people, and, by various 
 means, extorted great wealth from tiieir subjects. They had their 
 towns garrisoned with foreign mercenaries, Germans, French, Bre- 
 tons, English, and from every nation except Lombardy, for in the 
 Lombards they had no confidence. These soldiers were regularly 
 paid every month, and were much dreaded by the people, for none 
 dared to oppose thern. When any of the neighboring lords ventured 
 to resist their encroachments, they took a severe revenge, and de- 
 stroyed several, that others might take warning. 
 
 The inhabitants of their towns were under such awe, that they 
 possessed nothing but through the good pleasure of sir Galeas and 
 sir Bernabo, and those who were rich they taxed three or four times 
 a year. They said the Lombards were too proud of their riches, 
 and good for nothing unless kept under subjection. They were 
 indeed so by them, for none dared murmur or say a word against 
 any of their connnands. The two brothers married nobly, but they 
 bought their wives from the wealth of their people. Sir Galeas 
 espoused Blanche, sister to the good count of Savoy : before he had 
 his consent, he gave him one hundred thousand ducats. Sir Ber- 
 nabo married in Germany a sister to the duke of Brunswick, and 
 did not pay a less sum than his brother had done.t They had 
 many children, whom they married to powerful families, to add to 
 their strength. Sir Galeas had a son called John Galeas, and when 
 he heard that king John of France had obtained his liberty from 
 England, and that he was in great difficulty to procure the first pay- 
 ment of his ransom, of three millions of francs, he negotiated with 
 
 * (liovanni Visconti.— Ed. 
 
 t Although they might have intended the crime, they had no necessity for its perpe- 
 tration. Matthew died from tlie effects of his intemperance.— Ed. 
 
 + Galeas Visconti married Blanche of Savoy, 10th September, 1350. 
 
 Bernabo Visconti married Beatrix Scaligera, through pride called Regura, 27th Sep- 
 tember, 1350.— Mndi^son's. Royal Oenealogies. 
 
 the king and his council to have one of the daughters of France for 
 wife to his son John Galeas. His proposals were listened to, be* 
 cause they knew he was rich, and the king was distressed for 
 money. He bought, therefore, the daughter of king John for six 
 hundred thousand francs, which being paid to the king of England, 
 his son married her. She brought him as her dower the county of 
 Vertus in Champagne. They had a son and daughter, and the last 
 was married, by dint of money, to the second son of the late king 
 Charles V. called Lewis, who is at this moment duke of Orleans, 
 count of Blois and of Valois. This marriage cost the count de Ver. 
 tus, father of the lady, one million of francs, with part of which was 
 bought the county of Blois, as you have heard related in this history. 
 The two brothers lived in great friendship with each other, which 
 increased their power ; and neither pope nor cardinal, who made 
 war against them, could gain any advantage, nor any prince, except 
 the Marquis of Montferrat, who succeeded through the aid of sir 
 John Hawkwood and the English companie.s, whom he sought in 
 Provence, and led into Lombardy. 
 
 After the death of Galeas, his son John Galeas, count de Vertus, 
 reigned with great power, and at the beginning was much beloved 
 in Lombardy for his prudent and wise cotiG^uct. He abolished the 
 most oppressive taxes his father had imposed, and was so popular 
 that all spoke well of him ; but when he had so far succeeded, he 
 showed his natural disposition, which he had long restrained. He 
 laid an ambuscade for his uncle, sir Bernabo, who thought himself 
 on the best terms with him ; and, when he was taken, he was told 
 that one lord was sufficient for Lombardy. He could not obtain 
 any favor, for the power was against him, and, being carried to a 
 castle, was put to death, but how I know not. Sir Bernabo had 
 many fine children ; and the queen of France is the daughter of one 
 that was married to the duke of Austria and Bavaria. Sir Galeas 
 seized all the children of his uncle he could lay hands on, as well as 
 his possessions, which he annexed to his own, and reigned in great 
 splendor and wealth. He shortly after renewed the taxes he had 
 taken off, and extorted money from his subjects by every means of 
 imposition, which made him more feared than loved. He followed 
 the errors of his father, declaring and maintaining, that he would 
 never believe in, nor adore God : in consequence, he deprived the 
 monasteries of great part of their revenues, which he appropriated 
 to himself, saying, the monks lived too delicately on rich food and 
 choice wines; that such superfluities prevented them rising at mid- 
 night to perform their church duties, and that Saint Benedict had 
 not thus framed his laws for their conduct, but he would bring them 
 back to eggs and thin wine, that their voices might be louder and 
 clearer to chaunt in the church. 
 
 Thus did sir Galeas, father, and son, and sir Bernabo, act like 
 popes in their dominions as long as they lived : they did much in- 
 justice to churchmen, without fearing anything the popes might say 
 or do against them ; and M^hen the schism happened, and the two 
 popes of Rome and Avignon were excommunicating each other, 
 these lords of Milan laughed at both, as indeed did many other 
 great lords. The daughter of this sir John Galeas, duchess of Or- 
 leans, inherited more of the dispositions of her father than of her 
 mother, who was a princess of France ; for she was envious, and 
 covetous of the pomp of this world, and would gladly have .''een her 
 lord king of France, no m.atter how. A scandalous report was very 
 current, that the disorder of the king, which had so much distressed 
 the kingdom, and baffled ail the skill of the physicians, was owing 
 to her. I will say what gave rise to these suspicions, and made them 
 the more readily believed. 
 
 Valentina, duchess of Orleans, had a handsome son of the age of 
 the dauphin of France, and while these two children were playing 
 together in the chamber of the duchess, a poisoned apple was thrown 
 on the floor, near the dauphin, in hopes he would take it, but, 
 through God's providence, he did not. The son of the duchess, 
 thinking no harm, ran and ate it, but he had no sooner put iMnto 
 his mouth than death followed, in spite of every care to prevent it. 
 Those who had the government of the dauphin carried him away, 
 and never allowed him afterwards to enter the apartments of the 
 duchess. This story caused great murmurings in Paris and else- 
 where, and the people were so enraged against her, as to occasion 
 the duke to hear of it : they publicly said in Paris, that if she was 
 not prevented from being near the king, they would come and take 
 her away by force and put her to death, for that she intended to 
 poison the king and all his family, having already made him suffer 
 by her enchantments. What gave additional weight to this, was 
 the king's refusal, during his illness, to see the queen, whom he 
 would not recollect, nor any other person than the duchess of Or- 
 leans. The duke of Orleans, to put an end to these scandalous 
 reports, took her away from the h6tel de Saint Pol himself, and 
 sent her to one of his castles called Asnieres, on the road to Beau- 
 vais, where she remained some time without ever passing the gates 
 of the castle. She was removed thence to Neufchatcl on the Loire, 
 and the duke hated her much for the accident which had happened 
 to his son : his other fine children, however, softened his resentment 
 to her. 
 
 Intelligence of this was carried to Milan, and sir Galeas heard with 
 fear the great danger his daughter was in. He was very wroth with 
 the king of France and his ministers, and sent sir James de la Berme, 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND F R'A N C E , S P A I N , & c . 
 
 581 
 
 I with other noble persons, embassadors to France, to excuse his daugh- 
 ter, and to say, that if any knight should accuse her of treason, he 
 would provide a person to challenge him to mortal combat. At the 
 
 I I time these embassadors came to Paris, the king was in tolerable 
 health ; but very little attention was paid them, or to the excuses 
 
 ^ they made for the duchess of Orleans, and they received a short an- 
 t 8wer. When they saw this, they returned to Milan to relate to the 
 duke what they had seen and heard. The duke was more angered 
 than before, and sent his defiance to the king and kingdom of France ; 
 
 but, when it was brought, the most gallant part of the French chivalry 
 had already set out for Hungary, and were now entered into Turkey. 
 From spite to the king of France, the duke of Milan had formed 
 an alliance with Bajazet ; and by his means was the sultan regularly 
 informed of all that was passing in Christendom, and the secret his- 
 tory of France. 
 
 We will now leave this matter, and say how the sultan Bajaz/^ 
 and the Christian barons and knights in Turkey prospered. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXVI. 
 
 WBILE BAJilZKT iS RAISING A GREAT ARMY TO OPPOSE THE HUNGARIANS 
 AND FRENCH, THE LORD DE COUCY, DURING THE SIEGE OF NICOPOLI, DE- 
 FEATS A LARGE BODY OF TURKS WITH AN INFERIOR FORCE. 
 
 Bajazet made no long stay at Cairo with tlie sultan of Babylon, 
 who promised to send a great army to his aid under the command 
 of his best men-at-arms, that he might successfully oppose the barons 
 and knights of France. They dispatched messengers on all sides to 
 all who they imagined could as.sist, begging they would exert them- 
 selves in this affair, which was become of the greatest consequence ; 
 for, should the French conquer Turkey, all the surrounding kingdoms 
 would tremble, their religion be destroyed, and themselves reduced 
 to slavery under the Christians, and it were far better to die before 
 such events should happen. 
 
 Many Saracen kings obeyed the summons which Bajazet and the 
 sultan of Babylon had sent as far as Persia, Media, and Tartary, 
 and to the north of the kingdom of Lecto,* beyond the frontiers of 
 Prussia. The Saracen monarchs, having heard the army of the Chris- 
 tians was composed of the flower of their chivalry, selected from 
 their own sect those of the greatest ability, and who had been longest 
 trained to arms ; so that their armament was not soon ready to march, 
 nor their purveyances prepared. It v/as the intention of Bajazet to 
 raise a force sufficient to withstand the Christians : he therefore began 
 his march toward Turkey, followed by large companies from various 
 parts. Tartary, Persia, and Media, sent him many valiant Saracens, 
 who were impatient for the combat, and to try their force against 
 the Christians. ^ 
 
 We will now leave Bajazet, and return lo the Christians, who were 
 besieging the strong city of Nicopoli. The garrison was very nume. 
 r()u.«, and defended the place valiantly against the attacks of their 
 enemies, but expressed themselves much surprised that they heard 
 nothing of Bojazet. The emperor of Constantinople had indeed 
 written to say, that he was still in the cpuntry about Alexandria. The 
 besieging army lay before Nicopoli, having provision in abundance 
 which, came to them from Hungary and the surrounding countries. 
 During the siege, the lord de Coucy and some other French knights 
 took a fancy to make an expedition farther into Turkey, for they 
 were tired of remaining so long inactive, while the king of Hungary 
 should continue his approaches to the town. The lord de Coucy, 
 as commander-in-chief, left the camp with about five hundred lances 
 and as many cross-bows, on horseback, accompanied by the lords de 
 Roye, de Saint Py, the governor of Beauvoir, the lord de Montcaurel, 
 
 the borgne de Montquel, and several more. They selected as guides 
 some of the best mounted Hungarian scouts, well acquainted with 
 the country, to lead them where they thought was probable to meet 
 the enemy. This same week, the Turks likewise took the field to 
 the amount of twenty thousand men ; for, having heard the Chris- 
 tians were destroying and burning their country, they determined to 
 put an end to it. They collected in the foi-ce I have said, and ad- 
 vanced to a pass through which it was necessary the Christians should 
 march to enter the open country, for there was no other entrance. 
 Having remained there for two days without hearing anything of 
 the enemy, they were on the point of returning the third day, when 
 the Hungarian scouts came galloping* to the place where the Turks 
 lay in ambush. When they thus saw them, they kept quiet to ob- 
 serve the Christians, without making any sally or throwing a lance. 
 The Christians advanced near to the Turks, and, although they could 
 not see the whole, found they were very numerous. After a short 
 stay, they returned to inform the lord de Coucy and the other lords 
 what they had seen. The Christians were rejoiced on hearing it, 
 and the lord de Coucy said : " We must advance and see what kind 
 of people they are ; for, since we are come thus far, we must not re- 
 turn without offering them combat, otherwise we may be blamed." 
 " You are in the right," answered such lords as heard him. 
 
 They then tightened their armor, regirihed their horses, and ad- 
 vanced at a gentle pace to where the Turks lay. There v.^as a small 
 wood between the two parties : when the French kniglits came to 
 it, they halted, and the lord de Coucy said to sir Reginald de Roye 
 and the lord de Saint Py : "I would advise, ia order to draw the 
 Turks out of their ambush, that you two advance with one hundred 
 of our men, while we post the remainder in this wood. The Turks, 
 seeing so small a party, will quit their ambush : do you suffer your- 
 selves to be pursued, and, when past this wood, wheel round on them : 
 we will instantly sally forth, and thus inclose and conquer them at 
 our pleasure." This plan was adopted, and the two knights set off 
 with about one hundred of the best mounted : the main body to the 
 amount of eight hundred men of tried courage, entered the wood, 
 where they hid themselves. The others galloped toward the Turks, 
 who were much pleased, thinking what they saw was the whole 
 force of the enemy : they quitted their ambuscade and advanced un 
 the plain. The Christian lords, observing this, turned about, and 
 suffered themselves to be pursued, but, as they were so well mounted, 
 the Turks could not come up with them. Both parties passed the 
 wood without the ambush being noticed, when the lord de Coucy 
 sallied forth with his men, shouting, "Our Lady for the lord de 
 Coucy I" and, falling on the rear of the Turks, struck down many. 
 
 * It is in D. Suuvage "came to Brechaut but the UB. in tll8 MuSf »im h&S U IJI 
 
 im< f»m1 my i^rflpi'^^nl" ii^m\m iiiMefnl or " HDMh" 
 
 4 
 
582 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN. Sec. 
 
 The Turks halted, on finding themselves thus surrounded, and 
 made the best defence they could ; but it little availed, for, not sus. 
 pecting any forces behind, they were thunderstruck when they were 
 attached on all sides. The French displayed great valor, and over- 
 threw all that opposed them : they slew heaps on the field, and 
 killed all tliey overtook in their flight like wild beasts. They showed 
 mercy to none, and happy were they who could save themselves. 
 After this del'eat, the French returned in the evening to the camp 
 before Nicopoli. 
 
 News was cpread throughout the army that the lord de Coucy had, 
 by his valor, overthrown more than fifteen thousand Turks. Very 
 many were loud in his praise for this action, but not so the count 
 d'Eu ; for he s&id, " the expedition had been undertaken through 
 vanity, and that he saw nothing praiseworthy in it, as it had put the 
 detachment undt-r his command in great risk, by attacking so supe- 
 rior a force. It was, besides, his duty (since he was so eager to 
 perform some deeds of arms, and had met the Turks in the field) to 
 have sent information of his intention to the commander-in-chief, the 
 count de Nevers, who was anxious to gain renown." Thus, through 
 envy as it may be supposed, did the count d'Eu speak of the lord de 
 Coucy. During the whole expedition, he never had any friendship 
 for him, notwithstanding he saw that he was beloved and respected 
 by all the French and foreign knights, which, he imagined, should 
 have been his due ; for he was very nearly connected by blood with 
 the king of France, and bore for arms the flower de luces with a bar, 
 and was besides constable of France. Such was the beginning of 
 the hatred of the count d'Eu to the gallant lord de Coucy, which at 
 last broke out, and caused the destruction of the Christian army, as 
 you will soon have related. 
 
 We will now leave this subject, and return to what was passing 
 between the kings of France and England. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXVII. 
 
 THE DUKE OF GUELDRES PREVENTS THE EARL OF DERBY JOINING THE 
 COUNTS OF HAINAULT AND OF OSTREVANT IN THEIR EXPEDITION 
 
 AGAINST FRIESLAND NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE BETWEEN FRANCE 
 
 AND ENGLAND ARE CONTINUED UNTIL KING RICHARD CROSSES OVER 
 TO CALAIS, TO CONCLUDE THEM AVITH THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY. 
 
 You have before heard in this history that the marriage of the 
 king of England with a princess of France was nearly approaching ; 
 that the two kings showed great affection to each other, as did the 
 relatives on either side, excepting the duke of Gloucester. But he 
 had no joy in it ; for he knew that, by this connection, peace would 
 be established between the two kingdoms, which he would unwil- 
 lingly see, for he only wished for war, and excited all whom he 
 thought so inclined, to throw every obstacle in the way. At that 
 time, there was a knight in his service called sir John Baquigay,* a 
 reserved man, who knew all the secrets of the duke, and who, by 
 encouraging his warlike dispositions, followed the natural bent of 
 his own inclinations. 
 
 At this period, the duke of Gueldres came to England to visit the 
 king and his uncles, and to offer his loyal services, for he was so 
 bounden by faith and homage. The duke would gladly have seen 
 the king making preparations for war, for he disliked peace. The 
 duke of Gueldres had many conversations with the duke of Lancas- 
 ter respecting the intended expedition of the counts of Hainault and 
 of Ostrevant against Friesland ; for at this moment Fier-i-bras de 
 Vertain was in England, having been sent thither by the count d'Os- 
 trevant to seek men-at-arms and archers. The earl of Derby had 
 been^requested to accompany his cousins of Hainault and Ostrevant, 
 to which he was well inclined, and had told Fier-a-bras that he 
 should be well pleased to go to Friesland, if it met the approbation 
 of the king and his father. When, therefore, the duke of Gueldres 
 came to England, the duke of Lancaster spoke to him on this sub- 
 ject, and desired him to say what he thought of it. He replied, " that 
 the expedition would be attended with much danger ; that Friesland 
 was not a country easily conquered, and that many counts of Hol- 
 land and Hainault, who in former times claimed it as their inherit- 
 ance, had marched thither with great force, to bring it under their 
 subjection, but had never returned. The Frieslanders are a people 
 void of honor and understanding, and show mercy to none who fall 
 in their way. They pay no respect to any lord, however great his 
 rank ; and their country is very strong, surrounded by the sea, and 
 full of bogs, islands, and marshes, so that no persons can find their 
 way through it but the natives. I have been much pressed to join 
 this expedition, but I will never enter such a country ; and I would 
 not advise that my cousin of Derby go thither, for it is not suitable 
 to him. I am satisfied my brother-in-law d'Ostrevant will undertake 
 the expedition, for he is very eager to do so, and will lead many 
 Hainaulters with him, but there is a chance if any of them ever 
 come home again." 
 
 This speech of the duke of Gueldres had such an effect on the 
 duke of Lancaster, that he resolved in his own mind the earl of 
 Derby should not go to Friesland. He signified to him secretly his 
 intentions, for his son did not live with him, and that, notwithstand- 
 ing the engagements he had entered into, he must break them off", 
 
 * " Raquigay."— Museum MS. Hacquingay.— Hafod MS. Laquingay. 
 
 for neither the king nor himself would consent that he should go^on 
 this expedition. Thus did the duke of Gueldres prevent the count 
 of Hainault and his son from having the company of the earl of 
 Derby, in which respect he was not well advised, nor was he 
 thanked by either; but he was by nature all his life proud and 
 envious. 
 
 Fier-^L-bras de Vertain, notwithstanding this disappointment, was 
 not the less diligent in collecting forces, and had engaged many 
 knights and squires, with more than two hundred archers. But the 
 earl of Derby excused himself, for the reasons above mentioned. 
 His excuses were accepted, for they plainly saw, that had not the 
 king forbidden his going, at the request of the duke of Lancaster, he 
 would have been of the party. The king of England, to do honor 
 to his cousin of Hainault, order.ed vessels to be prepared in the 
 Thames to carry, at his cost, such knights as went on this expedi- 
 tion to Encuse,* a seaport belonging to the earl of Hainault, at the 
 extremity of Holland, and twelve leagues by v/ater from Friesland. 
 
 About this time, the king of France sent Waleran count de Saint 
 Pol to England to press forward the treaty for peace, and to urge 
 secretly the king of England to its conclusion. Robert the hermit, 
 who had been before in England on this subject, and willingly 
 listened to by the king, accompanied the count de Saint Pol. On 
 the count's arrival in England, he found the king at his palace 
 of Eltham, with his brothers the earls of Kent and Huntingdon, 
 and his uncle the duke of Lancaster. The king received him with 
 pleasure and kindness, and, having patiently heard all he had to say, 
 took him aside, and replied — " Fair brother of Saint Pol, with regard 
 to this treaty of peace with my father-in-lav/ the king of France, I 
 am heartily inclined to it ; but I cannot accomplish it alone, nor do 
 everything myself. True it is, that my two brothers, and two uncles 
 of Lancaster and York, are equally desirous for it as myself ; but 
 my other uncle of Gloucester is violently against it. and he leads the 
 Londoners as he vv'ills, and may attempt to stir up a rebellion in the 
 country, and raise the people against me. Now, consider the dan- 
 ger I should run if there were a second rebellion, headed by the duke 
 of Gloucester and other great barons and knights who are, as I know, 
 of his way of thinking. I am puzzled how to act, for my uncle of 
 Gloucester is of so reserved a nature, no one knows his real thoughts.'' 
 " My lord," answered the count de Saint Pol, " you must gain him 
 over by fair and kind speeches. Make him handsome presents, and, 
 should he demand anything, however unreasonable, grant it him in- 
 stantly. This is the only means to gain him ; and, if you continue 
 such conduct until your marriage be completed, your queen brought 
 hither, and all affairs concluded, you may then follow a different 
 method ; for you will be powerful enough to crush all your enemies 
 or rebellious subjects, as the king of France will at all times be ready 
 to assist you, and this you may securely depend upon." " In God's 
 name, brother-in-law," said the king, " you speak to the purpose, 
 and it shall be as you advise." 
 
 The count de Saint Pol was lodged in London during his stay in 
 England ; but he had frequent conferences with the king at Eltham, 
 and with the duke of Lancaster on the subject of the marriage. It 
 had been ordered at Paris, as the count told the king, that the king 
 of France and his uncles would come to Saint Omer, and bring the 
 young princess with them who was to be queen of England. It was 
 therefore their wish that the king of England should come to Calais, 
 and that, between the towns of Saint Omer and Calais, an interview 
 should take place between the two kings, who from personal know- 
 ledge would have their affections much strengthened ; and then there 
 might be some secret treaties made respecting a peace between them 
 and their uncles, without employing too many persons in the business, 
 before the king carried his queen to England. If a peace could not 
 be concluded, the truce was then to be prolonged for the term of 
 thirty or forty years, between France, England, and their allies. This 
 proposal seemed so fair and honorable to the king of England and 
 his council, that orders were instantly issued for purveyances of every 
 kind to be made ready for the king's voyage and residence at Calais. 
 Many lords did the same. The duke and duchess of Gloucester, 
 with their children, were invited by the king to be of the party, as 
 were the dukes and duchesses of York and Lancaster: this last lady, 
 being with her lord at Eltham, had already been asked. The king 
 and the count de Saint Pol travelled together through Canterbury to 
 Dover, followed 1^ all the lords who had been invited to accompany 
 him. In truth, the count de Saint Pol, from his impatience to carry 
 the news to the king of France, crossed the sea on his arrival at 
 Dover to Boulogne, and hastened thence to Paris, and related to the 
 king and his uncles everything which had passed with the king ol 
 England. This gave general satisfaction, and the king and court 
 set out from Paris, and by short days' journeys came to Amiens. 
 
 In the meantime, the king of England, his uncles, and a large 
 train of lords and ladies, had crossed the sea to Calais, where they 
 were lodged. The duke of Burgundy came to St. Omer to press for- 
 ward the treaties, which were carried on through the mediation of the 
 count de St. Pol and Robert the hermit. The duke of Burgundy was 
 conducted by the count de St. Pol to Calais on the Eve of Our Lady 
 the middle of August, to wait on the king of England and his uncles. 
 He was welcomed with joy by the king and his lords ; and they con. 
 
 * •' Encuse." Q.. Enchuysen. D. Sauvage. in a marginal note, calls it Neuse. My 
 MS. has Emaise— " la ville d'Emaise." 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLANP, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 583 
 
 ferred together for some time on the articles for a peace, to which 
 the king inclined : indeed, to say the truth, he was indifferent what 
 might be agreed on, provided he had his wife. When the duke of 
 Burgundy had staid at Calais two days negotiating a peace, the king 
 told°him that he would lay all the articles on his return to ^ngiand 
 before the parliament; for that neither himself nor his lords could 
 agree to anything conclusive without the assent of the people ot t.ng 
 land, and it must be deferred until their will were known. He added, 
 that he himself would go over, and return, and so make one journey 
 for the conclusion of all things. " That will be well done,' replied 
 the duke of Burgundy and the count de Saint Pol ; who returned to 
 St. Omar, and thence to Amiens, where they expected to meet the 
 kincr and queen of France with their daughter, the tuturc queen ot 
 England. The dukes of Berry and Brittany were also there ; tor the 
 king of France had sent for the last-mentioned duke, who came 
 thither in grand array. i . - 
 
 The king of England and his lords returned to London ; but their 
 ladies remained until they should come back, which was speedily 
 done. During this period, the expedition from Hainault against the 
 Frieslanders took place, commanded by the earl of Hainault and his 
 son the count d'Ostrevant. We will relate the arrangement ol it, tor 
 it is now time. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXVIII. 
 
 THE COUNTS OF HAINAULT AND OF OSTREVANT RAISE A LARGE ARMY OF 
 MEN-AT-ARMS, KNIGHTS AND SQUIRES, TO INVADE FRIESLAND. THE 
 KING OF FRANCE SENDS THEM ASSISTANCE, UNDER THE COMMAND OF 
 COUNT WALERAN DE ST. POL AND THE LORD CHARLES D'ALBRET. 
 
 You have before heard the great desire duke Albert of Bavaria 
 and his son William count d'Ostrevant had to invade Friesland, and 
 to employ their arms in the conquest of it. The knights and squires 
 ^{ Hainault, Holland and Zealand, were willing to second them, be- 
 cause they thought it was their lawful inheritance. To gain assist- 
 ance, the count d'Ostrevant had sent one of his squires, a renowned 
 man-at-arms, called Fier-^-bras de Vertain, to England, where he had 
 been successful: king Richard, out of affection to his cousin, had sent 
 him some men-at-arms, and two hundred archers, under the command 
 of three English lords ; one was named Cornewall, another Colleville, 
 but the name oi' the third, who was a squire, I have forgotten. It 
 was told me, and likewise that he was a gallant man-at-arms, and 
 had long been used to war: a short time before, he had in a riot had 
 his chin cut off, which was replaced by one of silver that was fastened 
 by a silken cord tied round his head. -This force arrived at Enchuy- 
 een in proper time. To be more particular in this matter, I must say 
 that I was informed duke Albert lield many consultations with his 
 son, the count d'Ostrevant, and they called into their councils a noble 
 and valiant squire, named William de Croembourg,* who earnestly 
 exhorted them to the Vv^ar, for he mortally hated the Frieslanders. 
 He had done them some mischief, and did them much more, as you 
 shall hear. 
 
 Duke Albert of Bavaria set out from the Hague in company with 
 his son, the count d'Ostrevant, for Hainault, and convened the states 
 of that country at Mons, who readily obeyed the summons of then- 
 lord. He laid before them his wish to invade Friesland, and remon- 
 strated on his right to do so, and the lawful claim he had on it. ^ In 
 proof of this, he had read to them certain letters patent, apostoucal 
 and imperial, authentically sealed with lead and gold, which evidently 
 showed his right over that country. The duke addressed the meet- 
 ing : " My lords, and valiant men our subjects, you know that every 
 oi-Te ought to guard and defend his inheritance, and that man, in the de- 
 fence of himself or country, has a right to make war. You know also, 
 that the Frieslanders ought to acknowledge themselves our subjects, 
 but they are rebellious against us, and agoinst our rights, like men 
 without law or religion. Notwithstanding the justice of our claim, we 
 cannot, my very dear lords, without your personal and pecunary aid, 
 attempt to make these people listen to reason. We therefore entreat 
 your assistance in this necessity, both personal and pecuniary, that 
 we may subjugate these disbbedient Frieslanders to our will." 
 
 To this re"monstrance the three estates unanimously assented; and, 
 as they were alwaj's inclined to comply with the desires of their lord, 
 they presented duke Albert, from the country of Hainault, the sum 
 of t^hirty thousand francs in ready money, without including the town 
 of Valenciennes. This town performed equally well its duty, for 
 duke Albert, attended bv his son, went thither, and made a similar 
 request, to what he had dojic so successfully at Mons. These two val- 
 iant pri:)ccs were very joyful to see their subjects so forward to assist 
 their war, as it assured them they were well-beloved by them. Since 
 {hf;y had now a sufficiency of money, they resolved to inform the 
 \6\vr of Fr:ince of tlieir intended expedition, and to request aid from 
 him° Two prudent and valiant knights, the lord de Eigne and the 
 lord de .Tumont, were sent thither, and acquitted themselves well, for 
 they were much in favor with the French, especially the lord de 
 Eigne, whom the king, from his partiality to him, had made one of 
 his chamberlain?. He proposed to the king of France the request of 
 his lord, duke Albert of Bavaria, so eloquently, that he and his coun- 
 cil promised the assistance he required. The duke of Burgundy was 
 urgent for its being granted, because his daughter having married 
 • " Croembourg." In my ^S. proemboarc. Museum MS. Curembourch. 
 
 the duke's son, he thought, if the expedition were successful, it would 
 be for the advantage of the count d'Ostrevant. 
 
 Many of the. great barons disapproved of it, and spoke against it, 
 saying, "How can these Hainaulters come hither to soli<;it aid fron* 
 our king, when they have already been to ask the same from thr 
 English ? Have we not lately seen that the count d'Ostrevant ha 
 accepted of the order of the Garter, which is the English device ? 
 Has he shown, by so doing, any very great affection for France V 
 But others, who were better informed, replied, " My fair sirs, you 
 are wrong to talk thus ; if the count d'Ostrevant has accepted the 
 Garter, it was not to ally himself with England; for he is too strongly 
 connected v,^ith the French. Is it not true that he has rnarried the 
 lady Catherine, daughter to the duke of Burgundy ? and is not this 
 a better and more valuable alliance than the blue Garter? Never» 
 therefore, say that he will not prefer doing services to the French 
 rather than to the English. The king will honor himself and exalt the 
 French name, if he give him the aid he has been wisely advised to 
 afford." Thus did the French converse on these matters, which made 
 a great noise in France, for nothing was talked of but the deeds of 
 arms that were to be performed in Hungary or Turkey against Ba. 
 jazet, and in Friesland against the Frieslanders. The king of France 
 did not delay raising an army of five hundred lances, composed of 
 Picards and French, and gave the command of them to the count 
 Waleraa de St. Pol and the lord Charles d'Albret, two knights that 
 were well qualified for the business. They wore to lead this body 
 of men to the tovv^n of Enchuysen in lower Friesland, as that was the 
 place of assembly for the whole army, and they were to embark there 
 for upper Friesland, which they did. 
 
 When the two valiant knights, the lord de Eigne and the lord de 
 .lumont, saw the good inclination of the king, and v/ere assured that 
 every order had been given, and the pay issued for the men-at-arms 
 who were to be sent to assist the count of Hainault, they took leave 
 of the king of France, and, thanking him for his friendship to their 
 lords, returned to Hainault, to relate to the duke of Bavaria and the 
 count d'Ostrevant how successful tliey had been. They were re- 
 ceived with the honors they had deserved, and detailed the courte- 
 ous answers they received from the king of France and the duke of 
 Burgundy, who had feasted them grandly, and the rich presents that 
 were given them, for which they thanked the duke and his son, as 
 it was from affection to them they had been shown such courtesy. 
 The whole would be too long to relate : we will therefore pass it 
 over, and come to the principal matter. 
 
 Duke Albert on hearing that the king of France was to send to 
 his assistance five hundred lances, assembled all his barons and vas- 
 sals of Hainault. The assembly consisted of the lord de Vertain, 
 seneschal of Hainault, a very valiant man and renowned in arms ; 
 the lords de Eigne and de Gomegines, whom he appointed marshals 
 of his army ; the lords de Havreth, Michelet de Eigne, de Lalain, de 
 Hordaing, de Chin, de Cautain, du Quesnoy, do Fleron, his brother 
 John, the lords de Bousset, de Jumont (who were knights always 
 eager to meet their enemies, but at this time they had bleared eyes, 
 'i-ed as crimson,) Robert le Roux ; the lords de Monthiaux, de Fon- 
 taines, de Seniles, the lords James de Sans William de Hermes, and 
 Pmchart his brother ; the lords de Lens, de Veilammont, Anseaux 
 de Trasscigines, Octes de Seaussines and his brother Gerard ; the 
 lord de Ictrc, his brother John : sir Anseaux de Sars, Bridaux de 
 Montigny, Daniaux de la Poulle, Guy de la Poulle ; the lord de Mas- 
 ting; sir Floridas de Villiers, who was a most valiant knight, and 
 had gained great renown for his gallant deeds of arms against the 
 Turk's and Saracens in the Holy Land; sir Eustace de Vertain, sir 
 Fier-Si-bras de Vertain, who was but just returned, from England, and 
 rejoiced his lord with the success of his mission there ; the lord de 
 Osteven, sir Rasse de Montigny, Thuq de Merse ; the lord de Ror- 
 sin, sir John d'Andregines, Persant his brother, and great numbers 
 ot other gentlemen and squires, whom, having assembled in his hall 
 at Mens, he addressed, saying, " That he hoped they would all arm, 
 and provide themselves with followers and every necessary, each ac 
 cording to his power, to assist him in his intended expedition against 
 Friesland ; and that, out of affection to him, and regard to their own 
 honor and renown, they would accompaiiy hini to his town of En- 
 chuysen, in lower Friesland, and to Meemelie,^ and thence embark 
 with him for upper Friesland, where he proposed being, if it pleased 
 God, by the middle of August ensuing, and that he would wait loi 
 them in one or other of the two before-mentioned towns ; that it wa.' 
 his intention to go thither beforehand to make the necessary prepa- 
 
 rations, and to receive his men-at-arms, and such Hollanders and 
 Zealanders as would be induced to enter his service, and aid him tc 
 the accomplishment of his purposes." All the knights, squires and 
 lords in Hainaidt instantly complied with his request, and promised 
 him their services like loyal vassals. Duke Albert and the count 
 d'Ostrevant found them punctual in the performance of their prom- 
 ises and they made themselves speedily ready, so that about the be- 
 ginning^ of Au-ust of the year 1396, they assembled and marched 
 off in companies handsomely arrayed, toward Antwerp, where they 
 were to embark for Enchuysen, the general rendezvous. 
 
 You mny suppose, that when all these preparations were making 
 for the departure of so many knights and squires, the ladies and dam- 
 
 * '* Meemelie." British Museum MS. Metenelichi 
 Medendric which is not fur from Enchuysen. 
 
 Hafod MS. Mctmelic. ft. If not 
 
584 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, & 
 
 sels were not in high spirits. We must allow they were very much 
 cast down, for they saw their fathers, brothers, uncles, husbands and 
 lovers, going on a dangerous expedition, not having forgotten how, 
 in former times, the Hainaulters with count William had remained 
 on the field of battle in Friesland. They were therefore fearful that 
 what had happened to their predecessors might befal them, and 
 loudly praised the duchess of Brabant for having forbidden any gen- 
 tleman or others of her country to take part in this expedition. The 
 ladies frequently pressed their lovers and friends to decline going, 
 ^ and many meetings were holden, but to little purpose. They were 
 
 particularly angry with Fier-Ji-bras, bastard de Vertain, for they said 
 he was the principal promoter of this expedition. Duke Albert and 
 his son, on leaving Mons after the promise of the Hainaulters to as- 
 sist them, returned to Zealand, and made similar requests to the 
 Zealanders, who in like manner complied ; and the lord de la Vere, 
 sir Floris de Boessel, Floris d'Abel, the lord de Zenemberge, sir 
 Clais de Boysel and Philip de Cortein, were very instrumental in for. 
 warding the business. They, as well as many other gentlemen, 
 instantly armed, and put themselves in handsome array, plainly 
 showing they were desirous to gain renown. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXIX. 
 
 THE EARL OF HAINATJLT LANDS WITH HIS ARMY IN FRIESLAND. HE DE- 
 FEATS THE FRIESLANDERS IN BATTLE, BUT IS NEVERTHELESS FORCED 
 TO RETIRE TO HOLLAND, TO PASS THE WINTER, WITHOUT HAVING GAINED 
 ANYTHING IN FRIESLAND. 
 
 The duke of Bavaria and his son, having been so successful in 
 Hainault and Zealand, made the same requests to the Hollanders, 
 especially to the barons and chief towns. To say the truth, the Hoi- 
 landers were much pleased to hear war was about to be made on 
 the Frieslanders : they hated them, particularly the knights and squires, 
 for there was a continual warfare carried on, and they mutually plun- 
 dered each other on the frontiers of the two countries. When the 
 great lords in Holland, such as the lord d'Atrel, and other gallant 
 knights and squires, heard the supplications of their princes, duke 
 Albert and his son count William, they immediately offered their 
 services, and promised them every assistance. They were speedily 
 armed, and the principal towns supplied them with a large body of 
 cross-bows, pikemen and men-at-arms. It was not long before they 
 were all assembled at Enchuysen, where vessels had been provided 
 to carry them to Friesland. They were so numerous, they were said 
 to be thirty thousand sailors, and that the town of Haarlem alone had 
 supplied twelve hundred- These vessels were amply freighted with 
 warlike stores and other necessaries. You may imagine the grief 
 of the ladies and damsels in Holland and Zealand v/as not less than 
 those of Hainault, when they found their lovers and relations were 
 engaged in this war. Their anger fell chiefly on the lord de Cruem- 
 bourg, because they thought he had been the great adviser of duke 
 Albert in the matter, and on the lord de Merebbede. This last was 
 eager for revenge on the Frieslanders for the injuries they had done 
 him : in the before-mentioned battle, when count William was un- 
 fortunately slain, he had lost three-and-thirty of his relations, bearing 
 bis arms on their coats, with sir Daniel de Merebbede their leader, 
 none of whom would the Frieslanders ransom. These two lords, 
 therefore, were afraid to appear before the princesses and ladies of 
 duke Albert's court. 
 
 In a short time the whole army was assembled : the English came 
 first, next the Hainaulters in very handsome array, under the com- 
 mand of the lord seneschal de Jumont, and the lord de Gomegines, 
 who was marshal ; then the Hollanders and Zealaiders ; but the 
 
 French did not come so soon as expected, which delayed the em 
 barkation eleven days. During this interval, there arose a quarrel 
 between the English and Hollanders ; and, had it not been for the 
 .count d'Ostrevant, the English would have been slain. The quarrel 
 was made up ; and the French arrived, to the joy of all, for they con 
 sisted of a well-appointed body of men-at-arms. Every one was now 
 ordered instantly to embark, which being done, they hoisted sail, re- 
 commended themselves to God, and put to sea. The water was 
 smooth, and seemed to take pleasure in bearing them. There were 
 such numbers of vessels that, had they been arranged in a line from 
 Enchuysen to Kuynder (which is in upper Friesland, and where they 
 intended to land,) though twelve leagues distant, the whole sea would 
 have been covered ; but they sailed in one body. 
 
 We will for a while leave them, and speak of the Frieslanders, 
 who, as I was informed, had been long acquainted with duke Albert's 
 intention of marching against them with a powerful army. They 
 held many councils on the subject, and determined to cornbat their 
 enemies at the very moment of their landing; for they said they 
 should prefer death with liberty, to being slaves ; and would never quit 
 the battle while alive. They also resolved not to accept of ransoms 
 for any person, however high his rank, but to put their prisoners to 
 death, or keep them in banishment from their own countries. Among 
 these was a Frieslander of high birth and renown : he was of great 
 strength and stature, for he was taller by a head than all his country- 
 men. His name was Yves .Touvere ; but the Hollanders, Zealanders 
 and Hainaulters called him " The great Frieslander." This valiant 
 man had gained much re^putation in Prussia, Hungary, Turkey, 
 Rhodes and Cyprus, where he had performed such deeds of valor 
 that he was much spoken of. When he heard his countrymen thus 
 readily resolve on battle, he addressed them : " 0 ye noble men, 
 and free Frieslanders, know that there is no fortune stable. If in 
 former times you have, by your prowess, conquered the Hainaulters, 
 Hollanders and Zealanders, those who are now about to invade us 
 are men expert in war, and be assured they will act otherwise than 
 their predecessors: you will see they will not fly, but tight with the 
 utmost prudence. I would therefore advise that we suffer them to 
 land and make what progress they can into the country : let us guard 
 our towns and fortresses, and give up to them the plains, where they 
 will waste themselves. Our country will not long support them. It 
 is besides cut up witli ditches and dykes, so that they cannot advance 
 far into the interior, and they will forced to return after having 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, 6c c 
 
 585 
 
 tiurnt ten or twelve villages. This they will the more speedily do, 
 for they cannot ride, nor indeed without difficulty march on foot, 
 through the country, which will wear them out. The damage they 
 can do will be trifling, and w^ can soon repair it ; but, if we offer 
 them battle, I very much fear we shall be overpowered, for I have 
 been credibly i iformed they are one hundred thousand men under 
 arm.?." He sa^ i truly, for they were at least as many, if not more. 
 
 Three valiant Friesland knights, sir Feu de Dorekerque, sir Gerard 
 Gavin and sir Ti.:y de VValturg, seconded this proposal ; but the peo- 
 pie would not listen to it, and they were supported by several of those 
 noble men called Elins, who are gentlemen and judges of causes. 
 They opposed what the great Frieslander had offered with such suc- 
 cess," as to occasion it to be determined that, as soon as they should 
 liear of the enemy landing, they were to march and offer them com- 
 bat. This being resolved on, th ■ assembly broke up, that everyone 
 might make his preparations. To say the truth, they were in general 
 /ery poorly armed : many had no other defensive covering than their 
 ivaistcoats made of coarse thick cloth, scarcely better than horse-cloths. 
 Some were armed in leather, others with rusty jackets of mail, which 
 memed unfit for service ; but there were some perfectly well armed. 
 vVhen the Frieslanders were ready to march, they took from their 
 churches the crosses and banners, and divided themselves into three 
 battalions, each consisting of about ten thousand men : they halted, on 
 arriving at a pass defended by a ditch, very near to where the Hain- 
 ault army was to land, and plainly saw the Hainaulters, Holland- 
 ers and Zealanders, for they were close to the shore, and prepar- 
 to disembark. It was on Saint Bartholomew's day, which this 
 j'eur ieil on a Sunday, that duke Albert and his army landed in 
 Fiiesland. 
 
 The Frieslan ers, noticing the movements of their enemies, sallied 
 forth, to the amo -nt of about six thousand, and mounted the dykes to 
 see if they could any way prevent their landing. Among the Fries- 
 landers, there was a sort of mad woman dressed in blue cloth, who, 
 quitting her countrymen, rushed forward toward the Hainaulters and 
 Hollanders, making ready for battle. When she had approached 
 the army within bow-shot, she turned her back, and, raising up her 
 petticoats and shift, showed her bare rump to all who wished to see it, 
 bawling out some words in her own language, which meant, " Take 
 this for your welcome." Those on ship-board, seeing the wicked- 
 ness of this woman, let fly such a shower of arrows and bolts that 
 her legs and thighs were larded with them; for it seemed a shower 
 of snow, so many were the arrows shot at her. Several leaped into 
 the water, and, pursuing this wretched woman with drawn swords, 
 soon overtook her, and cut her into a thousand pieces. In the mean 
 time, the debarkation was taking effect; and the Hainaulters marched 
 to the enemy, who received them courageously, with long pikes, and 
 staves shod with iron, and repulsed them vigorously. The landing 
 was strongly contested, and numbers were killed and wounded ; but 
 from the advantage of their bows and cross bows, and by their supe- 
 rior mode of fighting, the Hainaulters gained the dyke, and remained 
 victors on the field at this first attack. When they were all disem- 
 barked, they ranged themselves along the dyke, each under his ban- 
 ner, and, when thus drawn up, their line extended more than half 
 a league. The Frieslanders, on their loss of the dyke, retreated to 
 another pass, where they had cast up the earth in their front, and the 
 ditch was v(^y deep : they amounted to about thirty thousand, and 
 as they were at no great distance, were plainly seen by the Hainault- 
 ers and their allies, from their position on the dyke. Each party 
 remained on the ground : in the mean time, the whole army was 
 landed, with their baggage, and some tents were pitched, under which 
 they reposed themselves during the Sunday and Monday, observing 
 the Frieslanders, with whom on these two days there were many 
 skirmishes and deeds of arms. 
 
 Both armies were ready prepared for battle on the Tuesday morn- 
 ino- : and many new knights were made of the Hainaulters, Holland- 
 ers and Zealanders, when it was resolved to attack the enemy. They 
 drew up in handsome array, placing their archers in front, intermixed 
 with the ranks, and, with trumpets sounding, marched to pass the 
 ditch. The Frieslanders guarded themselves from the arrows by 
 means of the mound of earth thrown from the ditch, which was as 
 high as their heads ; but the Hollanders leaped into the ditch, and 
 made bridges of their pikes and lances. The enemy defended them- 
 selves valiantly, and gave such rude blows on those who attempted 
 to mount the bank, that they drove them on their backs into the ditch. 
 In short so many valorous deeds were done, it is impossible to recount 
 them all ; but the Hainaulters and their allies were too strongly armed, 
 and the Frieslanders could not otherwise hurt them than by knock- 
 ino- them down. The new knights acquitted themselves honorably, 
 biit the enemy displayed great courage : they are a lusty race, though 
 very badly armed, and some of them without shoes or stockings ; 
 notwithstanding which, they made an obstinate defence. During 
 this skirmish, the lord de Ligne, the seneschal of Hainault and the 
 lord de .Tumont, with other Hainault knights, following the course of 
 the ditch found a passage for their horses, and fell upon the rear of 
 the Frieslanders, to their utter dismay. They quitted the defence of 
 the ditch to repel this last attack ; but the Hainaulters charged them 
 so vigorously that the enemy were broken and dispersed, and the 
 Hollanders and Zealanders crossed the ditch and joined in the fray. 
 The battle was now very murderous ; and the Frieslanders gave de. 
 
 structive blows with the axes they had armed themselves with, which 
 served them to fell timber ; but the great Frieslander, Yves Jouvere, 
 lost his life. Not long after this, the Frieslanders yielded the field, 
 and took to flight as fast as they could. The carnage in the pursuit 
 was horrible, for none were spared : the Hollanders, in particular, 
 killed all they could overtake ; even such as had been made prisoners 
 by the English, French and Hainaulters, they killed v/hile in their 
 hands. 
 
 The lord William de Cruembourg, and his two sons, John and 
 Henry, who had that morning been knighted, acquitted themselves 
 gallantly, and were the most active in slaying the Frieslanders, 
 showing clearly they loved them not. To conclude, the Friesland- 
 ers were completely defeated and the greater part killed : some few 
 were made prisoners, and about fifty carried to the Hague, where 
 they remained a long time. The lord of Kuynder, who was the lord 
 of the town where duke Albert had landed, had surrendered himself 
 to the duke on the Monday, and himself and two sons were in the 
 battle against the Frieslanders. They lived afterwards under the 
 protection of duke Albert and his son count William. 
 
 After this defeat, the Hainaulters, Hollanders, Zealanders, French 
 and English, quartered themselves about Kuynder, and took several 
 towns and castles ; but their captures were inconsiderable, for the 
 Frieslanders did them much harm by ambuscades and skirmishes. 
 If they made any prisoners, they had no ransom to offer ; and it was 
 seldom they would surrender, but fought until they were slain, say- 
 ing they preferred death and liberty to being under the subjection of 
 any lord whatever. Their friends or relations never brought any 
 ransoms for those who were taken, but left them to die in prison. 
 The Frieslanders offered their prisoners in exchange, man tor man ; 
 but, when their enemies had none to give in rettirn, they put them 
 to death. When the Hainault army had been in the country about 
 five weeks, and had destroyed and burnt many towns and villages, 
 of little value indeed, the weather began to be very cold and to rain 
 almost daily : there were also great tempests at sea. Duke Albert 
 and his son, in consequence, proposed the return of the army to 
 lower Friesland, whence they had come, and to march into Holland, 
 the more comfortably to pass the winter, which had set in very hard. 
 This was done ; and, on their arrival at Enchuysen, the lords dis. 
 missed their men, particularly the strangers, with whom they were 
 well contented, and paid them their full pay, thanking them at the 
 same time for the services they had rendered. Thus was this great 
 army disbanded, without having made any conquest; but, two years 
 after, these noble princes, duke Albert and his son count William, 
 returned thither a second time, and made , great conquests by their 
 excellent prowess, which, if it please God, shall be fully recounted. 
 But for the moment we will not say more, and relate the magnificent 
 marriage of the king of England with the princess Isabella of France. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXX. 
 
 THE CEREMONY OF THE MARRIAGE OF THE KING OF ENGLAND WITH A 
 
 naiNCEss OF france. the king of France delivers her to the 
 
 KING OF ENGLAND, IN HIS TENT BETWEEN ARDRES AND CALAIS. 
 
 You have heard of the journey of the kmg of England to Calais, 
 where he resided with his uncles, prelates, and barons of his council, 
 during which time he had held a conference with the duke of Bur- 
 gundy respecting the articles of peace. The king had returned to 
 London to wait the meeting of his parliament at Michaelmas ; but 
 in the mean time great purveyances were made for him and for his 
 barons, and sent to Calais and Guines. The larger part were for- 
 warded down the river Thames, but a good deal was collected in 
 Fkmders, at Damme, Bruges, and Sluys, which were sent by sea to 
 Calais. In like manner, great preparations were made for the king 
 of France, the duke of Orleans, their uncles, and the barons and 
 prelates of France, at Saint Omer, Aire, Therouenne, Ardres, la 
 Montoire, Leulinghen, and in all the monasteries and houses round 
 about. No expense was spared on either side ; and the lords of 
 each country were emulous to outshine one another. In the abbey 
 of Saint Bertin,* great were the preparations to receive the royal 
 visitors. 
 
 The session of parliament, which usually lasts forty days, and is 
 held in the king's palace at Westminster, was now abridged, fur the 
 king attended it only five days : when the business of the nation, 
 and what particularly interested the king, and had caused his return 
 from Calais, was settled, he and his two uncles of Lancaster and 
 Gloucester, and the members of his council, set out from London, 
 and crossed the sea to Calais. The duke of York and the earl of 
 Derby did not attend the king, but remained behind to guard Eng. 
 land in his absence. Information was instantly sent to the French 
 lords in Picardy of the king of England's return to Calais ; and the 
 duke and duchess of Burgundy came to Saint Omer, and fixed their 
 residence in the abbey of Saint Bertin. The king of France sent 
 the count de Saint Pol to king Richard, as soon as he heard of his 
 arrival at Calais, to compliment him in his name, and to lay before 
 him the orders which had been given for the ceremony of his mar- 
 
 * " Saint Bertin"— an ablwy in the city of Saint Omer* 
 
586 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 rage. The king of England eagerly listened to this, for he took 
 much pleasure in the business. The count de Saint Pol, on his 
 return to Saint Omer, was accompanied by the duke of Lancaster, 
 his son Beaufort of Lancaster, the duke of Gloucester, with his son 
 Humphrey, the earl of Rutland, the earl marshal, the earl of Hunt, 
 ingdon, chamberlain of England, and many other barons and knights, 
 who were handsomely received by the duke and duchess of Bur- 
 gundy. The duke of Brittany came thither also, having left the 
 king of France and the young queen of England at Aire. 
 
 You must know that every honor and respect that could be im- 
 agined were paid to the English lords. The duchess of Burgundy 
 entertained them splendidly at dinner ; at which was present the 
 duchess of Lancaster, with her son and two daughters. There was 
 an immense variety of different dishes and decorations on the tables, 
 and very rich presents made of gold and silver plate : nothing, in 
 * short, was spared, so that the English were astonished where such 
 riches cou4d come from, and especially the duke of Gloucester, who 
 told his friends that the kingdom of France was full of wealth and 
 power. To soften the temper of the duke of Gloucester, whom the 
 French lords knew to be proud, and their bitter enemy, they paid 
 him the most flattering attentions. Notwithstanding this, and the 
 handsome presents they offered, which he accepted, the same ran- 
 cor remained in his breast, and, in spite of everything the French 
 could say or do, whenever the subject of peace was mejitioned, his 
 answers were as harsh and severe as ever. The French are very 
 subtle ; but, with regard to him, they could never gain his a{fections ; 
 and his conversation was so reserved, it was not possible to discover 
 his real sentiments. When the duke of Burgundy saw this, he said 
 to his council : " We shall never succeed until we gain over this 
 duke of Gloucester : &s long as he lives, there will not be any solid 
 peace with England, for he will ever find some cause of quarrel, 
 and renew the hatred of the people of both countries : his whole 
 thoughts are on this subject ; and were it not for the amiable quali- 
 ties of the king of Engla:id, which we hope may produce in time 
 more favorable etfects, in good truth, he should never have our cousin 
 as his wife." After the duchess of Burgundy, the countess of Ne- 
 vers, the countess of Saint Pol, and the lords and ladies of France, 
 had, as you have heard, magnificently entertained the English lords 
 and ladies (at which time it was determined when and where the 
 two kings should meet, and the king of England receive his wife,) 
 the company took leave of each other, and the two dukes, with 
 their duchesses and children, returned with the other barons and 
 knights to Calais, and related to king Richard how grandly they 
 had been received, and the rich presents that had been made them. 
 Their praises pleased the king ; for he was delighted whenever he 
 heard the king of France or the French well spoken of, so much 
 was he already enamored with them, on account of the king's 
 daughter whom he was to marry. 
 
 Shortly after this, the king of France, accompanied by the duke of 
 Brittany, came to Saint Omer, and was lodged in the abbey of Saint 
 Bertin : all who had before occupied it were forced to dislodge. The 
 dukes of Berry, Burgundy, and Bourbon, having been ordered to 
 confer with the king of England at Calais, set out from Saint Omer, 
 and, on their arrival at Calais, were received with every honor 
 and kindness by the king and his lords. They were entertained 
 with splendor ; and the three dukes concluded certain treaties with 
 the king of England' and his uncles. Many in France and England 
 thought a peace had been concluded, for at that time the duke of 
 Gloucester was well inclined to it, in consideration of the kind 
 promises of the king, who had engaged, if a peace were made, to 
 create his son Humphrey earl of Rochester, and make the annual 
 revenue of it equal to two thousand pounds sterling, and to present 
 the duke of Gloucester with fifty thousand nobles on his return to 
 England. Thus, through his avaricious disposition, was the duke of 
 Gloucester softened in his opinions respecting a peace with France. 
 It was so visible, that the French dukes observed it, for they had 
 never before found him so tractable or moderate in his conversation. 
 When the French lords had concluded the business they had come 
 upon, they took leave of the king, and returned to the king of France 
 and the duke of Orleans at Saint Omer, who were impatient to hear 
 the success of their journey. The king of France departed from 
 St. Omer, and resided in the fort of Ardres : the duke of Burgundy 
 went to la Montoire, the duke of Brittany to the town of Esque, and 
 the duke of Berry to Tournehem. The plain was covered with 
 tents and pavilions full of French and English. The king of England 
 and the duke of Lancaster were lodged in Guines, and the duke of 
 Gloucester at Hamme. 
 
 On the vigil of the feast of Saint Simon and Saint Jude,* which 
 fell on a Friday, in the year of grace 1396, the two kings left their 
 lodgings on the point of ten o'clock, and accompanied by their 
 attendants, went to the tents that had respectively been prepared for 
 ' them. Thence they advanced on foot to a certain spot which had 
 been fixed on for their meeting, and which was surrounded by four 
 [ hundred French and as many English knights, brilliantly armed with 
 ^ i swords in hand. These eight hundred knights were so drawn up, 
 , I that the two kings passed between their ranks, conducted in the 
 , 1 following order: the dukes of Lancaster and Gloucester supported 
 the king of France, as did the dukes of Berry and Burgundy the 
 
 * The feast of Saint Simon and Saint Jude is on the 28th October. 
 
 I king of England, and thus they advanced slowly through the ranks 
 of the knights ; when the two kings were on the point of meeting, 
 the eight hundred knights fell on their knees and wept for joy. The 
 two kings met bareheaded, and having saluted, took each other by 
 the hand, when the king of France led the king of England to his 
 tent, which was handsome and richly adorned : the four dukes took 
 each other by the hand, and followed them. The English and 
 French knights remained at their post, looking at their opponents 
 with good humor, and never stirred until the whole ceremony was 
 over. The spot where the two kings had met was marked, and a 
 chapel in honor of the Virgin Mary was proposed to be erected on it, 
 but I know not if it were ever put into execution. On the entrance 
 of the two kings holding each other by the hand into the tent, the 
 dukes of Orleans and of Bourbon came forward and cast themselves 
 on their knees : the kings stopped and made them rise. The six 
 dukes then assembled in front and conversed together : the kings 
 passed on, and had some conversation, while the wine and spices 
 were preparing. The duke of Berry served the king of France with 
 the comfit-box, and the duke of Burgundy with the cup of wine. 
 In like manner was the king of England served by the dukes of 
 Lancaster and Gloucester. After the kings had been served, the 
 knights of France and England took the wine and spices, and served 
 the prelates, dukes, princes, and counts ; and, after them, squires and 
 other officers of the household did the same to all within the tent, 
 until every one had partaken of the spices and wine ; during which 
 time, the two kings freely conversed. 
 
 After a short space, the two monarchs took leave of each other, 
 as did the different lords. The king of England and his uncles re- 
 tired to their tents, while the horses were made ready : they then 
 mounted, and took the road toward Calais ; the king to Guines, the 
 dukes of Lancaster and Gloucester to Hanmie, and the others to 
 their lodgings at Calais. In like manner did the king of France 
 return to Ardres, accompanied by the duke of Orleans ; the duke of 
 Berry to Tournehem, and the duke of Burgundy to la Montoire ; 
 for nothing more was done that day, although the tents and pavilions 
 of the king of France and other lords were left standing. 
 
 At eleven o'clock of the Saturday morning, the feast of Saint 
 Simon and Saint Jude, the king of England, attended by his uncles 
 and all the noblemen who had accompanied him from England, 
 waited on the king of France in his tent. They v^^ere received bv 
 the king, his brother, and uncles, with great pomp and the most 
 affectionate words. The dinner tables were there laid out: that for 
 the kings was long and handsome, and the side-board covered with 
 the most magnificent plate. The two kings were seated by them- 
 selves ; the king of France at the top of the table, and the king of 
 England below him, but at a good distance from each other. They 
 were served by the dukes of Berry, Burgundy, and Bourbon : the 
 last entertained the two monarchs with many gay remarks, to make 
 them laugh, and those about the table, for he had much drollery, and, 
 addressing the king of England, said, " My lord king of England, 
 you ought to make good cheer, for you have had all your wishes 
 gratified. You have a wife, or shall have one, for she v/ill be speedily 
 delivered to you." " Bourbonnois," replied the king of France, 
 " we wish our daughter were as old as our cousin of Saint Pol, 
 though we were to double her dower, for then she would love our 
 son of England much more." The king of England heard well these 
 words, and replied, bowing tb the king of France (for he did not 
 address himself to the duke of Bourbon, since the king had compared 
 his daughter with the countess of Saint Pol's,) " Good father-in-law, 
 the age of our wife pleases us right well : we pay not so much atten- 
 tion concerning her age, as we value your love, and that of our 
 subjects, for we shall now be so strongly united that no king in 
 Christendom can any way hurt us." 
 
 When dinner was over, which lasted not long, the cloth was 
 removed, the tables carried away, and wine and spices brought. 
 After this, the young queen of England entered the tent, attended by 
 a great number of ladies and damsels. The king led her by the 
 hand, and gave her to the king of England, who instantly after took 
 his leave. The queen was placed in a very rich litter v/hich had 
 been prepared for her; but, of all the French ladies who were there, 
 only the lady of Coucy went with her, for there were many of thf. 
 principal ladies of England, such as the duchesses of Lancaster, York 
 Gloucester, Ireland, the lady of Namur, the lady Poinings, and other? 
 of the nobility, who received queen Isabella with great joy. "Wher 
 the ladies were ready, the king of England and his lords departed 
 and, riding at a good pace, arrived at Calais. The king of Franoj 
 and his court returned to Saint Omer, where he had left the queer 
 and duchess of Burgundy, and staid there the Sunday and Monday 
 following. On the Tuesday, which was All-saints day, the k:ng o 
 England was married by the archbishop of Canterbury, in the churcl 
 of Saint Nicholas at Calais, to the lady Isabella of France. Grea 
 were the feastings on the occasion, and the heralds and minstrel 
 were so liberally paid they were satisfied. 
 
 •On the ensuing Thursday, the dukes of Orleans and Bourbon cam' 
 to Calais, to visit the king and queen of England : they staid tha 
 day, and on the following went back to dinner at St. Omer, wherf 
 the king and queen of France waited for them. This same morning, 
 the king and queen of England, having heard an early mass and 
 drank some wine, embarked on board the vessels which had been 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 587 
 
 prepared for them, with a favorable wind. They weighed anchor, 
 set their sails, and in less than three hours landed at Dover. The 
 king dined at the castle, and lay the next night at Rochester : pass- 
 ing through Dartford, he arrived at the palace of Eltham, where the 
 lords and ladies took leave of the king and queen, and went to their 
 homes. 
 
 Fil'teen days fter, the queen made her entry into London, grandly 
 attended by loi 's, ladies, and damsels. She lay one night in the 
 Tower, seated o ; the banks of the Thames, and the next day was 
 conducted in gre :t pomp, through the streets, to Westminster, where 
 the king was waiting in his palace to receive her. This day the 
 Londoners made very rich p.osents to the queen, which were gra- 
 ciously accepted. Daring the time the court was at Westminster, a 
 tournament was ordered to be held at Candlemas in Srnithfield, 
 between forty knights and as m; ay squires ; and notices of it were 
 given to the heralds, that they might publish it beyond sea, and 
 as far as Scotland. 
 
 When the king of France was returned to Paris after the marriage 
 of his daughter, and his lords were gone to their residences, there 
 
 were great rumors of war. It was said to have been settled that, a* 
 the beginning of March, the king was to lead a large ai-my into 
 Lombardy to destroy the duke of Milan ; and that the king was so 
 bent on this expedition, he would not listen to anything that was said 
 against it. The king of England was to send his father- in-law six 
 thousand archers ; and the duke of Brittany, who had been constantly 
 with the king, offered his services on the expedition, with two thou- 
 sand Breton spears. Purveyances were already making for the king 
 and lords in Dauphiny and in Savoy. When the duke of Brittany 
 took leave of the king of France and his lords, to return to his duchy 
 I believe the duke of Burgundy made such earnest intercession with 
 the king, and those immediately concerned, that the duke of Brit- 
 tany carried with him his cousin sir Peter de Craon, who was con- 
 fined a prisoner at his own charges, in the tovv-er of the Louvre, for 
 the debt he had been sentenced to pay of one hundred thousand 
 francs to the queen of Jerusalem. I imagine he engaged to pay the 
 queen the above sum by instalments ; but I will, for the present, 
 leave speaking of these matters, and return to what was passing in 
 Turkey. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXI. 
 
 THE CHRISTIANS AKE FORCED TO RAISE THE SIEGE OF NICOPOLl, BY THE 
 ARRIVAL OF BAJAZET IN TURKEY. THEY ARE DEFEATED AND THE HUN- 
 GARIANS PUT TO FLIGHT, THROUGH THE PRESUMPTUOUS FOLLY OF THE 
 FRENCH. 
 
 You have before read in our history how the king of Hungary, and 
 the lords from France who had gone to Hungary in search of deeds 
 of arms, had valiantly crossed the Danube, and entered Turkey; 
 where during the summer, from the month of .Tuly, they had con- 
 quered a large tract of country, having mercifully spared the inhab- 
 itants and many towns and castles, for none could withstand their 
 power. They had besieged the city of Nicopoli, and so hardly 
 pressed it by their attacks, that it was on the point of surrendering 
 without hearing any intelligence of Bajazet. The king of Hungary 
 had even addressed the French lords, such as the count de Nevers, 
 the count d'Eu, the count de la Marche, the count de Soissons, the 
 lord de Coucy, and the barons and knights of Burgundy, saying, "My 
 fair sirs, thanks to God, we have made a successful campaign ; for 
 we have performed many brilliant deeds of arms, and have conquered 
 Turkey. I look on the town of Nicopoli as our own, for it is so 
 undermined it can hold out no longer than we please. I therefore 
 would propose, that after we shall have gained and shown mercy to 
 this town, we attempt nothing more this season, but recross the Da- 
 nube, and return to Hungary, where I have many handsome towns 
 and castles prepared to receive you, since you have so gallantly 
 assisted me against the Turks, my bitter enemies. During the win- 
 ter we will provide stores for the ensuing summer, each according to 
 his pleasure, and send information of our situation, and what we 
 have done, to the king of France, who, before that time, will send 
 us large reinforcements ; and I hope, when he shall know the suc- 
 cess we have had, he may be inclined to come hither in person, for 
 he is young and fond of arms. But whether he come or not, if it 
 please God, we will next summer cross the Hellespont, regain Ar- 
 menia, thence march to Syria, with the towns of Jaffa and Baruth, 
 and conquer Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Should the sultan op- 
 
 pose us, we will oflTer him battle, and never return without having 
 combated him." Such was the speech of the king of Hungary to 
 the French lords : they considered Nicopoli as won, but it fell out 
 otherwise. 
 
 During the whole summer, Bajazet had been busily employed in 
 raising an army of Saracens and infidels : he had even sent to Per- 
 sia for succor, and the great lords of his religion had joined him 
 against Christendom. They had crossed the Hellespont to the 
 amount of two hundred thousand ; but the Christians were not only 
 ignorant of their numbers, but of their approach ; and they advanced 
 so secretly, they were close to Nicopoli before the besiegers knew 
 of their having begun their march. Bajazet was as well acquainted 
 with the stratagems of war as most, and of great valor and enterprise. 
 He considered maturely the power of the Christians, and said they 
 were a valiant race. Bajazet marched to raise the siege of Nicopoli 
 in the following order. His army vv;i.s drawji up in the form of a 
 harrow, and occupied about a league of ground ; in front of this main 
 body, and a league in advance, were eight thousand Turks, to mask 
 the body of the army, which was divided into two wings. Bajazet 
 was in the midst of his main body, who thus quietly advanced, with 
 their vanguard of eight thousand in front : they were thus ordered, 
 to make an appearance as if they were the whole army ; but when- 
 ever they met the Christians, they were to fall back gently toward 
 the main body, which was then to extend itself as much as possible, 
 and endeavor to inclose the Christians, whom they should then 
 conquer at pleasure. Such was the order of battle of Bajazet. 
 
 It happened, that on the Monday preceding Michaelmas-day, in 
 the year 1396, about ten o'clock, as the king of Hungary and the 
 lords, who were lying before Nicopoli, were seated at dinner, news 
 was brought them that their enemies, the Turks, were near at hand ; 
 but, as I heard, the scouts did not inform them of the whole truth : 
 they had not noticed the main body of the Turks, for the moment 
 they saw the vanguard they dared not advance farther, as they were 
 not men-at-arms fearless of such an enterprise. The Hungarians 
 and French had each scouts of their own, and both parties arrived 
 nearly at the same time with this intelligence. The greater part of 
 the army were at dinner when the news was carried to the count da 
 
588 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, «fcc. 
 
 Nevers and the other French lords, the messenger bawling out,"Come ! 
 quickly arm yourselves, that you be not surprised, for the Turks are 
 on full march to meet you." This information v/as agreeable to 
 many who were desirous of arms : they instantly arose, pushed the 
 tables aside, and demanded their horses and armor. They were 
 somewhat heated with wine, and hastened to the field as well as 
 they could. Banners and penuons were displayed, under which 
 every one ranged himself in his proper post. The banner of the Vir- 
 gin Mary was unfurled, and the guard of it given to that valiant knight 
 sir John de Vienne, admiral of France. The French were so eager 
 to arm themselves that they were the first in the field, drawn up in 
 handsome array, and seemingly fearless of the Turks ; for they were 
 ignorant of their immense numbers, and that Bajazet commanded in 
 person. As the French lords were hastening from their tents to the 
 field, the marshal of the king of Hungary, named sir Henry d'Osten- 
 lemhalle,* mounted on a handsome courser, came to them with a 
 few attendants. He was a valiant and experienced knight, and 
 had borne before him a pennon of his arms, which were a cross 
 anchored sable on a field argent, which in heraldry is called cross 
 moline. He stopped when opposite the banner of Our Lady, where 
 the principal lords were assembled, and said aloud, "I am sent hither 
 by my lord, the king of Hungary, who entreats you by me, that you 
 will not begin the battle before you shall again hear from him ; for 
 he much suspects and fears that the scouts have not brought exact 
 mtelligence of the numbers of the Turks. Within two hours you shall 
 have more certain intelligence, for we have sent other scouts, who 
 will advance farther than the former ones, and bring us better infor- 
 mation. Be assured the Turks will never attack you, unless you 
 force them to it, or until they have collected all their forces together. 
 You will act as you shall think best, but such are my lord the king's 
 orders. I must now return, for I cannot longer stay." 
 
 On saying this, the Hungarian marshal left them ; and the lords 
 assembled together to consider what was to be done. The lord de 
 Coucy was asked his opinion, and replied, that the king of Hungary 
 had a right to order them, and that what he had requested was per- 
 fectly just. It was mentioned to me that the count d'Eu, constable 
 of France, was vexed that his opinion had not been first asked be- 
 fore the lord de Coucy's, and, through spite and malice, instantly 
 opposed what he had said, adding: " Yes, yes, the king of Hungary 
 wishes to gain all the honor of the day : he has given us the van- 
 guard, and now wants to take it away, that he may have the first 
 blow : let those who will believe what he sends to us, for my part I 
 never will :" then addressing the knight who bore his banner, he 
 said : " In the name of God and Saint George, you shall see me 
 this day prove myself a good knight." The lord de Coucy thought 
 this a very vain speech of the constable, and, turning to sir John de 
 Vienne, who had the banner of Our Lady under his guard, and by 
 whom all the others were to rally, asked what ought to be done. 
 'Lord de Coucy," he replied, "when truth and reason are not 
 heard, folly and presumption must reign ; and, since the count d'Eu 
 is determined to fight the enemy, we must follow him ; but we 
 should have greater advantage, if we waited the king of Hungary's 
 orders, and were all united." While they thus conversed, the infi- 
 dels were fast approaching : the wings of their army, which con- 
 sisted of sixty thousand men each, were already closing round them. 
 The Christians, observing this, would have retreated, but that was 
 impossible, as they were completely surrounded. Many knights and 
 squires, who had been used to arms, now knew the day must be 
 lost; notwithstanding which they advanced, following the banner 
 of Our Lady, that was borne by that gallant knight sir John de 
 Vienne. 
 
 The lords of France were so richly dressed out, in their embla- 
 zoned surcoats, as to look like little kings ; but, as I was told, when 
 they met the Turks, they were not more than seven hundred, which 
 sufficiently showed the folly of the measure ; for, had they waited 
 for the Hungarian army, consisting of sixty thousand men, they 
 might, perhaps, have gained a victory, but, to their pride and pre- 
 sumption, was the whole loss owing ; and it was so great, that never 
 since the defeat at Roncesvalles, where the twelve peers of France 
 were slain, did the French suff'er so considerably. However, before 
 they were overcome, they made great slaughter of the Turks; though 
 several knights and squires saw they were marching to destruction, 
 through their own folly. The French defeated the van battalion, 
 and put it to flight, pursuing it into a valley where Bajazet was 
 posted with the main army. The French would have returned, as 
 they were mounted on barbed horses, but could not, for they were 
 now inclosed on all sides. The battle, therefore, raged with fury, 
 and lasted a considerable time. News was carried to the king of 
 Hungary, that the French, English and Germans were engaged with 
 the Turks, not having obeyed his orders sent them by the marshal. 
 He was very wroth on hearing it, as indeed he had reason to be, 
 and foresaw they would all be cut off". He said to the grand-master 
 of Rhodes, who was beside him, " We shall lose the day, from the 
 • vanity of the French: if they had believed me, and waited for our 
 1 joining, we should have had sufficient strength to cope with the 
 ! enemy." As he thus spoke, looking behind him, he perceived that 
 1 men were flying panic-struck, and the Turks pursuing them. 
 1 He then saw the day was irrecoverably lost, and those near his per- 
 
 * JdSS. Steulemchalle. 
 
 son cried out, " Sire, save yourself I for should you be killed or 
 taken, Hungary will be completely ruined. We must be defeated, 
 through French pride ; and their valor will prove in vain, for every 
 one of them v/ill be taken or slain ; not one can possibly escape. 
 Fly, therefore, from the danger, before it be too late." The king 
 of Hungary was in the utmost rage to be thus defeated through the 
 arrogance of the French, and obliged to fly, if he would avoid cap. 
 tivity or death. It was a most unfortunate day for the Hungarians 
 and French ; whoever runs away from battle is pursued, and, as the 
 Hungarians fled in the greatest confusion, the Turks followed, kill- 
 ing them or making them prisoners at pleasure. God, however, 
 assisted the king of Hungary and the grand-master of Rhodes ; for, 
 on their arrival on the banks of the Danube, they found a small ves- 
 sel belonging to the grand-master, into which they entered, with only 
 five more, and crossed to the opposite shore. Had they delayed, 
 they must have been killed or taken ; for the Turks came to the 
 river as they were passing it, and made a great slaughter of those 
 who had followed the king thinking to escape. 
 
 We will return to the French and Germans, who were fighting 
 most valiantly. The lord de Montcaurel, a gallant knight from Ar- 
 tois, seeing the defeat inevitable, and wishing to save his son, who 
 was very young, said to his squire, " Carry off' ray son: thou mayest 
 escape by that wing which is open : save my son, and I will abide 
 the event with my companions." The youth, on hearing his father 
 thus speak, declared he would not go nor leave him in such danger; 
 but the father forced him away, and the squire brought him safely to 
 the Danube : the youth, who was very melancholy at the situation 
 of his father, was unfortunately drowned by falling between two 
 barges, without a possibility of being saved. Sir William de la 
 Tr^mouille and his son displayed great feats of valor before they 
 were slain. Sir John de Vienne, who bore the banner of Our Lady, 
 in spite of his deeds of arms was killed grasping the banner in his 
 hands, and thus was he found after the battle. The whole of the 
 French force that had been engaged at this battle of Nicopoli were 
 defeated and slain, by the means I have related. 
 
 The lord John of Burgundy, count of Nevers, was wondrous richly 
 arrayed, as were the lord Guy de la Riviere, and many barons and 
 knights from Burgundy in compliment to him. Two squires from 
 Picardy, William d'Eu and the borgne de Montquel, v/ho had dis- 
 played their courage in many former battles, did the same at Nico- 
 poli. These two squires, by their vigorous courage, twice forced 
 through the Turkish army, and returned to the fight, but were at 
 length slain. To say the truth, the whole of the French chivalry 
 and those from other countries acquitted themselves most gallantly ; 
 and had they been assisted by the Hungarians with equal courage, 
 the day would have turned out diflferently. But the whole of the 
 mischief was caused by the French, and their presumption was their 
 ruin. There was a knight from Picardy, called sir James de Helly, 
 who had resided some time in Turkey, and had served in arms un- 
 der Amurat, father of the sultan Bajazet, of whom we are now speak, 
 ing, and who knew a little of the Turkish language. When he saw 
 the day was lost, he thought of saving his life ; and as he knew the 
 Saracens to be a covetous race, he surrendered himself to them, on 
 their granting him his life. Thus did he escape ; and also another 
 squire from the Tournaisis, called James du Fay, who had formerly 
 served Tamerlane king of Tartary, but when he learnt that the 
 French were marching to Turkey, he quitted Tamerlane, and joined 
 his countrymen. He was at this battle, and saved by Tamerlane's 
 men, who had been ordered thither in compliance with the request 
 made to him for assistance by Bajazet. Tamerlane had sent him a 
 considerable body of men, as Saracen and Pagan kings always do 
 to the aid of each other. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXII. 
 
 THE TURKS, AFTER THE BATTLE OF N0(;0P0LI, PUT TO DEATH ALL THEIR 
 PRISONERS, EXCEPT THE COUNT DE NEVERS AND SOME OTHER GREAT 
 LORDS. 
 
 At this battle of Nicopoli, which was so fatal to the French, very 
 many were saved, from the extreme richness of their armor : they 
 were dressed like kings ; and the Saracens and Turks, who are ava. 
 ricious, thought, by saving their lives, they should gain large ransoms, 
 for they believed them much greater lords, from their appearance, 
 than they really were. The count de Nevers was made prisoner, as 
 were the counts d'Eu and de la Marche, the lord de Coucy, the lord 
 Henry de Bar, sir Guy de la Tremouille, Boucicaut and others. The 
 lord Philip de Bar, sir John de Vienne, sir William de la Tremouille 
 and his son, were killed. This battle lasted for three hours ; and 
 the king of Hungary lost his whole baggage, his gold and silver 
 plate, jewels, and everything else. He had escaped by fortunately 
 finding a vessel from Rhodes on the Danube, that had brought pro. 
 visions, in which he crossed the river with six others : had he not 
 done so, he must have been slain or taken. There were more killed 
 in the pursuit than in the battle, and numbers were drowned. 
 Happy was he , who could escape from such danger by any means. 
 
 When the business was over, and the Turks, Persians, and others 
 sent thither by different infidel kings had retired to their lodgings, 
 (that is to say, to the tents and pavilions they had conquered from 
 
CHRONICLES O 
 
 F ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, & 
 
 589 
 
 the Christians, in which they found wines, meats, and every other 
 necessary) they enjoyed themselves, and made merry, like men who 
 have gained a victory over their enemies. Bajazet dismounted, at 
 the sound of many minstrels, according to their custoni, at the prin- 
 cipal tent that had belonged to the king of Hungary, which was very 
 large, and richlv adorned. Bajazet took pleasure in viewing it, and 
 glorified himself internally for the victory he had obtained over the 
 Christians, and thanked his God for it, according to the rnanner of 
 their reho-ion. When he was disarmed, to cool and refresh himsell, 
 he sat on a silken carpet in the middle of the tent and sent for his 
 principal friends, to chat and joke with them. He began the con- 
 versation, by saving he would now march a great force into ilun- 
 garv, to conquer that country and the rest of Christendom, which he 
 would put under his obedience, but that each kingdom might follovj 
 its own religion and laws, owning him for their lord: that he would 
 reign like Alexander of Macedon, who for twelve yeai-s governed 
 the whole world, as he was descended from his blood. All assented 
 to what Bnjazet said, and agreed to his proposal. He gave out three 
 orders : the first, that every one who had made prisoners should pro. 
 duce them before him the next day ; the second, that the dead should 
 be carefully examined, and the nobles and great lords be set apart, 
 and left untouched until he had seen them ; the third, that exact 
 inquiries should be made among the slain and prisoners alter the 
 king of Hungary, that he might know whether he was dead or alive. 
 These orders were fulfilled, for none dared disobey them. 
 
 When Bajazet had refreshed himself, and changed his dress, he 
 resolved to visit the dead on the field of battle ; for he had been told 
 the victory had cost him dear, and that he had lost great numbers ot 
 men. He was much surprised to hear this, and would not believe it. 
 He mounted his horse, attended by his vizier, nobles and bashaws : 
 some said his principal officers were his brothers, whom he would 
 not acknowledge as such, declaring he had no brothers. On his 
 comincr to the field of battle, he found what had been told him was 
 true : for where one Christian lay dead there were thirty of ^en- 
 enemies. The sight vexed him much, and he said aloud, 1 his 
 has been a cruel battle for our people : the Christians have defended 
 themselves desperately ; but I will have this slaughter well revenged 
 on those who m-e prisoners." He now left the field and returned to 
 his tent, comforting himself for the loss he had suffered by the victory 
 and defeat of the Christians ; but, notwithstanding this, he passed 
 the nitrht in great fury. On the morrow, before he was risen or had 
 shown himself, great numbers came before his tent, to learn his will 
 respecting the prisoners; for it had been rumored that he intended 
 havin<T them all put to death without mercy. Bajazet, however, m 
 spite of his rage against the Christians, had given orders that all the 
 principal lords who had been made prisoners should be separated 
 from the others, for he had been told they would pay him large ran- 
 soms, and on that account he was inclined to spare them. He had 
 also learnt that many of the Tartars, Arabs, Bedouins and Syrians, 
 had made prisoners, from whom they expected to gain large fortunes, 
 as indeed they did, by concealing their prisoners irora Bajazet. bir 
 James de Helly, whom I mentioned before, was, luckily for him, 
 brought this Tuesday morning before the tent of the sultan, with 
 many other prisoners, for he who had taken him was afraid of keep- 
 ing him bid. As they were waiting the coming of Bajazet, some oi 
 the kniohts of his household, standing round the tent, recollected sir 
 James, and deUvercd him from the hands of those who had taken 
 him. He remained with the attendants of the sultan, who had been 
 formerly acquainted with him; and fortunate it was for him, as you 
 will hear related, for to the greater part of the Christians it was a 
 disastrous day. 
 
 Before Bajazet appeared, inquiries had been made who were the 
 greatest lords among the prisoners, and his interpreters had been 
 very strict in their examinations, putting such aside not to be killed. 
 The first was John of Burgundy commander-in-chief, then the count 
 d'Eu, the count de la Marche, the lord de Coucy, lord Henry de Bar, 
 sir Guy de la Tiomouille, and two more, amounting in all to eight. 
 Bajazet would see and talk with them. He eyed them long in silence, 
 and these lords were conjured on their faith to avow if they were the 
 persons who had been so named. He also resolved to send for sir 
 James de' Helly, that he might assure him of the truth. On his 
 coming, he was remembered by the sultan whom he had served, and 
 was now perfectly secure from danger. He was asked if he knew 
 those French lords who were prisoners at the bottom of the tent. 
 « I cannot say," he replied ; " but, if I saw their faces, I should know 
 them all." He was then ordered to go near and examine them, and 
 report truly their names to the sultan, for that his determination would 
 be according to what he should say. He went near the prisoners, 
 and, bowing to them, knew them all. He told them his fortunate 
 escape, and that he had been sent by the sultan to see if they were 
 the persons answering to the names they had given themselves. " Ah, 
 sir James," said they, "you are well acquainted with us all : you see 
 how fortune has turned against us, and what great danger we are in 
 when we depend on the mercy of this sultan. If it may any how 
 save our lives, tell him we are of even greater rank than we have 
 said, and able to pay him large sums for our ransoms. " My lords," 
 replied sir James, « this I will most cheerfully do, for it is my duty." 
 The knight then returned to Bajazet, and said, " Those lords who 
 are prisoners, and with whom I have been talking, are of the noblest 
 
 blood in France, nearly related to the king, and willing to pay for 
 their liberty a great sum of money." This answer was very agree- 
 able to the sultan, who would not listen to more, but said, " Let those 
 alone be spared, and all the other prisoners put to death, to free the 
 country from them, and that others may take example from their 
 fate." 
 
 The sultan now made his appearance to his people before the ten. 
 who, bowing down, made him their obeisance. The army was 
 drawn up in two wings on each side ; the sultan v/ith his nobles, the 
 count de Nevers and those who were to be spared, were in the 
 centre ; for he would they should witness the execution of their 
 companions, which the Saracens were eager to perform Many ex. 
 cellent knights and squires of France and other nations, who had 
 been taken in battle or in pursuit, were now brought forth in their 
 shirts, one after another, before Bajazet, who eyeing them a little, 
 they were led on ; and, as he made a signal, were instantly cut to 
 pieces by those waiting for them with drawn swords. Such was t 
 the cruel justice of Bajazet this day, when upward of three hundred 
 gentlemen of different nations were thus pitilessly murdered. It was 
 a cruel case for them to suffer for the love of our Saviour Jesus 
 Christ, and may he receive their souls 1 
 
 Among the murdered of that day was the gallant knight sir Henry 
 d'Antoing : may God show gracious mercy to his soul ! The lord 
 Boucicaut, marshal of France, was led naked like the others, before 
 Bajazet, and would have suffered the same cruel death, had not the 
 count de Nevers left his companions, who were motionless at the sad 
 sight, and flung himself on his knees to the sultan, entreating him to 
 spare the lord Boucicaut, who was much beloved by the king of 
 France, and well able to pay a considerable ransom ; and the count 
 made signs, as paying from one hand to the other, that he would 
 give a large sum of money, to soften the anger of the sultan. Bajazet 
 consented to the request of the count de Nevers, and the lord Bou- 
 cicaut was put aside with those who were not to be killed. Others 
 were brought forward, until the number I have mentioned was com- 
 pleted ; such was the cruel revenge the infidels had on the Christians. 
 It seems, according to what I heard, that Bajazet took delight that 
 the victory he had gained over the Christians, and the capture of the 
 count de Nevers, should be known in France, and carried thither by 
 a French knight. Three knights, of whom sir James de Helly was - 
 one, were brought before Bajazet and the count de Nevers, who was 
 asked which of the three he wished to go to the king of France and 
 to his father the duke of Burgundy. Sir James de Helly had the 
 good fortune to be made choice of, because the count de Nevers 
 was before acquainted with him : he therefore said to the sultan, 
 " Sir, I wish that this person may go to France from you and from 
 me." This was accepted by Bajazet, and sir James de Helly re- 
 mained with him and the other French lords ; but the two unsuc 
 cessful knights were delivered over to the soldiery, who massacred 
 them without pity. 
 
 After all these things were done, everything was quiet. Bajazet, 
 having learnt that the king of Hungary was escaped, resolved to 
 march more into the interior of Turkey toward the city of Bursa, 
 whither he would carry his prisoners, for he had done enough this 
 campaign. He therefore disbanded his army, more especially that 
 part of it which had come from distant countries. Thus was it done, 
 and the army broke up, which had been composed of men from 
 Tartary, Persia, Media, Syria, Alexandria and Egypt, and from 
 other distant countries of infidels. Bajazet gave particular orders to 
 sir James de Helly, that when he went to France, he should take his 
 road through Lombardy, and salute from him the duke of Milan ; and 
 it was the sultan's intention that sir James should publish, wherever 
 he passed, the great victory he had gained over the Christians. The 
 count de Nevers wrote bv him, as well for himself as for his fellow- 
 prisoners, to the king of "France, and to the duke and duchess of 
 Burgundy. On receiving these letters and other verbal messages, 
 the knight departed from the sultan and the lords of France ; but 
 before he set out, Bajazet made him promise, on oath, that as soon 
 as he should have performed the journey, and delivered all he had 
 been charged with to the king of France and the other lords, he 
 would return, which the knight swore he would do, and kept his 
 oath. We will now leave Bajazet, and the French lords who re. 
 raained prisoners during his pleasure, and speak of other things 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXIII. 
 
 THE FRENCH AND OTHERS WHO HAD BEEN IN TURKEY SUFFER GREAT 
 HARDSHIPS ON THEIR RETURN HOME, AFTER HAVING ESCAPED FROM 
 THE BATTLE OF NICOPOLI. SIR JAMES DE HELLY BRINGS CERTAIN 
 INTELLIGENCE OF THIS DEFEAT TO THE KING OF FRANCE. 
 
 After this memorable victory which the Turks and their allies 
 gained over the Christians, as has been related in this history, such 
 knights as could escape saved themselves. On the Monday morn, 
 ing, the day of the battle, more than three hundred knights and 
 squires, being out foraging, were not present at it. When they 
 heard from the runaways that a defeat was inevitable, they gave 
 over all thoughts of returning to their camp, but took different roads 
 to make their escape from Turkey as speedily as they could. French 
 Germans, and others, made for a country adjoimng to Hungary 
 
59u 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 called W&Uachia, which is well inhabited, and had been conquered 
 from the Turks, and turned by force to the Christian faith. The 
 guards of the passes and castles in Wallachia, allowed the Christians 
 who came from Turkey free entrance, and gave them lodging ; but, 
 on the morroM', when they were about to depart, they took from the 
 knights their armor and all they had, and gave them m return a mis- 
 erable jacket, and some little money, just enough lo bear the day's 
 3xpenses. This favor was only shown to gentlemen; for those who 
 were not cf that rank, were stripped naked, and scourged villainously 
 with rods. The French and their companions suffered most exceed- 
 ingly in poverty and distress, during their passage through Wallachia 
 and Hungary ; and with difficulty could they meet with any, who, 
 for the love of God, would give a morsel of bread, or lodge them for 
 the night. They endured their misery until they came to Vienna in 
 Austria, where they were kindly received by the good people, who 
 clothed such as were naked, and shared with them their food. They 
 were treated with the same kindness in Bohemia: had they found 
 the Germans as hard-hearted as the Hungarians, they would never 
 have been able to have returned home, but must have perished with 
 cold and hunger on the road. Thus, wherever they came, whether 
 alone or in companies, they brought most melancholy news, which 
 excited pity for them in every breast that heard their sad tale. 
 
 Those of the French nation, who had fled from Turkey, arrived at 
 Paris, and told the melancholy event of the battle of Nicopoli ; but 
 they were not believed nor listened to : the Parisians said it was a 
 pity that such rascally liars were not hanged or drowned, for daily 
 spreading abroad so many falsehoods. This news was, however, 
 confirmed by others who arrived after them, and told the same tale, 
 some one way, and others differently, but all agreeing as to the com- 
 plete overthrow of the Hungarians and their allies. The king of 
 France was very much vexed on hearing such melancholy news 
 talked of, for there were too many of his own relations implicated 
 in the loss, besides other excellent knights and squires of France. 
 He therefore forbade anything to be said on the subject, until he 
 should receive more positive information, to confirm the truth or 
 falsehood of these reports ; and those who had divulged such news, 
 saying they were come from Turkey and Hungary, were arrested, 
 and confined in the Chatelet of Paris. They consisted of great 
 numbers, and were told, that if what they had said should be found 
 false, orders had been given for all of them to be drowned ; for the 
 king was very wroth they should have published such disastrous 
 news. 
 
 It happened that, on Christmas-day about noon, sir James de Helly 
 arrived in Paris, and the moment he had dismounted at his inn, he 
 inquired where the king was. They told him at the hdtel de Saint 
 Pol, on the banks of the Seine, whither he went. There was with 
 the king this day, as is usual on such solemn festivals, the duke of 
 Orleans, the dukes of Berry, Burgundy, and Bourbon, the count de 
 Saint Pol, and many of the nobility. Sir James de Helly entered 
 the h6tel in the same dress he had rode in, booted and spurred, so 
 that he was not known ; for he had, for a long time, been seeking 
 adventures in foreign parts, in preference to living with his relations 
 and friends. By fair speeches he got at last to the king's apartment, 
 and made himself known, saying he was come immediately from 
 Bajazet and Turkey, and that he had been present at the battle of 
 Nicopoli, where the Christians had lost the day ; and that he had 
 brought certain intelligence from the count de Nevers, and from the 
 other French lords with whom he had marched through Hungary. 
 The knights of the king's chamber were pleased to hear this ; for 
 they knew the king, the duke of Burgundy, and many lords, were 
 very anxious to learn true intelligence from those countries. They 
 therefore made way for him to approach the king : when near, he 
 fell on his knees, as was right, and told all he had been charged 
 with, as well by Bajazet, as by the count de Nevers and the French 
 lords his fellow-prisoners. The king and lords listened attentively 
 to all he said, for they believed he was speaking the truth. Many 
 questions were asked, in order to hear a more detailed account, to 
 all of which he answered very pertinently, and to the satisfaction of 
 the king, who was greatly affected at the loss the king of Hungary 
 and his chivalry had suffered. He was somewhat comforted, that 
 the king of Hungary had escaped death and prison ; for he supposed 
 that he would renew the war against Turkey with vigor, and have 
 ample revenge on Bajazet. 
 
 The king of France and his lords were rejoiced that the count de 
 Nevers, and his few companions, were free from danger of being 
 murdered ; and, as they were now prisoners, the lords debated on 
 the means of paying their ransom. Sir James de Helly said that he 
 hoped Bajazet would, within a year or two, sell them their liberty, 
 for he was very avaricious. This he personally knew, having resided 
 a long time in Turkey, and for three years served Amurat, father to 
 the present sultan. The king made the knight rise, and treated him 
 kindly, as he did the lords present. They said, he had been very 
 fortunate to have had a friend in so great a monarch as this infidel 
 Bajazet, after such a severe battle, and to be sent by him with his 
 message to the king of France. He and his family ought to pride 
 themselves on such good fortune. The king ordered all who had 
 been confined in the Chatelet, for having first spread abroad this 
 intelligence, to be set at liberty. They were happy to hear this, for 
 nany of them had repented they had talked so much. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXIV. 
 
 SIR JAMES DE HELLY, HAVING RECEIVED HIS DISPATCHES FROM THE KINft 
 OF FRANCE, ARRIVES IN HUNGARY, ON HIS WAY TO TURKEY. THE Kim 
 SENDS SIR JOHN DE CHASTELMORANT, WITH PRESENTS TO BAJAZET, ANB 
 HIS RECOMMENDATIONS IN FAVOR OF THE FRENCH PRISONERS. ' THB 
 MANNER IN WHICH THEY ARE TREATFD. 
 
 When the intelligence sir James dt Helly had brought was made 
 public, all who had lost husband, brc.her, father, or child, were in 
 the utmost consternation, as may easily be supposed. The high 
 nobility of France, such as the duchess of Burgundy and the lady 
 Margaret of Hainault, were greatly afflicted on account of their son 
 and husband the count de Nevers, for he was much beloved by them. 
 The countess of Eu lamented her lord the constable, as did the count- 
 ess de la Marche : the ladies of Coucy, of Bar, and Sully, in like 
 manner bewailed the melancholy situation of their lords. They were 
 fortunate in having only their lords' captivity to lament, and were 
 somewhat comforted thereat ; but the relations and friends of those 
 who had been massacred were inconsolable, and the grief of France 
 lasted a long time. The duke of Burgundy treated most kindly sir 
 James de Helly, for having brought him intelligence of his son: he 
 made him many rich gifts, and retained him for one of his knights, 
 with a pension of two hundred livres a-year during his life. The' 
 king of France also, and the lords of the court, gave him handsome 
 presents. He informed them he was bound to return to Bajazet, after 
 he should have delivered his letters, as the sultan's prisoner ; for he 
 was sent solely with a view to publish Bajazet's victory, and to say 
 what lords had perished or been made prisoners at the battle of Nico- 
 poli. This seemed reasonable, and the king, the duke of Burgundy, 
 and such lords as were at Paris, prepared to write to their friends 
 and relations who v/ere prisoners. It was determined in council, that 
 the king should send some knight of renown, prudence, and valor to 
 Bajazet, who, having delivered his message, was to return with more 
 detailed accounts of the state of the prisoners, in case sir James de 
 Helly were not permitted so to do by the sultan, whose prisoner he 
 was. Sir John de Chateaumorant was selected for this embassy, as 
 being every way qualified for it. 
 
 Sir James de Helly was asked what jewels or presents would be 
 most acceptable to the sultan, that the count de Nevers and the other 
 prisoners might fare the better. The knight said that Bajazet took 
 great pleasure in viewing fine tapestry from Arras or Picardy, which, 
 represented ancient histories : he was also fond of gerfalcons : but 
 he thought that fine linen from Rheims, and scarlet cloths, would be 
 most acceptable to the sultan and his lords. There was plenty of 
 cloths of gold and silks in Turkey, with which they were amply pro-, 
 vided, and consequently would like things they could not get at home. 
 The king and the duke of Burgundy, therefore, resolved what to send, 
 for they were anxious to please Bajazet on account of the count of 
 Nevers. Sir James de Helly remained at Paris, with the king and 
 lords about twelve days, and was well listened to by all : for he en- 
 tertained them with his adventures in Plungary and Turkey, and with 
 descriptions of the manners of Bajazet. On his departure, he was 
 told, "Sir James, you may now set out on your return to the sultan,, 
 at your leisure. We suppose you will go through Lombardy, to the 
 duke of Milan ; for he and Bajazet are great friends, although they 
 have never seen each other: but, whatever road you take, we entreat 
 and order you to wait in Hungary for sir John de Chateaumorant, who 
 will be sent by the king with presents to the sultan, as it is our intent 
 that he pursue his journey from Hungary in your company to Turkey, 
 or until you shall meet the sultan, that he may behave the more 
 kindly to the count de Nevers and his fellow-prisoners, who are now 
 in his power." Sir James promised obedience, and, having received 
 his dispatches, took leave of the king, the duke of Burgund°y, and the 
 other lords, and left Paris, following the same road by which he had 
 come. He continued his journey, firmly resolved never to return to 
 France until he had obtained his liberty. After his departure, the 
 duke of Burgundy was constantly employed in preparing the presents 
 for the sultan ; and, by the time they were provided, sir John de 
 Chateaumorant was ready to set out, for he had begun his prepara- 
 tions for the journey on his being first nominated to go thither. They 
 made great haste to have the presents from the king to Bajazet in 
 time for sir John de Chateaumorant to overtake sir James de Helly. 
 These presents consisted of pieces of the best worked tapestry from 
 Arras, representing the history of Alexander the Great and his con- 
 quests, which was a delightful sight for all men of honor, the finest 
 linens from Rheims, and scarlet and crimson cloths, which were 
 packed on six sumpter-horses. All these things were easily to be 
 had for money ; but there was great difficulty in procuring white 
 gerfalcons. At last, however, they were got, either in Paris or from 
 Germany ; and sir John de Chateaumorant, having received his final 
 instructions, left Paris, and began his journey fifteen days after sir 
 James de Helly. 
 
 In the interval during which these knights were on their journey, 
 the king of Hungary returned to his kingdom. On his arrival being 
 known, his subjects were greatly rejoiced, and flocked to him, for he 
 was much beloved. They comforted him by saying, tnat if in this 
 campaign he had been unfortunate, in another he would be more 
 successful. The king bore his misfortunes as weU as he could. Im. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 591 
 
 mediately after the battle, Bajazet disbanded his army and marched 
 to the city of Bursa, carrying with him his prisoners. They were 
 put under strict confinement, and very little comfort allowed them. 
 They suffered much from the change of diet, as they had always been 
 accustomed to have their own cooks, and their tables served with 
 every delicacy ; but of all this they were deprived, and forced to live 
 on coarse meat, and that badly or not thoroughly dressed. They had 
 plenty of spices, and millet bread, which is disagreeable to a French 
 palate. They had great difficulty in procuring wine : although they 
 were great princes, there was not any attention paid them, for the 
 Turks were indifl'erent whether they were sick or in health ; and, if 
 the advice of several had been adopted, they would all have been 
 put to death. 
 
 These lords of France comforted each other, and thankfully re- 
 ceived whatever was given them, for they could no way better them- 
 selves. At the beginning of their captivity, several of them were 
 very unwell : the count de Nevers bore his misfortune the best, and 
 kept up his spirits to comfort the others. He was assisted by the 
 lord Boucicaut, the count de la Marche, and lord Henry de Bar, who 
 said, that the honors and glories of arms could not be gained without 
 meeting with unfortunate reverses; and that no man, however valiant 
 or lucky, or accustomed to war, had everything according to his wish; 
 and that they ought to thank God, for having had their lives saved 
 from the furious rage of Bajazet and his followers, for it had been 
 determined by the army to put every one to death. Boucicaut saiid, 
 " I ought to be more thankful than any one to God for my life being 
 spared, for I was brought out to be massacred as my companions had 
 been, and should have lost my head, had not my lord of Nevers cast 
 himself on his knees to Bajazet, who, at his request, granted me his 
 pardon. I hold this a most fortunate escape ; and since it was the 
 good pleasure of our lord that I should live, I have no doubt but that 
 God, who has delivered us from this peril, will continue his mercy to 
 us, for we are his soldiers ; and that we shall soon obtain our liberty, 
 for we are nov,^ suffering in his cause. Besides, sir James de Helly 
 is on his road to France, who will relate to the king and barons our 
 distress ; and I expect, within the year, we shall receive comfort and 
 our liberty. Things will not remain long as they are. There is 
 much good sense in the king and the duke of Burgundy, who will 
 never forget us ; and, by some means or other, we shall receive suffi- 
 cient sums for our ransoms." 
 
 Thus the gallant knight, the lord Boucicaut, comforted himself, 
 and bore his captivity with patience, as did likewise the young count 
 de Nevers ; but the lord de Coucy was sorely afflicted, which is not 
 to be wondered at. Before this event, he had been a lord of such 
 high spirit as nothing could cast down : this captivity in Turkey, 
 however, preyed on his mind more than it did on the spirits of the 
 others, and he became quite melancholy. He complained of great 
 oppression at his heart, and said he should never return to France ; 
 that he had escaped many perils and dangerous adventures, but this 
 would be his last. The lord Henry de Bar consoled him, and blamed 
 him for being so disconsolate without cause ; and told him it was 
 folly to be thus cast dov/n, when he ought to find more satist'action 
 in his own mind than any other. Notwitstanding the advice he was 
 giving, he himself severely felt his own situation, and bitterly regret, 
 ted his wife. The count d'Eu, constable of France, suffered from 
 similar regrets. Sir Guy de la Tremouille and the count de la Marche 
 kept up their spirits very tolerably. Bajazet was desirous they should 
 have some amusements in their captivity, and at times visited and 
 conversed with them most graciously : he was likewise anxious they 
 should witness his state and power. 
 
 We will now leave them, and return to sir James de Helly and sir 
 John de Chateaumorant, who were both journeying toward Hungary. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXV. 
 
 SIR JAMES DE HELLY, ON HIS RETURN TO TURKEY, OBTAINS HIS LIBERTY, 
 AND CARRIES A PASSPORT FROM THE SULTAN TO SIR JOHN DE CHASTEL- 
 MORANT IN HUNGARY. SIR JOHN DE CHASTELMORANT IS FORCED TO 
 SEND A MESSENGER TO THE KING OF FRANCE, TO INFORM HIM THAT 
 THE KING OF HUNGARY WILL NOT ALLOW THE PRESENTS TO BE 
 CARRIED TO THE SULTAN. 
 
 Sir James de Helly waited about ten or twelve days at Buda, in 
 Hungary, for sir John de Cha,teaumorant, who was continuing his 
 road as expeditiously as he could. Sir James was rejoiced at his 
 arrival ; for he was impatient to return to Turkey to acquit himself 
 of his promise, and to see and bring comfort to the count de Nevers 
 and the other French lords who were prisoners. The king of Hun- 
 gary made sir John de Cha.teaumorant a kind of welcome, in com- 
 pliment to the king of France and his royal cousins. He learnt 
 from his people that the knight was carrying magnificent presents, 
 and rich jewels, to the sultan : this vexed him greatly, but he pru- 
 dently dissembled any knowledge of it until sir James de Helly 
 should have set out for Turkey. He declared, however, to his con- 
 fidential friends, that the recreant dog, Bajazet, should never receive 
 any presents from France or elsewhere, if he had the power to pre- 
 vent it. When sir James had refreshed himself some time at Buda, 
 he took leave of the king and ChJiteaumorant, to continue his jour- 
 «ey to Turkey, that he might obtain from the sultan a passport for 
 
 sir John to pursue his road to him. When sir James mentioned it 
 the king of Hungary repl ed he would do well. On this the knight, 
 having procured guides, was conducted by them through Hungary 
 and Wallachia to Bursa, but did not find there Bajazet, who was 
 gone to another town in Turkey called Poly, Wherever he went he 
 carried the prisoners with him, excepting the lord de Coucy, who 
 was left at Bursa, unable to ride from sickness. There tarried with 
 him his cousin, a valiant baron from Greece, and a descendant of 
 the dukes of Austria, called the lord de Mathelin. 
 
 Sir James de Helly continued his journey to Poly, where he mei 
 Bajazet, who was glad to see him return from France, and keep his 
 word. Sir James humbled himself much before him, and said, 
 " Most dear and redoubted lord, here is your prisoner, who has de- 
 livered, to the best of his abilities, the message you have charged 
 him with." Bajazet replied, " Thou art welcome, for thou hast loy- 
 ally acquitted thyself ; and, in consideration of it, I now give thee 
 thy liberty." Sir James thanked him respectfully for this favor, and 
 told him that the king of France, and the duke of Burgundy, father 
 to the count de Nevers his piisonci-, had sent him an honorable 
 knight with credential letters as embassador, and likewise with such 
 grand presents as he was sure would give him delight. The sultan 
 asked if he had seen them. He replied, " I have not ; but the knight 
 charged with the commission has brought them as far as Hungary, 
 and is now at Buda waiting my return, with passports for him to 
 continue his journey : I came to announce this news to you, and to 
 solicit passports, if it be agreeable to you to receive him." " We 
 are very willing he should have passports, and you may have them 
 made out in any form you choose." The knight thanked him for 
 his gracious answer, when the sultan left him to attend to other 
 affairs. About an hour afterwards, sir James requested the Sultan's 
 permission to visit and converse with the French prisoners, as he had 
 much to say to them from their friends and relations. Bajazet was 
 some time silent before he gave him an answer, when he said, 
 " Thou shalt see one of them, but no more." He then made a sign 
 to his attendants for the count de Nevers to be brought to converse 
 with sir James for a short space, and then to be carried back To his 
 prison. The order was instantly obeyed ; and the count de Nevers 
 saw sir James de Helly with great joy. He made many inquiries 
 after the king of France, the duke and duchess of Burgundy, and 
 what was passing in that country. The knight related to him every, 
 thing he had seen or heard, and delivered him all the messages he 
 had been charged with ; but they were greatly interrupted by the 
 officers of the sultan, who pressed them to finish their conversation, 
 they had other business to attend to. 
 
 Sir James asked the count if all the other French lords were ir 
 good health. He replied, '•' All, except the lord de Coucy, who has 
 remained sick at Bursa; and this favor, I understand, has beer 
 granted through the credit of the lord de Mathelin, who has pledged 
 himself for him, and is rnuch esteemed by the sultan." Sir James 
 then told him that the king and duke of Burgundy had sent sir John 
 Cha,teaumorant as embassador to Bajazet, with most magnificent 
 presents to soften the sultan's anger ; but that sir John had stopped 
 at Buda in Hungaiy, until he should return with a passport for him 
 and his attendants ; that the sultan had promised him a passport, 
 with which he intended returning to Buda in a very few days. The 
 count de Nevers was exceedingly rejoiced on hearing this ; but he 
 dared not give way to his feelings, for the Turks were observing 
 them. The last words the count said to him were, " Sir James, I 
 understand that Bajazet has given you your liberty, and that you 
 may return to France when you please. On your arrival there, tell 
 my lord and father from me, that if he have any intention to ransom 
 me and my companions, he must not delay to negotiate through the 
 means of Venetians or Genoese merchants, and close with the first 
 offer the sultan, or his ministers for him, may make ; for we are lost 
 for ever, if it be longer neglected. But I understand that the sultan 
 is very loyal and courteous in his character, when applied to prop, 
 erly." 
 
 Thus ended their interview, and the count de Nevers was con. 
 ducted back to prison. Sir James de Helly hastened the passport 
 which had been promised him. When it had been drawn out in the 
 usual form, and sealed by Bajazet, it was delivered to the knight, 
 who took leave of the sultan and his court, and set off on his return 
 to Buda. He instantly waited on sir John de Cha,teaumorant, who 
 was impatiently expecting him, and said, "I bring you a passport 
 for yourself and your attendants to go and return in safety from 
 Turkey, which the sultan readily granted me." " That is well 
 done," replied sir John : " let us go to the king of Hungary, and 
 tell him the news. To-morrow morning I will begin my journey, 
 for I have stayed here long enough." They went to the king's 
 chamber, and related to him all you have just heard. The king re. 
 plied, " Ch^tteaumorant and Helly, I am glad to see you both, as 
 well on your own account as for the affection I bear to the king and 
 my cousins of France, and I shall at all times be happy to serve you. 
 You may travel through any part of my kingdom, unmolested, or 
 even into Turkey, if it be your pleasure ; but with regard to your 
 carrying any rich presents or jewels to the sultan, which you, Cht- 
 teaumorant, are charged with from France, I will never consent that 
 they pass through my kingdom, to be offered to the infidel Bajazet, 
 for he shall never be enriched by them. I should be extremely 
 
 I 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENG 
 
 LAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 blamed and laughed at, if in future times he be enabled to boast, 
 that to gain his love, and from fear, because he has gained a victory 
 over me, and detains some great barons of France prisoners, the 
 king of France and his princes have sent him rich presents. In re- 
 spect to the gerfalcons, I am indifferent whether he have them or 
 not ; for bipds fly anywhere, and are as soon lost as given ; but with 
 respect to fine tapestry, which would remain a proof of his boastings 
 being true, I will not consent that he enjoy the pleasure of possessing 
 it. Therefore Cha,teaumorant," continued the king of Hungary, "if 
 you wish to make a journey into Turkey, to see Bajazet, and present 
 him with the falcons, you may do so ; but you shall not carry any- 
 thing else." 
 
 Sir John de Chateaumorant replied, " Certainly, sire, it is not the 
 intention of the king of France, nor to his honor more than to that of the 
 lords who have sent me, that I fail in any particular in the accom- 
 plishment of the objects they have charged me with." " Very well," 
 said the king : " you will not at present have any other answer from 
 me than what you have heard." The two knights left the apartment, 
 and consulted together how to act, for this refusal of the king of 
 Hungary had disconcerted them. They thought their only expedient 
 was to send off a messenger express, with the account of the king 
 of Hungary's conduct to the king of France and the duke of Bur- 
 gundy, for them to provide a remedy, and to explain the causes of 
 their delay. They wrote, in consequence, letters to the king and the 
 duke of Burgundy, and engaged a trusty messenger to carry them, 
 whom they supplied with a sufficiency of money for him frequently 
 to change his horses on the road, that he might hasten his journey, 
 while they waited his return at Buda. 
 
 The messenger journeyed with great diligence to Paris, and de- 
 livered his letters to the king of France and the duke of Burgundy. 
 Having read them, they were much surprised and vexed that the 
 king of Hungary should prevent their embassador from continuing 
 his journey with the presents to the sultan of Turkey, as they ordered 
 him to do. The duke of Berry, however, excused the king of Hun- 
 gary, saying he was no way to blame ; for it was too debasing to a 
 king of France to send presents and jewels to such a recreant pagan 
 king. The duke of Burgundy was more nearly affected in the mat. 
 ter, and defended the measure as reasonable, since fortune had been 
 so favorable, to give the sultan a victory, in which the whole force 
 of the king of Hungary was slain or put to flight, and the greater 
 part of the nobles made prisoners that had been in the battle. It 
 therefore behooved their relations and friends to adopt every mode for 
 their deliverance, if they were desirous of seeing them again. This 
 speech of tlie duke of Burgundy was supported by the king and 
 council. The king asked the duke of Berry, " Good uncle, if this 
 Bultan Bajazet, or any other pagan king, were to send you a rich and 
 sparkling ruby, would you accept of it?" "My lord," replied the 
 duke, " I should consider of it." The king reminded him, that it 
 was not ten years since the sultan had sent him a ruby that had cost 
 twenty thousand francs. 
 
 The king of Hungary was condemned by all for having prevented 
 the presents from being carried to the sultan, which might have the 
 effect of adding to the distressful state of the French \o\ds that were 
 prisoners. The king was therefore advised to write courteous letters 
 to the king of Hungary, to request that he would no longer prevent 
 his embassador from proceeding on his journey with the presents to 
 the court of Turkey. When they had been fairly written out and 
 sealed, they were given to the messenger from Hungary, who, leav- 
 ing Paris, set out on his return to Buda. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXVI. 
 
 THE DUCHESS OF ORLEANS IS SUSPECTED OF CAUSING THE KINO's 
 
 ILLNESS. 
 
 Every year the king of France had relapses of his frenzy, with, 
 out any physician or surgeon being able to prevent it. Some indeed 
 had boasted that they would restore him to sound health, but it was 
 soon found they labored in vain. The king's disorder never ceased 
 until it had run its course, in spite of prayers and medicines. Some 
 of the physicians and sorcerers who attended the king, on finding 
 their labor lost, declared the king must have been poisoned or en. 
 chanted by some pernicious herbs. This agitated greatly the minds of 
 the nobility and people, for these sorcerers affirmed, the better to gain 
 belief, that the king was under the power of sorcery, and that they 
 knew it from ihe devil who had revealed it to them. Several of 
 these conjurors had been burnt at Paris and Avignon, for having gone 
 BO far as to say that the duchess of Orleans, daughter to the duke of 
 Milan, was the cause of this mischief, that she might succeed to the 
 \ crown of France. This was so much believed, that common report 
 • j said she had frequently practiced such arts, and that, so long as she 
 I was near the person of the king, he neither would nor could regain 
 , j his health. It was therefore necessary, to put an end to this slander, 
 i , that the duchess of Orleans should quit Paris. She went first to re. 
 1 I Bide at Asniferes, a very handsome castle near Pontoise, that belonged 
 \ ^ to the duke her lord, and then to Neufcha,teau, on the Loire, which 
 I I also belonged to him. The duke of Orleans was very melancholy 
 ) J on hearing such injurious reports against his duchess, which he dis. 
 j aembled as well as he could, and never on this account quitted the 
 
 king or court, for he took pleasure in attending public business and 
 the different councils on the affairs of the realm. 
 
 G^leas duke of Milan, was duly informed of the infamous crimes 
 his daughter, the duchess of Orleans, was accused of. He deeply 
 felt the injury, and had twice or thrice sent embassadors to France, 
 to exculpate his daughter to the king of France and his council, 
 offering, at the same time, a knight or knights that should engage in 
 mortal combat any person who should dare to accuse his daughter 
 of such iniquitous and treasonable p -actices. The duke of Milan 
 threatened to make war on France ; i r he had learnt that the king, 
 when he gave his daughter in marriage to the king of England, be 
 tween Ardres and Calais, had declared, that on his return to Paris 
 he would not attend to anything until he should march a large army 
 into the Milanese ; and that his son-in-law, king Richard, had, to 
 his great satisfaction, offered him one thousand English spears and 
 six thousand archers. Galeas had likewise heard that purveyances 
 were making throughout Dauphiny and Savoy for the king of France, 
 for it was by Piedmont he intended entering Lombardy. This ex- 
 pedition, however, was laid aside, and no more thought of, when the 
 news arrived of the unfortunate issue of the battle of NicopoM, and 
 the death and captivity of the French nobles. The king and the 
 duke of Burgundy were so afflicted at this event, that they could not 
 attend to anything else ; they besides knew that the duke of Milan 
 vi^ip on the most friendly terms with Bajazet, which was an addi- 
 tional reason at this moment not to push any hostile attempts against 
 him, and he was left unmolested. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXVII. 
 
 the duke and duchess of burgundy diligently exert THEMSELVES 
 TO FIND MEANS TO RANSOM THE COUNT DE NEVERS, THEIR tsON, ANB 
 HIS FELLOW.PRISONERS IN TURKEY. THE KING OF HUNGARY, THROUGH 
 THE PERSUASION OF THE GRAND.MASTER OF RHODES, PERMITS THE EM 
 BASSADOR FROM THE KING OF FRANCE TO PASS THROUGH HIS KINGDOM 
 WITH THE PRESENTS FOR THE SULTAN BAJAZET. 
 
 The duke and duchess of Burgundy considered every possible 
 means of recovering their son. As they knew they must pay a very 
 large sum for his ransom, they reduced their expenses as much as 
 possible, to gather all the money they could ; without this, thej 
 knew they could not succeed ; and made many friends among the 
 Venetian and Genoese merchants, for through their means the ran 
 soms were to be negotiated. The duke of Burgundy resided with 
 the king, who conversed with him frequently on affairs of state, and 
 paid attention to what he said ; for the duke had the principal share 
 in the government, which made his own affairs prosper the more 
 
 At this time there lived in Paris a Lombard, who was a great and 
 rich merchant, and transacted business for the other Lombards : he 
 was known and spoken of all over the world, wherever commerce 
 was carried on : his name was Dinde Desponde, and by him all ex- 
 changes were made. If before the event of the battle of Nicopoh 
 he was beloved by the king of France and the lords of his court, he 
 was now much more so, and had frequent consultations with the 
 duke of Burgundy on the surest meaRS to recover his son, and tho 
 other lords who were prisoners in Turkey. Dinde Desponde said to 
 the duke, " My lord, by degrees all things are brought about. Th^ 
 merchants of Genoa, and of the islands under their obedience, ar« 
 well known everywhere, and traffic with Cairo, Alexandria, Dama» 
 cus, Damietta, and Turkey, and in different countries of infidels 
 for trade, my lord, as you know, finds its way everywhere, and rulei* 
 the world. Write, therefore, to the Genoese, and prevail on tht 
 king to do so likewise, in a friendly manner, promising them greafi 
 rewards if they will undertake the business; for there is nothing bu* 
 may be accomplished with money. The king of Cyprus, who is» 
 near to Turkey, and now at peace with the sultan, may also assist in 
 the matter. You must suppose that, as for myself, I will exert mj 
 powers to the utmost, for I am bound to obey you in everything." 
 
 The duke and duchess of Burgundy neglected no means to fre^s 
 their son from his captivity, for they were sorely afflicted by it. He 
 was the heir to their vast possessions ; and this misfortune had hap. 
 pended to him on his first onset in arms. The ladies of France la. 
 mented the loss of their husbands and friends, especially the lady o< 
 Coucy, who refused all comfort, and bewailed him day and night 
 The duke of Lorrain and sir Ferri de Lorrain, her brothers, visited hef 
 at Saint Gobin,* where she resided, and consoled her as well as they 
 could. They advised her to send into Turkey to gain some intelli. 
 gence of him, for they had heard he had greater liberty allowed hiiH 
 than the other prisoners. The lady thanked her brothers for this ad. 
 vice, and instantly sent for sir Robert Desne,t a good and valiant 
 knight of the Cambresis. She entreated him so sweetly, urging him, 
 out of affection to her, to undertake a journey into Turkey, that th« 
 knight consented, and engaged to go thither and bring back full in. 
 telligence of the lord de Coucy. 
 
 Sir Robert sdon made his preparations, and, accompanied by foui 
 others, set out for Hungary. In like manner did other ladies in 
 
 * " Saint Gobin," near La Fere in Picardy, now famous for its fine in»aa&Cta» ol 
 looking.glasses. 
 
 t " Sir Robert Demo." Sir Robert de Seu. WB. B. M. aad Hafod. 
 
 I 
 
Chronicles of engla 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &d. 
 
 593 
 
 France send to inquire after their husbands. The king of Hun- 
 gary was very obstinate in his refusal to allow sir John de Chateau- 
 morant to continue his journey to Turkey with the presents from the 
 king of France to the sultan. Though this greatly displeased sir 
 John and sir James de Helly, they could not prevail on him to alter 
 his resolution. It happened thzt the grand-master of Rhodes came 
 at this time to Buda. He was most kindly received by the king, as 
 indeed he ought to have been, for on the day of the battle he had 
 srived the king from death or captivity. He made acquaintance 
 with tlie two knights from France, who related to him the conduct 
 of the king of Hungary, and the circumstance of his detaining them 
 at Buda. He was much surprised, and said, to soften their anger, 
 he would speak to the king on the subject, and, as they should soon 
 experience, with good effect. He managed the matter so prudently 
 with the king, that they were permitted to continue their journey to 
 Turkey with all their presents, which were restored to them. The 
 embassador arrived in safety at the place where Bajazet resided, 
 owing to the passports sir James de Helly had brought to him. The 
 sultan received the knights, and their presents from the king of 
 France, with much respect, and seemed very proud of what the king 
 had sent him. The knights were only permitted to have one inter- 
 view with the count de Nevers, but with none of the others : this, 
 however, was of a sufficiently long continuance. On their taking 
 leave, the count said : "Recohimend me to my lord and father, the 
 duke of Burgundy, to my lady-mother, to my lord the king, and to 
 my lord of Berry, and salute in my name all my friends. Should 
 there be any negotiation going forward with Bajazet, urge the speedy 
 conclusion, for we suffer from every delay. We were originally 
 eight prisoners, but are now increased, by sixteen more, to twenty- 
 four :* let the ransom include all of us, for it will be as readily 
 agreed to for the whole as for one. Bajazet has settled this in his 
 own mind, and you may depend on his steadiness ; and those who 
 have sent you hither may rely on his word, for it is inviolable." Sir 
 James de Helly and Sir,John de Chateaumorant replied, they would 
 say and do everything lie had directed. They then took leave of 
 the count de Nevers, and the sultan, and set out for Hungary and 
 France. On their return, they met the messenger whom they had 
 sent to Paris, as has been mentioned, bringing letters to the king of 
 Hungary. They made him come back with them, as he had now 
 no occasion to proceed farther, for they had been in Turkey ; and 
 they all returned together, to the king of France at Paris. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXVIII. 
 
 THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER PLOTS THE DESTRUCTION OF HIS NEPHEW, THE 
 KING OF ENGLAND. THE KING, HAVING INFORMATION OF HIS PRACTICES, 
 HAS HIM ARRESTED BY THE EARL MARSHAL. 
 
 I HAVE been some time without saying anything of the duke of 
 Gloucester, the youngest son of the late king Edward of England, 
 for I have not had any cause for so doing. But I will now speak of 
 him, because his heart would no way incline to the French, and he 
 was more pleased than hurt at the melancholy loss they had sustained 
 in Turkey. He had with him a knight called sir John Lackingay, 
 who was his most confidential adviser, and, as it was afterwards dis- 
 covered, held with him such conversations as the following : " These 
 vain-boasting French have been nearly annihilated in Turkey. Such 
 knights and squires as join company with them know not what they 
 are about, and are ill-advised when they do so, for they are so full 
 of vanity and presumption, that they never can bring to a successful 
 issue anything they undertake. This has often been apparent during 
 the wars of my lord and father, and our brother the prince of Wales, 
 for they never could obtain a victory over our men. I know not 
 why we have any truces with them : if it were war with them, as 
 we have good cause for quarrel, we would wage it now more suc- 
 cessfully than ever, for the flower of the French chivalry is slain or 
 in captivity. Our countrymen wish for war, for without it they can- 
 not exist, and idleness to men-at-arms is death. I swear, therefore, 
 by God, that if I be alive, and in health, two years hence, the v/ar 
 shall be renewed, for I will not keep any truce or peace. The 
 French have shown how little they have regarded them in former 
 times, and have, by whatever treacherous and underhand means 
 they could devise, deprived us of the duchy of Aquitaine, which 
 was given up to my late lord and father, in conformity to a sound 
 treaty of peace. This I have more than once charged them with, 
 in the conference on the other side of the sea ; but they made such 
 flourishing and complimentary speeches, they always lighted on their 
 feet, and I was not attended to either by the king or by my brothers. 
 If the king of England had a good head, and were as desirous as I 
 am of war, and would take some pains to recover the inheritance 
 they have shamefully stolen from him, he would find one hundred 
 thousand archers and six thousand men-at-arms willing to cross the 
 sea, and ready to serve him with their lives and fortunes. But 
 things are not so. At this moment we have an unwarlike king, who 
 is indifferent as to arms, otherwise he would show himself in France : 
 for there never was so favorable an opportunity to carry the war 
 thither as at this present moment, since they would be assured of a 
 
 * The MSS. say nine 'isoners. 
 
 battle, and the people of this country, who arc always eager to fight 
 with those richer than themselves, for the sake of the spoil, v/ould 
 venture boldly, in the hope of having the like success with their an- 
 cestors under the king my father, of happy memory, and my brother 
 the prince of Wales. 
 
 "I am the last of the royal family of England; but were I be- 
 lieved, I would be the first to renew the wars, to retaliate for the 
 wrongs that have been done us, and vv'hich they are daily doing by 
 the connivance and weakness of our rulers, more particularly of our 
 head the king of England, who has allied himself by marriage witi. 
 the daughter of his enemy the king of France. That is a s-urc proof 
 he will have no war : certainly not : he is too heavy behind, and 
 only wishes for the pleasures of the table and the amusements of la- 
 dies. That is not the life for men-at-arms, who are desirous of re- 
 nown and profit. I have not forgotten my last expedition through 
 France. I might have had with me about two thousand lances and 
 eight thousand archers. When we crossed the sea, we entered 
 France by way of Calais, and continued our march through the 
 country, without meeting any one to oppose us or offer us battle. 
 Such formerly was the success of sir Robert KnoUes, Gii- Hugh Cal- 
 verley, sir Thomas Grandson, sir Philip Gifford ; but they had not 
 as may men as I had under their command, and yet they marched 
 to the gates of Paris, and demanded battle from the king of France. 
 No one, however, ventured out to answer tlieir cliallenge, and they 
 continued their route without interruption into Brittany. You might 
 then have marched from Calais to Bordeaux, without any one da- 
 ring to oppose you ; but I am persuaded wlioever should now attempt 
 it would be combated ; for he who at present signs himself king of 
 France is young, active, and has a strong desire to achieve some 
 gallant enterprise. He would therefore fight with us, whatever might 
 be the consequences, and that is everything we could desire ; for it 
 has been by battle and victories over the French, who are so rich, 
 that we are become wealthy : if peace continue, we shall languish 
 and become more enervated than ever, since my nephew came to 
 the throne of England. Things cannot long remain in this state, 
 before the people will perceive and redress them. The king raises 
 heavy taxes on the merchants, who are greatly discontented : he 
 squanders the money no one knows how, and thus is the kingdom 
 of England impoverished. True it is, that he gives largely to those 
 about him, and in whom he confides, but the people pay for this, 
 and it will shortly cause a rebellion ; for they already begin to mur- 
 mur, and to say publicly that such measures must not longer be suf. 
 fered. The king gives out that as soon as the truces between 
 France and England shall be signed, he will make a voyage to Ire- 
 land, and employ there his men-at-arms and archers. He has al. 
 ready been there, and gained but little, for Ireland is not worth 
 conquering: the Irish are a poor and wicked people, with an impov- 
 erished country ; and he who should conquer it one year, would lose 
 it the next. Lackingay, Lackingay ! all you have just heard me say 
 consider as truth." 
 
 Such were the conversations, as it was afterwards known, between 
 the duke of Gloucester and his knight. He had conceived a great 
 hatred to his nephew, the king of England, and could no way speak 
 well of him ; and although he was, with his brother of Lancaster, 
 the greatest personage in England, and one by whose advice the 
 government ought to have been cnrried on, he paid not any atten- 
 tion to it. When the king sent for him, if it was his pleasure he 
 would come, but more frequently he staid at home ; and, when he 
 obeyed, he was always the last to come and the first to depart. On 
 giving his opinion, it must be implicitly followed, for he would not suf= 
 ferit to be contradicted. He then took leave, mounted his horse, and set 
 off for a handsome casde he had in Essex, thirty miles from London, 
 called Fleshy, where he resided more constantly than anywhere else. 
 This lord Thomas was a great lord, and could afford to expend an- 
 nually, from his income, sixty thousand crowns. He was duke of 
 Gloucester, carl of Essex and Buckingham, and constable of Eng- 
 land ; and, from his rough manner, was more dreaded by the king 
 than any other of his uncles, for, in his speech, he never spared him. 
 The king was always submissive to him, and whatever he asked v/as 
 instantly granted. The duke of Gloucester had ordered many severe 
 and hasty executions in England, and, without any title of reason or 
 justice, had caused that prudent and gallant knight sir Simon Burley 
 to be beheaded, with many others of the king's council. This duke 
 likewise caused the banishment of the archbishop of York and the 
 duke of Ireland from England, notwithstanding the confidence the 
 king reposed in them, accusing them of giving evil counsel to the 
 king, keeping him under their governance, and wasting the revenues 
 of the kingdom on themselves. The duke of Gloucester's two broth- 
 ers of Lancaster and York resided generally with the king : he was 
 jealous of them, and said to several (such as Robert* bishop of Lon- 
 don and others) who went to visit him at his castle of Pleshy, that 
 his brothers were too expensive to the king, and that it would be 
 more decent for them to live at their own houses. The duke gained, 
 by every possible means, the love of the Londoners ; for he thought, 
 if he acquired popularity with them, the rest of England would fol- 
 low their example. The duke had a nephew, son to his brother 
 
 * Robert Braybook, who succeeded Courtnay, on his translation to Canterbury, 128L 
 and died 1404,having been chancellor of England scarcely six months.— Gouoa's Pleshy 
 note, p. 59. 
 
5*H CHRONICLESOFENGLA 
 
 1 lonel, duke of Clareace, who had married the daughter of Galeas, 
 |.)rd of Milan, and died at Asti in Piedmont. The duke of Glouces- 
 ter would gladly have seen his nephew, called John earl of March,* 
 on the throne of England, and king Richard deposed from it, saying 
 he was neither worthy nor capable to hold the government of Eng. 
 l;:nd ; and this opinion he made secret of to those who were in his 
 onfidence. He invited this earl of March to come and see him ; and 
 when at Pleshy, he unbosomed himself to him of all the secrets of 
 his heart, telling him that he had been selected for king of England ; 
 that king Richard and his queen were to be confined, but with ample 
 provision for thek maintenance, as long as they lived ; and he earn- 
 estly besought his nephew to believe all he had said, for he should 
 make it a point to put his plans into execution, and that he was 
 already joined by the earl of Arundel, sir John Arundel, the earl of 
 Warwick, and many prelates and barons of England. 
 
 The earl of March was thunderstruck on hearing this proposal 
 from his uncle ; but, young as he was, he dissembled his real senti- 
 ments, and prudently replied, to please his uncle and to get away, 
 that he never thought of such things, and they were of such a mag- 
 nitude as to require his deliberate consideration. The duke then, 
 observing the manner of his nephew, desired that he would keep 
 what he had said very secret. This he promised faithfully to do, 
 and, taking his leave, hastened from him, and instantly went to his 
 estates in Ireland : he would never listen nor send any answer to all 
 the proposals his uncle made him, excusing himself honorably from 
 taking part in them, as he foresaw they must end badly. The duke 
 of Gloucester employed all possible means to stir up troubles in Eng- 
 land, and excite the Londoners against the king. The year that a 
 truce had been signed between England and France, to last for thirty 
 years, king Richard and his queen came to London, on their return 
 from France : the duke of Gloucester whispered the citizens to pe- 
 tition the king to abolish all taxes and subsidies which had been im- 
 posed for the last twenty years, as it was reasonable they should now 
 cease, since a truce had been signed for so long a term, and they had 
 been levied solely as war-taxes, to pay the men-at-arms and archers 
 in support of the war. He told the merchants, " it was hard to pay 
 thirteen florins out of every hundred as a tax on merchandise, which 
 were spent in idle dances and feasts : you pay for them and are sorely 
 oppressed. Add to your petition a remonstrance for the realm to be 
 governed according to ancient custom and usages, and that when- 
 ever there shall be any necessity to raise money for the defence of 
 the kingdom, you will tax yourselves with such sums as shall be 
 satisfactory to the king and his council." This advice of the duke of 
 Gloucester was followed by the Londoners, and many of the princi- 
 pal towns. They collected together, and went in a body to the king 
 at Eltham, where they demanded redress of what they complained of, 
 and that all taxes which had been raised for the support of the war 
 should be instantly abolished. Only two of the king's uncles were 
 present when the citizens presented their petition and remonstrance, 
 namely, the dukes of Lancaster and York. The king desired they 
 would answer the Londoners and the other citizens who had accom- 
 panied them, but particularly the duke of Lancaster ; who said to 
 them : " My fair sirs, you v/ill now, each of you, return to your homes, 
 and, within a month from this day, come to the palace of Westmin- 
 ster, when the king, his nobles and prelates of the council, shall be 
 assembled, and your petition and remonstrance be taken into consid- 
 eration. What shall then be thought right to maintain or abolish 
 will be determined upon, and you may depend on having such redress 
 as ought to satisfy you." 
 
 This answer contented some, but not all ; for there were among 
 them rebels attached to the duke of Gloucester, who wanted a more 
 speedy decision of their demands ; but the dukes of Lancaster and 
 York appeased them by gende words, and they all departed. The 
 ' matter, however, did not rest here ; but at the month's end they again 
 went to the king at Westminster, who was surrounded ity his nobles 
 and prelates. The duke of Gloucester was now present, and leant 
 much to the petitioners ; but, in the answer which was made to them, 
 he dissembled his real thoughts, in order that the king, his brothers, 
 and the members of his council might not notice them. The duke 
 of Lancaster replied for the king, and, addressing himself to the 
 Londoners, as they composed the majority, said : " Ye citizens of 
 London, it pleases my lord the king that I give an answer to your 
 petition : in obedience to his command, I shall declare to you what 
 the king and his council have determined upon. You know, that to 
 provide against dangers to the kingdom, ye, as well as the other cities 
 and towns within the realm, agreed, about six years ago, that a tax 
 of thirteen per cent, should be laid on all merchandise that was sold, 
 and for which the king granted to you many privileges such as he 
 will not take from you, but on the contrary augment, if ye prove not 
 undeserving of the favor. But since ye seem now to turn rebellious, 
 , and draw back from what ye had willingly before agreed to, he re- 
 i cals his former favors: and here are his nobles and prelates, who 
 
 j i * 'He was tliird son of Edward Mortimer earl of March, by Pliilippa, daugliter of 
 
 \ \ JLionel diike of Clarence, and was hanged 3rd Henry VI. Snndford, p. 224. Froissart. 
 
 I j means Roger, his elder brother, slain in Ireland, 22nd Richard II., whos^e death Richard 
 
 \l went over Id avenge, when Henry IV. plotted to dethrone him. lb. p. 226. This Roger 
 
 ; wus declared heir to the crown by parliament, 9th Rich. II. Iceland's < -ollcctanen, vol. 
 
 ' i t.p. 693. Froissart took the opportunity of the marriage of Lionel and Violanta to visit 
 
 1 I Italy, and dwells on the solemnities and festivals of the wedding."— Gough's Pleshy, 
 
 \ p. eo. 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &,c. 
 
 have sworn to support him in all his lawful measures to the utmost 
 of their power, and are now willing to continue their aid in main, 
 taining all legal grants. Consider, therefore, calmly, this matter, and 
 that the state of the king demands great expense ; if his revenue ia 
 augmented one way it is diminished another ; besides, his receipts 
 are not so considerable as they were in former times. The war has 
 involved greater costs than were provided for. The expenses of the 
 embassadors for the peace, on this and on the other side of the sea, 
 have called for large sums ; and those fur the king's marriage have 
 been very great. Although there is now a truce between England 
 and France, the annual charges for the garrisons of the different towns 
 and castles under the obedience of the king in Gascony, the Bourde- 
 lois, Bayonnois, and Bigorre, are very heavy. The fleet which must 
 be maintained to guard our coasts and harbors, costs a great deal. 
 The frontiers of Scotland, and of our possessions in Ireland, must not 
 be left defenceless, and they demand large sums. All these articles, 
 and several others relating to the state of the king and country of 
 England, annually absorb great sums, which the nobles and prelates 
 understand and know much better than you can, who attend only to 
 your trades and the disposal of your wares. Give thanks to God that 
 ye have peace, and consider that no one pays that is not liable so 
 to do, and carries on a trade, and that foreigners pay this tax as 
 well as yourselves. Ye are much better off than those of France 
 Lombardy, or other countries, where it is to be hoped your merchan 
 dise is carried ; for they are taxed and taxed over again, three or 
 four times a-year, while ye have only a moderate duty imposed o^ 
 your wares." The duke of Lancaster addressed them so mildl) 
 and calmly, that although they came thither with the worst intentions 
 from the machinations of others, they were satisfied ; and the assem. 
 bly broke up without making any new demand, for the deputies from 
 the majority of the principal towns were contented with the answer. 
 There were some who would have rejoiced to have seen the meeting 
 end differently, though they did not show it openly. The duke of 
 Gloucester returned to his castle of Pleshy, perceiving that this time 
 he was disappointed in his expectations, and was constantly devising 
 means of exciting disturbances in England, and causing a rupture 
 with France. In this attempt he was joined by the uncle of his 
 duchess, the earl of Arundel, who was desirous of war above all 
 things ; and they had successfully practiced with the earl of War- 
 wick, so that he obeyed their wills. 
 
 The king of England had two brothers by his mother's side ; the 
 eldest, Thomas earl of Kent ; the youngest, a valiant knight, sir John 
 Holland earl of Huntingdon, and chamberlain of England. The 
 last was married to a daughter of the duke of Lancaster ; and it was 
 he who had killed the earl of Stafford's son, as has been mentioned 
 in this history. The issue of the earl of Stafford was a young squire, 
 who was under the protection and wardship of the duke of Glouces- 
 ter. The earl of Huntingdon resided chiefly at the court of his 
 brother the king of England, and was better acquainted than any 
 other with the intrigues of the duke of Gloucester, from the private 
 inquiries he made into his conduct. He was much afraid of the 
 duke, for he knew him to be proud, cruel, and passionate : he nour- 
 ished his enemy under his eye, for the crime he had committed on 
 the earl of Stafford's son had never been forgiven. King Richard 
 was naturally fond of his brother, and supported him against all : he 
 saw with pain that his uncle of Gloucester was his enemy, and took 
 much trouble to form a party against him to force him to leave the 
 kingdom. He and the earl of Huntingdon conversed frequently on 
 this subject; during which time, the count de Saint Pol arrived in 
 England, whither he had been sent by the king of France to see his 
 daughter, the young queen of England, how they were going on, and 
 to cultivate affection between the two countries ; for, since the truce 
 had been signed, it w^as the intention of the two kmgs and their 
 councils, that France and England should be on the most friendly 
 terms with each other, in spite of what their ill-wishers might attempt 
 to the contrary. 
 
 The king and the earl of Huntingdon made the count de Saint 
 Pol a hearty welcome on his arrival, as well from love to the king 
 of France as because he had married their sister. At this moment, 
 neither the dukes of Lancaster nor of York were with the king ; for 
 they began to dissemble with him, and to suspect, from the great 
 murmurings in many parts of England on the king's conduct, that 
 affairs would not end well : they therefore wished not to be called 
 upon by the king or people, but left the whole to the duke of Glou- 
 cestcr and his accomplices. The king of England discoursed very 
 freely with the count de Saint Pol, as well on the state of the coun- 
 try as concerning his uncle the duke of Gloucester, whom he described 
 as very rough in his manners and rebeUious in his conduct, and he 
 related to him various instances of his slights. The count de Saint 
 Pol, on hearing them, was much surprised, and replied, " that such 
 behavior ought not longer to be borne; for, my lord," added he, "if 
 you suffer him to go on, he will be your ruin. It is currently reported 
 in France, that his only object is to break the truce and renew the 
 war between France and England : by littie and little he will win 
 the hearts of the more indigent men-at-arms of the country, who 
 wish for war rather than peace ; and if such persons unite together 
 and hostilities commence, the more prudent part of the nation will 
 not be listened to; for where wickedness and obstinacy govern, wis- 
 dom and common sense are not heard. Take your precautions 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 beforehand ; for it is better you make your enemies afraid of you, 
 than that you should fear them." These words of the count made a 
 deep impression on the king's mind ; and, as he was continually 
 thinking on them, he renewed the subject with the earl of Hunting, 
 don, on the count de Saint Pol's return to France. The earl replied, 
 *' My lord, our brother-in-law Saint Pol has told you real truth, and 
 I would advise you to take measures accordingly." 
 
 1 was informed, that about a month after the departure of the 
 count de Saint Pol from England, the king became exceedingly un- 
 popular : it was rumored, that the count had come to treat with the 
 king for the restoration of Calais to the French. Nothing could have 
 agitated the English more than such reports ; and the people were 
 so uneasy, that the Londoners went even to Pleshy, to consult the 
 duke of Gloucester on the occasion. The duke, instead of calming, 
 excited them more by saying, "He could do nothing in the business; 
 for he was sure the French would give all the daughters of their king, 
 if they could recover Calais." This answer made the Londoners 
 very melancholy ; and they said they would see the king, and re- 
 monstrate with him on the agitation the whole country was in. "Do 
 so," replied the duke of Gloucester: "remonstrate with him firmly, 
 and make him fear you. Mark well the answer he shall give, so 
 that you may repeat it to me the next time I see you ; and, when I 
 know his answer, I will then give you my advice how to act. 
 It may be that some iniquitous treaties are on foot, for the earl mar- 
 shal, who is governor of Calais, has been twice at Paris, where he 
 remained some time, and he was the most active in concluding the 
 mamage of the king with the lady Isabella. The French are a sub- 
 tle race, and see far into consequences : they pursue their object by 
 degrees, and are exti'avagant in their promises and presents to gain 
 their ends." 
 
 The Londoners pursued the plan they had settled at Pleshy, and 
 went to Ehham to speak with the king. At that time were with 
 him his two brothers, the earls of Kent and Huntingdon, the earl of 
 Salisbury, the archbishop of Canterbury, the archbishop of Dublin, 
 his confessor, sir Thomas Percy, sir William Lisle, sir Richard Cre- 
 don, sir John Golofre, and several more, all knights of the king's 
 chamber. The citizens remonstrated temperately with the king : 
 told him the cause of their coming, not in a haughty or harsh man- 
 ner, but with courteous speech, and repeated to him the reports which 
 were so current throughout England. The king was greatly aston. 
 ished at hearing them, and was much affected, though he dissembled 
 his feelings. He appeased the citizens, by declaring there was not 
 one word of truth in all the rumors that were so industriously circu- 
 lated : that the count de Saint Pol had come hither to amuse him- 
 self, and that the king of France had also sent him, out of his affection 
 to the king and queen of England, to see them ; but he swore, as 
 God might help him, and on the faith he owed the crown of Eng- 
 land, that no treaty of any sort had ever been mentioned, and he was 
 astonished whence such scandalous reports could have arisen. When 
 the king had done speaking, the earl of Salisbury addressed the citi- 
 zens : " My good people of London, withdraw to your homes, and 
 be assured that the king and his council wish for nothing more than 
 Xh.e honor and profit of England. Those who have busily said the 
 contrary have been ill-advised, and plainly show they would with 
 pleasure see the country in trouble, and the people in rebellion against 
 their king. This you ought particularly to dread, for you have before 
 witnessed how near you were to destruction, when a few wicked 
 rebels rebelled, but were severely punished for it : depend upon it, 
 that when the people are wicked, neither justice nor truth will be 
 attended to." These speeches a^ppeased the citizens, who were tol- 
 erably contented with what they had heard. Having taken leave of 
 the king, they departed, on their return to London. 
 
 The king remained at Eltham, very melancholy a-t the words he had 
 heard. He retained near his person his two brothers, and such of his 
 friends as he had the greatest confidence in ; for he began to doubt 
 the affection of his uncles, from observing they now chiefly resided 
 at their country-seats. He was, in consequence, very suspicious of 
 them, especially of the duke of Gloucester, whom he feared more 
 than the dukes of Lancaster and York, and kept up a constant guard, 
 night and day, of one thousand archers. The king of England had 
 received positive information that the duke of Gloucester and the 
 earl of Arundel had plotted to seize his person, and that of the queen, 
 and carry them to a strong castle, where they should be confined 
 under proper guards, but allowed sufficiently for their table and other 
 necessary expenses. That four regents should be appointed over the 
 kingdom, of whom the dukes of Lancaster and York were to be the 
 chief, and have under them the government of all the northern parts, 
 from the Thames to the Tyne, and as far as the Tweed, that runs by 
 Berwick, comprehending all Northumberland, and the borders of 
 Scotland. The duke of Gloucester was to have for his government 
 London, Essex, and that part of the country to the mouth of the 
 Humber, and likewise all the coast from the Thames to the water 
 of Southampton, and westward comprehending Cornwall. The earl 
 of Arundel was to have Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Berkshire, and all 
 the country from the Thames to Bristol, and the river Severn, 
 that divides England from Wales, where there are very extensive 
 lordships, with power of punishing by death all offenders. But 
 their chief design was to find out some means of rekindling the 
 war with France ; and, if the king of France wished to have his 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 595 
 
 I daughter again, it might be done, for she was still very young, not 
 more than eight years and a half old, and, perchance, when she was 
 marriageable, she might repent of this connection, for she was inno- 
 cently, and without her being able to judge for herself, married, and, 
 besides, it was unjust to break off her match with the heir of Brit- 
 tany ; but should she wish to abide by her marriage, she would in 
 justice remain queen of England, and enjoy her dower, but she 
 should never be the companion of the king of England. Should the 
 king die before she was of a proper age, she was to be sent back to 
 France. 
 
 These were the plans that had been concerted by many of the 
 English, particularly the Londoners, for they hated the king, and 
 several now repented they had checked the mobs which attacked 
 London from the different counties of England ; for they had deter- 
 mined, according to their confessions when put to death, to murder 
 the king, the earl of Salisbury, the earl of Oxford, and the whole of 
 the king's council. Had this been done, the kingdom would soon 
 have found another head ; and the citizens, with the consent of the 
 country, and the aid of the duke of Gloucester (who took great pains 
 to excite trouble and confusion,) would have selected a fit person to 
 wear the crown, and placed the government and kingdom in a dif- 
 ferent state to what it then was. Such were the secret murmurings 
 of the citizens, and others of their party, in their private meetings, 
 the whole of which was told to the king by his spy ; and greater 
 blame was laid on the duke of Gloucester for ail this business than 
 on any other person. 
 
 It is not to be wondered, if the king was considerably alarmed at 
 the discovery of so much hatred and malice lurking against himl 
 He paid greater court than ever to the duke of Gloucester and the 
 citizens when they came to see him, but all in vain. At times, the 
 king mentioned the matter privately to the dukes of Lancaster and 
 York, who resided more with him than his uncle of Gloucester, and 
 consulted with them how he could avoid the machinations of the duke 
 and his accomplices, all of which he was thoroughly acquainted with. 
 He addressed his uncles, saying : " My good uncles, for the love of 
 God, advise me how to act. I am daily informed that your brother, 
 the duke of Gloucestei', and the earl of Arundel, with others, are 
 determined to seize and confine me in one of their castles, and that 
 the Londoners will join them. Their plan is to allow me a suffi. 
 ciency for my state, but to separate my queen from me, who is but a 
 child, and daughter to the king of France, and send her to some 
 other place of confinement. Now, my dear uncles, such cruel acts 
 as these must not be suffered, if they can be prevented. You have 
 paid me homage, and sworn obedience to me as your sovereign, in 
 the presence of your lord and father, king Edward, and my grand, 
 father of happy memory, at the same time with the other barons and 
 prelates of the realm. It is now twenty years since this was done ; 
 and I entreat you, therefore, from the love you bear me, and on the 
 oaths you have taken, that you assist me on this occasion ; for every- 
 thing assures me the duke of Gloucester only desires that war be 
 renewed with France, in spite of the truces which you, with us and 
 all England, have sworn to observe. In consideration of this was 
 my m.arriage concluded with the daughter of the king of France, 
 and we wish to observe every article of the treaty most punctually. 
 You know also, that whoever attempts to infringe this truce will 
 commit a crime, and be liable to corporal punishment, as v.'ell as 
 confiscation of goods : you likewise know, that I have borne with 
 your brother, my uncle of Gloucester, as much as I have been able, 
 and made light of his menaces, but in the end they may cost me 
 dear. You are bound, therefore, by every tie, to give your best ad- 
 vice, since I require it from you." When the dukes of Lancaster 
 and of York heard their nephew thus address them, and saw that he 
 was in great anguish of heart ; knowing, at the same time, that the 
 greater part of what he had said was strictly true ; they replied : 
 " My lord, have a litde patience, and wait a short time before you 
 make any rash resolutions. We know that our brother of Glouces- 
 ter has the most passionate and wrong-headed temper of any m.an in 
 England; but he cannot do more than man, and, if he work one 
 way, we will counteract him another : you need not fear our brother 
 so long as you shall follow our advice. He talks frequendy of things 
 he cannot execute ; and neither he nor his abettors can break the 
 truce which has been signed, nor confine you in any castle : we will 
 never suffer it, nor that you be separated from the queen ; for, if he 
 imagine such things, he deceives himself. We therefore humbly beg 
 you will be appeased, for, please God, everything shall end well. 
 Many things may be said that cannot be executed, and all which a 
 man thinketh doth not come to pass." 
 
 By such means, the dukes calmed the king's mind ; but as they 
 foresaw that public affairs would, from their bad management, cause 
 troubles in the realm, and that the hatred between their nephew and 
 brother was daily increasing, to avoid being called upon by either 
 party, they left the king's household with their families, taking leave 
 of the king for a considerable time, and retired to their differen', cas. 
 des. The duke of Lancaster carried with him his duchess, who had 
 been some time the companion of the young queen of England. 
 They took this opportunity of hunting stags and deer, as is the cus- 
 tom in England, and the king remained with his attendants in and 
 about London. They afterwards, however, greatly repented having 
 left the king ; for such things shortly happened as troubled the wliole 
 
596 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND. FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 t- ingdom, which would not have been done had they remained with 
 the king, for they would have more prudently advised than such 
 itounsellors as he listened to. 
 
 There was not one of the king's servants that did not fear the 
 duke of Gloucester, and wish his death, no matter by what means. 
 That gallant and loyal knight, sir Thomas Percy, had been for a long 
 time steward of the household, and all the accounts passed officially 
 through his hands. He noticed with grief the hatred that subsisted 
 between the king and the duke of Gloucester, and other great barons 
 of England. Although he was beloved by all, he foresaw, like a 
 
 are suffered, and have been suffered, to reign so long. The French 
 say (as the common report runs,) that you intend to lay aside the 
 arms of France from your arms, which causeth great hatred against 
 you ; and it is the more readily believed, from the great pains you 
 took to have the truce signed, which was done more through force 
 than love, for the nobles of this country who had served in these 
 wars would not assent to it : that you have not carefully examined 
 the treaties signed by king John of France and his children, which 
 those of his blood, now living, have treacherously infringed; and 
 that the French, by underhand means, caused a renewal of war, and 
 
 Visit op RiCHi.RD II. to his Uncle, thb Duke of Gloucester, in ms Castle at Pleshy. From MSS. of the 15th Century 
 
 man of understanding, that public affairs would end badly, and, in 
 consequence, resigned his office into the king's hands in the most 
 honorable manner he could, and requested permission to retire, 
 which the king very unwillingly consented to. He gave such plau- 
 sible reasons for his request, that another was established in his place, 
 and sir Thomas Percy went to his own estate, where he resided. 
 The king had about his person many young counsellors, who too 
 much dreaded the duke of Gloucester : they frequently said to him, 
 " Very dear sire, it is a dangerous office to serve you, for we have 
 seen our predecessors, in whom you had great confidence, meet but 
 a poor reward. That valiant knight, sir Simon Burley, so much be- 
 loved by your lord and father, whom God pardon! and who took such 
 pains for the accomplishment of your first marriage ; the duke of 
 Gloucester, your uncle, put shamefully to death, by having him pub- 
 licly beheaded like a traitor. He likewise, as you know, had many 
 others arbitrarily executed without your being any way able to grant 
 them your pardon, or to s.ive them from their ignominious deaths. 
 Dear sire, we expect nothing better; for whenever your uncle cometh 
 hither to see you, which i;^ not often, we dare not raise our eyes from 
 the ground nor look at anybody. He eyes us from head to foot, and 
 seems to think we take too much upon us, from being about your 
 person ; and be assured, dear sire, that as long as he lives, there will 
 never be quiet in England, nor v»'ill any one attempt to do anything 
 good. Besides, he publicly threatens to confine you and the queen, 
 and keep you under subjection during his good pleasure. You will 
 be an undone king, and destroyed as well as us, if you do not 
 speedily take some strong measures. As for the queen, she need 
 not care : she is young, and daughter to the king of France, whom 
 they dare not anger, as too many evils would result from it to Eng- 
 land. Your uncle of Gloucester, to make you more unpopular with 
 your subjects, spreads abroad in London (we have heard it) that you 
 are unworthy to bear a crown, and to possess so noble an inheritance 
 as England and its dependencies ; that, when you married again, 
 you chose the daughter of your adversary the king of France, for 
 which you were very blameworthy ; and that you have debased the 
 chivalry of England, and the courage of its knights, squires, and 
 nobles, who had so valiantly carried on the war against France, and 
 would have continued it, enfeebled as they are, if you had not pre- 
 vented them : that you have placed the kingdom in a most perilous 
 situation, with great risk of its destruction, and that it is a pity you 
 
 seized by usurpation the rights of your predecessors, and possessed 
 themselves of very many towns, cities, and castles in Aquitaine, 
 to the great loss of the crown of England, and all through your neg. 
 ligence and want of courage : that you have been afraid of your ene- 
 mies, and not followed up the advantages you had m the justice of 
 this quarrel, which you still have as well as your ancestors, who im- 
 mediately have preceded your lord and father the prince of Wales, 
 and the good king Edward, who both took such pains to augment 
 the glory of the crown. Dear sire, the Londoners say, as indeed do 
 numbers of others, (which it behooves us not to conceal longer from 
 you,) that a day shall come when you will be reminded of these 
 things to your cost." 
 
 King Richard treasured up all these speeches in his mind, and 
 pondered over them continually. Shortly after the departure of his 
 two uncles of Lancaster and York, he summoned up more courage 
 than usual, and said to himself, that it would be better he should 
 destroy than be destroyed, and, that, within a short time, he would 
 hold his uncle of Gloucester so securely, he should be incapable of 
 injuring him. As he could not accomplish this alone, he opened 
 himself to those most in his confidence. It was to the earl marshal, 
 who was his cousin, and also earl of Nottingham, that he discovered 
 his intention, and most minutely gave him his orders how he was to 
 act. The earl marshal, from the favors he had received, loved the 
 king in preference to the duke of Gloucester, and kept the secret he 
 was intrusted with from all but such as he was forced to employ, as 
 he could not do the whole himself. What I am about to say will 
 explain the matter. 
 
 The king, under pretence of deer-hunting, went to a palace he 
 had at Havering-at-the-Bower, in Essex : it is about twenty miles 
 from London, and as many from Pleshy, where the duke of Glouces- 
 ter generally resided. The king set out one afternoon from Haver- 
 ing, without any attendants, for he had left them behind with the 
 queen at Eltham, and arrived at Pleshy about five o'clock : the 
 weather was very hot ; and he came so suddenly to the castle, that 
 no one knew of it, until the porter cried out, " Here is the king I" 
 The duke of Gloucester had already supped, for he was very tem- 
 perate in his diet, and never sat long at dir>ner or supper. He imme- 
 diately went out to meet the king in the court of the castle, and paid 
 him all the respect due to his sovereign, as did the duchess and h^r 
 children. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 N D , FRANCE, SPAIN, & c . 
 
 59; 
 
 The king entered the hall and the apartment, where the table was 
 again laid out for the king, who ate some httle ; but he had before 
 told the duke, " Good uncle, have your horses saddled, not all, but 
 five or six, for you must accompany me to London, as I am to have 
 a meeting to-morrow with the citizens ; and we shall surely meet 
 my uncles of Lancaster and York, but I shall advise with you what 
 answer to make to the Londoners' demands. Tell your housc-stcw. 
 ard to follow us with your servants to London, where they will find 
 you." The duke, suspecting nothing evil intended against him, too 
 easily consented ; and the king, having soon supped, rose from the 
 table. Everything hemg ready, the king took leave of the duchess 
 and her children, mounted his horse, and the duke did the same, 
 attended only by three squires and four varlets. They took their way 
 to Bondeiay, to avoid the high road to London and Brentwood, with 
 the other towns through which it passes. They rode hard, for the 
 king pretended impaiience to get to London, and conversed all the 
 way v/ith tho duke of Gloucester. On their arrival at Stratford, 
 near the Thames, where an ambuscade had been laid, the king gal- 
 loped forv/ard, leaving his uncle behind, on which the earl marshal 
 advanced to the rear of the duke, with a large body of men, and 
 said, " I arrest you in the king's name.'' The duke was panic- 
 struck, for he saw he had been betrayed, and cried aloud after the 
 king. I know not if the king heard him, but he did not turn back, 
 gallopi.'ig on faster than before, and followed by his attendants. 
 
 We will now leave this matter for a short time. 
 
 CHAPTER LXXXIX. 
 
 THE LORD HE COUCY AND THE COUNT D'eU, CONSTABLE OF FRANCE, 
 DIE IN TURKEY, BEFORE THE TREATY FOE. THEIR DELIVERANCE IS 
 ARRANGED. A RANSOM IS AGREED ON FOR THE OTHER PRISONERS WHO 
 WERE TAKEN AT THE BATTLE OF NICOPOLI. 
 
 You have before heard how sir John de Chatcaumorant and sir 
 Jnmes de Kelly were seat by the king of France and the duke of 
 Burgundy an embassadors to Bajnzct, isi Turkey, and of the success 
 of their mission. On their return to France they were well received 
 by the king, the uuke and duchess of Burgundy, from the certain 
 intelligence they hud br(.)ught from the count de Nevers and his 
 rellovv-prisoncr.--. These knights told the king they thought the sul- 
 tan would rondiiy listen to terms for their ransom, for they had been 
 so given to understand by some of his principal advisers, lest the 
 pnsoneio might die while in captivity, whicii was likely enough to 
 happen, from the difTerence of air and diet, and tliey would not in 
 that case aaytiiing by them. These v/ords encouraged the 
 
 duke an:: duchess uf Burgundy to cxtrt themselves in procuring the 
 rjuiTioiii oi taeir so;:i and hc^ir, ai'-d they were occr.piod day and night 
 in devising mean;-: to ope)-; negotiations with the suita.n. The duchess 
 said this battle o!' Ni^';jpj'ii :i;id been very iiofortiiuate to her, for she 
 haxi ioht by it thi-ec of her bvoihers, wh'> were ga'laut knights in 
 arms ; the first, the l)aze de Fh-indres, the fieeor)(-], sir L;.>uis dc Brezc, 
 and the third, sir .John d'Y|)nr.;; : there wa;i anotlior brother, tlie 
 youngest of them, Vviv) had rein.-iincd nl hovne. To r;ay the truth, 
 the duciiess had grief eaough, an 1 it v/.i,-j nut ourprising if she was 
 melancholy, but the duke a)id his adviaers calmed her by their 
 earnestnes3 in procuring her son's liberty : tliis was not, however, 
 soon done, for the distance and difficulty of treating with such peo- 
 ple forced them to go about the business leisurely. 
 
 About the time I am now speaking of, that gallant knight and ex- 
 cellent man the lord Enguerrand de Coucy, count de Soissons, and 
 a potent lord in France, died at Bursa in Turkey. Sir Robert d'Esne, 
 who had been sent to him by the lady de Coucy, had not advanced 
 farther than Vienna, on his journey thither, when he was informed 
 of his death. He returned with this news to France, and told it to 
 the family of the lord de Coucy, though not to the widow, before 
 whom he did not appear until the governor of th.e castle of Saint 
 Gobin was sent to seek the body, have it embalmed, and in-ought to 
 France. It was conveyed to the abbey of Nogent near to Coucy, 
 and received by the duchess of Bar, the bishop of Laon, and many 
 abbots: there tiie jjoatle knight was buried, and thus ended the year 
 of grace 1397. 
 
 The king of France and the duke of Burgundy were very active 
 in their endeavors to abridge the captivity of their friepids in Turkey, 
 and there pa<soii not a day without their having some conversation 
 on the subject. Sir Dinde de Desponde was of all their consultations, 
 and said the Ve.u-ti'in Geiioese merchants could alone assist them; 
 for by means of merchandise, which governs everything, and their 
 connections v.'ith other merchants, they could pass everywhere, and 
 leara th.e temper ui the infidel sultans. They had great weight, par- 
 ticularly in Cairo, Alexandria, Damascus, and Antioch, where they 
 had factories, and the Saracens and Christians mutually interchanged 
 thei! merchandises. The king and the duke, therefore, made as 
 many friends among these merchants as they could, and gave up all 
 intentions of making war on the duke of Milan from the friendship 
 they learnt Bajazet bore hi:n. the other hand, king James of 
 
 Cyprus knew well, that if he could any how soften the anger of the 
 sultan, and prevail on him to accept of reasonable terms fo. the ran- 
 som of the French lords, he should greatly oblige the king of France, 
 the duke of Burgundy, and the whole of the nation. To accomplish 
 
 this, the king of Cyprus had a ship made of gold, curiously wrough;. 
 that might be worth ten thousand ducats, which he .-ent by his knigiii.- 
 as a present to the sultan Bajazet. It was beautifully worked, and 
 was graciously accepted by the sultan, who replied, he would retur:j 
 him double Its value in courtesy and affection. This answer brougi I 
 back by the Cypriote knights, was instantly made known to the king 
 of France and the duke of Burgundy by some merchants, who wrote 
 to sir Dindo that he might inform them of it. King James was wise 
 in making this present: he dreaded the king of France, and all kings, 
 for having murdered in the night-time his valiant brother, king Peter, 
 who had fought so courageously against the Saracens, and had won 
 from them the towns of Satalia and Alexandria ; and they were 
 more afraid of him than of all the other kings or emperors in Chris- 
 tendom. 
 
 King James had sorely repented having committed this crime, or 
 being present when it was done ; and, not daring to continue in Cy- 
 prus, for the Christians would have put him to a disgraceful death, 
 could they have caught him, he embarked on board a galley belong- 
 ing to some Genoese merchants which was in the port of Nicosia, 
 where th.e murder had been done, and fled to Genoa. The Genoese 
 kindly entertained him, and some say that this villainous murder had 
 been instigated by them ; for, shortly after, they entered the harbor 
 of Famagousla with a large fleet of galleys and men-at-arms, which 
 they took possession of, and have held by force ever since. True it 
 is, that the late king of Cyprus had a very promising youth for his 
 son, whom he brought with him, in company with a knight who had 
 travelled through Lombardy to Rome, the last time he had crossed 
 the sea : this youth the Cypriotes crowned their king on the assassi- 
 nation of his father, but he lived not long to enjoy it. On his death, 
 the Genoese brought back James, whom they had crowned king, and 
 he has reigned ever since in Cyprus, through the support the Geno- 
 ese give him against all nations. They would never give up posses- 
 sion of the town or port of Famagousta, and are the masters of it at 
 this present moment of my writing these chronicles. Indeed, had 
 the Genoese not held it, the Turks and infidels would have con- 
 quered the whole of the island, as well as Rhodes and the other 
 adjacent islands ; but the Venetians and Genoese are their great 
 opponents. When the last saw that the kingdom of Armenia was 
 conquered by the Turks, they seized the town of Courch, that is sit- 
 uated on the sea-shore, which they have kept under their governance. 
 The Turks, were they not fearful of Courch and Pera, near Constanti- 
 nople, would do the greatest mischief to all who navigate those seas, 
 as well as to Rhodes and the neighboring islands. It is by these 
 means the frontiers of Christendom are def ended ; but let us return 
 to king James of Cyprus. When he found, from the base crime he 
 had been guilty of, he was fallen under the displeasure and hatred of 
 every crowned head, he exerted himself to the utmost to recover 
 their favor, and thought hiiT^:( if highly honored by the letter the king 
 of France had written to h.ii:*. He was afraid of him, and not with- 
 out reason, for the duke of i>^i : bon, uncle to the king of France, was, 
 by right of succession througa the Lusignans, the true heir to the 
 throne of Cyprus. This king .lames, althougli brother to the late 
 king, was not so by lawful marriage, but a b;;stard, as was well 
 known to the Genoese. When they gave him the crown they mu- 
 tually entered into special treaties with each other; and the Genoese 
 bound themselves to defend his and his descendants' rights to the 
 government against all claimants : in consideration of which, they had 
 many lordships and tracts of land yielded up to them in the island of 
 Cyprus. Everything they did in the defence of king James was tc 
 strengthen themselves against the Venetians, and to open greater 
 markets for their trade witii the Saracens, for, as factors, they have 
 many connections with them and others of their faith. King James, 
 through the Genoese, took great pains to please the king of France 
 and his subjects, and it was in consequence of this he had made Ba- 
 jazet so very rich a present, which was highly pleasing to the sultan 
 and his ministers, who valued it much. It was supposed by many, 
 that sir Dinde Desponde had urged on the Genoese in this matter, as 
 they were very warm in their endeavors to bring about a treaty for 
 the deliverance of the count de Nevers and the otlier prisoners. 
 
 The duke and duchess of Burgundy heard, v. ith infinite pleasure, 
 that the sultan began to tire of his prison(;rs, and would readily enter 
 into a treaty for their liberty. They selected a valiant knight from 
 the country of Flanders, called sir Guissebreth de Linrenghen, who 
 was regent of Flanders under the duke and duchess of Burgundy, to 
 go to Turkey and treat with Bajazet for the ransom of the French 
 lords. At the same time they sent for sir James de Helly, and en- 
 treated that he would accompany their embassador, because he was 
 well acquainted with the countries he was to travel through, and with 
 the court of the sultan, promising that his trouble and attention should 
 be handsomely remunerated. Sir James, having promised to fulH' 
 their commands, set out in company with the Flemish knight : <,i- 
 their arrival in Hungary, they waited on the king, to deliver the let. 
 ters which were intrusted to them. Tlie king received the letters 
 and knights with joy, in compliment to the king of France : he was 
 before acquainted with sir James dc Helly. They informed the king, 
 the object of their mission to Bajazet was to treat for the release of 
 his prisoners, if he were inclined to listen to them. The king of 
 Hungary replied, that it would be well done if they could obtain their 
 liberty for min^ey : and the attempt was worth trying, for nothing 
 
698 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &e. 
 
 could bo lost by that. He offered them every assistance in his power, 
 of moiicy or men, for which the knights thanked him. 
 
 They had many difficulties to encounter, before they could enter 
 into a personal treaty with Bajazet; for it was first necessary that sir 
 James de Hcliy should wait on the sultan to obtain a passport for sir 
 Guissebreth de Linrenghen to travel through Turkey, which having 
 been properly made out he returned with it to Hungary. They 
 journeyed to Turkey together ; and Bajazet received the regent of 
 Flanders with kindness, and listened to his proposals, which formed 
 the basis for a treaty. At this time there lived a Genoese merchant 
 called Bartholomeo Pelegrini, in the island of Scio, who was univer- 
 sally esteemed for his probity and knowledge in trade, even by Ba- 
 jazet himself : to him sir Dmde de Desponde had written to interest 
 himself in the business, that it might have a more speedy termination, 
 for they were well known to each other, and promised him a hand- 
 some recompense, if successful in obtaining the French lords' liberty, 
 from the duke and duchess of Burgundy, and other lords and ladies 
 who had friends or husbands in the power of Bajazet. He entreated 
 him to take upon himself the debt for their ransom, however large 
 the sum, and to conduct the French lords to Venice, or to some part 
 under the government of the Venetians ; and that the moment he 
 should be assured from him of their arrival thither, he would, without 
 delay, hasten to Venice in person, with the amount of the sum to 
 repay him what he had expended. The Genoese merchant complied 
 with the request of sir Dinde, as well from personal regard to him, 
 as for the profit and honor he should acquire by it, and for the esteem 
 he should gain from the king of France ; for, from such a king, it 
 was worth having. From the information I had, I am inclined to 
 believe that the king of Cyprus sent some of his ablest counsellors to 
 push forward the negotiations with the sultan, in compliance with 
 the solicitations of the king of France and the duke of Burgundy. 
 The lords de Mathelin and d' Amine, two great barons of Greece, and 
 much in favor with Bajazet, interfered also in the matter, according 
 to the requests that had been made them from France, otherwise 
 they would not have troubled themselves about it. 
 
 Turkey was an extensive country, and not convenient to travel 
 through, to those unaccustomed to it : Bajazet, therefore, as soon as 
 he had consented to a treaty, resolved that all the French prisoners 
 should be conveyed to Bursa, where the whole business should be 
 concluded. Those lords were brought thither, to the amount of 
 twenty.five ; but their conductors, the Turks, treated them scanda- 
 lously on the road, by beating them forward, for they had purposely 
 badly mounted them, and their horses would only go at a foot's pace : 
 for this they were beaten by the Turks, who heard, very unwillingly, 
 that they were to have their liberty. On their arrival at Bursa, where 
 the negotiators from the king of France, the duke of Burgundy, the 
 king of Cyprus, the Venetians and Genoese were waiting to receive 
 ';hem, they had more liberty than when in the prisons of the sultan : 
 but, notwithstanding it was known they were to be ransomed, they 
 were so closely guarded that they could not obtain a fourth part of 
 '.heir wishes. Among the different persons who were at Bursa on 
 iccount of the treaty, Bajazet inclined more to sir Guissebreth de 
 Linrenghen, for sir James de Helly had told him he was regent of 
 Flanders and the most confidential counsellor of the duke of Bur- 
 gundy. The sultan resided in a handsome castle near Bursa, and 
 where the negotiators went to discuss matters with him : the ransom 
 for the twenty-five prisoners was fixed at two hundred thousand 
 ducats. The lords de Mathelin and d'Amine, with the Genoese 
 merchant of Scio, pledged themselves to the sultan for the due pay- 
 ment of it. The count de Nevers gave his oath to the merchant, for 
 himself and the rest, that on his arrival at Venice, he would never 
 depart thence until the whole of this sum were paid to his satisfac- 
 tion. Before the treaties were concluded, the count d'Eu was so 
 much weakened by sickness, change of air, and diet he had not been 
 accustomed to, that he departed this life at Haut-loge, where he had 
 been confined with the other lords, who were much afflicted thereat, 
 though they could not any way prevent it. The lord Philip d'Artois, 
 count d'Eu and constable of France, was, when dead, opened and 
 embalmed, and in this state put into a coffin and carried to France, 
 where he lies buried in the church of Saint Laurence at Eu. 
 
 When the sultan Bajazet was completely satisfied as to the secu- 
 rity of those who had pledged themselves for the payment of the two 
 hundred thousand ducats as the ransom for the French lords, the two 
 embassadors from the duke of Burgundy were impatient to return to 
 France, and carry the joyful news of their success to the king and 
 other lords so greatly interested in it. They took leave of Bajazet 
 and those of his court they were the most intimate with ; and, as 
 the regent of Flanders was in his favor, the gallant sultan ordered, 
 that twenty thousand ducats should be deducted from the two hun- 
 dred thousand he was to receive, and given to the two knights, in 
 consideration of the great pains they had taken to accomplish these 
 treaties. The two knights gratefully thanked the sultan, as they had 
 reason, for his magnificent gift, and, after taking leave of the Turkish 
 court and the French lords, return-cd to Bursa. They there left the 
 count de Nevers and his companion?, waiting the lords de Mathelin* 
 and d'Amine, who were to come for them in their galley, and em- 
 barked on board a small passage-galley for Mathelin. On quitting 
 
 * D Sauvago eupposes, in a marginal note, this muit be the lord of the island of 
 Miteiino. but confesses his ignorance of the other. 
 
 the harbor, the sea was calm and the weather temperate ; but they 
 had not advanced far before it changed, and at length became so 
 tempestuous that sir Guissebreth, sorely tormented by sea-sicknese, 
 died before they could reach Mathelin. Sir James Helly was much 
 grieved for his loss, and, engaging a Venetian galley, sailed to Rhodes. 
 He published everywhere the deliverance and speedy arrival of the 
 count de Nevers and his companions, to the great joy of the knights 
 of Rhodes. On his arrival in France, he made the king, the duke 
 and duchess of Burgundy, and the nation, happy by the good news 
 he had brought. Sir James spoke loudly in the praise of his com- 
 panion, sir Guissebreth, and of the great pains he took to conclude 
 the treaty. 
 
 The sultan Bajazet, having had everything respecting the ransom 
 of his French prisoners settled to his satisfaction, resolved on allow- 
 ing them more liberty, for indeed they were now no longer prisoners, 
 and invited them to his presence before the departure of the embas- 
 sadors, to show them the magnificence of his establishments. They 
 were said to be very grand indeed; and immense numbers were 
 daily attendant on his person. He sent some of his principal lords 
 to invite the count de Nevers and his companions to the castle, 
 where he received and entertained them handsomely : he ordered all 
 things they might want to be delivered out to them by his officers, 
 as was the usual custom of his court. The sultan conversed daily 
 with the count de Nevers, by means of an interpreter, and paid him 
 much respect, for he knew that he was, or would be, a very great lord 
 in France, by the great exertions that were made, and the large sum 
 paid for his ransom, which was enough to satisfy his avarice, having 
 securities for the amount of one million of florins. The other French 
 lords were equally astonished vs^ith the count de Nevers at the power 
 and state of Bajazet. He was attended by such numbers, that they 
 were always encamped, for no town could lodge them ; and the 
 expense must have been very great to supply so many with food. 
 It was surprising where such quantities came from, notwithstanding 
 the natives of warm climates are very temperate in their diet, eating 
 but little meat, living on spices and sugar, of which they have abun- 
 dance, as well as goats' milk, the common beverage of the Turks 
 and Saracens, and they have plenty of bread made of millet. 
 
 The sultan had at this time seven thousand falconers, and as many 
 huntsmen : you may suppose from this the grandeur of his establish, 
 ments. One day, in the presence of the count de Nevers, he flew a 
 falcon at some eagles ; the flight did not please him ; and he was 
 so wroth, that, for this fault, he was on the point of beheading two 
 thousand of his falconers, scolding them exceedingly for want of 
 diligence in their care of his hawks, when the one he was fond of 
 had behaved so ill. Another time, when the count de Nevers and 
 the French barons were with the sultan, a poor woman come to him 
 in tears, to demand justice against one of his servants, and said . 
 "Sultan, I address myself to thee, as my sovereign, and complain of 
 one of thy servants, who is, .1 understand, attached to thy person. 
 He this morning entered my house, and seized by force the goat 
 milk I had provided for myself and children, and drank it against 
 my will. I told him that I should complain to thee of this outrage, 
 but I had no sooner uttefed the words, than he gave me two great 
 cuffs, and would not leave me, though I ordered him in thy name. 
 Sultan, do me justice, as thou hast sworn to thy people thou 
 wouldest, that I may be satisfied, this injury be punished, and that 
 every one may know thou wilt see the meanest of thy subjects 
 righted." 
 
 The sultan was very rigidly determined that all crimes committed 
 within his dominions should be severely punished: he therefore lis- 
 tened to her attentively, and said he would do her justice. He then 
 ordered the varlet to be brought, and confronted with the woman, 
 who repeated her complaint. The varlet, who dreaded Bajazet, 
 began to make excuses, saying it was all false. The woman told a 
 plain tale, and persisted in its truth. The sultan stopped her, and 
 said, "Woman, consider well thy accusation; for, if I find thou 
 hast told me a lie, thou shalt suffer death." " Sir," replied the 
 woman, " I consent to it; for were it not true, I could have no rea- 
 son to come before thee, and I only ask for justice." " I will do it," 
 answered the sultan, "for I have so sworn, and indiscriminately to 
 every man or woman within my dominions." He then ordered the 
 varlet to be seized, and to have his belly opened, for otherwise he 
 would not have known if he had drank the milk or not. It was there 
 found, for it had not had time to be digested ; and nie sultan, on 
 seeing it, said to the woman, " Thou hadst just cause of complaint: 
 now go thy way, for the injury done thee has been punished." She 
 was likewise paid for her loss. This judgment of Bajazet was wit- 
 nessed by the French lords, who were at the time in his company. 
 
 CHAPTER XC. 
 
 THE FRENCH LORDS WHO HAD BEEN PRISONERS IN TURKEY RETURN 
 
 BY SEA TO VENICE. 
 
 When the count de Nevers and the lords of France who were 
 made prisoners fit the battle of Nicopoli (excepting the count d'Eu 
 and the lord de Coucy, who had died) had been some time enter- 
 tained by the sultan, and had seen great part of his state, he con. 
 sented they should depart, which was told them by those who had 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 599 
 
 been ordered to attend to their personal wants. The count and his 
 companions waited on the sultan in consequence, to thank him for 
 his kindness and courtesy. On taking his leave, the sultan addressed 
 him, by means of an interpreter, as follows : " John, I am well in- 
 formed that in thy country thou art a g^reat lord, and son to a power- 
 ful prince. Thou art young, and hast many years to look forward ; 
 and, as thou mayest be blamed for the ill success of thy first attempt 
 in arms, thou mayest perchance, to shake off this imputation and 
 regain thine honor, collect a powerful army to lead against me, and 
 ofier battle. If I feared thee, I would make the swear, and likewise 
 thy companions, on thy faith and honor, that neither thou nor they 
 would ever bear arra-s against me. But no : I will not demand such 
 an oath : on the contrary, I shall be glad that when thou art returned 
 to thy country, it please thee to assemble an army, and lead it hither. 
 Thou wilt always find me prepared, and ready to meet thee in the 
 field of battle. What I now say, do thou repeat to any person, to 
 whom it may please thee to repeat it ; for I am ever ready for, and 
 desirous of, deeds of arms ; as well as to extend my conquests." 
 
 These high words the count de Nevers and his companions under, 
 stood well, and never forgot them so long as they lived. After this, 
 when all things for their departure were ready, they were conducted 
 by All bashaw and Soli bashaw, with a large escort, to the Idl'ds de 
 Mathelin and d'Amine, and the others who had interested themselves 
 for their liberty. Before they embarked on board the galleys des- 
 tined to carry them, they paid every expense they had incurred at 
 Bursa, or at other places, with so much punctuality that they were 
 greatly praised. As they weighed anchor, their conductors returned 
 to the sultan ; and the galleys, having a favorable wind, soon arrived 
 at the harbor, where the count and his friends were received with 
 joy. The lady of the lord de Mathelin was of a certain age, but 
 perfectly well bred, and as fully accomplished as any lady in Greece, 
 for in her youth she had been brought up at the court of Constanti- 
 nople with the lady Mary of Bourbon. She had from her learnt 
 many things, for the lords and ladies of France are better educated 
 than those in any other country. T'his lady thought herself highly 
 honored when she saw the count de Nevers, sir Henry de Bar, Guy 
 de la Tremouille, and the other lords under her roof, and welcomed 
 them with every sign of pleasure. She first clothed them with fine 
 new linen and cloth of Damascus made into gowns and vestments, 
 according to the taste in Greece. After she had dressed the masters, 
 she did the same to their servants in the handsomest manner, each 
 according to his rank. The lords were very thankful for her kind- 
 ness, and publicly declared their gratitude for her generous conduct, 
 as well as that of the lords de Mathelin and d'Amine, who honored 
 them by every mark of respect, and administered to their necessities. 
 
 News was soon carried to the island of Rhodes, that the sultan 
 had accepted a ransom for the French lords, and that they were now 
 at Mathelin. The intelligence gave much pleasure to the grand- 
 master and to all his knights, who proposed to equip and arm two 
 galleys, and send them to Mathelin to convey the count and his 
 fellow.prisoners to Rhodes. This was executed ; and, when ready, 
 sir James de Brasemont,* a Burgundian, who was marshal of Rhodes, 
 embarked on board, and had a favorable voyage to Mathelin, where 
 he was made heartily welcome by the lord de Mathelin, his lady, 
 anrl their guests. He remained there four days : on the fifth, the 
 g -' vS havmg on board the purveyances of the French lords, the 
 c 'Hid his companions took leave of the lord and lady de Mathe- 
 li raing them their best thanks for all the kindness and friend- 
 
 •y had received, especially the count de Nevers, Vv'ho, as the 
 p;. .|jai personage, said he was bound at all times hereafter to ren. 
 der them every service in his power. After many compliments on 
 both sides, the French lords entered the galleys, and, as long as they 
 were in sight, the lord de Mathelin remained on the shore, and after 
 that went home. The galleys, having a favorable wind, arrived at 
 Rhodes, and anchored in the haven, where vessels from Cyprus, 
 Baruth, and other ports in the Levant, usually do. On their land- 
 ing, they were received by many of the knights of Rhodes, who 
 wear a white cross, in memory of the cross of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, who suffered to deliver others from the pains of hell. They 
 are valiant knights, and give daily assaults by sea or land on the infi. 
 dels, to support and defend the Christian faith. 
 
 The count de Nevers and the lords of France were received by the 
 grand prior of Rhodes and the grand prior of Aquitaine, in their 
 robes of ceremony, who offered to lend them any sum of money, as 
 far as their abilities extended, to enable them to discharge their 
 daily expenses, which the count and his friends thought a most cour- 
 teous offer, and thanked them accordingly. In truth, they were in 
 want of money, and the grand prior of Aquitaine, a right valiant 
 knight, as his actions showed in the Holy Land, lent the count de 
 Nevers thirty thousand francs, which were counted out by sir Reg- 
 nier Pot, house-steward to the count, and the lord de Rochefort in 
 Burgundy. I believe this sum was as much for his companions as 
 for the count himself, and was divided among them, although the 
 count de Nevecs took on himself the whole debt. The French lords 
 remained some time in the island of Rhodes, to recover and properly 
 array themselves, for the climate was by far more temperate than in 
 the countries where they had lately resided : during the time they 
 
 ♦ "Sir James de Brasemont." The MSS. have de BaufFremont, which 1 should 
 wcfer 
 
 tarried at Rhodes, waiting for the galleys from Venice,, sir Guy de 1? 
 Tremouille was seized with so dangerou;:! an illnes::-^, that he ther' 
 departed this life. He ordered his body to be buried on the spc; 
 where he died, and was, consequently, interred in the church t i 
 Saint John, in the island of Rhodes. His funeral was honorably 
 attended by the French lords, who much regretted his loss, more 
 especially the. count de Nevers, who knev/ that his father, the diiko 
 of Burgundy, would be greatly affected by it, as he had always found 
 him a wise and honest counsellor. 
 
 The galleys from Venice at length arrived, properly armed and 
 equipped, to the great joy of the French lords. They v^ere not long 
 in making their preparations to depart, and took leave of the knights 
 of Rhodes, v/ho recommended their order to them, and to all devout 
 souls who would be willing to assist it. The count de Nevers, the 
 lords Henry de Bar, de Boucicaut, sir William de la Tremouille, the 
 lord de Rochefort, sir Regnier Pot, and the rest, embarked on board 
 the Venetian galleys, the captains of which resolved to touch at the 
 different islands, that their passengers might sail more at their ease, 
 and refresh themselves on shore, and show the couiit de Nevers the 
 various islands which lay between Rhodes and Venice. They 
 steered first for Modon,* which is five hundred miles from Rhodes, 
 and tarried there some days, to amuse themselves, for the port and 
 country belonged to the Venetians. From Modon they had a fine 
 passage to Colefo,t as the sea was calm, v»'here they refreshed them- 
 selves ; and from Colcfo they made for the island of Garre,t where 
 they did the same : thence they sailed for the island of Chifolignie 
 and, having anchored, they landed, and were met by a large party 
 of ladies and damsels, who have the government of the island. 
 They received the French lords with joy, and led them to the inte- 
 rior part of the island, which is very beautiful, to amuse and enjoy 
 themselves. Some say, who pretend to be acquainted with the state 
 of this island, and insist upon it, that fairies and nymphs inhabit it, 
 and that frequently merchants from Venice or Genoa, who have 
 been forced by stress of weather to make some stay there, liave 
 seen the appearances of thern, and have had the truth of these 
 reports confirmed. 
 
 The count de Nevers and his friends vv'ere very happy with the 
 dames of Cephalonia, for they entertained them gayly, telling them 
 their arrival had been matter of joy to them, from tlieir being knights 
 of honor and renown, for in general they had no other visitors but 
 merchants. I may be asked, if this island be solely inhabited by 
 women. I answer no ; but women have the sovereignty of it : they, 
 however, employ themselves in needle and other works ; and make 
 such fine cloths of silk, that none others can be compared to them. 
 The men of the island, being ignorant, are employed to carry abroad 
 these works, wherever they shall think to have the greatest profit, 
 but the women remain at home. The men honor the fair sex for 
 their works, and because they have always a sufiiciency of wealth. 
 The state of the island is such, that no one dare approach it, to com- 
 mit any injury, for whoever should attempt it would perish, as has 
 been frequently seen. For this cause, these ladies live in peace, 
 without fear of any one: they are amiable, good-tempered, and 
 without pride, and certainly, when they please, co;-iverse with fairies, 
 and keep them company. 
 
 After the count de Nevers and his companions had amused them- 
 selves at this island for five days, they took leave of the ladies : the 
 count made them such handsome presents, for their courteous treat- 
 ment of them, that they were contented, and thanked him gratefully 
 on his departure. V/hen the lords were embarked, they put to sea, 
 and favorable winds carried them to a territory cr.lled Ragusa, when 
 they refreshed themselves again, and thence made for Clarence, || 
 which is one hundred miles distant from Venice. While the galleys 
 were at anchor, and the lords in the town of Clarence, which belongs 
 to the Venetians, they were known by a squire of honor and renown, 
 from Hainault, called Bridoul de la Porte. He was a native of 
 Mens, and had made, at his own expense, a pilgrimage, through de- 
 votion, to the Holy Sepulchre at J,erusalem, and had visited Cairo 
 and St. Catherine's Mount. The French lords had come to Clarence 
 two days before him, and gave him a welcome r eception, on hearing 
 he was so good a man, and a native of Hainault, the country of the 
 countess of Nevers, who was daughter to the earl of Hainault, and 
 because they were all in countries distant froiu their own. They 
 asked him what parts he was last come from, and also concerning 
 the affairs of king James of Cyprus, and respecting Turkey. He 
 made no difliculty, but instantly gave prudent and intelligent an- 
 swers. The barons of France, having reposed themselves, reem- 
 barked, and made sail for Pareuse.H All large vessels and galleys 
 which cannot, from want of water, land their cargoes at Venice, put 
 into this port, for here the sea becomes shallow. The French knight^ 
 made no long stay before they embarked in smaller vessels i.nd ar- 
 rived at Venice, where they were received with great joy. On theii 
 landing, they all returned thanks to God for their happy deliverance 
 from the hands of the infidels, of which at one time they had 
 despaired. The count de Nevers and his companions went to the 
 
 * " Modon," a town and port in the Morea. 
 
 t " Colefo." 1 sliould have imagined this to be Corfu, if Cephalonia were BOt seem- 
 ingly intended afterwards. 
 J"Garre." Q,. Zante. § " Chifolignie." Q, Cephalon**. 
 
 II " Clarence," or Chiarenza, is in the Morea, opposite to Cephalonia. 
 % " Pareuie." U. Pt^renjo. a town Q« the cQost of Istria, poftrJy oppofita Vf aiet. 
 
GOO 
 
 liRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 holelfi which had been prepared for them ; for, as their coming was 
 known and expected for some time, their friends had sent servants 
 and equipages to wait their arrival. The count found part of his 
 attendants, whom the duke and duchess of Burgundy had sent thither, 
 ready to receive him. Sir Dinde de Desponde had also been at 
 Venice some time waiting for them with the amount of their ransom, 
 for without his assistance, nothing could be done. 
 
 The French lords, on their arrival at Venice, instantly employed 
 cltsrks and messengers to write and carry letters to France and else- 
 where, to inform their friends of their happy deliverance. This was 
 ve-ry soon publicly known, to the joy of all who heard it. The duke 
 and duchess of Burgundy lost no time in preparing everything suita- 
 ble to the rank of their son the count de Nevers, such as gold and 
 silver plate, linen, tapestry, clothes of all sorts, which were packed 
 up on sumpter-horses, and sent to Venice under the care of the lord 
 de Hangiers* and sir James de Helly. In like manner did all the 
 friends and relatives of the other lords send them every necessary 
 suitable to their ranks. You may suppose all this was done at a 
 great expense, for nothing was spared : their residence at Venice 
 cost much, as it is one of the dearest towns in the world for stran- 
 gers. It was proper these lords should keep up a state becoming 
 their rank, which fell naturally most heavy on the count de Nevers, 
 their commander-in-chief. 
 
 The duke and duchess of Burgundy were very active in procuring 
 his ransom, that their son and heir might leave Venice with honor, 
 and return to France and Flanders, where his presence was much 
 wished for. The duke said, that were it not for the aid of his good 
 subjects in Burgundy, Artois, and Flanders, the money would never 
 have been raised, for their own and their son's other expenses were 
 very great. 
 
 The different negotiations and embassies had called for large 
 sums, and, though the ransom was but two hundred thousand florins 
 lo Bajazet, yet the other costs and expenses amounted to as much 
 more, as was declared by those through whose hands the money 
 passed ; and without this sum their liberty would never have been 
 obtained. It v/as matter of much consideration how this money 
 was to be raised ; for neither the duke nor duchess were inclined to 
 abate anything of their state, which was very magnificent. It was 
 resolved by his council to lay a tax on all the towns under his obe- 
 dience, more especially those of Flanders ; for they abounded in 
 wealth, from their commerce, and therefore the greater load was laid 
 on them, that the count de Nevers might be at liberty to quit Venice. 
 When the matter was mentioned to the townsmen of Ghent, they 
 readily declared their willingness to present their young lord fifty 
 thousand florins to aid him in his ransom. Bruges, Mechlin, Ant- 
 werp, Ypres, Courtray, and the other towns in Flanders, expressed 
 their readiness to assist in the ransom of the count de Nevers. The 
 duke and duchess of Burgundy were well pleased at these answers, 
 and returned their warm acknowledgments to the magistrates of the 
 different towns in Flanders, and to those of Artois and Burgundy, 
 who had testified equally good inclinations. 
 
 The king of France was also very desirous of aiding the French 
 lords in their ransom, although he had already been at a heavy ex- 
 pense in sending his embassadors to Hungary and Turkey. These 
 charges, however, he did not regret, since his cousins were now safe 
 at Venice, and with them his own knight the lord de Boucicaut. 
 The count de Nevers and his companions were still at Venice, for it 
 was not his intention to depart thence until the discharge of the 
 ransom should be completed. The merchants of Scio and the two 
 Grecian lords had pledged themselves to the sultan for the payment, 
 and such an immense sum was not readily raised. Sir Dinde de 
 Desponde took great pains to accomplish the business from his re- 
 gard to the king of France and the duke of Burgundy, who had sent 
 him to Venice for the purpose, and he was more subtle and conver- 
 eant in such business than any other person whatever. 
 
 While others were diligently dispatching the business of their 
 ransom, the lords spent their tirne most joyously at Venice ; but, 
 about this period, an infectious' disorder afflicted that town and 
 neighborhood, which began in the month of August, and never ceased 
 until Saint Andrew's day. Great numbers fell victims to it, and 
 among the rest (the more the pity!) the lord Henry de Bar, eldest 
 eon to the duke of Bar, and, in right of hi-s wife, heir to all the estates 
 of the late lord de Coucy, excepting the dower of hie widow. Thus 
 were the two ladies de Coucy made widows in one year, which was 
 a great misfortune. The body of the lord Henry was embalmed and 
 brought to France, and I believe buried at Paris, for his obsequies 
 were there performed with much solemnity. On account of this 
 epidemical distemper, and to avoid its danger, the count de Nevers 
 left Venice, and fixed his residence at Treviso, where he and the 
 other French lords remained, with their households, for upward of 
 four months without stirring from it. During their stay at Treviso, 
 the king of Hungary was informed by the knights of Rhodes, of their 
 having made peace with Bajazet, and obtained their liberty by pay- 
 ment of two hundred thousand francs. He, in consequence, sent 
 letters by a bishop and some of his knights to the count de Nevers, 
 to mark his affection to him, with others to those who had the gov- 
 ernment of Venice. The bishop and knights were ordered by the 
 
 * '* The lord de Hangiers." D. Sauvage supposes it ought to have been de H&ngest, 
 for a family of that name existed in his time in Picardy. 
 
 king to address the count as follows, and of which they handsomely 
 acquitted themselves : 
 
 "My lord, we are sent hither by our much-redoubted lord, and your 
 cousin, the king of Hungary, who salutes you by ua. Here are let- 
 ters written by him to congratulate you on your deliverance from the 
 sultan Bajazet, his enemy. He is sincerely rejoiced at your and your 
 companions' escape, for, without the means you have pursued, it 
 would never have been eflfected. Dear sir, our lord is well assured 
 that your treaties with the sultan must have cost you immense sums 
 of money, and, with the losses you all suflTered at the disastrous bat- 
 tle of Nicopoli, will have made it difficult to you to procure a suffi- 
 ciency for your ransom. Our sovereign, therefore, dear sir, orders 
 us to make you his excuses for not offering you, on this occasion, his 
 assistance : if it were in his power, he would most cheerfully do it, 
 for he conceives and declares he is bound to aid you, from his con- 
 nection with you by blood and other causes ; were it not that he and 
 his subjects have had such losses by the late defeat, that you, who 
 are a person of great understanding, will readily befieve, and know 
 the impossibility of his giving any aid at chis present moment. The 
 revenues of Hungary are ruined for this and the ensuing year, but 
 whenever they are recovered, and the usual payments made, that he 
 may be enabled to show his offers are not mere empty words, he will 
 assuredly come handsomely forward to your service. That you may 
 believe our most redoubted sovereign and your cousin is in earnest, 
 we must acquaint you that he has ordered us to offer for sale to the 
 rulers of Venice, the rents he receives from this town, which amount 
 to seven thousand ducats yearly ; and that whatever these may pro- 
 duce you are to dispose of as if it were your own ; and for which 
 we will sign receipts to the Venetians, having full authority to do so." 
 
 The speech of the embassadors from the king of Hungary was 
 very agreeable to the French lords. They answered by the lord de 
 Rochefort, who, in the name of all, said " that they were very sensi- 
 ble of this mark of kindness from the king of Hungary, who, to oblige 
 his cousin the count de Nevers, offered to sell his inheritance to aid 
 them ; that this was not an offer to be refused, nor the friendship and 
 courtesy forgotten ; that the count desired to have a little time to con- 
 sider of his answer to the king." This was agreed to ; and, within a 
 few days, the embassadors were told by the count de Nevers, that " it 
 would be very unbecoming him to pledge or sell the inheritance of 
 another ; but that, if it were agreeable to them who had such pow- 
 ers, to prevail on the Venetians to advance, on the security of 
 these renfs, a sufficient sum for the count de Nevers' daily expenses, 
 and to enable him to acquit himself of the thirty thousand florins the 
 grand prior of Aquitaine had lent him with so much generosity in 
 the island of Rhodes, he should consider it as a great favor, and 
 most kindly thank the king of Hungary and his council for so doing." 
 
 The embassadors cheerfully promised to make the proposal to the 
 Venetians. When the Venetians heard it, they coldly replied they 
 would deliberately consider of the matter, and demanded fifteen 
 days to weigh their determination. When these were expired, they 
 answered, (as I was told by one who heard it,) " That if the king 
 of Hungary were disposed to sell his whole kingdom, the Venetiant^ 
 would willingly make the purchase, and pay the money down ; but 
 as for such a trifle as seven thousand ducats of yearly revenue which 
 he possessed in the city of Venice, it was of so little value that they 
 could not set a price on it either to buy or sell, and they would not 
 trouble themselves about so small an object." 
 
 Such was the answer made by the Venetians to the embassadors 
 of the king of Hungary. Some said, this reply was mere dissimu- 
 lation, and that, though the Hungarians had made the offer to the 
 count, they, in an underhand way, caused this answer to be given. 
 Things, therefore, remained in the state they were in before, and the 
 embassadors took leave of the count de Nevers and those of his 
 countrymen then with him, who were, sir Regnier Pot, the lord de 
 Rochefort, and sir William de la Tremouille. They left Venice, 
 and returned to Hungary ; but the French lords continued at Tre- 
 viso on account of the great mortality that reigned in Venice. 
 
 CHAPTER XCI. 
 
 THE LORD LOUJS DE SANCERRE IS MADE CONSTABLE OF FRANCE IN THE 
 R-OOM OF THE COUNT B'eU, WHO HAD DIED IN TURKEY. BOUCICAUT, 
 DURING HIS ABSENCE WITH THE COUNT DE NEVERS, IS APPOINTED MAR- 
 SHAL OF FRANCE IN THE PLACE OF THE LORD LOUIS DE SANCERRE. THE 
 FRENCH LORDS WHO HAD BEEN PRISONERS IN TURKEY RETURN TC 
 FRANCE. 
 
 You have heard that the count d'Eu, constable of France, died in 
 his bed at Bursa in Turkey, to the great regret of all his friends, 
 more especially the king of France, who much loved him. The con- 
 stableship became vacant by his death, and that office is of such 
 weight that it must not long remain so. Councils were therefore 
 held to appoint his successor, and the wiser among them nominated 
 the lord Louis de Sancerre, in which they were confirmed by the 
 majority in the kingdom. He had been a very long time marshal 
 of France, and was so at the time of his election, residing in Lan. 
 guedoc. Being sent for by the king to Paris, he was invested with 
 the office of constable, and by this vacated the charge of marshal; 
 on which the king said, that he had already thought of a succesisor, 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAiSD, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 601 
 
 for that no one should have it but his knight the lord boucicaut. All 
 the lords agreed to the propriety of this choice, for indeed he was 
 deserving of it, and when appointed was at Venice. He returned 
 honie shmtly after this, for the ransoms were paid, and the wnole of 
 those who had been prisoners in Turkey came back to t rance, to 
 the irreat joy of their friends and countrymen. The lord Boucicaut 
 was made mai hal of France ; and the count de Nevers waited on 
 the duke and di chess of Burgundy, and was well feasted by them 
 and others, for iie was returned from a long and dangerous expedi- 
 tion, wherein he and his companions had suffered inany penis, but 
 through the grace of God, they had escaped, and were returned 
 home! The count was seen with much pleasure by all in Flanders, 
 Artois, and Burgundy, and other dependencies of his father, as he 
 was their heir-apparent. After iie had remained some time with the 
 duke and duchess, and had visi^ .d the countries under their obedi 
 e.nce, he determined to wait on tae king of France and the duke of 
 Orleans, both of whom received him honorably and kind y. He 
 was made welcome by all the lords and ladies of the court. Ihe 
 kin- and the duke of Orleans were very glad to see him again, and 
 eagerly listened to his relation of what he had suffered. They in- 
 quired news of Turkey, of the battle of Nicopoh, of the adventures 
 he had met with, how he was made prisoner, and of the state ot 
 
 Bajazet. . , n i 
 
 The count satisfied them by his answers, for he was well spoken, 
 and made no complaints, at least by speech, of the sultan, but said 
 he h-id found him courteous and affable, even to those attached to 
 his person ; that he was very well treated ; and he did not forget to 
 tell the lords to whom he was speaking, that Bajazet, on his taking 
 ieavn, to quit Turkey, had sdid, that he was born to bear arms, and 
 make conquest 5 in this world every year to a greater extent, and 
 that he wished not to prevent his prisoners from again talcing up 
 arms ac^ainst hii:!, for he would with pleasure meet them in battle 
 two, three, or four times if necessary ; and that it was his intention 
 to march to Rome, and feed his horse on the altar of Saint 1 eter. 
 The count added, that the sultan thought our faith erroneous, and 
 corrupted by those who ought to have kept its purity ; and the 1 urks 
 laughed and made their jokes at it. Many Saracens declare that 
 Christianity, from the above cause, will be destroyed, and that the 
 time is now come for its ruin ; and that Bajazet was born to accom- 
 plish this, and be king over all the world. " Such was the language 
 the interpreter translated to me ; and, from what I saw and heard, i 
 believe they are perfectly well acquainted in Turkey, Tartary, Fer- 
 sia, and throughout the whole of the infidels' country, with our 
 schisms in the church, and how the Christians are at difference, one 
 with another, respecting the two popes of France and Italy ; and the 
 Sara9ens are wonderfully surprised how the kings of the ditterent 
 rountries suffer it." '*? j 1 j r 
 
 This speech of the count de Nevers gave the king and lords ot 
 France enough to think on. Some said the Saracens were in the 
 u^ht to make their jokes and laugh, for priests were allowed to med- 
 dle too much in affairs that did not concern them; that it was 
 time to lov/er their pomp, or force them to do it of themselves. The 
 young clergy, who were studying the Scriptures at the university of 
 Paris! could not obtain any benefices from this schism in the church, 
 snd were n Jt displeased that the people murmured against the popes. 
 They rejoiced at what the count de Nevers had related, and that the 
 Turks and Saracens made derision of our faith. " In good truth,'' 
 they added, " they are in the right to laugh at it, and, if the king of 
 France and the emperor of Germany do not speedily attend to this 
 schism, we foresee that church-affairs will daily become worse. All 
 things considered, those who have been neuter between the two 
 popes have acted wisely, and thus it behooves every one who wishes 
 Tor union in the church." 
 
 It was secretly told the king, by those who loved him and were 
 desirous he should regain his health, that it was the common opin- 
 ion throughout France he would never be perfectly recovered until 
 the church were properly regulated. They added, that his father, 
 .ting Charles of happy memory, had, on his death-bed, charged his 
 <'0uncil with this matter ; that he suspected he had been deceived 
 by these popes, and had made his determination too soon, for which 
 he felt his conscience was loaded. He excused himself, saying. 
 When our lord and father died, we were very young. We have 
 followed the counsel of those who have hitherto governed, and if 
 we have acted wrong or foolishly, it has been their fault, and not 
 ours ; but since we have had fuller information, we will soon attend to 
 the business, and in such a manner that the effect shall be apparent." 
 The king of France paid more attention to this matter than he had 
 ever done before, and promised himself and his council that he 
 would provide a remedy. He spoke of it to his brother, the duke 
 of Orleans, who inclined instandy to his opinion, as did the duke of 
 Burgundy, for, notwithstanding he had acknowledged the pope, who 
 styled himself Clement, he had no great faith in him : the prelates 
 of France, particularly Guy de Roye, archbishop of Rheims, the 
 archbishops of Sens, of Rouen, and the bishop of Autun, had in- 
 duced him to acknowledge Clement. 
 
 It was determined in a private council, that, if a union of the church 
 were sought for, it was necessary to have the assent of Germany. 
 Learned men were therefore sent as embassadors to the king of Bo- 
 hemia and Germany, who styled himself king of the Romans. Mas. 
 
 ter Phihp des Playes was one of these embassadors, who had instruc- 
 tions to prevail on the king -of Germany to meet the king of France 
 in the city of Rheims; and that no prelates, cardinals, archbishops, 
 or bishops, might any way interrupt this meeting, or interfere with 
 the object, it was published that the cause for the two monarchs, with 
 their councils, coming to Rheims, was to treat of a marriage between 
 a son of the marquis of Brandenburgh, brother to the emperor, and 
 a daughter of the duke of Orleans, and under cover of this they could 
 treat of other matters. 
 
 During the time these negotiations were going forward, the lord 
 Guy de Chatillon, count de Blois, departed this life in his hotel at 
 Avesnes, in Hainault. He was carried to Valenciennes and buried 
 in the church of the Franciscans, in a chapel called the Chapel of 
 Artois. True it is, that he Jnad made a large inclosure for the Fran- 
 ciscans, and intended erecting his tomb within it ; but he died so 
 much in debt, that his countess, the lady Mary of Namur, was obliged 
 to renounce all claim to his movables. She dared not act under his 
 will, but retired to her dowry of the lands of Chimay and Beaumont, 
 and the estates went to their right heirs. The duke of Orleans had 
 the county of Blois, for which, during the late count's life, he had 
 paid him two hundred thousand crowns of France. The lands in 
 Hainault, Holland, and Zealand, went to duke Albert of Bavaria : 
 those of Avesnes, Landrecies, and Louvion in Tierache, fell to John 
 of Blois, more commonly called John of Brittany, to whom, if count 
 Guy had not sold it, the county of Blois would have devolved as to 
 its right heir. Observe what mischief a lord may do his heir by lis- 
 tening to bad advice.* [I make mention of it because the count 
 Guy de Blois was very anxious, during his life, that I, sir John Frois 
 sart, should indite this history ; and he was at great expenses to 
 forward it, for so considerable air undertaking cannot be accom- 
 plished without heavy charges. May God receive his soul I He 
 was my lord and patron, of high honor and great renown, and had 
 no need to make the pitiful bargains he did in the sale of his estates ; 
 but he too readily believed those who advised him to dishonorable 
 and profitless acts. The lord de Coucy, v/ho died at Bursa, was very 
 culpable in this business.] We will now return to the affairs of Eng- 
 land. 
 
 CHAPTER XCIl. 
 
 THE DEATHS OF THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER AND THE EARL OF ARUNDEL. 
 THE MANNER IN WHICH THE DUKES OF LANCASTER AJJD YORK, AKD THE 
 LONDONERS, TAKE THE MATTER. 
 
 You have before seen, in the course of this history, that king 
 Richard of England would no longer conceal the hatred he bore his 
 uncle of Gloucester, but had determined to have him cut off, according 
 to the advice given him, setting it forth to be more advisable to de- 
 stroy than be destroyed. You have likewise heard how tlie king 
 had rode to the castle of Fleshy, thirty miles from London, and with 
 fair words had jacoled the duke out of his castle, and was accompa- 
 nied by him 10 a lane that led to the Thame s, where they arrived 
 between ten and eleven o'clock at night; and how the earl-marshal, 
 who there lay in ambush, had arrested him in the king's name, and 
 forced him toward the Thames, in spite of his cries to the king 
 to deliver him. He was conscious, that from the moment of his 
 being thus arrested, his end was resolved on, and it was^ confirmed 
 to him by the king turning a deaf ear to his complaints, and riding 
 on full gallop to London, where he lodged that night in the Tower. 
 The duke of Gloucester had other lodgings ; for, whether he would 
 or not, he was forced into a boat that carried him to a vessel at an- 
 chor on the Thames, into which he was obliged to enter. The 
 earl-marshal embarked also with his men, and, having a favorable 
 wind and tide, they fell down the river, and arrived, late on the mor- 
 row evening, at Calais, without any one knowing of it except the 
 king's ofllicers. [The earl-marshal, as governor, could enter Calais at 
 all hours, without any one thinking it extraordinary: he carried the 
 duke to the castle, wherein he confined him.] 
 
 You may suppose, that when news was carried to Pleshy of the 
 duke of Gloucester's arrest, the duchess and her children were greatly 
 dismayed, and, since such a bold measure had been taken, were much 
 afraid of the consequences. Suspecting the duke's life was in great 
 danger, they consulted sir John Laquingay what would be best for 
 them now to do. The knight advised them to send instantly to the 
 dukes of Lancaster and York, the duke's brothers ; for by their me. 
 diation, perhaps, the king's choler would be appeased. He saw no other 
 means, as the king would not choose to make them his enemies. The 
 duchess of Gloucester followed this advice of the knight, and instantly 
 dispatched messengers to both, for they resided at a distance from 
 each other. They were much enraged at hearing their brother was 
 arrested, and returned answers to the duchess, not to be too much 
 distressed at what had happened, for the king would not dare to treat 
 him otherwise than by fair and legal measures, for it would not be 
 suffered. This answer comforted the duchess and her children. 
 
 The king of England left the tower of London at a very early 
 hour, and rode to Eltham, where he remained. The same day, 
 toward evening, the earls of Arundel and Warwick were brought to 
 the Tower by the king's officers, and there confined, to the great sur- 
 
 * All between the crotchets is from the MSS. in the B. Museum and at Hofod, but not 
 
 in the printed copies. 
 
602 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND. FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 prise of the citizens. Their imprisonment caused many to murmur, 
 but they were afraid to act, or do anything against the king's plea, 
 sure, lest they might suffer for it. It was the common conversation 
 of the knights, squires, and citizens of London, and in other towns: 
 "It is useless for us to say more on this matter, for the dukes of Lan- 
 caster and of York, brothers to the duke of Gloucester, can provide 
 a remedy for all this whenever they please : they assuredly would have 
 prevented it from happening, if they had suspected the king had so 
 much courage, or that he would have arrested their brother ; but they 
 will repent of their indolence : and, if they are not instantly active, 
 it will end badly." 
 
 When the duke of Gloucester saw himself confined in the castle 
 of Calais, abandoned by his brothers, and deprived of his attendants, 
 he began to be much alarmed. He addressed himself to the earl- 
 marhsal : " Foi what reason am I thus carried from England and 
 confined here ? It seems that you mean to imprison me. Let me go 
 and view the castle, its garrison, and the people of the town." "My 
 lord," replied the earl, " I dare not comply with your demands, for you 
 are consigned to my guard, under pain of death. The king our lord 
 is at this moment somewhat wroth with you ; and it is his orders that 
 you abide here a while, in banishment with us, which you must have 
 patience to do, until we have other news, and God grant that it may 
 be soon I for, as the Lord may help me, I am truly concerned for your 
 disgrace, and would cheerfully aid you if I could, but you know the 
 oath I have taken to the king, which I am bound in honor to obey." 
 The duke of Gloucester could not obtain any other answer. He 
 judged, from appearances of things around him, that he was in dan- 
 ger of his life, and asked a priest who had said mass, if he would 
 confess him. This he did, with great calmness and resignation, and 
 with a devout and contrite heart cried before the altar of God, the 
 Creator of all things, for his mercy. He was repentant of all his 
 sins, and lamented them greatly. He was in the right thus to exon- 
 erate his conscience, for his end was nearer than he imagined. I 
 was informed, that on the point of his sitting down to dinner, when 
 the tables were laid, and he was about to wash his hands, four men 
 rushed out from an adjoining chamber, and, throwing a towel round 
 his neck, strangled him, by two drawing one end and two the other.* 
 When he was quite dead, they carried him to his chamber, undressed 
 him, and placed the body between two sheets, with his head on a 
 pillow, and covered him with furred mantles. They then reentered the 
 hall, properly instructed what to say and how to act, and declared the 
 duke of Gloucester had been seized with a fit of apoplexy as he was 
 washing his hands before dinner, and that they had great diflUculty to 
 carry him to bed. This was spoken of in the castle and town, where 
 some believed it, but others not. Within two days after, it was pub- 
 lished abroad that the duke of Gloucester had died in his bed at the 
 castle of Calais ; and, in consequence, the earl-marshal put on mourn- 
 ing, for he was nearly related to him, as did all the knights and squires 
 in Calais. 
 
 News of this event was sooner known in France and Fanders than 
 in England. The French rejoiced much at it ; for it was commonly 
 reported that there would never be any solid peace between France 
 and England as long as the duke of Gloucester lived ; and it was 
 well remembered, that in the negotiations for peace he was more 
 obstinate in his opinions than either of his brothers ; and, for this 
 reason, his death was no loss to France. In like manner, many 
 knights and squires of the king of England's household, who were 
 afraid of him, for his severe and rough manners, were pleased at his 
 death. They recounted how he had driven the duke of Ireland to 
 banishment, and had ignominiously beheaded that prudent and gal- 
 lant knight sir Simon Burley, who had been so much beloved by the 
 prince of Wales, and had done essential services to his country. 
 The deaths of sir Robert Trevilian, sir Nicholas Bramber, sir John 
 Standwich, and others, were not forgotten, so that the duke of Glou- 
 cester was but little lamented in England, except by those who were 
 of his party and manner of thinking. 
 
 The duke's body was honorably embalmed at Calais, and put into 
 a leaden coffin, with an outward one of wood, and transported in this 
 State by sea to England. The vessel that carried the body landed 
 at Hadleigh Castle on the Thames, and thence it was conveyed on a 
 car, unattended, to his castle of Fleshy, and placed in the church 
 which the duke had founded in honor of the Holy Trinity, with 
 twelve canons to perform devoutly the divine service. In this 
 church was the duke buried. The duchess of Gloucester, her son 
 Humphrey, and her two daughters, were sorely grieved when the 
 body of the duke arrived. The duchess had double cause of afflic- 
 tion, for the earl of Arundel, her uncle, had been publicly beheaded 
 in Cheapside by orders of the king. No baron nor knight dared to 
 interpose, nor advise the king to do otherwise, for he was himself 
 present at the execution, which was performed by the earl's son-in- 
 law, the earl-marshal, who bandaged his eyes. 
 
 The earl of Warwick ran great risk of suffering the same death, 
 but the earl of Salisbury, who was in favor with the king, interceded 
 for him, as did many other barons and prelates. The king listened 
 to their solicitations, on condition he were sent to a place he could 
 not leave, for he would never absolutely pardon him, as he was deserv- 
 ing death, for having joined the duke of Gloucester and the earl of 
 
 * He was smothered with pillows, not strangled. Hall, one of the accomplices, made 
 a particular confession of all the circumstances. See Pari. Plftc. viii. p. 452.— Ed. 
 
 Arundel in their attempts to annul the truce which had been signed 
 and sealed by the kings of France and England, for themselves and 
 allies. This alone was a crime to be punished by an ignominious 
 death: for the conditions of the treaties were, that whoever should 
 break or infringe them was to be so punished'^ 
 
 The earl of Salisbury was very earnest in his supplications for the 
 earl of Warwick. They had been brothers in arms ever since their 
 youth ; and he excused him on account of his great age, and of his 
 being deceived by the fair speeches of the duke of Gloucester and 
 the earl of Arundel : that what had been done was not from his insti- 
 gation, but solely oy that of others ; and the house of Beauchamp, of 
 which the earl of Warwick was the head, never imagined treason 
 against the crown of England. The earl of Warwick was, there- 
 fore, through pity, respited from death, but banished to the Isle of 
 Wight, which is a dependency on England. He was told : "Earl of 
 Warwick, this sentence is very favorable, for you have deserved to 
 die as much as the earl of Arundel, but the handsome services you 
 have done in times past, to king Edward of happy memory, and the 
 prince of Wales his son, as well on this as on the other side of the 
 sea, have secured your life ; but it is ordered that you banish your- 
 self to the Isle of Wight, taking with you a sufficiency of wealth to 
 support your state as long as you shall live, and that you never quit 
 the island." The earl of Warwick was not displeased with this 
 sentence, since his life was spared, and, having thanked the king 
 and council for their lenity, made no delay in his preparations to 
 surrender himself in the Isle of Wight on the appointed day, which 
 he did with part of his household. The Isle of Wight is situated 
 opposite the coast of Normandy, and has space enough for the resi- 
 dence of a great lord, but he must provide himself with all that he 
 may want from the circumjacent countries, or he will be badly sup- 
 plied with provision and other things. 
 
 Thus were affairs carried on in England, and daily going from bad 
 to worse, as you will find it related. When the dukes of Lancaster 
 and York heard of their brother's death at Calais, they instantly sus- 
 pected the king their nephew was guilty of it. At the time, they 
 were not together, but each at his country-seat, according to the cus- 
 tom in England. They wrote to each other to consult how they 
 should act on the occasion, and hastened to London because they 
 knew the citizens were very angry at the event. On their arrival, 
 they had several meetings, and declared that the putting the duke of 
 Gloucester to death for some foolish words ought not to be passetf 
 over in silence, nor borne ; for, although he had warmly opposed the 
 treaty with France, he had not acted upon it ; that there was an 
 essential diflTerence between talking and acting, and that words alone 
 did not deserve the severe punishment he had suffered, and that this 
 matter must be inquired into and amended. The two brothers were 
 in a situation to haye thrown England into confusion, for there were 
 enow who would have supported them, more especially all the kin- 
 dred of the late earl of Arundel, which is a powerful family in Eng- 
 land, and the family of the earl of Stafford. 
 
 The king at this time resided at Eltham, whither he had summoned 
 all his vassals and dependants. He had collected round London, in 
 the counties of Kent and Essex, upward of ten thousand archers, 
 and had with him his brother sir John Holland, the earl-marshal, the 
 earl of Salisbury, with many other great barons and knights. The 
 king sent orders to the citizens of London not to admit the duke of 
 Lancaster within their walls ; but they replied, they knew of no rea- 
 son why they should refuse him admittance, and the duke resided 
 there with his son the earl of Derby, as did the duke of York with his 
 son the earl of Rutland. The king loved the earl of Rutland and 
 the earl-marshal beyond measure : the fi-rst dissembled his opinions 
 concerning the death of the duke of Gloucester, and would willingly 
 have seen peace restored on boi'i -ides. He said, that his late uncle 
 had on several occasions treated i. o king very unbecomingly. The 
 Londoners considered, also, that giuat mischiefs might befal England 
 from these dissensions between the king, his uncles, and their sup. 
 porters ; that, since the duke of Gloucester was now dead, it could 
 not be helped ; and that he, in some measure, had been the cause of 
 it, by his too great freedom of speech, and from his attempts to excite 
 the people of England to break the truces that had been signed be- 
 tween France and England. The citizens, therefore, prudently dis- 
 sembled their thoughts ; and, as what was done could not now be 
 undone, they feared, should matters be pushed to extremities, they 
 might suflfer very considerably in their commerce from the king of 
 France. 
 
 The resentments of the citizens began to cool, and they offered to 
 mediate between the king and the duke of Lancaster, who was 
 mightily angered by the murder of his brother. He bethought him- 
 self, however, that as his nephew was married to the daughter of the 
 king of France, should he wage war against king Rfchard, his two 
 daughters married in Castille and Portugal might suffer for it, from 
 the French carrying a war into those countries. The duke was 
 beside forced to change his mind, whether he would or not, from 
 the solicitations of the citizens of London and some of the English 
 prelates, who had been the mediators between the king and his 
 uncles. The king obtained peace, on promising from that day for- 
 ward to be solely guided by the advice of the duke of Lancaster, 
 engaging never to do anything without first consulting him. The 
 promise, however, he paid not any regard to, but followed the counsela 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 603 
 
 of the rash and evil-minded, for which hereafter he severely suffered, 
 as shall be related in this history. Thus did the king of England 
 gain peace from his uncles for the murder of the duke of Gloucester, 
 and now governed more fiercely than before. He went with his 
 state to Pleshy in Essex, which had belonged to his uncle of Glou- 
 cester, and should have descended to his son Humphrey as heir to 
 his father ; but the kinp- took posession of it, for it is the rule in 
 England for the king toliave the wardship of all children who have 
 lost their fathers, and are under twenty-one years of age, at which 
 period their estates are restored to them. King Richard took his 
 cousin Humphrey of Gloucester in ward, appropriating all his posses- 
 sions to his own profit. He made him live with him, and the duch- 
 ess and her two daughters with the queen. 
 
 The late dul^e of Gloucester ^vas by inheritance constable of Eng. 
 land ; but the king deprived his heir of it, and gave it to his cousin 
 the earl of Rutland. The king now assumed a greater state than 
 ever king of England had done before, nor had there been any one 
 who had expended such large sums by one hundred thousand nobles. 
 He also took the wardship of the heir of Arundel, son to the late 
 earl whom he had beheaded in London, as has been related, and 
 forced him to live with him. And because one of the knights of the 
 late duke of Gloucester, named Cerbec,* had spoken too freely of 
 the king and council, he was arrested and instantly beheaded. Sir 
 John Lacquingay was likewise in some peril ; but, when he saw the 
 turn affairs had taken, he quitted the service of the duchess of Glou. 
 cester, and fixed his abode elsewhere. At this period there was no 
 one, however great, in England, that dared speak his sentiments of 
 what the king did or intended doing. He had formed a council of 
 his own from ihe knights of his chamber, who encouraged him to 
 act as they ad\ ised. The king had in his pay full two thousand 
 archers, who were on guard day and night, for he did not think him- 
 self perfectly safe from his uncles or the Arundel family .t 
 
 f CHAPTER XCIII. 
 
 A GREAT ASSEMBLY HOLDEN AT RHEIMS, BY THE EMPEROR OF GER- 
 MANY AND KING OF FRANCE, ON THE SCHISM IN THE CHURCH, AND 
 ON THE MEANS OF UNITING THE TWO PARTIES. 
 
 At this period, there was a numerous assembly of great lords in 
 the city of Rheims, as well from the empire of Germany as from 
 France, whose object was to restore union to the church. At the 
 solicitation of the king of France, the emperort had come thither in 
 person, attended by his ministers ; but because they wished it not to 
 be publicly known that this meeting was to consider of the rivalship 
 of the two popes of Rome and of Avignon, they had it rumored, that 
 the lords of the empire came to Rheims to treat of a marriage be. 
 twcen a son of the marquis of Brandenburgh, brother to the emperor, 
 and a daughter of the duke of Orleans. The king of France was 
 lodged in the archbishop's palace, as were the dukes of Orleans, 
 Berry, Burgundy, and count de Saint Pol, wiih other barons and 
 prelates of France. When the emperor was about to make his entry 
 into Rheims, all these lords and prelates, with Charles, king of Na- 
 varre, went to meet him : after receiving him most honorably, they 
 conducted him first to the church of Our Lady, and then to the abbey 
 of Saint Remy, where he was lodged with all his lords. His atten- 
 dants, and the others who had accompanied him, were placed as 
 near him as was possible ; and the king of France had ordered, that 
 all the expenses of the emperor and Germans, during their residence 
 in Rheims, should be paid by his officers in the most ample manner. 
 In consequence, there were daily delivered to the Germans ten tons 
 of herrings, for it was Lent, and eight hundred carp, without count- 
 ing different sorts of fish and other things, which cost the king im- 
 ■;nense sums. 
 
 When the emperor paid his first visit to the king of France, the 
 sreat lords before-mentioned went to seek him at the abbey of Saint 
 K-emy, and conducted him in great state to the palace. On the two 
 monarchs meeting, they paid many compliments to each other, as 
 they knew well how to do, especially the king of France, for the 
 Germans are a rude, unmannered race, except in what regards their 
 personal advantage, and in this they are active and expert enough. 
 The lords of both countries who were present made acquaintance 
 together, with many outward signs of satisfaction : and the king of 
 France entertained the whole at dinner, of which I will mention 
 gome particulars. At the top of the king's table was seated the 
 patriarch of Jerusalem : next to him the emperor, then the king of 
 France, and the king of Navarre : no more were at this table. At 
 the others were seated the lords from Germany ; and they were 
 waited on by the lords of France, for none of them sat down. The 
 dukes of Berry, Bourbon, and the count de St. Pol, with other great 
 baronS, placed the dishes, and served the king's table. The duke of 
 Orleans supplied the company with such quantities of plates of gold 
 and silver, as though they had been made of wood. The dinner 
 was splendid, and abundantly well served, and deserving of remem- 
 brance. I was told that the king made a present to the emperor of 
 
 * Cerbec. It is Cerber and Cerbel. 
 t For more ample particulars respecting the murder of the duke ufGloucester, I must, 
 refer the reader to Mr. Gough's History of Fleshy. 
 + Wenceslaus of Luxembourg. 
 
 all the gold and silver plate that was used, as well as what was on 
 the side-board, with all the tapestry and ornaments of the apartment 
 whither the emperor retired after dinner to partake of wine and 
 spices. This gift was estimated at two hundred thousand florins ; 
 and the other Germans were presented with magnificent gifts of gold 
 and silver plate. The Germans, and other strangers who had come 
 thither to view the feast, greatly wondered at the wealth and power 
 of France. 
 
 During the residence of these monarchs at Rheims, their ministers 
 frequently met to consider of the marriage of the marquis of Bran- 
 denburgh, and the reformation of the church. The marriage was 
 agreed on, and published in Rheims, but their consultations and re- 
 solutions, concerning the church, were kept secret: what I shall say 
 on the subject came to my knowledge afterwards. It was determined 
 that Peter d'Ailly, bishop of Cambray, should be sent an embassadoi 
 from the emperor and king of France to the person who styled him- 
 self pope Boniface at Rome, and negotiate with him in their names 
 with the view of inducing him to submit to a new election : should 
 the choice again fall on him, he would be acknowledged by them as 
 pope, but, if not, then he was to resign. The bishop was to declare 
 the same to the pope of Avignon ; adding that, if either of the popes 
 refused to comply with this disposition of the two monarchs, they 
 would be degraded, and every honor and profit of the church taken 
 from them : that in this the kings of England, Scotland, Castille, 
 Portugal, and Navarre, had joined. The emperor said he would 
 answer for his brother the king of Hungary, and all Bohemia and 
 Germany, as far as Prussia, being of the same sentiment. The 
 monarchs likewise declared, that, on the bishop's return from his 
 embassy, they would exert themselves, with their friends and allies, 
 that what they had now agreed on should be executed without any 
 variation. Thus ended this meeting : the two monarchs separated 
 most amicably, and each returned to his usual place of residence. 
 The duke of Burgundy refused to attend at Rheims ; for he said it 
 would not answer any purpose, and that whatever might be given to 
 the Germans, they would never keep the engagements they should 
 enter into. However, notwithstanding this speech of the duke, no- 
 thing was left undone, and matters were concluded as you have 
 heard. 
 
 Peter d'Ailly, bishop of Cambray, was not long in making prepa- 
 rations for his journey, and set out on his embassy to Rome and 
 Avignon, to declare the engagements the emperor and king of France 
 had entered into. The king of France sent embassadors to his son- 
 in-law, the king of England, to acquaint him with what had been 
 done, that he might unite in the same opinion. King Richard re- 
 ceived the embassadors with joy : and when he learnt the object of 
 their mission, which was, to entreat he would remain neuter, if he 
 could not prevail on his subjects to unite with France and Germany, 
 in case the two popes refused compliance, replied he would so man- 
 age that his, kingdom should act in the matter as he pleased. This 
 he instantly promised, to the great joy of the embassadors. After 
 they had stayed with the king and queen of England as long as they 
 had chosen, they took leave and returned to Paris by Boulogne, and 
 related all that had passed to the king and council. This was very 
 agreeable to the king, and affairs remained in this state some time. 
 
 The king of Navarre came to Paris to visit the king of France, 
 and thought he might p'erhaps recover his inheritance of Evreux in 
 Normandy, which the king of France had sei/ed from his father, as 
 has been related in this history ; but, in spite of every attempt, he 
 was unsuccessful. The king of Navarre, seeing he labored in vain, 
 took the matter in great displeasure, and abruptly left the court of 
 France, discontented with the king and his ministers, and returned 
 to Navarre. We will now leave the affairs of Germany, France, and 
 Navarre, to speak of what befel England, whence sprung such mel- 
 ancholy events as have not been recorded in this history, and which 
 my readers will allow when they come to the detail of them. 
 
 CHAPTER XCiV. 
 
 THE EARL-MARSHAL CHALLENGES THE EARL OF DERBY, SON TO THE DUKE 
 OF LANCASTER, IN THE PRESENCE OF THE KING AND HIS COUNCIL. 
 
 King Richard of England was of a temper that, when he took a 
 liking to any one, he instantly raised him to high honors, and had 
 such confidence in him that no one dared to say anything to his 
 prejudice. At the same time, there had not been a king of England 
 in the memory of man who so easily believed all that was told him. 
 His favorites, however, paid no attention to the miserable fate of 
 many of their predecessors ; how the duke of Ireland had been ban 
 ished, sir Simon Burley, sir Robert Tresilian, sir Nicholas Bramber, 
 and others had lost their lives, for counsels they had given the king, 
 and for which the duke of Gloucester had taken great pains in their 
 destruction. The duke was now dead, and the favorites of the 
 moment, who continually counselled the king as they pleased, were 
 not sorry, for they imagined no one would now pretend to oppose 
 them. Some about the king's person could not disguise their pride 
 and presumption, especially the earl-marshal, who was in the highest 
 degree of favor. To flatter and please the king, and to show how 
 true and loyal a servant he was, whenever he heard any reports he 
 1 told them to the king, expecting from such mjeans to rise still 
 
604 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 higher in favor; but many, thinking to advance, are repulsed. Thus 
 it happened to the earl-marshal. 
 
 You must know that the earl of Derby and the late duke of Glou- 
 cester had married two sisters, -daughters to the earl of Hereford and 
 Northampton, constable of Eiiglaad : the children, therefore, of the 
 earl of Derby and duke of Gloucester were cousins-german iDy their 
 mother's side, and one degree removed by their fathers'. To say 
 the truth, the death of the duke of Gloucester had displeased many 
 of the great barons of England, who frequently murmured at it when 
 together; but the king had now so greatly extended his power, none 
 dared to speak of it openly, nor act upon the current rumors of the 
 mode of his death. The king had caused it to be proclaimed, that 
 whoever should say anything respecting the duke of Gloucester or 
 the earl of Arundel, should be reckoned a false and v/icked traitor 
 and incur his indignation. This threat had caused many to be silent, 
 afraid of what might befal them, who were, nevertheless, much dis- 
 satisfied. 
 
 At this time, a conversation passed between the earl of Derby and 
 the earl-marshal, in which the state of the king and the counsellors 
 whom he trusted became the subject of discussion. The earl-mar- 
 shal caught at the following words the other had made use of, with 
 a good intent, thinking they would never have been mentioned again, 
 for they were neither arrogant nor traitorous : " Holy Mary ! fair 
 cousin, what does the king next intend to do ? Will he drive all the 
 nobles out of Ensrland ? There will soon be none left; and he 
 
 was arrived, and all the lords had retired after dinner with the king 
 to his council-chamber, the earl-marshal, having settled in hLs own 
 mind how to act and what to say, cast himself on his knees before 
 the king, and thus addressed him:] "Very dear and renowned jord, 
 I am of your kindred, your liege man and marshal of England ; and 
 I have besides sworn on my loyalty, my hand within yours, that I 
 would never conceal from you anything I might hear or see to your 
 prejudice, on pain of being accounted a disloyal traitor. This I am 
 resolved never to be, but to acquit myself before you and all the 
 world." The king, fixing his eyes on him, asked, " Earl-marshal, 
 what is your meaning in saying thus ? We will know it." " Very 
 dear lord," replied the earl, " as I have declared, I will not keep any 
 secret from you : order the earl of Derby to come to your presence, 
 and I will speak out." The earl of Derby was called for, and the 
 king made the earl-marshal rise, for he addressed him on his knees. 
 On the earl of Derby's arrival, who thought no harm, the earl-mar- 
 shal spoke as follows : " Earl of Derby, I charge you with having 
 thought and spoken disrespectfully against your natural lord the king 
 of England, when you said he was unworthy to hold his crown: that 
 without law or justice, or consulting his council, he disturbed the 
 realm ; and that, without any shadow of reason, he banished those 
 valiant men from his kingdom who ought to be its defenders, for all 
 of which I present my glove, and shall prove, my body against yours, 
 that you are a false and wicked traitor." 
 
 The earl of Derby was confounded at this address, and retired a 
 
 plainly shows he is not desirous to add to the honor of his realm." 
 The earl-marshal made no reply, but treasured this speech in his 
 mind, as he considered it very impertinent, in regard to the king, and 
 thought within himself that the earl of Derby was well inclined to 
 excite troubles in England, for he was marvellously beloved by the 
 Londoners. He therefore determined (for the devil entered his brain, 
 and what has been ordained to happen must soon come to pass,) to 
 report this speech in the presence of the king and his nobility. 
 
 Soon after this conversation, the earl-marshal, to flatter and gain 
 favor with the king, said : [" My lord, all your enemies and ill- 
 wishers are not dead, nor out of the kingdom." The king changed 
 color, and replied, " How, cousin, do you know this ?" " I know it 
 well," answered the eiu!-inars;hal : "for the moment, I will not say 
 more ; but, that you may provide a remedy in time, have it pro- 
 claimed that you will hold a solemn feast on this ensuing Palm 
 Sunday, and invite all the princes of your blood, particularly the 
 earl of Derby, when you shall hear something that will surprise you, 
 and what you arc not suspicious of, notwithstanding it so nearly 
 concerns you." The king was very pensive on hearing this, and 
 
 j begged the earl-marshal to give him further information ; that he 
 might safely tell him all, for he would keep it secret. I know not 
 
 I if he did so; but the king, if he did, kept it to himself, and allowed 
 
 I the earl to act in the matter as he pleased ; the consequences of which 
 
 I were as follows. 
 
 j The king had it proclaimed that he would hold a solemn feast at 
 , his palace at Eltham on Palm Sunday, and sent particular invitations 
 to the dukes of Lancaster and York and their children, who, not 
 Buspecting any mischief, came thither. When the day of the feast 
 
 few paces, without demanding from the duke his father, or any ot his 
 friends, how he should act. Having mused a while, he advanced, 
 with his hood in his hand, toward the king, and said. " Earl-marshal, 
 I say that thou art a false and wicked traitor, which I will bodily 
 prove on thee, and here is my glove." The earl-marshal, seeing his 
 challenge was accepted, showed a good desire for the combat, by 
 taking up the glove and saying, " I refer your answer to the good 
 pleasure of the king and the lords now present. I will prove that 
 what you have said is false, and that my words are true." Each of 
 these lords then withdrew with his friends, and the time for serving 
 wine and spices was passed by ; for the king showed he was sore 
 displeased, and retired to his chamber and shut himself within it. 
 His two uncles remained without with their children, as did the earl 
 of Salisbury and Huntingdon, the king's brother. 
 
 Soon afterwards, the king called to him his uncles, and demanded 
 from them how he was to act on this occasion. " Sire, order your 
 constable hither, and we will tell you." The earl of Rutland, con- 
 stable of England, being sent for, came, and he was told : " Consta- 
 ble, go to the earl of Derby and the earl-marshal, and oblige them to 
 promise not to quit the kingdom without the king's permission." 
 The constable obeyed the order, and returned to the king's apart- 
 ment. You may believe the whole court was greatly troubled by 
 this event, and many barons and knights were much displeased, who 
 blamed the earl-marshal for his conduct ; but what he had said he 
 coulJ not now retract, and he showed by his manners that he made 
 light of it, so arrogant and swollen with pride was his heart. The 
 lords now separated, each for his own home. The duke of Lancas- 
 ter, in spite of appearanees, was much vexed at what had passed, 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 605 
 
 and his opinion was, that the king should not have listened to such 
 a charge, but instantly have annihilated it ; and in this he was joined 
 by the more sensible barons of the country. 
 
 The earl of Derby resided in London, for he had his house there, 
 and kept up his state. The duke of Lancaster, the duke of York, 
 the earl of Northumberland, and many other great lords, for he was 
 much beloved, were his securities to appear and answer the chal- 
 lenge. The earl-marshal was sent to the Tower of London, where 
 he lived with his household. These two lords made ample provision 
 of all things necessary for the combat ; and the earl of Derby sent 
 off messengers to Lombardy to have armor from sir Galeas, duke of 
 Milan. The duke complied with joy, and gave the knight, called 
 sir Francis, who had brought the message, the choice of all his armor 
 for tVie earl of Derby. When he had selected what he wished for in 
 plated and mail armor, the lord of Milan, out of his abundant love 
 to the earl, ordered four of the best armorers in Milan to accompany 
 the- knight to England, that the earl of Derby might be more com- 
 pletely armed. The earl-mar.-^hal, on the other hand, sent into Ger- 
 many, whence he thought he should be ably assisted by his friends. 
 Each provided himself most magnificently, to outshine the other ; 
 but the greater splendor was shown by the earl of Derby, for I must 
 say that, when the earl-marshal undertook this business, he expected 
 to have been belter supported than he was by the king. It was 
 hinted to the king, by those near his person: "Sire, you have no 
 occasion to interfere further in this matter : dissemble your thoughts, 
 and leave them to themselves : they are fully capable of managing it. 
 The earl of Derby is wondrous popular in the kingdom, but more 
 especially in London ; and, should the citizens perceive that you 
 take pan with the earl-marshal against the earl of Derby, you wilt-i 
 irrecoverably lose their affection." 
 
 The king attended to this advice, for he knew it was true : in 
 consequence, he dissembled his opinion, and suffered each to provide 
 for himself. The news of this combat between the earl of Derby 
 and the earl-marshal made a great noise in foreign parts : for it was 
 to be for life or death, and before the king and great barons of Eng. 
 land. It vt-as spoken of differently : some said, particularly in France : 
 " Let thern fight it out: these English knights are too arrogant, and 
 in a short time will cut each other's throats. They are the most 
 perverse nation under the sua, and their island is inhabited by the 
 proudest people." But others, more wise, said : " The king of Eng- 
 land does not show great sense, nor that he is well advised, when 
 for foolish v/ords, undeserving serious notice, he permits two such 
 valiant and noble lords, and of his kindred, thus to engage in mortal 
 combat. He ought, according to the opinions of many wise men to 
 have said, when he first heard this charge : ' You earl of Derby, and 
 you earl-marshal, are my near relations : I command, therefore, that 
 you harbor no hatred nor malevolence against each other, but live 
 like friends and cousins as you are. Should your stay in this coun- 
 try become tiresome, travel into foreign parts, to Hungary or else- 
 where, and seek for deeds of arms and adventures.' " If the king of 
 England had done so, or come forward to prevent this combat, he would 
 have acted wisely, according to the opinions of men of sense and pru- 
 dence. 
 
 The duke of Lancaster was much vexed and melancholy at see- 
 ing the king of England, his nephew, thus badly conduct himself, 
 but knew not to whom to open his thoughts. He, like a wise man, 
 considered the consequences that might ensue, and at times said to 
 those he most confided in : "Our nephew will ruin everything before 
 he have done : he too readily listens to evil counsellors, who will 
 destroy him and his kingdom. Should he live long, he will lose by 
 little and little all it has cost his predecessors and us so much pains 
 to gain. He encourages discord between his nobles and great lords, 
 by whom he ought to be honored and served, and the country guarded. 
 He has put my brother to death, for it is now notorious he ordered 
 it, and likewise the earl of Arundel, because they told him the 
 truth ; but this he refuses to hear, and will not listen to any one who 
 does not flatter his own imaginations. He cannot sooner ruin his 
 country than by exciting hatreds among his nobility and principal 
 towns. The French are too subtle a race, for one misfortune that 
 befalls us they would wish ten, as they can never obtain their 
 ends, or recover their domains, but through ourselves ; and every 
 day there are examples of the misery of kingdoms when divided. 
 Such has been the unfortunate lot of France, Castillo, Naples, and 
 the Roman state ; and the present schism is the ruin of the contend- 
 ing popes, as well as tlie church. Flanders is another example which 
 we have seen of self-destruction. Friesland is at this moment in 
 a similar state, oppressed by the war of the count of Hainault, and 
 ruining themselves by domestic quarrels. We shall be in the same 
 situation unless God prevent it, from the appearance of the presentstate 
 of affairs. The king has consented that riiy son and heir, for I have 
 none other by my first two marriages, should be challenged to mortal 
 combat for a mere trifle ; and I, his father, dare not say a word against 
 it, in regard to my own and my son's honor ; for my son has the 
 feeUngs of a knight, and is of sufficient strength to encounter the 
 earl-marshal. Howbeit, let the best be made of it, they will never 
 again love each other as they did before." Such were the conver- 
 sations of the duke of Lancaster. 
 
 The two earls, in the meantime, were making every preparation 
 for their combat. The duke of Lancaster never went near the king, 
 
 and as seldom saw his son, acting throughout with great good sensei 
 He knew the earl of Derby was very popular with all ranks in Eng- 
 land, but more particularly with the Londoners, who waited on him, 
 and addressed him : " Earl of Derby, make your mind easy : what- 
 ever may be the event of this combat it will turn out to your honor, 
 in spite of the king and all his minions. We know well how things 
 are managed, and what will be the result of them : this accusation 
 has been invented by envy, to cause your banishment out of the 
 kingdom, where they are aware you are so gready beloved by all 
 ranks and sexes ; and should you be forced to quit us in sorrow, you 
 shall return in joy, for you arc more worthy to rule than Richard ot 
 Bordeaux. Whoever may choose to search the matter to the bottom, 
 to discover the real origin of you both, will soon see that you have a 
 greater right to the crown of England than he who wears it, although 
 we have paid him homage, and acknowledged him for king these 
 twenty years ; but that was obtained by the entreaties ©f your grand- 
 father, king Edward of happy memory, who was suspicious of what 
 we hint, and feared the consequences. There was once a serious 
 dispute on this subject between king Edward and your grandfather 
 by your mother's side, duke Henry of Lancaster, but the great lords 
 interfered and made up matters between them. King Edward was 
 valiant and successful in all his enterprises, and had gained the love 
 of his subjects high and low. Your grandfather of Lancaster only 
 required from the king what was just, and served him and his king- 
 dom so loyally, that his conduct deserved the commendation of all. 
 Every on'e who knew him called him their old father. These things 
 are worthy of king Richard's consideration, and may make him repent, 
 if anything can, at his leisure, that he has not more prudently gov- 
 erned." Such conversations did many of the nobles and citizens of 
 London hold with the earl of Derby, who was pleased with their af- 
 fection, and received them kindly. He did not, however, neglect 
 any preparations for his combat, but sent to every one of his friends 
 throughout England, to entreat their company at the appointed day 
 and place. 
 
 King Richard, notwithstanding he had suffered this challenge and 
 appeal to arms to be made in his presence, was uncertain how to act, 
 and whether to allow the combat to take place or not. And although 
 he was the king of England the most feared of any who had worn 
 the crown, he was guarded day and night by two thousand archers, 
 who were regularly paid weekly, and had confidence only in his bro- 
 ther earl of Huntingdon, and the earls of Salisbury and Rutland, his 
 cousin, who v/ere highly in his favor. He paid no regard to others, 
 except a few of the knights of his chamber, who were his adviser?. 
 When the day for the combat was approaching, and the two lords 
 had made their preparations, waiting only for the king's commands, 
 king Richard's secret advisers asked, " Sire, what is your intention 
 respecting this combat between your two cousins, the earl of Derby 
 and the earl-marshal ? Will you permit them to proceed ?" " Yes," 
 replied the king : " why not ? I intend to be present myself and to 
 see their prowess. We may perhaps learn, fpom the issue of this 
 combat, what we are now ignorant of, although it may be very im- 
 portant for us to know, that we may provide accordingly : for there 
 is no one so great in England, but, if he anger me, he shall dearly 
 pay for it. Should I allow myself to be any way governed by my 
 subjects, they would soon overpower me ; I know for certain that 
 some of my kinsmen have held secret meetings respecting my gov- 
 ernment ; but the most dangerous among them was the duke of Glou- 
 cester, for in all England there was none more wrong-headed. He 
 is now at peace, and henceforwaid we shall manage the rest well 
 enough. But tell me, I pray you, why you ask the question ?" 
 " Sire," replied they, " we are bound to advise you to the best of our 
 knowledge and abilities. We sometimes hear and observe what you 
 cannot, for you are in your apartments, and we abroad in the fields, 
 or in London, where many conversations are held that nearly touch 
 you, as well as us. There is yet time to provide a remedy, and we 
 earnestly advise you not to delay it." " What do you mean ?" said 
 the king: " speak out, and do not spare me: for I wish to act rightly 
 and to maintain justice in my kingdom." " Sire, the common report 
 throughout England, but especially in London, is, that you are the 
 cause of this combat, and that you have induced the earl-marshal to 
 challenge the earl of Derby. The Londoners in general, and many 
 of the prelates and nobles, say, that you are in the direct road to de- 
 stroy all your kindred and kingdom, but that they will not suffer it 
 to be done. Now, were the citizens to rise and be joined by the 
 nobility, who could oppose them 1 You have no power but from 
 your vassals ; and they are now more suspicious of you than ever, 
 from your marriage with a princess of France ; and you are less be- 
 loved by your subjects on this account. Know, that if you allovv- 
 these two earls to meet in arms, you will not be lord of the field, but 
 the Londoners, united with the earl of Derby's great connections by 
 blood, who are all much attached to him. The earl-marshal is be- 
 come very unpopular, particularly with the citizens of London, who 
 would willingly put him to death. Three parts of the people of Eng- 
 land say, that when you heard the charge of the earl-marshal, you 
 should have acted otherwise than you did, and checked the quarrel 
 by telling them, ' You are both my cousins and liege men, and I corau 
 mand that peace be henceforward between you ;' and that you should 
 have taken the earl of Derby by the hand, and led him to your cham- 
 ber with every token of affection. Because you did not this, the 
 
606 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 cpmmon report is, that you warmly take the part of the earl-marshal 
 against the earl of Derby. Weigh well what we have said, for we 
 have told you the truth, and you never had more occasion for good 
 advice than at this moment." 
 
 The king, on hearing these words, changed color, (for they had 
 boldly spoken out, and certainly what they had said could not be 
 contradicted,) turned aside and leant on a window, where he mused 
 a considerable time. He then turned to those who had addressed 
 him, namely, the archbishop of York, the earls of Huntingdon and 
 Salisbury, and three other knights of his chamber, and said, " I 
 have attentively heard everything you have advised, and should be 
 blameworthy if I followed not your counsel : consider, therefore, 
 how you would have me act." " Sire," replied their spokesman, 
 
 what we have been talking of is matter of great danger. You 
 must dissemble your resentments, and put an end to this business, if 
 you wish for peace and to preserve your honor. You ought to pay 
 more respect to the general opinion of your realm than to the idle 
 talk of two knights. It is believed throughout England that the lord 
 marshal behaved himself very ill, and, by stirring up many things 
 that were better forgotten, is desirous to pick a quarrel with the earl 
 of Derby, raise the people, and throw all things into confusion. He 
 must therefore suffer for so doing, and the earl of Derby be acquitted. 
 We have considered the matter in every point of view, and advise 
 that, before they arm or make further preparations, you send them 
 your commands to appear before you, and to abide by whatever you 
 determine between them. You will therefore give judgment, that, 
 within fifteen days, the earl marshal quit England, without any hope 
 of ever returning, and the earl of Derby be banished thence for the 
 space of ten years. When the time for their departure arrives, you 
 will, to please the people, abridge four years of the earl of Derby's 
 sentence, so that his banishment will be only for six years, but that 
 he must not expect further favor. Such is the advice we give you : 
 be very careful to prevent their meeting in arms, or the greatest mis- 
 chiefs may arise from it." The king was thoughtful a moment, and 
 replied, " You have faithfully advised me, and it shall be done." 
 
 CHAPTER XCV. 
 
 BINa RICHARD OF ENGLAND BANISHES TEE EARL OF DERBY FROM ENGLAND 
 FOR TEN YEARS, AND THE EARL-JVIARSHAL FOR HIS LIFE. 
 
 Not long after this, the king of England summoned a large coun- 
 cil of the great nobles and prelates at Eltham. On their arrival, he 
 placed his two uncles of Lancaster and York beside him, with the 
 earls of Northumberland, Salisbury and Huntingdon. The earl of 
 Derby and the earl-marshal were sent for, and put into separate 
 chambers, for it had been- ordered they were not to meet. The king 
 showed he wished to mediate between them, notwithstanding their 
 words had been very displeasing to him, and ought not to be lightly 
 pardoned. He required therefore that they should submit themselves 
 to his decision ; and to this end sent the constable of England, with 
 four great barons, to oblige them to promise punctually to obey it. 
 The constable and the lords waited on the two earls, and explained 
 the king's intentions. They both bound themselves, in their pres. 
 ence, to abide by whatever sentence the king should give. They 
 having reported this, the king said : " Well then, I order that the 
 earl-marshal, for having caused trouble in this kingdom, by uttering 
 words which he could not prove otherwise than by common report, 
 be banished the realm : he may seek any other land he pleases to 
 dwell in, but he must give over all hope of returning hither, as I 
 banish him for life. I also order, that the earl of Derby, our cousin, 
 for having angered us, and because he has been, in some measure, 
 the cause of the earl-marshal's crime and punishment, prepare to 
 leave the kingdom within fifteen days, and be banished hence for the 
 term of ten years, without daring to return unless recalled by us ; but 
 we shall reserve to ourself the power of abridging this term in part 
 or altogether." The sentence was satisfactory to the lords present, 
 who said : " The earl of Derby may readily go two or three years 
 and amuse himself in foreign parts, for he is young enough ; and, 
 although he has already travelled to Prussia, the Holy Sepulchre, 
 Cairo and Saint Catherine's,* he will find other places to visit. He 
 has two sisters, queens of Castille and of Portugal, and may cheer- 
 fully pass his time with them. The lords, knights and squires of 
 those countries, will make him welcome, for at this moment all war- 
 fare is at an end. On his arrival in Castille, as he is very active, he 
 may put them in motion, and lead them against the infidels of Gra- 
 nada, which will employ his time better than remaining idle in 
 England. Or he may go to Hainawlt, where his cousin, and brother 
 in arms, the count d'Ostrevant, will be happy to see him, and gladly 
 jntertain him, that he may assist him in his war against the Fries- 
 anders. If he go to Hainault, he can have frequent intelligence 
 ' Tom his own country and children. He therefore cannot fail of doing 
 • iVcU, whithersoever he goes ; and the king may speedily recall him, 
 ' hrough means of the good friends he will leave behind, for he is the 
 ' inest feather in his cap ; and he must not therefore suffer him to be 
 00 long absent, if he wish to gain the love of his subjects. The 
 ' ;arl.marshal has had hard treatment, for he is banished v/ithcut hope 
 ' )f ever being recalled ; but, to say the truth, he has deserved it, for 
 
 *The monastery on Mount Sinai —fio 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 — — — . — i 
 
 ail this mischief has been caused by him and his foolish talking : he 
 must therefore pay for it." Thus conversed many English knights 
 with each other, the day the king passed sentence on the earl of 
 Derby and the earl-marshal. 
 
 CHAPTER XCVI. 
 
 THE EARL OF DERBY, IN CONSEQUENCE OF HIS BANISHMENT, LEAVES 
 ENGLAND FOR FRANCE. THE EARL-I lARSHAL, IN OBEDIENCE TO HIS 
 SENTENCE, GOES TO FLANDERS, AND V HENCE INTO LOMBARD Y. 
 
 When the two earls heard the sentence the king had passed on' 
 them, they were much cast down, and not without cause. The 
 earl-marshal bitterly repented what he had said and done, but he 
 could not foresee its consequences : he had firmly relied on being 
 otherwise supported by the king than he was, or he would not have 
 thought of it. It was, however, necessary to make his preparations 
 for banishment. He settled the payments of his income through the 
 Lombards of Bruges, and, quitting England, arrived at Calais, where 
 he had been governor. He staid there a short time, to receive part 
 of his equipage which had been left behind. On his departure he 
 took leave of the townsmen of Calais, and having fixed his route, 
 would not go to France nor Hainault, for he had not any business at 
 these places, but went to Bruges, where he staid fifteen days. On 
 leaving this town, he visited Ghent, Mechlin, Louvain, St. Tron. 
 Utrecht, Aix and Cologne, where we will leave him, and speak of 
 the earl of Derby, who in like manner made his preparations foi 
 obeying his sentence of banishment. 
 
 When the day of his exile drew near, he went to Eltham where 
 the king resided. He found there his father, the duke of York his 
 uncle, and with them the earl of Northumberland, sir Henry Percy 
 his son, and a great many barons and knights of England, vexed 
 that his ill fortune should force him out of England. The greater 
 part of them accompanied him to the presence of the king, to learn 
 his ultimate pleasure as to this banishment. The king pretended 
 that he was very happy to see these lords : he entertained them well, 
 and there was a full court on the occasion. The earl of Salisbury, 
 and the earl of Huntingdon, who had married the duke of Lancas- 
 ter's daughter, were present, and kept near to the earl of Derby, 
 whether through dissimulation or not I am ignorant. When the 
 time for the earl of Derby's taking leave arrived, the king addressee^ 
 his cousin with great apparent humility, and said, " that as Gad 
 might help him, the words which had passed between him and the 
 lord marshal had much vexed him ; and that he had judged the mat- 
 ter between them to the best of his understanding, and to satisfy the 
 people, who had murmured greatly at this quarrel. Wherefore, 
 cousin," he added, " to relieve you somewhat of your pain, I now 
 remit four years of the term of your banishment, and reduce it to six. 
 years instead of ten. Make your preparations, and provide accord- 
 ingly." " My lord," replied the earl, "1 humbly thank you; ands> 
 when it shall be your good pleasure, you will extend your mercy.'* 
 The lords present were satisfied with the answer, and for this time 
 were well pleased with the king's behavior, for he received them 
 kindly. Some of them returned with the earl of Derby to London. 
 The earl's baggage had been sent forward to Dover, and he was 
 advised by his father, on his arrival at Calais, to go straight to Paris, 
 and wait on the king of France and his cousins the princes of P'rance, 
 for by their means he would be the sooner enabled to shorten his exile 
 than by any other. Had not the duke of Lancaster earnestly pressed 
 this matter, like a father anxious to console his son, he would have 
 taken the direct road to the count d'Ostrevant in Hainault. 
 
 The day the earl of Derby mounted his horse to leave London, 
 upward of forty thousand men were in the streets, bitterly lamenting 
 his departure : "Ah, gentle earl I will you then quit us ? This coun- 
 try will never be happy until your return, and the days until then 
 will be insuflferably long. Through envy, treachery and fear, ara 
 you driven out of a kingdom where you are more worthy to reside 
 than those which caused it. You are of such high birth and gal. 
 lantry, that none others can be compared to you. Why then will 
 you leave us, gentle earl ? You have never done wrong by thought 
 or deed, and are incapable of so doing." Thus did men and women 
 so piteously complain, that it was grievous to hear them. The earl 
 of Derby was not accompanied by trumpets, nor the music of the 
 town, but with tears and lamentations. Some of the knights who 
 attended him whispered each other : " See the conduct of the peo- 
 pie, how readily they complain for trifles ! Whoever is inchned to 
 stir up the Londoners against the king may soon effect it, and force 
 the king to seek another country, and the earl of Derby to remain . 
 but this is not the moment, for, since my lord of Lancaster suflfers 
 it, we must be patient." 
 
 The mayor of London and several of the principal citizens, accom- 
 panied the earl of Derby as far as Dartford : some even rode to Do- 
 ver with him, and remained in his company until he embarked on 
 board the vessel that was to convey him to Calais, when they re- 
 turned to their homes. The earl of Derby, before his arrival at 
 Calais, had sent a knight and herald to the king of France, and to 
 the dukes of Orleans, Berry, Burgundy and Bourbon, to know if it 
 were agreeable to them that he should fix his residence in Paris^ 
 paying punctually for all that he or his people might want, and if 
 the court would receive him. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 607 
 
 The king of France, his brother and uncles, readily complied with 
 his request, and apparently seemed very glad that lie would come 
 there ; for, as they assured the knight, they very sincerely felt for the 
 present disgrace of the earl. The knight and herald, on their return, 
 met the earl of Calais ; and the king of France had sent with them 
 sir Charles de Hangiers, to have all the cities and towns opened to 
 the Knglish as they travelled to Paris. The earl of Derby set out 
 in gallant array, becoming his rank, and took the road to Amiens 
 where, and in every other town, he was handsomely received. 
 
 CHAPTER XCVII. 
 
 THE COUNT d'oSTREVANT SENDS EMBASSADORS TO THE EARL OF 
 DERBY. THE EARL ARRIVES AT PARIS. 
 
 The moment William earl of Ostrevant, who resided at Quesnoy, 
 heard that his cousin the earl of Derby had crossed the sea, and was 
 at Calais, he ordered sir Ancel de Trassaguies and sir Fier-Ji-bras de 
 Vertain to ride thither and wait on the earl, and invite him to Hain- 
 ault, whither, if he pleased to come and amuse himself, he would 
 give him a hearty welcome, for it would be very agreeable to him- 
 self and his countess. The two knights obeyed the earl's orders, 
 and rode to Canibray and Bapaumes ; for they had heard the earl of 
 Derby had left Calais, and taken the road toward Paris through 
 Amiens. They determined, in consequence, to push forward, and 
 overtook the earl of Derby on his road, to whom they punctually de- 
 livered their message. The earl thanked them, as well as his cousin 
 of Hainaalt who had sent them, but excused himself for the present 
 from accepting their invitation, as he was engaged to visit the king 
 of France and his cousins, but that he did not renounce the affection 
 and courtesy the count d'Ostrevant offered him. The two knights, 
 having executed their commission, took leave, and returned to Hain. 
 ault, to report all they had seen and heard, and the earl continued 
 bis journey to Paris. When news was brought to the king, and the 
 dukes of Orleans, Berry and Burgundy, that the earl of Derby was 
 approaching Paris, the principal French lords instandy made hand- 
 some preparations to go out and meet him. The apartments of the 
 hotel de Saint Pol were richly furnished ; and the great barons then 
 in town set oat for Saint Denis. The king remained at the hotel de 
 Saint Pol : but the dukes of Orleans and Berry left Paris, and first 
 met the earl of Derby : then came the dukes of Burgundy and Bour- 
 bon, and the lord Charles d'Albret, with many great prelates and 
 barons. The meeting was joyous on both sides, and they entered 
 Paris in brilliant array. 
 
 An unfortunate accident happened on this occasion, which I will 
 relate. A prudent and valiant squire, called Boniface, a native of 
 Lonibardy, was mounted on a strong courser that had not been well 
 broken. When passing through the streets, he rose upon his hind 
 legs, and the squire, checking by the bridle, pulled him so hard that 
 he fell backward, and threw Boniface with such force on the pave- 
 ment, that his skull was fractured. Thus died Boniface, to the great 
 regret of many lords, particularly the duke of Orleans, by whom he 
 was much esteemed. He had been a favorite with the late lord de 
 Coucy, who had brought him from Lombardy to France. 
 
 The procession at length arrived at the hotel de Saint Pol, where 
 the king was waiting : he received very kindly his cousin the earl 
 of Derby, who, having been well educated, behaved so agreeably to 
 the king, that he was much liked, and, in token of his favor, the 
 king gave him his order to wear. The earl accepted it with pleas- 
 ure, and returned his thanks. I cannot pretend to say all that 
 passed between them, but the meeting seemed to their mutual satis- 
 faction. When wine and spices had been -served, the earl took leave 
 of the king, and waited on the queen, who resided in other apart- 
 ments of the same palace. He staid there some time, for the queen 
 entertained him handsomely. On taking leave, he went to the court 
 and mounted his horse, and was escorted to his hotel by the lords of 
 France, where he supped that night with his own people. Such was 
 his reception at Paris : there were many grand entertainments made 
 to amuse him, and that he might think the less on his banishment 
 from his ov.'n country, which was very displeasing to the French 
 lords. [In spite of all their kind endeavors, he at times was very mel- 
 ancholy, and not without reason, on being thus separated from his 
 family. He was impatient to return, and much vexed that for such 
 H frivolous cause he should .be banished from England, and from his 
 four promising sons, and two daughters. The earl frequently dined 
 with the king, the duke of Orleans, and other great barons, who did 
 everything they could to make his time pass agreeably.] 
 
 We will now leave the earl of Derby, to speak of the affairs of 
 the church, and of the two popes, Benedict of Avignon, and Boni- 
 face of Rome. 
 
 CHAPTER XCVIII. 
 
 THE EMPEROR AND THE KING OF FRANCE PURSUE THE PLANS THEY HAD 
 SETTLED AT RHEIMS, FOR A UNION OF THE CHURCH. THE BlUlOP OF 
 CAMBRAY IS SENT BY THEM TO THE POPE AT ROME. THE ANSWER 
 THAT IS MADE HIM. 
 
 You have before heard of the meeting which had taken place at 
 Rheima between the emperor and the king of France, when many 
 
 secret councils were held, on establishing the union of the church, 
 for the present schism was disgraceful. In consequence of the plans 
 then formed, Peter d'Ailly, bishop of Cambray, was sent embassador 
 to pope Boniface at Rome. The bishop set out, and met the pope 
 at Fondi, to whom he delivered his credential letters from the king 
 and the emperor. The pope, having examined them, was satisfied 
 of their validity, and received the bishop kindly, for he guessed the 
 object of his mission. The embassador explained the cause of his 
 coming, which the pope attentively listened to, and thus replied : 
 " That the answer his propositions required did not only personally 
 attach to him, but to all his brother-cardinals, Vv'ho might aspire to 
 the papacy. He would summon a consistory, and, when they had 
 fully considered the matter, would give him an answer that should 
 be satisfactory." This was, for the present, sufficient for the bishop 
 of Cambray, who dined that day at the palace of the pope with some 
 of his cardinals, and then, leaving Fondi, went to Rome. 
 
 Shortly after, pope Boniface held a convocation of cardinals at 
 Rome ; for he had quitted Fondi, and resided at the Vatican. No 
 one was present at this consistory but the pope and cardinals, before 
 whom he laid the proposition of the bishop of Cambray, and de- 
 manded advice what answer he should make to them. Much dis- 
 cussion ensued ; for the cardinals were averse to undo what they had 
 done, thinking it would turn out to their disgrace. They said to the 
 pope : " Holy father, considering our situation, we think you should 
 conceal your real sentiments on this matter : but to encourage the 
 hopes of the king of France and those of his creed, you will in your 
 answer declare your willingness to comply with whatever the em- 
 peror of Germany, the king of Hungary, and the king of England, 
 shall advise you ; that the person who resides at Avignon, and styles 
 himself pope Benedict, whom the king of France and his natian 
 have acknowledged, must first resign all claims to the papacy ; and 
 that then you will cheerfully attend a general council, wherever the 
 above-named kings shall appoint, and bring your brother cardinals 
 with you." This advice was very agreeable to Boniface, who re- 
 plied, in conformity to it, but in more general terms, to the bishop 
 of Cambray, who acquitted himself honorably in the business he had 
 been sent upon. 
 
 When the Romans heard that the emperor and the king of France 
 had written to the pope to resign his dignity, great were the mur- 
 murings throughout the city ; for the Romans were fearful they 
 should lose the holy see, which was of infinite consequence to them 
 and profit, from the general pardons that were personally sought for, 
 and which obliged such multitudes to visit Rome. The jubilee v/a.^ 
 soon to take place, for which they had made great preparations; and 
 they were uneasy lest they might have incurred these expenses for 
 nothing. The principal inhabitants of Rome waited on the pope, 
 and showed him greater love than ever, saying : " Holy father, you 
 are the true pope : remain in the inheritance and patrimony of the 
 church, which belonged to St. Peter, and let no one advise you to do 
 otherwise. Whoever may be against you, we will always continue 
 your steady friends, and expend our lives and fortunes in the defence 
 of your right." Pope Boniface replied : " My children, be comforted, 
 for I will never resign the popedom ; and, whatever the emperor or 
 the king of France may do, I will not submit myself to their wills." 
 The Romans were satisfied with this answer, and returned to their 
 homes. 
 
 The bishop of Cambray took no notice of this, but proceeded in 
 the business he had been charged with. I fancy pope Boniface 
 kept steady in his answer, that when it should be publicly known 
 pope Benedict had resigned the papacy, he would act in such 
 manner as should be agreeable to those who had sent him. The 
 bishop, not being able to obtain more, departed for Germany, and 
 found the emperor at Constance, to whom he delivered the answer 
 you have heard. The emperor said, " Bishop, you will carry this 
 to the king of France, our brother and cousin ; and, accordingly as 
 he shall act, so will I and the empire ; but, from what I see, he 
 must begin first, and when he has deposed his pope, we will depose 
 ours." The bishop took leave of the emperor, and set out for Paris, 
 where the king and his lords were expecting him. He delivered the 
 answer from the pope, and the message from the emperor, which was 
 kept secret until the king should assemble a great council of his 
 nobles to have their advice on the matter. 
 
 CHAPTER XC IX. 
 
 THE KING OF FRANCE, IN CONFORMITY TO THE ADVICE OF HIS NOBLES 
 AND THE UNIVERSITY OF PARIS, SENDS THE BISHOP OF CAMBRAY 
 TO POPE BENEDICT AT AVIGNON, ON THE SUBJECT OF A UNION OF 
 THE CHURCH, AND ALSO HIS MARSHAL BOUCICAUT THITHER, TO CON. 
 STRAIN THE POPE TO OBEDIENCE BY FORCE OF ARMS SHOULD THERE 
 BE OCCASION. 
 
 The king of France, in consequence of the answer of pope Boni 
 face, and the message of the emperor, that the pope at Avignon 
 must be the first deposed, assembled the nobles and prelates of his 
 kingdom at Paris. Prior to this, some of the prelates of France, 
 such as the archbishop of Rheims, sir Guy de Rove, the archbishops 
 of Rouen and of Sens, the bishops of Paris, Beauvais, and Autun, 
 had strongly supported the pope of Avignon, particularly Clemen; 
 
608 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 who had promoted them to their benefices. These six prelates, 
 therefore, by particular orders, were not summoned to this council, 
 but others in their room, and the heads of the university of Paris. 
 After the bishop of Cambray had fully explained to the assembly the 
 object of his embassy to Rome, what he had done there, the pope's 
 answer, and the message from the emperor, for he had returned 
 through Germany, they began to discuss the matter, and it was re- 
 solved the university should have the preponderating voice. It was 
 determined in this council, to the satisfaction of the king, the duke 
 of Orleans, their uncles, and all the members of it, that the king of 
 France should send his marshal, the lord Boucicaut, to Avignon, to 
 prevail on pope Benedict, by negotiation or force, to resign the 
 papacy, and submit himself to the determination of the king and his 
 council ; that the church in France should remain neuter as to the 
 true pope, until union were restored to it, according to the decrees 
 of a general council of prelates and churchmen which was to be in- 
 stantly called. 
 
 This resolution seemed good to every one, and was adopted by 
 the king of France, and all who had formed the council. The mar- 
 shal of France and the bishop of Cambray were ordered to Avignon ; 
 and these two lords left Paris soon afterwards, travelling in company 
 as far as Lyons, where they separated. The marshal was to remain 
 at Lyons until he heard from the bishop, who continued his journey 
 to Avignon, to learn what answer the person who styled himself pope 
 at Avignon would make to the proposals from the king of France. 
 On his arrival at Avignon, he fixed his lodgii^gs in the great wood- 
 market. Some of the cardinals suspected the cause of his coming, 
 since he was sent by the king of France, but they dissembled their 
 thoughts until they heard what he had to say, and observed how 
 Benedict should answer and conduct himself. As sooa as the 
 'lishop of Cambray had taken some refreshments and changed his 
 dress, he waited on the pope in his palace. He made him, when in 
 his presence, the proper obeisances, but not so reverently as if he 
 and all the v/orld acknowledged him for the true pope, although he 
 had given him the bishopric of Cambray, through the recommenda- 
 tion of the lords in France. The bishop, being well versed in Latin 
 and French, made an elegant harangue, to explain the object of his 
 mission from the emperor and the king of France. When the pope 
 heard that it was the intention of these two monarchs that he as 
 well as pope Boniface should resign their dignities, he frequently 
 changed color, and, raising his voice, said : " I have labored hard for 
 the good of the church, and have been duly elected pope, yet now 
 my resignation is soughi : this I will never consent to as long as I 
 live ; and I wish the king of France to know that I shall not pay any 
 attention to his regulations, but will keep my name and dignity until 
 death." 
 
 " Sire," answered the bishop of Cambray, " I always thought you, 
 under reverence, more prudent than I find you really are. Fix a 
 day for the meeting of your cardinals, to consult with them on your 
 answer ; for, unless they agree with you, your opposition will be in 
 vain against them and against the powers of Germany and France." 
 Upon this, two cardinals of his creation, who foresaw that matters 
 would end badly, stepped forward and said, " Holy father, the bishop 
 of Cambray advises you well : follow what he says, we entreat you." 
 The pope replied, he would do so willingly : the audience was put 
 an end to, and the bishop returned to his lodgings, without waiting 
 on any of the cardinals. 
 
 On the next morning, the consistory bell was rung, and a con- 
 clave holden of all the cardinals then at Avignon, at the pope's pal- 
 ace. The bishop of Cambray discoursed in Latin on the reasons 
 why he was come thither, and on the object of those who had sent 
 him. When he had finished speaking, he was told they would ma- 
 turely consider the business, and give him an answer, but that at 
 present he must withdraw. He went elsewhere to amuse himself, 
 while Benedict and his cardinals debated his proposals. They were 
 for a considerable time in council, and many thought it very hard to 
 undo what had been regularly effected ; but the cardinal of Amiens 
 said: " My fair sirs, whether we will or not, we must obey the or- 
 ders of the emperor of Germany and the king of France, since they 
 are now united ; for, without their good pleasure, we cannot exist. 
 We might indeed withstand the emperor, if the king of France 
 would support us, but, as that is no longer the case, we must submit, 
 or he will exclude us from our benefices, and how then are we to 
 live ? In truth, holy father, we have elected you pope, on condition 
 that you would exert yourself in the reform of abuses in the church, 
 and promote a union, all of which you have strenuously promised to 
 do until this day. Answer for yourself, therefore, in a temperate 
 manner, that we may praise you, for you must be better acquainted 
 with your own mind and courage than we are." Many of the car- 
 dinals spoke at once, and said : " Holy father, the cardinal of Amiens 
 speaks well, and we beg of you to let us know your intentions." 
 Upon this, Benedict replied, " I have always had an earnest desire 
 for a union of the church, and have taken great pains to promote it; 
 but since, through the grace of God, you have raised me to the pa- 
 pacy, I will never resign it, nor submit myself to any king, duke, or 
 count, nor agree to any treaty that shall include my resignation of 
 tne popedom." The cardinals now all rose, and there was much 
 murmuring : some said he had well spoken, and others the contrary. 
 Thus was the conclave broken up in discord, and many of the car- 
 
 dinals departed to their hotels without taking leave of the pope 
 Those who were in his good graces remained with him. 
 
 When the bishop of Cambray observed the manner in which the 
 cardinals left the palace, he knew there had been great disagree 
 ment, and entering the hall of the conclave, advanced up to Bene 
 diet, who was still on his throne, and, without much respect, said : 
 " Sire, give me an answer ; I cannot v/ait longer ; for your council 
 is dismissed. You must let me have your final determination on 
 the proposals I made you, as I am now about to depart hence." 
 Pope Benedict, still heated by anger a . the speech of the cardinal oi 
 Amiens, replied : " Bishop, I have co.isulted my brother cardinals, 
 who have elected me to this dignity, and they agree that every due 
 solemnity has been used, such as is usual in such cases. Since, 
 therefore, I am pope, and acknowledged as such by all my subjects, 
 I will preserve it as long as I live, and will not, though it cost me my 
 life, renounce it; for I have never done anything to forfeit the di- 
 vine protection. You will tell our son of France that hitherto we 
 have considered him as a good CathoUc ; but that, from the bad ad 
 vice he has lately received, he is about to embrace errors which h© 
 will repent of. I entreat that you would beg of him, from me, not 
 to follow any counsels, the result of which may trouble his con^ 
 science." 
 
 On saying this, Benedict rose from his throne, and retired to his 
 chamber, attended by some of his cardirials. The bishop of Cam-, 
 bray went to his inn, dined soberly, and then, mounting his horse, 
 crossed the Rh6ne, passed through Villeneuve, and lay at Bagnols,* 
 which belongs to France. He there heard that the Lord Boucicaut, 
 marshal of France, was at St. Andrieu, within nine leagues of Avig- 
 non, and thither the bishop went on the following day, and related 
 to him all that had passed, with an answer he had received from 
 Benedict who styled himself pope. 
 
 CHAPTER C. 
 
 IN CONSEQUENCE OF THE ANSWER OF POPE BENEDICT, THE MAKSHAL BOU- 
 CICAUT OBLIGES HIM BY FORCE OF ARMS TO SUBMIT HIMSELF TO THE 
 WILL OF THE KIN& OF FRANCE RESPECTING A UNION OF THE CHmCH. 
 
 When the marshal of France had heard from the bishop of Cam- 
 bray the pope's answer, and that he refused to submit hinaself to the 
 king of France, he said to him, " Bishop, you may now return ta 
 France, for you have nothing more to do here ; and I will execute what 
 I have been charged with by the king, my lords his uncles, and the 
 council." The bishop replied, " God's will be done." He remained 
 that day in the village, and on the morrow departed, taking his road 
 toward Puy in Auvergne. The marshal instantly set clerks and mes- 
 sengers to work in summoning the knights, squires, and men-at-arms 
 in the Viverais, Auvergne, and from the countries as far as Mont- 
 pellier ; for he was commissioned so to do by the king of France. 
 He ordered the seneschal of Beaucaire to shut up all the passes to 
 Avignon, as well on the Rhone as by land, that nothing might enter 
 that place, nor be sent thither from the Pont du Saint Esprit ; for he 
 was particularly anxious that it should not be supplied with provisions 
 or stores. The summons of the marshal was readily obeyed, by 
 some through attachment, but by many in ;he expectation of plunder- 
 ing Avignon. Sir Raymond de Touraine came with pleasure to the 
 marshal, who was ready to march, in company with the lords de la 
 Both, de Tournon, de Monclau, and d'Uzes and others, so numerous, 
 that the marshal sent a herald with his defiance to the pope' in hia 
 palace, and to his cardinals in Avignon. 
 
 This was a severe blow to the cardinals and to the inhabi»ants-i 
 for they knew well they could not long effectually withstand the 
 power of the king of France. They called a council of the cardinals 
 and principal persons in the town, and, in consequence, waited on 
 Benedict, and temperately remonstrated with him, that they were un- 
 able and unwilling to support a war against the king of France, for it 
 was necessary they should carry on their commerce by land and water, 
 to live. Benedict, like a madman, replied : " Your city is strong, and 
 well provided with stores and provisions. I will send to Genoa and 
 elsewhere for men-at-arms, and write to my son the king of Arragon, 
 who is the standard-bearer of the church, to come to my assistance, 
 which he will do, for he is bound to it by two reasons ; I am his kins- 
 man, and he owes obedience to the pope. Do you depart hence and 
 guard your town, and I will defend my palace, for you are alarmed 
 at trifles." This was all the answer they could obtain from the pope, 
 and the cardinals and townsmen retired to their houses. The pope, 
 whom I call Benedict, had, for a long time before laid up in his pal- 
 ace great quantities of wines, corn, salted meat, oil, and of every 
 necessary store for a fortress. He himself was a bold and determined 
 character, not easily dismayed. 
 
 The marshal Boucicaut marched from the town of St. Esprit, ar. d, 
 with the consent of the Prince of Orange, passed through Orange 
 with his army, and entered the Comtat Venaissin, belonging to the 
 Church, which was soon overrun. The men-at-arms crossed the 
 bridge at Sorgues,t and were masters of each side of that river. The 
 marshal left some men in the town to guard it and defend the passage, 
 
 * Bagnols— a town in lower Languedoc, three leagues from the Pont du Saint Esprit, 
 and fifty-two from Lyons, 
 t The river Sorgues take its rise from the spring at Vaucluse 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 609 
 
 and oppose the garrison of Noues, that held out for the pope. He 
 then fixed his head-quarters at Saint Verain, near Avignon, and his 
 army was daily increasing. The city of Avignon was now so com. 
 pletely surrounded, that nothing could enter by land or water without 
 leave. The seneschal of Beaucaire's quarters were at ViUeneuve, 
 close to Avignon, though belonging to France, and he, with five 
 hundred combatants, guarded that side of the town. The marshal 
 of France, with two thousand men-at-arms, was on the opposite side : 
 he sent notice to the townsmen, that if they did not open their gates, 
 and submit themselves to his will, he would burn and destroy all the 
 houses and vineyards as far as the river Durance. This greatly dis- 
 mayed the inhabitants of both sexes, who had their inheritances in 
 that part of the country, and they called a council, to which they 
 admitted the cardinals of Amiens, Poitiers, Neufchateau, and Viviers, 
 to have their advice. The townsmen, who were the most interested 
 in the marshal's menace, informed the meeting of their fears lest he 
 should execute it, saying it was made by orders from the king of 
 France, whom they were not prepared to resist, nor could they do so 
 with effect, for he was too near a neighbor ; and that, considering all 
 things, it would be much better to submit themselves to the king of 
 France than remain obstinate in the support of Benedict, who was 
 unable to afford them any assistance. They asked the cardinals if 
 they would join them. The cardinals said they would. Provisions 
 began to be scarce in Avignon; besides, their benefices were in 
 France, which they would not lose ; and they agreed with the towns- 
 men in their treaty with the marshal. The terms of the treaty were, 
 that he and his army should be admitted into Avignon, to besiege the 
 palace, but that no violence should be done to the cardinals, their de- 
 pendents, nor the townsmen. This the marshal, the French lords, 
 and captains of the men-at-arms, swore faithfully to observe. When 
 this was done the army entered the town, and lodged themselves at 
 their ease, for it was large enough, and took off all obstructions on 
 the Rh6ne and at the gates, to allow free liberty for the entrance of 
 provisions. 
 
 Pope Benedict was much cast down, when he heard that his cardi- 
 nals and the townsmen had concluded a treaty with the marshal of 
 France, without consulting him. He said he would never surrender, 
 so long as he had breath, and shut himself up in his palace, which 
 is very strong and handsome, and easy to be defended, provided it 
 be well stored with provisions. The pope sent off letters by messen- 
 gers, before the marshal entered Avignon, to the king of Arragon, 
 humbly entreating him to come and succor him in his distress, and 
 to send him men-at-arms sufficient to oppose the marshal of France. 
 He added„that if he could be extricated from the situation in which 
 he was, and conveyed to Arragon, he would establish the holy see at 
 Perpignan or at Barcelona. The king of Arragon carefully perused 
 these letters, but paid little attention to their contents. He said to 
 those near his person: "What! does this priest suppose that I am to 
 involve myself in a war with the king of France to support his quar- 
 rel? I should indeed be blameworthy, were I to interfere." "Sire," 
 replied his knights, " what you say is true : you have no business to 
 meddle with such matters ; for you must know that the king of 
 France has been ably advised, and has just cause to act as he does. 
 Leave the clergy to themselves ; and if they wish for support, they 
 must subject themselves to those lords from whose countries they 
 receive the amount of their benefices. They have too long held 
 them undisturbed, and they ought to feel and be sensible whence 
 their wealth arises. The king of France has besides written to en- 
 ti-eat that you would agree with him in a neutrality between the two 
 popes. Accept his invitation, for the queen, who is his cousin-ger- 
 man, has done so ; and the greater part of the kingdom and clergy 
 are willing to do the same; for we hold, especially the Catalonians, 
 that this opinion is the surest ; otherwise, should the Christian princes 
 not unite in the same, there will never be any union in the church, 
 from the divisions of these two popes." Thus did the king of Arra- 
 gon and his lords converse on the subject, while poor Benedict, shut 
 up in his palace, was looking in vain for assistance being sent him 
 from Arragon. The marshal of France was in Avignon, and the pa- 
 lace, so strictly invested, nothing could enter it, which forced those 
 within to live on the provisions they had. Of food there was a suffi- 
 ciency for two or three years ; but, as there was a scarcity of fuel to 
 dress their victuals, they began to be alarmed at the consequences. 
 
 The king of France held a weekly correspondence with the lord 
 Boucicaut, on the state of Benedict ; and the king ordered him not 
 to depart until he had completed the business with the -pope. He 
 therefore increased the guard round the palace, to prevent him issuing 
 forth. The conclusion was, that Benedict, finding himself thus con 
 strained, that there was no fuel, and that their provisions were daily 
 decreasing, without any assistance coming to his aid, begged for 
 mercy, through the mediation of some of his cardinals. The terms 
 of the treaty were, that he was not to leave the palace of Avignon 
 until union should be restored to the church ; that he should be put 
 under the guard of proper persons ; and that the cardinals and richest 
 citizens of Avignon should be responsible for his appearance, < 
 or alive. This satisfied the marshal. Those cardinals who had 
 benefices in France exerted themselves much to conclude this treaty, 
 declaring unanimously they would comply with the orders of the king 
 of France. Thus ended this business, and the men-at-arms marched 
 •way from Avignon, every one to his own home. 
 
 CHAPTER CI. 
 
 THE MARSHAL BOUCICAUT RETURNS TO HUNGARY AGAINST THE TURKS. 
 THE EARL OF DERBY SENDS TO REQUEST PERMISSION OF THE DUKE OF 
 LANCASTER TO ACCOMPANY BOUCICAUT IN THIS EXPEDITION. THE KINS 
 OF ENGLAND IS SOLICITED BY THE KING OF FRANCE TO ENGAGE HIS 
 SUBJECTS TO A NEUTRALITY BETWEEN THE TWO POPES, UNTIL A NEW 
 ELECTION SHALL TAKE PLACE ,* BUT THEY REFUSE COMPLIANCE WlTtt 
 THEIR monarch's REQUEST. 
 
 After this exploit, the marshal Boucicaut returned to Paris, and 
 shortly after made preparations to go to Hungary ; for the king had 
 written to the king of France, to his uncles, and to the knights and 
 squires of France, that Bajazet was assembling a large army of Turks, 
 Arabians, Persians, Tartars, Syrians, and others of his religion. The 
 king of Hungary was in consequence desirous of collacting a nume. 
 rous force to oppose him, and offer him battle with more advantage 
 than the last. 
 
 The earl of Derby, who resided at Paris at the h6tel de Clisson, 
 near the Temple, was very desirous to go on the expedition to Hun- 
 gary, to avoid putting the king of France to further expense ; for he 
 received from the French treasury, every week, five hundred golden 
 crowns for his expenses, which his people were most punctually paid. 
 On the first mention of this expedition, the earl of Derby eagerly 
 listened to it ; for he felt himself unddr great obligations to the king 
 of France, and was unwilling to be a charge on him longer. He 
 likewise thought that he should gain honor by going to Hungary, and 
 that it would make the time of his banishment the sooner pass away. 
 He consulted his confidential servants, who advised him to undertake 
 it, but first to solicit the consent of his father the duke of Lancaster. 
 The earl, in consequence,, sent to England the knight nearest his 
 person, to learn the pleasure of his father, and how he would advise 
 him to act. When the knight, whose name was Dinorth,* arrived 
 at London, he heard the duke of Lancaster was at his castle of Hert- 
 ford, about twenty miles from London, whither he went, and related 
 to him the earl of Derby's wish to join the expedition to Hungary. 
 When the duke had heard all he had to say, he was well contented 
 with the state of his son, and bade him welcome, adding, that what 
 he had said, and the letters he had brought, demanded consideration. 
 You will rest yourself here while we deliberate on the subject; and, 
 in the mean time, you must see my son's children, to give them news 
 of their father, and carry intelligence of them to him, for that he will 
 expect from you." " My lord," replied the knight, " what you say 
 is true." Thus did he, by desire of the duke, stay some little time 
 in England. 
 
 The king of France sent embassadors to Germany, to infonn the 
 emperor that he had laid hands on Benedict, who for a time had 
 styled himself pope. These embassadors were the patriarch of Jeru- 
 salem, sir Charles de Hangiers, and others of his knights : thoy set 
 out for Germany, and met the emperor at Strasbourg, to whom they 
 satisfactorily delivered their message. The emperor and his council 
 said they would deliberate on the matter, but would gladly first know 
 the determination of the king of England, for which the king of 
 France had taken on himself to answer. Upon this, the embassy re- 
 turned to France, and reported what you have just read. The king 
 of France, to hasten the business, sent a grand embassy to England 
 to remonstrate with the king on the present distracted state of the 
 church. The king of England would willingly have joined the king 
 of France, but he had not his prelates nor his churchmen and subjects 
 as m.uch under his command as his father-in-law kept them in France. 
 All this he told in confidence to the French embassadors, at the same 
 time, promising them to do his utmost to comply with the king of 
 France's request. 
 
 The French embassadors returned to Paris ; and king Richard, in 
 consequence of his wishes to please his father-in-law, summoned d 
 meeting of the prelates and clergy of his realm, at his palace of 
 Westminster, which is out of the city of London. When they met, 
 he eloquently harangued them on the miserable schism in the church, 
 and the plan the king of France had adopted, of remaining neuter 
 between the two rival popes, according to the advice of the univer- 
 sity of Paris, and oAer learned clerks. The kings of Scotland, 
 Castille, Arragon, and Navarre had followed this example, and all 
 Germany, Bohemia, and Italy intended doing the same. He there- 
 fore entreated that his kingdom would adopt the like measures. 
 When the prelates, who were ignorant why they had been assem- 
 bled, heard this speech, they were greatly astonished, and were silent. 
 Several murmured, and said : " Our king is quite a Frenchman : his 
 only wish is to disgrace and ruin us, but he shall not succeed. 
 What ! does he want us to change our creed ? He may go so far 
 that evil will befal him. We will do nothing in this matter, since 
 the king of France proposes it. Let him keep to his neutrality, if 
 he please, and we will keep our creed. We will never suffer any 
 attempt to deprive us of it, unless better reasons can be shown than 
 those we have just heard." , , . , 
 
 The king, seeing them thus murmur together, made the bishop of 
 London, who had laid the proposals of neutrality before them, ask 
 what determination were best to be taken. They replied, one by 
 one, that the matter was so weighty, great dehberation was requisite 
 
 ' Dmorth." The MSS. have Du Roch. U. if not Dymocie. 
 
610 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN. &c. 
 
 i)efore any answer could be made. Upon this, the meeting broke 
 up, and the clergy who had been assembled retired to their inns in 
 :he city of London. The citizens, learning from them the cause of 
 ihe meeting, and the proposition that the king had made them, were 
 ,,'reatly angered against him, for in England the belief in the pope of 
 ilome was general. They said : " This Richard of Bordeaux will 
 . uin everything, if he be suffered to go on. His head is so thoroughly 
 French, he cannot disguise it ; but a day may come when he shall 
 pay for all without having time to repent, and so shall those who 
 have been his advisers. 
 
 Things continued in this state ; and all his solicitations and re- 
 monstrances with his clergy to remain neuter obtained not any atten- 
 tion. The king of France and his council were dissatisfied that king 
 Richard had not instantly determined his country to be neuter, but 
 in truth he could not prevail with his clergy to do so ; and shortly 
 after there fell out such horrible events that the like are not to be 
 found in this whole history, nor in that of any other Christian king? 
 except that noble prince Lusignan, king of Cyprus and Jerusalem? 
 whom his brother and the Cypriots villainously murdered. 
 
 CHAPTER CII. 
 
 THE ANSWER THE DUKE OF LANCASTER GIVES THE KNIGHT WHO HAD 
 BEEN SENT TO HIBI BY THE EARL OF DERBY, TO REQUEST HIS PERMIS- 
 SION TO JOIN THE EXPEDITION AGAINST THE TURKS. THE DEATH OF 
 THE DUKE OF LANCASTER. 
 
 When the chevalier Diuorth, who had been sent by the earl of 
 Derby to the duke of Lancaster, had received answers to the letters 
 he had brought, and had visited all the castles of the carl his lord, and 
 waited on his four sons and two daughters, who had remained in 
 England, he took leave and returned to France. The answer from 
 the duke of Lancaster was, that he would not advise his son to go 
 iuto Hungary, but, when tired of France, to visit Castille and Portu- 
 gal, and amuse himself at the courts of his brothers-in-law and sis- 
 Cers. The earl of Derby read these letters twice over and mused 
 some time on their contents. His knight told him in confidence that 
 the duke of Lancaster's physicians and surgeons had assured him 
 the duke labored under so dangerous a disease it must soon cause 
 his death. 
 
 This information made the earl give over all thoughts of travelling 
 farther. He remained in Paris, at the hdtel de Clisson, which had 
 een prepared for him and his attendants. He frequently visited the 
 . ing, and the duke of Orleans and their uncles, who entertained him 
 jandsomely. The earl was so sensible of their attentions, that he 
 aid to the king of France : " My lord, you pay me so much honor 
 iind courtesy, and give me proofs of such affection, that I know not 
 .;;low I shall ever be able to make you any return ; but, if it please 
 jrod that I go back to England, I will not forget them in my attach, 
 ment to our queen, your daughter, whom God preserve !" " Many 
 thanks, fair cousin," replied the king. It happened, that about 
 Christmas-tide, duke John of Lancaster fell dangerously ill of a dis- 
 order which ended his life, to the great grief of all his friends. He 
 had been some time very low spirited, on account of the banishment 
 of his son, whom his nephew king Richard had forced out of Eng. 
 land for a very trifling cause, and also for the manner in which the 
 kingdom was governed, which, if persevered in, he foresaw must be 
 its ruin. The king of England, as it seemed, was little affected by 
 his uncle's death, and he was soon forgotten. 
 
 Many of the nobles, but not all, were uneasy the kingdom was so 
 weakened by the deaths of the dukes of Lancaster, Gloucester, and 
 the earl of Arundel, and that the earl of Derby was banished, who 
 ought to be now duke of Lancaster by legal succession. Some said : 
 We shall see what the king will do. It is time that he recal his 
 cousin the earl of Derby, and remit his further punishment, though 
 there was scarcely any justice in it. It is proper that he return to 
 ■take possession of his lands, and do homage as duke of Lancaster." 
 Such speeches were common throughout England, but especially in 
 London, where the earl of Derby was a hundred times more beloved 
 than king Richard. Notwithstanding these murniurs, and that he 
 was spoken to on the subject, as well as hi%ministcrs, nothing was 
 done : on the contrary, the king showed he was more irritated against 
 Jhe earl. In this lie was very badly advised ; for if, on the death of 
 2is uncle, he had sent for the earl of Derby, and said to him : " Fair 
 , eousin, you are welcome. You are now duke of Lancaster, and, 
 I After us, the greatest personage in the realm : we will, therefore, that 
 I you remain with us ; and we will be governed by your counsels, and 
 I do nothing without your approbation ;" he would then have continued 
 4 king of England, and avoided the unfortunate end that was awaiting 
 him : the catastrophe was now so near at hand that he could no way 
 avoid it, as you shall speedily hear. 
 
 I CHAPTER CIII. 
 
 I THE KING OF ENGLAND MAKES THE KING OF FRANCE ACQUAINTED WITH 
 
 I THE DEATH OF THE DUKE OF LANCASTER, BUT DOES NOT NOTICE IT TO 
 
 i ; THE EARL OF DERBY, THOUGH SON TO THE LATE DUKE. 
 
 The news of the death of the duke of Lancaster was soon public 
 jn France. King Richard wrote an account of it to the king with a 
 
 sort of joy, but did not notice it to the earl of Derby. The earl, how 
 ever, knew it as soon, if not sooner than the king of France, from 
 his people in England. He clothed himself and his attendants in 
 deep mourning, as was right, and had his obsequies grandly per- 
 formed ; at which were present, the king of France, the duke of 
 Orleans, their three uncles, and numbers of the prelates and great 
 barons of France, for the earl was much liked by all. The French 
 barons visited him often, and some were displeased at and took part 
 in his misfortunes : he was an amiable knight, courteous and pleas- 
 ant to every one, and it was currently said, the king of England 
 was very ill advised not to recal him. To say the truth, if the king 
 had wisely considered consequences, he would have done it : affairs 
 would not have turned out so miserably as they did. The earl of 
 Derby was now, by the death of his father, duke of Lancaster, and 
 the most potent baron in England, second to none but the king, and 
 by his advice the king should be governed. 
 
 The king and his ministers should not have forgotten that the 
 people of England, more particularly the Londoners, had frequently 
 risen against the government ; that the king was not popular with 
 any rank of men ; and that, during the life of the duke of Glouces- 
 ter, he had suffered many vexations, and even personal danger. When 
 the citizens of London and the deputies from the great towns waited 
 on the king at Eltham, to petition for the abolition of the war taxes, 
 their plan was (by the secret advice of the duke of Gloucester and 
 other lords,) to seize the king and queen, and choose another in his 
 room. King Richard and his queen were to be confined and allowed 
 a sufficiency for their maintenance during their lives. The duke of 
 Gloucester had requested his nephew, son to the daughter of the 
 duke of Clarence, called John earl of March, to take charge of the 
 government of England ; but he had excused himself from so doing, 
 and the meeting was dismissed in tolerable good humor by the pru- 
 dence and temper of the duke of Lancaster, and Richard reigned 
 with greater prosperity than before. The king was not unacquainted 
 with these designs against him ; and by the wicked counsel of those 
 about his person, who gave him to understand the duke of Glouces- 
 ter was at the bottom of this plot, under pretence of gr^at affection 
 he had him arrested in the night, and carried over to Calais, where 
 he was strangled. This caused a great noise in England, and pro. 
 posals were made for dethroning the king ; but the duke of Lancas- 
 ter, with his usual prudence and wisdom, although the duke of Glou. 
 cester was his brother, and he was sorely afflicted by his death, con. . 
 sidering he could not restore him to life and the consequences that 
 might ensue, again appeased these discontents; and his nephew, 
 king Richard, was more feared than ever. 
 
 The kiag ought to have remembered all these circumstances, and 
 likewise that the earl of Derby was the most popular man in Eng- 
 land with every description of men, and should therefore instantly, 
 on the death of his father, have recalled him. But the king had no 
 such inclination : on the contrary, he immediately sent his officers to 
 take possession of his lands and seize their rents, declaring, that, 
 during his banishment, neither the earl nor his family should receive 
 any of his revenues in England. He also, to the great vexation of 
 such as were attached to the earl or his children, disposed of several 
 estates in the duchy of Lancaster to seme of his knights, and to 
 whoever asked for them. The English barons greatly blamed hins 
 for this, and said : " It is clear the king of England bears no good 
 will to his cousin, the earl of Derby, when he refuses to recal him 
 and suffer him to take possession of his inheritance. He would 
 with his children, be a grand support to the crown, and a stafi' tc 
 lean on, but he acts quite contrary, by thus keeping him out of the 
 kingdom, in a disagreeable state, and which he would make worse 
 if he could. He has taken possession of his lands, and sent hither 
 his officers, as if they were legally his own, who treat the tenants 
 worse than any in England : should they complain, during the ab- 
 sence of their lord, they are not attended to. It is no sign of affec- 
 tion or justice toward the earl of Derby and his children, when ho 
 thus seizes the inheritance of Lancaster, that descends to them as 
 the true heirs of ihe lady Blanche, daughter of Henry duke of Lan. 
 caster, and likewise that from their mother, the daughter of the earl 
 of Hereford and Northampton, and constable of England, which he 
 is daily distributing piecemeal to any person according to his 
 pleasure. This conduct is contrary to reason and justice, and so 
 greatly disliked by the good people of England, that things cannot 
 longer remain in their present state." 
 
 Such conversations were general among the nobles, prelates, and 
 commonalty of England. In like manner, the lords in France, who 
 heard of this matter, and were acquainted with the earl of Derby, 
 wondered at it, and said : " According to our opinion, this king of 
 England has formed too great a hatred against the earl of Derby, 
 who is his cousin.german. He is a graceful and courteous knight to 
 all who address him. Either the king of England knows some 
 things of him that we do not, or he is miserably advised : it is sur. 
 prising the king of France, his brother the duke of Orleans, and 
 their uncles of Berry, Burgundy, and Bourbon, do not interfere in 
 the business, for he is daily with some of them. They would have 
 greater weight than any others, and the king of England would do 
 more to please them from love to his queen, who is daughter to the 
 king of France ; but, as they have not taken any steps in the matter 
 it behooves us to hold our peace." In truth, the king of France and 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLA 
 
 ND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 61. 
 
 his family were perfectly well disposed toward the earl of Derby, 
 whom they greatly respected, and wished always for his company. 
 It was considered that he was a widower, likely to marry again, and 
 that the duke of Berry had a daughter, who though so young, was a 
 widow of two husbands : she had been first married to Louis de 
 Biois, who had died in his youth, and then to the lord Philip d'Artois, 
 count d'Eu, who died in Turkey, as you have read in this history. 
 Mary of Berry was not more than twenty-three years old, and a 
 raarriage between hex and the earl of Derby was talked of and nearly 
 concluded. 
 
 The duke of Berry knew well that the earl of Derby was the 
 greatest heir-apparent in England, as did the king of France, who 
 was anxious this match should take place, on account of his daughter 
 being queen of England. It was natural to imagine that two such 
 ladies, so nearly related, would be agreeable company to each other, 
 and that the kingdoms of France and England would enjoy longer 
 peace^ and be more intimately connected. All this would probably 
 have been true, if it could have been accomplished, but king Rich, 
 ard and his council broke off all these measures. Whatever mis- 
 fortunes fate has decreed cannot be prevented ; they must have 
 their course ; and those that befel king Richard are wonderful indeed 
 to think on. He might indeed have avoided them, but what must be 
 will be. 
 
 I, John Froissart, author of these chronicles, will literally say what, 
 in my younger days, I heard at a mansion called Berkharapstead, 
 distant from London thirty miles, and which, at the time I am speak- 
 ing of, in the year of our Lord 1361, belonged to the prince of Wales, 
 father to king Richard. As the prince and princess were about to 
 leave England for Aquitaine, to hold their state, the king of England, 
 queen Fhilippa, my mistress, the dukes of Clarence, Lancaster, the 
 lord Edmund, who was afterwards earl of Cambridge and duke of 
 York, with their children, came to this mansion to visit the prince 
 and take leave of him. I was at that time twenty-four years old, 
 and one of the clerks of the chamber to my lady the queen. During 
 this visit, as I was seated on a bench, I heard the following conver- 
 sation from a knight to some of the ladies of the queen. He said : 
 " There was in that country a book called Brut, which many say 
 contains the prophecies of Merlin. According to its contents, nei- 
 ther the prince of Wales nor duke of Clarence, though sons to king 
 Edward, will wear the crov/n of England, but it will fall to the house 
 of Lancaster." When the knight said this, the earl of Derby was 
 not born : his birth was seven years after. This prophecy, however, 
 was verified, for I have since seen Henry, earl of Derby, king of 
 England. 
 
 CHAPTER CIV. 
 
 THE TREATY OF MAKRIAGE BETWEEN THE EARL OF DERBY AND THE 
 DAUGHTER OF THE DUKE OF BERRY IS BROKEN OFF BY THE KING OF 
 ENGLAND, THROUGH THE MEANS OF THE EARL OF SALISBURY. 
 
 The moment king Richard learnt that a treaty of marriage was 
 going forward, witn the approbation of all parties, between the earl 
 of Derby and the lady Mary of Berry, he became very thoughtful and 
 much displeased thereat. He said to the earl of Salisbury, in whom 
 he had great confidence : " My lord, you must make yourself ready 
 to go to Paris ; I will give you credential letters to the king our 
 father, and to our well-beloved brother and uncles. Tell them to 
 beware of forming any alliance or marriage with such a traitor as the 
 earl of Derby, who would have betrayed his sovereign : you are per- 
 fectly acquainted with the fact : and, with your good understanding, 
 act in such wise that I shall be satisfied, and this marriage be put 
 aside." The earl of Salisbury replied : " Sire, I shall punctually 
 obey all your commands ; but, if this marriage could be broken off 
 by any other means than mine, I shall be very thankful to you." 
 " Earl of Salisbury," answered the king, " make no excuses ; for I 
 will and entreat that you go thither, and whatever may be the conse- 
 quences I will support you through them." " Well, sire," said the 
 earl, " since you specially command me, and the matter seems to 
 interest you so much, I will undertake it, but I go very unwillingly." 
 " Hasten your preparation as much as you can," replied the king, 
 " that the treaty of marriage be not too far advanced." 
 * The earl of Salisbury was soon ready, and, having had his creden- 
 
 tial letters sealed, he departed from the king, who at the time resided 
 with his queen at Leeds-castle. He carried with him private letters 
 ' from the queen to the king and queen of France, and to her brother 
 the duke of Orleans, and, hastening his journey, arrived at Dover, 
 where, the wind being favorable, he embarked, and landed at Calais. 
 He was received by the king's half-brother, the earl of Huntingdon, 
 governor pf Calais, to whom he told part of his business. He made 
 I no long stay at Calais, but continued his road through Amiens to 
 Paris, and wherever he passed he was well entertained. On his 
 arrival at Paris, he lodged at the White Ho-j-se, in the square of the 
 Greve.* After he had dressed himself, he waited on the king and 
 queen, and delivered his credential letters : when the king of France 
 had perused them, he took the earl of Salisbury aside and demanded 
 his business. The earl related to him very minutely everything he 
 had been charged vrith by the king of England, and called the earl of 
 
 . « The M9S. tay, " at the chateau de Festus, in the rue du Tiroir." 
 
 Derby a traitor to his natural lord. The king, on hearing this expres 
 sion, was angered (for he had taken so strong a liking to the earl o! 
 Derby, that he would not hear anything said in his dispraise,) and 
 gave back the letters to the earl, saying : " Earl of Salisbury, we 
 readily believe what you tell us ; but our son of England bears too 
 great a hatred to our cousin of Derby, and we wonder he has con- 
 tinued it so long, for we think that his court would be better adorned 
 if he were near his person, and those who have the most weight in 
 his council ought to advise him to recal his cousin." " Very dear 
 sire," replied the earl of Salisbury, " I only act as I have been 
 ordered." " That is true," said the king : " we are not angry with 
 you, for perchance our son may know of these matters more than we 
 can : execute the commission you have been charged with." The 
 earl then waited on the duke of Berry, and delivered his message 
 from king Richard. The duke made no ansvver, but went to the 
 king at the h6tel de Saint Pol, and asked if he had received any 
 news from England. The king told him all that had passed between 
 him and the earl of Salisbury, and a privy council of the king's 
 uncles and principal lords, was summoned on the occasion. They 
 said : " The king of England must fear very much the earl of Derby, 
 from circumstances tha-t we are ignorant of, and that have not been 
 made public. We ought to be more attached to him than the earl 
 of Derby, from his connection with us by marriage ; and, as we have 
 been informed, he will be gready displeased if we proceed in the 
 marriage of the earl of Derby with the countess d'Eu, we must break 
 it off. We have only to conceal what we liave heard from England 
 until the earl of Salisbury be returned." 
 
 I'he king and his council adopted this resolution. When the earl 
 of Salisbury had completed the business he had been sent on to 
 Paris, he took leave of the king and his lords, and departed. The 
 king, however, showed he was more displeased than otherwise at 
 the intelligence he had brought, and returned to the earl his creden- 
 tial letters, refusing to accept of them, from his partiality to the earl 
 of Derby. This last knew of the earl of Salisbury being at Paris, 
 but they never saw each other; and the earl of Salisbury returned 
 to Calais without speaking to the earl of Derby, and thence to Eng. 
 land to report the success of his mission. 
 
 The earl of Derby was much displeased that the earl of Salisbury 
 should leave Paris without seeing him, and augured from it nothing 
 favorable. His council were of the same opinion, and said to him : 
 " My lord, you will soon perceive such things as you little dream of, 
 although they are as yet hid from you. The French are a close and 
 subtle people : perhaps the king of England and his minions are 
 vexed that the king of France and his court show you such honor 
 and affection ; perhaps also it may be rumored in England that you 
 propose marrying the lady Mary of Berry, and king Richard, to 
 whom this intelligence will not be agreeable, has sent over to have 
 it broken off : should that be the case, you will speedily hear of it." 
 Thus, as the knights and council of the earl of Derby had supposed 
 matters were, did they turn out. About a month after the departure 
 of the earl of Salisbury, the commissioners from the ea'-l of Derby 
 renewed the matter of the marriage with the lady Mary of Berry : 
 but those on the part of the duke replied : " Tell my lord of Derby, 
 that when he is in the presence of the king and his brother the duke 
 of Orleans, he may propose this business himself ; for we cannot say 
 more on the subject, since it is not agreeable to our employers that 
 we longer interfere in it." 
 
 These words were repeated to the earl of Derby, who suspected 
 nothing more was meant by it than to hasten the marriage ; for the 
 king of France and his lords had shown outwardly as much eager- 
 ness for the match as ever. He remembered what had been told 
 him, and at a proper opportunity, when the king and his lords were 
 together, renewed his proposal of marriage. The duke of Burgundy, 
 having been charged with the answer, replied, " Cousin of Derby, 
 we cannot think of marrying our cousin to a traitor." The earl in- 
 stantly changed color on hearing this expression, and said : " Sir, I 
 am in the presence of my lord the king, and must interrupt your 
 speech, to answer the expression you have used. I never was nor 
 never thought of being a traitor ; and if any one dare to charge me 
 with treason, I am ready to answer him novv', or at wnatever time 
 it may please the king to appoint." "No, cousin," said the king, 
 " I do not believe you will find any man in France that will chal- 
 lenge your honor. The expression my uncle has used comes from 
 England." The earl of Derby cast himself on his knees, and re- 
 plied, " My lord, I willingly believe you : may God preserve all my 
 friends, and confound mine enemies !" The king made the earl 
 rise, and said : " Earl, be appeased : all this matter will end v/ell ; 
 and when you shall be on good terms with every one, we can then 
 talk of marriage. But it will be first necessary that you have pos- 
 session of your duchy of Lancaster ; for it is the custom of France, 
 and of many countries on this side the s( a, that when a lord marries 
 with the consent of his lord paramount, should he have one, he seU 
 des a dower on his svife." Upon this, wine and spices were brought : 
 the conversation ended ; and, when the king retired to his closet, 
 every one went away. 
 
 The earl of Derby, on his return to the h6tel de Clisson, was bit- 
 terly enraged, and not without reason, to be accused of treason, when 
 he thought himself one of the most loyal knights in the universe, and 
 in the presence too of the king of France, who had shown him m 
 
612 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 :nuch affection and courtesy, and that this accusation should have 
 oeen brought from England by the earl of Salisbury. His knights 
 pacified him as well as they could, by saying: " My lord, whoever 
 wishes to live in this world, must sometimes suffer trouble. Comfort 
 /ourself for the present, and bear all things with patience : perhaps 
 } ou will hereafter have it made up in joy and glory. Of all the lords 
 t n this side of the sea, the king of France loves you the most, and, 
 from what we hear and see, he will instantly prevent any insult be. 
 ing offered you. You should be thankful to him and his uncles for 
 having kept this matter secret during the stay of the earl of Salis- 
 bury, and until he was landed in England." " Indeed !" replied the 
 earl : " I should have thought it more loyal to have made the charge 
 while he was here, than to have waited so long. I could then have 
 been enabled sufficiently to exculpate myself in the presence of the 
 king and his lords, so that my innocency would have been apparent ; 
 but I must now submit to the disgrace until I shall wipe it off." 
 " My lord," answered the knights, " all faults cannot be corrected at 
 once : have patience, we hope things will turn out better in England 
 than you think. The affection the whole country bear you will very 
 soon, if it please God, deliver you from all dangers." Thus did his 
 Knights attempt to comfort the earl of Derby, who was more cast 
 down than man ever was ; and what they had uttered by chance, 
 for consolation, turned out true, as I shall now relate. 
 
 It was known in England that the earl of Salisbury had been sent 
 to France with credential letters, and that, on the strength of them, 
 he had accused the earl of Derby to the king of France and his 
 uncles, as a perjured, false, and wicked traitor, which words had 
 greatly angered many of the prelates and barons of the kingdom. 
 They said, when among themselves : " The earl of Salisbury has 
 done very wrong to carry such a message to France, and make so 
 neavy a charge against the most honorable man in the world. The 
 day will come when he shall repent of this, and say, ' It weighs 
 neavily on me that I ever carried a message to France against the 
 earl of Derby.' " The Londoners were exceedingly enraged against 
 the king and his ministers for their conduct, and said : " Ah, gallant 
 and courteous earl of Derby, how great are the jealousies and ha- 
 treds against thee, when, to overwhelm thee with disgrace and vex- 
 ation, they charge thee with treason 1 It was not enough for the 
 king and his minions to force thee out of the kingdom, but they 
 must add this charge also ; but, by God, all things have an end, and 
 their turn may come." " Alas I" cried the people, " what have his 
 children done ? when the king seizes their inheritance, which ought 
 to be theirs by direct succession from grandfather and father. There 
 must be some change in public measures, for we neither can nor will 
 «uffer them to go on longer." 
 
 CHAPTER CV. 
 
 KING RICHARD OF ENGLAND PROCLAIMS A TOURNAMENT, WHICH IS AT- 
 TENDED BY VERY FEW PERSONS. ON SETTING OUT FOR IRELAND HE 
 BANISHES THE EARL OF NORTHUMBERLAND AND HIS SON THE KINGDOM. 
 
 Soon after the return of the earl of Salisbury from France to Eng- 
 land, king Richard had proclaimed throughout his realm and in 
 Scotland, that a grand tournament would be held at Windsor, by 
 forty knights and forty squires, clothed in green, with the device of 
 a white falcon, against all comers, and that the queen of England, 
 well attended by ladies and damsels, would be at this feast. The 
 queen was indeed present at the tournament in magnificent array, 
 but very few of the barons attended ; the greater part of the knights 
 and squires of England were disgusted with the king, for the banish- 
 ment of the earl of Derby, the injuries he was doing the earl's chil- 
 dren, the murder of the duke of Gloucester, that had been committed 
 in the castle of Calais, the death of the earl of Arundel, whom he 
 had beheaded in London, and the perpetual exile of the earl of War- 
 wick. None of the kindred of these lords came to the feast,' which 
 was of course very poorly attended. 
 
 The king, after this tournament, made preparations to go to Ire- 
 land. He left his queen, Isabella, and her household at Windsor 
 castle, and took the road to Bristol, where he laid in ample purvey- 
 ances and stores. He had with him full two thousand lances, knights 
 and squires, and ten thousand archers. When the Londoners heard 
 he was set out, they began to murmur together and say : " Well ! 
 Richard of Bordeaux has taken the road to Bristol for Ireland. It 
 will be his destruction: never will he return thence to joy, more than 
 his ancestor, king Edwaiid, who governed his realm so foolishly, 
 through the counsels of the Despencers, and paid for it. This Rich, 
 ard of Bordeaux has confided so long in weak and wicked counsel- 
 lors, that it cannot longer be borne." 
 
 You must know, that although many barons, knights, and squires 
 accompanied the king in his expedition to Ireland, they were much 
 discontented with him, and did not follow him with a good will. 
 When they were together, they conversed, saying, " Our king gov- 
 erns very badly, and too readily believes weak counsel." This was 
 so often and so loudly spoken of throughout the realm, particularly 
 by the earl of Northumberland and his son Harry Percy, that the 
 king's ministers heard of it and said to the king : " Sire, the earl of 
 Northumberland and his son say things that must not be suffered, 
 for they want to excite your subjects to rise against you. Every 
 
 rebel must be punished, one after another, that the greatest barona 
 may fear you, and take example." " That is true," replied the king: 
 "how shall I act on this occasion ?" " We will tell you, sire : they 
 are to join this expedition, but not yet arrived. When they come, 
 order them to your presence by the earl of Salisbury or any other 
 you please, and then remonstrate with them on the injurious speeches 
 they have uttered against you and your ministers. You will hear 
 what answer they make, and, as that may be, consider how you 
 shall punish them, by imprisonment or otherwise." The king replied, 
 " You say well, and what you advise shall be done." 
 
 The earl of Northumberland and his son had good friends on this 
 expedition, by whom great part of the secret councils of the king 
 were revealed : they were strongly advised not to join. the armament 
 nor appear in the king's presence, for that he was so wroth with them, 
 they would at least be severely reprimanded, if not imprisoned. On 
 hearing this, they retarded their journey toward Bristol ; for, accord- 
 ing to the intelligence sent them, had they come, they v/ould have 
 run a risk of their lives. The king's ministers, perceiving the eaid 
 of Northumberland did not arrive, said to him, " See, sire, if we did 
 not tell you the truth : neither the earl of Northumberland nor his 
 son condescend to serve you, although ordered ; and, if you send 
 them a special summons, you will have a confirmation that what we 
 have told you is true." The king said, it should be done. Letters 
 were signed, sealed, and sent off by a special messenger, containing 
 orders for the earl of Northumberland and sir Henry Percy instantly 
 to join the king's forces, and perform their duties as they were 
 bounden to do. The messenger continued his journey to a very 
 handsome castle* of the earl of Northumberland, on the borders of 
 Scotland, and delivered his letters. The earl read them attentively, 
 and then gave them to his son. 
 
 They determined to entertain the messenger well, and to write to 
 the king to excuse themselves, as they were no way prepared, nor 
 could they leave their own country, as the king had a sufficiency of 
 men for the business he was going upon. The messenger returned 
 with his answers and gave them to the king; but they were not 
 agreeable to him nor to his ministers, and for this and other charges, 
 which were publicly made against the earl of Northumberland and 
 his son, they were banished England, never to return until recalled 
 by the king. This sentence was published in London, and in all 
 the towns of England, to the great astonishment of the citizens, who 
 could not conceive why they had thus been so severely punished; 
 for they had always considered the earl of Northumberland and sir 
 Henry Percy as two of the most loyal subjects in the realm. Some 
 said, when conversing on this matter, that " the ministers of the king 
 hated them, and would in the end cause their master's destruction. 
 It may be that the earl and his son have talked too freely about the 
 king's ministers, and his foolish government: and, as truth is not 
 always agreeable, these gallant knights suffer for it ; but those who 
 have now judged them may hereafter have their turn." 
 
 Such were the conversations of the discontented Londoners, as 
 well as of the majority of the English people. The earl and his son 
 were connected by blood with the noblest and richest families, who 
 were exasperated by their banishment ; and among them his brother, 
 sir Thomas Percy, who had done many very great services to the 
 crown of England. When the earl heard of his banishment, he sum- 
 moned all his friends and relations ; but many were with the king 
 and could not attend. On their assembling, he consulted them how 
 he should act in the disgrace the king had so undeservedly heaped 
 on him ; and it was determined to send to Scotland, to request the 
 king would afford the earl and his son an asylum in that country until 
 affairs should mend, or the king's anger be pacified. This resolution 
 was adopted, and a messenger sent to the king of Scotland to make 
 the above request. King Robert, the earl Archibald of Douglas, and 
 the barons of Scotland, cheerfully complied with it, and returned for 
 answer, that the kingdom was ready to receive them ; and, if they 
 wanted five or six hundred lances, they would be instantly at their 
 service, on hearing from them. This answer was highly pleasing to 
 the earl of Northumberland and his kindred ; and things remained 
 in this state, the earl in his own country among his friends ; for king 
 Richard and his advisers had in a short time so much to do, that 
 they had no leisure to attend to the earl of Northumberland, nor to 
 say to him, " Quit the kingdom, or we will force you." They were 
 obliged to give up all thoughts but for their own safety, as you will 
 hear in the course of this history. 
 
 CHAPTER CVI. 
 
 THE ENGLISH, AND PARTICULARLY THE LONDONERS, RISE IN FAVOR OF THE 
 EARL OF DERBY AGAINST KING RICHARD. 
 
 During the time king Richard was holding his court at Bristol and 
 in that neighborhood, there was a general insurrection of the people 
 of England. The courts of justice were closed ; at which many of 
 the prelates, barons and prudent part of the people, who only wanted 
 for peace and to pay what was lawful, were much dejected. A stop 
 was put to all traffic, for merchants dared not travel for fear of being 
 robbed, and having no courts to apply to for redress. All these things 
 
 * Alowick. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, <fcc 
 
 613 
 
 were very prejudicial, and contrary to the usual customs of the coun- 
 try ; for in general all people, laborers and tradesmen, lived peace, 
 ably, and followed their occupations without hindrance, but it was 
 now quite the contrary. When merchants went with their goods 
 from one town to another, and had any money in their purses, it was 
 taken from them. The farmers' houses were pillaged of grain, and 
 their beeves, pigs and sheep carried away, without the owners da- 
 ring to say a word. These enormities increased so much, there was 
 nothing but complaints heard. The common people said, "Times 
 are sadly changed for the worse since the days of king Edward of 
 happy memory. Justice was then rigorous in punishing the wicked. 
 Then there was no man in England daring enough to take a fowl or 
 sheep without paying for them, but now they carry off all things, and 
 we must not speak. . This cannot go on without the country being 
 ruined, and yet no one attempts to check it. We have a good-for- 
 nothing king, who only attends to his idle pleasures ; and, as it should 
 seem, he cares not how public aftairs are managed, so that his incli- 
 nations are gratified We must look for a remedy, or our enemies 
 und ill-witihers will be rejoiced and laugh at us. King Richard has 
 made hi? brother the earl of Hantiiigdon, governor of Calais, and 
 percha:i-:o ihjtj lasv bo some underhand treaties going forward to 
 ui-reader it t;) the French, although it be ao necessary and conve- 
 ,isnt toKn^had: should this happen no nation will be evermore 
 ■Jiscjiniifei Ihaa the English, and with good reason, for they will 
 'oae tlie kevo of the entrance to France." These murmurings and 
 'liscoiUL-it-i muUipiied ; and the prelates and rich barons came to live 
 ui L.^ndo:-!, t.vst tiiey might avoid the troubles and dangers which 
 were inrii-yasinj ihroughout the kingdom. The families of those 
 whom the king ii::u put to death or banished, were rejoiced, and 
 h)oked out for greater mischiefs as the consequence. 
 
 The citize:i -; of London, who being rich from their trade, are en- 
 abled to live ill sfitc, aud by whom the other parts of England are 
 g merai'y governed, foresaw thut mo.=-t d i vi' t dus consequences would 
 riisue, unless they sstepped forward, a.i t if / nad wisely done formerly 
 :igain3t ki ig Edward and the Despeiicers, whodaad forced queen Isa- 
 bella and the prince of Wales out of the kingdom, and wanted to 
 destroy them. The king had no cause for so doing, but they were 
 absent from England three years. When the Londoners perceived 
 king Edward so besotted with the Despencers, they provided a remedy 
 by sending secretly to queen Isabella information, that if she could col- 
 lect a body of three hundred armed men, and land with them in Eng- 
 land, she would find the citizens of London and the majority of the 
 nobles and commonalty, ready to join her, and place her on the throne. 
 The queen found a friend in sir John of Hainault, lord of Beaumont 
 and Chimay, and brother to count William of Hainault, who under- 
 took, through affection and pity, to carry her and her son back to Eng- 
 land. He exerted himself so much in her service, with knights and 
 squires, that he collected a body of four hundred, and landed them 
 in England, to the great comfort of the Londoners. The citizens 
 joined" them, for, without their assistance they would never have ac- 
 complished their enterprise. King Edward was made prisoner at 
 Bristol, and carried to Berkeley castle, where he died. His advisers 
 were all put to death with much cruelty ; and that same day king Ed- 
 ward HI. was crowned king of England, in the palace of Westminster. 
 
 The Londoners remembered all these circumstances very well ; for 
 the children of those days, now become men, had often had them 
 told by their fathers, and others read them in die chronicles of those 
 times. They therefore said one to another privately : " Our ances- 
 tors, in former days, provided a remedy for the mischiefs that afflicted 
 the country, which were not so alarming as at this moment : if this 
 wicked king Richard be suffered to rule according to his pleasure, 
 we must all be ruined, and the country destroyed. Ever since he 
 began his reign the kingdom has not prospered to the degree in which 
 it did before : he shows no signs of being the son of the prince of 
 Wales ; for, if he were his son, he would follow his manners, and 
 lake pleasure in imitating his prowess, instead of idly dallying with 
 ladies, and spending his time among them, or putting his confidence 
 in those who have- neither weight nor sense, but in amassing treasures 
 "and destroying England, Have not the traitors near his person in- 
 famously murdered that valiant duke of Gloucester, because he saw 
 clearly public aff'airs were badly governed, going on from bad to worse, 
 and spoke boldly the truth concerning them ? Have they not also 
 put to death that gallant knight the earl of Arundel, and banished 
 Enidand, without reason, the gentle sir Henry of Lancaster, earl of 
 Derby, by v/h )ni, and his four promising sons, the kingdom ought 
 to be s'upp;)rt^;d ? This cruel conduct is much aggravated ; for, while 
 they make the earl suffer many disgusts beyond sea, they have disin- 
 herited his children of the estates that devolved to them from their 
 (rrandmother, the' lady Biaiiche of Lancaster, by dividing and dislribu. 
 ting theni daily to thor^e who are unworthy to possess them. Because 
 thole two g.iHant knights, the earl of Northumberland and sir Henry 
 Percy, have spoken their minds on this subject, king Richard has 
 also banished them : it is clear there will not soon be any men of 
 courage and honesty in the country, and hatreds and discontent are 
 now increasing everywhere, so that if a remedy be not sought for, all 
 things will falfto ruin. The remedy is in the earl of Derby, who is 
 now'losing his time in France : him we must send for, and on his 
 arrival, appoint him regent of the kingdom, that he may reform all 
 abuses, and punish those who have used him so ill. Richard of Bor- 
 
 deaux must be arrested and confined in the tower of London, when 
 all his actions will be examined and put into writing, which are suf- 
 ficiently numerous, and will prove clearly he is unworthy to govern 
 a kingdom and wear a crown : his acts are so infamous, that they 
 will condemn him." 
 
 CHAPTER CVII. 
 
 THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY IS SENT TO FRANCE BY THE LONDONERS, 
 AND OTHERS OF THEIR PARTY IN ENGLAND, TO BRING BACK THE EARL 
 OF DERBY. 
 
 Such was the language of the Londoners, and of many others 
 throughout England ; but, although much was done to excite the 
 people to insurrection, they would never have attempted what they 
 did, if the Londoners had not set them the example. The citi- 
 zens of London, who, from their power and wealth, lead the rest of 
 England, held several secret councils, to which were admitted some 
 prelates and knights, when they resolved to send in search of the 
 earl of Derby, who was residing at Paris or thereabout, and bring 
 him back to England. On his return they were to remonstrate with 
 him on the weak government of wicked king Richard, and propose, 
 if he would undertake it, to give him the crown, and elect him and 
 his heirs kings for ever, on condition that he promised to govern ac- 
 cording to ancient usages of the country. They next thought on 
 the most proper person to send on this commission: he must be 
 prudent and brave ; for it would be a grand enterprise to seduce the 
 earl from France, when the king and his uncles were showing him 
 every token of love and courtesy ; and he would not put any belief 
 in the simple propositions of a low-born person, nor any letters that 
 were sent him, but rather the contrary. In consequence, they en 
 treated the archbishop of Canterbury,* a man of prudence and wis- 
 dom, to undertake it, who, for the good of his country, complied with 
 the request. He made his preparations for the jounjey so privately, 
 that none knew of his departure but those in the secret. He, with 
 six more, embarked on board a vessel on the Thames, and landed at 
 Sluys, thence lie went to Ardembourg, Ghent, Oudenarde, Ath, Conde 
 and Valenciennes, and stopped at the hotel of the Swan, in the mar- 
 ket-place. Having staid there three days to recover himself, he pur- 
 sued his journey, not as archbishop of Canterbury, but like a simple 
 monk on a pilgrimage, discovering to no one his rank, nor the business 
 he was about. He departed from Valenciennes the fourth day, hav- 
 ing hired a guide to conduct him to Paris, giving out that he was on 
 a pilgrimage to Saint Maur des Fosses.t He arrived at length where 
 the ear of Derby resided, which was, I believe, at the h6tel de Vin- 
 chester,t near Paris. 
 
 When the earl of Derby first saw the archbishop, his heart rejoiced 
 and he recovered his spirits. Those about him were well pleased, 
 for they concluded he had brought some important intelligence from 
 England. The archbishop, however, did not discover the cause of 
 his'coming, and, to prevent any suspicions of it, said he was on a pil- 
 grimage to Saint Maur des Fosses, which the earl's attendants be- 
 lieved and were satisfied. When the archbishop thought it was time 
 to make the object of his journey known, he took the earl into a pri- 
 vate chamber, and there informed him of the miserable state England 
 was in; that violence and desolation ruled in many parts, and that, 
 by the king's fault, there was neither law nor justice : that the Lon- 
 doners, with some prelates and valiant men, had determined to remedy 
 these evils, and that for this he had been sent by them to say, that 
 if the earl would return to England (for he was wasting his time in 
 France) they would make him king : Richard of Bordeaux had done, 
 or consented to so many atrocious acts, that the people were indig- 
 nant, and resolved to rise against him. " Now is the time or never," 
 added the archbishop, " for you to seek your deliverance, and the 
 advantage of yourself and children ; for if you do not, no one else 
 will for them, since this Richard of Bordeaux is giving away all their 
 estates to his minions, or to whoever asks for them. The citizens of 
 London, and many other gallant men, are greatly enraged at such 
 conduct, and would amend it if they could, thoucii hitherto they have 
 been silent. He has filled up the measure of his crimes by the mur- 
 der of the duke of Gloucester, the beheading of the earl ot Arundel 
 without cause, the exile of the earl of Warwick, and your banishment ; 
 clearly showing his intentions to deprive England ot its nobles and 
 the support she might have from them, tor he has lately banished 
 the earl of Northumberland and his son because they talked too 
 freely of him and his ministers. The citizens of London and the 
 greater part of the prelates and barpns of England entreat you will 
 not sleep over this business, but that you xAW take leave ot the kmg 
 of France and the French, and return home, where you will be joy- 
 
 * Thomas Fitz-alan, son to the earl of Arundel. 
 
 t Saint Maur des Fosses-a town in the Isle of France, dioco<e ot Paris. 
 
 1 Froissart has said before, the earl of Derby resided at the hotel de Clissou near the 
 Temple This hotel de Viiichester was so called from having been budt by john bishop 
 of Winche-ter, 1204. It bcl ui-ed. at the period we arj now speaking of. to the duke ot 
 Berry.— i^AVVAL, Jnti(!uUcs de Paris. tj . j « -u 
 
 There seems ii inist.iik j as to the name of the bzshop of Winchester. Peter de Rupibus 
 was biiThop 1204, and died 1238. 
 
 This hotel de Viuchesler is pronounced, by corruption, Bicetre, and is now used as a 
 prison, an h-spital, and an asylum for lunatjcs; the buildings have been much extended 
 in modern times. 
 
614 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 fully received, and every promise I have made be punctually fulfilled, 
 for the country desires none other than you for their king, so much 
 are you beloved and respected." 
 
 When the earl of Derby had heard this speech of the archbishop, 
 he did not immediately reply, but, leaning on a window that looked 
 into the gardens, mused awhile, and having various thoughts in his 
 mind, turned to the bishop, and said: "My lord, your speech requires 
 much consideration. I would be unwilling to begin an enterprise 
 and be forced to leave it unfinished, for I well know, that unless by 
 the means you propose, it will be a long time before I return to Eng. 
 land. I am loth to resort to this, for the 
 king of France and his nobles have paid 
 me every honor and attention, and will con- 
 tinue so to do, as long as I shall please to 
 live among them. Should I accept of the 
 offers and kind promises which you and my 
 good fiends the citizens of London make, 
 I must subject myself to their will, arrest 
 king Richard, and put him to death. For 
 this I shall be universally blamed, and I 
 would n.ot willingly do so, if any other 
 means could be adopted." " My lord," re- 
 plied the archbishop, " I am sent hither 
 with every good disposition toward you. 
 Call in your council and lay before them 
 the propositions I have made : I will also 
 explain why I am deputed hither, and I do 
 not think they will advise you to act other- 
 wise than to accept them." "I consent," 
 said the earl, "for such matters demand 
 great consideration." 
 
 The earl of Derby sent for those knights 
 and squires in whom he had the most con- 
 fidence, and in their presence desired the; 
 archbishop to repeat what he had just told 
 him ; which being done, he asked their 
 advice how he should act. They unani. 
 mously answered : " My lord, God has taken 
 compassion on you : be careful how you 
 refuse such offers, for you will never have 
 more advantageous ones made you. Who. 
 ever will examine your blood, will find that 
 
 it descends in a straight line from Saint Edward, king of England. 
 Thank your good friends the Londoners for wishing to deliver you 
 from exile, and for having pity on your children and the kingdom of 
 England, which now is sorely troubled. Have you forgotten the many 
 wrong? this Richard of Bordeaux has done you, and who does not dis. 
 semble his wishes to add to them daily. When your marriage with the 
 lady Mary of Berry was on the point of being concluded, did he not 
 send over the earl of Salisbury to break off the match, and to accuse 
 you before the king and his whole court of being a false and wicked 
 traitor ? Such things are unpardonable, and you should rather seek 
 for means of revenge. If you will not help yourself, no one will do 
 it for you : consider well, therefore, all we have said." 
 
 To shorten the matter, the earl managed his affairs with much dis. 
 cretion, and took leave of all the lords who were then at court: on 
 his departure, he made very handsome presents to the king's officers, 
 for he was bounden so to do ; and to the heralds and minstrels re- 
 sident in Paris, and who attended the farewell supper he gave at 
 the hotel de Clisson to such of the French knights as chose to par- 
 take of it. 
 
 These things done, on the next morning he and his attendants 
 mounted their horses and left Paris by the gate of St. James, follow, 
 ing the road to Estampes. A knight from Beauce called sir Guy le 
 
 CHAPTER CVIII. 
 
 THE EARL OF DERBY TAKES LEAVE OF THE KING AND LORDS OF FRANCE 
 TO VISIT HIS COUSIN THE DUKE OF BRITTANY. 
 
 The earl of Derby's courage Vv'as raised on hearing his council thus 
 boldly declare their opinion, and he said ; " I will do whatever you 
 advise, for I have called you together to have your counsel." They 
 unanimously answered, " You say well ; and we will advise you 
 according to circumstances, to the best of our power." After this, 
 they carried on their business so very secretly, that none of the house- 
 hold but those immediately concerned knew anything of what was 
 going forward. They consulted how they could cross the sea before 
 any news of their intention should reach England, and whether to 
 travel through Hainault and Holland, and embark at Dordrecht, or to 
 go to Brittany under pretence of visiting the duke, sail from one of 
 his ports, and land at Plymouth or any other place whither God 
 might please to send them. Everything considered, they thought the 
 road through Brittany the easiest accomplished : and they advised the 
 earl, saying, " My lord, you will take leave of the king of France, 
 his brother, and uncles, and thank them warmly for the affection and 
 courtesy they have shown you. After this, you will request the king 
 to grant you an escort to Brittany, to visit the duke and stay some 
 time with him." 
 
 The earl of Derby consented, and came to Paris, where all things 
 were prepared for his departure : he waited on the king as usual 
 whenever he pleased, for the doors of the palace were open to him 
 at all hours. At this last visit, he talked to the king very ably, as he 
 knew well how to do, as to his future plans, and said he would go 
 and amuse himself in Brittany and visit the duke, whom he called 
 his uncle, for he had married a sister to his father, daughter to king 
 Edward, The king, not thinking he was plotting mischief, easily 
 assented ; and the earl, having requested an escort to Brittany, the 
 king promised to give instant oy^^rs for 9pe to be at hjs command. 
 
 Earl of Ukrby taking leave or thb King and Lords or France at Paris. From MSS. of the 15th Century. 
 
 Baveux, escorted them. They continued their journey to Blois, where 
 they remained eight days ; for the earl had sent forward one of his 
 knights and a herald, to signify to the duke his intention of visiting 
 him, and the circumstance of his being on the road. The duke of 
 Brittany was veiy happy to learn that his nephew, the earl of Derby, 
 was coming to see him ; for he was attached to him, and had always 
 loved the duke of Lancaster and his other brothers. " Why," said 
 the duke to the knight, whose name was sir William de la Perriere, 
 " has our nephew stopped on the road, since he intends to visit us, 
 and has not come directly hither ?" The knight excused him as weil 
 as he could ; but the duke said, " It is foolish ; for there is no knight 
 whom for these last seven years I should more gladly see in Brittany 
 than my fair nephew the earl of Derby. Let him come to us with a 
 hearty welcome, and he shall find my country and towns open and 
 ready to receive him." The knight was well contented with this 
 answer, and set out on his return as speedily as possible. On his 
 arrival at Blois, he told the earl and his council the words of the duke 
 of Brittany. On the morrow they mounted their horses, and left 
 Blois, with the good wishes of the inhabitants, who had been paid 
 most liberally for everything they had wanted, and all were contented. 
 
 In company with the earl of Derby was sir Peter de Craon, who 
 had been so much harassed by the parliament of Paris in his suit 
 with the queen of Naples, that he was in a manner banished from 
 France, and all his castles and estates sequestered for payment of 
 the one hundred thousand francs he was indebted to the queen, and 
 various other heavy sums incidental to the costs and expenses of 
 this suit. The earl of Derby journeyed on until he came to Nantes, 
 where he met the duke of Brittany, who received him and his com- 
 pany with much joy. Sir Guy le Baveux returned to France, and 
 the earl staid with the duke, who entertained him in the best man- 
 ner. The archbishop of Canterbury accompanied the earl, but did 
 not open himself to any one on the cause of his coming, so that it 
 was a perfect secret excepting to the earl and his council. The 
 duke, to show his love, spared no expense in entertaining his 
 nephew and his attendants, although he knew king Richard was 
 very v/roth against him, for which he pitied him. 
 
 The earl, noticing the great affection of the duke, by the advice 
 of his council discovered some parts of his plan, by way of sounding 
 him on the subject. He asked his advice how to act in respect to 
 his inheritance of the duchy of Lancaster, and others which his 
 father had held, and by right of succession had at his death devolved 
 on him : but that the king, far from allowing him to have possession 
 of them, had banished him from England, and was daily giving 
 away the estates of his family to any who asked for them; that num. 
 bers of the nobles and prelates were exceedingly discontented with 
 the king for this conduct, and that many parts of England were in a 
 state of warfare against each other ; that the good people of London 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, & 
 
 615 
 
 iad compassion on him, and had given him to understand they 
 would cheerfully receive him, if he would return, and bring about a 
 reconciliation between him and the king, and recover lor hini his 
 .nheritances. When the duke of Brittany heard this, he replied : 
 « Fair nephew, the straightest road is always the best and surest. 
 You are in a distressing situation, and ask advice: I therefore 
 recommend you to trust to the Londoners : they are powerful, and 
 will force king Richard, who, I understand, has behaved to you very 
 unjustly, to do as they shall pLe^ise, in conjunction with the prelates 
 and nobles who are attached to you in England. I will assist you 
 with vessels, men-at-arms, and cross-bows, to convey you over the 
 eea, and to defend you against any dangers you may meet with. 
 The earl of Derby was very thankful to the duke of Brittany tor 
 this advice and offer. 
 
 CHAPTER CIX. 
 
 HIS 
 
 THE EARL OF DERBY SAILS FROM BRITTANY TO ENGLAND. 
 RECEPTION BY THE CITIZENS OF LONDON. 
 
 Thus were all things settled most amicably between the duke of 
 Brittany and the earl of Derby, who staid some time with the duke, 
 and gave out that he would remain longer ; but, in the mean time, 
 his purveyances were preparing at a distant seaport, which I believe 
 was Vannes, whither the duke and earl came when all things were 
 ready. When the wind was favorable for England, the earl and his 
 attendants embarked on board the vessel prepared for him. He was 
 to be escorted by three ships full of men-at-arms and cross-bows, as 
 far as the coasts of England. The fleet, having weighed anchor, put 
 to sea, and the farther they advanced toward England, the more fa- 
 vorable was the v/ind, so that, within two days and as many nights, 
 they arrived at Plymouth, where they landed, few at a time, and 
 entered the town.* The bailiff of Plymouth, to whom the king had 
 intrusted the guard of the town, was astonished to see so many men- 
 ut-urms and cross-bows ; but the archbishop of Canterbury satisfied 
 him, by saying they were men-at-nrms whom the duke of Brittany 
 had sent for th3 good of the realm, and to serve the king and coun- 
 try. The baiiiff's suspicions were lulled ; and the earl so disguised 
 himself, that he was not discovered by any of the townsmen, and 
 retired to a private chamber, where he remained shut up. The 
 archbishop, on their a-rival at Plymouth, instantly wrote letters, 
 signed and lealed by him, which he dispatched by one of his ser- 
 vants to London, to inform the citizens of the earl's landing. 
 
 The messenger made such haste, by changing horses in the dif- 
 ferent towns he passed through, that he arrived at London by break 
 of day on the following morning. He entered the city by London 
 bridge gate, which was not shut, and went to the house ol the mayor, 
 who was in bed ; but, on hearing a messenger was come from the 
 archbishop, he leaped out of it, and ordered the man into his cham- 
 ber, who gave him the letters from the archbishop. The mayor 
 opened and read their contents with pleasure, and instantly dressing 
 himself, sent off his servants with the intelligence ol the earl of 
 Derby's landing, to the houses of those who had been the most ac- 
 tive in sending for him. All were rejoiced at the news ; and about 
 two hundred of the principal citizens assembled, who held no long 
 council, for the case did not require it, but cried out: " Come, let 
 us hasten to make ourselves ready, and go and meet our lord ol 
 Lancaster, since we have invited him hither. The archbishop of 
 Canterbury has done well to bring him ; and let the earl's arrival be 
 made known to such gallant lords and knights as are desirous to see 
 him, and h.ivc him for their sovereign." Many persons were then 
 selected to publish this intelligence, and carry it to the barons, 
 knights, and equires of their party. Upv/ard of five hundred Lon- 
 doners mounted their horses, and were so impatient to see the earl 
 of Derby, that they would scarcely wait one for another. 
 
 The earl made no long slay at Plymouth, but on the morrow, 
 when the horses were disembarked, mounted them and took the 
 road to London. Sir Peter de Craon and the Bretons still accom- 
 panied the earl of Derby. The mayor of London and the chief 
 citizens were the first who met the earl and the archbishop on the 
 road. The meeting was very affectionate on both sides ; and as 
 they'rode onv/ard, they met niore of the Londoners. They lay the 
 first ni^^ht at Guildford, twenty-eight miles from London. On the 
 morrow, all the city of London knew that the earl of Derby was 
 coming thither, and men, women, children, and clergy, dressed in 
 their best clcihcs, went to meet him, so eager were they to see mm. 
 The moment he carne in ^:ight, they shouted out, "Welcome, iong. 
 wished-for earl of Derby and duke of Lancaster: may all joy and 
 prosperity attend you !" They said : " that ever since he had let t 
 Encriand uotliin- .eoOd had befallen it: by him all things would be 
 restored, and put on a proper footing ; for we have lived in a wretched 
 fctate by the miserable councils of Richard of Bordeaux, but he is 
 most blame.able himself; for a king, to succeed in the good govern- 
 ment of his kingdom, should have sense and discretion enough to 
 distinguish between good and evil, otherwise he is unfit to wear a 
 crown ; but this Richard has, in many respects, acted wrong from 
 design, as shall be proved against him." Such were the greetings 
 ihe r-.arl of Derby hud on his approach to London. The mayor ot 
 
 London rode by the side of the earl, to the delight of the people 
 who were pleased to see how kindly they were received. Tl 
 mayor said, " See, my lord, how much the people are rejoiced a 
 your arrival." " It is very true," replied the earl. As he advanced 
 le bowed his head to the right and left, and noticed all comers with 
 kindness. 
 
 In this state they arrived in London, when the earl was escorted 
 to his house ; and every one retired to his own until he had dined. 
 Then the mayor, the chief magistrates of London, and many barons, 
 knights, bishops, abbots, at the time in town, came to sec the earl 
 and congratulate him. The duchess of Gloucester and her two 
 daughters, who were his cousins-german, waited likewise on him ; 
 but their brother Humphrey was with the king on his expedition to 
 Ireland, more through constraint than love. V/ith these ladies came 
 the countess of Arundel and some of her children, as d^id the lady 
 Warwick and many other ladies resident in London. The whole 
 town was so rejoiced at the earl's return, that every shop was shut, 
 and no more work done than if it had been Easter-day. 
 
 CHAPTER ex. 
 
 THE EARL OF DERBY, NOW DUKE OF LANCASTER, UNDERTAKES THE GQV- 
 ERNIvll^Tr OF ENGLAND, AND, BY THE AID OF THE LONDONERS, DETER- 
 MINES TO SEIZE THE THRONE. HE MARCHES IN ARMS AGAINST KING 
 RICHARD AT BRISTOL. 
 
 To bring this matter to a conclusion, it was determined to march 
 against the king, whom the citizens of London and other towns 
 called by no other title than Richard of Bordeaux : and the lower 
 classes had such a hatred to him, as not to be able to speak of him 
 but in his dispraise. The Londoners already treated the earl of 
 Derby as their king, and had formed resolutions accordingly. The 
 earl of Derby engaged to undertake the government of England on 
 condition the crown was setded on him and his heirs for ever, which 
 the Londoners swore to observe, under their hands and seals, and 
 promised that the rest of England should do the same in so solemn 
 a manner that there never should be a question concerning it : they 
 also promised him assistance in men and money. These obligations 
 having been entered into on each side, which did not take much 
 time, for they were in haste to free them^selves, twelve hundred,* 
 well armed and mounted, were ordered to accompany the earl of 
 Derby toward Bristol, to make Richard of Bordeaux a prisoner, and 
 conduct him to London. When there, he should be legally tried 
 before the nobles, prelates, and commons of England, and judged 
 according to the proof of the charges laid against him. It was also 
 ordered, to avoid slanderous reports, that the men-at-arms and cross- 
 bows, who had been lent by the duke of Brittany to the earl, as his 
 escort, should be sent back, for they had men sufficient for the pur 
 pose they were about. The earl, in consequence, called the Bretons 
 before him, thanked them warmly for the services they had ren- 
 dered him, and on their departure, gave them so much money that 
 they were contented. They returned to their vessels at Plymouth, 
 and thence sailed to Brittany. 
 
 The earl of Derby was prepared to march to Bristol as command- 
 er-in-chief of these Londoners, for he was more interested in the 
 matter tl'an any one else, and set out in grand array. He pressed 
 his march as much as he could, and was joined by all the countries 
 he passed through. News was carried to the army of king Richard,t 
 of the march of the earl of Derby and the Londoners ; but it was 
 known to many knights, squires, and archers, before the king ; and 
 several heard it who were afraid to tell him. When it became more 
 public, there were many murmurings in the army ; and those about 
 the person of the king were exceedingly alarmed, for they now saw 
 matters were ripe with every mischief and danger to the king and to 
 themselves. They knew they had many enemies in the kingdom ; 
 and that such as had hitherto kept up fair appearances, now the earl 
 of Derby was come back, would turn against them. Thus did it 
 happen ; for numbers of knights and squires v.'ho had served the 
 king in this campaign, dissembled, and quitted him without taking 
 leave, or saying they were going away. Some ifctired to their houses, 
 and others went straight to the earl of Derby and joined his army. 
 As soon as Humphrey of Gloucester, and Richard of Arundel, son 
 to the late earl, knew for certain of the earl of Derby's approach, 
 they left the king, and never stopped until they had joined him. 
 The earl and his army had passed Oxford, and were then at a town 
 called Cirencester : he had great joy in receiving his cousins, and 
 asked the state of king Richard, where he was, and how they had 
 managed to quit him. They replied, that they had not spoken to 
 him their departure : but the moment they had heard of his march, 
 they had mounted their horses, and hastened to offer him th^ir ser- 
 vices, and to revenge the loss of their fathers, whom Richard of 
 Bordeaux had put to death. The earl bade them welcome, and 
 said : " We will mutually assist each other. Richard of Bordeaux 
 must be carried to London., for so have I promised the Londoners, 
 and will keep my word, and they are willing to aid me with all their 
 power. We have men enough to fight with him ; and, if he wish 
 it, we will give him battle." 
 
 • This is a mistake: he probably coasted England, and landed a,t Ravenspum in 
 yojkshire, between Hull and Bridlington. 
 
 * "Twelve hundred."— tlie ftlSS. say twelve thousand, which is more prob{lbl*. 
 t Hichard was in Ualanti wiien t4ie news artived.-^'-fiD. 
 
616 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 CHAPTER CXI. 
 
 KING RICHARD IS INFORMED THAT THE EARL OF DERBY IS MARCHIN& 
 AGAINST HIM WITH A POWERFUL ARMY. HE RETIRES TO FLINT-CASTLE.* 
 
 When matters could not longer be concealed, it was told to king 
 Richard : " Sire, take care of yourself : you must have good and 
 speedy counsel, for the Londoners have risen with a mighty power, 
 and intend to march against you. They have elected the earl of 
 Derby, your cousin, their commander, and by his advice they act: 
 you may be assured that some strong treaties have been entered into 
 between thum, since he has crossed the sea by their invitation." 
 The king was thunderstruck at hearing this, and knew not what 
 answer to make ; for his courage forsook him, and he foresaw affairs 
 would end badly unless proper steps were immediately taken. Hav- 
 ing mused a while, he replied to the knights who had given him 
 this information : " Instantly make ready our men-at-arms and 
 archers, and issue a special summons throughout the kingdom for 
 the assembling of ail my vassals, as I will not fly before my subjects." 
 " By God," answered the knights, " everything goes on badly, for 
 your men are leaving you and running off. You have already lost 
 half your army, and the remainder are panic-struck and wavering." 
 '* What can I do then ?" asked the king. " We will tell you, sire : 
 quit the field, for you cannot hold it longer, and make for one of 
 your castles, where you can remain until your brother. Sir John 
 Holland, who is enterprising and courageous, and must now have 
 heard of the rebellion, come to you : he will, by force or negotia- 
 tions, bring your affairs into a different state from that in which they 
 are at present. When it is known that he has taken the field, many 
 who have fled from you will join him." The king agreed to this 
 advice. The earl of Salisbury was not then with him, but in an- 
 other part of the country ; and, when he heard that the earl of Derby 
 was marching a large army against the king, he judged things would 
 turn out badly for his master, and for all who had be'en his advisers. 
 He therefore remained quiet, waiting for further intelligence. 
 
 The duke of York had not accompanied the king on this expedi- 
 tion : but his son, the earl of Rutland, had been induced to join him, 
 for two reasons ; one, in return for the great affection king Richard 
 had shown him ; the other, because he was constable of England. 
 It was therefore necessary he should attend his king. Other news 
 was brought the king, as he supped : they said, " Sire, you must 
 determine how you will act ; for your army is as nothing compared 
 to the force marching against you, and a combat will be of no avail, 
 and appease the malcontents as you have formerly done, by kind 
 words and fair promises, and punish them afterward at your leisure. 
 There is a castle twelve miles from hence, called Flint, that is lul- 
 erably strong : we therefore advise that you fly thither and remain 
 shut up as long as you please, or until you hear other news from sir 
 John Holland and your friends. We will send to Ireland for succor ; 
 and when the king of France, your father-in-law, shall hear of your 
 distress, he will assist you." 
 
 King Richard listened to this advice, and thought it good : he se- 
 lected such as he wished to accompany him, and ordered the earl 
 of Rutland to remain at Bristol with the remnant of the army, ready 
 prepared to advance when they should hear other news, or when 
 they should be sufficiently strong to combat their enemies.* These 
 commands were obeyed; and the king, attended by his household 
 only, departed on the ensuing morning for Flint-castle, which they 
 entered without showing any appearance of making war on any one, 
 but solely to defend themselves and the place, should they be at- 
 lacked.t 
 
 CHAPTER CXII. 
 
 KING RICHARD SURRENDERS HIMSELF TO THE EARL OF DERBY, TO BE 
 
 CONDUCTED TO LONDON. 
 
 The earl of Derley and the Londoners had spies who brought them 
 daily accounts of the state of the king, which were confirmed by 
 knights and squires, who had left his army to join the earl. The 
 intelligence of the king having fled to Flint-castle was soon known 
 to him ; and that he had there shut himself up with a few men-at- 
 arms, of his household, showing no symptoms of making war, but 
 to get out of his difliculties, if possible, by a treaty. The earl was 
 advised to march thither, and get possession of his person by force 
 or othewise. This was followed ; and, when the army was within 
 i two miles of Flint, they came to a village, where they halted, and 
 I the earl refreshed himself with meat and drink. He there resolved 
 : i in his own mind, without consulting others, to march with only two 
 i hundred horse, leaving the rest behind, and, when near the castle 
 wherein the king was, to endeavor, by fair speeches, to enter the 
 castle, and cajole the king to come forth and trust to him, who 
 would 'insure him against all perils on his road to London, engaging 
 . • , that he should not suffer any bodily harm, and promising to mediate 
 1 1 ; between him and the Londoners, who were greatly enraged against 
 I him. This plan was approved of by those to whom he mentioned 
 i I it ; but he was told, " My lord, beware of any dissimulation in the 
 
 I i ; — — — — 
 
 * It was Conway castle to whicli Richard retired. 
 
 t This fvccount of Froiaart is very incorrect, and 1 refei to the different English 
 chronicles 
 
 business : Richard of Bordeaux must be taken dead or alive, with 
 all the traitors who have been his adyisers, and conducted to the 
 Tower of London. Neither the Londoners nor we will hear any- 
 thing to the contrary." The earl of Derby replied, " Do not fear; 
 what I have proposed shall be executed. If I can by fair words get 
 him out of the castle, I will do it ; but if he refuse to listen to me, I 
 shall instandy make you acquainted with it. You will advance the 
 main army immediately, and we will besiege the castle, and by 
 assault have him dead or alive, for the place is to be taken." 
 
 The Londoners were now satisfied, and the earl left the army with 
 two hundred horse. They soon came before the castle, where the 
 king was shut up in one of the chambers, much cast dov;n. The 
 earl and his men rode to the gate, which was closed, for the case 
 required it, and knocked loudly. Those within asked, " Who is 
 there ?" The earl replied, " I am Henry of Lancaster, and am come 
 to demand from the king my inheritance of the duchy of Lancaster. 
 Tell him so from me." " My lord," answered those v/ho heard him, 
 " we will cheerfully do it," and instantly ascended to the hall, where 
 the king was with those of his knights that had for a long time been 
 his chief counsellors, and related the message, for he was eager to 
 hear who had so rudely knocked at the gate : " Sire, it is your cousin 
 the earl of Derby, who is come to demand his inheritance from you." 
 The king looked at his knights, uud asked how he should act. 
 " Sire," replied they, " this request is no way improper : you may 
 allow him to come into your presence, with only eleven others, and 
 hear what he has to say. He is your cousin, and a great lord of the 
 country, and can besides, if he please, make up all differences ; for 
 he is exceedingly beloved in England, more especially by the Lon- 
 doners, who sent for him beyond sea, and are now in rebellion 
 against you. You must dissemble until matters be appeased, and 
 the earl of Huntingdon, your brother, arrived. It is unfortunate for 
 him and you that he is at this moment at Calais ; for there are many 
 in England who now rebel against you, that, were he by your side, 
 would remain quiet, and not dare take any part. He is married to 
 the sister of the earl of Derby, and by his good sense and exertions, 
 we hope and suppose he will make peace between you and your 
 people." 
 
 The king consented to this proposal, and said, " Go to him : have 
 the gates opened that he and eleven more may enter." Two knights 
 then left the king, and, crossing the court of the castle, came to the 
 gate, and had the wicket opened. Having pa&sed it, they bowed to 
 the earl of Derby and to his knights, addressing them in courteous 
 language ; for they felt they had no force to resist them, and that 
 they were hated by the Londoners. They wished therefore to acconi- 
 modate matters by fair speeches and' outward appearances. They 
 said to the earl, My lord, what is your pleasure ? The king is at 
 mass, and has sent us hither to speak with you." " I will tell you," 
 answered the earl. "You know that I ought to have possession of 
 the duchy of Lancaster : I am come partly on that account, and 
 on some other business I wish to speak of to the king." " My lord," 
 replied they, " you are welcome : the king will see and hear you 
 with pleasure, and has told us that you and eleven more may enter 
 the castle." The earl said it pleased him ; and he and eleven others 
 passed the wicket, which was instantly shut on the others who re- 
 mained without. 
 
 Consider the great risk and danger the earl of Derby ran, for they 
 could as easily have slain him, when in the castle (which they should 
 have done, right or wrong,) and his companions, as birds in a cage. 
 He never thought of the peril he was in, but went straight forward 
 and was conducted to the king. The king, on seeing him, changed 
 color, as one who knew he had greatly misconducted himself. The 
 earl spoke aloud, without paying any reverence or honor to the king, 
 and asked him, " Have you broken your fast ?" The king answered, 
 "No: it is yet early morn: why do you ask?" "It is time you 
 should breakfast," replied the earl, " for you have a long way to 
 ride." " What road ?" said the king. " You must come to Lon- 
 don," answered the earl : " and I advise that you eat and drink 
 heartily, to perform the journey more gayly." The king was now 
 very melancholy, and frightened at these words : he said, " I am not 
 as yet hungry, nor have I any desire to eat." The knights, desirous 
 to flatter the earl of Derby (perceiving things were taking a serious 
 turn,) said, " Sire, have confidence in my lord of Lancaster, your 
 cousin, for he can but wish your good." " Well," said the king, " I 
 am willing so to do : have the tables covered." 
 
 They hastened to obey these orders ; and the king washed his 
 hands, seated himself at table, and was served. They asked the 
 earl if he would not be seated, and eat. He said, " no : for that he 
 had breakfasted." During the time the king was eating (which was 
 not long, for his heart was too much oppressed to eat,) the 'whole 
 country was covered with men-at-arms and archers, who could be 
 plainly seen from the windows of the castle. The king, on rising 
 from table, perceived them, and asked his cousin the earl who they 
 were. He replied, " For the most part Londoners." " And what 
 do they want ?" said the king. " They want to take you," answered 
 the earl, " and carry you to the Tower of London, and there is not 
 any means of pacifying them, unless you consent to go." " No I" 
 replied the king, who was much frightened at hearing this, for he 
 knew the Londoners hated him, and continued, " cannot you, cousin, 
 prevent this ? I would not willingly yield myself into their hands j 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, fee 
 
 617 
 
 or I am aware they hate me, and have done so for a long time, 
 although I am their sovereign." The earl of Derby answered, "1 
 see no other way to prevent it, but to surrender yourself to me, and, 
 when they know you are my prisoner, they will not do you any 
 harm You must make preparations to be conducted and imprisoned 
 in the Tower of London with your attendants." The king, not 
 knowing how t. act in his distress, and fearing the Londoners would 
 put him to deaui, yielded himself prisoner to the ear ot Derby, 
 promising to do whatever he should advise. His knights, squires 
 and officers, surrendered in like majiner, to avoid greater danger. 
 The earl, in the presence of those who had accompanied him, received 
 the king and his attendants as his prisoners, and ordered the horses 
 10 be instant! V saddled, brought to the court, and the gates ot the 
 castle to be thrown open, on wl ich many men.al-arms and archers 
 Gil tcrcd i *^ • 
 
 The eail of Derby now issued a proclamation, that no one should 
 dare to touch anything in the castle, or lay hands on any servant or 
 officer of the king, under pain of being instantly hanged, lor that 
 every person and thing were under his special protection and guard. 
 This was obeyed, for there was not one bold enough to act contrary. 
 The earl conducted his cousin, king Richard, down stairs to the 
 court of the castle, continuing in close conversation with him, where 
 he had his usual state, witheut the smallest change having been 
 made in- it. While they were saddling the horses, and making 
 ready, they talked on different subjects, and were much looked at by 
 the Londoners. 
 
 I heard of a singular circumstance that happened, which 1 must 
 mention. Kin^,- Ricliard had a grayhound called Math,* beautiful 
 beyond measui" , who would not notice nor follow any one but the 
 king. Whenev. r the king rode abroad, the grayhound was loosed 
 by the person v no had him in charge, and ran instantly to caress 
 him, by placing his two fore-feet on his shoulders. It fell out, that 
 as the king and liie duke of Lancaster were conversing in the court 
 of the castle, their horses being ready for them to mount, the gray- 
 hound was untied, but, instead of running as usual to the king, he 
 left him^ and leaped to the diike of Lancaster's shoulders, paying 
 him every court, and caressing him as he was formerly used to caress 
 the king. The duke, not acquainted with this grayhound, asked the 
 king the meaning of this fondness, saying, " What does this mean ?'' 
 'Cousin," replied the king, "it means a great deal for you, and 
 very little for me." "How?" said the duke: "pray explain it." 
 " I understand it," answered the king, " that this grayhound fondles 
 and pays his court to you this day as king of England, which you 
 will surely be, and I shall be deposed, for the natural instinct of the 
 doer shows it to him. Keep him, therefore, by your side, for he will 
 now leave me, and follow you." The duke of Lancaster treasured 
 •ap what the king had said, and paid attention to the grayhound, who 
 would never more follow Richard of Bordeaux, but kept by the side 
 of the duke of Lancaster, as was witnessed by thirty thousand men. 
 
 low the road to Colnbrook, but that to Shene, and dined with th« 
 king at Chertsey. King Richard had earnestly requested his cousin/ 
 not to carry him through London, which was the reason they had 
 gone this road. 
 
 As soon as the Loncioners were masters of the king, they sent some 
 of the principal citizens to queen Isabella, who resided with the lady 
 of Coucy at Leeds castle. She was next in rank to the queen ; and 
 they addressed her : " Lady, make preparations of departure, for you 
 must no longer remain here. Take care on quitting the queen, that 
 you show not any tokens of anger at being dismissed; but sav, that 
 your husband and daughter have sent for you. This we advise you 
 to do, if you regard your life ; for, should you act any way ccntrary, 
 it will be forfeited. You have no need to ask questions, nor make 
 inquiries: you shall be conducted to Dover, and embark on board a 
 passage-boat to Boulogne." The lady of Coucy, afraid of these 
 menaces, and knowing those who made them to be cruel and 
 full of hatred, replied, " that in God's name, she would do as they 
 wished." Preparations were soon made: palfreys and liackneys 
 were provided for herself and attendants ; and all the French of both 
 sexes set off, escorted as far as Dover, where they were liberally paid, 
 according to their degrees. The first tide they embarked on board 
 a vessel, with a favorable wind to Boulogne. The household of the 
 queen was broken up, and neither French nor English were left witk 
 her who were attached to king Richard. A new one was formed 
 of ladies, damsels, officers, and varlets, who were strictly enjoined 
 never to mention the name of king Richard in their conversations 
 with her. 
 
 The duke of Lancaster and his company, on his departure from 
 Chertsey, rode to Shene, and, during the night, conducted the king 
 and such of his knights and others as they wished to confine, to the 
 Tower of London. On the morrow, the Londoners heard the king 
 was in the Tower, and were much rejoiced ; but there were many 
 murmurings that he had been brought thither privately, and the peo- 
 pie were very angry with the duke of Lancaster because he had not 
 carried him publicly through the streets in open day, not to do him 
 honor, but that they might show their scorn, so much was he hated 
 by them. Consider how serious a thing it is when the people rise 
 up in arms against their sovereign, more especially such a people as 
 the English. In such a case, there is no remedy ; for they are the 
 worst people in the world, the most obstinate and presumptuous ; and 
 of all England the Londoners are the leaders, for to say the truth, 
 they are very powerful in men and in wealth. In the city and neigh- 
 borhood, there are twenty-four thousand men, completely armed from 
 head to foot, and full thirty thousand archers. This is a great force, 
 and they are bold and courageous ; and the more blood is spilt, the 
 greater their courage. 
 
 CHAPTER CXIII. 
 
 THE LADY DE COUCY IS TAKEN AWAY FROM THE YOUNG QUEEj^J OF ENG- 
 r,AND, AND A NEW HOUSEHOLD APPOINTED FOR HER. KING EgCHARD IS 
 CONFINED IN THE TOV/ER OF LONDON. 
 
 Having mounted their horses, they departed from Flint-castle,t and 
 Henry duke of Lancaster, whom we shall no longer call earl of Derby, 
 rode by the king's side, and at times conversed with him. They 
 were surrounded by a large body of men-at-arms and archers. Those 
 of the king's party advanced by themselves, and the first town they 
 lay at was Oxford ;t for the duke of Lancaster avoided all the large 
 towns and casdes, by keeping in the open country, for fear of insur- 
 rections of the people. The duke disbanded a great part of his army, 
 saying, " he had enough for the completion of his business, as the 
 king could not now fly nor escape from him. We will carry him and 
 his advisers to London, and securely place them in the Tower. They 
 are my prisoners, and I can take them anywhere : return, therefore, 
 to your homes until you shall again hear from me." All assented to 
 this proposal of the duke, who took the direct road to Windsor ; and 
 the Londoners, except those he had kept with him, went to their 
 homes. The duke of Lancaster, on leaving Windsor, did not fol. 
 
 * The Museum MSS. call this grayhound Blemach, mine Mach. 'J'he grayhound 
 seems t" have l)een a favorue piofmosticator in these times ; for, when the armies of the 
 two rivals, .lolm of Monlfon! -.iM Charles de Blois, were on the pomt of engagmg, the 
 lord Charles's grayhound letl him and caressed John of Montford, who gamed the battle. 
 T Conway castle, , ^, ^ • , 
 
 X " After the kin;: had been carried to the duke ot Lancaster at Chester, on the third 
 day the duke departed witli Lis prisoner thence to Nantwich : the next day to Newcas- 
 tle and tliere the eavl uf Warwick's son met them; and so journeyins forth, the next 
 day'tlicy came to Stiifford. and after they departed to Lichfield, where the king thought 
 io have escaped, slinping down into a garden, out of a wiiidow ot a great tower ; but 
 he was espied, and brought into the tower again. From Lichfield, tlie duke went to 
 Coventry • but, before tliey could come thither, the VVclchmcn did them much mischief, 
 and slew many of them ; and the Englishmen, when they by great chance could take 
 any of them, they tied to their horses' tails, and drew them after them through ways full 
 of stones, and caused them to die miserably. 
 
 'The duke passed from Coventry to Daventry, the next day to Northampton, from 
 thence to Dunstable, and then to Saint Albans. Within five or six miles before his 
 coming to London, the mayor and the companies in their liveries, with great noise of 
 trumpets, met the duke, doing more reverence to him than to the king, rejoicing that 
 God had sent them such a prince, that had conquered the realm within one month's 
 space." tac.—Stove's Chronicle, by Howe's, pp. 322, 323, 
 
 CHAPTER CXIV. 
 
 THE EARL OF RUTLAND, CONSTABLE OF ENGLAND, HEARING THE KING HAS 
 SURRENDERED, DISMISSES HIS MEN-AT-ARMS. FOUR KNIGHTS OF THE 
 king's CHAMBER, HAVING BEEN PUT TO DEATH BY THE LONDONERS, HE 
 IS ADVISED BY THOSE WHO WERE IMPRISONED WITH HI3I TO RESI3N HIS 
 CROWN TO THE DUKE OF LANCASTER. 
 
 We will speak of the earl of Rutland, son to the duke of York, at 
 this time constable of England, who had remained at Bristol with 
 his brother-in-law the lord de Spencer, and their men. When they 
 learnt that the castle the king had retired to was invested, and that 
 the king, on his surrendering, was carried to London, they instantly 
 foresaw the event, and that it must end badly for king Richard. 
 They determined not to stay longer where they were, but dismissing 
 their men-at-arms, except such as were attached to their persons, left 
 Bristol, and rode to a very handsome seat* the lord de Spencer had 
 in Wales, where they remained until they heard other intelligence. 
 The duke of York resided at his own castle v.'ith his people, and in- 
 terfered not in what was passing in the country, nor had done so for 
 a long time, but taking all things as they happened, although he was 
 very much vexed that there should be such great differences between 
 his nephew, the king, and his relations. 
 
 We will now return to king Richard. When the duke of Lancas- 
 ter had imprisoned him and those of his council in the Tower, a-nd 
 placed sure guards over them, the first thing he did was to recal the 
 earl of Warwick from his banishment, and to give him his liberty. 
 He next sent to summon the earl of Percy and his son sir Harry 
 Percy to attend him, which they did. He then inquired how he 
 could lay hands on those four companions who had strangled his 
 uncle in the castle of Calais, and at length succeeded in arresting the 
 whole four, and would not have taken twenty thousand nobles for 
 their deliverance. He had them confined in separate prisons in Lon- 
 don. The duke then consulted with his council and the citizens what 
 should be done with Richard of Bordeaux, who was confined in the 
 great tower of London, wherein king John of France was once ira 
 prisoned, during the campaign of king Edward in France. It was 
 resolved that the king should be deprived of all his state and outward 
 marks of royalty, if they wished to act prudendy, for the news of his 
 arrest would make a great noise throughout Christendom, as they 
 
 * U. Sauvage calls this seat Heulle. My MS. says on ly a very handsome manor, whiob 
 1 iuppose must have been Caerphilly in Glamorganshire. 
 
CIS 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 had acknowledged him tvventy.two years as their king, and now held 
 him a prisoner. 
 
 They examined the whole acts of his reign, and drew up twenty, 
 eight articles against him, vv'ith which they came to the Tower, ac- 
 companied by the dake of Lancaster, and some knights and squires 
 of his council. They entered the king's apartment without speak- 
 ing to him, or paying any kind of respect, and read to him these 
 charges. He did not deny them, for he knew they were true, but 
 said that everything he had done was by the advice of his council. 
 Hs was told to name those who had been his principal advisers, which 
 he did, hoping to escape by throwing the blame on them, as he had 
 formerly done, and they to receive the punishment ; but this was 
 not the intention of those Londoners who had confined him. At this 
 time they said nothing further, but went away : the duke of Lancas- 
 ter to his own house, leaving the mayor and men of law to act as 
 they pleased. 
 
 The mayor went to the town-house of London, called the Guildhall, 
 where justice is administered to the citizens, followed by crowds of 
 people, expecting something effective to be done, as indeed there 
 was. I will detail what passed. First, all the articles which had 
 been drawn up against tke king and read to him, were again read 
 aloud, with comments by tlie person who lead them, adding, that the 
 king had not denied their truth, but confessed he had done them 
 through the advice of four knights of his chamber, by whose coun- 
 sels he had put to death the duke of Gloucester, the earl of Arundel, 
 and sir Thomas Corbet, and that they had for a long .time excited 
 him to these acts. Such deeds were unpardonable, and must be pun- 
 ishcd ; for by them and their fellows had the courts of Justice been 
 shut at Westminster, and all the other royal courts throughout Eng- 
 land, which had caused great mischiefs, and encouraged bands of 
 robbers to pillage merchants travelling from town to town, and to 
 plunder the houses of farmers. By these means the kingdom of 
 England had been almost irrecoverably ruined ; and it was to be 
 supposed, from this wanton neglect of England, that Calais or Guis- 
 nes, or both, vv^ould have been given up to their enemies the French. 
 Such speeches as the above made an impression on the minds of the 
 people, so that many of the discontented said, "These things are 
 deserving punishment, that others may take example ; and Richard 
 of Bordeaux has so much disgraced himself, that he is unworthy of 
 wearing a crovvn, and ought to be deprived of all honors, and con- 
 fined to pass his future life on bread and water, and subsist on that 
 as he could." Some of the lower classes cried out, "Sir mayor, you 
 and your companions, who are the distributors of justice, look that 
 it be done ; we insist upon it and spare no man. You see by what 
 you have told us, that the case requires it, and immediately, for they 
 have convicted themselves." 
 
 The mayor and the lawyers retired to the judgment-seat, and the 
 four knights were condemned to death. They were sentenced to 
 be brought before the apartment of the tower of London, in which 
 king Richard was confined, that he might see them from the win- 
 dows, and thence drawn on sledges by horses through the streets to 
 Cheapside, each person separately, and there beheaded, their heads 
 affixed to spikes on London-bridge, and their bodies hung on a gib- 
 bet, and there left. When this sentence was pronounced, they hast- 
 ened to execute it. Everything being prepared, the mayor of Lon- 
 don, and the lords who had assisted him in this judgment, set out from 
 Guildhall with a large body of people, and came to the tower of Lon- 
 don, where they seized the four knights of the king, sir Bernard Bro- 
 cas, the lord Marclais, master John Derby, receiver of Lincoln, and 
 the lord Stclle, steward of the king's household.. They were brought 
 into the court, and each tied to two horses, in the sight of all in the 
 Tower, who were eye-vvdtnesses of it as well as the king, who were 
 much displeased, and in despair ; for the remainder of the king's 
 knights that were with him looked for similar treatment, so cruel and 
 revengeful did they know the Londoners to be. Without saying a 
 word, these four were dragged from the Tower, through the streets 
 to Cheapside, and, on a fish-monger's stall, had their heads struck 
 off, which were placed over the gate on London-bridge, and their 
 bodies hung on a gibbet. After this execution every man retired to 
 his home. 
 
 King Richard was much afflicted at finding himself in such danger 
 from the citizens, and that his power was completely gone. He saw 
 that all England was against him ; and, if he had some few friends 
 left, they could not assist liim, for his enemies were too numerous. 
 Those about him said : " Sire, wo have not, as it seems, any great 
 hope of saving our lives. When your cousin of Lancaster prevailed on 
 you to yield yourself up to him, he promised that you and twelve of 
 your knights should be his own prisoners, and no harm done to them ; 
 of these, four have just been put to a disgraceful death ; we must 
 expect the same, and will give you our reasons for it. The London- 
 ers, who have urged him to do this deed, have made him enter into 
 Buch engagements with them that he cannot act in any oth«r manner. 
 God will be merciful to us if we are suffered to die here a natural 
 death, for to die a disgraceful one makes us shudder." King Rich- 
 ard, on hearing them thus talk wept bitterly, wrung his hands, and 
 cursed the hour he h\d been born, when his end was so miserable. 
 Those around him pitied his distress, and comforted him as well as 
 they were able. One of his knights said : "Sire, you must not be 
 too much cast down. We see, as well as you, that this world is noth. 
 
 ing, and that the fickleness of fortune is wonderful, sparing neither 
 princes nor poor persons. The king of France, .whose daughter you 
 have married, cannot at this moment assist you, for he is too far off. 
 If you can, by dissembling, escape from this peril, and save your 
 life and ours, you will act well ; and within a year or two, your for 
 tune may change." 
 
 " What would you have me to do ?"' replied the king, " fer there is 
 nothing I will not attempt to save us." "Sire, we tell you for a truth, 
 that, from every appearance, the Londoners want to crown your 
 cousin of Lancaster their king ; and with this intent they sent for 
 him from France, and have aided him in all his exploits. Now it is 
 impossible, that so long as yoa shall be alive, this coronation can 
 take place without your consent. Suppose, therefore, you were to 
 offer your cousin terms, that we might escape the imminent danger 
 we are in, and that you send to speak with him on business. On 
 his coming, treat him affectionately, and say that you wish to resign 
 the crown into his hands, and that he be king : by this means you will 
 soften him and appease the citizens. You will earnestly beg that he 
 allow you to finish your days here, or elsewhere ; and for us to re- 
 main with you, or be separated, or banished abroad for our lives, 
 at his pleasure ; for he who loseth his life loseth everything." King 
 Richard heard these words with comfort to his heart, and said he 
 would act accordingly, for he saw his danger was very great. He 
 gave his keepers to understand, he would willingly speak with the 
 duke of Lancaster, 
 
 C H A P T E R C X V . 
 
 KING RICHARD OF ENG-LAND RESIGNS HIS CROWN AND KINGDOM INTO THE 
 HANDS OF THE DUKE OF LANCASTER. 
 
 Intelligence v/as carried to th»- duke of Lancaeter, that Richard 
 of Bordeaux had a great desire to speak with him. The duke left 
 his house in the evening, entered his barge with his knights, and 
 was rowed down the Thames to the Tower, which he entered by a 
 postern gate, and went to the apartment of the king. The king 
 received him with great kindness, and humbled himself exceedingly 
 like to one who perceives he is in a dangerous state. He addressed 
 him : "Cousin, I have been considering my situation, which is miser- 
 able enough, and I have no longer any thoughts of wearing my 
 crown or governing my people. As God may have my soul, I wish 
 I were at this moment dead of a natural death, and the king of France 
 had his daughter again ; for we have never enjoyed any great hap 
 piness together, nor, since I brought her hither, have I had the love 
 my people bore me formerly. Cousin of Lancaster, when I look 
 back, I am convinced I have behaved very ill to you, and to other 
 nobles of my blood, for which I cannot expect peace nor pardon. 
 All things, therefore, considered,! am willing freely to resign to you the 
 crown of England ; and I beg you will accept the resignation as a gift." 
 
 The duke replied, " that it would be necessary the three estates of 
 the realm should hear this. I have issued summonses for the assem- 
 bling the nobles, prelates, and deputies from the principal towns ; and 
 within three days a sufficiency will be collected for you to make 
 your resignation in due form. By this act, you will greatly appease 
 the hatred of the nation against you. To obviate the mischiefs that 
 had arisen from the courts of justice being shut, and which had ere- 
 ated an almost universal anarchy, was I sent for from beyond sea. 
 The people wanted to crown me, for the common report in the coun- 
 try is, that I have a better right to the crown than you have. This 
 was told to our grandfather, king Edward of happy memory, when 
 he educated you, and had you acknowledged heir to the throne ; but 
 his love was so strong for his son, the prince of Wales, nothing could 
 make him alter his purpose, but that you must be king. If you had 
 followed the example of the prince, or attended to the advice of his 
 counsellors, like a good son, who should be anxious to tread in the 
 steps of a father, you might still have been king ; but you have always 
 acted so coiitrary, as to occasion the rumor to be generally believed 
 throughout England and elsewhere, that you are not the son of the 
 prince of Wales, but of a priest or canon. 
 
 " I have heard several knights, who were of the household of my 
 unclp the prince, declare, that he was jealous of the princess's con- 
 duct. She was cousin-german to king Edward, who began to dis- 
 like her for not having children by his son, since he had, by her 
 former marriage with sir Thomas Holland, stood godfather to two 
 sons. She knew well how to keep the prince in her chains, having, 
 through subtlety, enticed him to marry ; but, fearful of being di- 
 vorced by his father, for want of heirs, and that the prince would 
 marry again, it was said she got connected with some one, by whom 
 she had you and another son, who died in his infancy, and no judg- 
 ment can be formed of his character: but you, from your manners 
 and mode of acting, so contrary to the gallantry and prowess of the 
 prince, are thought to be the son of a priest or canon ; for, at the 
 time of your birth, there were many young and handsome ones in 
 the household of the prince at Bordeaux. Such is the report of this 
 country, which your conduct has confirmed : for you have ever shown 
 great affection to the French, and an inclination to live on good term 
 with them, to the loss and dishonor of England. Because my uncle 
 of Gloucester and the earl of Arundel wished you would loyally de- 
 fend the honor of the kingdom, by following the steps of your ances, 
 tors, yo\i have treacherously put them to death. 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 619 
 
 "Willi regard to me, I have taken you under my protection, and 
 will guard and preserve your life, through compassion, as long as I 
 shall be able, I will likewise entreat the Londoners in your behalf, 
 and the heirs of those you have put to death." " Many thanks," 
 answered the king : " I have greater confidence in you than in any 
 other persoa ir England." " You are in the right," replied the 
 duke : " for, hao I not stepped forward between you and the people, 
 they would have seized you, and disgracefully killed you, in return 
 for all your wick;,d acts, which are the cause of the dangerous state 
 you ai-e now in,*' King Richard heard all this patiently, for he saw 
 
 SlCHARD O. RESIGNING THE CROWN INTO THE HANDS OF THE DOKE OP LANCASTER. 
 
 Century. 
 
 that neither arguments nor force could avail, and that resignation 
 and liumility were his only arms. He therefore humbled himself 
 exceedinffly to the duke, earnestly begging that his life might be 
 spared. The duke of Lancaster remained with the king upward of 
 two hours, and continued in his conversation to reproach him for all 
 the faults he was accused of. He then took leave, reentered his 
 barge, and returned to his house, and, on the morrow, renewed his 
 orders for the assembly of the three estates of the realm. 
 
 The duke of York, and his son, the earl of Rutland, came to Lon- 
 don, as did the earl of Northumberland and his brother, sir Thomas 
 Percy, to whom the duke of Lancaster gave a hearty welcome, with 
 numbers of prelates, bishops, and abbots. The duke of Lancaster, 
 accompanie d by a large body of dukes, prelates, earls, barons, 
 Knights, and principal citizens, rode to the Tower of London, and 
 dismounted in the court. King Richard was released from his 
 prison, and entered the hall which had been prepared for the occa- 
 sion, royally dressed, the sceptre in his hand, and the crown on his 
 head, but without supporters on either side. He addressed the com- 
 pany as follows : " I have reigned king of England, duke of Aqui- 
 taine, and lord of Ireland, about twenty-two years, which royalty, 
 lordship, sceptre, and crown, I now freely and willingly resign to 
 my cou?in, Henry of Lancaster, and entreat of him, in the presence 
 of you all, to accept this sceptre." He then tendered the sceptre to 
 the duke of Lancaster, who took it and gave it to the archbishop of 
 Canterbury. King Richard next raised the crown with his two 
 hands from his head, and, phicing it before him, said, " Henry, fair 
 cousin, and duke of Lancaster, I present and give to you this crown, 
 vv^ith which' I was crowned king of England, and all the rights de- 
 pendent on it." 
 
 The duke of Lancaster received it, and delivered it over to the 
 archbishop of Canterbury, who was at hand to take it. These two 
 things being done, and the resignation accepted, the duke of Lancas- 
 ter called in a public notary, that an authentication should be drawn 
 up of this proceeding, and witnessed by the lords and prelates then 
 present. Soon after, the king was conducted to where he had come 
 from, and the duke and other lords mounted their horses to return 
 home. The two jewels were safely packed up, and given to proper 
 guards, to place them in the treasury of Westminster abbey, until 
 they should be called for v^hen the parliament were assembled. 
 
 CHAPTER CXVI. 
 
 A PARLIAMENT MEETS AT WESTMINSTER, WHEN THE DUKE OF LAN- 
 CASTER IS PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGED KIN& OF ENGLAND. THE GREAT 
 MAGNIFICENCE OF HIS CORONATION. 
 
 On a Wednesday, the last day of September 1399, Heniy duke 
 of Lancaster held a parhament at Westminster ; at which were as- 
 sembled the greater part of the clergy and nobility of England, and 
 a sufficient number of ^deputies from the different towns, according 
 
 to their extent and wealth. In this parha- 
 ment, the duke of Lancaster challenged the 
 crown of England, and claimed it as his 
 own, for three reasons: first, by conquest, 
 secondly, from being the right heir to it ; 
 and, thirdly, from the pure and free resig- 
 nation of it to him, by king Richard, in 
 the presence of the prelates, dukes and earls 
 in the hall of the Tower of London. These 
 three claims being made, he required the 
 parliament to declare their opinion and will. 
 Upon this, they unanimously replied, that 
 it was their will he should be king, for they 
 would have no other. He again asked, if 
 they were positive in this declaration : and, 
 when they said they wore, he seated him- 
 self on the royal throne. The throne was 
 elevated some feet from the floor, with a 
 rich canopy of cloth and gold, so that he 
 could be seen by all present. On the 
 king's taking his seat, the people clapped 
 their hands for joy, and held them up, pro- 
 mising him fealty and homage. The par- 
 liament was then dissolved, and the day of 
 coronation appointed for the feast of Saint 
 Edward, which fell on a Monday, the I3th 
 of October. 
 
 On the Saturday before the coronation, 
 the new king went from Westminster to 
 the Tower of London, attended by great 
 numbers, and those squires who were to be 
 knighted watched their arms that night : 
 they amounted to forty-six : each squire had 
 his chamber and bath, in which he bathed. 
 The ensuing day, the duke of Lancaster, 
 after mass, created them knights, and pre- 
 sented them with long green coats, with 
 straight sleeves Uned with minever, after 
 the manner of prelates. These knights had 
 on their left shoulders a double cord of 
 white silk, with white tufts hanging dovvn. The duke of Lan- 
 caster left the Tower this Sunday after dinner, on his return to 
 Westminster : he was bareheaded, and had round his neck the order 
 of the king of France. The prince of Wales, six dukes, six earls, 
 eighteen barons, accompanied him ; and there were, of knights and 
 other nobiUty, from eight to nine hundred horse in the procession. 
 The duke was dressed in a jacket, after the Germ.an fashion, of 
 cloth of gold, mounted on a white courser, with a blue garter on his 
 left leg. He passed through the streets of London, Vvhich were all 
 handsomely decorated with tapestries and other rich hangings: 
 there were' nine fountains in Cheapside, and other streets he passed 
 through, which perpetually ran with white and red wines. He was 
 escorted by prodigious numbers of gentlemen, with their servants in 
 liveries and badges ; and the different companies of London were 
 led by their wardens clothed in their proper livery, and with ensigns 
 of their trade. The whole cavalcade amounted to six thousand 
 horse, which escorted the duke from tlie Tower to Westminster. 
 That same night the duke bathed, and on the morrow confessed 
 himself, as he had good need to do, and according to his custom 
 heard three masses. The prelates and clergy who had been assem- 
 bled then came in a large body in procession from Westminster 
 abbey, to conduct the king thither, and returned in the same man- 
 ner, the king and his lords following them. The dukes, carls, and 
 barons, wore long scarlet robes, with mantles trimmed with ermine, 
 and large hoods of the same. The dukes and earls had three bars 
 of ermine on the left arm, a quarter of a yard long, or thereabout : 
 the barons had but two. All the knights and squires had uniform 
 cloaks of scarlet lined with minever. In the procession to the 
 church, the duke had borne over his head a rich canopy of blue 
 silk, supported on silver staves, with four golden bells that rang at 
 the corners, by four burgesses of Dover, who claimed it as their 
 right. On each side of him were the sword of mercy and the sword 
 of justice : the first was borne by the prince of Wales, and the other 
 by the earl of Northumberland, constable of England, for the earl of 
 Rutland had been dismissed. The earl of Westmoreland, marshal 
 of England, carried the sceptre. 
 
 The procession entered the church about nine o'clock ; in the 
 middle of which was a scaffold covered with crimson cloth, and in 
 the centre a royal throne of cloth of gold. When the duke watered 
 
 From-MSS. o the 15th 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 the church, he seated himself on the throne, and was thus in regal 
 state, except having the crown on his head. The archbishop of 
 Canterbury proclaimed, from the four corners of the scaffold, how 
 God had given them a man for their lord and sovereign, and then 
 asked the people if they vvere consenting to his being consecrated 
 and crowned king. They unanimously shouted out, " Ay I" and 
 held up their hands, promising fealty and homage. After this, the 
 duke descended from his throne, and advanced to the altar to be 
 consecrated. This ceremony was performed by two archbishops 
 and ten bishops : he was stripped of all his royal state before the 
 altar, naked to his shirt, and was then anointed 
 and consecrated at six places ; that is to say, 
 on the head, the breast, the two shoulders, be- 
 fore and behind, on the back and hands : they 
 then placed a bonnet on his head ; and, while 
 this was doing, the clergy chanted the litany, 
 or the service that is performed to hallow a font. 
 
 The king was now dressed in a churchman's 
 clothes like a deacon ; and they put on him 
 shoes of crimson velvet, after the manner of a 
 prelate. Then they added spurs with a point, 
 but no rowel, and the sword of justice was 
 drawn, blessed, and deliveied to the king, who 
 put it into the scabbard, when the archbishop 
 of Canterbury girded it about him. The crown 
 of Saint Edward, which is arched over like a 
 cross, was next brought and blessed, and placed 
 by the archbishop on the king's head. When 
 mass was over, the king left the church, and re- 
 turned to the palace in the same state as before. 
 There was in the court-yard a fountain that con- 
 stantly ran with white and red wine from various 
 mouths. The king went first to his closet, and 
 then returned to the hall to dinner. 
 
 At the first table sat the king, at the second 
 the five great peers of England, at the third 
 the principal citizens of London, ot the fourth 
 the new-created knights, at the fifth all knights 
 and squires of honor. The king was served 
 by the prince of Wales, who carried the sword 
 of mercy, and on the opposite side by the con- 
 stable, who bore the sword of justice. At the 
 bottom of the table was the earl of Westmoreland with the sceptre. 
 There were only at the king's table the two archbishops and seventeen 
 bishops. When dinner was half over, a knight of the name of Dymock 
 entered the hall completely armed, and mounted on a handsome steed, 
 richly barbed with crimson housings. The knight was armed for 
 wager of battle, and was preceded by another knight bearing his lance: 
 he himself had his drawn sword in one hand, and his naked dagger by 
 his side. The knight presented the king with a written paper, the 
 contents of which were, that if any knight or gentleman should dare 
 to maintain that king Henry was not a lawful sovereign, he was 
 ready to offer him combat in the presence of the king, when and 
 where he should be pleased to appoint. The king ordered this chal- 
 lenge to be proclaimed by heralds in six different parts of the town 
 and the hall, to which no answer was made. After king Henry had 
 dined, and partaken of wine and spices in the hall, he retired to his 
 private apartments, and all the company went to their homes. Thus 
 passed the coronation day of king Henry, who remained that and 
 the ensuing day at the palace of Westminster. The earl of Salis- 
 bury could not attend these feasts, for he was in close confinement 
 under secure guards ; and the king's ministers, with many of the 
 nobles and citizens of London, were anxious that he should be pub- 
 licly beheaded in Cheapside. They said that he was deserving of 
 every punishment, for having carried such a message from Richard 
 of Bordeaux to the French king and his court, and publicly proclaim, 
 ing king Henry a false and wicked traitor, and that these were un- 
 pardonable crimes. The king was naturally good-tempered, and, 
 far from inclining to put him to death, took compassion on him, and 
 listened to the excuses he made for what he had done, by throwing 
 the blame on the four knights who had been beheaded, as he had 
 only obeyed their orders. The council and Londoners would not 
 hear his excuses, and would have him executed, for they said he had 
 deserved it. The earl of Salisbury therefore continued in prison, in 
 great danger of his life. 
 
 Sir John Holland, earl of Huntingdon, who was governor of Ca- 
 lais, had been duly informed of all that had passed ; how his brother, 
 king Richard, had been arrested and carried to the Tower of London, 
 where he had been condemned to pass his life, after resigning his 
 crown to Henry of Lancaster, who was acknowledged king of Eng. 
 land. The earl of Hiinfingdon, notwithstanding the vexation the state 
 of his brother, king Richard, gave him, weighed well the times and 
 circumstances, and found that he alone could not pretend to with. 
 Btand the whole power of England. His countess, sister.german to 
 king Henry, told him, on his return from Calais to England, " My 
 lord, you must prudendy lay aside your anger, and not hastily do 
 anything you may repent of, for my lord the king, my brother, can 
 show you much kindness. You see the whole kingdom is in his 
 favor, and should you commit yourself by any rash act, you are 
 
 ruined. I advise and entreat you to dissemble your vexation, for 
 king Henry is as much your brother as king Richard. Attach your- 
 self to him, and you will find him a good and faithful friend ; for 
 there has not been any king of England so rich as he is, and he may 
 be of the greatest service to you and to your children." The earl 
 of Huntingdon listened to what the countess said, and followed her 
 advice. He waited on his brother-in-law, king Henry, paid him 
 many respects, and did his homage, promising fealty and service : 
 the king received him with much pleasure. The earl, afterwards, 
 with the support of other friends, pressed the king so strongly in 
 
 Coronation of Henry IV From MSS. of 15th Century. 
 
 favor of the earl of Salisbury, that his excuses were heard and ac- 
 cepted : his mission to France was pardoned, and he regained the 
 favor of the king and people. 
 
 CHAPTER CXVIL 
 
 INTELLIGENCE OF THE IMPRISONMENT OF KING RICHARD IS CARRIED 10 
 FRANCE BY THE LADY OF COUCY. KING CHARLES IS MUCH DISPLEASED 
 THEREAT. THE DUKE OF BOURBON ATTEMPS IN VAIN TO REDUCE BOR- 
 DEAUX, AND OTHER TOWNS IN AQUITAINE, TO THE CROWN OF FRANCE. 
 
 The lady of Coucy, on landing at Boulogne, hastened her afTaire, 
 that she might begin her journey to Paris ; for there were already 
 great murmurings in many parts of France at the events which were 
 happening in England. Some imperfect intelligence had been car- 
 ried of them thither by merchants of Bruges, but when the lady of 
 Coucy, who had been attached to queen Isabella, returned, the whole 
 truth was known. This lady, on her coming to Paris, went, as was 
 natural, to the hotel of her lord, who had arrived the preceding night. 
 News of it was instantly carried to the king of France, who sent 
 directly for the lord de Coucy to come and bring him intelligence of 
 king Richard and his queen Isabella. On his entering the king's 
 chamber, he asked him the state of England. The knight, not da- 
 ring to conceal anything, told him the full particulars he had learnt 
 from his wife. The king was much affected at the melancholy ac- 
 count he heard, for he knew the English to be determined, and hard 
 to appease ; and, although he had be^n for a considerable time in a 
 good state of health, the rage he got into, on learning the events pass- 
 ing in England, brought back his frenzy, to the grief of his brother, 
 uncles, and barons of France, but they could not prevent it. 
 
 The duke of Burgundy said ; "The marriage of king Richard with 
 Isabella was ill advised : I spoke of it when in agitation, but v.'as not 
 attended to. The Londoners never sincerely liked king Richard, 
 and all this misery has been hatched by the duke of Gloucester. We 
 must learn how the English mean to proceed, and take our measures 
 accordingly. Since they have imprisoned their king, they will put 
 him to death, (for they never loved him, because he preferred peace 
 to war,) and crown the duke of Lancaster. He will be forced to 
 enter into such engagements from his obligations to them, that 
 whether he will or not, he must act as they shall please. The duke 
 of Burgundy added, " that it would be proper to know the inclinations 
 of the inhabitants of Bordeaux ; for king Richard, having been born 
 there, was greatly beloved by them, as well as by those of Dax, Bay. 
 onne, and that whole country. It wouid not be amiss (he said,) 
 that the constable, lord Louis de Sancerre, should have notice of 
 what was proposed, and that he should advance toward the frontiers 
 of Aquitaine, taking with him sir Reginald d'Espagne, Barrois des 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 621 
 
 Barres, and other barons and prelates, who knew how to negotiate ; 
 that his brother of Berry should go into Poitou, and hover over the 
 borders of Saintes, Blaze, and Mirabel, in order that if those of Bor- 
 deaux should be inclined to enter into any treaty, they might be re- 
 ceived ; for we must gain them now, or never." These propositions 
 of the duke of Burgundy were heard attentively, and his advice fol- 
 lowed. He understood the matter well, and what ensued proved it. 
 The inhabitants of Bordeaux, Dax and Bayonne, were lost in astonish- 
 ment when they heard that their lord, king Richard, had been arrested 
 and was confined in the Tower of London, his principal counsellors 
 executed, and duke Henry of Lancaster crowned king and would 
 not at first believe that such melancholy events nad happened in 
 England : but, as -the reports were confirmed daily by fresh intelli- 
 gence, they were constrained to think them true. The gates of the 
 three cities were closed, and no person whatever suffered to go out, 
 from the sorrow they were in, more particularly those of Bordeaux, 
 for kincr Richard had been educated among them. They were sin- 
 cerely attached to him, and he always received them kindly when 
 they waited on him, inclining naturally to comply with every request 
 they made him. On first hearing of his misfortune, they said, Ah, 
 Richard, gentle king ! by God, you are the most honorable man in 
 your realm. This mischief has been brewed for you by the Lon- 
 doners, who never loved you, and their dislike was still increased by 
 vour alliance with France. This misfortune is too great for us to 
 "bear. Ah, king Richard ! they have acknowledged you their sove- 
 reign two-and-twenty years, and now they imprison you, and will put 
 you to death ; for since they have crowned the duke of Lancaster 
 king, that consequence must follow." Such were the lamentations 
 of the townsmen of Bordeaux, and that whole country ; and they 
 continued so long that the seneschal of Bordeaux, a valiant and able 
 English knicrht. determined to send home intelligence of these com- 
 plafnts in Bordeaux, Dax and Bayonne, and that they were on the 
 point of surrendering themselves to the king of France. Having 
 written and sealed his letters, he gave them to a trusty variet, whom 
 he embarked on board a vessel ; and, having a favorable wind, he 
 was landed in Cornwall, and thence pursued his journey to London, 
 where kino- Henry at that time was holding his pariiament. Ihese 
 letters were addressed generally to the king and citizens of London, 
 and being opened and read, the king and his parhament consulted 
 on them. The Londoners said, like men no way dismayed, " I hose 
 of Bordeaux and Bayonne will never turn to the French ; they cannot 
 bear them nor suffer their tricks. They are free under us ; but, it 
 the French govern them, they will be taxed and taxed over again two 
 or three times a-year. This they have not been accustomed to, and 
 will find it hard to endure. These three cities are besides surrounded 
 by the lands of great barons, who are and always have been loyal to 
 Encrj-ind, such as the lords de Pommiers, de Mucident, de Duras, de 
 Landuras, de Copane, de Rosem, de Langurant, and many other 
 barons and knights, who will instantly make war upon them : they 
 cannot issue out of their gates without being made prisoners. I^ot- 
 withstandincr, therefore, what the seneschal of Bordeaux writes to us, 
 we do not fear they will ever turn to the French : let us, however, 
 send them some man of valor and prudence, whom they esteem, and 
 who has governed them before ; and we recommend sir Thomas 
 Percy." What thev had advised was done, and sir Thomas Percy 
 was entreated by the king and citizens to undertake the voyage and 
 the governjTient of that country. Sir Thomas could not refuse, and 
 made his preparations. 
 
 It was now about Christmas, when the winds are high, and the 
 sea rough : he made, therefore his purveyances in Cornwall, at the 
 port nearest to Bordeaux, and his equipment was two hundred men- 
 at-arms and four hundred archers. Sir Thomas was accompanied 
 by Ips nephew, Hugh de Hastings, Thomas CoUeville, William Lisle, 
 John de Graillv, bastard-son to the captal de Buch, William Drayton, 
 John d'Ambreticourt, and several others. He had likewise with him 
 Robert bishop of London,* and master Richard Rowhall. It was, 
 however, the middle of March before they were able to embark. 
 
 Before these lords arrived at Bordeaux, the duke of Bourbon came 
 to the city of A^^en, to treat with those of Aquitaine, and made such 
 progress that the magistrates of Bordeaux, Dax and Bayonne, were 
 deputed to Ac^en. The duke received them most kindly, and was 
 not sparing of fine words and fair promises: he gave them to under- 
 stand, that if they would turn to the French, and submit themselves 
 to the obedience of the king of France, they should have granted 
 whatever they mio-ht ask, and that the engagements they entered into 
 should be sealed and recorded to last for ever ; that whenever they 
 might call on France, they should be supported to the utmost of its 
 power. He made them many other flattering promises ; but they 
 replied, they must return to their constituents, and lay before them 
 his offers, and consider how to act. They then left Agen and the 
 duke of Bourbon, on their return home, where, on their arrival, they 
 related all the duke had said ; but his ofters came to nothing, for the 
 inhabitants of these towns having considered their present situation, 
 and that France was vexed by all sort of taxes, and every oppressive 
 means to extort money, concluded they should suffer similar vexa- 
 tions if they submitted themselves to the French , " It will be, there- 
 fore, better for us," they said, "to remain steady to the English, who 
 hold us frank and free. If the Londoners have deposed king Rich- 
 
 ard, and crowned king Henry, what is it to us ? We have still a 
 king ; and we understand the bishop of London and sir Thomas 
 Percy are on their way hither, who will fully inform us of the truth. 
 We have more commerce with the English, than the French, in wool, 
 wines and cloth, and they are naturally more inclined to us. Let us, 
 therefore, be cautious how we enter into any treaties of which we 
 may hereafter repent." 
 
 Thus were the negotiations of Bordeaux, Dax and Bayonne, wjth 
 the French broken off. Sir Thomas Percy and the bishop of Lon- 
 don arrived safe in the harbor of Bordeaux with their charge of men- 
 at-arms and archers, to the great joy of some, and grief of others, 
 who were of the party of the king of France. These English lords 
 lodged all together at the abbey of Saint Andrew, and, when they 
 thought it was time, they remonstrated with the commonalty of Bor- 
 deaux on the state of England, and the cause of their coming, with 
 such success as they were contented with : Dax and Bayonne were 
 also satisfied. These cities and their dependencies remained steady 
 to the English interest, and hard would it have been to have turned 
 them to the French. 
 
 CHAPTER CXVIII 
 
 * Kob&n Braybiook, dean of Saium and Igid chftnceilor. 
 
 THE COUNCIL OF FRANCE, BY PERMISSION OF KING HENRY, SENDS OVER 
 PERSONS TO VISIT ISABELLA, QUEEN TO RICHARD II. 
 
 The council of France, perceiving the king so greatly affected at 
 what had befallen his son-in-law, king Richard, determined to send 
 to England some lord of high rank to see and inquire into the situa- 
 tion of queen Isabella. The lord Chades d'Albreth and Charies de 
 Hangiers were nominated on this embassay, and made their prepa- 
 rations accordingly. On leaving Paris, they rode to Boulogne, where 
 they remained, and sent a herald to inform king Henry of their inten- 
 tion of coming to England ; for, although there was a truce between 
 the kingdoms, they would not venture thither without his assurance 
 of safety. King Henry, who had not forgotten the kindness of the 
 king of France when an exile, mentioned the matter to his council ; 
 and the herald was told, that it was very agreeable to the king and 
 council, that his lords and their company should come to England, 
 and by the direct road to London, not quitting it without license. 
 The French herald returned to tell his lords at Boulogne what he 
 had obtained. They were pleased with the answer, since they could 
 not obtain more. They immediately embarked themselves and horses 
 in two vessels, and, putting to sea, arrived at Dover. On disembark- 
 ing and entering the town, they were met by one of the king's knights, 
 who had been ordered thither to receive them. Having known him 
 when he accompanied the king in his banishment to Paris, they 
 were all soon well acquainted. The lord Charies d'Albreth and the 
 lord de Hangiers were handsomely lodged in Dover, where they 
 staid until their horses were landed. They continued their journey 
 through Canterbury to Eltham, and they were splendidly entertained 
 in compliment to the king of France, to whom king Henry felt him. 
 self under obligations. 
 
 The lord d'Albreth explained to the king the cause of his coming, 
 who replied, " You will go to London, and within four days I will 
 consult my council, and you shall have an answer to your demands." 
 This satisfied them. They dined with the king, and, when it was 
 over, remounted their horses and rode to London, attended by the 
 knight, who lodged them conveniently in London, and never quitted 
 them. The king of England came, as he had said, to his palace of 
 Westminster, and the French lords were told of it, and to hold them, 
 selves in readiness to attend him, for they would be summoned. The 
 king, having his council with him, and being prepared what answer 
 to make, the French lords were introduced. They said, they had 
 been sent by the king and queen of France to see the young queen 
 of England their daughter. The king answered : " Gentlemen, we 
 no way wish to prevent you seeing her ; but you must promise, on 
 your oaths, that neither yourselves, nor any of your company, speak 
 to her on what has lately passed in England, nor about Richard of 
 Bordeaux. Should you do otherwise, you will greatly offend us and 
 the country, and put yourselves in peril of your lives." 
 
 The two knights replied, they would not infringe this regulation , 
 all they wanted was to see and_ converse with her, and then they 
 would set out on their return. ot long after this, the eari of North- 
 umberiand carried them to Havering-at-the Bower, where the young 
 queen resided. She was attended by the duchess of Ireland, daugh- 
 ter to the lord de Coucy, the duchess of Gloucester, her two daugh- 
 ters, and other ladies and damsels, as companions. The eari intro- 
 duced the two knights to the queen, who conversed some time with 
 them, asking questions after her parents, the king and queen of 
 France. They kept the promise they had made, by never mention, 
 ing the' name of king Richard ; and, when they had been with her '; 
 a sufficient time, took leave and returned to London. They made 
 no long stay there, but, having packed up their things, and had their 
 expenses paid by the king's oflacers, they rode to Eltham, and dined 
 with the king, who presented them with some rich jewels. On taking 
 leave the king parted with them amicably, and said : " Tell those 
 who have sent you, that the queen shall never suffer the smallest harm 
 or any disturbance, but keep up a state and dignity becoming her^ 
 birth and rank, and enjoy all her rights ; for, young as she is, she 
 ought not to be made acquainted with the changes in this world." 
 
622 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 The knights were very happy to hear the king speak thus, and then 
 departed. They lay that night at Dartford, on the morrow at Os- 
 pringe, the next at Canterbury, and then at Dover, the king's officers 
 paying every expense of their journey. Having embarked with a 
 favorable wind, they were landed at Boulogne, and thence proceeded 
 to the king and queen at Paris, to whom they related what you have 
 read. 
 
 We -will now leave them, and speak of the affairs of England. 
 
 CHAPTER CXIX. 
 
 THE EARLS OF HCNTINGDON AND SALISBURY, AND SOME OTHERS, HAVING 
 FAILED TO MURDER TREACHEROUSLY KING HENRY OF LAXCASTER, RISE 
 IN ARMS AGAINST HIM. THEY ARE DEFEATED AND BEHEADED, AND 
 THEIR HEADS SENT TO THE KING. 
 
 It was much disputed among the nobles, and in the principal towns, 
 jvhether Richard of Bordeaux was put to death, and nothing more 
 *'as said about him, which was but what he deserved. King Henry 
 ^eclared, that in regard to the charges made against him, he much 
 pitied him, and would never consent to his death ; that the prison 
 wherein he was confined was sufficient punishment ; and that he had 
 engaged his word no other harm should be done him, which promise 
 he was resolved to keep. The enemies of king Richard replied : 
 " Sire, we see plainly that compassion alone moves you thus to say 
 and act, but, in so doing, you are running great risks ; for so long as 
 he shall be alive, notwithstanding the outward good-humor and sin- 
 cerity with which he resigned to you his crown, and that in general 
 you have been acknowledged as king, and received the homage of 
 all, there must remain many attached to him, who still preserve their 
 affection, and will instantly rise against you whenever they perceive 
 any hopes of delivering him from prison. The king of France also, 
 whose daughter he married, is so exasperated at the late events, that 
 he would willingly retaliate the first opportunity ; and his power is 
 great of itself, and must be increased by his connections in Eng. 
 land." King Henry answered : " Until I shall observe anything con- 
 trary to the present state affairs, or that the king of France or other 
 persons act against me, I will not change my resolution, but firmly 
 keep the promise I have made." This was the answer of king 
 Henry, for which he narrowly escaped suffering, as you shall pres- 
 ently hear. 
 
 The earl of Huntingdon, brother to king Richard, though married 
 to the sister of king Henry, could not forget the treatment of the late 
 king, any more than the earl of Salisbury. They had a secret meet- 
 ing near to Oxford, on the means to deliver Richard of Bordeaux 
 from the Tower of London, destroy king Henry, and throw the coun- 
 try into confusion. They resolved to proclaim a tournament to be 
 holden at Oxford, of twenty knights and squires, and invite the king 
 to witness it privately. During the time the king was sitting at din. 
 ner they were to slay him, (for they were to be provided Vi^ith a suf. 
 ficiency of men-at-arms for their purpose,) and to dress out in the 
 royal robes a priest called Magdalen, who had been of king Rich- 
 ard's chapel, and was like him in countenance, and make the people 
 to understand that he was delivered from prison, and had resumed 
 his state. They were, instantly after the business was completed, 
 to send information of it to the king of France, that he might send them 
 large succors, under the command of the count de Saint Pol or any 
 3ther. 
 
 They executed this plan, and proclaimed a grand tournament to be 
 holden by twenty knights and as many squires at Oxford, who were 
 to be accompanied by many ladies and damsels. They had gained 
 to their party the young earl of Kent, nephew to the earl of Hunting- 
 don, and the lord de Spencer, one of the most powerful barons in 
 Eng^land. They expected the aid of the earl of Rutland, because 
 king Henry had deprived him of the constableship, but he failed them, 
 and some say, that by him their plot was discovered. When all 
 things had been settled for this feast, the earl of Huntingdon came to 
 Windsor, where the king held his state, and with much flattering, 
 like one who, by soft words, thought to deceive, invited, with many 
 narks of affection, the king to be present at it. Not supposing any 
 :reason was intended, he readily complied ; and the earl of Hunting, 
 ion, much rejoiced, thanked and left the king. On going away, he 
 said to the canon de Robersac,* Get thyself ready for our feast, and 
 ! promise thee if thou come, and we meet in the lists, there shall be 
 I sharp conflict between us." Sir John de Robersac replied : " By 
 ny faith, my lord, if the king come to your feast it is necessary that I 
 .ccompany him." Upon this the earl shook him by the hand, and 
 aid, " Many thanks," and passed on. Several knights and squires, 
 rearing of this tournament, made preparations to attend it, and all 
 he armorers in London were fully employed. The king's ministers 
 /ere attentive to every circumstance that was agitated, and they told 
 im," Sire, you have no business to go to this tournament, and must 
 ■ , ot think of it, for we have heard whispers of plots that are very dis. 
 I leasing to us, and in a few days we shall learn the whole." The 
 I ing believed what they had said, and did not go to the tournament, 
 ' or any of his knights, and indeed very few of those who were marked 
 i )r death. 
 
 ! When the earls of Salisbury, Huntingdon, Kent, and the lord de 
 In the AISS. iie is c(ili«d Kobeetatt (md Aob«rt$tart 
 
 Spencer, found they had failed in their scheme of seizing the king, 
 they held a council, and said, " We must go to Windsor and raise 
 the country. We will dress Magdalen in royal robes, and make him 
 ride with us, proclaiming that king Richard has escaped from prison. 
 All who see him will believe it true, and the report will gain such 
 credit that we shall destroy our enemies." This they executed by 
 collecting their whole party, amounting in all to about five hundred 
 men, and, placing Magdalen in the certtre, dressed in royal state, they 
 rode toward Windsor, where king H< ury kept his court. God was 
 very kind to the king, for he had earl/ intelligence that the earls of 
 Huntingdon, Salisbury, the young earl c f Kent, and the lord de Spen- 
 cer, were advancing toward Windsor, to seize and murder him ; that 
 ihey were in sufficient force to take the castle, and had with them 
 Magdalen,, one of the priests of the chapel royal to Richard of Dor-, 
 deaux, dressed up as the late king ; and that they gave it out every, 
 where that king Richard had escaped from prison. Many of "the 
 country people believed it, saying, " We have seen him," mistaking 
 him for the king. 
 
 Those who brought the intelligence said to king Henry, " Sire, de- 
 part hence instantly, and ride to London, for they will be here in a 
 short time." He followed this counsel, and mounting his horse, set 
 off with his attendants from Windsor, taking the road to London. 
 He had not been long departed, before those who intended to put 
 him to death came to Windsor, and entered the castle gate, for there 
 were none to oppose them. They searched the apartments of the 
 castle, and the houses of the canons, in hopes of finding the king, but 
 were disappointed. On their failure, they were much enraged, and 
 rode away to Colnbrook, where they lay, and forced many to 'join 
 them by fair or foul means, saying that king Richard was in their 
 company, which some believed, but others not. King Henry, doubt- 
 ful of the consequences of this conspiracy, hastened to London, and, 
 by a roundabout road, entered the Tov/er. Some sharp words passed 
 between him and Richard of Bordeaux ; he told him, " I saved your 
 life, and had great difficulty in doing it ; and, in return, you want to 
 have me murdered by your brother, and my brother-in-law, and by the 
 earls of Salisbury and Kent, your nephew, with the lord de Spencer, 
 but, if you have had any hand in this plot, it shall end badly for you," 
 Richard denied any knowledge of it, saying, " As God may help me, 
 and have compassion on my soul, I never before heard one word of 
 this plot. I never looked for any change in my situation, for I am. 
 perfectly contented with my present state." Nothing more passed. 
 The king sent for the mayor of London and his particular friends, to. 
 whom he related everything he knew or had heard of this conspiracy. 
 They were greatly suprised on hearing it, and said, " Sire, you must 
 summon your forces, and march instantly against them, before they 
 increase more in numbers. We have made you king, and king you 
 shall be, in spite of all that envy and discontent may do against you."- 
 The king lost no time in employing clerks and messengers to write 
 and carry letters to the knights of his realm. He wrote himself to-, 
 his constable, the earl of Northumberland, to his marshal, the earl of 
 Westmoreland, and to other great barons in Essex and Lincoln, from 
 whom he expected assistance. All who received them made haste 
 to join the king. 
 
 The earls of Huntingdon and Salisbury, and the.ir party, determined 
 to march to London, for they imagined there musi be some of the 
 citizens attached to king Richard, who would give them support. In 
 consequence, they left Colnbrook, and advanced to Brentford, seven 
 miles from London, where they lay. Not one of the Londoners joined 
 them, but shut themselves up in their town. When they saw this^ 
 they marched away toward Saint Albans, a large town, and there 
 staid one day. On the morrow, they went to Berkhampstead. They 
 continued marching through different parts, publishing everywhere 
 that Magdalen was king Richard, and came to a strong town called 
 Soncestre,* which had a bailiff attached to king Henry for the guard 
 of the town and defence of the adjacent parts. The three earls and 
 lord de Spencer took up their lodgings in Cirencester, and were that 
 night left quiet, for the bailiff, being a valiant and prudent man, did 
 not think he was strong enough to combat them, and dissembled his 
 thoughts as well as he could. 
 
 The next morning the earl of Salisbury and lord de Spencer left the 
 earl of Huntingdon and his nephew, saying they would advance farther 
 into the country to gain friends, and would visit the lord of Berkeley. 
 They rode down Severn side, but were badly advised thus to separate 
 for both parties were weakened by it. The earl of Huntingdon re- 
 mained in Cirencester, and attempted to tamper with the bailiff and 
 townsmen. He told them that the Londoners had delivered king Rich- 
 ard out of prison, and within two days he would be there. The bailiff 
 having collected a large force, said that not one word was true ; for 
 that he had just heard the contrary from king Henry and the citizens 
 of London to assure him of the truth, and that he should act conform, 
 ably to the orders he had received. The earl of Huntingdon, hearing 
 this, changed color from disappointment. Finding he could not gain 
 his end, he returned to his lodgings, armed himself, and made his men 
 do the same, determining to conquer these ale-drinkers by force, and' 
 set fire to their town as an example, and to terrify the country. Tha 
 bailiff was not idle in collecting all the men he could ; they amounted, 
 archers and all, to two thousand men, which he drew up in the- 
 market-place, w hen the force of the earls of Huntingdon and Kent 
 
 * " Soncesire "—Cirencester, pronounced Uijeter, 
 
CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c 
 
 were not three hundred. Notwithstanding this inequality, they made 
 ready to begin the battle, and the archers attacked each other, so that 
 several were wounded. The bailiff and his men, who were very 
 numerous, charged the rebels vigorously, without sparing any one, for 
 he had the king's special orders to take the leaders, dead or alive. 
 The earl's party were forced to retire within their lodgings ; and the 
 house wherein the two earls were, the bailiff's men surrounded and 
 conquered. 
 
 Many were killed, and more wounded. The earl of Huntingdon 
 defended himself gallantly, like a valiant man-at.arms as he was ; but 
 
 Funeral Procession of Richard 11. From MSS. of 15th century. 
 
 the numbers against him were too great to withstand ; and he was 
 slain fighting, as was the young earl of Kent, who was much lamented 
 by several knights 'n England and other countries. He was young 
 und handsome, and had very unwillingly taken part in this conspi- 
 racy : but his uncle and the earl of Salisbury had forced him into it. 
 The men of Cirencester, who were wroth against them, cut off their 
 heads, and sent them in two panniers, as fish is carried, by a varlct on 
 horseback, to rejoice the king and the Londoners. A similar fate 
 befel the earl of Salisbury and lord de Spencer ; they were made 
 prisoners by the knights and squires the king had sent against them, 
 Avho had them beheaded, and sent their heads to London. Great 
 numbers of their partisans, and knights and squires who had accom- 
 panied them, were executed, after which the country remained in 
 peace. 
 
 The king of France, his brother, uncles, and council, learning that 
 during Easter of the year 1400, the English had sent men-at-arms 
 and archers to Calais, Guisnes, and the neighboring castles, and 
 were providing these places with many stores, issued a summons for 
 all knights and squires to prepare themselves to march whithersoever 
 they might be ordered, and specially provided for the frontier of Bou-v 
 logne and the sea-shore. 
 
 CHAPTER CXX. 
 
 ON THE DEATH OF JOHN OF MONTFORT, DUKE OF BRITTANY, THE BRE- 
 TONS UNDERTAKE THE WARDSHIP OF THE YOUNG DUKE, AND TO BE 
 FRIENDLY TO FRANCE. THE FRENCH KING, DISTRUSTING THE SENTI- 
 MENTS OF THE NEW REIGN IN ENGLAND, MAKES PROVISION AGAINST ANY 
 SUDDEN CHANGE. 
 
 At this period, John duke of Brittany departed tnis life, leaving 
 issue two sons and a daughter. The eldest son had been betrothed 
 to the second daughter of the king of France : he could not have the 
 eldest, as she was married to the king of England, as has been related. 
 She had indeed been promised him, and treaties entered into on the 
 subject at Tours in Touraine ; but the king was advised to break it 
 off, to marry her more nobly and richly in England. Many of the 
 Frencn lords, however, said, that it would never turn out well thus to 
 break through solemn engagements. On the death of the duke of 
 Brittany, it was determined in the council, that the duke of Orleans 
 should advance to the borders of Brittany with a body of men-at-arms, 
 to confer with the nobles and chiefs of the principal towns of the 
 duchy, to learn their intentions respecting the young duke, and to 
 demand he should be delivered up to him to carry to the court of 
 France. 
 
 The duke of Orleans, in consequence of this resolution, summoned 
 a considerable number of men-at-arms, and marched them to Pon- 
 torson, where he halted, and signified his arrival to the barons o Brit- 
 
 tany. The prelates, nobles, and chief magistrates of the great towns, 
 assembled at Pontorson, when the duke of Orleans made them the 
 above request. They were prepared with an answer, and replied 
 they would be guardians to their young duke [and educate him in 
 their own country until he should be of a proper age ; that then they 
 would bring him to France, that he might do his homage to the king, 
 as was his duty; that for the due performance of this, they were 
 willing to enter into bonds, subjecting themselves to the loss of their, 
 lands should they break the engagement.] The duke of Orleans 
 finding that he could not gain more, took an obligation from the prin- 
 cipal barons, who had their duke in ward, to 
 deliver him up to the king of France when 
 he should be of a proper age. These ob- 
 ligations being written and sealed, the duke 
 of Orleans had them in charge, and taking 
 leave of the barons departed from Pontor- 
 son, on his return to Paris, and related to the 
 king, his brother, all that had passed 
 
 It was known in England, that the 
 French, by their King's command, had 
 strongly reinforced, and re-victualled all the 
 towns, castles, and forts in Picardy. and on 
 the borders of the Boulonois, and had closed 
 the river Somme, so that no merchandise nor 
 corn could come to England, nor pass Ab. 
 beville. Themerchantsof the two countries, 
 who were used freely to visit each, were 
 now afraid of doing so ; and those on the 
 borders of Calais and Guisnes were ruined, 
 although there were not any hostilities com- 
 menced, for orders to that effect had not 
 been given. The king of England was ad- 
 vised by his council to be on his guard ; for 
 the French, they said, were making great 
 preparations of ships at Harfleur, and plain- 
 ly showed they were inclined for war. The 
 count de Saint Pol and the lord Charles d'- 
 Albreth were appointed commanders ; and 
 it was to be supposed, that if the earls of 
 Huntingdon and Salisbury were alive, they 
 would have crossed the sea, for they had 
 many connections in England. They added, 
 " Sire, so long as Richard of Bordeaux lives, the country will never 
 have peace." " I believe what you say may be true," replied the 
 king ; " but, with regard to me, I will never put him to death. I 
 have given him my word, that no bodily harm shall befal him ; and 
 I will keep my promise, until it shall appear that he enters into any 
 plots againstme." " Sire," answered the knights, " his death would be 
 more to your advantage than his life ; for, so long as the French 
 know he is alive, they will exert themselves to make war against you, 
 in the hope of replacing him on the throne, on account of his having 
 married the daughter of their king." The king of England made 
 no reply, but leaving them in conversation, went to his falconers, and, 
 placing a falcon on his wrist, forgot all in feeding him. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXI 
 
 THE DEATH OF KING RICHARD. THE TRUCES ARE RENEWED AND KEPT 
 BETWEEN FRANCE AND ENGLAND. THE EARL-MARSHAL, WHO HAD BEEN 
 BANISHED ENGLAND, DIES AT VENICE. 
 
 It was not long after this that a true report was current in London 
 of the death of Richard of Bordeaux. I could not learn the particu. 
 lars of it, nor how it happened, the day I wrote these chronicles.* 
 Richard of Bordeaux, when dead, was placed on a litter covered with 
 black, and a canopy of the same. Four black horses were harnessed 
 to it, and two varlets in mourning conducted the litter, followed by 
 four knights dressed also in mourning. Thus they left the Tower of 
 London, where he had died, and paraded the streets at a foot's pace 
 until they came to Cheapside, which is the greatest thoroughfare in 
 the city, and there they halted for upward of two hours. More than 
 twenty thousand persons, of both sexes, came to see the king, who 
 lay in the litter, his head on a black cushion, and his face uncovered. 
 
 Some pitied him, vvhen they saw him in this state, but others did 
 not, saying he had for a long time deserved death. Now consider, 
 ye kings, lords, dukes, prelates, and earls, how very changeable the 
 fortunes of this world are. This king Richard reigned twenty-two 
 years in great prosperity, and with much splendor ; for there never 
 was a king of England who expended such sum.s, by more than one 
 hundred thousand florins, as king Richard did in keeping up his state, 
 and his household establishments. I, John Froissart, canon and treas- 
 urer of Chimay, know it well, for I witnessed and examined it, during 
 my residence with him, for a quarter of a year. He made me good 
 cheer, because in my youth I had been secretary to king Edward his 
 grandfather, and the lady Philippa of Hainault, queen of England. 
 When I took my leave of him at Windsor, he presented me, by 
 one of his knights called sir John Golofre, a silver giit goblet, weigh- 
 
 * It is not to this day certain whether he died by voluntary or compul»ory itanratioOt 
 or was murdered by Piers fixton.—lSD. 
 
624 
 
 CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRAITCE, SPAIN, &c. 
 
 ing full two marcs, filled with one hundred nobles, which were then 
 of service to me, and will be so as long as I live. I am bound to pray 
 to God for him, and sorry am I to write of his death ; but, as I have 
 dictated and augmented this history to the utmost of my power, it 
 became necessary to mention it, that what became of him might be 
 known. 
 
 I saw two strange things in my time, though widely different. I 
 was sitting at dinner in the city of Bordeaux when king Richard 
 was born : it was on a Wednesday, on the point of ten o'clock At 
 that hour sir Richard de Pontchardon, then marshal of Aquitaine, 
 came to me and said : "Froissart, write, that it may be remembered, 
 my lady the princess is brought to bed of a fine son : he is born on 
 Twelfth-day, the son of a king's son, and shall be king himself." 
 The gallant knighi foretold the truth, foe he was king of England 
 twenty-two years ; but he did not foresee what was to be the con- 
 elusion of his life. When king Richard was born, his father was in 
 Galicia, which don Pedro had given him to conquer: a curious thing 
 happened, on my first going to England, which 1 have much thought 
 on since. I was in the service of queen Philippa, and, when she ac- 
 companied king Edward and the royal family, to take leave of the 
 prince and princess of Wales, at Berkh-ampstead, on their departure 
 for Aquitaine, I heard an ancient knight, in conversation with some 
 ladies, say, " We have a book called Brut,* that declares neither the 
 prince of Wales, dukes of Clarence, York, nor Gloucester, will be 
 kings of England, but the descendants of the duke of Lancaster. 
 Now I, the author of this history, say that, considering all things, 
 these two knights, sir Richard de Pontchardon, and sir Bartholomew 
 Burghersh, in what they said, Avere both in the right, for all the world 
 saw Richard reign for twenty-two years in England, aud saw the 
 crown then fall to the house of Lancaster. King Henry would never 
 have been king, on the conditions you have heard, if his cousin, 
 Richard, had treated him in the friendly manner he ought to have 
 done. The Londoners took his part for the wrongs the king had 
 done him and his children, whom they much compassionated. 
 
 When the funeral car of king Richard had remained in Cheapside 
 two hours, it was conducted forward, in the same order as before, 
 out of the town. The four knights then mounted their horses, which 
 were waiting for them, and continued their journey with the body 
 until they came to a village, where there is a royal mansion, called 
 Langley, thirty miles from London. There king Richard was in- 
 terred : God pardon his sins, and have mercy on his soul ! 
 
 News was spread abroad that king Richard was dead. This had 
 been expected some time ; for it was well known he would never 
 come out of the Tower alive. His death was concealed from his 
 queen, as orders had been given for that purpose, which were pru- 
 dently obeyed for a considerable time. All these transactions were 
 perfectly well known in France ; and such knights and squires as 
 wished for war, looked every moment for orders to attack the fron- 
 tiers. The councils, however, of both kingdoms, thought it would 
 be for the advantage of the two countries that the truces should be 
 renewed, and for this end different negotiators went to the neigh- 
 bourhood of Calais. The king of France was not in good health, 
 nor ever had been since he heard of the misfortunes of his son-in- 
 law, Richard ; and his disorder was greatly increased when he was 
 told of his death 
 
 The duke of Burgundy took the chief government of the realm ; 
 he came to Saint Omer and Bourbourg, where were the duke of 
 Bourbon, the lord Charles d'Albreth, sir Charles de Hangiers, sir John 
 de Chateaumorant, and such prelates as the patriarch of .Terusalem, 
 the bishops of Paris and Beauvais. On the part of England were 
 the earls of Northumberland, Rutland and Devonshire, Sir Henry 
 
 Percy, son to the earl of Northumberland, sir Evan Fitzwarren, and 
 the bishops of Winchester and Ely. The French proposed having 
 the 4ueen of England delivered to them, but the English would not 
 listen to it, saying they would gladly have her reside in England on 
 her dower, and that if she had lost her husband, they would provide 
 her another, who should be young and handsome, and whom she 
 would love. Richard of Bordeaux was too old for her, and the person 
 they should offer was suitable in every respect, being no other than 
 the prince of Wales, eldest son to kii:<y Henry. The French would 
 not agree to this, for they dared not c me to any final conclusion in 
 this matter without the consent of the king her father. He was now 
 in a very bad state, and much weakened in his constitution, for there 
 had not been found any physician who could conquer his disorder. 
 The treaty was therefore laid aside, and the subject of the truce can- 
 vassed. It was so well-conducted, that it was resolved to continue 
 it to the original term of thirty years, four of which were already 
 gone, and it was now to last for twenty-six years. This was put into 
 writing, and signed and sealed by those who had full powers so to do 
 from the two kings. When this was done, they separated, and each 
 party returned home. 
 
 I have not mentioned what became of the earl-marshal, 'by whom 
 all these late misfortunes originated, but I will now tell you. He 
 was residing in Venice when he first heard that Henry of Lancaster 
 was king of England, and king Richard dead, and took this news 
 so grievously to heart that he fell sick, was put to bed, became fran. 
 tic, and died. Such were the misfortunes that befel the greatest lords 
 in England. 
 
 CHAPTER CXXII. 
 
 FRANCE PRESERVES A NEUTRALITY BETWEEN THE POPES OF ROME AND 
 AVIGNON. THE ELECTION OF THE EMPEROR ROBERT. 
 
 In the year of grace 1399, pope Benedict, whom the French had 
 formerly supported, was deposed, as well likewise the emperor of 
 Germany* for his wicked deeds. The electors of the empire, and 
 all the great barons of Germany rose against him, and sent him to 
 Bohemia, of which country he was king. They elected emperor in. 
 his stead a valiant and prudent man, called Robert, duke of Hei- 
 delberg, who came to Cologne, and was there crowned with the 
 crown of Germany ; for those of Aix would not admit him within 
 their town, nor the duke of Gueldres submit himself to his obedience, 
 which angered him much. The new emperor promised to restore 
 union to the church. In the mean time, the king of France nego 
 tiated with the Liege men, who were determined for the Roman 
 pope, and managed so well, through sir Baldwin de Mont-jardin (who 
 governed in part the bishopric of Liege, and was a knight of the 
 king's chamber,) that the whole country complied with the desire of 
 the French king, and became neuter. 
 
 The Liege men sent orders to those of their clergy who were at 
 Rome, that if they did not return home by a fixed day, they should 
 be deprived of their benefices. On hearing this, they all came back 
 to Liege ; and pope Boniface, who lost much by this order, sent a 
 legate to Germany to preach to the Liege men, and endeavor to 
 make them return to their former creed. The legate dared not ad- 
 vance farther than Cologne, but sent his instructions and letters to 
 Liege. They read them and told the messenger, " Do not return 
 hither again on the business thou art now. come upon, unless thou 
 shalt wish to be drowned ; for as many messengers as shall be sent 
 us, so many will we throw into the Meuse." 
 
 t Wenceslaus.— £d. 
 
 FSOXSSART. 
 
 * The romance of Brut by Robert Wall.— Ed. 
 
 END OF THE CHRONICLES OF SIR JOHN 
 
INDEX. 
 
 ABBEVILLE, the town of, taken by the French forces 
 under sir Hugh de Chatillon, 179. 
 Aberdeen, the bishop of, taken prisoner by the English at 
 
 the battle of Nevil's Cross, 86. 
 Achery syr Aine, the town of, in Picardy, taken by the 
 
 English under sir Eustace d'Amhreticourt, 127. 
 Achievement at arms, between the lord de la Rochfou- 
 canlt and sir William de Montferrant, at Bordeaux, 
 417. 
 
 Acquifrni, the castle of, taken by the lord de la Riviere, 
 147"; 
 
 Acquitaine, the country of conquered from the English 
 by the earl of Lisle, 44 ; given to the duke of Lancas- 
 ter by Richard II. and his council, 564. 
 
 Acquitaine, the towns of, send embassadors to England 
 to remonstrate against the gift made of the duchy to the 
 duke of Lancaster, 566; succeeded in the object of 
 their remonstrance, 570. 
 
 Additions to the printed copies of Froissart's Chronicles, 
 from MSS, in the Hafod library, 94 et seq. ; 218 note ; 
 270 et seq. ; 288 note ; 288 note ; 289 ; 523 ; 540 ; 603. 
 
 Africa, the town of, besieged by the duke of Bourbon, 
 
 K3 ; the siege abandoned, 529. 
 
 Agace, Gobin, conducts the English army under king 
 
 Edward III. to a ford on the Somme at Blanchetaque, 
 
 previous to the battle of Crecy, 79. 
 Agen, the town of, taken by the French army under the 
 
 duke of Anjou, 197. 
 Aiguillon, the castle of, in Gascony, surrenders to the earl 
 
 of Derby, 69; besieged by the duke of Normandy, 74 ; 
 
 the siege abandoned by order of the king of France, 
 
 83; taken by the French, under the duke of Anjou, 
 
 197. 
 
 Aire, the town of, in Artois, besieged by the Flemings in 
 the interest of the king of England, 89. 
 
 Albert, sir Perducas d', takes offence at the conduct of the 
 prince of Wales, 160; marries the lady Isabella of 
 Bourbon, 171 : complains to the king ol' France of a 
 
 , tax the prince of Wales was about to impose upon 
 the land of himself and other lords of Gascony, ib. ; 
 returns to the interest of the prince of Wales, 184 ; re- 
 ceives the investiture of the lands of Chaumont, 309; 
 his death, ib. 
 
 Albert, the lord Charles d', obtains permision from Charles 
 
 VI. to quarter the lleurs de lis of France alternately 
 
 with his own arms, 505. 
 Alencon, the earl of, slain at the battle of Crecy, 82. 
 Alen9on, earl Peter d', returns to France from England, 
 
 where he had been as one of the hostages lor king 
 
 John, 177. 
 
 Alexandria, the town of, in Lombardy, besieged by the 
 count d'Armagnac, 533 ; siege raised, 534. 
 
 Aljubarota, the battle of, between the armies of Spain 
 and Portugal, 380, 397. 
 
 Aloise, the castle of, in Auvergne. taken by Amerigot 
 Marcel, 248. 
 
 St. Amand, the town of, taken by the enrl of Hainault,46. 
 
 Ambreticourt, sir Eustace d', hospitably receives queen 
 Isabella of England, after she had fled from Paris, 17 ; 
 taken prisoner at the battle of Poitiers, 103 ; rescued 
 by his own men, 104 ; defeated and taken prisoner at 
 the battle of Nogent-sur-Seine, 121 ; obtains his free- 
 dom and takes several towns in Champagne, 122; takes 
 the town of Achery-sur-Aine, in Picardy, 127 ; com- 
 mits great devastations in Picardy, 129; made prisoner 
 and ransomed in Limousin, 202 ; dies at Carentan, in 
 Normandy, ib. 
 
 Ambreticourt, sir John d', appointed embassador to the 
 king of Castille, 449 ; on his return from Galicia, goes 
 to Paris, to accomplish a deed of arms, 451. 
 
 Amurat, the Turkish commander, defeated by the Hun- 
 garians, 389 ; invades Hungary a second time, 544. 
 
 Anchin, Peter d', takes the town of Ortigas, 361; sells it 
 for 8000 francs, 362. 
 
 Andreshen, sir Arnold d', captured at the battle of Poi- 
 tiers, 104 ; advises Henry, king of Castille, not to ha- 
 zard a battle with the prince of Wales, 165; captured 
 at the battle of Navaretta, 167. 
 
 Andreghien, the castle of, belonging to the earl of Flan- 
 ders, burnt and pillaged by the Whitehoods, under 
 John Lyon, 254. 
 
 St. Andrews, the bishop of, taken prisoner at the battle of 
 Nevil's Cross, 86. 
 
 Anghein, the lord d', takes the town of Grammont, in 
 Flanders, for the earl, 291 ; slain before Ghent, 291. 
 
 Angle, sir Guiscard d', appointed marshal of Guienne, 
 138 ; travels through France to Acquitaine in disguise, 
 173 ; created a knight of the garter, 207 ; captured by 
 the Spaniards before La Rochelle, 209 ; ransomed, 220 ; 
 appointed tutor to Richard the Second, 224 ; dies in 
 London, 262, 289. 
 
 Angouleme, the town of, taken by the earl of Derby, 71 ; 
 by the duke of Normandy, 74 ; surrenders a second 
 time to the French, 212. 
 
 Anjou, the duke of, left as a hostage for the payment of 
 the ransom of John of France, 133 ; breaks his parole, 
 139 ; summons his vassals to make war on the prince 
 of Wales in Acquitaine, 179; heads an army against 
 Guienne, 197 ; breaks up his expedition, 199 ; leads an 
 army into Upper Gascony, 220; takes the town of 
 Lourde, ib. ; makes a truce with the duke of Lancas- 
 ter 220 ; takes several places in Upper Gascony, 221 ; 
 
 undertakes an expedition against the English in the 
 Bordelois, 227 ; takes the town of Bergerac, 229; takes 
 several other places in Gascony, 230: etseq. ; returns 
 to Toulouse, 231 ; collects another army against the 
 English, 238; makes war on Brittany, 248; receives 
 the territories of the queen of Naples as a gift from 
 pope Clement, 250 ; seizes the jewels of his brother 
 king Charles the Fifth, 268; seizes the government of 
 France as regent during the minority of Charles the 
 Sixth, ib, ; makes preparations to march for Naples, 
 293; sets out for Italy, 296; enters Naples, 297; dies at 
 a castle near Naples, 340 ; takes Malvoisin, 364 ; * be- 
 sieges Lourde, but being unable to take the castle, he 
 burns the town and retreats, 366. 
 
 Anjou, madame d', queen of Naples, advised, on the 
 death of her husband, the duke of Anjou, to solicit 
 the pope for possession of Provence, 340 ; urges her 
 claims to this country, 343 ; makes her public entry 
 into Paris in company with her son Lewis of Anjou, 
 king of Sicily, &c., 472; institutes a lawsuit in the 
 courts of Paris against sir Peter Craon, 575; obtains 
 judgment against him, 577. 
 
 Anjou, Lewis of, son of the duke of Anjou, makes his 
 public entry into Paris as king of Sicily, &c., 472; sets 
 out from Avignon to Arragon, 497 ; marries the daugh- 
 ter of the king of Arragon, 497 ; embarks with his 
 young bride for Sicily, ib. 
 
 Anne, of Bohemia, sets out for England, 295 ; married to 
 Richard the Second, ib. ; her death. 
 
 Annequin, sir Baldwin d', captured by sir Bartholomew 
 Burghereh, 126. 
 
 Apologue, delivered to the cardinals respecting the pa- 
 pacy, by friar John de la Rochetaillade, 390. 
 
 Appearances, wonderful, in the heavens, seen by the army 
 of Philip von Artaveld on the eve of the battle of 
 Rosebecque, 319. 
 
 Ardembourg, the town of, taken by the men of Ghent, 
 *S25 ; narrowly escapes being taken a second time by 
 them, 346. 
 
 Ardres, the town of, in Picardy, attacked ineffectually by 
 the French forces, 182; surrenders to the duke of Bur- 
 gundy, 225. 
 
 Ardvick, the castle of, in Picardy, taken by the duke of 
 
 Burgundy, 225. 
 Armagnac, the lord of, complains to the king of France 
 
 of a tax the prince of Wales was about to impose 
 
 upon the lands of himself and other lords of Gascony, 
 
 171. 
 
 Armagnac, the count d', obtains the remission of sixty 
 thousand francs of his ransom of the count de Foix, 
 at the intercession of the princess of Wales, 360; en- 
 deavors to prevail on the free companies to sell their 
 forts, 453 ; is thwarted by the count de F»ix, 453 ; leads 
 an army into Lombardy against the duke ol" Milan, 
 541 ; applies to sir John Hawkwood for his assistance, 
 532 ; besieges Alexandria, 532 ; his death, 533. 
 
 Armagnac, sir Bernard d', does homage to the king of 
 France, 544. 
 
 Arnaut, sir Peter, appointed governor of Lourde, in Gas- 
 cony, 361 ; murdered by the count de Foix, 367. 
 
 Arragon, the king of, promises to assist king Henry of 
 Castille against don Pedro, and the prince of Wales, 
 157 ; his death, 415. 
 
 Arras, a conference held there with the view of bringing 
 about a peace between the kings of France and Eng- 
 land, 48. 
 
 Artaveld, Jacob von, a citizen of Ghent, governs all 
 Flanders, 30; sends embassadors to Edward the Third, 
 to invite him over, 31 : joins the earl of Hainault with 
 a large army before Tliin-l'Eveque, 41 ; attempts to 
 disinherit the earl of Flanders, and to give the coun- 
 try to the king of England, 72; murdered at Ghent, 72. 
 
 Artaveld, Philip von, son of tl>e above, appointed gov- 
 ernor of Ghent, 281 ; leads the men of Ghent to attack 
 the earl of Flanders at Bruges, 303 ; defeats the earl, 
 and takes Bruges, 304 ; returns to Ghent in great state, 
 306 ; besieges Oudenarde, 307 ; writes to the king of 
 France to solicit his interference to make peace be- 
 tween the country of Flanders and the earl, 309 ; his 
 letters treated with contempt, 309 ; imprisons a mes- 
 senger from the king of France, 311 ; his answer to the 
 letters he had brought him, ib. ; takes measures to 
 guard the passes of the country against the army of 
 the king of France, 312 ; after the defeat of Peter du 
 Bois, collects a force to opoose the king of France in 
 
 * It may not be improper *ft observe here, once for all, 
 upon a circumstance which doubtless excites the surprise 
 of the reader, that in this instance, as well as several oth- 
 ers in different parts of the Index, events are inserted sub- 
 sequently to the account of the death of the agent. This 
 has arisen unavoidably from the manner in which Frois- 
 sart composed his history, and from new and additional 
 information communicated to him many years after he 
 had completed the former part; of his work, and had men- 
 tioned the death of the person to whom such information 
 related. But it was considered that it would have been 
 a vain and fruitless attempt to rectify this imperfection ; it 
 has, therefore, been deemed advisable to leave things as 
 they were found, and to insert the events selected for the 
 Index in the <)rder and rotation in which they appear no- 
 tice . iikox himielf, 
 < 
 
 person, 3l7 ; defeated and slain at the battle of Rose- 
 becque, 321. 
 
 Artois, lord James A\ captured at the battle of Poitiers. 
 104. 
 
 Artois, lord John d', captured at the battle of Poitiers, 104. 
 
 Artois, lord Philip d', marries the lady Mary of Berry, 
 and is appointed constable ol' France, 559. 
 
 Artois, the lord Robert d', lielriends Isabella, queen of Ed- 
 ward the Second, after she had been commanded to 
 quit France, 16 ; is himself banished by king Philip, 
 27; takes refuge in England, and is created earl of 
 Richmond, 28 ; sent into Brittany to aid the countess 
 of RIontford against the lord Charles of Blois, 61 ; en- 
 gages the lord Lewis of Spain at sea, 62; lands in 
 Brittany, 62; takes the town of Vannes, 62; is be- 
 sieged in it, 62; killed, ib. 
 
 Arundel, the earl of, besieged with king Edward the Se- 
 cond in Bristol by the queen's forces. 18 ; condemned 
 to death and beheaded, 18. 
 
 Arundel, Richard earl of, defeat s the Flemish fleet under sir 
 John le Bucq. 419; appointed to the command of a 
 naval expedition, 468 : In nds near la Rochelle, 473 ; de- 
 feats the Rochellois in a skirmisb, 474; lands in Nor 
 mandy, and overruns the country, 474; returns to 
 Southampton, 491 ; joins the duke of Giocestxjr m his 
 attempts to excite disturbances in England, 594 ; com 
 mitted to the Tower. 601 ; beheaded, 602. 
 
 Aiundel, sir John, heads an armament against France, 
 and lands at Cherbourg, 238 ; sent with a force to the 
 assistance of the duke of Brittany, 258 ; perishes at 
 sea, 'ib. 
 
 Asai, Guy d', Stewart of Toulouse, endeavors to prevent 
 the free companies from entering France, on their re- 
 turn from Spain, 158 ; is defeated by them before Mon- 
 tauban, and made prisoner, 159. 
 
 Assembly, of the lords of England and France, held at 
 Amiens, to treat of a peace between the two coun- 
 tries, 542 ; breaks up without having accomplished the 
 object of its meeting, 544. 
 
 Assembly, held at Rheims by the king of France and the 
 emperorof Germany, to consult on measures to put 
 an end to the schism in the church, 561. 
 
 Assueton, sir John, a Scots knight, performs a gallant 
 deed of arms at Noyon, 198. 
 
 Athenis, the town of, taken firom the English by the duke 
 of Normandy, 74. 
 
 Athens, the duke of, slain at the battle of Poitiers, 105. 
 
 Atremen, Francis, a citizen of Ghent, surprises the town 
 of Oudenarde. 333 ; defeats a party of the French ai 
 Ardembourg. 343 ; makes an unsuccessful attempt to 
 take Ardembourg, 346 ; murdered at Ghent, 403. 
 
 Attigny, the town of, in Champagne, taken by sir Eustace 
 d'Amhreticourt, 122. 
 
 Aubenton, the town of, taken by the earl of Hainault, 39. 
 
 Auberoche, the town of. in Perigord, taken by the earl of 
 Derby, 67 ; retaken by the duke of Anjou, 230. 
 
 Aubriot, Hugh, liberated by the insurgents at Paris, 293. 
 
 Audley, sir James, handsomely rewarded by the prince of 
 Wales for his conduct at the battle of Poitiers, 106 ; his 
 generosity to his squires, 107 ; his death, 187. 
 
 Audley, sir Peter, makes an ineffectual attempt to take the 
 town of Chalons, 187. 
 
 Avesbury, Robert of, his history of the progress of Ed 
 ward the Third in Normandy, 78 ; -note. 
 
 Aulnay. the town of, in Poitou, taken by the earl of Der 
 by, 84. 
 
 Auray, the castle of. in Brittany, taken by the lord Charles 
 of Blois, 58; taken by the lord John de Montford, 152; 
 surrenders to the French forces, 226. 
 
 Auray, the battle of, between the lord John de Montford 
 and the lord Charles of Blois, 150. 
 
 Austarde, Wantaire. commands a troop of the free com- 
 panies at Roullebois, 142. 
 
 Autenne. Roger d', bailiff of Ghent, murdered by the 
 Whitehoods, 253. 
 
 Auterme, Oliver d', revenges himself on the men of Ghei;: 
 for the murder of his brother, 260 ; banished from Flan- 
 ders, 261. 
 
 Auxerre, the earl of, slain at the battle of Crecy, 82. 
 Auxerre, the earl of, captured at the battle of Auray, 150; 
 
 imprisoned on account of his alliance with don Henry 
 
 of Castille, 169. 
 Aymery, sir John, captured by the French, 373; slain at 
 
 Sancerre, 373. 
 
 B. 
 
 Bacon, a robber in Languedoc, takes the castle of Co 
 bourne, in Limousin, and does other mischief, 92. 
 
 Bailleul, sir William de, defeated in a skirmish at Pont 
 Tressin, 46. 
 
 Bajazet, the sultan, raises a large force to oppose the king 
 of Hungary and John of Burgundy, who had invaded 
 Turkey, 581 ; marches for Nicopoli, 587 ; defeats the 
 combined Christian armies with great slaughter, 5^, 
 puts his prisoners, with very few exceptions, to death, 
 589 ; disbands his army, 591 ; a singular instance of hi« 
 justice, 598. 
 
 Ball, John, a refractory priest, excites the people to rebell- 
 ion, 283 ; enters London at their head, 285 ; taken ae*! 
 beheaded, 288. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Kalon, the castle of, in Auvergne, taken by Amerigot Mar- 
 cel, 248. 
 
 Darfleur, the town of, in Normandy, taken by Edward the 
 Third, 76. 
 
 Fanes, sir Barrois de (with other French knights,) goes 
 to the assistance of the king of Castille, ©9 ; enters 
 Corunna to defend it against the duke of Lancaster, 
 400 ; acquires great wealth by destroying the country 
 before the English army, 402. 
 
 St Basile, the castle of, in Gascony, taken by the earl of 
 Derby, 69 ; retaken by the duke of Anjou, 362. 
 
 JBassere, La, the castle of, taken by the French under sir 
 Walter de Passac, 384. 
 
 Batefol, sir Seguin de, chosen commander of a band of 
 freebooters in Gascony, 134 ; takes the city of Brioude, 
 in Auvergne, 137. 
 
 Battle, the noted, between thirty Bretons and thirty Eng- 
 lish, 7iote. 92. 
 
 Bayeux, the city of, taken by the French under the lord de 
 Coucy, 237. 
 
 Bayonne, the town of, besieged by the kingof (^astille, 238 ; 
 taken by the duke of Lancaster, 410. 
 
 Beam, Peter de, his strange dreams, 371. 
 
 Beamois, Perrot le, captain of some free coifipanies, takes 
 the town of Montlerrant, in Auvergne, by stratagem, 
 462 ; abandons it, and retires to his forts, 464 ; takes the 
 field by order of the duke of Arundel, 473 ; overruns 
 the country of Berry, 473. 
 
 Beaufort, the cardinal de, elected pope, under the name of 
 Gregory the Eleventh, 202. 
 
 Beaulieu. William de, captured by the English garrison of 
 Cherbourg, 248. 
 
 Beaumanoir, the lord of, endeavors to make peace be- 
 tween the lord John de Montford and the lord Charles 
 of Blois, 150. 
 
 Beaumont, sir Henry, takes Edward the Second prisoner, 
 while endeavoring to escape from Bristol, 18. 
 
 Beaumont-en-Laillois, the town of, taken by the earl of 
 Derby, 67. 
 
 Beauvais, the country of, invaded by the English, under 
 
 Edward the Third, 79. 
 Becherel, the town of, in Brittany, besieged by the French 
 
 under the lord de Ciisson, 215 ; surrenders on terms, 
 
 220-221. 
 
 Bel, John le, his chronicles adopted by Froissart, as the 
 
 foundation of his own, 14. 
 Belleperche, the town of, taken by the free companies in 
 
 the interest of the prince of Wales, 186 ; retaken by the 
 
 duke of Bourbon, 196. 
 Benedict, pope, elected at Avignon, 563 ; forced to resign 
 
 his dignity, by the king of France and the emperor of 
 
 Germany, 609 ; deposed, 624. 
 Benon, the town of. taken by the English under the earl 
 
 of Derby, 84 ; retaken by sir Bertrand du Guesclin, 
 
 213. 
 
 Bergerac, the town of, taken by the earl of Derby, 66 ; re- 
 taken by the duke of Anjou, 229. 
 
 Berkeley, Thomas, lord of, captured at the battle of Poi- 
 tiers, 105. 
 
 •lerley. the town of, taken by the forces of the king of Na- 
 varro, 117. 
 
 ieiry, John duke of, returns to France from England, 
 where he had been a hostage for king John, 177 ; col- 
 lects his vassals to make war on the prince of Wales 
 in Aquitaine, 179; invades Limousin, 197; takes the 
 town of Limoges, 199 ; takes the town of St. Severe, 
 in Saintonge, 211 : appointed governor of Languedoc, 
 270; betrothes his daughter to the son of the count de 
 Blois, 342; besieges the castle of Ventadour, 460 : en- 
 deavors to win over the duke of Brittany to the French 
 interest, 465 ; proposes to marry the daughter of the 
 duke of Lancaster, 468 ; having failed, he sends to the 
 count de Foix, to demand his ward, the daughter of 
 the count de Boulogne, in marriage, 489 ; is married to 
 her, 493 ; accompanies the kinrp of France in his visit 
 '« the pope at Avignon, 498 ; < !aims the liberation of 
 ^is agent Bethisac, who was under prosecution for 
 flial-administration, 502. 
 i .y, John of, son of tlie duke of Berry, marries the lady 
 
 iWary of France, sister of Charles the Sixth, 465. 
 B 'y, the duchess of, petitions her husband in behalf of 
 the lord de la Riviere, 554 ; supports the lord de la Ri- 
 viere, in opposition to the duchess of Burgundy, 558. 
 Be'^at, the town of, taken by the English, 242. 
 'Bek,vick, the castle of, taken by Edward the Third. 27; 
 ?aken by the Scots, 232 ; retaken by the earl of Nor- 
 thumberland, 2?3. 
 Bessssnghen, the fort of, in Gascony, taken by the English 
 
 under sir Thonius Trivet, 243. 
 Bete, sir Symon, a citizen of Ghent, put to death for hav- 
 ittg endeavored to make peace between that town and 
 the earl of Flanders, 292, 
 bethisac, John, the confidential agent of the duke of Berry 
 in Toulouse, tried at Beziers for mal-administration, 
 502, having confessed himself guilty of lieresy, &c., he 
 is burnt to deatii, £03. 
 Bethune, sir Robert de, takes the tort of La Roche Van - 
 dais, 520. 
 
 Blanchetaque, the battle of, between the king of England 
 and sir Godemar du Fay, 79. 
 
 fi.ancquefort, Henry de, brother of the emperor of Ger- 
 many, forcibly marries Margaret of Hungary, who 
 had been betrothed to Louis de Valois, 350. 
 
 dlayes, the town of, besieged by the earl of Derby, 71. 
 
 Blois, the earl of, slain at tlie battle of Cressy. 82. 
 
 Blois, lord Charles of, claims the duchy of Brittany, 51 ; 
 ieclared the lawful duke of Brittany b> the parlia- 
 ment of Paris, 51 ; enters Brittany with a large force, 
 assisted by tiie king of France, 62; conquers several 
 towns in the diiciiy, 52; takes his adversary, the earl 
 of Montfort, prisoner, 52 ; takes the town of Rennes, 
 66; besieges the countess of Montfort in Hennebon, 
 
 56; takes the castle of Auray, 58 ; takes the town of 
 Vannes by storm, 58; takes the town of Carhaix, 59 ; 
 obtains possession of the town of Jugon by treachery,' 
 60 ; enters into a truce with the countess of Montforti 
 60 ; besieges La Roche d'Errien, 88 ; taken prisoner by 
 the forces of the countess. 88 ; sent to England, 92 ; re- 
 turns to France. Ill ; raises an army to oppose lord 
 John de Montfort, 148 ; killed at the battle of Auray, 
 151 ; canonized by Urban the Fifth, 151, 
 Blois, Guy, count de, returns from England, where he had 
 been hostage for king John, 177 ; joins the king of 
 France against England. 196 ; sells the reversion of the 
 county of Blois to the duke of Touraine, 541 ; dies 
 at Avennes, in Hainault, 601. 
 Blois, John of, marries the widow of William, count of 
 
 Juliers, 455; his death, 455. 
 Blois, lord Lewis of, marries the lady Mary of Berry, 465 ; 
 
 dies in Hainault, 536. 
 Blois. the county of, tlie reversion of it sold to the duke of 
 Touraine, 541. 
 
 Blondeavi, sir John, surrenders the castle of fioche-sur- 
 Yon to the duke of Cambridge, 186 ; put to death in 
 consequence, 186. 
 Bodenay, sir Theobold de, captured at the battle of Poi- 
 tiers, 105. 
 
 Bohemia, Charles of Luxumbourg, king of, slain at the 
 
 battle of Crecy, 82. 
 Bois, Peter du, a citizen of Ghent, chosen one of the com 
 maaders of the Whitehoods in that city, 255 ; nar 
 rowly escapes being put to death, 280 ; besieges Cour- 
 tray, 280; obtains the appointment of Philip von 
 Artaveld to be governor of Ghent, 281 ; defends the 
 pass of Commines against the army of the king of 
 France, 314; defeated, with great slaughter, 316 ; pre 
 vents the town of Bruges from surrendering to the 
 king of France, 319 ; retreats to Ghent after the defeat 
 of Philip von Artaveld, 322; encourages the men of 
 Ghent to withstand the army of the king of France 
 323; after a peace being concluded between the duke 
 of Burgundy, as heir of Flanders, and the men of 
 Ghent, he retires to England, 358. 
 Boniface IX. elected pope by the cardinals of Rome, 506 ; 
 sends a learned friar to the king of France to endeavor 
 to gain him over to his inter*;st, 545. 
 Bonneval, the castle of, taken by the earl of Derby, 67 
 Bordeaux, the town of. besieged by the French under the 
 
 earl of Lisle, 44. 
 Bordeaux, the archbishop of, imprisoned at Barcelona, 
 
 415 ; liberated, 416. 
 Bordes, sir William de, captured by the garrison of Cher- 
 bourg, 248. 
 
 Boteler, sir John, of Warrington, captured at Roche Pe 
 
 rion, 59 ; narrowly escapes being put to death, 60. 
 Boucicault, the lord of, taken prisoner at Romorantin by 
 the prince of Wales, 101 ; appointed to the command 
 of an expedition against the king of Navarre, 142; 
 takes the town of Mantes by stratagem, 142 ; takes the 
 town of Meulan, ib. 
 Boucicaut, sir, the younger, with two other French 
 knights, holds a tournament near Calais against all 
 comers, 509. 
 
 Boucicaut, the lord, taken prisoner by the Turks at the 
 battle of Nicopoli, 588 ; obtains his ransom, 599; ar- 
 rives at Venice, 600; appointed marshal of France, 
 601 ; obliges pope Benedict to submit to the emperor 
 of Germany and the king of France, 609 ; sent to 
 Hungary against the Turks, ib. 
 Boule, John, a citizen of Ghent, appointed one of the cap- 
 tains of the Whitehoods in that city, 255 ; put to death 
 by the men of Ghent, 277. 
 Bourbon, lord John de, earl of March, appointed to the 
 command of an army, to go into Spain against Don 
 Pedro, 154. 
 
 Bourbon, sir James de, captured by the English at the bat- 
 tle of Poitiers, 105 ; sent by the king of France to op- 
 pose the free companies. 135 ; completely defeated by 
 them at the battle of Brignais, 136 ; his death, ib. 
 Bouibon, duke Peter de, slain at the battle of Poitiers, 105. 
 Bourbon, duke Louis de, twkesthe castle of Belleperche, 
 186; heads an army into Poitou and Limousin, 344; 
 takes Montlieu in Saintonge. ib. ; besieges Taille- 
 bourg, ib. ; takes Verteuil and returns to Paris, 350; 
 appointed to the command of an army to assist the 
 king of Castille against the duke of Lancaster, 418 ; 
 arrives at Burgos, 451 ; returns to France, ib. ; mag- 
 nificiently entertained by the count de Foix. 452; ap- 
 pointed corumandcr-in-chief of an expedition against 
 Barbary,514; embarks at Genoa, ib.; lands with his 
 army before the town of Africa, which he besieges, 
 523; his army suffers from the heat and insalubrity of 
 the climate, 525 > al)andons the siege and returns to 
 France, 529; makes an ineffectual attempt to gain 
 over the towns of Aquitaine, during the imprisonment 
 of king Richard the Second, in the tower, 621. 
 Bburchier, sir John, appointed governor of Ghent, 340; 
 
 retires to England, 358. 
 Bourdeilles, the town of, taken by the English under the 
 
 duke of Cambridge, 185. 
 Bournezel, sir Peter, lord de, sent on an embassy from the 
 king of France to the king of Scotland, 246; arrested 
 at Sluys by order of the earl of Flanders, ib. ; returns 
 to Paris, 247. 
 Boutville, the town of, taken by the French, 245. 
 Brabant, the duke of, joins the English forces before Cam- 
 bray, 34 ; purchases three castles belonging to the duke 
 of Gueldres,456 ; appointed chief of the Languefride, 
 ib. ; invades the country of Juliers, 457 ; defeated and 
 taken prisoner by the dukes of Juliers and Gueldres, 
 457 ; obtains his liberty, 457 ; his death, 458. 
 Brabant, the duchess of forms a marriage between the 
 children of Burgundy and those of Hainault, 341 ; 
 causes the daughter of duke Stephen of Bavaria to be 
 
 brought to France to be married to Charles the Sixth, 
 347 ; applies to the emperor to interest himself to ob- 
 tain the liberation of her husband from the duke ol 
 Juliers, 457 ; sends embassadors to solicit the assistance 
 of France against the duke of Gueldres. 458 ; beiseget 
 Grave, 468 ; makes peace with the duke of G ueldres, 488 
 Brabanters. the, besiege Grave, 468: defeated with great 
 slaughter at the bridge of Ravestein, 476 ; abandon the 
 siege of Grave, 476 ; refuse to permit the king of France 
 and his army to march through their country. 477. 
 Bramber, sir Nichoius, beheaded by order of the duke of 
 
 Gloucester, &,c., 446. 
 Brantome, the town of, taken by sir Bertrand du Gues- 
 clin, 201. 
 
 Brest, the castle of, taken by the earl of Montfort as duk«. 
 of Brittany, 49 : besieged by the French under sir Ber 
 trand du Guesclin, 217 ; succored by the earl of Salis- 
 bury, 217 : besieged by sir Oliver de Ciisson, 237 ; b(» 
 sieged a second time by him, 384. 
 Breteuil, the castle of, taken by the king of France, 100 
 Breuse, the viscount de, captured by tlie prince of Wales 
 
 at the battle of Poitiers. 101. 
 Brian, sir Guy, defeaU a Flemish fleet off the isle of Ba> 
 on the coast of Brittany, 205. ' 
 Brignais, the battle of, between lord James of Bourbon 
 
 and the freebooters, 135. 
 Brignais, the castle of, taken by the freebooting compa- 
 nies, 135. 
 
 Brimeu,- the lord de, taken prisoner by the English near 
 Arras, 264. 
 
 Brioude, the town of, taken by sir Seguin Batefol, 137 ; 
 
 surrenders to the French, 375. 
 Bristol, besieged by Isabella, queen of Edward the Se- 
 cond, to obtain possession of her husband and the two 
 sir Hugh Spencers, 17; surrenders to her forces, 18. 
 Brittany, John duke of, his death, 48. 
 Brittany, duke of Vide Montfort, John de. 
 Brittany, John of, son of the lord Charles of Blois, obtains 
 his ransom, after having been long imprisoned in Eng- 
 land, 451 ; marries the daughter of Sir Oliver de Clis 
 son, ib. 
 
 Brittany, the lords of, undertake the wardship of their 
 young duke, on the death of his father John de Mont- 
 fort, 6-23. 
 
 Brittany, the duchy of, adjudged to the lord Charles of 
 
 Blois by the parliament of Paris, 51. 
 Bruce, Robert, king of Scotland, defeats the English un- 
 der Edward the Second, at the battle of Bannock- 
 burn, 15; sends a defiance to Edward the Third, 19; 
 invades England, 20 ; his dying request to lord James 
 Douglas, 24 ; his death, ib. 
 Bruce, David, king of Scotland, dies at Edinburgh, 216. 
 Bruges, the town of. enters into an alliance with the men 
 of Ghent, 255 ; taken by the men of Ghent, 304 ; its 
 gates and walls demolished, 306 ; submits to the mercy 
 of the king of France, after the defeat of the men of 
 Ghent under Philip von Artaveld, 322. 
 Brunes, lord Bartholomev/ de, captured at the battle of 
 Poitiers, 105. 
 
 Brux, the town of, taken by the English under sir James 
 Audley, 183. 
 
 Buch, the captal of, defeats the infamous Jacquerie of 
 Beauvoisis, with great slaughter, 113 ; takes the town 
 of Clermont, in Beauvoisis, 117 ; joins the king of 
 Navarre, 142 ; captured at the battle of Coclierel, in 
 Normandy, 143 ; makes peace between the kings of 
 and Navarre, and obtains his liberty, 153 ; prevents the 
 town of Linde from being given up to the French. 
 197 ; taken by the French at Soubise, 212 ; imprisoned 
 in the Temple at Paris. 213 ; his death. 22S. 
 Buckingham, the earl of, appointed to tiie command of 
 an army to go to the assistance of the duke of Brit- 
 tany 262 ; arrives at Calais, and marches into France, 
 263 ; burns and despoils the country of Champagne, 
 265; overruns the countries of Gatinois and Beauce, 
 267 : crosses the Sarthe with great difficulty, 268 ; ar- 
 rives at Vannes, in Brittany, greatly dissatisfied with 
 tlie conduct of the duke of Brittany, 270 ; besieges 
 Nantes, 271 ; remonstrates with the duke of Brittany 
 for not having joined him, 272 ; raises the siege of 
 Nantes, 273 ; arrives at Vannes, 273 : returns to Eng- 
 land in disgust, 275: suspected of favoring the rebel- 
 lion of Wat Tyler and Jack Straw, 284; created 
 duke of Gloucester, 414. [For the remaining particu- 
 lars of this prince, see Gloucester. Dukk of.] 
 Bucq, sir John de, admiral of Flanders, defeated and cap 
 tured by the English fleet under the earl of Arundel, 
 419 ; dies in London, 420. 
 Budes, Silvester, makes war on the Romans on the behalf 
 
 of pope Clement, 249; beheaded at Mascon.250. 
 Buffiere, the lord Pierre de, captured at die battle of Poi- 
 tiers, 105. 
 
 Burghersh, sir Bartholomew, takes the castle of Cormicy 
 
 in Champagne, 128. 
 Burgundy, PhiUp duke of, enters into a composition with 
 Edward the Third to spare his duchy, in his march 
 through France, 129: his death, 137. 
 Burgundy, Philip (son of king John of France) duke of, 
 his creation, 146; sent against the free companies into 
 Caux, &c., 146; takes the castle of Marcheville, and 
 several other places in Beauce, 147, et seq. ; invades 
 great part of the country of MontbeHiard, 148 ; takes 
 the town of La Charite, ib. ; marries tiie daughter of 
 the earl of Flanders, 182 ; appointed vo the cemmand 
 of an armament againt England, 186; ordered to 
 march against the duke of Lancaster at Calais. 187; 
 takes the towns of Ardres and Ardvick. 225 ; makes 
 peace between the earl of Flandei-s and the men of 
 Ghent. 257; appointed governor of Picardy, 270; in- 
 stigates the king of i'rance to make war on Flanden. 
 907 ; s«Qd« succors to the earl of Flaoden to oppOM 
 
INDEX. 
 
 4 BBEVILLE, the town of. taken by the French forces j 
 
 under sir Hugh de Chatillon, 179. 
 Aberdeen, the bishop of, taken prisoner by the English at 
 
 thf battle of Nevil's Cross, 86. 
 Achery sur Aine, the town of, in Picardy. taken by the 
 
 English under sir Eustace d'Ambreticourt, 127. 
 Achievement at arms, between the lord de la Rochfou- 
 
 cault and sir WilUam de Montferrant, at Bordeaux. 
 
 417. 
 
 Acquigni, the castle of, taken by the lord de la Riviere, 
 147. 
 
 Acquitaine, the country of conquered from the English 
 by the earl of Lisle, 44 ; given to the duke of Lancas- 
 ter by Richard II. and his council, 564. 
 
 Acquitaine, the towns of, send embassadors to England 
 to remonstrate against the gift made of the duchy to the 
 duke of Lancaster, 566; succeeded in the object of 
 their remonstrance, 570. 
 
 Additions to the printed copies of Froissart's Chronicles, 
 fiom MSS. in tiie Hafod library, 94 et seq. ; 218 note ; 
 270 et seq. ; 288 note ; 288 note ; 289 ; 523 ; 540 ; 603. 
 
 Africa, the town of, besieged by the duke of Bourbon, 
 
 123 ; the siege abandoned, 529. 
 
 Agace, Gobin, conducts the English army under king 
 
 Edward III. to a ford on the Somme at Blanchetaque, 
 
 previous to the battle of Crecy, 79. 
 Agen, the town of, taken by the French army under the 
 
 duke of Anjou, 197. 
 Aiguillon, the castle of, in Gascony, surrenders to the earl 
 
 of Derby, 69 ; besieged by the duke of Normandy, 74 ; 
 
 the siege abandoned by order of the king of France, 
 
 83; taken by the French, under the duke of Anjou, 
 
 197. 
 
 Aire, the town of, in Artois. besieged by the Flemings in 
 the interest of the king of England, 89. 
 
 Albert, sir Perducas d', takes offence at the conduct of the 
 prince of Wales, 160: marries tlie lady Isabella of 
 Bourbon, 171: complains to the king of France of a 
 tax the prince of Wales was about to impose upon 
 the land of himself and other lords of Gascony, ib. ; 
 returns to the interest of the prince of Wales, 184 ; re- 
 ceives the investiture of the lands of Chaumont, 309 ; 
 his death, ib. 
 
 Albert, the lord Charles d', obtains permision from Charles 
 
 VI. to quarter the tleurs de lis of France alternately 
 
 with his own arms, 505. 
 Alencon, the earl of, slain at the battle of Crecy, 82. 
 Alencon, earl Peter d'. returns to France from England, 
 
 w'here he had been as one of the hostages for king 
 
 John, 177. 
 
 Alexandria, the town of, in Lombardy, besieged by the 
 count d'Armagnac, 533 ; siege raised, 534. 
 
 AUubarota, the battle of, between the armies of Spam 
 and Portugal, 380, 397. 
 
 Aloise, the castle of, in Auvergne. taken by Amerigot 
 Marcel, 248. 
 
 St. Amand, the town of, taken by the earl of Hainault,46. 
 Ambrelicourt, sir Eustace d', hospitably receives queen 
 Isabella of England, after she had fled from Paris, 17 ; 
 taken prisoner at the battle of Poitiers, 103 ; rescued 
 by his own men, 104; defeated and taiten prisoner at 
 the battle of Nogent-sur-Seine, 121 ; obtains his free- 
 dom and takes several tov/ns in Champagne, 122 ; takes 
 the town of Achery-sur-Aine, in Picardy, 127 ; com- 
 mits great devastations in Picardy, 129 ; made prisoner 
 and ransomed in Limousin, 202 ; dies at Carentan, in 
 Normandy, ib. 
 Ambreticourt, sir John d', appointed embassador to the 
 king of Castille, 449 ; on his return from Galicia, goes 
 to Paris, to accomplish a deed of arms, 451. 
 Amurat, the Turkish commander, defeated by the Hun- 
 garians, 389 ; invades Hungary a second time, 544. 
 Anchin, Peter d', takes the town of Ortigas, 361 ; sells it 
 
 for 8000 francs, 362. 
 Andreshen, sir Arnold d', captured at the battle of Poi- 
 tiers, 104; advises Henry, king of Castille, not to ha- 
 zard a battle with the prince of Wales, 165 ; captured 
 at the battle of Navaretta, 167. 
 Andreghien, the castle of, belonging to the earl of Flan- 
 ders, burnt and pillaged by the Whitehoods, under 
 John Lyon, 254. 
 St. Andrews, the bishop of, taken prisoner at the battle of 
 
 Nevil's Cross, 86. 
 Anghein, the lord d', takes the town of Grammont, in 
 
 Flanders, for the earl, 291 ; slain before Ghent, 291. 
 Angle, sir Guiscard d', appointed marshal of Guienne, 
 138 ; travels through France to Acquitaine in disguise, 
 178; created a knight of the garter, 207 ; captured by 
 the Spaniards before La Rochelle, 209 ; ransomed, 220 ; 
 appointed tutor to Richard the Second, 224 ; dies in 
 London, 262, 289. 
 Angouleme, the town of, taken by the earl of Derby, 71 ; 
 by the duke of Normandy, 74; surrenders a second 
 time to the French, 212. 
 Anjou, the duke of. left as a hostage for the payment ot 
 the ransom of John of France, 133 ; breaks his parole, 
 ^39 ; summons his vassals to make war on the prince 
 of Wales in Acquitaine, 179; heads an army against 
 Guienne, 197 ; breaks up his expedition, 199 ; leads an 
 army into Upper Gascony, 220 ; takes the town of 
 Lourde, ib. ; makes a truce with the duke of Lancas- 
 ter 220 ; takes several places in Upper Gascony, 221 ; 
 
 undertakes an expedition against the English in the 
 Bordelois, 227 ; takes the town of Bergerac,229; takes 
 several other places in Gascony, 230: etseq.; returns 
 to Toulouse, 231 ; collects another army against the 
 English, 238; makes war on Brittany, 248; receives 
 .the territories of the queen of Naples as a gift from 
 pope Clement, 250 ; seizes the jewels of his brother 
 king Charles the Fifth. 268; seizes the government of 
 France as regent during the minority of Charles the 
 Sixth, ib, ; makes preparations to march for Naples, 
 293 ; sets out for Italy, 296 ; enters Naples, 297 ; dies at 
 a castle near Naples, 340 ; takes Malvoisin, 364 ; * be- 
 sieges Lourde, but being unable to take the castle, he 
 burns the town and retreats, 366. 
 Anjou, madame d', queen of Naples, advised, on the 
 death of her husband, the duke of Anjou, to solicit i 
 the pope for possession of Provence, 340 ; urges her 
 claims to this country, 343 ; makes her public entry 
 into Paris in company with her son Lewis of Anjou, 
 king of Sicily, &c., 472; institutes a lawsuit in the 
 courts of Paris againg sir Peter Craon, 575; obtains 
 judgment against him, 577. 
 Anjou, Lewis of, son of the duke of Anjou, makes his 
 public entry into Paris as king of Sicily, &c., 472 ; sets 
 out from Avignon to Arragon, 497 ; marries the daugh- 
 ter of the king of Arragon, 497 ; embarks with his 
 young bride for Sicily, ib. 
 Anne, of Bohemia, sets out for England, 295; married to 
 
 Richard the Second, ib. ; her death. 
 Annequin, sir Baldwin d', captured by sir Bartholomew 
 
 Burghersh, 126. 
 Apologue, delivered to the cardinals respecting the pa- 
 pacy, by friar John de la Rochetaillade. 390. 
 Appearances, wonderful, in the heavens, seen by the army 
 of Philip von Artaveld on the eve of the battle of 
 Rosebecque, 319. 
 Ardembourg, the town of, taken by the men of Ghent, 
 325 ; narrowly escapes being taken a second time by 
 them, 346. 
 
 Ardres, the town of, in Picardy, attacked ineffectually by 
 the French forces, 182; surrenders to the duke of Bur- 
 gundy, 225. 
 
 Ardvick, the castle of, in Picardy, taken by the duke of 
 
 Burgundy, 225. 
 Armagnac, the lord of, complains to the king of France 
 of a tax the prince of Wales was about to impose 
 upon the lands of himself and other lords of Gascony, 
 171. 
 
 Armagnac, the count d', obtains the remission of sixty 
 thousand francs of his ransom of the count de Foix, 
 at the intercession of the princess of Wales, 360; en- 
 deavors to prevail on the free companies to sell their 
 forts, 453 ; is thwarted by the count de F®ix, 453 ; leads 
 an army into Lombardy against the duke of Milan, 
 541 ; applies to sir John Hawkwood for his assistance, 
 532 ; besieges Alexandria. 532 ; his death, 533. 
 Armagnac, sir Bernard d', does homage to the king of 
 France. 544. 
 
 Arnaut, sir Peter, appointed governor of Lourde, in Gas- 
 cony, 361 ; murdered by the count de Foix, 367. 
 Arragon, the king of, promises to assist king Henry of 
 Castille againat don Pedro, and the pruice of Wales, 
 157; his death, 415. 
 Arras, a conference held there with the view of bringing 
 about a peace between the kings of France and Eng- 
 land, 48. 
 
 Artaveld, Jacob von, a citizen of Ghent, governs all 
 Flanders, 30 ; sends embassadors to Edward the Third, 
 to invite him over. 31 : joins the earl of Hainault with 
 a large army before Thin-l'Eveque, 41; attempts to 
 disinherit the earl of Flanders, and to give the coun- 
 try to the king of England, 72 ; murdered at Ghent, 72. 
 Artaveld. Philip von, son of tl>e above, appointed gov- 
 ernor of Ghent, 281 ; leads the men of Ghent to attack 
 the earl of Flanders at Bruges, 303 ; defeats the earl, 
 and takes Bruges, 304 ; returns to Ghent in great state, 
 306 ; besieges Oudenarde, 307 ; writes to the king of 
 France to solicit his interference to make peace be- 
 tween the country of Flanders and the earl, 309 ; his 
 letters treated with contempt, 309; imprisons a mes- 
 senger from the king of France, 311 ; his answer to the 
 letters he had brought him, ib. ; takes measures to 
 guard the passes of the country against the army of 
 the king of France, 312 ; after the defeat of Peter du 
 Bois, collects a force to opoose the king of France in 
 
 * [t may not be improper */■> observe here, once for all, 
 upon a circumstance which doubtless excites the surprise 
 of the reader, that in this instance, as well as several oth- 
 ers in (liiferent parts of the Index, events are inserted sub- 
 sequently to the account of the death of the agent. This 
 has arisen unavoidably from the manner in which Frois- 
 sart composed his history, and from new and additional 
 information communicated to him many years after he 
 had completed the former pan of his work, and had men- 
 tioned the death of the person to whom such information 
 related. But it was considered that it would have been 
 a vain and fruitless attempt to rectify this imperfection ; it 
 has, therefore, been deemed advisable to leave things as 
 they were found, and to insert the events selected for the 
 Index in the grder and rotation in which they appear no- 
 tice cthor himself. 
 
 person, 317 ; defeated and slain at the battle of Rose- 
 becque, 321. 
 
 Artois, lord James d', captured at the battle of Poitiers. 
 104. 
 
 Art ois, lord John d', captured at the battle of Poitiers, 104. 
 Artois, lord Philip d', marries the lady Mary of Berry. 
 
 and is appointed constable of France, 559. 
 Artois, the lord Robert d', befriends Isabella, queen of Ed 
 ward the Second, after she had been commanded to 
 quit France, 16 ; is himself banished by king Philip, 
 27; takes refuge in England, and is created earl of 
 Richmond, 28; sent into Brittany to aid the countess 
 of Montford against the lord Charles of Blois, 61 ; en- 
 gages the lord Lewis of Spain at sea, 62 ; lands in 
 Brittany, 62; takes tlie town of Vannes, 62; is be- 
 sieged in it, 62; killed, ib. 
 Arundel, the earl of, besieged with king Edward the Se- 
 cond in Bristol by the queen's forces, 18 ; condemned 
 to death and beheaded, 18. 
 Arundel, Richard earl of, defeats the Flemish fleet under sir 
 John le Bucq, 419 ; appointed to the command of a 
 naval expedition, 4G8: lands near la Rochelle, 473; de- 
 feats the Rochellnrsin a skirmish, 474 ; lands in Nor 
 mandy, and overruns the country, 474; returns to 
 Southampton, 4bl ; joins the duke of Glocestcr in his 
 attempts to excite disturbances in England, 594 ; coin 
 mitted to the Tower, 601 ; beheaded, 602. 
 Arundel, sir John, heads an armament against France, 
 and lands at Cherbourg, 238 : sent with a force to the 
 assistance of the duke of Brittany, 258 ; perishes at 
 sea, 'ib. 
 
 Asai, Guy d', Stewart of Toulouse, endeavors to prevent 
 the free companies from entering France, on their re- 
 turn fiom Spain, 158 ; is defeated by them before Mon- 
 tauban, and made prisoner, 159. 
 Assembly, of the lords of England and France, held at 
 Amiens, to treat of a peace between the two coun- 
 tries, 542 ; breaks up without having accomplished the 
 object of its meeting, 544. 
 Assembly, held at Rheims by the king of France and the 
 emperor of Germany, to consult on measures to put 
 an end to the schism in the church, 561. 
 Assueton, sir John, a Scots knight, performs a galUnt 
 
 deed of arms at Noyon, 198. 
 Athenis, the town of, taken from the English by the duke 
 
 of Normandy, 74. 
 Athens, the duke of, slain at the battle of Poitiers, 105. 
 Atremen, Francis, a citizen of Ghent, surprises the town 
 of Oudenarde, 333 ; defeats a party of the French at 
 Ardembourg, 343 ; makes an unsuccessful attempt to 
 take Ardembourg, 346 ; murdered at Ghent, 403. 
 Attigny, the town of, in Champagne, taken by sir Eustace 
 
 d'Ambreticourt, 122. 
 Aubenton, the town of, taken by the earl of Hainault, 39. 
 Auberoche. the town of, in Perigord, taken by the earl of 
 
 Derby, 67 ; retaken by the duke of Anjou, 230. 
 Aubriot, Hugh, liberated by the insurgents at Paris, 293. 
 Audley, sir James, handsomely rewarded by the prince of 
 Wales for his conduct at the battle of Poitiers, 106 ; his 
 generosity to his squires, 107 ; his death, lb7. 
 Audley, sir Peter, makes an ineffectual attempt to take the 
 
 town of Chalons. 187. 
 Avesbury, Robert of, his history of the progress of Ed 
 
 ward the Third in Normandy, 78 ; note. 
 Aulnay, the town of, in Poitou, taken by the earl of Der 
 by, 84. 
 
 Auray, the castle of. in Brittany, taken by the lord Charles 
 of Blois", 58 ; taken by the lord John de Montford, 152 : 
 surrenders to the French forces, 226. 
 Auray, the battle of, between the lord John de Montford 
 
 and the lord Charles of Blois, 150. 
 Austarde, Wantaire, commands a troop of the free com- 
 panies at Roullebois, 142. 
 Auterme, Roger d', bailiff of Ghent, murdered by the 
 
 Whitehoods, 253. 
 Auterme, Oliver d', revenges himself on the men of Ghen,* 
 for the murder of his brother, 260 ; banished from Flan 
 ders, 261. 
 
 Auxerie, the earl of, slain at the battle of Crecy, 82. 
 Auxerre, the earl of, captured at the battle of Auray, 150; 
 imprisoned on account of his alliance with don Henry 
 of Castille, 169. 
 Aymery, sir John, captured by the French, 373; slain a( 
 Sancerre, 373. 
 
 B. 
 
 Bacon, a robber in Languedoc, takes the castle of Co, 
 
 bourne, in Limousin, and does other mischief, 92. 
 Bailleul, sir William de, defeated in a skirmish at Pont \ 
 Tressin, 46. 
 
 Bajazet, the sultan, raises a large force to oppose the kin, 
 of Hungary and John of Burgundy, who had invade' 
 Turkey, 581; marches for Nicopoli, 587 ; defeats th. 
 combined Christian armies with great slaughter, SSS 
 puts his prisoners, with very few exceptions, to deatl;i 
 589 ; disbands his army, 591 ; a singular instance of hi 
 justice, 598. 
 
 Ball, John, a refractory priest, excites the people to rebelJ| 
 ion, 283 ; enters London at their head, 285 ; taken an 
 beheaded, 288. 
 
626 
 
 TNDEX. 
 
 Balon, the castle of, in Auvergne, taken by Arnerigot Mar- 
 cel, 248. 
 
 Barfleur, the town of, in Normandy, taken by Edward the 
 Third, 76. 
 
 Barres, sir Barrois de (with other French knights,) goes 
 to the assistance of the king of Castille, W ; enters 
 Oorunna to defend it against the duke of Lancaster, 
 400 ; acquires great wealth by destroying the country 
 before the Englisli army, 402. 
 
 St. Basile, the castle of, in Gascony, taken by the earl of 
 Derby, 69 ; retaken by the duke of Anjou, 362. 
 
 Bassere, La, the castle of, taken by the French under sir 
 Waller de Pussac, 384. 
 
 Batefol, sir Seguin de, chosen commander of a band of 
 freebooters in Gascony, 134 ; takes the city of Brioude, 
 in Auvergne, 137. j 
 
 Battle, the noted, between thirty Bretons and thirty Eng- 
 lish, note. 92. 
 
 Bayeux, the city of, taken by the French under the lord de 
 Coucy, 237. 
 
 Bayonne, the town of, besieged by the king of (pastille, 238 ; 
 taken by the duke of Lancaster, 410. 
 
 Beam, Peter de, his strange dreams, 371. 
 
 Beamois, Perrot le, captain of some free companies, takes 
 the town of Montferrant, in Auvergne,, by stratagem, 
 462 ; abandons it, and retires to his Ibrts, 464 ; takes the 
 field by order of the duke of Arundel, 473 ; overruns 
 the country of Berry, 473. 
 
 Beaufort, the cardinal de, elected pope, under the name of 
 Gregory the Eleventh, 202. 
 
 Beaulieu. William de, captured by the English garrison of 
 Cherbourg, 248. 
 
 Beaumanoir, the lord of, endeavors to make peace be- 
 tween the lord John de Montford and the lord Charles 
 of Blois, 150. 
 
 Beaumont, sir Henry, takes Edward the Second prisoner, 
 while endeavoring to escape from Bristol, 18. 
 
 Beaumont-en-Laillois, the town of, taken by the earl of 
 Derby, 67. 
 
 Beauvais, the country of, invaded by the English, under 
 
 Edward the Third, 79. 
 Becherel, the town of, in Brittany, besieged by the French 
 
 under the lord de Clisson. 215 ; surrenders on terms, 
 
 220-221. 
 
 Bel, John le, his chronicles adopted by Froissart, as the 
 
 foundation of his own, 14. 
 Belleperche, the town of, taken by the free companies in 
 
 the interest of the prince of Wales, 186; retaken by the 
 
 duke of Bourbon, 196. 
 Benedict, pope, elected at Avignon, 563 ; forced to resign 
 
 his dignity, by the king of France and the emperor of 
 
 Germany, 609 ; deposed, 624. 
 Benon, the town of, taken by the English under the earl 
 
 of Derby, 84; retaken by sir Bertrand du Gueschn, 
 
 213. 
 
 Sergerac, the town of, taken by the earl of Derby, 66; re- 
 taken by the duke of Anjou, 229. 
 
 Berkeley, Thomas, lord of, captured at the battle of Poi- 
 tiers, 105. 
 
 lerley, the town of, taken by the forces of the king of Na- 
 varse, 117. 
 
 ieiry, John duke of, returns to France from England, 
 where he had been a hostage for king John, 177 ; col- 
 lects his vassals to make war on the prince of Wales 
 in Aquitaine, 179 ; invades Limousin, 197 ; takes the 
 town of Limoges, 199 ; takes the town of St. Severe, 
 in Saintonge, 211 : appointed governor of Languedoc, 
 270 ; betrothes his daughter to the son of the count de 
 Blois, 342; besieges the castle of Ventadour, 460: en- 
 deavors to win over the duke of Brittany to the French 
 interest, 465 ; proposes to marry the daughter of the 
 duke of Lancaster, 468 ; having failed, he sends to the 
 count de Foix. to demand his ward, the daugiiter of 
 the countde Boulogne, in marriage, 489 ; is married to 
 her, 493; accompanies the king of France in his visit 
 V) the pope at Avignon, 498 ; claims the liberation of 
 tiis agent Bethisac, who was under prosecution for 
 *ial-administration, 502. 
 
 ;y, John of, son of tlie duke of Berry, marries the lady 
 Mary of France, sister of Charles the Sixth, 465. 
 
 . /y, the duchess of, petitions her husband in behalf of 
 ihe lord de la Riviere, 554 ; supports the lord de la Ri- 
 ^yiere, in opposition to the duchess of Burgundy, 558. 
 
 ePfiat, the town of, taken by the English, 242. 
 
 ei<vick, the castle of, taken by Edward the Third, 27 ; 
 (?aken by the Scots, 232 ; retaken by the earl of Nor- 
 
 I {Cumberland, 2.33. 
 
 ijssonghen, the fori of, in (Gascony, taken by the English 
 , under sir Thomas Trivet, 243. 
 
 ■jte, sir Symon, a citizen of Ghent, put to death for hav- 
 ing endeavored to make peace between that town and 
 ■ the earl of Flanders, 292. 
 
 ithisBC, John, the ctmtideiitial agent of tlie duke of Berry 
 in Toulouse, tried at Beziers for mal-administration, 
 ' 502, having confessed himself guilty of heresy, &c., he 
 i is burnt to death, 503. 
 
 ithune, sir Robert de, takes the fort of La Roche Van- 
 dais, 520. 
 
 inchetaque, the battle of, between the king of England 
 and sir Godemar du Fay, 79. 
 
 'incquefort, Henry de, brother of the emperor of Ger- 
 I many, forcibly marries Margaret of Ihmgary, wlio 
 had been betrotlied to I..ouis de Valois, 350. 
 tyes, the town of, besieged by tlie earl of Derby, 71. 
 ' lis, the earl of, slain at the battle of Cressy, 82. 
 lis, lord Charles of, claims the duchy of Brittany, 51 ; 
 tleclared the lawful duke of Brittany b> the parlia- 
 , ment of Paris, 51 ; enters Brittany with a large force, 
 assisted by the king of France, 62; conquers several 
 towns in the duchy, 52 ; takes his advereary, the earl 
 ■ of Montfort, prisoner, 52 ; takes the town of Rennes, 
 '^6; besieges the countess of Montfort jn Hennebon, 
 
 56; takes the castle of Auray, 58; takes the town of 
 Vannes by storm, 58; takes the town of Carhaix, 59 ; 
 obtains possession of the town of Jugon by treachery,' 
 60; enters into a truce with the countess of Montfort' 
 60 ; besieges La Roche d'Errien, 88 ; taken prisoner by 
 the forces of the countess. 88 ; sent to England, 92 ; re- 
 turns to France, 111 ; raises an army to oppose lord 
 John de Montfort, 148 ; killed at the battle of Auray. 
 151 ; canonized by Urban the Fifth, 151. 
 Blois, Guy, countde, returns from England, where he had 
 been hostage for king John, 177 ; joins the king of 
 France against England, 196 ; sells the reversion of the 
 county of Blois to the duke of Touraine, 541 ; dies 
 at Avennes, in Hainault, 601. 
 Blois, John of, marries the widow of William, count of 
 
 Juliers, 455 ; his death, 455. 
 Blois, lord Lewis of, marries the lady Mary of Berry, 465 ; 
 
 dies in Hainault, 536. 
 Blois, the county of, the reversion of it sold to the duke of 
 Touraine, 541. 
 
 Blondeau, sir John, surrenders the castle of Roche-sur- 
 Yon to the duke of Cambridge, 186 ; put to death in 
 consequence, 186. 
 Bodenay, sir Theobold de, captured at the battle of Poi- 
 tiers, 105. 
 
 Bohemia, Charles of Luxumbourg, king of, slain at the 
 
 battle of Crecy, 82. 
 Bois, Peter du, a citizen of Ghent, chosen one of the com- 
 manders of the Whitehoods in that city, 255 ; nar- 
 rowly escapes being put to death, 280 ; besieges Cour- 
 tray, 280 ; obtains the appointment of Philip von 
 Artaveld to be governor (♦Ghent, 281; defends the 
 pass of Commiaes against the army of the king of 
 J'Vance, 314 ; defeated, with great slaughter, 316 ; pre- 
 vents the town of Bruges from surrendering to the 
 king of France, 319 ; retreats to Ghent after the defeat 
 of Philip von Artaveld, 322; encourages the men of 
 Ghent to withstand the army of the king of France, 
 . 323; after a peace being concluded between the duke 
 ^ of Burgundy, as heir of Flanders, and the men of 
 
 Ghent, he retires to England, 358. 
 Boniface IX. elected pope by the cardinals of Rome, 506 ; 
 sends a learned friar to the king of France to endeavor 
 to gain him over to his interest, 545. 
 Bonneval, the castle of, taken by the earl of Derby, 67. 
 Bordeaux, the town of, besieged by the French under the 
 
 earl of Lisle, 44. 
 Bordeaux, the archbishop of, imprisoned at Barcelona, 
 
 415; liberated, 416. 
 Bordes, sir William de, captured by the garrison of Cher- 
 bourg, 248. 
 
 Boteler, sir John, of Warrington, captured at Roche Pe- 
 
 rion, 59 ; narrowly escapes being put to death, 60. 
 Boucicault, the lord of, taken prisoner at Romorantin by 
 the prince of Wales, 101 ; appointed to the command 
 of an expedition against the king of Navarre, 142; 
 takes the town of Mantes by stratagem, 142 ; takes the 
 town of Meulan, ib. 
 Boucicaut, sir, the younger, with two other French 
 knights, holds a tournament near Calais against all 
 comers, 509. 
 
 Boucicaut, the lord, taken prisoner by the Turks at the 
 battle of Nicopoli, 588 ; obtains his ransom, 599; ar- 
 rives at Venice, 600; appointed marshal of France, 
 601 ; obliges pope Benedict to submit to the emperor 
 of Germany and the king of France, 609 ; sent to 
 Hungary against the Turks, ib. 
 Boule, John, a citizen of Ghent, appointed one of the cap- 
 tains of the Whitehoods in that city, 255 ; put to death 
 by the men of Ghent, 277. 
 Bourbon, lord John de, earl of March, appointed to the 
 command of an army, to go into Spain against Don 
 Pedro, 154. 
 
 Bourbon, sir James de, captured by the English at the bat- 
 tle of Poitiers, 105 ; sent by the king of France to op- 
 pose the free companies. 135 ; completely defeated by 
 them at the battle of Brignais, 136 ; his death, ib. 
 Bourbon, duke Peter de, slain at the battle of Poitiers, 105. 
 Bourbon, duke Louis de, takes the castle of Belleperche, 
 196; heads an army into Poitou and Limousin, 344 ; 
 takes Rlontlieu in Saintonge. ib. ; besieges Taille- 
 bourg, ib. ; takes Verteuil and returns to Paris, 350; 
 appointed to the command of an army to assist the 
 king of Castille against the duke of Lancaster, 418: 
 arrives at Burgos, 451 ; returns to France, ib. ; niag- 
 nificiently entertained by the count de Foix, 452 ; ap- 
 pointed conamander-in-chief of an expedition against 
 Barbary, 514; embarks at Genoa, ib.; lands with his 
 army before tlie town of Africa, which he besieges, 
 523; his army suffers from the heat and insalubrity of 
 the climate, 525; abandons the siege and returns to 
 France, 529; makes an ineffectual attempt to gain 
 over the towns of Aquitaine, during the imprisonment 
 of king Richard the Second, in the tower, 621. 
 Bourchier, sir John, appointed governor of Ghent, 340; 
 
 retires to England, 358. 
 Bourdeiiles, the town of, taken by the English under the 
 
 duke of Cambridge, 185. 
 Bournezel, sir Peter, lord de, sent on an embassy from the 
 king of France to the king of Scotland, 246 ; arrested 
 at Sluys by order of the earl of Flanders, ib. ; reUuns 
 to Paris, 247. 
 Boutvilte, the town of, taken by the French, 245. 
 Brabant, the duke of, joins the English forces before Cam- 
 bray, 34 ; purchases three castles belonging to the duke 
 of G ueldres, 456 ; appointed chief of the Languefride, 
 ib. ; invades the country of Juliers, 457 ; defe.ited and 
 taken prisoner by the dukes of Juliers and Gueldres, 
 457 ; obtains his liberty, 457 ; bis death, 458. 
 Brabant, the duchess of, forms a marriage between the 
 children of Burgundy and those of Hainault, 341 ; 
 causes the daughter of duke Stephen of Bavaria to be 
 
 brought to France to be married to Charles the Si.Ttb, 
 3il ; applies to the emperor to interest himself to ob- 
 tain the liberation of her husband from the duke of 
 Julrers, 457 ; sends embassadors to solicit the assistance 
 of France against the duke of Gueldres. 458 ; beiseget 
 Grave, 468 ; makes peace with tlie duke of G ueldres, 488 
 Brabanters, the, besiege Grave, 468 ; defeated with great 
 slaughter at the bridge of Ravestein. 476 ; abandon tlie 
 siege of Grave, 476 ; refuse to permit the king of France 
 and his army to march through their country 477 
 Bramber, sir Nicholas, beheaded by order of the duke of 
 
 • Gloucester, &,c., 446. 
 Brantome, the town of) taken by sir Bertrand du Gues- 
 clin, 201. 
 
 Brest, the castle of, taken by the earl of Montfort as duk» 
 of Brittany, 49: besieged by the French under sir Ber 
 trand du Guesclin,217 ; succored by the earl of Salis- 
 bury, 217 : besieged by sir Oliver de Clisson, 237 ; b« 
 sieged a second time by him, 384. 
 Breteuil, the castle of, taken by the king of France. 100 
 Breuse, the viscount de, captured by the prince of Wales 
 
 at the battle of Poitiers, 101. 
 Brian, sir Guy, defeats a Flemish fleet off the isle of Bas, 
 
 on the coast of Brittany, 205. 
 Brignais, the battle of, between lord James of Bourbon 
 
 and the freebooters, 135. 
 Brignais, the castle of, taken by the freebooting compa- 
 nies, 135. 
 
 Brimeu, the lord de, taken prisoner by the English near 
 Arras, 264. 
 
 Brioude, the town of, taken by sir Seguin Batefol, 137 • 
 
 surrenders to the French, 375. 
 Bristol, besieged by Isabella, queen of Edward the Se- 
 cond, to obtain possession of her husband and the two 
 sir Hugh Spencers, 17 ; surrenders to her forces, 18. 
 Brittany, John duke of. his death, 48. 
 Brittany, duke of Vide Montfort, John de. 
 Brittany, John of, son of the lord Charles of Blois, obtains 
 his ransom, after having been long imprisoned in Eng- 
 land, 451; marries the daughter of Sir Oliver de Clis 
 son, ib. 
 
 Brittany, the lords of, undertake the wardship of their 
 young duke, on the death of his father John de Mont- 
 fort, 623. 
 
 Brittany, the duchy of, adjudged to the lord Charles of 
 
 Blois by the parliament of Paris, 51. 
 Bruce, Robert, king of Scotland, defeats the English un- 
 der Edward the Second, at the battle of Bannock- 
 burn, 15; sends a defiance to Edward the Third, 19; 
 invades England, 20 ; his dying request to lord James 
 Douglas, 24 ; his death, ib. 
 Bruce, David, king of Scotland, dies at Edinburgh. 216. 
 Bruges, the town of, enters into an alliance with the men 
 of Ghent, 255 ; taken by the men of Ghent, 304 ; its 
 gates and walls demolished, 306 ; submits to the mercy 
 of the king of France, after the defeat of the men of 
 Ghent under Philip von Artaveld, 322. 
 Brunes, lord Bartholomew de, captu^^d at the battle of 
 Poiliers, 105. 
 
 Brux, the town of, taken by the English under sir James 
 Audley, 183. 
 
 Buch, the captal of, defeats the infamous Jacquerie of 
 Beauvoisis, with great slaughter, 113 ; takes the town 
 of Clermont, in Beauvoisis, 117 ; joins the king of 
 Navarre, 142 ; captured at the battle of Cocherel, in 
 Normandy, 143 ; makes peace between the kings of 
 and Navarre, and obtains his liberty, 153 ; prevents the 
 town of Linde from being given up to the French, 
 197; taken by the French at Soubise, 212 ; imprisoded 
 in the Temple at Paris, 213 ; his death, 225. 
 Buckingham, the earl of, appointed to the command of 
 an army to go to the assistance of the duke of Brit- 
 tany 262 ; arrives at Calais, and marches into France, 
 263 ; burns and despoils the country of Champagne, 
 265 ; overruns the countries of Gatinois and Beauce, 
 267: crosses the Sarthe with great difficulty, 268; ar- 
 rives at Vannes, in Brittany, greatly dissatisfied with 
 the conduct of the duke of Brittany, 270; besieges 
 Nantes, 271 ; remonstrates with the duke of Brittany 
 for not having joined him, 272 ; raises the siege of 
 Nantes. 273; arrives at Vannes, 273 : returns to Eng- 
 land in disgust, 275 : suspected of favoring the rebel 
 lion of Wat Tyler and Jack Straw, 284; created 
 duke of Gloucester. 414. [For the remaining particu- 
 lars of this prince, see Gloucester. Duke of.] 
 Bucq, sir John de, admiral of Flanders, defeated and cap 
 tured by the English fleet under the earl of Arundel, 
 419 ; dies in London, 420. 
 Budes, Silvester, makes war on the Romans on the behalf 
 
 of pope Clement, 249 ; beheaded at Mascon. 250. 
 Bufiiere, the lord Pierre de, captured at the battle of Poi- 
 tiers, 105. 
 
 Burghersh, sir Bartholomew, takes the castle of Cormicy 
 
 in Champagne, 128. 
 Burgundy, Philip duke of, enters into a composition with 
 Edward the Third to spare his duchy, in his march 
 through France, 129: his death, 137. 
 Burgundy, Philip (son of king John of France) duke of, 
 his creation, 146; sent against the free companies into 
 Caux, &c., 146; takes the castle of Marcheville, and 
 several other places in Beauce, 147, et seq.; invades 
 great part of the country of Montbelliard, 148 ; takes 
 the town of La Charite, ib. ; marries the daughter of 
 the earl of Flanders, 182 ; appointed lo the command 
 of an armament againt England, 186; ordered to 
 march asainst the duke of Lancaster at Calais, 187; 
 takes the towns of Ardres and Ardvick, 225 ; makes 
 peace between the earl of Flanders o nd the men of 
 Ghent, 257; appointed governor of Picardy, 270; in- 
 stigates the king of France to make war on Flanden, 
 307 ; sends succors to the earl of Flanden to oppgM 
 
INDEX 
 
 627 
 
 the bbhop of Norwich. 330 ; obtains the towns of 
 Sluys in exchange for the country of Bethune, 348 ; 
 makes peace with tiie men of Ghent. 356 ; sends forces 
 to the assistance of the duchess of Biabant, against 
 the duke of Gueldres, 460 ; goes to Blois to meet the 
 duke of Brittany. 471 ; accompanies the king of France 
 in his visit to the popa, at Avignon. 498; ordered to 
 return, to his great dissatisfaction, 499 ; appointed re- 
 gent of France duruig- the derangement of Charles the 
 Sixth, 551 ; treats sir OHver de Ciisson, tlie constable 
 of France, harshly, 553; arrests several of the kings 
 council, 553. 
 
 Buigundy, John of. son of the duke of Burgundy, ap- 
 pointeil commander-in-chief of an expedition against 
 the Turks. 573 ; crosses the Danube with a large force, 
 in company with the king of Hungary. 578; takes by 
 storm the town of Comecte. 578; besieges Nicopoli, 
 581 • defeated by the Turkish army under the sultan 
 Baj'azet, 588 ; taken prisoner. 589 ; obtains his ransom. 
 599; returns to France, 601. 
 
 Burley. sir Simon, taken by the French, 180; sent to ne- 
 gotiate a marriage between Richard the Second and 
 the daughter of Charles of Bohemia, emperor of Ger- 
 many, 258; advises tiie removal of the shrine of St. 
 Thomas from Canterbury to Dover castle, by which 
 he gives great offence, 412 ; committed to the Tower 
 by order of the commissioners of accounts, appointed 
 'to examine into his conductduring his administration, 
 441; beheaded, 441. 
 
 Burley sir Richard, son of the above, dies in Castille, 44iJ, 
 
 c. 
 
 Cadillac, the town of, taken by storm, 231 
 Cadsant, the island of taken by the English, 31. 
 Caen, the battle of 77. 
 
 Caen, the town of, taken by Edward the Third, 77. 
 
 Cahors. the town of, turns to the French interest, 181. 
 
 Cahours, Raoul de, defeats the English under sir Thomas 
 Daggeworth in Brittany, 97. 
 
 ^alais, the battle of. between the English and French for- 
 ces, 83. 
 
 alais, the town of, besieged by Edward the Third, 83; 
 
 surrenders to him, 90. 
 Jalverly, sir Hugh, joins the prince of Wales in Acqui- 
 taine'with a large body of the free companies, 180 ; 
 endeavors to dissuade the bishop of Norwich from en- 
 tering Flanders with the forces under his command, 
 327. 
 
 Cambray, the city of, besieged by Edward the Third. 34. 
 
 Cambridge, the eiirl of, sent to the assistance of the prince 
 of Wales in Atiuitaine. 179; makes war in Pengord, 
 &c. 180; takes the town of i?ourdeilles, 185; leads a 
 body of'troops to the relief of Belleperche, 195; returns 
 to England, 202; iippointed to the command of an 
 army to go to tlie assistance of the king of Portugal 
 against the king of Castille, 282 ; arrives at Lisbon. 
 290 ; returns with his army, dissatisfied with tlie con- 
 duct of the king of Portugal, 300, 359; created duke 
 of York, 414. [For the remaining particulars of this 
 prince see York, the duke of 
 
 CameroUes, the castle of, taken by the duke of Burgundy, 
 147 
 
 Campreny, the lord of, captured by the captal of Buch. 
 130. 
 
 Candorier, John, mayor of Ln Rochelle, obluins posses- 
 sion of the castle from the English, by stratagem, ^1-. 
 Canterbury, the archbishop of sent to Bristol by the duke 
 of Gloucester and the Londoners, on an embassy to 
 Richard the Second, 446; conducts him to London, 
 446- sentto France with an application from the Lon- 
 doners to the earl of Derby to return lo England, 613 ; 
 conducts the earl to London, 615. 
 
 Caponnal, Caponnel de, liberated by exchange, 194. 
 
 Captal, the title expUiined, 101, vote. 
 
 Carcilhart, the fort of, taketi by the English under sn- 
 Thomas Trivet. 243. , , rr., j nr 
 
 Carentan, the town of, taken by Edward the Third, 76; 
 retaken by tlie French under the lord de Coucy, 237. 
 
 Carhaix, the town of, taken by the lord Charles of Blois, 
 59 
 
 Carogne, sir John de. kills James le Gris in a mortal com- 
 
 CarSuefoJ! the town of, taken by the lord Charles of Blois, 
 52. 
 
 Cassel, the battle of, 2o. , a v iro 
 
 Casseres, the town r>f, taken by the count deV oix, 362. 
 Cassuriel.the castle of, in Auvergne. taken by Amerigot 
 Marcel "48 
 
 Castillon, the town of tnke)i by the duke of Anjou, 230. 
 Cervole, Arnnuld de, the archpiiest, collects a body of 
 
 armed men and pillage. Provence, 111; captured at 
 
 the battle of Brigiiais, 1S6. 
 rhaions. the town of. nnsucces:^f..llv rit;acked by sir leter 
 
 Audley. 119. 
 
 Chalons, the bishop of. .lain at the battle ot Poitiers, 10a. 
 rhandf s sir .lolin, receives the lands of St. feauveur-le- 
 Vico'mte as a gift from the king of England, 133 ; ap- 
 pointed regent over all the possessions of the king of 
 England in France, V3A : tipnoint^d constable of Gui- 
 enne 138- -.cut. to rbe assistance of the lord John de 
 Montfort in Brittany. 148 : prevents a peace being con- 
 cluded between John de Montfort nnd the lord Charles 
 of Blois 150 • defeats the army of lord Charles at the 
 battle of Auray. 151 ; advises the prince of Wales not 
 to persevere in his de^^ign of enfnrci-is the fouage or 
 hearth-tax, and failing to succeed retires to his country 
 leat 171 ; recalled by the prince, and sent to make war 
 on the French and Gascon lords, 178; takes the town 
 ofTerrieres, and several others intheToulousam, 180. 
 ct seq ; appointed seneschal of Poitou, 187 ; invades 
 
 and pillages the territories of Anjou and Rochechouait, 
 187 : killed in a skirmish at the bridge of Lussac. 194. 
 
 Chargny, the lord de. slain at the battle of Poitiers. 106. 
 
 Chargny. sir Geoffry de. endeavors to gain possession of 
 Calais by bribing the governor, sir Amery de Pavie, 
 93; defeated by the king of England. 94 ; embarks for 
 Scotland to offer his assistance against England. 338 ; 
 returns, and is in great danger from the Zealanders. 
 340. 
 
 Chargny-en-Dormois. the castle of, taken by sir John 
 Chandos, 127. 
 
 Charite. La, the town of. in the Nivernois, taken by the 
 lord Lewis of Navarre, 147 ; taken by the duke of Bur- 
 gundy, 148 ; taken a second time by the French. 373. 
 
 Charles, emperor of Germany, his death. 258. 
 
 Charles of Bohemia, emperor of Germany, collects a large 
 army to make war on the duke of Gueldres in the 
 cause of the duchess of Brabant. 457 ; receives his sub- 
 mission, 457. 
 
 Charles the Fourth, kine of France, takes measures to as- 
 sist his sister Isabella, queen of Edward the Second, 
 against her husband and the Spencers. 15; is prevailed 
 upon by sir Hugh Spencer to break up the expedition 
 which he had encouraged his sister to raise in France. 
 16; commands her to quit the kingdom, 16; hisdeaih. 
 
 23- . . 
 
 Charles the Fifth, king of France, crowned at Kheims 
 147- makes peace with the lord John de Montfort, and 
 acknowledges him lawful duke of Brittany, 153; makes 
 peace with the king of Navarre, ib.; raises an army to 
 make war on Don Pedro, king ol" Castille, 153 ; is ad- 
 vised to declare himself lord paramount ot Guienne, 
 and to renew the war with England, 174, 17o ; sum- 
 monses the prince of Wales to appear before the pai- 
 hament of Paris to answer the complaints ot some 
 Gascon lords. 176; makes preparations to renew the 
 war against the; English, 177; gains over several cap- 
 tains of the free companies. 178 ; sends his challenge to 
 the king of England, 178; prepares an aruiament lor 
 the invasion of England. 186; breaks up the expedi- 
 tion in consequence of the arrival of the duke oi Lan- 
 caster at Calais, ib.; assembles a large force, to make 
 war on Aquitaine, 196 ; makes peace with the k.ng 
 of Navarre, 197; enters into an alliance with con 
 Henry king of Castille, 206; makes peace with the 
 king of Navarre, 216; sends an arrhy to invade the 
 duchy of Brittany, 216; enters into a truce with the 
 En-lish 222; fits out a fleet for the invasion ot Eng- 
 land which does considerable mischief, 225 ; declares 
 war 'against the king of NavaiTe, 225 ; iristicafes the 
 king of Scotland to make war ou England, 232 ; seizes 
 the possessions of the king of Navarre in Normandy. 
 236 ; sends an embassador to the king of Scotland, 24b ; 
 his embassador detained by the earl of Flanders. 246 ; 
 orders the earl of Flanders to send the duke of Brittany 
 out of his dominions, 247; puts himself under obedience 
 to Clement as the lawful pope, 249 ; ainicted with a 
 singular disorder, 267 ; his last words and advice on 
 his death-bed, 268 ; dies at Pans, 268. 
 Charles the Sixth, of France, crowned at Rl^e'ins 2^0 
 sends an army to the assistance of the king of Castille 
 294- determines to make war on Flanders m behalf of 
 the earl 307 • on account of a dream, he chooses a fly- 
 io- hart lor his device, 308; endeavors to treat with 
 the Flemings, 310; collects a large force to reduce them 
 to obedience. 312; defeats the Flemish army at the 
 hrid-e of Commines, 317; receives the submission of 
 Ypres and several other places, 318, ct sccj.; defeats 
 the Flemings, under Philip von Artaveld, with great 
 slau-hter,321; outers Courtray, 322 ; recen-es the sub- 
 mission of Bruges, ib.; returns to France, 323; makes 
 his entrance into Paris. 324 ; assembles a I'^r.^army to 
 oppose the bishop of Norwich m Flanders, 330 ; takes 
 Cassel. 332; and Bourbourg, 335 ; returns to France, 
 ,b.- enters into a truce with England', 33o ; prepares to 
 renew the war, 341 ; marries the lady Isabella, ot Bava- 
 ria. 348; makes great preparations to invade England, 
 402 premises to assist the king of Castille 404 : joins 
 his armament at Sluys, 412; puts of his design, and 
 disbands his army, 414; makes preparations to assist 
 the king of Castille, 418; prepares another armament 
 ag-,inst England, under sir O'i-f .^f Cb-on. 4J ; his 
 designs frustrated by the arrest of sir Oliver by the duke 
 of Brittriny,430; receives an insulting def^^ance from 
 the duke of Gueldres, 433; commands the duke o. 
 Brittany to restore to sir Oliver de Clisson the places 
 which he had unjustly taken trotr. him for his ransom, 
 438 • receives a haughty answer from him, 438 ; prom- 
 ises to assist the duchess of Brabant against the duke 
 of Juliers. 459; invites the duke of Ireland (who had 
 been banished England by the duke of Gloucester and 
 bi^ party) to reside in France, 467; prepares an army 
 to invade Guelderland, 476; sends embassadors to ex 
 ijiain his intentions to the emperor of Germany 477 
 receives favorable answers, 478; enters the duchy of 
 Juliers 487; receives the submission of the duke ot 
 Gueldres, 488; returns lo France, ib.; takes upon him 
 .elf the Government of France on coming of age, 4«y ; 
 .et.ds embassadors to the king of Castille, to remon- 
 Kt'-ate with him on the marriage of his son, the intanta 
 of Spain, with the daughter of the duke of L/mc'ister; 
 489 ; enters into a truce with the kmg ot Englarid, 4»d , 
 orders the duke of Ireland to quit France. 496; visits 
 the pope at Avignon, ib.; visits Montpelier &c., 499. 
 et seqA receives the homage of the count de loix at 
 Toulouse, 505; travels with great speed from Mont- 
 pelier to Paris, for a wager against the duke of Tou- 
 raine, ib.; reproves the count d'Ostrevant for acceptmg 
 the order of the Garter from the king ol England, 528 
 proposes to marcn to Italy to restore the union of the_ 
 church 530- rereives embassadors from the king of 
 
 England with propositions for a peace, 530; on tli« 
 death of the count de Foix. sends einbassadors t- 
 Orthes to make some arrangements respecting thf. 
 country. 537 ; meets the duke of Brittany at Tours t.. 
 make an amicable settlement of the differences be 
 tween them. 539; acknowledges the viscount de Cha - 
 teaubon heir and successor to the countde Foix 5*:. 
 agrees to marry his daughter to the son of the duke _ i 
 Brittany 541 ; receives the coinmissioneis from the 
 king of England at Amiens, 542 ; not being able to 
 conduct a peace, he enters into a truce for a year. o44 ; 
 commands the duke of Brittany to deliver up sir Pelei 
 de Craon. who liad iled to Brittany, after attempting 
 to assassinate sir Oliver de Clisson, 547; after re- 
 ceiving the duke's refusal, he leads an army against 
 him toward Brittany. 548; arrives at Mans, ib.; u 
 accosted by a madman in the forest of Mans who 
 orders him to return, 550; becomes deranged, il^. 
 his expedition is in consequence broken ^P, >b.; re-- 
 moved to Creil for the bcneht of 1"%^^ > 5o 
 recovers his senses, 556; returns to Pans 5u/ . m great 
 danger of losing his lile at a masqued dance, ib ap- 
 points commissioners to negotiate a peace with ha 
 king of England at Leulmghen, 560; prolongs the 
 truce with h.m, 562 ; relapse^ into his former malady 
 ib.; sends Robert the hermit to England, to assist n 
 bringing about a peace between the two ^^""''tries ^l 
 liberates the lord de la Riviere and sir John le Merc er, 
 who had been imprisoned by his ""cles, during hrs de- 
 rangement, 573; appoints John, son of the duke of 
 Burgundy commLder in chief of an expedition 
 agafnsttheTurks in Hungary, 57-5 ; betroths h.sc augh- 
 ter. the lady Isabella, to Richard the Second of Eng 
 land, 577 ; sets out fur St. O.ner, to meet the king of 
 England, 582; has an interview with him at Aiares 
 586; delivers up his daughter to him. ib.; proposes U 
 lead an army into Lombaidy against th« duke oJ 
 Milan, 587 ; meets the emperor ot Germany at Eheims 
 to confer upon the measures to restore the reunion ol 
 the church, 603 ; sends embassadors to pope Bondac«, 
 to acquaint him with the resolutions of the assembly 
 607 ; sends the same to pope Benedict at Avignon, ib. 
 h^ formed of the imprisonment of Richard the Second 
 in the Tower of London, 620 ; relapses again into In. 
 derangement, ib.; his counc. send persons over U. 
 visit his daughter, queen Isabella, during the conhne 
 ment of the king, 621. Vr-^m-n 
 Charles, lord of Navarre, causes the c^onstable of France 
 
 to be murdered, 97 ; obtains the king ^Pard""- ^• 
 Charles, son of the king of Navarre, marries the daughter 
 
 of Henry of Castille, 245. 
 Charles, of Spain, earl of Angouleme, ';^PP7ted ^co^^^^, 
 ble of France. 97 ; murdered by order of Charles oS 
 
 Charter'^of peace, between the king of England and the 
 
 duke of Normandy, 130. , , . ,,u !« 
 
 Chateau-ceaux. the castle of, taken by the lord Charles ol 
 
 ChaS-b^nfthe viscount de. claiins the succession of^^^^^^^ 
 536; his claim acknowledged by the kmg of Fi ance. 
 540 • takes possession of the country as his inheritance, 
 542- does homage to the king of France, 556. 
 Chatelheraut, the town of, taken by the French. 19o. 
 Chatelmorant. sir John de. carries over from Eng ami 
 truces for three years, signed by king Richard and hi. 
 allies 497 ; sent to Turkey, to treat for the ransom o 
 the duke of Burgundy and the other officers taken at 
 the battle of Nicopoli, 590. , . 
 
 Chatillon, sir Hugh de, conquer. Ponthi^i from the Eng- 
 lish, 179; captured at Abbe ille. 192; escapes from 
 
 Cha?IlfonMh?herniit, taken prisoner at Roniorantin bj 
 
 theprinceof Wales, 101. 
 Chauvigny, the lord of, taken prisoner by the pru.ce o 
 Wales, 101 ; quits the pariy of the prince of Wales fo 
 that of the king of France, 183. 
 Chauvigny, the town of. in Poitou, taken by sir Bertran. 
 
 du Guesclin, 210. va a 
 
 Cherbourg, the town of burnt and pillaged by ward th 
 Third. 76 ; besiege.l by sir Bertrand du Gueschn. 226. 
 Chimay, the town of pillaged by the French, 3/ 
 Civray. the town of, in Poitou. taken by sir Bertrand di 
 
 Gueschn, 215. 
 Civray, the battle of 415 
 Clement the Sixth, pope, dies ..t Avignon, 9/. 
 Clement the Seventh, pope, elected durmg tne lifetime 
 Urban the Sixth, wliich ca- : -es a schism in the church 
 249 ; is acknowledged by tl e king of 1^ ranee, &c.. ib 
 goes to Avignon, ib.; prese nts the duke of Anjou wit 
 the territories of the queen ot Aaples. which she ha 
 given up to his disposal, 250 ; dies at Avignon, ib. 
 Clermont, the town of, m Beauvoisis, taken by the captt 
 
 ClermoSe^cardinal of elected pope, under the na.« 
 
 of Innocent the Sixth. 97. 
 Clerrnont, lord John, slain at the battle of Poitiers IM. 
 Cl sson. the lord of, captured at Vannes 63 exchange 
 
 for lord Statibrd. frl ; beheaded at Pan.. b4. 
 Ciisson sir Oliver <le. besieges the town of Becherel. 211 
 besieges la Roche-sur-Yon. 21 ; tak^es the town ^ 
 r)inant,2.59; appointed constable of France, 2/0. b 
 sieges Brest, 384; his fleet dispersed by a storm m \ 
 voyage to Sluys, to join the annament of t.e king 
 France, 413; obtains the liberation of John <'t Bnttui 
 from England and marries hin^to h'^fg'^^^.'" 
 makes preparation, to invade England 4.3.^9. t 
 •ested by the duke of Brittany at the castle of Ermu 
 isO • obtains his liberty. 431 ; complains to the king 
 1 France of the conduct of the duke of Brittany, a 
 I Sers to resign his office of constable 4g ; retires 
 Monilehery . 433 ; takes the towns ot St. Malo and - 
 
628 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Matthieu de Fine- I'oterne, 468 ; liis castles restored to 
 him by the duke of Brittany, 470; waylaid and severely 
 wounded by sir Peter de Cruon,645; on account of 
 his wealth, he incurs the suspicions and hatred of the 
 dukes of Berry and Burgundy, 548; treated with great 
 liai"shness by the duke of Burgundy, 553; retires from 
 Pans, ib.; suuinioned to appear before the parliament 
 of Paris, 553 ; not answering the summons, he is ban- 
 ished the kingdom, ib.; wages a violent warfare against 
 t lie duke of Brittany, 560: makes peace with him, 573. 
 
 ( ii: I'll, sir Walter de, slain at Brest, 50. 
 
 UoL'onrne, the castle of, in Limousin, taken by a robber 
 of the name of Bacon, 92. 
 
 Cjcherei, the battle of, in Normandy, 144. 
 
 Combat, the noted, between thirty Bretons and thirty 
 English, 92. 
 
 Combat between sirBertrand du Guesclin and sir Nicholas 
 
 ^ Dugworth, at Kennes, 111. 
 Combat between sir Aymon de Pommiers and sir Foulque 
 ■ d'Archiac, before the king of France at Villeneuve 
 1S8. 
 
 Combat, remarkable one at Lane, between the garrison of 
 
 I^ourde and Tarbe, 365. 
 Combat, a mortal, at Paris, between sir John de Carogne 
 
 and James le Gris, 415. 
 Comecte, the town of, in Turkey, taken by storm by the 
 
 combined Christian armies under the king of Hungary 
 
 and John of Burgundy, 578. 
 Comfit Box (drageoir) a spice box used in the dessert of 
 
 the great, some account of it, 504, note. 
 Commissionors sent to France, to execute the condition of 
 
 the peace between France and England, 134. 
 Commissioners appointed to examine into the conduct of 
 
 the managers of the finances under Richard the Sec- 
 ond, 441 ; commit sir Simon Burley to the Tower, 441 ; 
 
 condemn iiim to death, 441 ; appoint a new council for 
 
 the king, 442. 
 
 Concnrneau, <he town of, taken by sir Bertrand dv Gues- 
 clin, 216. 
 
 Conferences held at Avignon between the French and 
 English to negotiate a peace, 98. 
 
 Conferences held a^ Leulinghen for the same purpose; 561. 
 
 Connie, the castle o*' taken by the duke of Burgundy, 147. 
 
 Conquet, the castle of, taken by the forces of the lord 
 Charles of Blois, 58 ; retaken by sir Walter Manney, ib. 
 
 Constance, the lady, daughter of don Pedro, king of Cas- 
 tille, married to the duke of Lancaster, 206. 
 
 Convalle, the castle of, taken by the French under sir 
 Walter de Passac, S85. 
 
 Copeland, John, captures the king of Scotland at the bat- 
 tle of Nevil's Cross, 86; delivers him up to the queen 
 of England by order of king Edward, who was at 
 
 ] Calais, 87. 
 
 Jorasse, the lord of, said to have been served by a familiar 
 
 spirit called Oithon, 383. 
 I'ormicy, the castle of, taken by sir Bartholomew Burgh- 
 
 ersh, 128. 
 
 l/'oucy, the lord de, declines taking any part in the wars 
 between the kings of France and England, 198 ; leads 
 a large army into Austria, 222 : returns without having 
 effected anything, 223 ; takes the town of Buyeux,237 ; 
 
 , takes the town of Evreux, 239 ; appointed governor of 
 Picnrdy, 262; appeases the Parisian insurgents, 293; 
 endeavors to gain over the duke of Brittany to the 
 French interest, 469 ; accompanies the lord Lewis of 
 Anjou, king of Sicily, to Arragon, 497 ; refuses to ac- 
 cept the oliice of constable of France after the disgrace 
 of sir Oliver de Clisson, 559 ; defeats a large Turkish 
 force near Nicopoli, 581; captured at the battle of 
 NicoDoli, 588; dies at Bursay in Turkey, 597. 
 oucy, the lord Raoul de, captured at Mauconseil, 116. 
 oulogne sir Robert de, slain in a skirmish atTournehem, 
 190. 
 
 juncil of State, a new one appointed for Richard the 
 Second by the commissioners of accounts, 442. 
 
 )urtray, the town of, turns to the interest of the earl of 
 Flanders, 278; besieged by the men of Ghent under 
 Peter du Bois, 279 ; burnt by order of the king of 
 France, 323. 
 
 utantin, the battle of, between the French and English, 
 
 ; 109. 
 
 ion, the lord of, taken prison by the prince of Wales at 
 Romorantin, 101. 
 (ion, sir Peter do, incurs the displeasure of the king of 
 (France, 535: retires to Brittany, ib. ; waylays and en- 
 deavors to assassinate sir Oliver de Clisson, 545 ; takes 
 I refuge in Brittany, 547 ; endeavors to make his peace 
 : with the king of France, 575 ; prosecuted in the courts 
 of Paris by the duchess of Anjou, ib. ; judgment being 
 :given against him, he is committed to prison, 577 ; ob- 
 tains his liberty, ib. ; accompanies Henry, earl of Der- 
 : by, into England, 578. 
 .•y, the battle of, 81. 
 
 1, the town of, taken by the king of Navarre, 116. 
 ' sade, preached against the Saracens, 29; against the 
 ifreebooting companies by pope Innocent the Seventh, 
 
 ;136. 
 
 luart, a page, turns robber, 92 ; killed by tlie fall of his 
 aorse, ib. 
 
 ' oy, the town of, taken by Edward the Third, 80 ; re 
 l,Akea by sir Hugh de Chatillon, 179. 
 
 D. 
 
 ^1 PEWORTH, sir Thomas, sent into Brittany to the 
 
 S I ssistance of the countess de Montford, 65; taken 
 
 .) I irisoner before La Roche d'Errien, 88 ; killed in Brit- 
 
 ,|i 'any.97. 
 
 I !, John, 3 citizen of Calais, his patriotic conduct du- 
 
 ' ^ ' ing tiie siege of that city by Edward the Third, 91. 
 
 ^ pith, the castle of, taken by Edward the Third, 28. 
 
 Damazan, the castle of, taken by the duke of Normandy, 
 74. 
 
 Dammartin, the earl of, slain at the battle of Poitiers, 106. 
 
 Dampmartin, the lord de, resists the dukes of Berry and 
 Burgundy in their attempts to break off the marriage 
 of his daughter with the son of the lord de la Riviere, 
 554. 
 
 Damme, the town o , taken by the men of Ghent, 305, 
 347 ; taken by the king of France, 349. 
 
 David the Second, king of Scotland, retires to France, 32; 
 enters into an alliance with king Philip, ib. ; re- 
 turns to Scotland, 53 ; assembles an army to invade 
 England, ib. ; takes the town of Durham, 54 ; besieges 
 Wark castle, ib. ; returns to Scotland, 55 ; invades 
 England a second time, 84 ; defeated and taken pris- 
 oner at Nevil's Cross, 85 ; sent to the tower of London, 
 87 ; liberated by a treaty of peace, 110 ; comes to Eng- 
 land to meet the king of Cyprus, 139; enters into a 
 truce with the king of England, 198; his death, 216. 
 
 Death, remark" '"le, of a soldier, who had sacrilegiously 
 robbed the church of Ronay, in Champagne, 121. 
 
 Deed of arms, between sir Thomas Harpurgan and sir 
 John des Barres, 473. 
 
 Deed of arms, between five English and five French 
 knights, before the duke of Lancaster at Bordeaux, 
 492. 
 
 Deputations from the different towns of England wait on 
 Richard the Second at Windsor to lay their grievances 
 before him, and to demand redress. 440 
 
 Derby, the earl of, appointed to the command of a large 
 army to go into Gascony, 65 ; takes Bergerac and sev- 
 eral other places in Gascony, 66, et seq ; created duke 
 of Lancaster, 95. 
 
 Derby, Henry earl of, marries the lady Mary, daughter of 
 the earl of Hereford, 271 ; appointed the lieutenant of 
 his father, the duke of Lancaster, during his absence 
 in Spain 399 : challenged by the earl-marshal of Eng- 
 land in the presence of the. king. 603; banished the 
 kingdom, 606 ; goes to Paris, 606 ; the people of Eng- 
 land rise in his favor, 612 : receives a request from the 
 people of London to return to England, 613 ; arrives 
 in London, 615; undertakes the government of Eng- 
 land, and determines to seize the throne, ib. ; marches 
 toward Bristol against Richard the Second, ib. ; takes 
 him prisoner, and conducts him to London, ib. ; 
 crowned king of England under the title of Henry the 
 Fourth, 619 ; in danger of being murdered by the earls 
 of Huntingdon and Salisbury. 622. 
 
 Derval, the castle of, besieged by sir Bertrand du Guesclin, 
 217 ; relieved by sir Robert KnoUes, 218. 
 
 Desponde, Dinde, a rich merchant, employed to negotiate 
 the ransom of John of Burgundy and his companions 
 from the sultan Bajazet, 592. 
 
 Destournay, the lord, takes the town of Oudenarde by 
 stratagem, 340. 
 
 Devereux, sir John, takes the castle of Uzes, in Auvergne, 
 205. 
 
 Dighos, the town of, in Galicia, surrenders to the duke 
 of Lancaster's army, 109. 
 
 Dinant, the town of, in Brittany, taken by the forces of the 
 lord Charles of Blois. 58 ; taken by the English under 
 Edward the Third, 52; surrenders to the lord Charles 
 de Montfort, 152 ; taken by sir Bertrand du Guesclin, 
 217 ; taken by sir Oliver de Clisson, 259. 
 
 Dissensions at York between the archers of England and 
 the Hainaultcrs, 20. 
 
 Dormans, sir William de, preaches the justice of the cause 
 of the French king, 181. 
 
 Doublet, Oliver, beheaded at Rouen, 99. 
 
 Douglas, sir Archibald, defeated and captured by sir 
 
 Thomas Musgrave, near Melrose, 234. 
 . Douglas, lord James, departs for the Holy Land to fulfil 
 the request of Robert Bruce the First, 24 ; killed in 
 Spain, fighting against the S.aracens, ib. 
 
 Douglas, lord William, takes the castle of Edinburgh by 
 stratagem, 45; taken prisoner at the battle of Nevil's 
 Cross, 86, note. 
 
 Don?, las, the earl of, invades England with a large force, 
 480 ; takes the pennon of sir Henry Percy before New- 
 castle, 481 ; slain at the battle of "Otterbourne, 482. 
 
 Dream, remarkable, of Charles the Sixth of France, 308. 
 
 Drue, the castle of, taken by the duke of Normandy, 147. 
 
 Duel, at Paris, between James le Gris and John de Ca- 
 rogne, 414. 
 
 Dumbarton, the castle of, taken by Edward the Third, 28. 
 Dundee, the town of, burnt by Richard the Second, 353, 
 Dumiermline, the town of, destroyed by Richard the Se- 
 cond, 353. 
 
 Dunkirk, the town of, taken by the bishop of Norwich, 
 321. 
 
 Duras, the town of, taken by storm by the duke of Anjou, 
 231. 
 
 Duras, the lord de, captured by the French under the duke 
 of Anjou, 229 ; turns to the French interest, but quits 
 it afterward, ib. 
 
 Durazzo, the lord Charles de, defends the kingdom of Na- 
 ples against the pretensions of the duke of Anjou, 296 ; 
 put to death in Hungary, 346. 
 
 Durham, the city of, taken and destroyed by the Scots 
 55; [This account supposed to be fabulous, lb, note.] 
 
 E. 
 
 Edinburgh, the town of, taken by Edward the Third, 28 ; 
 retaken by sir William Douglas, 45; destroyed by 
 Richard the Second, 352. 
 
 Edward the First, king of England, his character and suc- 
 cesses, 15 ; his singular request on his death-bed, 2D, 
 
 Edward the Second, bis character. 15 ; an account of his 
 family relations, ib. ; influence^ in his governm^^t by 
 
 sir Hugh Spencer, ib. ; shuts himself up in Bristol 
 against the queen and her party, 18 ; taken prisoner by 
 them, ib. ; confined in Berkeley castle, ib. ; publicly 
 deposed and sentenced by the people of England to be 
 imprisoned during his life, 19. 
 
 Edward the Third, crowned king of England, 19; receives 
 a defianc*^ from Robert Bruce, king of Scotland, ib. ; 
 leads a large army to oppose tlie invasion of the Scots, 
 21 ; returns, 23; marries the lady Philippa of Hainault. 
 24 ; enters into a truce with the Scots, 24 ; does hom- 
 age to the king of France for the duchy of Guienne. 
 26; raises an army to invade Scotland, 28 ; takes Ed- 
 inburgh and several other phices, ib. ct seq ; returns to 
 England, ib. ; takes measures to make war on the king 
 of France, 29 ; solicits the friendship of the Flemings. 
 30; passes over to Flanders, and makes great alliances 
 in the empire, 31 ; appointed vicar- general of the em- 
 pire of Germany,'32 ; sends his defiance to the king of 
 France, 33; besieges Cambray, ib. ; marches into 
 France, 34; returns to Hainault, 36 ; assumes the arms 
 of France. 37; returns to England, ib. ; sails with a 
 large armament to Flanders, 42 ; defeats the French at 
 sea, and arrives at Ghent, 43; besieges Tournay, ib. ; 
 returns to England in consequence of a truce being 
 entered into, 48 ; receives the homage of lord John de 
 Montfbit for the duchy of Brittany, 51 ; assembles an 
 army to oppose an invasion of the Scots, 53 ; is ena- 
 moured of the countess of Salisbury, 54 ; sends a force 
 to the assistance of the lord de Montfort, 56; makes 
 great feasts out of afi'ection for the countess of Salis- 
 bury, 60 ; sends reinforcements into Brittany, 61 ; heads 
 a large army into Brittany, 63 ; besieges the town of 
 Vannes, ib. ; besieges and takes several other places, 
 ib. et seq. ; enters into a truce with the French, and 
 returns to England, 64 ; institutes the order of the gar- 
 ter, 65; founds the chapel of St. George at Windsor, 
 ib. ; sends his defiance to the king of France, 65; ap- 
 points the earl of Derby to the command of an expe- 
 dition into Gascony, ib. ; heads a large army into Nor- 
 mandy, 76 ; takes the town of Barfleur, and several 
 others, ib. et seq. ; marches toward Paris, destroying 
 the country on his way, 78 ; distressed to find a passage 
 over the Somme, 79 ; is conducted to one by a peasant 
 named Gobin Agace, ib. ; engages the French under 
 king Philip, at Crecy, and totally defeats them, 81, et 
 seq. ; besieges the town of Calais, 83 ; solicits the 
 friendship of the Flemings, 87 ; obtains possession of 
 Calais, 90 ; orders six respectable citizens, who, for the 
 security of the other inhabitants, had generously vol- 
 unteered to submit themselves to his pleasure, to be 
 put to death, 91 ; is dissuaded from his purpose by the 
 queen, ib. ; orders all the old inhabitants of the town 
 to be expelled, ib. ; makes his public entry into Ca- 
 lais, ib.; enters into a truce with the king of France, ib,; 
 the expense o is establishment at Calais, 92. note ; 
 fights incognito near Calais, under the banner of sir 
 Walter Manny, 93 ; takes sir Eustace de Ribeaumoni 
 prisoner. 94; presents him with a chaplet or pearls in 
 honor of his prowess, ib ; defeats the Spaniards at sea, 
 95; leads a large army into France during the impris- 
 onment of king John in England, 123; besieges 
 Rheims, 126 ; takes the town of Tonnerre, 128; enters 
 into a composition with the duke of Burgundy to spare 
 his duchy, 129; proceeds toward Pari?, destroying the 
 country in his march, ib. ; enters into a treaty of peace 
 with the king of France, 130 ; entertains him at Ca- 
 lais. 133; returns to England, ib. ; declines embarking 
 in the croisades, 140 ; receives a defiance from the king 
 of France, 178 ; sends reinforcements into Ponthieu, 
 &c., 179 ; sends to Brabant and Hainault for assist- 
 ance, 181 ; enters into alliance with the king ofNa 
 varre, 182; sends the duke of Lancaster with a large 
 body of men to Calais, 186 ; applies to sir Robert de Na- 
 murfor his assistance, ib. ; enters into a truce with the 
 Scots, 198 ; makes peace with the Flemings, 206 ; pre- 
 pares an army to invade France, 207 ; sails from South- 
 ampton, but is obliged to return on account of contrary 
 winds, 213 ; enters into a truce with the French. 222 ; 
 dies at Shene, 224. 
 
 Edward, the Black Prince of Wales, his valor at the bat- 
 tle of Crecy, 82 ; heads an army into Gascony, 98; in- 
 vades the county of Berry, 100 ; takes the town of Ro- 
 morantin, 101 ; defeats and captures the king of France 
 at the battle of Poitiei-s, 105 ; embarks for England 
 with his prisoner king John, 110 : arrives in London, 
 ib. ; accompanies the king of England in an expedi- 
 tion against France, 124; sets out for Aquitaine, 138; 
 makes preparations to assist Don Pedro, king of Cas- 
 tille, 157; promises the king of Majorca to assist him 
 against the king t.f Arragon, 160 ; offends the lord 
 d'Albret, ib. ; sets out on his cxpeditio;i into Spain. 
 161; takes the town of Salvaticrva, 163; defeats the 
 army of Don Henry de Trastamaie, king of Castille, 
 at the battle of Navarreta, 165 ; takes the town of Na- 
 jarra, 167 ; sets out on his return to Aquitaine, dis- 
 pleased with the conduct of Don Pedro, 169 ; arrives 
 with his army at Bordeaux, 170 ; endeavors to impose 
 the fouage, or a hearth-tax, in Aquitaine, 171; excites 
 the discontent and opposition of many of the lords of 
 Gascony, ib. ; summoned to appear before the parlia- 
 ment of Paris to answer their complaints, 176 ; his re- 
 solute answer to the summons, ib. ; prepares to make 
 war on France, 177 ; recalls sir John Chandos from his 
 retirement, and appoints him to the command of a 
 large force against the French and Gascon lords, 178: 
 receives succor from England under the earls of Cam- 
 bridge and Pembroke, 180 ; prepares to oppose the 
 dukes of Anjou and Berry, lUS : takes the town of Li- 
 moges by storm, 200; on the death of his eldest son, 
 Edward gives up the duchy of Aquitaine to the care of 
 his brother the duke of Lancaster, and returns to Eng- 
 land, 208 ; his death. ^ ; yisiU t^e count d'Armagnao 
 
INDEX 
 
 627 
 
 the bishop of Norwich. 330; obtains the towns of 
 Sluys in exchange for the country of Bethune 348 . 
 „akes peace with the men of Ghent ^ ; sends iorces 
 to the assistance of the duchess of Brabant, against 
 thedukeof Gueldres.460; goes to Blois to nieet the 
 duke of Brittany. 471 ; accompanies the kmg ot * ranee 
 in his visit to the popa, at Avignon. 498; ordered to 
 return, to his great dissatisfaction, 499 ; %PPO'"f 1/.^' 
 cent of France durin? the derangement of Charles tne 
 Sixth, 551 ; treats sir Oliver de Clisson, the constable 
 of France, harshly, 553 ; arrests several of the king s 
 council, 553. ^ , 
 
 Buigundy. John of. son of the duke of Burgundy, ap- 
 pointeu commander-in-chief of an expedition against 
 the Turks. 575 ; crosses the Danube with a large force, 
 in company with the king of Hungary, 578; takes by 
 storm the town of Comecte. 578; besieges Nicopoli 
 581 • defeated by the Turkish army under the sultan 
 Bajazet, 588 ; taken prisoner, 589 ; obtains his ransom. 
 599; returns to France, 601. 
 Burley. sir Simon, taken by the French 180; sent to ne 
 gotiate a marriage between Richard the Second and 
 the daughter of Charles of Bohemia, emperor ot Ger- 
 many, 258; advises the removal of the shrine ot bt. 
 Thomas from Canterbury to Dover castle, by vyhich 
 he gives great offence, 412 ; committed to the lower 
 by Older of the commissioners of accounts, appointed 
 to examine into his conduct dunug his administration. 
 441; beheaded, 441. . 
 rfuiley sir Richard, son of the above, dies in Castille. 44J. 
 
 «: 
 
 Cadillac, the town of, taken by storm, 231 
 Cadsant, the island of. taken by the English, 31. 
 Caen, the battle of, 77. , , m, ■ j nn 
 
 Caen, the town of, taken by Edward the 1 bird, 77. 
 Cahors, the town of, turns to the French interest, 181. 
 Cahours, Raoul de, defeats the English under sir Thomas 
 
 Daggeworth in Brittany, 97. -r^ . r 
 
 .alais, the battle of. between the English and French lor- 
 
 alS'the town of, besieged by Edward tiie Third, 83 ; 
 
 surrenders to him, 90. ,. „r . • a 
 
 Jalverly,sir Hugh, joins the prince ot Wales m Acqm- 
 tamewith a large body of the free companies, 180 ; 
 endeavors to dissuade the bishop of Norwich from en- 
 tering Flanders with the forces under his command, 
 327 
 
 Cambr'ay, tlie city . f. besieged by Edward the Third. 34. 
 
 Cambridge, the earl of, sent to the assistance of the prince 
 of Wales in Aquitaine, 179; makes war in Pengord, 
 &c 180- takes the town of i?ourdeilles, 185; leads a 
 body ot'troops to therelief of Belleperche,195; retirrns 
 to England, 202 ; appointed to the command of an 
 army to go to the assistance of the king of Portugal 
 against the km^ of Casfiiie, 282 ; arrives at Lisbon. 
 290- returns with his army, dissatisfied with the con- 
 duct of the 'Am^ of Portugal, SOO, 359; created duke 
 of York, 414. [For the remaining particulars oi this 
 princesee York, thedukeof: 
 CameroUes, the castle of, taken by the dukeof Burgundy, 
 
 Camfreny,the lord of, captured by the captal of Buch, 
 130 
 
 Uandorier. John, mayor of Lfi Rochelle, obtains posses- 
 ■ sion of the castle from the English, by stK.ta.em 212. 
 Canterbury, the archbishop of, sent to Bristol by the duke 
 of Gloucester and the Londoners, on an embassy to 
 Richard the Second. 446; conducts iiim to London. 
 446; sent to Fnince with an application from the Lon- 
 doners to the earl of Derby to return to England. bl3 . 
 conducts the earl to London, 615. 
 Caponnal, Caponne! do, liberated by exchange, 194. 
 Captal, the title explained, 101, 7!0«c. 
 Carcilhait, the fort of, taken by the English under sir 
 Thomas Trivet, 21.3. n^, ■ j rr. 
 
 Carentan, the town of, taken by Edward the Third ,G. 
 retaken by the French under the lord de Coucy, .o7 
 
 CarSx: t^e tou; oi; tnken by the lord Charles of Blois. 
 
 Carfgne, sir John do, kills James !e Giis in a mortal com- 
 
 CarJuefoit'the town of. taken by the lord Charles of Blois. 
 52. 
 
 Cassel, the battle ot, 2o. tv.v q«9 
 
 Casseres the town of, taken by the count de ^ oix, 362. 
 cCsfmSi. the castle of, n. Auvergne. taken by Amerigot 
 
 CasulS^rliietwn ot; tnken by the duke of Anjou, m 
 Cervole Arnauld do, the aichr.nest, collects a body of 
 anned men .nd piUa.e. Provence, 111; captured at 
 
 Ch.i5o:^ t;?t:i « --ked by sir Peter 
 
 (^Inbllf th;^i^i-P'^^ .iaiuatthe battle of Poitiers, 105. 
 'hanT ^ir -Win. receives the lands of St. Sauveur-Ie- 
 •'"v omte as n .ift f.om the kitig of England 133 ; ap- 
 ooint^dr-entovev r.ll ihe possessions of the king ot 
 Sg Lul ia Franco, m ; .pp-inted constr^bk of Gm- 
 ^,fe 138- sent to the nr-.isiance of t!,e lord John de 
 Monlfort in Brittany, 148 : prevents a peaeo being con- 
 c uded between John de MonUort nnd ^ - ord Charles 
 of Blois, 150 ; defeats the army o' lord Chnrles a the 
 battle of Auray. 151 ; advises the prince (.f Wales not 
 fo persevere in his de.isn of enforcin. the fouage or 
 hearth-t;,x, and failing to succeed retires to his country 
 seat, 171 ; recalled by the prince, and sent to make war 
 on the French and ( ^.sr-on lord.. 178; takes the town 
 of Terrieres, and several others in tneTouiousain, 180, 
 i seq; apPPinted seneschal of Poitou. 187; '.nvades 
 
 and pillages the territories of Anjou and Rochechouart. 
 187- killed in a skirmish at the bridge pf Lussac, 1.^4. 
 Chargny the lord de. slain at the battle of PRitiers, 106. 
 Ghargny, sir Geoffry de. endeavors to gain possession ot 
 Calais by bribing the governor, sir Amery de Pavie. 
 93 ; defeated by the king of England. 94 ; embarks for 
 Scotland to ofier his assistance against England, <«8. 
 returns, and is in great danger from the Zealanders, 
 340. 
 
 Chargiiy-en-Dormois, the castle of, taken by sir John 
 Chandos,127. . 
 
 Charite. La, the town of. in the Nivernois. taken by the 
 lord Lewis of Navarre, 147 ; taken by the duke of Bur- 
 gundy, 148; taken a second time by the French, 373. 
 
 Charles, emperor of Germany, his death, 258. 
 
 Charles of Bohemia, emperor of Germany, collects a large 
 array to make war on the duke of Gueldres in the 
 co use of the duchess of Brabant, 457 ; receives his sub- 
 mission, 457. 
 
 Charles the Fourth, king of France, takes measures to as- 
 sist his sister Isabella, queen of Edward the Second, 
 against her husband and the Spencers, 15', is prevailed 
 upon by sir Hugh Spencer to break up the expedition 
 which he had encouraged his sister to raise in France, 
 16 ; commands her to quit the kingdom, 16 ; his death, 
 23 
 
 Charles the Fiflh. king of France crowned at Rheims 
 147 • makes peace with the lord John de Mont fort, and 
 acknowledges him lawful duke of Brittany, lo3 ; makes 
 peace with the king of Navarre, i h ; raises an army to 
 make war on Don Pedro, king oi Ca.fille, lo3 ; is ad- 
 vised to declare himself lord paramuuno of Guieni^. 
 and to renew the war with England, 1.4. 17^ . ^u" " 
 monses the prince of Wales to appear bdore the par- 
 liament of Paris to answer the complaints of so ne 
 Gascon lords, 176; makes preparations to renew the 
 war against the'. English, 177; gains over several cap- 
 tains of the free companies. 178 ; sends his challenge to 
 the king of England, 178; prepares an armament tor 
 he invasion of England, 186; breaks up tne expedi- 
 tion in consequence of the arrival ot the dukeoi Lan- 
 caster at Calais, ib.; assembles a large force, to make 
 wal on Aquitaine, 196; makes peace with the king 
 of Navarre, 197; enters into an alliar.ce with l oi. 
 Henry, king of Castille. 206; makes peace wi b tne 
 kinr of Navarre, 216; sends an army to invade he 
 duchy of Brittany, 216; enters into a truce with the 
 English, 222; fits out a fleet for the mvasion ot Lng- 
 fand which does considerable mischief, 22o; declares 
 wa 'against the king of Navarre 22o ; •nsti.ates the 
 kin- of Scotland to make war on England, 232 , .cues 
 ;he possessions of the king of Navarre in Normally 
 236 ; sends an embassador to the king of Scotland. 246 
 his embassador detained by the earl of Flanders a46 , 
 ders the earl of Flanders to send the duke of Brittany 
 ',ut hJdom^ 
 
 to Clement as the lawful pope, 249; atnicted with a 
 sh^gular disorder, 267; his last words and advice on 
 (,;^f'°nth-bpd 268; dies at Paris, 268. - 
 ChTries the Sixth, of France, crowned at Rhenus, 2/0; 
 ^ ?ds an army to the assistance of the king of Ca^^^^^ 
 294- determines to make war on Flanders in behalf ot 
 the earl 307 : on account of a dream, lie chooses a fly- 
 inr liart for his device, 308; endeavors to treat with 
 t'-e Flemings, 310; collects a large force to reduce them 
 ,0 obedience. 312; defeats the Flemish army at the 
 briri.e of Commmes, 317; receives the submission of 
 Yp.ls and several other places. 318, et seq.; defeats 
 the Flemings, under Philip von Artavekl with great 
 sraughter,3'21; enters Courtray 3'22; recen^the sub- 
 nrssion of Bruges, \h.\ returns to France, 323. makes 
 his entrance intc, Pans, 324 ; assembles ^ ar.^^""^ *'; 
 opp-se the bishop of Norwich in i< landers 330 takes 
 C i 332; and Bourbourg, 335 ; retm;ns to France, 
 d ent.^ into a truce with England 336 ; prepares to 
 rei'iew the war. 341 ; marries the lady Isabel a. of Bava- 
 rK 518- makes great preparations to invade England, 
 4Sj' prm es to assist the king of Cast lie 404 ; joins 
 iS'animment at Slays. 412; puts of his design, and 
 d ban s liis army. 'U4; makes preparations to ass.s 
 H e king of Castille, 418; prepares ajiojer armament 
 Jiii St England, under sir Oliver de Clisson, 428 ; his 
 5S t>."strated by the arrest of sir Oliver by the duke 
 of lr ttany,430; receives an insuUmg defiance from 
 d e duke of Gueldres, 433; commands the duue ol 
 Bdttlny to restore to sir Oliver de Clisson the places 
 t Ih he had unjustly taken from him for h^s ransom, 
 438; receives a haughty answer from him, fS - P^o'^ 
 S to assist the duchess of Brabant against the duke 
 of Juliers.459; invites the duke of Ireland (who had 
 been banished England by the duke ot Gloucester and 
 iiis party) to reside in France, 467; prepares an army 
 to invade Guelderland, 476; sends embassadors to ex- 
 plain his intentions to the emperor of Germany 477; 
 receives favorable answers, 478; enters the duchy of 
 Tuliers 487 ; receives the submission of the duke ot 
 (Jueldres. 488; returns to France, ib.; takes upon him 
 ^«lf the government of France on coming of age, 4»y , 
 .ends embassadors to the king of Castille to remon- 
 strate with him on the marriage ot his son the infanta 
 of Spain, with the daughter of the duke of L/'"C'^«le'- 
 489 ; entei-s into a truce with the king of Engl^id, 493 
 orders the duke of Ireland to quit France, 4^ , v-^s 
 the pope at Avignon, ib.; visits Montpelier &.C., 499 
 r.eV; receives the homage of thp count de fo.x at 
 Toulouse. 505; travels with S>eat speed from Mon. 
 pelier to Paris, f a- a wager against the duke of Tou- 
 mhfe ib.; repi^ves the count d'Ostrevant tor accep mg , 
 the o der of the Garter from the king of ^"^^2=^"'^' i 
 proposes to march to Italy to restore the union of the ; 
 Surd,. 530; receive, .mba^.u^ovs ef; 
 
 England wiUi propositions for a peace, 530; on th.a 
 dearth of the count de Foix. sends embassadors f 
 Orthes to make some arrangements respecting the- 
 country. 537 ; meets the duke of Brittany at Toui-s f. 
 make an amicable settlement of the difieiences bf 
 tween them. 539; acknowledges the viscount de Ch.- 
 teaubon heir and successor to the count de l- oix. .>l' . 
 agrees to marry his daughter to the son ot the duke 
 Brittany 5il ; receives the commissioners from the 
 king of England at Amiens. 542 ; not being able 
 conduct a peace, he enters into a truce for a y«^J.J>^; 
 commands the duke of Brittany to deliver up sir Pcu;r 
 de Craon, who had fled to Brittany, after attemptms 
 to assassinate sir Oliver de Clisson. 547; '^iter re- 
 ceiving the duke's refusal, he leads an am.y against 
 him toward Brittany. 548; arrives at J^^;; 
 accosted by a madman in the forest of JIans w o 
 orders him to return. 550; l)ecomes deranged, ib 
 his expedition is in consequence broken .b-- 
 moved to Creil tor the benefit of J^^^^' ^.i 
 recovers his senses, 556 ; returns to Pans oo. . n great 
 danger of losing his life at a masqued dance, i . t .P 
 points conunissioners to «e^'«fate a peace with e 
 king of England ot Leulinghcn, 5fc0 ; «"S ..^^^ 
 truce with Imn, 562 ; relapses nito his former malady 
 lb.; sends Robert the hermit to England, to as.ist 
 bringing about a peace between the two counlri^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 liberates the lordde la Riviere and sir John le Me c er. 
 who had been imprisoned by his ^1""'-, ^^/^j 
 
 raneement, 573; appoints John, son ot the duke ot 
 BuS dy comminder in chief of an expedition 
 agamsUheTurks in Hungary, 575 ; betroths h.sdaugh- 
 ter, the lady Isabella, to Richard the Second o. Enfc 
 land, 577 ; sets out for St. On.er, to meet the king of 
 En-land. 582; has an interview with him at Aiar^. 
 586? delivers up his daughier to him. 'l;-; P^^P^^^^ ^ 
 lead an army into l^on.bauly against t cduke^^^^ 
 Milan. 587 ; meets the emperor ot Germany at Rheims 
 to c^ fer upon the measures to restore the reunimr oi 
 he church,'e03 ; sends embassadors to pope Bonjfac«. 
 to acquahit him will, the resolutions ot the assembly^ 
 607 • sends the same to pope Benedict at Avignon. lO.. 
 Srmed of the imprisonment of Richard the Second 
 in th^Tower of London, 620; relapses again into h.. 
 derangement, ib.; his council send persons over t.. 
 ;S ins daughter, queen Isabeliu. during the connne 
 mentof theking,62L m„ «f T?rin.-« 
 
 Charles, lord of Navarre, causes the constable of France 
 
 to be murdered, 97 ; obtains the kmg's pardon 98. 
 Charles!son of the king of Navarre, marries the daughter 
 
 of Henry of Castille, 245. 
 Charles of Spain, earl of Angouleme. -PP^/ed X^^^ 
 hie of France, 97; murdered by order of Charles o. 
 
 Charter'orp^fce-, between the king of England and tha 
 
 duke of Normandy, 130. . , . 
 
 Chateiui-ceaux, the castle of. taken by the lord Charles ot 
 
 ChaS-b^if the viscount de. clanus the^^^ 
 
 536; his claim acknowledged by the king of Fiance. 
 540 • takes possession of the country as his inheritance. 
 542- does homage to the kv^^i of France. oo6. 
 Chatelheraut. the town ot; taken by the trench. 19o^ 
 Chatelmorant. sir John de, carries over from Ei gla d 
 truces for three years, signed by king Richard and hi. 
 allies, 497; sent to Turkey, to treat for the ransom o 
 the duke of Burgundy an.l ti e other oflicers taken ai 
 the battle of Nicopoh, 590. 
 Chatillon, sir Hugh de, conquers Ponthieu from the £n^ 
 lisK79; captured at Abb.^ iile. 192; escapes fron 
 
 ChaSt",'thrherinit, taken pnsoner at Romorantin b; 
 
 the prince of Wales, 101. 
 Chauvigny,the lord ot; taken pnsoner by the pnnce o 
 Wales^ 101 ; quits the par.y of the prince ot Wales fo 
 that of the king of France, 183. h„^,..„ 
 Chauvigny, the town oi; in Poitou, taken by sir Bertran 
 du Guesclin, 210. , , 
 
 Cherbourg, the town of, burnt and pillaged by l^dwardtn 
 Third! 76 ; besieged by sir Bcrtrand du Guesclm. 226. 
 Chimay. the town of. pillaged by tiie French. ^/ . 
 Sy the town of. in Poitou, taken by sir Bertrand a 
 
 Guesclin, 215. 
 Civray. the battle of, 415 
 ripment the Si.xth. pope, dies at Avignon, Ji. 
 C emenul;: SeveAUi. pope, elc-ted durmg the hfe tune , 
 Urban the Sixth, whichcav.es a schism inthechurc 
 249 ; is acknow'edged by tl.^ king of t ranee, &c.. i 
 ^esto Avignon, ib.; presets the duke of Anjou wH 
 the territories of the queen of Naples, which she ht 
 given up to his disposal. 250 ; dies at Avignon, ib. 
 Clermont, the town of. in Beauvoisis, taken by the capt 
 
 ClermoSe ^cardinal <,f, elected pope, under the nai 
 
 of Innocent the Sixth, 97. 
 Clerrnont, lord John, slain at the battle ot Pomers. i04. 
 ClZn the lord of, captured at Vannes. 63; exchana 
 for Old Stafford. C4 ; beheaded at Pans. 64. ^ 
 Clisson sir Oliver de. besieges the town of Becherel. 2 
 bSe'es la Roche-sur-Yon. 217; tases tlic- twn 
 WnaM 259; appointed constable of France, 270; 
 .ieees Brest. 384 ; his fleet dispersed by a storm 
 Voyage to Sluys. to join the annan.ent of ti,e i.in; 
 France 413 ; obtains the liberation of John ot Britt 
 from England and marries him to ns ' 
 makes preparations to invade England 4iS, ^; 
 ^sted by the duke of Brittany at the castle ct Ernr 
 S ; obtains his liberty. 431 ; complains to the km 
 France of the conduct ot the duke of Bnecany 
 offei-s to resign his office of constable. 433; reti« 
 MonUebe?y. 433: lake^ m towaeoi St. Maiq p 
 
628 
 
 Matthieu de Fine Poterne, 468 ; his castles restored to 
 him by the duke of Brittany, 470 ; waylaid und severely 
 wounded by sir Peter de Cruon, 645 ; on account ot 
 his wealth, he incurs the suspicions and hatred of the 
 dukes of lierry and I5uiguiidy, 548 ; treated with great 
 iiarshness by the duke of Burgundy, 553; retires from 
 Pans, ib.; summoned to appear before the parliament 
 of Paris, 555 : not answering the summons, he is ban- 
 ished the kmtjdon). ib.; wages a violent warfare against 
 liiedukeof Brittany, 560; makes peace with him, 573. 
 
 <Mi,sa:). sir Walter de, slain at Brest, 50. 
 
 Cobourne, tlie castle of, in Limousin, taken by a robber 
 ■ of the name of Bacon, 92. 
 
 C'uciierel, tlie battle of, in Normandy, 144. 
 
 Combat, the noted, between thirty Bretons and thirty 
 English, 92. 
 
 Combat between sir Bertrand du Guesclin and sir Nicholas 
 
 Dagw orth, at JRennes, 111. 
 Combat between sir Aymon de Pommiers and sir Foulque 
 
 d'Archiac, before the king of France at Villeneuve 
 
 138. 
 
 Combat, remarkable one at Larre, between the garrison of 
 Lourde and Tarbe, 365. 
 
 Combat, a mortal, at Paris, between sir John de Carogne 
 and James le Gris, 415. 
 
 Comecte, the town of, in Turkey, taken by storm by the 
 combined Christian armies under the king of Hungary 
 and John of Burgundy, 578. 
 
 Coinfit Box (drageoir) a spice box used in the dessert of 
 the great, some account of it, 504. note. 
 
 Commissionors sent to France, to execute the condition of 
 the peace between France and England, 134. 
 
 Commissioners appointed to examine into the conduct of 
 the managers of the finances under Richard the Sec- 
 ond. 441 ; commit sir Simon Burley to the Tower, 441 ; 
 condemn him to death, 441 ; appoint a new council for 
 the king. 442. 
 
 Coi]carneau, the town of, taken by sir Bertrand dr Gues- 
 clin, 216. 
 
 Conferences lieM at Avignon between the French and 
 English to negotiate a peace, 98. 
 
 Conferences held a* Leulinghen for the same purpose,- 561. 
 
 Connie, the castle o^ taken by the duke of Burgundy, 147. 
 
 Conquet, the castle of, taken by the forces of the lord 
 Charles of Blois, 58; retaken by sir Walter Manney. ib. 
 
 Constance, the lady, daughter of don Pedro, king of Cas- 
 tiile, married to the duke of Lancaster, 206. 
 
 Convalle, the castle of, taken by the French under sir 
 Walter de Passac, 385. 
 
 Copeland, John, captures the king of Scotland at the bat- 
 tle of Nevil's Cross, 86; delivers him up to the queen 
 of England by order of king Edward, who was at 
 Calais, 87. 
 
 Corasse, the lord of, said to have been served by a familiar 
 
 spirit called Orthon, 383. 
 Cormicy, the castle of, taken by sir Bartholomew Burgh- 
 , ersh, 128. 
 
 'Coucy, the lord de, declines taking any part in the wars 
 between the kings of France and England, 198 ; leads 
 a large army into Austria, 222 : returns without having 
 effected anything, 223 ; takes the town of Bayeux, 237 ; 
 takes the town of Evreux, 239 ; appointed governor of 
 Ficardy, 262; appeases the Parisian insurgents, 293; 
 endeavors to gain over the duke of Brittany to the 
 French interest, 469 ; accompanies the lord Lewis of 
 Anjou, king of Sicily, to Arragon, 497 ; refuses to ac- 
 cept the office of constable of France after the disgrace 
 of sir Oliver de Clisson, 559; defeats a large Turkish 
 force near Nicopoli, 581 ; captured at the battle of 
 NicoDoli. £88; dies at Bursay in Turkey. 597. 
 
 Joucy, the lord Raoul de, captured at Mauconseil, 116. 
 
 Boulogne sir Robert de, slain in askirmish atTourneheni, 
 
 ^ 190» 
 
 /ouncil of State, a new one appointed for Richard the 
 Second by the commissioners of accounts, 442. 
 
 '^ourtray, the town of, turns to the interest of the earl of 
 Flanders, 278; besieged by the men ol' Ghent under 
 Peter du Bois, 279 ; burnt by order of the king of 
 France, 323. 
 
 outantin, the battle of, betwefen the French and English 
 109. 
 
 .raon, the lord of, taken prison by the prince of Wales at 
 , Romorantin, 101. 
 
 aon, sir Peter de, incurs the displeasure of the king of 
 J France, 535: retires to Brittany, ib. ; waylays and en- 
 deavors to assassinate sir Oliver de Clisson, 545 ; takes 
 I refuge in -Brittany, 547 ; endeavors to make his peace 
 Ij with the king of France, 575; prosecuted in the courts 
 J. of Paris by tlie duchess of Anjou, ib. ; judgment being 
 .' given against him, he is committed to prison, 577 ; ob- 
 tj tains his liberty, ib. ; accompanies Henry, earl of Der- 
 : by. into England. 578. 
 , rcy, the battle of, 81. 
 
 :il, the town of, taken by the king of Navarre, 116. 
 Msade, preached against the Saracens, 29 ; against the 
 I freebooting companies by pope Innocent the Seventh, 
 i 1,136. 
 
 , .quart, a page, turns robber, 92; killed by the fall of his 
 1 .horse, ib. 
 
 INDEX 
 
 ^oy, the town of, taken by Edward the Third, 80; re 
 ' I taken by sir Hugh de Chatillon, 179. 
 
 D. 
 
 ' joEWORTH, sir Thomas, sent into Brittany to the 
 I ; ^sistance of the countess de Montford, 65; taken 
 I Drisoner before La Roche d'Errien. 88; killed in Brit- 
 I &ny. 97. 
 
 j 'e, John, a citizen of Calais, his patriotic conduct do- 
 ing the siege of that city by Edward the Third, 91. 
 eitb, the castle of, taken by Edward the Third, 28. 
 
 Damazan, the castle of, taken by the duke of Normandv 
 74. 
 
 Dammartin, the earl of, slain at the battle of Poitiers, 106, 
 Dampmartin, the lord de, resists the dukes of Berry and 
 Burgundy in their attempts to break off the marriage 
 of his daughter with the son of the lord de la Riviere, 
 554. 
 
 Damme, the town o , taken by the men of Ghent, 305, 
 
 347 ; taken by the king of France, 349. 
 David the Second, king of Scotland, retires to France, 32; 
 enters into an alliance with king Philip, ib. ; re- 
 turns to Scotland, 53 ; assembles an army to invade 
 England, ib. ; takes the town of Durham, 54 ; besieges 
 Wark castle, ib. ; returns to Scotland, 55 ; invades 
 England a second time, 84 ; defeated and taken pris- 
 oner at Nevil's Cross, 85 ; sent to the tower of London, 
 87 ; liberated by a treaty of peace, 110 ; comes to Eng- 
 land to meet the king of Cyprus. 139 ; enters into a 
 truce with the king of England, 198; his death. 216. 
 Death, remark" '-le, of a soldier, who had sacrilegiously 
 
 robbed the church of Ronay, in Champagne, 121. 
 Deed of arms, between sir Thomas Harpurgan and sir 
 
 John des Barres, 473. 
 Deed of arms, between five English and five French 
 knights, before the duke of Lancaster at Bordeaux, 
 492. 
 
 Deputations from the different towns of England wait on 
 Richard the Second at Windsor to lay their grievances 
 before him, and to demand redress. 440 
 Derby, the earl of, appointed to the command of a large 
 army to go into Gascony. 65 ; takes Bergerac and sev- 
 eral other places in Gascony. 66. et seq ; created duke 
 of Lancaster, 95. 
 Derby, Henry earl of, marries the lady Mary, daughter of 
 the earl of Hereford, 271 ; appointed the lieutenant of 
 his father, the duke of Lancaster, during his absence 
 in Spain 399 : challenged by the earl-marshal of Eng- 
 land in the presence of the king. 603 ; banished the 
 kingdom, 606 ; goes to Paris, 606 ; the people of Eng- 
 land rise in his favor, 612 : receives a request from the 
 people of London to return to England, 613 ; arrives 
 in London, 615; undertakes the government of Eng- 
 land, and determines to seize the throne, ib. ; marches 
 toward Bristol against Richard the Second, ib. ; takes 
 him prisoner, and conducts him to London, ib. ; 
 crowned king of England under the title of Henry the 
 Fourth, 619 ; in danger of being murdered by the earls 
 of Huntingdon and Salisbury. 622. 
 Derval, the castle of, besieged by sir Bertrand du Guesclin, 
 
 217 ; relieved by sir Robert Knolles, 218. 
 Desponde, Dinde, a rich merchant, employed to negotiate 
 the ransom of John of Burgundy and his companions 
 from the sultan Bajazet, 592. 
 Destournay, the lord, takes the town ofOudenarde by 
 
 stratagem, 340. 
 Devereux, sir John, takes the castle of Uzes, in Auvergne 
 205. ' 
 Dighos, the town of, in Galicia, surrenders to the duke 
 
 of Lancaster's army, 109. 
 Dinnnt, the town of, in Brittany, taken by the forcesofthe 
 lord Charles of Blois. 58 ; taken by the English under 
 Edward the Third, 52; surrenders to the lord Charles 
 de Montlort, 152 ; taken by sir Bertrand du Guesclin, 
 217 ; taken by sir Oliver de CJisson, 259. 
 Dissensions at York between the archers of England and 
 
 the Hainaulters, 20. 
 Dormans, sir William de, preaches the justice of the cause 
 
 of the French king, 181. 
 Doublet, Oliver, beheaded at Rouen, 99. 
 Douglas, sir Archibald, defeated and captured by sir 
 
 Thomas Musgrave, near Melrose, 234. 
 Douglas, lord James, departs for the Holy Land to fulfil 
 the request of Robert Bruce the First, 24 : killed in 
 Spain, fighting against the Saracens, ib. 
 Douglas, lord William, takes the castle of Edinburgh by 
 stratagem, 45; taken prisoner at the battle of Nevil's 
 Cross. 86, note. 
 Doupilas, the earl of, invades England with a large force, 
 480 ; takes the pennon of sir Henry Percy before New- 
 castle, 481 ; slain at the battle of 'Otterbourne, 482. 
 Dream, remarkable, of Charles the Sixth of France, 308. 
 Drue, the castle of, taken by the duke of Normandy, 147. 
 Duel, at Paris, between James le Gris and John de' Ca- 
 rogne, 414. 
 
 Dumbarton, the castle of, taken by Edward the Third, 28. 
 Dundee, the town of, burnt by Richard the Second, 3^. 
 Dumfermline, the town of. destroyed by Richard the Se- 
 cond, 353. 
 
 Dunkirk, the town of, taken by the bishop of Nonvich, 
 32 i). 
 
 Duras, the town of, taken by storm by the duke of Anjou, 
 231 • 
 
 Duras, the lord de, captured by the French under the duke 
 of Anjou, 229; turns to the French interest, but quits 
 it afterward, ib. 
 Durazzo, the lord Charles de, defends the kingdom of Na- 
 ples against the pretensions of the duke of Anjou, 2ii6 • 
 put to death in Hungary, 346. 
 Durham, the city of, taken and destroyed by the Scots 
 55 ; [This account supposed to be fabulous, ih. ;iote.] 
 
 E. 
 
 Edinburgh, the town of, taken by Edward the Third, 28 ; 
 retaken by sir William Douglas, 45; destroyed* by 
 Richard the Second, 352. 
 
 Edward the First, king of England, his character and suc- 
 cesses, 15 ; his singular request on his death-bed, 29. 
 
 Edward the Second, his character, 15 ; an account of his 
 family relations, ib. ; influenced in his government by 
 
 sir Hugh Spencer, ib. ; shuts himself up in Bristol 
 against the queen and her party, 18; taken prisoner by 
 them, ib. ; confined in Berkeley castle, ib. ; publicly 
 deposed and sentenced by the people of England to be 
 imprisoned during his life, 19. 
 Edward the Third, crowned king of England, 19; receives 
 a defiancp from Robert Bruce, king of Scotland, ib. : 
 leads a large army to oppose the invasion of the Scots," 
 21 ; returns, 23; marries the lady Philippa of Ilainault, 
 24; enters into a truce with the Scots, 24 ; does hom 
 age to the king of France for the duchy of Guienne, 
 26; raises an army to invade Scotland, 28 ; f.akes Ed- 
 inburgh and several other places, ib. et seq ; returns lo 
 England, ib. ; takes measures to make war on the king 
 of France, 29 ; solicits the friendship of the Flemings. 
 30; passes over to Flanders, and makes great alliances 
 in the empire, 31 ; appointed vicar-general of the em- 
 pire of Germany, 32 ; sends his defiance to the king of 
 France, 33 ; besieges Cambray, ib. ; marches into 
 France, 34 ; returns to Hainault, 36 ; assumes the arms 
 of France. 37; returns to England, ib. ; sails with a 
 large armament to Flanders, 42 ; defeats the French at 
 sea, and arrives at Ghent, 43; besieges Tournay, ib.; 
 returns to England in consequence of a truce being 
 entered into, 48 ; receives the homage of lord John de 
 Montfoit for the duchy of Brittany, 51; assembles an 
 army to oppose an invasion of the Scots, 53 ; is ena- 
 moured of the countess of Salisbury, 54 ; sends a force 
 to the assistance of the lord de Montlort, 56; makes 
 great feasts out of affection for the countess of Salis- 
 bury, 60 ; sends reinforcements into Brittany, 61 ; heads 
 a large army into Brittany, 63 ; besieges the town of 
 Vannes, ib. ; besieges and takes several other places, 
 ib. ct .seq. ; enters into a truce with the French, and 
 returns to England, 64 ; institutes the order of the gar- 
 ter, 65; founds the chapel of St. George at Windsor, 
 ib. ; sends his defiance to the king of France, 65; ap- 
 points the earl of Derby to the command of an expe- 
 dition into Gascony, ib. ; heads a large army into Nor- 
 mandy, 76; takes the town of Barfleur, and several 
 others, ib. et seq. ; marches toward Paris, destroying 
 the country on his way, 78 ; distressed to find a passage 
 over the Somme, 79 ; is conducted to one by a peasant 
 named Gobin Agace, ib. ; engages the Frencii under 
 king Philip, at Crecy, and totally defeats them, 81, et 
 seq.; besieges the town of Calais, 83; solicits the 
 friendship of the Flemings, 87 ; obtains possession of 
 Calais, 90 ; orders six respectable citizens, who, for the 
 security of the other inhabitants, had generously vol- 
 unteered to submit themselves to his pleasure, to be 
 put to death, 91 ; is dissuaded from his purpose by the 
 queen, ib. ; orders all the old inhabitants of the town 
 to be expelled, ib. ; makes his public entry into Ca- 
 lais, ib.; enters into a truce with the king of France, ib.; 
 the expense o .s establishment at Calais, 92, note ; 
 fights incognito near Calais, under the banner of sir 
 Walter Manny, 93; takes sir Eustace de Ribeaumont 
 prisoner. 94; presents him with a chaplet of pearls in 
 honor of his prowess, ib ; defeats the Spaniards at sea, 
 95; leads a large army into France during the impris- 
 onment of king John in England, 123; besieges 
 Rheims, 126 ; takes the town of Tonnerre, 128; entei-s 
 into a composition with the duke of Burgundy to spare 
 his duchy, 129; proceeds toward Paris, destroying the 
 country in his march, ib. ; enters into a treaty of peace 
 with the king of France, 130 ; entertains him at Ca- 
 lais. 133; returns to England, ib. ; declines embarking 
 in the croisades, 140 ; receives a defiance from the king 
 of France. 178; sends reinforcements into Ponthieu, 
 &c., 179 ; sends to Brabant and Hainault for assist- 
 ance, 181 ; enters into alliance with the king of Na 
 varre. 182; sends the duke of Lancaster with a large 
 body of men to Calais, 186 ;' applies to sir Robert de N^a- 
 murfor his assistance, ib. ; enters into a truce with the 
 Scots, 198; makes peace with the Flemings, 206 ; pre- 
 pares an army to invade France, 207 . sails from South- 
 ampton, but is obliged to return on account of contrary 
 winds, 213 ; enters into a truce with the French. 222 ; 
 dies at Shene, 224. 
 Edward, the Black Prince of Wales, his valor at the bat- 
 tle of Crecy, 82 ; heads an army into Gascony, 98; in- 
 vades the county of Berry, 100 ; takes the town of Ro- 
 morantin, 101 : defeats and captures the king of France 
 at the battle of Poitiers, 105 ; embarks for England 
 with his prisoner king John, 110 : arrives in London, 
 ib. ; accompanies the king of England in an exjbedi- . 
 tion against France, 124; sets out for Aquitaine. 138; 
 makes preparations to .nssist Don Pedro, king of Cas- 
 tillo, 157; promises the king of Majorca to assist him 
 against the king uf Arragon. 160 ; offends the lord 
 d'Albret, ib. ; sets out on his cxpeditioii into Spain. 
 161 ; takes the town of Salvatierra, 163 ; defeats the 
 army of Don Henry de Trastamare, king of Castille. 
 at the battle of Navarreta, 165 ; takes the town of Na- 
 jarra, 167; sets out on his return to Aquitaine, dis- 
 pleased wifh the conduct of Don Pedro, 169; arrives 
 with his army at Bordeaux, 170 ; endeavors to impose 
 the fouage, or a hearth-tax, in Aquitame. 171 ; excites 
 the discontent and opposition of many of the lords of 
 Gascony, ib. ; summoned to appear before the parlia- 
 ment of Paris to answer their complaints, 176 ; his re 
 solute answer to the summons, ib. ; prepares to make 
 war on France, 177 ; recalls sir John Chandos from Jiis 
 retirement, and appoints him to the command of a 
 large force against the French and Gascon lords, 178: 
 receives succor from England under the earls of Cam- 
 bridge and Pembroke, 180 : prepares to oppose the 
 dukes of Anjou and Berry, 198 : takes the town of Li- 
 moges by storm, 200; on the death of his eldest son, 
 Edward gives up the duchy of Aquitaine to the care of 
 his brother the duke of Lancaster, and returns to Eng- 
 land. 203 ; his death, 223 ; visits the count d'Armagnao 
 
INDEX 
 
 at Tarbes, 360 ; visited by the count de Foix, 361 ; ap- 
 points sir Peter Arnaut governor of Lourde, ib. 
 
 Elmbam, sir Wiliiam. committed to tlie Tower by the 
 commissioners of accounts, on a charge of having 
 sold Bourbourg and GraveHnes to the French, 335. 
 
 English, the, their manners in the time of Froissart, 386. 
 
 Enten9a, the town of, in Galicia, surrenders to the duke 
 of Lancaster, 4 "2. 
 
 Escaudoure, the ca.- leof. in llainault, taken and destroy- 
 ed, 41 
 
 Espaign, the bourg d . his remarkable strength, 366. 
 
 Estampes, the count d', sent to endeavor to win over the 
 duke of Brittany to the French interest, 463. 
 
 Eu, the earl of. taken prisoner by the English under Ed- 
 ward the Third. 77 ; beheaded at I'aris, 97. 
 
 Eu, the count de. See Artois, Philip d'. 
 
 Efan, of Wales, receives a naval command under the 
 king of France, 209 ; defeats the En;, Hsh in the island 
 of Guernsey, ib.; sent to Spain to ; ilicit assistance 
 from king Henry, ib.; insults the earl of Pembroke at 
 St. Andero, 209 ; -blockades the town of La Rochelle, 
 212 ; takes the castle of Soubise, ib.; besieges Mont- 
 main-sur-mer, 231 ; assassinated by John Lambe, 239. 
 
 Evreux, the county of, subdued for the king of France by 
 sirBertrand du Guesclin, 225. 
 
 Europe, desokited by the plague, 96. 
 
 Eustace de St. Pierre, a citizen of Calais, his patriotic 
 conduct during the siege of that town, 91. 
 
 Famine, a great one, in France, 117. 
 Faucille, John de, a citizen of Ghent, retires from the town 
 
 after the murder of the bailiff by the Whitehoods, 
 
 254; dies atLi^le, 281. 
 Fay, sir Godemar du, defends the ford of Blanchetaque 
 
 against Edwarci the Third and his army, 79 ; defeated 
 
 by the Engush, ib.; narrowly escapes being put to 
 
 death, 83. 
 
 Felton, sir William, killed in Spain, 164. 
 Felton. sir Thomas, captured by the French under the 
 
 duice of Aniou, 229. 
 Fenestrages, the lord Broquart de, takes the town of Hans, 
 
 120 ; defeated and captured by sir Eustace d'Ambre- 
 
 ticourt, 121. 
 
 Ferdinand, king of Portugal, declares war against John, 
 kmg of (Jastille, 282 ; applies to England for assistance, 
 ib.; takes the field against the Spaniards, 299 ; makes 
 peace with the king of Castille, 300 ; marries his daugh- 
 ter the infanta to him, ib.; marries the wife of one of 
 h^ knights. 393. 
 
 Fenol, the town of. taken by the king of Portugal, 436. 
 
 Flanders, the origin of the civil wars in, 402. 
 
 Flanders, the nobility of, make war on the men of Ghent, 
 38. 
 
 Planders, the earl of, slain at the battle of Crecy, 82. 
 rlauders, Lewis earl of, betrothed through the constraint 
 of the Flemings, to Isabella, daughter of the king of 
 England, 87; escapes into Fiance, 88; marries the 
 daughter of the duke of Brabant, 94 ; detains an em- 
 bassador from the king of France to the king of Scot- 
 land, 246 ; supports the cause of pope Urban in his 
 dominions, against the Clementists, 249 ; endeavors to 
 put down the Whitehoods, which had been revived at 
 Ghent, 253 ; collects a force to make war on them, 255 ; 
 makes peace with them, 257 ; comes to Ghent at the 
 enUeaty of the inhabitants, 259 ; endeavors to prevail 
 on them to lay aside the Whitehoods, ib.; causes John 
 Pruniaux to be beheaded, 261 ; goes to Bruges at the 
 request of the inhabitants, 276 ; renews the war with 
 the men of Ghent, ib.; besieges the town, 278 ; defeats 
 the men of Ghent under Rassa de Harzelle, and burns 
 a body of them in the church of Nevele, 279; besieges 
 again the town of Ghent, 291 ; defeated by the men of 
 Ghent at Bruges, 303; escapes with great difficulty to 
 Lisle, 305 ; applies to the king of France for assistance, 
 312 ; becomes an object of hatred to the English. 326 ; 
 applies to the duke of Burgundy for assistance to op- 
 pose the bishop of Norwich, 326 ; dies at St. Omer, 336 ; 
 the ceremony of his funeral, 336. 
 Flemings, the, under Colin Donnequin, defeated at Cassel 
 
 by Philip of Valois, 25. 
 Flemings, under Jacob von Artaveld, promise to assist 
 Edward the Third against the king of France, 37 ; rc- 
 • main firm to their alliance, notwithstanding the solici- 
 tations of the king of France, 39. 
 Flemings, the, under Robert d' Artois, flee m confusion 
 
 from before St. Omer, 48. 
 Flemings, the, refuse to disinherit the earl of Flanders. 72 ; 
 constrain him to bo betrothed to the daughter of the 
 king of England, 87 ; besiege the town of Aire, 89; 
 defeated by the EuLdish off the island of Bas. 205; 
 make peace with the king of Enghind, 206. 
 Foix, Gaston Phcebus, count of, his p;issioii for nogs, 3 ; 
 defeats the infamous jMCdi'.wie of Beauvoisis, with 
 great slaughter, at Aleaux, 113; visits the prince of 
 Wales at Tarbes. 361 ; remits, at the entreaty of the 
 princessof Wales, sixty thousand francs of the ransom 
 of the count d' Armagnac, ib.; takes the town of Cas- 
 seres from the Armagiuics, 362 ; his riches and liberality, 
 365; murders sir Peter Arnaut, 367. 
 Foix, the count de, obtains Malvoism from the king of 
 France as a gift, 367 ; origin of the wars between him 
 and the Armagnacs, 368 ; his cliaracter and manner of 
 life 869- kills his son and heir Gnston. ib.; his manner 
 of keeping the feast of St. Nicholas, 372 ; rapidly and 
 in a secret manner informed of the battle of Aljuba- 
 rota, 382; grants permission to the French army to 
 pass' through his territories, on their way to Castille, 
 423; magnificently entertains the duke of Bourbon on 
 his return toward France, 451 ; prevents the count d'- 
 Armagnac from succeeding in his attempt to purchase 
 
 the forts occupied by the free companies, 453 ; marries 
 his ward, the daughter of the count of Boulogne, to 
 the duke of Berry, 492 ; does homage to the king of 
 France at Toulouse for the county of Foix, 505; his 
 death, 535 ; and funeral, 537. 
 Foix, Evan of, burnt to death at a masked dance in Paris, 
 557. 
 
 Fongasse, Laurence, an embassador from Portugal to 
 England, relates to the duke of Lancaster the events 
 which had happened in Portugal after the departure 
 of the earl of Cambridge, 393. 
 
 Fontenay le Comte, the castle of, taken by sir Bertrand du 
 Guesclin, 213. 
 
 St. Forget, the castle of, taken by sir Walter de Pascal, 384. 
 Forsath, in Gascony, taken by the earl of Derby, 67. 
 Fouage, the nature of the tax so called, 170, note. 
 Friesland, invaded by the count of Hainault, 584. 
 Froissart, sir John, his preface to his chronicles, 14; his 
 reasons for visiting the count de Foix, 358; sets out for 
 Beam, in company with sir Espaign du Lyon, who 
 informs him of many particulars relative to the wars 
 in Guienne, 361 ; arrives at Orthes, 369 ; becomes ac- 
 quainted with the Bastot de Mauleon, 372 ; his descrip- 
 tion of the manners of tiie English and Gascons in his 
 time, 386 ; travels to Middleburgh, in Zealand, 391 ; 
 receives information relative to the affairs of Portugal, 
 ib.; is informed of the particulars of the arrest of sir 
 Oliver de Clissf)n by the duke of Brittany, 437 ; returns 
 to France from Beam, in company with the lord de la 
 Riviere and sir William de la Tremouille, 493 ; goes to 
 Holland, 494 ; returns to Paris to witness queen Isa- 
 bella's public entrance into that city, 494; visits Eng- 
 land in the reign of Richard the Second, 565; pre- 
 sents his book of love poems to the king, 568. 
 
 G. 
 
 Gabei»le, the, a tax upon salt, imposed through France, 
 99. 
 
 Galande, the castle of, in Brittany, taken by sir Bertrand 
 
 du Guesclin, 216. 
 Giirliz, Gomez, beheaded by order of don Pedro, 168. 
 Gars, the abbe de, beheaded at Amiens, 117. 
 Gascons, the, oppose the attempt of the prince of Wales 
 
 to impose a hearth tax on the country, 171. 
 Gascons, the, their manners in the time of Froissart, 386. 
 Geneva, the cardinal de, elected pope during the life-time 
 
 of Urban the Sixth, 249. 
 Genoa, its state and condition in the time of Froissart, 387. 
 Genoese, the, raise a large army to invade Barbary, 514 ; 
 besiege the town of Africa, 523 ; break up their expe- 
 dition. 529. 
 
 Gente, sir Guisebert, a citizen of Ghent, killed for having 
 endeavored to make peace between the town and the 
 earl of Flanders, 293. 
 Genville. the earl of, captured at the battle of Poitiers. 105. 
 St. George, the chapel of, at Windsor, founded by Edward 
 the Third, 64. 
 
 Germany, the emperor of, attends a great assembly at 
 Rheims. with the king of France, to consult upon 
 means to restore the union of the church, 603 ; deposed, 
 624. 
 
 Ghent, the town of, besieged by the earl of Flanders, 278, 
 290. 
 
 Ghent, the men of, put to death Jacob von Artaveld, 72 ; 
 revive the custom of the Whitehoods, and elect John 
 Lyon their captain, 252 ; apply to the earl of Flanders 
 to preserve their franchises, 253 ; murder the bailiff of 
 Ghent, 253 ; endeavor to make their peace with the 
 earl, 254 ; enter into alliance with other towns of Flan 
 ders, 255 ; choose new leaders, after the death of John 
 Lyon, ib.; enter into alliance with the town of Ypres, 
 256 ; besiege Oudenarde, ib.; march to attack the earl 
 of Flanders, in Dendremonde, 257 ; make peace with 
 the earl, 257 ; take the town of Oudenarde 260 ; sur 
 render it to the earl's forces. 261 ; destroy the houses of 
 the nobility, ib.; put to death John Boule, one of thei 
 commanders, 277 ; take several towns in Flanders, 278 
 defeated with great slaughter at Nevele, where several 
 hundreds of them are burnt in a church, 279 ; besiege 
 Courtray, 280; greatly distressed for provisions, but 
 relieved by the men of Liege, 300 ; defeat the earl of 
 Flanders at Bruges, 304; take the town of Bruges and 
 several others, ib. et seq.; besiege Oudenarde, 307 ; en 
 deavor to form an alliance with England, 309 ; defeated 
 at the pass of Commines, under Peter du Bois, 316 
 defeated, under Philip von Artaveld, at the battle of 
 Rosebecque, 321 ; endeavoi to make peace with the 
 earl, 324; take the town of Ardembourg, 825; assist 
 the English at the siege of Ypres, 330 ; defeat a party 
 of the French at Ardembourg, 343 ; take Damme, Ml 
 make peace with the duke of Burgundy, the heir o 
 Flanders, 356. 
 
 Gloucester, the duke of, [Ibr the preceding particulars of 
 this prince see Buckingham, the earl of,] his crea 
 tion, 414; confederates with the duke of York and 
 others against Richard the Second and his council, 439 
 defeats the king's forces, under the duke of Ireland 
 near Oxford, 445; thwarts the king in his intentions of 
 making peace with the king of France, 534 : plots the 
 destruction of the king, 593 ; instigates the Londoners 
 to petition for a repeal of the war taxes, 594 ; arrested 
 by order of the king, 597 ; put to death at Calais, 602. 
 Gomegincs, the lord of, defeated and taken prisoner on his 
 way to join the king of England before Rheims, 127. 
 Goodman, James, chosen leader of the infamous Jac- 
 querie of Beauvoisis, 112. 
 Guy la Forest, the castle of, taken by sir Walter Manny, 
 
 59 ; surrenders to sir Bertrand du Guesclin, 217. 
 Gramat, the town of, taken by sir John Chandos, 184. 
 Grammont, the town yf, in Flanders, taken by the lord d'- 
 Anghein, 291. 
 
 629 
 
 Grave, the town of, besieged by the Rrabanters, 468. 
 Gravelines, the town of, taken by the bishop of Norwich, 
 327. 
 
 Gravelle, the lord of, beheaded at Rouen, 160. 
 Gregory the Eleventh, pope, elected at Avignon, 202 ; en- 
 deavors to make peace hetvveen the kings of France 
 and England, 219 ; removes to Rome, 235 ; his death, ib. 
 Griffith, a Welshman, commands a troop of the free com- 
 panies, and pdlages several places in France, 112. 
 Gris, James Ic, killed in a duel at Paris by sir John de 
 Carogne, 414. 
 
 Gueldres, the duke of, promises to assist the king of Eng 
 land against France, 181; enters into an alliance with 
 England, 433, 4j8; sends an insulting defiance to the 
 king of France, 413 ; endeavors to obtain possession of 
 three castles belon;iing to his duchy, which had been 
 sold to the duke of Brahant, 458 ; obtains possession 
 of Grave, 468; defeats the Brabanters at the bridge of 
 Ravestein, 476 ; makes iieace with the king of France 
 and the duchess of Brabant, 488; taken prisoner in 
 Prussia, 490; delivered by the Teutonic knights, ib.; 
 returns to Prussia to keep his faith with his capturer, 
 and obtains his liberty. 491. 
 Guerrande. the town of, taken by the forces of the lord 
 
 Charles of Blois. 58. 
 Guesclin, sir Bertrand du, chosen commander of the 
 French forces in Normandy, 145; defeats the forces of 
 the king of Navarre at the battle of Cocherel, 146 ; 
 obtains possession of the castle of Roulleboise, 146 ; 
 goes to the assistance of the lord Charles of Blois, 148 
 taken prisoner at the battle of Auray, 150 ; ransomed, 
 154; leads an army into Spain, ib.; appointed consta 
 ble of Castille, 155 ; goes to the assistance of Henry ot 
 Castille against don Pedro and the prince of Wales, 
 161 ; captured at the battle of Navaretta, 167 ; obtains 
 his ransom, 170 ; joins king Henry before Toledo, 172 ; 
 again appointed constable of Spain, 174: joins the 
 duke of Anjou in an expedition against the prince of 
 Wales, 197 ; invades the viscounty of Liniogcs, 200 ; 
 takes the town of Yvrier, ib.; appointed constable of 
 France, 201 ; defeats the forces of sir Robert Knolles at 
 Pontvalin, 202; takes the castle of Monmorillon and 
 several other places in Poitou, 210, ££ iC?.; heads an 
 army against Brittany, 216 ; takes tlietovvn of Rennes 
 and several others, ib., et seq.; sent with a large army 
 against the king of Navarre, 225 ; makes war on Brit- 
 tany, 248 ; dies at Auvcrgne. 262 ; the etymology of his 
 name, 437 , see also 438, note. 
 Guesclin, sir Oliver du, made prisoner by the garrison of 
 
 Cherbourg, 242. 
 Guincamp, the town of. taken by sir Bertrand du Guea 
 clin. 216. 
 
 Guistelles, the lord de, appeases an insurrection at Bruges 
 against the French troops. 414. 
 
 H. 
 
 Hainault. the country of, invaded by the French, 37. 39 ; 
 in danger of being pillaged by the Bretons belonging 
 to the army of Charles the Sixth, of Fran e, 323. 
 Hainault, sir John of, oilers his assistance to Isabella, 
 queen of Edward the Second, 17; escorts her to Eng- 
 land, 17 ; assists her at the siege of Bristol, 18; assists 
 the king of England in the expedition against the 
 Scots, 19 ; his territories invaded by the king of France, 
 37 ; appointed governor of Hainault during the absence 
 of the earl in England, 38; quits the allegiance of 
 England for that of France, 73. 
 
 Hainault, William earl of. father of Philippa. queen of 
 England, his deftth, 31. 
 
 Hainault, William earl ol'. son of the above, sends his de- 
 fiance to the kiuir of France. 38; takes the town of 
 Aubenton, &c.. ib.; visits England, 38; Gemiany, 41; 
 returns to Hainault, 42; assembles a large army to 
 raise the siege of Thin-l'Evequo, ib.; burns the town 
 of Seclin, &c. 44; takes the town of St. Amand,47; 
 Utrecht, 73 ; slain in Friesland, ib. 
 
 Hainault, the count of, raiics an army to invade Friesland, 
 588 ; overruns the country, and disl: mds his forces. 585. 
 
 Harcourt, the earl of, beheaded at Roi.en, 99. 
 
 Harcourt, the young earl of, makes peace with the duke 
 ol" Normandy, 120. 
 
 Harcourt, sir God liey de. bapisijed from France, 72; ac- 
 companies the king of Engjand in an expedition into 
 Normandy, 76 ; created one of the marshals of his 
 army, 76 ; defeats a body of men from Amiens on their 
 march to join the king of France, 79; carries on the 
 war in Normandy for the king of England, 109 ; de 
 feated and slain at the battle of Coutantin, 110. 
 
 Harcourt, sir John, returns to France from England, where 
 he had been as a Jiostage ibr king John. 177. 
 
 Harlestone. sir William, appointed governor of Cherbourg, 
 226; defeats a body of French troops under sirWil 
 liam de Bourdes, whom he captures, 227. 
 
 Harsley, William de. a physician of France, cures king 
 Charles the Sixth of France of his first derangement, 
 556; dies at Laon, 556. ■ 
 
 Harzelle, Rasse de, chosen one of the commanders of th« 
 Whitehoods of Ghent, 255; takes several towns in 
 Flanders, 278 ; killed in an engagement with the earl 
 of Flanders, 279. * 
 
 Harzelles. the lord de, killed at Ghent, 340. 
 
 Haspres, the town of, burnt by the French. 38. 
 
 Hawkwood, sir John, an English commander, enters into 
 the service of Urban the Sixth in Italy, 250. 
 
 Helly, sir James de, taken prisoner by the Turks at the 
 battle of Nicopoli, 588 ; sent to France with informa 
 tion of the defeat of the army of John of Burgnndy, 
 589 ; obtains his liberty, 591 ; returns to France, 5^ 
 
 Hennebon, the town of, in Brittany, taken by the earl of 
 Montford, as the duke of Brittaay.SO; besieged by the 
 
630 
 
 INDEX.- 
 
 lord Charles of Blois, 56, 59 ; taken by sir Bertrand du 
 Gnesclin, 217. 
 
 Henrv the Fourth, of England, crowned during the life- 
 time of Richaril tlie Second. 619. 
 
 Henry de Trastainaro, enters Castille with a large army to 
 detlirone his brother don Pciiif), 154; ackiiowieilaed 
 and crowned king of Ciistille by the Spaniards, 155 ; 
 takes measures to oppose don Pedro and the prince of 
 Wales. 157 ; defeated at the battle of iVavarielta, 167 ; 
 escapes to Arragon, 169 ; makes war on the prince of 
 Wales in Aquitaiiie, 169 ; makes war on don Pedro, 
 assisted by the kin? of Arragon. 172 ; defeats don Pe- 
 dro near Montiel. 173; puts hnn to death, 174 ; obtains 
 the submission of Casiille, 174; enters into alliance 
 with the king of France. 206; makes war on the king 
 of Navarre, 225 ; concludes a peace with him, 245; his 
 death, ib. 
 
 Henry, the infant of Spain, marries the daughter of the 
 duke of Lancaster, 492 ; crowned king of Castille, 531. 
 
 Henrielle, the castle of, taken by the king of Navarre, 
 116. 
 
 Holland, sir John, kills lord Ralph Stafford, 351. 
 
 Hostages, sent to England for king John of France, 450. 
 
 Hue;, sir Walter, killed in a skirmish in Brittany,219. 
 
 Hungary, the king of, applies to the court of France for 
 assistance against tlie sultan Bajazet, 575; crosses the 
 Danube with a large army, accompanied by John of 
 Burgundy and his forces, 578 ; takes the town of Co- 
 mecte by storm, 579 ; besieges Nicopoii, 581 ; his army 
 defeated by Bajazet, 588. 
 
 Huntingdon, the earl of, proclaims a tournament at Ox- 
 ford with the view of murdering king Henry, 622 ; slain 
 at Cirencester, 622. 
 
 I. 
 
 St. Iago de Compostella, the town of/in Galicia, ta- 
 ken by the duke of Lancaster, 401. 
 
 Innocent the Sixth, pope, elected at Avignon, 97 ; endea- 
 vors to make peace between the kings ol" France and 
 England, and the kings of France and Navarre, 101; 
 orders a croisade to be preached against the free com- 
 panies, 136 ; his death, 137. 
 
 Insurrection in Paris against Charles the Sixth, 298. 
 
 Insurrection at Rouen, 293. 
 
 Insurrection, a general, in England, in favor of the earl of 
 
 Derby against Richard the Second, 612. 
 Interview between the king of Portugal and the duke of 
 
 Lancaster, 407. 
 Interview between the kings of France and England at 
 
 Ardres, 586. 
 
 Ireland, the earl of Oxford created duke of, 414 ; incurs the 
 hatied of the people of England, 439 ; obtains a divorce 
 from his wife, the lady Philippa, ib., 442 ; endeavors to 
 counteract the measures of the commissioners of ac- 
 counts and the new council of state, 442 ; marches from 
 Bristol toward London as lieutenant for the king, 444; 
 defe ited near Oxford by the Londoners, under the duke 
 of Gloucester, 445 ; Hies the kingdom, 445; invited to 
 France, 467 ; ordered thence, 498. 
 
 Irish, theii- manners and mode of warfare, 569. 
 
 Isabella, queen of Edward the Second, declared ineligible 
 to the crown of France, 15; incurs the hatred of sir 
 Hugh Spencer, 15 ; lays her grievances before her bro- 
 ther, Charles the Fourth of France, and solicits his 
 advice and assistance, ib.; commanded to quit France, 
 16: lands in England with a considerable force, and is 
 joined by the English barons, 17 ; takes her husband 
 prisoner at Bristol, 17 ; confines hintin Berkeley castle, 
 18; enters London amid great rejoicings, 18; obtains 
 the coronation of her son Edward the Tiiird, 19; sus- 
 pected of being pregnant by sir Roger Mortimer, 25; 
 committed to prison by order of the council, ib.; dies 
 in London, 138. 
 
 Isabella, daughter of Edward the Third of England, be 
 Irothed to Lewis earl of Flanders, 87. 
 
 Isabella, the lady, of Bavaria, married to Charles the 
 Sixth of France, 348; njakes her public entry into 
 Paris, 494 
 
 Isabella, daughter of Charles the Sixth, betrothed to Rich- 
 ard the Second of Englnnd, 577 ; delivered to him by 
 king Charles at Ardres, 586 ; married to him at Calais, 
 586. 
 
 J. 
 
 Jacqiterie, the rise of an infamous body of men in Beau- 
 voisis under this appellation, 112 ; their atrocities, ib.; 
 a large number of them destroyed by the king of Na- 
 varre, 113; thousands of them slain at Meaux by the 
 earl of Foix and the captal of Buch, 113. 
 ^ James, king of Cyprus, interests himself to obtain the libe- 
 ration of John of Burgundy and his companions, who 
 were prisoners in Turkey, 597. 
 ' Bt. Jean d'Angely, the town of, taken by the earl of Derby, 
 
 84; surrenders to the French, 97, 212. 
 Jews, the, persecuted through Europe, 96. 
 John, son of Philip of Valois, crowned king of France, 
 97; makes his pubhc entry into Paris, ib.; prevents a 
 combat between the duke of Lancaster ai d the duke 
 of Brunswick, 97; takes possession of the lands of the 
 king of Navarre in Normandy, 98; coins florins of 
 gold, which were called lamb florins, ib.; marches an 
 army against the king of England, 99; gives the duchy 
 of Normandy to his eldest son, the dauphin of Vienne, 
 ib.; arrests the king of Navarre, 99 ; marches an army 
 against the duke of Lancaster, 100 ; collects an army 
 to oppose the prince of Wales, 100 ; defeated and taken 
 prisoner at the battle of Poitiers, 105 ; surrenders to the 
 prince of Wales, 106; embarked for England, 110; 
 rides through London, ib.; confined in Windsor castle. 
 3).; enters into a treaty with the kins of England aQ4 
 
 the prince of Wales, 122 ; the French council refuse to 
 ratify it. ib.; sent to the Tower of London, 124 ; ob- 
 tains his liberty, and returns to France, 133; magnifi- 
 cently entertained at Paris, 134; quarrels with the king 
 of Navarre, 137 ; visits the pope at Avignon, 137 ; puts 
 on the cross, 138; returns to England, 140; his death. 
 141 ; buried at St. Denis, 143, and note. 
 
 John, don, son of Henry de Trastamare, crowned king of 
 Castille, 245 ; makes war on Portugal, 282 ; takes the 
 field against the king of Portugal and the earl of Cam- 
 bridge, 299 ; makes peace with the king of Portugal, 
 300; marries his daughter, 300 ; sends his defiance to 
 the new king of Portugal, and raises an army to make 
 war on him, 360, 393 ; besieges Lisbon, 360. 395 ; applies 
 to the king of France for assistance, 360 ; abandons the 
 siege of Lisbon, 377 ; takes the field against the king of 
 Portugal. 878 ; defeated, with great slaughter, at the 
 battle of Aljubarota, 380, 397 ; enters into a truce with 
 the king of Portugal, 382 ; applies to France for assist- 
 ance against the king of Portugal and the duke of 
 Lancaster, 404 ; grants permission to the duke of Lan- 
 caster to send his men into Casiille to recruit their 
 health, 449 ; regains possession of Galicia after the de- 
 parture of the duke of Lancaster, 466 ; sends embas- 
 sadors to the duke of Lancaster, to demand his daugh- 
 ter for the infant of Spain, 471 ; makes peace with the 
 duke, 491 ; marries his son to the lady Catherine of 
 Lancaster, 492; his death, 531. 
 
 John, don, grand master of Avis, declared king of Portu 
 gal, 300, 360, 393; crowned. 860, 395; sends embassa- 
 dors to England to solicit the alliance'of Richard the 
 Second. 360, 375; raises an army to make war on the 
 king of Castille. 378 ; defeats him at the battle of Al- 
 jubarota, 880, 897; enters into a truce with him, 382; 
 sends embassadors to solicit the afsistance of the duke 
 of Lancaster, 392; receives favorable answers. 398; 
 writes friendly letters to the duke of Lancaster on his 
 arrival in Galicia, 404 ; has an interview with him, 407 ; 
 marries the lady Philippa, daughter of the duke of 
 Ijancaster, 421 ; takes the field against the king of Cas- 
 tille, 434; burns the town of Santarem, 435; takes 
 Ferrol, 435 ; forms a junciion with the duke of Lancas- 
 ter at Orense, 447 ; dismisses his army, 450. 
 
 John of Gaunt, earl of Richmond, created duke of Lan- 
 caster, 138. 
 
 John, friar, de la Rochtaillade, delivers an apologue before 
 the cardinals concerning the papacy, 890. 
 
 Joigny, the earl of, captured by the prince of Wales, 101 ; 
 taken prisoner at the battle of Auray, 151. 
 
 Joigny, the lord £aoul de, taken prisoner by the prince of 
 Wales, 101. 
 
 Joinville, the fort of, taken by the free-booting compa- 
 nies, 184. 
 
 Jouel, sir John, joins the king of Navarre, 142; slain at the 
 
 battle of Cocherel in Normandy, 146. 
 Jouy, the count de, burnt to death at a masked dance at 
 
 Pans, 557. 
 
 Jugon, the town of, taken by the lord Charles of Blois 
 through treachery, 60; retaken by the lord John de 
 Montfort, 152 ; surrenders to sir Bertrand du Guesclin, 
 216. 
 
 St. Julien, Louis de, takes the town of Chatelheraut, 195. 
 
 Juliers, William count de, made duke of Gaeldres, 455. 
 
 Juliers, the duke of. promises assistance o the king of 
 England against France, 181 ; defeats the duke of Bra- 
 bant with great slaughter, 457 ; makes his peace with 
 the emperor, 457 ; makes his submission to the king of 
 France, 486 ; makes peace between the duke of Guel- 
 dres and the king of France, 488. 
 
 K. 
 
 Kent, the earl of^ beheaded through the jealousy of sir 
 
 Robert Mortimer, 85. 
 Knights Bachelors, the signification of their title, 47; note. 
 Knights Bannerets, an account of their title and rank, 23; 
 
 note. 
 
 Knights of the Garter, the order instituted at Windsoi by 
 Edward the Third, 64 ; the names of the first knights, 
 65; note. 
 
 Knights of the Hare, the origin of their title, 86. 
 
 Knights of the Star, the first of that order, 97. 
 
 Knolles, sir Robert, commands a troop of free companies 
 in Normandy, 132 ; makes an incursion into Berry and 
 Auvergne, 122 ; goes to the assistance of the prince of 
 Wales, 183 ; appointed captain of the prince of Wales's 
 companies, 183; summoned to England by king Ed- 
 ward, 196; leads an army into Picardy, 198 ; enters into 
 a composition to save the country from being pillaged, 
 198 ; defeated at Pont Valin by sir Bertrand du Gues- 
 clin, 202; he retreats into Brittany, ib.; incurs the dis- 
 pleasure of the king of England, 205; some account 
 of his life, ib. note; reinstated in his favor, ib.; ap- 
 pointed governor of Brittany, 16 ; captures the lord de 
 Mauvoisin 268. 
 
 L. 
 
 Lac, Lb, the town of, taken by the earl of Derby, 67. 
 Lamb florins, first coined, 98. 
 
 Lambe, John, assassinates Evan of Wales at Mortmain- 
 sur-mer, 238. 
 
 Lancaster, Thomas, earl of, beheaded through the enmity 
 of sir Hugh Spencer, 15. 
 
 Lancaster. Henry, earl of. brother of the former, joins 
 the party of queen Isabella against Edward the Se- 
 cond and the Spencers, 17. 
 
 Lancaster, the duke of, son of earl Henry, lands in Cou- 
 tantin to assist Philip of Navarre against the king of 
 France, 100 ; takes the town of Verneuil, ib. ; besieges 
 Rennes, 111 ; leads a large army into Picardy. 123 ; i 
 
 persuades the king of England to make peace with 
 the duke of Normandy, 130; dies of the plague, 137 
 
 Lancaster, John of Gaunt, duke of, his creation, 138; ensi- 
 barks with a large army for Aquitaine, 160; leads a 
 large army into France, 186 ; returns to England, 191; 
 embarks with a large force for Aquitaine, 197 ; ap- 
 pointed governor of Acjuitaine, 203; takes Mont Peon» 
 204; Marries ihe lady Constance, daughter of Don Pe- 
 dro of Castille, 206 ; returns to England, ib. ; leads an 
 army through France to Bordeaux. 218. et seq. ; enters 
 into a truce with the French, and returns to England, 
 222; made regent of England, during the minority of 
 Richard the Second, 224 ; heads an army into Britta- 
 ny, 225; besieges St. Malo, 2S8; abandons the siege, 
 241 ; informed of the death of Don Henry, king of 
 Castille, 246; sent to treat with the Scots, 282; makes 
 a truce vvitli them, 288 ; refused admission into Berwick 
 castle, ib. ; returns to Scotland with the earl of Doug- 
 lass, 289; sent for by king Richard, ib. ; offended with 
 the earl of Northumberland, 290 ; appeased by the 
 king, ib. ; obtains nn army to make war on Castille, 
 399; embarks for Portugal, ib. ; forces the French to 
 raise the blockade of Brest, 400; arrives at Corunna, 
 ib. ; takes the town of St. Iago de Compostella and 
 several others in Galicia, 401, et seq. ; makes war on 
 Arragon, 416 ; iimrries his daughter, the lady Philippa, 
 to the king of PortugaJ, 421 : takes the towns of En- 
 ten9a, &c., 423, et seq. ; sutlers greatly from the heat 
 of the climate, 447 ; foiinG a junction with the king of 
 Portugal, ib. ; passes the Duero. ib. ; dispirited by th« 
 sickness of himself and army, 448 ; disbands his men, 
 448; obtains permission from king of Castille for them 
 to recruit their health in his towns, 449 ; quits Galicia 
 and returns to Bayonne, 452, 466 ; applies to England 
 for fiesh assistance, 466 ; betrothes his daughter Catha- 
 rine to the infant of Spain, 488; makes peace with the 
 king of Castille, 491 ; marries his daughter to the infant, 
 492; receives the duchy of Aquitaine as a gift from 
 king Richard and his council, 564 ; embarks for Aqui- 
 taine, 565; ordered to return in consequence of the re- 
 monstrances of the towns of Aquitaine against the 
 king's gift, 570 ; marries his concubine. 577; offended 
 with king Richard for the murder of the duke of Glou- 
 cester, 602 ; makes peace with him, ib. ; his death, 610. 
 
 Lancaster, the duchess of, takes her daughter to Castille, 
 and marries her to the infant, 492 ; finds the bones or 
 her father, don Pedro, and has them buried at Se- 
 ville, ib. 
 
 Langon, the town of, taken by the earl of Derby, 67 ; mur 
 
 renders to the duke of Aiyou, 221. 
 Langurant, the lord de, captured by the duke of Anjou 
 
 ^8; turns to the French -icterest, 229 ; slain near Cai- 
 
 dillac. 245. 
 
 Launoy, John de, one of tlie commanders of tiie men of 
 Ghent, slain a; the church of-Nevele, 279. 
 
 Lauton, sir John, slain before La Ilochelle, 209. 
 
 Le Clerc, Arnold, one of the commandei's of the men of 
 Ghent, defeats a party of the Flemish nobility at On- 
 denarde, 280 : defeated and slain at Berchem, ib. 
 
 Leon, king of Armenia, arrives in France, after losing his 
 dominions, 387 ; relieved by the king of France, 389; 
 his death, 390, note; endeavors to negotiate a peace 
 between the kings of France and England 412. 
 
 Leon, sir Herve de, captured before Vannes. 63; liberated 
 by king Edward, 65 ; dies at Paris, ib. 
 
 Letter, from Edward the Black Prince, to the bishop of 
 Worcester, after the battle of Poitiers, 108, 7iote. 
 
 Letter, sent by the king of England to Aquitaine, 194. 
 
 Lewis, the lord of Spain, raises the siege of Hennebon, 57, 
 takes the town ofDinant, &c., 58; defeated at Q.uim- 
 perle by sir Walter Manny, ib. ; engages sir P».obert 
 d'Artois at sea. 61. 
 
 Libourne, the town of, taken by the earl of Derby 67 
 
 Liege, the bishop of. endeavors to make peace between 
 the earl of Flanders and the bisiiop of Norwich, 305. 
 
 liieux, the town of, taken by the earl of Derby, 67. 
 
 Lignac, sir Helion de, sent to treat with the duke of Lan- 
 caster for the marriage of his daughter to the duke 
 of-Beiry, 469. 
 
 Lignac, sir William de, seneschal of Saintonge, takes the 
 castle of Aigle, 844; accompanies the duke of Bour- 
 bon to the assistance of the king of Castille, 418; ar- 
 rives at Burgos. 426. 
 
 Limoges, the town of, surrenders to tlie duke of Berry, 
 199 ; taken by storm by the prince of Wales, 200. 
 
 Linde, the town of, besieged by the duke of Anjou, 197; 
 delivered by the captal of Buch, ib. 
 
 Linieres, sir Maubrun de, dies at Neva, 133. 
 
 Lionel, earl of Ulster, created duke of Clarence, 138; 
 marries the daughter of the lord Galeasof Milan, 171 ; 
 his death, 174. 
 
 Lisbon, the city of, besieged by the king of Castille, 360, 395- 
 Lisle, the earl of, makes war in Gascony for the king of 
 France, 44 ; besieges Auberoche, 67 ; taken prisoner by 
 the earl of Derby, 68. 
 St. Lo, the town of, taken by the English under king Ed- 
 ward. 77. 
 
 London, the bishop of. appointed to accompany the duke- 
 of Lancaster in an expedition against Spain, 326. 
 
 Londoners, the, dissatisfied with king Richard and his 
 council, apply to the duke of Gloucester to take upon 
 Jiim the government of the realm, 439; wait upon the 
 king at Windsor to lay their grievances before him, 
 and to demand redress, 440; prevail upon the king to 
 fix a day to examine into tlie conduct of those who 
 had had the management of the finances, ib. ; defeat 
 the duke of Ireland and the king's forces, near Oxford, 
 445 ; wait upon the king, at the instigation of the duke 
 of Gloucester, to demand tiie repeal of the ta.\es which 
 had been imposed to ca;i y on tlie war with France, 
 594; take pert with the t ail of Derby in his quarrel 
 with the earl marshal, 60? ; rise ia favor of the ea^l of 
 
INDEX 
 
 at Tarbes, 360 ; visited by the count tie Foix, 361 ; ap- 
 points sir Peter Arnaut governor of Lourde, ib. 
 
 Elmbam, sir William, committed to the Tower by the 
 commissioners of accounts, on a charge of havmg 
 sold Bourbourg and Gravelines to the French, 
 
 English the, their manners in the time of Froissart. 386. 
 
 Entenca, the town of, in Galicia, surrenders to the duke 
 of Lancaster, 4 12. 
 
 Escaudouve. the ca 'leof, in Hainault, taken and destroy- 
 ed 41 
 
 r:spaig'n, the hours ti' . his remarkable strength. 366. 
 
 Estampes. the count d'. sent to endeavor to wm over the 
 duke of Brittany to tlie French interest, 463. 
 
 Eu the eail of, taken prisoner by the English under Ed- 
 ward the Third. 77 ; beheaded at i'aris, 97. 
 
 Eu. the count de. See Artois, Philip d'. 
 
 Emn of Wales, receives a naval co^imand under the 
 king of France, 209 ; defeats the Eui^lish in the island 
 of Guernsey, ib.; sent to Spain to ; Alicit assistance 
 from king Henry, ib.; insults the earl of Pembroke at 
 St Andero, 209 ; blockades the town of La Rochelle, 
 212 ■ takes the castle of Soubise, ib.; besieges Mont- 
 main-sur-mer, 231 ; assnssinated by John Lambe, 2^. 
 
 Evreux, the county of, subdued for the king of France by 
 sirBertrand du Guesclin, 225. 
 
 Europe, desolated by the plague, 96. _ . 
 
 Eustace de St. Pierre, a citizen of Calais, his patriotic 
 conduct during the siege of that town, 91. 
 
 FamixVE, a great one. in France, 117. 
 Faucille, John de. a citizen of Ghent, retires (rorn thetown 
 
 .ifier the murder of the bailiff by the Whitehoods, 
 
 254; dies at Lis ie. 281. . , ^.r,i u * 
 
 Fay, sir Godemar du. defends the tord of Blanchetaque 
 
 against Edwarc the Third and his army, t9\ defeated 
 
 by the Engiish, ib.; narrowly escapes being put to 
 
 death, 83. . 
 Felton, sir William, killed in Spam, 164. 
 Felton. sir Thomas, captured by the French under the 
 
 du^eof Anion, 229. , , , ru 
 
 Fenestrages, the lord Broquart de, takes the town of Hans, 
 
 120; defeated and captured by sir Eustace d Ambre- 
 
 ticourt, 121. • i T u 
 
 Ferdinand, king of Portugal, declares war against John, 
 kmg of (;astille, 2^ ; applies to England for assistance, 
 ib • takes the field against the Spaniards. 299 ; makes 
 peace with the king of Castille, 300 ; marries his daugh- 
 ter the infanta to him, ib.; marries the wife of one of 
 h^ knights. 393. 
 
 Ferrol, the town of, taken by the king of Portugal, 4*. 
 
 Flanders, the origin of the civil wars in, 402. 
 
 Flanders, the nobility of, make war on the men of Ghent, 
 38 
 
 F^landers, the earl of, slain at the battle of Crecy, 82. 
 i<^landers, Lewis earl of, betrothed through the constraint 
 of the Flemings, to Isabella, daughter of the king ot 
 England, 87; escapes into France, 88; marries the 
 dau-hter of the duke of Brabant, 94 : detains an em- 
 bassador from the king of France to the king of Scot- 
 land 246 • supports the cause of pope Urban in his 
 dominions, against the Clementists, 249 ; endeavors to 
 put down the Whitehoods, which had been revived at 
 Ghent 253 ; collects a fo' ce to make war on them, 255; 
 makes peace with them, 257 ; comes to Ghent at the 
 entreaty of the inhabitants. 259 ; endeavors to prevail 
 on them to lay aside the Whitehoods. ib.; causes John 
 Pruniaux to be beheaded, 261 ; goes to Bruges at the 
 request of the inhabitants, 276 ; renews the war with 
 Uie men of Ghent, ib.; besieges the town. 278 ; defeats 
 the men of Ghent under Rassa de Harzelle, and burns 
 a body of them in the church of Nevele, 279; besieges 
 again the town of Ghent, 291 ; defeated by the men of 
 Ghent at Bruges, 303; escapes with great difficulty to 
 Lisle 305 ; applies to the king of France for assistance, 
 312 • becomes an object of hatred to the English. 326- 
 aoidies to the duke of Burgundy for assistance to op 
 pose the bishop of Norwich. 326 ; dies at St. Omer, 336 ; 
 the ceremony of his funeral, 336. 
 Flenwngs, the. under Colin Donnequm, defeated at Cassel 
 
 by Phdip of Valois, 25. 
 Flemings, under Jacob von Artaveld, promise to assist 
 Edward the Third against the king of France 37 ; re- 
 main firm t'j their alliance, notwithstandmg the solici- 
 tations of the king of France, 39. 
 Flemings, the, under Robert d' Artois, flee m confusion 
 from before St. Omer, 48. , r^^i j to. 
 
 Flemings, the, refuse to disinherit the earl of Flanders 72, 
 constrain him to be betrothed to the daughter of the 
 kin" of England, 87; besiege the town of Aire, 89; 
 defeated by the Endish otf the island of Bas.20o; 
 make peace with the king of England, ^Cb. 
 Foix Gaston Phoebus, count of, Ins passion tor nogs, d 
 defeats the infamous J.cuuevie ot beauvoisis, with 
 great slaughter, at Meaux. 113; visits the prince of 
 Wales at Tarbes. 361 ; remits, at the entreaty of the 
 princessof Wales, sixty thousand francs of the ransom 
 of the count d' Avmagnac, ib.; takes the town of Cas- 
 seresfromtho Armaguacs, S62 ; bis.riches and liberality. 
 365; murders sir Peter Arnaut, 367. 
 Foix, the count de. obtains Malvoism froin the king of 
 France as a gift, 867 origin of the wars between him 
 and the Armagnacs, 368 ; his character and manner of 
 life 369; kills his son and heir Gi.ston. ib.; his manner 
 of keeping the feast of St. Nicholas, 372; rapidly and 
 in a secret manner informed of the battle of Aljuba- 
 rota 382; giants permission to the French army to 
 pass through bis territories, on their way to Castille, 
 423- magnificently entcifiins the duke of Bourbon on 
 hi8 'return toward France, 451 ; prevents the count d - 
 Artimgnac from succeeding in his attempt to purchase 
 
 the forts occupied by the free companies, 453 ; marries 
 his ward, the daughter of the count of Boulogne, to 
 the duke of Berry, 492 ; does homage to the king of 
 Fiance at Toulouse for the county of Foix, 505; his 
 death, 535; and funeral, 537. 
 Foix. Evan of, burnt to death at a masked dance in Paris, 
 557. 
 
 Fongasse, Laurence, an embassador from Portugal to 
 England, relates to the duke of Lancaster the events 
 which had happened in Portugal after the departure 
 of the earl of Cambridge, 393. 
 Fontenay le Comte, the castle of, taken by sir Bertrand du 
 Guesclin, 213. 
 
 St. Forget, the castle of, taken by sir Walter de Pascal, dm. 
 Forsath, in Gascony, taken by the earl of Derby, 67. 
 Fouage, the nature of the tax so called, 170, note. 
 Friesland, invaded by the count of Hainault, 584. 
 Froissart, sir John, his preface to his chronicles, 14 ; his 
 reasons for visiting the count de Foix, 358; sets out for 
 Beam, in company with sir Espaign du Lyon, who 
 informs him of many particulars relative to the wars 
 in Guienne, 361 : arrives at Orthes, 369 ; becomes ac 
 quainted with the Bastot de Mauieon, 372 ; his descrip 
 tion of the manners of tiie English and Gascons in his 
 time, 386; travels to Middleburgh, in Zealand. 391; 
 receives information relative to the affairs of Portugal, 
 ib • is informed of the particulars of the arrest of sir 
 Oliver de Ciissoii by the duke of Brittany, 437 ; returns 
 to France from Beam, in company with the lord de la 
 Riviere and sir William de la Tremouille, 493 ; goes to 
 Holland, 494 ; returns to Paris to witness queen Isa- 
 bella's public entrance into that city, 494; visits Eng- 
 land in the reign of Richard the Second, 565; pre 
 sents his book of love poems to the king, 568. 
 
 G. 
 
 Gabei»le, the, a tax upon salt, imposed through France, 
 99. 
 
 Galande, the castle of, in Brittany, taken by sir Bertrand 
 
 du Guesclin, 216. 
 Gurliz, Gomez, beheaded by order of don Pedro. 168 
 Gars, the abbe de, beheaded at Amiens, 117. 
 Gascons, the. oppose the attempt of the prince of Wales 
 
 to impose a hearth tax on the country, 171. 
 Gascons, the, their manners in the time of Froissart. 386. 
 Geneva, the cardinal de. elected pope during the life-time 
 
 of Urban the Sixth, 249. 
 Genoa, its state and condition in the time of Froissart, 387. 
 Genoese, the, raise a large army to invade Barbary, 514; 
 besiege the town of Africa, 523 ; break up their expe- 
 dition, 529. n , 
 Gente, sir Guisebert, a citizen of Ghent, killed for having 
 endeavored to make peace between the town and the 
 earl of Flanders, 293. ^„ • . 
 Genville, the earl of, captured at the battle of Poitiers. 105 
 St. George, the chapel of, at Windsor, founded by Edward 
 the Third, 64. , , ^ 
 Germany, the emperor of, attends a great assembly at 
 Rheims. with the king of France, to consult upon 
 means to restore the union of the church. 603 ; deposed, 
 
 Ghent, the town of. besieged by the earl of Flanders, 278, 
 290. 
 
 Ghent the men of, put to death Jacob von Artaveld, 72 ; 
 revive the custom of the Whitehoods, and elect John 
 Lyon their captain, 252 ; apply to the earl of Flanders 
 to preserve their franchises, 253; murder the ba iliff of 
 Ghent, 253 ; endeavor to make their peace with the 
 earl, 254 ; enter into alliance with other towns of Flan ■ 
 ders', 255'; choose new leaders, after the death of John 
 Lyon, ib.; enter into alliance with the town of Ypres, 
 256; besiege Oudenarde, ib.; march to attack the earl 
 of Flanders, in Dendremonde, 257 ; make peace with 
 the earl, 257 ; take the town of Oudenarde 260 ; sur- 
 render it to the earl's forces. 261 ; destroy the houses of 
 the nobility, ib.; put to death John Boule, one of their 
 commanders, 277 ; take several towns in Flanders, 278 ; 
 defeated with great slaughter at Nevele, where several 
 hundreds of them are burnt in a church, 279 ; besiege 
 Courtray, 280; greatly distressed for provisions, but 
 relieved by the men of Liege, 300 ; defeat the earl of 
 Flanders at Bruges, 304 ; take the town of Bruges and 
 several others, ib. et seg.; besiege Oudenarde, 307 ; en- 
 deavor to form an alliance with England, 309 ; defeated 
 at the pass of Commines, under Peter du Bois, 316; 
 defeated, under Philip von Artaveld, at the battle of 
 Rosebecque, 321 ; endeavoi to make peace with the 
 earl, 324 ; take the town of Ardembourg, 325 ; assist 
 the English at the siege of Ypres, 330; defeat a party 
 of the French at Ardembourg, 343 ; take Damme, 347 ; 
 make peace with the duke of Burgundy, the heir of 
 Flanders, 356. 
 
 Gloucester, the duke of, [for the preceding particulars ot 
 this prince see Buckingham, the earl of,] his crea- 
 tion, 414 ; confederates with the duke of York and 
 others against Richard the Second and his council, 439 ; 
 defeats the king's forces, under the duke of Ireland, 
 near Oxford, 445; thwarts the king in his intentions of 
 making peace with the king of Fiance, 534 : plots the 
 destruction of the king, 593 ; instigates the Londoners 
 to petition for a repeal of the war taxes, 594 ; arrested 
 by order of the king, 597 ; put to death at Calais, 602. 
 Gomegines, the lord of, defeated and taken prisoner on his 
 way to join the king of England before Rheims, 127. 
 Goodman, James, chosen leader of the infamous Jac- 
 querie of Beauvoisis, 112. 
 Guy la Forest, the castle of. taken by sir Walter Manny, 
 
 59; surrenders to sir Bertrand du Guesclin, 217. 
 Gramat, the town of. taken by sir John Chandos. 184. 
 Grammont. the town of, in Flan4ers. taken by the lord d - 
 Anghgin, 291» 
 
 Grave, the tovra of. besieged by the Brabanters, 468. 
 Gravelines. the town of, taken by the bishop of Norwich. 
 327. 
 
 Gravelle, the lord of, beheaded at Rouen, 160. 
 Gregory the Eleventh, pope, elected at Avignon, 202; en- 
 deavors to make peace between the kings of France 
 and England, 219 ; removes to Rome, 235 ; his death, ib. 
 Griffith, a Welshman, commands a troop of the free com- 
 panies, and pillages several places in France, 112. 
 Gris, James le, killed in a duel at Paris by sir John de 
 Carogne, 414. 
 
 Gueldres, the duke of, promises to assist the king of EiiB 
 land against France, 181 ; enters into an alliance with 
 England, 433, 458; sends an insulting defiance to the 
 king of France, 413 ; endeavois to obtain possession of 
 three castles belonging to his duchy, which had been 
 sold to the duke of Brabant, 458; obtains possession 
 of Grave, 468; defeats tlie Brabanters at the bridge of 
 Ravestein, 476 ; makes peace with the king of France 
 and the duchess of Brabant, 488; taken prisoner in 
 Prussia, 490; delivered by the Teutonic knights, ib.; 
 returns to Prussia to keep his faith with his capturer, 
 and obtains bis liberty, 491. 
 Guerrande, the town of. taken by the forces of the lord 
 
 Charles of Blois. 58. 
 Guesclin. sir Bertrand du. chosen commander of the 
 French forces in Normandy. 145 ; defeats the forces of 
 the king of Navarre at the battle of Cocherel. 146 ; 
 obtains possession of the castle of RouUeboise, 146 ; 
 goes to the assistance of the lord Charles of Blois. 148 
 taken prisoner at the battle of Auray, 150 ; ransomed. 
 154 ; leads an army into Spain, ib.; appointed consta 
 ble of Castille. 155 ; goes to the assistance of Henry of 
 Castille against don Pedro and the prince of Wales. 
 161 ; captured at the battle of Navaretta, 167 ; obtams 
 his ransom. 170; joins king Henry before Toledo, 172; 
 again appointed constable of Spain, 174; joins the 
 duke of Anjou in an expedition against the prince of 
 Wales, 197; invades the viscounty of Limoges, 200; 
 takes the town of Yvrier, ib.; appointed constable of 
 France. 201 ; defeats the forces of sir Robert Knolles at 
 Pontvalin, 202 ; takes the castle of Moninorillon and 
 several other places in Poitou, 210, etseq.; heads an 
 army against Brittany, 216 ; takes the town of Rennes 
 and several others, ib., et scq.; sent with a large army 
 against the king of Navarre, 225; makes war on Brit- 
 tany, 248 ; dies at Auvergne. 262 ; the etymology of his 
 name. 437 , see also 438, note. 
 Guesclin. sir Oliver du, made prisoner by the garrison of 
 
 Cherbourg, 243. 
 Guincamp, the town of, taken by sir Bertrand du Gue« 
 clin, 216. 
 
 Guistelles, the lord de, appeases an insurrection at Bruge* 
 against the French troops. 414. 
 
 H. 
 
 Hainault, the country of, invaded by the French, 37,39; 
 in danger of being pillaged by the Bretons belonging 
 to the army of Charles the Sixth, of Fran e, 323. 
 Hainault. sir John of, otfers his assistance to Isabella, 
 queen of Edward the Second. 17 ; escorts her to Eng- 
 land, 17 ; assists her at the siege of Bristol, 18; assists 
 the king of Eii};land in the expedition against the 
 Scots, 19 ; his territories invaded by the king of France, 
 37 ; appointed governor of Hainault during the absence 
 of the earl in England, 38; quits the allegiance of 
 England for that of France, 73. 
 Hainault, William earl of, liither ofPhilippa, queen of 
 
 England, his death. 31. 
 Hainault, William earl of, son of the above, sends his de- 
 fiance to tiie king of France, 38; takes the town of 
 Aubenton, &c., ib.; visits England, 38; Germany, 41; 
 returns to Hainault, 42; assembles a large army to 
 raise the siege of Thin-rEvsque, ib.; burns the town 
 of Seclin, &c. 44; takes the town of St. Amand, 47 ; 
 Utrecht, 73 ; slain in Friesland, ib. 
 Hainault, the count of, raises a;i army to invade ftiesland, 
 
 586; overruns the country, and disl inds his forces. 585. 4 
 Harcourt; the earl of, beheaded at Rouen, 99. 
 Harcourt, the young earl of. makes peace with the duke 
 
 of Normandy. 120. 
 Harcourt. sir G<uilVey de, banished from France, 72; ac- 
 companies the kiiii; <'f EiigiRud in an expedition into 
 Nornmndy, 76 ; created one of the marshals of his 
 army, 76 ; defeats a body of men from Amiens on their 
 march to join the king of France, 79; carries on the 
 war in Normandy for the king of England, 109 ; de 
 feated and slain at the battle of Coutantin, 110. 
 Harcourt, sir John, returns to France from England, where 
 
 he had been as a hostage lor king John, 177. 
 Harlestone, sir William, appointed governor of Cherbourg, 
 226; defeats a body of French troops under sirWil 
 liam de Gourdes, whom he captures, 227. 
 Harsley, William de, a physician of Fitnce, cures king 
 Charles the Sixth of France of his first derangement, 
 556; dies at Laon, 556. 
 Harzelle, Rasse de, chosen one of the commanders of the 
 Whitehoods of Ghent, 255; takes several towns in 
 Flanders, 278 ; killed in an engagement with the earl 
 of Flanders, 279. 
 Harzelles, the lord de, killed at Ghent, 340. 
 Haspres, the town of, burnt by the French, 38. 
 Hawkwood, sir John, an English commander, enters into 
 
 the service of Urban the Sixth in Italy, 250. 
 Helly, sir James de, taken prisoner by the Turks at the 
 battle of Nicopoli, 588 ; sent to France with informa 
 tion of the defeat of the army of John of Burgondy, 
 589 ; obtains his liberty, 591 ; returns to France, 6^ 
 Hennebo"a, the town of, in Brittany, taken by the earl of 
 Mon»ford, as the duke of Brittany, 50; besieged by th?i 
 
63P 
 
 lord Charles of Blois, 56, 59 ; taken by sir Bertrand du 
 Gnesclin, 217. 
 
 Henry the Fourth, of England, crowned during the life- 
 time of Richara the Second, 619. 
 
 Henry de Trastamaro, enters Castiile with a large army to 
 dethrone his brother don Pedro, 154; acknowJeii^ed 
 and crowned king of Castille by tlie Spaniards, 15i5 ; 
 takes measures to oppose don I'edro and the prince of 
 Wales. 157 ; defeated at the battle of Navarretta, 167 ; 
 escapes to Arragon, 169 ; makes war on the prince of 
 Wales in Aquitaine, 169; makes war on don Pedro, 
 assisted by the king of Arragon. 172 ; defeats don Pe- 
 dro near Montiel, 173; puts liun to death, 174; obtains 
 the submission of Castille, 174; enters into alliance 
 with the king of France, 206; makes w ar on the king 
 of Navarre, 225 ; concludes a peace with him, 245 ; his 
 death, ib. 
 
 Henry, the infant of Spain, marries the daughter of the 
 duke of Lancaster, 492 ; crowned king of Castille, 531. 
 
 Henrielle, tlie castle of, taken by the king of Navarre, 
 116. 
 
 Holland, sir John, kills lord Ralph Stafford, 351. 
 
 Hostages, sent to England for king Joiin of France. 450. 
 
 Huet, sir Walter, killed in a skirmish in Brittany, 219. 
 
 Hungary, the king of, applies tb the court of France for 
 assistance against the sultan Bajuzet, 575; crosses the 
 Danube with a large army, accompanied by John of 
 Burgundy and his forces, 578 ; takes the town of Co- 
 mecte by storm, 579 ; besieges Nicopoli, 581 ; his army 
 defeated by Bajazet, 588. 
 
 Huntingdon, the earl of, proclaims a tournament at Ox- 
 ford with the view of murdering king Henry, 622 ; slain 
 at Cirencester, 622. 
 
 I. 
 
 St. 1a60 de Compostella, the town of, m Galicia, ta- 
 ken by the duke of Lancaster, 401. 
 
 Innocent the Sixth, pope, elected at Avignon, 97 ; endea- 
 vors to make peace between the kings of France and 
 England, and the kings of France and Navarre, 101; 
 orders a croisade to be preached against the free com- 
 panies, 136 ; his death, 137. 
 
 Insurrection in Paris against Charles the Sixth, 29B. 
 
 Insurrection at Rouen, 293. 
 
 Insurrection, a general, in England, in favor of the earl of 
 
 Derby against Richard the Second, 612. 
 Interview between the king of Portugal and the duke of 
 
 Lancaster, 407. 
 Interview between the kings of France and England at 
 
 Ardres, 586. 
 
 Ireland, the earl of Oxford created duke of, 414 ; incurs the 
 hatred of the people of England, 439 ; obtains a divorce 
 from his wife, the lady Philippa, ib., 442 ; endeavors to 
 counteract the measures of the commissioners of ac- 
 counts and the new council of state, 442 ; marches from 
 Brietol toward London as lieutenant for the king, 444 ; 
 defented near Oxford by the Londoners, underthe duke 
 of Gloucester, 445 : flies the kingdom, 445; invited to 
 France, 467 ; ordered thence, 498. 
 
 Irish, theif manners and mode of warfare, 569. 
 
 Isabella, queen of Edward tiie Second, declared ineligible 
 to the crown of France, 15; incurs the liatred of sir 
 Hugh Spencer, 15 ; lays her grievances before her bro- 
 ther, Charles the Fourth of France, and solicits his 
 advice and assistance, ib.; commanded to quit France, 
 16: lands in England with a considerable force, and is 
 joined by the English barons, 17 ; takes her husband 
 prisoner i^t Bristol, 17 ; confines him in Berkeley castle, 
 18; enters London amid great rejoicings, 18; obtains 
 , the coronation of her son Edward the Third, 19; sus- 
 pected of being pregnant by sir Roger Mortimer, 25 ; 
 committed to prison by order of the council, ib.; dies 
 in London, 138. 
 
 Isabella, daughter of Edward the Third of England, be 
 trothed to Lewis earl of Flanders, 87. 
 
 Isabella, the lady, of Bavaria, married to Charles the 
 Sixth of France, 348; makes her public entry into 
 Paris, 494 
 
 ' Isabella, daughter of Charles the Sixth, betrothed to Rich- 
 ard the Second of England, 577 ; delivered to him by 
 king Charles at Ardres, 586; married to him at Calais, 
 586. ) 
 J. 
 
 Jacquerie, the rise of an infamous body of men in Beau- 
 voisis under this appellation, 112; their atrocities, ib.; 
 a large number of them destroyed by the king of Na- 
 varre, 113; thousands of them slain at iVIeaux by the 
 earl of Foix and the captal of Buch, 113. 
 
 James, king of Cyprus, interests himselFto obtain the libe- 
 ration of John of Burgundy and his companions, who 
 were prisoners in Turkey, 597. 
 
 Bt. Jean d'Angely, the town of, taken by the earl of Derby, 
 84; surrender* to the French, 97, 212. 
 
 Jews, the, persecuted through Europe, 96. 
 
 John, son of Philip of Valois, crowned king of France, 
 97; makes his public entry into Paris, ib.; prevents a 
 I combat between the duke of Lancaster and the duke 
 of Brunswick, 97 ; takes possession of the lands of the 
 king of Navarre in Normandy, 98; coins florins of 
 gold, which were called lamb florins, ib.; marches an 
 array against the king of England, 99; gives the duchy 
 of Normandy to his eldest son, the dauphin of Vienne, 
 ib.; arrests the king of Navarre, 99 ; marches an army 
 I against the duke of Lancaster, lOO ; collects an army 
 
 to oppose the prince of Wales, 100 ; defeated and taken 
 ' prisoner at the battle of Poitiers, 105 ; surrenders to the 
 
 I prince of Wales, 106; embarked for England, 110; 
 
 rides through London, ib.; confined in Windsor castle, 
 entfiis into a treaty with the king of England and 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 ' the prince of Wales, 122 ; the French council refuse to 
 ratify it, ib.; sent to the Tower of London, 124; ob- 
 tains his liberty, and returns to France, 133; magnifi- 
 cently entertained at Paris. 134; quarrels witii the king 
 of Navarre, 137 ; visits the popeat Avignon, 137 ; puts 
 on the cross, 138; returns to England, 140 ; his death, 
 141 ; buried at St. Denis, 143, and note. 
 
 John, don, son of Henry de Trastamare, crowned king of 
 Castille, 245 ; makes war on Portugal, 282; takes the 
 field against the king of Portugal and the ea rl of Cam- 
 bridge, 299 ; makes peace with the king of Portugal, 
 300; marries his daughter, 300 ; sends his defiance to 
 the new king of Portugal, and raises an army to make 
 war on him, 360, 393 ; besieges Lisbon, 360, 395 ; applies 
 to the king of France for assistance, 360 ; abandons the 
 siege of Lisbon, 377 ; takes the field against the king of 
 Portugal. 878; defeated, with great slaughter, at the 
 battle of Aljubarota, 380, 397 ; enters into a truce with 
 the king of Portugal, 382 ; applies lo France for assist- 
 ance against the king of Portugal and the duke of 
 Lancaster, 404; grants permission to the duke of Lan- 
 caster to send his men into Castille to recruit their 
 health, 449 ; regains possession of Galicia after the de- 
 parture of the duke of Lancaster, 466 ; sends embas- 
 sadors to the duke of Lancaster, to demand his daugh- 
 ter for the infant of Spain, 471 ; makes peace with the 
 duke, 491 ; marries his son to the lady Catherine of 
 Lancaster, 492; his death, 531. 
 
 John, don, grand master of Avis, declared king of Portu 
 gal, 300, 360, 393; crowned. 860, 395; sends embassa- 
 dors to England to solicit the alliance of Richard the 
 Second, 360, 375; raises an army to make war on the 
 king of Castille. 378; defeats him at the battle of Al- 
 jubarota, 380, 397; enters into a truce with him, 382; 
 sends embassadors to solicit the assistance of the duke 
 of Lancaster, 392; receives favorable answers, 398; 
 writes friendly letters to the duke of Lancaster on his 
 arrival in Galicia, 404 ; has an interview with him, 407 ; 
 marries the lady Philippa, daughter of the dUke of 
 Lancaster, 421 ; takes the field against the king of Cas- 
 • tilie, 434; burns the town of Santarem, 435; takes 
 Ferrol, 435 ; forms a junction with the duke of Lancas- 
 ter at Orense, 447 ; dismisses his army, 450. 
 
 John of Gaunt, earl of Richmond, created duke of Lan- 
 caster, 138. 
 
 John, friar, dela Rochtaillade, delivers an apologue before 
 the cardinals concerning the papacy, 390. 
 
 Joigny, the earl of, captured by the prince of Wales, 101 ; 
 taken prisoner at the battleof Auray, 151. 
 
 Joigny, the lord Baoul de, taken prisoner by the prince of 
 Wales, 101. 
 
 Joinville, the fort of, taken by the free-booting compa- 
 nies, 134. 
 
 Jouel, sir John, joins the king of Navarre, 142 ; slain at the 
 
 battle of Cocherel in Normandy, 146. 
 Jouy, the count de, burnt to death at a masked dance at 
 
 Pans, 557. 
 
 Jugon, the town of, taken by the lord Charles of Blois 
 through treachery, 60; retaken by the lord John de 
 Montfort, 152; surrenders to sir Bertrand du Guesclin, 
 216. 
 
 St. Julien, Louis de, takes the town of Chatelheraut, 195. 
 
 Juliers, William count de, made duke of Gueldres, 455. 
 
 Juliers, the duke of, promises assistance o the king of 
 England against France, 181 ; defeats the duke of Bra- 
 bant with great slaughter, 457 ; makes his peace with 
 the emperor, 457; makes his submission to the king of 
 France, 486 ; makes peace between the duke of Guel- 
 dres and the king of France, 488. 
 
 K. 
 
 Kent, the earl of, beheaded through the jealousy of sir 
 
 Robert Mortimer, 85. 
 Knights Bachelors, the signification of their title, 47; note. 
 Knights Bannerets, an account of their title and rank, 23 ; 
 
 note. 
 
 Knights of the Garter, the order instituted at Windsoi by 
 Edward the Third, 64 ; the names of the first knights, 
 65; note. 
 
 Knights of the Hare, the origin of their title, 36. 
 
 Knights of the Star, the first of that order, 97. 
 
 KnoUes, sir Robert, commands a troop of free companies 
 in Normandy, 132 ; makes an incursion into Berry and 
 Auvergne, 122 ; goes to the assistance of the prince of 
 Wales, 183 ; appointed captain of the prince of Wales's 
 companies. 183; summoned to England by king Ed- 
 ward. 196; leads an army into Picardy. 198 ; enters into 
 a composition to save the country from being pillaged, 
 198; defeated at Pont Valin by sir Bertrand du Gues- 
 clin, 202 ; he retreats into Brittany, ib.; incurs the dis- 
 pleasure of the king of England, 205; some account 
 of his life, ib. note; reinstated in his favor, ib.; ap- 
 pointed governor of Brittany, 16 ; captures the lord de 
 Mauvoisin 268. 
 
 L. 
 
 Lac, Le, the town of, taken by the earl of Derby, 67. 
 Lamb florins, first coined, 98. 
 
 Lambe, John, assassinates Evan of Wales at Mortmain- 
 sur-mer, 238. 
 
 Lancaster, Thomas, earl of, beheaded through the enmity 
 of sir Hugh Spencer, 15. 
 
 Lancaster, Henry, earl of. brother of the former, joins 
 the party of queen Isabella against Edward the Se- 
 cond and the Spencers, 17. 
 
 Lancaster, the duke of. son of earl Henry, lands in Cou- 
 tantin to assist Philip of Navarre against the king of 
 France, 100 ; takes the town of Verneuil, ib. ; besieges 
 Rennes. Ill ; leads a large army into Picardy, 123 ; 
 
 persuades the king of England to make peace whh 
 the duke of Normandy. 130 ; dies of the plague. 137 
 
 Lancaster, John of Gaunt, duke of, his creation, 138 ; eta- 
 baiks with a large army for Aquitaine, 160; leads a 
 large army into France. 186; returns to England. 192; 
 embarks with a large force for Aquitaine, 197 ; ap- 
 pointed governor of Aquitaine, 203; takes Mont Peon. 
 204; Marries the lady Constance, daughter of Don Pe- 
 dro of Castille, 206 ; returns to England, ib. ; leads an 
 army through France to Bordeaux, 218, et seg. ; enters 
 into a truce with the French, and returns to England. 
 222; made regent of England, during the minority of 
 Richard the Second, 224 ; heads an army into Britta- 
 ny, 225 ; besieges St. Malo, 238 ; abandons the siege, 
 241 ; informed of the death of Don Henry, king of 
 Castille, 246 ; sent to treat with the Scots, 282; makes 
 a truce with them, 288; refused admission into Berwick 
 castle, ib. ; returns to Scotland with the earl of Doug- 
 lass, 289 ; sent for by king Richard, ib. ; offended with 
 the earl of Northumberland, 290 ; appeased by the 
 king, ib. ; obtains an army to make war on Castille, 
 399; embarks for Portugal, ib. ; forces the French to 
 raise the blockade of Brest, 400 ; arrives at Corunna, 
 ib. ; takes the town of St. lago de Compostella and 
 several others in Galicia, 401, et seq. ; makes war on 
 Arragon, 416 ; miirries his daughter, the lady Philippa, 
 to the king of Portugal, 421 : takes the towns of En- 
 ten^a, &c., 423, et seq. ; suffers greatly from the heal 
 of the climate, 447 ; forms a junction with the king ol 
 Portugal, ib.; passes the Duero, ib. ; dispirited by the 
 sickness of himself and army, 448; disbands his men, 
 448; obtains permission from king of Castille fur them 
 to ^recruit their health in his towns, 449 ; quits Galicia 
 and returns to Bayonne, 452. 466 ; applies to England 
 for fresh assistance, 466 ; betrothes his daughter Catha- 
 rine to the infantof Spain. 488; makes peace with the 
 king of Castille, 491 ; marries his daughter to the infant, 
 492; receives the duchy of Aquitaine as a gift from 
 king Richard and his council, 564 ; embarks for Aqui- 
 taine. 565; ordered to return in consequence of the re- 
 monstrances of the towns of Aquitaine against the 
 king's gitt, 570; marries his concubine. 377 ; offended 
 with king Richard for the riiurder of the duke of Glou- 
 cester, 602 ; makes peace with hiin, ib. ; his death, 610. 
 
 Lancaster, the duchess of, takes l;er daughter to Castille, 
 and marries her to the infant, 492 ; finds the bones or 
 her father, don Pedro, and has them buried at Se- 
 ville, ib. 
 
 Langon, the town of, taken by the earl of Derby, 67 ; su»- 
 
 renders to the duke of Anjou, 221. 
 Langurant, the lord de, captured by the duke of Aqjou 
 
 228; turns to the French interest, 229 ; slain near Cai- 
 
 dillac. 245. 
 
 Launoy, John de, one of the commanders of the men of 
 Ghent, slain ai the church of Ne\ele, 279. 
 
 Lauton, sir John, slain before La Rochelle. 209. 
 
 Le Clerc, Arnold, one of the commandei's of the men of 
 Ghent, defeats a party of the Flemish nobility at On- 
 denarde, 280 ; defeated and slain at Berchem, ib. 
 
 Leon, king of Armenia, arrives in France, after losing his 
 dominions, 387 ; relieved by the king of France, 389; 
 his death, 390, note ; endeavors to negotiate a peace 
 between the kings of France and England 412. 
 
 Leon, sir Herve de, captured before Vannes, 63; hberated 
 by king Edward, 65 ; dies at Paris, ih. 
 
 Letter, from Edward the Black Prince, to the bishop of 
 Worcester, after the battle of Poitiers, 108, note. 
 
 Letter, sent by the king of England to Aquitaine, 194. 
 
 Lewis, the lord of Spain, raises the siege ofHennebon, 57 . 
 takes the town ofDinant, &c., 58; defeated at Q,uim- 
 perle by sir Weaker Manny, ib. ; engages sir Robert 
 d'Artois at sea. 61. 
 
 Libourne, the town of. taken by the earl of Derby 67 
 
 Liege, the bishop of endeavors to make peace between 
 the earl of Flanders and the bishop of Norwich, 305. 
 
 liieux, the town of, taken by the earl of Derby, 67. 
 
 Lignac, sir Helion de, sent to treat with the duke of Lan- 
 caster for the marriage of his daughter to the duke 
 of'Berry, 469. 
 
 Lignac, sir William de, seneschal of Saintonge, takes the 
 castle of Aigle, 844 ; accompanies the duke of Bour- 
 bon to the assistance of the king of Castille, 418; ar- 
 rives at Burgos, 426. 
 
 Limoges, the town of, surrenders lo the duke of Berry, 
 199 ; taken by storm by the prince of Wales, 200. 
 
 Linde, the town of, besieged by the duke of Anjou, 197 ; 
 delivered by the captal of Buch, ib. 
 
 Linieres, sir Maubrun de, diesatNoya, 133. 
 
 Lionel, earl of Ulster, created duke of Clarence, 138; 
 marries the daughter of the lord Galeas of Milan. 171 ; 
 his death, 174. 
 
 Lisbon, the city of, besieged by the king of Castille, 360. 395. 
 
 Lisle, the earl ofi makes war in Gascony for the king of 
 France, 44 ; besieges Auberoche, 67 ; taken prisoner by 
 the earl of Derby, 68. 
 
 St. Lo. the town of, taken by the English under king Ed- 
 ward, 77. 
 
 London, the bishop of. appointed to accompany the duke 
 of Lancaster in an expedition against Spain, 326. 
 
 Londoners, the. dissatisfied with king Richard and his 
 council, apply to the duke of Gloucester to take upon 
 him the government of the realm, 439; wait upon the 
 king at Windsor to lay their grievances before him, 
 and to demand redress, 440; pVevailupon the king to 
 fix a day to examine into the conduct of those who 
 had had the management of the finances, ib. ; defeat 
 the duke of Ireland and the kine's forces, near O.xford, 
 445 ; wait upon the king, at the instigation of the duke 
 of Gloucester, to demand the repeal of the taxes which 
 had been imposed to carry on the war with France, 
 594; take part with the earl of Derby in his quarrel 
 Mrith the carl-marshal, 605 ; rise in favor of the earl of 
 
INDEX. 
 
 631 
 
 Derby against Richard the Second, 613 ; send the arch- 
 bishop of Canterbury to France to bring back the earl 
 of Derby, ib. 
 
 Loneueval, sir WiUiamde, takes the castle of Mont Paon, 
 203; surrenders it to the duke of Lancaster, 204. 
 
 Lorraine, the duke of, slain at the battle of Urecy, 82. 
 
 Lorris, aur Launceiot de, mortally wounded at Cherbourg, 
 248. 
 
 Louis, de Valois, marries, by piocuration, Margaret of 
 Hungary, 340. 
 
 Lourde, the garrison of, rake several places in France, 361, 
 et seq. 
 
 Louvaine, sir Nicholas, governor of Abbeville, taken pris- 
 oner by sir JSugh de Chatillon, 179. 
 
 Louvier, the tov/n of, taken by the English, under Edward 
 the Third, 78. 
 
 Luna, the cardinal de, elected pope at Avignon, under the 
 title of Benedict tlie Eleventh, 563. 
 
 Lusignan, the town of, in Poitou, taken bv the earl of • 
 Derby, 84 ; surrenders to sir Bertrand du Guesclin, 215. 
 
 Lusignan, Peter de, king of Cyprus, arrives at Avignon, 
 138; visits Germany to exhort the emperor to join 
 the croisade against the Saracens, 139 ; visits the king 
 of Navarre, ib. ; endeavors to prevail on the king of 
 England to put on the cross, ib. ; goes to Aquitaine to 
 solicit the prince of Wales to do the same, 140 ; returns 
 to Paris, 143 : put to death, 387. 
 
 Lussac, the town and castle of, taken by sir Bertrand du 
 Guesclin, 210. 
 
 Luxembourg, sir Peter de, his body said to show miracu- 
 lous powers, 459. 
 
 Luzumont, the castle of, in Brittany, taken by sir Ber- 
 trand du Guesclin, 216. 
 
 Lyon, John, a citizen of Ghent, revives the custom of the 
 Whitehoods, 252 ; instigates the men of Ghent to de- 
 mand from the earl of Flanders the preservation of 
 their franchises, 253 ; bums and pillages the castle of 
 Andreghien, belonging to the earl, 254; diesatArdem- 
 bourg, 255. 
 
 jjyon, sir Espaing du, accompanies Froissart to Beam, 
 and relates to him many particulars relative to the 
 wars in Guienne, &c., 361. 
 
 M. 
 
 St. Mahe, the town of, in Brittany, surrenders to sir Ber- 
 trand du GuescUn, 216. 
 
 Maillart, John.ti citizen of Paris, prevents the city beinff 
 betrayed by the provost merchant?, 115. 
 
 Majorca, James, king of, applies to the prince of Wales 
 for his assistnnce against the king of Arragon, 159; 
 accompanies the prince and don Pedro into Spain, 
 162; taken prisoner at Valladolid, by king Henry of 
 Castille, 171 ; ransomed by his wife, the queen of Na- 
 ples, 206 ; makes war on the king of Arragon, ib. ; dies 
 at Val di Soria, ib. 
 
 St. Maixant, the town of, in Poitou, taken by the duke of 
 Berry, 213. 
 
 iVlalevnl, sir Louis de, turns to the French interest, 194. 
 
 St. Malo, the town of, surrenders to sir Bertrand du Gues- 
 clin, 216; besieged by the duke of Lancaster, 238. 
 
 Malvoisin, tlie castle of, taken by tlie duke of Anjou, 364. 
 
 Mandarant, the custle of, taken by the earl of Derby, 67. 
 
 Manners of the English and Gascons in the time of Frois- 
 sart, 386. 
 
 Manny, sir Courageous, left for dead at the battle of No- 
 gent-sur-Seine, 121. 
 
 Manny, sir Giles, killed before Cambray, 37. 
 
 Manny, sir Walter, makes an invasion into France, 33 ; 
 sent with an English force into Brittany, to the assist- 
 ance of the countess of Montfort, 56 ; arrives at Hen- 
 nebon, 57 ; takes the castle of Conquet, 58 ; defeats the 
 lord Lewis of Spain, at Quimperle, ib. ; takes the cas- 
 tle of Goy la Foret, 59 ; accompanies the earl of Der- 
 by into Gascony. 66 ; finds the sepulchre of his father 
 at La Reole, 70 ; defeats the French under sir Geoffrey 
 de Chargny, before Calais, 93 ; dies in London, 206. 
 
 Mantes, the town of, taken by the French under the lord 
 de Eoucicaut, 142. 
 
 Marans, the town of, in the Rochellois, taken by sir Ber- 
 trand du Guesclin, 33. 
 
 Marcel, Amerigot, rakes the castle of Cassuriel and other 
 places in Anvergne, 248, et seq. ; takes by surprise the 
 castle of Marque), 334 ; fortifies himself in La Roche 
 Vandals, 516 ; besieged bv the viscount de Meaux, 517 ; 
 sends to England to solicit the duke of Lancaster for 
 assistance, ib. ; during his absence at Perigord, his fort 
 surrenders, 520 ; betrayed by a relative, to whom he 
 applied f-br an asylum, 521 ; beheaded at Paris. 522. 
 
 Marcel, Etienne, provost of the merchants ol' Paris, kills 
 three knights in the apartment of the regent, 429; 
 builds a wall round Paris, 113 ; killed by John Mail- 
 lart, while attempting to betray the city to the English 
 and Navarrois, 115. 
 
 March, the earl of, taken prisoner by the English at the 
 battle of Nevil's Cross, 86 ; appointed constable of the 
 English army under Edward the Third, 124. 
 
 Marchiennes, the Monastery of, taken by the Hainaulters, 
 47. 
 
 Marchevif.e. the castle of, taken by the duke of Burgun- 
 dy, 147. 
 
 Maret, John de, unjustly executed at Paris, 325. 
 Margaret, countess of Hainault, takes possession of the 
 
 country, as her inheritance, after the death of earl 
 
 William, 73. 
 
 Margaret of Hungary, married by procuration to Louis de 
 Valois, 346 ; forcibly married by Henry de Blancque- 
 fort, brother to the emperor of Germany, 350. 
 
 Mnmeil, sir Raymond de, turns to the French interest, 
 194; taken prisoner by the English. 202 ; makes his es- 
 cape. ao3. 
 
 Marquel, the castle of, in Auvergne, taken by Amerigot | 
 Marcel, 334. 
 
 Marriage, concluded between the children of Burgundy 
 and those of Hainault, 342. 
 
 Marshal, the earl, of England, challenges the earl of Der- 
 by in the presence of king Richard, 603 ; banished the 
 kingdom, 606 ; dies at Venice, 624. | 
 
 St. Maubert, the fort of, taken by the English under the 
 lord Neville, 241. 
 
 Maubue, lord, beheaded at Rouen, 99. 
 
 Mauconseil, the castle of, taken by the king of Navarre, 
 116 ; besieged by the duke of Normandy, 116; razed to 
 the ground, 121. 
 
 Mauduiant, Geronnet de, captured by sir John de Bonne- 
 lance, 461; taken to Montferrant, ib. ; ransomed, 462; 
 gains possession of the town of Montferrant for Peter 
 le Bearnois, 463. 
 
 Mauleon. le Bastot de, relates his adventures to Froissart, 
 at Grthes, 372. 
 
 Mauny, sir Oliver de makes the king of Navarre prisoner, 
 163. 
 
 St. Mau"-. the abbey of, on the Loire, taken by the English 
 
 under the earl of Pembroke, 191. 
 Mauvoisin, lord de, captured by sir Robert KnoUes, 268. 
 Maxwell, sir John, captures sir Ralph Percy at the battle 
 
 of Otterbourn, 482. 
 Meaux, the battle of. 113. 
 
 St. Mecaire, the town of, surrenders to the duke of Anjou, 
 230. 
 
 Melrose, the abbey of, destroyed by Richard the Second, 
 352. 
 
 Melval, lord Louis de, taken prisoner at the battle of Poi- 
 tiers, 422. 
 
 Melun, the town of, on the Seine, besieged by the duke of 
 Normandy, 437. 
 
 Menstreworth, sir John, with his followers, quits the army 
 of sir Robert Knolles, 518; executed in London, 522. 
 
 Mercier, sir John le, one of the ministers of Charles the 
 Sixth of France, committed to prison during the re- 
 gency of the duke of Burgundy, 553 ; his property con- 
 fiscated, 554; released from prison, 573. 
 
 Mesclin. the little, captain of some free companies, put to 
 death at Luxembourg, 445. 
 
 Meulan, the town of, taken by the French under the lord 
 de Boucicaut, 142. 
 
 Milhaud, the castle of, in Rouergue, taken by sir Bertrand 
 du Guesclin, 205. 
 
 Mirabeau; the town of, taken by the earl of Derby, 84. 
 
 Miraculous appearances, said to have been seen by the 
 Saracens during the siege of Africa, 524. 
 
 Miramont, the castle of, taken by the duke of Normandy, 
 73. 
 
 Moissac, the town of, in Quercy, taken by the English 
 under sir John Chandos, 184 ; surrenders to the duke of 
 Anjou, 197. 
 
 Moncontour, the castle of, in Poitou, taken by the English 
 under lord Thomas Percy, 204 ; taken by sir Bertrand 
 du Guesclin, 210. 
 
 Monmorillon, the castle of, in Poitou, taken by sir Ber- 
 trand du Guesclin, 210. 
 
 Moiisac, the town of, taken by the duke of Anjou, 220. 
 
 Monstier, lord Peter de, appointed chief of the croisade 
 against the free companies in France, 136. 
 
 Montacute, sir William, created earl of Salisbury, 28. 
 
 Montagu, lord William de, slain at the battle of Poitiers, 
 105. 
 
 Montauban, battle of, between sir Guy d'Asai and the free 
 
 companies, 159. 
 Montbeliard, the earl of, invades the duchy of Burgundy, 
 
 148. 
 
 Montebourg, the town of, burnt and pillaged by the Eng- 
 lish under king Edward the Third, 76. 
 
 Montendre, the lord of, captured at the battle of Poitiers, 
 106. 
 
 Montferrant, the town of, taken by stratagem by Ferrot 
 
 le Bearnois, 463. 
 Montferrant, the marquis de, leads the free companies into 
 
 Lombardy, 137 ; conquers several places from the lord 
 
 of Milan, ib. 
 
 Rlontfort, the earl of, takes measures to secure to himself 
 the duchy of Brittany, after the death of his brother, 
 48 ; takes the town of Brest and several others, 50, et 
 seq.; does homage to the king of England for the 
 duchy of Brittany, 51 ; summoned before the parlia- 
 ment of Paris, at the suit of the lord Charles of Blois, 
 ib.; captured by the French at Nantes, 52 ; dies in the 
 Louvre at Paris, ib. ; [See this account corrected, ib., 
 note.} 
 
 Montfort, the lord John de, defeats the forces of the lord 
 Charles of Blois, at the battle of Auray, 150 ; his be- 
 havior on seeing the body of his adversary, who had 
 been slain in the battle, 151 ; takes Auray and other 
 places, 152, et seq.; makes peace with the king of 
 France, and is acknowledged duke of Brittany, 153; 
 marries the daughter of the princess of Wales, ib.; 
 applies to England for assistance against the king of 
 France, 214 ; retakes several places in Brittany, 222 ; 
 besieges Quimperle, ib.; disbands his army, and re- 
 tires to England, ib.; returns to Brittany, 258 ; solicits 
 king Richard for succors, 262 ; excuses himself to the 
 earl of Buckingham, who had come to his assistance, 
 for not meeting him on his march. 269; makes peace 
 with the king of France, 275; arrests sir Oliver de 
 Clisson in the castle of Ermine, and causes the expe- 
 dition against England to be given up, 430 , liberates 
 sir Oliver, 432 ; required by the king of France to ex- 
 plain his conduct toward the constable, and to deliver 
 up to him the castle he had taken from him as his ran- 
 som, 438; his answer, 438; disregards the overtures 
 made by the duke of Berry to gain him over to the 
 French interest, 466 ; enters into an alliance with Eng- 
 land, 467 : with Navarre, ib., restores the castles of lir 
 
 Oliver de Clisson, 470 ; goes to Paris at the entreaty of 
 the dukes of Berry and Burgundy, 471: makes his 
 peace with the king of France, 472 ; returns to Brit 
 tany, 477 ; meets the king of France at Tours to make 
 an amicable settlement of the differences existing be- 
 tween them, 539 ; agrees to marry his son to the daugh- 
 ter of the king of France, and his daughter to John of 
 Brittany, 541 ; grants an asylum to sir Peter de Craon 
 aller his attempt to murder sir Oliver de Clisson, 547; 
 involves himself in a war with the king of France ib.; 
 wages a destructive war against sir Oliver de Clisson, 
 560; makes peace with him, 573; grants assistance to 
 the earl of Derby to embark for England, 615; his 
 death, 623. 
 
 Montfort, the countess de, carries on the war against the 
 lord Charles of Blois, after the capture of her husband. 
 52; solicits assistance from England, 56; besieged by 
 the lord Charles of Blois, in Hennebon, ib.; displays 
 great courage in the defence of the town, 56 ; enters 
 into a truce with the lord Charles of Blois, and goes 
 to England, 60; returns to Brittany with reinforce- 
 ments, under sir Robert d'Artois, 61 ; her forces take 
 the lord Charles of Blois prisoner at La Roche d'Er- 
 rien, 89. 
 
 Montgis, the castle of, taken by the earl of Derby, 66. 
 Montiel, the battle of, 173. 
 
 Montlieu, the castle of, taken by the dukeof Bourbon, 344. 
 Montmorency, sir Charles de, taken prisoner at Pont-k- 
 Tressin, 47. 
 
 Mont-paon, the castle, surrenders to the French under sir 
 
 William de Longueval, 202 retaken by the duke of 
 
 Lancaster, 204. 
 Montpellier, the towns and lordships of, belonging to the 
 
 king of Navarre, seized by the French, 236. 
 Montpezat, the village of, taken by the duke of Anjou, 
 
 197. 
 
 Montpin, the fort of, taken by sir Thomas Trivet, 243. 
 Montpouillant, the town of, taken by the earl of Derby, 71. 
 Montreuil Bonin, the town of, taken by the earl of Derby, 
 84. 
 
 Monsegur, the village of, surrenders to the earl of Derby, 
 
 69 ; taken by the duke of Anjou, 230, 
 Moray, Randolph, earl of. his death, 24. 
 Moray, the earl of, taken prisoner by the English before 
 
 Newcastle uponTyne, 54; exchanged for the earl of 
 
 Salisbury. 56. 
 
 Morbeque, Denys de, captures king John at the battle of 
 
 Poitiers. 106. 
 Moron, Castel, taken by the earl of Derby, 71. 
 Mortain, the town of, in Normandy, taken by sir Bertrand 
 
 du Guesclin, 226. 
 Mortain-sur-Mer, the town of, in Poitou, taken by the earl 
 
 of Derby, 84 ; besieged by Evan of Wales, 231 ; Ihs 
 
 siege raised by the Englis!;, 241. 
 Mortemer, the castle of, surrenders to sir Bertrand du 
 
 Guesclin, 215. 
 Mortimer, sir Roger, ignominiously put to death, 25. 
 Mouton, a French coin so called, the origin of its appella • 
 
 tion, 109, note. 
 
 Mucident, the lord of, killed before Chargny in Dormois, 
 126. 
 
 Mucident, the lord of, taken prisoner by the duke of Anjou. 
 
 229; turns to the French interest, ib.; returns to the 
 
 English party, 245. 
 Muros, the town of, in Galicia, surrenders to the duke of 
 
 Lancaster, 421. 
 Murray, the earl of, captured by the English at the battle 
 
 of Nevil's Cross, 86. 
 Musgrave, sir Thomas, defeated and captured by the Scots 
 
 at Melrose, 234. 
 
 N. 
 
 Najarra, the town of taken by the prince of Wales, 167. 
 
 Namur, sir Philip de, slain at Dendremor.de, 278. 
 
 Namur, sir Robert de, does homage to the king of Eng- 
 land, before Calais, 88 ; promises to assist him against 
 France, 186 ; joins the English forces, under the duke 
 of Lancaster, before T()urnehem,187 : defeats a party 
 of the French in a skirmish, 190. 
 
 Namur, sir William de, gives the town of Sluys to the 
 duke of Burgundy, in exchange for the country of 
 Bethune, 348. 
 
 Nantes, the town of, taken by the lord Charles of Blois, 
 52; besieged by Edward the Third, 63; surrenders to 
 sir Bertrand du Guesclin, 217; besieged by the earl of 
 Buckingham, 271. 
 
 Naples, Joan, queen of, surrenders her dominions to pope 
 Clement, 250. 
 
 Narbonne, the viscount de, captured by the free companies 
 before Montauban, 159. 
 
 Naval engagement, before Sluys, between the navies of 
 Fiance and England, 42; between the Spaniards and 
 the English under king Edward the Third, 95 ; off the 
 island of Bas in Brittany, between the English and 
 Flemings. 205 ; before La Rocheile, between the earl 
 of Pembroke and the Spaniards, 207. 
 
 Navarretta, the battle of, between the prince of Wales 
 and don Henry of Castille, 165. 
 
 Navarre, Charles, king of. lands with a large army at 
 Cherbourg, 98 ; arrested by the king of France, 99 ; 
 escapes from the castle of Alleres, 112 ; makes peace 
 with the duke of Normandy, ib.; harangues the Pari- 
 sians, ib.; destroys many of the infamous Jacquerie, 
 of Beauvoisis, 113 ; declares war against France, 116 : 
 takes several towns and fortresses in France, ib.; 
 makes peace with the duke of Normandy, 120; declares 
 war against him, 127; makes war on France, 139; 
 makes peace with the king of France, 152 ; enters into 
 alliance with don Pedro of Castille, 156 ; conducts thd 
 prince of Wales and don Pedro to Pampeluna, 162 ; 
 enters into an alliance with the king of JSngland, 180' 
 
632 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 makes peace with the king of France, 196, 21fi ; ap- 
 plies to king Richard of England for assistance against 
 the kinff of France, 237 ; enters into an alliance with 
 him in England, ib.; solicits aid from the English at 
 Bordeaux, to raise the siege of Pampeluna, 242; con- 
 cludes a peace with the king of Spain, 245; his extra- 
 ordinary death, 459. 
 
 Navarre, the young king of, goes to Paris, to endeavor to 
 gain back his inheritance of Evreux, 603. 
 
 Navarre, the lord Lewis of, takes the town of La Charity, 
 147 ; nuuries the queen of Naples, 153. 
 
 Navarre, Philip of, defends the possessions of his brother 
 in Nonr.andr against the king of France, 100; raises 
 an tinny to raise the siege of St. Valery, 118; refuses 
 to accept the peace which had been concluded be- 
 tween his brother and the duke of Normandy, 120. 
 
 Necromancer, a, offers to dehver up the castel del Ovo to 
 the duke of Anjou by enchantment, 297 ; beheaded by 
 order of the earl of Savoy, 297. 
 
 Negotiations, carried on at Billinges respecting a peace 
 between tlie English and the French, 18. 
 
 Nesle, Guy de, defeated and taken prisoner by the Eng- 
 hsh in Saintonge, 97 ; slain, ib. 
 
 Nesle, lord William de, slain at the battle of Poitiers, 105. 
 
 Nevele, the ciiurch of, burnt by the earl of Flanders, with 
 several hundreds of the men of Ghent in it, 279. 
 
 Nevil'.s Cross, the battle of, 86. 
 
 Neville, the lord, raises the siege of Mortain, 240; takes 
 St. Maubert, 241 ; dismissed from his command in 
 Northumberland, 279. 
 
 Newtoun, sir John, sent on an embassy to Richard the 
 Second from the rebels of Kent, 284. 
 
 Nicopoli, the town of, in Turkey, besieged by the king of 
 Hungary and John of Burgundy, 575 ; the siege raised 
 by tlie sultan Bajazet, 587. 
 
 Niort, the town of, stormed by the English, 211 ; surrenders 
 to sir Bevtranddu Guesclin, 215. 
 
 Nogent-sur-Seine, the town of, sold to the bishop of 
 Troyes, 121 ; the battle of, ib. 
 
 Normandy, the duchy of, invaded by Edward the Third,76. 
 
 Normandy, the duke of, invades Hainault, 39; besieges 
 Thin-l'Eveque, 41 ; enters Brittany with the lord 
 Charles of Blois, 52; leads a large army to oppose the 
 king of England in Brittany, 64; enters into a truce 
 with him, ib.; leads an army into Gascony to oppose 
 the earl of Derby, 73 : takes the town of Miraumont 
 and others, ib., et seq.; marries Jane, countess of Bou- 
 logne, 94; nppointed regent of France during the im- 
 prisonment of king John in England, 110; besieges 
 Paris, 114 ; makes peace with the king of Navarre, ib.; 
 enters Paris, 115 ; jays siege to Melun, 120 ; collects a 
 force to drive the English out of Champagne, 121 ; re- 
 fuses to ratify the peace concluded between king John 
 and the English, 122 ; declines to accept the challenge 
 of the king of England, 129 ; endeavors to make peace 
 with him, 130; appointed rejrent on the departure of 
 king John for England, 140 : crowned king of France 
 at Rheims, under the title of Charles the Fifth, 146. 
 
 Northumberland, the earl of, takes Berwick castle, 232; 
 enters Scotland with a large army, 233 ; appointed 
 lieutenant of Northumberland, &c., 282; enters Scot- 
 land with a large force, 338 ; banished by Richard the 
 Second, 612; recalled by the earl of Derby, 617. 
 
 Norwich, the bishop of. appointed commander-in chief of 
 a croisade against the Clementists, 326 ; enters Flan- 
 ders contrary to the advice of sir Hugh Calverley, 327 ; 
 takes the town of Gravelines and other places, ib., et 
 seq.; besieges Ypies, 330 ; abandons the siege, and re- 
 turns to England, 331 ; badly received on his return, 
 385. 
 
 Noyon, the bishop of, taken prisoner at Mauconseil, 116. 
 
 o. 
 
 OUFKRNK, Agadinquor, an African chief, his condact at 
 the siege of Africa, 524. 
 
 Orchies, the town of, burnt by the earl of Hainault, 44. 
 
 Orenze, the town of, in Galicia, surrenders to the forces of 
 the duke of Lancaster, 434. 
 
 Orifla»nm\i, the sacred'banner so called, displayed by the 
 king of France at the battle of Rosebecque in Flan- 
 ders, 321. 
 
 Orleans, the duchess of, suspected of causing the illness of 
 
 the king of France, 592. 
 Orthon, a familiar spirit, sen'es the lord of Corasse, 382. 
 Ortingas, the town of, taken by Peter d'Anchin, 362. 
 Ostrate, Waustre, takes the castle of Roulebois-sur-Seine, 
 
 127. 
 
 Ostrevant, the country of, burnt by the garrison of Douay, 
 41. 
 
 Ostrevant, the count of, created a knight of the garter, 
 528; gives offence to the king of France, ib.; does 
 homage ro the king of France for the county of Ostre- 
 vant, 528; raises an army to invade Friesland, 583; in- 
 vades Friesland, 584 ; disbands his army, 585; invites 
 the earl of Derby to Hainault after he had been ban- 
 ished from England, 607. 
 
 Otho, sir, of Brunswick, demands his pay from pope Cle- 
 ment at Avignon, 390. 
 
 Otterbourne, the battle of, 481, [see also 484, note.} 
 
 Oudenarde, the town of, besieged by the men of Ghent, 
 256, 307 ; taken by Francis Atremen, 333 : retaken by 
 the lord Destournay, 340. 
 
 Oxford, the earl of, taken prisoner in Gascony, 67; endea- 
 vors to dissuade the king of England from assisting his 
 uncles in their pretensions to the crown of Castille, 
 359 ; created duke of Ireland, 414. 
 
 P. 
 
 VjkJnztvsA, the town of, besieged by the king of UostiUe, 
 838. 
 
 Paitt the city of, betiesea hy the duke of JNoimandy. 114. 
 
 Parisians, the, rebel against Charles the Sixth, 293 ; ap- 
 peased by the lord de Coucy, ib.; fined by the king, 
 325. 
 
 Partenay, the lord de, captured at the battle of Poitiers, 
 106. 
 
 Passac. sir Walter de, takes St. Forget, and several other 
 places in the Toulousain, 384; accompanies the duke 
 of Bourbon in an expedition into Castille, 419 ; arrives 
 at Burgos, 426. 
 
 St. Patrick's llole. in Ireland, its singular properties, 565, 
 and note. 
 
 Paive, sir Amery de, govemoj of Calais, enters into a 
 treaty with sir Geoffry de Chargny to deliver the town 
 up to him, 93; prevented by the king of England, ib.; 
 taken prisoner by sir Geoffry de Chargny, and behead- 
 ed, 96. 
 
 Peace, concluded between France and England, 130 ; at 
 Leulinghen, 562. 
 
 Pedro the Fourth, don, king of Castille, summoned to ap- 
 pear before pope Urban the Fifth at Avignon, 154 ; ex- 
 communicated, ib.; endeavors to raise a force to op- 
 pose his brother don Henry, and the duke of Burgundy, 
 154 ; flies to Corunna, ib.; goes to Aquitaine to solicit 
 the assistance of the prince of Wales, 155; enters 
 Spain, accompanied by the prince and a large force, 
 161 : defeats the army of don Henry, 165 ; obtains the 
 submission of Castille, 168 ; incurs the displeasure of 
 the prince of Wales, 169; defeated by don Henry at 
 Montiel, 173; taken prisoner, 173 ; killed by his broth- 
 er, 174. 
 
 Pembroke, the earl of, sent to the assistance of the prince 
 of Wales in Aquitaine, 180 ; makes war m Perigord, 
 &c., 180 ; invades the territories of Anjou, 187 ; returns 
 to England, 203; appointed governor of Aquitaine, 
 207 ; defeated and taken prisoner by the Spaniards be- 
 fore La Rochelle, 209; insulted by Evan of Wales at 
 St. Andero, 20^; obtains his ransom, 220 ; dies at Ar- 
 ras, ib. 
 
 Pennon, the nature of the military ensign so called, ex- 
 plained, 102, note. 
 
 Percy, sir Henry, dies in Castille, 450. 
 
 Percy, sir Henry, appointed commander-in-chief of the for- 
 ces in Northumberland, 479, 
 
 Percy, sir Ralph, captured at the battle of Otterbourne, 
 482. 
 
 Percy, sir Thomas, appointed seneschal of Poitou, 194 ; 
 takes the castle of Montcontour, 204 ; captured by the 
 French at Soubise, 212 ; resigns his office of steward 
 of the household to king Richard the Second, 596 ; ap- 
 pointed governor of Aquitaine, 621. 
 
 Perigord, the cardinal de, endeavors to make peace be- 
 tween the king of France and the prince of Wales 
 previous to the battle of Poitiers, 102 ; makes peace 
 between the duke of Normandy and the king of Na- 
 varre, 120. 
 
 Perigord, the earl of, defeats the high steward of Rouergue, 
 177 ; besieges Realville, 181. 
 
 Perth, the town of, destroyed by Richard the Second, 352. 
 
 Peterson, John, admiral of the Flemish fleet, defeated and 
 captured by the English off the island of Bas, 205. 
 
 St. Phagon, the town of, in Spain, pillaged by some Bre- 
 ton soldiers, 452. 
 
 Philip, lord of Burgundy, killed before Aiguillon, 83. 
 
 Philip of Valois, chosen king of France, to the exclusion 
 of Isabella, queen of England, 15, 23 ; makes war on 
 the Flemings, ib. ; banishes Robert d'Artois from 
 France, 27 ; puts on the cross, 29; enters into an alli- 
 ance with the king of Scotland, 32 ; receives a defiance 
 from the king of England, 33 ; leads an army to op- 
 pose his forces, 35 ; destroys the territories of sir John of 
 Hiiinault, 37 ; invades Flanders, 39 ; sends forces into 
 Scotland to assist the Scots against the English, 45 ; 
 assembles a large army to raise the siege of Tournay, 
 ib.; enters into a truce with the king of England, 48 ; 
 assists the lord Charles of Blois to recover the duchy 
 of Brittany from the earl of Montfbrt, 51 ; assembles 
 an army to oppose the earl of Derby in Gascony, 73 ; 
 collects another army to oppose king Edward in Nor- 
 mandy, 76 ; defeated at the battle of Crecy, 82 ; col- 
 lects a large army to raise the siege of Calais, 89 ; en- 
 ters into a truce with the king of England, 91 ; marries 
 the lady Blanche, daughter of Philip, king of Navarre, 
 94 ; dies at Nogent-le-Boi, 97. 
 
 Philip, son of king John of France, created duke of Bur- 
 gundy, 146. 
 
 Philippa, daughter of the earl William of Hainault, mar- 
 ried to Edward the Third, 24 ; in the absence of the 
 king raises an army to oppose the Scots, 84 ; defeats 
 them at the battle of Nevil's Cross, 85: receives the 
 king of Scotland as her prisoner at York, 87 ; her three 
 last requests to king Edward, 190 ; her death, ib. 
 
 Philippa, daughter of the jduke of Lancaster, married to 
 the king of Portugal, 421. 
 
 Pica^rly, the country of, invaded by king Edward the 
 Third, 78. 
 
 Pierrepont, the town of, taken by sir Eustace d'Ambreti- 
 court, 129. 
 
 Piquigny, sir John de, delivers the king of Navarre 
 from the castle of Alleres, 112; forces the duke of Nor- 
 mandy to raise the siege of Mauconseil, 116 ; endeavors 
 to take the town of Amiens, 117 ; dies at La Herrielle, 
 121. 
 
 Plague, the, desolates all Europe, 96, and note. 
 
 Plaisac, Heliot de, governor of Boutville, taken by the 
 French, 246. 
 
 Poinings, lord, dies in Castille, 450. 
 
 Poitiers, the city of, taken by the earl of Derby, 84 ; sur- 
 renders to sir Bertrand du Guesclin, 211. 
 
 Poitiers, the battle of, between the king of France and the 
 prince of Wales, 103. 
 
 Poitiers, sir Charles de, burnt to death at a matked dance 
 atFaris,657. 
 
 Poix, the town of, destroyed by the English under Edward 
 the Third, 79. 
 
 St. Pol, the count de, captured by the English at Lique, 
 and sent to England, 221 ; marries the lady Maude, 
 daughter of the princess of Wales, 247 ; leads an army 
 into Friesland, 
 
 St. Pol, the earl of, slain at the battle of Crecy, 82. 
 
 St. Pol, the town of, besieged by the duke of Lancaster^ 
 191. 
 
 Pommiers, the lord de. beheaded at Bordeaux for treasoa, 
 227. 
 
 Pampadour, the 1g d of, captured at t he battle of Poitiers, 
 106. 
 
 Pondaire, the town of, taken by the earl of Derby, 66. 
 
 Pons, the lord de, slain at the battle of Poitiers, 105 ; turns 
 to the French interest, 204. 
 
 Pont-au-Demer, the town of, in Normandy, taken by sir 
 Bertrand du Guesclm, 226. 
 
 Pont du St. Esprit, the town of, taken by the free compa- 
 nies, 136. 
 
 Pontevedra, the town of, in Galicia, surrenders to the array 
 
 of the duke of Lancaster, 409. 
 Ponthieu, the country of, conquered by the forces undersir 
 
 Hugh de Chatillon, 179. 
 Ponthieu, the earl of, captured at the battle of Poitiers, 
 
 105. 
 
 Populace, of England, rebel against king Richard and the 
 
 nobihty, 284; enter London and do much mischief, 
 
 285 ; dispersed by the king, 286. 
 Porcien, the earl of, ransomed, 179. 
 Porkers of la Respaille, a set of pillagers so called, commit 
 
 several depredations in Flanders, 343. 
 Port St. Marie, taken by the duke of Anjou, 197. 
 Portboeuf, Peter, governor of Dinant, taken prisoner, 63. 
 Portelet, don Juan Ferdinando de, informs Froissart of 
 
 many particulars relative to the affairs of Portugal. 
 
 391. 
 
 Poulat, the castle of, in Gascony, taken by the English 
 
 under sir Thomas Trivet, 243. 
 Poursuivant d'Amour, the meaning of the title explained, 
 
 179, note. 
 
 Pressigny, sir Reginald de, put to death, 98. 
 
 Preux, the castle of, taken by the duke of Burgundy , 147. 
 
 Prie. the lord of, captured at the battle of Auray, 151. 
 
 Pruniaux, John, a citizen of Ghent, appointed one of the 
 commanders of the Whitehoods in that city, 255; de- 
 stroys the walls of Oudenarde, 260 ; banished from Flan- 
 ders. 261 ; delivered up to the earl, and beheaded, ib. 
 
 Pulpiron, the castle of, taken by the French under sir Wal- 
 ter de Passac, 385. 
 
 Punach, the town of, taken by the earl of Derby, 67. 
 
 Q. 
 
 Quarrel, between the houses of Brabant and Gueidm 
 
 the cause of, explained, 454. 
 dueens, three, besieged in the town of Melun-sur-Seine, 
 
 120. 
 
 Quimpercorentin, the town of, in Brittany, taken by sir 
 
 Bertrand du Guesclin, 216. 
 Q,uimperle, the town of, in Brittany, taken by sir Bertrand 
 
 du Guesclin, 216 ; besieged by the duke of Brittany, 222 
 
 R. 
 
 Raikbaut, Lewis, a captain of the free companies, o« 
 headed, 375. 
 
 Ramsay, Alexander, takes the castle of Berwick, 232; 
 captured in the castle by the earl of Northumberland, 
 233. 
 
 Rnvenal, lord Raouel de, captured at Mauconseil. 116. 
 Realville, the town of, taken by storm by the earl of Peri- 
 gord, 183. 
 
 Reginald, count of Gueldres, his extravagance, 454; mar- 
 ries the daughter of Bertaldo of Mechlin, 455 ; afler- 
 ward marries Isabella, daughter of Edward the Second 
 of England, ib. 
 
 Rennes, the town of, taken by the earl of Montfort, or duke 
 of Brittany, 50 ; surrenders to the lord Charles of Blois. 
 56; besieged by the duke of Lancaster, 111 ; taken by 
 sir Bertrand du Guesclin, 216. 
 
 Reole, La, the town of, taken by the earl of Derby, 71 ; 
 surrenders to the duke of Anjou, 221. 
 
 Rcyneval, lord Raoul de, defeated by the English and Na- 
 varrois, under sir Godfrey de Harcourt, 109. 
 
 Rheims, the town of, besieged by Edward the Third, 126. 
 
 Ribadavia, the town of, taken by storm by the duke o 
 Lancaster, 421. 
 
 Kibadeo, count, of Spain, one of the ministers of Charles 
 the Fourth of France, arrested by the duke of Burgun- 
 dy while regent, 553. 
 
 Ribeaumont, sir Eustace de, captured near Calais, 94; re- 
 ceives a chaplet of pearls from the king of England, 
 in reward for his prowess, 94 ; slain at the battle of 
 Poitiers, 105. 
 
 Ribemmont, sir Galahaut de, mortally wounded in a skir- 
 mish with the English, 126. 
 
 Richard, son of the prince of Wales, declared presump- 
 tive heir to the throne of England, 224 ; crowned king 
 of England, 224. 
 
 Richard the ISecond, placed under the tuition of sir Guis- 
 card d' Angle, 224; enters into an alliance with the 
 king of Navarre, 237 ; sends an army to the assistance 
 of the duke of Brittany. 258; quells the rebellion of 
 the populace under Wat Tyler, &c., 286; makesatour 
 through several parts of England to punish the insur- 
 gents, 289; marries the lady Anne of Bohemia, 295; 
 enters into a truce with France, 336 ; heads an army 
 to oppose the Scots and the admiral of France, 351 ; 
 destroys the abbey of Melrose, and several places in 
 Scotland, 352, et seq,; quanels with his uncles of York 
 and Gloucefter, 428 ; excites the discontent of the peo- 
 
INDEX. 
 
 631 
 
 Derby against Richard the Second, 613 ; send the arch- 
 bishop of Canterbury to France to bring back the earl 
 of Derby, ib. 
 
 LonKueval. sir William de, takes the castle of Mont Paon, 
 
 203; surrenders it to the duke of Lancaster. 204. 
 Lorraine, the duke of, skin at the battle of Crecy, 82. 
 Lorns, sa- Launcelot de, mortally wounded at Cherbourg, 
 
 248. . ^ e 
 
 Louis, de Valoi^;, marries, by procuration, Margaret ot 
 
 Hungary, 341'. 
 
 Lourrie, the sariison of, take several places m France, 361, 
 
 LouvaTne', sir Nicholas governor of Abbeville, taken pris- 
 oner by sir Hugh de Chatillon, 179. 
 
 Louvier, the town of. taken by the English, under Edward 
 the Third, 78. 
 
 Luna, the cardinal de, elected pope at Avignon, under the 
 title of Benedict tiie Eleventh, 563. 
 
 Lusignan, the town of, in Poitou, taken bv the earl ot 
 Derby, 84 ; surrenders to sir Bertrand dulruesclin. Jlo. 
 
 Lusignan, Peter de, king of Cyprus, arrives at Avignon, 
 138- visits Germany to exhort the emperor to join 
 the'croisade against the Saracens. 139 ; visits the king 
 of Navarre, ib. ; endeavors to prevail on the king ot 
 England to put on Mie cross, ib. ; goes to Aquitaine to 
 solicit the prince of Wales to do the same, 140 ; returns 
 to Paris. 143: put ro death. 387. 
 
 Lussac. the town anti castle of. taken by sir Bertrand du 
 Guesclin. 210. 
 
 Luxembourg, sir Peter de. his body said to show miracu- 
 lous powers, 459. u • d , 
 
 Luzumont, the castle of, in Brittany, taken by sir Ber- 
 trand du Guesclin, 216. 
 
 Lyon, John, a citizen of Ghent, revives the custom of the 
 Whitehoods, 252; instigates the men of Ghent to de- 
 mand from the earl of Flanders the preservation of 
 their franchises, 253 ; burns and pillages the castle of 
 Andreghien, belonging to the earl, 254; diesat Ardem 
 
 Lyon,'sif'Esp:iing du, accompanies Froissart to Beatri, 
 and relates to him many particulars relative to the 
 \yrirs in Guienne, &c., 361. 
 
 M. 
 
 St. Mahe, the town of, in Brittany, surrenders to sir Ber- 
 trand du Guesclin, 216. . . • 
 
 Maillart. John, a citizen of Paris, prevents the city being 
 betrayed in' the provost merchants, 115. 
 
 Majorca, James, king of, applies to the prince of Wales 
 for his assistance against the king of Arragon, 159; 
 accompanies the prince and don Pedro into Spain, 
 162; taken prisoner at Valladolid, by king Henry of 
 Castille, 171 ; ransomed by his wife, tlie queen of Na- 
 ples, 208 ; makes war on the king of Arragon, ib. ; dies 
 at Val di Soria, ib. , , , , r- 
 
 St. Maixant, the town of, in Poitou, taken by the duke ot 
 Berry, 213. „^ 
 
 Maleval, sir Louis de, turns to the French interest, 194. 
 
 St. Malo, the^ewn of, surrenders to sir Bertrand du Gues- 
 clin, 216 ; besieged by the duke of Lancaster, 238. 
 
 Malvois'in, the castle of, taken by tiie duke of Anjou, 364. 
 
 Miindarant, the cnstK of, taken by the earl of Derby. 67. 
 
 Manners of the English and Gascons in the time of Frois- 
 sart. 38^ 1 /• TVT 
 
 Manny, sir Courageous, left for dead at the battle ot J\o- 
 
 gent-sur-Seine, 121. 
 Manny, sir Giles, killed before Cumbray, 37. 
 Manny, sir Walter, makes an "^invasion into France, 33 ; 
 sent with an English force into Brittany, to the assist- 
 ance of the countess of Montfort. 56 ; arrives at Hen- 
 ■ nebon, 57 ; takes the castle of Conquet. 58 ; defeats the 
 lord Lewis of Spain, at ftuimperle, ib. ; takes the cas- 
 tle of Goy la Foret, 59 ; accompanies the earl of Der- 
 by into Gascony, 66 ; finds the sepulchre of his father 
 at La Reole, 70 ; defeats the French under sir Geoffrey 
 de Chargny, before Calais, 93 ; dies in London, 206. 
 Mantes, the town of, taken by the French under the lord 
 
 de Boucicaut, 142. . 
 Marans, the town of, in the Rochellois, taken by sir Ber- 
 trand du Guesclin, 33. 
 Marcel Amerigot, takes the castle of Cassuriel and other 
 places in Anvergne, 248, et seg. ; takes by surprise the 
 castle of Marquel, 834 ; fortifies himself in La Roche 
 Vandais, 516; besieged bv the viscount deMeaux, 517 ; 
 sends to England to solicit the duke of Lancaster for 
 assistance, ib. : during his absence at Perigord, his fort 
 surrenders, 520 ; betrayed by a relative, to whom he 
 applied for an asylum, 521 ; beheaded at Pans. 522. 
 Marcel, Etienne, provost of the merchants ol Pans, kills 
 three knights in the apartment of the regent, 4^; 
 builds a wall round Paris, 113 ; killed by John Mail- 
 lart, while attempting to betray the city to the English 
 
 and NavarroiyJlS. 
 
 arl m, take 
 
 March, the earl oT, taken prisoner by the English at the 
 battle of Nevil's Cross, 86 ; appointed constable ot the 
 English army under Edward the Third, 124. 
 Marchiennes, the Monastery of, taken by the Hainaulters, 
 
 MardieviLe, the castle of, taken by the duke of Burgun- 
 dy, 147. . 
 
 Maret, John de, unjustly executed at Pans, 3525. 
 
 Margaret, countess of Hainault, takes possession ot the 
 country, as her inheritance, after the death ot earl 
 William, 73. _ . , 
 
 Margaret of Hungary, married by procuration to Louis de 
 Valois, 346 ; forcibly married by Henry de Blancque- 
 fort, brother to the emperor of Germany, 350. 
 
 Mnmeil, sir Raymond de, tarns to the French interest, 
 194; taken prisoner by the English. 202; mak«s iu» es- 
 cape. 
 
 Marquel. the castle of, in Auvergne, taken by Amerigot 
 
 Marcel, 334. ^ „ j 
 
 Marriage, concluded between the children of Burgundy 
 
 and those of Hainault, 342. 
 Marshal, the earl, of England, challenges the earl of Der- 
 by in the presence of king Richard, 603; banished the 
 kingdom, 606 ; dies at Venice, 624. 
 St. Maubert, the fort of. taken by the English under the 
 
 lord Neville, 241. 
 Maubuc, lord, beheaded at Rouen, 99. 
 Mauconseil, the castle of, taken by the king of Navarre, 
 116 ; besieged by the duke of Normandy, 116; razed to 
 the ground, 121. 
 Maudurant, Geronnet de. captured by sir John de Bonne- 
 lance. 461; taken to Montferrant, ib. ; ransomed, 462; 
 gains possession of the town of Montferrant for Peter 
 le Bearnois, 463. 
 Mauleon, le Bnstot de, relates his adventures to Froissart, 
 at Orthes, 372. 
 
 Mauny, fir Oliver de makes the king of Navarre prisoner, 
 
 163 
 
 St. Mau'^. the abbey of, on the Loire, taken by the English 
 
 unde' the earl of Pembroke, 191. 
 Mauvoisin, lord de, captured by sir Robert Knolles, 268. 
 Maxwell, sir John, captures sir Ralph Percy at the battle 
 
 of Otterbourn, 482. 
 Meaux, the battle of, 113. . ■, , r- » - 
 
 St. Mecaire, the town of, surrenders to the duke ot Anjou, 
 
 230 
 
 Melrose, the abbey of, destroyed by Richard the Second, 
 
 352 
 
 Melval, lord Louis de. taken prisoner at the battle of Poi- 
 tiers, 422. . J 1 <• 
 Melun, the town of, on the Seine, besieged by the duke ot 
 
 Normandy, 437. 
 Menstreworth, sir John, with his followers, quits the army 
 
 of sir Robert Knolles, 518 ; executed in London, b£i. 
 Mercier, sir John le, one of the ministers of Charles the 
 Sixth of France, committed to prison during the re- 
 gency of the duke of Burgundy, 553 ; his property con- 
 fiscated, 5&4; released from prison, 573. 
 Mesclin, the little, captain of some free companies, put to 
 
 death at Luxembourg, 445. 
 Meulan, the town of, taken by the French under the lord 
 
 de Boucicaut, 142. 
 Milhaud, the castle of, in Rouergue. taken by sir Bertrand 
 
 du Guesclin, 205. 
 Mirabeau, the town of, taken by the earl of Derby, 84. 
 Miraculous appearances, said to have been seen by the 
 
 Saracens during the siege of Africa. 524. 
 Miramont, the castle of. taken by the duke of Normandy. 
 73 
 
 Moissac, the town of. in Quercy. taken by the English 
 under sir John Chandos, 184 ; surrenders to the duke ot 
 Anjou, 197. 
 
 Moncontour, the castle of, in Poitou, taken by the English 
 under lord Thomas Percy. 204; taken by su: Bertrand 
 du Guesclin. 210. . • t» 
 
 Monmorillon, the castle of, in Poitou. taken by sir Ber- 
 trand du Guesclin, 210. . 
 Monsac, the town of, taken by the duke of Anjou, 
 Monstier, lord Peter de, appointed chief of the croisade 
 
 against the free companies in France, 136. 
 Montacute, sir William, created earl of Salisbury, 28. 
 Montagu, lord William de, slain at the battle of Poitiers. 
 
 105. . . , u 
 Montauban. battle of, between sir Guy d'Asai and the tree 
 
 companies. 159. 
 Montbeliard, the earl of, invades the duchy of Burgundy, 
 148. 
 
 Montebourg, the town of, burnt and pillaged by the Eng- 
 lish under king Edward the Third, 76. 
 Montendre, the lord of, captured at the battle of Poitiers, 
 
 106. ' u D * 
 Montferrant, the town of, taken by stratagem by Penrot 
 
 le Bearnois, 463. . . 
 
 Montferrant, the marquis de, leads the free companies into 
 Lonibardy, 137 ; conquers several places from the lord 
 of Milan, ib. 
 
 Montfort, the earl of, takes measures to secure to himselt 
 the duchy of Brittany, after the death of his brother, 
 48 ; takes the town of Brest and several others, 50, et 
 seq.; does homage to tlie king of England for the 
 duchy of Brittany, 51 ; summoned before the parlia- 
 ment of Paris, at the suit of the lord Charles of Blois, 
 ib.; captured by the French at Nantes, 52 ; dies in the 
 Louvre at Paris, ib.; [See this account corrected, ib., 
 
 note.} r. , 1 J 
 
 Montfort, the lord John de, defeats the forces of the lord 
 Charles of Blois, at the battle of Auray, 150; his be- 
 havior on seeing the body of his adversary, who had 
 been slain in the battle, 151 ; takes Auray and other 
 places, 152, et seq.; makes peace with the king of 
 France, and is acknowledged duke of Brittany, 153 ; 
 marries the daughter of the princess of Wales, ib.; 
 applies to England for assistance against the king of 
 France, 214 ; retakes several places in Brittany, 222 ; 
 besieges Q.uimperle, ib.; disbands his army, and re- 
 tires to England, ib.; returns to Brittany, 258 ; solicits 
 king Richard for succors, 262 ; excuses himself to the 
 earl of Buckingham, who had come to his assistance, 
 for not meeting him on his march, 269 ; makes peace 
 with the king of France, 275 ; arrests sir Oliver de 
 Clisson in the castlaof Ermine, and causes the expe- 
 dition against England to be given up, 430 , liberates 
 sir Oliver. 432 ; required by the king of France to ex- 
 plain his conduct toward the constable, and to deliver 
 up to him the castle he had taken from him as his ran- 
 som. 438; his answer, 438; disregards the overtures 
 made by the duke of Berry to gain him over to the 
 French interest, 466 ; enters into an alliance with Eng- 
 land, 4S7 : with Navarre, ib., restore! the cartles of »ir 
 
 Oliver de Clisson, 470 ; goes to Paris at the entreaty of 
 the dukes of Berry and Burgundy, 471: makes his 
 peace with the king of France, 472; returns to Brit 
 tany, 477 ; meets the king of France at Tours to make 
 an amicable settlement of the differences existing be- 
 tween them, 539 ; agrees to marry his son to the daugh- 
 ter of the king of France, and his daughter to John of 
 Brittany, 541 ; grants an asylum to sir Peter de Craon 
 aller his attempt to murder sir Oliver de Clisson, 547 ; 
 involves himself in a war with the king of France ib,; 
 wages a destructive v/ar against sir Oliver de Clisson. 
 560; makes peace with him. 673; grants assistance to 
 the earl of Derby to embark for England. 613; his 
 death, 623. , . ^ . 
 
 Montfort, the countess de, carries on the war agamstthe 
 lord Charles of Blois, after the capture ot her husband. 
 52- solicits assistance from England, 56; besieged by 
 the lord Charles of Blois, in Hennebon, ib.; displays 
 great courage in the defence of the town, 56 ; enters 
 into a truce with the lord Charles of Blois, and goes 
 to England, 60; returns to Brittany with remforce- 
 ments, under sir Robert d'Artois, 61 ; her forces take 
 the lord Charles of Blois prisoner at La Roche d Er- 
 
 rien, 89. , i, u cc 
 
 Montgis, the castle of, taken by the earl of Derby, bb. 
 Montiel, the battle of, 173. 
 
 Montlieu, the castle of, taken by the duke of Bourbon, iM. 
 Montmorency, sir Charles de, taken prisoner at Pont-i- 
 
 Tressin, 47. , , 
 
 Mont-paon, the castle, surrenders to the French under su 
 William de Longueval, 203 retaken by the duke ot 
 Lancaster, 204. . 
 Montpellier, the towns and lordships of, belonging to the 
 
 king of Navarre, seized by the French, 236. 
 Montpezat, the village of, taken by the duke of Anjou, 
 197. 
 
 Montpin, the fort of, taken by sir Thomas Trivet, 243. 
 Montpouillant, the town of, taken by the earl of Derby, il. 
 Montreuil Bonin, the town of, taken by the earl of Derby. 
 84. 
 
 Monsegur, the village of, surrenders to the earl of Derby, 
 
 69 ; taken by the duke of Anjou, 230. 
 Moray, Randolph, earl of. his death. 24. 
 Moray, the earl of, taken prisoner by the English before 
 Newcastle upon Tyne. 54 ; exchanged for the earl of 
 Salisbury, 56. , . »i <• 
 
 Morbeque. Denys de, captures king John at the battle ot 
 
 Poitiers, 106. 
 Moron, Castel, taken by the earl of Derby. 71. 
 Mortain, the town of, m Normandy, taken by sir Bertrand 
 
 du Guesclin, 226. 
 Mortain-sur-Mer, the town of, in Poitou, taken by the earl 
 of Derby, 84 ; besieged by Evan of Wales. 231 ; tlia 
 siege raised by the English, 241. 
 Mortemer, the castle of, surrenders to air Bertrand du 
 
 Guesclin, 215. 
 Mortimer, sir Roger, ignominionsly put to death, 2o. 
 Mouton, a French coin so called, the origin of its appella- 
 tion, 109, note. 
 
 Mucident, the lord of, killed before Chargny in Dormoia, 
 
 126. „. . 
 
 Mucident, the lord of, taken prisoner by the duke of Anjou. 
 229 ; turns to the French interest, ib.; returns to tne 
 English party, 245. ..it 
 Muros, the town of, in Galicia, surrenders to the duke ot 
 
 Lancaster, 421. 
 Murray, the earl of, captured by the English at the battle 
 
 of Nevil's Cross, 86. 
 Musgrave, sir Thomas, defeated and captured by the ScoU 
 at Melrose, 234. 
 
 N. 
 
 NAJARRA,the town of. taken by the prince of Wales, 167. 
 
 Namur, sir Philip de, slain at Dendremor.de, 278. 
 
 Namur, sir Robert de, does homage to the king of Eng- 
 land, before Calais, 88; promises to assist him against 
 France, 186; joins the English fbices, under the duke 
 of Lancaster", before Tournehem,187 : defeats a party 
 of the French in a skirmish, 190. 
 
 Namur, sir William de, gives tlie town of Sluys to the 
 duke of Burgundy, in exchange for the country of 
 Bethune, 348. 
 
 Nantes, the town of, taken by the lord Charles of Blois, 
 52; besieged by Edward the Third, 63; surrenders to 
 sir Bertrand du Guesclin, 217; besieged by the earl of 
 Buckingham, 271. 
 
 Naples, Joan, queen of, surrenders her dominions to pope 
 Clement, 250. 
 
 Narbonne, the viscount de. captured by the free companies 
 
 before Montauban, 159. 
 Naval engagement, before Sluys, between the navies of 
 France and England, 42; between the Spaniards and 
 the English under king Edward the Third, 95 ; ofi' tlie 
 island of Bas in Brittany, between the English and 
 Flemings. 205 ; before La Rochelle. between the earl 
 of Pembroke and the Spaniards, 207. 
 Navarretta, the battle of, between the prince of Wales 
 
 and don Henry of Castille, 165. 
 Navarre, Charles, king of, lands with a large army at 
 Cherbourg, 98; arrested by the king of France, 99; 
 escapes from the castle of Alleres, 112; makes peace 
 with the duke of Normandy, ib.; harangues the Pari- 
 sians, ib.; destroys many of the infamous Jacquerie, 
 of Beauvoisis, 113 ; declares war against France. 116: 
 takes several towns and fortresses in France, ib.; 
 makes peace with the duke of Normandy, 120 ; declares 
 war against him, 127; makes war on France. 139; 
 makes peace with the king of France. 152 ; enters into 
 alliance with don Pedro of Castille. 156 ; conducts the 
 prince of Wales and don Pedro to Pampeluna, 163*. 
 enters into an alliance with tht king of England, M*' 
 
632 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 makes peace with the king of France, 196, 216 ; ap- 
 plies to king Richard of England for assistance against 
 the king of France. 237 ; enters into an alliance with 
 him in England, ib.; solicits aid from the English at 
 Bordeaux, to raise the siege of Pampeluna, 242 ; con- 
 cludes a peace with the king of Spain, 245 ; his extra- 
 ordinary death, 459. 
 
 Navarre, the young king of, goes to Paris, to endeavor to 
 gain back his inheritance of Evreux, 603. 
 
 Navarre, the lord Lewis of, takes the town of La Charit6, 
 147 ; marries the queen of Naples, 153. ' 
 
 Navarre, Philip of, defends the possessions of his brother 
 in Nonnandf ag^ainst the king of France, 100; raises 
 an army to raise the siege of St. Valery, 118 ; refuses 
 to accept the peace which had been concluded be- 
 tween his brother and the duke of Normandy, 120. 
 
 Necromancer, a, offers to deliver up the castel del Ovo to 
 the duke of Anjou by enchantment, 297 ; beheaded by 
 order of the earl of Savoy, 297. 
 
 Negotiations, carried on at Biilinges respecting a peace 
 between the English and the French, 18. 
 
 Nesle, Guy de, defeated and taken prisoner by the Eng- 
 lish in Saintonge, 97 ; slain, ib. 
 
 Nesle, lord William de, slain at the battle of Poitiers, 105. 
 
 Nevele, tiie church of, burnt by the earl of Flanders, with 
 several hundreds of the men of Ghent in it, 279. 
 
 Nevil's Cross, the battle of, 86. 
 
 Neville, the lord, raises the siege of Mortain, 240; takes 
 St. Maubert, 241 ; dismissed from his command in 
 Northumberland, 279. 
 
 Newtoun, sir John, sent on an embassy to Richard the 
 Second from the rebels of Kent, 284. 
 
 Nicopoli, the town of, in Turkey, besieged by the king of 
 Hungary and John of Burgundy, 575 ; the siege raised 
 by the sultan Bajazet, 587. 
 
 Niort, the town of, stormed by the English, 211 ; surrenders 
 to sir Bertrand du Guesclin, 215. 
 
 Nogent-sur-Seine, the town of, sold to the bishop of 
 Troyes, 121 ; the battle of, ib. 
 
 Normandy, the duchy of, invaded by Edward the Third,76. 
 
 Normandy, the duke of, invades Hainault, 39; besieges 
 Thin-l'Eveque, 41 ; enters Brittany with the lord 
 Charles of Blois, 52 ; leads a large army to oppose the 
 king of England in Brittany, 64; enters into a truce 
 with him, ib.; leads an army into Gascony to oppose 
 the earl of Derby, 73 : takes the town of Miraumont 
 and others, ib., et seg.; marries Jane, countess of Bou- 
 logne, 94; appointed regent of France during the im- 
 prisonment of king John in England, 110; besieges 
 Paris, 114 ; makes peace with the king of Navarre, ib.; 
 enters Paris, 115 ; lays siege to Melun, 120 ; collects a 
 force to drive the English out of Champagne, 121 ; re- 
 fuses to ratify the peace concluded between king John 
 and the English, 122; declines to accent the challenge 
 of the king of England, 129 ; endeavors to make peace 
 with him, 130 ; appointed resent on the departure of 
 king John for England, 140 ; crowned king of France 
 at Rheims, under the title of Charles the Fifth, 146. 
 
 Northumberland, the earl of. takes Berwick castle, 232; 
 enters Scotland with a large army, 233 ; appointed 
 lieutenant of Northumberland, &c., 282; enters Scot- 
 land with a large force, 338 ; banished by Richard the 
 Second, 612; recalled by the earl of Derby, 617. 
 
 Norwich, the bishop of, appointed commander-in chief of 
 a croisade against the Clementists, 326 ; enters Flan- 
 ders contrary to the advice of sir Hugh Calverley, 327 ; 
 takes the town of Gravelines and other places, ib., et 
 seq.; besieges Ypres, 330; abandons the siege, and re- 
 turns to England, 331 ; badly received on his return, 
 335. 
 
 Noyon, the bishop of, taken prisoner at Mauconseil, 116. 
 
 o. 
 
 OuFERNE, Agadinquor, an African chief, his conduct at 
 the siege of Africa, 524. 
 
 Orchies, the town of, burnt by the earl of Hainault, 44. 
 
 Orenze, the town of, in Galicia, suiTenders to the forces of 
 the duke of Lancaster, 434. 
 
 Oriflammo, the sacred'banner so called, displayed by the 
 king of France at the battle of Rosebecque in Flan- 
 ders, 321. 
 
 Orleans, the duchess of, suspected of causing the illness of 
 
 the king of France, 592. 
 Orthon, a familiar spirit, serves the lord of Corasse, 382. 
 Ortingas, the town of, taken by Peter d'Anchin. 362. 
 Ostrate, Waustre, takes the castle of Roulebois-sur-Seine, 
 
 127. 
 
 Ostrevant, the country of, burnt by the garrison of Douay, 
 41. 
 
 Ostrevant, the count of, created a knight of the garter, 
 528; gives offence to the king of France, ib.; does 
 homage lo tlie king of France for the county of Ostre- 
 ^ vant, 628 ; raises an army to invade Friesland, 583 ; in- 
 vades Friesland, 584 ; disbands his army, 585; invites 
 the earl of Derby to Hainault after he had been ban- 
 ished from England, 607. 
 )tho, sir, of Brunswick, demands his pay from pope Cle- 
 ment at Avignon, 390. 
 I hterbourne, the battle of, 481, [see also 484, note.] 
 1 )udenarde, the town of, besieged by the men of Ghent, 
 256.307; taken by Francis Atremen, 333; retaken by 
 the lord Destournay, 340. 
 •xford, the earl of, taken prisoner in Gascony, 67 ; endea- 
 vors to dissuade the king of England from assisting his 
 uncles in their pretensions to the crown of Castille, 
 358 ; created duke of Ireland, 414. 
 
 P.. 
 
 IlM»kluna, the town of, besieged by the king of Uastille, 
 238. 
 
 uii the city of. bwieged by the dukeof Wonnandy, 114. 
 
 Parisians, the, rebel against Charles the Sixth, 293 ; ap- 
 peased by the lord de Coucy, ib.; fined by the king, 
 325. 
 
 Partenay, the lord de, captured at the battle of Poitiers, 
 106. 
 
 Passac. sir Walter de, takes St. Forget, and several other 
 places in the Toulousain, 384; accompanies the duke 
 of Bourbon in an expeditiom into Castille, 419 ; arrives 
 at Burgos, 426. 
 
 St. Patrick's Hole, in Ireland, its singular properties, 565, 
 and note. 
 
 Paive. sir Amery de, governor of Calais, enters into a 
 treaty with sir GeofTry de Chargny to deliver the town 
 up to him, 93; prevented by the king of England, ib.; 
 taken prisoner by sirGeoffry de Chargny, and behead- 
 ed, 96. 
 
 Peace, concluded between France and England, 130 ; at 
 Leulinghen, 562. 
 
 Pedro the Fourth, don, king of Castille, summoned to ap- 
 pear before pope Urban the Fifth at Avignon, 154 ; ex- 
 communicated, ib.; endeavors to raise a force to op- 
 pose his brother don Henry, and the duke of Burgundy, 
 154 ; flies to Corunna, ib.; goes to Aquitaine to solicit 
 the assistance of the prince of Wales, 155; enters 
 Spain, accompanied by the prince and a large force, 
 161 ; defeats the army of don Henry, 165 ; obtains the 
 submission of Castille, 168 ; incurs the displeasure of 
 the prince of Wales, 169; defeated by don Henry at 
 Montiel, 173; taken prisoner, 173; killed by his broth- 
 er, 174. 
 
 Pembroke, the earl of, sent to the assistance of the prince 
 of Wales in Aquitaine, 180 ; makes war m Perigord, 
 &c., 180 ; invades the territories of Anjou, 187 ; returns 
 to England, 203 ; appointed governor of Aquitaine, 
 207 ; defeated and taken prisoner by the Spaniards be- 
 fore La Rochelle, 209 ; insulted by Evan of Wales at 
 St. Andero, 20B ; obtains his ransom, 220 ; dies at Ar- 
 ras, ib. 
 
 Pennon, the nature of the military ensign so called, ex- 
 plained, 102, note. 
 
 Percy, sir Henry, dies in Castille, 450. 
 
 Percy, sir Henry, appointed commander-in-chief of the for- 
 ces m Northumberland, 479. 
 
 Percy, sir Ralph, captured at the battle of Otterbourne, 
 482. 
 
 Percy, sir Thomas, appointed seneschal of Poitou, 194 ; 
 takes the castle of Montcontour, 204 ; captured by the 
 French at Soubise, 212 ; resigns his office of steward 
 of the household to king Richard the Second, 596; ap- 
 pointed governor of Aquitaine, 621. 
 
 Perigord, the cardinal de, endeavors to make peace be- 
 tween the king of France and the prince of Wales 
 previous to the battle of Poitiers, 102; makes peace 
 between the duke of Normandy and the king of Na- 
 varre, 120. 
 
 Perigord, the earl of, defeats the high steward of Rouergue, 
 177 ; besieges Realville, 181. 
 
 Perth, the town of, destroyed by Richard the Second, 352. 
 
 Peterson, John, admiral of the Flemish fleet, defeated and 
 captured by the English off the island of Bas, 205. 
 
 St. Phagon, the town of, in Spain, pillaged by some Bre- 
 ton soldiers, 452. 
 
 Philip, lord of Burgundy, killed before Aiguillon, 83. 
 
 Philip of Valois, chosen king of France, to the exclusion 
 of Isabella, queen of England, 15, 23 ; makes war on 
 the Flemings, ib. ; basishes Robert d'Artois from 
 France, 27 ; puts on the cross, 29 ; enters into an alli- 
 ance with the king of Scotland, 32; receives a defiance 
 from the king of England, 33 ; leads an army to op- 
 pose his forces, 35 ; destroys the territories of sir John of 
 Hiiinault, 37 ; invades Flanders, 39 ; sends forces into 
 Scotland to assist the Scots against the English, 45 ; 
 assembles a large army to raise the siege of Tournay, 
 ib.; enters into a truce with the king of England, 48; 
 assists the lord Charles of Blois to recover the duchy 
 of Brittany from the earl of Montfort, 51 ; assembles 
 an army to oppose the earl of Derby in Gascony, 73 ; 
 collects another army to oppose king Edward in Nor- 
 mandy, 76; defeated at the battle of Crecy, 82; col- 
 lects a large army to raise the siege of Calais, 89 ; en- 
 ters into a truce with the king of England, 91 ; marries 
 the li^dy Blanche, daughter of Philip, kmg of Navarre, 
 94 ; dies at Nogent-le-Roi, 97. 
 
 Philip, son of king John of France, created duke of Bur- 
 gundy, 146. 
 
 Philippa, daughter of the earl William of Hainault, mar- 
 ried to Edward the Third, 24; in the absence of the 
 king raises an army to oppose the Scots, 84; defeats 
 them at the battle of Nevil's Cross, 85 : receives the 
 king of Scotland as her prisoner at York, 87; her three 
 last requests to king Edward, 190 ; her death, ib. 
 
 Philippa, daughter of the fluke of Lancaster, married to 
 the king of Portugal, 421. 
 
 PicasEly, the country of, invaded by king Edward the 
 Third, 78. 
 
 Pierrepont, the town of, taken by sir Eustace d'Ambreti- 
 court, 129. 
 
 Piquigny, sir John de, delivers the king of Navarre 
 from the castle of Alleres, 112; forces the duke of Nor- 
 mandy to raise the siege of Mauconseil, 116 ; endeavors 
 to take the town of Amiens, 117 ; dies at La Herrielle, 
 121. 
 
 Plague, the, desolates all Europe, 96, and note. 
 
 Plaisac, Heliot de, governor of BoutviUe, taken by the 
 French, 246. 
 
 Poinings, lord, dies in Castille, 450. 
 
 Poitiers, the city of, taken by the earl of Derby, 84 ; sur- 
 renders to sir Bertrand du Gueschn, 211. 
 
 Poitiers, the battle of, between the king of France and the 
 prince of Wales, 103. 
 
 Poitiers, sir Charles de, burnt to death at a mMked dance 
 at Paris, 567. 
 
 Poix, the tovra of, destroyed by the English under EdMraid 
 
 the Third, 79. 
 
 St. Pol, the count de, captured by the English at Lique, 
 and sent to England, 221 ; marries the lady Maude, 
 daughter of the princess of Wales. 247 ; leads an army 
 into Friesland, 584. 
 
 St. Pol, the earl of, slain at the battle of Crecy, 82. 
 
 St. Pol, the town of, besieged by the duke of Lancaster^ 
 191. 
 
 Pommiers, the lord de. beheaded at Bordeaux for treasoa, 
 227. 
 
 Pampadour. the lo : d of, captured at the battle of Poitiers, 
 106. 
 
 Pondaire, the town of, taken by the earl of Derby, 66. 
 
 Pons, the lord de, slain at the battle of Poitiers, 106 ; tarns 
 to the French interest, 204. 
 
 Pont-au-Demer, the town of, in Normandy, taken by sir 
 Bertrand du Gueschn, 226. 
 
 Pont du St. Esprit, the town of, taken by the free compa- 
 nies, 136. 
 
 Pontevedra, the town of, in Galicia, surrenders to the army 
 
 of the duke of Lancaster, 409. 
 Ponthieu, the country of, conquered by the forces under sir 
 
 Hugh de Chatillon, 179. 
 Ponthieu, the earl of, captured at the battle of Poitiers. 
 
 105. 
 
 Populace, of England, rebel against king Richard and the 
 
 nobility, 284; enter London and do much mischief, 
 
 285 ; dispersed by the king, 286. 
 Porcien, the earl of, ransomed, 179. 
 Porkers of la Respaille, a set of pillagers so called, commit 
 
 several depredations in Flanders, 343. 
 Port St. Marie, taken by the duke of Anjou, 197. 
 Portboeuf, Peter, governor of Dinant, taken prisoner, 63. 
 Portelet, don Juan Ferdinando de, informs Froissart of 
 
 many particulars relative to the affairs of Portugal, 
 
 391. 
 
 Poulat, the castle of, in Gascony, taken by the English 
 
 under sir Thomas Trivet, 243. 
 Poursuivant d' Amour, the meaning of the title explained, 
 
 179, note. 
 
 Pressigny, sir Reginald de, put to death, 98. 
 
 Preux, the castle of, taken by the duke of Burgundy, 147. 
 
 Prie, the lord of, captured at the battle of Auray, 151. 
 
 Pruniaux, John, a citizen of Ghent, appointed one of the 
 commanders of the Whitehoods in that city, 255 ; de- 
 stroys the walls of Oudenarde, 260 ; banished from Flan- 
 ders. 261 ; delivered up to the earl, and beheaded, ib. 
 
 Pulpiron, the castle of, taken by the French under sir Wal- 
 ter de Passac, 385. 
 
 Punach, the town of, taken by the earl of Derby, 67. 
 
 Q. 
 
 ClUARREL, between the houses of Brabant and Gueidre* 
 
 the cause of, explained, 454. 
 Uueens, three, besieged in the town of Melun-sur-Seine. 
 
 120. 
 
 duimpercorentin, the town of, in Brittany, taken by sir 
 
 Bertrand du Guesclin, 216. 
 Q,uimperle, the town of, in Brittany, taken by sir Bertrand 
 
 du Guesclin, 21(5 ; besieged by the duke of Brittany, 222 
 
 R. 
 
 Raimbaut, Lewis, a captain of the free companies, oe 
 headed, 375. 
 
 Ramsay, Alexander, takes the castle of Berwick, 232; 
 captured in the castle by the earl of Northumberland, 
 233. 
 
 Ravenal, lord Raouel de, captured at Mauconseil. 116. 
 Realville, the town of, taken by storm by the earl of Peri- 
 gord, 183. 
 
 Reginald, count of Gueldres, his extravagance, 454; mar- 
 ries the daughter of Bertaldo of Mechhn, 455 ; after- 
 ward marries Isabella, daughter of Edward tlie Second 
 of England, ib. 
 
 Rennes, the town of, taken by the earl of Montfort, or duke 
 of Brittany, 50 ; surrenders to the lord Charles of Blois, 
 56; besieged by the duke of Lancaster, 111 ; taken by 
 sir Bertrand du Guesclin, 216. 
 
 Reole, La, the town of, taken by the earl of Derby, 71 ; 
 surrenders to the duke of Anjou, 221. 
 
 Rcyneval, lord Raoul de, defeated by the English and Na- 
 varrois, under sir Godfrey de Harcourt, 109. 
 
 Rheims, the town of, besieged by Edward the Third, 126. 
 
 Ribadavia. the town of, taken by storm by the duke o 
 Lancaster, 421. 
 
 Ribadeo, count, of Spain, one of the ministers of Charles 
 the Fourth of France, arrested by the duke of Burgun- 
 dy while regent, 553. 
 
 Ribeaumont, sir Eustace de, captured near Calais, 94; re- 
 ceives a chaplet of pearls from the king of England, 
 in reward for his prowess, 94 ; slain at the battle of 
 Poitiers, 105. 
 
 Ribemmont, sir Galahaut de. mortally wounded in a skir- 
 mish with the English, 126. 
 
 Richard, son of the prince of Wales, declared presump- 
 tive heir to tfie throne of England, 224 ; crowned king 
 of England, 224. 
 
 Richard the Second, placed under the tuition of sir Guis- 
 card d' Angle. 224 ; enters into an alliance with the 
 king of Navarre, 237 ; sends an army to the assistance 
 of the duke of Brittany. 258 ; quells the rebellion of 
 the populace under Wat Tyler, &c., 286 ; makes a tour 
 tlirough several parts of England to punish the insur- 
 gents, 289; marries the lady Anne of Bohemia, 295; 
 enters into a truce with Franfce, 336 ; heads an army 
 to oppose the Scots and the admiral of France, 351 ; 
 destroys the abbey of Melrose, and several places ia 
 Scotland, 352, et seq.; quarrels with his uncles of York 
 and Gloucef ter, 428 ; excites the discontent of the peo* 
 
INDEX. 
 
 63: 
 
 ""TiT^FEnsland. ib.; retires to W a l«s, 429 : constrained 
 b the people to appoint comm.ss.,ne.s to ex« 
 into accounts of iiis confidential ministers, 440 leuies 
 
 0 bS 4^2; takes .neasures to counteract the pro- 
 ceed ^^solth; .>ew councU, which had been appomt- 
 S f him by the comnmsioners ot account.. 443 
 Snds the duke oi" Ireland, as his lieutenant wUl. a 
 
 al a my toward London, vl4; his troops deiea.ed 
 nefr Oxford, 445; returns to l^-don under e con- 
 duct of the archbishop o! Canteihury 44b assem e. 
 rpavHamentto receive the homageoi ''--^h.ects d ■ . 
 
 enters into a truce with the kn.g of ^^f;;'^;^'^ 
 
 1 ..rind tournament at London. 527, e ioe.ivois lo 
 ^ake a peace with France, 530; concludes a peace 
 Ttt ki;.J Charles, 561 ; p..sents the duke of Lanca 
 caster with the duchy of Aquitanie, 5b4, lead. . n a 
 Z into Ireland. 5&4; obtains the -boussion of ou^ 
 Irish kings, 569; seeks to marry he lady abella 
 d-.n-hier of the king of France, 571 ; recals tiie duke 
 o^LanJalf fron.l..uitaine ^■^^^^J!^Z 
 with the king of France at Anlres 58o, leceivesuie 
 Hdy Isabella from king Charles in his tent at A dies. 
 Se maS her at Calais, 586 ; becomes unpopular m 
 Inglaid 594 ; orders the duke of Gloucester to be ar- 
 fester597 invests the earl of Rutland the -n- 
 stableship of England, 603; proclaims a east to be 
 held at E tLm, 603 ; banishes the earl-marshal for life, 
 and the earl of Derby for six years. 60 = se^- t'-/ v; 
 enues of the duchy of Lancaster on the death ot the 
 duke 6 0; breaks off a marriage which was m con- 
 temp a tion between the earl of Derby and the daugh- 
 S the duke of Berry. 611; holds a tournament at 
 Windsor which is but thinly attended, 612 ; banishes 
 the ear?of Northumberland and his son, 612 ; the peo- 
 ple of England rise in rebellion against h.m, and m 
 favor of the e.rl of Derby, 613 ; retires to Flint [Con 
 vvavl castle, 616 ; surrenders to the eail of Derby. 616 , 
 Sloned in' th, Tower of London, 617; resigns 
 crown in favor of the earl of Derby, 618; hi^ death. 
 
 RigauU\Gil£,"crRouffy^ '^'^ hat in 
 
 the presence of king John at Pans 9/. 
 
 Eivieie, the lord de la. takes the castle of Aqu.gn,,147 
 imprisone<l by the dukfes of Burgundy and Berry dur- 
 ing the regency. 554 ; his estates confiscated, ib. . de- 
 livered from prison, 573. ff-orrrinnv 
 
 Robert, duke of Heidelberg, elected emperor of Germany, 
 
 Rob^t', kins: of Sicily, endeavors to make peace between 
 the kings of France and England, 43. . . 
 
 Roberrthe Hermit, ordered by a vision to interfere m 
 b ^ging about a peace between France and England 
 552 attends the conferences atLeuhnghen, ib.; sent 
 
 ^oulX'^on de. defeats the Navarrots near Creii. 
 
 ro^^l;::u;^^'""^^^ 
 
 Cambddge. 186; surrenders to the French under sir 
 Oliver de Clisson, 217. . 
 
 Roche La. d'Errien, the town of. taken by sir Thomas 
 Da'gg8;-orth. 88 ; besieged by the lord Charles of Blois, 
 ib. ; surrendei-s to sir Bertrand du Gueschn 216 
 
 Rochechouart, the viscount de, captured at the battle of 
 Poitiers. 105 ; imprisoned by the prmce of Waks. 183 
 liberated, 187 ; his lands invaded by sir John Chandos, 
 
 RocSe the town of, blockaded by the Spaniards and 
 Freth under Evan of Wales. 212; turns to the French 
 
 Roch" mUon ' U.e castle of. taken by the earl of Derby 
 Ke-poS. la, the town of. taken bythe French under 
 
 HocttlmadtroTrlS 
 
 ciTw ■ delivers an apologue to tire cardmals respect- 
 
 Roi"T.,rtrt;w^^ 
 
 Roquemadour.the town of, taken by sir John Chandos, 
 Roibtcque, the battle of, between the king of France and 
 
 RoutS: a band of armed men so called nmke ^var ^n Ar- 
 
 ragon. 416 ; defeated by Raymond Bachez, 417. 
 Roye the lord of. defeats and captures the lord of Gome- 
 Roy eTr' Reginald de,with two other knigh,. holds a 
 
 tou nament near Calais against all comers, 5^ 
 Rue. James de la. executed at Paris for treason. 22b. 
 
 S. 
 
 Saikpi, the lord de, ^vith two other knights Jiold a tour- 
 DAixitri, /-.liis fieainst a comers, 509. 
 
 lord John de, captured at the battle of Poitiers, 
 
 ^fe^^gSttE^-^JwfS;^^^^ 
 aiJexpeitlS into Brittany, 216; sent on an embassy 
 
 to France, 293 ; unites with the earl of Hunlmgd.m in 
 his plan to murder king Henry, 305; beheaded. 306. 
 Salisbury, the countess of. dele.ids Wark Caslle against 
 the Scots. .54 : resi>ts with great spirit the dishonorable 
 overtures of king Fdwaid, 55. 
 Salisbury, sir John, behe^uled at Oxford. 446. 
 Salle, sir Robert, governor of Norwich, killed by the in- 
 surgents ill the reign of Richard the Second, ^7. 
 Salvatierra. the town of, surrenders to the army of don 
 
 Pedro and the prince of Wales. 163. 
 St Salvin, the abbey of. besieged by t)ie French, 191. 
 Sancerre, the lord Lewis de, appointed marshal of France, 
 186- defeats the earl of Pembroke at Puirenon, 189 ; 
 visits the count de Foi.v at Orthes, 491 ; made consta- 
 ble. 600. , ,. „„ 
 Santarem, the town of, rebels against the king of Castille, 
 376; returns to obedience, 379 ; burnt by the kmg ot 
 
 Portugal, 435. , , , r a • oon 
 
 Sauveterre, the town of. taken by the duke of Anjou. 2u0. 
 St. Sauveur le Vicornte. the castle of, taken by the Frencli, 
 222 
 
 Saxony, the duke of, sent by the emperor of Germany into 
 England to see the country previous to the marriage 
 of the lady Anne, of Bohemia, to Richard the Second, 
 264. 
 
 Scarcity, a great one in France, 97. 
 Schism, occasioned in the church bythe election of two 
 
 popes, 249. „ . „ .1 • 
 
 Scots, the. invade England under Robert Bruce 15 ; their 
 character and manners, ib. ; retake many ot their for- 
 tresses, and penetrate as far as Durharn into England. 
 44; retake Edinburgh. 45; take Stirling Castle; ^3, 
 enter into a truce with the king of England, ib. ; in- 
 vade England under king David, ib ; take the town 
 of Durham, 54; besiege Wark Castk, ib.; defeated 
 by the English at the battle of Nevil's Cross, Ba; refuse 
 to abide by the truce which had been agreed upon at 
 Behnge.339; enter England contrary to the orders ot 
 king Robert, ib.; invade England with the assistance 
 of sir John de Vienne,350; treat the admiral with 
 much harshness, 352 ; invade England under the young 
 earl of Douglas, 481 ; defeat the English at the battle 
 of Otterbourne, 48L • n- .i.- iia 
 
 Scott, Robin, takes the town of Roucy. in Picardy, m 
 Seaule. the town of, taken by the French under sir Wil- 
 liam de la TremouiUe, 46L , ^„ . ,^ .A 
 Seclin. the town of, burnt by the earl of J^^^^^^^^Jf- 
 Segar' John, governor ofNogent. murdered at Tioyes. 
 
 12'' 
 
 Senera^h. the lord de, captured at the battle of Poitiers. 
 
 125 
 
 SequainviUe. sir Peter de. beheaded at Rouen 1^. 
 St. Severe, in Saintonge. taken by the duke of Berry, 211. 
 lUs. the town of. taken by the men of Ghent. 30o . 
 
 evchanged for the country of Bethune, 348. 
 Sou^J the castle of, taken by the French under Evan of 
 
 SoulS'toTthe town of, pillaged by the 34. 
 Sow the use ofthe military nio chine so called,/^. 
 SD^niards the, defeated at sea by Edward the Third 9o. 
 g:; :; sir Hugh, the elder, besieged with Edward the 
 
 Second in Bristol, 18 ; taken and beheaded, ib. 
 Spencer sir Hugh, the younger, directs the government of 
 %dwa;dthe's;cond.l5; causes the earl of Lancaster 
 to be beheaded, ib.; frustrates the endeavors of queen 
 Isabella to obtain assistance m France, 16; be^eged 
 with the king in Bristol by the queen's forces. 18. ig- 
 nominiously beheaded at Hereford, ib. 
 Ropncpv the lord de, his death. 225. 
 ISord. lord, captured before Vannes. 63 ; exchanged for 
 
 the lord of Clisson, 64; created an earl, 93. 
 Stafford lord Ralph, killed by sir John Holland. 351. 
 Itandwich, John.'puts Wat Tyler to death in Smithfield. 
 
 Star!?he order of the. revived by king John of France. 97. 
 Stirling Castle, taken by the Scots, oo. 
 S ^ w Hck heids the populace of England in the rebel- 
 ^ ToV agai;ist iing Richard and the nobility. 285 ; taken 
 
 Stua^f Ststce'eds to the crown of Scotland on the 
 death of David the Second. 216; enters into an alli- 
 ance w^th the king of France. 232; makes prepara- 
 rns^o invade England ib.; «e«ds to excuse himself 
 to the king of England for some inroads which .he 
 SCO s. conuary to his orders, had -^/e into England 
 839- assembles a large army to invade England, with 
 the assistance of the admiral of France, 350. 
 Sudbury Simon de, archbishop of Canterbury and chan- 
 cellor of England, murdered in the Tower of London 
 by Wat Tyler, 287. 
 Suflblk, the earl of, captured by the governor of Lille, 39 
 Surgeres,the town of, taken by the earl of Derby, 84, 
 surrenders to sir Bertrand du Gueschn. 213. 
 
 Terrieres. the town of. taken by sir .lohn Chiiiidos, 131. 
 Teiue. Pelei do, exPcnied :il I'm is lor ue.-tson. 225. 
 Tete-iioir, GealiVy, ..biaius possession of the citsi le of Ven 
 tad.i*!-, in Auvor-iie. 24«: niorlail> wounded. 490 
 makes Ins will. 490 ; liis death, ib. 
 Thillieis, the cuetle of, taken by king .lohn of Fran.-e, W 
 Thin I'Eveiiue, the town ot, besieged by the duke of iNoi 
 
 inandy, 41. , , , 
 
 Thouars, the town of. taken by sir Bertrand du Guesclii 
 
 213. 
 
 Thurie. the town at d caslle of. taken by le Bastotde Mai 
 leon. 374. , 
 Tibald doctor Simon, bishop of London, preaches tli 
 
 iustice of the war against France, 181, and vote. 
 Tilt, at Entencii. between sir John Holland and sir lleg,| 
 
 nald de Roye, 421. . 
 Tonnerre, the town of, taken by Edward the I bird, l-». 
 Tonniens, the town of. taken by the duke of Normand: 
 74- surrenders to llie duke of Anjoa, -197. . 
 Tour, the lord de la, slain at the battle of Poitiers, lOa. 
 Touraine, the duke of. brot.her of Charles the Sixth 
 France, buys the reversion of the county ot Blois, ol 
 created duke of Orleans, 548.' 
 Tournament, held atMons, 48 ; given by king Edward t, 
 Third at London, out of affectiim lor the countess 
 Salisbury, 60 ; held at Vannes before the duke ot Brj 
 tany and the earl of Buckingham, 274; atCambra 
 in honor of the marriage of the ciiildren of Burgun 
 withthoseofHainault, 342; at Paris, in honor of que 
 Isabella's public entrance, 490; at Inglevere. near C 
 lais by three French knights tfgainst all comers. 5(i 
 held at London, by order of Richard the Second, d. 
 at Windsor, which is badly attended, 581 ; held at (. 
 ford by the earl of Huntingdon, &c., 622. ; 
 Tournay, the town of, besieged by Edward the Third,' 
 Treaty of alliance, entered into at Vilvorde. between 
 
 countries of Flanders. Brabant, and Hamault. 
 Treaty of peace, copy of the, between the duke ot h 
 
 gundy and the men of Ghent, 352. 
 Trelawny. sir Matthew, severely wounded at Roche 
 rion. 59 ; taken prisoner. 59 ; rescued from death, il 
 TremouiUe. sir William de la, appointed to comman 
 body of men to assist the duchess of Brabant aga 
 the duke of Gueklres, 460. r-., j u 
 
 Tressilian. sir Robert, beheaded by order of the duk 
 
 Gloucester and his party. 444. £. , i • 
 
 Trivet sir Thomas, sent to the assistance of the kin 
 Nf'varre 243; takes several forts in Gascony. 24! 
 seq ■ marches into Castille. 244; returns to Engh 
 246 -'defeats the French near Arras. 264 ; commi 
 to the Tower of London. 335 ; killed by a fall fron , 
 horse. 441. 
 
 Truce between the English and the Scots; 24; bet\ 
 the French and English. 48 ; between the English : 
 the Scots. 53 ; between the lord Charles of Blois 
 the countess of Montfort. 60 ; for three years, bet\ 
 the French and English. 64 ; between France and ] 
 land 91 • prolonged by order of pope Innocent, 
 between France and England. 110 ; between the ] 
 lish and Scots. 198; between the French and Eng 
 259 ; between the English and Scots. 288 ; betweei 
 French and English with all their allies, 336 ; beU 
 the-kings of Castille and Portugal, 380; betweer 
 French and English, 493, 556, 560. 
 Tyler, Wat, heads the populace of England m thei 
 hellion against king Richard the Second and th 
 bility, 284 ; killed in Smithfield. 287. 
 
 T. 
 
 Taillebourg, the town of. taken by the English under 
 the earl of Derby, 84; surrenders to the French, 212; 
 besieged by the duke of Bourbon, 344. 
 
 TaiUell the nature of the tax so called, explained, 170, 
 
 note. . „ • A!:n 
 
 T-ilbot lord dies at Ruelles m Spam, 450. 
 T'^^ ke;vn e the earl of, taken prisoner by the English un- 
 drEdwar.! the Third, 78; captured at the battle of 
 
 Tarb^ sn- Aime'ry de. killed in a naval engagement before 
 
 Taslegn^tie^'cSe of, in Gascony. taken by sir Thomas 
 
 Trivet, 243. , „ ^ 
 
 T^v on income, established in France. 99. 
 ?ello don brother of Henry, king of" Castille. defeats a 
 
 body of English troops under sir Wilham i elton, 164. 
 
 u. 
 
 Urban the Fifth, pope, elected at Avignon, 
 preaches a croisade against the Saracens, ib., e? 
 municates don Pedro, king of Castille, lo4 ; his c 
 £02. 
 
 Urban the Sixth, elected at Rome, 236; sends a b 
 England for the destruction of the Clementist 
 besieged in Perugia. 390 ; escapes to Rome, ib.; . 
 Rome. 505. 
 
 Utrecht, the town of. taken by the earl of Hamault, 
 Uze^', the castle of, in Auvergne, taken by John Dev 
 205 ; surrenders to sir Bertrand du Gueschn, ib 
 
 V. 
 
 St. Valery, the castle of, taken by the king of Nt 
 116 ; taken by the earl de St. Pol, 118 ; taken 
 Hugh de Chatillon, 179. 
 Valois, the lady Joan de, concludes a truce betw( 
 
 kirigs of Fro.nce and England, 48. 
 Vannes, the town of, surrenders to the earl of Mon 
 duke of Brittany, 50 ; taken by storm by t! 
 Charles of Blois, 58 ; retaken by lord Robert d' 
 62 • taken by sir Oliver de Clisson, 63 ; besiegec 
 English, ib.; taken by sir Bertrand du Gueschn 
 Varennes, John de, resigns all his preferments 
 church, 563. 
 
 Vauclingen, the town of, taken by the duke ot Bui 
 225. 
 
 Vaudemont, earl of, captured at the battle of Poiti 
 Vauflart de la Croix, sir. defeated in a skirmish at 
 
 Tressin, 45 ; put to death at Lillc. 46. 
 Vaulx. sir Henry de, taken prisoner atCommercy 
 Ventadouv, thQ castle of. in Auvergne, betrayed i 
 frey Tete-noi'-e. 248 ; besieijed bythe duke o 
 400; taken by his forces. 5C6. 
 Verchin. sir Gerard de, mortally wounded in a 
 
 inent at iMons, 48. 
 Verneuil.the town of, taken by thednke of Lanra 
 Venenil.tlie town of. taken by the ilnke of HonrI 
 Vienne, sir John de, governor of CaLis, sent pr: 
 England, 91. 
 
34 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 ieone, sir John de, admiral of France, heads an expe- 
 dition to Scotland to invade Enghiid, 343; badly 
 
 'treated by the Scots. 345; invades England, accom- 
 panied by a Scottish army, 351 ; returns to F;aiice, 
 354; sent on an embassy into Castille, 489 ; killed at 
 the battle of Nicopoli, 5^ 
 
 ienne, the dauphin of, invested with the duchy of Nor- 
 mandy, 99. 
 
 etHt. don Alphonso, high admiral of Portugal, sent to 
 
 England to convey the duke of Lancaster and his army 
 
 to Portueal, 399. 
 go. the town of; in Galicia, surrenders to the army of 
 
 the duke of Lancaster, 409. 
 Ihiines, le begue de, one of the ministers of Charles the 
 
 tiucth, arrested by the duke of Burgundy during his 
 
 regency, 553 ; liberated, 554. 
 
 'leclope, the tov/n of, in Galicia, taken by the duke of 
 Lancaster, 406. 
 
 llefranche, the. town of, taken by the earl of Derby, 71 ; 
 taken by storm by the duke of Normandy, 73 ; taken 
 by sir John Chandos, 135. 
 
 iconti, sir Beroabo de, put to death by his nephew, 343. 
 
 Visconti, sir Galeas de, puts sir Bernabo, his uncle, to 
 death, 513; enters into an alliance with the sultan 
 Bajazet, 579. 
 
 w. 
 
 Wake, sir Thomas, defeated by the Gascon lords, 178. 
 Walwortli, sir William, lord mayor of London, assists to 
 
 secure Wat Tylsr in Smithfield, ^7. 
 Wark castle, belonging to the earl of Salisbury, besieged 
 
 by tlio Scots, 54. 
 Wars, the, between France and England, how caused, 15. 
 Warwick, the earl of, joins th^e duke of Gloucester in his 
 
 attempts to excite disturbances in England, 594 ; sent 
 
 to the Tower, 601 ; banished to the Isle of Wight. 602; 
 
 recalled by the earl of Derby. 617. 
 Wersey. lord Robert de, taken prisoner at the battle of 
 
 Nevil's Cross, 86. 
 Whitehoods, the custom of wearing them revived at 
 
 Ghent, 252. 
 Whitehoods, the, see " Ghent, men of" 
 Winceslaus the S^iM3,«id or, of Germany, his election. 
 
 258 ; sends his sister, Anne of Bohemia, to England. U> 
 be married to Richard the Second, 295 ; dies at Laxr 
 einbourg, 336. 
 
 Wisant, James and Peter, their patriotic conduct dudog 
 
 the siege of Ca lais, 91. 
 Wyk^ham, sir William, appointed bishop of Worcester 
 
 and chancellor of England, 177 
 
 Y. 
 
 ¥^ORE, the archbishop of, dismissed from his office m 
 treasurer by the commissioners of accounts, 442. 
 
 York, the duke of, his creation, 414 ; confedera-tes with the 
 duke of Gloucester and others against king Richard 
 and his council, 439. 
 
 Ypres, the town of, enters into an alliance with the men 
 of G.'ient, 256 ; turns to the earl of Flanders, 278 : sur- 
 renders to the king of France, 318 ; besieged by the 
 Bishop of Norwich, 326. 
 
 Yrier, the town of, in Limoges, taken by sir Bertrand dn 
 Guesclio, 200. 
 
I